South Sudan: Naath White Army – Press Release (07.03.2025)

South Sudan: South Sudan People’s Movement (SSSPM) – Press Release (07.03.2025)

South Sudan: South Sudan Council of Churces (SSCC) – Statement of Concern by the South Sudan Council of Churches on the Current Security and Political Situation in South Sudan (06.03.2025)

Kenya: Memorandum of Understanding to Resolve the Social, Economic and Political Challenges facing Kenya (2025) – (07.03.2025)

No cows for the FDC: Arrested and stopped from gathering in Soroti

“FDC President Eng. Patrick Oboi Amuriat and MPs from Teso, including Hon. Alobo Joan, Hon. Jonathan Ebwaru, and other Party leaders, have been arrested and whisked away from Soroti City. Their whereabouts and the reasons for their arrest remain unknown” (Forum for Democratic Change, 07.03.2025).

“FDC supporters are gathering at the party offices in Soroti City ahead of regional prayers at Soroti Independence Gardens this afternoon. Meanwhile, military and police have already deployed at the venue” (NTV Uganda, 07.03.2025).

“Security operatives have arrested FDC president Patrick Amuriat, MP Joan Alobo, and several other party members as they gathered along the city’s main road. The group was preparing to launch the “No Cows, No Votes” campaign before being intercepted” (Teso Vibez, 07.03.2025).

The fallen Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) was today put into spotlight in Soroti, as it was planned to launch the “No Cow, No Vote” in Soroti and do so at the Independence Gardens. This was scheduled to happen later today and the invitation to happen on the 3rd March 2025.

So, today the leadership of FDC was taken into custody and the rally in Soroti isn’t happening. That is just a mere fact, as the bodas was surrounding the FDC Offices earlier in the day. However, that is long gone now.

The FDC came with a follow up statement:

“We demand the immediate and unconditional release of FDC President Eng. Patrick Oboi Amuriat, Hon. Alobo Joan, Hon. Jonathan Ebwaru, and other Party leaders including Isaac Asaku, Soroti City West FDC Chairperson, Mary Goretti Atemo, FDC aspirant for Kumi Woman MP and Sam Acaitum who were arrested this morning. The police must disclose their whereabouts immediately. If they have committed any offense, they should be presented before the courts of law, not subjected to arbitrary detention” (FDC, 07.03.2025).

Nothing of this is new for the FDC. The FDC has been here before. Amuriat has been barefoot before too. This time he has his shoes on. We haven’t heard anything from the authorities or seen anything else happening after the arrests earlier in the day.

Some says this is scripted, maybe like Norbert Mao drinking soda at a Police Station during the previous campaign period before the General Elections. The same is felt and so are the comments on the arrests. Therefore, the FDC aren’t getting much traction or sympathy here.

Alas, the FDC is now in trouble, and it isn’t trustworthy. That’s why Amuriat and the FDC leaders must prove it. Its wrong that they get arrested for starting a campaign and spreading a message, but there is a reason for the questions about the narratives spoken about. This is why the FDC is failing.

Some is saying it is even a diversion, as the FDC party is expected to lose big in the Kawempe North By-Election. These arrests and this campaign can overshadow that. Nevertheless, being opposition and being “not NRM” still costs in the Republic.

We can just wonder if the FDC ever will be revived, but the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) have taken the wind from FDC. That is clear and the ghost of Besigye is haunting Amuriat. He cannot run away from it and neither the dirty money either. This is why the FDC party has lost relevance. These sorts of stunts won’t save it either…

The impunity and injustice are wrong, but you can wonder what game Amuriat and his fellow comrades is aiming for. Peace.

Opinion: Odinga’s handshake with Ruto is now confirmed!

