An affidavit from the former-editor of the Daily Nation Denis Galava who was “sacked” for Political reasons!

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This happens in the same time period that Gado the cartoonist at Daily Nation has been under fire for his cartoons of Kenyatta and later was finally sacked for a cartoon mocking President Museveni. So there were already issues between editorial freedom and the government control of media in Kenya under President Kenyatta, as this story will show.

Denis Galava the former editor Daily Nation who got fired for speaking up towards the President of Kenya Uhuru Kenyatta. This here is outtakes from his affidavit and is interesting as he was fired or sacked in the end of January 2016. The gaging of Kenyan Media comes to the surface and makes an impression!

Denis Galava

Problems of November 2015:

“Earlier in November, the Editor-In-Chief called me to his office for what I presumed was a routine discussion on the investigation docket. We had lined up stories on Eurobond, Jubilie’s Mega Scandal, the death of the manufacturing sector and the collapse of the coffee sector. While not disagreeing with the merit of the stories, he said timing was tricky. For that the Aga Khan was scheduled to visit Kenya in December 2015 as a State guest and the presidency accused the Nation of malice for interesting scandals in government” (…)”Mr. Mshindi also asked me to ask popular Saturday Nation columnist David Ndii to stop writing about Eurobond and NYS Scandal because of his provocative analyses had angered the government and cost the company business. I out rejected the proposal, saying the columnist had struck in the letter and spirit contract of his contract and the reputational damage of us gauging him was not worth the risk” (…)”And the Editor-In-Chief, instead of defending our editorial independence, had chosen to gag us” (…)”My experience with the senior editors and we concluded that the Editor-In-Chief had privilege political sensitivities and personal biases over good journalism”.

How it all started:

“Completed the Editorial at 05:30pm and alerted the acting editor of Saturday Nation to revise it. He told me it was hard-hitting, but truthful. Since the paper was in the midst of a staffing crisis, I also took on a few other tasks that evening – editing the special reports section and ‘Page one’. I left shortly thereafter for the night” (…)”Woke up on Saturday morning to a social media fest over the editorial” (…)”Around midday, the Group Managing Editor (GME) Weekend editions called saying the editorial was hard hitting but objective. He received many calls, most compelling the Nation for finally speaking truth of power and a few from State House officials saying that the editorial was a declaration of war against the president”.

This continued with reactions from the State house:

“It also learnt that there had been a call from a senior State House official later that afternoon which was to be the first rumble the thunder in the brewing storm. The official asked why the Nation was ambushing the President in the New Year. He said the President was angered by the Editorial and intended to take it up with the Nation’s founder, the Aga Khan, who had been a state guest at the 12. December 2015, Jamhuri Day celebrations”.

State House Kenya
State House Kenya

Calls on Sunday:

“the calls had become more frantic in tone. I learned from the GME Weekend Eric Obino that the Editor-in-Chief Tom Mshindi had called him from India saying the government had threatened serious sanctions over the editorial. That NGM board chairman Wilfred Kiboro and called and also written to the CEO Joe Muganda and Mr. Mshindi demanding immediate action to appease the government. Matters were complicated by the fact that for three years, the Nation board and the local Aga Khan network had been trying to reach out to State House in vain”.

On Monday:

“The Acting Saturday Nation editor Kariuki Waihenya and GME Weekend informants told me they had received emails from the editor in chief asking them to show cause why disciplinary action should not be taken against them over the publication of the editorial”

On Thursday – 5th January

“That morning, the HR director returned from leave for a conference call with the Editor-in-Chief, who was in India, and two Group Managing Editors for Weekend and daily editions (Mr. Obino and Mutuma Mathiu, respectively). After the discussion, the acting editor for Sunday Nation was given a first warning letter over the editorial, while his Sunday counterpart was also cautioned over the cartoon published on the January 3 that infuriated State House

Later on the same day after picking up and taking his niece to school he got a call:

“the GME Weekend editions called asking me to join him at the responding to mounting fury, added to the prevailing bewilderment. According to his statement expressing the official position of the paper, I had not been suspended but rather advised to stay away for a few days”

On Friday – 6th January:

“the BBC interviewed Mr. Muganda over my suspension. Mr. Muganda said I been suspended for not following procedure in writing the editorial and went ahead to compare me to a bank teller who steal cash”.

