Uganda – FDC party member’s courtside in Lyantonde after last weekend’s action

Lyantonde Court

There are sometimes political activist are doing unlawful behavior. But the Lyantonde FDC members did this weekend was to meet and greet fellow party members which were impersonated while travelling to the Rukungiri rally.

What they did in Lyantonde on Saturday was to visit Dr. Kizza Besigye, Hon. Ekanya and Hon. Wafula.

Parts of the nine people of the FDC that is now courtside this people is for instant the FDC Chairman Yusuf Matovu, Womans Secretary of the town Yudaya Naiga and Town-Council Richard Kayondo. Also the FDC mayor who has a delegation with him in court is also accused on the matter and he is Mayor Kayemba Afayo.

So it is now official from the Police in charge of the area that visiting fellow comrades in your party is illegal. They have been in jail since Saturday in Lyantonde for visiting the big-men in their own party. And if they are sentenced to more jail-time for it then the system is so cracked and that the NRM party is in reality the only legal entity. Since the other ones can support each other, even when preventive arrest of fellow brothers happens, they can’t give them a hand without ending behind bars themselves. The District Police Commander (DPC) Thomas Keith Eyaku surely should be advised to do something else. Because they should know that this is madness and doesn’t make sense in sending  these 9 FDC members (to court) for doing what they did. Which if that is breaking the law, then please get new laws into fruition and the public need to see how it is illegal to meet fellow FDC members? Where does it say? Mhmm!

The result from being Courtside today: 

“Bail conditions for FDC leaders in Lyantonde court. They include: 4 sureties, 10mn/= each – non cash, plus land titles. These FDC leaders were arrested last week upon visiting their fellow FDC members who were assaulted by police officers on their way to Rukungiri for a political rally. Court adjourned to 28th October. 2015.”

Peace.

What does the Amendments to the Public Finance Management Bill of 2015 intially mean “Government of Uganda not needing approval for short-term loans”

Matia Kasaija

Today there are planned voting for the Public Finance Management (Amendment) Bill of 2015. This is confirmed through the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development Hon. Matia Kasaija. I will first quote the bill itself then comment on the matter at hand.

“An Act to amend the Public Finance Management Act, 2015; to provide for the preparation of Budget Framework Papers by Sector; to repeal the provision on the requirement to represent a certificate certifying that the policy statements of the votes are gender and equity responsive; to provide for virement by a vote of not more then ten percent of the budget of the vote; to provide for further financing of supplementary estimates; and to provide for guarantees and advances by the Bank of Uganda” (P3, 2015, PFMA).

Amendment of Section 13:

“The Minister or another person responsible for the vote, as any case may be, shall base on the priorities identified in the Budget Framework Paper of the sector of the vote, cause to be prepared for the vote, a policy statement for the vote, for the proceeding financial year and shall submit the policy statement to the Parliament by the 15th of March” (P4, 2015, PFMA).

Amendment of Section 17:

“A vote that does not expend money that was appropriated to the vote for the financial year shall by the 31st July of the following financial year, repay the money to the Consolidated Fund, except where the Secretary to the Treasury authorized the vote to retain money” (P4, 2015, PFMA).

“The authority given by the Secretary to the Treasury under subsection (2) shall be valid up to 31st of October of the financial year” (P4, 2015, PFMA).

Amendment of Section 20:

“The functions of a vote may be transferred to another vote or a vote may be assigned additional functions” (P4, 2015, PFMA).

“Where the functions of a vote are transferred to another vote or where a vote is assigned additional functions, the functions of the vote shall be financed accordance with sections 25” (P4, 2015, PFMA).

Amendment of Section 25:

“(4a) Where the funds in the Contingencies Fund are not sufficient to finance the supplementary budget, the supplementary budget shall be financed by a reallocation of the funds of the annual budget” (P5, 2015, PFMA).

