I can spill Cabinet secrets - Mbabazi

ARUA. Independent presidential candidate John Patrick Amama Mbabazi has said he will disclose Cabinet secrets if provocations against him continue.
Addressing the press in Arua District yesterday, Mr Mbabazi said while he feels bound by the Official Secrets Act, continued provocation could force him to tell the truth about the system he has been part of for almost three decades.

“Even now, I am not disclosing any secrets that came to me by way of my office. Not yet in anyway. I feel bound by them, these provocations notwithstanding,” he said. “But if these provocations continue, I will say it (what transpired in Cabinet).”
Justifying why he has chosen to speak out on government excesses now, Mr Mbabazi said although he had expressed displeasure through official channels, he feels free to come out now because he is no longer in Cabinet.

“This business of saying why is he saying them now, I can tell you that many of these things I have said. Previously, I was bound by what they call Cabinet collective responsibility, so I supported whatever Cabinet decided,” he said.
He added: “It is not true that all members of Cabinet are in agreement with all decisions of Cabinet but once decisions are made, it is a requirement that there is Cabinet responsibility.”

He further expressed surprise that President Museveni said he would not hand him power on pretext that he has no mission. “I am surprised that President Museveni can say something like that, especially about me. I have worked with him long enough and he has publicly praised my work ethic,” he said.

President Museveni recently said he sacked prime minister Amama Mbabazi because he failed to perform his duties as prime minister and leader of government business in Parliament.

“I sacked Mbabazi because he had failed his work as prime minister, he was bringing enkwe... (cliques). He went around the country saying I was preparing my son, Brig Muhoozi, to become president. My son has never even stood for LC1 and the Constitution is very clear on how one can be elected president,” Mr Museveni said. Brig Muhoozi Kainerugaba is the head of the Special Forces Command, which guard the President.

However, this was in stark contrast of what Mr Museveni has always said about the man he has closely worked with for the last 29 years in government and in influential and strategic portfolios, including; regional cooperation, security, defence, attorney general and PM.

“When I retire, we shall call a Movement conference to look for someone who can be a president, a prime minister, vice-president, and speaker. When it comes to vice-president, we start looking at Kigongo, Kategaya, Wapakhabulo, Rugunda and Mbabazi. If you remove Mbabazi and replace him with James Musinguzi, what will happen? You would miss that opportunity. Mbabazi is among the first 10,” Mr Museveni said in 2001.
Mr Mbabazi also said he regretted the loss of taxpayer’s money through corruption, especially in the Office of the Prime Minister and what has come to be known as the pension scandal. He said he regretted the occurrence when he was coordinator of all government activities, “even if I was not a culprit or responsible for those actions”.

Mr Mbabazi, who is running his candidature under the flagship of Go Forward, sounded apologetic in response to a question why, during his Arua rally, he was silent on the issue on what became to be known as the OPM scandal in 2013. The scam involved theft of at least Shs60b meant for the rehabilitation of the war-torn northern region under the Peace, Recovery and Development Plan (PRDP) for northern Uganda. The pension scam involved officials of the Ministry of Public Service embezzling Shs340 billion in ghost pensioners payments.

“The matter was brought to my attention by the then permanent secretary and I authorised him to invite the Auditor General to carry out a special audit and that report is what led to all reactions that followed. Go and read that report I am not mentioned anywhere as having been involved in any of those activities at all even in decision making,” he said.
Throwing a barb at Information minister and former Health minister Jim Muhwezi, Mr Mbabazi said he also regrets that some ministers stole money meant for the sick. “I was sorry that some ministers were accused of stealing money meant for patients when they were minister in the Ministry of Health.”

“I have always really felt that as a leader, I should express my regrets that things like that happened even if I was not a culprit or responsible for those actions,” he said.

Mr Mbabazi also said he was ready for a televised presidential debate, saying dressing it up as a challenge is simply unserious. “Of course, we can debate. Even now, I am debating. Where will you take me that I cannot say what I am saying now?”
Responding to the intimidation meted against his supporters and the buying of people by NRM mobiliser in a bid to frustrate his rallies, Mr Mbabazi said it is simply a sign of fear by the ruling NRM.

