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Mao reveals what New HIV drug a Rethinking ban on Café Javas
is killing DP game changer? importing used cars delights Nairobi

Issue No. 520 May 11 - 17, 2018 Ushs 5,000,Kshs 200, RwF 1,500, SDP 8

Museveni hand in
Amongi scandal
Property grabbing minister
handling bigger deals for President

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INBOX

Issue No. 520 May 11 - 17, 2018

News analysis Business Health Arts Motoring

Cover story
Museveni’s hand in Amongi lands saga
Tainted minister handling big deals for President

4 The Week
31 Comments
UN board assesses body’s
work in Uganda Weaning African leaders
off power: Democracy
from below could be the
9 The Last Word antidote to addiction to
power by leaders who
Africa’s need for messiahs : Inside refuse to leave office
our belief that the salvation of our
nations will come from the actions 34 Health
of one great man New HIV drug a game
changer?: TLD to be available
16 Analysis in July but experts warn of
sustainability of supply and lack
Mao reveals what is killing DP: But will big of sensitization
youth wing revival meeting save it?

35 Arts & Culture

Hidden messages in Kampala’s
20 Business scenery: What Clifford
Rethinking ban on importing used cars: Kibuuka’s colourful hues reveal
Gov’t could lose nearly Shs200bn annually; about sound of the city
thousands of jobs at risk

STRATEGY & EDITORIAL DIRECTOR: Andrew M. Mwenda
MANAGING EDITOR: Joseph Were
INVESTIGATIONS EDITOR: Haggai Matsiko
BUSINESS EDITOR: Isaac Khisa
PHOTOGRAPHER: Jimmy Siya
WRITERS:Ronald Musoke, Flavia Nassaka, Ian Katusiime,
Agnes Nantaba, Julius Businge.
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PUBLISHER: Independent Publications Limited, Plot 82/84, Kanjokya Street, P. O. Box 3304, Kampala, Uganda
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2 May 11 - 17, 2018

 Offline

Frank Tumwebaze,
Minister for Information
Technology and
Communications
cutting the tape during
the commissioning
of the 3G affordable
broadband connectivity
to two communities “I wanted to bring Cuban doctors
of Bufundi in Rubanda because ours behaved very badly and
and Kibuku in Ntoroko.  unprofessionally. They started striking,
INDEPENDENT/JIMMY SIYA
incited other doctors and left our
patients to die.”President Museveni

President Museveni,
after meeting members
of the Inter-Religious
Council of Uganda, at
State House Entebbe
on May 3. Museveni “They [EC] just go and extract
commended Kampala
Archbishop Rev. Dr. information from NIRA so we asked
Cyprian Kizito Lwanga them whether they are following the
for establishing the law or not because there are people who
Wekembe group in
Luwero District under a
register for citizenship and they are not
model of a SACCO. interested in elections at all.” Semujju
Nganda, FDC spokesperson after the party
held talks with EC

Danish Ambassador to
Uganda Mogens Pedersen,
(R) with the executive
director Uganda Media
Centre Ofwono Opondo, (M)
and the Chairperson Uganda
Human Rights Commission
Medi Kaggwa during the “Nobody who failed will ever force
World Press Freedom Day
at Railway Grounds on May himself or herself onto any graduation
3.   INDEPENDENT/JIMMY SIYA list of LDC. Even courts of law will
never prompt us to compromise our
standards.”Justice Stella Arach-Amoko, Law
Development Centre (LDC) management
committee Chairperson

7 14 117
Children killed by Pharmacies closed by National Uganda’s position on the
strange illness in Malaba, Drug Authority for operating World Press Freedom Index
Tororo district without 2018 licenses 2018 after dropping 5 places

May 11 - 17, 2018 3

week
UN board assesses body’s work in Uganda
On May 05, the Executive
Board of the United Nations
(UN) met President Museveni
at State House in Entebbe to
assess how the International
Body’s work is impacting the
country in terms of achieving
its development related targets.
Museveni told the
delegation that Uganda’s
and Africa’s transformation
journey has encountered a
lot of bottlenecks such as
UN Resident Coordinator Rosa Malango (in floral dress) after the UN Board meeting with the President at State House
Kitatta challenges trial at army court
Abdallah Kitatta, the leader
of the Boda Boda 2010 on May
04 petitioned the criminal divi-
sion of the high court challeng-
ing his trial at the army court in
Makindye. In his suit, Kitata
In his suit, Kitatta wants court
to declare that his trial illegal. “I
am a civilian and, therefore, my
trial at General Court Martial is
4 May 11 - 17, 2018
ideological disorientation,
fragmentation of markets that
do not attract big investments
and hostility to the private
sector by past regimes, among
others and therefore called
upon UN agencies to focus on
funding crucial areas such as
electricity generation that will
result in industrialization and
getting people out of wetlands,
among others. The United
Nations Resident Coordinator
defective, illegal in law, unlaw-
ful, pre-emptive and usurped
the powers of the minister
under the Firearms Act, Cap.
299 to determine the ammuni-
tions of war thereby violating
the Constitution by presiding
over non-existent charges,”
he argues that as a civilian he
should have been prosecuted
and UNDP Representative in
Uganda, Ms. Rosa Malango,
led the 35 member-strong
Delegation of the Executive
Boards of the United Nations
Development Programme,
United Nations Population
Fund, United Nations Office
for Project Services, United
Nations’ Children’s Fund,
World Food Programme and
UN-Women.
either at a magistrate’s court or
high court but his pleas have
been ignored. Since his arrest
about two months ago, Kitatta
has been unsuccessfully apply-
ing for bail and has been held
at Makindye Military police
barracks over being found in
possession of live ammunition,
pistols and a SMG riffle.
Museveni to give
clerics Shs5bn for
gov't programmes
In a move that has been
criticized by some members
of parliament and talk show
pundits, President Museveni
on May 04 announced that
he will be extending money
worth Shs5billion to the Inter-
Religious Council of Uganda
to enable clerics popularize the
government’s operation wealth
Creation Programme.
This comes less than a month
after taking the religious lead-
ers to a tour of farms in western
and central Uganda and later
hosting them to a dinner at his
country home in Rwakitura.
While at the event, Museveni
who revealed that a meeting of
1000 religious leaders will be
held in July to sketch the pro-
gramme for implementation
added that the money will help
them while executing the task
of preaching to their believers
how to get themselves out of
poverty at parish level. In addi-
tion to this he promised reli-
gious institutions another perk
of getting them cars.
To some pundits however,
Museveni’s move is not about
development but he is rather
winning them back after their
relationship went sour last
year at the height of the age
limit debate where many of
them called for a referendum
to decide on whether or not the
constitution could be amend-
ment to remove presidential
age limits.
*terms and conditions apply
 Week

Cholera hits
Kampala
Shortly after the Ministry of
Health announced to launch a
vaccination drive in cholera hit
areas of Hoima, four new cases
of the disease were reported in
Kalerwe, a low end Kampala
neighborhood and were rushed
to China - Uganda Friendship
hospital Naguru. Three more
patients from the neighboring
Mpigi district were also being
treated at the hospital.
Dr. Henry Mwebesa, the Ag.
Director General of Health Ser-
vices at the Ministry of Health
told journalists that while the
patients are currently all at a
small isolation center at Naguru,
the Ministry has set up two big-
ger isolation centers at Mulago
considering that in the rainy Pope Francis during his visit to Uganda Martyrs Shrine Namugongo in 2015.
season such illnesses are bound
to break out if people don’t take
precaution like washing hands
Shs700million needed for Martyrs day celebrations
before handling food, drinking As June 03 when Uganda comprises of the Dioceses of He however said although
boiled water and washing hands marks Martyrs day fast Jinja, Moroto, Soroti, Kotido, there’s a 48 hour rule, the sus-
after visiting the toilet. approaches, the church is in a and Tororo districts. pects have not yet been taken
Warning that the disease can drive to rise about 720million Captives freed in USAFI to court because the demands
kill in less than a day, Mwebesa needed to organize the event. raid found very sick, others of the investigations were
urged the public to immediately Revealing this, Archbishop defiled – Police such that it could not happen
report to a health facility in case Emmanuel Obbo, of the Tororo Police Deputy Spokesperson so. The arrests were made on
an individual presents with Catholic Archdiocese which is Patrick Onyango revealed April 28 as security operatives
severe diarrhea, vomiting and heaidn this year’s celebrations on May 07 that some of the pursued suspects in the kidnap
stomach pains. at the Catholic Martyrs Shrine captives rescued during a and murder of late Susan Mag-
However, the three patients in Namugongo said they are joint raid by security forces ara. Now, the investigations
from Mpigi are all from the same organizing a fundraising din- on USAFI mosque have been have gone beyond that case
family whereas those of Kalerwe ner on May 17 to raise money found to be very sick. to include cases of defilement,
are from different families. No for the event. The Archdiocese “Seven girls were found to human trafficking, sexual vio-
other case had been registered in has also organized a walk of be at various stages of preg- lence and kidnap with intent
Kampala by press time but else- faith from Munyonyo Matia nancy. Sadly, eleven of the to demand ransom among
where in the country, Amudat, Mulumba Catholic Church on girls of age bracket 13 to 15 others.
Hoima and Kyegegwa districts May 12 which will be followed years have complained and it 154 people were rescued
are suffering an on-going out- by a 9 day Novena prayer has been confirmed that they from captivity where 28 are
break and the Ministry is consid- at the Namugongo Martyrs were defiled by some of the women, 63 girls and 63 boys
ering vaccination in those areas Shrine beginning on May 29. suspects”, he said some were including three Burundian
The Archdiocese of Tororo already receiving treatment. nationals.

May 11 - 17, 2018 5

Week

DPP loses interest in four year treason case Nigeria, China

Aisha-Nakasibante with other suspects in court
Aisha Nakasibante in-law to
Australia based Ugandan cardi-
ologist Aggrey Kiyingi together
with 18 other suspects who have
been in prison for four years bat-
tling treason charges were on
May.07 released after Micheal
Chibita the Director Public Pros-
ecutions (DPP) lost interest in
their case.
in currency
swap
In a signing ceremo-
ny that took place in
Beijing China, the Cen-
tral Bank of Nigeria
and the Peoples Bank
of China agreed to a
currency swap worth
$2.5billion to make
trade between the two
countries easy.
International reports
say the move was
meant to reduce the
two countries reliance
“The DPP has powers to do this and were therefore facing two on the US dollar in con-
at any stage before judgement. counts of treason and conceal- ducting business such
All the 19 accused persons are set ment of treason in which pros- that Nigeria can have
free unless if held on other law- ecution had alleged that they sufficient local cur-
ful charges,” High court judge had a plan to over throw the rency liquidity and also
Wilson Musene told court before government of Uganda by use of save Chinese inves-
setting them free. firearms between years 2013 and tors in the country the
The suspects had been arrested 2015 at various places in Uganda, hustle of looking for
on grounds that they were plot- Dubai, Kenya and Tanzania. another currency.
ting to overthrow government

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6 May 11 - 17, 2018

Humour Did you know?
Scientists have made
silicon beating heart

It looks like a real heart. And

this is the goal of the first entirely
soft artificial heart: to mimic
its natural model as closely as
Due to the criticism from property owners and economists, the Cabinet possible. The silicone heart has
has reviewed the proposed Landlords and Tenants Bill. been developed by Nicholas Cohrs,
a doctoral student in the group led
by Wendelin Stark, Professor of
Functional Materials Engineering
at ETH Zurich. The reasoning why
nature should be used as a model is
clear. Currently used blood pumps
have many disadvantages: their
mechanical parts are susceptible
to complications while the patient
lacks a physiological pulse, which is
assumed to have some consequences
for the patient.
A well-functioning artificial heart
is a real necessity: about 26 million
people worldwide suffer from heart
failure while there is a shortage of
donor hearts. Artificial blood pumps
help to bridge the waiting time until
a patient receives a donor heart or
their own heart recovers.
President Museveni has strongly defended the government’s move to import Cuban The soft artificial heart was created
saying it is a way of disciplining Ugandan doctors with crooked behaviour. from silicone using a 3D-printing,
lost-wax casting technique; it
weighs 390 grams and has a
volume of 679 cm3. It has a right
and a left ventricle, just like a real
human heart, though they are not
separated by a septum but by an
additional chamber. This chamber
is required to pump fluid from the
blood chambers, thus replacing the
muscle contraction of the human
heart. The young researchers have
just published the results of the
experiments in the scientific journal
`Artificial Organs’. They proved that
the soft artificial heart fundamentally
works and moves in a similar way
to a human heart. However, it still
has one problem: it currently lasts
for about only 3,000 beats, which
corresponds to a lifetime of half to
Finance ministry has allocated only Shs9bn to the Criminal Investigations and Intelligence Directorate (CIID) three quarters of an hour.
out of the required Shs114b for investigations.

May 11 - 17, 2018 7


Cover story
Inbox
Letters are
welcome !
The Editor welcomes short and
concise letters from our esteemed
readers on topical issues. Please
send them to:
The Editor, The Independent
Publications Ltd,
P.O Box 3304,
Plot 82/84 Kanjokya St,
Kamwokya.
Kampala,Uganda.
Email: editor@independent.co.ug
Museveni’s seven
year term demand
Refer to: “Museveni
wants seven year term”
(The Independent April
27). Once critical of leaders
who overstay in power,
today President Yoweri
Museveni leads the club
on the continent Africa
showing his true greed
for power, hypocrisy,
double standards, political
deception, manipulation,
and arrogance.
This is a new breed of
African dictators who have
lost the clear line between
multiparty politics and
monarchy. Museveni talks
of ideological bankruptcy
in African politics yet he
has failed to implement his
own NRM party mission
and vision in his 32 years in
power; including their own
initial 10 Point Program.
What does he need the time
for? Systematic Corruption,
nepotism, tribalism? We
already know his legacy of
failed ideological political
experiments. The late U.S.
President Abraham Lincoln
once said that nearly all men
can stand adversity, but if
you want to test a man’s
character, give him power.
Sam
8 May 11 - 17, 2018
Follow us on Twitter @
http://twitter.com/#!/ugandatalks
Follow us on Facebook @
www.facebook.com/TheIndependentMagazineUganda
Uganda healthcare good
Refer to: “Inside Uganda’s
healthcare tears” (The Indepen-
dent April 27). I went to Mengo
Hospital in Kampala for a
minor eye treatment and was so
impressed with their services.
Can you imagine the consul-
tation fee was just Shs5000. I
Speaking for poor Ugandans on health
Refer to: “Inside Uganda’s
healthcare tears” (The Indepen-
dent April 27). “Who will speak
for the children of Uganda,
especially from poor families,
when public debate on health
policy is dominated by ignorant
Ending Uganda’s healthcare tears
Refer to: “Inside Uganda’s
healthcare tears” (The Inde-
pendent April 27). The funda-
mental problem with Africa’s
and Uganda’s health care – like
with all other so called ‘social
services’ has to be an insuf-
ficient supply of scientific and
consequent technological minds
within its human resource. All
health problems giving us head-
aches and debates today have
a direct root in science. When
Mwenda and others before him
talk of primary healthcare, they
are really referring to tackling
causes of disease. Understand
what, how, where and when
these diseases are caused and
developed – then you will, with
a bit of creativity and innova-
tion – be able to either eliminate
them or disrupt their progres-
sion within whatever available
non-human resources. But to do
so systematically, first we need
a set of nature-inclined inquisi-
tive/curious people (scientists)
to establish or even unequivo-
cally confirm the critical linkag-
es. Then a second set (engineers/
technologists/technicians/arti-
would have paid Shs50,000 in a
private facility. And the whole
medication cost me Shs15,000
(About 3 U.S. dollars). I guess
if I went to Mulago National
Referral Hospital, it would have
cost even less. So what does this
say about the health facilities in
and self-interested adult elites?”
So who does Mwenda speak
for when he states: “The prob-
lems of the healthcare sector
in Uganda are not the fault of
anyone”, when in fact Uganda
has office bearers? Is Mwenda
sans) is needed to understand
the work of the first set and
consequently – using avail-
able human and non-human
resources – design, construct,
and operate – where necessary)
systems either to destroy or to
distort the linkages. You could
get rare individuals serving in
both sets. The ‘good for nothing’
politicians claiming to allocate
resources, the the ‘informed’
and ‘half baked’ economists,
pundits (the Mwenda likes)
and ‘semi-literate’ journalists/
commentators (most others) all
come later in importance of put-
ting our health care right.
Dr. Eng. Kant Ateenyi – Cape
Town
News analysis Health Business
Why Cuban doctors Five surprising things Beer boom:NBL invests lebratin
are controversial making you fat US$22million in expansion Ce g
Issue No. 519 May 04 - 10, 2018
Ushs 5,000,Kshs 200, RwF 1,500, SDP 8
Years
Museveni looks for
new BoU governor
IMF’s Ating Ego, Kasekende,
Muhakanizi, Kizza in race
www.independent.co.ug
Uganda? I think it’s promising
and, secondly, with the freedom
of speech and social media; it’s
easy to expose a medical officer
who is always not on duty.
Tina
speaking on behalf of the poor
Ugandan child, or on behalf of
the ignorant and self-interested
adult elite Ugandan?
Rajab Kakyama
Proposed landlords,
tenants Bill wrong
Refer to: “Rent law:
Good intentions, bad
incentives for property
market” (The Independent
April 27). Do these
cabinet ministers own
any properties in this
country? Why would they
seem to only favour the
tenants as if landlords are
not supposed to benefit
from their sweat? There
is really nothing much
one can do if they cannot
build their own houses.
Once not happy with one
landlord, move on to the
next with hope of forging
relationship. Otherwise
as the landlords and
tenants Bill is, it will deter
people from constructing
residential and commercial
properties for fear of
marginalization. This will
keep the housing deficit as
high as eight million as it
stands now.
Charles Muhigirwa

