Letter – RK/GEN/1072/2016: “Re: Publication by the Uganda Radio Network” (12.10.2016)

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On Hon. Nsereko: he is an Imposter of the Yellow, not so “independent” apparently!

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The former National Resistance Movement Member of Parliament in the Buganda Caucus cannot be seen as anything else than a skeleton of political figure after the reason actions by the man. He has been in the 9th Parliament into squabble with his mother-party NRM as he fought against it and even won as NRM Rebel MPs like Hon. Muhammed Nsereko tried to find a new “home”. That ended up sort-of being affiliated with the Forum for Democratic Change as he was running as an “Independent”. Nsereko had to take his rebel case all the way to Uganda’s Supreme Court and won over the State of Uganda there in midst of October 2015. Something that is just a year ago, now!

So after winning a seat in Parliament again, he ran wild on trying to upset the NRM rule of the August House of Parliament with ousting Hon. Jacob Oulanyah, he tried to do what the wifes of Hon. Oulanyah does, without making it apparently because Oulanyah came this time. Hon. Nsereko wanted to be the Deputy Speaker and be the underling of Hon. Rebecca Kadaga.

That was flawed from the get-go as the NRM Machine was working overtime and giving money for new suits and such to bribe the MPs into submission and get the MPs that Mzee trusted to follow the guidelines of his MPs. So Hon. Nsereko who tried with his posing as the Opposition candidate and the man to stand for FDC, DP and UPC to be the man for them to have, as the August House of Parliament deserved his service and his work ethic to keep the Parliament in order. That was something that wasn’t working as the service rendered from the bribed MPs came into order and his candidacy as flawed it could be.

After this and just being an MP and working as normal, even as the wealthy business man, who even these days have proven his wealth. He even showed up on the Independence Celebration of Mzee at Luuka District all smiling with the First Lady Janet Museveni and all of his noble clan of dignitaries. Where they we’re celebrating the independence in the name of greed and glory of the Movement.

So when he did so and when this week started as the man under Buganda Caucus was expecting money the Caucus to silence the Opposition and even trying to persuade the MPs there to go for working for the Ruling Regime. This was happening as an event we’re given directly from the State House 500m shillings. That we’re partly directed by the “Independent” man Hon. Nsereko who had been smiling in Luuka. The proof is right there…

Nsereko 19.05.2016

If you cannot believe it now, it is right there and visible like a the sun is shining. The former NRM Rebel, isn’t really a NRM Rebel as his cash-cow and money hungry soul who owns a parts of Football Club and even apartments’ in Zambia doesn’t’ want to divorce himself from NRM, that is just a play of guards and to look good in public. In reality with all of connections and with the knowledge that you need to know people and grease people to do business; the Hon. Nsereko must use the entire extended network for his personal gain. As he did in the Opposition, something he really wasn’t when you look into it.

So the pictures of his acts, his words against the Defiance and the Jobless Brotherhood another way of seeing that he isn’t really a opposition or wishing to be so. He we’re just there because he rebelled and now he tries to get back into the mother-party and good graces. Therefore smiling with Janet on the Independence Day and acting all sort of giddy while the affiliated with the FDC during the campaigns who he supposed to represented we’re detained, house-arrested and silenced at that moment. Though Nsereko we’re initially running as an “independent” because of his past aggression and misbehaving in Parliament: so this independent candidate isn’t that independent as he now could just become Yellow again if he was honest with himself and his stature; though that is in the mercy of Mzee and his NRM Electoral Commission.

We can now see his true Yellow colours, they are waving as flags in the wind. There are no questions that the rebel isn’t as rebellious as his greed and guts are more important that standards and development. His own personal interests and wealth is more important, just like the monies for cars, expenses and extra engorgements through the Parliament as MP is vastly more peculiar to him than delivering any policy or change that matters for his Buganda Constiuency. Trust me, he will only be a puppet for the NRM machine in this 10th Parliament, that is why he is there, though in fake pretence as a “Independent” because nothing about this man is “independent”. He is currently a stooge under the portfolio of Mzee. Peace!

