Makerere closed over lecturers’ payrise demand

Makerere closed over lecturers’ payrise demand

Makerere University has been closed indefinitely over lectures’ demand of 100% salary increment.

The University Council chairperson Dr. Wana Etyemu Wednesday afternoon announced the closure after a three-hour closed meeting. 

 Makerere University Council in May approved a request by staff to double their salaries across the board, bringing an end to a sit-down strike. 

But the education minister, Jessica Alupo, said the Government would not implement a 100% pay rise for Makerere staff across the board this financial year.

The level of brain-drain in Public universities is alarming as dons keep quitting for jobs in well-paying private and foreign universities and non-academic jobs. Uganda is ranked number one in east Africa in terms of low pay for university academic staff.

Makerere lost 25 high-profile lecturers in 2011 alone, forcing management to suspend the Master of Journalism and Communication programme for a year, among other courses.

Mbarara University also lost 20 lecturers while Gulu Univeristy reportedly loses about 10 senior lecturers every academic year.

A 2012 Auditor General's report shows that there is need for close to 3,000 lecturers and others in more senior positions in the four of the five public universities.

At Makerere, it was noted that there were only 1,403 academic positions filled against the establishment of 2,654 positions. This left a total of 1,251 positions (about 47%) vacant.

Particularly, the report indicated that all the departments in the schools of economics and business were less than 50% staffed.

EAC states not ready for TRIPS, ask for extension

Experts suggest that the East African states should ask for more time before adopting the Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights or TRIPS.

The Least Developed Countries (LDCs), including Uganda, will have had extensions on the deadline for meeting obligations under the law designed to protect copyright. Will they beat the 2016 deadline following the record of little work done?

It will remain to us, the Ugandans, to value whether these agreements will be of any benefit to the nationals or serve the interest of other powers. In good faith this move is positive, but borrowing from the experience of others you will discover that somehow, somewhere the law can clip the wings of economic development in these countries.

Following a stakeholders meeting at the Open Society Foundation, it was noted that only ten out of 40 LDCs had implemented the TRIPS.  Assistant Commissioner in the Ministry of Trade, Ms. Elizabeth Tamale noted that the LDC will need to be offered an extension since they lack the technicalities and the Ugandan police lack the capacity to implement the agreement.

Talking about the police, Uganda has trained only 50 policemen to curb copyright breaches and cybercrime, but often they are too few to do the job. Few records of copyright breach have been reported, even though the population is seems enlightened on the intellectual and copy rights laws.

Kenya is the only East African Country that has tried to put in place these requirements of the World Trade Organisation. Otherwise the whole of East Africa still lags, as the majority has not done anything at all. Uganda is battling with the Copy Rights and Intellectual Property Rights, where two factions of performing artists groups have emerged - one opposing the laws. This has not only facilitated continued acts of piracy in music and other production, but has offered many “jobs”.

It should be noted that in early July when the Ministry of Trade tried to implement the import verification policy in a bid to embrace conditions set by TRIPS, traders opposed it vehemently. It took the president’s involvement to cool matters down. What does this show of a country like Uganda? Policies that don’t serve the interests of the Nationals shall always be on books, but never implemented. The verification fees and procedures had to be revised, and that still leaves only Kenya as a team player trying to control the importation of counterfeits.

I asked for the reactions of traders and artists towards the agreement to which Uganda is a party. Most of them where very skeptical about the whole agreement. If the country can’t deal appropriately with its own locally manufactured counterfeits, then how will they deal with such a wide law of coverage? Taking from these opinions, the consensus is that Uganda as a country lacks the man power to implement such agreements. As well, the technicalities make it almost impossible.

From my research, the population is much uninformed about the intellectual property laws and copy rights laws in play. With this new agreement coming up, how they will even know about it?

East Africa countries will need to first ensure the population is well informed about the laws on Copy Rights and Intellectual Property. If one is to go any of the shopping plazas around Kampala city you will find that many western movies are being duplicated and sold at less than a dollar, which alone leaves a lot to be desired. The parties involved in the frisk know a thing about the laws because at the end of the day, considering the economic standing of the population, the TRIPS will be a dream! The implementation of this agreement needs more than policies in place. It needs political will because without any political will the law is bound to fail. Looking at the level of poverty in the country, this agreement will never take on at any point. That’s because of the implication it has on the political powers of the party in power if it is to be implemented to the letter.

