Caleb, We are just getting the outcome of last week's executive's meeting to determine whether WNF will have a coordinator and a secretariat though this email. Would it be possible to officially communicate the decisions and action items emanating from that meeting?.
For a frank conversation about the challenges, trials and tribulations of running a secretariat for a virtual community please contact Ms. Esther Munduru Drilliga - the first volunteer Project Manager for Kobokonet and Grace Akandru the Coordinator/CEO of Koboko Civil Society Network (kocisonet) who agreed to house the Kobokonet Secretariat within kocisonet premises during the one year pilot trial. I beleive both of these ladies are in Kampala. It is not an easy task to run the secretariat -- meeting with Grace and Esther Munduru will go a long way in ensuring that WNF secretariat is more successful than when Kobokonet had one. Esther Munduru -- emund...@yahoo.fr Grace Akandru -- akandrugr...@yahoo.com Also, with all the work that needs to be done -- you may wish to reconsider projects like offering scholarships at this early stage. If WNF must offfer scholarship, I suggest the funds be used to help offer internship positions at the WNF Secretariat for graduating college and university students. This will give them necessary work experience while contributing to the success of WNF. After the conversations with Grace and Esther, you may wish to throw the subject for discussion so that members have real input in terms of the qualifications and qualities for a coordinator who will have to work with all the districts, politicians, RDCs, district chairmen, civil society organizations, NGOs, educational and religious institutions etc across west nile. >From my point of view, any scholarship -- unless, offered to the most vulnerable of the vulnerable in our society/ communities, must be attached/tied to putting in time at WNF or any community organization(s) in West Nile. Gone are the days where open scholarships are given to people and they just disappear when they have benefitted from the scholarships. This is just my opinion! In the five years or so that I have been intimately involved in doing something for back home, I can assure you that there monies out there for the work that we are doing for WNF or Kobokonet. You just need to provide support to the coordinator to go out and find these monies. But, initial investment from members is crucial -- in otherwords, if we want help from others, we must be willing to meet them halfway by reaching out to our pockets first. The most important thaing in teh selection of the Coordinator is to ensure that WNF members make teh final decision NOT teh executive if you want teh person to succeed! Charles On 3/21/13, Caleb Alaka <calebal...@yahoo.com> wrote: > Vasco, thanks for your well thought analysis not only about the politicians > in West Nile, the communities of West Nile, the people and the West Nile > Foundation. Indeed our collective mind set as Ezaga always puts it is our > biggest undoing. Many politicians are on this forum, they elect to keep mum. > There is a tendency amongst elected politicians at all levels that its they > who are the voice of the people having been elected. As such, they arrogate > a high priests role and posture as the only medium who are mandated to > intercede on behalf of the helpless, voiceless populace. They imagine that > by virtue of being elected, they are infallible. They under look efforts of > other stake holders, believe you me, they are weary of efforts like ours, > even those who are our peers are a bit jittery about our intentions. > Nevertheless your analysis about West Nile Foundation is true, the > Foundation has grappled to become relevant, yet all hopes seem to be on it. > Good thing is the Foundation is trying to make entry into the volatile > waters of West Nile through education. As soon as Charles Draecabo and > Patrick Ezagas teams finalise their tasks and the Scholarship fund takes off > with in the time frame set by the executive, it will be a good entry point > and from that point which is in the next two or so months, the Foundation > will have the necessary impact. All the money's we have ever collected are > safe and intact. After getting the Coordinator, an auditor and a mini > secretariat, we will need to task ourselves to contribute finances towards > the foundation in the short run. Any organization without money is doomed to > fail. Otherwise, thanks for your analysis, we in the leadership will take > and consider your views seriously. Awadifo, iyete > > Sent from my iPhone > > On Mar 22, 2013, at 3:06 AM, Vasco Oguzua <vogu...@gmail.com> wrote: > >> Charles, >> >> You are completely right on, with your question, and Alaka has given a >> good assessment of the situation of our politicians in West Nile. Indeed >> the politicians in West Nile have placed or think of their political party >> affiliation more important than addressing the issues of the people of >> West Nile who elected them to enjoy the shade Mr. Aliti has mentioned as >> an analogy in his post. What Sam has opined is in my view the gist what I >> believe has resulted in the circumstance Charles has questioned. >> I do not think any of our politicians have been elected or are aspiring to >> be elected have issues as the basis for which they have sought or are >> seeking political positions, and are, or will be answerable to the people. >> The electorate is so ignorant about their ability to exercise their >> electoral power that I do not think they push these politicians to talk or >> address issues of the people. If the people as a community who experience >> the lack of service and suffer the consequences of lack of service, what >> about the politicians who have nothing to loose even when they do not >> address the issues that afflict the daily lives of the people they >> represent. While we the people of West Nile are always quick to point >> fingers at others, we are not a people who think, analyze, and question >> issues very seriously. We are all nothing but a bunch of opportunists who >> care more of what is good or benefits our individuals rather the the >> public or community good. >> This is reflected in almost all the many and various issues we have >> discussed on this forum. We are perhaps some of most reactive people to >> issues that affect our community, it is rare that we give a careful >> thought to and analyze the issues as they present themselves. We are >> always quick at jumping to conclusions and at times accusations without >> giving ourselves time to carefully think about the issues and try to >> understand and evaluate the dynamics of the issues that affect us as a >> community. I think the politicians are not any different from us, their >> interests are not the electorate, but their individual well-being. Some >> needs to educated me on how the split of the 10 counties of West Nile has >> improved services in the region and has resulted in a better quality of >> life in the region. There are politicians fighting for districts not >> because they benefit the people but their own