Getafix of Mbarara: COVIDEX is selling hope in the middle of despair…

Now, it is official and its sold in pharmacies across Kampala, as the pandemic is surging and people are hanging on to whatever they can get to get some remedy and treatment for the coronavirus or COVID-19. This is not shocking, but a sad reality.

There is now a new hack in town. A Mbarara Professor Patrick Ogwang Engeu was has created his own mixture called “COVIDEX”. He is selling this blend and herbal mixture with the belief that it helps and treats the virus.

This isn’t the first of its kind. Only in January 2021 the President and his Presidential Scientific Initiative on Epidemics (PRESIDE) launched the mysterious UBV-01N. However, that one has later never been heard off.

What is striking is the Professor Ogwang Engeu have created other medicine already, but that doesn’t mean he has found the solution now as well. We don’t know the mixture, neither does we know what the dosage entails. It could be a placebo affect and a lie. Water with some colour or whatnot. It is a profitable business selling medicine and the Professor knows that.

By all means, I hope COVIDEX works. However, there been other things before. That has used herbal extractions from plants like Artemesia, Artemesia Annua and Stevia. We don’t know what he is using or have blended together.

We should all be reminded about the miracle drink from Madagascar, CVO – Tambvy who was sold internationally without being properly tested. The same is now happening locally with COVIDEX.

What the Professor is doing?

His selling hope. His selling these medical treatment on the whim and the hope that it works. It might do so, but without proper procedures and without proper testing of the herbal medicine. It is all baseless claims and without proof. We don’t know what it does or doesn’t do.

When there is no proof, no evidence or even what is the main components of the medicine. It is hard to believe that it does anything. There is no proof and nothing that says so. The medicine might work, but the Professor should have ensured it was tested and accepted by the National Drug Authority (NDA). Not just sell it on the open market without any certification or license to sell it.

For now, this is selling a dream, which could end up in a nightmare. This is making yourself a fortune on the gullible and the ones who needs hope in despair. That is tragic. Peace.

Tchad: Mouvement Citoyen le Temps-Tchad (MCT) – Communique de Presse (14.06.2021)

The Final 18 from the NUP Campaign Team released on Bail after 6 months in jail

Today several members and activists, important parts of the campaign team of Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine have been released from prison. They have been kept behind bars and charged by the state since 30th December 2020. As they were captured on the campaign trail ahead of the final stretches of campaigns ahead of the polls in January 2021.

Today, the National Unity Platform (NUP) is celebrating the releases of them finally. This is Eddie Mutwe, Nubian Li, Dan Magic and others who have been released. They have all been detained without any reason or proof of their supposed crimes. What is really unique about this case. Was the NUP Campaign Team was arrested and charged for crime, which they couldn’t have committed. As they were already behind bars before the criminal conspiracy or moment could even happen. That is in the paperwork of the charges and trials. Therefore, the state is willing to do whatever to get opposition people behind bars.

The state used the Anti-Terrorist Law and other means to keep them behind bars. Even Court Martial civilians, which isn’t a part of the army or commanders who has misused their office or been deserting soldiers leaving battle. Therefore, the state has willingly kept these folks for so long.

It fits it perfectly that it happens after the Swearing-In and the Parliament is now in sessions. The Members of Parliament is in order. The Cabinet is getting vouched for and is officially appointed. That’s why its happening now and taken this long.

The Election season is over and it’s back to ordinary days ahead. Where the state can run back to normal and not be stressed by the NUP. This is why they are released today. However, they are released on bail. Meaning the case is still “working” and the state can re-issue it. If they are “finding” evidence or “proof” of it. Which most likely be fabricated like the bullets and guns… that was pinned on Bobi Wine back then.

So, expect that the state can suddenly make them return and especially if these people are disregarding court orders or meeting to trials in the future. If they are not posting up in time and for the courts. Then they are “criminals” and could face penalties for it. That is just the nature of things. It is not justified, but the papers are their and the state has these powers. Which is a worry and something the state willing to do.

It is sort of a halfway celebration today. The are partially freed. Just like the cold-cases and the not finished charges and criminal cases pinned on opposition leaders. The new prison of Kitayla have been useful and expect it to be used. The same as Nalufenya and Luzira Prisons as well. These are well-known for a reason. Because, of how the state operates and use the law enforcement for political means. They are more vicious to attack the opposition, than actually catch real criminals and hoodlums. That’s just what it does and it has been known for ages.

So, today someone who was charged and been detained for 6 months for crimes they never committed. The only thing they did was participate in an election and challenged the President. Which is a cardinal sin and they offended the Don. That’s why they deserved this suffering and being behind bars. The NUP has paid a huge price and they are continuing to doing this to this day.

