Uganda 10/27/1993 Uganda Has Lively Press But Some Like National Enquirer

Government Encouraging Foreign Investment
By Bob Van Leer

(KAMPALA, UGANDA, EAST AFRICA, Oct. 27, 1993) - Today was spent in professional activities starting with a morning meeting with the Uganda Journalists' Association and a meeting with the director of the Uganda Investment Authority in the afternoon. We finished the day with a visit to the Kasubi Tombs, burial place for the kings of Baganda, now part of Uganda. Uganda has a lively press, too lively to suit some of the government officials, and an attempt is being made to pass a law that would regulate the press. Some of the papers are lively on the order of National Enquirer at home. In the news today was a report of the second of two journalists at one newspaper being jailed after charges of "publishing and printing seditious stories". Just what these stories were, we couldn't find out.

James Namahajo, president of the association, said both were out on bail and this was an improvement over the old days when they would have disappeared and never been seen again. He said Uganda has one of the freest presses in Africa. Journalists are trying to get the government to use civil instead of criminal procedures for offensive stories. The proposed new press law would call for some censorship, formation of a Media Council to regulate the press and require a sizable, but not yet specified, deposit of money with the government to ensure payment of any indemnifications. An earlier provision to license the press has already been removed. Most newspapers are small with none over 35,000 circulation. They are both government and privately owned. The literacy rate is only about 52%. There are only about 200,000-300,000 TV sets in the country so radio occupies a commanding place. Newsprint is not rationed but is very expensive. Most journalists have no formal training in the profession. The president said past regimes were not kind to newspapers and the situation is only now beginning to stabilize.

  This region is reputed to be the area where AIDS started and newspapers are trying to do an educational job. The president said the country and the press are very poor and made an appeal for help with equipment or any other assistance. It is strikingly evident on the streets that there are few old people in Uganda. The average lifespan is about 50 and the majority of the people are under 18. Most people speak English, but it is an English-English and accented besides so it is often difficult for us to follow. Bananas are a staple here, usually served with every meal and other uses are made besides. Our guide said beer and vodka are made from bananas. We haven't seen an air conditioner yet in Uganda.

   George W. Rubagumya, managing director of the Uganda Investment Authority, told us the entire country and all economic sections are open to foreign investment. Much needed to set up business can be brought in duty free and any amount of money can be taken out of Uganda. There are no currency movement restrictions, he said. Incentives in tax forgiveness are made for companies bringing in capital. The investment act of 1991 opened the way for business. He claimed inflation is now under control. He said the government wants to concentrate investment in areas of endeavor that take advantage of the country's natural capabilities. First on the list is agriculture. Most are small farm plots and even at that, Uganda feeds itself and some of its neighbors. Farmers who use hoes are feeding other countries. He said there are 60,000 cashew trees in Uganda and so nut products are exported.

  Tourism is another area needing development and he mentioned the need for a tourist cruise ship on Lake Victoria. Light manufacturing is another area. Much electricity is never paid for because meters are worn out and there is no one in Uganda making meters. Rubagumya said Uganda is an employer's market. A typical factory worker makes $50.00 per month total. There is no minimum wage and no compulsory unionism. He said, "Most people don't have to struggle very hard to make a decent living". Almost everyone in the cities has a village connection and grow their own food. The growing season is almost year around with only 2 - 3 months of dry season in two periods not suitable for growing without irrigation. He said Uganda could support four times the present population without affecting the life style. There is enough land and it is not difficult to get. The government is working on wise use of land.

  The U. S. has a position in Uganda. Some of the money, at least, is being used wisely. Arnold Lessard, a U. S. citizen, is deputy director of the Uganda Investment Authority but paid for by U. S. funds. He said the countries in eastern and southern Africa have a preferential trade area now and are working to make it a common market where goods and people can travel freely. Education is limited with the goal to have universal education through the 7th grade by the year 2000. Much education is done now by private schools that cost $10.00 per quarter for primary schools and $50.00 per semester for secondary schools. He said there is a lot of petty crime and some violent crime but claimed it was being brought under control. He said much of the security we see in the form of heavily-barred windows and huge padlocks is a leftover from the period before 1985. He said over 1 million Ugandans died then.

  Municipal police carry Kalishnikov automatic rifles and look like soldiers. Rubagumya said this was not necessary but legacies from the war. He said Uganda can't afford to buy every officer a revolver. (I chatted with two officers downtown and noticed the muzzle of one was rusty and plugged with dirt. If it was fired, the most likely casualty would be the officer.) He commented we were the first group of foreign journalists to visit his office. After the economics meeting we drove to the Kasubi tombs, once the home of the Kings of Buganda. Buganda is the largest tribe in Uganda with 4 million people. It had a monarchy that lasted until 1966 when King Muteesa II was exiled. He died in England in 1966. Buganda was without a king until July of this year when the government allowed his son to be crowned. The new king has no political powers. Tomorrow we will leave Kampala and head west to Queen Elizabeth National Park.