Alligation on Dr.Josephine S. Lagu.

BY: Rengo Gyyw Rengo, Jr.,
UGANDAYes, there are new developments on the fees row in Uganda. Two positive developments:1- The Uganda police and intelligence, upon request from GOSS, have arrested Mr. Felix whose full names are a little bit hard to ascertain. However, Mr. Felix is said to be an Information Technology specialist in the office of the Undersecretary, Dr. Josephine S. Lagu, the daughter of the former Sudan Vice president, President of the former Southern Sudan High Executive Council during the post Addis Ababa Agreement, and the leader of the Anya Nya One Movement. Ugandan police using the GRPS Technology, which locates the location of an elusive suspect, arrested Mr. Felix on the weekend. He is awaiting both extradition to Juba where he shall be investigated. Before that we were told, he was made to write a statement to the police on the matter. That statement shall be handed over to GOSS authorities with him. Perhaps, he will also give account of the money and those involved in the deal. One worrying thing in the minds of many, was how the IT specialist/officer could directly deal with students money? And why was his private and personal account use? Could he be related to some people in the office of the Undersecretary including the Undersecretary? Nobody knows. It is rumoured that the young man grew up in UK together with Dr. Josephine Lagu but nobody is certain to draw close relationship.2- Dr. Josephine Lagu, Undersecretary, is reported suspended from her post and her immunity lifted pending investigations into her role in the saga. At least dogs on the street of Juba can bite her without problem. The Director General for Higher Education, Mr. Atem Kuir Jok, a master’s degree holder in education from Moi University, Kenya, is now the Acting Undersecretary for Higher Education in the Ministry Of Education, Science and Technology, MOEST until further notice. This information was gathered from reliable sources.3- The students, for love of their government, decided unilaterally to lift a ban they had imposed on GOSS Laision office in Uganda. Students had closed the Laision office to put pressure on the government. This reversal of decision came as a result of their communication with the government back home, which assured them of timely management of their problems. They were equally convinced with the news of arrest and suspension of the two suspects or accomplices.4- According to a statement from Mr. Junior William Deng, the Students Union Vice President in Uganda, “we’d no problem with the government as such, but with individuals who use students to steal from the government. So, We rang the bell! The arrest of Mr. Felix and suspension and lifting of immunity of the Undersecretary epitomises the seriousness of our government on fighting corruption and deliberate malpractices by some people.. Students are part of civil society that helps the government in fighting corruption.”On whether they were entitled to this money as scholarships from the Government, Mr. Junior said, “No. The government is not obliged to give us scholarships in the disapora, owing to number of challenges and problems its faces at home. Even universities and students at home don’t have everything they need for their learning. For example Juba university, Dr. Garang university of science and technology in Bor, you name them. However, since the government had chosen to help us voluntarily, there is no need for some people to take adavantage of it. This is our contentment. Actually, embezzling the money meant for students in diaspora is worst than cancellation of such support and assistance”.5- Gen. Gier, who is very proud of young people, students who he believes contributed to the struggle [the Red army], yesterday called from Juba assuring students to stay calm. That the ministry GOSS is ready to release money, despite some unseriousness in the ministry of education. The GOSS government was mourning the death of the President Advisor, Father George Kinga who died yesterday but one. General Gier, minister for interior GOSS who was acting as minister for legal affairs because the latter was away, is not relenting until he gets to the bottom of the matter.6- The matter had reached such gravity that it drew the attention of Gen Kale Kaihura, the Inspector General of police of the Republic of Uganda, although he couldn’t meet the students personally, was quoted as saying, “there’s no problem. These students are our students. We’ll handle them as Ugandans and our students.”7- Conclusion, despite no date set for receving the money, President Salva Kiir is known for issuing of inviolable orders. With sureity of quick response, students have melted back to their various universities awaiting the positive developments as soon as possible. Even if the government may withdraw its support with time, it may not be now because students are already indebted to universities with what the government had pledged to them last semester.8- The Head of the Liaison Office, representing the President of GOSS in Uganda is Mr. James Ongea and his deputy is Mr. Kau Nak. There’s an Education Attache, newly commissioned from Juba, who deals with students matters and scholarships, among others. There are other different departments including special programmes.The challenge the Liaison Office faces sometimes in Uganda is its evasion by some government officials like that of the undersecretary.. There are those government officails who come to Uganda on government duties but want to deal with individuals in the community or students without involving or passing through the Liaison Office. Nobody knows whether the problems is lack of knowledge on governments work or prejudices towards the incumbent officials. Whatever the answer may be, the government needs to impose some discipline of its visiting teams to Uganda to respect the Liaison office. Also in Uganda is the SPLM secretariat, a watchdog of the party in Uganda