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Issue No. 529 July 13 - 19, 2018 Ushs 5,000,Kshs 200, RwF 1,500, SDP 8
Museveni’s secret
files on Kayihura
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Cover story
Museveni’s secret
files on Kayihura
4 The Week
29 Comments
Riek Machar to rejoin
presidency in South Sudan Kenya’s perfect storm:
Development priorities are hard
to reconcile with the realities of
9 The Last Word
the rainy season potholes
The poverty of Ugandan elites:
Bursting the bubble of our
33 Health
`intellectuals’ by exposing their most
cherished ideals as a bunch of delusions Is it time to rethink chronic pain
treatment in Uganda?: Experts
warn of growing danger as
16 Analysis patients buy strong drugs such as
Tramadol over the counter and
LC elections finally: Will they bring use them for mild pains
leadership or be another layer of
politicians at village level?
35 Arts & Culture
23 Business Behind `Coat of many colours’:
Veteran artists fights to preserve
Why shilling may not recover soon: Cost cultural heritages
of doing business likely to go up in line
with the weakening local currency
STRATEGY & EDITORIAL DIRECTOR: Andrew M. Mwenda WRITERS:Ronald Musoke, Flavia Nassaka, Ian Katusiime,
MANAGING EDITOR: Joseph Were Agnes Nantaba, Julius Businge.
INVESTIGATIONS EDITOR: Haggai Matsiko DESIGN/LAYOUT: Sarah Ngororano
BUSINESS EDITOR: Isaac Khisa CARTOONIST: Harriet Jamwa
PHOTOGRAPHER: Jimmy Siya
PUBLISHER: Independent Publications Limited, Plot 82/84, Kanjokya Street, P. O. Box 3304, Kampala, Uganda
Tel: +256-312-637-391/ 2/ 3/ 4 | Fax: +256-312-637-396 E-mail: editor@independent.co.ug | advertising@independent.co.ug
circulation@independent.co.ug | Website: www.independent.co.ug
President Yoweri
Museveni, handing
over a medal of
great service to
Maj. Gen. Kasirye
Ggwanga, during the
retirement ceremony
of the UPDF officers
at State House “This nation can easily turn into another
Entebbe on July 5. Somalia or experience a Rwanda
scenario if we are not careful. We need
to have focused leaders at the LC 1 level
to strengthen the country’s security.”
NRM Vice chairperson Moses Kigongo
The Ikumbania of
Bugwere, His Royal
Highness, John
Wayabire arriving for
his 4th coronation
anniversary
celebrations at Saza
Ground, Budaka “But if you say you are going to tax rich
district on July farmers, if you own 200 cows and you
7. INDEPENDENT/JIMMY
SIYA produce 2000 litres of milk, let us get
VAT out of that. That is not bad.” Julius
Mukunda of Civil Society Budget Advocacy
Group on unfair tax regime in Uganda
Man sentenced to
two years in jail over
sexually harassing MP
Brian Isiko, 25, was sentenced
to two years in jail for sexually
harassing Kabarole Woman MP
Sylvia Rwabwoogo. Buganda
Road Chief magistrate’s Court
sentenced Isiko after he pleaded
guilty to two counts of cyber
harassment and offensive
communication. Isiko, a student
at YMCA in Kampala had
been sending incessant text
Presidents Museveni, Omar el Bashir of Sudan and Salva Kiir of South Sudan in a meeting at State House, messages and repeatedly calling
Entebbe regarding the peace process in South Sudan. The leader of Sudanese People’s Liberation Movement in Rwabwoogo expressing love.
Opposition, Riak Machar, also attended the talks. As she narrated her ordeal in
court, Rwabwoogo wept saying
Riek Machar to rejoin presidency in South Sudan she feared for her life. In a radio
interview, the MP said Isiko
The latest power sharing will be a woman from the the issue of states and tormented her for eight months;
agreement between South Opposition. The meeting boundaries in South Sudan describing how she often
Sudan leaders will see at State House Nakasero and there is optimism a cancelled meetings, changed
Riek Machar become lasted nine hours and was final deal will be signed cars to avoid detection by Isiko.
1st Vice president in attended by President for the power sharing Isiko was charged and convicted
an arrangement where Yoweri Museveni, agreement. The parliament for violating Article 24 Section 1
President Salva Kiir will Sudanese President Omar will also be expanded and Article 25 of the Computer
have four vice presidents el-Bashir, Kiir, Machar from 400 to integrate Misuse Act. Trial magistrate
in total. From high level and their respective another 150 members Gladys Kamasanyu said society
talks held at State House delegations. The final deal from the opposition. The has groomed men to demean
Nakasero, Kampala on has not yet been signed but meeting in Kampala was and disrespect women, the
July 7, it was agreed that optimism high that it will a follow up of two others reason Isiko continued to bother
besides the two current happen. More negotiations held in Addis Ababa and Rwabwoogo even after blocking
vice presidents, the fourth are going on to sort out Khartoum. his calls.
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Museveni launches campaign to fight cancer, heart diseases Resolve cases of Rwandans
President Musevnei shirt, khaki pants and gum- government kicked out arrested- Rwandan envoy
launched a physical exer- boots, Museveni started a diseases like small pox and
cise campaign on July 8 to walk of 10km from Kololo polio. He also gave tips on Rwandan High Commissioner to
fight Non Communicable Independence Grounds to how people should have Uganda Maj. Gen. Frank Mugambage
Diseases (NCDs) like can- other parts of Kampala at light lunch meals and early has advised Ugandan authorities to
cer, heart complications 9am with staff of Ministry supper, two or three hours resolve cases of Rwandans arrested in
which make up 40% of hos- of Health and other health before bed time. Uganda. He said there have been many
pital deaths. Clad in a white activists. He spoke of how arrests of Rwandan citizens and also a
failure to notify the Rwandan embassy
by their Ugandan counterparts. “We
have put these before the Uganda
authorities and when families come
to us that our people have been
arrested, we do not know where they
are and their cases. It is important
that we resolve this”. Mugambage was
speaking at Rwanda’s 24th Liberation
celebrations at his residence in Kololo
recently. However Oryem Okello,
the State Minister for International
Affairs, said Uganda is a law abiding
country and that anything done is in
conformity with the law.
London, UK: England fans celebrate after their team’s second goal
against Sweden in a victory that secured a place in the World Cup
semi-finals
Cristiano Ronaldo nets hat trick with brilliant free kick in closing
minutes to steal a draw against Spain
M
any Ugandan elites have been a few. return, private economic agents will
shouting themselves hoarse All governments need revenue: to most likely withdraw or fail to invest.
denouncing the tax on social keep law and order, to co-opt elites, and Physical capital will depreciate, the
media. They also claim they are to provide public goods and services economy will decline. A government that
already burdened paying “too many taxes”. to their citizens. When a government’s sought short-term gains through destruc-
With a tax to GDP ratio of 14%, Ugandans political survival depends on gener- tive taxes will find that in the long term
are among the least taxed people on this ating revenues from its people, it will it has undermined the economy and,
planet. And after the abolition of Graduated be driven by self-interest to govern in a therefore, its source of revenue. Any gov-
Tax (or tax per head), only 621,366 people more enlightened fashion. It will listen to ernment facing a fiscal crisis will be in
are registered to pay the direct personal its citizens about the policies necessary political decay.
income tax, Pay As You Earn, in an adult for growth so that it can generate more The claim that Ugandans do not want
population of close to 18 million people. revenues. to pay taxes because government is not
But let us for argument’s sake say the For many years, the productive margin accountable is nonsense. In the last elec-
tax is bad. The solution is simple: orga- in Uganda’s search for revenue did not tion, opposition leader Kizza Besigye got
nise politically and stop government lie in the domestic economy; in our gar- 3.5 million votes (he claims 7 million).
from collecting it. But I know Ugandan dens, factories, and shops. It lay with If every one of the 3.5 million contrib-
elites are politically unreliable. They dare foreign donors. For every fiscal shortage, uted just Shs 1000 per month to FDC,
not stand for their beliefs. They prefer to our government would take a begging the party would raiseShs42 billion per
sit in the comfort of their offices, houses, bowl to Paris, London, Brussels, and year or Shs210 billion over five years,
and bars and pontificate against the Washington. This disarticulated the state or Shs558 billion if the 7 million votes
government as if Uganda needs the inter- from citizens and made international is the correct figure. With such financial
vention of foreigners to be saved from donors the most important influence in muscle, Museveni would become his-
President Yoweri Museveni. policy making. It is impossible to build tory. If Ugandan elites want change,
This is where Museveni outshines all of a democracy where foreigners fund the why are they not investing in the man
us: when he felt the election was rigged government because he who pays the fighting for it and who has never stolen
in 1980 and the country mismanaged, he piper calls the tune. the money they have contributed to his
did not sit idly complaining. He picked Uganda’s actual liberation came acci- cause?
guns, organised people, mobilised dentally, when international donors Ugandans lack commitment to the state
resources, built a national political coali- cut aid over the passing of the Anti- and its politics because they see is as a
tion, and rallied international forces to homosexuality Act. The government place you go to extract things, not one
this struggle. After five years of combat of Uganda could have compensated where you grow the wealth of the nation.
he triumphed. this with new taxes. It was afraid of a That is why all our political parties are
Ugandan elites lack patriotism. They political backlash and went on a bor- cash-starved. No one wants to contribute
want to get public goods and services for rowing spree from the domestic market. to politics, regardless of whether there is
free. They do not want to pay taxes that In only five years, the domestic debt has a precedent of their money being stolen.
fund such services. They see the state as ballooned to Shs12.4 trillion, and interest This sharply contrasts with Rwanda
a cake to eat, not a cow to feed. Everyone payment is now Shs1.9 trillion. The same where citizens pay taxes diligently and
comes to the state in search of personal Ugandan elites who have been com- even make voluntary contributions to the
advantage. Few see it as an institution plaining against this growing debt do state whenever need arises.
to build for the collective good. This not seem to realise that only taxation can For example, Ugandans want increased
attitude stands in stark contrast to how get the country out of the debt spiral. wages for teachers, medical workers, and
Ugandan elites relate to social events If this tax is economically destructive, other government employees. They also
like weddings, funerals, and churches it will correct itself. The advantage with want free education, healthcare, cheap
to which they devote so much money a modern economy is that it has high water and electricity, good roads and
without demanding accountability. revenue elasticity. By elasticity I mean bridges etc. But they do not want to pay
Some Ugandan elites claim they are too responsiveness – the tendency to grow for them. This shows we treasure our
poor to pay Shs200 per day for this tax. in the face of positive incentives and to faith, weddings, and funerals because
But this tax is imposed on social media, decline in the face of negative ones. If the they are socially rewarding but we do
which is used on smart phones. How tax on social media and mobile money not treasure political liberation and eco-
come “poor” Ugandans afford expensive hurts the economy, it will cause a decline nomic advancement. For example, if you
smart phones? The social media tax is in the rate of growth. It will not take long call a wedding meeting, everyone will
imposed on the middleclass, not on ordi- for government to discover that it has come and contribute generously. But
nary peasants. However, these elites use harmed itself. if you call a meeting to raise money to
the institutions of mass communication When a government extracts revenues begin a business, no one will show up.
to project their peculiar interests as those from its people without formulating That is the real problem of Uganda.
of everyone. This is how democratic favourable economic policies and pro-
debate in Uganda is rigged in favour of viding public goods and services in amwenda@independent.co.ug
Museveni’s secret
files on Kayihura
By Haggai Matsiko
That President Yoweri Museveni deploys different layers of spies against some
of his most senior security chiefs is no secret; what is unknown is how this
process sometimes works.
