

Bank of Uganda – Monetary Policy Statement for April 2016: “Core Inflation level to 6,2%” (04.04.2016)





http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJFgLcXigH0
“Kenyan Power Employees working on the Transmission Line in Nakuru yesterday, next to Ashok Leyland get Electrocuted” (Mpwani Halisi, 2016).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VD2cEWC9krs
“The Two KPLC men who were electrocuted as per the #Video1 we had posted whilst on scheduled maintenance IN NAKURU INDUSTRIAL AREA were rescued and rushed to the hospital” (Mpwani Halisi, 2016).

Following last week Thursday’s landmark Constitutional Court judgement, Members of Parliament (MPs) have an important opportunity to restore Parliament’s reputation and indeed that of South Africa’s democracy by voting in favour of the motion tomorrow to impeach President Jacob Zuma in terms of Section 89 of the Constitution.
This is the first time in our country’s democratic history that Parliament will vote on a Section 89 motion to remove the President. This is fundamentally different from a motion of no confidence, as it requires one or more of the following grounds to be established:
“(a) a serious violation of the Constitution or the law;
(b) serious misconduct; or
(c) inability to perform the functions of office.”
This motion, if successful, will also mean that President Zuma will not be able to receive the benefits he would have usually received when he leaves office. It is therefore a sanction. This sanction is an important check and balance provided to our Parliament, as the representatives of the people, to stop brazen abuse of power by any President.
All our MPs, regardless of political affiliation, must take this option seriously. When President Zuma violated the Constitution he threatened the very fabric of our constitutional democracy. As the elected representatives of the people, we must stand together and send a message that this will not be tolerated.

To do this is not just a recommendation. It is a requirement of our Constitution. When we were elected to Parliament, we swore an oath to uphold and protect the Constitution. Tomorrow, we must remember that oath and that we serve the South African people, and the Constitution, not Jacob Zuma.
As the DA, we therefore call upon Members of Parliament, representatives of the people of South Africa, on either side of the House, as well as society as a whole, to mobilise to support this motion of impeachment to remove Jacob Zuma from the highest office in the Republic when this matter is before the House tomorrow afternoon.
It is now time to put South Africa and the Constitution first again. Anything less will be an insult to our Constitutional Democracy, which so many people fought and died for.
Democratic Alliance press statement by
Phumzile Van Damme MP
DA National Spokesperson

Yesterday the Forum for the Resotoration of Democracy (FORD-Kenya) Hon. Moses Wentangula had his Presidential Bid Rally in Kakamega at Muliro Gounds. As much as the Kakamega County said the grounds we’re rebuilt for recreational use and not public rallies anymore. The rally still occurred. Though under some unfortunate circumstances as Orange Democratic Movement supporters crashed the venue and created unnecessary actions, that lead to tear-gas and people hurt in melee.
Yester was supposed to be the start of the Hon. Wentangula bid for presidency as the main candidate for the Opposition Parties and their alliance Coalition for Reform and Democracy (CORD-Kenya). That is a multi-party coalition of the most of the opposition parties that are in the country. They are supposed to be the stark contrast to the Ruling Jubilee Alliance which is the ruling coalition with Jubilee of President Kenyatta and his Deputy Hon. William Ruto of the United Republic Party. Just as they in October 2015 was to create a Party out of the coalition that becomes the Jubilee Alliance Party (JAP). So the ruling party will be stronger and counter stronger towards the opposition coalition.

