Opinion: Museveni has nothing to give the striking teachers…

We have provided a position as government and pledged to competitively remunerate workers guided by a science-led strategy. This does not mean we have forgotten others, but we are choosing to prioritise the few and others can come later. We must finish one problem at a time. The Arts teachers insist that we should use the available resources to improve salaries across the board, whilst this is possible, it does not solve the salary issue. It is okumemerera (sprinkling), where everyone will get a little and then next year everyone strikes. We have a strategy and no one should disrupt us. We are aware of the issues and we are committed to handling them. Therefore, my advice to the teachers is that they should go back and teach. “Therefore, my advice to the teachers is that they should go back and teach.”-President Museveni” (Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, 04.07.2022).

For a man sitting in wealth and riches like the Head of State, the President of the ages and been the Commander-In-Chief since 1986. He surely don’t understand the plights of other people or with age his not concerned with it. His only talking and guiding people, but never listening or digesting the information brought to his table. No, that is for the bureaucracy and technocrats to figure out.

The mind of the old man is settled and he will never let go of any sort of conviction he already got. Even if it bonkers and wrong. Heck, this will not amount to anything and is despicable. It just proves the hypocrisy. Because, where his residing and ruling from there is endless of supplementary budgets, confidential expenditure and whatnot, which is money that is at his disposal at any given time. The President haven’t any need to worry or be afraid to get broke. He can just hire a truck to the Reserves of Bank of Uganda and get whatever he deems fit. If it is the foreign exchange or whatnot. It is just his bank to toy around with…

When you have that in mind. It shows how the old man thinks and can direct people to work. He believes that everyone is just his servants. That the teachers, lectures and everyone else employed by the state should follow his every whim. He clearly doesn’t value the industrial action or the Unions actions to fight for justified salaries or terms, which is what an Union is supposed to do.

The President just wants to silence them and make the membership of Unions pointless. As everyone is just to believe in his plans. While his living one millions of shillings per day. His advisors are paid like no tomorrow. The MPs have gotten a huge pay-cut and the cronies are living in bountiful existence. Meanwhile, the civil servants and the public service of the state is lingering in uncertainty. As their salaries are stagnate, but the prices of basic goods or food are going up.

Surely, the President isn’t only eating cassava. He can take a plane, helicopter and eat whatever he wants. The same with the rest of his court. They can fly away for treatment and import all sorts of luxurious items. If not… they can get the state to bail them out or pay for the expenditure on a future budget. Because, that is what he does…

However, the teachers and the lectures who isn’t part of the new payment scheme. They aren’t of that tribe. Hell, they are bound for failing and incapacitation or sorts. While the gentlemen and the anointed ones are heaven bound. They are already at the pearly gates and awaiting sermons of Jesus. While the others hope to get a peace of meat to barbecue in hell. However, the devil got nothing to spare, except more pain and suffering.

Museveni in some terms has nothing to offer or give. That’s because he don’t care and his not living in the plight or the same league. His been far above it and haven’t felt it for decades. He is the ancient monarch and emperor who see everyone as his subject. They are just bound by his words and they should just listen. If they don’t… then they deserve to die or starve. Because, they should know better. That’s how this is looking and it’s of no good.

The President has forgotten his role and speaks of a strategy that shouldn’t be altered. However, who said that was a righteous one or a justified one? Why should the State House and the MPs get a rise? Why should the science teachers get it and not the rest? Who is he to judge that?

He should know better, but he cannot stop fooling himself, as the tyrant he is. Directing and guiding his subjects. He wants them poor and begging for his audience. That’s who he is and how he operates.

A man who cannot see or do anything wrong. However, we all can see it, but his delusion is whole character and he cannot run away from it now. Peace.

Opinion: Museveni can only fool the blind…

No one can teach me about the subject of human rights because that is what I fought for, to have a democratic society in Uganda. I spent sixteen solid years of my life putting in place human rights observance and correcting what the regime of Idi Amin distorted. When handling human rights issues, be careful, cases of illegal detention, torture, and human rights violations will end, and will not be tolerated” – President Yoweri Tibuhurwa Kaguta Museveni (30.06.2022).

