Watchdog Uganda

Watchdog Ugandahttps://www.watchdoguganda.com Latest News in Uganda and the rest of East African Region, Daily news and business from Uganda.Sun, 25 Jul 2021 13:05:15 +0000en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.8https://www.watchdoguganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/cropped-mobile_Icon-32x32.pngWatchdog Ugandahttps://www.watchdoguganda.com 3232SHOCKING! Russian company hired to install digital trackers in all vehicles in Uganda filed for bankruptcy last yearhttps://www.watchdoguganda.com/news/20210725/117987/shocking-russian-company-hired-to-install-digital-trackers-in-all-vehicles-in-uganda-filed-for-bankruptcy-last-year.html Sun, 25 Jul 2021 13:05:15 +0000https://www.watchdoguganda.com/?p=117987Joint stock Global Security Company, a Russian firm which has been hired to install high tech digital tracking devices in all vehicles and motorcycles in Uganda filed for bankruptcy last year, according to information making rounds on different media outlets.

Joint Stock Global Security Company registered as a small business of 10 employees in 2013 and the firm returns for last year were 637,742 russian rubles equivalent to USD8,000.

After eyeing a lucrative deal in Uganda, the company registered again on the 10th of this month as a Small Medium Enterprise (SME) in Russia. Meanwhile, the tech company doesn’t even own a digital website.

On Friday, Uganda signed a contract with Joint Stock Global Security Company to provide digital trackers to all vehicles in the country.

At a ceremony held at the Office of the President in Kampala, Waiswa Bageya the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Works and Transport and Yunus Kakande his counterpart in the office of the President signed on behalf of the government while Ivan Sukraban, the Chief Executive Officer of Joint Stock Company, a Russian digital security company signed on its behalf.

According to Kakande, the President instituted an inter-ministerial committee that for the last four months has been working on identifying and the right company to carry out the task.

Kakande said that President Yoweri Museveni directed that all vehicles and motorcycles be fitted with tracking devices to help deal with criminals who he said use vehicles and motorcycles to kill people and then disappear without a trace. Museveni made similar comments in the aftermath of the assassination attempt on the life of Gen Edward Katumba Wamala in June.

Kakande said that the Russian company is going to run the project for two years and recoup their investment and then hand it over to the government of Uganda to manage.

Speaking at the same ceremony, Maj Gen. Jim Muhwezi the Minister of Security who witnessed the signing of the contract assured the country that the only purpose for which the government is going to track vehicles is to deal with insecurity. He added that they have no intention of interfering in the privacy of citizens. When challenged on the law they are basing on Muhwezi said whatever they are doing was embraced by government technocrats like the Solicitor General.

He added that those who believe that the government is acting outside the law, have the right to challenge it in court.

On when the project is expected to start and how much money car and motorcycle owners are going to be paying, Muhwezi said the committee will be deciding on these details in the coming days.

“The investor is going to come on the ground to establish centres in the different parts of the country working with Luwero Industries to start and then the public will be informed when each vehicle will be called to be registered to get new number plates with monitoring systems.

The payment will also be communicated because always registration of vehicles is not free of charge; anybody who owns a vehicle will meet that charge,” Muhwezi said.

]]>14 thugs riding on bodabodas attack Indian accountant during broad daylight in Kampala, steal Shs5m from himhttps://www.watchdoguganda.com/news/20210725/117981/14-thugs-riding-on-bodabodas-attack-indian-accountant-during-broad-daylight-in-kampala-steal-shs5m-from-him.html Sun, 25 Jul 2021 11:58:09 +0000https://www.watchdoguganda.com/?p=117981The territorial Police at Kira road are investigating a robbery incident that happened on Saturday 24/7/2021.

The incident happened at around 12pm along Mawanda Road in Kamwokya.

Kampala Metropolitan Police Deputy Spokesperson Luke Owoyesigire said the victim Jiwan Lal an accountant working with Rigil agro peck limited in Kololo was attacked by 14 men travelling on seven motorbikes.

“The victim was surrounded and assaulted continuously until his money amounting to 5 million Uganda shillings and 2 phones were stolen from him,” Owoyesigyire said on Sunday.

“The police recorded statements from eye witnesses and has started following up on leads that have proven helpful in identifying the suspects for arrest.”

