The increase in the prices of a kilogram of vanilla has increased insecurity among the people of Bundibugyo who are engaging this activity. Some thieves who steal and sell immature beans thus undermining the quality on the market.
About a decade ago, the price of vanilla, which had reached Shs. 150,000 a kilogram of green beans, nose-dived to almost Shs. 1,000. However, in 2014, it started rising with a kilo ranging from Shs. 2,500 to Shs. 5,000. The price has now reached as high as Shs. 250, 000 per kilogram for green vanilla beans at the farm-gate
In Uganda, districts where vanilla is grown include Kayunga, Mukono, Mpigi, Jinja, Kamuli, Buikwe, Bundibugyo, Luweero and Kasese.
Globally, Madagascar leads in vanilla exports with 1,600 tonnes per year followed by Indonesia and France. Uganda comes in at 12th position with export revenue of $5.7 million, according to the latest (2016) statistics.
The competitive prices have led to a rise in theft cases thus resulting into farmers hiring security guards to guard their vanilla gardens which is costly.
Baleyebulya Fabiono, a farmer in Kitule village in Nyahuka town council says that he decided to engage in the vanilla growing due to its demand on the market. He notes that however, this precious crop has earned them security threats from thieves.
He adds on that after the suffering the farmers go through maintaining the crop since it is tiresome,thieves come and steal the immature beans and the vanilla vines. The thieves come with killing objects like pangas that they use in case the owner of the farm garden tries stopping them.
Fabiono, says that although the farmers have come together to form an association, he asked government to help them with security support so that the farmers are able to gain positive results form their gardens.
Wilson Masereka, a farmer in Busamba 3 woke up on 23rd march 2019 prepared to go to his vanilla farm. Unfortunately, he found out that his vanilla beans had been stolen at night. He reported to the police station but nothing was done.
Rashid Masereka, the chairman of Bundibugyo Nillavan Vanilla/ Coffee Growers Cooperative Society says that the association is the only one in the district has 1,223 registered farmers . He says that it is now two years since the inception of the association.
“Farmers have been able to educate their children, build good houses among others. He notes that most people in the area depended so much on cocoa but unfortunately, cocoa is longer expensive thus not supporting the natives of the district.”
Rashid further says that they arrested recently two vanilla thieves , one of them called Baluku who are imprisoned at Bubukwanga prison for two and half years.He says that the thieves steal the immature vanilla beans
He, however asks government to support them by providing security so that the farmers are able to fight this risky vice of theft.
Organized under the theme, “A New East African: Agency and Identity Debates in the Region”, the 2019 CHUSS Symposium took major shifts in the East African society that have occurred in the last two decades as its point of departure in order to explore how agency and identity of the regions subjects have morphed during this period.
The two-day symposium held on 15th-16th May 2019 in the Makerere University Main Hall drew participants from across the region. It was presided over by Prof. Charles Olweny, former Vice Chancellor of Uganda Martyrs University Nkozi and currently Chancellor of Mbarara University of Science and Technology.
Dr Umar Kakumba represented the Vice Chancellor
The symposium featured a number of activities including a keynote address titled, “Is there an identity and agency crisis in the humanities?” delivered by Prof. Ruth Mukama and research presentations by Professors and doctoral students at Makerere University.
Delivering the keynote address, Prof. Mukama, formerly member of staff at Makerere University and currently working at Kabale University, decried the increased marginalization of Humanities and Social Sciences. “The humanities play a critical role in the development of nation states. However they are in peril of systematic defunding. Marginalization of the humanities is even more oppressive in the Ugandan context where government recast university sponsorship in favour of programmes critical to national development especially the natural sciences. The most recent poignant act of marginalization came as a blow in 2016 with the enhanced salaries, when I realized that as a humanities professor my salary was not even equivalent to that of an Associate Professor in sciences, but was merely at par with that of a science Senior Lecturer,” she explained noting that this has dire consequences to national development as it resulted into lesser commitment and productivity.
The Keynote Speaker, Prof. Ruth Mukama
She further explained that marginalization had driven humanities students into a state of despair with many now bearing a cavalier attitude towards their studies.
Prof. Mukama however observed that not all hope is lost for humanities and social Sciences since they are repositories of the foundation skills and providers of global competencies.
She urged scholars to endeavour to invoke the power of the humanities by informing, empowering, and inspiring citizens on themes of concern. She also called for increased advocacy for the redirection of the attention of East African higher education institutions towards the humanities.
