Another look into the #KaseseAttacks and the reasons for the violence in Bundibugyo and Kasese; as the Albertine and Rwenzori Sub-Region have had big loss of lives; while the Government Security Force have used different reasons for the Post-Election Violence; the IGP Kayihura have claimed: “Yira, Militias, Tribal clashes and Criminal activity for the same actions”; What is right Mr. Police Officer?

Museveni Bundibugyo 28.03.2016

’I have not come here because of politics but because of the people losing their lives and property. Whoever is responsible will suffer the consequences,’ President .Yoweri Kaguta Museveni during today’s visit in Bundibugyo” (NBS TV Uganda, 28.02.2016).

Yesterday President Museveni went around in Kasese District and Bundibugyo district where he was in army fatigue and speaking of the consequence of violence, as his militarized politics could lead into aggravated assaults and killings. The deaths that sparked right after elections and have made people flee their homes and land for IDP Camps. This here will show how the government through the security organizations, as the Police Force and the Army who has acted with violence and not with intelligence; as the rhetoric and information to the media does not add-up. Something I will take you through.

As the violence of Kasese and Bundibugyo district have fleered up and taken scores of lives. Both by Police and civilians; the Police and Army have targeted specific groups after a troublesome local councilor election in the area. Those have opened up wounds from 2014. The Region have been a place of violence, because of the security organs and the police force taking the handpicked individuals while civilians flee from Bundibugyo and living in IDP Camps instead of their homes. The Rwenzori Sub-Region have been put in flames since the election, and there been over a 120 people died during the last two months and many houses been burnt down to the ground. As the Police and Army have helped the men taking sides in the clashes instead of working to make it peaceful, therefore the killings that even was taped we’re directed at Omusinga bwa Rwenzuru’s security guards that even been delegated to him by the government. That is rare incidence and also showing at what level of violence the government forces goes and therefore the fear in the area. Take a look what the King said about the recent actions!

Charles Wesley Mumbere

The Rwenzuru speaks out:

“Omusinga said, “Kayihura cannot rely on someone who hates the kingdom to investigate and address issues affecting the Rwenzori region” (…)“The problems of Rwenzori region have not been handled well and this explains why people are killing each other. A section of people who are against our cultural institution and those that failed to mobilize for the (ruling) party are taking malicious reports to government that we are fighting government. This is not true.” (…)“These were spreading malicious messages that the meeting I had with Dr. Kiiza Besigye contributed to their defeat and yet they failed to organize and talk to me during the recently concluded campaigns,” (Ainganyiza, 2016).

The King says it is not criminal or ethnical acts that has done the trick this time, but a reaction to the recent election and that there been no direct actions against the government; that is said to counter what IGP Kale Kayihura earlier said after being in Rwenzori Sub-Region and using the intelligence from the Police Force, while also not stating the direct killings that happen to the Rwenzururu Kingdom guards that was shot and killed early. While the President was speaking the people in the Bundibugyo area together with Minister Bataringaya were being BOOED by the public because they sees his actions as lazy, since they doesn’t see him doing anything to stop the violence. Under here is more information about on the matter!

Kayihura Kasese Bundibugyo 24.03.2016

What a Government Official has said:

“Jolly Tibamanya, the Bundibugyo district chairperson, said that 31 people were killed during the clashes and 361 houses burnt. He requested the President to improve the presence of security personnel in the sub county. Tibamanya added that several residents have abandoned their gardens for fear of being attacked” (94.3 QFM Lira, 29.03.2016).

On 25th March the Rwenzori Police Spokesperson said this:

“The Rwenzori regional police spokesperson Lydia Tushabe has said that the police are now treating the attackers in the districts of Kasese and Bundibugyo as a militia group” (New Vision, 25.03.2016).

Something the Police left out to tell:

“On Thursday March 24, Bakonjo elders from the highlands of Bundibugyo District gathered to meet with Inspector General of Police Kale Kayihura, who has been camping in the Rwenzori sub-region over the recent weeks to tackle the violence that has so far claimed at least 32 lives in Kasese and Bundibugyo districts. After waiting for hours, the elders were informed that Gen Kayihura had flown away and that they would meet another day. Tempers flared, especially because many Bakonjo look at the police chief as a partisan player in the conflict that has pitied them against the Bamba – Babwisi, Basongora and other tribal sub-groups. Mr Christopher Kibanzanga, the MP-elect of Bughendera County in Bundibugyo, however, says his fellow Bakonjo should not worry anymore about Gen Kayihura’s perceived partisanship in the matter, which he says “has been handled”. Mr Kibazanga says Gen Kayihira’s intention was not to snub Bakonjo elders but had to leave Bundibugyo “immediately. “He gave me a call and explained” (Rwenzururu Times, 28.03.2016).