]]>How Minister Kasaija saved USD12m taxpayers money from being stolen by mafias in KCCA, Metu bus Industrieshttps://www.watchdoguganda.com/news/20210725/117977/how-minister-kasaija-saved-usd12m-taxpayers-money-from-being-stolen-by-mafias-in-kcca-metu-bus-industries.html Sun, 25 Jul 2021 11:41:47 +0000https://www.watchdoguganda.com/?p=117977A few years ago, Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) requested for a USD280 million loan from African Development Bank for infrastructural development that would later see an improvement in the mass public transport system of Uganda’s capital.

However, the African development bank through research found out that it was better for KCCA to first consider the issue of decongesting the city before agreeing to give them a loan of USD12 million (approximately Shs43.2 billion). And before giving out the loan, African Development Bank put on table a number of suggestions, inclusive one of importing buses, something which wasn’t well perceived by President Yoweri Museveni since to him building local content was one of Uganda’s priorities.

On 19 August, 2020, Mr Museveni directed the then Prime Minister Dr Ruhakana Rugunda to call for a conference comprising Kiira motors, Luwero Industries ,metu katabaazi and others to forge a way forward as far as building indigenous motor vehicle industry for both fossil and electrical sources of power.

“In the matter of vehicles, we must aggressively get out of the practice of importing not only built up vehicles but even the knock down vehicles. Neither is the practice of importing ready built vehicles nor is the practice of vehicles assembly acceptable to us because we end up exporting money and jobs when we should not. The correct strategy is vehicle fabrication, for buses, lorries, pickups and cars etc.,” Museveni told Rugunda.

In September, 2020, Museveni also told the Dr Rugunda that after some consultations, he was convinced that Uganda must move decisively on the the issue of of the automobiles and that was to be done following two line;- the Kiira- Kayoola electric vehicles’ and the Metu Katabazi bus fabrication lines.

” This is therefore, to direct all concerned , that there will be no more importation of ready built buses or building of assembly plants. The Private sector, KCCA, schools etc, work with Kiira motors and Metu Katabazi to make these automobiles here.”

However, despite receiving a Presidential nod, investigations have since revealed that Metu lacks the capacity to fabricate buses on a large scale.

And because of such setback Metu with the help of some top KCCA officials have been pestering the Ministry of Finance to release the Shs43 billion which the authority received from Africa Development Bank. Metu claim they need the money to kickoff the project since they have a Memorandum of Understanding with KCCA.

However according to sources, the bus industry is conniving with some top KCCA officials to instead embezzle the billions of shillings and that is why the Ministry of Finance has been reluctant to release the money.

Due to Metu bus Industry’s lack of capacity to produce buses, the project which was launched three years ago has since stalled.

Although Museveni had commissioned the Metu Zhong Tong bus assembling plant which was started in 2017 by Katatabazi, its Chairman and proprietor of the Namanve based industry, he remained very straight to the point that whoever has capacity has the right to assemble and manufacture vehicles as he had put a stop on importing the buses. He clearly meant that government was not going to fund private companies wishing to produce and those without money should leave those with the capacity to produce or even fabricate buses.

Apart from having a less productive plant in Namanve, Metu also has a large chunk of land lying idle in Kasese which they failed to set a mega industry.

Early this week, President Museveni met Metu Katabazi at State House Entebbe to find out why there’s a delay in the project and to finalize plans for the company to assemble and manufacture buses to ease transport needs in the greater Kampala Metropolitan Area (GKMA).

The meeting was also attended by the Vice President Jessica Alupo, Minister for General Duties in the Office of the Prime Minister Kasule Lumumba, the Minister of Finance Matia Kasaija, Minister for Investment Evelyn Anite, the Minister for Kampala Misi Kabanda and Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) Executive Director Dorothy Kisaka.

During the interaction, Mr Katabazi said the project would have kicked off already already but it was frustrated by some top officials government.

“I handed this matter to the Ministry of Finance, Attorney Generals office….nothing moved. I hear some people asked for bribes. Later I heard that people from Finance wanted loans from Africa Development Bank but condition was that we import buses. How can we import buses? I have called you here to finish this today,” Museveni said after being lied to by Katabazi.

