A look into the Social Media Ban during the General Elections of the NRM-Regime; Public used VPN bypassing the censorship; + little more!

VPN 18.02.2016 P2

I am going to discuss the Social Media Ban was between 17th February to 21th February in the middle of the elections the Government pushed it through Uganda Communication Commission who gave instructions to MTN, Airtel and Uganda Telecom (UTL) to cut the mobile-data and also Mobile-Money; which is important component for many Ugandans as the banks are greedy and has steady fees on having cash on the accountants there.

UCC explain why people can’t get on Social Media on the 18th February:

“Uganda Communications Commission UCC has finally come out to explain the very poor internet access that hit the country from midnight to the start of polling day 7.00am February 18 – and later. They switched it off, they said” (…) “Many people found it difficult to access social media, especially Facebook, twitter and WhatsApp” (…)”Mutabazi said many parties breached this and took their campaigns onto social media, the Electoral Commission asked them to act. Godfrey Mutabazi is the current Executive Director of Uganda Communications Commission” (…)”Leading Ugandan telecom MTN on their part came out with statement. “The UCC has directed MTN to disable all Social Media and MobileMoney services due to a threat to Public Order and Safety” (Musoke, 2016).

Dr ruhakana ruganda

The great explanation from PM Ruhakana Ruganda:

“Briefing the media on Saturday at the Prime Minister’s Office in Kampala, Rugunda cleared the air on the recent controversial shutdown of social media platforms and mobile money services by the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC)” (…)”There had been reports that some elements had been planning to create violence and mayhem [ahead of the general elections]. So government decided to take some specific steps to ensure that the country is secure,” he said” (…)”he also said: “”Social media and mobile money services should be restored any time from now. Gov’t will be able to handle any distortions that may arise from the social media now that the main part of the elections is done” (Kizza, 2016).

The Surge of VPN: 

The great news was the people found a solution and downloaded VPN, even UCC, NRM and other entities to spread the news did so; even the numbers might not be the total but at least 1,5 million people downloaded ways of rerouting the internet access through a VPN instead through the direct Airtime or Mobile-Company services. This was by some 15% of all usage of internet at a certain time used through VPN in Uganda. That is staggering numbers! To VPN services confirmed to a tech-site “TMSruge” that Lifehacks and TrustZoneApp confirmed over 525,000 at one time.

Matia Kasaija

The most interesting is the report not confirmed yet but possible:

“They revealed to the President that data usage per day is $4,000,000 million while mobile money transactions generate $6,000,000 per day. Added together, telecom companies demanded that Uganda pays $10,000,000 per day their investment is not generating income. Power hungry as he is, the President instructed the Minister of Finance Matia Kasaija to sign a quick memorandum of understand with the telecom companies, committing Uganda to pay the above sums of money – $10 million per day of switching off”.

This here is not totally verified, by it gives an indication of how much money the government have used on the closing down the services of the mobile-companies; they are in Uganda to earn money and would stop having operations if they lost money by keeping their business. So it seems reasonable to get compensations for not being able to do business while having license to do it. As the Government want to have business and investors, therefore they have it in them… to pay them to hinder the public access to the services to shut-down the experience and information spreading through the social media and gotten funding through mobile-money.

As you can see the opening of the services after 5 days of shut-down would mean $ 10, 000, 000 million X Days, and its 5 days so the total bill on the Government to try to shut down the Social Media access $ 50, 000, 000 Million. That is a BIG amount of money and the way it happen while such great amount of public started using another ways of getting information and sending information says the diligence of the people to finds ways to do what they want, especially when it doesn’t contain any fear or danger.

Even if the UCC at some point during the Social Media ban they told all the users it was “Treason” and that they would fine and arrest the ones that did use the services; though it still was banned. The issue is that the UCC has to try and collect information on 1, 5 million people and citizens, it is not a court, they have the right to take out Transmitters and Jam broadcasts, and cut technical issues as the Social Media ban though not as effective as the government of Uganda wanted it; and by thinking the possible agreement between them as the Government did it, the Commission should struggle with it. The police struggle enough with the constant movement of RDCs and DPCs as IGP Kale Kayihura doesn’t trust anybody then his boss. I don’t know how they can jail the major part of people for defying their desperate move to ban something that all youth and grown people use to communicate with each other. That is a way you will not succeed in this day and age.

