Sunday, 25 May 2014

EXAMINATION FRAUD AT MAKERERE UNIVERSITY



It is examination time at Makerere University; as usual the season can’t go without malpractices. My un-manned aerial vehicles have landed on crucial information. On Friday 23rd this month, Bachelor of Commerce External second year students got a statistics paper before sitting for it. This now became a past paper.
Luckily, the management came to about it via a section of grieved students who reported the issue. They reported it because they requested those who had it to share it with them and they refused.
What they (management) did was to cancel that paper and set another one for students. The paper which was supposed to commence at 8:00 started at about 11:00.
There many hows and whats we need to ask about University Management and it policy on eradicating malpractice.
But really how come that at Harvard of Africa as we usually term it a student accesses a paper before sitting for it??. This question is complicated I can’t dare to answer it
Before the management boosting around and threatening to expel students who cheat, does it know that there are lope holes in its system?
I was struck beyond imagination by my source when I asked details about cheating. My source asked me whether I want to expose them; automatically I said yes, she argued that if I do so, I would land them into a pot of hot water since they would be trailed. The best I could do was offer her protection.
More so my source heard rumours around that they B.com students accessed another paper today (Sunday) before sitting for it though she could not verify it independently. She promised to feed us with valid information possibly soon.
Ssali Godfrey, I emotionally thought about slapping you when we sent you on Friday (same day when this fatal exam hoaxing took place) to discuss the same issue of exam malpractice on Radio One. It was a total sham for you to defend Makerere University   saying that there is no cheating.  I am sure you know more. No wonder they branded you as Tamale Mirundi who can defend a black pen arguing that it is red. I will not slap you-I forgive like a father forgiving his son but what you said was sham.
I don’t condone cheating but condemn it.
Shame on you Makerere University Management
John Blanshe M is a second year Journalism and Communication student at Makerere University 

Thursday, 15 May 2014

PERPETUATORS OF WAR IN SOUTH SUDAN MUST BE REPRIMANDED



In recent times, some parts of Africa have witnessed violence on a scale that has shocked its people, drawn international condemnation and, in some cases, resulted in a call for intervention by the international community.
 Recent atrocities in the Central African Republic and South Sudan have made news, but there have been other violent eruptions in Cote d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Libya and Mali. The African Union (AU) has been criticised for not doing enough to address impunity on the continent and for failing to expressly condemn and reject impunity.
In 2013, the African Union Peace and Security Council took an unprecedented step. For the first time in the history of the regional organisation or its predecessor, the Organization of African Unity, the Peace and Security Council established a Commission of Inquiry.
 It is investigating human rights violations and other abuses committed during the armed conflict in South Sudan, the African Union’s newest member and the world’s newest nation.
Against a backdrop of criticism by some African leaders of the International Criminal Court’s focus on African cases and repeat calls for the African Union to take the lead in prosecutions, this is a ground-breaking development and a policy watershed.
The Commission has a challenging mandate, including investigating human rights violations and abuses by all parties to the conflict and the identification of those most responsible, who will be held to account. The commission will also make recommendations on ways to foster reconciliation and healing among all South Sudanese communities.
South Sudan’s conflict, which started as a power struggle within the ruling party, the Sudan Peoples’ Liberation Movement (SPLM), now has ethnic undertones, pitting the two main ethnic groups against each other, President Salva Kiir’s Dinka and his former deputy, Riek Machar’s Nuer.
Both factions are alleged to have committed atrocities, including acts of ethnic cleansing and targeted killings.  Many South Sudanese, who endured decades of a brutal civil war between the south and the north, now find themselves back in the same situation. Thousands have fled to neighbouring countries or are displaced internally. The humanitarian situation is dire.
The Commission of Inquiry will be carrying out its work in the context of a grim, ongoing human rights crisis. Establishing the truth about what has happened and bringing those who have committed atrocities to justice will be a critical step towards bringing this fractured young nation together. The rejection of impunity cannot be simply a catch phrase; justice must be seen to be done.
The establishment of this commission rides on the back of major developments in the fight for accountability in Africa.  In 2013, exiled former Chadian President Hissène Habré was arraigned before the Extraordinary African Chambers, a hybrid court established within the Senegalese legal system, for crimes against humanity allegedly committed during his presidency. Multiple actors, among them the African Union, first recommended his trial by Senegal in 2006, demonstrating that the African Union can be innovative and effective in pursuing criminal accountability.
Efforts like these are not on the global radar screen but they are critical to the equally important objectives of seeking justice and accountability on the one hand, and peace and stability on the other; they are mutually reinforcing. There is no regional court with a mandate to try criminal cases – the African Court for Human and Peoples Rights is not mandated to do so. Few national courts currently have the jurisdiction or capacity to try such cases, including South Sudan’s courts.
 To overcome the challenges that may arise from the recommendations of the Commission, the South Sudanese, the African Union and their partners must be creative and be committed to achieving justice for the victims. A peaceful and unified South Sudan must have the confidence to confront this dark moment of its history and ensure justice for the victims.
This commission must do the best to book those who have been behind escalation of violence. Sadly, there will never be a day when those perpetuating ethnic violence shall be murdered, sleep hungry or even sleep in shanty camps.
It will always be innocent South Sudanese to suffer as war take strange steps forward. Last week, Machar and Kiir went to Addis Ababa and signed a peace agreement which lasted for hours. Though both later claimed to have been forced to sign it, my opinion is; none of them is patriotic or pathetic for fellow citizens.
South Sudan is not a personal property of Kiir or Machar, neither does it belong to Dinkar nor Nuer, it belong to south Sudanese as both of them endured struggle for independence.
South Sudanese deserve to live peacefully hence any one perturbing their peace must be brought to books of law. Alas, they must be punished.

