JOSEPH EIGU ONYANGO.
KABERAMAIDO.31ST /10/2008.
Kaberamaido district councilors yesterday boycotted a sensitization meeting over little pay of allowances.
Some councilors boycotted while others stormed out of the sensitization meeting after citing that their allowances were only going to be 60,000 shillings.
The meeting was organized by a Non Governmental Organization (NGO) called PREFA which is sensitizing mothers on how to prevent the transmission of HIV/AIDs to the un born babies.
Trouble started when the councilors claimed for 120,000 shillings to be paid to each person.
The councilors claim was contrary to 60,000 shillings, the initial budget that PREFA had budgeted for them.
Out of 21 councilors including the district chairman, Robert Engulu, only 2 councilors by names of Hon.Joseph Emusu and Hon. Charles Ojuku attended the meeting officially.
Sources at the district, however, indicate that after an hour later, the councilors converged and went to demand payment of 60,000 shillings.
Their pleas were not heard when the chief administrative officer, Roselyn Adongo advised the organizers not to pay them since they did not attend the meeting.
The controversial meeting was chaired by the District Health Officer, Dr. Geoffrey Balengera while PREFA was represented by the Project regional coordinator, Dr. Thomas Malinga.
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Soroti High Court sentences two Karimojong to death over Murder charges.
Soroti High Court has sentenced 2 Karimojongs to deaths over murders charges.
JOSEPH EIGU ONYANGO
SOROTI. 10TH/ 9/2008.
Soroti High Court has sentenced two people to death over murder of 3 people in Moroto Municipality.
The convicts identified as Apangira Lomongo and Modo son of Locole from Moroto municipality were accused of murdering Nalinga Jessica and her son Ngorok Regnaldo and Acongoli Thomas.
The incident happened in October 2005 in senior quarters ward in Moroto municipality.
The High Court presided over by Judge Steven Musota found Lomongo and Modo guilty of murdering three people contrary to section 188 and 189 of the Penal Code Act.
Musota sentenced the duo to suffer death subject to the confirmation of the said sentence by the president.
The court was adjourned immediately after the death sentence was read. These are first two people to be sentenced to death in Soroti high court this year.
Lomongo and Modo, who looked confused after the judgment was read, were immediately whisked away to Soroti government prison using police patrol car 999 as they wait to be transferred to Luzira prison.
The judgment changed the atmosphere in the court premises as one of the prison warders who escorted the suspects to court shouted that’ am confused; two of my inmates have been condemned”.
Statement of offence.
The court was informed by the Director of public prosecutions that Lomongo Apangira and Modo s/o lochole committed the offence at 9pm when they broke into the house of Jesca Nalinga.
Its noted that the duo demanded money from Nalinga whom they got watching a TV set with her family members before shooting them to death as the rest of the members at home managed to run away.
The statements adds that the next day post- mortem reports police form 48c showed the deceased were shot dead using the gun since the wounds were there, and also
identification parade reports for police form 69 indicated that both convicts were truly identified by the family members who managed to escape at the time of this murder.
JOSEPH EIGU ONYANGO
SOROTI. 10TH/ 9/2008.
Soroti High Court has sentenced two people to death over murder of 3 people in Moroto Municipality.
The convicts identified as Apangira Lomongo and Modo son of Locole from Moroto municipality were accused of murdering Nalinga Jessica and her son Ngorok Regnaldo and Acongoli Thomas.
The incident happened in October 2005 in senior quarters ward in Moroto municipality.
The High Court presided over by Judge Steven Musota found Lomongo and Modo guilty of murdering three people contrary to section 188 and 189 of the Penal Code Act.
Musota sentenced the duo to suffer death subject to the confirmation of the said sentence by the president.
The court was adjourned immediately after the death sentence was read. These are first two people to be sentenced to death in Soroti high court this year.
Lomongo and Modo, who looked confused after the judgment was read, were immediately whisked away to Soroti government prison using police patrol car 999 as they wait to be transferred to Luzira prison.
The judgment changed the atmosphere in the court premises as one of the prison warders who escorted the suspects to court shouted that’ am confused; two of my inmates have been condemned”.
Statement of offence.
The court was informed by the Director of public prosecutions that Lomongo Apangira and Modo s/o lochole committed the offence at 9pm when they broke into the house of Jesca Nalinga.
Its noted that the duo demanded money from Nalinga whom they got watching a TV set with her family members before shooting them to death as the rest of the members at home managed to run away.
The statements adds that the next day post- mortem reports police form 48c showed the deceased were shot dead using the gun since the wounds were there, and also
identification parade reports for police form 69 indicated that both convicts were truly identified by the family members who managed to escape at the time of this murder.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
4 GIRL STUDENTS IN KABERAMAIDO SS DROP OUT OF SCHOOL OVER PREGNANCY
JOSEPH EIGU ONYANGO
KABERAMAIDO. 13/7/008. RADIO NEWS STORIES.
Four senior one students in Kaberamaido secondary school have dropped out of school due to pregnancy in this 2nd term.
These students are benefiting from Universal Secondary Education and governments is paying their fees.
Also over 10 girls in senior two have failed to turn up this term due to un clear circumstances.
This was disclosed by the school headmaster ,Tophil Ogwang Ilado while briefing the parents on challenges facing girl students at school.
Mr. Ilado gave the briefing on Friday during Parents Teachers Annual(PTA) general meeting.
The headmaster assured the parents that their children were mostly misbehaving at school.
He appealed to the parents to always help the students with necessary scholastic materials for school while advising them to encourage students to study.
Meanwhile the students also expressed challenges they are faced with as caused by their parents.
The students say they don’t have enough accommodation,they domestic problems, delay of paying school fees by the parents.
The students body recommend that visitation day be introduced at school among others.
Track students body.
END.
Reports about a ghost aero plane landing in Kaberamido district headquarters are false and baseless, leaders say.
The news story about a ghost aeroplane landing at Kaberamaido was ran by the Onions newspaper last week.
The paper reported that the skeletons of people came out of the aero plane and talked to one of the district secretaries asking for President Amin.
The paper also further said the guards who were on duty ran away on seeing strange people.
Its alleged that the secretary told them that Amin died but the skeletons kept asking to be directed where Amins grave could be before flying away.
The news about this strange story has since then caused some panic among the communities living in Kaberamaido.
The story has forced the officials from RDCs office to buy a copy of this paper to enable them establish a source of the information.
This comes after they reportedly received a number of phone calls from state house asking about the credibility of the story.
According to the paper it said this was the 2nd landing of the aeroplane since 1943 during the world war II.
Meanwhile, Kaberamaido district police commander, Amazia Bogere revealed that he rushed his OC CID to verify the information at the district immediately the news broke in town but nothing was got.
Bogere says the information is false and the public should not get alarmed.
He appealed to the publishers of the story to come over and get true information from them.
END.
Number of fishing nets have been arrested in Kaberamaido district following the on going operation of illegal fish nets.
The operation is being coordinated by the district fisheries department and is targeting the landing sites with the assistance from police.
In this regard, Kaberamaido district police commander, Amazia Bogere confirmed to Veritas Fm that at the moment some nets arrested have been kept in police.
Bogere says indiscriminate fishing is dangerous because it leads to catching of small fish.
He says this is not in line with the district fisheries department.
The police say they are going to burn these fishing very soon.
End.
KABERAMAIDO. 13/7/008. RADIO NEWS STORIES.
Four senior one students in Kaberamaido secondary school have dropped out of school due to pregnancy in this 2nd term.
These students are benefiting from Universal Secondary Education and governments is paying their fees.
Also over 10 girls in senior two have failed to turn up this term due to un clear circumstances.
This was disclosed by the school headmaster ,Tophil Ogwang Ilado while briefing the parents on challenges facing girl students at school.
Mr. Ilado gave the briefing on Friday during Parents Teachers Annual(PTA) general meeting.
The headmaster assured the parents that their children were mostly misbehaving at school.
He appealed to the parents to always help the students with necessary scholastic materials for school while advising them to encourage students to study.
Meanwhile the students also expressed challenges they are faced with as caused by their parents.
The students say they don’t have enough accommodation,they domestic problems, delay of paying school fees by the parents.
The students body recommend that visitation day be introduced at school among others.
Track students body.
END.
Reports about a ghost aero plane landing in Kaberamido district headquarters are false and baseless, leaders say.
The news story about a ghost aeroplane landing at Kaberamaido was ran by the Onions newspaper last week.
The paper reported that the skeletons of people came out of the aero plane and talked to one of the district secretaries asking for President Amin.
The paper also further said the guards who were on duty ran away on seeing strange people.
Its alleged that the secretary told them that Amin died but the skeletons kept asking to be directed where Amins grave could be before flying away.
The news about this strange story has since then caused some panic among the communities living in Kaberamaido.
The story has forced the officials from RDCs office to buy a copy of this paper to enable them establish a source of the information.
This comes after they reportedly received a number of phone calls from state house asking about the credibility of the story.
According to the paper it said this was the 2nd landing of the aeroplane since 1943 during the world war II.
