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Is the Boeing 737 A cure for BUBU initiative gathers

Max safe? HIV finally? steam amid criticism

Issue No. 563 March. 15 - 21 2019 Ushs 5,000,Kshs 200, RwF 1,500, SDP 8

Mutebile, Kasekende,
Muhakanizi set to leave
What happens next?

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INBOX

Issue No. 563 March. 15 - 21 2019

News analysis Business Health Arts Motoring

Cover story
Mutebile, Kasekende, Muhakanizi set to leave
What happens next?

4 The Week
30 Comments
Pilot of crashed plane had been given
clearance to return to Addis, CEO Miss Curvy pageant : Why
the proposal to use naturally
endowed, nice-looking
9 The Last Word
women to promote tourism is
Uganda’s strategic dilemma:: an assault on women
Why Uganda’s economy is
dominated by multinational capital
32 Health
and what cannot be done about it
Prostate cancer: How
14 Analysis it becomes resistant to
treatment
Is the Boeing 737 Max safe?:
Here’s what experts know now

35 Arts & Culture

27 Business
Ants invade artist:
BUBU initiative gathers steam Reawaken sketches of
amid criticism: Logo unveiled refugees and other migrants
to be used on all exports

STRATEGY & EDITORIAL DIRECTOR: Andrew M. Mwenda WRITERS:Ronald Musoke, Flavia Nassaka, Ian Katusiime,
MANAGING EDITOR: Joseph Were Agnes Nantaba, Julius Businge.
INVESTIGATIONS EDITOR: Haggai Matsiko DESIGN/LAYOUT: Sarah Ngororano
BUSINESS EDITOR: Isaac Khisa CARTOONIST: Harriet Jamwa

PUBLISHER: Independent Publications Limited, Plot 82/84, Kanjokya Street, P. O. Box 3304, Kampala, Uganda
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2 March. 15 - 21 2019
 Offline

“Those who want to disturb Uganda,

they don’t know our capacity. Our
capacity is very big. Once we mobilise,
you cannot survive. I can assure you
of that if you are a trouble maker.”
President Yoweri Museveni speaking at the
opening of five factories in Mukono district

Seoul, South Korea:

North Korea may
be preparing for a
missile or space
launch, US news
outlet NPR has
reported, based
on satellite image “If we constantly agree in politics it
analysis of a
key facility near
becomes a church, they say ‘clap’ you
Pyongyang. clap, ‘stand’ you stand, disagree and go
to hell. We politicians need to disagree
without fighting each other so as
we don’t create refugee situations.”
Kahinda Otafiire, Minister for Justice and
Geneva, Switzerland: Constitutional Affairs
Efforts to curb the
Democratic Republic
of Congo’s worst Ebola
outbreak are stumbling,
medical charity MSF has
warned.

Shenzhen, China: Tech giant
Huawei has opened a legal
front in its counter-offensive
against U.S., filing suit to
overturn a US law that bars
federal agencies from buying
its products.
“The IGG this time wants to compare
and see whether what the officials have
declared is what is exactly what the locals
in the areas of their respective residences
know of what they own” IGG Justice Irene
Mulyagonja

People eaten by a Lives lost after an Ethiopian Students who

6 crocodile in Buikwe
district last week
157
Airlines flight crashed on
March 10 near Addis Ababa
900 graduated at Ndejje
University recently

March. 15 - 21 2019 3
week

Pilot of crashed plane had been given clearance to return to Addis, CEO
157 passengers aboard a Nairobi-bound Boeing
737 crashed on Mar.10. According to Ethiopian
Airlines CEO Tewolde GebreMariam, the plane
had aboard people with passports from 32 coun-
tries and four United Nations passport holders.
The pilot of the crane that crashed six minutes
after takeoff from Bole International Airport in
Addis Ababa is said to had alerted controllers “he
had difficulties” and wanted to turn back the plane
and Tewolde says he had been given clearance.
Though by press time, there was no explana-
tion about what exactly caused the accident, US
aerospace giant Boeing said they would provide
technical assistance to find out why the brand
new aircraft delivered just in November last year
crashed. “A Boeing technical team is prepared to
provide technical assistance at the request and
under the direction of the US National Transporta-
tion Safety Board”, they said in a statement.
The Boeing 737-MAX 8 is the same model that
took off in October last year from Jakarta Indone-
sia and crashed into the Java Sea just 13 minutes
after takeoff, killing all 189 people onboard a Lion
Air flight. One Ugandan had by press time been
The crash site of the Ethiopian Airlines flight confirmed to have died in the Sunday accident.

Kagame speaks out on Uganda – Rwanda conflict Two die in accident,

On Mar.09, Rwanda Presi-
dent Paul Kagame addressed
leaders at the 16th National
Leadership Retreat held at the
Rwanda Defense Force Com-
bat Training Centre in Gabiro,
Gatsibo District. During the
event, he for the first time since
he closed the Uganda Rwanda
Border at Gatuna spoke out
on the country’s relations with
Uganda. He said there has been
a cycle of things that have been
happening for the last twenty
years that show Uganda is
working with his enemies to
bring him down. He added
that he on several occasions has
60 named in school sexual violence scandals, report
Following months of inves-
tigations into allegations of
sexual violence in institutions
of learning, parliament on
Mar.07 released a report with
39% of respondents saying they
knew a friend who had been
sexually assaulted with 135
students in higher institutions,
132 in secondary school and 54
in primary school having a yes
response.
Also, 45.2% of respondents in
primary school indicated that
they are aware of the existence
of defilement and 41.5% were
expressed concern to President
Museveni over offering his
enemies refuge but no will to
act otherwise has been shown.
“You can destabilize, attempt
or even do it actually. You can
do us harm……but there is one
thing that is impossible, that
cannot happen to me, and I
wish it shouldn’t happen to our
country. No body anywhere can
bring me to my knees”, he said
there are many Rwandans who
come to Uganda and get impris-
oned without clear reasons and
that he can’t guarantee their
safety while they are here.
“You can only be safe in
aware of the existence of sex-
ual harassment. In Secondary
schools, 70.5% were aware of
existence of sexual harassment
and 84% at university and other
tertiary institutions.
The chairperson of the com-
mittee who doubles as Gomba
woman MP Robina Rwakoojo
said these figures were just a tip
of an iceberg with a culture of
many opting to be silent about
actions of sexual violence espe-
cially when the perpetuator is a
person holding authority.
When asked about the names
Uganda if you are against
Rwanda, that’s the only way
they will welcome you. I have
come to accept that we advise
Rwandans not to go to Uganda
but we don’t stop other people
from coming here”.
He warned the standoff
between Rwanda and Uganda
will be costly. As he spoke
Ugandan trucks were still stuck
with goods at the border fol-
lowing closure on Feb.28. Many
Ugandan traders especially
those that export fresh foods
and vegetables are counting
losses.
of perpetuators, respondents
mentioned 60 names repeatedly
meaning that those notorious
for the vice are known by learn-
ers at all levels.
Though the committee decid-
ed to withhold the names of
perpetuators they recommend
that justice institutions like the
Police should regularly publish
disaggregated data on reported
cases of sexual violence as this
will allow for better analysis of
the prevalence and design evi-
dence based interventions.
MP Kabaziguruka
injured
Two people died in an
accident along Bombo road in
which Nakawa MP Micheal
Kabaziguruka’s car collided
with woman MP Buliisa
district Norah Bigirwa’s car.
It has been established that
three vehicles were involved
in this accident. Five people
were injured and two died,”
Kampala Metropolitan
Deputy Police Spokesperson
Luke Owoyesigyire said in
a statement confirming that
the driver of the third vehicle
involved died on the spot.
Information from parliament
shows Kabaziguruka’s car got
involved in the accident after
a car which was overtaking
Bigirwa’s car swerved and hit
both cars.
However, in July 2017,
the MP sustained major
injuries when an ambulance
he was driving collided with
a truck near the Uganda
Manufacturers Association
Showground in Nakawa
division, something that kept
him away from parliament for
more than three months.

4 March. 15 - 21 2019
 Week

ICPA-U graduates 461 Sudan opposition

A total of 461 graduands attained qualifi-
cations in different fields of the accounting
profession at the 11th graduation ceremony
for the Institute of Certified Public Accoun-
tants of Uganda (ICPA-U) held in Kampala
on March 07. Of this total, 397 qualified for
Certified Public Accountants course, 41 for
Accounting Technicians Diploma while 23
qualified for Certified Tax Advisor. Freder-
ick Kibeddi (CPA), the President of ICPA-U
urged the graduands to uphold the values
of the profession since their work directly
impacts the performance of the economy.
He said complying members would be cho-
sen to take part in a fellowship programme
in which they will develop their skills which
will expose them to other opportunities. In
addition, he said that ICPA-U plans to offer
10 CPA scholarship slots per year for Uni-
versity Graduates. In the 2018 examinations,
officials said, female candidates performed
better than their male counterparts and that
the highest pass rates were among students
in the 18-29 years age bracket.
leader jailed
On Mar.10, court in Sudan sent opposition
leader to a week in jail over leading protests.
Mariam al-Mahdi -- daughter of opposition
Umma Party chief and ex-prime minister
Sadiq al-Mahdi had been arrested while
leading processions of protestors through
the city calling for President Omar el Bashir
to resign.
While he has banned unauthorized gath-
erings and giving security operatives to use
force to disperse protestors, the situation in
Sudan has failed to calm. They all started as
increasing commodity prices but has now
turned into a call for transfer of power. Sadiq
al-Mahdi has suggested that the Bashir sits
with the opposition to agree on terms of the
transition process if they are to end this crisis
which has claimed lives through scuffles
with security operatives.
Mahdi asked for the end of the state of
emergency which the European Union
recently warned might lead to further deaths.
The Union had called for the release of politi-
cal prisoners and pave way for dialogue for
the sake of peace in the country something
that Bashir seems not to be heeding to.

FDC names Makindye’s Kasozi as COSASE Vice chairperson

After the speaker rejected
Rubaga’s Moses Kasibante as
Mubarak Munyagwa’s deputy
as the new leaders of the parlia-
mentary Committee on Statutory
Authorities and State Enter-
prises (COSASE), the opposition
Forum for Democratic Change
(FDC) party has named Ibrahim
Kasozi to the position.
The Makindye East legislator
was proposed in a letter by the
party Secretary General Nandala
Mafabi to the opposition Chief
Whip Ibrahim Semujju Nganda.
“As a party we have no say on
placement of independents on
committees. To avoid vacuum
on the committee, we propose to
replace Hon. Kasibante Moses
with Hon. Kasozi as vice chair-
person”, Mafabi wrote.
In January, speaker Rebecca
Kadaga had rejected Kasibante
saying that he had already
been named as a member of the
appointments committee by the
Independent Whip. This caused
some controversy in parliament
as Semujju initially opposed the
view that deputy and chairper-
sons shouldn’t serve in more
than one committee and the fact
that Andrew Baryayanga, the
Independent whip was informal.
But, the speaker maintained
her position and there has since
been a vacuum in COSASE.
MP Ibrahim Kasozi

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March. 15 - 21 2019 5
Week
Uganda, India film makers discuss possible co- productions
Museveni met Bollywood stars at State Lodge in Nakasero
When Indian actors and actresses arrived
in the country, they first visited the Presi-
dent at State Lodge in Nakasero where he
encouraged them to shoot films in Uganda
considering the country’s beauty. He said
the linkages between the two countries can
groom investment and promotion of trade.
While there, Bharat Dabholkar a movie
director who led the delegation said they
have plans to bring big film tourists to
Uganda saying that film tourism will be a
big deal.
6 March. 15 - 21 2019
After that, they visited their counterparts
in the Industry to discuss possible collabora-
tions. In a Mar.07 meeting, Ugandan actors
expressed interest in learning from their Bol-
lywood counterparts on how they handle
issues to do with copy rights and marketing
the finished product which is still a big chal-
lenge for the local film makers.
The industry according to Ministry of
labor officials is still not fully harnessed and
yet it has potential of employing 40% of the
unemployed youth.
Africa now summit focuses
on building youth business
For two days starting Mar.12, leaders
gathered at the Common Wealth Hotel in
Kampala for the Africa Now summit 2019.
The conference organized was aimed at
harnessing the energy of the African youth
in forging a secure, integrated and growing
Africa.
Awel Uwihanganye, Associate Director
at the Africa Strategic Leadership Centre,
the event’s organizers says that we’re at
a point in time where Africans should be
more assertive towards owning the African
narrative that’s why they focused on giving
youths tips on building effective business
alliances as these are critical for growing
economies like Uganda.
Uwihanganye further encouraged Afri-
can writers to write and publish more con-
tent that tells the African story and feeds
into the overall objective of think tanks such
as the Africa Strategic Leadership Centre.
The main objective of the Africa Now
Conference is to contribute effectively to
the broader conversation around economic
transformation, investment and trade
growth as well as employment in Africa.
However, this dialogue has for a long time
happened outside of Africa.
Humour
There is growing tension between Rwanda and Uganda over
closure of borders between the two countries
Police have finally summoned Maj Gen Matayo Kyalingonza
over assaulting traffic officer in Seeta recently.
The health ministry plans to pay nurses sh30, 000 bonus per
expectant mother attended to I order to motivate them.
Did you know?
WhatsApp has a serious
warning for you
W
hatsApp is clearly the
world’s largest cross-
platform instant messaging
application with over a
billion users on the platform. But to
keep them, WhatsApp has to battle
unofficial apps such as WhatsApp Plus
and GB WhatsApp that take some of
them. In the latest battle, WhatsApp is
warning its users that it will soon start
banning user accounts that are also use
the unofficial versions of the app.
WhatsApp says the unofficial apps
put the users at risk of a safety hazard
as the company cannot validate their
security practices.
Now, WhatsApp is taking a harsh
step to convince users of WhatsApp
Plus and GB WhatsApp to switch to the
official app or face dire consequences.
WhatsApp will start banning user
accounts that are used on unofficial
versions of the app.
As reliant as users are on WhatsApp,
the Facebook-owned app needs its
user-base to thrive. While banning
users who are using modified
WhatsApp apps is a harsh approach,
the ban is only a temporary one and
users can then switch to the official
version of the app.
“WhatsApp cares deeply about the
safety of our users. To protect the
privacy and security of their account,
we strongly recommend users only
download WhatsApp from official
app stores or from our website. We are
continuing to step up our enforcement
against impostor WhatsApp services to
help curb abuse and keep WhatsApp
users safe,” a WhatsApp spokesperson
said.
WhatsApp has also shared a detailed
FAQ page on how to migrate from
unofficial to official WhatsApp app
and restore chats.
March. 15 - 21 2019 7
 The ‘Source of the Nile’ Bridge in Jinja illuminated green
in celebration of Ireland’s national day, which takes place
annually on March 17.The Embassy of Ireland in Uganda,
in partnership with Uganda Tourism Board and the Uganda
National Roads Authority, marked the day on March 13.