As we saw yesterday even with the days before Hon. Raila Odinga in his written statement on 01.04.2016: “I will endorse Wetangula Tosa 2017 at the monumental Muliro gardens Kakamega.I find strong leadership in My brother Hon Moses Wetangula,he is young,energetic and brave to face-off with Uhuru in the 2017”.
Hon. Odinga had already given in public sphere the endorsement of Hon. Wentangula as he had planned his bid and surely had worked the CORD before this, so it was not a coming like a lightning strike or all of sudden no Chapattis in the whole of Kenya!
The ODM supporters acted wildly as they tried to undermine the leadership of CORD. If not is strange tactic from Hon. Raila Odinga to first endorse then sending his loyal followers to destroy the start of Hon. Wentangula bid for presidency in coming election of 2017. CORD if they will ever counter the ruling regime, need solidarity and ethics. Prove that they are different from them and strike as viable choice for the public to run behind.
If the Opposition wants to be taken serious they have to show it with actions and not go to grind against each other; especially not rowdy ODM Supporters at a campaign rally. The same would be if FORD Supporters ran around creating havoc at an ODM Rally. Even if the ODM supporters did this in good faith to support Hon. Raila Odinga and tamper with the President Bid of Hon. Wentangula. As he already had endorsed and given way for in the way he did Mwai Kibaki.

As long as they bickering and look chaotic the JAP under President Kenyatta and Deptuy Ruto will blossom while looking smart to the public. That is something both Hon. Wetangula and Hon. Odinga. The Odinga family have had misfortune compared to the ruling mafia in Kenya that is in fourth extension with Uhuru Kenyatta, as he follows the proud leadership click from Jomo Kenyatta his father, Daniel Arap Moi who was Jomo Kenyatta’s Deputy; the same with Mwai Kibaki who worked under Daniel Arap Moi before being ready for the Executive position or become the President; the same was with Uhuru Kenyatta who got groomed during Mwai Kibaki and made ready when his turn came. While Jaramogi Ogdinga Odinga got detained and lost his Prime Minster position, Rail Odinga got to become Prime Minister under Kibaki as the Power-sharing agreement was to med peace. After that he lost on his bid to again try to become the President as Uhuru Kenyatta won on his coalition and Raila Odinga got back into Opposition.
Now that the Opposition should be gearing up together and make sure the makeshift that the Opposition wish to create, instead the ruling party and the JAP can have field day and think their wise as their consolidate their alliance and coalition under one house to strengthen the party towards the General Election in 2017.
The actions of yesterday was to be a merry and not create tension between the ODM and FORD, which is not needed; if they want to be seen as professional partners who have one single presidential candidate, if not they may fall short as the The Democratic Alliance before the General Election in 2016 with the bickering between the partners and the loosing of the major-party and their main candidate Dr. Kizza Besigye while Amama Mbabazi and his newly formed party Go-Forward got the whole Coalition for himself, but the DP and the UPC struggled with affiliation, as the FDC grew strong by being the third force during the election period.
The same could happen, but the CORD have been strong together for long under the regime of Hon. Raila Odinga, but the assessment after yesterday seems bleak as even Hon. Raila Odinga did not show up at the venue, even Hon Nabil Naberwa (FORD) was detained after the rally.

Cord Effect Says this:
“Intelligence reaching us indicate that a prominent Western Kenya leader, working with unnamed politicians from outside Western, not aligned to CORD and suspected to be heavily financed by Jubilee, has spent the better part of the last three days hiring buses and trucks full of people from as far as Khayega and Kibigori with the intention to use them to cause disturbances at Moses Wetang’ula presidential launch later today” (CORD Effect, 03.04.2016).
So the Government and Police will investigate the matter and the cause for chaos that happen on Muliro ground at the Presidental Bid of Hon. Wetangula. The matter at hand it’s supposed to be a joyful occasion to inspire the opposition and gain support as something else then the JAP. The day was not only marked with the words, but with the killing of an unfortunate police officer and people hurt by the crowd of ODM supporters. If they we’re payed to be that by the JAP then this is a sorry for a ruling party to make a propaganda victory and senseless actions towards counterparts, fellow brothers from another mother.
We as pundits like me, hope for peaceful election and not of violence by any means. If this is only the start then it is worrying of the state of the politics, if it is really ODM supporters, then the ODM Party have to sufficiently either stand by their endorsement of Hon. Wetangula and Hon. Odinga better enlighten his fellow supporters. If the FORD gets hurt by this, they better get into dialogue and square it out, as this should not be something that creates animosity. Certainly JAP will win on this if this is truly a actual event where the Opposition parties going against each other, but if this is payed and staged by them. Then the JAP Party is the reason for the death of Police Officer, and then getting the FORD Official behind bars for their own gain, which is political manipulation and then trying to score a mental victory by making it look like a flawed event.
That is just my vision. You might have another one. Peace.