However, Minister Kasaija said the project delayed because they were waiting for KCCA to work on the roads which are narrow and may inconvenience or cause accidents.

“Projects go hand in hand. We had to work on the roads and widen them for the buses to open. If roads are too narrow, it may cause inconveniences and cause accidents. I also wrote to the bank to inform them that the US$12million that was meant for importing buses should be added on the roads,” he said.

The wise decision by the finance minister to clearly state it In front of the President that the USD12 million is entirely meant for KCCA to work on the road network and necessary infrastructure to enable whoever is ready with the buses to use the infrastructure, though it angered Metu, it saved the taxpayers money which mafias wanted to swindle.

“Mafias usually misinterpret president’s statements and also accuse government officials of frustrating their projects, yet in most cases they are only intending to find ways of stealing, hiding in hoax projects. If Metu has the funds and not intending to burden the government, let them manufacture buses and then bring them on the road because Uganda is entirely liberal as far as doing business is concerned,” a source told this news website.

]]>Bazadde b’abaana 14 abasangiddwa mu kiyumba e Muyenga nga batendekebwa obuseegu Poliisi ebayise babatwalehttps://www.watchdoguganda.com/news/20210725/117966/bazadde-babaana-14-abasangiddwa-mu-kiyumba-e-muyenga-nga-batendekebwa-obuseegu-poliisi-ebayise-babatwale.html Sun, 25 Jul 2021 08:56:32 +0000https://www.watchdoguganda.com/?p=117966POLIISI mu Kampala esazeewo okuyita bazadde b’abaana 14 abaazuuliddwa mu kiyumba ekimu e Muyenga mu Makindye, bajje n’obukakafu obulaga nti bebalina obuvunanyizibwa ku bo babatwale.

Kino kiddiridde okunonyereza kwa Poliisi okulaga nti omukyala Dorothy Ndagire 27, omutuuze we Kawala mu Lubaga nti yabadde emabega w’okusolooza abaana bano okuva mu bazadde baabwe ne kigendererwa eky’okubayamba, kyokka bwamala okubafuna nga asalako empuliziganya n’abazadde, nga atandika okubayigiriza ebikolwa eby’obuseegu.

Kitegerekese nti Ndagire abadde yagunjaawo ekitongole ky’obwanakyewa ekimanyiddwanga Maya Project Uganda Chapter, ekitali kiwandiise mu mateeka n’ekitongole ekifuga ebitongole by’obwanakyewa mu Ggwanga okusinziira ku kunonyereza kwa Poliisi.

Era kyazuuliddwa nti Ndagire abadde amaze akabanga nga akolagana ne bitongole ebitumbula obuseegu ebisangibwa e London mu Bungereza, nga eno gy’abadde ajja ensimbi eziyimirizaawo emirimu gye mu Uganda.

Amyuka Omwogezi wa Poliisi mu Kampala ne miriraano Luke Oweyesigyire mu kiwandiiko kye yafulumizza ku lw’omukaaga agamba nti abaana abasangiddwa mu kiyumba baabadde wakati wa myaka 4-19 nga bano kigambibwa nti baabadde bagenda kukukusibwa Ndagire batwalibwe ebweru we Ggwanga.

Yagambye nti mu kiseera kino bagezaako okulondoola balabe abaana bano gye bajjibwa saako ne bazadde baabwe basobole okubazaayo mu maka gye baava.

“Omuzadde yenna eyakolaganako ne Ndagire n’amuwa omwana nga yeyagalidde oba nga yakakibwa bukakibwa jjangu ku Poliisi ye Kabalagala tulabe bw’oddizibwa omwana wo nga okunonyereza bwe kugenda mu maaso okumanya ebigendererwa ebituufu okuva ku Ndagire.

Abaana mu kiseera kino baliko amaka agalabirira abaana gye bakuumirwa.

]]>How Government has prioritized political administration over citizen’s welfarehttps://www.watchdoguganda.com/news/20210725/117964/how-government-has-prioritized-political-administration-over-citizens-welfare.html Sun, 25 Jul 2021 08:30:30 +0000https://www.watchdoguganda.com/?p=117964Information concerning Ugandans having received suspected fake COVID-19 vaccines is an indicator of a state failing to police social service delivery.

