News Analysis Business

Why Kagames third term What will decide the URAs missed
e lebrating
makes sense for Rwanda Kenyan election? collection targets C

Issue No. 481 Aug 04 - 10 , 2017 Ushs 5,000,Kshs 200, RwF 1,500, SDP 8
Years

Inside Musevenis
life presidency project
Cover story
And faces behind campaign to lift age-limit
The faces behind campaign to lift age-limit

Rakai Micheal Peter

legislator, Juliet Tusiime, Ogwang,
Kinyamatama Mbarara Eastern Kenneth
Municipality Youth MP Omona of
Evelyn Anite, the
Keberamaido
state minister for
privatization

James Kakooza of
Kabula (Lyantonde
District)
Col. Fred Mwesigye,
27th guerrilla to join Lt.Col Micheal
Musevenis 1981 war, Katungi
Nyabushozi legislator

Molly Kamukama,
President Musevenis
Principle Private
Secretary (PPS)
David Mafabi, the
Presidents Private
Assistant for Political
Affairs
Simeo Nsubuga,
legislator

Nyombi Thembo,
the former state Stephen Othieno,
minister for ICT Muhoozis Personal
Assistant
Ibrahim Abiriga,
Arua legislator
www.independent.co.ug
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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
 Issue No. 481 Aug 04 - 10 , 2017

Inside Musevenis
long game for
life presidency

The Week The Last Word Analysis Business Arts &

Culture
4| Youth roughs up Defying the 14|Why Kagames 22|URAs missed
MP over supporting third term makes sense collection targets:
odds, defining 35|Comic cases
age limit removal for Rwanda Tax experts say of identity: How
oneself: How government needs to know an artist
to refocus its
5|Ruhinda Africans have 17|What will decide priorities
from their art
residents camp at been mentally the Kenyan election?: A
court as Kahonda dose of faith, tribe and
appears enslaved
hard cash
to hate
5|Kadaga speaks out everything 18|Whats behind the 27|World Bank
on presidential age high stakes in Kenyas upbeat about 39|Car colour
limit
about presidential elections? economy: Says choices: Why
themselves Public Private is 2017 colour
and how Partnerships on of the year not
6|Coach Micho 21|How Kenya could large projects could hot in UG?
quits, Interim Rwanda is move away from the spur economy
coaches named
defying it politics of ethnicity
7|Fresh amendments
made in KCCA bill

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

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 Aug 04 - 10 , 2017
 Offline

Minister of State
for Tourism Godfrey
Kiwanda Ssuubi
visiting one of the
stalls during the
Uganda International
Cultural Tourism fair at
the Museum on July
28. INDEPENDENT/
JIMMY SIYA
I had never even missed any training
session with Uganda Cranes, Uganda
still has a VVIP apartment in my heart.
You are still a DNA in my body. I will
remember 2 dates 4th September 2016
and 17th January 2018.Former Cranes
Coach Micho

President Museveni (C),

Bishop Nicodemus Okille
(R) and Bishop Vincent
Watolya (L) launch the
Lugwere Bible in Budaka
town council in Budaka
district on July 29. The
President lauded the
people of Bugwere sub-
region in eastern Uganda
for protecting their Museveni has not told me anything
culture and language. about the age limit bill.Kahinda
Otafiire, Minister for Justice and
Constitutional Affairs

President Museveni
with local leaders and
government officials pose
with a dummy cheque
worth Shs100m during the
official commissioning of
the Kubiri Furniture makers
development initiative at
Kubiri, Kawempe Division
on July 24. INDEPENDENT
JIMMY/SIYA
It is only when an issue does not affect
President Museveni that NRM MPs
will speak their minds. It is why you
are seeing them speaking out on this
land amendment bill.Semujju Nganda,
Opposition chief whip in parliament

40% 100 2709

Children in Uganda who get Residents in Kyenjojo who Pensioners from different
proper medication according petitioned the Bamugemereire ministries who will be deleted
to a study by Ecumenical land commission accusing a from the payroll because they
Pharmaceutical Network lawyer of grabbing their land have not been verified

Aug 04 - 10 , 2017 3
The week
Youth roughs up MP over
supporting age limit removal
It was an ugly scene at Kaba-
ka Ronald Mutebis coronation
anniversary held in Mubende
district when a one William
Ntege aka Kyuma kyayesu a
former journalist at the defunct
WBS TV confronted Kassanda
South legislator and former
police spokesperson Simeo
Nsubuga. He out of the blue
grabbed the first time parlia-
mentarian by the neck and
drove him out of the queue as
he together with other Buganda
caucus colleagues moved to
greet the king. Ntege who was
later arrested told journalists
that the legislator was unwel-
come at the event because he
supports amending article 102
Kabaka Ronald Mutebi William Ntege
Government lists land cases that prompted tabling amendment bill
The government has listed 19
land cases that forced them to
table constitutional amendment
bill 2017 seeking to change
article 26 giving powers to the
government to compulsorily
acquire land for infrastructural
or investment development
even without consent of land
owner.
Signed by the land Minister
Betty Amongi, the brochure
listed cases including the
Land Inquiry commission during the hearing. INDEPENDENT/JIMMY SIYA
4 Aug 04 - 10 , 2017
(b) of the constitution to remove
the presidential age limit.
However, while the presiden-
tial age limit has generated a lot
of public interest, a bill about
the same has not yet been tabled
in parliament although whats
clear is that as it is now, Presi-
dent Museveni who is 73 will
not be able to stand come 2021
as the law provides for any one
eligible to stand to be between
35 and 75 years of age. There is
a general feeling that using the
advantage of the NRM being
the majority in parliament, they
might want to change the con-
stitution to allow him to stand
again.
Simeo Nsubuga
Kyambogo sewer project where
government loses Shs100mil-
lion daily in contractor claims,
Mukono Katosi Nyenga road
where sections remain unfin-
ished, Centenary Park Land,
Shop Rite Ben Kiwanuka land,
Kinatawataka Kasokoso land,
Kampala Entebbe Expressway
and the Standard Guage Rail-
way projects among others. She
said as a result of delays gov-
ernment has incurred accumu-
John Magufuli
Tanzania government, Barrick Gold
open talks over mining dispute
The government of Tanza-
nia and Barrick Gold, a global
gold mining firm have opened
talks to resolve a dispute over
taxation and illegal operations.
The Tanzanian government
slapped a $190billion fine on
Acacia Mining, a subsidiary
of Barrick Gold questioned its
staff, and barred one of Acacia
Minings senior executives from
leaving the country. On July 31,
the Canada-based gold mining
giant said it had opened talks
with senior government offi-
lated interest on unspent loans
totaling to about $27million.
However, the bill has been
faced with criticism both in
parliament and the public with
many saying its meant to grab
peoples land although Amongi
says this is misinformation and
that government will prioritize
consultations and understand-
ing by all stakeholders before
land is taken over.
cials led by Tanzanias Minister
for Justice and Constitutional
Affairs Palamagamba Kabudi.
Barrick CEO Richard Williams
jetted into the country to lead
talks after the Acacai Minings
stock value plummeted. Shares
slightly went up although the
company has lost 67% of its val-
ue since the export ban on gold
came hard on it in March. Bar-
ricks chairman John Thornton
andPresident John Magufuli
met in June in Dar es Salaam to
discuss the ban and other issues.
Kadaga speaks out
on presidential
age limit
Speaker of Parliament
Rebecca Kadaga has warned
MPs to keep away from the
age limit debate until a bill is
tabled in parliament. Kadaga
who said the public has been
incited over nothing added
that instead of them focusing
on issues that are not real
they should rather dwell
on those that are currently
being handled and wait.
Earlier however, she
had sought clarity from
the attorney general and
minister for constitutional
affairs to come out clear on
whether there is or not a
bill to scrap article 102(b)
of the constitution that
bars anyone below 35 and
above 75 years of age to
contest for president.
 The week

Ruhinda residents camp at court as Kahonda appears Butuuro appointed Luwero

forged documents, to
industries boss
obtain admission at Ndejje Replacing Maj
University for a Bachelors Gen James Mugi-
degree in Guidance and ra, Col Octa-
counseling. vius Butuuro has
Justice Luswata had set been appointed
the new Gen-
Aug 28 to hear his case and
eral Manager of
released him on a court bond
Luweero Indus-
of Sh100 million while his
tries Limited.
three sureties also signed
President Musev-
bond of sh300 million to eni also pro- Octavius Butuuro
ensure that Kahonda returns moted him to the
to court for the prosecution rank of Brigadier has been moved
of his appeal. with the new to manage the
If the High Court does assignment. entire National
not overturn the legislators Butuuro who Enterprises Cor-
Ruhinda residents camp at court.
conviction, he stands to has also served poration (NEC),
lose his seat in parliament as Deputy the business
Ruhinda county Member making statements calling because the law states Director of the arm of the army
of Parliament Rtd Captian for his release. However that once a sitting MP is Chieftaincy of under which
Donozio Kahonda has for whileJinja High Court convicted of a criminal Military Intelli- Luweero indus-
almost a year been in and Judge Eva Luswata granted offense and sentenced to a gence, Ugandas tries fall. Before
out of court on charges him bail pending hearing six months imprisonment Defence Advisor the two, Luweero
ranging from impersonation, of his appeal challenging a term, his seat automatically in Rwanda and industries were
uttering forged documents 9-month imprisonment, the falls vacant. For him, all Defense Attach managed by Jac-
to fraudulently obtaining legislator was detained on these cases against him are in the Republic queline Mbabazi
recruitment at the Military similar charges and yet he political saying he is being of the Sudan in wife to former
Academy. On July 27 his had pending charges before witch hunted for trouncing Khartoum will prime minister
story got a new twist when Luweero Chief Magistrate a big wig constitutional in the new posi- and presidential
his constituents camped Charles Sserubuga in which Affairs Minister Kahinda tion serve under candidate Ama-
at court singing songs and he is charged with uttering Otafiire in the 2016 race. Mugira who ma Mbabazi.

Sudan declared new Anglican province

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin first archbishop said that creating a
Welby on July30 declared Sudan 39th Anglican province with its own
the 39th province of the worldwide Khartoum-based archbishop was a
Anglican Communion. The ceremony new beginning for Christians in
held in Khartoum added Sudan to the Sudan.
85 million-strong worldwide Anglican The Anglican church in Sudan, a
Communions 38 member churches majority Muslim country, has been
known as provinces and six other administered from South Sudan since
branches known as extra provincials. the 2011 split which followed a civil
Welby who installed Ezekiel war that left more than two million
Kondo Kumir Kuku as the countrys people dead.
Justin Welby

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Aug 04 - 10 , 2017 5
The week
Coach Micho quits, interim coaches named
During a press conference held on July29,
Uganda Cranes coach Mutin Sredojevic
Micho announced he is leaving ending
weeks of speculation about his resignation.
Micho who left over unpaid salary arrears
will soon announce his next destination. It
is not easy to be coach of Uganda. My agent
and I had seven days of talks with FUFA
but all yielded nothing, he said. I have not
been allowed to take Uganda to the World
Cup. They succeeded to remove me. He
said he has up to nine offers to consider
but dispelled allegations that he was
moving to Libya as earlier reported by
UPDF soldiers injured in
somalia ambush
Army spokesperson Brig Richard
Karemire has confirmed Uganda People
Defense Forces (UPDF) soldiers were
injured in a July30 attack. In a July 31
statement, he said, From the battlefield,
it is now confirmed that UPDF lost 12
gallant soldiers with 7 sustaining injuries.
The dead and those injured have been
evacuated to Mogadishu Level II Hos-
pital for further management and treat-
ment, He added that an inquiry is being
instituted to establish circumstances
leading to this fateful incident and also
expedite the compensation process by the
African Union in respect of the deceased.
Karemire said the troops equivalent
of a company minus were conducting a
regular patrol to secure the Mogadishu
Barawe Main Supply Route (MSR) which
still harbours pockets of Alshabaab insur-
gents. According to media reports, Alsha-
haab militants claimed they had killed 39
African Union troops in an ambush in the
village of Golweyn 140 kilometres South
West of Mogadishu. Its also reported
that fighting broke out and continued for
more than one hour
The African Union has a 22,000 strong
force in the country dedicated to fighting
Al-Shabaab.
6 Aug 04 - 10 , 2017
some media houses.
Confirming his exit, Football governing
body FUFA boss Moses Magago said, "We
offered Sredojevic a new improved contract
which was double the salary, but he rejected
it. I think he was determined to leave." He
said the coach was demanding them $54,000
in salary and allowances arrears by the time
he terminated the contract. Moses Basena
and Fred Kajoba have been appointed
interim coaches for the national team ahead
of the four international matches to be
played in August and September.
Besigye visited Kabaziguruka in hospital.
MP Kabaziguruka fractures
leg in accident
Nakawa legislator Micheal Kabazigu-
ruka is nursing a broken leg after he got
involved in an accident on July30. Kaba-
ziguruka who was driving an ambulance
which he recently bought for his constitu-
ency collided with another car around
Lugogo in Kampala. According to medics,
he suffered a double fracture in his leg.
Fears in Kenya after killing of election IT boss
Kenyans are in shock and disbelief after
the gruesome killing of Chris Msando, the
ICT Manager for Independent Electoral and
Boundaries Commission (IEBC). Msando
had gone missing for two days, his car only
seen abandoned somewhere in Nairobi
town. On July 30, residents of Kiambu
country discovered his body and that of
another unidentified woman lying in a
thicket near the roadside. Msando had deep
Chris Msando
cuts, broken limbs and eye witnesses say he
must have been bludgeoned to death after 8 elections has heightened fears around the
a struggle. The Chairman of IEBC Wafula country over a repeat of the post-election
Chebukati called it a murder and called violence that wrecked Kenya in 2008. NASA
for speedy investigations. The death of leaders Raila Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka
Msando a week to the hotly contested Aug have condemned the killing.
Muntu seeks nomination for party president again
Gen. Mugisha Muntu on Oboi and other party members
July31 picked nomination Dan Malcolm Masiko, Lukubira
papers again to run for oppo- Moses and Moses Byamugisha.
sition Forum for Democratic Speaking during a press con-
Change (FDC) party president ference, Muntu said for the next
again in the upcoming election. three months he has handed
He became the sixth person to over his office to deputy Alice
pick the nomination forms since Alaso to allow himself to cam-
July 10 when the party opened paign and that its meant to avoid
nominations. Others include conflict of interest. The process
Kawempe South MP Mubarak of picking forms end on Aug.12.
Mugisha Muntu
Munyagwa, former MP Patrick

Ministry of Health vehicle, Land Rover Tdi 110 registration number UG0701M has been parked at Nakawa garage near CMC car bond for over three years. Quite a
number of government cars have been abandoned in various places yet they are still in good condition. INDEPENDENT/JIMMY SIYA
Fresh amendments made in KCCA bill
On July 27, the process of scrutinizing the
Kampala City Council Authority (KCCA)
amendment bill 2015 started and fresh
amendments introduced. Defending the
bill, the state Minister for Kampala Benny
Namugwanya said while some of the earlier
proposed controversial clauses had been
dropped and new ones introduced. Among
the new ones introduced is the creation
of the office of the speaker and that of the
deputy whereas the proposed provision for
the lord mayor to be elected by elected
city councilors was removed leaving
it as was for the mayor to be elected
through adult suffrage.
The week
Speaker Rebecca Kadaga had earlier
in May tasked the Presidential Affairs
Committee to handle the bill expeditiously
since when the amendments were first
introduced in 2015 caused controversy as
sections of the public saw it as targeting the
current Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago and
aimed at denying city dwellers their voting
rights. However, in 2015, then Minister for
Kampala Frank Tumwebaze said the law
had defects which included giving powers to
convene meetings solely to the lord mayor in
whose absence fundamental activities cannot
Rebecca Kadaga Erias Lukwago be implemented.
Aug 04 - 10 , 2017 7

Inbox
Letters are
welcome !
The Editor welcomes short and
concise letters from our esteemed
readers on topical issues. Please send
them to:
The Editor, The Independent
Publications Ltd,
P.O Box 3304,
Plot 82/84 Kanjokya St, Kamwokya.
Kampala,Uganda.
Email: editor@independent.co.ug
Bank of Uganda was
restrained
Refer to: BOUs war with Sud-
hir (The Independent July 21).
Mwenda should know that Bank of
Uganda (BOU) exercised its regula-
tory mandate. Its priority is to en-
sure prudential banking practices.
If Bank of Uganda was sleeping, we
would not be having this debate. In
terms of failing to lend as a lender
of last resort, the Central Bank too,
like any lender uses its credit score
that probably this time round re-
jected Crane Bank, especially with
the kind of management it had.
Why are you silent on compliance
reports that Crane Bank has been
receiving from the Central Bank
over the years? I think BOU was
excessively restrained, as it allowed
management of the bank, over the
years, to make adequate repara-
tions.
Robert Magala
Sudhir should be in jail
Refer to: BOUs war with Sud-
hir (The Independent July 21).
Mwenda, you seem to be blam-
ing Bank of Uganda (BOU) for
Crane Banks failures. The point
is how did Crane Bank get there?
It was deceit by Sudhir Ruparelia.
I think most Ugandans would
sympathise with banks if they fail
because of genuine market failure
and a sluggish economy like we
have now but for sudhir to siphon
8 Aug 04 - 10 , 2017
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Bank of Uganda right on Sudhir
Refer to: BOUs war with
Sudhir (The Independent
July 21). To claim that Sud-
hir Ruparelia and Bank of
Uganda (BOU) are equally
culpable in the sad demise
of Crane Bank is quite a
bold and empirically incor-
rect statement: One party
upheld the law and regula-
tions in the manner it is
currently mandated to do
(albeit not in the way you
suggest they should do),
while the other seems to
have used his position to
fleece the bank to the ben-
efit of his other companies.
How can you equate their
guilt in the matter?
The role of a regulator is to
regulate, not to facilitate.
Crane Bank not too big to fail
Refer to: BOUs war with
Sudhir (The Independent July
21).It seems this is the malady
(and perverted strategy) of too-
big-to-fail afflicting commer-
cial banking. No bank should
hold the country hostage to
their failures just because if
they collapsed the economy
too collapses. This is why the
global economy was brought
to its knees. These banks are
over-leveraged. They borrow
too much with little, thread-
money from his bank intention-
ally was outright theft and,
therefore, malice aforethought.
Let us encourage financial
discipline and punish severely
financial indiscipline. I think
sudhir is lucky that he knows
the powers that be but seri-
ously what he did would
have landed him in
jail.
Robert Masereka
If a business needs addi-
tional support, be it capi-
tal, technology, intellect,
expertise, they can bring
in additional shareholders,
and hire expertise. Facilita-
tion quickly would lead to
Bank of Uganda having a
vested interest in the bank,
which would inevitably
colour the decisions they
take on it. This is why au-
ditors are independent to
the extent that they should
not provide significant
other non-audit services to
audit clients. It is quite an
elementary practice, and
common sense (and experi-
ence) tells us that it is the
right way to go.
Jonathan
bare capitalisation to support
their unscrupulous ways and
risky deals and transactions.
When they collapse, guess
who bails them out? Its the tax
payers. It is called corporate
welfare. If a bank isnt viable
any more let it go under. That
is what capitalism is and how
it works. To keep bailing fail-
ing banks is corporate social-
ism.
Otecho
News Analysis Business
Constitutional amendment Kadagas dilemma What is the future Cement: How far
over land debate on new marriage Bill of Uganda's banks? will price fall?
Issue No. 480 July 28 - Aug 03 , 2017 Ushs 5,000,Kshs 200, RwF 1,500, SDP 8
Chinese quit
Musevenis
refinery deal
US$4bn project fails
to get investor again
www.independent.co.ug
Banks should never
be bailed out
Refer to: BOUs war with
Sudhir (The Independent July
21). The answer to the question
of whether banks should be
rescued is about economics and
incentives. But the problems
banks create and how these
problems are solved are also a
matter of morals and ethics
law and justice. Government
support for insolvent banks vio-
lates a fundamental principle
of economics: We should avoid
supporting unprofitable activi-
ties. We do not rescue a busi-
ness that is bankrupt. Instead,
we should allow businesses that
are profitable to take over. Over
time, this improves the condi-
tions for a healthy economy.
When the authorities bail out
fraudulent banks, some parties
are spared the consequences of
their own choices. Bailing out
investors and owners using
public funds conflicts with peo-
ples ordinary sense of fairness,
promotes despotism, corrup-
tion to mention. Moreover, gov-
ernment support for insolvent
banks undermines the stability
of the financial system.
By bailing out banks, we in turn
reduce the motivation of banks
owners and creditors to take
full account of the risk associ-
ated with their activities. The
pricing of risk is easily set too
low. Banks may therefore end
up taking excessive risk.
Kamya J. Grace
Mwenda; good
analysis
Refer to: BOUs war with
Sudhir (The Independent
July 21).Well sought analysis.
Though not agreeing with you
lately on politics but this was
a masterpiece of economic
analysis the old man of the
clan. Thank you!
Peter Pierre