“Our message resonates very well with the sentiments of our people and they would like to cut us from delivering that message to the general population. They even try to buy people. They think our people are like commodities. It is amazing that people can have that kind of attitude about our people. It is unfortunate and it must stop.”
He appealed to the State and the institutions of government to desist from using State and public funds to buy and intimidate people from supporting and presenting their ideas.
“I would not want to accuse institutions because these are actions of criminal individuals.”

Reactions to Mbabazi’s visit to Arua

“As a church leader, I don’t participate in partisan politics but I give civic education and encourage people to listen to the manifestos of all the candidates and choose the one whose manifestoes is good for them. We bless all of them and wish the campaigns to go on peacefully and the candidates should be sincere with what they tell their voters,” Msgr Primus Asega.
“As voters, we are all ready to receive any candidate who comes. And as a concerned citizen, I am only interested in a candidate who is ready to address social issues without prejudice of region or tribe,” Marino Ondia, resident.
“He is a smart politician and according to his speech at Sserena Hotel last Sunday, where he talked about increasing salary to teachers, bringing back cooperatives and a lot more issues, I believe he will bring change in the country.”
Aziz Draku, resident

http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/I-can-spill-Cabinet-secrets---Mbabazi/-/688334/2970328/-/uvkfha/-/index.html

Why investing in government securities is good business

What are government securities?
Government securities refer to a set of instruments that are used by government to borrow money from the public. Government borrows money when its income falls short of public spending needs.
In Uganda, government securities include treasury bills and bonds. Treasury bills are used to borrow money for short periods that do not exceed one year. Currently, the government borrows money through treasury bills from three specific periods, that is, 91, 182, or 364 days. On the other hand, treasury bonds are used when the government needs to borrow money for longer periods that exceed one year. Using treasury bonds, the government borrows for periods of 2, 5, 10, or 15 years.

Government income comes principally from tax and non-tax revenue. Other sources of finances for public expenditure include donor funding as well as borrowing from abroad.
The government securities are used for domestic borrowing or more specifically for borrowing that is denominated in the domestic currency. In practical terms, treasury securities may be regarded as paper assets that are created by the government. By issuing the securities, the government exchanges the paper assets for cash from the people, institutions, or agencies who are regarded as investors.
When the borrowing period expires, the government returns the money borrowed together with interest earned to the investors.

Why are government securities considered risk free?
Government securities carry the least risk relative to other assets because they are backed by the strength, full faith and credibility of the borrowing state. States are believed to have the perpetual capacity to levy taxes. Because of that, they offer timely and predictable payment of interest and principal, hence the zero default risk. In Uganda, government securities are issued by the Bank of Uganda (BoU) on behalf of government.

Can the ordinary man and woman invest in government securities? Or it is a preserve of just a few?
Investing in government securities is open to everyone who possesses or has access to savings and is ready to lend to the government so as to earn interest. Individuals can invest in treasury bills and bonds for amounts starting from Shs100,000. Of course investment in government securities is dominated by commercial banks, offshore (non-resident) investors, insurance firms, as well as pension and provident funds. As at June 2015, commercial banks held the largest share of government securities at 45 per cent of the total stock, while 34 per cent was held by pension and provident funds, and 11 per cent was held by offshore investors.

How does one invest in treasury bills and bonds?
The sale of treasury bills and bonds is conducted through an auction. This means that the interest rates are market determined. Participation in the primary auctions is done through a set of commercial banks that are designated as ‘primary dealers’. Currently, there are six primary dealer banks in the country. These are Dfcu Bank, Stanbic Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, Bank of Baroda, Centenary Bank, and Barclays Bank.

Investors who conduct their banking with non-primary dealer banks can still invest in government securities through their specific commercial banks, which work with the primary dealers to facilitate the opening of investors’ accounts on Central Securities Depository at BoU. Prior to every auction, the Central Bank publishes an invitation to bid for treasury bills and bonds on the BoU website and newspapers. The results from the auctions are also published through the media.

Are there any specific advantages for investing in government securities?
Oh yes! Investors in treasury securities earn interest income, which varies with the duration of the treasury bill or bond holding. Moreover, the return on investments in government securities is virtually guaranteed.
Government securities present an option for investors who wish to diversify their assets by including relatively low risk instruments. Being assets that are relatively easy to convert to cash, the securities can be used as collateral for loans.

In addition, they are flexible investments because investors who wish to access their money before the maturity period can do so by turning them over to BoU for cash through a process called “re-discounting”. However, the impatient investors who access the rediscounting facility end up forfeiting a portion of the interest that they would otherwise have earned if they were to hold the securities until maturity.

