No Fundis Allowed

A few years back, there was a set of ominous signs which used to be displayed in Kenyan showrooms. 

The sings read-No Fundis Allowed. 

For those who are new to the language, a fundi in this case is a reference to the carpenter. 

The fear in those days was around the skills of these Fundis who needed just one look at your latest designs and in no time, these would be replicated. 

This is no way to run a business...living off the ideas of others...and many of us do it a lot. But the signs were evidence albeit offensive that the abilities of that group of artisans were at an exceptional level. 

Maybe you need to learn to hold your cards little closer to your chest. Maybe you need to think clearly about what you have perfected. I could be that you have reached a place where your knowledge is frightening to your peers and this is why they do not plan on hiring you any time soon. 

A marriage made in heaven? Not really

In Uganda there was a drive to link the police service with our ever present Boda Boda cyclists. The intent is simple enough...on the surface but is sure to present some challenges in the future. 

The temptation to use the cyclists as an extension of the service or to assist in community policing is noble but there is still a massive challenge of registration and organization. 

It is impossible to expect all your Boda Boda cyclists to rally behind the ruling party or to devote all their energies towards the opposition. My suggestion though, similar to what others have stated is to harness their numbers in the form of an association or group whose needs can then be represented towards one goal. 

The Iranians and the Burmese are some examples of countries that have made use of the cyclists as an extension of their intelligence services but the idea springs a lot more from convenience and speed as opposed to experience. 

It is likely that our countries will continue to struggle and debate the ideas behind intelligence gathering around numbers (quantity) and substance (quality). But there is likely to be a fallout at least in these parts in regards to mass. In a sense, your work is likely to be ruined because of the amount of information you have to process so that the real valuable stuff ends up under the pile of the really unimportant stuff. 

In addition to this, given the tendency to exercise force for which our boys on the bikes are know (mini skirts as a case in point). You are bound to find a sizable amount of abuse in the area of enforcement. 

When Africa hits puberty

There is talk in these parts about the skill often associated with our female colleagues in managing to milk the resources of their male counterparts. 

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The idea springs from our campuses and basically describes a situation in which the average gal can fund her challenging school days from the meager resources of an unknowing suitor or group of suitors. 

You will often hear of a list of chaps whose job function ranges from airtime guy, to meal guy, to upkeep guy and many more. 

Which brings me the article title...in which I suggest that Africa has hit puberty. Finally she realizes that she has goods that are attractive to the market (resources) and suitors. Who would have know that she is in a position to play them all and receive the benefits of her 'attractiveness'. 

The Americans seem to play from a different line. They will not overtly use American workers to to work the roads or to manage their projects but back home a healthy chunk of the cash sent here will be harvested at home and benefit the home front. The Chinese are more overt in their declaration of love interest. But they are making their play from a backwards position. They have the disadvantage of having a language that is yet to be adopted by the rest of the world. Fortunately though we cannot say the same about the possibility of having their currency take center stage in place of he dollar. In addition to this, the Chinese have not always felt the urge to play he game fairly when it comes to trade. 

In addition to this, their use of labor is less restricted and more obvious. 

Perhaps a late comer in this battle is India but there is a likelihood that her resources can still be utilized. What China is to the U.S in terms of development and labor especially in the 20th century, India is to Africa. How India manages to put her foreign populations into the system will determine how much progress she makes. 

So what the the rules and who are the major players. The countries with the largest populations are obvious players. Then there are those nations whose history gives them an edge as colonial 'masters'. Then there are the teeming populations striving to make a change and move from previous positions of supposed inferiority. 

The rules are important because they determine how the changes we need happen and who the true beneficiaries of this change are. The rules also help protect the 'gals' from manipulation and abuse and guarantee a level of fairness ( fairness assumes this to be some kind of game with rules). In a previous post I borrowed heavily from the work of certain practitioners who approach centered on the law and viewed the major players as cats and mice involved in a complex battle for space and a shifting of platforms or fora. Nations that were still fighting for a space and struggling to find a uniting front for themselves were found wanting as sudden shifts were made to regional agreements and rules that were still being understood changed. 

