PRAY THAT UGANDA'S LEADERS DON'T GET HEART ATTACKS

Three more donor nations ask govt to return funds Publish Date: Jan 29, 2013 newvision By Vision Reporter Norway, Sweden and Denmark have followed Ireland’s lead and asked Uganda to return the money which was allegedly misappropriated by government officials. An investigation by the Auditor General found that $13.4m (about sh35b) in aid had been diverted from the northern Uganda reconstruction programme and misappropriated by officials in the Office of the Prime Minister. The principal accountant, Geoffrey Kazinda, has since been interdicted and charged. Scores of other officials have also been interdicted over the scam. Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Ireland and Britain froze their aid to Uganda after the scandal was revealed. The AFP reported yesterday that following Ireland’s announcement in November that Uganda had pledged to return four million euros of Irish funds, the three Scandinavian countries have all asked to be reimbursed by the Ugandan Government. AFP said Norway is only asking for a partial refund, since its aid was paid into a special account that made it easier to identify fraudulent transactions. “We have asked to be repaid 23 million Kroner ($4.2m) and we have been promised that we will be refunded,” AFP quoted Astrid Versto, a spokesperson for the Norwegian minister of international development, as saying. Unlike Norway, the other countries had transferred their funds into a joint account, making it harder to trace the money, she added. Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi last year promised that the Government would refund the stolen donor funds. Subsequently, the money from the Irish government was refunded.

WHILE LORD MAYOR LUKWAGO'S PROBLEMS ARE APPRECIATED ...

The Lord Mayor has cried out aloud given the challenges he faces in Kampala. However, Lukwago ought to have known that those challenges were anticipated. It is the NRM in Government, and Kampala is the focal point of money and business. No Head of State can sit back and leave an opposition candidate to run things as he (the Lord Mayor) would have loved. What Mr. Lukwago has to do is being smart. It is out of fashion to publicise with the "For God and My Country" when Lukwago sincerely want to do work for the people of Kampala. Mukyala Musisi is scoring for many who work in Kampala. The new market about to be opened is to her administration's credit. There were a few trucks for hire at the site, just visit the area and see the work of people who are planning. Lukwago talks about little pay, however, many people who are doing MORE WORTHY work for Ugandans like the Surgeons don't get anywhere to what he see's as little pay. For what reason does Lukwago really need more money than Jennifer Musisi - I see Jennifer putting in a lot of brains and a lot of risk and deserves even shs 50 million for her work. Lukwago may have made a mistake in taking up the role of a Lord Mayor. Those are positions for people who have made money and are not bothered by salaries, instead they are ready to make donations from their accumulations over the years. Lukwago should stop mixing his work with Kiiza Besigye if he wants to make any impact as Lord Mayor. Each has his 'lubimbi', it will be absurd to find Lukwago completing 5 years as a disgruntled Lord Mayor. The accountability he is asking from Jennifer Musisi could easily have influence from above where the poor woman may like many just have to take instructions, and she may not have many places to run to. The best Lukwago should do is to see that he makes lives for those within and those who work in Kampala better. His arguments and resorting here and there will not do much. he drives a very executive car. When Jennifer Musisi tries to discipline the taxi drivers so that they can pay, Lukwago instead says Musisi has a safe house! My friend Lukwago, better grow up. leave chaep politics. many can vote Musisi as an achiever given the so many hurdles there in Museveni's Uganda. William Kituuka Kiwanuka

