ATTACK BOBI WINE AND PAY THE PRICE

One recent Saturday afternoon, amid the yellow dust, sunshine and traffic fumes of Mbale town, I met a prominent politician from the ruling national resistance movement-NRM party. He told me that if you want to get money from this government, oppose Museveni. I was like hmm.. because it was coming from a member of the ruling party.

As we talked, two other men sauntered over to join the conversation, to weigh in their opinions on the political on-goings of our country. A woman who was probably in her late 30s joined the conversation that had turned hot. Nobody noticed her at first, as she seemed so withdrawn. In a sharp voice she shouted in Luganda; “Ffe twagala Bobi si Bosco”. This is a phrase that was coined after a popular MTN ad which literally means we want Bobi Wine not Museveni.

As we talked in the shade of a small grocery shop, we were all convinced that Bobi Wine is Museveni’s main challenger ahead of 2021 general elections and that the state will sacrifice any penny at the expense of tax payers to contain him. One will ask, what about Besigye? For the times the forum for democratic change strong man has contested against Museveni, he has failed to deliver victory to those who hoped for change, leaving Bobi Wine as their optional carrier of hope for change.

With clear symptoms and signs of events unfolding, Bobi Wine is the de facto leader of the opposition. He’s been for two and a bit years. Is that enough time anyway to consider Bobi Museveni’s main challenger? Yes. What will you say of Trump? Huh?

Bobi Wine has influenced many across the political divide particularly the youth but to the baby boomers, the people supporting Bobi Wine are backing a wrong horse. Alas! Gone are the days of political correctness.

There are people who up to now are puzzled with the political popularity Bobi Wine has gained since joining politics. Is it because he is a musician? NO. If Bobi Wine had concentrated on music, I bet he would not stand the dog eat dog competition in the music industry today, where the Fresh Daddys of this world are spending sleepless nights to release hit after hit.

Most people know that Museveni is the president of Uganda but to some, that was about it. There are people who had sworn never to learn or care about anything that happens in this country after Museveni won another term in 2016, by not reading about the hoopla of politics. These people had developed their own eccentric lifestyle of silent protest. But when Bobi Wine joined politics with his people power our power slogan, all the silent voices followed him in droves. Even the so called ‘silent majority’ ceased to be silent. The availability heuristic is the concept that humans make decisions based on information which comes to mind easily. All this guy did was to reawaken these people with article one of the constitution.

Those in power considered Bobi Wine and group, hooligans and inconsequential until the musician turned politician threw his hat into the ring for the top office. It is from this point that they stared taking him serious with attempts to sap him by cancelling his concerts, gazzetting his trade mark berets and the scramble for ghetto.

Bobi’s rhetorics have been aided with his eloquence and oratory skills unlike his key political rival who bloviates with bush war stories and verbal explosives. One top government official recently said that Bobi is only good at sloganeering and not leadership. He also requested that Bobi be tested in a debate. Some idealistic regime radicals haven’t forgotten Bobi’s fiscal policy howler which is the reason they are calling for a debate. Ok boomers! I will also call for one, but it’s high time everyone took Bobi serious.

Bobi Wine has faithful followers who are ever on standby to walk over broken glass for him. Insult or attack Bobi Wine and you will pay the price. But he needs a platform for sure to assure his followers and those who wish to join his cause that he isn’t the wrong horse.

For the love of sports

Uganda and Rwanda are very similar in several ways but if you start making comparisons, the two countries are different in policies, and implementations.

For example; recently Uganda received more two Bombardier planes but at the same time Rwanda were launching Phones manufacturing plant. While Uganda was imposing social media tax on its citizens, Rwanda was rolling out free Wi-fi to even rural communities.

We all know that President Paul Kagame of Rwanda is a die-hard Arsenal fan unlike our President who at one point thought that Uganda Cranes was a football club. Funny? Huh?, but not from the fountain of honour.

Even with the human rights abuses meted against dissent voices, Kagame and his associates will still be credited in this digital era for approaching their problems with common sense solutions.

Unemployment especially among the youth is a challenge many nations developed inclusive have in common but it’s the approach to tackle it that differs. Many developed nations have realized that talent development is the easiest approach to tackle unemployment.

This is why Sports, Music, Film are popular because they have absorbed the would be unemployed.

Going back to Rwanda, despite their president being an ardent Arsenal fan, in August, his government thought otherwise to come up with a magnificent basketball court named Kigali Arena.

The 10,000-seat complex completed in July is a multi-purpose building which can host indoor games, meetings, conferences, exhibitions and concerts. It boasts 13 cafeteria and restaurants, six changing rooms for teams, two rooms for coaching staff, a fitness center, a media hall, and a modern doping control room.     