Africa’s need for messiahs
By Andrew M. Mwenda
Inside our belief that the salvation of our nations will
come from the actions of one great man
I
f you follow discussions on politics in
Uganda, or Africa generally, one factor
is given as the cause of the slow rate
of development – poor leadership. I
used to hold this view but outgrew it in
large part because I recognised that African
leaders are propelled to power by the social
dynamics of our societies. It follows that
what they do with power reflects more on
who we are as a people than who they are
as individuals.
The blame-the-leadership argument
remains powerful in large part because it
has its roots in the secular religion called
development. This faith sees humankind on
a continuous linear path of infinite progress.
I suspect this is a carryover from the Chris-
tian belief in universal salvation. But while
Christianity promises salvation after death,
secular faith in development promises uni-
versal prosperity on earth. The Enlighten-
ment arose to topple religious utopias but
created secular ones.
In ancient Greece, people believed forces
beyond human control (fate) shaped their
destiny. You find this in Homer’s `The Iliad’
and `The Odyssey’ and in the plays of the
great Greek dramatists like Aeschylus,
Sophocles, and Euripides. Plato thought
contemplation was the highest form of
human activity. The aim of life was not to
change the world but to see it rightly. But
the new secular faiths seek to change the
world NOW hence the many social frustra-
tions and conflicts of our time.
This is why whenever we face a problem
we look for a villain to blame even when the
cause is not a person but a combination of
factors. President Yoweri Museveni attrib-
uted Uganda’s problems to the personality
and management competences of Milton
Obote and Idi Amin. His critics today do the
same – seeing the problems of Uganda as
caused by Museveni, period. Why?
Social issues are complex. British econo-
mist John Keynes suggested that ordinary
people handle complexity through narra-
tives i.e. readily digestible theories-in-min-
iature. Narratives spread easily and become
public goods. But they can also stray far
away from reality. One such stray is the
claim that development of a country comes
from the state, especially its president. This
has created a mentality that absolves indi-
The Last Word
vidual and collective responsibility to our
countries.
I think the major constraint in Africa is
inadequate human capital and a misguided
ideology of the state as nanny. Look at
North and South Korea. The north has a
GDP of $17 billion and a per capita income
of $665, the south $1.4 trillion and $27,600
respectively. The south produces such great
global brands with cutting edge technology
like Samsung, Hyundai, Kia and LG. In
spite of its poverty, the north performs
cutting-edge technological feats like putting
satellites in space, manufacturing inter-
continental ballistic missiles and nuclear
weapons.
What we are seeing embedded in the
social tissue of Korean society is high levels
of human capital i.e. mastery of techno-
logical innovation regardless of income.
Give North Korea market institutions and it
would catch up with the south in 20 years.
The economies of Zambia, Uganda, Ghana,
Malawi and Kenya have not performed
any serious technological feats in spite of
possessing free market institutions because
they have low levels of human capital.
Those who believe in leadership as the
source of innovation would argue we lack a
president to set the innovation ball rolling.
Nonsense.
Look at Africa’s most successful story,
Botswana. It is hailed for having had great
and visionary leadership. I am an admirer
of the Botswana story. But other than man-
aging her diamond riches well and sus-
taining a multi party system of government,
I can hardly find anything great it has done.
It has not produced any international brand
like Samsung. I am not even sure they have
manufactured a pin yet. Therefore, to ignore
human capital and believe in the Christian
principle of “seek ye first a good leader and
the rest will be added onto you” may make
a good political slogan but it has little ana-
lytical value.
In the 1990s Museveni argued passionately
that the problem of Africa was of leaders
who do not want to leave power. After 32
years, he is today one of those leaders who
is clearly not leaving power. But Museveni
was wrong. I believe one of the major
problems of Africa is a failure of citizenship
Opinion
centred on individual and collective respon-
sibility. We, especially the elite, have abdi-
cated our responsibility to be agents of the
change we want. Instead we have become
passive spectators in our affairs. This has
led us to always crave for leaders who can
be messiahs to save us from our problems.
In many ways I find Museveni better than
his critics. When he felt Uganda had a crisis
of leadership, he did not sit and complain
in pamphlets. He took political initiative
to gain power and change the country.
His critics sit in air-conditioned offices and
hang out in fancy nightclubs to lament
how he has destroyed the country. But if
the man is incompetent in managing the
state, surely we who are more competent,
more educated, more skilled, more exposed
should have the competence to easily kick
him out. You cannot claim to be the best
sprinter when you cannot even qualify for
the Olympics.
So we ask for mutually contradictory
things: we want a leader who can transform
our nation for us in one big stroke. Yet if
any leader was to achieve such a feat, she/
he would need to act without restraints on
his/her power i.e. be a benevolent tyrant. At
the same time we want such a leader to be
democratic, subject to checks and balances.
That is why we cheer Barak Obama when
he says Africa does not need strong leaders
but strong institutions. But strong institu-
tions mean a leader has little he can do as
an individual. This is the core problem of us
African elites, ideological confusion.
Listening to Ugandan (and African) elites,
one is overwhelmed by the sheer volume
of helplessness and powerlessness even on
matters of direct personal responsibility.
It is as if we have no agency to shape the
destiny of our countries – we surrendered
that to the mythical great leader. Every
aspect of our lives is supposed to depend on
leaders. This belief in leaders as saviours is
detrimental to active citizenship. We need
a vision that believes that our destiny can
only be shaped by the anonymous actions
of hundreds of millions of active, living,
thinking, and functioning citizens; not a
single leader.
amwenda@independent.co.ug
May 11 - 17, 2018 9
cover story

Museveni hand in
Amongi scandal
Property grabbing minister
handling bigger deals for President
By Haggai Matsiko
The drama that played out on May 8 when Betty Amongi, the Minister for Lands, Housing and Urban
Development, appeared before the Land Inquiry sitting in Kampala left one question: What would
President Yoweri Museveni do about it?
At the centre of Amongi’s appearance, the second before the commission, were allegations of high
corruption and property grabbing against the minister.
But the appearance also revealed emotive issues of security of property, misuse of power, and lack of
integrity in public officials.
The commission is inquiring into the effectiveness of the laws, policies and processes of land acquisition,
land administration, land management and land registration in Uganda.

Catherine Bamugemereire (L)

and Betty Amongi

10 May 11 - 17, 2018


The Land Commission of Inquiry at the National Archives Centre on May 8
J
ustice Catherine
Bamugemereire chairs the
inquiry, whose other members
include; Robert Ssebunnya, the
Senior Presidential Advisor on
Buganda Matters, Mary Oduka
Ochan, a development expert, Joyce
Gunze Habaasa, a land Consultant,
Rose Nakayi, an advocate, Fredrick
Ruhindi, a former Attorney General,
George Bagonza Tinkamanyire former
LCV Chairperson, Hoima district, Ebert
Isaiah Busobozi Byenkya, a lawyer,
Olive Kazaarwe Mukwaya, a judicial
officer, Douglas Singiza and John Bosco
Rujagaata Suuza.
Unlike some witnesses who
perspired, cried, and fawned before the
commission, Amongi’s make-up, chili
red-lipstick, and neatly bobbed hair
remained unruffled.
Instead, it was the commissioners
turn to appear paralysed when she
calmly denied any wrong doing, citing
memory loss of events, ignorance of
procedure, and lacunas in the law.
Some of the commissioners and
many observers of her performance
questioned where she got all the
confidence when it appeared she was
implicated in very serious crimes.
Kololo, where Amongi is said to have
grabbed property, is among the areas
with the most expensive property rates
in Kampala, often valued in dollars
because shillings cannot apply.
So when former Attorney General
Fredrick Ruhindi heard that Amongi
had in two days got hold of three
prime properties in Kololo and another
in equally prime industrial area, he
wondered how that could be possible.
“Perhaps some of us live on another
planet,” Ruhindi said.
But Amongi calmly informed him
that, in fact, she did not move a finger
to acquire them. The deal was easily
clinched by her worker, one Henry
Mubiru.
Some of those watching the drama
and know her intimately were not
surprised. Amongi is known to be a
tough person.
And this time, she possibly appeared
confident because she is perceived
to have President Museveni’s ear
on property and land matters in the
country.
Amongi has been Museveni’s points-
person in the controversial acquisition
of 7,000 hectares of land in Amuru
District in northern Uganda for setting
up a sugar plantation and factory in
a government joint venture with the
dollar billionaire Madhvani family.
The project requires 40,000 hectares.
A day before Amongi appeared before
the Bamugemereire Commission, the
Parliamentary Budget Committee had
approved Shs12 billion to compensate
some of the project-affected people.
Another sugar factory in the same area;
Atiak Sugar factory, of individuals
fronted by President Museveni was set
to get Shs21billion from the Operation
Wealth Creation.
Amongi attempted to play the
Museveni card to avoid appearing
before the commission, insiders say.
Apparently, she lobbied cabinet
and had convinced Prime Minister
Ruhakana Rugunda to block the inquiry
summons. She then informed the
Commission that she could not appear
because her answers would require her
to reveal government secrets, including
instructions from Museveni.
But Bumugemereire threw her letter
cover story
in the trash bin and issued criminal
summons for her to appear, warning
that she would be arrested if she did
not.
On the day she appeared, the Daily
Monitor newspaper led with a bold
headline: “Museveni to Amongi; go face
land probe”.
The Land ministry that Amongi heads
is very sensitive. But it has also proved
to be a place of hot deals.
The minister Amongi replaced, Daudi
Migereko, was also accused of influence
peddling. Migereko’s company, Intraco
Uganda Ltd and some of his family
members were accused of acquiring
land in Munyonyo, and high end areas
on the edges of Kampala city where the
new Entebbe-Kampala Express highway
was designed to pass in order to get
compensation from government.
It is this kind of mess Amongi was
supposed to clean up. Ironically, she
now appears right at the heart of the
problem.
According to Yusuf Nsibambi, the
Kampala District Land Board chairman,
Amongi has also been at the centre of
a fight over Plot 10 Nakasero Road,
which houses Faze 2 Restaurant and is
currently a subject of a court case.
In this case, Kuldip Singh Dhami, the
registered owner of the property, has
sued Kampala District Land Board, the
Departed Asians Property Custodian
Board (DAPCB) and the Commissioner
Land Registration in the Ministry
of Lands over attempts to grab his
property.
The DAPCB was established to take
care of properties belonging to Asians
who were expelled by former President
Idi Amin.
Part of its job has been to ensure
May 11 - 17, 2018 11
cover story
Betty Amongi (R) and her lawyer appearing before the inquiry
the Asians who return to the country
take back their properties. The board
would also manage those that are not
repossessed by the original owners.
President Museveni’s government
later made the decision that after
1994, the properties that had not been
repossessed by the original owners
would be sold off and the board wound
up.
When in 1994, the DAPCB tried
to take over Kuldip’s property, he
proved to them that he had never
departed the country. As such, the
board never managed his property.
Indeed, in a letter dated June 8,
1994, the then acting secretary of
DAPDCB, confirms that Kuldip
Singh Dhami did not leave Uganda
during the 1972 exodus, and
therefore his property is not subject
to the provisions of the Expropriated
Properties Act 1982.
“We have therefore withdrawn
it from the list of properties to be
sold,” the letter reads in part, “Any
inconveniences caused to you and
your client is regretted.”
With his lease on the property
nearing its end in 2019, Kuldip
approached Kampala District Land
Board (KDLB) and offered to give up
the remaining period on the lease in
exchange for a fresh lease of 49 years.
KDLB granted him the 49-year lease.
In 2012, Kuldip entered an
agreement with KDLB effecting the
lease for the 49 years.
However, in a letter dated October
30, 2017, Lands Minister Amongi,
noted that the KDLB dealt with Kuldip
in error. Apparently, she noted, the
12 May 11 - 17, 2018
land in question was being managed
under the DACPB.
Amongi demanded that KDLB
reverses the decision to renew the
lease within two weeks, by November
15, 2017 in order to enable her report
back to the Departed Asians Custodian
Property Board.
Amongi also claimed that Cabinet
had picked interest in the matter
and made directives about the
management of the departed Asians
properties.
In Kudilp’s absence, officials at the
Lands Ministry held a public hearing
and made a decision to cancel his new
lease.
Nsibambi would later learn about
the plot to take over the land after
being summoned by the police to
explain his board’s decision to grant a
fresh lease to Kuldip.
To fight the grab, Edward
Sekabanja, Kuldip’s lawyer, filed a
court case on behalf of Kuldip.
In his affidavit, Kuldip notes that
since December 2017, he received
reports from his tenant, the manager
of Faze 2, Restaurant that various
persons were visiting the property
and inquiring about its ownership as
they had information that it was up
for sale.
Sekabanja told The Independent
that the case was still before court.
Sekabanja was also slated to supply
the commission with more evidence.
Away from the land grabbing
accusations, the commission heard
that Amongi has been irregularly
directing officials at the Land Ministry
to make vast compensation payments.
Evidence before the inquiry
indicated that between 2016 and 2017,
the Lands Minister directed Albert
Jethro Mugumya, the Uganda Land
Commission (ULC) Undersecretary
to make urgent payment of land
compensation of hundreds of millions
of shillings to some nine people.
The land inquiry heard that Amongi
contravened public service protocol
when she directed Mugumya, the
accounting officer instead of the ULC
chairman to effect the payments.
Apart from Amongi, several officials
at the Lands Ministry, have over time
been implicated in corruption charges.
In August 2016, President Museveni
even ordered Amongi to deal with the
officials in the Land Registry who are
involved in fraud, corruption, abuse of
office and forgery at the Ministry.
Sarah Kulata, the then commissioner
for land registration, who also headed
the department of land management
and administration and John Moses
Magala, a senior government valuer,
who was accused of inflating land
compensation value for Kampala-
Entebbe Expressway by billions of
shillings, were named.
Interestingly, Kulata had previously
been interdicted by the IGG only to
be returned to office by former Lands
Minister, Daudi Migereko.
Yet the IGG had wrote to Lands
Ministry authorities noting that she had
established that between 2011-2013, 44
complaints alleging fraud, corruption,
abuse of office, forgery and negligence
against Land Registrars were lodged in
Kulata’s office.
When Migereko was tainted,

Museveni threw him out. It is not clear
what fate awaits Amongi – if any.
“It is unfortunate,” John Livingstone
Okello-Okello, a former commissioner
at the Lands Ministry told The
Independent, “If this was in a serious
government, Amongi would have been
suspended, asked to step down or
dismissed.”
He noted that while corruption at
the Lands office is not new, the latest
developments show that it is getting
worse.
Okello-Okello has also openly
criticised Amongi for her role in
facilitating government’s attempts
to grab land in Amuru, northern
Uganda. However, while on the Amuru
land question he believes President
Museveni’s government was using
Amongi, her latest troubles appear her
own making and intended for personal
benefit.
Okello-Okello told The Independent
that for the 20 years—ending 1997--
he was a commissioner at the Lands
Ministry, he would accompany the line
minister to the custodian board.
“I had never seen a case where a
Minister applied or took land from
the board,” Okello-Okello said, “If
members of the custodian board are
doing that, then what is left of this
board?”
Okello-Okello also served as a
Member of Parliament under the
Uganda People’s Congress (UPC), a
party that Amongi subscribes to and
which is currently headed by her
husband, Jimmy Akena, the son of
former President Apollo Milton Obote.
Under Obote, Okello-Okello says,
government took great care to ensure
accountability of the Asian abandoned
properties. Apparently, Obote had
warned that if not well supervised,
these properties would be a major
source of corruption and he always
made sure to supervise them.
Yusuf Nsibambi, the chairman,
Kampala District Land Board, who
has been at the centre of some of the
disputes involving these properties,
told The Independent that the challenges
surrounding Asian properties are down
to fraudulent and insider dealings at the
Departed Asians Properties Custodian
Board.
He faulted the board and the Finance
Ministry, which oversees it, for messing
up the process and delaying to wind up
the board. In 2016, the Auditor General
raised these concerns Nsibambi is
raising over delay to wind up the board.
Nsibambi also noted that officials
have frustrated efforts by some Asian
owners to repossess their properties and
have also outrightly sought to grab the
same.
Apart from the fight with Nsibambi,
Amongi now finds herself at the centre
of another fight over another property.
Several attempts to reach her for a
comment on these matters were futile as
she did not pick our calls.
In the latest case, she is being accused
of attempting to grab four prime
properties with in Kampala, through
a company, Amobet Investments Ltd,
which she says she co-owns with her
sister.
Land Ministry officials have over the
years been accused of fraud, corruption,
forgery and abuse of office for years but
if the evidence before the on-going land
inquiry is anything to go by, Amongi
might be the first Lands sitting minister
whose hand has been caught in the till
while in office.
Ironically, when President Museveni
appointed her to head the docket one
year and eleven months ago, many
Yusuf Nsibambi Daudi Migereko
hoped that as an opposition politician,
who had spent years criticizing
government for corruption among
others, she would bring some sanity to
the ministry.
The case against Amongi erupted
when on May 4, a one Toshak Patel
testified before commission that
Amongi, through a company called
Amobet Investments Ltd, has been
trying to grab his property located in
upscale Kololo, Kampala.
The property in question was
previously under the custodianship of
DAPCB. Patel’s family repossessed the
property in 1992 and has been renting it
out as business premises.
However, on Dec.12 2017, Amongi’s
employee, the managing director of
Amobet, Henry Mubiru, applied for the
same property and the DAPCB allocated
it to the company.
It took only two days for the DAPCB
Executive Secretary, George William
Bizibu to award the property to
Amobet. Patel had already reported to
cover story
the inquiry that Amongi owns Amobet.
The commission first summoned
Amongi on May 7 but she did not
appear. The commission summoned
her again to appear on May 8, short of
which she would be arrested.
Finally, when she appeared on May 8,
the commission started her off with the
allegations she attempted to grab Patel’s
property through her company Amobet.
Appearing before the inquiry,
Amongi admitted that she co-owns
Amobet with her sister, Kate Odongo.
Documents before the inquiry
revealed that her employee—
Amobet’s Managing Director, Mubiru,
had applied not for one but four
properties—one in Industrial Area,
another along Prince Charles Drive in
Kololo, another on Acacia Avenue and
another along Kyadondo. All these are
prime properties that have been under
the custodianship of DAPCB. As Lands
Minister, Amongi is a member of the
DAPCB.
As per the application, one of the
properties was to be developed into a
modern furniture showroom, another
into a residential building, another into
residential apartments, and another
into a modern office block.
When counsel of the Commission,
Ebert Byenkya, asked Amongi whether
she knew about the applications,
she claimed she did not. She told the
inquiry that as directors of Amobet—
herself and her sister—had granted
Mubiru all the powers to conduct all
operational business on her behalf. She
claimed that Mubiru had applied on his
own and only informed them when he
encountered problems in the processes
of processing the acquisition of the
properties.
When the counsel pressed her
on whether the company had not
put together a business plan for the
developments they were planning
on these properties, she claimed that
Mubiru had not informed them as he
was still doing due diligence and had
only managed to secure temporary
allocation—for six months—for only
one of the properties.
Interestingly, the inquiry also heard
that for a property worth Shs5billion,
Amongi’s company was only required
to pay a monthly rate of Shs. 550,000.
The other question that puzzled
many is how Mubiru happened to get
information that these four properties
under the custodianship of the board
were available for allocation by the
board. The logical conclusion would be
that minister Amongi, who sits on the
board, gave Mubiru the information.
But she denies it. So what will President
Museveni do about that?
May 11 - 17, 2018 13
rwanda
Skills job hunters need according to human resource managers at the Kigali fair

ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS

PRESENTATION SKILLS

LEADERSHIP SKILLS

PEOPLE SKILLS

SPECIALISED SKILLS

Sweat EXPERIENCE

at Kigali NETWORKING

job fair COMMUNICATION

SOFT SKILLS
Where graduating
with flying colours is
no ticket to a job
By Stephen Nuwagira the fair set out to puzzle the attendees with But even for those who were confident

F
inding direction after graduation
can be complex, confusing, and
frustrating. That is what some young
graduates discovered recently when
they attended `Job Net’; the annual Kigali
Employment Service Centre (KESC) job fair
in the Rwandan capital.
It was as if the speakers and experts at
different messages, some of them appearing
contradictory or conflicting.
The job fair is a great place for finding
a job, according to KESC Manager, Aloys
Niyonsaba. Up to 297 got jobs through
recruiters they met at the fair last year, 130
after the fair in 2016, and 128 in 2015.
Up to 1,254 people have gotten jobs
through the centre, according to KESC.
the recruiters would be competing for their
signature because they graduated among
the top five students in their class, the fair
could have been daunting.
Hardest hit were those who, years after
graduation, have still not landed their
dream job; which is not unusual. After all
about 21 per cent of Rwandan youth are
jobless, while the national unemployment

14 May 11 - 17, 2018


rate is 16.7 per cent and 18.1 per cent in
Kigali.
Many torment themselves with questions
like: What is wrong with my CV? Do these
people want mediocre graduates they can
under pay? Did I study the wrong course?
What could be the problem?
The pressure piles on when, after years of
being told that studying hard and earning
good grades would ensure one got a good
job, the message switches completely.
Now, the human resource experts were
telling them that “anyone who thinks that
graduating with flying colours is a ticket to
a job will be greatly disappointed in today’s
job market”.
Apparently, recruiters want more than
just good academic qualifications; they want
something called the “right fit” for their
organisations. So what is that?
For Isabella Kamana, the People
Organisational Development manager at
Heineken Rwanda (Bralirwa), that means
the right candidate must have the right
skills, right attitude, and right experience.
“As a recruiter, I want someone with
the right leadership and functional skills,
as well as knowledge concerning the
business,” she said in an interview at the
event.
Kamana said many job-seekers lack these
skills.
“For instance, it’s hard for us to get
people to fill positions in areas like
automation engineering and other
specialised fields,” she said.
For Anysie Murorumwere, the Skol
Brewery HR manager, the focus is on soft
skills; such as communication and people
skills.
“These skills are essential for any
organisation to achieve its objectives,” said
Murorumweze.
To that list, Nicholas Mogazi, a recruiter
at NFT Consult, a regional HR and
recruitment firm, and Davin Nuwagira;
the Resourcing Officer at I&M Bank, added
presentation and writing.
“In many cases, someone with a rosy CV
turns out to be the exact opposite of their
profile during face-to-face interviews,”
Mogazi said, “Ideally one’s profile should
match that of them when they appear for
the interview.
“Job-seekers should know that no
company can hire a person with conflicting
profiles or misrepresentation.
“Applicants need to understand that CVs
are branding tools.”
Meanwhile, Nuwagira says firms want
candidates with the right attitude and those
that can effortlessly fit in the company
culture. At I&M Bank they are looking for
someone with the right balance between
excellent academic qualifications and soft
skills.
“Some to stand out of the crowd,”
according to Nuwagira.
Create own path to a job
Nuwagira urges fresh graduates to enroll
for unpaid internship to hone their skills
and gain experience, arguing that exposure
and experience are priceless.
She advises job-seekers not to put making
money ahead of skills acquisition because
the right exposure and experience makes
one more competitive in the job market.
Mogazi encourages job-seekers to know
their career objectives and also identify
skills and competencies that make them
stand out from the crowd.
“Look more at what you like to do rather
than what you were trained to do because
companies are increasingly looking out
for all-round people with excellent people
skills,” he explains.
He adds that one’s behaviour and
preferences now play a big part staff
recruitment. Cecile Mbashimishe, the
communications and events officer at
Digital Opportunity Trust (DOT) Rwanda,
advises job-seekers to network, saying this
enables them to meet potential employers
rwanda
and market themselves. This way, you can
easily land your dream job.
When entrepreneurship is the answer
When finally the direction to a great
job appeared to be clearing, the Minister
of Public Service and Labour, Fanfan
Rwanyindo Kayirangwa, who was the main
speaker at the fair, added another twist.
“Create your own jobs,” she told the
young people.
According to her, entrepreneurship is
great because it has a multiplier effect -
creates jobs for business owners and other
Rwandans as well.
The minister was presiding KSEC Job Net
fair on May 3.
Deputy City of Kigali Mayor (In charge
of social services), Patricia Muhongerwa,
rubbed it in harder.
“Start own businesses instead of chasing
after the few jobs in government and private
sector,” she said. In fact, she told the youth,
form cooperatives.
DOT’s Mbashimishe said things should
not be difficult if one is creative.
“You have graduated; you have an
excellent CV, what next? What you should
be thinking about now is how to provide
solutions to community challenges not
looking for posh office jobs,” she urges.
“Go to your communities and provide
solutions to the challenges they face; those
are your jobs,” she said.
Those suggestions appear to have
worked for Sunday Rogers, the marketing
manager of Cycle Investment Cooperative
(CIC), a microfinance institution.
He said self-employment is currently the
best option for fresh graduates and youth
generally.
“Working for others is old mentality that
youth must discard,” he said.
He advised youth to start with whatever
little money one has.
“The biggest problem is the
misconception among young people
that one needs a lot of money to start a
business,” he said.
John Katabarwa, a student of business
and information technology, was not
convinced. He insisted that getting even
small startup capital is a big problem
preventing the youth from becoming
entrepreneurs.
It is not surprising that many attendees
still had their eyes on that posh office job, its
frustrations notwithstanding.
Patrick Iradukunda, a job-seeker and
tourism and hospitality management
graduate, kept wondering how recruiters
expect young graduates to have experience.
“This is a big challenge unemployed
people face in the job market,” he said.
Dieudonne Mushimiyimana, a jobless
graduate, offered even more pain.
“Some firms have no transparency,”
he said, “They advertise jobs that have
already been filled!”
May 11 - 17, 2018 15
rwanda
Job hunting in Kigali
need change attitude
Next generation of 200,000 jobs requires
more than just going beyond farms
By Stephen Nuwagira
D
amascene Tuyisenge is a gradu-
ate teacher. But he had failed to
get a job – until he enrolled at
Kigali Employment Service Centre
(KESC), a government entrepreneurship
training facility in the Rwandan capital.
Today, Tuyisenge runs his own business
and talks excitedly about how KESC turned
his life around.
“The training helped me to discover my
potential and now I am my own boss,” he
says, “I earn good money every day.”
He describes his business which he start-
ed with Rwf100,000 (Approx. U.S$100) and
has been growing step-by-step.
Tuyisenge’s story is similar to many that
Alloys Niyonsaba, the KESC manager,
hears often. “It is important to train job-
seekers, especially fresh graduates and
other young people, to equip them with
the requisite expertise to be able to start up
their own enterprises and employ other
Rwandans,” he says.The government set up
KESC as part of interventions to create over
200,000 off-farm jobs.
Niyonsaba’s job is to train fresh graduates
and other city residents in various trades;
including entrepreneurship and business
16 May 11 - 17, 2018
management, as part of the government
strategy to promote job-creation through
self-employment.
“Instead of young people waiting for
government or corporate jobs that they
might never get, we equip them with skills
to start their own enterprises and employ
other Rwandans,” he says.
The youth are also supported to secure
loans from banks and microfinance institu-
tions (MFIs) under the Business Develop-
ment Fund (BDF) to kick-start or expand
their enterprises.
Worrying statistics
It’s an urgent mission as the unemploy-
ment statistics in Rwanda are not good.
The national unemployment rate is 16.7 per
cent. In Kigali, the most urbanised part of
the country, it is 18.1 per cent. Among the
youth, who are the biggest demographic,
unemployment is 21 per cent.
The unemployment figures are matched
with equally worrying poverty numbers.
The government’s plan is to ensure that
Rwandans attain a high standard of living
in a mid-income economy with an aver-
age income per person of about US$1,264
(Approx. Rwf 1 million) per year.
That figure is currently U.S$778 with
about 30% of Rwandans living in extreme
poverty. These are conditions which are
described by the Metadata Handbook,
EDPRS2 & MDGs indicators, 2014 as living
on less than Rwf64,000 (Approx. U.S$ 70)
per adult per year measured in 2001 prices
and equivalent to Rwf118,000 (Approx. Rwf
135) according to 2010 prices.
The government and KESC officials
believe that embracing entrepreneurship
will significantly reduce these figures since
most businesses started employ more than
one person. The plans are guided by the
country’s Economic Development and Pov-
erty Reduction Strategy (EDPRS2I) which
looks on the private sector to create the
much needed jobs. It is all part of the coun-
try’s seven-year government programme
for national transformation.
The KESC facilitates job-seekers to
explore job opportunities and ease access to
labour market information. Its methods are
designed to sharpen the skills of potential
and up-and-coming young entrepreneurs.
It counsels and equips graduates and other
Rwandans with skills to start their own
businesses, which creates jobs for them, and
other young people.
As part of this year’s Labour Day cel-
ebrations, for example, KESC conducted a
special training programme for graduates to
sharpen their skills in entrepreneurship and
guidance on areas in which they can start
business.
Youth embrace their passion
Tuyisenge agrees with Niyonsaban that
young people need to change their attitude
away corporate and government jobs which
are scarce and become creative and look
at self-employment as an alternative. He
says entrepreneurship will easily provide
jobs for the enterprise owners and those
they employ. He also wants KESC to target
higher enroll of young people to increase its
reach and impact.
Aline Umutoni, the KESC job counselor,
says the centre is encouraging unemployed
graduates and interested corporates to
exploit the immense potential in vocational
training courses.
Umutoni says that the centre has already
mentored and supported young graduates
interested in the fashion and design sector
to do tailoring courses, while others have
joined have trained in catering, welding,
motor vehicle mechanics, and air condition-
ing and refrigeration skills. They also help
job-seekers to get opportunities, especially
in the areas in which they are passionate
about, but are not qualified in.
“For instance, if you like to cook at home
when your family has visitors, then why not
try it out as a vocation since you are pas-
sionate about it. The drive to impress visi-
tors with your cooking shows your hidden
interest; explore and turn it into a big busi-
ness venture,” Umutoni advises.

Chimp terror in Bunyoro
Jane Goodall Institute eco - philanthropy comes to the rescue
By Jimmy Siya
K
asooha central forest reserve in Ka-
songoire Parish in Masindi District,
in the Bunyoro region of western
Uganda is chimpanzee country.
The large apes are terrorising residents.
They eat their crops, attack children and
women, and make life hard for humans.
Many residents have horror stories
involving the chimps. They tell stories of
how they have wrestled a chimpanzee and
survived. But some end tragically.
Mariam Mirungi, 14, tells the story of
how she fought a chimpanzee. She was only
four at the time and was home alone when
the chimpanzee pounced. She was lucky
to live but the ape bit her and left her with
permanent memory loss. Unlike most of her
peers who go to school, she has not gone to
school.
Issa Isingoma Mugurusi belongs to
another group – of indirect sufferers of
chimp attacks. Mugurusi’s daughter had
gone to her garden on the forest edge. She
placed the seven-month-old baby under a
shed as she started working. Unknown to
her, a chimpanzee in a nearby thicket was
watching, and monitoring her movements.
It jumped from its hideout, grabbed the
baby, and dashed into the bush.
Mugurusi, 76, says her daughter had no
chance of rescuing the baby on her own. She
raised an alarm that attracted neighbours in
nearby gardens. Armed with sticks, clubs
and pangas, they mounted a search but the
chimp climbed a tree with the baby. When
the noise intensified, the chimp dropped the
baby. Mugurusi says his grandchild died
instantly.
The baby’s body was taken to the nearby
Masindi Hospital for a postmortem to
confirm cause of death and evidence to
seek justice from the national conservation
agency—the Uganda Wildlife Authority.
But Mugurusi says they did not receive
much help.
“They simply said we had disturbed the
chimpanzees and that the penalty for killing
a chimpanzee ranges between 10 to 15 years
in prison, so we had to give up,” Mugurusi
recalls. The incident happened 10 years ago
in 2009 but Mugurusi recalls it like it hap-
pened yesterday.
Chimpanzees on the loose
Baguma Moses, who neighbours Mugu-
rusi, blames the chimpanzee behaviour
towards them to Kinyara Sugar Works,
which he says, destroyed a forest that was
home to most of the chimps.
“As communities we are paying the
price for the encroachers like Kinyara sugar
Works who cleared the 40 sq km Rwebitela
forest reserve for sugar cane farming,” he
says.
“The forest used to host chimps, they
could sleep and also get their food there but
now chimps are on the constant search for
new places to stay.”
Ugandan conservationists estimate that
Uganda has about 5000 chimpanzee in the
wild, mainly in western Uganda. The pri-
mary threats to chimpanzees in recent years
have been; habitat destruction (deforesta-
tion), logging, hunting and disease.
All these are blamed on the rapid human
population growth. Conservationists fear
this could destroy tourism activities that
directly depend on wild ape populations
like gorilla, baboons and chimpanzee.
But it appears all is not lost.
Jane Goodall intervenes
The chimpanzee attacks in Kasooha
sound familiar across much of equatorial
Africa where the primates once roamed
freely in their millions.
Today conservation figures put the num-
ber of chimpanzees in what is known as the
chimpanzee belt at about 300,000. The belt
stretches from southern Senegal through
central Africa to western Tanzania.
Conservationists are aware of the conflict
and have been devising means of win-win
co-existence between the apes and humans.
feature
One international conservation agency, the
Jane Goodall Institute, are partnering with
the communities around forest reserves to
equip them with tips of co-existing with the
chimps. The Jane Goodall Institute is cham-
pioning the conservation of chimpanzees in
the Bunyoro sub-region.
Robert Atugonza, the Natural Resources
and Livelihood Officer at the Jane Goodall
Institute, recently told a group of journal-
ists that the aim is to reduce the conflict
between ape and man in this region.
Atugonza says the institute supports the
communities to venture into new ways to
earn a living away from further encroaching
on the remaining forests. The organisation
supports income generating activities such
as piggery, goat rearing, and apiculture.
“We have supported these communi-
ties with money generating activities to
reduces their over dependency on natural
forests where they collect fire wood, har-
vest timber for money and collect water
for domestic use,” Atugonza said, “That is
how the conflicts have been escalating.” he
added.
Jane Goodall Institute has also partnered
with other organisations to drill a borehole
in one village to prevent locals from collect-
ing water in the woodlands to avoid clashes
with the chimpanzees.
Time for eco- philanthropy
Such conflicts are well described in a
book by Craig Packer; a professor of ecol-
ogy, evolution and behaviour at the Univer-
sity of Minnesota and Director of the Lion
Research Centre—an affiliate of Oxford
University’s Wild CRU. Packer who has
written about the growing human-wildlife
conflict in a paper: `The Conservation
Conundrum in Africa: Why can’t Wildlife
Pay its Way?’ says the conflicts are likely
to worsen as Africa’s human population
grows.
Packer says across Africa, the largest
mammals have suffered catastrophic popu-
lation declines over the past 50-100 years
and this has been mainly caused by the
assumption that wildlife must pay its own
way.
He says although wildlife conservation-
ists have traditionally sought to maintain
healthy co-existence between humans and
big mammals using money from tourism, it
has not worked so far.
Packer says among the recent successes
he has reviewed none has relied on the
profit motive but on a combination of eco-
philanthropy, enlightened land tenure poli-
cies and traditional values.
May 11 - 17, 2018 17
news analysis
DP President General Norbert Mao (M) after being re-elected at the party’s delegates conference in 2015.   COURTESY PHOTO
Mao reveals what is killing DP
But will big youth wing revival meeting save it?
By Ian Katusiime
U
ganda’s oldest party, the Demo-
cratic Party is organising a revival
meeting for its youth wing, the
Uganda Young Democrats (UYD)
on May 23 in Kampala.
Tadeo Kawuki, UYD Deputy Head of
Publicity says they are dusting off and
combing through the archives of members
to ensure that as many as possible attend.
The target is to get more than 1000 members
to attend.
The UYD is also already organising sev-
eral mobilisation meetings; including one
they held on May 1 in Nansana. As a main
attraction, the party has invited Nelson
Chamisa, the president of Movement for
Democratic Change (MDC), the leading
opposition party in Zimbabwe, as guest
speaker.
Below the frenzy, however, is an unstated
18 May 11 - 17, 2018
goal. This is DP President General Norbert
Mao’s latest ploy to reinvent himself, if not
the party. The 51-year old has been the head
of the party for eight years, since 2010. He
was re-elected in 2015 and he might not find
it easy to avoid another election, possibly in
2020. To stay on top, he has fought and won
many internal battles that have left the party
battered and made low hanging fruits of
its leaders for the ruling party of President
Yoweri Museveni to pick.
Soon after the last national elections,
in June 2016, Museveni plucked Florence
Nakiwala Kiyingi who was one of the lead-
ing young women of DP and had stood for
the coveted Kampala Woman MP position
in the elections. Museveni made her minis-
ter of state for Youth and Children Affairs.
Less than a year later, Museveni plucked
then-DP national chairman, Muhammad
Baswari Kezaala, and appointed him
ambassador without posting.
Currently, Mao is battling internal dis-
sent with several members who decamped.
Several of them, like the Vice President
for Buganda region, Betty Nambooze and
Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago want
Mao out. To out-fox them, Mao is clearly
attempting to forge new alliances. But the
UYD which he is courting has a legacy of
radicalism and opposition to the main-
stream DP and Mao could find himself
holding a tiger by the tail.
As Kawuki told The Independent recently,
the UYD leaders admire Mao’s ability to
hold the party together in tough times, but
they also have their own objectives for the
upcoming meeting.
Kawuki, who doubles as chairman of
UYD in Mityana district, says UYD has
developed a Strategic Plan for 2018-2020
that aims at consolidating the party’s
achievements and solving some of its prob-
lems.

