News analysis Health Business

Murchison Falls 10 ways to have a 2019 economy performs

Giveaway healthier Christmas below expectations

Issue No. 603 Dec. 20 - 26 2019 Ushs 5,000,Kshs 200, RwF 1,500, SDP 8

Museveni, Rwanda
and 2021 Elections
The inside story of the cabinet reshuffle

www.independent.co.ug
 YOU BUY THE
TRUTH
WE PAY THE
PRICE

Independent Publications Limited, Plot 82/84, Kanjokya Street, P. O. Box 3304, Kampala, Uganda Tel: +256-312-637-391/ 2/ 3/ 4 Fax: +256-312-637-396
E-mail: editorial@independent.co.ug, advertising@independent.co.ug, circulation@independent.co.ug Website: www.independent.co.ug
 Do more with
Airtel Money
With you, always.
Dial *185#

Airtel is regulated by Uganda Communications Commission (UCC).

Contact Airtel Customer Care on 100 (toll-free) and UCC on 0800 222 777 (toll-free).

Dec. 20 - 26 2019 1
inbox

Issue No. 603 Dec. 20 - 26 2019

News analysis Business Health Arts Motoring

Cover story
Museveni, Rwanda and 2021 Elections
The inside story of the cabinet reshuffle

5 The Week
30 Comments
Outgoing DPP Mike Chibita
appoints new PRO Is tech a New Frontier for
Sustainability?: Financial
institutions also need to
9 The Last Word
understand their risks, social
Corruption and poverty: impact, and ethical implications
Why our obsession with corruption
as a cause of our poverty is too much
32 Health
ado over little or nothing
10 ways to have a
14 Analysis healthier Christmas
Uganda’s war on corruption:
It’s not all doom and gloom

35 Arts & Culture

27 Business Unmasking History: Students
integrate research, collaboration
2019 economy performs and innovation into art production 
below expectations: Growth is
projected to range between 5.5-
6% compared to 6.2% in 2018

MANAGING DIRECTOR: Andrew M. Mwenda WRITERS:Ronald Musoke, Ian Katusiime, Patricia Akankwatsa, Julius Businge.
MANAGING EDITOR: Joseph Were DESIGN: Sarah Ngororano
BUSINESS EDITOR: Isaac Khisa CARTOONIST: Harriet Jamwa

PUBLISHER: Independent Publications Limited, Plot 82/84, Kanjokya Street, P. O. Box 3304, Kampala, Uganda
Tel: +256-312-637-391/ 2/ 3/ 4 | Fax: +256-312-637-396 E-mail: editor@independent.co.ug | advertising@independent.co.ug
circulation@independent.co.ug | Website: www.independent.co.ug

2 Dec. 20 - 26 2019
 inbox

“If you used lifeguard condoms,

go and test yourself” Outgoing
health minister for general duties Sarah
Opendi after lifeguard condoms were
declared substandard
The Board Chairperson of the Private Sector Foundation Uganda, Elly Karuhanga makes a point as
Uganda Revenue Authority Commissioner General Doris Akol (2nd R), Patrick Ayota, deputy ED for NSSF
(2nd L) and Asuman Guloba, the director for development planning at the National Planning Authority
looks on. This was during the high level policy dialogue on the National Development Strategy held on
Dec.12 at Protea Hotel.   INDEPENDENT ALFRED OCHWO

The Uganda Media Center

Acting Executive Director,
Denis Katungi announces
cabinet approval of
Rebecca Kandunda as
member of the Board of “The President may have considered
Directors for National
Bureau for NGOs. Katungu my log experience in local
also informed the press government affairs before appointing
about cabinet’s approval me”New minister for local government
of the budget framework
for FY2020/2021. Rapahel Magyezi
This happened at the
Uganda Media Centre on
Dec.17.   INDEPENDENT ALFRED
OCHWO

The Kampala Capital

City Authority Executive
Director Andrew Kitaka
hands a microphone to
Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago
during KCCA’s Weyonje
Sanitation Challenge held “NRA/UPDF has always relied upon
in Nakawa Division on Dec its trusted methods of work while
13.  INDEPENDENT ALFRED handling such contradictions.
OCHWO
This will equally be sorted out
accordingly.”UPDF spokesperson Brig.
Richard Karemire

Key Ministers Current death People in Uganda

7 dropped in
cabinet reshuffle
27 toll of Bugisu
landslide
1000 living in camps after
displacement by floods

Dec. 20 - 26 2019 3
week

FDC celebrates 15 EC extends voter registration update again

years of existence
Hundreds of Forum for
Democratic Change supporters
gathered at Namboole Nation-
al Stadium on Monday to cele-
brate 15 Years of existence.
Founded on December,
16th 2004 as a pressure group
called Reform Agenda, most
of them were disenchanted
former members and followers
of President Yoweri Museveni
National Resistance Move-
ment.
Notable examples include
former party presidents, Kizza
Besigye and Mugisha Muntu
[who left to form Alliance for
National Transformation].
While speaking at the
function, FDC Spokesperson
Ssemujju Nganda, said in
terms of the multi-party dis-
pensation, Uganda is not yet at
a level that should be exciting.
“But we’ve travelled a bit.
If you look at the operation of
political parties, the govern-
ment hasn’t allowed them to
flourish”, Ssemujju said.
“You can’t have political
parties and fear competition.
Those in government have
restricted other political par-
ties”, he added.
According to Nganda,
politics isn’t measured in kilo-
grams. It’s about the number
of leaders one can sponsor and
those in parliament.
“We have not lost three elec-
tions, we have been robbed of
three elections,” he said while
responding to Besigye’s recur-
rent losses in 2001, 2006, 2011
and 2016 presidential elections.
The Electoral Commission
further extended the period
for the update of the National
Voters Register for more seven
days. The exercise, according to
the new programme, will run
from t 16th December up to the
23rd December 2019.
“We have extended the peri-
od for updating the National
Voters’ Register,” said Justice
Simon Byabakama Mugenyi
Chairperson Electoral Commis-
sion, in a statement on Monday.
The exercise commenced on
21st November 2019 and was
scheduled to close on Wednes-
day 11th December 2019.
“Towards the close of the
update exercise we observed
big numbers of applicants at the
update centers across the Coun-
try and also received requests
for extension from various stake-
holders in the electoral process”,
Outgoing DPP Mike Chibita appoints new PRO
The Director of Public Pros-
ecutions, Justice Mike Chibita
appointed Senior State Attorney,
Jacquelyn Okui as the Public
Relations Officer of the Office of
the Director of Public Prosecu-
tions. This follows the appoint-
ment by the President of the
former Public Relations Officer,
Jane Okuo Kajuga (SADPP) as
judge of the High Court. She
joined the Office of the Director
of Public Prosecutions in 2008
and was posted to Kamuli as
Resident State Attorney. In 2011,
she was transferred to Iganga as
Resident State Attorney. In 2013,
she went to Utrecht University
Byabakama explained.
He said arising out of this, the
Electoral Commission found it
necessary to extend the update
period from 11th December
2019, for five more days.
However, before the end of
this extended period, the Elec-
toral Commission once again
received several requests from
numerous stakeholders in the
electoral process, and recom-
mendations from our own field
staff for a further extension
of the period for the General
Update of the National Voters
in the Netherlands in pursuit of
a Master of Law in International
Human Rights and Criminal
Justice which she acquired in
2014. Okui was thereafter pro-
moted to Senior State Attorney
and served in the Appeals
Division which she headed until
2016 when she was transferred
Register. The Commission sat
on of Monday 16th December
2019 and reviewed the reasons
advanced by various stake-
holders for a further extension,
which include: The unfavorable
weather conditions in many
parts of the country; and High
turn up of applicants at update
stations.
Accordingly, the Commission
has decided to further extend
the update period from tomor-
row Tuesday 17th December
2019 for seven more days, end-
ing on Monday 23rd December
2019, after which, there will be
no further extension.
This exercise will continue
to be conducted at update sta-
tions in each parish throughout
Uganda, starting from 8:00am to
6:00pm, throughout the extend-
ed period, including weekends.
to the Kampala Regional Office
as the Deputy Regional Officer.
In 2019, she was moved to the
International Crimes Depart-
ment where she is to date.
Okui is a member of the
Contracts Committee in the
Office of the Director of Public
Prosecutions and represents the
Office of the Director of Public
Prosecutions in various task
forces including the task force
assessing Uganda’s readiness
to accede to the Budapest Con-
vention. She will be assisted by
Irene Nakimbugwe Senior State
Attorney/ Deputy PRO.

EYE CARE CENTRE

VILLAGE MALL
Bugolobi (On the 1st Floor)
+256 (0)41-4505 566
+256 (0)393 888 833
DOWNTOWN
KAMPALA BRANCH
(Plot 3 Johnstone Street)
+256 (0)414 257 759 /
Opticians
LUGOGO MALL GARDEN CITY MALL
(Next to Game) (Next to Stanbic Bank)
+256 (0) 41-4220 780 Ground floor
+256 (0) 392 264 422 +256 (0) 41-4237 700
Also open on Sundays 10:00am -2:00pm
+256 (0)392 265 500
ACACIA MALL KISEMENTI KAMPALA (U)
Free
Tel: +256 (0)41-4581 458 / +256 (0)392 267 700
Also open on Sundays 11:00 am -6:00 Pm Eye examination

+256 (0)393 264 400

Call: 0701/0712/0752/0772-786 400 E-mail: sales@eyecareug.com Website: www.eyecareug.com

4 Dec. 20 - 26 2019

MTN donates Shs.31M to Bundibugyo flood victims
MTN Uganda through its
Corporate Social Responsibil-
ity arm, the MTN Foundation
on Monday, December 16th
donated Shs.31M towards the
Bundibugyo floods victims.
The donated money will be
used to buy non-food relief
items to support the families
that have been displaced
following the floods that left
many people displaced, hous-
es destroyed and lives lost.
A dummy cheque for the
donation was handed over to
officials from the Office of the
Prime minister and the Ugan-
da Red Cross Society at the
Nyonyi gardens based MTN
offices. “The money shall be
Uganda and Rwanda fail to come to an
agreement following cross- border issues
Ugandan and Rwandan
officials failed to reach
agreement Saturday on
most of the contentious
issues between them;
mutual allegations of
destabilizing actions, pro-
tection of the rights and
freedoms of each other’s
nationals, and resumption
of cross-border activities.
After failing to find a resolu-
tion after eight hours of closed-
door meetings, the matters will
now be referred back to the
respective heads of state. “The
armed groups that are operat-
ing here in Uganda and are get-
ting support,” said Rwanda’s
foreign affairs minister, Olivier
Nduhungirehe.
“We have discussed and we
used to procure 100 relief kits
to support 100 of the displaced
families. The kits will include 2
Jerry cans, saucepans, 6 cups, 6
plates, 1 ladle, 1 kitchen knife,
3 blankets, 3 mosquito nets, 3
bars of soap, 1 tarpaulin and
a plastic storage bag or box,”
have provided information, we
have provided names. We have
also addressed the issue of
Rwandans who are arbitrarily
arrested and illegally detained
and also tortured in this coun-
try”, he added.
Uganda’s foreign minister,
Sam Kutesa, responded to
those allegations and listed
some of Uganda’s own griev-
ances against its neighbor.   hoped for truth and trust.
EYE CARE CENTRE
Opticians
VICTORIA MALL ENTEBBE
+256 (0)707 340 804 / +256 (0)392 203 023
Also open on Sundays 11:00am-4:00pm
For:
Free Eye examination
Call: 071/0712/0752/0772-786 400 E-mail: sales@eyecareug.com
reads an excerpt.
While handing
over the dummy
cheque, Wim Van-
helleputte, the com-
pany CEO Uganda
expressed their
heartfelt sympathy to
the people of Bundi-
bugyo.
“As MTN Uganda,
we stand with the
people of Bundibugyo who
have suffered great loss in the
recent floods. We understand
that this is such a trying time
for them and we hope that
this little support we have
rendered will offer them some
comfort,” said Vanhelleputte.
“Issues like
attempts to infil-
trate our security
agencies,” Kutesa
said.
“Issues like the
closure of the bor-
der by Rwanda.
We also talked
about Rwandans
who have been arrested here
for illegal activities and some
of them deported. For Ugan-
da, clearly, we shall never
support any force destabilizes
or intends to destabilize our
neighbors including Rwanda’,
he added. While Rwanda
expressed hope that the issues
can be resolved in good faith
and good will, Uganda said it
Large selection of frames Sun Glasses
Contact lenses & Solutions Eye Pressure Examination
Dec. 20 - 26 2019
week
CSOs re-launch black
Monday campaign
Civil Society Organizations
(CSOs) on Monday re-launched
the Black Monday campaign and
appealed to Ugandans to isolate
corrupt officials by boycotting their
events and businesses.
In a joint statement issued at the
launch in Kampala, the CSOs said
the campaign is aimed at mobiliz-
ing Ugandans to take action against
the corruption.
“We ask Ugandans to isolate
every thief who has been implicat-
ed in a corruption scandal by not
inviting them to your weddings,
burial ceremonies or even fundrais-
ing. You should also boycott their
businesses,” the statement read by
Rev Fr Gaetano Batanyenda stated.
They also appealed to Ugandans
to wear black clothes every Monday
to show that they are tired of cor-
ruption.
Richard Ssewakiryanga, the
executive director of the NGO
forum said the fight against corrup-
tion must be led by the public rath-
er than the leaders in public offices.
“We want the people themselves
top champion this fight. If we leave
it to the leaders, we shall not gain
much out of it because in the end
they are the ones stealing money,”
Ssewakiryanga said.
Former Ethics minister Miria
Matembe accused government of
celebrating corruption.
“I was fired from cabinet because
I was fighting corruption and now
President Museveni comes out to
walk in demonstration against the
vice that is so laughable. I hope
people are seeing and trust me God
is seeing all of us including those
that are hiding under the vice”,
Matembe said.
Free
Eye examination
Frame Repairs
All optical Accessories
5
week
Generals Tumwiine and Angina
clash over Kirumira land saga
Security minister General Elly Tumwiine
roasted former Deputy Chief of Defence
Forces, Lt. Gen. Charles Angina for taking
sides in a land dispute which involves business
man Godfrey Kirumira. Last month, Kirumira
alleged that Gen. Angina was behind a group
of soldiers who beat up him up following a
land dispute with another fellow.
In video that was circulating, Gen. Tumwiine
was seen roasting Gen. Angina, accusing him
of using his interest in the land to tarnish Vivo energy officials pose for a photograph with one of the winners at Shell Kiira station on Dec.17.
the image of the Uganda Peoples Defence
Forces (UPDF) which Tumwiine said that they Vivo energy to spend Shs600m in festive season
fought for. Tumwiine said that they also have Vivo Energy Uganda is running a and SMS both the code and their vehicle
wrangles with a lot of people but they don’t national customer promotion that will registration plate number to 8008 for a
use the force to beat and mistreat people. see over 15,000 motorists rewarded with chance to win. “In the spirit of gifting,
“Don’t abuse our forces. We all have up to Shs600million worth of prizes. we are giving back to our customers
wrangles but we don’t use the force like this. Dubbed 10 Weeks of Cheer, the promotion and thanking them for supporting us
We have worked to build the image of our is targeted at all motorists that use Shell through the year. Through the 10 Weeks
force,” Tumwiine said in part. fuels, lubricants or shop services. To par- of Cheer promotion, we will make life’s
Tumwiine told a visibly “frightened” Angina ticipate, officials said on Dec.17 that cus- journeys better and give our customers
that if there is a dispute on the land, that is an tomers simply have to spend Shs50, 000 an extra dose of cheer as they wrap up
issue that should be left for Kampala Capital in the case of general motorists or Shs10, 2019 and start 2020.” said Moses Kebba,
City Authority (KCCA) to enforce the law and 000 for riders to get a draw entry coupon the company’s marketing manager at
not the army. Gen. Angina is also the current at any of the company’s participating Vivo Energy Uganda said. The promo-
deputy coordinator of the Operation Wealth pump stations. Thereafter, customers tion starts on Dec.16 and ends on Feb.16
Creation (OWC). will be required to scratch their draw next year at 105 Shell service stations
entry coupon to reveal their unique code across the country.

6 Dec. 20 - 26 2019
Humour Did you know?
30million xmass trees are
sold in North America

Approximately 30 million real

Christmas trees are sold in North
The KCCA Amendment Act 2019 assented by the President on 28 Nov will erode the mayor’s powers drastically. America every year, totaling more
than $1.2 billion in sales. About 78
percent of these are pre-cut trees
and 22 percent are cut-your-own.
The U.S. has nearly 15,000
Christmas tree farms.
There are more than 350 million
trees growing on Christmas tree
farms in the U.S. alone.
The top-selling Christmas trees
nationwide are Balsam Fir, Doug-
las Fir, Fraser Fir, Noble Fir, Scotch
Pine, Virginia Pine and White
Pine. One acre of Christmas trees
produces the daily oxygen require-
ment for 18 people. It can take as
many as 15 years to grow a tree of
average retail sale height (6 feet),
All Police officers are to undergo mandatory mental checkup to ascertain their psychological status.
but the average growing time is
seven years.
Oregon, Washington, Wiscon-
sin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New
York, Virginia and North Carolina
are considered the top Christmas
tree producing states in the U.S.
Most artificial trees are manufac-
tured in China, Taiwan or Hong
Kong.
For every real Christmas tree
harvested, two to three seedlings
are planted in its place the follow-
ing spring
Thomas Edison’s assistant,
Edward Johnson, came up with
the idea of electric lights for
Christmas trees in 1882. Christmas
tree lights were first mass-
Uganda’s Indian community is lobbying to be recognized constitutionally as an indigenous tribe. produced in 1890.