A COUP IS POSSIBLE, BUT WOULD BE VERY STUPID AN ACT

COUP NOT POSIBLE, SAYS BRIG. GGWANGA Brig. Ggwanga. Brig. Ggwanga. By JOHN TUGUME Posted Tuesday, January 29 2013 at 02:00 In Summary Forget it. President’s adviser on security says coup won’t happen but the military will target the corrupt. Ggwanga has joined a growing list of senior officers who have denounced talk about a possible army take-over, saying problems of the 21st century need brains and not guns and bullets. Brig. Ggwanga, President Museveni’s adviser on security in Buganda, said people should not be worried about comments made by the Head of State that the army could take over if what he called “confusion” continues in Parliament. “We are in the 21st century. You just don’t talk about military rule. If you want to tangle with (US president Barack) Obama, talk about military,” Brig. Ggwanga told this newspaper during an exclusive interview he requested on Sunday. The President reportedly alluded, two weeks ago, at a ruling party retreat in Kyankwanzi about the UPDF taking charge of government. Brig. Ggwanga said: “We, the military taking over? No way. May be what the President did not tell you is that we [the military] will go after his people … may be the President was quoted out of context.” The senior soldier added: “We did our work, fought the war, and handed the government to civilians. But these civilians are betraying us through corruption. This is where we shall step in to lock up all those accused of misusing the taxpayers’ money.” Asked what he meant by Museveni’s people, Brig. Ggwanga said: “Look at those ministers siphoning money to private use. You think we are not watching? We have decided that whichever corrupt official gets bail, we shall take them to the military prison. They are let free to go and tamper with evidence and the next thing you hear is they are innocent.” Last evening, Presidential Adviser on the Media John Nagenda also ruled out the possibility of a coup. The army spokesman yesterday dismissed the take-over talk as “something manufactured by the Monitor boardroom”. “No one has talked about a coup,” Col. Felix Kulayigye said, before he hang up the phone. Brig. Ggwanga said like-thinking colleagues were anxiously waiting for the Ssimbwa Bill for them “to jump into action”. Makindye East MP John Ssimbwa has proposed in a private member’s Bill that whoever is found guilty of corruption should have their property or that of their immediate relatives confiscated to recover the abused funds. The Bill is yet to be discussed. Brig. Ggwanga said the NRM MPs are to blame for the poverty in the country. “Look at the NRM manifesto. Agriculture should be prioritised and more jobs created for our youth. The MPs have gone astray...” he said. “I hear them taking about punishing rebel MPs. That’s crap. Ugandans need food on the table, they don’t understand politics,” he added.

PHOTO IMAGES AS NABIRYE EGULANSI GONZA IS SEEN OFF

You can put the web address in your browser: http://goodgovernancepractice.blogspot.com/2013/01/photo-images-as-nabirye-egulansi-gonza_23.html

WHAT CAN BE DONE TO HELP THE MANY WHO NEED MEDICAL SERVICES BUT HAVE NO RESOURCES?

The bringing out of the situation of Allan Ssempagala is commended. It is sad that after discharge, Ssempagala may not have a decent home to go to after the mother sold what they had to get him treated! What can be done about this problem. The efforts of those who come in to help genuinely the fundraising efforts of such needy persons are commended. The prayer is that Uganda Government gets priorities right. Such patients like Ssempagala should be able to get free treatment in a country where priorities are well set. Uganda needs more prayers. William Kituuka Kiwanuka Boy stuck in hospital over sh24m medical arrears Publish Date: Jan 28, 2013

