Dear Caleb and Fellow West Niler, My take is on two key issues; electrical energy and education. Indeed for long our debate has not missed the above two priorities in West Nile. However on the issue of electricity and education I would like us and our leaders to consider a few areas of concern. 1. For long our hope has been the power dam under perpetual construction in Nyagak; will it be sustainable in the long run given the potential that investments will flow into West Nile (already I know os some Kampala-based factories that are interested in shifting their production lines to Arua and other areas in West Nile. What if we advocacated broadly to be connected to the national power grid and Nyagak will then supply power to this grid? Recently, I have had a chance of visiting many districts in nothern Uganda and indeed one would bear with me that the usual retoric of "bulding Nyagak to increase demand for power so that West Nile qualifies to be connected to the national power grid later" does not hold any mass. The thermal power plant in Arua was built under the same pretex and within less than 10 years the demand has overshot the 1.5MW design capacity despite being the most expensive power in Uganda. What is 3.5MW after all given the known potential of West Nile as an investment hub? Are places like Pader town, Kalongo, Agago, Lamwo, Abim any better economically than West Nile, yet they have recently been connected to the national power grid. We should not be obscured by the Nyagak dam, rather fight for a more strategic power supply for West Nile. In that regard we do not need politicians who commit the cheapest crimes of not knowing themselves as such when they articulate their demands they do not have the facts supporting their demands. We need politicians who can make things move, who are objectively assertive and not the types who are going to beg but fight for what is odained on us as a right of being Ugandans like the other parts of the country. 2. Education. While we know that the government is trying its best to focus on standards let us not wait for that long future, which may never come. Many times I ponder over continuous complains of declining standards in what used to be our traditional good performing Schools namely Mvara S.S, St. Joseph's College Ombaci, St. Charles Lwanga Koboko, St. Aloysius Nyapea. At this point in time I want to ask a fundamental question to our aspiring politicians: Apart from the call for government support to improve education not only in the above mentioned schools what agenda do they have to strengthen the PTA executives and the Boards of these school to be objectively critical of the administration of the schools and motivation of the teaching and the support staff. My view is that until now our schools have been run on pro-poor approach. What can a fees structure of Sh 270,000/= (on average) do to run to run schools of the above calibre. Compare the fees structures of the above schools with that of other similar schools (K.C Budo, Gayaza, Namilyango, etc). I think we have simply given in too much to be accommodative of the poor thus encouraging them to be more lazy. I am lucky to have traversed almost all regions of Uganda and indeed our level of commitment to work for our economic emancipation and therefore other social status is wanting in West Nile. Let's ask ourselves and give sincere anwers. Were these schools any cheaper in the days of their glories? Were our dedicated parents not growing cotton, tobacco, rearing livestock in the names of education children. How many parents are today working tooth and nail, spending sleepless nights planning for fees for sending their children to the expensive private schools? Where do we start from? Do we view UPE and USE as God-sent and therefore resign from our responsibilities of doing more for the sake of our children's future? When the President of Uganda, Y.K. Museveni openly threatens to arrest and prosecute those who violate the UPE and USE policies have we asked ourselves if he has ever arrested anyone from Nakasero Primary School (a stone throw away from Nakasero State Lodge), Kitante Primary, Buganda Road Primary, etc, etc? Are these schools operating purely on UPE releases? The answer is no...so why can't we stand by our schools administration and do a little more. If parents can be charged to purchase scholastic/ non-scholastic items and "donate" them to the private schools they send their children to why not sensitise the stakeholders, the PTA, the Boards on similar causes in our schools? Over to you the politicians. Get challenged to rally the local people to interprete Government policies such as the UPE and USE; how they affect us now and help us to visualise the future given our religious following of the policies. Government is just a means but not a solution, we should not fear to tackle policies which blindfold us. We should be able to openly bring forth the pros and cones of government policies so that we can make informed decisions. Let us challenge our people to plan better for their families as goes the saying, "a man's success is counted not in the money he makes but what family he brings out". Fear not the people to make them know that they are the greater part of the solution and the external support, be it from the government and other partners will be but a drop. My apologies for sounding cynical in this debate. It is food for thought. Aggrey Adrale
--- On Sat, 16/10/10, alaka caleb <[email protected]> wrote: From: alaka caleb <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [WestNileNet] Re: My [ENG. AJEDRA ARIDRU] Proposals for What should be the Election issues in West Nile To: "A Virtual Network for friends of West Nile" <[email protected]> Date: Saturday, 16 October, 2010, 9:59 Vasco, you need not apologize, you have just said the truth. Who does not know that Electricity in West Nile can change the face of the region. Imagine the creation of an Industrial Park in Bondo, do you know how many DFI way may get. Investors eying for the greater DRC and South Sudan Market will shift their Industries to West Nile. We shall become an Industrial city and who does not know the benefits of being industrialized. But for the last six years as you rightfully opined, our Members of Parliament from West Nile have been in a deep slumber. We had the portfolio and or the docket of Minister of State for Energy, this Gentleman was a former Managing Director of Uganda Electricity Board, what did he do. Absolutely nothing. So the imperative is for our aspiring politicians to know that we are now organized