
RDC: Societe Civile du Nord-Kivu et du Sud-Kivu – Declaration conjointe No. 002 – Halte au respect du cessez le feu cruel a l’egard du peuple congolais (10.11.2023)





“I am yet to see what the Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago has done to improve Kampala given all the time he has had. I am not saying it is not there. It may be, but someone needs to educate me on what that is, whatever it is. I have even held this conversation with him asking him to dedicate some of his time to the finding and doing of something in Kampala from which it shall be recalled in 200 years later that that was the handiwork of Erias Lukwago as Lord Major” (Samson Kasumba – ‘OPINION: But what has Erias Lukwago really done for Kampala?’ 10.11.2023).
A politicians should be scrutinied and questioned. It is nice to see a text like this NilePost, but they are most about the opposition or opposition leaders. There isn’t the same due diligence or concern about the Ministers or the high ranking officials of the National Resistance Movement (NRM). You could wonder why, right?
However, we already know why, but let me digress. The article’s premiss is flawed, because it gives the apparent idea that the Lord Mayor has power and ability in his office. As if the Lord Mayor of Kampala can make a difference and change. The article acts like Lukwago is a powerful governor or Prince of the City, but his just a figure-head and publicist for the city at this point. That’s by default, by law and by design. It is as if the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) wasn’t made for a purpose and the appointment of a Minister of Kampala didn’t have an effect. An effect that has shielded and made it nearly impossible for the Lord Mayor to succeed or even get wiggle-room in his office. Secondly, speaking of time. In the last term he was impeached unjustifiably so and later had to return. Thirdly, the Lord Mayor has been arrested and house-arrested plenty of times too. That also take away the ability to achieve anything.
Nevertheless, let us go to the basics for a minute…
“11. Functions of Lord Mayor.
(1) The functions of the Lord Mayor are to—
(a) be the political head of the Capital City;
(b) preside over all meetings of the Authority;
(c) perform ceremonial functions and civic functions;
(d) host foreign and local dignitaries;
(e) head the Authority in developing strategies and programmes for the development of the Capital City;
(f) monitor the administration of the Capital City;
(g) provide guidance to the division administrations; and
(h) represent the Capital City on the Metropolitan Authority.
(2) The Lord Mayor shall in the performance of his or her functions, be answerable to the Authority and the Minister.
(3) The Deputy Lord Mayor shall assist the Lord Mayor in the performance of his or her functions and shall otherwise deputise for the Lord Mayor in his or her absence” (KCCA Act, 2010).
When you read these things. It doesn’t make the Lord Mayor powerful or prestigious does it? Well, in my regards, it make him a glorified councillor, but not a man with a mandate to make a difference. That is more for the appointed leadership within the KCCA and especially the KCCA Executive Director,
Just read this one here:
“19. Functions of executive director.
The functions of the executive director shall include the following—
(a) to be the head of the public service in the Authority and to head the administration of the Authority, including divisions and wards;
(b) to be the accounting officer of the Authority;
(c) to be responsible for the management of all public funds of the Authority and accountable to Parliament;
(d) be responsible for coordination and implementation of national and council policies, laws, regulations, byelaws, programmes and projects;
(e) advise the mayor and Authority on Government policy;
(f) present the annual budget to the Authority;
(g) advise the Authority on technical, administrative and legal matters pertaining to the management of the Authority;
(h) implement lawful decisions taken by the Authority;
(i) oversee the delivery of quality services to the population within the Capital City and take remedial action where service delivery standards are below the expected minimum standards;
(j) ensure proper physical planning and development control in the urban councils;
(k) monitor and coordinate the activities of the directorates of the Authority and of the lower Authority;
(l) be the custodian of all the assets and records of the Authority;
(m) attend meetings of the metropolitan Authority;
(n) supervise and evaluate staff performance;
(o) liaise with the central Government and other institutions on behalf of the Authority;
(p) conduct the public relations of the Authority;
(q) promote trade order;
(r) mobilise the urban community for development and sustainability of infrastructure and services;
(s) be responsible for the enforcement of ordinances and byelaws made by the Authority and its lower council units;
(t) be responsible to the Authority, subject to the general directions of the Minister;
(u) on day-to-day operations, be responsible to the Authority; and
(v) make reports to the council and the Minister on the state of affairs of the Capital City at least once a year or as the Minister or the Authority may determine;
to perform any other duties assigned by the Authority or the Minister” (KCCA Act, 2010).
