Should have been a precision farmer

How does a prince make sure his objective and grand strategies deliver as come sunshines? I read the text and yeah, it is ruthless! For one trained to stand the tests, least it is forgotten, I recall it being said that one should harden without ever losing the tenderness. Whatever that means ... I like it.

In a space of three days, a precision farmer has toed dangerously my way, I had to give an appropriate response and wait him lose the battle. Salam ta Sun Tzu. I like the art of war ...

Early a morning, he faced the so called specialist and it wasn't a square! A look into his eyes , believe, while he attempted to read into mine, he must have read falsely! It is always feigned and he had little idea what I feed on ... And as if a battle of wits, he attempted reasoning and twhile I sought explanations! And when his canon went loose and the two started reading off the same text, suspect grounds, the least prepared had just lost it.

He needed a service, he should have formally requested it, its merit be studied and appropriate action taken. Otherwise, he shouldn't have told us he needed internet connectivity and his way - tapping into a VSAT Modem under a the watch a an information age watch dog. Leave the bedroom and the kitchen alone! Be the quest! Wait and be served! Okay!

His was daring and off could have come the worst off the prince. Wait. While I stamped feet, he clinched a fist and bit his lips! It wasn't a good attempt again because he stood on suspect grounds and since I once copy edited a Precision Farming thesis, knew my position and knew his. One thing for sure, it (Read: Information Technology) needed his agriculture for a better consultancy for precision farming. Take heed. ... consultancies at times are merely delegations of minor roles not necessarily core roles and buying of a scarce expertise. A memo which spelled I- many-a-time-consult-Sun Tzu was drafted.

The Obama Principle

Salam Taki editorial congratulates Senator Barack Obama upon being logically elected the 44th president of the United States of America.

In an age where our lives are so fused and shaped by the internet, information and communications systems, and an invisible economy in social networks, the editorial of Salam Taki makes a special recognition here that Senator Barack Obama is President-Elect because he was the more information age strategist candidate for the presidency of the United States of America.

In an age in which effects of racism, ethnicity, tribalism, and religious fanaticisms are still rearing ugly heads, in an age where geographical boundaries should no longer be explicitly verified, and in an age when systems and logic should prevail, Senator Barack Obama is president elect because he was transcendous.

A discipline / principle Salam Taki would term "The Obama Principle" should be a cutting edge principle for success in an information age.

He is President-Elect of US. Me and You!

Congratulations people of the United States of America.

Into picture: Nimule bus accident

In picture:Updates on the ICT industry in South Sudan

A famed East African ICT Champion, Dr. Shem Ochuodho has joined efforts in building the ICT industry in South Sudan. Dr. Shem is currently the advisor to the Minister of Telecommunication and Postal Services, H. E Gen. Gier Chuang Aloung. Dr. Shem Ochuodho (Right) - An East African ICT champion - ponder as Eng. Amos Bullen and colleagues wait in anticipation.

First things first! The Policy:The audience

With Dr.Shem Ochuodho on board, only can only anticipate the famed Kenyan and Rwandan ICT industry growth in South Sudan.

Mwezi a temye engalo e'wakiso

While an IT Manager googled what the role of an IT manager is, another wondered what the role of an ICT department was. Manager my hoof, Uganda has been mbabazi muhwezi temangalo e wakiso odit mukula as blogging seemed endangered.

Breaking bragging is that a Ugandan journalist has been honored. No need to miss guess! The independent.co.ug breaks it that it was Andrew Mwenda!
However a clear message could be that journalism is endangered in among countries Uganda, Afghanistan, Cuba, Iraq, and Zimbabwe.

Yours truelly attended Barcampala at Makerere Faculty of Computing and Information technology, hoped to meet IDRC's Kathleen Diga but did not eventually. The next day had a chat over lunch at the Makerere University Guest House with University of Manchester IDPM's Andy Bardeli Danieli and Dr. Duncombe Richard before melting into the Sudan the following day, and later landcruiser hardtopping over 300 Miles along the Juba-Mundri-Maridi road in a world where electricity is non existent, no internet but plenty of rains 10/12.

The excercise of blogging seemed to have a correlation ceteris paribus with a state of the affairs in the mind, emotion, and id, work schedule and kind of work done! Some things should cause a worry! Others being so personal, allow a mention of the public ones: Zimbabwe Africa's Mugabe-Tsangari's governmenting, Uganda's tribalistically riddled cheap politicking, and Sudan ICC's approaching October not to mention managers who have no clue about ICTs and its role.

The message is that normal programming resumes! While you should be experiencing Ramathan, the University of Manchester should be calling. The trade is once again ICTs.

Ba Kampala Ugandan bloggers and ICT faithfuls

One should attend this ba Kampala nakani fellowship swallowship, See them there. I need the T-shirt! Free advertising on a poor souls' chests and back! ... Anyway, it should be noted in our calendars that ...

Campala 2008 will be held in Kampala, Uganda on 08/29/2008 as a way to bring people interested in a variety of levels and topics, together in one place for a day of exploration, connection and enjoyment.

BarCamp is an international network of conferences — open, participatory workshop-events, whose content is provided by participants — focusing on early-stage web applications, and related open source technologies and social protocols.'

You will be seen you when you see us.

Tribute to Dr. John Garang De Mabior

Lt. Gen. Dr. John Garang De Mabior (RIP)

Democracy is bad for national unity

To hell with democracy. Africa should look out for effective leadership and not not merely pretend to democratization. Leadership need not necessarily be popular and nor pro west and against East. The end justifies the means! Leadership should lead to a destination just and right even if 99% disagree. Where is the leadership we've lost in democracy?

My colleague and school rival turned friend Wanyama dug insightfully. Wanyama inscribes that Governments of national unity are bad for democracy. Salam Taki agrees. Similar sentiment here, here and shall disagree with him and perhaps also disagree with those who glorify democracy. Henry Owera asserts that democracy is bad for national unity and world stability.

While commenting on the emerging trends of coalition governments in Kenya, and now Zimbabwe, one wouldn't agree any less with the political Ugandan blogger Wanyama:

... Curiously, it is the West fronting this mode of election dispute resolution in Africa. It should be rejected totally.
... On the surface, this looks a juicy deal; but deep down it is a total travesty to justice and democracy.
... looking at this new fashion ... it is obvious that Africa is slowly murdering the purpose of elections.

