Cold Chicago in February

By Esther Nakkazi
Sun and Snow

On 11th February, I flew to Chicago from Kampala to attend two conferences; the Kavli Foundation on the Future of Science Journalism symposium, also sponsored by World Federation of Science Journalists (WFSJ) 17 – 19 February 2014. And the annual Association of American Advancement of Science (AAAS) 13-17 February.

It was from the hot sun to the cold with snow. It was also on one of these days in Chicago that I experienced the first snow storm in my entire life. But the cold was almost unbearable.

I still keep wondering (I am visiting friends at Michigan State University now): is it better to live with the sun like I do in Kampala or to live with the cold and snow like in Chicago and Michigan? By the way with both instances you almost keep indoors except that with the sun you can at least be outside in shade.

In Kampala the temperatures were soaring when I left (up to 38). To demonstrate it let me tell you what exactly happens. If you park your car outside, when you open it a gush of hot not warm air engulfs and almost chokes you. So you need about 5 minutes with all the doors open to cool it down. But even here during the winter you on the engine before you ride your car.

In Uganda, when you do laundry, -we wash with our hands and dry clothes in the sun- you could as well wash a dirty dress and wear it again after 15 minutes or less.

Or if you sleep under a treated mosquito net to prevent malaria like I do, you can hardly sleep under it at night. While the mosquitos would be buzzing around you the heat would make you uncomfortable under the mosquito net. It is a real balancing act.

Typically, in Kampala when I step out of my house, the blaze of the sun hits my eyes and I start sweating. In Michigan now, when I step out of the apartment, -which I rarely do-my body shivers because of the cold. My eyes hit the snow up to as far as they can go and I just see that whole mountain of snow swallowing me. I shiver.

My American friends had warned me that February was one of the worst months to travel to Chicago but I did not have much of a choice. I was not the conference organizer. I actually came in earlier, prior to the AAAS conference, which was held at the Hyatt Regency. I was staying at the cheap ($40 per day) Hostel International thinking I would look around Chicago. I underestimated the cold. It one time was minus 20.

The conference on science journalism, which enabled me to talk about the status of science journalism in Africa, had some of the smartest science journalists from prestigious science publications around the world. I really learnt so much.

I am still wondering, is it easier to live in the hot sun like in Kampala or the cold like in Michigan? I still do not know! Either way, I love it that I can compare the two experiences.

Prior and Preceding Statements on Anti-Gay Bill in Uganda

The Obama administration says :[W]e are cognizant that there are many who share our concerns about Ugandan President Museveni’s recent enactment of the Anti-Homosexuality Act. Ensuring justice and accountability for human rights violators like the LRA and protecting LGBT rights aren’t mutually exclusive. We can and must do both.

Accordingly, we have taken the following immediate steps while we continue to consider the implications of President Museveni’s decision to enact the Anti-Homosexuality Act and how to demonstrate our support for the LGBT community in Uganda, deter other countries from enacting similar laws, and reinforce our commitment to the promotion and defense of human rights for all people – including LGBT individuals – as a U.S. priority:

• We are shifting funding away from partners whose actions don’t reflect our values, including the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda (IRCU). The IRCU’s public stance on homosexuality could foster an atmosphere of discrimination that runs counter to efforts to provide an effective and non-discriminatory response to the HIV/AIDSepidemic. While the IRCU will receive $2.3 million to ensure uninterrupted delivery of treatment to the 50,000 people under its care, we will shift the remaining $6.4 million of IRCU’s funding to other partners.
• An effective HIV strategy must reach and treat key at-risk populations. However, the act’s provisions against “promotion” and abetting homosexuality leave questions about what researchers, health workers, and others may do under the law. As a result, we are suspending the start of a survey to estimate the size of key at-risk populations that was to be conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Uganda’s Makarere University. Proceeding with the survey could pose a danger to respondents and staff.
• The act potentially threatens the safety of LGBT tourists in Uganda and the liberty of those who show support for Uganda’s LGBT community. Therefore, approximately $3 million in funding designated for tourism and biodiversity promotion will be redirected to NGOs working on biodiversity protection.
• We will shift the Department of Defense-sponsored Africa Air Chiefs Symposium and East Africa Military Intelligence Non-Commissioned Officer course to locations outside of Uganda. Certain near-term invitational travel for Ugandan military and police has been suspended or canceled.We continue to look at additional steps we may take, to work to protect LGBT individuals.

Uganda Muslim Supreme Council-  Kampala (Tuesday February 18th 2014)

The President’s Decision to Sign the Anti-Gay Bill is Very Welcome

I would like to commend President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for his decision to sign the anti-gay bill. Once again, he has proved that he is a leader who has his country and his people at heart.

Since the passing of the bill by the parliament of Uganda, the President has been under a lot of pressure from the promoters of the homosexuality act around the world but despite the numerous threats he received, he put morality first.

It takes a courageous leader to defy all the western powers who have gone as far a threatening to cut off aid to Uganda incase the president signs the anti-gay bill. It is now the duty of all Ugandans to rally behind the President because the coming days, weeks, months and years may not be easy for the country.

Let us unite behind our leader, abide by the laws, fight corruption, give our children relevant skills, work hard and accumulate enough wealth that will make us economically more independent and therefore less dependent on aid from the western world.

I would also like to commend His Eminence the Mufti of Uganda Shk. Shaban Ramadhan Mubaje and other religious leaders who openly and consistently supported the anti-gay bill and encouraged the President to sign instead of bowing to pressure from the promoters of homosexuality.

I cannot forget to commend our parliament under the leadership of the Rt. Hon. Speaker Rebecca Kadaga – the no nonsense lady; for passing this very important bill. I also thank the NRM parliamentarians who attended the recent workshop in Kyankwanzi for giving our president the last bit of courage he needed to sign the anti-gay bill into law.

This however does not mean that homosexuality is now finished. The anti-gay law will only strengthen the fight against this foreign and inhuman act. The struggle continues because with this development, the so called gay activists are going to descend on Uganda with all their resources and try to turn our country into a homosexuality hub in Africa.