On Thursday – 14th January:

“the HR Manager in charge of editorial Ms Jane Mkituri(Not sure) called me to invite me for a disciplinary hearing at 2pm on January 18. She also invited me to respond in writing to the issues raised in my suspension letter”.

On 18th January:

“In my response letter dated January 18, I protested that the procedures and guidelines referred to in the suspension letter were communicated to me for the first time in the suspension letter” (…)”While I had in the past either written or authorized editorials based on my judgement, the issue of procedure had never come up”.

Reaction to the letter:

“I was surprised to learn that two hours after submitting my response stating from there were no written procedures for editorial writing, the Editor-in-Chief issued – for the first time – comprehensive guidelines and timelines for writing editorials”.

TV Kenyatta Odinga

On the disciplinary hearing:

“I was surprised that I had to defend myself to the very people who has accused me and suspended me unheard – the Editor-in-Chief, GME Weekend, HR Director and Company Secretary (Mr. Joseph Kinyua). I had expected a different, independent panel compromising at least one peer and individuals unrelated to the suspension the law states” (…)”The hearing turned out to be more of a dialogue of the deaf than even my initial cynicism anticipated” (…)”Every question started and ended with the word procedure, with an occasional dose of “disrespecting the presidency and endangering company business”. In 58 minutes, the duration of the hearing, I repeated 17 times that I not flouted procedure since, in actuality, there was no procedure to flout”.

The answer on the matter at the hearing:

“A panelist offered that he would be more cautious if he were in my shoes. Here I stood, he added, both having upset Kenya’s President and the Aga Khan, and risked the business of the paper, and yet here I also stood seeking justification rather than groveling for mercy”.

Continued part of the hearing:

“I explained that this section spoke of content and not procedure. None of the panelists cared to listen to me” (…)”Pushing the file I had given him aside, the Editor-In-Chief said I had hurt him, the tone of the editorial was disrespectful and it was risked the company business. The Company Secretary weighted in with similar comments, adding that this was the most disrespectful article on the presidency he had ever read and that I should be apologizing instead of defending the indefensible”.

Later on the 20th January:

“About 10am on Wednesday, January 20, the HR Director called and asked me to see him in the office at 4pm. He gave me the termination letter for “willful disobedience of the covenants and laid down process and procedures”. I protested this was unfair because in whole of my career at Nation”.

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Together with the Gado sacking and this story of how the Editor-In-Chief dedicated the stories and silenced the newspaper and their columnist to fit the State House, is a worrying sign when we think about the up-coming elections in 2017.

That the media have to worry about writing articles to step on their toes and not be able to make stories that they can cover, as the President and his advisor will call the Nations Editor-In-Chief or CEO. As the State House want the investment from the Aga Khan and the State House want to look decent, and not have the story of corruption or scandals out! Peace.

Press Statement: Another Zuma “question and lie” session in Parliament (17.03.2016)

Zuma 2

Today President Jacob Zuma once again treated Parliament as his very own lapdog, by avoiding accountability on the question of whether the Gupta family and others played a role, directly or indirectly, in the decision to fire former Finance Minister, Nhlanhla Nene, which sent the country’s economy into a tailspin.

My specific question to the President was whether he consulted any person before the appointment of Mr David van Rooyen as Minister of Finance on 9 December 2015, and removal of Mr van Rooyen as Minister of Finance three days later.

The President completely avoided answering the question of whether he in fact did consult anyone, and instead quoted sections of the Constitution which empower the head of executive to appoint and dismiss cabinet ministers.

In addition to this, the President then astonishingly implied that his decision to fire former Minister Nene had a negligible impact on our economy and the tanking of our currency, as the rand was “already in decline”.

This blatant untruth is a slap in the face of the 8.2 million jobless South Africans whose hope of finding a job is continuously undermined by decisions such as this one made President Zuma and his government.