as the Fourth Estate, the voice of the voice less and an alternative power block. This is not a threat. Your Executive is working on a blue print for rolling out the Foundation and We need our aspiring Politicians to know that failure to deliver will make us to exercise our recall options in the Constitution. We are not going to wait for voters to throw them out in their primaries after another five wasted years. Dr. Gabriel and all the other members of this forum who are aspiring for Parliamentary Elections, be assured of our support if and only if you demonstrate that you are pro West Nile. I am glad that Dr. Aridru is responding to our clarion call. I do not know what the other aspirants are doing. It is not enough to imagine that you are canvasing votes in the villages. Be ware that we are now organized to pull some strings. we are aware that Parties have their manifestos but we need the candidates to high light what they intend to do for West Nile. For instance the idea of rebuilding the Arua Market originated from West Nile Foundation. they did the lobbying and shared experiences with the Local Leaders in Arua Municipality. The Mayor Asiki and LC III chairman of Arua Hill Division Mr. Matua and their council took over the idea and now we are in the process of having a decent market which will benefit the thousands of our mothers who work in the market. On 10/15/10, Stephen Ogua Adraka <[email protected]> wrote: > Dear Eng. Dr. Ajedra, > > Thanks for the ideas you have so far expressed about your political mission > if elected. Let us critically examine your political philosophy for > suitability so as to distinguish you from those who tend to be egocentric, > inconsistent, opportunistic, lukewarm, and distant from the reality of the > voters after elections. > > For your request "*Please let me know how you can get a copy*.", my answer > is that, there are so many text formats available for you to use. It all > depends on what you computer offers. For our purpose Portable Document > Format or Word Format would suffice to attach your manifesto. > > Good luck brother. > > Ogua Adraka > > > > On 15 October 2010 14:32, Gilbert Ringtho <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Thx Dr.It will be a great Idea to work avail a comprehensive manifesto.We >> shall then guage you against the "WestNile checklist or >> requirements"......i.e Yet to be agreed upon by the forum. >> >> >> rgds >> >> Gilbert >> >> ------------------------------ >> *From:* gard ajedra <[email protected]> >> *To:* A Virtual Network for friends of West Nile <[email protected]> >> *Sent:* Fri, 15 October, 2010 12:49:24 >> >> *Subject:* Re: [WestNileNet] Re: My [ENG. AJEDRA ARIDRU] Proposals for >> What should be the Election issues in West Nile >> >> Dear Ruffino, >> >> Thanks for your inquiry. As I had said in my previous contribution, my >> philosophy in politics is to partner with government in development >> programs, making it easier for one to lobby. >> >> With regard to how I intend to address the issues of: Power, Water, >> Sanitation, Poverty alleviation, Education, Promotion of Unity, etc, it is >> best if I avail you my manifesto. It is all detailed in the manifesto. >> >> Lack of unity and common voice of our Members of Parliament (from West >> Nile) is one of the major contributors for poor delivery of services to >> our >> people. To this end, if elected I intend to energize the West Nile >> Parliamentary Coccus, which is not affiliated to any political party or >> interest. >> >> Please let me know how you can get a copy. >> >> Regards, >> >> Eng. Dr. Ajedra Gabriel ARIDRU >> >> >> >> --- On *Thu, 10/14/10, Ezama Ruffino <[email protected]>* wrote: >> >> >> From: Ezama Ruffino <[email protected]> >> Subject: Re: [WestNileNet] Re: My [ENG. AJEDRA ARIDRU] Proposals for What >> should be the Election issues in West Nile >> To: "A Virtual Network for friends of West Nile" <[email protected]> >> Date: Thursday, October 14, 2010, 12:02 PM >> >> Hi Dr Gabriel >> Its good to know that you have spelt these issues inn your manifesto. >> Could >> you let us know how you intend to translate this to the benefit of West >> Nile >> in a better way than candidates of other parties? >> >> Thank you >> >> Ruffino >> >> -----Inline Attachment Follows----- >> >> _______________________________________________ >> WestNileNet mailing list >> [email protected] >> http://orion.kym.net/mailman/listinfo/westnilenet >> >> WestNileNet is generously hosted by INFOCOM http://www.infocom.co.ug/ >> >> All Archives can be found at >> http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ >> >> The above comments and data are owned by whoever posted them (including >> attachments if any). The List's Host is not responsible for them in any >> way. >> _______________________________________________ >> >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> WestNileNet mailing list >> [email protected] >> http://orion.kym.net/mailman/listinfo/westnilenet >> >> WestNileNet is generously hosted by INFOCOM http://www.infocom.co.ug/ >> >> All Archives can be found at >> http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ >> >> The above comments and data are owned by whoever posted them (including >> attachments if any). The List's Host is not responsible for them in any >> way. >> _______________________________________________ >> >> > > > -- > Fr. Stephen Ogua Adraka > Parrocchia Santa Barbara Vergine Martire > Via don Luigi Sturzo, 30 > 08030 - Genoni > Oristano (Italia) > > Website: www.parrocchiagenoni.it > > Office 0039-0782810018 > > E-mail [email protected] > _______________________________________________ WestNileNet mailing list [email protected] http://orion.kym.net/mailman/listinfo/westnilenet WestNileNet is generously hosted by INFOCOM http://www.infocom.co.ug/ All Archives can be found at http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ The above comments and data are owned by whoever posted them (including attachments if any). The List's Host is not responsible for them in any way. _______________________________________________
_______________________________________________ WestNileNet mailing list [email protected] http://orion.kym.net/mailman/listinfo/westnilenet WestNileNet is generously hosted by INFOCOM http://www.infocom.co.ug/ All Archives can be found at http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ The above comments and data are owned by whoever posted them (including attachments if any). The List's Host is not responsible for them in any way. _______________________________________________