Defying the odds, defining oneself
By Andrew M. Mwenda
How Africans have been mentally enslaved to hate everything
about themselves and how Rwanda is defying it
In these bloody days and frightful nights when the urban warrior can find no face more despicable than his
own, no ammunition more deadly than self hate and no target more deserving of his true aim than his own
brother, we must wonder how we came so late and lonely to this place. Maya Angelou.
B
rian Klaas, a fellow at the London
School of Economics, perhaps did
not know what he was getting him-
self into when he tweeted his Wash-
ington Post article, saying: As the world
focuses on Trump, African despots are
violating term limits and badly overstaying
their welcome. It was an article attacking
President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, calling
him a despot and a murderer and referred
to the elections that will be held today as a
sham. In response, thousands of Rwandans
took to Twitter and savaged him in one of
the most thrilling twitterstorms I have seen.
Turns out the people he was fighting for
dont want his assistance.
Over the last several decades, Klaas
wrote with the arrogance of his fellow colo-
nialists, Western governments (sic) have
pushed for democratic reforms in Africa.
In response to that pressure and calls from
their own citizens (this comes as an after-
thought) 18 African countries instituted con-
stitutional two-term limits But in Africa
rules are far too easily bent or broken.
Klaas ends with his call on Western govern-
ments: Now the time has come to push
governments [in Africa] to obey their own
rules. For Klaas, Africa is one huge undif-
ferentiated mass of politics so that what
happens in Gabon can simply be copied and
pasted on Kenya and the analysis remains
the same. Yet while he was right to say that
attempts to remove term limits have caused
popular protest in some nations of Africa,
he ignored the fact that in Rwanda, it was
popular and peaceful. In fact there would
have been popular protest if the term limits
had not been removed.
More critically, Klaas like many Europe-
ans, Americans and African elites believes
that our democracy should be the respon-
sibility of Western powers. We Africans
are supposed to be like children: instead of
being active participants in the struggle for
our freedom, we are to be passive spectators
as white superintendents deliver it to us as
charity. And it is not only democracy. The
struggle to wrestle control of the destiny of
Africa from Africans to white superinten-
dents is tenacious and broad.
For instance, our human rights are sup-
The Last Word
posed to be defended by Human Rights
Watch and Amnesty International, our press
freedom by the Committee to Protect Jour-
nalists and Reporters Without Borders. Our
public policies are supposed to be designed
by the World Bank and IMF; our leaders
are to be tried by the International Criminal
Court; our poverty is fought by Oxfam and
Action Aid; our story is told by the Wash-
ington Post and CNN; our hungry are fed
by World Food Program while our sick are
treated by World Health Organisation and
Doctors Without Borders.
Even our heroes are supposed to be
white and if black they are supposed to
be anointed in Washington DC, London
and Paris. Thus Bono and Angelina Jolie
are the activists in the struggle to end our
poverty while professors Jeffrey Sachs and
Paul Collier provide the policy blue print.
Our leaders are despots; so we need Barack
Obama to tell us how to govern ourselves.
For a country in Africa to be accepted as
democratic, the decision is not to be taken
by its citizens but by politicians, diplomats,
experts, think tanks (like Freedom House)
and journalists in Western capitals.
The African presented in this narrative
is always a hungry mother carrying a mal-
nourished child on her back stretching out
her emaciated hand to a white aid worker
for food. If an African is presented in posi-
tive light, he is a human rights activist or a
journalist who has run away from the con-
tinent, being hunted down by his own gov-
ernment. Message: everything in Africa is
bad even the few who seek enlightenment
are chased away by despotic leaders.
This vision of Africa has been presented
to us in movies, books, newspapers, radio,
television, lecture rooms and public speech-
es everywhere. The best and brightest in
our society go to Yale and Stanford, Oxford
and Cambridge to receive this gospel of who
we are, what we need and how we should
organise our lives. We have internalised
this gospel. We hate our systems, our gov-
ernments, our leaders, our public servants
and ourselves Maya Angelous comment
above tells it all.
Unable to see anything good in ourselves,
our governments, our leaders, our culture
Opinion
and or heritage, we turn to the West for
solutions. They tell us: to develop we need
foreign direct investment. So multinational
capital takes over the commanding heights
of our economies banks, telecommunica-
tions, hotels, etc. To be stable, introduce
democracy made in Holland in one day
regardless of circumstances. Then we get
Libya. The list of instructions is too long to
exhaust here. Suffice it to say that Africa is
mentally captured.
This presentation of Africa by whites is
not new. It was the strategy that won the
war to establish colonial rule on our conti-
nent. The colonialist argued that the African
needed to be liberated from poverty, both
material and spiritual hence commerce and
Christianity. The African also needed to be
liberated from the tyranny of custom and
the despotism of local chiefs and kings.
Colonialism was presented as an act of
altruism where Europeans would carry the
burden of civilising the natives.
We should not forget that a lot of the
critique made of Africa by 19th Century
Europeans was not false. Nowhere is propa-
ganda more powerful (and dangerous) than
when it uses (and abuses) obvious facts. The
consequence of the colonial message was
that Africans actively participated in their
own enslavement. After 70 years of colo-
nial rule, where the colonialist committed
genocide in most nations on our continent
and did little to develop us, we should have
learnt the lessons from these false proph-
esies. But we havent.
One country is defying many aspects of
this gospel that belittles Africa. And that
country is Rwanda. That is why Klaas got
savaged on Twitter whereas in most of our
nations, a savage attack on a government
by a Western scholar or journalist receives
widespread approval and is celebrated. In
post-genocide Rwanda, liberated from the
shackles of mental slavery, such colonialist
attitudes ignite resistance. Rwandans reaf-
firm their independence, their dignity and
their control and direction of their destiny.
Klaas has tasted it. I would love to hear his
view of Rwanda now.
amwenda@independent.co.ug
Aug 04 - 10 , 2017 9
Cover story
The faces behind campaign to lift age-limit

Rakai Micheal Peter

legislator, Juliet Tusiime, Ogwang,
Kinyamatama Mbarara Eastern Kenneth
Municipality Youth MP Omona of
Evelyn Anite, the
Keberamaido
state minister for
privatization

James Kakooza of
Kabula (Lyantonde
District)
Col. Fred Mwesigye,
27th guerrilla to join Lt.Col Micheal
Musevenis 1981 war, Katungi
Nyabushozi legislator

Molly Kamukama,
President Musevenis
Principle Private
Secretary (PPS)
David Mafabi, the
Presidents Private
Assistant for Political
Affairs
Simeo Nsubuga,
legislator

Nyombi Thembo,
the former state Stephen Othieno,
minister for ICT Muhoozis Personal
Assistant
Ibrahim Abiriga,
Arua legislator

Time line

1980 1986 1990 1996 1999 2000 2001 2004 2005 2011
Museveni M7 comes to Museveni Museveni Besigye Besigye Museveni Museveni Museveni Museveni
loses election. power, tells requests promises writes a declares his decided to kick contests contests
Fellow army High the National he would memo candidacy seek the starts a again again,
colleagues Command, Resistance not seek which pits tells his second campaign, promises
agree to he needs Council a second him against colleagues term. this time, Mbabazi
build party only two (NRC) to add term President that Again, this led by he would
grassroots. years to him another Museveni Museveni time, he Amama not return
They hear he handover four to was promised Mbabazi, to in 2016
has launched to civilian complete the going to it would be amend the
a guerrilla war leadership. constitutional amend the his last. constitution
They making Constitution and
convince process would not remove
him to retire after term limits.
accept four five years.

10 Aug 04 - 10 , 2017
 Cover story

Inside Musevenis
long game for
Museveni: I hear
life presidency
there is a debate
about age limit By Haggai Matsiko
and I do not know Members of President Yoweri Musevenis inner circle know some-
what, what are thing is serious if Lt. Col Michael Katungi is involved. He is a very
you debating, who quiet officer who likes to keep a low profile but has been praised by
Museveni for pulling off sensitive and very discreet assignments.
has brought a That is why many people paid attention when on July 24, Katungi
proposal? So, those called a special meeting at a discreet ruling party facility located near
the Army Headquarters in Mbuya. The facility is officially attended
un-disciplined the Office of the Chairman; meaning Museveni uses it for his work
people. They should as chairman of his NRM party.
know that there will
be counter action,
political action,

T
because if you play
games, the other side he meeting was attended
by Musevenis most trust-
to have assassinated those opposed to a plot
to have the Maj. Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba
will react. ed staffers, selected gov- replace his father as president, also known
ernment technocrats and as the Muhoozi project.
loyalists. On the age-limit campaign, sources tell
The agenda was quickly The Independent, Katungi is also working
communicated to them; it was to plan a with David Mafabi, the Presidents Private
mobilisation campaign to ensure that the Assistant for Political Affairs, Stephen Othi-
presidential age limit is expunged from the eno, a personal assistant to the presidents
constitution for Museveni to be eligible to son, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, and Nyombi
run in 2021. Thembo, the former state minister for ICT.
Museveni will be 76 years old and, since Others on the team are a host of legislators
Article 102 (B) of the constitution sets the like Simeo Nsubuga and Col. Fred Mwe-
age range for president at 35 to 75 years of sigye, RO 27 or the 27th guerrilla to join
age, he cannot run for the presidency again. Musevenis 1981 war, who is the MP for
Katungi often works closely with Molly Nyabushozi.
2015 2016 2017 Kamukama, President Musevenis cur-
rent Principle Private Secretary (PPS) who
But President Museveni continues to
feign indifference to the plot to amend shift
Museveni Museveni Musevenis before the 2016 elections headed the Mbuya the presidential age-limit. I hear there
fires contests staffers officewhich was the hub of mobilisation is a debate about age limit and I do not
Mbabazi again, and for Musevenis 2016 campaign. Kamukama know what, what are you debating, who
as Prime defeats legislators was Musevenis de facto campaign manag- has brought a proposal? Museveni had
Minister Mbabazi plot to er. They have handled many special assign- asked during a press briefing at State House
and Party and eliminate
Secretary Besigye age limit
ments for Museveni. Entebbe on July 19, just days before Katun-
General and give Early this year, Katungi vied for the East gis meeting in Mbuya.
way to a African Legislative Assembly (EALA) on the
possible ruling party ticket but pulled out, he said, Museveni opponents not fooled
life on Musevenis advice. Some people, like opposition Forum for
presidency In 2015, Museveni hailed Katungi and a Democratic Change (FDC) party President,
one Janet Mugabi, for discreetly arranging Gen. Mugisha Muntu, who know Museveni
the return of General David Sejusa from well, are not fooled.
exile in London where he had gone after He is a crafty operator, Muntu, who
leaking a letter in which he warned of a plot worked as army commander under Musev-

Aug 04 - 10 , 2017 11
Cover story
eni told The Independent.
Muntu specifically commented on 1986
meeting of the army High Command, to top
organ of the army met to discuss how long
they would stay in power before handing
over to private authority.
Muntu confirmed the details of the meet-
ing, which he said he used to discuss with
colleagues. The meeting was in Mengo,
where the army headquarters used to be. A
question came up about the period of time
that the military establishment needed to
re-organise the country before handing over
to an elected civilian government.
One of the attendees suggested four
years.
Four years? a seemingly surprised,
Museveni reportedly asked, for what?
Museveni said they needed only two
years to reorganise things and hand over
power to an elected government.
Sources say it then fell to political strate-
gists like then-leading party ideologue
Amanya Mushega, to argue strongly and
convinced everyone; including Museveni.
The reasoning was that two years was
too short for the new government to put in
place functioning systems and a firm foun-
dation for good governance, Gen. Muntu
told The Independent in an interview, it
was felt that four years was more realistic.
That is how the four years came about.
After the four years, however, Musev-
eni; who had only four years ago said they
needed only two years changed his mind
and requested the National Resistance
Council (NRC) to add him another four to
complete the constitutional making process
that his government had commenced.
Even then, everyone appeared in agree-
ment, the constitution was badly needed
and the NRC without hesitation granted
him another four years which led to the
1994 election of a Constituent Assembly
(CA) that met for over a year to make the
constitution that was promulgated in 1995.
With the 1995 constitution in place, an
election was set for the following year, 1996.
In the meantime, Museveni had already
stayed in power for over eight years without
subjecting himself to any form of election.
While writing his manifesto for the 1996
elections, Museveni promised he would not
seek a second term.
Bidandi Ssali and Amanya Mushega,
who were then members of Musevenis cab-
inet, attempted to convince him to remove
that from the manifesto arguing that it was
not good to put such promises in writing. If
he did not want to seek a second term, they
argued, he should just not seek it.
But after the 1996 elections, Museveni
addressed a press conference where he said
he would not seek a second term.
However, in 2001 Museveni decided to
seek the second term. Again, this time, he
promised it would be his last.
12 Aug 04 - 10 , 2017
the same trick in 2000, when he asked his
inner circle to support him against Kizza
Justice Minister Kahinda Otafiire
All articles can be
amended. It is dangerous
for a democracy for the
minority or majority to
try to gag the other side.
Allow people to talk
for the age limit. Allow
people to talk against
lifting the age limit. Then
we either have consensus
or put it to a vote.
But two years to the election, in 2003,
Museveni kick started a campaign, this
time, led by Amama Mbabazi, to amend the
constitution and remove term limits.
Muntu attended the 2004 meeting of the
National Council in Kyankwanzi, where
Museveni again convinced over 400 mem-
bers the need to lift the term limits.
By now, Muntu says, he had realized that
what allowed Museveni to keep playing
these games, was the low levels of political
consciousness and courage amongst society.
If leaders were firm and stood up
against him, if only 100 members of the
National Council or the High Command
stood up against him, even discreetly, and
said you cannot do that, we dont support
it, he cant do it, Muntu says.
And you wonder why, Muntu added,
When I was army commander, I always
asked soldiers; how can you be coura-
geous before live bullets on the battle
front and not courageous before an officer
making mistakes and putting your life at
risk.
Former Museveni cabinet insider, Miria
Matembe, also told The Independent in
an earlier interview that Museveni used
Besigye.
Matembe recalled that in 1999, Besigye
had written a memo which pitted him
against President Museveni. So when
Besigye declared his candidacy in 2000,
Matembe and other Banyankole leaders
under the chairmanship of the late former
Prime Minster and Museveni confidante,
Eriya Kategeya, called him and asked him
to give Museveni five more years as his
last five year term.
According to Matembe, Besigye swore
to them that Museveni was going to
amend the Constitution to remove term
limits and not retire after five years.
I personally told Besigye in that meet-
ing, please dont read bad motives in peo-
ple, Matembe told The Independent in
an interview, I know this man loves the
constitution, he made it, and he always
condemns people who stayed in power
for so long. I dont think he can change
the constitution. My dear, I was wrong,
she added.
In 2004 at Kyankwanzi, Matembe says,
she got the shock of her life when Musev-
eni called for the removal of term limits.
I said, well, I have been moving with
an impostor, she said.
Another person who was caught up
in misreading Museveni is former Prime
Minister Amama Mbabazi. He was central
in the machinations of 2005 but would
get entangled in 2015, ahead of the 2016
elections.
It all became clear when Mbabazi, who
was at the time Prime Minister and ruling
party Secretary General, started plotting
to contest against Museveni. Mbabazi,
who was believed to have used his posi-
tions as SG and PM to build a network
and amass a war-chest respectively, was
portrayed to be strategising to upstage
Museveni during the Party Delegates
Conference that elected the party flag-
bearer.
Museveni loyalists started to mobilise
in exactly the same way as they are doing
with the age-limit campaign; in a mix of