8 March. 15 - 21 2019

Uganda’s strategic dilemma
By Andrew M. Mwenda
Why Uganda’s economy is dominated by multinational
capital and what cannot be done about it
U
ganda is facing a dilemma. The
country is investing tens of billions
of dollars in huge infrastructure
projects – dams, airports, high-
ways, bridges, railways, water systems etc.
Many Ugandans are complaining that all
the big contracts are won by foreign firms
especially Chinese, who even bring their
own workers and materials. They argue
therefore that these investments bring little
value to the citizens as local manufacturing
and construction firms get little or nothing.
Consequently, the debate on and demands
for local content have become loud.
Many are calling on government to
adopt and enforce local content laws to
give domestic/indigenous/local/nationals a
piece of the pie. However, government has
made half-hearted efforts in this direction.
Whatever local content rules it has designed
have not been implemented to the satisfac-
tion of anyone. Why is it that the problem is
known, the solution (or at least a part of it)
has been designed but the implementation
has remained elusive? This article attempts
to provide an answer or at least a slice of it
to this vexing problem.
There is an implicit assumption in most
debate on development that public policy
is made through some optimisation process
i.e. that decision makers meet, and based
on sound economic policy principles and
seeking to do what is good for the country,
carefully craft a policy strategy. This reli-
gious assumption about how government
works is, to say the least, utopian. This
article shifts the debate on policy making
from economic theorising and political mor-
alising to the field of political economy.
First, no society can be governed based on
technical considerations of economic theo-
ries derived from a textbook or classroom.
Indeed, no theory can capture the multi-
tudinous complexity of social life. At best
a theory can only represent the experience
of a given society at a given period in time.
But even here, it would only be a small part
of a complex social reality. Therefore any
attempt to govern society based solely on
technical considerations would destroy the
meaning of human life.
Second, government is not a single reified
actor working for the “common good.” It
is a collection of self-interested individuals
and groups armed with particular ideo-
logical convictions. These come together
The Last Word
seeking to advance the interests of the social
groups that constitute the political support-
base of the ruling power. Therefore, public
policy making, especially economic policy,
is primarily a political, not a technical pro-
cess.
I am not suggesting that public officials
lack public spiritedness i.e. a commitment
to serve the “common good.” Rather, public
policies are based on ideological convic-
tions; and ideologies are interest-begotten.
Therefore, to understand the public poli-
cies a country pursues, one has to look at
the interests that stand to benefit from
those policies. The army of intellectuals
who defend such policies need not be self-
interested individuals consciously seeking
personal gain. Rather, they often advance
the interests of particular social groups sub-
consciously in the often honest and genuine
belief that it is what is good for the country.
To understand the dominance of foreign
firms in Uganda’s economy, one has to
look at the nature of the reconstruction
our country has pursued under President
Yoweri Museveni since 1986. How did
Uganda come to adopt the political insti-
tutions and public policies it did? What
groups – both domestic and international
– stood to benefit from these economic
reforms and were thus cultivated and
strengthened? Which groups were mar-
ginalized, displaced and/or stifled? Finally
what are the implications of this on the poli-
tics of economic policy making today?
Museveni took power ahead of the
National Resistance Movement (NRM),
an organisation that was largely left wing
and Marxist. However, and ironically, to
capture power the NRM had allied itself
with conservative interests nationally and
internationally. Domestically it had allied
with Mengo and Rubaga, the seats of the
Buganda monarchy and the Roman Cath-
olic Church respectively alongside Southern
business interests. Internationally he allied
with some right wing groups in the Western
World closely tied to the administrations of
Ronald Reagan in the United States (the first
country to recognise Museveni’s govern-
ment in 1986) and Margaret Thatcher in the
United Kingdom especially through Tiny
Roland of Lonhro.
In 1986 the economy had virtually col-
lapsed. Globally, NRM’s natural allies, the
Soviet Union and its Eastern-bloc countries,
OpiniOn
were broke. To run government, Museveni
needed money, but the treasury was empty.
So he turned to the Western countries for
financial assistance. Money is an important
political resource. For example, Museveni
needed to pay government employees to
perform basic functions like keeping law
and order and ensuring public services
like education and health can function
minimally. But he was also facing an armed
insurgency in the north. Government also
needed foreign exchange to import spare
parts and other inputs to get industries that
had shut down to re-open.
Western countries insisted that to lend
Uganda any money it had to first reach
an agreement with the IMF. Ezra Suruma
once told me that by the time the govern-
ment delegation went to Washington DC to
negotiate with the IMF, the country had fuel
to last it only three weeks and no foreign
exchange reserves at all. The IMF insisted
that to lend Uganda money, the govern-
ment had to accept “stabilisation” measures:
withdraw of state subsidies from education
and health, liberalise foreign exchange, con-
trol inflation, etc.
Then World Bank too had its demands
and these were of a medium to long-term
nature. These included demands to trim the
civil service, demobilise the army, return to
previous owners properties of non-indige-
nous Ugandans confiscated by Idi Amin in
1972, privatise state owned enterprises, lib-
eralise and deregulate the economy. Musev-
eni’s government accepted these reforms
out of desperation, not conviction. When it
accepted them, aid money began flowing in
and the economy began to grow.
How NRM responded to the demands
and the benefits in aid it got from inter-
national institutions not only shaped the
subsequent policy orientation of the govern-
ment, it also helped consciously cultivate
a public sector, private sector, civil society
and mass media which were all ideologi-
cally committed to the neo-liberal economic
agenda. Consequently, the social forces that
came to dominate intellectual and political
life in Uganda are hostile to the very poli-
cies that promote local ownership. I will
expound on this in the next article.
amwenda@independent.co.ug
March. 15 - 21 2019 9
cover story

Mutebile, Kasekende,
Muhakanizi set to leave
What happens next?
By Haggai Matsiko
Anxiety is building about what the future holds for management of Uganda’s
economy as the curtain slowly comes down on three prominent figures; Bank of
Uganda Governor Tumusiime Mutebile, his deputy Louis Kasekende at Bank of
Uganda, Secretary to the Treasury Keith Muhakanizi
For years now, navigating Uganda out of intricate political-economic situations
has always been the handiwork of these technocrats. Mutebile, especially, has
been at the forefront of managing Uganda’s economy since the early 80s.

10 March. 15 - 21 2019
H
e was the Chief Economist
in the Ministry of Planning
before President Yoweri
Museveni came to power
and rose to become Perma-
nent Secretary and Secre-
tary to the Treasury Ministry of Finance,
and finally longest serving central bank
governor.
His deputy, Kasekende, is a traditional
central banker having joined BoU in 1986
and rose through the ranks with a short
stint at the World Bank as executive director
and the African Development Bank as chief
economist. He has been DG, first from 1999
to 2002 and 2010 to present.
Muhakanizi is a long-serving Ministry
of Finance technocrat who honed his skills
as Deputy to the late legendary Permanent
Secretary Chris Kassami. When Kassami
retired in 2013, Muhakanizi succeeded him.
Having been at Finance since 1982,
Muhakanizi has over the years mastered
the inner workings and built a network of
technocrats across the board given that the
Finance Ministry is the centrepiece of the
entire government. Over the years, he had
also mastered the politics.
The departure of this trio is likely to mark
a dramatic shift as it is accompanied by the
departure of other technical staff; either
through natural retirement, early voluntary
departures, or shuffles resulting from recent
controversies.
The Deputy Secretary to the Treasury,
Patrick Ocailap, also looks set to retire from
the Finance Ministry while the future of
Kasekende; who was once viewed as a
natural successor to Mutebile at BoU, is
uncertain.
Mutebile and Kasekende have increas-
ingly come under pressure to leave BoU
owing to the countless scandals at the cen-
tral bank, especially concerning their role in
the shabby closure of commercial banks.
While President Museveni has not
pressed the exit button for these officials,
the contract of 70-year old Mutebile ends in
early 2021. That of 60-year old Kasekende
ends earlier in 2020. Some of President
Museveni’s handlers have told The Inde-
pendent that both are out of a job.
At the Finance Ministry, Muhakanizi
might quit the ministry soon. He has not
been in good health. And the contract of his
deputy, Ocailap expires early this year.
Strong leaders important
While there are equally formidable tech-
nocrats at Ministry of Finance, there is anxi-
ety that the inevitable changes are forced
rather than planned moves.
Succession at Finance became a toss-up
after Lawrence Kiiza, the former Direc-
tor Economic Affairs, who was seen as
Muhakanizi’s potential successor, retired
early.
Now Muhakanizi who was once in the
running for the governor of BoU position
appears cut off by ill-health and Ocailap
who for a long time appeared set to succeed
Muhakanizi has hit the civil service retire-
ment age of 60 years.
Many observers fear that the Uganda
economy is entering uncertainty amidst
tough times in the political economic
spheres.
Strong leaders like Mutebile and
Muhakanizi are central to the good per-
formance of the economy, according to
research by scholars such as Sam Hickey, a
Professor of Politics and Development at the
University of Manchester has done research
on the performance of Uganda’s institutions
since 2010.
In the case of the Finance Ministry, he
found that strong leaders like Mutebile and
Muhakanizi were central to the good per-
formance here.
Therefore, Hickey told The Independent
that the anxiety about the pending depar-
ture of these officials is well placed.
“These figures have been in situ for a
long time and I don’t get the sense that
they have planned for succession in any
institutionalised form,” Hickey told The
President Museveni Matia Kasaija
Independent.
Hickey used the example of the energy
sector to demonstrate the challenge of such
lack of succession. Since the 1980s, the
energy sector was under the stewardship of
Kabagambe Kalisa. Then in 2017 following
a fall out with President Museveni over the
mismanagement of Karuma and Isimba
dams, President Museveni fired him and
replaced him with Stephen Isabalijja.
Isabalija, who had only served on the
fringes of the Energy sector as the Chair-
man Board of Directors for power genera-
tor UEGCL and was new to mainstream
government, was unable to hold fort as
new Permanent Secretary and was fired in
less than a year. President Museveni then
appointed a relatively young man with little
experience, Robert Kasande to head the
sector.
Hickey says both MEMD (Energy Min-
cover story
istry) and PEPD (Petroleum Exploration
and Production Directorate) had well-
established plans of career-progression and
leadership succession in place that fitted
well with the expertise, stature and experi-
ence of the staff involved.
“The sacking of Kabagambe and appoint-
ment of Isabalija disrupted this and ended
up with some people in the wrong place.”
Hickey says the Energy sector does pres-
ent warning signals. He explained that
Ernest Rubondo, who now heads the Petro-
leum Authority of Uganda (PAU) should
arguably be the Permanent Secretary, with
Kasande heading PAU. Clearly the appoint-
ing authority, President Museveni, does not
think so.
For Hickey, this is not surprising. He says
it is not Museveni is not known for think-
ing strategically about building institutions
that can outlast him. Hickey says Musev-
eni thinks strategically; but only in terms
of regime survival rather than institution
building.
Hickey and Badru Bukenya; a researcher
at Makerere University Kampala, have
carried out research on the performance
of the Finance Ministry since 1986 and are
Patrick Ocailap
working on another paper about the perfor-
mance of BoU over the same period of time.
They work under a global research centre;
Effective States and Inclusive Development
(ESID) that investigates politics that pro-
mote development.
The researchers chose to study BoU and
Ministry of Finance partly because prelimi-
nary research showed the two institutions
as top performers amongst government
institutions. Their research is aimed at learn-
ing what makes them key performers. Some
look at their recommendations in terms of
how to improve or replicate good perfor-
mance based on lessons here.
Looking Museveni in the eye
Economist Fred Muhumuza, who has
also served as an advisor to the Finance
Minister told The Independent that his
anxiety is only about the governor because
March. 15 - 21 2019 11
cover story
Trucks carrying goods at the Ugandan border with Kenya
despite his weaknesses, Mutebile has been
that Governor who looks the President in
the eye and could push him off certain deci-
sions.
“Technical people are there who can do
the work,”Muhumuza told The Indepen-
dent, “The challenge will be finding some-
one like that.”
For Finance, Muhumuza said if the presi-
dent wants; even if Ocailap has reached
retirement age, he can hire him on contract.
“Muhakanizi reached retirement but he
has been there on contract,” Muhumuza
told The Independent.
Major succession has happened before at
Ministry of Finance when Muhakanizi took
over as PSST in 2013.
At the time, there was a sense that his
predecessor, Christopher Kassami who had
held the job since 2001, was never really
dynamic and was away a lot according to a
draft research paper on the performance of
the Finance Ministry by Hickey and Buke-
nya.
The paper explains that before Muhakan-
izi came in, at least two other senior bureau-
crats who had played a central role on the
reform period also left at this time. Another
major figure, former Minister of Finance
Planning and Economic Development, Ger-
ald Ssendaula, had retired in 2005.
Ssendaula was seen by most as the last
of the technically strong and politically
respected leaders to hold this position.
Hickey and Bukenya’s paper notes that
none of Ssendaula’s successors possessed
his combination of technocratic expertise
and political heft. They say they were
appointed either to perform a specific politi-
cal role or because they would not consti-
tute serious obstacles to political demands.
It is Muhakanizi that brought back the
12 March. 15 - 21 2019
Traders at a market
reformist zeal last seen under Mutebile.
“He is very good, wants things done,
meetings are all to the point, agreement on
who does what,” an official is quoted as
saying of Muhakanizi in the research paper,
“he has brought a lot more vigour – he can
wade into the murky political waters with
some degree of confidence.” This was partly
because of his close relationship with the
President.
As a result of this vigour, the paper adds,
three major reforms were undertaken dur-
ing this period, each to address different
aspects of the crises identified then; namely
the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Sys-
tem, the Treasury Single Account and the
new Public Financial Management Act.
These kinds of reforms had last been seen
under Mutebile, a seasoned economist and
reformer, who spearheaded the design and
implementation of the Economic Reform
Program that restored Uganda from the
economic crises of the 1970s and 1980s to
much better economic performance while
he served as the most senior technocrat at
the Finance Ministry.
“Mutebile was also highly respected, a
hardliner, he would tell President over my
dead body,” another official is quoted in the
paper, “So we technical people were very
motivated to work because we knew if we
worked hard and did our work it would be
accepted”.
In 2001, Mutebile was moved to the cen-
tral bank as governor.
“When Mutebile proved to be very dif-
ficult, he sent him to the Central Bank,”
another official is quoted in the paper, “That
was the reason, because he (the President)
was told ‘over my dead body’. And the
whole mechanism softened because the late
PS (Kassami who succeeded Mutebile) was
not as tough; and Museveni brought in his
ministers who would dance to his tune.”
But according to Hickey, Mutebile lost
that shine along the way.
“The 2011 elections (reissuing of
banknotes, the Russian fighter jets) give the
lie to Mutebile’s ‘toughness’, as does the
apparent raid on the Petroleum Fund. He
regained that to some extent by 2016 but
seems to have had to do the political work
of the President in exchange. In this sense,
I think Mutebile was mortally weakened
a while back by the Hassan Basajjabalaba
case amongst other things, when Museveni
bailed him out and then extracted favours.”
In 2011 Mutebile was alongside former
Finance minister Syda Bbumba and for-
mer Attorney General Khiddu Makubuya
accused of irregularly paying out Shs. 142
billion to businessman Hassan Basajja-
balaba in a controversial compensation for
cancelled contracts to develop markets in
Kampala. While Bbumba and Makubuya
were later fired, Mutebile was cleared by
parliament and stayed on the job.
In another incident, Mutebile flared tem-
pers when he told a parliamentary commit-
tee that President Museveni directed him to
draw an unbudgeted US$750 million from
the Treasury to buy Russian fighter jets.
Challenges for new leaders
The good news is that if any changes
occurred now, they would be occurring at a
good time.
The economy has an upswing or as
Finance Minister Matia Kasaija put it recent-
ly; “the economy is on wheeeuuuuu!”
In case you missed it, the Minister was on
Jan.09 speaking to journalists at the Uganda
Media Centre in Kampala.
“I want to assure you now and assure the

Customers at a Mobile Money kiosk
country now,” he said “the economy is on
wheeeuuuuu!”
He matched the whistling sound with a
swing of his right hand upward as if imi-
tating an airplane taking-off mode. Once
again it was clear that had not made it into
politics, Kasaija might have made a success-
ful comedian. But even in politics, he finds
a way to display the talent. In any case, no
one could miss the message.
Within days Twitter had exploded with
memes of Kasaija’s comedy which trended
for weeks on social media and in conversa-
tions on the economy and even other things.
He awakened many who appeared to have
given up on Uganda’s economy after a
stretch of poor performance.
But while it is the way that Kasaija made
his point that mostly made the news, the
Finance minister set the stage about what
many agree is improved economic perfor-
mance.
Weeks before Kasaija made the statement,
Bank of Uganda had released figures show-
ing that the best balance of trade position
in years. The central bank indicated, for
example, Uganda was enjoying trade sur-
pluses—exporting more than it imports—
with all her neighbours; including Kenya,
the region’s economic giant.
For the first time in years, Uganda had
over the last 12 months to October 2018,
exported goods worth $780 million to
Kenya and imported about $400 million
from Kenya.
Adam Mugume, BoU’s executive direc-
tor for research and policy who presented
the figures attributed this performance to
improved agricultural productivity, eco-
nomic stability, low inflation, and a stable
the exchange rate.
Then a month later, a team from the Inter-
national Monetary Fund (IMF) gave Ugan-
da a further thumps up. It noted that the
economy grew by 6.1% in FY2017/18 and
was projected to grow at 6.3% in FY2018/19,
and investor surveys indicate that business
conditions and sentiment are strong. Credit
to the private sector has improved, revenue
collection was up by 0.3% of GDP, and
exports grew by 9%. The IMF confirmed
BoU has successfully balanced its inflation
objective with supporting economic activ-
ity and financial inclusion is improving
with around 85 percent of the population
now having access to financial services.
“Over the next 5 years, growth could
reach 7 percent,” the IMF added, “if infra-
structure and oil sector investments pro-
ceed as planned, and private sector credit
remains supportive.”
This appears a major departure from
the circumstances of the same period last
year.
Back then, the team at Finance was
looking for money to fund a Shs29 trillion
budget. Yet Uganda Revenue Authority
(URA) had already recorded a huge tax
revenue shortfall twice the size of the one
the previous year. Kasaija under attach for
borrowing Shs750 billion from the domes-
tic market; a move many said could hurt
the economy. And the IMF was breathing
fire under the bellies of Finance officials.
“The key guiding principle behind fis-
cal policy is that government debt should
be kept within manageable levels,” the
IMF Country representative Clara Mira
told The Independent at the time.
The Uganda budget, she added, should
effectively and realistically prioritize
expenditures, including all unavoidable
expenditure, contractual etc.
“Supplementary budgets should not
cover story
become the norm,” Mira said. In her view,
the area of taxation needed a ratcheting
since; despite progress, Uganda still has
a low tax to GDP ratio compared to other
countries in the region.
Then officials at Finance failed to con-
vince the IMF they had observed certain
conditions that inform the review of the
country’s economic performance under
the Policy Support Instrument (PSI)
arrangement.
The PSI is an instrument of the IMF
designed for countries that do not need
balance of payments financial support.
The PSI helps countries design effective
economic programs that, once approved
by the IMF’s Executive Board, signal to
donors, multilateral development banks,
and markets the Fund’s endorsement of a
member’s policies.
Uganda’s PSI program expired in July
2017. According to Mira, the IMF and
government started negotiations follow-
ing the authorities’ expression of interest
in October/November 2017. Again, diplo-
matically, Mira noted that if the authori-
ties so wish, they stand ready to continue
the process on the basis of the approved
2018/19 budget.
While the IMF does not lend Uganda
money, many people have been lending
to Uganda on the strength of the IMF’s
PSI. If there is no PSI, those people will
not be lending to us. Already many peo-
ple have already decided they will not be
lending to government.
Uganda’s PSI was last approved by
the IMF on June 28, 2013. A new one
was supposed to be established in 2016
but Uganda did not meet the conditions
and instead, a one-year extension was
approved on June 6, 2016.
After the one year, the conditions were
still not met and a further extension
through July 28, 2017 was approved on
June 19, 2017. That extension expired too.
The pessimism persists despite the Feb-
ruary praises for the performance of the
economy and its managers from the IMF.
“I read IMF’s statements with a lot
of caution because they tend to be short
term,” Muhumuza told The Independent,
“They can issue a statement now and
change it a few months down the road cit-
ing some changes in the fundamentals.”
Muhumuza insisted that for as long
as electricity tariffs and fuel prices are as
high as they are, one cannot claim that the
economy is performing well. He said the
touted growth is not inclusive.
The IMF has also noted that poverty is
increasing from 19% in 2012/13 to 21% in
2016/17 and per capita income is declin-
ing.
As the old team bows out, those are the
challenges that Museveni and any new
team will have to deal with.
March. 15 - 21 2019 13
news analysis
Is the Boeing 737 Max safe?
Here’s what experts know now
By Agencies
O
n March 10 an Ethiopian Airlines
737 MAX 8 crashed shortly after
takeoff from Addis Ababa, Ethio-
pia, while enroute to Nairobi,
Kenya. As many as 155 people were killed
in the crash. There we no survivors.
It was the second 737 MAX aircraft crash
in just months. Last October a Lion Air 737
MAX crashed, killing 189 people. Full inves-
tigation on the first accident is still under-
way, and it is too early into the second since
such investigations typically take months, if
not years.
What is known so far is that in both cases
the planes crashed on the climb out and had
unstable vertical speed (suggesting that the
pilots lost control of the aircraft). The focus
of the investigation is figuring out why that
happened.
In the case of the Jakarta crash, Boeing
14 March. 15 - 21 2019
said in a statement that “The Indonesian
National Transportation Safety Committee
has indicated that Lion Air flight 610 experi-
enced erroneous input from one of its AOA
(Angle of Attack) sensors.”
An angle of attack sensor is what the
plane’s computer and pilots use to figure
out the amount of lift the wings are generat-
ing as they cut through the air. If the angle
of attack is too steep, lift starts to decrease,
eventually creating an aerodynamic stall,
where there’s not enough upward lift to
keep the plane aloft.
The way to counter that is to point the
nose of the plane slightly downward, which
safety systems will do automatically, as well
as aggressively and loudly shaking the yoke
control as a warning. But if the readings are
incorrect or inconsistent, both the automa-
tion and the humans can be confused into
pushing further and further down while
they’re trying to figure out what’s going
on and what to do about it, causing the
sharp nose dive. The situation can escalate
quickly.
The Lion Air plane crashed into the sea
less than half an hour after takeoff. The
pilots had requested permission to return
to Jakarta airport, but instead of turning the
plane dived, and may have been going as
fast as 600 mph when it hit the water.
Any issue with the 737 MAX is concern-
ing because had proved to be a popular
model around the world for Boeing, which
has delivered 219 of the fourth generation of
the 737 narrow-body jet plane and is sitting
on orders for more than 4,700 more. This
makes it the fastest-selling plane in Boeing’s
history.
Over time aircraft technology evolves
and the 737 MAX is also supposed to be
the most advanced. It’s more fuel efficient,