The interpretation of a private sector-driven economy by the government needs to be re-visited to appreciate that social services like Health and Education can’t be left to the private sector for the very reason of profit maximization being preferred over the quality of life and welfare.

To understand how toxic the private sector-led economy can be in absence of regulation from a strong arm of government, just take look at how private health facilities are pricing treatment of COVID-19, albeit the reasons they advance. Again, examine how the prices covid treatment drugs have escalated as if the market is run by a cartel.

Ugandans seem to be in a hopeless situation of an absent government when it comes to the welfare of its citizens but very present in political and military administration.

For instance, Uganda’s wage bill on public administration over ailing and underfunded public facilities fails logic in all ways. For the last two Financial Years 2019/20 and 2020/21, the government has allocated over Shs 600bn ($168.6m) on Public Sector Management.

This investment is a reflection of what the public is currently seeing in the health sector concerning staffing and remunerating health workers. Because the market dictates, most health workers have sought greener pastures in private practice.

Conversely, according to reports by Alliance for Election Campaign Finance Monitoring (ACFIM), Uganda’s biggest problem is its politics.

Maintaining the political machinery under President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni is at the expense of the welfare of Ugandans. According to the findings by ACFIM, most of the public resources are invested in the burgeoning political administration.

Consider the resources government spends on maintaining the bloated parliament, cabinet, advisors, Resident District Commissioners, Local Council leaders with a minimum return on investment.

Government’s expense on administrations only

For instance, over Shs158bn ($44.2m) is going to be spent annually on the monthly remuneration of the 11th Parliament that has 527 members. On this add the 130 advisors of the president on average, each of the advisors earns a gross monthly salary of Shs 2.2 million ($616) totalling over Shs 2.8 billion ($784.3 thousand) annually.

Currently, according to the records from the President’s office, Uganda has 145 Resident District Commissioners (RDC) and 87 deputy RDCs Every month, RDCs earnShs2.2m ($616), while their deputies earn Shs1.8m ($504) cumulatively amounting to Shs3.8 bn ($1.6 m) and Shs163.4m ($45.7 thousand) respectively annually.

District chairpersons countrywide earn Shs1.5m ($420) monthly minus allowances which translates into Shs2.62bn ($732.882) spent annually. The figures are higher for Municipal and City mayors plus the 82-member cabinet remunerations the expenditure on political offices burgeons.

Budget allocations to security even when the country is considerably at peace with most of its neighbours in the region presupposes whose priorities are on entrenching regime survival through military presence and control of masses including quelling political dissent and alternative voices. Politics aside; Where is the government when Ugandans are vaccinated with fake COVID vaccines? Where is the government when Ugandans are facing an oxygen crisis?

Where is the government when prices for COVID-related treatment drugs including the indigenous innovation of covidex, keep rising like it’s a stock market of cartels? Where is the government when critically ill covid patients are turned away from hospitals because they have run out of hospital beds and ICU facilities?

The government’s silence, while ruthless owners of private hospitals are charging exorbitantly to treat COVID, is a piece of clear evidence that the welfare of Ugandans is not among the priorities. Even in isolated circumstances when the government is present in the welfare of its citizens, it’s always playing catch up after deafening public noise. (The best example is the Covid-19 relief funds).

According to Makerere University don Prof Mwambutsya Ndebesa, Uganda is such a state because of a political system that is underpinned on patronage which makes it very impossible to fighting corruption which is the root cause of the unfair treatment by the state.

]]>Uganda is now an orphan! Fr Gaetano attacks opposition MPs for siding with NRM counterparts to pocket Shs200m car money in times of Covid-19 pandemic https://www.watchdoguganda.com/news/20210725/117961/uganda-is-now-an-orphan-fr-gaetano-attacks-opposition-mps-for-siding-with-nrm-counterparts-to-pocket-shs200m-car-money-in-times-of-covid-19-pandemic.html Sun, 25 Jul 2021 07:25:46 +0000https://www.watchdoguganda.com/?p=117961The Priest of Kitanga Parish in the Kabale Diocese, Rev. Fr. Gaetano Batanyenda has described Uganda as “Politically widowed and orphaned,” after the opposition remained silent about the money released by government to buy cars for MPs.

