Opinion: A new Speaker has to be elected before a new plenary or business is transacted in Parliament

The 1995 Constitution in article 82(4) states that no business shall happen in Parliament other than the election of a Speaker at any time the Office falls vacant. Now that it’s official that late Speaker Jacob Oulanyah died in Seattle. The stipulations in the Constitution is clear and sets the parameter of the next actions.

In other parts of the article 82(5) the Chief Justice, which happens to be Justice Alfonse Chigamoy Owiny-Dollo, either himself has to preside of the election of the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker. He can also designate a judge to do it for him in his stead.

What we do know by the other stipulations in the Constitution. The Speaker cannot be a Vice-President or Minister for that matter. Unless, Rebecca Kadaga now resigns from her position. She cannot be re-elected as Speaker. If she would be willing to risk that and again renegade for her own personal interests. Which she did with fielding her candidacy in defiance to the will of her party in 2021. Alas, things can become tense and interesting.

Because, we know things will run with a State Funeral and a transport of the body from the United States and back to Uganda. Where a Committee appointed by the President will preside over the proceedings and functions of the late Oulanyah.

Since he was sick, the Deputy Speaker Anita Among have run the business of the Parliament. While she was expecting a ceremony of forgiveness from Hon. Francis Zaake this up-coming week. That will clearly be abandoned and new things are bound to appear.

The Constitution is setting precedence and there is protocol to follow. The ones who calls this cold-hearted and out of order. Well, if they want an illegal plenary and stop parliamentary business. Then you skip these formalities and opens up a quagmire of problems, which can haunt the transacted business of the August House. The House should be order and it should follow the stipulated laws, as it’s the body, which enacts and proposes new legislation. Therefore, they should be the ones that honours it first and accordingly so.

Some might say… isn’t that mighty Noble and outside of purpose. However, if the 1995 Constitution hadn’t said this in the articles and the laws was reflecting this. I wouldn’t have questioned the legality either. Nevertheless, here we are and the justifications to ask for it is justified. The article 82 is clear in it’s wording and there is little wiggle-room.

The ones speaking of long mourning period and not hold an election for a new speaker. They are void of the fact of the function and the constitutional bound role of the speaker. This is why the importance of doing it and ensure the formalities for business transacting in the August House. That should for matter for anyone who wants things to be done legally and after constitutional order.

Deputy Speaker Among might feel justified to continue, as she has done so in the absence of Oulanyah. Since he fell ill, became bed-ridden and went to hospital, even before he was referred to get treatment in the United States. She has been the one in his stead. However, the law isn’t giving her the rights to automatically get in his stead. The laws are set to have new elections. Meaning new candidates and possible re-election. This can be a hurdle or she have to trade on the goodwill of envelopes of late.

Time will really tell. Nevertheless, we have to see how the 11th Parliament will operate, but if they will act accordingly to the Constitution. They have now one agenda and one objective, which the Chief Justice or the ones he appoints have to preside over. The new election of the new speaker and deputy speaker. Since the seat of the Speaker is now vacant. Peace.

Sudan: Forces of Freedom and Change – Press Statement (20.03.2022)

Some leaders of the Forces of Freedom and Change and members of the Committee to dismantle the regime of the thirtieth of June – frozen by the coup order – are still under political and arbitrary arrest in the prisons of the coup authority under the pretext of malicious communications intended to provide a false legal cover for this arrest.

Arrest and deprivation of rights continue, with some of them not being investigated, despite the passage of several weeks. To deliberately wasting his right to medical care for a period of ten days, as he suffers from an injury that caused inflammation of the feet and legs and requires medical intervention to treat it and may need surgical intervention. However, the request made by his defense to refer him to the specialized doctor has not found approval so far despite the exacerbation of inflammation and the accumulation of pus.

Announcing this, we affirm that the coup authorities and their assistants in the security and justice agencies bear full responsibility for the safety and health of Mr. Taha and all detainees.

Prisons, detention centers and all forms of oppression from the coup authority will only increase our people’s determination to resist and defeat it and to restore the march of civil democratic transformation.

