By the Editor

We asked participants at the event to come share their views on the issues at our makeshift ‘diary room’. Here’s the first.

Click here if you can’t see the video below.

By Charles Odongtho

Journalists have warned Commonwealth countries and global development agencies that the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) risk failing if freedom of the media and expression is not given a priority by Commonwealth governments.

Over 100 journalists who met to discuss issues they want their heads of state and government to address when they meet in Kampala from tomorrow said they are concerned about the rising incidents of harassment, imprisonment and deaths, especially countries going through war.

The MDGs include eight minimum targets set by the United Nations to be achieved by the year 2015. They range from halving extreme poverty to halting the spread of HIV/AIDS and providing universal primary education.

Their main aim is to address extreme poverty levels in the world.

Nupur Basu, an independent journalist in India referred to the closing down of media houses by Pakistani leader, General Pervez Musharraf. She called upon the leaders of the Commonwealth countries to impose more harsh conditions on Musharaf to force him to adhere with full democratic principles.

James Deane, the Head of Policy Development with the BBC World Service Trust said that in a dictatorial environment, no free media can exist.

“We believe that the character of the media determines the character of a country’s democracy”, the final communiqué by the journalists said.

The communiqué is to be discussed by the heads of state and government when they meet from tomorrow.

The journalists said the leaders should take steps aimed at addressing the issue of ownership of the media so that media content is not compromised.

“A free flow of information underpins democratic, social and economic development, and is a principal pillar for the achievement of development progress”, the journalists said in their communiqué.

By Mark Malloch Brown

As the UK’s Minister with responsibility for the Commonwealth, I will be attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) along with the British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, and three other members of the UK Government.

CHOGM presents a unique opportunity to bring together Leaders and Ministers from throughout the Commonwealth to discuss issues which are not just of importance to the Commonwealth, but which are of global significance. The Government of Uganda, who are hosting the event, have chosen the theme “Transformation of Commonwealth Societies to achieve Political, Economic and Human Development”. Under that wider theme, we will be discussing the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Climate Change, Trade, and Education. These are all key issues, which we believe need to be tackled head on if the poorest countries of the Commonwealth are to develop. And we firmly believe that the Commonwealth itself has an important role to play in these issues. As a unique grouping of countries from across the globe, with a fundamental set of principles in common, we, the Commonwealth, cut across traditional regional and economic groupings and can move the debate forward and take action on such issues of critical importance.

Civil society has an important role to play too. The Commonwealth People’s Forum, is an excellent opportunity to raise the visibility of civil society. Focussing on the theme of “Realising People’s Potential”, Ugandan and pan-Commonwealth organisations will discuss key issues such as democracy and development. Their views will then be presented to Heads of Government at CHOGM.

My best wishes for a successful Forum. I look forward to hearing the outcomes.

By Emmanuel Gyezaho

I had the pleasure of attending a workshop on communication for climate change at the Commonwealth Peoples Forum. I must admit, I am no expert on climate issues - in fact until this week, my general view was that environment issues aren’t such a big deal.

I am pretty sure there are thousands of people out there, equally inhibited, either because the media [which obviously sets the agenda], has not really focused on the problems of climate change or because, even when it has, the information has been packaged so badly that it raises little interest.

That is why the British Council in conjunction with Futerra organized a workshop to devise new communication tactics for climate change at the Commonwealth Peoples Forum in Kampala.

Citing the example of Lisa Simpson of the famous Simpsons Cartoon,
Erica Jobson lead facilitator at the workshop, showed delegates that information on climate change can be effectively packaged through animation, art and music, in more appealing ways than through drab graphical statistics and charts.

Erica’s PowerPoint presentation can be downloaded here.

She spoke to Emmanuel Gyezaho about the need to effectively communicate climate change.

Click to download a low bandwidth file here, or press play below:

However, one of the participants, Kwesi Anderson, an environmentalist from Ghana, believes the real challenge lies in the execution of points of action on the part of policy makers, the political class and individual people.

Click to download a low bandwidth file here, or press play below:

By Elizabeth Kameo

Today Syda Bbumba, Uganda’s Minister for Gender, Labour and Social Development officiated at the opening of the Commonwealth People’s Forum (CPF) Commonwealth Network workshop. She could not spend too long there because she had to attend other workshops, but what she said still raised my eyebrows.

The workshop theme of Realising Women’s Potential in Transforming Commonwealth Societies through Financing Gender Equity Work is underpinned by a debate on financing for gender equity and the implementation of international human rights treaties and conventions within Commonwealth countries.

These were the issues that Ms. Bbumba raised: “Women’s issues are allocated the least in budgets. We need to strengthen the implementation of the Beijing Platform of action, and identify and mobilise resources across all sectors to finance gender equity work,” she said.

Yet having said that she failed to speak of the minimal funding for gender equity work from governments such as Uganda.

However, interestingly she did refer to the fact that Tanzania is one country that has set the pace when it comes to financing gender equity work. I almost laughed out when she said that Uganda was following in its footsteps. “Just how is that?” I could not help but wonder, considering Uganda is a government that at onetime was at the forefront of financing women’s issues and today seems merely to give the issue lip service!