Allan Ssempagala (left) before the operation and (right) before the operation at IHK newvision By Charles Etukuri A 13-year-old boy, Allan Ssempagala, is stuck at International Hospital Kampala (IHK) Namuwongo, over unpaid bills amounting to over sh24m that has accrued over the last seven weeks. Ssempagala’s mother, Lillian Nansamba, a widow, was forced to sell off their home to meet Ssempagala’s medical bills, following an operation at Mengo hospital. On Friday, the manager at IHK, Alex Alexander, confirmed that Ssempagala had been discharged, but was still at the hospital because his bills had not been paid and that the hospital had been duped by well-wishers, who had brought the boy to the hospital. Despite IHK having the Hope Ward that was built through donations to aid the disadvantaged, the hospital says Ssempagala did not fit in the class of the disadvantaged. “Throughout, we treated him knowing he had sponsors. If they had told us that they were unable to pay, we would have treated him through Hope Ward,” Alexander said, adding: “We need money to pay the surgeon who carried out the operation and the medicine spent on him.” A statement signed by Brenda Naluyima, a senior sales executive at IHK, reads: “Initial dealings were through a gentleman by the name of Moses Kalanzi. Moses disappeared in December and my understanding from one of our staff was that he had taken off with some money that had been advanced for the boy’s medical care by a donor.” “Stephen Mukasa then became the contact person at the beginning of January (2013). He (Mukasa) informed us that he would come to the hospital yesterday (Thursday) and make payments to ensure Ssempagala is discharged. He did not show up. Our staff made contact with him today, but he said that he is at a party and will not be able to make it.” The hospital insists that it does not wish to inconvenience Ssempagala or his family and, “we do appreciate their position, however, while there are some aspects of his treatment that we will waiver, it does remain that we require some payment to be made in order to recover some costs.” On Friday, Kalanzi refuted allegations that he had gone missing, maintaining he had sacrificed a lot for Ssempagala’s welfare and that he was still fundraising from well-wishers to clear the bill. When Sunday Vision visited Ssempagala at the hospital on Thursday, the first question he asked was whether we had come to take him home. At the hospital, Ssempagala is in the care of his 14-year-old sister, Jackline Nandawula. “We are forced to share a meal and yet he is on medication that requires him to eat a lot,” Nandawula said. However, it is the journey to trace Ssempagala’s family that further brought us to the stark reality of poverty. The family resides in the slums of Namungoona. After selling their home, the family was forced to move in with Ssempagala’s great grandmother. According to Nansamba, her son’s ordeal started at Mengo hospital where he was first operated. “Two months ago, Allan was a normal child, but things changed in December 2012, when Ssempagala returned home from school feeling pain in the stomach. I rushed him to a clinic in Nateete, but nurses there failed to handle the case and referred him to Mengo hospital.” Ssempagala was diagnosed with severe inflammation of the intestines and was admitted. “No scan was carried out and yet the doctor recommended an operation. As a lay person, I did not object,” a tearful Nansamba, says. After the operation, pus was oozing through the stitches. The mother immediately complained to the doctor, who ordered a second operation. Then, faecal matter started passing out from the intestines. “The bill was growing each day, but there was no sign of my son recovering,” she says. After pressure from the family, Ssempagala was referred to Mulago Hospital. “At Mulago, I was told that another operation could not be carried out until Ssempagala had put on some weight,” she adds. But even as they waited for Ssempagala to put on weight, he continued wasting away. Enter good Samaritans Nansamba ran to the media seeking help and some well-wishers offered help. “I was given food and money and they offered to take my child for further treatment,” she says. After scouting for a hospital a well-wisher offered to pay the admission fees at IHK. On admission, Ssempagala, severely malnourished to only 12kg, could not stand unaided and was put on an extensive treatment programme. After a series of operations by the doctors at the hospital, Ssempagala recovered. If you want to help, you can call 0784401172 or send an email to csr@newvision.co.ug

UGANDA IS INDEED A SICK COUNTRY

The Inspectorate of Government has halted the Karuma Dam Project over Bribery and Corruption allegations. The IGG, Justice Irene Mulyagonja acting on a tip off, has intervened to stop the allegedly abused procurement process that saw an incompetent Chinese firm- China International Water and Electric Corporation - CWE win the over 3 trillion shilling award contract. The link: http://www.ntvuganda.co.ug/general_page.php?id=7131

UGANDA SO UNFORTUNATE TO HAVE MUSEVENI AS ITS LEADER?

