UGANDA CLAYS OUGHT TO CLEAR THEIR EXCAVATIONS OF THE WATER HYCINTH

CONGRATULATIONS TO ENGINEER J B WALUSIMBI ON GETTING A 2ND TERM AS KATIKIIRO OF BUGANDA

His Highness the Kabaka of Buganda, King Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II has granted Engineer J. B. Walusimbi another term as Katikiiro of Buganda. This is big news moreso that the Engineer had initially wanted just one term as the office is very challanging. The Katikiiro has an uphill task to see to the restoration of the burnt Kasubi tombs, the completion of Bulange Plaza, the unity of the people in Buganda and having real the poverty alleviation programmes of the kingdom. As an Old Boy of the same school where the Engineer was for 6 years, I take this opportunity to wish him success and to keep the school star shining.
DUC IN ALTUM
William Kituuka Kiwanuka

MORE SUPPORT IS NEEDED FOR KASUBI RESTORATION
Katikkiro Eng J.B. Walusimbi has stressed the need for joint efforts as the Kingdom restores Kasubi Tombs that were gutted by fire two years ago.
It should be remembered that Kasubi Tombs, a World Heritage Site caught fire on the night of March 16th 2010 which destroyed the entire house of Muzibuazaalampanga.
In his speech to the clan leaders who had brought in their contribution towards this noble cause, Katikkiro noted that people in Buganda are approximately 7 millions who need to join hands to see the completion of the tombs.
He is not happy that people in Buganda have not fully exploited their worth in contributing towards the reconstruction of Kasubi. The total amount of money required to restore Kasubi and other related tombs is 10 billions but that the Kingdom has so far collected 750 millions shillings of which 200 millions was contributed by people in the Diaspora, 250 was contributed by corporate companies and the 300 millions is the amount collected from the populace.
Eng Walusimbi emphasized the need to concentrate on securing the restoration of Kasubi Tombs and avoid any activities that are geared at jeopardizing its progress.
Katikkiro said that people have to respect the agreement that was reached upon between UNESCO, the Uganda Government and the Kingdom when the tombs were made a World Heritage Site as the restoration exercise is executed.
Katikkiro furthermore explained that reconstruction work at Wamala tombs is moving on smoothly and called upon people to start collecting the required materials for its completion. He said materials needed range from grass to timber including knives and pangs.
He was happy that the clan leaders have shown a great example to the grandchildren by contributing towards Kasubi and urge them to mobilize more of their clan members to contribute towards the tombs to accomplish the duty.
In their statement, the clan leaders led by Omutaka Nakilembeka expressed gratitude over what has been done so far on restoring Kasubi Tombs.
Omutaka Nakirembeka assured that they are happy that the cultural part of the restoration process has been respected.
The clan leaders are also thankful to every one of their grandchildren who has contributed towards the restoration of Kasubi tombs.
As the clan leaders’ council, they contributed 5,000,000 shillings towards the tombs which they said is the beginning and an incentive to the grandchildren to double their efforts in contributing towards Kasubi restoration.
Nakirembeka called upon all clans to mobilize their members to make contributions that will see off the reconstruction of Kasubi Tombs.

MEET HERBERT KIWALABYE WHO HAS MASTERED THE ART OF SELF HELP GROUPS (SHGs) FORMATION AND STRENGTHENING

Herbert Kiwalabye enjoys Self Help Group (SHG) formation and strengthening as playing. It is an art he has mastered. His most recent experience is when he went down to the field starting February 27, and with merger resources together with a few assistants was able to spearhead the formation of 20 (SHGs); 14 for women and 6 for men ranging from 15 to 2within just 5 days! In this reach out, he left many community members wondering where he had been all along; that he had taken so long to reach them with his mission of good news that can see to their betterment through a participatory effort where the beneficiaries are players.
What I learn from Kiwalabye is that many innovations meant to better the conditions of the poor can better be made under the umbrella of Self Help Group (SHG) initiative. One such program is NAADS. What this means is that the agents of change should get involved with those who are conversant with SHG formations and after the groups are in place, innovations like NAADS can follow. That way, better results can easily be realized.
In case you want to reach Herbert his Email and phone contact are:
Email: kiwalabyeh@yahoo.com
+256 701 424367
+256 775 424367
William Kituuka Kiwanuka.