Amendment of Section 36:

“(5a) In addition to subsection (5), a loan raised by the Government as a temporary advance by the Bank of Uganda, which does not extend beyond a financial year shall not require to be approved by the Parliament” (P5, 2015, PFMA).

Amendment of Section 82:

“(1) The bank may with the approval of Parliament, make temporary advances to the Government and local governments in respect of temporary deficiencies of recurrent revenue” (P:6, 2015, PFMA).

“(1a) Notwithstanding subsection (1) the bank may take a temporary advance to the Government, without approval of the Parliament, where the advance does not extend beyond a financial year” (P:6, 2015, PFMA).

“(5) The bank shall not guarantee a payment to any person on behalf of Government or make any advance to any person on behalf on of Government without the prior approval of Parliament” (P:6, 2015, PFMA).

Afterthought:

It is reasonable that you have dates for the Budget Framework for the next financial year as they are switching dates in the new amendment. From the 15th of March until the set date of the 31st of July, also by the end of the year pay the money that was voted for into the Consolidated Fund with an exception that the Treasury Secretary has a vote to retain that money. The first changes to the law aren’t really scary or worrying it’s the parts that I come to now seems scary!

In Section 36 the government will have the ability to take up loans without having vote by the Parliament. The Government can henceforth take up advances without being questioned as long as it is set into a certain timeframe. When this continues into the Section 82 where the Government doesn’t need a stamp of approval from the Parliament to take Advances from the Bank of Uganda to secure funding where there is “deficiencies of recurrent revenue”, which means that if a sector of Government is lacking money. They can go directly to the bank and extract funding without having approval from the Parliament. This is to secure balance of funds and to stop the deficiencies in the Government. Still it’s a worrying that the Government can get this ability. (1a) under the same sections is giving the same kind of advance within a financial year without an approval of the Parliament. While the last Section (5) is telling the bank can’t guarantee a payment to any person without approval of the Parliament to a person which represent or are a part of the Government. So With this means that a person or affiliated to the Government can get an advance or loan from the Bank of Uganda without approval of the Parliament, but still not allowed to get a direct payment form the Bank of Uganda. You do get that right? Some of it is if there is a deficiency in the Government. Are there so often missing funds now that the Government has to act in this way, because the lack of funds is so big now that they don’t want approval of the Parliament to fix their own deficiencies? And does the Government fear that giving the information and stamp of validation from the Parliament will show the current loans and advances that the Government does for the moment or need?

The Government must be needing loans towards the election of 2016. That must be reason why the Amendment is happening now and the deficiency is happing now. Also why should it be so hard to get the approval and show the country what the advances and loans are going to during the Financial Year! This is just proving what state of affairs has turned in the country and why people should address it. That this kind of laws get into effect shows how little oversight the Government wants to show and secondly shows how the Government want to loan money without proving paperwork for where the money is going. Since its still short time loans that is to withstand a Financial Year still that this is not looking good, should be visible. The Public Financial Management Amendment of 2015 is surely made to make life easier for the Government and not have to question their actions through the Parliament when it comes to short-term loans and advances. Something is surely up. And we’ll see over time how fruitful this will be and I wouldn’t be surprised if the inflation starts to rise after this amendment to the law get into effect. Peace.

Press Release: Bank of Uganda takeover of Imperial Bank Uganda Limited (13.10.2015)

Imperial Bank - BOU

FDC activist (Fatuma Zaina) speaks out on police brutality and humiliation (Youtube Clip)

Uganda – Some reports from the Local Primaries Election in the NRM-Party

MuseveniNRM2016Election

If you thought the weekends reactions to the FDC party and their struggles to do party work and campaigning that has been an issue for a long time. The interesting about what I have seen and gotten news about, is how the Police and the Public is reacting in the ruling NRM-Party! While doing their duties to vote in the Primaries Election. So they can pick the ones to elect their own local leaders and who set to represent their area and a possible MP in the future. NRM-Regime goes even too far with the rigging and malpractices with the NRM Electoral Process and Commission who let this practices happening. We can see what has happen today and the reports are staggering, also with the former day’s events in Ngarama and Lwengo. All of the reports from National Resistance Movement Primaries should be seen as a warning. This is not looking good and with all the reactions the results and local disarray can be seen as the people see through the malpractices and rigging.