Take the case of the former Inspector General of Police, Gen. Kale Kayihura,
who is now in detention in Makindye Military Barracks in Kampala.
Although many reports claim that Kayihura is in detention over the March 17,
2017 murder of the Assistant Inspector General of Police Andrew Felix Kaweesi,
insiders say Museveni was, in fact, acting on information that Kayihura was
using crime preventers to train rebels in Mubende with the backing of Rwanda.
President Museveni shakes hands with Kayihura as other officials look on in 2017
P
resident Museveni was hand US$ 1.5 million to someone they did put his loot, he could not put a finger on
convinced the police chief not know just like that. The central bank it. Could it be in a secret war chest for
was up to some mischief and governor would also later report to Presi- financing an impending rebellion? What
that he had the money to dent Museveni that these allegations were critics insist are “fake intelligence reports”
implement it. a hoax as no such money had been stolen before the president suggested it could.
According to sources close from the bank. For insiders, this case was Against this background, The
to State House, the President received one of the clearest examples that President Independent has learnt that on June
reports that Kayihura and the President Museveni will not simply dismiss any intel- 11 - two days before he was arrested,
Principal Private Secretary (PPS) Molly ligence, however, unbelievable it may seem. Kayihura travelled to Kampala and met
Kamukama had allegedly received a In the Shs.34 billion kickback case, those the president’s son, Maj. Gen. Muhoozi
kickback of Shs17 billion each—from a behind this information told the president Kainerugaba.
police arms deal. that Kamukama invested her cut in real Kayihura had got information that he
For critics, the allegations sounded estate, insiders say. But apparently, when was to be arrested and his plan was to lobby
outrageous because for anyone to give a Museveni tried to trace where Kale had Muhoozi to intervene.
kickback of Shs. 34 billion, at the very least, Maj. Gen. Muhoozi had over the years
the deal needed to be Shs.340 billion or even become Kayihura’s close ally in the entire
double this figure as kickbacks tend to be security establishment and Kayihura hoped
5-10 percent of the total value of the deal. That boy is very to get him to help clear his name before
dangerous,”
Such a deal would have easily wiped President Museveni.
police’s budget, which is about Shs. 500 It did not work. Part of the reason was
billion.
However, insiders say President Kayihura what Kayihura already knew – that the
allegations against him—specifically, that
Museveni rarely leaves anything to
chance and pays attention to these reports,
reportedly told the Rwandan leadership was using him to
attempt to overthrow Museveni, were of a
however outrageous they may seem. For Kamugisha, “stay serious nature.
By Flavia Nassaka
D
avid Kizza Kakobogo died
on July 07 under mysterious
circumstances. He had been
drinking with his supporters
when he all of a sudden developed
stomach aches that he later succumbed
to. The death of the aspiring Local
Council One (LC 1) chairman for Gganda
village in Nansana municipality was
not taken lightly. With suspicions of
poisoning, many of his supporters
declared that, in protest, they were not
going to participate in the election that
would be held days later on July 10.
Former member of the Constituent
Assembly and NRM historical Francis
Babu watched the news of the rioting
villagers from his plush home in the
upscale Naguru suburb.
“I asked myself, Is this really
necessary?” he told The Independent as
he spoke of the hype that the election
was given. The posters, public address
systems and procession of cars are
typical of a political event according to
him and not a leadership one - like an LC
is supposed to be.
According to the Chairman of Electoral LC 1. contestant for Kifumbila zone Bukasa, John Kaddu campaigning for the position of the
Commission, Justice Simon Byabakama, chairperson on July 8. INDEPENDENT/JIMMY SIYA
17million people were registered to
cast their votes and elections took place
LC elections finally
at 28,749 polling stations in the 60,800
villages.
Contrary to Babu’s view, LC elections
have become a big political event, almost
at the level of parliamentary and district
elections, if not presidential elections.
Part of the reason is that Ugandans
Will they bring leadership or be another
had waited 17 years to choose their LC
leaders again – and most are unhappy
layer of politicians at village level?
about the old set. The last LCI elections
were held in 2001. to why the country was not conducting communities.
Back then, the country was being the polls. After successfully amending the
governed under a de facto one party First the government always said there law in parliament, the committee on
system called the “Movement System” was no money to conduct the elections Public Service and Local Government
but it has since 2005 been under a multi- until December 2016 when they resolved recommended that the elections be held
party system. to have the Local Government Act not later than March15 last year. But, it
In 2006 the LC I elections were amended such that people could now has taken more than a year for this to
frustrated by a Constitutional Court line up behind their candidates during finally happen.
ruling on the petition by then opposition elections of chairpersons for village Although this can partly explain
member of Forum for Democratic (LC1) and parish (LC2) levels instead of why there was unanticipated interest in
Change (FDC), Rtd Maj Rubaramira the ballot box style. LC offices, if not the voting, some like
Ruranga, who challenged the legality of The mode was rejected by; especially, Makerere University Political Historian
the incumbent Local Councils because members of the opposition and some Mwambutsya Ndebesa say the interest
they were set up under a different civic organisations. For instance, is not in the vote but the relevance of the
governance system. the Citizens’ Coalition for Electoral office.
He argued that ushering in the Democracy (CCEDU) wrote an open For him, the office is the first court
multiparty system required amending letter to President Museveni protesting arbitrating on issues that affect the
the law. The law was never amended the mode of voting. village. Research by a local NGO
and the country has under gone over The coalition of some 800 members Barefoot Law Uganda has put the
three cycles of general elections without across Uganda argued that voting percentage of people who seek justice
choosing these grassroots leaders. The by lining behind candidates fails to through the informal court system; like
dates would be set several times and meet constitutional and international the LC, at 80%.
cancelled. standards for public elections and His view was shared by the
Many explanations have been made as could foment conflict and discord in president when he released a statement
600,800
the right people to head village units if evaluate the kind of leader they want
problems like land wrangles, insecurity, and put them on the steering wheel.
and theft are to be nipped in the bud. villages that voted Ndebesa says unfortunately the run-
Museveni and his NRM party had up to the LC vote had become very
17 million
given each of their loyal MPs Shs3 polarising. When we spoke before the
million to spend on LC elections in their election he feared there could be chaos
respective constituencies. In addition to people registered to vote - based on the intimidation and intrigue
that, they appointed regional mobilisers considering that the method of voting by
28749
to ensure their party wins the most LC lining was feared to cause.
positions. Ndebesa spoke about people staying
For Babu, this is exactly where his polling stations away “because they are already
party went wrong. disgusted “.
3821
“Community elections shouldn’t be He said this means the government
about parties and politics. It should be will have to conduct a lot of civic
about leadership. People should vote for villages excluded from the polls. education on the role of an LC leader if
a person they respect. Leadership has no They were not captured in the Electoral the country is to reap anything from the
affiliations.” Commission’s national data system. LC elections.
Babu has held LC positions before. As Babu agreed. He warned that because
the Resistance Council (RC) Chairman a crop of people who do not command
for Water Board Village in Nakasero respect might end up in vital positions,
parish in the 1980s, Babu says he was there should be constant supervision and
leading a village of about 250 people and you to be our leader,” he said and education to give villages direction on;
he would deal with their issues without another person seconded another name especially, how the justice system works
consideration for their political beliefs. to contest against Babu. if they are to eliminate the vice of people
He only cared for the interests of the “We spoke for five minutes each,” he taking advantage of their positions to
village. says, “At the end of the speeches; my break the law. For instance he says it’s
The voting would take a similar form, colleague stepped down for me. Then time for people to know perks such as
he recalls. we elected members of the committee by giving leaders monies in case of a land
“I had gone for prayers at All Saints lining up behind them.” purchase being illegal.
Church and they said we are choosing He speaks of how the new system
U
gandans might be blessed with
many lakes, rivers and streams
on top of being one of only 13
countries in the world able to
receive rainfall for at least eight months
every year but a recent study has found
that more citizens think their access to
water is getting worse.
The study titled, “Clean and safe?
Ugandans’ experiences and opinions
on affordable access to clean and safe
water,” was released on June 27 in
Kampala by Twaweza East Africa.
Twaweza’s survey under their Sauti za
Wananchior “Citizen Voices” programme
sought to gauge Ugandans’ experiences
and opinions on affordable access to
clean and safe water. The findings are
based on data collected from 1,971
respondents across Uganda between
January and February 2018.
The survey sought to find out how
Ugandans are able to access water from
a piped network or from any other
improved source; how widespread—and
how effective rainwater harvesting as
an alternative source is and, how long
it takes for people to collect water, and
who bears this responsibility.
The study found that in both rural and
urban areas, many people are forced to A boy fetches water in Budaka Town Council. Budaka in eastern Uganda is one of the few town
make difficult choices around cost, time, councils supplied with piped water. INDEPENDENT/JIMMY SIYA
and convenience against health and
Uganda’s water
hygiene. Interestingly, the survey notes
that access to improved water sources is
improving in rural areas with no major
change in urban areas.
challenge
Three out of four Ugandans (74%)
have access to an improved water source,
meaning one that provides cleaner and
safer water. Still, Ugandans in urban
areas (86%) are more likely to use
improved water sources than those in
rural areas (69%), as are richer Ugandans
(84%) compared to poorer ones (71%).
Why Ugandans are struggling finding
Overall, one out of four citizens (24%)
have access to piped water but this
water yet it is everywhere
is much higher in urban areas (46%,
compared to 15% for rural citizens) and
among richer Ugandans (51%, compared Citizens in both rural and urban areas households (7%) was able to use it for a
to 14% of poorer citizens). said there are fewer water points (43%) month or more.
Still, in both urban and rural areas, and distance to water points (39%). In When it comes to the amount of time
boreholes are the main source of the urban areas, although there is access spent fetching water, citizens in the rural
drinking water for more households to piped water, many households cannot areas are the most disadvantaged as it
(rural 38%, urban 23%) than any other afford this water. There is also the issue takes them one hour and 11 minutes on
type of source. Just 2% of households of irregular supply. average to collect water in rural areas
have water piped into their dwelling. As a result, four out of ten citizens compared to 49 minutes in urban areas.
