Saturday, May 19, 2012
KONY COMMANDER MUST FACE JUSTICE
THE OTHER SIDE OF LAW
BY MOSES SSERWANGA
After all the mayhem visited upon the people of northern Uganda by the
notorious Joseph Kony’s Lords Resistance Army (LRA)- terrorists; it’s
unfortunate that there are those in the political realm who are
pushing for amnesty to be granted to Maj.Gen. Caesar Acellam one of
LRA’s top commanders captured by the UPDF this month.
This group of Kony and Acellam’s sypathisers need to be reminded about
the horrendous crimes committed by the rag- tag LRA bandits against
their fellow country men. And here we are talking about war crimes and
crimes against humanity .
The mobile LRA gang of armed bandits was started by Kony and his
henchmen in January 1987 and went on to wreck havoc in northern
Uganda for over 20 years -killing and maiming thousands of innocent
civilians and driving well over 20 million people out of their homes.
One of their killing fields was at Purengo where they executed 30
civilians in 1989 and later massacred another 400 in Lamwo county
Kitgum district. They did not even spare little girls when they raided
St. Mary’s college in Aboke Apac district on October 10, 1996 and
abducted 139 students taking them as sex slaves and enlisting others
in the LRA army.
Kony and his group of butchers have murdered an estimated 30,000
people during the execution of their two-decade, unjustified rebellion
in the northern part of the country.
The LRA’s horrendous attacks on innocent civilians did not spare
children who were abducted and illegally conscripted in the LRA as
child soldiers.
At Kony and the now captured Acellam’s command, the LRA gangsters used
machetes and hoes to maim their victims; chopping lips and ears of
their captives. They raided schools and forced students to fight and
kill their own relatives. Many of the lucky surviving victims will
never recover from the trauma visited upon them by the blood-soiled
hands of Kony , Acellam and those under their command. Because of
their unprecedented cruelty, Kony’s LRA, deserves no sympathy in the
civilised world.
Its 12 years since the Rome Statute of the International Criminal
Court (often referred to as the International Criminal Court Statute
or the Rome Statute), the treaty that established the International
Criminal Court (ICC) was adopted at a diplomatic conference in Rome.
The statute, which came into force on July 1, 2002 and has since been
ratified by 110 countries including Uganda, has drastically changed
international criminal law as we have come to know it .
The Rome Statute and its implementing agency the International
Criminal Court, has in the short period of its existence ensured that
perpetrators of horrendous crimes against humanity do not escape the
rule of law. And the list of indicted suspects grows by the day, the
latest being those accused of perpetuating crimes against humanity
during the 2007/8 post election violence in Kenya.
The ever elusive Joseph Kony and his Lords Resistance Army (LRA)
deputies Vincent Otti, Okot Odhiambo and Raska Lukwiya have also been
indicted but are yet to face trial at the ICC. They stand accused of
33 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed against
the people of northern Uganda in the last 20 years. Acellam although
not indicted by the ICC was part of the criminal acts of Kony and the
LRA for all these years.
Acellam can’t hide from justice under the amnesty law Kony and Acellam
have for long duped the international community and the leadership in
this country costing the Ugandan taxpayer billions shillings that
facilitated the now infamous –two-year -Juba peace jokes! It was
pretty obvious from the onset of the failed peace talks that Kony -
aware of the heinous crimes he has committed against humanity- would
never surrender without putting up a fight!
That’s why there is no option but for the Uganda People’s Defence
Force, (UPDF) supported by our regional and international allies, to
continue their pursuit of LRA until Kony and all his blood-stained
commanders are captured and have them answer charges of war crimes and
crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court
(ICC)either here in Kampala or at the Hague.
And our forces now have the capabilities to pull this one off - of
course with the support of the Ugandan people.
Once a person has committed war crimes as outlined in the Rome
Statute, then that person should benefit from the provisions of our
amnesty law. War crimes and crimes against humanity are international
in nature and suspects can be picked from anywhere in the world by any
spirited individual or state to arraigned them at the ICC for trial.
The UPDF should use all its capabilities and bring all resources to
bear in this new effort to find Kony and his commanders to have them
answer for their criminal acts. The UPDF should earn the support of
the people of Uganda and hope our brothers and sisters in northern
Uganda never suffer again the kind of Kony and LRA’s vicious
brutality.
This article was first published in Government Review a Ugandan magazine
The writer is a development communications, media consultant and human
rights lawyer.
msserwanga@gmail.com
Sunday, October 23, 2011
GADAFFI KILLING ILLEGAL WE SHOULD ALL CONDEMN IT
As a human rights lawyer and journalist, I call upon the world to join me in condemning the illegal killing of Col. Muammar Gadaffi. The former Libyan leader was captured alive by the National Transitional Council (NTC) forces in Sirte and he was moments later executed and his body dragged on the streets. A postmortem carried out om his body has confirmed that he ded of a bullet wound o the head. The international law governing prisoners of war (POW) is very clear-it bars torture and illegal executions. If the NTC chaps as Ssabalwanyi would call them, have started their reign by resorting to the law of the jungle , it will be a matter of time when they too, will be faced with the same fate. The only positive I can take out of this is the fact that the UN has launched a full scale investigation in this grisly murder which was captured on camera and broadcasted the world over. I must also state that Nato, the USA , and all your allies , the world is watching. The culprits in Gadaffi’s murder must be brought to book- they must face the full force of law. There is no place for selective justice in the 21 century.
msserwanga@gmail.com
msserwanga@gmail.com
Thursday, August 4, 2011
FIGHTING FOR OUR RIGHTS
This is interesting
http://myfellowamerican.us/
My Fellow American
myfellowamerican.us
They are part of the national fabric that holds our country together. They contribute to America in many ways, and deserve the same respect as any of us. I pledge to spread this message, and affirm our country’s principles of liberty and justice for all.
8 minutes ago · LikeUnlike · ·
http://myfellowamerican.us/
My Fellow American
myfellowamerican.us
They are part of the national fabric that holds our country together. They contribute to America in many ways, and deserve the same respect as any of us. I pledge to spread this message, and affirm our country’s principles of liberty and justice for all.
8 minutes ago · LikeUnlike · ·
Thursday, July 7, 2011
THE COMMONWEALTH LAW MINISTERS MEETING TAKES PLACE IN SYDNEY WITH ISSUES OF DEMOCRACY AND COUNTER-TERRORISM TAKING CENTER STAGE
BY MOSES SSERWANGA
The Commonwealth law ministers meeting takes place on Monday next to look at ways of strengethening laws that will promote democracy among the commonwealth countries including Uganda. Uganda has just held it's national general elections where president Yoweri Museveni was elected for a forth term in office.
