“Based on the historical Battle of Adwa (March 1, 1896) in which Ethiopian forces, under the leadership of Emperor Menelik II and Empress Taytu Betul, defeated the invading Italian army and secured Ethiopian sovereignty. via Sabisa Films Production (2012)”
Category: Army
The Police shows their arrogance toward the FDC; the Police said they had the ability to fill in the Petition!

Well I will start with a quote from the Uganda Police Spokesman as it says it all! Read what he is saying: “Confining Dr. Kizza Besigye could not prevent FDC from filling a petition if they wished so” – CP Fred Enaga (Kampala Dispatch, 02.03.2016) to the press on the 2nd March 2016.
The days on end with house-arrest, the days on end with detaining at Naggalama Police Station and Kira Road Police Station for going out his home, and that is not preventing him filling a petition? Mr. Fred Enaga is you listening to your own reasoning?
You guys in the Police have done everything in your power to destroy the ability for the FDC to fill a petition. You have guarded the FDC Headquarter at Najjankumbi, attacked and arrested FDC staff at one point. You have stopped FDC Officials and FDC agents who had the Declaration Results Forms. So you could get the DR forms and save face for the mismanagement of the Electoral Commission during the days after the Election Day and the tallying.
If it is arresting continuously FDC agents and men who have evidence of rigging; if that is not stifling the works on gathering evidence to file a petition, than your stupid or ignorant Mr. Enaga. But you’re just saying the words IGP Kale Kayihura want you to say. You are just proving that the Police is one of the tools to demolish the opposition; as that is the wish of President Museveni.
If not stopping Journalist around Kasangati to report the movement of your police force is not stifling the world to know your mental violence against Dr. Kizza Besigye. Than I don’t know what freedom is?
A little example to you Mr. Enaga:
Mr. Enaga, I hope you get house-arrest, get your people who work for you perpetrated by men of law, and stifle your every movement. Take your car away from you while you go to church. Get your credited police force to get tear-gas into the offices where you work and get men with riot-gear to detain you. Guard the building you work at and not give your ability to work. I will execute this orders to this to you because I have: “intelligence that you’re terrorizing your own citizens and planning to persecute innocent people and hurting them with mambas in the street and house-arresting people without charges”.
Than you can try to do police work and speak your mind to the public. I am sure you couldn’t even put a parking ticket in Kasangati, which was the official excuse for detaining Ingrid Turinawe of FDC and NBS reporter Remmy Bhati who was on Live-TV yesterday.
I do not really wish you this treatment Mr. Enaga; the treatment your Police Force has been doing to the FDC has gone through. For the simple reason: I don’t wish any men or woman go through the hardships that the FDC are and the life that Dr. Kizza Besigye has right now. Mr. Enaga, you sound like fool and act like a fool. Please look at yourself and your police force, be proud of your nonsense. Peace.
My Letter to President Museveni after the recent polls and post-election period; I am sorry, but not sorry; Mr. President you are a coward!

1st March 2016, Oslo
Dear His Excellency (H.E.) President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni!
It isn’t easy writing this letter to in this moment as your astonishing Police Force holds 300 FDC agents detained. At this moment Dr. Kizza Besigye is still under house-arrest, as you and your men does what you can destroy the evidence of a flawed election. That you claim to get 80 % of the votes; While your cadre Dr. Badru Kiggundu only gave 60%. If it was so, why were there more army men in the streets than people celebrating your massive victory? That meagre display of people happens after the Electoral Commission announced you the winner of the 5th official term on the 20th February; I am still not giving in, if you have this whole term: it is your 7th. His Excellency, I can’t shave of a decade of your rule that is disrespectful towards you.
I have a hard time writing this word about you His Excellency as a Bush-war leader, a man who has sent so many of his citizens into battles in South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Central African Republic and Somalia. It is hard to say your acting cowardly. Yes, President and commander-in-chief right now you’re acting as coward.

