2021 Presidential Election: Bobi Wine Vs Museveni?

“Many people have come out to me calling me to stand; we have been discussing this issue with my team, and I must say, me and my team seriously considering challenging Museveni in the next presidential election” – Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine on CNN on the 31^st January 2019.

The Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi have made himself a name in the political sphere over the last two years. Where he has manoeuvred wisely and showed finesse. That has been shown by the character he has proven when concerning the By-Elections and his meetings with the public after landslides or other tragedies. He has answered a call and also questioned the authorities.

Therefore, today, isn’t new, what is new is that the MP who is travelling abroad on trip. Where now on CNN and proclaiming that he considers challenging, the almighty, the grandest of them all, the kingpin, the saint, the old man with the hat and the only man with a vision, Mr. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni in the coming General Election of 2021. That is new, its been speculated, but now, it is more vocal.

This could happen, as the NRM Apologist themselves has said ever since he became a threat, that Bobi Wine doesn’t have it in him or isn’t fit to be President. The President has to be certain calibre and fit a certain specimen of people, who the musician and lawmaker isn’t. That is what initial the message, if not that he is too young and inexperienced. All things that can be pushed against the man. Will be used.

However, as special this challenge is. There are still dire straits ahead for Bobi Wine. Just like previous Presidential Candidates and people who get popularity. They are all guarded, detained, charged with treason and their peers are in jeopardy too. That is what is happening already around Bobi Wine and he still has trials and court dates awaiting for his Treason Charge, which he collected Post Arua By-Election.

Therefore, nothing is written in stone. The legislation process ahead of the election is also in the works. Who knows what else the NRM and the NRM Caucus would put in the pile. They might even make a Age Limit, that you have to be 40/45 to run for President. So, that the Kyadondo East MP would not be eligible to run. The NRM has it in them to do so, they have already fixed the opportunity for Museveni to run for his 8^th Term unofficially or the 6^th Official Term.

By all means, I wish Bobi Wine well, but at this junction. Going up against Museveni is a false flag. That is just a mere facade. As he should have continued as an Independent MP- Not because I don’t believe he doesn’t have the character or ability to be President. No, because Museveni run the state, runs the election, and Bobi Wine will only suffer. There is no way out of this, where we see a just result. The ballots will be cooked, because the stakes are to high for Museveni to risk them.

Museveni will use the state to insult, to intimidate and to hassle all part of the process. Bobi Wine will be in as much legal trouble as Dr. Kizza Besigye. Bobi Wine will be followed by ISO, CMI and all kind of state kifeesi to silence him. If not stifle his meetings, his rallies and his possible campaigns. While the state will ferry, pay-off and secure a safe landing. Just like it has done countless of times for the President. Just with a new challenger and new hope.

Bobi Wine is inspirational, but at this mere moment. It doesn’t matter who challenge Museveni in the polls and on the ballot. Because, the counting and armed forces are behind Museveni. The results will be in his favour and go his way. No matter, if there is public will for Bobi Wine or Besigye. At this point, that doesn’t matter. Because, all the cards are stacked against them.

In the state of affairs, the only outcome of this, is more pain for Bobi Wine. More suffering for the people around Bobi Wine. There is only more impunity, lack of justice and freedom. The liberties of the one around is already closing in and if he pushes harder. The state will strike back.

Expect jail-time, house-arrest, abductions and court trials. Expect criminal proceedings, as has happen endlessly with Besigye. The same fate is ahead for Bobi Wine. Not because I wish it, but that is the plate that Museveni serves his enemies. That is the recipe that the President have at his disposal and he will use it. Especially against the ones that he fears.

I want to wish him well, but also fears for tomorrow. Because, this story has been played out before and has shown the destructive means of the President. Has shown what means he uses to take power. He does it again and again. This time he will repeat it to Bobi Wine just like his predecessors who also stood up.

So, when Bobi Wine returns at Entebbe International Airport. Don’t expect the NRM and the President to cheer. Expect some sort of guards and police to take him in. Put a crime on his ass and ensure, that he will not have a moment of peace. Peace.

Cameroon: Conseil National de la Communication – Communique (31.01.2019)

Preparation for General Election 2020/21: When these budget posts are served extra-funds!

As we are aware and since the National Resistance Movement (NRM) dropped their Road Map for the General Election of 2020/21, the whole system has started to flair up for it. Both with Electoral Reforms and other measures, to secure swift results in favour of the President and secure his cronies. That is just the way it is.