BELOW, KIWALABYE EXPLAINS HIS EXPERIENCES WITH SHG

In most of the Least Developed Countries (LDCs), the word development has a different connotation to what it means to Middle Developed Countries (MDCs). In Africa; Governments normally get resources from the grass roots but without letting people at grass root to know how their resources have been used. This is the greatest hidden root for the flourishing of corruption which leads to poor service provision by these governments.

The good news is that Growth and eventually Development can be achieved through Empowerment in other words the capacity building of the people at the bottom; this is actually the SHG concept or Approach in its simplest terms. This approach has the potential of bridging all the gaps in development while impacting positively (empowering) the people’s lives Socially, Politically and Economically.

The Self Help Group Approach has grown out of the study and application of development Concepts at a community level, and seeks to combine the social, economic and political aspects of community development, leading to empowerment. It is founded on rights-based Principles that facilitate an atmosphere where individuals and communities can realize their potential and work towards their own development. A focus on attitudinal changes remains central to the approach and material well-being along with social and political development as well as empowerment is the final outcome. If this approach is well used, it can be a strategy and an entry point in all Community Development Efforts.

It is therefore recommended that NGOs and Local Governments apply this concept with the help from experts who know very well how the Self Help Group (SHG) can be applied. The concept saves resources while maximizing on impact while simplifying the work, it allows for quick and easy monitoring of results.
The SHG concept believes that people are very important in decision making on what should be implemented in their areas/communities. Hence NGOs and Governments agencies should not only give financial support to the people but also making them aware of the underlying situations regarding the circumstances in which they are. The SHG approach implies that, it is the people to always make the decisions therefore, the donors/ service providers should help the people according to the people’s priority needs and not according to what donors think should be the best for people/ dictating the entire development process.
It is of utmost importance for people to know their area well, taking into consideration all the resources, facilities like schools, health centres, places of worship, Police units, safe water sources, road network, transport means among others. Knowledge of such infrastructures helps communities to actively participate in discussing issues that affect them, hence their development. Given that background, community development agencies as well as potential service providers should make a right start in their effort to fight poverty and hence help the African child.


After the people have got to know their area/ community like in the above picture, it follows that the members of the community get to know the level of their wealth (as individuals) and the class status. For example in Rural areas, the rich are in number one, the middle class are in number two and the poor in number three.
This is KIZIMA village in Mukono District of Uganda.



Why SHG approach in Least Developed Countries (LDC’s)?
Many of the existing groups/organization reaching out to communities initially focus on development other than empowerment.
1) The poorest of the poor people are usually not part of their target group.
2) There is usually little focus on the poor, bringing out (enhancing) the potential of people (Unleashing human potential).
3) Less emphasis on building strong communities.
Yet the SHG model is:
a. Cost effective, and
b. It enhances sustainable development.
FROM SHG TO THE FEDERATION:
1. In SHG formation group numbers should be 15 to 20 and single sex, and each village may have a good number of groups.

2. 8 to 12 selected SHGs can form a Cluster Level Association (CLA) at parish level.
3. The formed CLAs in a sub county can form a Federation.
The principle attributes to the SHG Approach include the following:
1) Empowering marginalized members of the community socially.
2) Ensuring strong social groupings, members address social-economic cultural issues.
3) Extra care under taken not to create dependency syndrome.
4) Remodeling groups to emphasize social empowerment as a vehicle towards social and economic development.
Chronological order of events leading to the development of community development projects to NGOs/ Government in Local Governments/ Districts/Sub counties.
1. Initiation stage.
2. Take off stage/ implementation stage.
3. Cross cutting issues in community development.
4. Project implementation.
I. Linkages with other strategic partners.
II. Networking/ Exchange of experiences.
III. Duration of the programmes
5. Monitoring and Evaluation.
6. Phase out and sustainability;
I. Clear targets
II. Strengthening SHG and CLA.
III. Role transfer.
IV. Asset transfer.
V. Federation.
VI. Staffing and staff development.

