Opinion: The #NBSFrontline debate about Succession after President Museveni is premature; no matter whom it is!

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#NBSFrontline is wasting all people’s time with discussing the succession of President Museveni and change from the ruling party National Resistance Movement (NRM). Well, even if the wife of Dr. Kizza Besigye is surely a viable candidate; the famous Oxfam leader Winnie Byanyima and her new quest for becoming a Presidential Candidate. That is a noble idea of a genuine and caring individual with an amazing track-record and spokesperson for the oppressed. Still, the talk of succession right now is premature.

The reason for the premature is that the process for anyone taking the reins from President Museveni is a closed door, a barricaded castle and sealed of courthouse. The President who has been in charge since 1986 hasn’t showed any real proof of wanting to stepdown. He has promised it twice, but that hasn’t mattered. Mzee has changed his mind and thought of the idea of not having the reserves of Bank of Uganda and gone back into the race, gone with guns and made sure the campaigns of his competitors has been a living hell. That he do best, also secure that the Electoral Commission is run by loyalist who will deliver the needed numbers to run the Parliament and the mandate to be a strong President.

Mzee hasn’t given any way to anybody you could ask the few left of the bush-war generation, the ones that are left and still around knows this is true. A man who sends army against his own after taking power, you know he isn’t giving up easy.

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Mzee himself said this: “You see when you give them (civil population in the North and East) a good beating then those who are using them will no longer use them. Since the month of January (1987), we have given them much beating especially in Lira and Kitgum Districts. And in fact the week I left (for Yugoslavia) we had given them a good blow in Gulu District. So it is going to settle down”. (New Vision, January 19, 1987).

The years of election rigging, paying citizens small fees in the villages while being on the road, the years of promising grand project and not delivering should be reasons for the change of leadership. But the people should have created turmoil as the President has the army and the monies that are forged through his illegitimate government. Instead they let him steal the nation and smile over pennies. Therefore the President fears for his life after the years on the throne as the marble and treasury chest might be looted by the ones that he was in charge of or even the grandchildren of the men who died to get him in power.

As long as President Museveni is in charge he will not bow-down with grace. There wouldn’t be any mercy he played the rights for the citizens and justice for the people that had been under Dr. Milton Obote and Gen. Idi Amin Dada. Who both had been Presidents for a long time before him; Museveni went to the bush to get rid of them both and just took away the Presidency of Yusuf Lule because he could.

When a man who made relationship with both Libyans and Americans to get weapons and make sure the power got into his hands. Doesn’t really care to what extent he will do to keep it, he will play all sorts of political games and use the tactics of the former leaders, but try to do it better to gain himself. He might give way to somebody, but only so he can destroy their career and silence them.

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So even if Winnie Byanyima decides to run what will be different between the former ones running against President Museveni? Museveni has eaten a spit out Dr. Olara Otunnu, Norbert Mao, Dr. Paul Ssemogerere, Amama Mbabazi and Dr. Kizza Besigye.

They have all run against him and caught his wrath, his tactics and his methods of oppression as he beats the drums at the opposition rallies with bullets, tear-gas and close the venues without any reason. The laws have been changed and amended to make it usually worse for the competition and make sure the President stays the President. Like the time to make a petition for the Presidential Election is really short, while the Presidential Candidate are by law even if struggled to get funds has to visit all district in the campaign. This is while the President takes helicopter and the others stresses through the rainy-season on washed mountain roads and districts. Something that is easily forgotten the laws and procedures are made to secure the President, not make sure the fellow or person that Ugandans want to be President is actually the President.

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Because if the succession had been a thing then there wouldn’t be the idea of if somebody becomes too ambitious in the ruling regime and ruling party than they have been demoted by the President. Museveni has had a few Vice-Presidents, at the first period of his reign he didn’t have any until his first inner-party elections. After that the ones under him has been Hon. Samson Kisekka, Hon. Specioza Kazibwe and Hon. Prof. Gilbert Bukenya. As well as there been changes of Prime Ministers, because at this state the current President has had six of them.

The #NBSFrontline none of this came up in the discussion as the ones discussing it we’re into gender politics and the left-over, left-behind former party officials of the National Resistance Movement. Even the main contenders in the recent presidential race where former loyalist of the President, Besigye and Mbabazi has been vital and key persons in the Movement System as we know it.

We should just know that President Museveni has no plans to let anybody else than him have the throne, no other can rule than him. All of his game is for him to rule the nation and eat of the government plate. Peace.