This week, the government of Uganda started remitting UGX 200M to each of the 529 legislators and ex-officials in the 11th parliament, to enable them buy cars.

This has sparked public outrage with many accusing governments of neglecting the fight against COVID-19 to fund parliament.

The development comes at a time when there is public outcry over high expenses met by COVID-19 patients because of the absence of medicines and other medical equipment in government hospitals.

Fr. Gaetano now says he is mostly disappointed with opposition MPs who have joined their counterparts in the ruling NRM party to receive the UGX 200M at the expense of the people they represent.

He says the act of the Opposition MPs leaves Ugandans widowed and orphaned politically.

While quoting the Biblical story in which Jesus Christ cried in despair a few hours before his crucifixion, Fr. Gaetano says it is time for Ugandans to recite the cry, ” Father Father, why have you forsaken us” in expression of their frustration.

Fr. Gaetano challenged President Museveni to come out and condemn the remitting of such amount of money to MPs at a time when the government is struggling to raise money for COVID-19 vaccines, medicines and oxygen plants at COVID-19 treatment centers.

On several occasions, President Museveni has accused MPs of being “selfish” by increasing their own salaries, exempting their allowances from tax, among others, and he once threatened to abolish parliament.

However, the Director of Communications at parliament Chris Obore defended government saying that buying cars for each MP should not shock anyone since is a ritual done after every five years.

At the close of every month, an MP is assured of UGX 6.1M net salary besides a string of benefits that include a housing allowance of UGX 6.5M, constituency support fund of UGX 17.03M and a town running fee of UGX1.945M.

Ministers or Ex-officials that don’t represent any constituency are exempted from the constituency fund. The MPs that fetch the highest mileage are the national MPs, usually, the national youth representatives, UPDF, PWDs and Workers MPs.

]]>Sipiika Oulanya kyadaaki akomyewo mu Ggwanga okuva e Bungereza mu kasirisehttps://www.watchdoguganda.com/news/20210725/117955/sipiika-oulanya-kyadaaki-akomyewo-mu-ggwanga-okuva-e-bungereza-mu-kasilise.html Sun, 25 Jul 2021 07:12:22 +0000https://www.watchdoguganda.com/?p=117955Omukubiriza w’olukiiko lwe Ggwanga olukulu Jacob Oulanya kyadaaki amaze nakomawo mu Ggwanga mu kasilise okuva e Bungereza gyabadde okumala akaseera.

Oulanya yayingidde Uganda ku makya g’olwomukaaga nga ayita ku kisaawe Entebbe, oluvanyuma ab’omumakaage ne bamukima okumutwala mu makaage agasangibwa e Muyenga mu Kampala.

Ono abadde amaze ebbanga lya mwezi gumu ne kitundu nga tali mu Ggwanga era nga yasemba okulabikako mu lujjudde bwe yali akubiriza olutuula lwa Palimenti omwali okusoma Bajeti e Kololo.

Okuva ku olwo Oulanya abadde talabikako ekyatuusizza n’ababaka okutandika okwebuuza ekituufu ekibadde kyamutuukako.

Mu kusooka waaliwo engambo nti oba oli awo yali ayodde ekilwadde kya Covid, kyokka akulira ebyamawulire mu Palimenti Chris Obore navaayo nategeeza nti tekyali kituufu, wabula omukulu yali agenzeeko Bungereza kukyalira ku Bantu be abawangaalira eyo.

Ababaka babadde bategese ku mande okuvaayo okubuuza omumyuka we wa mukama wabwe gye yalaga kyokka babadde bakyali awo ate amawulire ne gafuluma nti yakomyewo mu Ggwanga nti era agenda kuddamu okukakkalabya emirimu gye mu bbanga elitali lyawala.

]]>He ate Museveni’s money and refused to support him! Man who almost killed Tamale Mirundi’s son recently speaks outhttps://www.watchdoguganda.com/news/20210725/117951/he-ate-musevenis-money-and-refused-to-support-him-man-who-almost-killed-tamale-mirundis-son-recently-speaks-out.html Sun, 25 Jul 2021 07:09:39 +0000https://www.watchdoguganda.com/?p=117951Kisakyamukama, the man who beat up Tamale Mirundi’s son recently has revealed why he pounced at the young man.