meaning it has lower fuel burn and can
operate longer flights than previous ver-
sions of the plane. It allows airlines to
operate longer flights at lower cost. The 737
MAX airplanes are distinctive because of
the “zig-zag” pattern on the back of their
engines. The 737 MAX also has the distinc-
tive split winglets.
However, Boeing made changes to the
flight control system of the 737 MAX, where
the plane automatically pushes the nose of
the aircraft down when a sensor indicates
that the plane is nearing a stall. This is dif-
ferent from the system on previous 737s,
and many pilots said they were left in the
dark with this.
“We do not like the fact that a new sys-
tem was put on the aircraft and wasn’t dis-
closed to anyone or put in the manuals,” the
head of Southwest’s pilot union explained a
few months ago.
It’s an upgrade to previous 737s, with
more efficient engines and distinctive split
wingtips for better aerodynamics. Boeing
started deliveries in May 2017. The biggest
customers are in America, Canada, Europe
and China.
It is not clear if the safety warning affects
just the particular model, the MAX-8,
involved in the two crashes, or if it impacts
the MAX-7 through MAX-10; which are
different lengths.
Before the Ethiopian Airways crash, Boe-
ing had not called for inspections or replace-
ments of sensors or computers on the
planes. Boeing was merely reiterating what
any flight crew is supposed to do if they get
faulty sensor readings.
At their most basic, the correct proce-
dures mean disregarding what the instru-
ments and warnings are saying and reset-
ting the plane to a stable situation.
“The ultimate answer is to set a known
pitch and power setting,” said Les West-
brooks, professor of aeronautical science at
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and
qualified pilot on the Boeing 727, an earlier
Boeing commercial jet. That should create
level flight and buy pilots time to figure
out which readings are real and which are
malfunctions.
According to expert technology publica-
tions such as WIRED, ongoing investiga-
tions into the crashes may reveal other
compounding problems besides the sensor
failure. But, they said, the accidents also
highlights the issue of overreliance on auto-
mated systems, with flight crews having
news analysis
minimal experience in how to deal with
manual flying, let alone emergencies.
“We’ve been talking for several years in
the industry about a degradation of pilot
hand-flying skills,” says Westbrooks.
Airline crashes are usually a result of one
or more simple failures, followed by confu-
sion among the crew, leading to a situation
that quickly spirals out of control.
Following the Jakata crash, several carri-
ers had said they were not grounding any
planes. But after the Ethiopian crash many
of them have grounded them.
One of the reasons aviation is so safe
is because airlines and authorities learn
from every single incident. Having one of
the most modern planes in the world in
two accidents just months apart will no
doubt offer lessons that have not fully been
learned.
Experts, however, continued stressing
that flying is a very safe form of transport
as chances of a car crash are much higher.
Also, what Boeing and accident investiga-
tors learn from these crashes should feed
back into procedures, potentially including
pilot training, that make flying safer still.
March. 15 - 21 2019 15
news analysis
Disputed islands
China, Japan and
the next world war
By Andrew M. Mwenda
A
s Uganda and Rwanda were
preparing for a possible military
confrontation in our region, the
world’s attention is on the situa-
tion in the Sea of Japan, the East China Sea
and the South China Sea.
The region is increasingly volatile, not
just because of Sino-Japanese tension but
also because of North Korea, which is now
a nuclear-armed nation, and South Korea,
and their backers.
I was in Japan recently to talk to public
officials, intellectuals and academics about
it. This region has become the world’s larg-
est trading area; overtaking the Atlantic
trade between Europe and North America
that over centuries dominated global trade.
In spite of its increasing prosperity, or even
because of it, the Pacific Rim may be the
source of the next world war.
For instance, there is a dispute between
China and Japan over the Senkaku islands
in the East China Sea. Right now Japan
controls them but no one lives on them.
People used to live there in the early 1900s
but the islands are too small, too far from
16 March. 15 - 21 2019
Tokyo and economically unviable. Official
Japanese government documents say Japan
incorporated these islands in 1905 by “law-
ful means under the international legal
framework”.
According to Japan, in 1895 Japanese
people; about 200, inhabited the islands.
Living off fishing and seafood processing,
they would also mine minerals from the
Island. However, the business became unvi-
able and the people left.
Japan did not settle people there again
because the islands were not contested.
But in the 1970s the United Nations (UN)
released a report showing the islands’
potential for natural gas and oil. China and
Taiwan began claiming them. It became an
international dispute. China and Taiwan
even began sending their fishing boats to
these islands. Today, Japanese coastguards
protect the islands with some warships at a
distance.  fears America may ask her not to build any-
But tension keeps rising. Under inter-
national law every country has “innocent
passage” in the seas even when the area is
under territorial control of another country.
So China has sent one warship, a subma-
rine, and some military planes – drones – to
the islands. The move appears designed
to test the resolve of the Japanese and their
American allies to defend the islands.
The Americans recognise these Islands as
Japanese territory and do not want China
on them. America’s military alliance with
Japan binds it to protect Japan against
Chinese provocation. American warships,
therefore, constantly circle the area to keep
the Chinese away. But this increases ten-
sions.
To make sure it has effective control over
these islands, it would be best for Japan to
build military bases on them. But Tokyo
fears that doing so could provoke Beijing,
which can respond by attacking the islands.
However, Beijing knows that attacking
the islands can easily draw America into
the conflict. But Tokyo must also wonder
whether America would risk war with Chi-
na over these small islands. Indeed Japan
thing there to avoid provoking China!
Speaking to Japanese officials and intel-
lectuals one gets the sense that Japan was
worried about former U.S. President Barack
Obama’s ability to keep the US-Japan alli-
ance. Obama was trying to engage with the

Xi Jinping Shinzo Abe
Chinese and talk to them about these prob-
lems. This worried all the Asian countries,
which feel America should use her muscle
to scare China!
Obama’s efforts did not stop China. It
continued to engage in cyber-attacks on
neighbouring countries, develop artificial
islands in the South China Sea, and main-
tain pressure on Taiwan and the Senkaku
Islands.
Obama had said the US-Japan agreement
covers the Senkaku Islands. Yet he also said
America is neutral on the sovereignty issue.
This is why China would send her coast
guards to the islands because, Japanese
officials told me, Beijing smelt America
weakness.  the sake of good relations with China. Yet
Since Donald Trump came to office, he
has been saying the US-Japan agreement
covers the Senkaku islands, but he does
not say America is neutral on the territorial
claims of the parties. Consequently China
has significantly reduced her provocations.  more. Their education system teaches them
While Obama thought strategic coop-
eration with China, Trump seeks strategic
competition. Trump thinks China and Rus-
sia are trying to challenge U.S. global domi-
Donald Trump Moon Jae-in
nance. Obama thought he could engage the
two countries. Instead both became more
assertive.  San Francisco peace treaty of 1951 recog-
Trump personally likes Russian President
Vladimir Putin but his administration has
been tougher on Russia with sanctions than
Obama’s. On China Trump has been con-
sistent in rhetoric and action. The trade war
with Beijing being an example.
Japan faces a dilemma. Her entire secu-
rity architecture is underwritten by her alli-
ance with America. Yet America is a nation
with her own interests.
Tokyo has to worry whether Washington
will forever honour these commitments
or sell Japan’s claims on these islands for
Japan’s pacifist post-war constitution bars
the country from developing offensive mili-
tary capabilities.
And it is politically difficult to amend it
because most Japanese don’t like war any-
that war is a dangerous thing. Memories of
World War Two are still strong.
Japan has been building its military
capabilities purely for defensive purposes
news analysis
against China and North Korea. All is well
as long as America has a strong military
presence in East Asia to threaten Japan’s
enemies. But what if China occupied the
Senkaku Islands; what would Japan do?
Japan could have built settlements on
these Islands about 30 or 20 years ago when
they had more advantage. They did not.
But now the balance of power has tilted in
favour of China. And if Japan builds any-
thing on the Islands now, the Chinese can
argue that they have been provoked. So
Japan may not convince the world.
If America shifts towards China, where
would Japan look for strategic alliance? The
one country that has the potential to grow
and challenge Chinese dominance is India.
But Japan doesn’t think India can provide
security to East Asia.
This is partly because of India’s non-
aligned policy but also because India-China
trade is too big in spite of their strategic
competition. 
So, given that Japanese trade with China
is at an all time high; wouldn’t it be prudent
for Tokyo to cultivate Beijing as an ally
instead of seeing her as a threat? It seems to
me the Japanese do not want to see an alli-
ance with China. This is where matters of
culture and history trump naked economic
self-interest in relations among nations.
There are no bilateral talks between Chi-
na and Japan over the Senkaku Islands. This
is because Japan believes there is no reason
to discuss anything with China.
If the Chinese go to the International
Court of Justice (ICJ) at The Hague, Japan
says it would not object.
The other source of tension in East Asia is
the Takeshima (or Liancourt Rocks) islands
in the Sea of Japan. They are two pieces of
land of only 0.2 hectares. A Japanese map
from 1779 includes Takeshima islands. The
nized the islands as part of Japan. Tekeshi-
ma was not included as a part of Korea in
return for Japan renouncing its claims on
the Korean Peninsula. 
But in 1952 South Korea occupied
Takeshima forcefully and unilaterally drew
the Syngman Rhee Line. Japan protested
and the USA, the UK, and Taiwan also pro-
tested. When in 2012 South Korean presi-
dent, Lee Nyung-bak visited Tekeshima,
Japan protested and suggested they go to
ICJ. Seoul refused. This is because South
Korea has possession, so they don’t need
court.
Article 33 of the UN charter says disputes
should be resolved peacefully but South
Korea refuses this route. South Korea put its
soldiers on the islands. When Japanese peo-
ple tried to come there, the South Koreans
threatened to shoot them and even killed
one Japanese fisherman.
Since then Japanese the coastguard
patrols the area to stop Japanese fishing
boats from approaching the islands for fear
March. 15 - 21 2019 17
news analysis
South Korean soldiers would shoot at them.  If China controlled controls the South China
Japan has never accepted this South
Korean fait accompli. It continues to protest
against South Korean occupation. Japan’s
post war policy of peace means it cannot
use force to get them back.
Takeshima is of no value economically
but the dispute involves Japanese national
pride. The islands were part of Japan for
long. If current tensions force Japan to
rearm and rebuild her war-mongering tra-
ditions, how would it act?
The third threat comes from the South
China Sea. Most of Japan’s natural gas and
other raw materials come through the South
China Sea. If it were closed, Japan would be
cut off from most of her supplies – about 80
to 90%. So it has a big interest in the South
China Sea.  This means that Chinese missiles can hit
Disputed islands
Unfortunately, it is not clear who polices
the South China Sea which has hundreds
of islands and rocks. Before World War
Two, Japan owned these islands. But after
its defeat, it renounced its claims over them.
This left a vacuum with countries in the
region making conflicting claims over them.
Today, all of them are disputed between
Vietnam, Brunei, Philippines, Malaysia,
China and Taiwan.  China. But China has developed de facto
Japan believes if there is a dispute, the
status quo should be maintained as nations
seek resolution. However, as China has
grown powerful economically and militar-
ily, it has now militarised the islands.
Previously many of these islands were
uninhabited. China has since been reclaim-
ing them and building runaways, hangers
(shelters for planes), missile shelters, etc.
President Xi Jinping of China had told
Obama in September 2015 that China
would not militarise the islands. It has since
done so and America is not reacting.  is good for the world and for East Asia. So
If the South China Sea is dominated by
one country; China, it will establish that
nation’s strategic supremacy in the region.
18 March. 15 - 21 2019
Sea and wanted to get Taiwan by force,
it would be difficult for the Americans to
intervene effectively.  under Xi, seems to be inclined to the use
China used to have a policy of being soft
towards its neighbours as it grew its own
economic and military strength. Now that
it feels confident, it is beginning to flex its
muscle.
Beijing has now deployed military planes
on the islands. In 2018 there was a big leap
by deploying jamming systems for radio
waves, which would intimidate Ameri-
can civil and military planes. It has also
deployed missile systems and long-range
bombers (with capacity to carry nuclear
weapons) which have been landing and
taking off for training.  World War Two international order – its
every ship going through the south of the
South China Sea. And what has America
done to stop China? The USA has been
conducting what they call “freedom of
navigation” operations to demonstrate that
they care and will not accept the Chinese
illegal claim. They have been sending navy
ships to sail near the waters of these artificial
islands, but not doing more. This is to warn
control over these islands.
China has effectively changed the stra-
tegic balance in the South China Sea and
the other regional countries cannot do
anything. Indeed, Xi has told America that
the Pacific Ocean is big enough for USA
and China to share: the east side of Hawaii
would be American and the west side
would be Chinese. If America accepts such
an arrangement, it would place all East
Asian countries under Chinese tutelage.  arms race in the Pacific Ocean would have
Japan thinks the peaceful rise of China
if China accepts global leadership it would
reduce the burden many rich nations of
Europe, America, and Japan carry today.
But Japan is increasingly growing to see
China as a challenger rather than as a part-
ner. This partly because China; especially
force even if it means violating international
law. And this could be a recipe for war.
Under Obama, Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton believed in a bipolar world; with
China as America’s partner in managing the
international order – that is if China accepts
to grow peacefully. But China has changed
its attitude and that is why Trump has said
China is a competitor not a partner. So he
has begun a trade war with China; meaning
now USA and China are in strategic com-
petition. 
The Japanese believe in the existing post
rule of law, free trade etc. They have prof-
ited from it. China too accepts parts of this
system but not all of it. Increasingly China is
not trying to police the South China Sea but
rather to dominate it by imposing her ter-
ritorial sovereignty. It has sunk Vietnamese
ships, captured Philippines ships. China’s
patrol-ships are not really patrol ships but
big military vessels. 
The question for Japan is the attitude of
America over the medium to long-term.
America’s continued defence of her vital
interests in the pacific depends first and
foremost on defining them. For instance, if
you are an American strategist, you would
ask: is maintaining U.S. supremacy in the
Western Pacific a vital national interest,
especially given the emergence of China as
a global power? Is America willing to enter
war; even nuclear war with China in order
to stop Beijing from seizing islands in the
South and East China seas?
Talking to government officials, policy
wonks, intellectuals and academics in
Tokyo, it became clear to me that there is
a rethinking of strategy. If the situation
continues to worsen, Japan may decide to
rearm. It has enough enriched weapons-
grade plutonium to build nuclear weapons
– even in 30 days. But it has never done so
because it’s very unpopular in Japan. This
is because Japan is the only country ever to
suffer a nuclear attack. And if Japan built
nuclear weapons, would they have the
moral authority over North Korea’s nuclear
program? 
Secondly if Japan rearms or even acquires
nuclear weapons, what would be the atti-
tude of China and the USA? What would
be the effect of this on countries like North
Korea and South Korea, which have dis-
putes with Japan? This could change the
attitude of all the nations of that region
– Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, etc. An
potential to lead to the collapse of the exist-
ing global order and spark a world war. It
is clear that a war in the Pacific cannot be
localised. It would immediately spread into
a global conflagration.