March 20, 2022 AD

Opinion: We can now await a Omoro County By-Election …

Today it was revealed that Speaker and Omoro Constituency Member of Parliament Jacob Oulanyah had died after months of sickness at the hospital in Seattle, United States of America. Now, the ramifications of it also needs to be addressed. Since, when an MP dies it automatically triggers a By-Election to get someone else to get his office. Alas, that will be the case here.

The National Resistance Movement (NRM) first has to have a Primary Election and find a successor as a flag-bearer in Omoro County. Since, the NRM has had Oulanyah running steadily on their tickets since 2011. He has been the sole proprietor of it since then and only had one term in the past as a Uganda People’s Congress MP. Therefore, the NRM got to search for someone eligible there ahead of the polls. As Oulanyah went unopposed in the recent flag-bearer race in Omoro County.

Secondly, we can assess a return of the former loser and runners-up in the 2021 election race. This being Independent candidate Olal Andrew P’obong and Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) candidate Terence Odonga. We should expect them returning to the polls and try to sway the voters yet again.

Obong has been reportedly saying this ahead of the 2021 polls:

You may have money, but power belongs to the people and they are the ones to decide. You have seen many strong politicians who have lost elections because they can’t account for their leadership. Leadership is not in a seat, it is how you mobilise your people for development” (New Vision – ‘2021 Polls: Two engineers threaten Speaker Oulanyah’s seat’ (18.06.2021).

We know that this seat has been contested before. In the 2016 General Elections, the then FDC candidate was said to have been kidnapped. The results pronounced even before the official counting. As well, as reports of boxes filled with pre-ticked ballots. Therefore, it is not like he was always a popular and an easy man to hit the polls.

What we can expect is that Olal Andrew P’obong might stage himself as the new NRM Flag-bearer, as he fought for that after moving from the FDC towards NRM in 2021. There is even further speculation that the failed Presidential Candidate and Democratic Party President Norbert Mao might seek re-election as MP and could vie for the Omoro County seat. However, that will be a different seat, as in the past he vied for the Gulu Municipality MP and was their MP between 1996-2006. By doing so, he still holds on to the resolution of only being the MP for Gulu Municipality for two terms. Nevertheless, that is just mere speculations and nothing is broadcasted yet on these matters.

Alas, we know things will move after Oulanyah is out of office and in the ground. There will be moves, the Electoral Commission will notify and prepare a road-map for By-Election on this seat. It will be heavily contested. As this is the first one in the 11th Parliament and a lot of prestige to keep it in the NRM. We can anticipate a much contested as the Arua By-Election in 2018. It would only make sense to think it could be like that. The whole state and whole machinery will do whatever it can to ensure victory. The Special Force Command and army arriving early. To think otherwise is naive and the opposition candidates will be silenced and struggle to have peace while holding rallies.

That is just my anticipations ahead of the polls in the Omoro County. Time will tell, but this inevitable to happen. The Omoro county cannot have a ghost representing it in the 11th Parliament. Peace.

Opinion: The UniTeam should be able to speak without prepared speeches at rallies

That Ferdinand “Bong Bong” Marcos Jr. and Inday Sara Duterte is both ditching and not showing up to National Debates are only showing lack of willingness to debate. Secondly, the Presidential and Vice Presidential Candidates are not bothering to be questioned or challenged on a National scale.

That BBM isn’t show up isn’t new. He has done it twice. While Inday is doing the same trick today. While they are campaigning and having a rally elsewhere. It is natural that the UniTeam wants to campaign and hold rallies ahead of the elections. No on is questioning that and all candidates on all levels are doing that ahead of the polls.

What is more significant that the other candidates who stands for Presidency and Vice Presidency are on the TV screens and they are answering open questions. These debates shows that the candidate have the cognitive ability to articulate their polices and can defend their stances under pressure. Alas, what the UniTeam is showing is disregarding this and not trusting the process.