The Guest of Honour Prof. Charles Olwenyi, in his presentation, the Interlocutor, Prof. Joy C. Kwesiga, Vice Chancellor Kabale University appealed to government to strike a balance between the humanities and natural sciences noting that they are equally important. She called for concerted efforts in addressing the challenges that undermine the relevance of humanities and social sciences. “Humanities and Social Sciences units in institutions of higher learning should review their curriculum to strengthen the disciplines so as to match the demands of the job market and to increase contribution to national development,” she explained.
Prof. Joy C. Kwesiga, Vice Chancellor Kabale University
Addressing participants, the Guest of Honour, Prof. Charles Olweny, appreciated Gerda Henkel Stiftung and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation for the financial support towards graduate training and research activities in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHUSS). He underscored the relevance of research to national development noting that the support received from the development partners was critical in addressing the funding gaps that have for long negatively impacted humanities and social sciences research output.
The Vice Chancellor represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Academic Affairs, Dr Umar Kakumba also appreciated the development partners for the support rendered towards graduate training and research activities at CHUSS.
Hundreds
of students turned up to attend a public dialogue on sexual harassment held on
Friday 26th April 2019 in the Makerere University Main Hall under the theme
“Zero Tolerance to Sexual Harassment”
The Student’s Guild Deputy Prime Minister Hon. Mariam Mugisha speaking at the dialogue on sexual harassment held on 26th April 2019.
“Stop
sexual harassment, break the silence, and speak out” said Dr. Euzobia Baine
Mugisha, the Director-Makerere University Gender Mainstreaming Directorate.
Dr. Baine Mugisha defined sexual harassment as any form of unwanted, unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors or unwanted physical, verbal or nonverbal conduct of a sexual nature. She revealed that since its founding in 2000, the Directorate has implemented several strategies to sensitize students on sexual harassment matters as well as the policy and regulations against sexual harassment.
Student Peer Trainers sharing feedback from group discussions during the training on 28th March 2019.
She
noted that female students are the most victims of sexual harassment, in as
much as everyone is vulnerable. She advised students to report such cases to
the Directorate as soon as possible so that the harasser is reprimanded.
The
Director sensitized students on their role in supporting zero tolerance to
sexual harassment by representing the dangers and implications of sexual
harassment. She encouraged students to read the University policy against
sexual harassment and others policies on examinations, semester systems, remarking
scripts among others.
“Don’t give in for sex thinking you are solving a problem. The effects are more than you may think. Please avoid meeting any University official outside the University premises. Conduct official business within official University working hours,” Dr. Baine guided the students.
Dr. Baine speaking to students during the sexual harassment lecture.
The Deputy Director at the Gender Mainstreaming Directorate Ms. Frances Nyachwo advised female students to value their bodies and not let anyone mess up with them. She stressed that any form of sexual harassment be it from a Lecturer, boyfriend or husband is a crime one can be punished for when reported.
“Sexual
Harassment is a crime, whether done by a student, boyfriend, husband or a
Lecturer,” said Ms. Nyachwo
She urged the students (victims) of rape to always report to hospital for medical treatment before going to the police. This is helps to prevent HIV/AIDS contractions and early pregnancies.
As shown in the 2016 statistical report according to The American Association of University Women (AAUW)
Representing
the 85th Guild President, the Deputy Prime Minister Hon. Mariam Mugisha said
that the Guild cabinet is working with the Vice Chancellor to end the immoral
act of sexual harassment.
She
informed the audience that the 85th Guild Gender Minister plans to set up a
desk at the Guild offices to handle sexual harassment cases reported by
students. She called upon all the students to say No to sexual harassment and
to always report such cases to the police.
A student participating in a discussion at the Personal Branding Session organised by GMD and facilitated by the Daniel Choudry Sales Institute on 18th April 2019, Senate Conference Room, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda
The
former Guild Representative Councilor (GRC) Africa Hall and Minister for Gender
Ms. Barbra Nankoma pointed out that the 84th cabinet sensitized students on the
sexual harassment policy.She
noted that some students were victims of sexual harassment, but feared to speak
out. She urged such victims to be courageous and speak out in order to protect
their rights and the rights of others.
Ms.
Nankoma requested the Gender Mainstreaming Directorate to allocate the slots
for student peer trainers equally such that all halls of residence, colleges
and academic programs are represented in the training.