This here sounds like the person should address and the ones with real power. That’s the intension of the creation of the KCCA to clip the wings of the Lord Mayor and it has done so too. That’s why the most prominent leader in the hierarchy of Kampala is sort of the Executive Director of the KCCA. Just read the functions of the Executive versus the Mayor and you get the gist.
That’s why it’s rich to read a paragraph like this in the article…
“Erias Lukwago run for that office to serve us residents of the capital. If you knew that it is near impossible to deliver services under this NRM government, why did you run for an office from which we expect services? There seems to be a line of dishonesty here. I am not sure that the primary task of a Lord Major is to effect change of Government. His job is to deliver services to the city dwellers. Has he done that? If he has not, must we not bring him to task? If and when we don’t bring him to task. then have we taken our citizen responsibility seriously?” (Kasumba, 10.11. 2023).
The KCCA Act didn’t eradicate or take away the role or office of Lord Mayor, but it did take away it’s mandate and partly its reason for existing. It is a duplication and done so because the NRM cannot get their flag-bearers to win an election. They know this and the President too. That’s why they have made this law and amended it too. Just to ensure that the NRM get to have oversight and have some sort of control of the city. Even if the City elects the opposition and leaders in defiance of the NRM.
Yes, Lukwago should be able to bring services to the people, but in this case. The calls should be at the Executive Director and her “council” or “authority”, as they are bearing the blunt of the mandate and the Lord Mayor is there for the festivities.
So please, get a grip and until laws are either amended or removed. Until that happens and the law is still active. That sets the boundaries, the mandate and options, which the Lord Mayor has in his office. Therefore, let us adjourn and get some chai, aye? Peace.



That Nelson Chamisa and the Citizens Coalition For Change (CCC) seems to never learn… and that is how we can end the flattery and the ideals for a moment. The CCC is on the trajectory of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) Alliance (MDC-Alliance) and the Movement for Democratic Change – Tsvangirai (MDC-T). That happened in the second republic and on the accord of Douglas Mwonzora.
Now there is a “new” interim Secretary General Sengezo Tshabangu is using all the tricks Mwonzora. He has recalled MPs, Councillors and even Mayors of the party. Now, there is reports that his taking a heist and taking the government funding of the political party. Meaning he is re-directing the funding of the CCC to a CBZ Holding Limited, which is a government owned entity.
The ZANU-PF have allowed a fake Secretary General to open up an account of a fake entity at a government owned bank. That’s what they have allowed here. They are all doing this to hurt, damage and destroy the only viable party in the opposition. Just like they used the MDC-T to dismantle the MDC-Alliance.
Chamisa should have learned from the previous term and ensured the party was water-tight. There should have been no shadow of a doubt or questions to be asked. The CCC are now in a free fall. The Courts will not eat their arguments or even play along. The authorities are sealed and the opposition has nothing to give.
ZANU-PF is just showing they will use any trick, any means and by the end of the day. Destroy the CCC like they did with the MDC. That’s what Mnangagwa wants and his getting it. His using their tool of Tshabangu to dismantle it piece by piece. There will nothing left and he will dance on the grave of the CCC.
There will nothing left when the “interim” Secretary General is over. He will have taken the money, the headquarters and the representatives. Those representatives seats or offices will be “donated” to ZANU-PF as per agreement. The one acting like he runs CCC will practically self-destruct it and that’s his mission. Nothing else… and it is obvious.