Dec. 20 - 26 2019 7
 News analysis Health Business
East Africa’s Teeth brushing Domestic marine cargo covers
abnormal rainfall keeps heart healthy? could boost insurance market

Issue No. 602 Dec. 13 - 19 2019

Ushs 5,000,Kshs 200, RwF 1,500, SDP 8

Uganda after
Museveni
Pundits weigh in on transition

Inbox
Follow us on Twitter @ NEXT
http://twitter.com/#!/ugandatalks PRESIDENT

Follow us on Facebook @
www.facebook.com/TheIndependentMagazineUganda Stronger Parliament
Stronger Civil Society

More Emporered Gov’t Instutions More Press Freedom

www.independent.co.ug

Letters are There are faces that did not have to come back
welcome ! Refer to: “President Museveni should be done to the Rdcs. the DISOs to get such people
reshuffles Cabinet” (The There are people who are not appreciated.
The Editor welcomes short and
Independent Online Dec.14). celebrated but have done a lot
concise letters from our esteemed
readers on topical issues. Please There are faces that should for this country especially under Muyonjo.F.A Mugwiri
send them to: have not come back. The same NRM, the President should use
The Editor, The Independent
Publications Ltd,
P.O Box 3304,
Plot 82/84 Kanjokya St,
People need to get Negotiators are suspicious of each other
Kamwokya.
Kampala,Uganda.
used to entry and Refer to: “No fruit for Ugan- in Bongo (Tanzania) we’re hap-
da-Rwanda after 8 hours of mar- py we have John Magufuli still

Email: editor@independent.co.ug
exit of office holders athon talks” (The Independent and we’re confident that he will
Online Dec.15). The problem is respect his term and open door
Refer to: “Looking back at that each one of the negotiators for next president, making this
High electricity the controversies shrouding
dropped ministers” (The
is looking forward to work with
the president of another country.
as “the land of Possibility.

prices hindrance Independent Online Dec.15).

This should not be news
Paul Kagame’s wish for M7is to
be succeeded and likewise. Here
Mkolonjinji

to consumption because these same people

Refer to: “Unconsumed elec-
tricity will hit Uganda’s budget
hard” (The Independent Online
Dec.10).It is very surprising to
hear that Ugandans will have
to pay for unconsumed power.
Personally, I think one of the
major reasons as to why there
is low power utilisation in the
country, is price. Our electricity
is very expensive. Without delv-
ing into the economics maze, it
puzzles me as to why the power
generation cannot be reduced.
Another puzzle is: if already the
country is producing surplus
electricity, then why are we
borrowing money to build more
electricity generation dams?
Kaka John
before occupying the same
offices, there were other peo-
ple in the same offices. Just
the same way their prede-
cessors left, is the same way
these ones have left. Ugan-
dans need to be used to entry
and exit of office holders.
Kaka John
Cheap labour, free land, these are the investors we do not need
Refer to: “French companies
keen on partnering with Ugan-
dan firms” (The Independent
Online Dec.13). Colonization
agenda alert: “You will be able
to make a lot of profit within
Consumers will pay for “deemed”
Refer to: “Unconsumed
electricity will hit Uganda’s
budget hard” (The Indepen-
dent Online Dec.10).Let’s put
it clear. Ugandans cannot pay
generated but unconsumed
electricity, instead, they will pay
for “deemed” energy – that’s
energy that should have been
generated if the right infrastruc-
a short time but also be able to
repatriate it,” Anite said. “…
cheap labour and free land…”
These are the exact kind of
“investors” we do not need and
we do not want, at all. They
ture and demand were in place.
Electricity generation machines
don’t remain running with-
out demand. Like Kaka John
says up there, the turbines are
switched off until the Transmis-
sion company orders for energy
from that plant.
Julius Wandera
cannot be trusted at all, and they
have even made their colonialist
agenda clear.
Saddened Ugandan

BUNDLES IN TOWN
DATA

* T&C apply * Regulated by Uganda Communications Commission. CONNECTING COMMUNITIES

8 Dec. 20 - 26 2019

Corruption and poverty
By Andrew M. Mwenda
Why our obsession with corruption as a cause of
our poverty is too much ado over little or nothing
C
ognitive scientists argue that
human beings are [inherently]
cognitive misers i.e. we prefer to
do as little thinking as possible.
So when we confront a challenge, our
instinct is NOT to look for facts to help
us understand it. Rather we lean on our
biases, prejudices, values and beliefs to
make judgment. Evolutionary psychology
explains why it is not profitable for us to
stretch our minds to acquire a large body
of knowledge. Evolution is driven largely
by reproduction. The command of a large
body of facts did not give our ancestors
a competitive advantage in the dating
market. The most competitive qualities
in mate selection are power, wealth,
generosity, kindness, caring, good looks,
good health and such artistic qualities as
music, art, athletics etc.
There is a truly great book, The Righteous
Mind, by the moral psychologist, Jonathan
Haidt. He argues that people’s moral
judgments shape their reasoning, rather
than the other way round. Reasons purport
to explain and justify judgments. But in
fact we grasp at reasons and pull them
into service to legitimize judgments that
we have already made on the basis of
our moral tastes. On no significant issue
is all the evidence lined up on one side
of the argument. Our ethics determine
the reasoning and evidence that we are
prepared to accept. We give credence to
the flimsiest of straws in the wind that are
aligned with our values, while dismissing
opposite evidence with a torrent of
contempt and vitriol.
This is exactly what happened to me
last week during an intense debate on
corruption on our WhatsApp chat-group,
made of the most educated of Uganda’s
elite. I argued that there is no evidence that
corruption automatically or necessarily
stops a country from developing. This is
not an opinion but a statement of a historic
fact. Most of the nations that are developed
today had corruption during their intense
period of transformation from backward,
poor agrarian societies to modern affluent
industrial nations. This let loose the
dogs of largely emotional (as opposed to
intellectual) war.
I was accused of “defending” corruption
and of arguing that it drives growth, an
The Last Word
argument I had not made. Corruption is a
very unfair practice: one man steals money
meant for everyone and takes it all by
himself. It is even more painful when he
stays in power, displaying his riches. Such
unfairness offends people’s moral tastes
and easily leads us to give it a casual link
with poverty. Yet, corruption [per se] is not
a cause of poverty but a mere characteristic
of it.
Corruption takes many forms across
thousands of transactions in contexts whose
multitudinous complexity we can never
fully capture or comprehend. It can be a
doctor stealing drugs from a public hospital
to his private clinic, a nurse charging a
fee for a public hospital bed meant to be
free, a traffic police officer taking a bribe
to let an offender off the hook, a head
teacher stealing the building fund. This
petty corruption is different from the
grand corruption of a minster taking a 10%
commission off a road contract, a tax official
taking a bribe to let an importer under-
declare taxes, another minister giving a
tax exemption to a company in exchange
for shares, a president taking a campaign
contribution from an investor in exchange
for free prime land, etc.
First these acts [in and of themselves]
neither stifle nor promote prosperity. Their
impact depends on many other variables:
the capacity of the state and society to
secure accountability for results, the quality
of the existing laws and regulations, the
type of economic policies, the nature of the
business elites who get favors, the interests
and values of dominant elites, etc. Second,
corruption is not a single reified activity.
Rather it is a myriad of transactions across
multitudes of activities. Depending on the
aforementioned factors and combinations,
some corrupt acts can have a negative
impact, others a positive one and others
can be totally neutral. The outcome is not
determined by corruption alone but its
interaction with all these factors.
Furthermore the effect of corruption
is not its extent per se (there was much
more corruption in Indonesia under Gen.
Suharto than in Zaire under Marshal
Mobutu; but Indonesia grew rapidly while
Zaire regressed), or even in the specific
acts categorized as corrupt (favors given
to a small select group of industrial houses
opinion
by Park Chung Hee in South Korea in
exchange for campaign contributions led to
rapid industrial transformation while the
same given to similar groups in Pakistan
led to civil war, the breakup of the country
and economic stagnation).
Look at Kenya and Tanzania under Jomo
Kenyatta and Julius Nyerere respectively.
Kenyatta ran a corrupt administration and
made himself wealthy. Nyerere ran an
honest government and did not accumulate
personal wealth. During their time Kenya
grew rapidly, Tanzania retrogressed.
Here, Kenyatta’s corruption interacted
with capitalist policies while Nyerere’s
honesty with collectivization. Even within
Kenya, corruption seems to have stifled
growth under Daniel arap Moi, Kenyatta’s
successor. Robert Bates captured the
specificity of these dynamics in his majestic
study of that country, Beyond the Miracle
of the Market.
Finally corruption is both a moral and
a legal issue. Yet moral values differ from
society to society and within a society
from one era to another. The same applies
to legal norms. For instance, most of the
acts characterized as corrupt in the rich
world today were perfectly normal and
legal during their period of transformation.
Using public office for private gain was
seen as ethical and legal in most of Western
Europe and North America until the turn
of the 19th century. The transformation of
these societies led to the change in both
moral and legal norms, not the other way
round.
Why is this debate on corruption critical?
It is because African governments and elites
are obsessed with it as the biggest threat
to our prosperity. Yet we have neglected
debate on the most critical factors that drive
the prosperity of nations: terms of trade
(the price index of our exports vis a vis the
price index of our imports – which means
we must add value to our exports) and
having local ownership of our economies
(which means we retain that value). If we
devoted 10% of the political, economic
and emotional resources we expend
fighting and arguing about corruption on
promoting these two, our nations would be
on a better path to prosperity.
amwenda@independent.co.ug
Dec. 20 - 26 2019 9
cover story

Museveni, Rwanda
and 2021 Elections
The inside story of the
cabinet reshuffle

10 Dec. 20 - 26 2019

President Museveni at the launch of Isimba dam in March. The completion of the dam is seen as
one of the successes of Irene Muloni who was dropped as energy minister.  (NET PHOTO)
P
By Ian Katusiime
resident Yoweri Museveni
on Dec.14 made an
impromptu reshuffle of
his cabinet, a step that a
section of the public linked
to the upcoming 2021
general elections.
But the most significant concern in
the reshuffle is the appointment of
Gen. Kahinda Otafiire, a Museveni
longtime comrade, as minister for East
African affairs at the time the Rwandan
delegation was in Kampala to meet
its Ugandan counterpart over the
deteriorating relations between the two
countries that had led to the former to
close the border in February last year.
The Rwandan government had
previously complained to President
Museveni’s government about Otafiire,
describing him as an “anti-Rwanda
agent,” according to reliable sources.
The Rwandan delegation was
led by Rwanda’s minister for East
African Community (EAC) Olivier
Nduhungirehe as it interfaced with
their Ugandan counterparts led by Sam
Kutesa, minister for Foreign Affairs, at
Commonwealth Resort Munyonyo.
The meeting was also attended by
officials from Angola and Democratic
Republic of Congo. Angola hosted the
signing of a pact between Rwandan
President Paul Kagame and Museveni
in August.
Sources told The Independent that
Museveni tapped Otafiire, a longtime
minister in his cabinet as a counter
offensive to Nduhungirehe who has
been known for issuing explosive
statements against Uganda since the
bilateral relations broke down.
Museveni’s decision to keep Philemon
Mateke, the minister for Regional
Affairs, has also been described by
sources as “a clear signal to Rwanda.”
Away from the behind-the-scenes
decisions on Rwanda, is Museveni
intent on securing votes in the next
general election.
His decision to reshuffle cabinet
demonstrates his strategy ahead of an
election where he faces an untested
challenger in Kyadondo East MP Bobi
Wine with whom they are battling on
many fronts.
In the reshuffle, Museveni rewarded
the loyalists who spearheaded the age
limit amendment, ejected two ministers
in the key dockets of Energy and Works
but more crucially appointed those
with constituencies to canvass votes for
him and the ruling National Resistance
Movement (NRM) party.
Importantly, the election year, 2021, is
fast approaching and Museveni has his
sights on who among the ministers can
bring him votes amid an ageing cabinet.
The dilemma Museveni finds himself in
is whether the loyalists he has rewarded
cover story
can keep their seats in parliament let
alone lure voters to give him a sixth
term.
Igara West MP Raphael Magyezi,
who tabled the motion to amend
the presidential age limit is the next
minister for Local Government.
He is also a former chairperson of
the parliament committee on Local
Government.
One of the seconders of his motion,
Kyaka South MP Jackson Kafuuzi, joins
him in cabinet as the deputy Attorney
General. Another zealous supporter of
the removal of the age limit who was
rewarded is Usuk County MP Peter
Ogwang, the new minister of state
for Information and Communication
Technology (ICT).
This was arguably the most
anticipated cabinet reshuffle because
of the battle lines drawn by amending
the constitution in 2017 to ensure
Museveni has another chance to run
again as president. With NRM MPs
being warned point blank by their
constituents against tampering with
the constitution, those who actively
campaigned for the amendment were
seen as not just staking their political
survival but their human lives as well.
Therefore for Magyezi, Kafuuzi and
Ogwang, it was the perfect Christmas
gift after two years of waiting. They
endured intimidation and threats after
they voted to remove the age limit.
Dec. 20 - 26 2019 11
cover story
The age limit fight in parliament in September 2017. Those who voted for the amendment have been rewarded.  (NET PHOTO)
Months after Parliament amended
the constitution in December 2017,
there was fear among NRM MPs who
voted for the amendment. At a function,
Ogwang asked President Museveni
for bodyguards because he felt he was
being trailed.
It will also be a test for Museveni
on whether he can keep these new
ministers in cabinet if he wins the
2021 presidential election, in the event
that the ministers have lost in their
constituencies.
Analysts say the same goes for Molly
Nawe Kamukama, the Principal Private
Secretary to the President who has
been appointed minister of State for
Economic Monitoring. She is expected
to run for parliament and ‘justify’ her
ministerial position among the voters.
Failure to win a seat could cost her, her
cabinet position if the NRM government
retains power in 2021.
However not everyone who was
fervently pro-amending the constitution
was rewarded. Simeo Nsubuga, MP
for Kassanda South in Mubende
District, was left out and so was Moses
Balyeku of Jinja West, one of the
12 Dec. 20 - 26 2019
seconders of Magyezi’s motion. Mid
this year, Nsubuga narrated his ordeal
claiming abandonment by the NRM
when hundreds of his constituents in
Mubende were facing eviction.
“I have stood with NRM at a time when
no one wanted to be associated with NRM,
I have sacrificed so much for the sake of
NRM. I defended the party when no one
could, but is this what they are paying me?”
Museveni, however, appointed
Judith Nabakooba, who is a Woman
MP in Mityana, a district neighbouring
Mubende, to the position of Minister for
Information and ICT.
Some observers expressed
reservations about her appointment
as ICT minister but other sources say
she was likely selected for the docket
due to her previous role as Police
spokesperson prior to joining into
politics in the last general election.
The other notable but not surprising
appointment is Beatrice Anywar, who
will be state minister for environment.
Anywar is a former diehard supporter
for opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye
and now an avowed admirer of
Museveni.
She fell out with Besigye’s party,
FDC, before the 2016 elections when
she backed presidential candidate
Amama Mbabazi. Anywar then stood
as an independent and won the Kitgum
Woman MP race for the third time. Her
schmoozing with NRM was cemented
when she voted to amend the age limit.
Anywar also known as Mama Mabira
is now expected to deliver Kitgum to
the NRM since a daughter of the soil
has been elevated to cabinet. In 2007,
she led a protest in Kampala against the
proposed giveaway of Mabira Forest
to investors to grow sugarcane earning
her the moniker. At the time, she was
shadow minister for Environment.
The appointment of Denis Hamson
Obua, as the new minister of State for
Sports also got the public by surprise.
Sports has been a long suffering
ministry with voices in the sports sector
calling for it to be separated from the
education ministry where it is more of
an appendage.
Obua, the Ajuri County MP is the
captain of the parliament soccer team
and has often travelled with other MPs
to morale boost the Uganda Cranes, the

