Managers and employers should be sensetive when relaying bad news to their employees!

The Story about the Mwiri teacher(Mwiri is a single sex secondary school in eastern Uganda in Jinja district.)who commited suicide over his transfer’ is a clear indication that the increasing number people depressed in Uganda should be cause for alarm to the entire public of Uganda.In a study conducted by world vision in 2001, it was found that 21% of adults surveyed in selected HIV and AIDS-affected communities in south-western Uganda were clinically depressed in this country. This study concentrated on HIV/AIDS affected communities but it can work as a pilot test to show us that there are quite a number of people who are depressed.The previous reports of the media about a man who murdered he’s family and the recent one about the Mwiri teacher is an indication that the levels of depression are rising not only as a result of HIV/AIDS but also because of the existing high levels of poverty and other related problems.According to World Health Organization depression is a common mental disorder that presents with depressed mood, loss of interest or pleasure, feelings of guilt or low self-worth, disturbed sleep or appetite, low energy, and poor concentration. These problems can become chronic or recurrent and lead to substantial impairments in an individual's ability to take care of his or her everyday responsibilities. At its worst, depression can lead to suicide, a tragic fatality associated with the loss of about 850 000 thousand lives every year.In light of the article that was published in the daily monitor of February 2009, one would assume that life is worthless. The diseased David Kaggwa’s suicidal death clearly indicates that some people in Uganda do not treasure the sacredness of life and thus ignorantly devalue it in preference of what exists around us such as our jobs, houses, cars which we assume are a better bargain than our pressures lives!Therefore while some people strife to exercise, eat well, do regular check ups, pray and protect their lives, some ignorant ones just commit suicide. The paradox here is whom I’m I angry with? Is it those who commit suicide? Or those who ignore depressed people? and trample over them making them less hopeful and helpless. In this particular case my pointing figure is accusing the Head teacher of Mwri who did not pay attention to the emotional weakness of Mr. Kaggwa because he was busy cruelly relaying the transfer details to Mr. Kaggwa without putting into consideration he’s emotional state before giving him the bad news of he’s referral to the Ministry for posting elsewhere.This brings to light the negligence of poor managers who luck the skill to council and prepare stuff for the bad news that awaits them. Bad news of any sort has never been an easy thing to digest. I’m sure that all of you out there know that catastrophic news can send anyone in their right senses to become crazy enough to attempt to or take their own life. One requires emotional backup from an understanding person in order to absorb and digest bad news. Cooperate leaders, Directors, Managers and employers should know that we entrust them with lives of our loved ones. If you are a boss out there, Know that you have a responsibility of looking out for your subjects. Device a more appropriate means of relaying bad news to your subjects in a less traumatic manner. The reasons that acted as a catalysts drive for Mr. Kaggwa to commit suicide was the short notice announcement from the School head teacher. He’s depressed state caused by overwhelming financial problems could not enable him bear the news of being unemployed.

love the children don't abuse them

Issues concerning child abuse have been popular in the local media and it seems to be fading away so soon. Protests and campaigns against violence and child abuse of children should become more proactive. This is because numerous forms of abuses go on and on and we sit back and look on.

Evils such as child trafficking, child sacrifice, child soldiers, defilement, child battering, child labour, domestic violence, and child prostitution are some of the abuses children have had to live with through out their lives. We have tremendously sinned against the innocent children in so many ways and the list is endless.

The motherly heart of a woman has disappeared, because if we look at most of the evils that happen to children it has its genesis with the cruelty of a woman. Some kinds of child abuses start early. For instance, with every puff of cigarette, your baby absorbs growth-retarding diseases of nicotine, carbon monoxide, ammonia and hydrogen chloride. Mothers who are supposed to love care and protect children start destroying them with bad habits such as smoking, alcoholism and ‘indiscipline’ acts during their pregnancies. As if the torture given to them is not enough during pregnancy then comes, the physical and psychological neglect of a child after birth. For useless purposes such as looking young, little headed mothers refuse to breast feed their babies and deny them the natural nutrients God prepared for children in their breast!


