Opinion: Mnangagwa’s message with the newly announced cabinet is that it’s a dream wrapped as a nightmare!

They’ve promised that dreams can come true – but forgot to mention that nightmares are dreams, too.”Oscar Wilde

President Emmerson Mnangagwa have today announced his new cabinet of 39 ministers of the old and of the cronies with Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF). There isn’t a magic wand or big change from the people that Mugabe picked in recent years. What is new is that there is two military leaders within the Cabinet, this being Major General Sibusiso Moyo, who are appointed as the Minister for Foreign Affairs. The other are Air Marshal Perrance Shiri as Minister of Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement.

President Mnangagwa has not offered anyone the Vice-President position, the position and place he had until recently. Before the military coup and the eviction of Mugabe. Most of the ones picked in usual faces with ZANU-PF. There are no coalition or no place for Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and Morgan Tsvangirai, neither has the political assassin Acie Lumumba gotten any appointment, even after announcing him leaving his own party, Viva Zimbabwe. We can wonder if any other of the opposition feels like the Mugabe change was “much ado about nothing”.

The 18th November seems for all opposition like a betrayal as the Cabinet was announced. Only the ones eating in the Lacoste and the military will be happy. People are even spreading rumors that Zimbabwe Defense Force General Commander Constantino Chiwenga will get the honorable post of VP. That the coup has gotten all power and hired stooges of Lacoste fraction of ZANU-PF to make sure they got settled. The beauty of it all, was that Civil Society, Opposition Politicians and Activists bought into the narrative in the midst of change in mid-November.

Those dreams has been shattered. They have been broken and was brutally destroyed when the state sealed their deal with this cabinet. This is more of the same, just with another head, then the one who was there for 37 years and was preparing to install his wife. The family dynasty would eat the ZANU-PF and was close to do so. It was all prepared for the December conference for Grace Mugabe. As now President was put into Exile.

Now Chiwenga and Mnangagwa is continuing from where Mugabe left of. As explained by Jealousy Mawarire: “Mnangagwa Cabinet, retains 23 Mugabe Ministers, brings in 2 soldiers, including coup announcer & resurrects 3 fired by Mugabe” (Mawarire, 30.11.2017).

So there isn’t a real change, but more of the same, but another head. We just miss to see who he trust in his place. However, we wouldn’t be shocked if htat is Chiwenga. To just show the power of the Army, who has already gotten their space in the Cabinet.

We just know now, that the changes done are artificial and the next 8 months will not be much different. They want to secure their wealth and their positions. Not genuine change of any kind. Only some more military presence in the central government. Chiwenga will have something to say and that is without a doubt. Mnangagwa do not want to play with fire, as he used fire to get rid of Mugabe.

The people, #ThisFlag and all others has still a mile to walk. Maybe even further, maybe as far as to the moon. They have to show flex and show muscles. This is a continuation after the military took control and stopped the cult surrounding Mugabe, for a hot minute the same has been done around Mnangagwa. However, now the reality there. Even arrested Ministers like Chinamasa, the Financial Minister gotten his Ministry back. Clearly, the loyalty to the party pays off. Especially in the eyes of Mnangagwa. The Cvs and asking for references before hiring, was a PR Stunt and not a reality!

If you feel betrayed after the 18th November 2017, that is fine, but the ZDF and ZANU-PF are trying to keep control of all their assets and their riches. They are still showing the values that is eating them and the state. Soon, the goblin’s ways and the crocodile’s ways cannot be separated, as they act and talk the same game. Mnangagwa, has clearly tuned into the same tune, but not re-configuring to the promises and hopes within the people.

Some glasses has been shattered today, some hopes has been destroyed, but the people shall not give in and give way. After what they know and what they need to do. Last time, the Military did their duty and got rid of the despot. However, it didn’t get rid of the system or it’s cronies. All of them are there and are not planning to rest. Certainly, the movements and civil society has to react to this. They have to show their disappointment and see more of the disgraced leadership still ruling the country.

Mnangagwa has not given new brooms or new people a chance to make a difference. He has hired more of the same. Its not a good morning and smell the coffee. It is more of yesterdays burned brew and bitter aftertaste. “Much Ado About Nothing”. Peace.

FinTech Companies in Kenya: Are now evading the personal space of costumers to provide them services!