He says they want money to build Ben
Kiwanuka House, named after DP’s leader
in the first pre-independence elections in
1962, to house the party headquarters.
“Our aim is to build a stronger party vital
in taking leadership of the country,” he told
The Independent. “We don’t agree with the
mainstream leadership of the party,” he
added, “But Mao has achieved a lot. He has
done his part; you cannot fail to acknowl-
edge him.”
Kawuki says Mao is likeable because he
is open-minded and it is the reason why
there is a reconciliation agenda in the works
and Kawuki is eager to see the other giants
of the party return.
“I can’t wait to see Lulume Bayiga back,
Micheal Mabikke,” he muses.
UYD is the glue
For his part, Mao appears to currently rel-
ish working with UYD. He says now is the
time to harmonise all DP’s warring factions.
“We want to use UYD as the glue we all
identify with,” he says. “UYD was the main
challenger to NRM, so we want to find out;
where did we lose our way?”
He says he sees the reunion as part of the
process of DP’s revival.
“A united DP can lead,” he says, “We
want to go back to the original principles
of the idea of the struggle for democracy in
Uganda. We want to stop thinking small.”
He eagerly recounts UYD’s early years,
from when it was officially recognised as
the party’s youth wing in 2015, and his own
part in it.
“It has been a force to reckon with in
Uganda’s political struggles,” he says,
“UYD stood in the gap when political par-
ties were out of the picture from 1995-2005.”
He describes how, in that ten year period,
many in the current crop of leaders across
the political spectrum trained under the
UYD.
“I was one of those people,” Mao says,
“I was the first UYD member to join parlia-
ment in 1996. I was also its first member to
lead DP.”
He mentions politicians like Erias Luk-
wago, Paul Mwiru, and the NRM Trea-
surer Rose Namayanja as people who have
sprouted from UYD among others. Mao is
not rueful as he describes their departure
from DP.
“Over the years we were dispersed
because the mother party was institution-
ally weak,” he says, “The elders were fight-
ing and UYD started taking sides.”
He adroitly jumps past his president
squabbles with Lukwago, Lulume and oth-
ers and delves into history.
“Some people were on the side of Francis
Bwengye, others were on the side of Kawa-
nga Semogerere which led to a loss of sense
of direction,” he says.
Semogerere led the party from 1980 until
2005 when the late John Sebaana Kizito took
Erias Lukwago
Betty Nambooze
over, and many of those in UYD today bare-
ly recall what those days were like. But Mao
is unfazed as he labours the history. He
says, as a result of the disarray, some UYD
members were compromised, some started
their own factions, and others decamped to
other political parties.
“This trend continued when I took over
the party leadership,” he says and dives
back into history.
“When I was elected DP president in
Mbale, Sam Lubega formed his own faction.
At the same time, we faced another rival
faction called the Suubi group which was
meant to promote Buganda’s agenda and
also allied with Besigye,” Mao recalls.
He describes a faction called Truth and
Justice (TJ) which Lukwago formed and
how it absorbed the Lubega and Suubi
groups.
Reunion welcome
The history is interesting, but interviews
with Mao opponents in the party show that
the reconciliation efforts are not welcome all
round. Nambooze says she is not attending.
She says she does not know the direction
the meeting is going to take.
“UYD has a different ideology,” she says,
“We are not following the constitution; it
news analysis
stipulates that we hold an annual delegates
conference.”
“All the party organs are not functioning;
the National Council is supposed to meet
every six months but it has not; the DP Par-
liamentary group is supposed to sit weekly
but all that is not happening.”
She accuses Mao of undermining the
party.
“The president has become the party and
he takes decisions arbitrarily,” she says.
Nambooze fell out with Mao dramati-
cally when she attempted to organize a
Buganda region conference purportedly to
reform the party. Nambooze has known
ambitions to challenge Mao for leadership
of the party. It was not surprising that Mao,
therefore, went to great lengths; including
working with the police, to ensure that
Nambooze is stopped. Officially, he said
Nambooze’s event was illegal.
But all, it appears is not lost, if Mao makes
the right moves. Even Nambooze says she is
hopeful of the conciliatory efforts.
“We have a struggle to carry on with, we
can’t keep fighting in our small groups,”
she says. “We shall embrace the reunion for
as long as it is based on truth and justice.
“Any effort to unite the party is welcome.
However I am not attending because I am
not in good health and I am not part of
UYD.”
Zachary Olum, a retired professor of
political science and a lifelong member
of DP also says the reunion is good and
sounds philosophical about the rifts in DP.
According to Olum, the meeting of various
DP officials would be a good opportunity to
re-strategise.
“These people should get together what-
ever differences they have because DP has
stood the test of time since 1954,” he told
The Independent.
“Human relations are difficult to analyse.
Sometimes there are individual aspirations
and it is difficult to put a label to these con-
flicts but the reunion is a welcome develop-
ment to us who have been there,” he says.
Olum joined DP in 1962 and in 1979
served as its National Organising Secretary
and as vice president until he retired from
the party’s National Executive Committee
in the late 2000s.
He thinks DP can organise itself because
its worst times are behind it. He says, “We
have had our challenges even in Semoger-
ere’s time but we discussed among our-
selves and never surrendered at any point.”
He says DP’s problems are challenges
opposition parties generally face in Africa.
He recalls DP members who were charged
with treason in the Obote II government
and others from Busoga crossed en masse
from DP to UPC in 1980 in a big blow.
“Sometimes it is difficult for the opposi-
tion to exist but the fact that we resisted all
that intimidation is remarkable.”
May 11 - 17, 2018 19
Used cars in one of the car bonds in Kampala.  Independent/Julius Businge
Rethinking ban on
importing used cars
Gov’t could lose nearly Shs200bn annually; thousands of jobs at risk
S
By Julius Businge
upporters of a ban on import
of cars older than eight years
would be much happier if
the current law, The Traffic
and Road Safety Act, 1998, is
amended.
But opponents, however, say it will deny
majority of the population the ability to own
cars for various purposes.
At the centre of this are economists, who
think that government needs to carefully
analyse the pros and cons prior to imple-
menting the proposed plan.
Prof. Augustus Nuwagaba, an economist
and the executive director of Reev Consult
told The Independent that government’s
proposed move to ban the import of used
cars should be backed by local production
of vehicles at an affordable price to bridge
the gap.
“Ideally the policy move is good,” he
said. “But it is a complicated one that has to
be implemented in tandem with transform-
ing the economy through local industries.”
Last year, the government had planned to
start car assembling through its established
20 May 11 - 17, 2018
firm, Kiira Motors Corporation (KMC).
Plans were that this year, about 305 vehicles
are assembled and put on the market. But
the progress towards realisation of this tar-
get is far from reality.
Speaking to The Independent in an inter-
view, Onesmus Mugyenyi, the deputy exec-
utive director at Advocates Coalition for
Development and Environment (ACODE),
said the government should not rush the
Bill, but should instead conduct research on
the actual impact of used cars on the envi-
ronment.
“In terms of vehicles contribution to
greenhouse emissions, cars are insignificant
compared to factories,” Mugyenyi said add-
ing, “They [government] need to look at the
biggest contributors like burning of charcoal
and decomposing of biomass.”
A report by The United Nations Envi-
ronment Programme (UNEP) released on
March 13, 2018, tiled ‘Africa Vehicle Used
Report’ generally portrays used vehicles as
one of the contributors of air pollution.
Although it does not give specifics on the
matter, it says countries should not only
look at restricting imports but also shift
to cleaner and safer used vehicle imports;
ensure used vehicles contribute to better
road safety, reduced emissions, and provide
cost savings.
The report also calls for compilation
and availability of data on used vehicles,
harmonisation of policies at regional and
sub-regional level in addition to addressing
the illegal practices in the export of used
vehicles and awareness raising on use of
safer cars by the people.
According to the report, six nations
account for 81.1% of Japanese used vehicle
trade. Kenya is the major market followed
by South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia
and Mozambique. Uganda imports about
50, 000 used cars per year. Out of the 50, 000
units, only 10% were manufactured in 2011
and later – the target models of government
under the proposed amendments.
Similarly, research conducted by The
Independent shows that most countries
especially in the European Union still use
vehicles of varied manufacturing dates.
However, they restrict their movement to
specific locations.
For instance, starting July 2016, drivers

with cars made before 1997 are not permit-
ted to drive in the city center on weekdays
in Paris, France. If they do, they are fined,
though they can drive there freely on the
weekends.
In Barcelona, Spain, cars that are older
than 20 years are banned from the roads
during the week. The target is to cut traffic
emissions by 30% in a period of 15 years.
In Britain, drivers in the London city cen-
tre whose cars do not meet European Union
emissions standards pay a daily penalty of
10 pounds, ($13.20). That is on top of the
congestion charge, which was put in place
in 2003 and is now £11.50 per day ($15.6).
This comes as cities in other countries in
Europe are proposing to ban diesel vehicles
in order to combat air pollution, including
Paris, Madrid, Mexico City, and Athens,
which plan to ban diesel cars by 2025. The
United Kingdom and France plan to ban
sales of all fully-gasoline and diesel vehicles
by 2040.
The good thing is that, in Europe and
other advanced cities, authorities there can
ably implement such plans as opposed to
countries like Uganda that are still grap-
pling with limited capacity and commit-
ment to deal with such smart policy moves.
Chris Ntogota, who owns four used but
posh Vintage cars (with manufacturing
dates; 1962, 1964, 1965 and 1967) told The
Independent that old cars are not bad for as
long as they are repaired and serviced on
time. He also said that government should
reduce taxes on newer cars so as to make
them affordable for majority of the popula-
tion to put on the road. Currently, majority
of the cars imported in Uganda pay over
50% of the price of the car quoted by the
seller as tax.
Enter car importers
In a joint statement issued on April 19,
seven associations of car importers and
dealers in Uganda, said they are not against
government’s amendment bill but say it
needs to assess the implications of the new
move which among other things will see it
[government] lose Shs180illion in annual
taxes.
In addition, they said that implementa-
tion of the planned amendments will render
over 11, 000 direct beneficiaries in the indus-
try jobless.
In addition, it will also negatively affect
other service providers such as restaurants,
security firms, fuel stations, insurance com-
panies, banks and tourism due to industrial
downturn.
The car dealers said the government
needs to put in place well organised and
scheduled buses, trains, which will help
reduce on the need for importation of used
cars. They also added that improvement of
the rural infrastructure will enable longevity
and less maintenance of newer cars making
them a value buy.
“Government should speed up imple-
mentation of the already on-going initia-
tives towards efficient transport systems,”
they said.
Minister defends proposals
Works and Transport Minister, Monica
Azuba, says vehicles meant for transport
of goods with a gross weight of at least six
tonnes and special purpose vehicles would
be excluded from the new arrangement.
Special purpose vehicles in this case are
breakdown lorries, crane lorries, fire fight-
ing vehicles, spraying vehicles, mobile
workshops, forklifts, mobile drilling rigs,
works trucks, tanks, armored fighting vehi-
cles, cesspool emptiers, water bowsers, bul-
lion spreaders, bucket trucks, aircraft refuel-
lers and mobile banks. Others exempted
are agricultural or forestry tractors, earth
moving vehicles, road rollers, tamping
Comparative Prices of some cars
below eight years (Taxes inclusive)
Vehicle 2000 2011 Model
Model Price
Price (Ush/ Ush/million
million)
Vitz 16 45
Premio 19 65
Hiace Van (Kigege) 50 85
Rav4 30 90
Harrier 32 110
Double Cabin Pick up 60 125
Land Cruiser Prado 50 200
Source: Car dealers report April 2018
Quick facts
 50,000: Number of used vehicles import-
ed into Uganda annually – 10% fall
within the 8-year bracket
 Shs180bn: Amount in taxes that govern-
ment will lose annually
 11,000: Number of people directly
employed by car dealers
 95%: Percentage of companies likely to
close over new amendment
machines.
The bill proposes that all vehicles that
will arrive in the country by September
30, regardless of the year of manufacture,
will not be affected by the new law if it is
passed.
According to Azuba, the bill is meant to
amend The Traffic and Road Safety 1998
Act to increase motor vehicle registration
fees and put an environmental levy on
some vehicles.
Registration fees for a number of vehicles
entering the country currently average
at around Shs1.2 million at the moment,
according to Ian Rumanyika, the Uganda
Revenue Authority manager for public and
corporate affairs.
But under the proposed amendments,
for instance, sedans, saloons and estate cars
will be required to pay Shs1.5million. The
business
same amount will apply to omnibuses with
a seating capacity not exceeding 28 passen-
gers. Dual purpose goods and passenger
vehicles will not be affected.
Estate and station wagon vehicles with
engine capacities of 3500 cc and above
would also pay Shs1.7 million for their reg-
istration.
Regarding the environmental levy,
vehicles which are five years old  but do not
exceed eight years from the date of manu-
facture excluding goods vehicles, would be
expected to pay 35% of  the  price quoted
by a seller including all other charges as
deemed by the seller.
A 50% fee will be charged on vehicles
which are more than eight years old or
more from the date of manufacture whereas
vehicles that are five years and more, but
are designed to carry goods will pay 20% of
the price quoted by the seller as an environ-
mental fee. This development comes after
the East African Community Heads of State
resolved recently to reduce the importation
of second-hand cars as a way of developing
the regional automotive industry and create
jobs.
In East Africa, Kenya and Rwanda no
longer allow imports of cars that are over
eight and 10 years, respectively, from their
year of manufacture.
Moving forward, Malik Azhar, the
former chairman of Used Cars Dealers
Association Uganda Limited told The Inde-
pendent in an interview on May 7 that the
government should rethink its move of ban-
ning imports of cars older than eight years.
“They should do it in a phased
approach,” he said adding, “cars of 20
years old should be let into the country for
the next five years starting with the new
financial year before putting a ban on their
imports.” Then, the ban would be placed on
those aged 15 years and above in 2027/2028
and later in 2032/2033, government would
allow importation of those cars that are 10
years old from their year of manufacturing.
Malik says banning importation of these
cars would make buying cars expensive for
Ugandans but also kill thousands of jobs.
“You don’t want to see crime increasing
because people have no jobs,” Malik said
adding, “Government will also lose tax.”
Bill in final stages
Malik’s views are in response to the
ongoing drafting of The Traffic and Road
Safety Act, 1998 (Amendment) Bill 2018
seconded by The Ministry of Works and
Transport and Finance Planning and Eco-
nomic Development.
According to Henry Musasizi, the chair-
person of the Finance Committee in Parlia-
ment, the Bill will be ready before May 18
for Parliament to debate before its official
implementation starts on July 1, 2018.
Musasizi refused to share new highlights
in the draft but told The Independent on
May 7 to wait for it.
May 11 - 17, 2018 21
business
Café Javas delights Nairobi
The bold move extends competition to brands like Chicken Inn,
Java House and American chains Hardee’s, Burger King
By Ian Katusiime
T
he news of Café Javas’ entry into
Nairobi, East Africa’s largest capi-
tal was greeted with elation by its
Ugandan patrons. Social media was
inundated with messages of good wishes
for the fast food chain that has been in
Uganda for over eight years.
Having virtually conquered the Kampala
restaurant market with seven outlets, plus
one in Entebbe, Café Javas has ventured
out in Nairobi, located on Koinange Street.
The fast food chain is branded as CJ’s in the
heart of the city.
Café Javas renowned for its dedicated
service to customers plans to cash in on the
bustling business environment in Nairobi
with the possibility of opening up more
outlets in the city.
Sources from Nairobi say the restaurant
is currently very popular among the city’s
elite who flock the place for meetings, catch-
ing up and its ambience and attractive décor
are said to be a bonus.
Café Javas is part of the Mandela Group
of Companies which also includes City
Tyres, City Oil, City Lubes, City World, Sav-
ers, and Mandela Auto Spares.
Mandela Group is run by Omar Man-
dela, an aggressive businessman who has
cut a niche for himself as someone who will
stop at nothing to maximize an opportunity.
Those familiar with him say he is striking at
the right time for his restaurant business.
Ramathan Ggoobi, a lecturer of business
studies at Makerere University Business
School (MUBS) says Ugandan businesses
have something to learn from Café Javas.
“We need to get as many Café Javas as
possible. When you look at the competitive-
ness they have built, it has really developed
their service to make them compete both at
a regional and international level.” He says
Uganda’s biggest challenge is turning firms
into competitive entities. “Businesses here
should make themselves attractive to all
kinds of clientele not just the next door con-
sumer. Café Javas has built its clientele over
the years and now they are on demand in
the region. The next thing probably will be
for them to start selling franchises.”
Ggoobi says most of these regional mar-
kets are winnable and Ugandan firms just
need to focus on competitiveness. “If South
African companies are here, why don’t we
have Ugandan companies in South Africa?
We just need to invest in competitiveness.”
22 May 11 - 17, 2018
Inside Cafe Javas in Nairobi
tomers as they sample your products; the
Doing business in Kenya
Sitati Wasilwa, a Kenyan economist says challenge is maintaining the clientele,” she
says.
any business venturing out in Kenya espe-
cially the consumer business needs to take
note of certain things. Good customer care
Café Javas has stood out for its customer
“Economically, Nairobi’s middle class
care in Uganda’s crowded restaurant arena.
population is on the increase, for not only
Dressed in cream tops and chocolate brown
basic commodities but also luxurious or
aprons, waitresses always usher in custom-
semi-luxurious commodities,” he told The
ers saying ‘You are welcome’ amid a host
Independent.
of other enticing services offered. A few of
Wasilwa explained that there is a grow-
the chain’s customers attest to its unique
ing habit among Nairobi’s middle class on
services.
spending on consumption based on influ-
Kavuthi Serunkuma, CEO of Kampala
ence by friends or close associates.
Food Network (a grouping of food lovers)
“This can be termed as the keeping up
and who has been to Café Javas on a num-
with the joneses effect.” However he added
ber of occasions speaks on why she thinks
that Café Javas has to stoke up on tradition-
the restaurant will have a fair chance at its
al food to strike a balance.
new venture.
To compete favourably with the top
“The customer care is very good and
notch restaurants in Nairobi such as Chick-
they do not discriminate and there is orga-
en Inn, Java House and American chains
nization and order when you walk in. They
Hardee’s, Burger King, and Kentucky Fried
have streamlined their operations,” she said.
Chicken (KFC), Wasilwa argues that the
Serunkuma also said the management of
new entrant has got to be as dynamic as
Café Javas has done a lot to retain and lure
possible. “Also there is a growing prefer-
more customers. “Their food is consistent,
ence for round the clock services implying
their portions are large and ambience is
that most Nairobians prefer restaurants that
good.” She added that the restaurants are
can serve for many hours up to late night,”
always clean.
he said, adding that Café Javas needs to
Tony Katungi, another regular at the
mark out its identity and offer suitable after
restaurant says the quality and quantity of
sales services to customers.
their food is consistent no matter the branch
Anita Nkirote, a journalist based in Nai-
you are. “It is also conducive for the Mus-
robi said: “Kenyans love having coffee espe-
lim community because they do not serve
cially after work, most meetings are done in
pork and beer. Above all their customer care
restaurants and they are hot spots.”
“If you are new, you have so many cus- is very good.”