In a recent documentary on BBC, it was repoted that lots of children especially the girl child were being shipped to the west to be used as child prostitutes. The documentary talked about a teenage Nigerian girl who left her Home in search for greener pastures only to be deceived by a selfish cruel woman who helped her crossover to western Europe, only to use her as a money making tool in prostitution. The girl was found by one of the BBC reporter who took the responsibility of returning her the right authorities who returned her safely back to Nigeria. On return several medical check ups were done and she was found with the deadly disease. The poor girl will now live with the nightmare of the disease. This reminds me of the issue of cross generational sex. Big pot bellied men old enough to be grand parents have no shame in luring young children into sex. So many cases have been reported in the print media about a father who used his own daughter. The sodomy way of life has captured the world and when God pours down his wrath, we should not be surprised. But it is not too late for us to change and pray to God for forgiveness.


We should realize that a lot of evils are going on in the world and it should not chock us. The financial credit systems are failing, terrorist attacks are rampant, high crime rate and leaders with virtue are no more. All this is because we have neglected the word of God which commands us to love and bless the little ones. In Matthew 18:10 God warns us not to despise and abuse children because they are a blessing.
Indeed increasing crime rate such as cases of defilement, burning of schools and the magnitude of street children show how greatly we have wronged the innocent children. We have innocent blood shading in our hands and these children are crying aloud to God. If we want to avoid curses and the wrath of God, let us stop

Men!

They say once a fool always a fool, n l guess once u get a womanizing husband they will always be womanizers even if they rise to positions which demand high respect. My trip to Gulu was at its climax, for there's much fun and activity in this town so much that it has been referred to as the city of northern region.

Havanah which is the most popular night hang out and a spot for those who love dancing was my next destination after touring lucrative hangouts such as Diana gardens, stadium view and many others. Havanah pub has been highly advertised and often written about yah, as usual l wanted to go check it out for myself.

Many friends around had ambiguously praised the place n l was charged to check it out. convincing my girlfriend was not so hard because she had scheduled this day to be a girl's day out. wow. this was my advantage since l dread the thought of unnecessary touching and squeezing from Boyfriends who want to mark their territories to the staring committees of admirers in Club.

l dressed up to look hot n set off to enjoy my night at Havannah Pub in Gulu.

Prosperity for all bounces back 'coperative'

In their endevour to reach the peasants with their prosperity for all project, the NRM government has importantly noted the need for' cooperatives'.When the NRM government assumed power, for reasons based known to the master planners and top advisers of their boss(Presdent Yoweri Museveni), cooperatives were wiped out. commercial banks were then introduced, and this slowed the national development of peasants especially farmers who could not keep up with the high rates charged by these banks.


Banks such as Backlays, Crane bank were introduced and these had a profit maximization motive. The cooperative Banks which were enabling Peasants and farmers to economically grow were scraped off. The absence of cooperative banks slowed balanced regional development and it became a big blow to the economic development of peasant farmers throughout Uganda.

It is great news for many farmers since our government has realised the importance of coperative development as noted in the Minisiter of Finance's address to the Speaker and the Paliament house. " Let me once again take this opportunity to urge Ugandans to join the Savings and Credit Cooperatives and the Production and Marketing Cooperatives", the Minister urged.


This unexpected move of government to encourage development of coperatives is good news for Ugandan farmers. Because this simply means that more farmers are going to be able to interact with other farmers, save, borrow loans to improve their production. My only concern is the seriousness in which government intends to put in these coperatives. We are forinstance happy about the micro finance and SACCOs that have been put in place by the NRM government. But can it be guaranteed that the confusions that has been happening with many of the micro finance institution shall not be repeated?

The media has occassionally reported cases of grambling peasants whom some micro finace institutions greedily take their money. others have been fulled by cone men eho collect their money because of luck of proper institutions such as the traditional coperative institutions. the burden is therefore on government to protect these farmers fron corrupt cone men, provide sufficient methads and technical help such that the agricultural sector can boom in this country.
Overall, the buget this year substantial favouring towards agriculture and this is surely a good indicator that NRM is serious with their 'prosperity for all' project. they are targeting a sector which employs 80% of Uganda's population- a good indicator that NRM is keepint their word to enhance economic growth for the entire population of Uganda.Horaaaaaaaaaaaaaah for prosperity for all!