One out of six rural households (15%) or 40% of Ugandans say their access to Despite these differences, a similar and
depends on surface water sources such clean and safe water has worsened over substantial proportion of rural (14%) and
as rivers, streams, dams and lakes, the last 12 months, compared to three out urban households (10%), as well as richer
though this water can by very unclean. of ten who say it has actually improved. (10%) and poorer (15%) households have
Rainwater can provide an affordable Further, for most households (69%), to spend over two hours collecting water.
and accessible alternative source of clean the rainwater they are able to harvest In one out of four households (25%),
water; and eight out of ten households runs out after a week or less, the last the responsibility for collecting water
(78%) harvest it. time they collected it. Only one out of ten falls on the women, the female head of
More French
This year marks the 229th opportunity.
anniversary of Bastille Day
and you are celebrating it Certainly this theme rings
under the theme: “1968: a true for Ugandan women too.
companies
new era for women.” Explain As an outsider, I am
the motivation behind this amazed by the place of
T
theme. women in Ugandan society;
his year’s Bastille the Speaker of Parliament is
coming
Day reflects on a a woman, the First Lady is
particular moment in a minister. There are many
1968 which brought more powerful ministers,
about a cultural revolution powerful female MPs and
in France. University powerful ladies who are
students started a movement running companies. I know
Stephanie Rivoal, the French Ambassador to saying they wanted a less many of them personally so
Uganda spoke to The Independent’s Ronald conservative society with I feel women have a strong
Musoke on the relevance of this year’s Bastille Day more freedoms.The trend was place in Uganda but this is
theme and the current Uganda-France relations soon picked up by factory mostly in the urban areas. In
workers. At the time, workers the rural areas, it is a slightly
were working in a “Fordism” different story. The women
manner—working along a are still very involved with
chain, doing the same work collecting the firewood,
in a systematic way which cooking, and doing the work
became boring. They wanted in the fields. When I visited
to have something different. Karamoja I discovered that
The workers and students’ culturally women also do the
movements turned into construction of houses and I
massive demonstrations in was wondering what men do
the streets and even went in that case. I find that women
into violence. Then women in rural Uganda work harder
also picked up. At the time, and they have probably too
women were seen as stay- much on their shoulders.
home mums. They were there They are also exposed to
to have and raise children. gender based violence very
They had very limited much. This is unacceptable
access to contraception and as it is everywhere else in the
they were stuck in a certain world. When you put down
box. Women needed the women, the entire society
authorisation of the husband suffers. It is in the interest of
to have a bank account and everyone to respect women
to work. A woman needed and give them some economic
to refer to a male colleague opportunity.
to have access to her own
money. Women were Why, do you think, women
even forbidden to wear are still underrated the world
trousers. So women over?
wondered why they It takes a deep cultural
have to submit to change on the men’s part to
men. So this year’s understand that women will
Bastille Day is never be a threat to them. We
celebrating the are their partners in life and
start of this new in the development of society
era for women. and once men understand
We gained more that sharing power would
rights, more mean that everyone benefits
independence and that domination is not
and more necessary and does not lead
emancipation. to the right progression of
My message is society, it will make a big
this fight is not difference.
finished yet
as statistics What explains the popularity
still show that of Bastille Day among
women are modern French people?
yet to realise The French people have
true equality always liked fighting and
in terms of demonstrating for their rights,
rights and justice and equality. It is
Parliamentary polls
Seven parties seek alliance with RPF-Inkotanyi
By John Mbaraga that will contest in the elections; and we are Pierre Nizeyimana, the chairperson said
A
targeting win at least five seats,” she said. UDPR and RPF already have “mutual col-
s preparation for the forthcoming She said PSP prefers to ally with RPF to laboration”. He added that the party execu-
Parliamentary elections continue; benefit from its support to get the desired tive council has already communicated the
with political parties conducting seats in parliament. decision to members.
civic education and electing flag “If we campaign independently, it will The youth party leader says UDPR sup-
bearers to represent them, it has emerged affect the party’s performance,” she said. ports Rwanda’s Seven-Year Development
that some of them could form a coalition Kanyange said that the party had already Programme spearheaded by RPF, and
with the ruling Rwanda Patriotic Front conducted its primaries from village to dis- wants to contribute in its implementation
(RPF)-Inkotanyi. Their strategy is simple; trict levels to elect flag bearers, adding that process.
to ride on RPF’s support to secure seats in the idea of forming a partnership with RPF “Based on RPF and its Chairman Paul
parliament. was approved at the party’s May general Kagame’s vision to promote youth, we want
Rwanda has 11 registered political par- assembly, where the final list of contenders to combine efforts in youth promotion since
ties and four have so far confirmed they was also announced. our party is dominated by young people…
are ready to take on RPF in the polls the Parliamentary elections are scheduled to we want their active participation in nation-
National Electoral Commission (NEC) kick off on Sept. 02, with Rwandans living al reconstruction efforts,” he added.
scheduled for September. They include the abroad casting their ballots first, and on The party has already named four flag
Liberal Party (PL), the Social Democratic September 03, the exercise will be carried bearers, two men and two women. Current-
Party (PSD), the Democratic Green Party of out within the country. ly, UDPR has one senator in parliament.
Rwanda (DGPR), and the RPF. The other The Labour Party of Rwanda (PSR) says
seven political parties are said to be in talks Shared vision it is also looking to partner with the ruling
with RPF. The Democratic Union of Rwandese party in the forthcoming polls “because it
The Solidarity and Progress Party (PSP) People (UDPR) party, which is also seeking has good societal projects and political pro-
is one of these parties, and its chairperson, a coalition with RPF-Inkotanyi, says they gramme which we want to support”.
Phoebe Kanyange, told The Independent have encouraged their members to vote for While confirming the move, PSR presi-
that they have already discussed the matter RPF in forthcoming Parliamentary elections dent Jean Baptiste Rucibigango, an MP in
of forming an alliance with RPF officials. whether RPF accepts the UDPR proposal the current parliament, said RPF’s political
“We also gave them a list of 36 members or not. programme is “unquestionable and the
Rwanda, Tanzania
Democratic Green Party, sup-
ported RPF’s candidate, Paul
Kagame who won over about
99% of the total votes cast.
RPF was cagy on the issue
of numerous parties seeking to New cross-border mobile money hub
contest parliamentary elections
under its flag, with the party’s
Secretary General’s clerk saying
enables international transfers
that the details of election prepa-
rations would be announced By Stephen Nuwagira now send small amounts of money, even below
L
during the general assembly Rwf100, with transfer fees that start from as low
scheduled this month. ocal traders doing business with Tanzania as Rwf3.
and other Rwandans can now conduct Tigo (now Airtel Tigo) pioneered cross-border
We will go it alone transactions with their business partners or mobile money transfer services over four years
As other small parties seek relatives in the neighbouring country via ago, when it launched the service between Tigo
the backing of the ruling party, mobile following unveiling of new cross-border Rwanda and Tigo Tanzania in 2014.
Centrist Democratic Party (PDC) money transfer service by MTN Rwanda on July Airtel provides similar services across all its
is still on the fence, weighing 05. operations in Africa. Over Rwf3,385 million was
The mobile-to-mobile remittance service pushed through cross-border mobile financial
their options, in the meantime.
between Rwanda and Tanzania will also enable services between January and December 2017,
Party president, Agnes Muk-
the telecom’s Mobile Money subscribers to send central bank figures show, and the service is one
abaranga, told this publication
money to Airtel Tanzania subscribers seamlessly of the areas telecoms are targeting to drive growth
that preparations were going on
through the MFS Africa Hub. and expand their footprint.
well. “We are a political party,
The Hub connects mobile wallet customers
and we wish to be represented across networks and countries in sub-Saharan
in Parliament,” she said. Cur- Africa, enabling convenient and affordable
How it works
rently, the party has two law The MTN Mobile Money ecosystem has
mobile-to-mobile international money transfers. expanded extensively, enabling users to pay for
makers, one in lower house and Already, MTN subscribers can conduct cross-
another one in the upper house. moto taxi fares in partnership with Yegomoto; and
border mobile money transfers to Uganda, Kenya settle parking fees in partnership with Kigali Vet-
In 2013 Parliamentary elections, and Zambia.
the party had joined RPF. The erans Cooperative Society.
MTN chief business and corporate affairs Kagame added that the firm has also partnered
party chief, however, said they officer Chantal Kagame said the service brings
would announce their position with local banks to facilitate push & pull services
the convenience of instant cross-border money between financial institutions and customers’
at the party’s general assembly transfers directly to customers’ mobile wallets.
next week. mobile wallets. “We are now registering about
The mobile money service has deepened financial Rwf130 billion in monthly transactions and we
There are 80 seats in the inclusion among Rwandans, supports the push
Lower Chamber that are up for continue to lead Mobile Money in Rwanda with
for a cashless economy, and will help to drive eco- 1.7 million active subscribers,” she said.
grabs, 53 of which are for direct- nomic growth.
ly elected MPs belonging to To send money to Airtel Tanzania, MTN Rwan-
“MTN Mobile Money services have improved da customers will be required to dial *830# from
different political organisations. the lives of customers, and also supported the their handsets and follow the prompts, where
A total of 24 seats are reserved developing Rwanda’s financial infrastructure. they will also view the equivalent amount to
for women representatives, who The efficiency of regional remittance will see send based on prevailing foreign exchange
are elected through the National customers transfer money easier, faster and more rates. They will then be prompted to approve
Women Council structures, conveniently across borders at a fraction of current the transaction with their MoMo personal iden-
while two seats are for youth costs,” she said. tification number (PIN). Upon sending they will
representatives, and one goes The launch of regional remittance with Airtel receive a confirmation message that the transac-
to an MP for people living with Tanzania follows the recent reduction of MTN tion has gone through.
disabilities. MoMo tariffs by up to 80%. Customers can
A solar powered grain drier at the agri expo last week. Stephen Nuwagira.
