Northern Uganda Messenger Post

From Monitor Online Jamwa pens secret letter to Museveni Posted in: News By Risdel Kasasira Oct 20, 2008 - 1:52:45 AM Kampala NSSF Managing Director David Jamwa last month wrote a secret brief to President Museveni detailing the political pressure he was put under to approve the controversial land deal with Security Minister Amama Mbabazi and businessman Amos Nzeyi, Daily Monitor can reveal. Mr Jamwa denied having acted under political pressure but changed his position and confessed to MPs behind closed doors on October 2. It now appears that he did so after writing his September 29 letter to the President. Details of Jamwa’s brief to President Museveni come a day after MPs on the Parliamentary Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises completed their eight-week inquiry into the matter without agreement. Six MPs on the 15-person bipartisan committee – all from the ruling National Resistance Movement party – said yesterday they would present a minority repor...

From Monitor Online Jamwa’s letter to Museveni on Temangalo- NSSF deal Posted in: News By Oct 20, 2008 - 1:44:34 AM 29th September 2008 Your Excellency Mr President, Sir Introduction It’s painful and a regret for me to bring the real truth to your attention about the Temangalo land deal. However, as a humble Civil servant I am obliged to do so without fear of favour. The issue at hand in the transaction is that there was influence peddling and political interference. NSSF was under pressure to execute the transaction. As the MD of NSSF it’s my job to prepare investment proposals for consideration and approval by the Board of Directors (BOD), the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic development (MOFPED) and the Solicitor General (SG). My job description that is in line with the NSSF Act does not include either approval or authorisation of investments. This power lies with the three authorities mentioned above. The NSSF MD is the implementer of the decisions of the policy maker and...

Investors should avoid NRM state patronage like plagues     If I had Madhvani's money and wanted land elsewhere outside Busoga, the Ugandan president, Yoweri Museveni, is the last person I would want as a pitchman. Do not get me wrong; the dictator is still strong and not about to abdicate soon. Moreover, he still commands rapt attention from a retinue of patronised clients and hangers-on, who have instant access to the state, political power and resources. Therefore, an investor who wants shortcuts and decision by diktat, rather than through a market of free sellers and buyers;   paying fair market prices; would find statehouse powerbrokers, the president and kick-back dependent ministers, good contacts. However, a serious industrialist whose forefathers painstakingly built his inheritance and industrial portfolios through painstaking savings, strategic investments decision-making and shrewd avoidance of obvious market and political risks, would shun like a plagu...