RDC: Suspension momenciance de Reseaux Sociaux (14.12.2016)

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Office of the Prime Minister, UN agencies and humanitarian organisations in Uganda issue appeal to end suffering of South Sudanese refugees (15.12.2016)

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Thousands of people continue to flee South Sudan to Uganda every day, 64% of whom are children under 18, leaving behind them tales of horrific violence.

KAMPALA, Uganda, December 15, 2016 – On the third anniversary of the outbreak of violence in South Sudan in December 2013, the Government of Uganda Office of the Prime Minister, six UN agencies and eleven humanitarian organisations in Uganda are appealing to the world to bring an end to the suffering of the South Sudanese people. With 527,472* South Sudanese refugees having fled to Uganda over the last three years, including more than 338,000* since July alone, it is vital that the international community comes together to support humanitarian organisations in delivering life-saving assistance to those who have been forced to flee their homes, and to take urgent action to find a solution to the conflict.

Thousands of people continue to flee South Sudan to Uganda every day, 64% of whom are children under 18, leaving behind them tales of horrific violence. Refugees report that armed groups operating in the Equatoria region are attacking villages, killing civilians, burning down houses, raping women and girls, and kidnapping young men and boys. People are reportedly being prevented from using major access roads out of South Sudan, forcing many to walk through the bush for days, often without access to food and water. New arrivals report that in the weeks and months ahead, they expect thousands more will follow them to Uganda.

New arrivals are provided with shelter, food, water and an environment where they can live in safety however, the humanitarian response to South Sudanese refugees in Uganda continues to face significant challenges due to chronic and severe underfunding. Currently, just 36% of the US$251 million needed for 2016 has been received. This is creating significant gaps in the response which threatens to compromise the abilities of humanitarian organisations to provide life-saving assistance and basic services.

In August, this year, a new settlement was opened in Bidibidi, Yumbe district to accommodate the thousands of new arrivals. In the space of a matter of months, humanitarian organisations have transformed Bidibidi from empty bushland in to one of the largest refugee-hosting areas in the world.

Uganda continues to show outstanding generosity and hospitality towards South Sudanese refugees, at a time when the country is hosting the highest number of refugees in its history and is receiving two additional refugee influxes from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi. Uganda has maintained open borders to allow refugees to reach safety and, as part of its settlement approach, provides them with land to build new homes and grow crops. Refugees in Uganda enjoy a range of rights and freedoms that allow them to gain employment, start businesses and make positive economic contributions to their host communities.

Host communities in northern Uganda are to be particularly commended for having donated the land on which settlements hosting South Sudanese refugees are located. In recognition of the solidarity shown by host communities, as a guiding principle, approximately 30% of the humanitarian response directly benefits Ugandans through improvements to local infrastructure.

We are grateful to our donors for their contributions so far but more must be done to end the suffering of the South Sudanese people. We urge the international community, both those already engaged and new partners to the response, to expedite their contributions of funds and expertise to ensure we can meet the needs of South Sudanese refugees in Uganda. With political solutions to the crisis in short supply, further efforts are needed to find long-term solutions that will allow these refugees to rebuild their lives in safety and dignity.  It remains vital that those with influence over the political leadership in South Sudan use all available channels to encourage the warring factions to come together in dialogue and bring an end to the bloodshed. For the sake of the South Sudanese people, the world cannot afford to fail.

* Figures are based on biometric registrations in the Government’s Refugee Information Management System, and manual emergency registration, headcounts and wrist-banding for the emergency influx of new arrivals. 

Statement by Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba at teh Media Briefing on hte Withdrawal of Visa Free Travel Arrangement for New Zealand Passport holders: Pretoria 13 December 2016

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RSA: Court Ruling that Eskom can continue with the Request for Proposal (RFP) for the 9,6GW Nuclear Station (13.12.2016)

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Maxiumum Retail Pump Prices in Kenya for the Period 15th December 2016 – 14th January 2017 (14.12.2016)

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Uganda: Where is the Income Tax Bill 2016? (14.12.2016)

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Burundi Crisis: No noise, so please don’t worry!

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The situation in the nation that got the third term President Pierre Nkurunziza, the leader of the National Council for the Defense of Democracy–Forces for the Defense of Democracy (CNDD-FDD) who has been in power since 2005. Have since a special election in 2015 been in tangled with his own population; even had struggle with most of the opposition. Opposition leaders have either been abducted, killed, assassinated or fled the republic.

