Buganda should observe 3 days of prayers from 10 to 12 September every year to thank God for having saved the Kingdom

Katikiiro of Buganda after being blocked on trying to get to Kayunga







The September 2009 riots should not pass like that, they represent
a serious development in the history of Buganda and that of Uganda; when the central government decided to block the going to Kayunga by the Kabaka of Buganda, yet when Kayunga is under Buganda; hence the jurisdiction of the Kabaka of Buganda. The development was very annoying to not only Baganda hence the eruption of the riots.
William Kituuka

Buganda wants Museveni to apologise over September riots
*Kampala* The Mengo establishment has asked President Museveni to apologise for last September riots. The Kingdom’s Deputy Information Minister, Mr Medard Sseggona, said the clashes were a result of the government’s failure to inform the minority ethnic Banyala in Kayunga District that the area was part of Buganda. He said the government joined the Banyala leader, Capt. Baker Kimeze to cause ‘unnecessary tension’.
Last September, the government blocked Kabaka Ronald Mutebi from visiting Kayunga to preside over the kingdom youth day celebrations which consequently sparked off riots in the kingdom. At least 27 people died and scores of others were injured. “It doesn’t demean the President when he says sorry for the riots that claimed lives because the issue of Kayunga was the root cause of the whole problem,” Mr Sseggona told Daily Monitor on Monday.
He, however, applauded the President for confirming what he described as the gospel truth about the kingdom’s territorial boundaries.
“It is stipulated in the Constitution that Kayunga is part of Buganda and we thank the President for confirming what we have always said,” he added.
But the Presidential Press Secretary, Mr Joseph Tamale Mirundi, said demanding a presidential apology was uncalled for since it was Mengo’s ‘arrogance’ that caused the mayhem.
“The contentious issue was not whether Kayunga was part of Buganda or not. But it was that there were people who needed to be consulted before the Kabaka could visit the area,” he said, adding: “Because of their arrogance they disregarded this and eventually caused chaos.”

Are Buganda's Riots the Symptom or Cause of Problems?
Godber Tumushabe
21 October 2009
Kampala — In its editorial, the New Vision of September 22 agreed with President Museveni's analysis that corruption and youth unemployment were the root causes of the riots.
On the same page Archbishop Henry Luke Orombi implored Ugandan leaders to pursue unity and justice. On the next page a one Emmanuel Ninsiima wrote that "the youth employment policy is spot on and for that reason the root cause of rioting has been diminished or eliminated."
While I was tickled by the article of the archbishop, New Vision editorial of the following day (September 23) imploring the church to stay out of politics sounded crap. I had thought that the crap about leaving politics for politicians was over and institutions such as the church, cultural institutions or NGOs should simply try to be non-partisan.
Those who hold out to teach us about what is political and non-political are being disingenuous. For sure, is it political that for seven years our government has failed to make a national land policy and hence has to adopt a fire fighting approach on land issues - whether they are to do with Buganda, Northern Uganda or Bunyoro? Is it also political that salaried Ugandan workers are taxed to death but neither Kampala City Council nor the government can fix the crumbling road infrastructure in Kampala?
In the world of policy analysis where I have devoted my career for the last one and half decades, we have a common saying which goes: "the beginning of failure of policy is failure to identify the right policy problem." For example, in the case of Uganda, are youth unemployment and corruption the root causes of the riots as the New Vision and the President would like us to believe? Does having a youth employment policy the magic solution to youth unemployment as Ninsiima opines? Orombi comes close to identifying the root cause of our current predicament by asking the right questions. Were the events of September 10-12 about Buganda Kingdom? Or were they about disrespect for the President? Unfortunately he, too, quickly delves into tertiary issues: disunity, anger, grievances, tolerance, etc.
Undeniably, Uganda has registered record progress over the last 23 years President Museveni has been at the helm of power. While many explanations can be advanced to explain these achievements, I can volunteer two of such explanations because they are the ones we require urgently to dig ourselves out of the abyss. First is leadership. During the first 10 years of the Museveni presidency, he and his colleagues provided the kind of leadership that the country yearns for today. These were Museveni's peers. Many of these peers have since either abandoned ship or have gone into hibernation. Today, Museveni works with politicians who are looking for survival or hoping that a sunny day is soon coming and hence they don't have to wreck the boat by providing advice that may not be consistent with what the President wants to hear. Second is freedom. In spite of curtailing political freedoms especially the operations of political parties, the NRM government established an environment of freedom that unleashed the ingenuity of individuals and young people to engage in business. That is why Ninsiima is wrong on the prescription for youth unemployment. We don't need a youth employment policy. What is needed is an atmosphere of freedom to unleash the ingenuity of our people to start new businesses, create jobs and youth unemployment will give way to productivity.
It is difficult to describe the character of contemporary Ugandan politics or economy. In 1986, Uganda under NRM started off as a socialist model and evolved into a capitalist model along the trajectory of "market fundamentalism" or the idea that the market will fix everything. But widespread corruption is inconsistent with a functioning market economy. Politically, the NRM started off as an organised and disciplined movement, managed one of the most organised constitutional discourses of the century, was pushed into experimenting with multiparty democracy and then produced a still birth. Economically, Uganda is not a socialist nor a capitalist economy or their hybrid which I would call quasi-state capitalism that you would find in China. It is just something else and hence the reason we can't explain why there is growing youth unemployment, policy or no policy. Politically, Uganda is neither a dictatorship nor a democracy, or their hybrid that I would call semi-democratic authoritarianism, it is just a presidential authoritarianism, the reason those street protests will either continue or can only be pushed underground to eventually evolve into a full scale insurgency.
In a way, we have become a country that celebrates history without pointing to meaningful and tangible achievements. Every 9th of October, we celebrate independence but our degree of political, economic or even cultural independence can easily be contested. Every 26th of January, we celebrate the success of the "revolution" but we have almost thrown the Ten Point Programme in the dustbin or at best mutilated it to some 15 points that do not make much sense. Every 6th of February, we dedicate our memory to the gallant men and women of the UPDF who paid the ultimate price to liberate Uganda from dictatorship but the same UPDF is being unleashed on unarmed citizens protesting the emergence of a presidential authoritarianism.
The People's Republic of China is only 13 years older than Uganda having been founded only 60 years ago. When they celebrated their 60th anniversary on October 1 (only 8 days before Uganda celebrated its 47th anniversary), China celebrated a number of achievements: It is the world's most populous nation, world's third largest economy and trading nation, has become a global innovator in science and technology and is building a world class university system.
For Uganda, we have lost our position as a leading coffee producer, our education and public health systems are in shambles, and our 15-year-old constitution is in tatters. I have heard our President making declarations on how youth unemployment will be solved through industrialisation. But saying the same things after 20 years always makes me feel like I am listening to a descendant of the Boboun monarchy. Celebrating survival and celebrating achievements are two different things. All the problems we are talking about are caused by two things: regime longevity and regime survival. Regime longevity and regime survival undermine political and bureaucratic discipline, then breed impunity and complacency. This perpetuates poor service delivery which in turn breeds grievances that eventually erupt into uprisings or riots as we saw recently.
The writer is a lawyer and policy analyst