We might never see the agreement or the MoU, this here is still not facts, it is information spread on pages that are Anti-NRM and will be for the use of destroying the NRM-Regime and look bad. So there might be other numbers and such, but the thought that the Government had to pay the Mobile-Companies had to get compensated for the Social Media ban and the stop of Mobile-Money services. This here could be true. The other ones is verified and even government officials explaining the situation. So they believe that they did it for national security. Seem more like that wanted the world not to know the situation as they rigged the election and making the population enemies as the Social Media ban blocked them for addressing their lives online and keeping in touch through the apps and such there. They really looks foolish for banning it, while getting discredited for their actions against the rights to free speech and justice as individuals to express themselves even online during general elections. That has been tampered with, while the people didn’t accept it; therefore they went and used Social Media anyways! Peace. 

Reference:

Kizza, Joseph – ‘Social media, polls: Gov’t assures public on security’ (20.02.2016) Link: http://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1417666/live-prime-minister-addresses-nation#sthash.8ucwxRCR.dpuf

Musoke, Ronald – ‘UCC “switches off” social media in Uganda on polls day’ (18.02.2016) link: http://www.independent.co.ug/news/news/11023-ucc-qswitches-offq-social-media-in-uganda-on-polls-day#sthash.2BwQEl2h.dpuf

K2 Telecom Uganda and 87.7 KFM- They Recognize and Congratulates Dr. Kizza Besigye! (22.02.2016)

KB Recognised

Management and Staff of K2 TELECOM.
Would like to congratulate the people’s choice.
His Excellency Rtd Col Dr. Kizza Besigye upon being.
Elected as President Of The Republic Of Uganda.
May the Almighty Lord / Allah guide you.

K2 Uganda

Another Company recognizing him!

KFM Logo

CONGRATULATIONS:
”””””””””””””””””””””””’
Ugandans Voted For Kizza Besigye.
No matter what, You are our President.
The People’s President.
The People’s President.

BBC Africa: Museveni: “explains the clamp down on opposition” (Youtube-Clip)

“Uganda’s newly re-elected President Yoweri Museveni who was declared winner of last week’s presidential election and has been in power for 30 years. He talks about the opposition and why he is against presidential term limits. He spoke to BBC Africa’s Zuhura Yunus in his country home in Rwakitura, Western Uganda” (BBC Africa, 2016).

President Kagame congratulates President Museveni after announcement of his 5th term

Kagame Museveni

Another one in the line of the men congratulating President Museveni after the announcement of his victory recently; President Paul Kagame shows his respect for his old ally. As the other ones who has congratulated him is the Russian Foreign Department, Both President Kiir and V.P. Riek Machar of South Sudan, President Kenyatta of Kenya, President Sheikh Mohamoud Hassan, President Jacob Zuma of South Africa, President Nkruanziza of Burundi, President Obiang of Equatorial Guinea and now the President of Rwanda.

This here is what’s has been said and written:

“In a diplomatic note sent Sunday to Uganda’s Foreign Affairs Ministry, Kagame said Museveni’s victory in the February 18 presidential elections is “certainly a reflection of the trust the Ugandan people have in your ability to lead them forward in their quest for prosperity and socio-economic transformation” (…)”According to officials at Uganda’s Foreign Affairs Ministry in Kampala, Kagame in his message told Museveni that Rwanda wishes him “success in your term of office, and remains ready to strengthen the excellent ties existing between our two brotherly countries” (Muhame, 2016).

This here proves the diplomatic ties between Uganda and Rwanda is still there and close as the faith President Kagame has in the leadership of President Museveni. He is ready to continue the progress as it gives the loyal friendship between them. For him it doesn’t matter if the Ugandan people had another will and wished another man to run the country. Peace.

Ingrid Turinawe arrested by the Police; Some information about some arrests from the FDC HQ today!