We know that the NRM does not have it in them to be accountable, if so they would have disclosed more information and dealing then they already do. As the land-agreements, oil-contracts, road-development and so on is kept on the low-key instead of in the public spotlight.
So when one of the general leaders in the Public Consumption told the fellow civil servants to not share their information with the world. Take a look!
What Ms. Nakayenga told new Public Officials in Bushenyi:
” Ms Pauline Nakayenga, told the leaders that information for public consumption is released only by mandated offices. She said revealing the information by anyone else can cause confusion” (…) “Commit yourselves to public service and be faithful to the offices you are taking. Keep government secrets, don’t become news reporters. Government and public information is released by the district spokesperson who is, in this case, the CAO [chief administrative officer] or district chairperson,” said Ms Nakayenga” (Amanyisa, 2016).
This law from the first Obote I Government is still in action and therefore, when it is valid it is useful in the discussion.

This is what the law says about Public Service on this matter:
Section 8: “Any member or officer of the commission and any other person who, without the written permission of the Minister, knowingly publishes or discloses to any person otherwise than in the exercise of his or her official functions the contents of any document, communication or information” (…) ”which has come to his or her notice in the course of his or her duties in relation to the commission commits an offence and is liable to a fine not exceeding two thousand shillings or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding twelve months or to both” (…) “Any person who knows of any information which to his or her knowledge has been disclosed in contravention of subsection (1) who publishes or communicates it to any other person otherwise than for the purpose of any prosecution under this Act or in the course of his or her official duty commits an offence and is liable to a fine not exceeding two thousand shillings or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding twelve months or to both”.
So the laws are already strict as a Public Servant the disclosed material and documents are supposed to be secret and talked about, there even possibility of being fined or being imprisoned up to a year. So Ms. Nakayenga is actually speaking as the law is confined to, even if she knows it or not.
Still it is a worrying sign that the Public Information does not the information out or prove their accountable and transparent towards the citizens they claim to serve. In any instance that is worrying. It is also worrying how quickly I could find a law fitting the NRM-regimes wish for secrecy of Public Office and the Public Service, and their Public Servants!