secret and public moves with Museveni
always appearing uninvolved.
Publicly, a previously little-known
young woman called Evelyn Anite started
publicly pushing for what was called the
sole candidature of Museveni.
Behind the scenes, more powerful
forces softened officials of all the party
organs, the Central Executive Committee,
the National Executive Committee and
finally the National Conference. In some
of the meetings, whenever, his attack
dogs went for Mbabazi, Museveni would
always rise to defend him.
Finally, at a February 2015 meeting in
Kyankwanzi, Anite knelt on the floor to
present a resolution to have Museveni
as the partys sole candidate for the 2016
polls. In a master stroke, Anites camp
got party members to sign a document
in support of Museveni. Mbabazi, who
always sat in the front row, was cornered.
He signed the Anite document. Later, he
ran as an independent.
But had Mbabazi and Matembe both
listened to more senior leaders in the
movement, they would have not been sur-
prised. One such leader is former Prime
Minister Kintu Musoke.
Kintu Musoke was a senior official in
the Uganda Patriotic Movement (UPM),
which under the leadership of Museveni
had contested and lost the December 1980
election t0 Milton Obotes UPC.
Museveni had threatened to launch a
rebellion if UPC rigged the elections.
After the election, the UPM top leaders
met at Musokes house near Kampala to
forge a way forward.
Kintu Musoke told journalist Charles
Onyango Obbo what transpired at that
night meeting. Museveni hardly spoke,
he said.
Apparently, the group agreed that
they should disperse across the country
and organise at the grassroots to build
the UPM into a mass movement to fight
future political battles.
But as the group moved out of
Musokes house, apparently, Museveni
stopped at the stairs turned to speak to
his colleagues for the first time in many
hours.
Me, I will not just sit around and wait
for Obote and his people to arrest me. I
will fight them, Museveni said and then
drove off.
At the time, Musoke apparently said,
they didnt know what to make of Musev-
enis remarks until a few days later when
they heard in the news that he and a band
of about 30 other militants, had staged an
audacious raid on a major military barracks
in the southwest, overrun it, and made off
with weapons. Museveni had launched his
fight against Obote.
He didnt ask our permission, Kintu
noted, but in the end, he was the man with
the plan that worked. And now all of us
have had to come and work with him in the
NRM, because he delivered what we could
only talk about.
The life presidency project
Obbo writes that Museveni thinks he is
the best thing that ever happened to Ugan-
da and Africa.
His book Sowing the Mustard Seed is a
major rewrite of the countrys history that
also casts his ascent to power as a culmina-
tion of great political genius, Obbo writes,
He paints even some obscure youthful
political activism in his high school days as
having far-reaching national consequences.
Museveni has thus already constructed the
glorious first chapters for his political story.
It only stands to reason that he is now craft-
ing its glorious climax. Could a life presi-
dency be that glorious climax? Knowing
that is Musevenis mission, his loyal staffers,
with his tacit approval and resources are
looking to have expunged that provision
and extend his reign from the current three
decades, to, possibly, life presidency.
UB40 (Ugandans Under40) for organizing
Mugisha Muntu Miria Matembe
Cover story
The campaign has been in motion, a
source knowledgeable about the details of
the meetings intimated to The Independent,
some of the meetings have been happen-
ing at the chairmans office.
Indeed, Katungis July 24 meeting
appeared to be a follow up to a July 18 con-
ference of sorts held at Kati Kati Restaurant
in Lugogo, a Kampala suburb, where a core
team of Museveni staffers, legislators, and
an army of NRM youths inducted through
ruling party ideology at the Kyankwanzi-
based National Leadership Institute (NALI),
officially launched the campaign to elimi-
nate the age limit.
Nyombi Thembo, Simeo Nsubuga and
Col. Fred Mwesigye, were among the
legislators that joined Katungi, Mafabi,
Othieno and a host of NRM youths at the
event. Other notables behind the campaign
include; MPs Juliet Kinyamatama (Rakai),
Micheal Tusiime (Mbarara Municipality),
Peter Ogwang (Eastern Youth MP), Kenneth
Omona (Keberamaido), James Kakooza
(Kabula) and Ibrahim Abiriga (Arua).
At the Kati Kati meeting, Muhoozis PA,
Simon Othieno hardly spoke to the press
although he chaired the meeting. Instead,
it is Musevenis assistant, David Mafabi,
who spoke. The meeting passed several
resolutions, top of which was about the
issue of age limits. This was read by Phoebe
Namulindwa, an NRM youth. The implicit
stamp of approval was all over the meeting;
including on the lunch coupons, which bore
a State House stamp.
The event was marketed as counter
mobilisation against those opposing the
campaign. It came hardly a week after July
12 when police arrested NRM youth leader,
Robert Rutaro and others under their group
a press conference at Makerere University
where they lambasted the move to lift the
age limit.
Most of the youths at Kati Kati have gone
through inductions in Kyankwanzi. Sources
say while at the institute, these youths were
promised jobs, which have never come.
The age limit campaign, appeared a perfect
opportunity for them to remind the authori-
ties about their plight. Indeed, at the Kati
Kati conference, over 60 percent of those in
attendance were these Kyankwanzi recruits.
In a sign of increasing public displays,
about 20 proponents of lifting the debate,
mostly women, recently marched across
Lira town in northern Uganda carrying
placards reading General YK Museveni
Paka last, We support the removal of term
limit. These were not molested.
But when some youths in Mbarara
attempted to march through town
carrying a casket with a portrait of the
president with an inscription reading;
Rest in peace Museveni, they were
arrested and jailed for it. The message
was clear going forward.
Aug 04 - 10 , 2017 13
Rwanda

Why Kagames third term

makes sense for Rwanda
By Thomas Stubbs
Rwandan president Paul Kagame first confirmed that he will seek a third term after more than 98% of
Rwandans voted in a referendum to lift the presidential term limit.Kagames decision not to step down
prompted a barrage of criticism. Western governments, media outlets and human rights groups painted
him with the same brush as other central African strongmen.

A
ttempts to extend presidential
terms by Blaise Compaore of Burki-
na Faso and Pierre Nkurunziza of
Burundi had led to instability and
violence in these nations.
Other leaders in the region such as
Denis Sassou Nguesso of Congo-Brassaville
and Joseph Kabila of Congo-Kinshasa
were also considering changes to allow third-
term extensions. But Rwandas situation is
unique. Unlike the third-term fever afflicting
other countries in the region, Rwanda is not
mired in corruption and economic stagna-
tion. During the past decade its economic
growth has averaged around 7% per year,
maternal and child mortality has fallen by
more than 60% and near universal health
insurance has been achieved. The country
is also now considered one of the safest and
least corrupt in sub-Saharan Africa. And in
just the past three years, the percentage of
people living in poverty has dropped from
44.9% in 2011 to 39.1% in 2014.
This remarkable list of achievements is
attributed to the leadership of Kagame, who
assumed the presidency in 2000.
Kagames agenda
Despite these accolades, Kagame is fre-
quently criticised by human rights groups
over Rwandas tightly controlled politi-
cal space. He has sought to place a strong
emphasis on developing a new Rwandan
national identity. He has done this in an
attempt to sever connections to the primor-
dial categories of ethnic identification that
provoked the tragic events of 1994. Ethnic
politics and discrimination have thus been
outlawed in the country.
With the genocide against the Tutsi still
in recent memory, Kagame has committed
to power-sharing only among parties that
are firmly aligned against a revival of ethnic
sectarianism. Within this political settlement,
it is the pursuit of development not nego-
tiation that is seen as the principal path to
national reconciliation.
Understandably, this strategy is based
on the fear that a more adversarial style of
policy-making and debate one that could
fulfill the Wests more exacting standards
of democratic participation would give
voice to extremists. This foremost includes
the Democratic Forces for the Liberation
of Rwanda, the eastern Congo-based rebel
group led by former genocidaires. Indeed,
it was largely multilateral Western agencies
that thrust multiparty democratic institu-
tions onto Rwanda in the early 1990s. This,
it could be argued, provided a platform for
extremist views held in the country.
Kagame has always claimed that Rwan-
dans would decide on what they want to

Incumbent Rwandan President Paul Kagame (L) greets a

crowd of supporters as he arrives for a campaign rally on
July 31, 2017 in Gakenke ahead of August 4 presidential
election. MARCO LONGARI / AFP

14 Aug 04 - 10 , 2017
 Rwanda
become. Not the UK, US or any other nation.
Many Rwandans were fearful and anxious
about what might happen after 2017. For
them, Kagame is seen as a stabilising force for
the country and its best chance for continued
socio-economic progress.
His supporters have embraced his third
term to ensure Kagame is able to finish
some important projects, recognising that
such a capable leader is a once-in-a-lifetime
opportunity. They see Rwanda as following
the lead of successful late industrialisers like
Singapore, where significant socio-economic
progress was achieved under the long-term
leadership of Lee Kuan Yew.

Striking a balance is important

Where a society is ethnically divided, it is
difficult to ignore the need to strike a balance
between the protection of the wider minority
interests and the power of the central state Supporters of the governing Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF) party walk to a campaign rally in
authority. It is clear that Rwandans require a Kigali, on July 30, 2017. MARCO LONGARI / AFP
constitution that can accommodate their fears
of ethnic divisions, persecution and impunity.
They also require one that would consolidate
the socio-economic gains made thus far.
Certainly, a path Rwanda would not want to
follow is that of Kenya, where an ethnopoliti-
cal calculus plays out each election cycle and
reinforces deep ethnic divisions.
For Kagames supporters, the controversy
over a third term is a preoccupation of West-
ern observers, not Rwandans. The terms of the
debate, they argue, should instead focus on
what the leader has already achieved for the
country the evidence of which is unequivo-
cal for Kagame and what his vision is for
the future. It takes time for any society to
recover from conflict, especially a genocide.
Two decades ago, Rwanda was a failed state.
Kagame himself commanded the rebel force
that ended the genocide. But the violence had
decimated people and infrastructure. A supporter of the governing Rwandan Patriotic Front party ride his motorbike during the last
Kagame then placed national reconcilia- days of the presidential election campaigning in Kigali, on July 29, 2017. MARCO LONGARI / AFP
tion at the top of the political agenda, instead
of ethnic exclusion. Under his stewardship,
Rwandans have been given a taste of what
peace, stability and development feel like -
regardless of ethnicity.
For the people of Rwanda, Kagames record
inspires trust in an otherwise uncertain future.
For this reason, he may be the only person
who can hold the country together. His vision
to turn Rwanda into a middle-income country
is on track. And it is a boat that most Rwan-
dans do not want to rock.
Given the contextual and developmental
realities faced by Rwanda, Western concerns
over two, three, four, or more presidential
terms appear obtuse. What matters for Rwan-
dans is progress, stability, quality of life, good
governance, and capable leadership. In short,
when it comes to Rwanda, the West may not
know best.

Thomas Stubbs is Research associate, University

Supporters of the governing Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF) dance during a campaign rally in
of Cambridge.This article first appeared in Kigali, on July 30, 2017. MARCO LONGARI / AFP
theconversation.com in January 2016

Aug 04 - 10 , 2017 15
Rwanda
By Gerald Mbanda
Behind Kagames re-election
Why endorsing Kagame is a sign of confidence in RPF for
transforming Rwanda from a failed state to prosperity
T
he Rwandan vote on 4th August was
to elect a president among three com-
peting candidates; Philippe Mpay-
imana, an independent, Frank Habi-
neza of the Green Party and Paul Kagame
of the Rwanda patriotic Front (RPF). The
campaign period mood was of excitement
and jubilation, which was done, in a calm
atmosphere. This kind of peaceful campaign
mood with no violent demonstrations and
stone throwing supporters of different candi-
dates is rare to find in political rallies across
the continent, making Rwanda stand out
unique even in presidential elections.
Eight political parties unanimously decided
to support the RPF candidate Paul Kagame,
rather than fielding their own candidate; a
decision that is very rare to find in multiparty
political competition. But having many polit-
ical parties in the country endorsing the RPF
candidate is a sign of confidence in the ruling
party and its candidate; Paul Kagame, for
transforming Rwanda from an almost failed
state and a country of pity and sympathy
because of genocide, to a prosperous nation
that others want to learn from. Rwandans
have learnt the hard way through a harsh
history of planted seeds of division brought
by colonialism and perfected by post-inde-
pendence governments.
As Rwandans got in the mood of elections,
western human rights organisations and
some media outlets engaged in releasing
reports castigating an atmosphere of fear
and all sorts of allegations against the govern-
ment of Rwanda over alleged human rights
abuse. However, the reports and allegations
are not new, but old recycled claims all the
time. Secondly, the timing of the reports
during a period when Rwanda has a big
event like this has also happened over the
years; especially during the commemoration
of genocide against the Tutsi. The question
here is who, why and what are such reports
meant for?
The allegations of human rights abuse
are seen as meant to discourage foreign
countries from supporting Rwanda, but
the allies of Rwanda know very well how
efficient donor support is put to good use.
Secondly, the deliberate and persistent use
of the wording, The Tutsi-led Government,
is intended to resurrect divisions among
the Rwandan people and to hate their own
government, and the authors think that the
negative reports can affect the way people
vote and cause resentment of the govern-
ment. Over the years, such reports instead of
16 Aug 04 - 10 , 2017
discouraging citizens, have encouraged them
to work hard and have confidence in their
government because of the tangible achieve-
ments they see, and transformational leader-
ship they cherish.
Rwanda, contrary to what detractors say,
is one of the most well governed countries
in Africa, and where public and private
institutions function efficiently; not to mean
though, that they are perfect. Institutions
like Rwanda Governance Board (RGB) and
Rwanda Development Board (RDB) con-
stantly receive delegations from across the
continent on a learning experience on how
Rwanda manages to do things the right way.
Rwanda is a role model in Africa and in of
the world on inclusive and accountable gov-
ernance, control of corruption, ease of doing
business to name a few. With 64% of women
legislators (highest in the world), life expec-
tancy risen from 45 to 65 years; in the last two
decades, infant mortality rate has dropped
by 70%; per capita income has increased 60%;
over a million Rwandans have been lifted
out of extreme poverty; more than 90% of
children under 12 go to school; and more
that 90% of the population have universal
insurance medical scheme. These are no
mean achievements for any country, in Sub-
Saharan Africa, let alone for Rwanda which
has emerged out of threats of a failed state.
The figures above stand more for human
rights than mere rhetorical claims.
Rwanda is a country that has re-invented
itself from the rubble with a resolve to avoid
a repeat of the past and build a new, united
and prosperous Rwanda. A marshal plan
for Rwanda was crafted through what was
known as the Urugwiro debates that took
place between May 1998 and March 1999.
Rwandas unique history made her learn
quickly how to find home grown solutions
to her problems from within, after abandon-
ment by the International community in 1959
and again in 1994. It is in these debates that
politicians, religious, civil society organisa-
tions leaders, senior citizens, and opinion
leaders resolved to adapt a home grown con-
sensual, pluralistic democracy founded on
power sharing, national unity and reconcilia-
tion as opposed to confrontational politics.
Rwandan political campaigns and elections
are peaceful because of deliberate unique
political choices made due to the past bad
politics of violence, division and discrimina-
tion. Foreign critics may call it lack of credible
opposition or whatever they want, but as
long as it is the choice Rwandans have made,
it serves them better than a violent credible
democracy. While the one size fit all democ-
racy remains a fallacy, Rwandas unique
choices demonstrate that each country can
have her own form of democracy tailored on
the local context. We have seen examples of
democracy in the developed world, where
a candidate with fewer votes is declared
the winner and rules majority people who
did not elect him or her. This is how diverse
democracy can be. Rwandas home grown
solutions are not found anywhere else, the
resilience of the Rwanda people to succeed
against all odds, coupled with committed
visionary leadership has made Rwanda an
admirable country.
Rallies of the political campaigns, showed
incomparable difference of the number of
supporters. The RPF rallies attracted hun-
dreds of thousands of people, while its com-
petitors who are political little known and
political novices in the arena received visibly
few numbers. The reason is clear. The RPF
is a liberation movement that has built its
membership base since 1987, and its armed
wing the RPA fought the war of liberation
commanded by Paul Kagame who stopped
the genocide and united the country more
than ever before. These credentials alone,
before talking about post genocide recon-
struction and development, make Rwanda
Patriotic Front (RPF) have majority support
even in years to come. The question about the
elections, therefore, was not whether the RPF
and its candidate Paul Kagame would win
the elections; the valid question was by what
percentage will Kagame win?
In the past presidential elections, foreign
critics have again rumbled about the high
percentage win by RPF. The Rwandan spirit
is different from other parts of the world
where voter turnout is low. The people take
voting as a noble personal responsibility and
all eligible voters, except the sick, make it to
the polling stations early and the stations are
closer to the people hence a very high turnout
of voters. This is one of the advantages of a
small country like Rwanda, which makes the
work easier for the electoral body to deliver
material to polling centres on time. Impor-
tant to note too, is that Rwandas elections are
locally funded and materials used are made
in Rwanda, reducing wasteful spending of
tax payers money.
Gerald Mbanda
Head of Media Department, Rwanda Governance
Board
 REgional News

What will decide the

By Joseph Wandera

A
fter accepting his

Kenyan election?
nomination as the
presidential candidate
of the main opposition
coalition; the National Super
Alliance (NASA), Raila Odinga
likened himself to Joshua, the
biblical figure who led the Jews
A dose of faith, tribe and hard cash
to the Promised Land.
Odinga was appealing to
people disaffected with the
performance of the Jubilee
government. But he was also
appealing to the religious sensi-
bilities of the Kenyan electorate
where Christianity has a strong
presence.
Religion is omnipresent in
Kenya. The line between reli-
gion and politics is often thin.
This is well illustrated by the
fact that gospel music serves as
an important vehicle for politi-
cal mobilisation. Most of the
NASAs campaign rallies fea-
ture a rendering of the popular
gospel song Mambo yabadi-
lika (things are a-changing).
Mambo yabadilika.
Odinga, as well as President
Uhuru Kenyatta who is seeking
re-election under the Jubilee
Party in the August 8 polls, have
sought to endear themselves to President Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga during the 2013 election campaign in Nairobi. Reuters/Thomas Mukoya
the main religious communi-
ties. Kenyatta even had mem-
bers of the Supreme Council of Eating campaign money Elderly men and with a bold demand for more
Kenya Muslims, the National On a visit to western Kenya tangible results:
Muslim Leaders Forum and the during the party primaries, women were open That is enough speech-
Jamia Mosque visit State House I was struck by how voters to offers from making, can you now talk to
where they pledged their sup- actively sought cash handouts us? Talking to us was easily
port for his re-election bid. Reli- from politicians. And there is no whichever politician understood to mean that it was
gion and politics are entwined, shortage of candidates ready to turned up. The time to give cash gifts to seal
each to some extent complicit offer money to the electorate as the bond.
in the providential authority of an inducement to vote for them. amounts they got Demands like this are
the other. A young man who gave me ranged from around not unusual during election

Odinga and Kenyatta are
not alone. In their quest for the
votes of the religious constitu-
encies, all political aspirants
have sought to present them-
selves as people of faith.
But other equally important
dynamics shape political rela-
tionships in Kenya. Religious
symbols operate cheek by jowl
with what political scientist
Jean Francis Bayart has referred
to as the politics of the belly.
A third factor makes for an
even headier mix ethnic affili-
ations. Combined, these three
factors distort democracy, and
the way in which elections are
run in the country.
a ride on his motor cycle taxi
spoke with pride about his busy
schedule these days eating
campaign money by night and
working by day.
Elderly men and women
were seated along village lanes
looking out for election can-
didates who might offer them
something small. They were
open to offers from which-
ever politician turned up. The
amounts they got ranged from
around 100 shillings ($1) to
1,000 shillings ($10), often not
enough even to feed a fam-
ily for a day. But the money
counts for a lot in the context of
extreme poverty.
I also attended an election
100
shillings to 1,000
shillings, often not
enough even to feed
a family for a day
As in many African countries
campaign rally in which a can-
didate presented what seemed
to be a well thought out blue-
print for the development of his
local ward. At the conclusion of
the presentation, one person in
the audience broke the silence
campaigns in Kenya. They
have been a regular feature
of elections as long as anyone
can remember. One can only
imagine what this years cam-
paign will be like on the back
of a severe drought that has
deepened inflation and led to
economic hardships.
Building a democratic cul-
ture in the context of extreme
hardships is a big challenge.
undergoing democratic transi-
tions amid conditions of high
poverty, economic circumstanc-
es hinder or dissuade people
from participation in the politi-
cal process.