According to an investigation by the Guardian, the number of reported sexual harassment incidents in UK universities are on the rise, but are considered to only represent the tip of the iceberg.
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Border check. A Rwandan security officer inspects a vehicle from the Ugandan side at Cyanika border post. PHOTO BY ROBERT MUHEREZA
Uganda is considering petitioning the East African Community (EAC) Secretariat in Arusha, Tanzania, to challenge what it perceives as Rwanda’s economic sabotage in breach of the regional bloc’s guidelines, a minister said yesterday.
Mr Philemon Mateke, the State minister for Regional Cooperation, told this newspaper last evening that he would confer with his senior line minister, Mr Kirunda Kivejinja, on the petition “because interfering with cross-border trade by Rwanda violates the East African Community guidelines yet it (Rwanda) is the chair of the community.”
President Kagame, the immediate past African Union chairman, succeeded President Museveni as EAC chair last month amid rising tension and long-standing counter-accusations, including claims that either government is propping up subversive elements against the other. Rwanda’s ambassador to Uganda, Maj Gen Frank Mugambage, yesterday said he was “engaged” and unable to speak on Kampala’s latest charges.
Kigali at the end of last month abruptly stopped vehicles from Uganda from entering Rwanda through Katuna, citing ongoing construction works at Gatuna side of the frontier. A senior official familiar with the goings-on between the countries, but who asked not to be named due to sensitivity of the matter, said Rwanda’s last-minute notification about closing Gatuna border post was suspicious because road works are planned in advance, and it unlikely informed its sudden decision.
Rwanda’s Foreign minister Richard Sezibera followed with a tweet on March 1 in which he warned Rwandans against crossing to Uganda, claiming Rwandans were being targeted in ongoing arrests, torture and harassment. “This is for their own security. Ugandans in Rwanda or travelling through Rwanda are safe,” he tweeted.
In an interview published last month by The East African, a sister publication to this newspaper, President Kagame to a question, do you think things are getting worse or improving between Uganda and Rwanda? responded: “There is a good foundation from which we should be building a very good relationship…it is very intriguing to find that we have something like this (tension) going on. And it goes on every day, even as we speak.” The matter, he noted, must be resolved “because the alternative is not something that we should even be thinking about, or entertaining; that we can stand in the way of our own progress or the progress of all East Africans.”
After days of quiet, Uganda opened up, with Uganda Media Centre executive director Ofwono Opondo dismissing the allegations by Kigali against Uganda, including of indiscriminate incarceration of its nationals, as baseless.
At the time, Rwanda shared on social media what it said was a list containing particulars of 40 Rwandan citizens taken into custody by the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI), according to Rwanda’s State Foreign Affairs Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe. He claimed that more than 800 other Rwandans had either been deported or refused entry to Uganda since January 2018.
We could not independently confirm the allegation that Kampala has since rubbished. Mr Opondo noted in a tweet that contrary to Mr Nduhungirehe’s assertion, some of the individuals named on the impugned list were duly charged in courts while some held refugee status and cards but regularly criss-crossed to Rwanda, “raising suspicion”.
“Others entered Uganda as [Congolese] nationals seeking asylum and some are Ugandan citizens with passports,” he tweeted, adding: “There’s no witch hunt [of] Rwandese in Uganda. We would like to send a clear message to Rwanda that there’s no one Uganda is harassing from Rwanda or has in custody.”
The Ugandan ambassador to Rwanda, Ms Oliver Wonekha, yesterday wondered why the Rwandan government has advised its nationals not to enter Uganda without official communication. Rwanda has diverted long-haulage vehicles from Uganda to Mirama Hills border post, an alternative route to Kigali which is 110km longer and more expensive on fuel and auxiliary costs.
About 37 trucks cleared by Ugandan officials at Katuna customs point four days ago, by last evening remained holed up at no-man’s land and Mr Emmanuel Bamanya, a Ugandan customs official, said recalling the trucks to ply through Mirama would require “special arrangement” because they, by official record, have exited Uganda. “There is no way I can return to Uganda to pass through Mirama Hills border in Ntungamo District. I will remain here in the no-man’s land until the situation normalises,” one driver said, asking not be named.