In my opinion it is not healthy when the Government does not express its will or its works; as then they have to hide what they’re doing and cannot been seen as accountable. If all work happen in secret then the Public Service is not for the people, but for the elite and the Government itself. And the Government is supposed to serve its citizens with the necessary services and security. Certain secrets are supposed only to be governments ones. But not all and the Civil Servants or the Local-Council and Local-Government should sometimes disclose information so that the public would actually know what is happening with the donor-funds, the taxpayers money and the planned operations and the budget use of the county. Without being seen by central and other Government Officials as “News Reporters”, that is just vindictive.
She did not define secrets, is everything the government do a secret? Is it filing the documents on land-owners in a county a secret? Is the next official contract for which Telephone Company Bundibugyo district is using for their employees? Should that be kept low-key or be told if the locals want to know and also know how much the local-council get funded for their usage of their smart-phone, or is that a secret?
Because if all business of the government and the local-council is disclosed and kept a secret, then the government is shadowing the public; and can do whatever they want without question unless it is visible killings. Still the certainly a culture amongst the NRM and the NRM-Regime to not tell or not wanting to tell their planned actions in public as the public does not need to know in their opinion; that is why under the Election Day the VPN was used and the Electoral Commission wanted to ban cameras and mobile-phones at the Polling Stations. Peace.
Reference:
Amanyisa, Zadock – ‘Don’t reveal government secrets, youth leaders warned’ (02.04.2016) link: http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Don-t-reveal-government-secrets-youth-leaders-warned/-/688334/3142626/-/kwjdw4z/-/index.html
Public Service Act of 1969 – link: http://www.ulii.org/ug/legislation/consolidated-act/288
“A former abductee of the Lord’s Resistance Army rebels has accused a Non Governmental Organisation in Northern Uganda of using her to solicit funds from donors without offering her any support. Stella Lanam, was abducted by the rebels in 1998 in Lamwo district. She told NTV that the NGO exploited her as she struggled to resettle in the community. The NGO has not responded to the accusations” (NTV Uganda, 2016)
What I was able to find out:
If you wonder which Organization that used her story for their benefit, it was the Invisible Children, the American NGO who is famous for the Kony 2012 campaign. She was trained under their MEND program that lasted from 2007-2014. She herself told her story to the Campaign in 2009. So the truth is in the pudding and is viable for the people to find out about.
What was told about her through the Invisible Children Mend Video:
” it is impossible for most 12 –year-olds to imagine being taken from school one day along with 150 other students and dragged into the bush by the LRA. That is Stella’s story. She and her classmates were abducted from their primary school by the rebel group and were trained to be a child soldiers and deployed into the bush with guns and machetes. They were sent to overthrow the Ugandan government. While fighting, she was given to a rebel soldier and was soon impregnated. Of the 150 students kidnapped alongside Stella, more than half were killed. Despite all that she has been through, Stella keeps smiling and singing. But Stella also continues to fight for the rights of formerly abducted women, as she dreams of becoming a local councilperson. A born leader, she is making the future brighter – not only for herself, but for all child mothers in northern Uganda. And for the first time, the brightness of her future outshines the dark memories she has passed through” (MEND.co/VIMEO, 09.09.2016).
Dissolved?
“These kinds of problematic representations ultimately led to a backlash against the organization. This became particularly clear during and after the Kony 2012 campaign and had a fundamental effect on the fundraising efforts of the organization. Traditionally, most of IC’s funds were collected as a result of its tours: countrywide presentations in high schools and colleges about the conflict and the organization’s work during which merchandise such as T-shirts and DVDs were sold and a large number of donations were collected” (…)”A second important issue is the market-based functioning of Invisible Children, whose operations have become increasingly in line with Dan Pallotta’s thinking. Russell and Keesey often cite Pallotta’s work as a major influence on how they conceptualize the future of charity and Pallotta sits on their advisory board. He was also a featured speaker at IC events in 2009, 2012 and 2013. Pallotta’s basic argument is that charities should be run according to private sector principles. Concretely, he argues for the “multiplying effect of smart investments.” This involves paying large overheads in order to attract the most talented people who in turn are expected to produce the best results, but also in the belief that higher spending in these “smart investments” will pay off: the more you spend, the more you raise and therefore the more you grow” (…)”Kony 2012 was not the first time Invisible Children had been confronted with accusations of grossly misrepresenting the conflict or its role in ending it. It did initiate, however, an overwhelming tidal wave of exposure to which the organization was ill-prepared to respond” (…)”Unlike a for-profit corporation, however, Invisible Children’s closure will have lasting effects on the many communities and students to whom it committed and whose lived experiences it aims to represent. Charitable organizations have a profoundly different set of relationships with their beneficiaries” (Ticea & Sebastian, 2015).

That is the reason why she the abducted woman never got what she was promised by the NGO, it was dissolved and a NGO who is famous for using the conflict for their own gain, instead of trying to really help the people in the Northern Uganda the LRA abductees. The plot it seems for the Invisble Children was to gain as much funds and donor money, through smart marketing instead of actually doing great work on the ground. Peace.
Reference:
Ticea, Kristof & Sebastian, Matthew – ‘Why did Invisible Children dissolve?’ (30.12.2015) link: https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/monkey-cage/wp/2014/12/30/why-did-invisible-children-dissolve/

As the unrest and crisis in Burundi continues even if they have Peacekeepers in Central African Republic and Somalia. The Opposition and the Government still keeps on with killings and oppressive behavior from the Government Armed Forces from the Police and the Army. The Opposition even tries to do plots to take down people of higher rankings as they have even attacked and gone after ministers and army generals. That is why the United Nation Security Council on the 1st of April 2016 finally have come to resolution on the conflict as the Inclusive Inter-Burundian Dialogue that have been stalled after the Ugandan President Museveni was out of the picture. There since been little or no-talks between the powerful actors in the country.

