Regional Tuberculosis Laboratory opens in Uganda

By Esther Nakkazi

A Supra National Reference Laboratory (SRL) that can diagnose Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR-TB) and monitor other Tuberculosis laboratories in the East African region on safety and quality control is open in Uganda.

Tuberculosis is highly infectious, hard to diagnose and is transmitted through the air we breathe. The average TB patient infects 10-15 others each year before they cure or die. Every year, TB kills more adults worldwide than any disease but HIV. 200 children die from TB every day yet it costs less than 3 cents a day to provide therapy that will prevent it says the TB Alliance.

In the East African region, Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda are all in the world’s 22 high-burden countries for Tuberculosis and rank 14th, 15th and 16th respectively according to the 2012 WHO rankings. Uganda, particularly, has increasing cases of MDR-TB with about 5,000 people dying each year in Uganda as a result of TB and it remains the leading cause of death among people who are HIV positive.

“We can now work on 60-100 samples per day and we shall be able to triple this soon. We are now doing business better, sending back results electronically and we have the capacity to provide services to the laboratory network in the region,” said Prof. Moses Joloba the Director, Supra National Reference Laboratory-Uganda. The lab is already receiving samples from Tanzania, Kenya, Zambia and Kenya.

The Uganda National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory (NTRL) attained Supra National status granted by the World Health Organization (WHO) by recommendation from the Global Laboratory Initiative (GLI) last week becoming only the second in Africa after South Africa.

As a result of its certification, the laboratory can now offer affordable, TB diagnostic services efficiently for the African region, and also gives clinicians a second opinion on TB samples and confidence in the results attained.

According to Dr. Francis Adatu, the former National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Programmes Manager, Supra National status means the results from the lab are trusted, there is regular quality control and it gives Uganda a monitoring and leadership role.

“The laboratory system continues to be one of the weakest links in our health systems yet it is important that results given to clinicians are credible,” said Dr. Josephine Kibaru-Mbae, the director general of East, Central and Southern Africa (ECSA) Health Community.

“The NTRL is strategic and a step in the regional integration process. The laboratory will reduce costs, time and tests that cannot be done by national laboratories will be sent here,” said Kibaru-Mbae. Previously, the TB samples were sent to South Africa and Europe.

Now, the NTRL will provide quality laboratory TB diagnostic and Management services to the region and strengthen the national tuberculosis diagnostic network by offering leadership, training, supervisions and expert guidance, said Prof. Moses Joloba.

NTRL’s diagnostic capability ranges from Fluorescent microscopy to solid and liquid culture, elaborate external Quality Assessment of Acid Fast Bacilli (AFB) microscopy and geneXpert. It has also established an in country TB specimen Referral System (TSRS) to enable active surveillance of the prevalence and incidences of possible Drug resisting TB emergence.

“The cost of treatment is lower with accurate testing and reliable laboratory results. We shall now focus on performance and sustainability,” said the Ruhakana Rugunda the minister of Health. He promised that government will build a bigger facility to house the Supra National laboratory in Butabika, near Kampala.

Previously, it took 17 days get samples from all over the region to the Laboratory, now it takes only 48 hours using the Posta system. The can now handle over 3,000 samples from 153 in 2008. The certification was supported by USAID and the U.S Centers for Diseases Control (CDC).

Ends-

Over one Million Euro for Research Projects in sub-Saharan Africa

Press Release: University of Cologne - Universität zu Köln

In many African countries food production per capita is in decline. Population growth, urbanization processes, soil degradation, resource conflict, globalized manufacturing as well as increasing climate variability are, inter alia, responsible for these trends. The Department of Cultural and Social Anthropology at the University of Cologne is researching these pressing problems within the framework of five collaborative research projects.

The research projects have funding of 1.1 million Euro and will directly contribute to the work of the UoC key profile area IV: “Social-economic, Cultural and Political Transformations in the Global South.” The projects have a social-economic research focus and are planned to run from three to four years. They take an interdisciplinary approach and will be involved in the training of young academics from Europe and Africa. The new projects will contribute to the understanding of current trends and the identifying of solutions for problems of the future.