Ingrid Turinawe

As the events unfold the gloves are all off and the nakedness of the totalitarian state and Police State that President Museveni has turned the Ugandan State into, as yet another FDC Opposition leader get jailed, again within days. She was just recently released and had stayed longer in the Naggalama Police Station together with the other FDC officials including Harold Kajja.

DPC Geoffrey Kahebwa has said that she was on the “Most Wanted List”. As she has said this today to the media: “About 5 members of the FDC have been pulled out of their offices at the FDC headquarters in Najjanankumbi and taken to unknown destination”. That does not give a good view of the situation of how the Police are carrying out their affairs and shutting down the operations of the FDC.

Ingrid Turinawe said this today about the situationa and elections result: 

“If at all you have won elections why arrest your opponent? For only 14 days to petition court, Dr. Besigye cannot have a meeting with his party officials, he cannot meet his lawyers, he cannot get a briefing from his election agents, he cannot move to gather evidence he needs for court processes, he cannot access the E.C declaration report! With only 9 days remaining to petition, today, he will spend the 9th day in unknown police cell. By the time he comes out, probably t0mmorow, he will be remaining with 8 days. This is too much pushing!”.

And hours before she was taken on Mukwano Road she complied this herself: 

“Our headquarter is now taken over by police. They are arresting every staff here. DPC Kahebwa says he is now in charge. He has just said he has been looking for me. Happening now”.

She has been taken by the Police Force on the Mukwano Road in Kampala to an unknown locations. As the FDC Officials and FDC Party Organizations is treated as an illegal organization by the Police State under the NRM-O and the President Museveni. Ingrid Turinawe is the FDC Mobilization Secretary and has a pivotal place in the party. So the inprisonment of her, and the other members in direct attack on how the party operates as political party. IGP Kale Kayihura better have a relavent argument for this blantant distruptions and destructions of the main opposition party; I am sure he is just following order to generate peace, but it can’t be peace by taking in innocent men  and woman. Who just fought their belief of a nation with accoutability and transparency in the government of Uganda. The Certainty is that as long as this unfolds the Government and the Police is losing track of their supposed jobs and titles, while make enemies and creating enemies instead of securing security to the people.

Latest information from parts of the FDC Staff and the FDC Officials:

“Our staff; Musoke Vincent, Byaruhanga Tadeo, Bichwa Rodgers & Byaruhanga William their offence is inciting violence” (FDC, 22.02.2016).

22.02. FDC Release Bond - 'Violence'

Well, it’s the Police who creates the violence and shot tear-gas, shot people, lock them up and detain people. The planned events from the FDC Party was a walk to the Electoral Commission; not vandalise the Parliament! The Police are now manufacturing reasons to initimidate FDC Party Staff. The world is watching!  Peace.

Aga Khan says: “Africa’s moment has come” (21.02.2016)

AKDN

Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, 21 February 2016 – His Highness the Aga Khan today extolled Africa’s resilience, economic progress and new willingness to accept diversity.

“What I see emerging today is a refreshingly balanced confidence in Africa – a spirit that takes encouragement from past progress, while also seeking new answers to new challenges,” he said.

The Imam (Spiritual Leader) of the Shia Ismaili Muslims made the remarks in a keynote address to the “Africa 2016: Business for Africa, Egypt and the World” conference in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, hosted by Egypt’s president, His Excellency Abdel Fattah el Sisi.

The Aga Khan noted the decidedly upbeat spirit about Africa’s economic future that emanated from the speeches of African leaders taking part in the conference. “My enthusiasm today is especially strong because of the message which is at the heart of this Forum. And that message is, quite simply, that Africa’s Moment has come,” he declared.

While cautioning that Africa still faced formidable challenges, including high unemployment levels among the continent’s young people, he said that the continent had made significant progress in a number of key areas.

“The story of Africa’s progress and potential is also impressive – whether we talk about growing GDP and foreign direct investment, whether we look at economic diversification and national resiliency, whether we chart the rise of a vital middle class – and the expansion of consumer spending – now breaking through the one trillion dollar mark,” he said.

