Thursday, December 29, 2011

What it means to ride a bicycle to work

I started serious riding when I had just finished my advanced level exams and the bike commonly known as a changer came was a gift from mum upon finishing my secondary school.
But for me the one hundred sixty thousand shillings bike meant more than just a ride it meant moving around the city and also while I searched for any vacation job opportunity.
And just as they say that where there is a will there is a way, soon I landed a job of a bus conductor and so I could wake up early in the morning like at six, jump on my changer and ride all the way from Nansana to Jinja stage in the old taxi park.
Waking up early was never a problem but the stingy morning breeze and also some times when it rained I would find my boss either gone or filled the bus with passengers and so I would not get the pay for calling for passengers and he would quarrel.
Some days like on weekends I would stay at home another opportunity to ride around town to places like Kibuye, Kansanga, Kasubi, Mpererwe to visit friends and relative and also going to church.
For anyone riding a bicycle will agree with me that that two wheel drive save a lot of transport and beats traffic jam better than a bodaboda.
I remember when taxi drivers had a sit down strike I saw a lot of people walking to and from work while I and other colleagues were. That particular day we had a meeting with certain no nonsense lecturer and many students missed out for they came late and the policy was she comes you, you do not enter.
Apart from saving transport and beating traffic jam and also being cheap to maintain I have discovered yet another benefit about riding to work daily. It offers a daily dose of exercise which keeps me healthy.
And I guess it because of such benefits that many people especially students are buying these changer bicycles a lot today than ever before. A lot of students at campus and high school today have opted for bicycles mainly for the purposes of saving.
Ridding to work also comes with challenges and costs especially on rainy days. It means that you must check your wardrobe in relation to the wheather forecast or else you will curse the day as the bike has pelted you with mud at the back. Apart from that even other road users like taxi drivers and bodaboda men think that being on a bicycle you don’t own even a single inch on the road.
They try all means possible to push you off the road. For instance mid this year I was ridding from kamwokya going back to Nansana. I decided to pass by kubbiri then join the northern bypass through Bwaise. There was heavy traffic jam and I dicided to go in the middle of the lanes and there was this bodaboda guy who came following and seemingly in a hurry as he kept on hooting and shouting that I give him way.
Eventually he took over I trailed at a high speed and immediately after joining Bombo road and before going through the fly over a pajero hit the pavement up the fly over and came spinning in the air from up the fly over coming down, only to hit a taxi full of people down in the lane and the bodaboda man and his passenger. Eight people died on spot, that evening I learnt to give way especially when someone seems to be in a hurry. Had I refused to give way I would be the one hit by the flying pajero.
On other incident, I was hit by a speeding car at around 9pm at Kampala northern bypass as I hurried back home from school but I was not so much injured.
Some workmates also sometimes do not take you serious when they get to know that you ride to work. I mean they give you that look which says a million sentences in a second.

Monday, December 12, 2011

ORAL HEALTH PROBLEMS; HOW SAFE AREYOU?

