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How Bobi, Nandala 2026 State H’se Alliance Has Forced Gen. Museveni To Engage NRM Grassroot Bosses!

By Jack Wamba Okot

Eastern Uganda is now on fire! This is what is contained in an NRM report by its ONC coordinators suggesting that president Museveni is destined for a terrible loss if the plan is to succeed.
In the project being coined allegedly by NUP led by Bobi Wine also Robert Kyagulanyi and FDC honcho Nandala Mafabi, Museveni is supposed to be denied outright win and hence, he will suffer a rerun in 2026.


Already, ISO director for political affairs Maj. Frank Banana while addressing ONC coordinators at Kyambogo recently, warned that unless some things had been put right earlier, the ruling party will not be able to get the required 50+1% in 2026.


Now, a fresh detail on the ground from eastern Uganda indicates the real threat to the ruling party chairman Yoweri Museveni. The report suggests that whereas Bobi Wine will encircle Museveni in Buganda, Nandala Mafabi who’s vying for FDC presidency will handle the east comprising Bugisu, Busoga, Teso and Bukedi sub-region. With the two areas joining hands, the president according to the calculation will lose as he will not have the required percentage.
The report suggests that Nandala who’s now facing pressure in his Budadiri west constituency has already held secret meetings with not only top district leaders of Bugisu but also gone down in villages.


“He first met the LC 1 and 2s of the sub-region, later he met LC3s and clan leaders before calling all Sironko district leadership of both technical wing and political wing for an induction in his posh Mountain Inn hotel” says the report authored by ONC regional coordinators in Bugisu sub-region.


During the 3-days meeting which he allegedly fully facilitated, he bashed Museveni and his party for abandoning lower party carders but only remember about them during campaign time.
Nandala according to the brief also blasted Museveni for ignoring Bugisu, dropping important personalities for ministerial jobs and instead wasted some of the area daughters by posting them to what he called useless Karamoja ministry.


To prove the seriousness of the project, even area MPs from Bugisu are said to have started fundraising for Nandala’s state house bid. Nandala it is suggested has started showing his financial fitness by splashing bags of money to various centers yet Museveni’s people are contributing coins.


“Recently, he was in Bulambuli and contributed Shs50m and also pledged to build a community church alone.
He has reached an extent of owning the Bamasaaba Chiefdom Inzu Ya Masaaba. The concern of NRM cadres in Bugisu is that why the party is silent when it’s being infiltrated by the opposition. By 2025, the whole region will be oppositon and it will be very hard for NRM to retain it from him. BUGISU now lacks a uniting NRM pillar since all influential people were dropped and now Nandala remains the only lion in the jungle” the report says.


He’s also said to have maximally utilized his position as leader of BCU where farmers are now singing his name.
“Nandala’s game plan synchronizes with NUP that he holds Eastern while Bobi holds Buganda like he did in 2021. This is meant to put pressure on on NRM which would force a rerun as outright victory may be a tall order” says the report.


It’s suggested that this strategy is being mediated by oppositon chief whip John Baptist Nambeshe (NUP) who’s influence in the Bugisu is rising by the day.
However, Nandala’s alleged threat now is the ONC office led by Hajat Uzeiye Namyalo Hadijah which has come out to awaken the masses on matters of corruption which has been Nandala’s main campaign tool.


This has sent shivers down his spine as he fears that Gen. Museveni in his coming cabinet, he’s going to clean his face by appointing corruption free individuals to cabinet. Museveni is looking at appointing more people from Bugisu but are outside parliament.
Some of the suggested names include Simon Mulongo (Manafwa District) Barrister Peter Magomu Mashate (Sironko district), Abdallah Wambedde from Wanale (Mbale district) among others. Among elected MPs being looked at include John Musila, Netelesire Sarah and Irene Muloni.


Among these vettees however, is Mashate whom NRM is sending to Budadiri west to dislodge Nandala Mafabi and we’re told already, signals indicate that the pressure on the ground is high for Nandala, hence his second opinion to try the presidency as a soft landing exit.
On the other hand, Museveni has embarked on holding meetings with all NRM LC1s and other grassroots leaders countrywide in an effort to rejuvenate his support.

He has also deployed ONC regional coordinators backed up by three Bazzukulus to market him for 2026 and also monitor his programs in all districts where corruption is thriving. The ONC coordinators are being managed by Hajat Uzeiye Namyalo Hadijah who runs the ONC office at Kyambogo.
Watch the space!

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How Pressure At Office Forced Embattled Dr. Ibembe Patrick To Resign From USPC, UPPC Boards!

DR. IBEMBE WROTE TO MIN. BABALANDA CITING ILL HEALTH NINE DAYS AFTER POLICE PROBE HAD STARTED!

The minister for the presidency Milly Babalanda’s decision to replace Dr. Patrick Ibembe as board chairperson of Uganda Security Printing Corporation (USPC) and also as a board member of Uganda Printing and Publishing Corporation (UPPC) did not come out of the blue, this news site reports!


It has emerged that not only did Dr. Ibembe tender in his resignation from the two important boards, but also the artoney General Kiwanuka Kiryowa advised the minister to replace him after he chose to quit.


We can authoritatively report that Dr. Ibembe on August 25/2021 penned a letter to hon. Minister Babalanda through her official email tendering in his resignation from the boards of both entities citing too much pressure at office resulting into ill-health. This resignation letter came two days after police had started it’s investigations into the fraud at UPPC.


The letter hereby reproduced is entitled ‘SUB: RESIGNATION AS DIRECTOR AT UGANDA PRINTING AND PUBLISHING CORPORATION (UPPC) AND UGANDA SECURITY PRINTING CORPORATION (USPC).


“Hon. Milly Babalanda, between June and August 2021, I have been to Nairobi 3times on medical grounds, work pressure has been cited as one of the reasons from my ailing health. Hon. Minister, I request kindly to accept my resignation from the two boards above, in order for me to address my health. Thank you very much for having allowed me serve as a director on the two corporations. Please accept my resignation. Respectively yours” Dr. Ibembe Patrick in his letter chanced on by our Inspectors told the minister.


However, even as he took a unilateral decision to quit immediately without prior notice to the minister, a skillful Babalanda smelt a rat. She thus rushed to the Attorney General Kiwanuka Kiryowa for a legal opinion on three grounds arising from Dr. Ibembe’s resignation.
In her letter to AG referenced MOP 3/1 and dated September 6 2021, the minister wanted guidance on three issues.