The fight on Corruption in Uganda will make sense if the proven corrupt pay back the loot

Museveni orders Chogm arrests
By Tabu Butagira
Posted Wednesday, May 5 2010 at 00:00
Ministers and other government officials implicated in corruption during the 2007 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting should be arrested, prosecuted and face other disciplinary action, President Museveni has said.
President Museveni, citing threats by donors to slash aid, on March 11 directed Prime Minister Apolo Nsibambi to action against all thieving government employees and private service providers that the Auditor General, Mr John Muwanga, named to have fiddled with Chogm resources.
Bad deals
In the audit report, which forms the bedrock for the winding investigations by Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC), ministers and permanent secretaries are accused of inflating bills to enrich themselves, bypassing procurement rules and forcing through bad contracts. In the letter copied to the Ombudsman and the Director of Public Prosecution, among others, President Museveni wondered why no action had been taken against those culpable yet the country is on the edge of losing support from nervy development partners.
“Whereas it is true that we made a number of policy decisions to expedite the preparations for Chogm, there was no reason why government officials should not have followed laid down procedures in implementing the decisions,” the letter reads in part.
The President has now ordered that contracts of accounting officers associated with the Chogm mess should not be renewed and efforts be made to fully recover finances disbursed to hotel owners or other private individuals who offered unsatisfactory services.
“(The) government’s lack of action on the (Auditor General’s) report is being perceived as if we are accomplices to the misdeed... I am, therefore, instructing you to cause disciplinary and any other action against officials who were found not to have followed financial and procurement rules and regulations as provided for in the Public Service Standing Orders as well as public financial management and procurement laws,” Mr Museveni wrote.
Prime Minister Nsibambi was not available for comment yesterday but DPP Richard Butera told this newspaper last night that his office is already secretly investigating “a number of cases” forwarded by PAC.
“Yes, we are making some progress but I can’t discuss the details until we finalise the ongoing investigations,” he said.
Mr Raphael Baku, the acting inspector general of government, said his officers are itching to prosecute the Chogm suspects once the Ministry of Finance avails their details.
He said: “The Ministry of Finance had given all accounting officers up to end of April 2010 to submit accountabilities for Chogm expenditures and once we get their report and outstanding areas, we shall take over from there.”
The ombudsman said they are also awaiting the PAC report to avoid duplication and waste of resources. All individuals and bureaucrats, including President Museveni and his vice vice Prof. Gilbert Bukenya, interviewed by the MP Nandala Mafabi-led Pac team have denied any wrong doing in organising the Shs500 billion summit graced by Queen Elizabeth of England.
In the aftermath of tough questioning in Parliament, various technocrats pointed accusing fingers at their political supervisors alleged to have used their executive clout to force down bad deals.

Donors may cut aid to Uganda in corruption protest: Source: http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE6230KQ20100304
By Elias Biryabarema
KAMPALA (Reuters) - Donors will suspend aid to Uganda to protest at escalating corruption unless the government undertakes urgent measures to curb the vice, the donors warned Kampala in a letter.
Uganda's economy has maintained a powerful growth momentum over the last decade, riding on liberal reforms and rising entrepreneurial energy.
However, mounting corruption and government's reluctance to combat it have stoked fierce criticism and analysts have warned the vice may dampen the country's otherwise bright growth prospects.
Kundhavi Kadiresan, World Bank's representative in Uganda and current chair of the donors' group that presented the statement to the government, said Kampala's tolerance of corrupt public officers was deepening a culture of impunity.
"The undeniable lack of government action to follow up on cases of grand corruption is a key area of development partner concern," she said in the letter seen by Reuters on Thursday.
"Donors ... are currently considering a range of actions. This may include withholding disbursements, reductions in aid or reprogramming away from direct budget support."
The east African country has also faced intense pressure from Western governments and human rights groups over a draft anti-gay law that would prohibit sexual relations between people of the same sex as well as the recognition of homosexual relations as an acceptable lifestyle.
Although economic expansion has enormously boosted Uganda's domestic revenue base and allowed the country to accelerate reduction of donor-dependence, aid still accounts for about 30 percent of its annual budgetary resources.
Closure of aid taps would imperil delivery of key public investments in crucial sectors like health and education.
"Corruption in Uganda is endemic and we have seen no sign of improvement," Kadiresan said.
She cited recent cases of embezzled funds totaling about $33.2 million without anyone getting prosecuted. A state-run body that regulates public procurement estimates that Uganda loses $100 million annually in procurement-related graft.
There was no immediate comment from the government.
Kadiresan said donors were skeptical of government's claim that it would spend oil dollars effectively and suggested proceeds were likely to disappear in an environment where corruption already reigns supreme.
"Only effective and accountable states are able to turn oil into a blessing for a country ... Uganda could easily become the next African country where oil has become a curse," she said.
The country discovered large deposits of oil in Lake Albert basin in 2006 and exploration firms have estimated reserves at 2 billion barrels.
The World Bank estimates Uganda will be earning $2 billion from a daily crude output of about 150,000 barrels. Tullow Oil one the exploration firms in Uganda, has said initial production will start later this year.
our Guide to Corruption in Uganda
>> Saturday, October 27, 2007

‘Corruption increases’

ELIAS BIRYABAREMA
KAMPALA (Monitor Newspaper) September 27, 2007
CORRUPTION in Ugandan has escalated and is stifling the nation's struggle to eradicate poverty, according to a report released yesterday by Transparency International, the Berlin-based global anti corruption body.
The country's ranking in the world Corruption Perception Index, CPI, has taken a fresh, disconcerting plunge, dropping 12 positions within one year. With a CPI of 2.8, Uganda is the 117th most corrupt nation in 2007 in a ranking of 178 countries.
Notably, the sharp decline in accountability appears to mock efforts both of the government and its donors who have devoted ever-increasing amounts of scarce resources purportedly to fight corruption in public offices.
The finance minister, Dr Ezra Suruma announced during his 2007/08 budget speech that the US government had granted Uganda $10.2 million (more than Shs18 billion) to strengthen "investigation, documentation and prosecution of corruption cases."
New Zealand and Denmark occupied the first and second places on the CPI, both scoring 9.4 while Somalia and Myanmar tailed the list as the worst and second worst corrupt nations in the world.