From these perspectives one can conclude that LDCs have a long way to go to achieve the set conditions.  In my opinion I would suggest that these countries should not implement the new rules all at once, but rather move on a step-by-step procedure. This should be done by first tackling the counterfeits within the country and then dealing with those coming into the country.  This will not only bring better policy implementation, but also ease the process towards achieving the set goals.

Still, with all this said the fundamental of any law or policy in any Least Developed Country is the political will to back it up. Without it, that law is bound to find itself on the shelves without any impact. 

Soldier arrested over questioning Muhoozi.

By RISDEL KASASIRA

IN SUMMARY

Wrong question? Capt Asiimwe, who was serving in Somalia, is detained after asking the First Son to explain discrepancies in army promotions.

KAMPALA

A UPDF officer in Somalia has been arrested after he asked the head of the Special Forces Command, Brig Muhoozi Kainerugaba, to explain why some soldiers stay on the same rank for long while others are “fast tracked”, military sources said.

Capt Moses Asiimwe, serving under Uganda Battle Group 11 in South of Somali capital, Mogadishu, was arrested last week and is currently under detention in Makindye military cells, army authorities confirmed yesterday.

The military spokesperson, Lt Col Paddy Ankunda, confirmed that Capt Asiimwe had been arrested and his conduct was being investigated. “We are carrying out investigations into the utterances of the officer.

For now, we cannot judge him until we have finished the investigations,” Lt Col Ankunda said. Military sources in Mogadishu told the Daily Monitor that Brig Kainerugaba, who was in Somalia for two weeks inspecting Ugandan troops, had told army officers to ask any questions on the issues affecting them.

Capt Asiimwe reportedly asked Brig Kainerugaba, who is also the First Son, to explain why some soldiers despite doing all the military courses needed for one to be promoted, have remained at the same rank for a long a time.
He reportedly told the meeting that he joined the army earlier than Brig Kainerugaba, but was still five ranks below the commander of Special Forces, despite having a number of courses under his belt.

Capt Asiimwe said he joined the army in early 1990s and did a cadet course in 1997 in Jinja and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant but remained at the same rank for 12 years before he was promoted to captain.

In response, Brig Kainerugaba reportedly told him that he was using a wrong forum to “ask” for promotions. This was also reportedly seen as an act of indiscipline by Capt Asiimwe.

Sources close to his family said Capt Asiimwe was put on the plane the following day and taken to Makindye military barracks where he is being detained. It is not clear which charges will be brought against Capt Asiimwe but sources said no statement had been taken from him a week after he was detained.

The development has revived debate about the “death” of free interaction in the UPDF. The army used to conduct weekly meetings called Barazas inside the barracks and in operational areas where soldiers were allowed to speak freely without fear of retribution. Whereas sources we spoke to indicate the meetings are no more, Lt Col Ankunda insisted they happen and are enshrined in the law.

rkasasira@ug.nationmedia.com

Obama to unveil broad African electrical power initiative

News Republic
Reuters

Sunday, June 30, 2013 4:49 AM GMT

By Mark Felsenthal

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Pointing to Africa's crippling lack of electrical power, President Barack Obama is due to announce on Sunday a $7 billion initiative over five years to double access to power in sub-Saharan Africa.

"We see this as the next phase in our development strategy and a real focal point in the president's agenda going forward," deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes told reporters traveling with the president.

Obama is midway through a three-country tour of Africa and is due to give what aides bill as his fullest description of his vision for the U.S. relationship with the continent on Sunday.

The president has chosen historically resonant locations for the address, and is due to speak at the University of Cape Town after touring the prison on Robben Island. Robert F. Kennedy's 1966 speech at the university linked the struggles against apartheid and the U.S. civil rights movement and was seen as giving encouragement to the movement, while Robben Island is where anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 18 of his 27 years in jail.

The president will cite South Africa's long struggle to defeat apartheid and the U.S. civil rights movement's success in overcoming racial inequality as models of movements that brought about change in the face of daunting obstacles, aides said. He will call on young Africans to summon similar energy to complete the work of those movements and to firmly establish economic growth, democratic government, and stable societies across the continent.

SIGNATURE PROGRAM

Obama has been faulted for lacking a grand program to benefit Africa like the HIV/AIDS initiative launched by President George W. Bush or the broad reductions of trade barriers achieved by President Bill Clinton.

Many Africans have been disappointed at what they see as Obama's hands-off approach to the continent, noting that his first extended trip the continent has not come until his second term in office despite his African ancestry. Obama's father was a native of Kenya.