Prof. Michael Bollig is participating in an EU funded prestigious Marie Curie Initial Training Network (ITN). Together with colleagues from Sweden, England, France and Belgium, he is looking at the development and current use of cultural landscapes in East Africa from archaeological, historical and ethnological perspectives within the framework of the project “Resilience in East African Landscapes: Identifying critical thresholds and sustainable trajectories – past, present and future (REAL).” Fragmented land use in North Kenya and the globalization of agricultural products in central Kenya (going on the example of cut flowers) are central themes to the research.

A further project “Local Institutions in Globalized Societies LINGS”, which is analysing the transformation of communal water management in the long term, has also been granted a further phase of project funding by the German Research Foundation (DFG).

In addition to this, Michael Bollig is involved in the DFG funded interdisciplinary research group “Resilience, collapse and reorganisation in complex coupled social-ecological systems (SES) in Africa (RCR)” (FG1501),

A project that sees natural scientists, social scientists and scholars of cultural studies working together to document and analyze human and natural processes in south and east African Savannahs. Here Professor Bollig is examining, inter alia, the consequences of the rapid expansion of invasive species of plants on existing land use practices and social dynamics in the context of the global floral industry at Lake Naivasha in Kenya. 

Within the framework of the same research group (FG1501), Dr. Clemens Greiner and his colleagues from the Department of Geography at the University of Bonn, has received funding for a working group, which plans to research how migration between urban and rural areas in Kenya and South Africa affects the use of resources in the regions of origin of the migrant workers.

In addition to this, Dr. Greiner is supervising the sub-project “Wetlands in East Africa – Reconciling future food production with environmental protection” a collaborative research project of the funding project GlobE “Securing the Global Food Supply.” The project, which is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, is examining the increasing significance of wetlands in drylands and their role for securing food supply in Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda. 

Academics and scientists from German and African universities are researching agricultural earning potential and the sustainability of existing and future forms of land use. Gender, health aspects, peri-urban land use change as well as the changing institutional architecture are at the focus of the anthropological research.

http://www.portal.uni-koeln.de/3963+M54d42add24f.html

Uganda backs EAC regional baseline survey

Press Release from EAC:

The Ministry of East African Comnmunity Affairs has commended the undertaking by the EAC Secretariat to conduct baseline survey on the regional integration process.

‘’Your baseline survey is very important as your mission’s findings will enable policy makers and planners with which speed to reckon in the deepening and widening EAC integration,’’ the acting Permanent Secretary Steven Niyonzima told the about ten-man EAC team which paid a courtesy call to the EAC Ministry before setting out for their first-leg in Uganda tomorrow.

He assured that his ministry would render full support to the team to ensure it completes it’s week-long mission succesfully in the country.

He said that EAC developed and approved the Communications policy last year and the baseline survey is in line with the aspirations of the Community. ‘’Our integration is for all East Africans and thus we need to know how the people are perceiving our efforts,’’ he told the delegation.

The EAC survey team’s leadert Sukhdev Chhatbar thanked the Ugandan government for demonstrating unwavering commitment to the regional integration process.

Mr Chhatbar, a media expert, said that baseline survey would enable the Partner States make the Community vibrant and attractive.

The study, to be undertaken in all five Partner States of Burundi, Kenya,Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda, will be conducted between 16 July and 24 August, 2013. The study will be conducted both through on line questionnaires https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/EACIntBrandSurvey and field face-to-face interviews in selected and strategic cities and border towns.

The study is expected to give us an insight into how some of the key target audiences perceive EAC, how well they know it, how familiar they are with the symbols of the EAC and how they assess its performance in reaching out to them.

The study would seek to review how key messages get across visually and how EAC was perceived by the EA citizens and what’s the way forward.

