People in possession of pangolin (Lugave in Luganda) scales now have all reasons to smile as a kilogramme of its scales costs 2.5 million shillings.

The pangolin scales have a big market in China and India where the manufacturers there use them to make jewelries, ornaments and hand-held weapons. Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) Spokesperson Ms Lilian Nsubuga says that because of the high demand for pangolin scales in Asia, China and Europe the pangolin population in Uganda and Africa at large is under threat.

In China and Asia the remains of pangolin population are reportedly used in the manufacture of traditional medicine that prolong a man’s erection, and prolong love.

Pangolins are small, squirrel-size animals whose bodies are covered with big scales which are as hard as ivory, tortoise cell or rhino horn.

In Uganda a kilogramme of pangolin scales costs between 50,000 to 100,000 shillings and at the world market the same kilogramme costs $1,000 (about 2.5 Uganda million shillings).

Walakira Nyanzi

The post Pangolin scales on high demand, people with it swim in cash first appeared on Uganda Multimedia News & Information.

Trade Minister, Amelia Kyambadde informs us that all obstacles in the importation process have been addressed and so Ugandans must expect sugar imports late this month. A kilogramme of sugar now goes at 4500 shillings compared to 8,000 in September.

Amelia also says that the government is doing whatever is possible to boost the local production. She says that the government is encouraging more people to do out growing of sugar canes and the sugar factories to use irrigation to boost their production. The minister assures Ugandans that there will be sugar price falls when sugar importations arrive in the country.

By Moureen Nakyanzi

The post Uganda sugar prices to go down as imports arrive this month first appeared on Uganda Multimedia News & Information.

Unfortunately, the government failed to respond to the pressing economic problems. Instead security forces were ordered to arrest peaceful activists and shoot at protesters, turning the police into an instrument of repression.

Moreover, you policemen and women, who are ordered by the repressive state to harass, arrest and even shoot at us are the ones who have suffered the most from this government’s insensitive policies. You are among the lowest paid public servants, you have never earned a living wage and your living conditions in police quarters are deplorable. Sincerely, a policeman who works 24 hours to earn a better living can never whatsoever (with his/her monthly earnings) take own children to good schools neither by a car.

Whenever we (A4C) see pictures and videos of you beating innocent Ugandans we don’t see those who give the orders, we see suffering policemen who purportedly take orders from above to persecute the same citizens who are fighting for rights that would benefit all of us. As we enter an important stage of our campaign this month, we appeal to you the police to stand in solidarity with ordinary Ugandans who are exercising their democratic rights of assembly, protest and freedom of speech.

When we started protesting, inflation was at 14.1%, today it has doubled to 28.3%. A liter of petrol was at ush3, 400, it now goes for ush3, 900, a kilogramme of sugar was at ush2, 800, now it is at ush6, 000, a sack of charcoal was at ush25, 000 and now it is at ush75, 000, yet the salaries of policemen have remained static.

There is no justification whatsoever in arresting, maiming, tear gassing and killing activists who are fighting for your rights. We are all victims of repression. It is not logical for victims to fight another victim. With such fights all victims lose. We therefore urge you the police to stand with us as we demand for change.

By Mathias Mpuuga

MP Masaka Municipality

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