Press Release: TDA condemns the violent and forceful eviction in Apa, Uganda (08.09.2015)

land-graphic

Kampala, Tuesday, 8 September, 2015:

The Democratic Alliance (TDA) has learnt with shock and consternation of the deployment of heavily armed police and the military in Apa Parish, Pabbo sub county, Amuru district. The aim of the deployment is to subdue the residents violently in order for the government to demarcate boundaries between the districts of Amuru and Adjumani. They also claim that they want to demarcate the boundary of East Madi Hunting Area.

In 2012 the Uganda Wildlife Authority sent armed Rangers with the backing of police and the army to forcefully evict the residents of Apaa. People were beaten up, their livestock raided, their houses burnt and their crops set on fire. Some young men were shot dead in the operation. Twenty five men were arrested, beaten severely, taken to Adjumani where they were charged with offenses ranging from criminal trespass, being idle and disorderly to threatening violence.

Primary schools were closed down, the pupils and teachers sent away and the school desks were being used as firewood by the army and police. In fact the school became the command post of the army complete with a road block along the road leading to the school.

We are aware that this forceful eviction is being driven by a profit motive. We are also aware that at the instigation of Hon. Moses Ali, the area had been offered by Adjumani district to one Bruce Martin, a foreign investor, to be developed as a private game ranch and hunting area. We feel that since the affected area is not under the exclusive jurisdiction of Adjumani district, it requires cross border collaboration and a joint discussion and a shared decision and consent by the neighboring districts of Amuru and Adjumani.

After the incident where mother of Apa exposed themselves naked be fore the government delegation in protest, government made a commitment that a border meeting would be convened to listen to the concerns of the residents and the leaders.

To our surprise, we were told that three days ago a team comprising the army, police and other government officials were already on the ground and had come in via Adjumani district and were carrying out a survey, boundary opening and were also planting mark stones. This was in total contravention of the spirit of dialogue. Leaders tried to access Apa but roadblocks were set up and they were prevented from speaking to the people.

Three people are now confirmed dead by sources in Apa. Several people suffered grave injuries and are being treated at Amuru health centre. The Member of Parliament Gilbert Olanya was arrested and is believed to be detained in Masindi police station.

We condemn the greed behind this illegal and violent eviction of people trying to settle down after twenty years in concentration camps. We demand that this illegal survey and boundary demarcation he halted immediately.

Only open and transparent dialogue with the affected communities can resolve this matter. Force and violence by the army and police will only escalate an already volatile situation. For centuries the people of Madi and Acholi have coexisted and lived peacefully and there has never been any dispute over the administrative boundaries of the two districts. A case in point is Bibia Parish which is located in Attiak Subcounty, Amuru district and has a considerable population of ethnic Madi people. The administrative boundaries of Amuru and Adjumani are well known. That is why we believe that this current dispute is being orchestrated by greedy people who have selfish interests.

We now propose the following way forward:-

1. Any attempt at a unilateral process of survey and boundary opening at the instance of Adjumani district or the central government should be halted.
2. A high level meeting of government representatives, leaders from the districts of Adjumani and Amuru should be convened by to clarify issues of contention and provide an initial platform for dialogue.
3. A meeting of the communities that reside in the affected area should be convened in order that they become part of the efforts to seek a solution rather than being victimized by decisions and actions imposed from above.
4. Trusted mediators should be sought and asked to get involved in facilitating dialogue by the affected communities. The residents of Apa have for instance proposed that Archbishop John Baptist Odama and retired Bishop Macleod Baker Ochola be asked to mediate in this conflict.

TDA stands in solidarity with the people of Apa. We demand that the media blackout and the isolation of Amuru stops. This brings back memories of Operation North when the entire region was cordoned off as soldiers violated human rights with reckless abandon.

Finally, we know that the NRM regime doesn’t adhere to the rule of law but we wish to state that the matter is before the courts of law and the court has issued an injunction against any further survey and boundary opening.

Government should act impartially and without any undue delay in order that an amicable solution to this problem be found.

Uganda – Recent events on the Independent Candidature of Dr. Aggrey Kiyingi and his aide

Kiyingi

Here is a recent story on what has happen with one presidential hopeful. The independent candidate Dr. Aggrey Kiyingi, who seem to run out of gas before starting the election engine this campaign before the Presidential election of 2016. First his application to get the form gets rubbished. Then his aide that was supposed to pick it up gets visits from the police and his home sieged today. Here are the reports on the matters.