We should therefore be on the alert and ready to fight and defeat these perpetrators of homosexuality. If we do not act now, our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren will not be safe and this will put the future of this country in jeopardy.

Those who have read and still remember what happened to Sodomy and Gomora and those who believe in the true teachings of God as well as those who understand and respect nature should know what I am talking about.

Thank you very much President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for showing leadership.

 Haji Nsereko Mutumba

Public Relations Officer

Uganda Muslim Supreme Council

Tel: 0701409504 or 0772409504

Email: pro_umsc@yahoo.com

Facebook page: Uganda Muslim Supreme Council/PRO’s Office

Blog: http://umsccommunications.blogspot.com

Open letter from public health clinicians, researchers, and academics regarding Uganda’s

Anti-Homosexuality Bill "

To His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda:

We, the undersigned, are writing out of grave concern regarding the likely implications of Uganda’s Anti Homosexuality Bill(“the Bill”) should it be passed into law. We are clinicians, researchers and academics working in the field of public health.

Many of us have extensive experience providing physical and mental health services and doing public health-focused research in sub-Saharan Africa.

We note that Ugandan experts, including Uganda’s Human Rights Commission and the Uganda Law Society, have studied this Bill and found that it violates obligations under Uganda’s Constitution to protect and uphold fundamental freedoms of its people. This Bill also contradicts scientific evidence regarding lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

 In your letter sent on December 28 to the Rt. Hon. Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga, you have expressed an interest in deliberating over evidence and science regarding sexual orientation and arriving at a “scientifically correct position” on the Bill. The purpose of this open letter is to focus on areas of particular concern to us as public health 1 experts, beyond our fundamental support for the human rights and human dignity of all Ugandans: 1) the overwhelming evidence about homosexuality and the myths perpetuated by the Bill and 2) the likely public health implications of this Bill, should it become law in Uganda.

1. Myths and Facts About Homosexuality

Your December 28 letter questions: a) whether homosexuality is an abnormality and b) whether homosexuality is a condition of which a person can be “cured” or “rescued.”

Evidence from independent technical normative agencies and respected medical and sociological professional bodies around the world could not be more clear in response to both questions: Homosexuality is not a pathology, an abnormality, a mental disorder, or an illness—it is a variant of sexual behavior found in people around the world.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people are normal. According to Uganda’s national diagnostics and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM), homosexuality is not classified as a mental disorder. Neither is homosexuality a condition from which a person can be “converted.” Despite claims to the contrary, there is no rigorous and peer reviewed scientific evidence that a person who is lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgendered can be “cured.”

The Bill’s claim to protect children and families in Uganda appears to be derived from the harmful myth that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people pose a graver risk to children and families than people of other sexual orientations.

There is no such evidence—lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people pose no greater risk to children than heterosexuals. In fact, sexual and physical violence experienced all too routinely by children and adolescents in Uganda would be unaddressed by this Bill. Implementation of this Bill would likely deplete the already limited resources invested in Uganda into robust investigations and prosecutions of cases of violence against children. Rather, the limited funds would be wasted on hunts by police for consenting adults suspected or accused of being lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. !

2. Undermining public health and human rights

This Bill would further exacerbate the marginalization, discrimination and exclusion of people known to or suspected of being homosexual. Research shows that laws and policies that increase stigma and discrimination among groups of people mean those people are less able to access health services because of fear of arrest, intimidation, violence, and discrimination. ( examples edited out-ED)

Ironically, the Bill’s clause prohibiting the “promotion of homosexuality” as well as “aiding and abetting homosexuality” would criminalize urgently needed service delivery for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

The Government of Uganda recently announced plans to implement government funded clinics designed to reach men who have sex with men and sex workers. 7 This Bill, if passed into law, would sabotage such efforts by criminalizing them. This will have a disastrous impact on the response of the nation as a whole to HIV as well as other public health priorities. This clause would also put international and national health service providers funded by international donors at risk of criminal prosecution if they discuss homosexuality in the course of their work.

The Bill conflicts with a health worker’s basic ethical obligation not to discriminate in the provision of medical services and would create a culture of fear of arrest and imprisonment among service providers. While a clause in earlier versions of the Bill that anyone suspected of being homosexual be reported to police might have been removed from the Bill that Parliament passed, the clause prohibiting promotion, aiding and abetting homosexuality would still force health workers to discriminate.

 Contrary to recent claims that health workers in Uganda do not engage in discrimination when providing services, Ugandans seeking health services in the public and private sectors frequently report being questioned by health workers about their sexual activities and marital status—creating for LGBT populations a legitimate fear of retaliation and discrimination if they are honest about their sexual orientation. This climate of fear would be markedly increased should the Bill become law.

Scientific research also shows a powerful association between homophobic abuse and violence and increased vulnerability to HIV. This is not due to an intrinsic condition of homosexuality, but a harmful effect of homophobia.

For example, men who have sex with men in Kampala who have experienced verbal or physical homophobic abuse are five times more likely to be HIV positive than men who have sex with men who have not experienced such abuse, 8 indicating a strong association between stigma and intolerance and HIV infection risk. Hatred and stigma drives vulnerable and isolated communities such as men who have sex with men further from essential preventative and curative health services.

We believe this Bill should not be passed into law—it blatantly defies highly corroborated scientific evidence and it would have a harmful impact on public health, human rights, and the freedom of all people to enjoy freedom from discrimination in Uganda. We implore that you veto this Bill in all forms. We note that Ugandan politicians and policymakers will meet February 6 in Kyankwanzi, Uganda where this issue will be discussed amongst the National Resistance Movement Caucus.

Representatives of our group of signatories request the opportunity to join you in Kyankwanzi to share scientific evidence face-to-face, given the intense interest this topic has generated, apparent misinformation among decision makers, and the Bill’s serious consequences for Ugandans should it be passed into law.   

Organizations and individuals edited out -ED:

A statement from Dr. Vanessa Kerry, MD, MSc, CEO of Seed Global Health , responding to Ugandan President Museveni signing anti-gay legislation :

“News of Ugandan President Museveni signing into law legislation criminalizing homosexuality has attracted the outcry of many, including the Obama Administration, and I - along with our team at Seed Global Health - loudly join this chorus calling for repeal.