The Self Help Group (SHG) concept is very good in enhancement of the development and welfare of children and mothers (given that they are the most disadvantaged) and to a small extent men.

KASUBI TOMBS RECONSTRUCTION RISKS BECOMING A NON STARTER WHITE ELEPHANT

Katikiiro (Engineer) J. B. Walusimbi Jr should know that many hearts of Baganda are broken on seeing the re-construction of the Kasubi tombs having turned to a White Elephant project. Many are aware of the technical abilities of the Katikiiro, that he is a competent engineer; however, people have failed to get to terms with the state of affairs to date. It is very unclear what the actual problem is.

We have also been told that work has to start with other burial ground before Kasubi re-construction starts. This is unacceptable. The Katikiiro came up with a budget proposal of shs 10bn; the question raised is the source of the funds. The Baganda would love to see Kasubi tombs in the state they were before the ill fated fire of 16th March 2010. There is talk about the UNESCO funding. It is not clear where the funds are if at all they have been released.



As for the funds from the Uganda Government, the reputation is such that Buganda cannot bank on such promises when the same Government has sat on monies due to Buganda for rents of premises the central government uses and is least concerned to make good payment of the monies so that Buganda Kingdom can utilize the money to enhance its development initiatives. The Katikiiro has gone a step further to blame people who think that he is not delivering yet they have not picked a coin. The Katikiiro assumes that people are okay. He is wrong. Many people in Uganda have a negative balance sheet. The liabilities far exceed the assets, in which case, their income is less than what they have to spend the money on. Those in market are on borrowed funds, many cannot afford a decent meal a day. So, when such people learn that there has been a contribution of shs 800m to see the reconstruction of the tombs, they expect the Engineer to make a reasonable budget to see the tombs stand at that money. It will be most unfortunate when all the funds contributed go to pay consultants without visible work done. The people in this case will blame the judgment of the Katikiiro. What ought to be done is get the Kasubi to its former image as long as bigger funds cannot be realized in the meantime. If billions are eventually got, the Engineers will again see what improvements can be made. But what we want to see is at least the Kasubi tombs as they were not non starter projects.
William Kituuka Kiwanuka


Some of my works can be accessed on the following links:

