Opinion: Besigye new Safety Features on his Car is a sign of the Impunity the State serves him daily!

If you don’t know, there are someone I admire for his compassion, his determination and his persistence in rally for true democracy, freedom and liberation of the Ugandan republic. That man is one of the founders of the Forum for Democratic Change, that man is Dr. Warren Kizza Besigye Kifefe. Someone who has seen the Police Force more than I can count. I am sure he has been charged for inciting violence and creating havoc more than words in the ordinary dictionary. Besigye has been under fire and no matter what he do, he is monitored and followed by security operatives.

Besigye, the opposition leader and bigger critic of Museveni. Who has no trouble to get into more trouble. By just existing and breathing. National Resistance Movement and the Uganda Police Force has detained him without much reason, has charged in nearly all courts of the country. He has been charged twice for treason and the last one is still pending. Not that this is real cases, but more to try to stop him from acting and breathing his voice of dissident against Museveni.

That is today is a sign. It is a sign that Besigye wants to show the world with his car. How far the UPF and NRM are acting towards him. We have seen shattered windows, we have seen gun-shots hitting the front window. We know they have cracked the sun-screen on top and dropped tear-gas into the car. While they we’re stationed on a police compound. Clearly, the UPF and the Police Officers has no issues tormenting the man for just being a voice against the NRM. That is his crime, that he defiantly are standing against them and rallying across the republic.

Besigye, clearly is tired of the harassment, the violent attempt on his car. Hope he has tinted the glass and made it gun-proof. Since the police has in some instances really tried to aim with live bullets. The pictures we’re clearly telling stories. Even if the UPF always blame him for showing up for rallies, not that it is the fault of the ones creating havoc and violence. That being the UPF who has no issues silencing the opposition instead of catching crooks.

That is why Besigye is the enemy number one of the state. Not because he shares message of violence or of destruction, but because he speaks of defiance and not compliance with the state. The state that is taking away his freedom and his liberty. The republic that does the same to fellow supporters and leaders within the FDC. Who can become criminal for their political affiliation and not for doing anything illegal. That is the state of affairs. That is why the windows of the car has gotten an upgrade. So the glass cannot be directly shattered like in the past.

If this isn’t a sign that something is wrong. Than nothing is. Besigye shouldn’t need to this, neither show up in courts all around the republic for arbitrary arrests of him and getting out on bond. It continues like that and it doesn’t stop. He is still showing up to court for charges dating back to Walk to Work demonstrations. So the state really are working on overtime to harass Besigye. No stone is left untouched. Not a single one. Peace.

NASA Statement: “Kenyans Will Overcome Brute Force and Form a Government They Can Recognise and Be Proud Of” (17.11.2017)

Minister Okello Oryem Meets Troika Representatives (17.11.2017)

 

The meeting addressed the current political situation in South Sudan and the resultant refugee crisis in the neighboring countries, especially in Uganda.

KAMPALA, Uganda, November 17, 2017 – On November 15, 2017 the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Henry Oryem Okello met with Representatives of the South Sudan peace-guarantor Troika member countries (Norway, United Kingdom and the United States) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kampala. The Troika Representatives were Mr. Paul Sutphin (USA), Mr. Chris Trott (UK) and Mr. Ering Skjonsberg (Norway).

The meeting addressed the current political situation in South Sudan and the resultant refugee crisis in the neighboring countries, especially in Uganda.

The members of the Troika reiterated their strong support for the combined efforts of the African Union (AU), Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and United Nations to end the conflict in South Sudan, and joined their recent calls on all armed parties, including the Government of South Sudan, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition, and other armed groups, to commit to a ceasefire.

They emphasized that the dire humanitarian crisis in South Sudan is the direct result of the conflict and called on all parties to cease violence against humanitarian workers and obstruction of humanitarian assistance.

The Troika endorsed the ongoing efforts by IGAD and praised Uganda’s peace initiative which aimed at bringing the warring parties to the negotiating table, positively noting that this initiative was endorsed by both parties to the conflict. The Troika expressed pleasure that Uganda is in full support of the IGAD process. In addition, they endorsed the work of the UN Mission in the Republic of South Sudan, and the deployment of its Regional Protection Force.

Hon Okello welcomed the visiting team and stressed the importance of the support being extended towards all the peace initiatives. He reassured them that Uganda will continue playing a mediatory and conciliatory role between the belligerent parties to ensure that an agreement is reached.

In attendance at the meeting were the Heads of Diplomatic Missions of the Troika resident in Kampala and senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Opinion: Minister Tumwebaze flawed defense of lifting the Age Limit!

 

Well, Mr. Minister Frank Tumwebaze, my view is seen your eyes as propaganda, but coming from you. That is props in my ears, because that means I have understood the world differently from you. In this aspect the lifting of the Article 102(b) from the 1995 Constitution. I know it hard for you to understand, because your eating of the plate served by the President. That is the reason for you suddenly long written article of sorts. Which I only quote on part of, because I don’t have the time to waste commenting on the rest. Need to live life, not only discuss already basic facts. Facts that you dismiss and blatantly undress, when the king is already without clothes. The change in the constitution isn’t to create a better republic or create progress. It is to secure President Museveni’s long rule and give him more time to become as old as Mugabe. That is the reason. Not to build a better and richer country, no, it is secure the stay of Museveni last as long as possible. That is why I don’t care for exposing the rest of your wasted energy on writing about my type of propaganda. Thanks for honoring my words and others, who address the madness of Life Presidency and entitlement to one-man over all in the Republic. Let’s you have the word for a little moment. Before I address the matter at hand!

