Opinion: National Promoters Association has re-invented the POMA…

Halima Namakula, Music Promoter: The National Promoters Association is pleased to announce that effective 13th March 2023, all promoters organizing events in the country shall have first to acquire a letter of clearance from the National Promoters Association. Halima Namakula, Music Promoter: National Promoters Association is committed to ensuring promoters comply with the new guidelines irrespective of the associations they are affiliated with” (NBS Television, 13.03.2023).

There is nothing new under the sun, but here comes the rain. It needs to rain and thunder, because this is foolishness at its best. The National Promoters Association has no law or stipulated articles in legislation, which gives them a mandate, a right or justification to block promoters or anyone from organizing events across the Republic.

The ones in-charge of the events has to comply with current legislation or laws. Which means they have to file in documentation and get vouched for by the Uganda Police Force (UPF) through the Public Order Managament Act (POMA). That law stipulates certain criteria and needs of the organizers to file in time and get a go ahead from the authorities. There is nothing in the POMA stating they need to follow the “guidelines” of the NPA. This is just a money-grab for the secretariat and the leadership of NPA. That’s all this is, because there is no law or justification to implement it. Especially, when the authorities already has rigid laws and regulations to block, stop and justify reasons for organizers to not hold events.

Therefore, today’s presser and news is just flabbergasting. It is obnoxious and outrageous that an organization is putting this in play. This is done to play second fiddle with the authorities. Just so the ones organizing events has comply with yet another institution. The NPA is now copying the POMA and acting as a silent partner of the UPF. While the UPF has a mandate and law for their operating behaviour, the NPA has nothing.

The NPA is playing an air-guitar and thinking it’s playing an awesome solo. It is just hot-air and a mess. A tragic mess and a self-created one. This is playing footsie with the authorities and their draconian laws, which are blocking assembly of people and their rights to congregate.

Seriously, someone got to give way. Because, this is rubbish and nonsense, until a lawmaker, an MP or anyone with a marble has enacted a law. Until then, there is no reason to comply with the NPA and their “guidelines”. Since they already need to beg for mercy to the UPF. Peace.

RDC: Province du Nord-Kivu – Cabinet du Gouverneur – Communique Officiel (13.03.2023)

Justice Forum (JEEMA): Press Statement (13.03.2023)

Mali: Ministere de la Defense et des Anciens Combattants – DIRPA – Communique No. 006 de l’Etat-Major General des Armees (12.03.2023)

Niger: Reseau Nigerien Anti-Corruption (RENAC) – Quand le regime consolide et avance dans la repression et la restriction de l’espace civique ! (12.03.2023)

Opinion: Namayanja told the sacred truth which is hidden in plain sight…

The NRM deputy Secretary-General Rose Namayanja Nsereko has advised Adventists to join political leadership instead of leaving it to those that are perceived as unethical. “Politics is a dirty game because you the clean people avoid it. So embrace this political space to make your nation better,”Namayanja said” (Kenneth Kazibwe – ‘Politics is a dirty game because the clean ones have shunned it, says NRM’s Namayanja’ 12.03.2023, NilePost.co.ug).

It is unique that the Deputy Secretary-General of the National Resistance Movement, Rose Namayanja Nsereko was saying this yesterday in Luweero. What the politician said isn’t revolutionary or anything new. Her own master and leader said the same… it is compelling that after ruling the nation for 37 years. The same President has the same issues of his predecessors and nothing has changed.

Because, President Yoweri Tibuhurwa Kaguta Museveni said this once upon a time:

Cleanliness in leadership is one of the rarest commodities in Uganda” (Weekly Topic June 6, 1980).

Now in 2023 and one of his underlings is saying the same. She is using her words, but practically telling what Museveni believed in 1980. It is plenty of years and water under the bridge. There been several of cabinets, MPs and leaders changed since then. The ones that Museveni was silently mentioning and calling unclean is out of office. It is now his people that is “unclean” and partaking in the “dirty” game of politics.

If the Deputy Secretary-General thought this was wise… it is sort of scoring an own-goal. We know about the scandals, the support of injustice and lack of due diligence. We know about the rampant corruption, inept governing bodies and lack of proper oversight. That is common knowledge in 2023 and it’s a system created by her boss. His Excellency and his kitchen cabinet is siphoning and ensuring the depressing state of affairs. The unclean hands and lack of procedure is his fault. The bad leadership is coming from the top. It trickles down the chain-of-command and everyone is touched by it. That’s why things never change…

The Deputy Secretary-General of NRM might mean well and is considering the people she’s speaking too. Nevertheless, it just shows where the NRM has failed. Initially, the NRM through the NRM Way and the Movement System should have eradicated a lot of “bottlenecks”, but instead it has prolonged the agony and suffering of the people. It is serving because of army and the authorities, but not because of it’s popularity. That is the gist of things and the junta government holds a strong grip over the Republic. Which is why it doesn’t evolves and it has no incentives to do so. It is earning currency on continuing the modus operandi and following the orders of the “high above”. That why we are here and have such shady individuals in power or in office. They are more concerned with their tummies, than serving the constituency or the people at large.

So, the D-SG might be right, but she is telling a secret hidden in plain sight. People know this and Museveni spoke about it back in the 1980s. Now the same trouble is haunting him and everyone sees it. This time… it’s all his fault and he built this system. His party and NRM CEC have vouched for it and created this style of governance. That’s why we are here and all the hands are dirty. Peace.

Guinee: Ministere de la Justice et des Droits de l’Homme – Communique No. 008 (11.03.2023)

Sudan: The Forces of Freedom and Change (FFC) – A Permit (11.03.2023)

The Forces for Freedom and Change welcome the statement issued by the Office of the Official Spokesman of the Armed Forces, which confirmed the commitment of the armed forces to the ongoing political process and the full and strict adherence to the provisions of the framework agreement.

The Forces for Freedom and Change affirm their adherence to the established political process, which is based on the framework agreement and leads to ending the coup and restoring the path of democratic transformation by forming a civil government that represents the forces of the revolution and works to achieve its goals.

The Forces of Freedom and Change also affirm their keenness to complete the discussion of the issues of the final stage of the political process, and their commitment to joint work with all the forces of the revolution to establish and manage the transitional period in a way that guarantees its stability and the completion of its tasks, foremost of which is the unification and reform of the military system and its exit from the political equation.

Launching a comprehensive process of justice and transitional justice, addressing the economic crisis, institutional reform and dismantling the empowerment state on the thirtieth of June, and other tasks leading to free and fair general elections at the end of the transitional period.

Freedom and Change Forces – Executive Office

March 11, 2023

Cambodia: Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Cambodia to the United Nations Office and other International Organizations at Geneva – “Being a political figure, whether or not bearing a political opposition tag, does entitle that person to act with impunity” (09.03.2023)

Guinee: Declaration des Forces Vives de Guinee (FVG) – (11.03.2023)