REFLECTIONS ON ANDREW MWENDA’S ARTICLE

…18th century English Botanist, Joseph Banks, imported the bread-fruit tree from Haiti to the West Indies,to create cheap food for the plantation workers..

The French transplanted the Libuyu ‘iron wood’ from Congo and Gabon( where it is called Azobe) to French overseas departements, to ensure reliable supply of hard timber for the French railway….The breadfruit of Haiti and the Libuyu/Azobe tree would make Uganda’s Kalangala East Africa’s food basket source of hard timber….alas, the Uganda ….Govt chose cooking oil to enrich foreigners instead……!!

( Plaque in one Patriot’s office)

Andrew Mwenda’s piece in The New Vision Monday February 25 raises one question that we all know too well but lack the courage to ask. What is the role of the current generation of African leaders? The anti-colonial and post-independence generations had their task clearly cut for them: colonialism was alive, apartheid was crimson red, globally it was an era of limits both ideologically( Capitalsim versus Communism), and religiously. Today, this is an era of Options( political, religious, ideological), including non-state actors ( NGOs) on one side and terrorists on the other. All these are now are stakeholders and any Pestle analysis cannot afford to ignore them. Nothing is clear-cut as it was then. All is gray, subtle but more brutal than then, simply smokescreened in ‘governance, democracy, human rights…et al, spiced by the modern opium of premiership, sports betting, supermarket shopping, etc

Colonialism of course has never died. It only changed robes and names to suit the times:
-Missionaries are now in form of the new ‘humanitarian’ and ‘advocacy’ charities
-IBEA Co in the case of England is now in form of the private sector multinationals which ancient direct imperial forces like CDC only replace Colonial with ‘Commonwealth, visible here in Uganda in the infamous Umeme!!

The ancient East-West rivalries that led to the jihads and crusades of yore, are now played here in Africa in the visible Book Haram, al-Qaeda et al, while Africans become the grass.

In the face of this, what is the role of the current elite? It is all summed up in Sembene Ousmane’s classic, Les Bouts de Bois de Dieu( God’s Bits of Wood): El Hadji Mabigue collaborates with the colonialists to defeat the workers’ struggle. He personifies Africa’s current elite and intelligentsia in the wider sense. Fa Keita, the old sage, only advises: since we are no longer strong as we used to be, we can only keep quiet. In-between, Penda, Alioune struggle to find their level ( today’s Twitter generation), while Ramatoulaye is seen in Ingrid Turinawe, Almadi and others. and the God’s Bits of Wood are the Nodding Disease victims, the 7 UPE pupils who never go beyond Standard 7, the pot-belly Karimojong on Kampala Rd….et al.

What it will take is simple:
The elite must rethink the hankering after the modern-day trinkets, tame its primitive physiological appetite and take lessons from Gandhi. He could have remained a barrister in England, and lead a comfortable life for himself and his descendants. Nelson Mandela was tempted with trinkets countless times. Dedan Kimathi the same. All led struggles in their prime years. What is the role of the current generation? Gen. Sejusa raises the same question.

Colonialism wont stop simply because we write against it. The times have changed. Tactics and strategies must change….are we up to the task? Do we learn anything from Joseph Banks, Gandhi, Mandela, France’s Colbert, German’s Adenauer? Are ready to see these trinkets for what they are reject them? Do we have the guts to tame our primitive physiological appetites???????????

Sandra Birungi

Condolences to President Museveni, Gen. Salim Saleh & Brigadier Muhoozi

Your Excellency President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, The entire Family of Mzee Amosi Kaguta, Fellow mourners,

The passing on of Mzee Amosi Kaguta is a sad moment not only for the Kaguta Family but to the whole Country which has a lot to celebrate in his good parenthood, enduring character and nationalism. Mzee Amosi Kaguta and his contemporaries constitute a generation of Ugandans who sowed the political, religious and economic seeds upon which modern day Uganda was founded. By freely converting to Christianity in 1944 and sending his children to embrace formal education; he set his family, including our President, on a firm foundation to influence his Community and Country.
Not many parents have the opportunity to witness the achievements of their children as Mzee Kaguta has; by watching the performance of his children including H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, Gen.Caleb Akandwanaho, Dr.Violet Kajubiri and others.
This Nation and the World will always be grateful to him, for properly parenting his family which has contributed positively to Humanity. As a nation, we have lost an elder who has been an embodiment of knowledge and guidance in various issues; and somebody who contributed positively to the transformation of this Country, especially through his children.

At this very sad moment, let us thank the Almighty God for the gift of life that he gave to Mzee Amosi Kaguta and for all the accomplishments achieved in the 96 years of his earthly life.

On behalf of my family, Office and on my own behalf, I convey our sincere condolences to you, Your Excellency President Museveni, and through you to the Kaguta family and Basiita clan to which the late Mzee Amos Kaguta belonged.

May the soul of the late rest in eternal peace.

For God and my Country

Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi
Vice President

OVP/1.6
22nd February, 2013
—————————————————————————-
We would like to send our condolences to UAH members: Gen. Salim Saleh (for losing his father) and Brigadier Muhoozi (for losing his grandfather). May Mzee Amos Kaguta RIP. Tuliwamu namwe mukunyorwa mukiisera kiino banaffe.
—

Abbey Kibirige Semuwemba

Stalk my blog at: http://semuwemba.com/

Follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/semuwemba

Join me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/abbey.k.semuwemba
‘”The three separate branches of government were developed as a check and balance for one another. It is within the court’s duty to ensure that power is never condense[d] into a single branch of government.” – Judge Anna Diggs Taylor

PLEASE SPARE SOME TIME FOR THIS SURVEY. THANK YOU!

Friends,
Please if you have got time, i would appreciate it if you visit the link below and answer some questions regarding this important survey.The research that is being carried out aims to better understand the socioeconomic impact of the activities (social, political, financial, cultural, intellectual) of Ugandans living in the UK, on the development of Uganda. This research has been commissioned by Comic Relief, a UK based Charity, which strives to create a just world that is free of poverty.

Comic Relief is working in partnership with the UK Department for International Development (DfID) on a co-funded African diaspora engagement programme called the ‘Common Ground Initiative’. This initiative is a unique opportunity for Comic Relief to, not only support the international development work of African’s living in the diaspora, but also to better understand how the diaspora can be better supported to undertake work that has socio-economic impact in their countries of origin.

