THE 12 'MARTYRS' OF ST. MARY'S COLLEGE KISUBI

BIOGRAPHIES OF THE TWELVE DECEASED STUDENTS
1. Michael Owot (22) – Was born in 1942 in Gulu. Had Primary Education at Gulu Catholic School, and then went to Gulu High School for two years in Secondary. In 1956, he was admitted to St. Mary’s College Kisubi in S1, but his stay was short lived because of financial problems. He left the College and joined Fatima Primary Teachers’ Training College qualifying as a Primary Teacher. He taught for a year, and went to Ngora T.T.C for upgrading. In 1963, he was re-admitted to SMACK in S3. Exactly a week before sitting for his Senior Cambridge Exams, he was called to the Almighty God. May he have eternal rest. Address: Mr. Paulo Obwoya, P.O. Box 241, Gulu.
By Eddi Mpindi S IV B (1964).
2. Francis Bbosa (18) – S3 Born in 1946 in Busujju. Lost his father when he was 5 years old, and his poor mother took to care for him. At 7 years, he went to Malangala Primary School where he studied up to Primary 3. He went to Kkonge where he completed his primary school and went for his Junior Education at Katende. In 1962, he was admitted to SMACK. He was committed to his work and admired by many students. On the fateful 14th November 1964, the Good Lord called him. Address: Mr. B. Ddamulira, P.O. Box 41, Mpigi.
By Lutaya Kayemba S 3 1964
3. Egidio Obella (18) - S3 Born on August 16 1947. He was the eldest in his family. He was from Atutur, Kumi County. His father Faustino Iyama was a Tailor in Bukedea and Kumi. Began studies at 5 years at Tororo Primary School, he left for Kaconga Primary School and he sat his Primary Leaving Examination from there in 1959. In 1960, he joined St. Luwanga’s Junior Secondary School at Bukedea. In 1962, he was admitted at St. Mary’s College Kisubi. He ranked among the brightest students in his class. At that time, Mr Daniel Itala a County Chief of Usur was his benefactor. Egidio was a very sociable person, used to wear a smiling face, he was sincere and honest, and a friend indeed. May his soul rest in peace. Address: Mr. Faustin Iyama, P.O. Kumi, Teso.
By Clerence Fernandes S3 1964
4. Philip K. Kirumira (19) – S3 Son of Mr John Kibirige of Lyantonde village, Kabula County. He was born in 1944. Had his Primary and Junior Secondary at Rubaga. In 1961 he was admitted at SMACK. At school, he took great interest in Swimming and was soon a star of the College. He represented Kakooza House in the inter-house competitions. He represented his House at various sporting events, of which Football was his favourite. He had been nicknamed “Jolly Boy”. By the time of his death, he was one of the members of the Sailing Club of the College. His sister, a teacher at Rubaga was his benefactor. On November 14 1964, this young man, with eleven others met their death in a tragic accident 12 miles Entebbe Highway. At 191/2 years, the Almighty God called him. Address: Mr. John. Kibirige, Kibisi, P.O. Lyantonde.
By Gerald Mike Kayondo S3 1964
5. Joseph Yawe (19) – S2 Yawe was kind, obedient, jolly, generous, honest, tolerant, simple, cooperative and friendly. He was indeed an intelligent person. For his Primary Leaving Examinations, out of 64 pupils in Primary Six, he was first, and also the best in the whole of Singo County. He was a member of Lourdel House. In class he used to help who ever called for his assistance since he was good at nearly all subjects. He tolerated disturbance by fellow students. He was an asset for his house, Lourdel where not only did he do athletics, but was good at Chess and Football. Eternal Rest grant to him O Lord. Address: Mr. John Sajjabbi, P.O. Kassanda.
By G.M.B. Mubiru S2B 1964
6. Romano K.K. Nsobya (18) - S2 He was born in the County of Gomba at Bukalagi in 1946. He was the first born of his family. He went to Bukalagi Primary School at the age of 8. He was a clever child with good conduct. He used to be on average 3rd up to 8th in class. On completion of primary six he joined Savio Junior Secondary School, during which time he was head prefect at the school. He joined SMACK in 1963. He was soon found to have an outstanding talent in Football. He was much more of an Arts student, and more often than not used to be 1st in English Language, English Literature, History and Religion. He was good at Drama and participated in inter house competitions for Mugwanya. “On Saturday 14 November, Romano made his last appearance in class in the afternoon, he was revising Biology with a view of making up for the time he was going to lose that evening,” says P.K.Nsimbe who saw him. Romano was destined to meet his death that evening! Address: Mr. Roman Bakunga, P.O. Kanoni, via Bukalagi.
By P.K. Nsimbe S2 B 1964
7. Moris J. K. Kitimbo (18) - S2 Was son of Mr Cipriano Kitimbo. He was born September 22 1945, at Kamuli Mission. In 1960 he joined Kamuli Junior Secondary School. He was good at Volley Ball, Hockey and Swimming. He sat for his senior entrance exams in November 1961 and joined St. Mary’s College in 1962. He proved very religious minded. He was member of Y.C.S, the Chapel Choir, the Music Society and served Mass. Address: Mr. Syprian Kitimbo, P.O. Box 77, Kamuli. By Nabangi Fabian S4 1964
8. M.M. Victor Kagaba (16) - S1 Was from Kigezi District. He was simple, cheerful and many students loved him. He had funny jokes with the tutors and was polite as well as obedient to them. The senior one class lost one of its cheerful, good-mannered and well-behaved boy. May the Almighty God grant him eternal rest in heaven. Address: Mr. Daniel Mulekezi, P.O. Box 103, Kabale.
9. Jack. Vincent Oryema – (16) - S1 Was son of Mr Cirilo Olange a Police Constable at Mbale. By the time of his death, he was 16 years and came from Acholi. He was at St. Joseph’s Junior Secondary School, Gulu Mission, completed his secondary education at Lacor Junior Secondary School, and was accepted at St. Mary’s in 1964. During his ten months stay at SMACK, he was pleasant, co-operative, kind, and a lover of music. His favourite sport was Football. He was a good companion and very amusing. Address: Mr. Cirilo Olange, C/O J. Ojara, P.O. Box 35, Gulu.
By Daniel Omara Atubo S2 1964
10. Remigio Ssemakula – (18) - S1 Was born at Kiweesa village about 20 miles from Masaka town. He started his studies late, but managed to pull through. He had his primary at Bakijjulula then Junior Secondary School at Savio. In 1964, he was among the 33 students from Savio who were admitted to SMACK. He had wished to be an Engineer a profession he loved. He liked reading novels, music and Kiganda dance. He had courage and concern about the welfare of others, which he practiced even at his last hour when he helped some of his companions who were involved in the accident before he succumbed to his injuries. May God rest his soul in peace. Address: Mr. Valeriano Ssajjabi, P.O. Box 520, Masaka.
11. John Kayira – (14) - S1 was 14 years when he died. He was a cheerful boy. He attended primary at Kamodo in Teso and after six years, he joined Savio School. He was granted a State Scholarship by the Uganda Government. Unfortunately, he enjoyed just a fraction of his grant! He had extra interest in Swimming, and never missed Swimming whenever there was a chance. He liked Table Tennis too. He used to call friends by their nicknames. He had given himself the name Electric Boy, and one time he tried to make an Electric bell. He had real love for Physics. He used to amuse his classmates a lot, and hence very popular. His death was a loss to all his classmates. Let’s pray for his soul. Address: Mr. Joseph Zikusoka, P.O. Serere, Soroti.
By Jos Rontgen Bukenya S1A 1964
12. Ladislaos Kamya – (18) - S1 (Photo of Ladislaos Kamya ) was 18 years by the time of his death. He was born in Ssese Islands on Buggala Island, near the Sub-county headquarters. Had his primary school at Bumangi in Ssese, then went to Kitovu for his Junior Secondary Education, which he completed at Savio School. He then joined SMACK, where he died in the tragic accident of November 1964. He used to smile a lot and had good jokes and was popular among students, and would attract crowds. He had good memory of class work with favourite subject as Mathematics where he spent good time solving numbers. He was good at Swimming and liked Volleyball as well as Athletics. He had his God at heart and was very active at Holy Mass, and would rarely miss rosary. Address: Sebakaki E. Kakize, Buggala, Ssese Islands.
By L.C. Yiga S1 1964