I know that there are many decisions to take in and to live with. As how to feed your cows and how many cars you need to travel between Mbarara and Kampala. How many you need to hire in the Special Forces Command. That his hard questions. Also it is how to be able to make yourself yet again president of the country you have been ruling since 1986.
The world is looking at your actions Mr. President. The notion of your ways getting viral now, not like when you first took power and could control the media and the people; the people can now spread information. Before the Executive get time to edit the news and message you want spread to the general public. I know that is hard to swallow as you want to rule and have the power of their minds. This is something that differs from earlier times and even when you tried to stop the social media. We know you dislike the Social Media, so during the Election Day and such you really showed how much you hate it; there is still ways of broadcasting there without the ordinary channels that you blocked. I know that hurt your pride and that your “Yes Men” didn’t know about that technical solution. During the Election Day he was also a coward to make sure that Kampala and Wakiso District got the polling material very late, while in Amuru and Kisoro had it on time. So it was cowardly to not give the same treatment everywhere especially with the short distance from the Electoral Commission office and the central region. A very cowardly move… That was so disrespectful actions from the EC and the regime toward the most populace area in the country.

Well, I called you coward Mr. President. I know that is disrespectful from a commoner like me. But the issue is that you’re disrespecting the people and the institutions you have facilitated. While attacking freedoms and liberty of other peoples in your country. That is why you’re a coward in my eyes. As you cannot and don’t have the ability to be questioned by your greatest opponent in court. Especially since you also selected the Electoral Commission and the way you have facilitated this General Election. The way the Police Force and Army has spread fear and been Partisan in your favour as they are on your pay-roll. All of this action’s shows that you’re a coward Mr. President, I know I am not supposed to say that, but I think you would understand as you didn’t give the opposition a same level between the opposition and your ruling party; The NRM your beloved NRM, Mr. President.
It is extraordinary how you have ordered the Police to rig the results and change the declaration forms, while detaining the FDC agents. That is because the original Polling Station forms would not be favour of you Mr. President. At the same time keeping the FDC Headquarter under siege and the house-arrest of Dr. Kizza Besigye; also keeping Hon. Amama Mbabazi under the same treatment on the other side of town. This proves your cowardice ways. As you could not manage the dirty laundry in public and put into systematic order during court sessions as the elections has been a shambles of procedure. Deep inside you, Mr. President you know, what I mean as you went to war because of rigged election. The rigged election of Mr. Paolo Muwanga in 1980 for Dr. Milton Obote. So that you do the same now proves how you have changed. The glory days are totally over for you!

Even with the Go-Forward and Amama Mbabazi petition. You’re still a coward. I mean that because you have acted cowardly. With surely cowardice ways of using all tools of oppression and governmental funds to secure the presidency! This is something you have prepared since the Kyankawazi Resolution during February 2014. That means that you have been two years ago. You have worked for the sole-candidacy and the road to the elections have showed you have become a coward. A sole-candidacy of a coward that can’t have a honest campaign or a honest result. Not even a honest speech or even honest pledges. As a coward you even had to recycle old pledges to look formidable in rural districts; that you only visit if there is rallies and campaigning Mr. President.
The disregard for the other parties to meet and consult their supporters for rallies and mobilization; while you could as president travel all around on government funded trips as a honourable gentlemen and leader. That proves your disregard and is a coward’s way of pre-campaigning.
The biggest coward move from you Mr. President was the booming hiring of unemployed youth in the Crime Preventers program. That was groups of youth used cowardly to intimidate opposition and the public, not securing the violent behaviour or security in general. Second cowardly behaviour was your Post-Election Violence budget and the new Personnel Armoured Vehicles (PAV) and special anti-riot vehicles just before the Election Day. That was cowardly of you and your brigade.