What is your final word to the interested public?
The sale of treasury bills and bonds is clear and transparent. Like I said, government securities are one of the ways through which government raises funds to fulfil its obligations whenever it has shortfalls in income.
The framework and process through which BoU issues these securities on behalf of government, is scheduled on a published auction calendar. Individuals too have an opportunity to diversify their investment options through these government securities, and can seek further information on how to do so from their commercial banks or from Bank of Uganda.

http://www.monitor.co.ug/Business/Prosper/Investing-government-securities-good-business/-/688616/2968302/-/r2v40vz/-/index.html

I will hand over power if I lose 2016 elections - M7

I will hand over power if I lose 2016 elections

ARUA.

NRM Flag bearer and incumbent president, Yoweri Museveni has said he has no intention to hold onto power in the event that he loses the 2016 general elections, adding that he is not power hungry.

During a press conference at State Lodge in Anyafio on the outskirts of Arua on Thursday, Museveni said: “If I lose elections, how will I be in power, I have got my job, I am a cattle keeper. I am not power hungry but mission hungry so I have got a mission of economic transformation of Ugandans. But I cannot be intimidated by people like Besigye who do not have a mission for Uganda.”

“The saying that I cannot win in elections, I have been winning in the last elections 1996, 2001 and 2011. If the electoral commission is biased and is rigging for me, how is it that I lose in many constituencies including here (West Nile). It is until recently, that we won. The fact that we lose in some constituencies means that the commission is not biased and if the opposition is rigging votes could be because we are not vigilant,” he added.

FDCs Kizza Besigye and Civil Society Organizations have in the past faulted the Electoral Commission of bias.

Electoral Commission chairman Badru Kiggundu also recently faced off with MPs Abdu Katuntu and Sam Otada after the duo accused him of being in bed with and working on the instructions of Cabinet to swing the election scale in favour of government.

Mr Kiggundu had appeared before the Legal and Parliamentary Committee to give the Commission views on the KCCA Bill currently being considered by the committee.
Reacting to the accusations, Mr Badru Kiggundu denied three times ever working on anyone's instructions.

"Nobody has ever instructed us and no one will ever. I want you to give us substantive evidence that we actually got instructions from anybody. We do not have anybody that gives us instructions even if anyone of you came to the Commission, you can never give us an instruction and we follow," he said.

http://www.monitor.co.ug/SpecialReports/Elections/AUDIO--I-will-hand-over-power-if-I-lose-2016-elections/-/859108/2962870/-/12s4mmiz/-/index.html

2016 presidential race increasingly becoming issue based

By Moses Mulondo

Possibly more than ever before in the political history of Uganda, the presidential contest is increasingly becoming issues based with many candidates making radical pledges.

Going by the observation made by various political analysts that the 2016 presidential race is a three-horse race among Yoweri Museveni, Amama Mbabazi, and Dr. Kizza Besigye, we bring you an overview of some of the specific and easily quantifiable promises the three major contenders have made.

A political campaign is like going to a market where buyers are always inclined to buying from sellers who offer them the best deal.
 
As if the NRM presidential candidate Yoweri Museveni foresaw that 2016 would predominantly be issues based contest, he swiftly launched his manifesto last week during the same week he and other candidates had been duly nominated by the Electoral Commission.
 
But it is the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) flag bearer Dr. Kizza Besigye has taken the lead in making radical pledges which will inevitably compel other candidates to make similar pledges to counter him.

After Vision Group media platforms setting the pace in influencing a presidential contest anchored on the wishes of the citizens through the peoples manifesto project, many other media houses have joined the cause of ensuring that presidential candidates suggest solutions to the problems and concerns of the voters.

Perhaps aware that majority of the voters for the forthcoming elections are young people, Dr. Kizza Besigye has pledged to give a free computer to each secondary school student if elected the next President of Uganda.

He said this would cost government $300m (sh1.8trillion) which would be 7.5% of the sh24trillion budget for the current financial year.
  
He has also repeatedly promised that he would immediately increase salaries for teachers, police officers, soldiers, medical workers, and all other public servants so that they can have a decent living.

Besigye, who is contesting for presidency for the fourth time, has also pledged to pay each elderly person an upkeep allowance of sh50, 000 every month.