Uganda Clays steady growth
Competition from other clay products makers
threatens its further increase in sales
By Isaac Khisa
C
lay products maker, Uganda Clays
Limited (UCL), has recorded a
steady profit growth for the second
year running citing increased
marketing and the decision by the majority
shareholder, National Social Security Fund,
to stop collecting interest on the loans
advanced.
NSSF which owns 32.5% of UCL
extended an Shs11 billion loan to the
company in 2010 to purchase machinery for
increasing kiln output at Kamonkoli factory
and purchase spares for the Kajjansi factory.
The loan which attracted a 13-15% annual
interest has swollen to Shs23.2 billion
and become a strangle-hold on the ailing
company.
Considering UCL’s difficulties, NSSF
decided to forego further interest on the
loan and plans to convert its debts into
equity.
As a consequence, the company’s
latest annual performance shows that
the company recorded a 4.5 % growth in
revenue to Shs27.2billion in 2017, up from
Shs26billion in 2016 and Shs24.11billion in
2015.
The company’s net profit grew to
Shs2.395 billion, up from Shs2.375billion
and Shs Shs1.207billion loss during the
same period under review.
However, the company’s expenses grew
by 21.4% to Shs7.83bn in 2017, up from
Shs6.45bn in 2016 and Shs 7.76billion in
2015 due to increase in administration
expenses.
George Inholo, the managing director of
UCL said the slow growth in net profit and
the surge in overhead costs is attributed
to the general increase in prices in the
economy, specifically major inputs such
as steel, fuel and lubricants and imported
spares.
The price of fuel, for instance, of
premium petrol increased from an average
of US$486.5 per metric tonne in June 2017
to US$644 per metric tonne on average as at
the end of January 2018 on the international
market, representing a 32.4% rise.
Similarly, the price of diesel has increased
from US$424.81 per metric tonnes to US$
596 per metric tonnes during the same
period under review.
This comes at the time the company is
currently trying to intensify marketing
campaigns to stir growth sales to maintain
the growth in revenues amid tightening
competition from other clay products
makers and steel producers.
Last year, the company opened up outlets
in Arua, Lira, Gulu and Kabale, with a plan
to extend deep West and in the other areas.
At the same time, the company plans to
consolidate its business in Kampala and
Wakiso which are synonymous with high
per capita income.
Listed on the Uganda Stock Exchange in
2000, UCL registered a persistent growth
in profits until 2009 when it registered
a Shs707 million loss from a profit of
Shs2.15 billion in 2008. It blamed the shift
in performance on the effects of the global
financial crisis.
Its woes were worsened with the timing
of the establishment of the second plant at
Kamonkoli, in eastern Uganda. The plant
hiked the company’s operating expenses;
especially for procurement of the heavy
fuel used to dry the clay, at a time when the
economy was slowing down dramatically.
business
The plunge into red led to negative
investor sentiments on the USE which led
to a drop in share price from Shs60 in 2009
to Shs12 in June last year. However, it has
slightly regained its value to Shs28.
The fortunes of UCL now lie majorly
on the financial muscle of its main
shareholders, including the National
Insurance Corporation with 17.86 %,
Central Bank of Kenya Employee Pension
Fund, Bank of Uganda Staff Retirement
Plan, and NSSF.
Others are Kenya Power and Lighting
Company, Uganda Communications
Employees Contribution Plan, Kenya
Airways Staff Provident Fund, Uganda
Development Bank, National Social
Security Fund Staff Investment Plan, Joseph
and Ketrah Tukuratiire and minority
shareholders.
Going forward, Inholo told The
Independent earlier in an interview that
the company’s focus is to grow its profit
by double digit so as to give value to its
shareholders.
“We are going to do innovations – we
want to go into other colored or glazed kind
of tiles, clay paver,” he said.
“We will embrace passion to excel in
everything that we will choose to do. We
will also do a lot of marketing, geographical
expansions by opening up outlets which
will be stocked adequately at all times,”
Inholo revealed.
He said the company is also looking at
setting up a builder’s academy that will
bring architects, property developers,
engineers and people in the real estate
sector to help sharpen their knowledge
about the industry and our products.
May 11 - 17, 2018 23
 Executive Style
Banks remain major channel
for money laundering-Asubo
Sydney Asubo is the Executive Director of Financial Intelligence Author-
ity (FIA). He spoke to The Independent’s Agnes E Nantaba about the
status of money laundering in Uganda and efforts to combat it.
What encompasses your man-
M
agement style?
y philosophy has
essentially re-
mained the same
over the years.
While the institution has ex-
panded, the staff numbers we
have are not where we want
to be. We are even doing a re-
evaluation of the staff numbers
that we need to address the
challenge because the task is
bigger than we thought. Three
years back, we didn’t have
much studies like we do today
and with our experience, we
now know the magnitude of
the problem. We have plans
to recruit 15 additional staff
because we were provided with
the funds in areas of operational
analysis, international relations,
inspections and compliance.
My strength as a team leader
lies in team work and
lead by example.
For instance,
with re-
gards to
time
man-
age-
24 May 11 - 17, 2018
ment, I am an adept. I am the
chief custodian of the policies of
the organization.
We interact easily and the
gap between the leadership and
the staff is narrow so they can
reach me easily and vice versa.
We have also built the systems
such that certain things can
flow automatically even with-
out my physical presence.
What is your assessment of the
status of money laundering in
Uganda?
When a law is enacted, it
means a problem has been
identified and the law comes in
to address that particular mis-
chief. In this case, it’s the crime
of money laundering and ter-
rorism financing.
So the question then is that
‘is it as big as we thought? And
in our view, it is actually worse
than we thought. We have done
a national risk assessment of
the problem, presented in the
report ‘Anti-money laundering/
combating of terrorism risk
assessment’ and the report was
approved by cabinet last year
and will be released to the pub-
lic in three weeks’ time.
From the national risk assess-
ment, we were able to track the
problem areas. For instance,
the main channel that launder-
ers use is the banking industry
although there are also other
money remittances like the
forex, non-regulated or under-
regulated businesses like the
real estate sector and this is a
global trend not unique to
Uganda. In Uganda, the
real estate is particularly
problematic because
up to 80 percent of
land is not titled,
it’s also possible to
acquire a property

and one doesn’t need to change ownership
because there is no obligation to do that.
What is involved is only a sales agreement
and therefore records still show somebody
else as the owner, and therefore don’t have
proof that this building or land belongs
to this individual. But also, the dealers in
precious stones and metals including gold
and diamonds is a big business because the
amounts that flow through this business
are staggering and some of these problems
arise from neighboring countries, such as
the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
One of the long term solutions is to
reduce the amount of cash in the economy
to use alternative means of payment other
than cash because it’s very easy to transact
with cash without leaving any traces which
is not the same with electronic means.
Government has agreed to reduce money
within the next 10 to 15 years. Currently,
the law requires that anyone who’s moving
out of the country with Shs 30 million or the
equivalent should be declared, but with the
porous borders, it is hard to be implement-
ed. We also propose to reduce the number
of informal business because they increase
opportunities for money laundering. Gov-
ernment should come up with policies to
incentivize the formalization of business to
move gradually to formal business struc-
tures. There are also short term solutions
like enhancing training, legal gaps, which
we propose to be amended to meet both the
international and domestic requirements.
Banks, for instance, should be more
vigilant in knowing their customers, train
their front line staff on the possible signs of
suspicious transactions and increase bank’s
awareness on the means people use to laun-
der money.
FIA’s main objective is fighting money
laundering and financial fraud / crimes as
established by the Anti – Money Launder-
ing Act 2013. To what extent have your
realized this objective?
We have achieved 80 percent of our
objective in the first three years. Using a
marking scheme, as a new entity, the prior-
ity has been setting up an organization to
exist with in-house settings and that has
been done. The core mandate of FIA is to
receive suspicious transactions, analyze that
information, transform into intelligence and
disseminate to law enforcement which we
can ably do. We are now a self-accounting
vote and we are able to budget, plan and
execute. However the key achievement was
getting Uganda off the Financial Action
Task Force (FATF) watch list since we cur-
rently possess the requisite legal and insti-
tutional framework to fight money laun-
dering. The legal framework is in line with
international standards as well being in
good books with Eastern and Southern Africa
Anti-Money Laundering Group (ESAAMLG) and
this has been a result of assessment that was
done twice.
Obviously, the work schedule in the
first three years is not the same like in the
next three years and therefore we have
developed a strategic plan 2016-2020 and
we intend to do a midterm review of the
same. For instance, in terms of public
awareness, we have not done well and so
we want to increase awareness of the law
both in terms of those who are supposed
to comply with the law, those who are
supposed to implement the law and those
who are supposed to know about the law.
And in liaison with the police, we need to
increase the number of investigations and
court cases related to money laundering
and anti-terrorism financing.
The purpose of Cash Transaction Reports
(CTRs) is to detect money laundered at its
entry into the financial system but it has
been reported that FIA has not created
awareness about the issuance of the
reports? What explains this?
That is not true. The first things we did
was to develop the forms for large cash
transactions just a month after we had been
When a law is
enacted, it means a
problem has been
identified and the
law comes in to that
particular mischief
created. We went ahead to issue a notice
informing accountable persons or reporting
entities that the law was in place and that
they have obligations to report large cash
transactions of Shs20million and above
done over banks whether debit or credit. So
the banks were issued and they have been
compliant and that was dealt with.
The bureaucracy involved in analyzing
CTRs and prosecution of money
laundering cases provides an avenue for
evasion by money launderers. What are
your close-gap measures in this?
The law states that the reports come to
FIA, we analyze and disseminate them.
The problem has been that the process or
system is manual but this shall cease to
happen as we have acquired the goAML
system. The software is a solution that
automates Anti-Money Laundering
reporting requirements. It’s going to be
operational in June and with it, analysis will
be made faster.
business
Uganda adopted the threshold
provided by the Financial Action Task
Force of $10000 - $15000 to reduce
the inconvenience in the day to day
businesses operations. What impact has
this created?
There has been a misconception in the
reporting mechanism and processes as
people think that they are the ones to report
to FIA yet it is the role of the bank and
that’s where their obligation stops. FIA then
takes on from picking out what’s of interest
to us and write back to them requesting
for more information about a specific
transaction. If they have it, they send and if
they don’t, they search for the source of the
money. If we need more information on the
report, the banks are obliged to send it in
accordance with the law. In an attempt to
do so, most banks now have a paragraph to
indicate source of the money.
The Money Laundering and Terrorist
Financing National Risk Assessment
report that was passed by cabinet indicates
that the country suffers from a low money
laundering combating ability. Where does
the challenge lie?
First of all, we assessed the level of risk
of the challenge. For those that are high
risk, we explore the reasons for instance
real estate is a high risk area because there
is no regulator, 80 percent of the land is not
titled and it is not compulsory to transfer
ownership in Uganda. The other challenge
is lack of capacity or low staff numbers,
lack of awareness for instance money
laundering is not one of the core crimes
where training is offered at Police Training
School so we propose to make money
laundering one of the core crimes where
CID offers are trained.
The illegal operations of forex bureaus
also pose a threat for instance there are 300
licensed or legal forex bureaus but those
that are operating illegally are more and
this stands as another way that people use
to launder money. We have had engage-
ments with Uganda Forex Bureaus and
Money Remitters Association (UFBMRA) to
find ways of improving their awareness of
the law and passing on to its members.
What is your projection of FIA in the next
few years?
Of the things we set out to do in the first
three years, we have achieved 80 percent
but in terms of combatting money launder-
ing, we are still at the infancy because with-
in three years, we cannot successfully have
fought the crime. The future lies in making
FIA effective and working very well with
sister organizations so that the intelligence
we produce leads to successful investiga-
tions, successful prosecution, and successful
recovery of the illicit monies.
May 11 - 17, 2018 25
business
CSR CSR

Isimba dam contractor refurbishing school NBL launches Safety App

Kadaga at the commissioning ceremony
where dam construction is taking place. Speak-
ing at the commissioning of works event at the
school on May 3, officials said the project will
last three months. Wang Qiyuan, the deputy
project manager for CWE, said they are re-
furbishing some classrooms and constructing
three new [classrooms]. One of the classrooms
will be a multimedia hall fully furnished and
equipped with computers for pupils to use
for information technology classes. “We hope
our efforts will be appreciated,” Wang, who
said the project would cost around Shs 700mil-
T
he Nile Breweries Limited
dream is Zero Injuries across its
operations. To achieve this, the
company has launched a Safety
App called AB InBev SAFETY.
The App, developed as a tool for risk
identification and mitigation to pre-
vent injuries and recognise safe behav-
ior in order to create a positive safety
culture, was launched during celebra-
tions to mark the World Safety Week.

C
hina International Water and Electri-
cal Corporation (CWE), the contractor
of the 183MW Isimba Hydro power
project is refurbishing old structures of
Mbulamuti Primary School found in Kamuli
district a few kilometers away from the site
telecom
MTN Uganda subscribers grow 3% in Q1 2018
lion, said. The Speaker of Parliament Rebecca
Kadaga, who presided over as chief guest and
the Uganda Electricity Generation Company
Limited Chief Executive Officer, Harrison Mu-
tikanga urged CWE to use local suppliers of ce-
ment, sand and labour for the project activities.
“The App allows anyone to capture
risks and hazards anytime, recognize
safe behavior, take a picture of the
event and escalate those risks, hazards
and recognition to the right people
in real time. This ensures they are
dealt with in a timely manner,” said
Onapito Ekomoloit, the corporate af-
fairs director
NBL.“The data captured is connected
to our global platform for safety inci-
dent management Credit360. This will

M
TN Uganda
recorded a 3.1%
rise in subscrib-
ers to 10.8million
in the first quarter ending
March 2018.
The increment in subscrib-
ers for the first three months
ends two consecutive
quarters of falling customer
numbers. The improved
subscriber figures also con-
tributed to an increase in
revenue for MTN Uganda.
“Following a slower
prior quarter (4Q17), MTN
Uganda experienced a posi-
tive first quarter with service
revenue growth of 8%.
MoMo revenue increased by
21.8% to contribute 25% of
total revenue.
Voice revenue growth in
the period was more muted,
allow us to understand relationships
with growth of 3.4% despite
from the data and become even more
a 33.6% increase in billable
preventative with our risk and hazard
minutes.
management over time.”
Tariffs declined by 32.6%
Y-o-Y. MTN Uganda report-
ed net additions for the quar-
ter of 149, 000,” the quarterly
trading update reads.
MTN Group CEO, Rob
Shutter, said there was over-
all strong growth in data and
NBL officials at the launch
Mobile Money revenue.

CSR CSR

Hawker bags Shs10m Madhvani Foundation’s 2018-2019 Scholarship

from Coca-Cola Veterinary Medicine, Com-
merce and Pharmacy.
Madhvani Foundation-

A
nother lucky winner,
Geofrey Madira from
Arua joined previous
winners in the ongo-
ing Under The Crown Promo-
tion dubbed ‘Samba Ne Coca-
Cola’ promotion by winning
Shs 10 million, the company
said in a May 4 notice. “I am
so grateful,” Madira said upon
receiving the cash. Last month,
Coca-Cola partnered with
World Cup Official broadcaster
Board of Directors, Gerald
Sendawula, said they are proud
to have supported the under-
privileged Ugandan students
from different local universities
countrywide.“I get emotional
to see the business community
display such a great sense of
giving back to the communities
in which they operate,” he said.
Last year, 176 students were
granted the award, highest
Madhvani Foundation officials at the event. record of awardees compared
to previous years.