It is envisaged that the findings from this study will inform policy debates both in the UK and Uganda to support diaspora engagement and investment.

To enable us to build a picture of the activities of the Ugandan diaspora, the researchers have launched an online survey accessible via the link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/GDZPNJX.

I would be grateful if you could kindly pass on the link to the survey to other Ugandan friends and colleagues living in the UK, so that we can get the widest possible reach. It would be great to have all members of the Ugandans at Heart Forum, participating. For it has been shown that ‘together, we can’.

The study as well seeks to understand the perception of Uganda, among the second and later generation diaspora. All the views and experiences are crucial to enable us to build up an accurate picture of the current level of engagement and the challenges that one faces in undertaking any work in Uganda.

Again, please this is the link to access the survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/GDZPNJX.

Thank you very much

Abbey.K.Semuwemba

Uhuru Kenyata will win in round one by simply wining huge in Central and Rift valley. So the ICC wants to indict UK and Mr Muthaura on tainted evidence.

Folks:

The five bench High Court has dismissed the kiwani case against UhuRuto . The Five bench court ruled :”The presumption of innocence serves not only to protect the rights of the accused but to maintain public confidence in courts,”.

It added “We cannot exercise the rights of citizens to choose leaders of their choice,” the judges said”. Well said. It was unnecessary burden on the 5 justices.
Well you never know but the judges acquitted themselves well. Justice Nyamweya’s father was minister in the Kenyatta regime. I am not saying that swayed her reasoning but these are establishment figures. Funny thing I knew two of the judges, then law students at the Kenya school of law where I occasionally hang out visiting a Ugandan who taught there.

The Kenyan judiciary has now attracted competent lawyers many of whom from private practice. For example Mrs. Murgor wife of lawyer Murgor the former DPP and daughter of the late AG Justice Muli is now a judge of the court of appeal. Other prominent lawyers on court of apppeal include Professor Otieno Odyek-classmate of current AG at Nairobi law school where they finished, 2, 1 in that order.

Then the brainy Mr. Kathurima Inoti who is the immediate former chairperson of the Kenya law reform commission, and before that a senior partner at Kamau Kuria and Kiraitu Murungi advocates.

Actually the Court of appeal has more brain power than the Supreme Court. Right now they are embroiled in a fight with the CJ whom they accuse of trying to influence the election of the President of the Court of appeal from among the judges. Notice that senior lawyers and former chairperson of LSK were appointed to the Court of appeal and not High Court.

Other notables on the High Court include Justice Maureen Odero, daughter of the late Mr. Tom Mboya, and Justice Kihara Kariuki-now of Court of appeal-nephew of the late powerful minister Mbiyu Koinange.

Ms Racychele Omamo daughter of the late Minister Odongo Omamo is among the 5 women lawyers shortlisted for the post of Deputy CJ to replace Ms. Nancy Barasa

I bring these up to show you that it is mostly the children of the elite eating. That is path dependency for you.
The Kenyan court knew that it was not its territory. They did not want to take blame let alone cause any tensions. I bet you the security was tight.
BTW, they also know that the evidence against UK is tainted. Did you read what the president of the ICC said? That the Kenyan cases are proving hard to prosecute. Why? He did not say but here is why. The key witness the ICC relied on to indict UK and Muthaura turned out to have lied. You know better. If your KEY witness lies the noble thing to do is to withdraw charges. Is that not the standard?
A prosecutor cannot and should not use tainted evidence or evidence she or he knows to be tainted. Have you heard of the project run out of Cardoso law school in NYC by Barry Scheck one of OJ’s Simpson’s lawyers? It is dedicated towards fighting tainted evidence. Mark you EVEN DNA can be tainted to show or convict when in many cases there was no match. If you doubt my claim visit any federal prison in America to see who many Blacks are in jail on trumped charges. You know what I am talking about to be true.
How many black folks are rotting in USA jails due to tainted evidence? You know that many. Some are on death row like Mumia because of the same.
To refresh your memory the witness in question told the ICC that he attended the meeting where UK(Uhuru Kenyata) and Mr. Muthauraa met Mungiki supporters at a Nairobi Hotel. The ICC believed him and went on to base their indictment on his lies. Now they have discovered it and no longer wish to present that witness. In law when the key evidence is tainted, the case generally collapses.

So the ICC wants to indict UK and Mr Muthaura on tainted evidence. On LIES? Yes LIES?
For me who is against the ICC, I welcome such self-inflicted wounds. Sooner or later African peoples will wake up and exercise their sovereignty and undo those ICC agreements. The ICC is a CREATION of the former Imperial powers to continue dominating African peoples. That may be acceptable to you but not me. Hell No.

QN: do you think the EU and western warnings are achieving their intended purpose of scaring the Wanjikus against Jubilee’s UhuRUto?
From what I have heard and been told, the warnings have managed to do the exact opposite? Emboldened the Wanjikus to give the wabeberu the finger. They are ready to vote and be damned. Ndiyo.
Hon Karua and MM wanted UhuRuto out for obvious reasons. I liked Mr Muite’s take on the whole ICC thing. He basically called out the ICC for selective persecution.

Let us be honest, the West and puppets of the West are scared to hell that UK will win. That is their problem. Let Wanjiku do her part and hopefully the West can respect, I repeat respect the verdict by the Wanjikus. Is that asking too much?

Civil societies have tried to abuse the court process. They have lost and will lose big on March 4.
Bear in mind that they duped wabeberu to give them more money. Yes civil society in Africa is involved in what Cameroonian scholar Mbembe calls extraversion. Accountability is to wabeberu and not the Wanjikus.

There are no more pretences from President Kibaki. He has gone to Othaya twice to present Mr. Mugambi to the voters. Yesterday he actually endorsed him at Othaya Boys School where Wambui was locked dout of the gates. She was dressed in valentine colors but there was no love. She left with her convoy. I think Wambui erred in taking on the first family so directly with the likes of Shebesh.
It is true that RAO/Cord may be leading in more states, but think again. Is it not true that the Republican loser carried more states than the democratic winner in the USA? In Kenya some of those provinces are the equivalent of Idaho, Wyoming, South Dakota, etc.

What is the equivalent of California, Florida or Texas in Kenya? What I am demonstrating is that Jubilee will win handily even though RAO may win more provinces. I invite readers to ponder this. How many parliamentary seats are in Meru and Embu combined? Then figure out how many seats they are in Coast and North Eastern.

