A look into the Kasese Attacks; Government reasoning does not fit the Rwenzururu Kingdom or Rwenzori CSOs explaination; Gov. Forces seems acting maliciously to me

NBS Rwenzururu

The actions of these Kasese Attacks seems suspicious to me. As it saddens me to know that so many people have lost their lives and that so many people have left their houses. The reports of the reactions from the attacks is that banana-fields have been cleared and houses been burnt down in Kasenyi Trading Centre in Buhobera Sub-County, therefore people have fled the area. With the continuation of the Police and the Army stay heavy deployed in the area.

Certainly the IGP Kayihura commented and claimed that “kirumamutima” youth was behind the attacks in the area. Another claim was that people wanting a Yiira Republic were behind the attacks and therefore the Police and Army went so fierce and aggressive to the citizens.

While a day before the clashes President Museveni happen to speak to fellow locals where President Museveni: “assured the delegation that if a Yiira Republic were ever to be created, it would never ever involve a single inch of Uganda” (Uganda Media Centre, 10.03.2016).

Kasese attack

Yesterday the Rwenzori Fraternity said this was the reason: “The violence that erupted was purely post election violence that came out of a poorly managed electoral process” (…)”The so called Yiira state is a concoction that has no basis and founding among the Population in the region and we are equally perturbed by this malicious propaganda that has no basis but intended to taint and alienate us the people of the Rwenzori region from the Uganda that we have always belonged to and we treasure” (Rwenzori Fraternity, 14.03.2016) .

The first reports on the 11th March from 91.2 Crooze FM:

“Kakurungu says another attack this afternoon targeted Poilce patrol van in Bwesumbu sub county. He says investigations are ongoing, to establish the intention of the group.

Uganda People Defense Forces were backing Police to secure the area, after the declaration of results from LCIII elections.  Announcing some of the successful candidates, Kasese District Returning Officer, Lawrence Mbonigaba announced NRM’s John Musana Katura as Hima town council’s L.C III chairperson elect after winning his closet rival Tom Maate Wabukombi of FDC” (91.2 Crooze FM, 11.03.2016)

What happen on the Kasenyi on the 11th March?

““4 people shot dead following fresh clashes today afternoon between UPDF, police and residents of Kisenyi Town Council in Buhohera Sub-County, Kasese district. The dead are civilians. 2 UPDF soldiers were seriously injured while the area commissioner of police in charge of operations Opolot Jacob was shot and injured“ (NBS TV Uganda, 2016).

Who was shot on Friday the 11th March?

“Friday, security again shot dead four people in Kasenyi trading centre in Buhuhira sub-county after they allegedly attempted to disarm police officers. All the four killed were members of Rwenzururu kingdom royal guards, a non-combat force that guards the kingdom sites in Kasese” (The Observer, 11.03.2016).

What is weird for me is that President Museveni – Mr. Anti-Sectarianism and Anti-Tribalism comes days before and speaks about tribe to locals. Than days after local elections for councilors the Inspector of General Police says the reason for the violence is tribal. While the local CSO Rwenzori Fraternity and the Rwenzururu Kingdom spokesperson is clear that it is not tribal and want answers to why it is guards of the Kingdom who get pointed out and terminated.

While the Police and President Museveni even speaks about a Yira Republic, and the locals does not talk about it. It would be like President Museveni and IGP Kayihura would go to Lira and claim locals there after a brawl after vote rigging was local militias wanting to create at Nile Republic. Just like Joseph Kony of LRA wished to do in 1998, but people tend to forget that kind of thing, right?

So the claim from the IGP Kayihura is very strange and so is President Museveni come in hours before, when all reports looks like tension after the LCIII Councilors elections in Kasenyi Trading Centre and Hima Town. They came in heavy with the Army and Police, while the result seemed planned as it was the NRM who won in an area. Where the FDC has had an stronghold and the only area where all the MPs came from that party, even if had to violent after the tally on the 19th February.

