Archive for year: 2019

Makerere, Kampala: The leaders of Makerere University Academic Staff Association (MUASA) and Makerere Administrative Staff Association (MASA) have challenged the Vice-Chancellor (VC) to explain the circumstances under which they were suspended from the University’s webmail, saying the move undermines their ability to perform their University duties.

theCooperator has learned that on 2nd August 2019, Makerere University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe issued a directive ordering for the removal of Mr. Bennet Magara and Prof. Edward Nector Mwavu the chairperson and acting chairperson of MASA and MUASA respectively; from the University webmail system, allegedly following staff pronouncement of a sit-down strike on 1st Aug.

On 6th Aug 2019, the two staff members wrote to the Director of ICT support (DICTS), who is in charge of the webmail communication system at Makerere University over what they then considered an anomaly, after they failed to log into their accounts on the University webmail.

However, in a surprising twist, on 13th August 2019, the two received a reply from the Vice-Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe instead, noting that it was him who had directed their suspension from the University mailing system. “This is to inform you that the directive to remove you from the webmail list was made by me due to your misuse of the privileges accorded to you in contravention of the communications policy of the University. Please note that the directive will remain in force until further notice,” Nawangwe’s letter reads in part.

In an interview with the Cooperator yesterday, Prof. Mwavu decried what he called the Vice Chancellor’s use of “underhand methods” to curtail free communication at the University. “It’s surprising he calls it a privilege when it’s everyone’s right within the University that they’re on the webmail. When I come to work, these are the tools of my trade in my performing duties as a lecturer and researcher,” a frustrated Mwavu lamented.

Mwavu revealed that the webmail remains the official communication channel for all University matters, and that for now three weeks, he and Magara have been kept in the dark on University matters, only depending on colleagues for information.

Now, they want the Vice-Chancellor to explain to them how they abused their “privilege.” In a joint letter dated 19th August 2019 which theCooperator has seen, the two write thus: “We are humbly requesting you to educate us on how we misused the privileges of using the University webmail and the specific provisions of the University Communications Policy we contravened. This will be very useful in guiding us in the use of the webmail in the future when you finally rescind the directive,”

The webmail is the University’s official mailing system and lecturers are supposed to use it to conduct all official business of the University, from giving instructions to students, receiving their coursework, doing academic study/research, to pursuing strategic projects and collaborations for the University nationally and internationally.

Mwava says they’ll remain civil and patient in seeking redress from the university authorities, but warned that their suspension sets a dangerous precedent for the University: “He may think he is affecting Mwava and Magara, but there are certain things you cannot simply because you have been annoyed. The University should a place where we try to understand society and devise solutions for amicable disagreement and problem-solving,” he said.

Asked for their next course of action in case the Vice-Chancellor remained reluctant to rescind his order, Mwava said, “Depending on his reply, we shall see our next step to take.”

We were unable to reach Dr. Muhammad Kiggundu Musoke, the Director of Communications and International Relations at the University for Comment, as he was still held up in a meeting by press time.

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Kampala, Uganda: The National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO) is in advanced stages of producing an anti-tick vaccine, theCooperator has learned.

Speaking at a policy dialogue organized by NARO and The Uganda We Want (TUWW) think tank held on 2nd August at one of NARO’s livestock research station in Namulonge, Dr. Yona Baguma, the Research Agency’s Deputy Director for Research told participants that NARO is developing four different acaricides to protect animals against the tick parasite, including two other diseases – Foot and Mouth Disease and African Swine Fever.

In 2016, a study by the US-National Institute of Health found that the tick parasite is the leading disease vector in Africa, contributing 30% calf deaths and accounting for nearly 90% of disease control costs for the continent.

The same study, conducted in 14 districts of central and western Uganda showed that Uganda ranks amongst the countries hit hardest by ticks and tick-borne diseases, and NARO’s National Agricultural Livestock Research Institute(NALRI) has warned that the ever-present risk of remnant animal deaths to tick parasites is making livestock rearing a risky venture for local farmers and cooperatives engaged in the agricultural sector.

According to NARO, commercial farmers and cooperatives that keep exotic breeds and their crossbreeds face greater risk, compared to those with local breeds which are historically famed for being more resistant to the tick parasite.

The study by the US scientists found that commercial farmers rely mainly on acaricides for disease control, pushing the government to spend a lot of money on importing anti-tick acaricides.

