THE BETTER METHOD TO CONTROL THEFT OF POWER

NRM PARTY WARNING MEMBERS AGAINST SPEAKING ABOUT TERM LIMITS IS EMPTY

The reading on the wall is clear for all. The progressive people of Uganda want to see Museveni's leadership come to an end peacefully. It may be bad news for those who are beneficiary of the regime but it is the bitter truth. President Museveni should wind up. We badly need change and one way to see the change real is to restore term limts which will see his 30 year or so rule get to an end. The saying that, "NRM's top party organ the Central Executive Committee-CEC, has warned party members against speaking out on the restoration of presidential term limits or face disciplinary action," does not make sense to those who love their country Uganda. William Kituuka Kiwanuka

CAN SOMEONE STOP THE OVER SPEEDING POLICE LEAD VEHICLES ON ENTEBBE HIGHWAY

I always wonder who is behind the numerous Police lead cars seen at break neck speeds on Entebbe Highway. The Police who know very well the causes of accidents in the country which claim more than 2,000 people annually should do better. Who is it that they always have to carry at such speeds without any due respect for other road users. Many times I see them and those on the road at that time are just saved by the grace of God. Can someone address this hopeless practice which is simply putting the highway users at the mercy of God. It is simply senseless. Any moment the people being led at those hopeless speeds are at risk of death. The Highway has nearly in every corner got police personnel along it. The question, what logic in Police lead cars driven recklessly? Surely this madness MUST stop. William Kituuka Kiwanuka 2300 UGANDANS PERISH ON OUR ROADS ANNUALLY Written by Bwire Stephen Tuesday, 23 March 2010 07:15 Grim statistics According to last year's police statistics, the number of reported accidents was 17,248, and the number of people killed stood at 2,334 while those injured were about 12,056. The accident occurrence has been on an upward trend rising from 14,384 reported accidents and 1,678 deaths respectively in 2008. Records for the period 1990-2000 show a persistent increase in the number of road traffic accidents, increasing at annual rate of 20% in the ten years. Road accidents in Uganda claim over 2000 lives annually - meaning that as many as 34 buses full of people perish on our roads. It is estimated that 32 people out of every 100,000 Ugandans get injured annually in road accidents, making Uganda's road network one of the most unsafe in the World. Gov't claims its working Despite the apparently soaring number of accidents, officials claim that there is a new commitment by government to bring the worrying state of affairs under control. Some of these measures, the government officials point out, include the massive investments in improving the state of our roads. The establishment of a road maintenance department and a road fund dedicated to repairing dilapidated roads are also cited among measures to control the high road carnage. George Rukara, Secretary to the National Roads Safety Council (NRSC) claims: "I think those who say that Government is not concerned about road safety and status of roads are seeing the commitment from Government." "The trillions our people contribute as taxes are doing a tremendous job in as far as road maintenance and repair is concerned. Road safety begins with better roads, and that's exactly what Government is doing," assures Rukara. According to the Injury Control Centre Uganda (ICCU) community survey, the top three causes of severe injuries among urban children (less than 18 years) in Uganda are traffic (46%), falls (14%) and burns (11%). In Uganda, about 400 children die and about 1,200 are seriously injured on our roads every year. Human errors to blame for carnage While it is true that potholes and narrow roads result into accidents, a recent World Bank-funded road safety Audit and Improvement study in Uganda and subsequent police reports, attribute the highest number of accidents to human error. Errors include reckless driving, over-speeding, inconsiderate use of the roads, careless or ignorant pedestrians, incompetent drivers, and driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs. Bazil Mugisha, the Commissioner of Traffic Police argues that human errors can be reduced if every road user had the right attitude while using the road. He says that some of these accidents would not be occurring if road users were following the laid-out guidelines on road usage, for instance, there is no need for a commuter taxi driver to over speed when he knows that he would surely reach his destination even if he drove slowly. Mugisha asserts that the motive to make quick profits as opposed to driving passengers safely is what would force many bus and taxi drivers on our roads to over speed, because they want to make as many road trips as possible in order to maximise earnings. As a way of curbing reckless drivers and those who over speed, Mugisha says that Traffic Police has instituted an Express Penalty Scheme (EPS) whereby the reckless drivers are fined a given fee depending on the magnitude of their recklessness and the speed at which they drive. Asked if the EPS would not promote impunity on the part of drivers since they could misbehave on the road and get away with it by paying fines, Mugisha explains that whatever fine the driver pays, and all the particulars of the vehicle, is filled in the Express Receipt Book. Impact on economy It is estimated that road accidents in Uganda cost 2.7% (Approx Ushs 885bn) of our GDP in terms of lives and other property lost. Comparatively, the road safety situation in the East African Region is not any different. Although Uganda boasts of substantial economic gains in the last two decades as reflected in the road transport sector, it has now become every citizen's concern and worry that vehicles are forcing scores of innocent people to their early graves, and to which calls for stringent and practicable measures must fast be put in place to reduce on the number of road deaths. More money more accidents? Over the past decade or so, Ugandans have grown richer and bought cars in large numbers. URA figures of 2006 show that Uganda had 350,000 registered vehicles, seven times more than it had in 1991. In addition, over the years, a business of transporting people n motor cycles (boda bodas) has emerged but with serious consequences on people health since the are the largest causes of road accidents especially in urban areas. The situation is further complicated by the bicycles, pedestrians and animals that share the same roads with vehicles. The rich also cry The increase in the accident fatalities has not only had an impact on the Mwanaichi but also politicians in high positions of responsibility. Memories are still fresh about the sudden death of former Attorney General, Francis Ayume who died in an accident in 2005 when his car hit a pothole along Gulu-Packwach road. Late last year, the leader of opposition Prof. Ogenga Latigo narrowly survived a fetal accident. Other prominent figures who have perished in accidents in recent years include the late former Mp of Budiope Henry Balikoowa, Bishop Patrick Kyaligonza of Kasese Diocese, Woman Member of Parliament Vicky Kyakuhaire Kyaka and the Vice President's Gilbert Bukenya's son Brian Bukenya