When I pressed the President on this point, I was asked by the Speaker of the National Assembly, Baleka Mbete, to leave the House. This is yet another chapter in the story of the how the ANC in Parliament protects Jacob Zuma at any cost.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) will not relent in seeking answers to this ever-mounting Gupta saga.

I have already moved a substantive motion in the National Assembly (NA) requesting that the House establish an Ad Hoc Committee to investigate the close ties between the Gupta family and President Zuma, including their alleged involvement in the capture of State resources and their undue influence over the Executive.

Parliament must play its rightful role in holding executive power to account.

The Motion that Mmusi Maimane put forward yesterday:

Motion to ZA Parliament - DA Mmusi Maine 16.03.2016

A clip from the Assembly or Parliament today:

Peace!

Kasangati Court Adjured the case of Besigye till tomorrow as the Police needs more time to respond!

Kasangati Court 17.03.2016

It is continuation of the Dr. Kizza Besigye’s siege and house-arrest in Kasangati, Wakiso district. The Police have held him under house arrest since right before the Election Day on the 18th February 2016.

Today the petition to Kasangati Court in Kasangati Trading Centre to free Besigye; early in the morning the judge of the court where they said the Defence had to file it in before 4pm today. The Court said they needed more time to respond to the filed petition to the court. The respondents in this case Police needed more time to respond. So the court is adjured to tomorrow.

Road Block at Kasangati 22.02.2016

From the FDC themselves:

“Mr. Daudi Mpanga, lawyer for Dr. Kizza Besigye informing press that Dr. Besigye’s case is now fixed for hearing, this Friday at Magistrate Court, Kasangati. The case was adjourned to Friday 18th March, 2016 to give the State more time to prepare its response” (FDC, 17.03.2016).

As this happen there has arrived more Police and Security guards around his home. There is already three roadblocks and set of police in the area. He is seemingly a great criminal now that he has filed a petition to the court to be released free from his preventative-arrest and get justice, as he went from being a presidential candidate into a house-arrested fellow without charges, which are still at that state to this day.

The Police of the area have used the time to stall a petition against the Presidential Election of 2016, as they have gone aggressively against the FDC. So this is a continuation of that and the result is that the authority continues with the unlawful behavior, as they use the Preventative-Arrest of Besigye and monitoring everybody in the area. So the time is ticking and the unjust behavior as the state keeps him on guard and under siege. The proud state of Uganda Police has drained down to this and President Museveni must be with his cattle smirking. Peace.  

Hon. Nasasira’s new curse-word: “and with the approval of Parliament”, as he wants to rewrite the Ugandan Communication Act of 2013 with the new amendment!

VPN 18.02.2016 P2

I will here go through the piece of the Communication Act of 2013 sub-section 93 Regulation, where the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MoICT), the man who is the sponsor behind the new amendment of the act in 2016, happens to be the Minister of ICT Hon. Eng John Nasasira, he is now repealing a sentence from the law; he is not rewriting the law in a big part or changing the whole law. He is just crossing over a sentence, but that sentence gives the Minister less power, as if he uses the Communications Act of 2013, he have together with the UCC go to Parliament to get it approved for using the act; That is the major fact! And Hon. Nasasira want to do as he please without questions, open accountable actions or with the consent of other people than himself, he want this to be like the Public Order Management Act or the Public Finance Management Act; where the Police or Ministry can go into the Bank of Uganda without having approval of the Parliament to use those laws, this is the same Hon. Nasasira wishes to do. Take a look!

UCC

The Communication Act of 2013:

“93. Regulations.

(1) The Minister may, after consultation with the Commission

and with the approval of Parliament, by statutory instrument, make

regulations for better carrying into effect the provisions of this Act

(2) Without prejudice to subsection (1) the Minister may make

regulations relating to—

(a)fees payable upon the grant or renewal of a licence”.

The new Uganda Communication Act Amendment of 2016 says this:

“1. Amendment of Act No. 1 of 2013.

The Ugandan Communication Act 2013 is amended in section 93 (1)

By the repealing of the words “and with the approval of Parliament”.

(I am just saying) If they do repeal it, since it is not yet voted in the amendment of the law.

Then it would be written like this:

“The Minister may, after consultation with the Commission, by statutory instrument, make regulations for better carrying into effect the provisions of this Act”. 

