MINISTRIES AND OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES SHOULD IMPLEMTENT PRESIDENT MUSEVENI’S DIRECTIVE TO BUY BUSES FROM LOCAL PRODUCERS

 

By MOSES SSERWANGA

Many Ugandans are excited about the Ugandan made  Kayoola EVS (fully electric ) buses that have been plying the Kampala – Entebbe and Express highway routes for the last two months -while offering shuttle services to Civil Aviation Authority , (CAA).

When Kiira Motors Corporation (KMC) Uganda’s automotive industry leaders entered into a partnership with CAA to validate their production- fully electric buses many naysayers were caught with pants down -since they  deliberately don’t want to see anything positive  coming out of Uganda .

But for the staff of CAA, the locally built buses  are a marvel and a true testament that Uganda doesn’t not only have the talent but capabilities to match any other vehicles producing countries- if the right environment and resources are provided for the engineers and other value chain actors to express themselves in the nascent automotive industry .

One cannot tier to repeat themselves that all the major economies in the world are thriving on their respective automotive industries  .  Available data shows that all the top economies of the world have budding automotive industries . From America 's automobile heartbeat in Michigan (General Motors ) , China’s Shanghai General Motors, Malaysia’s Proton, Japan’ s Toyota , South Korea’s Hyundai  to  South Africa 's Honda, the automotive sector has played a leading role in the development of these countries respective economies .

All the top world biggest economies in 2019 to 2020  which include the USA, China, Japan Germany, United Kingdom, India , France and South Africa ,governments have invested heavily and continue to support their automotive industries . Governments in other relatively small economies like Vietnam, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Morocco, Algeria, Turkey are funding their car producers too.

In Asia, governments of major vehicle production countries such as China, South Korea, Malaysia, and Japan have played a virtual role to ensure that their automotive industries, do not only grow and survive the global economic turbulences due to the global-novel-Covid 19 pandemic that’s has left economies shutdown for months - but that such industries are at the center of a fast recovery program .

But in Uganda and East African it is a completely different story altogether . Despite the growing demand for vehicles in Uganda and the EAC, vehicles are predominantly imported as Fully Built Units without domestic value addition.  This is a big shame !

Studies have also shown that the Uganda Vehicle Import Value has grown from US$ 190 Million in 2005 to a whopping US$ 550 Million in 2015 at a Compound Annual Growth Rate of 11.8% representing approximately 10% of the National Gross Import Value. For the same period, vehicles were the second highest valued imported goods after petroleum products.

It is further worth noting that the vehicle market size in the EAC has grown from 158,000 in 2011 to 257,000 in 2015 and is projected to reach over 6300,000 by 2030.  Unfortunately many of the 45,560 vehicles registered by Uganda Revenue Authority in 2014, 15%  were new and  85% used with an average age of 16 years at registration. Can you imagine the total waste here ! This not to mention that the importation of end-of-life vehicle technology has resulted into low fuel efficiency and hazardous transport-based carbon emissions contributing to climate change.

And yet Kiira Motors continues to demonstrate as highlighted above that it does not only have home grown technology but it now  has the capabilities to produce vehicles locally starting with buses both fully electric and combustion engine ones which are fuel efficient and environmental friendly . Already , mainstream media has reported that Kiira Motors can for now produce 8 buses a month at their Nakasongola base and this will be scaled up to at least 22 buses a day - once the construction of the  Kiira Vehicles Plant is completed by the UPDF mid next year.

Therefore, the  development of Uganda’s automotive industry has come a long way in the last decade or so . Milestones after milestones have been registered and documented by the media. In case you have forgotten , just last year , Uganda  was  assigned for the first time, a World Manufacturers Identifier (WMI) by the International Society for Automotive Engineers’ (SAE)- paving way for production of vehicles in the country.

The SAE WMI Coordinator, Mr. Kris Siddall stated that Uganda has now been officially assigned WMI codes to be used by vehicles manufacturers. This means that Uganda is internationally recognized as a car producing country .

Perhaps the same reason why President Museveni has now come out to state that the Uganda government will no-longer allow the importation of  fully built buses. While launching the 3-day National Resistance Movement (NRM) National Executive Committee (NEC) and delegates - virtual conference at State House in Entebbe, Museveni empathized the need for value addition across all productive sectors (including the automotive industry )to ensure jobs and wealth creation.

