Professor Samuel Sejjaaka, the chairman Board of Directors Nation Media Group (NGM), the publishers of Daily monitor newspaper revealed that the search for the company’s Managing Director has kicked off after Tony Glencross tendered in his early retirement prayer and it was allowed.

In the Statement, Sejjaaka stated that effective from 31^st December, 2023, Glencross will be officially retiring and as per now, the board is undertaking a competitive recruitment process to identify a suitable replacement.

South African born Glencross joined Monitor Publication in 2015 and has spearheaded its transformation from print media company to a multimedia company.

Highly placed sources at Nation Media told theGrapevine that politics and the bad economy forced Glenscross, a former Commercial Officer at Vission Group, to retire. A source said that the company has failed to recover from the economic shock that many companies are currently suffering from as a result of the Covid-19 long lockdowns and the Russia-Ukraine war.

The monitor paper circulation has since declined because the pockets of most readers are yawning due to the bad economy.

There is also the issue of bad politics. Insiders allege that Glencross has been working under pressure especially from top government officials who are always attacking the company for working against the government.

On several occasions, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni declared Monitor a ‘bad paper’ to the extent of suing the publication over defamation.

In Monitor’s legal battle with Museveni, Justice Musa Ssekaana of the Civil Division of the High Court ordered them to pay Shs300m as damages to the President.

Museveni always alleges that Monitor publication is working for bad foreign agents.

A source at Monitor further revealed that the newspaper’s private advertisement has dropped yet government is also taking long to pay for their adverts.

Glencross’ early retirement comes days after New Vision Managing Director Don Wanyama warned the company’s current and prospective shareholders of an impending loss for the year 2022/2023.

Wanyama based his announcement on the “preliminary assessment” of the company’s performance by the Board of Directors, which is expected to return a loss for the year.

He explained that the company’s bad performance is as a result of the recent price hikes of inputs like; newsprint and other raw material inputs resulting from global supply chain disruptions.

He added that the company’s revenues are dominated by printing which accounts for almost half, followed by broadcasting (radio and television) outlets, commercial printing and others.

“The main contributor to this performance is the challenging business environment due to slow business recovery from the COVID-19 impact on newspaper sales and advertising revenue spent across the different platforms,”  Wanyama stated.

Highly placed sources at both Monitor and New Vision intimated to theGrapevine that plans are underway to cut on the number of staff and costs of operations.

By Sengooba Alirabaki

The World Bank’ recent decision to pause lending to Uganda because of the recently passed Anti-homosexuality Act exhibits the continued impact of neo-colonialism on the economic growth of countries that are dependent on international financing and foreign aid.

The basis of the World Bank decision was that the Uganda Anti-homosexuality Act fundamentally contradicted the World Bank Group’s values. There was also pressure exerted on the World Bank from several groups and countries urging “specific, concrete and timely actions” including 170 civil groups, urging suspension of future lending.   In June 2023, countries imposed travel restrictions on Ugandan officials in response to the Uganda anti-guy legislation.

Prior to passing this law, President Museveni had explained the history and culture of Ugandans as a huge influence in the decision making on whether to pass this bill into law. He explained that the basis of the decision making on legislative issues that fundamentally impact the moral turpitude of Uganda was solely based on internal evaluation of the relevance of the law.

Former President of Ghana the late Kwame Nkrumah observed that the practice of neo-colonialism “means power without responsibility and for those who suffer from it, it means exploitation without redress”. Neo-colonialism is accordingly more dangerous than colonialism. Whereas colonialism required a physical occupation of territory, in neo-colonialism, there is no physical presence in the neo-colonial state. It is invisible and secretive.

Therefore when Uganda, an independent state arrives at a decision to enact a law that contradicts the way of life of the West, the World Bank has the liberty to make a decision to stop supporting its developments and investments in cahoots with international capital. To Neo-colonialism it is insignificant that the legislation respects the general cultural values, and moral turpitude of Ugandans.