There should be no middle line between democracy and totalitarianism. Call it the West but specifically these are imperialists who stand to gain from projecting their hegemonies! Rejection is the not enough. Abandon the entire project.Lets abandon democracy as it is defined by certain powers. Democracy has become bad for national unity.

Democracy has become an illusion and it kills prospect of good intentioned independent leadership in Africa. Democracy is about popularity and the especially a yes node from the West. It is not about quality of representation. Democratization in Africa has become the new litmus test for whether an African leadership agree with imperialists and there by ignores the need for effective leadership for Africa by Africans or not!

Democratization in Africa is creating puppet leaderships of African leaders. A leader is only democratic because the West says so.

Real pictures: The MIG-29 tactical fighters into Sudan

July 20, 2008 (WASHINGTON) Here are the real MIG-29 tactical fighters into Sudan recently shipped into Sudan as it was witnessed by the reputable Wasil Ali. Wasil Ali and Sudan Tribune.com are attempting to draw cheap popularity to their nonentity using sensual misinformation. Notice Wasil Ali's "nonentitiness". Wasil Ali MIG-29 in pictures: Misinformation packaged to look like facts.

Starting with groups of a half dozen which then unite to form a group of 20 to 30 and so on until the flock is quite large and noisy. It is their habit to return to the same place each night.
Source: An excerpt from Wikipedia about Scarecrows

Wasil Ali is engaging in an act of misinformation. Only the very gullible of gullible would think Wasil Ali is an entity and a top investigative journalist from Washington DC who chooses to publish sensitive news in the Sudan Tribune that Field Marshal Omar Bashir can import the said dozen MiG 29 even under the current world lime light the fellow finds himself in.

One may think Omar Bashir and his henchmen are intelligent enough to know whatever happened to the Saddam Hussein's in Iraq. It is an opinion that a Field Marshall what so ever will not want to entangle himself the more by attacking Darfur nor South Sudan using any more at the moment and that Wasil Ali could be yet another agent: a scarecrow.

ICC, Africa, UNO and Omar Bashir

If one cried out Allah would all understand? Lord! God! No human rights activist, Darfurian, South Sudanese, Ugandan and many think the person Omar Bashir shouldn't be indicted. The ICC's indictment of Sudan's President Omar Bashir, a sitting President in Africa is is not being supported but is being questioned and the ICC had better emerge with a better bill of health. This post takes a stance as if to plead for a certain bushir so here is a thought about governance, the ICC and world order and using the Sudan conflict, and a sitting President Omar Bashir case subject.

The people in Darfur, South Sudan, and Sudan have bore a wrath and among needs, need justice to be done. The ICC indictment of a sitting president to bring about justice unfortunately presents an awkward situation. Unfortunately one should not put ends to fires by setting fires nor oxygenating fires. One should not wound, red flag and corner a beast. Certain tact is needed to bring about security and peace in Sudan but the arrest and court hearing with an assured verdict doesn't seem ideal. The tact is ideal but a safeguard is that ICC had better act for itself and toe a proper path.

Bird of the same feathers: As if to side with Bashir wholly, some African and world leaders are skeptical of this indictment however criminal the president should be. To play it safe and diplomatically: The UNO and other international bodies are also against the indictment of a president of a UNO member country and in a world conflict hotbed. Regime change and undermining certain hemisphere leadership: Some mentality will seek to undermine some leadership. To end the regime and revenge: The victims and rivals should have stabbed the sky to the indictment. The rest: led by the media of their reach and choice. The ICC intention draws upon itself a scrutinizing and it better emerge with a better bill of health.

The ICC is attempting or could be experimenting and also setting a precedent for possible blueprint indictment against certain leaderships. The ICC seems also set to exercise its balls against some select leaderships / governments and nationals: - African, Middle Eastern (Minus Israel of course), East European countries (former Soviet blocks), some Orientals, and perhaps middle and South American leaderships. The ICC could be setting itself another role in international affairs. Changing some and courting other leaderships. One therefore does not see the same ICC pointing even a toe against a West European, North American, Russian and Chinese leaderships and nationals be it today nor in the furthest future. With all international organs in the North, the ICC had better not be a tentacle of any emerging world reordering!

It is needless restating the pity that the said bedeviled also happens to be one of the few privileged human beings, and a sitting president of one of the UN member countries. He is bitterly a sitting PRESIDENT and indicting him is not only setting precedents for indicting many other leaders but could be red flagging a beast. And in an opinion, such were the mistakes in the ICC's indictment against the sitting president of Sudan and awkward position and suspicions about the ICC.

Let management realise the new lords

In South Sudan's GoSS salary structure, IT pretender professionals earn about US$ 400 per month, support entire enterprises and a government might not be bothered. How much are these marketable pretenders services worth within a government salary structure so that they may stay put and not rush away to NGOs to earn better pay?

No one will condone the to be mentioned but how much are ICT experts worth? Let see how much: Denial of service access in a network. In a nutshell, that less.

A disgruntled city computer engineer has commandeered a new multi million-dollar computer network, altering it to deny access to top administrators even as he sits in jail on $5 million bail.

Back to Africa: Multi million dollar information systems are being developed in South Sudan, Uganda and in Sub Saharan Africa. How much can a sub nation risk with information systems? But who are the experts [Read: ggooddss] behind the ICT based systems? Answer: Foreign consultants whose backgrounds are not even know but entire government business information and communication systems rest at their disposals.

What is more valuable than money in a banking system? How can one win a war without firing a single shot? The answer to these can be found in Data, information and communication. And this answers how much ICT specialists are worth. They are their own bosses many times.

The telecommunications farce in South Sudan

One can not talk of any benefit nor be it monetary that should accrue when six multi million dollar worth telecommunication companies operate in South Sudan. South Sudan's telecommunication industry is being exploited with an impunity unmatched any where in worlds known.