  Inner view of Kigali Arena: Courtesy Photo.

Kigali Arena will host the semifinals and the final of the inaugural Basketball Africa League next year in March and the 2021 FIBA Men’s Africa Basketball Championship.

This is just one sports facility, but think of the job opportunities it comes with.

Some in your views may think am unpatriotic and may even suggest that I relocate to Rwanda. But because I love sports, I think there is more to be done by investing in sports to help those vulnerable young people who would benefit from this lucrative sector.

Think of any sports facility around you and tell us its state or condition. Is it good?

”Arsenal Can Keep Aaron Ramsey”

By: Diano Olwenyi Peters

With no doubt, Arsenal are losing the highest scoring central midfielder in their history for nothing which is the reason Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, PSG, Barcelona and most notably Juventus are all interested.

Aaron Ramsey is one kind of player that any manager cannot afford to lose with his already seen quality both on and off the pitch.

I for once blamed Arsene Wenger for not keeping his best weapons intact whenever the enemies come with a big burgain. I won’t do the same with Unai Emery who has also played his patience on Ramsey to change his mind and stay at Arsenal.

Arsenal we should all agree that have all it takes to retain the best of its player but because of their Wage Ceiling, other key rivals have always used this against them.

Alexi Sanchez, Samir Nasri, Fabregas, Robin Van Persi among other very talented players left Arsenal to rival clubs because their efforts and committment were not worth the money they were being paid at the club.

Who carries this blame?, the Arsenal board in particular should think of how to effectively run its business which involves retaining its best employees and delivering the best to its customers(fans).

If Arsenal doesn’t change way of doing business, then we shall continue seeing them loose thier cream de’ La cream to rivals.

Arsenal have all it takes to keep Ramsey at the club, but if he is not signing a new deal with Arsenal, how sure are we that players like Lucas Torreira, Aubameyang, Guendozou, Lacazette et cetra will stay for the near future?

Arsenal’s great signing of the season to me is their coach Unai Emery because he has drastically instilled hope and confidence in the players he has at his disposal.

But I bet, trophies will continue eluding Arsenal and Unai Emery will start facing the same insults Arsene Wenger faced from hungry and angry Arsenal fans if the club does not support him bring the players he wants and keep the ones he wants.

Will Arsenal Ever Change?

HOW AFRICAN PRESIDENTS ARE GOING ABOUT MUGABE’S RESIGNATION

                   

When Robert Mugabe sacked his deputy Emmerson Mnangagwa, it never left Mugabe and Zimbabwe the same as the Army eventually intervened.

Mugabe’s actions later became a stick used by his loyalists and the rest of Zimbabweans to beat him and end his 37 year rule.

But before film directors and producers can start scripting down Robert Mugabe’s life into a Hollywood movie, are African Presidents picking lessons and here is how they could be going about Mugabe’s unexpected Resignation.

Arap Moi: Guys update me, how is the situation in Zimbabwe?

Uhuru: Papa Moi People in Zimbabwe are in party mood.

Arap Moi: What do you mean party mood?

Magufuli: Ndugu Kenyatta, why don’t you just tell Papa Moi that Mzee Mugabe has chickened out?

Kagame: Papa Moi, Robert Mugabe is no longer the President of Zimbabwe.

Arap Moi: Mmmmmm…… poor Mugabe!

Salva Kiir: That is why I had to deal with Machari first time, now look at what Mnagwa..gwa..agwa, whatever he calls himself has done to Uncle Bob.

Zuma: Kiir don’t bite your tongue, the name is Mnangagwa not Mnagwa..gwa..agwa.

Omar Al Bashir: I hear the guy is now the president.

Buhari: I heard him promising Democracy to Zimbabweans.

Kabila: He is already dancing to the tunes of the Greedy Whites.

Pierre Nkuruziza: Mnangagwa should know that he can only retain power with a gun not democracy.

Uhuru: Guys remind Mnangagwa that ICC will soon start hunting him for the Matabeleland Massacre.

Kagame: Let him ask Bashir who now spends sleepless nights.

Buhari: I read in news that Bashir ran to Putin for back up against Trump.

Zuma: By the way! Buhari where have you been man? I heard some time back that rodents had taken over your office.

Magufuli: Buhari has been in London for treatment.

Uhuru: Where is Uncle Bob by the way, has he also resigned from this group?

Kagame: Even the group admin is very quiet.

Buhari: Hehehee is the group admn worried of what happened to uncle Bob?

Kaguta: Buhari am a freedom fighter and not worried at all.