Museveni Bundibugyo 28.03.2016 P2 River

As the Police and Government continues to spread the information on the matter. “Kirumamutima” or Strong Hearted Youth Group was supposed to be behind the matter, and now even the Police Regional Spokesperson Lydia Tushabe claimed a militia, but did need say who. When Lydia says it is a Militia, than it’s either “Kirumamutima” or the Uganda Saving Force (USF), who was one of two groups claiming to be behind the shooting and stealing of guns at Kapchorwa. Still that does not sound like what’s the King or the Politicians in the area claim. The cross-claims and changing statements from the Police and Army does not look well together with the obvious malicious attack on the Kingdoms Security Guards that was even filmed and created an outrage that got even the IGP out of Kampala to search the area. The Police have stopped discussing the Yira Republic because the Public knows that is an excuse for the Security Force to get rid of the men who is not positive towards the ruling regime and the opposition; as the opposition is strong and didn’t want NRM men in councilor in the sub-counties and Rwenzori sub-region. And the Police did not say or want to say to the world that they are taking sides in a fragile situation; that is well-known since the clashes of 2014 is not far from the minds of the people and the Local Councilor III elections was just the last straw and the Police Force together with the army went all in, not with justice or rule of law, but brutally killing.

A Story on how 16 died in Bundibugyo:

“A woman with a baby strapped on her back is found harvesting cocoa (stealing) from plantation that doesn’t belong to her. In a typical mob justice fashion, she is beaten. But with the pang with which she was harvesting the cocoa, she fights back and delivers some cuts to some members of the mob. She is eventually overpowered. She and her child are dead. Her tribesmen come for the man whose cocoa was being nipped. The man (whose cocoa the dead woman was harvesting illegally) is killed by the alleged thief woman’s tribesmen. The thing spirals out of hand and degerates into a tribal clash. And the last time checking? 16 deaths” (Rwenzori Post, 25.03.2016).

Bundibugyo 29.03.2016 IDP Food

As the first sign of peaceful action from the Government:

“Government begins supplying food to the over 10,000 people displaced by tribal clashes in Bundibugyo” (NTV Uganda, 29.03.2016).

The Story is just a sorry reflection of the state of affairs and that the 16 people in the total of death, that died for very little and not even the ballot, but cocoa beans that was stolen. An innocent baby lost the life in those clashes. This proves there are certain animosity in the area and how quickly the melee and violence happens. That kind of actions are local clashes, not militia made, but mob mentality as the Police Force is not in real control of the local policing or violence. As the woman was stealing cocoa, but she deserved to be fined or repay the owner for the stolen cocoa, which would have been the ordinary treatment, not killing her and her baby, together with 14 more people! So it’s sad to know how the killings got out of hand and the clashes is just one out of many in the recent month. If the rest of the killings except for the ones directly going against the kings guards in the Rwenzori Sub-Region, and these killings was neither militia as the woman who stole cocoa was not USF or the so-called “Kirumamutima” so the Police intelligence cannot be that great. First it was tribal, than it was criminal, and not it is militia. So there is either a cover-up or the IGP Kayihura and the local Spokesperson is not speaking the whole truth. We might need a giant Parliament Report as the one that came after the 2014 clashes in the region. This time it fleered up straight after elections and announcement of local councilor in the area. That ended up in clashes and later got fueled into old grievances’ between the tribes in the area as a tool for the Police and Army to try to take more control of the Kasese and Bundibugyo district; as they are in the Rwenzori and Albertine region where also the oil-development is. So the way the NRM-Regime have treated the area and used Machiavellian tactics and now it has backfired.

Bundibugyo 28.03.2016

The worst thing is that President Museveni came in with the tanks and  the Army; while just walking around like a royalty and not asking the locals, but telling people how to be. The Same did the Police Force has done and also not listened or confirmed either with the Rwenzururu King or the Elders of the area. To continue to add further insults to the injury and the killings of relatives. That are now being used for political gain and saying that certain militias or guerrillas are behind it. While the small reports on the ground shows other display or character of violence. Like the Government of Uganda tries to disorganize the Rwenzori sub-region; so they cannot gain anything out of the coming development projects or the planned operations that are in the area. As the Albertine-Region and Rwenzori Sub-Region will have lot to say when coming in the oil-projects, so it seem a little to startling that it happens there and not in other parts of the country. But hey, that is just me. Peace.