Meanwhile, Kaberamaido district police commander, Amazia Bogere revealed that he rushed his OC CID to verify the information at the district immediately the news broke in town but nothing was got.
Bogere says the information is false and the public should not get alarmed.
He appealed to the publishers of the story to come over and get true information from them.
END.
Number of fishing nets have been arrested in Kaberamaido district following the on going operation of illegal fish nets.
The operation is being coordinated by the district fisheries department and is targeting the landing sites with the assistance from police.
In this regard, Kaberamaido district police commander, Amazia Bogere confirmed to Veritas Fm that at the moment some nets arrested have been kept in police.
Bogere says indiscriminate fishing is dangerous because it leads to catching of small fish.
He says this is not in line with the district fisheries department.
The police say they are going to burn these fishing very soon.
End.
JOSEPH ONYANGO
KABERAMAIDO.13/7/08.
NUREP EXTENDS SUPPORT TO TESO DISTRICTS.
Northern Uganda Rehabiltation Programme (NUREP) has stepped up its effort to support districts in Teso and Karamoja regions.
Last week the programme coordinator issued number of cheques worth millions of shillings to the districts in Teso as support aimed at improving service delivery in their respective districts.
NUREP regional coordinator, Stephen Kluge in an exclusive interview told Veritas FM that the programme also aims at improving the living conditions of people staying in Internaly Displaced People (IDPs).
Kluge further revealed that the programme has three main pillars which deals with peace and conflict management, support of local governments and ASTU security personnel to curve out cattle rustling caused by Karamojongs to the People of Teso.
Speaking at Kaberamaido district headquarters last week, Kluge said that they have given the district authorities, laptop computer, printer and a cheque o f 10 Million shillings.
He said that the support will create better communication for the people of Kaberamaido and their field office in Moroto while money will enable the district repair spoilt vehicles so as to ease service delivery.
END.
RADIO NEWS STORY.
Kaberamaido Resident District Commissioner (RDC) John Eresu has willingly surrendered his office printer to Kaberamaido secondary school.
The offer is aimed at enabling the school have a chance of using the computer comfortably with printing services.
Eresu who was the guest of honor during the annual PTA meeting of Kaberamaido Secondary School got shocked to hear that the school just acquired the computer this term in time memorial.
Kaberamaido secondary school which is a government aided school recently purchased a computer and failed to use it due to lack of a printer.
This was announced by the headmaster, Tophil Ogwang Ilado while briefing the parents on achievements and challenges that the school is faced with.
Ilado proclaimed that now that they have a computer at school, all the school documents will be typed very clear for easy reading.
He further said that the school administration has been having problems of writing school documents and always depended on a type writer whose products were not clear.
The headmaster challenged the parents to support the school so that the academic standard of the school is raised up saying that this is computer stage.
Track. 033 Headmaster.
Kaberamaido secondary school has students population of 655 students both boys and girls against 25 teachers in total of which 17 are paid by government and rest are paid by the school management.
End.
KABERAMAIDO.13/7/08.
NUREP EXTENDS SUPPORT TO TESO DISTRICTS.
Northern Uganda Rehabiltation Programme (NUREP) has stepped up its effort to support districts in Teso and Karamoja regions.
Last week the programme coordinator issued number of cheques worth millions of shillings to the districts in Teso as support aimed at improving service delivery in their respective districts.
NUREP regional coordinator, Stephen Kluge in an exclusive interview told Veritas FM that the programme also aims at improving the living conditions of people staying in Internaly Displaced People (IDPs).
Kluge further revealed that the programme has three main pillars which deals with peace and conflict management, support of local governments and ASTU security personnel to curve out cattle rustling caused by Karamojongs to the People of Teso.
Speaking at Kaberamaido district headquarters last week, Kluge said that they have given the district authorities, laptop computer, printer and a cheque o f 10 Million shillings.
He said that the support will create better communication for the people of Kaberamaido and their field office in Moroto while money will enable the district repair spoilt vehicles so as to ease service delivery.
END.
RADIO NEWS STORY.
Kaberamaido Resident District Commissioner (RDC) John Eresu has willingly surrendered his office printer to Kaberamaido secondary school.
The offer is aimed at enabling the school have a chance of using the computer comfortably with printing services.
Eresu who was the guest of honor during the annual PTA meeting of Kaberamaido Secondary School got shocked to hear that the school just acquired the computer this term in time memorial.
Kaberamaido secondary school which is a government aided school recently purchased a computer and failed to use it due to lack of a printer.
This was announced by the headmaster, Tophil Ogwang Ilado while briefing the parents on achievements and challenges that the school is faced with.
Ilado proclaimed that now that they have a computer at school, all the school documents will be typed very clear for easy reading.
He further said that the school administration has been having problems of writing school documents and always depended on a type writer whose products were not clear.
The headmaster challenged the parents to support the school so that the academic standard of the school is raised up saying that this is computer stage.
Track. 033 Headmaster.
Kaberamaido secondary school has students population of 655 students both boys and girls against 25 teachers in total of which 17 are paid by government and rest are paid by the school management.
End.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
KABERAMAIDO LC5 CHAIRMAN WANTS KARIMOJONG CHILDREN REHABILITATED BY HUMANITARIAN NGOs.
JOSEPH ONYANGO.
4/7/2008
Kaberamaido district chairman, Robert Engulu has challenged organizations dealing in human rights activities to rehabilitate Karimojong children loitering in many parts of the country.
Engulu says Karimojong children are being abandoned in many towns especially Kampala with no body giving a helping hand.
He called on government to address the fate of the disadvantaged group of people living in the country while looking at human rights perspective.
He was speaking at Soroti Regional Human Rights Offices yesterday during the 9th annual human rights report review for 2006 /2007.
Engulu noted that these children are not attaining any formal education at all and they also need some medical care.
Many Karimojong youth have left Karamoja in fear of the consequences of the on going dis-armament program in the region.
In Teso, most Karimojong youth are now employed in restaurants, bars and as house maids.
The human rights 9th annual report review for 2006 / 2007 held at Soroti office attracted leaders of different categories including police commanders of Teso region, politicians and representatives of various NGOs in the region.
End.
4/7/2008
Kaberamaido district chairman, Robert Engulu has challenged organizations dealing in human rights activities to rehabilitate Karimojong children loitering in many parts of the country.
Engulu says Karimojong children are being abandoned in many towns especially Kampala with no body giving a helping hand.
He called on government to address the fate of the disadvantaged group of people living in the country while looking at human rights perspective.
He was speaking at Soroti Regional Human Rights Offices yesterday during the 9th annual human rights report review for 2006 /2007.
Engulu noted that these children are not attaining any formal education at all and they also need some medical care.
Many Karimojong youth have left Karamoja in fear of the consequences of the on going dis-armament program in the region.
In Teso, most Karimojong youth are now employed in restaurants, bars and as house maids.
The human rights 9th annual report review for 2006 / 2007 held at Soroti office attracted leaders of different categories including police commanders of Teso region, politicians and representatives of various NGOs in the region.
End.
SOROTI CHIEF MAGISTRATE DECRIES OF GOVT INTENTIONS TO PHASE OUT GRADE II MAGISTRATES.
BY JOSEPH ONYANGO.
16/6/2008.
Soroti Chief Magistrate, Charles Emuria has decried of government intentions to phase out Grade II magistrates.
The phase out of grade II magistrate’s country wide is in an on going professionalization in the judiciary.
Emuria says the move is going to affect the efficiency of the Judiciary the more in connection to hearing of the cases.
Emuria explained that much as government wants to remove these magistrates, he proclaimed that there is limited human resource in the Judiciary.
The chief magistrate was responding to queries raised by leaders of various districts recently during the 9th annual human rights review for 2006 and 2007 at Soroti regional human rights offices.
The leaders in the review meeting had demanded an explanation from the chief magistrate why cases were not being heard regularly.
They said this was a clear sign of human rights abuse on practice.
However, in a heated argument, the Chief Magistrate Soroti advised the public to always follow cases submitted to court.
Constitutionally people charged with non capital offences are remanded for 2 months and he or she is bailed out where as those with capital offences are bail able in 6 months period.
End.
16/6/2008.
Soroti Chief Magistrate, Charles Emuria has decried of government intentions to phase out Grade II magistrates.
The phase out of grade II magistrate’s country wide is in an on going professionalization in the judiciary.
Emuria says the move is going to affect the efficiency of the Judiciary the more in connection to hearing of the cases.
Emuria explained that much as government wants to remove these magistrates, he proclaimed that there is limited human resource in the Judiciary.
The chief magistrate was responding to queries raised by leaders of various districts recently during the 9th annual human rights review for 2006 and 2007 at Soroti regional human rights offices.
The leaders in the review meeting had demanded an explanation from the chief magistrate why cases were not being heard regularly.
They said this was a clear sign of human rights abuse on practice.
However, in a heated argument, the Chief Magistrate Soroti advised the public to always follow cases submitted to court.
Constitutionally people charged with non capital offences are remanded for 2 months and he or she is bailed out where as those with capital offences are bail able in 6 months period.
End.