By Heather Marquette, Caryn Peiffer & Rosita
Armytage
I
n September 2017 Uganda’s Minister
of Health, Dr Sarah Opendi, disguised
herself in a hijab and travelled by boda
boda (motorbike taxi) to Naguru Hospi-
tal in Kampala. The minister then asked for
routine laboratory tests. They should have
been given to her free of charge but instead
the health workers asked for a bribe.
A camera crew was on hand to film the
confrontation that followed. The police
were close behind to arrest the two health
workers. The drama captured national and
international headlines.
Our fieldwork, which looked for surpris-
ing “success stories” in bribery reduction
efforts in Kampala, began a day before this
“investigation” took place. The minister’s
involvement in the plot was exceptional but
we learned that publicised anti-corruption
raids in Uganda’s health sector are not
unusual. Rather, they are emblematic of a
high-profile strategy devised by the govern-
ment to crack down on bribery and other
sources of corruption in the sector.
Our research was done under the
umbrella of the “Islands of Integrity” project
which uses global data to identify sectors
within a country that have experienced a
significant – if surprising – reduction in
bribery relative to other sectors.
We found that in Uganda, contrary to
expectations given the sector’s history
of corruption, bribery for health services
reduced dramatically between 2011 and
2015.
This achievement has been widely
applauded. But our research also showed
that were serious downsides to the “nam-
ing and shaming” approach taken by the
administration. This includes a disgruntled
workforce and question marks over the
long term sustainability of the approach.
Corruption in Uganda
Almost half of all people who made
contact with the health sector in Uganda in
2010 paid a bribe. But by 2015 this rate was
just 25%. This is an almost unprecedented
reduction, especially in such a short time
frame. And runs counter to the trend in
other sectors where bribery remained at
high levels.
Our research shows that the main factor
was the introduction of the Health Monitor-
ing Unit which was launched in 2009.
The unit is a highly visible institution
with wide ranging powers to monitor and
evaluate the performance of health facilities,
investigate and arrest corrupt health work-
ers and audit Uganda’s health procurement
and supply system. It also works with the
courts to prosecute health-care related
crimes.
Its most high-profile work involves car-
rying out unannounced investigations in
health facilities, which are either randomly
selected or in response to specific com-
Bribery in health
sector 50% down
plaints. These complaints often include
bribery claims.
While the unit prides itself on getting the
job done observers have criticised its inves-
tigations for being “militaristic”, based on
a strategy of catching health workers “red
handed” and then “naming and shaming”
them in public.
It is true that unit arrests are often cov-
ered by the media. Its exploits usually
receive front page coverage. Nevertheless,
the fear of exposure has been a useful deter-
rent for potential bribe seekers.
Sustainability questions
We found that bribery patterns were
indeed disrupted because health workers
were afraid of being monitored, arrested
and punished. All the health care workers
we interviewed in Uganda’s Central, East-
ern and Western provinces knew about the
unit and its raids. All of them were of the
opinion that the raids were the reason brib-
ery in the health sector had decreased.
However, the case isn’t an uncomplicated
success story.
The first big question is over sustainabil-
ity. A disruptive strategy like this is expen-
sive, time consuming, resource intensive
and requires constant rebooting to keep
people on their toes. As far as we can tell,
there are no real plans for ongoing disrup-
tion or next steps.
The approach also doesn’t take into
account the real-life “benefits” of bribery
such as supplementing the meagre wages in
the health sector. Because of this, we found
some evidence in our interviews with front
line health staff that bribery patterns are
reemerging, a trend observed in research
done by others looking at the role of social
norms and “camouflaging” behaviour in
bribery.
Rather than halting completely, it looks
like the patterns may be changing. Bribery
news analysis
strategies are changing and could return in
full force when the pressure comes off.
Ultimately, and of the utmost impor-
tance, is the fact that the approach doesn’t
tackle corruption higher up the chain,
which is where the problem begins.
Unintended consequences
Our research also uncovered evidence
of some unintended consequences of the
unit’s name and shame approach. As early
as 2010, the unit’s work was said to be
“humiliating” health workers and nega-
tively affecting staff morale.
In December 2017, members of the Ugan-
da Medical Association went on an unprec-
edented nationwide strike which lasted
over a month and brought the already weak
health system to its knees. The health work-
ers cited the unit as one of the key causes of
the strike.
In keeping with the sentiments of the
strikers – and research done by others – our
findings suggest that the unit’s ultimate
impact on service delivery could be nega-
tive, with staff morale falling to an all-time
low. Fearful, demoralised staff are not likely
to provide the best care possible in the cir-
cumstances.
While Uganda’s health sector is a positive
outlier on bribery, the evidence suggests
the cost of controlling the vice might be too
high. And the consequences of the present
approach is likely to be become apparent in
years to come.
Heather Marquette is Professor in Development
Politics, University of Birmingham, Caryn
Peiffer is Lecturer in International Public
Policy and Governance, University of Bristol,
and Rosita Armytage is a Fellow, Department of
Anthropology, Durham University. Additional
research was carried out by Pius Gumisiriza.
Pius is a lecturer at the Uganda Management
Institute.
March. 15 - 21 2019 19
interview

Ireland offers trade

opportunities
William Carlos is Ireland’s new Ambassador to Uganda.
He talked to The Independent’s Ronald Musoke.

What have been some of your connecting with people. Ireland’s interest in trade with Uganda. The
impressions of Uganda since you mission has always been about helping situation is that it works both sides.

O
arrived in September last year?
fficially, it is my first time in
Uganda although I made a
private visit in March last year.
I came from Mozambique
where I had worked for four years as
ambassador. My daughter works here
and, since I was coming to the end of
my tour of duty, my wife thought we
should come over to Uganda and visit
our daughter. So we visited and saw
the beauty of Uganda. Uganda had
over the years been on my mind and
with the blessings of God; I got offered
the opportunity to come to Uganda
and serve as ambassador. Although
Uganda is a bit like Mozambique, the
multicultural aspect for me is great here.
There is an energy here that I don’t
see in many parts of Africa. There is
also a drive, an ambition and a desire
to achieve in this country. The other
element that has impressed me is the
calibre of Ugandan people that I meet;
whether I am in a taxi or on the street,
the depth of knowledge that people have
of what goes on down here is great.
Uganda and Ireland are celebrating 25
years of bilateral cooperation this year.
How would you describe the current
relations?
Right now, I would say the relations
are very good, as they have been over
the years. We might be talking about the
official engagement but I like to think
of our missionaries as our very first
engagement with Uganda. I talk to
people all over the country and
there is this connection with
our missionaries. The
missionaries brought
with them
the Irish
values of
and connecting with people. Many The Irish embassy here is about
Ugandans have been educated with Irish promoting Ireland and Irish business
help and a lot of Ugandans have been and the Ugandan High Commission in
delivered by Irish missionaries as well London which is accredited to Ireland is
and so that explains our history with about promoting Ugandan business in
Uganda. But also, our NGO tradition has Ireland and
been important in Uganda over the last
30-40 years.
What has been the focus of the
Uganda-Ireland relations?
The focus initially was in health
and education. But we also focused
on conflict. When we decided to
open embassies in Africa, we did so
around the same time and we chose
Uganda, Ethiopia and Mozambique.
Although Uganda was much
further ahead of Mozambique, all
these countries were emerging from
conflict. Learning from our own
history, we felt that the difficulties
and challenges of coming out of
conflict are quite broad.
Tell us about the trade relations
between the two countries.
There is a growing awareness in
Ireland about trade with Africa and
certainly a growing
awareness
and

20 March. 15 - 21 2019

the UK. You have a very active High
Commissioner in London who wants to
engage more and you also have a very
active Honorary Consul in Dublin (Mrs.
Sylvia Gavigan). I met her recently when
I was in Ireland and she talked about
lots of opportunities that are available to
enhance trade between the two countries.
There are certain businesses that are
already here and we hope to see more
develop over the next few years. The
potential around building links around
tourism, for instance, is huge.
Ireland and Uganda seem to have
emerged out of turbulent histories but
what exactly can Uganda learn from
Ireland when it comes to dealing with a
tumultuous past to one’s advantage?
We come from a country that was
devastated by a famine, the war of
independence, and a crisis that saw
close to 100,000 people emigrate out of
Ireland every year. It seemed like we had
challenges all the time until we got to a
situation where we recognised through
our education strategy that we could
attract foreign direct investment. The key
thing is that we had to look outwards
because as a small country, you have to
attract foreign investment. We are now
in a situation where Ireland today has
positioned itself as a welcome place for
talent from abroad in a wide range of
highly sought technological disciplines.
Ireland’s talent and education offering is
now recognized globally. The Institute
for Management Development ranks
Ireland first in the world for flexibility
and adaptability of workforce; third
in the world for a national culture that
is open to foreign ideas, third when it
comes to worker motivation, fifth in the
world for attitudes toward globalization,
fifth for attracting and retaining
talent, fifth in the world
for labour productivity
and seventh in
the world for
availability
of
finance skills. What that says is that we
are able to adapt and respond to the
world market by attracting people and
it does not matter how big or small you
are; our focus is the business and trade
that you bring into the country. We want
to attract foreign-owned businesses
and at the moment, there are over 1400
distributed all around the country. They
are there for a variety of reasons but they
say Ireland is one of the best places to
do business. So for us, improving the
business environment is something that
we can talk about with Uganda.
What particular challenges do Irish
investors face while doing business in
Uganda?
Uganda is making strides in
improving the business environment but
I think there are still issues around clarity
on corporate taxation policies. The issue
of the regulatory environment where
sometimes, it is like the government
agencies are not talking to each other
very well needs to be addressed. We
have had issues with Irish businesses
where the law is saying one thing but
the minister is saying one other thing
and the local government official is also
saying something else. The other issue
concerns ‘after-care’—that the companies
might be getting the help in setting
up but after they have set up, getting
support is a challenge. This is something
we are working with the Uganda
Investment Authority to improve.
Ireland has over the last eight years
supported Uganda build its social
protection system by funding the social
assistance grant for empowerment
(SAGE) scheme, specifically targeting
the country’s senior citizens. Why has
Ireland been keen on this programme?
It primarily goes back to our Irish
values. The Irish people expect to see that
the most vulnerable people; especially
the young and the elderly do not get left
behind. As I mentioned recently, this is
quite a unique programme in the way
it is developing and it is actually one of
the better models compared to those that
I have seen in Ethiopia, Mozambique
or Zambia. We have to build something
incrementally over time and to ensure
that those who get access to it continue
doing so over time. We feel it is
important because the elderly have
an awful lot to contribute to the
communities. They have been
at the centre of holding
families together.
interview
There is currently a clamour for the
scheme to be rolled out nationwide;
a development that could see over 1.5
million Ugandans aged 65 and above
enrolled. How feasible is this roll-out
considering that partners like Ireland
intend to end their support for the
programme next year?
In 2020, we are looking at a new
strategy but I do not see us discontinuing
this programme in 2020. The journey
has just begun and it takes time to
establish. We are very positive of what
the government has achieved and so we
should continue beyond 2020.
You are also the Irish ambassador to
Rwanda. What do you make of the
on-and-off squabbles between the two
neighbours?
First, I am waiting to present my
credentials to President Paul Kagame
but I know that Uganda and Rwanda
have a great sense of history. You are
brothers and sisters—it is the only way
to describe it. When I talk to people
here at the embassy; most of them say
they have Rwandan relations and when
you look at it in terms of the history of
connection that is extremely important. I
think sometimes there can be arguments
between neighbours but they should
get resolved. The key issue is sitting
around the table to talk through these
issues. One thing we discovered with
our Irish history is that when you do
have some discussions which may be
difficult; you end up getting stronger at
the end of it. For us our relationship with
our neighbours is important and I am
sure that is the same with Uganda and
Rwanda.
Going forward, what areas of interest
does Ireland intend to focus on over the
next 25 years?
Certainly, there will always be an
engagement in the health and education
sectors but, we will want much stronger
trade relations with Uganda. I think we
want increased cooperation between
both countries in terms of politics, trade
and business. We share a lot of values
and I would like to see Ireland and
Uganda engage internationally together.
Your last word?
It is the start of my work in Uganda
and I would like to reach out and get to
know Uganda in a much deeper way.
I would like to talk to academia, civil
society, talk with communities and get
to know what is important to Ugandans
and how Ireland can continue to
contribute in a relevant way.
March. 15 - 21 2019 21
interview

Fixing Uganda’s
mental healthcare
Haruna Nyanzi Bujirita is an Addictionologist and consultant in Child and Adolescents Mental
Health. He is also CEO of MetroHealth International that’s setting up the country’s first private
mental hospital in Ttula-Kawempe in Kampala. He spoke to The Independent’s Flavia Nassaka
about addiction and why mental health is still an ignored segment in Uganda’s healthcare.

Metro Health International (MHI) is new
in Uganda and joins a sub sector of mental
health which is somewhat an ignored seg-
ment when it comes to both allocation of
government resources and being attractive
to private health providers. What attracted
you and what services exactly are you of-
to adequately cope and handle the demand
and related needs.
The conditions constitute an unmatched
disease and disability burden amidst indica-
tions placing Uganda at high prevalence of
mental or substance abuse disorders, and
with a considerable percentage of those
ised approach involving the merger of gen-
eral psychiatry and substance abuse with
comprehensive primary care.
When is the hospital expected to fully start
operation?
We are expecting to complete all con-

I
fering? affected also suffering co-morbid physi-
n Uganda, challenges in psychiatric cal and chronic conditions. Evidence for
treatment are enormous, ranging from instance, suggests that majority of HIV/
limited human resource and capital, in- AIDS patients in every clinical setting suffer
frastructural and logistical limitations, to from co-occurring affective disorder such
treatment and quality of care, huge stigma as depression and anxiety. Similar statistics
and related barriers. The show that these mental health conditions
only specialized are more than twice likely to occur with
and publicly other chronic conditions such as diabetes.
available Metro Health offers an opportunity to
service is work alongside government and others to
Butabika support address these challenges through a
Hospital dedicated integrated service that combines
yet it’s Primary care, Mental Health and Addiction
unable treatment programs under one roof - offer-
ing a full continuum of well-coordinated
prevention, in-depth evaluations and
evidence based treatments for a broad
range of physical, psychiatric and addiction
disorders for all ages. Our approach,which
includes combining patient
care, research and
education within
the same setting,
is informed by
the abysmal
lack of coor-
dination
in patient
care, with
a central-
struction in 12 to 18 months. It’s a five sto-
rey complex and the whole project will cost
about $4.5million. We now require about
$2.5million to complete.The plan is to have
a state of the art fully fledged laboratory,
diagnostics and imaging center to compli-
ment primary care services.
We have about 30 psychiatrists to cater for
a population of 40 million and a few psy-
chiatric nurses and psychologists. Are you
coming in with your own staff?
Our model recognises the limited skilled
personnel and it’s the reason we have devel-
oped education and training as a key com-
ponent of our services.
We also have been involved in a range
of successful pilot projects in Middle East
and parts of Africa focused on addressing
challenges of limited skilled work force in
mental health through a task shifting psy-
chosocial intervention scheme involving
training lay health or community workers
in delivering screening, psycho-education
and brief behavioral interventions of com-
mon mental health disorders under super-
vision of a skilled clinician. This approach
which has proved effective has been widely
proposed as a strategy for expanding access
to mental health care.
Very little research has been done on
mental health in Uganda and many cases
are never treated at the psychiatric hospi-
tal. What strategy do you intend to use to
reach out to patients and make them or
their caregivers realise they are sick and
therefore need treatment considering the
fact that in some societies traditional be-
liefs are still very entrenched?
The issue of limited resources and fund-
ing impacts greatly on any sector and it
therefore comes as no surprise that some
of these challenges exist. While our MHI
model takes into account an outreach
strategy, your question points to a wider

