Mgba Sam, Thank you for the response and the attendant arguemenst to my earlier posting.
First of all I hope we appreciate that times change and I would therefore not expect siblings to do exactly our siblings to do exactly what we did. What we can however do is to identify what we think can engage them into constructive contribution to the well being of, first our homes like our parents kept us digging Simsim or providing helping in dfferent various ways. Sam, how have you attempted to engage your siblings into positive contribution and they have refused to cooperate and resorted to siting with you in Kampala watching WBS television waiting for schools? There is no denial whatsover on my part of collapse of self drive in our current generation. You see, the point is we all start life from below Zero with no SIGNIFICANT leverage other than the Education our parents have struggled to provide us. By the way thanks to all of you here who heeded parents advise to stick to books to come to stage. Jst look at the hrdles we face in our current careers just to break through. An uphill task for most of us in that matter. I think our siblings should not follow exactly what we did except that what they can do now have changed as a result of the ever changing demands of society needs and environment. Identify something that can engage those siblings in a constructive way, it could be digging or whatever. I elieve you have at least a compund they can tend to, not so?? That would still be positive contribution and these all shape a kid in growing up and they can learn a lesson or two by doing that. Our children of today can derive some small pocket monies through engaging, for example by selling in your shop in Owaffa or Alikua that supplies groceries to the community and you should be able to pay such a sibling a meaningful token to ba bel to meet the small requirements of buying pens, books, soap etc. It may not be NECESSARY they should dig. On Infrastructure and Surplus production, I would like us to reflect on one district in Uganda-Masindi. Masindi in Bunyoro region for that matter is famous for being a big producer of Maize that is often bought by so many middlemen coming from all over Uganda, including Arua. I am yet to see fundamental changes in that region as a result of that. There infrastructure is one of the most dilapidated, if not worse than ours! Not to go native, I really do not see anything better in that area than West Nile brought about as a result of "specialism" in growing maize on their soil that supports the crop. There should be deliberate efforts in infrastructure development whereas I agree that we should change attitude and grow food stuff instead of Marungi. It was suddening to read a Karamojong woman in her Forties dying of HUNGER and squirrela have become a delicacy in Teso region because of draught!!! Is there no food grown in other regions of Uganda that could/can be transported to that region at an affrdable price?? With all due respect, we can not denigrate political will issues on infrastructure development. Were it that infrastructure is well developed across the board in Uganda, food would be available on all Ugandan family tables and cheaper, irrespective of climate disparaties. We would not hear of people dying of hunger like I read in the Monitor papers last week. Are Yiba rice and Omugo Millers still thriving...just curious! Marungi as a stable source of income for a proprietor is not bad. Remember a Mzee in Ociba who paid all his children in school with revenues from Marungi?? I can pronouce myself that Marungi is the way to go and encourage people to abuse it. Eating Marungi for cleverness is yet another level, if not class of MADNESS. Yes, I did eat Marungi and I can even chew now if you can provide, though Marungi is forbidden in this Islamic country where I currently live. Hwoever, my purpose was not garner cleverness but as a matter of curiosity to really understand what drives people into eatin like Ruminants! I found it useless and abandoned it but kept collecting my Pocket money from the proceeds for eating IVORY( Cassava) while at Mvara. You know what, I did not need to weed it frequently like any other crop. The point I would like to stress is that with ECONOMICALLY viable alternative agricutural products backed with adequate Infrastructure development being driven through change of our peoples attitude, we can engage our populace into meaningful production. Eating Marungi or drinking beer and the regulation are habits for perosna decision making, just like I have failed to quit smoking despite the Numerous brotherly calls from people like you at certain times in our Makerere history. I appreciate the brainstorming discourse. Good day. Gilbert A On 18/05/2009, samuel andema <andema...