BY BRIAN SSENOGA KIMULI
At eighty seven years Yusuf Kibirige still can ride bicycle, dig, still seeing well and has all his teeth intact, he pities his seventeen years old granddaughter who has just had one of her teeth removed due to reasons he himself cannot understand only to say that these are bad times for the young owns. He even asks if he will have any teeth by the time she clocks thirty.
According to experts our mouths are full of bacteria, which combine with small food particles and saliva to form a sticky film known as plaque, which builds up on the teeth.
When one consumes food and drink that is high in carbohydrates (sugary or starchy), the bacteria turn the carbohydrates into the energy they need, producing acid at the same time and the acid in plaque begins to break down the surface of the tooth.
The plaque will first start to erode the enamel. Over time, a small hole known as a cavity can develop on the surface which often causes toothache.
Once cavities have formed in the enamel, the plaque and bacteria can reach the dentine, as the dentine is softer than the enamel, the process of tooth decay speeds up.
Without treatment, the plaque and bacteria will then enter the pulp and at this stage, your nerves will be exposed to the bacteria, making your tooth very painful and this when many think of having their tooth removed.
According to Dr. Juliet Nabbanja a principle Dental Surgeon at the school of public health, Mulago, dental problems are considered as one of the oral health problems which she says they are on the rise in Uganda than any other part of the world.
In commemoration of the world oral health day on December 9th, a survey conducted by the ministry of health on oral health in Uganda established 51 percent of the population have ever experienced some form of oral disease, 76 percent of children below five years and 93 percent of adults in Uganda suffer from tooth decay while only 35 percent of the population have access to dental care.
Dr. Nabbanja explains that oral diseases are dieases which affect the mouth and its related parts. And the most common among Ugandans toothaches, gum diseases, facial trauma, jaw trauma, oral cancers among others.
“We also found out that 71 percent Ugandans are affected by gum diseases, 13 percent get facial trauma, 13 percent get jaw traumas while three percent of Ugandans are infected with oral cancers. This presents serious consequences on the economy since people affected are always unable to fully utilise their potential to carryout economic duties” says Dr. Nabbanja.
Tooth decay typically occurs in the teeth at the back of the mouth, known as the molars and premolars. These are large flat teeth used to chew food. And are harder to clean properly due to their size and shape therefore it is easy for small particles of food to get stuck on and in-between these teeth.
The world oral health day was established by the American Dental Association (ADA) and the World Dental Federation to boost awareness of oral health and its impact on general health and wellbeing. It is marked every twelveth day of September with global, regional and national activities related to oral health and this year’s theme chosen by World Dental Federation was Non-Communicable Diseases.
However, according to Annet Kutesa a dental surgeon, oral diseases are considered as one of the several Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs).
“Research has shown that oral diseases are highly related to lifestyle factors which are risks to most chronic diseases and NCDs. Oral diseases are currently a major public health threat owing to their prevalence and incidence in Uganda” says Dr. Kutesa
She says that the most prominent NCDs include cardiovascular or heart diseases, diabetes, cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases all sharing common risk factors with oral diseases, preventable risk factors that are related to lifestyle.
“Dietary habits are significant to the development of Non-communicable Diseases and influence the development of dental caries. For instance, tobacco use is estimated to account for over 90 percent of cancer of the mouth, and it’s associated with aggravated dental breakdown, poorer standards of oral hygiene and also premature tooth loss” she continues.
To combat the increase of oral health related diseases a national health policy on oral health education and integration of oral health services has been developed.
Risk factors for oral health problems.
There are a number of identified risk factors for oral health problems, which are outlined below.
Diet.
Consuming food and drink that is high in carbohydrates will increase your risk of tooth decay. Tooth decay is often associated with sweet and sticky food and drink, such as chocolate, sweets, sugar and carbonated drinks.
Poor oral hygiene.
If you do not regularly brush your teeth and/ or clean your mouth, you are at a higher risk. You should brush your teeth at least twice a day or rinse your mouth every after eating.
Smoking
Smokers have a higher chance of developing oral cancer as the tobacco smoke interferes with the production of saliva, which helps to keep the surface of your mouth cavity wet. Studies have also shown that passive smoking can also be a risk factor, particularly for children.
Others include; Dry mouth, Eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia can increase the risk of oral health and frequent Gastro-esophageal refluxes a digestive condition where stomach acid leaks back up out of the stomach and into the throat, sometimes entering the mouth.
NUMBERS.
300 dentists registered with Uganda Medical and Dental Practitioners’ council
700 public health dental officers trained by government in the year 2010/11
125 government health facilities offering dental services.

Friday, November 18, 2011

RELIGIOUS ORGANISATIONS CAUSING MAJOR IMPACT ON UGANDANS.

