


Malawi Law Society: On the Arrest and Detention of Human Rights Defenders Coalition Members on 8th March 2020 (10.03.2020)
















“We make example out of you haters runnin’ your mouth
You the reason why your peoples is pourin’ they 40s out“ – Kunniva on ‘40oz’ from D12, 2004
Bebe Cool aka Moses Ssali came into issues this weekend as he participated in a concert in Kampala. Not that this is shocking, as the National Resistance Movement (NRM) friendly artist and mobilizer. We are talking about rowdy youths and civilians throwing bottle at someone who defends a tyrant and supports the tyranny he runs. Therefore, my sympathy for the man is very low.
However, this is the recent report on the matter:
“The police have arrested 11 suspects for attempting to disrupt a music concert at Lugogo Cricket Oval over the weekend. Police says the suspects are accused of booing and pelting Bebe Cool with bottles while performing at the Boom Party Music concert” (09.03.2020).
We also know that Senior Presidential Advisor on Special Operations Muhoozi Kainerubaga came out in defence of the musician and wondered why the Police Force hadn’t arrested anyone in association with this. Clearly, they got the memo and captured 11 people from the event.
What is special about this, is that it is a non-issue. It is side-show. This is not important. Not at all. There are people who are arbitrary arrested, tortured and killed by the authorities. While, Bebe Cool asks for sympathy and good vibes.
Like we should feel sorry for this man? Really?
Yes it is bad throw bottles at someone. First, at least he gets to performed, get to spread his message and show his loyalty to the President. If your a critic and wants to grab the mike, you get singing into the pen. That is just the way it is, if not you get taken away without any warrants, moved between prisons and suddenly dropped off with bruises and needle holes. That is just what the state does to you.
It is not like Bebe Cool doesn’t deserve free speech, nevertheless, so does everyone else. The same day he cries foul over the weekends actions. There is reports that a opposition sporting event was cancelled, because VP Ssekandi was holding rallies or whatnot in the same area and the old man couldn’t have competition. The NRM is allowed to do everything, while the others are blocked. This is why there is little care for the likes Bebe Cool.
Bebe Cool can do everything. He can knock-up the daughters of the President even. He can do whatever without any consequence. His one of them. His the loyal water-boy. They threw a few bottle on him, but not like he needs treatment in India for the torture. Neither is he mentally fatigued by it. No one has blocked him to pass through Kololo or pass through any neighbourhood in Kampala. Not been arrested or even had people associated with him detained.
No, everything is just COOL with Bebe Cool. The man of the hour, the man of the 86ers and the whole brigade of Yellow. The Silent Majority, which isn’t that silent. They cry like babies over banana flies, but wouldn’t save a famine, except if it hit Mbarara. That is just the way it is.
Call your master up Bebe Cool, You can be like your name sake: “Let My People Go”. Maybe even cross the river and see the promised land. Because, your enemies never seem to get there. You should ask your man to stop these bottle and maybe block them from being at the venues. No more bottles at concerts or rallies. They are banned from entering. Just like People Power and FDC is not allowed to operate. That seems like fitting the bill. Peace.

Today, a shocking report came from Khartoum, the technocratic Prime Minister handpicked from the Forces of the Freedom and Change Declaration (FFC) Abdalla Hamadok was a target. The operation to assassinate him was in movement, but they failed. The convoy with the PM was hit and he escaped it all. However, this has backfired, as the public has chanted his name and supporting their PM.
Here is one report:
“At 9.05am this morning, a stationary vehicle exploded, targeting a convoy of two hard skin Landcruiser’s carrying PM Hamdok as it was entering the Armed Forces Bridge, heading towards Khartoum. Initial reports suggest there were no deaths, and one minor injury”
The PM’s own statement after the fact:
“I would like to assure the people of Sudan that I am safe and in good shape. Rest assured that what happened today will not stand in the way of our transition, instead it is an additional push to the wheel of change in Sudan” (Abdalla Hamadok, 09.03.2020).