http://www.williamkituuka.blogspot.com/

http://www.jckiwanuka.blogspot.com/

http://www.stmaryscollegekisubi.blogspot.com/

http://www.kisubibrothersuniversitycollegem.blogspot.com/

http://www.smackoldboysmagazine.blogspot.com/

http://www.anthonykyemwa.blogspot.com/

http://www.stpeterschurchofugandassisa.blogspot.com/

http://www.allsaintsschoollweza.blogspot.com/

http://thegloryofnamutamba.blogspot.com/

http://www.namutambademschool.webs.com/

http://www.namutambanurseryschool.webs.com/

KASUBI TOMBS STILL IN RUINS TWO YEARS AFTER FIRE!
In Summary
Old kings first. Buganda Kingdom officials say the delay to reconstruct the cultural site is because they are first working on Wamala Tombs where the forefathers of the kings buried in Kasubi were laid to rest.
Exactly two years after the Kasubi Tombs mausoleum was set ablaze, no significant work has been done to reconstruct the cultural site, Daily Monitor has learnt.
According to Buganda Kingdom Information and Cabinet Affairs Minister, Peter Mayiga, the delay is blamed on the monarchy’s traditional norms which restrict any progress on Kasubi Tombs reconstruction before Wamala Tombs are rehabilitated.
Wamala Tombs in Wakiso District, are the burial site of Ssekabaka Ssuna II, the 29th king of Buganda and the great grandfather to five fallen kings at Kasubi Tombs.
“Traditionally, we could not go ahead to rebuild Kasubi Tombs before we restore Wamala Tombs where the father to the kings at Kasubi was buried. Some works like the reconstruction of the surrounding traditional huts have been done but reconstruction of the main mausoleum (Muzibuazaalampanga) has not started yet,” Mr Mayiga said.
He added that the main construction is expected to start next month.
Last year, Buganda Kingdom contracted Omega Construction Ltd to do the work at Shs2 billion.
Kasubi Tombs were razed by a mysterious fire.
Kings buried there are Muteesa I, Bassamula Mwanga II, Daudi Chwa and Edward Muteesa II.
According to Mr Mayiga, the kingdom has since collected Shs700 million from donations and well-wishers towards the reconstruction and Shs1 billion has been pledged by Unesco.
On July 28, 2010, government appointed a six-member team, headed by Justice Stephen George Engwau of the Court of Appeal, to investigate the cause of the inferno and the team handed over a report to government on March 16, 2011, which has been shelved to date.
Other commissioners were Florence Ssewanyana (secretary), Augustine Omara-Okurut from Unesco and Grace Akullo of Uganda Police Force.

FROM THE DAY THE SITE WENT UP IN FLAMES
March 16. Kasubi Tombs goes up in flames, razing the building that houses the graves of four former kings of Buganda.
March 17. President Museveni forcefully visits Kasubi Tombs in the morning. Two protesters are shot dead by police after they tried to stop the President from visiting burnt tombs. Kabaka also visits the resting place of his fallen father and grand fathers and breaks down in tears.
March 22. Lukiiko calls for an expanded and independent inquiry into the causes of major fires that have rocked the country.
March 29. Joseph Musoke confesses to torching Kasubi tombs.
March 31. Mengo dismisses Musoke’s claims as being very strange.
July 28, 2010. Government appoints a six-member team head by Justice Stephen George Engwau of the Court of Appeal to investigate the cause of the inferno.
Jan, 16, 2012. Catholic and Buganda Kingdom -leaning advocates issue a seven-day ultimatum to government to make the findings of the report public, or else they seek legal redress.

rmwanje@ug.nationmedia.com

IF THE WORKS OF PERMANENT SECRETARIES IN UGANDA ARE SCRUTINIZED, FEW WOULD SURVIVE LUZIRA

Bank transfers pin Education PS on ‘diverted’ UPE fund

An investigation into alleged diversion of Ministry of Education funds has obtained bank transfer details showing how more than Shs155 million was allegedly misallocated by Mr Francis Xavier Lubanga, the Education permanent secretary.
The transfers were made under the guise of funds for primary schools emergency construction and rehabilitation, some dating as far back as July 2008.
According to documents obtained by this newspaper, the most recent transfer was done on March 31, 2011, when Shs103.5 million meant for primary school furniture was transferred to a Centenary Bank account held by St. Gyaviira Nursery School.
In an interview with Sunday Monitor, Mr Lubanga denied any wrong doing and said no diversion of funds has ever been done. He blamed the commission for being incompetent and peddling lies.
“If they had asked me to explain they would have gotten correct information. These payments were made after Parliament approved the activities in the ministry’s ministerial policy statement,” Mr Lubanga said.
“The Shs103 million came from an Incentive Grant account named furniture for primary schools,” the PS added.
Investigators obtained an April 30, 2009 letter authored by a Parish Priest (names withheld) from the Mwereerwe Catholic Parish to Mr Lubanga.
The author thanks the PS for “the great work” he “was doing for the nation” and for his ministry’s “donation of Shs19, 072,000 to the Mwereerwe Catholic Parish meant for St. Gyaviira Nursery School.”
According to the letter, the money was to be used “to complete the nursery school building to promote early childhood education”.
Mr Lubanga acknowledges authorising the transfers but argued that the school applied for assistance to the ministry and they were approved. “The approval was taken to Parliament and it was passed,” Mr Lubanga said. He could not, however, explain how a nursery school was able to access funds meant for a primary school.
At the time of the transfer of funds, the school was also not licensed to operate, thus could not have been scheduled to receive government money.
The guidelines for free education indicate that only government-aided schools running the Universal Primary Education scheme and only private secondary schools who have signed an agreement with government should receive the school facilitation grant.
A copy of the ministerial policy statement obtained by this newspaper shows the school was in fact approved by Parliament to receive funding under a project code 0943 titled Emergency Construction of Primary Schools.
A senior education officer is said to have visited the nursery school and advised its administrators on “what was missing” before the school could be licensed.
In the letter, the author even asks for more money, promising the PS ‘prayers’. Another transfer to the same school of Shs32 million on October 26, 2009 has also been unearthed. The commission is also investigating three other suspicious transactions believed to have been engineered by Mr Lubanga