B
Rwanda Agriculture Board (RAB) and are will be the bedrock on which the agriculture
ugesera District, like other areas of part of several interventions undertaken by sector’s transformation will be built.
the Eastern Province in Rwanda, the Rwanda government to improve agri- She was speaking on the theme of the
experiences long and severe dry culture production and value chains. annual agri-show which was “Investing in
spells these daily because of climate Frank Rusanganwa, a senior weather innovation and agribusiness to transform
change. But it is the home of Jean Pierre forecaster at Meteo Rwanda, says when agriculture”. The agriculture sector employs
Hategekimana, a farmer – and he must farmers can get weather information on over 72% of the Rwanda population of
survive. He grows maize, vegetables, and their phones, it is like they have an “auto- more than 12 million people, especially in
beans. matic weather station”. the rural areas. The sector has recorded
Until recently, for Hategekimana and the When farmers can predict the weather, major gains with more farmers adopting
other farmers in the Gashora sector, eking a it helps them safeguard against its effects. new innovations that have helped improve
living as a farmer has been a gamble; plant The weatherman says the initiative is cur- production and value chains, but a lot still
crops and the rain is plentiful and you will rently covering less than 50 per cent of needs to be done to make the sector more
get a good harvest. Plant crops and there is country, but would soon be rolled out serve sustainable, more productive, commercial-
a prolonged drought, and you lose every- the majority of farmers in all 30 districts of oriented, and profitable.
thing. Rwanda. Solar-power irrigation technologies, and
Last year, however, Hategekimana got Such innovations aim at making agricul- solar-powered grain driers, improved seeds,
something that has quickly proved to be ture more climate change resilient and sus- mechanisation, and irrigation and agro-pro-
a life saver - his mobile phone. With it, he tainable to ensure food security and boost cessing technologies were all showcased.
now receives up-to-date weather forecasts household earnings. Farmers like Hategekimana were also on
and is able to properly plan when to plant. Most of these were on show by farmers hand to narrate their success stories from
The weather updates are supported by and experts who participated in the using climate resilient approaches to reduce
the International Center for Tropical Agri-
Iterambere potato varies that can weigh over 10kg per tuber. Stephen Nuwagira
Liberation Day
Kagame rallies Rwandans on unity, rebuilding country
By Francis Byaruhanga all citizens, affordable housing, and better according to the RDF, if citizens and
R
infrastructure,” he said. survivors of 1994 genocide against the Tutsi
wandans should continue working He added that liberation is about giving continue to struggle to get basic needs,
together as the country moves onto citizens their dignity, and urged the security such as housing, or realising economic
the next stage of liberation; one that forces, including police officers, to “tighten development.
will ensure better social welfare for their belts” and ensure the citizens and their “Human security forms the basic
all citizens and achieve its transformation properties are safe and secure. foundation of national defense and
targets. You must address cases of human stability,” said Minister of Defense James
“The liberation struggle was the starting trafficking and insecurities that are rampant Kabarebe, “This forms the rationale
point toward our economic development, along border areas because we cannot speak for the defense intervention in various
which gave us the foundation on which we of liberation without security, peace, and areas of human security that continue to
should build to realise the development improved welfare of citizens, the president pose threats to people and impede their
aspirations of our country,” said President added. advancement.”
Paul Kagame while presiding over the 24th “You have a right to access to electricity,
Liberation Day (Kwibohora24) celebrations water and other services provided by Beneficiaries speak out
at Rongi, Muhanga District in Southern government; so you should hold us Antonia Musabyimana, a mother of four
Province on July 02. accountable and demand that we deliver; and one of the beneficiaries of the new
Kagame, who inaugurated the two model don’t pay anyone to give you these services homes, thanked president Kagame and
villages and the different facilities built by or anything else because it’s our duty as the government for the support that “will
Rwanda Defense Forces (RDF) during the leaders to serve you,” he added. improve our standards of living”.
event, said continued collaboration and Musabyimana explained that her family
hard work are essential in the this phase of Don’t misuse facilities used to live in a high risk area.
rebuilding Rwanda. The president urged residents of the “Floods would destroy my house during
“The struggle was successful majorly two model villages commissioned to use the rainy season and my children would
because collaboration; so we should the houses and other facilities in the area struggle while trying to go to school during
continue this collaborative approach to appropriately, challenging them to work the rainy season,” she said. Rwanda is
improve the welfare of all Rwandans, as hard and ensure they attain sustainable ranked globally as one of the safest places
well as be able to continue rebuilding the development. to live and also one of the best places for
country, including access to electricity by Liberation would be meaningless, women to live, among others.
BoU’s view
During the Annual General Meeting
of the Uganda Institute of Banking and
Financial Services (UIBFS) last month,
Louis Kasekende, the deputy governor of
BoU, said there are fundamental factors
underpinning the depreciation of the
shilling against the US dollar.
“On the external front, the US dollar
has strengthened in the international
market and this is reflected in the
weakening, albeit with varying degrees,
of currencies of most emerging market
and developing economies,” he said.
“On the domestic front, the balance
of payments has weakened, reflecting
in part the strong import demand from
manufacturing, energy, trade and
commerce sectors.”
NSSF backtracks on
However, he noted that some element
of speculative trading has crept in, in the
past few days accelerating the pace of
depreciation of the exchange rate.
N
Uganda told The Independent in an inter- Shs11bn to stir faster profit growth.
view that the cost of doing business in ational Social Security Fund This came amidst speculation that NSSF
the country is already going up as busi- (NSSF) does not intend to intends to convert its debt in UCL into
ness struggles to cope with the weakened convert its debt in the Uganda equity.
shilling against the dollar. Clays Limited into equity, NSSF extended an Shs11billion loan
“We buy our raw materials in dollars according to its Managing Director, to the company in 2010 to purchase
and therefore any decrease in the value of Richard Byarugaba. machinery for increasing kiln output at
our local currency will lead to a rise in the Byarugaba, who was speaking recently Kamonkoli factory, located in the eastern
cost of doing business and thus higher during the UCL’s Annual General part of the country, and purchase spares
prices for finished products,” Badagawa Meeting in Kampala, said the pension for the Kajjansi factory.
said. fund is not interested in buying more However, the loan which attracted a
Badagawa said it is time for businesses shares in the clays manufacturing firm. 13-15% annual interest had swollen to
especially those involved in manufactur- “NSSF is not interested in converting Shs23.2billion. UCL’s Managing Director,
ing to try out import substitution where its debt into equity in the UCL because George Inholo, said the firm hopes to
possible to tame rising cost of production. you the shareholders will be diluted,” he return to profitability once it gets a new
Paul Lakuma, a research analyst at the said. capital injection.
macroeconomic department of the Mak- “Acquiring more shares in the firm He said the company plans to optimise
erere University based Economic Policy means that the pension fund will its Kamonkoli factory, now synonymous
Research Centre told The Independent in have more than 50% shareholdings in with losses, to widen its market in the
an interview that the weakening shilling the company, placing it in a position eastern and northern region as well as
against the dollar is a wake-up call for the of making majority decisions as venture into western Kenya.
business community to plan ahead. management but we are not in clays “We have also segmented the country
“They (business community) need manufacturing.” into 5 territories. We have 17 selling
to buy and save a lot of dollars during Byarugaba said the Fund, which points across the country and we have
lower prices for use during scarcity,” currently owns a 32.5% stake in UCL, several innovations we are going to
he said. neither operates nor has expertise in launch this year,” he said.
He said companies also need to operating clays manufacturing business, Last year, UCL saw its net profit grow
ensure that there is enough inventory a situation that made the two entities to Shs2.395bn compared with Shs2.375bn
of raw materials at all times to contain search for new investors to inject cash in 2016 and Shs1.207bn loss in 2015 citing
likely market shocks. into the business for growth. increased aggressive marketing strategies
B
In terms of currency, the report states that
ank of Uganda’s latest supervision there was improvement in credit quality in Bank branches
report for 2017 is generally portray- the industry’s NPL ratio for both foreign Whereas there were 24 commercial banks
ing banks as profit making when currency loans and shilling denominated as at the end of last year, the total number
compared with the previous year. loans, from 12.6% and 8.8% respectively of branches declined from 570 in 2016 to 544
The report as usual, provides information at end of December 2016, to 6.5% and 5% in 2017, and the total number of automated
on the BoU’s supervisory activities during respectively at the end of December 2017. teller machines (ATMs) operated by com-
the year, the reforms it has undertaken to The agriculture sector (Shs158.2billion), mercial banks decreased from 860 to 821
the regulatory framework, an evaluation and Trade and Commerce (Shs137.2billion) during the same period under review.
of the performance of the financial system, accounted for most of the banking industry “This decline can be attributed to: the clo-
and an assessment of risks to financial sta- NPLs. sure of Crane bank; and increased emphasis
bility. Notable also is that the proportion of on electronic banking channels to provide
“During 2017, the performance of the NPLs attributed to the Real estate, Build- financial services, leading to the rationalisa-
banking industry in Uganda strengthened,” ing and Construction sector decreased by tion of bank branches through mergers and
BoU Governor, Prof. Emmanuel Tumusi- Shs166.9 billion over the year ended. closures,” the report says.
ime-Mutebile notes in the foreword of the The share of total loans to total deposits, Overall, the growth in bank loans and
40-page report. which averaged 74.2% in the four years advances was subdued despite the easing
According to the report, net after- to December 2016, reduced to 64.1% as at of monetary policy during the year. In 2017,
tax profits more than doubled from December 2017. In particular, banks con- bank credit to the private sector increased
Shs302.1billion for the year 2016 to stricted credit to the real estate and manu- by 1.5% to Shs11.5 trillion, lower than 6.1%
Shs672.9billion for the year 2017 citing a facturing sectors. growth registered in 2016.
reduction in the provision for bad debts. However, the country’s total assets of the The shilling denominated loans expand-
Return on equity (ROE) and return on banking sector grew, in nominal terms, by ed by 8.3% in 2017 to Shs6.9 trillion, which
assets (ROA) improved from 8.3% and 1.3% 12% from Shs23.7trillion to Shs26.5trillion was higher than the 7.5% growth registered
to 16.4% and 2.7% respectively, over the during the same period under review. in the previous year. However, foreign
same period under review. This was on account of a 204.1% increase currency denominated loans fell by 7.1%
However, six banks were loss-making in banks’ holdings of BOU securities, in 2017, down from the 4.4% growth reg-
last year, one less than the seven banks that from Shs0.8 trillion in December 2016 to istered in 2016. Foreign currency denomi-
registered losses for 2016 despite improved Shs2.5trillion in December 2017. nated loans constituted 40.7% of total loans
profitability. Customer deposits grew by 12% to close as at the end of December 2017, down from
The aggregate industry Non Perform- at Shs18.2trillion during the same period 44.4% as at end of December 2016.
ing Loans ratio (non-performing loans under review, with shilling denominated Banks continued to exercise caution in
to total gross loans) improved from deposits accounting for Shs11.6trilllion. lending due to the high default rates suf-
10.5% as at December 2016 to 5.6% as at Improved performance of the banking fered in 2016, even though 2017 registered
December 2017. NPLs dropped by 45.8% industry is most desired because of the significant improvement in loan perfor-
from UShs1.2trillion in December 2016 to importance it has on fuelling the economy mance.
of Mobile money
curve…it is in the unchartered territory,”
he told journalists as he announced his
bank’s financial performance at the Sher-
aton Kampala Hotel on March 28.
“Banks in this country have never had
a Central Bank Rate of 9% (as it is at the
moment). It is a good thing for the econ-
omy (as interest rates will drop) but it is
New tax to hit business hard
very hard for banks to make money.”