Sometimes… the delusion and the deluded mind thinks they are always correct. Especially, someone who has been in power without any significant challenge or without a proper contest. The elections and the rally for power after January 1986 has been based on who got the guns and the authority. Not on which brother or sister who has the best skills, attributes or policies to change the status quo of the Republic. Because, Museveni has held the army, the police and the judiciary. He could easily navigate and get his will into policy. Therefore, his words to Ken Roth, the Executive Officer of Human Rights Watch (HRW) means squat or nothing.

We know the authorities, the police force and all other security agencies uses means, which violates with human rights. It is common knowledge of the practices performed by the state. The abductions, the illegally detentions and the torture of dissidents. That is well-known, as much as the drones and the usage of army courts to charge and sentence civilians. This is why the President knows perfectly well how his in the wrong.

Museveni continues to speak ill of Amin. However, they are genuinely alike in many aspects. They are using the law to stranglehold the opposition. The authorities are used to arrest, detain and keep people incommunicado. People who defies and resist the pressure of state can easily be found dead after being kept at unknown locations. The state uses ungazetted safe-houses, the army and security details to apprehend and assault civilians who dares to question the legitimacy of the rulers of the republic.

That’s why anyone with a working marble and a little wisdom. Knows that the state apparatus, the imprint of the guards of the republic is to directly violate the human rights. They are proudly following orders, which circumvent their own constitution and principals of equal before the law. However, in the republic you are proven guilty before your proven innocent. This is why people can be behind bars without being produced in court. Neither are there any warrants, indictments or any production of evidence in the cases. The activists, citizens or opposition leaders are just barred from ordinary life. Because they dared to question and stand up for justice.

This injustice is known and shouldn’t shock anyone. The Safe-Houses, the practice of the Special Forces Command (SFC), Internal Security Organization (ISO) or the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) are capable of despicable things and acts, which are wrongly conducted in favour of the state.

The National Resistance Movement has used these techniques since it’s inception. The usage of torture and illegal arrests has been common practice. It has never ceased and the operations has only changed in the nature or by the way the interpret it. That’s why cases are pending in the courts and people challenge the treatment at government facilities, which caused them harm and made them scorned for life.

So, when President Museveni speaks of never doing or will not tolerate it. That is just nonsense and empty words. It is as meaningful as his words about combatting corruption. This is not really happening either and we all know. The President is keeping the fear and intimidation alive. His signalling anyone who dares to oppose him. That they can be touched and be violated. So, that they know who is in-charge and who is staying there.

The anointed one, the high above and the eternal prince of Rwakitura. Peace.

Opinion: The GoU isn’t the owner of the DGF

Today, I hosted the Danish Minister for Development Cooperation. We discussed a number of bilateral issues. I also agreed to lift the ban on Democratic Governance Facility (DGF), to run till December 2022, with Government represented in the decision-making structures. I shall formally communicate our position to the relevant government departments” (Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, 22.06.2022).

You know that someone has ruled for too long when you think donor funds are for you to toy around with and decide. President Yoweri Tibuhurwa Kaguta Museveni has been running the Republic since January 1986 and it shows. The audacity of this man…

Yes, his a real life villain and he thrives on that. He was able to hoodwink people for a generation, but the truth of his actions is catching up to people slowly. The ones funding the DGF should have all ears and listen to the dissidents. Because, there is sinister and dark scheming behind the scenes, which we know the National Resistance Movement (NRM) nor the President want out on blast.

That’s why when his doing this putting condition and stings on “free money”. You just know it’s off the hook. It isn’t for the President nor his state to decide what the donors want it spent on. They can spend how they deem fit and what sort of governance, organizations or state institutions they deem fit. Because, it is their monies and their tax-payers funds, which they have to be accountable for. Therefore, after 18 months suspension and giving nearly 6 months more run-time. It is really showing that the President is tired and cannot manage to not micro-manage everything single thing in the Republic. He needs to know and it bugs him like crazy. That someone else has a vision and an idea in the nation of which he reside and happens to be the Head of State off.