national football team, in their away
games outside the country.
Sports enthusiasts generally
welcomed Obua’s appointment with
some describing him as someone who
cares about sports in general. However
the youthful and passionate Obua will
have to contend with the underfunded
ministry in a government that has
prioritised construction of roads and
dams.
Worse still, national sport teams; of
football, netball, boxing, athletics are
usually reduced to begging for a bail-
out at the eleventh hour for air tickets
for international tournaments. Obua’s
main task may be lobbying for more
resources to a perennially underfunded
ministry since Uganda’s sports
personalities and teams have proved
that they can do well at the highest
stages even with the meagre budgets.
The other task of Obua may be to
sort out National Council of Sports
which critics say is out of its depth as
a sports management body and has
instead sowed discord among sports
federations.
Dropped
Museveni dropped Irene Muloni
as minister of Energy and Monica
Azuba as minister of Works and
Transport. Speculation darted to
the alarm sounded by Speaker of
Parliament Rebecca Kadaga about the
alleged theft of money to the tune of
Shs24billion meant for a construction
of a bridge between Kayunga and
Kamuli. However Muloni it appears
was dropped because she does not have
a constituency.
As a way of placating the Bugisu
sub-region from which Muloni
hails, Museveni appointed Mary
Goretti Kitutu who is Woman MP for
Manafwa district as a replacement.
Kitutu is currently minister of state for
environment while Muloni is now a
presidential advisor.
Although, Muloni can take credit for
the completion of Isimba hydropower
dam that Museveni commissioned in
March this year, she will now watch
from the sidelines as a mere presidential
advisor on energy as Karuma nears
completion probably late next year.
In another key decision, Museveni
dropped two ministers from Works
and Transport; Azuba and one of her
deputies; Aggrey Bagiire. Conversely,
he elevated Gen. Katumba Wamala
to the position of full minister after
serving three years as State Minister for
Works.
Azuba, who worked tirelessly in
the revival of Uganda Airlines, will,
like her counterpart Muloni, be a mere
Molly Nawe Kamukama
Kenneth Omona
presidential advisor.
The Works sector takes a lion’s share
of the national budget with upwards of
Shs6trillion that goes into construction
and maintenance of roads. Sources say
perhaps Museveni looks at the former
army chief Wamala as more proactive
when it comes to dealing with matters
infrastructure.
Wamala also had a better working
relationship with the roads agency,
Uganda National Roads Authority
(UNRA). Given Museveni’s preference
for soldiers in service delivery, insiders
say Wamala’s move up was in the
offing. Peter Lokeris and Joy Kabatsi
are the deputies in charge of Works and
Transport respectively.
Kamya, Amongi swap
Kampala Lord Mayor, Erias
Lukwago, was ecstatic with the news of
the transfer of Kampala Minister Beti
Kamya to Lands, Housing and Urban
Development. Speaking to journalists
at his home, Lukwago sounded a note
of caution to Kamya advising her not to
play the same politics as she did while
at City Hall, the seat of Kampala Capital
City Authority (KCCA).
cover story
“If she attempts to manifest the same
in the new docket that could be the end
of her political career,” he said.
The two leaders had an acrimonious
relationship and there was talk of a
new bill that Kamya had introduced
to take away the powers of the Lord
Mayor to approve KCCA budgets.
Lukwago, an opposition stalwart in
his own right had a similar message
for the incoming minister for Kampala,
Betty Amongi.
“If your assignment is to bury
Lukwago’s political career, come with
tough gloves,” he said.
The Lord Mayor said he is not ready
to compromise on accountability
and rule of law. Lukwago has been a
source of headache for Museveni in
Kampala for the last nine years and all
indications are that he will vie for the
mayor position again in 2021.
In other changes, Frank Tumwebaze
was moved to ministry of Gender,
Labour and Social Development.
Anite triumphs
Meanwhile, Minister for Privatisation
and Investment, Evelyn Anite,
triumphed over what she claimed were
‘mafia’ fighting her over the audit
of Uganda Telecom (UTL). With the
transfer of Mwesigwa Rukutana back
to the Ministry of Labour, she perhaps
looks to a smoother process while
dealing with UTL.
Anite spent the better part of the year
flexing muscles with deputy attorney
general Rukutana over an audit of the
government-owned UTL that drew
in other big shots in government on
Rukutana’s side.
Ephraim Kamuntu, deemed not
very conversant with legal matters
moves to the ministry of Justice and
Constitutional Affairs while Tom
Butime will now be in charge of
Tourism and Wildlife. Other new
entrants to cabinet are Robinah
Nabbanja, minister of State for Health
(general duties) and Hellen Adoa
minister of state for fisheries. The firing
of Ida Nantaba as minister of state
for ICT was widely expected in the
reshuffle. She ran into trouble early this
year after being involved in a shooting
incident in Mukono that claimed the
life of Ronald Sebuliime, an innocent
bystander. For most of the year, she
stayed away from official duties and at
some point was said to be in hiding out
of the country. Also dropped from the
80 member cabinet are Alex Onzima
and Abdul Nadduli. Onzima was the
State Minister in the Office of the Vice
President while Nadduli was minister
without portfolio.
Dec. 20 - 26 2019 13
year enders
Jan
Kyadondo East MP
Bobi Wine also a musician
releases Tuliyambala
Engule, a song decrying
the injustices by the NRM
Makerere University
Vice Chancellor Barnabas
Nawangwe asks sacked staff
to return salaries they were
paid arguing they did not do
any work. In December 2018,
Nawangwe fired 45 teaching
staff from the university
over absconding from duty,
failure to complete studies,
financial fraud and insubor-
dination, among others.
Jan. 15
In a month dominated
by the Makerere saga,
President Museveni
backs Barnabas Nawan-
gwe for sacking the 45
staff, some of whom
The ruling NRM party celebrates its 33rd
anniversary in a ceremony hosted in Tororo district.
14 Dec. 20 - 26 2019
Jan.1
Feb
regime under President
Museveni. Some church
leaders criticise him for
politicising a Chrisitian
hymn song.
Jan.3
were accused of sexually
abusing female students.
Museveni praised Nwan-
gwe’s management style
at the university’s 69 th
graduation ceremony.
Jan.26
Feb.1
President Museveni counterpart Paul
hands over the Kagame at a heads of
chairmanship of the state summit in Arusha,
EAC to his Rwandan Tanzania.
Feb.19
Kiira EV, a hybrid electric farthest distance after doing
car manufactured in Uganda rounds around Kampala. It
is driven to Kisoro, south covered a distance of over
western Uganda in its 1000km.
Feb.19
NRM top organ,
the Central Executive
Committee (CEC),
endorses Museveni
as the party’s sole
candidate for the
2021 elections. Sitting
at the luxurious
Chobe Lodge in
Nowya district, CEC
endorsed Museveni
after a five day
retreat.
Feb.27
Rwanda closes border to for political reasons. The
Uganda. Travellers, traders, incident worsened Uganda-
trucks are stranded at either Rwanda relations which had
side of border. Initially, existing tensions for more
Rwanda said it had closed than a year. Border remains
its border to renovate roads closed throughout the year.
but later said it was closed
 year enders

March 12 April 2
March

Parliament approves a
guarantee of USD 379 million
(1.4 trillion Shillings) for the
construction of an International
Specialized Hospital in Lubowa,
Wakiso district. Government
April
says the 264-bed facility will
be operated as a world-class
internationally accredited American tourist gunmen ambushed
hospital to treat conditions for kidnapped Kimberley them while they were
which Ugandans have been Sue Endecott and her on a game drive. The
travelling abroad. guide Jean Paul Mirenge duo were released after
are kidnapped in Queen a ransom of $30,000

March 16
Elizabeth National (Shs.112m) was paid to
Park. Four unidentified the kidnappers.

April 4
People Power leaning
candidate Julius Kateregga wins
university guild presidential
elections at Uganda’s highest
institution of learning -Makerere
University. He scored 3921
votes closely followed by an
independent candidate with
3365 votes. Race had nine
contestants where NRM and
FDC candidates came third and
fourth respectively.

Speaker of Parliament
Rebecca Kadaga airlifted to
March 23
Kyadondo East Party (PDP) and Social
MP Bobi Wine joins Democratic Party
opposition parties; (SDP) as they sign an
Democratic Party (DP), MoU ahead of the 2021
People’s Democratic election.
in Morocco and the U.S.
Kadaga was first checked into

Aga Khan Hospital in Narobi,
Kenya to nurse fatigue. She
had just returned from trips
April 23
Nakasero Hospital in Kampala
before being flown out.
Uganda receives The government paid 280

UPC hands over
chairmanship of Inter Party
March 25
happens at a time when
FDC, the largest opposition
first aircraft for revived
Uganda Airlines planes;
two CRJ900 planes
from Canadian aircraft
manufacturer Bombardier.
billion shillings ($74.8
million) for the two planes
through a supplementary
budget approval by
parliament.

April 30
Organisation for Dialogue party is dilly dallying over its
(IPOD) to DP. The handover membership to IPOD.

UCC writes
letter to media
houses ordering
for the immediate
suspension of 39
journalists at 13
media houses.
Media houses reject
the move and blast
UCC over regulatory
overreach.

Dec. 20 - 26 2019 15
year enders

May 2 June 3

June
May
Martyrs’ day:
Kaveera ban fails. The
Uganda Episcopal
Conference declared
the Uganda Martyrs
Post Bank financial loss environs a Kaveera-
Uganda MD and and conspiracy free zone under a
seven other top to defraud campaign dubbed
officials of the their employer ‘TuvvekuKaveera’,
bank are charged before the Anti- but it didn’t work as
with fraud, abuse Corruption many pilgrims were
of office, causing Court. seen entering the
shrines with buveera.

May 20
Pilgrims were not
given any alternatives
to use.

FDC boycotts IPOD
summit again. FDC party
spokesperson Ibrahim
Ssemujju Nganda said
that the issues that barred
them from attending the
summit in December 2018
had not been addressed.
June 6
President Museveni
steers clear of the state
of Uganda Rwanda
Semujju said that FDC
relations while he is
was still under siege
delivering the annual
by various security
State of the Nation
agencies, their legitimate
address. He avoid
rights to associate and
security too and instead
assembly were still being
overloads on economic
curtailed but the IPOD
growth and projections.
had kept quiet.

May 22
June 14
Bank of Uganda Authority were brought
officials arrested over in for questioning
‘procurement’ scandal. following an anomaly
Several officials from with a consignment
the Bank of Uganda from France belonging
and the Civil Aviation to the central bank.

Mugisha Muntu
launches party, Alliance for
National Transformation
(ANT) at Kampala Serena
Hotel in what marked a
new era for the former
army commander-cum-
opposition politician.
The ANT party and its
promoters broke away
from the FDC after years
June 24
of internal bickering that
culminated in the defeat of
Muntu by current president
Patrick Amuriat for the
FDC top in last year’s polls.

May 30
Ex-bodyguard to critic of his former boss
Rwandan president President Kagame and
Paul Kagame is killed fled into exile in South Six street children are school collapses on them.
in South Africa. Camille Africa where he met his killed after a perimeter Wall collapsed after a
Nkuruziza turned a death. wall at Lohana Primary heavy downpour.

16 Dec. 20 - 26 2019

July
Journalist turned pastor Joseph
Kabuleta is arrested for Facebook
post critical of President Museveni.
He is released days later and claims
he was tortured.
Uganda finish seventh at
Netball World Cup hosted
in Liverpool, England.
There was controversy over
some of the decisions by
Coach Vincent Kiwanuka
where some players
were reportedly played
in unfamiliar positions.
Captain Peace Proscovia
scored 27 of 33 shots, Mary
Cholock Nuba 15 of 18, and
Stella Oyella 16 of 17 to
ensure Uganda finish in a
place better than they did in
Sydney 2015.
Bobi Wine launches
People Power 2021
team. Bobi unveiled
a 140 member team
to spearhead their
mobilisation activities
across the country as
they head towards
July 29- 19
Generals retire from
the UPDF. President
Yoweri Museveni, the
Commander-in-Chief,
presided over a ceremony
at State House Entebbe
where 19 Generals were
retired from the Uganda
People’s Defence Forces
July 12
Aug
July 21
July 24
the 2021 presidential
elections. The function,
attended by opposition
figures in other
opposition parties took
place at Bobi Wine’s
home in Magere, Wakiso
district.
(UPDF). The Generals
include Gen. Joram
Mugume, Maj. Gen.
Nathan Mugisha, Maj.
Gen. Willis Byaruhanga,
Maj. Gen. Sam
Turyagenda, Maj. Gen.
Eng. Timothy Mutebile
Sabiiti.
year enders
Aug.5
Ziggy Wine, a
musician associated
with People
Power, a political
movement led by
Bobi Wine, dies
under mysterious
circumstances.
Ziggy Wine’s
death causes
intense controversy
with claims he
was tortured
by government.
However it turns
out he died in a
boda boda accident.
Aug. 13
Government tables a withdrawal from Nation-
bill before parliament al Social Security Fund
proposing to tax workers (NSSF). Workers rise up
savings at the point of in arms over the proposal.
Aug. 20
State Minister for
Privatisation and Investment
Evelyn Anite addresses a
press conference saying there
are mafia in government who
want to kill her. Anite says her
insistence on auditing UTL is
the reason mafia are after her.
Aug.21
Presidents; Museveni
and Kagame sign a Memo-
between their countries.
The ceremony is presided
randum of Understanding over by Angolan President
in Luanda, Angola to pro- Joao Lorenco and observed
mote peace and mediation by DRC president Felix
to resolve the conflict Thisekedi.
Dec. 20 - 26 2019 17
year enders

Sept.7 Oct. 5
Sept

Oct
Government
concludes one month
validation exercise for
NGOs. Through this,
the government collects
data on NGO funding,
contracts, staff, bank
accounts. NGO bosses rap
the exercise as intrusive.

Sept 13

Museveni appoints 15 the Court of Appeal. The

judges; 15 judges, 12 to latter included IGG Justice
High Court and three on Irene Mulyagonja.

Oct.6 Ugandan
runner Joshua
Cheptegei wins
US slaps sanctions Ugandans, human rights gold in the men’s
on former Inspector violations, corruption, 10,000m race at
General of Police (IGP) wildlife trafficking. Also the IAAF World
Gen. Kale Kayihura for sanctioned are his wife and Championships
alleged role in torture of two children. in Doha, Qatar. A
remarkable year

Sept.27
Ruling NRM wins hotly
contested by-election
for the Hoima Woman
MP seat. NRM’s Harriet
Businge is declared
for the 23-year-old
given that he set
a new record in
the 10,000 metre
violence and intimidation. category two
Opposition had joint months later in
candidate in Asinansi Valencia, Spain.
Nyakato but differences
emerge between FDC and

Oct.7
winner in a poll marred by People Power.
Uganda
Airlines receives

Sept. 30
two Bombardier
CRJ900s. The two
aircraft touch
Uganda Cranes get Stadium, Namboole when down at Entebbe
new coach, Johnny Cranes beat Malawi 2-0 International
McKinstry. The 34-year in their Group B game for Airport from
old won his first game AFCON qualifiers. Canada where
at Mandela National they are
manufactured
amidst
excitement by
the public.

Oct.24
Opposition leader the injustices perpetrated
Kizza Besigye launches by the NRM government
Twerwaneko (lets defend such as land grabbing,
ourselves), a campaign murders, kidnaps.
urging Ugandans to resist