I believe Jubilee will carry Nairobi –the equivalent of Ohio-contrary to what those polls show. So I am putting it to you that Jubilee will win 50 plus one in round one by win overwhelmingly in Rift valley, Central and upper Eastern in Meru and Embu. They will top up with more than 25 percent of the votes in Kisii, North Eastern and Coast.

Actually RAO/Cord has no equivalent of Central or Rift valley where Jubilee will win big and I mean huge. CORD will carry Nyanza but not with huge margins as Jubilee will do in Central and Rift valley. Cord could also carry Eastern but barely.

And let us suppose that CORD wins 60 percent of the vote in Coast and 60 percent in north Eastern. It will still be short of anything close to Jubilee. Ok, think about it, what is larger in numbers: 80 percent of 200, 000 or 60 percent of 500, 000? I bring this example to caution people about percentages?

BTW, I am not arguing for the sake of it. A political commentator by the name of Mutahi Ngunyi has courted controversy with his thesis of the “tyranny of numbers”.

So here is the truth. UK will win in round one by simply wining huge in Central and Rift valley. He will top up with votes in Nairobi, Upper Eastern, Coast and North Eastern. The province Jubilee will be shut out is Western. And my friend who is there told me Amani is doing much better than is being given credit for.

QN: why or what makes some people think that the Luhyas are the only group in Kenya to defy tribal voting? Hint: AFC vs Gor Mahia games are hotly contested to the point where violence is the norm and not the exception. There are very few Luhya players who play for Gor Mahia and vice Versa. Football is divided but not politics. Listen, no great Luhya player opts for Gor Mahia over Ingwe; similarly, no great Luo player opts for Ingwe over Gor Biro. So what makes you think otherwise when it comes to politics?

On March 4, Amani will win most of the votes in Kakamega and Bungoma and substantial votes in Busia. You and others are hoping that the Luhyas will defy tribal voting. Wapi.
Let me share with you a story from a Kenyan Bukusu friend who left to go and run for a seat in Bungoma. He wanted to be Governor. I remember telling him that it is not possible for someone to live that long in the West and go home and expect to win. He thought otherwise.

He wrote me an email yesterday that things are not going well for CORD in Bungoma. I am sure you may have heard that the CORD/ODM candidate for Governor threatened to quit claiming that CORD/ODM was not helping him out.

According to my friend who is associated with the Wetangula Ford Kenya, Bungoma is a hard sale for CORD because it is pro Wamalwa/AMANI. Bottom line AMANI is doing much better than is being reported or captured in those so called polls.

So the chap is there campaigning to become an MP fully aware that he has a job waiting for him back here. He told me he took a 6 month leave.

I am actually confident that Jubilee will win 50 plus one on the first ballot. There is rebellion in Kitui where Mrs Ngilu is now poised to do well.

Jubilee is mobilizing its members to turn up in large numbers and end the election in round one proper for the same reason you allude too. Mrs. Karua has not votes to deliver.

Next week Jubilee will go to Luo Nyanza proper, not to win votes but to show that it is ready for the entire country.

Western warning and interference was a God send to Jubilee. They made a blunder to assume that Wanjikus will or still revere wabeberu. Kenya is not like Mali or for that matter any Francophone country.

So let the campaigns go on. The court has spoken clearly, although these behind the groups trying to abuse the court process will pour in more money to try and appeal.

To those of you in Africa if you want to eat money, play wabeberu kabisa. Be with them. Generally they are dupable.

WBK

Vatican co-habitation not a problem! Whoever will be elected will be elected will receive massive world support!

After a very warmly audience with the clergy of the Pope’s Diocese of Rome who madly cheered him, Pope Benedict XVI will join all Vatican officials in the Lent retreat for their spiritual exercices which will last half a week. then he will fly to his summer residence at Castel Gandolfo where he will stay until the end of the conclave which will meet to elect his successor.

This will also give a chance to the Vatican administration to clean up the pontifical appartments and get them ready for the new Pope who is expected to be elected by Palm Sunday (23.03.2013). The conclave is indeed likely to last some days. French Cardinal Barbarin, the Primate of Lyon, alluded to this likelihood when he pointed out on TV that there are only 118 electors to determine the best person among the many excellent candidates who are springing out. Okay, let’s wait and see the final outcome of this very tight race!

Of course after the new Pope has been elected Benedict XVI will settle within the Vatican City State in the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery and lead there a quasi-monastic life of prayer and recollection. He will only get in contact with his successor just on request. His will be a life strongly axed on spiritual enrichment and good moral example. As a tired old man, he won’t be a burden to the new Pope.

All cardinals from all over the world are expected soon in Rome. They will all reside in the large spacious St Martha’s Residence, built by Pope John Paul II to specially cater for conclave matters. It is from there that the voting cardinals will be driven in special service buses to the Sixtine Chapel for the two voting sessions one in the morning and another in the afternoon. Each session will have two polls, in all four polls per day until a winner emerges with two-thirds of the vote plus one extra vote. If voting goes on for days and days without producing a winner, then the cardinals will just simply surface a winner with a mere simple majority. The exercice will be extra secretive. The non voting cardinals won’t know anything going on in the conclave. They will just discover the name of the winner when it will be announced to the crowds assembled in St Peter’s Square.

More about the possible successors. A French newspapers, France Ouest, has reported that there is now a lot of clamour for an African Pope! This is no longer a surprise in opinion since even Cardinal Ratzinger before he became Pope had hinted on this possibility! And at present the African Church is considered the real first power, within Catholicism, in dynamism, vocations, and heroism in trying to exist as a real force within a multitude of difficulties! To thank the courageous African clergy, the humble faithful and the untiring missionaries, it is felt an election of a black Pope will be commendable! And that this warmth was now needed in other regions where the Church appears weak.

Now the curent lineup of the papabili stands as follows:

1- Europe :
Cardinal Angelo Scola (71) of Milan (Italy), a very intelligent theologian, able administrator, proponent of the Christian-
Islamic dialogue, and a very close friend of Pope Benedict XVI, and probably the Pope’s bet.