Museveni underscored the need for government to prioritize the post Covid-19 interventions to boost the economy by supporting key nine production  sectors including transport, where local industry champions like Kiira Motors Corporation Ltd  under the Ministry of Science Technology and Innovation are taking  the lead.

With Shs.400billion, President  Museveni noted, the automotive  industry can take off and any balance of payments support should go towards development of local manufacturing capacity to ensure the country is competitive in terms of import -substitution and export- promotion.

Yet the bureaucrats as usual have maintained a notable silence about these presidential directives and others are busy involved in machinations with briefcase middlemen to siphon off  public-tax payers money by importing fully built buses and deny Ugandans job opportunities and income.

These  individuals must be stopped in their tracks and the presidential directives implemented rather urgently .

SPEAKER KADAGA , NABAKOOBA, LAMWAKA DECLARED WINNERS AS RUKUTANA PULLS GUN AND FIST FIGHTS REPORTED IN SEMBABULE , JINJA , MBALE AND KAZO

 

BY MOSES SSERWANGA

The NRM returning officer for Kamuli district has declared Hon. Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga the NRM women MP flag bearer after she registered the  biggest win in the  hotly contested primaries where several senior and junior ministers were given the boot by dissatisfied-angry  voters.

 In a show of overwhelming support Kadaga polled 118,748 of the vote with her rival Mugerwa Deborah Mwesigwa receiving 7243  votes .Other  candidates  who will run on the ruling NRM party ticket  in Kamuli  district are , Kibalya Henry who got 20,158 votes for   Bugabula South , john Teira 17,808 Bugabula North, Namatovu Masitula 7,315 for the Municipality , and Martin Mugabi muzaale 36,853 for Buzaya constituency .

Kadaga thanked her supporters for the overwhelming support even when some mafia’s in government where busy maligning her name before President Museveni . “ I take this opportunity to thank all voters and campaign agents. Let's prepare for the next battle; win it; and serve our people,” a jovial Speaker said.

She added ,”One day, when I quit active politics, I would like to be remembered for three key issues: Speaking out for the underprivileged; introduction of the Certificate of Gender and Equity Compliance --- before any law is passed; and striving to end Female Genital Mutilation.”

In Mityana  , Judith Nabakooba the Minister of ICT and NG and incumbent woman MP for Mityana district floored her opponent in the NRM primaries for flag bearers – registering a 86.4% landslide that has paved the way to retain her seat in the 11^th parliament .

The triumphant Nabakooba in a message to her supporters after the huge win stated ; “ I'm truly honoured for the trust and overwhelming support I got as the nominated NRM flag bearer-woman MP,Mityana District. This is a vote of confidence-shared victory and a renewal of our commitment to improve service delivery. Onwards to the final race. Thank you all. God bless you. “

In Omoro district , Catherine  Lamwaka  will be the NRM  Party Flag bearer as the woman MP for Omoro district after  she beat her rivals , Amb. Akech Okulu and Grace Atim with a landslide. Lamwaka ‘s huge win where she beat her rivals with well over ten thousand votes means that she is  now at the halfway mark to retain her seat in the 11^th parliament  .

As  supporters of Hons  Nabakooba and Lamwaka were celebrating in Mityana and  Omoro districts  at least 10 Ministers were nursing  wounds after they  were thumped by their arch rivals . The hotly contested NRM primaries recorded huge political upsets in Sheema and Koboko municipalities with incumbents Dr. Elioda Tumwesigue and vocal State Minister for Investments Evelyn Anite trailing political novices, Dickson Kateshumbwa and Dr. Charles Ayume , respectively.

But  historicals -Generals Jim Muhwezi and Kahinda Otafiire won with commanding -solid leads in their respective races . In the  east "Maama Mbale" Connie Galiwango  beat her  rival "big sister"Lydia Wanyoto while in Mbarara municipality incumbent Michael Tusiime, lost to his opponent businessman Robert Mwesigwa Rukaari . Others losing include Fred Tumwesigye, Abraham Byandala, Simeo Nsubuga , Peter kibazanga and Molly Kamukama .

Ministers Prof. E. Kamuntu ,David Bahati, Mary Gorrette Kitutu won in  Ndorwa West and  Manafwa while fellow ministers , Mary Karoro, Adolf Mwesigye, Peter Egwang,  Mwesigwa Rukutana  , Beatrice Anywaa aka Maama Mabira /political slay queen -were fighting for their political lives while trailing in their respective races .