This issue is especially important to Seed Global Health, and me personally, because of our mission. We strive to help improve the health of all where we work by supporting US doctors and nurses to help train a new generation of medical and nursing providers in Uganda and other countries.

We and our Ugandan partners can’t do this if patients are at risk disclosing their sexual orientation and doctors and nurses are put in harm’s way for treating gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) Ugandans. Furthermore, we are restricted from safely sending volunteers to Uganda who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender themselves.

Any effort to outlaw or push LGBT Ugandans out of sight is wrong. It hurts Uganda, the health of all its population, and the ability to treat all its citizens with the fundamental rights and dignity they and we all deserve. We believe Ugandans and the world deserve better. Please join us in calling for repeal and condemning this law."

This statement has been posted on Seed Global Health’s Facebook page .

Please email Bridget DeSimone at bdesimone@burnesscommunications.com or call 301-280-5735 if you would like to speak to someone withSeed Global Health .

Study on Anti-Homosexuality in the World

This study of gay brothers, reported elsewhere in the world, is relevant to Uganda's Anti-Homosexuality Bill but has not received any coverage there. 

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/warrenthrockmorton/2014/02/14/new-study-of-gay-brothers-renews-interest-in-genetic-factors-in-homosexuality/

This study as well as many others is a reason why over 200 scientists and researchers from around the world wrote a letter to President Museveni regarding scientific consensus on homosexuality. (see attached letter)

The simple facts are that choice has nothing to do with experiencing attractions to the same sex. The Anti-gay law will not change anyone from gay to straight and will be fundamentally unfair as a result. 

Warren Throckmorton, PhD

Professor Psychology

Grove City College

President Yoweri Museveni’s speech on signing the Anti-Homosexuality Bill

It seems the topic of homosexuals was provoked by the arrogant and careless Western groups that are fond of coming into our schools and recruiting young children into homosexuality and lesbianism, just as they carelessly handle other issues concerning Africa.  Initially, I did not pay much attention to it because I was busy with the immediate issues of defence, security, electricity, the roads, the railways, factories, modernization of agriculture, etc.

When, eventually, I concentrated my mind on it, I distilled three problems: those who were promoting homo-sexuality and recruiting normal people into it; as a consequence of No. 1 above, many of those recruited were doing so for mercenary reasons – to get money – in effect homosexual prostitutes; these mercenary homosexual prostitutes had to be punished; homosexuals exhibiting themselves; Africans are flabbergasted by exhibitionism of sexual acts – whether heterosexual or otherwise and for good reason.  Why do you exhibit your sexual conduct? Are you short of opportunity for privacy - where you can kiss, fondle (kukirigiita, kwagaaga) etc.?  Are we interested in seeing your sexual acts – we the Public?  I am not able to understand the logic of the Western Culture.  However, we Africans always keep our opinions to ourselves and never seek to impose our point of view on the others.  If only they could let us alone.

It was my view that the above three should be punished harshly in order to defend our society from disorientation.  Therefore, on these three I was in total accord with the MPs and other Ugandans. I had, however, a problem with Category 4 or what I thought was category 4 – those “born” homosexual.  I thought there were such people – those who are either genetic or congenital homosexuals.  The reason I thought so was because I could not understand why a man could fail to be attracted to the beauties of a woman and, instead, be attracted to a fellow man.  It meant, according to me, that there was something wrong with that man – he was born a homosexual – abnormal.

I, therefore, thought that it would be wrong to punish somebody because of how he was created, disgusting though it may be to us.  That is why I refused to sign the Bill.  In order to get to the truth, we involved Uganda Scientists as well as consulting Scientists from outside Uganda.  My question to them was: “Are there people that are homosexual right from birth?”. 

After exhaustive studies, it has been found that homosexuality is in two categories:  there are those who engage in homosexuality for mercenary reasons on account of the under – developed sectors of our economy that cause people to remain in poverty, the great opportunities that abound not withstanding; and then there are those that become homosexual by both nature (genetic) and nurture (up-bringing). 

The studies that were done on identical twins in Sweden showed that 34% - 39% were homosexual on account of nature and 66% were homosexual on account of nurture.  Therefore, even in those studies, nurture was more significant than nature.  Can somebody be homosexual purely by nature without nurture?  The answer is: “No”.  No study has shown that.  Since nurture is the main cause of homosexuality, then society can do something about it to discourage the trends.  That is why I have agreed to sign the Bill.

Since Western societies do not appreciate politeness, let me take this opportunity to warn our people publicly about the wrong practices indulged in and promoted by some of the outsiders.  One of them is “oral sex”.  Our youth should reject this because God designed the human being most appropriately for pleasurable, sustainable and healthy sex.  Some of the traditional styles are very pleasurable and healthy.

The mouth is not engineered for that purpose except kissing.  Besides, it is very unhealthy.  People can even contract gonorrhea of the mouth and throat on account of so-called “oral sex”, not to mention worms, hepatitis E, etc.

The Ministry of Gender and Youth should de-campaign this buyayism imported from outside and sensitize the youth about the healthy life style that is abundant in our cultures.  We reject the notion that somebody can be homosexual by choice; that a man can choose to love a fellow man; that sexual orientation is a matter of choice.

Since my original thesis that there may be people who are born homosexual has been disproved by science, then the homosexuals have lost the argument in Uganda.  They should rehabilitate themselves and society should assist them to do so.

Yoweri K. Museveni Gen. (Rtd)

P R E S I D E N T

24th February, 2014.

Uganda issues new HIV Treatment Guidelines

By Esther Nakkazi
Uganda has passed new updated HIV treatment guidelines that are integrated in the general healthcare family-centered system and promote sustainability of HIV services-treatment and care.

The new or revised guidelines first developed in 2011, incorporate the 2013 World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendations like expanding the eligibility criteria for ART by raising the cut-off CD4 point to 500cells/mm and to target key populations like sero-discordance.