Mweheire said this year is also likely By Isaac Khisa & Julius Businge e-commerce and digital communications
U
to be a challenging one and that banks or otherwise conduct business, job searches
will have to do something else to make ganda’s latest Finscope survey among others, through social media may be
money and grow their profits. shows that the adult population negatively affected by a reduced local online
The 2017 supervision report comes at a that has access to some form of audience,” he added.
time Bank of Uganda (BoU) is cautioning financial services from the formal Mucunguzi said the new mobile money
commercial banks on tightening require- and informal sectors has more than doubled tax services will discourage people to revert
ments for securing loans as they move to 78% since 2006 driven by mobile money. to cash and the informal economy and
to implement stricter provisioning stan- But the progress could soon be eroded decreases the ability of the government,
dards required under the International with the introduction of tax on mobile mon- businesses and individuals to monitor and
Financial Reporting Standard 9 (IFRS9) ey transfer services as government seeks to account for economic activities.
that came into force last January. collect Shs114bn to finance the Shs 32 trillion The government, which had initially
The BOU has issued a circular to banks budget for the financial year 2018/19. imposed 1% tax on the value of mobile
regarding IFRS 9 and is evaluating the Albert Mucungizi, the chairperson of money transactions – transferring and with-
banks’ compliance with the standard as Information, Communication Technology drawals – in the new budget, slashed the tax
well as its likely impact on capital ade- Association of Uganda said in a statement by half following uproar from the public.
quacy and credit growth ahead of issuing that government’s recent move to impose This tax is an addition of the already exist-
the final guidance. a tax on mobile money transfer and social ing 10% exercise duty on costs incurred on
Meanwhile, BoU expects the industry’s media will increase the cost of doing busi- mobile money withdrawals or money trans-
performance to improve this year as eco- ness and thus make the country a less attrac- fer charges.
nomic growth picks up and institutions tive destination for investment. However, it maintained its stance on the
[banks] clear the legacy of bad loans. “Additional charges added to Mobile Shs200 social media tax commonly known
The expected performance is pegged Money in particular threaten the survival as over the top tax (OTT tax) daily, with the
on the improving macroeconomic of innovative companies in the digital pay- hope to generate about Shs.284bn.
environment and accommodative ments space, and make it more difficult for Julius Mukunda, the executive director
monetary policy, which is expected innovators to create new solutions within of Civil Society Budget Advocacy Group (CSBAG)
to enhance the financial position of that ecosystem,” he said. said there is need to drop the tax on mobile
households and corporations. “Companies and individuals engaged in money arguing that 61% of MTN mobile
More Ugandans
seek jobs abroad
What is your leadership Ibrahim We have a regional office
I
style as CEO? Bogere is the in Dubai that keeps on
am an inclusive person. I monitoring our workers and
believe that everybody at
CEO of KHM ensuring that everything is
KHM is a leader. We win International moving on smoothly such
as a team. Our company Consultants, a as working conditions and
operates with or without human resource remuneration. We also have
my presence otherwise if it firm that exports a regional monitoring office
was a one man’s company, labour to the in the Gulf spearheaded by
then, it would have possibly the government of Uganda
collapsed owing to my fre-
United Arab and under the guidance of
quent travels. Emirates, Qatar UWERA (our umbrella orga-
and South nization) based in Riyadh,
What is your assessment Arabia. He Saudi Arabia.
of the level of Uganda’s spoke to The
labour export abroad? Independent’s How do you prepare local
As a country, we have workers prior to taking up
since 2015, exported over Isaac Khisa jobs?
70,000 workers to the about the We normally have a
Middle East alone with country’s labour pre-orientation registration
over US$2 million collected export abroad. where we take through pro-
in remittances back home. spective employees of vari-
This means that the num- ous cultures of places they
ber of people interested to What is the criterion for se- the destination of the job. are going to be deployed. We
go and work abroad is very lecting the applicants? Currently, there are only also carry out a five- day resi-
high owing to the high level We have a streamlined two destinations where the dential training and issue them
of unemployment locally. We criterion for sending labour applicant does not need to with certificates before under-
receive about 50 people each abroad based on the need of meet transportation costs that taking work abroad. The other
single day as KHM seeking a prospective employer. For are Jordan and Saudi Arabia. area involves vetting these
opportunities abroad. Given instance, we look at the level However, these destinations prospective employees by the
the fact that we over 100 labour of experience, education and cater for only domestic work- security organs as well as seek-
recruiting companies in the medical fitness. Our own set ers (house maids). ing consent from the guardian
country is an indication that of human resource profession- or parent of that particular per-
more and more people are als carry out aptitude tests to How do you earn income son. We also strive to ensure
interested to go work abroad. ensure that people selected will from these services? that the agent abroad is vetted
indeed work once they reach Brokerage is accepted by the Ugandan Embassy in
Which kind of labour do you abroad and not always think throughout the world. We those countries to ensure that
export to these foreign mar- about home. We also carry out normally charge a one-off they are licensed and meet all
kets? a pre-registration orientation moderate fee for our services the requirements. In conclud-
We recruit and send profes- where we interact with the that involves linking the pro- ing a deal, the government also
sional labour such as drivers, prospective employee, know spective employee to the approves of and appends the
engineers, masons, administra- their expectations and inform prospective employer. There signature on a given contract.
tors, marketing and sales, cus- them of our expectations. are normally three charges –
tomer service, among others fare, service fee for an agent in Some challenges, if any, that
as well as semi skilled. Semi- How can one get recruited Kampala and the service fee the industry face?
skilled here include domestic with companies such as for the agent that is sourcing One of the major challenges
workers, security guards, driv- yours? the employee for the employer facing our industry is human
ers, and factory helpers. For one to be recruited to go abroad. trafficking. It is very difficult to
work abroad, he or she must identify legitimate entities that
Which category attracts the be a Ugandan with a Ugandan How do you protect these export labour abroad and indi-
highest number of applicants passport, must be medically workers while executing their viduals trafficking people out
seeking to work abroad? fit, good employment record if duties? of the country. For that, when
At the moment, the semi- available, academic documents It is our obligation to keep an individual who was traf-
skilled category such as secu- and able to communicate. monitoring persons recruited ficked out of the country gets
rity guards and drivers rank to work abroad as stipulated a problem, all the blame tends
highest in terms of job applica- The other is cost – we need to by the Ministry of Gender, to go to the recruiting agencies,
tion to work abroad. They only know who is going to meet Labour and Social Develop- tainting its image.
need basics in communication. the costs especially air fare to ment until the contract expires.
AFC appoints new CEO NBL plan to donate sanitary pads to 1,000 pupils annually
A
frica Finance Corporation, the in- a Kampala suburb, said the company’s
frastructure development finance interests is to ensure that pupils stay in
institution in Africa announced the school all times.
appointment of Samaila Zubairu “We as NBL are interested in ensuring
as the Corporation’s 3rd President and Chief that pupils remains in school during men-
Executive Officer, succeeding Andrew Alli struation period. Our hope is provide at
who comes to the end of his tenor, having least 1,000 pupils with sanitary pads as we
successfully served in the position since keep on increasing in the subsequent years,”
2008. he said.
In a July 2 statement, the AFC said, Zubai- He said the sanitary support is to ensure
ru is a distinguished Fellow of the Institute that girls have a fair chance to play in life,
of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) NBL's Onapito-Ekomoloit (2nd R), as they develop into responsible citizens
and an accomplished infrastructure devel- others handing over sanitary pads. through education.
E
opment finance specialist with over 29 years This comes as the NBL marks seven years
of professional experience. mployees of Uganda’s leading beer of providing 72 scholarship packages for
He is the CEO of Africapital Management brewer, Nile Breweries Limited, secondary school education, through its
Limited, in which position he established plans to donate pads to at least 1,000 Equity Scholarship programme, worth Shs
a joint venture with Old Mutual’s African pupils annually, according to the 2bn.
Infrastructure Investment Managers (AIIM) company’s legal and corporate affairs direc- The company also provides scholarships
to develop the Nigerian Infrastructure tor, Onapito Ekomoloit. at St. Mary’s College Lugazi to orphans of
Investment Fund1 (NIIF1) for infrastructure Onapito, who was speaking during the the 2010 World Cup terrorist twin bombings
private equity across West Africa. He also handover of 300 pieces of So Sure reusable in Kampala.
recently coordinated the US$300 million to Murchison Bay Primary School in Luzira,
acquisition of Eko Electricity Distribution Plc
csr banking
A
s the World Cup competition and revelers at a popular hangout located in
CDC group to reduce its
neared the finals in Russia, inter-
national beverage company, Coca-
Lugogo, a few kilometers away from Kam-
pala city centre.
shareholdings in dfcu bank
Cola promised to reward soccer The company’s Brand Manager, Miriam
C
fans with different goodies as one way of Limo said the company has had a long-
DC Group has told DFCU Group,
showing its support to the global tourna- standing relationship with FIFA since 1976
ment, it said in a notice. and has been an official sponsor of the FIFA the parent of listed dfcu Bank, of its
However, it did not state the actual World Cup since 1978. Earlier this year, the intentions to reduce its 15% stake
amount set aside for the activity. The com- two global bodies partnered to do the fourth in the Ugandan holding company
pany was among the 2018 FIFA World Cup FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour. which has major interests in financial
sponsors. It recently donated goodies to fans services and commercial real estate.
The London-based firm is a development
finance institution owned by the British
csr government and has been a major equity
partner of DFCU for five decades.
Muni Girls School crowned 2018 Stanbic champions Irina Grigorenko, CDC Investment
Director in-charge of Financial Institutions
made it to the grand finale included; Mengo said they are “undertaking a review of its
Senior School, Nakanyonyi Senior Second- investment in DFCU Limited which may
ary School and Bweranyangi Girls’ Senior lead to the disposal or some of some or
Secondary School. all of its shares in DFCU over the short to
The finalists were tasked to create busi- medium term.”
nesses, present their business plans and
“It is our aspiration to exit in a manner
explain the sustainability of their business.
that causes minimum disruption to the
Stanbic’s CSR Manager, Barbara Kasek-
business and ensures the orderly trading of
ende said, “the team from Muni Girls was
Stanbic Bank CEO Patrick Mweheire, handing DFCU’s shares,” she said.
outstanding throughout the competition
over a solar system worth Shs20mn to Muni However, it remains unclear how this
and deserved to win.”
Girls. INDEPENDENT/JIMMY SIYA The Bank’s Chief Executive, Patrick Mwe- will affect the bank but CDC expressed
M
heire said the lender believes that investing hope that dfcu would continue to “succeed
uni Girls’ Secondary School with the support of Arise B.V., its major
from Arua in Northern Uganda in education is a critical vehicle to fostering
development in the country. shareholder.”
emerged victorious in the third Last year dfcu saw its net profit nearly
edition of the Stanbic National Approximately, 6,000 students from
60 schools countrywide participated triple to Shs127bn, up from Shs46.27bn in
Schools Championship, following a highly 2016 and Shs 37bn in 2015 amidst increase
competitive finale held in Kampala. in this year’s Stanbic National Schools
Competition. in Non-Performing Loans.