First issues – Ngarama:

“Supporters of Mr Benon Matsiko Kyampa, who was contesting for NRM flag for Ngarama LC3 top seat stormed the sub-county headquarters where they abandoned their party cards protesting poll results announced by the sub-county registrar, Mr Robert Baingana, in favour of Mr Silver Kiiza”. This led to even rubber bullets and agony in the district. So the way the police is used to quell issues is really a pattern. Which lead to this: “The deputy RDC Isingiro, Mr Damiano Turyatunga, said they will investigate why police fired bullets and will ensure calm is restored in the area” (Mugume, 2015).

Second issues – Lwengo:

“Ruling NRM party supporters in Lwengo District have threatened to boycott party primary elections over alleged inflation of voters registers. The supporters claim that a big number of registers in the district have been bloated with names of people who are not NRM supporters- something they say is a plot to rig votes in favour of some candidates” (…)”Ms Nakabira said she had discovered that some NRM village registers contain several names than those in the national voters register of the Electoral Commission. “Our party electoral commission should not bother bringing election materials to Lwengo District if they fail to sort out this mess. It will be a political suicide to take part in an election where registers have been filled up with ghost names,” she said” (Malik, 2015).

There have been reports that the District Leader George Mutabazi has fled the offices and area with the ballot boxes.

Sembabula NRM Office

Third Issue – Sembabule:

There been reports of fraud there in local elections as well and the NRM members couldn’t accept it. Therefore they set the NRM office on fire this 13.10.2015.

Fourth Issue – Kyannamukaaka, Masaka District:

Because of electoral issues and vote rigging NRM members has put on fire their member cards and also been as vile as peeing on Museveni T-Shirts as an reactions to rigging of the local elections. More from the Masaka District is that NRM has withheld the elections results and the reasons are that the winners in the district are suspected to be friendly to Amama Mbabazi. This is happening today!

Also from another source is this:

“This afternoon, Masaka District NRM party Registrar declared Ssekiwala winner after polling 2664 votes against Ssebulas 1780 votes. However, the declaration of Ssekiwala as winner has not gone down well with Ssebulas supporters” (Bindhe, 2015).

Fifth Issue:

There was another NRM office that was lit on fire. This was Isingiro on Sunday 3: AM, it apparently destroyed the older files from 2011 Elections and a dozen other party official papers.

Second Source:

She however, wants the complaints to produce evidence to substantiate their claims of rigging” (…)”Angry voters throwing pelting NRM party cards after disagreeing with NRM party officials at Endinzi sub county headquarters in Isingiro district” (Kabasongora, 2015).

Six issue – Bundibugyo:

“According to Idrisa, initially, Kifunga announced Steven Mugisa as the winners of the Bubukwanga Sub County chairperson NRM party ticket but later altered the results and declared his rival George Baluku” (Muhindo, 2015).

NRM 131015

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUupguzBx8s

Praise for the NRM Electoral Commission:

While this has happen during the elections in the NRM there are certain people who are impressed by the work. MP Cecilia Ogwal said: “”Dr. Odoi should be reassigned to assist Kiggundu because what he is doing is so impressive” (…)”We feel the impact of their confusion and I want the process to be peaceful” (Okino, 2015).

We can all see that there is a tone in the day and recent days when it comes to the NRM Primaries. The results and reactions show the issues that this Primaries Elections in the NRM are turning into a farce. Where the actual election doesn’t really matter and members of the party feels fooled. Therefore going into means that are harsh realities are not sinking in.