Certainly the violence has escalated as much as even central government and such has even been said to flee the war-torn country. That had potential of years of conflict that ushered in Pierre Nkurunziza, now he makes sure to tighten the grip by circulating his Imbonerakure together with the National Police to follow and monitor the opposition.

The killings and the round-ups of people are rampant and the numbers of victims is hard to know as the government want the numbers not to be known. The indication of the violations against humanity comes with small leaks like proposed new constitution that the Parliament has to have over 60% Tutsi and under 40 % Hutu (Proposed Article 143). Also that minister has to be over 60 % Hutu and Vice Ministers not over 40 % (Proposed Article 129).

When also seeing this is happening together with the wish from the government to of get rid of the peace negotiator from East African Community (EAC) former Tanzanian President William Mpaka. As well as monitoring his movement in the country as he is supposed to assemble the opposition talks, while the Opposition is dwindling together with the refugees who have been fleeing to Tanzania, Rwanda and Uganda. Their stories have not been hopeful of the rounding-up and machetes of the Imbonerakure against those who might be hostile to the regime.

Typical Story nowadays:

 “A man brutally abducted by SNR agents in downtown Bujumbura” (RPA, 14.12.2016).

Another ordinary story:

Alerted by the noise, the capita general returned to the passing mansion. He seizes the Kalashnikov and launches in pursuit of the assassin Nimubona “the Captain General Reussia to beat his fellow prisoner assassin” indicates Pierre Nkurikiye.

“One of the accused in the assassination of General Adolphe Nshinirimana has been killed in unclear circumstances”. That after the leaving the bar the accused and another one we’re also killed has the military confirmed today. That proves the levels of extra-judicial killings.

Another abducted fellow:

“Colonel Tito Serudugo (retired exFAB) was  arrested this morning at his home in Kinanira II by SNR. His whereabouts unknown” (IBurundi, 14.12.2016). This is typical stories where Ex-Fab either is assassinated or disappeared as the government are looking for them to make sure they doesn’t work against the government. Therefore the situation in Burundi isn’t about talks; it’s about surviving and wondering who is the next to be gone. The Security Forces and Imbonerakure could be looking for the next victim or family to take away some suspicious elements in the district.

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As well as government propaganda has hit staggering levels:

The students of Stella Matotina School in Bujumbura destroy the notebooks granted by UNICEF. The Reason is because they are Satanic!

We can just be worried when people get abducted, vanish and never get heard of again, some numbers of dead or assassinated since 2015 is estimated to be a 1,000, but I would think more as the SNR are piling up stories of lost people! You can also consider that  the estimation of refugees are now up to 330,000 who has left the country during this year.

This all has happen because one man wanted to counter the newly written constitution and also put the fragile Arusha Peace and Reconsiliation Agreement for Burundi from 28th August 2000 in limbo. Just so he could rule and take all controll of the Republic. All of this doesn’t seem to matter for President Pierre Nkurunziza, that his policies  creates bloodshed and tears. While his country goes into panic, into a deeper crisis and where the regime tries to silence the ones who isn’t in favour of the President or his party. The Inclusive Inter-Burundian Dialogue is only legitimizing the regime at the moment. Still, some in international community thinks the talks going to stop the SNR from abducting citizens as they see fit.

Because of the fear of foreign interference the regime has recalled ambassadors as well:

“Alain Aime Nyamitwe said on Saturday that Burundi’s embassy in Brussels remains open despite the recalling of Ambassador Jeremie Banigwaninzigo” (…) “Nyamitwe says relations with former coloniser Belgium “are not really good. We have called our ambassador to assess relations between the two countries.” (News24.com, 12.12.2016).

So with this in mind the Burundian Authorities are now caving themselves into own cocoon and trying to avoid criticism while abducting and assassinating oppositions. This just now happening in silence and without any concern even if they recall and cut all contacts, because they connect be able to get guns, ammunition and all the needed supplies to obtain the power. The power in the hands of Nkurunziza is now paved with blood, with tears and with no mercy for the citizens or justice! Peace.

Syria: UN Human Rights Chief Zeid urges immediate halt to bombardment of eastern Aleppo, says “further war crimes may be taking place” (14.12.2016)

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Somalia: ASWJ says it will not recognise election results alleging a wide spread election conspiracy by President HSM’s Party (14.12.2016)

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