18 Dec. 20 - 26 2019

Nov
Museveni becomes man
of the ghetto. He continues
his political work by
visiting some people living
in or originating from
poor neighborhoods of
Kampala City, popularly
known as the ghetto.  Mark Bugembe, aka Bucha
Political pundits said, this
move is aimed at breaking
his new opposition
Nov. 7
South Sudan’s
president, Salva
Kiir and chief rebel
leader, Riek Machar
meet in Uganda
with President
Museveni and
agree to postpone
the formation of a
unity government
for another 100
days. This was the
third such delay in
South Sudan’s peace
process, and some
analysts believed that
even with the delay,
the sides would not
be able to bridge the
differences that were
holding them up.
Nov 20
‘People’s Government’
leader Dr. Kizza Besigye
announces a process
of collecting 2 million
signatures as one tool
to use to petition the
International Criminal
Court to reenergize
their struggle geared
Nov. 10
Dec
challenger political
muscle, Bobi Wine (Robert
Kyagulanyi, the Kyadondo
East MP) who had earlier
announced his intention to
stand for president come
2021. Museveni appointed
Man as his special envoy
to the ghetto.
Nov. 9
Tshisekedi visits Ugan-
da with 117 delegates
Congolese President
Felix Tshisekedi visited
Uganda for a two-day
state visit. One of the
major highlight was
that he was accompa-
nied by 117 delegates
from several minis-
tries and the business
community. Tshisekedi
would later attend the
first ever Uganda-DR
Congo summit at Im-
perial Golf View Hotel
in Entebbe.
towards ousting President
Museveni out of power.  a net profit of Shs24.7bn for the financial year 2017/18 up
Besigye told Ugandans
that his ‘government’
would treat their
evidence with utmost
confidentiality so they
are not persecuted by
Museveni’s regime. 
year enders
Dec.16
FDC marks 15th Anniversary
Uganda’s largest opposition political party FDC converge
in Namboole National Stadium to celebrate 15 years of
‘operation to oust Museveni’. This time around police and
sister security agencies did not clash with party officials,
supporters. Its leaders including its former President Dr.
Kiiza Besigye said the most outstanding achievement was
to expose President Yoweri Museveni’s regime weakness-
es, one of which being corruption.
Dec.8
Deadly floods hit
some western parts of the
had suffered floods and
landslides in recent weeks.
country claiming at least It said that hundreds had
16 lives, the Red Cross said died and millions were
on Dec.08 as the region displaced. The events had
endured weeks of rain. been linked to an unusual
The BBC reported that weather phenomenon in
large parts of east Africa the Indian Ocean.
Dec. 14
Dec. 14 Museveni names ‘political’ cabinet
President Yoweri Museveni announces a new cabinet
with a few changes in some ministerial positions. Some
of the changes included Igara West MP Raphael Magyezi,
who tabled the motion to amend the presidential age
limit being appointed minister for local government.
Kyaka South MP Jackson Kafuuzi, joined cbneas deputy
attorney general. Usuk County MP Peter Ogwang, was
appointed minister for state designate for Information and
Communication Technology.
Dec. 16
Shs24.7bn: First profit for UEGCL in 18 years
For the first time since 2001, Uganda Electricity
Generation Company Limited announced that it had made
from a loss of Shs10.8bn a year before. This performance
was supported by sales of electricity from the new power
dam (183MW Isimba) that had been commissioned in
the same year. The company’s turnover increased from
Shs8.2bn in FY2017/18 to Shs61.6bn FY2018/2019. Its assets
increased from Shs5.7tn in 2017/18 to 6.8tn a year before.
Dec. 20 - 26 2019 19
news analysis
Uganda’s war
on corruption
It’s not all doom and gloom
By Ronald Musoke
D
ecember 04 marked another key
moment in President Yoweri Mu-
seveni’s protracted fight against
corruption that has for a long time
blighted Uganda’s development agenda.
Flanked by several high profile govern-
ment officials, religious and civil society
leaders, Museveni walked a stretch of about
4km alongside thousands of citizens to
demonstrate government’s commitment in
the war against the vice.
The president later addressed a rally at the
Kololo Independence Grounds saying the
“Corrupt people are parasites.”
“They are parasites because they get
wealth which they did not earn,” he said.
The president said it is the responsibility of
political leaders to end the vice by organiz-
ing the economy in such a way that people
meet their needs.
But sections of the Ugandan public were
20 Dec. 20 - 26 2019
unimpressed and described the gesture as
another public relations stunt. Moses Oke-
mer, a motorcycle taxi (bodaboda) rider in
Kampala told The Independent that he saw
“nothing in Museveni’s corruption walk.”
“The government cannot fight corruption
because many of those who walked are cor-
rupt,” Okemer said, adding“It (corruption)
could possibly end if they eliminate them-
selves from the system.”
The task of rooting corruption out of
Uganda was not even lost on senior gov-
ernment leaders like Jacob Oulanyah, the
Deputy Speaker of Parliament, who walked
alongside President Museveni.
“Mr. President, we are all corrupt.
We need to have a change of attitude,”
Oulanyah said, before turning to address
the rally, “Don’t wait to be anything else to
start fighting corruption. It starts from where
you are and what you do. Let us stop the
pretence.”
Corruption the monster
Corruption has been described by observ-
ers of Ugandan society as one of the biggest
challenges facing the country’s development
aspirations of becoming a prosperous and
perhaps welfare state by 2040.
“Corruption has become an accepted
means of getting by in the country,” says a
recent report by the Bertelsmann Stiftung
Index, a German foundation that does
research on socio-economic reform around
the world. Indeed, advisories on corruption
in the country are common when prospec-
tive investors are seeking strategic invest-
ment information on Uganda.
“The police, the judiciary and procure-
ment are areas where corruption risks are
very high and under-the-table cash pay-
ments are expected,” says a 2017 report on
Uganda by GAN Integrity, a US-based tech-
nology company that manages corporate
compliance programmes for over 140 global
companies, “Corruption challenges are exac-
erbated by weak law enforcement, which
fuels a culture of impunity.”
Interestingly, Uganda has one of the most
robust anti-corruption legal frameworks on
the continent such as the Anti-Corruption
Act, the Penal Code, the Inspectorate of Gov-
ernment Act, 2002, the Public Finance Man-
agement Act 2015 and the Leadership Code
Act 2002 yet the vice still persists.
“Nearly half of Ugandans perceive the
judiciary as corrupt,” says the 2015 Global

Corruption Barometer. “In 2015, nearly half
of Ugandans who had come into contact
with the courts in the previous 12 months
indicated having paid a bribe.”
There are probably millions more
accounts by Ugandans who have tried to
access services in public institutions like hos-
pitals, police and education facilities.
SUGAR-TAF’s intervention
This is perhaps the environment under
which a five-year UK government and Euro-
pean Union-funded programme known as
Strengthening Uganda’s Anti-Corruption
Response-Technical Advisory Facility or
“SUGAR-TAF” has been running for the last
four years to help more than14 government
institutions become more effective in fight-
ing corruption.
“When you look at the causes of corrup-
tion and what sustains it, sometimes it is
outright greed and other times, it is ineffi-
ciencies in the public institutions,” Valentine
Namakula, the SUGAR-TAF Director told
The Independent early this year.
“We are looking at reducing levels of
corruption through two mutually-reinforc-
ing mechanisms; one is increasing the risk
of engaging in corruption and the other is
looking at reducing opportunities for cor-
ruption,” she said.
SUGAR-TAF’s objective to strengthen the
effectiveness of anti-corruption functions is
hinged on ownership for new approaches of
fighting graft by leaders at different levels in
institutions the programme supports.
The programme has particularly dwelt on
strengthening the detection, investigation,
prosecution and adjudication of corruption
and the recovery of ill-gotten assets. The
support has been provided through skills
training, hands-on case support, support of
legislative reviews, development of guide-
lines and reference materials, and through
learner-led mentorship and coaching.
SUGAR-TAF has also invested in building
leadership skills both for institutional heads
and for technical officers at the Inspec-
torate of Government (IG), the Office of the
Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), the
Financial Intelligence Authority (FIA), as
well as the Public Procurement and Disposal
of Assets Authority (PPDA).
“Corruption is deeply ingrained in Ugan-
dan society and so, to root it out requires a
multi-faceted response,” Namakula said,
“The public institutions starting from the
legislation to the institutions cannot fight
corruption on their own without getting
support from the private sector or the citi-
zens.”
Several anti-corruption government insti-
tutions have made significant progress and
are now registering outstanding results. The
Inspectorate of Government and the ODPP
particularly did well in the 2018/19 financial
year.
The two institutions registered higher con-
viction rates— an indicator of strengthened
effectiveness of prosecutorial approaches
both in preparation of cases and in trial
advocacy at the court.
The ODPP, for instance, reported a convic-
tion rate of 74% up from 68% in the previous
year, which marks an 8.8% increase while
the Inspectorate of Government registered
a conviction rate of 73.5% from 66%, an 11%
increase.
The two institutions also managed to
recover Shs1.37bn. This is a 94% increase
from the previous year.The Inspectorate of
Government also completed 12% more pros-
ecutions in the 2018/19 financial year than in
the previous year.
This development, according to SUG-
AR-TAF’s annual results report for the
2018/19 financial year, is a testament that the
programme’s multi-institutional approach
to popularizing asset recovery as a prime
anti-corruption tool is working.
Joram Magezi who heads the IG’s Direc-
torate of Special Investigations and Reuben
Bainomujuni, a Principal Inspectorate Offi-
cer said SUGAR-TAF has taught their team
the value of teamwork—a virtue the direc-
torate previously struggled to foster.
“We would have issues of fear of confi-
dentiality and information leakage. Inves-
tigators wanted to keep everything close
to their chest,” Magezi said. “(Now), the
entire Directorate is sharing documents and
information without the fear and conserva-
tism that they had before. Because we are
all doing the same activity and we are all
responsible.”
Bainomujuni also describes a work culture
within the Directorate which is much flatter
than the typical government departmental
hierarchy.
“This is important because investigations
are time-sensitive: the longer they take, the
more likely it is that evidence will disap-
pear,” Bainomugisha says.
But, while Magezi and Bainomujuni
credit SUGAR-TAF as being instrumental
news analysis
in shaping the Directorate’s work culture, it
is equally clear that the leadership of the IG
have steered this transformation.
At the Anti-Corruption Division (ACD) of
the High Court, the court has also registered
a conviction rate of 57%. This is an increase
from 51.4% in 2017/2018. Fifty-seven percent
of the completed cases were backlog cases,
a remarkable performance as the target and
accompanying budget from the Justice, Law
and Order Sector (JLOS) had been for 30
cases.
The court also raised revenue of Shs 106.5
million in form of fines, and issued compen-
sation orders worth Shs 15.7bn.
The SUGAR-TAF programme has also
made inroads in fighting impunity in public
service. When, for instance, the programme
found out in 2017 that the public service
ministry was rarely informed whenever
public officials were convicted of cor-
ruption—a situation that undermined its
oversight role— a case referral mechanism
through which information could be shared
was initiated.
This enabled the Ministry of Public Ser-
vice to follow up on persons convicted of
corruption so that they are removed from
the payroll.
Allan Muhereza, the Assistant Commis-
sioner at the ministry says that whenever a
public servant was convicted, Public Service
did not know because there was no commu-
nication between the ministry and the prose-
cution agencies.
Muhereza says the ministry has since
established these communication channels
to the extent that when a public officer is
convicted of corruption, the responsible offi-
cer is notified of the ruling.
“We get a copy, and also the service com-
mission gets a copy,” Muhereza says, “If
a district does not comply, we write to the
ministry of Local Government to follow-up.”
“If district accounting officer are not doing
their job, we can recommend to the finance
ministry that they be removed.”
These incremental developments in
administrative sanctions are also being felt
at the Judicial Service Commission where
SUGAR-TAF has supported strengthening
of disciplinary processes.
Disciplinary action was, for example,
issued in 20 cases in the 2018/2019 financial
year, a significant increase from the 11 issued
in FY 2017/2018.
Going forward, Cissy Kagaba the execu-
tive director of the Anti-Corruption Coalition
Uganda (ACCU), one of several civil society
organizations that have been working close-
ly with SUGAR-TAF to fight corruption in
Uganda told The Independent that the biggest
achievement of SUGAR-TAF’s interventions
will come in the form of a mindset shift for
the government officials who have bene-
fitted from the programme’s interventions
over the last five years.
Dec. 20 - 26 2019 21
news analysis
By Ronald Musoke
F
ifteen civil society organizations
(CSOs) have asked the Electricity
Regulatory Authority (ERA) to share
details with Ugandans that show
South African energy firm, Bonang Power
and Energy Pty Ltd, is technically capable
and financially sound to undertake a feasi-
bility study for a hydro electricity dam that is
located in an environmentally sensitive area.
In a letter dated Dec. 06 and addressed
to ERA’s Chief Executive Officer, Eng. Ziria
Tibalwa Waako, the CSOs also asked ERA to
provide information that show that Bonang
Power was procured to conduct a feasibility
study for a dam at Uhuru Falls.
The Civil Society agencies include; the
Guild Presidents’ Forum on Governance
(GPFOG); Citizens Concern Africa (CICOA);
Action Coalition on Climate Change
(ACCC); South Western Institute for Policy
and Advocacy (SOWIPA); World Voices
Uganda (WVU); Oil Refinery Residents
Association (ORRA) and Africa Institute for
Energy Governance (AFIEGO).
Others include; Great Lakes Institute for
Strategic Studies (GLISS), Centre for Con-
stitutional Governance (CCG), Twimukye
Women’s Organization, Graffen Organiza-
tion –Butimba, Youth Action for Environ-
ment –Kiryandongo, Centre for Energy
Governance, African Initiative on Food
security and Environment and Water and
Electricity Consumers’ Association.
This follows ERA’s notice published on
June 07 stating that Bonang had applied for
a permit to carry out a feasibility study on a
360MW power project near Murchison Falls.
ERA said, it had received a notice of
intended application of a licence from
Bonang Power and Energy (Pty) Ltd for
22 Dec. 20 - 26 2019
Murchison Falls
Giveaway
Do a thorough due-diligence on
Bonang Power, government told
the generation and sale of electricity from
a hydro power plant proposed to be estab-
lished near Murchison Falls in Kiryandongo
and Nwoya Districts.
However, the notice drew uproar from the
Ugandan public. Civil society organizations
(CSOs), cultural institutions, communities,
conservationists, tour operators demanded
that the Murchison Falls be spared for a
hydropower dam construction.
Prof. Ephraim Kamuntu, the outgoing
minister of tourism said cabinet had agreed
to stop the planned dam at Murchison as
it would affect the scenery, beauty and the
falls.
But on Dec. 03, Irene Muloni, the imme-
diate former energy minister said during a
media briefing in Kampala that the govern-
ment had signed a memorandum of under-
standing with Bonang Power to undertake a
detailed feasibility study to establish wheth-
er a hydropower dam at Uhuru Falls in
Murchison Falls National Park could co-exist
with tourism.
Muloni said the dam will not be construct-
ed at Murchison Falls but rather adjacent to
it at Uhuru Falls which is a distance of 500
metres apart. Muloni said Uhuru Falls and
Murchison Falls are separate falls that are
adjacent to each other.
“In order to make a scientifically informed
decision, cabinet reviewed its decision
yesterday (Dec.02, 2019), and agreed that a
feasibility study is undertaken on the Uhuru
falls site.”
“In making the decision, cabinet consid-
ered the need to have the feasibility study
undertaken because that is the only scientific
way to determine the impact of the project
on the environment, tourism and ecology at
the proposed site,” Muloni said.
The minister explained that the feasibility
study will help determine the technical,
environmental, social, economic and finan-
cial viability of the project and whether to
undertake it or not.
The government will ensure through
supervision of the feasibility study so that its
interests are taken into consideration includ-
ing benchmarking where similar projects
have been previously undertaken in ecologi-
cally sensitive areas,” Muloni said.
Prof. Ephraim Kamuntu complemented
Muloni’s comments, saying that the govern-
ment is committed to ensuring Uganda’s
natural endowment remains.

“I want to assure you that conservation of
the environment and natural endowment is
not a choice for anyone but a duty for every-
one. You should never doubt the commit-
ment of the government in the conservation
of natural endowment,” Kamuntu said.
Bonang Power’s capacity
But it appears several civil society organi-
zations remain skeptical. The CSOs say they
are raising the red flag on Bonang following
their investigation of the South African
company. They say their investigation has
revealed that Bonang’s experience in devel-
oping hydropower dams is questionable.
“No reliable information on the dams that
the company has developed is available.
The company’s website is also down and its
physical address is a shared working space,
raising questions about the company’s will-
ingness to promote transparency,” notes
the letter which was also copied to various
heads of government including the Prime
Minister and Speaker of Parliament.
“The signatories to this letter suspect
that Bonang is a front for corrupt Ugandan
officials and unless ERA, which is Uganda’s
only mandated energy sector regulator,
undertakes due diligence and informs Ugan-
dans about Bonang’s technical and financial
capacity, the Murchison and Uhuru Falls
will be destroyed.”
The CSOs’ investigations show that
Bonang Power and Energy (Pty) Ltd was
founded on Jan.16, 2014 with a registration
number 2014/008439/07. However, the com-
pany was deregistered on April 11, 2016 due
to failure to file annual returns. It was again
re-registered on Dec. 5, 2017.
A search on the company’s physical loca-
tion reveals little to nothing, the CSOs say.
Before the company’s website was pulled
down, the listed physical address on its web-
site was 195 Jan Smuts Avenue, Randburg,
in South Africa but a further scrutiny of the
physical address reveals that in fact, the
mentioned address, is a commercial prop-
erty that also offers co-working and virtual
office space.
The CSOs investigation of the hydropow-
er works that Bonang Power and Energy
Ltd has undertaken reveals unconvincing
results. On its website before it was pulled
down, the company listed hydropower proj-
ects that were ongoing in Africa.
However, the company’s links to those
hydropower works was unclear as the
company did not mention any dam that it is
developing across the continent.
The CSOs argue that a company that
seems to have no office of its own, lacks a
web presence, lacks clear information on
what hydro power projects it has undertak-
en cannot be trusted with one of Uganda’s
most prized tourist attractions— the Murchi-
son and Uhuru Falls.
“We cannot let a company whose track
record on construction of hydro power dams
is unclear to touch the iconic Murchison
Falls, which are visited by over 30% of the
100,000 tourists that visit Murchison Falls
National Park.”
The last time The Independent visited
Bonang Power’s website in June this year,
the firm claimed it is an African independent
power producer.
This makes the company’s move in Ugan-
da to be in conflict of interest owed to the
fact that it is the very firm that intends to
carry out the feasibility study yet also inter-
ested in developing the hydropower dam,
critics say.
The company’s profile noted that Bonang
was formed to develop sustainable green
energy generating capacity for Africa (clean,
renewable hydropower projects) which
could replace around 75% of the current
diesel-powered generation capacity on the
continent.
“The fact that hydro-electric power is
clean, renewable source of energy that does
not contribute to global warming and cli-
Murchison
Waterfalls
from the top
all the way to
the delta at its
confluence with
Lake Albert,
including
Uhuru Falls is a
Ramsar site
mate change is the key driver for choosing
this power producing method, citing some
advantages.”
Bonang claim its mission is to break new
ground in helping Africa bring transforma-
tional change to the lives of the people, by
providing much needed renewable electric-
ity generation, enabling sustainable local
economic growth.
In a company Facebook statement dated
May 25, 2019 and attributed to Ernest Moloi,
the Bonang Power chairman, the company
strongly believes and sees hydropower as
having excellent potential in Africa.
“Vast amounts of water flow in Africa’s
rivers, amounts of that available water can
be harnessed to produce electricity energy
to satisfy most of Africa’s current energy
demand by 2030.”
Moloi added: “It is vital for Africa as an
news analysis
emerging economy to realize its deeper need
for a reliable and high quality infrastruc-
ture in order to achieve its goals of ending
extreme poverty and increasing shared
prosperity.”
In Uganda, Bonang intends to work on
what they are calling the Uhuru Hydro
Power. The new hydro power project, the
initiators claim, will support economic
growth and job creation as well as enhance
the competitiveness of Ugandan goods both
regionally and internationally.
Local tourism agencies unhappy
Meanwhile, on Dec.10, the Association
of Uganda Tour Operators drove its
partners from conservation, civil society,
academia, students, local communities and
the media to Murchison Falls from where
they condemned the government’s idea to
sanction a feasibility study for the hydro
electric power dam.
Everest Kayondo, the chairman of
Uganda’s tour operators’ body, said both
Uhuru and Murchison Falls must be
protected for their environmental, social;
direct and indirect economic value to
Uganda.
Located on the Nile between the Ugandan
lakes Kyoga and Albert , the Murchison Falls
also lend their name to a 3,900sq km national
park, one of Uganda’s biggest, where visitors
can view lions, hippos, elephants, buffalos
and giraffes.
“Murchison Waterfalls from the top all
the way to the delta at its confluence with
Lake Albert, including Uhuru Falls is a
Ramsar site, designated to be of international
importance under the Ramsar Convention
on Wetlands; an intergovernmental
environmental treaty established in 1971 by
UNESCO, which Uganda is also a signatory
to.”
“The top of the falls also holds important
cultural and historical regalia of great
significance to the host communities from
the many districts surrounding the park,
who benefits from its existence,” Kayondo
said.
AUTO said several studies had already
been conducted to highlight the critical
state of this protected area, including a
September 2017 Environmental Sensitivity
Atlas for Murchison Falls National Park
by the Uganda Wildlife Authority, funded
by the United States Agency for International
Development (USAID) and the Royal
Norwegian Embassy that re-emphasizes the
protection of this Ramsar site.
“There is therefore no need for another
study for a Key Biodiversity Areas
(KBA) hosting many IUCN red listed
species,” Pearl Hoareau, the president of
the Uganda Tourism Association said,
“The Uhuru damming would exacerbate
this issue by causing a major loss in the
aesthetic beauty of the park.”
Dec. 20 - 26 2019 23
Government is heavily investing in agriculture as one of the key sectors to spur economic growth