IN MEMORY OF THE LATE J C KIWANUKA

On June 12, 2010, God called to himself the only J C Kiwanuka our great teacher and more so, Professor of Mathematics. We thank God because Kiwanuka was not corrupt, he lived by example and he lived a worthy life. In 2009, we decided with Dr. Kkolokolo to write a Magazine to mark 90 years of our great teacher. On June 12, 2011, it will be one long year without J. C! Below I reproduce what Dr. Kkolokolo wrote about the great J C Kiwanuka.
May his soul rest in eternal peace
William Kituuka Kiwanuka
Lourdel House

The article below was written when the Late J C Kiwanuka turned 90 in 2009.
EAST AFRICA’S LEGENDARY MATHEMATICIAN CLOCKS NINETY!

By Dr G. H. Kkolokolo (Paris – France)

He is a living legend who commands love and respect from all layers of our national life, he is a larger-than-life savant and sage, he is a prescient primer whose multitudes of initiatives have always made him a multivalent schemer of an opulent high quality achievements. He is a person whose near magnetic effect could always make the ground quake! This is the very much celebrated Prof John Chrysostom Kiwanuka, a real national hero who by all accounts was East Africa’s first black Mathematics graduate and first graduate teacher, and the best in the field. He has now turned 90.
This down to earth guru has to his credit an infinite number of successes and super high achievements in all areas ranging from academics / education to politics, religion, syndicalism, social welfare and so on..
A very humble exemplary Christian, Prof J. C. Kiwanuka has succeeded to walk majestically in the footsteps of his super legendary namesakes, the saintly and scholarly Archbishop Dr Joseph Kiwanuka and the Great Benedicto Kiwanuka. His special charisma has made him an icon among the nation’s top elite and a real celebrity among the ordinary folk.

J C RECEIVED IN THE O B’S PAVILION

I was in the OBs Pavilion on SMACK’s centennial day celebrations and I just can’t tell how much I was moved by the mighty cheers and applauses that marked the standing ovation which the more than 1,500 assembled alumni gave to the great teacher as he approached the pavilion to wave to them! This is the real man whose international fame has turned him into a near-worshiped individual commanding honour, glory and respect all over Eastern Africa where his former students are always seen in very high regard and supernumerary esteem, and all over the world where hundreds of them have been rightly recruited in jobs across the skill spectrum.

As a down to earth scholar, Prof J. C. Kiwanuka’s effect has grown on all fellow nationals who have invested a lot in his upending conventional wisdom that has always delighted in moral building. His 65-year old career as an accomplished educator of an enviable uptrend has been a real blessing to the entire region and has won him the crown of a primer and a first class originator whose contribution to Uganda’s field of education is virtually unrivalled! He was Minister of Education (1961 – 1962) and did wonders as Uganda’s first native to occupy such a high profile portfolio. At the Ministry, he won all hearts thanks to his accessibility and omnicompetent mastery of all files and records, and this enabled him to work untold wonders! He sent 300 students abroad for further studies; he promoted many senior secondary schools to HSC status; he introduced pension schemes for teachers, a thing for which he had indeed ardently fought when President of Uganda Teachers’ Association; he represented the country on many missions abroad including attending a special conference jointly organized by the UNESCO and the then incipient autonomous nations of Africa that intended to focus on giving a special impulse on Africa’s education, and Prof J. C. Kiwanuka was one of the most dynamic proponents of a system that would see Africa fully mobilized to offer opportunities to all including the illiterate who could then profit from the proposed rural technical / agricultural and trade schools that were projected to mushroom up all over the Black continent! This was indeed a thing which qualified Prof J. C. Kiwanuka as a great extrovert thinker, a prescient visionary and a superordinate prophet! Imagine now what Africa would be had this very original system, which was rejected through sheer emotional nescience, been adopted and put into action!

And fifty years at St Mary’s College Kisubi! Years of a very much profuse inspiration to all! Years which promoted the famous Prof J. C. Kiwanuka to an astounding degree of hypermania! And the crafty erudite educator wisely used the period to shatter all myths. In him the nation had its first graduate teacher becoming overnight the topmost best teacher of Maths and Geography with his candidates regularly outsmarting the nation in the Cambridge Exams! In him the nation had a leading unionist combating successfully for teachers’ rights. In him the nation would produce an efficient teacher-cum-politician doing excellently very well in both domains. In him the nation would eventually have a very efficient Minister quickly conversant with all grains of the Ministry’s duties and immense responsibilities! In him the nation would discover a great patriot who on quitting a cabinet post would quickly return to his ordinary routine teaching job! And in him the nation would finally discover an incorruptible statesman and nationalist and hero who sticks for decades and decades to his humble teaching job, materially enjoying nothing much out of it save serving his country via the love of its people whom he has abundantly helped to construct a future!

Fifty years at SMACK! A contribution to the college’s unparalleled triumphs and successes in practically every field! It was at SMACK that this God-loving citizen and focused genius exhibited his phenomenal qualities of a real supremo procreating dedication with a rare combination of intelligence, integrity, humility, determination, resolution and proclivity to hard work and serious-mindedness. His presence, together with that of the Brothers of Christian Instruction, continued to make SMACK the surest gateway to higher education and the most reliable jump-on point for further studies at university and in top academic institutions all over the world! With the extensive introduction of intensive science subjects, maths, languages, social ethics, and the so many extracurricular activities on programme SMACK was to affirm its super premier position as the most leading secondary school all over the region and also as one of the best of the type all over Africa! Wherever he is, a SMACK product is always very difficult to outwit, to outrank and to outsmart socially, academically and intellectually! All this is the aggregate total result of a committed full devotion to duty and responsibility in an academically very conducive environment. And this is SMACK in its classical sense as an institution that has always been a prime mover.

