News analysis Health Business

Bududa mudslide Tokophobia: extreme Electricity tariffs drop not Hima Cement looks to
victims of lies fear of pregnancy enough to grow industrial sector housing sector for growth

Issue No. 543 Oct 19 - 25, 2018 Ushs 5,000,Kshs 200, RwF 1,500, SDP 8

Museveni’s
next cabinet
Which opposition politicians are
targets and what awaits them
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Issue No. 543 Oct 19 - 25, 2018

News analysis Business Health Arts Motoring

Cover story
Museveni’s next cabinet
Which opposition politicians are in and what awaits them

4 The Week
29 Comments
Japheth Kato named Board
Chairman for UBL Technology and home
languages: Marrying them
in school boosts maths and
9 The Last Word
science learning
The triumph of colonialism:
How European claims to promote
`civilisation’ in Africa remain the
36 Health
supreme aim of all our governments
Tokophobia: extreme fear
of pregnancy: When some
14 Analysis women develop extreme
Bududa mudslide victims of lies: fear of childbirth
Why the weakest link for them are
unfulfilled government promises
39 Arts & Culture
27 Business It’s raining dollars
Electricity tariffs drop not for Ugandan artists:
enough to grow industrial sector Artist sells pieces worth
Shs289m in one night

STRATEGY & EDITORIAL DIRECTOR: Andrew M. Mwenda
MANAGING EDITOR: Joseph Were
INVESTIGATIONS EDITOR: Haggai Matsiko
BUSINESS EDITOR: Isaac Khisa
PHOTOGRAPHER: Jimmy Siya
WRITERS:Ronald Musoke, Flavia Nassaka, Ian Katusiime,
Agnes Nantaba, Julius Businge.
DESIGN/LAYOUT: Sarah Ngororano
CARTOONIST: Harriet Jamwa

PUBLISHER: Independent Publications Limited, Plot 82/84, Kanjokya Street, P. O. Box 3304, Kampala, Uganda
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2 Oct 19 - 25, 2018

 Offline

President Museveni
inspects the CCTV
command centre at
Natete Police Division
Offices on Oct. 9.

“I do not fear death but that does not

mean we should not take precautions.
But let them give me reasons why they
are listing me on the death targets. If
there is something wrong that I am
doing or if I upset someone, I am ready to
correct it,”Beti Kamya, minister for Kampala

Cranes captain Dennis

Onyango (L) and
Cranes coach Sebastian
Desabre (R) pose with
President Museveni
after handing him a
Cranes jersey during
the team’s visit to State
House on Oct.9.
“It’s a shame seeing an MP voting
against paying taxes, yet people
need drugs in hospitals and good
roads. Where do you expect the
money to come from?” Kahinda
Otafiire, minister for justice

Staff at the new

UNHCR call centre for
refugees in Kampala
on Oct 12. The centre
will serve as an
information sharing
system and provide
safe and reliable
communication
channels to refugees
and asylum seekers. “We have a ministry for disaster
preparedness but when have we
ever actually been prepared for a
disaster?” Mukasa Mbidde, EALA MP on
government response to Bududa landslide

Students who graduated Residents of Kyangwali in Money gov’t is seeking

1648 from Bishop Stuart
University in Mbarara
11900 Hoima who will be relocated
away from a refugee camp
Shs390bn for expansion of national
CCTV network

Oct 19 - 25, 2018 3

week

L-R: Shonubi , new BOD member, Jimmy Mugerwa, incoming chairman Japheth
Katto and UBL MD Mark Ocitti make a toast at Serena Hotel on Oct.12
Japheth Kato named Board Chairman for UBL
With many years of
experience in leadership,
corporate governance and
sound accounting both in
private and public sector,
Japheth Kato is now the new
Board Chairman for beer
maker, Uganda Breweries
Limited. His appointment
was confirmed on Oct.12 by
shareholders. He took over
from Alan Shonubi, who
served since 2009. Prior to
his appointment, Kato was
a member of the UBL Board
since 2014. Kato is also the
current Board Chairman for
Stanbic Bank and former CEO
of Uganda’s Capital Markets
Authority. Speaking to The
Independent at Shonubi’s
farewell event at Serena Hotel
on Oct.12, Kato said that he
would continue from where
his predecessor stopped. “The
company is in good shape.
And we are ready to deliver
the strategic and business plan
of the company,” he said. Kato
said his leadership will focus
on overseeing the governance
of the company and the
challenges related to a volatile
economic environment and
changing tax regimes.
Minister clarifies on
hepatitis vaccine
Dr Jane Ruth Aceng, minister
of health, says the falsified
Hepatitis B vaccines are not
harmful. This was established
after the vaccines were subjected
to tests and the ministry has
now released its findings which
state the drugs pose no threat.
During routine surveillance
checks in Mbarara early
this year, the National Drug
Authority (NDA) sampled
about 50 vials of suspected
falsified Hepatitis B vaccines
from several health centres and
took them for tests. “Chemical
tests done on both samples
(authentic and false vaccines),
did not find any harmful active
pharmaceutical ingredient
that would be injurious to
the recipient. Additional field
monitoring confirmed no
adverse drug reaction,” Aceng
told journalists. She added
that NDA has made efforts to
monitor side effects amongst
those who received the falsified
vaccines, but none had been
reported and identified.

Opposition set conditions for them to participate in national dialogue

After government accepted to participate
in the national dialogue that has for long
been mooted by several individuals and
groups including the Uganda Elders Forum
and the Inter Religious Council of Uganda
, opposition political parties issued their
conditions to be fulfilled by the organizers if
they are to take part.
In a joint statement signed by Democratic
Party’s Norbert Mao, Forum for Democratic
Change’s Patrick Oboi Amuriat, Uganda
People’s Congress Joseph Bbosa, People’s
Government’s Col Dr. Kizza Besigye, Gen.
Mugisha Muntu of the New Formation
and Olara Otunnu who signed as a con-
cerned citizen asked that the agenda of the
dialogue should be to address what they
referred to as a national crisis.
But after the release of this tough
statement that had seven demands to be
fulfilled, sections of the public came out to
criticize the move saying that the dialogue
shouldn’t be about parties and politicians
but all Ugandans. “Who gave those
demands to the opposition? Who did they
consult?” a poster asked on twitter.
Also, the Deputy Government
Spokesperson Col Shaban Bantariza said
the opposition leaders ought not to delay
the dialogue because they are ones that
have been demanding it.
According to the roadmap, the process
leading to the dialogue is set to be
launched on Nov.21 and the dialogue will
happen next year.

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4 Oct 19 - 25, 2018

 Week

Kanye West, Kim Kardashian visit Uganda Kasese leaders clash

American power couple; rap-
per Kanye West and his wife,
reality television star Kim Kar-
dashian West, caused a social
media buzz when they spent a
UNRA to create skills development hub in Luweero
Uganda National Roads
Authority (UNRA) has taken
over a plant operators train-
ing centre in Luweero which
it plans to turn into a skills
development hub for mechan-
ics and other kind of equip-
ment operators. DFID, UK’s
international development
arm handed over the centre
week at Chobe Safari Lodge in
Murchison Falls National Park.
Kanye was in Uganda to shoot
a music video and rumour was
rife that some Ugandan artistes
to UNRA on Oct. 5 and for
the few months UNRA had
taken over, 28 operators from
KCCA, ministry of works
among others have been
trained, said Joseph Otim,
UNRA Director for Road
Maintenance. Otim added
that UNRA will manage it on
behalf of the road sector. It is
could feature. In one of the
pictures from their visit, Kanye
is seen draped in the Uganda
flag as Kim and their children
and entourage enjoy the sights
and sounds of the park. Uganda
Tourism Board hailed the visit
of the American celebrity cou-
ple as a milestone for Uganda’s
tourism. Kanye is one of Amer-
ica’s leading rappers with hits
like Heartless, Homecoming,
Goodlife while Kim Kardashian
has arguably the most popular
reality television show Keeping
Up With Kardashians.
plan of UNRA’s broad plan
of cutting down on resources
spent on outsourcing person-
nel. The centre has simulators
where engineers learn how
to operate excavators, wheel
loaders, and motor graders.
Adrian Green, an official from
DFID thanked the government
of Uganda for its cooperation.
over splitting district
There was drama and chaos
in a district council meeting
in Kasese District on Oct. 14
after a resolution was passed
to create three new districts.
The LC5 chairman Geoffrey
Sibendire Bigogo, opposed
the move causing more
tension among the councilors
who have long agitated for
new districts. The chairman
stated that the Speaker
Geoffrey Bwerere erred in
endorsing the resolution of
the council that approved
the creation of Bwera, Hima
and Nyamugasani districts.
The move has divided
district leaders including
MPs. District councilors were
returning from a one-month
consultation exercise when
one of them, Richard Bomera,
moved a motion that the
Speaker subjects the motion
of creating new districts to
a vote. This was the second
time the issue has come up in
a council meeting.

Journalist’s alleged murder tests US-Saudi relations

The disappearance and Khashoggi who was last accusations and has started
possible murder of Saudi seen entering the Saudi a joint probe with Turkey
journalist Jamal Khashoggi consulate in Turkey on Oct. into the disappearance of
has tested the relations 2. Saudi Arabia vowed to the journalist meanwhile
of traditional allies U.S. retaliate if any action is Trump is under pressure to
and Saudi Arabia. US taken against it. Reports take action. Khashoggi was
President Donald Trump suggest Khashoggi was a prominent journalist in the
said there would be “severe allegedly killed by Saudi Middle East who was very
punishment” if the oil-rich hit men inside the Saudi critical of the Saudi monarchy.
Saudi Arabia has something consulate in Turkey. Saudi He also wrote a column for
to do with the missing Arabia has denied the The Washington Post.

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Week
Rules committee Namboole calls off Bobi Wine Kyarenga concert Solicitor General
asks Namuganza to
apologize to Speaker
Lands State Minister Persis
Namuganza has rubbished a
report released by the parlia-
mentary Committee on Rules,
Discipline and privileges that
recommended that she either
apologizes to the speaker
Rebecca Kadaga or face sus-
pension for her behavior that
they say insulted the office of
the speaker.
Namuganza who says the
committee sidelined her and
never summoned the speaker
for interrogations said this
report is baseless can find her
guilty of the offenses including
making false and derogatory
statements against the speaker
and inciting the public against
the Kyabazinga William Gab-
ula Nadiope by calling upon
her constituents to chase him
and the speaker away from the
area with stones.
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booked for two other events
– a wedding and a workshop against police
The management of
Mandela National Stadium
at Namboole has asked
Kyaddondo East legislator
Robert Kyagulanyi aka
Bobiwine to choose another
date for his hyped Kyarenga
concert that was supposed
to take place on Oct.20. They
say the stadium has already
been booked for other
events on that day.
Jamil Ssewanyana Mpagi,
the Managing Director of the
stadium said the venue is
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awards Shs270m
by the Uganda Athletic
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legislator to choose another
date. Earlier, the Police had
indicated that they had
not yet issued clearance
for the launch of the song
that became a hit around
the same time Bobiwine
and colleague members of
parliament were arrested
after a fracas in Arua that
involved an alleged attack of
the presidential motorcade
by supporters of then
candidate and now MP for
Arua Municipality Kasiano
Wadri.
Bobiwine announced that
he would hold a concert
at Namboole as soon as he
returned from the US where
he had been for treatment
of the injuries he sustained
while in custody.
The Solicitor General has
ordered the Uganda Police
Force to pay Shs270million to
Jasper Natukunda, a resident
of Rukungiri District as com-
pensation for torture meted
out on him by police officers.
“The purpose of this letter
is to forward the copy of the
judgment, decree and a certif-
icate of order against govern-
ment for your office to make
arrangements to effect pay-
ments in line with the cov-
enant of decentralisation of
payments for court/tribunal
awards and compensation
to line ministries,” Solicitor
General Francis Atoke wrote
to the Inspector General of
Police Okoth Ochola recently.
The police had earlier denied
torturing Natukunda but lost
the case in court to Natuku-
nda and ordered that he be
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Humour Did you know?

Climate change will cause

beer shortages
President Yoweri Museveni has directed Finance Minister Matia Kasaija to have the Sure, the ice caps might be melting,
Permanent Secretary Ministry of Gender, Pius Bigirimana appointed to the Board of hundreds of animals could go extinct in the
Umeme, despite being rejected by the company’s shareholders. coming decades, and coral reefs might soon
be a thing of the past, but at least we can
enjoy a nice cool beer while climate change
wreaks havoc on our planet, right? We
wouldn’t count on it.
A new study, published today in Nature
Plants, has estimated that extreme drought
and heatwaves sparked by climate change
could dramatically decrease barley yields
across the world. As a result, we will see
global beer shortages, sharp falls in beer
consumption, and surges in beer prices.
Researchers estimate unmitigated climate
change has the potential to slash global beer
consumption by up to 16 percent, leading
to beer prices doubling on average. Even in
less extreme scenarios, beer consumption
could fall by 4 percent and prices will rise
by 15 percent. It also looks like beer prices
will spike the most in “relatively affluent
and historically beer-loving countries”
Two assistant inspectors of Police working at Entebbe International airport have been missing such as Belgium, the Czech Republic, and
for more than a week after they were grabbed by armed men in civilian clothes.
Germany.
“Many foods will experience a decline
in yield, but luxury goods will be more
sensitive to climate change impacts,” lead
UK author Dabo Guan, professor of climate
change economics at the University of East
Anglia, told IFLScience.
“For example, barley,” he added. “Only a
small fraction of good quality barley is used
to make beer, about 17 percent. The rest is
grown to feed animals. It’s this good quality
stuff usually used for beer that will be much
more vulnerable when the effects of climate
change happen.”
Professor Guan explained: “When
climate change really takes effect, poorer
populations in developing countries will
suffer the most due to problems with food
security. In richer developed countries,
we may also experience some hunger,
Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago has backed the directive by the Kampala Minister but it’s our lifestyles that will be seriously
Beti Kamya to halt the demolition of at least 537 illegal city buildings compromised.