Min. Milly Babalanda who intervened in UPPC fraud
  1. What does the law state in a situation where an official resigns in the midst of an investigation, moreover where they are implicated in fraudulent actions,
  2. What does the law says about resignations made through emails
  3. Given the current situation, whether the minister has powers to appoint a new board chairperson in order not to paralyze the operations at USPC where the board chairperson plays a critical role.
    It should be recalled that Dr. Ibembe Patrick was the chairperson of USPC board and also a board member of UPPC!
    In his response, the AG Kiwanuka Kiryowa in his letter dated September 16 2021, addressed to minister Babalanda, said whereas an employee can tender in his resignation and takes immediate effect, this does not mean the employer cannot pursue that employee in the courts of law especially if there was breach of contract.
    “Indeed, employees resign to avoid disciplinary action in the face of serious allegations of misconduct like theft, unauthorized possession of company property or fraud. In such instances, an employer may elect to file a criminal case against the employee. From the foregoing position, Dr. Ibembe Patrick has the option to resign while investigations are ongoing and in the circumstances you may accept the resignation but inform him that the resignation does not exonerate him from the ongoing investigations and any criminal charges that may result from the same” AG Kiwanuka told Babalanda in his letter seen by the Inspector.
    As for whether resignation through email was permissible, the AG Kiwanuka said this was allowed. He based his argument on the Electronic Transactions Act 2011 passed by parliament which among others sought to encourage use of e-government services and to provide related matters. He based on section 2 of this Act, and section 5 of the same.
    “From the above provisions of the law, it is clear that information tendered electronically such as the resignation in issue (Dr. Ibembe’s) has legal effect and is tenable in law” AG Kiwanuka advised Babalanda.
    As for issue 3 on whether the minister had powers to replace the USPC board chairperson, the AG cited clause 8.3 of the Joint venture agreement which provides that the 1st share holder (UPPC) shall by written notice to the company (USPC) at it’s registered or principle office and the second shareholder (Germans) be entitled to appoint 3-non-executive directors of the company at any time and to have any director so appointed removed.
    He went on to say that both clause 8.12 of the joint venture agreement and article 15.8 of the articles of association of USPC provide that the chairman of the board shall be appointed by a resolution of all non-executive directors.
    He said basing on the foregoing provisions, UPPC as a shareholder in USPC is mandated to select a board member to replace Dr. Ibembe Patrick but however, guided that the selection of the board chairperson is a preserve of the board members.
    “Therefore, in the circumstances, your office can select an individual, communicate the same to the acting MD/caretaker of UPPC who will in turn as shareholder inform USPC of the replacement” the AG guided, adding that it wasn’t necessary for the minister to appoint a new board of USPC since the only board member with pending criminal investigations (Dr. Ibembe Patrick) is the one that opted to tender in his resignation.

MIN. BABALANDA UPPC SCANDAL INTERVENTIONS AT A GLANCE!

  1. On July 15 2021, a whistleblower sends a dossier to Hon. Milly Babalanda about the fraud going on in UPPC by the (then) board and management of the corporation.
  2. Whistleblower makes a follow up on the scandal on August 15 2021 this time warning that the fraudsters were about to fleece UPPC accounts of its billions.
  3. Babalanda forwards the Intel to CID and criminal investigations commence on August 16 2021
  4. August 17 2021, Minister Babalanda summons a meeting of both the board of UPPC and staff. Majority of them snub the meeting.
  5. August 22 2021, board members enter UPPC offices and make off with vital files from UPPC offices
  6. August 23 2021, minister Babalanda swings the axe and interdicts the board and top staffs in UPPC to enable them not access more files in their offices to kill the investigations.
  7. August 25 2021, Dr. Ibembe Patrick send email to Babalanda unilaterally resigning from his position as USPC board chairperson
  8. September 16 2021 AG Kiwanuka Kiryowa advised minister
  9. March 29 2023, cabinet finally appoints new UPPC board.
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DR. KOSEA WAMBAKA: With 7 Degrees, Uganda’s Academic Genius Dwarfs Robert Mugabe as most educated African!

FAMOUS American children’s author and cartoonist, Dr. Theodor Seuss Geisel, once remarked that “The more that you read, the more things you will know, the more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”

His quote was inspired by his constant search for knowledge, which saw him read a lot, the result of which was a globe-trotting routine as he traversed several countries around the world on fun-filled work trips.

While Dr. Seuss emphasized the adventurous value in education several decades ago, little did he know that several years later and thousands of miles away in the small African country of Uganda, an ambitious young man would live by his quote.

Dr. Kosea Makwasi Wambaka is this ambitious man. Born in Bugwagi village Buwasa Sub County in Sironko district 46 years ago, Wambaka crafted for himself a rags-to-riches life journey which has seen him turn from a poor boy who was perennially on the verge of dropping out of school to now Bugisu and Uganda’s most educated icon. Because of this, he’s an acclaimed colossus of knowledge who has also globe-trotted the different corners of the world on a knowledge search and display mission.

While Wambaka is not your popular Tiktok celebrity, he is a respectable figure in the serious world of academia, where he has achieved feats which even the most privileged of this land can only dream about.

Precisely, Wambaka is the proud holder of a whopping 28 academic qualifications, all of which have been acquired in about 20 of his tender 46 years of age.

Multi-dimensional Genius

The common paradox which many highly educated people face is that of ‘knowing too much of too little’ due to extensive research in single disciplines of specialization.

Dr. Wambaka Kosea at his work station at Strategic Friends International

But while Wambaka was pursuing his knowledge, he also focused on unshackling himself from such academic ego-centrism. This explains why all his 28 academic qualifications are spread across varied disciplines including economics, law, human resource management, events management, environmental conservation, among others. This essentially makes him a small genius who knows too much of so much!

Uganda’s Robert Mugabe?

A quick scan through Dr. Wambaka’s CV shows that he has 7 degrees including one Bachelor’s, 4 Masters and 2 Phds. It is for this reason that his contemporaries refer to him as Uganda’s Robert Mugabe, in comparison to late Zimbabwean president and independence icon, Robert Gabriel Mugabe who achieved a similar feat by the time he died in 2019.

On closer analysis though, one would rightly argue that Wambaka is an upgrade on the fallen politician since Mugabe’s seven degrees were all at bachelor’s level. Mugabe is thus dwarfed by the academic legend of Uganda, whose academic improvement on Mugabe’s qualifications is 4 Master’s degrees and 2 Phds.

Dr. Wambaka is also a rare genius, given the long catalogue of certificates — both pre and post-graduate, which he has to his name. Totaling to 21, these certificates of technical knowledge are majorly professional development certificates in an array of fields including strategic management, global diplomacy, climate change, environmental protection, poverty eradication and trade and economic policy, among others.

A complete, all-round entrepreneur

One of Africa’s biggest dilemmas is having very highly educated elites who can hardly translate their vast knowledge into jobs or tangible accomplishments.

Luckily for Uganda, Dr. Wambaka isn’t one to be bundled within this shameful statistic. To his credit, this Ugandan ‘modern King Solomon’ is a prolific entrepreneur who has used his extensively acquired knowledge to found several companies now trading under the Strategic Group of Companies which is incorporated in Uganda, Washington DC and Hong Kong. These firms are spread across various business interests including financial solutions, events management, R & D, among others.

While many people would ideally struggle to keep even one company afloat, Wambaka has seamlessly kept his six businesses in perfect health, a thing which is attributed to his enviable ability to multitask.

This 21st century skill in him was identified by his first PHD don and supervisor, Dr. John Mutenyo who in a glowing tribute to him, said; “Wambaka stands out from many people because of his rare ability to multitask yet remain efficient and produce excellent results in all the things he will be concurrently doing.”

Wambaka is also a highly committed family man who has been stably married for the last 22 years.

A call from home

Despite his busy schedule especially with a rigorous academic schedule, Wamabaka is a man of the people who spares time to touch base with his people back home in Bugisu.

It is therefore surprising that his kin and kith back home have beseeched him to join the political fray and represent their interests at the national level.

“What’s enviable about our son Wambaka is that we have seen him rise from nothing to become an internationally acclaimed resource. We therefore believe that he is just ripe to hold the mantle of taking our voice to the national or international level,” said elder Annet Nabukonde from Mafudu village.

