January 2026 – Page 19

Opinion: The Bella-1 is a possible albatross…

“On December 24, 2025, the vessel Marinera was granted temporary permission to sail under the State Flag of the Russian Federation, issued in accordance with Russian legislation and the norms of international law. Today, at around 15:00 Moscow time, in the open sea beyond the territorial waters of any state, US naval forces boarded the vessel. Communication with the ship was subsequently lost” (Pressestelle der Botschaft der Russischen Föderation in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland, 07.01.2026).

“BREAKING: U.S. forces have secured the Russian flagged oil tanker Marinera (formerly Bella-1) in the North Atlantic following a weeks long pursuit. The vessel, linked to sanctioned Venezuelan and Iranian oil networks, was intercepted in international waters and successfully boarded by U.S. Special Forces and Coast Guard personnel under a federal seizure order, officials say. U.S. authorities moved to take control of the tanker after it attempted to evade a U.S. blockade near Venezuela and reflagged itself while heading north” (Defence Intelligence, 07.01.2026).

The vessel in question was said to be flagging under the Guyana, but the international ship-records proves that the Bella 1 was flagging under Panama. The owner of the ship that is known is the Louis Marine Shipping ENT, which is a Turkey based company with connections to Panama. So, this oil tanker or vessel is an international asset.

The vessel itself has been sanction for its illicit Houthi shipments, meaning it has direct connections to Yemen and the Iran-Sponsored proxy-militia there. That’s the legalities behind it all. Though there is more to the story now.

As the vessel has been re-registered by the Russia Federation after tanking and docking in Venezuela on the 17^th December 2025. Now mere days after the U.S. overthrow Maduro and have held an oil blockade of the Bolivarian Republic before doing it. The U.S. has already seized other ships and continues to do so in Caribbean. Therefore, today’s action outside of Scotland isn’t new, but in an other jurisdiction.

That the vessel has gone from being a Panama registered one to become Russian isn’t illegal. Neither did the vessel nothing illegal by trading and docking in Venezuela. That’s why this sort of scheme and operation is questionable. They U.S. is making piracy legal and causing havoc over international waters by doing this. Just like it has by shooting vessels and seizing other vessels on the outside of Venezuela of late. Therefore, this is worrying signs and can easily cause more harm.

The vessel might have been used for illicit trading and part of a shadow logistical operation of certain nations and their objectives. However, if the U.S. can do this without any sort of scrutiny. What stops Iran or Russia from doing something similar? They can easily decide to do the same and make their reasons for doing it too. Not like only U.S. can tell stories and create narratives. No, everyone can make up that and we don’t know if these are even true.

This vessel will only cause more harm and damage. This Spy novel and Tom Clancy story won’t end in celebration. No, there will be ramifications to it and give the Russians excuses to act similar. Don’t be shocked if they do. The U.S. is acting rogue and militant. That will have consequences…. Peace.

Uganda Law Society (ULS): Radical New Bar (RNB) – Re-Constitution of the General Court Martial undermines Supreme Court Judgment and Constitutional Order (07.01.2026)

RDC: Le Coalition Le Congo N’est Pas a Vendre (CNPAV) – Marche des plaques d’immatrieculation en RDC : un processus opaque, couteux pour l’Etat et entache de soupcons de favoritisme (27.11.2025)

Opinion: The NRM “sealing” a “pyrrhic victory” to have a majority in the 12th Parliament

“NRM’s Kansiime Annah has been officially declared unopposed District Woman MP for Rwampara in the 2026 Parliamentary Elections” (Red Pepper Uganda, 07.01.2026).

Today, there is yet another race sealed and silenced ahead of the General Elections of the 15^th January 2026. The Electoral Commission is ensuring the National Resistance Movement (NRM) is getting ahead and having selected candidates or flagbearers prepared for the 12^th Parliament without a vote or the will of the citizens. This is hand-picking candidates and giving them offices without proper vetting or even giving the people a choice. That’s evident, but not shocking.

Just like in the past, the NRM uses all tricks in the book to get a majority. It creates new districts, counties, municipalities and whatnot, which they can field candidates, but the opposition isn’t able. In this regard, the Electoral Commission is declaring unopposed candidates and dismissing others. They are ensuring the NRM a free ride and giving them a blank space to get elected offices. Therefore, they are practically taking the will of the people and their ability to vote on who they favour.

This isn’t beneficial for the people or the voters. It is only done to favour the State House and the NRM. They are getting MPs without any question or any proper mandate. These people are just chosen and token representatives. These haven’t been tested or proven their popularity to get there even. As the Electoral Commission and the state took that option away. This is disenfranchising the voters and their ability to assess who are standing. However, the President and Head of State doesn’t mind, because he cannot trust the will of the people anyway.

There are so many MPs who are now running around unopposed and ahead of the polls. Expect more to come. These number will rise and be historical at this point. The ones who thought the 1980 Election was bad. The percentages and the amount of MPs will be astonishing. That’s because of the levels of “rigging” and systemic abuse of the technicalities will be enforced against the opposition candidates.

The ones that celebrates these victories are fools. This is just a fake victories and the people deserves better. Because the people deserves the ability and have a say in whose representing them. Alas, this EC wants to bar them and take that option away. That’s what the EC is doing and doing it on behalf of the NRM. We aren’t seeing these things happening to the NRM, but to everyone else. That’s stating this is an edict or a decree to dismiss opposition candidates.

It will overshadow the lines of voters and the ballots dropping in the ballot boxes in the next few days. As this is just showing how dishonest the state is and what it is willing to do. That’s because it cannot trust or have faith in the people. If the state and the system had faith in the people, they wouldn’t do this and would have accepted their will. Alas, that isn’t the case and this is why they want as much as possible to be unopposed.

We see you, yes we see you and we will remember you. This Electoral Commission is the most fraudulent and dishonest one under this regime. The judiciary on the other hand is just aiding it and abiding by the same principles, which gives the opposition no levels of entry or ability to challenge these cases. Meanwhile, the NRM gets a majority and doesn’t even have to try. Peace.