Saturday, June 14, 2008
2 TEACHERS POISONED IN KABERAMAIDO
BY JOSEPH EIGU ONYANGO
KABERAMAIDO 13/6/2008.
Poison has claimed the lives of two teachers of Adongkweru P/S in Kaberamaido district.
The teachers died on Tuesday this week in different occasions.
The Acting District Education Officer for Kaberamaido, Simon Emoru identified the deceased as Richard Edilu a born of Bululu sub county and John Ewechu Onangtot.
Emoru says that one teacher had a problem of land wrangle where he is suspected to have been poisoned.
While John Ewechu was found dead at around 11 am at his house.
Both teachers have finally been buried with the last burial held yesterday Wednesday
The acting DEO who was speaking in deep sorrow regretted the death of these two teachers saying that it’s a big loss to the education department and the district at large.
This tragic death comes at the time Kaberamaido district local government is desperate of teachers in the district.
Apparently members of Kaberamaido district service commission are scrutinizing over 200 applications sent to the commission against 45 vacant positions that were advertised for grade III teachers.
End.
BY JOSEPH EIGU ONYANGO
KABERAMAIDO.
The Assistant Chief Administrative Officer for Kaberamaido district, Sam Elula has called upon the communities of Kaberearamido to support the police in fighting crime.
Elula says the community should not fear the police but they should work hand in hand with the police by giving them information.
He was addressing the public at Kaberamaido main market during the launch of police community policing program on Tuesday.
Elula assured the public that they should embrace the program because the police are coming as friends but not as enemies.
This program will enable both parties harmonies them selves as they will work as partners.
In a related development, the Assistant Chief Administrative also urged the community to ensure that they continue with agriculture and keeping hygiene and sanitation in their homesteads.
End.
KABERAMAIDO 13/6/2008.
Poison has claimed the lives of two teachers of Adongkweru P/S in Kaberamaido district.
The teachers died on Tuesday this week in different occasions.
The Acting District Education Officer for Kaberamaido, Simon Emoru identified the deceased as Richard Edilu a born of Bululu sub county and John Ewechu Onangtot.
Emoru says that one teacher had a problem of land wrangle where he is suspected to have been poisoned.
While John Ewechu was found dead at around 11 am at his house.
Both teachers have finally been buried with the last burial held yesterday Wednesday
The acting DEO who was speaking in deep sorrow regretted the death of these two teachers saying that it’s a big loss to the education department and the district at large.
This tragic death comes at the time Kaberamaido district local government is desperate of teachers in the district.
Apparently members of Kaberamaido district service commission are scrutinizing over 200 applications sent to the commission against 45 vacant positions that were advertised for grade III teachers.
End.
BY JOSEPH EIGU ONYANGO
KABERAMAIDO.
The Assistant Chief Administrative Officer for Kaberamaido district, Sam Elula has called upon the communities of Kaberearamido to support the police in fighting crime.
Elula says the community should not fear the police but they should work hand in hand with the police by giving them information.
He was addressing the public at Kaberamaido main market during the launch of police community policing program on Tuesday.
Elula assured the public that they should embrace the program because the police are coming as friends but not as enemies.
This program will enable both parties harmonies them selves as they will work as partners.
In a related development, the Assistant Chief Administrative also urged the community to ensure that they continue with agriculture and keeping hygiene and sanitation in their homesteads.
End.
Museveni urged to withdraw restrictions to allow easy distribution of iron sheets to IDPs.
BY JOSEPH EIGU ONYANGO.
14/6/2008.
President Museveni has been urged to withdraw tough restrictions regarding distribution of iron sheets to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Teso.
These tough restrictions are said to be affecting the distribution of iron sheets in Amuria and Katakwi districts because people have failed to meet the conditions.
This was disclosed by the LC5 chairperson for Kaberamaido district, Robert Engulu yesterday during the 9th human rights annual report review for 2006 /2007 at Soroti regional human rights office.
Engulu was charting a way forward to questions raised by leaders from Amuria and Katakwi that IDPs there have not fully received iron sheets meant for resettlement.
Engulu says such restrictions like one must have raised a concrete wall are not applicable with IDPs living in Teso because they can’t afford due to poverty situations.
He appeals to government to address the problem while considering human rights abuses that the locals are experiencing.
End.
14/6/2008.
President Museveni has been urged to withdraw tough restrictions regarding distribution of iron sheets to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Teso.
These tough restrictions are said to be affecting the distribution of iron sheets in Amuria and Katakwi districts because people have failed to meet the conditions.
This was disclosed by the LC5 chairperson for Kaberamaido district, Robert Engulu yesterday during the 9th human rights annual report review for 2006 /2007 at Soroti regional human rights office.
Engulu was charting a way forward to questions raised by leaders from Amuria and Katakwi that IDPs there have not fully received iron sheets meant for resettlement.
Engulu says such restrictions like one must have raised a concrete wall are not applicable with IDPs living in Teso because they can’t afford due to poverty situations.
He appeals to government to address the problem while considering human rights abuses that the locals are experiencing.
End.
LC5 Robert Engulu organisations to observe human rights
JOSEPH EIGU ONYANGO.
14/6/2008
Kaberamaido district chairman, Robert Engulu has challenged organizations dealing in human rights activities to rehabilitate Karimojong children loitering in Kampala streets.
Engulu says Karimojong children are being abandoned in Kampala with no government attending to them.
He called on government to address the fate of the disadvantaged group of people living in the country while looking at human rights perspective.
He was speaking at Soroti Regional Human Rights Offices yesterday during the 9th annual human rights report review for 2006 /2007.
Engulu noted that these children are not attaining any formal education at all and they also needed some medical care.
He further revealed that most of these Karimojong children living in Kampala were also loosing sight because of complicated diseases they encounter.
The human rights 9th annual report review for 2006 / 2007 held at Soroti office attracted leaders of different categories including police commanders of Teso region, politicians and representatives of various NGOs in the region.
End.
14/6/2008
Kaberamaido district chairman, Robert Engulu has challenged organizations dealing in human rights activities to rehabilitate Karimojong children loitering in Kampala streets.
Engulu says Karimojong children are being abandoned in Kampala with no government attending to them.
He called on government to address the fate of the disadvantaged group of people living in the country while looking at human rights perspective.
He was speaking at Soroti Regional Human Rights Offices yesterday during the 9th annual human rights report review for 2006 /2007.
Engulu noted that these children are not attaining any formal education at all and they also needed some medical care.
He further revealed that most of these Karimojong children living in Kampala were also loosing sight because of complicated diseases they encounter.
The human rights 9th annual report review for 2006 / 2007 held at Soroti office attracted leaders of different categories including police commanders of Teso region, politicians and representatives of various NGOs in the region.
End.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
news story
JOSEPH EIGU ONYANGO
1/5/2008.
“Govt. will not beg Kony to come out of bush” – Museveni
President Yoweri Museveni has clarified that his government will not beg Joseph Kony to come out of the bush.
“If he wants to come, let him come. If not, it will be too bad for him”, he said.
The President was addressing political leaders at Arua Public School on Monday 28th April during his 3-day tour of the West Nile Region to visit farmers and address political rallies to drum up the people to embrace the Prosperity for All (Bonna Bagaggawale) programme. Mr. Museveni assured Ugandans that nobody can mess up the prevailing peace.
“Kony fled to Congo because he had been defeated”, he said, adding that “recently 100 ADF rebels attacked Uganda but 80 of them were promptly eliminated and the survivors learnt that Uganda has changed.”
He told that meeting that “even the warriors of Karamoja have learnt that there is a government in Kampala. They have been court martialled and are surrendering their guns.”
The President told his audience that the NRM wanted to transform Uganda into a modern state but had been diverted by the Sudanese government which sponsored armed groups, like LRA, to overthrow the young NRM government or intimidate its leaders.
“They discovered that we were not the usual black Africans. If you create problems for us, we create more problems for you.”
President Museveni urged the leaders to support and participate in the Prosperity for All programme. “You should be the last peasants in your families. We should not produce more peasants”, Mr. Museveni said.
He said that the objective of Prosperity for All is to transform the peasants into the middle class. He explained that government has done its role by investing in infrastructure, such as schools, roads and hospitals.
However, the President noted, these have not changed the lives of the peasants. He said that the government has introduced UPE and USE to ensure that all the children access free education both at primary and secondary levels.
The President also said that government introduced immunization for all and noted that this has helped to reduce infant mortality rate. “What has remained is AIDS” which he described as a voluntarily acquired disease.
He warned head teachers to stop levying fees, including lunch, in UPE and USE schools. He cautioned head maters that they must restrict themselves to the role and assignments of government and leave parents to play theirs.
Mr. Museveni told Arua leaders that poverty can be defeated if the people change their attitudes. He said that in order to overcome poverty, the people must know the size of their land, the most profitable enterprises and their families’ annual income and expenditure.
He disclosed that government has injected Shs.150 billion through NAADS and other agencies. He, however, assured that NAADS has been re-organised. He directed NAADS officials to choose 6 pioneers from each parish transparently. “Inform the people on radio, organize a meeting so that they choose those 6 people themselves who can learn quickly”, he said.