Wife’s statement:
“Muna Abdalla , the wife of Sudan’s PM saying : Hamdok has survived an assassination attempt.He is safe and not injured. The perpetrators of this cowardly act should know that there are one thousand Hamdoks to replace him . This revolution will not come to an end”
Demonstrations later in the day:
Sudanese people chanting after the failed assassination attempt “We would sacrifice our souls and blood for Hamdok!”.
There are speculations after the Sudanese Islamic Youth Movement posted on Facebook earlier in the day content, that they were behind the failed attempt. But no one has verified it and the content has been later deleted.
There are plenty of other speculations, even that someone from the Transitional Military Committee (TMC) is behind it all. Some even speculating if the Egyptians or Turkey’s involvement in it. However, that is just mere hearsay and cannot be taken for granted at this point.
We have no idea at this moment. If it will ever come out. There are enough henchmen from Al-Bashir past in the whereabouts to Gods know what sort of magic they posses. However, that will be mere speculation until something is present and evidence put forward. It wouldn’t be shocking if let’s say Hemiti or someone else like him would do this. To stage more power and weaken the FFC. Because, that is what the men like him does. Nevertheless, we don’t know and can only speculate.
What this shows, that the FFC in the Sovereign Council is fragile and not certain. That there are either people from the past Al-Bashir or anyone else waiting to strike. To show their force and also topple the current regime. Which hasn’t delivered it all for the revolution, but have a path to make from military to civilian government. One civilian happens to be Hamadok. Peace.

I want to bring to your attention the deteriorating human rights situation in Uganda.
President Yoweri Museveni’s regime is increasingly resorting to extreme means to silence the voice of the people of Uganda who are demanding the opportunity to end his 34 years of rule and his progressively brutal regime.
The People Power Movement is a non-violent movement. It brings together Ugandans from different political parties, professions, regions, and religious groupings to unite in peaceful protest against a military dictatorship which violently restricts any form of democratic opposition. The movement is demanding the independence of the judiciary, the police force, the army, the press as well as the Electoral Commission. We are struggling to ensure that the people of Uganda have the opportunity to decide their own future, for the first time since Uganda’s independence from colonial rule.
Anyone who associates with me has become a target for kidnap, imprisonment, torture and death at the hands of the Uganda security forces. These violent forms of intimidation are orchestrated mainly by elements serving in the Police, Internal Security Organisation – ISO, Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence- CMI, Military Police, as well as the Local Defence Unit- LDU.
On 24th February, 2020 a supporter and leader in the People Power movement was murdered when a police truck struck her in Nakawa Division, Kampala. At 8:00am, Ritah Nabukenya, who was aged 28, was a passenger on the rear seat of a motorcycle. She had just dropped her young daughters aged 6 and 4 at school. Because RITAH and her rider were dressed in ‘People Power’ attire, they were easily identified as members of the group.
The driver of the police truck swerved to hit the motorcycle and eye witnesses later confirmed to the media that the police truck had deliberately targeted Ritah.
She was pronounced dead at Mulago National Referral Hospital, and the motorcycle driver sustained injuries.
Police officers who were moving in the patrol vehicle immediately took up positions around the scene with weapons and ordered the witnesses not to take any photos or videos of the incident.
Our demands for CCTV footage from the incident have not yielded anything and the police spokesperson said that CCTV cameras were not operational at the time of the killing.
Ritah was laid to rest on 25th February, 2020. On our way back from the funeral, thousands of young people lined the roads of the various towns we passed through to express solidarity with the movement and to recognise the sacrifice that Ritah had made.
When we got to Nansana town, uniformed police officers as well as elements of the Local Defence Unit (LDU) opened fire with live rounds on the crowd which had gathered peacefully.
Dan Kyeyune, who was aged 33, was shot through the eye and died instantly. At least two other people received severe gunshot injuries. Yet again, the police claimed that the CCTV footage of the incident was unavailable.
