Ugandans-At-Heart

Peter Nyombi is a Ugandan lawyer and politician. He is the current Attorney
General in the Ugandan Cabinet. He was appointed to that position on 27 May
2011

Recap:
1. When A.M.Obote was MoF under President Obote, Foreign exchange was hard to procure. The signature of the MoF was needed.
2. A certain Asian [name withheld] procured forex with a forged Obote’s signature and got the dollars from BoU. It was a scandal of proportions. The Asian escaped to Nairobi, out of the reach of the law, seemingly.

3. The Special Branch [of The Uganda Police] swung into action and lured the Asian back from Nairobi. He was ‘nabbed’ at /near ‘Tank Hill’ [at Reste Coner to be exact] by the CID and soon aligned before Court. Chosen to represent the State of Uganda was one young lawyer, Nyombi.

4. Before Court at Mmengo, facts were presented on file and the culprit was to be sent to Luzira but he asked for bail. When the State was asked whether bail was appropriate, Mr. Nyombi answer, “The State does not object to Mr…’s bail. The culprit was released, jumped bail and never appeared again. At the CID and the the Attorney General’s chambers, there was shock

5. The instruction to Nyombi had been, “No bail under any condition since this man had been extracted from Kenya with difficulty….”.

6. The head of CID then, One Kanywamusayi confronted Nyombi, who had no explanation.”You are a fake lawyer and thief’, cried the CID BOSS. Rumour had it then that Nyombi had been seen in some corners with the agents of the culprit some days before the court date. Interestingly, this betrayal of his institution and country is known by all contemporaries of Nyombi, and even PM Mbabazi should be aware, having been his colleague and the AG’s chamber before.

7. Mother of all questions: WHY WAS A TRAITOR LAWYER CHOSEN TO BECOME THE TOP GOVERNMENT LAWYER, OF AL PEOPLE. Nyombi was born and grew up a ‘fraud’. He should never have been trusted.

So, when he decided to side with a Political party in the case of the four NRM MP rebels against the State he represents, Nyombi should not surprise anybody. It is in his blood.

Chris Muwanga,
Nakasero,
Kampala.

Museveni vision 2040 has raised many questions

A few years ago while celebrating UGANDA INDEPENDENCE DAY with some friends I proposed the idea of fighting corruption at all cost and at all level, but some people thought it will be hard and difficult to do.

I proposed the idea of confiscating the wealth of the guilty corrupt people, the freezing of assets they own, selling off property they have acquired, introducing a criminal record status that will be on their record for some time and recovering the money they have taken including paying the court bill to the DPP if they lose the case.

But after sometime someone has taken up my proposal and my dream. Hon Simbwa proposed bill is a great i deal that I had in my heart and it will be one of the main reforms that will help in fighting corruption and building public trust, helping the economy to grow, create new jobs, encourage foreign investors, improve on the social welfare and fight employment among youth.
This idea I copied it in the North East of England where they had a problem of drugs and crime, but when they introduced measures to arrest drug dealers and charge them, it reduced crime,

Measures included the guilty criminals where meant to pay the police money for investigating them, recover the money they had gained from drugs, repossessing of the houses they have bought, take everything of valve in the house and sentencing them to prison for a long time.

This was to discourage the few who thought that drugs and crime pays because the drug dealers who used to show-off with big cars and jewellery they were coming out of prison without anything and with a big and long criminal record that always stays in their life.

The measures gave Cleveland Police, Durham Constabulary and Northumbria Police ways of reducing crime and building the communities.

The reason why Hon Simbwa’s Bill must be introduced soon was started in the North East Of England the Police Services in the area can testify the achievement that such ideas brought.

We need to show the corrupt that abuse of office, embezzlement and stealing from public coffers does not pay.
It will not only benefit in fighting corruption but even to discourage many who are thinking of stealing and embezzling funds.
There is a need to send a strong message to the public that action against corruption is being taken and to the corrupt that corruption will not be tolerated in anyway, by taking away what they have gained and owned through corruption, it will be of National Benefit and for many years to come.

Now if we do care about the country and the future generation we need to build trust in them and make them be proud of their country, by taking action on matters that are of great importance to them and fighting corruption must be Uganda’s Main priority

But i would like to appeal to Hon John Simbwa MP Makindye East to include a clause or title in this bill, which must take away the President’s power to pardon people who have been found guilty on corruption charges.

And to include the title which states that we must have an independent judiciary to Investigate and judge the corruption cases, but that judiciary must be monitored and checked because they can misinterpret the law and go on to use separation of power.