The three other regional finalists who
T
money mobile money
elecoms mobile transfer platforms.
money transfer This development comes
services have at the time the government
recorded a 44% is introducing a 1% levy
growth in the value of on mobile money transfer
transactions to Shs63.1 aimed at raising more
trillion as at the end of than Shs 115bn to fund the
Dec 2017 compared with proposed Shs32 trillion
the same period in the budget for this new
previous year due to an financial year.
increase in subscriber However, the report
numbers. notes that there were
President Museveni (M) together with the Director of Saachi This is double the national incidents of operational
Manufacturers Uganda Limited, Anand Nainani (L) and the State Minister budget for this financial year risk in the mobile money
for Finance in charge of investment, Evelyne Anite (R) with one of and more than half of the payments, with several
the Saachi staff pose for a picture with some of the Products after a country’s Gross Domestic fraud cases reported, some
meeting at State House Entebbe on July 3. Product that now stands at of which were perpetrated
US$27bilion. by staff of the Mobile
The Bank of Uganda’s Money network operators.
Annual Supervision Report “Therefore, this calls for
2017 shows that the number proper internal controls
of transactions also rose at the MNOs to mitigate
23.8% to over Shs1.2billion internally perpetuated
during the same period fraud,” the report says in
under review. part.
The number of registered As at end-December 2017,
customers across the there were seven mobile
networks increased by money service providers
8.4%, from 21.6 million as and include; MTN, Airtel,
at December 2016 to 23.4 Uganda Telecom, Africell,
million as at December M-Cash, EzeeMoney and
2017, signalling the Micropay.
Vincent Omoth (R), Marketing Manager Fresh Dairy pose for a photo with
Fresh Dairy officials, and pupils of Kazo Mixed Primary School, Yogemu
Primary School, Kirinya Catholic School and St. Thomas Bazadde Catholic
School during the unveiling of the Fresh Dairy Yoghurt Cup Challenge held
at Fresh Dairy offices on July 4. INDEPENDENT/JIMMY SIYA Weekly share price movement (June 25)
Security June 25 June 12 Movement
BATU 30,000 30000 00
BOBU 155 160 3.1
CENT 1,429 1,435 0.4
DFCU 870 895 2.8
EABL 8,211 8,387 2.0
EBL 1,870 1,860 0.5
JHL 19,300 18,890 2.2
KA 437 362 20.7
KCB 1,851 1,851 00
NIC 17 18 5.5
NMG 3,606 3,778 4.5
NVL 450 450 00
SBU 32 31 3.2
UCHM 55 62 11.3
UCL 21 25 16
The Chairman of MTN Uganda, Charles Mbire addressing journalists on the UMEME 300 300 00
attack of the company’s data centre in Kampala on July 09. ALSI -- -- --
Y
ou have probably heard this before; didate has what the employer could be Uganda, but to the whole world. When
the world’s biggest taxi firm, Uber looking for, but when they are called to suitable and or relevant jobs are posted,
owns no cars of their own and the the interview, they cannot quite put their qualifying candidates receive notifica-
world’s most popular media com- act together. But amidst this stack of tions and decide whether they want to
pany, Facebook, does not create any con- confused candidates there is also quite apply or not.
tent. Similarly, the world’s most valuable a number of great people who have put Many times failure to get a desired
retailer, Alibaba, does not own any stock their act together, but because of this job is not due to lack of experience but
and the world’s largest provider of accom- frustration, sometimes, good candidates failure to get the brief right or self-
modation, Airbnb, does not own even a get caught up in this maze and lose the presentation and this needs to be empha-
hotel room of its own. jobs of their dreams because of “recruiter sised in the school curriculum.
Back at home, we have seen the emer- burnout.” Since today, it has become fashion-
gence of similar companies such as That’s why I have resorted to using able to have at least two social media
Jumia and Safe Boda, who transact huge online recruitment platforms like Fuzu accounts- Facebook, Twitter, Instagram
volumes of business daily, but do not and to help me deal with all the stress etc. I would like to urge everyone out
necessarily own the goods and services that comes with the recruitment process. there to add a third account that is per-
they deal in. This way I am able to meet with only haps more life-changing than social and
Such is the technology revolution and those candidates that are as close to my that is a CV account- if that is what you
it is happening everywhere; even in the requirements, due to the platform’s algo- want to call it.
world of employment- sooner than later, rithms that help separate the ‘chuff from However, to fully appreciate and uti-
you will no longer need to carry physical the wheat’. lise the technology enabled platforms
CVs, late alone look for jobs. Jobs will be I have used Fuzu for about two years a certain level of digital competence is
looking for you; but only if you position now and I was, therefore, elated to know required. It is important that one has a
yourself right. they opened up shop in Kampala. certain level of understanding of how a
In applying for jobs, just like in every- For the uninitiated, Fuzu (www.fuzu. given platform works, by just uploading
thing else, standing out of the crowd com) a company that describes itself as the CV will not just deliver the job. ICT
is very critical. So, if you have been a “platform that specialises in career enabled platforms like these follow a
applying for several jobs with almost development, recruitment and learning given structure in profiling you, and
no luck; and not even a reply, perhaps solutions” is kind of the LinkedIn of East in many cases understanding the key-
it because your resume is getting lost in Africa and more. However, this article is words that define you is very important.
the many other countless applications. not exactly about Fuzu but rather about Having those in your profile is very
This is because in reality, recruiters how to leverage technology to get found important. For platforms like Fuzu it is
don’t have a lot of time to read through or rather let the right job to find you. not the length of your CV that matters
profiles. Therefore, having your skills In today’s world, employers are but rather what are the keywords that
automatically matched to available jobs increasingly turning to online solutions define you and you can always attach
saves everyone’s time- yours and the to hire and if you are in need of a job, a your detailed CV. The same applies to
employers, and increases chances of career change etc. it is about time you the employers many have challenges in
being found and hired. also turned to online to position yourself clearly stating what the job role entails
I have participated in a number of as that ultimate hirer. or what attributes they are looking for
recruitment processes for a number of Unlike the typical job search processes in a candidate. For effective matching
organisations and, I must say, one of which involves potential employees to happen it is therefore prudent that
my greatest frustrations is having to sift waiting on end for those scarce jobs to be both entities ably define themselves and
through several applications of candi- advertised and then flood the potential digital skills play a critical role.
dates who do not and or seem not to employer with thousands of applica- In life, it is up to you to define who you
even know what they were applying for. tions, most online recruitment platforms are and where you want to be, and you
Many times you will call a candidate and such as Fuzu, allow potential candidates have to actively work on it.
they will mumble: “Did I apply? Which to set up their own profiles, which also
organisation is this? Which position did double as CVs and then the available jobs Michael Niyitegeka is a Program Consultant-
I apply for?” Having a couple of those are automatically matched to their quali- Applied ICT; Clarke International
responses is a pain. fications. University, Kampala.
In others, you can clearly see there Think of it as a small personal billboard
is something they are trying to submit in the online sphere that basically puts
but there is so much ambiguity which your CV out there to the world- opening
points to lack of preparation; the can- up endless possibilities in not just
I
t’s the end of the rainy season weather-related chaos has coincided further belt-tightening. At the very
in Kenya, and this year’s storms with renewed efforts to address moment that Kenya needs to borrow
have been almost biblical, washing administrative and budgetary more to bridge a yawning budget gap,
away not only people’s sunny roadblocks. For starters, President its leaders are bumping up against the
disposition, but also their bridges, Uhuru Kenyatta recently announced cold calculus of international finance.
buses, livestock, and crops. But the a major anti-corruption drive If we widen the lens further, Kenya,
damage cannot be blamed on the that, unlike past efforts, is already like the rest of Africa, is approaching
weather alone. producing results. Several senior a demographic tipping point that
Roads have been hit especially government officials have been must also be addressed. According
hard; potholes the size of cars litter investigated and charged; some are to Salih Booker and Ari Rickman of
highways in the capital. Near the already on trial, while others have lost the US-based Center for International
offices of the United Nations on their jobs and have been placed under Policy, by 2035 Africa will have more
Limuru Road, for example, traffic house arrest. These are all firsts, and young people in the job market than
backs up for a half-mile as vehicles the reason is obvious: curbing theft the rest of the world combined, and by
nudge into oncoming traffic to avoid by government cronies is among the 2050, one in every four humans will
one particularly large water-filled fastest and most effective ways to raise be African. If sufficient employment
hole. Elsewhere, vehicles creep along revenues. opportunities are created for this
slowly, bouncing from crater to crater, Of course, ending graft is also a youth wave, the benefits to African
while the carless get tossed around in good way to reassure lenders, and the economies will be profound. But if
matatu minibuses as they travel to and timing of Kenya’s housecleaning is no future generations are unable to find
from work. accident. In September, officials from productive outlets for their skills, the
You might ask why the government the International Monetary Fund will social fallout could be severe.
doesn’t do something. After all, return to Nairobi to review Kenya’s Kenya’s leaders understand this,
potholes are a basic and highly visible financial performance – specifically, which is why the government has
indicator of a country’s social and its eligibility for a $1.5 billion standby made manufacturing, health care,
economic wellbeing. Good roads credit facility. Kenyan officials are education, and affordable housing
are an indicator of government clearly worried, as the IMF has top priorities in its Vision 2030
effectiveness, while bad ones suggest already put Kenya on its debt watch development program. But, as
incompetence. Any government list and will almost certainly demand laudable as these targets are, the
seeking to retain the support of voters authorities’ ambitions are hard to
typically goes out of its way to make reconcile with the realities of a Nairobi
roads passable. Why not in Kenya? street during rainy season.
The reason is brute economics: the Lurching along a rutted track that
government cannot afford it. Consider Kenyan officials doubles as a major urban avenue,
the state of the Kenyan budget. Today,
roughly half of all revenue goes to are clearly Kenyans are all too aware that a
pothole is not simply a pothole; it is
fund the inflated salaries and perks worried, as the a window into the deeper crises that
of government officials, including Kenya, like much of Africa, has put off
parliamentarians, governors, local IMF has already repairing for far too long.
and national bureaucrats, and endless
legions of administrators.
put Kenya on Michael Meyer, a former Newsweek
Another 40% goes to repaying its debt watch editor, is Dean of the Graduate School of
interest on the country’s burgeoning
international debt, which now exceeds
list and will Media and Communications at Aga Khan
University in Nairobi.
half of Kenya’s annual GNP – a red almost certainly
flag for credit ratings agencies. Add
to this the mysterious propensity
demand further Copyright: Project Syndicate, 2018.
for about a third of the national belt-tightening
budget simply to disappear each
year, presumably into the pockets of
venal politicians, and Kenya has the
makings of a serious economic crisis
that is fast coming to a head.