 Florence Nebanda won  for the woman MP in Butaleja and Namuganza for Bukono county .

In Ruhama south , Benjamin Kamukama won  while Bata Kamateneti took the ntungamo woman MP flag. In Isingiro North, Lt. Col bright Rwamirama  sailed through together with Nathan Byanyima in Bukanga North  , isngiro South Alex Bakunda, Bukanga county Steven kangwagye; Mbarara city south Mwine mpaka , Mbarara city  woman MP  Rita Atukwase and Kashari  South J.B. Tumusiime and woman MP Margaret Rwebyambu.

Rukutana takes law in his own hands , the Jinja, Kazo and Mbale fracases 

The hotly contested elections went on without major incidents across the country following heavy deployment of security forces . But defeated Mwesigwa Rukutana took the law in his own hands when he grabbed a gun from his security detail and pointed it at civilians travelling in a vehicle . He later calimed that he was defending himself from intruders .

In Jinja and Mbale rival candidates and their supporters  engaged in fist fights accusing each other of manipulating the final tally results .  By Saturday afternoon in many constituencies official results were yet to be announced .

Isolate cases of goons beating and intimidating voters were reported in some villages and police said they were investigating the reported cases .

Other Results:

 

IBANDA DISTRICT IBANDA SOUTH  Winner: Eng. John Byabagambi 2nd: John Paul Panadol    IBANDA MUNICIPALITY  Winner: Tarsis Rwaburindore  2nd : Deus Mulinde    IBANDA NORTH Winner: Guma Gumisiriza 2nd: Xavier Kyooma   IBANDA WOMAN MP Winner: Jovrine Kaliisa  2nd: Jane Bainomugisha      *KAZO DISTRICT* KAZO COUNTY  Winner: Gordon Bafaki  2nd: Dan Kimosho    KAZO WOMAN MP Winner: Jennifer Muheesi  2nd: Molly Kamukama    *KIRUHURA DISTRICT* NYABUSHOZI COUNTY  Winner: Wilson Kajwengye  2nd: Col. Fred Mwesigye    KASHONGI COUNTY  Winner: Herbert Tayebwa  2nd:  Genensio Tumuramye    KIRUHURA WOMAN MP Winner: Sheila Mwine Katsimbura  2nd: Jovanice Rwenduru    *SHEEMA DISTRICT*  SHEEMA NORTH  Winner: Naome Kibaaju  2nd: Dr. Arthur Mugisha   SHEEMA MUNICIPALITY Winner: Dicksons Kateshumbwa  2nd: Elioda Tumwesigye    SHEEMA SOUTH Winner: Prof. Ephraim Kamuntu  2nd: Eng. Yorokamu Katwiremu    SHEEMA WOMAN MP  Winner: Rosemary Nyakikongoro  2nd: Jacklet Rwabukurukuru    *MITOOMA DISTRICT* RUHINDA SOUTH  Winner: Donozio Kahonda  2nd: Arthur Kazoora    RUHINDA COUNTY Winner: Kahinda Otafiire  2nd: Robert Mbeine    RUHINDA NORTH  Winner: Thomas Tayebwa  2nd: Dr. Moses Twimukye     *MITOOMA WOMAN MP*  winner:Jovah Kamateeka 2nd Agasha Juliet Bashiisha   *BUSHENYI DISTRICT* IGARA EAST  Winner: Michael Mawanda   IGARA WEST  Winner: Mbwatekamwa Gaffa 2nd: Horace Muhanguzi    BUSHENYI - ISHAKA MUNICIPALITY  Winner: Derrick Kabuura  2nd: Marvin Baryaruha    BUSHENYI WOMAN MP Winner: Annet Mugisha  2nd: Mary Karooro Okurut

 

 

AMIN GRAND DAUGHTER SHARIFAH TABAN AMIN ELECTED KOBOKO NRM WOMAN MP FLAG BEARER

 

BY MOSES SSERWANGA

The Amin family is back in national politics after former President Iddi Amin  Dada ‘s  grand daughter- Dr Sharifah  Taban Amin was elected and declared the NRM party  Koboko  woman MP in shocking polls that have seen many incumbents thrown by the way side for non- performance , arrogance and being absentee legislators who had for long abandoned their electorates .