Today, I will write about how international businesses are using their power and their markets strategy, while people are giving up their private communications and other vital information for simple transactions between family and friends, also when borrowing micro-credit or buying solar-cells through credit. This is all based on the Privacy International recently released report and the quotes are taken from there. It shows vital information taken from citizens who uses apps and financial services in their daily lives. Clearly, they have accessed certain freedoms for the trade with these Kenyans. The business transactions and the trade is not only making direct profits for the corporations allowing direct transactions, but also delivering services like payday loans and buying equipment. Still, it has a special price and they have to sign-up to give away certain aspects of their lives to gain this. That is what is interesting because it says something of how much of the personal space these corporations are getting from the persons they are profiting from!

The term ‘fintech’ has been defined by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) as: “a dynamic segment at the intersection of the financial services and technology sectors where technology-focused start-ups and new market entrants innovate the products and services currently provided by the traditional financial services industry.” (Privacy International, P: 10, 2017).

Yet a change that has not been much explored is that M-Pesa also produces a vast amount of data for the telco Safaricom. Each of the millions of transactions that take place a year tell a story. They tell the story of how the small business is operating: the money they’re sending to their suppliers, the transactions that are taking place. But it tells other stories as well: the money that comes in and then is sent to the hospital. The school fees paid by the biological father, unknown to anyone except the mother, father and Safaricom. But there is also a way in which this data is known by third parties. The transmission of the content of the money transfers over M-Pesa is encrypted. However, the details of any transactions are sent, unencrypted, by plain SMS. Even if M-Pesa transactions themselves are sent via secure and encrypted means, the account information is not. The messages that someone sends for receiving or sending money include the name of the recipient (from the registration of the SIM), the amount sent, and their current balance. This facilitates the gathering of personal data by apps. The fact that the transactions can be tracked becomes a large part of the power of the lenders, as in the Kenyan example, leaves a trail via the M-Pesa SMS messages for both customer and retailer. As shall be illustrated, this is an aspect of M-Pesa of which fintechs are able to take advantage” (Privacy International, P: 29, 2017).

Tala App:

From the data provided by the app, decisions are made about whether and how people repay their loans. One of the key pieces of data is to analyse the content of SMS messages for the records of M-Pesa payments. These are very valuable records to analyse; for example, if the person seeking a loan has a small business, it is a good measure of the health of the business and the money entering and leaving the business. But, according to Tala, it can also be used to analyse how people are actually using their loans, as frequently the money they receive from Tala will leave someone’s M-Pesa account immediately (for example, to pay school fees or a hospital loan, or an individual). But the analysis of the data by Tala extends beyond this, to make analyses based on data and information that are, at best, unexpected to be used for credit scoring. For example, Tala analyses call logs: their analysis has found that people who make regular calls to family are 4% more likely to repay their loan. To do this analysis, they need to know who your family is: from the content of text messages that call someone “mama”, and the pattern of calls” (Privacy International, P: 30, 2017).

Branch:

One difference from Tala is that Branch also makes use of Facebook for authentication; as discussed below, this is allowed under Facebook’s terms and conditions. Another factor that Branch uses for its decision-making is the behaviour of your friends, and their repayment patterns for Branch loans. How does Branch know who your friends are? They have a refer-a-friend feature (as does Tala), which is one source of this data. But they can also see your Facebook friends, and your call log to know who is contacted regularly” (Privacy International, P: 31, 2017).

M-Kopa:

The data that M-Kopa gathers from the device via the SIM is information like location (using cell data, not GPS), the charge level in the battery, and what devices are plugged in. They will also soon be gathering data on the television programmes watched. This specific data on programming is not data that it is planning on selling, but rather to use to develop its own services in the future. M-Kopa’s website states that, “After completing payments, customers own the product outright.” However, the customer does not own their data. The terms and conditions of a M-Kopa loan make the company’s position on data clear: “M-KOPA shall have absolute and sole ownership of … the data which is obtained by the Customer’s use of the Device.” Customers have no right to even see their own

data, apart from the provisions under Credit Reference Bureau rules. For M-Kopa, it ultimately comes down to a business decision: “If data privacy was important for the Kenyan consumer, we would do it,” states Chad Larson, the Chief Credit Officer at M-Kopa. At the same time, both M-Kopa and its investors have a viewpoint that their use of data is ethical” (Privacy International, P: 32, 2017).