The good news is that Kenya’s
O
n April 3, the United protecting wildlife. This approach, profits. To avoid this outcome,
Kingdom announced a ban known as “sustainable intensification” intensification strategies much be
on the sale of ivory that aims to boost the output of existing accompanied by strong conservation
is “one of the toughest in farmland using techniques such as planning.
the world.” By restricting the ivory integrated crop management and At the same time, however, farmers in
trade, the UK joined other countries advanced pest control. If applied developing countries cannot simply be
– including China and the United widely, sustainable intensification asked to stop using non-farm resources
States in using market deterrents to could even reduce the total amount of adjacent to their fields. Many people in
discourage poaching and shield an land currently under cultivation. poor communities rely on woodland
endangered species from extinction. As This is not an impossible goal. products for fuel and construction
British Environment Secretary Michael Over the last 25 years, farmers in materials, and government policies
Gove put it in the announcement, the more than 20 countries around the that prohibit use of these resources
goal is to “protect elephants for future world improved food security while without offering adequate alternatives
generations.” maintaining or increasing forest cover. will likely fail. Rather, the ideal
These are, to be sure, laudable According to one study, between conservation approach in developing
gestures in the service of a noble 1965 and 2004, farmers in developing countries would link agricultural and
goal. But ending ivory sales alone countries who planted high-quality economic support to strict limits on
will not reverse declines in elephant seeds were able to reduce farmland farmland expansion.
populations. In fact, the biggest threat by almost 30 million hectares – an That is far from being the case
facing these and many other species area roughly the size of Italy. These today. Around the world, billions
is a far more ordinary human pursuit: gains could be extended further of dollars are invested annually to
farming. if smallholder farmers had access address environmental degradation
Throughout the developing world, to modern equipment, better data and poverty; many of the 17 UN
farmers are expanding areas of collection and analysis, and more Sustainable Development Goals are
cultivation in an endless quest for financing. linked in some way to these two
fertile soil. In the process, critical Critics argue that increasing the concerns. And yet, most programs
wildlife habitats are being destroyed productivity of smallholder farms designed to tackle these issues operate
at an alarming rate. According to the could backfire, especially if it in isolation. This is a mistake: solutions
Food and Agriculture Organisation of encouraged poor farmers to expand to food insecurity and habitat loss must
the United Nations (FAO), if current their acreage in the hope of increasing be better integrated if either challenge
trends hold, by 2050 the world’s is ever to be solved.
arable land will increase by some 70 No one doubts that well-meaning
million hectares, and much of the new policies like ivory bans can lessen the
farmland will be on areas that are
currently forested. The risk is greatest
Poverty ecological impact of human activity.
But, at the moment, farming – the
in South America and Sub-Saharan is at the activity most responsible for damaging
Africa, where population growth
and food demand will hit tropical
root of this the health of many species – is failing
to attract the policymaking attention
woodlands particularly hard. ecological that it deserves. Until that changes
Poverty is at the root of this ecological
crisis, but poor farming practices
crisis, government strategies to protect
wildlife “for future generations” will
perpetuate the cycle of hunger and but poor very likely come up short.
habitat loss. In Africa, for example,
persistently low crop yields – often just farming Maxwell Gomera, a 2018 Aspen
New Voices fellow, is Director of
20% of global averages – are tied to practices the Biodiversity and Ecosystem
low seed quality, the unavailability of Services Branch at the United Nations
fertilizers, and a lack of irrigation. As perpetuate Environment Program. Edward
soil health declines and output drops,
many farmers see no option but to look
the cycle of Mabaya, a 2016 Aspen New Voices
fellow, is a senior research associate at
for new land to cultivate. hunger and Cornell University.
Fortunately, there is a way to end
this vicious cycle. Research shows that
habitat loss Copyright: Project Syndicate, 2018.
better farming practices and technology
can increase agricultural productivity
while reducing habitat loss and
A
he says, “They said it was impossible to be the miracle drug for people living with such
shraf Ssebandeke is a sickle cell a carrier and get crises. They first suspected debilitating pain.
anemia carrier, which means that arthritis but I tested negative for it. Others “I started with the likes of Tramadol, it
under normal circumstances, he said I am a sickler but all the more than 15 didn’t work and then I was given morphine.
should lead a normal pain free tests showed I am a carrier.” It just intensified my pain,” he says as he
life. But, as he told The Independent, he has He is a rare case. And he says he has tak- narrates how his constant pains confused
pain that never goes away and he has to en almost all the pain killers on the market doctors into prescribing dozens and dozens
depend on medication to keep it in check. until some ceased being effective, including of pain relievers for him.
`Give youth
By Daniel C. Ntwari
A
lice Mukamana, a student in
Muhanga district, had a forceful
reproductive health
sexual encounter with an older
man when she was just 14-years
old and she got pregnant. She decided to
abort the pregnancy.
services’
Abortion is a crime in Rwanda and is
punishable by law with up 20 years in jail.
However, one can carry out legal abortion if
the pregnancy is a result of rape, incest, and
forced marriage, or if the pregnancy poses a
threat to the mother and child. For this, the Civil society activists want more access
woman or girl must apply to a competent
court of law to grant the right to abort and it
requires a doctor to endorse it.
to contraceptives, abortion rights
But Mukamana’s case had a complica-
tion. As a minor, which in Rwanda covers
anyone between the ages of 13-18 years; her
case could not be described legally as rape,
according to some interpretations. Her case
is called defilement; the act of having sex
with a girl below majority age of 18 years.
Mukamana went through the court process
and was awarded the right to get an abor-
tion. But by then it was already too late. She
was already eight months pregnant. Under
Rwanda law a legal abortion can only be
done when the pregnancy is below 21
weeks or about five months. Mukamana, a
child herself, was forced to have a child due
to the lengthy legal procedures.
Alice Mukamana is not her real name but
cases like hers come up whenever repro-
ductive health and rights are discussed in
Rwanda with civil society organisations
pushing for decision-making moving away
from the courts to the pregnant woman and
her healthcare giver.
According to Christopher Sengoga,
a human rights officer at Rwanda
Health Development Initiative (HDI); Patrick Kagaba speaking during the event. Francis Byaruhanga.
a local health advocacy organization,
Mukamana’s unwanted child could have of postpartum hemorrhage 29%, sepsis and access to stigma-free reproductive
been avoided if Mukamana accessed 17%, severe malaria 12%, eclampsia and health services for adolescents.
comprehensive sexual reproductive abortion both at 9%. Women’s Link’s senior attorney,
health, enabling her to make her own While maternal mortality had declined Lydia Muthiani, says Rwanda has
choices and is equipped to handle such to 283 in 2015 compared to 750 in 2005, made progress in health but lack of
effects. And her desire to abort could also and estimated 300 to 400 women die access to adequate health services during
have been handled differently. annually due to complications related the pregnancy; including abortion and
“It shouldn’t be a taboo to talk about to unsafe abortion. About 1,700 are delivery, “puts women at risk of blame and
sexual reproductive education,” says treated for complications from induced prosecution for infanticide.”
Dr Aflodis Kagaba, the co-founder and abortions. On whether condoms should be allowed
executive director of HDI Rwanda, “Why should we lose 210 women in schools, HDI says some schools have
“Having everyone equipped with all because of pregnancy complications? started realising the importance for students
options available is the best way forward. We have to find measures to bring this to have access to condoms, calling on more
If they choose to abstain or engage number much lower,” Kagaba asked. schools follow suit and also provide holistic
sexual activities, at least they have the training for teachers on sexual reproductive
knowledge and information to take right Call for action health education to avoid all dangers of
decisions.” Now the activists are suggesting new unsafe sex like early pregnancy.
Rwanda’s Demographic Health measures to curb such deaths, including “We have to address the issue of low
Survey (DHS) for 2015 indicates that access to contraception by young people, access to contraceptives so that women can
complications due to unsafe abortions comprehensive sexuality education for consistently use them; more sensitisation
also contribute to maternal mortality children youth, access to safe abortion about reproductive health is also need espe-
in Rwanda. Statistics indicate that services for women, decriminalization of cially among churches which own 40% of
maternal deaths in Rwanda are a result sex work, review of the age of consent, health facilities in Rwanda,” Kagaba says.
Behind
`Coat
of many
colours’
Veteran artists
fights to preserve
cultural heritages
W
By Dominic Muwanguzi
M
but include Bridgestone, Dunlop, Hankook
owners who — it says — can feel the differ-
ichelin wants buyers to use and Goodyear.
ence well before the tyre is worn down to
braking performance with Michelin is chasing original-equipment
the legal limit.
worn tyres on a wet road — not contracts for the Primacy 4 but is currently
“A lot of people have anxiety about the
dry-road grip on a new tyre focused on the aftermarket with plans to
safety of used tyres. As soon as you start to
— as their primary consideration for rub- sell the tyre in more than 170 countries
drive the tyre performance changes. A little
ber choice. It’s also keen to see real-world with an extensive advertising program that
bit at the start, then faster and faster,” says
testing of tyres, in a similar style to NCAP focuses both on the tyre’s wet strengths and
Roget. But there are a couple of advantages
crash tests and Europe’s new WLPT fuel the concerns of ordinary drivers.
to worn tyres.
consumption tests, to give consumers a bet- “Michelin starts a discussion around
“When worn, grip will improve on a dry
ter chance of choosing the safest rubber for the worn-tyre performance. We think it is
road. This is like a racing tyre.
their vehicles. important, as an industry,” says Roget.
“When worn, the fuel consumption also
“The problem is that all testing is now improves. One tank of five is consumed by
done with new tyres. We need testing with Source: motoring.com
the tyres because they are generating heat.
worn tyres,” says Cyrille Roget of Michelin. There is less heat in a worn tyre from the
“The only time a tyre is new is when it is tread.”Michelin spends more than $1 billion
on the shelf. After that it is always worn to a year in research and development by
some degree.” around 6000 technical experts. It has
Not surprisingly, Michelin has a vested 11,700 active patents and filed for
interest in a new scoring system and Roget; 416 in 2017 alone.
the company’s worldwide director of sci- It says its ‘innovation’ pro-
entific and innovation communication, is gram now covers everything
pushing the message. from replacing oil in tyres
It is about to launch its new Primacy 4 with wood and futuristic
tyre after extensive research and develop- 3D-printing of tyre treads
ment that’s reflected in the slogan ‘Safe to cut environmental
when new, safe when worn’. impact and improve
It’s a point Michelin proves during a safety.
press preview in Thailand, where the Pri- “We need to think
macy 4 comprehensively outscores rivals about the future.
from Dunlop and Bridgestone during wet- Tyres should be
weather braking exercises, which are the designed to perform
toughest challenge for any heavily-worn well throughout
tyres. the useful life,” says
In an 80km/h panic stop on a soaked Roget.
road, a heavily-worn Michelin even out- Improving worn-
scores brand-new tyres from one of its tyre performance, so
rivals. But there is no real chance to test that people can get
the other claims for the Primacy 4, which closer to the 1.6mm
include more comfort and less road noise. safety level than the
We do get a chance to speed around a 3mm level where
motorkhana in a Mercedes-Benz wearing most people current-
the Primacy 4, and about 5km in a Toyota ly replace their tyres,
Camry — including a 200-metre ‘comfort could save 35 million
test’ — but there is zero chance for a realistic tonnes of CO2 a year,
assessment of the tyre. says Michelin.
