Officials in charge of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) project came out last week to assure the public that the project is very much on track.

The business community should, therefore, strategize for this opportunity. At the Uganda National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, we are glad that this project is progressing since the business community are going to be its direct and primary beneficiaries.

People should start constructing warehouses around the stations. The local government authorities where the railway line is passing should ensure there are feeder roads that will be used during the transportation of goods to the stations. People should start thinking of producing in bulk.

Uganda being a landlocked country, the cost of transport has always been a challenge. After water, rail transport is the most cost-effective mode, especially for the bulky exports that have been our mainstay.

By shifting our transport needs to rail, we will reduce our costs considerably which not only mean lower prices for our clients but will also make our industries more competitive locally, regionally and abroad.

With eventual extensions of SGR to South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, we believe our country can fulfil its ambition as a regional logistics hub. A planned inland port at Bukasa will go some way to helping this dream come to fruition.

As businesspeople, we are keenly aware that without energy – that would make industrialisation possible – and good transport networks for market access, any economic ambitions would remain on the drawing board. The government’s commitment to bridging our infrastructure deficit is laudable and one that we support wholeheartedly.

Last year, it was reported that the project would be approved by the financiers in October but officials say some last-minute requirement by Exim bank had pushed the approvals back. It is expected, however, that construction will begin soon.

The new railway line promises a faster trip for cargo from the coast to Uganda at a cheaper rate than the existing line. As businesspeople, we know that to build anything meaningful, there will have to be some pain and some sacrifice; but if we stay the course, things will get better.

Olive Kigongo,
President UNCCI.

Where are our children’s transcripts?

I am a parent at St Lawrence University. I write this letter with reference to a television talk show where the owner of this university appeared with his team defending and marketing their institution.

During that talk show, the owner talked with pride that his university issues academic transcripts on spot, which disturbed my mind.

My child is one of the students that graduated from this university on December 1, 2016, but management told them to pick their academic transcripts from the office of academic registrar at the beginning of February 2017.

Unfortunately, when the students go to this office, the lady there tells them to go to the office of the deputy vice chancellor! Here, they are told the university is still updating its systems.

How come a university tagged with ICT fails to update their systems? On top of that, the accounts department charges a fee on every student to access their results; remember students pay for the information system, which does not work!

This university should know that students have the right to access their results and they should recall that Makerere University was ordered by the High court to compensate a student who was denied access to
her results.

All this mess at this university has denied my son employment because no organization can employ someone basing on letter of completion.

Timothy Komakech,
Kampala.

IMF is right on EAC integration

While in East Africa, the International Monetary Fund managing director, Christine Lagarde, made a revealing comment. She said that the fissures in the bloc’s economic partnership – the single tourist visa, non-tariff barrier on the movement of human capital and goods – were signs that the building blocks are not in place.

The IMF boss’ observation vindicates the ordinary East Africans who have been complaining that they have been left out in deciding the future of EAC integration spearheaded by top politicians.

I also concur with Largade’s caution that EAC should first focus on consolidating integration gains achieved in infrastructure, the common market, customs union integration, while going slow on monetary union and federation project in the wake of Brexit from EU.

It’s good this advice has this time come from a respected person and hope East African leaders will listen.

Kennedy Kabonge,
kabongek@yahoo.co.uk.

Museveni has always despised Ugandans

It is not the first time for President Museveni to mention he is not anybody’s servant. Two years ago, during an interview with KTN’s Jeff Koinange, the head of state said the same.

I have always watched the president parading government officials such as resident district commissioners and chief administrative officers before public courts, demanding them to diligently serve the public.

Is this a stage-managed move by the president or it is him alone immune to service leadership?

But Mr President, if you surely meant your words, then we are disappointed and ready to bury service leadership in this country; that is if it is there!

Badru Walusansa,
Commonwealth correspondent.

What is happening to our arrears?

Last year (2016), some pensioners were removed from the payroll. After complaining and filling forms and getting endorsed by various officers, we were reinstated but our arrears   have not been paid up to now.

We have serious needs and responsibilities such as paying school fees for our children, among others.

Please government, do something!

Paul Kisubika, 
Retired teacher .

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