Magufuli: Mzee Kaguta how is Uganda? Are you safe there? I hear you want to amend the constitution to feature in the 2021 episode.

Kaguta: Ndugu Magufuli..! You know me very well; everything in Uganda is under control.

Uhuru: I hear Ugandans are also in party mood after hearing that Mugabe resigned. Kaguta is it true?

Kaguta: Maybe in their bedrooms. With the teargas and bottoons I have in stock they cannot dare. Ndugu Uhuru! Come I give you some Battoons and teargas to deal with the Odinga supporters. There is also pepper spray specifically for Odinga. I even heard the guy is already armed to the teeth to disrupt your swearing in Ceremony.

Omar Al Bashir: Hahaha..I was in Uganda recently and Kaguta is armed with Police to the teeth.

Uhuru: Hehehe…so you mean Kaguta also fears the army can take over as they did to our Uncle?

Kaguta: My army is always on missions in DR Congo, Somalia, South Sudan. So there is no way they can takeover when they are away for missions abroad.

Buhari: But have you spoken to Bob after he chickened out coz you guys are close?

Kaguta: Mugabe’s lines are all off; maybe ask Zuma if he has spoken to him of late.

Magufuli: Zuma tell us man, isn’t Uncle Bob now admitted?

Omar Al Bashir: Guys don’t waste your time asking Zuma, he’s been meeting the Guptas.

Buhari: Bwa bwa bwaa..  Hahahaha….  Guys spare my ribs.

Buhari: But Uncle Bob also went far by forgetting his war comrades to favour his wife. He forgot that once someone is a soldier, is always a Soldier.

Arap Moi: You people! Stop talking and go visit Bob.

Zuma: Guys don’t rush to go there because Chiwenga and his boys are not allowing in visitors anyhow. Even we from SADC found it hard to see Mugabe.

Magufuli: Guys, I suggest we first add Mnangagwa to this group. With the Crocodile on board, it will be easy for us to organize for uncle Bob a befitting farewell party.

Kaguta: That’s a good idea though it is not easy to make friends with a Crocodile.

How Age Limit Removal Is Bound To Throw NRM In Limbo

By: Diano Olwenyi Peters

The ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) Party and opposition members of parliament have locked horns on the proposed amendment of article 102(b) of the constitution which caps the upper presidential age limit at 75. The turned contentious matter that now swings on the mercy of the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee has left no one diffident in sharing opinions.

In a bid to stop the amendment of article 102(b) of  Uganda’s Constitution, the opposition’s Democratic Party adopted a Luganda word ‘Ko’gikwatako’ literally meaning ‘Dare touch it’ which coinage has been trending in a debased manner.

On Wednesday September 27, the Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga suspended 25 members of parliament for what she termed as indiscipline. Aware of the rules of procedure in the house, it was a calculated move by the Ko’gikwatako MPs to be suspended when they incessantly sung the National Anthem to try blocking Igara West MP Rapheal Magyezi from tabling the age limit bill.

As they were forcibly moved out by plain clothed men and women in a hail of chairs, bottles, microphone stands and other flying objects in the house, the Ko’gikwatako MPs must be chest thumping that they managed to use a rare platform to protest than go to the streets where the Police would stop them.

With the bill ready for review by the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee, and MPs consulting their constituents on the matter, it is turning into a David and Goliath Affair.

It is palpable that the Age Limit debate has brought in more polarization and less cooperation among Ugandans than ever before which leaves fundamental questions for the NRM to answer. When Dr.Kiiza Besigye, Gen Mugisha Muntu, Amama Mbabazi and other key outspoken members moved on, it left President Yoweri Museveni as the only key protagonist in the ruling NRM party.

If NRM is a sturdy party, have its members ever imagined a life without president Museveni?, have they ever thought of how to succeed their chairman?. Is there any other charismatic NRM member in line to succeed him even if the Age Limit battle is won?. If there is any, are the Ugandans ready to accept that candidate for the top job after President Museveni’s reign comes to an end?.

The ruling party has on several occasions mocked the opposition for not having grass root structures and yet the elephant in their room is how and who should be groomed to succeed President Museveni. If lack of Museveni’s successor is among the reasons the NRM party want the upper presidential age limit of 75 scrapped, then it will in future plunge the party in limbo as it happened with the Uganda Peoples’ Congress (UPC) Party, when Milton Obote was gone, the party is now divided. Mr. Museveni is 73 now and as he still lives on, there are those within the party who will start fighting to succeed him as it is the case in Zimbabwe with Robert Mugabes’ ZANU- PF Party, where there is deepening divisions over the future leadership of the ruling party.