2- The Americas
a- Cardinal Marc Quellet. (69) of Canada, the actual President of the Congregation for Bishops. Efficient and polyglot.

b- Honduras’s Cardinal Oscar Rodrigues Maradiaga ( 70 ), President of the charitable Caritas Internationalis. He has been bishop for 36 years. Very popular in Latin America because of his effort for social justice, human rights, etc

3- Asia:

Philippine Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle (55), brilliant, dynamic and popular with the youth and a media expert. Extremely very popular all over Asia.

4- Africa:

a- Cardinal Turkson (69), a Ghanaian head of the justice and Peace Commision at the Vatican. He is the most popularly mentioned prelate in the press. He’s close to Benedict XVI’s theological thinking. he is a very fluent literate polyglot.
And he is in favour of reforming the global financial world in order to benefit every individual being. And he is admired
for efficiency and very warmly ways.

b- Nigerian John Olurunfemi Onaiyekan ( 69), a very brilliant churchman, polyglot, and champion of Nigeria’s effort to
promote co-operation between Christians and Moslems. An academic legend whose seminary academic records still
stand unbeaten, almost 40 years after he left seminary!!!. He has worked on many commissions in the Vatican. And he
was once head of the famous All Africa and Malagasy Episcopal conference.

c- Nigerian Cardinal Francis Arinze (80) who can be elected in spite of age. He has a lot of experience in Church matters
and he’s known to be a person who is very frank and open. And he has the quality of proposing the right people for a
given responsibility. He’s in addition loved for his very good humour.

There are many other African cardinals who have once been cited. Most are prelates elevated by Pope Benedict XVI who always loved promoting to key positions those African clerics who were wonderful in their countries.One of these is DRC’s Cardinal Laurent Pasinya Monsengwo (74), a quasi genius prelate very popularly loved all over Congo and in many parts of Africa, and very popular too in Italy and Belgium!

Whoever will be elected will be elected will receive massive world support!

Dr G.H. Kkolokolo ( Paris / France)

AN ARREST WARRANT AGAINIST THE POPE WAS TO BE ISSUED FEB THE 15TH

Brussels:

The historically unprecedented resignation of Joseph Ratzinger as Pope this week was compelled by an upcoming action by a European government to issue an arrest warrant against Ratzinger and a public lien against Vatican property and assets by Easter.

The ITCCS Central Office in Brussels is compelled by Pope Benedict’s sudden abdication to disclose the following details:

1. On Friday, February 1, 2013, on the basis of evidence supplied by our affiliated Common Law Court of Justice (itccs.org), our Office concluded an agreement with representatives of a European nation and its courts to secure an arrest warrant against Joseph Ratzinger, aka Pope Benedict, for crimes against humanity and ordering a criminal conspiracy.

2. This arrest warrant was to be delivered to the office of the “Holy See” in Rome on Friday, February 15, 2013. It allowed the nation in question to detain Ratzinger as a suspect in a crime if he entered its sovereign territory.

3. A diplomatic note was issued by the said nation’s government to the Vatican’s Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, on Monday, February 4, 2013, informing Bertone of the impending arrest warrant and inviting his office to comply. No reply to this note was received from Cardinal Bertone or his office; but six days later, Pope Benedict resigned.

4. The agreement between our Tribunal and the said nation included a second provision to issue a commercial lien through that nation’s courts against the property and wealth of the Roman Catholic church commencing on Easter Sunday, March 31, 2013. This lien was to be accompanied by a public and global “Easter Reclamation Campaign” whereby Catholic church property was to be occupied and claimed by citizens as public assets forfeited under international law and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.

5. It is the decision of our Tribunal and the said nation’s government to proceed with the arrest of Joseph Ratzinger upon his vacating the office of the Roman Pontiff on a charge of crimes against humanity and criminal conspiracy.

6. It is our further decision to proceed as well with the indictment and arrest of Joseph Ratzinger’s successor as Pope on the same charges; and to enforce the commercial lien and “Easter Reclamation Campaign” against the Roman Catholic church, as planned.

In closing, our Tribunal acknowledges that Pope Benedict’s complicity in criminal activities of the Vatican Bank (IOR) was compelling his eventual dismissal by the highest officials of the Vatican. But according to our sources, Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone forced Joseph Ratzinger’s resignation immediately, and in direct response to the diplomatic note concerning the arrest warrant that was issued to him by the said nation’s government on February 4, 2013.

We call upon all citizens and governments to assist our efforts to legally and directly disestablish the Vatican, Inc. and arrest its chief officers and clergy who are complicit in crimes against humanity and the ongoing criminal conspiracy to aid and protect child torture and trafficking.

Further bulletins on the events of the Easter Reclamation Campaign will be issued by our Office this week.

Issued 13 February, 2013
12:00 am GMT
by the Brussels Central Office

SOURCE: http://itccs.org/2013/02/13/pope-benedict-resigned-to-avoid-arrest-seizure-of-church-wealth-by-easter/

why did opposition field candidates in Butaleja?I actually believe that it was the mother and not the president who swayed voters.

Folks:

I have been paying too much attention to the real contested election in Kenya but woke up to the news that the late Nebanda’s sister had won Butaleja women’s seat with a landslide.

So the big question: why did not the opposition FDC read the times and stay away? I mean it was clear to those with strategic savvy that a Nebanda would replace their late sister. Then out of sheer political stupidity, yes political stupidity, FDC got in the race. Dumb decision. Poor judgment. Strategic ineptitude. Name it.

The smart thing would have been to pass and let Ms. Florence Nebanda Andiru succeed the late Hon Nebanda . How on earth did FDC expect to reverse the emotional tide in Butaleja especially to go against the late Nebanda’s political savvy mother? I wonder why the mother never went for the seat herself given her political savvy. It is paper or what? She could have won with a bigger margin.

Can FDC tell us how it expected to win? And what was that about that Hon Salamu Musumba who was caught with soap and sugar was going to visit her grandmother. Really? Excuse me.

Folks, Uganda’s opposition lack political savvy to advance their cause. Butaleja is one of those cases where the opposition would have won by not fielding any candidate. That is by empathizing with the Nebanda family. FDC was the biggest loser. That is right. I mean FDC wanted to have it both ways. Criticizing NRM and sort of empathizing with the late Nebanda family. Then it jumped into the race.

It was clear from the word go that no one would go against the late Hon Nebanda’s mother in Butaleja. FDC did and got burnt big time.Politics in Uganda is a contradiction.