As we will see in the Budget Framework Paper for Financial Year 2019/2020, the government and their agencies are clearly gearing up for elections. As the NRM wants to make sure the appointed and anointed get their cut ahead of scheduled elections.

The first ones whose secured and getting well funded is the Residential District Commanders, they are getting 5,5bn shillings to promote government policies. There is also estimated right before the elections, the state will go from 128 districts in 2018/19 to 135 districts in 2019/2020, there the state has to use more on them just for the need of new RDCs too.

To give RDCs possibility to do their work, the Office of the President has asked for 25.4bn shillings to buy 165 Double Cabin Pickups, but there is only small fry for what is coming up.

The State House itself is gearing up, as the Office of President has asked for an allocation of 741.1bn shillings.. Just to give a feeling of the changes of gear, is that in National Budget Framework for Financial Year 2018/19, alone, the State House got 265,342bn shillings. We can see a significant change ahead of the coming elections.

To top it off, the logistical support, welfare and security to H.E the President, Vice President require 118.38bn shillings. Therefore, the Presidency, the State House and everything concerning that is much more expensive in Election Times and ahead of campaigns. As proven by the Report delivered to the Parliament.

This are just small pieces of what the Committee and what Jesca Ababiku MP delivered the Parliament, as requested to secure funding and also more funds to certain aspects. As it is fitting the elections and the timing for more cash to certain places. We saw it before the General Election in 2016 and is seeing it now. Repeating itself, getting budget for cars and more expenses paid. More funding to the State House and President. Just as programmed. To think otherwise is to be blind to what is up.

This is just what they do, not building institutions or such, but buying to time to linger in Office. Peace.

Reference:

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PRESIDENTIAL AFFAIRS ON THE BUDGET FRAMEWORIT FOR F’Y 2OL9/12O – 2023/2024, Parliament of Uganda, January 2019

RDC: B.C.C lettre au President Felix Tshisekendi – “Concerne: detournmentes des fonds du Tresor Public et de la Gecamines” (31.01.2019)

Zimbabwe: Press statement by Chief Nhlanhla Ndiweni on the Zimbabwe situation (31.01.2019)

Zimbabwe: Joint Statement by the Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) and the Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association (ZIMTA) on Industrial Action (Strike) – (31.01.2019)

IGAD: Statement from IGAD Special Envoy to South Sudan on Violations of Ceasefire (31.01.2019)

Zimbabwe: Press Statement by the Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet on the Situation at the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission 31 January 2019 (31.01.2019)

Six months on, Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo now second largest in history (31.01.2019)

This is the 10th Ebola outbreak in the DRC and the country’s worst.

BANGKOK, Thailand, January 31, 2019 – Since the latest Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) was declared six months ago on 1st August 2018, more than 740 people – 30 per cent of whom are children – have been infected with the disease, including over 460 who have died, and 258 that have survived Ebola. Alongside the Government and partners, UNICEF is scaling up its response to assist victims, control the spread of the disease and ultimately end the deadly outbreak.

This is the 10th Ebola outbreak in the DRC and the country’s worst. It is also the world’s second largest Ebola outbreak in history after the one in West Africa in 2014-2016. The response to this latest outbreak continues to be hampered by insecurity, frequent movement of people in the affected areas, and resistance from some communities.

“While we have been able to largely control the disease in Mangina, Beni and Komanda, the virus continues to spread in the Butembo area, largely because of insecurity and population movement,” said Dr. Gianfranco Rotigliano, UNICEF Representative in the DRC. “We are scaling up our response and deploying additional staff in the health zones of Butembo and Katwa, where 65 per cent of the new Ebola cases in the last three weeks have occurred.” 

Since the beginning of the epidemic, UNICEF and its partners have deployed more than 650 staff to work with Government, civil society, churches, and non-governmental organizations – to assist people and families who’ve been infected and to raise awareness about the best hygiene and behavioural practices to prevent Ebola from spreading.

UNICEF’s Ebola response focuses on community engagement, providing water and sanitation, making schools safe from Ebola and supporting children and families infected and affected by Ebola. UNICEF aims to control and prevent the spread of the disease, and ultimately stop the outbreak; to reduce Ebola-related deaths among those infected; and to provide protection, alleviate suffering and give assistance to affected children and families.

People who’ve been infected, as well as affected families and their children, including children orphaned by Ebola and unaccompanied children, continue to receive psychosocial support to help them cope with the consequences of the Ebola disease. UNICEF is also providing a protective environment for children in schools and nutrition assistance, including to children and adults in Ebola Treatment Centers.