The President advised farmers that those with large tracts of land can invest in beef, maize and tobacco production. Those with little land, he added, should engage in fish, poultry and fruits.
He cautioned those who agitate for tarmac roads saying that the tarmac road from Karuma to Arua has not eliminated poverty.
On behalf of the leaders, State Minister for Finance Mr. Fred Omach enumerated a number of problems that affect development region. He thanked the President for government projects and said that the leaders in West Nile want their area to be recognized as a separate region from Northern region. He, on behalf of the leaders, pledged support to the government and assured the President of their unwavering support to the Prosperity for All programme.
The Minister reported that Arua needs Shs.60 billion to put in place the structures that will facilitate the Prosperity for All programme.
1/5/2008.
“Govt. will not beg Kony to come out of bush” – Museveni
President Yoweri Museveni has clarified that his government will not beg Joseph Kony to come out of the bush.
“If he wants to come, let him come. If not, it will be too bad for him”, he said.
The President was addressing political leaders at Arua Public School on Monday 28th April during his 3-day tour of the West Nile Region to visit farmers and address political rallies to drum up the people to embrace the Prosperity for All (Bonna Bagaggawale) programme. Mr. Museveni assured Ugandans that nobody can mess up the prevailing peace.
“Kony fled to Congo because he had been defeated”, he said, adding that “recently 100 ADF rebels attacked Uganda but 80 of them were promptly eliminated and the survivors learnt that Uganda has changed.”
He told that meeting that “even the warriors of Karamoja have learnt that there is a government in Kampala. They have been court martialled and are surrendering their guns.”
The President told his audience that the NRM wanted to transform Uganda into a modern state but had been diverted by the Sudanese government which sponsored armed groups, like LRA, to overthrow the young NRM government or intimidate its leaders.
“They discovered that we were not the usual black Africans. If you create problems for us, we create more problems for you.”
President Museveni urged the leaders to support and participate in the Prosperity for All programme. “You should be the last peasants in your families. We should not produce more peasants”, Mr. Museveni said.
He said that the objective of Prosperity for All is to transform the peasants into the middle class. He explained that government has done its role by investing in infrastructure, such as schools, roads and hospitals.
However, the President noted, these have not changed the lives of the peasants. He said that the government has introduced UPE and USE to ensure that all the children access free education both at primary and secondary levels.
The President also said that government introduced immunization for all and noted that this has helped to reduce infant mortality rate. “What has remained is AIDS” which he described as a voluntarily acquired disease.
He warned head teachers to stop levying fees, including lunch, in UPE and USE schools. He cautioned head maters that they must restrict themselves to the role and assignments of government and leave parents to play theirs.
Mr. Museveni told Arua leaders that poverty can be defeated if the people change their attitudes. He said that in order to overcome poverty, the people must know the size of their land, the most profitable enterprises and their families’ annual income and expenditure.
He disclosed that government has injected Shs.150 billion through NAADS and other agencies. He, however, assured that NAADS has been re-organised. He directed NAADS officials to choose 6 pioneers from each parish transparently. “Inform the people on radio, organize a meeting so that they choose those 6 people themselves who can learn quickly”, he said.
The President advised farmers that those with large tracts of land can invest in beef, maize and tobacco production. Those with little land, he added, should engage in fish, poultry and fruits.
He cautioned those who agitate for tarmac roads saying that the tarmac road from Karuma to Arua has not eliminated poverty.
On behalf of the leaders, State Minister for Finance Mr. Fred Omach enumerated a number of problems that affect development region. He thanked the President for government projects and said that the leaders in West Nile want their area to be recognized as a separate region from Northern region. He, on behalf of the leaders, pledged support to the government and assured the President of their unwavering support to the Prosperity for All programme.
The Minister reported that Arua needs Shs.60 billion to put in place the structures that will facilitate the Prosperity for All programme.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Kaberamaido land lords fail to renovate houses.
JOSEPH ONYANGO
KABERAMAIDO 13/4/2008.
House owners of Kaberamaido town have delayed to meet the deadline of April 1st to paint and renovate their houses.
The deadline of renovating these houses was agreed upon by the town council authorities and district leaders last year.
This was aimed at improving hygiene and sanitation in the town together with giving the town generally good out look.
While recognizing the delay, Kaberamaido Resident District Commissioner (RDC), John Eresu insists that people should accept to renovate these diminishing down houses.
Eresu says the office of the RDC is willing to give a political weight and support to supplement town council resolutions to make sure that the land lords begin renovating the houses.
He also noted that there is need to push the community to do it because they have not been living in urban places.
The opinion leaders in Kaberamaido district feel houses should be renovated in order to attract visitors to the town and support electricity installation which is rumored will begin soon.
End.
Kaberamaido Resident District Commissioner (RDC), John Eresu has called upon the residents in the town to identify viable investments that bring income to them.
Eresu disclosed this at a press briefing at his office while avoiding commenting on how soon the electricity will reach Kaberamaido.
He argued that even if the electricity reaches Kaberamaido now people will not be able to pay the bills due to lack of money amongst the community.
He further questioned whether the community is prepared enough to use the electricity.
Eresu also gave an example of people failing to pay water bills which he said is bad because the community should be able to pay the services that they demand for.
END.
Special Police Constable in Kaberamaido district has gone back to primary six for studies.
Emmanuel Ajobe aged 40 attached to Kaberamaido police station registered him self in Kaberamaido town ship primary school.
Emmanuel Ajobe says his aim is to uplift the standard of Iteso which he said has declined due to land wrangling and over drinking.
Ajobe who formerly stopped in senior three says that his aim is to get an “0” level certificate and continues with further education.
The optimistic Ajobe explains that he want to get 1st grade and would be comfortable the people in Teso that day.
He said his boss have granted him study leave which he alternate at night.
For record the District Police Commanders who have served in Kaberamaido district have been allowing their junior police constables to study at day time while at night they go for duties.
END.
KABERAMAIDO 13/4/2008.
House owners of Kaberamaido town have delayed to meet the deadline of April 1st to paint and renovate their houses.
The deadline of renovating these houses was agreed upon by the town council authorities and district leaders last year.
This was aimed at improving hygiene and sanitation in the town together with giving the town generally good out look.
While recognizing the delay, Kaberamaido Resident District Commissioner (RDC), John Eresu insists that people should accept to renovate these diminishing down houses.
Eresu says the office of the RDC is willing to give a political weight and support to supplement town council resolutions to make sure that the land lords begin renovating the houses.
He also noted that there is need to push the community to do it because they have not been living in urban places.
The opinion leaders in Kaberamaido district feel houses should be renovated in order to attract visitors to the town and support electricity installation which is rumored will begin soon.
End.
Kaberamaido Resident District Commissioner (RDC), John Eresu has called upon the residents in the town to identify viable investments that bring income to them.
Eresu disclosed this at a press briefing at his office while avoiding commenting on how soon the electricity will reach Kaberamaido.
He argued that even if the electricity reaches Kaberamaido now people will not be able to pay the bills due to lack of money amongst the community.
He further questioned whether the community is prepared enough to use the electricity.
Eresu also gave an example of people failing to pay water bills which he said is bad because the community should be able to pay the services that they demand for.
END.
Special Police Constable in Kaberamaido district has gone back to primary six for studies.
Emmanuel Ajobe aged 40 attached to Kaberamaido police station registered him self in Kaberamaido town ship primary school.
Emmanuel Ajobe says his aim is to uplift the standard of Iteso which he said has declined due to land wrangling and over drinking.
Ajobe who formerly stopped in senior three says that his aim is to get an “0” level certificate and continues with further education.
The optimistic Ajobe explains that he want to get 1st grade and would be comfortable the people in Teso that day.
He said his boss have granted him study leave which he alternate at night.
For record the District Police Commanders who have served in Kaberamaido district have been allowing their junior police constables to study at day time while at night they go for duties.
END.
President addresses Ugandan students in India .
President Yoweri Museveni has said that the Government of Uganda will carry out a study to work out an insurance scheme through which it can contribute to health problems of students abroad.
The President who was addressing some of Ugandan students in India at the Ashok Hotel in New Delhi was responding to the students’ complaints that many Ugandan students cannot pay for treatment.
He said that what government can do is to contribute to an insurance scheme.
President Museveni promised to contact the Indian Prime Minister seeking his intervention in the visa problems.
The students told the President that India gives visas at a three months basis. This, they said should be changed to at least 2 years or should cover the whole of the 3 years’ course.
“This is a good idea. I will contact the Prime Minister for intervention on this matter”, he said. Mr. Museveni agreed with the students that the government should appoint an education attaché at the Ugandan High Commission in New Delhi.
However, the students said that such a person should be an old student in the country who understands student problems.
The students complained that part of their courses require internship but this cannot be done in India because the companies they are sent to by Indian Universities demand temporary work permits which the students do not have.
President promised to handle the matter with the Indian authorities. The students also demanded that that government scholarships be made public.