BBM can issue Press Release before and after debates, but these are practically useless. Since, we have not seen him debate or directly pushed Leni Robredo or “Isko” Moreno for that matter. No, his just a going to rallies with prepared speeches and ad-libs from his team. It doesn’t show his true character, but more political theatre for all we know.

If the BBM and Inday Sara wants to be taken seriously and look like good candidates. They should at least try to show up and be visible together with the other candidates. It is just showing reluctance to participate and showing their true spirit in the race. Therefore, they are either spineless or recklessly campaigning. Thinking their names and political dynasties are more valuable than trying to prove their political abilities. That’s what debates does… and can test a person. Because, when you do debate. You can see, if the person or politician can articulate and speak with reason on any subject or political belief in contrast to an opposition. This is something we haven’t seen from these two.

That Bong Bong Marcos isn’t show up is either he needs everything to be scripted and prepared, because he doesn’t have the mental capacity or mind to be competitive under duress. While we should think a Presidential Candidate should do this, because you never know what will happen in your term as President. Neither can you be prepared for the challenges or possible scandals coming your ways. As allies, appointees or even close associates might trigger problems, which the President has to clean up. If not, mother nature or humanity is giving a headache, which the President has to deal with. This is why he has to prove his character and policies ahead of the polls. A name and a face isn’t enough, unless your a fool and think empty nub-heads is fit for the purpose.

The same can be said about the VP role. Inday Sara should have stood and act correctly. As the other candidates did show up and did their duty. So, that we know who they are and how they are reasoning.

The UniTeam can come with any sort of poll and call themselves front-runners, but they are neither brave nor wise. They are actually fools and acting above the rest of the candidates. Which is indifferent to the reasons for the offices, which they seeking. They are supposed to represent the people and the people need to know about their abilities. Instead these two just want political theatre and gimmicks. These two rather wants Facebook posts and social media support. Than trying to honestly address who they are and what they want to achieve.

For all we know at this point. They are just soul-less people who are living on their names and dynasties. These two don’t have character or voices to defend their stances. At-least not what they are showing up to this point.

A Press Release isn’t anything in the grand scheme of thing… It is hard to believe these two are courageous or can stand up in the middle of a storm. As they are not even capable of showing up to debates. That’s the gist of it. Peace.

Jacob Oulanyah was supposed to be the voice of the 11th Parliament, but the almighty decided otherwise

The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21).

The likes of former Speaker Jacob Oulanyah is the kind that aim for the top and titles. He is the sort of strategically goes for the best position and bet. That’s why he was first elected as a Member of Parliament as a Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) in 2001. While after losing re-election in 2006. In the middle of that term he crossed over to the National Resistance Movement (NRM) and never looked back.

“Hon. Jacob Oulanyah’s efforts to develop Uganda’s copyright are commendable. However, it is the writer’s opinion that copyright legislation reform should continue to be relevant to domestic objectives by reflecting social values of domestic policies. Its evolution should be adapted by lawmakers to promote present day social values and priorities. A chasm has emerged between copyright law and the social values about culture and it ought to be addressed” (ACODE Policy Briefing Paper No. 10, 2005).

In 2011 he got re-elected to Parliament in 2011 and gotten back to Parliament ever since. He was then elected as Deputy Speaker, which he was for 10 years. Where he severed the interests of the state and served diligently the will of the President. That’s why when he was re-elected in 2021 he became the Speaker of the 11th Parliament. Which he got by the loyalty he had shown to the NRM and the President over the years.

There was a time in Uganda where people had no right of worship. Thanks to President Museveni and the NRM government that ushered in peace and security and promoting right of worship. Christians and all believers in this country should cling onto President Museveni because he protects their right to worship. Make President Museveni your spiritual hero for continued development in Uganda”Jacob Oulanyah (Daily Monitor – ‘Museveni is like Jesus, says Oulanyah’ 24.08.2015).

People will write rosy words about the deceased speaker. It will be all humbling and kind. While he was living he was thriving on the demise of the opposition and the personification of the state. That’s why he was able to go from the an opposition MP in 2001 to the Speaker of Parliament in 2021. Therefore, the NRM will celebrate him and give him a State Funeral.