On his part, Michael Monge from Bugwagi believes that Wambaka is a special export from their area because he has a success story which is easy to sell if one is looking at sincere inspiration for the youth.

“Many people called him a muyaye (lumpen) at first when they were told that he is reading so many degrees but now they are all quiet ever since they got proof of his graduations and also tracked his theses on the net. But I think those who doubted him did so because he was taking on something which seems impossible to a common man,” Monge said.

Fortunately or unfortunately for Wambaka, those rooting for his political path view him in the same breath as current Budadiri west MP Nathan Nandaala Mafabi, who also rose from humble beginnings in Sironko to become an internationally acclaimed economist and politician. And despite the two men belonging to different political divides, many locals believe that in Wambaka Budadiri has a perfect and able replacement for Mafabi.

“Good enough Wambaka is an NRM cadre which means he would go a long way to lobby development projects for us. We hope he comes back and stands so that he can fulfill our wishes for him and also vindicate the trust we have in him,” said Musitafa Wanduulu.

Ironically, there’s an apolitical school of thought which is cropping up amongst another section of Wambaka supporters. These believe that their man’s vast knowledge will be wasted in politics and so argue that it is better for him to be deployed in a strategic government agency like Bank of Uganda so that his knowledge can profit the entire country.

“Without doubt, Dr. Wambaka is a rare resource to this country because of his all-round knowledge tank. We therefore believe he can be of better use to the country if he is deployed in some of these very strategic public institutions instead of being wasted in politics where people just go to waste time scrambling for the national cake,” opined James Mazuune.

TAKING IT EASY

Despite the overwhelming approval and rave reviews from his kin, kith, mentors and mentees, Dr. Wambaka has chosen the path of humility, opting to take it easy and let his works speak for him.

“I’m greatly thankful to people who have faith in me and my abilities. However, I’m also aware that my accomplishments come from the mercy of god and power of people around me; this is why I always value people and try as much as possible to work in the best interests of humanity. True value is in being able to impact people positively,” Wambaka says.

Such modesty is behind Wambaka’s logical and transparent approach to politics, which sees him choose mentorship and solution-based approach to the dirty game.

A runner-up in the last Budadiri West MP seat where he garnered over 11,000 votes behind incumbent Nandala Mafabi, Wambaka has had to constantly shut out calls for him to start early campaigns so a to stand higher chances of dislodging a man who narrowly beat him last time.

“I’m aware of the hunger my people have to see me represent them. However, my appeal to them has always been that now is the time to work hard for socioeconomic development as opposed to politicking. What I want is to know that the youth in my area are taking up government programmes like the parish development model (PDM) among others since they are not career politicians,” Wambaka says. He further expresses distaste for politics of sabotage, instead choosing to concentrate on politics which promotes harmony and common good.

“I am an African man who believes that it takes a community to raise a child. I therefore can’t allow the youth to engage in senseless politics of lunacy which will eventually waste their time. My greatest wish is to see poverty levels in my constituency decrease because I have travelled and seen that it’s possible for people to become rich,” Wambaka says.

He however believes that despite his rich academic catalogue, he has a duty to remain humble and down-to-earth so as to touch base with the locals. “I’m thankful that I’ve managed to achieve more than what many people would wish for. But I’m also overly conscious that the world has just begun for me; so I pray that God gives me the life and guidance to serve both my community and country. I’m convinced that if I remain a good example to society, then Uganda has the potential to produce hundreds of Wambakas,” he says.

As a parting shot, Dr. Wambaka urges Ugandans to continue searching for knowledge because statics show a valid correlation between socioeconomic development and highly educated populations.

“Education is the greatest resource for any country. Countries like Singapore have shown us that even without natural resources, a country can shoot itself into the first world by investing in knowledge for its citizens,” he says.

DR WAMBAKA AT A GLANCE

A product of Buyobo Primary School and Masaba Secondary School in Sironko district, Dr. Wambaka Kosea is an orphan who hails from Bugwagi village, Buwasa Sub County in Sironko district. He is a Doctor of Economics as well as a Doctor of Management, (2 PhDs and 4 Masters Degrees) with over twenty (20) years of accumulated experience as a practitioner in authentic and verifiable Education, Social Economic and Development Practices and surveys.

He has experience in Community System Strengthening Planning, Organizational Development and Management, Resettlement Interventions, Project Management, Strategic and Master Planning, Community Mobilization, Development Planning, Public Financial

Management and Reviews, Governance, Policy Research and Project Cycle Management, Monitoring and Evaluation of National, Regional and International Programs that evidently impact on Global Development, Livelihood Restoration Programs, Capacity Building in Centralized and Decentralized settings, Pre-feasibility and Feasibility Project studies that guide project initiation, implementation and operations.

Wambaka Makwasi Kosea is also the Head of Party and Programs of Strategic Group of Companies (Strategic Friends International, incorporated in Uganda, Washington DC and Hong Kong, Strategic African Bidder, Strategic Sustainable Development Fund, Strategic Luxuries Transport Company, Big Push Construction and Events Strategic).

He is and has been an enterprising consultant of mainly flag bearer National Projects that require coherent innovations funded by the European Union, UNDP, COMESA, Irish Government, World Bank, Global Fund and largely the Government of Uganda.

Dr. Wambaka has been a lead expert in developing feasibility studies for satellite wildlife conservation education centres in Uganda under the Uganda Wildlife Conservation, and currently developing a National Wildlife Conservation Education Strategy for Uganda.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Dr. Wambaka is team leader for developing the 20-year master plan and strategic environmental assessment for developing the source of the Nile area into an international tourism destination. He spearheaded the benchmarking in the Nile Delta of Egypt, Brisbane River in Australia and Mein River in Germany.

He was the team leader for the development and implementation of the Resettlement Action Plan for acquisition of land for the oil refinery in Uganda, where cash compensations to Project Affected Persons and redevelopment of affected public utilities like schools, churches, hospital and access roads were part of the work scope.

He is also the Team Leader for Resettlement Action Plan Implementation for land acquisition for the Oil Refinery that is nearly complete.

He is the team leader for the development and implementation of a Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) for acquisition of land for the Petroleum Products Pipeline from Hoima to Kampala.

He was the team leader for conducting feasibility study for rehabilitation of Infrastructures for Uganda Wildlife Research and Training Institute in Kasese, where the major job accountabilities included developing a skills need assessment and proposing a staffing structure and associated salaries/wages and infrastructure that would enhance effective teaching and learning.

He was a pioneer consultant in developing strategic interventions that guided the development and operationalization of Regional Referral Hospitals to exist as self-accounting institutions in Uganda.

He understands the operations of Governments in areas of planning and investment execution especially in guiding private investment that forms the key economic driver of national development.

Wambaka participated in the development of the first National Development Plan by inputting Tourism and Trade interventions and can now vividly guide investment operations towards the direction of the overall vision and mission of Uganda as a country in adherence to international benchmarks.

He understands the operations and strategic directions of key sectors of Uganda’s economy such as the Energy, Agriculture, Tourism, Industry, Trade and the Service Industry among others.

He was a key person in developing the Ministerial Policy Statement for Uganda Wildlife Education Centre under the then Ministry of Trade, Tourism and Industry and could defend the same before the Parliamentary session committee of Tourism.

