More than one month has now passed since I put out my request to the organisers of the 50th Uganda Independence Jubilee here in Stockholm, asking for an explanation as to what difficulties they might have met, resulting in the catastrophic flop of what should have otherwise been a first in the Nordic countries for us Ugandans. I did this because some of the organisers approached me to help spread information concerning the above. I therefore feel obliged to give an explanation to all those I informed (and, by extension, those they may have in turn informed).
Since no such information seems to be forthcoming from the organisers, (It is over 30 days now), I will fall back on the old adage that silence is equal to consent. Therefore, dear friends, we have no alternative but to believe in all the different rumours circulating. Some of these rumours (apart from the few I listed in an email I circulated earlier) are as follows:
1. That the organisers were “facilitated” by the Ugandan Government to the tune of UShs 50 million towards these activities;
2. That the organisers got some funds from the Swedish state or Stockholm City towards the welfare of the youth who came from Uganda to participate in these activities;
3. Money must have been realised from the sale of souvenirs, food (during the Seminars), tickets (including the aborted Afrigos Concert), etc.
Question: Where did the money go, since a part from the problem of paying Afrigos (witnessed by most of us) there are persistent rumours that some people who were contracted to supply some things and services (e.g food) have not yet been reimbursed?
This is not made any better by rumuors that contrary to what we had been told, the delegates from overseas (Uganda, UK, Norway, etc) wholly or partially financed their trips (parents of the Youth are said to have paid 2000 US Dollars per head).
Since taxpayer’s money seems to have been involved (both in Uganda and Sweden) and in view of the fact that money seems to be the key factor in this grand flop, we, the public, have a right to demand a breakdown of how that money was spent and on what. That aside, I would like to question the very legality of this Organisation:
- Who gave it the mandate to act on behalf of all Ugandans in the Nordic countries?
- How many Ugandans in the Nordic countries are aware of the existence of this Organisation?
- How many members does it have?
- Of these members, how many are aware that they are members?
There are some resolutions which have been written and dispatched to some individuals and even to somebody at the New Vision Newspaper. The said resolutions are supposed to have been taken by delegates at the Uganda at 50 activities in Stockholm 1/10_7/10) Where was this dine and when was this done?
To the best of my knowledge, this should have been done on Friday, 2012-10-05 (the last day of the Seminars), after panel debates and workshops. However, this did not take place because of lack of time. (That day´s deliberations having started after 16:00 hrs instead of 9:00hrs!)
I have forwarded a copy of the said resolutions. Note that it is dated 2012-10-08, a day when most of the delegates had left and when all activities are supposed to have wound up. Further, how come that both the website and e-mail of such a supposedly serious Organisation became inaccessible?
I would like to wind up by pointing out that it is a criminal offense to register somebody as a member of an organization without his/her knowledge and consent. It is equally criminal to write resolutions (especially directed to Governments) on peoples´ behalf without their knowledge and consent. If it is done through representatives, then the said representatives should be having the mandate of the people they represent (normally through elections)
I hope that you, my friends and contacts, will make your own decisions concerning the above Organisation and distance yourselves from it, since it seems to be involved in questionable activities.
I remain, yours sincerely,
James Anthony Owuya
About the Author
Kenya-Stockholmers might face a similar situation next year.