And it was at SMACK that Prof J. C. Kiwanuka became officially the region’s originator of the HSC programme with the first A-Level section opening early 1959 before it spread like fire to other institutions. And it was at SMACK that Prof J. C. Kiwanuka academically fathered leading notable Eastern African figures and important nationals who occupy positions of super executive rank in their countries of origin whether in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Sudan, Congo, Ethiopia and the Seychelles! If Prof J. C. Kiwanuka is an international figure, it’s because of his very great fame all over Eastern Africa where he is vastly very popular! Among his former students one can endlessly count cabinet ministers (including a Vice President and an ex-Deputy Premier), diplomats, professors, doctors, all kinds of leading professionals, the religious among whom five Provincial Superiors and an Assistant Superior General of the Brothers of Christian Instruction, a former Superior General of the Bannakaroli Brothers, so many priests, etc.. All this hit-parade of achievements would make Prof J. C. Kiwanuka Black Africa’s greatest teacher and most prominent educator!
Fifty years at SMACK for fifty years of Mathematics for Uganda and Eastern Africa. Prof J. C. Kiwanuka is a refined quintessential scholar whose teaching activity has seen SMACK become a superbly renowned scholastic centre for Maths. Diverse categories and programmes in Maths have always been set in motion at SMACK. I remember in my time, in the mid-sixties, SMACK had already pioneered the teaching of Pure Maths, Applied Maths, Additional Maths in addition to pure Ordinary Maths and Subsidiary Maths! And our candidates would just shine in the Cambridge exams. And it’s from SMACK that these programmes would eventually spread to other institutions where the J. C. Kiwanuka-educated mathematicians would more or less be the core Maths teachers!
And, thanks to Maths, SMACK is well-known all over the continent as a real forebrain for sciences! SMACK alumni occupy important positions in the fields of maths, sciences, medicine, agriculture, veterinary, pharmacy, etc all over the world! Some SMACKs are even consultants with ultra-high-performance scientific bodies such as the NASA and several upper echelon science laboratories!
Prof J. C. Kiwanuka, being a multicultural educator, for he was also an excellent geography teacher, as we’ve seen, had also his vision fixed on the promotion of arts subjects notably economics and social ethics. SMACK’s economics programme has always been that where there is largely a blend of pure economics with calculations, engulfing real classic notions in economics as taught at university where our alumni would never find any difficulty in learning the subject!
In helping the Brothers to promote the study of social ethics at that time Prof J. C. Kiwanuka wanted to see SMACK contribute to the edification of future leaders, men of wonderful calibre and special integrity, indeed upright men of his own like! Students could then collect academic benefit from those brilliant lessons conducted by scholarly individuals and pre-potent philosophers who included the much legendary Rev Bro Paul Bourget, Rev Bro Andrew, Rev Bro John Leonard, Rev Bro Edward, and Rev Bro Majella. This formidable team made social ethics an eye-opener to us all in very many ways! And we are indeed very grateful!
Prof J. C. Kiwanuka, the Kisubi Mathematician won the reputation of a learned man of tremendous prestige while at SMACK. Project after project was proposed to him as the only competent individual to help it take off. The Ministry of Education appointed him official Maths tutor whose lessons would always be televised direct on UTV, and the attentive public would all enjoy watching SMACK’s protean luminary surf-riding the most difficult brain-teasers with hardly any effort and in next to no time! Equally impressed and strongly appreciative, were the civil and military aviation personnel at Entebbe where the plucky Prof J. C. Kiwauka was regularly requested to teach Maths to the newly recruited pilots. And his lessons would always draw applauses from the over-impacted trainees! And at one stage he was given a semi-academic year scholarship to go on a sabbatical in the USA. And he did great wonders there!
Prof J. C. Kiwanuka has always been a person who impresses all and who disappoints nobody. His strong Christian background has moulded him into a unique national surpassing merit and quality.
This is the hero who has helped thousands brace for a successful future. This teacher, educator, and educationist-cum-politician is a real nationalist and Pan-Africanist who has contributed so tremendously to the very necessary edification of the continent. His secret may perhaps dwell in the inspiration abundantly drawn from our national motto: FOR GOD AND MY COUNTRY and this is the only thing where this energetic academician fishes all forces that have enabled him to outbrave any situation and to subdue any difficulty, hence to be a real leader to count on!
SMACK has relied upon Prof J. C. Kiwanuka for many things, and he has helped the college achieve an up thrust which has contributed so marvellously to its enviable international prestige and coveted universal reputation. Prof J. C. Kiwanuka’s former students have been a tributary to all this! Wherever they are, they are among the best in their individual fields and their CVs help to betray their Kisubi origins which in turn sell to the world SMACK, the Brothers and the extraordinary “J.C.”
Prof J. C. Kiwanuka is not merely a Kisubi teacher but he is also a real Kisubi product. The very immense luxuriance of his real qualities is there to testify to his SMACK qualities of a dedicated individual exuding maturity, wisdom, common sense, commitment to service, self-mortification for integrity and love of others, a special composure in a sang-froid attitude, etc. These SMACK assets have enabled the prominent teacher to be a model of a kind, respected, admired and emulated by masses who pride themselves on this Kisubi phenomenon whose very tremendous work has enabled SMACK to produce not only celebrities but also real icons almost “adored” in their respective milieu. One commitment that has fully characterized Prof J. C. Kiwanuka’s very brilliant personality is his dedication to service. As a teacher, for instance, the great J.C. was always very punctual and never late for his classes, he was always among the first to arrive at work and among the very last to go back home, he was always assiduous and never absent from duty, his lessons always bore a very deep intelligent content that would regularly betray that efficient preparation by a highly specialized individual, and whenever work was given to students, marking would always be done very timely! He would also participate in many extra-curricular activities on the campus. In my time he used to coach and referee various S1 / S2 football team groups and he was also one of the patrons of the famous Geography Society. All this portrays the keen interest this high profile educator had in his college and in the edification of the youth whom he always tried to pull out of any dark realm of unrefined juvenility. He was always successful in combating indiscipline and any sort of misconduct wherever and whenever it surfaced because he was always a high quality teacher who would feel no repugnance for the exercise of authority. Without ever succumbing to any gesture of insolence the tough educationalist would stand right in the middle of the group and call them to order by boldly appealing to their good sentiments! And whenever he intervened, nobody could answer back! Just only to see the guilty ones shamefully carrying away an agonized look!
It has always been very difficult to unravel the “J.C.” mystery because the person was specially anointed by Providence to be a real guru in the real sense of the word. Endowed with a very smart intelligence coupled with exceptionally outstanding qualities, Prof J. C. Kiwanuka has always been a very eminent personality winning admiration and respect from all. He has succeeded to be naturally extraordinary in any ordinary thing. He has always been conspicuously prominent in any situation whether at local / national / international level. He has never been indifferent to any situation. He has won all battles for himself and for others without shooting a bullet. Likewise, he has succeeded to be a real full man of the people almost adored by all, right from the very local peasants to the very super supreme elite! And they all literary voice the same similar sentiments of gratitude, appreciation, recognition and reconnaissance towards Africa’s very much beloved God-given Prof J. C. Kiwanuka. It’s thanks to persons like him that our formerly dubbed Dark Continent is now speeding to a bright era and, while at it, Africa is putting its special “pawns” on the international chess-board to prove its might in politics, sports, socio-cultural activities, science, medicine, arts and social sciences, economics, information science, religion (with the recently reported almost 3 million-strong gathering at Namugongo proving to be a very superbly extra-show of a dumbfounding African dynamism!).
Prof J. C. Kiwanuka has given his entire self for the cause of African nationalism via the very relevantly much yearned for education of the continent’s youth. He has shown to the world that teaching, one of the most difficult professions to exercise, is a rewarding venture when one eventually looks at the results obtained both in the short run, with academic performances, and in the long run, with the position and attainment achieved by the alumni in society. Prof J. C. Kiwanuka must indeed be a very happy man because he has regularly obtained the two aspects with very great pride! That’s why he is a hero, a legend, and a real leader with a proud following!