Already some members of the Ruling NRM Party are against the age limit removal which is advantageous to the opposition Ko’gikwatako campaigners.

When the Uganda Communication Commission (UCC) directed all broadcasters to stop live broadcast of events in the August house, it left an impression that the minority opposition were huffing and puffing easily in parliament.

According to a survey conducted by Afro- Barometer a research network organisation, up to 75% of Ugandans across the political divide want the presidential age limit maintained with 78% and 71% of women wanting it maintained respectively. The support is even higher in urban areas at 81% than in rural areas where it stands at 73%. The survey further showed that the support to maintain the age limit among National Resistance Movement members is at 67% and 90% among Forum for Democratic Change supporters and independents at 77%.

In democracy, numbers do dictate and the numbers against the age limit removal is enough for the ruling party to worry. Even when the country’s clerics called for a referendum on the age limit removal, there is no way the NRM could buy that idea. With the rest of other options leading to no fruition, it leaves the NRM Party with their numerical strength in the August House as the only way to sail through the contentious age limit bill.

But as events unfold, one of the most difficult conundrums facing the NRM party now is how to beseech peoples’ trust basing on the fact that Mr. Museveni has been an enigma of himself. Will he (Mr. Museveni) prove both sides of the rough political spectrum wrong?. It is just a matter of time for him to either throw his hat into the 2021 ring for another term or prepare how to peacefully hand over power.

 

WHY WE NEED PERFORMANCE CONTRACTS FOR OUR CIVIL SERVANTS

By: Diano Olwenyi Peters

For any government to serve its citizens, it has to employ civil servants to enable people effectively access resources from it. The moment these civil servants abuse their offices, the tax payers will have to pay the price. It is disheartening that many government offices are abused and those culpable go scot free. Many lucrative projects have been initiated by the government and have never been implemented or their desired goals not realized.

Now that many operations are being geared up for the Financial Year 2017/18, it is imperative that those employed in public offices are monitored for the fruition of our development plans.

Politicians are always accused for paying a lip service to their electorates, but remember politicians hold their respective offices for a particular term which to me is a contract. This means that at one point they will be accountable to their electorates who contracted them for representation. This is not the case with some civil servants who maybe or are not monitored at all on how they execute their duties. But if monitored, how often is it done?     Some civil servants do not even step a foot in their duty stations but once in a blue moon because they have no watchdog around them. Some have even gone ahead to refuse handing over their offices if required either to retire or be transferred to serve in another duty station just because there is no contract to be honored.

The private sector awards contracts to most of its work force and there are desirable results seen. Why not also award performance contracts to the work force in the public sector?

A Performance Contract is a freely negotiated performance agreement between government, acting as the owner of the agency and the agency. It clearly specifies the intentions, obligations, responsibilities and powers of the parties. It addresses economic, social and other tasks to be discharged for Economic or other desired gain.

Performance contract system has been adopted and implemented starting from France in the 1970s. In Asia, it has been used in China, the Koreas, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. In Latin America, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Uruguay, Chile also used it. They have also been used in the UK, USA, Canada, Finland among others.

In Africa, performance contracts have been used in Nigeria, Morroco, Tunisia, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Gambia, Rwanda, Kenya among others. All these countries have registered good results in selected public enterprises.

Some Ugandan Public enterprises are cash strapped and in dire need of financial help because of lack of accountability especially from those who run them with mixed objectives. Unless we make some public sector reforms as a developing country that is looking forward to achieving a middle income status we desire, then we shall wait for a miracle to happen if Jesus returns.

Wars have been waged against corruption, ghost workers, non performers, but all these efforts have been watered down by the fact that there is no mechanism to make the culprits pay for their sins.

President Museveni coined a slogan for his fifth term; “Kisanjja Hakuna Muchezo” literally meaning Term no jokes. The president has at one point fired some of his government officials which does not fully define the meaning of his trending rhetoric if the culprits are not held accountable and new measures adopted.

Talking of ghost workers, key ministries in Uganda like education, health among others are still grappling because the monies allocated to them part of it goes to names that in actual sense don’t exist.

Uganda is one of the countries in the world having the youngest population with the majority unemployed. This young population if utilized in some sectors harbouring non performers will be good for the development of this country.

Are The Police And Army Deserters Responsible For Uganda’s Gun Violence?

Are The Police And Army Deserters Responsible For Uganda’s Gun Violence?

By: Diano Olwenyi Peters

When Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIGP) Andrew Felix Kaweesi, his Bodyguard and driver were gunned down by assailants riding on a motor cycle in Kulambiro, the whole nation was thrown into a state of fear and panic.

