State of media freedom worries stake holders

BY IRENE ABALO OTTO

Mr Daniel Walyemera, the Dean Faculty of Law at Cavendish University

“Journalists cameras are broken, they are beaten up and there is no clear reason as to why they are being beaten. Yet somebody had indicted clearly that they are journalists. They are doing their job,” said Mr Daniel Walyemera, the Dean Faculty of Law at Cavendish University said on Wednesday.

Violence meted against journalists in the recent past by mainly the state and its agencies in Uganda is worrying stakeholders and advocates of press freedom. They say this puts the country’s democracy at stake.

Mr Walyemera was speaking during a virtual dialogue on the findings of the 2020 Press Freedom Index released last month by Human Rights Network for Journalists Uganda. The report indicates a fragile relationship between the state and the media which, it emerged, is degrading not just democracy but all the other tenets of democracy. 
The report details cases of what happened to and in the media in the face of Covid-19 and elections.

Ms Ruth Ssenkindi, the Director Monitoring and Inspection at the Uganda Human Rights Commission said during the panel discussion that there is need for the state and stakeholders to understand the work that journalists do and the role it plays in the development of a democratic state. 

“Access to public information is so hard because many times they feel that it is classified but we have an Information Act. Unfortunately, it is not implemented. The state also has an obligation to protect media practitioners from any violations, to protect them from their employers, from interferences. You have heard of some politicians blocked from accessing a particular radio station because a call has come in from some particular individual. All these are in contravention of the state obligations,” Ms Ssenkindi explained. 

Ms Ssenkindi said that the state and any other aggrieved party at the work that journalists do should bear in mind that the journalists only get content from their sources. 

“Do not shoot the messenger. Because many times the media is just reporting what is out there. Yet they end up in harms way because of what they are reporting. We have also noted that there is a lot of self censorship. Many times you do not get the real story. There is political censorship, insecurity censorship, moral censorship based in religion. The commission has also noted that the condition of work of  media practitioners are not satisfactory which exposes them to vulnerabilities,” said Ms Ssenkindi. 

The need to have a uniform voice within the media industry to have better negotiation and bargaining power to muscle the many informal power centres in the field of journalism was also emphasised to enable press freedom in Uganda. 

Mr Joseph Beyanga, the Secretary National Association of Broadcasters, an umbrella body for broadcasters in Uganda notes that the absence of the Communications Tribunal that the Uganda Communications Act, 2013 stipulates should be in place makes it difficult for journalism to have a uniform position when courts of law is not a readily available solution to some challenges in the media.

“One of the big issues which we kept pushing is the constitution of the communications tribunal. Since 2013 up to now, nothing has happened. When you talk to people who are supposed to be providing for it, they tell you the judicial service commission is supposed to make recommendations to the president then the president makes appointments. But year after year for the last 13 years we have been pushing for that but nothing is in place,” Mr Beyanga explained.

He says that there have been disappointments with those concerned in showing the will to constitute the communications tribunal that would help to arbitrate on some of the violations done to media practitioners as witnessed during and after elections in early 2021. 

Mr. Beyanga notes that there are many informal structures and commands that make negotiations for press freedom a challenge.

“They make a promise today, the following day things go back. We had an engagement with the UPDF after former CDF (Chief of Defence Forces) came out to apologise after several incidents (of violence against journalists) they made a commitment. We tried to have a working relationship of how we can support each other because it is one thing that gives birth to other issues.”

He added that; “In there you realise that you are speaking to the CDF but maybe there is another line where the instructions and commands are coming from within the UPDF other than the CDF. The things were not clear but we kept engaging, nevertheless. You engage with the UPDF but some of the crimes are committed by the SFC (Special Forces Command) and the SFC was not reporting to the CDF. It became a bit challenging in terms of protecting the journalists. We kept engaging and we are still engaging up to now.”

Mr. Beyanga said that the broken state system makes negotiations difficult because sometimes one does not know who else one needs to engage with so that the journalists who work in the field are safe. 
The 2020 Press Freedom Index Report recommends among others that Uganda Human Rights Commission;

“Investigate all cases relating to violations of press freedoms especially those committed by the state and its agents. As part of this initiative, appropriate compensation should be provided to victims in deserving cases. Exercise the mandate bestowed on the Commission by the Constitution to defend and promote citizen journalism and internet freedom both of which are an evolving and important.”