Katebe or Kakumbi

A popular writer in these parts, has written extensively on the role of the military in Ugandan politics. In his writings, he examines how the government in Uganda handles veterans and how those in military service chose to live their lives in retirement. One of the ideas he often plays around with is what we often refer to as Katebe. Recent development have created what I have referred to as a Kakumbi in which men in uniform are now assigned to manage farms. 

Katebe or Kakumbi?

This week there were reports from the BBC regarding the trials of two octogenarians whose lives, histories and actions have come to the fore as Cambodia attempts to deal with some troubling aspects in her history. 

While it is may be clear that these two individuals are just a mere representation of the leadership that was described as part of the problem, analysts still insist that the attempts to deal with this nations history are still quite significant and necessary. 

This story matters because in Uganda, there are some historic records that speak of a rebellion of sorts and the rise of a similar revolutionary movements.  Most of the movements that emerged from Africa used South American nations like Cuba as examples in their struggles and borrowed heavily from writings of men such as Che Guevera. In addition to this though, we find that a group of these countries also used strategies from within Africa as they moved to help liberate their countries. In Uganda for example countries like Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Angola were studied and taught in School in an effort to educate the younger populations on the unique nature of the struggle for independence and later or possibly liberation. There are writers who to this day dispute the reality behind the independence move and instead like to think of it as a handover with intent to govern from a distance. But that is really beyond the scope of this article. Instead I need to highlight a small aspect of the Cambodian struggle and it's relevance in our Context here. 

We have recently made some strategic moves towards a more aggressive  agrarian push. After some struggle implementing certain presidential initiatives like the NAADS, the government has made the choice to use its military men to help monitor and run its drive towards agricultural development. 

Perhaps this makes sense for a government that has strong leanings towards the military. A word of caution though and a special reference to the Khamer Rouge. 

We have similar nomenclature in the assignment of titles and names for the liberators (001,002,003 and so on). This incidentally is the same usage that the people in Cambodia used for their leaders. 

In addition to this, we are pushing for a drive towards agriculture. 

Too simplistic? Maybe! But there is a corresponding drive and loathing amongst some towards the village life. Even if many seem to have developed the ability to handle life on both sides. Making visits to the rural areas when the seasons permit, there is still very little that people see on that front. The discovery of minerals and other natural resources has helped but challenges arising from leadership and structure and especially the delicate relationship between cultural leaders and the central government will continue to cause headaches. 

Another possible challenge is regards the pace at which technology is beginning adopted and the possibilities that exist in industry. 

Concerned about budget allocations in Uganda?

It's been a few months since the release of the budget of the next financial year. At first glance it seems as though the same casualties have come to the surface in the search for desperately needed revenue. 

While we are still rather busy trying to deal with the challenge of an overly enthusiastic parliament (in terms of size) there is no shortage of interest groups from which we can demand attention. 

Some argue that instead of creating an interest group for every significant member of society, we need instead to have few representatives with much broader mandates or manifestos to cover the broad needs of their constituents. 

Similar thinking has lead to thoughts around the generation of revenue.

The idea is not so much about targeting these groups for cash, but using their thoughts in planning so that budgets are prepared with people at the core. 

Maybe this is what the Ministry Of Finance had in mind when they created the whole proud get process. A brief visit to their Internet sight will reveal that around July August, there is what is referred to as the Medium Term Expenditure framework and portfolio error performance review. 

Then in about October and November they have what they call the first budget consultative workshop. This caters for what I referred to as the interest groups but MInistry of Finance calls them Sector Working Groups which gather with alongside local government to prepare Budget Frameworks Papers (BFPs).

There is then further consultation with different ministries to create the daft of the budget framework paper. 

Approval from cabinet then presentation to stakeholders is the next step. This takes place at National Budget Workshop-public expenditure review meeting. 

Fatal budget framework paper is the presented to parliament on the 1st of April (it is made up of the background to the budget and development of estimates).

Finally the draft estimates of revenue and expenditure are presented to the parliamentary budget committee on the 15th of June. 

There are therefore about two major opportunities for your participation 

1. Public Expenditure Review Meeting 

2. First consultative workshop for local governments and sector working groups. 

ICT association of Uganda or the consortium of ICT organizations or the ICT Cluster of Uganda can then present their suggestions for government and make suggestions towards the Alloation of funds in different areas. 

In addition to presentations made as sector groups, direct influence thought their respective ministries can also benefit the budget process.