The meeting, which will be hosted by Australian Attorney-General Robert McClelland, provides the opportunity for the First Law Officers of the Commonwealth of Nations to discuss law and justice issues of common concern, including counter-terrorism, crime prevention, human rights, access to justice and intellectual property as well as ‘Women as agents of change’.
A Ugandan, Ms. Elizabeth Bakibinga-Gaswaga, Vice President of the Commonwealth Association of Legislative Counsel (CALC), will lead the CALC’s delegation to the 2011 Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting to be held in Sydney at the InterContinental Hotel from Monday 11 to Thursday 14 July 2011.
The international meeting under the theme: ‘Fostering a Just and Secure Society’ involves Commonwealth Law Ministers discussing and providing the strategic vision and direction on law and justice issues of common concern. In doing so, they will identify and drive the capacity building and technical assistance needs required by member states to promote the rule of law across the Commonwealth, in order to further enhance and strengthen democracy, good governance and development.
Representatives from more than 50 Commonwealth countries are expected to attend.
The delegates include Ministers and Senior Officials from Commonwealth member states, including Uganda’s Attorney General, Mr Peter Nyombi Mrs Robina Rwakoojo, Ag. Director Civil Litigation, Australia’s Minister for Home Affairs, Brendan O’Connor, the UK Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, Mr. Kenneth Clarke, the Indian Minister for Law & Justice, Mr. M. Veerappa Moily and New Zealand’s Minister of Justice, Simon Power. The Commonwealth Secretary-General, Kamalesh Sharma will also attend CLMM and officially open the meeting. According to Mr. Sharma, “The Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting is unique in the legal calendar. It is the only high-level event on the international stage that facilitates information sharing, best practice and collaboration among law ministers and attorneys-general from both developing and developed countries from every continent in the world who share a common legal tradition.”
The Meeting will be followed by the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Perth in October 2011.
CALC has observer status with the Commonwealth and, at this meeting, the CALC delegation will endeavour to draw the attention of participants to activities and opportunities for interaction that enhance the visibility of legislative counsel and highlight the role of legislative counsel in transforming policy and programmes into enforceable legislation for good governance and development. This should specifically benefit the 250 legislative counsel in Botswana, Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, the Gambia, Uganda and Zambia. The meeting also serves as a pre-cursor to the 2nd CALC Africa regional conference scheduled to be held in 2012.
Official release from the Commonwealth Secretariat, also available at http://www.thecommonwealth.org/news/237933/040711clmm.htm
Commonwealth law ministers to hold triennial meeting in Australia
4 July 2011
Meeting provides a periodic opportunity, every three years, for ministers and senior officials to come together to stock take and look ahead
Law ministers and attorneys-general from the 54-member Commonwealth will hold their triennial meeting in Sydney, Australia, 11-14 July 2011, to discuss important legal issues affecting Commonwealth citizens.
Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma and Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-General Mmasekgoa Masire-Mwamba will join host Australia's Attorney-General Robert McClelland for the Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting (CLMM 2011) under the theme 'Fostering a Just and Secure Commonwealth'.
“CLMM 2011 will be an excellent opportunity for law ministers from across the Commonwealth to work together to advance a broad range of initiatives aimed at achieving this year’s theme of fostering a just and secure Commonwealth,” Mr McClelland said.
“There will be a special thematic session on cyber crime and further discussion on the development of a Commonwealth plan of action to combat human trafficking. Concrete solutions in these areas really matter to Commonwealth citizens in order to foster a just and secure Commonwealth for all,” stated Mr Sharma.
“The Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting is unique in the legal calendar. It is the only high-level event on the international stage that facilitates information sharing, best practice and collaboration among law ministers and attorneys-general from both developing and developed countries from every continent in the world who share a common legal tradition.”
Akbar Khan, Director of the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Division at the Commonwealth Secretariat, offered more details on the conference.
“We are talking about those global threats for which collectively we need to find solutions. Today many of the legal threats don’t have borders. We’re talking about human trafficking, we’re talking about cyber crime, and we’re talking about forced marriages,” Mr Khan said.
“These issues need to be dealt with on a collective basis and ministers have that experience in providing the protection and security and respect for human rights that need to come to bear to decide these issues.”
A special feature of CLMM 2011 will be its focus also on youth, marked with an event for young lawyers from the Pacific region to promote youth mainstreaming within the Commonwealth and to discuss the challenges they face in the legal profession.
Another special event will focus on access to justice for women, under the Commonwealth’s theme for 2011, 'Women as Agents of Change'.
The women’s event will hear about the challenges that women in the Commonwealth face in accessing their rights through judicial mechanisms and legal systems.
The CLMM is the summit meeting of First Law Officers of the Commonwealth and is held every three years. This is the first time Australia has hosted the meeting, which is a precursor to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Perth, Western Australia, in October 2011.
To access further information regarding CLMM, go to http://www.clmm2011.org/
For video sound bites of Mr Khan, visit the Commonwealth Secretariat website homepage http://www.thecommonwealth.org/
For media enquiries: Manoah Esipisu, Conference Spokesperson, +44 789 446 2021 and m.esipisu@commonwealth.int
The Commonwealth law ministers meeting takes place on Monday next to look at ways of strengethening laws that will promote democracy among the commonwealth countries including Uganda. Uganda has just held it's national general elections where president Yoweri Museveni was elected for a forth term in office.
The meeting, which will be hosted by Australian Attorney-General Robert McClelland, provides the opportunity for the First Law Officers of the Commonwealth of Nations to discuss law and justice issues of common concern, including counter-terrorism, crime prevention, human rights, access to justice and intellectual property as well as ‘Women as agents of change’.
A Ugandan, Ms. Elizabeth Bakibinga-Gaswaga, Vice President of the Commonwealth Association of Legislative Counsel (CALC), will lead the CALC’s delegation to the 2011 Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting to be held in Sydney at the InterContinental Hotel from Monday 11 to Thursday 14 July 2011.
The international meeting under the theme: ‘Fostering a Just and Secure Society’ involves Commonwealth Law Ministers discussing and providing the strategic vision and direction on law and justice issues of common concern. In doing so, they will identify and drive the capacity building and technical assistance needs required by member states to promote the rule of law across the Commonwealth, in order to further enhance and strengthen democracy, good governance and development.
