help in

The challenges are great because the companies doing the mining and pumping are cloaked in holding companies, trusts, and subsidiaries. This makes the task of uncovering the parties reaping the benefits from extraction very difficult. The organization that I work for, Transparency International Uganda, is one of a number working to get more income to stay in Uganda by making the extraction industries more transparent.

I work hard and passionately on this issue, yet I know that I have a great deal to learn about how to bring about the changes that are needed.

I've been accepted to a course that will help me become more effective at my work. As such, here I am-- shamelessly asking for money from friends and family, tail between my legs. I can hardly believe it myself but when I was given the opportunity to attend a course in London on illicit corporate activity and international fraud I knew that I had to find a way to make it work.

So here goes nothin. I have been accepted into a short-course hosted by The Tax Justice Network and the Center for Investigative Journalism entitled, "Introduction to Illicit Finance, Financial Secrecy and Asset Recovery" in November in London.

The course is offered mainly to journalists and civil society representatives working in developing countries. I have researched this course, and I believe that it will teach me the tools and strategies to investigate those who would unrightfully embezzle the benefits of the high value resources that I believe rightfully belong to the citizens of Uganda.

I am asking for your help to assist me in covering the expenses of attendance so that I can take part in the course. My salary in Uganda is enough for me to support my modest lifestyle, but not enough for me to pay for this course and the costs of getting to and from London.

So why is this important? Why am I compromising 24 years of hard earned dignity in order to beg for money for a week-long course? Warning for the faint of heart: Self-righteous ramble about to commence.

Living in Uganda I witness the repercussions of the unjustifiable wealth discrepancy that characterizes life in the “developed” and “developing” worlds everyday. Almost every day I see begging mothers sitting outside of high-rise oil company offices as shiny white new “UN” SUVs drive past. Real life. It’s fascinating, horrifying and confusing at the same time.

Working in Uganda as the Extractive Industries Program Officer for Transparency International Uganda, I am beginning to understand (at least some of) the forces behind this chronic underdevelopment and endemic poverty. In my position I have come to see what is happening behind the scenes as the world keeps trying to “develop” Africa to no avail.

As the development initiatives trudge on above ground, some of the most substantial wealth of the continent is being siphoned away as the sub-surface resources—diamonds, gold, oil, gas and other high value minerals—are extracted, transported and sold in other parts of the world. This is where the money is. This is what we should be watching—but to the contrary, the extractive industries are shrouded in secrecy.

Billions of dollars made from extractive industry activity is transferred out of Africa every year through multinational structuring set up to maximize profit. Transfers between associated corporate entities to offshore havens allow for tax avoidance activities like transfer pricing and thin capitalization.

Such practices, while not illegal, rob African countries of desperately needed tax revenue as well as the maximum benefit of the high value commodity profits to which they are owed. I am currently working very hard to try to prevent these practices in Uganda’s developing oil, gas and minerals sectors.

As the chairperson for the Civil Society Coalition on Oil and Gas Revenue Tracking Thematic group I am trying to help lead civil society initiatives that prevent complex corporate fraud in the country’s $25 billion oil and gas industry.

Although I am working very hard to develop myself in this area and have established a strong portfolio so far, I am going to hit a ceiling due to my (complete and utter) lack of technical accounting knowledge. And because I can’t keep calling my parents and sister who were smart enough to get economics and finance degrees in college to ask them whether something should rightfully be “costed or amortized,” I need to attend this course.

At this course I plan to learn the technical practice of analyzing corporate documents for evidence of tax avoidance and other similar accounting tactics that siphon windfall profits out of developing countries and into offshore accounts.

Will you contribute to the $2500 I need to get to take this course? The course cost is $1,050. The cheapest flights from Entebbe to London are currently priced at $1,300. I am going to try to secure a free option for my accommodation while in London but will still have to pay for local transport costs throughout the week as well as travel to and from both airports. I am asking for an additional $150 to do this. I know I will have to dig into my own pocket a bit in the end but if you will help cover the cost of this course crowd-sourced fund I will be able to attend. I am not able to increase my debt to attend this course, given my current student loan debt payment obligations.

Those who know me know that I am incredibly committed—sometimes too committed—to this issue. I am planning on working on this for my whole life, or at least that portion of my life until I completely solve global poverty and can move on, obviously.

I really appreciate the love and support my friends and family already give me in this endeavor. I hope those that are able can help me this time to attend this course and apply the knowledge I gain to prevent economic and financial injustice in Uganda’s oil, gas and mining sectors.

Contributions of all sizes are appreciated!

Contributors (of any amount) will receive a hand-written thank you note describing my experience at the course from yours truly as well as a lovely tourist token from Uganda!