Burundi: The country that is rotting away…

The everlasting reign of Conseil National pour la Défense de la Démocratie–Forces pour la Défense de la Démocratie (CNDD-FDD) and the continued Presidency of Evariste Ndayishimiye is warning of how not to govern. The ruling regime is preoccupied with playing for the facade, but not the reality of the people.

There been reports of shortage of fuel, lacking electricity and now medicine. The cost of living is spiralling out and the raving poverty is fuelling out of control. There is no bounds of neglect, lack of financially sound policies or government services to patch the hurt.

The CNDD-FDD and the President is busy holding parades. They are busy acting like they are doing the right thing. These people are eating of the plate of the people. With no concern of the implications or how it affects them day-to-day. The continued strong-man and tyrant who orders arrests, kidnappings and prolonged prison sentences without proper trials. The sort of man who interferes in the freedom of speech and goes after journalists. That’s the sort of ruler that is in-charge in Bujumbura and Gitega.

The CNDD-FDD is busy feeding itself. The Imbonerakura is occupied with finding the enemies and so are the other authorities. They are going after the people who dares to speak out or being active. The state has no trouble using the monopoly of violence and give them punitive actions. Which results in abductions, torture and possibly death. That’s what is happening and the surroundings are bleak.

There is little hope. The party of Nkurunziza and the party of the Defence of the Democracy is only hearing their own voices. It isn’t listening to the pleading people. The lack of basic commodities and the rising costs.

Just imagine going on with life, not affording or getting a haul of water. Neither affording sugar or having access to electricity. If you get sick, there won’t be medicines, but if they are there… you cannot afford them with your salary or the little earnings you have. That’s the situation for plenty and the cost of transport has been rising too. So, the commute and the ability to travel back-and-fourth from work is taking a toll too. Which means there is lesser cash-flow for the basics after paying the transports.

That’s the situation in Burundi. Not only the concerning Human Rights violations, but the lack of functioning government. The lack of sustainable financial reforms and creating a viable market for the citizens. If it was… they wouldn’t struggle with shortages and rising prices. While their salaries are becoming lack lustre and far from what they need. It just shows the inflation and the lack of proper shortfalls or even government incentives to help the ones in need.

The CNDD-FDD should be ashamed of itself, but we know they only bash in glory. Because, people aren’t supposed to report this or speak about it. It’s a sin to tell the failures of the state or the ruling regime. That’s a cardinal sin and can easily send you too heaven. Peace.

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Opinion: Bwanika MP needs to chillax…

“Following the absence of the Leader of Opposition in Parliament Hon. Joel Ssenyonyi in the Parliamentary sitting in Gulu this morning, Dr. Abed Bwanika has offered to represent him!”Article 82A:1 clearly says there shall be a Leader of Opposition in Parliament (LoP)” (..) “In the absence of the LoP, Dr. Bwanika is able, willing and ready. I’m MP for Kimanya Kabonera Masaka City and I’m a member of the National Unity Platform” Bwanika said” (IT Media, 28.08.2024).

Someone needs to take a chill-pill and await their turn. This isn’t the moment to shine or be the one requested. Dr. Abed Bwanika MP is just a sign of failure and lack of substance. He couldn’t lead his own party, but could find a meal-ticket under the banner of the National Unity Platform (NUP).

Bwanika wouldn’t be in Parliament without the red wave and the rising popularity of the NUP. The People Power Movement and the political rise of Bobi Wine. That’s what has given Abed Bwanika a chance to get to Parliament. His there in behalf and his lucky stars that they let him into their big-tent. That’s how he entered and was able to gain enough notoriety to become an MP.

Bwanika MP isn’t a leader, neither is a true opposition either. A man who defies his own party and has fought it for personal gains. A man who has fought the party on behalf of Mpuuga MP. That’s who Bwanika MP is, and it shows.

His not following party line or the ideals of the party. He is more busy eating and living large on the public’s dime. That’s why his not boycotting it and staying away from the plenary session today in Gulu. His there to show validation and be part of the charade. That’s why his there.

Also, while his at it… he should just go independent and leave the NUP. Heck, he should probably become Yellow and be part of the brigade. Because there is little to no difference between him and them. He just used the opposition party banner to get elected. That’s what he did and it shows…

Dr. Abed Bwanika MP is a disappointment of a representative. He should know better, but he doesn’t, and it shows. The lack of tact and concern, neither lack of loyalty nor following party lines shows too. He just disregards anything that isn’t personally benefiting him. If it can benefit him. He jumps on board, and if it doesn’t… then he is nowhere to be seen. A mere shadow of what man he could have been, but that’s too much to ask. Peace.

The Gulu Sitting: More braggadocio and lack of substance…

“This session is devoted for the people of Northern Uganda and for us to discuss issues regarding the Greater North, let us have respect for the people of the Greater North. We should learn to have respect. Issues that don’t concern this region, shouldn’t be issues to be discussed. You have your Kampala House there, where you can do all the manyanga (Nonsense)” – Speaker Anita Among (28.08.2024).