Stated from the Electoral Commission on the 4th September:  

“Dr. Aggrey Kiyingi wanted to pick the forms but could not confirm that he was a Ugandan”. The Spokesman for the electoral commission Paul Bukenya stated: “presidential nomination forms are issued to only Ugandans and aspirants must prove they are Ugandans” (Nsubugu, 2015).

On the 4th of September Jothan Taremwa said this about Dr. Aggrey Kiyingi’s presidential aspiration form: “He said we should issue the forms to Bulira because he was not available. That he was out of the country and had financial constraints, but when we verified his registration status we were informed that he was not registered and, therefore, ineligible to stand for any elective office” (…)”The first requirement is that you need to be a registered voter. Dr. Kiyingi is not on our register, and even Bulira is not a registered voter”. Commissioner Secretary Sam Rwakoojo said: “”First of all, I haven’t seen the letter but if the department concerned denied him those forms, they are correct. If you are not a registered voter, how do you pick forms? For what? It would be a mockery of the system” (Kashaka, 2015).

Earlier today Dr. Aggrey Kiyingi commented on the matter: “The house of Frank Bulira, (at Mengo along Lunguja Road, Plot 20) one of Dr Kiyingi’s mobilisers who went to the Uganda Electoral Commission to pick up nominations papers for Dr Kiyingi last week has been surrounded by military personnel early this morning” (Nteeza, 2015).

Dr. Aggrey Kiyingi said today on the siege on his aide: “It’s home is still surrounded” (…)”Every peace loving person should voice their objection of this tyranny and intimidation” (…)”But they [operatives] gave his wife a very hard time and wanted to arrest her instead” (…)”Now the Military Personal have backed off after seeing the heavy presence of the media” (The Insider, 2015).

I wonder this will go and how this will be. But something is fishy! Peace.

Reference:

The Insider – ‘Military surrounds home of Dr. Kiyingi’s aide’ (08.09.2015) link: http://www.theinsider.ug/military-surrounds-home-of-dr-kiyingis-aide/

 

Kashaka, Umaru – ‘Dr. Kiyingi ‘ineligible to stand for elections’ (04.09.2015) link: http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/673011-dr-kiyingi-ineligible-to-stand-for-elections–ec.html

 

Nteeza, Michael – ‘Dr Kiyingi: My Aide’s Home is Besieged by Military’ (08.09.2015) link: http://chimpreports.com/dr-kiyingi-my-aides-home-is-besieged-by-military/

 

Nsubuga, Benon – ‘Dr. Kiyingi denied nomination forms’ (04.09.2015)

Link: http://www.elections.co.ug/new-vision/election/1000482/dr-kiyingi-denied-nomination-forms

Press Release: (RSA) Parliament Rejects Recent Reports About Precautionary Suspensions (07.09.2015)

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Parliament, Monday, 07 September 2015 – Parliament notes and strongly rejects various newspaper reports related to the precautionary suspension of the senior managers in Parliamentary Protection Services, as a desperate attempt to sensationalise and dramatize a management and labour process that is aimed at stabilising security arrangements in Parliament.

Parliament notes that these actions are aimed at damaging the image of the institution, its management and the Parliament Protection Services by way of engaging in unbecoming ‘politiking,’ against the integrity of the institution. Parliament will not be drawn into this type of engagement because it lacks integrity.

Parliament stands by its previous statement that the precautionary suspension is without prejudice, it is put in place to allow for an independent investigation to take place without any negative influence.

Parliament wishes to reiterate that it is precisely for such reasons as demonstrated by the unprofessional behaviour of some staff members that it wishes to protect the integrity of the process from those who seek to influence and direct the outcomes of this process in a manner that is not consistent with our policies and general professional conduct. Through such utterances in the media, any official is in direct violation of the terms of Parliament policies regarding the Code of Ethics and Conduct for Employees and the Media policy of Parliament, which are very clear on the rules of staff engagement with the media. Parliament notes the brazen disregard for organisation processes, authority and policies in regards to speaking with the media.

Parliament urges all involved to allow the due process of Parliament to take place without interference and attempts to influence the process or its outcomes. To this end, Parliament has engaged with the suspended employees to take the process forward as quickly and smoothly as possible and has not received cooperation in this regard.

Parliament will not respond to each and every utterance as covered by recent media reports.

Parliament notes that its security environment has progressed positively towards stabilisation and it is working hard to ensure a more sustainable solution.

ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENT of RSA

Press Release No215/2015 – Lusaka Hosts Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Capacity Building Workshop on Ending Child Marriage and Other Harmful Tradition Practices in Africa (07.09.2015)

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Professor Lumumba at PAV Ansah Foundation Forum – “On the Subject of Governance!”

PLO Lumumba interesting as always! Right?

Ask ourselves! We should Ask Ourselves!

Peace.

Land Grab – Uganda’s farmers battle with palm oil producers and insights to the business.

What the Ministry of Agriculture press release earlier this august:

The Press Statement from the Government of Uganda

Here is another blogger who has followed the land grabbing and has great article:

BIDCO Oppressed poor Ugandans

And a few sheets of information to prove that their more to this business then just some words here and there!

IFADPalm P1IFADPalm P2

Another fact sheet as well:

OLOB P1OLOB P2OLOB P3

More information read this:

WilmaPalmOil P1WilmaPalmOil P2WilmaPalmOil P3WilmaPalmOil P4WilmaPalmOil P5

Peace!

Press Release: NRM moves party elections to Monday (05.09.2015)

MuseveniNRM2016Election

The ruling party NRM elections body has postponed internal elections for LCI and other party structures to next week.

According to NRM EC boss Tanga Odoi, the rains disrupted the schedules but everything is in place to hold elections starting from September 7.

Odoi also said in Karamoja, northern, eastern and western regions, elections will be held on Monday starting at 8am to 1pm while structure elections will start from 1pm to 5pm.

On Wednesday elections will extend to Kampala and central Uganda.

Earlier, the Secretary General, Kasule Lumumba, dismissed reports of missing funds as misleading, adding that: “The money was released to the EC’s accountant.”

Meanwhile ballot boxes have already been delivered to polling centres while ballot papers are alredy on their way.

Odoi said NRM will present their list of candidates to the National Electoral Commission on September 10

Press Release: The USAID Trade and Investment Hub, Syngenta and IREN Launch Second Edition of Agribusiness Competion for Youth in East Africa (04.09.2015)

USAID Trade PR

Press Statement: Professor Gilbert Bukenya returns Nomination Forms (04.09.2015)

Bukenya supporters

I came here sometime ago and picked TDA Nomination papers for aspirants to the position of TDA presidential flag bearer.

I also picked forms for members of Parliaments that believe in our vision; today we bring back our completed nomination forms. We believe in unity and TDA is the answer. That is why we are here to demonstrate our full support to TDA.

All the problems of Uganda will not be solved at once, even democracy will grow and no country in the world are at the same level of democracy. we therefor strongly believe that when we are in the next government we shall bring about many meaningful changes.

1. Electoral Reforms
2. Constitutional amendments
3. Reducing public expenditure (number of MPs, number of districts and presidential advisors etc…)
4. Increase productive expenditure
5. Fight corruption.

Bukenya TDA EC

The current government will never tackle these changes if they are still in power, this they have demonstrated a number of times.

Therefore i am not a believer in “no reforms, no participation in elections” this is giving a silver plate to the current dictatorship to retain power. I will participate in the coming general elections to defeat this regime. Thereafter embark on genuine reforms. We shall then prove ourselves to be different and committed to our country THE TIME FOR CHANGE IS NOW.

Do not take us for granted we mean what we say. I thank all those Ugandans who are deeply supporting our cause. I have so far gathered the required electoral Commission signature for my presidential nomination bid in 82 districts of Uganda in less than 2 weeks. but i will stand with the TDA procedures for concluding on a single presidential flag bearer and i will support whoever is concluded on.

TDA must not delay and if it delays it will be its fault.

Tackling poverty is my priority number one. Poverty for today, tomorrow and future generations. We have the plan that will be wholly and fully implementable. The poor have been so abused and so exploited beyond reason by the government of today.

They are handed money in bags instead of teaching them to look for their own money. These sharks don’t want to teach the poor “to fish”but want to give them fish making them beggars. This must change.

Bukenya will teach you how to fish and eat fish whenever you want.

Thank you
For God and My Country

Prof. Gilbert Bukenya
Presidential Aspirant 2016.