Aug 04 - 10 , 2017 17
REgional News

Politics of the belly

So whats the relationship between
religion and handouts? They interact and
influence each other in myriad ways.
Politicians distribute goods for the bel-
lies of their clients in return for political
loyalty. In this context democracy as a
competitive process in which citizens
freely elect their leaders is thrown out of
the window.
The Kenyan Muslim leaders assur-
ances of support for Kenyatta needs to
understood against this background. The
leaders hint, hint expressed gratitude
to the president for appointing the high-
est number of Cabinet secretaries and
Principal Secretaries from the (Muslim)
community.
A common pattern of religious accom-
modation in post-colonial East African
states has been documented. Reflect-
ing trends in Kenya, various religious
groups have worked with governments
and parties, irrespective of their political
philosophies and ideologies. It is also
important to locate religion and politics
in Africa within the broader context of
ethnicity which has been sustained, and A man in Kisumu City, Kenya walks past a banner
even strengthened, through the political advocating for a peaceful poll. Baz Ratner/Reuters
distribution of goods and wealth.
The logic here is not based on universal

Explainer: Whats behind

ideas of human rights and citizenship
but rather on networks of tribal patron-
age and clientilism. Politicians offer their

the high stakes in Kenyas

ethnic clients certain material and sym-
bolic gestures such as invocation of tribe,
money, jobs in exchange for political
support. It is an insecure means of organ-
ising support, admittedly, and one that is
constantly at risk of corrupt indulgence in
order to fund private benefit.
presidential elections?
Thus Bayarts politics-of-the-belly casts
a long shadow on the deployment of cul-
ture in African states. It demonstrates that By Sekou Toure Otondi
religion has followed patterns established
by the politics of ethnicity in which merit After the 2007 general election, Kenya experienced its worst politically trig-
and common good does not matter. gered ethnic violence since independence. The violence was caused by a
The current campaign confirms these dispute between the two main presidential candidates Raila Odinga and
various forms of symbolic and symbiotic his opposition Orange Democratic Movement, and Mwai Kibaki, who was
relationships within Kenyan politics. Reli- defending his seat on a Party of National Unity ticket.
gious services and rhetoric, money tokens
and ethnicity are an integral part of the

political system. They will likely again be
the main influence in this election.
Kenyas political elite has histori-
cally been formed in mission schools,
mostly within their ethnic groups and
subject to ethnic expectations. Thus
its an elite formed by and crippled
by ethnic pride. Religious actors
have not escaped a similar elite for-
mation. Thus Kenyas children of God
are rarely Kenyans at large.
Joseph Wandera, Senior Lecturer in the
Department of Religious Studies, St Pauls
University
B
ut this was not the first time Kenya
experienced violence around a
general election. Since the reintro-
duction of multiparty politics in
1992 ethnic violence has repeatedly reared
its ugly head around election time. Even
in elections that were considered peaceful,
as was the case in 2002 and 2013, the threat
of politically instigated ethnic violence re-
mained real.
Its within this historical context of
unpredictability that the upcoming general
elections and specifically the presidential
elections need to be understood.
The run up to the August 8 general elec-
tion has been characterised by palpable
tensions, particularly in the race for the
presidency
This is not a phenomenon unique to
Kenya. In many African countries presi-
dential elections are hotly contested affairs.
Recent examples include The Gambia,
Ghana and Zambia. There have also been
closely fought polls in the U.S., the UK, as
well as the latest French poll.
The difference lies with how countries
respond to election disputes. In Africa, due
to weak institutional and legal frameworks,

18 Aug 04 - 10 , 2017

presidential disputes have often
led to violent conflicts instead of
being resolved by, for example,
the courts. This has certainly
been the case in Kenya.
Why stakes are so high
A lack of trust in the court
system was among the issues
that fuelled tensions and led to
violence in the 2007 poll. There
could well be a repeat come
August 8; the official opposition
has questioned the institutions
charged with conducting elec-
tions and resolving election
disputes.
The two principle institutions
here are the countrys judiciary
and Kenyas election agency
the Independent Electoral
and Boundaries Commission.
Three additional factors have
increased the tension. To begin
with, Uhuru Kenyatta is keen to
avoid the tag of being Kenyas
first one-term president.
On the other side of the aisle,
Raila Odinga a perennial
opposition presidential candi-
date is making what is widely
seen as his last stab at the presi-
dency. The stakes are high for
both candidates.
The second factor has to do
with the post-2017 presidential
succession plan. Neither
Odinga nor Kenyatta are expect-
ed to be on the ballot in 2022.
By law Kenyatta is bound to
step down after two terms and
Odinga has indicated that he
will be a one-term president.
The stakes are therefore high
not just for the 2017 presiden-
tial opponents but also for the
2022 presidency race. However,
given the fluidity of Kenyan
politics and the penchant for
political parties to form alliances
based on ethnic calculations,
there is no guarantee that both
deputies, William Ruto and
Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka, will
face off in the 2022 general elec-
tion. The shift in political allianc-
es may even result in the two
deputies working together in
2022. As a matter of fact, the two
main political protagonists in
the race for presidency, as well
as their deputies, have at one
time been in the same camp.
The third factor has to do
with dynasties. The 2017 presi-
dential poll is likely to be the
final duel between the Kenyatta
and Odinga dynasties. The
two families have dominated
Kenyan politics for more than
half a century.
Uhurus father, Jomo Kenyat-
ta, was Kenyas first president
and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga
Railas father was Kenyas first
vice president. The two leaders
broke ranks in 1966 follow-
ing the elder Odingas ouster
from KANU over ideological
and personal differences. The
rift between the families has
never been healed. The upcom-
ing election can be interpreted
as the final battle in settling
the long-standing political
score between the Odinga and
Kenyatta scions.
What matters for ordinary
Kenyans?
For ordinary Kenyans, the
economy is a key factor. The
economic welfare of majority of
Kenyans has worsened despite
promises by the current admin-
istration to reduce prices of
basic commodities and increase
their socioeconomic well-being.
By the end of April 2017 infla-
tion stood at 11.48%, according
to data from Kenya Bureau of
Statistics. Thats way beyond the
Central Bank inflation ceiling
of 7.8%.
High unemployment is also a
problem. According to the most
recent United Nations Develop-
ment Programmes Human
Development Index report
Kenya, at 39.1%, has the highest
rate of unemployment in the
region.
The election may also swing
on runaway corruption. Since
2013, graft has been more visible
than in previous administra-
tions. In its 2016 Corruption
Perception index Transparency
International, a global anti-
corruption watchdog, ranked
Kenya 145 out of 176 countries
a drop of six places from 2015.
Can Kenya avoid a repeat?
Although the 2010 constitu-
tion opened up county govern-
ments as the new frontier for
political power struggles, the
presidency is without doubt
Kenyas most coveted elective
seat. If the presidential election
is mismanaged tensions are like-
ly to escalate into ethno-political
violence.
To avoid a repeat of the 2007-
2008 post-election violence, key
stakeholders and existing insti-
tutions must be on high alert.
This is particularly true of the
Aug 04 - 10 , 2017
REgional News
institutions tasked with ensur-
ing peaceful elections.
The Independent Electoral
and Boundaries Commission
has a particularly large respon-
sibility given that its the main
institution charged with con-
ducting elections. It must gain
the trust of actors across the
political divide.
As things stand, the official
opposition has expressed reser-
vations about the commissions
neutrality, efficiency and readi-
ness to conduct elections. These
tensions have been playing out
in the High Court. The main
contention between IEBC and
the opposition is the April 7
High Court ruling which direct-
ed that constituencies would be
the final voter tallying centres.
Another factor likely to
trip up the commission is the
amended election law. This
allows it to activate a manual
backup system should the elec-
tronic voter identification and
transmission system malfunc-
tion.
The main reason for ground-
ing the electronic system in
law was to prevent the elec-
tion malpractices cited in the
Kriegler Report following the
2007 election. Resorting to a
manual system could open the
door for voter numbers to be
manipulated.
The opposition also has
little faith in the judiciary. The
courts have repeatedly assured
Kenyans of their readiness
to handle presidential elec-
tion petitions. But scepticism
persists. Despite the tensions,
Kenya is in better shape than
it was in 2007 and 2008. But it
remains dangerously close to
the precipice. The 2017 elections
will once again test the coun-
trys legal framework and insti-
tutional capability to undertake
credible, free, fair and peaceful
elections.
If it does, then Kenya will
have continued to consolidate
its future as a democracy. How-
ever, a shambolic election will
obviously take the country back
to its traditional history of anxi-
ety and unpredictability around
each election cycle.
Sekou Toure Otondi is a PhD
Candidate, Department of Political
Science and Public Administration,
University of Nairobi
19
REgional News
How Kenya could move away
from the politics of ethnicity
By Daisy Maritim-Maina
I
n 1992 Kenya held its first multi-party
election in 26 years. Since this re-intro-
duction of multipartism, the politics of
tribe has been blamed for the countrys
political tribulations.
This has led to a system under which lead-
ers channel government resources to their
ethnic supporters to ensure their political
survival. In turn, their supporters begin to
feel entitled to government resources.
The politics of ethnicity, therefore,
becomes an inter-community competition,
not merely for representation in gover-
nance, but for resources.
This is not a problem exclusive to
Kenya. Studies show that many Afri-
can countries are finding it difficult
to manage diversity, and particularly
ethnicity. In other parts of the world
such as Yugoslavia, Burma, and Sri
Lanka, ethnicity has been politicised
and has consequently played a major
role in triggering violence.
In Kenya, tribal politics has given
rise to rampant corruption, margin-
alisation, disenfranchisement of entire
communities, and full-blown violence.
As the country goes into another gen-
eral election in a few days, two ques-
tions are frequently being asked. Has
anything changed since 2007 when
violence broke out after a disputed
election? And are there any real ideo-
logical differences between Kenyas
two main coalitions?
A stock take of the present ethnic reality
shows that tribalism is more entrenched than Luhya and Mijikenda communities.
ever. The two coalitions are a cluster of par-
ties that represent regional ethnic blocs.
In fact they have split the country down
the middle along a clear tribal fault line, with district political associations.
the populous Kikuyu and Kalenjin tribes on
one side and the Luo, Luhya and Kamba on
the other.
History of ethnic loyalties
But why are there such bitter contests
every election cycle? It has everything to do
with the possibility of attaining control of
state resources and being in charge of their
allocation. Kenya has been governed by four
presidents from two ethnic communities
since independence: the Kikuyu and the
Kalenjin. The 40 other communities now
believe that its their turn to hold the presi-
dency. Kenya is home to 42 ethnic groups.
The major ones are the Kikuyu, Luhya,
Kalenjin, Luo, and Kamba. Combined, they
20 Aug 04 - 10 , 2017
form 66% of the countrys population.
The behaviour of Kenyan voters has
remained largely consistent over the past
five multi-party elections. Regardless of
where they reside, ethnic allegiance has been
the most influential motivator at the ballot.
This pattern of political allegiance based on
ethnicity has a long history dating back to
Kenyas colonial past.
In Kenyas first independent general elec-
tion in May 1963, the two largest indigenous
parties KANU, formed in May 1960, and
KADU, formed a month later, both assumed
an ethnic DNA. KANU represented the
Former President Mwai Kibaki (bottom left) and opposition
leader Raila Odinga (bottom right) sign a power-sharing
agreement in February 2008. Antony Njuguna/Reuters
populous Kikuyu and Luo tribes and KADU ated a more ethnically inclusive leadership.
represented the smaller Masai, Kalenjin,
This was partly because colonial policy
barred the formation of nationwide political
movements. It only allowed the formation of was passed to create the positions of a prime
The effect was to encourage ethni-
cally homogeneous political associations
to emerge across the country. As a result,
parties have drawn their political legitimacy
and capital from their respective ethnic bases ment of political parties. If representatives
since independence. At Lancaster House
where Kenyan delegates held a series of
meetings to negotiate Kenyas independence politicians would gradually move away
constitution KANU and KADU leaders
wore their ethnic hats. And in 1966 when
Vice President Jaramogi Oginga Odinga left
KANU he retreated to his ethnic backyard
and formed the Kenya Peoples Union.
So historically speaking, political parties
have never really been divorced from tribal
affiliations. But the problem runs much
deeper than tribal politics. In Kenya an
ethnically diverse society is responding to
an imposed political configuration which,
thanks to its colonial heritage, is a democratic
competition for resources.
Fixing the problem
If we regard democracy as elastic rather
than rigid, it allows us to recognise that it
can be forced or negotiated. Negotiated
democracy can lead to stability whereas
forced democracy can lead to instability and
violence.
A case in point is Zimbabwe where a pow-
er-sharing deal was reached between Robert
Mugabes Zimbabwe Africa National
Union-Patriotic Front and Morgan
Tsvangirais Movement for Democratic
Change in 2008. At the time, the deal
brought the countrys political and
economic crisis to an end. Other Afri-
can examples of negotiated democra-
cies include South Africa and Rwanda.
In Kenya, negotiated democracy can
be reached by creating more executive
positions beyond the president and
deputy president to accommodate
feuding tribes: mainly the Kikuyu,
Kalenjin, Luo and Luhya.
Kenya has tried this model before,
and it worked. The power sharing
model put in place after the 2007 elec-
tion quelled the post-election violence.
The new structure, guided by the
peace accord, created three new execu-
tive positions a prime minister, and
two deputy prime ministers. This cre-
Constitutionally, a power-sharing agree-
ment may not be as simple to effect as the
2008 National Accord and Reconciliation
Act. In that case, a simple Act of Parliament
minister and his two deputies. Today the
government would need to call a referen-
dum to create substantive positions.
But that should not be a deterrent.
Changes like this could lead to a realign-
of a majority of Kenyas ethnic groups were
guaranteed senior positions in government,
from ethnicity as a tool for political mobilisa-
tion, and towards ideological campaigns that
prioritise socioeconomic development.
Daisy Maritim Maina is a Research Fellow
at the East Africa Resilience Innovation Hub
which receives research funding from the
International Development Research Centre
(IDRC) Canada.

Bamugemereire Land probe:
How government land is stolen
By Julius Businge
After a technical break, the seven-
member Land Inquiry 2017 Com-
mission headed by Lady Justice
Catherine Bamugemereire handled
two big cases from July 24 28.
I
n the two cases, one main issue
emerged: forceful evictions of the pow-
erless off land by those with power,
money, and connections. Top govern-
ment officials; including the Inspector
General of Government Irene Mulyagonja,
Inspector General of Police Gen. Kale Kayi-
hura, the Uganda Land Commission chair-
man Baguma Isoke have testified. Others
include local administration officials and
politicians of Jinja Municipal Council and
top businessman Simpson Birungi, owner
of the well-known personal care company,
Movit Products Ltd.
Underlying key issues that emerged were
similar: impunity and disrespect of the
law governing land, influence peddling by
government agents, abuse of office by top
government officials, corruption, incom-
petence, forgery of important documents,
and a disconnect between key government
agencies in making decisions on land mat-
ters, intimidation, and loss of property and
money by government.
The first case that the commission
handled involved the illegal giveaway
of government land and property with
impunity in Jinja, the main town in eastern
Uganda. Theft of the prime property on Plot
60-62 Alidina Road involved officials of Jinja
Municipal Council and several government
departments and ministries.
The property comprised several busi-
ness premises operated by over 100 people
under the Privatisation Unit of the Ministry
of Finance but ended up in the hands of a
businessman, one Simpson Birungi who
officially paid a paltry Shs2.5 million for it
but unofficially paid a Shs70 million bribe to
a long chain of officials involved in the theft.
The traders offered to pay Shs80 million
to the government if the premises were for
sale. The commission heard that then-minis-
ter of Tourism, Trade and Industry, Kahin-
da Otafiire, who is the current minister of
Justice and Constitutional Affairs, ordered
the final dubious giveaway of the land to
Birungi in a deal that sucked in President
Yoweri Musevenis step-brother, Michael
Nuwagira alias Toyota. The Bamugereire
Simpson Birungi, the proprietor of Birus Property Services appearing before the Commission to
answer questions regarding plot 60-62 Aldina Road, Jinja on July 24. INDEPENDENT /JULIUS BUSINGE
Commission heard that Birungi, while bran-
dishing an allocation letter from Otafiires
ministry, and assisted by a squad of police-
men, ignored an ongoing court process
and an order by the Inspector General of
Police, threw the traders out of the prem-
ises and razed the government building.
The incident occurred on January 16, 2015.
Birungi said he was to construct a 12-storey
commercial building on the plot. Instead, he
is currently operating over 60 shops in an
unfinished three-story block that he occu-
pied without a certificate of completion.
In the immediate fall-out from the case,
IGP Kayihura on July 25 suspended from
duty four top police commanders allegedly
involved in the dubious sale and eviction.
The second case involves the dubious
allocation of government land to Asian
business people. The Commission heard
that officials of the Jinja District Land Board
allocated over seven hectares of land on
Block 103 in Butembe County, Jinja district
to the Asian owners of a private company
called Favourite Enterprises. The land ini-
tially belonged to the Uganda Land Com-
mission which purported to allocate it to the
National Fisheries Research Institute (NAFI-
RI) in 2011. But When NAFIRI attempted
to acquire land titles for the land, they were
blocked. Instead officials of the Jinja District
Land Board and Jinja Municipal Council
allegedly struck a deal with the Asians.
Patrick Kasumba, the MP for Bujenje
Constituency in western Uganda, is one of
those closely following the Bamugemereire
Commissions work.
He told The Independent on Aug.01
News analysis
that in all cases he has followed, it is clear
that the rich and the powerful in the gov-
ernment are kicking the helpless and poor
off the land. In his view, the Commission
is doing exactly what it was set up to do;
by rucking up the dirt in the land sectors of
government departments.
What I dont know is whether the rec-
ommendations in the report are going to be
implemented, he said.
He said failure to implement the recom-
mendations of the report would negatively
impact on public funds. But he said, those
seeking justice should use the recommenda-
tions and issues emerging from the commis-
sion of inquiry to advocate for action.
We need to call for strong action and I
wish we come up with one strong voice,
he said, One voice from myself may not be
enough.
Kasumba said that what may fail collec-
tive action of the different groups and areas
is having different problems which require
different approach to achieve justice.
He said the Amendment Bill on compul-
sory land acquisition that is being pushed
through parliament by the government is
targeting land in specific regions such as
Bunyoro where there is a key resource oil
and gas.
He said that Bunyoro Parliamentary Cau-
cus is using all available space to educate
the people in Bunyoro about their rights on
land and what they should do when they
are facing issues regarding land grabbing
and evictions. He said they plan to meet
President Museveni to bring to his attention
key issues on matters land.
Aug 04 - 10 , 2017 21
 URA Commissioner General, Doris Akol (R), Dickson Kateshumbwa, the commissioner for customs (M) and Patience Tumusiime Rubagumya, the Commissioner
for Legal Services attending a press conference for end of year (2016/2017) performance at Nakawa on July 24. Independent photo/ Julius Businge
By Julius Businge
Uganda Revenue Author-
ity has good and bad
news these days. The tax
body is collecting more
and more money but, at
the same time, is failing
to meet ever rising annu-
al targets. The pattern
of missed tax revenue
collection targets has
been going on for most
of the last five years and
URA Commissioner Gen-
eral, Doris Akol, wants to
change that. In search of
solutions, The Indepen-
dent spoke to tax experts.
I
n the just concluded
Financial Year
(2016/2017), the tax
body recorded a 13%
growth in revenue col-
lection but ended up
with close to Shs 500 billion
revenue collection as shortfall
because of the new target of
Shs 13.2 trillion.
Similarly, the year before
that (2015/16), collections
grew by 15.6% but with Shs
22 Aug 04 - 10 , 2017
URAs missed
collection
targets
Tax experts say
government needs to
refocus its priorities
404 billion as shortfall (target
was Shs 11.6 trillion). The tar-
get for the FY 2017/18 is Shs15
trillion, which is 14% higher
than last year.
In response to the missed
targets, Akol told journalists
in Kampala on July 24 that it
is partly caused by govern-
ment introducing more of rev-
enue reducing tax measures
and fewer revenue increasing
measures. While answering a
question from one of the jour-
nalists in their meeting at the
URA headquarters in Kampa-
la, Akol said unfortunately
the URA mandate stops at
tax collection. She did not
elaborate but signaled a need
for a better balance between
new tax revenue reducing and
generating policies.
She said, to set the rev-
enue collection targets, the
government bases on macro-
economic indicators like pro-
jected rate of growth of eco-
nomic activity and currency
exchange rate movements, but
these have been volatile and
unfavourable.
Economic growth has aver-
aged between 4-5% for the last
five years, which is far below
the projected 6-7% growth
rates of the comparable period
before. The exchange rate of
the Shilling against other cur-
rencies, especially the U.S.
dollar, has been persistently
high and rising. This has
increased the cost of doing
business, constrained demand,
and resulted in reduced tax
revenue.
To add to the challenge of
collecting more taxes, the gov-
ernment introduced several
income tax exemptions for
Bujagali Hydropower Project,
Savings and Credit Co-opera-
tives (SACCOs), professional
bodies like the Institute of
Certified Public Accountants
of Uganda, and the agriculture
sector.
Akol did not share the
extent of loss in revenue by
these exemptions but the
big picture is contained in a
report released in June 2016 by
Tax Justice Network - Africa

