Friday, October 17, 2008

In Fabio Capello, England have got their man.

The English can at last talk of joining the likes of: Italy, Brazil, Argentina and Spain in top tier of world football countries with regards to the FIFA ranking in the next few months.

This is if they continue with their current form. After convincingly winning all four of their group six games of their 2010 World Cup campaign, the English have reason to smile because they are topping their group with twelve maximum points. Five points ahead of the second place Croatia. With this, there is little chance for them to qualify for the World Cup.

The arrival of Italian tactician on the helm of what is regarded to be the hardest job in the world has completely changed the face of the English team, especially to the player’s attitude.

They have been calm, and more disciplined on the ball after conceding a goal instead of resorting to the typical English long balls. They their last game against Belarus is good example. After conceding an equalizer they kept their composure.
The only think Capello will not change is the kind of game he coaches, not for the eye but for the scores. With little success since 1966 since when they won the world cup, the English are desperate for honours and Capello will take them as far as he can in his style

Ken Lukyamuzi raps NEMA

The President of the Conservative Party (CP), Hon John Ken Lukyamuzi, who is also the former Rubaga south MP, yesterday (Thursday) blasted the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) over its lack of knowledge of environmental changes in the country.

Speaking at a conference at Makerere University about environment and the millennium development goals, Hon Lukyamuzi who is also an environmental advocate said, “Our environment planners don’t know the dynamics of our environment”.

“With the current environmental degradation, the millennium development goals are not achievable”, he said. “NEMA needs to do more to stop this current situation”.


“Our Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is based on the environment, so it’s important for Ugandans to know what the problem is”, said Hon Lukyamuzi. “Of $8.5 billion of Uganda’s GDP, $4.5 billion is attributed to bio-diversity and agro-based factors, while the remaining $4 billion is attributed to non-agricultural factors”. Adding that without the environment there is no economy.

Environmental degradation is manifested through the rampant loss of bio-diversity, droughts, desertification, global warming among others. And reduces the productivity of the environment to GDP

Hon Lukyamuzi, a campaigner against the use of DDT (Dichloro diphenyl trichloroethane) to kill mosquitoes was puzzled that NEMA had recommended its use. “It bothers me how a country like Uganda can turn to primitive methods like DDT to fight malaria”, he added. Offering mosquito nets and antinum therapy as better alternatives.

Hon Lukyamuzi was also wondering why NEMA was allowing stone breakers (quarries) to make a lot of noise and continue killing people by blasting stones. “NEMA should tell these people to seek for environmentally friendly techniques”, he said.

He was however glad that NEMA had not given a green light for oil exploration in Hoima because it was too detrimental to the environment.

“In addition to the place being a game reserve, oil exploration may contaminate lake kyoga, Albert, George and Edward. And even the planned construction of an oil refinery near Murchison falls is risky to the environment”, he said. Kabwoya game reserve which has hundreds of animal species and over 450 bird species is also located in oil belt.

Mrs. Salome Alweny, an official from NEMA said that poverty and high population lead to the degradation of the environment. “Many Ugandans are trapped in the poverty cycle. 31% of Ugandans living on a dollar a day, and with 3.7% growth rate, a lot of pressure is put on the environment”, she said.

She also said that lack of participation in environmental discussions by people has led to conflicts saying that 47% of Kasese is gazetted, and the problems faced by the Basongora, Karamaja region are linked to the environment.

Mrs. Alweny represented Mr. Aryamanya Mugisha the Executive Director of NEMA who was in Barcelona for an environmental conference.


Mr. Francis Harimuomugasho, a representative from the ministry of lands caused controversy when he said that part of nature should be sacrificed in order for Uganda to develop.

“I wonder whether we are going to live in forests forever. When are we going to see towers?” he said. “Part of Mabira forest should be given to investors for sugar cane growing”.

This was strongly contested by Makerere University students. Hon. Lukyamuzi later told Mr. Harimuomugasho to retract his comments and apologise since no amount of money can buy Mabira.