No way was Butaleja going to vote for FDC with a Nebanda on the ballot. Nebanda won on sheer emotion or empathy. Who in FDC could match the late Nebanda’s mother on the trail? Again even if FDC deluded itself that it could win, it should have stayed out of Butaleja.

Honestly, I do no buy the story that Ms Salamu Musumba was going to visit her grandmother. The truth of the matter is that she was going to campaign for FDC. Visiting the grandmother was secondary.

What I am saying is that given the emotions following Nebanda’s death and then having her sister nominated, it would have been better to let her sister win it without spending any political capital.

FDC does not need to be publicized in Butaleja. If I recall correctly, the FDC candidate was not even the runner up. That is why I still believe that FDC would have been better served in the long term had it gone to Butaleja to declare support for Ms Florence Nebanda Andiru. Yes to endorse and campaign for Nebanda against the two independents. FDC would have earned a lot of good will in Bunyole.

Sure there was anger towards NRM, but to their credit and to the contradiction of the family, NRM picked Ms Florence Nebanda to be their candidate. On many levels Butaleja was a contradiction of Uganda’s politics. Once NRM picked Nebanda the anger towards NRM was mitigated and Nebanda was going to win hands down. That is when FDC should have made the smart decision to stay out.

Actually what FDC did in Butaleja is similar to what NRM does during bye elections it lost or loses. NRM does not need those seats but it goes and the voters burn them. Luwero is soon coming up and NRM will be beat hands down again, but the so called mobilizers who eat the money will want to contest.

I actually believe that it was the mother and not the president who swayed voters. The agony of the mother was too much for the people of Bunyole to ignore.

For NRM, Butaleja with Nebanda is one seat they did not need to use violence. So NRM shot itself in the foot too but for them they won.

Bottom line, the opposition should mature and desist from contesting for the sake of it. I would urge FDC to stay out of Luwero women seat too, but knowing how FDC thinks, they will go there and lose again!

My reasoning is supposed to help the opposition in Uganda. I am their honest critic, plus I am an equal opportunity critic, to both NRM and the opposition. I know you see it differently but think again.

FDC made a big mistaken to contest in Bunyole, ok, Butaleja where it came in distant third or fourth.

WBK

SPEAKER REBECCA KADAGA IS FACED WITH DEVEL’S ALTERNATIVES!

Friday 15 Feb, 2013

It has not been a good month for Speaker Rebecca Kadaga – what with backtracking on recall of parliament, expulsion of journalists, stopping OPM investigations….. and two litigations, one by her very own “partners in crime”! I hear that women empowerment activists are planning activities to protest that Kadaga’s woes are chauvinistic driven, by men who can’t abide successful women. If it is true, I would advise them not to hide behind the timeless, “sex curtain”, for the sake of a public display of solidarity, otherwise they will be no different from Bahororo, Ateso, Acholi, Baganda, Moslems and Lugbara, who, when it was one of their own, threw values, morals and meritocracy to the wind! The “save-Kadaga” activism should focus on creating an environment that can nurture the principal and values of separation of powers, so that Speakers, male or female, are able give their best to this country, safe in the reality of a legislature independent of the executive! If women activists want to explain away Kadaga’s problems as chauvinist driven, they must also explain former Speakers Wapa’s abdication of the Speakership and Ssekandi’s apathetic tenure of that office!

Kadaga’s real problem was naivety. She (i) got carried away by success too early in the game leading to inability to manage her rising star. Success is the twin of rivalry, and unless it is handled with tact, it leaves some people bruised, which they don’t normally take lying down! (ii) she was naïve not to realize, after twenty four years in Parliament, that Uganda’s Constitution and Parliament are President Museveni’s home playground, where rules of the game are tilted in his favour and where anybody playing against him will lose the game, unless they are ingenuous enough to lure him to a neutral play ground, where the rules of the game are different! As part of the executive for seventeen years, Kadaga should have worked this out, and recognized her advantaged position as Speaker of the 9th Parliament, to turn around the status quo. Unfortunately she lacked entrepreneurship to take the risk, so a great opportunity is lost, for Uganda! (iii) As if that was not enough, Kadaga naively clashed with the international community, head on, on the Anti-Homosexuality Bill. Now she has three powerful foes, the international community, Museveni and the media! (iii) Gololaism. Golola promised kickboxing watchers a great match, but did not invest in learning the real game, part of which is to know your opponent’s strength, now, he stands a humiliated man!

Former Speakers Wapakhabulo and Ssekandi, to a large extent victims of their time (because Museveni was still fairly popular), were smart enough to recognize wars they couldn’t win, so they cut their losses and played ball. But with the current political climate bustling for change, Kadaga’s time is different, offering her the perfect break to play the game differently, albeit with tact and ingenuity. Unfortunately, she neither recognized nor seized the opportunity, now it seems she has only the devil’s alternatives to choose from – either (i) eat humble pie and climb down to Wapa and Ssekandi level (ii) re-assert herself and face a full-scale war with Museveni (iii) resign from the Speakership and keep her dignity! If she chooses the latter option, she will be well placed to begin the real struggle for independence of parliament, beginning with telling “The untold story” which Wapa and Ssekandi couldn’t tell because they became accomplices.

I sincerely hope her political career is not chasing after twilight, because all said and done, she is made of good stuff.

Beti Olive Kamya-Turwomwe

President, Uganda Federal Alliance

0783 438 201

Besigye to Museveni: The NRM regime is a military dictatorship

I thank Mr Museveni for the elaborate response to remarks I made; published in the 3rd February Sunday Monitor. I am grateful that he did not threaten to crush or put me 6 feet under, as sometimes happens. Reasoned arguments are, indeed, the rational way to deal with differing views.

I am also grateful because Mr Museveni’s response goes a long way to confirm central themes in my remarks for those who may have had doubt. My remarks covered two central themes; the role of the military in the NRM regime (prompted by recent utterances of coup threats) and the achievements of the NRM regime. In this response, I will only deal with whether the NRM regime is a military dictatorship.

Mr Museveni clearly states in his response that “An NRA/UPDF Military government, provided we had our own financial resources (we did not have to depend on the outside for money) would have moved much, much faster on the transformation of Uganda and Dr Besigye knows that very well”.