The key players in South Sudan's telecommunication industry are GoSS' Ministry of Telecommunications and Postal Services, Sudan's telecommunication's industry regulator, the National Telecommunication Corporation (NTC), Zain Sudan (Mobitel) , Sudatel, and MTN Sudan which are Khartoum licensed and are also allowed to operate in the South without remitting even a piesta (Read: Cent) to the South (Read: GoSS). Gemtel, and Network of the World (NOW) South Sudan based telecommunication companies not allowed to operate in Khartoum government controlled areas and which companies seem to luck business acumen befitting the worlds most paying industry.

The government in South Sudan can not lay claims that these telecommunication companies' license fees have benefited its government. This is because there is a chaos of an industry in South Sudan that one can justly say the South failed to address pro actively and whose attempted reactive response has been hampered by inadequate skills and outdated human resource to regulate, monitor and at least relicense the industry. The passive effect of the transition period is also to blame for the slow efforts to bring about the needed millions of dollars to South Sudan's confers!

An urgency in South Sudan's telecommunication industry should not be mentioned again but all the Khartoum licensed operators are also trading in the obvious privacy of persons in the South who use their inevitable services or should we call it disservice as US$ 2.5 is levied per client having to register personal details.

Among the many battle fronts of the Sudan, one may as well say South Sudan has lost miserably the economic and e-warfare capacities in telecommunication. The telecommunication companies are enjoying themselves and at the expense of the socio-economic realities in the Sudan and even seem to be agents of the powers that be to a detriment.

Zimbabwe and a fallacy democracy

Whatever is happening to Zimbabwe is a timely reminder that mankind is been hoodwinked. Nelson Mandela was a terrorist. Democracy as some define it is effectively a flawed project. It is high time its alternative is sought. After spending 27 years of his prime in prison the US finally finally removed Nelson Mandela from its list of terrorisst as the terrorist against apartheid clocked 90 years. If Mandela was a terrorist, one wonders which list Mugabe is in.

The current situation in Zimbabwe is a reality of a needed reform seemingly corrupted, not so popular but which perspective the US, UK and cronies' wish to impose on the world can no longer go unquestioned. Mugabe should have shit some where but let the truth also be said, the UK stance is rather stupid as they know, the US' involvement being just pathetic. As long as the West and North enjoy the duopoly of deciding when it should be called a democracy as it suits their egoism in Sub Saharan Africa, portray what was forged for Iraq and call it democracy, Salam Taki is afraid the issue called democracy should be redefined as a government by the US for the US in Sub Saharan Africa. Please puke. Let us puke. Puke or else swallow a puke.

Mugabe: Zimbabwe's hero and also villain. You minute being in Zimbabwe and swine see you in a rat hole.

The UK, the coloniser: Don't you know the shit you left in Zimbabwe as regards land? See what you have now made of Mugabe.

The US, the so called international community and the crook: Your superpower is not arguable but that you are failing in leadership and peddling lies is a known reality. Please don't drag the world into rot.

Tsvangirai, not fit to lead Zimbabwe: For wishing to be made president of his motherland by foreign powers thereby failing to put up a spirited fight for his people, he rushed into the very comfort of Dutch hospitality, abandoned the solidarity and forgot he wasn't alone in the struggle. Please check into stye please.

For the people in Zimbabwe, deep sympathies from a naive soul down nile. You deserve better and a leadership.

To the rest of the world: Hopeless. Isn't it true that the US, and UK want to impose their own version of democracy and impose a puppet leader in Zimbabwe who should undo what Mugabe did with land before the people of Zimbabwe can sigh a relief?

When presented with matters as intertwined as the Africa-Mugabe-Zimbabwe-UK-US dragging the UN into believing mentality, the world should seek out purer conscience and solve such crisis without wasting anymore lives in military and economic wars for sanctions. With Salam Taki still digging into the heart of the matter but faced with an avalanche of misinformation, disinformation, and a corrupted mass media, the heart of the matter might as well be the reserve of stone beings. Heal Zimbabwe.

Khartoum MTN blocks Sim Card

It is not in business interest for any telecommunication corporation to the block sim cards of its hard earned customers. It is not just business in the face of competition. But in a case and by extension, believe that there is an ugly sheet in the Khartoum regime clamping down on its citizenery and people using telephony services registered in Sudan. All persons using mobile sim cards should register their personal details with service centers otherwise the service gets blocked. Salam calls this raping personal privacy.

Sorry, your account [Sim card] has been blocked. Please call our service center on 111. Thank you.

A service provider has complied and a people is angry. MTN Sudan has blocked a sim card this morning. The National Telecommunication Corporation being the supreme regulatory body in NIF's Sudan should be the accomplice arm in raping the privacies of telcom clientele on behalf of the Khartoum regime. National Islamic Front's current Khartoum regime, Sudan's National Telecommunication Corporation, and MTN Sudan in that order are the rapists.

It might not be ideal but many are exchanging their personal details , paying a surcharge of over US $2.o to unlock a sim card that was blocked for non registration in Sudan. Pay for the rape.? And for those who chose not to trade their personal details even as their sim cards remain blocked, an information society rights activist salutes your. Registering does not guarantee that a sim card may not be blocked for other reasons especially political. Salute to all the defenders of rights in the information society.

After defiling and molesting Sudanese in South Sudan, Darfur, Nuba Mountain, East Sudan and counting, the NIF regime is desperate. It has to clamp down on all oppositions, SPLM/A, JEM, SLA/M, and nemesises in Ugandans, Eritrea, Ethiopian and all those international community that disapprove of its retardation policies. The telecommunication industry is being used with an effect as Salam Taki rose up to a good morning with a telecommunication reality in the Sudan.

Khartoum telecom surveillance service

Hullo, this is customer care [Khartoum] shall you avail us your full names i.e the four names: your two names, your father's name and grand father's name. Please also avail your passport number, nationality and the block number or plot number of your residence. Thank you.

Persons in Juba are receiving similar calls, and demands as if the wonderful government of Khartoum was going to provide a service. Some have complied and others have refused to comply. This is yet another infringement on the rights of the citizens of the information society in the troubled Sudanl. Persons in Juba are receiving similar calls, demands and the failure to comply warrants blocking the blocking of services to you hard bought cell phone and simcard. Sudan is fast becoming a surveillance failed state. The customer centers have taken yet an ugly role.