22 March. 15 - 21 2019

theme involving the reciprocal relationship
between physical and mental health amidst
a wider healthcare systems that remains
highly fragmented with the delivery of
mental health services largely kept separate,
uncoordinated and often with no linkages
with the broader healthcare delivery system
where majority of physical ailments are
managed and treated.
This very fragmented approach to man-
aging ailments not only deprives patients of
better treatment outcomes but also places
additional burden and pressure on a system
that is already experiencing considerable
stresses in managing the complex intercept
between these conditions.The strategyrec-
ommended by WHO is integrating mental
health care into primary care and is the
most viable way of closing the treatment
gap and ensuring the people get the care
they need.
In regard to a society with entrenched
traditional beliefs associated with mental
illness – that calls for fight against stigma.
Stigma is a huge hurdle that is partly
responsible for driving mental illness, sub-
stance abuse and addiction underground
and preventing many from seeking neces-
sary treatment. Similarly sufferers require
considerable compassion if they are to over-
come their challenges. Stigma prevents any
sort of such engagement and therapeutic
environment since in many instances they
feel castigated.
You are an addictionologist and drug ad-
diction is on the rise in Uganda. Why is it
so?
A number of factors would be at play in
the rising prevalence of substance misuse
and addiction and these would include
poverty, inadequate coping strategies, fam-
ily dynamics, influence from peers and
idols who portray substance use as ‘cool’,
self-medication etc.
Drug addiction is a complex phenom-
enal. Contrary to many widespread percep-
tions, addiction is actually a very complex
psychological and physiologically process
that manifest in any behaviour where one
finds temporally relief and pleasure, craves
it and continues to engage in despite suf-
fering negative and sometimes harmful
consequences - and is unable to give up.We
usually see this in series of behaviours
including gambling, alcohol, sex, shopping,
internet, drugs and alcohol, food, pornogra-
phy, video games.
To date we know a lot more than previ-
ously as a result of improved research and
more interest in the subject but the concept
of addiction causes remains complex and
rather controversial to some extent. Some
experts consider addiction as a disease of
the brain while others disagree referring
it purely behavioural. Others argue that
addiction is rooted in childhood trauma.
Studies indicate a clear and distinct cor-
relation between child trauma and drug
and alcohol addiction. Like many mam-
mals, humans are born into a world where
they expect to be nurtured, loved and
supported, understood, seen and heard.
In psychology we refer to this concept as
‘attachment’. Once this is disrupted, chil-
dren tend to develop a deficient sense of
themselves resulting in a host of problem-
atic behaviours in response with substance
misuse, addiction, mental illness amongst
them. Furthermore the traumatic incidents
experienced during childhood very easily
can, and often do, wind up following them
into maturity creating a variety of long
term health issues that may cause them to
self-medicate through excessive drinking or
drug abuse.
All these positions are persuasive but one
common denominator that is uncontested
for us clinicians is that it is a ritualised com-
pulsive comfort seeking set of behaviour
that one engages in to address emotional
pain.While addiction can develop as a result
of continued recreational or habitual prac-
tices, it is often a form of pain relief- a dis-
traction from distress- a means to achieve a
sense of power and control, companionship.
Some experts consider
addiction as a disease
of the brain while others
disagree referring it
purely behavioural
One can rightly argue that addiction is sim-
ply a coping strategy adopted in absence of
better or healthier alternatives. Addiction
therefore is not the primary problem. It’s
often an attempt by an individual to solve
the problem. Most addictions are usually
attempts to regulate our internal emotional
distress.
What in your view is the best treatment for
addiction?
There’s no such thing as best treatment
or rather a one size fits all approach. It all
depends on a number of factors and vari-
ables but experience tells us that addressing
the core aspects of distress, trauma putting
in consideration issues such as financial,
social and physical wellbeing will likely
improve outcome of the treatment chosen.
Issues of violation of human rights have
previously come up as regards controver-
sial treatments for mental complications
and Butabika has previously been taken to
court over isolation of patients. Others are
against electro-convulsive treatment(ECT).
interview
What are your views about this kind of
treatment?
There’s no doubt issues of human rights
have to be addressed and there are positive
signs that recommendations from reviews
are being implemented. I am however not
well versed with the details of the court case
but on a broader perspective, seclusion of
patients demonstrating high risk to them-
selves or others is an acceptable practice in
risk management. As for ECT, it is safe and
effective, if well managed and administered
for treatment of treatment resistant depres-
sion, schizophrenia, manic depression of
course taking into account potential side
effects.
Uganda still uses legal frameworks that
were drafted more than 30 years ago to
administer mental health but parliament
is now reviewing a new mental health bill.
As a stakeholder in this sector, what key
issues would you want this piece of legis-
lation to address?
It is an encouraging development and
the review has long been overdue. I am
passionate about issues relating to Human
Rights and protection of the vulnerable
groups. I am also a keen advocate for com-
munity based treatment as well as integra-
tion of psychiatric services within our pri-
mary care structures.
Finally what would you recommend to
government as most urgent if they are to
fix the mental health sub sector as figures
show about 30% of Ugandans suffer from
a mental health issue?
Government needs to prioritise mental
health as much as it does for physical con-
ditions; especially since the interface and
reciprocal relationship between the two is
often underestimated despite overwhelm-
ing evidence linking them.The highly frag-
mented healthcare system where mental
health challenges are treated and addressed
separately from physical needs greatly
undermines the complex functioning
human body system and how it interacts
with each other. Integrating mental health
care within existing primary care therefore
would be another viable option in helping
closing the treatment gap.
Any final remarks?
It’s to parents. They should teach young
ones about the risks and threats associated
with substance misuse and addiction. Be
honest about the short term pleasures that
potentially can result in distractive behav-
iours. Scaring them off may not achieve
desired deterrence. Do your best to prevent
young people from brutal and terrible
experiences both at home and at school.
Incidents such as bullying, physical, sexual
and emotional abuse may later in life trigger
addiction. Monitor your child’s social net-
works and peers.
March. 15 - 21 2019 23
BUBU initiative gathers
steam amid criticism
A
By Isaac Khisa
melia Kyam-
badde, the Min-
ister for Trade,
Industry and
Cooperatives,
has made no
secret of her ‘Buy Uganda Build
Uganda’ initiative.
She took another step on
March 07 to promote the coun-
try’s manufactured products
with the launch of a three-day
first expo and online portal
at the Kololo Independence
Grounds targeting locally
manufactured products amidst
criticism.
The country’s manufactur-
ing sector contributes between
7-10% to the Gross Domestic
Product and 40% of the private
sector jobs yet has been grow-
ing at an average of 10% for the
last three decades.
The campaign of BUBU fol-
lows the coming into force of
the policy in 2017 that instructs
government agencies to
maximise local procurement of
various products and services
including cement, steel, and
furniture among others.
Kyambadde, who was
accompanied by President
Yoweri Museveni, Finance
24 March. 15 - 21 2019
Minister, Matia Kasaija and
manufacturers during the expo
launch, said BUBU is a land-
mark policy whose successful
implementation will contribute
to the growth of local industries
and related opportunities.
“Local companies have sup-
plied local products worth Shs-
141bn to Petroleum Authority
of Uganda while Uganda pris-
ons, Uganda People’s Defence
Forces, Police and medical per-
sonnel procure uniforms from
Nytil,” she said.
For that, Kyambadde
revealed that local procurement
of various products has seen the
country’s trade deficit reduce
from US$3,261bn in 2015 to
US$2,694bn in 2017 while
trade balance between Uganda
and the East African region
increased from US$181million
in 2016 to US$266million in
2017.
“Our trade balance with our
major East African partner,
Kenya, registered improve-
ment from trade deficit of
US$54million in 2016 to
US$94million in 2017,” she said.
Kyambadde lashed at the
BUBU critics saying the initia-
tive does not apply to only
Uganda. She said many other
countries within and outside
the region have been imple-
menting similar arrangements.
“We have Proud South Afri-
can Campaign, Made in Austra-
lia Campaign, Buy Kenya Build
Kenya, Buy Africa Build Africa,
Proudly British Campaign, and
most recently, Buy America
Hire America,” she said.
However, Kyambadde, said
there remains a number of
challenges including mindset
change towards local goods and
services, gaps in legal frame-
works and access to credit.
Barbra Mulwana, the chair-
person of Uganda Manufactur-
ers’ Association said that BUBU
has started to bear fruits to the
local manufacturing firms.
“Since operationalisation of
BUBU, private sector players
have been able to supply to
the public sector with various
products including cement,
steel, and cable. This has led
to improvement in capacity
utilisation from 53% to 60%,”
she said.
Mulwana, however decried
of delayed payments, a situa-
tion she says limits their cash
flows and growth of com-
panies. Mulwana’s speech
prompted Kasaija [Finance
Minister] to announce that the
government has prioritised the
payment of all arrears due to
local suppliers in the current
and new budgets.
“We are going to allocate
money in the budget to pay off
all the local suppliers because
we know by delaying the mon-
ey it is affecting your cash flow
and that is not good,” he said.
This comes as the Bank of
Uganda has in the previous
fora consistently stated that
most countries have developed
rapidly, achieved sustained and
rapid growth and the structural
transformation of their econo-
mies through outward-looking
policies other than the inward-
looking policies.
“It is participation in export
markets which provides the
main stimulus for productiv-
ity gains and technological
upgrading in developing coun-
tries,” BoU Governor Emman-
uel Tumusiime Mutebile said in
one of the events organised by
the trade ministry.
“The Buy Uganda, Build
Uganda campaign and the
export promotion strategy are
not mutually compatible. We
can choose one or the other, and
not both.”
He said Uganda should
adopt an export promotion
strategy to give exporters incen-
tives to maximise their produc-
tion.
President Museveni said
the government will continue
to support the BUBU concept,
having dealt with the issue of
security and electricity.
“We are working on the rail-
way to lower the cost of trans-
port. We are also working on
lowering the cost of money. We
still have gaps but at least we
are not sitting back as before,”
he said.
“I have seen some people
making shoes though the
leather is imported. I have seen
people making pharmaceuti-
cal products, although they are
using imported sugars. I have
seen others making furniture –
and these ones are doing well
because they are using trees
grown locally– and wines from
bananas. I thank you because
we are waking up.”

Online clearance
of cargo pays off
Coffee companies reap from URA’s
Electronic Single Window System
By Julius Businge
C
offee exporters are now realising
the benefits of the Electronic Single
Window system that was unveiled
across the region four years ago.
The Electronic Single Window is a com-
puter aided system that enables companies
to clear goods at customs online without
necessarily moving around to do manual
paperwork clearance.
Joseph Nkandu, the Executive Director at
the National Union of Coffee Agribusiness
and Farm Enterprises said prior to inclusion
of coffee on the system in July 2018, NUCA-
FE was spending Shs350, 000 on moving
around government agencies like Uganda
Revenue Authority (URA) and Uganda Cof-
fee Development Authority (UCDA) to clear
their coffee for export.
That cost has since reduced to Shs100, 000
with the implementation of single window,
he said.
“If digitization is handled very well it is
the way to go,” he said at the Single Win-
dow Evaluation Workshop held at Uganda
Manufacturers Association on March 06.
Nkandu said the system has also led to
reduced time spent on processing docu-
ments for exports from 14 to two days.
It has also improved farmers’ turnover
at export level with reduced payback time
from 45 to 10 days after export for farmers’
final payment.
It has also increased farmers’ value addi-
tion and direct marketing in addition to
enhanced use of the farmer ownership
model and increase in NUCAFE member-
ship by 25%
The system has increased women and
youth entrepreneurial leadership in mar-
keting by 65%. It has also increased farmer
incomes from 250% in 2017 to 900% today.
Another coffee exporting company,
UGACOF Limited, a subsidiary of Sucafina
SA has also registered improvements in the
trade. The company’s Documentation Offi-
cer, Douglas Nuwamanya said that the sys-
tem has made export process more efficient.
It has also led to faster preparation of cus-
tom documents and cargo dispatch delays
have grossly reduced to hours hence more
timely shipments of cargo.
He added that the system has also
reduced logistics costs including transport
penalties from movement delays, demur-
rage and administrative costs.
“Under this system we can even track our
coffee until it reaches the final destination,”
Nuwamanya said.
UCDA’s Managing Director, Emmanuel
Iyamulemye, said the system has aided the
authority to capture more data on exports
and promote transparency in the coffee
business.
For instance, he said coffee exports data
captured have increased from 3.3million
bags (60 kgs) recorded in the financial year
2015/16 to 4.6million bags today.
He said projections are that by the end of
business
FY2018/2019, coffee exports will have hit 5.1
million bags.
He said UCDA has recorded savings of
Shs40 million as a result of reduced paper-
work under the single window system.
Going forward, he said they are looking
at encouraging dealers to do value addition
(roasting) to support the growing demand
for coffee, creation of jobs and economic
growth.
Frank Matsaert, the chief executive offi-
cer of the funding agency Trademark East
Africa (TMEA) told The Independent on the
sidelines of the event that there are now 16
agencies connected to the system since 2015.
“Single window has been impressive,”
he said. He added that increasing coffee
exports aided by the system is important for
making Uganda more competitive on the
international market.
“I think it is really quite a powerful
instrument for increasing trade,” he said,
“We are very glad that we are part of it as
TMEA.”
Matsaert said they plan to increase the
number of agencies on the system to 30 to
mainly facilitate export activities.
TMEA has since 2015 invested
US$8million and, another US$4 million will
be invested in the second final phase of the
system to be implemented by 2021.
Stephen Magera, the assistant commis-
sioner in charge of trade at Uganda Rev-
enue Authority, said the system is critical as
it works together with other systems under
URA and the East African Community Rev-
enue Authorities.
He, for instance, said when URA triggers
the decision in Uganda, it is automatically
seen by the other revenue authorities in the
region who make prompt responses, hence
facilitating trade activities.
Magera said the system is helping cof-
fee dealers to improve business efficiency.
He added that it is also making it easier for
URA to go about tax matters.
Uganda hopes to export at least 20 mil-
lion bags (60kg) of coffee by 2025 up from
the current 4.6million bags.
March. 15 - 21 2019 25
Executive
business
Style

‘Manufacturers should
lead drive for conservation’
Juliet Kyokunda is the Executive Director of the Uganda Biodiversity Fund. She talked to The Independent’s
Ronald Musoke on why, among other issues, Ugandan manufacturers should join the conservation cause.
doing offsets. We know that every industry therefore, essential for the conservation of
What prompted the creation of the Uganda or factory in this country does some kind of biodiversity in this country.

T
Biodiversity Fund?
he Uganda Biodiversity Fund was
established in 2016 following a
meeting held in May the same year.
Uganda is one country that has a
lot of biodiversity and many stakeholders
agreed that there is need for special focus
on biodiversity conservation. We have a
number of forces that are coming up and
threatening this biodiversity. There is agri-
culture; influx of refugees, mining and oil
and gas while poaching also remains a big
challenge. At the moment, we are losing a
lot of forest and swamps because there is a
conflict between national development and
conservation. The nation has to develop; we
want industries; we want to produce goods
and services so that we reduce dependence
on other countries but, all this is happening
at a cost. We are lucky to have all this di-
versity in animals and plants but what will
happen in future? So, we are saying that we
may not be able to conserve everything in
the place where it used to be but, we have
to, at least, work on a zero-net loss. If you
cut down trees here, where else have you
planted more so that we don’t lose out com-
pletely. So, among the things we are man-
dated to do, is to look at all the biodiversity
in this country, including human beings
because we can’t only focus on plants and
animals while people are dying of hunger
and poverty. So, the Uganda Biodiversity
Fund, in addition to soliciting for funds,
keeping them and ensuring that they are
distributed through grants to different part-
ners for biodiversity conservation, we also
look at how the people are surviving in
those communities.
harm to the environment. So we are plan-
ning to bring together the industrialists and Explain more how endowment funds
businesses in this country to impress upon would help conservation work?
them the fact that if their businesses are go- Endowment funds would help us work
ing to remain viable, they need to embrace in every part of this country depending on
environmental conservation. We want to the urgency and need. If we, for example,
tell them that the people they employ and know that Mount
sell their goods to rely on the environment Elgon is a time
for survival. So,if you deal with chemicals bomb, we
and these end up in the water that people
drink, tomorrow the businesses will directly
be hurt even if your current concern is
money. We, therefore, want to bring the
manufacturers in the country on board so
they contribute to a conservation endow-
ment fund which looks at today and the
future. We are targeting manufacturers and
other donors to contribute towards that
basket. What this means is that there will
be continuity in our efforts to conserve the
environment. Conservationists in Uganda at
the moment rely on donors who genuinely
give but the challenge is that conservation-
ists are not assured of more tomorrow. So
sometimes they cannot implement proj-
ects beyond completion because
of limited funds. The
endowment
funds are,

How exactly does this model

work?
Our job is to look for
money for conservation
and we do so in two
ways. First, through
sinking funds; where
we get money for a
specific cause; sub-
grant it to do imme-
diate implementation
of projects for which
we have solicited the
money. But we are
also planning on

