68% want presidential term limits restored

By DAVID MAFABI & SAMUEL SSEBULIBA

Kampala. A push by opposition and civil society organisations for electoral reforms, especially the demand that presidential term limits be restored, has overwhelming support of the population; a new survey by Research World International has shown.

The opinion poll report commissioned by Uganda Ngo Forum; Citizens perceptions on Uganda’s governance opinion poll 2016 shows that 68 per cent of Ugandans want presidential term limits that were scrapped from the Constitution in 2005 restored.

Asked “Should term limits be reinstated”, 68 per cent of the 2,252 respondents sampled answered “yes” with another 23 per cent responding in the negative while more 44% of the respondents think the president should rule for 10 years and another 34% think the president should rule for only 5 years,”.  Reads the reports in part.

The survey was conducted by Research World International, a research firm, between September and October 2016 using a SPEC Omni-bus survey across Uganda with a sample of 2252 respondents in sixty districts of the country; north, east, west and central.

The Eastern region had the highest number [73%) of respondents indicating a preference for the restoration of term limits, followed by Northern (68% per cent) while Central, 67% per cent of the respondents support for the proposal. And that majority of the respondents were female [52%] and 36% from rural areas.

In terms of age brackets 25 – 34 years, 72 per cent of the respondents are in support of the new proposal, in the age brackets of 15 -24 years 69 percent and between the ages brackets of 35 to 44 years 64% while in the age brackets of 45 to 64 years 62% indicated support for having term limits back.

Parliament in 2005 voted to scrap presidential term limits from the Constitution—just one year before President Museveni was to serve out what was his second and last elective term in office.

The lifting of term limits, which was facilitated with a Shs5 million hand-out to each ruling party MP, gave President Museveni the door to contest for a third term in 2006. He also won a fourth elective term in 2011.

The opinion poll that covered social, economic, political and cultural issues in Uganda reveals that 32 percent of the respondents said the current economic living conditions in the country are very bad and that nothing has changed in the community ever since the 2016 national general elections.

The report says 73% of the respondents interviewed think the constitution shouldn’t be amended for those above 75 years to contest and that 74% say Museveni should retire after his term of 2016 to 2021.

The report further reveals that 50%  of the respondents thinks police is not independent, and 51% think police is not doing its work professionally while another  44% think the Parliament is too big and  72% of the respondents says they have never seen their MPs coming for consultations  in the constituencies.

While presenting the report Dec 13 at Golf course Hotel in Kampala, the executive director RWI Dr Patrick Wakida said that the report covered a sizable number of Uganda, with face to face interviews.

Dr Wakida added the report further reflects that people are well informed about the current political affairs including knowing their area member of parliaments, they know their roles, but the size of 72% who have never seen their members coming for consultation must be given a special attention moving forward.

‘Now we are asking ourselves, where do they get all what they debate in parliament since they don’t interface with their electorates?’’  Wakida said.

The executive director NGO forum Mr Richard Sewakiryanga said that the report is a pure representative of the current status of Uganda in all spheres but added that crucifying legislators for not consulting their electorates is too early since they have just spent less than seven months in parliament.

“But the complaints from voters serve as a reminder to legislators that voters are not happy,” said Mr Sewakiryanga.

Mr Asuman Basalirwa, the JEEMA Party President said that many Ugandans are still pessimistic and uncertain about the economy of Uganda and their household income because government has simply run out of options.

The Special Presidential Assistant - Research and Information Mr Morison Rwakakamba said that the 74% people who want Mr Museveni to retire after his last term are mainly in Kampala, yet NRM power mainly lies in rural area.

The director communications at Parliament Mr Chris Obore said if 44% of Ugandans are not happy with the size of parliament, they can work it out with their political parties to have it trimmed.

“I know also that many MPs are on ground on daily basis, so the statement that 74% people who have never seen their legislators is not true. And contrary to this many MPs are in their villages, they have ambulances that ferry the sick to various health units, attend burials, what   form of consultation do they want? Do they want political rallies? said Mr Mr Obore.

The minister for ICT Mr Frank Tumweza described the report as misleading and diverting Ugandans from the real issues affecting them.

“I have not seen the report but what does it tell us about people’s purchasing power, it is increasing or decreasing? Researchers should stop misguiding people, you don’t measure the economy by asking people how they are doing economically but rather what the people’s purchasing power is,” said Mr Tumwebaze.

