The Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Joel Ssenyonyi says the recent State of the Nation Address (SoNA) presented an overly optimistic view on the while neglecting Uganda’s pressing issues.

Presenting the Opposition response to the SoNA on Thursday, 01 August 2024, Ssenyonyi said the address delivered on 06 June 2024, fell short of expectations emphasising the disconnect between the government’s portrayal of progress and the daily struggles of ordinary citizens.

“The address deviated from its intended purpose, increasingly resembling a ceremonial ritual rather than a substantive and honest appraisal of our national condition,” Ssenyonyi said.

He highlighted persistent economic struggles including rising unemployment and high cost of living. Ssenyonyi pointed out the government’s failure to effectively utilise borrowed funds noting that many loans remain unutilised or mismanaged.

“The level of public debt has also worsened. As of June 2024, it has skyrocketed to Shs97 trillion yet the government continues to borrow more,” he added.

“This wanton borrowing spree, without corresponding value for money, undermines the country’s fiscal health and burdens future generations with debt repayment obligations” he noted. Ssenyonyi also criticised the government’s unfulfilled promises stating, ’the government promised to build a specialised hospital at Lubowa and so far, over Shs600 billion has been sunk into this project but there is nothing to show for all that money,” he said.

AUDIO Ssenyonyi

He emphasised the heavy burden of over-taxation describing it as a sad reality that cannot be overstated.

 “This has stifled the aspirations of small business owners and working families across our land. During the passing of the 2024/25 tax bills, we reminded the government to develop a comprehensive taxation policy for the country, ensuring that the imposition of any tax is informed by a well-structured tax framework that does not promote injustice,” he said.

Ssenyonyi called for the revision of the Domestic Revenue Mobilisation Strategy. “We must urgently reassess and reform our revenue collection strategies to ensure they are equitable and do not further exacerbate the economic plight of our people,” he stated.

Ssenyonyi also tasked the government on corruption stating that there has been mostly talk with little action.

 “The Head of State’s call for caution on lifestyle audits is a slap in the face of every Ugandan yearning for a brighter future. We hear slogans of ‘crushing’ corruption, but they are not followed by serious action. Mere words will not save the money meant to build hospitals, educate our children or provide the much-needed service delivery. We need results, not rhetoric,” he concluded.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.

Legislators have commended President Yoweri Museveni for his stand on patriotism, Pan-Africanism, socio-economic transformation and democracy in a bid to ensure national development.

According to Hon. Emely Kugonza (NRM, Buyanja East County), the President’s consistent proposition of prosperity, strategic security and brotherhood of the African people has stimulated the four sectors of Uganda’s economy including commercial agriculture, manufacturing, services and information communication and technology.

“The President informed the country that since 1986, the Ugandan economy has recovered through high production of home grown and processed agro-products whose total output has surpassed international demand. The total annual surplus is being traded within the African market and beyond,” Kugonza said.

While moving the motion on Thursday, 01 August 2024, Kugonza said that government initiatives like the Parish Development Model, Emyooga, Women Fund, Youth Fund and Operation Wealth Creation among others have enabled low income individuals to attain socio-economic transformation.

“The more empowered individuals should borrow from the Uganda Development Bank for agriculture, manufacturing and some of the other services such as tourism,” he added.

Kugonza alluded to the President’s stand against corruption noting that legal and institutional frameworks have been put in place to fight the vice including the Inspectorate of Government (IGG), the Anti-Corruption Unit in State House and the Whistle blower Policy among others.

“These institutions need the support of all of us and Parliament should take the lead in the fight against corruption because we are the representatives of the people,” he added.

Omoro District Woman Representative, Hon. Catherine Lamwaka  seconded the motion saying the President has made continued calls for East African member states to remove trade barriers, so as to exploit the full potential of the region’s markets.

“The President informed the nation that the correct philosophy, ideology and strategy of the NRM government have enabled the economy to grow at a good rate from US$1.5 billion in 1986 to US$55 billion by the foreign exchange method,” Lamwaka said.

She also commended the President’s commitment to the advancement of other sectors of the country including education, finance and security.

Workers Representative, Hon. Agnes Kunihira said the President’s State of the Nation Address highlighted issues relating to high interest rates charged by commercial banks and individual lenders, which he said ought to be addressed.

“The President’s directives should be implemented by the Minister for Finance. This will facilitate individuals in accessing working capital, more especially those who cannot get it through interventions like Uganda Development Bank and the Agricultural Credit Facility,” Kunihira said.