Oct 19 - 25, 2018 7

Kanye, Kim Kardashian at state house

The triumph of colonialism
By Andrew M. Mwenda
How European claims to promote `civilisation’ in
Africa remain the supreme aim of all our governments
O
ne of the most successful ideo-
logical projects in contemporary
history has been European colo-
nialism, or what Marxists used
to call imperialism. Vladimir Lenin called
imperialism the highest stage of capitalism.
The growth of capitalism imposed certain
demands on the European bourgeoisie.
They needed to find new sources of raw
materials for their industries, areas to invest
surplus capital, new markets for their man-
ufactured products and cheap labour.
However, this imperial aim needed an
ideological justification. It could not be
justified with the self-interested economic
reasons above. Hence the European bour-
geoisie presented colonialism to itself and
its audiences at home plus to its victims in
“backward” societies as an altruistic mission
for the benefit of the colonised; bringing the
three Cs i.e. Christianity, Civilisation and
Commerce.
Christianity was the spiritual emancipa-
tion of native souls from devil worship,
civilisation European administrative and
cultural enlightenment, and commerce
was liberation of natives from poverty and
misery and deliver them to economic pros-
perity. Colonialism consolidated in large
part because the colonised were ideologi-
cally won over to the belief that it was for
their good.
Today, all poor nations are involved in a
struggle to achieve these colonial aims using
different words. What colonialism called
“civilisation” is what is today called devel-
opment, Christianity gave way to a secular
religion called democracy and commerce
represents our obsession with international
trade and foreign direct investment. Practi-
cally every country in the developing world
is engaged in a titanic struggle to achieve
these colonial goals.
The nationalist struggle for independence
was not a rejection of the colonial project
but rather the agency for its implementa-
tion. They argued that white elites were
hypocritical. They were not helping Africa
become like Europe. Instead they were
exploiting the continent for themselves.
The nationalist leaders for Africa’s indepen-
dence, therefore, did not seek to dismantle
the colonial state or even change its aims.
Rather they sought to inherit it and use it to
exploit Africa’s resources to achieve what
colonialism claimed was its mission – to
civilise Africa.
Karl Marx had argued that capitalism
inherently carried the forces of self-destruc-
The Last Word
tion – which he termed “the grave digger
problem.” For Marx, the more successful
the bourgeoisie are in their project of accu-
mulation, the more they would produce a
class, the proletariat, whose interests would
be at conflict with the interests of capital.
Marx then predicted that at it’s most suc-
cessful, capitalism would destroy itself i.e.
the proletariat would rise and overthrow
the capitalists and take control of the means
of production.
Marx’s prediction on capitalism failed in
the economic sphere but succeeded in the
colonial world. Colonialism would inevi-
tably educate Africans with the formal edu-
cation of Europe; thereby exposing Africans
to European (capitalist) ideals of civil liber-
ties, self-government, equality, etc.
Yet for a small foreign minority to rule
over a large native population, it required
an ideology of racial superiority. Therefore,
the more successful colonialism would be
in Europeanising natives, the more it would
produce a class of African elites who would
seek its overthrow.
African nationalist leaders at indepen-
dence were equally the most exposed to
Western ideas. For the most part they had
grown to admire modern European life
and equally despise traditional African
life. Their ambitions to modernise Africa
were only equalled by the claims of the
colonialist to “civilise” the natives. The post-
colonial state has been overzealous in trying
to take the colonial project of civilisation/
development to its logical conclusion i.e. to
entrench these colonial aims using African
personnel and legitimating the colonial
project domestically.
However, the pursuit of development,
democracy and good governance always
seems elusive for many African elites. This
is a cause of political tension. Because Africa
continues to lag far behind in achieving
these goals, it reinforces racial superiority
in Europe and entrenches racial inferiority
among Africans. Many African elites talk in
derogatory fashion against African leaders.
This is because our nations fall short of the
colonial ideal. In other words, this pursuit
of an ever-elusive goal has returned with a
vengeance – it continues to reinforce colo-
nial racism.
I am aware that throughout history, con-
quered peoples have adopted the systems
and goals of their conquerors. Ancient
Greeks had conquered parts of the Italian
peninsula and established Greek colonies
there. The local Italians adopted Greek
Opinion
ways. Most of Europe adopted systems of
its Roman conquerors. That Africans should
seek to emulate European is not unique to
Africa or to this age.
However, the conflict between African
and Western elites, or between African elites
today over governance reflects the great
success of the colonial project. When Afri-
cans complain that our continent lacks good
governance, they are saying African leaders
have fallen far short of the governance ideal
that we find in Europe. When Africans com-
plain that their countries are poor, they are
saying they have not attained the levels of
economic development of Europe.
Marx had predicted that capitalism would
spread to “backward” societies through
a continual process of destruction and
replacement of their social structural and
create replicas of the Europe. When one
looks at the developing world today, you
can only marvel at the precision of this pre-
diction. Many poor nations may not have
been transformed by capitalism to look like
Europe; but the desire to achieve this is the
defining political aim in all of them.
Indeed, the quarrel between African
leaders and their Western critics is not over
the aim. Rather it is over the adjustments
that African leaders have to do domestically
to make this colonial project work. Colonial
institutions evolved organically out of a
very specific historic experience in Europe,
were nourished by a nutrient culture, norms
and values. These were then transplanted
to Africa through colonial conquest and in
the postcolonial period through foreign aid
programs and copying and pasting as “best
practice.”
However, often times these institutions
do not fit our specific circumstances. It is
attempts to make these institutions fit the
local context that explains the disagreement
between African ruling elites on one hand
and African opposition groups and their
Western cheerleaders on the other. Listen
to the criticism African elites make of their
leaders and governments. Implicit in these
criticisms is that African leaders are not as
good as European leaders because they
have failed to turn our nations into imita-
tions of Europe – rich, secular, rational and
liberal democratic! 
This is a slightly edited version of a speech
I gave at the Egmont Institute in Brussels on
the relations between Africa and Europe in
September 2018
amwenda@independent.co.ug
Oct 19 - 25, 2018 9
cover story

Museveni’s
next cabinet
Which opposition politicians
are in and what awaits them

Beatrice Anywar talks to President

Museveni at a function.  NET PHOTO
10 Oct 19 - 25, 2018

P
By Haggai Matsiko
resident Yoweri Museveni
might soon announce a new
cabinet lineup. That is the
expectation. And it is driven
by both recent events and re-
cent actions by the President.
Museveni also plans to shuffle his staff at
State House and permanent secretaries,
according to informed observers close to
State House.
They say Museveni has an established a
pattern which has now reached the cabinet
level.
They say Museveni reshuffles cabinet
after being sworn-in following an election
and again in the second half of his term.
Sometimes, he starts with a reshuffle of
security chiefs or Resident District Com-
missioners (RDCs).
That is why when he shuffled the RDCs
in June this year, many expected a cabinet
reshuffle to follow immediately after. But it
is now three months later and nothing has
happened. Insiders are unfazed. They say
a reshuffle is imminent.
They point at how Museveni’s influen-
tial younger brother; Gen. Caleb Akand-
wanaho aka Salim Saleh, recently moved
to what is being described as “remote
location”. They say this means Saleh is
working on a sensitive assignment for the
President.
It is not a secret, among informed circles,
that Saleh has for months been vetting
potential candidates for cabinet.
As usual he has been alternating
between the Mutundwe-based Serene
Suites and his other home in Kapeka,
Nakaseke district. Recently, however,
insiders say he moved to a more remote
location.
This has sparked even more specula-
tion. Saleh, insiders say, usually comes up
with a working draft of a cabinet list and
President Museveni tweaks it to make the
final list.
In the past, Museveni has used cabinet
reshuffles to signal his political direction
ahead of a major political fight or election.
Often he has used reshuffles to court politi-
cal support from certain geographical,
tribal, or religious constituencies. He also
used it to reward hardworking officials
and loyalists, and punish poor political
performers.
This time, however, the focus appears
to be on breaking the momentum created
by the determination of retired Maj. Gen.
Mugisha Muntu to create a so-called
`third force’, the reshaping after Muntu’s
departure of Uganda’s erstwhile biggest
party, the Forum for democratic Change
(FDC) and the perceived decline in vis-
ibility of FDC stalwart Kizza Besigye
and the emergence of “people power”
and Kyadondo East MP Robert Sentamu
cover story
President Museveni chats with former Leader of Opposition Winnie Kiiza and Anita Among.   NET PHOTO
Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine.
Observers say that to recapture the
momentum from these events which are
now the talk of the town, Museveni’s
might seek to poach prominent personali-
ties from their camps.
This strategy is favoured because of a
general view that Museveni’s ruling NRM
party has failed to create a new strategy
leadership since the departure of once
powerful Museveni confidante turned
challenger; former Prime Minister Amama
Mbabazi.
Fight over opposition leadership
Sensing a vacuum in strategy, once writ-
ten off politicians like Democratic Party
(DP) leader Norbert Mao are moving swift-
ly to fill it. Mao has recently taken leader-
Beti Kamya ship in the call for revival of the Interparty
Organisation for Dialogue (IPOD). His
strategy is clear enough – possibly emerge
as joint opposition presidential candidate
in 2021.
It is unclear, however, whether Muntu
who is equally intent on being on the
presidential ballot in 2021 will let him. Or
indeed, Bobi Wine, who has a penchant for
springing surprises.
Mao must also be eyeing Robert Kyagu-
lanyi aka Bobi Wine keenly.
He sees a young Catholic; Uganda’s big-
gest religious grouping, and with a family
legacy in DP where both his father and
grandfather were major players.
Mao knows Bobi Wine is being seen as
the biggest boost to the opposition owing
to his mobilisation prowess as a music
superstar.
That was on show recently when he flew
Betty Amongin into neighbouring Kenya and drew mam-
moth crowds to the rallies of his host; Babu
Oct 19 - 25, 2018 11
cover story
Owino. He was feted by many young MPs
and senators and many youth thronged
his main rally at Jakaranda in Mbakasi East
Constituency.
Bobi Wine is also a Muganda, Uganda’s
biggest tribe. The 36-year old it appears is
the person to watch in 2021. And other poli-
ticians; including Lord Mayor Erias Luk-
wago who sought to ride on DP into State
House must be wary of him.
Muntu’s new formation is also expected
to appeal to some Ugandans who want
change but neither support Museveni nor
his major opponents like Besigye.
Insiders say Museveni’s upcoming
reshuffle is expected to address all these
challenges and put him in a better position
to stay in power.
But even politicians of lesser political
ambition, such as UPC stalwart Joseph
Bossa, are making demands on Museveni.
“If Museveni means well for the country;
let him say we are forming a government
of national unity and under certain condi-
tions,” Bossa told The Independent, “If he
needs ideas from the opposition, these can
be taken on board without poaching oppo-
sition politicians.”
Bossa warns opposition politicians
against joining Museveni because, he says,
Museveni appoints members of the opposi-
tion into cabinet in order to cause confusion
amongst his opponents.
He points at his own party UPC, from
where Museveni poached Betty Amongin,
the wife of one of the party leaders Jimmy
Akena, to make this point.
“What this sort of thing does is it
increases suspicion, bickering and weakens
the opposition,” Bossa noted, “People start
looking over their shoulders saying if so
and so could do this, who can we trust?”
“When people talk about moles in politi-
cal parties, sometimes it is not empty state-
ments,” Bossa adds, “Coming from Lango,
married to the son of Obote, you will find
it difficult to stand openly as NRM, so you
stand as UPC but when you are not.”
Bossa explained that neither the coun-
try nor the opposition benefits from these
appointments.
“The ultimate beneficiaries of these
appointments are Museveni and for a short
time, the individual appointees,” he says.
Museveni also poached former FDC stal-
wart, Christopher Kibazanga, who joined
the NRM in 2015.
In typical style, DP’s Mao likens a minis-
terial appointment in Museveni’s govern-
ment to fool’s gold—pieces of iron pyrites,
which look a little like gold but is worth-
less.
In an article the Daily Monitor newspa-
per, Mao noted that Museveni ensnares
vibrant leaders opposed to him, takes
them to the mountain top, shows them the
splendor they would inherit if only they
worship him and then hurls them to their
12 Oct 19 - 25, 2018
mer Lands Minister Omara Otubo, who
used to belong to DP before he joined the
NRM and was later dropped.
Mao also warned that both Beti Kamya
and Betty Amongin to tread carefully lest
they walk the same road that Omara Atubo
walked. Mao was writing at a time when
Amongin was in trouble with the Justice
Catherine Bamugemereire—led land probe.
Stephen Hippo Twebaze, a political
researcher who has also worked closely
with the ruling party leadership, says that
Museveni appoints such opposition leaders
into cabinet as either a form of recruitment
or co-option.
He explained that under co-option,
Museveni appoints such politicians in order
to get them to follow a certain line, a certain
minimum programme. This, he says, has
Abdu Katuntu another “unintended consequence” which
is that “it weakens the opposition.”
“That is how the Kawanga Ssemwoger-
ere’s (former DP President) ended up in
government until they left,” Twebaze told
The Independent, “so, this has not started
today.”
Hippo said Museveni, under recruit-
ment, has used cabinet appointments to
lure opposition politicians into joining his
government and eventually ending up as
members of the ruling party.
That is how former Vice President Gilbert
Bukenya, who previously belonged to DP,
Prof. Tarsis Kabwegyere, who belonged to
UPC, Prof. Ephraim Kamuntu, who also
belonged to UPC, the late former Tourism
Minister, Maria Mutagamba (Democratic
Party), among others, joined Museveni.
Another way to get in is to be a Saleh
favourite. That is how former Security Min-
Aggrey Awori ister Lt.Gen. Henry Tumukunde and Demo-
cratic Party (DP) Florence Nakiwala Kiyingi,
the Minister of State for Youth and Children
Affairs, got in.
Unclear targets
Based on this, it remains unclear what
Museveni hopes to gain from his targets
this time based on names that are doing the
rounds.
Former FDC member Beatrice Any-
war and FDC’s Anita Among and Abdu
Katuntu are mentioned. All have recently
worked closely with Museveni.
But Katuntu appears to be the big fish
in the pan. The FDC stalwart and Bugweri
County MP Abdul is the chair of the pow-
erful parliamentary Committee on Com-
missions, Statutory Authorities and State
Enterprises (COSASE) and is reported to
have impressed Museveni in meetings
Norbert Mao and delivery of assignments. Among is his
deputy. Observers say Museveni is keen to
political grave. reward them and co-opt them into govern-
“The script is very familiar but his vic- ment.
tims real potential seem not to learn,” Mao But appointing Katuntu might bury
writes. FDC which is already said to be weakened
Amongst these victims, Mao listed for- by Muntu and a sizeable chunk of support-

Arua Municipality legislator Kassiano Wadri with Kyadondo East's Robert Kyagulanyi at a rally early this year
ers. However, Katuntu will not strengthen
NRM politically.
Significantly, Katuntu has signaled he
will not be seeking re-election as MP in
2021. If that happens, then Katuntu will be
a politician without an office or a constitu-
ency. And Museveni likes that type. They
tend to be loyal to him, as the appointing
authority, and true work horses without
fear of voter backlash. They are also easy to
dump once usefulness is exhausted.
Former Samia Bugwe North MP, Aggrey
Awori is an often cited example. Awori
had been an outspoken critic of govern-
ment belonging to the opposition Uganda
Peoples Congress (UPC) party until 2006
when he lost an election. In 2007 he started
running errands for Museveni and in 2009
he was appointed Minister for ICT. He
was, however, dropped two years later
in 2011 and the 79-year old appears to be
either in retirement or political limbo.
In an interview with The Independent
he cautioned any potential Museveni
recruits.
“If you are serious and a visionary, you
have to say no,” he said.
He advised them to tell Museveni that
they would like to help him but from out-
side government and not inside.
“It is better to stay and fight out of
government than to join and be bound by
collective responsibility,” Awori told The
Independent. “It is very difficult to join
cabinet as opposition and change anything;
you will either come out bleeding or weep-
ing.”
He advised them to tell the President:
“I will provide constructive criticism from
outside. Instead of getting into the system
and I cannot speak my mind.”
He said opposition politicians who
cross to Museveni’s side are eventually left
‘detoothed’ or short-changed.
“Even when you come out, you cannot
speak out,” he said, “if you attempt you
can be accused of disclosing cabinet secrets
and can be prosecuted.
“If you are not, everyone will say, look,
sour grapes. So, you are done in.”
Awori, however, explained the signifi-
cance of appointing opposition politicians
for Museveni. He said it starts with assess-
ing where the main opposition threat is. If
you look at that parliament today, he said,
the loudest are the youth. So, if you want
to ‘detooth’ the youth, you just make 50
percent of cabinet youths and get all the
top opposition leaders.
“Get a person like Bobi Wine and
appoint him minister of education,” he
said.
Then, he explained, through the Internal
Security Organisation (ISO), Museveni can
instigate revolts against him and deny him
resources.
Alternatively, when Museveni offers the
appointment and an opposition politician
turns it down, Museveni can tell voters
that the politician “is “afraid of responsibil-
ity.”
As an example, Awori cited Beti Kamya,
the current Minister for Kampala. Awori
says Kamya, a founder and president of
cover story
the Uganda Federal Alliance, was brought
in to work closely with Jennifer Musisi
(the KCCA executive director) in fighting
opposition politicians in the city leader-
ship, including Lord Mayor Erias Luk-
wago.
“None of this has happened,” Awori
says, “unfortunately, when you are inside
and you attempt to speak out, you will be
labeled anti-government and an opportun-
ist.”
As debate rages about likely new
entrants, stakes are equally high for those
inside. In the last reshuffle, Museveni
dropped 35 ministers and appointed
almost 40 new ones.
Newcomers like Evelyn Anite, the
Northern Uganda Youth MP, were reward-
ed for moving a motion to declare Musev-
eni the sole candidate for the ruling party
ahead of the 2016 elections. She became
Minister for Investment. Ndorwa East MP
David Bahat also ended up the State Min-
ister of Finance for Planning on the same
reward ticket.
This time, the winners will be those with
something to offer Museveni in his effort to
get re-elected come 2021.
NRM Chief Whip Ruth Nankabirwa,
West Budama legislator and the chairper-
son, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Com-
mittee, Jacob Oboth-Oboth and Igara West
legislator, Raphael Magyezi, look set to be
rewarded this time. They pushed through
the controversial lifting of the age limit so
that Museveni could run in 2021.
Oct 19 - 25, 2018 13
NEWS ANALYSIS

Caption: Workers of Tibet-Hima drill a copper rich section of Kilembe Mines in Kasese, western Uganda, in 2015. The
government cancelled the Chinese consortium’s concession last year for breach of contract.   FILE PHOTO

Rio Tinto’s return

boosts Uganda mining
It’s a great coup for Sipa, say partners as deal
dominates meeting of experts from 40 countries
By Ronald Musoke ran from Oct.2-3 in Kampala. for business.