He laments that indiscipline by the political actors, saboteurs, or egocentric actors was allowed to cause “needless debates” that delayed progress, including industrialisation. The undisciplined political actors, saboteurs, and egocentric actors from his narrative are people in NRM or opposition parties that question his government’s policies or actions.

He cites (as many times before) the example of MPs who opposed the Bujagali dam project. I intend to comment on Bujagali’s delayed completion when dealing with NRM’s achievements.

For now, what’s important to note is that legitimate, necessary debate on policy and parliamentary oversight is regarded by Mr Museveni as subversive. Having views different from his is indiscipline and egocentric! This underpins how Mr Museveni relates to Parliament (and other institutions of State) up to now.

It is possible to have an efficient Military regime; that espouses good development policies, is disciplined and acts patriotically to spur development. In such a regime, however, citizens have very limited or no power and their rights and freedoms can be abused at will.

This is a Military dictatorship; it’s ability to spur development notwithstanding. In any case, this kind of regime will inevitably degenerate into a corrupt and decadent monster due to the absence of checks on it. This desired path of Mr Museveni could not be pursued because, as he admits, he didn’t have his own financial resources and “had to depend on the outside for money”. This, then, is what compelled him to opt for a civilian cover to the regime.

Even if the NRM military regime had all the money and was not inconvenienced by civilian “saboteurs”, it would not have transformed Uganda. This is because the leaders of the military regime have no ideological clarity and commitment; they are not patriotic or disciplined.

Without the “saboteurs”, Saleh would not have been forced to resign twice due to corruption; what has been witnessed in ghost-soldier scandals, procurement scams in UPDF etc, would have been the centre-stage of government. The privatisation of public companies scandal is well known; “Saboteurs” saved Dairy Corporation from being sold for $1 dollar by Mr Museveni; etc.

Mr Museveni asserts, in his response, that “since 1986, NRA/UPDF ensures peace as well as stability and the civilians manage or mismanage the politics, the administration and the justice”.

He claimed to be answering me “for the young people who do not know our history”.

As part of informing the young people, can Mr Museveni deny the following or accept lying to them:
– From 1986 to 1996, Lt. Gen. Museveni was the President and head of government, Minister of Defence, Speaker of Uganda Parliament, and Operational Commander of the Defence Forces.

– 40% of the NRC Members (MPs) were NRA officers.

– From 1986 – 1996, several serving NRA officers headed government ministries, departments of government, and Local governments.

– NRA was represented in the Constitutional (Odoki) Commission and in the Constituent Assembly.

– NRA Council (chaired by Lt. Gen. Museveni) debated and passed resolutions on restitution of Kingdoms.

– From 1996 – 2013, the UPDF has adversely interfered with elections; more especially, presidential elections. The Supreme Court judgments clearly document this. In 2001, the Chairman of the Electoral Commission wrote to President Museveni desperately stating that the election was being disintegrated by the Military (letter on Court record).

– Mr Museveni was reported to have publicly stated that he went through the furnace to get power and cannot be removed by a mere piece of paper. He didn’t deny the report.

– UPDF MPs sit on the NRM side of Parliament and vote (without exception) with NRM MPs.

– UPDF always surrounds the Parliamentary buildings whenever a controversial matter is to be voted on; eg: the abolition of presidential term limits.

– UPDF (Black Mambas) have made a direct assault on the Judiciary twice.

– Lt. Gen. Museveni has made public ominous threats against the Judiciary that he refused to withdraw even when the entire Judiciary went on strike.

– Presently, there is threat of a military coup. In Mr Museveni’s response, he declined to clarify what he said in Kyankwanzi. What Gen. Aronda said was public.

The above cannot amount to civilians managing the politics, administration and justice since 1986. As I pointed out, what’s causing discomfort now is that the thin veil of civilian participation has started challenging the Ssabagabi (King of Kings); thereby turning into saboteurs, egocentrics, opinionated, and undisciplined actors!

UPDF is not a professional state institution:

Again, Mr Museveni’s response to “Petty Issues” I raised helped to confirm that UPDF is not run as a professional state institution, but primarily a tool for regime protection. The following is noteworthy:
1. Mr Museveni says the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen. Aronda, salutes Gen. Saleh and Tumwine “because they are senior to Aronda in serving the country”. If the two are Serving Officers of the UPDF, what are the criteria of Seniority within the force? Sec 8 (2) of UPDF Act provides that CDF shall be responsible for Command, Control and Administration of the Defence Forces.

It means that all serving officers of UPDF are placed under the command and control of the CDF.

Saleh and Tumwine are not the only officers senior to Aronda in “serving the country”; is he therefore supposed to salute all of them. Can seniority be measured by the number of guns captured in battle or “firing the first (errant) shot at Kabamba”.

In professional military institutions, seniority is determined only by rank and appointment. Meritorious or exceptional service can be rewarded with medals or other decorations that do not affect the command structure in the Force.

Mr Museveni says he retired Gen. Saleh in 1989 for drunkenness and called him back in 1996 “when he corrected his ways”. Were the procedures for Discharge and Re-engagement provided for under the law followed? Only officers/men who did not offend the Code of Conduct can be re-engaged!

The only purpose for the clumsy, irregular seniority standard is to perpetuate Saleh’s control of UPDF as a regime force.

2. Muhoozi’s illegal recruitment, meteoric rise and preferential appointments:

Recruitment, training, deployment, and promotions of UPDF officers are regulated by the UPDF Act and Regulations- Conditions of Service for officers (CS-O).

All these are available at the Government Printers for anyone interested. These determine what’s lawful or illegal. Sec 51(1) of UPDF Act states that “Authority to recruit persons into the Defence Forces is vested in the Defence Forces Council”.

Regulation 7 of CS-O provides the procedure for Application for Commission. A person shall not be enrolled into the UPDF unless he/she fills a prescribed form and has been selected by a committee.

After enrollment, one must undergo the prescribed basic military training; during which, he/she is graded and reported upon by the officer in charge of training. After the training, one must appear before the Commissions Board for a decision of the Board whether that person shall be commissioned to the UPDF and whether he should go for an officer training in a military academy.

This is the legal process that Muhoozi did not submit himself to before getting enrolled and training as a Cadet Officer. How was he selected to attend the course at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, UK?