Reference:

Ainganyiza, Steven – ‘Rwenzori Attacks: King Wants Independent Investigating Committee’ (28.03.2016) link: http://www.chimpreports.com/rwenzori-attacks-king-wants-independent-investigating-committee/

Press Statement: National Bank Sends Six Managers on Compulsory Leave (29.03.2016)

Kenya National Bank 29.03.2016

Press Statement: Increased displacement out of South Sudan into Sudan fuelled by food insecurity

df26UNMISS

This is a summary of what was said by UNHCR spokesperson Adrian Edwards to whom quoted text may be attributed at the press briefing, on 29 March 2016, at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.

UNHCR is concerned by the increasing number of South Sudanese fleeing into Sudan because of increased food insecurity caused by the ongoing conflict and deteriorating economic conditions. Heightened food insecurity and growing unrest in parts of South Sudan, especially in the north-western States of Northern Bahr El Ghazal and Warrap, have resulted in the flight of some 38,000 people into East and South Darfur since end of January. UNHCR fears the situation could quickly worsen as the nutrition situation in Upper Nile, Warrap, and Northern Bahr Ghazal grows increasingly serious.

The Government of Sudan’s Humanitarian Aid Commission reported the arrival of 2,328 South Sudanese in El Meiram and 2,520 in Kharasana, in West Kordofan State. These new arrivals, which may be under-counted, have reached Sudan in poor health, many having risked their lives en route. They need humanitarian help including food, water, basic relief items, SGBV prevention and response as well as family reunification. UNHCR led a mission to El Meiram on 20 and 21 March to assess the level and nature of the needs. In East Darfur, an average of 500 South Sudanese or 100 households have been arriving per day, rising to over 150 households last week, with a total of 35,234 as of 23 March, and more are expected in the coming days.

Souh Sudan Grass

They have mostly settled in Khor Omer IDP camp, with smaller numbers arriving in the villages of Adila, Bahr Alara, Asalaya, Abu Karinka and Abu Jabra. The situation is desperate with most new arrivals having travelled up to 4 weeks before reaching Khor Omer, carrying few personal belongings and in need of urgent humanitarian assistance. UNHCR will coordinate, along with OCHA, the overall humanitarian response, which focuses on the areas of protection, public health and nutrition, sanitation, basic relief items, SGBV prevention and response as well as child protection. UNHCR is also advocating for direct access to East Darfur to support the response.

In South Darfur, over 2000 new arrivals were registered in Beliel Camp. Many of them arrived with no identification documents and are in need of humanitarian assistance, in particular food and hygiene items such as soap and jerry cans. Many children have been separated from their families. UNHCR led an inter-agency needs assessment mission last week to determine the needs of both the new arrivals and the host communities, which are over-stretched as each household is hosting an additional 25 to 35 people. The assessment indicates that refugees have faced insecurity en route to Sudan, are now living in overcrowded conditions with many of them being sick and in need of medical attention.

Peacekeeper Sudan

The conflict that erupted in South Sudan in December 2013 has produced one of the world’s largest humanitarian emergencies with 2.3 million people forced to flee their homes, 678,000 of these across borders as refugees and 1.69 million displaced inside the country. Growing food insecurity and ongoing conflict are causing more and more South Sudanese to flee either across borders or inside the country. They are among 2.8 million people across South Sudan officially classified as facing a ‘crisis’ or ’emergency’ of food insecurity, according to Fewsnet, the global body mandated to monitor such situations.

With the number of South Sudanese fleeing their country increasing rapidly, UNHCR is extremely worried that the 2016 South Sudan Regional Refugee Response Plan (RRRP) that covers the refugee programmes in the neighbouring countries, run by UNHCR and 39 partners, is only funded at 3 per cent. This leaves many lifesaving activities such as the provision of clean water, sanitation and health services, food and shelter severely underfunded.

Press Statement: Termination of the JKIA Green Field Terminal (GFT) Project (29.03.2016)

KAA Statement 29.03.2016

A Free Uganda Statement on the growing attacks on police stations and other security installations Uganda (29th March 2016)

Kapchorwa March 2016

Despot Museveni’s refusal to step down, after an election that was clearly rigged, is propelling the Ugandan nation to a violent clash between him and the rest of Ugandan citizens.

There is now very little doubt that Ugandans are gearing up for a fight to dislodge Museveni from state house should he fail to step down voluntarily.

And only one man is to blame for this state of affairs – Yoweri Museveni.

Not only did he rig the elections in such a comprehensive manner, but his daily repressive actions against innocent Ugandans, who are merely demanding for their constitutional rights and freedoms, has set the stage for violent show down, which is now more than mere speculation.

Because of the continued arrest and house arrests of freedom struggle leaders like Kizza Besigye and General Sejusa, as well as thousands of other pro-democracy activists, many of whom have disappeared without trace, this, in addition to wanton killings of unarmed civilians, daily tear-gassing of babies, pregnant women and even religious leaders, Ugandans are now realising that all peaceful means of expressing their grievances have been denied to them.