Shortly after her surprise win , Sharifah Taban Amin one of the Museveni -doctom- young generation paid special tribute to President Yoweri Museveni saying he gave his father a chance to come back from exile without which she  would not have gone to school and become what she is today.

“ For me I have grown up and been educated by the NRM government . President Museveni gave my father and my family a chance to  come back home . He gave my father a job which enabled him to take me to good schools. That’s why I’m a strong NRM and Museveni’s supporter ,”  Dr. Sharif Taban Amin said .

A political novice so to speak, Sharif Amin said that she was going to learn on the  job and was ready for her opponents in the 2021 general elections  because “ I have been blessed by God and the people liked me naturally . “

“ I didn’t have the money yet my opponents used a lot of it . But the people of Koboko- young and old voted for me ,” She explained  vowing to work for unity among  the leaders in the district to champion the causes that are of great interest to the people especially the jobless youth .

In Fort Portal controversial incumbent Sylvia Rwabogo was shown the door when the voters elected her rival Linda Irene. Veteran media personality Margarate Muhanga survived by a whisker when she won by a narrow margin of 200 votes in Fort Portal North tourism city . In  Hoima Beatrice ‘true mummy’ defeated Harriet Businge –‘baby face’.

Minister Simon Lokodo was  beaten by Baatom Ben  Koryang in Dodoth, while Dr. C. Kiyonga bounced back in Bukonzo West after a long stay in political limbo .Ferigo Kambale will hold the NRM flag  in Kasese municipality while Frank Tumwebaze retains his Kamwenge flag.  Another veteran legislator Aston Kajara was defeated by Don Katalihwa  while minister  Col. Tom Butiime and NRM historical in Tooro  won in Mwenge Central. 

 

D-DAY :HEAVY SECURITY DEPLOYED AS VOTERS DECIDE ON NRM PARTY FLAG BEARERS

 

By MOSES SSERWANGA

There is heavy deployment of the police and army across the country especially in the 15 hotspots as NRM party members go to the polls to decide who will be their flag bearers for the  scientific 2021 general elections.

There has also been heavy spending of money by the various candidates as they woe voters in the hotly contested NRM primaries  with at least two major races in Sembabule district suspended by the Party Chairman , President Yoweri Museveni due to violence and intimidation of voters.

 Museveni -the endorsed NRM chairman and the party’s sole presidential candidate has also directed that all known NRM members/supporters  should be allowed to vote in tomorrow’s polls following complaints that in some villages- in the flagged hotspots -the NRM party voters register had been tampered with in futile efforts to rig the vote.

Now, Museveni is emphatic  that  all NRM party members whether registered or not should be given an opportunity to cast their votes by adding their names on the voters register after verification by the village committees. The exercise of registering voters will go on until the polling day , Museveni stated in a communication to all national NM branch (village) executive committees.

An estimated 2,600 candidates are vying for posts in the NRM mass party with  an estimated 1,600 candidates standing to get the direct Member of Parliament NRM flag, some  200  women contesting for the woman MP flag .  Speaker of  parliament Rebecca Kadaga got an endorsement from the Busoga Kingdom Prime Minister Joseph Muvawala who said the region can not afford not to have Kadaga in both local and national politics and that she should retain all her positions. Else where, Judith Nabakooba was predicted to get the NRM flag for the Mityana woman MP and Lydia Wanyoto was also reported to be ahead of rival in Mbale.

The flagged hotspots

Police and the   army conducted night patrols and have today morning deployed heavily in the hotspots  as voters head to the polling centers where they will vote by lining behind their preferred candidates . The hotspots include Rakai Ssembabule, Kassanda, Kazo, Bundibugyo, Sironko, Sheema, Mbale, Hoima, Koboko, Adjumani, Kashongi, Kampala, Wakiso and Hoima.

In Ssebambule where the voting has been suspended , the incumbent Lwemiya MP Theodore Ssekikuubo was battling State Minister for transport Joyce Kabatsi while President Yoweri Museveni’s relative Godfrey Aine is facing off with Shartis Musherure Nayebare, a daughter to foreign affairs Minister Sam Kutesa for the  Mawogola North constituency.