“I don't know if you realize what a great deal of influence you gave me all my life. I just want to let you know how important you've been to me and how much I'll always love you. Thank you for loving me” said Innocent Mwanja at his graduation in gratitude to Children of Uganda, a religious organization founded in the early 1990s by the Daughters of Charity to fight for child rights in conflict areas, and promote children’s welfare in Uganda.
Just like Innocent many people in Uganda today owe their wellbeing to such religious organisations helping the needy most of who, happen to be orphans, widows and/or elderly.
It is also on record that major religious organizations in Uganda like Uganda joint Christian council have become significantly involved in AIDS prevention, campaigning for equal rights among people, and others like Sanyu Babies’ home have specialized in offering services to the needy children who are dumped on garbage pits.
According to information on Sanyu babies’ home website www.sanyubabies.com, there are over 2.3 million known orphans in Uganda more than any other nation in the world today. The home receives children ranging in age from a few hours to two years, with no known parents or relatives, and is dedicated to providing these children with love, security, medical care and education. We provide them with a Home.
According to Ms. Sylvia Atungosa, the coordinator NGO activities in Karamoja region, Faith Based Organisations are joining many other actors in the global fight against HIV/AIDS and can offer our specific resources and strengths.
“It is fair to say that FBOs have often played a positive role in Uganda’s fight against HIV/AIDS. Involving religious leaders early on in the planning and implementation of national AIDS strategies have seen dramatic changes in the course of the epidemic. For example, religious communities in karamoja, working hand in hand with AIDS service organizations and the government, have championed peer education, counselling and home care programmes” she says.
Iga Aisha of Lucia Youth Development Foundation (LUYDEFO), an organization founded to help Moslem girls in six districts says that over 12000 needy primary school pupils have been assisted by her organization to attain education since it started five years ago.
Anglican Bishop joseph Abura of Karamoja Diocese and a member of Moroto-Nakapiripirit Religiuos Leaders Initiative for Peace (MONARIP) adds to say that some religious organisations in the war torn areas of northern Uganda are still fully engaged in the rebuilding of peace in the area, and others are more in the construction industry.
“More than 5,000 children who had been abducted by the LRA have been reunited with their families after receiving basic medical care, psychosocial counseling and family-tracing support in reception centers put by the church” he says.
In Kampala alone apart from preaching the gospel several religious or faith based organisations have been involved feeding and getting disadvantaged children off the streets turning them into recognizable citizens today.
In the area of health most major hospitals in the country are founded on religious backgrounds health facilities like Rubaga hospital, Mengo Hospital, Kibuli Muslim hospital, Nsambya Hospital to mention but a few. These are known to offer excellent services to the nation just to complement to overly stretched government health facilities.

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

MULAGO STACK WITH FAKE MACHINES

“Please,we beg you forgive us but the machine is not functioning, I think you will come back next week. It will be fixed and I will be glad to work on you” rang the voice of a nurse at Level 5C Mulago Hospital.
The announcement dazed Nalongo Sarai 55, of Busujju had been diagnosed with a problem of the heart and was advised to take treatment with effect.
When asked for how long the condition has been like this, the nurse on duty who preferred anonymity explained that the Electrocardiography (ECG) machine was always on and off.
“This machine is always on and off, it works for two days and take a week on leave I think they procured old machines to work on peoples’ hearts yet their ‘hearts’ are already rotten . It is giving me a lot of trouble. Some patients even get tired and abuse me but I have nothing to do” said the nurse.
ECG treatment is an across the thorax or chest interpretation of the electrical activity of the heart over a period of time, as detected by electrodes attached to the outer surface of the skin and recorded by a device external to the body. The recording produced by this noninvasive procedure is termed an electrocardiogram.
Thus, patients who needed such service resorted to self-pity and complaining about the ineffectiveness of the institution as they slowly strolled down the steps from level 5c to go and have services and treatment from the Uganda Heart Institute (UHI) which according to a highly placed source in the Mulago Hospital administration must be paid for with a sum of at least Shs 200,000/=
However, according to Dr Asuman Lukwago Permanent Secretary Ministry of Health, this is not the only malfunctioning equipment procured recently by the hospital administration.
“Government has accessed Mulago for the past years and it has not been performing as expected. What alarms government is the procurement of dummy equipment such as the CT Scan which cannot even work on three patients a day” he said.
“We have found out that most machines procured are fake and instead of treating patients they cause more damage. These machines like that CT Scan emits a lot of radiations which cause cancer and so we do not know how much damage it has caused our patients” added Mr Lukwago Asuman while addressing journalists at Mulago on Friday about the state of the National Referral hospital and the new hospital administration headed by Dr Byarugaba Baterana.
According to Mr Lukwago, the fake CT scan was bought at a cost of US 800,000 dollars late last year and worked for only three months.
“We have also found out that about Shs 44 million is nowhere to be seen and was not accountable for by the previous administration yet they claimed to have had supplies from various companies which is not true. Those thieves executed a lot of fraudulent deals conniving with some of the suppliers which eventually put a lot of peoples’ lives on the line” he continued.
He warns that the ministry has taken a tough stand to evacuate the previous Mulago hospital administration led by Dr Edward Ddumba replacing him with Mr Byarugaba Baterana as investigations into the matter are in the final stages and government is calculating the costs of disposal of the fake machines and buying new ones.
MORE EQUIPMENT
Apparently, Mulago has received 900 beds, at an estimated cost of Shs 690,000 each, 300 mattresses, 75 state of the art blood pressure machines from government and a donation of US 88 million dollars from the African Development Bank which is going to be used to refurbish the hospital and two other health centers which include Kawempe, and Kiruddu health centers.
This comes at a time when plans of building five other hospitals around Kampala including an only women complex at Mulago are still premature.