The project’s objective is to find out if EAC’s corporate identity and its corporate images were consistent with the aspirations of the East Africans and met the lofty goals of the Treaty.

That is to say whether the perception of the external target audience is coherent with what EAC perceives itself and the strategic platform (Vision, Mission, Strategic Goals and Core Values) of the Community.

Two core teams have been set out to facilitate the physical interviewing process. One team has headed to Uganda ( survey points: Kampala, Lira, Fort Portal and Busia border); Kenya ( survey points Nairobi, Mombasa and Eldoret) and; Tanzania ( survey points Dodoma, Mwanza, Sirari border and Zanzibar) whilst the other will cover Burundi ( survey points :Makamba, Muyinga and Cibitoke) and; Rwanda ( survey points Musanza and Nyagatere).

The interviewing team includes volunteers such as journalists who have been trained by EAC and GIZ on the regional integration process, some EAC Youth Ambassadors,best debaters, students and delegated officials from the Partner States’ Ministries of EAC.

The baseline survey has been facilitated by the German Development Agency (GIZ).

The Lambaréné Declaration and Gabonese Albert Schweitzer Award

By Esther Nakkazi

Over 350 participants gathered in Libreville and in Lambaréné for two days, 6-7 July, to map out a concrete roadmap to efficiently tackle the Triple Epidemic - HIV, Malaria, and Tuberculosis.

The dignitaries including Nobel Prize laureates, Albert Schweitzer’s descendants, experts in science and medicine as well as in social sciences, NGO, private sector players and representatives of the civil society also celebrated Albert Schweitzer and his work.

The Albert Schweitzer Hospital, which he created, had its Centennial Celebration. Schweitzer’s philosophy was based on the ‘Reverence of life’.

Ali Bongo Ondimba, the President of the Gabonese Republic described Albert Schweitzer as part of the Gabonese history and said they were determined to pursue this work further.

He also emphasized on the necessity for increased usage of technologies to enhance efficiency in patient care and reaffirmed his will to make Gabon a regional hub dedicated to mother and child healthcare.

The Lambaréné Declaration was also created, which commits to the creation of the “Lambaréné declaration” coordination and follow-up structure, under the authority of a multinational and trans-disciplinary experts counsel.

The participants at the symposium also committed to the creation of three permanent Task Forces on trans-disciplinary solutions research; training programs for healthcare and field professionals; and research support in Africa.

As well as the creation of a new ongoing training network, reinforcement of African and International Research and the launch of a digital platform, to enable communication between all parties and to offer visibility to all initiatives conducted.

Participants went to visit the Lambaréné site where the Albert Schweitzer Hospital, created by the Nobel Prize Laureate at the beginning of the 20th Century, is still operating. It is now one of the leading regional centers (research, patient care, prevention, child birth and maternity).

Ali Bongo also announced the creation of the International Albert Schweitzer Award, to commemorate the Doctor, reminding that “if Schweitzer had Gabon at the heart of his history, Gabon holds Schweitzer close to its heart”.

Granted with US$ 250.000, it will reward the work of an individual or a team, able to support a sustainable cross-disciplinary approach to fight against the Triple Epidemic, in Africa.

Science and Technology get overwhelming funds in Uganda 2013/14

By Esther Nakkazi

Science, Technology and Innovations together with ICT (Information Communication Technology), overall, received a big share of the 2013/14 budget. Although the total amounts cannot be specified because most of it is in particular sector funding, the budget has commitment to fund STI.

“In the next year, Government will continue to support Scientific and Technological innovation to drive value addition, increase our competitiveness in the global market and create employment among other benefits,” said Maria Kiwanuka, the minister of Finance while reading the budget speech on 13th June at Serena Hotel, Kampala.

At the Budget reading, Kiwanuka also announced setting up Information Technology Parks to host Business Process Outsourcing (BPOs) that helped create jobs in the last financial year ending this June. It will also set up ICT service companies and fully serviced Industrial and Information Technology (IT) parks in various regions of the country over the medium term.

