From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: RE: [WestNileNet] Re: Drug Abuse and Youth Unemployment
Date: Thu, 8 Oct 2009 18:40:32 +0000
Dear Brothers/Sisters.
Marungi (Khat) is a highly addictive drug categorized as a stimulant that
creates feelings of euphoria. Khat originates from the catha edulis shrub,
which grows abundantly in parts of East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula.
Cathine, a Schedule IV drug, and Cathinone, a Schedule I drug, are khat’s two
active ingredients. (Marungi) Khat also affects the brain and spinal cord in
similar way as amphetamines, which are simulated through synapses.
FatiFatigue is alleviated, appetite is reduced, attention span is decreased,
and levels of alertness and motor activity are increased. Users can quickly
develop a psychological dependency to the drug, which increases their
confidence, friendliness, and contentment. Hallucinations, grandiose delusions,
and paranoia have also been noted as side effects of using khat. The cathinone
found in the drug effects the central nervous system, causing an excess amount
of dopamine to be produced. High accumulation of dopamine in the brain can
cause hallucinations, schizophrenia, and high blood pressure. Short term
effects are Irritability and insomnia, mild euphoria and excittement, physical
exhaustion, breathing difficulties,Constipation , Tachycardia or eleveated
heart rate , hallucinations, manic behaviorand hyperactivity etc. Long term
effects are Anorexia, Gastric disorders, depressionhigh risk of heart disease
and cancer of the mouth including liver damage and cardic camplication. It also
has addiction, Tolerance and withdrawal and has more psychological dependence
to the drug even though it has no spefic physical addiction.
For details on Marungi I will be willing to give.
Arike
Date: Thu, 8 Oct 2009 04:43:47 -0700
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: [WestNileNet] Re: Drug Abuse and Youth Unemployment
Brothers and Sisters, Praise God!
The discussion on Drug Abuse and Youth unemployment was rejuvenated at an apt
time. It has come up at a time we are almost at the verge of losing a
generation to drugs, and at a time Defense and Internal Affairs Committee of
Parliament of Uganda is considering the Narcotic Drugs & Psychotropic Substance
Control Bill 2007. We therefore have an opportunity to submit our views to
Clerk to Parliament for consideration before stakeholders meet on 21st & 22nd
of this month ([email protected])
Correct me, it seems where the Bill stands today, Marungi is not listed as a
drug. I also reported earlier, that while on a presidential tour in West Nile,
President Museveni told the people for Kijomoro (nucleus) of marungi that,
marungi is a mild drug--implying its production is not condemned under the laws
of Uganda. Many believe him because the president is sometimes law itself. With
marungi also forming the basis of livelihood for many families i don't how the
kind of ordinance Jackson proposed will workout in terms of draft and its
implementation. So many people are engaged and employed in the value chain of
marungi. Unless there is a reliable alternative source of income, Marungi
production may continue to flourish farther than we think.
Just week ago, i attended a function where Moses Obeta, son of late Sila Drakua
who introduced marungi to Maracha through his brothers for livelihood was Guest
of Honour. He told us that before his father died, he regretted why he gave
marungi to his brothers in Maracha. In his words he said, "I thought i had
brought marungi to empower my people but it has turned to be a curse". Such a
confession points to the two sides of marungi. Although he is yet to cut the
marungi plants he maintains, he says he only uses the money to pay fees and to
buy iron sheets. In another meeting with some stakeholders in the education
sector to discuss poor performance in the recent MOCK and strategies to enhance
performance, marungi and other social events such as doscos featured
prominently as some of the distracting forces that contribute to poor
performance. It was reported that students now prefer cutting marungi to
attending classes.
Aware of the mixed feelings a ban on production of marungi will create, the
pros and cons of the activity really have to be explored before any action.
Attempts to ban marungi should above all gurantee post marungi livelihood for
affected people. This fortunately or unfortunately, this requires involvement
of a government which has never perceived marungi question as a problem and may
not be in better position to address it.
Perhaps we need to commission a research into how to phase out marungi in West
Nile. Producing a documentary on dangers of marungi and incorporating them into
our syllabus could help in change of attitude among the youth.