T
Multichoice and global partner The Scholarship Sub Com-
Hisense to bring the World Cup he Madhvani Founda- The Initiative that was rein- mittee Chairman, Anthony
closer to consumers all across tion has announced the troduced in 2003 has so far Butele, urged the students to
Uganda through the ‘Samba Ne 2018-2019 Scholarship spend over Shs 6.5 bn support- apply for the scholarship, add-
Coca-Cola’ promotion. Since its award worth Shs700mil- ing over 2000 students pursuing ing that the application process
launch, lucky consumers across lion to support students intend- courses in among others Agri- is transparent and the beneficia-
the country have won millions ing to pursue both scientific and culture, Biology, Chemistry, ries are selected on merit.
in cash and other goodies.  technical courses. Actuarial Science, Architecture,

26 May 11 - 17, 2018

 business
ITC boosts Uganda’s
tech companies
By Ian Katusiime nies, provide more end-to-end

T
he International Trade
Centre, a joint coopera-
tion agency of United
Nations Conference
on Trade and Development
(UNCTAD) and World Trade
Organisation charged with
the responsibility of develop-
ment trade, has unveiled a new
project aimed at increasing
competitiveness of Uganda’s
technology companies.
Based in Geneva, Switzer-
land, ITC’S Trust Fund IV
MTN Uganda CEO (2nd L) Wim Vanhelleputte with Commonwealth medalists project seeks to strengthen
Stella Chesang, Solomon Mutai and Mercyline Chelangat during a luncheon
competitiveness of micro, small
hosted for the athletes by MTN.   IDEPENDENT/JIMMY SIYA and medium-sized enterprises
(MSMEs) in the country’s
information technology (IT)
and IT-enabled services (ITES)
sectors through funding and
skills enhancement.
ITC Executive Director,
Arancha González said:
“Competitiveness is not an
option. It is a necessity if coun-
tries are to seize opportunities
presented by trade and new
technologies. With the NTF IV
project we will open up a new
chapter in ITC’s support to
the development of exports of
“Made in Uganda” IT and IT-
enabled services.
The managing director Vivo Energy Uganda Gilbert Assi handing over prizes to The NTF IV project is
Patrick Idringi at the launch of the Vivo energy 4th edition of Shell GAS Tokosa
designed to scale up compa-
food festival at Naguru on May 2. Assi said the festival will take place on June 17
at UMA.  INDEPENDENT/JIMMY SIYA
solutions, engage more start-
ups, and ultimately be one of
the key drivers of the develop-
ment of the IT sector.
Amelia Kyambadde, Ugan-
da’s Minister of Trade Industry
and Cooperatives, said she wel-
comes the ITC’s new initiative
to support the local IT industry.
“We know Ugandan compa-
nies have the skills to compete
in international markets and
NTF IV project will help some
climb that last barrier and
expand beyond our borders,”
she said.NTF IV is a continua-
tion of a long-running partner-
ship between the Dutch Centre
for the Promotion of Imports
from developing countries
(CBI) and ITC. The project will
run until June 2021, working at
different levels of engagement
with more than 100 MSMEs in
Uganda, of which more than
half comprise start-up compa-
nies. The NTF IV project will
also place a significant focus on
gender and actively promote
the participation of Ugandan
women in tech – especially in
leadership positions.
Currently, most women in
the sector tend to hold lower-
skilled jobs such as data entry
and image tagging.

Weekly share price movement (April.30)

Security April 30 April 17 Movement
BATU 30000 30000 00
BOBU 134 135 0.7
CENT 1,526 1,595 4.3
DFCU 778 777 0.1
EABL 9,324 9,151 1.9
EBL 1,803 2,041 11.6
JHL 19,721 19,360 1.9
KA 438 455 3.7
KCB 1,831 1932 5.2
NIC 18 17 5.8
NMG 4,033 4,010 0.6
Angelline Osegge, Woman MP Soroti district speaking at the launch of NVL 510 510 00
the campaign against the 1% transection value on Mobile money tax SBU 30 31 3.3
for FY 2018/19 on April 30 by Civil Society.  INDEPENDENT/JIMMY SIYA UCHM 74 87 3.4
UCL 28 29 3.4
UMEME 400 410 2.4
ALSI -- -- --

May 11 - 17, 2018 27

comment
By Kealeboga J Maphunye
Weaning African leaders off power
Democracy from below could be the antidote to
addiction to power by leaders who refuse to leave office
S
ome African countries have re-
corded democratic victories in the
past 12 months. Ethiopia has a new
leader whose ascent holds great
promise for change, despite the country’s
problematic 2015 election. Liberia and Sierra
Leone have new leaders.
But elsewhere on the continent, leaders
continue to disregard their countries’ own
constitutions and laws governing presi-
dential tenure. The Democratic Republic of
Congo’s Joseph Kabila has been in power
since 2001. He refuses to go even though he
was meant to step down in December 2016.
In Uganda, Yoweri Museveni has clung to
power since 1986. Denis Sassou Nguesso
has ruled Congo for almost 30 years.
Their refusal to step down at the
appointed time flies in the face of several
governance blueprints adopted as African
countries shifted away from liberation poli-
tics to the new post-independence struggle
for democracy in the early 2000s.
The Organisation of African Unity was
transformed into the African Union in
2001 with this shift in mind. The continent
adopted progressive governance tools like
the African Peer Review Mechanism. This
was spearheaded by former Nigerian Presi-
dent Olusegun Obasanjo and South Africa’s
Thabo Mbeki as a tool for African countries
to review one another’s performance.
Numerous African countries adopted and
agreed to uphold the terms of the African
Union Charter on Democracy, Elections and
Governance. It came into force in 2012 and
was designed to guard against undemo-
cratic governance.
These plans promised a great deal. They
were designed to usher in good governance,
democracy and security. It was hoped
Africa’s image as a continent of ignorance,
poverty, disease, misrule and corruption
could be erased.
The rhetoric pointed in the right direction.
But not all African leaders were willing
to be swept by this wave of democratic
reforms. Some are quite simply addicted to
power, as shown by their reluctance – if not
outright resistance – to leave at the end of
their legal terms.
Leaders continuing to overstay their wel-
come undermine Africa’s attempts at over-
hauling its leadership and negate the noble
intentions of the AU’s founders.
28 May 11 - 17, 2018
Term limits
Term limits regulate leadership succes-
sion. They are meant to counteract leaders’
temptation to overstay their welcome. This
helps to consolidate and legitimise demo-
cratically elected leadership.
Of course, they’re not enough. Regular
transfer of power as seen in countries like
Mauritius, Ghana, Botswana and Zambia,
among others, cannot guarantee political
and socio-economic stability. Other ingredi-
ents such as accountable, legitimate leader-
ship are critical.
But regular transfers of power give citi-
zens hope that new policies, programmes
and approaches will be adopted by the
new leadership. In turn, this could over-
turn numerous political, social, economic
impacts of uninterrupted strangleholds on
power in Africa.
The benefits of frequent power transfers
are evident in African countries that have
them, such as Senegal; Botswana and Mau-
ritius. Incumbents are kept on their toes
because there’s a real chance they can be
removed from power if they fail to govern
properly. Term limits have recently become
controversial and divisive. Some leaders
have used dubious constitutional amend-
ments to extend their stay in power. Usu-
ally, governing parties and their leaders
almost exclusively pass such amendments
with minimal or no opposition participa-
tion. That’s what happened in Rwanda,
Uganda, Burundi and Congo Republic.
Similarly, despite constitutional provi-
sions and regular elections, countries such
as Angola, Togo, Cameroon and Equato-
rial Guinea are virtually de facto one party
or one leader repressive states wherein
resignation, retirement and term limits are
meaningless.
Leaders have different reasons for
refusing to leave office. In some countries,
the answer lies in a lack of succession
planning to transfer power. In others,
leaders blatantly refuse to resign because
of their despotic and kleptocratic tenden-
cies. They abuse their states’ minerals,
oil and money with their families and
friends. Stepping aside would cost them
these “benefits”.
For instance, the eventual departure of
Angola’s Eduardo Dos Santos from office
after decades in power has left his family
exposed. His children stand accused of
amassing billions during their father’s
many terms.
Without strong constitutional safeguards
and a democratic culture to counter the
negative consequences of the “sins of
incumbency” – as corruption associated
with state power is often described by
South Africa’s governing party, the African
National Congress – can be menacing. It
breeds “Big Men, Little People”, to borrow a
phrase from the title of a book by journalist
Alec Russel.
Weaning leaders off power addiction
Perceptive leaders know when to leave
office, whether through resignation or
retirement. Botswana’s past and current
presidents have established this practice
despite the country’s continued one-party
domination.
With the emergence of a strong demo-
cratic culture, South Africa has experienced
the opposite of such presidential power
mongering. Two presidents were recalled
by their political party the ANC, albeit for
different reasons. Thabo Mbeki readily
accepted his fate when he was told to pack
up and go, although he was not accused
of any specific wrong doing. Jacob Zuma
remained defiant and only stepped aside
when faced with the very real prospect of a
vote of no-confidence.
Ghana, Zambia, Namibia, Nigeria,
Malawi and Tanzania are other African
states where regular transfer of power has
occurred. African voters are not blameless.
They habitually relax their vigilance on
leaders and fail to hold them to account
after elections. This, coupled with winner-
take-all election systems, renders some
African countries vulnerable to autocratic,
despotic and non-accountable leaders who
would rather die in office than leave.
What, then, is the solution? It may be time
for ordinary voters across the continent to
begin to collaborate through non-govern-
mental organisations and other cross-border
institutional mechanisms to share experi-
ences and begin to enforce durable conti-
nental democracy. Africa needs democracy
from below.
Kealeboga J Maphunye is Professor,
Department of Political Sciences, University
of South Africa (UNISA), University of South
Africa

By Nanjala Nyabola
A loss for Kenyan democracy
Mass resignation of columnists from The Nation shows
press freedom means holding owners accountable
O
n March 27, eight columnists
from the Nation Media Group
resigned from the Nation news-
paper, citing a lack of editorial
independence. For Kenya’s largest daily, the
exodus of top talent was the latest blow to
an already tarnished reputation. The news-
paper has suffered a series of embarrassing
episodes in recent months, including high-
profile firings, mass layoffs by the parent
company, and allegations of state meddling
in the editorial process.
But the resignations were more than
another repudiation of a once-vaunted insti-
tution; they were a reminder that the media
remain a powerful player in Kenya’s fledg-
ling democracy. When governments con-
strain journalists – in Kenya or elsewhere
– they do so at their own peril.
Like many African countries, Kenya has
a long tradition of what might be called
“activist journalism” – the dissemination of
news and ideas to inspire political or social
action. The practice has its roots in anti-
colonialism; when the Nation was founded
in 1960, it joined other pan-African publica-
tions like the New African and Drum to
oppose colonial rule. By giving Kenyans a
platform to voice their dissent, the Nation
– led by its journalists – helped protesters
articulate the ideas, slogans, and catch-
phrases that animated their movements. For
many columnists, simply writing for these
magazines was an act of resistance.
In the West, activist journalism carries a
negative connotation, suggesting bias. But
in Africa, this type of journalism has his-
torically kept the media honest by forcing
owners to focus more on public good than
on profit. In Kenya, however, this model is
being eroded by the flow of public funds
into private media outlets in advertising
and through increasing repression.
The media industry in Kenya is more
lucrative than in most African countries,
which has led some to assume that Kenya’s
press is free. But, increasingly, the opposite
is true. Many media companies are depen-
dent on government advertising revenue,
and, according to the Committee to Protect
Journalists, this spending is being used as
leverage by the authorities to censor unfa-
vourable coverage. This is one element of
the “state capture of the media” that the
eight Nation columnists cited in resigning.
To be sure, official censorship is not new
in Kenya. After an attempted coup in 1982,
many smaller newspapers were shut down
by the state, and between 1988 and 1990, at
least 20 newspapers were forced to cease
publication permanently.
And yet, even during periods of govern-
ment repression, savvy journalists have
always found audiences for their dissenting
views. During Kenya’s democracy move-
ment in the 1990s, one of the most influen-
tial was Wahome Mutahi, a humorist who
skirted state control to parody the authori-
tarian president, Daniel Toroitich arap Moi.
Mutahi eventually spent 15 months in the
infamous Nyayo House torture chambers as
punishment for his writings.
Kenyan media experienced a revival in
the post-Moi era; by 2012, the country had
301 radio stations and 83 television stations,
up from only three television networks in
the 1990s. But the growth in media outlets
and liberalisation of the country’s politics
did not translate into more press freedom.
Instead, after a brief reprieve between suc-
cessful elections in 2002 and post-election
violence in 2007, journalists were targeted
once more.
Crackdowns have ranged from the severe
– including detention, torture, and disap-
pearances – to the subtle. For example,
when the political cartoonist Godfrey
Mwampembwa, known as Gado, was
forced from his post at the Nation in 2016,
his bosses did not explicitly fire the news-
paper’s most popular contributor. Rather,
they simply refused to renew his contract
The media
industry in Kenya
is more lucrative
than in most
African countries,
which has led
some to assume
that Kenya’s
press is free
comment
when it expired. The same thing happened
to David Ndii, an economist and opposi-
tion-affiliated columnist for the Sunday
Nation.
But these dismissals pale in comparison
to a government-imposed blackout in
early February. To prevent journalists
from reporting on a political rally by then-
opposition leader Raila Odinga, the Kenyan
government forced three private television
stations off the air for days, ignoring court
orders to end the blockade. Journalists at
one station, Nation Television, huddled in
their offices as they coordinated with law-
yers and sought to avoid arrest. When the
dust eventually settled, executives from all
three networks had resigned.
Without courageous, pioneering journal-
ists, Kenya’s pro-democracy movement
may never have succeeded. Activist colum-
nists helped the public understand political
decisions by making policy accessible. In
Mutahi’s case, the use of his own family
in his parodies was a device intended to
demonstrate that petty domestic despotism
was no different from the political tyranny
orchestrated by an autocratic president.
Kenyans need similar means of reflection
today. And yet, just when the country’s
democratic institutions could most benefit
from such a mirror, those who have histori-
cally held it up now believe they have no
alternative but to put it down.
For Kenya, the very public decline of
the Nation has come at a high cost. But it
has also demonstrated that press freedom
means much more than letting journalists
say what they want, when they want, and
how they want. It also means holding media
owners accountable. A highly competitive
electoral system framed by a compromised
media is more likely to fuel dissent than to
stem it, and Kenya’s democracy will suffer
so long as the country’s stewards of public
enlightenment turn their backs on it.
Nanjala Nyabola is a writer, political
analyst, and author of the forthcoming
book Digital Democracy, Analogue Politics:
How the Internet Era is Transforming
Kenya.
Copyright: Project Syndicate, 2018.
May 11 - 17, 2018 29
comment
Enock Nyorekwa Twinoburyo
Meaning of banking sector results
Mobile money to the rescue as banking sector remains
too shallow to leverage financial inclusion
I
n line with statutory requirements, all
banks are supposed to publish their
financial statements by the end of April
of each year. The published banks’
results for 2017 are out and the total assets
increased by 18% reaching Shs26.6 trillion
in December 2017. This translates to 27%
of GDP, which suggests that Uganda’s
banking sector remains shallow to leverage
financial deepening.
For example, the share of banks assets
to GDP in Uganda is the same as average
of the private sector credit to GDP in
the Sub Sahara Africa region. Arguably
too small to warrant any mention in the
April 2018 IMF Global Financial Stability
Report.
The limited asset base of the banks
in part explains why Uganda’s private
sector credit as share of GDP is half the
SSA average. It is also constrained argu-
ably by banks investing 20% of its assets
in government securities – with year to
year growth commensurate to the asset
growth of 18% to reach Shs5.4 trillion in
2017.
Juxtaposed with private sector credit
growth of 6% in 2017, it implies that the
banks took a fairly risk neutral position
– inclining towards risk free government
securities. Although there is a potential
of multiple applications, only one in two
of loan applications was approved in
2017. The backdrop is anecdotal to the
crowding out of the private sector.
According to the asset composition
drawn from the published statements,
it can also be argued that the banking
sector remains oligopolistic in nature
despite being composed of 24 banks.
Only eight banks have an asset value of
more than Shs1 trillion, of which only
three made net profits in excess of Shs100
billion. These top 8 banks by asset
account for 77% of the total assets and
89% of profitability.
Stanbic bank (which bought Uganda
Commercial Bank for US$21.3 million
in 2002 and made the same money in
income the same year) remains the most
profitable bank – reaching Shs 200 bil-
lion for first time owing largely from
30 May 11 - 17, 2018
undercutting costs (by Shs17 billion) as
opposed to increased income.
The latter reduced mainly due to
interest income reduction attributed
to declining interest rates consistent
with the monetary stance (reduction of
the Central Bank Rate over the last 12
months). The second largest bank by
asset and profits is now DFCU bank fol-
lowing its takeover of Crane Bank and it
had its net profits cross the Shs100 billion
mark for the first time ever.
Its net profits grew by 280% to Shs127
billion. Centenary bank which is the
fourth largest by asset was the third most
profitable with Shs100 billion, however,
registering a reduction of Shs9 billion
from 2016 profits.
Standard Chartered Bank the third
largest bank by asset has for the 2nd time
in last six years seen its profits go less
than Shs100 billion and its convergence
with Stanbic Bank has since been com-
promised.
The limited
asset base of
the banks in
part explains
why Uganda’s
private sector
credit as
share of GDP
is half the SSA
average
Overall, the total banking profitability
increased to Shs770 billion in 2017
from Shs676 billion in 2016 but remains
skewed towards the top 10.
The struggle is real at the bottom,
with loss making banks increasing to
six compared to four in 2016 and 2015.
The banking sector cost to income ratio
remained high at 73% in 2017 from the
85% in 2016 but is still higher than the
historical average.
This is why most banks have broadly
focused on balance sheet repairing;
including taking cost cutting measures
by reducing bank branches – remaining
concentrated in urban areas; particularly
Kampala. As such, the share of non-
performing loans to total gross loans
reduced to slightly less than 6% from
over 10% in 2016.
In a nutshell, the banking sector
remains shallow, small, dominated by a
few banks, and with limited credit pen-
etration which suggests that the banks
are not the most optimal modality for
financial inclusion.
Mobile money by far as underlined in
the 2016 financial inclusion strategy is a
conduit for inclusion. The proportion of
Ugandans using mobile money is by far
greater than for any other financial ser-
vices in Uganda, which is why arguably
the 1% tax on mobile money transactions
will be regressive.
The total value of mobile money trans-
actions for the financial ending June 2017
had reached Shs53 trillion (over 55% of
GDP) from Shs38 trillion in 2016. Cogni-
zant that nearly eight million people use
of mobile money, Bank of Uganda as the
champion of financial inclusion ought to
provide effective policy advisory in this
realm, in light of the recent reversal of
poverty, inequality, and other develop-
ment goals.
Dr Enock Nyorekwa Twinoburyo, Economist
based in Kigali