So let’s amend the Anti-corruption Act 2009 and 2012 by supporting Hon Simbwa’s motion regardless of political Party, Tribe, Religion, Culture or Region, but for National interest and for a better Uganda, where people can dream of success with Love, Faith and Hope.

Not a country where dreams are being washed away and people are not proud of their country, we need to build faith back in the public.

Written by Peter Marco

Folks:
What YKM did in Kamuli(Busoga) is what Mr Moi used to do all the time. That is why the likes of Kirongo and yes Deputy President Ruto became very rich. BTW, people used to fight in Moi’s state house. I mean real blows in the corridors, over you guessed it, money. it is also why Kamlesh Pattni milked Kenya billions under the Goldenberg Scandal . People used to wake up and go to hang out in the corridors of state house. The new occupant seems to make state house accessible to journalists, which is a good thing.

So what is it the youth of Kamuli are doing with 250 million? I hope the money does not get stolen because the thieves are also salivating. they want presidentt YKM to give out more cash. One of these days the thieves will pounce, after all they are among the youth and hell will break lose. Being state controller under YKM must the most difficult job.

General Kayihura

I think the IGP has done well under the circumstances. He said it. He needs more boots on the ground but there is no money. Instead the thieves at OPM are swindling billions while the police force is starved off resources. Yet the more boots on the ground the better. But as Mr Nochrach has not tired to remind us, it is upon Ugandans and not us to demand an effective police for them.

We try to ask the IGP questions and offer suggestions but we are not voters in the country. It is upon the voters of Uganda to demand accountable and responsible government. For instance, why no police outside urban boundaries? Why no police vehicles? Why no fuel money for the few if any police cars? Why police officers are poorly paid? Why is the govt not doing enough to construct homes for police etc? These are questions so called MPs and Ugandans must ask.

From what I read and to his great credit, the IGP is accessible. I mean he is everywhere so why are not Ugandans approaching him with real concerns? My advice to the IGP is to hold public consultations/town hall meeting to hear from the peasant. Actually the police in Uganda is overworked and un appreciated. Yes if you appreciate someone or something you treat them with respect and pay them better.

Also the police must also change their attitude towards the people. Why so many different police uniforms? A police officer must not be feared by the people. To complicate matters the “Ogwenos” whom Mr. Okurut talked about negatively are probably no more. Big mistake. The gomboloola askari were the ‘police’ in rural areas.

I sense Ugandans or the govt is waiting for oil money to dream big. Wrong. Dream big now. YKM’s cabinet is a den of thieves. He said it when handing out a bagful of money. Phew! Many are thieves who join politics to steal and not to serve. True dat. There is nothing about public service.

WBK

Kirunda at his house. kirunda is a Media Management Officer at state house uganda

I salute the IGG for having seen the value of the investment by allowing the management of MMI Steel Mills LTD to compensate the occupants of plot M155. However, I wish to respond on some of the recommendations in her report:

1. My role in influencing the Jinja district land board

The relationship between the MMI investors and I is nationalistic. My involvement in acquisition of the land was in line with the presidential initiative of attracting foreign investors in the country to expand on the tax base and create employment for the jobless youth. If it wasn’t my involvement Uganda would have lost billions in terms of revenue.

MMI investors have invested USD 30 million in Jinja Steel Factory, which consumes 5 mega watts of power at over Shs 210million per month; they are also boosting the economy of this country by paying VAT of Shs1.2 billion per month. Moreover, they have never received support from government.

kirunda is a Media Management Officer at state house uganda

The acquisition of the said land was aimed at expansion of their investments in Uganda and solving a court case following a court injunction on the construction of USD 30 million factory. This followed a case filed against MMI by the second buyer of the land, Dolly Mubarak.

MMI acquired land from Mr. Dolly Mubarak little knowing that he had received a deposit of five million shillings on the same piece of land plot 40, 42-46 Walukuba Road from Mr. Keswala, the first buyer.

The Jinja high court judge, Flavia Senoga , advised both parties to settle the matter out of court. Mr. Subash Patel who was in Tanzania at that time requested me as a friend to spear head the process and in our November meeting at hotel Africana, Kampala we all agreed to settle the matter out of court on condition that the first buyer, Mr. Keswala, be compensated with 5 acres of land so as to lift the court injunction on the construction of the factory. There was no other option but to look for land for the expansion of the factory and compensation Keswala since 4 acres from the 11 purchased from Dolly Mubarak had been lost to NEMA.

Therefore, my alleged influence of allocation of plot M155 was aimed at solving the above problem to save Uganda from losing the MMI investor who has now expanded the tax base of the country. I could not allow the country to lose him. We are all aware that H.E has been keen on promotion and protection of foreign investors. On several occasions he has suggested that whoever stands in the way of investors should be hanged.