The assassination of Kaweesi has left many Ugandans blaming whoever they wish to heap their blame on. In similar circumstances, we have seen other prominent persons in the country gunned down like the former Principal State Attorney Joan Kagezi and several Muslim clerics. Because the assailants have been and perhaps may still carry out their monstrous missions on motorcycles, the boda boda operators in the country have faced a lot of criticism and branded accomplices in the monstrous killings by an anonymous gang operating in the country.

As a journalist not interested in this current blame game, I endeavored to approach some boda boda operators on the streets of Mbale town to hear what they say on what is being labeled against them. In my interaction with this group of people, I realized some were already planning to quit the business for the fear of their lives. “My wife has told me to leave this business and find something else to do because she fears police may start arresting us”. Said Masaba James a boda boda rider who operates on Naboa Street in Mbale town.

Coupled with the President’s directive of the immediate installation of security cameras in key towns in the country, the president was also quoted telling whoever cared to be watchful of those following them suspiciously. This statement has since then instilled fear among the boda boda operators who are accusing the president of branding them as wrong people and yet they are looking for the survival of their families.

What was really astonishing is that majority of them believe they are being framed for the gun violence in the country. A section of the boda boda riders say police have failed to do its work and are now heaping blame on them while others believe it is the police , army deserters  and crime preventers who joined the boda boda business that are terrorizing the people. If this is the case, I want us to look into it critically.

Without going into details of the ongoing investigations in the killing of AIGP Kaweesi, recent reports have indicated that the assassins were well trained professionals. It would therefore be extremely hard for a commoner like a boda boda rider who has to cater for his family to get hold of a gun and shoot down a prominent person unless is a well trained person or one who has ever gone through a military or similar training.

Instead of attacking a sector which has employed over 6 million Ugandans, we should think of how to register them, know how, where and when they do or should operate. Because all those that have failed in other professions, like teachers not ruling out those who quit the police or army have at times ended in boda boda riding.

 

When the president said that the criminals have infiltrated the Police, one would ask, how have these criminals infiltrated the police?. It should be remembered that prior to the 2016 general elections, there were over 11million energetic Ugandans recruited as crime preventers by the ruling government. This was majorly a group of unemployed youth who thought they were going to join the Police Force which was not the case. Despite their frustration, a section of them had probably accessed guns which they end up using inappropriately.

Media reports have indicated that nearly 600 Ugandans have been shot dead since 2015. We may have heard cases were Police or Army Commanders mistreat their juniors who in the end leave the force. For instance, some junior officers have landed on their wives cheat on them with their bosses in the force. Because they cannot cope with the anger, these junior officers, end up deserting the force or take away their own lives at times with those of their families or of their bosses. These deserters at times turn into hard core criminals in society who end up terrorizing the locals in their respective villages because they are trigger happy.

I want to task the country’s security heads to look around them if they are in good terms or not in good terms with fellow officers. I also want to pause a question here, If there are Police or Army deserters, why do these officers desert the force?, do they leave the force in good terms?, and again, what happens to them next?.Unless these questions are answered, we shall continue seeing more skilled assassins crop up in this country.

 

Bishop Luwum Challenges Religious Leaders to Be Political Actors Not Spectators

Bishop Janani Luwum (File Photo)

By:Diano Olwenyi Peters

Uganda is known by many as the Pearl of Africa because of the attractive beautiful sceneries she harbors and her hospitable people.However, history proves to us that Uganda is gifted by martyrs who through offering their lives on the altar of injustice, have well marketed our Country to the rest of the world. They believed in what was right and strongly condemned the wrong.

In 2015, President Yoweri Museveni declared February 16th a public holiday in honour of former Church of Uganda Archbishop Janani Jakaliya Luwum who was killed during Amin’s reign on February 16, 1977.He is recognized as a martyr by the Church of England and the Anglican Communion and his death is commemorated on 17 February as a Lesser Festival. His statue is among the Twentieth Century Martyrs on the front of Westminster Abbey in London.

Every 3^rd of June, people from all walks of Life in the Christian world join Uganda to commemorate the death of 23 newly Christian converts as a pilgrimage. This happens because the said 23 Ugandans put their lives on the altar of injustice by the then ruler of Buganda Kabaka Kingdom Mwanga the 2^nd.

Just like the then Kabaka of Buganda, Idi Amin Dada who was dictatorial in his eight year rule of this country, subjected Ugandans to a life of no tomorrow because anyone who tried challenging his decrees was arbitrarily killed or disappeared.The army was more intolerant and hostile to anyone who dared to challenge the authority of their master. Observing the misery Ugandans were mired in, Archbishop Luwum became a leading voice in criticizing the dictatorial regime of Idi Amin that assumed power in 1971. In 1977, Archbishop Luwum delivered a note of protest to Dictator Idi Amin against the policies of arbitrary killings and unexplained disappearances which was treasonous then.