Who are the DGF and why does it exist:

The Democratic Governance Facility (DGF) was initially established in July 2011 by eight Development Partners (DPs) as a five-year governance programme aimed at providing harmonised, coherent and well-coordinated support to state and non-state entities to strengthen democratisation, protect human rights, improve access to justice and enhance accountability in Uganda. The Programme goal was to contribute to equitable growth, poverty eradication, rule of law and long term stability in Uganda. This programme marked the first phase of DGF that ended in June 2016. A transitional period of 18 months was implemented from July 2016 to December 2017. Currently the DGF is implementing its second 5-year phase (January 2018 – December 2022) with support from seven DPs: Austria, Denmark, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the European Union, to build on the achievements of the first phase, address the continuing democratic deficits, and consolidate peace and stability in the country” (Democratic Governance Facility – What is DGF).

The board of the DGF is also the ambassadors of the respective donor nations and the head of delegation of the European Union as well. So, it has already 6 board members, which represents the ones who is funding the DGF. That is the vital part here. The DGF wouldn’t exist and be an entity without the funding and the operational funds of the donors.

That’s why the President directing and pinning in the ministries to intervene and partake in it is infuriating. This is insulting the donors and their worthiness. It is like the President and his associates believes it’s their birthright to donations and funds of which these nations are bringing. Which couldn’t be further from the truth. They are lucky to receive it in the first place. Why shouldn’t Austria just invest in health care in Vienna? Or the Sweden in Stockholm, Norway in Oslo, Ireland in Dublin, Netherlands in Amsterdam or the EU in Brussels? They are not owing Museveni or the NRM anything. No, this is “free” money and they are lucky to get it and the arrogance of the President shows.

These ambassadors and the board of the DGF isn’t his minions and senior presidential advisors. No, they are there to promote the interests of their respective nations and find good partnership in Uganda. Not being told what to do and whatnot. That is what the President did here and this is how his used to running the Republic. Directing, decreeing and ordering from the “high above”. That mentality shows here after 18 month suspension ahead of the January 2021 polls. Which was supposed to fund opposition activity, a sort of activity he can never prove or show any evidence of. Therefore, the suspension was hostile in the first place.

Yes, the Government of Uganda is sovereign is deemed to do what is see as fit. That I’m not questioning, but the act of suspending this was done in bad faith and the arrogance of him while lifting it. Just shows his true intentions and that he wants to control the DGF directly, which isn’t for him to “own” or “run”. That’s what it seems like he really intends to do. By putting in a crony in the board and such.

Museveni is just showing his dictatorial tendencies. His now telling what the donors should do and direct their funding. It isn’t enough that they are donating and supporting the development of the republic. No, they have to be told what to do. This should be amplified, because this insulting the donors and their respective will to give.

Why should they give to nation that does this? What value is the currency and the will of helping of others, if they are putting rigid stings before getting the money. It is the donors that should decide the spending and where they want the money to go. Since, they are the ones supplying it and funding the DGF. Until, Museveni and his cronies invests in it and actually put the work in. Then they can talk, but for now… the NRM and Museveni should be happy that people and nations are still willing to fund these sorts of organizations, civil society and even government entities through the DGF.

There is enough other places the nations can fund and help out people in need. It isn’t only in Kampala and across the Republic. No, there is plenty of other places with the lack of good governance and other issues, which a sort of DGF could be positive contribution. Therefore, the President should be lucky that this exist. Instead… his targeting it and showing his total disregard for the donors. His just continuing to bite the hand that feeds him. Peace.

Opinion: “Team Thorough” forgot to get blessed by the “high above”

A strategy meeting of ruling NRM coordinators under their pressure group “NRM team thorough” turned rowdy right before a walkout. This was after the angry supporters claimed they had not been recognized and compensated for mobilizing support for President Yoweri Museveni in the 2021 Presidential Election. The NRM Secretariat has disowned the group, saying the previous elections were scientific and it never had a covenant with anyone” (NBS Television, 18.06.2022).

A sub-group outside the official National Resistance Movement “umbrella” organizations has convened today and felt dissatisfied, because they haven’t been acknowledged for their work or compensated for it. However, there is digital records dating back to August 2019, which shows the existence of the “NRM Team Thorough YKM 2021” with the chief coordinator Eng.Idiri Kiiza Kamuntu.