He has also promised radical measures of reducing the cost of public administration which include reducing the state house budget, reducing presidential advisors and ministers from the current 80 to only 20.

Among other pledges, President Museveni has promised to increase the annual budget allocated to NAADS from the current sh200b to sh1000b.

Considering the sh24trillion budget for the current year, 1000b/sh1trillion is just 4.1% of the total budget, which is still below the 10% to which African governments were committed to in the 2003 Maputo protocol.

He has also promised to invest more money in agro processing, increase the microfinance budget to create more credit for small-scale businesses, widen the Youth Livelihood Fund to create 280,000 jobs.

The NRM leader has also pledged to improve household incomes so that on average each household earns sh25m annually, compensate the people in the north who lost properties during the war, and set up phosphates and fertilizers processing plants in Tororo.

Other easily quantifiable promises are establishing innovation centers, Soroti University, and setting up business centres in Jinja, Gulu, Mbarara, Kabale, Hoima and Arua.

Probably reluctantly and carefully responding to pressure from Buganda DP leaders who are backing him, Mbabazi has promised to re-open discussions with the Buganda kingdom on the return of their properties and federalism.

In many press conferences and interviews Mbabazi has repeatedly given an ambiguous and non-committal answer on the question of federalism.
 
This is perhaps why the DP Buganda leader Betty Nambooze refused to back him until he has formally and in writing committed himself to Buganda’s interests like federalism.

   
Mbabazi has pledged to distribute free geometry sets to primary pupils, reduce the size of government to reduce the high cost of public administration, create jobs for the youth by introducing a law that compels foreign companies to predominantly employ Uganda nationals, end police brutality within 100 days, and to end the death of 19 women who die every day while giving birth.
   
The Go Forward leader’s other specific promises are abolishing all direct taxes charged on Ugandans, ending corruption, increase the budget for the education and health sectors,  and increasing salaries for all public servants.
   
It should however be noted that unlike Museveni, Mbabazi and Besigye have not yet unveiled their manifestos. Mbabazi is set to launch his manifesto tomorrow (Saturday).
   
In the 2001 presidential race, Ugandans who were tired of the burden of graduated tax jubilated when government abolished it after Dr. Kizza Besigye had pledged to scrap it.
   
Veteran politician Israel Mayengo said, “From what I have observed, the campaign is largely issues based and I am sure at the end of the campaigns, the pledges from all candidates will be uniform and the choice of the best candidate will majorly depend on other factors.”
   
The former Mengo minister advised voters to ask candidates questions, be more critical and careful as they listen to the promises the candidates are making.
   
“For instance, when Mbabazi was in Masaka, he promised to re-open discussions on the return of federalism but some excited people quickly concluded that he had promised Buganda federalism,” he elaborated.
       
Former minister Prof. Edward Kakonge said, “I agree that these campaigns are greatly issues based but unfortunately Museveni is minimally talking about issues of concern to voters and largely focusing on the political past and attacking his competitors. He has promised industries to Luweero, Nakaseke, Nakasongola and the northern region. He has been making the same promise of industrialization for the last 29 years but he has failed in that area.”
   
Security minister and NRM spokesperson Mary Karooro said, “It is true the campaign is issues issued but some of them are making unrealistic promises like when Mbabazi promises to abolish taxes and raise revenue through other means. There is no country in world where citizens are not taxed.”
   
On the criticism that Museveni dwells so much in the past, Karooro said, “Of course the past is very important. NRM has been on a sure path of progress. Our candidate is promising so many new things like hospitals and industries. Those criticizing him have nothing to say.” http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/675688-2016-presidential-race-increasingly-becoming-issue-based.html
 

H.E. PRESIDENT MUSEVENI'S NAKASEKE RALLY

Nakaseke to be turned into industrial town- Museveni

NAKASEKE

Labelling Kampala as a city of barbers and fabric vendors, President Museveni has pledged to build an industrial town in Nakaseke District.

Speaking at his fourth campaign rally in Kiwoko, Nakaseke district on Tuesday, Mr Museveni said this would create jobs for many unemployed youth.

“Bakinyozi bali Kampala, a batunda engoye bali Kampala (loosely translated as barbers and second hand clothes vendors are in Kampala),” he said, adding, “Kapeeka is going to become a new town because we are going to build a town of factories only.”

He added, “Those asking where will the jobs for the youth come from, electricity will attract factories. Factories will provide jobs for the youth.”

