How the Western Cape’s largest electricity consumer saved R90 million in one year

0 0
Read Time:5 Minute, 9 Second

How the Western Cape’s largest electricity consumer saved R90 million in one year: African Utility Week to give insight into large power users’ challenges

ArcelorMittal’s steel plant in Saldanha, the single largest electricity consumer in the Western Cape, participated in an Industrial Energy Efficiency Improvement Project that has resulted in an astounding R90 million energy bill savings in one year.  The upcoming African Utility Week in Cape Town from 14-16 May will give a unique insight into the challenges of large power users, including an exclusive site visit to ArcelorMittal’s Saldanha Works.  

The Saldanha Works is a flat rolling integrated steel facility that produces 1.2 million hot rolled coil (HRC) per annum.  HRC from Saldanha is mainly exported, with approximately 20% sold on the local market.  There are three main areas within the plant – iron making (producing liquid iron and direct reduced iron), steel making that has two converter arc furnaces (CONARC), and rolling with a hot strip mill and a temper mill.
 
Energy management strategy
To save energy, water and waste at the plant, Saldanha launched a focused energy management strategy in 2010 says Dhesan Moodley – General Manager of ArcelorMittal’s Saldanha Works.  He explains:  “resources were allocated both in terms of people and capital expenditure.  Initially the potential was determined through an existing project list and doing an energy audit on the plant to determine further possible savings.  ISO 50001 was implemented and energy management is now part of our daily routines.  The energy saved in terms of baseline value of 160 MW was 10.6MW or 6.6% and the equivalent of R90 million in 2012.

Moodley says they also implemented various VSD (Variable speed drive) projects that delivered greater savings than expected.  “This has proved to be sound technology given the correct application.  We are also very proud of our waste heat project at the Roller Hearth Furnace where waste heat was used to replace a diesel heater at the Air Separation plant.  We have also done some optimisation projects at the water plant on pump systems that required no capital expenditure.”
 
Introducing savings easy
According to Moodley introducing energy savings is relatively easy.  He explains the main lessons the steel plant learnt:  “You need to assign resources if you are really serious about energy savings.  You need to train people – a good technical person still needs to be trained in energy savings and the NCPC/ UNIDO program (supported by the DTI and DOE) is really an affordable way to train your staff to think and implement energy savings initiatives.   Introducing savings is relatively easy.  Sustaining these savings can be quite difficult especially if it is achieved by changing human behaviour.  You need to incorporate it in your management infrastructure and implement a system such as ISO 50001 to entrench and sustain such savings.”
 
Increased energy tariffs
Large Power Users are under increasing pressure with rising energy tariffs and the impending implementation of a carbon tax.   ArcelorMittal’s Saldanha Works, General Manager, Dhesan Moodley says the increased energy tariff and carbon tax is a significant risk for the plant.  He expands:  “we are focused on the export market, specifically in Africa and we are competing against China and India.  These countries do not experience any of the cost increases mentioned.  The viability of export facilities is at risk with these increases.  This obviously has significant potential impact on the economy, not just local, but also on the fiscal balance.”

A number of delegates at the upcoming African Utility Week in Cape Town from 14-15 May will be able to experience a unique site visit to the steel plant at Saldanha.  Moodley says their main message to fellow power professionals at the event will be that “once you start focusing on energy savings there are numerous opportunities to achieve savings.”

The site visit will include the following aspects of the plant:  
–  RHF Flue gas capture to heat Diesel at the Air Separation Unit: This is a waste heat project which eliminates the requirement for diesel heating by using waste heat from another process to achieve the same results.
–  Optimisation of Compressed Air at ASU: Eliminating waste from the compressed air system.  The monitory value of mismanaged and misused compress air is often underestimated.      
–  Water treatment plant System 1 and 14:  often there is low hanging fruit to achieve savings such as just switching off equipment and ensuring that a system is running at its optimum with as little waste as possible.  These are two examples of this principle.  Solid theoretical analysis, practical measurements and detail risk analysis and action plan to address risks are essential before any changes can be made.       
 
The dates for African Utility Week are:  
Exhibition & Conference: 14-15 May 2013  
Pre-conference Workshops: 13 May 2013
Site Visits: 16 May 2013

Location:  CTICC, Cape Town

Websites:  www.african-utility-week.com  ; www.clean-power-africa.com

African Utility Week
African Utility Week brings together the entire ecosystem for the African water and power sector, from high level government representatives, utilities and municipalities, regulators and power pools to consultants, vendors, service providers and energy intensive power users for the purpose of sharing and determining the future development of Africa’s power industry.

Clean Power Africa
Clean Power Africa is Africa's leading event where major stakeholders from the clean power sector get together and network. The event, co-located with the 13th annual African Utility Week, facilitates information exchange at the highest level and explores clean generation as a feasible solution to fulfil Africa’s electricity needs.

Contact:
Communications manager:  Annemarie Roodbol
Telephone:  +27 21 700 3558
Mobile:  +27 82 562 7844
Email:  annemarie.roodbol@clarionevents.com

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
Happy
0 0 %
Sad
0 0 %
Excited
0 0 %
Sleepy
0 0 %
Angry
0 0 %
Surprise
0 0 %

The nature and Forms of free masonry: Its historical origin, fraternity and thrust

0 0
Read Time:23 Minute, 58 Second

In the Nacaths Journal of African Theology, Dr.Columbus and myself made a critical evaluation of cult and occultism in the institutions of higher learning in Nigeria. Among other things, we noted were that cult threatens normal campus life and social order.  Today, many people are asking these fundamental questions: Is Free Masonry a secret cult or a creepy fraternity? One would argue that Free- masonry as a fraternal organization shares some characteristics of a cult. Fraternity anywhere in the world and under whatever manner or shape it appears is the product of an awareness that are secretive and therefore contradicts everything that is transparent. Beginning from ancient Greek culture to Europe, America and down to Africa, creepy fraternities have made its impact felt in many parts of the world, especially in places where different forms of oppression exist side by side with adherence to Christian faith (Odeh, 1993). I am pleased to explore the nature, range, scope and influences of freemasonry as a fraternal organization.