Control over the data:

A significant issue with the fintech companies in Kenya, is that they keep access to the data. They keep the data—and, in some cases analyse it, even if the user has stopped being a customer of theirs, and has deleted their app. Branch is explicit that it keeps the data even after a user uninstalls the app, and admits it is possibly doing further analysis on it, “we have that right.” Tala encourages people, even if they have been rejected for a loan, to keep the app; if they do delete it, Tala retains their data. This is so that, if the customer returns later, they can reinstall the app, go through some simple KYC checks, and be able to borrow again. M-Kopa, on the other hand, continues to collect data from the device even after the loan has been repaid” (Privacy International, P: 33, 2017).

Just as this reveals that Safaricom, the partly owned Vodacom Telecom Business have no trouble through the M-Pesa, the Cellphone Mobile-Money Transactions, that they can hold onto all information between all parts of the transactions. Like how a person send the messages of giving money to friend/family and at what point they picking up the mobile-money. This personal data is all incorporated into their apps, as they provide the services and keeps this fintech data on each of their clients.

As we see with the Tala App, which is also used to get loans. Tala analyses the personal SMS’s from the client to either give or not accept proposals for loans from their services. Tala are looking into the M-Pesa messages given to the client and are scanned by the app. To see if the client can actually be able to repay the debt possible sign-off from Tala. This proves that the Tala App is checking the credit history done with the services of M-Pesa, which is Safaricom/Vodacom. Branch another Fintech app is taking it further, they are also analyzing your behavior and who is your refer-friend on Facebook. They are clearly entitled to the private information of your networks before you get a loan. So they know exactly, who and when you contact friends and family on social media before giving you a loan. It shows how personal and how much information on app can get before you get the services needed from them.

M-Kopa are another one, who is directly saying that all information collected from their costumers are their to own and to use for later costumers. It can also be used after the usage. More of these Apps seems to do so. They are keeping this personal data even after the transactions, the loans and the purchase. This can be used to further get clients and knowledge of when the costumers need it more. So they can get them “addicted” to the services. We have no idea how they store this personal data or who they trade it with after gathering it all.

This should all be scrutinized and questioned, as it breaches with personal space collected with marketing and simple ploy to generate enough information to be able to gain the services from the companies. These companies are vultures of the costumers private space and uses it as leverage for their trade.

It is worrying how far they are taking it and how much personal information they are gathering to give them these services. Peace.

Reference:

Privacy International – ‘Fintech: Privacy and Identity in the New Data-intensive Financial Sector’ (November 2017)

Brexit: Guy Verhofstadt letter to Michel Barnier – “The European Parliament expects more on citizens’ rights and much more on the Irish border question” (29.11.2017)

Zimbabwe: Update from President ED Mnangagwa – Lacoste 13 Point Programme (29.11.2017)

RDC: Lucha – “Olive Lembe, rendez a Goma sa “plage du peuple” que vous avez spoliee!” (27.11.2017)

The 10th Parliament today adds more debt to the state, near 2 trillion shillings more actually!

Today, the Ugandan Parliament has added more debt to the state since they cannot get grants or donors to fund their projects like in the past. National Resistance Movement (NRM) have the majority of the Parliament, therefore the adjustment and the possible questioning of the bills today. Would be squashed briefly, as the new amount of debt will arise and the state has to get more sufficient funds to repay the loans and the rising interests. That the three projects might bring profits in the future and could be seen as positive development, might be true, but it is a high risk. When the levels of debt already has grown as much as it is.

The first loan approved by the parliament was to borrow for the Lake Victoria Maritime Communication and Transport Project. That loan is up to $ 14,4 Million USD or 52,409 billion Uganda Shillings.

The second loan approved by the parliament was to borrow for the upgrade the road Kapchorwa-Suam-Kitale Road. These was two loans in one. Which is one $ 38,349,313.28 or 139,705 billion Uganda Shillings, this was borrowed from African Development Bank (ADB). The other was $ 56,129,597.12 or 204,437 billion Uganda Shillings from the African Development Fund (ADF).

The third loan was in Euros, first part from UK Export Finance (UKEF), which was EUROS 270,266,042.15, converted to US Dollars is $ 321,199,210.23 or in Uganda Shilling the total: 1,170,081,708,10 Uganda Shillings or in word One Trillion One Hundred Seventy billion Uganda Shilling. The second loan are in EUROS 37,110,585 from Standard Chartered Bank, converted to US Dollars is $ 44,112,060.75 or in Uganda Shillings 160,670,761,044.55 or in words One Hundred Sixty Billion, six hundred seventy million, seven hundred sixty-one thousand, forty-four and fifty-five hundredths Uganda Shillings.