Carey's off the singles list

Hmmmm…r u still dreaming or still fantasizing about it? Well, Mariah has done it. She has finally found that special one to share her life forever with. What I’m I saying…she has found her forever man…Nick Cannon! The Stars tied their note on 30th of April this year (2008) Cannon was heard swearing a hundred times that Carey is beautiful on the outside and 10 times beautiful on the inside. Oops that is real love dear people. He already knows her inside and out!

So singles out there chill out n don’t u mess coz Nick has left the singles diary and her beautiful voiced Carey will assure and finally admit that her ‘we belong together’ song was worth it. Coz her and Nick surely belong together…don’t they!

Farmers need help to reap big

Prices are increasing sharply for some of the most basic foodstuffs traded on international commodity markets. The price of wheat has doubled in less than a year, while other staples such as corn, maize and Soya are trading at well above their 1990s averages. Rice and coffee prices are running at 10-year highs, and in some countries, prices for milk and meat have more than doubled. In fact here in Uganda the price of meat, which used to go for 3000 Uganda shillings per kilogram in the last years, is now 5000 Uganda shillings per kilogram.

The rising food prices have escalated the concern of both the local and international community. The difference is in the action being taken by various governments to avert this problem. In Uganda’s case, President Yoweri Museveni has already encouraged farmers to grab this opportunity to reap big in their sales. But the irony in this is the evidence that many farmers are very poor and luck even the improved means of farming for increased produce to be realised.

Generally, traders come directly to farmers to offer a price. Farmers are forced to accept either because of lack of good roads and affordable transportation means. They therefore can only sell locally or they do not know the market rates. This makes them subject to being cheated by the middlemen. Many sell a low price simply because they need the money immediately. This creates a vicious circle where farmers are unable to improve their crop yield by buying better and fertilisers because they are getting very little money for their produce. And with the costs of food rising rapidly all over the world, solutions are urgently needed to not only feed people in the short term, but also provide more in the long term.

It should be noted that Agriculture accounts for 80% of Uganda's occupation and in the previous budget less than 4% was allocated to the agricultural sector. Yet with the big percentage if farming is taken seriously we could perhaps reap big and avoid inflation of food prices.

The former UN secretary has already made a remarkable move by encouraging Africans to learn to cultivate their own food. This is a good initiative but unless proper help is rendered to demonstrate and help farmers from the grass root level, all will be in vain.

In Uganda here the agricultural sector is the most marginalised, little coverage is given to agriculture and even the government policies do not have an acute address to making agriculture a success. Uganda is a country gifted with a relatively good weather and good soils; it therefore has the potential to provide food for both its local market and the international community. In fact l find it very shocking for us to go through the hustle of increasing prices of food stuff yet we could avoid this if agriculture was taken seriously by the government.

Faculty of Arts at 5pm.

A mixture of cold and the warm cooling air breeze diminishing in the air is felt as the sun goes to sleep. It is 5 pm sharp -a rush hour time. After along tiring and exhausting day of boring lectures with only a lunch break for a relaxation, many students on day program at the faculty of arts are ending the day while this hour is the beginning of lectures for some. Do not expect to find the department offices especially that of mass communication open and any single lecturer of mass communication around as these people strictly adhere to the university provision of closing offices at 5 pm.
In every corner of the compound there are small groups of students engaged in whatever suits their moods, class work discussion, gossip and a good laugh. Seating areas that are highly on demand are the stone slabs that welcome you as you enter faculty of arts. The idlers find this place a perfect place for staring while the tired one will find it a relaxing place- whatever the reason, the stone slabs at faculty of arts sell like hot cake at 5pm.
It is a time for getting in touch with the working class students who can be evidently noticed by their neatly pressed shirts, classy turn up trousers and shiny shoes. It is a good time to see who has a job and one can possibly tag along for contacts to get a job or other benefits.
The printers and their operators seem very busy at this time as various students crowd the place awaiting to be served. It's not clear whether these are only evening students but my guess is that most of them are. The day students are mainly dependants who would rather copy their notes manually by writing. And if you are looking for real variety in fashion the place to be is faculty of arts at 5pm. The rush in of trendy dressed up female and male students will update your style choice. There is a wide range of fashion, cooperate, beach, dance hall, African ‘bitengi’ down to causal out-fits. The rich mixture of fashion gets more interesting with the various hair-dos of female students. So, are you in search of a place to feast your eyes with fashion and new trends, then look no further, faculty of arts at 5pm is the place to be!