There is no gain saying the obvious that the nature and forms of Free Masonry as a fraternal cult is dressed up and presented to members as solidarity group with the aim to attract patronage and fellowship. This increased fascination in the occults and fraternal organizations are now a major threat to our secular society. It is not surprising to find prominent citizens among its members. Members are found in all levels of world’s fiancés, politics, education, and vocations. Members are equally drawn from various professions: government officials, law makers, law enforcement agents, school teachers, office workers, scientists, government officials, artists, celebrities, taxi drivers, commoners to mention but a few.
Evolution, the basic tenet of free masonry and occultism which theosophy takes to its logical conclusion teaches that human mind can develop its paranormal powers (powers beyond the five senses) or ‘psychic’ powers by which it can achieve whatever it wants including godhood in life. Besides evolution and powers of the godhood, men and women join fraternal societies in order to spare themselves the troubles of social economy and political crises. The unbridled lust for power, wealth and fame are other reasons why people join these fraternal groups. People join these fraternal organizations and the arcane of the supernatural in search of solution to their multi-faceted problems.

Departure:

Free masonry is the oldest and largest world wide fraternity dedicated to the brotherhood of man under the fatherhood of a supreme being. Although of a religious nature, freemasonry is not a religion. This fraternity urges its members, however, to be faithful and be devoted to their own religious beliefs. Besides the beliefs of every cults and occultism, freemasonry projects two major manifestations of cults: Cults of strength in which the display of manliness and strength is the utmost objective, and religious cults orientated to the worship of the transcendental. Freemasonry is an esoteric society only in that certain aspects of their activities are private. Some masons state that freemasonry is not, in the 21st century, a secret society but a “society with secrets”. Some describe the organization as a “confidential” society in contrast to a secret society. Modern freemasons regard the traditional concern over secrecy as a demonstration of their ability to keep a promise and a concern over the privacy of their own affairs. Besides being an esoteric society, freemasonry is about world politics and world revolution. The Eugenics poster entitled “the relationship between Jews and Freemasons,” reads that Freemasonry is an international organization beholden to Jewry with the political goal of establishing Jewish domination through world-wide revolution. The map decorated with Masonic symbols (temple, square, and apron), shows where revolution first took place in Europe from the French Revolution in 1789 through the German Revolution in 1919.

Explication of Terms:

Freemasonry at its core is not a Christian organization. Like other “secret” organizations (Eastern Stars,) free-masonry appears to be harmless fellowship gatherings. This fellowship-gathering seems to take the form of a fraternal organization in whose members share moral and metaphysical ideals and in most of its branches requires members to conform to a constitutional declaration of belief in a Supreme Being or deity. Famous mysterious cults are in the like of Elusius adopted by Athens, Isis, and the cult of Egypt.  Similar fraternity of this kind is the mystery sorority of Dionysus for women (only included dancing, drinking, drugs, ecstasies, madness, Lesbianism, ritual shouting, and human sacrifice). Others are Cults of mythris, worshippers of Sybille who have always castrated themselves in the frenzy of the rites; Orphic cults centered on the singer Orpheus (emphasizing on purification, and the means whereby the soul might escape the body and ascend into the realm of the blessed). Freemasonry like other cults of the ancient world was based on Greek, Egyptian and Roman mythologies. Most of them are affiliated to the goddesses of the underworld like Dimetre, Dionysus, Sybile, Adonis, and Isis.

Who is a Mason?

Permit to say that a Mason is a man who professes a faith and uses the tools of moral and ethical truths to serve mankind. A Mason binds himself to the like-minded men in a brotherhood that transcends all religions, ethnic, social, cultural, and educational differences. In fellowship with his brother, a Mason finds ways in which to serve his God, his family, his fellowman and country. This is what their doctrine says in theory but in real life a Manson serves the forces of darkness, denounces his family and alienates his fellow countryman.

 What is Masonry?

Let us first clear the arena. A generally accepted definition of “freemasonry is an organized society of men, symbolically applying the principles of operative Masonry and architecture to the science and art of character building. The working tools and methods of the ancient craftsman are used to portray fundamental truths. Looking at the working tools of the entered apprentice, the 24-inch gauge and common gavel comes to mind. These were used by the operative mason to measure lengths, widths and heights and to break off the corners of rough stones, but a speculative mason is taught to use these to manage his time and to overcome the roughness of his character, thus making him a better person. When asked what Freemasonry means, a Minnesota Mason opined that Masonry is the following:
1.    In the lodge room, speculative Masonry is information and inspiration
2.    In the home, Masonry is kindness and fidelity.
3.    In business relationships, Masonry is honesty and veracity.
4.    In my daily works, Masonry is thoroughness and dependability.
5.    In social contracts, Masonry is moderation and self control.
6.    Toward the fortunate, Masonry is congratulations and best wishes.
7.    Towards the weak, Masonry is compassion and assistance.
8.    Towards wickedness, Masonry is rebuke and resistance.
9.    Towards the penitent, Masonry is forgiveness and another chance.
10.    Finally, towards God, Masonry is reverence, love and obedience.

Historical Excuses:

The historical origin and trust of freemasonry is complicated. It is complicated because its entire form and nature is fragmented and episodic. From pre-historic times, primitive man, who sought to understand the world of fraternity, represented cult and creation as a divine act.  In Greek culture, as well as the surrounding states that made up the ancient Mediterranean world like Malta, Alexandra and Byblos, several cults and fraternities developed, built around the mythologies of the people. In 666BC, the fraternity involving the sky (Uranus) penetrating the Earth (Eaea), who later gave birth to Aphrodite, developed with elaborate forms of ritualistic worship. Another cult and fraternity involving the illicit affairs between Adonis and Aphrodite evolved and culminated in the practice and institutionalization of sacred prostitution done by all women in honor of the goddess Aphrodite. At this time, the goals of cults and fraternities have been to celebrate the glory of sensual love and this was done in special temples built for the worship of Aphrodite. The Babylonians similarly had temples prostitutes dedicated to the goddess Ishtar.The first Grand Lodge of Freemasonry was the Grand Lodge of England (GLE). This Lodge was founded in 1717 when four existing London Lodges met for a joint dinner. At this dinner, the Lodge rapidly transformed into a regulatory body, which all English Lodges joined? Forty years later, the English Grand Lodges, referred as “the moderns” vied for supremacy with “Ancient” Grand Lodges. Both Lodges united in 1813 to form what is regarded as United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE). In 1725 and 1736, the Grand Lodges of Ireland and Scotland were formed respectively.
In 1730s, Freemasonry was exported to the British Colonies in North America. However, After the American Revolution, independent American Grand Lodges were formed within the state boundaries. At this period, the desire was to establish a “Grand Lodge of the United States”, with George Washington as the first Grand Master. In 1728, the oldest jurisdiction in Europe referred to as “the Grand Orient de France (GOdF) was founded. In 1877, the Grande Loge Nationale Francaise (GLNF) became French Grand Lodge that is in amity with the united grand Lodge of England. One of the most learned and distinguished of the early English Freemasons was the Rev. Dr. George Oliver DD. Oliver wrote extensively on ecclesiastical antiquities and all aspects of speculative Freemasonry. In his detailed work, “the Revolution of the square”, Dr. Oliver narrated that the society adopted the temple of Solomon for its symbol because it was the most stable and the most magnificent structure ever existed, whether we consider its foundation or superstructure; so that of all the societies men have invented, none was ever more firmly united, or better planned, than the Mason. Early masons copied the temple worship and patterned it to their activities. This imitation allowed man sonic rituals to make use of the architectural symbolism of the medieval operation who worked on stones gravels and pebbles. Based on the above, speculative Mason was formed to adopt the temple symbolism to teach members moral and ethical lessons of the principles of “brotherly love, relief and Truth.” Speculative masons thereafter began to teach members “liberty, Equality and Fraternity.” Falconer (1997) write that the edifices which Freemason builds are nothing more than virtues or vices to be erected or destroyed; and in this case heaven only occupies their minds, which soar above the corrupted world. However, the temple of Solomon denotes reason and intelligence. It also denotes wisdom and speculative rationality. Stones (2007) acknowledges that these words are most succinct yet a comprehensive explanations ever given in respect of the foundation, purpose and symbolism of freemasonry. It typifies all aspects of the operative craft form which Freemasonry is derived.

Is Freemasonry a Social Fraternity or a Cult?

The term “cult” conjures up images of the burning of David Koresh’s branch Davidian settlement and the mass suicide of Jim Jones’s people temple devotees. Scholars on one hand, describe cult as a group that worship Satan, scarifies animals, and takes part in evil and bizarre initiations. The Christian definition of cult is a religious group that affirms one or more of the fundamentals of Biblical truths. Also, a cult is a group that teaches something that will cause a person to not be saved if they fail to believe. According to Orukpe (1988), secret cult is a group of people who share and propagate peculiar secret beliefs divulged only to members. Since certain aspects of freemasonry are private, it is logical to call it a “secret society.” or more accurate to call it an esoteric fraternity. The reason is because some Masons regard the traditional concerns over secrecy as a demonstration of their ability to keep a promise or a concern over the privacy of their activities. Cults and fraternities are all built around these inordinate desires for the mysterious and the uncommon. Hellenistic fraternities had secret doctrines and cultic rites (Warren, 2008). And by whatever name and in whatever guise it comes, secret cult is death.
Margaret Singer, a former adjunct professor of psychology at the University of California (Berkeley) identifies many traits characteristic of cults that are shared by fraternities and sororities that practice hazing; the control and isolation of new-comers. This is a creepy technique used by cults, fraternities and sororities. Cults, fraternities, hazing and Free-masonry are an association rapped in mystery. The semantic analysis of the Greek word (Muster ion) means “mystery”. The Greek word (Mueo) also means to be initiated into the mysteries of the fraternity. This noun had originally been used in reference to the secrets of ancient mystery cults. Based on exploratory research, I have come to understand that this noun was originally used by ancient fraternities during the 7thc through 4th centuries throughout ancient Greece which employed secret doctrines and secret ceremonies. Only those initiated into the fraternity knew the mysterious doctrines and secrets. In distinction from a religion, a cult is a group that claims to be Christian, yet denies an essential truth of Biblical Christianity. In distinction from a cult, free masonry could be compared to the order of the star Spangled Banner, a fraternal order referred to most commonly as the know nothing party. When this order came into existence Tyle (1992) articulated that they attempted to increase their appeal by converting their network of lodges into a conventional political organization, which they christened the “American Party.” Beyond politics, economics, and social life, there were pronounced tendencies towards the formation of organized groups like cults and Masons. Critics of Mason doctrines and teachings claim that mason and the cults share some similarities. Both groups teach that Jesus was not God and that salvation is not by faith alone. In some dimension, the two could be compared to the two most Christian cults-the Jehovah witnesses and the Mormons, the un-evangelistic sects with messages of distortions, deceptions and false doctrines. If asked I would say, these two groups have often been viewed with indifference because some of their beliefs and doctrines are ‘conjectures,’ some true, some false.

The Philalethes Society (Masonic Research Society):

Another name that describes philolethes society is the international Masonic research society. The name of this society is pronounced fill a (as in a-bate) lay thess with the accent on the third syllable-lay. Etymologically, Philolethes is derived from two Greek words, philo and alethes. These two coinages mean lover of truth. The philalethes society was founded on October 1, 1928, by a group of Masonic students. It was designed for freemasons desirous of seeking and spreading Masonic light. Contrarily, when accused as the brain behind the dreadful “Pirate Confraternity.” Professor Wole Soyinka (noble prize laureate) opined that they formed that group in 1952 at the University of Ibadan merely as a pressure group that seek the light and to protect students from being victimized by unruly lecturers (Columbus & Gerald, O 1994). In 1946, the philolethes magazine was established to publish articles by and for its members. The publication was to chronicle Masonic beliefs and principles of living. The purpose of this research society was to act as a clearing house for Masonic knowledge. It exchanged ideas and research problems confronting freemasonry, and passes them along to the Masonic world. Affiliates in the Philalethes society consists of members and 40 fellows, who are master Mason in good standing in a regular Masonic lodge anywhere in the world. Today, Philalethes society has members within 185 regular Grand Lodges.  