He explained that between September and October, there was a general increase in the purchasing power of the individuals in the economy and this determined how individuals were doing economically in the economy and that this a characteristic relationship with the economy.

“Actually economists are fearing that the month of December there is likely to be a lot od spending due to Christmas, where is this money going to come from if the economy is not doing well? We should actually tell our people to rethink their expenditure this month,” Ends

Activists seek new strategies to fight corruption

BY DAVID MAFABI
KAMPALA

A new Dossier report on Corruption by Uganda Debt Network has described the fight against corruption as “fighting back and a failure” because of government’s failure to grant the powers to recover and confiscate property of corrupt officials.

The report which details unabated corruption scandals seeks to empower ordinary citizens to participate in influencing poverty-focused policies, demand for their rights and monitor social service delivery to ensure prudent, accountable and transparent resource generation and utilization.

“Unless checked, the gravity of corruption remains heavy for Ugandan society in respect to equitable economic development, accountability and desirable service delivery outcomes,” reads the report in part.

The report launched Dec 6 at Hotel Africana says the perpetrators seem psychologically, materially and financially prepared to withstand the few days or months in jail, as long  as they have hope to return to their loot.

While releasing the report the UDN director of programmes Mr Julius Kapwepwe said a body to oversee seizure of property be put in place, be strengthened and operationalized to fight corruption at all levels.

The report recommends strengthening collaboration between media, civil society and government agencies, a deliberate effort to disseminate information about the need to fight corruption as widely as possible, empowering citizens to hold government accountable, sanctioning of public officials accused of corruption, and implementation of audit recommendations.

While discussing the report Justice Lawrence Gidudu said although the draws analysis of trends in corruption, implications of corruption cases and provides, it fails to provide concrete recommendations to be adopted by relevant policy and decision-makers. 

Listing his priorities, Justice Gidudu, said: “there is need to start by formulating and implementing strategies that strengthen the independence of anti-corruption authorities and employment of policies to trigger behavioral change if we are to fight corruption from society successfully”.

He explained that government and policy makers must also establish the Assets recovery Unit in either the ministry of internal affairs, ministry of justice or independently to identify, cease and recover property of those prosecuted of corruption.

“We should target prosecuting, imprisoning and recovery of property amassed die to corruption and as the culprit is released, he should find nothing at home to serve as a lesson to others who are corrupt,” said Justice Gidudu.

While closing the discussion, the former Minister of Ethics Mrs Maria Matembe said although the UDN report outlines the major corruption scandals 2012 - 2016 with high-ranking officials serving prison sentences for corruption-related offences, there is nowhere the report talk about president Museveni being a road block to the fight against corruption.

“True, President Museveni gives good speeches in the fight against corruption but he is the road block himself and until we get political will, our fight against corruption will bear no fruits,” said Mrs Matembe.

But the presidential adviser of political affairs Mr David Mafabi said anti-corruption agencies should be grateful that we have a president who speaks against corruption.

"And they should know that all those institutions are working well in the environment President Museveni has created, we just need to join efforts to give corruption a final blow not to apportion blame," said Mr Mafabi.

The report draws analysis of trends in corruption, implications of corruption cases and provides concrete recommendations to be adopted by relevant policy and decision-makers. 

The report by Uganda Debt Network (UDN), an NGO involved in good governance causes, says instead of collecting taxes, the employees resort to taking bribes. “Some informal sector actors connive with the Uganda Revenue Authority officials and local government tax law enforcers to dodge paying taxes, but end up paying bribes in order not to be caught on the wrong side of the law,” reads the report.

The report identifies the past graft scandals as;

July 1987: Nathan Bisamunyu-Uganda Industrial Machinery involved Shs760m
In 1988-1990 there was Santana Landover vehicles saga which involved $8m
In 1990 UPDF undersized military uniforms from China and M1-24 junk helicopters from Beralus involved $7m
In 1996 Danze tax evasion scandal involved over Shs6bn
In 2003 valley dam scandal to supply water to 2million heads of cattle in the cattle corridor involved Shs3.5bn
In 2005 Global Funds for HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria scandal involved Shs600bn
In 2007 CHOGM saga involved Shs500bn
Pension scandal involved Shs169bn
2012 OPM scandal and donor funds worth over Shs50bn
2014 Mukono Katosi road saga which involvesShs24bn

Death takes Butaleja’s light: in Dr Juliet Hirome Tembe

BY DAVID MAFABI
BUTALEJA

Hundreds of people wept as the casket for Dr Juliet Hirome Tembe was being lowered into the grave at Mugulu village in Busolwe sub-county in Butaleja district on Dec 19.

