Kasubi tombs caretaker complains over delay to complete construction works

Kasubi tombs caretaker complains over delay to complete construction works

HERBERT ZZIWA

AL-MAHDI SSENKABIRWA

editorial@ug.nationmedia.com

KAMPALA.The caretaker of the Kasubi Royal Tombs has expressed concern over the slow pace on the reconstruction of the burnt heritage site, saying the project has taken longer than anticipated .

Speaking during the inspection of construction works by Buganda Kingdom Katikkiro Charles Peter Mayiga Tuesday ,Ms Nnalinya Beatrice Namika Mpologoma said ,the delays had caused a lot of anxiety among Baganda who expected work to be completed in the shortest time possible.

“ The period given to the contractor to do the work elapsed ,but work is still moving at a snail pace. All materials required are already on site but we wonder why there are such delays ,” she said

The 132-year-old royal tombs, which house remains of four fallen Buganda kings, went up in flames on March 16 ,2010 and the kingdom has since been mobilizing funds to put up a new structure .At least Shs3billion was raised from Baganda and other well-wishers to reconstruct the site while government and foreign donors also contributed Shs5billion. The kingdom is yet to give a detailed breakdown of the money that will be spent on the entire tombs reconstruction project.

Efforts to speak to officials from Omenga Construction Ltd,which is the main contractor of the project was futile .But the chairperson Kasubi Tombs Reconstruction Committee Hajj Kaddu Kiberu said the delays have been caused by the desire to erect a structure that matches international standards.

“It is not a matter of rushing through to finish ,but to come up with something that is of international standard and can stand the test of time. We want to avoid the past mistakes .Some times our engineers are forced to pull down some sections of the wall and rebuild it to ensure quality ,” he said

Omega reportedly subcontracted the last phase of the project to Wabulaakayole(a traditional thatcher).

The Wabulaakayole will supervise the 52 Baganda clans that will roof the structure. Each clan makes a ring traditionally known as ebizizi.

Mayiga said the delay to complete Kasubi hinders the redevelopment of other tombs like Muganzirwaaza in Nabweru in Wakiso District which culturally cannot be renovated unless Kasubi is completed.

“Some times I reach here and feel like quarreling with these engineers ,but since they are professionals we are optimistic that their delay is intended to deliver quality work and we shall wait ” he said

In 2010,when Mayiga was still the kingdom information minister he had projected that the construction works were to last at least six months –meaning tombs could have been completed by October the same year. However ,when he assumed the office of Katikkiro in May last year,the outspoken Katikkiro set March 16 this year as deadline to completed the tombs ,a period that passed when only the perimeter wall is finished the deadline was to coincide with the fourth anniversary of the fire that gutted the site .So far ,some section of foundation of main house in the tombs commonly known as Muzibu Azaala Mpanga is completed and by yesterday engineers were fixing metric bars in the sides to support the roof .According to the kingdom plan , Kasubi is expected to be turned into a cultural villages to attract more tourists ,set up a tele-centre and a traditional tourist sanctuary .Surveillance cameras are yet to be fitted on the completed perimeter wall.

8200 students clear to sit Allied Health exams start

8200 students clear to sit Allied Health exams  start

KAMPALA.At least 8200   candidates have been registered to do the Allied Health Examinations which kick off today, the Uganda Allied Health Examination Board announced on Friday.

UAHEB executive secretary Kato Kimoga said during the briefing of invigilators and coordinators in Kampala ,that exams will run up to July 12 and will be conducted at 54 accredited centres.

“The first two weeks will be for practical papers and the remaining period will be for  theory,” he said This will be the five year the board is conducting exams where  successful candidates graduate as clinical officers, laboratory technicians, anaesthetics officers, orthopaedic officers, dental officers, public health officers, physiotherapists and pharmacists.This category forms the bulk of  frontline professionals much needed in most of the health facilities including Health Centre IIIs.

There is an increase of at least 60 candidates compared to last year, and according to Mr Kimoga ,this comprises those re-siting some  papers .

He warned candidates against any kind of exam malpractices noting that a network has been put in place to root out any form of malpractices and get perpetrators prosecuted.

“I appeal to the candidates not to attempt to cheat these exams and whoever is caught will be dealt with accordingly. And even our invigilators are expected to follow the guidelines as outlined and breaching any of them without my clearance will tantamount to cheating,”  Mr Kimoga A total of 150 invigilators and 36 supervisors have been deployed to man the exams .