By Leon Willems
How press freedom is won
Recent events show that no media market is immune to
erosion of press freedom but resistance is possible
E
very year on May 3 – World Press
Freedom Day – news producers
and consumers pause to reflect
on the state of global media. This
year, as journalists and government of-
ficials gathered in Ghana for the event’s
25th observance, attention turned to the
myriad pressures and challenges con-
fronting the profession worldwide, and
how official and state-sponsored hostility
toward the press is threatening democ-
racy.
But these concerns, though certainly
valid, are not the entire story. Signs of
journalistic resilience are also emerging.
So, rather than focusing exclusively
on the obstacles journalists around the
world are facing, mark May 3 should
have been marked by considering the
many reasons for optimism.
For starters, while no media market
is immune to erosion of press freedom,
resistance is possible. Recent events
in Europe are illustrative. In Slovakia,
public outrage over the politically moti-
vated double murder of an investigative
journalist, Ján Kuciak, and his fiancée,
Martina Kušnírová, forced Prime Min-
ister Robert Fico to resign, and has his
successor, Peter Pellegrini, walking a
public-relations tightrope.
Hungary, too, has experienced its own,
albeit tamer, version of journalistic push-
back. According to a recent study by the
European Journalism Center, despite
deepening government control over
how the media operates, investigative
reporting remains active, and “abuses
of the taxpayers’ money are regularly
exposed.”
To be sure, the media are under attack
like never before, and not only from
fake news and polarising presidents.
The slaying of nine journalists in Kabul
on April 30, in back-to-back suicide
bombings that killed at least 25 people,
marked the deadliest day for journal-
ists in Afghanistan since the fall of the
Taliban, and added to a grim global tally.
According to Reporters Without Borders,
more than 1,000 journalists have been
murdered around the world in the last 15
years, and only a handful of the perpe-
This
commitment
was deepened
last month
when the
European
Union adopted
a new law
to protect
whistle-
blowers from
prosecution
trators have been brought to justice.
And yet fresh glimmers of hope are
multiplying. Around the world, journal-
ists and their supporters are fighting
back in encouraging ways.
Consider online censorship. While gov-
ernments from China to Russia routinely
block or filter access to the Internet,
half of the world’s population is now
connected – a 20% increase in only five
years.
In Sudan, journalists are using this con-
nectivity to save lives. Last year, when
the government refused to inform the
public about a devastating cholera out-
break, journalists with Radio Dabanga,
working with doctors and nurses, used
the WhatsApp messaging service to
share information about prevention and
treatment.
Even in a violent and divided country
like Somalia, the Internet is being used
for good; increased streaming speeds
have kept members of the country’s siz-
able diaspora connected with friends and
comment
family, and have enabled meaningful
dialogue across communities.
Legal norms are also moving in the
right direction. Between 2011 and 2016,
the number of countries with freedom
of information laws increased from 90 to
112.
This commitment was deepened
last month when the European Union
adopted a new law to protect whistle-
blowers from prosecution. In a state-
ment, authorities said they hoped the
measure would be a boon to investiga-
tive journalists by protecting sources
who report violations of European law.
Where fewer legal protections are in
place, journalists are becoming more
creative. In the Philippines, where
independent news organisations have
become targets of slander by politicians
and online trolls, reporters are turning
the tables with devastating effect. For
example, in a recent series of reports
identifying people making threats
against the media, the news website Rap-
pler uncovered a network of trolls tied
directly to government insiders.
Finally, journalists are working to
improve the diversity of their own
industry. In the Democratic Republic of
Congo, for example, one media organisa-
tion created a database with the contact
details of thousands of female experts
who are available for media commentary
and analysis. This simple exercise has led
to a dramatic increase in the percentage
of female experts appearing in the press.
These are just a few of the bright spots
highlighted during this year’s observance
of World Press Freedom Day. Every
day, courageous men and women (and
sometimes even children) around the
world continue to brave the odds to
bring us the news. We all benefit from
their dedication, and we all have an
obligation to honor their successes, not
just their sacrifices.
Leon Willems is Director of Free Press
Unlimited.
Copyright: Project Syndicate, 2018.
May 11 - 17, 2018 31
A woman tested for HIV at an AIDS clinic
New HIV drug a game changer?
TLD to be available in July but experts warn of
sustainability of supply and lack of sensitization
S
By Flavia Nassaka
tarting in July, HIV/AIDs
patients picking their Anti-
Retroviral (ARV) drug refills
might notice a difference; they
might be given prescriptions
of one pill a day instead of
their usual three, four or six pills a day.
According to Ministry of Health
plans, clients on first line HIV treatment
will start being transferred to a new
drug called TLD. It is a new fixed-dose
combination of ARV drugs – tenofovir
disoproxil fumarate, lamivudine and
dolutegravir. It belongs to so-called
intergrase inhibitors; drugs that help
patients not to develop resistance to
medicine that has been seen in older
treatments.
32 May 11 - 17, 2018
Anthony Mutema, a Pharmacist calls
TLD a “game changer” in HIV treatment
in Uganda. The drug comes in at the time
when researchers are looking for solutions
to help those who acquire a strain of HIV
that is resistant to available drugs.
Mutema explains that the drug is called
an intergrase inhibitor because it works to
maintain the viral load in one’s blood low
at undetectable levels.
“The viral load increases because, when
the virus enters the body, it’s integrated
into the DNA and keeps making other
copies,” Mutema says, “This is what this
drug works to prevent. It means that
when someone takes it, only reservoirs of
the virus will remain.”
Dr. Joshua Musinguzi, the Programme
Manager AIDS Control at the health
ministry says they revised treatment
guidelines in February and now
recommend TLD as the preferred adult
first –line ARV regimen and that the
plan is to enroll everyone on the drug by
December. This means up to 85% of the
about one million Ugandans currently on
treatment will have to shift.
While the shift in treatment is usually
not so good news for people living with
the virus for fear of tough side effects,
Musinguzi says clinical trials done in the
west have shown that treatment regimens
including dolutegravir work faster, have
fewer side effects, and demonstrate
greater potency against drug resistance
than standard HIV drugs used in the
country and other poor countries in
Africa.
Dolutegravir (DTG) is already being
used in developed countries such as the

U.S. where it was approved in 2013. The
regimen they use is produced by ViiV
Healthcare, the HIV business majority-
owned by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK).
In Uganda, like the other 91 countries
in low income countries that are planning
or have embraced TLD, will access
its cheaper generic version produced
by India-based drug makers – Mylan
Laboratories (MYL.O) and Aurobindo
Pharma (ARBN.NS).
This was after a deal was struck in
September 2017 capping prices at $75 per
patient per year to make the drug cheap
such that poor countries like Uganda can
access it. This price is said to be less than
the price for a day’s supply of the drug
in the U.S. The original price was about
U.S$1000.
Some doctors and researchers are
describing the new drug as a solution
to the toxicity associated with some
HIV/AIDS drugs in Uganda. Some of
these drugs have been phased out in the
west either because of their toxicity or
advancements in research have exposed
them as unnecessary or even harmful.
Mutema says patients using HIV drug
– Efavirenz, for example, have suffered
side effects of hallucinations, suicidal
thoughts, and other mental disorders
which has caused some of them to
abandon their medications even though
it’s still widely thought that the benefits
of the drug are immense to be dropped.
He explains that a combination of
Tenofavir, Efavirenz, and Lamivudine is
what they initially give a person when
they are initiating them on treatment for
the first time but he says some people
fail to tolerate the medicines and are
shifted to other regimens.
To him, this challenge was also faced
earlier in the treatment of HIV when
the preferred drugs were zidovudine,
Lamuvudine, and Nevirapine. But, with
the new drug that he calls superior,
issues of tolerance may not arise
because it has been seen to be tolerated
well even among people with adherence
challenges.
Debate over toxicity
To Dr. Stephen Watiti, one of the
first medical workers to come public
about his HIV status, challenges with
HIV drugs are still a big debate in
the country because Uganda cannot
afford up to date HIV medicines which
scientists have made in a way that
attacks the virus in different ways. He
says because of this, many people on
treatment have continued to endure
toxic drugs.
And, he is a victim too.
“The drugs I took at first were very
toxic. They killed the virus and also
Dolutegravir is already in use among those living with HIV in the US
killed my nerves. I live with the effects
up to now,” he told journalists during a
workshop held at the African Center for
Media Excellence (ACME).
He speaks of how he was first
enrolled on a drug called stavudine
which has since been phased out
because of severe side effects. He says
the medicine can cause women to lose
their hips and some clients develop a
hump on their backs. It’s because of
such effects that some of the drugs used
here are no longer used in America.
“What is good for Americans is
good for us too but we have to look for
money,” he says.
Because he is now on second line
treatment, Watiti will not use the new
drug. But, he says such innovation in
treatment will drive the country into
achieving its HIV related targets such as
the 90-90-90 UNAIDS target of ensuring
that 90% of the people know their HIV
status by 2020, 90% of those tested
positive being enrolled on treatment,
and 90% of those on treatment
suppressing the virus to undetectable
levels.
The introduction of TLD poses
renewed questions about the
sustainability of supply. No government
official is sure yet about the quantities of
TLD to be shipped into the country.
The government does not have much
control of how much of the drugs will
be available because it only allocated
Shs100 billion to procurement of ARVs
from local pharmaceutical CIPLA Quality
Chemicals. Procurements of more HIV/
AIDS drugs, including TLD, can only
come courtesy of donors like Global Fund
health
and the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan
for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).
Phil Dimon, the Spokesperson of the
US Embassy Kampala says to help ensure
availability of adequate quantities of the
drug; U.S$16.7 million has been allocated
under PEPFAR to kick-start and support
public sector TLD procurements.
He adds that of the US$408 million
funding that PEPFAR plans to send
to Uganda the coming Financial Year
2018/19, up to U.S$90.3 million is planned
to go towards ARVs.
However, while the government is
planning for a rapid process of first
ensuring that all clients getting medicines
from Private not for Profit (PNFP)
facilities across the country are enrolled
on TLD by December and all those getting
refills from public facilities are covered by
next year, Mutema warns of the glitches
that might come with the rush.
People on HIV treatment; unlike other
patients, he says, are very particular when
it comes to their medicines and some
might not easily allow switching without
being sensitized on why they really need
to transition.
If patients are expected to be moved
by July, Mutema says Ministry of
Health should have already provided an
addendum to health workers explaining
to them how and why they are switching.
These then would allay the information to
their clients.
The other key issue according to him
is ensuring that people on treatment
get their doses sustainably without
stock outs since they now know that
whoever is tested is enrolled on treatment
immediately.
May 11 - 17, 2018 33
OBITUARY
Adoko Nekyon; politician
of many firsts, dies at 86
By Ian Katusiime
A
kbar Adoko Nekyon was Ugan-
da’s first minister of Information,
Broadcasting, and Tourism in 1962,
drew up Uganda’s first National
Development Plan, was first president of
Federation of Uganda Football Associations
(FUFA) in 1968, and was the first to pro-
claim to the world that his Democratic Party
(DP) had won the 1980 elections. When that
alleged victory was allegedly stolen by Ne-
kyon’s cousin, Milton Obote of the Uganda
Peoples Congress (UPC) who was declared
winner, some people followed then-leader
of the Uganda Patriotic Movement (UPM)
to wage armed rebellion against the new
government.
Described as articulate, forthright, and
controversial, Nekyon was destined for a
political career by birth. He was the son of
a chief; Jekeri Akaki of the Lango clan. Born
on August 6, 1931 at Akokoro in present day
Apac district, his mother was Abisagiri Koli.
He went to Ibuje Primary School, Ngora
Secondary School, and Kings College
Buddo. In 1955, he pursued a Bachelor’s
degree in Economics at the University of
Kerala in India. He further enrolled for a
Master’s degree in political science at the
same university. He was one of the few sur-
viving Ugandans who worked in the colo-
nial service where he plied his trade as an
interpreter. This was is in the late 1950s and
at the time, his true calling was in the offing
as independence movements started to gain
clout in the country. He soon joined Uganda
National Congress (UNC), the first political
party, formed in 1952.
Some historians say that being a cousin to
Obote influenced Nekyon’s decision to join
Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) although
others argue that it was out of his own
ambition. Nekyon’s father and Obote’s were
brothers and their mothers were sisters.
Becoming Minister
In 1961, Nekyon was elected MP for Lan-
go South East and also joined the first post-
independence cabinet in 1962 as Minister
for Information and Tourism under Prime
Minister Milton Obote.
As Minister for information, he set up
Uganda Television Services; now Uganda
Broadcasting Corporation (UBC). He turned
a colonial hospital into the premise for the
television studios, where Pearl of Africa
Hotel currently stands according to Edgar
Muvunyi Tabaro, a former managing direc-
tor at UBC.
In 1964, he was appointed Minister for
34 May 11 - 17, 2018
planning and community development. In
this capacity, he was instrumental in draw-
ing up the first National Development Plan.
However, it was also during this time when
Nekyon found himself in a fierce political
storm. In February 1966, he was accused by
Daudi Ochieng, an MP, of being part of a
cabal smuggling gold and ivory from DR
Congo. He was accused alongside Prime
Minister Obote, deputy army commander
Idi Amin and another minister Felix Ona-
ma.
Nekyon denied the charges and Obote’s
government successfully quashed a pro-
posed inquiry into the allegations.
In May 1966, Nekyon got another cabi-
net position as Minister of agriculture and
cooperatives. He, however, served briefly
and resigned over disagreements with
Obote whom he thought was beginning to
develop autocratic tendencies. Obote had in
February ordered an attack on the Buganda
Kabaka’s palace in Mengo, sparking the so-
called 1966 crisis which plunged the coun-
try into political turbulence when Obote
abolished the constitution.
Love for faith
Nekyon sought refuge in football and
faith. He had earlier converted from Chris-
tianity to Islam. He was a devout Muslim
who spearheaded a number of develop-
ment projects for the Islamic commu-
nity. Together with other Muslim leaders,
Nekyon founded National Association for
the Advancement of Muslims (NAAM).
“Sheikhs Abdulrazak Matovu, Obedi
Kamulegeya and Hussein Rajab Kakooza
headed the religious wing of NAAM while
Adoko Nekyon and Shaban Nkutu headed
the development arm.” Conrad Nkutu, a
family friend of Nekyon wrote on Face-
book. He added “Nekyon was Vice Chair-
man of NAAM while Nkutu was National
Chairman until his murder by President
Amin in 1973.”
According to Nkutu, NAAM helped
build an affirmative action network of
schools for the Islamic community in the
areas of Butambala, Bombo, Jinja, Iganga,
Mbale, Lango and West Nile.
Nekyon was elected the first president
of Federation of Uganda Football Associa-
tions (FUFA) in 1968 after it changed its
name from Uganda Football Associations
(UFA). The same year was also the first time
a national football league was played. He
is also credited for founding the National
Council of Sports. In September 2015, the
91st FUFA ordinary general assembly rec-
ognised Nekyon for his achievements.
When Amin overthrew Obote in 1971,
Nekyon went to exile in Kenya. By the time
Amin was overthrown in 1979, Nekyon had
developed serious differences with Obote
and he crossed to the Democratic Party
(DP) just in time before the December 1980
elections. The two cousins were on differ-
ent sides in what remains one of the most
controversial elections in Uganda to date.
Joseph Bbossa, former vice president of
UPC recalls seeing Nekyon in an open roof
car in Kampala chanting ‘we have won’ as
results were filtering in that December 1980
with a big crowd following him. Thereafter
chaos followed. The UPC under Obote was
declared winner.
Nekyon remained a player in politics
under his new party DP. But Museveni
fought and kicked out Obote in 1986. That
year, Museveni appointed Nekyon General
Manager of the national carrier, Uganda
Airlines. A few years later, he was appoint-
ed minister for health and later minister for
rehabilitation. He bounced back in active
politics when he was elected as a Constitu-
ent Assembly (CA) delegate for Maruzi in
Apac district in 1994. The end of his tenure
in the CA marked the start of his retirement
from politics.
Nekyon was at the peak of his political
powers when he was a minister in the first
Obote government and is also remembered
as an influential Muslim leader. He was
honored by parliament during the 50th
independence anniversary celebrations in
2012 for his public service.
Nekyon died on May 4 due to heart
complications. The family suffered another
blow two days later when Nekyon’s
daughter, Sarah Apio died of cancer at a
hospital in the UK.
 ART | BOOKS | SOCIETY | TRAVEL | CULTURE
Hidden messages in
Kampala’s scenery
What Clifford Kibuuka’s colourful hues
reveal about sound of the city
K
By Dominic Muwanguzi
ibuuka Clifford has become
defined by his painting
of Kampala settlements;
compacted together, and
with tiny glowing light
illuminating them in the
dark. The settlements- sometimes shanty
in nature or boxy in form - capture the
mood of Kampala as energetic, vibrant, and
eerie. Social disparity looms large as the
haves and have-nots live side by side in this
densely populated city, which is the capital
of Uganda.
His ongoing show at Umoja Art Gallery,
adjacent Kobil petrol Station in Kamwokya,
reverberates with this theme, although with
a new approach. This time the Kampala
scenery the artist showcases includes road-
side vendors of food-stuffs like vegetables
and rolex (a fast food roll of fried eggs and
Chapati). Is it a figurative representation of
growing entrepreneurship and innovations
in the city or a depiction of desperation
wrought by a “biting “economy? Or is it all
about the growing population of youthful
mouths to feed?
The oil works are punctuated with
impasto and a careful contrast of colour
nuances that infuse the paintings with
the energy of Kampala and Kibuuka’s
painting of Gadhafi Mosque adds to the
hidden messages. Captured in the aerial
format, it not only celebrates the city’s
monumental architecture, but also the
neighbourhood that is typically oriental - as
observed from the boxy settlements. This
could be a cultural masterpiece; informing
of Kampala’s rich history since, from the
colonial time, the Old Kampala hill where
the edifice sits was a residence of both
Indians and Arab settlers who secured it
from Kabaka Muteesa.
The same impact can be seen in the
shanty abodes with dilapidated Mabaati
(corrugated) iron sheets on ramshackle
abodes, reminiscent of city slums where low
income residents live. They might be seen as
an eye-sore and sign of the growing neglect
of the poor by the government. But in the
paintings, the settlements compete for equal
space with posh or permanent structures
in what could be a commentary on poor of
the city.
Kibuuka calls the exhibit `Sound
of Colour #Kampala’ and paints the
landscapes as beautiful displays, but
his focus could be on the challenges
modernisation. Or is it merely a
documentation of historical architecture
before it is possibly razed and lost to pave
way for new constructions?
The exhibition opened on April 28 at Umoja
art gallery and will show throughout the
month of May.
May 11 - 17, 2018 35
 Neglected horse sues owner
An Oregon woman who allegedly left
her horse outside during the winter without
adequate care and shelter, causing it pain
and suffering, is now being sued by the ani-
mal for more than $100,000 (Approx.Shs370
million) in damages.
It’s not every day you hear about horses
taking humans to court, but in states like
Oregon this sort of thing has been possible
since 2014, when the Oregon Supreme
Court ruled that animals can be victims of
crime and have legally protected rights.
Justice, the horse in this particular case, just
like a human, has a team of lawyers fighting
on its behalf. His lawyers, from the Animal
Legal Defense Fund, say the money will go
to the horse’s current and future care and
medical treatments