Monday, September 5, 2011

MULAGO READY FOR INVESTIGATIONS

MULAGO READY FOR INVESTIGATIONS
Following the appearance of Dr Diana Atwine the head of the state house Drug Monitoring Unit before parliament’s social services committee last week where she accused Mulago Hospital Administration of corruption and misuse of office coupled with constant inflating and procurement of faulty bio-medical machines, Mulago hospital has come out to show their commitment and readiness for an investigation as suggested by the members of parliament on the social services committee.
In an interview with The Razor, Mulago Hospital spokes person Dan Atwijukire Kimosho the hospital had agreed with the law makers to pay a courtesy visit to the national referral hospital and make a few findings on their own.
“The official position is that the Members of parliament come and make a few findings on their own not just to go by hearsay and that we agreed the last time we met with them” said Dan Atwijukire. “But if they want to make a surprise visit or mount an investigation we are still ready for such, for we believe our hands are clean and even if we touched white linen a thousand times it will still remain clean” he added.
However, he seems to point an accusing finger at the previous administration which was headed by Dr Edward Ddumba when he says that that all kinds of mismanagement if any should be blamed not on the current administrators.
“Let me tell you the current administration is barely a year in office so I wonder how one can say we are corrupt, if there is any form of corruption then it is the previous regime to be investigated, actually we are making the once crooked lines straight” he said.
According to a reliable source in the administration, Mulago hospital used about 800 million to procure a CT scan which worked for only two months before breaking down; other machines which were procured at high costs include some incubators which are also faulty, corbus blood testing machines which have never worked among others.
Recently speaking to this paper on phone, Dr Diana Atwine said that Mulago hospital lacked priority setting.
“They just do not know how to set priorities, all they do is spend money on workshops and conferences abroad yet they could use that money to buy equipment which is up to standard. Then they later complain of having little resources, but then where the accountability for the little resources, resources have never been sufficient that is the problem everywhere. Let them show us what they have done with the little they get from government” she said
Apparently Mulago is directed by Dr Byarugaba Baterana a man who served as deputy director under Ddumba’s four years tenure. More still Dr Birabwa Male the deputy director was for long the head of department pediatrics surgery even during the last regime.
According to a reliable source in the hospital administration, some administrators only changed posts but never went out of the hospital.
When asked if the current administration is ready for any investigations the hospital spokes man expressed his readiness.
“An investigation does not need one to be ready to be investigated, it is like a court hearing, you wait for the investigator to declare you either innocent or guilty but what I know and stress is that is the previous administration to pin against any mischief not the current one” he said.

Monday, July 18, 2011

Mulago runs out of formalin, embalming fees hiked

Formalin, a solution usually used in the treatment of dead bodies has become a scarce item- one of those lacking in the histology or pathology wing of the national referral hospital and now workers there have resorted to buying it themselves from outside the hospital gates hence, a lucrative business has emerged as they heavily charge those who come for their dead.

An insider at the mortuary told The Razor last week that the hospital ran out of this solution four months ago giving pathologists a fertile business opportunity. “You see, for quite some time now the hospital does not have formalin and so in order to keep working efficiently we buy it ourselves and do the service for whoever wants it done,” said one of the workers at Mulago Hospital mortuary who preferred anonymity for he is not authorized to speak about the matter.