Representatives from more than 50 Commonwealth countries are expected to attend.
The delegates include Ministers and Senior Officials from Commonwealth member states, including Uganda’s Attorney General, Mr Peter Nyombi Mrs Robina Rwakoojo, Ag. Director Civil Litigation, Australia’s Minister for Home Affairs, Brendan O’Connor, the UK Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, Mr. Kenneth Clarke, the Indian Minister for Law & Justice, Mr. M. Veerappa Moily and New Zealand’s Minister of Justice, Simon Power. The Commonwealth Secretary-General, Kamalesh Sharma will also attend CLMM and officially open the meeting. According to Mr. Sharma, “The Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting is unique in the legal calendar. It is the only high-level event on the international stage that facilitates information sharing, best practice and collaboration among law ministers and attorneys-general from both developing and developed countries from every continent in the world who share a common legal tradition.”
The Meeting will be followed by the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Perth in October 2011.
CALC has observer status with the Commonwealth and, at this meeting, the CALC delegation will endeavour to draw the attention of participants to activities and opportunities for interaction that enhance the visibility of legislative counsel and highlight the role of legislative counsel in transforming policy and programmes into enforceable legislation for good governance and development. This should specifically benefit the 250 legislative counsel in Botswana, Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, the Gambia, Uganda and Zambia. The meeting also serves as a pre-cursor to the 2nd CALC Africa regional conference scheduled to be held in 2012.
Official release from the Commonwealth Secretariat, also available at http://www.thecommonwealth.org/news/237933/040711clmm.htm
Commonwealth law ministers to hold triennial meeting in Australia
4 July 2011
Meeting provides a periodic opportunity, every three years, for ministers and senior officials to come together to stock take and look ahead
Law ministers and attorneys-general from the 54-member Commonwealth will hold their triennial meeting in Sydney, Australia, 11-14 July 2011, to discuss important legal issues affecting Commonwealth citizens.
Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma and Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-General Mmasekgoa Masire-Mwamba will join host Australia's Attorney-General Robert McClelland for the Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting (CLMM 2011) under the theme 'Fostering a Just and Secure Commonwealth'.
“CLMM 2011 will be an excellent opportunity for law ministers from across the Commonwealth to work together to advance a broad range of initiatives aimed at achieving this year’s theme of fostering a just and secure Commonwealth,” Mr McClelland said.
“There will be a special thematic session on cyber crime and further discussion on the development of a Commonwealth plan of action to combat human trafficking. Concrete solutions in these areas really matter to Commonwealth citizens in order to foster a just and secure Commonwealth for all,” stated Mr Sharma.
“The Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting is unique in the legal calendar. It is the only high-level event on the international stage that facilitates information sharing, best practice and collaboration among law ministers and attorneys-general from both developing and developed countries from every continent in the world who share a common legal tradition.”
Akbar Khan, Director of the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Division at the Commonwealth Secretariat, offered more details on the conference.
“We are talking about those global threats for which collectively we need to find solutions. Today many of the legal threats don’t have borders. We’re talking about human trafficking, we’re talking about cyber crime, and we’re talking about forced marriages,” Mr Khan said.
“These issues need to be dealt with on a collective basis and ministers have that experience in providing the protection and security and respect for human rights that need to come to bear to decide these issues.”
A special feature of CLMM 2011 will be its focus also on youth, marked with an event for young lawyers from the Pacific region to promote youth mainstreaming within the Commonwealth and to discuss the challenges they face in the legal profession.
Another special event will focus on access to justice for women, under the Commonwealth’s theme for 2011, 'Women as Agents of Change'.
The women’s event will hear about the challenges that women in the Commonwealth face in accessing their rights through judicial mechanisms and legal systems.
The CLMM is the summit meeting of First Law Officers of the Commonwealth and is held every three years. This is the first time Australia has hosted the meeting, which is a precursor to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Perth, Western Australia, in October 2011.
To access further information regarding CLMM, go to http://www.clmm2011.org/
For video sound bites of Mr Khan, visit the Commonwealth Secretariat website homepage http://www.thecommonwealth.org/
For media enquiries: Manoah Esipisu, Conference Spokesperson, +44 789 446 2021 and m.esipisu@commonwealth.int
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
PETITION OF CIVIL DEBTORS AGAINST INJUSTICES IN COURTS
TO: THE CHIEF JUSTICE
FROM: LUZIRA CIVIL PRISON
PETITION OF CIVIL DEBTORS OVER EXCESSIVE INJUSTICES AT MAGISTRATE COURTS OF MENGO, NAKAWA, MWANGA II AND MAKINDYE WHICH WE REQUEST YOU TO INVESTIGATE AND ADDRESS.
WE OVER 53 CIVIL DEBTORS, AT LUZIRA CIVIL PRISON HEREBY HUMBLY PRESENT OUR PETITION TO YOUR LORDSHIP THE CHIEF JUSTICE OVER GRAVE MATTERS CONCERNING OUR CIVIL RIGHTS PERTAINING THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS TO FAIR HEARING AND NATURAL JUSTICE PRINCIPLES AS HERE UNDER HIGHLIGHTED:
1. UNFAIR SUMMARY PROCEEDING AND EXPARTE JUDGEMENTS IN RESPECT OF CIVIL DEBTS
(a). YOUR LORDSHIP WE HEREBY BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION THE ILLEGAL- MAFIA LIKE SYNDICATE AND CONNIVANCE BETWEEN MAGISTRATES, COURT CLERKS, LAWYERS, AND COURT BAILIFFS WHO HAVE TURNED THE ABOVE MENTIONED COURTS INTO MONEY MINTING MACHINES FOR SELFISH INTERESTS AT THE DETRIMENT OF LITIGANTS WHO ARE NO LONGER ACCORDED THE RIGHT TO FAIR HEARING /TRIAL AS PROVIDED FOR IN CAP.4 OF OUR NATIONAL CONSTITUTION.
HERE BELOW ARE SOME OF THE SPECIFIC INJUSTICES IN RESPECT OF THE EXCESSIVELY ABUSED SUMMARY PROCEEDINGS.
(i) YOUR LORDSHIP, CIVIL DEBTORS/LITIGANTS ARE NO LONGER SERVED WITH SUMMONS TO APPEAR AND FILE THEIR DEFENCE ESPECIALLY IN MATTERS CONCERNING SOFT LOANS OFFERED BY MONEY LENDERS AND BANKS AGAINST POST DATED CHEQUES AND LOAN AGREEMENTS.