2019 economy performs

below expectations
Growth is projected to range between
5.5-6% compared to 6.2% in 2018

U
By Julius Businge
ganda’s economy
performed below
expectations especially
towards the end of the
year, according to the latest
Bank of Uganda Monitory
Policy Report.
In addition, an analysis of the different
monetary policy reports, looking at
the trend of GDP, private sector credit,
inflation, commercial bank interest rates,
balance of payment position and the
central bank rate shows that all was not
well in 2019 compared with the last year.
This is further supported by the
Bank of Uganda Governor, Emmanuel
Tumusiime Mutebile, who revealed
on Dec.09 that indeed the Composite
Index of Economic activity pointed to a
moderation of economic activity since the
beginning of this year.
He said the moderation of domestic
economic growth was driven by both
slowing global activity and domestic
factors.
For instance, in the first 10 months
of 2019 with the exception of gold
and re-exports, tourism and other
merchandise exports are estimated to
have grown at a slower rate, reflecting
the moderating external demand.
However, the public sector financing
rose amidst limited fiscal space, and
raising the prospect of further pressure
on the domestic borrowing costs.
Overall, economic growth is projected
to be in the range of 5.5-6.0 percent in
2019. In 2018, the economy was reported
to have grown at an average of 6.1-6.2%.
This development comes at the time
the government has been working
tirelessly to boost growth in key sectors of
agriculture, tourism, manufacturing but
little appears to have been achieved.
For instance, in tourism, government
had planned to attract more than one
million tourists this year on top of the
1.5 million people received in 2018, but
available figures from the Central Bank
and Uganda Tourism Board indicate that
after ten months, only about 1.2 million
tourists had visited Uganda.
Uganda’s tourism earnings had grown
to $1.4 billion in 2017 and $1.6billion
making the sector the biggest forex
exchange earner above coffee earnings
and diaspora remittances. There was
hope that this could only get better in
subsequent years.
But with the scare of Ebola cases
reported in Kasese and the international

24 Dec. 20 - 26 2019

media reports on the violence in the
Democratic Republic of Congo, cases
of political violence, murder and urban
crime have made some tourists to
reconsider visiting the country.
In August, the government
re-launched operations of the national
carrier – Uganda Airlines – as one way
to boost tourism. The airline now flies
to more than seven destinations in
Africa. Its impact on tourism and the
entire economy is yet to be attained.
Balance of Payments
In the 12 months to October 2019,
the Current Account Deficit (CAD)
widened by 45.1%, to $3,290.2million
due to higher private sector imports.
The import bill grew by 14.3% (or
US$850.2 million), exports grew by
9.6%. However excluding gold, imports
grew by 1.9%, consumption goods by
4.9% while capital/intermediate imports
grew by 0.8%. Exports contracted
by 12.7%, financial account inflows
increased by 72.3% (or US$1,119.1
million).
Increased Foreign Direct Investment
(FDI) inflows, coupled with significant
draw down of deposit assets abroad by
banks and the private sector, relative
to the year to October 2018, where
significant build up in deposits abroad
was recorded. FDI grew by 45.4% from
US$1200.4 million to US$1745.9million.
Inflation trends
Despite the increase in core inflation
in November 2019, it remained low
and within the medium term target
(2-3 years) of 5%. Inflation remains
subdued in part due to a relatively
stronger exchange rate, moderate
domestic demand, and lower food
prices. The factors holding back
inflation appear to have gained a
foothold, reinforced by lower global
inflation, falling global commodity
prices, and weakening global growth.
The annual headline and core inflation
was reported at 3% and 2.9% in for the
month of November as opposed to 3.0%
(headline) and 4.6% (core) in the month of
February 2019.
In between the year (April – October)
annual headline and core inflation
averaged between 3.7% and 3.4%
respectively, going by the monetary
policy reports published by BoU.
Changes in inflation figures were mainly
influenced by food prices and related
factors like weather.
Bank lending rates
Commercial bank lending rates have
on average remained relatively stable
which is reflective of the accommodative
monetary policy stance, albeit slight
Emmanuel Tumusiime Mutebile
Keith Muhakanizi
increases that were noted in the periods
of April and July 2019.
In the three months to August 2019,
commercial bank interest rates increased
slightly to an average of 20.2%,
compared to 19.7% in the quarter to
May 2019. The increase in the lending
rates was mainly recorded in the sectors
of agriculture, manufacturing, and
trade. But throughout the year, the rates
averaged at 20.15%.
Private sector credit
Growth in private sector credit (PSC)
continued to strengthen, despite a
slowdown in the quarter to August 2019,
largely supported by an accommodative
monetary policy stance and
improvements in asset quality. Average
year-on-year growth in PSC declined to
13.9% in the three months to August
2019 relative to 14.8% in the previous
period.
The slowdown was mainly due to
higher loan recoveries on account
of improved loan recovery measures
undertaken. In terms of annual
performance for all the months up to
business
November, the MPRs analysis shows
that PSC growth averaged at 12.75%.
Uganda shilling performance
The Uganda shilling maintained an
appreciation trend strengthening by
1.5% quarter-on-quarter and 3.3% year-
on-year in September 2019 to a mid-rate
of Shs3, 675.50 per US dollar. Shilling
strengthening was driven largely by
strong inflows from offshore investors,
exports, and NGO inward transfers.
On average, the shilling traded
against the dollar for all months of 2019
up to November at Shs3, 730, going by
BoU’s quarterly data.
The other key highlight during the
year was increasing debt levels. BoU
figures for the August MPR, shows that
the country’s provisional total public
debt stock as at the end of August
2019 stood at Shs 47,348.2 billion,
corresponding to an increase of 0.1%
compared to a decline of 1.6% the
previous year.
The increase in the stock of total
public debt between June 2019 and
August 2019 was mainly due to a 2.9%
increase in the public domestic debt.
However, the public external debt
maintained a dominant share of 64.8%
of the total public debt.
According to expert analysis by the
World Bank top officials, reliance on
rain-fed agriculture, however, remains
a downside risk to growth, the poor’s
income, as well as export earnings. Tax
collections are below expectations and
fiscal pressures are rising.
Meanwhile, delays and poor
management of the public investment
program could prevent the productivity
gains expected from enhanced
infrastructure, while an acceleration in
domestic arrears may have an adverse
impact on private investment and further
limit the extension of credit.
The country’s economy, in general
analysis was largely influenced by
an accommodative monetary policy
stance driven by Bank of Uganda
technocrats, growth in the private
sector credit, fiscal stimulus, strong
domestic demand, improvement in
the agriculture sector as a result
of favourable weather conditions
and growth in public infrastructure
developments.
The central bank continued to manage
monetary policy using the policy interest
rate – the Central Bank Rate – as a tool
to determine interest rates in the market.
The trend of the CBR was 10% (February),
10% (April), 10% (June), 9% (August),
10% (October) and 9% (December).
The CBR movement remained largely
flat because of marginal changes in core
inflation that influences its movement.
Dec. 20 - 26 2019 25
business

Uganda’s long
road to first oil
FDI expected to be reached by April 2020 
By Liam Taylor CNOOC, a Chinese state firm, be reached by April 2020. It typically

O
il deposits have sat beneath
the shores of Lake Albert,
in western Uganda, for
millions of years. Since its
discovery in 2006, plans to extract the
oil, estimated at over 1bn recoverable
barrels, have repeatedly stumbled
over disagreements between the
government and oil companies. The
latest was a tax dispute that threw
the whole project into limbo, holding
up the commencement of commercial
production. `
The argument turned on the
transfer of assets between the three
oil companies who are developing
the fields: Total, a French supermajor,
and Tullow, an independent with
headquarters in London. In 2017,
Tullow announced it would sell on
most of its interests in the Uganda
project to its two larger partners,
reducing its own stake to 11.76%.
In August this year, the companies
and the government could still not
agree how the $900m deal should be
taxed. A sales agreement between the
companies expired. The deal was off.
Uncertainty over the transaction
has delayed a long-awaited final
investment decision (FID) on the oil
project, which was expected this year.
Irene Muloni, the former immediate
energy minister, had told the African
Business Magazine that a decision will
takes three years for oil projects to
move from FID to first oil.
Meanwhile Total has suspended
activity on the 1,445km pipeline that
will carry Ugandan oil to the sea. Back
in February its boss, Patrick Pouyanné,
had quipped about the oil project’s
numerous challenges. “There are many
crocodiles in Lake Albert,” he said.
“We need to domesticate the crocodiles
before we move forward.” The story
of Uganda’s oil suggests that those
“crocodiles” will be hard to tame.
Tax disputes
Uganda has already been waiting a
century for oil. The first formal survey
around Lake Albert was conducted

26 Dec. 20 - 26 2019

by a British team in 1925. President
Yoweri Museveni held meetings
about oil with advisers two weeks
after seizing power in 1986, and soon
afterwards called off talks with oil
companies while the country built its
negotiating capacity.
At the time, most African oil
exploration was off the Atlantic coast.
When commercial quantities were
finally discovered in three fields in the
western part of the country in 2006 it
was the largest onshore discovery in
Africa for two decades.
“There is a lot of nonsense that
oil will be a curse. No way,” said
Museveni when he announced the find.
Sensibly, the government did not rush
to the market.
It took time to pass relevant laws
and recruit a team of competent
technocrats. Museveni, a notorious
micromanager, took a deep personal
interest in negotiations with oil
companies. He drove a hard bargain.
The most contentious issue was tax.
In 2010 Heritage, the company that had
done much of the initial exploration
work, agreed to sell on its assets to
Tullow. The government imposed a
$434m capital gains tax bill, which
Heritage disputed. A local court and
The
government
also felt the
cost of delay
in its own
pocket. It has
poured money
into roads,
dams and
airports on
the promise of
an imminent
oil boom
an arbitration case in London both
ruled in favour of the government,
and Museveni later awarded a Shs6bn
($1.6m) bonus to 42 officials who had
helped in the case. A similar dispute
arose when – in a foreshadowing of
the current standoff – Tullow sold on
part of its stake to Total and CNOOC.
That matter was settled out of court in
2015.   the Harvard Kennedy School, forecasts
Other tensions bubbled below the
surface. Museveni wanted to refine oil
locally. The oil companies wanted to
export it, arguing that a small, inland
refinery was economically unviable. In
the end they agreed that up to 60,000
barrels per day – about a quarter of the
total – would be refined in Uganda.
The rest will be transported to the
Tanzanian coast through the longest
heated pipeline in the world.
Taming crocodiles
It was unsurprising, then, that
Tullow’s 2017 decision should also
run into problems. “The transaction
which we have today is being
looked at through the lenses of prior
transactions,” says Denis Kakembo
of Cristal Advocates, a law firm in
Kampala with expertise in energy and
tax.
The deal was structured so that Total
and CNOOC would pay Tullow $200m
in cash, and a further $700m towards
its share of future development costs.
But disagreements arose over several
issues, such as how to account for the
costs Tullow had already incurred
between acquiring its Ugandan assets
and selling them on. The government
presented Tullow with a capital gains
business
bill for $167m, which the company
contested.
A compromise was reached after
direct meetings between Museveni and
Pouyanné. They agreed that Tullow
would pay just $85m, with Total and
CNOOC topping up the rest. They
could not agree, however, about
whether the two larger companies
would inherit Tullow’s recoverable
costs and count them against future
tax obligations. That issue and others
remained unresolved when the sale
collapsed at the end of August.
The government put forward new
proposals, which the firms have
since accepted, Hanns Kyazze, a
communications specialist at the
ministry of energy and mineral
development, told Reuters in
December.
While the dispute has been resolved,
the original sales agreement between
the oil companies is dead; they will
have to draw up another one, perhaps
on fresh terms. Political attention
is already turning to contentious
elections in 2021.
The government also felt the cost of
delay in its own pocket. It has poured
money into roads, dams and airports
on the promise of an imminent oil
boom. A 2018 study by Sebastian
Wolf, of the Overseas Development
Institute, and Vishal Aditya Potluri, of
that oil earnings will peak at 73% of
the government’s non-oil tax revenues
within a few years of coming on stream
(assuming a price that starts at $77
a barrel and grows by 2% a year).
Senior officials at the Bank of Uganda
have warned that debts could become
unsustainable if oil arrives late.  
Everything now hinges on the
final investment decision. “From the
moment FID is announced, Uganda
is going to change drastically,” says
Hanns Kyazze, communications
specialist at the energy ministry. Up
to $20bn is expected to flow into the
country to develop oil infrastructure.
But once a decision is finally
reached, other challenges loom.
Already, thousands of people in
western Uganda have been displaced;
some are contesting the resettlement
package they received. Part of the oil
lies below a national park.
In January six NGOs will challenge Total
in a French court, claiming that it has failed
to elaborate and implement its human
rights and environmental vigilance plan.
Uganda’s oil saga is just beginning. 
Adapted from the Africa Business
Magazine
Dec. 20 - 26 2019 27
 business
Executive Style
Jumia is here to stay- CEO
What is the future of
Jumia in Uganda going
by recent developments
in Tanzania and Camer-
W
oon?
hat we can
say is that we
see demand
for our ser-
vices in Uganda. We will
continue to do our best
to meet the demand.
ow is Jumia Uganda
performing in compari-
son with other markets
in East Africa?
We are prohibited
from sharing numbers
on a country level but
we can share numbers at
a group level. The latest
figures have to do with
the recently concluded
Black Friday sale where
we recorded 100 million
visits across all our mar-
kets. We are contributing
to the development of
digital payment solu-
tions. During Black Fri-
day campaign, slightly
over 30% of orders were
paid with JumiaPay. In
2019, the group recorded
9bn page views. The most
moving items include home
appliances, sports and fit-
ness, groceries, fashion and
accessories and television
sets. At group level, we con-
tinue to connect hundreds
of local logistics partners to
enable the delivery packag-
es. So far, in 2019, 3million
packages were delivered,
33% of those were delivered
in less than 24 hours. In
terms of economic contri-
bution, 40% of our sellers
on the platform are women,
60% are youth. During Black
Friday alone, 5000 Jumia full
time staff were deployed.
We estimate 50, 000 as indi-
rect jobs created through
vendors and logistics part-
ners.
How do you view Jumia’s
internal business strategy
28 Dec. 20 - 26 2019
ment, more afford-
able prices and faster
delivery across the
country. Customers
can also expect us to
keep our promises
to offer a free seven
day return policy,
nationwide delivery
and cash on delivery
payments. On the
other hand, we still
have a long way to
go in educating the
market. Many peo-
ple we speak to are
amazed by our prizes
and the convenience
of home delivery, but
do not know how to
place an order them-
selves. Consequent-
ly, we will spend
more resources in
bringing Jumia clos-
E-commerce firm, Jumia, recently announced to close er to a wider range
of consumers. For
shop in Tanzania, Rwanda and Cameroon, and also example, we already
restructured its operations in Kenya. This sparked fears that have thousands of
the decision could spread to Kampala. The Independent’s sales agents across
Julius Businge caught up with the firm’s CEO in Uganda, the country, help-
Ron Kawamara, and shares the following industry insights. ing people to place
orders on Jumia.
Another example is
as a tool for growing your How do you view the exter- our “Call to Order”
business in Uganda? nal factors relating to eco- option. We realize that not
Our strategy is to make nomic growth and related everyone has access to the
people’s lives easier. We ICT policies that connect internet. In response to that,
are doing that by providing with the online market? we developed an option for
consumers the ability to Overall, we see a healthy consumers to simply call our
shop and pay for millions of environment for business. line and enjoy the personal
products at affordable pric- However, all policies that assistance of our staff.
es while we deliver to the hinder access to the inter-
convenience of their homes net are naturally also det- What makes Jumia an im-
or offices countrywide. And rimental to our business. portant online fin tech spe-
this strategy of convenience Even though the OTT tax cifically for Ugandans and
applies not only to our con- did not directly affect our the economy?
sumers but our vendors as growth adversely, we would While we have not
well. We are providing a encourage policy makers to launched our payments
more convenient way for our empower the advantages of solution ‘JumiaPay’ in
vendors to make sales by the internet more enthusias- Uganda yet, across Africa
offering them a wider mar- tically. we grew our Total Payment
ket to tap into. Traditionally, Volume (TPV) by 95% in
a vendor would be limited Apart from annual sales quarter three of 2019 versus
to walk in customers but promotions....what should 2018. This strong growth
with the internet and online the customers expect from manifests our ambition of
platforms like ours, a vendor you going forward? becoming the leading pay-
is able to reach millions of On the one hand, we are ments platform across the
customers with one simple on our journey to make our continent.
sign-up on Jumia. services more beloved. That
implies more product assort-