He continued that even when one of the doctors at Mulago loses a relative, he has to buy the solution and take it to them for embalming.

“What I am telling you is the truth, even those guys up there (doctors) buy it from outside or from us if they need any service but you can’t find formalin any where here,” he added.

The Razor has also learnt that for about four months now, the freezers at the mortuary have not been working. According to a reliable source from the Private Patients’ department at the hospital, these freezers broke down months ago giving the workers at the mortuary a hard time to preserve the dead bodies and they also resorted to hiking the fees paid by the grieving relatives to have their dead.

According to a source, the freezers broke down due to poor maintenance, a thing which the assistant public relations officer and administrator private patients scheme Sarah Mulongo refuted. “Of course it is not true that they were down due to poor maintenance, instead they were being cleaned,” she said and quickly added that the charges are made according to the way one wanted his relative’s body embalmed.

“I cannot clarify on that but what I know is that one is charged according to the period he wants the body preserved. I mean there is long term and short term postmortem,” she added.

However, one of the victims of this unlawful extortion is Patrick Kagenda, a journalist. He asserts that when he lost his twins he was charged ShsI50, 000 after pleading with the mortuary officials.

“I lost twins two years ago and I was made to pay ShsI50,000 without a receipt,” he says. Kagenda adds that getting a body from the freezers is never a joke. “They told me at first that the bodies were not there and sent me to city council mortuary until one of them told me to show some ‘commitment’ which meant I had to pay something and eventually I was made to pay that much.

Getting a body out of those freezers is not a joke,” he adds. Sharifa Nnamuli, an elderly woman from Kiboga also fell victim last week; she told this paper that one is charged according to his/her appearance. “Actually I do not know the exact fee” she said.

The public is subjected to double grief as they are daily being extorted. The policy is if one dies at the hospital ward, the body is taken to the mortuary where it must be accessed free of charge but the condition is otherwise.

“Now they are asking for ShsI50,000 which I do not have, what will a poor person do in this country?” said Nnamuli.

Apparently, the notice board reads that embalming charges are ShsI0, 000 for children, Shs65,000 short term and Shs85,000 long term for adults.

When contacted, the head of mortuary services Dr Dan Wamala was reluctant to comment on the matter saying he had no clue about what was happening.

“I have no clue about that and I am not authorised to give any information about a government institution go, to the public relations officer,” he said.

Friday, February 18, 2011

WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW WILL HURT YOU

BY BRIAN SSENOGA KIMULI
When I was still in high school my one of my teachers told a story of a woman who had a sick child so she went to the hospital where a doctor prescribed some medicine and told her to go and buy. The lady bought the syrup and on the bottle was directions for use saying; shake the bottle before you give the baby, very clear instruction. The woman instead did the reverse, it was a neighbor who told her that she was supposed to shake the bottle first and then give the medicine to the baby so as the medicine could be effective. In despair the poor woman opted to shaking the baby and eventually the baby died.
In such a scenario who is to blame for the baby’s death? I blame neither the woman nor the doctor who did the prescription but ignorance. Ignorance is a lack of knowledge about anything and this is what affects many people in Uganda, Africa and the world. One wise man once said “each and every one of us is ignorant but on different subjects” but I believe there is always a thin line between knowledge and ignorance and when you don’t know something you surely do not know.
Recently I was in a restaurant and there these two young men arguing about something and one asked a question to which another had what I would call a hurting reply ‘I don’t care and I don’t want to know’ Damn. Perhaps, living in a dark world of ignorance works for some people but as a student in search for excellence one ought to know each and everything not only what the teachers teach you in class but hunger for information for that is what brings knowledge. We go to school to learn and learning means acquiring new knowledge to add on what you know by narrowing what you do not know. Of course you cannot learn what you know already. As a student in secondary and even at university you need to care about knowing everything that is happening and read every readable material for “no fool writes” as Angelo Bbosa puts it in one of his books. You never know when that knowledge will help you.
A related incident is that of a twelve year old boy who instantly became rich out of the September eleventh terrorist attack on the world trade centre. The boy was testing his new camera on a plane flying over the city which ended up crashing into the building. Television stations all over America needed the pictures and had to buy footage from him. Out of a crisis he made money. He had information dearly craved for by the world at that time. Avoid shaking the baby by working against your ignorance for what you don’t know will hurt you soon or later.
ssenogabrian@yahoo.com