and ActionAid that indicated
Uganda was losing Shs 1 tril-
lion per year in form of tax
holidays and royalty exemp-
tions given to mostly foreign
firms. The Shs1 trillion men-
tioned might be far smaller
than the actual figure given
that some tax exemptions are
negotiated secretly by parties
involved, according to people
familiar with the subject.
But even the conservative
loss of Shs1 trillion is big; it
dents the budget as it could
easily finance up to four major
ministries; agriculture, tour-
ism trade and industry,
ICT (and) national guidance,
and science technology and
innovation. These sectors were
allocated a total of Shs980 bil-
lion in the FY2017/18 national
budget.
Akols collection plan
In an effort to boost URAs
chances of hitting the stretched
revenue target, Akol said
URAs revenue collection plan
for this financial year, would
build on the already existing
infrastructure investments in
the previous years, introduce
new tax revenue generating
measures, continue fostering a
taxpaying culture, and ease the
process of tax compliance. The
new tax revenue generating
measures are projected to fetch
about Shs450 billion for URA.
Akol said URA will
emphasise zero tolerance to
corruption, investing in non-
bureaucratic processes to ease
tax administration efficiencies,
and ensure quality service
delivery.
Actual activities would
include tax education pro-
grams, risk management
enhancements, focus on rental
tax enhancements, and roll-
ing out the single customs
territory. Other areas include
upgrading e-platforms to
match with the increasing
number of goods, enhancing
use of information and data
analysis to help in effectively
analysing returns to guarantee
that the right tax amount is
declared and remitted across
all sectors. The tax body will
also launch, for its internal
operations, an enterprise
resource planning module
which is an automated sys-
tem that manages financial
accounting, stocks and req-
uisitions of goods and items
in addition to managing staff
-related functions.
Akol says URA will also
focus on international taxa-
tion, especially of multination-
al corporations that contribute
40% of the taxes in Uganda.
Research has also indicated
that they are also the highest
risk-taxpayers, Akol said. She
said multinational corpora-
tions employ aggressive tax
planning practices through
Base Erosion and Profit Shift-
ing (BEPS) which has exploit-
ed gaps and mismatches in tax
rules to artificially shift profits
to low or not tax locations.
Gideon Badagawa
They jeopardise our ability
to mobilise domestic resourc-
es, Akol said. She added that
they plan to equip staff in
international unit with skills
required to effectively handle
transactions that involve cross
border and intra-group trans-
actions.
Tax experts views
Finance Minister, Matia
Kasaija and supporters of tax
exemptions say such incen-
tives are good for attracting
investments and growing the
tax base and the economy in
the long term. But in separate
interviews with The Inde-
pendent several top taxation
experts say instead of looking
to tax existing taxpayers more,
URA should be looking at
ways to innovate and broaden
the tax base. Many also said
URA needs to understand
why tax payers make certain
business decisions before
rushing to impose new taxes
on them.
Focusing only on already
existing and compliant tax
payers will be over burden-
some given that the economic
environment is already tough
as it is without higher taxes,
Ronald Kalema, the manager
for Tax and Legal Services at
KPMG Uganda said.
He said because the econo-
my has been growing slowly,
bringing new tax payers into
the fold is URAs best option.
He said URA should use data
collected through their robust
IT systems such as Asycuda
Francis Kamulegeya
and E-tax to expand the tax
base.
Kalema said using tax
exemptions to attract invest-
ment is good but the govern-
ment needs to take a wider
view and include creating a
good economic environment
and lowering tax rates across
the board. He said it has
worked for countries like Ire-
land and Mauritius. He add-
ed that the government needs
to strike a balance between
its long term focus on invest-
ments in public infrastructure
with a short term economic
growth.
Francis Kamulegeya, the
PwC Uganda country senior
partner who is also a member
of the PwC Africa Governance
Board said tax exemptions
are not among the top items
Aug 04 - 10 , 2017
business
new investors consider while
making decisions. He said it
is at number six, below infra-
structure, rule of law, corrup-
tion, access to financing, and
sanitation.
He said URA needs to
understand the nature of
multinational business before
deciding whether or not they
are deliberately avoiding taxes.
He said multinationals often
operate in multiple tax regimes
using a common model. He
said this may benefit one tax
regime and disadvantage
another in terms of discount
benefits, quality issues and
price.
He said although he sym-
pathises with URA when some
tax measure erode the tax
base, some tax incentives are
intended to make the country
attractive to investors in the
international arena.
Kamulegeya said the tax
exemptions on Bujagali Energy
Ltd (BEL) are good because
they are intended to lower
the consumer power tariffs.
He also supported exempt-
ing profession bodies because
they are not trading entities.
He said SACCOs should not
be exempted and should pay
tax like any other entity that
pays interest income on earn-
ings from NSSF, fixed deposit
accounts, and investments in
government Treasury Bills.
Gideon Badagawa, the exec-
utive director at Private Sector
Foundation Uganda (PSFU)
said tax exemptions will
attract more investors with
good technology and human
resource skills that will create
more jobs, pay more taxes,
and grow the economy.
He said while the govern-
ment focuses on infrastruc-
ture investment for the long
term, it needs to focus on the
coffee, tea sectors and other
short term ventures to fuel
economic activity in the short
term and boost tax revenue
collection efforts. He said most
of these sectors need extension
services, SACCOs and Coop-
eratives.
We need to look far to
avoid registering shortfalls,
he said, even if it means giv-
ing a tax break to investors for
a year let it be.
23
business

UIA to withdraw investor

undeveloped park land
Jolly Kaguhangire is the new executive director
of the Uganda Investment Authority. She spoke
to The Independents Isaac Khisa about the
major reforms that await the agency.

It is now a few months since you took over their area of specialisation.
office as ED of UIA. What is your assess- I am hoping that if we become order-
ment of your performance based on your ly in the way we do our work, strengthen

A
set targets?
t the time I took over office, I had
mainly three things to accomplish
in my first 100 days: building
investor confidence, rebrand-
ing UIA, and strengthening the countrys
promotion activities. And have I achieved
them? I have tried to make sure that the
agency is visible through public dialogues
and the media and we are in the process of
rebranding; especially our website, making
sure that it is more interactive and informa-
tive with all the required information. This
will eliminate corruption that tends to come
along as investors move from one govern-
ment department to another. We want to
change the face of UIA, the logo and the
way we work, including having a One-
Stop- Centre where investors will find all
the investment services from the different
government agencies including Uganda
Revenue Authority, Uganda Registration
Services Bureau, Kampala Capital City Au-
thority, and National Environmental Man-
agement Authority on a single online portal.
our internal systems for efficiency, as well
as work with our embassies abroad, then,
we would be good to attract investors.
The past three months have been very
terrible for me because you get pressure
from all corners, invitations, conferences.
In addition, this institution does not have a
research department to follow sector perfor-
mance and trends of the economy. Yet, one
can only talk to investors well when armed
with statistics. That needs to change.
What are the key priority areas that UIA is
eyeing at attracting investors and why?
We are focusing on agro-processing,
industry, oil and gas, and tourism.
These areas are based on the plan; I
dont have good researched informa-
tion about why we are focusing on
those areas as I am yet to get
a team to work on the
evidence. That is some-
thing that needs
to change.

How do you plan to make Uganda a glob-

al competitive investment destination?
We already have good environment and
policies for investment. But we have not
been able to attract investors because of
inefficiency and being disorderly, with each
government agency doing its own work.
I have contacted a number of sister agen-
cies; including Uganda Tourism Board in
the line of tourism and the Uganda Export
Promotion Board in terms of promoting
exports, shared their messages and we are
now in the process of merging them so that
all of us speak in one voice to investors. We
are coming out with the script and a video
so that whoever goes out of the country can
market Uganda more easily before going to

24 Aug 04 - 10 , 2017

What is the criterion for awarding land to
a prospective investor in these nine busi-
ness parks?
A prospective investor presents a busi-
ness proposal and confirms financial capa-
bility. We still dont have a minimum capital
requirement for one to be allocated land
and this is one of the weakness that we need
to address.
It is the reason a section of the land in
these parks was given out to the so-called
investors yet they are not able to develop
it. For instance, we no longer have land in
the Kampala Industrial and Business Park,
Namamve. Yet there are only about 20 com-
panies that are active leaving the vast land
idle. It is for that matter that I have hired
research assistants to gather investor data
and information from different agencies,
institutions, and sectors for a period of one
month.
It is from here that we shall profile all
these investors in terms of their capacity
and jobs created. I would also like to know
who the investors are. In our system, we
see licences issued to more than 6,000 inves-
tors but where they are? Are they doing the
work or it is just on paper? Which type of
businesses are they doing? Is it the same
business that that they applied for? How
much money have they invested in the
business, how many employees
do they have?
We have withdrawn
10
licences from
investors in Namamve
and four in the Soroti
Business Park. We
have also written to
30 other companies
giving them a period
of three months to
defend themselves
I looked for these figures and got frustrat-
ed and thus had to start working right away
to get these facts because they are needed
out there for investors, the government, and
the general public. The statistics may not
be exact but at least I will have a base as we
look for a way forward.
How far have you gone with the issue of
withdrawing licences from investors who
are yet to develop the land allocated in the
parks?
We have withdrawn 10 licences from
investors in Namamve and four in the
Soroti Business Park. We have also written
to 30 other companies giving them a period
of three months to defend themselves as to
why they are yet to put up something on
that land and if they dont respond, we shall
withdraw it.
The moment an investor gets land in
these Parks, they are supposed to develop
it within 18 months to show that they are
committed to the project. The lease expires
every five years. So, I would like to see that
the land in these parks is developed.
Infrastructure development remains a big
challenge in these parks. How do you plan
to address it?
We dont have enough funds and we
are now pursuing a loan with the Exim
Bank India (US155million) to put up facili-
ties. We have been trying to work in a few
areas where investors are active; providing
electricity, roads, and water selectively but
we now want to do it for everyone in these
parks.
And what is the progress?
We have just finished terms of refer-
ence and now look towards carrying out a
Business
feasibility study. We plan to advertise for
the feasibility study soon and we proceed
because we cannot get the loan without it.
How do you plan to repay the loan?
It is government because we dont have
good income. We used to receive premiums
which the president removed arguing that
an investor cannot pay dues because he/she
is yet to earn income.
You have said on many occasions that you
intend to create 1milliion jobs by 2021.
Isnt that being too ambitious?
It is possible because in a quarter we are
supposed to have 50,000 jobs. The reason I
am thinking that it is possible off course
these are not actual but based on the plan
is that in the past three months, we got
about 20,000 jobs.
If we are able to achieve that from inves-
tors who just come in this environment,
which is not that organised, I believe we can
go to another level if we are organised. We
only need good investors where a single
company can employ thousands.
UIA seems to be focused on industries yet
the biggest opportunities for Uganda are
in agriculture. What plans do you have for
agricultural investors; both domestic and
foreign?
I dont think that is true because some of
the industries we are looking at are already
in food; for instance, fruit processing firms.
I have actually got quite a number of agro-
processing firms to the extent that I am
getting worried of the capacity of our local
farmers to meet their demand. Priority
number one is to work with the communi-
ties. I dont want them to come and do
farming; they need to contract local farmers
to supply them with the raw materials.
Where do you see the level of investment
in the country in a few years to come?
I believe that if we soon get organised,
well branded, electronic systems up and
running, with our staff motivated, invest-
ment in this country should improve in the
next two years. Foreign Direct Investments
should increase by at least 20% compared to
where we are now. I believe it is achievable.
Theres an allegation by one of your board
members that you had hired a private firm
to do UIAs strategic plan yet the plan
already exists. What is your comment on
that?
That argument has no life, it is baseless. It
is just an individual who wanted to damage
and weaken me so that I dont move on. If
there was an issue, then, we should have
discussed it internally that running to other
government agencies.
Aug 04 - 10 , 2017 25
Business
World Bank upbeat
about economy
Says Public Private Partnerships on large
projects could spur economy
By Ian Katusiime
T
he Uganda economy could grow
at a rate of 5.2% during the current
Financial Year 2017/18, according
to the latest World Bank update
released on July 25. That figure represents a
100% positive shift in the rate of economic
growth and is the only positive sliver in a
report that dwelt mainly on the poor perfor-
mance of the economy in the previous FY
2016/17.
News about the Uganda economy is
mainly not good. For the Financial Year
ending June 2017, the government failed to
execute many public investments, contin-
ued to perform badly in revenue collection,
and had to deal with a terrible drought- all
which slowed economic growth.
The aftershocks of the high inflation of
2011 that peaked at 30% were still having
lingering effects and continued to constrain
private investments. Commercial bank
credit to the private sector remained sub-
dued and the governments financial policy
is undermined by overspending on opera-
tional matters such as wages and less on the
development budget.
On a positive note, Rachael Sebudde, a
senior economist for World Bank Uganda,
who made a detailed presentation on the
economic update at the Ministry of Finance
boardroom in Kampala on July 25, noted
that for the year ending June 2017, Inflation
remained low, through the year, allowing
sustained easing of monetary policy.
She noted that there was impressive per-
formance on the external account; which
is the net income to the economy from
abroad. The current account; which shows
the difference between exports and imports,
improved and shortfalls in capital inflows
made a positive turn around during the
second half of the financial year ending June
2017.
The Ugandan economy has been growing
at one of the slowest rates in the past decade
with GDP growth rate estimated at 2.5% per
annum during the first nine months of FY
2016/17. The growth outcome was almost
two percentage points lower than projected
in the budget for the just ended year and,
according to the World Bank, unforeseen
macroeconomic shocks on private sector
26 Aug 04 - 10 , 2017
David Bahati
activities slowed economic growth.
Not that it is a surprise since, for most of
2016, almost all top businesses in Uganda
were operating under a cloud of economic
depression and heavy unserviceable debt. A
few were publicly appealing to the govern-
ment for bail out. Crane Bank, which was
Ugandas fourth largest bank by assets,
went into receivership, during the period
covered by the update.
Positive outlook
Regarding the positive outlook for
2017/18, the World Bank has several cave-
ats; the weather conditions must improve,
credit to the private sector should ease up,
and public investments must take off. In
other words, everything that went wrong
last year must go right this year.
The World Bank is upbeat that private
investments could accelerate if Foreign
Direct Investment (FDI) in the extractives
sector increases, following recent key
developments in the oil sector, including
the issuance of long-awaited exploration
agreements, and signing of HoimaTanga
pipeline agreement.
Construction and services are expected
to be the main drivers of growth, drawing
from the huge infrastructure investment
program as per this years budget.
A low revenue base, a tendency of gov-
ernment granting tax exemptions, and fail-
ure of infrastructure investments to gener-
ate sufficient growth remain present risks to
the outlook, according to the bank.
Sebudde said the governments large
scale infrastructure investment programs
face a potent risk of failing to attract suffi-
cient financing and says alternative sources
of financing should be explored.
PPP for mobilising infrastructure
finance
Sebudde mentioned Public Private Part-
nerships (PPP) as a means to efficiently
mobilise Ugandas infrastructure finance
because they allow public expenditures
related to the capital cost of infrastructure
assets to be spread over time and generate
higher levels of revenue. She said infrastruc-
ture projects are easier to be achieved if they
are managed and operated by the private
sector, are of better quality, and are imple-
mented in a timely manner that minimises
cost overruns.
Although there have been cases of out-
right failure of PPPs, including the Rift
Valley Railways project, the Kampala-Jinja
Expressway is being studied for possible
implementation as a PPP.
Sebudde, however, warned about the
danger of PPPs raising the cost of public
investment if they turn out to be more
expensive.
Government may not be able to avoid
all risk, she said, certain risks; such as the
demand, forex, interest rate and inflation
risks through provision of guarantees are
normally born by government. She stated
that PPPs are bound to fail if operating
within an environment with deficiencies
in management of sectors through under-
pricing, inefficient operations, and poor
implementation.
For Uganda to maximise value from
PPPs, Sebudde outlines a raft of measures
including establishing of methodologies
for detailed feasibility analyses, including
value for money assessments and fiscal
affordability assessments, streamlining the
procurement processes, and adding greater
detail and competition into the process-
ing of unsolicited projects.
She said the government needs to build
a robust PPP pipeline by implementing
a mechanism for screening project ideas
from the investment and PPP perspectives,
and linking them to developing innovative
financing mechanisms.
Some participants at the update cited
international bond issuance as another way
for the government to raise financing. Issu-
ance of a Eurobond was mooted but the
Deputy Secretary to the Treasury, Patrick
Ocailap, did not sound optimistic about it.
Since we have been warned about our
borrowing, he said, we need to be cau-
tious of further borrowing. A Eurobond can
only be considered after we have exhausted
all the options.
The Minister of State for Planning,
David Bahati, agreed with Ocailap. We
remain open to all forms of borrowing but
our target is to remain on concessional
financing, he said.
 Executive Style
ICT to drive legal profession
What are the key elements in
your management style as a
M
manager?
anagement is like
raising a child be-
cause you have to
improvise but most
importantly, management is a
team effort and combination of
different strengths and weak-
nesses.
Your strength is your contri-
bution to the team while your
weakness is a burden that is
taken on by someone else. Of
course there are collective things
that are done together as a team
but the greatest comes from
individual effort. So effective
management is about decision
making and empowering the
team to make decisions so as to
achieve the goal of the organiza-
tion.
What is your assessment of the
understanding of and adher-
ence to justice, law and order
in Uganda?
There are many improve-
ments that are being made in
the Justice, law and order sector
which enables coordination.
We have innovations and social
media technology where many
people are gradually becom-
ing aware of things and shows
progress in enabling the popula-
tion understand their rights to
information as well as address
some issues that may arise. For
instance, innovations in deliver-
ing the law like getting the law
simplified and sharing it with
the public is what we do but it
can also be jurisprudence, and
in this case we are far ahead of
other jurisdictions as several
countries cite Ugandan laws
and cases in making their court
decisions. Recently, a Ugandan
court decision won an inter-
national recognition and that
shows that we are ahead and
progressing.
Uganda is ranked low on the
list when it comes to citizens
observing and obeying the law,
according to the World Justice
Project. How are you working
to improve the state of affairs?
We normally get aspects of
the law that we believe are criti-
Gerald Abila is the executive director of
Barefoot Law. He spoke to The Independents
Agnes E Nantaba about improving access
to justice, law and order in Uganda using
technology e-platforms.
cal, break down the legal terms
to let the public know what they
need in any dealings and also
let them know that much as the
law gives them rights, there are
responsibilities that come with
it. The law is a right that places
you under some obligations.
You incorporate technology
in addition to the traditional
methods to increase access to
legal services. What impact has
this created?
The future of the legal profes-
sion is in technology. It should,
however, be noted that technol-
ogy is an enabler because it
doesnt operate in a vacuum.
We come in with the different
models that incorporate both
technology and non technology
based and with it, we have tre-
mendous success.
Social media alone has many
people so we know that at
the end of the day someone is
learning something new and
that is the impact we have cre-
ated. That knowledge will lead
to observance and eventually
increase access to justice and
the law. The only mistake we
are making is dwelling more on
the software side without con-
sidering the hardware side as
so many people have solutions
which dont have devices to get
going.
You recently started working
with Bribespot, how does the
arrangement work?
Bribespot is a platform for
anonymously reporting cor-
ruption and other incidences.
People report cases to Bribespot
and incase there is need for fol-
low up, cases are forwarded to
us to proceed but we encourage
everyone to use it an as interna-
tional platform. More people are
adopting it with the end goal of
increasing access to justice, law
and order.
What about the Women Prop-
erty Rights Initiative?
In our work, we started with
general law but overtime we
realized there are some issues
that keep coming up in the same
line that require specific inter-
ventions. For instance, the num-
ber of women on our platforms
were less than the number of
men and so we came up with
the project to address the issues
Aug 04 - 10 , 2017
of women and property rights
and cater for those who dont
have access to our technology
platforms.
Majority of lawyers are based
in Kampala, leaving millions
of citizens with hardly any
access to legal services. What
is your strategy to strike a bal-
ance?
It might be true but over
time, the trend is changing as
many lawyers are starting to
open up practices in different
parts of the country. There
are also a number of legal aid
organizations that are scattered
across the country. We should,
however, realize that many
people have gadgets and the
only way we can reach major-
ity of them is by supplying the
information to them in a way
that is sustainable as we may
not able to open up offices all
over the country.
Barefoot law was one of the
winners of the 200,000 King
Baudouin African Develop-
ment Prize. What does the de-
velopment mean to your work?
It shows that what we started
off doing with one small mobile
phone to try and prove a con-
cept has finally been recognized
around the world. Its not only
helping validate problems
here but the elements of this
model being used in studies
and researches shows that there
is something happening in
Uganda that is beneficial. We
intend to use the prize money
for the organization towards
growth and also research into
more artificial intelligence as
we try to develop systems to be
more efficient.
You expressed interest in
spreading to other East African
countries. How far have you
gone with your initiative?
Not only in East Africa but
also sub-Saharan. We are in
talks with some partners to
try and get some elements of
barefoot law to try and alleviate
issues of access to justice and
the law in their jurisdictions.
Our goal is to build a concept
throughout the world.
27
Business