Kiwanuka also promised students loans for science students who are privately-sponsored at University and Tertiary institutions to further equip them with skills and grow the numbers of science students and eventually scientists.  Last year, increment of salaries of doctors were announced further showing government commitment to improve science and keep scientists at home but most of them have expressed disappointment that this has not been implemented. This year, science teachers will get more money.

Science, Technology and Innovations are among Uganda’s priorities, spelt out in the five-year National Development Plan (NDP) with the theme: Growth, Employment and Socio-economic Transformation for Prosperity” 2010/11 – 2014/15.

Now, experts say that prioritising science is a good plan for Uganda’s development.

“It puts us at ease that the key priorities of this year’s budget match those of the National Development Plan. Investing in science is the right path to development,” said Dr. John Ssekamatte-Ssebuliba, the head of social sector planning at National Planning Authority (NPA).

Other priority areas that got big funds from the budget include infrastructure, energy, security, public administration which got the bulk of the budget funds. Although, there were murmurs on why so much was allocated to security, but President Yoweri Museveni has emphasized many times that national security is a key priority for Uganda.

Another disappointment was agriculture, which employs 70 percent of the Uganda population it only received 13% of the total budget.

“There is no clear strategy in developing agriculture,” said Everest Kayondo, Chairman Kampala City Traders Association (KACITA). He said although Agro-processing is what can be funded more to compete with Uganda’s neighbors, the agriculture sector got only 13% funding of the budget. 

“You are providing security for people who are dying. Should we buy guns or medicine? What should we invest in more –provide security for people who are dying?” asked John Mutenyu a senior economist at the school of Economics, Makerere University.

The total resource envelope for Uganda in the next financial year,  are projected to amount to Shs 13,169bn but 81.1% will be financed from Domestic sources to the tune of Shs 10,509bn and the rest by the donor community.

“When over 80% of the budget is funded by Ugandans, we shall have better accountability and Ugandans will want to see Ugandan money at work. There will be more vigilance in people demanding for accountability,” said Dr. Fred Matovu, a senior economist at Makerere University.

“This gives us freedom to align expenditures to our priorities. People in government were more accountable to donors before now they will answer to local tax payers,” said Matovu.

But the Minister also announced an increase in excise duty of kerosene by 200 shillings per litre to discourage the practice of adulterating diesel by mixing it with kerosene. This measure is expected to raise about Shs. 15 billion.

“The increased taxes on Kerosene will increase maternal mortality because some health centers in rural areas use kerosene to deliver babies. Mothers have to go with their own Kerosene to give birth,” said Dr. Edward Babale an economist from the College of Business and Management Sciences, Makerere University, Uganda.

“Many diseases are from contaminated water but they are pushing people away from clean water. The biggest problem with domestic water supply is the wastages and water are losses,” said Bbaale while commenting about the increase in domestic water taxes.

The Financial Year 2013/14 Budget, like the one last year, focuses on translating the Government’s strategic priorities into practice over the next twelve months. “The Journey Continues: Towards Socio-Economic Transformation for Uganda”.  

KLM Dutch Airlines almost fails to land at Entebbe Airport (Press Release)

PRESS RELEASE ON KLM
THURSDAY - JUNE 20 - 2013

Uganda Parliament Deputy Speaker Hon Jacob Oulanya, Director for Labour in Gender, Labour and Social Development Ministry Sarah Luyima, Editor in – Chief New Vision Printing and Publishing Corporation Barbara Kaija, a Rwandan Senior Police Officer, were among passengers aboard a KLM flight KL 0539, from Amsterdam to Entebbe via Kigali that nearly crashed on Lake Victoria.

The incident occurred Thursday night at 10:11 when the pilot cruising at a ground speed of 533 kmph , made an abrupt descend on Entebbe Airport but underestimated the distance, miscalculated the timing, and nearly brought the aircraft crashing on the water. However on realizing the runaway was still a few meters away and there were no traffic control lights in sight, the pilot accelerated the Airbus Industrie ,A330-200 operated by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, at supersonic speed, back to the skies. 