Govt pays ghosts Shs21b per year

YASIIN MUGERWA
Kampala (Monitor) October 18, 2007
PARLIAMENT
DEAD, retired, and sacked civil servants are on average paid Shs1.7 billion a month or approximately Shs20.8 billion a year, according to findings by the Auditor General.
The latest AG's report for the year ended June 30, 2006, indicates that the ghosts on the payroll were maintained and managed by a racket of corrupt but organised government officials.
The report says the payments have been handed out for many years. However, an audit sample of salary payments for July 2005 and March 2006 --for ministries/departments, local governments/ referral hospitals and educational institutions--showed that on average a whopping Shs1.7 billion was paid out to ghosts.
In August 2005, President Museveni directed all accounting officers to clean and remove invalid records (ghosts) from the government payroll. Following this directive, an inter-ministerial task force comprising Ministry of Public Service and the Ministry of Education and Finance conducted a payroll cleaning exercise.
Among the key findings, the AG says, was the existence of invalid records or ghosts on the payroll.
"A total of 9,199 invalid records were deleted from the payroll leading to a saving [loss to government] of Shs1.734, 170,984 in salary costs," the report reads in part.
A computation sample for one month shows that at least over Shs1.7 billion is paid to ghost government workers per month. But MPs are saying this has been going on for long and that attempts to expose culprits have either been too sluggish or pending.
The shocking revelations were made yesterday during a meeting between the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee and officials from the Ministry of Public Service, who manage the government payroll. Budadiri West MP Nandala Mafabi, told Daily Monitor that the Shs20.8 billion could have been used to pay pension arrears for over 1,000 former government employees.
"It's a shame that ghosts are being paid yet we have over 40,000 people struggling to get their pensions. Many of our senior citizens have died without getting their money," Mr Nandala said.
According to MPs, for the five years the ghosts have so far received Shs100 billion. Statistics from the report show that the 26473 invalid records (ghosts) comprised of delayed transfers (65.25%), retired (10.26), absconded (10.03%), died (4.62%), resigned (1.37%), left (0.37%) and others (7.69).
Aswa MP Reagan Okumu accuses officials in the Ministry of Finance and Public Service of 'connivance' to defraud the government. "We are disappointed; How can Shs1.7 billion vanish per month? In fact, officials in Finance and Public service should be investigated. Our people are suffering and these officials are just enjoying themselves," Mr Okumu said.
In the report, the AG found out that of 229,901 records verified, 26,473 were invalid (ghosts), 78 percent of which were from educational institutions, 20 percent from local governments and referral hospitals, and 2 percent from ministries and other government departments.
The committee's vice chairperson, Mr Ssebuliba Mutumba (Kawempe South), said: "This is fraud and this money must be refunded and all officers involved will be arrested." He said this signified the decay in many government institutions.
In her response, Ms Gorret Sendyona, the assistant commissioner in charge of the payroll in the Ministry of Public Service, said the government has embarked on a rigorous cleaning exercise to overcome the problem.
Mr Jimmy Lwamafa, the PS in the Ministry of Public Service, said some unnamed officials have started returning the money.
Officials steal interest on banked govt money

CHARLES MWANGUHYA M
KAMPALA (Monitor) October 15, 2007
A BIZARRE racket in which officials with access to huge deposits of public money hold the cash in special accounts and reap from it in interest can now be exposed.
The officials transfer the cash to fixed deposit accounts for at least a month and end up reaping millions off it in interest.
Mr Ssebuliba Mutumba, the Vice Chairman of the Parliamentary watchdog - the Public Accounts Committee - told Daily Monitor yesterday that the scheme is a "big and complex syndicate" involving mainly the Ministry of Finance which originates most of the funds, Ministry of Defence which is one of the biggest spenders, Bank of Uganda, which does the bulk cash releases and other project-heavy ministries like the Ministry of Health.
"Even if the money stays for two or three days (on fixed deposit accounts), because it is a huge amount, it is still able to make for them millions in interest. It is a complicated syndicate, in fact and the Auditor General only captures just a few," said Mr Mutumba, who is also MP Kawempe South. These government workers with access to the large sums of money, especially those managing project funds, are thus able to make the millions by colluding with top banks in town to hold the money as fixed deposits. The interest that accrues is later pocketed.
The discovery could go a long way in explaining the magic that modestly paid government workers use to be able to live splendid lives, send their children to schools where their monthly salary cannot cover a term's school fees and build plush mansions without the risk of facing court bailiffs over loans.
Top commercial banks in the city are key in the scheme. The money, according to documents available to Daily Monitor, is normally held for anything between one month, three to six months;- during which period it accumulates millions in interest. Now, Parliament watchdog committees are gunning for the heads of those behind the scam and are launching a full investigation. The Local Government Accounts Committee, the Public Accounts Committee and the Parliamentary Committee on Statutory Bodies, State Enterprises and Commissions, are teaming up with the Auditor General to demand that the interest is deposited in the government's coffers.
"We are getting very close to them," Mr Mutumba said. "We shall get their (financial) statements, bank reconciliation and we shall track the money." The interest is usually switched to a separate account to make more money or is pocketed, Daily Monitor has learnt. Meanwhile, the principal sum could either be withdrawn-depending on how much pressure a particular government official could be under to pay off the bonafide beneficiaries or in the absence of such pressure, the fixed deposit period may be renewed.
Because the government does not demand accountability on funds beyond what it disbursed, officials can safely make and keep the difference for themselves.
In one case discovered by the Auditor General, a key government body deposited Shs1.446 billion and at the expiry of the fixed deposit, the project manager wrote to the bank; "the above mentioned fixed deposit matures today 28th June 2001.
We have received your offer to renew the same on 30 days term deposit at an interest rate of 4 per cent and decide to instruct you as follows; 1) Convert Uganda Shillings 867, 500, 000 to US$500, 000 at agreed exchange rate of Uganda Shillings 1,735 and credit that amount into our dollar account. Renew the balance of Uganda Shillings 578, 589, 033 on the fixed deposit account for 30 days at an interest rate of four per cent per annum."
According to audit queries by the Auditor General, in many incidents, only part of the project money is credited to official accounts while larger balances are kept on different accounts which are not official, an indication, officials noted, that some government staff are colluding with either banks or staff members to divert project funds.
Although Daily Monitor's investigations concentrated on bigger project monies, the chairman of the Local Government's Accounts Committee, MP Geoffrey Ekanya, said the problem is bigger.
"It has been going on for the last many years. In fact, it used to be worse under the old system because cheques used to be delayed in Kampala (where they were invested on fixed deposit accounts) and when they are released to the districts, the districts also deposit them on a general account where it of course makes interest," he said, adding that "this interest is never declared."
Mr Ekanya said some affected areas included civil servant's salaries and cited the example of teachers who have often faced the brunt of delayed wage payments. "It is criminal because people who are supposed to be paid suffer and it also leads to creation of domestic arrears," he said.
Sharing the bounty
Because the money is big and has to follow a given trail, which requires many along the ladder to know about it, a well worked-out sharing plan is also in place.
In some projects or ministries, the accruing interest may be given to staff through internal salary loan schemes, Mr Mutumba said, adding: "There is a tendency to lend it internally. It is a very a big game. It is a big, big cancer because at the end of day, projects suffer."