PENSION
NSSF gives out Shs55m to retirees
NSSF’s Ayota (right) congratulates Alira.
T
he National (Shs30m). Martin
Social Security Owako, who was the
Fund (NSSF) first runners-up got
gave out (Shs15m) while Edson
Shs55million to Mwine, the second
three winners for runners-up took home
its ‘friends with Shs10m. The highly
benefits’ campaign competitive vetting
held at Mestil Hotel in process started with
Kampala on Dec.12. 450 contestants but
The overall winner were later on reduced
was Simon Lulu to 16 and then to
STANDARDS
UNBS opens
Shs22bn food lab
T
he Uganda National Bureau of
Standards (UNBS) has opened the
UNBS national food safety labora-
tory building whose construction
started in 2010 when the body acquired
land to build its headquarters in Bweyo-
gerere Industrial Park. Ben Manyindo, the
UNBS executive director said on Dec.12.
The food lab is built on a space of 4,323
square meters and was fully funded by
the government of Uganda. The laborato-
ry is expected to increase productivity of
staff and provide more room for testing
capacity samples for Ugandan exports,
support businesses and boost trade activ-
ities. Going forward, two more labora-
tories will be constructed including the
National Metrology whose construction
is expected to begin at the end of the first
quarter of 2020 with funding from the
African Development Bank. The other lab
is the Engineering and Building Materials
and its funding has been incorporated in
UNBS’ budget for FY2020/2021. “When
completed, the three laboratories will
facilitate trade at national, regional and
international level as well as offer protec-
tion to consumers,” Manyindo said. He
said the facilities will not crowd out the
private sector but will provide oversight
services to other private sector laborato-
ries in the country.
business
ACCOUNTING
ICPAU supports 10 students
three, according to
Barbra Arimi Teddy,
the head of marketing
and communication
at NSSF. Arimi said
that the judges for this
season three of the
campaign considered
corporate governance,
business model, ICPAU President Frederick Kibeddi (centre)
financial literacy with the beneficiaries.
T
skills, local resource
he Institute of Certified Public Accountants of
utilization, community
Uganda has awarded scholarships to 10 stu-
engagement and brand
dents, six of whom are female and four are male.
imaging as parameters
This is to enable them pursue the Certified Pub-
for one to win. The
lic Accountants of Uganda (CPA-U) qualification. The
overall objective of
beneficiaries are fresh university graduates drawn from
the campaign is to
both public and private universities. The beneficiaries
encourage the Fund’s
obtained either a 1st Class or 2nd Upper degrees. Derick
retirees to put into
Nkajja (CPA), the CEO for ICPAU said the institute is
good use of their
committed to nurturing talent among young people.
retirement benefits
“The beneficiaries have distinguished themselves as tal-
(money) after getting it
ented individuals,” Nkajja said, “Ultimately they should
from the NSSF.
be able to qualify as accountants within the next two
year or so,” he said on Dec.12 at Imperial Royale Hotel.
CSR
Pearl Dairy excites needy children
diseases or physical abnormalities are pre-
sented from birth among some children. The
diseases are not easily detected in the first
one or two years among children in most
cases but when detected, they can readily
be minimized or addressed in later stages
through corrective surgery. Experts say that
some of these conditions include; cerebral
palsy, hydrocephalus, polio, accidents, se-
O
vere malaria and more. Apart from some
n Dec.11, Pearl Dairy Farms Lim- of the parents who can afford the surgery,
ited, the producers of LATO Milk majority cannot afford the operation and
and the initiators of the LATO treatment. Pearl Diary, decided to create
Help initiative brought together its awareness and provide whatever help they
beneficiaries and their parents at a Christmas can in regard to this. The Company created
party held at Lohana Academy in Kampala. a Lato milk Pouch with a distinct red colour
The “Lato Help initiative” is under the com- dubbed ‘Lato Red Pack ’ under the initiative
pany’s corporate social responsibility func- to specifically help provide opportunities
tion. It offers corrective surgeries to children to these under privileged children to access
that suffer from congenital diseases. These these corrective surgeries for the children.
AVIATION
Ethiopian Airlines connects Kisangani
O
n Dec. 15, Ethiopian Airlines un- now route via Athens and operate three
veiled a new flight routing, which times a week, leaving Addis every Monday,
will see Addis Ababa connect with Wednesday and Friday and returning the
Kisangani via Entebbe airport. following day. The aircraft used on this
The service is operated with a Boeing route is a Boeing B787 Dreamliner. In addi-
B737NG aircraft in a two class cabin layout tion did Ethiopian Airlines also launch their
of business and economy and according long awaited services to Houston, adding
to reports. Meanwhile has the airline also another North American destination to their
adjusted their Moscow flights which will growing network.
Dec. 20 - 26 2019 29
business

TEEP to receive
US$5m boost
By Isaac Khisa stem the rising tide of unem-

T
ony Elumelu Entrepre-
neurship Programme
is set to receive US$-
5million boost from the
African Development Bank
(AfDB) to scale up its outreach
and impact to 1,000 select youth
entrepreneurs across the conti-
nent. AfDB approved the grant
on Dec.16.
The grant follows the signing
(L-R) Umeme Ltd Board Chairman, Patrick Bitature, MD Selestino Babungi and of a letter of intent between the
Stanbic Bank Chief Executive, Patrick Mweheire, during the signing ceremony Bank and the Tony Elumelu
announcing $70 million long term syndicated financing.   COURTESY PHOTO Foundation, which took place
during the Tony Elumelu
Foundation Entrepreneurship
Programme launch in March
this year.
The partnership will bring
about future collaboration
focused on strengthening small
to medium-sized enterprises as
well as talent and skills develop-
ment for Africa’s youth.
The partnership will support
3,050 young entrepreneurs
across 54 African countries. The
Bank’s participation will enable
an additional 1,000 entrepre-
neurs to benefit from the Tony
Elumelu Entrepreneurship
Program, which provides much
needed opportunities to help
ployment and inequality facing
the continent’s youngest citizens.
The programme aligns with the
Bank’s ten-year Jobs for Youth in
Africa strategy launched in 2016,
to support the creation of 25 mil-
lion decent jobs across the conti-
nent. The strategy is also expect-
ed to equip 50 million young
African people with employable
skills that enable them to access
economic opportunities and
realize their full economic poten-
tial across the continent.
The Tony Elumelu Foundation
Entrepreneurship Programme
will deliver business training,
mentoring, and access to net-
works, markets and capital for
business development to select-
ed youth-led start-ups in order
for them to grow and create jobs.
The Entrepreneurship Pro-
gramme demonstrates a strong
alignment with the Bank’s Youth
Entrepreneurship and Innova-
tion Multi-Donor Trust Fund
objectives to build the African
youth entrepreneurship eco-
system by scaling innovative
youth led start-ups, expand-
ing youth market opportu-
nities and improving youth
access to finance.

The Miss World Africa Quiin Abenakyo (3rd L), receives a dummy cheque of
Shs10million for her charity foundation from Peter Kabatsi (2nd L), the Board
Chairperson and other Bank of India officials at the Bank’s head offices in
Kampala on Dec.17.  INDEPENDENT ALFRED OCHWO

Share price movement (Dec. 15)

Security Nov. 25 Sep.03 Movement
BATU 30,000 300 00
BOBU 125 130 3.8
CENT 1,075 1,037 3.6
QCL 127 130 2.3
DFCU 650 650 00
EABL 7,352 6,985 5.2
EBL 1,752 1,422 23.2
JHL 12,922 13,177 1.9
KA 104 89 16
KCB 1,790 1,430 25
NIC 11 12 8.3
NMG 1,450 1,356 6.9
NVL 321 325 1.2
SBU 24 24 00
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni (in a hut) takes time off to inspect UCHM 12 10 20
several exhibitors at the ICT Innovation Expo at Nakawa on Dec. 17. Over UCL 10 14 28
80 innovators showcased their businesses ranging from human resource UMEME 297 297 00
solutions to healthcare and transport.   COURTESY PHOTO. ALSI -- -- --

30 Dec. 20 - 26 2019

Social protection impacting
beneficiaries-study
By Independent Team
S
pending on social protection inter-
ventions, such as the Senior Citizens
Grant, is not a welfare cost, but is in
fact an investment to the economy
that demonstrates remarkable macro-eco-
nomic impacts comparable to investment in
other interventions like infrastructure, a new
study conducted by the Ministry of Gender,
Labour & Social Development in collabora-
tion with the Ministry of Finance, Planning
& Economic Development, shows.
The study, “Economic and Poverty Impacts
of Expanding Social Protection in Uganda:
Results from a SAM Modelling Approach,”
was led by Dr. Bazlul Haque Khondker, a
professor of economics at the University
of Dhaka, Bangladesh and economic mod-
elling expert; Dr. John Mary Matovu; and
Diloá Athias; under the UK-based consulting
firm Development Pathways.
The study carried out simulations to
assess the impacts of the progressive expan-
sion of the current Senior Citizens Grant to
older persons over 65 years, while introduc-
ing child-focussed and disability grants over
a 10 year period. Simulations of impact were
conducted on household income/consump-
tion, poverty headcount, inequality, national
income and government revenue.
Stephen Kasaija, Head of the Expanding
Social protection Programme Management
Unit said, “These findings excite us. But it is
in line with what we have all along thought
about social protection interventions. Up
until now, many people considered the
Senior Citizens Grant under SAGE a social
welfare cost, but analysis presented here
using the macro-simulation tool confirms
that social spending is actually an invest-
ment in the economy.”
The study shows that spending on social
protection interventions such as direct
income support reduces poverty and
inequality, increases consumption, increases
national income and expands the national
revenue base for the country.
For example, the study shows that the
national poverty rate could drop to 10.9 per
cent by 2031, with sufficient investment in
social protection. It also shows that a rise in
investment in social protection from 0.11 per
cent of GDP in 2022 to 1.47 per cent of GDP
in 2031 would generate an additional house-
hold consumption gain of 39 per cent (cur-
rent spending on the Senior Citizens Grant is
only about 0.08 per cent of GDP).
The study further finds that the impacts
on GDP are equally positive. If all targeted
groups are covered, increased social protec-
tion spending could enhance Uganda’s GDP
growth rate by an additional 1.37 per cent in
2020/31.
“Simulation outcomes suggest significant
effects of social protection interventions in
Uganda,” Khondker said.
Since the proposed social protection inter-
ventions would be financed through tax rev-
enue, the study also sought to investigate the
opportunity cost of direct income support to
households. As an alternative option using
the same level of investment, the study sim-
ulated the impact of investing 1.47 per cent
of GDP in a construction activity to foster
capital formation and long term growth.
The findings from the simulation suggest
that spending of this scale on direct income
schemes would be comparable to macro-eco-
nomic impacts to a similar investment in
other sectors, such as construction.
The study also shows that investments in
household-level transfers have a compara-
tive advantage for greater domestic output
from agriculture, through increased value
added to land and labour, and increased
household consumption. This reinforces
the widely acknowledged role of social
protection and in particular cash transfers to
beneficiary households, in supporting con-
sumption-led growth.
“On the basis of these positive effects,
more social protection interventions are justi-
fied,” Khondker said.
The study is part of a 2-year research plan
feature
to inform development of the long-term
financing strategy for social protection in the
country. The research demonstrates the key
role of social protection as part of a wider
government strategy for accelerated growth
and development, thereby making the case
for increased government investment in
social protection. Increasingly, governments
around the world are realising that social
protection is a core component of any suc-
cessful and sustainable market economy.
There is now strong international evi-
dence that shows that adequate levels of
investment in well-designed national social
protection systems can transform societies
and economies, as has happened in many
high-income countries (which invest, on
average, 12 per cent of GDP in social securi-
ty) and growing numbers of middle-income
countries. “Uganda is not yet gaining the
benefits of investing in social protection.
Despite high levels of vulnerability to pov-
erty and low productivity, current levels of
social investment are minimal and, as yet,
there is no national social protection scheme
in place,” Khondker said.
“The main scheme is the Senior Citizens
Grant but this still only reaches a small pro-
portion of older persons.”
Khondker said if Uganda is to move for-
ward to become a successful middle-income
country, it will be critical to develop and
implement a medium and long-term vision
for a national social protection system.
This, he said, will imply developing a
financing strategy to underpin the vision,
both clarifying the level of investment and
sources of finance.
Dec. 20 - 26 2019 31
 10 ways to have
a healthier
Christmas
C
By Agencies
hristmas is notoriously a time
to indulge, but don’t let this be
the green light to overindulge!
You can still enjoy all the fes-
tivities of the season and get
through the Christmas period
without too much impact on your health
and waistline. Try the following top 10 tips
for a healthier Christmas.
1 Don’t sit down all day
We know every Christmas special under
the sun will be showing on the TV, but you
don’t need to plonk yourself on the sofa all
day! Encourage the whole family to get out
for a walk at some point – ideally, after din-
ner to aid digestion. The more activity, the
better, so take along any new outdoor gifts,
like bikes, scooters, footballs or Frisbees, or
play old-fashioned games.
2 Go easy on the booze
If you are firmly ensconced at home over
the festive period, those alcohol units can
really mount up. Mulled wine on Christmas
eve, Bucks Fizz with breakfast, wine with
dinner, Baileys, brandy… the list goes on!
So, do try to keep tabs on how much you are
drinking, and intersperse alcoholic drinks
with soft ones.
3 Don’t give yourself a Christmas
stuffing!
Recent research suggests that we consume
around 3,000 calories in our Christmas din-
ner – more than the entire recommended
daily intake for a grown man!
This huge feast not only contributes to
weight gain but also to indigestion and
heartburn – not to mention lethargy for the
rest of the day, reducing the chances of you
burning much of it off. Instead of gorging
yourself on Christmas dinner, eat a nor-
mal-sized meal and then take a 20-minute
break to see if you are still hungry (it takes
this long for the brain to register that the
32 Dec. 20 - 26 2019
stomach is full). The chances are, you’ll real-
ise you’ve had enough.
4 Keep colds at bay
Colds are rife at Christmas, partly because
many of us travel around the country, expos-
ing ourselves – and others – to different cold
viruses. Minimise your risks by maintaining
a healthy immune system (eating a healthy
diet, getting enough sleep and not smoking
will help), so you are more able to fight off
any viruses.
5 Don’t stress
‘Tis the season to be jolly’ but jolly is the
last thing many of us feel with overspend-
ing, cooking, cleaning, endless ‘to do’ lists
and visitors we could do without. Try to
keep a sense of humor and proportion. Is
it really the end of the world if the carrots
are overcooked or if the mantelpiece is a
bit dusty? Do you really care about Auntie
Mary’s disapproval of the fact that you and
your partner are living together and aren’t
married? Remember, Christmas is just one
day out of 365 and it isn’t worth stressing
over.
6 Eat fruit
Let’s be honest, most of us get through the
entire Christmas period eating no more fruit
than the satsuma in the Christmas stocking.
It just doesn’t really feature on the Christmas
menu. But at this time of late nights, overin-
dulging and partying, it’s more important
than ever to get your vitamins and minerals,
to help you stay in good health. Ensure that
your Christmas shopping list enables you
to fill up the fruit bowl and get your rec-
ommended daily portions of fruit and veg.
(And no, mulled wine doesn’t count as one
portion!)
7 Do something for others
It’s hard to avoid the consumerism that
has overtaken Christmas in the western
world, but it doesn’t all have to be about giv-
ing or receiving gifts. Try to do something
for others this festive season, whether it’s
baking some extra mince pies for an elderly
neighbour, inviting an acquaintance who
doesn’t have family around them to your
home or helping out with a local Christmas
fete or carol service.
8 Think before you eat
Christmas is a time of plenty, and with
nuts, chocolates, mince pies and cheese
straws wherever you look, it would be rath-
er Scrooge-like to suggest that you don’t eat
any treats over the festive period! But rather
than mindlessly popping whatever is in
front of you in your mouth, spend a moment
thinking about whether you really want it, or
are just eating it because it’s there.
9 Engage your brain
Instead of switching off in front of the TV,
keep your mind active by playing games
like Trivial Pursuit or Charades. This is also
a great way of getting everyone together.
If you aren’t a ‘game’ person, engage your
mind by setting up any new gadgets, such
as Playstations, iPads, mobile phones or
laptops.
10 Be a careful cook
If your Christmas duties include cooking
the dinner, you won’t be delighted to hear
that according to the Food Standards Agen-
cy, December is one of the most common
months for people to get food poisoning.
To minimise the risks, don’t leave food out
all day. Put out small amounts at a time, so
that what is on the table has just been cooked
or just come out of the fridge. Ideally, try to
use any leftovers within 48 hours or freeze
them. As for the turkey, always defrost it in
the fridge, allowing 10 to 12 hours per kilo
and do not wash the bird, as this can spread
bacteria around, which will be destroyed by
cooking anyway.
And most importantly, have a happy, healthy
festive season!
 HEALTH