“ODM and UDA Secretary Generals Edwin Sifuna and Hassan Omar present the terms of the UDA and ODM Memorandum of Understanding deal that will inform the following issues:

  1. Full implementation of the NADCO Report
  2. Inclusivity in all public life
  3. Protecting and strengthening devolution
  4. Promoting and protecting the livelihoods of young people
  5. Leadership and Integrity
  6. Right to peaceful assembly and protest
  7. National debt
  8. Fight against corruption
  9. Stopping wastage of public resources and promote govt. efficiency
  10. Protecting the Sovereignty of the people, the rule of law and constitutionalism” (Citizen Kenya TV, 07.03.2025).

It happened yet again, another handshake in Nairobi between Raila Odinga and the head of state William Ruto. This isn’t anything new from Odinga, but his way of getting influence and being in a unique part of the government. That has happened before and this his new Building Bridges Initiative (BBI).

Many of us was anticipating this as he lost the Office of Chairman at the African Union (AU). When that loss occurred, he had to go home and create himself a new viable position. Now Ruto has made an accord and officially, the United Democratic Alliance and Orange Democratic Movement are now partners in crime. That’s who they are and these are government parties and the ODM could just become a part of the Kenya Kwanza for that matter.

Raila Odinga has left Azimio, like he left NASA. That’s just what he does… and the other Co-Principals are left behind because of it. This isn’t shocking as the ODM has already cabinet secretaries and are a direct part of the government. The signs was there long before the failure of the candidacy in the AU. No, it was coming sooner or later.

Odinga would trade his integrity and party for whatever gold Ruto could give him. That’s the gist here. His becoming one of them and it shows. Odinga has worked with any President before and does so with Ruto now. Therefore, we should not be surprised, and this isn’t even breaking news either.

The consultation meetings were signalling everyone. The secret talks with Uhuru Kenyatta too. Only showed there was games behind the scenes, and we could see it coming. They are now allies and working officially together. Odinga’s ODM is willing to do this. Azimio is history, just like NASA. That’s just what he does, and he did it again. Peace.

Dr. Kizza Besigye returned to Nakawa Court [after being behind bars for 109 days on the 7th March 2025 without a proper trial or due process]

“Armed Counter Terrorism  Policemen have been deployed inside Nakawa Court where Dr Kizza Besigye and his Co accused are expected this morning to be informed on the progress of investigations into treason charges against them” (Uganda Radio Network, 07.03.2025).

“On March 07, 2025, the State filed a motion in Uganda’s Chief Magistrate’s Court at Nakawa, seeking permission to access and analyze electronic data from mobile phones seized from opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye as part of an ongoing investigation” (Voice of Life FM 100.9, 07.03.2025).

“Dr. Kizza Besigye today in Nakawa Magistrate Court for hearings of his Bail application But Court has adjourned his case till the 28th of March for the next sitting” (Notifier Media, 07.03.2025).

Today the state just prolonged the agony and will continue to do so. Dr. Kizza Besigye and associates aren’t released on bond or bail. The state continues to prosecute and investigate the case, but not processing anything or proving any alleged criminal conspiracy in regard to the people who are charged.

Just like the charges changed between the General Court Martial and the Nakawa Court. We are now seeing the state changing their ways too. As they are not only putting him behind bars on remand. They will keep him detained without any sentencing or proved his guilt. No, the state will have kept him behind bars for a total of 130 days by the 28th March 2025.

Right now, he has been behind bars for 109 days and been moved between the courts. The charges changed and the chamber too. They went from illegal weapons, which the army has monopoly over to conspiring to overthrow the government. However, there is no proof of this or any of the allegations from the state. They have just charged him with treason to make the case more severe and have more excuses to keep him behind bars.

Dr. Kizza Besigye and associates shouldn’t be in this predicament, but this shows the vengeance of the state. It is going after him and signalling to the activists or opposition what can happen to them.

Besigye is an enemy of the state, and we have known this for decades now. He has gone in and out of the courts but never been sentenced or proven guilty of the criminal conspiracy pinned on him. Therefore, we shouldn’t expect that to happen now either. Peace.