“Our teams in Mangina, Beni, Oicha, Komanda, Butembo and Lubero are working tirelessly with this multi-pronged approach to end the Ebola outbreak as quickly as possible, and to help affected children and families,” stressed Dr. Rotigliano.

To date, UNICEF and its partners have:

• Reached out to more than 10 million people in affected areas with prevention messages in collaboration with community leaders and through mass media;
• Provided drinking water to more than 1.3 million people in public places, health facilities and schools;
• Trained 8,146 teachers on Ebola prevention measures;
• Reached 157,133 children in 888 schools with prevention messages;
• Provided assistance to 830 families directly affected by Ebola;
• Identified 686 Ebola orphans and provided them with appropriate care.

Mass-graves found of at least 535 killed during ‘organized and planned’ inter-communal attacks in western DR Congo (31.01.2019)

The initial investigation conducted by the Joint UN Human Rights Office (UNJHRO), attached to the mission, has concluded that in addition to the dead, 111 other villagers were wounded.

NEW YORK, United States of America, January 31, 2019 – A preliminary UN investigation into a massacre reportedly carried out in western Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) last month, reveals that “at least 535 civilians were killed in four attacks”, the UN Mission in the country, MONUSCO, said on Wednesday

In mid-January, UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet, said that according to “credible reports”, hundreds of villagers from the four communities in Yumbi, had been killed during inter-ethnic clashes between the Banunu and Batende communities, during several days, beginning on 16 December. She deplored the “shocking violence” and highlighted the importance of “investigating and bringing the perpetrators to justice”.

The initial investigation conducted by the Joint UN Human Rights Office (UNJHRO), attached to the mission, has concluded that in addition to the dead, 111 other villagers were wounded.

There has been no confirmation of exactly who carried out the killings but the mission said that “the attacks were conducted in an organized and planned manner, and were extremely violent and fast, leaving little time for the populations to flee”.

The wave of violence was allegedly triggered by a dispute over the burial of the customary chief of the Banunu community.

“The team identified a total of 59 burial sites in two of the attacked towns, but do not rule out more sites,” said a statement from MONUSCO on Wednesday. “Furthermore, 967 properties, including churches, schools and health centers were looted or destroyed, and at least 363 boats were destroyed.”

An estimated 16,000 people reportedly fled Yumbi and the surrounding area, to different locations including “some 7,000 persons who, according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), sought refuge by crossing the river into the Republic of Congo. The Mission reports that the security situation is currently relatively calm, with national security forces having deployed to the area.”

Ebola outbreak in DRC’s east, now world’s second largest ever

In eastern DRC, the outbreak of deadly Ebola virus disease which began six months ago, has now officially become the second largest ever, the UN reported on Wednesday.

More than 740 people, 30 per cent of them children, have been infected so far, and 460 have died, with a total of 258 surviving the disease. UN Children’s Fund UNICEF, said that I was scaling up its response to help victims, as part of the Government and World Health Organization-led effort to end the outbreak – the largest in the country’s history.

“The response to this latest outbreak continues to be hampered by insecurity, frequent movement of people in the affected areas, and resistance from some communities,” said UNICEF.

“While we have been able to largely control the disease in Mangina, Beni and Komanda, the virus continues to spread in the Butembo area, largely because of insecurity and population movement,” added Dr. Gianfranco Rotigliano, UNICEF Representative in the DRC. “We are scaling up our response and deploying additional staff in the health zones of Butembo and Katwa, where 65 per cent of the new Ebola cases in the last three weeks have occurred.” 

The UN and its humanitarian partners have dispatched emergency help in the form of medicine, food, water tablets and malaria kits, and further assistance is on the way.

MONUSCO to support authorities, ‘bring justice to the victims’, promote reconciliation

The head of the UNJHRO has reported that each communal grave discovered so far – reportedly dug initially by local Red Cross workers and returning family members who had fled – likely contained dozens of bodies, while there were more than 40 other individual graves unearthed, following the joint fact-finding mission that was conducted along with local authorities.

The outbreak of inter-ethnic violence in December took place just weeks ahead of crucial Presidential elections, which had been delayed for two years. Voters in Yumbi were unable to cast their votes, as the Electoral Commission building was among those totally destroyed.

MONUSCO said it “strongly condemns” the violence and is calling for a thorough investigation. The mission said it was ready to support the Congolese authorities to “bring justice to the victims, and promote reconciliation between the two communities.”