Daily Monitor 1st March 2010
Government considers dropping Uganda’s London envoy
State House yesterday said President Museveni is seriously considering the Ombudsman’s recommendation to have Uganda’s deputy High Commissioner to London, Ms Mumtaz Kassam sacked. Mr Raphael Baku, the acting Inspector General of Government, in a February 12 report to the President, said Ms Kassam allegedly lacks integrity after the Supreme Court confirmed her alleged involvement in two fraudulent property transfers, in Kampala, prior to her diplomatic posting in 2006.
Daily Monitor 1st March 2010
Mao takes on Museveni over corruption
Gulu Chairman Norbert Mao has launched his campaign strategy with a focus on fighting corruption.
Mr Mao who was recently elected as the Democratic Party (DP) president general said the best strategy in fighting corruption is through personal example from leaders.
He said if leaders are free of corruption, then citizens will act honestly.
Daily Monitor 1st March 2010
No water, no votes, Ibanda residents tell NRM team
Residents of Kabaruka village, Ibanda Town Council in Ibanda District are boycotting the ongoing NRM membership registration exercise until the government provides them with clean
water.
The development came few days after the district boss, Mr Melechiadis Kajwengye, informed President Museveni, who was at a fundraising function to complete St. Charles Lwanga Catholic Church last week, that 68 per cent of the residents in the area lack access to safe water.
Daily Monitor 1st March 2010
Whistleblowers Bill splits MPs
The debate on the Whistleblowers Bill was deferred to tomorrow after opposition MPs rejected the inclusion of resident district commissioners (RDCs) as part of the group to whom disclosures can be made.
The Bill seeks to enable the public to disclose information on corrupt officials or improper conduct in the public and private sectors.
Monitor 1st March 2010
Uganda’s health sector in a sorry state
Dear Tingasiga: As if on cue, everyone in Kampala with whom I shared my observations about Kabale Hospital, responded that it was in fact one of the better staffed and better equipped in the country. Having visited other hospitals in Uganda over the last two decades and having read horror stories about Mulago Hospital and other medical centres in the country, none of these comments surprised me.
Uganda’s sick health sector is, to a very large extent, a consequence of failure of governance. It reflects the skewed priorities of a government that has so far failed to shift its focus from self-sustenance in power to health maintenance of the citizens. To understand this, it is necessary to study the Republic of Uganda’s own document titled: ‘Approved Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure’ for the year ending on June 30. Space does not allow a full analysis of the budget. For purposes of this column, let us look at a few illustrative examples.
Daily Monitor 1st March 2010
Reward workers with similar qualifications equally to end graft
Unequal reward policies add to the rising level of corruption in the civic service sector in Uganda. The government should realise that Ugandans working in local government and other government agencies like Nema, NDA, UAC, URA, Naads and others all contribute to service delivery in the country for the development of one nation.
The apparent differences in remuneration despite similar qualifications probably with the same overall target objectives including inputs like time and commitment, makes one wonder why the government should pay higher salaries, for instance, 50 per cent more to people in agencies than those working in the main stream civic service.
New Vision 1st March 2010
Whistleblowers Bill splits MPs
THE debate on the Whistleblowers Bill was deferred to tomorrow after opposition MPs rejected the inclusion of resident district commissioners (RDCs) as part of the group to whom disclosures can be made.
The Bill seeks to enable the public to disclose information on corrupt officials or improper conduct in the public and private sectors.
New Vision 1st March 2010
Whistle blowers should be paid
Parliament on Thursday stood over some clauses in the Whistleblowers Bill 2009. The Bill seeks to create an enabling environment for both citizens and non-citizens to freely disclose information on corrupt officials or improper conduct both in the public and private sectors.
MPs are opposed to some provisions such as disclosures to the Resident District Commissioners. Some MPs think the RDCs are not professional and may politicise it.
New Vision 1st March 2010
Kadaga wants independent maternal health ministry
An independent ministry should be set up to handle maternal health, the deputy Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga, has said.
She regretted that there had been many debates on the high maternal deaths but little had been done.
Kadaga further argued that the country needs specialised planning at the grassroots because maternal health is not prioritised at lower levels.
She expressed concern that many ministry and department budgets focus on accountability for cars and workshops.