In response, Ms Ssenkindi said the commission has noted the challenges including security and safety of journalists. “We have seen them being battered, harassed, vandalised, illegally detained. Media practitioners have cited political interference, intimidation, many fear persecution and of course they do not come out. There is denial of access to information and all these i have said stem from the state itself, private practitioners and the general public,” she said. 

She said the states have an obligation to make government information available to the public for public scrutiny. She further added that when the public cannot access government information then it becomes a challenge to enforce accountability facilitated by independent and responsible media.

Uganda has over 310 radio stations, 40 television stations, mushrooming online media and a number of mainstream publications.

Social media shutdown: Online entrepreneurs’ ordeals

An online clothes retailer shares her experience during the coronavirus lockdown in May 2020.

BY IRENE ABALO OTTO

Edited by Tabua Butagira

Ugandans began experiencing restricted social media access on January 11, 2021 – three days to the January 14 presidential elections – before a complete shutdown on January 13.

Online businesses in Uganda were first hit by last year’s four-month Covid-19 lockdown and just when they were staggering to life, the government struck them down last month with shutdown of Internet and social media.

After five days of total Internet shutdown and nearly a month-long blockade on social media, the government yesterday restored social media services.

“Internet and social media services have been fully restored. We apologise for the inconveniences caused, but it was for the security of our country. Let’s be constructive, NOT destructive consumers/users of social media,” Mr Peter Ogwang, the state minster for Information, Communication Technology and National Guidance, tweeted Wednesday. 

Mr Ogwang, however, did not explain why social media has been restored, but the decision came two days after this newspaper in an article exposed Cabinet ministers, including Mr Ogwang, who remained active on both Twitter and Facebook in defiance of the government’s own ban.

This newspaper understands that President Museveni met senior officials, including government communication experts, on Tuesday evening who informed him that it was unjustifiable to continue the embargo on social media in the wake of the Daily Monitor exposé.

In addition, the President was told that the shutdown was counter-productive as government was unable to respond to online attacks by its haters outside Uganda.

Whereas the blockade on social media was lifted yesterday, MTN Uganda informed its subscribers through short text messages (SMS) that access to Facebook, with which the government has a tiff, would remain restricted.

“Yellow Irene! Government has permitted Social Media access except FB (Facebook) starting today. Thank you for your patience,” read a message from MTN sent to this Reporter at 5:06 pm yesterday.

Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) records, as of October 31, 2020, indicate that there are up to 20 million Internet users in Uganda, with 19 million of them active monthly users.

Although both the Internet and social media have been unblocked, users’ experiences have not been the same compared to the pre-shutdown period.

“This is not the normal Internet we used in 2020. I have tried using it without Virtual Private Network (VPN), but it is too slow. I actually think they are still planning to restore it or it is a hoax,” said Mr Rogers Semakula, proprietor of New Fashion Designers, an online business selling women shoes.

According to Ms Farida Matovu, the chief executive of Kampala-based Fana Kitchen Ware, which sells kitchenware online, “it takes a long time to upload or download pictures. The videos are not uploading.”

She added: “Covid-19 affected us but this Internet shutdown affected us more. We had to close the shop and go home. There are people like my old mum who knew nothing about VPN. They are the majority of consumers who have money to spend on products like ours. The youth knew how to navigate and bypass the shutdown, but they are not the ones buying these goods. Majority are on social media for fun and connection with others.”

Ugandans experienced widespread Internet disruption on platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram and Snapchat, when using the country’s data servers.

UCC, without giving any reason, instructed telecom companies to restrict access to social media from January 11, 2021 till Wednesday February 10, 2021.

That was when Uganda realized that perhaps no one can efficiently operate without the internet, not even the government. While connection to other internet services were restored on January 18, 2020, two days after presidential results were announced, social media remained inaccessible except for VPN users.

Whereas there is no clear statistic of how much businesses lost during the Internet and social media shutdown, Jumia, a major online retailer in Uganda, says they could not immediately quantify the losses but it runs in several millions of shillings during the total shutdown from January 13 to January 18, 2021.

Ms Samantha Abaho, the Jumia public relations manager, said they were able to move on with orders for those who could use their emails when the Internet was restored. Unlike other businesses that depend totally on social media for orders, Jumia has an option for their customers to set up email accounts for orders.