They have also incorporated scientific evidence from existing national programs and promote integration of HIV services into the existing health care system in order to ensure universal access.

“These guidelines have been developed as an addendum to the 2011 National ART Integrated Guidelines for use by health workers at all levels of service delivery,” said Dr. Ruth Jane Aceng, the Director General health services Ministry of Health.

In effect, they will assist health workers to provide high quality and standardized HIV prevention, care and treatment services to people living with HIV.

Dr. Aceng said the key areas that have been incorporated in the 2013 guidelines are diagnosis and management of Cryptococcal infections, family planning in the context of HIV, which areas were not well addressed previously.

The new guidelines also recommend treating all children below 15 years irrespective of their CD4 count in order to improve enrolment of children into care and treatment. They also address key aspects of adolescents.

They consider key populations like Serodiscordants and TB patients co-infected with HIV who should be commenced on combination ART regardless of their CD4 count, recommend initiation of family planning services as an integral component of ART services- as women attending ART clinics have sustained contact with health workers and this can be used as an opportunity to provide them with family planning services.

Alice Kayongo Mutebi an HIV activist and advocate thanked fellow HIV advocates for all their efforts invested in influencing the adoption of these guidelines. “I am sure implementation of the same should start immediately,” she said.

The antiretroviral guidelines recommend that to prevent and Cryptococcal Disease in HIV, the health workers should carry out early screening and prevention of cryptococcal disease and its diagnosis.

Since 2011, the Ministry of Health has rolled out comprehensive HIV prevention, care and treatment with a significant focus on Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT), Infant Young Child feeding (IYCF), rapid scale up of ART among adults and children.

It has also developed integrated ART, eMTCT and IYCF guidelines. The current guidelines will facilitate integration of all these services and promote a family-centered approach to HIV prevention and care, treatment, a statement from Ministry of Health says.

They emphasize service integration and linkage especially in lifelong treatment for pregnant mothers. ART should be initiated and maintained in eligible pregnant and breastfeeding mothers and in infants at maternal and child health care settings with linkage and referral to ongoing HIV care and ART 18 months after delivery. They also recommend interventions like Mobile phone text messaging as a reminder tool for promoting adherence to ART as part of a package of adherence interventions.

Ends-

A new Museveni at the NRA/NRM Victory Day

Speech by H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni at the 28th NRA/NRM Victory Day Anniversary -26th January 2014-Mayuge district

As we celebrate the 28th Anniversary of the NRM Victory in 1986, we have, indeed, a lot to celebrate. First and foremost, we should celebrate the victory itself. That victory has since, been able to bring peace to the whole of Uganda. This was achieved because of the correct line of NRM of organizing the people on a patriotic, non-sectarian basis. That is how we were able to build a strong army that won that victory and also contribute to regional peace building efforts. The Banyankore have a saying: “Orutetera rwa guli nomwongo” ─ the seed of a pumpkin produces a pumpkin that is similar to the original pumpkin from which the seed came from.

The Bible puts it another way. In Matthew Chapter 7:16-17, it says: “You shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns or figs of thistles?” “A good tree produces good fruit and a bad tree produces bad fruit”. Verse 20, says: “Therefore, by their fruits you shall know them”.

An indisciplined and ideologically bankrupt army cannot create peace in the country. In spite of the general line of the NRA/UPDF of always being on the side of the people, there were incidents in the anti-insurgency campaign for which we are ashamed. I do not know why the people did not report those incidents. Apart from the Mukura railway wagon incident and the Bucoro pit incident, which were reported, there were other incidents that are coming to light now. 

These include: the incident at Kanyum where wanainchi were killed by elements of our army for no reason at all after the army had been attacked by the rebels; there were incidents of looting property including cattle; and other incidents of indiscipline reported in Nwoya. I am going to follow up all these incidents, unearth the culprits if they are still alive so as, to hold them accountable and compensate the victims or their descendants.  

It was a mistake for the wanainchi not to report these incidents. It was also a failure of the respective Division and Brigade Commanders not to have discovered these crimes that were committed under their command using, first and foremost, the wanainchi. Where these mistakes were discovered, stern action was carried out. That is why, since 1986, about 23 soldiers have been executed for homicide, rape, etc. I will personally organize Mato-put (Okukaraba in Runyankore ─ blood settlement) ─ with the concerned families and communities. I appeal to the people to always report the misbehavior of police or army personnel without any fear.

Now that the UPDF has pacified the whole country, it is only the ordinary criminals that continue to disturb the people. One solution for crime is identification. Identification enables us to fight crime accurately and promptly. Hence, the importance of the identity card project. The computerization of the identities of all Ugandans and all the residents in Uganda, will enable us to identify criminals accurately and promptly. The computerized record of all persons living in Uganda will capture everybody’s fingerprints, picture and bio-data. This is not only good for fighting crime but also for elections by ensuring that the crooks, who have been tampering with the voters register, will be exposed. It will be impossible to engage in multiple voting, etc. with the computerized record of persons.

Apart from stability, the NRM has been able to cause the recovery of Uganda’s economy. Uganda’s economy in 1986 was a mere US$1.5 billion. Today it is 64 trillion shillings, which is about US$ 24 billion. Therefore, in terms of size, the economy has expanded 16 times in the last 28 years. The economy could have expanded more if it was not for the internal sabotage we normally have to deal with, especially the delay of projects by the different power centres.

The proportion of the people below the poverty line has declined from 56% to 22%. The GDP per capita is now $600 in spite of much of the population still being mired (stuck) in subsistence farming. If all the homesteads in Uganda wake up and engage in small scale commercial farming, the GDP per capita will be more than double. This is because many families are either not contributing to the monetary economy or are doing so marginally. 