GOD GAVE UGANDA PEOPLE WITH BRAINS, BUT A HANDFUL OF POLITICIANS HAVE MESSED THE COUNTRY

Sentamu tipped to head Anglican church

Dr Sentamu, the Archbishop of York
Posted Sunday, March 18 2012 at 00:00
In Summary

It would be a monumental feat for Dr Sentamu, 62, becoming the first black religious head of the Church of England as Archbishop of Canterbury and symbolic head of the 85 million strong Anglican Communion.
Dr Sentamu is currently the second most senior cleric in the Church of England after Dr Williams.
kampala. The government and the Anglican Church in Uganda are thrilled by news that Ugandan John Sentamu, the Archbishop of York, could succeed Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, becoming the head of the Church of England.
Archbishop Williams announced on Friday that he would step down as the spiritual head of the Anglican Church at the end of December.
The Guardian newspaper reported on Friday that Dr Williams, 61, is resigning after a decade at the helm, to take on a new role in the academia. in January 2013 at Cambridge University as Master of Magdalene College.
Church of Uganda (CoU) said the appointment of Dr Sentamu would be “exciting”, and one that would herald a new dawn of hope for the African continent.
“That would be exciting and good for this country,” said the Rev. Canon George Bagamuhunda, provincial secretary CoU, speaking on behalf of the head of the Anglican Church in Uganda, Archbishop Henry Luke Orombi, who is away on leave. “I believe he would be a good advocate of the issues that concern Africa. He has been speaking on behalf of the voiceless and if he could maintain that, that will be good.”
Delighted Karoro
Meanwhile the government greeted the news with delight describing it as a “remarkable development”. Information Minister Mary Karooro Okurut commented: “This is a moment of truth for Uganda and Africa.” She added: “The church is currently grappling with divisions, we pray that our son of the soil addresses these issues.”
In a statement issued on his website on Friday, Dr Sentamu said he had received news of Dr. William’s resignation “with great sadness” but added: “Our partnership in the gospel over the past six years has been the most creative period of my ministry.”
“The bookmakers’ favourite to succeed [Dr William] is the Ugandan-born archbishop of York, John Sentamu, whose energy is widely admired, but who has upset some with a reputed forceful manner,” the Guardian said.
Another leading pastor of Church of Uganda who, declined to be named, said: “We shall pray for them to choose within their own structures the best successor but it is not for us to decide who gets.”
Dr Sentamu is not canonically a member of the Church of Uganda.
It would be a monumental feat for Dr Sentamu, 62, if appointed, becoming the first black religious head of the Church of England as Archbishop of Canterbury and symbolic head of the 85 million strong Anglican Communion.
Dr Sentamu is currently the second most senior cleric in the Church of England after Dr Williams.

