The on-going controversies, surrounding the operations, commercial viability, net-worth, indebtedness, of the once state owned Uganda Telecommunications Limited (Utl), and the legal powers of its government appointed Administrator, stinks. The trails so far, appear to point towards the old adage of swimming with the sharks, or perhaps, even sadly, a war between jackals and hounds, in insider dealings to undercut each other. Ugandans must remain and maintain high alert and guard to stop being short-changed by public officials as has happened in the past.

The false political hype, by the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party, for a lean, transparent, accountable and clean government, is increasingly being debunked as a hollow drive by an angry bunch motivated more by impatience, envy, hate, personal vendetta, pretentious integrity. This week’s bust of FDC over fraudulent accountability to one of its many donors, the Netherlands Institute of Multiparty Democracy (NIMD) for a little penny, Eighteen million Uganda shilling (US4500 dollars), should really, really be embarrassing. 

The ongoing whirlwind swirling in the local media about the purported irregular printing and dumping of extra money by unauthorised persons on to the Uganda economy is nothing more than false echoes pumped by an ignorant and insidious media, especially taking advantage of the uncontrollable rise of social media. Uganda is not a failed banana republic where currencies can be printed and dumped without strict adherence to international standards, protocols and verifiable traceability.

Information flickering on several media platforms that the Western Europe ‘donor’ driven Democratic Governance Facility (DGF), and a host of NGOs and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) they create, fund and lend support to, are entrapped in a major corruption scandal, should actually be stale news. After all, the same DGF facilitates IPOD, yet, FDC that sings transparency, receives facilitation from them and boycotts IPOD activities without fearing any sanctions.

oday Uganda commemorates Heroes Day being held in Kasanje town council, Wakiso district, which is historically synonymous with the National Resistance Army (NRA) liberation struggle that saw the NRA/M take over power in 1986. It is the place, as base camp where the then government soldiers, the UNLA and Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) functionaries led by Gombolola chiefs Edward Kabira and Night Kulabako used to torment people as they relished power.

Professor Apolo Robin Nsibambi 78, the time keeper has kept his time, and in keeping with many African traditions, almost all obituaries so far, have only spoken well about his life. But Nsibambi who died last Friday, peacefully at his home, like all human beings had the other side, and at the risk of enlisting wraths, I modestly venture into shedding some light on parts of what few will dare publicly say today.

During this season that some see as a rise of national ‘discontent’ Ugandans are once more entering another crescendo of benign political episode, with the launch mid this week of another political party called Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) led by retired Major General, Greg Mugisha Muntu. The much acclaimed ANT, is a rather colourful acrimony, if you consider that in Uganda there are edible little insects called white and black ants.

The outright victory by the governing African National Congress (ANC) in the just concluded elections in South Africa has debunked the youth political bubble especially when expressed through rancor, greed, indiscipline and self-aggrandizement. As a fraternal and sister liberation political organization to the National Resistance Movement (NRM) in Uganda, we extend salutations and congratulations to the ANC for proving the naysayers wrong again and again over the years.

Ofwono Opondo                                                 May, 7, 19                             Besigye games…1

Unmasking Kizza Besigye and his political games

The revival of Uganda Airline, under Uganda National Airline, has enlisted mixed reactions of optimistic euphoria from majority of Ugandans, and negativism by a few especially opposition leaning. President Yoweri Museveni, who was all smiles when he received the first two Bombardier planes, expressed optimism that rival of a regional carrier is still possible. While the optimists think it will succeed, pessimists are spreading a narrative of a vanity project for President Museveni’s ego trip.