He noted that the experience of the Aga Khan Development Network, which is active in 13 African countries and works in an array of sectors ranging from health to education to culture to economic development, supports the positive picture.

He observed that fragmentation has long been one of the continent’s main weaknesses. “The problem of fragmentation has often afflicted Africa, separating tribe from tribe, country from country, the private sector from the public sector – those who hold political power from those who are in the opposition,” he explained.

And yet the Aga Khan noted that Africa has shown new willingness to embrace diversity and emphasised the importance of civil society in creating an enabling environment for progress.

“In sum I believe that social progress will require quality inputs from all three sectors – public, private and Civil Society. Sustainable progress will build on a three-legged stool,” he said, arguing that “cooperating across traditional lines of division does not mean erasing our proud, independent identities. But it does mean finding additional, enriching identities as members of larger communities – and ultimately, as people who share a common humanity. It means committing ourselves to an Ethic of Pluralism.”

Building on this idea, the Aga Khan emphasised the need for strong Civil Society institutions in Africa’s quest for development, noting that Civil Society has often been underappreciated, marginalised or even dismissed.

“I focus on Civil Society because I think its potential is often under-appreciated as we become absorbed in debates about the most effective programs of governments and others, or the most successful business strategies. But, in fact, it is often the quality of the third sector, Civil Society, that is the “difference-maker”. It not only complements the work of the private and public sectors, it can often help complete that work,” he said.

He lauded the positive role Civil Society played at key junctions in Africa’s recent history. “The influence of Civil Society has also been felt at seminal moments in the continent’s recent history, for example: in shaping the Arusha Accords which recently ended 12 years of civil war in Burundi, in the peaceful resolution of the violent clashes in Kenya following the 2007 elections, in the drafting of a new promising Tunisian Constitution, and in the courageous response to the Ebola crisis” he said.

For more information, please contact:

Kris Janowski
Head of Communications
Aga Khan Development Network
Email: kris.janowski@akdn.org

NOTES

His Highness the Aga Khan
His Highness the Aga Khan, the founder and chairman of the AKDN, is the 49th hereditary Imam (Spiritual Leader) of the Shia Ismaili Muslims. In Islam’s ethical tradition, religious leaders not only interpret the faith but also have a responsibility to help improve the quality of life in their community and in the societies amongst which they live. For His Highness the Aga Khan, this has meant a deep engagement with development for almost 60 years through the agencies of the Aga Khan Development Network.

The Aga Khan Development Network
Founded by His Highness the Aga Khan, the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) is a group of private, international, non-denominational agencies working to improve living conditions and opportunities for people in specific regions of the developing world. The Network’s organisations have individual mandates that range from healthcare (through over 200 health facilities including 13 hospitals) and education (with over 200 schools) to architecture, rural development, the built environment and the promotion of private-sector enterprise. Together, they work towards a common goal – to build institutions and programmes that can respond to the challenges of social, economic and cultural change on an on-going basis. AKDN works in 30 countries around the world, employing approximately 80,000 people, the majority of whom are based in developing countries. The AKDN’s annual budget for non-profit development is approximately US$ 625 million. AKDN agencies conduct their programmes without regard to faith, origin or gender.

Dr. Abed Bwanika leaves the country after losing elections (Youtube-Clip)

“Former presidential candidate Dr. Abed Bwanika has left the country for Kenya, just two days after the announcement of the presidential election results” (NTV Uganda, 2016).

FDC under siege; Dr. Kizza Besigye detained at Naggalama; Police first siege FDC HQ than later RAID it; By my recogning FDC is illegal by NRM-Police-State by now!

Road Block at Kasangati 22.02.2016

While trying to go to the Electoral Commission offices this morning, the Police had different ideas about the plans Dr. Kizza Besigye had, as when he went out of the gates of his home in Kasangati. The Police stopped his car and taken him away.

Pepper Spray Journalist KB 22.02.2016 Kasangati

He is now in Mukono or in Mukono district at Naggalama Police Station detained. As with his house arrest and his ordinary detaining terms is without reason or warrants. This is the Modus Operandi of the IGP. Gen. Kale Kayihura by now, the man who follows orders blindly from his Commander-in-Chief President Museveni; as he uses Public Order Management Act, as it the proper tool to take down and shut-down the opposition in the country. That is what has happen today while Dr. Kizza Besigye was taken from the gates of Kasangati and detained at Naggalama Police Station where they must have named a Cell after him by now.

