Opinion: The “Zaake Parliamentary Report” reads like a hit-job

After reading the bleak 23 pages report on the “misconduct” of Hon. Francis Zaake during a meeting of the Committee on Educations and Sports, as they were investigating into the violence, the army presence and the raising intuition at Makerere University. This report was made in January 2020, but was published now recently.

What is striking is that everything is pointed at Zaake from the get-go. There is no denying in it. You can read that this was pre-programmed. Even if there was questions into the manner and ways Professor Nawangwe as well. Still, his all of the hook, no questions into his lacking will to answer or even say what really was going on there.

This was at the heights of it all with all the massive reports, speculations and even the horror viral videos of what was happening at the halls of Makerere University. While the Professor didn’t want to answer to this. That is why the Parliamentary Report on the actions done is toothless too. Just like the Professor said the MPs where. They are spineless and won’t have the ability shift the power, which is from “high above”. That evident with this report too.

Because, it points to Zaake. Not the reason behind it all, the stress of an MP who is in direct connection with the youths and students of Makerere. A man who cares and who isn’t ruthless. This is how it all seems now.

Zaake is the fall-guy. The guy to pin blame on for shouting, interrupting and questioning the Professor. As he was supposed to be accountable and transparent.

It is funny that the recommendations speaks of the integrity, decorum and manner of which a committee should work. They are pinning blame on Zaake without any consideration. Even when there are other allegations put on him with no evidence and not even captured on CCTV cameras. This all seems more like they had a pre-disposal and planned effort. That Zaake was a bad boy and need to punished.

While they can so easily do this to him, they didn’t do anything and haven’t pushed for the Recommendations in the Parliamentary Reports on the strikes and violence at Makerere University. These are just briefcase reports, but when it hits an opposition character like Zaake. Than, he will be muted and silenced by some manner. Because, protocol and decorum matters in the likes of him, but expect that a NRM MP can scream and shout. Expect a Cabinet member being allowed to go all “gung-ho” and “an-march”.

Yes, there’s is a need in a meeting for protocol, respect and manner. This is well-known, but that is from both parties. And the other MPs should know the invested interest for Zaake in this matter. It is not like his a total outsider and activists he knew was in trouble there. That is why, the army acting out and speculations into the vile activity would make anyone spark at a leader of the institution deflecting the questions.

Zaake might be wrong, but at the same time. He has done it with a purpose, which the report never states. Neither does the Vice-Chancellor or Professor deserve to let of the hook. Because of his reluctance to answer the committee and the allegations against him. What is striking is that the other members didn’t address that, but asked for human treatment. Meaning they are really weak and not bothering about gathering evidence towards Makerere. When they are just addressing Zaake and not even considering the actions that triggered him.

That is why this Report is a hit-job. It was meant from the get-go. There was no other meaning of this one. To censor or to give Zaake a message. That he got to relax, be more chill and just watch Netflix. Peace.

Makerere University letter to all MAK students on tomorrow’s strike (15.04.2018)

Uganda: UPC Calls for Economic Reforms (05.04.2017)

Uganda: UPC for LC1 and LC2 Elections (15.02.2017)

Makerere: “Re: Suspension from University Service” (30.01.2017)

Chairperson of the Council of MAK – “Re: Opening of Makerere University” (24.12.2016)

Hon. Janet Museveni orders “Re – Opening of Makerere University” (24.12.2016)

Makerere: MUASA Press Release on Political Activism and letter on delayed Salaries of Staff (02.12.2016)

Uganda: MUK Letter – “Payment of Salaries of Staff” (25.11.2016)

Opinion: President Museveni decree ordered closure of Makerere; which is the reason for the deceased innocent new-borns at Kawempe!

This saddens me and eats my heart out, as much as the knowledge of the famine in Isingiro and the lacking systemic enterprise or structure of the Ugandan Government, which is continuing to faltering, not serve the public. This has proven earlier in the year of other hospitals without X-Ray machines, lacking medicines and ordinary sanitary products. Together with the only Cobalt 60 Teletherapy Machine in the country at the Uganda Cancer Institute at the Mulago Hospital Complex we’re broking down and not having planned to be changed.

On the 1^st November the President Yoweri Museveni closed down the Makerere University and its affiliated programs because of strikes that have occurred during the year. This is happening since the staffs at the Academic Institution haven’t gotten paid for months upon months, while the students want their lectures to be paid. What the outcome of it came quickly as the Mulago Hospital we’re telling that their programs of interns we’re suspended together with the closure of the University.

Key Information from 11^th November:

“Dr Asuman Lukwago, the outgoing ministry of health permanent secretary, said the education ministry was responsible for the university and therefore, there is nothing his ministry could do to save the situation. “We would be contradicting ourselves. Ministry of education is responsible and not us as ministry of health. There is nothing we can do,” Dr Lukwago told daily Monitor in a phone interview” (Namagembe, 2016).