The plane hovered over Gaba and Luzira Lake Victoria shores and parts of Kampala city as it flew to Buddo – Nsangi triangle - bearing, from where it turned left to descend on Entebbe Airport. By all this time most passengers were speechless trying to recover from the shock.

The Pilot broke the silence five minutes later explained unconvincingly, moreover in - inaudible broken tones, that surging and undetected strong winds hindered the plane from smooth landing. Metrological and Aviation experts at Entebbe International Airport who preferred to remain anonymous, dismissed the pilot’s claims as untrue, baseless and unfounded, and blamed the mishap on human error. Even the passengers blamed the incident on the pilot, who accelerated from Kigali and tried to land early at 10:11pm instead of the scheduled 10:22pm.

But even if the plane had attempted to land on the tarmac runaway, it would have still crashed, because the ground speed of 533 kmph is far beyond landing speed.
Two passengers aboard the craft said this is the third time such an incident is happening on KLM Airlines flights, one in Kigali and the other at Entebbe airport. 

Hon Jacob Oulanya, visibly irked by the incident was later led by his aid out of the aircraft to the VIP Lounge. All passengers who disembarked from the plane wore a scared but unsatisfactory faces.
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines must come out and explain to its clients convincingly, what happened. This will help them restore confidence in their clientele and safeguard its image in the aviation industry.
ENDS

President Museveni Budget Speech 2013/14

2013/14 Budget Speech

 By

H.E. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni

President of the Republic of Uganda

UICC, SERENA                         -                            13^TH June, 2013

His Excellency the Vice President,

Rt. Hon. Speaker,

His Lordship the Chief Justice,

Rt. Hon. Prime Minister,

Ministers,

Hon. Members of Parliament,

Members of the Diplomatic Corps,

Ladies and Gentlemen.

I greet you.  I thank all of you for the positive contribution you made in the past Financial Year.

As you heard, our economy grew by 5.1%, in the last Financial Year.  The sectors which grew fastest were: industry (6.8%); services (4.8%); and construction (8.4%).  The manufacturing sector grew by 4.2% (2012//13).  Agriculture grew by 1.4% (2012//13).  This is good but could have been much better. As you can see, sectors like telecommunications and construction grew very fast.  This is because of the correct policy of liberalization that we put in place in 1987 and subsequently.

By liberalizing the telecommunications sector in 1997 (when Parliament passed the Communications Act), there has been this phenomenal growth.  There is, however, one factor that is common to telecommunications and construction.  They use little electricity. 

A sector like manufacturing needs much more electricity in order to grow.  Since this sector grew by 4.2% in 2012/13, it could have grown much more if there had been no shortage of electricity in the previous years.  We, at last, have adequate electricity at least for a little while.  Let us see its impact on manufacturing in 2013/14.  Between the years 2000 (when the Owen Falls dam was extended) and 2005, we had adequate supply of electricity.  During those years, the manufacturing sector was growing by an average of about 9% per annum.  Between the years 2005 and 2012, we had inadequate electricity supply.  During those years, the manufacturing sector was growing by an average of about 7%.

Manufacturing is a sector that can create employment and earn more income.  While in Japan recently, I visited the steel making Japanese company known as NIPPON.  It employs 50,000 people and earns US$ 50 billion per annum.  This is the way to go. 

As you heard, the other data for the economic performance is: inflation rate 3.6%; total GDP is US$ 22 billion (exchange rate); or US$ 51 billion (PPP); export earnings US$ 4.9 billion; remittances US$ 767.26 million; imports US$ 7.45 billion; investment inflows   US$ 1.47 billion; overall balance of payments (a surplus) of US$ 416.63 million; foreign exchange reserves US$ 3.3 billion.