They are now left with little option but to prepare for a big fight to end tragic occupation of state house by a man who was overwhelmingly voted out by the majority of Ugandans.

It is no coincidence that many of the armed groups now launching their initiatory attacks on police stations in places like Sebei and Kasese, by all indications, military or, as it were, well trained people.

Ugandans will remember that the members of Ugandan armed forces, and even the police service, voted overwhelmingly against Yoweri Museveni in the February elections, a fact fully and publically acknowledge by Museveni himself.

The signs are that the men and women in uniform are slowly but steadily joining the People’s Struggle for Freedom.

It is true that a few of the police and UPDF functionaries are still offering their services to Museveni, his son Brigadier Muhoozi and the rogue police general, Kale Kayihura. Those are the ones killing, tear-gassing and intimidating innocent citizens in places like Kasangati, outside Dr. Kizza Besigye’s home.

But, without any shred of doubt, the overwhelming numbers of UPDF soldiers, police and security service functionaries, would love to help rescue their Motherland from Museveni’s illegitimate and illegal terrorist outfit that is falsely claiming to be the government of the Republic of Uganda.

The coming months will prove this to be the case.

The Struggle for Uganda’s freedom is on.

“The media shouldn’t parrot Opposition false claims” – Ofwono Opondo; I beg to differ and address his claims; and discuss he defense for the so-called Election Victory of his beloved NRM!

Topowa Vote

“If voting made any difference they wouldn’t let us do it” – Mark Twain

When we speak of Ugandan election it is not often Mark Twain comes to mind, but he should be spoken about like folklore and around the bonfires and around the charcoal since it exactly what happen. Mr. Opondo has yet again come to the defense of his party and his master. Last time I addressed him on the 1st February 2016, when he attacked the Media and the FDC. He does the same thing again, now in another manner, but still needs to comment and arguments need to be sealed and show how the misleading words of the NRM spokesman are. If these arguments from the NRM spokesman are true, then I say that the voting done in the Presidential and Members of Parliament Elections in mid-February wouldn’t make a difference, since the NRM just let the citizens do it. But we would hope the value of the votes mattered more right?

“I take issue broadly with the Ugandan media’s coverage of election campaigns and results so far. It surprises me that more than a month after the public declaration, official release and gazzettment of the election results by Electoral Commission (EC) the mainstream media of radios, television stations and newspapers continue to parrot the false and absurd claims by Dr Kizza Besigye of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) that he was ‘robbed’ of victory at the last minute by the NRM in connivance with the Electoral Commission and other State organs. FDC lost 17 of its 35 MPs in the 9th Parliament, and the party hasn’t made any gains at all!” (Opondo, 2016).

New Vision 71% 2011 - 2016

Well, the reason why everybody can claim what surprises you Mr. Opondo is that the men and woman with the Candidates Declarations Forms from the Polling stations from other parties have been detained, the amount of polling stations counted in the official announcement and results are small, the pre-ticked ballots evidence have been massive, even polling officials have had ballot-boxes pre-made before the Election Day; therefore with the massive amounts of the rigging the claims that surprises you shouldn’t Mr. Opondo, but I know you would say anything that your master command you to. As you are not allowed to think on your own right Mr. Opondo? I know that hurts, but by now it must be facts. If a rigged elections and the results from the elections is seen as verified then the might be a loss for the FDC, but even though they might not have lost, since there was no crowds celebrating your grand victory and the country was mourning while the soldiers was heavy deployed and the army was standing around Namboole Stadium and the Electoral Commission Headquarter unto the time for petition the elections on the 1st of March. So your victory can’t be that big when you need all security organizations, the army and the police at standby, if the public wanted your victory they would catch chicken thieves and not having Dr. Kizza Besigye under house-arrest ever since the day before the Election Day.

“In this election, Besigye gained 1.5 million votes compared to two million votes he got in 2011 while Museveni’s gain was a paltry 500,000. To the NRM strategists, this is the most shocking, indeed worrying trend, and having located the cause as being our messaging, strategy, campaign style, internal laxity, occasioned fraud and widespread bickering. We shall not blame anybody else except ourselves. Actually, to be frank, we were almost swept away by our collective failure to robustly respond to the Opposition demagoguery on issues of youth unemployment, despair among the urban population, poor and yet expensive public service delivery and bad public relations, especially to distribution of soft campaign cash that often got stolen along the way among other issues. This, to the Besigye camp, should give hope that with better strategic organisation, not only falsehoods, they can in the future topple NRM through the ballot instead of being bad losers” (Opondo, 2016).