Reasons for Joining Freemasonry:

Ignorance of the mystery surrounding human life causes individuals to join the arcane of the blood thirsty associations. Ignorance of the plan of God causes believers to make wrong choices in life, to establish wrong priority, or wrong decision to live secretive lives unknown to their own flesh and blood. The same ignorance that surrounds the power of the Supreme Being causes the weak to solve problems incorrectly. People join fraternity and sororities because they emphasize the notion of “family”. Hank (1999) writes that appeal to recruit those who consider themselves in need of friends and potential dating partners, or who find themselves under stress in a new environment” cause individuals to join secret sects. Violence is the cult’s official policy. It is a policy that attracts membership and patronage. This is the more reason why the National association of the sea dogs (pirates confraternity) protects its members even it come to violence and confrontation. It is common that privileged, educated, wealthy people are more likely to join this culture of death for personal protection and promotional reasons. Most politicians join cults of death to protect their life and the lives of the immediate families. Similarly, bad politicians use the services of the cult groups particularly, the black Axe and Eiye fraternity for election purposes. They use their services to threaten normal social order by causing confusion and chaos in the cities, campuses and some private and government establishments.

Beliefs, Doctrines of Freemasonry

Freemasonry has enigmatic belief system. The Only belief requirement is that members must believe in the existence of a “supreme being” that includes the “gods” of Islam, Hinduism, or any other world religion. A characteristic of this society is that they are anti Scripture and anti Christian. The very essence of joining the Lodge requires Christians to ignore the exclusivity of Jesus Christ as the Lord and Savior. Members of freemansonry believe a person would be saved and go to heaven as a result of his good works and personal self-improvement. Members of Masonic lodge see the Bible as one of those several “volume(s) of the sacred laws.” They describe the Bible as an important book designed for members who claim to be Christians. It is without doubt that masons belief that the Bible is not an exclusive word of God, nor is it considered to be God’s sole revelation of himself to mankind. On one hand, they purport that the Bible is a good guide for morality, a symbol of God’s will which can also be captured in other sacred texts, like the Koran or Rig Vedas.
On the doctrine of God, members are challenged to believe in a deity so profound to man. Based on these foundations, masons invite people of all faiths, even if they use different names for the nameless one, or the ‘I am’ of the Judeo-Christian religion, while praying to the one God who is father of all. Be it as it may, freemasonry does not believe in Christology. They do not believe that Christ was God in human form (Matthew 1:18-24, John 1:1). Members doubt the doctrine of the deity of Jesus Christ and deny the exclusivity in Jesus Christ or the triune God who is the father, son, and the Holy Spirit. Members refuse to invoke the name of Jesus when praying. It is un-Masonic to mention the name of Yahweh or Christ while praying. It is even against their strict code to mention the name of Christ in the lodge. During Masonic rituals, the holy name “Jesus” is entirely omitted. A mason perceives Jesus Christ on the same level as other religious leaders, past and present. They challenge the teachings of the trinity. Masons deny the idea that Christ is the second person of the trinity (Matthew 28:19, Mark1:9-11). Although members challenge the Christology and Trinitarian nature of God, this fraternity does not believe that the Holy Spirit is an advocate. They doubt the divinity of Christ and claim that while he was on earth, he was fully human (Mark 4: 38, Matthew 4:2) and fully divine (John 20:28, John 1:1-2, Acts 4: 10-12). Members find it difficult to believe the rationale why Christians pray in Jesus’ name and proclaim him before others, regardless of offense to non-Christians (John14:13-14, 1 John 2:23, Acts 4:18-20).
This fraternity teaches that man is not sinful, just “rude and imperfect by nature.” According Masonic doctrine, humanity possesses the capacity of moving from imperfection towards total perfection. Therefore, moral and spiritual perfection lies within men and woman. The fundamental question that comes to mind is: why these moral and spiritual preoccupations? There seems to be a magical edge to the messages propounded by masons to her initiates that rings a note to people through the media. Many tend to believe it or accept it as true. Many have accepted their teachings and doctrines as a window through which reality and society are seen as they really are. For the Masons, oath and secrecy are the manifestation of real membership. Its importance cannot be overemphasized. Masons rise and fall by the oath and secrets they share. Take it away and you cut off the central nerve of their whole secret life and foundation. Olayiwola (1991) described this form of manifestation as a unique cultural behavior of making clients to live under sacred protection. Undoubtedly, Man sonic oath and doctrines compels members to belief:
-that salvation can be gained by man’s good works.
-that Jesus is just one of many equally revered prophets.
-that they will remain silent in the lodge and not talk of Christ.
-that they are approaching the lodge in spiritual darkness and ignorance when the Bible says Christians are already in the light, children of the light, and are indwelt by the light of the world- Jesus Christ.
-By demanding that Christians take the Masonic oath, Masonry leads Christians into blasphemy and taking the name of the Lord in vain.
-Masonry teaches that it’s G.A.O.T.U (Great Architect of the Universe), who masonry believes is the true God of the universe. This true God of the universe is representative of all gods in all religions.
-Masonry makes Christians abide in a Universal approach in its prayers, demanding a “generic” name be used so as not to offend non-believers who are Masonic “brother.”
-By taking the Masonic obligation, he is agreeing to allow the pollution of his mind, spirit, and body by those who serve false gods and believe false doctrine.
-By swearing the Masonic oath and participating in the doctrines of the lodge, Christians are perpetuating a false gospel to other Lodge members, who look only to Masonry’s plan of salvation to get to heaven. By their very membership in such syncretistic type organization, they have severely compromised their witnessing as Christian.
Masonry denies and contradicts the teachings of scripture. Based on the above, Masonry requires member to engage in activities which Scripture condemns. In a bid to carry out the belief and doctrine of this fraternity, members vie away from conventional moral standards; tolerate members who perform illicit and illegal acts committed behind close doors. Members encourage a near delusional feelings of invincibility; fail to heed an individual members moral qualms in the interest of group unanimity; put a newcomer in harm’s way with seeming disregard for that person’s well-being; and after a dangerous or fatal incident deny that they have erred, even in the face of clear evidence to the contrary. This is creepy and wearied. Christian should not join a creep society that denial the Christological foundation of the church and the Trinitarian nature of the God structure.