2. The alleged use of the Presidents name.

I don’t recall having used H.E’s name as a tool for acquiring the land. I only quoted the meeting of 3rd October 2011 in Dar- es-Salaam, Tanzania where H.E Kikwete introduced Mr. Subash Patel to H.E Museveni as a substantial investor who has contributed greatly to the economy of Tanzania. Among other issues discussed briefly was his Uganda investment plan. In attendance was the then PPS M/s Grace Akello. Records for the meeting can be traced.

However, my communication to the acting RDC Jinja dated 15th January 2012, by then Madam Rwakishumba Judith, was misinterpreted. To the best of my knowledge, it was a brief containing facts about the MM1 investors and not a directive as alleged. The brief was necessary since Mr. Katenda Luutu who had knowledge about the investor was not in office. This followed the failure of Mr. Nyago the deputy PPS to write a letter regarding the same as he had promised in his meeting with the mayor. I couldn’t wait to lose such an investor.

3. The alleged participation in bribery.
It is unfair for a law enforcement officer to punish a person who has been conned and set free a conman with a mere warning. Regarding bribery, if we are to have more foreign investors in the country government should work on mechanism of protecting the investors in this country. There are many investors in this country who have suffered more than MMI, and I can only discuss this matter physically, but what I have to say is that investors are suffering due to political interference with no government protection.

For the case of MMI, I dissuaded then deputy PPS Mr. Nyago from involving politicians but he insisted on involving them because I knew the consequences of involving them based on their track record. When we started facing challenges as a result of their involvement I tried to reach Mr. Nyago on phone and at office but in vain. However, I managed to send him an email on 13th January 2012, on the same matter. I couldn’t do much on the political interference because I am not the one who involved the politicians.

Secondly, on the alleged bribe of Shs15 million, the money paid out was commission to the person who identified the land on condition of refunding the money in case of failure to secure the land. It was receipted. I didn’t pay out that commission neither the subsequent token of appreciation.

4. Acquiring of the land

Jinja district land board is headed by a retired judge Alex Waibale and there is no way I could influence a full experienced judge to make a mistake.

Our main purpose of rushing to secure a title before compensating was to prove ownership of the land basing on the experience of poor management of public land in Jinja whereby land is allocated to more than one person and it was seen as a grave mistake to compensate public land before proving ownership.

Secondly, it is unfair to blame me for the acquisition of land which had occupants yet the council officials who identified that land for the investor were not blamed for misleading us.

The said land was surveyed on instructions of the Commissioner of Lands and Survey in his letter dated 20th may 2005 for Jinja district land board on the request of the then board secretary, Tabitha Kakuze.
Surprisingly, after some time the same Tabitha in her current capacity as the physical planner of Jinja municipal council made some changes on the same land from industrial to residential without notifying the district land board who had the rights over the land basing on their earlier instructions to survey the same land.

The land was dully inspected by the investors with the area land committee which recommended the acquisition of the said land with a condition of compensating the sitting tenants before commencement of the project. The said land had 15 families- not 6, 000 people as it
was alleged in the petition.

A survey was done by Jinja district land board and the lease was offered by the Jinja Land board on condition of compensating the sitting tenants before commencement of the project, and also the required money for the land was paid to Jinja municipal council- not Land board. Documentation is available.

However, when the company reached the stage of compensation confusion arose on who is responsible to handle the compensation among the area leaders.

As a result, the IGG was petitioned over this controversy. It took close to two years for the IGG to issue a report during which time the investment has been on hold.

That petition filed was backed by a clique of some malicious, demanding politicians and technical people who wanted to own oversight over the project for their own benefit. The IGG’s office was used to avenge themselves after failing to make in-roads.

There is always a claim that Jinja has lost its clout as an industrial town. Although numerically that’s false, progressively, it’s true. By 1986, greater Busoga including Njeru had only eight factories. Now they are 70 but could have been many more if it was not for investor frustrations like in the case of MMI.

Investors come here knowing that they will get all the support they need only to encounter hostile individuals who want to squeeze the capital they came to invest out of them. Such people are unpatriotic. Their sabotage is as destructive to the economy as the corrupt and the violent.

Patriotic Ugandans who are doing their best to heed the President’s call of attracting economic-boosters should not be sacrificed at the altar of self-seekers who only milk the economy.

In conclusion I ask you Members of UAH to spare some time and visit MMI. Personally I do not regret my involvement in support of the MMI investors, since it was aimed at expanding the tax base of this country for the growth of our economy which was achieved.

KIRUNDA FARUK
STATE HOUSE