PM Uganda 11.02.2016 Paying Bribe

Well, the NRM Task Force and Campaign Team have used large war-chest and monies on the election, ferrying more voters than ever in history. The cause doesn’t seem important as the recycling pledges from the leader of NRM and the President. There been internal problems that are visible ever since the Executive decided to cut ties with Amama Mbabazi. With that the Party has struggled through a strange internal election called the NRM-Primaries, and even in the end payed to have the losing incumbent as “NRM Independent” in the General Election. You can claim stolen campaign funds while you have scandals of money from the Bank of Uganda used for campaign, getting money from the Government of Kenya and giving away UGX 250k to every village in the last days before the Presidential Poll on the 18th February. If the FDC came with only “Falsehood” and still feeling the need to defend the ballots, the ballot and pre-ticked ballots and the statistically strange results of 100% for the NRM candidate at certain polling stations. There are too many issues from the Election Day and the late release of Election Material in Wakiso and Kampala while the Kaabong Town and Lira Town could vote from the early morning on the Election Day seems like rigging to me, as the EC Headquarter are just besides the Polling Stations in Kampala and Wakiso. So Mr. Opondo the deal with feeling bad about losing is that there to many factors in the pot to make a to tasty stew for the matooki, it is not just beans, it is leafs, onions, spices and water mixing well to feed the pundits and commentators with enough to question the elections. If the FDC could topple the NRM, then the NRM should not worry about defending all the Electoral Malpractices during the Election and Pre-Election Period proves the problems that the NRM Spokesman struggles with. That must be the reason why he had to defend yet again the Election Announcement and Declaration. But Mr. Opondo does not have the heart to discuss that and suggest the issues since that really weakens the argument he needs to justify the so-called “win”.

Missing boxes 20.02.2016

The claims of rigging, especially at the last minute through alleged intimidation of candidates’ agents, ballot stuffing, falsification or alteration of results on tally and declaration sheets and at announcements are perturbing and incredibly unbelievable. These could pass as truth if the peddlers could at least adduce some verifiable evidence from eyewitnesses and documents in their possession that differ from those of the EC, which ought to be available from the multiple sources, including the media that observed these elections” (Opondo, 2016).

Mr. Opondo, when you got footage, got reports of officials, even police officers having ballots, when you got so many FDC officials and Go-Forward Officials detained, is not “incredible unbelievable”; that sad thing Mr. Opondo is that it is true, if not the FDC would might have had the opportunity to file a petition of this fraudulent Election you claim to valid. The Police have rounded up and taken amounts of opposition officials in jail and at gun-point. I know that you don’t believe that Mr. Opondo, that is because you’re sitting safe in your home and reading while “sighing” and “cursing”. Mr. Opondo I know you wish your party and leadership that pays you creates a “fairytale”, but without your knowledge apparently the Party you’re speaking for and working hard to defend has become the Orwellian. The Election Observers and Monitoring Teams have come with both good and bad. Even said that the Electoral Commission didn’t reform as asked to do after the General Election 2011, the CCEDU and CEON-U were not taken in or even gotten a place in the Petition. Commonwealh was not giving a good preliminary statement; the COMESA/EAC/AU gave a counter-statement that was positive; while the European Union also asked questions; as much as the American Mission in Kampala has also asked for the copies of the forms, with the Electoral Commission complying to the request proving that there are questions to be asked! That is something you don’t even bother to think about, Mr Opondo? Or is that reasoning blowing your mind and boggles the brain-cell that operates your reasoning?

Transmission of Results Omoro

“But, it appears the candidates, observers and media did a shoddy job and are now embarrassed that they cannot provide any credible documentary evidence of fraud hence the generalised allegations of cheating and unfairness. The local media in particular, appear to have been overtaken by the early rumblings in the campaigns perhaps by the way Mbabazi was hounded out of NRM secretary general position and the subsequent obstruction of his initial consultations outside NRM party rules by the police. Unfortunately, Mbabazi’s would-be most loyal and vocal supporter, his wife Jacqueline has been reported indisposed throughout the campaigns and, we wish her steady recovery.  The media silence has left Besigye to make bogus claims, thereby inadvertently lending false credence that indeed he was cheated and fanned public anxiety. Surely, the Uganda media can do much better” (Opondo, 2016).

The Embarrassing part Mr. Opondo with all the knowledge you still attack the opposition who has been detained and struggled. While the NRM has had police by their side, the NRM have ordered the Police and even used them to silence the Media. And when you as a spokesman uses the end of statement implying them to tell the story as you do; you wonder why people are claiming what they do? If it was “Bogus Claims” from the FDC wouldn’t you just let the FDC come with a Petition with the Declaration Forms and witnesses instead of doing what you did? The only good thing you did during the whole statement was to defend the election and attack the FDC. And as a NRM Spokesperson you’re supposed to speak up for the Party, so if you did anything else Mr. Opondo you would do a crappy job, but defending this in this display and rhetoric is not winning or defining the opposition or the announcement of the result.