The president's aides say he has been held back by the need to wind down two wars and to right the U.S. economy after the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression.

Despite severe U.S. budget constraints, the power initiative could provide Obama with just such a signature program.

DARKNESS BY NIGHT

Experts agree that the lack of electricity is a tremendous hindrance to Africa's advancement.

"Africa is largely a continent of darkness by night," said an official at a multilateral agency who spoke on condition of anonymity. "Every which way you look at this, Africa is behind the curve and pays more."

Roughly two-thirds of sub-Saharan Africa lacks power, a level that rises as high as 85 percent in rural areas, White House aide Gayle Smith said.

Lack of power inhibits business investment, prevents children from studying after dark, and makes it harder to keep vaccines from spoiling in rural areas, she said.

The United States will initially work with Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria and Tanzania to develop electric power generation, officials said. It will also cooperate with Uganda and Mozambique on oil and gas management.

The program will draw on a range of U.S. government agencies to achieve its goals. For example, the U.S. Overseas Private Investment Corp will commit as much as $1.5 billion in finance and insurance to help U.S. companies manage the risks associated with the projects.

Similarly, the U.S. Export-Import Bank will make up to $5 billion available to support U.S. exports to develop power projects, the officials said.

The private sector will also be involved. Officials said General Electric Co has committed to power generation projects in Tanzania and Ghana, officials added.

The president's trip has taken him to Senegal and South Africa and will wind up in Tanzania on Monday and Tuesday. Although concerns over the ailing health of anti-apartheid hero Mandela have overshadowed much of the trip, the president has sounded the theme of Africa's economic potential at every stop.

In keeping with that emphasis, Obama will also announce that he plans to hold a summit of sub-Saharan African leaders in Washington next year.

"It's something other countries have done," Rhodes said. "What we want to do is continue the kind of high-level engagement we've had on this trip."

(Editing by Eric Walsh)

(c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2013. Check for restrictions at: http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asphttp://us.news-republic.com/Web/ArticleWeb.aspx?regionid=1&articleid=10526457

Obama to unveil broad African electrical power initiative

News Republic
Reuters

Sunday, June 30, 2013 4:49 AM GMT

By Mark Felsenthal

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Pointing to Africa's crippling lack of electrical power, President Barack Obama is due to announce on Sunday a $7 billion initiative over five years to double access to power in sub-Saharan Africa.

"We see this as the next phase in our development strategy and a real focal point in the president's agenda going forward," deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes told reporters traveling with the president.

Obama is midway through a three-country tour of Africa and is due to give what aides bill as his fullest description of his vision for the U.S. relationship with the continent on Sunday.

The president has chosen historically resonant locations for the address, and is due to speak at the University of Cape Town after touring the prison on Robben Island. Robert F. Kennedy's 1966 speech at the university linked the struggles against apartheid and the U.S. civil rights movement and was seen as giving encouragement to the movement, while Robben Island is where anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 18 of his 27 years in jail.

The president will cite South Africa's long struggle to defeat apartheid and the U.S. civil rights movement's success in overcoming racial inequality as models of movements that brought about change in the face of daunting obstacles, aides said. He will call on young Africans to summon similar energy to complete the work of those movements and to firmly establish economic growth, democratic government, and stable societies across the continent.

SIGNATURE PROGRAM

Obama has been faulted for lacking a grand program to benefit Africa like the HIV/AIDS initiative launched by President George W. Bush or the broad reductions of trade barriers achieved by President Bill Clinton.

Many Africans have been disappointed at what they see as Obama's hands-off approach to the continent, noting that his first extended trip the continent has not come until his second term in office despite his African ancestry. Obama's father was a native of Kenya.

The president's aides say he has been held back by the need to wind down two wars and to right the U.S. economy after the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression.

Despite severe U.S. budget constraints, the power initiative could provide Obama with just such a signature program.

DARKNESS BY NIGHT

Experts agree that the lack of electricity is a tremendous hindrance to Africa's advancement.

"Africa is largely a continent of darkness by night," said an official at a multilateral agency who spoke on condition of anonymity. "Every which way you look at this, Africa is behind the curve and pays more."

Roughly two-thirds of sub-Saharan Africa lacks power, a level that rises as high as 85 percent in rural areas, White House aide Gayle Smith said.

Lack of power inhibits business investment, prevents children from studying after dark, and makes it harder to keep vaccines from spoiling in rural areas, she said.

