Ambassador Wonekha assures diaspora on renewal of passports

By Samuel Muwanguzi in Dallas, Texas, USA.

Uganda’s embassy in Washington DC has acquired modern equipment to expedite the production and issuance of electronically readable passports within 3 days, Uganda’s Ambassador to the United States, Olive Wonekha, told delegates at the recently concluded 27th annual convention taking place in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.

“We are now in possession of the state-of-the art machine to produce new passports for our staff to process and send those to eligible applicants within 3 days,” Ambassador Wonekha assured Ugandans during a working luncheon at the convention over the weekend.

She also said that plans are in advanced stages to expedite the formation of the Diaspora desk to enable Ugandans in the Diaspora to vote in future elections.

“While it has not been possible to work out modalities for Ugandans in the Diaspora to vote in the forthcoming elections next year, plans are underway for Ugandans living outside the country to country to participate in the democratization process,” Ambassador assured.

At the same time, the Chief Executive Officer of Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) Jenniffer Musisi told the delegates that Kampala City is undergoing a radical transformation to raise its profile to international standards.
“KCCA is improving its infrastructure and enhancing the quality of services delivered to its residents, she disclosed.  The KCCA boss said that clinics in Kisenyi, Kawempe, and in Central and Nakawa divisions have been rehabilitated and equipped with modern laboratories and other facilities to provide health and maternity services to city dwellers, children, and expectant mothers. 

“The authority is also restructuring the city by designating specific areas for boda bodas, bus, and taxi parks to restore order in the City,” she said. 

Using a slide show during her presentation, she highlighted how the directorate of gender in the authority headed by Harriet Muddondo is implementing projects that are helping to reduce unemployment by empowering women & youth to engage in income generating activities. “Women are making soap, shampoo, charcoal, & are growing vegetables in Kyanja as part of KCCA   program to alleviate poverty,” she said adding that “the youths are engaged in poultry and piggery farming while others are involved in small scale economic projects instead of loitering the city streets,” she disclosed.

Meanwhile, during the Senga and Koja forum, women were faulted of bringing too much .com mentality into the bedroom, a practice that has resulted in house girls taking their husbands.

“Ensure that you attend to the bedroom needs of your husbands instead of telling them you are tired because you had a tough day at work,” Kizza Senninde, the UNAA envoy in Uganda advised. 

On his part, Pastor Samuel Mutyaba of New Life International Church in Waltham, Massachusetts observed that “sex is a gift of God for enjoyment & procreation by couples but the devil has used people to make it appear as an abomination.”

He told the enthusiastic audience that couples in holy matrimony and those legally married should not be ashamed to remove any limits to satisfy their sexual needs as long as both partners are ready and willing to have it.

During the boat cruise along the Mississippi River, delegates were entertained by the kiganda dancing maestro Nanddujja who also doubled as the convention Senga.

Other entertainers on the boat cruise included King Saha who celebrated his birthday on the cruise, Mesach Semakula, Haruna Mubiru, and General Mega Dee. 

Plaques of honor were awarded to two individuals and the outgoing executive for their distinguished service to the association during the closing ceremony for the 27 UNAA conventions. 

Dr. Ben Abe of Washington State, a retired University Professor and former member of the Board of Trustees and a member of the UNAA Electoral Commission received a distinguished award for organizing the Northern Uganda Forum for the last 25 years.

The outgoing executive headed by Brian Kwesiga and the Mayor of New Orleans  Mitch Landrieu which hosted the convention also received plaques commending their service to the association. The closing ceremony was presided over by the Vice President of Uganda Edward Sekandi.