Mr. Museveni explained that the massive scholarships that government gives Ugandans is UPE. He said that the other scholarships are given to students with targeted courses.
“I also give scholarships to the orphans of the former fighters but these are very few”, he said.
President Museveni appealed to the students to return to Uganda at the completion of their courses.
He supported the Indian government which arrests those students who refuse to return to Uganda.
“I entirely agree with the Indian government. Why don’t you want to come back?’ he asked.
He assured students that Uganda is a very good country and those with education should return to Uganda because it is easy to start their own businesses.
“The only problem is that you only want white collar jobs, otherwise you can start your own businesses”, Mr. Museveni assured the students.
The President concurred with the students that government should make contribution to their studies. However, he noted that this should be directed to science courses.
He warned them against immorality while in India and to avoid HIV/AIDS.
“Concentrate on your studies and you complete and get married”, he implored.
END.
President Yoweri Museveni has said that the Government of Uganda will carry out a study to work out an insurance scheme through which it can contribute to health problems of students abroad.
The President who was addressing some of Ugandan students in India at the Ashok Hotel in New Delhi was responding to the students’ complaints that many Ugandan students cannot pay for treatment.
He said that what government can do is to contribute to an insurance scheme.
President Museveni promised to contact the Indian Prime Minister seeking his intervention in the visa problems.
The students told the President that India gives visas at a three months basis. This, they said should be changed to at least 2 years or should cover the whole of the 3 years’ course.
“This is a good idea. I will contact the Prime Minister for intervention on this matter”, he said. Mr. Museveni agreed with the students that the government should appoint an education attaché at the Ugandan High Commission in New Delhi.
However, the students said that such a person should be an old student in the country who understands student problems.
The students complained that part of their courses require internship but this cannot be done in India because the companies they are sent to by Indian Universities demand temporary work permits which the students do not have.
President promised to handle the matter with the Indian authorities. The students also demanded that that government scholarships be made public.
Mr. Museveni explained that the massive scholarships that government gives Ugandans is UPE. He said that the other scholarships are given to students with targeted courses.
“I also give scholarships to the orphans of the former fighters but these are very few”, he said.
President Museveni appealed to the students to return to Uganda at the completion of their courses.
He supported the Indian government which arrests those students who refuse to return to Uganda.
“I entirely agree with the Indian government. Why don’t you want to come back?’ he asked.
He assured students that Uganda is a very good country and those with education should return to Uganda because it is easy to start their own businesses.
“The only problem is that you only want white collar jobs, otherwise you can start your own businesses”, Mr. Museveni assured the students.
The President concurred with the students that government should make contribution to their studies. However, he noted that this should be directed to science courses.
He warned them against immorality while in India and to avoid HIV/AIDS.
“Concentrate on your studies and you complete and get married”, he implored.
END.
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Kumi district local goverrnment faces challenge of slow procurement process
JOSEPH ONYANGO
KABERAMAIDO 5/4/2008.
Kumi district local government faces challenge of slow procurement process.
The District chairman, Ismael Orot however attributes the challenge to the general change which he said is right from the central government.
Orot says the challenge in the procurement process is affecting the entire other districts..
He said that with the current recruitment of procurement officers in the district they are going to be more effective in ensuring that all their monies are properly utilized.
Meanwhile in Soroti district, the LC5 chairman Stephen Ochola decries that the RDC office is interfering with the tendering and procurement process in the district.
End.
Police in Kumi are holding a man identified as John Robert Okukwa for murdering a notorious thief.
The incident happened at Kumel village in Ngora sub county..
Kumi district criminal intelligence officer (CID), Selestino Ebulu identified the late notorious thief who was murdered as Vincent Okalebo 30 years of the same village.
Okalebo is said to have gone to steal and he was beaten to death because the assailant was defending him self.
Ebulu says eventually this case is going to be reduced to manslaughter because he Okukwa did not intend to kill this man.
However, the late is has been having several cases in police which are related to stealing.
The OC CID, Selestino Ebulu says this was his fifth time when he had gone to steal.
END.
The construction of Kumi district water from Agu River to the town is on the tendering process.
The tendering process is going to be done by the central government because it’s a big project totaling 12 million US dollars.
This was disclosed by Kumi district chairman, Ismael Orot at his office on Monday.
Orot says the construction is expected to start in 2008/ 09 financial year.
This water line is going to pass via Ngora, Kumi University and Kumi town council.
End.
The security situation in Kumi district has improved this year says the district chairman, Ismael Orot.
The chairman says the district is now peaceful except only during Easter season recently is when some thugs wanted to grab a boda boda his motor cycle in Ongino road.
Orot however, says there were precautions put by security personnel to address rampant robbery cases from occurring during Easter.
Orot says that security in the district is going to improve tremendously because police in Kumi are again slated to receive another brand new patrol vehicle.
He said the vehicle is suppose to be handed to the DPC and RDC today (Monday) in Lira town under the office of Inspector General of Police.
He says this vehicle will make the work of police easy via transport for visiting places of scene.
End.
KABERAMAIDO 5/4/2008.
Kumi district local government faces challenge of slow procurement process.
The District chairman, Ismael Orot however attributes the challenge to the general change which he said is right from the central government.
Orot says the challenge in the procurement process is affecting the entire other districts..
He said that with the current recruitment of procurement officers in the district they are going to be more effective in ensuring that all their monies are properly utilized.
Meanwhile in Soroti district, the LC5 chairman Stephen Ochola decries that the RDC office is interfering with the tendering and procurement process in the district.
End.
Police in Kumi are holding a man identified as John Robert Okukwa for murdering a notorious thief.
The incident happened at Kumel village in Ngora sub county..
Kumi district criminal intelligence officer (CID), Selestino Ebulu identified the late notorious thief who was murdered as Vincent Okalebo 30 years of the same village.
Okalebo is said to have gone to steal and he was beaten to death because the assailant was defending him self.
Ebulu says eventually this case is going to be reduced to manslaughter because he Okukwa did not intend to kill this man.
However, the late is has been having several cases in police which are related to stealing.
The OC CID, Selestino Ebulu says this was his fifth time when he had gone to steal.
END.
The construction of Kumi district water from Agu River to the town is on the tendering process.
The tendering process is going to be done by the central government because it’s a big project totaling 12 million US dollars.
This was disclosed by Kumi district chairman, Ismael Orot at his office on Monday.
Orot says the construction is expected to start in 2008/ 09 financial year.
This water line is going to pass via Ngora, Kumi University and Kumi town council.
End.
The security situation in Kumi district has improved this year says the district chairman, Ismael Orot.
The chairman says the district is now peaceful except only during Easter season recently is when some thugs wanted to grab a boda boda his motor cycle in Ongino road.
Orot however, says there were precautions put by security personnel to address rampant robbery cases from occurring during Easter.
Orot says that security in the district is going to improve tremendously because police in Kumi are again slated to receive another brand new patrol vehicle.
He said the vehicle is suppose to be handed to the DPC and RDC today (Monday) in Lira town under the office of Inspector General of Police.
He says this vehicle will make the work of police easy via transport for visiting places of scene.
End.
Kaberamaido CAO warns residents to stop witchcraft and embark on development.
JOSEPH ONYANGO
KABERAMAIDO 5/4/2008.
Kaberamaido Chief Administration Officer (CAO), Roselyn Adongo has advised residents of Lwala parish to embark on developmental issues and stop witchcraft.
Adongo pointed this out during a security meeting chaired by the Resident District Commissioner- Kaberamaido on Wednesday.
Adongo who was alarmed at the high rate of loss of life and burning of houses mysteriously at Acetangorom village in Lwala parish due to witch craft in the area condemned the act.
She said this does not bring development in the area if such practice is in place.
During the heated meeting which was boosted by security personnel, CAO ordered for the voting of people who are practicing witchcraft and those with illegal guns.
After the exercise, a man by names of John Edeu led with over 150 votes of being a witch doctor that has killed very many people in this village while other several people were voted for having illegal guns.
The RDC, John Eresu has ordered the police to open the files for these people.
Eresu asked all the voted candidates to report to police by Monday to record statements.
End.
Kaberamaido- Resident District Commissioner (RDC), John Eresu has rejected the summons letter saying it’s forged.
This summons letter which is directed to the school management committee of Kaberamaido town ship Primary School is signed by Grade One Magistrate court in Kaberamaido.
The letter demands the school authority to defend its self within 21 days for trespassing on Peter Engoru’s plot No.18 in Ekinu road.
Eresu yesterday questioned the document saying this is just forgery citing that the letter has a mere local stamp and no ceal,also the letter is not dated.
Eresu further doubted the signature in the letter as not being for the magistrate.
Interestingly the witnesses have not signed the affidavit attached to the summons letter and during the meeting some witnesses wondered why their names were put in this letter.
The RDC has therefore vowed to take up the matter seriously and says he is going to consult the magistrate on Thursday next week.
However, this stormy meeting was postponed to another date where the complainant of plots and the school is going to sit with Kaberamaido town council staff to forge a way forward.
End.
KABERAMAIDO 5/4/2008.
