THE Banyabindi, one of the minority ethnic tribes in Kasese district, have castigated the proposed reconciliation process between the Toro and Rwenzururu kingdoms.
Francis Kamuhanda, the spokesperson, said the Rwenzururu king, Omusinga Charles Wesley Mumbere, had to reconcile first with the Banyabindi and some Bakonzo.
A group of Bakonzo and Bamba, led by Mumbere’s late father Isaya Mukirane walked out of Toro’s Rukurato (parliament) in 1962, accusing the Toro kingdom of oppression and marginalisation.
The group started a rebellion which led to the creation of Kasese and Bundibugyo districts by former president Idi Amin Dada in 1974.
Kamuhanda said the Rwenzururu fighters killed several Banyabindi and forced hundreds of others off their land.
“We are currently living in camps because of the Rwenzururu rebellion against Toro kingdom,” Kamuhanda said.
“It’s good to reconcile but what the Rwenzururu king is trying to do is sweetened poison,” he asserted.
“We were injured and are still injured,” Kamuhanda said.
The 205 Kajura commission on Obusinga bwa Rwenzururu recommended the setting up of a committee to reconcile the warring parties in the kingdom.
The Banyabindi and Basongora pastoralists, who form the minority tribes in Kasese district, have demanded separate districts.
Last year, the district council resolved to create Nyakatonzi sub-county for the Basongora pastoralists but they rejected it, saying the proposed boundary was tampered with.
Efforts to get a comment from the kingdom information minister and spokesperson, Patrick Nyamunungu, failed.
By Mugasa Evelyn
Monday, August 30, 2010
RIC-NET reveals Its ICT strategy to monitor the electoral process
"Its so beautiful" the coordinator Rweco remarked as RIC-net programs manager presented the ICT strategy to the delegates from Dutch and Belgium embassies.The delegates made a visit to Rweco, a consortium of civil society organizations involved in the monitoring of the electoral process.
During the meeting with the Delegates, the programs manager RIC-NET revealed the ICT strategy which RIC-net and other RWECO members intends to use in monitoring the electoral process of 2010 to 2011.This strategy will use the Ushandi platform that was used in Kenya during the elections 2009.This platform allows the citizens and monitors to send short sms to the web that has been created and later these SMS are used as backup to the final results.
(more details later)
By Timothy Balikenga
How to control Pests in plants
There are many things on the market today to use as bug repellent for plants. The problems with these repellents are most of them are made with harsh chemicals that are dangerous not only to the pests but to humans as well. Today, people want an organic or natural solution to gardening problems, and few are as natural or effective as repellant planting.
Repellent plants give protection to nearby plants at up to a distance of three feet. Some plants will repel a host of pests while some work against only one or two. It should be noted that planting repellent plants won't get rid of bugs overnight, but it will lead to a pest free environment in time.
Garlic works against most insects and can be planted anywhere without invading the flavor of plants nearby, whether fruits or vegetables. Garlic chives also work with almost any plants. They work great at protecting trees and rose bushes and also look fabulous while doing it, with their white blossoms topping the plants.
The onion family is not alone in its pest repellent capabilities. Certain herbs and flowers serve as great repellent plants also. Tansy (also known as yellow buttons) has a strong fragrance that keeps most bugs at a distance. Mint makes a great companion plant next to cabbage, and it also repels mice. If you have any trouble with mice in your house, leave a few sprigs of fresh mint on your counters at night (or wherever the mice frequent).
Flowers also not only add beauty to a garden, they, too, are great repellent plants. Marigolds are extremely easy to grow and do wonders at keeping bugs at bay, both above and below the soil.
The white geranium lures the hungry Japanese beetle, but after eating the plant, they die.
Below is a list of repellent plants and the bugs they help get rid of.