He also cautioned unlicensed schools against soliciting money from students for examinations, saying the proprietors risk being prosecuted. “Some institutions or centres have a habit of  extorting  money from students claiming that they are accredited by the examinations body. We are tired of such cases and this time, the law will have to take its course,” he said.

Established in 2009, UAHEB is mandated to administer, examine and award qualifications to registered candidates in allied health programmes. The Board is responsible for 21 allied health programmes and administers over 250 examination papers.

Last year, of the 2,913 candidates who sat for the June-July exams, 2,656 passed-representing 91per cent pass rate. A total of 257 (9 per cent) failed failed the papers and were required to re-sit the papers.

 In comparison, few candidates failed the exams last year compared to 525 (17.9 per cent) who did the same exams and failed in 2012 .

In the previous two years, poor performance has always been registered in Public Health Dentistry, Environmental Health Sciences, Medical Radiography and Physiotherapy while an improvement in performance is recorded in Occupational Therapy and Laboratory Technology.

Nakivubo Stadium gets new look

 

Nakivubo Stadium gets new look

KAMPALA. Nakivubo War Memorial Stadium has for decades been known as a sports arena .But with the changing face of its surroundings  , the stadium is slowly but surely becoming a business hub of some sort given the mushrooming shops erected around its perimeter wall. The latest structure to change the face of Nakivubo is the perimeter complex named Ham Shopping Ground  .

This shopping arcade ,which has  200 shops ,has been constructed through a public private partnership between city businessman Hamis Kiggundu of Ham enterprises Limited and the stadium management. The arcade ,which is nearing completion is directly facing the controversial Park Yard Market and some the vendors at the market have already been affected by this development .

Before traders turned it into a market, the yard served as a stadium car parking yard and there have been several attempts to evict  them from the area. Nakivubo War Memorial  Stadium  treasurer says they want the entire place developed –including the part currently  housing the market  to a standard preferred by Kampala Capital City Authority.

“We know development comes with negatives and positives. But traders should appreciate – we only want to have the place developed and organised to match the evolving image of Kampala. It will also be a revenue source for the stadium sustainability,” said Hajjat Minsa Kabanda.

Part of the market has been cleared to create access bridges to the new shops, leaving a number of traders aggrieved.

“It’s an impressive development, but that’s not my concern when I am losing my livelihood source at the cost of development,” responded Mr John Sserunkuma, a trader at Parkyard market when this reporter sought his opinion .

However, Hajjat  Kabanda said all vendors  will move to pave way for an expanded development of the whole parkyard.

“Its good work so far. We are satisfied he [developer] impressively put up a magnificent structure . Currently, we are finding relocation alternatives for all vendors  at park yard market because the market is not gazetted,” she said yesterday.

KCCA had earlier indicated the park yard market was illegal because it was not on plan and assured vendors  that there are no plans to legalise it, but it (KCCA) has consistently denied involvement in threats to evict traders.

“Parkyard is an illegal market over which we exercise no control,” the letter from KCCA  dated February 21, 2012 reads in part.

But early this month, Kampala Resident City Commissioner, Ms Aisha Kabanda told the vendors  in a meeting that they should prepare to relocate if government finds a suitable palace for them.

Opportunities for vendors

According to Hajjat Kabanda, vendors  at the market will be given first priority for stall/shops in the new structures. She said the mall has three floors  with shops going  for Shs1.2m, Shs0.5-0.8m and Shs0.3m. she noted that all stalls at the second floor are specifically for traders who  will be  affected in the eviction exercise. On southern wing of the stadium, a large chunk of the stadium has also been turned into parks for vehicles. During the day almost a hundred cars are parked measures .Near the main entrance ,there is also  a bus terminal which is privately managed .

With all these non sports activities ,it remains to be seen whether the world soccer governing body FIFA will still recognize Nakivubo as a viable facility for international games .

Background Nakivubo Park Yard Market started in mid 1990s and more than 30,000 traders are currently doing businesses there ranging from second hard clothes, shoes , fruits and other perishable food products.

As the name suggests, this open space used to serve as a parking lot for Nakivubo Stadium but when vendors increased in the adjacent St Balikuddembe Market commonly known as Owino, some chose to erect stalls there to ply their businesses .Although city authorities then collected dues from the vendors, they maintained that the place was not among the gazzetted city markets .

