NEW VISION, Tuesday, January 3, 2012 15

Write to: The Letters Editor, New Vision, PO Box 9815, , or e-mail to [email protected] Letters must be signed and precise Letters

Letter of What wrong did Sights of Do you want to share photos with our readers? the day Basajja commit? Send to [email protected] EDITOR: A lot has been said and written about business- man Hassan Basajjabalaba’s sh142b compensation, but in all the curses and condemnations directed to Basajja, I see no fairness. Basajjabalaba entered a business deal where he bought three city markets. These markets were not just handed over to him, he used his money, and so in the event that the deal was cancelled, he deserved a refund plus the interest that accrued. He was compen- sated as the law requires. If there were any irregularities in the amounts paid, who is to blame? Were the assess- ments not done and was the money not approved? If the people who assessed found the project worth that amount, why crucify Basajja? Who among all those throwing the stone would reject the payment because they deemed it excessive? Let us face it, at least Basajja receives the money and ploughs it back into projects that benefit Ugandans. Projects such as Kampala Interna- tional University () and KIU , , which has both a university and a teaching hospital, all serve the public. How about those politicians who use public funds to build palaces and live lavishly? Let us direct the blame to the real people who deserve it. If This letter, the there are any anomalies in the payments, let the people who approved the payments answer. And to Basajja, Editor feels, this is a case where you can earn many more billions, if demands you are steady with your defence and a brilliant lawyer. You were paid this money, you did not forge any cheque, A view of River Ssezibwa in Mukono district taken from down stream special breach any contract, or break into the strong room! Let attention them sort their mess. Edmond Ssempijja, Bus owners should be considerate SUBSCRIPTIONS EDITOR: As I was preparing to travel driver to drive the bus or lose his monument tells wrong story For newspapers and to celebrate the festive season job. As the driver took his seat, magazine subscription with my family, we boarded one of he complained of weakness and EDITOR: The western town of Fort Portal newly reinstated Omukama Kamurasi of and delivery, please the buses that ply the long West fatigue. Shortly after, the man in Kabarole district has a long and rich Toro from the expansionist Omukama contact: Nile Kampala route. As we waited shouted for help, some well-wish- history, which its inhabitants are proud Kabalega of Bunyoro). This was just about Circulation section at to set off I saw what I would call ers rushed him to a nearby clinic. of. However, I wish to point out a mistake the same time Sir Portal was consular the following emails lack of consideration for bus staff After some minutes, the driver was the authorities made in the statue erected general for British East Africa and British and telephone contact, members. We set out to travel to pronounced dead. He had suc- in the town’s centre to honour Sir Gerald Special Commissioner to Uganda based subscriptions@newvi- Kampala at around 8:30pm. As cumbed to a complication of high Portal, the British colonial officer after at Zanzibar. When the British diplomat we waited to take off the driver blood pressure. On hearing the whom the town was named. The statue was sent to Kampala to assess the case for sion.co.ug, was still not in his seat. According news, several passengers had to depicts him clutching a gun and a sword establishing a Uganda Protectorate, Owen Tel to the schedule, the same driver cancel their trip. The company had scabbard dangling from his waist. He initially named it Fort Gerry in 1893, but 0414337238/240/303 who had arrived that evening from to hire another driver to continue is also wearing what appears to be a the name was formalised to Fort Portal in Kampala was supposed to drive us with the journey. Bus companies military uniform. The plaque the statue 1900. Curiously, Sir Portal never travelled back. We learnt that the driver was need to consider the welfare of reads “Built in honour of Major Sir Gerald West of Mengo and did not set foot in very tired and had complained their staff instead of only aiming Portal..” All this is inaccurate because the town named after him. He eventually to the manager and requested to at making profits. The health of a Gerald Portal was a career diplomat who returned to London where he died of rest and travel the next day. The person is priority number one. neither trained, nor served in the military. typhoid fever on January 25 1894. driver’s request fell on deaf ears Desmond Kenyi, The British colonial military officer, Maj as the bus manager ordered the Koboko Roddy Owen had constructed a military Egan Tabaro fort at present day Boma (to protect the Kampala Teacher’s December salaries delay Government can save money by cutting on expenditure EDITOR: Every December some sible describe it as a technical teachers salaries are not remitted fault. These people make the EDITOR: I wish to voice my appeal to MPs regarding officials. to their accounts. Those who miss teachers suffer during the festive the high government expenditure. We can be saved The Government should not add more districts. A payment are told to register their season. The Ministry of Education from the economic crisis by curbing down unneces- lot of money is allocated into maintaining districts. names. However, sometimes this and Sports should look into this sary expenditure. This includes: These measures can help reduce the effect inflation money is never paid. It happened matter. Cutting of MPs salaries by half. had on the country last year. in 2010 and it has surprisingly Stephen Siima Reducing the earnings of Kampala City Authority Charles Kasozi happened in 2011.Those respon- [email protected]

SICKLE CELLS ENVIRONMENT www.newvision.co.ug Most Read Most Commented Most Mailed POTHOLE ALERT cites malice I am not poor to take Ankole bishop I visited Hospital In the new Jomayi in beach murder bribes- decries corruption to spend New Year ’s Mukono estate of SMS TO 8338 Day with sick children. Mbalala, contractors have Most Read Most Commented Most Mailed I noted that there are cleared trees with bull Type POTHOLE (space) town, I found One Love beach I think that is an ar- One way of undermining many patients suffering dozers and now the hill, street and send a safe place, however, I rogant and disrespectful the fight against corrup- from sickle cell anaemia. which used to be green strongly recommend that comment coming from a tion is failure to acknowl- The Government should is bare. The contractor Remember: Bobi Wine pushes for the Prime Minister. It is the edge steps in the right set up a research team should have partitioned Follow the discussion at construction of a Police other way round, the rich direction. The fight needs to find ways to help the plots to leave some www.newvision.co.ug post on the beach. are corrupt. positivity. these people. patches of vegetation. Aban Jose, Kampala Stephen Kiggwe , London Makara, Seguku Rev Martin Odi, Ngora Vianney, Kitintale