Tansy: borer, cucumber beetle, cutworm, Japanese beetle, squash bug
Garlic/Onion family: borer, aphids, mites, rabbits, rose chafer
Pennyroyal: ants, aphids
Mint: ants, cabbage maggot, flea beetle, mice
Tomato: asparagus beetle, flea beetle, cabbage maggot
Rosemary: cabbage maggot, cabbage moth, carrot fly, Mexican bean beetle, slugs
Nasturtium: aphids, cabbage moth, squash bug, pumpkin beetle, white fly
Sage: cabbage maggot, carrot fly, nematode
Southernwood: ants, cabbage moth, fruit tree moth
Wormwood: cabbage moth, carrot fly, slugs
Marigold: eelworm, Mexican bean beetle, tomato hornworm, white fly
Petunia: aphids, leafhopper, rose chafer, Mexican bean beetle, nematode
White geranium: Japanese beetle, rose chafer, leafhopper
Castor bean: gophers, moles
Green beans: Colorado potato beetle
Potatoes: Mexican bean beetle
Buckwheat: wireworm
Catnip: cabbage moth, flea beetle
Asparagus: nematode
Borage: tomato hornworm
Knowing what bugs certain plants repel can help one plan and plant a garden. For example, if the potato beetle hates green beans and a bean beetle hates potatoes, it only stands to reason that one would want to put the two near each other. This holds true for tomatoes and asparagus also.
When selecting plants to use as repellents, it is important to study the plant as a whole. For instance, borage may repel the tomato hornworm but at the same time it will attract bees. So before purchasing plants or seeds to fulfill one specific purpose, know as much about them as possible.
By Sharon .M.
Repellent plants give protection to nearby plants at up to a distance of three feet. Some plants will repel a host of pests while some work against only one or two. It should be noted that planting repellent plants won't get rid of bugs overnight, but it will lead to a pest free environment in time.
Garlic works against most insects and can be planted anywhere without invading the flavor of plants nearby, whether fruits or vegetables. Garlic chives also work with almost any plants. They work great at protecting trees and rose bushes and also look fabulous while doing it, with their white blossoms topping the plants.
The onion family is not alone in its pest repellent capabilities. Certain herbs and flowers serve as great repellent plants also. Tansy (also known as yellow buttons) has a strong fragrance that keeps most bugs at a distance. Mint makes a great companion plant next to cabbage, and it also repels mice. If you have any trouble with mice in your house, leave a few sprigs of fresh mint on your counters at night (or wherever the mice frequent).
Flowers also not only add beauty to a garden, they, too, are great repellent plants. Marigolds are extremely easy to grow and do wonders at keeping bugs at bay, both above and below the soil.
The white geranium lures the hungry Japanese beetle, but after eating the plant, they die.
Below is a list of repellent plants and the bugs they help get rid of.
Tansy: borer, cucumber beetle, cutworm, Japanese beetle, squash bug
Garlic/Onion family: borer, aphids, mites, rabbits, rose chafer
Pennyroyal: ants, aphids
Mint: ants, cabbage maggot, flea beetle, mice
Tomato: asparagus beetle, flea beetle, cabbage maggot
Rosemary: cabbage maggot, cabbage moth, carrot fly, Mexican bean beetle, slugs
Nasturtium: aphids, cabbage moth, squash bug, pumpkin beetle, white fly
Sage: cabbage maggot, carrot fly, nematode
Southernwood: ants, cabbage moth, fruit tree moth
Wormwood: cabbage moth, carrot fly, slugs
Marigold: eelworm, Mexican bean beetle, tomato hornworm, white fly
Petunia: aphids, leafhopper, rose chafer, Mexican bean beetle, nematode
White geranium: Japanese beetle, rose chafer, leafhopper
Castor bean: gophers, moles
Green beans: Colorado potato beetle
Potatoes: Mexican bean beetle
Buckwheat: wireworm
Catnip: cabbage moth, flea beetle
Asparagus: nematode
Borage: tomato hornworm
Knowing what bugs certain plants repel can help one plan and plant a garden. For example, if the potato beetle hates green beans and a bean beetle hates potatoes, it only stands to reason that one would want to put the two near each other. This holds true for tomatoes and asparagus also.
When selecting plants to use as repellents, it is important to study the plant as a whole. For instance, borage may repel the tomato hornworm but at the same time it will attract bees. So before purchasing plants or seeds to fulfill one specific purpose, know as much about them as possible.