Police KB Kasangati 22.02.2016

The Locals in Kasangati because of the steady levels of Police and roadblocks has nicknamed Kasangati “Benghazi” after the war-zone in Libya. It is surely a feeling the locals justified to have as they have more police there, as Besigye must be seen as the worst criminal in the land, by President Museveni; as he knows that he is epitome of what he is not; a man of the people and therefore he has to be contained; even if he hasn’t done anything else then living in the same country as the President.

KB Taken Away from Kasangati in Police Van 22.02.2016

CP Fred Enaga had his lies to tell the press as ever:
“Besigye’s plan to destabilize the city are foreign funded”. Mr. Police Officer, I hate throw shade on your pay-check, but your budget is donor funded and been for decades; so it’s more likely that the brown jersey your wearing with your name has been paid by a foreign government; you have to have a better argument Mr. Police Officer!

Kizza Besigye 22.02.2016

The Police has also been besieged the Electoral Commission headquarters as the Police has such a fear of the presence of the people to search or appeal the result; as the result has already been set and the Police as a NRM outfit will secure their longevity by any means at this point. Also at FDC headquarter of the Najjanankumbi the Police has sieged the offices there as well today.

FDC HQ 22.02.2016. P2

Later after the sieging of the Police they took it further as the FDC party is officially illegal, totally illegal, that is the indication for the moment as the Police Force raided the offices and rounded up the FDC staff. While even later the Party President Gen. Mugisha Muntu showed up at the gates of the offices and was not allowed by the Police to access the headquarters. As he got picked up and also detained. They went to pick the Declaration Forms, as the Electoral Commission and the Police Force has to clean-up the mess they have done as they have stolen the election; since their sins are visible in the indications of the copies of the Electoral Declaration Forms; that the Government of Uganda by all means don’t want released to the public as it is their venom.

FDC HQ 22.02.2016

Hon. Ofwono Opondo said on NBS TV today:
“To think your win is valid while win over others from the same election isn’t abuse of Ugandan intelligence”. Well, your insulting people while not really counting the ballots and rigging the elections; while telling the same people pointing it is insulting the Ugandan people; I don’t follow… as the Hon. Opondo the reason why people like me can’t see validity in this election as the too much that has occurred to counter the value of the ballots and the peoples will. Something you should know as the election has happen in a speed and way that should make people shut-up and hide your mind; because you’re a loyal cadre that is eating because of President Museveni, and if it wasn’t for him, you wouldn’t be anybody! Just as his boss Hon. Opondo said this as well: “We don’t care what the international community care thinks”. I am sure you and your boss care if the international community cuts more or suspends direct donor aid, IMF and World Bank suspends projects as the Taxes does not help the Ugandan National Development Program II, is so big that if the government supposed to fulfill the pledges of that one, the Ugandan Government need the international community, so continue not to care about the international community!

As side-note from Kabale District:
“This is it inform the world that on Saturday dawn 4.30AM the Army and Police stormed in Rukiiko hall Kabale District headquarters where tallying of votes was taking place. They forced a one Juma Shesa, the District returning officer to park all the computers as well as available declaration forms; he was taken to Kampala to the EC head quarters. Incidentally , due to the pre-ticked ballot papers in favour of the NRM presidential candidate as well as other NRM parliamentary candidates, numbers could not balance. Up till now the Woman MP results for Kabale District are not yet announced” (FDC, 22.02.2016).

So it’s truly one thing is happening from the authorities in Uganda, that the FDC and the Forum for Democratic Change is the biggest force of criminals as they are hounded detained without warrants, reason or justification other then they are an issue for the legitimacy of President Museveni official 5th Term, sorry the 7th, he can never in my view rewrite history and shave of his first decade in power. Well, this here will continue the oppression and totalitarian regime that is faking it until they hope to make it. On the way they are harassing and oppressing the parties and people who do not kiss the ring of President Museveni. Peace.