His greatness has fetched him amiable appellations and titles that continue to cement his celebrity in people’s hearts. He has been variously called professor, guru, extra-terrestrial, hero, genius, minister, politician, nationalist, thinker, visionary, man of God, man of the people, etc and others would even call him “manoeuvre” recalling the way he used to astound students when solving any extremely very difficult Cambridge-set HSC mathematics exercise without an iota of an effort! And the very much astonished class would remain bemusedly stunned! To his very many intellectual aptitudes one would add on his exceptionally unbending and indomitable courage. Prof J. C. Kiwanuka is a very intrepid person who fears nothing! Many of us still remember the way he won political battles in the then politically hyper difficult Bulemeezi County (Luweero) where he was the official MP in the early sixties and where he is still a legend! Equally remembered is also the way he boldly came out to defend late Archbishop Dr Joseph Kiwanuka when a Minister irresponsibly uttered a statement in Parliament promising to fire a political missile to the celebrated churchman who had voiced popular criticism against a proposed education reform bill that eventually failed to take off. Prof J. C. Kiwanuka, at his own great risk and in peril of his career and profession, took to the frontline and was one of those very brave fearless individuals who dared any real danger by assembling countless thousands in a protest rally at the Queen’s Clock Tower in Kampala. Prof J. C. Kiwanuka, who opened his address with a special prayer, almost moved the entire crowd to tears by his special parlance which sullied to shambles the Minister’s cheap remarks on Africa’s very highly dignified top-flight prelate. And the brave Kisubi professor became an instant hero almost virtually “acclaimed” nationwide! And at a unique Nnamugongo, specially organized to pray for the Archbishop, torrents of excited faithful were, after the historic High Mass, indeed in a raving mad-rush to greet and to give a hefty hug to the magnetic statesman, thanking him for his exceptional heroism!
Yes, all people rightly take Prof J. C. Kiwanuka for a gallant spotless national endowed with special clairvoyant abilities and for a very great lay Christian whose sound merits have raised him to stardom! His full half a century at SMACK was, without any slightest doubt, a period of very great inspiration which strongly contributed to making leading St Mary’s College Kisubi a vintage model of an academic wonderland yielding a high output devoid of anything shallow and hollow. A SMACK product can easily be identified thanks to the many positive qualities that credential his personality and numerous among them are ascribed to the edifying personality of Prof J. C. Kiwanuka! He built students in an infinite variety of things. In our time the Headmaster would often request him to lecture to us on some important topics which at times included project appraisal in a post-SMACK era. And we would all love listening to words of wisdom from a person who has always stood as a true model of a husband and father of a very happy family for which he would later make immense sacrifices in particular from the time he lost his very dear wife and eventually his beloved daughter, two very sad happenings which won all hearts for the beloved teacher as seen in the very massive turnout at the two funerals coupled with universal mourning among all Ugandan communities all over the world!
Clocking an enviable ninety, highlighted with such a very brilliant record of successes, triumphs, super high achievements and exemplary attitudes in joys and heartfelt sorrows, is something of an unprecedented feat that will permanently stamp Prof J. C. Kiwanuka’s name in the annals of history.
Who will forget to remember a national who through a simple humble lifetime of a college teacher succeeded to do multitudes of untold wonders that now bear the hallmark of genius and almost turn the renowned J. C. into a hallowed individual citizen! Who will ever forget to say THANK YOU to a person who through individual self-imposed sacrifices for the youth of the region has succeeded to pull many fellow citizens out of the mire of misery to a brightly shining horizon where prosperity, chance and success are a sturdy commonplace! Who will forget to testify in favour of a person who has always shown a good-will towards anyone who approaches him for advice or anything positive?
Prof J. C. Kiwanuka has indeed always been one of those cautious types, ready to help constructively and has impressed many in this regard! And this episode, narrated by an outstanding Ugandan, Hon Nuwe Amanya Mushega, and quoted in press / internet suffices to tell it all:
While in the Ministry of Education I went to Kisubi in 1989 to tour schools. In the staff meeting I saw an elderly man in a corner and I asked him, “Were you Kiwanuka’s minister?” He said yes. This was J. C. Kiwanuka. He was Minister of Education in 1961 when I was a P7 student. He came to visit Mbarara High School. We saw him for not more than 30 minutes. I never saw him again until that day. This was one of the oldest graduates the country had produced. He was a Mathematics teacher at Kisubi. Just because he was DP, when UPC came to power he was thrown back into teaching; we never used his full potential. I invited him to my home in Bugolobi and we had a party of two: the junior and the elder. He advised me on what not to do, because we were trying to change the Board of Governors to bring on board teachers and parents. The old board comprised just government and foundation body. He gave me some good advice.
I owe a lot of credit to J. C. Kiwanuka.….who changed my entire thinking about the state of education in the country at that time.
There we are with our super-eminent J. C., a very brave man of conviction who has regularly won the hearts of his fellow citizens. Indeed, Prof J. C. Kiwanuka’s ninety year-old life has always had the distinction of a bravura performance that compares very well with that of the greatest biographies the entire African continent has ever read. Such a rich life always deserves praises of the highest value to the highest merit. The best way to laud a hero is to garland him with the most gilded accolades. The great Ugandan nonagenarian can’t be denied such an honour. Uganda as a nation should think of enumerating Prof J. C. Kiwanuka among its national heroes in recognition of his tremendous contribution to education and to the edification of the youth. He has achieved all this through pains and sacrifice for the good of his country. Buganda Kingdom should award its celebrated first Mathematics graduate who in achieving such an over-fine pack of high-toned realizations has shown to the entire world how the scholarship Mengo granted him to further his studies in UK was a thing of very great worth that has permitted this Muganda teacher to have a radiant impact on our nation’s education system out of which he has succeeded to build a very special calibre of nationals that have contributed a lot to Buganda’s and to Uganda’s development in all aspects. Makerere, his university, on behalf of the nation’s academia, should also do something to extol this scholarly national whose impeccably wonderful image and exemplary personality are among the many things that have indeed helped boost Makerere’s name to certain esteem. If at one time Makerere was called the Harvard of Black Africa it was indeed due to, among other things, its high quality products such as Prof J. C. Kiwanuka. Can Makerere also forget an alumnus who, at college, formed most of the university’s very outstanding alumni in Medicine, Sciences, Maths, Statistics, Engineering, Veterinary, Pharmacy, Information Technology, etc and was also an inspiration to those Kisubis who took Arts, Law, Social Sciences, etc? Many Makerereans would like to see Prof J. C. Kiwanuka awarded an Honorary Makerere Doctorate or named Honorary Professor of the University, and this will help energize the rediscovery of its past fame and glory. And the Church for which Prof J. C. Kiwanuka, a very great lay Christian, has indeed won countless battles? Of course we know that these ecclesiastics take things very carefully and at times very strategically and, of course, they are aware of J. C’s multivalent positive contribution. So, it’s now a matter of waiting patiently for the day when this man of God will be rewarded by Rome to the full satisfaction of all Ugandans who take the profoundly Christian Prof J. C. Kiwanuka for a role model to look up to!
Yes, he is indeed a bona fide Christian model and exemplary statesman who is certainly check-listed by Providence for a sublime celestial reward the day the Almighty One will call him to bless all his labours, efforts, pains and sacrifices. There, he will enjoy gazing the Beatific Vision in the noble company of his illustrious namesakes such as St Achilles Kiwanuka, one of Uganda’s Holy Martyrs; the saintly Archbishop Dr Joseph Kiwanuka, patron of Kiwanuka House, and a very great world renowned exemplary African churchman whose entire course of life was solidly marked with success, triumph and exceptional gallantry that even accompanied him to his grave on his very historic triumphant funeral; the Great Benedicto Kiwanuka, an honorary SMACK OB and a much legendary politician and very prominent lawyer who, through correlating politics with law, succeeded to twin a unique national achievement: that of becoming the nation’s first ever Premier and eventually that of becoming the country’s first ever native Chief Justice, and whose murder, at the zenith of his fame as an incorruptible and intrepid judge, is universally interpreted as a real true genuine Christian martyrdom involving a courageous life freely and willingly offered in the cause of truth and justice. All in all, looking at this sacrosanct Kiwanuka catalogue, any serious observer would very rightly say that Prof J. C. Kiwanuka’s ninety year-old brilliant personality stands , on the other hand, as a symbol that epitomizes that adorable super legend as encapsulated in the Kiwanukas, meaning, of course, a heroic life moulded out of intelligence, wisdom, courage, pragmatism, vision and foresight, integrity and honesty, charisma and charm, fervour and inspiration, passion and zeal, and a very much overly exemplary spirit of leadership axed on sovereign maturity and substantive resolution.
MAY THE ALMIGHTY GOD’S NAME BE ALWAYS PRAISED FOR HAVING GIVEN US THE VERY GREAT PROF J.C. KIWANUKA!