Some Notable Masons

The first world member of the Freemason was Fredrick, Prince of Wales. After Fredrick, notable Masons joined the fraternity. These Masons are:
Benjamin Franklin
James Monroe,
J.C Penny
Theodore Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
John Hancock
Duke Ellington
Sir, Alexander Fleming
Thurgood Marshall
Harry Truman
George Washington
John Wayne
Henry Ford
Gerald R. Ford
However, many other Masons are recognized by name, or by accomplishments. George Washington and thirteen other Presidents, eight Vice Presidents and forty-two justices of the supreme courts have been masons. Among other notable masons are Supreme Court justices and politicians, military personnel’s as well as business and market tycoons around the world. One can hardly argue against the fact that the word freemasonry has been bedeviled with secretive, myopic, lopsided, impoverished and somewhat attenuated consideration. I make bold to argue that freemasonry as secret fraternity is a clandestine sect. My argument is founded on the above logical analyses and not mere semantic cyclicism or philological verbosity.

Conclusion:

Any one who has been familiar with the unresolved state of affair with the forces of darkness should be aware that any fraternity by all standards is bloodshed and leads members on a course to a downhill. It leads members to plethora of problems and lingering frustrations. This is what Wole Soyinka did not foresee before modeling the national sea dog fraternity in the likes of Greek cults. Most Greek fraternities like the pirate confraternity limit communication, interaction/affiliations and sometimes avoid relationships with family, friends, relatives, classmates and others outside their evil chapter. Any association that makes these kinds of conditional relations with the above is creepy and wearied. A creep fraternity avoids speaking to non-members. A wearied fraternity does not find joy in helping family members. Members of wearied fraternity are wicked and have the bad blood to kill. It is creepy that an organization forbids one to take shower or change clothes, or wear clandestine apparel. It is creepy that an organization forbids individuals to be involved in the day-to-day lives of their families, church and social organization. It is wearied that members behave in such an extreme way to justify actions outside the range of normal social and human behavior.   Individual’s who joins creepy fraternity of this sort ends up to be confronted by social nomativism, moral contractism and hang on to poor rational negativism. All these have a yawning lacuna when the teachings of freemasony and other fraternities are challenged. Any fraternity enmeshed within the whole spectrum of false hope, false protection of initiates, and the alienation of immediate families, because of clandestine rituals and unaccountable sources of riches is creepy. It is nice to point out here that the teachings and messages of fraternities cannot survive without being confronted by moral accusations and judgment. The teachings of fraternities as many think is a mere myth and fantasies. They are exaggerations and misapprehensions associated with ordinary rituals that can never evoke belief for steal minded individuals. They are not comprehensible on the grounds of transparency on human behavior and interaction with the open society. The teaching and doctrines of fraternities cannot fit into the constitution of nature and God’s living relation to it, their necessity in the aim of revelation which they deserve (Encyclopedia, Britannica). Without prejudice, I have strong judgment that all fraternities have the capacity to suppress member’s common sense and rational thoughts. Freemasonry like other cults of death makes it hard for members to leave. They make quitting a complex reality for initiates and old cargos. A member who tries to quit can experience the same kind of post-traumatic stress disorder, disconnectedness, and angst that researchers and experts have associated with cult members who opt to leave their group (Hank, 2001). If this is the case, then fraternities are the devils constant reminder and activities at man’s world. They are signs of the devils intervention in a particular moment in the history of human life. These signs make fraternities a creepy association to join

References:

1. Columbus, O & Gerald, O (1994) Cult and Occultism in the Institution of Higher learning in Nigeria; Nacath journal of African theology

2. Hank, N (1999) Greek Letters Don’t Justify cult-Like hazing of pledges, retrieved @ stop hazing.org

3. John. J. Robison, a Pilgrim’s path. M. Evans and Co., Inc. New York, p. 129

4. Warren, D (2008) Doctrine of “mystery” Grace notes library, retrieved may, 19 2008 @ http://www.realtime.net

5. Odey, J (1993) Africa, the agony of a continent: Does liberation theology offer any solution, the encounter, Journal of African life and religion, Rome Vol. 2

6. Orukpe, T.  (1988). Secret cults and the law, National Concord newspaper, Thursday, December, Lagos Nigeria

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
Happy
0 0 %
Sad
0 0 %
Excited
0 0 %
Sleepy
0 0 %
Angry
0 0 %
Surprise
0 0 %

Nigeria: Lengthy Sentence for Nigerian Militant Okah

0 0
Read Time:1 Minute, 9 Second

Nigerian terrorist Henry Okah was jailed for 24 years by the High Court in Johannesburg on Tuesday.

"Effectively, the accused [Okah] is therefore sentenced to 24 years imprisonment," Judge Neels Claassen said, handing down sentence.

On January 21, Okah was found guilty on 13 counts of terrorism, including engaging in terrorist activities, conspiracy to engage in terrorist activities, and delivering, placing, and detonating an explosive device.

The charges related to two car bombs in Abuja, Nigeria, in which 12 people were killed and 36 injured on October 1, 2010, the anniversary of the country's independence.

The second bombing took place in Warri on March 15, 2010 at a post amnesty dialogue meeting. One person was killed and 11 seriously injured.

In both bombings, two car bombs went off minutes apart in both places. The cars were parked in close proximity to each other.

Claassen sentenced Okah to 12 years imprisonment for each of the bombings and 13 years for the threats made to the South African government after his arrest in October 2010.

The 13 years would run concurrently with the 24 years.

In January, during judgment Claassen said the State had proved Okah's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, and his failure to testify meant the evidence against him remained uncontested.

Okah has denied any involvement, claiming the charges against him were politically motivated.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
Happy
0 0 %
Sad
0 0 %
Excited
0 0 %
Sleepy
0 0 %
Angry
0 0 %
Surprise
0 0 %

President-elect Uhuru Kenyatta, please don’t squander the world’s goodwill

0 0
Read Time:4 Minute, 43 Second

There is a saying in diplomatic world that countries – like politicians – have no permanent friends or enemies.

All they have are permanent interests. Every move a country makes towards another is more often than not fuelled by the need to advance self-interests.

Should a country’s self-interests coincide with another country’s, they have mutually beneficial relationship. It is on this basis that the West, led by the United States of America and Britain have suddenly changed their stand and warmed up to President-elect Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy-designate William Ruto.

It is not because the West has suddenly grown fond of Uhuru and Ruto. It is because the West, realised, after the Supreme Court upheld the election of the two, that in the self-interests of the West, they have no choice but to fall in line and endorse the election of the two.