Even with stories of counter-insurgencies from Rwanda and trained militias to topple the President Nkurunziza shows the viability and how the positions are played at the moment. But here are the most specific and most important parts of the UN resolution 2279 (2016) of the Security Council:
“Stressing the primary responsibility of the Government of Burundi for ensuring security in its territory and protecting its population with respect for the rule of law, human rights and international humanitarian law, as applicable” (…)”Urges the Government of Burundi and all parties to reject any kind of violence and condemn any public statement inciting violence or hatred and demands that all sides in Burundi refrain from any action that would threaten peace and stability in the country” (…)”Urges the Government of Burundi to respect, protect and guarantee human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, in line with the country’s international obligations, to adhere to the rule of law, to bring to justice and hold accountable all those responsible for violations of international humanitarian law or violations and abuses of human rights, as applicable, including sexual violence and violations against children” (…)”Welcomes the steps made by the Government of Burundi to withdraw some media bans, cancel some arrest warrants and release a significant number of detainees, and urges the Government of Burundi to urgently fulfil the remaining commitments announced by the Government of Burundi on 23 February 2016 and to extend such measures to other media outlets and political detainees” (…)”Welcomes the consent of the Burundian authorities to increase to 200 the number of human rights observers (100) and military experts (100) of the AU, calls for their full and speedy deployment in Burundi, notes that 30 human rights observers and 15 military observers have been deployed so far, and urges the Government of Burundi and other concerned stakeholders to provide them with full cooperation in order to facilitate the implementation of their mandate” (…)”Calls on States in the region to contribute to a solution to the crisis in Burundi, and to refrain from supporting the activities of armed movements in any way, and recalls in this regard commitments of the States in the region under the Framework Agreement on the Peace, Security and Cooperation for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the region and the 1951 Convention relating to the status of refugees” (UN Resolution 2279, 2016).
Most of this is expected from the United Nation Security Council and their values and the wishes of security of the people of Burundi; which is the reason for why the resolution occurs. The issue I have with it, is not that the Resolution finally get Blue-Helmets on the ground and they are supposed to help to gain peace. But when you see the amount of people, experts and military men from the Peacekeepers it is very little. As little as it seems to be a gimmick and then the world society “we did something” but initially that something was very little.

And the Burundian Government will sure make sure their mandate is minor or small so they can conduct their affairs as much as they please only to formally do the implementation that are into the standards of the signed statues and the agreements done to international laws. So they don’t have grievances with anybody or anyone from the United Nation or the International donors to the Burundian Regime.
That the UN Peacekeepers will have the total of 100 Military Experts as Peacekeepers, that is a tiny base; they will not have the mandate or structure to do much in Burundi. It is more than the 15 Military Experts that are there now, so it is as adjustment. The Human Rights Monitoring will not be able to force anything, but to report to the UN and AU on the matters and issues on the ground. For me what is important is to remember the dire state that was in Rwanda before 1994. As this is similar and also had a Peacekeeping mission. But looking at the similarities when coming to the mission; the Burundian Peacekeepers can’t do much about nothing.