Tuesday, 13 May 2014

No 'Mugaati', Makerere Students refuse to endorse Museveni sole candidature



By Davidson Ndyabahika and John Blanshe Musinguzi
MAKERERE
While attending the General Assembly on 13th May 2014, at the University Freedom Square, Makerere university students who had attended in overwhelming numbers reportedly due the text messages that filled the students’ phone inboxes the previous night that carried headline “#NRM CASH BONANZA FOR MUSEVENI SOLE CANDIDATURE” went back frustrated when they did not receive any thing in return.
The assembly began with some sections of the youth with mixed opinions about the current crisis entangling NRM as they waited for the guest speaker.
The party crisis entails allegations the Amama Mbabazi is nurturing presidential ambitions come 2016. Amama Mbabazi doubles as the party’s General Secretary and Prime Minister.
 However these students silenced on grounds that it would be working towards the disunity and togetherness of the Party and that someone contesting would compel the party to disarray that would allow room for opposition to gain popularity among the masses.
The assembly attracted a number of students from various political parties like the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), Democratic Party (DP) and others. Among the notables from opposition party members who were in attendance was Rt. Hon. Chark Benson the Guild Speaker to the 80th parliament and a member of FDC, Niwabimpa Amon current chairperson FDC Makerere chapter, Tushabe Muhairwe Mwanaweka Edgar, former FDC Makerere chapter chairperson, Atuhaire Brian unstoppable, former General Secretary.
NRM loyalists accused opposition members of greed and that they had come to look for soda.
Singh beg students to support sole candidature
Mr. Singh Katongole who was the chief guest confessed that he is in full support of the Popular Kyankwanzi resolution for president Museveni sole candidature come 2016. In his speech, Mr Katongole praised Mr. Museveni for the security, professionalism of army and police, education, East African Community and above all hosting the 2007 CHOGM.
“... because of the good security, Mr. Museveni enabled Uganda to host the Queen of England for CHOGM in 2007 and many things are going to be achieved for Uganda.”
To justify his reason to support the sole candidature, Mr. Singh added that more investors are coming to Uganda because of favourable investment conditions created by Museveni.
  “... Investors are asking Museveni, are you coming back in 2016 so that we can invest more?” he said.
Endorsement fails
While most of the students who had turned up for the general assembly were anticipating to receive the purported facilitation (Mugaati), they lost patience at the last minute when Katongole finished speaking and in his vocabulary missed a word “facilitation- transport and water”.
Students who were angered started firing questions at the NRM boss why they insist on giving money to people to support sole candidature. In his response, Katongole said that they (NRM) are not selling the sole candidature of president Museveni but giving facilitation allowance to supporters who come from far for meetings.
However, he later said he had not prepared facilitation for students but promised to bring it (money) together with the NRM t-shirts and caps for students.
“I did not prepare adequately, the next time I come I make sure you are facilitated with transport,” Mr. Singh Katongole said.
Student respond
Alex Kwesiga a student of Bcom External said that they cannot support sole candidature when they are hungry. “We are aware that other people have received money to support the resolution of sole candidature of Museveni and we know ours is there. Let them bring it before we say yes.”
“We are so disappointed that for a whole party which has been in power for 28 years, a National Treasurer came here without Mugati for us. We are totally disappointed. No Mugati, no vote for Museveni” said Godfrey Ssali a second year student of Journalism and Communication.
“It was a shadow event indeed. They are best in failing their promises and disguising intentions. I fear dinning with someone about to be condemned, no one will see it coming, and every big snake will swallow itself,” said Jak Nam president of African Students Association Makerere.

