re. wonderful ideas. we need to implement it. in action. global volunteer
network. volunteers in uganda, westnile in particular. visit this. website. for
more details info. http://www.volunteer.org.nz/uganda/ also this to link on
many websites around the globe. http://www.muwelidin-community.zoomshare.com/
respectively. tadd to your favourite, & fwd. more sisters to voice their ideas
to this subject of university in westnile by. majid alemi junior. over to
members of this forum. regards to all. keep the fire burning.
________________________________
From: MOL <adumimv...@yahoo.ca>
To: A Virtual Network for friends of West Nile <westnilenet@kym.net>
Sent: Tuesday, August 11, 2009 6:54:44 AM
Subject: Re: [WestNileNet] University in West Nile
I totally agree with Charles on the issue of long term planning. First and
foremost, I must say that I've read all the contributions made so far by fellow
West Nilers regarding the establishment of a University in West Nile. I believe
it is a very healthy thing to debate this issue and give different views even
if they are opposing views. It is only such brain-stormings that will lead us
into a better plan for this project. Remember, if we don't get out acts
together and if we get it wrong history will judge us as we are judging those
who planned for us some 50 or 100 years ago. This is the time for us to unite
as a people irrespective of our political affiliations.
I think one thing we all agree on is the need for a public university in West
Nile, there is no doubt about that and in fact it is well overdue. What we are
faced with now is where will it be built? I certainly agree that starting with
one campus based in Arua is not a bad idea. However, we should not lose sight
of the fact that we have to take services to the people and not people to the
services. Therefore, as a future undertaking there is need to have a plan for
campuses in other urban areas like Koboko, Moyo and Nebbi (Packwach). Having
the first campus in Arua would then be a short term plan while the long term
strategic plan would include establishing campuses in other parts of West
Nile. I believe towns like Koboko, Moyo and Packwach already have educational
institutions which could easily be transformed into university campuses.
Having said all these, I would like to draw attention to what has become more
of a problem for us on the political front. I know, most people would not like
to touch on this but I will. For so long we have had representatives who are
there in parliament for themselves. Part of the neglect West Nile has suffered
has been because of our political leanings which have not given us crumbs
of the national cake, let alone a thin slice of the national cake. At times it
does not hurt to align with your opponent in order to obtain what may benefit
you. As they say a hyena and a goat may seek shelter together if they have the
same interests- i.e. a common enemy. So, what ever the political stipes we
have have, let's seize this opportunity and have a long term plan for a public
university which will benefit all corners of West Nile. In conclusion, my only
advice on this debate is that, for once, let's not try to inject personal
political ambitions into
this project. Meanwhile, let's keep the debate flowing. This is good!
___________________________________________________________
Mike Luti
________________________________
From: Charles Male <cdm...@gmail.com>
To: A Virtual Network for friends of West Nile <westnilenet@kym.net>
Sent: Tuesday, August 11, 2009 5:00:33 AM
Subject: Re: [WestNileNet] University in West Nile
When you plan major infrastructural or development projects such as a
university, you plan for the long term not for one or two or five years. Here
we plan for one hundered years! The city of Ottawa, for example, is now
replacing water pipes and mains that were built/installed one hundred years ago!
And they are replacing these having projected what the population of Ottawa is
going to be 100 years from now.
Short term planning is what has led West Nile into being neglected. A typical
example is the tarmacking of the road from Karuma to Arua. If any of the
planners in the Ministries of Finance and Transport really understood what long
term planning for economic development was, they should have extended teh
tarmacking right to Oraba/Kaya in anticipation of the peace in Southern Sudan.
The Arua - Kaya portion should have been planned already; Arua-Moyo; Moyo-Gulu;
all these should have been planned already and just wait for the funds to
implement the plan!
We all know the problems of Uganda is not lack of money as evidenced by the
mansions being built by people whose salaries can't even afford to pay
electricity, water and food for 10 to 20 dependants living in those mansions.
The constant giving away of money to this kingdom, that kingdom, this chief,
that chief --- add that money, it is much more than what is required to build a
good road network in Northern Uganda.
You can even see short-term planning in our everyday practices in our
societies were many people only have enough food for one season and rely on
mother nature to give us rain so we can plant for the next season. Or, the
parents who shun to take their children to school because they don't see the
results of that investment in one year.
Nobody is saying that we should not have a university located in one place for
now. Those of us who see long term want to ensure that the gov't is made aware
of what we want for our region 50 - 100 years from now because the last 100
years have been disastrous. We were blind, but now we see!
At any rate, we are just sharing /debating the issue of the university and
nothing stops us as individuals from preparing our own vision and sharing it
with the Uganda gov't officials with whom we interact very frequently - whether
here in Ottawa or in Uganda. That is what I intend to do as my own submission!
If the Gov't wholeheartedly wishes to implement a university in WN, then surely
it must take into consideration what the wishes of the people are - both the
majority view and teh minority view. As someone says, if this idea of a
university is a BAIT, then they will use every excuse under the sun to not
build it because the people don't agree on where it should be!
It is better we Plan and fail THAN fail to Plan!
Charles
On Mon, Aug 10, 2009 at 11:58 PM, mary duku <tha...@hotmail.com> wrote:
I agree with you John. Let's support this initiative of having one powerful
University in west Nile. The expansions will come later. Please let's agree
on this important Initiative. Together We Stand. Divided we all fall.
>
>Mary apai
>
>________________________________
Date: Mon, 10 Aug 2009 09:14:48 -0500
>From: javud...@gmail.com
>To: westnilenet@kym.net
>Subject: [WestNileNet] University in West Nile
>
>
>
>There is a common saying that when "you want to hit the iron, hit it when it
>is still hot". If the president has given some green light for starting and
>funding a univsersity in Arua, this is a good time to move fast on this
>project quickly. May be we should look at setting up another University Task
>Force(UTF), which is non denominational, non partison.
>
>The biggest problem we have in our community in West Nile is that we forget
>the "Power of Lobbying Govenment". Everywhere around the world, people lobby
>govenments for projects in their region.
>
>We still have infleuncial retired govenment bereaucrats. We should talk and
>engage people like Obitre Gama, Tom Buruku, Joseph Etima, Mustafa Idiris,
>Univesity Professors from West Nile Region, etc. If we involve these elders as
>"Trustees" to lobbly the president, the chances of getting the project
>executed quickly is very high.
>
>The idea of university with campuses in Arua, Koboko, Nebbi and Moyo is good.
>But we must start with one campuse first. Expand the university as it grows.
>There is excellent model of University of Wisconsin (USA) that has campuses in
>every major city in Wisconsin, more than ten compuses. Expansion like this
>"Needs big money". Where does it come from? It Requires Major Fund Rasing
>Effort". It can be done by teaming up with overseas universities.
>
>Avudria
>
________________________________
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