 

Delayed funds mess up Kyambogo trainee teachers practice programme

Delayed funds mess up Kyambogo trainee teachers practice programme

 

KAMPALA. The delay to release allowances for Kyambogo University lecturers has deprived student teachers a chance to be supervised during their ongoing teaching practice programme, Daily Monitor has learnt.

Some of the student teachers, who talked to Daily Monitor yesterday, said even since they were posted to various schools across the country last month, none of the supervisors has showed up yet.

“We are totally kept in the dark and don’t know what is going on. We simply hear that electures cannot come because there is no money to facilitate their movement,” said a one of the student teachers only identified as Kenneth. He is among the student teachers posted in  one of the city schools.

“What supervision will they do in a week or two even if they get their allowances tomorrow? ” asked Susan, another aggrieved student teacher .

The government ombudsman is currently investigating top Kyambogo University officials  and among the cases the IGG is investigating includes, the alleged incompetence and corrupt tendencies of some staff in the Academic registrar’s office which has left various faculties at the University  operate without teaching materials for over a year  and denying  students identify cards for three years. Last month , students  at the  University staged a strike protesting delays by the institution to issue them with IDs yet they paid Shs 15,000 each at the time of registration. In 2010, the University procured a machine to print both staff and students IDs but under unclear circumstances the people who were working in the printer were sacked last year and the university opted for outsourcing a private company to print the IDs.  The investigations followed reports of gross abuse of office and mismanagement of the institution by top university officials. On the other hand, the Auditor General is also investigating the academia largely on mismanagement and procurement at the institution since 2008, after a request by Parliament.

Kyambogo, established a decade ago , has suffered numerous  problems over the past few years

ranging from alleged incompetence of some staff to corruption to conflict of interest, intrigue and abuse of public property but surprisingly, the same problems continue to haunt the institution ever when changes are made in top management.

Most of these problems have been blamed on leadership wrangles that characterised the institution until early this year when Katunguka was appointed acting vice chancellor

Before Katunguka took over, there was a standoff between the institution’s staff and former vice-chancellor Prof. Isaiah Ndiege that paralysed the institution. The university administration is still under investigation by both the Inspector General of Government and the Auditor General .

 

 

 

Muslim factions welcome call for mediation, City cleric spearheads process

Muslim factions welcome call for mediation

City cleric spearheads process

 

KAMPALA. The two warring Muslim factions have welcomed an initiative by a city cleric Imam Idd Kasozi to mediate in a power struggle that has dogged the top Muslim leadership for eight years.

Speaking to Daily Monitor in separate interviews yesterday, both groups expressed readiness to take part in reconciliation talks if called upon.

“We have no problem being together if our brothers admit that they did a mistake and we move on. It has always been our wish and if there is any effort to achieve that, we welcome it ,” said Hajj Muhammad Kisambira , the secretary general for the Kibuli-based faction .

Hajj Nsereko Mutumba, the spokesperson Uganda Muslim Supreme Council said, his boss Mufti Sheikh Shaban Mubajje has already extended an olive branch to his rivals, and they were only waiting for that day to see them back under one fold.

“Our door has always been open and that is the reason why these days we attend even their events when invited,” he said

However, Kisambira said, they were skeptical on whether the Old Kampala group will respect reconciliation having failed several attempts in the recent past to resolve the conflict through talks.

“Basing on the experience, we doubt whether he [Sheikh Mubajje] will keep his word this time round. Several people  including the Saudi Ambassador to Uganda have tried to mediate between us but he seems not interested ”he said

“Before the controversial UMSC elections of 2012, he had also initiated talks with us through Dr. Ahmed Kisuule(Uganda’s Ambassador to Iran). The two groups appointed their members and talks began .Just as they were about to complete the exercise, the Mubajje team abandoned the talks without justification and went ahead to conduct elections unilaterally.” He added

Mutumba said all that could have occurred because both groups did not trust each other then.

“Let us build our reconciliation on trust and forget the misconceptions and that led to the collapse of earlier talks, ”he said

During the burial of former Masaka District Khadi Sheikh Huzairu Kiruta recently, Mubajje said he didn’t know that his death could bring them together and asked whoever was willing to reconcile them to come up. This is what seems to have energized Imam Kasozi to take up the task.

“Some people have been asking whether I am the right person to do that, I say yes! ,I am knowledgeable about Islamic issues and am a victim of Muslim disunity because my father dead as a result of fights in the community ,” he said yesterday

Imam Kasozi is the vice chairperson of Uganda Muslim Youth Assembly and a lecturer at Islamic University in Uganda.

