• Contact Us
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Donate
  • Login
Watchdog Uganda
  • Home
  • News
    • National
    • Politics
    • World News
    • Media Outreach Newswire
    • Africa News
    • Tourism
    • Community News
    • Luganda
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Motorsport
  • Op-Ed
    • #Out2Lunch
    • Conversations with
    • Politics
    • Relationships
  • Business
    • Agriculture
    • CEOs & Entrepreneurs,
    • Companies
    • Finance
    • Products
    • RealEstate
    • Technology
  • Entertainment
    • Lifestyle
  • People
    • Showbiz
      • Salon Mag
  • Special Report
    • Education
    • Voices
  • Reviews
    • Products
    • Events
    • Hotels
    • Restaurants
    • Places
  • WD-TV
  • Donate
  • China News
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • National
    • Politics
    • World News
    • Media Outreach Newswire
    • Africa News
    • Tourism
    • Community News
    • Luganda
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Motorsport
  • Op-Ed
    • #Out2Lunch
    • Conversations with
    • Politics
    • Relationships
  • Business
    • Agriculture
    • CEOs & Entrepreneurs,
    • Companies
    • Finance
    • Products
    • RealEstate
    • Technology
  • Entertainment
    • Lifestyle
  • People
    • Showbiz
      • Salon Mag
  • Special Report
    • Education
    • Voices
  • Reviews
    • Products
    • Events
    • Hotels
    • Restaurants
    • Places
  • WD-TV
  • Donate
  • China News
No Result
View All Result
Watchdog Uganda
No Result
View All Result

IAN ORTEGA: Africa is actually a net donor to the world but the West has veiled us to believe otherwise

watchdog by watchdog
4 years ago
in Conversations with, Op-Ed
4 0
Ortega Ian

Ortega Ian

ShareTweetSendShare

I used to honestly think that the West was the savior of Africa. That they gave us aid and we were dependent on them. It really sounds true from face value. But when you grow a bit older, and wiser (hopefully), you realize that the reverse is true.

What the West takes from Africa is more than what they give to Africa. Africa is actually a net donor to the world. The Aid story is the cover up for what they take from us. That is why they will consistently keep giving the aid. This is regardless of whether governments are democratic or not. The Aid is actually a bribe to maintain this parasitic relationship where Africa keeps giving to the rest of the world.

Let’s take an example. European Union gives Uganda a loan to construct a road. They dictate that the loan will be given through a European bank. They dictate that the company that gets the tender should be European. On top of that, they dictate that Uganda government hires a European Consultancy firm for this road. You know the consultancy fees? Upto 15% of the cost of the road. Before Uganda even gets to use the money, over 50% of the money has already gone back to Europe. Then you have exhorbitant interest rates on the loan. Lending is actually big business for the West.

But let’s assume you play clever and avoid the costs in that scenario. You have a multinational perhaps an Ian or Ortega. If you are a Ortega and wanted to take your money out of Uganda, how would you do it? You can get Ortega France to sell some big equipment to Ortega Uganda. Ortega France can decide the price. This price can be inflated by over 200%. Ortega Uganda doesn’t need to have use for that equipment. The equipment may not even have to exist in the first place anyway. But through this transaction, you get to take out money. And that is the big game of Transfer Pricing.

People often wonder; why would Western governments keep funding security institutions in Uganda. It is simple, because that money is still coming back. They will give funding to SFC and then ask SFC to buy some guns, some special equipment and then also sell to them some prestigious training courses.

Money and natural resources are actually flowing to Europe. But we’ve been convincing that the West is the messiah, that we are at its mercy, they are sacrificing and giving us aid. And we have no right to complain when they ask us to do one thing or the other.

It is a scenario of: I give you a loan, then I dictate that you buy everything from my shop. Then I dictate that going forward, my children will have their meals in your home, and you will pay their school fees. Those are the loan terms. But I still expect you to pay back with interest. And to be thankful for my good heart.

Same thing almost happened for oil. When you read the mining agreements that governments are forced to sign, you realize we are giving out to the world. We are sustaining the world. But we’ve been veiled to believe that the world is sustaining us and we should be humble.

The sad story is we are locked in this relationship. We can’t opt out. Africa and African countries are businesses for Europe. This is a play field. We are pawns in this game. That is why African scenarios are replicated from country to country, whether democratic or not, same problems, same complaints.

You read the complaints in Zambia, same complaints by Ugandans, same by Malawians, same by Kenyans. Why are these patterns replicated?