Today isn’t only a sad day that the NRM Team Thorough YKM 2021 isn’t recognized or acknowledge by the NRM Secretariat or the NRM CEC for that matter, which is that the former Chief Coordinator Idiri Kiiza Kamuntu has only been deceased for two weeks; because he lack funds and couldn’t afford treatment. Therefore, even the hard-working political activists like him and his demise can easily happen. A man of the party and for the President who still isn’t helped or gotten any sort of direct support from the state. He died at Mulago Hospital for the lack of medicine. So, when that happened to the big-man and coordinator of the organization. Who thought the Organization itself would be supported?

It has happened before that parts of the NRM Team Thorough YKM 2021 have resorted to renegade against the organization and the party itself. In November 2020 Deus Mwebaze reported: “A group of NRM youths hailing from Eastern Uganda have vowed not to canvass support for the ruling party in case they are not paid their allowances. The youths under their umbrella organization Team Thorough for Yoweri Kaguta Museveni” (Mwebaze, November 2020).

That this NRM sub-group or organization thought it was special or could get any favours is just funny. In hindsight, anyone who is not vouched for or been blessed by the NRM Central Executive Committee, if not been invited to the State House and heard a lecture from the President there. Than you know your swimming against the tide. There will be no direct help or monetary gains from it.

The NRM Team Thorough YKM 2021 clearly haven’t followed what happened to NRM Poor Youth or any sort of NRM based organization. If it doesn’t have clearance or a sponsor from the high ranking officials of the state. There will be no will or heart in it. They will be left alone and will swim among the sharks.

These sorts of upstarts needs to petition the State House ahead of the elections and try to get a NRM Historical or a Stalwart in the NRM to vouch for them. If not it’s totally useless and nobody will care. This election was all about launching counter-productive measures towards People Power and the NUP. That’s why the likes of “Team Thorough” didn’t mean diddly squat to the NRM Secretariat.

This sort of story should be a warning. You can work and mobilize for months upon end. You can invest and spend all your time for the party. However, if you do it for organizations or sub-groups, which is not directly associated or vouched for. It is directly pointless, because they will acknowledge or respect your work. They will downplay it or openly disregard it. Peace.

Karamoja: The NRM got money for the army, but not for the starving…

The recent surge in cattle theft and cross-border conflicts in Minister Kasiaja: Karamoja sub-region issues will continue to be addressed. In a recent supplementary budget, Government provided Shs.112.5 Billions to facilitate the UPDF to carry out operations” (91.2 Crooze FM, 14.06.2022).

More than half a million people are going hungry in Karamoja – Report” (…) “A new report indicates that the Karamoja region is undergoing a crisis of food insecurity and may slump into famine if there are no measures to reverse the situation immediately. The report on integrated food security phase classification also shows that Moroto and Kaabong districts are in a critical phase of acute malnutrition. While receiving the report, the government committed to implementing some of the short-term recommendations” (NTV Uganda, 14.06.2022).

We know that the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) launched Operation Usalama Kwa Wote in July 2021 and they have continued ever since. The UPDF and the authorities have burned villages and killed civilians in their manhunt for cattle-rustlers. However, there been no oversight or proof of their operation really stopping violence or the murders for cattle in the region.

The only thing that has been shown is that the government has killed around 700 civilians and there is no direct justification or proof of the need to do so. There is no direct proof of the use of firearm or report on the use of the weapon. People are just killed and dying because the UPDF said so.

In this regard… the budget priorities are very clear. As the Karamoja is getting funds for the operations of the UPDF in the region. However, there is nothing scheduled or funds to cover or help the people in need. Karamoja is possibly getting into famine and people are now going hungry. That is a sign that the government has failed this people. They are now in the hands of the government.

The UPDF seems to be more important than the civilians it is defending. Since, it has funds and operational means, but the public don’t have what they need. Neither does the state has the mechanisms or the institutions to help them. That’s why they are starving and not getting help. This shortfall has to be covered by either a UN Organizations, CSOs or NGOs. Because, they have ability and funds to come to their aide. Since, the state don’t pay it no mind and would only care if it was profitable.