Jackson, as usual i hope you'll be kind enough to ducument the various views
on this issue for submission to Clerk to Parliament for consideration by the
concerned committee.
Denis Lee Oguzu
From: JohnAJackson <[email protected]>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Wed, October 7, 2009 6:18:42 PM
Subject: [WestNileNet] Re: WestNileNet Digest, Vol 14, Issue 24
Youth unemployment and Drug Abuse
I think the problem of youth unemplpyment and drug abuse needs policy
direction from all those participating on West Nile Net forum and Local
authorities managing the districts.
a) It would be very important to have Youth Leaders who represents youth issues
at the Local district administration council meetings. Some resources should be
allocadted in the district administration budget to address youth related
problems/issues.
b) Before we blame the youth, we need to look at the root causes of the
problems affecting the youth in the West Nile region. One of the biggest
challeneges in this entire region is HIGH SCHOOL DROP OUT RATIOS. If a lot of
these young men and women fail in elementary and secondary schools, where else
do they go? what can occupy them in productive life? There is a popular saying
that "an idle mind is a source of evil"
c) The High Unemployment rate in this region is one of the culprits engulfing
the youth. When there is nothing to be done in the villages apart from digging,
what do we expect the youth to do? Obviously many of them will migrate to the
urban areas in search of work. Most people who abuse alcohol and drugs do so
to escape from depression. I think this a fundamental problem already taking
place in the towns. If this problem is not addressed, soon or later we will
begin to see crime rates go up in the urban areas.
d) Promoting Counseling and Skill Training
It would be extremely very important to find ways of training out of school
youth. Some of these young men and women lack role models in their lives to
guide them. Failing in exams does not mean faling in life. Unfortunately our
shool system eliminates children regardless of other talents they may have in
other areas.
e) Alternatives to Better Life
Stopping the production of Marungi needs educating the farmers about the bad
side effects. Many of these farmers may not even understand effects of
narcotics. There are better alternatives to growing marungi and bangi. All of
us who communicate on this forum should find ways of working with local
district administration authorities to come up:
(i) Drafting Ordinance to ban growing Marungi and bangi
(ii) Educating farmers about bad side effects of narcotics
(iii) Educate farmers to grow crops like Barley for Uganda breweries which
has ready market, cotton, fruits, etc
Avudria
On Wed, Oct 7, 2009 at 4:00 AM, <[email protected]> wrote:
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Today's Topics:
1. Re: Text books donated to Mvara Secondary School (Alemi Kenyi)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
Date: Wed, 7 Oct 2009 05:23:57 +0000 (GMT)
From: Alemi Kenyi <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [WestNileNet] Text books donated to Mvara Secondary
School
To: A Virtual Network for friends of West Nile <[email protected]>
Message-ID: <[email protected]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Dr. Anguzu,
Your suggestion is a good one. Saturday 3pm in the School would be a good idea.
DMO, Sam, Ejiku et al, what is your take?
This would also provide some of us who used to roam around nyaluva hills to get
inside mvara after all this long. As an OB by extension, i would be happy to be
in the delegation since long Uhuru weekend accords some of us the opportunity
to travel to Arua.
Alemi
--- On Tue, 6/10/09, anguzu yumaa <[email protected]> wrote:
From: anguzu yumaa <[email protected]>
Subject: [WestNileNet] Text books donated to Mvara Secondary School
To: [email protected]
Date: Tuesday, 6 October, 2009, 9:44 PM
This really is to commend the efforts of the Mvara OBs and OGs who donated text
books for Mvara Secondary School. I have alteady brought the books to Arua from
Kampala. I think it would be good to give the books to the school during a
ceremony that should be covered by the media. I think such an effort should not
pass without due recognition. It will stimulate others to also play their role
to improve the academic performance in the school. What do you think guys? And
lets suggest a day for this. I would think the earlier the better. They might
be useful for those currently preparing for exams.
Dr. Anguzu Yumaa Patrick
P.O.Box 701 Arua, Uganda, East Africa.
Telephone: +256476421367 - Home
+256772696200 - Mobile
e-mail: [email protected]
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