These are good figures, especially, compared to our starting point in 1986.  The comparative figures were: GDP rate of growth 0.6%; size of GDP was US$ 1.55 billion; export earnings were US$ 411 million; inflation rate was 144%; investment inflows were US$ zero (between 1987-1993 they grew to US$ 9 million, annual average); foreign exchange reserves were US$ 16 million.

However, the Banyankore say: “otarikumanya ngu bamutsigire ati bandinzire” -  ‘the one who does not know that he is left far behind, he thinks the fellow travellers are still waiting for him.

When we say that the GDP of Uganda is now US$ 22 billion, we should not forget that the turnover of Samsung Company is US$ 32 billion per annum.  When we say that the GDP of East Africa is US$ 77 billion, we should not forget that the annual earnings of the USA Company Wal-mart is US$ 220 billion per annum.  Uganda is growing, Africa is also growing; both Uganda and Africa will grow much more and to far greater heights.  However, we are still far behind.  The tragedy is that Africa or Uganda, which can grow much faster than they are doing today, are not doing so because of the disorientation of either all or some of the elements of the leadership in the respective countries.

Here, in Uganda, the mistakes of the elements of the leadership are well known – the delay of Bujagali, the delay of the other industrial projects, etc.

Corruption on the part of some of the actors also delays many projects and distorts decisions.  Let us stop these and Uganda will roar.  I hope the courts will punish severely those guilty of corruption and will not give bail to them before the constitutional time of 180 days.

Uganda now has a lot of opportunities.  As I told you the other day, we have got several offers to fund Karuma, Ayago and Isimba.  We are also promoting Oryang and Kiba for funding.  An American Company, AAE Geothermal has been licensed to generate electricity from the geo-thermal site around Lake Katwe.

Given the peace the UPDF has brought over Uganda and the liberal economic atmosphere ever since 1987, the two dangers we face are: corruption and delays as well as disorientation in decision making in matters affecting the economy.  As you heard in the Minister’s speech, the Government of Uganda will fund more than 80% of the budget.  The outsiders will fund only 18% of the budget. 

At the middle of this financial year some Partners withdrew budget support that had been planned because of failure to understand each other’s methods of fighting corruption and criminality.  Surely, many people in the world know that the NRM is in a category of its own, unique compared to many actors in the world, when it comes to fighting criminality and corruption.  Having eliminated extra-judicial killings by State agents in Uganda, animal poaching, etc., we have now started the war on embezzlement, bribery, nepotism and misuse of office. 

The cases from the Office of the Prime Minister, from the Ministry of Public Service and from the Ministry of Health that are now in court were detected by the NRM sympathizers and the Police.  They were certainly not detected by the Auditor-General or anybody else.  The NRM knows what to do and when to do it.  Therefore, those Partners who cut off aid because we had discovered the corruption were not correct.  It was a high-handed approach and could not be the correct way to fight corruption.  Fighting corruption does not need public relations and publicity seeking actions.  

It needs the thorough going approach of the NRM.  In spite of this “aid cuts” and other global economic problems, our economy grew by 5.1%, inflation was brought to 3.6% from 30% (2011) and the reserves stand at US$ 3.3 billion.  This proves what the Bible says in Mark 7:15: “It's not what goes into your body that defiles you; you are defiled by what comes from your heart.” It is our internal weaknesses that need to be addressed.

The low rate of growth of 3.4% in 2011/12 was caused by the, mainly, internal mistakes (sometimes assisted by external actors) that oppose our initiatives on the economy. The NRM must get rid of these mistake-makers.