In a world of political correctness and multiparty dispensation, the political players have brain washed the masses with ideologies that divert their mindset to a world of fiction from the real world. This has seen more desperate lives crop up groping about for a better tomorrow.

South Africa ended Apartheid partly because religious leaders like Desmond Tutu a South African social rights activist and retired Anglican bishop acted strongly against it for the good of blacks in South Africa.

Religious leaders should not only limit themselves to preaching the word of God but also ensure that they too contribute to the Social, Economic and Political development of the society they operate in. It is in places of worship where people of diverse characters and background converge in an act of prayer. However, to my surprise in the places of worship I have visited both in the urban and rural setting; the preachers of the word of God have felt shy to tell the masses about the issues that directly affect their daily life.  Many Pentecostal Churches for instance keep preaching to the people on acquiring a new car, a new house, a marriage partner, forgetting to speak about the injustices like corruption, cronyism, which are weakening our society to its marrow.

In 2016, the Inter Religious Council of Uganda organized two Presidential debates which were welcomed with a lot of national acclaim. However, through their proceedings, one will agree with me that it hardly addressed or tackled the issues affecting the common man since they were much dominated by the Personality of the candidates. During the 2016 general elections, religious leaders turned political spectators because they were shy to act against the wrath of political manipulators who played the dirty games of politics with a lot of impunity.

2017, THE YEAR UGANDANS WILL PAY THE PRICE

2017, THE YEAR UGANDANS WILL PAY THE PRICE

BY: DIANO OLWENYI PETERS

Time is one of the most important determinants in life which is the reason People pray and cheer up for every New Year. But majority often perceive every year ending in no fruition. It has always been said that history helps us shape the future, which is the reason I wish all who may peruse this article to try and reflect on the year 2016 to help shape the best out of 2017.

There is a coinage among Ugandans; “Gavumenti Etuyambe’’, which literally means government should help us. Fellow Ugandans, before you think of what the government should do for you, first think of what you have done for yourself and your family alone. Because of this coinage, some Ugandans have shamelessly forgotten about their God given responsibilities which call for a change in this ill paradigm.

If we take a nostalgic look at 2016, one will agree with me that the year was replete with movie-like events which seem to have twisted the history of this country. Uganda held its elections in that year and this was to me the most expensive election ever where political candidates spent big in the campaigns. A report released by The Alliance for Campaign Finance Monitoring (ACFIM), revealed that President Museveni spent a minimum of $231m (Shs773b) to secure a fifth elective term in office, followed by the Go Forward’s Amama Mbabazi, who is estimated to have used $19.9m (Shs66b). FDC flag bearer Kizza Besigye, who was the runner-up in the election, is estimated to have used $4.5m (Shs15b). In developing nations, it’s not commonplace for electorates to be flashing out money to their favorite candidates but this was the case in Uganda’s 2016 general elections where Dr. Kizza Besigye collected Shs97m from his supporters while traversing the 112 districts. It’s a good gesture yes, but was it necessary?. The other five candidates are estimated to have spent less than a billion shillings each.                                                                                  However, this report received a lot of criticism from campaign teams of President Museveni, Dr. Kiiza Besigye and Amama Mbabazi.

Regardless of where this whole money came from, at the extreme end falls back on all.      In that election as it has been, people have always abandoned their family responsibilities and especially for the youth who touted and trailed these politicians wherever they went hoping for the best.Whether those you elected went through or did not go through, it’s too much of a stretch to hope for their help in this time of economic crisis because they too are faced with the same.

To mirror out what I may call destitution in our Public institutions, the Golden Hand Shake is one evident example. In the Tenth Parliament, our legislators have been mired in a catalogue of controversy when it came to the money given to each one of them to buy a car which is about Shs150m. This followed the burial expenses on each Member of Parliament which is around Shs 68M that all caused public outrage.

That’s just a tip of an Iceberg; towards the end of 2016, the over 430 MPs compelled President Yoweri Museveni to assent to the Income tax (Amendment) Bill 2016 which was signed into law therefore exempting MPs’ allowances from taxation. This according to CSOs will lead to loss of Shs 45b revenue collection and now to cover up that loss; it is the common man to suffer the consequences with prices of essential commodities and services shooting up, Companies may again cry out for bailouts while others may face inevitable Redundancy.