Britam Asset Management

firm expands to Uganda
By Isaac Khisa income and we are look-

B
ritam Asset Man-
agement firm, a
subsidiary of Britam
Holdings PLC, has
ventured into the Ugandan
market eyeing investments
in property, energy and pri-
vate equity. This brings the
number of asset management
firms operating in the country
to seven.
Asset/Fund managers
are persons or companies
appointed by the trustees
Ismail Magona, (L) the agg Director budget at the Ministry of Finance talks to advice on the investment
to David Walakira, (M) and Julius Mukunda of CSBAG during the launch of of the assets of the saving
government and CSOs advocacy road map and engagement opportunities schemes.
at Hotel Africana on July 16. INDEPENDENT/JIMMY SIYA Ronald Kasolo, the general
manager, Britam Asset Man-
agers (U) Ltd, said the firm
plans to replicate the Kenyan
model in the country offering
investment management and
advisory services to pension
funds, insurance companies,
corporates, government
owned entities and retail
investors.
In this market, you realise
that a lot of money has been
invested in traditional invest-
ment assets equity and fixed
ing at bringing something
unique, he told The Indepen-
dent in an interview.
We want to invest in
property and energy but also
support businesses that are
looking for capital to grow.
He said the lined-up
products have the potential
to create resilient in invest-
ment returns because of their
unique aspect.
Kasolo, for instance, said
that while the demand for
properties has recently fallen,
there are still some properties
especially in prime locations
with good returns. The firm
plans to work with various
banks as custodians.
Benson Wairegi, the manag-
ing director, Britam Group,
said the firms expansion
into the region, starting with
Uganda, marks an important
step in the companys strate-
gic plan to widen its scope of
investments products.
Started its operations in
Kenya in 2004, the firm has
assets under its management
worth US$1.23bn as at the end
of last month.

Joyce Nasuuna, (L) from Uganda Blood Transfusion Services talks to Roy
Tumwizere, (R) the Brand Manager Uganda Waragi as he donates blood. This is
part of Uganda Breweries Limited corporate social responsibility as it marks 71
years of existence. INDEPENDENT/JIMMY SIYA Weekly share price movement (July 28)
Security July 28 July 21 Movement
BATU 30000 30000 00
BOBU 108 105 2.86
CENT 1,397 1,403 0.43
DFCU 758 759 0.13
EABL 9,163 8,764 4.55
EBL 1,432 1,360 5.29
JHL 14,925 14,861 0.43
KA 156 168 7.14
KCB 1,388 1,377 0.80
NIC 12 12 00
NMG 3,818 3,741 2.06
NVL 539 539 00
SBU 27 27 00
UCHM 125 104 20.19
State Minister for Primary Education, Rosemary Sseninde being
welcomed by the Commander of the Lead Force of the Special Forces UCL 13 13 00
Command (SFC), Lt. Col. Vincent Ssenfuka and Col. Flavia Byekwaso (M) UMEME 427 425 0.47
during the launch of the SACCO of spouses of SFC soldiers at the Marines ALSI -- -- --
Base in Entebbe Municipality on July 28. INDEPENDENT/JIMMY SIYA Source: USE
28 Aug 04 - 10 , 2017
 Business
CSR CSR

Vodafone Uganda partners MTN, KCCA sign Shs1.2bn sponsorship deal

activities of club and the players.
Reach A Hand for 2017 With this landmark partnership, we are
achievers award of the strong belief that this will go a long
way in strengthening the club activities and

V
odafone Uganda has partnered
with Reach A Hand in this years
edition of The Young Achievers
Awards as a title sponsor. The
initiative rewards excellence, hard work
and innovation of the youth.
MTN CEO Wim Vanhelleputte (L) hands over a cheque
to KCCA ED Jennifer Musisi. COURTESY PHOTO
by default, the players welfare, he said.
Jennifer Musisi, the executive director at
the Kampala Capital City Authority, said
MTNs continued support of the sporting
sector cement its reputation as a reliable
partner in development of the city and its
stakeholders.

I am thrilled that we are partnering
with Reach A Hand, Uganda and taking
on the Young Achievers Awards this year.
We believe in fostering a culture that not
only amplifies learning, but also repre-
sents a platform for the youth to showcase
their unique skills and accomplishments,
said John Ndego, the CEO, Vodafone
Uganda.
Humphrey Nabimanya, the Team lead-
er & Founder of Reach A Hand, Uganda,
said their partnership with Vodafone
M
TN Uganda has provided
Shs1.29billion to KCCA football
club for three years in a new
sponsorship deal. MTNs Chief
Executive Officer, Wim Vanhelleputte, said
the funds will help in strengthening various
RETAIL
Rice prices in Kigali soars
MTN has over the years avidly supported
various sports activities in the country rang-
ing from the national football and the bas-
ketball Leagues. Rugby giants Heathens and
Kampala Club Chairmans Cup have simi-
larly benefitted from MTNs sponsorship of
local sporting teams to mention but a few.

on this years Young Achievers Awards
is a timely and strategic one as they are
both designing programs that not only
appeal to young people, but have a lasting
impact to the communities.
Started in 2009, the Young Achievers
Awards recognize and celebrate outstand-
ing youth in the Ugandan Community
that have excelled in various realms such
as the arts, entrepreneurship, media and
journalism, innovation and sports.
S
luggish deliveries amidst increase
in demand has pushed rice prices
in Kigali, Rwanda, by up to 12%.
The whole sale price for a 25kg bag
of Pakistan and Thailand imported rice
rose from Rwf17, 000 at the end of June to
Rwf19, 000 at the moment.
We still depend on imported rice and
any disruption to flows is reflected in the
price, Robert Opirah, the director-general
for trade and investment at the Ministry of
Commerce told Rwanda Today
When demand is more than what deal-
ers have in stock or orders are delayed, the
prices go up. Also, the East African region
is yet to recover from the drought last
year, he added.
Rwanda spent over Rwf4.1 billion on
rice imports in the past quarter of 2016
compared with Rwf2 billion for the same
period in 2015.

INSURANCE TECHNOLOGY

CIC half-year profit up 14% to Shs343million Nokia returns to Kenyan market

Securities Exchange (NSE).
Gross premiums jumped by
a fifth to Kshs7.59 billion from
Kshs6.30 billion after the listed
company invested in more
distribution channels to make
its products more accessible,
according to the Group Chief
Executive Tom Gitogo.
Tom Gitogo After rebranding, we went
through a structured process
N
okia returned to the
Kenyan Market with a
range of smartphones
to deliver the latest
pure Android experience. The
first Nokia smartphone range
comprising of the Nokia 3310,
Nokia 3, Nokia
5 and Nokia
6 will be avail-
able through
mobile phone
We are delighted to bring
the Nokia 3310 phone to our
consumers in Kenya. Nokia
has been one of the most iconic
and recognisable phone brands
in our country for decades.
HMD has received an incred-
ible reception
from our
partners so
far; it seems
everyone

R
egional insurance
firm, CIC Insurance
Group has registered
a 14.53% growth in
net profit to Kshs347.87million
in the first half of the year
compared with the same
period last year. The insurer
said the growth in profit is
attributable to improved
premium earnings and
a rebound at the Nairobi
of reinvigorating the business
by rationalising our product
range to make them more
responsive to market needs,
he said.
However, the companys net
claims rose 27.27% to Kshs4.06
billion from KshsSh3.19 billion
the year before, the firm said,
largely blamed on private
motor claims. CIC Group has
operations in Kenya, Uganda,
South Sudan and Malawi.
service provider,
Safaricom, and
through selected
retailers country-
wide. The devices will retail lo-
cally at Shs 506,000, Shs 675,000
and Shs 843,000, respectively.
HMD global Oy, the licence
holder for the Nokia brand,
plans to leverage on brand
recognition to recapture the
market, currently dominated by
Samsung, Huawei and Tecno.
shares our
excitement
for this next
chapter,
said Justin Maier, vice president
Sub-Saharan Africa, HMD
Global.
This comes barely two years
since the Finnish company,
Nokia stated that it would start
licensing mobile phone hand-
sets under its brand name.

Aug 04 - 10 , 2017 29
Comment
Brand Appeal: Thoughts of a Toro feminist
Stella Nyanzis pads for girls campaign
and my Mujunju village childhood
D
r. Stella Nyanzi who needs no
introduction here has for the past
couple of months been a socio-po-
litical phenomenon in Uganda and
beyond. I became familiar with the Nyanzi
brand during her skirmishes with renowned
academic Mahmood Mamdani, who until
then was only publically known for his
academic excellence. I truly felt Nyanzi was
crazy and her unorthodox way of doing
things a turn off.
I remember having several discussions
with my female colleagues, condemning
Nyanzi, and labeling her a distress to femi-
nist struggles. How can she attack our most
distinguished and our very own academic
Saint and our most holy, Mamdani, I asked
myself. How can she undress before cam-
eras; doesnt she know she is a woman and
her body sacred?
Well events come and go, and the Nyanzi-
Mamdani saga faded. But not Nyanzi. She
made a grand return; this time choosing an
even sterner opponent in the First Lady Janet
Museveni and her husbands government in
general. The so-called mama Janet is not my
mama, how can a mother say the govern-
ment has no money to buy sanitary pads for
vulnerable girls across the country, Nyanzi
cried out. But her own husband promised
pads during his campaign for the next term
of his never-ending presidency, she added.
This woman is out of touch with reality.
For the very first time, and I stand to be
corrected if my memory is wrong, somebody
stood up to Janet. Hitherto only known as
the most humble and caring mama, she is
stripped bare. Remember not even T.V.O,
The Redpepper or even Facebookers have
directly attacked Janet before. She was a
mystery and somewhat sacred.
But this time brand Nyanzi was making
an even grander impact on my mind. I sud-
denly start connecting with her in some
ways; a soft spot for her suddenly grows
within me. I ask myself, what is this; I
thought this woman was mad? Why am I
feeling and identifying with her cause? The
woman becomes really appealing; the mad-
ness I saw during her skirmishes with Mam-
dani is exchanged with heroism, a warrior
fighting for the innocent and the vulnerable.
I go back to re-think her wars with Mamdani
and I slowly begin to think, maybe Nyanzi
had a point. I seriously begin to trust her.
As I continue to think and watch Youtube
videos of Nyanzi, I start to realize why my
perception of her has changed. She has
30 Aug 04 - 10 , 2017
brought my past into the present and helped
me to recover my repressed memories. As
psychologists tell us, repression is a defense
mechanism with which the mind conceals
bad memories. Something dreadful hap-
pens, and the mind pushes it into some
inaccessible corner of the unconscious. Later,
the memory may emerge into conscious-
ness; this is exactly what Nyanzis sanitary
pad campaign did to me. Growing-up in
Mujunju village, deep in Kabarole district,
at around 12 years, the inevitable arrived;
my first menstrual period. Poor me, I did
not know how to deal with it. Was I normal,
sick, or about to die? No one had ever told
me about these things and I had not even
reached P6, a class where a little of this was
taught those days. My mother said nothing
and all my older sisters had left the home. I
cannot blame my mother because, it has now
come to my attention, that many mothers
remained silent, hoping their daughters
would somehow learn like they themselves
had done. Meanwhile, if I think back on my
mothers age then, I am most certain that she
was still menstruating herself at that time
when I had really needed her counsel.
As I continued to struggle with this red
monster by myself, a maid realised my
discomfort and gave me a few tips. My dear
girl, now you are a woman and this will
happen to you every month. What women
do is to tear old cloths and fabricate some
sort of pad. I was dejected and relentlessly
wished I were a boy. Why me, why me!
I would moan to myself. Well, I tried the
crude technology. The wads of cloth were
very uncomfortable, always burning the
skin and with every movement I made, the
poor imitation of a pad moved. Sometimes
my clothes got stained and of course I was
always horrified at the thought of my next
menstrual period. I on several occasions
missed school; hiding in farms and planta-
tions to avoid being laughed at. Above all,
my school was 7kms away and had neither
water nor clean toilets where a girl in periods
could change. Moreover, to my own brother,
a nephew, as well as one of my closest male
friends, all in the same age range as me, I
had become an embarrassing burden. On
several occurrences, they even refused to
play with me; to them I was dirty and an
irritation. My misfortunes, my agonies and
despair continued until my eldest sister, a
nurse, came home; coincidently during one
of my periods. She gave me cotton gauze
to make somewhat better pads. Later I got
my first real pad from another older sister
about two years into my time as a menstru-
ating young woman.
Moreover, my family was one of the most
privileged families in the village and of
course considered rich. We had several cows,
my mother has Toro royal blood and had
several businesses, and my well-educated
father owned a motorbike and had a regular
job. This makes me wonder how the less
privileged girls who did not even have old
clothes to cut dealt with the situation. Am
sure my experience is not unique and many
women in powerful positions today must
have gone through the same. One wonders
why most are quiet, indifferent and many,
of course, frowning at Nyanzis campaign.
I, therefore, thank Nyanzi for aiding the
recollection of my childhood experiences
and I surely identify with her struggle. To
me she is one of the most lethal opponents
to counter and her methods that I previously
considered ugly, unorthodox, and anti-
authentic-womanhood are truly systematic
and producing massive results; not forget-
ting that she is talked about on international
media outlets such as CNN, BBC, Al Jazeera.
Wait a minute! I have heard that the govern-
ment is actually considering removing taxes
on sanitary pad; could this be the Nyanzi-
mania? Perhaps Niccolo Machiavelli would
have applauded Nyanzithe end justifies
the means.

