Kawempe North By-Election: A memo on the run-up to the polls tomorrow

The ones believing in a free and fair by-election they are in for a reckoning tomorrow. The authorities and the law enforcement is in high alert. Tomorrow is D-DAY and that will be inevitable clear. There is no subtle message or sincere acts of the government in this regard. That’s why they defend the indefensible and accepts the brutality against civilians. This is just who the government is and how it operates.

This By-Election is a sign of how botched and brutal the up-coming elections will be in 2026. The ones believing things will be better in the campaign period or during the elections road-map are false. There will only be more hurt, pain and suffering. The ones who dares to take up the banners, flag-bearers and activists on the grounds. Those are the ones who will be touched and will feel the pinch. That’s the bleak reality and Kawempe North By-Election only shows it and spells it out.

This by-election is marred with election interference, intimidation, voter buying and usage of brutal force to stifle the opposition. The opposition and the ones who dared to be in the public eye. Those got a taste of the violence and what the law enforcement does in the name of “rule of law” or the “correct way”.

This is just who the National Resistance Movement (NRM) is in 2026. It is just what the NRA fought for and how it wants to kids of 1986s Generation to get elected. The NRM shows its ugly face and how it runs government. The Electoral Commission, the Police Force and even Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) is all at play in this. They are all doing the bidding of the NRM and are there on behalf of them. Not to be security, but to work for the will of the President and his appointed cronies. They all danced, went door-to-door and even gave bank-notes to possible voters. That’s just what the NRM does in election season.

We can act like this By-Election is different than all the others, but it is mere reflection of all the previous ones too. It is just what this sort of ordeals has become. The NRM has created these games and mockery of “democratic values” while arresting, detaining and tear-gassing the opposition. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister says the voters has to vote “NRM” to have a “direct line to the President”. Because that you only get through a NRM MP. I am sure plenty of districts or counties with NRM MPs feels left behind or never gotten a pledge through Parliament or even fulfilled by Presidential Donations for that matter. So, we know the PM lies on stage while she pushed a kid of Mr. Update to get sympathy and use the legacy of the man the state killed incarceration. That’s how cold these cronies of the President is and willing to do to further the cause of the state. Nothing is holy and nothing is to far for them.

We know there will be pre-ticked ballots, polling agents arrested and possibly a “black-out” of sorts. We know the army will be on the streets and the law enforcement will go harshly out tomorrow. There will be nothing good really… they want a low turnout, as that will be beneficial for the NRM. As this is a stronghold for the opposition. Though don’t expect anything positive to come out. Expect house-arrests and leaders of the opposition in trouble tomorrow. That’s what is coming. There would be road-blocks and other technical precautions too. They will make Kampala a war-zone and we have seen it before too.

The roads to Kawempe North will be hectic and hostile. That’s what is coming and it is all over a seat in Parliament. A seat that is only up for grabs for a few months before it is time for re-election. That’s the double tragedy in this, because the electorate has to go through this again and they have already been punished by the pressure and the attacks on civilians during the campaigns ahead of the polls. It just shows the character and the heart of the government, which is lacking. That is proven and we can all state that in 2025. Peace.

Ethiopia: Is this the start of violent clashes between the TPLF-G and TPLF-D?

Today the bad news from Mekelle and Tigray region is out. The revelation that the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) internal conflict is now lethal. The match of supremacy between the Tigray Interim Regional Administration (TIRA) under Getachew Reda and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) run by Debretsion Gebremichael. These two are the heads that are behind this and are conflicted.

It is all a power struggle between these two gentlemen. Two men who wants to rule and have the final say. Now the TPLF-D is saying it is reacting on the letters sent by Getachew Reda dismissing three army commanders within the Tigray Defence Force (TDF). Now the same TDF is used by TPLF-D to takeover and use force to take control. Therefore, the rebellion from within and the reaction is all violently against the one who is officially the head of the regional state. As his there temporarily after the Pretoria Agreement. An Agreement that the TPLF accepted with the Federal Government. Alas, therein lays the problem and the headache for all parties, as the accord or agreement is far from implemented and isn’t moving forward as we speak.

TIRA itself has stated this is in a Press Release today:

It is known that since January 15, 2017, some senior commanders of the Tigray army have been moving to carry out an open coup d’etat to satisfy the thirst for power of a narrow group.

Similarly, illegal activities led by the commanders of the Northeast and South Fronts have intensified this week. Despite an order written to the Commander-in-Chief of the Tigray Army on February 26, 2017 to curb this dangerous road and stop all illegal activities, the act of destruction has continued for hours. The situation has not been resolved and the commanders of the fronts have been banned by the government. The head of the security bureau was also relieved of his duties.

However, attacks targeting civilians continue. The acts of dismantling the government from top to bottom continue to intensify. The top commanders of the Tigray army are bringing the people of Tigray into another destruction by dissolving the government and officially violating the Pretoria Treaty in order to fulfill the wishes of the backward group” (Tigray Communication Affairs Bureau, 12.03.2025).

The TIRA and Getachew Reda is dismissing the TPLF-D at this very moment. It is severe and isn’t subtle about it either. The TPLF-D on the other hand is calling Getachew Reda a “Former President” and says his authority is illegitimate. They are also claiming his bans and such lacks the power to make decisions, which means the law enforcement operations lays in the TPLF-D. It also warns that the TPLF-D will uncover and reveal the criminal activities and the ones implicated in TIRA for any wrongdoings. Therefore, there is consequences to this and this time it is personal.