A 2012 study says six in every 10 Ugandans are unemployed because the economy is not creating as many opportunities for the students leaving Uganda’s tertiary institutions.

In 2013 during a mining conference in Kampala, Mr Museveni said should the government fail to create jobs for the youth, it risked being toppled.

His pledge to build an industrial town drew no cheer from the crowd as did his pledge to tarmac the Luweero to Ngoma road, which is between 50 and 60 kilometres.

Some of the people the Daily Monitor spoke to over the NRM presidential candidate’s promises said their collective wish is to have their roads tarmacked and construction of more safe water sources.

“The president has ensured some roads are worked on. But more needs to be done on the road from Luweero to Ngoma, which is about 50 kilometres,” said Mr Vincent Ndema, a farmer in Kiwoko in Nakaseke District.

On the other hand, Mr Emmanuel Mambayo, also a farmer, said he hopes the government would work on the rural water sources.

“We do not have boreholes. So we drink water we fetch from ponds, which are not clean. Consequently, we often fall ill; we are always in the health centres seeking for treatment,” Mambayo said.

Ms Hadija Jjingo, the vice chairperson of Wajato Sub–county, said should the road be tarmacked, it would reduce the time spent travelling between the two towns on the currently potholed dirt road.

Mr Museveni said that besides building more factories to create jobs, his government is assisting directly the youth to get jobs – by setting aside Shs33 billion for the youth fund.

General Caleb Akandwanaho, Mr Museveni’s brother, who some locals said rarely attends political rallies, attended yesterday’s in Nakaseke.

Besigye: Let’s build a new Uganda

Rukungiri. Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party presidential candidate Dr Kizza Besigye launched his campaign rally in his home town of Rukungiri, south western Uganda, yesterday and promised to ‘build a new Uganda.’
The rally at Rukungiri stadium attracted thousands of supporters who share his over decade-old view of need for change of government for a new pro-people administration.

He was accompanied by the party president, Gen Mugisha Muntu, Party chairman Wasswa Birigwa, Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, Leader of Opposition in Parliament Wafula Oguttu, Ibrahim Semujju, Fr Gaetano Batanyenda, and Milton Obote 11 regime former minister for Cooperatives, Mr Yona Kanyomozi.
Dr Besigye, who is campaigning on liberation, restructuring state institutions and inclusive development platform, challenged his supporters to regain their power that was taken from them and is being protected by gun.
On liberation, he implored his supporters to shed off the fear they have and unite to wrestle power from the incumbent, President Museveni, whom he is challenging for the fourth time.

“Today I did not come to ask for votes from you to be president. You don’t have a vote, you don’t have power, if you did, I would already be president,” said Dr Besigye.
He added, “If we don’t regain power, we are wasting time.”
Dr Besigye added that voters will regain power if they work as a team.
He unveiled a network named ‘Power 10’ (P10) that will be used to bring the supporters together to fight for their power. Each 10 supporters will come together and register their names on a duplicate card. One copy will go to the party and the group will retain another. There will be a parish coordinator for all the groups. The leader of each power 10 will ensure members go to vote and keep at the polling station. Dr Besigye also gave out his mobile telephone numbers for those who wish to keep in contact with party officials for updates on the developments during the campaigns and elections.

“With P10, we shall rise at once. This time we know what they are doing, if they dare do what they have been doing we shall tell them that this time our vote is not going, we shall tell them what to do. Join P10 and be vigilant. This is not going to be like the past elections,” said Dr Besigye.
On restructuring state institution, Dr Besigye said they intend to have a lean government. He said they will have 20-40 ministers (including assistants) while administrators like Resident District Commissioners will be phased out.
“I told RDCs long time ago to go and look for something else to do,” Dr Besigye said.

Dr Besigye said the money that is being spent on maintaining such a bloated administration shall be invested in taking care of the crucial needs of citizens including improving health facilities and education. “We want to build a new Uganda,” Dr Besigye said.
Dr Besigye said they will fight corruption and channel the money towards improving the welfare of the citizens, will provide lap tops to each secondary school student, build silos for farmers, reintroduce cooperatives, promote mechanised agriculture, seek partnerships with religious leaders to stabilise collapsing families, establish industries where Ugandans will buy shares, promote research in agriculture and other fields and establish a farmers bank.
“We are not inventing these things, that’s how they work elsewhere,” Dr Besigye said.