By Sharon .M.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
IEC Materials Development to boost Information Sharing
At this time I am sure you should be asking this question that most people have been posing every time they read this! "What is IEC?" Yes! Here you will get the answer to your question. The Term IEC refers to Information, Education and Communication. This points at any item used with a purpose of passing on Information from one party to another. Examples Include include; Reports, websites/blogs, videos, digital stories, posters, banners, brochures, audio files, the list goes long!
Several trainings are being conducted to enhance skills in developing IEC materials. Under this programme, RIC-NET staff together with other participants country wide ended a one week training which was held at EACOS in Nakawa, Kampala.
Objective of the Programme: To provide Knowledge and skills and experience in developing IEC materials for use by partners and beneficiaries.
We are hopeful that members will learn to appreciate the various Information sharing method being introduced to enhance community development.
By
Bwambale Edwin
ICTO, RIC-NET
Several trainings are being conducted to enhance skills in developing IEC materials. Under this programme, RIC-NET staff together with other participants country wide ended a one week training which was held at EACOS in Nakawa, Kampala.
Objective of the Programme: To provide Knowledge and skills and experience in developing IEC materials for use by partners and beneficiaries.
We are hopeful that members will learn to appreciate the various Information sharing method being introduced to enhance community development.
By
Bwambale Edwin
ICTO, RIC-NET
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
HOW TO PRESERVE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES
When you have an abundant harvest or live close enough to farms to take advantage of farmer’s markets, you’ll want to put every last tomato and peach to good use. Preserving the harvest can let you enjoy the fruits of your labor for months to come. There are several methods for preserving your fruits, vegetables and herbs. Which method you choose will depend on the type of fruit or vegetable you are preserving and your ambition level.
They are:
Storing
Storing is the easiest method for keeping your harvest, but most vegetables don’t have a long shelf life. There is an excellent listing here of vegetables from beets to winter squash and the best methods and duration for storage. Root vegetables and vegetables that can be cured, like onions and winter squash, will last the longest.
Some basic tips for storing fruits & vegetables:
• Only store fully mature, healthy vegetables. Any bruised or immature vegetables should be eaten fresh or preserved by other means.
• Clean of soil and allow the outside of vegetables to dry before freezing.
• Keep a few inches on stem on winter squash and also cut the green tops of root crops to an inch or so.
Freezing
Many vegetables keep well in the freezer. When blanched and frozen soon after harvesting, this can be the best method for retaining nutrients, as well as color, texture and flavor. Most vegetables can last 8 - 12 weeks in the freezer.
Some basic tips for freezing fruits & vegetables:
Freeze food immediately after packaging
Keep freezer temperature at 0 degrees F. Or lower. You can set your freezer control for -10 degrees F. the day before freezing, to speed the process
Don’t try to pack your freezer with unfrozen produce. This will only lower the temperature in the freezer and lengthen the time needed for the produce to chill.
Canning
Canning is a great method for preserving fruits and vegetables with a high water content, like tomatoes, mushrooms, beans and peaches, but it is essential you follow canning guidelines to the letter.
Some basic tips for canning fruits & vegetables:
• Choose only disease free fruits or vegetables and wash them well before processing
• Use clean jars and new seal lids
• Process in boiling water or a pressure canner for the specified amount of time
Drying
Drying fruits, vegetables and herbs is also a very easy process and can be done without any special equipment or speeded up by using the oven or a dehydrator. Dried fruits, seeds, jerky, leather and even popcorn can be done by these methods.
Some basic tips for drying fruits, vegetables & herbs:
• Be sure the fruits and vegetables are fully mature and disease free.
• Provide good air circulation while drying, to prevent spoilage.
• Don’t rush the process. Partially dried fruits, vegetables and herbs won’t last long.
Pickling
Cucumbers come to mind when we think of pickling, but many vegetables and fruits can be preserved in this manner, including peppers, cauliflower, apples and pears. Relishes are also prepared by pickling
Some basic tips for pickling fruits & vegetables:
• Always follow a tested recipe. Even in vinegar, spoilage can happen. Canning pickled products by the boiling water methods further stops spoilage.