(ii) IN MOST CASES AT LEAST FOR THE 53 PRISONERS NOW RESIDENT AT LUZIRA CIVIL PRISON, THE ARE SURPRISED AND AMBUSHED WITH ARREST WARRANTS ISSUED BY MAGISTRATES TO COURT BAILIFFS WITHOUT THE EXPARTE JUDGEMENT DEBTORS BEING OFFERED ANY OPPORTUNITY TO DEFEND THEMSELVES IN FAIR AND UNBIASED JUDICIAL PROCESSES AS ENSHRINED IN OUR CONSTITUTION.
(iii) YOUR LORDSHIP, WE YOUR HUMBLE PETITIONERS ARE PARTICULARLY CONCERNED AND SEEK YOUR IMMIDIATE INTERVENTION OVER THE ILLEGAL AND ERRANT BEHAVIUOR OF COURT BALIFFS WITH THE HELP OF LAWYERS IN CONNIVANCE WITH MAGUSTRATES TO HIJACK THE CONSTITUTIONAL JUDICAL COURT PROCESSES THAT HAS RESULTED INTO ALL MANNER OF INJUSTICES AGAINST LITIGANTS.
(iv) IT SHOULD BE BROUGHT TO YOUR ATTENTION THAT APART FROMM THE UNFAIR METHODS THROUGH WHICH LAWYERS AND COURT BAILIFFS SECURE WARRANTS OF ARREST AGAINST EXPARTE CIVIL JUDGEMENT CIVIL DEBTORS: THE COURT BAILIFFS WITH THE HELP OF SECURITY OPERATIVES NOW RAID PEOPLE’S HOMES, OFFICES, BUSINESS PREMISES, AND HURRIEDLY PRODUCE CIVIL DEBTORS TO THE ABOVE MENTIONED COURTS WHERE THEY ARE COMMITTED TO CIVIL PRISON WITHOUT BEING ACCORDED THEIR FAIR RIGHT TO A FAIR HEARING.
(v) THE SAID COURT BAILIFFS WITH THE HELP OF COURT OFFICIALS DO NOT ONLY DENY LITIGANTS TO BE HEARD IN A FAIR TRIAL BUT THEY ARE NOW CHARGING EXORBITANT FEES WHICH IN MOST CASES EXCEED THOSE OF ADVOCATES AND EVEN LOAN AMOUNTS OBTAINED. FOR EXAMPLE AN EXPARTE JUDGEMENT DEBTOR WITH A LOAN OF 500,000/= WILL BE PRODUCED BEFORE A MAGISTRATE ON A WARRANT OF ARREST AND COERCED TO ACCEPT AND PAY A PRINCIPLE SUM OF 500,000/= PLUS LAWYER FEES OF SAY 1,000,000 AND THAT OF BAILIFFS TO A TUNE OF 2.5M. AT THE END OF THE DAY YOUR LORDSHIP, A DEBTOR WHO OBTAINED A LOAN OF SHS. 500,000/= ENDS UP BEING FORCED TO PAY SHS. 4,000,000/= EXCLUDING HIGH INTEREST WHICH IS ALWAYS IN EXCESS OF 15-30% PER MONTH AND AT TIMES PER WEEK.
(vi)
YOUR LORDSHIP, IT IS VITAL TO NOTE THAT AFTER SERVING SIX MONTH AT CIVIL PRISON FOR FAILURE TO PAY THE DEBT, THESE COURT BAILIFFS CAMP OUTSIDE THE PRISON MAIN GATE AND RE-ARREST DEBTORS WHO ARE RE-COMMITTED TO CIVIL PRISON AGAIN WITHOUT BEING GIVEN CHANCE TO BE HEARD IN A FAIR TRIAL. IT’S OUR MOST HUMBLE PRAYER THAT YOUR LORDSHIP, INTERVEE IN THIS MATTER TO STOP THESE INJUSTICES WHICH HAVE RENDERED THE WOULD BE TEMPLE OF JUSTICE ,TO A MERE MOCKERY.
(v) UNLIKE IN THE CRIMINAL MATTERS YOUR LORDSHIP, WHERE THE ACCUSED PERSONS ARE ACCORDED THEIR RIGHT TO BAIL IN THE ABOVE HIGHLIGHTED SUMMARY PROCEEDINGS, LITIGANTS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR RIGHTS TO FREEDOM, TO A LAWYER, TO FILE A DEFENCE AND BE HEARD TO IN A FAIR TRIAL.
THESE INJUSTICES YOUR LORDSHIP HAVE EXTENDED TO ARREST WARRANTS AGAINST CIVIL DEBTORS BEING EXECUTED ON PUBLIC HOLIDAYS , AT NIGHT , WEEKENDS WHEN COURTS ARE NOT IN SESSION ALL IN TOTAL BREACH OF COURT PROCESSES AND RULES GOVERNING BAILIFFS AND CIVIL PROCEEDINGS.
IN SOME CASES YOUR LORDSHIP, LITIGANTS ARE DUMPED TO LUZIRA CIVIL PRISON WITHOUT COMMITTAL PAPERS AND MONEY FOR MAINTAINANCE AS PROVIDED FOR IN THE CIVIL PROCEDURE AND MAGISTRATES ACTS/RULES AND REGULATIONS.
THE ABUSE OF COURT PROCESS HAS REACHED A NOTORIOUS LEVEL THAT MANY OF THE DEBTORS AT THE CIVIL PRISON HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT THEY CAN NOT BE RELEASED UNLESS WHEN THEIR BAILIFFS’ UNJUST, EXORBITANT FEES ARE PAID. INFACT NEGOTIATIONS TO RELEASE OR DETAIN CIVIL DEBTORS ARE LEFT BETWEEN THE MAGISTRATES AND COURT BAILIFFS. THE BAILIFFS ALSO MONITOR PEOPLES BANK ACCOUNTS WITHOUT COURT ORDERS AND IN TOTAL BREACH OF FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND BANK OF UGANDA ACTS. THE COURT BAILIFFS WITH THE COVER OF MAGISTRATES AND HELP OF SECURITY OPERATIVES INCLUDING THE POLICE AND SOME PRISON WARDERS ARE BASICALLY TERRORISING UGANDANS.