I have repeatedly told you that for the rural population, with small pieces of land (4 acres and less), need to listen to our advice of the 1996 Manifesto of selecting enterprises with the highest return per acre per annum. Back, then, we recommended one acre for clonal coffee, one acre for fruits (mangoes, oranges, pineapples, apples or grapes), one acre for food-crops (bananas, cassava or Irish potatoes) and one acre for elephant grass as livestock pasture for zero-grazing dairy cattle. Add to these four, two backyard activities such as poultry and pigs for those who are not Moslems. Such a family will get an annual income in the region of 40 million shillings. In dollars, this will be US$ 16,000 per family. Since an average family may have five persons, this will be US$ 3,200 per capita. On account of reasons I can not easily understand, this simple anti-poverty formula could not be grasped by many actors. This is what NAADS and all those agencies were supposed to implement. 

Recently, I started using the army in the Luwero triangle, the Rwenzori region and other Fronasa bases to implement this 17 years old plan. Here in Mayuge, Lt. Colonel Dhamuzungu has distributed 68,390 seedlings of coffee, 5,000 seedlings of fruits, maize and beans. Overall, General Saleh and Hon. Sarah Kataike have distributed 5,540,074 seedlings of coffee, 1,000,000 seedlings of tea, 230,324 seedlings of fruit, cassava, beans, maize, etc.

We are going to expand this programme in the coming financial year. Here in Mayuge, Dhamuzungu distributed the 68,390 seedlings to 102 families, orange seedlings to 37 families, etc. With UPDF, we are not populist actors. Each family must get, at least, 450 coffee seedlings per acre and 120 orange seedlings per acre. We want impact and results and not show for cheap propaganda. This financial year, we needed 810 billion shillings to role out this programme to as many families as possible, throughout Uganda. We only managed to get 57 billion shillings for this purpose. We are restructuring NAADS in order to do away with the coordinators so that most of the money goes for breeding and planting materials instead of being consumed by salaries.

With the increase in the size of the economy, our tax collection also went up. That is why we are now able to fund very many infrastructure projects by ourselves. Here in Busoga, we have been able to take power all the way to Bukhungu and reconstruct Jinja-Kamuli road, complete Iganga-Bugiri-Busia/Malaba road and we are going to tarmac Musita-Mayuge-Nankoma-Namayingo-Majanji and Busia road using our own money. This capacity to fund our infrastructure projects by ourselves is a source of great pride to me. It is a harbinger of things to come. Those with eyes to see, should be able to discern its importance.

Throughout the country, there are numerous road and electricity projects that are being executed with Government funding. We are grateful to friends from the USA, EU, China, India, etc. that have been funding or offering to fund various infrastructure projects. These projects include Karuma, Isimba, Ayago, Oraba Rd, Nimule Rd. etc. With discipline and the greater resources at our disposal, the future is bright. We should discourage the thinking that all problems can be solved at one go. Our time-tested way of solving problems is “kamu-kamu gw’muganda” ─ one by one makes a bundle.

I am told that the recent fighting in South Sudan has caused the decline of prices for agricultural and industrial goods. The prices have come down. While this is good for consumers in Uganda, it is not good for farmers and for the industrialists. The higher prices, on account of the bigger markets in East Africa, South Sudan and Congo were greatly boosting and stimulating greater production in agriculture, industry and services. 

The obvious linkage between bigger markets, greater production, job creation, wider tax base and, eventually, more prosperity, again, expose the bankruptcy of those who push sectarian position. If tribes, gender chauvinism and religious sectarianism are very important, then, why were so many Ugandans caught inside South Sudan? What were they looking for? Why abandon their tribes, their religious groups and their social peers and go to South Sudan even, when the situation is not very stable. The answer is simple. One’s prosperity and that of his family depend on taking the advantage of the opportunities available and opportunities may be outside the tribe, the religious sector or the gender fraternity. I am sure given all the concerted efforts, South Sudan and DRC will stabilize so that regional trade can resume in full force. This will be good for everybody.

I would like to conclude today’s remarks by talking on health. By emphasizing immunization, hygiene, nutrition, behaviour change and malaria control, we would eliminate more than 80% of the sicknesses. Sicknesses like hepatitis-B, hepatitis-E, AIDS/HIV, etc. are preventable by either behaviour change, immunization or hygiene. Health is wealth. Let the District Medical Officers educate the public about these health issues so that everybody participates in promoting health and we get rid of these diseases of ignorance. 

Some of these diseases are very dangerous and yet they are easy to avoid. Hepatitis-E, for instance, is caused by either open defecation or uncovered latrines. It is oral-faecal ─ from faeces to mouth. Hepatitis-B goes through sex, kissing or sharing injection instruments. Both these diseases affect the liver very dangerously and can lead to death. Yet, they are easy to simply, avoid. I do not have to talk about AIDS. You know that story.

Let us wake up from sleep and transform our country. In the coming years, let our slogan be: “Improved service delivery, improved infrastructure and wealth creation by all persons and all households”.
I thank you.

Unwanted Witness -Uganda

Press Release

Kampala, 17th/January/2014; the right to privacy and internet freedom are facing enormous (growing) threats as Ugandan government starts to import surveillance equipment and setting up internet monitoring units among the various security agencies; according to the Unwanted Witness Report.

The report indicates that the State House Entebbe was the first to be equipped with surveillance equipment with capabilities of undertaking surveillance on over ten mobile phone subscribers at ago.

“It irritates to witness the diminishing of the enjoyments of human rights in Uganda. The trends we are taking as a country is to obstruct and control the enjoyments of these rights and freedoms. Offline rights and freedoms are the causality of the day including assembly, expression and association having been excessively limited and now internet freedoms are being targeted” Said Jeff Wokulira Ssebaggala, the Unwanted Witness Chief Executive Officer

The research which was carried out from November 2013 to January 2014 to understand online threats and risks faced by Human rights Defenders, Netizen, Bloggers, journalists, artists and poets among other internet users, indicates that Internet monitoring units have been established in major security agencies including the Uganda Police Force, Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence and State House among others.

The report under the title “THE INTERNET; THEY ARE COMING FOR IT TOO” released in Kampala as part of activities to commemorate the Internet Freedom Day, 2014, which is held on the 18th January every year worldwide, expressed fears that as government moves to undertake systematic surveillance, the majority of internet users especially Human Rights Defenders and bloggers are un-ware of their being spied on by the government, they lack capacity to protect themselves while online and who to hold accountable for such actions; and many noted that they were never consulted during the legislative processes of laws on enacted to regulate internet activities.