SIGNIFICANTLY BETTER HIV PREVENTION IN AFRICA VITAL FOR MANAGING LONG TERM FINANCIAL IMPACT OF HIV/AIDS

News Release
2012/312/AFR

Significantly Better HIV Prevention in Africa Vital to Managing Long-Term Financial Impact of HIV/AIDS – World Bank Report
Analysis Shows Future Treatment Costs May Be Heaviest in Southern Africa and Uganda
WASHINGTON, March 14, 2012 – With much of the global economy facing slowing growth and uncertain prospects, especially in developed countries, a new World Bank report urges African governments and their development aid donors to do significantly more to prevent new HIV infections. Without a dramatic reduction in infections the World Bank says that existing national treatment programs for people living with HIV/AIDS could become unsustainable over the coming years.
After decades of relentless expansion, during which HIV/AIDS claimed the lives of more than 30 million people worldwide and infected more than 60 million, HIV prevalence rates are stabilizing globally and in Africa. More than 6 million people are now on life-saving treatment worldwide, and global financing for HIV/AIDS has substantially increased, rising from US$260 million in 1996 to US$15.9 billion by 2009. However, the report warns that treatments costs are spiraling and the result is further pressure on already strapped public finances, especially in southern Africa, where the epidemic is most intense.
According to the new report―The Fiscal Dimension of HIV/AIDS in Botswana, South Africa, Swaziland, and Uganda―an increasingly volatile global economy is causing anxiety about maintaining and expanding AIDS treatment programs in low-income countries such as Uganda, where HIV prevalence rates may be lower than in southern Africa, but with the heavy reliance on external financing contributing to 85 percent of total spending on HIV/AIDS programs, the viability of these hangs in the balance.
“How to finance the long-term response to HIV/AIDS is a complex question, especially because the cost of treating new infections is spread over several decades,” said Elizabeth Lule, the World Bank co-author of the new report. “Strategic investments in preventing new infections—while also meeting current treatment, care and support needs—can help countries plan for what will otherwise be an unmanageable fiscal burden.”
The report also warns that current spending on HIV/AIDS relates to past infections and is a potentially misleading indicator of the long-term public cost of the fight against HIV/AIDS. But public investments to combat the epidemic can shrink with improved fiscal planning, and by curbing new infections.
In Botswana, where about a quarter of the population aged 15-49 is living with HIV, the report projects that the fiscal costs of HIV/AIDS will peak at 3.5 percent of GDP around 2016, slowly falling to 3.3 percent of GDP by 2030 if new infections decline. With mining revenues slowing down relative to GDP, the fiscal costs of HIV/AIDS could rise to over 12 percent of government revenues by 2021, presenting an extraordinary fiscal challenge.
In South Africa, HIV/AIDS has significant implications for public finance and the government’s ability to achieve its other key social and health policy objectives. An important aspect of the fiscal dimension of HIV/AIDS in South Africa is the impact on social expenditures.
“By scaling up HIV prevention programs, South Africa stands to save (US$2,500) per infection,” said Ruth Kagia, World Bank Country Director for Botswana, South Africa and Swaziland. “Investing in collecting data on the drivers of the epidemic is key to making the national HIV/AIDS response more effective and achieving better health and social outcomes for people.”
In Swaziland, HIV/AIDS has more serious fiscal repercussions given declining government revenues and the macroeconomic situation. With the highest HIV prevalence in the world, Swaziland has contributed 60 percent of the costs of HIV/AIDS from its domestic resources over the past several years. However, costs of the HIV/AIDS program are rising and projected to increase to 7.3 percent of GDP by 2020. External financing will need to increase substantially to meet the financing gap in Swaziland.
In Uganda, the costs of the national response to HIV/AIDS are estimated to rise to over 3 percent of GDP, and external financing has contributed about 85 percent of the total spending on HIV/AIDS. Costs incurred by a single infection are estimated at about 12 times GDP per capita (US$5,900) per new infection as of 2010.
“Frequently, it is not countries with the highest HIV prevalence that face the heaviest burden in financing their HIV programs, but low-income countries where each infection costs several times more than GDP per capita, and domestic resources are fewer,” said Markus Haacker, a co-author of the report.
The report argues that governments need to better assess the financial sustainability and allocative efficiency of their national HIV/AIDS responses over time so as to sustainably manage the long-term burden of HIV/AIDS.