An Interesting profile of the race for Mawogola North shows that Shartsi Musherule, one of the contenders is daughter to Sam Kuteesa  and twin sister to the first  Son Gen. Muhoozi’s wife Charllote. Her rival is her father-in-law Sodo Aine Kaguta, younger brother to President Museveni and therefore an uncle to Muhoozi.

In Shema , Dr. Elioda Tumwesigye a veteran politician who has been MP for 20 years and minister for Science technology and Innovation , (MosTI) is in a race of his life- facing off with a political novice but who is filthy rich -Dickson Kateshumbwa aka(Kaesh)- who was recently sacked from URA by President Museveni. This particular race is  hotly contested  that police and army have had to storm hotels and lodges in Sheema and  rounded up over 50 “kanyamas” who were ferried from   Kampala by the two camps to allegedly  intimidate voters.

The army and police have now been deployed in all the villages of Sheema to ensure that no violence erupts during and after the elections.

Koboko is another hot one , with the incumbent Evelyn Anite being given a run for her money by another fresh political entrant  Dr. Charles Ayume . Already cases of violence and hooliganism have been reported in Koboko forcing the police to summon the two arch rivals to record statements .

 

But why the do or die NRM primaries

 

 Political pundits have told the trusted and topical Ugandaupdatenews.com publication that commercialization of Uganda’s politics where  an MP earns well over Ug.shs.35M a month- candidates are even selling their houses to buy votes and go to parliament . Civil society actors  monitoring the campaign financing in Uganda now believe that for one to be elected an MP they should have spent on average Ug.shs.300M.

 

In the NRM primaries some candidates are said to be spending well over Ug.shs.500m- meaning that by the time they are done with the general elections next year they would have spent in the upward of a billion shillings . In western Uganda a vote was reported to be going for as much as ug.Shs.300,000 depending on one’s burgaining power and influence in the villages .

 

And here is the math. It is estimated that an MP would have earned at least 2bn official money in salaries and allowances over a five year period when they are in parliament which is a motivating factor for candidates to invest as much as Ug.shs.500m for campaigns  and make a ‘profit’ of ug.shs.1.5bn when they are elected MPs.

 

“ That’s why candidates will do everything within their means to be elected as MPs. And when one wins the primaries they are at 70% mark to become MPs. And the voters want to have a piece of the cake too -since for some, this is the first and last time they will interact with these politicians. Many don’t return to their electorates once they are elected ,” John Bagonza a political scholar stated .

 

The same views have since been echoed  by Ugandan scholars- Ramathan Ggoobi and Prof.  Mwambutsya who noted that you cannot have free and fair elections when the majority of the voters are poor and when those who commercialise politics are rewarded with government positions .

 

Past hotly contested races  

 

So the question is then posed ;is this the first time families are contesting against each other. The answer is no. 

 

During the race to the Constituent Assembly (CA) in 1994 Prof. Adonia Tiberondwa contested against Major Amanya Mushega in Bushenyi yet their wives were blood sisters. The CA involved joint campaigns referred to as Joint Candidates Meetings. Tiberondwa was a former UPC minister and Mushega was a serving NRM minister. Although the law prohibited campaigning along party lines, Bushenyi was still strongly UPC and, naturally a contest between the then  NRM values and those of UPC often became heated.

 

The candidates would haul insults at each other on the campaign platforms to fire up the peasants then withdraw to any of their homes and share  a meal and some pleasantries as the peasants continued with the  bitter rivalry  throughout the night.

 

Another case is Bunyaruguru. where  Hon. Bart  Katurebe ( now retired Chief justice )   and Hon. Twarebireho contested against each other yet they are first cousins. During elections, Twarebireho lost his mother.  The family eulogy was given   by Bart Katurebe who went ahead to win the election .

 

In the 1980 elections in Mbale Central Constituency (now Bududa District and part of Manafwa District) two UPC diehards  who had at different times married or at least produced a child with the same woman contested for the same position . One was Abner Nangwale, a British trained chartered engineer and the other was Seth Mungati, an equally British trained chartered surveyor.

 

Floodgates to many  Independents 

 

The bitter rivalry in the NRM primaries  will  open the floodgates to many independent candidates since the losers are likely to contest the general elections as independents.  According to political commentators all this will increase the cost of elections in Uganda -even when the 2021 polls are likely to be conducted in a scientific manner to stem the spread of the global -novel- Covid-19 pandemic.

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