UCC 23.02.2016

Afterthought: 

That makes the simple matter that the Uganda Communication Committee can act without the approval of the Parliament and under regulation of the minister. That gives the minister the opportunity to act on his or her own without asking or questioned by the Parliament, that means that the powers of the minster is getting stronger, as the Minister of Information and Communication Technology, does not need the contact as the repeal of the law will give way to the Ministry of ICT.

The man behind the amendment is Hon. Eng John Nasasira he is the Minister of Information and Communication Technology (MoICT), so the man who support the amendment wants to give himself a bigger mandate without having to talk his arguments for using the Communication Act of 2013 can use with consent of the UCC, but does not need to get approval or tell anybody in Parliament! So the representative of the people and elected people does not have to power to question the MoICT and UCC for their actions, as the Ministry can on their own use the Act as they please, not according to the Parliament as a lawful provider and the custodian of the laws, as it is supposed to be.

So if you catch my drift the amendment will give more power the minister who oversees the law and the UCC, can use the act as they please, if they amend this amendment. The repeal of words gives the opportunity for the minister to use the extended law without questioning or accountability from the Parliament. So the Parliament should not accept this as this is a way of grabbing more power in a ministry and gives the minister more power. This is an example of draconian law where the minister eats the cake, control the cake and dispense the cake, without being questioned about how he share and show the cake. Hope you follow? Peace.

Reference:

The Ugandan Communication act 2013 – 18.01.2013

The Ugandan Communication (Amendment) Act 2016 – 11.03.2016

Kenya – Appoinment of National Government Spokesperson (Supposed: 16.03.2016)

Appointment of Nat. Gov. Spokesmen Kenya

Press Release: Communique of the 581st PSC meeting on the situation in Burundi (15.03.2016)

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ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, March 15, 2016 The Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU), at its 581st meeting, held on 9 March 2016, adopted the following decision on the situation in Burundi:

Council,

1. Takes note of the briefing made by the Commissioner for Peace and Security on the visit of the AU High Level Delegation to Burundi and on the evolution of the situation in that country. Council also takes note of the statements made by the representatives of Burundi, as well as by Tanzania in its capacity the current Chair of the East African Community (EAC);

2. Recalls its previous communiqués and press statements on the situation in Burundi, as well as press releases made by the Chairperson of the Commission. Council further recalls the decision taken by the 26th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Union, held on 30 and 31 January 2016 and reaffirms the responsibilities of the AU, in its capacity as Guarantor of the 2000 Arusha Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in Burundi. Council stresses its determination to fully play its role and take all necessary measures for the promotion of peace, security and stability in Burundi, in conformity with its mandate, as stipulated in the Protocol Relating to the Establishment of the Peace and Security Council of the AU;

3. Welcomes the visit to Burundi, on 25 and 26 February 2016, by the AU High-level Delegation, established pursuant to the relevant provisions of the above-mentioned decision of the Assembly of the Union. Council pays tribute to the Presidents of South Africa, Gabon, Mauritania and Senegal, as well as to the Prime Minister of Ethiopia for their contribution to the efforts of the AU for peace, security and stability in Burundi. Council emphasises that their work is an exemplary contribution to African ownership and resolution of the problems of the continent;

Burundi-Museveni-Nkurunziza

4. Endorses the conclusions of the visit of the AU High Level Delegation to Burundi, as contained in the Communiqué issued at the end of the mission. Council welcomes, in particular, the consent of the Burundian authorities to increase to two hundred (200) the number of Human Rights Observers (100) and Military Experts (100) and requests the Commission to expedite the process of their deployment in Burundi. Council also notes with satisfaction the readiness of the members of the AU High Level Delegation to pursue their efforts, in support of the mediation efforts led by President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, on behalf of the EAC, particularly with regard to the need to ensure that all stakeholders in Burundi participate in the Inclusive Dialogue and actively preserve the gains of the Arusha Agreement;

5. Commends the Burundian authorities for the measures taken to restore respect for human rights, preservation of civic liberties and freedom of the press. In this respect, Council urges the authorities to enhance and consolidate these efforts;

