AU Special Representative appeals for restraint on the current political standoff in South West State of Somalia (15.12.2018)

President Museveni letter to Hon Matia Kasaija: “Re: Massive Tax Evasion and Concealment of Rental Tax” (23.11.2018)

Opinion: Museveni implicit saying that his the only one justified to rule!

they should better start dreaming of other alternatives” Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, 13.12.2018

When a President of 32 years says to the public to dream of other alternatives, because he is not retiring. Bosco are really something else. When he does this at a Summit where he is supposed to gratify the dialogue and negotiate with the Opposition. The man who has ruled for over three decades cannot retire. The man that is officially 74 years old

What is more important is that the mandatory retiring age for civil servants in the Republic is 60 years old. Saying that if that would imply the President are already overworked by 14 years, if the official age and birthday is true, which by this point is questionable because of the paper-trail left behind the President himself. The President by the precedence that state has done this to its civil workers, maybe he should have considered it himself.

Museveni speech at IPOD:

I hear people like Mao talking about transition, how they would like to sit in the audience and see Museveni handing over power. That is the most important thing for him. I do not think that is the most important and it is good he is saying that” (…) “So, the political class, instead of talking about the destiny of Africa, you are talking about petty things— elections, who becomes who. That is why I have said if I still have strength, I will continue” (…) “his is my point of view: not to retire when the original issues of why Africa nearly perished have not been addressed. And you are just addressing small things— elections. The ones you are electing, you elect them to do what exactly? (sic) That is what you should answer. I have no other interest in politics because I am a cattle keeper” (…) “they should better start dreaming of other alternatives” (Daily Monitor – ‘Don’t dream about my exit, Yoweri Museveni tell his rivals’ 14.12.2018, link: https://www.nation.co.ke/news/africa/Yoweri-Museveni-clings-on-power/1066-4895118-xbg64k/index.html).

It is insulting to his people, that the man of 32 years and 74 years old. Think he is the only one fit to rule. As he is not yet ready to have anyone to succeed him or a possible transition from his Bush-War mentality rule. That the President of 1986 until today. Thinks he has the only wisdom to carry the Republic.

Museveni was the new breed, that Bill Clinton and others looked up to in the early 1990s, but as time has gone by. The proof is that it was a new wine into old sacks. It wasn’t that new breed, it was new names, logos and programs, but not new actions. If he had been that new, he wouldn’t have fought for so long and had two referendums on Multi-Party Democracy. If he was that new, he wouldn’t put treason charges and torture fellow civilians who oppose him. If he was that new, he wouldn’t kill of enemies and use safe-houses to put people in. If Museveni was a new breed, the public wouldn’t be living under fear or if assembling by anyone else fearing their lives or for the loved ones. As his guards and his guns will hit you. That is who Museveni is.

That is why his words are dangerous, when he speaks of dreaming and alternatives. Does he want more people to the Bush to fight him? Does Uganda need another transition with guns and civil war? Just because one old man, thinks he is entitled to rule supreme until eternity?

Because, he is implying he is a cattle-keeper, but that is partly true. As the giant ranch is the people of Uganda and he is fencing them in. Since he is not leaving them and whipping them until they following his words. That is what he has done for decades and continues to do.

He knows he is not that popular, that is why he has gone from being the savior of the Republic to becoming the Pan-African Jesus. Museveni doesn’t just want to ensure his place in Uganda, but he wants to seal of the deals of the East African Community and the whole continent. He is taken the Gadaffi route. He wants to be the anointed king of Africa.

Yower or Yoseri are saying people needs to dream of alternatives, as he is not retiring at the advanced age he is.

It is 32 years and counting. He thinks he rule forever. That is his dream. That is why the long nightmare continues to the Republic. Since one man thinks he is entitled to rule.

The only man with vision, is now the ONLY MAN ALLOWED TO RULE. The rest of you deserves a nightmare, apparently living under his reign. Peace.

Joint Press Statement Between the Federal Government of Somalia and the State of Eritrea (14.12.2018)

Joint Local Statement on the Uganda refugees’ response (14.12.2018)

South Sudan: Statement by the Chairman and Commander In-Chief of SPLM/SPLA(IO) on the Commemoration of the Fifth Anniversary of Juba Massacre December 15, 2013 (14.12.2018)

Ebola virus disease – Democratic Republic of the Congo (14.12.2018)

Non-engagement from communities and conflict continue to hamper response activities in some affected areas.

GENEVA, Switzerland, December 14, 2018 – The Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is occurring in an unforgiving context. Non-engagement from communities and conflict continue to hamper response activities in some affected areas. Moreover, poor infection prevention and control (IPC) practices across numerous private and public health centers remain a major source of amplification of the outbreak and risk to health and other frontline workers.

Despite these challenges, substantial progress has been made on multiple fronts to address the situation, and daily successes are being observed in the implementation of proven public health measures alongside newer tools, such as vaccination and novel therapeutics. Together with the Ministry of Health (MoH) and our partners, WHO is further scaling up our response to the developing situation. WHO especially emphasizes the need to continuously improve quality, judiciously deploy new tools at our disposal, and sustain international commitment to response efforts well into 2019. Nonetheless, we remain confident the outbreak can be brought to a conclusion.

During the reporting period (5 through 11 December 2018), 37 new cases were reported from 10 health zones in North Kivu and Ituri provinces: Katwa and Butembo (18), Beni (seven), Mabalako (four), Oicha (three), as well as one case each in Komanda, Kyondo, Mandima, Musienene and Vuhovi. Four new infections of health workers have been reported in Musienene, Katwa and Butembo health zones. In total, 51 (49 confirmed and two probable) health workers have been infected to date, of whom 17 have died. Twenty-three additional survivors were discharged from Ebola treatment centres (ETCs) and reintegrated into their communities. A total of 177 patients have recovered to date.

