Bobi Wine Vs. Bebe Cool Huge Knowledge Gap Among Farmers in Regard to Proper Animal Nutrition, Which Oday, 33 Years Ago President Yoweri Museveni to Be Working
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
24 NEW VISION, Friday, February 1, 2019 COMMENT OPINION Animal feeds law long overdue abinet has given a go ahead for the agriculture ministry to table the Animal Feeds Bill 2018 before Parliament. This Cis a positive development, if not long overdue for a country that boasts of agriculture as its backbone. It comes at a time, when there is an outcry, especially from small scale farmers about the proliferation of substandard animal feeds on the market. Without a law to regulate the sector, many farmers have suffered untold losses, with others being forced to abandon the practice altogether. With a law in place, manufacturers of animal feeds will have clearly spelt out guidelines that can guarantee the production of quality animal feeds for farmers. In addition, such a law will come with attendant sanctions for dealing with any form of breach. An Animal Feeds law will also help weed out The fight against fraud in Uganda has stagnated, according to the recent Corruption Perception Index 2018 report quacks who have been masquerading as animal feed manufacturers just to cash-in on the fast growing sector. However, enforcement of such a law is David Mukholi, journalist ultimately what will afford farmers the much needed safeguards against poor quality feeds. ccording to experts, there is also a NRM at 33: Bobi Wine Vs. Bebe Cool huge knowledge gap among farmers in regard to proper animal nutrition, which oday, 33 years ago President Yoweri Museveni to be working. subsequently affects their return on had been in office for five days. After the These two contending views succulently define what Uganda A National Resistance Army (NRA) captured is today. On one hand there are those who say the country is investment negatively. While this could partly be power on January 26, 1986 he was sworn in on on the right course. On the other are those who say there is addressed by extension services, most farmers have the January 29 on the steps of Parliament. nothing good. limited access to agricultural extension workers and The key questions are: how has Uganda been Today, the different views are accentuated by two top are often forced to depend on themselves or their Tsince 1986? Is the country progressing of retrogressing? Ugandan musicians Bobi Wine and Bebe Cool born in 1982 Two musicians have different views, which accentuates the and 1977 respectively. Their age difference is five, so they can peers, whose expertise is also limited. realities in Uganda today where people have the freedom to easily fit in the same age bracket but the point is they have In that regard, the Government would do well to see the country using different lenses. This prompts another grown up during the NRM reign. consider increased funding in subsequent budgets questions, who is right? It is during this period that the entertainment industry has to facilitate agricultural extension workers to enable NRA, which was the fighting wing of the National grown providing employment for several. Due to the security Resistance Movement (NRM) had been operating in what and stability, never before has the entertainment industry them address such concerns among farmers. Such was then known as Luwero Triangle for five years. In been as lucrative in the history of Uganda. Musicians are interventions are crucial in boosting the country’s its ranks were peasants, workers and elites united in wealth and own property, they are respected and draw big agricultural sector. the mission to cause change in a country beleaguered followings. by instability since 1966. Instability had resulted into In the 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s music could not Relatedly, to address farming knowledge gaps, lawlessness, social disintegration, political chaos, disunity blossom due to insecurity, instability and economic Vision Group will hold specialised workshops and economic breakdown stunting social, economic and hardships. People could not stay up late to attend music for interested members of the public at its annual political development. shows because it was not safe. Besides, the Government Harvest Money Expo which runs from February NRM with Museveni as President has been in power would not allow people moving out freely for fear that for 33 years. But first it was a political system they would be plotting to topple it. Also people 15 – 17 at Mandela National Stadium in Kampala. providing for the election of the leaders on the hardly had the income to spend. Facilitators at these workshops are renowned experts basis of individual merit. During that period The two musicians have different lenses in handling various kinds of domestic animals. political parties were legally restricted from reading the social, economic and political participating in politics. situation in Uganda. But the common In 2005, the NRM transformed into a denomination is that its music, during the political party, when Ugandans voted in a NRM era that has made them what they referendum to adopt multiparty politics. are today. At the time NRM took power, the FDC was formed and three other old political parties – UPC, entertainment industry was largely underdeveloped. Today, it is DP and CP resurrected. big and musicians have big impact on the society. Editorial Tel: 0414 337000/337139/337125; The opening up of the political space allowed people to Bob Wine and Bebe Cool have prospered during the NRM Fax: 0414 235843; P. 0. BOX 9815 Kampala. freely associate and belong to political parties without fear. era. They have it all. Not only do they have name recognition Email: [email protected]; As a result, today Uganda has political parties challenging as musicians at home, but also internationally. It is a fact that [email protected] NRM and during every election year vie for power. they have made money and accumulated wealth from the Every January, as Uganda celebrates the Liberation Day on music enterprise. Marketing/Advertising Tel: 0414337000 January 26, it is a time to assess NRM’s performance under Had Uganda been as unstable and chaotic as Somalia, the Fax: 0414 232050 President Museveni’s leadership. To some, a lot has changed music industry would have not blossomed and two musicians, Email: [email protected] since 1986. The country is on the right path progressively and many other, would have not emerged. The entertainment Member of the Audit Bureau of Circulation (ABC); rising from chaos to order, investments growing every year, industry thrives on security and spending power. People Company listed on the Uganda Securities Exchange infrastructure improving, industries being opened, sufficient are able to move freely and also have some money to spend power generation, peace and stability. Also rate of the consequently they sustain the entertainment industry. If the www.newvision.co.ug immunisation of children is up and enrolment in primary economy was doing so badly, there would be no crowds and secondary schools is up. following the musicians and thus the entertainment industry But there are others who think differently. These say the would be underdeveloped. For subscriptions/bulk buying country is ruined and has no future, there is no freedom and Today a musician can perform in Jinja, Kampala and Masaka Call 0774732913/0414337245/ 0772446204 the Government is oppressive. Among those who think so, in one day, which was not possible 33 years ago. there are some who even say Uganda is a failed state, there is . Email [email protected] no rule of law, the economy in shambles and nothing seems Twitter:@dmukholi1.