She also made an appeal to government to improve the pay as you earn (PAYE) threshold for the benefit of workers across the country and called on the President to address the matter in his next State of the Nation Address.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.

President Wavel Ramkalawan of the Republic of Seychelles, alongside Vice-President Ahmed Afif and Minister for Local Government and Community Affairs Rose-Marie Hoareau, chaired a pivotal meeting with District Administrators at State House this morning.

In his opening remarks, President Ramkalawan extended heartfelt appreciation to the District Administrators for their unwavering dedication and hard work within their communities. “Today on behalf of the people of Seychelles, I would like to say thank you to you all for the work that you do. At times in your respective districts, you go beyond your call of duty, you go the extra mile to continue serving the people and ensure our citizens obtain the assistance or support they need. We appreciate and recognize your hard work. I know there are challenges and today we sit together to collectively discuss and propose solutions for the way forward. Once again thank you so all your efforts, I wish you all courage as we continue to find ways to deliver a high standard of service to our citizens” he said.

The meeting served as a crucial platform for open dialogue, aiming to identify and implement practical solutions for the collective benefit of the districts.

District Administrators brought forward a range of issues, including road safety measures, infrastructure development, alternative distribution points for the methadone program and improved road access. They also discussed the need for better coordination and communication with other ministries, departments and agencies. Additionally, the community leaders proposed innovative ideas and actions to enhance services and improve the lives of citizens in their respective districts.

The meeting was also attended by Principal Secretary for Local Government Kevin Perine, members of the Executive Management of the Ministry and District Administrators from Mahé, Praslin, and La Digue.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of State House Seychelles.

A $2.7 billion plan to support nearly 15 million people this year is less than a third funded, resulting in huge shortfalls, which also impact local organizations at the forefront of the response.

“To stop a large-scale famine from taking hold, donors must urgently scale up their financial support while using diplomatic means to push for opening up of humanitarian access,” said Clementine Nkweta-Salami, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Sudan.

“If not, we will see an even more catastrophic situation unfold,” she warned.

‘Man-made crisis’

The appeal came a day after global food security experts declared that after 15 months of war, famine is prevalent in parts of North Darfur, particularly in the Zamzam camp for internally displaced persons (IDP), located near the state capital, El Fasher.

Ms. Nkewata-Salami said the findings reflect the gravity of the situation on the ground, noting that the people of Sudan have “suffered relentlessly” since war erupted between rival military forces.

“This is a man-made crisis, one which can be resolved if all parties and stakeholders uphold their responsibilities and commitments to the populations in desperate need,” she said.

“The humanitarian community in Sudan has been ringing the alarm about the unfolding hunger catastrophe and the risk of famine while the conflict has raged on, causing displacement, disrupting basic services, destroying livelihoods and severely restricting humanitarian access.”

Record hunger, immense needs

The experts said the famine conditions in Zamzam camp – home to some 500,000 people – are likely to persist through October while another 13 areas are at risk.

They highlighted that Sudan is facing the worst levels of food security in its history. More than half the population – 25.6 million people – are experiencing acute hunger. This includes more than 8.5 million who are facing emergency levels of hunger and more than 755,000 people suffering catastrophic conditions.

In response, humanitarians have been ramping up operations in recent months, but the needs are immense, Ms. Nkewata-Salami said.

“The humanitarian community is pushing ahead on multiple fronts, including urgently moving food, nutrition and health supplies and agricultural inputs to the highest risk areas, ramping up cash assistance to communities in need and scaling up presence where hunger is most acute,” she added.

Silence the guns

“But to do this, we need the guns to be silenced to enable humanitarians to reach the people in need,” she said. “We need an urgent injection of funding for the aid operation as well as safe and unimpeded humanitarian access, including across borders and battle lines.”

Separately, a senior official with the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, also called for donors to step up support to Sudan and for the war to end.

“The warning signs were there for months. Now we have the tragic confirmation that there is famine in Sudan’s North Darfur region,” said Mamadou Dian Balde, the UN agency’s regional refugee coordinator for the Sudan situation.

“With appalling human rights atrocities, the forced displacement of over 10 million people since the start of the war last year and the lack of the most basic services for a large percentage of the population, the world’s most pressing humanitarian catastrophe is growing and deepening every day, threatening to engulf the whole region.”

He added that as famine and hunger increase in Sudan, people fleeing to neighbouring countries “will arrive in more and more precarious conditions”.

“Urgent action is vital to avert even more death and suffering,” he said. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of UN News.