Oulanyah did what the state and what the President wanted him to do. He served them and was willing to do it at any cost. In his time he and Kadaga allowed Special Force Coammand to attack MPs within the Parliament. He allowed and let the Constitution be revised in 2005 and again 2017.

So, he played the games, which His Excellency wanted him to do. There should be no denying in this. They might say he was a man of integrity and honour, but he still allowed strangers to enter into the chambers. That’s why he accepted violence and harm of other citizens in the service of the state. This should be acknowledged and even if his gone. History will not be kind to this… Just like the day former IGP Kayihura dies. People will remember how he used police brutality and extra judicial killings to silence dissidents and opposition parties in the Republic.

In the same manner, we are now remembering Oulanyah. As he allowed the SFC and the President to violate the Parliament. Those dark days will forever linger, as well, as letting the Magyezi motion and amendment of the Constitution to allow the President to be for Life. The President are now living longer and staying in power beyond the men who let him stay there. That says it all…

However, in his maiden speech as Speaker in 2021 he did say this: “We should agree that no view will be suppressed. All views will be received with tolerance and given fair treatment based on known facts and reason. We must pledge to overrule intolerance” (Oulanyah, May 2021).

Instead of becoming the big-man and being the Speaker of Parliament. He was supposed to be prominent and a loyal cadre of the President this term. That’s why the President and the NRM wanted him there. They wouldn’t want to have a renegade or disloyal person on the throne. He would serve their interests and with that in mind. The speaker would be compensated with all the things he needed. That’s why they spent billions of shillings on the treatment in the United States. The medical transfer and everything else.

This is just another elite and high ranking official that dies abroad. As the state can afford their treatment abroad, but cannot afford to build working hospitals in their own republics. It is only the elites and VIPs who can do this. Therefore, Oulanyah was lucky to have medical facilities and ability to get special transport from Uganda to the USA. There should be no denying this… it is just a part of what is wrong with the system and a system he thrived in.

If Oulanyah would have been alive. He would defend and work for the causes of the President. A man who would stand on the barricades of the silencing of the opposition and stop the exposure of the brutality of the state towards the dissidents. That is the sort of fella Oulanyah was. They will paint him as a saint, but there is more too it. That’s why he was a voice of which the President respected, because he served him diligently.

Oulanyah was a man of the President and not of the Republic. He was a reflection of the President for Life and his tyranny. That’s who the fallen speaker is and his mirrored by the tyranny, which Museveni has brought onto the citizens of the Republic. Some might differ on that, but he has been a cog in the machine and the machinery wouldn’t work, if Oulanyah did serve like he did over the years. Peace.

RDC: Communique de la Cellule de Communication de l’Inspection Generale des Finances (18.03.2022)

Ethiopia: The Heralds Editorial against the new UN investigation in Northern Ethiopia is an epic failure…

Since November 2020 we have seen what the Federal Government of Ethiopia has been willing to do. They first saying “Eritrean forces” wasn’t there and later they confirmed it. Later they said “terrorists” had fled to Sudan, but that was only civilians fleeing the war-zone in the Tigray region. The government said they didn’t target civilians or civilian targets, which it did. It did bomb and shell cities, burn villages, target farmers, religious buildings and destruction of industry. Therefore, this government have lied about everything and the proof of the continuation of this is in the editorial of the Ethiopian Herald today.

No one should be shocked by this. The newspaper is always following government propaganda and defence of the state. They are willing to bend words and rhetoric to defend the indefensible. These folks will defend poisoning innocent civilians and say they ate stale bread or out-of-date drinks. That is the sort of means it will do and this is how it operate. So, now that you know this. You will not be shocked what you are about to read.

