Opinion: Museveni is a coward for blocking Bobi Wine’s Kyarenga Concert!

That the President of Uganda, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the National Resistance Movement (NRM), the Police Force and the Namboole Stadium Management are a bunch of cowards. They are small belittled entitled men and woman, who doesn’t see their weakness and their lack of tolerance. They cannot even stomach a concert of a pop-artist and a Member of Parliament. However, the same party can show-up everywhere and do whatever they pleases. But if your a voice in the other direction. Than, you have to be silenced by the authorities.

Earlier this week in the media, there was talks and mentions from the Police Force, who the Observer reported: “Police casts doubt on Bobi Wine’s Kyarenga concert. Kampala police commander says they can’t allow the Oct 20 concert because Namboole stadium was already booked for other events. Police also says organisers haven’t sought clearance” (the Observer, 11.10.2018).

We have heard this sort of stuff before, than that was about the venues Dr. Kizza Besigye was showing up to hold rallies, that was closed and sealed off. For all the same reasons. We have all been here before.

On the same day, it is revealed that the management of the Stadium also sent Fire Base Entertainment and Bobi Wine a letter, explaining that the Concert wouldn’t be happen on the scheduled date. That suddenly a Wedding is happening and that the Stadium Management is also following that the event wasn’t cleared with Police. Clearly, the management have been foretold and following direction from above. Finding ways to stifle the possible concert, that Bobi Wine and his company had already booked for. If he hadn’t booked through his company and his people, they wouldn’t have made the posters and prepared it.

This is just a charade of ignorance from the authorities, as they don’t think we haven’t seen this action before them. That they are using the Public Order Management Act (POMA), the Anti-Besigye Act as the cancer to society it is. To settle the score with their mortal enemies.

Let us all, together when discussing this matter. Call out the Police, NRM and President Museveni for what he is. They are COWARDS. Weak little cowards, the small kid who wants all the toys and doesn’t want to share. The little cry-baby that cannot share the candies, but keep it to themselves and even eat it all until it vomits. That is what the authorities are in this manner.

They cannot manage to see, the MP do his profession, they cannot manage to see him run his business and do this thing. Not like the government are stopping the MP’s doing their farms, owning their petrol stations or whatnot. Why stop Bobi Wine?

Because they are cowards. They cannot manage to see their loosing face and loss of the power of the people. They are maybe blocking him right now, but his ideas and his words resonate with the ones the NRM (Museveni) wished they could gather themselves. They can only bribe and lie to the public, that is why they fear Bobi Wine and his agenda. Just like they fear Besigye and his vision too. Peace.

Namboole Stadium Management Letter to Bobi Wine: Music Concert Kyarenga Album Launch (11.10.2018)

IEBC: Statement on the Termination of the contract of Ezra Chiloba (12.10.2018)

Central Bank of Kenya: New Generation Bank Notes (12.10.2018)

DPP’s Press Statement on Investigations into Allegations of Mismanagement of Funds during the 2016 Rio Olympics Summer Games (13.10.2018)

Bududa Landslides: Who is really responsible for securing the land?

There has been a real tragedy again befallen on the Mount Elgon Region, as the Budabuda District was hit with another landslide. This is a district that is known for this and has had fatal landslides in the past, as the rain of October and November can create landslide in the eroded land and in the slopes of the hills, where people reside and have their small farms. Therefore, this isn’t a new problem. There are reports on the matter, but still this week was hit with it again and new losses of lives. Which is such a tragedy. In 2010, there was estimated 100 dead in Namesti Village in the district. By today, in the district the Red Cross says the number of dead is up to 42. All of which is a lot, as there are supposed to be safeguards and warning systems, also funds to secure help as the disaster happens.

After the last big landslide, the district MP Olive Wonekha wrote this: “Putting a system in place to cater for all the emergencies has not been easy. The Government of Uganda together with many well-wishers including the Red Cross Society which is at the forefront of the humanitarian aid, Development Partners are grappling with the medium and long-term solution to the issue” (AAH Uganda, 02.04.2010).