6. Urges the EAC, in particular, and countries of the region to accelerate the mediation efforts to find a lasting solution to the crisis in Burundi. In this regard, Council reiterates the full support of the AU to the EAC efforts for the Inter-Burundian Inclusive Dialogue process, led by President Yoweri Museveni, the EAC-appointed Mediator and notes with satisfaction the appointment of former President Benjamin Mkapa of Tanzania as Facilitator and member of the mediation team. Council reiterates its full support to the Mediator and the Facilitator in the Burundi crisis and requests them to expedite consultations with all the Burundian stakeholders in order to fix, as early as possible, a date for the resumption of the Inter-Burundian Inclusive Dialogue;

7. Reiterates its urgent appeal to all the Burundian stakeholders to exercise maximum restraint and to lend all necessary cooperation to the efforts of the Mediator and the Facilitator;

8. Welcomes the recent visit, by the Secretary-General of the United Nations to Burundi, which falls within the framework of international efforts to further strengthen those led by Africa with a view to finding a lasting solution to the crisis in the country;

9. Reiterates its appreciation to the neighbouring countries which are hosting Burundian refugees, as well as its call to the international community to continue and intensify its humanitarian assistance to the affected population and the host countries;

10. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.

My letter to the Minister of Interior Affairs of Kenya Hon. Joseph Nkaissery on revoking firearm license of Govenor Joho

Nkaissey 2016

Dear Sir Honorable Joseph Nkaissery!

You honorable Interior Cabinet Secretary Nkaissery, I am writing you again. It is hard since you’re a man of your English. We both know the English language and respect it. But I am not writing a letter in the sense of the spoken word, but this is I will write to you about is more about what has happen in recent days.

As we all know there been smaller by-elections happening in Kenya, the country where you happen to be a big-man, with only two leaders above you, Honourable William Ruto and His Excellency President Uhuru Kenyatta.

It is in this context that you are ruling together with them and have powers through the parliament that is given by the appointment from His Excellency who has faith in your judgement, if not he would not have given you this chair and represent the government as you do.

Hon. Nkaissery, I want to write this to you in plain English, do you have an issue with Coalition of Democratic and Reform (CORD) and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM)?  Or am I wrong? I hope I am wrong as you can make decisions that can either hurt or secure these men, just as the same decisions can do the same to your party-men in the Jubilee Alliance Party (JAP).

Why I am writing this letter to you in plain English is because the sense of double standard is evident during the last few days, when Governor of Mombasa Hon. Hassan Ali Joho (CORD) lost certain members of his security outfit, while also getting orders of delivering his gun to the authorities, while other leaders keep their VIP security guards while the opposition loses them.

There is a reason why wonder about that, because you wrote this on the 12th March 2016: “In the case of Governor Joho, he should understand the rule of law must be respected and when he is asked to surrender his firearms, it is his duty bound upon him to do so. It is important that the Honourable Governor of Mombasa to note that the office he holds comes with the honor and dignity and the anger and demeanor that he portrays in public while feels provoked in whatever circumstances takes away that dignity”.

I don’t know if you have read what the Governor wrote to you and the authorities after you address him publicly.

He wrote a letter to answer your appeal on the 14th March 2016:

“As you are well aware of Mr. Samuel C. Kimaru, the Chief Licensing Officer on the 10th March, 2016, purported to revoke the Firearm Certificate Number 4773 by the above referred client Mr. Hon. Gov. Hassan Ali Joho” (…)”That Mr. Kimaru, did not satisfy himself that a reasonable and legal-basis for revoking the firearm exists in law and in fact” (…)”That Mr. Kimaru acted ultra vires and acted in gross breach of constitution” (Ahmednasir, Abdikadir & Company, AAC/GEN/2016, 14.03.2016).