He has made technical presentations in National and International engagements with high level of confidence and etiquette, He can therefore comfortably organize, represent and head a senior level team of professionals to execute organizational activities at local and international levels of a big National Entity. He executes consultancy services for different Government Ministries and therefore understands clearly, the operations of Governments and Government Institutions.

A self-driven Professional who privately supports his career and professional growth, reads a lot and does a lot of personal research, he is regularly informed about the current world events and their global impacts and sometimes, suggests coherent mitigations to relevant institutions based on empirical evidence and analytical thinking that has been gained from experience and as part of professional training.

He has been particularly trained by experience and academia to tackle and manage even the most difficult tasks and situations in an appropriately calm manner.

Membership to Professional Bodies:

He is a fulltime Member of the World Economics Association, Member of the American Economic Association (No: 000450542), Member of the Royal Economic Society of UK (No: N9000055421)

Educational background

Wambaka Kosea holds a Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD) in Economics, from College of Business and Management Science Makerere University Kampala, Uganda. (Dissertation Title: Foreign Aid, Domestic Savings and Economic Growth in Sub Saharan Africa.

DSpace identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10570/8338).

He also has a Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD) in Management from University of Central

Nicaragua. (Dissertation: Effect of Competitive Strategies on Financial Performance of Commercial Banks in Uganda)

Kosea holds a Masters in Economic Policy and Planning from College of Business and Management Science Makerere University; Kampala, Uganda. (Dissertation Title:

Factors influencing the flow of Savings into Savings and Credit Cooperative Societies in Uganda).

He has a Masters in International Commercial Law from University of Salford; Manchester UK. (Project Dissertation Title: Assessing the Efficiency and Effectiveness of International Commercial Arbitration Laws in East Africa.)

Wambaka holds a Masters in Business Administration from East and Southern Management Institute: Arusha, Tanzania (Dissertation Title: Appraisal Systems and Job Performance of Employees at Uganda Wildlife Education Centre).

He also holds a Master’s in International Events Management (Cand;) at the University of Salford, Manchester, UK.

He has a Bachelor’s of Arts with Education (Economics) from School of Education Makerere University.

A Professional Development Certificate in Negotiation (Dealing with Difficult People and Problems) from Harvard Law School, Harvard University U.S.A.

A Professional Development Certificate in Intensive Leadership Excellence from the University of California (Berkeley Extension), Californian, U.S.A.

Wambaka has a Certificate in International Labour Migration: Economics, Politics and Ethics, from University of Oxford UK

We found out that Dr. Wambaka has a Professional Development Certificate/Banking Game/Financial Boot Camp, finance and banking in Europe from Frankfurt School of Financial Management, Frankfurt, Germany.

He has a Professional Development Certificate in International Taxation on Oil and Gas and Other Mining Activities from IBFD (International Tax Academy) Singapore.

He attended Professional Development Certificate in International Tax Aspects of Corporate Tax planning from IBFD Moscow, Russia.

Wambaka has a Professional Development Certificate in Energy and Mining Law, from Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

He went and acquired a Professional Development Certificate in International Organisations Management from University of Geneva Switzerland.

He has a Certificate in Climate Change: The Science from University of British Columbia;

Canada.

He has a Certificate in Global Diplomacy The United Nations from University of London and SOAS University of London UK

He holds a Professional Development Certificate in Analytical System Thinking from Enterprise University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.

He went ahead and acquired a Post Graduate Certificate in Project Planning and Management from Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.

Wambaka also has a Post Graduate Certificate in Monitoring and Evaluation from Makerere University

Kampala, Uganda.

He also has a Certificate in Human Resource Management; from Institute of Adult and Continuing Education, Makerere University.

He got a Certificate in Strategic Procurement and logistics management; from Institute of Adult and Continuing Education, Makerere University.

He went ahead and attended a Professional Development Certificate in Strategic Management from East and Southern African Management Institute, Arusha, Tanzania. This was a high profile management course that involved training in strategic thinking and long term planning for big National and International Organizations including comprehensive and coherent means of sustainable impact monitoring and evaluation.

He also acquired a Professional Development Certificate in Wetland and Poverty Reduction Project, from Wetlands International, with four major thematic modules namely, Wetlands and Water Resource Management, Wetland Valuation, Policy Setting and Advocacy, and Financial Mechanisms.

Dr. Wambaka has a Professional Development Certificate in Trade and Trade Policy from Uganda Program on Trade Opportunities and Policy together with the European Union.

A course that involved training in Regional integration and agreements in Africa (Opportunities and challenges facing COMESA), the Hong Kong Ministerial conference and beyond, Aid for Trade, the Doha Work Program (lessons, challenges and the way forward), Multi-lateral trade systems (focusing on ACP-EU) trade relations, National Trade Policy for Uganda and dispute settlement in international trade.

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DS Tayebwa Praises King Caesor Mulenga T.G For Supporting Humanity

YOU’RE A GIFT TO THIS COUNTRY!

Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa has described King Caesor University Chancellor and Vietnam’s Consul, H.E King Caesor Mulenga T.G, as a gift to Uganda—commending his humanitarian works including serving humanity and the vulnerable population.

Officiating at the 3rd Graduation of King Ceasor University (KCU), a private cosmopolitan university in Uganda, Tayebwa also assured the university of government’s support.

“King Ceasor, you’re a gift to this country and to the world. There are many people who mistake such an investment to be a business. This university isn’t for King Ceasor and family, it is for Ugandans because, if it was an investment, this wouldn’t be a right investment to make if you want to make profit,” Deputy Speaker said in a brief speech.

He added: “But if you want to serve humanity, this is the best investment you can make. King Ceasor Mulenga is my close friend and I know how much he invests here. I want to assure you that if it was me, I would have given up a long time ago because I don’t like loss making ventures but for King Ceasor, even if it means him spending a night without supper, but ensure that he serves and educates our young people especially those from vulnerable families, he will do it. May God continue giving you this heart and we are assuring you of government support.”
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja congratulated graduates upon presenting themselves to the human resource sector after passing through the hands of highly experienced and qualified academic professionals with a high record of excellence.

“As you release these men and women into the job market, I’m happy to inform you, that the NRM government continues to walk the talk, by enhancing pay and improving working conditions for professionals in the field of science, technology, engineering and Mathematics,” the Rt. Hon. Nabbanja said.


“You’re aware that we enhanced pay for our scientists and these people here are going to join that same field. But that doesn’t mean that we don’t consider our arts people relevant, but because these sectors are crucial to the realization of the middle income status and our economic transformation into one that is driven by knowledge and industry, ” she added.

Nabbanja commended parents for raising and educating their children regardless of other economic challenges and hardships.

She implored the stakeholders to embrace the latest new technologies in the market to facilitate development.

On his part, King Ceasor Mulenga T.G, said KCU is a widely admired institution of higher learning especially in health sciences and that it has recruited top minds across Africa and students from over 40 nationalities as part of revolution that will change education dynamics on the continent and beyond.
He said the university has increased student access, teaching and research and is now evaluating academic structures, resources and operations to streamline and strengthen its systems.

“The university recently won the national medical quiz in February this year—coming first. Our students are also participating in many activities both here and abroad,” he said, adding that the university community is integrated and focused to address challenges globally.

The university is embarking on teaching through virtual learning, scholarly excellence in both teaching and research.

He also said the university will continue to expand access to education through scholarships to vulnerable communities such as the orphans and disadvantaged students.