A government that has terrorised its own citizens in South Sudan, Darfur, Blue Nile and in the Nuba mountains is attempting to secure you might know whom. The CPA, and the GoSS arrangement spelt a direct war ceasefire but the indirect war continues. The war not yet over. The telecom crackdown service is testimony to this. The following networks in Sudan (South Sudan) are affected: Sudani, and Mobitel (= Zain = Celtel). Gemtel might not be affected as of now since it uses the Uganda country code +256 although it is about to revert to the +249 country code of Uganda. With what is happening, Gemtel may as well rethink a position.

South Sudan erazing New Sudan identity

Sudan suffered and continues to suffer an identity crisis. During Sudan's turbulent wars, many in and outside Sudan identified with the SPLM political party and its army, the SPLA's wars against marginalization. Though some parties disagreed and were not in the SPLM /A bandwagon, they truly shared the pain of the marginalized Sudanese and as such easily recognized symbolisms though SPLM /A in origin as being true of an our struggling in the Sudan and were one in solidarity. The marginalized Sudanese identified with related wars, icons, political party, army, flag, an ideology and a number plate. Anyanya 1 and 2, John Garang, SPLM / SPLA leadership, SPLM/A flag, New Sudan Vision and the NS number plate.

A symbolic flag of the John Garang - Salva Kiir concept of the New Sudan that has gone through two wars and two peace agreements sheltered many behind it for an alternative system of governance and hope. An NS number plate was being issued by the determined SPLM - SPLA administration and in solidarity, these number plates were plying East Africa freely because East Africa easily identified NS with the marginalized of the marginalized of the Sudan. Such symbolisms continued to identify and unite a people culturally diverse and spread over an area thrice the size of Uganda, facing many challenges, walking the tightest of a rope but in a solidarity towards comprehensive peaceful existence for socio-economic, political and technological development in the Sudan.

However, there is the ongoing destruction of an identity of a people with cultures so diverse - the NS number plate and this has some probable negative consequences and a political ill could be also be behind it. This is the focus of this post.

Speaking to Sudan Radio Service by phone from Juba on Tuesday, Southern Sudan Traffic Police Director, Major Gordon Micah Kur, explained how the new changes for car registration are being effected. “Each state has SS for southern Sudan then you have the two abbreviations for that state, for example, Jonglei state, we can say SS for southern Sudan then flag of southern Sudan then JS or Jonglei state, for Lakes state it will be SSLS, for Central Equatoria State, it will be SSCES."
Source: Gurtong.org

Salam Taki. Here it is:

Some states in southern Sudan say they will only allow cars with their state’s plates numbers to operate in their states. The Director of Traffic Police said that cars bearing a plate of another state are free to enter any of the 10 states of southern Sudan, but the owner should register his or her car in the state where they live. Source: Gurtong.com

Whereas the SPLM /A continue to hold the mantle to realizing the aforementioned aspirations, and whereas the police is supposed to create law and order, it is sad that in the face of the same SPLM /A - GoSS arrangement, the act of banishing the NS number plate and starting a meaning less numbering system during this trying moments could be laying a foundation for intra South Sudan states targeted violence, and it is a concerted erosion of the New Sudanese national conscious, common purpose and symbolic identity being orchestrated by and among Southern Sudanese, and against many Sudanese.

The efforts of the SPLM/A and the New Sudan response to a failing nation Sudan is as a result being discredited to the Sudanese, regionally, to the international community and even to the same South Sudanese. SPLM might want to reconsider such act because somebody somewhere and not so kind is being let off the hook. The CPA, and the GoSS arrangement spelt a direct war ceasefire but the indirect war continues. The revolution is yet to begin and there is a party that is an interested party to mischief for South Sudan but which non human symbolism will survive and continue to be a symbol of a people so alienated in their own Sudan?

Ministry of ICT Uganda Website

The Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in Uganda came into effect in the year 2006 BC. Two years down the lane, nothing positive and concrete can be credited to the ministry which is trying to find its standing among giants namely the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), Uganda National Council for Science and Technology (UNCST), the Ministry of Works, Housing and Communications, Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, Uganda Broadcasting Council, among others which were the erstwhile performing role that the ideal Minstry of ICT should be known for. Castigating the ministry in such light is not the purpose of the post though.

Here is the issue: From 2006 and today is 2008, the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MoICT) in Uganda hasn't a web presence to boast of. Well one may claim that the ministry is still being setup, that the bureaucracies in civil governments could be taking its toll on the full of pace ministry, and many lamenesses for excuses. But look, the said ministry asked for not so little money and only used less than 20% of what it requested for. And with about US$ 800, 000, 0000 unspent, one is also unable to find a mere website for the ministry. Lets quote an allafrica.com article posted to the web 22 April 2008 and authored by one Mary Karugaba: Uganda: ICT Ministry fails to utilise Sh. 5bn

The ministry has generally under-performed. It raises question on underutilisation of resources and under staffing in the sector. [ICT] Committee Chairman, [Parliament of Uganda] [Hon.] Edward Baliddawa.

The MPs also demanded to know why the ministry had not recruited workers given that the Cabinet had approved the staffing structure in 2007.

Grace Tubwita (NRM) and Baliddawa also demanded to know who would take responsibility for the unspent funds.

Hon. Edward Baliddawa is one of the ICT champions ever in the Uganda august house. The other being Johnson Nkuuhe. Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MoICT) notable key staff are Dr. Ham Mulira, the Minister; Mr. Alintuma Nsambu, the State Minister and Mr. Albert Mugumya, the Undersecretary. ICTs should go beyond the hype and cash. The ministry needs to put its act right, give a website and it is service deserving of the establishment. For all the woes, Salam Taki continues to enjoy due internet traffic if not but the Salam Taki article with key words ICT, Information and Communication Technology, Minstry, Minster, Uganda. The URL of the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology, Uganda is http: www.ict.go.ug

ICT and development gates

Phew. Been evaluating tenders for an information system and did not know whether to cry or laugh, breakdown or loose the head, keep quiet or scream. It is good, but it is goof. The system promises lot only that they are merely promises. The reality could also be different.