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote: > > Hi MrAdibo Gilbert, > > I find it tempting to repsond to your submission the articles by Jckson and > Lee on unempleyment and poverty in West Nile. To begin with, i thank you for > you usually very intelligent arguements. I also appreciate your ability to > provoke further arguement on issues. That is how we can engage our brains to > function! > > Broadly speaking i would like to agree with you that the people of West > Nile are historically known for being hard working in Uganda and beyond. > While is true i must contest that the youth of taday are largely lazy and > have no purpose in life, at least as far as the way they conduct themslves > is concerned. Indeed, West Nile is what it is like today largely because of > the efforts of the people of West Nile but the youth who are the primary > focus of this debate have not contributed much to the development process in > West Nile. I started digging before i went to school and even when i went to > school i loved to spend my holidays with my parents in the bushes of Rhino > Camp growing simsim for my school fees. These days my siblings prefer to > stay with me in Kampala waiting for me to look for school fees books, pens, > pocket money, name it, while the gardens are unattended to. > > I agree with you Gilbert, that the infrasture in the region requires some > serious attention to facilitate free flow of goods and services in > the regional markets but i also believe that there is alot we can do for > ourselves without waiting for some body's political will over which we have > limitted control. While we demand our fair share of the national cake we > must keep helping ourselves with some "kabalagalas" or "otilikpakia" lest we > die of hunger waiting for the national cake. > > While you we need to target the regional markets to sale our foodstuffs, I > belive we have not even supplied the internal market. People are sleeping > hungry in the villages because of acute shortage of food! West Nile has one > of the highest population growth rates which in itself is a potential market > especially for food items if we have the means and purchasing power. > Besides, we do not always have to transport our products to Congo or Sudan > or Kampala. People should come to us to get what we want. As long as it is > discovered that we have surplus production the middlemen will be the ones to > come to us for our products. The cost of transport on the bad roads will be > born by the middlemen and consumer whom they suppy although we shall may not > avoid the cost of factor inputs. > > Gilbert, you said you used to grow "marungi" and you still have some > "marungi" gardens if i may ask, did you use eat the marungi you grow and do > you stiil eat marungi. If not why would you think it was bad for you and > must be good for the young people lotering the streets. I am told that one > of the reasons why the young people are eating "marungi" is to become > clever. Surely, do you believe such stuff? Should encourage our young people > to continue to believe these kinds of lies. > > Otherwise, i thank you for injecting more thought into the discussions and > hope others will add their voices so that our understanding of the real > issues is enriched. > > Thanks > > Sam Andema > > > > > > > --- On *Mon, 18/5/09, Gilbert Adibo <adibo2...@gmail.com>* wrote: > > > > From: Gilbert Adibo <adibo2...@gmail.com> > Subject: Re: [WestNileNet] Unemployment and Poverty > To: "A Virtual Network for friends of West Nile" <westnilenet@kym.net> > Date: Monday, 18 May, 2009, 9:21 AM > > Dear Jackson and Lee, > > I salute the brilliant articulations you two and others have advanced here > in pursuit of lasting solutions to our problems vis first class poverty, > unemployment, lack of information etc. > > I would however like to add that our people per se are not lazy people. At > times my people(West Nile) amaze me by the zeal they have often shown in > going against all odds to ensure West Nile is what it looks today despite > the political neglect in terms of Infrastracture development. > > Our people could very easily diversify into more environmentally > friendly Agricultural prouductivity, but where is the Market for these > produce for large scale production?? Kampala, yes; DRC, yes; Sudan, yes; > East Africa, yes- but the question is, what is the infrastacture state in > our region to enable a cost effective movement of food supplies intra West > Nile region and within the boundaries of the greater East African > region including DRC and Sudan. > > I vividly remember occassions when some of our farmers would dispose of > produce such as tomatoes, Avocados etc because of failure to be able to > complete Sell of such perishable produce from Vurra, Maracha or Riiki and > yet he or she can not carry the same on his bicycle or her head and walk all > those daunting, dusty kms back to Vurra and then return to Arua town and > resale the following day!! What is the next option, dump the damn balance > and buy paraffin, match box, salt, tea leaves( though Ejiku plays with it > now) and small sacket of brown sugar and simply goes back home