Hassan Ali Joho 15.03.2016

Hon. Nkaissery that you today in the day ordered and gave the Governor two hours to deliver the arms, while you have already punished the opposition by taking their security guards, prove the bias is going to close courts of the president. That is how I understand you’re English. Justice Odunga on the case: “Only the firearm licensing board has powers to revoke a firearm certificate on lawful grounds. Kimaru acted ultravires (beyond his legal power or authority).” Justice Odunga once said on Security Act, “The court will not nurture the tumour of impunity and lawlessness. This tumour of impunity is like an octopus…”

So you are a man of Codes Cabinet Secretary of Interior Nkaissery, you should for once ask for forgiveness for your rash reactions, as you never acted in good faith towards the journalist covering the corruption in your ministry. This time it is a fellow brother who serves his district and constituency, maybe not for your party or up in high halls with the perfect etiquette and English as you commands, as your people in the cabinet speaks, but even filthy tasteless language and not moral codes can be a little dually. You claim that Governor Joho speaks in inferior language and therefore are not allowed to carry arms.

You Hon. Nkaissery also wanted the guns of MP Ferdinand Waititu. Your actions seem to be happening after a by-election that didn’t go the way of the JAP. Seems to be political motivated. By my reckoning hon. Nkaissery you have a bigger fish to fry then the guns and arms that the opposition leaders are keeping while serving as government officials.

Hassan Ali Joho 15.03.2016 P2

Mr. Nkaissery in plain English: “Cabinet Secretary Major-General (Rtd) Joseph Nkaissery’s Interior and Coordination of National Government Ministry is perceived to be the most corrupt, a survey by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) shows” (Daily Nation, 15.03.2016).

So when you’re hard work right after by-elections it seems a little devious. While your ministry because of the perceived levels of corruptions, questions your authority, your leaders, your civil servants, government officials and the system that you’re in plain English controls with your authority.

So when you have that in your hands together with the predicament of losing to courts of taking away the guns from Governor Joho of Mombasa, while MP Waititu discredits your orders in the public. As they both knows the laws and now your powers, even if you can use the same as Office of Inspector General as you; you used the same had against the opposition. That still does not make your argument and orders correct, even if you serve as the government and you are part the top third men of power in Kenya, just under Hon. Ruto and H.E. Kenyatta; so you have a massive amount of responsibility and therefore should show respect for your position and title.

I would respect you even more if you talked in a manner of respect to your fellow citizens and not lecturing them on simple manners, while taking the laws into your own hands and act reckless against those who write about you or oppose you. As you now do what you can to take away security and security of governors, while Governor Kidero of Nairobi who happens to be your part of your party have 12, while Governor Joho has lost part of his security outfit. That prove a double standard, not only with the arms and guns, but the whole shindig has left a sour taste in the mouth of many. As you are serving the interior ministry, internal issues and internal security honourable Nkaissery, that means that you serve both the oppositions security and JAP security, so they all should be made sure to be safe and not only the men who are parts of your loyal subjects and yes-men in your hollow chambers. That is the picture that comes as you together with the Inspectorate General are even bending laws, so fellow country-men pre-judged by your judgement has to go courtside to reside and get justice. Because they not part of your powerful trio or the men who you trust automatically, and you should worry a bit hon. Nkaissery, as your ministry is not trusted when it comes to corruption.

Nation 15.03.2016

Corruption Mr. Nkaissery is not only money between a police officer and his advisory that want to pass a check-point. The corruption is not only the once that scribes letter like this or writes in Daily Nation in 2015. The Corruption is the acts and ability to use the power of the ministry to personal gain, as you have used to threaten a fellow Governor Joho and MP Waititu, why haven’t you done the same to Gov. Kidero? Is Kidero okay because he has issues with the Tribunal so he does not more on his plate?

Honourable Nkaissery why I write to you is because of the perception people has of you and your ministry, the actions you put forward to people and the way you uses laws and language to gauge people around. You could be more powerful if you actually worked together with people and listened to people, as they believe your ministry is the most corrupt one, and when you get Justice Odunga saying your argument wrong and unlawful. The sad thing is that you are the one running the Police and the Courts, the man who set the standard for law-enforcement and apparently you prematurely went after fellow brothers in your country, who are citizens just like you, even if they can’t call that easily Hon. Ruto or H.E. Kenyatta.