So that this is continuation and surely the NRM and the Government would accept to lose face in the local elections as well. They had to be there and revenge the matter. That what it seems like as the UPDF and UPF knew exactly who they were going against and who they shot. As the men they shot were guards of the Rwenzururu King or Obusinga Bwa Rwenzururu. That is suspect actions from the Governmental security organization who blames youth who evens wants to create a new Republic called Yira. The thing about this it is just mentioned by Government Officials in 2014, 2015 and now 2016. Not from the local youths in Rwenzori or by the Rwenzururu Kingdom officials or anybody else, most likely from Government Officials, and not real intelligence on the claims. Just like the claims have been countered quickly by the CSO and the Kingdom yesterday, after the IGP Kayihura explanation of the violence in Kasenyi Trading Centre in Buhobera Sub-County.

This here is not the whole explanation and there is more to the story, but as long as there is targeting certain individuals who belong to a certain level of authority, even a cultural institution as the Rwenzururu Kingdom. That is entity for the people of Rwenzori and the Rwenzori sub-region. That even President Museveni has blessed and was there on the coronation of the king or Obusinga. So that the government security forces targeted a separate group of people and not killing on random or just stopping demonstrations; as demonstrations would mean all kind of people would be hurt and died by the shots fired from the army and police. That was not case it seems after the Kasese attacks.  There were two more people killed that day, as the Kingdom verified four people, while the total killed by the authorities was six. So there was two more and we don’t know their affiliation, but seems like the government had reason for four of them. Especially considering the mediation the day before and with the reactions the announcement of victory in local government elections, as the recent reactions to similar outcome in Bundibugyo, the army and police was more in action and ready to retaliate and address the public with force, as seen on the sad clips where they go in and not to settle or calming the public. Instead going in with intention to intimidate and take people down as they come with machine-guns, AK-47s and in it creating violence, not the story the IGP Kayihura has, that doesn’t fit the other stories. That is worth thinking about. This is not the answer and the whole story, but there is more behind the attack than the IGP want to tell, and there is more than the Kingdom is also saying, while the obvious that the announcement of the elections results that triggered it. Peace.  

Statement by Members of Rwenzori Fraternity in Respect of Recent Acts of Violence Reported in Kasese District (14.03.2016)

Kasese Railway Station

As members of the Rwenzori Fraternity, a non-partisan grouping of people hailing from the region, working in different parts of Uganda but mainly in Kampala & Kasese, wish to state as here under.

We learnt of the unfortunate events that happened in Kasese on the 10th day of March 2016 after the just concluded local council 111 elections wherein violence broke up in Buhuhira and Kikongo villages in Hima Town Council that led to the unfortunate loss of lives and destruction of property. We condemn in the strongest terms the perpetuators of violence and send our deep felt sympathies to the families that lost their dear ones both civilians and in security forces. We also pray for quick recovery for those we have learnt are still in hospitals.

While many versions of these events have been out in the media and from government officials namely post election violence, allegations of a Yiira state, tribal or ethnic conflicts, etc, And Whereas we appreciate the concerns of the different stakeholders and the findings so far we wish to state the following. The violence that erupted was purely post election violence that came out of a poorly managed electoral process.

The so called Yiira state is a concoction that has no basis and founding among the Population in the region and we are equally perturbed by this malicious propaganda that has no basis but intended to taint and alienate us the people of the Rwenzori region from the Uganda that we have always belonged to and we treasure.

Ethnic violence.

Where as we recognize that for some time there has been some underlying political issues in the region that are funned by selfish politicians, We do not believe that this was the root cause of the violence that erupted in the past week.

We have lived as different ethnic groups in the region. We have been accommodative to each other socially, politically and economically and we would not wish anybody to appear to destroy the co existence that has been existent in the region for generations.

In the premises we ask our people back home in Kasese and the entire Rwenzori region to refrain from such acts that may cause violence and instead embrace peaceful and legitimate processes of resolving outstanding challenges at both individual, community and institutional levels.