Corruption in Uganda - Source: http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/36/420.html
From the UDC Newsletter, Vol. 5, no. 1, pp. 1-4, January, 1995
The following article was recently published in the January 1995 UDC Newsletter, Vol. 5, No.1 (p.1-4):
Within 9 years of NRM's reign, public corporations which are the backbone of Uganda's monetary economy, have been bankrupted by Museveni's appointees. Thank goodness, the majority of Ugandans depend upon a semi-subsistence economy. Museveni's tribesmen stampeded into fat positions to eat the living life out of the economy under the banner of "Twarire" (we have eaten).
Most revealing of NRM's corruption is the bankruptcy of the Country's largest and government-owned Uganda Commercial Bank LTD (UCB). UCB controls over 80% of the commercial banking market.
NRM"s ruling clique gave themselves fraudulent loans worth over 62 billion shillings which they have classified as "delinquent loans". That amount was confirmed by the Central Bank Governor, Charles Kikonyogo. Later, a UCB official admitted that all the bad loans were made during the 9 years of Yoweri K. Nyandwi (Museveni) reign by and to his surrogates.
Nyandwi's (Museveni) sectarianism, corruption and outright thievery is the saga of Uganda's economic mismanagement and decay. First, appointments to high political and corporate positions are mostly based on tribal origin. Second, fraudulent loans were granted exclusively to Tutsis and Himas in order to boost their economic dominance over others. Briefcase and paper companies were concocted and flooded Kampala through which millions were borrowed on the basis of a person's ethnicity and signature. The bankruptcy of UCB has very serious adverse repercussions for Uganda's economy.
The Monitor newspaper of Oct.26-28, 94, reported that "the names behind UCB's bad debts include some of the most famous and prominent politicians, soldiers, bankers and businessmen ". The paper goes on to reveal that mifitary officers collectively owe the bank at least Shs.281.25 million. That includes many RPF commanders. Some of the soldiers who ate the money are diseased.
Here is a partial list of Nyandwi's (Museveni) closest military and political allies who have milked Uganda's economy to death:

The late General Fred Rwigyema Shs. 20.28 million
General Paul Kagame 24.49
Major General Elly Tumwine 52.36
Lt. Col. Sande Mukuru 16.60
The late Maj. Moses Aruho 21.50
Lt. Col. Kasirye Gwanga 27.90
Lt. Col. Jack Tushabe 29.43
Major Benon Biraro 17.27
Lt- Col. Ahmed Kashilingi 19.60
Lt. Col. Mulindwa 41.70
Col. Issa Habib Galugbe 25.18
Major Francis Achoka 10.03

NRM politicians are big holders of bad debts from UCB. This could be the reason why they are anxious to write off the debts. Among UCB swindlers are:

Hon. Minister Dr. Reich Adriko Shs.130 million
Hon. Minister Matthew Rukikaire 39.98
Mrs. Sheba Rukikaire (ministers wife) 42.80
Hon. Minister Sam Njuba 26.99
Mrs. Getrude Njuba (minister's wife) 33.96
Hon. Minister Betty Okwir 69.46
Solicitor General, Pierre Kabatsi 17.20
Secretary to the Treasury,
Tumusiime Mutebere (interest free loan) 11.65
Hon. Minister Stephen Kavuma 26.80
Hon. Joyce Mpanga 58.50
Hon. Major Amin Onzi 36.20
Hon. Obiga Kania 16.60
Hon. J. Zimula Mugwanya 53.32
Hon. Dr. William Kaberuka 30.84
Hon. Okodi Levi 17.20
Hon. Sam Kuteesa 26.93
" " " " (under Uganda Motors) 848.00
Hon. Israel Kayonde 233.68
Hon. David Kibirango 10.10
Hon. Omara Atubo 19.70
Hon. William Wanendeya 38.94
The late Minister Kafumbe-Mukasa 31.86
The late Yafesi Sabiti 79.30
Hon. Tom Apila 10.13
Hon. Yona Kanyomozi 3.00

NRM's business insiders who are major pushers of corruption are also among prominent bank swindlers. The list of these operatives is very long. Unfortunately, theft true identities are hidden in company names. Only two names were unveiled, and those are:

Mr. Haruna Ssemakula of General Parts Co. 2.98 billion
Archbishop Makumbi of Evangelical Church 19.74 million

UCB's top managers alone owe the bank a total of 3 billion
shillings. Among those are:
Frank Mwine (former Managing Director) 361.79 million
W.N. Nabudere 174.6
E. Nkwanga 172.61
B.R. Kizza 37.9
F. Byamugisha 11.63

UCB lost an additional $12 million in a rural credit scheme, according to Africa Analysis. Under that scheme, signature loans were made to Tutsis and Himas for the purpose of buying up land mostly in Buganda and dislodge the powerful Baganda from their ancestral land. If this sinister plan succeeds, Buganda will be populated and controlled by Tutsis, thus scattering Baganda into obliteration. That scheme which is part of the Tutsi master plan of colonizing East Africa, has a title of "Ranch Restructuring and Anti-Nomadism". It recently surfaced under the Ministry of Agriculture with a nyarwanda Deputy Minister (John Nasasira).
Africa Analysis of Sept. 94, reports that "American organizations have virtually taken control of Uganda's commercial banks in order to save them from collapse. The bail-out is spearheaded by U.S.A.I.D. and I.T.T." The paper also reports that other American companies are expected to participate in a proposed restructuring of the country's central bank (The Bank of Uganda).
American officials know that the collapse of Uganda's banks is caused by corrupt self-imposed rulers. They also know that the people of Uganda are consistently demanding democratic governance. Instead, the entire cabal (USA, UK, World Bank/IMF and Nordic countries) opted for undermining their own countries' commitment to the promotion of democracy and sneered at Ugandans' struggle for a democratic, responsible government freely elected by the people. It is clear that America's financial bail-out of Nyandwi's (Museveni) corrupt, self-imposed and illegal regime is immoral, inhumane, despicable and sacrilegious.
Recall in the 1950s when FIRESTONE CO. virtually owned Liberia and the exploitation it unleashed. Tax and Customs collection were run by Firestone and the population was reduced to mere serfs, peons and squatters. The U.S. State Dept. was not ignorant of the ongoing Firestone exploitation of Liberia. In the case of Uganda, ITT is playing similar tricks which will obviously antagonize Ugandan-American cordial relations. What is happening in Algeria today, could easily be replayed in Uganda.
A foreign company's major objective, be it, I.T.T, Firestone or British East African Co. is to make profits for its owners. It is a fallacy to claim that profit-seeking companies are coming to "help". Kampala International Hotel was built with Uganda's money and owned by Uganda. During that time, many nationals enjoyed its facilities. It is now owned by I.T.T. under a new name of "Kampala Sheraton Hotel", enjoyed by foreign bank-rollers of Museveni's regime and members of the Tutsi junta. ITT's encroachment into Uganda's banking system has empowered it to suggest that it will revise UCB's charter. The question is, to suit whom? Foreign companies have a tendency of maximizing piracy whenever given a chance to influence the drafting of laws which could establish the modus operandi of their own businesses in a foreign land. A classic example of that exploitation was in Libya when foreign oil companies had the liberty of drafting the laws that were to govern the newly discovered oil industry. Their shameless braggadocio of claiming to have given Libya her "oil industry laws" had an influence on the subsequent Libyan revolution.

