What is cabinet doing about the UWA
Sep 04, 2010
DEPENDING on whether you are alive and kicking or six foot under, you will, if the former and a Ugandan who follows events, be aware that the crucial and well-regarded UWA (Uganda Wildlife Authority) is suffering deep crisis.
By John Nagenda
DEPENDING on whether you are alive and kicking or six foot under, you will, if the former and a Ugandan who follows events, be aware that the crucial and well-regarded UWA (Uganda Wildlife Authority) is suffering deep crisis.
The danger of this might, if not stopped in its tracks, signal its end. And certainly cause so much chaos in its work, and duty, of protecting Wildlife, that to re-start could prove impossible.
What a catastrophe that would be! Already there is hot debate in some quarters whether the National Parks run by UWA are tenable and not discriminative against human beings - in favour of wildlife.
At such a time any stumbling in UWA’s work could well cause such a breach that a return to the status quo might prove beyond reach. (By “status quo†I refer, of course, not to the ludicrous wild squabbles of the moment, brought on by the strange recent appointment of the new UWA chairman by the Minister.
I am looking back to perhaps a decade leading to today, but other periods also. What might now be wistfully regarded as the halcyon days.) Last week this column worried about what was now afoot in the running of UWA.
It seems the mad gallop of the new order continues unabated.
UWA’s new Board was appointed by the Minister of Tourism, Trade and Industry in April 2010, following a nine month period since the last one had finished its time.
The Minister automatically takes over the Board’s role. In February he had renewed UWA’s Executive Director, Moses Mapesa, to another five years; presumably satisfied with the good work done.
The new Board had its first meeting on 23 June. The new Chairman on his own (without the Board’s support) terminated Mapesa’s contract on 12 August; next day Mapesa was equally terminated by the Minister.
The two had worked in tandem but in the wrong order! The Chairman today virtually runs UWA as himself, the Board and the ED – UWA’s Chief Executive Officer. Staff morale is said to be very low; officers terrified.
Thus the question of Cabinet’s part is crucial, running, as it does, the Government and the State, under the Executive President. Might it be, as so often happens in Developing Countries, that Wildlife is, despite protestations, seen as more an encumbrance to be suffered, rather than what it should be: part of that miraculous symbiosis between humankind and its full partner, Wildlife?
Does our own Cabinet indeed comprehend how lucky Uganda is to possess to this day its wondrous combination of humanity and wildlife, the envy of more so-called Developed Countries?
Something suggests the answer: Not likely! But hopefully, with reflection, might that change? Next question: is our Cabinet capable of turning on those of its own, and dealing with them severely when they transgress?
Ahem! Your columnist begs to doubt. But might that not be the position in the world as a whole?
Therefore should UWA (representing Uganda) just lie down and be trampled over by rampaging human rhinos, currently un-tethered?
God forbid! But how shall we know when Cabinet engages the offending persons? Will smoke drift heavenwards, as when a new Pontiff is chosen?
As James Baldwin wrote: “God gave Noah the noonday sign: No more Water, the Fire next time!†Cabinet must be reminded, extra specially, that apart from all the other aspects of this very worrying case, UWA has Reserve Funds of 10 billion Uganda shillings, and it would be completely unforgivable if the chase starts after the thieves have already bolted with it, a la NSSF.
I am far from trying to cover up for offenders whoever they might be. Let all sides, including present and past managements, and Boards as well, be unsparingly investigated. For goodness sake, Cabinet, don’t flinch now!
**********************************
I am fascinated by our Movement’s primaries. How very American! Takes you straight back to the Democratic ones there when Obama went head to head with Mrs Clinton; the air reverberates still to the rancorous abuse of the latter (plus husband) towards the now Boss! More worrisome still is the monstrous financial cost, and in the US somebody else picked up the bill at least!
Here I was told that in some cases some hopefuls forked out 80 million shillings. Don’t be surprised if some who didn’t make “the cut†finish on the end of ropes! And the real finals, six months away, pit fighters from different camps, not from the same kraals; how much will those cost?
The eyes water! To be sincere it was rather nice to watch from a safe distance as brothers and sisters went hell for leather for each other, as being inside a house with huge storms outside, leaves flying, trees crumbling.
Or slaves in long-ago Rome tearing pieces off each other; the winners to sort it out unarmed against starving lions! All the papers have commented on the under-preparedness of these elections; not me.
For it was the first time; and at least it showed the national Electoral Commission, which of course wasn’t involved, in much better light; which is fair.