Many developing world's information systems are funded by international donors or are they loans. Read an insightful evaluation here. Do it. Spend the money. It must be spent. You will pay the loan later. But it is good. But look, you have the money (albeit borrowed). Do it and it is yorkish, a shackle. Don't do it, and it is beyond you. So a system is copied and pasted. Copied from the first worlds and pasted in Uganda, Southern Sudan and Africa because, because it is good. World class.

Welcome June. When yours truly was lost in transliteration, what does my TechRepublic assistant tell me: Salam Taki, one of your unknowing mentors has post. It is an international conference. Doha Qatar. The famed Bill Gates is confirmed guest speaker. Call for papers. Could you respond to a call for a paper and write something which could spell the pungency in Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs)? Richard Heeks, PhD my mentor and ICT champion at ICTD 2009.

ICTD 2009 IEEE/ACM International Conference of Information and Communication Technologies and Development April 17 - 19, 2009 Carnegie Mellon University, Qatar Campus Education City, Doha, Qatar

Well. ICT and development. Finally the role of ICT shall be put to a scrutiny. I will scream, write, and at worst be in Doha in spirit, question gates, solutions heeks and kith, and attention governments, civil societies, and private sector. It is a wispher of a life time. The bank. The consultants. The corrupt. The rebranding as I stabbed a sky. Hoooooraaaaay

The song ICT4D is abstract and obstructive

Real demand for ICT should not depend on massive advertisement on the part of telecommunication companies but more from investments in education and capacity building as more people may begin utilising ICTs, and ICT Ministries. And oh yes, may also think about the need for national ICT policies, and strategies, define the roles of the public, and private sectors, and civil societies in regards the revolution ICT is causing. Only then can ICT become nutritious for holistic development in Uganda, South Sudan, and Africa. A phrase has been edited to suit Salam Taki.

The title of the blog article was inspired by an article published in the The Monitor website and authored by one Mr. Aramanzan Madanda. Read his article published on the 16th May 2008 entitled ICT hype is a joke. A phrase in that article was the subject for the fore mentioned edit. The motivation for writing this article comes after reading a counter argument article in the same media by a one student of Msc. Information Technology for Management, Conventry University, a Mr. Ivan Kahangire's article. And there was this urge to weigh claims with a Salam Taki article alleging ICT for development is hocus pocus. Treachery of the highest order ...' published published Monday, March 31, 2008 under a title Rocking the Boat.

Mr. Aramanzan Madanda has read widely and knew his trade. Had the chance to listen to him and will say, was he just being at times in the same lambda with Salam Taki? ICT4D song is really pathetic. Like a wild beast tearing through a forest, here and there left up right down. It is like singing a song one doesn't understand but should love all the same and all the time and yet sings it so loudly. It is ICT. While the soon-to-be permanently head damaged PHD holder was discussing competition among telecommunication companies in Uganda and was irked as to why these corporations were obsessed with identifying with star musicians, he soon fell into singing the auld usually sung loud song dna banjuka tu ict njakunoba i4ict song. It is also broken here that ICT4D was crap.

ICT on their own are merely gadgets, an industry and less worth to bring about solutions and the development being sought. Thus the mantra, a hocus pocus, ICT4D is deemed crap. However, when ICT is systematically integrated with sciences, people, and domains like health, education, medicine, etc, ICTs will be seen to cause much cherished holistic developments and solutions and at that point we should no longer hype ICTs are causing the development but a system causing development. Such should be the light in which ICTs contribute to development.

ICT hype is a joke didn't go well with Ivan and so our Msc. IT for Management fellow was drawn in and he drew the dagger: ICT is a key tool for development. Lets understand it this way: Like dancing to a tune so compelling that one just has to go a dance school just to learn how to dance it best. One books a break off to display what one has learnt so far if anywhere but on the big platform open to a critiquing. Salam Taki don't head that way. We shan't. So lets instead welcome and salute the learning process. Ivan, Kije, ay, horro, ay, agandi, ndimarungi. Welcome bro. Lets critique.

Ivan, ICT4D is a ride. We are yet to come to terms with its nitty gritties. Salam Taki hopes that ICT4D shall eventually become ICT in development. It is like Space conceiving beautiful kittens we may label informatics or e -*, where, "*" could be domains such as commerce, health, banking, citizenship, education, governance, journalism, name it but all components in a development. Oh shall we?

Note
Space is the name of a cat of a blogger, the 24th Comrade . Space recently gave birth to three beautiful kittens. The phrase Space was therefore used figuratively to illustrate the relationship as in the cat giving forth kittens. ICT, for instance (and health) brings about e-health or health Informatics.

Henry Owera is a blogger whose blogging exercises are Information Society, ICT, informatics, mass media, new media, social media, information economy, e-citizenship, e-governance, policies, and strategies. He blogs on Uganda, Southern Sudan and Africa.
Blogging at URL http://www.owerahbits.blogspot.com/
Email: owerah@gmail.com Skype: owerah14

Salam Taki Twittered

First: Twitter is amazing. It calculated yours trueness' popularity index! Uploading. It may take longer if you are popular. Cool. Me thinks Twitter is cool but will hesitate recommending it just as yet. Will experience it before recommending it. Soon!

Salam Taki has been twittered. Hopes that word is in the dictionary. If google is why not twittered the dictionary? Well with Salam Twittered, get a glimpse of what is happening in the course of the day and oh owerahbits. Kid sis is chatting me up, Mzee girl is online and still asking about twitter. She doesn't know how to get it ... permit Salam Taki twitter that ... hold ... twittering, twittering ... twittering finished. Salam Taki has twittered that! Thank you for the patience, its has been twittered ...

Well, I see twitter technology would be terrific for a news website not the current newspaper websites Uganda has in URLs newvison.co.ug and monitor.co.ug. Twitter makes updating possible as it nearly happens. Imaging incorporating twittering with video - something akin to live television, you would wish to crash you TV set. A live show of your choosing. And ah! with broadband connection.

Oh yes, Salam Taki is twittered at URL http://twitter.com/owerahbits

Democracking SPLM leadership: SPLM elects Salva Kiir

The Sudan People's Liberation Movement convention just had to elect Gen. Salva Kiir. Period! Salva Kiir was at the helm of SPLM leadership not because of ambitious reasons but because tragic circumstances that caused the demise of late Dr. John Garang dictated it so. The aspirations of the the marginalised people in South Sudan, Darfur, Abyei, name it, Sudan have to be realised and so Joshua and the promise, Salva Kiir, SPLM and a cause, the New Sudan.