In March this year, Kisakyamukama attacked Tamale Mirundi Junior and beat him severely. The physical attack led to the admission of Junior to a city health facility where he spent days receiving medical care.

Appearing on STV’s Select E-Buzz show on Saturday, Kisakyamukama said he assaulted Mirundi Junior because he had eaten President Yoweri Museveni’s money and in turn he refused to support him.

I was helping him return home. He was lost. I beat up Junior because I was correcting him.You know Tamale Mirundi is a night dancer from Burundi and now President Yoweri Museveni paid school fees for his son throughout school and after enjoying his money he supported Bobi Wine. I’m warning others that I will beat you all if you eat Museveni’s money and then turn your back on him,” Kisakyamukama warned.

The NRM diehard also revealed that he is now tracing for the controversial political analyst so that he can also teach him a lesson for always abusing top government officials.

” After beating him, he is now back to NRM. Mirundi is a beggar, he cannot look for me, I instead looked for him and he ran away. I’m Kisakyamukama who beat up his son, I don’t belong to the army or police, if Mirundi wants me, he should come, I will deal with him. He also enjoyed Museveni’s money but he is always busy abusing government officials. Mirundi family should apologize to Museveni if not they will die miserably,”he added.

” I work as Museveni’s assistant dealing with stupid people.”

Following the attack on his son, Mirundi, the former Senior Presidential Press Secretary pleaded to Ugandans especially People Power/ National Unity Platform supporters to help him hunt for Kisakyamukama.

While on STV ‘Embuga’ show Mirundi knelt before viewers and asked Bobi Wine and group to help him track down and deal with the man who almost killed his son.

“I’m kneeling before you, I thank People Power supporters and my brother Bobi Wine who are hunting for the man called Yiga. This man comes from Gomba, this man abused the King of Buganda, he is a goon. One of his military soldiers is the one who beat up my son to the extent of breaking his jaw,” Mirundi said.

“My son will not be able to speak for the next six months. Please help, as I also use my intelligence machines to track down that man. Please look for that man, most of the time he is in lodges. Whoever beat my son , must suffer. Please help me, I’m an old man of 60 years, I have never knelt to ask for anything but this time round I have done so. Please look for that man who beat up my son and deal with him.”

]]>Grief as Lucy Nakyobe’s husband Prof Mbonye passes onhttps://www.watchdoguganda.com/news/20210725/117946/grief-as-lucy-nakyobes-husband-prof-mbonye-passes-on.html Sun, 25 Jul 2021 06:11:18 +0000https://www.watchdoguganda.com/?p=117946The former Director General of Health Services at the Ministry of Health Prof. Anthony Kabanza Mbonye is dead.

Prof Mbonye has been husband to former State House Comptroller and in-coming head of Public Service, Lucy Nakyobe Mbonye.

The sad news was announced by the Senior Presidential Press Secretary Linda Nabusayi on Sunday.

“The SH Comptroller Ms. Lucy Nakyobe Mbonye with deep sorrow announces the death of her dear husband Prof. Anthony Kabanza Mbonye this morning. He was Prof. at the School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, MUK & UCU and former Director General Health Services #RIPMbonye,”Nabusayi tweeted.

Prof Mbonye died from Kampala Hospital after losing battle to cancer.

Prof. Mbonye, who joined thd public service in 1986 left the Ministry of Health as Director General of Health Services, in 2018, after he opted for early retirement following serious disagreements among the top technocrats.

Born in Rwenkobwa, Ibanda District, Western Uganda, and a graduate of Makerere University, The University of Copenhagen and The University of Liverpool, UK, Prof. Mbonye has authored numerous books in his medical career.

]]>FARUK KIRUNDA: UPDF Is Capable Of Doing More And More, With Army In Charge, Northern Bypass Wouldn’t Have Taken 25 Yearshttps://www.watchdoguganda.com/op-ed/20210725/117944/faruk-kirunda-updf-is-capable-of-doing-more-and-more-with-army-in-charge-northern-bypass-wouldnt-have-taken-25-years.html Sun, 25 Jul 2021 05:50:31 +0000https://www.watchdoguganda.com/?p=117944In a July 1 (2021) letter, President Yoweri Museveni directed that all new government school and hospital projects should be handled by the UPDF Engineering Brigade starting in the current (2021/ 2022) financial year.