Access critical information on Uganda

The welcome to Uganda Coffee lady



Critical Information on Uganda
Bank of Uganda
http://www.bou.or.ug/
Ministry of Labour & Social Development
http://www.mglsd.go.ug/
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
http://www.mofa.go.ug/
National Environment Management Authority
http://www.nemaug.org/
http://www.eco-web.com/register/05448.html
Ministry of Tourism, Trade and Industry
http://www.mtti.go.ug/ustdp.php

Uganda Communications Commission
http://www.ucc.co.ug/
Inspectorate of Government
http://www.igg.go.ug/
Electoral Commission
http://www.ec.or.ug/
Ministry of Education
http://www.education.go.ug/
Makerere University
http://mak.ac.ug/
Parliament of Uganda
http://www.parliament.go.ug/

Uganda Investment Authority
http://www.ugandainvest.com/
Uganda Human Rights Commission
http://www.uhrc.ug/
Ministry of Internal Affairs
http://www.mia.go.ug/
Judiciary of Uganda
http://www.judicature.go.ug/
Web Addresses of Major Newspapers in Uganda
The Monitor
http://www.monitor.co.ug/
Bukedde ku Ssande
http://www.bukeddekussande.co.ug/
The New Vision
http://www.newvision.co.ug/
Sunday Vision
http://www.sundayvision.co.ug/
Uganda Vidoes
http://www.afromix.org/html/videos/pays/ouganda/index.pt.html

A History of St Mary's College Kisubi - Summary ( 1906 - 2006)

St. Mary’s School was founded by Reverend Father Raux Modeste of the White Fathers Congregation in 1906, and was named after its Patroness “Saint Mary”. Today, the Catholic Archdiocese of Kampala owns St. Mary’s College Kisubi (SMACK).
In looking through the annals of St. Mary’s College, to quote Brother Maurice Lambert a former Headmaster of SMACK, in his article in the Uganda Teachers Journal Vol. 1 1939, “1899 seems to be the year from which to start its history.

Brother Maurice Lambert
It is fitting to mention, from the very outset, the name of Stanislaus Mugwanya (a Buganda Regent) of pious memory who did much for the foundation of the College. This grand patriot, when addressing a meeting of the Catholic Chiefs, held at the beginning of 1899, put this question quite bluntly before them: “Don’t you think the time has come for us to provide our young Catholics with better schooling than that which they have so far received?”

Stanislaus Mugwanya
In 1906, the Council of the White Fathers’ Congregation officially decided upon setting up a Regular English School and financial support was given to start it in the capital town of Uganda at (Rubaga) where young men from Catholics families would be given sufficient education to enable them compete fairly well for important appointments of responsibility introduced by the Protectorate Government.

The 1st Headmaster of St. Mary's School Father Modeste
On June 29, 1906 Father Raux Modeste was appointed Headmaster of St. Mary’s School, hence becoming its Founder. He began by concentrating his activities on the work of the School and to learn Luganda. As part of his preparation, Fr. Raux took time off to study the Crucial Question concerning schools in their relationship to public life in a Protestant environment.

His Lordship, Bishop Streicher (W.F)
His Lordship, Bishop Streicher (W.F) granted a plot of land for the school. The building, which houses the Office of the Cardinal and the Chancery Building (though much renovated), are the living evidence of the original St. Mary’s School Rubaga Campus. Where the Cardinal’s Residence is located used to be the parade ground for the school.

Class Block at Lubaga campus

The modified Class building above which houses the Chancery at Lubaga
In 1912, the pioneer finalists of the then Rubaga based St. Mary’s School completed their courses in English, History, Arithmetic and Luganda Grammer leading to an Award of certificates by the Colonial Government. The school at this time was one of the happiest places in the world. The school evolved from the equivalent of a Lower Primary section, to a College status where teaching of Commercial subjects (1922) was incorporated and eventually to a Higher School status after 1956.

Children on Parade at Lubaga Campus
St. Mary’s School supplied many boys during the war as soldiers, interpreters, and stretcher-bearers while others worked in the supply, transport and telegraph services. 105 students of St. Mary’s School served in the 1914-1918 war. 5 were killed while 66 served as African Native Medical Corps. Among these were; 4 Sergeants Majors, 8 Sergeants, 10 Corporals, 2 were decorated and 4 were mentioned in the Dispatch. St. Mary’s School provided as many as 59 interpreters to the Military Staff at Bombo.
To cope with the ever-increasing number of students, the White Fathers decided to open feeder schools so that St. Mary’s would specialize in giving higher studies. During this time, 4 schools were founded to feed St. Mary’s School. They are:
i. St. Henry’s High School – Kitovu.
ii. St. John’s High School – Nandere.
iii. St. Leo’s High School – Virika.
iv. St. Joseph’s High School – Nyamitanga.
In 1922, the parent school, St. Mary’s School was then named St. Mary’s College; this was as a result of the school offering training in commercial aspects which development was geared to employment.
The Rubaga school site was handicapped in two ways; there was no adequate room for the expansion of the school, and the place was found to be infertile. On two occasions there was famine around Kampala and Uganda as a whole, that is, in 1914 and 1918 forcing the Superiors of St. Mary’s to carry out a survey around Nkumba (Entebbe Highway), hoping that it was fertile. In 1922 Brother Martin of the White Fathers Congregation was instructed to start work at Kisubi, where Kabaka Mutesa I of Buganda had given the White Fathers, 41/2 square miles of land in 1884.
In 1923, St. Mary’s presented 5 candidates to Makerere College top section that is Medical. All 5 succeeded, they got the first 5 places. Only 5 scholarships available: all 5 went to St. Mary’s boys.
By 1922, the White Fathers were in short supply for the vast missionary field in Uganda. Bishops Streicher and J. Forbes realizing the problems brought about by the rapid development of St. Mary’s College asked Rome to find a Teaching Society with trained and certified teachers to take over St. Mary’s and hence free the White Fathers for Pastoral Work.


The view of St. Mary's College by 1924
On 12th May 1924, St. Mary’s College was transferred to Kisubi, after Bishop Forbes commissioned the new College buildings.
After the transfer of St. Mary’s from Rubaga, the College was attracting most of the attention because it was forming the elite of the nation and Kisubi usually meant St. Mary’s.