It isn’t easy saying you’re a coward. While the behaviour of the state your sponsor and the men you have around you make you look like a coward. You’re not acting like a proud man. This election and result is not an honest victory, if it had been so Mr. President. It would be more than Uganda Media Centre had celebrated your victory and you hadn’t felt the need to be with your cattle instead of your celebrating people. That is actions of coward.
The coward’s way continued with ban of social media and using the Uganda Communication to shut down radios and broadcasters who was not positive to you. Another cowardly move is how the Police continue to arrest and harass the journalist who follows the elections and the candidates as the ones that have lost their cameras, the ones that been detained, the ones that has been shot and so on. As you the coward you are complained at the state of journalism and the ethics they had while following your campaign trail. At one point Mr. President you suspended NTV Uganda from your trail. Others has felt your wreath and been detained and had to delete photos. You even called all Ugandan Newspapers rubbish and said you only read headlines and looked at the pictures. If you read some newspapers you might read and understand how people really feeling about you. I am sure your listening to your “Yes Men” like Hon. Frank Tumwebaze, Hon. Ofwono Opono and Hon. Dr. Ruhakana Ruganda; they will only tell you what you want to hear and not the truth, Mr. President!

Another cowardly move is the use of tear-gas and use of violence. You have also used mental violence through your hate speeches and sectarianism; something that counter the vision of you; Mr. President and you even speaks with that rhetoric as you called people around Kampala “rats” days before Election Day. Also Mr. President it is cowardly to say you are the only one who can keep the country safe. That is cowardly as you play your safety card and telling nobody else can; as most of the citizens hasn’t seen anybody else being a President.
If I offended you by calling you a coward, than I am not sorry! I am more sorry for the people behind bars, just for their political allegiance or belief in universal human rights. It cowardly not to let them counter your policies and your security outfits. It is cowardly that you not let them speak up and give them that freedom. Even one human rights activist had teaching in Namutumba district got detained for doing so! That is not peaceful and security that talk when you can’t teach youth about human rights without ending behind bars. That is a coward’s move Mr. President.
As long as you militarize politics and uses military as a tool to secure your power in the country you’re not a legitimate president. So long you use the police to harass your opposition and civil society, even citizens who are caring about politics and going to rallies. You’re a coward Mr. President. Because all of this shows that you don’t have faith in your presence or your policies. Mr. President it is strange that you don’t believe in your own programs and political framework. As it seems not to be strong enough to bring the masses or gain you goodwill. That shows the moral authority that has dwindled away over time as you have yet to fulfil ten-point program. You’re such a coward that you trust more in the Army and Police than in the political program of his beloved party!
So it is a sorry state Mr. President, your Excellency that I can call you a coward. I could have given you lot words. But that is the most fitting in the way you have threaten your opposition, given fear to your people and rigged this election to come out with honour. You’re not legitimate until the petition is sealed. President Museveni you might have run your country since 1986, but from the start of the pre-election period your actions has been of a man who acts like a coward. The cowardly move was to even amendment to Financial Management Act to make sure you had enough cash for your campaign funds. It proves how big of a coward you are when your opposition had to get funds from supporters; while you had the government funds or state funds to pay for your ferrying crowds and giving NRM village funds.

So I hope more people than me will call for what you are now. I know this will not make me popular, like Andrew Mwenda who is your golden mouthpiece. The worst thing is that you can’t shut me down. Still as long as you treat you’re opposition, your citizens and your government as your own playground, than I will continue to address you as a coward. As it is well deserved as a man who is a hero and democrat does not need armies deployed on the streets during elections, a man who has the public behind him and their votes would see people celebrate and not mourn. A man who has the legitimacy does not need army instead of the people. But you have always relied one the guns and not the votes as you only got one MP under the election in 1980. Than you used the guns and you still do. You we’re seen as a hero from taking the people away from totalitarian and despotic rulers; but now your alike them. You’re a coward who can’t leave power and a coward with government institutions and a arms. That is what you are, not the proud man who built possible democratic institutions, but instead depleted the ideals you built them on. Be proud of that, Mr. President officially a coward who is soon sworn-in for his seventh term. Peace.
Best Regards.
Writer of Minbane.
Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago statement on the state of the nation (01.03.2016)