The United States will initially work with Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria and Tanzania to develop electric power generation, officials said. It will also cooperate with Uganda and Mozambique on oil and gas management.

The program will draw on a range of U.S. government agencies to achieve its goals. For example, the U.S. Overseas Private Investment Corp will commit as much as $1.5 billion in finance and insurance to help U.S. companies manage the risks associated with the projects.

Similarly, the U.S. Export-Import Bank will make up to $5 billion available to support U.S. exports to develop power projects, the officials said.

The private sector will also be involved. Officials said General Electric Co has committed to power generation projects in Tanzania and Ghana, officials added.

The president's trip has taken him to Senegal and South Africa and will wind up in Tanzania on Monday and Tuesday. Although concerns over the ailing health of anti-apartheid hero Mandela have overshadowed much of the trip, the president has sounded the theme of Africa's economic potential at every stop.

In keeping with that emphasis, Obama will also announce that he plans to hold a summit of sub-Saharan African leaders in Washington next year.

"It's something other countries have done," Rhodes said. "What we want to do is continue the kind of high-level engagement we've had on this trip."

(Editing by Eric Walsh)

(c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2013. Check for restrictions at: http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp

Enough is enough, Gen. Sejusa tells Museveni in new letter

Enough is enough, Gen. Sejusa tells Museveni in new letter

By DAVID SEJUSA

ARTICLE SUMMARY: You must set us free and set my suffering comrades free or we shall free ourselves.

AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY: David Sejusa is a Ugandan military general and coordinator of intelligence services who recently fell out with his bosses in Kampala and fled to the United Kingdom.

Fellow Ugandans I greet you all.

First, I wish to extend my sympathies to all those that have suffered personal injury, physical, monetary or any other during this difficult period in the history of our country.

Those media houses that were closed and the thousands of workers that have been rendered redundant including those young people who work as newspaper vendors on our streets; I extend my solidarity and reassurances that your struggle is not in vain.

The excuse given is that they are searching for the Sejusa letter. Well, they are not because the writer of the letter is known and in any case, the Red Pepper never published that letter. It just published a press release from lawyers.

So what is this closure about? One, it’s panic. Those who peddle the nonsense that the Muhoozi [Kainerugaba] debate is good for him think people are stupid. Well, they are not. If it’s good then why close the papers and radios? Let the papers write freely about it and sure you will then get your reward.

Of course it takes the lead off the can and it’s not only bad for the boy but actually dangerous to that ambition. That’s the truth. But of course it’s like the "Tower of Babel" – you wonder if they understand even what they are saying.

(A distinction should be made between Muhozi the man and Muhozi the UPDF officer. I personally would never for even a second discuss the affairs of that young man as a person, for it would be wrong and unacceptable. But then once you make him a general in the army, he ceases to be a private person in that regard and must pass certain scrutiny.)

Secondly, it’s intended to frighten everybody so that you surrender your country to the highest bidder. I will deal with the question of oppression and fear in my subsequent paragraphs but suffice to state here that the people have matured. You can see it in the resilience of those media houses, those young workers. That’s what is worrying those in power.

An assertive population is a death sentence to any regime that becomes intolerant. They know it and hence the terror [they have unleashed]. But whatever the case, it’s rather sad that a regime that can’t create jobs for the youth can deprive the few that have some work of that opportunity. There will be no regime survival if the youth are not employed.

For today, however, [I] wish to address my fellow Ugandans on one pertinent issue. This is the issue of abusing the law and institutions just to keep the current leadership in power. Just this one central issue, if not resolved, and pretty soon will lead to ceaseless strife.

This is the issue of refusing to retire officers from the army so that they are rendered captive forever, so that none can challenge the regime. In essence, using the Uganda Peoples Defence Force (UPDF) as a prison so that anyone who threatens or is even rumored to have political ambitions is threatened with military law, death sentence, or other trash.

This became especially so after Dr. [Kizza] Besigye challenged Mr. Museveni for the presidency. Well, millions of Ugandans are perishing due to the breakdown of the state to such an extent that those death threats are of no consequence.

But, anyway, the point is that military law has become a political weapon for those in charge of the state to keep all potential political challengers under lock and key using that bogey of military law. That’s why Brigadier [Henry] Tumukunde, for instance, would not get a higher sentence than caution. Because sentencing him to a harsher punishment would automatically remove him from the military.