Regulation 25 of CS-O provides for the promotions of officers. It states: (1) The promotion of an officer shall be recommended by the commanding officer, and the recommendations shall be considered by the Board on three different occasions and shall be within the following service brackets—
(a) after 12 months’ commissioned service, to Lieutenant;

(b) after five to six years’ commissioned service, to Captain;

(c) after 11 to 13 years’ commissioned service, to Major;

(d) after 18 to 20 years’ commissioned service, to Lieutenant Colonel; and

(e) after 21 to 23 years’ commissioned service, to Colonel.

(2) Notwithstanding subregulation (1) of this regulation, exceptional circumstances may be considered in addition to commissioned service.

(3) Promotions of officers above the rank of colonel shall be made by the commander in chief on the advice of the High Command.

(4) The High Command may vary the service brackets for promotions under this regulation.

Muhoozi illegally joined the UPDF in 1999 as a Cadet Officer; he was commissioned as Second Lieutenant in 2000. He became a Major in 2003; Lt. Col in 2008; and attained his current rank of Brigadier General in 2012, after 12 years of commissioned service.

He ought to have been considered for promotion to rank of Colonel after 21 years of commissioned service. Why hasn’t the “clogging on ranks” caused by lack of money to retire other officers affected Muhoozi? What exceptional circumstances advised his meteoric rise to his current rank in less than half the required time?

Is it also a coincidence that the “school friends he asked to bring along for elementary training during his “A” level holiday” have all had meteoric rise in rank and appointments of UPDF? I am not questioning their “patriotic ideological interest in the Army” or whether they are “Godsend to the Army” as characterized by Mr. Museveni. What I question is whether they follow the laws and regulations that govern UPDF.

When Muhoozi was, in 2007, admitted to the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, USA, he had to be given a temporary rank of a Major to enable him access to the course because he was still too junior for it. Were there no qualified officers with an appropriate rank to do the course?

Muhoozi’s spokesman Capt Edson Kwesiga while responding to my interview remarks in the New Vision of 5th February, wrote that “of course Besigye never attended any course, not even cadet”.

Let it be known that I was at a rank of Senior Officer in January 1986 (though now omitted in the official list contained in UPDF Act); was commissioned to the rank of Lt. Colonel, when formal NRA ranks were awarded in 1987; attended the Officers’ Basic Course (OBC) 2nd in-take in 1990 with, among others, the current CDF Gen Aronda (Captain at the time) and was presented a trophy by President Museveni for being the best in theory and in the field. I was never offered another chance for other courses till I retired in 2000.

Another matter of curiosity is that since Muhoozi was “commissioned” to rank of 2nd Lt., he has been attached to the unit that protects the president up to now. It was one unit (PPU), then a Brigade (PGB), and now Special Forces.

One would be justified in wondering whether he joined UPDF because of “ideological interest in the Army” as claimed by his father or simply to protect the regime.

Muhoozi is illegally in UPDF. The parliamentary Committee on Defence and Security should take interest in this matter. His commission should be nullified for it was illegally obtained.

3. Mr Museveni’s military combat dress: The reasons he advances for his actions are (a) he is the Commander-in-Chief (CIC), (b) he likes the uniform he has used while in previous wars, (c) he was sworn-in as president in the Army green uniform and (d) the World war veterans are a beautiful sight in their uniforms and a visual lesson in our history.

Military dress is supposed to be gazetted and regulated by law to protect the security of military installations, work and operations. Mr Museveni conveniently doesn’t refer to rules. Military attire cannot be determined by the likes of a person or by historic sentiments. The CIC of the Defence Forces must be a civilian according to our Constitution. That’s how the UPDF is supposed to be subordinate to civilian authority. It cannot be the license for donning combat uniforms. If the law provides for civilians putting on ceremonial military dress, they can do so.

Worse still Mr Museveni’s use of the UPDF combat uniforms is not restricted to official ceremonies. He has been prominently seen recently wearing combat dress for civilian burials, weddings, commissioning a small dam, addressing Makerere students etc. He even personally carries an assault machinegun, as he did while inspecting the Bududa mudslide disaster!

The timing of wearing military attire betrays the intention. It is brought out when there are political challenges (from the “saboteurs, undisciplined political actors etc); for which he needs to remind all concerned where the power lies.

All the above confirm that the NRM regime is essentially a Military dictatorship. Mr Museveni’s response also exposes his claim to being the NRM struggle; monopoly of the right/ correct information; micromanaging of the government and contempt for institutions.

Mr Museveni claimed in his response that I attacked the “achievements of NRM over the last 43 years of struggle for liberation”. NRM as an organisation was formed at the end of 1981.

NRM’s entire life before and after 1986 is 31 years. Museveni, however claims to have started struggling for Uganda’s “liberation” in 1969/70 as a student. His struggle is the NRM struggle! Replying or clarifying matters of government does not have to take the personal time of the president; forcing him to “abandon more useful work”.

Mr John Nagenda, Senior Presidential Advisor on Media, who would be well informed and responding to the “lies and malice” of the Monitor and its collaborators, is among those who, according to his boss, “appear to have been genuinely duped by this subterfuge manufactured by the Daily Monitor”!!

In conclusion, Uganda is presently run, essentially, as a military dictatorship; the UPDF is not run as a professional national institution envisaged under the law and Constitution, but as a regime-protection force; and Mr Museveni is the common factor in mismanaging the politics and the military.

editorial@ug.nationmedia.com

http://www.monitor.co.ug/SpecialReports/Besigye-to-Museveni–The-NRM-regime-is-a-military-dictatorship/-/688342/1691860/-/r5m1pv/-/index.html

Does Speaking English fluently measure someone’s intelligence in Uganda?

Does Speaking English fluently measure someone’s intelligence in Uganda?

29 May 2010 38 Comments

by semuwemba in 2010-2011 elections, cultures, Education in Uganda, Entertainment, social issues

Dear readers,

Some Ugandans have been criticizing Vice president, Dr.Bukenya’s fluency in the English language, particularly when he appeared to be struggling with English at a business forum in India as indicated in the YouTube video:

The same groups have called for president Museveni’s press secretary, Tamare Mirundi’s head, because he cannot also express himself properly in English during press conferences. Others have also been mistakenly praising the president of one of the DP factions, Norbert Mao’s oratory skills for intelligence. Some have even, out of ignorance, said that Mao is more intelligent than the Mayor of Kampala, ‘illiterate’ Sebagala. But what is the truth in whole this?