Indeed, we say it is a positive development that US President Barack Obama has finally reached out to the President-elect and pledged the US would work closely with the new Kenyan Government.

With the US, United Kingdom and other major Western powers having reached out to President-elect Uhuru and assured him that their countries will work closely with Kenya to enhance mutual interests, it removes a big question that has been hanging over the heads of Kenyans – what next for Kenya and the world relations after the elections?

Now, the question will be: How does the Uhuru-Ruto Government make use of the goodwill from the West and the rest of the world to advance Kenya’s-self-interests too?

President-elect Uhuru and his deputy Ruto should not take for granted this goodwill. Goodwill is a commodity with a very short shelf life. If you don’t use and maximise on it positively and quickly, like the perishable commodity it is, it disappears.

For this reason, we once again call on the two leaders to have top on their agenda for the first 100 days to start with healing the nation and assure the half of the country that did not vote for them that these voters’ interests are nevertheless at the heart of Jubilee Government.

We have said this before and we will say it again, the onus of reaching out lies much more on the winner than the vanquished.

So to Uhuru and Ruto, we say; exercise power with restraint and understanding. Don’t let the hubris of winning blind you.

For if you do so, you will miss a golden opportunity to take advantage of the goodwill which nations of the world have extended to your leadership.

The world – and the country – will be watching to see how you treat those who did not vote for you. The world and the country will be watching to see how you craft your Cabinet and how inclusive it is.

The hallmark of a good and visionary leader is one who embraces his erstwhile political enemies and converts them to his friends and supporters in the larger interests of the country.

Reaching out to those who did not vote for you is not a mark of weakness; it is a mark of strength of character and makes a lot political sense too.

 

How you handle the issue of inclusiveness and move forward with everyone will be the first tests for your regime and how you score on the inclusiveness of the Cabinet will have a strong bearing on whether you retain international and local goodwill or you will have squandered it.

         

                   ***

Let us all respect institutions

Whenever a litigant goes to court for resolution of a dispute, there are only two possible outcomes: You win or lose the case.

Of course everyone goes to court believing they have a strong case and trust they will have their day in court.

No one goes to court believing they will lose although in the natural scheme of things, the possibility of losing is always in the air.

Now, Prime Minister Raila Odinga went to the Supreme Court seeking to have the highest court in the land reverse the decision of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to declare Uhuru Kenyatta the winner of the presidential race. We commend Raila for having taken the court route to resolve the election dispute.

When the Supreme Court ruled in favour of Uhuru, PM Raila promptly announced although he was disappointed at losing the petition, he respected the ruling of the court and would abide by it. But a few days ago something odd seems to have stirred in Raila. During his recent trip to Kisumu, the PM appeared to revisit the Supreme Court ruling and had some rather untoward things to say about the Supreme Court.

Equating himself to Jesus before the Roman Council headed by Pontius Pilate, the PM told his excited supporters that the Supreme Court ruling was meant to crucify him politically.

These are unfortunate remarks from a leader who has been in the forefront of reforming and strengthening the Judiciary.

Such remarks have the potential of undermining the very same Judiciary Raila was so instrumental in building.

We may not agree with Court ruling all the time, but we – especially our leaders – owe it to the country to respect such rulings and desist from utterances and activities that will make crucial institutions and pillars of democracy lose public trust.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
Happy
0 0 %
Sad
0 0 %
Excited
0 0 %
Sleepy
0 0 %
Angry
0 0 %
Surprise
0 0 %

Kenya: Alarm over public sector’s ballooning wage bill

0 0
Read Time:2 Minute, 58 Second

Salaries to Civil Servants have almost doubled, from Sh241 billion in 2008-09 to Sh458 billion in 2012-2013

Llected leaders and State officers lining up to re-negotiate with the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) is getting longer.

Members of Parliament were the first to raise objections to the proposed salary structures by the SRC, which set their taxable pay per month at Sh532,500.00. 

During one of the sessions at the induction workshop in Naivasha, governors ejected officials sent to them by the SRC, insisting that they could only discuss their salary issues with the SRC chief executive Sarah Serem.

All the 85 elected ward representatives from Nairobi County insist that the proposed taxable pay of Sh79,000 is not sufficient to sustain their operations and upkeep in Nairobi, the country’s largest and also richest county.

Available figures indicate that Kenya’s public sector wage bill has almost doubled from Sh241 billion in 2008-09 to Sh458 billion in 2012-2013. This is in excess of 50 per cent of the total domestic revenues, which is way above the international best practice of not more than 35 per cent recommended for countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The 2013 elections ushered in a devolved system of government, implying that a lot of cash will be needed to finance this expanded bureaucracy.

Already, Government’s pressure to meet the increasing recurrent expenditure due to the devolved governments is causing investors to agitate for higher yields. This has been worsened by failure by Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) to meet its revenue collection targets as the 2012/2013 financial year close.

 President-elect Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy, William Ruto, have also warned that the country’s public wage bill is not sustainable and that the Jubilee government would consider freezing pay rises and salary cuts.

The two said that Kenya risked being the most uncompetitive country in sub-Saharan region because of paying unsustainable high wages.

The Salaries and Remuneration Commission reduced MPs’ perks by 37 per cent from Sh850, 000 to Sh532, 500. The commission, which is seeking ways to reduce the public wage bill, has ensured that incoming MPs would not enjoy the privileges of duty-free vehicles like their predecessors.

The Public Sector Wage Bill has been rising at an annual average of 13 per cent over the last three years.

In this financial year (2012/2013) alone, the wage bill increased by 30 per cent, largely due to hefty salary awards to teachers, lecturers, heath workers and the police.

Uhuru will earn a maximum of Sh1.7 million and not less than Sh1.3million per month, while salaries for Cabinet secretaries (ministers), the speakers both for the Senate and National Assembly, the Chief Justice, the Attorney General, the Chief of defense forces (chief of general staff), the secretary to the Cabinet, permanent secretaries, the IEBC chairman, the Inspector General of police, judges, magistrates and kadhis have also been capped in an attempt to reduce the burgeoning wage bill.

 

“All the proposed salaries – inclusive of allowances –  will be taxed in full. This will as opposed to the past when MPs could increase their pay at will and block any attempts by the taxman to go for their wallet,” explained Finance Minister Njeru Githae.