WE ARE ASKING YOUR LORDSHIP WHO ARE THESE BAILIFFS AND ARE THEIR BRUTAL ACTIVITIES AT TIMES WITH THE HELP OF SECURITY OPERATIVES PROTECTED BY THE LAW? WE PROPOSE THAT AN INVESTIGATION BE INSTITUTED TO BRING THIS ABUSE TO AN END. WE FURTHER PROPOSE THAT SUMMARY /EXPARTE HEARINGS BE SCRAPPED AT THE MAGISTRATES COURTS AS CASE IS AT THE HIGH COURTS> WE ALSO PRAY THAT MEDIATION AND ARBITRATION BE INTRODUCED AT THE MAGISTRATES COURTS TO BE PRESIDED OVER BY UP_RIGHT JUDICIAL SENIOR OFFICIALS TO HANDLE COMMERCIAL DISPUTES INCLUDING CIVIL DEBTS TO ENSURE FAIRNESS TO ALL PARTIES INVOLVED. THIS PROCESS WILL ALSO GREATLY ELIMINATE CORRUPTION AND EXTORTION NOW BEING EXHIBITED AT THE SAID MAGISTRATES COURTS. COURTS SHOULD ALSO BE VERY STRICT TO FEES PAID TO BAILIFFS WHO WORK IN TANDEM WITH MAGISTRATES TO STIFLE JUSTICE AND ENRICH THEMSELVES .
AGAIN ITS OUR HUMBLE PRAYER THAT YOU EMPLOY YOUR HIGH OFFICE TO END THESE INJUSTICES IN THE WIDER PUBLIC INTEREST .YOUR LORDSHIP, WE THE UNDER SIGNED, YOUR HUMBLE PETITIONERS, ARE WILLING AND READY WITH OUR RESPECTIVE CASES FOR YOUR INVESTIGATION AND FURTHER NAME AND SHAME THE COURT OFFICERS AND THE BAILIFFS INVOLVED IN HE SYNDICATE IF ACCORDED THE OPPORTUNITY AT YOUR EARLIEST TIME OF CONVINIANCE.
FINALLY YOUR LORDSHIP, ITS OUR HUMBLE PRAYER THAT YOU TREAT OUR PETITION NOT AS AN EFFORT TO DEFEAT JUSTICE BUT WE ARE SEEKING YOUR INTERVENTION TO ASSURE THAT JUSTICE IS EFFECTIVELY ADMINISTERED FAIRLY AND JUDICIOUSLY IN THE INTEREST OF ALL THE PARTIES CONCERNED IN THE MATTERS RELATING TO CIVIL DEBTS.
- Show quoted text -
WE SO PRAY.
SEE ATTACHED THE NAMES OF YOUR HUMBLE PETITIONERS
C.C OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
C.C OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT
C.C OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER
C.C SPEAKER OF PARLIAMENT
C.C MINISTER OF JUSTICE /ATTORNEY GENERAL
C.C INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE
C.C INSPECTOR GENERAL OF GOVERNMENT
C.C HUMAN RIGHTS BODIES
C.C COMMISSION GENERAL OF PRISON
C.C REGISTRER IN CHARGE OF COURT BAILIFFS
C.C UGANDA LAW SOCIETY
C.C LAW COUNCIL
C.C MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT
C.C FILE
NO. NAMES PRISON NUMBERS PHONE NUMBERS
1 ALBERT MAGEZI 089 0701851963
2 WAMBOYA ISMAIL 144
3. SSENKUSI PAUL 136.11 0772438742
4. ONYANGO HANNINGTON 142
5. KAKANDE MUBARAK 143
6. MWIJUKA BENSON 130
7. NTALE FELIX 052.11
8. MATOVU BENON
9. NYOMBI RAYMOND 124
10. MUKASA SAMUEL 131
11. BYAMUKAMA EDSON 422
12. NSUBUGA JOHNBOSCO 132
13. KALYEBOGA KITHENDE 090
14. SOLOMON K. MUSOKE 399/10
15. NSUBUGA MUSA 139-2011
16. KASULE JAMES 079-2011
17. MOSES BIKARA 133.11 0712803834
18. DAVID KATO 123
19. KALANZI RAPHAEL 107/2011
20. MUSOKE EMMANUEL 129/2011
21 DR. KOMA ISAAC MIKE 079/11
22. SEMPALA SULAIMAN 098/11
23. KYANAA FRANCIS 112/11
24. MATOVU BENON 0231
25. LUBEGA MEDDIE 033/11
26. KASAJJA ANDREW 034/11
27. KATONGOLE JOHN 121/11
28. MUKISA JOSEPH
29. BRAN JUMA 113/11
30. ZARIMOZA WALUSIMBA 122/11
31. MAYAMBALA R.S 095/11
32. KULOBA WILLIAM 063/11
33. MAGOOLA DAVID 127/11
34. SENFUKA FREDRICK 065/11
35. JAMES SEKYALA 117/11
36. AKIIKI MANSOOR 096/11
37. SALIM BBOSSA 100/11
38. TWEBAZE GODFREY 067/11
39. ELIAS NANUNGI 094/11
40. BISASO B 104/11
41. JACKSON KIRABILA 133/11
42. NSUBUGA ROBERT 070/11
43. OPOLOT FRANCIS
44. MOSES OKUMU RINGA 391/10
45. ASIIMWE NOEL 043/11
46. KARUNGI SAMUEL 007/11
47. WANYAMA GODFREY 007/11
48. DR. KOMA ISAAC MIKE 079/11
INFORMATION FOR THE TABLE BELOW HAS BEEN FORWARDED TO YOUR LORDSHIP’S ACTION
DEBTOR COURT MAGISTRATE LAWYER BAILIFF DEBTOR
FROM: LUZIRA CIVIL PRISON
PETITION OF CIVIL DEBTORS OVER EXCESSIVE INJUSTICES AT MAGISTRATE COURTS OF MENGO, NAKAWA, MWANGA II AND MAKINDYE WHICH WE REQUEST YOU TO INVESTIGATE AND ADDRESS.
WE OVER 53 CIVIL DEBTORS, AT LUZIRA CIVIL PRISON HEREBY HUMBLY PRESENT OUR PETITION TO YOUR LORDSHIP THE CHIEF JUSTICE OVER GRAVE MATTERS CONCERNING OUR CIVIL RIGHTS PERTAINING THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS TO FAIR HEARING AND NATURAL JUSTICE PRINCIPLES AS HERE UNDER HIGHLIGHTED:
1. UNFAIR SUMMARY PROCEEDING AND EXPARTE JUDGEMENTS IN RESPECT OF CIVIL DEBTS
(a). YOUR LORDSHIP WE HEREBY BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION THE ILLEGAL- MAFIA LIKE SYNDICATE AND CONNIVANCE BETWEEN MAGISTRATES, COURT CLERKS, LAWYERS, AND COURT BAILIFFS WHO HAVE TURNED THE ABOVE MENTIONED COURTS INTO MONEY MINTING MACHINES FOR SELFISH INTERESTS AT THE DETRIMENT OF LITIGANTS WHO ARE NO LONGER ACCORDED THE RIGHT TO FAIR HEARING /TRIAL AS PROVIDED FOR IN CAP.4 OF OUR NATIONAL CONSTITUTION.