Normally a person growing up just hearing a language will not speak it as a native speaker or someone that language is a mother tongue. However, if one begins speaking a language on a regular basis, one usually keeps an accent all their life. For instance, some of us have developed funny accents because of the regions where we live in Britain but does it mean that we can express ourselves better than Bukenya or Tamare Mirundi(presedential Press Secretary)? The answer is ‘no’.

For all practical purposes, a person speaking a language at mother tongue level is a native speaker. Therefore, Dr.Bukenya cannot speak English in the same way as an English man or like some Ugandans who have been abroad for ages. A native speaker may once have meant “native” in the original sense of the word, i.e. born in that country, but now it just means a person who grew up speaking that language – which is the only way to get perfect in one language.

Indeed, a lot of people that pass through educational institutions in Uganda can express themselves in English, but are not (and may never be) as good at English as a “native speaker” or someone who has lived abroad for years. So when Tamare Mirundi speaks English, he represents a large group of elites in Uganda, and this is ok as long as people understand what he is trying to say.

Again, it is not just about grammar. Understanding the various regional differences of English or American English can be quite challenging as well. For instance, I can bet several Ugandans would not understand a thing when they hear an English man from Yorkshire or Liverpool(UK) addressing them because of the accent. In the UK itself they accept people that know how to express themselves in good English but they don’t demand them to be from Anglophone countries, or speak English fluently. This means that Dr.Bukenya or Tamare Mirundi can get any job they want in the UK with their level of expression in English.

I am no expert on all these matters, but my personal experience is that there are really big differences between individual people. There are those who live in a country for more than 20 years and still speak the local language with a heavy accent while others are really hard to identify as non-native speakers after only three or four years. I don’t know what the reason for this is.

But of course it does not often happen that people have to be perfect in the language, and I don’t really think this is necessary. If we want an open society in Uganda, we have to be more tolerant against people not perfectly speaking our languages or any foreign language such as English. For instance, there are many people who are native Luganda speakers by birth, like me, but who speak a highly ungrammatical language that is not really rich on vocabulary. Many non-baganda beat their level of language.

It can also be proven that even a native speaker’s fluency is his/her own language can diminish given enough time in another linguistic environment. There has been several notable Ugandans example of this, but I won’t go into it.

Is Ssebagala Illiterate?

Let me also correct people one thing: Ssebagala Nasser is not an illiterate man as he can read and write. He can read and write Luganda fluently. He can read English but cannot speak it fluently. So their use of the word ‘illiterate’ is totally misplaced. But then again, history has shown that illiteracy is not in any way a measure of one’s intelligence. For instance, according to Islamic scriptures, prophet Muhammad (SAW) never knew how to read and write but he managed to spread Islam under very difficult conditions, and Islam today has got second biggest following after Christianity.

Wealth and intelligence

It is true that wealthy people are generally more intelligent than average all over the world. But this is not the same as saying that the current Mayor of Kampala,Hajji Sebagala, is more intelligent than Mao, but it is very possible. I don’t know, but it’s very possible, since intelligence is very difficult to quantify.My argument here all hinges on the word “generally,’ and I hope some people don’t equivocate on the meaning of that word. Yes, there is a distinct subset of wealthy people that are less intelligent than average but overall the rich tend to be smarter. That is a fact!

Alhajji Ssebagala, James Mulwana and most rich Kampala men are more street smart than the likes of Mao, and they are probably more intelligent than the likes of Mao. Probably, if Ssebagala had decided to invest more of his time in first acquiring more degrees before business, ‘theoretical’ elites would now be calling him so intelligent, because their definition of intelligence is on how much qualifications someone has got.

Look, Uganda, unlike USA or UK, people just don’t become rich through stockbrokers and mutual funds. One has to be ‘OMUYIYA’(creative) to make it to the top. Those who make it through straightforward means: acquiring education, getting a job, and becoming rich, are not many. But Pessimists are people who believe in elites and governments. They believe that famous college professors are smarter than ordinary men and women, which is totally wrong.

Education and intelligence

There is this false idea that education = intelligence. Education may lead to understanding of intelligence, but it can just as easily lead one away from their real abilities. We must not confuse education and intelligence with cult of education and intelligence. In many ways, an illiterate Ugandan peasant knows more about human nature, economics, and moral values than some highly educated Uganda bureaucrat steeped in Marxist theory, dialectical materialism, and historicist mumbo jumbo. A person can be highly educated with all the false ideas and idiocies. Only the CULT of education says that a person is more intelligent simply because he’s read more books, has earned a Ph.D. and given lectures.

For instance, I know a lot of uneducated men in Bugerere at Kisega Village, including my grandfather, who act more intelligent than this crop we have now got from Makerere university. For 1000s of years, the most highly educated Chinese believed that business was dirty and exploitative, and so China did not make economic progress like the West.

One can study for years and years, but if the ideas are false or misleading the educated can be more stupid, naive, and ignorant that those who learned of reality through everyday experience. Norbert Mao saw Ssebagala losing the trust of Ugandans by leaning himself more towards president Museveni and NRM, but the ‘intelligent’ Mao has been publicly praising president Museveni several times. The ‘intelligent’ Mao thinks that a fragmented opposition can stop NRM from leading Uganda for more 30 years.

That’s why I discourage people to go for postgraduate studies for the sake of beautifying their CV. One needs to find himself before going for further studies. We have all got abilities which we never exploit just because we are rushing to impress the society and those around us.

Is Mao more intelligent than Ssebagala?

Intelligence can’t even be quantified, let alone measured – and I see zero evidence anywhere that Mao is more intelligent than Ssebagala. If we define intelligence in terms of “success,” then Ssebagala has done well for himself than Mao.Speaking English fluently does not make Mao more intelligent.For instance,the computer with an NLP software understands plain English -but it is only as intelligent as its rules & database allow it to. It cannot acquire intelligence or use common sense.

Overall, we should all respect each other and never to make a mistake of measuring one’s intelligence, perfection or literacy depending on their fluency in a language. Yes, English is very important and we should all strive to learn it because the prevalence of English as a language of commerce and of technical communication easily connects us to the global village and global opportunities. It’s one of the reasons why I have been advocating for its promotion in East Africa at the expense of Swahilli.

Byebyo ebyange

Abbey Kibirige Semuwemba

http://semuwemba.com/2010/05/29/does-speaking-english-fluently-make-someone-more-intelligent-than-others/