First paragraphs from the editorial:

Regarding the alleged human rights violation in Tigray State, an investigation more of acceptable by both the United Nations and the Ethiopian government was conducted by joint investigation teams of the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHCR) and Office of the United Nations Higher Commission for Human Rights (OHCHR). Contradicting the findings of the investigation, the UN human rights body decided to establish an international commission of human rights experts to conduct what it said “a thorough and impartial investigation into the allegation of violations and abuses committed in Ethiopia since 3 November 2020 by all parties to the conflict.”” (The Ethiopian Herald – ‘Disobedience to principles opens door to prejudice, failure’ 19.03.2022).

They are going back to the Investigation, which blocked and made it impossible for the joint team to properly investigate the human rights violations, massacres and possible war-crimes within Tigray region. The “Operation Law Enforcement” which turned into the “Survival Campaign” only shows what the state is willing to do. We know the state has put up bureaucratic hurdles and issues, which is the reason for 500 days of humanitarian assistance blockade. That is resulting in malnutrition and starvation. It is also resulting in man-made famine and deaths, which is happening at levels we cannot comprehend. That’s all for the will and orders of the Addis Ababa government. They are pinning the “enemy” in Mekelle, but this shows how sinister their acts are. It is also evident that they don’t want independent investigation of it.

The editorial continues:

The UN biased decision came on the heels of the release of the joint probe that the government of Ethiopia had announced that the establishment of an Inter-Ministerial Taskforce to oversee redress and take accountability measures in response to human rights violations committed in the context of the conflict in the northern Ethiopia. In addition, though the terrorist TPLF has been doing its level best to block all the ways, the government has vigorously worked to address those in need of humanitarian aid in Tigray region. This is the reality on the ground. Negating this genuine fact, decision to establish an extra team to conduct investigation of the same case, in the same place and of the same time makes the UN nothing but a blind horse of few powers and individuals” (The Ethiopian Herald – ‘Disobedience to principles opens door to prejudice, failure’ 19.03.2022).

As it shows and typical mannerism of anyone who defends the state at this point. They just point at TPLF and says they influenced international people or organizations. Because, international agencies or people don’t have an agency of their own or can access some reporting, which isn’t reflecting of what the Federal Government of Ethiopia wants to share. That’s why the FDRE and Prosperity Party is working on overtime to address things, but pinning blame on Tigray. Even when they are to blame and some of their allies, which is either Eritrean Defence Forces, Regional Special Forces or the Amhara Para-Military Militia “Fano” that has all committed hideous war-crimes since the start of the war in November 2020. So, the independent investigation might uncover even more sinister acts and devious means of yet to be discovered. That’s why the Federal Government have blocked access to the previous ones and done whatever it can keep the world in the dark of their operation in the Tigray Region.

Last paragraph of the editorial that matters:

This twisted trajectory of the United Nations bears witness that it has gained no lesson from its predecessor, the League of Nations, that gave deaf ears to Ethiopia’s call to condemn the then Italia’s invasion aiming to colonize the country. It is playing the same old game regarding the current situation in Ethiopia” (The Ethiopian Herald – ‘Disobedience to principles opens door to prejudice, failure’ 19.03.2022).

Indeed, here the Editorial and I might slightly agree on something. As the United Nations and League of Nations are both International Organizations, which lacks certain platitudes and organizational mechanisms to secure humanity. Also, it has certain protocols and pre-fixed power structures, which limps it works. Just like League of Nations betrayed Ethiopia in the eyes of invasion from Italy. The UN and UNSC has betrayed the people of Tigray and whole of Ethiopia, by not getting a stronger mandate or even have the powers to fully commit to the Conventions or Charter of the UN. Therefore, the Editoral is wrong about the trajectory, but instead not looking at the grand scheme of things. Yes, we are agreeing on small points, but the objectively view of it, we are not agreeing.

As the UN should do more and should have more access, but they are only allowed accordingly to the UN member state, which happens to Ethiopia itself. The UN and UN Organizations can imply or ask for observations or investigations. However, the Ethiopian state has to allow it. Therefore, parts of the blame of manner of which UN approaches things is on the basis of the states. That means it is up to the states and how they complies with the actions made by the UN. This is why the deadlocks and the stalemates are not only on the basis of how UN operates, but how the other parties are acting accordingly.