Important dates and issues with Rwandan Peacekeeping Mission:
“On 22 June 1993, the Security Council, by its resolution 846 (1993), authorized the establishment of UNOMUR on the Uganda side of the common border, for an initial period of six months, subject to review every six months. The Council decided that the verification would focus primarily on transit or transport, by roads or tracks which could accommodate vehicles, of lethal weapons and ammunition across the border, as well as any other material which could be of military use” (…)”As requested by resolution 846 (1993), the United Nations undertook consultations with the Government of Uganda with a view to concluding a status of mission agreement for UNOMUR. The agreement was finalized and entered into force on 16 August 1993. This opened the way to deployment of an advance party which arrived in the mission area on 18 August. UNOMUR established its headquarters in Kabale, Uganda, about 20 kilometres north of the border with Rwanda. By the end of September 1993, the Mission had reached its authorized strength of 81 military observers and was fully operational” (…)”. Reporting to the Security Council on 15 December 1993 on the activities of the Mission, the Secretary-General noted that UNOMUR was “a factor of stability in the area and that it was playing a useful role as a confidence-building mechanism”. Upon his recommendation, the Council, by its resolution 891 (1993) of 20 December 1993, extended UNOMUR’s mandate by six months. The Council expressed its appreciation to the Government of Uganda for its cooperation and support for UNOMUR and also underlined the importance of a cooperative attitude on the part of the civilian and military authorities in the mission area” (UNOMOR Background).
We all who followed the Situation in the Rwandan Genocide knew what happened after this and that the mission of United Nations Peacekeepers was not incapable of doing anything with the dire situation in Rwanda that was already in 1993 and what escalated in 1994. Those 81 Military Observers did not have the manpower or the mandate to sufficiently do anything in the country.
As we are today in April 2016, 12 years after 1994, in the neighbor country of Burundi who also have history of civil war and violence, that ended in the Arusha Peace Accord of 2000 and gave way to over a decade of peace. Still, it was not sufficient or enough.

So the 15 Military Experts or Observers cannot deal with anything especially since their mandate is not yet there; as the negotiations with the Burundian government are under way, the Burundian government wants as little or no meddling in their internal affairs; and with that in mind they have stifled the ability to have international peacekeepers in the country. Even if the UN Mission in Burundi with their 100 Peacekeepers, how much more power will they compared to the counterparts in Rwanda in 1993-1994? I doubt the Burundian Government will give up sovereignty and let them play national Police and Army over them. As they have Army Forces in Peacekeeping mission themselves in Somalia and Central African Republic.
Burundian President Nkurunziza said this in late December 2015: “Everybody should respect the borders of Burundi. If the troops are in violation of this decision, they will have attacked Burundi, and each Burundian must stand up to fight them” (…)”The country will have been attacked, and we will fight them” (…)”You cannot send troops to a country if the United Nations Security Council has not accepted it… the UN resolution says the international community should respect the independence of Burundi” (Daily Monitor, 2015).
Now yesterday the new Resolution said they would extend the Military Experts (Observers) which counters the words and arguments used by the President in December 2015. That an Resolution from the United Nation would change the matter, even the resolution is so vague and non-descriptive as it even in dialogue with the Burundian Government:
“…urges the Government of Burundi and other concerned stakeholders to provide them with full cooperation in order to facilitate the implementation of their mandate” (UN Resolution 2279, 2016).

This gives way to Burundian Government to do as they see fit in their sovereign territory while the Peacekeeping mission of United Nations will have little power or mandate to address, because we already knows that President Nkurunziza have little interest in having a powerful mandate to the United Nations Peacekeeping mission as he already wanted to attack the African Union planned Peacekeeping mission in the Country.
The 100 people of the UN Peacekeeping mission will in this state, and with this sort of arrangement and resolution gives lots of responsibility towards the Burundian Government, and will certainly not made in way that is adjusted to the concerns of the United Nation Security Council.
This resolution gives little or no direct mandate to the United Nations Mission and gives way for negotiations for the Burundian Government. Therefore the start of it is flawed and leaves possibilities of being a minor sting of pride for President Nkurunziza; as much as it was for President Juvénal Habyarimana of Rwanda in 1993; to have a peacekeeping mission in his country. But if it has limited power or even reach, and with little manpower as it have, the worry for the Burundian government not necessary have to be there. Because the United Nation Mission can’t or doesn’t have the ability to stop anything; just peeping and monitoring at best; as much as the Human Rights workers that are parts of the Mission. The Military experts will be lame ducks, while waiting for a secure mandate. A mandate that the Government of Burundi not wanting to give them, as that will take away their sovereignity as a state and nation. Peace.
Reference:
Daily Monitor – ‘Nkurunziza warns he would fight AU peacekeepers’ (30.12.2015) link: http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/World/Nkurunziza-warns-fight-AU-peacekeepers-/-/688340/3015170/-/k7p15vz/-/index.html
United Nation – ‘Uganda-Rwanda-UNOMOR Background’