He said he will only spearhead the reconciliation process, but experts in conflict resolution like Dr Khalid Lubega will be the key mediator.

“He[ Lubega ] has offered to take time off his busy schedule and will be in the country next week to kick start the process.” He said

Dr Lubega is the chair board of directors- Negotiation and Reconciliation Institute but currently living  in the US.

Mubajje has been under fire since 2006 when a section of Muslims accused him of fraudulently disposing community property in Kampala.

The conflict ended up in court, with Mubajje and others top UMSC officials facing criminal charges.

They were acquitted by court but the anti-Mubajje faction rejected the ruling, saying the magistrate’s pronouncement   that Mubajje lied in the property dealings disqualifies him to lead the Muslim faith and they  responded by electing a rival Mufti, Sheik Zubair Kayongo, at Kibuli. Since then both rivaling groups have clashed over management of mosques across the country which raised concern within the security circles.

Mubajje has severally dismissed the rival Muslims as an illegitimate and unconstitutional group that lacks moral standing. He insists his opponents are opportunists who are using the sale of Muslim property as an excuse to bring him down. He says the same group has always been opposed to his election as Mufti since the first day of his administration in 2000.

 

 

Govt warns nursing students on storage of science equipment

 

 

KAMPALA. Government has warned nursing and midwifery students against careless handling of science equipment which make them damaged and dysfunctional.

Ms Elizabeth Gabona, the director Higher Education said many health teaching institutions still have ill-equipped skills laboratories not because government doesn’t purchase equipment but reckless students are to blame for damaging the equipment soon after they are procured.

“We have for long suffered criticism over ill-equipped laboratories in health teaching institutions yet we played our role as government.  It is just because what we install is not properly managed and students are partly to blame for damaging the equipment, forgetting that they  cost colossal sum of money,” she said

Ms Gabona issued the warning last Friday while handling over skills laboratory equipment to 12 midwifery training institutions at Kyambogo Public Health Nurses College.

These  include ;skills lab equipment such as anatomical models that students  use for demonstrations  before starting working on real patients, delivery kits, diagnostic kits and delivery beds as well as caesarian section sets .The beneficiary nursing and midwifery training  institutions include, Lacor, Kibuli ,Jinja, Mulago,Kyambogo Public Health Nurses College , Matany,Kabale .Others are ; Soroti ,Virika,Lira,Kagando and Arua.

Matany ,which is locate in Karamoja ,in a special way also received a 26-seater bus to boost  the domiciliary midwifery training programme in the region  as well as supporting  transportation of students to placements at health facilities . Both the equipment and a bus, all worth Shs 330million, were donated by United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

Ms Gabona applauded  UNFPA for the donation, saying it will go a long way in improving the quality of midwifery training in the country.

However, Dr Wilfred Ocham , the  UNFPA assistant country representative said although efforts have been made to fully equip nursing schools , more robust interventions are needed to improve midwifery education. He noted that the current tutor student ratio was very much below the acceptable standards to give adequate interaction between the tutor and each student so as to meet the learning need of students.

“ We need to emphasise interventions to strengthen human resources of the training schools, update the curriculum so that it meets the midwifery care needs of Ugandans,” he said

Uganda is reportedly losing at least 1,400 skilled professionals mostly doctors and nurses  each year who leave the country seeking  greener pasture.

The nurse to population ratio currently stands at 1:5,000; and the midwife-to-population ratio is 1:10,000. The ratios vary widely between districts.

Dr Ocham pledged that his organisation will work with government to complete the review of the midwifery curriculum as well as training more tutors .

“ We are working to train more tutors to add on the 21 who are already undertaking the Bachelor of Medical Education at Mulago Tutors College and hope that government though public service will ensure that these tutors are absorbed into service immediately they qualify ,” he said

At least 50 heath tutors are churned out of the Health Tutors College annually to teach in the 54 nursing schools and 32 allied health institutions.

Although the recommended tutor to student ratio in nursing schools is 1:20, in many missionary and public nursing schools it stands at 1:60 and 1:120 respectively. Recently, Ministry of Health technocrats reported a staggering short shortfall of 2,290 nurses in government hospitals alone. There are only 29,000 medical personnel in a country of 33million people, which has constrained efforts to ensure service delivery.