The uncontroverted assertion by Gen. Tumukunde that the troops commanded by Lt. Col Karugaba were directed by the the CDF, Gen. Katumba Wamala to shoot and kill him( Tumukunde), is quite ominous!!!. This is not a statement Ugandans should take lightly in light of the fact that the country appears to be under a military rule. Dr. Besigye put uder house arrest; Gen. Ssejusa languishing in Luzira; journalists being harassed as some of us are kept uder 24hour surveillance. Where are we headed as a nation?
Ugandan Elections: How Museveni Killed Democracy (Youtube-Clip)
“This week on KIRWA, President Yoweri Museveni once again rigged the election in Uganda, declaring himself the elected president for the 5th time” (Kirwa, 2016).
Deadline day for petition deliverance for the ones the opposition to counter the Electoral Commission final result the 20th February; Journalist and Turinawe arrested at Kasangati today; while Mwenda and Dr. Kigozi enters the Compound and FDC Officials not allowed in!

Early in the morning today there was reported that Independent Magazine editor and owner Andrew Mwenda entered and was allowed to enter Dr. Kizza Besigye home and discuss with him. The high work ethic of Andrew Felix Kaweesi and DPC Kasangati of James Kawwyla is busy arresting and sending people away from the area and usually not letting people in. IGP Kale Kayihura must find some well spoken word of wisdom must come soon, as the journalist detained and the amount of FDC agents and mobilisers are piling up into the deadline. While CP Fred Enaga can’t keep up with actions from his peers, the Police Force is acting as a tormentor of the people and opposition; not preserving the peace of the people. As much as the army is still staying in the streets of Kampala and other places on deployment to secure that Regime lives on in a tense state and not in a peaceful harmony between government and its people.
Another report is that the money-man during the elections that had a son running as a Western Youth MP Gen. Tukumunde was either hurt by a canister of tear-gas or a bullet; the demonstrations against the result of the Western Youth MP. Even the Police and Army entered the venue of the 800 youths voting for their representative of their region.
While also journalist are sitting and waiting at Kololo to see the opposition delivers the petitions at Supreme Court. They are waiting for the lawyers of the opposition to come with the petitions.

On Facebook after visiting Dr. Kizza Besigye:
“Today I visited Dr. Besigye at his home in Kasangati. I did this after reading his Facebook post where he said he felt like becoming a real terrorist. Seeing his dilemma, I understand this sentiment even though I do not agree with it. We held very fruitful discussions on the present and future of Uganda. Even though we disagree on how to promote democratic reform, I have no doubt that he is genuinely convinced that he is working for the good of our country” (…)”But as an old man I told Dr. Besigye that truth is never objective but subjective; it is plural and not singular. We will never resolve the truth of who won the last presidential election but we can begin a dialogue on how to build a better future for our country. I hope all sides to the Uganda political debate see the need to work together rather than to work against each other. Hate will not bring us deliverance but destruction” (…)”If both sides cannot accommodate each other through compromise, there will be no winners. And Uganda will lose. Besigye represents a large disgruntled voter segment. We cannot afford to dismiss their disenchantment. Museveni represents an even larger voter segment. We cannot ignore their views. The challenge is how to create a common ground” (Andrew Mwenda, 01.03.2016).
Mugisha Muntu says: “Police was suggesting to send in their own representative. That is the level of arrogance we are dealing with”.

The FDC said this:
“We are now heading to Kasangati to meet Kizza Besigye and come up with a conclusive decision” (…)”We are operating under very hostile conditions. Our candidate has been arrested 8 times in 10 days” (NBS TV, 01.03.2016).
Continued House-Arrest:
“Our reporter Bahati Remmy in Kasangati says Police is still deployed outside Kizza Besigye’s home” (NBS TV Uganda, 01.03.2016).
As the media is following the Kasangati, the one journalist detained and taken cameras from yesterday Abubaker Muwonge, was supposed to get back his gear today; instead he will not get for some reason from the Police.
FDC not allowed to have a meeting with Besigye:
“Party officials allowed to meet with Besigye. Only if they leave their cars at this cross section” (Nduhukire, 01.03.0216).
As the NBS TV follows the situation at Kasangati and the FDC meeting at the place today; the NBS Journalist Remmy Bhati has been beaten up by the Police and manhandled by the police.