“45 days to J C’s 91st Birthday, the Almighty God called J C Kiwanuka to himself, we miss him, but thank God for the life of J C. May the Almighty God rest J C’s soul in eternal Peace”

IT WILL BE A MIRACLE FOR THE CURRENT ARRANGEMENT AS PER THE LAW WHICH CREATED THE LORD MAYOR TO DELIVER FOR KAMPALA

The NRM Government looks like wanted to control Kampala City at all cost given that the city has been going to the opposition and so created the current set up, unfortunately, the problem of Uganda is the NRM and its think tanks who seem to think much more about the welfare of themselves and immediate family members as opposed to that of the whole population of Uganda, and the reason why the gap between the have’s and have-nots is increasing by the day. What NRM needed to do as any would-be responsible Government would be equated to the privatization where enterprises that used to be a drain to the economy were put into the hands of private entities to run. The law should have put in place a situation where competent private firms would contest to run the city. It is clear that the city like all Local Government arrangements across the country have both the elected leaders co-existing with the civil servants. This arrangement has a lot of conflict, and a hired company would come in to balance up the forces for development.
The driving force should be the wish of the electorate. Their wishes would be brought to the table and it would be the hired company together with the technical persons to see that out of the wishes, a workable plan for what is feasible and implementable clearly mapped out and final implementation would be done under the supervision of the hired company. The Hired Company would still have opportunity to have its innovative plans discussed with the technical personnel to see to the best service delivery in the city. It is still possible to review the law and incorporate a hired firm to see to running of the city, the Lord Mayor remaining at the top of the elected people’s representatives, then the appointed Chief Executive heading the Civil Servants, but with the Hired firm doing the technical detail of turning round the City into a worthy entity. Short of an arrangement of the nature, where the NRM simply wants to see their person heading the city, it will only God who will save the ‘city’ becoming a worse slum!

KAMPALA TO BE RUN BY GOVERNMENT
The Parliament of Uganda has passed a bill – the Kampala City Bill which was first tabled in 2009 into law, making the central government in charge of running the city. This means the Kampala City Council – KCC has been nullified allowing the formation of a new government body, the Kampala City Council Authority with the powers to manage the City’s roads, sewers, transport system and street lights. The Authority also has been given the mandate to borrow money without prior consent from the parliament of Uganda, a position Honorable Nandala Mafabi vehemently opposed arguing that it is now a government. As part of the new law a Metropolitan Physical Planning Authority has also been formed with the mandate of managing the Capitals infrastructure development and will consist of professionals such as Association of Architects, lawyers and medical personnel. In the law the president will have the powers to appoint an Executive Director whose qualifications are equivalent to that of a government ministry permanent secretary virtually removing all powers from the Mayor’s office.
The bill which has been shelved for quite some time having first been tabled in early 2009 was brought back to the floor of parliament by the Local Government Minister Hon. Adolf Mwesige on Tuesday 2rd November and was eventually enacted into law.
The law curtails the powers of the Mayor leaving the office with only a ceremonial role as the management and running of the Kampala City is going to be done by the Executive Director. It also allows the police to take their orders directly from the Executive Director other than from the IGP – Inspector General of Police.
The law was as a result of the poorly managed city roads, street lights, garbage in which the blame has been squarely placed on the now defunct Kampala City Council and the mayor Al Haj Nasser Sebbaggala.

KAMPALA CITY BILL, 2009 NEEDS TO BE AMENDED, SAYS FORMER TOWN CLERK
Wednesday, 24th February, 2010

By Josephine Maseruka
FORMER Kampala town clerk Gordon Mwesigye has called for the amendment of the Kampala Capital City Bill, 2009. He said the Bill is likely to derail service delivery.
Mwesigye, who served in Kampala City Council for 27 years, added that the Bill needs rewriting to overcome political interference.
“I am going to help specify the roles of the Kampala City Authority and that of the Metropolitan Planning Authority, which are messed up in the Bill,” he said.
Mwesigye, who is now the secretary of the Uganda Human Rights Commission, was yesterday giving his views on the Bill before MPs on the public service and local government committee.
He called for the appointment of a minister who will be in charge of the city authority since Kampala will cease to be a local government.
“The minister must be appointed by the President and will be responsible for the authority’s activities with a clear budgetary vote. The minister must not be under the Ministry of Local Government.”
Mwesigye reasoned that the local government minister wields a lot of power, which at times makes ministry officials fail to do their work.

KAMPALA CITY BILL, 2009

Written by Hussein Bogere
Monday, 29 June 2009 06:17
Declaration of Kampala as capital city
(1) In accordance with article 5 of the Constitution, Kampala, located in Buganda, is declared the capital city of Uganda.
(2) The Capital City shall, in accordance with article 5 of the Constitution be administered by the central government.
Kampala Capital City Authority

(1) There shall be an authority to be known as Kampala Capital City Authority.
(2) The Authority shall be a body corporate with perpetual succession and may sue and be sued in its corporate name and do, enjoy or suffer anything that may be done, enjoyed or suffered by a body corporate.
(3) The Authority is the governing body of the capital city and shall administer the capital city on behalf of the central government subject to this Act.
(4) Any enactment that applies to a district shall, subject to this Act and with the necessary modifications, apply to the Authority.

Composition of Authority
(1) The Authority shall consist of the following members:
(a) Lord Mayor;
(b) Deputy Lord Mayor;
(c) One councillor directly elected by secret ballot to represent each electoral area in the capital city on the basis of universal adult suffrage;
(d) Two councillors representing the youth, one of whom shall be female;
(e) Two councillors with disability representing persons with disabilities, one of whom shall be female;
(0 Women councillors forming one third of the Authority such that the councillors elected under paragraphs (c), (d) and (e) shall form two thirds of the Authority;
(g) One councillor representing the National Environment Management Authority;
(h) One councillor representing each of the following professional bodies:
(i) Uganda Institution of Professional Engineers;
(ii) Uganda Society of Architects;
(iii) Uganda Medical and Dental Practitioners Council;
(iv) Uganda Law Society;

Lord Mayor
(1) There shall be a Lord Mayor and a Deputy Lord Mayor of the Capital City.
(2) The Lord Mayor shall be elected by the Authority from among the directly elected councillors referred to in section 6(1) (c), (d), (e) and (f) by simple majority.
(3) The Deputy Lord Mayor shall be elected in the same manner as the Lord Mayor.
(4) The election of the Lord Mayor and the Deputy Lord Mayor shall be presided over by a chief magistrate in accordance with regulations made by the Minister in consultation with the Electoral Commission.
(5) The Lord Mayor and Deputy Lord Mayor shall serve on a full time basis.
A person is not qualified to be elected as Lord Mayor or Deputy Lord Mayor unless he or she is qualified to be elected a Member of Parliament.

Functions of Lord Mayor
(1) The functions of the Lord Mayor are—
(a) to be the political head of the Capital City;
(b) to preside over all meetings of the Authority;
(c) to perform ceremonial functions and civic functions;
(d) to host foreign and local dignitaries;
(e) to head the Authority in developing strategies and programmes for the development of the Capital City;
(f) to monitor the administration of the Capital City;
(g) to provide guidance to the division administrations; and
(h) to represent the Capital City on the Metropolitan Authority.
(2) The Lord Mayor shall in the performance of his or her functions, be answerable to the Authority and the Minister.
(3) The Deputy Lord Mayor shall assist the Lord Mayor in the performance of his or her functions and shall otherwise deputise for the Lord Mayor in his or her absence.

Executive director
(1) There shall be an executive director who shall be the chief executive of the Authority.
(2) The executive director shall be appointed by the President on the advice of the Public Service Commission.
(3) A person is not qualified to be appointed executive director unless he or she is of high moral character and proven integrity and has substantial experience and relevant qualifications in public management.