Saturday, January 22, 2011

UGANDA CANCER INSTITUTE BATTLES AMIDST CHALLENGES

The first case of cancer to be diagnosed in Uganda was in the year 1966 but by the end of 2010 Uganda cancer institute (UCI) had received over 35,000 new cases of cancer most of which are in the late stages and patients are terminally ill. According to a recent study by the Uganda cancer institute over 20000 people die of cancer annually in Uganda.
Despite the fact, most Ugandans are not aware of the pandemic and the rate at which it is wrecking the human race. But why? “Most people get to cancer when they are emotionally related. But if you don`t have a relative you don`t even know it exists in the country” says Dr Tamale Henry, a radiographer at Mulago school of Radiology. Studies show that while in developed countries they are old people likely to catch this disease, the reverse is true in developing countries. “In the developing countries like Uganda young people are developing cancer than in the developed countries. This is due to poor feeding of children in developing countries” he says.
According to Christine Namulindwa the public relations officer Uganda Cancer Institute, on average UCI admits 86 patients a day and the numbers are promising to increase, yet those admitted are already terminally ill. “At present we admit those who are badly off but still the number is overwhelming” she says. Mulago also has an outpatient department where those in the early stages receive treatment from which also couples as a screening area with free training services offered especially to women who are prone to breast cancer which is very common in the country.
Namulindwa says 40 percent of Uganda`s population have cancer and the majority of which are under the age of 65 years. This is where five years old Elvis Mutumba of lugazi falls. The handsome young man was diagnosed of leukemia two years ago and has had three Bone marrow aspirate and biopsies (read surgeries) all unsuccessful and by the time The Razor met him at the hospital he had just had his last one and unable to sit due to much unbearable joint pain. “Every after treatment Elvis has to go for surgery” says his mother Nampera Betty, a single mother of two. “Treatment alone is very expensive. A single bottle of Asparagnaza costs thirty five thousand shillings yet he`s supposed to have five bottles every week” she says. “For a rough estimate that lady might have to pay fourty five million shillings for her son to heal” adds Christine Namulindwa the PRO. But is this really possible for retail shop keeper like Elvis’ mother? Despite being costly cancer drugs are also not available at the hospital pharmacy that patients have to buy them from outside.
The Uganda Cancer Institute is the only one in the region with radiology machine serving Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, Tanzania and even Kenyans cross over to Uganda for cheaper services. “Even Kenyans where it is more expensive come to Uganda yet we have only one radiology machine serving the entire region. I guess that explains the overwhelming numbers we have here. Above all we operate at a low budget.” Says Christine Namulindwa. Yet as Dr Tamale Henry says, “fifty percent of all cancer patients will at one time have to undergo radiation treatment”
Studies also show leukemia, colon cancer, cervical cancer, burkitts lymphoma, and karposi sarcoma, breast cancer among others as the most common in Uganda today. Experts advise people to eat more of vegetables and fruits and avoid too much of red meat, alcohol, cigarettes for these only increase the risk of one catching cancer. Currently the Uganda Cancer Institute has set up pilot projects in all four regions of the country and it works closely with partner organizations like Uganda women Cancer Survivors Association and Hospice Uganda who also help in the identification of patients.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

SECURITY CAR LEAVES GIRL FOR DEAD

By Brian Ssenoga Kimuli
Life is full of surprises and uncertainities and you can never tell what might happen the next hour. Yesterday morning came like the past morning but for Annet Lacristo 27, the day never ended well as she was hit by an unidentified CGS security car at a junction off Nkurumah road as she was on a bodaboda coming from National Theatre. “It was on a very high speed knocked them from behind, ran over her and the bodaboda cyclist took off. I could neither get the number of the car nor that of the bodaboda” said Kelly Wanda a Samaritan who drove her to the hospital.
According to physicians at emergency ward 3B, Lacristo had sustained a few visible injuries but the worst could at anytime happen as such patients experience internal bleeding. Kazanabyo Richard a friend said who was contacted immediately said Lacristo is a resident of Moscow zone kibuli. “but do those security cars have a right of way to the existent of beating traffic lights, running over people and running away just like that” asked Kireli Wilson a police officer who had come for treatment.