Analysts reckon that with the pending huge wage bill, the situation is likely to get worse with the coming into place of the county governments, a view shared by the Parliamentary Budget Office.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
Happy
0 0 %
Sad
0 0 %
Excited
0 0 %
Sleepy
0 0 %
Angry
0 0 %
Surprise
0 0 %

France reassures Mali over troop withdrawal

0 0
Read Time:2 Minute, 35 Second

The French foreign minister was in Mali on Friday to reassure the war-torn nation that France is not planning an “overnight” withdrawal of the troops it sent there to fight Al-Qaeda-linked rebels.

Laurent Fabius met military officials and his Malian counterpart Tieman Coulibaly and was later due to see President Dioncounda Traore to discuss the pullout scheduled for the end of April and to push Mali to hold elections as planned in July.

“The international community has its eyes fixed on you. Restoring security is essential but restoring democratic dialogue is also essential. It rests on your shoulders,” he said after meeting Coulibaly.

France sent 4,000 troops to Mali in January to block an advance on the capital Bamako from the north by Islamist fighters.

Paris is preparing to hand over to a UN-mandated African force of 6,300 in the coming weeks, placing a spotlight on Mali’s poorly-paid, ill-equipped and badly-organised armed forces.

The Malian military fell apart last year when well-armed Islamist extremists seized the country’s vast northern desert, terrorising locals with amputations and executions performed under a brutal interpretation of sharia Islamic law.

The French-led intervention quickly drove out the insurgents but significant pockets of resistance remain in the Ifoghas mountains as well as in the northern cities of Gao and Timbuktu.

Paris has announced the beginning of its troop withdrawal from Mali late April, with its deployment halving by late July and a UN peacekeeping force of more than 11,000 troops expected to deploy around the same time.

“I’ll tell my partners that we will not go overnight,” Fabius told reporters, noting that France intended to keep a residual force of around 1,000 men in its west African former colony until the end of the year.

Fabius said the other objective of his visit was to encourage Mali’s politicians to begin the process of reconciliation, particularly between the north and the south, and organise presidential elections for July.

He said the “policy decisions had already been taken” for a July poll.

“Technically and politically it is feasible” to have “a legally elected president in July,” he added.

Analysts have voiced doubts over the possibility of a vote within such a tight timeframe because of the continued instability in the north and the problem of getting 400,000 people displaced by the conflict to the ballot box.

But Moussa Sinko Coulibaly, the minister for territorial administration, said on Thursday he had “no doubt” over the timetable.

He said Mali had decided to allow refugees to go to “the polling booth of their choice” and was in contact with neighbouring countries including Mauritania, Algeria and Nigeria to ensure ballot boxes were available there.

“This election will not be absolutely perfect,” a French diplomatic source conceded, adding that Paris and the international community were nevertheless relying on the ripple effect elections could have to advance reconciliation.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
Happy
0 0 %
Sad
0 0 %
Excited
0 0 %
Sleepy
0 0 %
Angry
0 0 %
Surprise
0 0 %

Jonathan Cancels Visit To Sokoto

0 0
Read Time:1 Minute, 58 Second

President Goodluck Jonathan, Wednesday, called off a planned trip to Sokoto without giving any reason for the cancellation.


The president had been billed to visit the state hours before the Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Tony Anenih, in continuation of the board’s visit to PDP-controlled states to reconcile aggrieved members of the party.

Anenih had met privately with the president at the Presidential Villa ,Tuesday afternoon and night, to perfect the itinerary for the Wednesday trip .

Two teams of reconnaissance and an advance party scheduled to depart for Sokoto yesterday morning were said to have been quietly dispersed after they had assembled with intention of making the journey.


A security source however said the cancellation may not be unconnected with security reports.


“ It is likely that intelligence reports emanating from Sokoto are not very encouraging, so there is no way the president will shun such advise and embark on the trip,” the source said.


The source also said that the president who had just returned from a tour of three states during the Easter break and was expected to meet the leadership of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) Wednesday night may have decided to call off the trip on his own to enable him conserve his energy after a strenuous week.

The ACF’s meeting with the president is geared towards finding lasting solution to the violence in the Northern region occasioned by the activities of the dreaded Boko Haram sect.

The president’s refusal to capitulate to the requests of key northern leaders including the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Sa’ad Abubakar III and stakeholders in Borno and Yobe States to grant amnesty to members of Boko Haram, had irked many northerners who expressed strong feelings that his attitude does not encourage a peaceful resolution of the problem.

Planning for a similar meeting by the president to Borno and Yobe States, though planned several months ahead did not materialise until after 11 governors under the aegis of the All Progressives Congress (APC) converged in Maiduguri, Borno State. 


It was speculated in some quarters that security reports about the volatile condition in the two states in addition to lack of radar equipment at the Maiduguri airport delayed the president visit then.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
Happy
0 0 %
Sad
0 0 %
Excited
0 0 %
Sleepy
0 0 %
Angry
0 0 %
Surprise
0 0 %

Uganda clerics hold gay hate Easter march

0 0
Read Time:2 Minute, 42 Second

 

A gay hate march was held near slain Ugandan gay rights activist’s, David Kato, burial ground and home, in the village of Mukono.

Pastor Solomon Male, Reverend Thomas Musoke led yesterday (31 March) a group of about 100 people demanding ‘say no to homosexuality’, and ‘promoters of homosexuality’ to be prosecuted.

According to Pepe Julian Onziema, director of the group Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG), who was present at the protest, Male claimed Uganda’s government is not doing enough to pass the Anti Homosexuality Bill, ‘join us against homosexuality. Government has failed’, he said.

The pastor alleged that Kato ‘sodomized’ Paul Kagaba, Male's assistant and dropped names of gay activists (including several SMUG members) during his anti-gay rants.

He also held a gay porn journal and demonstrated it to the public that included young children, as a warning against LGBT people.

In addition, Onziema reported that a man in the crowd shouted at Male: ‘How do you know if you don't do it? Stop encouraging our curiosity, you fake person’.

Male was undeterred and alleged that Kato’s grave became a site for ‘foreigners’ to come and pay ‘pilgrimage to homosexuality’.

Some of the crowds still questioned Male, saying: ‘You say homosexuals are given money to recruit people, but are you also given money to come here?’