Many of these people had gathered to bid farewell to the departed Educationist, scholar and the first girl-child from Butaleja to get to University at the time it was rare for girls to go to school.

Dr Tembe’s [PHD in English language studies] candle burnt out on Dec 14 when she succumbed to cancer at Mbale regional hospital where she had been admitted for some time.

According to Dr Muhammad Mulongo, Bulambuli District Health Officer and a close associate, Dr Tembe has been fighting a soft tissue sarcoma in her upper left leg which turned out to be a high grade leiomyosarcoma that became very aggressive.

"She has been advocating for people living with HIV/AIDS in the country. We shall miss her especially in this fight of HIV because she has been instrumental," said Dr Mulongo.

Born in October 24, 1954, Dr Tembe a lecturer of Linguistics at Islamic University in Uganda was liked and loathed in the equal measure in Mbale and Butaleja. By the time of her death she was a country coordinator South African Institute for Distance Education [SAIDE].

Dr Tembe’s friends, based at the University of British Columbia, Canada, where she pursued her doctorate from describe her as a remarkable educator, a friend, an outstanding teacher, scholar, and community activist, who has promoted literacy in sub-Saharan Africa for the past four decades.  

“Dr Tembe was an intelligent, hardworking and a remarkable educator who fought HIV/AIDS through her work on the Board of TASO after completing her doctorate in Language and Literacy Education at the University of British Columbia, Canada and became the Ugandan in-country coordinator of the innovative African Storybook Project, which draws on technology to promote early literacy for African children,” reads a face book post on her page.

Mr Gersom Herome, the father of the deceased [Dr Tembe] said they took her to South Africa, India and to different hospitals in Uganda for cancer treatment but in vain.

“Dr Tembe was my daughter from birth to the age of twelve years and after the age of twelve years, she became my friend and we have been friends. She never did anything without consulting me, I am going to miss my daughter,” said Mr Hirome before shedding tears.

Mr Hirome adds that it is through Dr Tembe his first born in the family that most of his children have gone to school.

“The first question she would ask at family meetings was whether every one of her siblings was at school and tell me to ensure everyone was at school. My daughter loved schools and this encouraged everyone at home,” added Mr Hirome.

Reflecting on daughter’s reputation as the woman who took up every person’s problems as her own, Mr Hirome said Dr Tembe’s desire to help people in need with their issues was augmented by the fact that she was a good listener.

Rev Juliet Nambuba of St Andrews Cathedral in Mbale said in Dr Tembe, Mbale, Butaleja and the country at large has lost a leader who could relate with anybody and energize those who were disillusioned.

“She connected with every average person — the teens at every function in Church, she would be here even for youth over nights —she was passionate about helping people and they finally had someone to voice their opinion. You would never believe Dr Tembe was a PHD holder until some else told you because she was down on earth” said Rev Nambuba.

Her former student of English Ms Betty Sumba also spoke about Dr Tembe’s final days and how close friends and the family stayed positive until the end, despite signs that she was not going to be able to overcome her diagnosis of high grade leiomyosarcoma.

Ms Sumba, now a lecturer at Islamic University in Uganda, Mbale main campus said Dr Tembe was selfless, strict grammarian who encouraged all her students to pursue further studies and I am one such product.

“We’re going to remain appreciative for the outpouring of support and encouragement, I am so grateful to her and we are going to miss her as a mother, a friend and a teacher,” said Mr Sumba.

Working till the end
Her close attendants including the father Mr Hirome said whenever he go a bit well, she would get up and look for her computer and straight away start working.

“But after about fifteen minutes, she would abandon it when pain intensified, then convulse and get back to sleep shortly. But he kept close to her Bible and would occasionally ask to be prayed for,” said Mr Hirome.

A former student of Dr Tembe at Institute of Teacher Education, Kyambogo, Mr Samuel Mamiro, a neighbour said Dr Tembe never had a clan or tribe; he associated with every one and would occasionally refer to everyone as her brother and sister.

 “And for me today we are just here to mark the loss of a remarkable person, a remarkable scholar, an educationist and a health rights activist. Let us honour Dr Tembe’s memory by recommitting to the values he sought to defend: the equal worth and dignity of every human being, regardless of their place of birth and ethnic origin,” said Mr Mamiro.