Then what do you do with him when he gets out? Imagine 70-year-olds who joined the army before some of us started school still serving and on the army pay roll; the tax payer shouldering the burden to pay thousands of officers, many even on katebe (without work in the army) so that they keep their mouth shut! This abuse must stop.

It’s this single most abuse of our officers that is creating discontent and anger within the military which is now spilling over to the streets. You remember my case when I wanted to quit the military in 1996. Since that time I have not been in the mainstream command of the military. So why was I not allowed to retire? Simple, to keep my mouth shut and kill any political ambitions I may have.

It’s so sickening! I had one person say that I have presidential ambitions; they think it’s a crime. That’s the mindset. No one else except them should have political ambitions. So vain and degenerate!

It becomes even more degrading when you want to fast track children to command positions. It’s immoral to keep a former commander of the army or such senior people in an army commanded by their children and grandchildren.

The decent thing would be to retire in honour those gallant sons and daughters of Uganda who gave their everything and covered you even in your sleep against all danger. Of course the reason is clear why they can’t be allowed to go: [to] eliminate any threat to any power related projects.

However, I am now saying enough is enough. Retire us and spare us the humiliation of having to salute our grandchildren. Period. Why have this leadership become so vengeful against the people who brought and gave them that power?

There is a verse in the Bible, in Hebrews Chapter 11:4, which says, “Even though he died he speaks!" I know those gallant sons and daughters who died in our struggle, and even those living, whisper to you at night. I would love to know how you answer those whispers! Of course for the record, betrayal never goes unpunished. It may not be you who may suffer it but it surely comes to visit at its own time.

The weapons of the all oppressors are similar. They use the same weapons of control. These are deception, fear, ignorance of the oppressed, terror, threats, unjust laws, oppressive system; vulgar, decadent and immoral ways to dehumanise them, etc. These weigh down the courage of the oppressed like you see gravity pulling us to the ground.

The gravitational pull used against the oppressed is murder, torture, threats, etc. Many of us resisted them before. So for me that LINE OF LIMITATION does not apply. I refuse to succumb to perpetual abuse. You must set us free and set my suffering comrades free or we shall free ourselves. I speak for those gallant officers who are virtual prisoners in the army but can’t say a word because they fear to be framed and court-martialed or worse. Let them go. Let them retire, with or without benefits.

Freedom and dignity are better than retirement benefits, which is merely used as an excuse.

Thank you Ugandans for that incredible support. Just remember, always, Uganda is for all of us all.

President Museveni makes minor cabinet changes

President Museveni makes minor cabinet changes

BIOTECHNOLOGY, THE NEW HOPE FOR AFRCIA’S AGRICULTURE.

Biotechnology has the potential to do for the agriculture sector what mobile technology has done for the communications sector, but to realize this potential, African countries need to adopt flexible and supportive biotechnology regulations, celebrated academic and internationally- recognised authority on the role of innovation in economic development… these were the words of Prof. Calestous Juma.

Prof. Calestous Juma, was speaking at a public lecture organised by the Association for Strengthening Agriculture Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA) at the Golf Course Hotel in Kampala. He told nearly 400- strong audience at the lecture, that most of the technologies needed for Africa to propel itself forward are already available and can be obtained through, research and international partnerships.

Prof. Juma noted that for Africa to sustain its exploding population, it must adopt strategies to put science, technology and innovation at the centre of economic transformation.

Juma, a Professor of the Practice International Development and the Director of the Science, Technology and Globalization programme the Harvard Kennedy School, explained how advances in information and communications technologies, especially mobile phones, illustrate the benefits of emerging technologies for economic transformation.

“Is Africa had restrictive mobile technology regulations imposed at the outset, it would not have benefited from the technology and even pioneered in fields such as mobile money transfer,” he remarked.

ASARECA Executive Director, Dr. Fina Opio in a speech read by Dr. Charles Mugoya, the Manager for Agro-biodiversity and Biotechnology programme at ASARECA, said ASARECA invest in generation of Science, Technologies and innovations to address current and future challenges such as pests and diseases and drought among others.

She said ASARECA mobilizes money, skilled people and sources knowledge to generate new technologies and ensures that those that are already generated reach the farmers.

Under the theme, Rebooting African Economies: Science and Engineering for Rapid Economic Transforming,  the lecture attempted to identify approaches for leveraging the world’s fund of scientific, technological and engineering knowledge for rapid economic transformation.