This just shows it all and this government friendly press by an outlet run by the state run Ethiopian Press Agency. Therefore, this one spread the message and the words of which is representative of the administration in Addis Ababa. With that in mind…. You know what sort of ideas and ideals, which are there.

The Ethiopian Herald has with time started to sound and act like Shabait of Eritrea. That is really evident and tragic. However, not shocking as these two nations are fighting the same war and wants to brutally end TPLF. This is why they do whatever they can to defend it and drops a dozens of lies to do it as well. Peace.

Ukraine: [“War has come”] The two vital pieces from President Zelensky’s address today

Usually on such days we used to say: “Spring has come”. But now we are saying: “War has come”. But we will definitely defeat everyone no matter what. Because we are free people of a free country” (Zelensky, 19.03.2022).

Today is the 24th day of the Russian-Belorussian invasion of Ukraine. On this day President Volodymyr Zelensky has clearly come with a message. He is continuing his statement and being persistent in the will of the sovereign and territorial integrity of Ukraine. That is abundantly clear and his still willing to speak to the aggressor and directly hold peace-talks.

This showing will, which Kremlin and Moscow is downplaying. He is clear in the message, but certainly the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Russia will say otherwise. They will try to deflect this and say it is postering. While we are only seeing their unfair and biased demands, which isn’t dignified for a sovereign. Therefore the negotiations between the parties are on unequal grounds, as the Russian parties at this stage expects Ukraine to be demilitarized and “neutral” after they have been violated and felt the suffering by the Russian armies.

Therefore, negotiations on peace, on security for us, for Ukraine – meaningful, fair and without delay – are the only chance for Russia to reduce the damage from its own mistakes. We have always insisted on negotiations. We have always offered dialogue, offered solutions for peace. Not only during 23 days of invasion. And I want everyone to hear me now, especially in Moscow. It’s time to meet. Time to talk. It is time to restore territorial integrity and justice for Ukraine. Otherwise, Russia’s losses will be so huge that several generations will not be enough to rebound” (Zelensky, 19.03.2022).

What is really striking here, which will be for both parties. This war will be detrimental for both nations for the next generations. As they have both been affected, which will be reflected on a lost generation. Since, the men and people was internally displaced within Ukraine. While the Russians are losing financially and integration with the rest of the world. The Russians are also losing manpower and soldiers who fought a meaningless war on behalf of the will of Putin. Instead of making things better for the next generation. They did on the plights of one man’s wish to conquer Kyiv and install his puppet regime there.

But the occupiers continue to block the supply of humanitarian aid to the besieged cities in most areas. This is a totally deliberate tactic. They have a clear order to do absolutely everything to make the humanitarian catastrophe in Ukrainian cities an “argument” for Ukrainians to cooperate with the occupiers. This is a war crime. They will be held accountable for this. 100%. Every Russian figure who gives such orders and every Russian soldier who carries out such orders will be identified. And will receive a compulsory one-way ticket to The Hague. To the city where the International Criminal Court is located” (Zelensky, 19.03.2022).

This is showing what has been said and how the Russians operate. They have become more vicious and uses civilians as cannon-fodder. They are targeting towns and cities filled with people. Blowing up shelters and sending missiles against convoys. That just shows what extent and what they are willing to do. Just to “win” by conquering and totally destroy their enemy. Which they are supposed to be able to impose a new regime in. Where they are supposed to be the good guys, but instead acts like villains. The Russians soldiers and commanders has to be held accountable for their violations against the Geneva conventions. That is just necessary as they are killing civilians and targeting humanitarian assistance into war-zones. They have forewarned, but that doesn’t justify it.

President Zelensky is a voice of reason in the midst of war. “War has come” and no one asked for it. Peace.

Gambia: Victims say NO to TRRC’s Amnesty “Approval” for Sanna Sabally (19.03.2022)

Sudan: Al-Ma’Moura Resistance Committee – A Critique Paper For: The UNITAMS Initiative to Solve the Political “Crisis!” (January 2022)