individual position - I >> understand Madi county was supposed to become a district though the >> district project has of late been suspended. Our politicians fight and do >> not talk to each other because of disagreement on district allocations >> which have not improved the quality of life of the population. How can we >> expect these people to fight for the people when their individual >> interests are all what they care about. >> The best example of our weakness to work as a team for the interest of the >> public good in my view if we look at the organization of West Nile >> Foundation and the activities the Foundation that was intended in 2009. >> There was a strategic plan which was supposed to have been developed and >> implemented - where is it now?What has the organization done to improve >> the quality of life of the people of West Nile? Does the rural person in >> West Nile know what West Nile Foundation is? Does the foundation have >> interest in the lives of the people in West Nile? The Foundation initiated >> the Education Project since 2009, an issue which was being discussed with >> a lot of anxiety and emotion in the passed one moth or so what have we to >> show for the project that was initiated since 2009? Has the West Nile >> Foundation gone to the people of West Nile in West Nile to present their >> intentions and and listen to what the people have to say and to interact >> with the people so as to understand their issues, concerns or problems? >> There are just too many examples which can be given to the issue Charles >> has questioned. I agree with both what Alaka has expressed and what Sam >> has observed. My view is that if the West Nile Foundation had set up the >> precedence of being was well organized and considered the peoples issues >> as the basis of their operation,where the Foundation frequently consults >> or interacts with the people of West Nile in West Nile, they would be the >> force to push issues affecting the region. Perhaps the Foundation would >> even better address the issues of the people better than the politicians, >> and I can bet you the politicians would be the one running to the >> Foundation because the foundation has the peoples mandate and addresses >> issues of the people. >> I think this issue Charles questioned is a very serious issue we sons and >> daughters of the region have to think about and question ourselves about >> what our role is to the people of our region, and how can we as a >> community look at ourselves as a people of the same fate and help improve >> ourselves and our community. The individualism in ourselves as a people of >> West Nile is what has stagnated development and provision of quality >> services in our region. >> >> Vasco >> >> On Thu, Mar 21, 2013 at 3:18 AM, banduga ismail <bani...@yahoo.co.uk> >> wrote: >>> Caleb, >>> >>> You are spot on. Ladies and gentlemen, relying on the politicians from >>> West Nile is a very risky venture. Its high time we forgot about them and >>> do what we can as concerned citizens of West Nile through our various >>> vocations. Those in the ruling party are strategising for ministerial >>> appointments and positioning themselves for attention of the chief >>> executive. They will not want to be labelled as 'rebels', least they miss >>> out. >>> >>> WNF, try to summon them, it will be a surprise if you receive apologies. >>> At most, they will go silent and not turn up. A very dangerous bill is in >>> front of them for discussion. I don't know how many of them are holding >>> consultative meetings with the people in their constituencies now. Those >>> are the people we elected and that is what we get. May Allah guide us as >>> the people of West Nile, insha-allah. >>> >>> ------------------------------ >>> >>> From: Caleb Alaka <calebal...@yahoo.com> >>> To: A Virtual Network for friends of West Nile <westnilenet@kym.net> >>> Cc: Kobokonet Koboko <koboko...@yahoogroups.com>; A Virtual Network for >>> friends of West Nile <westnilenet@kym.net> >>> Sent: Thursday, 21 March 2013, 8:44 >>> Subject: Re: [WestNileNet] Museveni meets Acholi leaders over OPM scam >>> >>> Charles, West Nile Politicians are not only myopic, but seem to be >>> cursed. They believe in there political parties more than West Nile. >>> Instead of giving West Nile their allegiance first, their allegiance is >>> to FDC or NRM, what is strange is that if we summon these politicians, >>> they will fear to turn up. All the same, we shall try to summon them. A >>> week or so ago. I applied for bail for business Hassan Basajjabalaba, I >>> called his brother Nasser Basajjabalaba former NRM member of Parliament >>> Ishaka/Bushenyi Municipality. Court rejected him on the basis of age, >>> suddenly I saw a gentleman stand up, and approaching the bar where >>> lawyers seat, he offered to stand as surety instead of Nasser, it was >>> Hon. Ado Tayebwa the FDC leaning Man who defeated Nasser to become MP for >>> the same Constituency, more over Nasser filed a petition which is not yet >>> disposed of. I knew why Bushenyi is one of the most developed districts >>> in Uganda. When Eriya Kategaya passed on Besigye and Museveni attended >>> his burial, when our good friend the late Finia passed on some MPs did >>> not attend because Aridru then was NRM leaning. Any way, lets try >>> >>> Sent from my iPhone >>> >>> On Mar 21, 2013, at 4:02 AM, Charles Male <cdm...@gmail.com> wrote: >>> >>> > Why are west nile politicians not joining the acholi politicians since >>> > west nile suffered the consequences of the various wars as also? >>> > >>> > Why can"t west nile ask for serious government intervention like the >>> > Acholi politicians? >>> > >>> > Caleb, when is WNF going to bring WN politicians under one roof and >>> > tell them how displeased west nilers are for the state of affairs in >>> > teh region? >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> > ________CUT__________ >>> > >>> > >>> > “We want serious government intervention in the north,” a member of >>> > the team, who requested not to be named told the Daily Monitor. “Our >>> > people have suffered because of the war and the government >>> > intervention has not been satisfactory. Instead of helping our people, >>> > OPM officials decided to [eat] the donor funds in the name of our >>> > people and the President is silent.” >>> > >>> > While the details from the Rwakitura meeting were still scanty, >>> > another legislator told this newspaper that the President was to take >>> > the Acholi leaders on a tour to appreciate modern farming techniques >>> > needed in the fight against poverty. >>> > >>> > ymuge...@ug.nationmedia.com >>> > _______________________________________________ >>> > 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. >>> _______________________________________________ >>> >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> 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. >> _______________________________________________ > _______________________________________________ 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. _______________________________________________