Rukungiri base
Rukungiri is one of the strongest FDC bases in western region. Dr Kizza Besigye’s support in the district has been increasing. He has been fetching about 10,000 more votes every election since 2001.
When in 1999 he wrote a critique of NRM trajectory, Mr Museveni sought to have him court martialed. He was saved by a delegation of over 100 political and opinion leaders from Rukungiri District who rushed to meet Mr Museveni at State House Nakasero. Armed with the discharge letter from the army, Dr Besigye announced his presidential bid on October 28, 2000, as president Museveni and his Rwanda Counterpart Paul Kagame were playing football at Kakyeka Stadium in Mbarara at Ntare School Old Boys Association re union.

Dr Athanasius Rutaro, the then LC5 chairman Rukungiri, announced that the district would support Dr Besigye. Out of the 36 district councillors, 30 openly declared support for Dr Besigye. He polled 27,067 votes (13.3 per cent) in the 2001 elections
In 2006, Dr Besigye received 31342 votes (34.0 per cent), an increase of 21 per cent from the 2001 election. However, about 96,000 people who were initially in Rukungiri, voted from Kanungu District that was created after 2001. In 2011 Dr Besigye polled 40,288 votes (39.9 per cent), an increase of 4.9 per cent.

editorial@ug.nationmedia.com

http://www.monitor.co.ug/SpecialReports/Elections/Besigye-build-new-Uganda/-/859108/2950230/-/13og4l8z/-/index.html

MBABAZI FIRST CAMPAIGN SPEECH

Mbabazi promises federo, end to police brutality

MASAKA. He dumped the written speech, rejected the fancy standing speech podium, folded his shirt and asked the crowd to scream, “Go Forward”, if they really want change. The crowd responded as asked covering Masaka Golf Course in deafening screams.
This was in sharp contrast to the suited, collected and suave Mbabazi who appeared in Nakivubo Stadium last week to accept his nomination as Go Forward presidential candidate.

In Masaka, he specially delivered his “time for change is now” message to fit the audience and used the opportunity to speak to the Mengo establishment, promising an all engaging discussion on the return of federo and all Buganda property.
“I want to promise you that our government will open discussions with Buganda on the return of federo and all other Buganda property when it comes to power,” he said, quickly adding that all other kingdoms in the country will be accorded equal treatment when discussing the return of their property.

Just last year, however, President Museveni started returning some of Buganda Kingdom’s land titles. This, legislator Medard Ssegona, told the Nakivubo crowds last week, was being done in anticipation of Mr Mbabazi’s promises to Buganda.
Mr Mbabazi also challenged the people of Masaka to lead the time for change is now campaign and the push for peaceful transition of power because they have tested the brunt of violent change of government’s more than any other district.
“For 53 years, we have always gotten change through spilling blood and nobody knows it more than you the people of Masaka,” he said. “We should not be like those countries where leaders lose elections and refuse to leave power.
Mr Mbabazi also promised to end police brutality in the first 100 days of his being in office, saying that the police force can only be good if it works well with the people.
“We want the police to be loyal to the people. To come to the protection of the people and not suppression,” he said.
Earlier in the day, Police had been accused, by his agents, of protecting a squad of youth that went around Masaka defacing and plucking his posters off buildings and electricity poles around town.

Police also barricaded the entrance to Masaka town to prevent a possible procession into the heart of the town. That, however, did not hinder the excitement of his supporters, including the more than 20 who were to be presented to him as having crossed from NRM, sending Mr Mbabazi into frenzy, performing the kiganda dance before and after his speech and constantly asking the crowds to scream Go Forward as a show of support.

On claims of having been in power, Mbabazi said: “I was never in power. I only had delegated power. Give me what I lacked then and I will show you what I can do as President.”
And on what the people should do in case the vote is rigged, he said: “The constitution vests power in the people.
“If the people decide to change a government, it can change. Do not crave change and just sit on the sideline. Work on it. Be agents of the change campaign and protect the votes.”
Today, Mr Mbabazi moves to Mukono District.

