NEW VISION, Monday, January 3, 2011 13

Write to: The Letters Editor, New Vision, PO Box 9815, Kampala, or e-mail to [email protected] Letters must be signed and precise Letters I received a bankslip Letter of High defilement rate in Tororo related to alcohol without my kid's results EDITOR: Not long ago the entire country was up in arms over the jiggers issue in . Everybody had an op- EDITOR: I am upset by Mengo School of Nurs- the day portunity to make comments and attack the leadership ing and Midwifery. My daughter in her final in this country over the matter. year did not bring me her results but only a It took the deputy speaker of Parliament, Rebecca bankslip with the tuition fees needed! This is Kadaga and her team to bring the matter to rest. On not fair. Parents need to know the perform- December 24, the New Vision carried a shocking story ance of their children. What is the tuition about 276 cases of defilement cases reported at Tororo for if students cannot be given their results? Police station by the end of last year. Of these girls, Apart from that anomaly, four students stay most of them were below 12 years and had contracted in small hostel rooms which were meant for HIV! At 12 years the future of these girls is ruined even two. This is unacceptable because we pay a if there is hope after testing HIV-positive. But what lot of money. kind of hope can this be for these children? I am also Concerned Parent not happy with the opportunism our politics some- times takes. Why are we not responding to this prob- lem that has been exposed in Tororo? Jiggers almost I agree Kibaale lags became a campaign slogan for everybody but we are silent about defilement in Tororo! Jiggers are temporal but being infected with HIV is a lifetime condition. behind in western Why are we not having anybody blaming the leader- EDITOR: This is a rejoinder to a letter entitled ship on this one and yet we can scream about jiggers? "Kibaale District lags behind all other Tororo itself is a place where leadership has not taken The issue of jiggers in Busoga made big news districts in western Uganda". It is true that HIV/AIDS seriously. With all the international organi- Kibaale lags behind in terms of roads, health, zations handling HIV/AIDS, the issue seems to have education and many other social-economic This letter, the eluded the leadership there! We cannot take preven- of the youth through sports but stories of defilement infrastructure. For over a decade we have Editor feels, tive measures without knowing how the defilements and the infections make us want not to be associated been promised tarmacked roads, good occur. The use of alcohol and drugs by the youth must with such a society! The girl-child is an endangered schools and health centres but to our dismay demands be contributing a lot to this. How many children are species in Tororo. Fifty-five children below 12 years all trunk roads are dilapidated and need getting infected all the time we are supplying alcohol being infected with HIV due to defilement is an urgent repair although the powers that be special to the youth during the campaign season? Some of us 'epidemic' keep promising us tarmacked roads. The few attention have strived to make positive contributions in the fight James William Mugeni health centres and Kagadi Hospital do not against HIV/AIDS, have contributed a positive image [email protected] have enough essential drugs for complicated diseases yet those centres handle close to 600,000 people in the district! Kibaale is a SUBSCRIPTIONS big tax base with a vast pro-NRM popula- Congs to all who have tion. For newspapers and magazine subscription and delivery, please contact: Andrew Musinguzi Circulation section at the following emails and telephone contact, made it to 2011 Kibaale [email protected], Tel 0414337238/240/303 EDITOR: This being a new year means a new Baruli, Banyala issue vital beginning for many. Strategies have to be laid and resolutions made. Thank God we have EDITOR: The cultural leaders’ Bill has a com- Nobody should wander outside their prescribed roles lived to witness a new year. My source of joy ponent that I have for long, waited to see today is that I survived all the tragic incidents being addressed—the Baruuli and Banyala EDITOR: I wish to comment on the current state of every year, State House organises prayers that happened in the country in 2010 which issue. If in practice and identification, the of affairs regarding the new controversial Bill in which the President's family take a lead- was characterised by many calamities. First, lead others in identifying those that seems