We also implore government and all security agencies to take more interest in thorough intelligence gathering in the region. We call for more proactive rather than reactive approach to policing in the region. Government should endeavor to work closely with local, religious and community leaders during their operations. In the same vein, government spokespersons should desist from making alarming statements that may seem to seek to escalate the already porous situation but rather more calm statements.

We ask the government, the Civil Society Fraternity and all friends of the Rwenzori region to quickly focus on having a multi – stakeholder dialogue on the Rwenzori question and encourage local communities to actively engage in these peaceful efforts.

As a FRATERNITY, we think now is the time to start the journey to a long term and sustainable peacemaking processes. We have also resolved as a Fraternity to engage the different stake holders in the region in order to find a permanent solution to the Rwenzori question.

We also implore religious leaders, all newly elected political and local leaders to work together in an endeavor to foster peace and harmony in the region.

FOR GOD AND MY COUNTRY.

___________________________________________________

FOR AND ON BEHALF OF THE RWENZORI FRATENITY.

Burundi: EU closes consultations under Article 96 of the Cotonou agreement (14.03.2016)

EU Burundi 14.03.2016

NRM MPs wants to secure an extended term from 5 to 7 years for President Museveni; fits the Modus Operandi of Museveni; As Mzee seeks to stay in power forever!

the-1995-constitution-was-very-clear-on-two-terms-but-museveni-used-parliament-to-remove-term-limits

There are stories that are breaking, stories that are strange, stories that are surprising, what I write you today are the new normal and the Modus Operandi of the NRM-Regime and the NRM party. As there been a pattern when it comes to President Museveni, as his grips of power and continues to be the Executive. This he has done deliberately since 1986. Or since after the rigged election of 1980; a history most that has followed the Uganda President should know by now, and should be part of their knowledge.

In the beginning he stated that the Movement System would continuation of the African democratic model as the constituencies would pick their men, than through Multi-Party System, he hold on to it as long as he could. And he kept it until second voting on a referendum that leads into the 2006 elections with the Multi-Party system, and not only NRM party as it had been since 1986. Before 1986 there been other parties that long had been in shadow or worked under the system and being imbedded in the Movement System to sustain positions, but not free-parties to hold their own consultations and own meetings. As the referendum opened up for; just with this proves how little he works for the dissidents or other views in the country, as it is the NRM who matters as that is his Party!

What I will discuss today is how he has used laws both inner-party of the NRM and the deepest in the general law to keep the laws that fits him. Such it was in beginning of the Constitution, who also gained him credit abroad and made him a donor-friendly destination. I will take the amendment, sole-candidacy of 2014 and now the longer terms for him. Take a look!

In 1995 the new constitution gave the President or the Executive power under the Article 105 a basis of two terms, which each term would last 5 years. That was the basis of the new constitution that NRM and President Museveni made during the first period of his presidency.

The Original constitution states this:

“105.  Tenure of office of a President.

(1)       A person elected President under this Constitution shall, subject to clause (3) of this article, hold office for a term of five years.

(2)       A person shall not be elected under this Constitution to hold office as President for more than two terms as prescribed by this article”

But in 2005 he had changed his mind as he wanted to keep power in the country even if he had been elected twice in presidential elections in 1996 and in 2001. So when 2006 elections were coming, he had together with his party change the law to fit him.

As the Constitution Amendment Act 2005 which states:

“28. Amendment of article 105 of the Constitution Article 105 is amended by repealing clause (2) and substituting for it the following—“(2)A person may be elected under this Constitution to hold office as President for one or more terms as prescribed by this article.”

That got voted in Parliament and lead to the general election in 2006, where President Museveni also won the election and took a landslide of MPs in Parliament, as he has always done. This has continued into a single spiral of his strengthen power of the NRM, while cutting ties with men inside the party wishing to take his place in the party, as with Gilbert Bukenya and Amama Mbabazi at times.