By Gordon Brown
Social Impact Investment pays
How very risky bond shows that private investment can tackle
complex social problems.
B
ig ideas are few and far be-
tween. Progress usually occurs
incrementally, bit by bit. But
sometimes a big idea even
one that starts modestly can thor-
oughly transform our view of what is
possible.
In the last week of July, a small social
experiment conceived ten years ago
to help 2,000 young delinquents in
Peterborough, in eastern England, paid
off literally. More important, the
Peterborough experiment has become
the guiding light for hundreds of mil-
lions of dollars in investment in social
reform.
During the last Labour government,
I worked with one of Britains greatest
entrepreneurs and philanthropists, Sir
Ronald Cohen, to create what became
the worlds first Social Impact Bond
(SIB). Concerned about the rate of
youth reoffending, Sir Ronald and his
colleagues persuaded a group of inves-
tors to back an innovative program
of personal mentoring and support,
individually tailored to young people
leaving their cells.
The SIB initiative was one of the last
decisions I signed off on in Govern-
ment. Within months, Social Finance
another Cohen-initiated social enter-
prise had raised 5 million ($6.6 mil-
lion) from 17 trusts and foundations to
launch the bond.
The Peterborough SIB funded One
Service, an umbrella organisation
designed to respond to the complex
needs of offenders to help them break
the cycle of recidivism. Over five years
of operation, One Service offered post-
release support for a period of up to
12 months to two cohorts of 1,000 male
prisoners who had served short sen-
tences. Engagement was voluntary, but
the whole cohort was included in the
measurement of the results.
Most of the 2,000 youngsters who
received help from One Service in
Peterborough had not only been in
detention, but had reoffended on
several occasions. A term in custody
appeared to be no deterrent at all. But
many had acute needs that no one
had been addressing. A high propor-
tion suffered from mental health and
substance abuse challenges. Many had
housing needs, lacked the right skills
to find employment, had no access to
income, and were in debt to money-
lenders a formula for recidivism.
Investing in this new kind of bond
was a risk, but we wanted the Peter-
borough SIB to show the world that
private investment could be mobil-
ised to tackle even the most complex
and intractable social problems. So,
according to the scheme I approved,
the government would pay bond-
holders if the project cut youth recidi-
vism by 7.5%.
In fact, by working with locals in the
Safer Peterborough Partnership, One
Service reduced the recidivism rate of
these short-sentence offenders by 9%
more than a national control group. As
a result, the 17 investors in the Peter-
borough SIB will receive a single pay-
ment representing their initial capital,
plus an amount that will represent an
annual return of just over 3% for the
period of investment.
Along the way, Peterborough did
indeed show the world. Today, social
impact bonds are mobilising 300 mil-
lion of investment in a wide range of
projects. Such bonds finance help for
refugees seeking jobs in the U.S., aid
The key to unlocking
social progress is
accurate impact
measurement
including the benefits
of prevention and
converting social gains
into a financial return
capable of attracting
investment from capital
markets
Comment
for homeless, unemployed youth and
the elderly in the United Kingdom,
efforts to reduce schoolgirls dropout
rates in parts of Asia, and diabetes pre-
vention in Israel.
As Sir Ronald has explained, the
government pays out only for success.
The key to unlocking social progress
is accurate impact measurement
including the benefits of prevention
and converting social gains into a
financial return capable of attracting
investment from capital markets.
I am now working on a new project
with Sir Ronald, who believes we can
raise substantial sums for urgently
needed educational investments,
including for the worlds 30 million
displaced and refugee children. But the
Cohen plan is even bolder and covers
the entire field of social problems in
urgent need of amelioration. He fore-
sees a tipping point by 2020, with bil-
lions of dollars in new investment in
bonds coming from the worlds top 100
institutional investors, 50 foundations,
and 50 private companies.
Just as venture capital, which Sir
Ronald also pioneered in Britain,
responded to the financing needs of the
dot-com revolution a generation ago,
social impact investment can help us
reach the next stage of innovative social
reform. As one of its supporters told
me, the person who shows how risk-
taking for financial return can be com-
bined with achieving social impact to
change the world is worthy of the next
Nobel Peace Prize.
Gordon Brown, former Prime Minister and
Chancellor of the Exchequer of the United
Kingdom, is United Nations Special Envoy
for Global Education and Chair of the
International Commission on Financing
Global Education Opportunity.
Copyright: Project Syndicate, 2017.
Aug 04 - 10 , 2017 31
Comment
By Judy Rugasira
Restriction of dollar rents
Why drastic decision on unaffordable rents could have
irreversible consequences on economy
T
here was a lot of jubilation by tenants
when on May 12 parliament passed
a provision that all rental agreements
should be executed in shillings. A
pressure group of traders lobbied parliament
to pass the law which restricts the charging of
rent in foreign currency. Reason given for this
motion was that rent, especially when paid
in dollars whose value keeps appreciating, is
unaffordable.
In response, parliament amended the
Income Tax (No 2) Act 2017, and section S.3
(7) states that all rental agreements shall be
executed and effected in Ugandan Shillings.
First of all, it is debatable whether the
Income Tax Act is the right Act to be
amended since it is the Landlord and Tenant
Act which governs the rental of commercial
and residential property in Uganda, and not
the Income Tax Act.
That notwithstanding, it would not be pru-
dent to look at the restriction of dollar rents
in isolation, or as the end and be all solution
to solving the issue of high and unafford-
able rents. This matter needs to be addressed
holistically as part of a host of other structural
economic and legal issues that are affecting
the property market. Should this matter not
be handled with the prudence it deserves,
it may end up having far reaching, irrevers-
ible consequences on our nascent property
market, and economy in general.
The justification for charging dollar rents
is premised on many factors. First, property
developers prefer to borrow development
finance in foreign currency for the simple
reason that it is cheaper to do so. Latest Bank
of Uganda statistics reveal that US dollar
interest rates average 8.22% per annum for
commercial property development financing
while typical rates for similar Uganda shil-
ling loans average 21.04% per annum. It also
makes no sense borrowing in US dollars
and making repayments in Uganda shillings
as this would expose the borrower and the
lender to higher risks of default.
Secondly, in order to mitigate the repay-
ment risk for U.S. dollar loans, the currency
risk needs to be managed and this is best
achieved by ensuring both the loan and
the borrowers cash flows are in the same
currency. The borrower is, therefore, not
exposed to the exchange rate volatility during
the loan period. There are other mitigating
factors that a bank may use when granting
a loan to a borrower in a different currency
from underlying cash flows available to
repay the loan but these have inherent costs.
Banks typically stipulate a minimum Debt
32 Aug 04 - 10 , 2017
Service Coverage Ratio (DSCR) covenant as a
parameter to determine an acceptable repay-
ment risk level. The repayment ability of a
shillings loan will be impacted by the higher
interest rate regime and, therefore, a below
minimum DSCR. As an example, Stanbic
Banks typical minimum DSCR covenant is
1.2 times the borrowed amount.
Thirdly, the downtown commercial
property market is unregulated, hence why
their rental levels tend to be more volatile.
Our research reveals that downtown rentals
in shillings are higher than rents in prime
locations that are paid in U.S. dollars. For
instance, a 17m2 commercial space on the
ground floor on any of the prime streets
downtown, is let at between Shs6 million and
Shs7 million per month which equates to a
monthly payment of between Shs350,000 and
Shs410,000 (US$104-$122) per square metre.
This rent is higher than the US$25 - $38 (most
expensive) per m2 charged for the same floor
in prime malls in Kampala.
Finally, lack of adequate capital to finance
large scale projects by local commercial banks
implies that banks have to secure off-shore
credit, financed in foreign currencies. The
same banks are, therefore, not eager to lend
this money in local currency given the cur-
rency risks associated with this.
There are grave consequences to the prop-
erty market and the economy from restricting
dollar rents. It is a short term solution to a
long term problem. Not only will it worsen
the Non-Performing Loans issue banks are
facing, but will also mean that overnight,
U.S. dollar borrowers could find themselves
defaulting on their loan obligations.
There are foreseeable negative impact on
the property market specifically, and the
economy in general, in the short to medium
term. Large scale commercial developments
are already stalling as the developers have no
appetite for local currency income streams
on the back of foreign currency financed
developments. A U.S. dollar property yield is
a major determining factor in attracting com-
mercial property investors to Uganda. Simi-
larly, a U.S. dollar yielding commercial prop-
erty investment preferably should be funded
in with a US dollar denominated debt instru-
ment. Institutional investors (Pension Funds,
property development companies, Private
Equity Funds,) prefer a stable currency which
they can benchmark for similar opportunities
in other markets; including but not limited to
the cash flows from the underlying property
or portfolio. The shilling rentals would not
provide a benchmark given its volatility.
Landlords cannot accept local currency
rentals against long term loans they have
taken in us dollars. The only option left to
them, will be to charge the dollar equivalent
rent in shillings at the prevailing rate of the
day. This will not in itself be sustainable as
the shilling continues to weaken, and tenants
fail to fund the increasing difference between
local currency earnings and U.S. dollar rent
lease obligations.
Zimbabwe and Rwanda both tried to
restrict rent payments in dollars, and the
results in both cases were dire. For the case
of Zimbabwe, the construction sector shrunk,
and to date there has not been a crane on the
skyline of Harare 16 years later.
In Rwanda, the Central bank realised the
negative consequences and reversed their
decision. This stabilised the currency, and
property development started again.
There are, however, a few proposals which
will create an enabling environment for rent
to be paid in Uganda shillings.
First, monetary policies are needed to
strengthen the shilling and make borrowing
in shillings more attractive.
Secondly, increased deposits in shillings
will enable availability of cheaper funding.
Governments policy should be focused on
encouraging increased shillings deposits,
as this will provide a long term solution to
the current issue. Affordable development
financing in local currency would strengthen
the case for shilling loans and shilling rents
as a result. Thirdly, formalisation of the land-
lord / Tenant Relationships through Amend-
ment of The Landlord and Tenant Act would
restrict the arbitrary and erratic increment of
rents by landlords. The rental market in these
locations is unregulated and chaotic with no
tenancy agreements.
In conclusion, legislators should dialogue
with all stakeholders in the property market,
before taking such decisions as restricting
dollar rents. Sustainable solutions to such
complex challenges should not be one-sided
because they have far reaching conse-
quences for many parties. Amendments
of this nature, ideally should allow a
timeframe in which they should be imple-
mented and take effect. It is not practical
for an amendment of this scale and magni-
tude to take immediate effect, and neither
should it be retrospective.
Judy Rugasira Kyanda is the Managing Director,
Knight Frank Uganda
Chair, Surveyors Registration Board
Kemigisas husband Katabazi (in red shirt) and colleagues make artifacts from ARV bottles at the pill power unit.
B
By FlaviaNassaka
arbara Kemigisa was sexu-
ally molested when she was
just six years old. At 17 years,
she discovered she was HIV
positive. She is now 31 years
old and has two children; an
eight-year old who is HIV positive and nine
months old who is negative. Amidst her
topsy-turvy life, she has curved out an un-
usual mission ensuring youth test for HIV
and that those who are positive get started
on ARV immediately and stick to them.
When I get clients who tested positive and
need treatment I refer them and follow them
up to make sure their journey with medica-
tion isnt lonely. It can be horrifying starting
those tablets without motivation,she says.
Her voice is soft but laced with sharp eager-
ness. She likes to smile even when telling a
sad story.
On the early morning we met, Kemigisa
was just beginning her daily round in the
low income settlements of Bwaise, Kiku-
mikikumi, and Kazo on the northern edge
of Makerere University in Kampala city.
Kemigisa walks the dusty road looking
for youths and children to convince to test.
Her improvised role is counselor but she
sees herself more as an inspirational figure
to youths living with HIV. Through her
organization; Pill Power Uganda, she advo-
cates for youths and adolescents infected
with HIV. Her focus is on early testing and
staying on treatment. She has resolved to
recycle empty ARV bottles to make beautiful
artifacts such as chairs, photo frames, dust-
bins and flower vases which carry messages
Getting innovative
with ARVs
Barbara Kemigisa uses her own story
to get youth to test and treat
that break stigma and lure young people to
start treatment. This initiative is what she
calls Pill power.
After negotiating a maze of dusty roads,
she stops at a house in a neighborhood
called Nabukalu. It is an area that some-
times gets floods and some houses are
abandoned. Kemigisa is checking on a four-
year old who was recently started on anti-
retroviral tablets from the syrup Kaletra
that had failed to lower her viral load. The
mother is not in but Kemigisa knows where
the life-saving medicine is kept because they
discussed it with her. So she administers the
medicine.
Kemigisa says she had promised to meet
another client a teenager in the same
neighborhood but she could not because she
had not organized the package meaning
the medicine pack. She is angry about the
failure.
It hurts when somebody finally under-
stands that medicine is what makes a differ-
ence between life and death but at the end
of the day they just cant have it. It really
breaks my heart.
Sometimes a patient may fail to get that
months dose and decide to give up but
when you are a group theres a way its easy
for your voice to be heard, she says.
Kemigisa has been joined by her HIV neg-
ative husband, Michael Katabazi and eight
other friends; including popular standup
comedian Kenneth Kimuli aka Pablo. The
group aims to collect over 900,000 bottles
because its the number of people esti-
mated to be on ARVs from treatment and
care centers on a monthly basis. She has no
specific figures of what they have collected
so far, but reckons it is not even a quarter of
what needs to collected. She says partly it is
because Pill Power operates in a small area
and not many youths have tested to know
their status. Even those who have tested
positive do not know where to get medi-
cines. About 89,000 youths are estimated
to be infected but do not know their status.
This means they are not on life saving treat-
ment and, therefore, are at risk of infecting
others.
Aug 04 - 10 , 2017 33
Health
Kemigisas model encourages members
to look out for such individuals. Its made
in such a way that anyone can form a Pill
Power Unit. All they have to do is encourage
10 other youth to test and have any testing
positive to be initiated on treatment.
Unseen face of HIV/AIDS
Kemigisa and her clients are most times
the unseen face of Ugandas most troubling
public health crisis; of young people becom-
ing the leading cohort in acquiring HIV.
Uganda is one of the countries with the
highest burden of HIV in the Sub-Saharan
Africa, with an estimated 1.5 million of its
more than 36 million people living with the
virus. Since 77% of the population is youth
- people aged between 12 and 30 years old
- they inevitably comprise a large percent-
age of those infected. A Ministry of Health
report released in 2016 showed 66% of all
new infections happen among adolescents.
Figures from Uganda AIDS Commission
show the rate of infection rising steeply from
the age of 15 years when most youth engage
in sex for the first time. Girls are more
infected than boys. At 15 years, for example,
about 1.5% of girls are HIV positive. How-
ever, just two years later - when the girls
are 17 years old, the HIV prevalence in that
segment swells to 5.1%. By the time girls
reach 24 years of age, the HIV prevalence in
their segment is 7%. The boys are equally hit
by HIV, but at a slightly slower pace. Many
of the boys start engaging in sexual activity
much later at age 17. But by 15 years old,
up to 1.8% of the boys are infected. By the
time they are 24 years, the HIV prevalence
in their segment is 3.6%. And worrying,
many youths have their HIV progressed to
AIDS by the time they learn of their infec-
tion which means that they are very ill by
the time they begin treatment which makes
it hard for them to adhere. Many end up
dying. But, thanks to advances in research
into treatment, many can now live full
productive lives and not spread the virus
further since with adherence to drugs scien-
tists say ones chance of transmitting is very
minimal reduced by 96% if their viruses
are suppressed. Thats why government
recently adopted a World Health Organisa-
tion recommendation not to wait for ones
viral load to necessitate treatment but to
start immediately even when ones immune
system is still stable. This, however, is
easier decreed than done. Accessing these
drugs is not easy and continuously taking
them is another hurdle. Kemigisa says not
knowing whether they will be able to get
that next dose is a challenge that worries
many people living with HIV. It worries the
experts too.
Sande Amakobe, the UNAIDS Uganda
Country Representative says for a Ugandan
to access medicine, a person in Washington
or Geneva has to sign a cheque. Its a big
risk, she says, to ask somebody else to
34 Aug 04 - 10 , 2017
Flower vases made out ARV bottles
Kemigisa speaks to the public about pill
power at one of her public visits.
take care of 90% of our problem. she is
referring to how Uganda contributes only
10% of money required for HIV treatment.
But HIV activists are pushing for a local
AIDS Fund of about US$2 million every
year. This money, they say, could be kept
as a sort of emergency relief fund to cover
stock outs. Everything is still on paper and
there is no real effort to ensure that more
drugs are availed sustainably. This puts
questions on whether the government is
committed to fighting HIV/AIDS.
Targeting the youth
Evelyn Chemutai, the Woman MP for
Bukwo District sits on the Parliamentary
Committee on HIV and Related Diseases.
She says youth shun testing until it is too
late for many reasons. But the main one,
in her view, is fear of stigma. She says, for
example, youth are not comfortable seeking
treatment in the same place as adults and
advocates for the so-called youth friendly
corners. According to her, the recently
launched oral self-testing Kit for HIV could
work best for this group.
Healthcare managers need to come up
with ways that ensure young people get
involved in their own care, she says.
Chemutai says the Ministry of Health also
needs to design youth appropriate messages
that not only attract the youth but tackle the
stigma and the how and where to get the
treatment.
Godfrey Walakira, the Training and
Development Manager at Straight Talk
Foundation Uganda, agrees. For Walakira,
there has not been comprehensive sexuality
education both at school and home level.
Parents rarely talk to their children about
sex yet the reality is that they are sexually
active. It means they are doing it without
appropriate guidance, he says.
He backs the findings of the 2015 Situ-
ation Analysis of Children in Uganda by
UNICEF which found adolescent girls are
more infected because they face multiple
vulnerabilities as a result of disempower-
ment both at individual, family and com-
munity level. Most of the time, they dont
choose when to have sex or whether or not
to use condoms, says Walakira.
He said even those who are already liv-
ing with HIV, like other adolescents, must
deal with developing sexuality but they
are not supported. They face challenges of
disclosure, adherence to drugs and how to
prevent transmitting HIV to their sexual
partners. Kemigisa can relate to what Wala-
kira is talking about. She knows too well
how hard it is to reveal ones HIV positive
status and the dilemma of not knowing how
the news will be received.
No one will want to marry or associ-
ate with you. They judge you; see you as
a spoilt brat, she says. She says when she
discovered she was positive, she didnt
know how exactly to carry on. She became
sickly. She was too depressed and ashamed
to tell anyone about it.
Kemigisa has now shared her story count-
less times and her goal, she says, is to help
fellow youths understand that she has been
there too and has learnt to defeat it. On July
03, her husband and son went for another
test which came out negative again. Imme-
diately she took to her Facebook account
and posted, My ARVs, my son and hus-
bands insurance to restore hope in any
HIV positive person who comes across her
post.
Kemigisa says her eight year old HIV
positive daughter might have been nega-
tive had she been empowered then and had
access to medication and good feeding. She
wants to ensure no youth suffer the same
fate tomorrow.For her, being HIV positive
and being on ARVs should not be treated as
a secret if more people are to seek treatment.
Young people need someone they can
believe in and who believes in them, she
said adding I told God I want to be able
to help people like me because I know they
will need someone to listen to them. I never
got that chance but these days I get people
who tell me, `Barbara you helped me, can
you help her too?
 ART | BOOKS | SOCIETY | TRAVEL | CULTURE
Comic cases of identity
How to know an artist from their art
W
By Dominic Muwanguzi
ant to know an artist
personality,character,
and identity? Do not
very far from their art.
Take Roshani Madina
Silibani. Her paintings
reflect her double ancestry. The artist was
born and raised in Uganda, but is of In-
dian descent.
In her paintings, the youthful artist
paints the peacock as a recurring figure
that suggests her fashion design profes-
sion and background. The peacock, a
largely tropical bird, is known for its flow-
ery design of feathers and pride. Roshani
often presents it against a background
of rich hues of yellow, blue and green.
These give her pictures the warm feel and
vibrancy of the tropics.
But she also often renders them surreal-
istically and with familiar stylistic designs
of calligraphy-like motifs typical of her
oriental culture. They conjure her Indian
ancestry.
You can see in the pictures, an artist
delicately trying to balance the two cul-
tures on canvas culminating into a sym-
biotic fusion of two places. This mutual
friendship is obvious today in aspects like
intermarriage, trade and business, and
education. Roshanis art also revels in
environmental and wildlife conservation,
manifested in her peacock bird motifs as
symbols of other species.
Similarly, Paul Ssendagires comi-
cal persona is mirrored in his caricature
prints. According to the artists statement,
he is the type who loves to talk a lot, and
wants to be heard even when hes in a
group of friends. To this end, his stories
like his figures on canvas are often exag-
gerated with a comic aura. Such artistic
parody, peppers his subjects of social
commentary like corruption, women
empowerment and rural-urban migration.
Sometimes he may tackle a mundane sub-
ject like hairdressing and create a comic
tweak to it.
His technique is potent enough to
enlist the attention of the audience and
his comical figures notwithstanding, he
suggests the idea of an artist who finds a
lot of meaning in what society generally
describes as trivial. The notion of working
from dark to light- a familiar trait amongst
printmakers- asserts his ability to turn an
ordinary subject into something exciting.
Although human beings are mostly
known to have divergent interests, artists
on the other hand tend to share common
horizons. This is typical of their artistic
sensibilities that involve mutual technical
approach to subject matter and theme, and
experimentation. In light of the Common
Horizon exhibition, the featured artists in
this exhibit are jointly inspired by the idea
of self-expression. The result is a hybrid
of artworks that interrogate the subject of
personal identity, social commentary and
technical dexterity.
Other exhibiting artists include Mayanja
Weazher and Tindi Ronnie Chris.
The exhibition is now showing at the Makerere
Art gallery
Aug 04 - 10 , 2017 35
Profile
Julius Kavuma Kabenge; Any three things
we dont know
What is your idea of
perfect happiness?