So because of First Lady Janet Museveni lacking integrity and ability to sort out the issues internally in the Ministry of Education the biggest Hospital and others are hurt. It is visible that the decisions have repercussions of the lacking leadership in the Ministry of Education and under Minister Janet Museveni who hasn’t carried out her position; since she hasn’t been able to sort out the allocation and the central leadership of the famous University.

“The initial health care is available but there is a shortage of specialists,” Dr Bangirana said. To improvise the available staff, Mulago hospital spokesperson, Enock Kusasira said the hospital has resorted to giving more attention to critical cases considered as life threatening.“We are concentrating less on out patients especially those whose cases are not life threatening,” Kusasira said. At the hospital, patients have to wait for hours before seeing the health workers. The case is not different from other affiliate hospitals and health facilities” (Namagembe, 2016).

Certainly the situation at the Mulago and affiliated Hospitals has been put into trouble with the suspension of Makerere. When the Ministry of Health Sarah Achieng Opendi has to defend the records of the actual numbers of deceased infants you know the system, the structure is rotten to the core. This isn’t really working and the innocence is dying. They are just read the statement in today’s Monitor!

31 New-borns deceased:

“The reports, according to Hon. Opendi asserted that the issue arose after the closure of Makerere University and the subsequent withdrawal of Senior Health Officers (SHOs) from the facility. “The Ministry of Health would like to strongly refute these allegations as baseless and a total misrepresentation of facts,” she said” (…) “Since the withdrawal of Senior House Officers on Nov 1, 2016 to date, Mulago Hospital has unfortunately lost 31 newborns,” she said adding that the deaths were majorly as a result of severe birth asphyxia and complications associated with prematurity” (…) “Severe Asphyxia is largely caused by prolonged labour, which is a consequence of late referrals. According to this statistics, Mulago Hospital has lost approximately one newborn per day due to unavoidable circumstances,” she added” (Mugume, 2016)

There is surely and have been deceased infants and babies during the famine and cause of the Isingiro, where the Republic and the government have dropped sorry loads of food-relief to the staving public; which has waited for months upon end. Sort of the same way the empty pockets of Makerere University lectures has been short-changed for months upon end. This is systemic maladministration from the head. What is worst is that the ones that are in charge are walking away, but the ones affected are being hurt. It is the innocent, the kids, the rural families; the ones are not MPs with flashy cars, lavish salaries but no taxes and all other perks. The same month that Makerere is closed the Income Tax Amendment that stops MPs for getting tax and the same month the MPs add-on more fees for “service car” in their duty.

The new-borns are dying at Kawempe Hospital, a Hospital that is affiliated with Mulago Hospital Complex. The Promise from Enock Kusasira we’re more a pre-warning than facts of their mission. They couldn’t control the effect of the closure of Makerere, as the President didn’t think of the effects or knew of the effects. His micro-management has caused severe effect for dozens of lives, not only the students that have their studies postponed and their degrees put-on hold. But the lives at Mulago and affiliates have been hurt.

The innocent children born into the world, doesn’t care about misrepresentation, taxation without representation or skimming funds. They care about their sanitary, loving mother and father; and occasionally food. They don’t care about the flashy cars for the MPs or the Ministry of Health Sarah Opendi’s resignation to the force of Janet Museveni.

Each family that has been affected by the decision of the President should be asked for forgiveness from the state, they lost their new-born. They lost their kid and the future of new-born something that should been made sure by the state. The State lost their way when they are responsible for the neglect of taking care of the mother and her baby at the hospital. That is supposed to be a safe-zone and make sure the families are in good hands. Each one of them are one too many to lose. The President has their souls on his hand, since he caused the effect and made the decision to suspend Makerere University. That has in return cause the innocent loss of lives.

This is how much that the President cares about the civil service, his teachers, his ministries and the citizens. He offers a Visitations Committee instead of allocating funds and giving way so that the Makerere can open and save life. More the public display of utter nonsense is more casual than actually acting on the loss of life. The innocent lives dies while the President orders are lingering, not only at Kawempe Hospital, but at the regions of Isingiro and Karamoja; the President couldn’t care less as the help showed has to be shown on the NTV and UBC before he cares.

The reckless policies and ineffective are now insulting to the public in Uganda, time for President Museveni to take charge and show leadership; has to make the right decisions and might even have to cough up some ghost-monies, some other shadow funding to pay his civil servants at the Hospitals and at the University! Peace.

Reference:

Namagembe, Lilian – ‘Health ministry stuck as Mulago crisis deepens after Makerere closure’ (11.11.2016) link: http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Health-ministry-Mulago-crisis-deepens-Makerere-closure/688334-3448994-747buj/index.html

Mugume, Paul – ‘Minister Opendi Speaks Out on Neonatal Deaths at Kawempe Hospital’ (23.11.2016) link: http://www.chimpreports.com/minister-opendi-speaks-out-on-neonatal-deaths-at-kawempe-hospital/