Museveni-with-a-dummy-map-of-uganda

So to solidify his position he made this happen on a Party Retreat or Conference at Kyankawanzi and the words express the readiness for yet another term and rule under President Museveni and not have a new leader controlling the ruling party. As it says here:

The Kyankwanzi Resolution of 2014 – President Museveni’s right for Sole Candidacy in the NRM:

“RESOLUTION ON PARTY COHESION AND GOVERNANCE

We, the undersigned members of the NRM Caucus attending a retreat at the National Leadership Institute(NALI) Kyankwanzi (6,February 2014); Fully aware of our Country’s historical  past and the need to consolidate and sustain the Milestones registered over the years since 1986; Cognizant of the fact that there is still a lot more to be done in order to realize our ideological vision of uniting Uganda(Nationalism), Pan-africanism, transforming our country from a poor peasantry society to a modern economy and upholding democracy; Conscious of the fact that what has been so far achieved over the last 28 years needs to be guarded jealously and improved upon to realize our vision; Aware  that when individuals engage in personal scheming, party cohesion is undermined, development efforts aredistracted and the population is diverted from work to early politicking;

DO here by resolve;

To support H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to continue leading and facilitating our country on its take off journey to transformation”.

As we seen that the President Museveni together with Parliament in 1994 before introduction of the Constitution of 1995. Where it stated certain limits for the president, meaning two periods for the actual president and that was that. After and near the end of the official two periods as presidents the constitutional amendment abolished that in 2005. Later he continued to rewrite the NRM Party guidelines and got the resolution of 2014, where they rewrote it so that he is the Sole Candidacy of him as a presidential candidate for the party and be the president of NRM at the same time, as he has been for decades.

So now the news of a new resolution from yet another conference or retreat at Kankwanzi, that will give the Presidency more Power and for longer time!

Today the 14th March 2016 at another NRM MPs retreat at Kyankwanzi:

“Live in Kyankwanzi where the NRM orientation and retreat is on going! Resolution has been passed to extend the term limit from 5 years to 7 years!” (The Inspector, 2016).

This is an amendment that supposed to the same that the MP James Kakooza the MP for Kabula County in Lyantonde District initiated in 2010. The Kyankwanzi resolution for the longer term length is on the precedence of the Rwandan Presidents who have 7 year terms already and the idea of MP Hon. Kakooza want to emulate that. What the NRM MPs does not is copying and also doing this to show support to the President for their ability to be MPs in the 10th Parliament. They should initially give thanks to once they represent (the people) and not the President, they serve him, but they in theory represent the people first. This kind of law and resolution does not give more power to the people or represent them better. On the other hand it gives longer staying power for President Museveni and nothing else. As his next term would be extended with two more years not the 2016-2021, but now would be 2016-2023. That is massive difference and giving him more time to make more laws fitting him.

e8807-votemuseveni

As I am sure we will see more of this and make sure the laws that fit the NRM-Regime and the longevity of President Museveni and his presidency. That is the only certainty as the opposition gets worse treatment and the laws made to suit the Executive and not the people. As it come more and more to forefront and becomes the reality. Last time at Kyankwanzi resolution gave carte blanche for a sole candidacy, now in a similar fashion they want to give him two more years as head of state, as he already embarks on the 30th year in power. And with the new term system the nedt tenure would total 37 years! That is like fish out of the water, and surely is not just an idea from a MP, I am sure this seems like a tactic from the Presidency to do it now after the polls; to justify his extended time in Power.

I don’t believe that this all of sudden happen out of the nowhere. As the other extensions have happen deliberately and through steady choices of the executive, he has made choices and decisions how to manipulate the electorate, the parliament and the laws to fit his way. That has been strength of him and as long as that gave positivity in the county, the people didn’t mind. Now it is not positivity as at the beginning of the presidency, instead the totalitarian power who keeps the power to himself and using all methods to keep it.