“You should be commended, together with the leadership of Parliament, economically, is a big boost to the Gulu economy, to the Northern Uganda economy, because, over 10 Committees of Parliament in the last two weeks were deployed in west Nile, Acholi, Lango and Karamoja. All these members were sleeping in hotels within this region and for these days, we are sleeping in hotels in Gulu. We are eating from restaurants in Gulu, we are fueling cars from fuel stations in Gulu. Implying, a farmer growing cassava in Gulu benefits because we are eating food, locally grown” – Hamson Obua MP (28.08.2024).

The Greater North deserves better.

Say it after me, but the Northern Region deserves so much more than this. It is just a transactional affair and a short term feast for a handful of chosen few. They are masquerading it as a cause for the greater good. However, it is the MPs that gets  the perks, the allowances and the lavish life-style. Nevertheless, the public won’t gain much or even do good for them for long.

This Gulu Siting is a publicity stunt. That’s what it is. The MPs from the Greater North is grateful for it, but they are just getting paid for working one day and letting everything else be. They haven’t been there working hard or been delivering government services. No, they have been a public wastage and misuse of office. These MPs has been busy causing more public expenditure. The state has money to spend on these MPs and for their travelling expenses. However, the same government cannot afford to pay medical interns. That’s saying something…

We knew the MPs likes leisure and like to be vastly paid. This whole enterprise is a mini-vacation on the clock.  These MPs are getting paid and getting everything covered. It is just a fun week in the North. They won’t solve things or even handle things accordingly. They could have had the focus in the Parliament. These MPs could have had a Plenary Session on the Northern Region there. Which is possible with all the Northern MPs having a say and pushing the agenda of the region there. However, that wouldn’t be as “useful” or as “lavish” as travelling to the North doing so. Now they are paid and get to live life with all perks paid for. That’s a much better life and easier too.

It is just really showing what is important for the MPs. That they get to live lavish and get everything served for them. That’s what happened here.

The MPs are just eating. Their turn to eat. They found a way of massively doing so and taking the “parliament” to the people. However, these MPs can travers their constituencies and bring back the message from them in a plenary session, if they want too… but we rarely hear that or even concerns of that matter. No, they could go to the sub-county or their district, which elected them. Nevertheless, that isn’t as profitable as a Sitting like this. Gulu and the other districts won’t develop or get enriched by this. They will just get a small insignificant stimulus for a hot minute. Peace.

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Mzee sends a warning about Babu Owino…

“I am a consumer of intelligence services, and some individuals in Raila Odinga’s group who don’t know what they are doing. There is a character named Babu Owino who is involved with anti-NRM to incite chaos in Uganda” – President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni (27.08.2024).

Today, the Member of Parliament for Embakasi, Paul Ongili aka Babu Owino has been mentioned by the Ugandan President in his speech to support Raila Odinga’s candidacy for the African Union Chairmanship. It is interesting timing to do so in Kenya and Nairobi.

That the Ugandan President travelled all the way there and said this in public. This isn’t a way of flattery but a public warning. We know that Owino has had messages and been publicly supporting Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine. At one point in 2018 there was a memo that was sent, and it said that Owino was “person non-grata” meaning he wasn’t allowed to enter the Republic. That was because he planned to attend one of the concerts held by Bobi Wine.

Since then, Bobi Wine has been in Kenya and they have met each other. There is a public bond here. Babu Owino has a political allegiance with Bobi Wine. That must be the reason for the utterance in public today.

President Museveni prefers people visiting him or doing it accordingly to his whims. The Ugandan President doesn’t want interference or any sort of push-back of any sorts. Babu Owino is a renegade and a calculated man. That’s why his on the side of Bobi Wine.

However, Babu Owino should more fear for the legacy surrounding his actions towards DJ Evolve. As that videotape should haunt him and the move of a gangster is a stain that will be lingering on him forever.

That Owino has a network to Uganda shouldn’t be surprising. Just as Museveni has held close association with Kenyan politicians too. He has met with Ruto for a long time and also held meetings with Odinga. As President he has no trouble interfering or supporting a candidate for that matter. Because he knows the importance of having leaders that he can trust in the region. Something Museveni has done over and over again.

This warning of Museveni will be futile, unless he has evidence. If it is messaging and talking to Bobi Wine. That isn’t enough as evidence or circumstantial at best. It doesn’t prove anything. That’s not like the tape where he hold the smoking gun. Museveni should have that on Owino before speaking in public. Alas, his used to using hearsay to benefit his causes. That’s why he thinks this works here as well.

Nevertheless, Owino is now on the radar of Kampala. That shows his significance already. This is a warning, and everyone should be alerted now. Peace.

Opinion: Are the public ready for the PFF?

“The Katonga-based FDC faction has launched a new political movement called the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF). The party has chosen a phone as its symbol and adopted the slogan “Freedom for All and All for Freedom.” The PFF, which is backed by 12 promoters, has selected royal blue and white as its official colors” (91.2 Crooze FM, 27.08.2024).