So collectively today, the NRM has accepted loans which totals $ 474,190,180 US Dollars. In Uganda shilling it means 1,727,264,129,950.40 Uganda Shillings. In words it is one trillion, seven hundred twenty-seven billion, two hundred sixty-four million, one hundred twenty-nine thousand Uganda Shillings.

The budget of 2017-2018 was in total 29 Trillion Shillings. Therefore, they are now seeking to borrowing close to 2 Trillion Shillings, which is of last years budget close to 2,9 %. So the NRM MPs and State has had no trouble borrowing close to 3 percentage of previous budget on three infrastructure projects. It is evident and should be worrying with the knowledge that the state is already using 33 % of the budget to repay loans of old and their interests. No matter how positive these projects are and what they can accumulate in the future. Still, the basis of loaning this amounts while having growing debts already. Is really tasking future generations to pay for the loans of the previous ones.

So it seems like the NRM are planning to opening the gates and making sure the state owns more to even more banking and international money lenders. As if the petroleum dollars will safe the deficit in the future. As the interests and the downgrading of the state might appear. Unless, the state gets higher oil prices and some luck. Since, the NRM have really forked itself and hoping someone will bail it out. Peace.

Opinion: Hon. Nsubuga is so caught up in Musevenism, that his defense of lifting [the Age Limit] makes him sound foolish!

I know he said in interview during the recent days that he (Simeo Nsubuga), that he wanted the Age Limit lifted in the Constitution of 1995, as a Christmas Gift to the Ugandan People. I wonder when offering a life presidency, ever been for the citizens and not for the President himself. That would be a honest approach. He wrote a lot of crap recently in the State Media and NRM Propaganda paper New Vision. Which, I read, just to see what would the Member of Parliament say and what sort of ways could he argue for the Life Presidency. It is weird, but fitting. It is not smart or even brilliant. Its more a mockery of the state and the whole thing. I will just take snippets and not the whole article. Because I don’t have the time and secondly, I don’t bother wasting that amount of time on it.

Here is the first part of his wisdom:

With all these future headed projects our country is already rich. The bright future will come with able leadership we have enjoyed for the last 31 years under the NRM/ President Y.K. Museveni. Therefore, you cannot talk of changing leadership for the sake of changing because you are not sure that the next leader will be in position to stir the country to greater heights. Our country is at a critical stage of development/conditions to take off where we need to move forward under steady leadership. Some people have argued that let us change leadership because the Constitution provides for (age limit). Personally, I do not buy the idea because you may change and change for the worse. We need to consolidate what we have achieved, under the visionary and steady leadership of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni” (Nsubuga, 2017).

I wonder where Uganda is rich, as it is begging for funding for infrastructure, are using all kind of schemes to fund its institutions and find funding for state projects. If it wasn’t for the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank (WB), certain big projects wouldn’t exists. Secondly, this richness has been shown with not paying civil servants, not paying for medical equipment, making sure schools are intact and roads in the district is able to drive upon. I wonder what so of wealth he is talking about. Unless, the wealth is ghost-workers and cronyism, then the state is wealthy!

The bright future is for the cronies and the National Resistance Movement. How they maneuver and are loyal to Museveni. That his why, they cannot see anyone else than the leadership of him. He is still their visionary and supposed steady, even as the crippled economy is growing in debt. That is well known fact and the payment of interest will not slow down, unless the petrodollar really kicks in. What is more surprising is that Nsubuga says that have to consolidate the power, I thought it already was under control within the State House? Isn’t it already so, but isn’t it worrying that a party lasting for 31 years can only manage to have one head and one master. That he lacks so much leadership skills, that he cannot even teach a successor or even groom somebody to be the next in charge. Leadership isn’t only to be the kingpin, but also to leave the mantle to someone suitable. That you have learned them the hoops and shown them the hurdles. So they can succeed and secure the foundation left behind. Clearly, the NRM and the Museveni lacks this talent.