Functions of executive director
The functions of the executive director shall include the following:
(a) To be the head of the public service in the Authority and to head the administration of the Authority, including divisions and wards;
(b) To be the accounting officer of the Authority;
(c) To be responsible for the management of all public funds of the Authority and accountable to Parliament;
(d) Be responsible for coordination and implementation of national and council policies, laws, regulations, byelaws, programmes and projects;
(e) Advise the mayor and Authority on Government policy;
(f) Present the annual budget to the Authority;
(g) Advise the Authority on technical, administrative and legal matters pertaining to the management of the Authority.
(h) Implement lawful decisions taken by the Authority;
(i) Oversee the delivery of quality services to the population within the capital city and take remedial action where service delivery standards are below the expected minimum standards;
(j) Ensure proper physical planning and development control in the urban councils;
(k) Monitor and coordinate the activities of the directorates of the Authority and of the lower Authority;
(1) Be the custodian of all the assets and records of the Authority.
(m) Attend meetings of the metropolitan Authority;
(n) Supervise and evaluate staff performance;
(o) Liaise with the central government and other institutions on behalf of the Authority;
(p) Conduct the public relations of the Authority.
(q) Promote trade order;
(r) Mobilise the urban community for development and sustain ability of infrastructure and services;
(s) Be responsible for the enforcement of ordinances and byelaws made by the Authority and its lower council units;
(t) Be responsible to the Authority, subject to the general directions of the Minister;
(u) On day-to-day operations, be responsible to the Authority; and make reports to the council and the Minister on the state of affairs of the capital city at least once a year or as the Minister or the Authority may determine;

(w) To perform any other duties assigned by the Authority or the Minister.

Lower urban councils
(1) The capital city shall have the following lower urban councils under the Authority:
(a) Division urban councils;
(b) Ward urban councils; and
(c) Village urban councils.
(2) There shall also exist under the Authority, street committees.
(3) Subject to this Act, Entebbe Municipality and Kiira Town Council shall not be local governments but shall be lower urban councils under the Authority.

Metropolitan Physical Planning Authority
(1) There shall be a body to be known as the Metropolitan Physical Planning Authority.
(2) The Metropolitan Authority shall consist of a chairperson and four other persons all of whom shall be appointed by the Minister with the approval of Cabinet, being persons qualified and experienced in physical planning, civil engineering, architecture, environment or public health.
(3) The members of the Metropolitan Authority shall hold office for three years and shall be eligible for re-appointment for one more term.
(4) A member of the Metropolitan Authority may be removed in the public interest by the Minister on any of the following grounds™
(a) Inability to perform the functions of his or her office arising from infirmity of body or mind.

Functions of the Metropolitan Physical Planning Authority
(1) The Metropolitan Authority shall be responsible for—
(a) Developing a Metropolitan Authority Structure and Development Plan for the Capital City and metropolitan area;
(b) Handling and addressing planning issues within the Capital City and the neighbouring districts of Mukono, Mpigi and Wakiso;
(c) Planning major transportation, infrastructure and other utilities in conjunction with other relevant bodies;
(d) Planning recreation parks, tree planting, green corridors and other environment areas;
(e) Overseeing and monitoring the execution of the Metropolitan Authority Development Plan;
(f) Approving the Capital City, municipal and town structure plans; and
(g) Beautification of the Capital City and the metropolitan area.
(2) The Metropolitan Authority shall have power to veto physical plans or activities that are inconsistent with the Metropolitan Authority Development Plan, the metropolitan structural plan or land use policy.
(3) The Metropolitan Authority shall ensure that land use in the City and the metropolitan area follow designated plans, irrespective of the tenure of land.
(4) The Metropolitan Authority shall prepare comprehensive and integrated development plans incorporating the plans of the lower urban councils.
(5) The central Government shall be responsible for the construction and maintenance of—
(a) All roads and streetlights in the central business district;
(b) trunk and gateway roads;
(c) subways;
(d) flyovers;
(e) cycle ways and walkways;
(f) sewers;
(g) transport ways; and
(h) rails.
(6) The Metropolitan Authority shall be responsible for the construction and maintenance of all roads and streetlights, other than those mentioned in subsection (6).
(7) The Metropolitan Authority shall be responsible for cleaning and de-silting of all roads in the City.
(8) Where land is required by the Authority for public use or public health including expansion of roads, constructing new roads, water and sewerage systems and demolishing buildings to construct new structures, compensation shall be made by the central government in accordance with article 26 of the Constitution and the Land Acquisition Act.
(9) The Metropolitan Authority shall submit quarterly reports and annual reports to the Minister, with a copy to the Minister responsible for physical planning.
(10) The Minister shall lay before Parliament, the annual reports submitted to him or her under subsection (9).

Division town clerk
(1) The division town clerk shall be the head of the public officers of the division council and shall be the accounting officer of the division urban council.
(2) The division town clerk shall be responsible for—
(a) implementation of lawful decisions of the division urban council;
(b) coordination and implementation of policies of division urban council;
(c) advising the mayor and the division urban council on government policy;

Resident City Commissioner
(1) There shall be for the Capital City, a Resident City Commissioner who shall be appointed by the President.
(2) A person to be appointed a Resident City Commissioner shall be a citizen of Uganda, and qualified to be a Member of Parliament.
(1) The Resident City Commissioner shall—
(a) represent the President and the government in the Authority;
(b) coordinate the administration of government services in the Authority;
(c) act as chairperson of the Authority security committee;
(d) advise the Lord Mayor on matters of a national nature that may affect the Authority or its plans or programmes, and particularly the relations between the Authority and the Government;
(e) monitor and inspect the activities of the Authority and where necessary, advise the Lord Mayor; and
(f) carry out such other functions as may be assigned to him or her by the President or prescribed by Parliament.
(2) The Resident City Commissioner may—
(a) sensitise the populace on government policies and programmes, and in so doing shall liaise with the Lord Mayor;
(b) advise the Lord Mayor to instruct the chief internal auditor to carry out a special audit and submit a report to the Authority;
(c) draw the attention of the Auditor General to the need for special investigation audits and submit a report to the
Authority;
(d) draw the attention of the Inspector General of Government to the need to investigation of any cases of mismanagement or abuse of office;
(e) Draw the attention of any relevant line Ministry to the divergence from or noncompliance with Government policy by any lower urban council within the Capital City;
(f) in consultation with the Lord Mayor, address the Authority from time to time on any matter of national importance.
(3) The expenses of the office of the Resident City Commissioner including salaries, allowances and pensions, shall be charged on the Consolidated Fund.

General
Member of Parliament or Minister shall not hold office of Lord Mayor, Deputy Lord Mayor or councillor in the Capital City

(1) The Lord Mayor, Deputy Lord Mayor and other councillors of the Authority, Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Chairpersons and councillors of lower urban councils and members of street committees shall hold office for five years after their election as councillors are shall be eligible for re-election.
(2) Where a person is elected to fill a vacancy in one of the offices referred to in subsection (1), that person shall hold office for the remainder of the term of office of the person who vacated the office.

Remuneration
The Minister shall, in consultation with the Minister responsible for finance and the Minister responsible for the public service, determine the remuneration payable to the Lord Mayor, Deputy Lord Mayor and councillors of the Authority and the Mayor, Deputy Mayor, chairperson and councillors of a lower urban council.