T
he British metal and mining
corporation, Rio Tinto, has
signaled an interest in Uganda
in a move that is being seen as a
return of confidence. The news of Rio
Tinto’s imminent return dominated the
2018 mineral wealth conference which
Richard Kaijuka, the board chairman
of the Uganda Chamber of Mines and
Petroleum (UCMP) excitedly told
hundreds of delegates that the return
to Uganda of the Anglo-Australian
global mining giant with an asset base
of US$90bn is a signal to the world that
the country’s mining industry is ready
Details indicate that Rio Tinto’s
exploration arm, in August, entered a
joint venture agreement with Kampala-
based exploration firm, Sipa Resources,
which is emerging as one of the
significant players in the magmatic
nickel/copper area.
“Getting Rio Tinto to invest in

14 Oct 19 - 25, 2018

 NEWS ANALYSIS
Uganda has been such a great coup for
Sipa,” said Lynda Burnett, the managing
director of Sipa Resources Ltd, “It’s
been a big issue for us, trying to get
people here to invest because people
still see Uganda as a very big risk to
invest.”
“Getting them here for us validates all
the money and work we have so far put
in,” said Burnett who flew 9500km from
Perth, Australia to attend the conference,
“We did not have the financial resources
and they have the resources to follow
up on good results.”
Rio Tinto has eyes on Sipa’s
Akelikongo discovery found in the
Kitgum-Pader area in northern Uganda.
This discovery, Sipa Resources’ experts
say, is emerging as one of the most
significant magmatic nickel/copper
discoveries made within the last few
years in eastern Africa.
Under the agreement with Sipa,
Rio Tinto will have the option to
earn an initial 51% interest in the
project by spending US$ 12 million on
exploration within the first five years. Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda
The company could also choose to
increase its shareholding in the Kitgum-
The company before we eventually settled on northern
Uganda,” she told The Independent.
Pader project to 65% by spending an
additional US$ 15 million within a
could also Burnett said that given the fact that
Uganda is a landlocked country, “there
further three year period.
Rio Tinto is expected to contribute
choose to is need for lots of things to fall into
place to make mining economically
expertise and funding to the JV, increase its viable.”

shareholding in
while Sipa will continue to manage
exploration activities in the initial stages Chinese firm excites
of the JV leveraging off its extensive
and logistical experience operating in the Kitgum-Pader News of Rio Tinto’s return was
matched at the conference by reports of
Uganda.
Burnett said more exploration project to 65% the imminent commissioning in Uganda
of eastern Africa’s largest phosphate
companies should be coming to Uganda
if it is to become a high ranking mining
by spending an plant by Chinese investor, Guangzhou
Dongsong Energy Group Company Ltd.
giant on the continent.
“Exploration as a business can be a
additional US$ The conference was organised by
the Uganda Chamber of Mines and
big income earner for Uganda, but that
will not just happen,” she said.
15 million within Petroleum under the theme, “Eastern
Africa: The continent’s next mining
According to her, the government a further three and investment haven,” and attracted

needs to encourage more exploration
companies into the country so that the
odds of mineral discovery can be raised
and revenue from the mineral sector
sustained.
“The more investors come in here to
explore, the more chance there will be
of finding deposits but in the meantime,
these companies would be spending
money investing here.”
“Everything is in place but a big part
of it is a lack of connection of what is
already here and the outside world,”
she said, “Having a website with
information that people can buy or view
gives some knowledge of what is in the
country in terms of minerals.”
For starters, she said, the DGSM
needs to be self-funded and have a
vibrant and attractive website for
investors.
year period
“This is your window to the world,”
she said.
“If you can download the mineral
policy and other things that you can fill
out in order to pick a licence, so that
you don’t have to come here to do just
those sorts of things would be quite
handy. It makes it easier to take that
extra step.”
Burnett was speaking from
experience. Way back in 2013 when
her company was looking for countries
in the region to explore, they did
everything from scratch.
“We basically collected data on
delegates from over 40 countries.
Top executives from Guangzhou
Dongsong Energy Group led by Jane
Guo, the Chief Executive Officer,
announced that their long awaited
phosphate fertiliser plant in the eastern
Ugandan town of Tororo is ready for
launch this October.
Estimated to cost US$ 620 million, the
polymetallic project is designed to start
by producing phosphate fertilizers and
later steel and other products. Guo said
Dongsong is investing in an integrated
mine with phosphates, iron ore and rare
earth elements.
The plan, she said, is to build a
separation plant, where raw ore will be
processed to get phosphate concentrate.
The phosphate concentrate will go to the
fertiliser plant to manufacture organic
fertiliser while the iron concentrate will

Oct 19 - 25, 2018 15

NEWS ANALYSIS
be sent to the steel mill to produce steel.
Should the phosphates factory be
commissioned this month, it will
be added onto the US$ 30 million
ceramics factory that was opened by
President Yoweri Museveni in Luweero
in September and the three cement
factories (grinding stations) that were
also launched early this year in eastern
Uganda. These feed the narrative that
Uganda’s mineral sector is ready for
takeoff. This is exactly what Zachary
Baguma, the interim head at the
Directorate of Geological Survey and
Mines told the delegates during the
opening of the conference on Oct. 2.
Baguma said Uganda’s numerous
metallic minerals including; copper,
cobalt, tungsten, beryllium, columbite-
tantalite, gold, lead and zinc, lithium,
tin, iron ore, platinum, uranium and
rare earth metals alongside vast deposits
of industrial minerals such as; marble,
limestone, phosphate, vermiculite,
kaolin, bentonite, diatomite, glass sands,
salts, pozzolona, dimension stones
and gemstones lying underground
in millions of tonnes could fetch the
country as much as US$ 20,437 billion as
per the directorate’s total reserves value
of the minerals.
Baguma said the country has high
potential for economic minerals and
the recently concluded geological
survey and airborne geological surveys
revealed more mineral resources and
targets for gold, iron ore, platinum,
nickel, uranium and bentonite.
Positive results
Yet, judging by talk from some of the
executives of exploration companies
already doing work in the field, it
appears Uganda should even be earning
millions of dollars from exploration
activities alone.
Jennifer Hinton, the director East
Africa Operations M2Cobalt, an
exploration company that is exploring
cobalt in various parts of Uganda told
The Independent that her company is so
far excited about the results they have
found.
M2Cobalt has exploration licenses
through Ugandan affiliated companies
in Mityana, Mubende, Kasese, Kiboga,
and Bunyagabo straddling over 16,000
sq km.
“We have had positive results to
invest more money and continue to
explore and identify more areas to
quantify results,” she said.
But she also tempered the Ugandans’
expectations noting the risks that
usually come with mineral exploration.
Hinton said on the international mining
scene, only about one in 10,000 projects
actually develops into a fully-fledged
16 Oct 19 - 25, 2018
Richard Kaijuka
Irene Muloni
mine.
“Because of the risks involved in
exploration, you can get positive results
in say, 58 out of 60 steps and at step
59, you realise that the project is not
feasible,” she said, “But we are taking
a risk on Uganda and as we continue
getting good results, we will continue
investing here.”
Hinton told The Independent that
the company’s challenge so far has
been uncertainty in Uganda’s mining
industry.
“You don’t want a royalty or tax
provision that changes in three years
after you have built an economic
model,” she said, “When you think
of international investors, they will
take their money where there is
predictability and certainty in addition
to geology.”
But she quickly noted that the
ongoing policy and legal reform
process is quite progressive in terms
of encouraging both local and foreign
investors.
“Basically what we need is certainty,
predictability and fairness. If you have
a license, you want to be sure that it
will not be cancelled unjustly,” she said,
“The current legislation actually has
mechanisms for that but I know that the
new one will be stronger and I find that
exciting.”
“The current legislation is clear
procedurally but if I were to complain,
it would have to be about import tax on
exploration equipment because when
you are investing in exploration, you
are not making any money really,” she
said, “Until you find anything, you
don’t make any money. We pay a lot in
bringing this equipment here.”
For Alain Goetz, the Chief Executive
Officer of African Gold Mining Refinery
Limited, eastern Africa’s only gold
refinery, one of the things that need to
fall into place is probably the “negative
press and civil society” which have
made his gold refining business in
Entebbe a bit hard at times.
He also finds the certification of
minerals like gold coming out of the
Great Lakes region of Africa more
“theoretical and quite cumbersome” for
the hundreds of thousands of illiterate
miners in the region.
“We want to have a system which is
more practical, cheaper and is easy for
African miners to operate,” he told The
Independent.
For Nicolas George, the Chief
Executive Officer of Hima Cement, a
subsidiary of Lafarge Holcim, a French
cement conglomerate, Uganda’s tax
environment is always not in favour
of local manufacturing or mining
companies.
George explained that, for instance,
Hima’s unique large scale cement
integrated plant in western Uganda
which uses local raw material is subject
to higher tax/royalties than simple
grinding plants which transform
imported semi-finished products.
By the end of the conference, Richard
Kaijuka had seen the challenges that the
government needs to confront head on
to make Uganda’s mineral sector roar.
“We are convinced that once Uganda
invests in thorough exploration, world
class discoveries would be made,” he
said, “If we have value addition on
the selected 10 minerals cluster, the
potential and income generated for
Uganda would exceed what we expect
from oil and gas.”
Meanwhile, Rio Tinto was last in
Uganda in 2007 when it attempted
to invest in Uganda’s vermiculite in
eastern Uganda.
Half a century earlier, it had also
shown interest in Uganda’s copper in
western Uganda. On both occasions,
however, Rio Tinto exited the country
quietly. This time, many hope it will
stick around for some time.
 news analysis

A man jumps across a

shallow part of the Sume
River in the eastern
village of Wanjenwa, in
Uganda’s Bududa district,
on Oct.13; a few days
after the river burst its
banks. At least 41 people
were killed after the
river burst its banks.

Residents look at the

damage after the Suume
River burst its banks in
the eastern village of
Wanjenwa, in Uganda’s
Bududa district, on
Oct.13/   AFP

Damaged housing is
seen after the landslide
triggered by heavy rains
in Bududa, Uganda

Museveni and PM
Rugunda walk to
the Bududa disaster
scene.   PHOTO PPU

Oct 19 - 25, 2018 17

NEWS ANALYSIS
An excavator removes debris from the banks of the Tsume River on Oct. 12 banks in the eastern village of Nanyinza,
Bududa district. The river burst its banks sparking mudslides that killed at least 40 people.   AFP photo
Bududa mudslide victims of lies
Why the weakest link for them are
unfulfilled government promises
By Ian Katusiime
J
ust before death struck Bukalasi
village on Oct.11, there was a
prolonged afternoon drizzle. It was
the light type, and easily ignored by
residents who are used to heavier rain.
Bududa is generally rain country with
up to eight out of twelve months of the
year typically wet. But the south-eastern
tip, where Bukalasi is, gets the most rain –
sometimes 50% more than other areas of
this already wet zone.
And, although October is not one of the
wettest months, any rain often finds the
soil already soaked to breaking point by
the August and September heavy rains. But
residents know that the slow prolonged
rain, as was falling that afternoon, is the
most dangerous. Unfortunately, they can
never tell when it will turn fatal.
That is what struck Paul Saleh, whose
story has been one of the most reported. He
18 Oct 19 - 25, 2018
was in his house with two children when he
saw it filling with water and realised it was
a mudslide. He and the children survived
by scampering to the roof of his rather
robust house. Others were not so lucky.
Many died in the villages of Tsuume,
Nnayinza, Namakira, Nyekhr,
Malanda, Shishambwa, Nanyenga, and
Bunamwamba. According to Oct.15
estimates, about 40 people died.
An MP from the neighbouring area,
Watenga Nabutanyi representing Lutseshe
County, said rescue efforts were hampered
because the landslide originated deep in the
forest.
“We tried to reach there but in vain,”
he said and described how trees that
were swept by the landslide increased
its intensity and how some of the dead
perished in shanties they were sheltering in
because it was a market day.
Many of the survivors say they first heard
a loud crack, like something exploding.
Justine Khainza, the Woman MP for
Bududa district, who was involved in
rescue activities with the district disaster
management committee which was led
by the Chief Administrative Officer, said
residents in Bukalasi described it as a “huge
bomb”. Disaster and death followed within
minutes.
And unlike past landslides which were
blamed on human depletion of tree cover
from the mountain slopes, this one started
deep in the forests.
Wilson Wotira, the LC 5 Chairman of
Bududa district, told The Independent that
the seasonal River Tsuume whose source
is in Mt. Elgon National Park flooded,
unleashing a torrent of rocks and mud that
ravaged schools, homes, shops including
a trading centre called Malandu-Naposhi.
This is where the landslide found most of
its victims.
Wotira says the landslide has puzzled
them.
“We are yet to establish the real cause
of this disaster. We have not yet had any
specialists to help us understand what