to regulate cultural leaders. The ing role. Why then can't bishops, priests and it was the Bududa tragedy. Buildings did not individuals in the respective chiefdoms as Bill is not only confusing and vague but also pastors participate in politics? The President only collapse but also claimed many people's ‘Banyala’ and ‘Baruuli’, why would they be contradicts a number of provisions in the has also been instrumental in creating new lives. There were many kidnaps for ransom led by a ‘Muganda’ traditionally? As long as constitution that guarantee fundamental hu- kingdoms and consecrating new kings such while human sacrifices were no longer a they are not Baganda, they have a cultural man rights. If the Bill is going to succeed, we as the Sabanyala and Sabaruli. Whose role crime to the senseless criminals who did not right to be led by a leader of their own and should have a level ground with defined terms is this? Who is interfering with the work of care about people's lives. The worst tragedy not the Kabaka because the latter leads the of reference in which the President should the other? Why can’t the cultural leaders also was July 11 when the twin bombings at Baganda and not any other! Buruuli among also concentrate on his work. Thus, if cultural be part of the cabinet? It is good to have a Kyadondo Rugby Club and Ethiopian Village other areas in , was only unlucky leaders are to be 'cultural, then the President God-fearing President but at the same time he claimed many lives. to have succumbed to Buganda’s conquests should also be the President and religious should leave the work of religious leaders to Let me hope that in the new year we will during the last century. Just as the Baganda leaders should remain religious leaders. In this the clergy. I believe the material incentives are be provided with tighter security in order to are opposed to sharing the cultural leader- way cultural affairs will be for cultural leaders, intended to corrupt traditional leaders so that avoid such attacks. I would like to console all ship of the kingdom, it is similarly unfair not politics for politicians, and religious matters for they do not be critical. Many politicians are the families that lost their loved ones in 2010. to let the Baruuli have their own! I wish to religious leaders. This sounds hard to follow good Bible readers. When King Saul became May the souls of the departed rest in eternal see other peoples’ rights being respected especially at a time when everyone is going impatient and made a sacrifice when Samuel peace. Finally, I congratulate all Ugandans especially by Mengo! There is a tendency by out of bounds. Lately, I have been watching delayed, his entire household was destroyed. who have made it to 2011. May this be the Mengo to oppose everything the Govern- President Museveni’s roles. On a number of To avoid such a disaster everyone shoud stick luckiest year that you have ever lived. Have a ment proposes—the Land Bill, for example. occasions the President has become a central to their roles. prosperous New Year, Moses Jingo figure in organising and leading prayers, a role Paul Twebaze Kashate John Michael Nkugwa Kampala that should be for religious leaders. At the end Kampala UCU Mukono

WHAT LAZY TELLERS BLOOD PAY MY MUM FUNDRAISING BEST, WORST THIS WEEK There is a bank in Gulu It is very painful for My mother has been Recently somebody The Vision readers' DO YOU How should parties handle which I advise to style citizens to die due to working for over 10 wrote a letter complain- worst and best polls the issue of independent SAY? up. They have the worst lack of blood in hos- month as a midwife in ing that he or she is seem to have a political candidates? Share your views customer care I have pitals. Uganda needs Sironko but has sometimes reluctant to angle! How can Kahi- on the matter. SMS TO ever experienced in a healthy population. never been paid! She has go to church on Sun- nda Otafiire and Aggrey banks. Two tellers spend Donating blood is one a family of two children days because of endless Awori be among the 8338 almost 45 minutes serv- of the signs of patriot- to cater for and to meet fundraising. Nobody best performing min- Remember: ing only one client as if ism. The health min- many other obligations. can be forced to pay isters? How can Erias Follow the discussion at Type LETTER other people don't mat- istry should sensitise What is she supposed to money if they don't Lukwago be lumped www.newvision.co.ug (space) mes- ter to them! people. do? have it or don't want to. with Kato Kajubi? sage, send Deo Edison Nabulo Name withheld James Hellen