The numbers game on the actual fallen soldiers after the Al-Shabab attack on the AMISOM military base of Janaale in Somalia on the 1. September 2015

ALJAZEERA Somali AMISOM

There been righteous ways of seeing this and also the flabbergasting way as well. The sadness of it all it’s a lot of lives been lost for the security of Somalia and the central area around Mogadishu which the AMISOM and the African Union Mission in Somalia is keeping. They have gotten setbacks before while being on the mission and it peaceful efforts in the country. It’s not the mandate I will discuss in this piece. This piece will show the numbers are of the fallen are not structured. There are reasons to believe that Al-Shabab want as great numbers as possible to prove it was worth for their cause. Secondly it’s natural that AMISOM and the UPDF want as little loss of lives as possible and also keep mouth shut about the actual number since that might have a backlash in Uganda. That’s the reason why I question it today. What I will comment on is the different numbers of fallen soldiers. We can also question the accuracy since even the reports they have named the military base of Janaale/Janale which is it? Another thing is the kilometer length from Mogadishu to the base is from 45 kilometers to 100 kilometers depending on which report. I will not mention who says what, but it seems strange that the place will be that far apart in distance from Mogadishu in one report and 50 kilometers less in another one. But the real issue is how many soldiers did fall in the mercy of the Al-Shabab in the military base. Here is the different reports form the 1st September to the 3rd September, both in media and of official sources:

But this story is about the attack that AU Chairman condemns on 1. September 2015 that was in Janaale which is 65 kilometers from Mogadishu. “Gunmen attacked the base at Janaale in the Lower Shabelle region with a car bomb at about 4:30 a.m. local time Tuesday. Al-Shabab gunmen then entered the camp, triggering a gunfight with AU soldiers”. They reported in VOA on the 1. September said that there were 19 killed in the attack (Joseph & Hannas, 2015).

In the Kenyan Newspaper Daily Nation their reports was this: “”It is assessed that at least 50 Amison troops died,” said a briefing note sent to diplomats by Western military officials” (…) “”They were collecting dead bodies, I saw nearly 30 soldiers killed during the fighting,” said local resident Hussein Idris” (Daily Nation, 2015).

Haberler.com had on the 2nd September unconfirmed reports they said from anonymous source to the Anadolu Agency the source said that “18 bodies have been recovered from the Janaale military base” (Haberler.com, 2015).

On the 2nd September Henry Obbo of the UPDF tweeted: “Alshabaab has not overrun AMISOM base in Janaale nor has AMISOM lost such huge numbers of soldiers. That is mere propaganda”.

On the 3rd September Mr. Paddy Akunda said:

“The names of the dead will be published now that the next of kin have been notified as per our policy”(…)” The 10 peacekeepers , whose bodies were returned today are:Leutenant David Etua Ondoma, Sergeant Charles Outa, Sergeant Charles Ojange, Sergeant Eddy Kakaire, Sergeant Abubaker Mugumya, Sergeant Emmanuel Wanyama, Lance Corporal Andrew Engema, Lance Corporal Phinius Ochowun, Private Isaac Okidi Lotyang and Private Geoffrey Kintu” (…)”​This attack is a game changer, Al-shabaab can only expect an appropriate response from UPDF.We will not relent in our efforts to help in the pacification of Somalia despite the attack” . The total number that the spokesman says was deceased in the attack was 12 men from the UPDF” (Anyoli, 2015).

CNN reports this numbers on the 3 September:

“At least 37 African Union soldiers were killed in an attack by Al-Shabaab militants in southern Somalia on Tuesday, according to military sources in Uganda and Somalia” (Kriel & Duggan, 2015).

Witnesses and Al-Shabab claim on the 3rd September:

“No official death toll has been given but Somalia’s extremist insurgents al-Shabab claimed that 50 soldiers were killed” (SomaliAgenda, 2015).  Amhed Yasin eyewitness said this: ““After almost one hour the gunfire stopped and al-Shabab fighters started transporting armaments and troops’ belongings into awaiting cars” (…)”Al-Shabab later abandoned the base after emptying it of all belongings. I could see men in soldiers’ dress being forced into vehicles who might have been soldiers taken captive”.  Another man who also is a witness to the attack said this: “blood and soldiers’ uniforms everywhere” he was Hashi Sheikh Elmi. Maalin Muhummed Nur said this:“One commander said, ‘You have to know that we are always around and will get any apostates among you … working with the enemy.’”(SomaliAgenda, 2015).

Gen Odong Jeje statement in Parliament on the 3rd September:

“On the morning of 1st Sept 2015 at 5:30 am, Alshabab attacked a UPDF unit at Janale approximately 90 km South East of Mogadishu. Janale is in the Shabele province. The result of this attack so far are as follows:

Own side: 10 dead

Enemy side: 46 dead, 2 captured alive.

I am giving you these figures so that you are informed and not swayed by the outrageous stories in the media” (Gen Odong Jeje, 2015).