The map of the Southern by Pass which will ease traffic going to and fro Entebbe

NABILAH IS A VICTIM OF POLICE BAD ROAD USAGE

Kampala Woman Memeber of Parliament Nabillah Naggayi Sempala was seriously injured in an accident involving two police vehicles at the Rubaga church junction. The accident happened as police tried to block opposition supporters who had been attending an Activists for change (A4C) rally in Wankulukuku from following the MP and Forum for Democratic Change president Dr. Kizza Besigye. The Kampala woman MP who was flashing the FDC V-sign to her supporters on top of her car was injured in the abdomen when her vehicle collided head on with a police van, reg. No. UP 1928 and a police patrol pickup Reg. No. UP 2953.

UGANDA GOVERNMENT SHOULD INVEST IN HOSPITALS NOT FOREIGN TREATMENT

President Museveni expressing concern over shs 380bn does not help the tax payer. Given the right to health, the logical thing the Government of Uganda should do is to invest in improved medical service delivery at home and get the foreign treatment to about shs 2bn. Surely, what value did the shs 380bn bring to the country. When we say that NRM Government priorities are upside down and that President Museveni's leadership long expired, no Government worth its sat can spend shs 380bn ob foreign treatment when locally majority of the youth cannot get employment. Assuming the NRM Government had not run out of ideas, how far would the country be with shs 200bn invested in Agro-processing capacity? God should just help us. William Kituuka Kiwanuka GOVERNMENT SPENDS SHS 380BILLION ON OFFICIALS' TREATMENT ABROAD By ISMAIL MUSA LADU Posted Tuesday, April 24 2012 at 00:00 Every year government spends at least $150 million (about Shs377 billion) on treatment of mostly top government officials abroad, a cost President Museveni wants brought down by restricting the privilege to a few selected severe cases. A leaked report from last December’s ministerial retreat which was convened to assess the government’s performance in the previous year reveals a renewed attempt by the country’s leader to sort out Uganda’s severely stressed health sector. “The President stressed the need to curb the high numbers of patients seeking specialised health treatment abroad which was costing the country about $150 million annually,” the report compiled by the Office of the Prime Minister said. That figure is almost equal to the Shs397.31 billion donors contribute towards the country’s Shs985.5 billion health budget. Mr Museveni is quoted as having also directed that “pay for scientists including medical doctors should not just be prioritised but increased.” Yesterday, Ministry of Health permanent secretary Asuman Lukwago agreed that the expenditure on treatment abroad, which he referred to as “estimation”, was not necessary although it is up to a patient to decide where to be treated. “The question is: do we have the ability to treat most of these cases here? Yes we do,” said the PS, before adding that “the challenge is to convince government officials that they do not need to travel abroad because we can do it here”. According to the PS, with the ongoing efforts to rejuvenate health facilities, including upgrading all referral hospitals, the Shs377 billion spent on treatment abroad could be reduced. Efforts to get a comment from the country’s Medical Board, which is charged with the responsibility of recommending individuals for State-sponsored treatment abroad, were futile. The fact that treatment abroad costs nearly half of the entire budgets of two key ministries—health and education – exposes the government in terms of its priorities, according to observers. “That amount of money is just enough to have the necessary facilities needed to attend to all these treated abroad,” Makerere University economics lecturer Augustus Nuwagaba, said in an interview yesterday. He said: “That amount of money can help in better health delivery and at the same time stop capital outflow, something that largely contributes in weakening our Shilling.” Prof. Nuwagaba argued that the country’s problem is not lack of medical practitioners but poor pay. “Almost half of the 40,000 Ugandan professionals in North America are health personnel, this means our problem is not the human resource,” he said. Daily Monitor’s efforts to corroborate the suggestion that Shs377 billion would be enough to appropriately upgrade local health infrastructure so as to stop the preference for treatment outside was, however, not immediately possible. Dr Byarugaba Baterana, the executive director at the National Referral Hospital Mulago and Dr Tom Mwambu, the deputy director at the Uganda Heart Institute, said they could not make an offhand estimation when reached for comment. The meeting of the top government officials also discussed supplementary requests, emphasising its negative impact on budget execution and performance. But instead of curbing it they proposed the creation of a contingency Fund from which government would draw anytime.