26 March. 15 - 21 2019
 Executive Style
should be able to look at Elgon in totality;
not piecemeal. For now, we have different
organizations doing commendable work
within the Elgon region but each of these
is more or less doing its work. But if, as a
country we have an endowment fund, we
should be able to sit down as stakehold-
ers and say let’s tackle Elgon in the next
three years. These are the activities in the
first year, these will be done in the second
year and we need to do three years. By the
end of the third year, we should not have
any problems with Elgon because we have
tackled the challenge consistently and in
totality. Those are some of the advantages
of working with endowment funds.You
can work anywhere but you are also able to
phase your projects and make sure you fol-
low them through up to completion. I will
give you an example of Mozambique. They
have about US$70 million in endowment
funds and so they are able to look at their
key biodiversity areas and see where there
is urgency. For now, they are restocking
their game reserve within Maputo. They are
consistently working on it; fencing it, restor-
ing and making it better. They want to bring
it up to standard and ultimately turn it into
a national park. They are able to do all that
because they know they have endowment
funds that generate income every other
year.
How do you intend to interest Ugandan
businesses and industrialists to support
biodiversity conservation?
They need to know that they have to be
responsible in their way of doing busi-
ness. Some of them are doing lots of things
behind the door, hoping and praying that
no one finds them. That is an irresponsible
way of doing business. But, we also think
that you cannot judge people until you have
talked to them; maybe they are ignorant
about their businesses’ impact on the
environment. So we shall reach out to them,
speak to them and tell them about what
they can do and then see if they are able to
change.
Many manufacturers have their own cor-
porate social responsibility projects going
on and may not understand why they
have to pay more to offset the impact of
their activities. How will you ensure
they buy into this initiative?
The way we are planning to work
with offsets is by measuring the
(negative) impact that businesses are
causing on the environment. For
instance, can those businesses that
are going to extract the oil actu-
ally pay for the damage they
are going to cause? That money
may not exactly be invested in
the area where they are working
but, if say, there are trees that are
going to be destroyed there, can
we use these funds the organiza-
tions have brought in to plant
trees so that we don’t lose the trees com-
pletely. These are the kind of offsets we are
talking about. For instance, if after doing an
environmental impact assessment (EIA), it
is found that there is a lot of pollution that is
being emitted by the factories, then we cost
that so we offset the pollution. We know
there are businesses doing some work with
their CSR projects but that is their own
initiative. Offsets will be required by law
to be done. It is going to be something that
the government will have to implement.
Without doing so, we don’t have a future.
The good thing is that the businesses will
have to choose where to put their money for
the offsets although it will be equivalent to
the assessment that has been done.
In February, this year, you gave out over
a billion shillings (US$300,000) worth
of grants to local conservation organiza-
tions—all based in the Albertine region.
Was this deliberate?
Yes, because when you are using grants,
some grants are restricted to specific geo-
graphical areas or specific types of biodiver-
sity to be conserved. Some donors will give
you money for chimpanzees; others will
give you money for lions or rhinos and you
We hope that the
executive arm of this
country will think about
the future generation;
not in terms of how rich
they are but how they
can survive with the little
they have
have to make sure that when you are giving
out money, it is within those lines. So, it was
specific to the Albertine region. We are do-
ing pre-emptive measures to make sure that
by the time oil production starts, we don’t
lose so much biodiversity. So we are, for
example, looking at protecting the biodiver-
sity of Budongo and Bugoma forests and
Murchison Falls. But not all the projects we
gave grants were within the Albertine re-
gion. We have, for instance, funded a project
in Kamwenge District but not for Kam-
wenge’s sake. This project is looking at go-
ing to different areas around the Albertine
and pulling out different species of original
plants and keeping them in Kamwenge
such that in case they are destroyed at one
point, we will be able to pick seeds from this
“gene bank” to replant in future.
What other priority projects are you look-
ing at funding in future?
We have key biodiversity areas that we
have identified in this country. These in-
clude the Kidepo Valley Conservation Area,
areas around Mount Elgon, Mount Rwen-
zori and, areas around the Albertine region,
including several biodiversity hotspots
like Budongo and Bugoma forests, and the
Murchison Falls Conservation Area. We are
looking at different areas where there are
so many plants, birds, and animals. That is
not to say that the projects we fund cannot
be outside the key biodiversity areas; they
can be but largely, we are focusing on those
mapped out areas because this is where it is
urgent for us to do so. We are also looking
at building the capacity of those people
neighbouring the biodiversity hotspots.
We are focusing on people considering that
the human-wildlife conflict is increasing
and we have to ensure that people live in
harmony with the animals.
It seems the world view of conservation-
ists and investors in this country will
never converge. What explains the differ-
ence in perspective of how best to develop
this country?
One of the key challenges that we find
is the conflict between development, the
investors and biodiversity conservation. But
I think this country has now realized that
we need to create a balance between invest-
ment and conservation. In the new NEMA
Act, they are talking about offsets and they
are now working on guidelines of how
these offsets will work. So every business or
investor setting up a factory or industry will
be required to do an EIA where the kind
of offsets needed will be determined.We
are hoping that the government will stand
with us because if you look at the swamps
that have gone, they have given them out
in the name of investors and they have
disappeared. That’s why Kampala floods
and stinks. We are hoping that the executive
arm of this country will also think about
the future generation; not in terms of how
rich they are but how they can survive with
the little they have because it is one thing to
have money and it is another thing to have
cancer and yet, not even your money can
save you. Our message is that we can be a
developed country while also focusing on
environmental conservation.
Finally, does Uganda need to rethink its
development strategy?
Yes, and I have big expectations and
trust in Ugandans— that if we put our
minds together and look at this country
in totality— we can do better. We are
still able to take Uganda to the pre-1980s
when we used to have big hectares of
forest cover. We can still develop as long
as we are able to communicate among the
different arms of government.We should
communicate with one voice and we can
do so by looking at Uganda in totality and
know what is good and what is not good
for us. We can then map out the pathways
for development so we use some and
keep the rest for our children.
March. 15 - 21 2019 27
Business
BANKING BEVERAGES

Stanbic’s 2019 national schools championship Coca-Cola unveils

S
new campaign

tanbic bank has
launched the
4th edition of its
National Schools
Championship under the
theme ‘empowering the
job creators of tomorrow.”
The annual competition,
according to officials, seeks
to equip secondary school
students with business and
enterprise skills in a bid to
nurture entrepreneurship,
creativity and long term
business thinking. The
Bank’s Chairman, Japheth
Katto said the champion-
ship would respond to the
need for reducing youth un-
employment which is a seri-
ous problem in Uganda and
beyond. “It is imperative
that we ensure this young
population is participating
productively for the good
of our country’s economy,”
Katto said. Available data
indicates that youth unem-
ployment rate in Uganda
rose from 2.7% in 2013 to
2.9% in 2017. This year, the
bank’s target is to reach
72 schools from across the
country’s four regions com-
pared to last year’s 60.
S
ix lucky Ugandans are set to win an
all-expense paid trip to Greece – the
grand prize in a brand new ‘Under
the Crown promotion’ named Coca-
Cola Coke Studio Promotion. The promotion,
unveiled on March 06 in Namanve, will also
see thousands of consumers win exciting
prizes such as 32-inch Hisense television sets,
Multichoice dish and decoders, Coke Studio
branded items, sodas and airtime. To partici-
pate one has to simply purchase a Coca-Cola,
Fanta, Sprite, Novida or Stoney 500ml plastic
bottle and check under the yellow crown. On
checking under the crown, consumers will ei-
ther find the name of their favorite Coke Stu-
dio Artistes and the image of their prizes to
be won or a code. Margaret Kigozi, the Coca-
Cola regional marketing manager expressed
her excitement. “As you know, Coke Studio
is about giving our artists and viewers an
unforgettable experience through music. We
are happy to also give our consumers a spe-
cial experience trip to see the world.”

BANKING
CSR

Airtel launches 2019 dfcu launches asset financing promo

D
fcu bank has partnered with MAC US$60,000 but for a period of three months,
Kabaka run East Africa Limited and Insurance with dfcu’s asset financing campaign, cus-

A
irtel Uganda in partnership with
the Buganda Kingdom launched
the 2019 edition of the annual Airtel
Kabaka run at the Buganda King-
dom offices in Bulange Mengo on March
06. This year’s run will be held on April 7,
2019 and the tickets are on sale at Shs10,
000. Airtel’s Uganda MD V.G. Somasekhar
called on Ugandans to always join in the
noble cause to alleviate the sickle cell disease
Company of East Africa to launch
an asset financing campaign that
will see customers purchase the latest Isuzu
mu-X 2018 at a special offer price. Officials
said on March 05 in Kampala that the cur-
rent market price for the luxury SUV is
BANKING
NC Bank partners with JCB
tomers will own it at a 5% discounted rate.
Ronald Ssonko, dfcu’s asset finance man-
ager said that one can pay US$999 monthly
along with comprehensive insurance and
motor service for 12 months from ICEA.

N
through participating in the run. “In line
with our three-year theme, we intend to C Bank and
continue driving awareness about the sickle Ganatra Plan &
cell disease,” Somasekhar said, “Last year Equipment, the
we donated over 140,000 sickle cell testing sole distributor
kits to Uganda National Health Laboratory of the JCB brand Uganda
Services procured from the proceeds of this and Kenya, have signed
prestigious run.” a partnership agreement
that will see JCB customers
receive financing for equip-
ment with 5% subsidy on
the customer’s contribution
per equipment. The total Ntulume (M) addressing journalists on March 05
subsidy, according to com-
pany officials is to be used Director, Sam Ntulume position as the home of as-
as a deposit enhancement said the partnership will set finance,” he said. JCB
for the minimum contribu- strengthen the bank’s busi- General Manager, Ashiana
tion or in addition to the ness and empower players Jivraj said the partnership
customers’ contribution. within the construction in- will go a long way in ensur-
Somasekhar (M) and Mayiga (R) officially Speaking at the partnership dustry to grow and expand ing that the customer gets
launching the Kabaka run 2019. event held in Kampala on their businesses. “The deal quality construction ma-
March 05, NC’s Managing will reinforce NC Bank’s chinery from JCB.

28 March. 15 - 21 2019
 Business

High costs slows private

sector activity
By Isaac Khisa which has in turn boosted
private sector credit growth.

U
ganda’s private Oil related investments later
sector activity grew on in the year, will only add
at a slower pace to this stronger growth,” he
said.
in February, hit
The February PMI report
by increasing operational
also shows a stronger client
costs, with a further rise in
demand and the securing of
purchase prices and staff
additional customers resulted
costs, a new survey shows.
in a further rise in new orders
The Markit Stanbic
during February especially
Bank Uganda Purchasing
in construction, industry,
Manager’s Index (PMI) for
services wholesale and retail
Harrison Mutikanga, the CEO Uganda Electricity Generation manufacturing and services
sectors.
Company (R) hands over a sponsorship package to Denis Jjuuko, the fell to 54.4 in February,
Benoni Okwenje, the
president of Rotary Club of Kampala Naalya. This was to support down from 57.5 in January.
Stanbic Fixed Income
Women in Rotary 2019.  Courtesy Photo. A reading above 50 denotes
Manager said although new
growth.
orders continued to increase,
This comes at the time
companies were again able
the private sector credit is
to deplete backlogs of work,
steadily recovering from
aided by rising staffing levels.
shocks due to improved
“Employment has
economic activity,
increased throughout the 33
improvement in asset quality
months of the survey so far,
and associated easing of
with the latest expansion
credit conditions.
linked to higher output
However, Jibran Qureishi,
requirements. As was the case
the regional economist E.A at
with business activity, only
Stanbic Bank said the overall
agriculture saw a reduction in
activity in the private sector
staffing levels,” he said.
remains robust.
The survey that was started
“Improving domestic
in 2016 covers agriculture,
demand hasn’t been a
industry, construction,
coincidence considering
wholesale & retail and
that banking sector non-
services sectors.
dfcu Bank CEO, Mathias Katamba (R) handing over a dummy cheque performing loans have eased
to Emmanuel Katongole (C), the chairperson of Rotary Blood Bank
Program. This is in support of the Rotary Blood Bank.   Courtesy Photo

Weekly share price movement (March. 05)

Security March 05 Feb.15 Movement
BATU 30,000 30000 00
BOBU 134 134 00
CENT 1,190 1,242 4.2
QCL 292 200 46
DFCU 670 690 00
EABL 7,181 8,154 11.9
EBL 1,515 1,568 3.3
JHL 15,585 16,090 3.1
KA 224 328 31.7
KCB 1,541 1,607 4.1
NIC 14 14 00
Centenary Bank team donates mama kits and other relevant items to NMG 2,221 2,526 12.0
Kawempe Hospital to enable a number of expectant and nursing women NVL 336 336 00
to meet their delivery and after delivery supplies. This was part of the SBU 29 28 3.5
lender's Corporate Social Responsibility as it joined the rest of the world UCHM 22 27 18.5
to mark the International Women’s Day on March 08.   Courtesy Photo. UCL 17 18 5.5
UMEME 292 300 2.6
ALSI -- -- --

March. 15 - 21 2019 29

R
By Agencies
esearchers say they may
have unlocked the mystery
of resistant prostate cancer.
They hope it’ll lead to better
treatments.
It’s the second most
diagnosed cancer in men, just behind skin
cancer.
It’s typically slow growing and there
are life-saving treatments available.
But, sometimes the cure can make
prostate cancer more deadly.
A new study released recently from
Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical
Discovery Institute in La Jolla, California,
details how prostate cancer can be
transformed into an aggressive and
incurable disease — by the treatment
that’s supposed to save lives.
Hormones called androgens stimulate
prostate cancer cells to grow. Newly
developed anti-androgen therapies for
prostate cancer are a major advance in the
fight against this disease.
Testosterone and dihydrotestosterone
(DHT) are the main androgens in men.
Lowering androgen levels or stopping
them from getting into prostate cancer
cells can make those cells shrink or grow
more slowly.
However, men who receive these new
treatments are also more likely to develop
a deadly, treatment-resistant cancer called
neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC).
There are no effective treatments for this
type of cancer.
30 March. 15 - 21 2019
Prostate cancer:
How it becomes
resistant to
treatment
In their study, researchers analysed
tissue samples from men with NEPC as
well as prostate cancer cell lines and a
mouse model of NEPC created by the
researchers.
They said they discovered a molecular
“switch” that triggers this cancer to
become treatment-resistant after anti-
androgen treatment.
Creating resistant cancers
NEPC previously accounted for only
2 to 5 percent of all diagnosed prostate
cancer cases, according to Dr. Maria
Diaz-Meco, a professor in the Cancer
Metabolism and Signaling Networks
Program at Sanford Burnham Prebys
Medical Discovery Institute and lead
author of the study.
That’s no longer the case. It’s now
approaching 30 percent.
“Things have changed a lot due to the
new generation of androgen inhibitors,
which are much more potent than earlier
ones,” Diaz-Meco noted.
The androgen treatments have
increased survival against tough-to-treat
prostate cancer as well as those where
tumors have spread.
“But these treatments can also cause
cancers to become resistant, like bacteria
develop antibiotic resistance,” Diaz-
Meco said. “The incidence of these
neuroendocrine tumors after targeted
treatment is now much higher.”
NEPC is undetectable by PSA test
The PSA test is a blood test used to
screen for prostate cancer. PSA is a
protein produced by both cancerous and
noncancerous tissue in the prostate.
The test can detect high levels of PSA
that may indicate prostate cancer, but the
treatment-resistant cancers can sometimes
avoid detection.
“The problem with these new, resistant
cancer cells is that they’re androgen
indifferent, or androgen independent,
which is why the treatments stop working
and why they don’t increase PSA levels,”
said Diaz-Meco.
Undetected, the cancer will eventually
move to other places, usually the liver,
lungs, and bone.
Surprising discovery
While there is no cure for NEPC, Diaz-
Meco’s research may eventually lead to
new treatment options.
She emphasised that her focus is now
on finding a way to “reawaken in some
way the androgen receptor pathway” to
make NEPC tumors more detectable and
treatable.
“Our initial observation working with a
kinase (an enzyme needed for certain cell
processes) called atypical protein kinase
C was surprising,” she said. “The tumors
were completely lacking the presence of
this protein; typically tumors show high
amounts of this kinase.”
She thinks this discovery may lead
to a new treatment, one that can make
this cancer vulnerable to anti-androgen
therapy again.