Speaking with Gay Star News, Richard Lusimbo, SMUG’s research manager said: ‘I believe that Male is being pushed and funded by US evangelical groups to preach anti-gay hate – he made allegations to incite fear and hatred, saying that homosexuals are recruiting children, scaring local parents.

‘The idea is to distract people from reality and create a moral panic about the “West” giving money to “homosexuals” to “recruit” members, bolstered by declarations such as “homosexuality is unAfrican”, creating a scary image of LGBT people as something alien imposed by the west.

‘All this next to David Kato’s mother home who bore witness to the rally. She’s an elderly woman in her mid 70s, who is still grieving for her son.

‘She was strongly affected emotionally; hearing abuse shouted about her son was really heartbreaking for her’.

Lusimbo criticized the clerics: ‘It is imported homophobia from US evangelicals which is unAfrican, not homosexuality.

‘These religious leaders must respect the dead and those who lost their loved ones.

‘It is very African to leave the dead in peace and respect the elders, like Kato’s mother.

‘It is unAfrican to disrespect people in this way, it is unAfrican to expose children to pornography in public, this abuse and hate incitement is uncalled for’.

Musoke previously shouted abuse at Kato’s funeral and was forcibly removed.

While Male was recently found guilty in an Uganda court and sentenced to community service and fines for falsely accusing a priest of male rape.

David Kato, who was a member of SMUG was brutally murdered on 26 January 2011 while speaking with Onziema on the phone. 

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
Happy
0 0 %
Sad
0 0 %
Excited
0 0 %
Sleepy
0 0 %
Angry
0 0 %
Surprise
0 0 %

Uganda: Delayed breast feeding killing our newborns

0 0
Read Time:2 Minute, 29 Second

Uganda has one of the highest deaths of newborns in the world with almost 40,000 newborns dying every year.  While the specific deaths due to delayed breastfeeding and use of alternative feeds for newborns is not known evidence shows this to be a major contributor to new born deaths. 

A study conducted in Ghana found that the risk of death among newborns was almost three times higher among children who were breastfeed after one hour of birth.

In Uganda, 35% of mothers are substituting breast milk with alternatives such as baby milk formula, cow's milk, gripe water in urban areas and plain water, glucose fluids, and black tea in semi and rural areas. These alternatives are wrongly perceived as trendy, classy and safe yet they are not suitable for newborns because of their limited nutritional value and risk of contamination in comparison to the readily available breast milk.

 

These alternative feeds have a high risk of being mixed with unsafe water, stored in unhygienic conditions and poorly prepared leading to infection to the new born, malnutrition and death of newborns.

It is estimated that exclusive breastfeeding in accordance with the World Health Organization recommendations would save many children's lives each year in Uganda and yet prompt and exclusive breastfeeding practices continue to reduce among the affluent and the poor alike.

The World Health Organization recommends that newborns are initiated on exclusive breastfeeding immediately or within the first hour after birth.

Although almost all mothers in Uganda breastfeed their newborns, studies indicate that about half of the infants are not breastfed within the first one hour as is recommended, thereby putting these newborns at an increased risk of death.

Breastfeeding reduces infections among newborns as it contains agents that fight certain agents of infections. Mothers who breastfeed also experience improved health through reduction of risks of developing certain disease such as type 2 diabetes, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, among others.

The situation is exacerbated by low general public awareness of the importance of immediate  onset of breast feeding fueled by low antenatal visits, home births, and virtually almost non existence post birth visits and care at most health facilities.

This situation is also exacerbated by the physical distance between newborns words and those of new mothers which leads to the separation of mother and baby immediately after birth. This makes immediate initiation of breast feeding impossible.

The ministry of health should ensure there is increased emphasis on the importance of breastfeeding immediately after delivery during antenatal visits and that mothers are given the necessary help to ensure they are in position to breastfeed within an hour after delivery.

Village health teams should be equipped with appropriate information on the benefits of immediate onset of breastfeeding after delivery and coupled with appropriate behavioural change communication materials for dissemination in the community. 

The writer is a Makerere University School of Public Health-CDC Fellow

 

 

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
Happy
0 0 %
Sad
0 0 %
Excited
0 0 %
Sleepy
0 0 %
Angry
0 0 %
Surprise
0 0 %

Uganda welcomes US Shs13b offer for Kony hunt

0 0
Read Time:1 Minute, 44 Second

 

The government yesterday welcomed the US’ offer of up to $5m (Shs12.8b) to any person who captures or provides information for the arrest of LRA commander, Joseph Kony, or any of his two top deputies; Okot Odhiambo and Dominic Ongwen.

The US government announced the offer on Wednesday night.
Foreign Affairs Minister Sam Kutesa described the cash offer as a “motivator” for those interested in pecuniary benefits. “We don’t hunt for LRA commanders and fighters so that we get money, but so as to end their terrorism,” Mr Kutesa said.

He added: “However, it [the bounty] is a motivation for whoever wants to get that money…and any additional support [for eliminating LRA] is welcome.”

 

Reward programme
However, the US Secretary of State, Mr John Kerry, said on Wednesday, as he announced the expanded War Crimes Reward Programme, that any sharp shooter who takes any or all the trio out of action will not receive any of the monetary rewards,
“…This is not a dead-or-alive bounty programme. Information must lead to the secure arrest, transfer, or conviction of these people in a court of law,” the Department of State quoted Mr Kerry as having said. “We want these men to look into the eyes of their victims and answer for their actions.”

LRA is accused of committing various war crimes, including rape, murder, enlistment of children as sex slaves and fighters as well as plunder.

The whereabouts of Kony and his two deputies – already indicted by the International Criminal Court – remain unknown. Ugandan intelligence organs believe particularly that the LRA commander is hiding in Sudan whose government it alleges has renewed assistance to the rebel group. Khartoum denies the allegations.

Mr Kerry’s announcement came a few days after the hunt for LRA rebels inside the CAR stalled following a military takeover by Seleka rebels.
Mr Kutesa said Ugandan troops remained on course with the counter-LRA operations in CAR.

tbutagira@ug.nationmedia.com

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
Happy
0 0 %
Sad
0 0 %
Excited
0 0 %
Sleepy
0 0 %
Angry
0 0 %
Surprise
0 0 %