GOVERNMENT SHOULD OFFICIAL DISCOURAGE COMMERCIAL MOTOR CYCLISTS TRANSPORTING HUMANS

The Government of Uganda should come up straight and discourage the use of Commercial motor cyclists in the country due to the danger into which the users are put. I am aware that in some countries those who are waiting for organs look to the accident victims more so the motor cycles which are sure cases. can Uganda stop encouraging boda's and instead see the evolution of buses which are safer. We cannot keep seeing the boda's as a source of employment for youth. William Kituuka Kiwanuka

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE TAKING A BODA BODA (COMMERCIAL MOTOR CYCLIST) IN UGANDA 25-March-2012 Boda-boda motorcycles are the fastest mode of transportation in Uganda. They are not only swift, but also reliable in times of emergencies - when vehicles get stuck in a jam or can't access certain areas, these motorcycles slither their way through with ease. However, they are also a leading cause of road accidents. So are boda-boda worth the risk? Despite their ease at snaking through difficult areas in Uganda, boda-boda use has become the leading cause of death and injuries on most roads. It has led the national referral hospital to set up a special ward to handle victims of motorbike-related accidents. Most boda-boda accidents stem from narrow roads getting congested with traffic. It is common in Uganda to see buses, taxis, trailers, lorries, motorcycles, bicycles and pedestrians competing for roads' thin spaces. Death traps Doctor Robert Wongoda, a general surgeon and clinical head in the accident and emergency unit at the Mulago National Referral Hospital, says motorbikes are the leading cause of injuries on the roads and have now surpassed motor vehicle accidents. Head and limb injuries are among the most common. “Head injuries are the commonest cause of death among motorbike riders and passengers,” he observes. Riders also risk being assaulted by criminals, especially at night. Thugs usually pose as passengers, and when the motorcycle reaches a dark corner, riders are hit with hammers and iron bars, cracking their skulls. Thugs then take off with the motorbike and the day’s earnings. Dr. Wangoda says assault injuries have also contributed to the death of many riders. “These injuries are preventable and would be less severe if riders wore crush helmets,” Dr. Wangoda says. A study conducted by the Injury Control Center Uganda (ICCU) at the national referral hospital shows a decline in the use of crush helmets. In 2011, 30.5 per cent of riders used helmets, while 0.8 per cent of helmet use was recorded among passengers. A previous study done by the ICCU and the World Health Organization in 2006 registered 42.6 per cent helmet use by riders and 0.26 per cent among passengers. According to Dr. Wangoda, two patients die on average every week at Mulago hospital as a result of boda-boda accidents. Between 10 and 20 victims of boda-boda accidents are received at Mulago hospital on a daily basis and 20 per cent of the victims are left disabled. The 2011 annual traffic report showed that a total of 1,762 serious accidents involving motorbikes occurred in the capital city during that year. Lawrence Niwabiine, the traffic commander of the Kampala Metropolitan Police, noted that 155 passengers perished in motorcycle-related accidents. “It is very rare to hear that a taxi in Kampala city has overturned and killed passengers," he told RFI. "The deaths we register in Kampala are related to boda-boda cycling and their behavior.” Pedestrians are the most vulnerable road users in Kampala, followed by commercial motorbike riders. “The boda-boda is the most unsafe means of transport in Kampala, and I would appeal to most road users to desist from using them in the city, especially at night,” Niwabiine warns.