happened. Right now, we are using the
forces; the army and police to go into the
forest to help us with the search for bodies,”
he explained.
By Oct. 13, Uganda Wildlife Authority
(UWA) rangers were among the search and
rescue teams in the Mt. Elgon National Park
which is at the heart of the affected area.
Wotira told The Independent on Oct. 13
that the teams helping with relief efforts
had allowed people to start burying the
dead as they waited for more emergency
relief. They were also re-opening roads
leading to the scene in preparation for
evacuation efforts.
The landside washed away two
classrooms at Tsuume Junior Academy, a
private school in the area and flattened a
church, Wotira narrated.
The calamity has left Bukalasi sub-
county, the epicenter of the affected area in
ruins and in need of emergency help.
Wotira says it is difficult to ascertain the
extent of the damage in terms of area but
says roughly 7km from both banks of River
Tsuume have been affected.
The landslide occurred a day before78
students in Senior Four at Bukalasi S.S. were
set for a briefing for the national Uganda
Certificate of Educations (UCE) exams.
They have since been relocated to another
centre to sit their exams.
As the rescue effort raged, Khainza was
afraid a makeshift bridge which had been
quickly put together to transfer patients
from the health centre was not safe. “It is
too narrow and slippery; we may end up
injuring the patients more.”
More landslides expected
According to experts, Mt. Elgon was
millions of years ago higher that Mt.
Kilimanjaro which today is considered the
highest mountain in East Africa. However,
Mt. Elgon’s height has been gradually but
consistently been undercut by landslides –
and it is not about to stop soon.
According to some reports, there have
been up to 67 landslides in Bududa so far
this year – that is about six landslides per
month. People die in many of them and
property, including farms of banana, coffee,
and vegetables are ruined.
Apparently, when it rains, most of this
rain is soaked in by the unstable mix of
thick and sticky volcanic red soils and
brownish sandy soils in the area. The stage
for tragedy is set because this area sits
on parent rock which is very near to the
surface. That is a bad combination.
The slopes in Bukalasi are not the
steepest but the area sits high up, at 4,600ft
above sea level in the Mt. Elgon area of
eastern Uganda’s border with Kenya while
most of Uganda is at 3,600ft and gravity
easily applies – pulling everything down.
Bukalasi properly sits at the extreme
south-east tip of the district, right at the
edge of the mountain. In reality, it is as if
people here park their lives down the slope
of the mountain without any breaks on.
So it does not surprise experts that the clay
sometimes combines with masses of rock
and weathered debris as it rolls down in
a muddy porridge that spreads mayhem,
destruction, and death.
In 2010, Bukalasi sub-county witnessed
the worst landslide disaster on record in
Uganda. Up to 365 people perished when
mud, rock boulders and debris rolled down
on Nametsi village in the same area.
Failed relocation
When President Yoweri Museveni visited
the area on Oct.14 after the latest disaster, he
reminded residents of the shadow of death
that hangs over them.
“In 2010 I told you to relocate but you
thought I was telling lies,” he said; “I
think you now know that I was telling the
truth.” He advised residents to agree to be
relocated. But that is unlikely to happen.
According to some analysts, this is mainly
because of two interrelated reasons; first,
the government rarely fulfills pledges it
makes whenever disaster strikes, and two,
residents do not trust the government.
After the 2010 disaster, the government
failed to relocate people immediately. It
relocated the first 600 families who were
relocated four years later in 2014 and
moreover in Kiryandongo, which is over
300kms away. The project suffered further
setbacks as most of those relocated returned
NEWS ANALYSIS
to their homes in Bukalasi. Then the
government released up to Shs8 billion to
buy 2,828 acres of land in nearby Bulambuli
district for about 5,000 displaced families.
But ownership wrangles erupted and
people have never been relocated. Now
the government says it has resolved the
wrangles and it is ready to relocate people
soon.
Khainza says apart from the
encumbrances on the land, it is water
logged.
“No person has gone there,” she said.
Area leaders appear unhappy that the
Office of the Prime minister which procured
the land did not involve local leaders.
Land is an emotive subject in Bududa
district which is generally an area of small
habitable land teeming with a projected
population of about 200,000 people. And
Bukalasi is the most densely populated area
among the mountain edge sub-counties of
Bundesi, Bukulusi, and Bushiyi.
MP Nabutanyi says he visited the land
and it was clear the government had a
physical plan.
“People are willing to move but there is
no money from government.”
Rescue effort hampered
The injured who were rushed to
Bukalasa Health Centre III had to endure
more pain because the centre lacks a
scan. It was the same for those who were
recommended for an X-ray because they
had to be transferred to Bududa Hospital.
Unfortunately, roads were cut off causing
more disarray.
Khainza says the situation is almost
helpless. “We need a helicopter, the hands
of the medical workers are tied. Each village
needs a water tank,” she said.
Khainza says sanitation is even direr.
“We need mobile toilets otherwise cholera
may emerge because we may not be able to
contain the open defecation. It could turn
out to be a health disaster.”
She told The Independent that 144
households had been affected, 13 people
admitted at Bukalasi Health Centre III, and
2 at Bududa Hospital on the second night
after the landslide struck.
She says relief from government was
coming in slowly as those displaced waited
for blankets, tarpaulins, saucepans and
much more. The latest landslide has again
put government on the spot in terms of its
planning and priorities.
As a high risk area, critics have pointed
out that the government should budget
and appoint expert committees who
should have well laid contingency plans
due to the recurrence of the landslide.
Martin Owor, the Commissioner for relief
and disaster preparedness in OPM said
it is time the ministry of finance set aside
funds to cater to Bududa.
Oct 19 - 25, 2018 19
news analysis

Media censorship
under Museveni
How the Ugandan media has borne
the brunt of censorship for decades
By Geoffrey Ssenoga violence is an almost daily threat. of African democracy with all the

T
he world watched in
outrage recently as Reuters
photojournalist, James Akena,
was clobbered by three soldiers
on the streets of Uganda’s capital
Kampala in full view of television
cameras. Akena was covering the
demonstrations for the release of
Robert Kyagulanyi, a member of
parliament and pop singer also known
as Bobi Wine.
Yoweri Museveni, who has been
the East African country’s president
for the past 32 years, tried to explain
away the attack. He said he had been
informed that it was a case of mistaken
identity – Akena had been mistaken
for a camera thief.
But for many in the media this was
nothing new, as intimidation and
Uganda is now ranked 117th out of
180 countries in Reporters Without
Borders’ 2018 World Press Freedom
Index, five places lower than in 2017.
Uganda has a long history of media
censorship. The country’s first post-
independence head of government,
Milton Obote who became prime
minister in 1962, banned the
intellectual Rajat Neogy’s Transition
magazine. Idi Amin overthrew Obote
in 1971 - during his regime, key
journalists disappeared without trace.
The press was a central target
during the second Obote government
between 1980-1985 and its military
successor. Museveni’s rise to power
in 1986 was met with relief. It’s
almost quaint to think back to a time
when Uganda, under a newly elected
Museveni, was held as a paragon
freedoms it entails.
The period of hope
In 1990 four years after Museveni
came to power the country was still
experiencing a new political dawn. A
Danish-produced documentary (still
available in the archives of Uganda
Broadcasting corporation television),
then investigating the depth of
freedom of the press in Uganda, was
clearly enthralled.
The narrator exclaimed that: A free
press in Africa, a rare thing in Africa.
Until the mid-1980s Uganda had
been a political basket case. Mere
differences of political opinion and
free expression were deathly taboos.
But the new political class that toppled
the autocratic regimes of Obote and
General Tito Okello announced the

20 Oct 19 - 25, 2018

 news analysis
arrival of a new dawn.
As the then youthful Museveni was
sworn in as the head of state on the
steps of the parliamentary buildings
in early 1986, he declared: This is
not a mere change of the guard but a
fundamental change.
The Danish documentary featured
one of the rising stars in the media
firmament, then editor of the
respected (now defunct) Weekly Topic,
Charles Onyango Obbo. He spoke
on camera about the trustworthiness
of the new political class, because
“many of them come from liberal
backgrounds”.
In fact many of the new political
class were hardliners on the left.
Obbo’s editor-in-chief Wafula
Oguttu was just as effusive about
the future of a free press. He pointed
out that it was guaranteed under the
Ugandan constitution and it could not
be desecrated.

Reversal of freedoms
But things started changing for
the worse in the mid-1990s. This
included the government shutting
down media platforms, legal threats,
the infiltration of newsrooms by
security spies, thuggery, intimidation,
and withholding of advertising from
institutions deemed to be critical of
the government.
As respected Ugandan radio host
and media scholar, Samuel Kazibwe
said, in addition to political pressure,
economic pressure, an oppressive legal
regime and even cultural or religious
factors, the main censor has become
the political one because it even has
the capacity to close a media house
without following any legally laid
down rules and procedures.
write favourable stories and to ignore
the controversial issues. Kazibwe
says that there are incidences where
Despite all the these powerful organisations have
arm-twisted media organisations to
threats and sack certain journalists because they
believe they are out to collapse their
challenges, the companies.
Fast forward to 2018. Despite
media in Uganda Museveni’s flimsy excuse for the
assault on the Reuters’ photographer
continues – the reason was clear: It is part of
an ongoing and systematic form of
to tackle censorship designed to stifle freedom
of the press in Uganda.
controversial Tackling issues
issues and Despite all the threats and
challenges, the media in Uganda

break big stories

Some notable examples stand out. continues to tackle controversial issues
In 2009 four radio stations, including and break big stories of corruption

Kazibwe’s CBS radio were closed down
for a year. Owned by the Buganda
monarchy, the largest of Uganda’s
four kingdoms, CBS radio had given
full coverage of riots in Kampala and
neighbouring towns following the
central government’s restriction on
Buganda’s prime minister travelling
to a culturally contested part of the
kingdom.
The government closed the station,
alongside other stations, claiming that
they were fanning insecurity in the
country.
In 2013 the independent Daily
Monitor was shut down for more than
a week after publishing a letter alleging
that Museveni was grooming his son
to succeed him. Its sister radio stations
KFM and Dembe Radio were also
of corruption
occupied by police and closed down.
Government also regularly takes
journalists to court. Obbo appeared
in court 45 times between 1997 and
1999. Commercial threats are also
used. Oguttu accused the government
of deliberately denying their paper
adverts right from its infancy in 1993.
And then there are the bribes.
Research has highlighted censorship
that takes the form of bribes –
nicknamed “brown envelopes”. These
are often doled out to journalists to
and abuse of power. Nation TV’s
On the Spot, NBS TV’s Frontline,
Capital Radio’s Capital Gang, and
Radio Simba’s Gasimbaganye ne
Bannamawulire, as well as CBS
Radio’s current Affairs programmes
continue to court politically
controversial topics. They host
government critics and civil rights
activists who openly speak out.
The president also allows press
conferences where probing questions are
asked which continue to at least afford
a semblance of press freedom in the
country in spite of the lurking iron fist.
Geoffrey Ssenoga is a lecturer of Mass
Communications, Uganda Christian
University

Oct 19 - 25, 2018 21

interview

We’ll not change approach,

says new ActionAid boss
Xavier Ejoyi is the new Executive Director of ActionAid
Uganda. He talked to The Independent’s Ronald
Musoke about his expectations for the new role.

I
How has the settling in gone so far? India for two years. I, therefore, understand us as “non-political” because the work we
t’s gone on very well. I am still learning what it means to advocate for human rights do is political in nature. What is clear is that
different things but the people here have issues at an international level. Before I ActionAid is a non-partisan organisation
been very supportive.This is a 36-year came to ActionAid, I worked with the US but the issues that we deal with are political
old organisation and my induction into Agency for International Development in nature. Inequality and accountability are
it over the last few weeks is just a scratch on (USAID). Its systems are different so, I also political in nature. We are working with and
the surface. come with the experience of working in the standing with the poor, the marginalized
international development field. However, or those who are at the receiving end
You have come in at a time when govern- I also come here with the humility of know- of injustice and ours is just a process of
ment scrutiny of civil society agencies like ing that this organisation stands for certain facilitating these people.They should
ActionAid Uganda has increased. Why values. I am, therefore, here to learn how we not be passive
did you join an organisation that is con- can address issues of inequality, injustice recipients of
stantly confronting the government on its and poverty.
accountability and democratic governance
credentials? ActionAid describes itself as a
I don’t know what you mean by “con- non-political, non-religious
frontation” but I joined this organisation organisation but it also says
principally on account of the work and it takes keen interest in
values it stands for. ActionAid stands for government accountability
defeating poverty, injustice and inequality. to the public. How
These are values I identify with. But profes- do you go about this
sionally also, I know that as a development mandate without being
actor, that is something that is endearing to misinterpreted by the
me. I want to speak for the poor, the government?
marginalized and those at the I don’t think it is
receiving end of injustice. proper to
describe
With your 17 years’
experience work-
ing with both
local and
international
civil society,
what exactly
do you bring
to ActionAid
Uganda?
First, I have
worked with
fairly diverse
organizations. I
started my career
as a bare-foot class-
room teacher, if you
like, in war-ravaged
Bundibugyo District.
I know what conflict
and poverty do to
people. I also worked
with the Common-
wealth Human
Rights Initiative in