The report noted that in the bid to regulate activities in the cyber space the government enacted more than five (5) legislations in a period of less than four years including; the Computer Misuse Act, Electronic Signatures Act, Uganda Communications Act, Regulation to Interception of Communications’ Act, and Electronic Transactions Act among others.

However, there’s a fear that the legal framework was drafted to undertake and strengthen the control over the internet other than facilitating the enjoyment of freedoms of expression, speech, association, assembly and access to information online which rights are not only guaranteed by the 1995 constitution of the republic of Uganda but also provided under various international human rights instruments to which Uganda is party
to.
The Unwanted Witness therefore recommends that;
1. The Uganda Government is under obligation to protect its people from surveillance and should protect their right to privacy
2. Enact a data protection, surveillance and privacy law
3. Put measures in place that aim at implementing the UN resolution on protection of the right to privacy in the digital age
4. Review all laws enacted to regulate online and make necessary amendments that will see the legal framework facilitating the enjoyment of online freedoms rather than control.

For interviews, and further Information please contact; Mr. Twesigye

Godfrey, Tel; +256-701-807429; E-mail: godfrey@unwantedwitness.or.ug

Download the full report:

http://unwantedwitness.or.ug/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/internet-they-are-coming-for-it-too.pdf


 

Uganda expedition being launched to profile the “Doomed Glaciers of Africa”

Press Release:
16 January, 2014 | Entebbe, Uganda: A two-week expedition of western Uganda’s Rwenzori Mountains, conducted by Pax Arctica, Makerere University’s Mountain Resource Centre and Green Cross International, is being launched tomorrow to raise awareness on Africa’s vanishing glaciers and the global water crisis.

The expedition is being led by explorer Luc Hardy, founder of Pax Arctica, an organization that promotes awareness of the impact of climate change on arctic regions. Mr. Hardy is also Vice President of Green Cross France et Territoires, which is part of the Green Cross International (GCI) global network, founded in 1993 by Mikhail Gorbachev to respond to the inter-related challenges of environmental degradation, security and poverty.

Scientists have predicted the glaciers located in the Rwenzori Mountains, or Mountains of the Moon, may cease to exist in two decades, possibly as early as the mid-2020s[1]. Studies have shown that from 1906 to 2003, the area covered by glaciers has reduced from 7.5 km2 to less than 1 km2. Research efforts to discover the impact of the disappearance of these glaciers are now critical.

The findings of the Uganda expedition will provide valuable information about the effects of climate change on Africa’s fast disappearing glaciers, and the consequence it may have on water shortages and water ecosystems in this region. Other objectives are to investigate the composition of plant species in the region, and develop the Mountain Research Centre’s glacial monitoring capacities.

“What is happening in the Rwenzori Mountains sheds light on the challenges we are facing globally from climate change and the world water crisis,” said Mr. Hardy. “Human-kind’s inability to contain climate change, and its negative consequences, can be visibly seen in this part of Uganda. The shrinking of this unique African glacier, along with the obvious loss on sustainable water supplies, pose major threats to local communities.”

Joining the expedition will be Sheila Ruyondo, a Ugandan environmental advocate and Uganda’s youth representative to the World Youth Parliament for Water (WYPW), which is a partner of the expedition. WYPW is a network of young advocates committed to responding to the global water crisis and its links to climate change. Raising awareness and mobilizing youth for this cause are two of its key missions, and are embodied in this expedition.

Ms. Ruyondo was raised at the foot of the Rwenzori Mountains, and is dedicated to promoting the right to access clean, safe water as well as initiating conservation efforts in this region of Uganda. Mountain guide David Rastouil and Ugandan university student Richard Atugonza will also participate in the expedition.

In an article by Pulitzer Prize winning writer, Tom Knudson wrote that people familiar with the Rwenzori Mountains have noticed a disturbing shift in decreasing precipitation patterns in recent years. The lack of rainfall has caused many trees to die, diminishing the regions’ ability to soak up and store water, leaving downstream villages at risk for water shortages.

For updates in the coming days about the Doomed Glaciers of Africa expedition, please refer to Green Cross International’s blog and Pax Arctica for reports, photos and videos.

Contacts for interviews:
Editors note: A post-expedition seminar to present observations is planned in Uganda. Contact Bob Nakileza nakilezab@yahoo.com for more information.

About PaxArctica
The Pax Arctica Initiative was created to promote awareness of the threats facing the Arctic regions, to convey a global message of peace and to support the introduction of new ecological regulations for the Arctic region. Luc Hardy is the leader of the Initiative, he is and adventurer, author, and member of the Explorers Club. He is president of Sagax, a US-based investment and management advisory firm.
More information: http://www.paxarctica.org/

About Makerere University’s Mountain Resource Centre
The Makerere University Mountain Research Centre collects information on mountain issues and brings together researchers that do work in mountain areas especially in Uganda but on global issues. It is the focal point for mountain research involved in organising workshops, conferences, trainings on mountain issues and documenting mountain research.
More information: http://scothee.mak.ac.ug/index.php?q=geography

About Green Cross International
GCI was founded in 1993 by Nobel Peace Laureate Mikhail Gorbachev and is an independent non-profit and nongovernmental organization advocating and working globally to address the inter-connected global challenges of security, poverty eradication and environmental degradation through advocacy and local projects. The GCI Water for Life and Peace programme advocates for universal access to safe drinking water and the equitable and sustainable use of shared water resources.
GCI is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, has offices in some 30 countries and local projects around the world. More information: http://www.gcint.org/water-for-life-and-peace

About the World Youth Parliament for Water
The World Youth Parliament for Water is a network of young people acting for water. It is active in 71 countries, with a mission to advocate for youth participation in the water sector, and to implement concrete actions for water. It acts at all levels: from local communities, where it implements concrete actions and lays the foundations for universal access to water and sanitation, to the United Nations General Assembly, where it advocates for youth participation in the water sector.
More information: http://www.pmje-wypw.org/

Internet Rights in Uganda: Challenges and Prospects

Workshop Report 28, 11, 2013 Kampala

By CIPESA

 Introduction

The Collaboration on International ICT Policy in East and Southern Africa (CIPESA, www.cipesa.org) in conjunction with Unwanted Witness Uganda (www.unwantedwitness.or.ug) on November 28, 2013 organised a workshop on promoting internet rights in Uganda. The workshop aimed to create awareness among civil society, netizens, and the media in Uganda on how policy and practice affect internet freedoms in the country. The workshop also sought to draw up strategies for network building and advocacy to promote and protect online freedoms in Uganda.