Traders trucking perishables have dipped in the red, and costs have piled for the transporters from parking levies to feeding and accommodation. Mr Sam Sserwanga, who chairs the association of clearing agents at Katuna border town, asked Rwanda to allow vehicles already cleared through Katuna prior to Rwanda’s restrictions to proceed to Kigali.
Uganda earns multiple times more in exports to Rwanda, which is its third largest East African trading partner after Kenya and South Sudan, than the forex earning Kigali picks from Kampala. In normal times, 300 to 400 vehicles ply to Rwanda via Katuna/Gatuna border, carrying household items, food, minerals, beverages, construction materials, and other manufactured goods.
Uganda last year raked in $197m from exports to Rwanda, lower than the $254m peak earning three years, but still ten-fold higher than $20m worth of Rwandan exports to Uganda. Mr Milton Rahuka, the officer in-charge customs for western region, yesterday said traffic through Mirama Hills border point was normal from last Friday and that they had cleared 181 cargo trucks to exit to Rwanda.
Katuna Town mayor Nelson Nshangabasheija said he suspected the problems between Uganda and Rwanda were bigger than the official tiff over border access and alleged arrests. “The problem looks more complicated and it requires the urgent attention of the two heads of states,” he said.
The traders’ chairman at Cyanika border town in Kisoro District, Mr Geoffrey Barore Nombe, at the weekend said the border there had been closed for four days yet there was no construction going on the Rwandan side. “All Rwandan nationals that have been crossing to Uganda through Cyanika border have been stopped. As business community, we are worried,” Mr Nombe said.
This border post clears about 70 cargo vehicles crossing to Rwanda during normal business, Mr Rogers Beingana, its head, said. He also said about 20 trucks were stuck there. Mr William Kiwarabye, a truck driver trasnporting fish, said he has been stuck at Cyanika border town for three days and the fish had started decomposing after he was denied entry into Rwanda.
The Prime Minister, Dr Ruhakana Rugunda, last Friday appealed for calm, saying the Uganda-Rwanda problems would soon be resolved, but gave no timeline or specifics of the problems.
What leaders say
Richard Sezibera, Rwanda Foreign Minister: “As explained to many journalists, all Rwanda’s borders are open. Trucks and heavy vehicles are advised to use Kagitumba due to ongoing construction at Gatuna. Rwandans are strongly advised NOT to travel to Uganda due to ongoing arrests, harassment, torture.” Ofwono Opondo, executive director, Uganda Media Centre: There’s no witchhunt for Rwandese in Uganda. There’s also nobody from Rwanda being held by the Ugandan authorities for any reason. We would like to send a clear message to Rwanda that there’s no one Uganda is harassing from Rwanda or has in custody.” Mr Olivier Nduhungirehe, Rwanda’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs/Regional Cooperation: This (Ofwono Opondo) statement is factually and demonstrably incorrect. There are more than 40 #Rwanda-n citizens languishing in cells of Uganda’s Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (#CMI) and more than 800 Rwandans who were deported from or refused entry to #Uganda since January 2018.”
EAC protocal says
Article 104 of the East African Treaty on free movement of persons, labour, services, right of establishment and residence reads that: The Partner States agree to adopt measures to achieve the free movement of persons, labour and services and to ensure the enjoyment of the right of establishment and residence of their citizens within the Community.
Uganda-Rwanda relations
1959-1961: Genocide pushes an estimated 200,000 Rwandans, mainly Tutsis, to flee to Uganda. 1981: Many Tutsi refugees joined National Resistance Army (NRA) guerilla war that brought President Museveni to power in 1986. 1990: Senior NRA officers of Rwandan extraction, including President Kagame, breaks ranks to launch own rebellion and seize power in Kigali. 1997: Uganda and Rwanda deploy troops to topple then Zaire President Mobutu Sese Seko, but fought one another twice. 2000: Tension rises over alleged counter-subversive activities, including the People’s Redemption Army rebel group. 2010: Bilateral and diplomatic relations strain again. 2017: Tension brews afresh, with allegation of infiltration of Uganda’s security and intelligence. 2018: Rwandans arrested over alleged espionage and Refugees minister Hilary Onek threatens that Uganda would deport Rwandan refugees for overstaying their welcome. 2019: Rwanda closes Katuna/Gatuna border to vehicles from Uganda, citing road works. Foreign minister Richard Sezibera in a tweet stops Rwandan citizens from crossing to Uganda, claiming harassment and torture.
The 3 Angels 