Bishop Michaud

Brother Charles Jules Headmaster

The Brothers who took over from the Fathers
“On the 4th of August 1926, Fathers Michaud and Nadon handed over St. Mary’s College Kisubi to Brothers Charles Jules; Joachim-Leon; Eugene-Paquette and Stanislaus Taillefer of the Brothers of Christian Instruction who were from Canada. This ended the 20 years administration by the White Fathers.

In 1936, SMACK registered the first class of Cambridge School Certificate (C.S.C) initially covering 3 years, and later extended to a period of 4 years.

Mr. J. C. Kiwanuka
Mr J. C. Kiwanuka (J. C) the first lay teacher on the staff of St. Mary’s College Kisubi, started teaching at St. Mary’s in September of 1951 and he is the first graduate teacher in Uganda. He disproved a non-principled old colonial idea that there was hardly anybody in Uganda that was capable of reading successfully for a degree. He has had 50 years’ teaching service to SMACK and is now retired.

Mr. J. C. Kiwanuka while Chairman and his Executive of St. Mary’s Old Boys Association (SMOBA) made an appointment with Governor Cohen to discuss the matter of the Higher School Certificate (HSC) at SMACK. The Governor accepted to meet them. August 19, 1956 saw the Celebration of St. Mary’s College Golden Jubilee (50 years). On the occasion of the celebrations, Governor Cohen broke the news that he had allowed St. Mary’s to start Higher School Certificate (HSC).

In 1964, St. Mary’s College Kisubi became a Sports power. It was most unfortunate that victory brought tears to the school community 42 years ago, when on November 14, 1964, as students were returning from one of those victory matches, which were part and parcel of SMACK culture, a Buganda Senior Cup were mistaken for Political Agitators, hence came face to face with untimely death in a tragic accident, which claimed 12 of them, 12 miles on Entebbe Highway, where Kisubi High School is located. John Baptist Semanobe, and H. E Tomusange (an Ambassador) had scored the two goals against St. Henry’s College Kitovu’s one goal at Wankulukuku Stadium that precipitated into the short-lived jubilation.

The names of the students who died are: Owot Micheal (S4), Bbosa Francis; Obella Egidio; Kirumira Philip all of (S3), Kitimbo Maurice; Nsobya Roman; Yawe Joseph all of (S2), Semakula Remigius; Oryem S. Vincent; Kamya Ladislaus; Kagaba Victor and Kayiira John all of (S1).

Engineer J. B. Walusimbi, Chairman St. Mary’s College Board of Governors is one of the victims of the accident who is alive to tell the story.

Reverand Brother Paul Bourget was the Headmaster when the accident happened. “Thy will be done,” was the sigh Rev. Brother Paul, the Headmaster heaved at 7.30 pm of the fateful night of November 14 1964, when he received the sad and sudden news of a disaster 12 miles Entebbe Highway. And, with a sorrowful heart, set about his arduous duties under the most trying circumstances. He had to create order and calmness from utter chaos and confusion that followed the accident. The will of the Lord was done.”

The 43 years administration of the White Brothers of Christian Instruction saw St. Mary’s College Kisubi (SMACK) grow from strength to strength. It exhibited academic prowess and used to have a Lion’s share of the Scholarships Awarded by the Colonial Government. Speech Days were regular phenomena and during then, there would be celebration of the College’s achievements. The White Brothers did not only concentrate on academics, they ventured into construction work, and the architectural wonders at the College are their brainchild. They spearheaded innovations, which saw the College emerge a Sports Power House. Students were trained in various skills, which among others included Cadet-ship, Boxing, Scouting, Swimming to mention but a few.

Brother Anthony Joseph Kyemwa was first African Headmaster of St. Mary’s College, ending the 43-year era of the White Brothers. Bro. Kyemwa was successor to Brother David Denicourt. He took office heading 90% expatriate staff with a challenge to uphold the school standards and also improve on it. By the time he left office, the staff was 99% indigenous. He was Headmaster for 11 years he officially handed over office to Brother (Dr) Kafeero in 1982 after a three years’ leave abroad.
Late President Milton Obote visited the school on March 15, 1969. The Current Affairs Club of the school had invited him. He delivered a very animating speech to the school community in the Assembly Hall on “The current political trend in Uganda”.

Late Idi Amin as Commander and Chief of Defence Staff (Uganda Armed Forces) visited the school. He came with his officers for two reasons:
i. To offer condolences for the 12 boys who had lost their lives in a road accident involving an army lorry and the school truck.
ii. To interest the students to join the National Army as Officer Cadets.
When Idi Amin was taken around, he saw mounted skeletons in the Biology Laboratory. He made an offer of bones of a Tiger for mounting. It is said that the Tiger killed a warden by the name of Matovu at Entebbe Zoo (Uganda Wildlife Education Centre) as he gave it food. It is then that the animal was shot, and eventually the bones donated by Idi Amin to SMACK.

The Late Vice – President of Uganda, Hon. John Babiha, also an Old Boy of SMACK visited the school in 1970. He was offering the school animals so as to get started on Agriculture, but the school declined the offer, as it was not ready.
Brother Cosmas Kafeero was the second black Headmaster at St. Mary’s College Kisubi (SMACK). He decentralized power. He seized on the new chapter of the political scene after the removal of Idi Amin from Presidency to establish a democratic administration at SMACK. This was against the background that he had been at St. Mary’s since 1960 and was quite acquainted with the strength and weaknesses of the school. He borrowed a leaf from the USA High School Administration and from sister schools here in Uganda, that is Mt. St. Mary’s Namagunga, Gayaza High School to mention a few. A Constitution was drafted to involve all students and teachers in the management of the school.

As SMACK 75 Celebrations approached in June 1983, the threats to the school, which had been the order of the day, continued. A day before the 75th Anniversary for SMACK, the Headmaster Brother Cosmas Kafeero and the Deputy Headmaster Mr. J. C. Kiwanuka received letters instructing them to leave in the interest of National Security! The evening of that day, armed men heavily guarded the school premises. Brother Kafeero had to leave Uganda for Nairobi, Kenya.

“It so happened that I had come to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of St. Mary’s College Kisubi, and on June 9 1983; the eve of the Celebrations, I was appointed Headmaster. My immediate duty was to mobilize teachers, Old Boys and students for the immediate preparations for the 75th Anniversary,” says Brother Kazekulya.

Brother Kazekulya says, “the country as a whole was experiencing the effects of political instability and civil war. The College had its share of these, and the climax was the Liberation war of January 1986, when the College became a battlefield, which obliged me together with over 600 students to flee the school for three days inclusive of nights. The effects of that war are the death of one student and the destruction of one dormitory,” says Brother Kazekulya. The Brother further says, “I remember, those years were indeed very difficult and I can say that, ‘the hand of God was there to sustain the entire College community.” During his administration, the Parents’ Teachers’ Association (PTA) was born as a cushion to the College’s financial problems.