As of 11 December, 505 EVD cases (457 confirmed and 48 probable), including 296 deaths, have been reported in 12 health zones in North Kivu Province and three health zones in Ituri Province (Figure 1). These zones represent a mix of densely populated urban areas and remote villages, each bringing a variety of factors driving transmission and posing different challenges. Trends in case incidence (Figure 2) reflect the continuation of the outbreak across these geographically dispersed areas, with an average of 33 new cases reported each week since mid-October. Although there has been a general decrease in the intensity of transmission in Beni in recent weeks, the outbreak is intensifying in Butembo and Katwa, and new clusters are emerging elsewhere. At present, the situation remains concerning.

The very high risk of further geographical spread of the outbreak was highlighted this week by the movement of several contacts of confirmed cases from Beni to Kisangani and Goma. All of these contacts were rapidly traced, and have since returned to Beni where they will complete their 21 day follow-up. Several alerts of potential cases were also received from Goma, and towns between Goma and Butembo. These individuals were promptly isolated, reported and tested negative for EVD. Preparedness and operational readiness activities in other areas of North Kivu and Ituri provinces, other provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and neighbouring counties, must continue to be upscaled to rapidly detect and respond to any potential cases.

WHO risk assessment

This outbreak of EVD is affecting north-eastern provinces of the country bordering Uganda, Rwanda and South Sudan. Potential risk factors for transmission of EVD at the national and regional levels include: travel between the affected areas, the rest of the country, and neighbouring countries; the internal displacement of populations. The country is concurrently experiencing other epidemics (e.g. cholera, vaccine-derived poliomyelitis, malaria), and a long-term humanitarian crisis. Additionally, the security situation in North Kivu and Ituri at times limits the implementation of response activities. WHO’s risk assessment for the outbreak is currently very high at the national and regional levels; the global risk level remains low. WHO continues to advice against any restriction of travel to, and trade with, the Democratic Republic of the Congo based on currently available information.

As the risk of national and regional spread is very high, it is important for neighbouring provinces and countries to enhance surveillance and preparedness activities. The International Health Regulations (IHR 2005) Emergency Committee has advised that failing to intensify these preparedness and surveillance activities would lead to worsening conditions and further spread. WHO will continue to work with neighbouring countries and partners to ensure that health authorities are alerted and are operationally prepared to respond.

WHO advice

International traffic: WHO advises against any restriction of travel and trade to the Democratic Republic of the Congo based on the currently available information. There is currently no licensed vaccine to protect people from the Ebola virus. Therefore, any requirements for certificates of Ebola vaccination are not a reasonable basis for restricting movement across borders or the issuance of visas for passengers leaving the Democratic Republic of the Congo. WHO continues to closely monitor and, if necessary, verify travel and trade measures in relation to this event. Currently, no country has implemented travel measures that significantly interfere with international traffic to and from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Travellers should seek medical advice before travel and should practice good hygiene.

US: 4 US Senators letter to Secretary Pompeo on US-Uganda relations (13.12.2018)

Somalia: South West Senators – Press Release (13.12.2018)

Sri Lanka: Two days, Two major losses for the President!

Since 26th October 2018, the President Maithripala Sirisena appointed a second or a new Prime Minster Mahinda Rajapaksa, this was done in violation of the Constitution and the 19th Amendment. Therefore, the last few days has shown the strength of not only the Parliament, but the independence between the Executive and the Judiciary.

This was done in violation of the Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and his confidence, which he has proven he has in the Parliament. The President has then tried to dissolve the Parliament and take away the powers given to the Parliament. That has also failed. As the President has lost in Supreme Court, as he wrongly dissolved the Parliament on the 9th November 2018.

Since all of that happen, the last 48 hours been vital in reaction to all the hasty actions of the President, that is clearly done without luck or acting clever. As the laws and the MPs have been loyal to principal.

Parliament gives confidence to Wickremesinghe:

COLOMBO, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) — Sri Lanka’s Parliament on Wednesday passed a vote of confidence on ousted Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe with 117 lawmakers from the 225-member Parliament voting in favor” (…) “Following the vote, Wickremesinghe thanked all the parliamentarians who voted for him and promised to protect democracy in the island country” (Xinhua – ‘Sri Lanka Parliament passes vote of confidence on ousted PM’ 12.12.2018).

Supreme Court orders against the Presidents Order to dissolve the Parliament:

The Sri Lankan Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that President Maithripala Sirisena’s decision to dissolve the Parliament 20 months before the end of its term was “unconstitutional”. A seven-member apex court bench said that the President cannot dissolve Parliament until it completes a four-and-a-half year term, the Colombo Gazette reported” (The Indian Express – ‘Sri Lankan Parliament dissolution ‘unconstitutional’, rules Supreme Court’ 13.12.2018).

The acts of 26th October has been lost on the 12th December 2018 by the acts of Parliament. While the acts of dissolving the Parliament by the President on the 13th December 2018. Within 48 hours the President lost twice.

The President acted for some reasons to forge an alliance… where he did the act of making double trouble. Two Prime Ministers without doing it through the proper protocol. That the Parliament have confidence in Wickremesinghe as the PM. While the Supreme Court answered to the illegal dissolving of the Parliament, therefore 48 hours of losses for the President.

The President has lost it in the gamble for appointing Rajapaksa as the PM.

This is for the best of Sri Lanka. Not one individual for selfish reasons tested the whole system and failed. The President has to reinstate Wickremsinghe, because Rajapaksa is unconstitutional, just like his decision to dissolve the Parliament. It is time for the President to swallow his pride and follow the protocol, as it has presented to him. Peace.