Uganda: A Motion for a Resolution of Parliament urging Government to make a Police that restricts the Charging of Rent in Foreign Currency by Landords of Business Premisses (06.10.2016)

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All of a sudden President Museveni wants to cater to the World Bank? I thought he didn’t’ want Foreign Interference in his Uganda!

Museveni Swears In

The World Bank has suspended their budget loans and the financial support for the Government of Uganda in this calendar year. President Museveni is seeing the ramifications of his inactions of fiscal policies and the way it’s interpreted. What the World Bank can question is the ability for the Ministries of Uganda to take loans in their own ways.

World Bank Statement on suspension of Development Funds for Roads:

Following the cancellation on December 21, 2015 of the World Bank supported Uganda Transport Sector Development Project, overseen by the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA), the World Bank has suspended the disbursement of funds for civil works in two other projects in Uganda. Those projects, overseen by the UNRA, are the North Eastern Road-Corridor Asset Management Project and the Albertine Region Sustainable Development Project which are suspended pending a review and strengthening of the capacity of UNRA to adhere to the required  environmental and social standards. We are continuing to work with the Government to ensure all Bank-supported projects help Ugandans improve their lives while protecting the poor and vulnerable” (World Bank, 2016).

World Bank Statement earlier in September:

The World Bank Group took a decision to withhold new lending to Uganda effective August 22, 2016 while reviewing the country’s portfolio in consultation with the Government of Uganda.  We continue to actively work with the Ugandan authorities to address the outstanding performance issues in the portfolio, including delays in project effectiveness, weaknesses in safeguards monitoring and enforcement, and low disbursement. We reiterate our commitment to doing everything possible to work closely with the Government of Uganda, as well as with other stakeholders, to support the country’s development and ensure that all World Bank-supported projects deliver tangible and long-lasting results to all Ugandans, especially the poor and vulnerable” (World Bank, 2016).

President Museveni writes to the World Bank:

“President Museveni has written to the World Bank (WB) promising that his government is addressing the structural gaps and other loopholes that compelled the bank early this month to announce withholding of more than $1.5b (Shs5 trillion) in new lending until further notice. The President’s letter to WB, also copied to senior officials in the Ministry of Finance, is part of efforts by government to salvage the loans and save many projects whose failure could have wide economic and political ramifications” (…) “The other guidelines that finance officials will table in Washington, he said, is for all projects to have a “component of benchmarking by Parliament” before the loans are approved. Previously, he explained, ministries would push to get loans whose absorption and project implementation plans are not ready. “For all loans that have not been absorbed, I have evidence where the ministers say they were ready. But by adding a component of benchmarking, they have to justify the request and also satisfy that they are ready.” (Musisi, 2016).

These two statements prove the sentiment of World Bank towards the Government of Uganda and their Parliament how they spend and allocate their monies. As the structures of the Parliament are not budget-wise or coherent enough to be trusted with foreign money! So they have suspended and shown their acts towards the government who has used the loans as they please.

Here a proof of recent legislation that gave a free pass to the Members of Parliaments and the Government of Uganda how they can act without any supervision. Just read this lines!

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As shown by me before in 2015:

 “(5a) In addition to subsection (5), a loan raised by the Government as a temporary advance by the Bank of Uganda, which does not extend beyond a financial year shall not require to be approved by the Parliament” (P5, 2015, PFMA).

So if President Yoweri Museveni writes with the sweetest words, this legislations is active and gives way to the Ministries to take out money without filling it in the Ministerial Policy Statement before Financial Year Budget 2015/2016 or any year else as the small term loans can be taken by ‘Ministry for Higher Education and Sports’ can borrow 1bn from Bank of Uganda (BoU) without questions if it supposed to a be short-term loan. And the best it doesn’t have to be questioned the validity in Parliament.

President Museveni forgets that part and that he has created and accepted the loopholes of the economy because the legislation has been servicing him and his cadres. Therefore he feel compelled to write to ask for it and promise to fix it. The World Bank knew he made it happen and therefore seen enough of his ruthless behaviour and his mismanagement of funds.