22 Oct 19 - 25, 2018


development assistance. They are actors
as citizens and they have a role to play in
changing their destiny and that is what we
facilitate. Our work is clear; we engage in
dialogue; we engage in public advocacy,
we engage in anti-corruption campaigns,
and we do so unapologetically because we
believe that corruption does not pull people
out of poverty, instead it sinks them deeper
into poverty. So our advocacy against
corruption is important and I don’t think
ActionAid or any other person should
apologise for that.
So why do you think your role is misun-
derstood by some state actors?
I guess that should be answered by those
who misunderstand us. However, there
are people who think that citizen-focused
organisations such as ActionAid and
citizens by extension should not be asking
questions about those who allocate resourc-
es, or misappropriate resources meant for
the welfare and services to citizens—that is
a misunderstanding. So, if ActionAid comes
up and says Shs 400 million was allocated
to this primary school and it is not here;
what happened to this money? And who
is behind this misappropriation? These
hard questions inconvenience some people
who by the way have inconvenienced the
citizens. That is when they say ActionAid is
now political. But I say, this is a misconcep-
tion.
How are you going to ensure that you are
accountable to Ugandans, to the govern-
ment and to your other partners you work
with?
Throughout our work, ActionAid
believes in transparency. We believe that
we need to be accountable to Ugandan
citizens who are at the receiving end of
poverty and injustice. People who work
here are deliberately and carefully drawn
from different parts of this country and so is
our governing board. Secondly, we are also
accountable to our donors and many other
partners in Uganda. These organisations are
championing issues of education, issues of
gender equality and anti-corruption. We are
accountable to these organizations because
we have signed memoranda of understand-
ing and we implement activities with them.
Three, as ActionAid, we also recognise that
the government is an impor-
tant actor as a regulator
in this country and
we are account-
able to them.
We file
annual
returns to the NGO Bureau and we are
audited annually. Our books are open
and we share our returns and reports. But
most importantly, we are very keen to be
accountable to the poor and marginalized
whom we speak for because it is on this
basis that we get our mandate.
You say that everything you do is on be-
half of the marginalized Ugandans but,
when do you ever consult them?
We do so in many ways. We have a
national board drawn from a distinct mem-
bership from the Ugandan public. Every
year, there is an Annual General Assembly,
and the board reports to the AGM. That is
not the end. In every community we work,
that community has a voice. That is what
gives us the voice of the people.
We believe that we
need to be accountable
to Ugandan citizens who
are at the receiving end
of poverty and injustice
ActionAid has over the last six years ral-
lied Ugandans to engage in the anti-cor-
ruption campaign known as Black Mon-
day. What have you achieved so far?
It’s interesting that even before I came
here, I was already part of the Black Mon-
day Movement. It is a call for Ugandans to
say that we are tired of corruption and we
need to do something—even if it is sym-
bolic. So you do not need to be in ActionAid
to identify with Black Monday. But I must
quickly add that Black Monday is just one
approach among many that ActionAid is
engaging Ugandans in the fight against cor-
ruption. The achievement out of this is that
many Ugandans are now able to say, “By
the way, what is going to happen to our tax-
es?” “This school does not have a roof, what
happened?” We now hear many Ugandans
asking those questions, instead of just keep-
ing quiet and thinking it is the politicians
who have to talk about these things when
they themselves are at the receiving end.
So broadly, Black Monday Movement was
just one of the approaches that ActionAid
Uganda used to address an issue that is so
dear to the organisation.
In September last year, police raided your
offices and confiscated electronic equip-
ment and also froze your bank accounts,
an act that ground your programmes
around the country. What do you make of
these allegations?
You should know that the allegations
that were brought against ActionAid
were criminal in nature; meaning that the
interview
unfreezing of our accounts by the differ-
ent state organs shows that there was no
criminal intent found. It is more than a year
since the security operatives raided this
place. Those authorities that were involved
owe Ugandans an explanation of how far
they have gone with their investigations.
You can imagine the staff who worked here
back then, how distressful those allegations
were—that they were promoting this and
that—yet these people wake up every day
driven by only one professional commit-
ment: Changing lives of Ugandans.
How do you intend to avoid such a sce-
nario from happening again?
ActionAid is not driven by scrutiny from
anybody. We are driven by the develop-
ment challenges that Ugandans face. So
what can only change the way ActionAid
does its work is the aspiration of Ugandan
citizens. But as long as poverty, injustice,
issues of accountability are at the centre of
it, ActionAid will continue doing its work.
Your question presupposes that ActionAid
did something terribly wrong for the raid
to happen. But that is not how we read it.
So we will not change any approach to our
work.
What do you say to some of your detrac-
tors who keep saying that some of your
activities are supported by foreign inter-
ests who don’t wish Uganda well?
As I said, our values are very clear and
we, among others, are transparent. Yes,
ActionAid gets support from different
organizations (abroad) but even Ugandans
contribute to our work financially. We
actually have an ongoing solidarity appeal
and anyone can enroll for it and contribute
whatever amount to the work of ActionAid,
especially if you think that the issues that
we champion are the ideas you believe in.
So you can contribute as little as Shs5000.
Our work is defined by Ugandan citizens—
the desire to ensure that our citizens get
a just and equal Uganda that is free from
oppression. This is the country that Ugan-
dans believe in and that is what defines us.
Looking ahead, what do you reckon will
be your biggest challenge working with
ActionAid Uganda?
The biggest challenge in Uganda today,
not just for ActionAid but for many other
civil society organisations that stand for
citizen voices, is the continued shrinking
of political and civic space for citizens to
engage. This is a challenge. It means that
the challenges that we are trying to facilitate
by working with Ugandans to address are
going to continue. Gender based violence
is on the increase in Uganda. Corruption is
going to blow in our faces. We appeal to the
government to ensure that citizens are able
to express themselves relating to how they
are governed.
Oct 19 - 25, 2018 23
feature
Technology and
home languages
Marrying them in school boosts maths and science learning
By Mmaki Jantjies
T
echnology, like mobile apps
and online learning platforms,
is becoming an increasingly
important teaching tool all over
the world. That’s also true in emerging
markets; accessible technologies can
essentially be used to take information
and digital resources into remote,
rural and under-resourced schools.
But is this technology useful if
it’s not also provided in diverse
languages? In subjects like maths and
science, pupils must have a certain
level of competency to comprehend
and effectively respond to tasks.
Extensive research shows how
important language is in helping
24 Oct 19 - 25, 2018
pupils better understand concepts.
I set out to evaluate the role of
language in mobile maths and science
learning platforms like apps and
websites. The aim was to enable
pupils’ access to mobile learning
resources for maths and science
subjects. I also wanted to see whether
providing this technology in pupils’
home languages would enhance their
learning experience.
I found that providing the mobile
teaching tools in multiple languages
increased pupils’ engagement with
their work. My research was done in
South Africa where language use in
schools remains a contentious issue.
I tracked the use of an app I’d
developed that allowed children
to switch between languages. My
research showed that it helped
children grasp maths and science
concepts much quicker. This suggests
that schools in the country should
consider offering mobile learning
technology in multiple languages to
help pupils learn better in subjects like
maths and science.
Testing an app
The study was conducted with
teachers from urban, rural and peri-
urban schools in South Africa’s
economic hub, Gauteng, and the
neighbouring North West province.
More than 90 pupils were involved.
The study was conducted over three
years, and pupils’ and teachers’

experiences were evaluated several
times.
Each school was able to use an
adaptive mobile learning app, called
Mobile Thuto (that’s the Setswana
word for “learning”). The app
provides text book resources, practice
exercises, quizzes and teachers class
notes for mathematics and science
subjects for children in grades 10, 11
and 12.
I developed the app in collaboration
with teachers and subject heads,
allowing them to tailor the content
to their teaching plan so they could
practice blended learning. This refers
to the combination of technology
and traditional lessons as part of the
teaching and learning process.
One of the app’s key features was
the ability to support code-switching
– the switch between two languages
or more as a form of communication
by bilingual or multilingual speakers.
Code-switching can be used to enable
a better understanding of concepts,
especially where pupils have not
been able to fully grasp the teaching
language. For example, the app allows
pupils to switch between English
and Setswana content. Setswana
and Sepedi were the most common
home languages among the pupils we
worked with.
The results
Once each phase of use of the
app was finished, teachers were
interviewed and, in a separate study,
pupils were also asked about their
experiences.
Some of the teachers said they
didn’t feel confident using technology
in their classrooms. They wanted to
be trained to integrate technology into
teaching and learning. Many reported
that they thought of technology as
an additional task rather than as
something that could support their
current work and resources.
Despite this, the teachers we worked
with were enthusiastic about the app
and about the idea of working more
with technology. They enjoyed helping
their pupils to interact with the tasks
set out by the app, and wove these
tasks into their lessons.
The teachers found it useful that
the app was available in more than
feature
one language. This helped pupils who
struggled with English.
In the second study, pupils said
they valued being able to learn on
the go through their mobile phones.
They enjoyed having mobile phones
integrated into classroom teaching and
learning. Those in the urban school
weren’t overly concerned with having
another language option; they spoke
English competently and also said
English had more social capital than
other languages.
Those in the rural and peri-urban
schools, meanwhile, found it very
helpful to be able to switch between
Setswana and English to help them
grasp tricky concepts.
Where to next
My findings reflect the need for
both ongoing support and training
for teacher technology education in
schools. This will help them – and
their pupils – to really benefit from
technology in this digital era. It’s
also a valuable way to equip pupils
with basic computer literacy and the
confidence to effectively use online
and offline technology resources to
learn.
And language must not be ignored
as a crucial factor. If technology is
to have a positive effect, inclusion is
key. By offering pupils educational
technology in their own languages,
you’re also providing good context
and boosting their learning.
Now that the research project is
complete, I am developing material
for a Massive Open Online Course for
teachers. This will guide them through
embedding open education technology
in their lessons.
Mmaki Jantjies is Senior Lecturer,
University of the Western Cape
Oct 19 - 25, 2018 25
rwanda
Rwanda’s Mushikiwabo elected
to head top Francophone body
By Independent team
R
wanda’s Foreign Affairs Minister,
Louise Mushikiwabo, has been
unanimously elected as the next
Secretary General of the Organisa-
tion of the French speaking nations (OIF).
The elections were held on Oct.12 in in Yere-
van – the capital City of Armenia during the
17th OIF summit.
She is now the head of the 84-nation bloc
and will serve four years renewable from
the organisation headquarters in Paris –
France.
Her election marks the success of an
intense campaign that saw her traverse
numerous capitals in the French speaking
world. Mushikiwabo also had to battle a
determined incumbent, Michaelle Jean,
who aimed to renew her mandate but was
handicapped when her native Quebec and
Canada withdrew their support in favour of
Mushikiwabo.
Mushikiwabo signaled she was on the
highway to victory when she won early
support from France and the French-speak-
ing members of the African Union. Heading
into the election she told the top French
TV5Monde that she was very confident and
26 Oct 19 - 25, 2018
wearing a smile on her face.
“An African secretary general would
make a lot of sense, and a female African
candidate would make even more sense,”
French President Emmanuel Macron said of
Mwishikiwabo on May 23, after a meeting
with his Rwandan President Paul Kagame.
“Louise Mushikiwabo has all the skills for
the job, and having an African candidate is
good news – so I will back her,” he added.
Local media in Rwanda was awash with
an outpouring of congratulatory messages
soon after Mushikiwabo’s victory.
Her colleague, Rwanda’s Minister of State
for Foreign Affairs, Olivier Nduhungirehe,
was quoted saying Mwishikiwabo won
because of her dedication and track record
of delivering on her tasks.
“I have worked with her for the last nine
years; she is an intelligent, smart and expe-
rienced woman who associates well with
people. I believe Mushikiwabo’s experience
gained in her service to the development of
Rwanda will be vital (in her bid) to lead OIF
to greater heights,” he wrote in a tweet on
Oct.12.
He said Mwishikiwabo is victory of a
dynamic brilliant, experienced, ambitious
and determined woman and a relevant
Francophonie in the world’s politics and
business.
Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of
the African Union Commission, said that
Mushikiwabo’s victory is a “great pride for
Africa and for Rwanda.”
“I am delighted that the African candi-
date Mushikiwabo is elected by consensus
and by acclamation. This demonstrates her
qualities, experience, and leadership that
are thus unanimously recognised by the
Francophone fraternity. I congratulate her,”
he said in tweet.
The French embassy in Rwanda also
congratulated Minister Mushikiwabo, La
Francophonie, as well as the entire cam-
paign team.
Sylvia Bongo Ondimba, First Lady of
Gabon, said she was pleased to see that
Mushikiwabo seeks to stimulate a new nar-
rative on a strong African and its determi-
nation to work for the employability of the
youth at her heart.
German Ambassador to Rwanda, Dr
Peter Woeste, said that Mushikiwabo’s vic-
tory is an expression of the amazing world-
wide reputation of her personally and also
a great recognition of the role Rwanda plays
internationally.
Isimba Hydropower dam under construction.   INDEPENDENT/JULIUS BUSINGE
Electricity tariffs drop not
enough to grow industrial sector
E
By Julius Businge
lectricity consumers grappling
with surging energy bills have
at least got some relief as the
industry regulator reduces tar-
iffs for the next three months.
But they are not overall better
off, compared with four years ago.
The Electricity Regulatory Authority’s
latest power tariff plan shows a reduction in
tariffs by an average of 1.5% for domestic,
industries and street lighting consumers for
the period ending December 2018.
The new tariff plan for the quarter under
review released on Oct.04 will see domes-
tic consumers pay Shs769.5 down from
Shs771.1 kWh, with commercial consumers
paying Shs686.1, down from Shs687 per
kWh.
Similarly, medium industrial consum-
ers will pay Shs614.4 down from Shs615.3
per kWh; large industries Shs382, down
from Shs383.8kWh; extra-large industries
Shs312.5, down from Shs314.1 kWh where-
as street lighting will pay Shs752.2, down
from Shs752.8 per kWh during the same
period under review.
The reduction, according to the regulator,
was as a result of improved performance in
the key economic indicators of inflation, fuel
prices and the exchange rate.
But this new tariff is higher than that of
2014, signaling a continued surge in elec-
tricity bills and lowering industrial sector’s
competitiveness in the region.
In 2014, domestic consumers paid an
average of Shs518 per kWh while commer-
cial consumers paid an average of 471.8 per
kWh. Medium industrial consumers paid
Shs449.4 per kWh, large industrial consum-
ers Shs 307.8 per kWh and street lighting
Shs486.2 per kWh.
Speaking to The Independent in an
interview on Oct. 12, the new Board Chair-
man of Uganda Breweries Limited (UBL),
Japheth Kato, said they welcome the reduc-
tion in electricity tariffs but added that more
reductions are important since they use a lot
of power in the beer production.
“…as you can imagine anything that can
reduce the cost of production which in turn
would make our products more affordable
we support completely,” Kato said adding
“we like government initiative of investing
heavily in power to support our activities.”
UBL, a subsidiary of East Africa Brewer-
ies Limited, is the producer of Bell Lager,
Uganda Waragi and Tusker beer brands.
This comes as the Private Sector Founda-
tion Uganda Executive Director, Gideon
Badagawa, says most businesses involved
in different trade incur 20% as energy cost
of the total production, leading to a surge in
prices of final products to the consumers.
He said more effort need to be geared
towards increasing demand by attracting
and connecting more investments or con-
sumers so that the cost goes down.
Low electricity tariffs in offing?
Daniel Birungi, the executive director for
Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA)
told The Independent on Oct.05, that gov-
ernment has promised to give them a writ-
ten confirmation trajectory showing how
the US$5cents per kWh as cost of power
from the current US$ 8.3 cents per kWh
would be achieved once more electricity is
added to the national grid.
The government plans to switch on
183MW Isimba and 600MW Karuma
hydropower dams and other small dams
starting next year.
Birungi said that government has also
given them confirmation that manufactur-
ers would work with the electricity distribu-
Oct 19 - 25, 2018 27
 business
Trend of quarterly tariffs for the year 2018 (Ush/kWh)
800
700
600
500
400
Customer category
300
Jan-March
Domestic consumers
Commercial consumers
Medium industrial commercial
tor, Umeme, to ensure that in areas where
their members have multiple meters, they
would combine them and have one to
be able to increase consumption for the
group and make them enjoy benefits of
lower tariffs for large consumers.
Birungi said a reduction in production
cost will stir industrial growth, which has
been grappling with high electricity costs
for years.
In a speech read by Finance Minister
Matia Kasaija at the recently concluded
UMA 2018 International Trade Fair, Presi-
dent Yoweri Museveni said that reducing
electricity costs is in line with govern-
ment’s efforts of prioritizing manufactur-
ing under Vision 2040.
He said that the idea is to have 50%
of Ugandan exports being manufac-
tured goods – a move that would create
more jobs and earn the country foreign
exchange.
“With more power projects coming
onboard, the cost of power shall continue
to reduce until we realize the US5cents
per kWh for all manufacturers,” Musev-
eni said before tasking the Ministry of
Energy and ERA to provide a trajectory
showing the reduction in power tariffs to
US5 cents per kWh to manufacturers.
28 Oct 19 - 25, 2018
April-June July-Sept
Large industries
Extra large industries
Street lighting
10 year plan
Harrison Mutikanga, the chief executive
officer for the Uganda Electricity Genera-
tion Company Limited says Uganda aims
to generate 17,000MW of electricity in the
next 10 years to match with the anticipated
growth in demand.
The country’s access to electricity is
estimated at about 20% of the country’s
34.9million people, according to Uganda
Bureau of Statistics. The annual average
electricity consumption stands at 80kWh
per capita which translates into suppressed
demand of over 500MW out of the around
955MW available on the national grid.
Mutikanga said that if this demand is
un-locked through the new government
electricity connection policy (2018-2027)
with an annual target of providing 300,000
free on-grid connections, it is likely that
the whole of Karuma (600MW) could be
exhausted by 2028.
The Minister of Energy and Mineral
Development, Irene Muloni, revealed that
the government is extending power to
industrial parks, implementing the new
free connection policy, fast tracking of rural
electrification through electrification of the
491 Sub Counties and extending high volt-
age interconnections within the East African
Oct-Dec
Source: ERA
Region as a business to grow revenue and
increase electricity consumption.
However, she decried acts of vandalism
of electrical installations which she said
was interfering with the electricity supply
network causing blackouts and driving
upwards electricity tariffs and thus nega-
tively impacting economic activities.
The growth in the economy is also
expected to drive demand for electricity
consumption. A 2015 report on Powering
Africa, McKinsey and Company, experts in
electric and natural gas revealed that there
is a direct correlation between economic
growth (GDP per capita) and per capita
electricity consumption.
They say Sub-Saharan Africa is starved
for electricity and that the region’s power
sector is significantly underdeveloped going
by energy access, installed capacity, or over-
all consumption.
“The fact that Sub-Saharan Africa’s resi-
dential and industrial sectors suffer electric-
ity shortages means that countries struggle
to sustain GDP growth,” the report reads
in part. It adds that fulfilling the economic
and social promise of the region, and Africa
in general depends on the ability of govern-
ment and investors to develop the conti-
nent’s huge electricity capacity.
 business
csr tax