This here today is yet another method and another way of securing the power for the presidency, the extension of the term is just the next step for him and his rule. Peace.    

Chinese-built road to boost development in Kenya (Youtube-Clip)

“The tarmacking of the 130km Turbi-Moyale road by a Chinese firm, which connects Kenya and Ethiopia, is poised to unlock economic opportunities in Kenya’s northern county of Marsabit, and the country as a whole.  The road, which is set to be completed by June, is being constructed by the Chinese firm Wuyi. The road has opened up the towns in the Upper Eastern part of Kenya to trade, and helped boost trade amongst locals and people from other parts of the country” (New China TV, 2016)

AAC/GEN/2016: “Re: Purported Revocation of Firearm Certificate No. 4773 Held by Hon. Hassan Ali Joho

Joho Letter P1 FirearmJoho Letter P2 Firearm

Press Release: Uganda’s Routine Immunization ranked among the lowest in the East Africa (14.03.2016)

NMS Amuria

KAMPALA, March 14: “In God we trust, all others bring data,” a quote attributed to American professor and statistician William Edwards Deming, is widely used to underscore the role accurate data play in building credibility.

As a result of the lack of verified, up-to-date data, a report released ahead of the ministerial conference on immunisation in Africa last month ranked Uganda’s routine immunisation coverage as among the lowest in the East African sub-region.

The report which tracks immunisation progress and challenges across the continent since the Global Vaccine Action Plan (GVAP) was launched and entitled, “Fulfilling a promise: Ensuring immunisation for all in Africa”, rates Uganda’s 2014 diptheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP3) coverage at 78 per cent compared with 80 per cent for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), 81 per cent Kenya, 97 per cent for Tanzania and 99 per cent for Rwanda.

Coverage with the third dose of DTP is used to measure the strength and reach of a country’s routine immunisation programme.

The DTP3 target for countries was 90 per cent for national coverage by 2015 or at least 80 per cent coverage in every district. Experts recommend that children receive DTP three times at appropriate intervals.

Press Statement: The Blue Friday Campaign (14.03.2016)

FDC Youth 14.03.2016

Nakasero, Kampala, 14th March 2016 – The blue Friday team greets you ladies and gentlemen.We appreciate your efforts and resolve to withstand the challenges and difficult times we are facing as a nation.

The year 2016 started with excitement,hope and promise but at the same time it has brought misery onto us.The month of February in particular was a turning point in the history of our country.Witnessing the unthinkable imposed onto us by men and women of the electoral commision who conspired with security agencies to deprive us of our constitutional civil rights.

Having known the choice we Ugandans had made to overwhelmingly vote for FDC’s Presidential candidate Dr.Kizza Besigye,the electoral commision decided to alter the results as they wished!
Dr.Sulaiman Kiggundu with assistance of the Uganda Police Force deliberately refused to declare Dr.Kizza Besigye as the winner of the Presidential elections exercise which he won but instead chose to announce the loser as the winner!!! That was not only unconstitutional but also criminal.We can sum it up as an “election coup of Namboole”.

Therefore,we must protest on one hand the election coup of Namboole and on the other hand the deliberate violation of Dr.Kizza Besigye’s individual rights through an illegal detention at his home.

A campaign known as Blue Friday has been agreed upon as one among many other non violent campaigns to reclaim the people’s victory and reinstate Dr.Kizza Besigye as the dully elected president of Uganda.Blue Friday is a movement composed of Ugandans who recognise Dr.Kizza Besigye as the President elect of the republic of Uganda. Any other person who claims to the Presidency by proclamation or declaration is an imposter.

For that matter,we call upon all peace loving Ugandans who recognise Dr.Kizza Besigye as the President elect of this country to wear blue every Friday in solidality with their President.This is constitutionally right.We do so because we believe that we can reclaim our victory without necessarily using violent means like Mr.Yoweri Museveni did in 1981 when he lost elections to DP and UPC.This non violent campaign is simply to denounce Mr.Museveni’s plans of fraudelently imposing him self onto Ugandans yet he is Dr.Kiggundu’s choice rather not a choice of Ugandans.