Karamoja have been targeted and the army has intervened as it has… because the minerals and mining operations needs land. The villages and the people have to flee lands and the use of former methods is to shield their operation. Now it is even more evident as Karamoja is getting money for the army, but not the people in need. This has been forecasted by FEWSNET and others. It isn’t like it happened without any forewarning.

Karamoja was in a danger-zone and the army operations there wouldn’t make it any better. No, the state has addressed its own needs, but the needs of the population. The region has burned because of the army and the soldiers haven’t helped the farmers or the cattle-keepers. Instead it has possibly worsened it and created more internally displaced people. Therefore, it is striking that the UPDF gets funds, as a reported half a million will live in food insecurity and live in hunger.

I don’t see the state doing much or taking action about it. This will most likely spiral into a famine. Because, the state doesn’t have mechanisms or the willpower to do what is necessary now. That’s because the ministries and the institutions haven’t been invested into and neither is there a working protocol for cases like these. That’s for the simple reason: The International Community and their aid organizations are the shortfall for the inept and corrupt elites of Kampala.

That’s why the Minister of Karamoja will do nothing and neither will anyone associated with it. They are awaiting orders from the Office of the Prime Minister and the State House. Which will wait and we shouldn’t expect any miracles. The army is stationed here and they will not bring hope to a troubled region. A region that has burned and now it’s soon starving too. It doesn’t get a minute of peace or hope. Peace.

Opinion: The 40 million shillings which makes the world go around…

The 11th Parliament is as corrupt and filled with stooges as the previous ones. The Speaker and Deputy Speaker is the “visionaries” of it and it shows by what sort of characters they are. Therefore, the news of an envelope for voting in the budget of financial year 2022/23 wasn’t shocking. It was more of the same…

The Members of Parliament allocates themselves a higher allowance and a kickback for their services. While teachers, nurses and civil servants will sought far and wide to get any help with the rising prices or the cost of basic commodities. No, this is the representatives and the ones who are working for the people. Who is giving themselves a pay-rise and an additional money-grab. While the President and others tell people to live within their means or eat cassava.

The 555 MPs was offered a huge fee as incentive and a bargain for doing their actual duty. They should scrutinise and have general oversight over the budget. Every vote and need should be looked into. The MPs should state the needs or the usage of the funds. However, by the manner of which the budget is passed. It seems like its ceremonial and pre-fixed ordeal where the MPs just has to accept and move-on. As if the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED) has everything covered and they should just nod their heads all along.

It is not strange that they accept the verdict and let bygones be bygones. When the money is coming in and it didn’t cost them anything. They are just accepting “free” money and can easily spend it however they deem fit. Nevertheless, their role as legislators and MPs is pointless. When they are not doing their job and is only stooges for the State House and the machinery of the “high above”.

We have seen this before and these sorts of votes will happen again. They called them suits or whatever really. As long as the National Resistance Movement (NRM) and their MPs follows the program, which is whatever Museveni deems fit. That’s the gist of it. They are additionally paid for their services and they have already high allowances, salaries and levels of perks. It is not like the MPs is unfortunate or lack wealth. No, this is the gig to go after and the state abundantly pay you.

While the less fortunate gets even lesser. The value of currency and lack of revenue makes it harder to get by. Meanwhile their representatives are getting paid-in-full with add-ons. These ones are living the high life. They are living life like there is no tomorrow and topping up at any given opportunity. Therefore, there is no second coming or worry…

It just shows how there is one world for the citizens and another for the MPs. Peace.

National Youth Council: Press Statement on the Dissastifaction of the Youth with the Implementation Mode of the Parish Development Model (15.06.2022)

Opinion: Museveni cannot govern… as he blames the colonial British for poverty in 2022…

Here we go again… Museveni blames the ones before him for his inaction and lack of ability to govern…

President Museveni said this words to the leaders from Acholi and Lango sub-region on Saturday:

““When the colonials came here, they made our people grow the crops they wanted: cotton, tobacco, coffee, tea, and then our leaders just copied what the colonialists told them…So, when I studied the issue, I could see danger, number one was only working for the stomach” (…) “They (locals) must work for the stomach and the pocket. But secondly, even the ones who are working for the pocket do so without cura (calculations). That is how you get West Nile growing tobacco. If you grow tobacco on one acre, you will never get out of poverty…” (Oketch & Akullo, 2022).