USE unveils 2nd Annual University Challenge Scrap Mobile Money tax

trade with using live data
from USE for three months
till Jan 11, 2019.
The first four students
that will have the highest
portfolio with an interac-
tive and good explanation
for investment at the end of
the competition will receive
Shs 10million, Shs 7.5mill-
Prof Waswa Balunywa, Principal MUBS (R) unveils the USE University Challenge lion, Shs 5million and Shs
on Oct. 11. Looking on is USE CEO Paul Bwiso.   Courtesy Photo. 2.5milion worth of shares
T
he government should work towards
scrapping the 1% mobile money and
Shs200 social media taxes in a bid to
promote financial inclusion. This is
the view of the Principle of Makerere Univer-
sity Business School, Prof. Waswa Balunywa.
Balunywa, who was on Oct.08 speaking at
a pre-independence day event organised by
Airtel Uganda at its Bugoloobi office in Kam-
pala, said the launch of mobile money was
a great response to the challenge of financial
inclusion in the country. However, he said,
maintaining the tax on the service, which he

U
to start trading. described as regressive, would fail efforts of
ganda Securities that happen around trad- USE CEO Paul Bwiso pushing for financial inclusion in the country.
Exchange has ing in securities – bonds said deepening financial He used the same event to commend
unveiled the 2nd and stocks – listed on the inclusion is one of the Airtel for exhibiting patriotism and playing
Annual USE Uni- Exchange. Exchange’s strategic initia- an important role in the development
versity Challenge to impart Though the competition tives and the University agenda of the country through digital and
students with knowledge is free, each participant will Challenge is one way of financial inclusion. Airtel top officials, V.G
on how to invest in the have a virtual start-up capi- fostering financial literacy Somashekar, the managing director and
stock exchange. tal of Shs 100million, Shs among the young genera- Hannington Karuhanga, the chairman board
The competition is a 65million higher compared tion. Last year, the competi- of directors used the occasion to reward the
simulation of activities to that offered last year, to tion attracted 220 students. company’s top performing staff.

data
economy
Microsoft, Liquid telecom Kenya’s new paraffin taxes push paint prices up
unveil new data portal

L K
enyans will pay Kshs108.41, up from Kshs consumers,” Crown Paints
iquid telecom in partnership with more for paints, res- 4.95. Crown Paints Kenya CEO Rakesh Rao said.
Microsoft is urging businesses to ins and shoe polish said the increased prices has Rao said the products to
sign up for its new information on increased cost of led to a 10 % rise on their be affected include; gloss
and data storage portal technically kerosene, putting pressure production costs and that paints, roof paints, varnishes
referred to as ‘Azure Cloud’ as one way of on housing and furniture it plans to increase paint and thinner, which is used
growing their business. costs. The country’s Busi- prices by at least 8%. Paint to clean up surfaces after
Azure cloud is a computing service ness Daily reported on Oct. makers are the biggest con- using oil-based paints. This
created by Microsoft for building, testing, 11 that the imposition of sumers of kerosene, which new development is likely
deploying and managing applications 8% value added tax (VAT) is their key raw material. to affect investors such as
and services through a global network of and Sh18 adulteration fee “It has very serious housing developers, furni-
Microsoft managed data centres. per litre of kerosene from impact on our operations ture makers and Jua Kali
Speaking to IT players at Innovations last month has seen retail and we have no other option artisans who make equip-
Village hub in Ntinda on Oct.11, Hans price of paraffin jump to but to increase our prices to ment from scrap metal.
Haerdtle, Liquid telecom’s chief technolo-
gy officer for East Africa, said that in addi-
tion to storing data for businesses, Azure aviation
supports a range of operating systems,
programming languages, databases and Emirates scoops aviation accolade
devices for software and app developers.
well as the most innovative and successful
Wale Olokodana from Microsoft said the
finance and leasing deals closed in the last
era of digital revolution is here “with us
12 months. The awards were held during
and no business should be left behind.”
the 2018 Airline Economics Growth Fron-
tiers conference in Dubai. The Emirates
Aviation 100 ‘Airline of the Year’ accolade
was won based on the airline’s financial and
revenue per passenger kilometres (RPK)

Microsoft and Liquid telecom officials
E
performance, aircraft orders as well as net-
mirates airline has won the Aviation
work and fleet expansion activity. In the
100 ‘Middle East and Africa Airline
FY2017/2018, Emirates increased its revenue
of the Year’ accolade, awarded by
to AED 92.3billion (US$25.2 billion) and
Airline Economics magazine, it said
posted a profit of AED2.8billion (US$762
on Oct.10.
million).  It carried more than 58 million
The Aviation 100 awards recognises the
passengers and 2.6 million tonnes of cargo
sector’s most outstanding performers as

Oct 19 - 25, 2018 29

 Executive Style

Hima Cement looks to

housing sector for growth
Over the last few years, Uganda’s cement industry has drastically changed. Hima and Tororo
Cement factories have undergone major upgrades while at the same time; there has been
entry of new players – Simba and Kampala Cement. The Independent’s Ronald Musoke spoke
to Hima Cement’s CEO Nicolas George about the industry’s growth opportunities ahead.

How would you describe the cement in- from limestone to cement—which is Interestingly, even with the rapid expan-

U
dustry in Uganda today? what we have in Kasese. You could also sion and emergence of new factories, the
ganda has been a market that import semi-finished products (clinker) local cement price has not noticeably gone
initially was undersupplied, rely- and grind it with other materials like poz- down. What explains this paradox?
ing on local production but also zolona to produce cement(grinding Actually, if you look
imports. But since May or June, station). Unfortunately, there is keenly, the price has gone
this year, the dynamic is completely differ- not much limestone here in down. But you also
ent. There is now fair enough local capacity Uganda because we have need to understand
to feed the available demand. The country’s been looking for it over the that the major-
cement demand is about three million past decade. So, in order ity of industries in
tonnes per year but the installed capacity to increase capacity with- Uganda are based
is now about six million tonnes. Hima is out the limestone that we on grinding sta-
producing about 0.9 million tonnes per year need, the only option was tions which
(Kasese plant) while the new grinding sta- to build a grinding sta- are importing
tion in Tororo is set to produce 0.8 million tion and import the raw semi-finished
tonnes which takes us to 1.7 million tonnes material (clinker). But products. So, if
a year. We also have an extra 0.4 million the pozzolona that we the cost of this
tonne capacity in Namanve Industrial Park need to add comes from material goes
where we do blending of our products. the Kapchorwa area in up, the price
That takes us to above two million tonnes eastern Uganda. This is the in the Ugandan
of installed capacity. reason we decided to invest market definitely
in Tororo. But, we were already goes up. All the new
What have been some of the factors that strong in the west of the country factories are grinding
have seen the entry of new players and and we needed to build a position stations and they
expansion of the old firms? in the east. Commercially speaking, import their clin-
For the existing players, it was just a it made a lot of sense to invest in ker. So when
matter of following the market. There had Tororo. the
not been any big investment in the past
few years while the market was growing.
So there was need for the local players,
mainly Tororo Cement and us, to follow
the growth and invest. And then from the
outside, we had a market that was relying
on imports and people believed in building
extra capacity. The problem, (however), is
that everybody has done it at the same
time— as it always happens in many
industries.

Why did Hima Cement find

Tororo more attractive to set
up the new plant yet the
area is already crowded?
In the cement
industry, you
have two ways
of producing
cement; either
you produce
every-
thing—

30 Oct 19 - 25, 2018

price of clinker goes up, the local price of
cement goes up. So we have exposed the
local cement industry to the international
price dynamics of clinker.
So, if Uganda has more than enough ce-
ment, why are we still importing cement
from abroad?
I have seen this in many Ugandan news-
papers; that the Chinese are still exporting
to Uganda; that there is cheap cement com-
ing in, but let us be clear; there are no more
cement imports into Uganda. I think the
volume of cement from abroad is extremely
minimal as of June, this year. The problem
is absolutely not import of cement anymore.
Some experts say the expansion in the
local cement industry has been pegged
onto public infrastructure projects like
the Standard Gauge Railway and the oil
infrastructure projects that are expected to
take off soon. What risks do you anticipate
shouldthese projects delay?
I think there is a misperception about
these large projects. For example, if you look
at last year when you had the Jinja Bridge,
the Entebbe Expressway, the Karuma Dam
and other large projects going up, the total
cement consumption for these projects was
around 10% of the total consumption in the
country. So these projects are a plus when
they come on board but they don’t change
the dynamics of the industry. It is not
because they are gone or that a few more
are coming on board, that the industry will
change completely— not at all. What makes
the cement market in Uganda is the residen-
tial housing sector— which contributes 80%
of the local demand. This is where our real
market is. The large projects are nice but at
the end of the day, it is you and your sister
who are building small houses that contrib-
ute to the local cement demand much more
than the large projects.
There was confusion early this year when
amidst this expansion, cement scarcity
hit the local market. What exactly went
wrong?
It was an unfortunate event and
if you look back, it lasted only a
month. What happened in practice
is rather simple. First, we as Hima,
have our cement plant which has
to undergo routine maintenance
and that happens once a year.
So we had our Kasese plant
shut down for four weeks in
February for maintenance.
But as this happened,
we believe, some of our
competitors had some
technical issues, so
their production went
down. The second
cause (of scarcity)
was that there were some imports coming
from Kenya that were feeding the east and
the northern markets and these imports
stopped completely at the end of February
and the beginning of March; reason being
that the Kenyan market was rebounding. So
they stopped exporting to Uganda around
the same period. So the low production
from the local players plus the stopping of
imports from Kenya created this scarcity.
However, the dynamic completely changed
within a month when Tororo Cement,
Hima Cement and National Cement, all
started production. Now there is excess
capacity.
What’s Hima Cement’s regional strategy
for growing its market?
Our regional strategy goes a little bit
beyond Him Cement. Hima Cement is
part of the Lafarge-Holcim Group which
is a global leader in building materials and
we have assets all around eastern Africa.
But when we look at Uganda, it is part of
the network and our ambition is simple:
We want to continue being number one in
eastern Africa, just like in West Africa and
North Africa—all over Africa. What the
group is doing is looking at which market
has the highest potential and definitely
Uganda is a top priority. Uganda has a high
population growth rate. People will need
housing and highways in the future and
so, there is a growth potential in the long
term. Uganda will also soon become an oil
producer which means that the country will
get a new source of income which will boost
growth. We therefore believe Uganda is
among the countries that will be leading the
construction industry. But also, politically
Uganda is relatively stable, the ease of doing
business is quite good though not perfect.
On the regional strategy, we want to grow
everywhere but we want to grow faster in
Uganda. The DR Congo and South Sudan
are good markets but they are quite volatile
at the moment. However, if one day they
stabilize, we believe Uganda is the perfect
base to approach them.
What are some of the challenges you are
still grappling with at Hima Cement?
The taxation regime is quite unfavorable
to manufacturers and this is something that
has got to be looked at. A simple example
is that Hima pays Shs 10,000 per tonne of
limestone in royalty yet we pay zero per
cent in taxes if we import a tonne of clinker
from the COMESA region. The second big-
gest challenge we are facing is electricity.
The issue is not quantity of power—Uganda
has enough power. The problem we have
is quality of power. For example, just in
September alone, our Kasese plant suffered
68 power outages which translated into
68 lost production hours. Our equipment
keeps stopping all the time and it is not like
your lights (at home) that you put on and
off quite easily. Once the power goes off,
even for two, three seconds, we need to go
through a full cycle of restarting the equip-
ment. So we lose approximately one hour
every time we have an outage. If you do
simple mathematics, we are losing between
10—15% of our production every month
just because of power quality.That translates
to millions of dollars every year.
What have you done about fixing this
problem once and for all?
We have reached a point where we will
have to invest in power generation near our
plants. So we might not buy from the grid
anymore, which is completely absurd. The
other option is investing in Uninterruptible
Power Source (UPS) system that would
cover us for a few minutes in the event of
outages so that the plant can benefit from
stable power. But this is a multi-million dol-
lar investment.
What sort of incentives are you looking
out for from the government to help you
produce at optimum capacity?
The basic principle that needs to be
applied in the industry is that a local manu-
facturer should be given a little favour and
not importers or people who are just trans-
forming raw materials into cement. Hima
Cement is today the only cement producer
in the country that has a fully integrated
plant that is using 100% local raw materi-
als, including energy. We are therefore not
importing anything except pet coke but we
are substituting it with local biomass (coffee
and rice husks). But on the other hand, we
have our competitors, who import 60-70%
of their raw materials. Now when you
look at the tax incentive, I am more taxed
with my plant in Kasese than my grinding
station in Tororo that is importing semi-fin-
ished products which does not make sense.
We are incentivising people to import and
transform raw materials rather than invest-
ing heavily in manufacturing. What is most
frustrating is that this has been explained
to the government a couple of times, and it
was understood. I am told even the Presi-
dent asked for this to be changed but it has
never been implemented.
If you were to peer into the future, what
will the local cement industry look like
five years from today?
I think by then, we will have at least one
or two proper cement plants; producing
everything, from limestone to cement. Most
likely, there will be a consolidation because
the Ugandan market is still relatively small
and yet we have a number of competitors. I
think there is a need to rationalize a little bit
to make sure that there are players produc-
ing everything locally in a safe and environ-
mentally friendlier way.
Oct 19 - 25, 2018 31
Business

US tech firm launches in

Kampala, targets SMEs
By Ian Katusiime set to stir competition with the

A
US-based technology
firm, Raxio, plans to
set up a data centre in
Kampala to tap into
the growing small and me-
dium enterprises seeking for
data storage and web hosting
services.
Raxio’s General Manager,
James Byaruhanga, said during
the firm’s launch at the Kampa-
la Serena Hotel on Oct. 04 that
the multi-billion facility will
(L-R) Dr. Femi Oyetunji, Group Managing Director, Continental Reinsurance be built at Namanve Industrial
Plc, Godfrey Kiptum, Acting CEO/Commissioner of Insurance, Insurance Park, 15km from the city cen-
Regulatory Authority (IRA) and Steve Mainda, Chairman, Continental tre, with the official opening set
Reinsurance Limited, Kenya cut a cake to mark the Company’s 10-year for September 2019.
Anniversary in Kenya on Oct. 11, 2018. Looking on is Margaret Ikongo, “At full capacity, the centre
Board Member, Nairobi Subsidiary. The reinsurer called on stakeholders to will be able to house up to 400
work together to increase insurance penetration in Africa. racks, delivering 1.5MW of IT
power. It will operate optimal-
ly, 24/7, in a fully safe, secure
and redundant environment,”
he said.
He said business and gov-
ernment’s world over are
adopting the digital economy
as a means to improve services
delivery, but this digital trans-
formation requires real-time
data storage capabilities as well
as robust business continuity
and disaster recovery solutions.
Raxio’s entry in Uganda is
already established firms such
as MTN, Twenty Third Cen-
tury Systems (TTSC) and One
Solution.
While MTN does not dis-
close the charges of its data
centre services, One Solution
and TTCS were nearly five
years ago charging SMEs
between $125 and $225 and $75
to $125 per user each month,
respectively.
James Saka, executive direc-
tor at National Information and
Technology Authority (NITA-
U) said the new development
is a blessing for SMEs because
they will be able to lower their
costs of operation especially
with regard to data storage.
Several leaders of business
and IT experts who attended
the event hailed it as a mile-
stone for the country’s growing
IT sector.
Observers noted that most
data centre investments are
near the oceans where subma-
rine cables land and this was
a sign that investors have put
their confidence in Uganda.
The new company comes at
the time Data Privacy and
Protection Bill (2015) is being
finalised in Parliament.