And if President Museveni took time to read through the reports of the Auditor General John Muwanga and the Inspectorate of Government under the Inspector Government (IGG) Irene Mulyagonja Kakooza has in the recent Financial Year 2015/2016 written staggering amount loopholes and fiscal maladministration. This being that funds that is allocated not paid out on time and also unaccounted funds, even misspent funds in many ministries of the recent budget year 2014/2015. With this in mind, the President should read some of it and make sure they have procedures and will power to create government institutions that works properly.

Instead, Mr. President you have focused more on yourself and the same with the MPs who are greedy and known for seeking their own interest instead of their citizens. In this regard that the President pleas for the bailout World Bank loans are a bit too much for me; this from a man who said this not too long ago:

“I wouldn’t ask these foreigners, but I would never accept these foreigners to give me orders about Uganda. Or about anything in the world! They got their own countries to run. Let them go and run them. Uganda is ours. Nobody gives us orders here” – President Museveni at Kololo Independence Grounds Speech while celebrating the “Double Victory” on 9th April 2016” (Minbane, 2016).

So these man pleas when needing, but acting all bold when rigging the election. As he fixed the economy this way as he has had 30 years to make it this way. This is the powers of being the Executive for so long and he has seen how the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) do their loans to the governments in the past. I am sure he knows very well as he has been a recipient all his life. That’s why it’s so strange that he accept being told how to run his business now… when they suspend and sanctions his needed loans to run his operation and his government. But when they we’re doing it he could tell them to go to hell.

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It is like a moment of Nostalgia when it comes to this. President Museveni pattern are just like this. He continues to counter his own argument from a few months ago. This will happen again, but I hope the World Bank continues to stifle the “Old Man with the Hat”. Because he will one minute speak his peace and offer pleasant gifts, next moment he will be on the war-path and spread venom and after that try to fix it, but usually too late.

But the recommendation from World Bank isn’t a quick fix; it is a systemic change of policy of the economic framework that is there. Something the President already knows very well, as he earns his coins on the system he has ushered in. Peace.

Reference:

Government of Uganda – Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) 2015

Minbane – ‘Don Museveni says “I would never accept these foreigners to give me orders about Uganda”; Time to cut the direct donor assistance to the government budget of Uganda and after that let Don Museveni eat alone!’ (10.04.2016) link: https://minbane.wordpress.com/2016/04/10/httpwp-mep1xtjg-20m/

Musisi, Fredrick – ‘Museveni sends delegation to plead with World Bank over loans’ (30.09.2016) link: http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Museveni-appeals-World-Bank-over-loans/688334-3399642-g0djk7/index.html

World Bank Group – ‘World Bank Statement on Withholding New Lending to Uganda (13.09.2016) link: https://minbane.wordpress.com/2016/09/14/httpwp-mep1xtjg-3fl/

World Bank Group – ‘World Bank Statement on Suspension of Roads Projects in Uganda’ (08.01.2016) link: https://minbane.wordpress.com/2016/01/09/httpwp-mep1xtjg-1jx-2/

Opinion: 10th Parliament MPs proves that their Greed is more important than the Government programs and running expenses!

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This is growing concern not because of the World Bank suspending loans and funds to the development projects or anything else. The ways the allocated funds and tax funds are used in the 10th Parliament shows their level of reckless spending and no concern of accountability.

This happens on the week the Daily Monitor shows reports of 80% of Primary Teachers that teach who can’t read while being government civil servants. These Teachers are the ones learning their inabilities to the future. So the misappropriate funds for the Educational Sector comes into fruition. The Universal Primary Education is surely improperly balanced together with the mismanagement of buildings and salaries; if they get salaries that usually never on time, teachers can wait for months upon months to get their pay. There are enough fallen and depleted schools.

While the Education Sector is in shambles the Members of Parliaments are allocating more money for their private cars. So they can drive around like King-pins in their constituency. They can ride around in the Toyotal Land Cruiser Prado and feel special while their citizens they represent have teachers who can’t read and supposed to teach Vincent grammar. That is just so special ignorance of their duty those 30 years of the Movement should have had enough time to make difference and not make the schooling system weaker.