Weak surveillance
By Nelson Mandela Ogema

V
accine-preventable diseases
such as polio could make a

to reverse Africa
devastating recurrence in
Africa due to weak and cash
strapped surveillance, a WHO expert
says.

health gains
This could cost Africa US$ 22.4 billion
and more than 915,000 deaths, thus
reversing gains made in the fight,
control and eradication [so far],
says Richard Mihigo, programme
manager for immunisation for vaccine
development, WHO Regional Office- Countries need to put more resources in
Africa.
The WHO has, therefore, developed
Investment Case for Vaccine-
vaccine preventable disease surveillance
Preventable Disease Surveillance in
the African Region, 2020-2030, aimed
at increasing domestic investment in
surveillance from countries.
About US$470 million in operating
costs will be needed over the next
decade to realise this ambition, and
this could save over 700,000 lives,
prevent 20 million people from falling
ill due to vaccine-preventable diseases,
says WHO.
Vaccine-preventable disease
surveillance, the systematic
collection, analysis, interpretation,
and dissemination of information
regarding the occurrence of diseases in
defined populations for public health
action, is part of close observation
focusing on diseases that can be
prevented or controlled by vaccines, Vaccination team vaccinating children at a nursery school Copyright: Louie Rosencrans/CDC, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Mihigo explains.
Mihigo told SciDev.Net in an interview Africa in Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone disease outbreaks, role of surveillance
on 2 December that surveillance for and ongoing outbreak in DRC,” he in measuring disease control and
diseases targeted by various vaccines says. elimination targets,” he says.
in the Africa region have been mainly “Disease surveillance and laboratory Strengthening surveillance in countries
funded from the polio resources performance gaps usually results considered hot spots for disease
provided through the Global Polio in delayed detection and response epidemics in Africa will help in early
Eradication Initiative. to disease outbreaks – leading to detection and timely response to
“However, as [the] eradication of humanitarian crisis, loss of lives and outbreaks before they spread.
polio draws to a close, this funding disruption of economic activities,” he Pauline Bakibinga, associate
has decreased substantially and will tells SciDev.Net. research scientist, Health and Systems
continue to decrease further in the The investment case will help for Health Research Unit at African
coming years. In the African region, African member states to realise the Population Health Research Center,
disease surveillance has mainly been importance of investing in disease says that  the WHO investment case for
funded through external resources and surveillance systems and step up vaccine preventable diseases has come
donor funding,” he says. accordingly with support from donors, late given that a number of deaths has
Vaccine-preventable diseases according to Mihigo. occurred in the continent as a result
surveillance have declined markedly “We are hopeful that this initiative of inadequate investments in disease
over the past two years, according to will make a strong case for vaccine- surveillance.
WHO. preventable diseases surveillance that “Perhaps now, countries and
“There are disease surveillance gaps will lead to increased funding from development partners can pay more
in many countries and already, we are African governments but also for other attention to allocating more resources
seeing large outbreaks of yellow fever non-traditional donors,” he says. to disease surveillance,” she says.
in Angola and the Democratic Republic Mihigo explains that there are about Bakibinga adds that African
of Congo that also faces severe measles 22 vaccine preventable diseases, but governments need to adopt better
cases, meningitis in the meningitis surveillance has not been prioritised management practices and resource
belt countries with Nigeria and Niger with governments only giving support allocation with good policies to
impacted, pneumococcal meningitis in human resource surveillance. strengthen health systems to avert
and pneumonia in Burkina Faso and “Until recently there has been lack of disease outbreaks, which happen as a
Ghana and Ebola virus disease in west appreciation of the economic impact of result of weak surveillance.

Dec. 20 - 26 2019 33
comment
By Dennis J. Snower
Fighting the diseases of Want & Plenty
Many of the diseases associated with either
affluence or poverty are avoidable
D
iseases of want” arise from
poverty, while “diseases of plenty”
are associated with affluence.
Many of the illnesses in each
category are avoidable, but stopping them
will require a revolutionary change in our
approach to medicine.
Diseases of want are avoidable because
poverty is avoidable. We have the technical
expertise to eliminate extreme poverty
simply by sharing information, generating
relevant skills, and redistributing a small
fraction of economic resources. Our failure to
overcome diseases of want thus reflects not
a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will.
And it is this unwillingness, not the diseases
themselves that we must address.
By contrast, diseases of plenty – such as
obesity, tobacco-related illnesses, depression,
diabetes, and various types of cancer – arise
because our affluent lifestyles make us ill.
Such illnesses also are avoidable, but again,
we lack the will to conquer them. They
occur because our approach to medicine
is fundamentally wrong. Once we have
understood this, we will be better able to
tackle diseases of want as well.
The problem is that modern medicine
focuses primarily on treatment rather than
prevention. It is supposedly people’s right to
live as they choose, and if they fall seriously
ill, their health system – doctors, hospital
managers, insurers, medical researchers,
and many non-medical support staff – is
meant to cure them. If we took an equivalent
approach to aviation safety, we would allow
anyone to fly airplanes, with or without
a license, and would not monitor safety
equipment. If a plane crashed, aviation
safety personnel would make every effort to
save the injured, which would be expensive,
given the gravity of the injuries.
Yet, in practice, aviation safety efforts
concentrate almost entirely on preventing
accidents in the first place. Aircraft are
required to be serviced regularly. Weather
information is readily available. Pilots and
other aviation personnel receive rigorous
formal safety training, and strictly enforced
rules ensure that a pilot’s performance is not
impeded by fatigue or alcohol. The industry
has many other safeguards, most of which
are implemented automatically.
Furthermore, all major aviation accidents
are investigated by a national body whose
reports are made public. Pilots are usually
34 Dec. 20 - 26 2019
granted immunity from prosecution. And
the aviation industry regards the safety
of each passenger as equally important,
regardless of what they paid for their
respective tickets. Variations in ticket prices
reflect differences in comfort and amenities,
not in safety.
Now, suppose that we applied this aviation
safety approach to medicine. Everyone
would get regular, mandatory health checks,
and have guaranteed access to information
about healthy living. In addition, everyone
would receive rigorous training in how to
maintain their health, whether in school or
at work. Rules for protecting one’s health
would be strictly enforced, with automatic
health safety checks at home, at work, and
elsewhere. At the same time, a national
body would investigate all major diseases
and publish its reports. Doctors, like pilots,
would be immune from prosecution.
Finally, the system would give equal
attention to each person’s basic health,
regardless of how much they paid for their
health care. Different levels of individual
spending on health would reflect differences
in comfort and amenities, not in treatment.
In order to acquire a health-oriented
mind-set in medicine, rather than the
ubiquitous view that medicine is meant
to cure illness, it is useful to be guided by
Detlev Ganten’s “health formula”: your
health depends on your body’s biology,
your environment, and your behavior. Like
most profound insights, Ganten’s formula
sounds obvious once expressed.
Crucially, it understands health as a state
that is achieved when our behavior within
our environment is adapted to our bodily
needs. Thus, any behavior that makes our
bodies maladaptive to our environment
is unhealthy. And so is any environment,
created through our lifestyles, that makes
our behavior maladaptive to our bodies.
Once we take this health formula to
heart, we see medicine with new eyes. For
example, diabetes, high blood pressure,
arteriosclerosis, arthritis, gout, heartburn,
and gallstones, as well as cancer of the
breast, intestine, and prostate, commonly
arise from obesity and stress. Obesity often
is a consequence of sedentary work and
recreation habits, which result from the way
we build our offices, schools, and cities.
Thus, an important part of tackling diseases
of plenty is for people to change their daily
routines – such as by taking frequent brisk
walks, playing sports regularly, sitting on
appropriately designed chairs, and avoiding
sugary foods.
Stress, meanwhile, frequently is caused by
insecurity and disempowerment at work,
unemployment, homelessness, or deficient
social ties. Tackling this problem thus has
implications for both government policy
and companies’ strategy. For example,
giving workers control over their daily work
schedules, promoting cooperative work
cultures, and mindfulness training at work
could all reduce stress and contribute to
public health.
Medications, doctors, and operating
rooms still would play a role in such a
health system, of course, but only after all
the safety checks had been observed – just
as ambulances have a function after a plane
crash. Instead, we should focus mainly on
how we conduct our lives, the example we
set for family and friends, what we teach
our children, and the physical and social
contexts we create for our work and leisure
activities. And although there also is a
strong case for universal health care and an
important role for government, this role lies
primarily in prevention.
The same preventive approach would
help the world’s poorest countries overcome
diseases of want. Assistance to these
countries should focus on eliminating
extreme poverty and creating the social
settings, habits, expectations, values, norms,
and laws that promote health.
This is a new vision of medicine for rich
and poor countries alike, where health
systems still overwhelmingly concentrate
on treating illnesses. By focusing instead
on prevention, while adapting our
environments and behaviors to our bodily
needs, we can initiate a new age of medicine
that enables us to overcome a host of
avoidable diseases.
Dennis J. Snower is the President of the Global
Solutions Initiative, a senior research fellow
at the Blavatnik School of Government at the
University of Oxford, and a non-resident fellow
at the Brookings Institution.
Copyright: Project Syndicate, 2019.
www.project-syndicate.org

By Bertrand Badré &Philippe Heim
Is tech a New Frontier for Sustainability?
Financial institutions also need to understand
their risks, social impact, and ethical implications
D
iscussions about “sustainability”
usually center on a company’s
environmental and social com-
mitments, and for understand-
able reasons. But the financial sector in
particular should consider two other, less
obvious, dimensions of sustainability. Reg-
ulatory sustainability is essential for ad-
dressing the systemic risk that the financial
sector poses to our societies. In addition,
the emerging new frontier of technological
sustainability is having an increasing im-
pact on business models and strategies.
Data, robotics, and artificial intelligence
are on everyone’s minds. But although
these new technologies have vast potential,
financial institutions also need to under-
stand their risks, social impact, and ethical
implications. Regarding data, the numbers
are striking: 90% of all data worldwide
have been created in the last two years,
and we generate an estimated 2.5 quintil-
lion bytes of it every day. In this context,
it is essential for financial institutions –
which are both key producers and users
of data – to address issues concerning data
creation and protection.
Regulations in this field are becoming
stricter, as the European Union’s General
Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) illus-
trates. Fortunately, banks and insurance
companies continue to benefit from their
reputation for being trustworthy. Their
challenge is to honor and maintain that
trust despite the growing temptation to
monetize their data “assets” by selling
them or using them for marketing pur-
poses. Robotics, meanwhile, is trans-
forming all industries and the job market.
According to some estimates, between
one-quarter and one-half of the financial
sector’s total workforce could be replaced
by robots and AI over the next decade.
True, studies of German manufac-
turing workers have found no evidence
that robots reduce overall employment:
although each robot eliminates two man-
ufacturing jobs, it creates additional jobs
in the service sector that fully offset this
loss. But robots do affect the composition
of aggregate employment. In fact, we are
probably experiencing another episode
of Schumpeterian “creative destruction.”
Robotics and AI will change the types of
jobs on offer, their location, and the skills
required to fill them. This disruptive
effect must be managed carefully. Banks
and other financial institutions should
therefore focus on anticipating these tech-
nologies’ impact on their employees, and
invest in training and career counseling to
help them during the transition.
AI technologies are probably the most
difficult for the finance sector to address,
owing to their complexity and ethical
implications. Although financial institu-
tions have been criticized since the global
financial crisis, they have in fact long taken
ethical considerations into account. But
with AI, we are moving to another level,
where firms must anticipate potential
ethical risks and define the mechanisms
to ensure control and accountability. Two
major issues stand out.
The first is algorithm bias (or AI bias),
which occurs when an algorithm produces
systematically prejudiced results owing
to erroneous assumptions in the machine-
learning process. In 2014, for example,
Amazon developed a tool for identifying
software engineers it might want to hire,
but the algorithm incorporated the biases
of the male engineers who created it. As
a result, the system soon began discrimi-
nating against women, leading the com-
pany to abandon it in 2017.
More recently, Apple and Goldman
Sachs launched a credit card that some
have accused of being sexist. For a married
couple who file joint tax returns and live
in a community-property state, Apple’s
black-box algorithm gave the husband a
credit limit 20 times higher than that of
his wife. The influence of the conscious
or unconscious preferences of algorithms’
creators may go undetected until they are
used, and their built-in biases potentially
amplified. Fortunately, algorithms can be
reviewed and monitored to avoid unfair
outcomes. For example, a bank employee
may unconsciously consider an applicant’s
gender when making a loan decision.
But with an algorithm, you can simply
exclude a gender variable and other
closely correlated factors when com-
puting a score. That is why it is crucial
to implement the right safeguards when
developing the model. The other big eth-
ical concern relates to the transparency
and “explainability” of AI-driven models.
Because these models will increasingly be
used to make recruiting, lending, and per-
comment
haps even legal decisions, it is essential to
know their critical features and the relative
importance of each in the decision-making
process. We need to open the black box
to understand the processes, procedures,
and sometimes-implicit assumptions it
contains. Regulation also will increasingly
push us in this direction: the GDPR, for
example, introduces the right for individ-
uals to obtain “meaningful information
about the logic involved” in automated
decision-making that has “legal or simi-
larly relevant effects.”
Today, we still have more questions than
answers regarding technological sustain-
ability. That is probably fine for the time
being, because we are proceeding into
uncharted territory with care and concern.
After all, developing a more comprehen-
sive approach to climate and the environ-
ment has taken many years, and we prob-
ably still have a long way to go.
We now must start a similar journey
toward technological sustainability and
ask ourselves how well equipped we are
to discuss the practical, social, and ethical
implications of new and powerful digital
tools. Because these questions touch upon
anthropology and philosophy as much as
economics and politics, we must respond
to them with open and inclusive debate,
interdisciplinary frameworks, and well-co-
ordinated collective action. This shared
effort should bring together the public
and private sectors, as well as consumers,
employees, and investors. Although tech-
nological progress comes with risks, it
ultimately improves everyone’s lives. By
managing these advances responsibly,
we can ensure that humanity and digital
technology combine to produce a more
sustainable future.
Bertrand Badré, a former Managing Director
of the World Bank, is CEO of Blue like an
Orange Sustainable Capital and the author
of Can Finance Save the World?. Philippe
Heim is Deputy CEO of Société Générale.
Copyright: Project Syndicate, 2019.
www.project-syndicate.org
Dec. 20 - 26 2019 35
year ender

Gone in 2019

Ronald
Ssebulime Armali Joseph Bossa
Ssebulime Karmali aka Bossa was
was on his
Apolo Mukwano a lawyer, Med
way to visit
Nsibambi
politician and a Kaggwa
his daughter The legendary central banker
at school Former Prime businessman died who reached The former
in Mukono Minister Apolo on July 10 after a the level of chairman
when in a Nsibambi died life of exemplary Maria director of Legal of Uganda
twist of fate, a on May 28 at his business Nagirinya Affairs at Bank
Justice John Human
bodyguard of home in Mengo leadership. His The 28-year-old of Uganda. Rights
fired minister at the age of Mukwano Group social worker was He was vice Tsekooko Commission
Idah Nantaba 78. He was had interests slain after being president of The retired passed on
shot him renowned as an in agriculture, kidnapped on Uganda Peoples Supreme Court after fainting
dead on the academic and logistics, Aug.28. Nagirinya Congress (UPC) judge died on in his car
minister’s a meticulous beverages, was kidnapped as from 2010 to Oct. 14 aged around
orders on time keeper. property she waited in her 2015. Bossa 77. He ruled Mulago on
March 24. He formerly development car outside her was a regular twice to annul Nov. 20.
Nantaba headed the and banking. home in Rubaga, commentator President He was a
claimed political science Given the name Kampala her car in on current Museveni’s passionate
Ssebulime was department Mukwano the evening hours. affairs in The election in the advocate
an assassin at Makerere (meaning friend) Her body was Independent. presidential of human
trailing her University and by those he dumped near a Contemporaries election rights whose
when she his mentees dealt with in his stream in Mukono described petitions filed last years in
ordered the include Sabiiti early years, the in one of the most Bossa’s death by Dr. Kizza office were
guard to shoot. Makara, businessman shocking murders on Sept. 30 Besigye in marked with
The murder Prof. William was literally a of the year. She as a challenge 2001 and 2006. rising cases
of Ssebulime, Muhumuza, household name was kidnapped for UPC and He became of torture
a boda boda Simba Kayunga, in Uganda. Some with her driver a loss for a Supreme in Uganda.
rider enraged Prof. Paul estimates put his who was also intellectualism Court judge in Kaggwa
the nation for Omach, the fortune at $1bn murdered to Uganda. 1994. In his was also a
the prevailing current head of (Shs3.7trillion) alongside. He died in The long career, politician
sense of the Department but by any President Hague where he he mentored who served
injustice in of Political account it was Museveni ordered was living with and judges in the sixth
the country Science, difficult to put his for the arrest of his wife Solome like David parliament
if not for the Murindwa fortune to any police officers Bossa who is Wangututsi, and
impunity of the Rutanga, Yasin figure due to the who acted a judge at the Musalu Munene, represented
perpetrators. Olum. far-flung business negligently after International Lawrence Uganda in the
enterprise he left they were alerted Criminal Court. Gidudu and East African
behind. of her kidnap. others. Legislative
Assembly.