According to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS), Uganda’s economy in real terms has expanded to sh55.7 trillion in the 2015/16, up from sh53.2 trillion that was registered in the previous financial year 2014/15. However, this feat will be sapped by the incessant demands from our MPs and other government officials.It leaves the desired target to see Uganda graduate to middle income status by 2020 dead in the water which will force me to eat my hat if it is achieved.

Due to the commercialization of politics in this country, some of the people that were elected into positions of leadership are chocking on huge loans, hence harboring little or no interests of the people they are supposed to serve.

Currently the Ugandan courts are awash with election petitions which in the end of it all require funds to clear out those cases. We have heard cases where some Members of Parliament and other politicians lacking academic qualifications and some already thrown out of their offices while others are still battling it out in Court. A case in point is Kato Lubwama the Lubaga South MP who is being challenged in court by one Habib Buwembo for lacking proper academic papers. I come to wonder how he gained access to parliament if it’s not the people in his constituency that elected him.

2016 saw many administrative units created which is the reason to the high number of MPs in Parliament. I will not buy the argument of saying that it was the making of the incumbent government to create more administrative units, instead it was/is a demand from the Ugandans who have been and are still demanding for districts, Municipalities, Sub Counties, Constituencies with a claim of having services extended nearer to them.

It is good to extend more public services nearer to the people, but was/is creating of more administrative units the only alternative to do so?. Subjectively, the creation of these new administrative units is so much benefiting the people elected or appointed to run them. For instance, we have Resident District Commissioners (RDCs) in each district who are meant to monitor government programs. To my utmost shock, these RDCs are often seen presiding over workshops where they hope for instant facilitation.The very RDCs have always in most districts been reported to be involved in political fights with politicians forgetting their primary job. For crying out loud, I want each one of us to look back to their respective locations (Village, Parish, Sub County, Municipality and district),how is the state of health facilities there, talk of roads, to mention but a few. Many Ugandans are ever heard complaining about the poor state of roads, hospitals, schools, but if you thought that creating of more administrative units is the only way you will acquire quality basic public services, then you are trying to chew what you cannot swallow.

Am cynical about the democracy we claim to be enjoying if we can’t even pin some of our leaders for paying us a lip service. The 2016 general elections presented an opportunity to eligible voters to make such politicians pay the price of their lies and unfulfilled promises. With such an opportunity to avail itself again in 2021, 2017 is now the year that people will have to pay the price of the choices they made in 2016.

Apparently Hunger is striking many families in various parts of the country and people are already blaming the government. Alas! , this to me is unreasonable. Back then in my Home Village and perhaps in every other village, people had granaries where they kept food after every harvest unlike today where people sell food in gardens before harvest time and leave nothing to store for the dry seasons.

Majority of the Youth have flooded urban centers thus resorting to unproductive works thinking that it is the government supposed to provide them with jobs. It is high time the government invested more in the agricultural sector which should involve having more youth join the sector because for long, over 80% of Ugandans have relied on it for a living.

In December 2016, the Finance Ministry sent notices to Ministries and Agencies informing them about budget Cuts and reduced funding to a number of Sectors in the 2017/18 financial year. This is to ensure that funds are raised for the construction of major roads to the Oil-rich Albertine region and Procure relief items for the hunger-stricken Communities. However, there will only be increase in funding to ministries of Energy, Defence,Lands,ICT and Tourism which means that ministries like Health, Education plus the rest will be affected  leaving“Every man for Himself and God For us All” as people grope about for a better livelihood.

If we all want to live in a better country, Patriotism is the key to the doors of that country we all desire to possess. America and other already developed democracies in the world achieved their admirable status because of their patriotic natives. Unless we do that, we shall continue paying the Price.

TRANSFER MESS HAS MESSED UP UNITED

TRANSFER MESS HAS MESSED UP UNITED

When Luis Van Gaal succeeded the handpicked David Moyes as Coach of Manchester United on 19 May 2014, majority of United fans seemed to have plunged into a new error of glory. With the coaching credentials Van Gall had amassed around Europe, it was worthy for any idealistic Manchester United fan to welcome Luis Van Gaal as their new coach who would evoke the glory days of the Red Devils under Sir Alex Ferguson.
Before joining Manchetser United, Luis Van Gaal had been coach of the Netherlands National Football team and various clubs which include:
1986–1988 AZ (assistant manager)
1988–1991 Ajax (assistant manager)
1991–1997 Ajax
1997–2000 Barcelona
2000–2002 Netherlands
2002–2003 Barcelona
2005–2009 AZ
2009–2011 Bayern Munich
2012–2014 Netherlands
2014– Manchester United

Van Gaal claimed he had inherited a “broken” United squad,and that he would give youth a chance and Ed Woodward said Van Gaal had “impressed everyone around the club” and that there was “a real positive energy and buzz around the place”.
Flashing back to the 2-1 defeat of Manchester United that saw Norwich earn their first win at Old Trafford in 26 years, Manchester United fans watched the game with a lot of moans and groans which rarely happened under the reign of Fergusson.
Under Sir Alex Fergusson, Manchester United was a team that had been reputed with having that fear factor where Old Trafford was regarded a fortress. Fergusson had orchestrated a deep squad replete with players of experience, passion and above all mentally strong.