because > these are the simple basics that they need in the village(farm homestaed). > What is the impact of all these, frustration of our farmers and people look > for alternative cheaper sources of survival where there is minimal > dispensation of energy and time, Marungi growing comes in handy men. I grew > Marungi before and I still have the garden that is sustaining some peoples > livelihood. I do not condone misuse of any consumable, "Marungi" inclusive. > What is the difference between an abuser of Marungi and Bell Beer????? > > The point I would like to drive here is that there are bigger issues at > stake that need to be solved first in order for any of our efforts to yield > SIGNIFICANT dividends. Proper Infrastructure development in our region to > enable cost effective movement of Produce, labour, Capital, Information so > that our people can meaningfully change to environmentally > friendly Agricultural productivity supported by the growth of other sectors > as well. This needs Political WILL which is conspicuously absent. > > Jackson and Lee, do you guys think if I had my USD 50M and wanted to > establsih a serious commercial rice farming in Yumbe wherein I construct > Olewa in Terego to supply power to my farm, I would be Cleared by the Uganda > political powerholders?? Just asking. > > Were it not for the hard work of our people, Arua and West Nile would not > be what it is today, though we really deserve better, which is the central > reason this forum has made us come together. Jackson and Lee, why are we > exchanging ideas here despite not knowing each other, its because we all > mean GOOD for our region. > > I hope we shall come up lasting workable solutions for all these crucial > issues debated on this forum. > > Our people are doing their BEST amid all odds prevailing now with > historical neglect backlog still haunting them. Brethren, we are doing Catch > up with the rest of the Country and I salute all your contributions. > > Regards, > > Gilbert A > > > > On 17/05/2009, oguzu lee > <oguzu...@yahoo.com<http://uk.mc247.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=oguzu...@yahoo.com>> > wrote: >> >> Jackson, >> >> >> >> You've always made us win even it sometimes means slowing down your >> journey. The decision to deal with poverty is long awaited. Many at times >> people fail or fear to discuss this topic for fear of their frame of >> reference (how rich they are to talk about poverty). So what happens if >> someone asks them how rich they are to discuss such issues? To me poverty is >> relative. Without fear of being prejudiced, one of the issues we've got to >> deal with in our endeavor is apathy; a feeling of being unable, incapable, >> and doing nothing about one's situation. Many people are doing nothing about >> their situation. Our culture of helping (extending olive leaf to those who >> do not deserve) seemed to have bred phenomenal laziness and promoted the >> spirit of receiving free things. I think its time we changed >> our empowerment approach from one that breeds dependence to one that rewards >> hard work. History tells us, Europe was once in the same mess we are in >> today but what they did was to start giving to those who work. People later >> got to realize that only hard work pays. Decent life can only be led after >> working. This was however done with respect for the rights of the sick, >> elderly, and others genuinely incapacitated. >> >> >> >> The second thing we've got to deal with is the information >> poverty. Globally, info is now power yet many of our rural poor do not have >> access to information which can enhance their productivity, employability, >> etc. Such people have dwindled chances of ever making informed decisions? >> >> >> >> Sam raised also a serious issue and I wish to state the following in >> regard. Marungi is now one of the cash crops grown in Arua with its nucleus >> in Kijomoro, Maracha County. Many people have looked at marungi with >> complexity/mixture of feelings. The sad fact is: it’s a source of living to >> some people but also number one cause of idleness and other problems. >> Someone joked whether people would still be alive in kijomoro if Marungi >> plantations were destroyed. While on a tour in Maracha, president also told >> the people marungi is a mild drug–a statement that went well with the >> population. People have now neglected food production preferring to buy food >> from marungi proceeds. The youth are heavily involved in nothing else except >> chewing marungi. Politicians fear to talk against marungi for fear of >> loosing votes. Members, without jeopardizing livelihood of some people and >> blessing the dangers of Marungi, how do we strike a deal? >> >> >> >> In addition to Marungi, we've got to deal with excessive drinking. Amb. >> Phillip Idro once told me our poverty is now first-class poverty and he said >> excessive drinking is an attempt to catch up with what was missed. He also >> said that people in first