Mr Fabian Wakooli, former Mbale District Education Officer, a close friend of the late and fellow lecturer at the Islamic University, said as a district they have lost a pillar, a great teacher and an inspirational person in Dr Tembe.

“He was a great woman by all definitions. Her role in inspiring many people to get back to school, in the fight against HIV/Aids and in uniting people, will not be forgotten even when there is a gap her death has created,” said Mr Wakooli.

Mr Yusuf Mutembuli, a lawyer, said: “She has left a big gap in Butaleja District. As Banyole, we cannot have anybody suitable to replace Dr Tembe because she was a woman of all trades and was honest, God loving and had parental love for every person without discrimination. But above all she served her community whole heartedly,”

Strict Grammarian teacher

“The most unforgettable thing about Dr Tembe is that she would never give you a mark in English for even failing to put a full stop and a comma in your work. She said English was for thinkers,” says Mr Dennis Magomu, a former student of Islamic University.

Mr Magomu, who is a teacher, now described Dr Tembe as a strict disciplinarian, an educationist, counsellor and a good mother.

About Dr Tembe’s background

Dr Tembe was born on October 24, 1954, at Bahungo clan, Mugulu village, in Busolwe in Butaleja district, then under Tororo District.

He completed his primary in 1968 at Kisoko girls primary school in Tororo before joining Nabisunsa girls for her O’level [1969 to 1972 and later joining Tororo girls School for A’level [1973 to 1974.

He joined Makerere University in 1975 to 1978 and pursued a Bachelors of Arts degree in English language studies and Literature with a concurrent diploma in Education.

Dr Tembe started teaching literature and English at Nabumali high school in in 1978 to 1985 before joining Makerere again for a masters’ degree in linguistics which she completed in 1987 and later enrolling for a diploma in teaching English speakers of other languages at regional language centre in Singapore.

She did a diploma in project planning and management in 1997 to 1998 before later enrolling at the University of British Colombia, Vancouver, Canada for her doctorate of Philosophy [PHD] in which she completed in 2009.

She has taught at Institute of teacher Education Kyambogo, Islamic University in Uganda and died while working as a country coordinator South African Institute for Distance Education [SAIDE]. Ends

Farming lowers Mt Elgon water quality, levels

BY DAVID MAFABI
KAMPALA. Ms Angella Nabukwasi scooped water from River Soloko at the slopes of Mt Elgon and she noticed two things about the water; it smells like sewage and it is brownish.

In River Sisiyi, another river that flows from Mt Elgon, Mr Samson Wedala also noticed that the water was dirty and turned brown.

In Manafwa district, Ms Caroline Nakwekwe from Bududa district says the water from River Manafwa has also changed the colour and it is smelly sometimes.

And more than that the water from these rivers has black sand particles and dead algae which makes it emit a pungent smell.

This has caused great concern about its effect on the hygiene of the people who live around and below this mountain.

Mr Samson Wedala says the dirt in the water is worsening so fast and that it could soon be a problem to the people if not treated before drinking in the homes.

“I noticed this dirt in water some 10 years ago but I took it as a usual thing but it could be brown in the day and very clear in the morning so it could confuse us,” said Mr Wedala, a resident of Zesui in Sironko district living along River Soloko.

Mr Moses Chepkurui, 49, a resident of Kapneibei village in Kapchesombe sub-county, Kapchorwa district, said the river Atari from Mt Elgon in Kapchorwa district started changing colour in 1995.

“When people settled along the banks and started farming at the banks the water became dirty. We stopped fetching drinking water from the river, we resorted to getting water from  unprotected wells within this area for fear of contracting diseases,” said Mr Chepkurui.

Reports from local residents indicate that the brown colour of the water worsens during the rainy seasons.

Like other Rivers in Mt Elgon sub-region [Kapchorwa, Kween, Bukwo, Bulambuli, Sironko, Mbale, Manafwa, Bududa districts], River Ataari that originates from Mt. Elgon, flows through the slopes of Mt Elgon and pour their waters into Lake Kyoga.

The Bulambuli District Health Officer Mr Muhammed Mulongo said the water is not safe for drinking and that the waters have been the cause of Cholera and other diseases in Mt Elgon sub-region.

He said although our grandparents used to drink water from Mt Elgon without treating it or boiling it since it was not contaminated, today it is very risky to drink the water without treatment because it is dirty.

“And I want to ask people to treat the water or boil it before drinking it to avoid risk of contracting water borne diseases like Bilharzia, Typhoid, Cholera, dysentery and diarrhea,” said Dr Mulongo.