This budget laid emphasis on infrastructure – roads and electricity.  All the major roads will be done.  Many of them will be done with the Government of Uganda funding.  Where the development Partners have come in, we salute them.  The examples of roads handled by Partners are the following:

1)  Nyakaita-Kazo-Ibanda

2)  Fort Portal-Bundibugyo

3)  Vura-Arua-Koboko-Oraba

4)  Ntungamo-Kabale-Katuna

5)  Gulu-Atiak

6)  Atiak-Nimule

7)  Kampala-Entebbe Expressway

8)  Moroto-Nakapiripiriti

9)  Kigumba-Masindi-Kabwoya-Kyenjojo

10)              Masaka-Buukakata

The ones that will be handled by the Government of Uganda are the following:

1)  Olwiyo-Gulu-Kitgum-Musingo

2)  Mukono-Kyetume-Katosi-Nyenga

3)  Musita-Lumino-Busia/Majanja

4)  Mubende-Kakumiro-Kagadi

5)  Mpigi-Maddu-Sembabule

6)  Sembabule-Villa Maria

7)  Kafu-Gulu

The ones completed or nearly completed that have been done by the Government of Uganda are the following:

1)  Kampala-Masaka

2)  Busega-Muduma-Mityana

3)  Malaba-Bugiri

4)  Kawempe-Kafu

5)  Tororo-Mbale

6)  Mbale-Soroti

7)  Jinja-Kamuli

8)  Hoima-Kaiso-Tonya

This is the first time, since independence, that such infrastructure tasks have been directly funded by the Government of Uganda on such a large scale.

Emphasis on infrastructure, not only in Uganda but in the whole of Africa, is justified because that is where one of the major bottlenecks is.  Let us look at the kilowatt-hour (Kwh) per capita of selected countries in the world today:

ELECTRICITY CONSUMPTION FOR SELECTED COUNTRIES

Country:	kWh/capita
USA	12,914
UK	5,467
France	7,023
Egypt	1,304
China	3,494
India	498
South Korea	9,314
Nigeria	107
South Africa	4,347
Libya	4,078
Niger	38
Chad	8
Kenya	133
Uganda	150
Tanzania	73
Rwanda	20
Burundi	26

Source: Internet

This is not acceptable and cannot continue.

I would like to conclude by commenting on Regional Affairs a bit which is also linked to the same subject of development.  I have seen in the print media statements coming out of Egypt regarding the commendable work of the Government of Ethiopia of building dams for electricity in that country.  This is what the whole of Africa needs to do.  

That is one reason the economy of Ethiopia has been growing in double digits.  It is, therefore, advisable that the new Government of Egypt and some chauvinistic groups inside Egypt should not repeat the mistakes of the past Egyptian Governments.  The biggest threat to the Nile is continued under-development in the tropics i.e. lack of electricity and lack of industrialization.  

On account of these two, peasants cut the bio-mass for fuel (firewood – enku) and invade the forests to expand primitive agriculture.  Here in Uganda, the peasants destroy 40 billion cubic metres of wood per annum for firewood.  They also invade the wetlands (ebisaalu, ebitoogo, entobazi, ebifuunjo, ebisharara) to grow rice.  This interferes with the transpiration that is crucial for rain formation.  

Our experts have told me that 40% of our rain comes from local moisture – meaning from our lakes and wetlands.  That is why, for instance, West Nile and West Acholi have got more rain than Karamoja being on the same latitude notwithstanding.  It is, apparently, on account of the huge wetlands in South Sudan, the forest in Congo and the wetlands in Uganda.  

Ironically, the Egyptians wanted to drain the wetlands in South Sudan through the Jonglei canal.  It was one of the causes for the people of South Sudan to wage war against Khartoum, which was collaborating with the Egyptian Government’s misguided and dangerous policies of that time.  Therefore, the threat to the Nile is lack of electricity in the tropics and lack of industrialization thereof.  Electrification so that people stop using wood fuel and industrialization so that people shift from agriculture to industry and services is the correct way.

I have given these views to the past Egyptian Governments and to the present one.  Therefore, it is advisable that those chauvinistic statements coming out of Egypt are restrained and through the Nile Valley Organization rational (not emotional and informed statements) discussions take place.  No African wants to hurt Egypt; however, Egypt cannot continue to hurt black Africa and the countries of the tropics of Africa. 

I thank all of you.

 UICC, Serena            -                  13^th June 2013