These two murdered people are in addition to Asuman Walyendo (shot dead on 19th July, 2018 in Bugiri district), Yasin Kawuma (shot dead in Arua on 13th August, 2018), Vincent Sserugaya (shot dead on 23rd August, 2018 in Gomba), Kalende Yusuf (deliberately knocked by a police truck on 27th August, 2018 in Luwero), Hannington Ssewankambo aka Sweet Pepsi (brutalized by the military on 20th September, 2018 leading to injuries which he would succumb to in October 2019), Lukoma Stephen Ssalongo (shot dead on 7th June, 2019 in Buvuma District), Michael Kalinda aka Zigy Wyne (kidnapped and severely tortured before dying on 4th August, 2019), and Hakim Ssekamwa (deliberately knocked by a police patrol truck on 6th August, 2019). There are several other unreported cases where supporters have been abducted and murdered. In all such cases, there has been a clear lack of interest in conducting investigations by state agencies!
In addition to these extra-judicial killings by the state, security operatives have kidnapped several supporters, tortured them and subjected them to all manner of cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment. To date, our coordinator Johnbosco Kibalama is still missing, having been abducted in June 2019.
The general levels of repression have increased. Although the Presidential Elections Act, 2005, permits intending presidential candidates to carry out nationwide consultations ahead of nominations, police and the military have blocked me from reaching out to the people of Uganda for these lawful consultations.
We have so far made attempts to consult in eight districts and all of them have been met with extreme brutality against me and our supporters. We are not permitted to carry out any public meeting. Recently on January 31st police fired teargas and live bullets to break up a thanksgiving ceremony where I was due to speak.
Many of our supporters have been arrested and kept in prisons for days, weeks or months.
The regime has become paranoid to the extent that they are arresting people who associate with our movement even when they are not directly involved in our activities.
On 28th February, 2020 Julian Friesinger, a PhD student from Germany was arrested by military operatives in Lira District. He was arrested together with two of our coordinators who he had gone to interview for his research project. The two Ugandans (Adonyo Michael and Oguttu Nicholas) were kept in military detention for three days while being beaten. Julian whose devices (phones, laptops, etc) and passport had been confiscated was interrogated by the Internal Security Organisation, before leaving the country.
In another case, Moses Bwayo, an independent journalist and film maker was arrested alongside eight people with whom I was working on a music project. They were kept in detention for several days and are now facing charges of unlawful assembly whose particulars include singing a song subverting the government of Uganda.
Last week, more than 50 of our supporters were being held in different prisons across the country. Some of whom were arrested for merely wearing our attire. Our supporters Denis Senono (Den City) and Bobi Young were held under military detention. Whereas Bobi Young is still detained, Den City was released; his body bearing torture marks. He reported that he was injected with an unknown substance by security operatives and now lives in fear for his life.
While this is going on, President Museveni who has been in power for 34 years has been desperately moving across the country campaigning for a seventh term with sacks of tax-payers money. He is hoping that he can buy the support of a people, who he has not only impoverished but has nothing left to promise or offer to them. Those who will not be persuaded will be intimidated, tortured and even murdered.
With the political space shrinking further and the human rights situation deteriorating, the economic condition has continued to worsen. There is little provision of basic services to the citizens. The state of education and healthcare have continued to decline. The levels of unemployment as well as poverty are on a sharp increase. Corruption and misuse of public resources are at an all-time high.
The young people of Uganda continue to be excluded by the power structure whose only interest, is enriching themselves, and keeping power at whatever cost.
As we head towards the 2021 General election our demand for free and fair elections is unequivocal. We are committed to ending President Museveni’s brutal regime of blood, plunder and national shame.
We call upon the world and the international community to continue standing with the people of Uganda in these very difficult times.
We shall certainly overcome!
People Power – Our Power
Kyagulanyi Ssentamu Robert
“Bobi Wine”