Since 26th January 1986 the National Resistance Movement (NRM) has been in power. The Ugandan republic has been freed from the colonial toils from 9th October 1962, which is close too 60 years of independence from the United Kingdom or the British. That’s a long time ago and there been several of administrations between Museveni and the British. Therefore, his really stinging it here.

For a man that was supposed to bring “fundamental change” and be different than his predecessors is saying he couldn’t change things. A man that has been in office since 1986 and for 36 years as the heads of state. If someone had the time or the ability as an executive and could appoint the right people in the Republic. That would be the likes of Museveni.

Museveni could have changed the policies, the incentives and the opportunities for the farmers. The President could decree and push the Ministry of Agricultural, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) into new ways of subsidizing or help farmers to choose the right cash-crops. However, the regime haven’t and certainly not tried. They are to busy making cash-grabs, land-grabs and quick-get-rich-schemes for that to fall on death-ears.

President Museveni has had the powers and the ability to make vast difference. He could have had parastatals or government institutions within MAAIF who could do bidding and ensure the sector was taken care off. The President has a choice but has chosen not too. That’s why his blaming Obote and the colonial leaders of the past.

The NRM could have done something, but haven’t done it all. It is like they had their hands tied and wasn’t able to do anything. For all of these years the President was in power. Nothing substantial did happen and he was powerless. That’s why his blaming the colonial leadership and previous leaders after ruling the Republic for 36 years. This is telling of how unsuccessful his at this point. Peace.

Reference:

Bill Oketch & Charity Akullo – ‘Museveni blames past regimes for poverty’ 13.06.2022, Daily Monitor, link: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/museveni-blames-past-regimes-for-poverty-3846976

Teso Affairs: In the Teso Sub-Region they are eating termites to survive the famine!

Residents of the hunger stricken areas in Teso region are now forced to eat termites due the current hunger crisis caused by last year and this year’s prolonged drought. Florence Kulume a mother of nine and a resident of Atira sub county in Serere district goes early morning to look for grass, sort it straight before washing it with roots of a certain tree locally known as “Ekoboi” in Ateso which is sour and loved by termites” (Kampala Dispatch – ‘Starving families in Teso resort to eating termites, Karimojong flee to Kenya’ 13.06.2022).

The Teso Sub-Region is hit with food insecurity yet again. It seems like the Teso Affairs and the state haven’t followed previous recommendations or any sort of thing. As the problems of past is revisiting the area. An area where the state has invested in a fruit factory, the Soroti Fruit Factory, but not secured the farmers or the agricultural sector as a whole. Since, within a few years time and a new drought settles in. The same issue of hunger and starvations sets in.

I have to use the sentiment of a farmer from the last time in 2017. Because the situation hasn’t changed but its more of the same.

Still, a local farmer wrote a piece to the Chimp Reports that has some valuable assessments:

The current hunger in Teso has largely been attributed to drought, while this assertion may hold some truths; there is increasingly evidence that the Ministry of Teso Affairs has not done its part. Hunger in Teso is as a result of both internal and external factors. For many years, the region has been experiencing declining productivity and this was recently worsened by drought. For districts like Ngora, Bukedia and Kumi, land fragmentation has heavily affected productivity” (…) “Clearly besides drought, Teso food systems are in a crisis and our expectation was that the Ministry of Teso affairs working with other stakeholders would work to address this problem. Our view is that hunger should be among the ‘affairs’ that Ministry of Teso Affairs should be engaged in. Agriculture remains a major livelihood for our people in Teso and therefore we require urgent response from Ministry of Teso Affairs on its plans to help our people get out of the current hunger crisis” (Akorikin, 2017).