So please Hon. Nkaissery, could you calm down and not just address opposition and threaten them next time? Could you honourable Nkaissery maybe get more advice and think strategy as you’re a man of language and law, you should set the precedence of not taking laws to seriously as you did before 2016 with the journalists following parliamentary actions, now you have gone after government elected leaders in the opposition like the Government of Mombasa and the Member of Parliament representing Kabete. An I wonder why you haven’t asked for the weapons of other who holds those roles and representatives, why you have chopped most security guards from men of opposition and not government or ruling-party. That you also tell how people are supposed to speak while you have gone out many times in a demeaning tone and fashion. As I don’t understand English as you, you have to forgive me. But let the people know all the ways people can speak in justified ways and how they can follow your laws, without going to court prematurely as the Governor Joho did today, because Mr. Mwangi of Nairobi might not have the connections you have Hon. Nkaissery or the once Gov. Joho had in court today. Maybe you could write a statement clarifies the different attitude and the rights as you have and your party-men towards the rest of us. Peace.

FDC Prayer – Gen Mugisha Muntu Breaks Down in Tears (Youtube-Clip)

“The Forum for Democratic Change has resorted to prayers as the only way to force NRM’s Yoweri Museveni out of power. The opposition Party which started the weekly prayers at the office headquarters in Najjanakumbi hopes for a miraculous change of government. In a show of intense emotion, the party president Major General Mugisha Muntu broke down in tears as he prayed for an end to Police’s continued deployment at Dr Kiiza Besigye’s home in Kasangati. The prayers are part of the measures announced by the Party following their latest electoral setback” (NBS TV Uganda, 2016).

FDC Boycott continues and the NRM Officials attacks it!

Old Campaign Posters Uganda

There is something ironic about it all, the way the NRM should not care if the FDC calls a boycott. As they are supposed to be a minority, to be minor group of people, as the NRM is supposed to be the people’s party with 10 million members and be the giant liberations party.

Even President Museveni claimed this a little while ago:

“Without this organizational weakness, our vote should be around 65% for the President in this week’s vote.  Even then, that should not have been the vote we should have got given the work NRM has done, especially in the area of infrastructure (roads, electricity, schools, health centres, piped water, etc.) and also in the area of peace and security.  We should have got 80% in my opinion” (Museveni, 2016).

ofwono

Spokesperson Opondo said:

“Wearing black, ‘Black Thursday’, as a system of mourning, prayers for election loss and staying home,” Opondo cynically tweeted” (…)”The Uganda Media Centre boss said there is no harm if they (opposition) are peaceful and stay in their homes” (…)“Question is for how long will they stand?” (…)“Yet these businesses employ Ugandans and pay taxes to Ugandans,” he argued” (…)”According to Opondo, the boycott is exposing their (FDC’s) true colour of “a party that would strangulate businesses of people who don’t agree with it”(…)“Yet these businesses employ Ugandans and pay taxes to Ugandans,” he argued” (The Insider, 2016).

NRM Secretary General Said this:

“the NRM Secretary General Justine Kasule Lumumba says opposition leaders should not be taken seriously labeling them selfish and interested in keeping Ugandans in poverty” (Ssali, 2016).

Mabira Forest Cartoon

Today’s retaliation:

“Kayunga District NRM chairperson Moses Karangwa has warned district and sub-county leaders who subscribe to the ruling NRM party against awarding government contracts to Opposition supporters” (…)”We should strengthen our party. Many of our supporters are unemployed so all the tenders and contracts should be given to them because they have the capacity to run them,” Mr Karangwa said, adding: “I don’t want to hear that an FDC or DP supporter has been given a tender.” Mr Karangwa made the remarks at the weekend while addressing NRM leaders who contested on the party’s ticket” (Muzaale, 2016).

If the NRM and their President are supposed to be over 60% of the people, any kind of boycott should not be issue for the government or the authorities, especially when your leader and the countries leader thought he should have had 80% in the polls. So why are all of your NRM leaders and officials crying foul towards the FDC if you have this support, Mr President?

UDF Historical Poster

As Ofwono Opondo tries to cry a river for the business-men and the tax-money, well, I don’t know how you think Mr. Opondo, but a boycott is usually stopping using money on certain companies and things as a reaction to either their ethics or their codes of conduct. Like in history where people boycotted South African production during apartheid, not because the people boycotting the production wanted to hurt the innocent farmers, but not give tax money and using their funds to in-directly funding the machinery fueling the government who was behind the draconian laws.