NBS 23.02.2016 Najjanankumbi

The reason Mr. Opondo why I have not discussed the numbers and percentage of this election, as that is not necessary as your constant attack on the media. Because of it was fair and the justification of the victory was unnecessary your piece would have made more sense. This was not a piece of clear message and clarifying the victory, more a meager display of trying to defend the election and the winning result. Mr. Opondo if it was a clear victory wouldn’t he be happy people around the streets of Kampala and all over the country? As it has been in the early history of your beloved NRM-Election?

The silence of the media is because of the mourning and understanding of their audience and have followed the UGPetition16 and the actions around that; the other issue is that the NRM have attacked the media from pre-election period, the police has shot a journalist in the head, detained a dozen, confiscated the equipment, taken broadcaster of air, shut of the transmitters of radios, closed stations when opposition leaders comes to scheduled programming, gotten NTV banned from the campaign trail and so on. The NRM is responsible for the climate that the media is in, the censoring and silence is made by the irresponsible and irrational leadership of the NRM and their Executive. But Mr. Opondo could never say that because he has to praise and kiss the Executive ass right?

I think that is enough for tonight. The reasoning from Mr. Opondo is yet again missing and his analysis written by a blind mind, but a hungry tummy as he wants a bigger paycheck; just like Eng. Dr. Badru M. Kiggundu got before the Election. Peace.

Reference:

Opondo, Ofwono – ‘The media shouldn’t parrot Opposition false claims’ (28.03.2016) link: http://www.monitor.co.ug/OpEd/Commentary/Media-parrot-Opposition-false-claims/-/689364/3135890/-/2m2g7v/-/index.html

Press Statement: Somali Leaders Agree On New Policing Model (28.03.2016)

somali-map1

Nairobi, 28 March 2016 A four-day Consultative Conference on Police Reform in Somalia held last week in Nairobi endorsed a New Policing Model and a refreshed Heegan Plan for the development of the Somalia Federal State Police.

The Federal Minister of Internal Security Abdirizak Omar Mohamed attended the conference along with the ministers responsible for policing in Puntland, Jubbaland, the Interim South West Administration, the Galmudug Interim Administration and the Banadir, Hiiraan and Middle Shabelle regions.

Conference participants adopted the New Policing Model that contains federal and state-level components that will report to their respective federal and state-level ministries of internal security. Each component will be responsible for recruitment and training of police personnel.

Somali Police

The Police Commissioner of the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM), Christoph Buik, welcomed the discussions and expressed confidence that Somali leaders will agree on a suitable policing model. “I hope that in the end we will have a common agreement on how the police will look like under the federal principles in Somalia in the future” Police Commissioner Buik noted.

Participants also agreed to incorporate the New Policing Model in a refreshed Heegan Plan, and the federal, regional and state-level ministers of internal security will meet in Kismaayo for follow-up discussions.

The refreshed Heegan Plan will be an inclusive long-term strategic planning document for the period 2017-2025. “I insisted that we are given space to deliberate. As you can see, it is only Somalis who are discussing what kind of policing model they want to come up with,” the Federal Minister of Internal Security said.

African Union Commission Police Coordinator for Peace Support Operations, Crowd Chirenje, said establishing an efficient police force was extremely important, since officers are the face of government in the eyes of the public.

Strengthening the Somali Police is one of the key goals for providing improved safety and security to the local population. A preliminary round of technical discussions was held on the New Policing Model in September 2015, and last week’s conference advanced these discussions by involving ministers directly responsible for police reform.

Under the Somalia Joint Rule of Law Programme, UNSOM and UN agencies have aligned their support in accordance with Somalia’s policing priorities.

The consultative conference was facilitated by the United Nations Development Programme, UNSOM and the African Union Mission in Somalia with the support from the European Union.

The Okoa Kenya Saga; Signatures disqualified and the validity of the IEBC; the men who controls the elections can decided their own fate and disqualify citizens without questions; CORD might lost the Amendments right now, but the JAP and the IEBC looks like the game was already rigged in their favor.

Okoa Odinga 2016

Today the Independent Electoral Boundaries Commission of Kenya (IEBC) answered the Opposition Party of Coalition of Reforms and Democracy (CORD), that has since January 2016 worked for an amendments of laws to sufficiently make the Electoral Reform and the Electoral Commission to become better and more righteous; as the amendments would set more standards and specify the laws as for instance only have one voters registers and so on. That seems legitimate concern for any political party, as that would set precedence for how you can count the actual voters and hereby have certainty of the amount of voters for each polling station. That is just one example of the amendments in the constitutional amendment that the CORD had facilitated and signatures. Here is the latest statement from CORD of the 26 March of 2016 and also today’s statement from the IEBC.