Quite why so many individuals were determined to stand, remains a mystery for your columnist but such is the world wherein we live!
DEPENDING on whether you are alive and kicking or six foot under, you will, if the former and a Ugandan who follows events, be aware that the crucial and well-regarded UWA (Uganda Wildlife Authority) is suffering deep crisis.
The danger of this might, if not stopped in its tracks, signal its end. And certainly cause so much chaos in its work, and duty, of protecting Wildlife, that to re-start could prove impossible.
What a catastrophe that would be! Already there is hot debate in some quarters whether the National Parks run by UWA are tenable and not discriminative against human beings - in favour of wildlife.
At such a time any stumbling in UWA’s work could well cause such a breach that a return to the status quo might prove beyond reach. (By “status quo†I refer, of course, not to the ludicrous wild squabbles of the moment, brought on by the strange recent appointment of the new UWA chairman by the Minister.
I am looking back to perhaps a decade leading to today, but other periods also. What might now be wistfully regarded as the halcyon days.) Last week this column worried about what was now afoot in the running of UWA.
It seems the mad gallop of the new order continues unabated.
UWA’s new Board was appointed by the Minister of Tourism, Trade and Industry in April 2010, following a nine month period since the last one had finished its time.
The Minister automatically takes over the Board’s role. In February he had renewed UWA’s Executive Director, Moses Mapesa, to another five years; presumably satisfied with the good work done.
The new Board had its first meeting on 23 June. The new Chairman on his own (without the Board’s support) terminated Mapesa’s contract on 12 August; next day Mapesa was equally terminated by the Minister.
The two had worked in tandem but in the wrong order! The Chairman today virtually runs UWA as himself, the Board and the ED – UWA’s Chief Executive Officer. Staff morale is said to be very low; officers terrified.
Thus the question of Cabinet’s part is crucial, running, as it does, the Government and the State, under the Executive President. Might it be, as so often happens in Developing Countries, that Wildlife is, despite protestations, seen as more an encumbrance to be suffered, rather than what it should be: part of that miraculous symbiosis between humankind and its full partner, Wildlife?
Does our own Cabinet indeed comprehend how lucky Uganda is to possess to this day its wondrous combination of humanity and wildlife, the envy of more so-called Developed Countries?
Something suggests the answer: Not likely! But hopefully, with reflection, might that change? Next question: is our Cabinet capable of turning on those of its own, and dealing with them severely when they transgress?
Ahem! Your columnist begs to doubt. But might that not be the position in the world as a whole?
Therefore should UWA (representing Uganda) just lie down and be trampled over by rampaging human rhinos, currently un-tethered?
God forbid! But how shall we know when Cabinet engages the offending persons? Will smoke drift heavenwards, as when a new Pontiff is chosen?
As James Baldwin wrote: “God gave Noah the noonday sign: No more Water, the Fire next time!†Cabinet must be reminded, extra specially, that apart from all the other aspects of this very worrying case, UWA has Reserve Funds of 10 billion Uganda shillings, and it would be completely unforgivable if the chase starts after the thieves have already bolted with it, a la NSSF.
I am far from trying to cover up for offenders whoever they might be. Let all sides, including present and past managements, and Boards as well, be unsparingly investigated. For goodness sake, Cabinet, don’t flinch now!
**********************************
I am fascinated by our Movement’s primaries. How very American! Takes you straight back to the Democratic ones there when Obama went head to head with Mrs Clinton; the air reverberates still to the rancorous abuse of the latter (plus husband) towards the now Boss! More worrisome still is the monstrous financial cost, and in the US somebody else picked up the bill at least!
Here I was told that in some cases some hopefuls forked out 80 million shillings. Don’t be surprised if some who didn’t make “the cut†finish on the end of ropes! And the real finals, six months away, pit fighters from different camps, not from the same kraals; how much will those cost?
The eyes water! To be sincere it was rather nice to watch from a safe distance as brothers and sisters went hell for leather for each other, as being inside a house with huge storms outside, leaves flying, trees crumbling.
Or slaves in long-ago Rome tearing pieces off each other; the winners to sort it out unarmed against starving lions! All the papers have commented on the under-preparedness of these elections; not me.
For it was the first time; and at least it showed the national Electoral Commission, which of course wasn’t involved, in much better light; which is fair.
Quite why so many individuals were determined to stand, remains a mystery for your columnist but such is the world wherein we live!