Posted by Diana
They are:
Storing
Storing is the easiest method for keeping your harvest, but most vegetables don’t have a long shelf life. There is an excellent listing here of vegetables from beets to winter squash and the best methods and duration for storage. Root vegetables and vegetables that can be cured, like onions and winter squash, will last the longest.
Some basic tips for storing fruits & vegetables:
• Only store fully mature, healthy vegetables. Any bruised or immature vegetables should be eaten fresh or preserved by other means.
• Clean of soil and allow the outside of vegetables to dry before freezing.
• Keep a few inches on stem on winter squash and also cut the green tops of root crops to an inch or so.
Freezing
Many vegetables keep well in the freezer. When blanched and frozen soon after harvesting, this can be the best method for retaining nutrients, as well as color, texture and flavor. Most vegetables can last 8 - 12 weeks in the freezer.
Some basic tips for freezing fruits & vegetables:
Freeze food immediately after packaging
Keep freezer temperature at 0 degrees F. Or lower. You can set your freezer control for -10 degrees F. the day before freezing, to speed the process
Don’t try to pack your freezer with unfrozen produce. This will only lower the temperature in the freezer and lengthen the time needed for the produce to chill.
Canning
Canning is a great method for preserving fruits and vegetables with a high water content, like tomatoes, mushrooms, beans and peaches, but it is essential you follow canning guidelines to the letter.
Some basic tips for canning fruits & vegetables:
• Choose only disease free fruits or vegetables and wash them well before processing
• Use clean jars and new seal lids
• Process in boiling water or a pressure canner for the specified amount of time
Drying
Drying fruits, vegetables and herbs is also a very easy process and can be done without any special equipment or speeded up by using the oven or a dehydrator. Dried fruits, seeds, jerky, leather and even popcorn can be done by these methods.
Some basic tips for drying fruits, vegetables & herbs:
• Be sure the fruits and vegetables are fully mature and disease free.
• Provide good air circulation while drying, to prevent spoilage.
• Don’t rush the process. Partially dried fruits, vegetables and herbs won’t last long.
Pickling
Cucumbers come to mind when we think of pickling, but many vegetables and fruits can be preserved in this manner, including peppers, cauliflower, apples and pears. Relishes are also prepared by pickling
Some basic tips for pickling fruits & vegetables:
• Always follow a tested recipe. Even in vinegar, spoilage can happen. Canning pickled products by the boiling water methods further stops spoilage.
Posted by Diana
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
TEN CAUSES OF IMPOTENCEThere are physical causes and underlying conditions associated with erectile dysfunction:
1. Chronic smoking
Vascular disease which is hardening and narrowing of the arteries is caused by chain-smoking. It causes a reduction in the blood flow throughout the body which can lead to impotence. However, this is associated with age, and accounts for 50% to 60% of impotence in men.
2. Obesity
“Men who eat high cholesterol foods are more prone to secondary impotence because of their escalating weight compared to thin men,” says Dr. Kagwa. Their blood pressure is high which causes breathing difficulties. Overweight constricts the veins that transport blood to the penis, thus inability to erect.
3. Diabetes mellitus
Chronic high levels of blood sugar associated with diabetes mellitus often damage small blood vessels and nerves throughout the body. This can impair nerve impulses and blood flow necessary for erection. About 60% of men with diabetes experience secondary impotence.
4. Drugs
Most commonly prescribed drugs on the market are known to contribute to secondary impotence when their consumption is abused. This includes drugs for high blood pressure, heart medications, antidepressants, tranquilisers and sedatives.
5. Hormone imbalance
Dr. Kagwa says hormone disorders account for less than 5% of cases of secondary impotence. This is because testosterone deficiency which occurs rarely can result in loss of sexual desire — erection. Having excess levels of the hormone prolactin, reduces levels of testosterone.