As we have sadly seen from this week, that haven’t really been put in place and in order. As the government nor the stakeholders has taken charge, as they all know this. What is special is that the Bududa District even made a Development Plan in April 2011, which stated this:

Factors responsible for this phenomenon include; Human activities (steep slope cultivation, cultivation on river banks, deforestation) and excessive rains” (Bududa District – ‘Five-Year District Development Plan’ 27.04.2011). In the same plan, they have a plan for adding more forest and trees in slopes to stop erosion in the soil, we can wonder if they ever got the one road they needed and the seedlings to do so. That they could do one thing to secure the slopes and hills. As the rain pour is steady and known about in the region.

We understand why the Local Government and District has little say in the matter of disaster, as the Office of Prime Minister says they are number 12 on the list of responsible in 2010, but a technical note from 2015, says it is local government who is legal obligation. Its not strange, that their will confusion and uncertainty who has the final say and who should step into action.

OPM report on ‘THE NATIONAL POLICY FOR DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND MANAGEMENT’ from 2010 states: “Community settlement on steep slopes and other uncontrolled land use practices increase the likelihood of landslides and mudslides prevalence. The areas mostly affected by Landslides are Mt. Elgon region, Ruwenzori region and Kigezi”. Than later it says who is the responsible institutions: “i. National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) (lead Institution)

ii. Ministry of Water and Environment

iii. Department of Geological and Mine Survey

iv. National Forest Authority (NFA)

v. Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA)

vi. Makerere University, Geography Dept.

vii. Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries

viii. Ministry of Lands and Housing and Urban Development

ix. Ministry of Local Government

x. Ministry of Works and Transport

xi. Office of the Prime Minister – Department of Disaster Preparedness and Management

xii. District Local Governments

xiii. NARO and other Research Institutions

xiv. Community and Private Sector

xv. Ministry of Defence and other Rescue Agencies

xvi. UN Agencies and NGOs

xvii. Ministry of Health” (OPM – ‘THE NATIONAL POLICY FOR DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND MANAGEMENT’ 2010).

A technical report commissioned by the UNDP on behalf of the Office of the Prime Minister in August 2015 states this about landslides: “Herewith each district environment committee is responsible to take necessary measures to minimise the risk of environmental degradation of riverbanks and shores. Similarly section 38 highlights the identification of hilly and mountainous areas and also places a legal obligation on local government for the assessment of such areas in terms of environmental degradation. In light of the significant landslide risk within Uganda, this element should go along way in addressing landslide risk” (OPM – ‘Governance of disaster risk reduction and management in Uganda: A literature review’ 2015).

What I have been looking into is what the reports of old is saying. Not looking into the issue of Contingency Fund, but showing a final Press Statement from CSBAG to show the lack of care from the government concerning this:

We want to applaud government’s proposal of allocating UGX 77bn to the contingency fund; this being the first time the provision of the PFMA of constituting a contingency fund is being implemented. However, the proposed allocation is below the 0.5% of the previous financial year’s budget as provided by Section 26 of the PMFA 2015 as amended, we pray that an additional UGX 66 bn be provided to fully implement the provision of the PFMA. We demand that Government respects the percentage towards Disaster response and management as required by the law under the Contingency Fund” (CSBAG – ‘UGANDA IS NOT FLOOD RESISTANT… IT’S TIME TO ACT’ 26.03.2018).

When we see it like this, the state is clearly not managing the disaster response or the funds for possibly coping with it. As the landslide this week is showing, is that the government of Uganda isn’t prepared and their citizens are paying. As well, as the local government doesn’t have the funds or ability to ensure their own 5 year development plan. Which was made a year after the biggest landslide in the recent decade. Therefore, the state knows about this, but still doesn’t act upon it.

We have to question the OPM and the other government institutions, not only the Local Government who hasn’t acted, but they might lack the budget and the expertise, that all the other responsible institutions in this manner.

What is sad is the loss of lives and the knowledge of plans and lack of inadequate funds… which could have saved lives and ensured a better disaster response. Something everyone deserves, as the government knows this region is hit with this, as the rains of September and October can make the land erosion. Therefore, time to push for the government to really act, so next time there be less loss of life and more action to ones in need when it do happen. Peace.

New Formation: Opening Remarks to Members of the New Formation’s Media Engagement Team (12.10.2018)

IEBC: Statement by Ezra Chiloba on Termination of Service – 12th October 2018

Burundi: Suspension du Medium en ligne Ikiriho (12.10.2018)

Kenya: Taskforce on Building Bridges to Unity – Press Release (12.10.2018)