BOUNDARIES
Beginning at the point of grid reference 46500mE, 32000mN South West of Zinga Island where Ggoma, Ntenjeru and Nakisunga Sub-counties in Mukono District meet with Wakiso District boundary, then following the Mukono-Wakiso District boundary northwards till the confluence of Nakiyanja River and Nakalongosa Stream.
Thence following the thatweg of Nakalongosa Stream westwards till it crosses 46100mE grid line upstream to the road junction of Kiwologoma to Kimwanyi Road and Kiwologoma to Kitukawe Road and then following River Nakibisi down stream to the confluence with River Nakidimba.
Then following southwards the boundary of Kiira and Nangabo Sub-county to the present Kampala District boundary at Magere then following this boundary Westwards and Southwards to the point in River Lubigi at Kawala where it then follows Rubaga Division boundary; thus excluding Rubaga Division and Mengo Parish in Central Kampala Division to the confluence of Nalukolongo and Mayanja Stream at the railway bridge in Natete and there from at the junction of Old Masaka Road following the road from Kabojja, Kikajjo to Ggambirana in South Westward direction.
And then follows Kamirangoma and Mugomba Swamps to Nambigirwa Swamp in Lake Victoria then following the boundary of Katabi Sub-county through to Entebbe Municipality boundaiy and along off shores in Lake Victoria to the point where the boundary of Busiro County, Wakiso District, meets the southern most end of Kampala District and Mukono County, Mukono District boundary in the lake at coordinate point 463100mE, 36650mN North East of Namalusu Island then following that boundary Northwards to the beginning of this description near Zinga Island in Murchison Bay.

THE BODA BODA RIDERS SHOULD PAY TO HELP TREAT THE PEOPLE THEY CAUSE INJURY TO.

I have seen a number of victims of boda boda (commercial motorist riders), what is common with these fellows is that when they cause accidents, the first thing they do is run away as fast as possible hence leave their victims to the mercy of other people. The most recent example I am aware of is a lady working with the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, 2nd floor Ministry of Finance Headquarters. This one met her fate as she approached Charm Towers. The boda cyclist knocked her down, the woman sustained broken limbs and is still nursing her broken arm. The victim on being knocked had her bag thrown and contents were left to the mercy of those who were passing-by. She immediately got a back out, and those who rescued her only had to come up with a hospital within the city where to take her. At Case Clinic is where she found herself when she re-gained. The motor cyclist run away but this lady is going through a lot of inconvenience which she is bound to suffer for not less than 6 months!
Why then should the powers that be leave the reckless boda cyclists go away when they cause serious problems to unsuspecting members of the society? I wish to put my proposal to Hon. Erias Lukwago. It is true, boda riders may be among those who supported you to get the vote of Lord Mayor, but service delivery is what any worth city is expected of. One of the problems is the boda cyclists. They are an inconvenience that has to be properly regulated. Many places where people would pass conveniently have the boda cyclists parked there. They are always in a hurry which is the basic reason that they are involved in accidents. The way forward is 1st to see regulations in place and properly followed. These should include a monthly levy to a Collection Account to help victims of their recklessness. This will go a long way in helping those who get accidents which would have been avoided. The reckless riding must be checked. Why should these fellows always be in a hurry? Why overtake everywhere?
William Kituuka Kiwanuka

MULAGO GETS 20 BODA BODA CYCLISTS ACCIDENTS DAILY
You cannot visit Kampala and miss the passenger motorcycles dubbed boda boda taxis manoeuvre through busy traffic at unbeatable speeds on pavements, past pedestrians and sometimes through busy markets and stalls.

BODA INVOLVEMENT
Written by Moses Mugalu
Thursday, 29 October 2009 03:45
After the riots, Police boss Sorowen met boda boda leaders and told them not to mix business with politics.
Remember presidential candidate Yoweri Museveni sitting on a boda boda on his way to Kololo Airstrip for his nomination in the 2001 elections? In opting for a boda boda ride, instead of the usual presidential motorcade, Museveni’s campaign strategists wanted to sell their candidate as a common man’s candidate, and the strategy worked.
Three years before (in the 1998 Kampala mayoral elections), NRM strategists had watched as Nasser Ntege Sebaggala used the boda boda to such good effect. He ended up trouncing NRM leaning candidates Christopher Yiga and Wasswa Birigwa.
But Museveni’s dramatic ride on a boda boda proved to be key to winning over the cyclists who now became pro-NRM and went on to gain special attention from the President’s Office. To cement this relationship, State House moved in before the 2006 elections to help low income boda boda cyclists to get their own motorcycles and pay back in installments over two years.
The Presidential Assistant on Political Affairs, Moses Byaruhanga, supervised this scheme through which thousands of cyclists acquired TVS motorcycles.
“It’s unfortunate that most of my colleagues abused the scheme; they defaulted and the motorcycles have been withdrawn,” says Amin, one of the beneficiaries.
Boda boda cyclists are widely blamed for criminal acts, traffic jams and accidents in the city. In a bid to rein them in, Kampala City Council moved to ban them from the central business district. But those efforts were thwarted by the government, which Mayor Sebaggala now accuses of inciting the riders to rebel against city authorities.
Earlier, there was an attempt again by KCC to levy a fee on the cyclists but this too failed after they appealed to their new buddy, President Museveni.
“The problem is those who wanted to take over (the city administration) from me disorganised them. They were recruited by CMI, given pistols and went ahead to tell them ‘you shouldn’t pay anything because you are boda boda cyclists,’” said Sebaggala.

STRAINED RELATIONSHIP?
But last month’s riots in Kampala and parts of Buganda sparked by government’s decision to block Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi from visiting Kayunga District appear to have strained the relationship between the cyclists and the NRM leadership.
It was reported that boda boda cyclists were instrumental in the riots, and that almost every stage where they operate was chaotic. It was not surprisingly, therefore, when the Police decided to come down hard on the cyclists less than a week after the riots. So far, hundreds have been arrested and thousands of motorcycles have been impounded.
All major Police stations and posts around Kampala are presently brimming with the bikes.The Police say their action is precipitated by the recklessness of the boda boda riders on the roads, and lacking basic traffic requirements such as driving permits, helmets, reflectors, etc. But one of the riders’ leaders says the Police are overzealous.
“They’re doing it with excessive zeal because even if you have some of those requirements, they won’t give you a chance,” said Said Kirumira, chairman of Kampala Central Division Boda Boda Riders Association (KUBOCA). Kirumira dismisses allegations that boda boda riders actively participated in the riots.
“We were only transporting people during the riots, but we didn’t participate,” he pleads. He adds that early this year, Police Chief Kale Kayihura gave them an ultimatum to meet the traffic rules and safety standard requirements. “It’s unfortunate that the Police’s on-going operation has caught most of our colleagues off guard, but as KUBOCA leaders, we’re trying to find a way of settling the matter,” said Kirumira.
According to Kirumira, Kampala Metropolitan Police boss, Andrew Sorowen, met boda boda cyclists after the riots and advised “us not to mix business with politics”, which confirms government’s dismay at the boda boda riders’ conduct during the riots.
Kirumira said they organised a joint cleaning exercise of city streets [on Thursday, October 15], and instituted an enforcement committee to police undisciplined riders. Both initiatives would help revitalise their faltering relationship with government, said Kirumira. But some of the cyclists accuse Kirumira and his former KUBOCA enforcement officers, who were recruited into the Police as SPCs in 2007, of witch-hunting them.
“The President stopped their (KUBOCA) illegal activities of collecting money from us after the Bwaise branch reported them to him so they’re taking advantage of the current operation to humiliate us,” Amin claimed.
In 2007, boda boda riders in Bwaise successfully got the President’s attention after stopping his convey while on his way to Bombo. They told him that they were being mistreated by KUBOCA. The President immediately banned KUBOCA from collecting any money from them.
Kirumira confirms that KUBOCA was stripped of the right to collect money but insists that his executive remains committed and it’s the only recognised cyclists’ association.
“We have devised other sources of income, like registration fees charged from each new-comer at every stage, to help us operate, so we continue to fight for the interests of boda boda riders in Kampala Central,” Kirumira said.