It argues that agriculture and allied industries offer a timely entry point for building a broad base for local, national and regional economic transformation. It stresses the importance of exponential growth in generic innovation platforms such as information and communications technology, biotechnology, nanotechnology and new material (especially biopolymers).

It also outlines strategic measures needed to harness these technologies. These include investing in infrastructure, reforming higher technical education, stimulating entrepreneurship and fostering regional integration.

The lecture concludes with suggestions on how to strengthen innovation governance (especially high-level advice), improve international science and technology cooperation and foster a new culture of innovation among the youth.

Participant after participant appealed to the anti-biotechnology activists to let Africa’s own scientists introduce new biotechnologies to boost agricultural production.  

In Jesus' Name from Darlene Zschech's #RevealingJesus Project

A Friend

I’ve always wanted a friend,

Someone I could talk to,

In times of sorrow and joy,

A listener to my problems,

And the way I feel.

And there you were,

Ready to hear me,

When I cry and when I laugh,

Always there to give me,

A shoulder to lean on,

Always there for me to count on,

You may not know it,

That when I see you,

A smile conquers my face,

Because you are closer,

Closer than a sister,

And a true art of a best friend,

That seems to understand me,

Beyond motherly nature,

You, I will always cherish,

As a treasure, held so dear to my heart.     

© Copy right 2008: Ochoo Ronald Ross

THE UGANDA I WANT FROM YOU.

From you, I want today, I want to run in your streets and not fall in a pot hole.

To express myself and not turn into a pink clown,

I want to bank my money in your bank and be sure it won’t close the next few months,

I want to take a stroll a long your pavements and not fall in open manholes,

To drive across your city and not be stopped by poorly fed malnourished policemen looking forward to getting some bribe.

I want to stand and speak and know I won’t be judged because of my tribe or religion.

I want to fight to see Rule of law in you, and not be called a terrorist or a potential threat.

I don’t want to be labeled a threat by you just because I don’t support your view.

I want to walk in freely from one end to another, and not be arrested for being idle and disorderly.

I want to join your political parties and speak for the voiceless, and not be trailed by your intelligence officials,

To shake hands with the opposition officials and not be forced out of the party,

I want to speak my views and not be persecuted in the names of prosecution,

I want you to be where the youths are not used as human shield for selfish political gains,

I want you to be where the youths are not defined by the party they support. 

I want where the youths are not used as child soldiers to fight wars they don’t know.

I want you to teach the youths the values of development and not political party ideologies.

I want you to allow the youths to speak freely and not be though to be in opposition,

A Uganda, where we shall all be given equal opportunities, not based on our tribes or political associations,

A Uganda, where my tribe is not a matter for discussion, but developmental issues,

I want to be prosecuted for the wrongs committed and not be driven as tribal persecution,

I want you to be lenient to all who disagree with your views, and look further into their ideologies.

I want to be loved not for what I am but for who I am,

I want to, stand and not be made afraid of being chased away from the country politically,

I want to shout out for my rights and not get scared of you, or your armory.

This is the Uganda I want from you.

Ronald Ochoo,

f: Ronnie Ross Onyang  O

T : @Ronnie_Ross_O

Commonwealth Youth Programme,

 Correspondent from Uganda.

11 Words You Should Never Use in Sales or Marketing

Want to stand out from the pack? Stop sounding like the pack.

                                                                                                                                                             shutterstock images

Samples are helpful. Demos are often effective. But what is the primary tool used to convince potential customers to buy?

Words.

Whether spoken or written, words make sales happen.

Or not.

Too many salespeople (and marketers and advertisers) use the same words to describe their products and services. Pretend I'm a potential customer or client.

Here's how I react when you use the following words:

"Customer focused."

Talk about redundant; should you be anything but customer focused?

If your goal is to imply that other providers are not customer focused, tell me how: Faster response time, greater availability, customized processes or systems... tell me in concrete terms how you will meet my specific needs. (If you don't know my needs and therefore can't address them, shame on you.)

"Best in class."

There are two problems with that phrase: Who defined your "class," and who determined you were the "best" in it?

My guess is you did.

Still, maybe you really are that awesome. So prove it. Describe your accomplishments, awards, results, etc.

As a customer I don't need best in class, I need best for me--so tell me, in objective terms, how you can provide the best value for my needs.

"Low-hanging fruit."

You say, "We'll start with the low-hanging fruit." I hear, "We'll start with really easy stuff you are too stupid to recognize or too lazy to do yourself."