These leaders are now butting heads and they are deciding the fate with the usage of force from within. What we know for now is that Adigrat is ceased and taken control of the TPLF-D. We don’t know what else is at play or stakes, as there is speculations in the air. There is also rumours and inklings of Eritrean support of one side, but that is to early to call. Meanwhile, the TPLF-D claims TIRA has done treason to region and therefore is justified to overthrow it.

This just shows how fickle things is and what these leaders are willing to do. They are now waging war and doing so in violation of the Pretoria accord, the one accord that is giving it peace and stopped the hostilities, even if the Eritrean armies didn’t leave parts of the region and neither did Fano. However, that doesn’t stop realities from hitting the ground. This could be an excuse for Abiy to return with a new Operation Law Enforcement in Tigray. We could see that one coming and this to install Getachew Reda again. That wouldn’t surprise me… but that is how cold and calculated these things are. Peace.

Ethiopia: Statement from the Alliance of Tigrayans for National Redemption (ATNR) – Urgent Call for Address the Unlawful Power Grab and Regional Destabilization in Tigray (12.03.2025)

South Sudan: Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation – Response to Travel Advisories Issued by Some Countries in Regards to the Nasir Incident (12.03.2025)

Cameroun: Ministere des Finances – Communique de Presse (12.03.2025)

Philippines: Supreme Court of the Philippines – Office of the Spokesperson – Statement of the Supreme Court Spokesperson (12.03.2025)

DRC: A New Ugandan Proxy-Militia is formed to “liberate Ituri”

The rebel and former prisoner of ICC, Thomas Lubanga has returned with support of Kampala to make his own proxy militia and rebel group to liberate the Ituri region of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Convention pour la libération populaire (CRP) is created and manifested in Kampala, as all documents suggested. Meaning this in coordination and vouched for by the government of Uganda. As they are seeing it as a viable enterprise.

Now the former militia leader who was charged and sentenced for the usage of child soldiers in the DRC in 2002-2003 is returning to the nation. Now with a new recalibrated outfit and with outside support, as his allowed and acts as a proxy. That isn’t even clever, but it shows the activity and the will of Kampala to interfere in the DRC.

The UPDF is claiming to fight the ADF, but now they are visibly supporting another rebellion in the DRC. That is compelling and with a usage of a man who has such a record to do it to.

This CRP brings together 7 armed groups for one mission and that’s to “liberate Ituri”. We all know what means and this is a travesty. This is taking the region and the resources as spoils of war. That’s what this is all about. It is investing in militias to ensure the power and the guns to bring the valuables across the border to Uganda. That’s all that matters.

This is the gist and this is tragic. We are seeing another formation to destroy, deplete and to take from the DRC. Kinshasa should be watching as there is betrayals and there are proxies that are lurking. Now another one is formed, and the outsiders are jolly of their easy spoils. Peace.

RDC: Forces Armees Republique Democratique du Congo (FARDC) – Communique de Presse No. 008 (11.03.2025)

Kawempe North By-Election: The final NRM rally shows the sinister act of the state

The National Resistance Movement (NRM) used all tricks of the trade on the final days of campaign. As the acknowledgement of what is happening to the National Unity Platform (NUP).

We know the NRM acts like it is all sealed and they are winning in the Kawempe North By-Election on the 13th March 2025 polls. This is after the campaign of the NRM of Faridah Nambi has gone on full steam. Meanwhile, we see how the authorities, the police force and JAT are acting towards the opposition.

We know the pictures of the rally at Mbogo Muslim Primary School Grounds will look supreme. Nevertheless, the NRM has no trouble using the force or power to silence the others. Alas, we can see that, and this is just to common occurrence.

The NUP was blocked from holding their rally. The vehicle of their candidate crashed into, and he was arrested after that. The Police Force went in full swing and stopped the NUP from ending the campaign in fanfare. That was only for the NRM to do.

This just shows how the “playing field” and the NRM acts towards their biggest rivals. As the NUP is in a headache, but the NRM pays several of musicians to warm up the stage for their candidate. The President cannot have a smaller rally or be humiliated by the NUP. That’s why this all went down.

We have seen in previous elections with President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni holding rallies in the same towns and counties with Besigye. The Besigye rallies was blocked and sealed off. Now the same happened in the Kawempe North By-Election. This is a pattern, and they did this deliberately.

Bebe Cool and Minister Balaam cannot save the day. We know they will preach the message of the state. They will entertain for His Excellency, but this doesn’t make this truer. As we saw for what it is.

The ones not getting the gist. The NUP was blocked, because the President himself held a final rally for his candidate. That’s why NUP was brutally blocked and silenced ahead of their rally. They got different reports and communicated with the Police and Electoral Commission to hold it, but it didn’t matter.

President Museveni and NRM can act like it is all gold. They can act like it is all great, but we know the drill. This is just what it is. The ones believing in the lies and deception of the NRM. This sort of act is getting old.

We know why the NUP was treated so bad today. It is all because of His Excellency and his ego. The dictator had to show his power and greatness, but his ego is so vain that it must make other people suffer. Peace.

South Africa: Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) – EFF Notes IEC’s Attempt to Introduce Electronic Voting (11.03.2025)