CORD Statement on the 26.03.2016:

“The allegations set out in the said statement are as bizarre as they could get. It is a clear manifestation that IEBC is a joke of a commission that does not comprehend the enormity of the constitutional responsibility bestowed on it. The cavalier manner in which IEBC continues to treat the critical manner of the Okoa Kenya popular initiative to amend the constitution goes a long way to confirm our long held views that we will not go into another election with IEBC as currently constituted” (…)”At the core of this dispute, IEBC has not disclosed to anyone what register they used to verify the Okoa Kenya signatures. During the Supreme court petition in 2013, the commission had a characture of five different sets of registers which were ingnonimously endorsed by the supreme court” (…)”There is no way a collection of 1.7 million signatures from all over the county can lack a few jokers and you can’t tear out those pages without affecting the integrity of the whole collection” (…)”It is interesting that in the week preceding the announcement by IEBC some of its commissioners called the leadership of Okoa Kenya to communicate that the initiative had met the threshold and they were in the process of preparing the transmission to county assemblies. Similarly senior commission officials made a similar announcement in an engagement with county leaders at a forum in Naivasha. This was a until their favorite Siamese twin that is Jubilee knocked on their door that they started shifting goal posts” (Magaya, 2016).

IEBC Statement on the 28.03.2016:

“The Independent Electoral and Boundaries (IEBC) would like to make it clear that it did not at any point verify the authenticity of signatures presented in support of the OKOA Kenya initiative. Any mark was admitted as an intention or consent by a petitioner. The Commission did not reject a single signature because of its structure or formation. The records that were rejected were those that were not found in the voters register. Some records had signatures but without ID or passport numbers while others had just names and no other entries. The claim that IEBC could not possibly verify signatures because it did not have a repository of samples is true. It is therefore needless to belabor or fault IEBC on this matter and we could not ridicule ourselves to that extent”.

Okoa Kenya 2016

That CORD has gone the extent of the exercise of Democratic values went along to follow the constitution to get the signatures from a great amount of people that is needed for this to get through to Parliament and then voted by the Members of Parliament there through the significant amount of votes to amend the constitution.

The IEBC would by all means not accept that as that would mean the ones selected to be in the board and leadership of it would be scrutinized and questioned even more by the citizens and political parties. As the institutions who facilitate and organize the elections and secure the tallying of the votes, would surely not accept to reformed when they are ensured to keep that state as long as they have the grace of the ruling regime and ruling party.

The Ruling regime and Ruling Party of Jubilee Alliance Party (JAP) have no interest of changing the constitution as long as that gives them an edge and structure that can secure the next election in 2017. That is the reason alone why they have no interest in this juncture to change it, if so it is to change public perception on the matter and the up-coming election, as the JAP and the President Kenyatta has had enough scandals lately.

The truth of the matter will come at a later point and this is certainly a political game from both angels and the IEBC is the scapegoat either for the JAP and the CORD. The Parties cannot be embedded directly with the Electoral Commission, if so then it’s ipso facto no democratic election to come. Than the IEBC will more directly announcing the result the JAP want or the President Kenyatta wishes, that is not a great look for the ruling regime or the IEBC; except that they are loyal to the regime running the country.

IEBC-ROADMAP-2017

Certainly the reason from the IEBC is disregarding the collection of signatures; they are directly insulting and insinuating cheating of it. And it is with common sense the CORD is saying certain pages will be badly written and conducted as the public will act a fool sometimes. That is something that the IEBC should respect and maybe counter the pages of nonsense. Still not underscore the whole picture from the CORD on the Okoa Kenya and the amendment of the Kenyan Constitution.

The proof and the validity of the IEBC can be questioned by one simple question. Why should the organizer of elections have the power to disqualify the citizen’s questions of the constitution and also disregarding the signatures? Who really think that the commission that controls and instituted elections want to change it? Why would the men and woman who has a comfortable job make it harder? Why want the JAP change the laws when they help them to stay in power?

When you can answer those questions and have the results of them. Then you can see my reasoning for why the referendum on the Constitution of Kenya is not happening. Because the IEBC has no reason to change it, and the ruling regime has the same agenda. Except that the JAP also want to look decent for the citizens and the pundits. IEBC works on accord with the Parliament and the Government, so if the laws changes then they will work differently. The Opposition is right to question the IEBC and their technical and operational work for the elections held. But they should not easy dismiss the wishes to reform the work and electoral laws, as they might be insufficient and missing vital structure to procure viable and trustworthy elections. As long as the can be more than one voters register, you can one which is the one they use and which one is the official. That is something that the IEBC should not have issues with. As long as there are more than one list out, means that there are more possibility to fix the results wished at any given time, as the polling stations can have different amount of total voters depending on which list that the IEBC uses. That gives the them the opportunity to rig the election as they please, instead of having a unified and one single register of voters that can be checked after the announcement and preliminary results from each polling station. You smell me? Peace.   