Other businesses could not operate in that manner. Mr Robert Katimbo (not real name) sells bras of all sizes and make. He used to advertise or display his stock online, especially Facebook and WhatsApp and deliver to homes and offices at a cost.

“I could not sell anything when they removed us from social media,” Mr Katimbo said on Monday.

He declined to discuss details of the losses he incurred, but sounded elated over news of the restoration of the Internet.  

“Are you sure social media is back? Let me first check then we talk later. Let me check if there are any orders coming on my (Facebook) page,” Mr Katimbo said before hanging up.

Big businesses easily picked up off social media to reach their clients but there are small businesses that totally depended on social media to sell their products.

Mr Semakula, the dealer in women shoes online, has clientele spread across borders in Kenya, Tanzania and Sudan. He estimates that he lost more than Shs20 million during the 29-days social media shutdown, with daily sales plummeting by half.

“Generally, everything was slow and low. Communication was hard, (clients’) orders were low ad orders from suppliers came in slowly. Some of my clients out there did not know how to use VPN, (to bypass government Internet shutdown). So, they just gave up and waited for the Internet to be restored,” Mr Semakula said yesterday.

He added: “I had to make direct calls or send SMS to clients. I just went back to offline as something I could hold on to keep around. I cannot compare online to offline. Off line is just not organised because things are not on time.”

Despite his business suffering a setback during the Internet shutdown, Mr Semakula said he would still choose to do business online.

“The world is moving online. There is no way we can continue to operate offline. I cannot recommend for anyone to start a business or operate offline,” he said.

Some businesses like Fana Kitchen Ware that operate online stopped operations during the total Internet shutdown for the five days from January 13 to January 18, 2021.

The Chief Executive Officer, Fana Kitchen Ware hoped that after the total shutdown, she would resume normal operations but was disappointed to learn that her clients were not on VPN. For those outside Uganda, explanations that Uganda was under Internet blockade fell on deaf ears for impatient clients who needed immediate deliveries.

“I kept calling and explaining that our Internet was shut down. But things online move fast. Whenever you delay, the customer looks for an available alternative,” chief executive Matovu said.

Most businesses were still recovering from the shock of the four months coronavirus lockdown from March to June when the internet shutdown happened.

Ms Matovu complained that the cost of doing business was already on the rise and new headwinds such as Internet and social media blackout make life more difficult for online entrepreneurs.

Some of the online businesses rent out premise for storage of merchandise and had incurred arrears by the time of the shutdown yet they had negotiated with the landlords to deduct payments on monthly basis.

“I know several people, workmates and associates who are offline. I know several businesses that are collapsing each day because they were surviving through online related work. The Tourism, Education, Health and IT sector has been most affected. I also understand that the airline industry was greatly affected in the earliest stages of the shutdown,” Mr Kato Mukasa, a Human Rights defender in a letter published in the Thursday edition of the Daily Monitor.

According to the Ministry of Finance, the cost of Internet shutdown weighed heavily on the government too since it affected its ability to repay its debt burden, receive tax revenue and also pay wages due to civil servants.

Tricks businesses are using to survive after more than 100 days of lockdown.

BY IRENE ABALO OTTO

irene.abalo@gmail.com

Traders say they can no longer bear the lockdown situation. Apart from house owners asking for rent, their children who have been home from school for over three months need food and other basic needs.

The towering Mapeera building on Kampala Road had less activity on Friday as most shops remained closed. Across the road is Pioneer mall that used to be one of the liveliest places in Kampala before coronavirus restrictions sent people home.

A congested Kikuubo Market, downtown Kampala on June 26,2020. There is outcry by traders as some businesses are not allowed to open to prevent congestion and spread of coronavirus.

Some traders who owned clothing lines and other accessories have closed and left notices that they had relocated. Others have left contacts plastered on their shop doors for online deliveries. A few other rooms are being renovated and redesigned. Most shops that used to sparkle with different designs and eateries are now empty and locked.

A few jewelry shop remains open towards Eastern gate. The parking space at the mall is half full. The security guards have tied a rope to block pedestrians from passing through the mall from the Western side. But the baker and eatery side on the Eastern side still has customers trickling in to enjoy freshly baked cakes plus other snacks.