Of late when I meet my Western friends, I take a moment to remind them that we are their sponsors. And they should allow us to dictate some things to them.


Do you have a story in your community or an opinion to share with us: Email us at editorial@watchdoguganda.com
Share1Tweet1SendShare

Related Posts

Dr. Ayub Mukisa (Ph.D.)
Conversations with

Dr. Ayub Mukisa: For Parish Development Model to have impact in Karamoja, Government needs to partner with NGOs

4th July 2025 at 09:10
Ms Irene Naikaali Ssentongo,Country Director, 
The Hunger Project – Uganda
Conversations with

OP-ED: Epicenters of progress, accelerating the Parish Development Model

3rd July 2025 at 20:10
Phillip R. Ongadia
Op-Ed

PHILLIP R. ONGADIA: NRM joint campaign: The party’s fault line

3rd July 2025 at 18:58
Next Post
Mufti Mubajje leading prayers at Old Kampala Mosque

Gavumenti muyimbule abasibe, abalabiridde abanaku mwebale, Mufuti Shaban Mubaje mu kusaala Eid e Kampala Mukadde

  • Prostitution in Uganda- Courtesy Photo

    10 dangerous hotspots known for prostitutes in Kampala

    1108 shares
    Share 443 Tweet 277
  • LIST: New salary structure for civil servants starting July 2020 out; scientists, lecturers get juicy pay rise

    2285 shares
    Share 914 Tweet 571
  • Uganda’s Billionaires 2025: Once Again Sudhir Ruparelia Leads a Resilient Pack

    43 shares
    Share 17 Tweet 11
  • Silent Billionaire Bosco Muwonge Buys Mukwano Arcade at UGX 250 Billion Cash Down

    25 shares
    Share 10 Tweet 6
  • LIST : Gov’t releases Revised Salary Structure for Teachers, Police, and Prisons Staff for FY 2024/2025

    119 shares
    Share 48 Tweet 30
Facebook Twitter

Contact Information

Watchdog Uganda is a portal for solution journalism, trending news plus cutting edge commentaries in the fields of politics, security, business, tourism, entertainment, technology, agriculture, climate change, environment, public health et al. We also give preference to Ugandan community news and topical discussions. The portal also publishes community news and topical discussions.

Email: editorial@watchdoguganda.com
To Advertise:Click here

Latest News

Hon. Raphael Magyezi

Yara East Africa and Asili Agriculture Launch Agri-Hub in Kiryandongo to Advance Farmer Knowledge and Food Security in Uganda

4th July 2025 at 19:06
Chancellor of Jinja Diocese and Bishop’s Secretary, Fr. Gerald Mutto

Preparations for St. Gonzaga Gonza Day celebrations complete 

4th July 2025 at 17:54

Check out

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Minister Muruli Mukasa

LIST: New salary structure for civil servants starting July 2020 out; scientists, lecturers get juicy pay rise

24th May 2020 at 10:45
Pregnant woman

Shock as 17-year old boy impregnates his two sisters during Covid-19 lockdown 

17th June 2020 at 08:17
Sudhir Ruparelia is set to speak at business forum in United Kingdom

Billionaire Sudhir’s wisdom on how to invest in real estate

0

How a boy’s destiny turned from cotton grower to communications guru

0
Hon. Raphael Magyezi

Yara East Africa and Asili Agriculture Launch Agri-Hub in Kiryandongo to Advance Farmer Knowledge and Food Security in Uganda

4th July 2025 at 19:06
Chancellor of Jinja Diocese and Bishop’s Secretary, Fr. Gerald Mutto

Preparations for St. Gonzaga Gonza Day celebrations complete 

4th July 2025 at 17:54

© 2025 Watchdog Uganda

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • National
    • Politics
    • World News
    • Media Outreach Newswire
    • Africa News
    • Tourism
    • Community News
    • Luganda
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Motorsport
  • Op-Ed
    • #Out2Lunch
    • Conversations with
    • Politics
    • Relationships
  • Business
    • Agriculture
    • CEOs & Entrepreneurs,
    • Companies
    • Finance
    • Products
    • RealEstate
    • Technology
  • Entertainment
    • Lifestyle
  • People
    • Showbiz
      • Salon Mag
  • Special Report
    • Education
    • Voices
  • Reviews
    • Products
    • Events
    • Hotels
    • Restaurants
    • Places
  • WD-TV
  • Donate
  • China News

© 2025 Watchdog Uganda