Here is the second part of his wisdom:

You can see that Uganda which has been under steady leadership for the last 31 years is in better place than those countries. So the point is how do we help our people to prosper economically through agriculture, livestock, business and ICT. Small-scale industries like fruit processing and fish farming not age limit (Togigwatako) As a country at this critical stage of development let us focus on development not politics of age limits which are artificial impositions in the constitution because they limit the scope of choice of leaders a case in point is the new Austria Prime Minister Sebastian Kurz aged 31 years the leader of Conservative People’s Party who was recently elected as a Prime Minister and now the youngest leader on European Continent, so if there was age limit in Austrian Constitution say 35 to 75 years like ours here, no way would Mr. Kurz be a Prime Minister. So issues of age limit and term limits are not universally accepted principles of democracy. The most important principle is regular, free and fair elections and in our case we have been doing it this since 1996” (Nsubuga, 2017).

Let’s look at the second paragraph I took from his article. It is more of the same really. I still don’t see anything more steady, other than the same name and same fella in charge. If that is steady leadership. Then any numb-nut can run the nation and become a statesman. It is weird that continue talking and praising the economy, when the NRM know how bad it is and the state functions are struggling. It is like the blind is leading the blind.

That he is using defense of a real democracy like Austria, where the ballots isn’t pre-ticket and the NRM isn’t rigging. That he speaks of elections like democracy, when they are made with intimidations and cronyism, they are clearly not looking into what the NRM are doing to make the kingpin, staying the kingpin. That the Age Limit would be hurdle for Kurz, but the narrative is totally different. So it is not real need of discussing the different.

When speaking of principles of democracy, why couldn’t Amama Mbabazi run in the NRM Primaries against the Museveni in 2015? Why? Because the NRM are all loyal to Museveni and cannot muster real leadership. They are all faithful minions and subjects of Museveni. So speaking of “accepted principles of democracy”, is a mockery of principles and of democracy. Both of them are in this aspect and assessment misuse of words. The definitions of them should be balanced, but the weight in the NRM are always in favor of Museveni. That is also why Nsubuga are praising his work. Even if he knows it a lie and he does it, to show his loyalty, as the subject he is. Peace.

Reference:

Nsubuga, Simeo – ‘Focus on politics of development not age limit’ (22.11.2017) link: https://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1466166/focus-politics-development-age-limit

Brexit: DUP’s Foster deluded ideas of NI’s Post-Brexit Border!

There are sometimes, you wonder if someone actually thinks through the words coming out their moths. Especially leaders and provider of needed support of the Conservative Party (Tories). The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), are proving their loyalty to London and United Kingdom (UK). That is not surprising that she did so and that her party does so. But her quotes and ideas is deluded and a dream, which will be impossible. It’s like if Arlene Foster thinks she has the upper-hand and can take the European Union by the balls in the negotiations, because no-one cannot survive without Belfast or any of the mineral wealth, which exists in the Northern Ireland. Just read her statement!

Arlene Foster on NI Border Plans of Post-Brexit:

Earlier this week, it had been suggested that Northern Ireland might remain in the customs union after Brexit, to prevent a hard border between itself and the Irish Republic. But, speaking to the DUP annual conference in Belfast, Ms Foster made clear that Northern Ireland would leave the customs union” (…) “She said: “We will not support any arrangements that create barriers to trade between Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom or any suggestion that Northern Ireland, unlike the rest of the UK, will have to mirror European regulations” (…) “The economic reality for our economy is that our most important trading relationship is with the rest of the United Kingdom and we will do nothing that puts that at risk in any way” (…) “We welcome the assurances from the Prime Minister and the UK Brexit team that no such internal barriers will be countenanced and that as we joined the then European Community as one nation we will leave as one United Kingdom.” (Peck, 2017).

I don’t know if she was dreaming, but it doesn’t make sense. That Northern Ireland will not have internal borders, meaning they will not have border with Ireland. The Republic of Ireland is part of the European Union and their Costumes regulations. So there will be hard border, as the EU and UK are becoming separate. This will mean, that on the borders between Ireland and Northern Ireland. There will be some sort of checks and tolls. The tariffs and also other registrations of movement, which is natural between to sovereign states.

What is weird is that she expects the borders to be soft enough as they are now, but still leave the Union together with the UK. Its like she thinks she has the good hand in this, since is in cahoots with London against Dublin. Like Dublin and the Irish Government have no power within the European Union. Secondly, if your leaving the Union, you are not making it easy to have soft and open boarders. There will specifications and implications.

Therefore, the whole idea of this DUP leader and important part of the Tories-DUP are showing their estranged dreams. It does not make sense. Its a mockery and not cool. We can wonder, if this is the reason for the chaos within the Tories Government, since the DUP and their demands don’t even make sense, not even common sense.