Early detection is best defense
“In general, for prostate cancer,
there are two big risk factors,”
said Dr. Sven Wenske, urologist
and assistant professor of urology
at Columbia University Irving
Medical Center in New York. “One
is ethnicity. For example, African-
American men have a significantly
higher risk of developing prostate
cancer than white men. The other
one is a family history of prostate
cancer, particularly in a father or
paternal uncle, paternal grandfather,
or brothers, especially when the
disease in those relatives occurred at
a younger age.”
“However, there is nothing a man
can do to prevent prostate cancer,”
Wenske told Healthline. “Early
detection is key. And, while there
is a lot of controversy about using
PSA as a prostate cancer screening
marker, patients, especially those
at higher risk, should certainly seek
out a urologist who will perform
an ‘intelligent’ prostate cancer
screening.”
Intelligent screening involves
testing for biomarkers, besides
PSA, which can improve screening
accuracy.
Wenske said this is because “PSA
can be influenced by many factors,
so instead of looking at PSA as a
set number, but rather indicates the
risk of cancer over a continuum. For
example, some men with a PSA level
below 4 ng/ml could be abnormal,
but in other patients a PSA greater
than 4 ng/ml could be acceptable.”
He explained that additional
tests can be helpful in deciding
who should undergo a prostate
MRI followed by a prostate biopsy
to understand which patient has
significant prostate cancer that
requires treatment.
“If localised prostate cancer is
detected and treated early, the
success with that is very good,”
Wenske said.
The bottom line
Prostate cancer, when caught
early, can be cured. Powerful new
treatments called anti-androgen
therapy will stop tumor growth and
even shrink them.
But, this same therapy can create
treatment-resistant prostate cancer
that will spread.
New research has found how this
cancer becomes resistant. It may
point the way to new anti-androgen
treatments that make the disease
treatable again.
A cure for HIV?
Feasible but not yet realised
By Allison Webel
Assistant Professor of Nursing, Case
Western Reserve University
A
team of scientists and physicians
from the UK recently published
news of a second HIV positive
man, in London, who is in long-
term (18-month) HIV remission after under-
going treatment for Hodgkins lymphoma.
The unexpected success has launched a new
round of discussion about a potential cure
for HIV.
Since 2008, scientists have been trying to
replicate the treatment that cured the “Ber-
lin patient” of HIV. At the time, many in the
field of HIV research were excited to learn
that this man, who tested positive for the
human immunodeficiency virus in Berlin
and had recently undergone treatment for
acute myeloid leukemia, appeared to have
been cured of his HIV. Until now, success in
replicating that cure has been limited.
What is HIV?
HIV is the virus that causes AIDS. Since
the virus was first discovered in the 1980s,
more than 75 million people worldwide
have been infected with HIV. Today, almost
37 million people live with HIV. Of these,
about 1.1 million live in the U.S.
Infection with HIV almost always led
to AIDS, which in turn was almost always
fatal. The field was revolutionized in 1996
with the introduction of HIV anti-retroviral
therapy medications. These drugs halt HIV
from replicating and allow an infected per-
son to regain a functioning immune system.
These medications are so effective that to-
day a person living with HIV has almost the
same life expectancy of someone without
HIV infection. However, these medications
must be taken every day, have multiple dis-
tressing side effects, and can cost thousands
of dollars each month.
Yet even with this life-extending treat-
ment, a functional HIV cure, defined as
when someone with HIV no longer tests
positive for the virus and does not need
to take these medications, has remained
elusive.
The ‘cure’ treatment
All of that seemed to change when in
2008 at the Conference on Retrovirus and
Opportunistic Infections in Boston, Mas-
sachusetts, the news broke of the Berlin
patient, named Timothy Ray Brown, who
seemed to have been cured of his HIV. In
order to achieve that serendipitous “cure,”
health
Brown had to undergo aggressive treat-
ment for his acute myeloid leukemia that
involved two hematopoietic stem cell trans-
plantations – in which a patient’s bone mar-
row is damaged – and full body irradiation.
This complex treatment involves destroy-
ing a person’s own immune system with
high doses of chemotherapy or radiation.
Then the patient receives a transplant of
new stem cells from either themselves or a
donor.
This is a difficult treatment that carries a
high risk of infection and other complica-
tions, such as graft-versus-host disease,
blood clots and liver disease.
Researchers learned that Brown and the
“London patient” both shared a novel treat-
ment course. In the case of both Brown and
now the London patient, the new blood cells
transplanted into them were from donors
who had two copies of a gene mutation for
the CCR5 receptor. This CCR5 receptor mu-
tation – present in about 1 percent of people
of European descent – prevents HIV viruses
from entering immune cells. This renders
them resistant to most HIV infection.
However, it’s not just surviving the
transplant that confers the HIV “cure” or
remission. After receiving treatment, both
patients were eventually taken off their
anti-retroviral medications and subsequent
examination showed that that even with
very sensitive blood tests, the team could
not detect HIV in their blood. The inability
to find HIV in their blood, coupled with
the missing CCR5 receptor, constitutes the
HIV viral remission of the London patient
announced earlier this week.
What the new case shows
Given recent disappointments after
hematopoietic stem cell transplantations in
people living with HIV, the team reporting
on remission of the London patient does
not describe their patient as cured. Neither
should anyone else.
While a second patient experiencing HIV
viral remission with a slightly less toxic
cancer treatment is certainly encouraging
progress, an 18-month remission does not
equal a cure.
Also, while the London patient’s cancer
treatment was less intense, with just chemo-
therapy and the stem cell transplant, it was
still toxic and is not a course of treatment
that otherwise healthy people living with
HIV infection should embark upon.
Most importantly, the HIV community
learned that Brown’s case was not unique.
This gives us another, and perhaps greater
reason, to hope for future revolutions in the
HIV cure scientific agenda
March. 15 - 21 2019 31
comment
By Caroline Freund and Robert Koopman
Poverty reduction rests on trade
With today’s trade tensions, it is easy to lose sight
of the progress made from economic integration
J
ust when poverty-reduction efforts
around the world were already
slowing, recent forecasts indicate that
the global economy is heading into
a period of deepening uncertainty. That
makes measures to boost growth and ex-
pand economic opportunity all the more ur-
gent – which is why revitalising trade must
be high on the global policy agenda. The
evidence is clear: as an engine of economic
growth and a critical tool for combating
poverty, trade works.
With today’s trade tensions, it is easy to
lose sight of the progress the world has
made over the past few decades of eco-
nomic integration. Since 1990, more than
one billion people have lifted themselves
out of poverty, owing to growth that was
underpinned by trade. And today, coun-
tries are trading more and deepening
economic ties even faster than in past
decades. There are currently more than
280 trade agreements in place around the
world, compared to just 50 in 1990. Back
then, trade as a share of global GDP was
around 38%; in 2017, it had reached 71%.
Open trade is particularly beneficial
to the poor, because it reduces the cost
of what they buy and raises the price of
what they sell. As new research from the
World Bank and the World Trade Organ-
isation makes clear, farmers and manu-
facturing workers earn more income
when their products can reach overseas
markets.
In Vietnam, for example, a series of
trade reforms in the 1980s and 1990s
helped transform the country into an
export powerhouse, sharply reducing
poverty there. Today, Vietnam’s exports
generate 30% of its enterprise-sector
employment; and its trade-to-GDP ratio
– a key indicator of an open economy – is
approximately 200%, the highest among
all middle-income countries.
Likewise, a separate study of manu-
facturing in 47 African countries found
that employees at export-oriented
firms earned 16% more than workers
at non-exporting firms. And while men
and women working at trading firms
received similar wages, men at non-
trading firms earned more than women.
32 March. 15 - 21 2019
Evidence like this demonstrates the
promise of open trade. But the poor do
not benefit from trade automatically.
In fact, our research points to serious
challenges. For example, some groups
of workers may lose income as a result
of increased import competition. And
others will encounter “behind the
border” barriers – such as limited compe-
tition in transportation and distribution,
weak infrastructure, or lack of informa-
tion about new opportunities – that can
negate the benefits of trade.
Finally, our research shows that trade
can have an uneven impact on the poor,
depending on specific circumstances
such as one’s access to trade-supporting
infrastructure, one’s gender, or whether
one lives in a rural or urban area. Such
dynamics are clearly discernible in India,
where goods produced in rural house-
holds face a tariff rate in international
markets that is 11 percentage points
higher than that for goods produced in
urban households.
Similarly, on the border of Laos and
Cambodia, women pay higher taxes
to customs officials, and their goods
There are
currently
more than
280 trade
agreements in
place around
the world,
compared to
just 50 in 1990
are more likely to be quarantined
than those that are traded by men. In
Uganda, where 70% of the population is
employed in agriculture, the low quality
and high cost of transportation prevents
most producers from getting their prod-
ucts into the hands of foreign customers.
With appropriate trade reforms, gov-
ernments can loosen such constraints,
while also lowering transaction costs,
promoting competition, and setting clear
rules for cross-border commerce. We
know that open trade can drive develop-
ment. But passively counting on exports
to boost economic growth and reduce
poverty is not enough. We need to push
harder for reforms to lower tariff barriers
and remove trade-distorting regulatory
measures. And more must be done to
facilitate investment in infrastructure
such as roads, shipping routes, and
e-commerce systems that connect people
to markets.
Unfortunately, recent WTO forecasts
show that the growth of global trade is
slowing, imperiling prospects for faster
economic growth and poverty reduction.
We urgently need to address the roots
of global trade tensions, strengthen the
rules-based trading system, and pursue
further trade liberalisation. Experience
shows that this is the most effective way
to drive inclusive and sustainable eco-
nomic growth, create new opportunities,
and bring us closer to our shared goal of
finally ending extreme poverty.
Caroline Freund is Director of Trade,
Regional Integration, and Investment
Climate at the World Bank Group and the
author of Rich People Poor Countries: The
Rise of Emerging Market Tycoons and
their Mega Firms. Robert Koopman is Chief
Economist and Director of the Economic
Research and Statistics Division of the World
Trade Organisation.
Copyright: Project Syndicate, 2019.

By Brenda Boonabaana & Amos Ochieng
Miss Curvy pageant
Why the proposal to use naturally endowed, nice-looking
women to promote tourism is an assault on women
U
ganda’s Minister of State for
Tourism, Wildlife and Antiqui-
ties, Godfrey Kiwanda Ssubi re-
cently launched the “Miss Curvy
Uganda” pageant at a hotel in Kampala.
At the launch he said the pageant was
designed to boost Ugandan tourism by
putting the bodies of curvy women on
display. According to the minister, the
pageant was expected to help Uganda
increase the number of tourists to the
targeted 4 million by 2020, from the 1.32
million received in 2017. The government
is promoting tourism as a key sector to
realise its ambitious economic plans set
out in its national development plan.
But it’s questionable whether a pageant
that’s clearly a ploy to maximise erotic
capital, can help the country reach its
development goals.
In our view it’s also a highly question-
able strategy to use women’s bodies to
attract tourists.
Uganda has used similar gimmicks
before. In 2016 the same minister
launched the Kampala Rolex Festival.
A “rolex” is a Ugandan delicacy made
of fried eggs wrapped in chapati (an
unleavened flatbread). They are typically
sold by the roadside.
The Rolex Festival was billed as an
innovation to boost domestic tourism
but the ministry has yet to measure its
impact in terms of actual numbers.
The ministry is also running a parallel
campaign dubbed Tulambule Uganda.
Initially it targeted female celebrities
with sizeable social media platforms in
the hope that they would use their influ-
ence to promote domestic tourism. The
campaign has only recently recruited
male celebrities.
Our view is that the beauty pageant
idea is denigrating to women. Uganda
has great tourist attractions such as the
iconic mountain gorillas, chimpanzees,
lions, and giraffes; rich diversity of bird
and insects species, and cultural and her-
itage tourism attractions. All are under-
valued and undersold but should rightly
form part of a comprehensive plan that
attracts more tourists without exploiting
women.
Misuse of female bodies
The Miss Curvy contest attracted a lot
of local and international media atten-
tion. It also received a lot of resistance
from human rights activists and civil
society organisations nationally and
internationally.
Uganda’s Parliament was divided
about using a beauty pageant as a mar-
keting tool for tourism. The men legisla-
tors were more supportive of the idea
than the women.
Those against the idea criticised it for
objectifying women and the fact that the
pageant was designed to use their bodies
as tourist attractions. One analogy was
that the initiative was like a zoo in which
women were being placed to satisfy the
tourist gaze.
The minister was accused by different
sections of the society including legisla-
tors, women activists, academia and local
Ugandans of positioning Uganda as an
exotic tourist destination based on the
attractiveness of its curvy women.
The minister had been quoted as
saying, “We have naturally endowed,
nice-looking women who are amazing to
look at. Why don’t we use these people
as a strategy to promote our tourism
industry?”
In our view this is an appalling exploi-
tation and degradation of the dignity of
women and girls.
Even Uganda’s President Yoweri
Museveni rejected the pageant idea, and
denied that it had cabinet approval.
A number of civil society organisa-
tions described the pageant as sexist and
a form of objectification, sexualisation,
prejudice and exploitation of women for
development purposes.
Some have argued that the pageant
promotes the continued marginalisa-
tion of women in an already strongly
patriarchal society. A press release by the
Uganda Women’s Network, an umbrella
organisation that brings together women
focused organisations in the country,
strongly condemned the pageant.
Women’s movement
Over the past three decades the wom-
en’s movement in Uganda has made tre-
comment
mendous strides in defending women’s
rights. And there has been positive
progress in various sectors. The biggest
advances have been made in education,
political engagements and representa-
tion, employment and legal rights. But a
lot more still needs to be done, especially
in health, resource access, and domestic
violence arenas.
The biggest drivers of change have
been a growing number of women-
focused organisations as well as a
national umbrella organisation, the
Uganda Women’s Network that have
been promoting gender equality and the
empowerment of women.
A more enabling environment for
women has also been facilitated by the
pro-women legal and policy framework
that guarantees the rights and dignity
of women and girls. This is reflected
in Uganda’s Constitution, the Uganda
Gender Policy, and other affirmative
action programmes.
But, there have been signs of a backlash
that threatens to undo some of these
positive outcomes. The proposed “Miss
Curvy Uganda” is symptomatic of this
push back, and it raises questions about
the success of a decades long women’s
empowerment movement.
Female dignity
Using women’s body’s to attract tour-
ists is a direct assault on their personal
dignity. It remains to be seen whether
the overt objectification of women is an
effective way to attract tourists.
We would suggest that Uganda’s
marketing strategy would work better
with a focus on the country’s natural
and cultural diversity. Money would be
better spent protecting our wildlife from
poachers. The tourism ministry can also
shift the tourist gaze to the richness of
Uganda’s national heritage including
traditional rituals, dances, ceremonies,
and foods.
Brenda Boonabaana is a Tourism Lecturer
and Gender and Development Specialist,
Makerere University and Amos Ochieng is
an Assistant Lecturer, Tourism, Conserva-
tion and Development, Makerere University.
March. 15 - 21 2019 33
comment
By Lili Fuhr and Jane Patton
A new paradigm for plastics
Momentum should be on a new global framework to
reduce the production and consumption of plastic
W
e have long known that the
accumulation of plastic in
the world’s landfills and
oceans represents a growing
environmental risk. More recently, we
have come to understand that plastic
poses an urgent – even deadly – threat to
public health, too. And yet, global efforts to
address the plastic crisis remain consistently
focused on the wrong end of the life cycle:
waste management.
The debate that will resume this month
at the United Nations Environment
Assembly (UNEA-4) is a case in point,
because it will focus on “marine litter
and microplastics.” These are important
issues, but they constitute just one small
part of a much larger problem.
To be sure, plastic has played an
essential role in global economic growth
for decades. Its seemingly countless
applications include life-saving medical
devices, clothes, toys, various industrial
and agricultural uses, and so on. Some
have even touted plastic as part of the
solution to climate change, arguing
incorrectly that it has a smaller carbon
footprint than other materials. In fact,
plastic releases significant greenhouse
gases like methane and ethylene as it
decomposes in the land and marine
environments.
In fact, 99% of plastics are made
from fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas.
And new research shows that plastic
is harmful to our bodies at every stage
of its life cycle, from its extraction as
a fossil fuel to its widespread use as
a packaging for food, and on through
the waste-management process (which
includes landfills, recycling centers, and
incinerators).
One way or another, almost every
organism on the planet is affected by
the production, use, or disposal of
plastic, the toxic effects of which linger
and accumulate endlessly in the air we
breathe, the water we drink, and the
soil under our feet. Some of the leading
impacts of plastic production include
harm to the immune and reproductive
systems, liver and kidney damage,
and even cancer; as we move through
the lifecycle of plastic products, the
threats to reproductive systems and
34 March. 15 - 21 2019
from cancer continue, with added
harm to neurological development and
other systems. Making matters worse,
plastic production is increasing, and
will continue to do so. The U.S. plastics
industry alone plans to boost production
by 30% in the next few years.
Though the public associates plastic
with life-saving wonder materials,
an estimated 40% of global plastic
production is for single-use packaging.
By design, it is used temporarily for
transport and storage, and then simply
thrown away. As a result, nearly 80%
of all the plastic ever produced has
ended up either in a landfill or loose in
the natural environment, despite years
of industry messaging to encourage
recycling. Not only do we lack the
recycling capacity to manage the plastic
already in circulation; recent innovations
in recycling appear to be causing further
damage to the environment and public
health, through air pollution, toxic ash,
and other externalities.
A debate that focuses solely on waste
suits the plastics industry just fine. For
years, producers have been investing in
marketing and advertising campaigns to
convince consumers that they themselves
bear responsibility for the plastics crisis.
And they and their lobbyists have
been busy persuading governments
– including those participating in the
UNEA – that waste management should
be their primary focus.
So far, these efforts have succeeded in
preventing measures that would limit
production, and therefore profits. When
the industry spends $1 billion to launch
a high-profile “Alliance to End Plastic
Waste,” its real goal is to maintain the
status quo, and to protect its $200 billion
investment in expanded production over
the next five years.
Still, there is cause for hope. Break
Free From Plastic, a growing global
movement of nongovernmental
organisations, has been working
to inform governments and their
representatives of the harms and risks
associated with new plastic production.
In the 15 months since UNEA-3, an
Ad Hoc Open-Ended Expert Group
has met twice to assess the options
available for addressing the plastic crisis
holistically. Their findings, bolstered by
multiple UN-sponsored analyses and
independent reports, point to major gaps
and insufficient coordination in current
governance structures.
The Expert Group’s recommendations
have given significant momentum to
the push for a new global framework to
reduce the production and consumption
of plastic. At UNEA-4, a resolution
proposed by Norway calls for stronger
global-governance structures to address
marine litter and microplastics. But the
hope is that this will serve as a first step
toward a legally binding treaty with a
multi-layered approach to solving the
problem.
A new global convention to confront
the plastics crisis would improve
coordination between governments
and existing regulatory structures, and
would also provide additional financial
and technical support. More importantly,
its central focus would be preventing
both growth in plastics pollution and
harm to human health at all phases of the
production cycle.
We all have a right to live in a healthy
environment. But that right will not be
secure until we adopt legally binding
measures to limit production of plastics,
and to hold companies and governments
accountable for the damage plastic does to
our bodies, communities, and ecosystems.
Educating people about the importance of
recycling is not enough. We are optimistic
that the UNEA will recognise this and
join with those who are already leading
a groundbreaking initiative to protect
human and environmental health.
Lili Fuhr heads the International
Environmental Policy Division at the
Heinrich Böll Foundation. Jane Patton, a
global anti-plastic activist and campaigner, is
the interim coordinator for the US region of
the Break Free From Plastic movement.
Copyright: Project Syndicate, 2019.
www.project-syndicate.org
ART | BOOKS | SOCIETY | TRAVEL | CULTURE
Ants invade artist
Reawaken sketches of refugees and other migrants
A
By Dominic Muwanguzi
nts are
destructive,
undesirable
creatures.
They make
anthills
that can be a nuisance;
especially if they occur
near a home, in the
compound. Artists like to
use them as analogies for
invasion.
Now consider this:
Gilbert Musinguzi has
not one but several
anthills in his compound,
he is an artist, and he
is staging an exhibition
inspired by anthills, and
the tile of the exhibition
is, well, `Invasion’!
That is explosive, isn’t
it? That the artist is
using ants, anthills, and
their invasion of new
territories as an allusion
to migrants and refuges
who seek and inhabit new
spaces changes nothing.
For Musinguzi, the
invaders bring change;
good or bad. They bring
a new identity to the
communities and space.
Ants move in masses
like the refuges, have
complex communication
networks, communal
construction working
styles. And just like ants
have an anthill above
ground and a colony
below ground, refugees
and migrants bring covert
change; in hierarchies of
leadership for example.
March. 15 - 21 2019
They bring new queens,
kings, workers and
soldiers.
Musinguzi’s muse is
the migrant Kasokoso
community in the Mbuya
area of eastern Kampala.
Mostly Acholis from
Northern Uganda, they
work collectively like
ants, turning a huge
valley into habitable,
cheap earth and wood
homes. The structures
are irregular, shanty, and
spread out over the vast
area like the anthills in
Musinguzi’s compound.
They are unwanted
and the government
is plotting ways to
destroy them. They see
them as encroachers on
government land.
The Kasokoso
community is suspicious
of outsiders. The
complex communication
networks spreads news
of “government spies”
and land thieves. The
community’s soldiers
swarm and quiz visitors
in the same way that the
ants crowd and attack
invaders. They appear
weak but are territorial,
fearless and bold.
Musinguzi’s fusion
of the trait of ants with
that of migrants is clever
and backed by extensive
research on ants and
migrants. No wonder
his next project; a work
already in progress,
is titled `Another
Community’.
35
Tattoo artist
chops client’s
ear, tongue
A tattooist in London has
pleaded guilty to performing
illegal body modifications on
clients, including taking off
an ear and a nipple and split-
ting a customer’s tongue.
Brendan McCarthy,
50, who has no medical
qualifications, carried out
the surgical procedures at
his “Dr Evil” studio in the
central city of Wolverhamp-
ton between 2012 and 2015,
prosecutors said. His arrest
followed complaints about
online images of him remov-
ing a client’s ear. McCarthy
later said believed the proce-
dures were lawful because
his clients had consented.
Uhuru impostors con top Kenyan businessman
Sameer Africa boss Naushad
Merali and his finance director
Akif Butt were at their office when
the phone rang. It was the Kenya
President Uhuru Kenyatta calling
– and he had a hot deal for them.
The President apparently was sell-
ing them land worth US$100,000.
Merali immediately agreed and
ordered the finance director to
process payment and men driv-
ing in fancy vehicles and wearing
You can swim naked in beer here
Bjorbodin Beer Spa in the first microbrewery in the
Arskogssandur, Northern country, and it attracts couples
Iceland offers a beer bath. It is a who can share a bath, men on
280 litre tub made of Kambala their stag dos, fans of beer and
wood filled with a combination anyone who loves a spa. You
of young beer, brewers yeast and have to be naked for the beer
hops. It is the brainchild of the swim. The contents are supposed
Bragi family, who founded Kaldi, to be great for your hair, skin and
expensive suits soon arrived and
collected the money. But there
was a problem. President Uhuru
never called the Sameer bosses.
Conmen did. In fact, according to
The Star newspaper, the conman
who allegedly imitated Kenyatta
is one Joseph Waswa, who is also
known to use luxury cars, heli-
copters, and bodyguards. Waswa
and his alleged accomplices are
now on trial in Nairobi.
nails and you are advised not to
shower for three to five hours
to get the benefit of the Vitamin
B, protein, potassium, iron, zinc
and magnesium in the brewers
yeast, the antioxidant properties
of the hops and the softening
properties of the young beer.

