Is it possible to fight “corruption” without being selective?

The impunity with which some human beings want to embezzle what belongs to others is appalling and if the youth do not join hands to fight this evil nobody will.

In Uganda today, corruption, the greatest bottleneck to development has spread and penetrated all institutions including the home and the presumably holiest of places on earth - places of worship. The situation is terrible that if curtains were to be removed, the most respected individuals of society would earn more or the same treatment a witchdoctor does due to corruption.

Whereas injustices must be fought at all cost, they should not be fought in a way tantamount to bias. It is wise to appreciate the courage of people who have boldly criticized “unbecoming behavior” and I appeal for balanced efforts. The strong voice that Ugandans use to denounce homosexuality should be applied to denounce more pertinent issues like corruption.

We need to eliminate corruption but this cannot be achieved if it is not adequately addressed and those found guilty held accountable rather than being shielded by the voices “from above.”

Young leaders should take on the ultimate responsibility of promoting good virtues including integrity, honesty, transparency, and accountability and one need not become a politician to take on this responsibility. The struggle starts with you.

The writer is from FOWODE young leaders

Policy alternatives key in improving maternal and child health!

With Statistics revealing that only 32% of women who give birth in Uganda receive care from trained personnel while the majority gives birth at home or under the supervision of traditional birth attendants, different alternatives and policy proposals need to be explored in this country in order to strengthen the already existing efforts by different state and non state actors to improve the access to maternal health care services in Uganda. 

Drawing lessons from other developing countries and projects which are very applicable to Ugandan context, there is need to strengthen access to more wholesome reproductive health care facilities that target mothers and their partners. This will ensure collective action and concern on issues of maternal health. Additionally, research should be geared towards alternative knowledge on maternal health such as traditional birth attendants to improve their services and in human capital development of community health workers such as the nurses, clinical officers and midwives, besides providing them with an attractive salary package. This in the end will ensure more inclusive policy formulation and as well help in integrating indigenous knowledge into internationally recognized practices. However this calls for a legal framework to regulate the work done by these Traditional Birth Attendants. 

Means of monitoring and evaluating health programs should be devised in order to improve on access to maternal and reproductive health and as well checking on accountability and corruption by strengthening government’s capacity to monitor the effectiveness of programs.

With the above interventions many women and children will be saved.

Written by Kaviri Ali

The government should work to improve Maternal and child health

On wbs television talk show organized by FOWO DE

The first ever-African Youth Forum held in Kampala from 17th-19th July 2010 was a vital component of the African Union Summit. The forum enabled young people to discuss how Africa can improve the maternal and children health development. At the end of the forum, the youth developed a memorandum to African leaders, which was submitted to the leaders during the African Union Summit held in Kampala in the same month.

Seeing youth working together for such a noble cause was a sure sign that the next generation is in control and I was happy that I contributed to this cause. Being a self-motivated individual with a passion of fostering change in the lives of people, I did not hesitate when

WITH PEACE AMBASSADOR ANGELA KATATUMBA AHEAD OF ELECTIONS IN 2010

IMPARTING KNOWLEDGE ON GENDER

With Army Spokesperson 

Lt. Col. Felix Kulayige of the Ministry Of Defence / Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF)

with former Uganda broadcasting cooperation s Joel Ssenyonyi

Advocating for a violent free elections

With Singer Jamal

The Five Prayers of a Common-Man

             Anthony Mugabira delivering amessage to leaders

Dear leaders, in church, Politics, NGOs, Tradition and other institutions!!

We are happy for all that you do for this country, we love all your noble contributions; you are worthy of appreciation.

We like the way you love our country, which is by buying luxurious vehicles for your comfortable travel along the badly potholed roads; you only reach out to us on independence, commemoration and burial days.

We are humbled by the pathetic social state of our motherland which is on the brink of total

MENTORSHIP, IS IT IMPORTANT?

MENTORSHIP, IS IT IMPORTANT?

What does it mean to mentor a leader?

Mentoring a leader is the art of:

·         Giving her help and advice over a period of time and often teaching her how to lead.

·         Guiding her to draw a mental picture of her as a leader and consistently helping her to see it grow to maturity.

·         Consistently giving help to a leader to help her improve their skill of leadership and grow to greater heights.

Who is a leader?

·         She is one who knows the way, goes the way and shows the way to a group of people.

·         She is one who guides a group of people to where they ought to be not where they want to be.

Is it important to mentor women leaders or any other leaders?

Baake Delivering her message to the leaders

According to Mc Gregory’s X theory, people need to be guided on how to do things. Following this theory, there is need for continuous guidance and help to be given to leaders especially the upcoming ones which can be done through mentoring. I therefore think that it is important for us to mentor leaders and especially when they are still young and flexible enough to learn new things. Young people are not yet too rigid with some bad cultural and religious beliefs which are social constructions. What is learnt in the cradle lasts up to the tomb. It is important to mentor women because of the following reasons;