“For foot and mouth disease, Uganda spends about shs.2 trillion annually to import the vaccines. We spend about shs.3 trillion to manage tick and tick-borne diseases alone,” noted Dr. David Nanyenyi, a researcher with NALRI.

Despite the massive spending, Dr. Nanyenyi notes that overtime, the proliferation of fake acaricides on the market, wrong drug dilution by farmers, poor application methods and increased acaricide pressure have accelerated acaricide resistance to up to 90%.

Cases of rampant acaricide resistance have especially been reported in western and central cattle corridors, where exotic breeds of cattle are mainly kept for dairy production.

Now, NARO is promising a breakthrough. Dr. Diksoka Moses, a veterinary doctor at NALRI says that the research agency has developed a homegrown system of developing vaccines through its Animal Health Research and Development Program and that it would soon produce a remedy to the tick problem.

“As an institute, we have built capacity and we are better positioned to give support to the government. We are aware that ticks cost this country a lot of money on an annual basis, and what we have done as NARO is to come up with anti-tick vaccine molecules which are now being tested,” he told theCooperator.

“When the vaccine is out, we will also do an evaluation and give our customers the confidence that the product we are giving them is efficient,” he added.

Supplementing Diksoka, Dr. Baguma noted that the research was now at the processing stage and that the institute was counting on the government to financially support the research’s completion. “We are presenting the country with a sustainable solution to the tick problem. When we’re done, we hope that the government can give us money to set up facilities to begin vaccine manufacture,” he said.

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State Minister for Cooperatives Frederick Ngobi Gume last week rushed to Bugisu sub-region, to resolve enduring woes among members of the Masaba Cooperative Union(MCU).

Since the beginning of this year, a section of farmers who subscribe to MCU, a coffee farmers’ union based in Bugisu Sub-region have been petitioning the Registrar of cooperatives over what they’ve termed abuse of office, embezzlement of the Union Funds and stripping of its Assets.

Most of the irate members belong to the primary societies of Bichopi, Mafudu, Bunangabo, Lwakhakha, and Makhayi.

They accuse the current board of mismanaging the Union, culminating in the loss of the Union’s assets worth billions of shillings. Some of these assets include; the 1,000 acres of land in Bunambutye – Bulambuli and Lukhonge, Bugema Ginnery, and a prime piece of land on the border town of Lwakhakha.

Also among the accusations is the failure to account for the money received from the government in 2018 as part compensation for the losses suffered by the Union during the NRA bush war, to the tune of Shs.2billion.

Last month, Joseph Wasike, the Union Treasurer, and General Manager Charles Murombo were picked up and taken to Mbale Central Police Station, where they recorded statements. The board chairperson, Eddy Bwayo Wakholowa reportedly remains on the run over the same allegations.

Asked about the progress of the investigations, the Elgon Region police spokesperson John Robert Tukei declined to reveal details but assured theCooperator that the investigation was on course.

He called upon all aggrieved members to come forth with evidence to aid speedy investigations.

Last week, led by a one Moses Wambogo, MCU members told Gume that the Union’s board had failed to perform its oversight function over the Union management, which allowed the Union leadership to abuse members’ affairs unchecked.

“The morale levels of members within the Union are horribly low because we no longer have any sort of trust in the board and its members, individually and collectively. If the ministry does not intervene with specific ultimatums, I am afraid Masaba Cooperative Union will be defunct soon,” Wambogo warned.

The members demanded that the ministry helps organize fresh board elections since the current board had not only failed to deliver but was also nearing its end of the term of office.

Speaking at the meeting held at Makhayi seed secondary school, Gume assured the members that his ministry had constituted a commission of inquiry that would be based on the field for a given period of time, so as to help conduct thorough investigations.

“We strongly believe that the commission will provide us with an informed and comprehensive picture on which to base when making the next decision in regard to Masaba Cooperative Union,” he said.

He promised that his Ministry would ensure that the Union gets a new leadership through an election as soon as the investigation ends.

“My ministry is releasing technical officers to come and conduct elections in those primary societies, after that we are going to have an annual general meeting which will culminate in an election of the top leadership of Masaba Cooperative Union.” He revealed.

Masaba Cooperative Union is one of the three established cooperatives in Mt. Elgon Zone. The others are Bugisu Cooperative Union and Sebei Elgon Cooperative Union. All the three cooperatives majorly deal in Arabica Coffee.

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