This is happening in the week that the imported Anti-Retroviral Drugs (ARDs) where National Medical Store (NMS) are distributing medicines, but they are sold more expensively locally than internationally. The Ugandan population are doing the same as Americans who pays an extra fortune for their EpiPen Auto-Injector. Together with the other issues around in the Hospitals like Uganda Cancer Institute and their breakdown of hte Cobalt 60 Teletherapy Machine. That still isn’t fixed and was the only one in the great nation.

While the Health Care and Health Sector are not as functional as it should be. While this is happening the MPs have allocated funds and bought Tablets or Ipad’s for a fortune for themselves. Because these MPs need tablets to write notes and such even if am not sure Prime Minister Dr. Ruhakana Ruganda or Vice-President Edward Ssekandi can even use one of them. So they spending a on this while medicines are missing or empty at a time or another.

The MPs salaries, the MPs Allowance and the MPs wish to exempt their salaries from Tax. Together with appropriating lots of funds for travelling for days to the United States and Boston for a Seminar; together with the extended funds for burials, this is happening so they can have an extravagant lifestyle into the casket.

This is happening while the government institutions and programs are weak or nearly non-existence. They have surely ghosts like the ghost SACCO Mzee gave to a non-existing organization. While the MPs representing their people are living like royals in the National Assembly with fancy cars and houses while the unemployment levels are still strong and the educations of their kids are made by teachers who can’t even write. This shouldn’t be happening, but apparently it is.

The Governance is not really happening. Because the government are not steering towards any place, they are walking on clouds and not taking steps to change the deteriorating state of education and health care.

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This is happening while the Government are adding more debt and is by end of the year having over UGX 26 Trillion. This is happening while the Roads Development that been borrowed to Uganda National Roads Authority from the World Bank has been suspended. So the worsen economic situation together with lack of funds for fiscal cash proves the weakness of the economy and the national policies.

This is happening also while the Ugandan Government has to tackle more refugees in Adjumani and other districts towards South Sudan as the neighbour continues with internal fighting. This together with the fluid borders into Democratic Republic of Congo. This has been done with armies and guerrillas in the past to get resources something that has led to another expensive debt to DRC for the Ugandan State.

So the mismanagement and maladministration of the Movement that have had the time to fix it has apparently been more sucked into their own rich-elite oblivion instead of serving their people. That is why the MPs are so into fixing themselves up nicely while the other are living in midst of utter poverty. So the debt is rising and inflation is rising. So the value of shilling isn’t worth much while the imports are more needed. NRM Regime is not having a fiscal policy as they are loose with spending without having secured funding. While making grand plans without having the output to secure borrowing…

I am sure there more things that could be discussed, but this is more than enough for today. As the proof is in the pudding; the budget and the inflated expenses of the Parliament shows how little accountability and transparency of their acts are. This is with the knowledge of months after the General Election 2016… the State House we’re broke right after for those that forgotten. Since the State House had used it resources in the Campaign that cost fortunes and after the election they had to get funds to pay the running expenses.

You think the government should be carrying itself better after been ruling for 30 years, but they are not. They are running like lackeys thieving the little pieces they can instead of building. Therefore the MPs are running the mill like the ability is only counted for when they are pocketed. That is why the greed of getting brown-envelopes is coming when the Mzee needs bills to pass. They get both monies and valuable produce to sell after being in the National Assembly. So with this in mind, the Speaker Rebecca Kadaga should silence herself and take care of her people instead of blaming the media… because they account to the people and the MPs should be more careful spending taxpayer’s monies, instead they use the budget for their own sake and not for the citizens who bleed for this. Peace.

Opinion: The reason for the silence of the LoP Kiiza; As the MPs want to secure a lavish lifestyle until death

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It’s one of those days I say kudos to the men of Forum for Democratic Change – Youth (FDC-Y) wanted the sacking of Hon. Winnie Kiiza and her position as the Leader of Opposition (LoP). I am amused and amazed that it happens over money and the lavish lifestyle. The escalating funds and extended add-ons of expensive SUVs and Caskets when their imminent death conspire and their lives expires.