HERE BELOW ARE SOME OF THE SPECIFIC INJUSTICES IN RESPECT OF THE EXCESSIVELY ABUSED SUMMARY PROCEEDINGS.
(i) YOUR LORDSHIP, CIVIL DEBTORS/LITIGANTS ARE NO LONGER SERVED WITH SUMMONS TO APPEAR AND FILE THEIR DEFENCE ESPECIALLY IN MATTERS CONCERNING SOFT LOANS OFFERED BY MONEY LENDERS AND BANKS AGAINST POST DATED CHEQUES AND LOAN AGREEMENTS.
(ii) IN MOST CASES AT LEAST FOR THE 53 PRISONERS NOW RESIDENT AT LUZIRA CIVIL PRISON, THE ARE SURPRISED AND AMBUSHED WITH ARREST WARRANTS ISSUED BY MAGISTRATES TO COURT BAILIFFS WITHOUT THE EXPARTE JUDGEMENT DEBTORS BEING OFFERED ANY OPPORTUNITY TO DEFEND THEMSELVES IN FAIR AND UNBIASED JUDICIAL PROCESSES AS ENSHRINED IN OUR CONSTITUTION.
(iii) YOUR LORDSHIP, WE YOUR HUMBLE PETITIONERS ARE PARTICULARLY CONCERNED AND SEEK YOUR IMMIDIATE INTERVENTION OVER THE ILLEGAL AND ERRANT BEHAVIUOR OF COURT BALIFFS WITH THE HELP OF LAWYERS IN CONNIVANCE WITH MAGUSTRATES TO HIJACK THE CONSTITUTIONAL JUDICAL COURT PROCESSES THAT HAS RESULTED INTO ALL MANNER OF INJUSTICES AGAINST LITIGANTS.
(iv) IT SHOULD BE BROUGHT TO YOUR ATTENTION THAT APART FROMM THE UNFAIR METHODS THROUGH WHICH LAWYERS AND COURT BAILIFFS SECURE WARRANTS OF ARREST AGAINST EXPARTE CIVIL JUDGEMENT CIVIL DEBTORS: THE COURT BAILIFFS WITH THE HELP OF SECURITY OPERATIVES NOW RAID PEOPLE’S HOMES, OFFICES, BUSINESS PREMISES, AND HURRIEDLY PRODUCE CIVIL DEBTORS TO THE ABOVE MENTIONED COURTS WHERE THEY ARE COMMITTED TO CIVIL PRISON WITHOUT BEING ACCORDED THEIR FAIR RIGHT TO A FAIR HEARING.
(v) THE SAID COURT BAILIFFS WITH THE HELP OF COURT OFFICIALS DO NOT ONLY DENY LITIGANTS TO BE HEARD IN A FAIR TRIAL BUT THEY ARE NOW CHARGING EXORBITANT FEES WHICH IN MOST CASES EXCEED THOSE OF ADVOCATES AND EVEN LOAN AMOUNTS OBTAINED. FOR EXAMPLE AN EXPARTE JUDGEMENT DEBTOR WITH A LOAN OF 500,000/= WILL BE PRODUCED BEFORE A MAGISTRATE ON A WARRANT OF ARREST AND COERCED TO ACCEPT AND PAY A PRINCIPLE SUM OF 500,000/= PLUS LAWYER FEES OF SAY 1,000,000 AND THAT OF BAILIFFS TO A TUNE OF 2.5M. AT THE END OF THE DAY YOUR LORDSHIP, A DEBTOR WHO OBTAINED A LOAN OF SHS. 500,000/= ENDS UP BEING FORCED TO PAY SHS. 4,000,000/= EXCLUDING HIGH INTEREST WHICH IS ALWAYS IN EXCESS OF 15-30% PER MONTH AND AT TIMES PER WEEK.
(vi)
YOUR LORDSHIP, IT IS VITAL TO NOTE THAT AFTER SERVING SIX MONTH AT CIVIL PRISON FOR FAILURE TO PAY THE DEBT, THESE COURT BAILIFFS CAMP OUTSIDE THE PRISON MAIN GATE AND RE-ARREST DEBTORS WHO ARE RE-COMMITTED TO CIVIL PRISON AGAIN WITHOUT BEING GIVEN CHANCE TO BE HEARD IN A FAIR TRIAL. IT’S OUR MOST HUMBLE PRAYER THAT YOUR LORDSHIP, INTERVEE IN THIS MATTER TO STOP THESE INJUSTICES WHICH HAVE RENDERED THE WOULD BE TEMPLE OF JUSTICE ,TO A MERE MOCKERY.
(v) UNLIKE IN THE CRIMINAL MATTERS YOUR LORDSHIP, WHERE THE ACCUSED PERSONS ARE ACCORDED THEIR RIGHT TO BAIL IN THE ABOVE HIGHLIGHTED SUMMARY PROCEEDINGS, LITIGANTS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR RIGHTS TO FREEDOM, TO A LAWYER, TO FILE A DEFENCE AND BE HEARD TO IN A FAIR TRIAL.
THESE INJUSTICES YOUR LORDSHIP HAVE EXTENDED TO ARREST WARRANTS AGAINST CIVIL DEBTORS BEING EXECUTED ON PUBLIC HOLIDAYS , AT NIGHT , WEEKENDS WHEN COURTS ARE NOT IN SESSION ALL IN TOTAL BREACH OF COURT PROCESSES AND RULES GOVERNING BAILIFFS AND CIVIL PROCEEDINGS.
IN SOME CASES YOUR LORDSHIP, LITIGANTS ARE DUMPED TO LUZIRA CIVIL PRISON WITHOUT COMMITTAL PAPERS AND MONEY FOR MAINTAINANCE AS PROVIDED FOR IN THE CIVIL PROCEDURE AND MAGISTRATES ACTS/RULES AND REGULATIONS.