NBS TV on it themselves:
“BREAKING: Our reporter Bahati Remmy arrested by police live on air in Kasangati” (NBS TV Uganda, 01.03.2016).
On the FDC that had to leave their cars and supposed to be allowed in, that changed by the minute as the Police has changed their minds.

Ingrid Turinawe said this hours before press conference and the arrival at Kasangati:
“All earlier efforts, engagements and attempts to have Dr. Besigye freed by police remain imposible. The deadline for presidential elections court petition is today. FDC NEC meets today at Najjanankumbi. We still wait for Dr. Besigye to attend this meeting. He is expected to give direction and his views about the matter. We still keep the hope and patience despite dictator provocation. In case police block him again from attending or arrests him again… The party will communicate to Ugandans the next course of action” (Turinawe, 01.03.2016).

On the FDC:
“HAPPENING: Mugisha Muntu and other FDC members blocked from accessing Kizza Besigye” (NBS TV Uganda, 01.03.2016).

The FDC Report on the matter:
“This is the current situation at Dr. Kizza Besigye’s home. The NEC has been told to leave its cars on the junction to Dr. Besigye’s road to the home. Heavy police present that outnumbers everybody else” (Forum for Democratic Change, 01.03.2016).
Also happening the FDC Secretary for Mobilisation Ingrid Turinawe together with a journalist has been arrested and is driven away to a unknown destination. As NTV describes it: “Ingrid Turinawe and a journalist have been held and detained in this van here in Kasangati” (NTV Uganda, 01.03.2016).
As the event’s unravel on the gates of Dr. Kizza Besigye’s home and FDC Officials are not allowed to enter to finish the petition to have the ability to deliver it to the Supreme Court in time. While that is happening, Dr. Maggie Kigozi has arrived at Kasangati. Gen. Mugisha Muntu and the FDC official’s plea with the Police enter the compound, as Andrew Mwenda could enter without any fuzz. Do you also see the double standard of the loyalist of Museveni and the others?
From Parliament:
MP Odo Tayebwa: “I am not in the mood to attend this plenary session, Mugisha Muntu has been denied access to Dr. Kizza Besigye”. Also: “MP Odo Tayebwa asks for leave from parliament, saying he is not in the mood to attend the session because of what is happening in Kasangati”. Proves his manner to justice, props to Tayebwa!

While the FDC Officials was not allowed to enter his home, the Dr. Maggie Kigozi and the Woman’s Situation Room have been allowed to enter and discuss matters with Dr. Kizza Besigye, while the time is ticking to the end of deadline day. As this is a sending that has come to stall the time until the Supreme Court closes.
Hon. Ofwono Opondo are not for press freedom anymore:
“Media Outlets that are gonna be hacked by me are: New Vision, ChimpReports and Bukedde. HACKING in Progress. Thanks”, what pissed on his bonfire today?
While the actions and sieging of Kasangati continues. There was movement and people arriving at the Supreme Court. Here is the report:

“Vex Kingo ”Absolute Ambulera Govrnorment chairman as he claims has just arrived at Supreme Court Kololo to file his petitition.in brief he wants all recently concluded Presidential and Parliamentary Election be nullified because they were not carried out in accordance with eletral laws. VEX Kingo is known to be a political dramatist. But his arrived helped journalists break the boredom as the result of long day waiting for election petitioners”.
Yet more information about the Road-Blocks towards Kasangati:
“We are dealing with very unique and challenging times. A major route from Kiira-Matugga has been cut off. That means that many people are blocked and cut off to other destinations including Kasangati, a very sad state of affairs” (Forum for Democratic Change, 01.03.2016).