Well, that is a good cause, but the FDC Youth should have reacted to the day she went into office of Leaders of Opposition and joined the company of under the Movement and their Executive. That should been a battle-cry, but there we’re none just a silent approach where the trailing election and rigging where validated by the appointment of the Cabinet and the Shadow one.

So that today the FDC-Y decided to counter and ask for axing her today is a bit late. Hon. Winnie Kiiza and the FDC National Executive Committee (FDC-NEC) wouldn’t sack or change the Shadow Cabinet just months after arrival unless there an internal-coup in the party as there in the United Kingdom in the Labour Party where you either against Jeremy Corbyn or Owen Smith. The FDC is not Labour, but there have to be similar acts towards the MPs and he hardliners in the party to dissolve the Shadow Cabinet of today.

So the reason for her silence she is already an accomplice with the fellow MPs who wish the lavish lifestyle and become honourable overnight. The reality of the matter as long as the LoP and Shadow Cabinet is there, the 10th Parliament is in effect and the day-to-day business of the National Assembly will go. So the idea of the LoP to be sacked and change will matter is pointless.

Kiiza Article Daily Monitor

The FDC Youth shouldn’t get the LoP sacked; they should get the whole Shadow Cabinet discontinued and stop validation of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) that is what the FDC-Y should propose in this matter. The monies and advantages of the MPs will raise so sky high the Jupiter. The riches and wealth of the MPs will continue to surge as the level of impunity and little care for service deliver is there in the shallow halls of Parliament.

I admire the FDC Youth stance, as I have the same for the reckless spending of taxpayer’s monies on the already insulting wealthy salaries and other beneficiary programs for the MPs. So the poverty of the government institutions as schools and hospitals should been the main target of the funds and not SUVs for the newly elected men and woman. Alas, that is the case and the Youth are right with their anger.

The Movement are only interested in their selfish interests of their sole elite and their demands. Sometimes they will give monies to the needed and projects of government, but that will be merely a charade of dishonest approach as the Executive gives out pocket-change while he eats fortunes for supper. This is what the FDC should work against and not accept in Parliament. The MPs are just showing their disregard of the people and their work. This indecency of the representatives deserves to be demonstrated against and sought to stop. But to think that the utter words of somebody who validated the rigged election of 2016; than think again!

The FDC Youth shouldn’t sack Hon. Kiiza for her silence on the indecent behaviour of the representatives. The Youths should have reacted to the FDC NEC getting her the gig in the National Assembly in the first place. Her silence is because she cannot go too far in her criticism because she has already altered her motives and ambition to suit the captors of power.

She will be as strong and weak towards the Movement as the Hon. Beti Kamya of UFA. The spine of character has already shown as the where no problems for sending over a dozen of MPs to the Seminar in the United States or the shutdown of Parliament for a week for all the ones travelling so far. There we’re no quarrel in the matter. This proves that Hon. Kiiza is already part of the problem and the get-rich-quick click of Parliament. There isn’t any evidence of otherwise as the suggestions of a possible strong opposition there are dwindling. There are certain men and woman there still, but there far apart as Hon. Frank Mwijukye is one of them. Still, he is a part of losing end and Hon. Kiiza helps him to lose!

Hon. Francis Mwijukye said: "Today I visited Karungu government secondary in Karungu subcounty- Buhweju district where I found students studying under very disturbing circumstances" (Mwijukye, 25.06.2016)
Hon. Francis Mwijukye said: “Today I visited Karungu government secondary in Karungu subcounty- Buhweju district where I found students studying under very disturbing circumstances” (Mwijukye, 25.06.2016)

Kudos to the FDC-Y for their action and approach, but the gates is closed unless they want to marginalize the Parliament and not just take a bold stance against their own. That I and many doesn’t’ validate the LoP or her Cabinet is becomes of the dissolution decision to support the Movement by becoming it! So the losing end where already taken when the token and signs where made to the Speaker Kadaga and Deputy Speaker Oulanyah earlier this year.