“KCU in future shall have a smashing impact in society on every world government, private business, every dollar in economy, hospital, space exploration and other key sectors. We are full throttle committed to Technology and developing tools that will help the KCU digital communities to exploit opportunities in tele-health, Fintechs, big data, gene editing among others”.

He urged graduands to interest themselves in emerging technologies such as quantum technologies.

The Chairman Governing Council, Dr. Chris Baryomusi and the Minister for Information Communication’s Technology and National Guidance congratulated graduands for endeavouring to achieve academic success.

He said that the university is focused on creating research and they have graduated 200 students in Medicine, Science and Technology fields including international students from East African countries regardless of the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The university has diverse faculties with people from various nationalities since 2011 with schools of nursing, artificial intelligence, aformatics, and agriculture.

He commended the Vice Chancellor, for the tremendous effort of producing academic giants and future and citizenry leaders.

“They’re committed to working with other institutions in terms of partnerships and academic cooperations to increase research and generation of new knowledge in the industrial revolution.”

He challenged graduates to continue to other levels of interest to fit in the contemporary world.

Henry Okello Oryem, the State Minister of Foreign Affairs in charge of international Affairs recognized members of the diplomatic Corps including the Cultural Counsellor of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the auspicious 3rd Graduation ceremony.

He congratulated students upon completion of their respective studies and they’re going to be resourceful to the global village.

He said that King Ceasor University has won many awards in the areas of research and serving in different countries.

He called upon stakeholders to support the university in realizing its growth and innovation through systematic ideas.

The graduands celebrating

The 3rd Graduation attracted members of the diplomatic Corps, Ministers, Members of Parliament, academicians, and religious and opinion leaders. The ceremony was graced by the Deputy Speaker of Parliament of Uganda, Hon. Thomas Tayebwa Among other guests were Hon. Henry Okello Oryem, the State Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Abdollah Abbasi, the Cultural Counselor of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran who represented the Iranian Ambassador to Uganda.

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FEATUREDNEWS

Cabinet Approves New UPPC Board After Three Months Of Thorough Vetting

MINISTER BABALANDA TELLS MPS HOW SHE FOILED PLOT BY FORMER BOARD TO STEAL MORE FUNDS ON UPPC ACCOUNTS!

Cabinet sitting yesterday at State House Entebbe approved names of eight people as new board members for the Uganda Printing and Publishing Corporation (UPPC).
According to the minister for the presidency whose docket supervises UPPC, hon. Milly Babalanda, the approved names include (veteran scribe) Joachim Buwembo (Wakiso), Sadat Kisuyi (Bugweri), Jolly Kamugira Kaguhangire (Mbarara), Alice Muhoozi (Rukungiri) and Andrew Kibaya (Wakiso). Others are Hellen Icumar Judith (Katakwi), Karugaba Jimmy (Kabalore) and Bukenya Nooh (Butambala).


“The process of identifying these individuals has lasted for three months because we needed to be careful about the composition of the board to avoid previous mistakes” Babalanda told the parliamentary committee on commissions and statutory bodies (COSASE) chaired by Joel Ssenyonyi.
The minister had appeared before this ccommittee to respond to it’s queries arising from the auditor general’s report.


Among the issues raised by members was absence of the UPPC board, substative managing director and other issues related to the governance and management of the corporation.
Babalanda explained that the old board has been on interdiction for more than a year and it’s term expired on October 31 2022. In absence of the substative board, the minister explained that she assumed the board powers as per the UPPC Act which empowers the minister to be caretaker to avoid paralyzing the operations of the corporation.

The minister told the committee that the previous board is currently in court over mismanagement of the corporation and abuse of office.
“I had to stand in to undertake the responsibilities of the board because UPPC being a corporate entity, cannot suspend it’s business due to lack of a board” she told members.


Babalanda attributed the hitherto absence of the board to ongoing criminal investigations in the corporation which started on August 16 2021 following her request. She said this led to the interdiction of board members and some staff on request by police when they interfered with investigations. She said her decision was based on a whistleblower who alerted her ministry of alleged corruption in UPPC by board members in connivance with some staff. So heinous the scandal was, that the same group had hatched a plot to fraudulently withdraw more billions from UPPC accounts.


“I immediately forwarded this intelligence to CID director on August 16 2021 requesting for investigations into corruption allegations because it’s not my mandate to investigate corruption cases” she said adding that when she called a meeting the following day for the board and staff of UPPC, majority board members snubbed that meeting.
“Surprisingly, on Sunday August 22 2021, some board members and staff were seen suspiciously making off from the UPPC offices with files containing UPPC documents” she said.


She said when the group boycotted her meeting and coupled with their suspicious actions on August 22, this prompted her to interdict them the following day on August 23 to deny them access to other files. The minister said on that very day, the CID director asked for interdiction of more staff for interference with investigations in a letter referenced FAP/CID 50/154!

STATUS OF MANAGING DIRECTOR

About the status of the managing director, the minister admitted that the absence of this officer is one of the challenges she faces as a supervisor of UPPC. She said one of the reasons the corporation is underperforming is because of absence of managing director who’s a full time employee unlike the board.


She however, attributed the delay to appoint a new managing director to legal implications as there was no board in place. Secondly, the contract for the previous managing director Prof. Tom Davis Wasswa who was on interdiction only expired while he was on interdiction reading from August 23 2021.


“On December 3 2021, after confirming that one of the senior managers at UPPC Mr. Kenneth Oluka; the editor was not involved directly in the scandals under current investigation, I assigned him the role of acting MD because he’s an insider with vast knowledge of business at UPPC replacing Mr. Tweheyo James whom I had posted there as a temporary caretaker of UPPC” she said.


She however, explained that she didn’t appointed Oluka as substative managing director but it was rather an assignment to him. Babalanda revealed that the former MD Wasswa indeed admitted that there were mistakes made and asked for pardon and also to be allowed to resign honorably as MD but she rejected this request after consulting widely.


“Hon.. members, there are five files under police investigation. Investigation for one file (involving theft of money paid by electoral commission to UPPC was completed and suspects charged. Among these included Prof. Tom Davis Wasswa. The investigation on four other files are still ongoing” she told members, but however informed members that one of the challenges delaying the process is the fact that some of the key suspects involved are still at large” she said.


The minister described the situation at UPPC as a crisis as a result of many senior managers being implicated in ongoing corruption investigations and others already in anti-corruption court. She said the investigations created a huge gap in leadership of the corporation but however, said this investigation was in national interest to clean the corporation.


She said she has already okayed UPPC to recruit staff as per their proposal but with strict adherence to the law in order to address understaffing.
Babalanda told members who were satisfied with her submission and interventions that for the time she has been minister and overseer of UPPC, she has noted some challenges with the biggest being that of internal fights.


“There are many internal fights that will require dealing with probably through restructuring of the organization. This will be a priority and I will deal with many areas of concern” she pledged.
Babalanda however, said that in spite of the challenges including not making a lot of money in FY2021/22, UPPC performed well in other areas. One of them was that no single coin was stolen, there were repairs made for some machines abandoned by earlier management, tax arrears cleared, bailing out some ministries with printing services following budget cuts due to effect of COVID-19 and a process to procure modern machines to make UPPC compete favorably on the market were done.


The other milestone was for the corporation to engage in private sector business unlike before when it largely depended on government jobs.