After the time and closure of the Supreme Court the Amama Mbabazi legal team came. They came at 17.05 when the time for addressing the court with petition was original time was set for 17.00. So that the Supreme Court. Registrar says he’ll accept their petition after 17h. That is big-men of the court. The Lawyer Severino Twinobusingye was the one representing Amama Mbabazi and was the one who was able to deliver a petiton from the oppostion to counter the result of the election and final annoucement.

From the FDC:
“We have failed to file an electoral petition today. We shall announce our next best steps on Wednesday 2nd March, 2016 at 11:00 EAT”.
There will come more as the story unravels. Here is what has happen this morning and the day is far from over and the Police and Government of Uganda. Will not let this one go, they do what they can to hold their hands over the opposition and with force at moment. Everything to stifle their chances to deliver the petitions while using unlawful methods as they have done since pre-election period. It is systematically from the Police and the Security Outfits in a display of arrogance and betrayal of freedom for the ballot or the FDC as civilized party during election time. This here is all nonsense and innocent journalist getting beating and arrested is just a manifestation of the militarized politics under President Museveni. Peace.
Press Release: Social accountability vital for building trust in post-election Uganda (01.03.2016)

Development projects that pay greater attention to social accountability can improve citizen-state relations and trust in Uganda and other fragile countries, according to new research by International Alert.
The report, titled Making social accountability work: Promoting peaceful development in Uganda, evaluates two large-scale development projects undertaken in Uganda and has been published following the recent elections in the country that have been undermined by widespread unrest and allegations of corruption.
The report states that development projects which build in transparency and accountability components can nurture more constructive government-community relations – vital for closing historical divides between citizens and state that fuelled the civil war in Uganda, and helping people feel they can influence change.
Richard Businge, Country Manager for International Alert in Uganda, said:
“Uganda is not alone in the region in experiencing tensions around presidential elections. It is vital that we avoid post-election violence of the kind seen in Burundi at present and in Kenya in 2008, which points to the urgent need to help more people participate in decision-making and ensure the government and development agencies respond to their concerns.”
An informant of one of the report’s case studies commented that people in northern Uganda had previously felt neglected and humiliated by the government, but relationships improved “quite tremendously” after the project integrated a social accountability component. Teaching communities conflict-management skills also empowered them to resolve more local disputes among themselves.
It was also found that accountability initiatives can help make communities more cohesive. For example, forming local groups to interact with the district government and give voice to local concerns is an effective way of improving citizen-state relations, laying stronger foundations for building mutual trust and understanding.
As well as being a critical component of development projects, the report reveals that technology can also amplify citizen voices and enable better information sharing, therefore strengthening social accountability.
Jo Robinson, Programme Officer on International Institutions at International Alert, author of Making social accountability worklead author of Making social accountability work, said:
“Online spaces can sometimes represent more open forums for discussion on state behaviour than those offline, allowing people to engage frankly in democratic debate not just during election time, but whenever decisions are being made which may affect their lives”.
The report findings will be presented at the World Bank Group Fragility, Conflict and Violence Forum in Washington DC on 1-3 March 2016 (website).
The research was based on two projects: Lakes Edward and Albert Fisheries Pilot Project (LEAF I), funded by the African Development Bank; and the Northern Uganda Social Action Fund Project (NUSAF II), funded by the World Bank.
- Report link: http://international-alert.org/sites/default/files/Institutions_UgandaSocialAccountability_EN_2016.pdf
- Acknowledgements: This report was researched and written by Jo Robinson, with substantive contributions from Bernardo Monzani and Elizabeth Drew. © International Alert 2016
- Press contact: communications@international-alert.org
Monies, Guns and Tear-Gas enters the race for Western Youth MP Elections in Fort Portal