Monday, 12 May 2014

EPL 2013/14 SEASON: THE FALL OF MANU AND THE RISE OF LIVERPOOL


English premier leagues (EPL), world’s most popular league ended yesterday with surprises. Man city bagged the trophy on the last day of the season.
This league is becoming more admired and popular among all age groups. Among the youth, soccer is the main topic of discourse.  
Every day, I talk about soccer; two of my friends are Manu fans while two are Arsenal. We all passionately support our teams whether they lose or win, whether our players are up to the ace or not.
The older learned age group have already joined soccer family while those living in the country side are also pacing up. My mum is a passive Arsenal fan who is ever curious about how Arsenal performs but can’t memorise any player apart from manager- Wenger.
The main question of the season has been “the rise of Liverpool FC and complete fall of Manchester United.” We of United kicked off last season without Sir Alex Ferguson- the most successful managerial career Britain has ever known and a man who turned everything possible and won every trophy that exist. 13 premier league trophies, 5 FA cups, 4 league cups, 10 community shields, 2 champion leagues, the list is endless.
After retiring, he was accorded absolute power to select the new manager, no doubt he allotted everything to his pal David Moyes, a man who carried bad luck from nowhere to Old Trafford, alas the anointed one!!...
He inherited a winning team later to claim that it lacked world class players. Ferguson depended on his amateurish players to win trophies.
Moyes additionally failed to command the dressing room, no wonder; senior players like Van Persie were contemplating to depart, Ferdinand publically doubted his tactics while Vidic has already departed. He is joining Inter Milan starting next season.
The anointed one broke a number of Theatre of Dream records, to mention a few including;
1-It is the first season since 1995 that United has failed finish in the top four, which means that United will not play champions league, Europe’s league of elite teams. Worse of all even Europa.
2-It is the first season since 1976 that Everton won double over United.
3-United finish the season with the lowest ever Premier League points tally 
4-United worst home league record for over e decade
5-United suffered three defeats in row since 2001
6-First time United conceded a first minute goal in the Premier League history- Dzeko for City
7-First home defeat to stoke city since 1984 and Newcastle-1972 and west broom in 1978. The list is endless.
Prior to his sacking, a number of soccer pundits were arguing that United should give him time to settle as they did to Ferguson. However my argument was that Ferguson inherited a weaker United.
 Or why not feat like his successor at Everton-Martines who has performed far better than him?. He was a true mediocre manager who even failed Everton for ten years.
Though management succumbed to the pressure of weeping fans and sacked Moyes-the wrong one , it was not enough to save the club and fans; we have ended the season in a disastrous style.
Worst of it all we have been scorned by Liverpool and Arsenal fans. They were arguing as if United has never won a trophy. Maybe, the new manager will restore our glory.
On the other side, Liverpool came from nowhere to nearly winning the trophy. Leading Liverpool diehards, mostly Don Wanyama were at their best shouting and mocking United fans until when things fell apart at Anfield and the title slipped out of their hands.
Honestly, not even a single Liverpool fan or player could dream about Liverpool success. I am behind the kops to bounce back next season. Liverpool attained enough and I congratulate the Kopite Empire however Man city lectured you about the virtue of patience...they say it pay but pains.
I cheer Arsenal fans for winning your first trophy-the fourth position. That what you have settled for and you have achieved it though Everton fazed Arsenal. Congratulations and wish you all the best as we you wait for FA cup finale come next weekend.
EPL is over however there is no rationale to direly miss soccer since World Cup is around the corner.