The Primary 4 is a mid-level tyre in the “That’s enough to
Michelin range — not nearly as grippy as run New York City for
its headliner Pilot Cup Sport 2, but intended six months. It’s a big city,”
for regular family cars and offering mileage says Roget.
in the 40,000-50,000km range. The research that resulted
But it has a stronger focus on safety and in the Primacy 4 included
particularly wet braking, which Michelin everything from better silica
P
had trained so much, he would not be able to stop him for fear that he would be killed
rivate investigation remains scarce- deliver any form of justice in the circum- for taking on something that involves nos-
ly known to majority Ugandans stances. ing in people’s lives. Egesa followed his pas-
not because there are no private In 1994, he registered and applied for sion and as he prospered, he says he once
investigators but rather due to the guns, recruited ex-service men from the employed his father to manage the accounts
thinking that it is the job of the government army and the police under Missing Link of the company having been a business
security agencies. But this is a job that Fred Investigators and business started. man and a strong pillar in business.
Egesa has done for the last 24 years and he Egesa cites some of the challenges along Egesa says he has gone through trainings
is still going. He has kept at his childhood the way including clashing with security and is a qualified Investigative Specialist.
dream of pursuing justice. organisations like the Internal Security He went to Najjanankumbi Seventh Day
“I have done many cases where I am Organisation. Adventist, Kitante Secondary school, and
not paid because I love to pursue justice,” “The army and other security Light College Katikamu Light
he says adding that little was known about organisations thought they were Secondary School. He is
private investigation until he hit the biggest monopolies in investigation a middle child among
case of the time - the murder of Warren Ban- work but were forced to feel the 13 children, was
tariza in 1994. our presence,” Egesa says, born and raised in
Egesa says he picked the trait from his “We were fairly read so at Kampala although he
mother, Jane Nansubuga, who was always times, they would request is a Samia Mugwe
pursuing justice. to look through our files.” from Busitema. He
“She was very kind and went into the Egesa says private inves- has been married
details of a case to seek justice and would tigation should be con- for more than
only punish after confirming the crime and sidered as supplementary three decades
the criminal.” investigation. As a career, with children. He
“I look at investigation as a way of learn- it can be an avenue for ex- envisions retiring
ing and the search for answers to many service men. after establishing a
puzzles and questions,” he says. “They are very knowledge- College for private
He has investigated several cases; includ- able and want to survive so investigation to off
ing one where government was alleged they must be handled carefully load his knowledge
to have a hand in the murder of then because some may even start and experience to the
Bukomansimbi District Woman MP, Susan advising criminals,” he says. young people.
Namaganda in 2015, until the murderer was It was not only opposition
arrested in Ssese Islands. But even with the from government security
more than two decades in practice, Egesa organizations but
maintains that the world is too big for pri- family as well.
vate investigation thus the need for more; Egesa’s
especially in Uganda. And to him many
cases are handled by learners on the job
while others are unattended; which creates
a backlog.
Unlike before, in Uganda today there is a
statute under the Private Security Organisa-
tion’s Act under the police which guides the
work of people like Egesa. And with this in
place, other people have also joined in pri-
vate investigation.
His work leans more into investigating
government officials and undoing cases like
frame-ups done by police. He says he saved
a man who was falsely accused of killing his
own father and had been indicted for trial.
Egesa’s journey dates back to as far as
1981 when he joined the police under an
intelligence officers’ programme during
Obote II government. It was a special gov-
ernment course that took only about 20
trainees. Two years later, Obote’s govern-
ment was shaken by power struggles and,
I
don’t know about you? love of all Ugandans but
am a Pentecostal who What is your greatest betrayed it all. The signals of What is your favorite
accepted the Lord Jesus extravagance? what he did to this country occupation?
Christ as my savior at I have so many files and are only vibrating. I am living my childhood
only 11 years. Although cases of poor people who dream of being an
some people claim that it are unable to afford justice. What is the quality you investigator. I feel good
contradicts my profession, most like in a woman? when people come to me
they should know that the What is the greatest thing Being half woman. and have their cases dealt
best spies were Joshua and you have ever done? with.
Caleb in the Bible because Writing the book ‘The What is the quality you
they always had a proper holy Spirit our friend’. I most like in a man? What do you most value in
assessment and right believe that I gave it my all Responsibility, fairness your friends?
reports. Intelligence is about and tore my life. and truthfulness. I only have acquaintances
proper analytical assessment because if I have a friend,
and drawing conclusions. I What is your current state What or who is the greatest I want to always live their
am also the author of books of mind? love of your life? life.
like ‘Satan is a liar’ and I am at peace. My children.
‘The holy spirit our friend’ Who are your favorite
because the Holy Spirit has What do you consider the When and where were you writers?
really given me a boost of most overrated virtue? happiest? I read mostly on security
wisdom. The urge to always hear In 1971, when I met and intelligence which have
new things and eventually Rev. John who prayed for no specific writers.
What is your idea of perfect lies come in handy. We are me because I had been a
happiness? not very analytical because sickly child spiritually and Which historical figure do
I wish I could have more we want to feed on new physically. In 1974, when you most identify with?
children because I love stuff everyday. my father was released from Pinto Emmanuel lived
carrying them and they give prison and in 1987 when in his own shadow.
me a lot of consolation. They What does being powerful I married because I was I love Gandhi’s non-
are genuine souls and most mean to you? the smallest among the 11 aggressiveness yet empathic
times innocent. It is a trait Having a positive couples of the day. way. He could drive the
that I pick from my mother. influence on your people nail home in the simplest
without being deceptive. It’s Which talent would you of all means and was
What is your greatest fear? also being able to recognise most like to have? even sympathetic to his
I am a simple but brave the problems of your people I love singing even when I detractors.
person. There is no amount and them knowing that you am not very good at it. I also
of threat that can push can offer genuine help. love reading and writing. Who are your heroes in real
me off an issue that I am life?
passionate about. On what occasion do you Where would you most like Mahatma Gandhi, Martin
lie? to live? Luther King, and Pinto
What is the trait you most Investigatively, if you I have all chances of Emmanuel
deplore in yourself? are probing a matter, you leaving Uganda but I have
I am too good and soft; can frame up or window children to guide and they What is your greatest
ordinarily, people think that dress to captivate the mind need me. regret?
they can drive me around or of suspected criminals. I regret the day I arrested
take advantage of me. There are times we lie out What is your most a wrong person. I had just
of respect but not to take treasured possession? started investigation and out
What is the trait you most advantage of others. I treasure everything of inexperience, I got him
deplore in others? that I have worked for and detained. Although he was
Unfairness; fairness is the What do you most dislike remember how I acquired released and we eventually
basis for doing what you about your appearance? each one of them. became friends, I still regret
would wish others to do to I am a fairly presentable it.
you. person. What do you regard as the
lowest depth of misery? How would you like to die?
Which living person do you Which living person do you Detaining innocent people I don’t want a long illness.
most admire? most despise? deprives them of what
I have respect for John Gen Kale Kayihura got they are entitled to. Such What is your motto?
Nagenda; he says what he what all of us may never individuals die every day Fairness is Godliness.
thinks and never bends to get; the attention and trust just from the thought of
I
n the last few years, for many people a progressive politician, including US Similarly, in many European coun-
and their leaders, globalisation has be- Senator Bernie Sanders, who tried and tries, the backlash against globalisation
come a scourge to be purged in favour failed to secure the Democratic nomina- has translated into virulent opposition
of greater protectionism and unilater- tion for the 2016 US presidential election to migration, not to mention increased
alism. This represents a sharp departure on a platform that focused on addressing resistance to European integration.
from the recent past when globalisation was people’s frustrations with the increas- Voters in Austria, Hungary, and Italy
widely regarded as a positive force. What ingly unequal status quo, largely through have elected politicians who campaigned
changed, and why? redistribution. explicitly against immigration. In the
Key components of globalisation More politically effective, but eco- United Kingdom, the 2016 Brexit ref-
include greater cross-border mobility of nomically and socially damaging, is erendum partly reflected a rejection of
goods, labour, and capital, each of which the approach of populists like U.S. the free movement of people within the
promises significant overall benefits for President Donald Trump, who offer sim- European Union.
economies. Free trade enables coun- plistic explanations that play on voters’ By encouraging unilateralism, and to
tries to capitalise on their comparative fears and frustrations (for example, by some extent even authoritarianism, the
advantages, boosting all participants’ blaming immigrants or countries with backlash against globalisation threatens
economic performance and prospects. trade surpluses) while pretending that not only to prevent countries from
Migration can inject diversity and dyna- there are easy fixes (say, erecting walls reaping the economic benefits of open-
mism into, say, an aging society, while and import barriers). ness, but also to undermine the struc-
helping to reduce poverty in source Trump blamed the struggles of Rust tures of international cooperation that
countries, such as through remittances. Belt workers on international competi- have supported nearly three-quarters of
And foreign direct investment (FDI) can tion. But that is only part of the story: a century of relative peace since World
create employment, spur research and technological displacement has played War II.
development, generate tax revenues, and a larger role, though this has often been Reversing this trend will require, of
enhance competition. ignored, not least because it is harder course, the unequivocal rejection of
The problem is that these benefits to demonise. Meanwhile, the Trump policies that flout democratic values and
are not necessarily broadly shared. For administration has pursued extreme repudiation of the leaders who advocate
example, migration can put wage pres- and morally unconscionable anti-immi- and implement them. But it will also
sure on lower-skill workers in destina- gration policies, such as the recently demand efforts to address globalisation’s
tion countries. By enabling companies to reversed policy of separating migrant real negative effects – beginning with an
move operations to lower-wage markets, children from their families at the excessively unequal income distribution.
the elimination of trade barriers can have southern border with Mexico. Here, measures like a carbon price or a
a similar effect. Even cross-border invest- “Tobin tax” on international financial
ment has its downsides, as domestic transactions could help. In my country,
players may struggle to compete with Japan, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s
foreigners. The problem administration may need to consider
Such factors have contributed to rising
inequality in many countries. In the
is that these direct wage hikes.
Today’s globalised world is far from
United States, for example, lower-skill benefits are perfect. But protectionist and isolationist
workers in the Rust Belt – the manufac-
turing region stretching from Michigan not necessarily policies will only make things worse,
especially if they are used as an excuse to
to eastern Pennsylvania – have faced broadly shared. deny basic human rights to immigrants,
decades of stagnant wages, while high- among others. Balanced policies aimed
skill workers in finance and technology For example, at reaping the benefits of openness – and
– Wall Street and Silicon Valley – have
enjoyed soaring compensation. While
migration can put ensuring that those benefits are broadly
shared – may not be the most politically
economic openness boosts economies wage pressure expedient option today; but they would
as a whole, there is an obvious need to
ensure that the benefits are more equi-
on lower-skill do economies and societies a lot of good
tomorrow.
tably distributed or, at least, that some workers in
groups are not inordinately hurt by it.
Many economists argue that the key
destination Koichi Hamada is Professor Emeritus at Yale
to success on this front is to adopt countries University and a special adviser to Japanese
redistributive policies, typically via the Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
tax system. But such policies are very
difficult, if not impossible, politically.
That lesson has been learned by many Copyright: Project Syndicate, 2018.
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