Minister of State for Teso Affairs, Hon. Christine Aporu Amongin has to accept her faults and lack of good governance. The state haven’t done their due diligence or tried to mitigate it. That’s why it’s happening again after 5 years. We know the state will come with excuses. Last time around another minister blamed the suffering communities for selling their crops and whatnot to get money to stay alive. Therefore, we shouldn’t expect much from the state or the ministries in question.

The Office of the Prime Minister and the Minister for Relief and Disaster Preparedness should together with the Teso Affairs make some mechanisms and help people out. Not only with the direct aid and need food right now. That what they should do and in such a manner that people can eat nutritious food.

Now that it has happen for the second time in 5 years. The state needs to do more than short-term relief. There is a need for more food security mechanisms that actually can help the farmers and the hit communities in the Teso sub-region. Peace.

Reference:

Akorikin, Francis – ‘OPINION: Government Should Review the Relevance of Ministry of Teso Affairs’ (05.05.2017) link: https://www.chimpreports.com/opinion-government-should-review-the-relevance-of-ministry-of-teso-affairs/

The Rise of the Cassava Republic: Low-Income turned into Middle-Income out-of-nowhere..

Remember, the locusts, the rising waters of the Lakes, the floating islands, the landslides, the terrorist bombs, the covid-19 and now the rising commodity prices artificially caused by the Ukrainian war. In spite of all these, the Ugandan economy, by the budget time in the next few days, will be standing at US$ 45.7billion by the exchange rate method and at USD 131.6 billion by the method. This means that the GDP per capita is now $1046. You remember, the entrance points for the lower middle-income status, is USD 1036. We have now passed that figure. Congratulations. However, to be declared a middle-income country, you need to sustain this for two to three consecutive years. I am confident, we shall over perform, in achieving that” (Museveni, 07.06.2022).

The President yesterday surely said a lot of things yesterday. I thought this one would be one of the myths and legends of old. That no one would take seriously… because the delusion is real. The powers of the State House and all of his Presidential Advisors should have told him “no”. Even the son who prefers to party and throw birthday parties should have advised him to say otherwise. Because, this is useless…

Museveni isn’t close to Middle-Income Country. Not by stretch, a mile or such. That’s because of the financial policies, the lack of financial integration and all the other means of which is a proper open economy. Alas, if it had been open and tradable, he wouldn’t have his hand in every cookie-jar. That’s why his butt-hurt that his coffee deal with Vinci is under fire. Because, no one see it as a viable enterprise or idea to begin with.

We know in a nation of hand-to-mouth, in a nation of gig-economy and 1 out of 5 is living in direct poverty. It’s hard to believe that nation is a middle-income. Heck, there isn’t even a growing middle-class either. If it had been a growing middle-class, there would be more stores and other sorts of outlets for people to buy luxurious goods. However, there hasn’t been a growth of that either.

The growing inflations, the deficit financing and the running debts of nation is proving otherwise. The state isn’t growing with domestic financing, but the budgets are bloated and covered by expensive loans. Which the next generation or the next President has to clear. Since, Museveni is possible dead when the maturity of these loans has hit peak. There is already trillions of shillings going out of the economy just to finance old loans, as the state is hiking up new one. That’s all to keep the upkeep of a huge entourage and cronies surrounding the President. With a mushroomed cabinet and gerrymandering of epic proportions, that is all costing and the amount 555 MPs says it all. They are all paid and has perks. So, the state is coving these expenses without adding any new revenue or such.

That’s why hearing a man like this saying… they have hit Middle-Income is nonsense. It is pure A QUALIFIED BS. It is utterly ridiculous. It would be funny, if it was a punchline or a joke, but he said this and meant it. Like it was fact. When the World Bank state the nation as a “Low-Income” and the budgets, the domestic revenue and everything else proves it. Maybe the lack of Governor of Bank of Uganda is haunting him. Since, he can now make things up on the spot and make it legit. There will be no push-back from the professionals… We know the MoFPED doesn’t read the papers or look over the numbers before voting on the supplementary budgets. So, the Minister of Finance is far from professional. His just eating and hoping his Permanent Secretary can save his behind.

Well… this is garbage. This is trash. We hope for betterment, but under the self-styled President for Life. I wouldn’t count on it. I would only count on cassava. Peace.