There is always interesting during the General Election in 2016. The Electoral Commission and the Government of Uganda or the NRM-Regime can’t make a genuine exercise. The reports are staggering. Here are some of them and even an footage.
Pre-Text:
“Over 800 youth delegates from western region are expected to take part in the youth elections slated for Monday 29. In this part of the country, polls will be held at Kagote SDA hall in Fort Portal municipality” (New Vision, 27.02.2016).
Eye-witness on the direct campaign:
“Supporters of Mwine Mpaka son to Minister Bright Rwamirama are pelting stones at supporters of Amanya Tumukunde son to Rt Lt Gen Henry Tumukunde. They are aspiring for western Mp seat here in Fort Portal. Voting is tomorrow. Only Chairperson, Secretary for Female and Finance secretary youth councils at sub county level are only legible to vote” (“28.02.2016).
Here is what has happen today:
“Western Region youth MP race turn chaotic after a man only identified as Buryo has been arrested in Fort Portal at Kagote SDA hall with a pistol. Has has been arrested. It is said he was under the instruction of a one Michael Katungi who went in to harass supporters of Independent candidate, Amanya Tumukunde” (Eagle Online, 29.02.2016).

“Updates from Fort portal: According to the one in charge of Youth elections, the regional Registrar “Candidates are to be nominated today at 10am, massive rally Campaigns are to be staged at 11am, voting at 01:30 The battle is between the son to Gen.Tumukunde, Amanya and the son to the minister of Agriculture Mwine Mpaka. All camps are 50%” (Fatwes Solutions, 29.02.2016).
There been reports from certain sources that two people have been hurt during the election as the Police and Army has taken control of the venue in Fort Portal!
Footage of the Yout Election in Fort Portal:
As the campaign and voting continues in the hall eyewitness report says this:
“Tear gas rocking at Kagote SDA hall, as the western youth MP elections is still going on”. The tear-gas happens while they are counting. There are rumors that Tumukunde is detained and arrested by now. But that is not confirmed.
A Side-note – on the MP as Alex Ruhunda:
“Our credible source revealed that Alex Ruhunda supplied, 1m to each polling station 64stations in the municipal, him and his agents bought a vote at 10k.which means at every polling station he bought 100votes” (Tooro News, 28.02.2016).
I think that is enough for today. Peace.
Elton Joseph Mabirizi Post-Election Statement (29.02.2016)

Kampala, Monday February 29, 2016
I, Elton Joseph Mabirizi, independent presidential candidate and flag bearer of The Independent Coalition, TIC, congratulate the people of Uganda on turning up in large numbers to vote on February 18, 2016.
I salute the 23 former presidential aspirants who put Uganda first, and backed my candidature. Through their individual and collective effort, we were able to present our campaign messages and to receive votes from every single district of Uganda. We ran a very challenging campaign that lacked equipment and money. But we were efficient.
We completed the race with honor. We did not win the election. We instead proved ourselves as front line stakeholders in Uganda’s democratic struggle. It is in this capacity that I issue this statement. We are not spectators. TIC and I are actors, and will continue to be, in the struggle for true democracy, justice and the rule of law to be established in Uganda.
On February 20, 2016, the Chairman of the Electoral commission declared Mr. Yoweri Museveni winner of the 2016 presidential elections. This is a shame. Mr. Museveni did not win this election. Besides, Dr. Badru Kiggundu, as all reports from local and international observers have indicated, presided over an election that was neither free, fair not credible.
Our own records obtained from our agents countrywide and from our colleagues with whom we cooperated in vote protection attest to the sad fact that the results announced by Dr. Kiggundu were and are a deplorable forgery.
The Independent Coalition and I reject these results. We consequently demand the immediate resignation of Chairman Kiggundu and his commissioners.
Working with our colleagues and partners, we shall challenge this result using all constitutional means available to us, until the stolen victory is reversed and handed back to the true winner of this election. In doing so, we shall not allow ourselves to be intimidated, coerced or blackmailed.
The nation is at cross roads. Something must be done quickly.