Now, the time has come for the FDC-Y to either to take the stance of NRM Poor Youth. Try to disembark from the NRM during the Campaign period to the Go-Forward. If not, they can be a nuisance to their mother party… that will not generate the needed extra youthful idealistic force that either can excel a party or can muster the needed grass-root progress that it needs. The FDC-Y needs to show with their ideas and actions that they want to counter the FDC NEC now and their acts of validating the Movement. Not only by axing fellow Hon. Kiiza, but get them to axe the Shadow cabinet! If they do so and asks for that, than they will create empty space in parliament and also question the election that were. Defy and prove the Campaign of Defiance of Dr. Kizza Besigye worthy! Peace.

Uganda: Preliminary Response on Parliament’s Statement about the Media (15.09.2016)

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Opinion: Kadaga’s sudden anger towards the media; the Honourable has lost touch with Commoners and the Common Sense!

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Parliamentary Speak Rebecca Kadaga in Parliament: “Let us sue these media houses, take them to court so they lose money”.

Well, honourable Rebecca Kadaga of the noble house of Uganda Parliamentary. There might be misquotes from the Media, even comments and stories that are wrong. But the credit for this is the ruin of the public display and also the tradition of the aghast-house.

If you wonder why the stories come it is because the Members of Parliament loves to be in the spotlight and tell their stories. The media continue to pound on the use of monies while the state borrows more monies and adds debt. This happens as the revenue is kept in the shadow and of the public.

Hon. Rebecca Kadaga said this also today: “I caution the press, the next time such reports are made, editors will be asked to apologize”.

And you shouldn’t wonder about our scepticism to your accountability and just behaviour as the MPs are following a long road of doling out when it is needed for the Executive. The Media will only say what the shadow looks like and not just get the media begging.

There isn’t weird that the media and opposition reacts to the funding of cars up-to 200m UGX and all the benefits of being in Parliament. Together with the weekly fees and other housing fees; also the one point of trying to avoid income-tax on their salaries like ordinary folks.

So the MPs greed will be discussed and with the knowledge of certain MPs todays show the disrespect of the National Resistance Movement MPs.

Hon. Julius Abua Acom said: “We should keep the money for burial a secret, UGX68 Million shouldn’t be in the public eye, for people will curse us”.

Minister Chris Baryomunsi said: “Media should respect Parliament in their reporting. Parliamentary commission needs to come up with guidelines”.

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Hon. Jalia Lukumu N. Abwooli Bintu said: “Government needs to come out and give us UGx500 Million for a brand new cars, we dont need to shy away, it is our right”.

When you are having MPs who flaunt their wealth and want to use taxpayers monies like kids wants to eat candy then you know the system is rigged and maladministration. The Parliament cannot be healthy when Hon. Jalia Bintu of Masindi who has already asked in 2015 for the locals to consult with her; this happen in September 2015 when she needed the locals of Masindi’s goodwill. Now that she is back in the seat of Parliament she can eat the loads of monies instead of actually delivering services to the schools or roads. She got the guts of asking 500 millions shillings for 430 MPs in the 10th Parliament. That is not a small forfeit or bargain that is a substantial fee to the upkeep of the fellow parliamentarians. As much as the 200 Millions of shillings to the 430 MPs that is supposed to go there.

That other fellow MPs want to keep the upkeep and the expenses of the Parliament secret says more about the MP and his party than he likes to admit. But a man wouldn’t come with ideas of those means the Lira District and Okute County MP Acom has rigid ideas of accountability and who they represent in the Northern Uganda. As the man who represents the Okute County thinks the government shouldn’t tell how the Government spends their monies; which is insulting to the people who elected the Independent Candidate or accepted that he became their representative. He shows how disgraceful the men and woman can be in the Aghast-house.

So when you have ministers of this kind and by all means what is said in the house of Parliament will be let out the light. That light that shines on the papers and transcripts, the audio that leaks from the house and the ideas of the people running the house will either shade of glory, content and disarray. As the actions of the Parliament will set the precedence of how the nation can act and behave. How the systems will be built and by what sanctions that are to follow. The light will either be hopeful, graceful, merciful or disgusted.