What is clear is that Chamisa and his inner-circle didn’t take the memo after the failure of MDC-Alliance. He should have changed his steps, but instead his being captured for a second time. His losing little by little and have no leverage. All is out of his control and its being done deliberately. He is soon out of time and out of options.
Mnangagwa is biting and ready to chew his enemy. Peace.




“Bunyoni affair: life sentence requested for the former Prime Minister and seizure & sale of his “153 houses and 55 vehicles.” 30 years in prison for Désiré Uwamahoro and the other co-defendants. This is the indictment of the public prosecutor after 4 days of a marathon trial. The defendants demand “unconditional acquittal”” (Antoine Kaburahe, 09.11.2023).
I have written about the Former Burundian Prime Minister Alain-Guillaume Bunyoni. These words and explanations can be repeated, because it gives context to the matter. That’s why I will use them as the trial is going on and has been in works for some time now.
In Burundi there is an on-going criminal case against former Prime Minister Alain-Guillaume Bunyoni. A who has been loyal to the CNDD-FDD and a man that former President Pierre Nkurunziza entrusted with national security organizations.
Bunyoni has held vital roles in the Government of Burundi. In the era of th CNDD-FDD he has rose through the ranks and gotten into prominence. This has done with share brutality and state sponsored violence. That has been done on the behest of the party and with acknowledge of the ones above him.
The Burundi Human Rights Initiative Report from December 2020 describes the man like this:
“For years, Burundi’s new Prime Minister, Alain Guillaume Bunyoni, has made his presence felt behind the scenes. His professional demeanour, well-cut suits and meticulous air gave him a veneer of respectability. As his influence grew, however, he quietly cultivated members of the security forces, some of whom were notorious for killing or torturing government opponents. “He hides behind others,” said one of his former colleagues. “The crimes are committed under his complicit watch. Either he agrees to the crimes, or he closes his eyes and lets them happen.” Former colleagues described him as cunning and said he is careful to cover his tracks when it comes to human rights violations. A former official who worked closely with him in the past said he is an intelligent man, but his public persona doesn’t reveal his true character. “He had two faces,” he said. “He had a hidden face that I didn’t see; that’s his current face.” Bunyoni’s hubris and his shrewd but brutal governing style emerged in private and, along with his love of money, have irritated some powerful CNDD-FDD generals. “He’s a man without a heart, without emotion, contrary to Évariste (Ndayishimiye),” said a former CNDD-FDD official” (The Burundi Human Rights Initiative – ‘A STRANGLEHOLD ON BURUNDI’S FUTURE’ December 2020).
When you know all of this about Bunyoni, it is hard to feel sympathy or emotions towards him. Yes, he should have the same rights under the law and be held accountable. In the same regard though, he used his office to enrich himself and his family. The former Prime Minister was able to take so much properties and vehicles. That is just astonishing… and he did it on the watch of previous President Nkurunziza.
This is really showing what the CNDD-FDD is capable of. Not only the massive amount of brutality, lethal orders and other impunity done towards dissidents and activists. No, this shows what sort of possibilities are there for the ones who are in the inner-circle.
As the former appointed Prime Minister and entrusted leader. Bunyoni had a lot of prestige and power. Apparently, he used that to enlarge his wealth and his own stature. Who knows how he was capable of getting over 150 houses and over 50 vehicles. However, he did and now he has to suffer the consequences. He thought he would get away it and never be held accountable for his actions. Now the pendulum has swung his way and he cannot catch up. Neither can his closest associates, who will also face harsh judgement.
There won’t be shed many tears over this. It is just a man who stole and used the office to enrich himself. While he ordered the end of people’s lives or ensured their silence. That’s what he did and now he will possibly be entering a facility where someone knows what he did and that he was in-charge when they were sentenced. There will be many there who could want to revenge or avenge someone they know.
This PM is facing the monster he created himself and now it was his turn to be touched. Peace.