To manage the scandal that was committed by Dr. Kiggundu and to avert possible violence, we propose the following:
a) Annulment of the declaration of Mr. Museveni as winner
b) For the avoidance of doubt, a vote recount be conducted, as national demand, as there was no tallying worth its name at the national tally center at Nambole, but periodic announcements of forged results. Results from at least 1700 polling stations were selectively not tallied.
c) To save the country and petitioners from the huge expenses of a court petition whose outcome is not likely to be different from that of 2001 and 2006, we propose an out of court settlement that involves a public hearing on the conduct of the 2016 Presidential election, during which all evidence of electoral irregularities will be presented and analyzed.
d) To halt preparations for the swearing in of the winner that never was.
e) To seek interpretation and guidance from the constitutional court on the matter of the likely event that the public hearing may not have been complete by May 2016
f) Return of the Army to barracks and to substantially reduce the presence of other armed personnel from the streets and some villages, which has created an atmosphere of intimidation, fear and siege.
g) Release all persons arrested on election related offences. Many of these have not been produced in court. Those that are already remanded through the court system should be produced in court as soon as possible and granted court bond.
h) Immediately remove the siege on Dr. Kizza Besigye residence and to guarantee his right of free movement within Uganda and abroad.
i) Establish a Contact Group on the Post-Election Situation comprising at least two representatives from each presidential candidate’s camp, Uganda Police Force, other security agencies, civil society, faith communities and other stakeholders to take care of emerging conflicts and security issues on a daily basis, during this period of uncertainty.
j) The Elders Forum, Inter Religious Council of Uganda, National Consultative Forum, and Inter-party Organization for Dialogue should jointly convene an urgent meeting of stakeholders to agree a minimum agenda for diffusion of tension.
k) All stakeholders meeting as in (j) above, should sign a declaration pledging peaceful resolution of the ongoing conflict and desist from inciting the public into actions that could lead to break down of law and order, as an amicable solution is being sought.
For God and My Country.
Elton Joseph Mabirizi
Press Release: Uganda – Violations against opposition party impeding its efforts to contest election outcome (29.02.2016)

LONDON, United Kingdom, February 29, 2016. The Ugandan government is continuing to violate the human rights of leaders of the opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) and undermining the ability of their party to legally challenge the results of the 18 February elections, said Amnesty International in a statement, as the 10-day deadline for filing presidential election petitions looms.
Security forces have repeatedly arrested the aggrieved presidential candidate Dr Kizza Besigye, and some of his party leadership colleagues and supporters. They have also besieged his home, and raided the party’s main office in the capital Kampala.
“The FDC has a legal right to challenge the election results and it must be allowed to do so,” said Sarah Jackson, Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for East Africa, the Horn and the Great Lakes.
“It is unacceptable for the government to stifle a lawfully-registered party from pursuing the only legal recourse available for it to contest the electoral outcome.”
Since the results were announced, Dr Besigye has been detained without charge at police stations or at his home in Kasangati, near Kampala.
His first post-election arrest was on 22 February, as he attempted to leave his home the day after he had suggested in a televised speech that he would challenge the outcome of the election in the Supreme Court.
“These arbitrary arrests are an affront to Dr Besigye’s right to freedom of movement and a clear sign of the prevailing climate of impunity and disregard for rule of law in Uganda,” said Sarah Jackson.
“The Ugandan government must fully and effectively respect its own constitution, and honour its voluntary international obligations to protect every Ugandan’s human rights, including to freedom of movement, freedom of expression, and freedom of peaceful assembly”.
Background
On 20 February, the Electoral Commission declared incumbent President Yoweri Museveni winner of the presidential election with 60.75% of the vote as opposed to Besigye’s 35.37%, an outcome Dr Besigye dismissed as fraudulent.
The election took place amidst a government-ordered social media shutdown that according to European Union (EU) election observers “unreasonably constrained freedom of expression and access to information”.
According to the police, Dr Besigye’s continued arrest was made under powers of “preventive arrest” for “utterances and activities that amount to incitement to violence and defiance of the law”. Amnesty International has examined Dr Besigye’s televised remarks and does not consider him to have incited violence.
FDC headquarters were raided by police on 19 February, while elections were ongoing in parts of Kampala. Witnesses interviewed by Amnesty International said police officers fired tear gas canisters at crowds gathered at the scene.