We also wish to make more fundemental demands as the Presidency of Mr.Yoweri Museveni comes to an end.

1. We urge the International community to recognise Dr.Kizza Besigye as the dully President elect of the republic of Uganda and should denounce Mr.Museveni who was illegally declared by Mr.Kiggundu’s electoral commission.

2.We demand for an independent audit assisted by eminent persons and delegated political party officials to audit the Feb/18th/2016 Presidential elections.

3.We request that the International community puts sanctions on Mr.Yoweri Museveni and some officials of his government,a travel ban should be considered among others.

In conclusion ,we request that Dr.Kizza Besigye establishes a government of the people of Uganda and such a governent must start re~organising this country.

Thank you

Kahemba Babi
for
Blue Friday
Kampala Uganda
0752871050

Uganda Civil Society Organization File Amicus Curiae Motion to Join Presidential Election Petition No. 1 of 2016 (10.03.2016)

CSO Join Petition 10.03.2016

On March 10th 2016, civil society organisations filed an amicus curie motion to join the presidential election petition. The organisations have interest in the petition because it raises important questions of public interest; whether the general elections were conducted in a manner representative of the will of the people.

The admission as amicus curiae will serve the interest of justice and enhance participation of people of Uganda not otherwise represented. The civic duty to engage in matters of public interest is enshrined in the 1995 Constitution; civic organizations are especially charged with the responsibility to engage to protect constitutionalism, human rights and democracy.

The organizations that join this application are mandated by their missions to do civic engagement on matters of interest to citizens. As organizations working on human rights, their responsibility extends to matters of the rule of law and accountability to citizens of Uganda who are the voters in every election.

The applicants are members of the civil society coalition that was accredited as election observers in the 2016 general election under the framework of the Citizens Election Observers Network (CEON-U) and the Citizens’ Coalition for Electoral Democracy in Uganda (CCEDU).

Civil society organisations observed electoral processes prior during and after the Presidential elections along side convening voter mobilization campaigns. The organisations therefore possess valuable, credible and verifiable information on the elections, which will enrich the Court’s consideration of the presidential election petition.

The organisations include: Foundation for Human Rights Initiative (FHRI), the Uganda Association of Women Lawyers (FIDA Uganda), Chapter Four Uganda, Human Rights Network Uganda (HURINET), Centre for Constitutional Governance (CCG), Kituo cha Katiba (KcK), Legal Aid Services Providers Network Uganda (LASPNET), and Transparency International (TI).

Contact for more information:

Dr. Livingstone Ssewanyana, FHRI: 0752791963

Hon. Irene Ovonji-Odida, FIDA Uganda: 0772701488

Mr. Crispy Kaheru, CCEDU: 079444401 or 0772332747

Statement by Mabarizi: “When the victim is to blame” (10.03.2015)

Mabirizi Debate16

1. When my brother Kizza Besigye bandaged his hand after he was shot by a rubber bullet in his finger during the walk to work protests of 2011, a government minister said he was lying – that “he was using the bandage and arm sling to attract sympathy”.

2. When Police undressed FDC Women leader along Masaka Road on her way to Rukungiri, police said she had “undressed herself”.

3. At the start of my presidential campaign in Busoga,when I was abducted my men in military uniform never mind that I was under the watch of 11 counter terrorism policemen who had been placed to guard me 24 hours a day even as I use the bathroom, “They said I had kidnapped myself. That I was a comedian”.

4. When armed personnel broke into my brother Amama’s petition lawyers’ offices they say it was an inside job; “that the lawyers broke into their own offices and stole their own computers and documents..

Lets wait to see who abducts himself next.

You cannot fool all the people all the time.

For God and my Country.

Elton Joseph Mabirizi