A few touts call out passengers, asking even those who are walking in the opposite direction to board their taxis that line the street making the walkway congested for pedestrians. The touts were banned from operation by the president but have continued to operate. Most hop in and out at various police check points to evade arrest. Their task is to call passengers, sanitize and collect fares from which they get their pay from the driver depending on their agreement.

“Namugongo, Nalya, Kyaliwajjala, madam get in. Only Shs4, 000 to Bukoto.” The touts shouts as our reporter passes by Burton Street to join Wilson Road.

The touts are happy to be shouting about their business but down towards Gazaland arcade, the tricks of calling a client to buy ones’ item or service is quite unique. Moving towards Wilson Street, one would think Uganda has no corona virus.

First, they spot a potential client and approach with a greeting. Masks are worn on the chin and car bouts are full of sellable items especially weaves and second hand clothes. A few bold traders display theirs on the pavement. But others are more diplomatic in defying the ban on social gatherings.

“Good morning Madam, can I take you to my salon and plait your hair. It is not costly. Come and we negotiate. Our services are good,” says a woman in her thirties to our reporter who has short hair.

Moving through the arcade, the front shops are almost all open. More traders dealing in weaves and other hair products call out to women who they target need their service and disappear with them into rooms within the arcade. Others selling shoes near the entrance as one slopes down to William Street to join Ben Kiwanuka Street call those from a far to take a look at their products. The walkway through the arcades are packed with all kinds of goods and traders from second hand clothes to those dealing in beauty products.

Joining Namirembe road, DownTown Kampala, onto the newly constructed non-motorized road, one has to be careful because the pick pockets are back on the streets too. These take advantage of the crowds to steal from bags, pockets, and even cut through bags depending on their soft targets. So many people lose especially their phones and money in these crowds.

But there are those targeting other things among these crowds, potential customers.

“Madam, I sell good clothes for children of all ages from zero months. Come and I take you to my shop and you buy,” says a lady who looks to be in her twenties. She looked frail and dehydrated. But could afford a smile for customer care.

When our reporter asks her where the shop is, she leads the way through Namirembe Road towards St Balikudembe market to a shop where three ladies sat waiting for customers. This is not her shop. Her work is to look for potential clients among the crowd, bring them to the shop owner and she would be paid commission for whatever the client bought. Dresses for children in this shop ranges from Shs40, 000 onwards. A food vendor proposes lunch for one of the women selling in the shop and she turns her away saying she does not have money for the food.

Outside the shop, there are other ladies and men who look idle but their work is to spot potential clients.

Another lady who had observed our report enter a shop and return without items in her hands grabbed her hands and asked to take her to another shop. She was polite enough to ask for the type of clothes and at how much her client wanted to buy them so that she could know who has what would be appropriate.

That too took about ten minutes’ walk away from St Balikudembe, back to Namiremebe road. The security guard at the gate refuses to open the arcade for the clothes dealer to open her shop and select the clothes. Another vendor volunteers information that if there were few people around the security guards, he would have accepted money from the shop owner and allowed her to enter her shop to pick goods for her clients. But that Friday afternoon, around ten women and men pleaded with the security guard in vain. Almost all wore their masks on the chin, standing less than 2 meters apart, a measure guided by the Ministry of Health for social distancing to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Across the road, Kikuubo market, arguably the busiest place in Kampala where one can find any grocery, household items and appliances either on retail or wholesale is bustling with life. Business seems to be back to normal for these traders despite the lockdown and restrictions on social gatherings.

At the entrance, two men armed with sanitisers struggle to sanitise people entering the market but it is close to impossible to have everyone sanitise or wash their hands. The two are overwhelmed.

Despite the congestion, traders close to the gate try to shout to the enforcers to stop those who are not sanitizing.

“Why should I wash my hands yet there is no social distance here and other people have passed without washing their hands. Leave me alone,” a man protests as he is grabbed by two other men forcing him to sanitise. He still refuses and this causes commotion for about five minutes with confused onlookers crowding to ask what was happening.

Another man appears from the crowd at the entrance and shouts on a mega phone asking people to maintain social distances. But the traders and customers pay no attention to his message. Others are seen brushing besides him and continuing into the market.