In January 1987, Brother Tinkasimire was appointed Headmaster of St. Mary’s College Kisubi, a prominent undertaking of the Brothers of Christian Instruction. This to him was a challenge to be taken with determination and great hope; to put a mark on the great school that bred him. In his speeches, the Brother has always advocated for perfect gentlemen out of SMACK students. His advice to young people is always to have a goal in life and work steadily towards its realization. Brother ‘Tinka’ thinks that it is important for young people to be positively critical, have ambitions and nurse dreams, be responsible and friendly to fellow human beings and nature in general. He undertook fundraising functions to help bridge the financial gaps in the College funding. The parents at the time bought a 125 kVA Generator to counter power load shedding

President Yoweri Museveni visited SMACK on the College’s Open Day in 1994.

Mr. John Agaba was Head teacher (1996-1998). It was during his time that Hon. Kintu Musoke, the then Prime Minister of Uganda stood in for His Excellence the President and launched the SMACK – Decade of Development (1997-2006).

On October 5, 1997 the then Prime Minister of Uganda, Hon. Kintu Musoke stood in for the President of Uganda to Launch the SMACK Decade of Development (1997-2006). The same day, the school celebrated 90 years of existence. Hon. Kintu laid the Foundation Stone for the Higher School Reading Block Extension.

Brother Edward Bukenya’s Administration has almost coincided with the Decade of Development at St. Mary’s College Kisubi. Projects, which were pronounced in October 1997 when the Decade to the Centenary Celebrations was launched, have mostly been implemented during his time of office.

Hon. Geldine Namirembe Bitamazire officially opened the HSc Reading Block and Junior Library on May 29, 2001, when she was Minister of State in charge of Primary Education.

April 7, 2002 was a Re-Union Day of the Old Boys of St. Mary’s College saw the Speaker of Parliament Hon. Edward Ssekandi and an Old Boy of the school lay the Foundation Stone for the Higher School Dormitory (The Centennial Monument) the biggest project at SMACK so far.

On June 27 2004, there was the Launch of the Preparations of SMACK 100 years’ Celebrations by H.E the Vice President of Uganda, Prof. Gilbert B. Bukenya an Old Boy of SMACK at Nabinonya Beach.

On August 13 2005 there was SMACK 100 Charity Walk in Kampala with Hon. Edward Sekandi as Chief Walker.

August 14 2005 saw the Launch of SMACK Celebrations at the school campus by Bishop Robert Gay (W.F) who was the Main Celebrant and Guest of Honour.

It is sad, Obua is dead

Written by John Vianney Nsimbe
Tuesday, 04 May 2010 10:47
RIP: David Obua
Dennis Obua, the eccentric former FUFA president is dead. Obua died on this morning after collasing while attending a training session of ex-internationals at Nakivubo stadium.
It's not clear yet what could have been the cause of death but sources close to him reveal that he must have died as he was being rushed to hospital to try and save his life.
Obua is widely remembered as a legendary left-winger who served his country especially the fans with much joy and ecstasy because of his vast talent.
The father to current Cranes international David Obua, that plies his trade at Scottish Premier League club Hearts of Midlothian, Obua had retired from active football administration a few years ago. His last assignment was the CECAFA Presidency in 2008.
Born 13 June 1946, Obua has held a number of football administration positions from coach of Police FC in the 1990s and team manager of the national team.
In 2005, he was however arrested and imprisoned at Luzira for alleged misappropriation of FUFA funds and it was at that time that he lost the FUFA presidency. He has presently been doing private business.
jovi@observer.ug

The way Dennis Obua died puts to light the fact that many Ugandans are seen walk or even drive but when very unhealthy. It is said that Obua drove his car and got to the function where shortly he collapsed dead. There is need to get strategies to see how Health can be improved. My his soul rest in peace.
William Kituuka

Former soccer supremo Obua is dead
Tuesday, 4th May, 2010
Obua (left) attends Ex-Internationals training at Nakivubo
By James Bakama
and Swalley Kenyi
IT was in Nakivubo stadium that Denis Obua shot to prominence as a talented left winger four decades ago. As fate would have it, it was on the same field that the soccer legend died.
Obua, 63 suffered a stroke at 10.30am yesterday and died as he watched fellow ex-internationals train on the same turf where decimated defence lines.
He collapsed and was pronounced dead on arrival at the nearby BAI Hospital.
The ex-internationals were preparing for a friendly game against Members of Parliament to raise funds for victims of Budada landslides. Obua, 63, an ex-international who featured in the Uganda Cranes in the 1970s, had reportedly complained about chest pain. A post-mortem report was not out by press time.
The retired Police officer who will be laid to rest later this week in Amolatar district, Lango, strived to make the best out of the beautiful game. He served as a player, coach and federation head and chairman of the regional body CECAFA.
His life will however always stand out as a classic case of two extremes. As a footballer, he was one of Uganda’s best talents, but as an administrator, he was probably one of the most controversial.
“I am yet to see a better player on the left flank,” noted Cranes’ longest serving captain Jimmy Kirunda. “He had a wonderful left that could do anything with the ball,” recounted Kirunda.
Obua was not only a swift dribbler, but also possessed a thunderous shot that salvaged Uganda on numerous occasions.
He was part of the Uganda side that regularly qualified for Africa’s top soccer competition- the Nations Cup finals.
Obua, a cousin to 1972 Olympic gold medallist John Akii-Bua, is also the father of Cranes utility player David Obua, URA striker Eric Obua and Kevin Obua, who turns out for secondary school giants St. Mary’s Kitende.
David Obua is currently one of the top players for Scottish Premier League side Hearts.
With such a solid standing in the game, Obua always had reason to brag that “I am football.”
His death came shortly after receiving an invitation to the May 15-30 Kagame CECAFA Club Championship. He had also been invited to the world’s bigeest soccer show, the 2010 World Cup due in South Africa next month.
On receiving the sad news, FUFA president Lawrence Mulindwa revealed that Obua was among names lined up for the Uganda Cranes steering committee for the 2012 Nations Cup qualifiers.
Tough times
But all was not rosy for Obua. His worst times were from 1998 to 2004 when he served as FUFA boss. Like most sports geniuses, Obua failed to lift his administrative abilities to the same level as his dazzling skills on the pitch.
The result was a bashing from the press. The same media, which had lifted him to the throne as a saviour from the disastrous Twaha Kakaire era, tore him to pieces.
It was in 2004 that a group of soccer activists calling themselves SOS emerged.
The group, desperate for change, caused Obua’s imprisonment for abuse of office. This was after his executive’s sacking by education and sports minister Namirembe Bitamazire.
Obua was however later released and the charges dropped.
Obua always had his battles with the media. A story is told in 1977 when then President Idi Amin, on a visit to the Cranes camp asked the players whether they had any problems.
Obua, who was unhappy with then Voice of Uganda sports editor Sammy Kateregga, told Amin that all was well except for Kateregga’s stinging reports.
“I am going to deal with him,” Amin is reported to have vowed without specifying what exactly he would do. Kateregga didn’t wait for Amin’s action, he boarded the first bus to Nairobi where he lived until Amin was deposed.
Positive aspects
But amidst all his shortcomings FUFA boss Lawrence Mulindwa noted that Obua was a positive man.
“Despite losing the FUFA presidency in 2004 he worked with us to forge a way forward,” Mulindwa told a press conference at FUFA House yesterday.
The federation is planning to have the body at Nakivubo stadium for public viewing before its transportation to Lango. He leaves behind 18 children, and two wives.

