Hi Afema Thanks for raising your concerns to what Christine stated in her e mail. But I believe what she puts forward are true facts which need attention and proper attention. I stand to be corrected in what I am sharing.
1. To my view it is true we have a serious leadership problem. Caleb knows that I have been right from last year february asking for the registration of the WNF. In the Education Committee (which I chaired till August 2009) we a bottleneck and could not proceed to carry out a baseline survey because we were not registered. I had no proper papers to present to a bank to have an account opened since we did not have a legal recognition, legal terms of reference. Other NGOs which were ready to fund our research were not willing to give money for such an undertaking in a personal account. The question was raised as to "Who are we? What do we intend to do? Who gives us the mandate to do what we are to do?" This was followed by the drafting of memos, constitution etc so that we are properly registered with clear objectives and activities. As you rightly mentioned "we need to mobilize funds" we need to follow the proper channel. Members contributed money for the hunger project which our good treasurer gave us an accountability. But till now we failed to agree on how to go about with the spending on this money: buy food or seeds? We are awaiting for explanations. As we wait it would have been nice to know if that amount remaining was kept in a savings account. We may end up being like the guy of the Gospel who kept the money without making interests on it. 2. We are just saying a lot has been said on this forum and it is time for action. They say "Time is money". The more time we lose the more money we lose. Recently a request was posted to have an "ad hoc executive" committee so that while we wait for proper structures are built we have terms of reference. Currently a Blue print for WNF is being panel beaten before bring it to the consumption of everybody. If one has a better structure to propose its welcome. 3. A lot of concern about Palui has been raised by some members. These are not worries but concerns. They should not be swept under the carpet. I see the concern of people as getting better organized; taking into account not only the interest of a few but of all of the group. I remember that what some raised was why not put on the same day a get together which brings families? This could benefit the children to know each other and be introduced to West Nile realities etc. The adults could meet and invite some NGOs that have interest of collaborating with development issues in West Nile and bring them on board. No serious NGO will come to donate in a dance club. Those for the West Nile Palui dance could agree with the management of Palui to share the income of that day (according to some percentage) so that it becomes a source of income for the WNF too. I have ever asked myself whether this Palui is not used for the promotion of the place just by using our people? One of our members on this forum was in Los Angeles a few days ago and he wrote on his wall: " Travelling in Southern California. Disneyland today- what fascinates me about this country is the sheer expanse of how commerce is organised to push services, products, people and profits-and of course agendas. Hollywood seems quite ordinary on this rainy day- but its influence is alive everywhere. Interesting stuff for a Ugandan from Moyo, WestNile. When I asked him not to miss Universal Studios where films are made, his answer was:advice taken. Disney is interesting if only because this innovations are today pushed by their iconoclastic status in the cultural heritage of this country. Me and my friends at Mengo have often argued about why Buganda (or any other Ugandan culture) is unable to be packaged and commercialised. For Mengo it amounts to soft power but for say the Madi- with our rich food and cultural wisdom- its both preserving the culture and introducing it to more Ugandans and visitors- and of course customers. Lets together see what are the driving forces of the WNF? Is it only one and only the one I see? Sorry if I have thought too aloud. On issues of membership fee lets "hurry slowly". First lets be clear with our objectives. Money is just a means to lead us to an end. If we put means as end right from the start we are crippled already. God's choicest blessings. r
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