36 Dec. 20 - 26 2019
 ART | BOOKS | SOCIETY | TRAVEL | CULTURE
Unmasking History
Students integrate research, collaboration
and innovation into art production
U
By Dominic Muwanguzi
nlike the idea of leaners
getting confined in the
classroom and dwelling on
theoretical approaches of
art learning or perceiving
the notion of field study as
simply a form of escape from the predictable
university environment, the recent excursion
undertaken by a group of third year students
of Margaret Trowell School of Industrial
and Fine Art ( MSTIFA), overturned such
perception.
The art students took a study trip to
diverse communities across Uganda, but
particular interest was focused on in south
western Uganda because of its unique cul-
tural sites.
As such, the learners were tasked to
approach these cultural sites such as Kitagata
hot springs and Biharwe Monument within
the framework of research, integration and
innovation and collaboration. The result
of such cultural expedition is a display of
multi-disciplinary art at the Makerere Art
gallery that has been lauded by many art
pundits as a well- researched and collabora-
tive art exhibition.
With hindsight to the practical under-
standing of intricate elements and principles
of art making reflected in the paintings on
show that were inspired by the spotlight
effect advanced by Michelangelo Caravag-
gio, the Italian Modernist painter (1571-
1610); where darkness became the central
subject in the painting; the students delved
into the theme of integrating the already
existing historical material into their art with
an adept awareness of innovation:  creating
art from the found and not the imported
materials.
This technique injected an element of
originality in the artwork, conspiring to its
uniqueness and provoking conversations
around the art. For example, the central art-
work in the exhibition that is displayed as an
interactive installation may easily evoke the
image of Omweso (Board game), with differ-
ent parties playing the game, but is a reflec-
tion of the students attempt at innovation.  to juxtapose cultural archives with art
Omuzano installation combines three
aspects including knowledge interpretation,
innovation and collaboration. The artwork
was made by a group of student-artists and
through its interactive scheme- where a play-
er is asked a question or set of questions-the
learner is tasked to remember what they
learnt or experienced during the field study.  the public. This approach dismisses the
Another noteworthy approach is visible in
the installation of ceramics propped up on a
dais. The ceramist used water collected from
the Kitagata hot springs to sculpt functional
objects like Vase, Shield and Pot. In so doing,
the artist was passing on the spiritual water
famous for healing to communities outside
Dec. 20 - 26 2019
the Kitagata community. This replication
approach is visible also in the Biharwe
monument installation Obulamu Bunyuma.
The artists’ deliberate choice of miniature
cow drawings made from cardboard paper
dangling in mid- air, illustrates the Biharwe
incident of 1520 AD where Bunyoro was
defeated by Nkore after an eclipse appeared
on Biharwe hill. Gripped with fright the flee-
ing Bunyoro fighters, abandoning their loot
including thousands of cows, claimed that it
was the Bachwezi gods’ apparition that had
come to the rescue of the Nkore people. In
response, the Nkore people believe until this
day that the cows were an offer from their
gods who saved them.
Umasking history is a successful attempt
while provoking critical conservations on
the essentiality of research to the subject of
contemporary art. Like previous exhibitions
mounted at the art gallery, the art exhibit
by students seeks to lure students into the
discipline of research in order to produce
art that is both relevant and original to
traditional norm of art production where art
exists for art sake and not for cultural and
social benefits.
The exhibition is showing now at Makerere Art
gallery throughout the month of December –
January 2020.
37
 Greta Thunberg trolls Trump
Instead of lashing out on social
media as her 73-year-old critic Don-
ald Trump did, Greta Thunberg
quietly trolled the president with his
own words. Shortly after his tweet,
Thunberg—whose passionate speech-
es urge quick action against the cli-
mate crisis has created a movement
and earned her recognition around
the world—updated her Twitter bio.
It now reads: “A teenager working on
her anger management problem. Cur-
rently chilling and watching a good
old fashioned movie with a friend.”
Trump fired off the tweet after Thun-
berg was named TIME magzine Per-
son of The Year. In awarding Thun-
berg with their honor, Time magazine
wrote that the teenage activist was
part of a rising generation of “leaders
with a cause and a phone who don’t
fit the old rubrics but who connect
with us in ways that institutions can’t
and perhaps never could.”

Society to protect apostrophes’ shuts down

The battle to save
the ‘much abused’
apostrophe recently took
Ducks win court case a blow after the society
dedicated to preserving
Sixty ducks and geese won a case it announced plans to
recently after a French court rejected a close. The chairman
neighbour’s complaint that the birds’ of the Apostrophe
noise was making life a misery. Court Protection Society (APS)
said the noise of the ducks kept by retired John Richard’s declared
farmer, Dominique Douthe, in the foothills that ignorance and
of the Pyrenees in southwestern France laziness had won. The
was within acceptable limits. “The ducks former journalist set
have won,” Douthe said following the APS up in 2001 after he
court’s decision. “I am very happy because retired from a career as
I didn’t want to slaughter my ducks.” a journalist. Now aged
96, Richards called time
on the society which
lists the three simple
rules for correct use of
the punctuation mark.
Writing on the societys
website, he said: ‘Fewer
organisations and
individuals are now
caring about the correct
use of the apostrophe in
the English language.
‘We, and our many
supporters worldwide,
have done our best
but the ignorance and
laziness present in
modern times have won!’
Richards started the
society after seeing the
‘same mistakes over and
over again’ and hoped he
would find half a dozen
people who felt the same
way. He said: ‘I didn’t
find half a dozen people.
‘Instead, within a month
of my plaint appearing
in a national newspaper,
I received over 500 letters
of support, not only from
all corners of the United
Kingdom, but also from
America, Australia,
France, Sweden,

Teacher sets bogus exam to catch cheating students

A teacher who became an email explaining his own Chegg account and
fed up with students scheme to catch those answered the question
using their mobile phones who had given them- with a stupid answer
to find answers and cheat selves some outside help. that seems correct at first
on university exams came Many of the students use glance but is actually
up with a tricky way to a website called Chegg, wrong. Out of the 99
catch them out—and exams handed
failed the pupils who in, 14 fell for the
fell for the scam. trick and gave the
After leaving the
exam hall, the pupils
exact answer their
teacher had post- Girl sends mom CV to prove
remembered there
was one particular
ed online. Appar-
ently the students
she can care for puppy
question that was not used Chegg A British teenager who put a puppy on her
related to what they while taking toilet Christmas wish list only to be told that it was not a
had all been taught breaks to answer good idea found a “Plan B” to convince her mom
in class, which had the question. All one more time. Kayla Severi, 18, who wanted a
two parts. Part A was the 14 scored zero bull terrier puppy, drafted a hirarious CV and
fairly easy but they had which provides answers and were reported to the accompanied it with a cover letter explaining why
no idea how to do part to exam and homework University for violating she was qualified for the role of taking care of the
B, so they simply left it questions. Although most the academic honour dog. Her CV included claims of her excellent time
blank as it only accounted had assumed their teach- pledge they had signed. management, enough money to cover the costs
for 5 marks out of 100. er would not be familiar Their names were also of the dog, and the all-important qualities of love
When all the exams had with the site, he decided circulated to all the other and kindness. Kayla’s efforts paid off and her
been marked, their teach- to use it against them. teachers in the depart- mom gave in to her request, allowing her to buy
er sent all the students The teacher created his ment as known cheaters. her puppy and bring it home for Christmas.

38 Dec. 20 - 26 2019
 Electric
cars
might
not yet
be green
But we should buy
them anyway
By Motoring Guru
T
ransforming the way we travel is an
essential part of tackling the climate
crisis. The transport sector contrib-
utes about 20% of global carbon
emissions. In the UK the figure is 33%, and
the country has made virtually no progress
in reducing emissions from transport. In
many countries, they’re actually increasing.
Electric vehicles are often hailed as the
solution to this quandary, but some question
their environmental credentials. With much
of the world’s electricity still produced from
fossil fuels, the criticism goes that EVs may
actually be responsible for more carbon
emissions over their lifetime than combus-
tion engine vehicles.
As German economics professor
Hans-Werner Sinn put it in a recent contro-
versial article, all we are doing is transfer-
ring carbon emissions “from the exhaust
pipe to the power plant”.
The assumptions underlying these claims
are questionable. But even if true, this line of
argument misses a key point.
The car we choose to buy today directly
influences the future of our energy system.
Choose a combustion-powered vehicle and
we lock in ongoing fossil fuel use. Choose an
electric vehicle and we support the switch to
a zero carbon society.
Due in large part to the high carbon-cost
of EV batteries, the manufacturing process
for an electric vehicle causes more carbon
emissions than for a combustion engine
vehicle. This means that the source of elec-
tricity used during the life of an EV is critical
in determining how eco-friendly they are.
While two thirds of the world’s electricity
Electric vehicles can be plugged into mains power at home overnight, allowing owners to save on bills
is generated from fossil fuels, this propor-
tion is decreasing rapidly. At least four
countries are already at or close to being
powered entirely by renewable electricity:
Iceland, Paraguay, Costa Rica and Norway.
In the UK, the proportion of electricity pro-
vided by fossil fuels has halved over the last
decade and is currently about 40%.
As the transition towards renewable
electricity progresses, so too will the carbon
footprint of EVs keep decreasing in step.
This means that the superiority in carbon
cost that electric vehicles already have over
combustion vehicles, even if narrow now,
will widen in the years to come.
Influencing the future
The electricity transition is only half the
story. The production and purchase of new
combustion vehicles locks in dependence on
fossil fuel use for the life of that vehicle – just
short of 14 years on average in the UK.
Retrofitting combustion engines to use
hydrogen or biofuel is an option in theory,
but it’s an expensive one which is probably
more applicable to heavy vehicles than cars.
Mass use of hydrogen would also require an
entirely new and complex distribution sys-
tem for a gas that is hard to make and store
efficiently. Biofuel could use existing infra-
structure, but would require vast swathes of
agricultural land to satisfy demand.
If the number of fossil-fuel powered cars
on the road stays high, it will be difficult
to make serious headway in reducing
transport emissions. In contrast, switching
to EVs transfers energy demand from the
transport sector to the electricity sector,
allowing countries to more readily tackle the
carbon cost of travel. Progress in doing so is
of course dependent on the speed at which
industry and government decarbonise their
energy supply. But the technology already
exists to shed the grid’s reliance on fossil
fuels, and many countries have committed
to do so by 2050 or sooner. The distribution
grid also already exists – we just need to
install charging stations.
And in choosing where they source their
electricity from, consumers are able to exert
much greater influence on the energy tran-
sition than the present transport system that
locks them into high-carbon lifestyles.
Grid burden
The scale of the transition from combus-
tion to electricity-powered transport is huge.
Average household electricity demand
could double once EV charging is included,
and this will place extra strain on both the
grid and energy bills.
But this burden can be cushioned by care-
ful use of technology. Of course, producing
any large industrial product results in some
negative environmental impacts. The min-
ing of lithium for EV batteries is polluting
and depletes water supplies, in turn harm-
ing wildlife and compromising local liveli-
hoods. Ultimately, the best way to reduce
the carbon and pollution costs of transport
is to make and use less cars, which means
that expanding car sharing and improving
public transport are essential.
But for those cars that we do use, EVs are
the least bad option. The switch to electric
vehicles needs to be seen as part of a broader
shift in the way society is organised to tackle
the climate crisis. That requires consumers,
industry, and government to all play their
part in creating a carbon-free future.
Dec. 20 - 26 2019 39
global comment
By Mohamed A. El-Erian
The global economy’s luck may run out
The prospects for markets and the global economy
heading into 2020 are surprisingly bright
T
his being December, my natural
inclination is to review the past
year’s economic and financial devel-
opments to help policymakers and
investors anticipate what might be coming in
2020. This year is ending on a relatively pos-
itive note, especially when compared to the
same time last year. There is hope of a global
growth pickup, trade tensions have lessened,
and central banks have reaffirmed that that
they will maintain ultra-low interest rates
and continue to provide ample liquidity.
Financial volatility is subdued, and there
are reasonable expectations of solid investor
returns across many asset classes.
As tempting as it is to dwell on current
financial and macroeconomic conditions,
doing so risks obfuscating a key element in
the outlook for the future. There is a curious
contrast between the relative clarity of
expectations for the near term and the murk-
iness and uncertainty that comes when one
extends the horizon further – say, to the next
five years.
Many countries are facing structural
uncertainties that could have far-reaching,
systemic implications for markets and the
global economy. For example, over the next
five years, the European Union will seek to
establish a new working relationship with
the United Kingdom, while also dealing
with the harmful social and political effects
of slow, insufficiently inclusive growth.
The EU will have to navigate the perils of a
prolonged period of negative interest rates,
while also shoring up its economic and
financial core.
As long as the eurozone’s architecture is
incomplete, consistent risks of instability will
remain. Moreover, in the years ahead, the
United States, having notably outperformed
many other economies, will decide whether
to continue disengaging from the rest of the
world – a process that is at odds with its
historic position at the center of the global
economy.
Or consider China’s development process.
With the global economy acting more as a
drag on growth than a boon to it, China may
confront the risk that it has overplayed its
hand. Heavy reliance on short-term stim-
ulus measures is increasingly inconsistent
with pursuing the longer-term reforms that
it needs, and its geopolitical ambitions and
regional economic and financial commit-
ments (including the Belt and Road Initia-
tive) are becoming costlier.
40 Dec. 20 - 26 2019
Most important, in the next five years,
China and the US, the world’s two largest
national economies, will have to navigate
an increasingly narrow path as they try to
secure their own interests while avoiding an
outright confrontation. Such fluidity clouds
the economic, financial, institutional, polit-
ical, and/or social outlook for other countries.
Today’s macroeconomic and geopolitical
uncertainties will amplify those fueled by
technological disruptions, climate change,
and demographics. And they will raise ques-
tions about the functioning and resilience of
the global economy and markets.
This degree of uncertainty is particularly
notable in the multi-decade context of glo-
balization. In recent years, the stability that
comes with broad-based adherence to the
rules-based international order has been
considerably weakened, as has the power of
central banks to repress financial volatility
and buy time for the real economy. Left
unmanaged, these medium-term structural
trends would set the stage for greater polit-
ical and social fragmentation, and raise the
specter of secular de-globalization. If there
is one thing that neither the global economy
nor markets are wired for, it is a prolonged
and deepening rupture in cross-border eco-
nomic and financial relations.
Were such a new paradigm to materialize,
today’s trade, investment, and currency
tensions would intensify and spill over to the
Going into 2020,
politicians have a
favorable runway
from which
to launch the
policies needed
to extend the
positive short-
term outlook into
the medium and
long term
realm of national security and geopolitics.
Bad outcomes are not inevitable (at least
not yet). They could still be averted through
the sustained implementation of policies to
promote stronger, more inclusive growth;
restore genuine financial stability; and usher
in a fairer, more credible (while still free)
system of international trade, investment,
and policy coordination. But much will
depend on the functioning of politics in the
near term.
Going into 2020, politicians have a favor-
able runway from which to launch the poli-
cies needed to extend the positive short-term
outlook into the medium and long term.
Worries about global recession have receded,
financial conditions are ultra-accommo-
dating, and US-China trade tensions have
de-escalated. But these auspicious circum-
stances will not last forever. Unfortunately,
a policy push that could improve and clarify
the medium-term outlook is unlikely. The
US is entering a tense and divisive election
year. Germany, Italy, and Spain are in the
midst of difficult political transitions.
The EU is dealing with Brexit and other
regional divisions. And China’s government
is trying to consolidate power in the face of
slowing growth and continuing protests in
Hong Kong. The main worry – one that too
few market participants have spotted – is
that over the next five years, global economic
and market conditions may need to deteri-
orate nearer to crisis levels before national,
regional, and multilateral political systems
muster an adequate response.
Fortunately, we are now in a period
when action could be taken to prevent
the worst-case scenario from becoming a
binding reality. Let us hope that I’m wrong
about today’s political paralysis. As long
as there is still time, there is a chance that
policymakers will follow the advice offered
by then-IMF Managing Director Christine
Lagarde in October 2017: “Fix the roof
while the sun is shining.”
Mohamed A. El-Erian is the Chief Economic
Adviser at Allianz, the corporate parent of
PIMCO where he served as CEO and co-Chief
Investment Officer, was Chairman of US
President Barack Obama’s Global Development
Council.
Copyright: Project Syndicate, 2019.
www.project-syndicate.org
 Stay Informed
Our online platforms have
limitless possibilities

www.independent.co.ug
@UgIndependent
The Independent magazine

Independent Publications Limited, Plot 82/84, Kanjokya Street, P. O. Box 3304, Kampala, Uganda
Tel: +256-312-637-391/ 2/ 3/ 4 | Fax: +256-312-637-396 | E-mail: editorial@independent.co.ug,
advertising@independent.co.ug, circulation@independent.co.ug Website: www.independent.co.ug