CDF Gen Katumba Wamala statement on the 3rd September:

He said: ““My visit was prompted by what happened here in Janaale, where we are now, where our base was attacked by the Al Shabaab using a vehicle bomb IED to breach the defense and where we incurred some casualties; some of our friends lost their lives. I came one, to assess how the situation was and to get a clear picture; how the whole thing happened, and also establish whether they were any flaws in terms of the response. I am convinced that the boys put up a good fight” (…)”I just want to give assurance to our partners and also the other soldiers that all is under control and definitively nothing much to worry about. Our hearts go out to the galant soldiers who lost their lives as they were executing this noble task of defending and protecting the civilians in this country against the bad fellows Al Shabab” (AMISOM, 2015).

Afterthought:

This here is massive and no matter how you look on it’s a sad event. Too many people lost their lives on this base. The issue is that the report from all the sources and witnesses doesn’t add up. I could have looked into what the military explained about the explosion and the eyewitness accounts on the actual attack. This has also a detail that doesn’t add up. There are so many numbers, accounts and sources that make the facts on the ground a worrying account. Especially to all those families who has soldiers in the AMISOM brigades of UPDF that are stationed in the area. There been released ten names. There been numbers up to 50 dead UPDF soldiers. Other official sources say Gen Odong Jeje said 10 soldiers; Lt. Col. Paddy Akunda the military official said 12 peacekeepers. The other once goes from 18 soldiers to the Anadolu Agency, VOA reported that it was 19 Soldiers, local resident and eyewitness Hussain Idris said 30 soldiers, CNN reported said 37 soldiers.   

No matter if it is 10, 12 or 37 Soldiers in the UPDF that has fallen in the battle of military base. It should be sure every single one of them is one to many. That I think we all are on accord with. The loss of these men is a sad thing for the AMISOM, the UPDF and the Republic of Uganda. For the loss of their men in Somalia in the African Union mission. I personally wished that the actual number would appear and that the difference between the CNN and the military sources wasn’t that big as it is. There is all the reasons in the world to believe that the Al-Shabab would juice their numbers up to prove that their attack had effect. So it’s the difference between the military, other sources and the media that are staggering and makes people like me wonder and question it all. That the attack appeared and that are people who has lost their lives is something we can be sure about. Since the pictures of the fallen and caskets with the Ugandan flags has been released as they have been flown home. The thing we have to question, which sources are true here? Who tells the actual facts on the ground? What is reality and what is spiked up? Feel me?

In the end I will do the same as Gen. Odong Jeje did in parliament today: “May I request we rise in a minute of silence in honor of our dead comrades”. Peace.

Reference:

AMISOM – ‘STORY: Ugandan, CDF Visits and Commends Frontline Troops in Janaale, Somalia’ (03.09.2015), AMISOM PUBLIC INFORMATION

Anyoli, Edward – ‘UPDF loses 10 soldiers in Somalia attack’ (03.09.2015) link: http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/672966-updf-loses-12-soldiers-in-somalia-attack.html

Joseph, Dan & Hannas, Chris – ‘19 AU Soldiers Killed in Somali Al-Shabab Attack’ (01.09.2015) link: http://www.voanews.com/content/al-shabab-militants-attack-amisom-base/2940387.html

En.Haberler.com – ‘Shabaab Kills Dozens Of Ugandan Troops İn Somalia: Reports’ (02.09.2015) link: http://en.haberler.com/shabaab-kills-dozens-of-ugandan-troops-in-somalia-794252/

Kriel, Robyn & Duggan, Briana – ‘Military sources: Al-Shabaab attack in Somalia kills dozens of AU troops’ (03.09.2015) link: http://edition.cnn.com/2015/09/03/africa/somalia-al-shabaab-attack/

Nation.co.ke – ‘Al-Shabaab kills ‘over 50’ Amisom soldiers, say Western sources’ (02.09.2015) link: http://www.nation.co.ke/news/Al-Shabaab-kills-over-50-Amisom-soldiers-say-Western-sources/-/1056/2855476/-/g0cs33z/-/index.html

SomaliAgenda – ‘RESIDENTS: DEAD BODIES LAY INSIDE AFRICAN UNION MILITARY BASE AFTER SOMALIA ATTACK’ (03.09.2015) link: https://somaliagenda.com/residents-dead-bodies-lay-inside-african-union-military-base-after-somalia-attack/

Statement to Parliament on the unfortunate attack of UPDF detachment at Janale Somalia by Gen Odong Jeje, 3rd September 2015, Uganda.