The most disturbing aspect of Luis Van Gaal’s reign is how he handled the transfer market. Looking at his signings, Van Gaal’s first signings were midfielder Ander Herrera for £29 million,and defender Luke Shaw for £30 million. On 20 August, Argentine defender Marcos Rojo was bought for €20m from Sporting Clube de Portugal and, on 26 August, United signed Argentine winger Ángel Di María from Real Madrid on a five-year contract which saw Di María’s £59.7 million fee set a new record for a signing by an English club, and took the club’s summer spending to a reported £130 million. On transfer deadline day, Van Gaal signed Daley Blind from Ajax for a fee of £14 million and was granted an extension to sign Radamel Falcao on loan from Monaco for a reported £6 million.
In the next summer Van Gaal strengthened his squad by bringing in Memphis Depay from PSV Eindhoven, Matteo Darmian from Torino, Sergio Romero from Sampdoria, Morgan Schneiderlin from Southampton, Bastian Schweinsteiger from Bayern Munich and Anthony Martial from Monaco.
Surprisingly,with all these signings,Van Gaal allowed some of the players who had won Manchester United trophies leave for other clubs.

One of the players you would think it was a mistake to let him leave was Danny Welbeck who joined Arsenal and scored the winning goal against his former club which sent Arsenal to the semifinals of the FA CUP in March 2015.
Javier Hernadez at Bayerleverkusen is another player who is firing from all cylinders this season. With the Gunners in a serious hunt for a first Premier League title in 11 years, it is reported that Arsenal boss is interested in the Mexican by tabling a £13.2million having scored 18 goals in 22 games in all competitions this season.

Other players who, left and you think would have greatly helped Manchester United stay strongly in the title race this season are Robin Van Verpie, Rafeal Dasilva, Angel Dimaria and the list continues.
With the current squad at Mancherster United, you start thinking that Van Gaal messed up in the transfer market. His current squad has been completely off form with some players continuously grizzling about his hard grasped tactics. Adding on to that, the squad has also been thinned by injuries. Injuries have also affected United where Players like Luke Shaw a, Morgan Schneiderlin, Rooney, Ashley Young, Valencia have been in and out.

It is important to note that Manchester United is out of Uefa Champions League, were knocked out of the Capital One Cup by Middlebrough a Championship club and currently fighting to get back to the top four which for me they are crying for the moon.
The Red Devils have been winless in six league and cup games (D3, L3) – their worst run since 1998 this is before the stoke game of 26th December 2015.

“ROONEY FACTOR”
Adding on to why United is struggling, they have lacked clear leadership on the pitch ever since Luis Van Gaal took over in 2014.Any good leader has to lead by example and therefore it will be hard for Rooney to lead his teammates if he himself is underperforming. Teams always perform well when there are individuals who can come into their own to rescue the team in trying moments which has not been the case with Manchester United.

We have seen teams like Barcelona pulling out results with players like Messi,Suarez,Neymar. Forgive me am not trying to compare United to Barcelona but you feel that Manchester United no longer have individual players to rely on much when they desperately need results.
We have also hardly seen players at United compete for positions in the squad which is another driving aspect lacking at Manchester United. Teams like Arsenal have impressed because of competition that has produced some good individual performances in players like Mesut Ozil who has so far recorded 15 premier league assists. Petr Cech was a great addition with his safe hands in the sticks which has brought in a stiff competition for the Arsenal goalkeepers. You may wonder how Arsenal have made it to where they are now but it all stretches back to their behavior in the transfer market.
Despite Wenger failing to sign any outfield player in the summer, Arsenal did not allow players move out to any club apart from goalkeeper Wozeij sciezny who went out on loan to AS Roma and later replaced by Petr Cech who has done his job well this season.

Players like Joel Campell ,Francis Coquelin were not allowed to leave and they are currently helping where need is which has greatly helped Arsenal compared to United where we saw almost a full squad of players leave and replaced by relatively developing players.

If Manchester United is to get back where they are supposed to be, it is only if they act wisely in the transfer Market under a manager who can understand the strength of each and every player in the team.