Kenya is surely millions of miles away from Uganda, and that is why it is registering positive growth. To have a leader of the calibre of Kibaki is what Uganda will continue longing for. The childhood dreams of Museveni which unfortunately worked out are the reason why Uganda has lag on. Surely, as long as Museveni imagines that he is the single BULL in Uganda's kraal, the more the country will be destined for a failed state. It is sad, but those are our leaders! William Kituuka Kiwanuka --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kibaki bids farewell to Kenyans Publish Date: Dec 19, 2012 newvision By Vision Reporter and Agencies Kenya president Mwai Kibaki has delivered his last address to Parliament at a special sitting as he heads into retirement, reports the Daily Nation. The speech was Kibaki’s last address to Parliament as head of state as he winds up his ten-year term as President since being elected into office in December 2002. "My name will not be on any ballot paper. I wish all of you (MPs) all the best as you vie for the various seats," Kibaki said in his speech. During the Jamhuri Day celebrations last Wednesday, President Kibaki highlighted his legacy including strengthening the economy and infrastructural development. As he concluded his speech he donated a book to parliament highlighting his political career, and thanked the electorate of "Othaya and Kenyans for their faith in my ability to lead them all these years." Kibaki hailed the parliament for their cooperation during his tenute of office. "Your legislative achievements have earned you (MPs) a place in Kenya's history," Kibaki said. He also left the electorate a message: "It is critical that Kenyans are led by competent leaders with high moral standards. I urge Kenyans to vote wisely for men and women who will sit in the Senate and the National Assembly," he said. Winding up his address, he said: "I extend my blessing to the next Parliament." Several MPs delivered speeches hailing Kibaki for the good work he has done leading the country and wished him a happy retirement. Kenya heads into general elections next year in March and the 81-year old leader will not be standing again. Kibaki Bids Tanzanians FarewellKENYAN President Mwai Kibaki has bid farewell to Tanzanians as he inaugurated the head offices of the East African Community in the city of Arusha. This was his final task in his capacity as chairperson of East African Community's heads of State Summit. President Kibaki inaugurated the newly constructed EAC building on behalf of the other four presidents, including Tanzania's President Jakaya Kikwete, who witnessed the inauguration event. Mr Kibaki will hand over the EAC Heads of State Summit leadership to his Ugandan counterpart, Mr Yoweri Museveni, during the 2012 Heads of State Summit Meeting in Nairobi, Kenya, this weekend. Mr Museveni, as well as Rwanda's President Paul Kagame and Burundi's Pierre Nkurunziza, did not attend the Arusha function. The Kenyan Head of State is left with only three months in office. He will be replaced by a new president early next year when his country holds its general elections. Mr Kibaki, who has accomplished his maximum 10-year term in office will not contest. "The EAC building we are opening today should be an edifice of the several milestones that the community has undergone, including the accomplishment of the common market protocol, regional customs union and the expansion which saw EAC grow from three to five member states," said President Kibaki. He, however, pointed out that a lot more needs to be done including improving and adding more infrastructures such as roads, railways and electricity supply at regional levels. The just unveiled East African Community Headquarters' premises here has, on the other hand, set a record for being the first project to be realized in time with a saving of 3.3 billion/-. The planned budget for the construction of the state-of-the-art, East African Community Headquarters was 30.2 billion/- but the project works, according to the EAC Senior Estate Management Officer, Dr Phil-Makini Kleruu, has taken slightly over 26 billion/-. "The EAC headquarters' premises should go down the annals of history as an exemplary project which has managed to save 3.3 billion/- from the initially planned budget in addition to being completed in time," said Dr Kleruu. The new EAC structure consists of three wings and each block has four floors with a central podium that is intended to serve as the chambers for the East African Legislative Assembly but judging from recent sessions held there, the podium is already too small for the task. The building stands on a ten-acre Plot number 12 of Block 111 in the Sekei Ward of the city next to the Arusha International Conference Centre (AICC) which was coincidentally constructed by the former EAC which collapsed in 1977. Starting out as tenant to the now Parastatal Arusha International Conference Centre, the EA community secretariat used to pay annual rents amounting to US $450,000 which is nearly 600m/- to the Arusha International Conference Centre where it had set up a number of its offices. The EAC was also renting additional office space and paying additional rents to the New Safari Hotel Building and the Diamond Trust complex where it has outsourced tenancy due to limited space at the AICC. The Federal Government of Germany granted the community funds for the construction of its own premises when the project was announced back in 2006 but had to be shelved after it became apparent that the initial funding was inadequate and the EAC had to apply for more grants. Germany granted the EAC 14 million Euros equivalent to 30.2/- billion for the construction of the community's headquarters.