Boda-Boda victims flood hospitals BODA BODA (COMMERCIAL MOTOR CYCLISTS) FLOOD HOSPITALS By CONAN BUSINGE and TADDEO BWAMBALE HOSPITALS in and around Kampala are increasingly admitting a higher number of motorcycle accident victims, according to a survey done by New Vision. Mulago hospital’s casualty ward, which has an official bed occupancy capacity of 52 beds, now admits about 150 patients everyday. The hospital receives about 300 to 500 accident victims everyday, according to Dr. Robert Wangoda, the head of Mulago’s surgery department. Wangoda said about half of these are victims of motorcycle accidents. The hospital is forced to leave many of the victims lying on verandahs and in the corridors. “There is an urgent need for more human resources, beds, stretchers and wheelchairs if the casualty ward is to perform effectively,” he said. Nsambya and Rubaga hospitals also have a high number of motorcycle accident victims compared to other road accident victims. At Rubaga hospital, five of every six accident patients admitted are victims of motorcycle accidents. At Nsambya hospital, most of the accident victims either fell off or were knocked by motorcycles. At Mulago Hospital, New Vision At Rubaga, another patient called Brian Kafeero was knocked by a speeding motorcycle last week. He sustained deep cuts on his head and arms. The cyclist fled the scene of the accident, leaving Kafeero in the middle of the road. At St. Patrick’s Ward in Nsambya Hospital, by yesterday, there were 14 casualties. Most of them were victims of motorcycle accidents. Charles Ariko, a journalist, has been hospitalised for over one year at Nsambya Hospital after falling off a motorcycle. He dislocated his backbone and had to Statistics from the Police indicated that an average of 10 people perish daily in road accidents in Uganda. It is estimated that about 70% of fatal accidents in the country are caused by motorcyclists. Accidents are gravely ‘eating’ into the country’s health budget, with 62.5% of Mulago’s surgery budget going to victims of road accidents. The hospital is also gravely affected since it has only 26 orthopedic surgeons and 15 neuro-surgeons. More so, 2.7% of its GDP is lost in road accidents. Reports also show that 75% of fatalities are male, with 40% of these below 25 years of age. BODA_BODA ACCIDENT VICTIMS, CYCLISTS SPEAK OUT Jamal Kiyemba, fish monger at Zana I was knocked off my motorcycle as I was going to collect fish. It is a trying time for me since my businesses have collapsed and I have no one to pay my medical bills. My leg is buried in plasters and I have to remain in hospital for several other months before I can go back to my two children and wife. Helly Ebega, security guard admitted at Rubaga Hospital I was riding my bicycle on the Northern bypass in Kampala when a boda boda cyclist rammed into me from behind. I fell down and don’t know how I was brought to the hospital. I don’t know what caused the accident because I was on the right side of the road. Joseph Ilemera, boda boda cyclist at Sadolin Paints stage Lack of respect between drivers and cyclists has contributed to a number of road accidents. In most cases, taxi drivers intimidate boda boda riders, especially when over-taking. This forces the cyclists to swerve off the tarmac suddenly. Ogen Odoi Malillo, a boda boda operator at Kyebando stage The main cause of accidents is reckless riding, especially by cyclists. The blame should also go to passengers for turning a deaf ear to the problem. They should be responsible enough to control speed and guide cyclists. Robert Bukenya, a boda boda cyclist at Shell Jinja Road stage Our roads are narrow and many cyclists are not trained well to ride on city streets. The Government should construct separate roads for pedestrians and motorists. The police should penalise indisciplined cyclists. Joseph Kayemba, admitted at Rubaga Hospital I was involved in an accident while fleeing thugs who were chasing me in Kyebando last month. I don’t know whether I was hit on the leg by the passenger I was carrying or other people. I hit something that I don’t remember and broke my leg. Doctors have recommended surgery. Reagan Matajja, accident survivor at Rubaga Hospital I was involved in an accident on Sunday morning when the motorcycle I was travelling on was knocked by a taxi. I don’t know what caused the accident because I lost consciousness after the incident. I used a boda boda so I could reach my place of work in time. I sustained severe injuries on my face, arms and legs. Additional reporting by Viola Nabatanzi and Pascal Kwesigwa

WE ARE PARTLY POOR BECAUSE WE MISUSE OUR EARNINGS

katongole in the picture was found by 8.00am drinking local gin as well as smoking. It is true Katongole does work, at least he collects rubbish or garbage and is paid for it. Unfortunately, nearly all the time he is a drunk guy. Much as he gets that little money, all of it is smoked away. If we can change this type of practice, chances of being better off can be enhanced.

CAN NEMA OR WAKISO DISTRICT WORK ON THIS WETLAND MISUSE

The site above is along the Bweya Road off Kajjansi as you move towards the Kajjansi Airstrip. It is sad that a person with brains can decide to plant Eucalyptus trees what is supposed to be public land whose use MUST be agreed by the local government authorities in this case Wakiso. Unfortunately, the ill advised developer decided to plant the Eucalyptus trees in a pure wetland and the trees are already about the height which is to disorganize the power lines. Hopefully some responsible authority will do something to stop this development.