There are more people behind bars and activists who still awaiting their trial and get freedom. However, the state is just pursuing all means to show their power and intimidate the opposition. They want to prove a point and this is what they are willing to do. Peace.

Zambia: Office of the First President – Press Statement (14.06.2021)

Syria: United Nations Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in Syria, Imran Riza, and Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Syria Crisis, Muhannad Hadi – Joint Statement on Civilian Casualties in Afrin, Syria, 13 June 2021 (13.06.2021)

Ethiopia: Oromo Community Organization – Resolution of the Oromo Communities in North America on the Current Political Situation in Ethiopia (11.06.2021)

Mali: AMPP & REFSYMA – Declaration (13.06.2021)

Nigeria: Centre for Democracy and Development (CCD) – Six Year Assessment Outlines President’s Anti-Corruption Record (12.06.2021)

Opinion: Buhari have never accepted critical voices

The Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari have never allowed or endured protests or dissidents. That’s why during the 2nd Republic during his first term in the 1980s. As the head of state, he issued Decree Number 4, which was a means to silence reports and journalists from writing articles that could embarrass any government official. Therefore, his ill will for the freedom of speech is embedded with this man.

A man who ran through the ranks of the Military. Was the leader for of the Supreme Military Council for 20 months in 1980s. Where he suspended the constitution and has later returned twice to office. For some reason people in these times of 2015 and 2019 thought this man would change.

President Buhari doesn’t value freedom of speech, liberty or anything of that sort. That is just words used as flamboyant pointers to donors and the international community. However, this man had no trouble arresting and detaining the Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti. He was arrested by the authorities for a song. His arrested happened in September 1984, but he was later released in April 1986. That meant he was also kept in prison under the regime of the Gen. Babangida from August 1985 until April 1986 before his release. Fela Kut was detained for 18 months and most of that time while Buhari was the Head of State.

Still, Buhari was willing to arrest not only activists, opposition leader, stop unions for existing and so fourth. He was also willing to arrest vocal international artists speaking up against his will in the 1980s.

We are now in 2021. He is continuing his path of teargassing and assaulting people for going to the streets and demonstrating. The state is answering the pleas of the public with violence. Just like the army killed civilians at Lekki Toll Bridge. There is still fatalities from the protests and it’s directly happening because of the way the state answers to the civil disobedience.

Burhari cannot handle that the people doesn’t accept his words. He expect people to love his words and abide by them. I am still sure he just see that as “indiscipline” which he wasn’t able to fight decades ago.

What we can see from his first stint in power. Is that he continues this brash unappologizing acts of police brutality and lack of understanding of role as the Head of State. He should guard these values and allow the sentiment of disdain run on the streets. So, that their voices are head and taken into account. Not come with force and stop them preaching. When he already ordered to silence Twitter over a deleted tweet. It says more about his Presidency, than about the people who went on the streets fighting for their rights.

President Buhari needs to get his mind right. Unless, he thinks his an overlord or an emperor of ancient times. A man who thinks he has the rights to order police brutality on civilians, which easily can turn fatal. Something it usually does and it’s tragic for every single civilian dying in the hands of the authorities and only for going onto the streets to fight for a just cause.

The Nigerian President should know better. If he doesn’t remember the outrage over the arrest and the charges put on Fela Kuti. He should remember last years #ENDSARS demonstrations last year.

I’ll end with the wise words of Ikhide R.Ikheloa who wrote this on the 1st April 2015:

No one fools me, I will continue to push the conversation about what is appropriate in terms of governance. Democracy without accountability is killing Nigeria and Nigerians. We have spent dozens of billions of Naira to race past broken schools, broken hospitals and broken roads to execute a shoddy election and install the illusion of change. We have just traded ravenous locusts for starving termites. We will be miserable for the next four years as we continue to endure an unsustainable democracy. This democracy is an unsustainable farce and we all know it. If we are not careful it will be the end of our nation as we know it. The PDP needs to go, the APC needs to go, they are collectively responsible for our mess and I am not excusing one bunch of thieves and incompetents from blame” (Pa Ikhide – ‘What I wrote: On Buhari’s election, 2015’ 01.04.2018).

People should have seen this coming, but the General fooled plenty. He has shown his colours and people shouldn’t accept it. Nobody deserves to be ruled by someone who doesn’t show them respect. His only there as a represent of the people. Buhari isn’t there because of his birthright or his entitled to be there. No, his there, because his supposed to serve the public who dissent on the streets. That’s his people and he got no right to harm them. Peace.

Ethiopia: Oromia Support Group (OSG) – Slaughter and burning in Oromia and Wollo (07.06.2021)