USPC JOINT VENTURE DEAL
About this issue, Babalanda told members that she had not fully read the agreement and in addition, some information was still lacking and yet it was not started during her reign. She however, said the joint venture is for the good of the country.


“Governmnent is spending a lot of money in printing security-related documents outside the country. This is an opportunity for us to build capacity in printing security-related documents” she said citing fruits of the venture as being that of reducing congestion during acquisition of driving licenses and passports. She added that biggest achievement for the year 2021 was the fact that construction of the security printing factory under the joint venture was started.


The committtee members including Elijah Okupa, Yusuf Nsibambi, Gafabusa Richard commended the minister for the presentation and her being remorseful on some of her mistakes.
“We thank the minister for appointing a representative board. It has members from all regions. This is good for our country” MPs including Okupa said.

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FEATUREDNEWS

MIU Boss Roots For Procurement reforms for effective manifesto Implementation

Manifesto Implementation Unit (MIU) Director Willis Bashaasha has urged for reforms into the government procurement processes in a bid to aid effective implementation of the NRM Manifesto 2021-26.

Bashaasha made the call while addressing manifesto implementation stakeholders from the Greater Northern region, who convened for a 4-day manifesto monitoring and validation retreat last week.

The retreat which was attended by key local government civil servants and political heads from Teso, Lango and Acholi sub-regions was convened by MIU under the Office of the President at the National Leadership Institute (NALI) Kyankwanzi, to evaluate the progress of manifesto commitments in northern Uganda. The meeting also aimed at sharing the challenges and successes registered in implementing the current manifesto as well as identifying solutions to challenges which these manifesto implementers identified during the course of their work.

And following lengthy deliberations from the Greater North manifesto implementers as well as supervisory bodies such as State House and presidential advisors, procurement challenges ranked high on the list of impediments to manifesto implementation.

Reacting to this critical observation, Bashaasha reported to the Vice President Jessica about the need to reform current procurement processes for better manifesto implementation. The MIU boss made specific reference to the practice where ministries lump various contracts together and award them to a single contractor; especially for key areas like Health and Education.

Alupo (seated 4th L), at the Manifesto validation retreat hosted by MIU director Willis Bashaasha (seated 3rd R)

“The challenge is that most times many contractors get overwhelmed by the volume of work and therefore fail to complete projects in time,” Bashaasha told Alupo, who presided over the closure of the retreat.

He explained that the delays by contractors have a ripple effect which culminates into district authorities returning unspent funds to the treasury, which affects Manifesto Implementation.

Bashaasha also highlighted that low staffing levels and corruption are standing in the way of smooth manifesto implementation.

“The issue of staffing is very critical because we have got reports where some local governments have staffing capability which is below 40 per cent,” Bashaasha said. He however called upon all manifesto implementers and stakeholders to increase monitoring of projects as well as coordinated communication of any issues arising; saying some of these challenges can be solved through smooth communication.

“In some cases you find it’s not the local governments to blame entirely for some of the pitfalls; however, solutions can easily be found if projects are constantly monitored and their inherent challenges known,” he said. On staffing, Bashaasha noted that sometimes some key departments like engineering, Health can be under/not staffed at all due to failure to attract recruits who may be reluctant to go to some hard-to-reach areas.

He thus urged the district leaders to always notify the MIU about any manifesto implementation glitches they encounter for timely redress.

Sensitize Citizens on Manifesto — Alupo

While addressing participants at the retreat, Vice President Jessica Alupo urged leaders from the Greater Northern Uganda region to vigorously sensitize the masses so that they can understand, embrace and benefit from all government programs.

She reminded the district leaders that the only way Ugandans can feel the impact of the NRM Manifesto 2021-2026 in their heart is if they are guided on how to fully benefit from government programs to attain individual and household socioeconomic development. It is against this background that Alupo rooted for special sensitization of the masses about the Parish Development Model (PDM), whose funds have already been disbursed to the parishes for use by intended beneficiaries.

“You are the foot soldiers for the NRM government. At your work station people must feel and breathe the NRM manifesto. And it’s your duty to make that happen by teaching, encouraging and helping them. Show them how they can benefit from them clearly,” she said.

Kakande Wants Work Harmony

Meanwhile, while opening the retreat last Friday, Hajji Yunus Kakande, the Permanent Secretary to the Office of the President reiterated the need for all manifesto implementation stakeholders to maximize monitoring of all the Manifesto commitments to ensure fulfillment of the social contract government made to the citizens.

Kakande however warned that this can only be possible if all stakeholders embrace teamwork at their various levels of operation. He guided that government secured airtime on both public and private media platforms to solely aid widespread and effective communication of government programmes.

He warned district leaders against engaging in incessant petty power fights, especially between the technical and political wings.

“District Chairpersons should stop using their Councils to say they have removed RDCs/RCCs from their Districts. If there’s an issue with evidence you should write to the presidency so that we can investigate any matter(s) for appropriate remedial action,” Kakande said.

The four-day retreat which was convened by the Manifesto Implementation Unit started on Wednesday-Saturday attracted over 200 participants drawn from the greater northern regions of Lango, Teso and Acholi. The attendees included; Residence District Commissioners, District Local Council 5 Chairpersons, Town Clerks, Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), Mayors of cities and Municipalities and District NRM party leaders. The retreat is part of the validation meetings which precede the Manifesto Week slated for May, at which all government ministries, departments and agencies are supposed to take stock of manifesto commitments under their respective dockets, which have been completed for the citizenry.

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FEATUREDNEWS

“Most Of Us Were No Bodies But Books Have Made Us Who We’re” Speaker Among Counsels Namilyango College Students

The Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon. Anita Annet Among has cautioned students against indulging in dangerous things that will ruin their future.
She says students should instead put their energy in books, noting that focusing on their books is the only way for them to build a better future.


Among adds that education brings people of different economic background on the same footing and therefore, students need not to play around with books.
“Most of us were no bodies. We were not from rich families, but because we took intentional steps and made books our business, we are here today” she said adding that a friend of hers has taught her to believe that education is the best ‘equalizer’.


Among made the remarks during celebrations to mark 121 years of Namilyango College in Mukono district yesterday.
The speaker who’s on the forefront to fight homosexuality vice in the country, also warned students against bullying, saying such a practice had caused deaths in some instances.
On the recent rise in cases of homosexuality, the speaker vowed that Uganda is held together by strong values which shall not be compromised by anyone no matter the intimidation.


She said as a country, Uganda is determined to guard her norms and values.
“We cannot just look on as a small group of people seek to hijack us into unnatural practices. I urge students to steer clear but remind those trying to shovel their immorality down our throats that we shall not allow them to succeed” she said.


Her remarks come a week after parliament she ably chaired passed the Anti-gay bill which not only criminalizes this vice but also gives severe punishments to anyone involved in funding, promoting among others, with the harshest penalty being hanging.

Rt. Hon. Anita Among shares a photo with students


Among also joined others in applauding Namilyango College for being pivotal in Uganda’s history, noting that it “is difficult to have a proper narration of Uganda without mentioning Namilyango College, which she said has nurtured several Ugandans over the years.