I
about you? Family and music;
Top lawyer and jack of all trades have a strong
will to do things
I have always been
inspired by poetic
and I choose my music because it has
path. a message to deliver
By Agnes E Nantaba other siblings ceased being children. and never grows

J
Even when parents had a lot, it old.
ulius Kavuma Kabenge, an wasnt yours as they would only give
advocate, has been a law don what you deserved as a child and by
at Makerere University in 18 years, the government system was
Kampala for the last 26 years. financially accommodative with free
He is also widely known in the world education to cater for all the needs
of Ugandan sports; especially football unlike what it is today where parents
and kickboxing, not as a player but a have to provide through and after
financier. He says although he has never school, he says.
been a player, he has had a passion for He joined Makerere University
sports right from his youth and is well to pursue Bachelors of Laws degree
grounded in sports management. His completing in 1985 before joining
idea is to approach sports differently; by Law Development Centre for a year.
ensuring that they young players grow He joined private practice at a time
professionally and intellectually. when people adhered more to the law
Kabenge says in sports, it is a wrong which, according to him, is not the case
approach to put the cart before today. He says while the old school
the horse. He says since football is believes that everyone should be law
a social thing and there are many abiding, these days people want certain
layers of people involved, it requires a outcomes and are willing to step outside
development path. He says it starting the law to get them.
with playing along the streets, schools, He set up a private practice in
amateur football, finally, professional 1990 under Kavuma Kabenge
football. and Co. Advocates. At
There must be a development path that time, the niche
for the young people and if you are was repossessions and
looking at receiving them at the top de-Africanising properties
without creating the path, then you of Asians and that
cannot get them, he says, Sports has a exercise required a lot of
short and intensive life but can earn a lot legal work and Kabenge
of money for the players. did a lot of that.
He first got involved in Express Law was largely
Football Club in 1996 as a secretary about litigation and
and retired after 20 years. Over this court work but this
period, he focused on reorganising the is slowly fading
club and funding it for survival. He out in todays
was also heavily involved in boxing practice, he says.
under Uganda Professional Boxing He says, as
Commission, as a promoter. Kabenge curative and
says he was involved in getting matches preventive
broadcast live on Super Sport TV. remedies enable
He says social pressures pushed him people manage
into concentrating on teaching and legal dispute or settle
work even though he believed more matters out of
in entrepreneurship. He was born in court, litigation
the Makerere area of Kampala city to and court
Christopher Kabenge; a businessman, work are losing
and Robinah Kabenge, a teacher. He relevance. When he
went through Kabojja Junior School, considered investment
Mugwanya Preparatory school, Savio areas that were sustainable, real estate
Junior School, St Marys College Kisubi topped the list. Kabenge has been
and completed A-level from Kampala married to Proscovia for 26 years and
High school now Aga Khan. He says he they have 10 children.
received the basics from his parents
until he turned 18 years when he and

36 Aug 04 - 10 , 2017

Kavuma Kabenges Liteside
What is the trait you most
deplore in yourself?
The strong will to do things
my way doesnt please many
people. Many people will want
you to please them.
What is the trait you most
deplore in others?
Deception; not everyone
is straight but deceptive
characters are a problem. Its
even worse when you deceive
yourself.
Which living person do you
most admire?
I admire Museveni because
riding the storms of this
country for donkeys years is
not a walk over. Youve got to
admire him because he has got
so many lines of thinking.
What is your greatest
extravagance?
In the past, it was football
but lately its myself. I love
fashion, cars and family, so
as I spend on myself,d
that includes family.
What is the greatest
thing you have ever
done?
Financing
football is
something many
people around me
were against but
I chose to do it
something I have
never regretted it.
The joys are there
and the record
was set
What is your
current state of
mind?
I am happy
without
complaints.
What do you
consider the
most overrated
virtue?
The whole fuss about life;
in Uganda we have moved
away from the simple basic
requirements of life and there is
a lot of gluttony as people keep
many things they dont even
need. We are not doing social
investment in Uganda and that
is walking away from things
that create social capital.
What does being powerful
mean to you?
The ability to inspire is being
powerful; as someone talks, he
or she can make you do things
that make society move. The
challenge in Uganda is that we
dont have many left.
On what occasion do you lie?
Its not about telling a lie
but being economical with the
truth.
What do you most dislike
about your appearance?
The whole thing of putting
on spectacles since I was 18
years. and many people have gone
Which living person do you
most despise?
I dont despise people
because everyone has got
ability and something to
contribute to society.
What is the quality you most
like in a man?
In Africa, man means family
and being the bull in the
kraal, it comes with fulfilling
responsibility to others.
What is the quality you most
like in a woman?
Being able to provide, a
receptionist and leader by
demand.
What or who is the greatest
love of your life?
My children are my products
and some of them are a
miniature me.
When and where were you
happiest?
In 1990, when I was getting
married to Proscovia; I was
being introduced to family
and it was a major step in life.
As you grow up, there are
milestones and to me it was
happy achieving it.
Which talent would you most
like to have?
Inspirational speaking.
If you could change one thing
about yourself, what would
it be?
My interpersonal life; the
way I was brought up and built
myself has been my way but
I would also want to do what
other people say.
What do you consider your
greatest achievement?
Being a consummate
educationist; not many people
that I started with are living
and still work at the university.
For one to have done it for
about 30 years is not small
having joined Makerere
University as a tutorial assistant
through my hands.
Where would you most like
to live?
While I returned to Uganda,
everyone was migrating to UK
because it was the trend but I
chose to do otherwise. Uganda
is where I belong, and I share
in the language, values and
culture but also whatever you
put into this country creates a
legacy for which you will be
remembered.
What is your most treasured
possession?
I own a few properties and
being one of the owners of over
600 properties in the CBD is
something I treasure.
What do you regard as the
lowest depth of misery?
I believe that suffering is part
of life as it makes us want to
up the game. Misery is part of
challenges that shape us into
better people.
What is your favorite
occupation?
Teaching to impart
knowledge.
Aug 04 - 10 , 2017
Q&A
What do you most value in
your friends?
Advice and warnings;
whoever can do that is worth
calling a friend.
Who are your favorite writers?
The writing today has
changed moving away
from hypothesis to real life
situations. Those people of
yesterday such as Michael
Klein, James Bond and Harold
Wilson had a broader outlook
and would really invite you to
see the piece as a kaleidoscope
but lately we have people
writing biographies. Those old
writers did it better but we are
pushed to go by what society
does. Because we live in the
capitalist trend, Robert Toru
Kiyosaki, the writer of `Rich
Dad Poor Dad is inspirational
and makes a better reading.
Which historical figure do you
most identify with?
Surprisingly, politically,
it has to be former president
Milton Obote. Much as he
is vilified, he was a true face
of republicanism in Africa.
Republicanism is about
opportunities for everyone
unlike monarchists who believe
that you have to be born with
a silver spoon. I identify with
republicans.
What is your greatest regret?
I lost mileage in academics
and I have not written a lot as I
would have loved yet I believe I
have a lot to write about. Thats
why I chose to go back and
do my doctorate. I am doing
it to write something and if I
achieve it, I will have succeeded
in life.
How would you like to die?
Suddenly in a peaceful way
so I dont put my people into
suffering.
What is your motto?
Aluta Continua
37
Dog eats couples wedding cake on big day!
The dog demolished the
120 chocolate centrepiece
just hours before the loved-
up couple exchanged vows.
Owners Liam and Donna
McMahon woke up to find
a guilt-ridden Bella sitting
next to the wrecked cake
with crumbs round her
chops. Bridesmaid Donna,
31, said: When I got up in
the morning and opened
the kitchen door I screamed
and burst into tears.
The cake had been lov-
ingly crafted over two days,
delivered on the night, and
placed on a stand in the
couples kitchen. Donna
and Gemma planned to
take the cake to the venue
of their brother, Scott Wil-
lis wedding with Jackie
Walker.
The cake looked stun-
ning, it was a work of art,
said Gemma.
They frantically called
cake shops in the area and
fired out messages on Face-
book begging for help. For-
tunately, they got another
cake on time.

Worlds most secure wallet: Comes with Iranians duped

alarm, GPS Tracker, security camera
Wallets almost seem
obsolete in this digital age,
but the Volterman Smart
Wallet is not your average
Man swims to work every
day to avoid traffic
Most commuters in
Munich, Germany, spend
hours stuck in traffic or try-
ing to squeeze into one of
the overcrowded subway
trains, every morning, but
for 40-year-old Benjamin
David, commuting is actu-
ally a relaxing experience.
Every day, he jumps into the
Isar River and swims two
kilometers to his workplace
wallet. Apart from the
screen, it packs about as
much technology as your
smartphone, including
512MB of RAM, a built-in
camera, power bank, GPS
tracker, alarm system, RFID
protection and even Wi-FI
hotspot capabilities. It may
look like a simple leather
wallet on the outside, but
its a whole different beast
on the inside.
in Kulturstrand.
The Isar River flows right
past his apartment in Balde-
platz, and, even though
no one has been using it
for traveling purposes in
decades, it used to be the
best ways to get around. But
instead of paddling on a raft,
Benjamin decided to swim
to work instead.
by film titled
`Workmen Needed
So was a cinema in north-
western Iran flooded with
job applicants confused
by the title of a film it is
currently showing or not?
Local media reports say
that people have been asking
Messing with Cinema Bahman, the only
movie theatre in the city of
`Satans Shot Zanjan, for work after they
spotted the poster for a film
The label on the bottles
bears a warning: Only
titled `Workmen Needed.
But the cinema manager
Satan himself is brave flatly denied the report.
enough to drink this Even before we screened
vodka neat, if you feel the film, jobseekers always
fearless and want to drink came to the cinema, just as
with Satan, you will feel many go to other workplaces
like you are burning in each day to find a job, he
hell itself. But when explained.
Emma Mirrington, 42,
from Farncombe in the UK
bought a bottle of Satans
Shot vodka and decided
to share it with eight
friends, they decided
to the test the warning.
Wrong decision. It turns
out the bottling company
wasnt exaggerating
one bit as they were all
hospitalised.
I have never seen
anything like it, she said.
Satans Shot vodka is a
special liquor apparently
infused with Carolina
Reapers, the hottest
chillies in the world.

38 Aug 04 - 10 , 2017
Car colour choices
Why is 2017 colour of the year not hot in UG?
By Motoring Guru
S
ince the renowned car colour com-
pany, Axalta Coating Systems of
New York, USA announced its win-
ning car colour of 2017 in January; I
have been searching our roads to see how
it is doing in Kampala. Well, based on my
rather rudimentary survey, the hot colour
of 2017 is doing very, very badly in Kampa-
la. And I personally do not find it surprising
because the colour is Gallant Gray!
You possibly have never seen it, let alone
heard of it. It is a gray with very light hints
of green, blue, and silver; something like
the skin of a fish that has stayed too long in
the fridge. That is not how Axalta describes
it, of course. For Axalta, Gallant Gray is a
luxurious color enhanced by blue and silver
flakes that produce a unique sparkle effect
and dark undertones that enrich the finish,
adding sophistication.
Axalta designers picked the colour
after extensive research that found a high
percentage of the market interested in a
neutral palette. They concluded that add-
ing slight hints of hues can add life to these
colors. Gallant Gray is also described as a
complex color, dark in value, with various
sparkling flakes that add depth and color.
So what is the hottest colour in Uganda?
To revert to my rudimentary survey
skills once again, that has to be white. In
which case, Uganda would be backing a
global preference scale.
According to Axalta, white has been the
top car colour for the last 10 years around
the world dominated by a prefer-
ence for neutral colours.
In number two
position is black, although that is not quite
popular in Uganda because of its tendency
to become a heat magnate.
Instead, Ugandans appear to be follow-
ing another global trend; of showing a ris-
ing preference for gray shades.
Not much research has been done about
how Africans, let alone Ugandans, pick
their car colours, but a survey reported in
South Africa in 2015 offers some hints.
It quoted data from Lightstone that car
buyers on the Southern tip of the continent
are apparently still relatively conserva-
tive when it comes to colour choices, with
strong preference for lighter colours.
Whereas in 2010 the three most popular
choices where white, silver, and black, in
2015 the top three were white, silver, and
grey.
White overtook silver in 2011 as the most
preferred vehicle color preference. Since
then, white has continued to gain populari-
ty on all vehicle types in most regions, while
silver has continued to decline.
The report shows in Africa, 46% prefer
white more than in other parts of the world.
White is slightly more popular among
male buyers - 57 percent versus 43 percent
in the case of females - with silver almost
the same at 56 to 44.
Apparently,
light-
coloured cars project a no-fuss less is more
message, and only the more adventurous
buyers go for other colours. Blue is in fourth
and red in sixth, and more popular among
girls than boys - 53 to 47 percent. The report
reads: Lightstone data shows that women
have a stronger tendency towards brighter,
more individual colours - and that doesnt
only apply to cars! - while men in general
(grown-up ones, anyway!) steer towards
quieter, less conspicuous shades.
But for both genders, deeper, more off-
trend colours make up only a small percent-
age of the total, for very practical reasons.
They need more maintenance than lighter
coloured cars to keep them looking good;
minor scratches are more noticeable and
need more frequent touching up.
Light-coloured cars heat up less in the
sun, making them more comfortable in our
hot climate - or less costly to cool, as most
cars today have air-conditioning.
Darker coloured cars are often difficult to
sell, their paint more difficult to match and
more expensive, making collision repairs
more costly. Lighter or brighter-coloured
cars are also more visible on the road, and
are thus less likely to be involved in a crash
during daylight than black, blue, grey, and
green cars.
Aug 04 - 10 , 2017 39
Global comment
By Gary Saul Morson and Morton Schapiro
Economics and humanities
Why empathy, judgment, wisdom must
supplement quantitative rigor, logic
I
n a 2006 survey, American university
professors were asked whether it was
better to possess knowledge from
numerous fields of study, or from just
one. Among professors of psychology, 79%
were enthusiastic about interdisciplinary
learning, as were 73% of sociologists and
68% of historians. The least enthusiastic?
Economists: only 42% surveyed said they
agreed with the need to understand the
world through a cross-disciplinary lens. As
one observer put it bluntly: Economists
literally think they have nothing to learn
from anyone else.
In fact, economists would benefit
greatly if they broadened their focus.
Dealing as it does with human beings,
economics has much to learn from the
humanities. Not only could its models be
more realistic and its predictions more
accurate, but economic policies could be
more effective and more just.
Whether one considers how to foster
economic growth in diverse cultures, the
moral questions raised when universi-
ties pursue self-interest at the expense of
their students, or deeply personal issues
concerning health care, marriage, and
families, economic insights are neces-
sary but insufficient. If those insights are
all we consider, policies flounder and
people suffer.
In their passion for mathematically-
based explanations, economists have
a hard time in at least three areas:
accounting for culture, using narrative
explanation, and addressing ethical
issues that cannot be reduced to eco-
nomic categories alone.
People are not organisms that are first
made and then dipped in some culture,
like Achilles in the river Styx. They are
cultural beings from the outset. But,
because culture cannot be rendered in
mathematical terms, economists typi-
cally embrace the idea of a pre-cultural
humanness.
To understand people as cultural
beings, one must tell stories about them.
Human lives do not unfold in a predict-
able fashion the way Mars orbits the
sun. Contingency, idiosyncrasy, and
unforeseeable choices play an irreducible
40 Aug 04 - 10 , 2017
role. Life displays what might be called
narrativeness, implying the need for
explanation in terms of stories. And the
best appreciation of this is to be found
in novels, which may be considered not
just a literary form, but also a distinct
way of understanding the social world.
Although the events that novels describe
are fictional, the shape, sequence, and
ramifications of those events is often the
most accurate account we have of how
lives unfold.
Finally, economics inevitably involves
ethical questions that are not reducible
to economics itself or, for that matter,
to any other social science. Economists
often smuggle ethical concerns into their
models with concepts like fair market
price. But there are many ways to make
these issues overt and open them to
argument.
There is no better source of ethical
insight than the novels of Tolstoy, Dos-
toevsky, George Eliot, Jane Austen,
Henry James, and the other great real-
ists. Their works distill the complexity of
ethical questions that are too important
to be safely entrusted to an overarching
theory questions that call for empathy
and good judgment, which are devel-
oped through experience and cannot be
formalized. To be sure, some theories
of ethics may recommend empathy, but
reading literature and identifying with
characters involves extensive practice in
placing oneself in others shoes. If one
has not identified with Anna Karenina,
one has not really read Anna Karenina.
When you read a great novel and
identify with its characters, you spend
countless hours engaging with them
feeling from within what it is like to be
someone else. You see the world from
the perspective of a different social class,
gender, religion, culture, sexual orienta-
tion, moral understanding, or other fea-
tures that define and differentiate human
experience. By living a characters life
vicariously, you not only feel what she
feels, but also reflect on those feelings,
consider the character of the actions
to which they lead, and, with practice,
acquire the wisdom to appreciate real
people in all their complexity.
The point is not to abandon the great
achievements of economics, but to create
what we call a humanomics, which
allows each discipline to keep its own
distinctive qualities. Rather than fuse
economics and the humanities, huma-
nomics creates a dialogue between them.
Such a conversation would actually
bring economics back to its illustrious
roots in the thought of Adam Smith,
who, in The Theory of Moral Sentiments,
explicitly denied that human behavior
could be adequately described in terms
of peoples rational choice to maximize
their individual utility. After all, people
often behave foolishly. More important
for Smith, their care for others is an
original passion that is not reducible to
selfish concerns.
Smiths writings on economic and
ethics share a deep sense of the limits of
reason. Central planning is bound to fail,
but so are algebraic models of behavior.
One needs a subtle appreciation of par-
ticulars, the sort of sensitivity that was
dramatized, a half-century after Smiths
moral treatise, by Jane Austen and her
successors. A great psychologist, Smith
knew that we need both cents and sensi-
bility.
Econometric methods and
mathematical models teach us much,
but only so much. When it comes to
human lives, characterised as they are by
contingency and narrativeness, stories
are an indispensable way of knowing.
That is why the quantitative rigor, policy
focus, and logic of economics must
be supplemented with the empathy,
judgment, and wisdom that defines the
humanities at their best. Economists
must speak to other disciplines and let
them speak back.
Gary Saul Morson is a professor of the arts
and humanities at Northwestern University.
Morton Schapiro is a professor of economics
and President of Northwestern University.
They are the co-authors of Cents and
Sensibility: What Economics Can Learn from
the Humanities.
Copyright: Project Syndicate, 2017.
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Making resource
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Electricity sector


 






Politicians battle over  


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Sejusas money, investor

 
 
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Time to eat, travel less

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need to talk 














Experts warn of explosion if they dont 





 

  
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Eastern DR Congo
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over Karuma, Isimba






 

Muloni, Kabagambe

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AmAzing
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