THE ABUSE OF COURT PROCESS HAS REACHED A NOTORIOUS LEVEL THAT MANY OF THE DEBTORS AT THE CIVIL PRISON HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT THEY CAN NOT BE RELEASED UNLESS WHEN THEIR BAILIFFS’ UNJUST, EXORBITANT FEES ARE PAID. INFACT NEGOTIATIONS TO RELEASE OR DETAIN CIVIL DEBTORS ARE LEFT BETWEEN THE MAGISTRATES AND COURT BAILIFFS. THE BAILIFFS ALSO MONITOR PEOPLES BANK ACCOUNTS WITHOUT COURT ORDERS AND IN TOTAL BREACH OF FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND BANK OF UGANDA ACTS. THE COURT BAILIFFS WITH THE COVER OF MAGISTRATES AND HELP OF SECURITY OPERATIVES INCLUDING THE POLICE AND SOME PRISON WARDERS ARE BASICALLY TERRORISING UGANDANS.
WE ARE ASKING YOUR LORDSHIP WHO ARE THESE BAILIFFS AND ARE THEIR BRUTAL ACTIVITIES AT TIMES WITH THE HELP OF SECURITY OPERATIVES PROTECTED BY THE LAW? WE PROPOSE THAT AN INVESTIGATION BE INSTITUTED TO BRING THIS ABUSE TO AN END. WE FURTHER PROPOSE THAT SUMMARY /EXPARTE HEARINGS BE SCRAPPED AT THE MAGISTRATES COURTS AS CASE IS AT THE HIGH COURTS> WE ALSO PRAY THAT MEDIATION AND ARBITRATION BE INTRODUCED AT THE MAGISTRATES COURTS TO BE PRESIDED OVER BY UP_RIGHT JUDICIAL SENIOR OFFICIALS TO HANDLE COMMERCIAL DISPUTES INCLUDING CIVIL DEBTS TO ENSURE FAIRNESS TO ALL PARTIES INVOLVED. THIS PROCESS WILL ALSO GREATLY ELIMINATE CORRUPTION AND EXTORTION NOW BEING EXHIBITED AT THE SAID MAGISTRATES COURTS. COURTS SHOULD ALSO BE VERY STRICT TO FEES PAID TO BAILIFFS WHO WORK IN TANDEM WITH MAGISTRATES TO STIFLE JUSTICE AND ENRICH THEMSELVES .
AGAIN ITS OUR HUMBLE PRAYER THAT YOU EMPLOY YOUR HIGH OFFICE TO END THESE INJUSTICES IN THE WIDER PUBLIC INTEREST .YOUR LORDSHIP, WE THE UNDER SIGNED, YOUR HUMBLE PETITIONERS, ARE WILLING AND READY WITH OUR RESPECTIVE CASES FOR YOUR INVESTIGATION AND FURTHER NAME AND SHAME THE COURT OFFICERS AND THE BAILIFFS INVOLVED IN HE SYNDICATE IF ACCORDED THE OPPORTUNITY AT YOUR EARLIEST TIME OF CONVINIANCE.
FINALLY YOUR LORDSHIP, ITS OUR HUMBLE PRAYER THAT YOU TREAT OUR PETITION NOT AS AN EFFORT TO DEFEAT JUSTICE BUT WE ARE SEEKING YOUR INTERVENTION TO ASSURE THAT JUSTICE IS EFFECTIVELY ADMINISTERED FAIRLY AND JUDICIOUSLY IN THE INTEREST OF ALL THE PARTIES CONCERNED IN THE MATTERS RELATING TO CIVIL DEBTS.
- Show quoted text -
WE SO PRAY.
SEE ATTACHED THE NAMES OF YOUR HUMBLE PETITIONERS
C.C OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
C.C OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT
C.C OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER
C.C SPEAKER OF PARLIAMENT
C.C MINISTER OF JUSTICE /ATTORNEY GENERAL
C.C INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE
C.C INSPECTOR GENERAL OF GOVERNMENT
C.C HUMAN RIGHTS BODIES
C.C COMMISSION GENERAL OF PRISON
C.C REGISTRER IN CHARGE OF COURT BAILIFFS
C.C UGANDA LAW SOCIETY
C.C LAW COUNCIL
C.C MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT
C.C FILE
NO. NAMES PRISON NUMBERS PHONE NUMBERS
1 ALBERT MAGEZI 089 0701851963
2 WAMBOYA ISMAIL 144
3. SSENKUSI PAUL 136.11 0772438742
4. ONYANGO HANNINGTON 142
5. KAKANDE MUBARAK 143
6. MWIJUKA BENSON 130
7. NTALE FELIX 052.11
8. MATOVU BENON
9. NYOMBI RAYMOND 124
10. MUKASA SAMUEL 131
11. BYAMUKAMA EDSON 422
12. NSUBUGA JOHNBOSCO 132
13. KALYEBOGA KITHENDE 090
14. SOLOMON K. MUSOKE 399/10
15. NSUBUGA MUSA 139-2011
16. KASULE JAMES 079-2011
17. MOSES BIKARA 133.11 0712803834
18. DAVID KATO 123
19. KALANZI RAPHAEL 107/2011
20. MUSOKE EMMANUEL 129/2011
21 DR. KOMA ISAAC MIKE 079/11
22. SEMPALA SULAIMAN 098/11
23. KYANAA FRANCIS 112/11
24. MATOVU BENON 0231
25. LUBEGA MEDDIE 033/11
26. KASAJJA ANDREW 034/11
27. KATONGOLE JOHN 121/11
28. MUKISA JOSEPH
29. BRAN JUMA 113/11
30. ZARIMOZA WALUSIMBA 122/11
31. MAYAMBALA R.S 095/11
32. KULOBA WILLIAM 063/11
33. MAGOOLA DAVID 127/11
34. SENFUKA FREDRICK 065/11
35. JAMES SEKYALA 117/11
36. AKIIKI MANSOOR 096/11
37. SALIM BBOSSA 100/11
38. TWEBAZE GODFREY 067/11
39. ELIAS NANUNGI 094/11
40. BISASO B 104/11
41. JACKSON KIRABILA 133/11
42. NSUBUGA ROBERT 070/11
43. OPOLOT FRANCIS
44. MOSES OKUMU RINGA 391/10
45. ASIIMWE NOEL 043/11
46. KARUNGI SAMUEL 007/11
47. WANYAMA GODFREY 007/11
48. DR. KOMA ISAAC MIKE 079/11
INFORMATION FOR THE TABLE BELOW HAS BEEN FORWARDED TO YOUR LORDSHIP’S ACTION
DEBTOR COURT MAGISTRATE LAWYER BAILIFF DEBTOR
Saturday, April 30, 2011
GOVERNMENT MUST RESPECT FREE SPEECH AND MEDIA FREEDOMS
This week the US government has protested the Uganda government’s alleged attempts to block communication on social media networks and live broadcast of the ‘walk-to-work’ protests.