That Rebecca Kadaga doesn’t understand the excessive actions of her Parliament doesn’t get praise or the glory she thinks it deserves. That is because what does the massive spending of government funds and taxations of common folks. The Commoners are paying more tax and the donor’s aid is being used to secure helicopter and private planes to the President. The MPs want their share under the shade of the man with the hat. As they are gotten used to the men and woman who enter the halls are finally eating. Therefore they want to get there because that is biggest business-venture they can get into in the nation.

So with this in mind; if Hon. Kadaga really wanted the press and media-houses to write stories and articles about them and the kinds of men who haste inside the chambers for titles, deeds and revenues. That is why they desist from the duty and becomes their own men of fortune by squandering tax-money to themselves instead of development projects and salaries to fellow civil servants.

So please Hon. Kadaga get your ducks in the row. Get the common-sense if your sense is still common. Because you act like spoil brat who doesn’t like that the beans are spilled because of you wearing the most expensive jacket to class. Than the other classmates will discuss and feel out of bound; in the same way the ordinary Ugandan will feel about doling out expenses for cars, travels, medical trips to India and so on the bill of all the taxpayers.

Time to silence and bow your grace. Your sense is not common and the articles will pile up when you don’t respect the people and their toll of work for your own courtesy. Rebecca Kadaga times to silence your threats and your acts of silencing the media. Now you can think more about to deliver the public some public good and not the MPs more wealth. Peace.

Uganda: Leadership Code Amendment of 2016; what are the important changes in the law?

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The original Leadership Code of Uganda where commencement 26th June 1992 in the early years of the National Resistance Movement; so the Government of Uganda need more to revised and amended as the Minister for Ethics Reverend Simon Lodoko has ideas to make the Leaders and Civil servants more ethical inspired. This done with amending a new law and making it stricter and giving the Ministry a strong Authority with a legal power as the law propose to change a very subtle committee who discuss proposed leadership breaches with Parliament and Minister; the Tribunal are having more ability to actually following the breaching and unethical behavior from leaders and their snitching ways. That is why the Tribunal gets revised from a measly Committee towards a powerful Tribunal!

Take a look at important issues that are wished revised and changed to make the 1992 law better and more control from the Central Government!

In the original – 

Section 10:

(1): “A leader shall not put himself or herself in a position in which his or her personal interest conflicts with his or her duties and responsibilities”

In the new Amendment:

(1)“A gift or donation to a leader at any public or governmental occasion shall be treated as a gift or donation to the Government or the institution represented by the leader and shall be declared so to the Inspector General; but the Government or the institution shall keep an inventory of the gift”.

There is a giant different between putting himself in a conflict and getting a gift. The Conflict is by approaching an offer that might substantially discredit the decisions alters the judgement done by the leader of government or in any government institutions. That is different from becoming somebody who get gift and has to give it to the government and institution who the leader works for. The gifts system is normal in many states as the leader and civil servants represent the states and cannot take bribes of gifts and such therefore these laws exist to make sure gifts and donations doesn’t become an issue to secure the vote/regulation/license or use the government institution to gain more than the competitor that doesn’t give or donate to the government leader.

Therefore the rule change is healthy, but will it just be lawful text and followed up the current leadership and only done as PR stunt as the NRM Regime hasn’t really been showing talent for accountability and transparency other than stern warnings and when donor aid has been cut. Then the government has swallowed a few bloody court cases and showing grand-corruption to prove their ability to honest budgeting; while going back to office when the court are gone and the questions from donors are silent. Therefore I have doubt that this law has affect as the Auditor General and Inspector General of Government (IGG) doesn’t even dig deep into the current corruption; so this seem like beautiful words, but will they acted upon?

Create a Tribunal:

Other key ones are adding a Tribunal that the leaders and representatives for government institutions report to and follow the ethics of their actions. They will have a chairperson that is elected by the Parliament and the ones in Parliament cannot appoint a chairperson, unless they can appoint a High Judge of the High Court. Which is part of the new 19 Section in 19A and 19B; this Tribunal will be elected by the President and Public Service Commission; with approval of the Parliament (19C).