Amanya Atuhairwe (C), the Credit Control Manager, Roke Telkom, with
other company staff handing over items to staff of Good Samaritan
Children’s Home in Entebbe, as part of their Corporate Social
Responsibility initiative on Oct. 06, 2018.   Courtesy Photo. Weekly share price movement (Oct. 10, 2018)
Security Oct.10 Oct. 05 Movement
BATU 30,000 30000 00
BOBU 125 140 10.7
CENT 976 1,048 6.8
QCL 262 262 00
DFCU 849 849 00
EABL 6,950 7,040 1.2
EBL 1,484 1,516 2.1
JHL 16,981 17,713 4.1
KA 409 453 9.7
KCB 1,446 1,469
NIC 16 16 00
NMG 2,667 2,602 2.5
NVL 400 400 00
SBU 33 33 00
UCHM 30 34 11.7
dfcu Bank’s Jude Kansiime hands over a Shs20million dummy cheque UCL 23 23 00
to Busoga Kingdom Prime Minister, Joseph Muvawala, towards a UMEME 350 350 00
water project in the Kingdom
ALSI -- -- --
32 Oct 19 - 25, 2018
 difficult previous birth experience. This
suggests that not only is it normal for
women to be worried or anxious about
birth, but that it would be unusual if
they were not.
But of course, anxiety about birth
occurs along a continuum. This
ranges from women who are a little
bit worried, to those who have
developed a true phobia of birth. For
some women, this phobia – known
as tokophobia – is so severe that they
never become pregnant or, if they
do, they may decide to terminate the
pregnancy.

Severe fear
There are interventions which can
be effective for severe tokophobia.
But women will only benefit from
them if they feel able to disclose their
severe fear (and are taken seriously)
– or if healthcare professionals are
able to identify them. This does not
just require training and increased
awareness of tokophobia, but also
appropriate screening tools and care
pathways that ensure women receive
timely and appropriate treatment.
At the University of Hull we have
been working with local services for
the last decade to ensure that women
with perinatal mental health problems
receive the care and support they
need. Together with mental health
practitioners, midwives and health
visitors we are now developing a
pathway for women with tokophobia.

Tokophobia: extreme
Impact of social media
There is some research evidence that
other people’s negative birth stories
may increase the fear of birth for some

fear of pregnancy
When some women develop
extreme fear of childbirth
By Franziska Wadephul, Catriona Jones &
and fears suggests that women may
women. But on the other hand, many
women find it helpful to talk about
their experiences. And research shows
that peer support and sharing stories
about challenging experiences can
help to reduce feelings of isolation and
provide validation.
Clearly, there is a tension here
between the needs of these two
groups of women – those who find it
therapeutic to talk about their birth
experiences and those whose fears may

C
Julie Jomeen
hildbirth can clearly be
a scary prospect. For
women who have not
given birth before, it is the
great unknown. Research
into women’s concerns
be anxious about the risk of injuries or
complications, pain, their ability to give
birth, losing control, and interactions
with health professionals.
Even women who have given birth
before may have similar worries – as
every birth is different. But they may
also have specific concerns if they had a
be increased by reading these stories.
Contrary to some media reports, this
is not about telling women to “shut up
about childbirth”, but it is important to
be mindful of the impact sharing may
have on others.
Then there is also the issue
that women who share traumatic

Oct 19 - 25, 2018 33

health
experiences of birth on social
media may have an unmet
need for professional support
– which would most likely
be a more effective way of
helping them cope with these
experiences.
The right care
So while it’s clear that some
anxiety and worry around
birth is normal and to be
expected, it’s also important
that women with a more
severe fear of birth feel able
to talk about their concerns
– rather than being told that
it’s normal to be worried and
that everything will be OK.
This is important, because
women who are experiencing
a severe, overwhelming fear
of birth will not be reassured
by being told that everybody
gets a little anxious. What
they need is supportive,
appropriate and timely care.
That’s not to suggest every
pregnant woman who ever
expresses any concerns about
birth needs to be treated for
fear of birth, though pregnant
women with raised anxiety
levels may benefit from
interventions even if they do
not suffer from tokophobia.
Anxiety in pregnancy has
been linked to a number of
negative effects on mothers
and babies. And early
intervention can be crucial
in preventing this leading to
more serious problems.
But what’s most important
is that all women receive
appropriate care and support
– including women who have
a severe fear of birth and
those who have experienced
traumatic births. Providing
high quality care for all
women should diminish the
chances of women developing
tokophobia after their first
birth and help to reduce the
amount of negative stories
being shared.
Franziska Wadephul is Research
Assistant, University of
Hull, Catriona Jones is Senior
Research Fellow in Maternal and
Reproductive Health, University
of Hull, and Julie Jomeen is
Professor of Midwifery and
Dean in the Faculty of Health
Sciences, University of Hull.
34 Oct 19 - 25, 2018
Daytime naps
could help us make
better decisions
A new study in the Journal of Sleep
Research, examines unconscious activity
By Ana Sandoiu pants very briefly so that they didn’t have time to
A
register the information consciously.
short daytime nap could do wonders for In the second (control) task, the participants
our brains’ ability to process information,
responded when they were shown a red or blue
suggests a new study. square on a screen.
Sleep is key in both memory formation
After performing the tasks, the study par-
and the consolidation of new information. ticipants stayed awake or took a 90-minute nap.
Cutting-edge technologies now allow scientists
Then, all the volunteers did the tasks again.
to see where in the brain learning takes place, and The researchers measured the participants’
how sleep deprivation interferes with the brain’s brain activity both before and after the nap using
neuroplasticity. an electroencephalogram. They also tested the
Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to respond participants’ choice reaction time.
and adapt to the stimuli it receives from the envi- The study found that naps increased process-
ronment. ing speed in the masked prime task, but not in
What happens “under the hood” when we are the unmasked control task. This suggested to the
asleep has also been the focus of numerous stud- researchers that naps specifically aid the process-
ies. ing of infor-
According mation that
to research that was acquired
Medical News unconsciously.
Today recently Therefore,
reported on, sci- even a short
entists were able period of
to locate specific sleep may
memories and help process
strengthen them information,
while the study improve our
participants were reaction times,
asleep using and potentially
certain auditory influence our
cues. behavior when
Now, an awake.
intriguing new These
study focuses on findings
the effect of day- strengthen
time naps on the brain’s ability to process infor- the idea that the information we “perceive”
mation that we are not consciously aware of. unconsciously is processed during sleep, and
Additionally, the study examined how daytime that sleep may aid our decision-making when
naps impact conscious behavior and choice reac- awake.
tion time — that is, the speed with which the brain Coulthard comments on these results, saying,
processes new information. “The findings are remarkable in that they can
Liz Coulthard, a consultant senior lecturer in occur in the absence of initial intentional, con-
dementia neurology at the University of Bristol scious awareness, by processing of implicitly
Medical School in the United Kingdom, led the
presented cues beneath participants’ conscious
new research. awareness.”
Naps help process unconscious information
However, the researchers plan to undertake
Coulthard and colleagues recruited 16 volun- more work in the future. “Further research
teers for the study and gave the study participants
in a larger sample size is needed to compare
two tasks. if and how the findings differ between ages,
In the first, a “masked prime task,” the
and investigation of underlying neural mecha-
researchers presented information to the partici- nisms,” she adds.
 ART | BOOKS | SOCIETY | TRAVEL | CULTURE
It’s raining dollars
for Ugandan artists
Artist sells pieces worth Shs289m in one night
I
By Dominic Muwanguzi
smael Kateregga’s painting titled
`Buikwe fishing boats 2018’ com-
posed of fishing boats docked at one
of the landing sites on Lake Victoria,
recently went under the hammer for
£ 12,500 (approximately Shs61 mil-
lion) at the Bonham’s Auction house.
Earlier on in 2014, the artist had sold
another painting `Boats’ for £8,750 (Approx.
Shs38.7 million) at the same auction house
in London. And he is not the only artist
from Uganda and the east African region
making big money in art auctions.
At the 5th edition of East Africa Art Auc-
tion in Nairobi recently, Geoffrey Mukasa
( deceased) was acclaimed as the bestsell-
ing artist from the region when he sold
his paintings `In the Sugar Plantations’ for
Ksh1,937,100 ( Approx. UShs72 million)
and `Birds at Home’ for US$9,688 (approxi-
mately UShs36 million) respectively. In one
evening, Mukasa sold works worth more
than Shs295 million.
These relatively high prices for Ugandan
and east African art pieces are unprecedent-
ed. They are attributed to the perception of
art from the region as fresh and generally
inexpensive. Ugandan artists like Xenson
Ssenkaaba, Eria Sane Nsubuga, Joseph
Ntensibe and Michael Soi create fresh art
that blends traditional art practices and
motifs in interrogation of political social
contexts.
According to Dada Jaroljmek, Director
Circle Art Agency who organise the Mod-
ern and Contemporary East Africa Art Auc-
tion, the surge in interest of art from East
Africa is partly influenced by the Circle Art
Auction that enables regional artists gain
international recognition.
“[It] is an opportunity to introduce mod-
ern and cutting edge contemporary artists
from six countries from both secondary and
primary markets and prove that art from
this region is worthy investment,” she says.
Art from West Africa and South Africa is
the most expensive on the continent with
artists like El Anatsui, Abdoulaye Konate
and Tracey Rose tagging their artworks
with more than US$200,000. The likes of
these have already featured in major bienni-
als across the globe like Venice art Biennale,
Berlin art Biennale and Shanghai art Bien-
nale.
Back home artist Michael Soi (Kenya)
debuted at the 56th Venice Art Biennale
with his series of paintings satirically
interrogating the Sino-Africa relationship.
Since then, Soi’s work has been identified
as one of the most selling from the region
priced at an average US$ 20,000. In this
league of the A-list artists from Kenya are
Paul Oditi, Richard Kimathi and Beatrice
Wanjiku. Ugandan high flying artists
include Ssenkaaba Xenson Samson who
is a seasoned feature at the East Africa Art
Auction and averagely costs at between
US$8000 and US$ 15,000, Sanaa Gateja who
often features at the Johannesburg Art Fair
and Paul Ndema whose landmark painting
`The Last Supper 2015’ sold for a whop-
ping US$10,000. In Tanzania, the market is
largely dominated by Tinga tinga artists like
Edward Saidi Tingatinga (founder of Tin-
gatinga movement) David Mzuguno, and
George Lilanga. The price for their artworks
is averagely €4,500 - €10,000.
This reference to the vibrant art scene in
the region is further cemented by the grow-
ing economies of East African countries.
Similarly, South Africa which boasts the
most impressive art market on the conti-
nent has the second biggest economy, after
Nigeria. If the economic-political climate
continues to improve and the social-political
situation remains favourable, regional art-
ists and collectors can be assured that their
fortunes will improve.
Image: Buikwe Fishing Boats courtesy of Artist
Oct 19 - 25, 2018 35
 Trump’s UK visit cost Shs90bn
British police chiefs say security for
U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit in
July involved almost 10,000 officers and
cost nearly $24 million (Approx. Shs90
billion), making it the biggest police
operation since riots swept England in
2011. According to the national police,
nearly every police force in England was
involved in covering the four-day visit,
which required 26,000 police shifts by
almost 10,000 officers.
She says “the full cost of the operation
is still being worked out but an early esti-
mate is nearly 18 million pounds.”
Trump held talks with Prime Minister
Theresa May at her country retreat, met
Queen Elizabeth II at Windsor Castle and
visited a Scottish golf course during the trip,
which also saw large anti-Trump protests in
London and Scotland.

Man proposes 13-year old boy runs own bank

marriage with death!
Marriage proposals come in
many forms but one thing sticks
out in most of them; they are
romantic. But one young man
recently literally killed it; he staged
a tragic motorcycle accident with
him as the victim in order to ask
his girlfriend to marry him.
The man, identified as Jeffrey
Delrio, put a lot of thought into
his bizarre marriage proposal,
even getting local police officers
involved to make his apparent
demise even more believable.
In a clip that went viral last
week, Delrio can be seen lying
face down on a street in South
Cotobato, Philippines, with police
redirecting traffic around the scene
of the apparently fatal motorcycle
accident, as his girlfriend arrives
on a boda boda (moped). She
immediately starts screaming in
pain. Then a traffic policeman
turns Jeffrey Delrio’s body and he
pulls a small box out of his pocket,
gets up on one knee and smilingly
asks her to marry him. Confused,
the girlfriend throws herself in
the arms of the police officer
comforting her and starts crying
again, only this time they are tears
of joy. She slaps him on the arm
once before hugging him. She
then lets him put the engagement
ring on her finger, and the crowd
starts cheering. She never stops
sobbing though. The couple are
both “full of love” after the cruel
prank, says a friend.
Many children dream of
becoming entrepreneurs when
they grow up, but very few
start as early as, Jose Adolfo
Quisocala Condori, a Peruvian
boy who started a children’s
savings bank when he was
only 7 years old.
Jose got the idea for a chil-
dren’s savings bank six years
ago, after noticing that many
of his peers were spending
their money on sweets and
toys, instead of saving it for
more meaningful purchases.
When he pitched his idea for a
children’s bank to his teachers,
he was told that a 7-year-old
couldn’t handle such a project.
But he proved them all wrong.
He founded the Bartselana
Student Bank in his home
city of Arequipa, in 2012. The
Bartselana Student Bank has
been growing every year since
its inception, and today it has
over 2,000 clients aged 10 to
18. Adolfo says he has been
approached by Peru’s Banco
de la Nación for a joint venture.
“I’m not intimidated by
meeting with bank executives
to talk about business. The
treatment is always cordial
and, to be honest, I feel more
comfortable with adult people
because they understand the
projects I am proposing to
them,” the 13-year-old entre-
preneur said.
Drunk birds cause
havoc in city
Police in Gilbert City, Min-
nesota recently issued a rare
statement explaining birds
“flying under the influence”.
The said the birds had feasting
on fermented berries and like
human teenagers, young birds
can’t handle their alcohol as well
as mature ones, and the ethanol
entering their system caused
them to act strange. Police start-
ed getting reports of birds acting
erratically – flying into windows
or moving traffic and acting con-
fused. And as they are getting
ready to fly south for the winter,
many bird species tend to stuff
themselves with whatever food
they find in order to build fat for
the long journey, causing them
to get really drunk.
It appears that some birds are
getting a little more ‘tipsy’ than
normal,” Gilbert Police Chief
Ty Techar wrote in an official
statement, adding that there is
no need for people to call the
police about such birds, as they
“should sober up in a short
period of time”.

Woman jailed for looking through husband’s phone without permission

A court in the United Arab Emirates
(UAE) recently sentenced a woman to three
months in jail after her husband sued her
for looking through his phone without his
permission. In a statement made against
his wife, the unnamed husband claimed
that she would access his phone while he
was asleep, copying all the data, including
pictures and chat conversations to her own
smartphone so she could look through all
the information at a later date. Court found
her guilty of violating the UAE’s strict
privacy law, which states that married
couples are forbidden from accessing
each other’s personal phones without
permission, even if one of them suspects
the other of cheating.