6. Poor eating habits
Dr. David Ssali, a naturopathic doctor, says secondary impotence has a bearing on poor eating habits. He says most modern men today eat junk foods instead of natural foods, and drink a lot of alcohol. When this is absorbed by the body, it turns out to be toxic thus clogging all the major arteries and veins that are responsible for pumping blood into the penis for a full erection.
7. Neurological conditions
Spinal cord and brain injuries can cause impotence when they interrupt the transfer of nerve impulses from the brain to the penis. This disrupts its sensitivity which leads to inadequate or lack of erections.
8. Tumour, surgery, radiation therapy
A tumour in the pelvic region or spinal cord can damage veins and nerves needed for erection. Surgery of the colon, prostate gland, bladder, or rectum may damage the nerves and blood vessels involved in erection. Prostate gland cancer surgery often requires removing tissue and nerves surrounding a tumour, which increases the risk of impotence.
Radiotherapy for prostate or bladder cancer can permanently damage these nerves.
However, Dr. Kagwa says new nerve-sparing techniques aimed at lowering the incidence of secondary impotence are being developed and used in these surgeries.
9. Scarring of the tissue
Peyronie’s disease is a rare inflammatory condition that causes scarring of erectile tissue in the penis. However, this scarring effect produces curvature of the penis that can interfere with sexual function and cause painful erections or no erections.
10. Psychological conditions
Depression, guilt, worry, stress, and anxiety can contribute to loss of libido, thus erectile dysfunction.
Compiled by; M.Evelyn
When we hear the word black box, we always think of aircrafts. However, this is now changing with the introduction of tamper proof car black boxes.
The recent innovation involves a video drive recorder device installed in car windscreens to record video, audio and GPS data related to vehicle impact or accidents triggered by motion sensors.
Information from the device is then stored on a removable memory. The memory can be removed for analysis to know what happened to your vehicle before and after an accident.
Other features of the car black box include real-time recording, event recording and manual event recording.
The user can even manually switch it on while on the move to record what is
happening in front or behind their car.
For example, you can know how a person who borrowed your car used it by just referring to its memory via a computer. In
Compiled by; M.Evelyn.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Five Most Important Leadership Traits.
1. Honesty
When you start a leadership position, you need to assume that people will think you are a little dishonest. In order to be seen as an honest individual, you will have to go out of your way to display honesty. People will not assume you are honest simply because you have never been caught lying.
One of the most frequent places where leaders miss an opportunity to display honesty is in handling mistakes. Much of a leader’s job is to try new things and refine the ideas that don’t work. However, many leaders want to avoid failure to the extent that they don’t admit when something did not work.
2. Forward-Looking
The whole point of leadership is figuring out where to go from where you are now. While you may know where you want to go, people won’t see that unless you actively communicate it with them. Remember, these traits aren’t just things you need to have, they are things you need to actively display to those around you.
When people do not consider their leader forward-looking, that leader is usually suffering from one of two possible problems:
a. The leader doesn’t have a forward-looking vision.
b. The leader is unwilling or scared to share the vision with others.
When a leader doesn’t have a vision for the future, it usually because they are spending so much time on today, that they haven’t really thought about tomorrow. On a very simplistic level this can be solved simply by setting aside some time for planning, strategizing and thinking about the future.
3. Competency
People want to follow someone who is competent. This doesn’t mean a leader needs to be the foremost expert on every area of the entire organization, but they need to be able to demonstrate competency.
For a leader to demonstrate that they are competent, it isn’t enough to just avoid displaying incompetency. Some people will assume you are competent because of your leadership position, but most will have to see demonstrations before deciding that you are competent.
When people under your leadership look at some action you have taken and think, “that just goes to show why he is the one in charge”, you are demonstrating competency. If these moments are infrequent, it is likely that some demonstrations of competency will help boost your leadership influence.
4. Inspiration
People want to be inspired. In fact, there is a whole class of people who will follow an inspiring leader–even when the leader has no other qualities. If you have developed the other traits in this article, being inspiring is usually just a matter of communicating clearly and with passion. Being inspiring means telling people how your organization is going to change the world.
