Uganda — Ethnic Supplies

Do you know where Gordon Brown is?

July 25, 2010 By idahorner View Comments

Back in May 2010 Gordon Brown’s labour party lost power to a Conservative/Liberal Democratic coalition and since then most of us haven’t seen nor heard from Mr Brown, he appeared to have dropped off the face of the earth!

It turns out that he is alive and kicking and unexpectedly turned up in Kampala the capital of Uganda to attend the 15th African Union Summit

Why? If you read this BBC report and are a cynic you would conclude that he is job hunting! Please do forgive me but it does really sound that way. But who in Africa is Hiring? Can they afford him? Perhaps Libya or South Africa? Libya can certainly afford him but what sort of job would they offer him? Special envoy? Image consultant

One thing for sure Gordon Brown’s (GB) presence will boost Uganda’s confidence following the bombings on 11/7 in kampala that left 76 people dead and some badly injured!

He however made an interesting observation the “world should turn to Africa for future growth of the world economic” . Is this why the Chinese are all over Africa?

What did GB do about ensuring that African was treated as an equal economic partner and not simply as a continent from which to fetch raw materials and give hand outs to?

An observation that I made of GB he has a high sense of that which is fair and as Chancellor he appeared to be fighting Africa’s corner, although I would argue that he could have done more than throwing money at problems in Africa. For this reason he will be amongst friends at African Union summit and some will wish he was still Great Britain’s Prime Minister or at the very least Chancellor of the Exchequer . Mind you they need not worry as the Overseas Budget he left in place has been ring fenced. I do suspect though that GB may feel uneasy mixing with some who have not had the dignity to stand down when the electorate booted them out and are hanging on to power by the gun! This may not appeal to his values!

But what about the ICT industry in Africa? Is it really the key to unleashing African Growth?

The growth of ICT in Africa is very exciting indeed, the talent is certainly out there, it is certainly an area to watch!

So why is GB really in Africa?

Filed Under: African affairs, Latest, Popular post Tagged With: Africa, AID, AL-SHABAB, BBc, conservative party, Gordon Brown, ICT, Ka African Union, Kampala, Liberal democrat, Libya, Uganda

15th African Union Summit Kicks off in Kampala Uganda

July 19, 2010 By idahorner View Comments

in the aftermath of the twin bombings a week ago by Al-Shabab a Somali terrorist group with links to Al-qaida

Naturally all eyes will be on Uganda to see how they pull this off and I can imagine there will be a nervousness amongst in the delegates as to their security. Will they be a seating target just like the poor folk who were watching the world cup finals? This is unlikely!

This makes me sad, as the venues chosen for the Summit as some of the best East Africa has to offer right on the shores of Lake Victoria, and people should be able to enjoy this, but chances are security will be so tight and everyone will be so guarded and unable to relax. I could be wrong, who knows?

Lake Victoria- Uganda photo by Ron Miller

The theme for this year is “Maternal, Infant and Child Health and Development in Africa.” Development in Africa is an apt choice for a theme for an AU Summit as without it many women will continue to die in child birth and levels of child mortality will continue to rise.

Issues for Development in Africa

In dealing with development in any part of the world I think it is key to identify key areas that must be addressed and I would include the following areas

access to decent health care
education
infrastructure
skilled labour
working capital
employment/job creation
access to markets
food security
good governance
good policies
security
enterprise

The question then arises which amongst that list are in Africa’s gift/power to resolve? My answer is frankly all of them!

Africa is not a poor continent by any stretch of imagination and a degree of commitment and joint working would resolve some of those issues, indeed some of the African countries are ready doing well in those areas and the question remains as to why the rest cannot follow.

Development is a complex issue but not an impossible one and something such as effective Income Tax Collection could make a big difference as it would enable the government to provide social services assuming that they had the commitment to do so. The development issues mentioned above are interlinked and in order to improve life for the day day folk on the ground they all must be addressed.

A few question as far as the AU is concerned

does the AU have the clout to effect development in Africa in any meaningful way?
Why have they failed to work together on issues that would improve security and neighbour relations within Africa?
Would other African countries back Uganda and Burundi in the peace keeping mission in Somalia following the bombings in Uganda last Sunday and why were not doing so already?

Will the AU like the G8/G20 become a talking shop? I suppose it is safe to say only time will tell!

Have you got a view on the AU or issues of development? Please share it

Filed Under: Development Policy Tagged With: African Union, AL-SHABAB, DEVELOPMENT, East africa, G20, G8, IDA HORNER, LAEK VICTORIA, Somalia, Uganda

City bombings in Uganda- some afterthoughts Part 2

July 18, 2010 By idahorner View Comments

In the last thread I talked about the bombings of Kampala Uganda by Al-Shabab, a Somali militia group. I also expressed my fears/concerns in as far as the economic development of Uganda is concerned.

My fears or concerns stem from a reference point dated 25 years ago. The country was finally rid of Idi Amin and such like and had hailed in Yoweri Museveni. It was a terrible place to be and certainly folk would not have been out watching football in such big numbers. I can imagine too Uganda was a no go area to the outsiders. For those of us that lived in the country at the time everything was scarce and I mean everything. There was no high street to speak of and certainly Al-Shabab, would not have wanted to be in the Uganda of 1986.

The immediate change back then as I recall, we were free to go anywhere without the fear of being stopped or “taken away” for no apparent reason. This has remained the case as far as I am aware and I noticed that roadblocks on the Ugandan Roads had disappeared too.

I think it is safe to say generally people felt relaxed and the country did a lot to encourage investors to go there and invest and as such this improved life for most folk. My fear therefore is if the current government re- introduces some of the old practices from the old regimes, as a reaction to Al-Shabab or in effort to stamp them out, the investors might live as well as the skilled Ugandan citizens, taking their skills and capital with them.

I sincerely hope I am over reacting here but only time will tell.

For now Kampala Uganda is getting ready to welcome all manner of people including African heads of state for the 15 African Union Summit. I have already asked the question, WHAT IS THE POINT OF THE AFRICAN UNION? and as I understand it security is at the top of their agenda.

In the next thread I will look at one of the issues that is being discussed at the AU. In the meantime, if you have a view, please share it!

Filed Under: Politics Tagged With: African Union, AL-SHABAB, AU, Idi Amin, Kampala, Somalia, Uganda