They want to stop eating cake, but still wants a slice. You can’t both have cake and not have cake at the same time. You either eat cake or your not. It is that simple, but I think it’s not so for the DUP, apparently. Peace.

Reference:

Peck, Tom – ‘Arlene Foster writes to 27 EU leaders to categorically reject Northern Ireland staying in Customs Union’ (25.11.2017) link: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/arlene-foster-brexit-customs-union-northern-ireland-dup-conference-a8075576.html

Brexit: Lord Callanan spilled the beans, the Tories will keep the public in the dark!

Today, Lord Callanan or Martin John Callanan, who is the Minister of State within the Department for Exiting the European Union (DexEU) has finally answered an important question within the House of Lords. It is essential that the United Kingdom are transparent and open about the Brexit Process, so that the citizens knows what they can get in the future and what will be bargain with European Union. As the negotiations are happening during the next two years. It is official now that the Conservative Party (Tories) and Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) are planning to keep the people and the representatives in the dark. That is their mission to not tell about possible consequences or affects of possible agreements with the European Union. That is initially what Lord Callanan did today. Its weird that it happens in a democracy and with a country that has such a history. But clearly, the Tories prefer dictatorship and work with impunity, instead of being transparent and having an open government to their citizens. That is proven with this sorts of acts and reasoning.

Question asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon on the 13th November 2017:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have any plans to publish a document setting out the political and economic benefits to the UK of leaving the EU” (Lord Stoddart, 13.11.2017).

Answer by Lord Callanan on the 23rd November 2017:

The people voted to leave the EU in a referendum which Parliament voted to hold. A clear majority of the electorate voted to leave the EU and we will respect the will of the British people. Since then the Government has been undertaking rigorous and extensive analysis work to support our exit negotiations, to define our future partnership with the EU, and to inform our understanding of how EU exit will affect the UK’s domestic policies and frameworks. This includes a full suite of economic analysis, as you would expect from a responsible Government. This means looking at 58 sectors as well as cross-cutting regulatory, economic and social issues to help inform our negotiation positions. We have been clear that we recognise Parliament’s rights relating to the publication of documents. However, ministers face conflicting responsibilities – such as a clear obligation not to disclose information when doing so would not be in the public interest. And Parliament has previously voted not to release information that would be prejudicial to our negotiating position” (Lord Callanan, 23.11.2017).

We now know that the Brexit Assessment Reports will not surface, unless they are leaked by disgruntled employees within the Department. Most likely not as the Minister David Davis and Lord Callanan are keeping the issues to their chest. Not dropping any possible damaging reports or even positive changes from leaving the Union. The Tories are happy and content with leaving people in darkness. Leaving the union without transparency and telling the truth. We know that they are trying to discourage and even showing display of disregard of public scrutiny, as they cannot stomach to explain their assessments with the public. We can wonder what is their strategy, if that even exists.

The British people should be worried about this sort of actions. That the Tories doesn’t care that the public don’t know or have no idea of the impact of Brexit. Because the government wont let them see it or read about it. It will be dossiers and rumors, but no real assessment of the possible changes for all industries and society in general. If it is about toxic waste or financial transactions. We don’t know how that will be impacted by the Brexit. That is the result. The Government are not shedding light and hoping people enjoy being in darkness, with no enlightenment and no true numbers of possible impact. That is what is worrying. It is also a sad day for the British Democracy and British people, who voted for it, but will not know until it happens. What it will mean for them and their borders. Not that the Leavers Campaign told them anything of profound message on how it would be.

We know now for sure, the Tories-DUP government are not transparent, not honest and not as expected. It is a disgrace and this proves that the troubles ahead are bigger, than the Tories would like. Also that the affect of the Brexit might be more damaging, than what they want the public to know. Since they are hiding the facts and the assessments. They cannot let the public see it or their representatives, because the public might be shocked and awed by the results of it all. That is why they are silent and not telling it as it is. Peace.

Opinion: Not surprised Hon. Kutesa is implicated in an FBI bribing case; He is one of the untouchable in the Kitchen Cabinet!

Well, when the news broke that the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) of the United States of America, actually had a case implicating a “Ugandan Scheme” involving Honourable Sam Kahamba Kutesa, the current Minister of Foreign Affairs and previous President of the United Nations General Assembly. So clearly, even with all of these titles it is not enough for the brother-in-law to the President Museveni. As he wants more funds and more money without any consideration of the implications behind it.