“50 Shades of Stealing Ballot’s”; Has still hope for peaceful change by the FDC; while waiting in the tense atmosphere.

Kampala 19.02.2016

As the silence of the streets, the result has been addressed and the congratulations are coming in, usually either between trading partners and close neighborhood countries that have worked together at some point with President Museveni.

The people are mourning the result as the shock of the thieving ways and the disregard of the value of the voters and ballots, as the elections was “50 shades of stealing the ballots”. The way Dr. Badru Kiggundu the chairman of the Electoral Commission ended his last term, was more of a morning ceremony where only NRM Secretary Justine Kasule Lumumba; only one with vigor and smile as the people was terrified.

The army has been on the streets, in the towns and the police force has worked hard and been armed with guns. The once seeing the pictures wondered if the authorities had plans of launching “Martial Law” or “State of Emergency”. That because of the disregard of voters with the police going in at polling stations even showing the voters whom to vote for as for example of walking with the voter and not trusting the voter to drop the ballot in the basin.

The way the Military Police or Special Force Command, even Formation Field Unit has been around the Presidential Candidates and securing them in their homes and areas so that they don’t deliver the reports and clarification of results that the Electoral Commission don’t want out. The Authorities want to silence the opposition as the legitimacy is non-existence. Just like Kofi Annan said in a statement days before the result got served the public.

Andre Kaweesi FDC HQ 19.02.2016

There is a reason why there wasn’t a jubilee in the streets of Kampala, there was reasons there wasn’t NRM people screaming around and just a few people trying to recuperate the internet and tell about the wonderful wins of Moroto and other districts that the Electoral Commission told of the wonderful victory of Museveni and his men. The issue is that we know that most loads of ballots got invalid or never gotten tallied as of the time of verifying the result the Electoral Commission; so no matter how valid some results might be; I don’t or wont trust these results as the rigged elections doesn’t give me faith in the results.

m7, besigye

And then todays press conference post-victory as he as a winner has to tell the world this:

“I don’t need lectures from anybody on how to organise elections” (…)”I have been doing it since school says at Ntare School” (The Insider, 2016). As the clearly you might not need lectures; you need a new way of doing it as this here was a shambles of one and a reason why you we’re alone with your cows; instead of celebrating with the ones that apparently or supposed to vote for you.

On Dr. Besigye and his house-arrest:

““Col Besigye cannot be allowed to disrupt our peace” (…)”Nobody can burn our city. We shall use both soft and hard means to guard our city” (The Insider, 2016). The Peace that your supposed to have created is kind of vague as the people are hiding in their houses of fear of your police force and army as they have killed people who have demonstrated and you have detained, jailed or house-arrested during the election day and the days that has followed. If this is generating peace by detaining your opposition then is not a joyful peace or a true election as the ones you don’t need lectures on.

As the vital information and the tension, the mourning of the thieving level of the government that has decided for them and taken their fate in their hands as their paternal advisory of giving the power-hungry and army man President Museveni another shot of taking more of the gold and government funds, instead of earning the money as civil servant and serving the nations as the President should do. I am sure if you Mr. President thinking of getting the buses ready and getting the leftover t-shirts and get ready to use more governmental funds to pay the Crime Preventers to secure crowds for Kololo Independence Ground on your Swearing in.

Jinja Road 15.02.2015 P2

There is very few indications or any certainty of the ruling regime caring about anything else then themselves and tried to pull the card that certain MPs have been voted in from the Opposition, but that is just a too save face and try to look like a legitimate affair. That is while many expected the numbers for Museveni to end between 60% to 69% so when it ended where it ended, it was something wrong, especially with the tally-numbers and the declarations forms that has surfaced online; something that says a lot that the fortune tellers can fore-say the results months in advance; as a certainty! That is not looking good as non-expected Barrack Obama at his first tenure to really get all the way. This is elections and a guy who doesn’t need lectures should know that; if had known elections that his facilitations of the “NRM” Independent Candidates, that many of them would fly out the gate; is that they we’re voted away from their constituencies and councils already, with adding more locals they should not be able to get through anywhere… But hey President Museveni doesn’t need any lectures. Kahinda Otafiire might need one!