You can now erase your Ex from your photos

Trying to move on from a
failed romantic relationship
can be hard, especially when
your most beautiful travel
photos feature your ex. A lot
of people reluctantly delete
such digital memories as part
of a ritual known as “post-
breakup purge”, but thanks
to a new online service called
`Edit My Ex’, that’s no lon-
ger necessary. As the name
suggests, Edit My Ex allows
people who want to erase
any evidence of their ex from
meaningful digital photos
to just have them edited out
and keep the photos. All you
have to do is upload a photo
to their website, let the image
editing experts know what
exactly you’d like erased and
pay a $11.90 fee. In up to 48
hours, you’ll get your photo
back, ex-free.

Opium-ddicted parrots wreak havoc Is Gabon president a clone?

Opium farmers in the In-
dian state of Madhya Pradesh
are forced to guard their fields
day and night in a desper-
ate attempt to fend off large
groups of opium-addicted
parrots who get high off the
narcotic effects of poppy seeds.
Video footage shows the
parrots frantically ripping
open the poppy pod to get to
the seeds, and even chewing
through the plant stalk and
flying away with the whole
pod to feast on it in nearby
trees. The opium-addicted
birds have reportedly learned
how and when to swoop in
on the poppy fields as not
to attract the attention of the
farmers. Earth.com reports
that the clever birds will
sometimes wait for the farmers
to cut the poppy pods open
in order to help them ripen,
which exposes latex that is rich
in morphine. The poppy seeds
give the parrots an almost
instant buzz and they quickly
become addicted.
Gabonese President
Ali Bongo Ondimba
is currently sick in
Morocco and has only
returned to Gabon
twice since he suffered
a stroke in 2018 while
on an official trip. On
both ‘visits,’ he stayed
briefly and flew back
to Rabat. This absence
and fleeting appearance has
led to reports that the president
had recruited a look alike to
replace him for months while
he received medical attention.
Bongo is the second Af-
rican president having
to fight cloned rumours;
the first being Nigeria’s
Muhammadu Buhari.
To prove his is real and
not cloned, Bongo has
had to move around the
Gabonese capital Libre-
ville and allow people to
see and touch him.
“It is totally a hoax,” his
spokesman said, “I admire the
level of creativity, especially on
the internet and their persistence
in these rumours.”

36 March. 15 - 21 2019
World’s largest, most bizarre SUV
W
hat do you
get when you
combine a
military truck and
a Jeep? Sheikh Hamad bin
Hamdan Al Nahyan did just
that; and what did he get? A
motor creature he believes to
be the world’s largest SUV.
Called Dhabiyan, the
monstrous 10-wheel vehicle is
based on the Oshkosh M1075
military truck with a Jeep
Wrangler annexed to it as a
driver cabin. It is powered by
a 600hp, 15.2-liter, 6-cylinder
Caterpillar C15 diesel engine,
weighs a whopping 24 tonnes
and measures 10,8m in length,
2.5 meters in width, and 3.2
meters in height.
Dhabiyan was reportedly
designed and built by Sheikh
Hamad bin Hamdan Al
Nahyan, one of the most well-
known car collectors in the
United Arab Emirates.
The giant SUV was
unveiled at a recent
automotive show in Sharjah.
The cost of production is
confidential, but it wasn’t
cheap.
Dhabiyan is one of the
many expensive cars Sheikh
Hamad bin Hamdan Al
Nahyan has in his private
collection, which he proudly
showcases on Instagram. He
is known as The Rainbow
Sheikh, after one of his most
impressive cars, a custom
Mercedes S-class painted in
all the colors of the rainbow,
from the upholstery to the
wheels.
The general online
reaction to the unveiling of
this gigantic SUV has been
mixed. While some find the
Dhabiyan’s size impressive,
others describe it as a useless
eccentricity, with bad front
visibility because of its
exceptionally long body,
and poor suspension. Fuel
consumption is an issue
for a lot of people as well,
but definitely not for The
Rainbow Sheikh.

March. 15 - 21 2019 37
Immaculate Nantongo and
her fabulous homes
platform that complements ‘My Fabulous Home’
By Agnes E Nantaba page. It debuted in December 2018 and enables

I
home interior and exterior décor to be showcased.
mmaculate Nantongo is an entrepreneur Nantongo also started the ‘My fabulous
behind a number of trending businesses. Investment Club’ which has 170 members
She is the brain behind the `Fabulous Home who save money for a year and buy land
Festival’ and ‘My Fabulous Home’ community and other investments.
on Facebook. She also owns the Flawless Skin “We plan to have a supermarket,
Care products brand and co-owns Pizza King; a fast communal refreshment area, schools,
foods place with pizza as its flagship serving. hospitals and other facilities,” says
“I have actually sold so many other things and Nantongo.
when I see an opportunity I take it on,” she says, Nantongo attributes her
“It helps me work on my dreams as opposed entrepreneurial spirit to her
to working for others and pushing ahead their parents; Samuel Ssentongo and
dreams.” Babirye Namutebi (RIP). She is the
Flawless Skin Care was her first business project third born of four children. She
after graduating from Makerere University in says even without high formal
2011 with a bachelor’s degree in Development education, her late mother was a
Economics. successful entrepreneur.
Today, she is living her passion of inspiring She went to Kamuli Primary
people to have fabulous homes with beautiful School for primary education
spaces and trending themes. Nantongo uses the before joining St Kalemba for
Facebook platform to involve an audience of over ordinary level and Kibibi SS
9000 members under ‘My Fabulous Home’ page that for advanced level and finally
she created in 2017. The group focuses on sharing Makerere University.
ideas on construction, property acquisition, home
improvement, and exterior and Interior designs.
“A fabulous Home doesn’t need to be expensive,
you just have to know how to get the best out of
your budget,” says Nantongo, “We have a wide
variety of professionals to offer advice on anything
related to real estate.”
‘My Fabulous Home’ started when Nantongo
decided to construct her home and realised she
needed tonnes of advice but there was no platform.
So she started sharing her ordeals on social media;
especially Facebook. She initially did it in private
posts. Then she realised many people were facing
the same ordeals and opened a space where they
could share their building journey.
Nantongo says, “The group initially had females
because they are mostly cheated by professionals
with a belief that they are ignorant about the market
rates”.
Through the platform, Nantongo was connected
to engineers and other construction service
providers. It became an opportunity for many to
learn from experts who feature on the platform
every Friday. On the same group, other people have
posted about being energised to start their building
projects, borrowing from the experience of other
group members.
A year into ‘My Fabulous Home’ and with new
ideas, she demolished parts of the house she built
to incorporate new trends like the double door
entrance and roof.
“It is now a completely different project from
what I had in mind initially,” she says.
The `Fabulous Home Festival’ is a physical

38 March. 15 - 21 2019

Immaculate Nantongo’s Liteside
Any three things that we don’t
H
know about you?
onesty, love, and
kindness define me
What is your idea of
perfect happiness?
A strong and close
relationship with God. Over
time, I have realised that family
or friends can be there for me
but there are places where only
God can penetrate and reach.
What is your greatest fear?
I am a fearless person
counting on the strong
relationship with Christ Jesus.
What is the trait you most
deplore in yourself?
Holding onto arguments
for a long time. I question
everything including motive
something that doesn’t go
well with some people.
What is the trait you
most deplore in
others?
Telling lies is
disrespectful
and belittles
others.
Which living person do you
most admire?
My father Samuel Ssentongo;
he believes in people too much
and his kindness is unmatched.
What is your greatest
extravagance?
Anything that has to do with
my children. Aside from that, I
spend a lot on mobile internet
data subscription to respond to
queries and approve posts on
the page.
What is the greatest thing you
have ever done?
My fabulous home festival
and building my house. I
always thought that someone
would build me a home until
I realised that I could do it
myself. Running and managing
‘Fabulous home festival’ tested
my management skills and was
a beautiful mental place to live.
What is your current state of
mind?
Happy.
What do you consider the
most overrated virtue?
The definition of success; for
many people, the cornerstone
for success is having money.
Success should go beyond that
to include making a positive
impact on others.
What does being powerful
mean to you?
Knowledge of the word
of God and being able
to act upon it. Being
powerful also means
serving others in
response to God.
On what occasion do
you lie?
I am deliberate about
my conversations so I
avoid telling lies.
What do you most dislike
about your appearance?
I have learnt to love and
appreciate myself even when
I work to achieve the person I
want to be.
Which living person do you
most despise?
Anyone who tells lies.
What is the quality you most
like in a woman?
Firm relationship with God.
What is the quality you most
like in a man?
God fearing.
What or who is the greatest
love of your life?
I love my father, two sons
and siblings in equal measure.
When and where were you
happiest?
My graduation in 2011
marked the beginning of a
new chapter in my life. It
meant transitioning from
a child to an independent
woman and embark on my
entrepreneurship journey.
Receiving my ultra sound
scan results confirming the
presence of my first child in me
was a happy one too. I can’t
explain the joy of knowing that
I was working on co-creating
a human being. I was also
happy about the turn up at the
fabulous home festival.
Which talent would you most
like to have?
I love singing but lack the
beautiful voice.
If you could change one thing
about yourself, what would
it be?
I am grateful to God for who
I am.
Where would you most like
to live?
I love Uganda; it’s a
blessed nation with so many
opportunities.
What is your most treasured
possession?
The ability to preach the
gospel.
March. 15 - 21 2019
Q&A
What do you regard as the
lowest depth of misery?
No person should be made
to feel worthless. It makes
many contemplate committing
suicide thinking that there is no
reason to live.
What is your favorite
occupation?
Managing ‘my fabulous
home’. I give it up to 80 percent
of my time because I love to
read about other people’s
stories. The platform seeks to
redefine the meaning of home
right from the environment, the
people, and facilities.
What do you most value in
your friends?
Honesty means valuing
someone.
Who are your favorite writers?
I am so much into Christian
literature. However, I also love
to read Steven Covey’s ‘Seven
Habits of highly effective
people’. It helps me to redefine
my priorities focusing on what
is more important and the kind
of relationships that I should
nurture to realise my dreams.
Which historical figure do you
most identify with?
Maria Buelah Woodworth-
Etter, the healing evangelist.
She preached the gospel at a
time when it wasn’t popular for
women to address nations. She
defied the odds and responded
to God’s calling.
What is your greatest regret?
No regrets because I believe
that even that which was a
disadvantage is working out
for my good.
How would you like to die?
In my sleep aged beyond 96
years.
What is your motto?
Anything is possible if you
believe.
39
Global comment
By Guillaume Arditti
Closing Africa’s financing gap
This is an opportunity for investors seeking to finance
real assets offering long-term stable returns
T
oward the end of 2018, the
United States merged existing
development agencies into
the new U.S. International
Development Finance Corporation
(IDFC). With a financing capacity of
$60 billion in equity and debt – more
than twice that of its predecessors –
the new agency, which is scheduled
to become operational by the end of
this year, represents a major step in
U.S. development policy, particularly
regarding Africa. It may also reflect
rising global awareness that a huge
investment-financing gap poses an
existential threat to Africa’s future.
The continent’s potential is beyond
doubt. Over the past two decades, Africa
has entered a phase of structural change
that is about to accelerate. Progressive
– if uneven – political stabilisation has
allowed a number of African countries
to rely less on raw-material exports and
start becoming consumer economies.
McKinsey, for example, forecasts that
African consumer spending will increase
by $645 billion between 2015 and 2025.
Yet massive challenges remain. The
IMF recently forecast that Africa must
create 20 million new jobs per year until
2035 – twice the current rate – just to
absorb new labour-force entrants. This
will require huge investment. But the
three main existing sources of non-state
financing in Africa are unable to meet
these needs.
Official development assistance (ODA)
to Africa declined between 2014 and
2016 and has since remained relatively
flat. The local financial sector, including
large African banks, suffered from the
commodity-price downturn and is still
constrained. And international banks
retreated significantly from the continent
after new regulatory standards increased
the costs and capital consumption of
operations in non-investment-grade
countries. Surprisingly, this aspect of the
collateral damage caused by the global
financial crisis has not sparked much
debate.
As a result, the African financing gap
continues to widen alarmingly. Whereas
Africa’s annual financing needs have
been conservatively estimated at $130
billion for infrastructure alone, available
40 March. 15 - 21 2019
resources cover less than half of this
amount. According to McKinsey, actual
capital expenditure in Africa amounted
to $415 billion in 2015. With average
annual GDP growth on the continent
forecast to exceed 3%, Africa would need
to finance a further $750 billion of capital
spending over ten years.
None of the major existing sources of
financing can rise to the challenge by
themselves. Even the IDFC, which aims
to counterbalance Chinese influence and
compete with European institutions, will
not significantly change the pattern of
international financial flows to Africa.
What Africa needs is a new type
of investor. The good news is that
alternative sources of funds have
been accumulating like never before.
PwC expects the value of assets held
worldwide by pension funds, insurance
companies, sovereign wealth funds, and
high-net-worth individuals to rise from
$115 trillion in 2012 to $195 trillion by
2020.
These investors obviously have not
been satisfied by the very low yields
available in European and U.S. markets
in recent years. Furthermore, liquid
assets remain extremely volatile. A
number of these investors are now
distancing themselves from the standard
view of African transactions as “high
risk,” to be compared only with high-
yielding U.S. dollar or euro investments.
This change of perception has statistical
support. In 2016, Moody’s released a
report showing that the rate of project-
finance defaults in Africa between 1983
and 2015 was the second-lowest in the
world at just 2.7%, which reflects the
relatively higher strategic importance
of these projects. As a result, the idea
of investing in Africa through more
conservative instruments, rather than
“high risk, high return” private-equity
deals, is gradually gaining ground.
Private-sector debt funds would be
the best vehicle for such investments.
Such funds total almost $640 billion
worldwide, but the market remains
mostly North American and European.
Although private-debt funds raised more
than $100 billion in 2017, almost none of
this went to Africa.
The potential for these funds to invest
in Africa is therefore huge. Even if only
one-third of Africa’s estimated $750
billion in additional investment needs
over the next decade were debt-financed,
that would still amount to a $250 billion
requirement. This indicates a unique
opportunity to align investors seeking
to finance real assets offering long-term
stable returns and projects that need
financing.
But even if their perception of African
default risk has evolved, potential
newcomers to the continent remain
paralysed by its reputation and image.
They can hardly be blamed, either, given
incessant media coverage of African
countries’ rankings in global indices of
governance, ease of doing business, and
corruption.
This is where development finance
institutions could play a key role in
reassuring new investors who are still
deterred by “Africa risk.” Annual ODA
to Africa exceeds $50 billion, is invested
in the public and private sectors of most
of the continent’s 54 countries, and often
involves world-class industrial sponsors.
DFIs also have been instrumental in
promoting private-equity investment in
Africa, which totaled nearly $24 billion
between 2012 and 2017, in sectors as
diverse as infrastructure, telecoms,
banking, and consumer goods. Clearly,
doing business in a decent environment
in Africa is possible.
The Africa investment-financing gap is
a major threat to the continent’s future.
Growing international recognition of
this is welcome, as are additional billions
of development dollars from the U.S.
and elsewhere. But Africa needs new
investors, and in particular private-sector
debt funds, in order to close the gap and
realise its enormous potential.
Guillaume Arditti, a lecturer in international
relations at Sciences Po, is the founder of
Belvedere Advisory.
Copyright: Project Syndicate, 2019.
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