The claim that removing the age-limit will institutionalize life Presidency of Mr Museveni is also hogwash. The power to vote in and out any leader is not being taken away by the amendment bill. Instead it’s being reinforced by the same Magyezi bill. Removing limits makes the power of the people to vote in and out any leader the ultimate limit. So how can life Presidency be so in this case? It’s true that If a leader is good, he/she will be voted for many more times. That can only lead to longevity but not life Presidency. Longevity perse isn’t bad. It has its known advantages. Famous Amin didn’t need 30 years to cause the havoc he did and neither was he a creation of having no age-limit. With or without term/age-limits, dictators can wreck havoc. The sustainable way therefore, to fight dictators is not by putting term or age-limits in the constitution, but by civically empowering citizens to choose leaders of their choice and be able to resist bad in favor of good at all times. That is how NRM with the support of the Citizenry was able to defeat the dictatorships of the past. Full involvement of the citizenry in determining the affairs of their governance and not symbolic term or age limits; is the permanent therapy to the emergence of dictators. This is what the NRM government invested in. Even before full take over of government in 1985, the NRA then, immediately mobilized people in liberated zones to form their own elected village councils called Resistance Councils(RCs) so as to manage their own affairs. All interest groups of the citizenry(Youth, women, disabled, elderly, workers and army that hitherto was used as anti-people tool) were catered for in the governance structures by the NRM. This is what civic empowerment means” (Tumwebaze, 2017).

That you call it hogwash is endearing of you, but you know that this is cater made and right before Mr. President turns 75 years old. This is not done a decade ago, when he needed to change the term-limits to fit his official “elected” terms. That you talk about elections filled with armed aggression, pre-ticket ballots, bribed officials and rampant rigging, that you talk about people choosing the sole-candidate is just a disgrace of the whole proceedings. That is why the President has less legitimacy and has little authority as he frighten of Besigye and other oppositions. Who can easily show their popularity, while Museveni pays with food and equipment to the voter tourism. Alas, your fake and fraudulent elections are the barring for his existence and now soon also change the Constitution to his aging body.

That you speak of “choice” of leaders and “favors”, the way NRM beat dictatorship of the old times, it is one right now! The NRM uses arbitrary arrests of opposition leaders and charge them for everything possible. The real opposition to the NRM are usually inciting violence and doing something illegal, since they are not following the NRM party line. So Tumwebaze are in effect living in the standard of a dictatorship. The NRM got rid of Amin and Obote, but has created their own dictatorship, where Museveni is the key and the master, instead of the ones of old. So, the NRM hasn’t created something better, they have just changed the laws and using similar tactics to silence opposition.

That you then talk about citizenry of the NRM, while opposition rallies are banned, political parties are stopped from campaigning, while the NRM are holding rallies. It is just selected part of the people who can campaign and can consult. There aren’t a democratic values or real acts of the state, it is handpicked for the NRM. The NRM can pay 1000s of shillings to citizens for just getting them to vote in favor of the Constitutional Amendment. Even the Prime Minister Ruhakana, just like during the General Election of 2016, been seen giving money directly to constituents. So Tumwebaze your words are not really valued, if he was just looking briefly at the conduct of his government.

Let’s be clear and settle this ones and for all. The AGE LIMIT is about Museveni, has always been about MUSEVENI and will die with MUSEVENI. The whole problem and reason for the change is because of Museveni. The reason for the consultation meetings and the party actions, are because of Museveni. No matter what part of the age limit you talk about, it is because of Museveni. Museveni, Museveni or Museveni that is the answer. Nothing else. Tumwebaze you can misuse words, rhetoric and try to disgrace history, still it is all about your master. You are his loyal subject and servant. Hope your pay and your loyalty is rewarded, because we see through you. Peace.

Reference:

Tumwebaze, Frank K. – ‘How Propaganda against Hon Magyezi bill is Losing Ground’ (15.11.2017)

SADC Organ Troika Plus Council Chairperson – Ministerial Meeting on the Political Situation in The Republic of Zimbabwe (16.11.2017)

SABC: Resignation letter of Managing Director Rachel Kalidass (15.11.2017)

Brexit: Joint Statement on the Meeting of the United Kingdom and the CARIFORUM States on Future Trade Relations (16.11.2017)

Hon. Aden Duale letter to Agnes Odhiambo – Controller of Budget: “Re: Concern on Authorizing Withdrawals of Public Funds to Finance the Activities of the “People’s Assembly” (16.11.2017)

South Sudan: Letter showing the state repaying debt in Crude-oil – “Subject: Payment of Outstanding Bills for Al Cardinal Investment Company Limited” (24.10.2017)

ZHRC: Press Statement by the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) on the Political Situation in Zimbabwe, 16 November 2017