Kaberamaido Chief Administration Officer (CAO), Roselyn Adongo has advised residents of Lwala parish to embark on developmental issues and stop witchcraft.
Adongo pointed this out during a security meeting chaired by the Resident District Commissioner- Kaberamaido on Wednesday.
Adongo who was alarmed at the high rate of loss of life and burning of houses mysteriously at Acetangorom village in Lwala parish due to witch craft in the area condemned the act.
She said this does not bring development in the area if such practice is in place.
During the heated meeting which was boosted by security personnel, CAO ordered for the voting of people who are practicing witchcraft and those with illegal guns.
After the exercise, a man by names of John Edeu led with over 150 votes of being a witch doctor that has killed very many people in this village while other several people were voted for having illegal guns.
The RDC, John Eresu has ordered the police to open the files for these people.
Eresu asked all the voted candidates to report to police by Monday to record statements.
End.
Kaberamaido- Resident District Commissioner (RDC), John Eresu has rejected the summons letter saying it’s forged.
This summons letter which is directed to the school management committee of Kaberamaido town ship Primary School is signed by Grade One Magistrate court in Kaberamaido.
The letter demands the school authority to defend its self within 21 days for trespassing on Peter Engoru’s plot No.18 in Ekinu road.
Eresu yesterday questioned the document saying this is just forgery citing that the letter has a mere local stamp and no ceal,also the letter is not dated.
Eresu further doubted the signature in the letter as not being for the magistrate.
Interestingly the witnesses have not signed the affidavit attached to the summons letter and during the meeting some witnesses wondered why their names were put in this letter.
The RDC has therefore vowed to take up the matter seriously and says he is going to consult the magistrate on Thursday next week.
However, this stormy meeting was postponed to another date where the complainant of plots and the school is going to sit with Kaberamaido town council staff to forge a way forward.
End.
Friday, March 21, 2008
MEDIA TRAINING EXPERIENCES
International
Media.
Emerging journalism
Sep 13th 2007.
From The Economist print edition
Journalism training is booming in the developing world
TRADITIONAL media may be declining in much of the rich world, but in poor countries it is booming.
The growth in private media in developing countries has spurred much of the demand, as has new technology.
That is stoking journalism training in far-flung places, in many shapes and sizes. Joe Foote, an American professor, reckons there may be up to 3,000 courses.
They range from full degree programmes to the short-term specialist training offered widely across Asia, Africa and Latin America.
Groups offering such courses include the BBC World Service Trust, the Reuters and Thomson Foundations, the Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR) and Internews Network, a media-development charity based in America. The Aga Khan, a tycoon-philanthropist and religious leader who has media businesses in the developing world, is considering starting a programme in Africa.
The trend took off after the collapse of communism, when former Soviet-block countries sought new journalists to replace the hacks of the state-controlled propaganda machines.
Having started in Poland in the 1990s, the BBC trust has operated in over 50 countries, training more than 1,500 journalists in at least 15 languages.
These days the donors are particularly interested in niches, such as investigative reporting and science writing. But that approach sometimes flops. The need for basic reporting skills is still central.
Trainers stress the need for flexibility. Kieran Cooke, a former foreign correspondent turned trainer, says course participants often just want to talk. “They have miserable salaries, take on considerable risks, and still want to carry on.”
Participants in the courses praise the results, while complaining about the lack of focus and co-ordination among some providers. Shapi Shacinda, the Reuters correspondent in Zambia and chairman of the press club in the capital, Lusaka, says that foreign-backed training in business and economic reporting has helped bring more sceptical coverage.
Previously, news stories used to be taken straight from officials' statements, he says.
But governments are harder to teach.
Encouraging students to probe sensitive topics may threaten their lives or livelihoods. An Iraqi journalist trained by and working with the IWPR was shot dead earlier this year.
Just this week, Zambia's minister of information asserted that state-run media should not criticise the government.
In Russia, an organisation founded by Internews has been closed by the authorities, who were apparently suspicious of its American backing.
Rich-country governments can be a problem too. Some try to influence the “messages” that trainers deliver, for example by insisting that their diplomats talk to classes on a regular basis. The big training groups insist that they control their own content. “We won't be paid to do messages,” says Anthony Borden of the IWPR.
Blurring the boundaries can be dangerous both for journalists and the programmes that support them, he notes. But others may be less choosy.
More is not always better.
Quality varies wildly. Places like Bangladesh and Rwanda have been showered with training in recent years.
Gratitude is mixed with the wish for better co-ordination. David Okwemba of Kenya's The Nation newspaper, who also helps train journalists, bemoans overlap between courses and providers' failure to share information.
Some courses aspire loftily to build democratic societies through a free press. The BBC trust says it aims to give a say to the common man by holding institutions—public and private—to account. Such a range of goals makes measuring results difficult.
Teaching how to point a camera or write a news story may be easy compared to raising awareness of broader issues such as HIV/AIDS.
Many old news hands scoff at the notion of formal journalism education. A well-stocked and inquiring mind plus sharp penmanship are the main assets, they reckon. But even the most grizzled veterans of rich-world journalism still seem glad to earn extra money tutoring tyros in poor countries.
end.
Media.
Emerging journalism
Sep 13th 2007.
From The Economist print edition
Journalism training is booming in the developing world
TRADITIONAL media may be declining in much of the rich world, but in poor countries it is booming.
The growth in private media in developing countries has spurred much of the demand, as has new technology.
That is stoking journalism training in far-flung places, in many shapes and sizes. Joe Foote, an American professor, reckons there may be up to 3,000 courses.
They range from full degree programmes to the short-term specialist training offered widely across Asia, Africa and Latin America.
Groups offering such courses include the BBC World Service Trust, the Reuters and Thomson Foundations, the Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR) and Internews Network, a media-development charity based in America. The Aga Khan, a tycoon-philanthropist and religious leader who has media businesses in the developing world, is considering starting a programme in Africa.
The trend took off after the collapse of communism, when former Soviet-block countries sought new journalists to replace the hacks of the state-controlled propaganda machines.
Having started in Poland in the 1990s, the BBC trust has operated in over 50 countries, training more than 1,500 journalists in at least 15 languages.
These days the donors are particularly interested in niches, such as investigative reporting and science writing. But that approach sometimes flops. The need for basic reporting skills is still central.
Trainers stress the need for flexibility. Kieran Cooke, a former foreign correspondent turned trainer, says course participants often just want to talk. “They have miserable salaries, take on considerable risks, and still want to carry on.”
Participants in the courses praise the results, while complaining about the lack of focus and co-ordination among some providers. Shapi Shacinda, the Reuters correspondent in Zambia and chairman of the press club in the capital, Lusaka, says that foreign-backed training in business and economic reporting has helped bring more sceptical coverage.
Previously, news stories used to be taken straight from officials' statements, he says.
But governments are harder to teach.
Encouraging students to probe sensitive topics may threaten their lives or livelihoods. An Iraqi journalist trained by and working with the IWPR was shot dead earlier this year.
Just this week, Zambia's minister of information asserted that state-run media should not criticise the government.
In Russia, an organisation founded by Internews has been closed by the authorities, who were apparently suspicious of its American backing.
Rich-country governments can be a problem too. Some try to influence the “messages” that trainers deliver, for example by insisting that their diplomats talk to classes on a regular basis. The big training groups insist that they control their own content. “We won't be paid to do messages,” says Anthony Borden of the IWPR.
Blurring the boundaries can be dangerous both for journalists and the programmes that support them, he notes. But others may be less choosy.
More is not always better.
Quality varies wildly. Places like Bangladesh and Rwanda have been showered with training in recent years.
Gratitude is mixed with the wish for better co-ordination. David Okwemba of Kenya's The Nation newspaper, who also helps train journalists, bemoans overlap between courses and providers' failure to share information.
Some courses aspire loftily to build democratic societies through a free press. The BBC trust says it aims to give a say to the common man by holding institutions—public and private—to account. Such a range of goals makes measuring results difficult.
Teaching how to point a camera or write a news story may be easy compared to raising awareness of broader issues such as HIV/AIDS.
Many old news hands scoff at the notion of formal journalism education. A well-stocked and inquiring mind plus sharp penmanship are the main assets, they reckon. But even the most grizzled veterans of rich-world journalism still seem glad to earn extra money tutoring tyros in poor countries.
end.
Rogue paramilitaries caused civil wars in Southern Sudan not LRA rebels
JOSEPH EIGU ONYANGO.
SOUTH SUDAN 21/3/2008.