President Museveni has continued to reject international criticism of the legislation, and has defended the law as necessary to stop the LGBTQ community from trying to degrade the moral turpitude of Ugandans. This however has had no tangible effect on those who hold the strings of International capital. To neo-colonialism, the views of a Head of State of an independent nation has no consequence as long as it is not the position agreeable to International capital entities. Africa cannot therefore make a political or legislative decision without the major influence of international capital in the decision making process of the different organs of government, whether legislative or executive.

Neo-colonialism will not allow Africa to form market blocks with Banking and monetary systems which can compete globally. Consequently Africa will continue to be an easy catch for neo-colonialism whose hidden hand will continue to keep the continent divided into several small states which are unable to run their own affairs from a sound economic base capable of competing globally.

The prices of the raw materials, as well as the finished goods of Africa are determined by the neo-colonial system. The African economics themselves are not complimentary. They produce what they do not consume, and consume what they do not produce. The export-import system itself is done through a banking system, shipping and insurance network, controlled by neo-colonialism.

The value of the currency of African countries being dependent on the export value of its raw materials is eternally lower compared to those of the former colonial powers. It is constantly being devalued making it difficult for African countries to have the same purchasing power as the neo-colonial powers. Yet African countries must borrow and pay back through the neo-colonial currency with interests and penalties imposed by the international monetary systems domiciled and controlled from the neo-colonial capitals.

The central Banks which control the fiscal policies of African states supervise Commercial Banks on the basis of best monetary criteria-the criteria itself determined by the neo-colonial powers.

Africa is the largest recipient of foreign aid, but this aid is given through a neo-colonialism system which neither promotes democracy nor economic development. Instead, as Moyo opined in Moyo, D. (2009). Dead aid: “aid has helped to make the poor poorer, and growth slower. Millions in Africa are poorer today because of aid; misery and poverty have not ended but have increased. Aid has been and continues to be an unmitigated political, economic, and humanitarian disaster.”

Neo-colonialism has ensured that the gamut of foreign aid put Africa under a debt servicing crisis-the debt trap. Africa is poor and its poverty undermines political autonomy to choose and decide on economic models, development programs and independent political and legislative structures.

African aid packages have been ostensibly justified as fostering economic growth and political transformations. Contrary to such benevolent expectations, Africa has failed to achieve economic development and democracy. Rather poverty, political instability, and structural aid-dependence remains its defining hallmark.

International bilateral and multilateral aid is for achieving vested interests rather than genuine motivation for Africa’s progress. Without an African common market with a banking system able to compete globally, Africa is clenching chains around its bosom, believing that it is embracing freedom. Foreign aid for Africa is an instrument of imperialism and domination.

Dr. Sam Mayanja

Minister of State for Lands

smayanja@kaa.co.ug

www.kaa.co.ug

The newly elected interim president of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) in Besigye’s Katonga camp who also doubles as the Kampala city Lord Mayor Ssalongo Erias Lukwago has confirmed that he is going to use the six month period given to him to intensify his battle for change which includes putting an end to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s long rule.

Lukwago was declared interim president of FDC in the highly contested Extra-Ordinary Delegates Conference summoned by the party national chairperson Wasswa Birigwa.

In the meeting held at Dr. Kizza Besigye’s Katonga road offices,  Patrick Amuriat Oboi the previous president was suspended and he was replaced with Lukwago.

A resolution was also passed that Amuriat be subjected to investigation on allegation of receiving billions of shillings from President Museveni’s government, funds he used to facilitate his 2021 campaigns.

Amuriat will be investigated together with the party Secretary General Nathan Nandala Mafabi and party treasurer Geoffrey Ekanya on the same allegation.

However, it should be clear that early this year, FDC party elders committee chaired by Dr. Frank Nabwiso exonerated the accused persons in their report which was trashed by Dr. Besigye and his colleagues.

In his statement, Lukwago told journalists at Katonga immediately after being declared interim FDC leader that he is going to make sure that he builds links with other political forces of change to make sure that Museveni’s government is overthrown before 2026.