He explained that nobody was staying in the hills close to water sources and that nobody was doing farming in the hills and along the banks of these rivers to contaminate the waters.

Mr Charles Wakube, the environment officer for Mbale district says what makes the water dirty is continued to use of globally outlawed chemicals that endanger humans and the environment by the encroachers.

Mr Wakube said the water levels of Rivers Ataari, Soloko, Manafwa. Tsutsu, Mahapa, Sipi, Namatyale, Wukha, Kado, have gone down due to human settlement and cultivation along the banks and that the water that was previously clear has changed to brown.

Ms Sarah Bisikwa, the Manafwa district environment officer said science experts have detected deadly chemicals in water collected from Mt Elgon.

"A number of banned agro chlorinated pesticides such as DDT, endosulfan, dieldrin and lindane that are used by the people living around Mt Elgon have been detected in the water showing that they may be in use," Ms Bisikwa said.

"And do you know that people defecate, wash, bathe from the rivers with soap and leave dirty water flowing,?" added Ms Bisikwa.

She said most of the chemicals, also known as persistent organic pollutants (POP), are listed under the Stockholm Convention as the dirty dozen because they persist in the environment and threaten human health.

Environmentalists and scientists say encroachment for farming and settlement at the Mt Elgon are the factors affecting the water.

Ms Bisikwa pointed out that Bugisu, Bukedi and Sebei sub-regions’ fertile soils are being eroded to river Nile, Lake Kyoga and various swamps in the low land areas without control because of the destruction of the vegetation cover at Mt Elgon national park areas.

She said most of the chemicals, also known as persistent organic pollutants (POP), are listed under the Stockholm Convention as the dirty dozen because they persist in the environment and threaten human health.

Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants is an international environmental treaty, signed in 2001 and effective from May 2004, that aims to eliminate or restrict the production and use of persistent organic pollutants (POPs).

The Mt Elgon conservation area manager Mr Fred Kizza warned of impending "human catastrophe" if the districts surrounding Mt Elgon do not seek measures to address the increasing degradation of the natural environment.

 “People see natural resources as free and God-given and think God will care for them. Just look at a case of a pastor in Manafwa who quotes the Bible and says these the end times that is why the environment is degrading and that nobody is responsible but natural factors,” said Mr Kizza.

According to Mr Kizza, a total of about 4 million people living around Mt Elgon and in the neighborhood who use Water from Mt Elgon are at risk of water borne diseases if efforts are not made to control water pollution.

Mr Kizza says UWA field work survey reports and research indicate that the encroachment has soared to about 25,000 hectares as far as high altitude plants called Lubelia signaling great danger of environmental catastrophe for Pallisa, Budaka, Busia, Kibuku, Tororo, Bukedea and Butaleja districts, which are found in the plains.

“Actually, people are supposed to stop settlement and farming far about 10sqKm away from the slopes but they have gone beyond this to the level that Malewa is also facing extinction,” said Mr Kizza.

According to Mr Kizza, the forest soils have adequate minerals in protecting natural organic materials to maintain and improve vegetation growth, water functions, nutrients cycling and slope stability but that all the soil have lost their properties because of encroachment

 “There is a need to get people to know how their actions are connected to the mountain and rivers that flow from the mountain,” Mr Kizza argues.

Mr Kizza says Mt Elgon zone districts used to receive rainfall as early as late January but that ever since encroachment soared up, the rainfall patterns have reduced, streams have dried and big rivers have turned into streams.

The districts that surround Mt Elgon and benefit from Mt Elgon national park as a water catchment area include Kapchorwa, Bukwo, Kween, Sironko, Mbale, Manafwa, Bulambuli, Bududa, Kumi, Tororo, Butaleja, Budaka, Kibuku,Bukedea, Busia and Pallisa.

The MP for Manjiya County in Bududa district Mr John Baptist Nambeshe said there is very high bio-chemical accumulation due to massive encroachment, farming and settlement which also pauses great danger to the entire bio-diversity

"This massive encroachment at Mt Elgon national park coupled with deforestation, poor farming methods signals an environmental disaster for the region. Government and the local residents should design ways of ending encroachment and degradation at Mt Elgon in order to save our people from famine, diseases, landslides and earthquakes," said Mr Nambeshe, the MP for Manjiya County which is prone mudslides.

The preliminary geo-technical study of disaster-prone Mt Elgon by experts also reveals that people living on the slopes of Mt Elgon are at great risk as the dead volcanic mountain has developed bigger cracks, caused by heavy deforestation, poor methods of farming and poor land management around the mountain.