Two Kampala Capital City Authority enforcement officers donned in sky blue uniforms stand by about ten meters away from the gate, one looking at passers by while another chatting with a vendor chewing sugarcane. Next to them, a lady vending leggings for women stands calling out to potential clients.

She tells Daily Monitor that she cannot display her clothes along the pavement where she used to because enforcement officers always pick them and never return.

“I have to hold them in my hands like this then look for customers. Even those people selling things like toothbrushes and other plastics by the road, when they see KCCA, they have to run away. If not, their goods will be confiscated.” She tells Daily Monitor.

Two big trucks cause another commotion as they enter the market. The traders and their clients have to push and squeeze within the smallest of spaces to give way for the delivery trucks. The toxic fumes from the trucks can suffocate someone unless they are given a way to get in. The situation is like a wave, the trucks clear the way and as they pass, vendors immediately take their positions. And the crowds continue to build up.

Debris and other small particles from builders on the upper floors fly onto customers and traders as they transact. But one buyer tells Daily Monitor that it is the only place she can find affordable household items and appliances that she needs for her family.

Along the entrances, more women and men line the closed arcades. They call out to clients and send them into their shops one by one.

“I cannot stay home anymore. What will my family feed on? Even if they say people have no money, we see customers buying from us when we sit out there and call them,” Says George Mugabi, a dealer in women’s shoes.

It is more than 100 days since the lockdown and curfew were imposed in Uganda due to the coronavirus pandemic. To avoid the spread of the highly contagious disease, busy shopping centres like Arcades and Owino, are still closed among others. But traders in these businesses say they can no longer bear the situation. Apart from house owners asking for rent, their children who have been home from school for over three months need food and other basic needs.

President Museveni in his last address on coronavirus said those selling in arcades, saloons and other places that bring crowds should not open their businesses as government studies safe option for their return to trade to prevent  the spread of coronavirus.

First published; https://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Tricks-city-traders-lockdown-Pioneer-Mall-online-deliveries/688334-5584852-fgsq5v/index.html

Counterfeit Uganda Shillings in circulation in Omoro district.

By

Abalo Irene Otto

Uganda Shillings used for trade in the country

 Police in Omoro district are cautioning traders to be vigilant due to alleged infiltration of counterfeit money into the market that could affect trade in the entire Acholi sub region.

This comes after two men were arrested today from Awali Village in Odek Sub county, Omoro district as they tried to purchase goods with counterfeit money worth 13 million Uganda shillings. The two men were arrested and detained at Odek Police Post. Their files are being prepared and will appear before court tomorrow.

Bosco Ocen Olukuwode, the Omoro district OCCID declined to provide details of the two men in their custody because they are part of a bigger gang dealing in counterfeit money and the issue is still under investigation.

” We have the two men in our custody but were are still looking for the others still at large. We suspect that the money could already be in circulation and the public should come out with information so that the culprits are prosecuted in the courts of law. This could affect business in the whole region.”

 The police appreciated the people of Odek for reporting the suspects and urged them to report suspicious characters in their community because more counterfeits are believed to be coming from Lira to Odek and other parts of the region.

Gulu youth miss 87 million livelihood fund.

By

Abalo Irene Otto

Gulu district youth groups have today, expressed their disappointment with the district leadership over the manner in which the Youth livelihood program is being handled.

11 Out of the 42 groups were set to fill repayment schedules and sign a memorandum of Understanding with the district. The 11 groups did not get the youth livelihood money they were meant to get in the group bank accounts today.

Leaders of the 11 groups were supposed to get 87 million shillings into their different youth group accounts but found their accounts without money.

The groups are from Lakwana, Awach, Unyama and Odek among others. The youth group leaders say the pressure from their group members is making it difficult for them to concentrate on their own work.

The leaders tasked the district leadership to explain why their group has failed to get money for the last four months to boast their projects in piggery, produce, ox ploughing among others. The group leaders now want their transport wasted to check on the money at the bank refunded refunded.

Cue in ……..Group leaders’ complaints……………..

 Isaac Ojok, Gulu district youth Chairperson told radio Rupiny that he is tired of receiving phone calls from the youth leaders who believe that he has an upper hand in having the money delivered to them.

He calls for openness and fairness to the youth on how they should get their money for their projects.

Cue in …….Youth Chair on Livelihood………………

The Youth Livelihood Programme (YLP) is a Rolling Government of Uganda Programme, targeting the poor and unemployed youth in all the districts in the country. The Programme is implemented under the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development.