She praised God Almighty for; “Giving us the best hands and the wisdom that has maintained our School at the highest level to make the school the pride of our country,”

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FEATUREDNEWS

Female Scribes Urged To Prioritize Climate Change Story Reporting

By Kirungi Sylia

Female journalists have been asked to take the lead in covering climate change-related stories.
The call was made by western media for environment and conservation Executive director Peter Akugizibwe Araali while in a training of female journalists from Albertine region held in Hoima city recently.

Akugizibwe narrated that, the training was intended to equip female journalists with skills and knowledge on climate change, how to report and seek solutions.
Female journalists were also trained on how to apply and use podcast and new media tools while reporting on climate change to widen the scope of their audience and readership.


“In most cases, climate change stories are ignored in most Newsrooms, but we call upon female journalists to take the lead in disseminating and creating awareness to the public about climate change and mitigation measures put in place to solve the problem.” Akugizibwe added.


He explained that effects of climate change mostly affect mothers in homes because they are managers of homes yet they are not on the forefront when it comes to climate change issues in most newsrooms.
He said in case of a prolonged drought resulting into poor yields in a home, it will be a local mother to suffer mostly with her children on what to feed them.


“Also when there is no water in a home, it is a mother who suffers most since water is very important in her daily activities, like cooking, washing, bathing among others. So, there is need for female journalists to come on board on issues of climate change since they greatly understand how the problem affects them and their fellow women” he noted.


Akugizibwe applauded Global Green grants fund for supporting this training and appealed to other partners for support so that the training can go beyond the Albertine region.
Meanwhile, Leila Bbale one of the environment activists, however advised female journalists to start practicing solution journalism.


She added that female journalists should advise fellow women on how they can change Agriculture methods basing on long shifts in weather that have changed cultivating seasons.
“Women should be advised to plant short term crops or crops that can match with their type of soil or weather in order to harvest some good amount of yields.” Bbale added.


She further explained that community members should be encouraged to harvest rain water and store it which can be utilised in gardens during dry seasons.”Women should be taught on how harvest rain water and store it, so that they manage cultivating food during dry seasons which enable them have enough food for their families and suplus for sale” Bbale added.
The female presenters on radio stations have also been asked to slot in some segments of climate change messages, invite specialists to draw clearer picture on climate change and Elaborate mitigation measures for listeners to follow during their radio programs.


Precious Naturinda a climate change activist also advised fellow female journalists to always move to fields to grassroot communities, record their issues then play them on radio programs .She asked journalists to avoid consulting and interviewing district leaders but rather community members themselves, since even district leaders do not know what is happening at the grassroot level.


Charles Batambuze who represented Doreen Ndeezi , WEMECO board chairperson also challenged media houses to always organise refresher courses for female journalists as reedy to build their capacities.One of the participants Esther Kabadeda decried of little time accorded to the training yet it is important and requested for more engagements.


Another female journalist Annet Namugenyi requested for a training in story pitching, saying this can help them to look for grants to enable female journalists investigate climate change stories and other environmental issues. She added that majority commercial media houses do not consider climate change issues as a concern.

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FEATUREDNEWS

Livestock Feed Security Gets A Mega Boost As NAGRC&D Embarks On Full Scale Production Of Maize, Soya Bean On Its Nine Vast Farms

Food security for both human and animals has received a boost after the government agency charged with livestock-National Animal Genetic Resources and Data Bank (NAGRC&DB) decided to embark on an ambitious project to increase maize, corn silage and soya bean production.


Cabinet chaired by Gen. Museveni recently adopted a paper presented by the ministry for agriculture, animal industry and fisheries. The paper sought to highlight proposed interventions that needed to be undertaken to increase food security in the country not only for humans but also for livestock.


This paper was adopted by cabinet and it’s now the basis upon which NAGRC& DB is expanding it’s involvement in Maize and soya bean farming to ensure steady availability of mainly livestock feeds in the country.


This development comes at a time when livestock farmers are complaining of high prices for feeds characterized with poor quality brands. The rise in the prices for feeds has forced several of them to quit the business as they make losses.
With NAGRC&DB having vast farms and ranches across the country, the agency is looking at utilizing 30000 acres of this land to boost food security.


“The management of NAGRC DB has since engaged in large scale maize grain, corn silage and soya bean production while utilizing up to 12sqm of land at it’s different ranches. The agency is looking at planting 5646 acres of maize grain, 1329 for maize silega and 600acres for soya bean making a total of 7575 acres or (12sqm)” says the agency.

The high quality breed pigs


Of these acres, at Maruzi ranch based in Lango subregion, NAGRC DB is looking at utilizing 3sqm or 1900 acres.
In Kasolwe Livestock farm located in Kamuli-Busoga, the entity originally looked at utilizing 620 acres but ended up utilizing 650acres representing 0.97sqm.
At Lusenke stock farm in Kayunga district, the target is 1900acres of land (3sqm) while at Ruhengyere field station, 640 acres or 1sqm has been targeted.


At Sanga field station in Kiruhura district, the target is 320acres or a half a square mile, Nshaara ranch 3200 acres or 5sqm, Rubona stock farm 227 acres and Gwot Apwoy ranch 3200 acres or 5sqm targeted.


On all these ranches, NAGRC&DB has already started work. The agency is looking at a harvest capable of producing 7904 metric tons of maize grain, 9303 metric tons of maize silage and 288 metric tons of soya bean making an anticipated harvest of 17,496 metric tons.


With Dr. Peter Beine at the whelm as executive director, NAGRC&DB says of these anticipated yields, 16,091 metric tons will go towards boosting animal feed production while 1,404 metric tons of soya bean and 1,317 metric tons of maize grain will be reserved as seedlings for future replanting.

The Feed Mill at Kasolwe


The plan according to the Entebbe-based agency is to have 290,000 bags of maize grain and corn silage with each weighing 50kgs totaling to 14495 metric tons. With each bag expected to sell at Shs25000 at farm gate, NAGRC DB will fetch a total of Shs7.25bn should it decide to sell it off. In case it doesn’t and chooses to use this mega harvest to feed government livestock at it’s ranches, it would save governmnent that same amount of money.


However, to have all this program actualized, NAGRC&DB has had to carry out preparatory work which included bush clearing, tilling of the sites, planting and appropriate application of fertilizers. Other areas of investments by the agency included appropriate mechanisms for post harvest handling to ensure that harvested maize and soya is cleaned up, dried up and safely stored at it’s various facilities at the 9 farms. The last area of investment by NAGRC&DB has been on value addition or processing of the grain into compound animal feeds ready to be given to livestock.


At Kasolwe Livestock farm for example, NAGRC&DB now has capacity to dry/process and store up to 3000 metric tons of maize grain while for soya bean there’s a plan to have 288 metric tons stored here in order to facilitate animal feed production at this farm. NAGRC DB has got a state of the art Animal Feed unit at this farm, a Silage store among other various units including a warehouse for the storage of the produced feeds. Watch this space!

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FEATUREDOPINION

Is Blinken & Amnesty International Right In Threatening To Withdraw Aid To HIV Patients In Uganda?

BY BARRISTER PETER MAGOMU MASHATE

“When Elephants fight the grass suffers” Indeed, what has the ordinary Aids/HIV patient in Uganda got to do with the politics and semantics of Human rights and Values at the centre of this furore?

Isn’t it also correct that “What is Good for the Goose is also Good for the Gander”?

CULTURE & VALUES

Taking beer in Saudi Arabia and other Islamic nations is a Criminal offence whereas taking beer in Uganda, UK USA etc is a Social Event.