The Deputy State Department Spokesman, Mr Mark Toner said in the statement that the US government was also concerned about the loss of life and continued arrest of opposition leaders by the security forces during the protests.
This follows several directives from the Uganda Communications Commission, the communications regulator, to several Internet service providers instructing them to block Face-book and Twitter networks for 24 hours during the protests that left five people dead.
The same body has also approached broadcasting houses and advised them to avoid live coverage of the ‘walk to work’ demonstrations against high fuel and other commodity prices. These actions deserve outright condemnation by all people of goodwill. Since in a democracy people should not use armed means to demand for their legitimate rights, the only platform left for them to express themselves is through peaceful demonstrations and the media.
Freedom of expression, the media and peaceful assembly are fundamental human rights and critical components of a democratic society. The government should respect these rights as granted to the Ugandan people by our national constitution in order to make public officials accountable.
Gagging the media and free speech can only inflame the situation and drive the dissenting voices underground. This is a situation that should not be allowed to manifest especially after we have had largely peaceful general elections. The issues for which people have reallied to protest are real and need the urgent attention of the government .
The high cost of living is unbearable for the majority of Ugandans. People can hardly live within their means. And they have now come out in a spirited show of solidarity to demand for government’s urgent intervention. This is the best civil manner in which people can express themselves.
The government, therefore, should not block these un-confrontational means of communication left for the people to channel their grievances. Our national leaders should instead listen and address the critical issues affecting Ugandans. Only then shall the country have peace.
The writer is a Journalist and Advocate of the Hih Court of Uganda
The Deputy State Department Spokesman, Mr Mark Toner said in the statement that the US government was also concerned about the loss of life and continued arrest of opposition leaders by the security forces during the protests.
This follows several directives from the Uganda Communications Commission, the communications regulator, to several Internet service providers instructing them to block Face-book and Twitter networks for 24 hours during the protests that left five people dead.
The same body has also approached broadcasting houses and advised them to avoid live coverage of the ‘walk to work’ demonstrations against high fuel and other commodity prices. These actions deserve outright condemnation by all people of goodwill. Since in a democracy people should not use armed means to demand for their legitimate rights, the only platform left for them to express themselves is through peaceful demonstrations and the media.
Freedom of expression, the media and peaceful assembly are fundamental human rights and critical components of a democratic society. The government should respect these rights as granted to the Ugandan people by our national constitution in order to make public officials accountable.
Gagging the media and free speech can only inflame the situation and drive the dissenting voices underground. This is a situation that should not be allowed to manifest especially after we have had largely peaceful general elections. The issues for which people have reallied to protest are real and need the urgent attention of the government .
The high cost of living is unbearable for the majority of Ugandans. People can hardly live within their means. And they have now come out in a spirited show of solidarity to demand for government’s urgent intervention. This is the best civil manner in which people can express themselves.
The government, therefore, should not block these un-confrontational means of communication left for the people to channel their grievances. Our national leaders should instead listen and address the critical issues affecting Ugandans. Only then shall the country have peace.
The writer is a Journalist and Advocate of the Hih Court of Uganda
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Makerere Should define its riorities
Makerere University has asked government to approve a proposal to increase student’s tuition fees up from shs.3m to 6m per academic year. According to the Makerere university Secretary, Mr Muhwezi Kahunda, the increase in tuition fees is necessary because the expenses incurred at the university are very high.
For sometime now Makerere has been toiling with the idea of increasing fees but has faced strong resistance from both the students and the general public. With the liberalization of University education, the increased number of student enrolment and , introduction of many new courses one would have expected student fees to remain reasonable and affordable. Unfortunately this is not the case.
With the increased cost of living in Uganda today due to high fuel and other commodity prices , one wonders how parents will afford to pay tuition fees for their children at the university.
The proposed fees increment will have a significant disincentive effect on youngsters yarning for university education. The Makerere administration should ensure the right balance between enabling as many people as possible to get a degree and helping the university sustain its finances. When a middle level public servant earns estimated 15 million per annum in salaries and allowances how can they afford to send their children to Makerere.
And here is the irony. While the Makerere university claims to be short on money to fund its operations, they can afford at the same time, to buy a Land Cruiser VX, at shs. 360m for the vice-chancellor. Already the lavish life style of the top administrators at Makerere has attracted criticism from Dr Tanga Odoi, the Chairman of the lecturers’ association MUASA.
DR Tanga Odoi has stated: “ Makerere’s problem is not shortage of funds but the failure to understand our priorities.” He is spot on. The hypocrisy of those charged with the management of our public institutions must be stopped.
And in this case, Makerere University administration must fully explain the resources needed to maintain the institution’s national , regional and global status and offer the very best student experience without fleecing the unsuspecting public. Makerere should not be given a blank cheque when its vast resources are not put to proper use.
For sometime now Makerere has been toiling with the idea of increasing fees but has faced strong resistance from both the students and the general public. With the liberalization of University education, the increased number of student enrolment and , introduction of many new courses one would have expected student fees to remain reasonable and affordable. Unfortunately this is not the case.
With the increased cost of living in Uganda today due to high fuel and other commodity prices , one wonders how parents will afford to pay tuition fees for their children at the university.
The proposed fees increment will have a significant disincentive effect on youngsters yarning for university education. The Makerere administration should ensure the right balance between enabling as many people as possible to get a degree and helping the university sustain its finances. When a middle level public servant earns estimated 15 million per annum in salaries and allowances how can they afford to send their children to Makerere.
And here is the irony. While the Makerere university claims to be short on money to fund its operations, they can afford at the same time, to buy a Land Cruiser VX, at shs. 360m for the vice-chancellor. Already the lavish life style of the top administrators at Makerere has attracted criticism from Dr Tanga Odoi, the Chairman of the lecturers’ association MUASA.
DR Tanga Odoi has stated: “ Makerere’s problem is not shortage of funds but the failure to understand our priorities.” He is spot on. The hypocrisy of those charged with the management of our public institutions must be stopped.
And in this case, Makerere University administration must fully explain the resources needed to maintain the institution’s national , regional and global status and offer the very best student experience without fleecing the unsuspecting public. Makerere should not be given a blank cheque when its vast resources are not put to proper use.
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