No one wants to hear they have low-hanging fruit. Just describe, in cost/benefit terms, how you prioritized your list of projects or activities.

"Exceed expectations."

That's admirable goal, and one every business should aspire to, but exceeding expectations is an internal goal. Tell me you will exceed expectations and exceeded expectations instantly becomes my expectation. (I know that's kinda Zen.)

Tell me what you will do, every time. If you consistently pull that off, I'll be delighted.

Always let the customer judge whether you go above and beyond.

"Unique."

The ever-increasing pace of commoditization means few products or services have no like or equal for long. If I'm considering hiring your firm or buying your products, "unique" (like "exclusive") sounds good but describes nothing.

Instead tell me, in concrete terms, how you are better.

"Value added."

This term is often used to imply I'll get something for no or very little incremental cost. That means what I will receive isn't value added--it's part of the overall deal.

So tell me the deal, explain all the options and add-ons, and help me figure out how I can take full advantage of what you provide.

"Expert."

Margaret Thatcher once said, "Power is like being a lady; if you have to say you are, you aren't." Show your expertise instead.

"Social media expert" often reads as "We have Twitter and Facebook accounts and even know how to use them!

"Implemented social media campaigns for ACME that generated..." lets potential customers evaluate your level of expertise and your suitability for their needs.

"Seasoned."

Experience is only a partial indicator of expertise. If you're a contractor you may have built 100 homes... but that doesn't mean you did a good job.

Any reference to experience should immediately quantify that experience.

"Exceptional ROI."

We all seek a return on investments and we all love a great ROI. But without access to my numbers you can't accurately calculate my ROI. Therefore your estimates are either theoretical or based on another customer's results. Either way, I know your estimates are incredibly optimistic and that my results will definitely vary.

"Provides an exceptional ROI" reads as "...you're a terrible businessperson if you don't do this."

Show the costs, don't hide anything, and trust me to calculate my own ROI. If I'm not smart enough to do so, I probably don't have purchase authority anyway.

"Partner."

Long-term business relationships are great, but we will never be partners because while your hand will reach into my pocket, my hand will never reach into yours.

Still, maybe one day I will see you as a quasi-partner... but that's something I will decide on my own based on your performance, not on your marketing.

"Turn-key."

I love a turn-key solution as much as the next guy, but few solutions truly are.

No matter how comprehensive the offering I always wind up participating more than I was led to expect, so when I hear "turn key" I'm naturally skeptical... that is, unless you thoroughly break down what you will provide and what my participation will be, both during implementation and after.

Turn-key is in the eye of the beholder.

The customer is always the beholder.

THE UGANDA I WANT FROM YOU FOR THE YOUTHS

From me, From You, from us, I want to be identified by my contribution to the development of you and not my tribe.

I want to stand at the Constitutional Square for a cause and not be tear gassed,

To express views freely and not be washed, to be a pink clown,

A Uganda, where the youths decide their fate, but not imposed on programmes,

I want to walk freely, run freely and not be worried of falling in a pot hole, or worse an open man hole,

I want a Uganda, where corruption is not condoned,

Where we prosecute based on facts and not persecute,

I want a Uganda, where the youths are allowed to discuss the budget and account for everything,

I want where all shall be equally treated alike and not based on our tribes or political affiliations,

I want you to TRAIN the youths to be job creators and not job seekers,

I want the youths to be taught practical life skills and not theories,

I want you to be a role model with exemplary skills and deeds,

I want a Uganda, where the youths are not used as ladders for fulfillment of political ambitions,

I want a Uganda, where the youths are trained for future leadership without being brain washed and corrupted,

I want where the youths are free to join any political party and express their views, without fear for their lives,

I want a Uganda, where the youths are not used as human shield for selfish political gains,

I want a Uganda, where the youths are practically engaged in agriculture extensively.

I want a Uganda, where unemployment will be controlled,

I want a Uganda where there will be no more Nasser road Degrees,

I want a Uganda a where excellence and competence will be a basis for grading and not our tribes,

 I want a Uganda, where I will be able to speak freely and live freely and fear nothing.,

The Uganda I want for the youth is this, what do you want for Uganda.

Ronald Ochoo,

F: Ronnie Ross Onyang  O

T: @Ronnie_Ross_O

Linked:

*Correspondent  from Uganda.

Commonwealth Youth Programme

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE STEALING OF PUBLIC FUNDS IN UGANDA

Just a few months ago, Ugandans had one big cause to celebrate. It was the 50 years Golden Jubilee celebration, of our independence from the colonialists. One wonders why we celebrated. Though we had joined those African countries that had celebrated theirs years before, the likes of Nigeria and was quite lucky, it was the first in the East African Community.