Population pressures

The National Environment and Management Authority (NEMA) and Uganda Wildlife Authority have warned that small mud flows seen on the mountain, with many water openings, is an indication that the rocks are under tension and that some small cracks formed due to bad farming practices, foot paths as well as road construction on the slopes, make the area waters dirty.

The state minister for environment Dr Goretti Kitutu, said because of the ever increasing population, people have encroached on the forest cover on the mountain for settlement and economic activities, loosening the soils.

Dr Kitutu said most people on the Mt Elgon National Park are ignorant of the environmental problems associated with massive encroachment.

“We need to tell our people about the dangers of encroachment, farming and settlement on the waters of Mt Elgon,” said Dr Kitutu.

A study carried out by UWA in 2013 indicates that although most rivers that flow from Mt Elgon national park are drying up, the water from most of the rivers is now unsafe for consumption once untreated. 

An ecological study on the Water quality analysis from selected rivers at Mt Elgon national park signed by Mr. David Ogaram for Mbale area water manager then also says massive encroachment beyond the bamboo zone were endangering the ecological functions of Mt.Elgon at a great rate.

"We took water samples from rivers inside the park, park boundary and outside the park for Physico-chemical and bacterial examination and it was deduced that due to massive encroachment, farming and settlement the rivers had a high number of dissolved solids that contaminated the waters," reads the report in part dated August 2012.

The report says that River Manafwa that supplies water to Mbale municipality, Tororo, Mbale and Butaleja was the most contaminated water with a total of 59.7 mg per litre total dissolved solids while Chebonet River in Kapchorwa stood at 22 mg/litre, Sisiyi stood at 25.3 mg/litre while Soloko River was at 32.3mg/litre. 

Reports at UWA also reveal that the water colour, turbidity, electrical conductivity, Alkalinity, hardness, iron content and manganese content have also been affected greatly.

The other affected rivers are Lwakhakha [Manafwa], Soloko [Sironko], Sipi [Kapchorwa], Sisiyi [Bulambuli], Kapsokoy [Kapchorwa] and Ririma [Manafwa] all of which originate from Mt Elgon.

Dr Gideon Wamasebu, the DHO Manafwa says that the greed and reckless nature of human activities at Mt Elgon water catchment area is killing the rivers.

“Algae you see under the water and black particles are symptoms of heavy pollution and silting, the algae can disappear with time but leaves disastrous effects,” said Dr Wamsebu.

Dr. Tom Okurut, the executive director of the NEMA blames primitive and harmful agricultural practices and indiscriminate felling of trees as some of the destructive activities that expose the land to erosive agents like rain, which wash the soils into the rivers resulting into silting.

Dr Okurut said restricted chemicals being used by untrained persons at the mountain like DDT could be the cause of the dirty water. 

“The greatest factors contributing to dirty water at Mt Elgon can be summed up into poverty, apathy, ignorance, unsustainable population growth and weak law enforcement,” said Dr Okurut.

He said without putting communities in the right place, the country is going to lose this water catchment mountain supplying millions of people in Uganda and Kenya and the livelihood of 20 million people in East Africa who depend on it directly and indirectly. Ends

Mt Elgon is vital to the social and economic functioning of the area, and is a water catchment supplying millions of people in Uganda and Kenya (van Heist, 1994). It is also an important area for species conservation due to the richness of endemic plant and animal species which can be found on the mountain (Howard, 1991).

Girls disappearing from school due to FGM

BY DAVID MAFABI
BUKWO. Ms Violet Kisa, a 22-year-old girl from Riwo sub-county in Riwo village in Bukwo district has seen at first hand the devastating consequences of FGM, cutting girls' education short.

She was cut aged 15 and forced into marriage by parents soon after undergoing Female Genital Mutilation. She deeply regrets it, and that her education was brought to a halt.

 “Maybe I would be a doctor, an accountant or a teacher, I could have been professional,” she told Daily Monitor.

In Kapchorwa, Kween, Bukwo, Amudat and Moroto when children return to the classroom early next month [February] for the start of another academic year, some faces will almost certainly be missing - the faces of girls.

The girls will be absent not by choice, not because they don't want to study but because during the holidays [December 2016] they underwent FGM.

Ms Kisa who is a peasant farmer and lives in Bukwo, a part of Sebei sub-region where according to the NGO; Law and advocacy for Women in Uganda [Law-Uganda] up to 65 percent of girls endure FGM.