This is important when the ruling elite and the main NRM-Regime are shielding in a way. They are shielding the elite and handpicking their loyal candidates, but not the ones that might be wished from the grassroot-organization who might want another candidate and get a change of leadership. With the rigging happening then the exercise and voting is just a planned move so that it looks like a democratic choice. That is what is happening if you score away the local constituencies from picking their men or woman to be representatives. This is what has happen. And that makes the process illegitimate. The representative won’t actual represent the people, but the rigging Electoral Commission of the NRM. The Local Council and MPs might be “elected”, but in reality just picked by the Commission not the people of the Party and Organization. When there has already been famous for the rigging of the General Election in 2011. This here is a new low. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni party is rigging itself and people are reacting. This can only get more interesting. Just as this picture from a Cell in a Prison where they kept the Electoral Ballot Boxes for the Primaries in the area. This was taken photo from somebody kept in Prison of the FDC. Peace.  

NRM Material from Sanga Jail 101015

Reference:

Bindhe, Edward – ‘Angry NRM Supporters Burn, Urinate on Museveni T-Shirts’ (13.10.2015) Link: http://ugandaradionetwork.com/story/rioting-nrm-losers-burn-cards-urinate-at-museveni-t-shirts-as-pro-mbabazi-candidates-denied-victory#ixzz3oSx6lNLZ

Mugume, Chris – ‘Residents throw away NRM cards over vote rigging’ (09.10.2015) link: http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Residents-throw-away-NRM-cards-over-vote-rigging/-/688334/2905272/-/pmw73q/-/index.html

Okino, Patrick – ‘Ogwal praises ‘impressive’ work done by Odoi’ (13.10.2015) link: http://www.elections.co.ug/new-vision/election/1343246/ogwal-praises-impressive-odoi

Malik, Fahad Jjingo – ‘NRM voters threaten polls boycott’ (13.10.2015) link: http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/NRM-voters-threaten-polls-boycott/-/688334/2910484/-/ra7fg1/-/index.html

Muhindo, Patrick – ‘Bundibugyo NRM Members Return Cards Citing Mismanagement of Primaries’ (13.10.2015) Link: http://ugandaradionetwork.com/story/bundibugyo-nrm-members-return-cards-over-mismanagement-of-party-primaries#ixzz3oSy1V3SW

Kabasongora, Mariam – ‘NRM Officials Rush to Bukanga County to Calm Down Angry Voters’ (13.10.2015) Link: http://ugandaradionetwork.com/story/nrm-leaders-security-team-rush-to-bukanga-county-to-quell-tension-among-angry-voters-#ixzz3oSyUjfPS

Constitutional Petition No. 53 of 2010 – The Ruling towards some of the Policemen of Mbabara after the actions of the weekend

Judgement from Court 121015 P1Judgement from Court 121015 P2 (2)Judgement from Court 121015 P3 (2)

Press Release: Uganda and Tanzania sign Crude Oil Export Pipeline Framework (12.10.2015)

UgandaTan121015 P1UgandaTan121015 P2

Press Release: FDC mobilization goes to Eastern Uganda (12.10.2015)

FDC 121015 P1FDC 121015 P2FDC 121015 P3FDC 121015 P4

Press Release: UPF comments on their actions this weekend (12.10.2015)

Uganda FDC 101015 P3 Rukungiri

On Saturday 10/10/2025 at about 1130hrs at Kanyalyeru along Masaka-Mbarara road, the FDC convey proceeding to Rukungiri District for campaigns was stopped. One Naigaga Fatuma undressed herself, falsely claimed that security undressed her later and insulted the Police. She was arrested and later released with the rest of her colleagues and were instructed to go back to Kampala. Security has noted that some of these people are hired goons who are ready to undress or do anything to create an impression that they are being harassed by security personnel.
Of recent, several politicians especially the opposition, have adopted nudity of adult women of all ages as a form of political and protest action. In Uganda, the FDC as a party are using it as a statement to give life to their political ambitions over sympathetic voters.