Background to the workshop

The internet has become an important domain for citizen participation in democratic processes, as well for increased scrutiny of government actions. In turn, there is recognition at the global level[1] that the rights citizens enjoy online need to be protected as much as the human rights that are enjoyed in the physical world. 

In Uganda, however, there are few conversations on the need to promote online freedoms (also referred to as internet rights). Informed, sustained, and inclusive debate about the need to preserve the privacy of individuals as well as the need for persons and organisations to enjoy the breadth of rights of expression that are enabled by ICTs, is often lacking. Similarly, there is a paucity of information on the state of online freedoms in the country, a mapping of actors in this sphere, and advocacy positions and resources that can be utilised in creating awareness and lobbying for the protection and promotion of internet freedoms.

This creates the need for: understanding how policy and practice affect internet freedoms in the Uganda, forming a network of national and regional actors involved in the promotion of internet freedoms, raising awareness and spurring multi-stakeholder conversations on the importance of protecting internet rights the way human rights have always been protected and promoted. Equally important is for users to know that as much as the internet gives seemingly unlimited freedoms, their actions online can have negative consequences on society and direct repercussions on themselves. This calls for responsible online actions, including an awareness of the law but also having safety skills.

Uganda has an estimated 6.2 million internet users and according to Alexa.com[2], social media sites – Facebook, Youtube, Twitter and blogspot are among the top ten most visited sites in the country. On May 30, 2013, the Uganda government announced that it would form a social media monitoring centre “to weed out those who use this media to damage the government and people’s reputations” and also targeted at those “bent to cause a security threat to the nation.” 

In recent years, some government departments have ordered curtails on the citizens’ right to seek, receive, and impart information through digital technologies, including ordering a temporary shutdown of some services such as SMS, and instructing internet service providers to block access to some websites. Uganda is also among six African countries that asked Facebook to disclose users’ details, according to the organisation’s transparency report for the first six months of 2013.

While the legislation in Uganda states the circumstances under which an order may be made for online content to be taken down or blocked, recent years have seen instances of takedowns that have not followed the law. There have been orders to take down or block access to certain websites, with at least one court case against an online journalist.[3] One journalist is on trial over an article published online in 2010. He was initially charged with “intent to defame the person of the President.”

On April 14, 2011, the regulator – the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) – instructed ISPs to block access to Facebook and Twitter for 24 hours “to eliminate the connection and sharing of information that incites the public” in the face of opposition protests.”[4] Uganda passed an interception of communications law in 2010 to give effect to aspects of an anti-terrorism law of 2002 under which journalists who “promote terrorism” can be liable to capital punishment. A registration of all SIM card owners in Uganda exercise concluded on May 31, 2013, which could make the monitoring easier.

Accordingly, the workshop addressed issues such as:

1)      What are online freedoms and why do they need to be protected?

2)       Status of online freedoms in Uganda.

3)      Threats and challenges to online freedoms in Uganda

4)      Strategising and network building for promoting and protecting online freedoms and online expression in Uganda.

 Workshop Presentations

Uganda Freedom on the Net Report 2013, Grace Natabaalo, Programme Associate, African Centre for Media Excellence

According to a 2013 report on the state of online freedom for Uganda[5], which the presenter co-authored, there were no reports of internet content being blocked or filtered during 2012 and in the first quarter of 2013, although various government officials publicly expressed the “need” to police online discussions. 

The Uganda Communications Act 2012 was passed in September, creating a new media regulatory body that has been criticised for its lack of independence from the government. Meanwhile, SIM card and mobile internet registrations continued through early 2013 amid concerns that the registration requirements infringed on the right to privacy given the lack of a necessary data protection law. Overall, she said, government harassment for online writing was documented, while suspicions of proactive government surveillance of online communications increased in the past year.

Ms. Natabaalo said internet penetration was growing but there were hindrances to use, including poor infrastructure, prohibitive costs, and poor quality of service. Social media and blogging platforms were freely available in Uganda and they were among the most visited websites. In the past, however, there were incidents when the government directed Internet Service Providers to block access to certain services and sites. 

She noted that the Uganda police chief had recently called for policing of social media, and that there were several laws that appeared to negate constitutional guarantees for freedom of expression. She said Ugandans online were becoming more open but were often subjected to threats from government functionaries. She also mentioned that there was self-censorship online, with matters of the president’s family and many issues related to the military considered taboo topics. Overall, Uganda was categorised by freedom House as ‘Partly Free’.

The Ugandan blogosphere, privacy and threats to expression, Esther Nakkazi, a blogger and journalist: According to Ms. Nakkazi, the use of technology can have positive and negative impacts. Citing a report by the Swedish Programme for ICTs in Developing Regions (Spider) she said technology allows people to connect with one another at a speed and scale unimaginable and with a degree of anonymity. 

However, what we do now to preserve privacy and fundamental freedom online will have a profound effect on the next generation of users: either the number will grow or shrink. In Uganda, the number of users is growing but there is a need to ponder privacy considerations. As has been noted by Spider, privacy is a right and human rights are universal. 

As such, behaviour that is unacceptable offline is unacceptable online, whether by governments or individuals. Therefore, users of social media and other ICTs need to be aware that the responsible behaviour expected in the offline world is also expected in the online world.

She stated that the internet is a key means by which individuals can exercise their right to freedom of opinion and expression, as guaranteed by Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. 