The practice entails cutting a girl's clitoris and labia, which is traditionally considered as a rite of passage into womanhood and once a girl is cut the countdown to early marriage and pregnancy begins.

Law-Uganda is a non-government organization whose mission is to use the law to advance the rights of girl-child and women and also promote gender equality, labour equality. The organization works with ministry of Gender, labour and social development, UNFPA-UNICEF.

Ms Kisa says that FGM has been a great disaster in her community because it has denied girls dignity, abused their rights interfered with the development of the community.

She said every year she watches with concern as the number of pre-teen girls in school dwindles and that when the 2017 first academic term starts next year, the number of girls aged 12 to 15 will not return to school.

"They will have undergone FGM, they will just disappear after FGM because parents will force them into marriage, and they will just disappear. They will get married as teens and their lives just go like that," said Ms Kisa.

Rev Fred Kiprop of Sebei diocese says that he recalls how a girl from his Kapkworos, his village was due to become the first female to go to a secondary school in 1986 but that her dreams were dashed after she was forced to undergo FGM.

“And after FGM, the young girl then about 14 was forced into marriage by the parents, got children whom the husband could not look after and she now makes a living by digging other peoples gardens to support her family,” said Rev Kiprop.

He urges teenage male students to tell their parents and community members about the negative effects of FGM and the value of sending their daughters, as well as their sons, to school.

Not alone
Ms Kisa’s life story may be depressing, but she is not alone. The now 22 year old is one of the many teenage mothers in Sebei sub-region who have undergone FGM and been forced into marriage at teenage.

Although UNFPA estimates that less than 1% of Uganda’s population practices FGM/C, the practice is widespread in the east- and northeastern communities; the Pokot and Sabiny peoples, where above 95% and above 60% of the women respectively, are compelled to undergo FGM/C. It is also reportedly widely practiced among the Tepeth in Moroto.

FGM

The Arch-Bishop of Church of Uganda while flagging off a Marathon to eliminate FGM in Sebei sub-region said FGM is not only de-humanising to women and the girl-child but is also brutal, inflicts permanent injuries and poses a great danger to girls and their children during child birth.

The arch-bishop Ntagali, who was the chief runner said although it is true that government passed the 2010 Act against FGM, it is not doing enough to ensure the law in implemented to have the perpetrators arrested and prosecuted.

He said although Sebei sub-region has very many girls with talent and creativity, FGM, violence, discrimination and the lack of equal opportunities serve to thwart the dreams and potential of many of them.

“I am calling upon all political and religious leaders in Bukwo, Kapchorwa and Kween districts to come out boldly and join the fight against FGM if it is to bear fruits of restoring dignity of girl-child and women,” said Arch Bishop Ntagali.

Reffering to the international and national instruments to address FGM, the officer in charge of UNFPA country office Dr Eric Akinele said it is possible to give up FGM without giving up the meaningful, positive aspects of the Sabiny culture.

Dr Akinyele pledged UNFPA’s continued support in the fight to end FGM: “We shall continue the fight together with UNICEF under the programme on FGM funded by governments of Finland, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Ireland, Norway, Luxemburg, Sweden and the United kingdom,”

He added “We shall ensure the enactment and enforcement of supportive legislation; FGM A, FGM regulations and FGM guidelines to end this practice,” said Dr Akinyele.

He explained that ending FGM is a complex process that requires behavioral change in negative social norms of society.

Dr Akinyele called for adequate resource allocation to end FGM, law and order sector to take necessary measures to prevent FGM, encouragement of communities, educational institutions and the media to join the fight and governments to consider the fight against FGM as a regional fight to end cross border cutting of girls.

The executive director Law-Uganda, Mrs Dora Byamukama said although there are positive results in implementation of the law that prohibits FGM [2010 Act], the practice still persists in less educated homes, in the bushes, caves, isolated places and across the borders in Kenya through porous border points.

“We are holding talks at East African Community level to come up with a law on FGM and how it can be implemented. And since it is taking place in Kenya and Uganda, we are asking governments in East African region to classify it as a cross border crime,” said Mrs Byamukama.

She named Tugumo, Kwot, Benet, Kaptanya, Girik, Kwanyiny and Ngenge as the hot spot areas where the culture of FGM is still persisting due to low levels of Education for girl-child.