The recent developments shouldn’t shock anyone. Kutesa has been in the rear-view of the corruption for decades, sometimes riding on a red-light for long, you wonder when the car was about crash into something. He has been walking on the edge and proves again to use his title and status, to again bribe and soliciting money without have proper guidelines behind it. So that the “investor” actually corrupted to get better deals in Uganda. It happen within 2016, but Kutesa has done similar within the energy and oil industry in 2012 and it goes beyond that too. Therefore, the breaking news this week, is that the U.S. Court are implicating Kutesa. Not that Kutesa is corrupt, that is open non-secret for the ones following Ugandan politics. Therefore, Kutesa or Kuteesa himself are part of an untouchable group of people, that has even been reflected upon in the past. Just take a look at the information, that fits the paradigm of what the FBI is investigating these days.

Allegedly, there is an established cartel of untouchable individuals whose business is the president and who use his name to seek business opportunities for their gratification while at the same time seeking to perpetuate the regime that provides them with the opportunity to enrich themselves. A list that includes some of the president’s relatives and close friends would include, Sam Kuteesa, Salim Saleh, Odrek Rwabwogo (who is married to one of the president’s daughters), Moses Byaruhanga (who is married to a relative of the first lady), Bob Kabonero (the proprietor of Kampala casino), Haji Habib Kagimu (a business man and close friend to President Qadaffi), Noble Mayonbo, Jim Muhwezi and a few others. These people practically decide what to do, and then the president calls in the ministers to sign. These people constitute part of the group that is commonly referred to as the kitchen cabinet. It could actually be possible to do a power mapping in Uganda that identifies the power brokers in the country. (Interview with the Director for Economic Affairs at ISO, Mr. Cheeye, October 2005)” (Amundsen, 2006).

ENHAS Part I:

For example, Museveni refused to take action against Sam Kutesa who had been accused in a parliamentary report, of using his position to defraud Uganda Airlines Corporation. The President said the evidence against Kutesa was not conclusive. However, many people attributed Museveni’s defense of Kutesa to their joint family connections. Kutesa’s wife is a sister to the First Lady, and Museveni’s eldest son, Muhoozi Keinerugaba, is expected to marry Kutesa’s daughter. (Keinerugaba was, until recently, the manager of his uncle Salim Saleh’s business empire). The damning parliamentary report on privatisation was released in December last year while a meeting of European donors was taking place in Kampala. The public expected Museveni to take tough action against the ministers and other government officials implicated, if only to demonstrate to the donors that he was serious about fighting corruption. Instead, he told the donors that those shouting about corruption were «malicious and opportunistic,» trying to settle personal scores or gain political advancement. The censure motion against Kutesa is expected to be tabled shortly. Museveni is quick to enumerate the various institutions set up under his government to deal with corruption, including the inspectorate of government, the Public Accounts Committee, the vice-president’s office, and the Ministry of Ethics and Integrity” (Kirungi, 1999).

ENHAS Part II:

Muhwezi’s counterpart and Minister of State for Finance in charge of Privatization, Kutesa, was charged with overseeing the divestiture of the cargo-handling operation of the Uganda Airlines Corporation (UAC). UAC had a 50 percent stake in Entebbe Handling Services (ENHAS), the company that handled its cargo operations, while Kutesa—in an apparent conflict of interest—owned the rest of the shares in the same company. In addition to being a shareholder, Kutesa was also chairman of the board of directors of ENHAS. This conflict of interest was contrary to clause 8(1-3) of the Leadership Code. A Parliamentary select committee, charged with investigating the privatization process, produced a lengthy report accusing Kutesa of directly influencing the decision to sell the airline’s 50 percent share to ENHAS, falsifying the company’s accounts, and evading taxes” (Smith, 2006).

ENHAS Part III:

The Paradise Papers has already proven that ENHAS profits has been tax evaded again as it has gone to a Shell Company in the Seychelles, which was a deal agreed upon in 2012. This was from ENHAS to Katonga Investment. We do not know much funds that is sent between them, but the reporting of the agreement and deals. Show that the ENHAS is a key component in the shady dealing Kutesa does. As he has previously used it to get ill-gotten gains.