mugalu@observer.ug

DID I HEAR MUSEVENI CELEBRATION TO COST SHS 30BN

How can Museveni swearing cost the tax payer shs 30bn? That is madness. We all swa the monies Museveni put in the campaign much of which is undoubted tax payer money, he bought T-shirts for people whose Government has passed a judgment that they put on used clothings and these T-shirts must have been so many millions, that even today though the election is long finished, the poverty and in many instances still put on the T-shirts. We the democrats have no way to see Museveni out of power. Looks like he is waiting for a military solution by those who believe in killing people as the way to get state power and there after steal tax payer money for own comfort. It does not many the slightest sense given the state of the economy in Uganda to waste shs 30bn celebrating for the coming again of Museveni for another 5 years for he misery of majority of Ugandans. Can you imagine the capital city? No, we cannot have hopelessness go on. Fix the things which need tx payer money to be spent on. How well has the 2010/2011 Budget faired? Was it for fun? Let us be serious. Though we cannot get Museveni out of power, we want service delivery. The NRM machinery shouls stop day robbery of tax payer money and let us have value for money. Keep in power, have your guns every where, but let the machinery stop stealing money anlet us service delivery. No need to celebrate victory for some one who should have gone in 2006 nd is using the machinery he has created to stay in power. It disgusts.
William Kituuka Kiwanuka


PRESIDENTIAL SWEARING-IN TO COST AT LEAST SHS 30BN!
Source: http://www.ekimeeza.com/?p=2094
The May 12 Presidential swearing-in ceremony will cost taxpayers at least Shs30 billion, according to a supplementary budget tabled in Parliament.
The money for the one-day event is part of the Shs151.6 billion needed by the government in both recurrent, statutory and development expenditures to meet unexpected spending pressures.
The budget
Tabled by the State Minister for Finance, Ms Ruth Nankabirwa, the supplementary budget will cater for the office of the President (Shs3 billion), the Ministry of Public Service (Shs56.5 billion) and the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development (Shs92 billion).
A total supplementary of Shs56.5 billion will cater for pension payments of teachers, general civil service and military service staff.
Another Shs92 billion is an additional funding for the construction of Mutundwe Thermal Power plant.
Ms Nankabirwa said the funds provided by the World Bank for the construction of the plant were not enough.
The construction of the 50MW power plant is expected to cost Shs251 billion.
The tabled supplementary budget comes only two months after the Parliament passed a Shs600 billion budget which opposition politicians suspected was for funding the NRM campaigns.
It also comes ahead of another awaited supplementary budget for financing the purchase of fighter jets and other military hardware estimated at $740 million (about Shs1.7trillion).
The new Shs151.6 billion supplementary budget comes after Parliament controversially approved a Shs602.5 billion budget in the middle of preparations for the February 18 general elections.
The opposition and civil society condemned the act, alleging that the money would be used to campaign for President Museveni and bribe voters. The ruling NRM party has since denied the allegations.

MUSEVENI SPENDS SHS 300M DAILY
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Written by Edris Kiggundu
[EKIMEEZA]-Government spent at least Shs 300 million per day to maintain President Museveni on official duty and his immediate family between July 2009 and December 2009, according to the National Budget Framework Paper (NBFP) for 2010/2011-2014/2015.
According to the NBPF, which looks at government’s expenditure over the past financial year and forecasts future spending, government spent Shs 54 billion in those six months and this includes providing for the President’s security detail, that of his family as well as his undisclosed welfare and logistical services.
And State House anticipates this figure to shoot to Shs 72 billion in the first six months of next financial year. Of the Shs 54 billion, Shs 11.6 billion was spent on logistical support and the President’s security, while Museveni’s countrywide tours to promote the Bonna Bagaggawale (Prosperity for All) programme in 33 districts cost the taxpayers Shs 7.7 billion.
State House, the figures indicate, spent Shs 10 billion to service the new presidential jet debt and to procure one principal and two support vehicles for the President.
This new jet, Gulf Stream 550, whose purchase generated public debate last year, was bought at a cost of $48.2million ( about Shs 88 billion).
During the six months, Shs 6.9 billion was spent on President Museveni’s visits to 17 countries, hosting of 10 heads of state, eight regional and international meetings, and hosting 17 foreign delegations.
The NBFP states that government also spent Shs 10 billion to enable Museveni attend 49 community functions and to facilitate State House payment of school fees for an undisclosed number of students. This is in addition to the Shs 1 billion used to renovate three state lodges and Shs 478 million to procure security, press and firefighting equipment.
Government’s expenditure on the presidency is likely to augment accusations that the President is living large at the expense of the taxpayer.
The Shs 300 million spent on the presidency a day is enough to pay salaries of about 150 Special Police Constables for a full year (with each earning about Shs 200,000 per month), or to build six decent classroom blocks at a cost of Shs 50 million each.
Yet it appears that this money is not enough. In January, State House lodged a supplementary budget request for Shs 18 billion, of which Shs 12 billion was to settle the outstanding debt arrears for the old presidential jet. Another Shs 350 million was required to pay allowances for staff on various duties.
The NBPF notes: “Within the available resources in the medium term 2010/11-2012/13, the sector through the Office of the President will continue to facilitate the presidency to enable it effectively execute its constitutional mandate and to manage the government policy and agenda…”
Compared with our richer neighbour, Kenya, according to their national budget of 2009/10, State House was allocated KShs 960 million (UShs 26 billion) for a full financial year to cater for President Mwai Kibaki’s household and other logistical support.
The Shs 26 billion includes money for maintaining the official residences of President Kibaki six State Lodges and State House Nairobi), for facilitating his 388 staff and the maintenance of 149 support cars.
This means that per day, the Kenyan government spent UShs 71 million to maintain Kibaki, four times less than the money Uganda spent to maintain its head of state a day.
Museveni’s Press Secretary, Tamale Mirundi declined to comment about the expenditure saying the budget is drafted by the Office of the President not Sate House.
President Museveni recently said in an interview with The Daily Monitor that his office deserves to be funded highly because he is the initiator and supervisor of major policies in the country.
“If you fund education but you do not fund this supervisor [Museveni], then what are you doing?” he retorted when asked about the large amount spent on maintaining him.
State House maintains a large security detail in addition to a large support staff. This expenditure on the presidency represents 24% of the total cost of public administration in Uganda, which at the moment stands at Shs 217 billion.
Next financial year, according to the NBPF, the cost is projected to increase to Shs 304 billion.
Budget priorities for 2010/2011
It is clear that the NBPF was drawn in tandem with the recently launched National Development Plan, which is supposed to be the key guide in the country’s pursuit of accelerated economic development. The five-year NDP is estimated to cost Shs 54 trillion.
According to the paper, Uganda is projected to spend Shs 6.3 trillion for the next financial year, Shs 300 million less than last year’s Shs 6.6 trillion.
The reduction is partly as a result of a decrease in allocation of resources to ministries such as that of Health, Works and Transport, Energy and Minerals, Tourism, Trade and Industry, and the legislature.
The Ministry of Works, which was allocated Shs 1.2 trillion last year, will get Shs 919 billion next year, while that of Trade which got Shs 47 billion, will now be given Shs 41 billion. The Ministry of Health allocated 737 billion in 2009/10, will get Shs 636 billion next financial year.
The Ministry of Education will be the highest funded entity next financial year, having been allocated Shs 1.1 trillion, a marginal increase from the Shs 1 trillion it received last year. The Ministry of Defence has been allocated Shs 488 billion, up from Shs 487 billion last year.
For the second year running, the Ministry of ICT has been allocated the least funds, Shs 11 billion, a nominal increase from Shs 9.5 billion it received last financial year.
The paper outlines five major areas of emphasis next financial year. They include infrastructure development (roads) and energy, promotion of science and technology, enhancing agricultural production, private sector development and improving public service delivery.