Although the naked body has been used as an instrument of protest or tool of objection by many different groups of activists, it is a provocative technique where some activist present themselves in a deliberately provocative way in order to shock the viewer and draw awareness to their political and social protest.
As you must all be aware, in our country barring one’s body in public not only remains a taboo but is also perceived as a disturbance of proper public order. It is in addition exploitative and an insult to women and their valves, especially where they are hired to indecently expose their nakedness.
We want to appeal to the public especially young women to guard against such acts of criminality and further caution the media from displaying such brazenly disturbing photos and video footages.
In the most recent incident, of a female political activist indecently exposing her nakedness, is a subject of investigation who will be charged in due course.

CP Fred Enanga
Public Relations Officer
Uganda Police Force
12/10/2015

My afterthought: 

You can’t be serious? What have you been smoking in your pipe? (Certainly not Tobacco) Get real, CP Fred Enanga! Your proud force – used bad methods and used force aganst a political party. Be real! Grow up! This is some shallow nonsense that nobody deserves the actions that happen this weekend. It was caught on tape and the pictures is telling the tale for itself. You can easilly find it on Social Media. Your acting foolish and vile. And the world has seen it now. You can lie for you boss and your cronies. But we the rest can see through it. Step your game up and act with real policing for a change. You want appeal to us and getting us to stop showing the madness you have given the public? Get serious. Digital age is attacking you and your lies. And the footage is showing it so strongly. What you should instead of dropping this utter nonsense. Your people was doing it! Actual teach your police force some manners and also if Uganda has a multi-party democracy! Then the Police should give space to FDC to have public rallies without crashing them with police, tear-gas and crashing their cars on the roads form Kampala towards Rukungiri. Maybe the UPF should look into that?

And if you wonder! I am furious at this BS! Peace.

Press Release: The Criminal actions of the Uganda Police in stopping the FDC Public Rally in Rukungiri should be condemned (11.10.2015)

Uganda FDC 101015 P3 Rukungiri

The Democratic Alliance registers its strongest condemnation of the criminal behavior and conduct of the Uganda Police and its officers who stopped the FDC public rally in Rukungiri and arrested FDC leaders on their way to the rally on Saturday October 10, 2015.

Uganda is currently in an election season following the Electoral Commission’s publication of the elections roadmap early this year.

There can never be free and fair elections unless agencies of state such as the police and the Electoral Commission conduct their work in a non-partisan manner. All political actors must also have the freedom to recruit supporters and sell their policies to the public.

TDA is perturbed by this outright harassment of our members and leaders. FDC is a member of TDA in good standing. Dr. Kizza Besigye is a flag bearer of FDC and an eminent person in the Summit. Hon. Wafula Oguttu (MP) is not only a member of the TDA Summit, he is also the Leader of Opposition who deserve to be respected.

That’s why the stopping of the FDC rally and the arrest of its leaders should be condemned by all peace loving Ugandans. The humiliation of FDC supporters is a humiliation to all of us.

The FDC and other political parties have already demonstrated a track record of holding peaceful public rallies and events. It is only the Uganda police that continue to import violence into these public gatherings.

The Democratic Alliance will continue to argue its members to continue on a path of peaceful resistance to the current dictatorship until it is dismantled or it crumbles under its own mistakes.

We therefore stand in solidarity with FDC and its leadership colleagues. We shall remain unyielding in demanding that legitimate political activities receive the protection of the Uganda Police Force and other state agencies.

The Uganda Police has a constitutional duty to ensure that citizens exercise their liberties and freedoms as guaranteed under the constitution. They have opted to derogate from that responsibility and turn themselves into an instrument of regime protection.

In the coming days, weeks and months, the Uganda Police Force will have to make a choice: whether to remain an instrument of the current dictatorship or to be on the side of citizens, doing everything lawful to exercise their fundamental freedoms and liberties.

For God and My Country

Sheila Kawamala Mishambi
Deputy Spokesperson, TDA

October 11, 2015
Kampala-Uganda