There is need to review the representation in Parliament

A good look at the figures where Uganda had 80 districts may show that representation needs to be according to population.
William Kituuka

It is wrong for Prof. Bukenya to fail to realise his mistakes

Prof. Gilbert Balibaseka Bukenya 'slaughtered' journalists when he turned up to the Parliamentary Accounts Committee (PAC) to defend his role in CHOGM deals. It is however unfortunate that the Vice President while there looked down on journalists saying he has a reputation to safe guard and that many of the journalists did not even have an eighth of his qualifications! However, the Vice President forgets that he is senior in a cabinet where many people with connections are believed to be corrupt,hence making the NRM Government to have made a record as the most corrupt in Uganda's history.What the good Professor would do is to ensure that the Government and all who do Government deals do the work with clean hands and those who mess up are handled not with kid gloves. The Vice President may not know that there are somewell qualified Ugandans who cannot seek employment in government given the level of corruption which would lead them to get their repute soiled. If he defends the Government where he is the Vice president, he must be ready to share in the blames of the regime as collective responsibility can not leave him out.Many people have said that the NRM Government is very poor at implementing plans however good they may be. It is a fact that CHOGM was not just imposed on Uganda; for the Vice President to come and tell the committee that they were time barred really defeats anygood understanding.
William Kituuka

Bukenya lied to Museveni - MPs
IN HIS DEFENCE: Prof Bukenya appearing before the PAC yesterday. PHOTO BY GEOFFREY SSERUYANGE
By Yasiin Mugerwa
Posted Tuesday, May 4 2010 at 00:00
Vice President Gilbert Bukenya and other ministers on the Chogm Cabinet sub-committee “deceived” President Museveni in the controversial decision to lease cars for the summit, MPs said yesterday.
Prof. Bukenya told MPs on the Public Accounts Committee that he was “obsessed” with leasing, rather than buying, cars to transport delegates during the November 2007 Commonwealth Summit (Chogm).
Hiring Vs purchase
“I was obsessed with outright leasing of the Chogm vehicles,” Prof Bukenya said. “We stopped international bidding process because there was no money and I got a big warning that outright purchase would [have] taken us eight months to deliver the cars here yet time was running out.”
However, MPs, led by PAC chairman Nandala Mafabi, said the country had lost money by leasing cars at Euros 4.17 million (about Shs10.2 billion) for a couple of days instead of buying cars at Euros 6.19 million (about Shs15.2 billion).
The tender to buy 204 executive cars was initially awarded to Spear Motors Ltd but later reversed and a tender to lease 144 cars awarded to Europcar/Motorcare (U), a consortium in which Foreign Affairs minister Sam Kutesa had previously held shares.
MPs accused Prof Bukenya, Foreign Affairs minister Sam Kutesa and Works minister John Nasasira, of “hoodwinking” the President on the procurement of Chogm cars.
MPs say although the President, in a February 12, 2007 meeting, directed the committee to source the cars locally, they did not inform him that the Chogm Cabinet sub-committee had, in a December 4, 2006 meeting chaired by Prof Bukenya, already decided to single-source the cars and asked Mr Nasasira and Mr Kutesa to work out the modalities. The deal was then tailor-made for Europcar/Motorcare, MPs said.
“They deceived the President because there was a plan from the start to favour one company and Prof Bukenya and other ministers unfairly disqualified Spear Motors Ltd,” Mr Mafabi said. “Taxpayers paid 74 per cent of the cost for the BMWs for only four days instead of buying these vehicles and in the process there was no value for money and the country lost.”
The committee heard that Chogm transport evaluation committee had on May 8, 2007 selected Spear Motors Ltd, but later the decision was reversed after Prof. Bukenya insisted that the cars should be leased.
A subsequent audit found that one of the companies in the winning consortium did not have a valid trading license as required by the procurement law.
However, Prof Bukenya said the committee’s role was restricted to policy and that, “It was the business of the technical people [to] have eliminated Europcar/Motorcare (U) Ltd if it had no valid trading license.”
The Vice President added: “I may not have been informed that there was leasing in the international bidding. We halted because we thought there was only outright purchase.”
Asked about the cost of leasing compared to outright purchase, Prof Bukenya said: “I never negotiated and I don’t know the 74 per cent, the vehicles stayed here for about a month and not four days.”
According to the PPDA rules, it is irregular for ministers or government officials to interfere with any procurement process. Vice President Bukenya had earlier refused to appear before the PAC MPs, a position supported by the Attorney General Khiddu Makubuya in a legal opinion to Cabinet. Last week President Museveni met the MPs and asked them to meet the vice president in his office and not insist on him going to them. Yesterday’s meeting was held in the Parliament’s conference hall, where other witnesses initially appeared, and the Vice President said he was defying cabinet in meeting the MPs but wanted to do so to clear his name. During the three-hour appearance, the Vice President denied hiding behind the presidency, denied any wrongdoing and described journalists as “fools” for their coverage of the inquiry.
On the Shs13.9 billion the government invested in Munyonyo Commonwealth Resort without any documentation, Prof Bukenya denied any wrongdoing and blamed the Attorney General Prof Khiddu Makubuya and other officials.
“I was not part of the negotiations; mine was policy and those who drafted the joint venture agreement should be responsible.”
Denials
Prof Bukenya also denied influencing Works Minister John Nasasira to divert public money to work on Garuga Road leading to his private mansion in the area. Accusing the committee of being picky, Bukenya said: “My home is in Katoomi and is off Kitala-Gerenge road by 2km. Garuga road goes up to Ngamba Islands and is worked on every 2 years and I didn’t ask anybody to do this road.”
A draft report from PAC on the Chogm inquiry has recommended prosecution for several officials, including the Vice President. Prof Bukenya yesterday lost his cool after Aruu MP Odonga Otto reminded him that he could face up to two years in jail if found guilty of interfering with the procurement process.
“I am going there with you,” he told the MP. “We did a lot of consultations on all these issues and for insubordination you can forget. If I tell you jump into the lake, do you want to tell me that you can go ahead and jump?”