So if you look at that, Mr. Opondo, the FDC does the same as they believe the tax-money going to the Ugandan Government goes into funding the anti-riot police, police or army who detain, arrest and shoots at them; while they trying to keep their operation and support their members of their opposition party. So your reasoning does not make clear sense, as if they wanted to use these businesses and shop there, the FDC supporters and FDC officials would make sure that the tax-money would not come to you or your advisories, as that give them cash money to hunt down FDC supporters, Officials and pay meals to the Police who keeps the FDC members detained. That is the reason for the boycott, and the tax-money is a reason, not to direct hurt the people working there, they are third-party who get issues because of the cause that the parties who boycotts are working for.

Example: As it not the clothes producers of H&M in Bangladesh who is the issue why people boycott H&M. The issue why people boycott H&M is because of their ways of producing their clothes and buys jeans from another chain or store. Mr. Opondo that gravity has never hit your head before has it?

FDC Youth 14.03.2016

Let me address NRM Secretary General Justine Kasule Lumumba who says that boycott continues to leave people to live in poverty and continuation of it. That makes it seem that it is majority who boycotts, and that the boycott cuts grand charges of the economy instead of being a tiny minority as the announced result claims. My second counter is that the NRM has had 30 years to create wealth, even before the Operation Wealth Creations, 10 Point Program and so on. So that a reaction from the opposition and their supporters shouldn’t do more damage to the economy than already level that the NRM and the NRM-Elite has created since 1986. So sorry, feel no sympathy with you reasoning for speaking about the boycott Mrs. Lumumba. You and Your NRM can actually work for the people and not feed yourself, than you get my sympathy.

And the last person addressing the boycott from the FDC is the Chairman of Kayunga district Moses Karangwa who now wants to boycott back. That is a valid argument, as the NRM has the right to boycott, but as a ruling party. This is a retaliation that actually has arms to hit back the FDC who has valid reasons for their boycott, while the NRM is the ruling party of 30 years and have machinery through the state and decides all the major agreements already. As seen with the non-transparent licenses of drilling oil in country. So that he wants to leave the opposition in vivid poverty and keep the cadre-policy instead of trying to open deals, is what we are seeing with this. While the FDC is an open boycott with a clear message, the message of Mr. Karangwa is more a reaction that supposed to leave all the money to the ruling party and ruling party officials. That makes the state even more inclusive and take more control, as he want to secure that if you’re not an NRM member or part of the NRM Local Councilor grant them contracts and their importers, not from opposition as that is weakening the NRM he claims.

Well, I would not say claiming that it would weakening the party, as they already run the country through the executive and get the money, the tax-payers money and the laws make the possibility for the NRM campaign team to run their campaigning during the pre-election period. So the contracts and the monies already targeted through local-government and state contracts are already going to companies that leave money for NRM officials. So the quotes and wishes from Mr. Karangwa are futile. Why does the party who already has the funding and have the money need to boycott anybody else? Or is Mr. Karangwa saying that NRM is poor and need funding? Peace.

Reference:

Muzaale, Fred – ‘Don’t give Opposition government business deals – NRM boss’ (15.03.2016) link: http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Dont-give-Opposition-government-business-deals-/-/688334/3116820/-/15r1d0bz/-/index.html

Museveni, Yoweri Kaguta – ‘President Museveni’s statement on the elections’ (27.02.2016) link: http://www.statehouse.go.ug/media/news/2016/02/27/president-musevenis-statement-elections

Ssali, Godfrey – ‘Shun FDC’s ‘free my vote campaign’ – Lumumba‘ (08.03.2016) link: http://radioonefm90.com/shun-fdcs-free-my-vote-campaign-lumumba/#more-6451

The Insider – ‘NEWS Ofwono to FDC: Wear black & mourn election loss’ (07.03.2016) link: http://www.theinsider.ug/ofwono-to-fdc-wear-black-mourn-election-loss/

Kilifi Women Rep dares CS Nkaissery to arrest Joho over guns (Youtube-Clip)