Monday, January 17, 2011

DOING BUSINESS AS A PERSON WITH DISABILITY IN KAMPALA
By Brian Ssenoga Kimuli
To some Kampala dwellers every morning comes like the past mornings, but for Joseph Kintu a father of two, a married man and business entrepreneur everyday in his life is a different one. His comes with uncertainty, fear and a lot of speculation and optimism which mostly end up not met. Kintu 36 is a person with disability, one among the vendors at Nakivubo mews but his is an extra ordinary story for he has spent 20 years at this place doing business at the same time battling KCC. This is how he tells his story:
“I have spent twenty years on the street doing business, I came as a young boy now I am a man with a wife and two beautiful children a boy and a girl. So no one can deceive me about any matters of business and street life. I know most of those KCC law enforcement officers, unless he/ she were assigned yesterday” he says.
By the mare look into his eyes one cannot fail see that Kintu has really gone through much on the streets. “Street business is not easy” he says. “You need a lot of patience here; sometimes the city council comes and impounds our staff not even minding about our physical disabilities. And when your staff has been taken to court , one thing you must do, do not follow up just look for some money somewhere else and start once again or else you will taken to Luzira as you try to get your staff back. You see we have a motto here; save yourself first before you save your business (we nunule nga tonaba ku nunula maali).
As if that is not enough some of these city council law enforcement officers go ahead and rip them of their money as they try to save their property from being confiscated by the law enforcers. Asked why and how kintu only has this to say; “you have no way out because it is the only source of income you’ve . Either you give him something and he releases you property or he takes it and your children go without school fees” he says. But how does one benefit from such an act? “Both parties involved benefit. He releases my staff and I continue working and he also gets something to live on. It is a fair game. Law enforcers are also people, they need money” says kintu, frowning.
Given their state of immobility, persons with disabilities conducting business along the Nakivubo channel have now devised means of easing their movement and saving their property in case of any emergency. They cooperate well with their able bodied counterparts who quickly rap up everything and hide it from those who want to confiscate them. “If you can look around, where there is a person with disability, the closest neighbor is one who is able bodied, that is for security purposes” says one Jamil Byakatonda selling padlocks.
Natural hazards like rain have also proved a menace to business in this area. It being at the biggest drainage channel in the city during rainy days it floods and business is not easy here. “Some of us do not have legs, you walk by your hands and when it rains you either swim in the mad or stay at home till the place is dry” says Joseph Kintu.
But where do they get their capital from, do they acquire loans? Well it is even more complicated because some financial institutions fear to lend them money because of the nature and size of their businesses. Aisha Nasuuna mother of four also a PWD attributes this to the fact that any time their property can be confiscated and no one knows when this is going to happen yet there is no security to that. “But also many of us never want to pay back loans despite that” she says. Just like kintu she believes that it is God sends them customers others wise their physically able competitors would have pushed them out of business. She boosts of her bungalow in Bweyogerere Bbuto zone, paying for her children’s school fees and looking after her sister and ailing mother. They also complain about the poor leadership among themselves and the unyielding nature of their member of parliament Nalule Sophia who they accuse of never coming back to her electorate to inform them of any proceedings ever since she was elected in 2006. “You don’t even hear that she said a word in parliament” commented one of them only identified as Kamenke. “ even we don’t know what happened to NUDIPU they last communicated to us in 2009 and got lost ever since, so we are on our own” says Kintu Joseph
ssenogabrian@yahoo.com

Saturday, January 15, 2011

ARMY DEPLOYING FOR FEBRUARY ELECTIONS.

ARMY DEPLOYING FOR FEBRUARY ELECTIONS.