But in the democratisation process of the SPLM convention, some ambitions had wished to challenge the position of the leaderships. Won't name names but their intentions were a public secret and a clear threat and negative role of democratisation on leadership wherever.

There seems a moment in building a nation when leadership should prevail over democratisation because leadership is not always about popularity, but like Napoleon Bonaparte would say, a leader is a dealer in hope. And here is the class act. A leader is best when people barely know he exists; Not so good when people obey and acclaim him; worst when they despise him. But a good leader who talks little when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say "We did it our selves" - Sun Tzu

The challenge for the New Sudan is beyond personal egos even as the Sudanese Armed Forces wreck havoc in the contested Abyei region and the Darfur. Something must be done differently.

As we mourn with China

Year 1998: My dear mum's leg is blown into tatters by a land mine made in they know wheres and planted by bedeviling agent supreme Mr. Joseph Kony.

Year 2008 and today while an amputee proper, Ms. Margaret Orech is today one of many many others who advocates that land mines should be banned from planet earth. And so should be in Dublin, Ireland.

The Dublin Diplomatic Conference on Cluster Munitions to negotiate a new instrument of international humanitarian law banning cluster munitions that cause unacceptable harm to civilians will take place from 19-30 May 2008.
- Micheál Martin T.D., Minister for Foreign Affairs

We need them land mines and cluster munitions and other unexploded ordinances banned from the surface of the world and here is the problem ... Mr. Brown is a Prime Minister of the United States of America.

Britain has been accused of being the main barrier to an international treaty that would ban cluster bombs, weapons responsible for the deaths of thousands of civilians.

British soldiers fighting alongside American troops in Afghanistan and Iraq would face criminal prosecution if the government goes ahead with plans to sign a treaty limiting the use of cluster bombs ... (Source: Telegraph.co.uk)

No brown lining expected even as we hopeless show solidarity with China's victims of the earthquake in Beichuan, Sichuan Province, China Monday morning, May 19, 2008.and so send condolences Salam Taki.

The earthquake was well beyond us and the banning of the cluster munitions, made by us - well them, we can ban cluster munitions if we so wish but the cluster munition nuisances are not in London, are not wrecking havoc in New York so two gentle nations' policy will not see the reason for banning them anyway. This is selfishness on the part of firstly, the United States of America, and secondly and potentially, Great Britain and allies.

Shame on you all who perpetuate havoc, abet terrorism of a kind and make the world a hell for thousand of others in Africa, Middle East, Asia and South America.

CheMarleyMahatMandelAungSanSuuKyi Rights

It seems the State, the governments, corporations and man made systems have connived against the citizen in the twenty first century. Phone and communication system eavesdropping /tapping, censorships and arrests in Uganda, in the Sudan as it is in Burma and world over is nothing but systematic rape, grander act of terrorism against the citizens today.

But look, the heart of governments, states, technology and corporations are fellow citizens and what do I do in the end? I censor and rape my own conscience.
Aung San Kyi:

Fear is not the natural state of civilised people.

Mahatma Ghandi:

Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's need, but not every man's greed.

Citizens are terrorising others and themselves for merely positions, and the pay.

Che:

If you tremble with indignation at every injustice, then you are a comrade ...

We can free ourselves. Something is possible as I listen to Bob Marley's redemption Song redone by Cassandra Wilson. Play and feel or read the lyrics below as we reflect.

Redemption Song - Bob Marley
Old pirates, yes, they rob i;
Sold I to the merchant ships,
Minutes after they took i
From the bottomless pit.
But my hand was made strong
By the and of the almighty.
We forward in this generation
Triumphantly.
Wont you help to sing
These songs of freedom? -
cause all I ever have:
Redemption songs;
Redemption songs.

Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery;
None but ourselves can free our minds.
Have no fear for atomic energy,
cause none of them can stop the time.
How long shall they kill our prophets,
While we stand aside and look? ooh!
Some say its just a part of it:
Weve got to fulfil de book.

Wont you help to sing
These songs of freedom? -
cause all I ever have:
Redemption songs;
Redemption songs;
Redemption songs.

Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery;
None but ourselves can free our mind.
Wo! have no fear for atomic energy,
cause none of them-a can-a stop-a the time.
How long shall they kill our prophets,
While we stand aside and look?
Yes, some say its just a part of it:
Weve got to fulfil de book.
Wont you help to sing
Dese songs of freedom? -
cause all I ever had:
Redemption songs -
All I ever had:
Redemption songs:
These songs of freedom

Salam Taki SPLM convention, Khartoum attack, Yes New Sudan

Salam Taki: It is absurd that this site hasn't been updated through out the month of April year 2008! But let it be said. Salam Taki was being blogged using Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) internet resource but as of now as it was three weeks ago, the entire GoSS ministries have had not internet! It is an e-blackout! The blackout coupled with remote travels made it impossible for Salam Taki to be updated. Salam Taki goes now ...

An e-blackout? A government without internet connection must be dark in there and it is a mockery of a government that GoSS is. How can an entire government in the information age lack internet communication? How are they coordinating business? Imagine the US government without internet? Imagine a Rwanda without the internet. Add India, Malaysia and NASA without 21st century communication systems. Horrible stuff really. Lets look into the manner the second Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) convention is being organised.

The very first SPLM convention after the demise of Dr. John Garang, the more critical convention for the hope of a people, the only second SPLM Convention of all times, how would they organise and mobilise for it? How many delegates expected? Over 1,500. key stakeholder? A people so improvised by decades of war and yearning. Where? in Juba, Sudan. Where exactly? A cultural centre near a filthy customs area. Rate the convention organisation and mobilisation out of ten: 1.7 out of ten! 10.7%. Pun it and it is still alright, somebody should be fired, posters were seen being pinned on the d-day.