 

Plans to demolish condemned structures meet mixed reactions.

By

Abalo Irene Otto

A few residents of Gulu Municipality have commenced with the demolition of condemned structure after Gulu Municipal council last week wrote a letter to the owners to put down condemned structure that are being marked X by the enforcement officers within two weeks from the time each one received the letter.

Francis Mawa, the Director Sport View Garden Inn in Pece Vanguard Gulu Municipality says his hotel business was affected by the world back project to construct tank road which is 20meters to join Acholi lane.

Radio Rupiny caught up with him on Friday as he commenced the demolition of his 17 old hotel structure and asked him why he decided to comply with the letter and how much he is using to conduct the demolition.

“As a leader for the business community in Gulu, I decided to comply to allow development that will help my children in future. So I mobilized money and today I am putting down this structure but it costs a lot of money to demolish and come back to business again,” says Mawa.

Meanwhile, other residents are stranded and claim to have nowhere to go despite the letter instructing them to leave and demolish the condemned structures within two weeks. Others claim that they are hearing the development as rumors so they will not wait for the enforcement officers to begin the demolition.

Godfrey Okello, a saloon dealer in Pece Vanguard told Radio Rupiny that his business will have to collapse if the municipal demolishes his structure because he cannot afford to rent expensive buildings to operate.

“I just heard that the municipal does not want these buildings here but have no money to rent these expensive buildings in town for my saloon business, I will just wait for them to come and demolish it. I have nothing to do.” Says the worried barber.

Grace Abalo is a mother of five who says she has lived on commercial road in her father’s plot of land all her life. She says the municipal authorities are being inconsiderate because they still have school fees and other issues in their lives to sort yet they now have the pressure to vacate their homes.

Abalo adds that she is now confused and sick of worries for what lies ahead for the future of her children.

“I just got the mark X on my house when I came back from the hospital. A week later, some people came and left a letter with the children. The letter from the municipal says I have only two weeks to vacate and demolish my house, my home for many years. I am just confused. I don’t know where to begin from and my children are stiil at home. I am a widow and I have no money to take them back to school yet. Now this issue has also come. I have nowhere to go,” the teary Nancy told our reporter.

 However, George Labeja, the mayor Gulu municipal council says the municipal will not extend the deadline because the house and kiosk owners knew about the demolition plan that started way back in 2006 when the then council proposed that such structures that are not desirable in a town that is awaiting approval of a city status should be removed. The Mayor told this paper that;

“This was already decided by the council and we cannot continue to have such structures and grass thatched houses in the middle of a town that seeks a city status.  If you cannot put up a good permanent structure, we advise you to sell you plot to another person who has the capacity. We are going to help those who cannot demolish on their own by demolishing it for them. The day is coming after the two weeks. Just wait and see.”

Gulu is among the four municipalities benefiting from the World Bank program USMID that has constructed a number of roads within the municipality and the main market in phase one of the program that ends in August 2018. Uganda Support to Municipal Infrastructure Development USMID Program aims to enhance the institutional performance of Local Government Programs to improve urban service delivery.

In Phase two that begins in September 2018, Gulu Municipality has prioritized building a bus terminal to ease transportation in the proposed city.

Gulu Abatoire construction process begins this week.

By

Abalo Irene Otto

Gulu municipal council is set to begin the process of constructing the long awaited multibillion Gulu Abattoir in Layibi division.

Gulu municipality will spend 6.2 billion shillings to construct the abattoir with funding from the World Bank Uganda Support to Municipal Infrastructure Development USMID Program that ends in 2018.

According to Gulu Municipal Mayor George Labeja, the advert for the contractors will be out this week and the best bidder will take on the construction within this financial year.

The mayor says he believes that the facility will be a learning center for others since the design shows that it will be the most outstanding in the country.

Cue in…………George Labeja on abattoir…………..

Uganda Support to Municipal Infrastructure Development USMID Program aims to enhance the institutional performance of Local Government Programs to improve urban service delivery.

In Phase two that begins in September 2018, Gulu Municipality has prioritized building a bus terminal to ease transportation in the proposed city.

