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
Friday, October 17, 2008
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.
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.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Road signs save lives, we should good use of them.
Recently as I was traveling to Kampala from Jinja, I realised that many road signs had been erected on the road sides of the highway, especially from Lugazi. Many of them have been well strategically located along the black spots and sharp corners where accidents usually occur. Like the corner toward the Lugazi Mosque, and around Kitega trading centre. Signs such as no overtaking, sharp corner, circlers ahead, school ahead, and speed limits among others, tell our drivers to be more careful and reduce on accidents.
Another amazing thing is that some of the narrow sections of the highway which have attracted several accidents over the years, especially around Namagunga and Namataba have been expanded.
This has been a good step in improving the usage of this highway by the drivers to reduce accidents. Save that the majority of drivers are still not well enlighten about these signs, and those who understand then don’t act in accordance with them (signs). There should therefore be a way of educating our drivers and curbing all those who disrespect these signs in order to maintain good road discipline.
That is why I was disappointed with the introduction of seat belts few years back. Because with the poor road discipline our divers who always drive at; high speed and overtake when ever they feel, the belts were destined for failure. Given that most of them (belts) were of poor quality and couldn’t hold in case of an accident.
We would have first taught our drivers good road discipline. So that they reduce on things like over speeding. Things like; sign posts, humps and even introducing speed governors would play a big role in that. That is why I still believe speed governors should have been introduced before seat belts simply because the seat belts meant that we had given up on managing our drivers. And are now hanging on to save the lives of those who get accidents.
More things can still be done to reduce on the simple accidents in which many people loose their lives. For example walk ways for pedestrians have been constructed in Seeta, Namagunga, Mbalala, and Namawojjolo to protect those on foot. A simple two way road has also been built in Seeta to reduce on the congestion and speed. Simple things humps and Zebra crossings can also play an important role in saving lives.
We are losing very many people because of accidents just because we have not put more planning and effort in stopping them. Even with bad roads and bad vehicles we can still do more. But the erection of sign posts is a good start.
Another amazing thing is that some of the narrow sections of the highway which have attracted several accidents over the years, especially around Namagunga and Namataba have been expanded.
This has been a good step in improving the usage of this highway by the drivers to reduce accidents. Save that the majority of drivers are still not well enlighten about these signs, and those who understand then don’t act in accordance with them (signs). There should therefore be a way of educating our drivers and curbing all those who disrespect these signs in order to maintain good road discipline.
That is why I was disappointed with the introduction of seat belts few years back. Because with the poor road discipline our divers who always drive at; high speed and overtake when ever they feel, the belts were destined for failure. Given that most of them (belts) were of poor quality and couldn’t hold in case of an accident.
We would have first taught our drivers good road discipline. So that they reduce on things like over speeding. Things like; sign posts, humps and even introducing speed governors would play a big role in that. That is why I still believe speed governors should have been introduced before seat belts simply because the seat belts meant that we had given up on managing our drivers. And are now hanging on to save the lives of those who get accidents.
More things can still be done to reduce on the simple accidents in which many people loose their lives. For example walk ways for pedestrians have been constructed in Seeta, Namagunga, Mbalala, and Namawojjolo to protect those on foot. A simple two way road has also been built in Seeta to reduce on the congestion and speed. Simple things humps and Zebra crossings can also play an important role in saving lives.
We are losing very many people because of accidents just because we have not put more planning and effort in stopping them. Even with bad roads and bad vehicles we can still do more. But the erection of sign posts is a good start.
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