The falcurum of this disparity is on account of the CULTURAL VALUES each divide holds as so dear to their societies. The question then is harmonisation not compellabilty which seems to be the thrust of Secretary Blinken and indeed Amnesty international.

SOVEREIGNTY means supreme power or authority. It follows that the doctrine of “the sovereignty of Parliament” is the authority of a state to govern itself or another state as long as the state is in a position to establish it’s authority by whatever means necessary.

Once this phase is achieved and that authority and sovereignty is internally acknowledged within the borders, then that state will inevitably embark of diplomatic offensive to be recognised internally and welcomed in the INTERNATIONAL FAMILY OF NATIONS. The current guardian of that international family of nations is the UNITED NATIONS (UN).

That sovereign nation will be invited to sign up to the principles and tenets governing that international family and the first and foremost are the UNIVERSAL DECLARATION ON HUMAN RIGHTS.

This condition has no exceptions to any nattion regardless of size and power. Its also non negotiable and cannot be derogated from under any circumstances.

This Universal declaration on human rights has been adopted worldwide by way of what’s called the doctrine of regional or domestic compatibility and MARGIN OF DOMESTIC APPRECIATION .

Hence, we have the European Convetion on Human rights (ECHR) and all subsequently adopted in national legislation and/or consititution. For instance in the UK incorporated by Human rights Act 1998 and in Uganda straight into the consititution via Article 51(1) of 1995 consititution.

What this means is that once you breach any of the articles even in your national legislation by extension you breach the principles governing the UNIVERSAL DECLARATION ON HUMAN RIGHTS and therefore your obligations under the INTERNATIONAL FAMILY NATIONS (UN).

Article 6 of the ECHR clearly provides that there will be a Free and fair trial whenever this arises.

This means that one must be in a position to get free and independent legal advice for justice must not only be done BUT seen to be done.

Therefore, any national law so enacted without this safeguard could arguably render the Act unsafe, obnoxious and inconsistent with human rights obligations universal or domestic and countries with Consititutional and/or supreme courts if petitioned would most likely STRIKE OUT that incompatible provision.

This is not because the courts disagree with the spirit and or mischief that the Act of law is intended to cure but because of the UNIVERSAL human rights obligations on Uganda or any other country as long as our membership of the INTERNATIONAL FAMILY OF NATIONS is still desired.

BUT WHAT’S AMERICAN STAND ON THEIR NATIONAL INTERESTS?

The Americans following the 9/11 and the subsequent war of terrorism created the Guantanamo Bay as a place of detention of suspects incommunicado.

This is unlawful under international law and has since remained controversial even when justified as an imperative of national security and well being of the State. The US justification was national interest and the well being, values, security and stability the American State.

Similarly, when UK got embroiled in terrorism special courts for terrorism suspects were created but legal representation was retained but under very strict state conditions. The state grudgingly retained this element to deflect the challenge on account of DRACONIAN MEASURES/LAW that would have prevented suspects from access to legal advice.

Universally, for a law to remain good and humane that law should and ought not to exclude a suspect’s right to legal advice and representation.

The legal maxim that “JUSTICE MUST NOT ONLY BE DONE BUT SEEN TO BE DONE” is poignant and for purposes of this highly condensed and abridged article has to be read in conjunction with the preambles to Uganda’s constitution and that of the Universal declaration on Human rights of the United Nations which is the custodian of universal family of “civilised” nations.

I will respectfully submit that Human rights are universal and non-derogatory by any country in the world.

The right to life is sacrosanct and no government can legislate for less life not even by any standard of any draconian decree proclaimation that a citizen may have half-life or “half-glass of life”. Its either a glass-full of life or nothing and if it’s nothing its unlawful hence the universal declarations of human rights including the Uganda Human rights commission to guarantee full life and check abuse and excesses.

It would seem to me to be an over-reaction to withhold assistance to the vulnerable and the sick in Uganda and in the process condemn generations because a sovereign parliament has enacted a law that may seem unsavoury and inconsistent with your lifestyle.

No body has challenged Saudi Arabia for criminilisation of alcohol simply because its a Social event else where.

The best and civil way forward is not threats but engagement. The question that should be asked by Secretary Blinken is one of whether or not there are safeguards in the recent Bill as passed by parliament.

The other question is whether the sanctions therein and the due process leading to such sanctions is proportionate and transparent.

Where any inadquacies pertain and are not justified His Excellency the President of Uganda has the prerogative and may refer the bill back to parliament.

Therefore, the other question is whether indeed the UN Charter & Uganda Consititution are the EMBODIMENT of Human & Cultural VALUES? Indeed, the respective UN and Uganda constitution Preambles are helpful and may be referred to.

Mathew Chapter 7 verse 3 in the New Testament teaches thus; ” Why do you look at the Speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?”

The US, UK etc and indeed UK where the Amnesty international is based provides a good example of the need to apply this biblical verse and trade slowly and carefully particularly on matters that go to national cultural and religious Values such as those of Saudi Arabia and others and therefore stability of respective nations. Values are certainly for sale because they are inherent.

I once represented a Ghanaian (Doctorate in rats) client in London who however in accordance with the culture of his tribe in Ghana was relied on and in good cultural faith circumcised Ghanaian boys around. On that occasion over bleeding landed him in police hands hence prosecution. Police thought his title as Dr was a “passing-off”. But when I cited in Court that even in the UK Jewish rabbis were allowed in the interest of their culture to clean their boys the prosecution had no leg to stand on. This is because “What is good for the Goose is also good for the Gander”. Therefore so powerful are the CULTURAL and societal values which are at the centre of the current furore.

UNITED KINGDOM DILEMMA;

The United Kingdom feared so much the European Convention on Human rights (ECHR). It deliberately refused to incorporate it in British law throughout the Conservative governments of day. But the European Union constitution never allowed any of its members to derogate from the Human rights Act.​

The European Union was incorporated by Sir Edward Heath (RIP) in 1972 and yet it was not until Tony Blair Labour party landslide victory in 1997 that the said ECHR was eventually as a manifesto pledge incorporated into British Law as the Human Rights Act 1998.

This kind of British “sitting on the fence” on the question of Human rights could be viewed in the light of many challenges of the time which included but not limited to the Northern Ireland conflict of the Irish Republican Army insurgency​ (IRA)​ amongst other concerns.

THE BRITISH UNWRITTEN CONSTITUTION

In any event, Britain has no written constitution and operates by conventions. That system contends that what is not prohibited by law is a right and what is provided by law is similarly a right.​

In contrast​ Uganda has a written constitution of which we are proud of and cherish very much you only have to read again the preamble of our constitution which recites our turbulent past and suffering which among other things reinvigorates and explains Uganda Parliament recent action.

In the circumstances I most respectfully submit that the subject at hand sparks very strong emotions on either side of the divide but countries and in particular the US through the Secretary of State Mr Bliken whom I most respectfully address cannot make decisions on emotions by threatening to withdraw Aid from Uganda’s vulnerable and sick people and condemn them to death.

This is a VERY BIG STICK and simply not right and excessively disproportionate in all the circumstances of this case looked at in the round.

WRITER IS A CONSITITUTIONAL AND HUMAN​ RIGHTS BARRISTER-AT-LAW OF THE HONOURABLE SOCIETY OF LINCLON’S INN OF COURT LONDON UNITED KINGDOM

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