class poverty spend all their earnings trying to >> catch up with what they missed in the past--meaning they do not invest or >> savet. With no savings/investment, such people find themselves in what >> Robert Kyoshaki called 'rat race' and this is typical of most of our tobacco >> farmers. Year in, year out, they are in fruitless production. Unless the >> little money they get is finished they will never go home. There are cases >> where people have ended up filling their drinking water pots with beer to >> catch up with what they missed. Others swift from drinking ‘Okarito’ to beer >> until tobacco money is exhausted. How then can such people eliminate >> poverty? >> >> >> >> This is really the magnitude of the problem we face. The challenge is >> really enormous. At times, the problem is so contagious. In trying to help, >> one could catch the disease but I'm confident we can all do our part to >> create the kind of society that guarantees hope for the next generation. >> >> >> >> Regards, >> >> >> >> Denis Lee Oguzu >> >> > > --- On *Fri, 5/15/09, JohnAJackson > <javud...@gmail.com<http://uk.mc247.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=javud...@gmail.com> > >* wrote: > > > From: JohnAJackson > <javud...@gmail.com<http://uk.mc247.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=javud...@gmail.com> > > > Subject: [WestNileNet] Hot Topics for discussion > To: > westnilenet@kym.net<http://uk.mc247.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=westnile...@kym.net> > Date: Friday, May 15, 2009, 8:41 AM > > This is a reminder about the issues & Hot Topics for discussion:* > > ** > > 1) Closure of Primary School in Koboko District---------Done > > 2) Migration of Walalu Pastoralist in Wet Nile > > 3) Barifa Forest demarcation for development-----------Done > 4) Derfoestation of West Nile Region----------------------Done > > 5) Relocation of Arua Prison out of the City or Town > > 6) Matego District Issue > > 7) Electiricity & Power development > > 8) Poor Performance in Schools in West Nile, Task Force (TF) = Waiting > for report > > 9) High Unempolyment & Poverty in the West Nile Region > > 10) Other Business ( Add more issues as you please) > > > May suggest that to members of this forum that *High unemployment and > Poverty in the West Nile Region* be discussed for the next two(2) weeks > Please look at root cause & solutions/proposals > > I have attached two PDF docs about the summary points on the recent > dicussions. > > -----Inline Attachment Follows----- > > _______________________________________________ > WestNileNet mailing list > WestNileNet@kym.net<http://us.mc518.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=westnile...@kym.net> > http://orion.kym.net/mailman/listinfo/westnilenet > % WestNileNet is generously hosted by INFOCOM http://www.infocom.co.ug/ > > > The above comments and data are owned by whoever posted them (including > attachments if any). The List's Host is not responsible for them in any way. > _______________________________________________ > > > > > _______________________________________________ > WestNileNet mailing list > WestNileNet@kym.net<http://uk.mc247.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=westnile...@kym.net> > http://orion.kym.net/mailman/listinfo/westnilenet > % WestNileNet is generously hosted by INFOCOM http://www.infocom.co.ug/ > > > The above comments and data are owned by whoever posted them (including > attachments if any). The List's Host is not responsible for them in any way. > _______________________________________________ > > > > -----Inline Attachment Follows----- > > _______________________________________________ > WestNileNet mailing list > WestNileNet@kym.net<http://uk.mc247.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=westnile...@kym.net> > http://orion.kym.net/mailman/listinfo/westnilenet > % WestNileNet is generously hosted by INFOCOM http://www.infocom.co.ug/ > > > The above comments and data are owned by whoever posted them (including > attachments if any). The List's Host is not responsible for them in any way. > _______________________________________________ > > > > _______________________________________________ > WestNileNet mailing list > WestNileNet@kym.net > http://orion.kym.net/mailman/listinfo/westnilenet > % WestNileNet is generously hosted by INFOCOM http://www.infocom.co.ug/ > > > The above comments and data are owned by whoever posted them (including > attachments if any). The List's Host is not responsible for them in any way. > _______________________________________________ > >
_______________________________________________ WestNileNet mailing list WestNileNet@kym.net http://orion.kym.net/mailman/listinfo/westnilenet % WestNileNet is generously hosted by INFOCOM http://www.infocom.co.ug/ The above comments and data are owned by whoever posted them (including attachments if any). The List's Host is not responsible for them in any way. _______________________________________________