This Tribunal will follow the case if non-else party is available to fetch evidence and collect affidavits as long as they believe it is “subject cause”. They can even interrogate needed persons even “abroad”. New in 19R (5): “The Tribunal may make an order in to costs against any party, and the order shall be enforceable in the same manner as an order of the High Court”. So the Tribunal will get the same value as a Court Order to follow the cases and follow the alleged breaches of the Leadership Code.

The strictest clear rules on the Tribunal is in the 19Z:

“A Person who –

  • Insults a member in, or in relations to, the exercise of his or her powers or functions as a member of the tribunal;
  • Interrupts the proceedings of the Tribunal;
  • Creates a disturbances, or takes part in creating a disturbance in or near a place where the Tribunal is sitting; or
  • Does any other act or thing that would, if the Tribunal were a court of record, constitute contempt of court, commits an offence and is liable, on conviction, to a fine not exceeding twenty-five currency points or imprisonment not exceeding six months or both”

Another change is the total replacement of this part of the law:

“20. Report of the committee.

Upon the completion of an inquiry conducted by the committee or upon receipt of a report of findings submitted by the Inspector General of Government or the Inspector General of Police or the Auditor General under section 19, the committee shall make a report to the authorised person; and in a case where the committee or the Inspector General of Government or the Inspector General of Police or the Auditor General has found that the leader whose conduct was inquired into is in breach of this Code, the committee shall make such recommendations as it considers appropriate as to action to be taken against the leader.

The committee’s report under subsection (1) shall be made public and shall state whether the leader is or is not in breach of this Code in respect of the specific matters inquired into by the committee and, in the case of a breach, shall set out—

 the nature of the breach which the leader has been found to have committed;

the circumstances of the breach;

a brief summary of the evidence received during the inquiry into the breach; and

its findings and recommendations.”

This with the amendment changes to this:

“(1) The Registrar of the Tribunal shall inform the authorised person in writing, of the decision of the Tribunal, within thirty days after the date of the decision.

(2) The authorised person shall upon receipt of the decision under subsection(1) take actions within thirty days.

(3) The authorised person shall report to the Tribunal in writing within fourteen days after the explaination of the thirty days referred to in subsection (2) of the action taken by him or her”.

Here the Tribunal doesn’t need to go public as they needed before, because this section is changed and amended with the new Leadership Code of 2016, this proves the writing happens between authorised person and the Tribunal and not to commit it public. It means within 30 days actions against a person will happen, but not publicly. So the Tribunal compared to the Committee of old can work in silence and act against somebody without common knowledge.

As the Section 23 original law says this:

“23. Procedure of the committee.

Subject to this Code, the committee may, after consultation with the Minister, make rules regulating its procedure under this Code”.

The newly amendment says this:

“Procuring information and attendance of witnesses.

Subject to this Act, the inspectorate may –

  • Summon any person who, in the opinion of the Inspectorate, is able to give information relating to any matter relevant, to the investigation being conducted by it, to appear before inspectorate and to furnish such information and produce any documents, papers or thing that may be in possession or under the control of that person; and
  • By order in writing, summon the person to attend before the inspectorate at a specified time and place and to be examined on oath”.

With this substantial change together with the others, the powers of the Tribunal is to inspect and get witness report or an affidavit as the summons of a person who might have information has to answer to the Inspectorate for the Tribunal under oath. The relevancy of this is the powers that the law might give the Tribunal as they can investigate and summon. Not only consult with minister after the code has been followed by the Committee. So the powers of following breaches of the set the law gets more ability to sanctions citizens. While the Tribunal get more power than a Committee that ask the Parliament for ability to act like the Leadership Code of 1992 does. Peace.

Ssebagala: I Don’t Regret Abandoning Opposition (Youtube-Clip)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8bAvVSVtZY

“When we talk politics, wealth and controversy in Uganda, not so many names will top Alhaji Nasser Ntege Ssebaggala. The former Kampala Mayor’s life has been dogged by scandals over the last four decades. Mable Twegumye Zake spoke to Nasser Ssebagala who was recently appointed senior presidential advisor on investment promotion” (NTV Uganda, 2016)