36 Oct 19 - 25, 2018


By Agencies
N
egative media reviews
of recent BMW 3 Se-
ries generations have
motivated the German
car-maker to aim for new driv-
ing benchmarks with its latest
mid-size luxury sedan.
Speaking at the Paris motor
show recently, where the new
BMW 3 Series sedan made its
global debut, the company’s
development chief Klaus
Frohlich said the latest G20 ver-
sion had to be the best driving
car in its class.
“It has to beat everybody in
the segment in driving dynam-
ics because all the Australian,
UK and American journalists
say ‘ooh the E46 CSL was the
last real 3 Series’,” Frohlich told
motoring.com.au.
“I do not want to hear that
shit anymore.”
The seventh-generation
BMW 3 Series sedan reaches
markets in the first quarter of
2019. The 320d and 330i will be
the first models on offer, fol-
lowed later in the year by the
M340i and 330e petrol-electric
hybrid.
A new BMW 3 Series
Touring wagon is imminent
internationally and a new 4
Series Coupe, Gran Coupe and
Convertible will also follow the
sedan onto the market, as will
the high-performance M3 and
M4. However, the high-riding 3
Series GT has been axed.
Faced with increased dynam-
ic competition in recent years
from the likes of the Jaguar XE
BMW is sick of bad
3 Series reviews
“I do not want to hear that shit anymore!”
declares BMW development boss
and Alfa Romeo Giulia – as
well as its traditional rear-wheel
drive rival the Mercedes-Benz
C-class — BMW has made
numerous changes to the new 3
Series. The most fundamental is
the adoption of the stiffer new
CLAR — or cluster — architec-
ture, a reduction in weight up
to 55kg despite the new genera-
tion car being bigger than its
predecessor, a 10mm lower cen-
tre of gravity, wider tracks and
the adoption of new passive
dampers which BMW variously
dubs stroke-dependant, travel-
dependant or lift-related.
Frohlich said the work on
dynamics had achieved the
intended results.
“First thing and this is for me
the most important thing; you
can drive fast and completely
relaxed. You don’t feel how fast
you are.
“Second thing and this thing
is a big achievement; this car
is much more valuable, it has
much better materials and it is
solid like a rock.
“From the comfort it is more
like a 5 Series, because this clus-
ter architecture is so, so stiff; for
example 50 per cent stiffness
increase between front axle and
bulkhead, 30 per cent overall
stiffness [increase].
“You do not only feel it in
driving, you feel it in ride com-
fort.”
Frohlich made it clear that
the 3 Series remains the most
important model in the entire
BMW line-up, even though its
sales have been diluted by spin-
ning off the 4 Series and the rise
of SUVs.
“I think it is about what is the
brand standing for,” declared
Frohlich.
“I think as a company BMW
has a big history of compact
four-seaters with a lot of power
— 1600, 2002, the first 3 Series,
the 323 with two exhaust pipes.
This is BMW still in the minds
of many people.
“Commercially for example
the 5 Series is I think a bigger
contributor; for example in
China we would sell millions of
cars of that type.
“But from the heart of the
brand [the 3 Series] is still
Oct 19 - 25, 2018
the most important car. It is
the right mixture of having
the character and having the
volume. You can have a super-
sharp brand shaper very race
equipped, but it will only sell
some thousand units — it will
not affect the brand.
“This is a multiplier and it’s
sporty.”
In a separate interview,
BMW 3 Series product manager
Stephan Horn said the ability
of the new passive damper had
prompted discussions about
whether BMW would continue
to offer adaptive dampers as an
option.
“We still have it there because
many customers like it and love
it but you don’t really need it,”
he said.
The new damper, which is
standard on 3 Series, has been
developed in conjunction with a
supplier BMW refused to name.
Meanwhile, another impor-
tant driver for BMW with its
new 3 Series was separating its
styling more convincingly from
the 5 Series sedan.
37
Profile
Elizabeth Kasujja: Queen’s award winner
By Agnes E Nantaba
E
lizabeth Kasujja is one of the three
young Ugandans who recently
won the prestigious Queen’s Young
Leader award for their community
service. They were awarded in London at
a ceremony presided over by Queen Eliza-
beth of the United Kingdom. The award
distinguishes and celebrates exceptional
young people from across 53 Common-
wealth countries in Asia, Africa, Europe,
The Caribbean, and America.
Kasujja was awarded for her fight against
mental health related stigma in Uganda
38 Oct 19 - 25, 2018
under her organisation, Clear Yo Mind
(CYM). With technology, Kasujja is able to
create secure online platforms for people to
express their feelings and access free help
from mental health professionals.
“The programme looks out for young
people between 18 and 29 years who are
doing great things in their community
and usually with limited resources,” says
Kasujja. About the ward she says “it’s a very
humbling experience which gives valida-
tion that you get appreciated for the humble
work”.
The programme also encompasses a one
year fellowship designed to nurture think-
ing outside the box.
“The programme has already impacted
on me,” she says, “for instance I have
already undertaken a mapping
exercise to understand people’s
perception about me and my
work.”
Individuals with
mental health issues
and those dealing
with perceived
stigma reach out to
the team at CYM
and they embark
on a recovery
process. And
for complicated
cases, individu-
als are linked to
psychiatrists and
other profession-
als who guide on a
way forward.
“Other people just
need to text a message
requesting for help,
and secure one-to-one
appointments with pro-
fessionals outside of a
hospital environment,”
says Kasujja.
Despite being a profes-
sional chemist, Kasujja
jumped onto the journey
in 2016 after experiencing a
series of psychological issues
that affected her life.
“It took me long to understand
that there was a problem until I
realised that something was eating
me up from inside”, says Kasujja.
“The challenge was that none of the
people around me could imagine the
problem”.
About the same time, a
young man narrowly
escaped death after trying to end his life
by jumping off a six-storied building in
Kampala city. He later said he faced work-
related stress, which was exacerbated when
he was sacked. This particular incident was
the trigger that sparked off debate within
Kasujja about how many people share the
experience to the extent of contemplating
suicide.
The debate would birth probable solu-
tions, including meeting different people
who could help with recovering self-esteem.
Kasujja established the statistics of people
with mental health issues from Butabika
Mental Referral Hospital in Kampala. To
her, this was an avenue to diagnose the
problem and research into possible solu-
tions. She discovered that Uganda has only
34 psychiatrists for a population of about 40
million people. The usual recommendation
is 1:10,000 psychiatrists per population. That
means Uganda needs about 4000 psychia-
trists.
Kasujja explains that mental health issues;
especially depression, stem from a lack of
something and one may suffer mental ill-
ness once the gap widens.
“With our current demands, we work so
hard thus ignoring the parenting role,” says
Kasujja.
Kasujja chose to find a way of ending
mental health stigma by building CYM.
Two years later, Kasujja says she has con-
firmed that her work will get much easier
with the passing in parliament of the Men-
tal Health Policy in September after years
of waiting. She says the policy emphasis
on decentralisation of mental health care
implies ability of people to access proper
professional mental health even at village
level.
Kasujja is an industrial chemist who har-
boured dreams of becoming a professional
pilot. But she failed to raise the required
tuition in a flying school.
Kasujja was born to Margaret and David
Kasujja Kalule.
She says, “We had an abundance of love
and now that I am older and dealing with
mental health issues, I clearly understand
how that played a big role in helping us feel
like we didn’t lack”.
She went to Kampala Kindergarten,
Kampala Parents School, Gayaza High
School, King’s College Budo and Makerere
University where she pursued a bachelor’s
degree in Industrial Chemistry.
She also works as a Consultant Business
Advisor with the Malaria and Childhood
Illness’ NGO secretariat where she initially
worked as a programme officer until 2016.
 Q&A

Elizabeth Kasujja’s Liteside

Any three things that I like to spend on my Which living person What do you regard
we don’t know about nephews and nieces. do you most despise? as the lowest depth of

I
you? I don’t have too misery?
am a God fearing What is the greatest much energy to spend Getting to a point
person and this thing you have ever on such negativity. where the only option
means that God done? is to take their life.
is at the centre of Sustaining CYM What is the quality Suicide doesn’t take
everything about me. because raising the you most like in a away the burden but
I am very personal resources has been woman? just multiplies and
with my relationships a struggle without God fearing. transfers to your own
which is why I keep a any external funding. people.
small circle of friends However this has What is the quality
around me. I am also come with a lot of you most like in a What is your favorite
an ambivert. appreciation from the man? occupation?
community. God fearing. Being able to heal
What is your idea of people psychologically.
perfect happiness? What is your current What or who is the
It is something felt state of mind? greatest love of your What do you most
within. It’s always I am happy. life? value in your friends?
centered around Our whole extended Different people
people and moments What do you consider family. relate differently with
or those you would call the most overrated others. I value the
little tit bits. virtue? When and where were mutual benefit.
Other people’s you happiest?
What is your greatest opinions; most people When I was selected Who are your favorite
fear? mind so much about for the Mandela writers?
I was raised in an what their environment Washington Fellowship Sigmund Freud’s
environment where I will take them for. We in 2017. It was really psychology writings
was pumped with all should learn to own exciting for the family. teach me a lot. I also
the weapons against the universe around us I was also happy love reading ‘Rhythm
fear. and do our best within sharing the news with of Life’ by Mathew
that framework. my parents right after Kelly. I like the so
What is the trait the handshake with the many lessons that
you most deplore in What does being queen. It’s a moment both authors tell in
yourself? powerful mean to you? they always longed for story form. They
I am a soft person Wealth, wisdom, since they named me take you through a
which is why it’s very knowledge of God and after her. whole journey with a
easy to take advantage self-discovery. The character which gives
of me. Sometimes ability to positively If you could change you a chance to walk
I over commit to influence people and one thing about your own journey.
running so many this starts with the yourself, what would
errands. ability to make them it be? What is your greatest
listen to you. I wouldn’t change a regret?
What is the trait thing. I wish I had gone
you most deplore in On what occasion do to the flying school.
others? you lie? Where would you It’s an experience
Dishonesty. I refrain from telling most like to live? that I still want to
lies. Most times, I I continue to fall walk. However, I also
Which living person choose to avoid the in love with the little believe that everything
do you most admire? situation. things in Uganda. happens for a reason;
My parents Margaret Things like the so for wherever I am,
and David Kasujja What do you most smiles and people’s no regrets.
Kalule. I have drawn dislike about your hospitality make
so much inspiration appearance? Uganda the best home. How would you like
from them. They loved I have accepted my to die?
us in abundance and insecurities and fallen What is your most I don’t want to die.
taught us to share. in love with the person treasured possession?
in me. The persona in me; What is your motto?
What is your greatest there is a positive effect ‘Never give up’ and
extravagance? that I have on people. ‘Gakyali Mabaga’

Oct 19 - 25, 2018 39

Global comment
By Mukhisa Kituyi
Redefining African migration
African governments are recognising intra-continental
migration as a vital ingredient of growth
F
ew issues are as emotional as human
migration. Images of desperate
people on the move – whether trying
to cross the US-Mexico border or
packed onto rickety boats crossing the
Mediterranean Sea – have heightened ten-
sions and forged a narrative that migration
has no upside.
But these images have also blinded
us to the fact that people have always
moved, and that migration is necessary
and beneficial for human development.
Nowhere is this fact more relevant today
than in Africa.
Despite the ongoing political crisis sur-
rounding African migration to Europe,
the reality is that fewer Africans are
migrating to European countries than
when the numbers peaked in October
2015. As it happens, most African
migrants move within Africa. And for
African governments in particular, that
fact creates an opportunity to harness the
positive power of human mobility.
Understanding how migration can
build wealth in Africa requires closer
attention to migratory trends. According
to data from my organisation, the United
Nations Conference on Trade and Devel-
opment (UNCTAD), of the 41.5 million
people who migrated from, to, or within
Africa in 2017, nearly half – 19 million –
remained on the continent. Some 17 mil-
lion people left Africa, while 5.5 million
migrated to Africa from other parts of
the world.
African migrants include both blue-
and white-collar workers, and those who
move within Africa often do so to fill
labour gaps. For example, labour short-
ages in mining, construction, agricul-
ture, and domestic services have fueled
migration to South Africa and Côte
d’Ivoire, two of the most important eco-
nomic hubs on the continent. Elsewhere,
Gabon’s lumber and mining sectors,
Equatorial Guinea’s oil industry, and
various industries in Kenya have also
attracted migration from neighboring
countries.
Simply put, migration in Africa helps
destination economies grow. In addi-
tion to filling labour needs, the pres-
ence of large migrant populations spurs
40 Oct 19 - 25, 2018
economic diversification, private-sector
development, and value-added produc-
tion. Moreover, migrants spend about
85% of their earnings domestically. That
infusion of capital adds to destination
countries’ tax base and boosts local con-
sumption.
But Africa’s migrants also contribute
to development in origin countries,
thanks to remittances and knowledge
sharing. In fact, the total value of remit-
tances by African migrants now exceeds
the amount of official development
assistance (ODA) that African countries
receive. Since 2015, remittances, which
have grown strongly since 2000, have
accounted for the bulk of total external
financial flows to Africa, as ODA
declined from 37% in 2001-2003 to 28%
in 2012-2016. Remittances accounted for
51% of private capital flows to Africa in
2016, up from 42% in 2010.
Forecasts by UNCTAD predict that
if pro-migration policies are adopted,
Africa’s per capita GDP could increase
61% by 2030 – to about $3,250. In other
words, intra-Africa migration is not only
a human and social phenomenon; it is
also a vital ingredient of growth.
Forecasts
by UNCTAD
predict that if
pro-migration
policies are
adopted, Africa’s
per capita GDP
could increase
61% by 2030 – to
about $3,250
African governments are beginning to
recognise this. Many countries are sup-
porting the African Union’s new Migra-
tion Policy Framework for Africa. And,
since March 2018, more than half of the
nearly 50 countries that pledged to create
an African Continental Free Trade Area
have adopted its protocol on the free
movement of people.
To build on these achievements,
African governments must draw inspi-
ration from one another. For example,
initiatives like Rwanda’s temporary visa
program for semi-skilled migrants, and
Morocco’s recent expansion of job cat-
egories for foreigners, will bring more
flexible labour policies to these two mar-
kets. Many other destination countries
would benefit from similar innovations.
Another milestone that would advance
intra-Africa migration would be the
rollout of the highly anticipated all-
Africa passport. Unfortunately, while the
initiative’s goal – to foster trade, integra-
tion, and socioeconomic development
within the AU – is laudable, bureaucratic
inertia is likely delaying its rollout.
Finally, the international community is
preparing to adopt the first-ever Global
Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular
Migration. This landmark agreement
represents a blueprint for managing
global migration flows. It is also vali-
dation that migration is an economic
necessity, and not only for Africa. When
the compact is finalised later this year
in Morocco, it must reflect the priorities
that Africa’s leaders have already com-
mitted to.
With well-crafted and properly exe-
cuted agreements, migration can be a
boon to people and the places they call
home. Today’s skewed media narratives
ignore or neglect the benefits of migra-
tion. But with facts and commitment, it is
possible to tell a very different story.
Mukhisa Kituyi is Secretary-General of the
United Nations Conference on Trade and
Development (UNCTAD).
Copyright: Project Syndicate, 2018.
www.project-syndicate.org
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