RDC: Communaute Burundaise du Canada (C.B.C.A. Inc) – Relatif a l’Invasion du Rwanda en RDC (04.03.2025)

Ethiopia: Ethiopian Civil Society Organizations Council (ECSOC) – Press Release (06.03.2025)

Kawempe North By-Election: The main takeaways from yesterday’s plenary session in Parliament

“Every rightful thinking Ugandan is asking, how did we reach here? How did we reach where we are? What has caused this? Yesterday they showed, a lady was seated in the car, somebody jumped on top of the car and pointed the gun at the lady. The lady was saying shoot, people were surrounding the car. Who is in charge of campaigns in this country?” (…) “Minister Muhoozi, we want you to restore hope in Ugandans and say this is regrettable, we are going to do better. But according to your statement, it is as if everything is normal and what is going on is blessed because you blamed people who were arrested and you can’t even tell us those who participated in beating” (Maurice Kibalya MP, 06.03.2025).

The ones thinking there will be change is wrong. The Ministers of the Nation defended the actions of the state. They defended the brutality and the usage of force towards the citizens in Kawempe. That is the reality here…

This is why the Members of Parliament are now attacking the state and asking seriously good questions. We know the MPs won’t get an answer, as this is who the NRM is and how the state operates in a By-Election. Nothing we have seen is shocking or out of ordinary order. All of it happens for reason and that’s on orders by the state. They are coming with violence, intimidation and detaining of political affiliated civilians. They are coming with drones and coming with violent intent. That’s what we are seeing… and they cannot even defend it smoothly.

That’s why the MPs continue speak fire in the Plenary Session yesterday. Just read these quotes…

“This morning, I was on a talk show. Literally, if NRM is to get any votes in Kawempe, I want to tell you, it will be skeletal. The community is bleeding, why have we decided to militarize something which is for civilians?  What is your fear? Why have you decided to make elections appear like it is war? Do we want to take this country into anarchy? We have had enough. Media is supposed to be the fourth estate, the fourth estate has lost an eye. We can happily sit here and say, the treatment will be covered, can you imagine the pain that is in a person who has lost an eye?” (Rose Obigah (Terego DWR) MP, 06.03.2025).

“When you see events unfolding in the Kawempe by-elections, it leaves all of us in a bad situation. When the issue was put for Government to come and explain, I am deeply surprised that the Minister has chosen to tell what everybody wishes to hear, he has said the intent of the law and aspirations of every Uganda. What is at stake now is that there is the Joint Anti-Terrorist Task Force of Uganda (JATT) that is responsible to crack terrorism and after the official campaign exercise was announced, Government chose to deploy the JATT Force. Why? Minister, you could tell the country who deployed and why?” (Theodore Ssekikubo, 06.03.2025).

We are seeing how the MPs are addressing this, but this is how the state defends its actions. As it is accustomed too.

Just read David Muhoozi’s statement yesterday:

“Those arrested are accused of various breaches of the law including the alleged illegal use of military gear by some of them. Charges known to the law will be preferred for the courts to determine their cases. In addition, working with the military and other security agencies, it will be proposed to publish for information, their gazetted uniforms, as well as other gear which are ordinarily the preserve of official uniformed forces. Also, working with the Electoral Commission, guidance will be given to all the players regarding lawfully permissible conduct during this exercise” (David Muhoozi, 06.03.2025).

It is so predictable, that they are saying this and stopping the National Unity Platform (NUP) this way, but it doesn’t go after the yellow when they wear regalia or similar outfits in yellow. Therefore, we know this is deliberate and an attack on the association with the NUP. There is nothing else to this.

The Kawempe North By-Election is just a proof of how the NRM will operate and run the General Election in 2026. That’s what the authorities and the state will do. This is who the NRM are, and we see the vicious violence that appears at every election cycle. It never happens close to the state party or associates, but the opposition get the pinch. Every single time. They have excuses for it and will stifle their movements but accepts whatever the NRM does. That’s who they are, and we know the drill. Peace.