In the midst of the 2nd SPLM below par organisation, coordination and mobilisation, the Interim National Council (INC) meet which precedents the grand convention had to be postponed and so did the grander meet. That some delegates had not arrived yet. On a Saturday, when and near the venue where the INC meet was to take place, bulldozers were still seen demolishing Ugandans' market place structures at customs in the name of making a healthier environment out of filth. Hell dust raising, cholera in the neighbourhood, women rescuing their belonging, a man wonders and what does one later hear over BBC? Talk about taking Darfur to Khartoum. Khartoum, the fore safest city in Africa was under mortar attack.

So the INC meet was postponed and so did the grand strategy meeting of the people. The INC meet today 12th May 2008 and somewhere else home and away. The slogan? No for war yes for New Sudan. Beautiful slogan it isn't. Yes New Sudan. A New Sudan would heal the wounds of Sudan so goes the wish as one laments the tragedy that befell GoSS leadership in air crash.

Rocking the boat

I think ICT for Development is hocus pocus. Treachery of the highest order. Period. ICT in development seems better. The ICT industry is the most lucrative man made industry on planet earth. Has an African country or African private sector created one? Why haven't we?

Hi Malaysia and Singapore, how did you accomplish it? You embedded it I quess. This business of spending hoplessly on information systems whose failures are so obvious is a waste of African opportunities to have ICT in development.

Information Systems designed in New York, partially financed by the bank, and implemented in one of Africa's rural areas for reasons because but not local, is nothing but pathetic. Oh yes, the Consultant who came from abroad, show me your systems analysis report. Are there ICT projects that was ever cancelled midway in Africa and the foreign consultant took credit.

I think I hate presidential elections in Africa. What Africa needs is leadershipand just not a popular fellow to preside over a system so rotten as most African states are. Something is wrong with African democratisation processes.

Look at Zimbabwe. Some body not will soon be the president but certainly not a leader for that hopeless economy. This business of creating H.Es i.e. Horrible Excellencies who presdie over Africa's demise should stop. Hi Mwai. Hi. I have no tribe, I am Sudanese! I like that blogger! A Sudanese.

I long for that day the phrase I have no tribe will be a mantra in Africa and similar place with tribes. No tribes please. Tribalism in Africa is divisive and so are the religions. I have no religion, I belong to God. Ruhanga in Rukiga, Obanga in Luo, Rabuna in Southern Sudan, Allah in Arabic, Jah for the Ras, ... whatever name you call that suprema, I hate religion and love God.

Those who like me are like me, and I like them pun that. We are similar and true we eventaully become friendly to each other. And those who love me? I love you too. I have no tribe. I have no religion. I am from Africa. Am I in denial? Information systems should be local in its demand, and design. Africa with African solutions.

Broken news: Governance in Southern Sudan

SPLA's General Salva kiir Mayardit has met with the governors of the ten states that make up Southern Sudan. The speakers of the respective states parliaments are also meeting. The premises of the Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly is a no go zone to many. Not invited!

Notably at the governors forum is the first female (not woman!) governor of Western Equatoria State. She also happens to be the first female governor in Southern Sudan! Her Excellency, Jemma Nunu Kumba. Congratulations! What a women's field day it must have been! But to those 'men' in Southern Sudan who think their manhood could have disappeared, one would advise them nor to panic. You are still males and she is the governor! Give her due respect! R.E.S.P.E.C.T. Respect.

I don't know the definition of a man nor that of a woman. I am gender aware. Thanks to WOUGET. I still have that certificate! And I still recall, when after the Gender and ICT policy workshop break in Hotel Africa, Mr. Aramanzan Madanda asked all of us spell the words "Man and Woman" using our waists! It was an exercise indeed - males and females spelling with their waist! Anyway, I have the cert. and its in my Cv! Oh yes, the sterotyping is giving way! It is a new reality.

Back to Southern Sudan. Of all those governors Gen. Salva met, I will point out the governor of Jonglei State! Lt. Gen. Eng. Kuol Manyang Juuk! Let me quote from the Sudan Tribune Website:

Women in Jonglei state will enjoy 50% reduction on charges related to business and maximum protection from women rights violation, ....

... Governor Kuol declared outlining that this will help women to feed their children, educate them, maintain good health status but not for alcohol.

... also assured women of maximum protection against early - forced - expensive marriages, oppression, domestics work loads and assaults ...

Oh yes, there is somebody who gets things moving in Jonglei State, in Southern Sudan! No child shall be seen herding cattle in Jonglei State. All must go school! No more tribal skirmishes state.
Anybody well conversant with Southern Sudan knows that this one general means what he says!

Your excellency, I support you many a times! Down with tribalism. Down with corruption. Down with nepotism. To the health of a nation, and a people, keep up the good fight. Salva, the people's are entrusted with you.

Hey! I am not a public relations executive for anybody in Southern Sudan! Nor is Pernille the Marketing Executive for Tanzania! even if Louder than Swahili! We express ourselves!

Let me quote Gurtong.com

Manyang also warned Bor’s population that any intimidation of town surveyors by armed men would not go unpunished.

On separate development, religious leaders of Bor-Murle joined hands in Bor town in calling peace between two communities.

Bor (a place and home to some Dinkas and the late Cdr. Garang) and the Murle people are in Jonglei State.

There is leadership in Southern Sudan. To the newly appointed governor of Western Equatorial State, I say you have to cause development where others failed! You have to bring an end to tribalism which is otherwise ruining the former golf courses of the colonialists in Maridi, and Western Equatorial State.

Women's Day!

A general will baby sit your world. You will keep a nation busy and focused. That picture will say it better! All eyes on you

This picture from the New Vision could go along way into becoming the picture of the year in Uganda - thanks to Women's Day when I could not post a thing, another fellow saw it through the lens of his camera!

A General, a president, the commander in chief of the Uganda People's Defence Force, H. E Yoweri Museveni baby sitting. A hand shake with a prime minister. A large audience watching! A young mother smiling. Women's Day!

President Yoweri Museveni found himself doing some babysitting as Golden Girl Dorcus Inzikuru greeted Prime Minister Apollo Nsibambi at the Women’s Day celebrations at Kololo on Saturday. The former world champion and reigning Commonwealth Games 3000m steeplechase queen gave birth to Emmanuella Munguci on December 27 and hopes to be back in time for the Beijing 2008 Olympics

Southern Sudan SPLM Convention and the marginalised of the marginalised

Let the mayflies roam. Let the mayflies dance! Let it be known. SPLM show your shades! What itches you? Why should they admire you? Why should they adore you? What was the battle about? What do the two strips in you flag remind you of? What about the red? Do you need some more stripes? How clean is your house? Is it clean? What do you want come 2011 when the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) expires? Reform and create the New Sudan or split as you have never been accorded citizenry by the colonial Anglo - Egyptian condominium that ruled what became the Khartoum establishment and thought the southern was part and parcel of the snobbery.

The Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) convention will take place in May 2008! Venue? Planet Southern Sudan. Period. Whereas the autonomous Southern Sudan government will hold its breath while the convention takes place, in Darfur, the genocide will be a side dish, the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) might be clashing with Gen. Bashir's Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) in oil rich Abeyi region, the southern roads will still be pathetic, the Toposa tribal chiefs will threaten to scatter their gold if for a noble cause but save a referral hospital that has healed thousands. Is SPLM separatist or for unity of the Sudanese people? What is New Sudan? Was she an hallucination?

SPLM, where is Darfur in the New Sudan Vision that captivated many? Do you still have the marginalised of the marginalised in your midst! Western Equatorial State (WES) the land of plent and beauty, a marginalised Ministry of Telecommunications and Postal Services; the marginalised of the marginalised - the directorate of telecommunications and ICT which marginalised we know are worth millions of dollars. Where was the love! What was the cause? What is in the menu for the convention? What for those in the diaspora? Where is your website? What for the jobless youth who might be retired earliest? What about the demobilised combatants who were in Congo in 1954 under that big tree and eaters of game, those of the gallant sons, daughters and mothers who now grace the beggars lists? Ah! I forgot! And those who walked bare feet till Ethiopia to launch the cause?

I love your SUVs the Land Cruiser VX, the GX, the Humvee oh yes the life style, the green buck and the pounds. True the CPA put an end to the war, but hasn't the revolution miscarriaged?
Come May 2008! Where are the Sudanese bloggers? Let the mayflies free. Let it be known that there is a motto thus: Unity, Equality and Progress

And yet I must love you.

A vote to information literacy: Yes to Obama. Yes We Can - WILL.I.AM

The Barack Obama speech inspired lyrics thus:

It was a creed written into the founding documents that declared the destiny of a nation. Yes we can.
It was whispered by slaves and abolitionists as they blazed a trail toward freedom. Yes we can.
It was sung by immigrants as they struck out from distant shores and pioneers who pushed westward against an unforgiving wilderness. Yes we can.
It was the call of workers who organized; women who reached for the ballot; a President who chose the moon as our new frontier; and a King who took us to the mountain-top and pointed the way to the Promised Land.
Yes we can to justice and equality. (yes we can) Yes we can to opportunity and prosperity. Yes we can to opportunity and prosperity. Yes we can to opportunity and prosperity. Yes we can heal this nation. Yes we can repair this world. Yes we can. Si Se Puede.
We know the battle ahead will be long, but always remember that no matter what obstacles stand in our way, nothing can stand in the way of the power of millions of voices calling for change.
We want change!
We have been told we cannot do this by a chorus of cynics who will only grow louder and more dissonant. We've been asked to pause for a reality check. We've been warned against offering the people of this nation false hope.
But in the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope.
We want change! I want Change.
The hopes of the little girl who goes to a crumbling school in Dillon are the same as the dreams of the boy who learns on the streets of LA; we will remember that there is something happening in America; that we are not as divided as our politics suggests; that we are one people; we are one nation; and together, we will begin the next great chapter in America's story with three words that will ring from coast to coast; from sea to shining sea - Yes. We. Can.

Credits: Youtube Link
Yeswecansong.com

In a foreign presidential race so tight, I give it to Obama Barack as if I would vote. But for engineering Information better than Hillary Clinton's campaign, I would second Obama in the Information Society / age race for presidency of US (Pun)

Ful masyiri cracks the African sky

The Egyptians feed Kushites on ful masyiri! Egyptian Beans so they call it here. The Egyptians cooked it, served it and they ate it. Ful masyiri. Egyptian beans. So long to crack but once served luke warm, it is better than beef in Juba! Only a Ugandan chick is better! The Egyptian drained all the energy from an athlete and won the day. But the top scorer is well known. All pun intact.

Returned to base secure later that the evening and the liver was kind to the facts the vile Reds were comprehensively beaten and that the losers held the Russo empire.
City 2:0 United. Liverpool 0:0 Chelsea. A Gunner rejoices! Now lets stray to Blackburn.

Hit the pillow preferedly served under the gaze of venus whenever Juba heats up. Technology has not effectly replaced the beauty of a clear African night sky! For the breeze ... the bewildering thoughts under the wild sky as you attempt to count the skies ... marvel at the galaxy ... the milky joy ... hate the air copnditioned room. Beautiful is the summation of parts working together marvellously such that nothing should be added nor removed from ...

I am delighted.

Kenyan darkness and Uganda, Congo, Somalia, Southern Sudan, ...

The chaos in Kenya spells everything that Easte Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi) and neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo, Southern Sudan, Somalia all but to name afew are being engulfed in a maze of uncertainities come the historic year 2011!

It is 2008. Happy New Year. It is a new year to some and merely different way of calendaring to some of us. In four years, lets compute: Year 2008+4years=Year2011. Yes the bench mark is four years. 2011. In the four years to come, alot of uncertainities could be experienced in the mentioned region. The four years will witness the political heating up of atmospheres in the region. Whereas the Southern Sudan is drawing near the d - day of the conclusion of the historic 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) signed in Naivasha Kenya, Ugandan will be readying to vote come the year 2011. Change or No Change, the Kenyans are already doing mischief which could be a bad influence on the politics in the region. We have heard the piss from a volcano which is about to erupt ...

Kenya was instrumental in the signing of the Sudanese CPA, the same Kenya is central to business transcations in the same region and all countries mention before, poor Kenya is a boarder to hectic Somalia. Let us not forget what happened to Rwanda in 1994 and what is befalling the Central African Republic and the DRC at this moment! The LRA are also around the corner - in Southern Sudan and in the DRC and will they love the peace?
The next four year are critical to the political stablility in the regions. So help us God ... the Kenyans are setting bad preincidents