Naked Trump statue sold for Woman accidentally Chinese companies

Shs100m at auction tips Shs29m! monitor workers
A naked statue of Donald A Russian woman who used brains
Trump, complete with a her credit card to pay for coffee
distended belly and jowly and a cake at a cafe near Zurich, It
sneer, went on display at in Switzerland, accidentally sounds
a Haunted Museum after typed in her PIN code as the tip like some-
a paranormal investigator, and ended up paying 7709.70 thing out
Swiss francs (Approx. Shs29 mil-
Zak Bagans of the TV series of a sci-
lion) for a 23.70 francs (Approx.
`Ghost Adventures’ bought ence fic-
Shs90,000) bill. The coffee and
it at auction for $28,000 tion, but
a cake she and her son had is
(Approx. Shs100 million) at accord- that detect
now one of the most expensive
an auction in Los Angeles. ing to “emotional
snacks in human history. She
The infamous statue only realised her mistake at the recent news spikes such
by a West Coast anarchist end of the month, after receiving reports, Chi- as depres-
collective is one of a series her credit card bill and tried to nese com- sion, anxiety
depicting the 45th president get her credit card company and panies are or rage”.
in the nude, and without the police to help her retrieve the using special This data is
testicles. The statues appeared money she had paid by mistake, helmets to then used by
in public spaces in Los but they told her that there was monitor management
Angeles, San Francisco, New were confiscated or destroyed. nothing they could do, because workers’ to adjust
York, Seattle and Cleveland In one cheeky response, this didn’t qualify as a case of brain activ- the work
in August 2016 while New York officials pointed fraud. When she contacted the ity in order schedule
Trump was campaigning to regulations banning “any owner of the cafe directly, he to reduce and pace of
to be president. Titled “The unpermitted erection in city filed for bankruptcy and closed stress and production
Emperor Has No Balls”, most parks, no matter how small.” the place down. manipulate or to change
break times working
so that they conditions
can produce in order to
Soccer fan banned from stadium rents crane to see his team play more. increase pro-
Employee ductivity.
A die-hard a.k.a. ‘Amigo Ali’ European brainwave Cheng
fan of Turkish is well-known media. Unfortu- uses sensors Jingzhou,
soccer club Den- as one of Deni- nately, Amigo concealed an official
izlispor recently zlispor most Ali couldn’t in helmets of Zhejiang
made interna- fanatical sup- remain in the the work- Electric Pow-
tional headlines porters cheering spotlight for too ers wear. It er, which is
after renting for the team long as police constantly one of the
a crane so he and waving quickly arrived monitors many com-
could watch his its colors from and asked the and collects panies using
team play in a high up, as the crane operator workers’ employee
league game, other supporters to lower the soc- brain activ- brainwave
after being in the stadium cer fanatic. His ity, which monitor-
banned from turned away stunt proved is then fed ing, the
the stadium for from the game that a mere sta- into com- “emotional
one year. Pho- just to see him, dium ban wasn’t puters that surveillance
tos and videos have been doing going to keep use artificial program”,
of 37-year-old the rounds in him away from intelligence has definite-
Ali Demirkaya, Turkish and his beloved club algorithms ly paid off.

36 May 11 - 17, 2018

Diesel cars lose market
But diesel could see even higher demand

Y
By Motoring Guru

ou have always eyed the

BMW series but could not
afford it because, well,
it comes at a price. So
when you heard of the
growing unpopularity of
diesel cars in the UK where the BMW
is the most favoured car by corporate
executives, you thought you could
finally ship out a used one.
You thought a good deal was certain
because the Japanese car giant Toyota
had just ratcheted the diesel car
market woes with an announcement
this May that it will no longer sell
diesel cars to customers in Estonia,
Latvia, and Lithuania. What sounded
like another death knell follows a
trend of drivers rejecting diesel cars in
Europe over environmental concerns,
backed by stiff new taxes on diesel
and proposed bans of older models in
some European cities.
Sales of diesel cars in the UK fell Same goes for construction firms,
close to 40 per cent year on year in miners, and oil producers around the
March, maintaining a for 12 straight globe.
months decline, and dragging overall With the world economy ticking
new vehicle sales down 16 per cent along at a pace not seen since the
during the most important month in financial crisis, it’s perhaps not
the automotive calendar, according surprising then that diesel markets
to the Financial Times. The declining have tightened, the FT says. Demand
trend has been seen in markets as for the fuel globally was 750,000
diverse as the U.S., Germany, and barrels a day higher in February than
India. The trend led one cheeky writer the previous year, according to Energy
in Down To Earth Magazine to write Aspects.
this headline: “Diesel cars: Market plug, it has an automatic gear box, low But demand, the FT says, is only
shuns the Devil’s engines”. maintenance costs, and a high residual one part of the story. Supply may
But the windfall that you and many value. be what oil traders really have to
used car buyers in Uganda, and Africa And there is more bad news – this watch. Although diesel markets this
generally, might have been hoping for time from the diesel market itself. decade have generally been marked by
as a result of more shipping out due to The Financial Times of London ample supply after a slate of hi-tech
their declining popularity in Europe reports that the backlash against refineries geared towards maximising
will have to wait. Latest reports in diesel in the developed world masks diesel production came online in India
British newspapers from Auto Trader, a wider trend in oil markets. It says and other developing countries, global
which lists about 500,000 cars every diesel, rather than sputtering, has been oil demand has grown rapidly since
day on its market place, say diesel roaring and notes that some oil traders 2014.
prices are holding steady. and analysts are now even warning “We may be starting to see the early
Toyota cited an increase in the that supplies of the fuel could become signs of strain in the global refining
popularity of the hybrid for its uncomfortably tight this mid-year. system as demand roars ahead,” the
decision to discontinue offering The FT says diesel markets have FT says. If relatively new sources of
diesel engines for private cars. remained strong despite the negative crude supply cannot be easily refined
Apparently hybrids are perceived to headlines because it remains the fuel into the volumes of diesel the world
be convenient, simple to maintain, most closely associated with global needs, a bigger problem may appear
reliable, and silent. The Toyota hybrid economic growth. Freight hauling on the horizon.
does not have to be charged from a trucks, ships, and aircrafts use diesel.

May 11 - 17, 2018 37

Profile
Isaac Semakadde; Legal rebel,
anti-clockwise thinker
By Agnes E Nantaba
I
saac Kimaze Semakadde was in April
named the most outstanding public
interest litigation lawyer in Uganda by
the Uganda Law Society.
He describes public interest litigation as
a special practice where an advocate sacri-
fices time, talent, resources, and energy that
they could have rented out for hire for com-
mercial purposes to societal transformation
and the propagation of values.
On several occasions, he has defended
individuals in cases that are deemed mor-
ally unacceptable in society.
He represented controversial feminist
academic Stella Nyanzi who was charged
with “cyber harassment” and “offensive
communication” after she took on Presi-
dent Yoweri Museveni and his wife in a
Facebook post.
“It’s politically and socially risky but it’s
what interests me as a societal obligation,”
he says.
He revels in David-Goliath public inter-
est litigation situations where he defends
people whose views are considered unac-
ceptable to those in power or the majority.
“Such moments are essential for legal
practice because the client’s situation is
desperate and only a lawyer can turn it
round,” he says.
The values he pursues include democ-
racy, human rights, rule of law, fairness,
justice, progress, justice, equality, unity, and
freedom.
His name is synonymous with the fight
for the realisation of a free press in Uganda.
He re-affirmed this on May 3, when Ugan-
da joined the rest of the world to mark the
25th celebration of World Press Freedom
day under the global theme ‘keeping Power
in Check: Media, Justice and The Rule of
Law’.
He says he feels a duty to express sym-
pathy for media players whose right to
free press is continuously violated. But it is
sometimes frustrating.
“I am disturbed by the constant threats
to media independence from the state and
non-state actors including the private sector
and the inadequate response to threats by
traditional media workers and their sym-
pathisers,” he said. Semakadde describes
himself as “an anti-clockwise thinker” who
just can’t obey standing orders. He likes to
question society.
38 May 11 - 17, 2018
Semakadde is gifted with a very bright worked for almost a year at Bowmans A F
mind which saw him emerge best candi- Mpanga of prominent lawyer and Buganda
date in Masaka district in the 1996 Primary Kingdom Attorney General, David Mpan-
Leaving Exams although he came from ga.
a lowly school; Bright Grammar Primary He currently works at Legal Brains Trust,
School. He says the school gave him a a project that he and colleagues founded
strong foundation for humanities by expos- while still students at Law Development
ing him to extensive off the curriculum Centre. “I felt that it provided a meaningful
reading and exposure. alternative for practicing law,” he says, “I
His mentor and primary school head- had to interact with the law more deeply to
master was interviewed about his future participate in social empowerment.”
and appeared to predict it.
“In his view,” Semakadde recalls, “I
would either be a lawyer or journalist and I
guess he was right.”
His PLE performance won him a bursary
from Masaka Municipal Council to study at
St Mary’s College Kisubi (SMACK).
At SMACK which has a strong tradition
of sciences, Semakadde performed well in
sciences, but his inquisitive and anti-clock-
wise thinking persisted. He questioned
culture and traditions.
At SMACK, Semakadde was again
among the top 10 students which earned
him government sponsorship to study
Bachelor of Laws at Makerere University
in Kampala. He was voted President of
Makerere University Law Society in second
year.
He says professors Joe
Oloka-Onyango and Sylvia
Tamale, both committed
public interest attor-
neys, were very instru-
mental in shaping his
world views and post
university experi-
ence. Semakadde
came out top of
the graduating
class of 2008.
He took on
mentor-
ship in the
Supreme
Court of
Uganda
and

Isaac Semakadde’s Liteside
Any three things that we
F
don’t know about you?
or lack of an
easier word, the
character ‘Spartan’
defines me. As I
try to understand myself
better, I am a legal rebel,
an anti-clockwise thinker
and a clock builder not a
time teller. I live in such a
unique world.
What is the trait you
most deplore in yourself?
I am an incredible
optimist; I see only the
good things in people
which makes me a fool
in the end sometimes.
I had always believed
that everybody can be
changed or persuaded
until recently when
I discovered that not
everybody is open to
persuasion.
What is the trait you
most deplore in others?
I am against
materialistic people and
those that despise great
ideas.
Which living person
do you most
admire?
In the legal
profession,
there is a
shy lawyer
called
Philip
Karugaba. He is such a
dynamo and he contains
so much power in his
diminutive body and
brain which he exercises
with so much grace. He
is a child of privilege but
he has the heart of a child
of poverty. He deprives
himself daily of what I see
so many people entitled
to. It is also surprising
that he has the hunger
and the fire for social
change in his teaching
and career. He is a good
role model.
What is your greatest
extravagance?
Social justice; I spend
a lot fighting people’s
causes to create social
change even outside law
to include culture and
others.
What do you consider the
most overrated virtue?
Our intelligence and
gifts of nature. At one
time, we spent a lot of
money advertising about
our good attractions in
the ‘Gifted by Nature’
campaign and yet we
ourselves are enemies of
nature.
What does being
powerful mean to you?
Power without
authority is tyranny; so
often times we abuse
power. Being powerful
should come with
legal, social, and moral
authority and it must be
exercised within realms.
What do you most dislike
about your appearance?
Not anything.
What is the quality you
most like in a woman?
Honesty and generosity
What is the quality you
most like in a man?
Honesty and generosity
When and where were
you happiest?
My happiest moments
are in childhood. I
survived an attack of
cerebral malaria that
almost killed me in 1991
so returning to normal
life and play normally as
a child was a new birth.
Brian Gilbert Baingana
is one friend that I have
been with for a very long
time, and four years ago I
attended his wedding as
guest of honour. It was a
happy moment because
it reunited me with the
people that matter most
in my life and it cemented
our relationship. I am also
happy to have reached
this far.
Which talent would you
most like to have?
I was always the
reluctant advocate
because I never saw
myself there. And from
that, I want to be a
promoter of talents.
Where would you most
like to live?
I have a favourite
escape destination and
that is Pretoria. I find
it to be seductive and
being a small town boy,
I relate easily with small
towns that are also
cosmopolitan. But Uganda
will always be home.
What is your most
treasured possession?
My sympathy for social
May 11 - 17, 2018
Q&A
justice causes.
What do you regard
as the lowest depth of
misery?
No one should be
subjected to cruel,
inhuman, or degrading
treatment unless the
extraordinary conditions
are part and parcel of the
struggle.
What is your favorite
occupation?
Being an advocate for
social justice.
Which historical figure
do you most identify
with?
Cuthbert Obwangor
was an elder in Teso
who at a moment when
integrity was required
from law makers during
the times of Obote I,
exhibited it without
compromise or fear. I
was introduced to his
heroism as a student of
law, he exemplifies and
embodies both the theory
and practical refinement
of what is good and
truly aspirational about
democracy, integrity
in leadership, and
constitutionalism
What is your greatest
regret?
I should have fought for
love at the university but
I concentrated on fighting
causes.
How would you like to
die?
As the tip of the spear
in a war.
What is your motto?
Always ahead.
39
Global comment
By Brahima Coulibaly
Africa’s path to development
Economists are confident that Africa’s development
model will be different from that of East Asia
R
ecent projections indicate that sev-
eral Sub-Saharan African countries
will experience robust economic
growth over the next five years. By
2023, around one-third of the region’s econ-
omies will have grown at an average annual
rate of 5% or higher since 2000.
And yet, as The Economist observed
last year, Africa’s development model
“puzzles economists.” After all, only four of
the continent’s high-growth countries are
natural-resource dependent. Nor is overall
performance due primarily to industrialisa-
tion, as traditional development models
would have predicted. What, then, explains
the strong economic performance?
New research by the Brookings Institu-
tion’s Africa Growth Initiative and the Unit-
ed Nations University World Institute for
Development Economics Research (UNU-
WIDER) might hold the key to answering
that question. According to the forthcoming
book `Industries Without Smokestacks:
Industrialization in Africa Reconsidered’,
there is evidence to suggest that Sub-Saha-
ran Africa is undergoing a more profound
structural transformation than we think.
Africa owes this structural transforma-
tion not to traditional industries, but to new
developments in tradable services and agro-
industries that resemble traditional indus-
trialisation. Aside from horticulture and
agro-business, these new industries include
information and communication technolo-
gy-based services (ICT) and tourism.
This is a departure from the historical
norm. Traditionally, as Harvard University
economist Dani Rodrik points out, econo-
mies that have sustained robust growth
rates without relying on natural-resource
booms, “typically do so through export-
oriented industrialisation.” But in Africa,
manufacturing as a share of total economic
activity has stagnated at around 10%, with
economic activity moving from agriculture
to services. And because the rate of produc-
tivity growth in services is only about half
that of manufacturing, the aggregate pro-
ductivity gains needed for sustained growth
have fallen relatively short.
This process of premature deindustriali-
sation is not unique to Africa. But it is more
consequential for the continent, given the
scale of its development challenges. Owing
to its young, rapidly growing labour force,
40 May 11 - 17, 2018
Africa now needs to create more than 11
million jobs in the formal economy every
year. But as Nobel laureate economist
Joseph E. Stiglitz has warned, Africa can-
not replicate East Asia’s manufacturing-led
model, so the question is whether it can
leverage modern services to achieve eco-
nomic development.
According to Foresight Africa: Top Priori-
ties for 2018, a Brookings Institution report
previewing the results of Industries Without
Smokestacks, services exports from Africa
grew more than six times faster than mer-
chandise exports between 1998 and 2015. In
Kenya, Rwanda, Senegal, and South Africa,
the ICT sector is flourishing. In Rwanda,
tourism is now the single largest export
activity, accounting for about 30% of total
exports. Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, and Sen-
egal are all integrated into global horticul-
tural value chains, and Ethiopia has become
a leading player in global flower exports.
As these smokestack-less industries have
grown, they have generated new patterns
of structural change that are distinct from
those of East Asia’s manufacturing-led
transformation. But, if properly stewarded,
they could play the same role in Africa’s
development as manufacturing did in East
Asia.
Aside from
horticulture and
agro-business,
these new
industries include
information and
communication
technology-based
services (ICT) and
tourism
Manufacturing-led growth proved to
be an effective development model in East
Asia for three main reasons. First, manu-
facturing has higher productivity than agri-
culture, and it can absorb a large number of
moderately skilled workers migrating out
of the agriculture sector. Second, manufac-
turers benefit from technological transfers
from abroad, so their productivity rises in
line with global trends. And third, the shift
to manufacturing in East Asia was oriented
toward exports, which allowed production
to be scaled up.
According to John Page, one of the edi-
tors of Industries Without Smokestacks,
Africa’s growing service sectors share these
same characteristics. In addition to being
tradable, they have higher productivity and
can absorb large numbers of moderately
skilled workers. And like manufacturing,
they also benefit from technological change
and economies of scale and agglomeration.
Moreover, Africa’s smokestack-less ser-
vice sectors have the added advantage of
being less vulnerable to automation. Not-
withstanding automation’s many benefits, it
presents challenges for countries where the
overriding priority is to create a sufficient
number of formal-sector jobs.
While economists have been increasingly
confident that Africa’s development model
will be different from that of East Asia, they
have been less certain about what shape it
will take. An industries-without-smoke-
stacks model offers one possible answer.
From a policy perspective, African lead-
ers should explore more ways to support
these industries’ growth, either through
targeted reforms or by incorporating them
into national industrialisation strategies and
broader development agendas. The devel-
opment of industries without smokestacks
can occur alongside efforts to develop those
with smokestacks, thus offering a multifac-
eted approach for Africa to achieve struc-
tural transformation.
Brahima Coulibaly, a senior fellow and
director of the Africa Growth Initiative at the
Brookings Institution, was chief economist
and head of the emerging market and
developing economies group at the Board of
Governors of the US Federal Reserve System.
Copyright: Project Syndicate, 2018.
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