It is now official that the Katonga Road outcast from the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has now become the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF). This means the allies of Dr. Kizza Besigye has a new party that is based in Katonga Road. The former powerhouse and place of inspiration outside of the FDC HQ has now become its own entity. That’s a failure of the FDC leadership and everyone in-charge there.

This has massive implications and will severely damage the FDC in the long run. The original splinter fraction of Gen. Mugisha Muntu. It will now be even felt more harder, as the crowd of defiance and the ones who is associates with Besigye will now leave the FDC. They are now imprinting their own movement and party.

Muntu started his own “new formation” that became the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT). Now Besigye has the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF). ANT and PFF is parties that was formed out of necessity and the lack of place within the FDC. Therefore, the FDC is disembarking and isn’t the big body for a larger opposition.

“Freedom for All – All for Freedom” is the slogan of the PFF. That is a message and shows where they are turning. They are becoming White and Royal Blue. So, the colour scheme is in continuation of the FDC with the blue. The white is the difference here, but that’s the tradition and where the party came out from. This is a “child” of the parent.

Besigye and his allies will continue with their programs, vision and ensure the continuation of the peaceful liberation that so many has fought over. There is a lot of blood, pain and suffering that was put into the building of the FDC. Now there are several of former comrades and allies that is now on board with the PFF. They can continue this struggle and fight under a new banner.

It is tragic that it had to go this way, but the PFF has to exist to prolong the continued battle with the regime. The way to be in the way and be a voice of reason. The PFF and Besigye has now a movement and a party that will resemble what they are fighting for.

Now its time to rebuild and rehash the liberation struggle. Now the ones surrounding Besigye won’t associated with or be part of a party that is compromised. That’s what his happening here and the FDC is on the losing end. In stead of being a powerhouse, it’s a house that has lost vital leaders and allies, which could have much more sway. The FDC has the history now, but not the likes of Besigye and others who are now working in tandem with him.

That is the memo here. It is a new party on the horizon, which is fighting for freedom. That is the news. It is breaking news. Not shocking news, but a reflection on the times.

Besigye have moved on, and new others will follow him too. Peace.

A paid vacation for a week: The Gulu Sitting

“There are MPs who don’t know even the road to Gulu, but now this time when we are sitting in Gulu, you find all the hotels are full, all the food is being eaten. People are benefitting. But it is also important for us to take Parliament to the people. We are elected by the people, so it is just prudent enough for us to take Parliament to the people not always people going to Parliament” (…) “It is nothing peculiar, it has ever happened and it is going to continue happening. Those who are saying they are going to boycott or whichever, it is going to continue happening until we say stop. Parliament will sit here, and it will go to another region, but the first priority was Gulu for us to recognize that the Late Speaker, came from Gulu” (…) “The sitting in Gulu and greater North is a normal sitting. Parliament isn’t a building in Kampala, we can proclaim and sit anywhere in this country, even in the middle of the road, that is what the law says. And bringing Parliament to sit in Gulu is an added advantage to the people of Northern region. Gulu or Northern Region belong to Uganda and because it belongs to Uganda, it must benefit from what the normal sittings takes place in Kampala benefits”– Speaker Anita Among (27.08.2024).

The 11^th Parliament isn’t the place to look for good governance or governing for that matter. The Members of Parliament (MPs) and the elected officials are more busy eating, indulging and living large on the expense of the public. The ones in power and in-charge are happy with this.

They are all corruptible and gullible. These people are using their roles as Representatives to get paid, perks and living life like Kings and Queens. These are the elected representatives of a constituency. They are all sitting in Parliament to answer for the nation at large, but also the constituency that elected them.

The MPs should be busy for causes in regards to their constituencies. These should be addressed in Parliament and in the Plenary Sessions. That should be reported and be part of the work as an MP. Meanwhile, when they are in the constituency, they should petition, and hold talks with the citizens to get knowledge of what they possibly need. As the Parliament is doing Government Business and is the legislative body of the nation.

The whole sitting in Gulu and in the other regions are just a way of ensuring the MPs get a long vacation with paid perks. They are holding one sitting in a week. They are travelling, living in hotels and spending fortunes on one single sitting. Which is a wastage of funds. These people are paid for taking a trip to Gulu and spending time with leisure. This is not work, but a paid vacation to the North. Just like it will be in the East and the West too. Certainly, the one in the Central Region will be a wastage too.

This sitting, even if all the pieces of plenary session is all about the Greater North. It still won’t solve it or be resolved. It is a publicity stunt and misuse of office. They aren’t building a greater North by doing this. Neither is the Parliament building anything substantial. If it was so, then all the multi-national and bilateral conferences of Kampala would build sustainable wealth there. As they are holding conferences and such on a regular. This is about the same and not a new invention.

Other than MPs wasting their time and only having one full days of work. They are getting time in hotels and spending leisure outside of Kampala. That’s what they are doing and they are doing it per diem.

This is an official vacation with a piece of work. Just to look like they are busy doing something, but they are really not. A week away from Kampala and away from the jams of the capital city. Peace.

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