A great example of inspiration is when Steve Jobs stole the CEO from Pepsi by asking him, “Do you want to sell sugar water for the rest of your life, or do you want to change the world?” Being inspiring means showing people the big picture and helping them see beyond a narrow focus and understand how their part fits into the big picture.
One technique to develop your ability to inspire is telling stories. Stories can be examples from your customers, fictitious examples from your customers, or even historical fables and myths. Stories can help you vividly illustrate what you are trying to communicate. Stories that communicate on an emotional level help communicate deeper than words and leave an imprint much stronger than anything you can achieve through a simple stating of the facts.
5. Intelligence
Intelligence is something that can be difficult to develop. The road toward becoming more intelligent is difficult, long and can’t be completed without investing considerable time. Developing intelligence is a lifestyle choice. Your college graduation was the beginning of your education, not the end. In fact, much of what is taught in college functions merely as a foundational language for lifelong educational experiences.
To develop intelligence you need to commit to continual learning–both formally and informally. With modern advances in distance, education it is easy to take a class or two each year from well respected professors in the evening at your computer.
By: Sharon .M.
When you start a leadership position, you need to assume that people will think you are a little dishonest. In order to be seen as an honest individual, you will have to go out of your way to display honesty. People will not assume you are honest simply because you have never been caught lying.
One of the most frequent places where leaders miss an opportunity to display honesty is in handling mistakes. Much of a leader’s job is to try new things and refine the ideas that don’t work. However, many leaders want to avoid failure to the extent that they don’t admit when something did not work.
2. Forward-Looking
The whole point of leadership is figuring out where to go from where you are now. While you may know where you want to go, people won’t see that unless you actively communicate it with them. Remember, these traits aren’t just things you need to have, they are things you need to actively display to those around you.
When people do not consider their leader forward-looking, that leader is usually suffering from one of two possible problems:
a. The leader doesn’t have a forward-looking vision.
b. The leader is unwilling or scared to share the vision with others.
When a leader doesn’t have a vision for the future, it usually because they are spending so much time on today, that they haven’t really thought about tomorrow. On a very simplistic level this can be solved simply by setting aside some time for planning, strategizing and thinking about the future.
3. Competency
People want to follow someone who is competent. This doesn’t mean a leader needs to be the foremost expert on every area of the entire organization, but they need to be able to demonstrate competency.
For a leader to demonstrate that they are competent, it isn’t enough to just avoid displaying incompetency. Some people will assume you are competent because of your leadership position, but most will have to see demonstrations before deciding that you are competent.
When people under your leadership look at some action you have taken and think, “that just goes to show why he is the one in charge”, you are demonstrating competency. If these moments are infrequent, it is likely that some demonstrations of competency will help boost your leadership influence.
4. Inspiration
People want to be inspired. In fact, there is a whole class of people who will follow an inspiring leader–even when the leader has no other qualities. If you have developed the other traits in this article, being inspiring is usually just a matter of communicating clearly and with passion. Being inspiring means telling people how your organization is going to change the world.
A great example of inspiration is when Steve Jobs stole the CEO from Pepsi by asking him, “Do you want to sell sugar water for the rest of your life, or do you want to change the world?” Being inspiring means showing people the big picture and helping them see beyond a narrow focus and understand how their part fits into the big picture.
One technique to develop your ability to inspire is telling stories. Stories can be examples from your customers, fictitious examples from your customers, or even historical fables and myths. Stories can help you vividly illustrate what you are trying to communicate. Stories that communicate on an emotional level help communicate deeper than words and leave an imprint much stronger than anything you can achieve through a simple stating of the facts.
5. Intelligence
Intelligence is something that can be difficult to develop. The road toward becoming more intelligent is difficult, long and can’t be completed without investing considerable time. Developing intelligence is a lifestyle choice. Your college graduation was the beginning of your education, not the end. In fact, much of what is taught in college functions merely as a foundational language for lifelong educational experiences.
To develop intelligence you need to commit to continual learning–both formally and informally. With modern advances in distance, education it is easy to take a class or two each year from well respected professors in the evening at your computer.
By: Sharon .M.
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