Officials in South Sudan say rogue paramilitaries left over from the country’s civil war, not Ugandan rebels of the Lord’s Resistance Army, are to blame for recent attacks on civilians in the region.The announcement comes as a relief to all sides as they await the final signing of a peace deal reached between the Ugandan government and the Lord’s Resistance Army, LRA, last month in Juba, the capital of South Sudan.Officials said at least 14 suspects had been captured and were in the custody of the autonomous region’s military, the Sudanese People’s Liberation Army, SPLA, and more were expected to be rounded up. They said none of the men appeared to be LRA members, and they were of South Sudanese rather than Ugandan ethnic origin.The arrests seem to absolve the Ugandan rebel movement of responsibility for a bout of raiding in South Sudan last month in which at least five villagers were killed, about 50 people abducted and property looted.Suspicions that the LRA forces were behind the attacks led to allegations that the rebels were not really committed to the ongoing peace negotiations with the Ugandan government, and were flouting a permanent ceasefire signed last month. South Sudan has played host to the talks since they began a year and a half ago. The South Sudanese authorities made it clear that it was not, as many had assumed, the LRA who were to blame, but renegade combatants from Sudan’s own long civil war, which ended in a peace and autonomy agreement in 2005South Sudan’s president Salva Kiir told reporters last week, “There are some SPLA elements and armed civilians who organise themselves to loot and disrupt civilian lives in the villages in the name of the LRA.” Kiir said he was convinced that the raiders were masquerading as Ugandan rebels by the fact that they looted alcohol and cigarettes, both of which are forbidden to LRA fighters. “The attackers looted… alcoholic drinks and packets of cigarettes from the markets they disrupted in Kajo-Keji County, drank all the alcohol and smoked the cigarettes – a practice that is not in the constitution of the LRA,” he said.Kiir’s vice-president, Riek Machar, who was instrumental in bringing the LRA and the Ugandan authorities to the negotiating table, said the attacks were carried out by a group calling itself “No Unit”, consisting of former guerrillas who were never integrated into the SPLA.The investigation which revealed the raiders’ identity was carried out by SPLA commander Wilson Deng, who is responsible for monitoring LRA compliance with the terms of the peace deal, under which rebel combatants are supposed to gather at a designated assembly in Western Equatoria Province, near South Sudan’s border with the Democratic Republic of Congo.The identification of the attackers as renegade combatants from Sudan’s own long civil war, which ended in a peace and autonomy agreement in 2005, adds credibility to the LRA’s pledge to stick by provisions of its peace deal with the Ugandan government.South Sudan officials are hopeful that the peace deal will be signed soon, since that will allow them to focus on better security in their country without having to worry about the presence of a Ugandan guerrilla group as well.Kiir said he is urging Machar, the chief mediator in the peace process, to “speed up the negotiations” in anticipation of a signing event by the end of this month. Once the document is signed, the LRA will have one month to demobilise and disarm its armed forces in South Sudan, turning members over to SPLA control for transport back to Uganda.At that point, Kiir explained, “we can easily identify elements who threaten our civilians”.But others in South Sudan who have been close to the situation insist that the LRA is responsible. Zamba Duku, a senior official in Central Equatoria Province, insisted that attacks on the villages of Kajo-Keji and Lainya had to be the work of LRA rebels since no other paramilitary groups remained in the area.“There are no more militias terrorising our villages except the LRA, who are threatening our citizens from returning home from the internally displaced camps that ran… during the civil war in the Sudan,” Duku told IWPR.County Commissioner Oliver Mule, of Kajo-Keji, agreed. He said that people abducted and later released claimed their attackers spoke Acholi, the language of northern Uganda, although others were speaking simple Arabic and Kiswahili. Some have speculated that the raiders were in fact a mixed group of rogue elements from both LRA and South Sudanese forces.The LRA has fairly deep roots in South Sudan, since it was received sanctuary and assistance for a dozen or more years from the government in Khartoum, which allowed it to mount operations into northern Uganda and also used it as a proxy force to fight the South Sudanese rebels.The LRA is known to have incorporated some South Sudanese into its units.Kiir, who is optimistic that a final settlement would be signed soon, said Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni assured him recently that he would fly to Juba to sign the deal personally.That leaves one outstanding question – the intentions of LRA leader Joseph Kony.“I need Riek Machar to also go and bring the LRA leader Joseph Kony to Juba so that he can come and sign the peace agreement in order to end the hostilities that exist between them,” said Kiir.But whether Kony will sign the agreement remains in doubt.Representatives of the LRA, including its top negotiator, David Matsanga, were in The Hague last week, meeting officials from the International Criminal Court, ICC. Matsanga and lawyers representing Kony want the ICC to drop its indictments against Kony and his top associates, on the grounds that an international trial would be redundant because the Ugandan government has agreed to set up a special court to try LRA leaders for crimes committed during the 20-year war.Kony has said he will not sign the peace agreement unless the ICC withdraws the charges.The ICC, however, has rebuffed that request. The LRA delegation was told by ICC senior legal advisor Phakiso Mochochoko that it had misconceptions about the court’s procedures and that the ICC arrest warrants would remain in place. “The LRA and government of Uganda are pursuing a political process, but the ICC is pursuing a legal process,” Mochochoko told IWPR. “As far as the ICC is concerned, the arrest warrants remain valid and enforceable, and the expectation from the court is that the government of Uganda should enforce them”It remains unclear whether keeping the ICC warrants in place will prevent a final peace deal being signed in Juba.
END
SOUTH SUDAN 21/3/2008.
Officials in South Sudan say rogue paramilitaries left over from the country’s civil war, not Ugandan rebels of the Lord’s Resistance Army, are to blame for recent attacks on civilians in the region.The announcement comes as a relief to all sides as they await the final signing of a peace deal reached between the Ugandan government and the Lord’s Resistance Army, LRA, last month in Juba, the capital of South Sudan.Officials said at least 14 suspects had been captured and were in the custody of the autonomous region’s military, the Sudanese People’s Liberation Army, SPLA, and more were expected to be rounded up. They said none of the men appeared to be LRA members, and they were of South Sudanese rather than Ugandan ethnic origin.The arrests seem to absolve the Ugandan rebel movement of responsibility for a bout of raiding in South Sudan last month in which at least five villagers were killed, about 50 people abducted and property looted.Suspicions that the LRA forces were behind the attacks led to allegations that the rebels were not really committed to the ongoing peace negotiations with the Ugandan government, and were flouting a permanent ceasefire signed last month. South Sudan has played host to the talks since they began a year and a half ago. The South Sudanese authorities made it clear that it was not, as many had assumed, the LRA who were to blame, but renegade combatants from Sudan’s own long civil war, which ended in a peace and autonomy agreement in 2005South Sudan’s president Salva Kiir told reporters last week, “There are some SPLA elements and armed civilians who organise themselves to loot and disrupt civilian lives in the villages in the name of the LRA.” Kiir said he was convinced that the raiders were masquerading as Ugandan rebels by the fact that they looted alcohol and cigarettes, both of which are forbidden to LRA fighters. “The attackers looted… alcoholic drinks and packets of cigarettes from the markets they disrupted in Kajo-Keji County, drank all the alcohol and smoked the cigarettes – a practice that is not in the constitution of the LRA,” he said.Kiir’s vice-president, Riek Machar, who was instrumental in bringing the LRA and the Ugandan authorities to the negotiating table, said the attacks were carried out by a group calling itself “No Unit”, consisting of former guerrillas who were never integrated into the SPLA.The investigation which revealed the raiders’ identity was carried out by SPLA commander Wilson Deng, who is responsible for monitoring LRA compliance with the terms of the peace deal, under which rebel combatants are supposed to gather at a designated assembly in Western Equatoria Province, near South Sudan’s border with the Democratic Republic of Congo.The identification of the attackers as renegade combatants from Sudan’s own long civil war, which ended in a peace and autonomy agreement in 2005, adds credibility to the LRA’s pledge to stick by provisions of its peace deal with the Ugandan government.South Sudan officials are hopeful that the peace deal will be signed soon, since that will allow them to focus on better security in their country without having to worry about the presence of a Ugandan guerrilla group as well.Kiir said he is urging Machar, the chief mediator in the peace process, to “speed up the negotiations” in anticipation of a signing event by the end of this month. Once the document is signed, the LRA will have one month to demobilise and disarm its armed forces in South Sudan, turning members over to SPLA control for transport back to Uganda.At that point, Kiir explained, “we can easily identify elements who threaten our civilians”.But others in South Sudan who have been close to the situation insist that the LRA is responsible. Zamba Duku, a senior official in Central Equatoria Province, insisted that attacks on the villages of Kajo-Keji and Lainya had to be the work of LRA rebels since no other paramilitary groups remained in the area.“There are no more militias terrorising our villages except the LRA, who are threatening our citizens from returning home from the internally displaced camps that ran… during the civil war in the Sudan,” Duku told IWPR.County Commissioner Oliver Mule, of Kajo-Keji, agreed. He said that people abducted and later released claimed their attackers spoke Acholi, the language of northern Uganda, although others were speaking simple Arabic and Kiswahili. Some have speculated that the raiders were in fact a mixed group of rogue elements from both LRA and South Sudanese forces.The LRA has fairly deep roots in South Sudan, since it was received sanctuary and assistance for a dozen or more years from the government in Khartoum, which allowed it to mount operations into northern Uganda and also used it as a proxy force to fight the South Sudanese rebels.The LRA is known to have incorporated some South Sudanese into its units.Kiir, who is optimistic that a final settlement would be signed soon, said Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni assured him recently that he would fly to Juba to sign the deal personally.That leaves one outstanding question – the intentions of LRA leader Joseph Kony.“I need Riek Machar to also go and bring the LRA leader Joseph Kony to Juba so that he can come and sign the peace agreement in order to end the hostilities that exist between them,” said Kiir.But whether Kony will sign the agreement remains in doubt.Representatives of the LRA, including its top negotiator, David Matsanga, were in The Hague last week, meeting officials from the International Criminal Court, ICC. Matsanga and lawyers representing Kony want the ICC to drop its indictments against Kony and his top associates, on the grounds that an international trial would be redundant because the Ugandan government has agreed to set up a special court to try LRA leaders for crimes committed during the 20-year war.Kony has said he will not sign the peace agreement unless the ICC withdraws the charges.The ICC, however, has rebuffed that request. The LRA delegation was told by ICC senior legal advisor Phakiso Mochochoko that it had misconceptions about the court’s procedures and that the ICC arrest warrants would remain in place. “The LRA and government of Uganda are pursuing a political process, but the ICC is pursuing a legal process,” Mochochoko told IWPR. “As far as the ICC is concerned, the arrest warrants remain valid and enforceable, and the expectation from the court is that the government of Uganda should enforce them”It remains unclear whether keeping the ICC warrants in place will prevent a final peace deal being signed in Juba.