As the “50 Shades of stealing ballots” is the next book from Amama Mbabazi, President Museveni or Janet Museveni, Mike Ssebula will get funding for the publishing and the forward will be written by H.E. Uhuru Kenyatta and Hon. Ofwono Opondo. While a honorable mention will go to Dr. Ruhakana Ruganda. That is the future of this sad affair where the people has mourned and been silent; as they should be their fate and future gotten for the moment stolen from them; their own government and government entities has stolen their civic duty and taken it right in front of them.

Amuru Election Statment Paper

The international community should act and not recognize the Presidency of Museveni while the donor funding shut be suspended until the public and citizen’s will has been teared apart in minutes on the screen and days of labor; the Electoral Commission fried the crested cranes and goats while the people was stolen their beans that was promised to their stews. This here is such a wild affair and assessing the manufactured results that make the tally centers look like the Police did the counting instead of Polling Officers and rewriting Declarations Forms as the result did not fit their masters, the police, the army and the President. This here has been a display of arrogance from the NRM-Regime as the Opposition is detained or silenced. There is certainty that the people should react in ways the NRM hasn’t seen before, as the November nomination day and all the rallies been happening across the country should be visible The same crowds could show the level of loyalty and wish for change as the sounds of the campaigns; the way people turned up and cheered for their hopeful in the far corners of Uganda. That is the hope and that was the thing that gave me hope before the tallying and the ballot-papers got pre-ticket or disqualified by the Electoral Commission, and even the non-concern of the voters who never got to give their votes or counted their polling-stations. That should be worry because that is what will be remembered as the fear speeches of NRM regime and the security outfit leaders ahead of the elections. That is the story that will be put a blazed and tarnish the legitimacy of the regime that currently running the great nation; which deserves a government that the people wanted to represent them, not the one that pre-ticket their choice for them and used the government funds to pay Bebe Cool and Dr. Jose Chameleone for free concerts country-wide. That is not the business of a serious government, that is concert promoters job; hope that sinks in Mike Ssebula.

Koboko 18.02.2016 Evelyn Anite Voting

While we mourn and wonder, while we hope the FDC Power 10 structure can bring a change, while we hope that the government and the regime can be toppled in a peaceful way and get the honest result and honest ballots cast that is the fate of the citizen of the country. Then the leadership will deliver and try to deliver as they are will try to work for the ones that elected them and not because the big-man with the hat wanted his loyal YES MEN and BOUGHT cronies into parliament to give-way so he can steal more of the state coffers… Peace.   

Uganda Police Force informers the Public that the “Peaceful walk to the Electoral Commission Headquarters” is Illegal (21.02.2016)

NRM Police 17.02.2016

In reference to media statements by Rtd. Col. Dr. Kiiza Besigye, of plans to hold a procession, tomorrow Monday 22nd Feb 2016 from Kasangati to The Electoral Commission head office to purportedly pick up his copy of the declaration of results form, the police wish to inform the general public that it has not received any formal communication from him of the intended procession as required under Section 5 of the Public Order Management Act 2013.

Kasangati 20.02.2016
It is clearly stipulated under Section 4 of the Public Order Management Act that a procession is a public meeting and can only be held in accordance with the said Act. On the 8th of December 2015, the Government and the opposition agreed on a harmonized interpretation of the Public Order Management Act. Both parties agreed, among others that notice of a public meeting is mandatory and that the police retains its mandate under the constitution and other relevant laws to preserve law and order even when implementing the provisions of the Public Order Management Act.

UPF 11.02.2016 Block FDC P1
In addition to the above, the planned procession coincides with the opening of the new school term and any procession will infringe on the collective rights of the parents and their school going children.
We therefore urge Dr. Kiiza Besigye to respect the law as well as the rights of the parents, their children and the travelling public. Failure to comply will leave the police no option but to use necessary means to maintain law and order in accordance with the Constitution.

CP Fred Enanga
Press and Public Relations Officer
Uganda Police