As Global Witness is reporting it as: “Sam Kutesa, Uganda’s foreign minister, set up a discretionary trust in the Seychelles in 2012. Appley identified Kutesa’s companies a “high risk,” given his political role and media reports of alleged corruption and bribery involving Kutesa, during a routine review in 2015. In his response to ICIJ’s partner in Uganda, the Daily Monitor, Kutesa said “I don’t have anything to hide…”and that he established the companies, but “I have never done anything with it at all. I told Appleby to close it many years ago.” (Global Witness, 2017).

From Dorsey and Whitey Corruption Digest of January 2012:

President Museveni has announced to members of the National Resistance Movement’s Central Executive Committee that he is investigating Justice Minister Kahinda Otafiire following an intelligence briefing that the minister masterminded the leaked oil bribery documents which accused Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi and ministers Mr Sam Kutesa and Mr Hilary Onek of taking bribes to influence the award of oil deals. As reported in the November edition of the Corruption Digest, the ministers maintain their innocence. However, Parliament has resolved that those involved step aside until the validity of the documents has been investigated. According to President Museveni, the intelligence report accuses Mr Ottafiire of masterminding the oil bribery scandal to disorganise perceived detractors in government. President Museveni has vowed to investigate the matter in his own capacity before briefing the National Resistance Movement Central Executive Committee”(Dorsey and Whitey Corruption Digest, January 2012).

Recent Bribe for Energy Deal:

In or about February 2016 – after the Ugandan Foreign Minister had resumed his role as Foreign Minister of Uganda, and his in-law had been reelected as the President of Uganda – the Ugandan Foreign Minister solicited a payment from HO, purportedly for a charitable foundation that he wished to launch. HO caused a $500,000 payment to be wired to an account in Uganda designated by the Ugandan Foreign Minister, through a bank in New York, New York. In his communications, HO variously referred to this payment as a “donation” to the reelection campaign of the President of Uganda (who had already been reelected) and as a “donation” to “support” the Ugandan Foreign Minister. In fact, this payment was a bribe to obtain business advantages for the Energy Company in its efforts to secure contracts and ventures in Uganda’s financial and energy sectors. HO also provided the Ugandan Foreign Minister, as well as the President of Uganda, with promises of future benefits, including proposing to partner with both officials’ family businesses in potential joint ventures. In exchange, the Ugandan Foreign Minister assisted the Energy Company in obtaining business in Uganda, including by facilitating the Energy Company’s interest in potentially acquiring a bank” (DoJ, 2017).

The Foundation that Kutesa used the bribe through from the HO has no headquarters, no email and is not registered. So the bribe was fueled through an organization not existing in 2016. That is solicited through the checks by the investigators from the United States in November 2017. It was Special Agent Thomas P. McNulty who was looking into the case concerning Kutesa.

Clearly, there are enough scandals involving the Kitchen Cabinet Member Kutesa or Kuteesa. He has a history of corruption and misusing his position for monetary gains. He is one of them and will be surely continue to do so. Even if the United States charges him with money laundering and soliciting ill-gained funds or bribes for energy deals within Uganda. That is not surprising, as he has done that not only in 2016, but back in 2012, as well as other speculative deals getting state reserves and other funds to put in his own pocket.

If we really took a deep dive into his estates, his businesses and into his accounts. I am sure we would find more shadow agreements and more questionable money that has been earned by him and others. A man who has been used to getting bribes, surely, will appreciate it and expect so. Since the power is within reach and he can grate favors for the investors. Therefore, better pay up to get license and possible markets for their trade. This is done by paying in advance the Minister and secure profitable resources and advantages, that others wouldn’t. While also getting an okay and giving a call to the President. To make sure this is okay. Certainly, Kutesa could have maneuvered this way, all along. Peace.

Reference:

Amundsen, Inge – ‘Political corruption and the role of donors (in Uganda)’(January, 2006) – CMI Commissioned Report

Department of Justice – ‘Head Of Organization Backed By Chinese Energy Conglomerate, And Former Foreign Minister Of Senegal, Charged With Bribing High-Level African Officials’ (20.11.2017) link: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/head-organization-backed-chinese-energy-conglomerate-and-former-foreign-minister

Kirungi, Fred – ‘Uganda – The fight against corruption at a crossroads’ ANB-BIA Supplement (March 1999) link: http://ospiti.peacelink.it/anb-bia/nr367/e06.html

Global Witness – ‘THE PARADISE PAPERS: TRUST TRANSPARENCY IN THE EU’ (November 2017)

Smith, John – ‘Case Study on the Role of Parliament and the Media in the Fight against Corruption’ (2006)