END
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Col. William Omaria gives 200acres of land to investors.
JOSEPH EIGU ONYANGO
SOROTI 20/3/2008
Col. William Omarai Lo' Arapai has offered his 200 acres of land for the construction of an industrial park in Soroti.
Omaria made the offer on wednesday 19th march, during a meeting with the officials from Uganda Investment Authority at Soroti administration block.
Omaria later led the officals from Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) to isnpect the piece of land which is located at Arapai.
The team compromised of the Resident District Commissioner of Soroti, Ben Etonu, the LC5 Vice chairperson and the Deputy Chief Administration Officer.
The UIA officials are seeking for land in all major towns in Uganda for the potential investors.
The staff member from Land Development Division - Uganda Investment Authority, Barnabas Tumwesigye represented the teamfrom Kampala.
Earlier the local councilors and district leaders of Soroti district met at Paxland Motel with officials before going to Arapai.
The industrial parks are meant to create jobs for the people and bring services nearer to the people.
In Soroti district they are also targeting Odina citrus farm land and Dokolo cashew nut factory all in Kamuda sub county.
The other piece of land the officials are looking at is Amukaru meat parkers and Dakabela where the former radio station was.
The UIA team which has already visited Mbale will also proceed to Gulu and Arua.
End
SOROTI 20/3/2008
Col. William Omarai Lo' Arapai has offered his 200 acres of land for the construction of an industrial park in Soroti.
Omaria made the offer on wednesday 19th march, during a meeting with the officials from Uganda Investment Authority at Soroti administration block.
Omaria later led the officals from Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) to isnpect the piece of land which is located at Arapai.
The team compromised of the Resident District Commissioner of Soroti, Ben Etonu, the LC5 Vice chairperson and the Deputy Chief Administration Officer.
The UIA officials are seeking for land in all major towns in Uganda for the potential investors.
The staff member from Land Development Division - Uganda Investment Authority, Barnabas Tumwesigye represented the teamfrom Kampala.
Earlier the local councilors and district leaders of Soroti district met at Paxland Motel with officials before going to Arapai.
The industrial parks are meant to create jobs for the people and bring services nearer to the people.
In Soroti district they are also targeting Odina citrus farm land and Dokolo cashew nut factory all in Kamuda sub county.
The other piece of land the officials are looking at is Amukaru meat parkers and Dakabela where the former radio station was.
The UIA team which has already visited Mbale will also proceed to Gulu and Arua.
End
Sunday, March 16, 2008
BY JOSEPH EIGU ONYANGO.
KABERAMAIDO 16/3/2008
Kaberamaido district Chairman, Robert Engulu is on strike over no office vehicle.
The district chairman now walks every day to his office at the district headquarters on foot together with his escort for a distance of one and half kilometers (1.5km).
The LC 5 chairman, Robert Engulu says he is doing this because he is trying to send some message to any concerned person.
Engulu who was speaking to Veritas Radio on Thursday at his office in a cheerful flexible voice told the press that he is comfortable with the decision he has taken.
He says he has liked it because it has saved him from calling drivers to pick him every day.
Engulu says he is doing this in good faith and promises never to stop walking unless he receives an official vehicle for his office.
This unsolved decision has taken the walking chairman at least one week.
The issue has also affected the chairman’s movements in monitoring government program.
However, the District Executive Committee convened a stormy meeting on Wednesday where they questioned CAO office to intervene immediately and allocate the chairman a vehicle.
Sources say Kaberamaido Chief Administration Officer (CAO), Roselyn Adongo Luhoni has noted the concern and promises to repair any district vehicle and assign it to chairman’s office.
Mean while the chairman, RoberT Engulu accepted to reveal to Veritas Fm in a detailed heated separate interview that the district should go in for Hire Purchase Scheme to buy him a vehicle.
END.
Pliz guys long time. share this story in your different media houses.
Thanks
Joseph Onayango
+256-782-141066
KABERAMAIDO 16/3/2008
Kaberamaido district Chairman, Robert Engulu is on strike over no office vehicle.
The district chairman now walks every day to his office at the district headquarters on foot together with his escort for a distance of one and half kilometers (1.5km).
The LC 5 chairman, Robert Engulu says he is doing this because he is trying to send some message to any concerned person.
Engulu who was speaking to Veritas Radio on Thursday at his office in a cheerful flexible voice told the press that he is comfortable with the decision he has taken.
He says he has liked it because it has saved him from calling drivers to pick him every day.
Engulu says he is doing this in good faith and promises never to stop walking unless he receives an official vehicle for his office.
This unsolved decision has taken the walking chairman at least one week.
The issue has also affected the chairman’s movements in monitoring government program.
However, the District Executive Committee convened a stormy meeting on Wednesday where they questioned CAO office to intervene immediately and allocate the chairman a vehicle.
Sources say Kaberamaido Chief Administration Officer (CAO), Roselyn Adongo Luhoni has noted the concern and promises to repair any district vehicle and assign it to chairman’s office.
Mean while the chairman, RoberT Engulu accepted to reveal to Veritas Fm in a detailed heated separate interview that the district should go in for Hire Purchase Scheme to buy him a vehicle.
END.
Pliz guys long time. share this story in your different media houses.
Thanks
Joseph Onayango
+256-782-141066
Friday, February 29, 2008
RADIO NEWS STORY.
BY JOSEPH EIGU ONYANGO
KABERAMAIDO.
Three million shillings meant for savings and Credit Co- operative Society is feared lost in Gweri sub county - Sorti district.
This was reported to the district officials by the LC3 Chairman of Gweri sub county, Tom Julius Ekudo while giving updates of government programs in the sub county.
Ekudo said this during the consultative meeting chaired by Soroti District Resident Commissioner Ben Etonu on tuesday alldges that the commttee of sacos used the money
He said that the chairman of gweri sacos john michael olupot is said to have eaten the money and failed to pay back.over 950 members have registered with this sacos.
KABERAMAIDO.
Three million shillings meant for savings and Credit Co- operative Society is feared lost in Gweri sub county - Sorti district.
This was reported to the district officials by the LC3 Chairman of Gweri sub county, Tom Julius Ekudo while giving updates of government programs in the sub county.
Ekudo said this during the consultative meeting chaired by Soroti District Resident Commissioner Ben Etonu on tuesday alldges that the commttee of sacos used the money
He said that the chairman of gweri sacos john michael olupot is said to have eaten the money and failed to pay back.over 950 members have registered with this sacos.
RADIO NEWS STORY.
BY JOSEPH EIGU ONYANGO
KABERAMAIDO DISTRICT
EASTERN UGANDA
29TH/FEB/2008.
Land and Equity Movement in Uganda (LEMU) has written to all district councilors in the districts of Teso, Acholi and Lango seeking their views on the Ammendment Bill of 2007.
This is aimed at generating ideas from elders on customary land ownership especially on artilce 27.
Kaberamaido district speaker, Joseph Emusu says the leeter rquests the district councilors to get views from elders whether the existing laws should be amended or not.
Its noted tht the proposed land amenment bill will not favour the local community since it involes court
emusu says he will begin consulting the people of kaberamaido on wednesday,
he says he has identified elders , lcs, church leaders and elders for this consultations.
KABERAMAIDO DISTRICT
EASTERN UGANDA
29TH/FEB/2008.
Land and Equity Movement in Uganda (LEMU) has written to all district councilors in the districts of Teso, Acholi and Lango seeking their views on the Ammendment Bill of 2007.
This is aimed at generating ideas from elders on customary land ownership especially on artilce 27.
Kaberamaido district speaker, Joseph Emusu says the leeter rquests the district councilors to get views from elders whether the existing laws should be amended or not.
Its noted tht the proposed land amenment bill will not favour the local community since it involes court
emusu says he will begin consulting the people of kaberamaido on wednesday,
he says he has identified elders , lcs, church leaders and elders for this consultations.
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