Last week, UPDF Chief of Defence Forces General Aronda Nyakairma issued army guide lines instructing all commanders to stay away from partisan politics and to lay strategies to prevent any occurrence that might injure the electoral process. Meanwhile, Makindye West MP Hussein Kyanjo has kept on saying the army is deploying in various locations of the country particularly in northern Uganda with the intention of influencing voters.
However, Kyanjo`s allegations haven`t been received well by the army. “He should not say things that are going to push us into action. The army is going to play it`s role and that is to ensure security” said the UPDF mouthpiece Lt Col Felix Kulaije when contacted on phone. “I think Honorable Kyanjo is misinformed, the military is free to deploy anywhere in any part of the country where we sense the matter is heavy to be handled by police alone. He (kyanjo) is uninformed, the military is free to deploy. Are soldiers campaigning?” he asked.
This comes at a time when some member of parliament like Hussein Kyanjo are still unsure of the role of the army in the February elections sighting that it might be partisan. “People think that by voting the army is participating in partisan politics. Yes the army is one of the strongest pillars of the state but that doesn`t mean we do not have our right to vote” said Lt Col Felix Kulaije, confirming Lt Gen Jeje Odongo`s words when he urged the army not to be intimidated during this season when he was passing out the 517 UPDF officers at Gaddafi junior staff college in Jinja.

GAS CYLINDER KILLS ONE, INJURES THREE

By Brian Ssenoga Kimuli
Shock engulfed residents of Namirembe yesterday when a gas cylinder exploded and left one dead and three seriously injured. The incident occurred in Bwanika zone at SSekabira and sons motor garage along Namirembe road at midday.
This left one Moses Ssebunya dead and three of his colleagues Kaye Fred and another only identified as kasozi and the third unidentified with severe injuries. All the victims of the explosion were mechanics at the garage.
According to the O.C CID old Kampala police Bakaleke Siraje, the cause of the explosion had not yet been established by the time journalists got on the scene. “However, we are still working with the bomb squad to establish the cause of the incident. And later a report will be made” he said. The injured three were rushed to Mengo hospital.

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

600 MILLION DOLLARS FOR FISH FARMERS IN UGANDA

At least now fish farmers in the country have a reason to smile after the government has announced to put aside 600 million dollars which is equivalent to 600 billion Ugandan shillings for the improvement of the sector.
The great long awaited news was announced by the Assistant Commissioner for fisheries Mr. Jackson Wadenya representing the state minister for agriculture at the 4th annual fish farmers` symposium at Lugogo UMA conference hall. “ Government is extending this money to fish farmers but they should also try to seek information of its availability, many fish farmers are not informed yet this business needs one to make informed decisions” he said. He also clarified that this money is mainly for starting and boosting simple aquaculture enterprises in their local areas. “Fish farmers should try to use their expertise to see that some work is being done. This money is to go to only those who have already started something” he continued, before mentioning that the project is to benefit one thousand six hundred fish farmers and is to run for five years, from now up to 2015.
This comes at a time when fish farmers are still faced with the dilemma that government policy on NAADS excludes their sector since it (NAADS) it was majorly for animal and crop growing farmers as was dictated by the Danish government who are the major funders. However, the commissioner said the ministry has already formulated an investment strategy dubbed ‘Water for production’ which caters for aquaculture as well.
Fish farmers have for long blamed the lack of a government policy which concerns their business. “Aquaculture has not been considered by government as compared by maize, millet, coffee and the diary sector yet ours involves a lot of technology” laments Rita Amalo of Aquaculture Management Consultants, Ltd. She continues to say that even the bureaucracy stated by the current policies with the concerned authorities like NEMA is too long and rigid.
It is at this point that fish farmers place their plea to the appointing authority to create an independent ministry for fisheries just like their Kenyan counterparts have one in the same post. “It is not easy to get permission from NEMA and National water, the process is too long especially is it is cage fish farming. I think the government should appoint a minister for fisheries maybe that way we can have a clear policy on fish farming” said Paul Ssebinyansi the chairman Walimi Fish Cooperative Society.
This year`s fish farmers` symposium is organized by Walimi Fish Cooperative Society (WAFICOS) under the theme: “Viable Fish farming” with support from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), putting emphasis on value addition and marketing of farmed fish. It is expected to end on Friday 16th with an exhibition of fish products on the market.