But there are many other uses to which Ugandans are putting the internet, with blogs, twitter and Facebook among the prominent platforms used. These include: for ‘exhibitions’ (pictures and videos) of their social lives, or to converse. There is also discussion of politics and news; monitoring of services delivery, searching for funding, doing business, sports betting, participation in interest groups, marketing and many more.

However, there are threats to privacy and free expression for Ugandan internet users. Access to at least one site was blocked (Radio Katwe), journalist Timothy Kalyegira was charged over an article he published online, local princess Ruth Komuntale had her privacy severely invaded during a break-up of her marriage, and there are indications of government agencies intending to monitor what citizens are doing online. There is also a lot of false unchecked information online.

This raises some questions: Who are the people who are under threat? And if we want to protect internet rights, how do we promote responsible behaviour? Are there existing systems with models we can build on? How can anonymity be secured in situations when anonymous submissions and leaks of sensitive information are communicated? Are there circumstances in which we need to adjust these concerns? Who needs to have oversight? Who needs to be involved? What external expertise do we need to have?

Introduction to the OpenNet Africa Initiative – Ashnah Kalemera, Programmes Associate, CIPESA

The OpenNet Africa[6] Initiative aims to promote and monitor internet freedoms in East and Southern Africa, with the focus countries being Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda. Why OpenNet Africa? Because there are few conversations in African countries on online matters; and where these conversations related to internet freedoms are taking place, they are often not informed by research, nor are they driven by an agenda that seeks to educate citizens and promote liberal regimes of online rights. And yet if digital technologies can promote democracy, there is need to protect individuals and organisations that use these technologies. The OpenNet Africa portal contains primary and secondary data, including:

•         Information on African internet freedoms and cyber security

•         Research Materials

•         Censorship incidents

•         African Initiatives promoting internet rights

•         Policy and advocacy material.

Defending Digital Rights in Uganda, Godfrey Wokulira Ssebaggala, Director, Unwanted Witness Uganda[7].

Unwanted Witness was founded to defend digital rights and to join hands with other organisations working to promote digital freedoms and the use of modern technologies to change lives. With the proliferating use of ICT tools, it was realised that there were opportunities, threats and challenges.

The presenter stated that secret surveillance was going on in Uganda, with security services spying on unsuspecting citizens. He said telecom providers were accomplices in the government-run surveillance. According to him, there are three pieces of legislation in Uganda – all passed in the last three years – on interception of communications, computer misuse, and the communication regulatory authority – which could be used to deny citizens their internet rights. He regretted that the policymaking process related to these policies was not participatory.

Threats and Challenges to Online Rights; Strategies for Network Building and Advocacy - Lillian Nalwoga, Policy Officer, CIPESA.

This session focused on prevalent threats and challenges to online freedoms in Uganda, and drew up some advocacy and network building possibilities. Below is a summary.

Threats to online freedoms in Uganda	Challenges to online freedoms in Uganda	Actions needed
Limited skills/ awareness of internet usage	Low digital literacy levels	Increase public awareness through sensitisation both online and offline
Low internet penetration in the country	Limited accessibility & affordability of internet	Train users, civil society in online etiquette
Hackers’ intrusion into users’ private information	Low access to electricity	Train police/ security agents on online freedoms
High data prices online	Strict policies/laws on internet usage/online freedom	Advocate increased awareness of/ affordability of internet
Conservatism, religion and culture	Uganda’s capacity to monitor online freedom	Advocate for Uganda govt. to respect online freedoms
Government surveillance on online freedom	Surveillance by government	Cyber laws should be changed to respect online freedoms

Discussions

There were questions on the methodology of the Freedom House report, specifically what issues are evaluated to determine whether the country is free or not free as far as freedom on the net was concerned. There was also debate on whether these evaluation criteria added up to the state of democracy in a country. It was widely held that a country where there was no online freedom was unlikely to be democratic.

It was pointed out that in Uganda, journalists plus all people who are active users of social media, as well as activists – for human rights, environmental protection, or gay rights – are potentially under threat. There was therefore need to protect the internet rights of a broad category of users but also to make them responsible while they communicate and engage via digital technologies. Social media users were also advised to use as many channels as possible, rather than relying on one to avoid being shut down completely if one of their platforms was interfered with.

There were concerns about the possibility that Huawei, the Chinese company installing a fibre backbone for the Uganda government, could carry out surveillance on users. The media was challenged to educate the public on the importance of protecting internet freedoms, while government was challenged to do more to increase internet access and use. However, there was need to create awareness about online freedoms-related legislations among not only ordinary citizens but also the media and legislators.

Participants also regretted that few Ugandans take part in policy making processes, even in instances where parliamentary committees call for public input. Concern was also expressed that the country’s laws, including those that were ICT-related, seemed to be mainly concerned with controlling citizens rather than assuring their privacy and giving them space for free expression.

Furthermore, civil society was challenged to keep an eye out on the data protection bill which cabinet had debated and which might soon be in parliament. It was also noted that if government officials were not engaged in dialogues and awareness raising activities on internet rights, little might be achieved in promoting progressive policies and practices on online freedoms.

Finally, civil society was advised not to campaign for “rogue freedom”. In other words, civil society should promote responsible use of ICTs, with users educated on legal and legitimate limits to their freedoms, otherwise irresponsible behaviour might give the government an excuse to clamp down on citizens’ freedoms.

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[1]See, for instance, Report of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, May 26, 2011; http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/docs/17session/a.hrc.17.27_en.pdf

[2] Top Sites in Uganda http://www.alexa.com/topsites/countries/UG

[3] See CIPESA, Uganda’s Assurances on Social Media Monitoring Ring Hollow, June 10, 2013, http://www.cipesa.org/2013/06/ugandas-assurances-on-social-media-monitoring-ring-hollow/

[4] CIPESA/ APC, Intermediary Liability in Uganda, April 2012, http://www.cipesa.org/?wpfb_dl=58

[5] Freedom House, Freedom on the Net 2013 Report, http://www.freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-net/freedom-net-2013

[6]OpenNet Africa, www.opennetafrica.org

[7] Unwanted Witness, https://unwantedwitness.or.ug