The encounters with security personnel

On arrival, police under the command of southern regional police commander Maxwell Ogwal, attempted to block Mbabazi’s procession through Masaka Town , but the swelling crowds overpowered the Force and continued with the procession, led by a brash band through major streets in the town.
DP stalwarts in Masaka led by Henry Bazira Ssewanyana and JB Kawanga –both former legislators handed Mbabazi a spear and shield to guard him on his way to State House.
In Kalangala District, a group of 27 Mbabazi’s supporters, who were travelling in a coaster to attend his rally in Masaka Town, were intercepted by police at Bugoma landing site where the ferry that links Kalangala to Masaka mainland docks Security personnel led by a one Turyasinga indicated that the ferry plying the Kalangala- Masaka route is only supposed to carry people going for businesses, not those going to attend political rallies. According to Amos Nkalubo, one of the supporters who were in the Mbabazi camp, when the security personnel saw the bus, which was decorated with Amama Mbabazi campaign posters, denied it entry onto the ferry .

“We later resolved to leave the bus with police and cross to Masaka using canoes.” He said
Kalangala officer in charge of criminal investigations Chris Yashaba when contacted indicated that he had not heard about the incident. He, however, indicated that security personal have a right to bar people from using the ferry if they suspect them as being dangerous on the ferry.

Reactions

“I expected Mbabazi to tell us how he will develop agriculture when he gets power. Agriculture is the back bone of Uganda’s economy but nothing much is done to develop the sector,”
Phiona Nalugemwa (DP)

“Mbabazi has not addressed the issue of lack of clean water in many parts of Masaka yet that is the biggest problem in this area. Many Ugandans still share water with animals, which puts them at a risk of contracting diseases...”
Aminah Nakawungu (DP)

“Mbabazi should address the problem of unemployment especially among the youth when he gets the people’s mandate to lead the country in 2016...”
Abel Byamugisha (FDC)

“Mbabazi should restore term limits when he is voted into office in 2016 because developed countries change power peacefully because they have term limits. The new president the country gets should put up a limit on years the president is supposed to govern the country,”
Hajji Kyeyune Amir.

Compiled By Malik Fahad Jjingo
editorial@ug.nationmedia.com

Understanding land measurements

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The illustrations presented show a three-bedroom house fitting in a 50 by 100ft plot of land with some space for parking and other outdoor spaces. Illustrations by Julius Eryenyu Jojo. 

By Julius Eryenyu Jojo

Posted  Wednesday, October 28   2015 at  02:00

IN SUMMARY

For some people, it is hard to understand the measurements of land. this is because it is at times measured in feet, metres and hectares.

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With the rising real estate business in Uganda, land sale and buying is one of the most ventured into business Because of this, the biggest percentage of plots are sold in the measurements of 100x50ft.
Let us therefore first understand what is meant by 50 x100 or 100 x 50 plots. 100x50ft refer to measurements of the sides of the plot assumed to be in a regular rectangular form, with the longest side (length) being 100 feet, and the smaller side (width) being 50 feet, therefore the “100 by 50” refer to the side dimensions (measurements) of the plot and are always in feet, unless if indicated otherwise. 
If taken into metric conversion, 50ft by 100ft converted into metres is 15.24 metres by 30.48 metres, so at least if you are buying a 50x100ft plot and you do not see those very measurements on the land tittle, you look out for 15 by 30. 
However, due to irregularity of land shapes, some plots will come with some sides longer than others but still covering the same area as a 50x100ft plot. So let’s look at the area briefly.

Area
A 50x100ft plot is one-eighth of an acre, which implies that one acre of land constitutes of eight plots of 50ft x100ft, and an acre is equal to 100 decimals so if you divide 100 decimals by eight, the result is 12.5 decimals which is the area size of a 50ft by 100ft plot.
You might be frustrated not being able to find the “12.5decimals” on your land tittle (which is most likely), which might put the buyer and the seller in difficult positions. 
It is important to know for that matter that, the land title will reflect the area of your plot/ land in hectares, and therefore a 50ft by 100ft plot covers an area of approx. 0.046 hectares.
To understand it in metres, you multiply by 10,000, and therefore the 50ft by 100ft plot is approximately 460 square metres.

Conclusion 
When you are buying land, you may never see 50x100 anywhere, simply because its written or presented in different measurement units such as metres, or if the shape is irregular, look out for the area, it should be in the region of 0.046 hectares or 460 square metres, that way, you get value for your money and buy.

editorial@ug.nationmedia.com

http://www.monitor.co.ug/Magazines/HomesandProperty/Understanding-land-measurements/-/689858/2932090/-/dih41r/-/index.html