She said FGM or cutting (FGM/C) not only subjects girls and women to excruciating pain, often at the hands of cutters in non-sterile conditions, but also poses serious, long-term sexual and reproductive health consequences for the survivors.

The UN women magazine 2015 report dated Oct 11, a global champion for gender equality, working to develop and uphold standards and create an environment in which every woman and girl can exercise her human rights and live up to her full potential says there are over 700 million women alive today who were married before the age of 18- and that more than two thirds were married before 15 years.

UNFPA estimates that 120 to 140 million women worldwide are subjected to FGM/C, with three million girls in Africa continue to be at risk each year and that each day 47,700 girls are derailed.

The UN women report says that FGM is one of the things standing in the way of girls’ progress and early and forced marriages.

The report says one in three girls in developing countries gets married before they turn 18 and that they usually miss out on education, are more vulnerable to physical and sexual violence, and bear children before they are physically or emotionally prepared.

“The cycle of violence that begins in girlhood, carries over into womanhood and across generations. The 2030 Agenda must address their needs and unlock their potential,” reads the report in part.

Effects of FGM
The Kapchorwa DHO Dr Michael Muwanga said among the salient issues cited as effects of FGM are that; FGM poses a serious threat to the health of women and girls, increasing vulnerability to HIV, raising the risk of maternal and infant mortality and harming psychological, sexual and reproductive health, severe pain, hemorrhage, tetanus infections, cysts and urinary inconvenience. Ends

Kipoi launches war against Uganda

BY DAVID MAFABI

KAMPALA. A new rebel faction an armed struggle to remove President Museveni from power has emerged.

The National Equality and Democracy highlights the degree of frustration Ugandans have had in trying to hold free and fair elections through a representative multiparty democracy and seeks the use of an armed struggle as the only way to liberate the country.

The group in a statement by its leader, Mr Tonny Kipoi Nsubuga, the former MP for Bubulo West says NED is a Ugandan Liberation Movement says the NRM government has been the source of endless chaos and desperation to people who have continuously agitated for political freedom.

In a press release seen by Daily Monitor and signed by Mr Kipoi, the leader of the purported rebel group, the rebel group is political movement advocating for a Regime change, representative multiparty democracy and an independent judicial system.

 “On behalf of NED, we would like to inform the general public that we today have constituted a liberation struggle to remove the NRM failed and illegitimate regime through an armed struggle,” reads the press statement in part dated Dec 3.

The press release says NED has presence across the country and outside Uganda with a mission to save Uganda from a dictatorship of President Museveni.

The group, according to the press release, urges Ugandans to join them in the “liberation struggle” and invites the various security personnel to cooperate with them in their mission.

The press release says the rebel group has its headquarters in London42 station road London NW4 3sx UK and in Kinshasa, Av kiosi No 18 Ngaliema (DRC) and advocates for real democracy, equality and rule of law.

But the Police spokesperson Andrew Felix Kaweesi says Mr Kipoi is a criminal wanted by Ugandan government and that he should come back for prosecution.

“What I know is that he appeared in court over a criminal cases and I don’t know whether he was given bail and he jumped bail or he was acquitted and if he wants to fight government, we are ready for him and I wish him luck,” said Mr Kawesi.

In November 2013, police arrested and interrogated three youth allegedly recruited forcibly by Mr Kipoi and the youths were later released after recording statements implicating the legislator before the legislator fled to DR Congo

The army alleges that Mr Kipoi had been recruiting personnel from Ugandan security and Congolese of COGAI, a rebel group in Bunia in Ituri region in DR Congo.

Uganda Police, through its Directorate of Interpol and International Relations, made a formal request to their counterparts in Congo on February 26, 2014 for him to be arrested and extradited to Uganda.

When Mr Kipoi fled to DR Congo, government claimed he detained in Kinshasa pending extradition to Uganda.

Army responds
The Uganda People’s Defence Forces spokesperson, Lt Col Paddy Ankunda, said the claim of a rebel group was news to him and described it as mythical.

“Let him dare, h will meet the full force of the law, UPDF is ready to defend Ugandans and our country,” said Ankunda.

The DR Congo Ambassador H.E Jean-Charles Okot Lolakombe said as DR Congo government they don’t support any rebel activities in their country and that anybody doing it in DR Congo should be aware that it is illegal.

“As a country we don’t tolerate this because it destroys our diplomatic relations with Uganda and I want to say that it is illegal and against our constitution and the principles that govern DR Congo and Uganda as neighbours,” said Mr Lolakombe, Dec 20. Ends