Highly placed sources in Dr. Besigye’s camp told theGrapevine that Besigye and his team are anxiously waiting for National Unity Platform (NUP) president Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu alias Bobi Wine’s decision on the offer they delivered to him to change his political strategy in the fight against Museveni.

Sources said that Besigye’s team proposed to Bobi Wine that they should join hands and restore defiance campaigns including demonstrations against what they called President Museveni’s bad leadership especially on failing to solve the problem of the bad economy.

Sources claim that in one of the meetings, Besigye assured Bobi Wine that the political ground is currently very fertile because most Ugandans have already started feeling government’s failure to solve their economic problems in their pockets and many are ready for protests.

Sources added that Besigye was supposed to meet Bobi Wine immediately after concluding his countrywide political tour but the meeting did not take place because Bobi Wine quickly traveled to Canada to meet his supporters in the diaspora and hold music shows.

Sources said that after Canada, Bobi Wine is expected to cross to the United States of America and conclude his international political tour in South Africa.

In all these places, he will make political consultations and music shows.

A ticket to attend his music show is between $300-$500 dollars and a table is between $1500 and $2000 dollars.

Bobi Wine’s political assistant and also the Lubaga Division NUP youth leader explained to theGrapevine that the reason why his boss traveled abroad is because he wants to consult them on how to restructure the political struggle against Museveni.

“Our Principal respects all Ugandans. Those here and abroad and he is very sure that with them, political change is possible here. Those people in the diaspora play a big role especially financially and we saw this in the 2021 presidential campaigns. The Principal values their views,” Katongole said.

Source added that Bobi Wine travelled with his wife Barbra Itungo Kyagulanyi, party spokesperson and also Nakawa West legislator Joel Ssenyonyi, Secretary General Lewis Rubongoya among others.

He is expected to meet his international funders and political strategists. Sources further explained that Bobi Wine is expected to base on the advice he will get from his consultations abroad to answer Besigye’s proposal on whether to join his defiance or not.

Wakiso district woman Member of Parliament Betty Naluyima revealed that once Bobi Wine returns back into the country, the party will release guidelines on the second phase of their tours.

“The concluded countrywide tour was very successful because we woke up our people and now they know what to do. Police cannot guide us on what to do because it is clear that we have to just inform them about our political programs,” Naluyima said.

She further revealed that they have started compiling a list of people holding top government offices including those running authorities, agencies and in security to prove the statements Bobi Wine made while in Luwero district that president Museveni’s government promotes and practices tribalism and Nepotism.

However, sources in Besigye’s camp told theGrapevine that they are ready to join Bobi Wine in his next phase of political campaign especially on defying police’s orders stopping Bobi Wine’s countrywide political tour.

Senior presidential advisor on media Joseph Tamale Mirundi recently warned security that Bobi Wine, Lukwago and Besigye’s political coalition is going to be very deadly this time.

He explained that it was not a mistake for Besigye to support Lukwago in his quest to become FDC’s interim leader.

He added that he wants to test him to examine whether he has learnt the politics of defiance which he has been teaching him.

He added that because Lukwago wants to prove to his mentor and the entire opposition is determined to lead the fight against Museveni, he is going to be very determined once Bobi Wine accepts to join him, and Kampala will be on fire.

“Very soon you’re going to hear that Lukwago and Bobi Wine are going to talk to business people in Kisekka market to establish their problems since he is Kampala Lord Mayor and if police stops them, they will use force to get there,” Mirundi said.

During his tour in Luwero, Bobi Wine mobilized his supporters to use whatever means possible to fight Museveni and overthrow his government.

Fred Enanga the police spokesperson claims that Bobi Wine and his NUP supporters have been provoking them in their recent countrywide tours because they wanted police to attack them so that they can cause commotion and get news headlines.

He revealed that police leadership ordered policemen to supervise Bobi Wine’s countrywide political tours but cautioned them to make sure that they don’t fall into Bobi Wine’s trap once provoked.

By Sengooba Alirabaki