Mobile money fraudsters cause agents tears

By

Abalo Irene Otto

Mobile money fraudsters are causing mayhem on agents again after realizing that people have known their old tricks of pretending to work with a telecom company offering the service and thus seeking details about the agent’s account, including their pin number. The cheats would later transfer cash from the agent’s account to his and later withdraw the money.

Due to change in fraud schemes by the conmen, Mobile Money agents in Gulu are counting losses as unidentified group of organized con men are skillfully drawing from their accounts huge sums of money.

Nalubega Fatuma, an agent at Gulu main market is one among many mobile money agents who report their cases to the police daily after discovering the loss.

She told our reporter that she is yet to recover from a loss of 1.5 million shillings that was conned from her on the 14^th November 2016. She told radio Rupiny that the con men had all the details of her boss and used it to convince her to send money into their accounts.

Cue in………………Nalubega on Mobile Money agents…………..

Meanwhile police insists that the operators have to be on the lookout because the con men are changing their tactics of stealing from them. On a daily basis, at least two cases are reporter at Gulu Central police Station a figure that could be much higher due to unreported cases.

James Asubu, the OC Crime at Gulu central police station told Radio Rupiny that the con men are in an organized group and their transactions are instantaneous.

Cue in ……..Asubu on Mobile Money conmen………………….

The mobile money sector is dominated by two telecoms, MTN Uganda and Airtel, who together account for 99% of mobile money agent market presence in Uganda, according to reports from Financial Sector Deepening Uganda and The Helix Institute of Digital Finance.

 

“There is no witch craft in Business,” Pece chairman tells traders.

The Chairman LC III elect Pece division, Kelly Komakech has advised the Acholi people to rent out their land instead of keeping the land idle and underutilized so that they become competitive and market their products especially in South Sudan since the country is relatively peaceful at the moment and there is high demand for food items that come from the farmers.

Kelly Komakech while talking to our reporter from Gulu town today said that they Acholi people have to realize that time is out to keep crying that we are poor yet we have the most fertile land in the whole country but have failed to make proper use of them to become rich.

He says he is a living example of a poor farmer who has now reformed since he planted about a hundred acres of cassava expecting to reap big form it but he was disappointed because that was not what was on demand at the time he sold it.

Komakech advised farmers to do market research depending on the season first before investing their time and money into any commercial agricultural activity to avoid losses.

He adds that there is no witch craft in business as some people claim but it depends on how skillful one is in meeting the forces of demand and supply to stay in the business.

He further says that Acholi people need more exposure and skills to tap into the available market in South Sudan and this is possible with dedication to using the land that is an available resource to most Acholi people as a starting point instead of crying that they are poor and there are no jobs especially for the you who still have energy for agriculture.

Allied Saving Society runs with 750 million shillings for clients.

Gulu District Chairman Ojara Martin Mapenduzi castigated the leadership of Allied Corporative Savings and Society for mismanaging their clients’ money exploiting their clients and running away with their money because they did not have capital and professional Human Resource to handle the micro finance institution.

While addressing a press conference on Friday at Northern Uganda Media Club in Gulu town, Mapenduzi revealed that the registered micro finance institution no longer has the capacity to either recover the loans given out to clients or pay those who saved their money with them.

War stated on the institution about five mounts ago on 12 December 2015 when a group of woman refused to leave his office until their 9 million Shillings is given to them which was done after a backing from the district officials.

The top management, Okwera Stephen, Oroma Fiona and a gentleman from Ireland, David Kenan who are co founders without any qualification to run such an institution was found to be in disputes and handling issuing of loans and using the institution resources for personal gains.

Mapendeuzi says he had a meeting with the management of Allied but he was shocked to learn that their bank statement by March 2016 shows only 75,000/= yet clients are demanding 750 million shillings from them as savings.

He says the CEO, David Kenan fled to Ireland with 150 million, Lira also borrowed 120 million from Gulu branch and Kitgum branch also had a problem and 150 million was borrowed for Gulu but never returned meaning all the 420 million shillings were never accounted for from people’s savings.

He says it is going to be challenging to recover the money since there are district officials citing two forest officers already conniving with the management of Allied but they are being investigated.

Allied did not have any start up fund and poor financial discipline that cropped up leading to the down fall of the micro finance institution.

The police are now hunting for Fiona Oroma the finance manager who is in hiding as investigations continue into alleged mismanagement of People’s money.