Little did they know the good news was to quickly be supplanted by a more ominous story. The Uganda media houses have been vividly following last month’s revelation that the Ireland government had suspended aid to the Ugandan government after an audit showed that over Euros 11M, had ended up in the unauthorized personal accounts of the Office of the Prime Minister officials. Just in a wake of this suspension, many countries have joined in suspending their aid to the government of Uganda, these are; Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Germany, and the UK government. Of course the UK government chose to cur aid totally, and even withholds the intended Pounds 41M meant to be received in March next year to support the budget.  This was a tight moment for the UK government amidst the tight home budget and foreign aid spending being complained about in the legislature. This was officially published in one of the local daily’s Sunday Vision, bearing its headlines for the day, on November 19^th, 2012. When the official s of the Finance Ministry were contacted by this local daily they claimed they did not have any documentation as to that effect and were only aware of it by the awash publication in the media, this leaves a lot to be desired.  However before we could even think of what to believe, it all came up again in news with the prime Minister apologising to the Donors to restore their aid as the intended “beneficiaries” would suffer.

Let’s get to the roots of this matter, the money stolen was meant for Peace, Recovery and Development Plan (PRDP) in Uganda. And for that purpose the focal point was the war torn Northern and Easter Uganda that had faced the rage of the Lords Resistance Army (LRA) rebels insurgency. This programme covers 40 Districts in all, and was meant to restore the livelihood of these people, but one wonders whether after stealing $38M, any recovery will be justified in this region.  This is not the first of its kind, earlier on in 2011, the aid money worth $50M was diverted to buy a Gulf Stream jet for the President of Uganda.

In one of local Daily’s the Daily Monitor, it was reported that Billions of shillings meant to help Ugandans affected by the over two decades of war rebuild their lives ended up building mansions in Kampala and buying  luxury vehicles. As parents in war ravaged Northern tied their Children affected by nodding disease to trees, corrupt technocrats in the ministry were flying off to exotic holiday destinations. Such was the sense of those involved in the scam that a cashier whose monthly salary is less than 1.5 Million Uganda Shillings ($580) regularly “lent” the government hundreds of Millions of shillings, which were paid back to his personal bank account. “Funds advanced to the cashier’s account were described as a refund of borrowed cash, making it appear, as if the cashier lent government money from his personal savings” the Audit report noted.

The of ice of the Prime Minister has since suspended 17 officials from its office some being interdicted by Parliament,  and some from the Finance Ministry and Bank of Uganda. This was the kind of foil that left Treasury Chief Accountant Chris Kassami in shock, when questioned by Parliamentary Accounts Committee (PAC). The Prime Minister, Amama  Mbabazi declined to take responsibility for the embezzlement and instead met with donors in the capital Kampala to apologise and reassure them a further investigation will be conducted. The Investigations have also had the hands of the First lady Janet Kataha Museveni who also doubles as the Minister for Karamoja affairs under the Office of the Prime Minister, implicated of having spent over Ugandan Shillings 143Millions in 8 frequent trips to Israel in one month, spending what was meant for her ministry. The Prime Minster has been implicated in various corruption scandals in the country and has been vindicated by the President each time. As though to add salt to injury, the Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister, Pius Bigirimana has been interdicted by parliament but the Prime Minister and President have chosen to vindicate him in this scam.

The Ugandan Political magazine, The Independent, reported on what the president is doing to fight corruption. However many Ugandans think he is not fully committed to the fight. The President himself at one point said he was tired of corrupt officials in his government.  The media publications and social media activity on embezzlement scandals in the Office of the Prime Minister, definitely captures the frustration the ordinary citizen faces.

It should therefore be noted that the implications of the scandals go beyond the tarnished reputation of the Office of the Prime Minister. It will take us enough time to gain the confidence of would be donors and foreign investors after hearing such dismal acts. This is just to show how damaged the country as a whole has suffered, and not only the immediately affected, by the acts of the corrupt officials. I therefore call upon each and every Ugandan youth to rise up and let’s join in the war against corruption in Uganda, the future belongs to us.

Ronald Ochoo,

F: Ronnie Ross Onyang  O

T: @Ronnie_Ross_O

Skype: ronnieross256

Commonwealth Youth Programme,

Correspondent from Uganda.