The President reasoned that the move would help avoid the delays that have hampered government projects by (civilian) contractors.

He attributed the mess to “lengthy procurement processes and in other cases, corruption perpetrated by some unscrupulous government workers”.

Museveni was certain that the delays in implementing government construction projects could be prevented by utilising the army construction brigade to undertake these works.

As soon as the president’s directive became public, a furious debate ensued with sections of the elite, media, civil society, political class and public lambasting the president’s proposal. Some of those opposing the ideas have vested interest and are powered by conflict of interest. They are responsible for corrupt tendencies and bureaucracy that are letting down government on service delivery. Others are the usual cynics who oppose anything that the president says while others are simply oblivious of the army’s role while others are just envious.

They failed to take into consideration the justification which the President accompanied the directive with including that UPDF’s Engineering Brigade has built capacity to handle several projects ranging from simple, high level, and then to advanced construction projects. Wherever the army has worked, he added, a lot of money has been saved. He noted that the practice of using private contractors is a great wastage of government resources, a practice he usually describes as “parasitism”.

There is no question about the fact that a lot of money is wasted on hiring private contractors who then go on to connive with civil servants to rip off government while at the same time delivering late works, which may turn out to be shoddy. The UPDF, on the other hand, with its military culture, usually delivers quality work in good time and at a “tax payer friendly” cost.

It’s on record that some private contractors spend up to 60% of the total contract price in bribing officials in procurement in order to win jobs. By the time they embark on the work, the money is depleted. The only option left is to acquire poor quality materials and less skilled workmanship, resulting in poor quality work.

In the past, the UPDF has constructed several facilities in the country including the Namugongo martyrs shrine, Mbuya military referral hospital, Kololo independence grounds and housing units in various army barracks throughout the country. It also constructed UPDF Mubende hospital that provides artificial limbs to soldiers who lose limbs during war as well as the new Shs7.9 billion state of the art facilities at the National Institute of Leadership (NALI) at Kyankwanzi.

The army has also recently finished work on the SFC headquarters. It also helped revamp the old railway line in preparation for works on the modern Standard Gauge Railway (SGR).The same UPDF Engineering Brigade was

involved in the clearing of the floating island that threatened to swamp Nalubaale dam at Jinja last year.

As we talk, Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the National Enterprise Corporation (NEC), the commercial arm of the UPDF, to undertake road construction and maintenance projects on various sites and stretches of road all over the country. UPDF has overtime built professional capacity to perform other tasks beyond its core security function and are capable of excelling in almost any field where their expertise is required.

The army’s involvement in works is part of the plan for increasing local content in the country’s works and infrastructure sector. UPDF is not a foreign army, but an indigenous and professional force is ready to serve Ugandans at all times, and I thank the officers and men of the forces for making Uganda proud!

Infrastructure and matters of development are more less a security matter that needs to be attended to without further delay.

Ugandans should, therefore, not be worried by the President’s directive because it is at the heart of their interests. Only enemies of Uganda’s progress should be displeased. Moreover, not all projects will be taken

over, since the government’s broad plan is to create employment opportunities for all Ugandans. Only those of strategic interest will be prioritised for takeover. Uganda is being held back from attaining middle income status by avoidable bottlenecks that should be cleared as assurance for the next phase of transformation where time and resources must be optimised.

The army can be trusted not to disappoint since Museveni will be fully in charge and the army operates a strict legal framework where acts of corruption and negligence are not treated lightly unlike in civilian courts where the corrupt bribe their way out and even return to their posts to do more havoc. In the army, it is “hakuna mchezo” full time!

For that matter, the President has a firm basis for his decision which he reached after consulting widely. Ugandans should embrace it with both arms for efficient, reliable and timely service delivery. We should stop

making mistakes that hold us back from reaching the take off stage. Looking at the Northern Bypass, there is no doubt that if it had been contracted by the army it wouldn’t have taken 25 years under construction, and yet still remains incomplete!

The author is a Private Secretary to H.E the President in Charge of Media Management

Contact: kirundaf2@gmail.com

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