Ever wondered why so many women die in child birth each year and yet programmes to educate them on sexual reproductive health issues receive little or no funding? If there is a country that needs preaching to as far as financing gender equity work goes, then I think Uganda should be at the forefront.

There is no doubt that there is little commitment to financing gender equity work since most gender policies are defined by decision makers who are mostly men and so seem to have little commitment to financing work that will transform women’s lives.

By Charles Odongtho

Uganda’s Vice President, Prof. Gilbert Bukenya has said he is fascinated by the innovation of blogging as part of the media freedom that his country cherishes.

He added: The idea of blogging the Commonwealth People’s Forum is a good initiative. Those who cannot be here physically can still participate actively and share their experiences with the ones on the ground. One does not need to be here to take part thanks to the wonders of modern technology. Blogging is also the epitome of openness which encourages you to express yourselves freely but constructively or else you may not be heard..

The Vice President was opening the first ever People’s Space set up as part of this year’s Commonwealth activities in Uganda the British Council set up the blogging facility at the People’s Space to promote discussion and exchange of ideas even among those who are not attending in person the on-going Commonwealth activities.

Dr. Bukenya, obviously smitten by the innovations at the people’s forum, suggested that the idea of a People’s Forum should be replicated in subsequent CHOGMs. The Vice President had earlier inspected the various stalls at the People’s Space and been shown how the blogging technology worked, by Matt O’Neill, the coordinator for the blogging facility. While the Vice President was clearly fascinated by the process, Matt himself admitted that he was impressed by the fact that he was sitting next to the second citizen of Uganda.

The next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in two years will be hosted by Trinidad/Tobago. So there you go, Trinidad/Tobago: Uganda has led the way in ICT usage, why don’t you take it up as the Vice President has suggested?

By Emmanuel Gyezaho

Commonwealth nations, especially those in the underdeveloped bracket are vulnerable to what has been described as “external shocks” due to changes in global climate, says Commonwealth Foundation Director Dr Mark Collins.

It is because of such threats, he says, that there is an urgent need to design and package suitable information for people to understand and deal with the problems associated with climate change.

The British Council is currently spearheading such an effort, at the ongoing Commonwealth Peoples Forum in Kampala, and organised a workshop whose sole aim is to design communication tactics for climate change.

Although he expressed optimism about a somewhat bleak future for third world nations that are currently facing the brunt of climate change for reasons not of their own making, Dr Collins said first world government’s must stand up and walk the talk.

Citing the devastation that befell Grenada in 2004 after Hurricane Ivan hit the Caribbean Island, Dr Collins told Emmanuel Gyezaho that commonwealth nations stand to suffer dramatic impacts due to climate change.

Here’s a short audio interview I did with Dr Collins.

Click to download a low bandwidth file or press play below:

By Naomi Kabarungi

Vice President of Uganda Prof Gilbert B. Bukenya visited and officially opened the People’s Space at the Commonwealth People’s Forum a little while ago.

Naomi Kabarungi followed the VP with the camera:

VP visits the people’s space

In an interview with Joel

Anne Babinaga of British Council Uganda

The Vice President gives his keynote address

VP writes his message for the wall of greatness

Richard Weyers director British Council Uganda helps to put the VP’s messages up the Wall of Greatness.

By Joel Besekesi

HE the Vice President of Uganda Prof. Gilbert Bukenya has officially opened the People’s Space at Hotel Africana, Kampala. The space is set aside to allow the general public to get involved in the deliberations of the much awaited Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).

Dr. Bukenya moved around the different tents in the People’s Space and was mesmerized by what he saw. Notable was the cultural space which the Vice President said reminded him of his childhood days as he played with some of the instruments.

The Vice President had the opportunity of joining the conversation on the People’s Blog when he moved to the media section. He said he was sure that the people’s blog would be an important way for people to air their views on the discussions at the various forums.

In a short interview conducted by Joel Besekezi, one of the official bloggers, Dr Bukenya suggested that the People’s Space should be maintained even after CHOGM so that people can continue to interact freely about any topical issues. Being the first of its kind in any of the CHOGM events, Dr. Bukenya encouraged the next hosts of CHOGM to take a leaf from Uganda’s experience on how to bring the general public on board.

If you can’t see the video below, click here.

In his speech, the Vice President expressed gratitude to the organizers of the people’s space for the efforts put in to make it a reality. He also thanked the young talents for composing the CHOGM song, under the guidance of local artiste Halima Namakula. The song talks about the beauty of Uganda as the pearl of Africa.

An excerpt from the vice president’s opening in video. If you can’t see it, click here.

All are welcome to the People’s Space at the Africana Hotel at no cost, at any rime from 12 noon onwards.

By Elizabeth Kameo

In 2005, dues to the high numbers of vendors in markets around Kampala dying from HIV/AIDS, Angelina Wapakhabulo, founded the Market AIDS Vendors Project (MAVAP), Uganda. Today, the unique project that took health series to the people is producing results and helping empower market vendors socially and economically to live healthy lives even with the threat of HIV/AIDS.

Right: Ms Angelina Wapakhabulo, Project Coordinator - Market AIDS Vendors Project (MAVAP)

I carried out an interview with Angelina Wapakhabulo, Founder, Market AIDS Vendors Project (MAVAP), Uganda, on 15 November.

Feel free to download a transcript in PDF or Word here.