Reference:

Magaya, Norman – ‘Press Release on the OKOA Kenya initiative’ (26.03.2016) link: http://tupashe.com/railas-cord-releases-explosive-brief-giving-conditions-before-facing-uhuru-in-2017/

The Police and Army around Kasangati block the Easter Prayer ceremony at the Besigye residence; detain those taking photos of it; teargassing a two-year old child; and blocking the pilgrims from Rukungiri that was supposed to attend the Prayer!

Kasangati 28.03.2016 p3

As the relatives of Dr. Kizza Besigye had planned an Easter Prayer and also collected this together with pilgrims from Rukungiri to attend the ceremony. This would be held with three Anglican Reverends, Rt. Reverend Bamushangire, Rt. Reverend P Kanyonyi and Reverend Kahangirwe and Rukungiri Mayor Makuru. So there would be special gathering in the holy spirit of the Easter. But the Police Force would not give in or the Army let the man who supposed not to be in a House-Arrest, also the troubles for everybody else who was invited to the event, the Police and Army proves yet again the words of IGP Kale Kayihura is worthless. Take a brief look at the report and pictures and you can see for yourself the attitude and actions from government security organizations with a display of arrogance and disbelief that they did not only block a prayer, but tear-gassed a two year old child!

All Saints Rukungiri 28.03.2016 to Kasangati

“Police have blocked a team from All Saints Church, Rukungiri from proceeding to Dr Kizza Besigye’s Kasangati home to pray with him. The team was intercepted from Lutete, Gayaza Road” (NBS TV Uganda, 28.03.2016).

A team from Rukungiri led by Rukungiri Municipality Mayor Makuru is still held by police at Luteete a few Kilometers to Kasangati town. They include three Reverends who had come to share the Easter mass with Dr. Kizza Besigye who was denied an opportunity to go to church yesterday. They were first held in Ntungamo at 4:00am in the morning. Later when they got closer to the home of Besigye they got close and got blocked at Rutete along Gayaza road and teargased. The group of was around 75 people and none of them was allowed to enter the home and initially blocking the prayer.

Also at Kasangati there were two people who were arrested for taking photos by the UPDF. This is yet another evidence of the muffling the army and police is doing to society. At the house the FDC Mobilisers Ingrid Turinawe was to visit Kizza Besigye together with her family. The Police showed their disregard to the fellow FDC Official and even tear-gassed her kids, even after the car was cleared through the roadblocks.   

Easter Prayer for Besigye 28.03.2016

What was planned for the day:

Easter prayers organized by relatives of Kizza Besigye who ordinarily expected him to join them in the village. However due to his illegal detention and curtailment of his freedom of movement they decided to move the whole parish to Kasangati to hold their ordinary prayers with their son. It was a fully organized function with tents and catering services to cater for the large numbers of pilgrims. The events organized were to include Holy Communion service and baptism of the children. However now the police has not only stopped the event,they have used excessive force on Christian’s and teargassed the clergy and the children. Right now children are in a very bad condition with no medical supplies to treat their wounds in Kasangati because police has blocked even medics from accessing KB’s house” (Moses Atocon Atekwo, 28.03.2016).

Reaction by Besigye Supporters after the blocked prayer in Kasangati
Reaction by Besigye Supporters after the blocked prayer in Kasangati

As of yesterday the Police last night blocked the Fourth Estate and confiscating their cameras and stopping them for having the TV show at the house of Besigye, today on Easter Day the Police stopped Dr. Kizza Besigye from having an Easter Prayer. Even the people supposed to attending and travelling together the three reverends and the Rukungiri mayor Makuru. At this point the lies and deception should show the disregard for the decency and promptness as they even tear-gassed a two-year old child on this Easter Day. That is the proof of the violence and sincere aggression from the state, even tear-gassing children, reverends and pilgrims going for a prayer. That proves how much the state is controlling everything and not caring about its citizens, except the ones of the elite and NRM-Regime who continues to live like nothing is happening in Kasangati. Peace.

The “Free-Man” named Besigye of Kasangati can’t have a NTV Crew filming “The Fourth Estate” at his home tonight; Not within 24 hours the Police proves that Besigye and his visitors are not really free!

Kasangati 27.03.2016 NTV Crew

“Dr. Kizza Besigye is under close monitoring but not under house arrest” said the Inspector General of Police Kale Kayihura during a press conference on the 26th March 2016.

We can yet say that IGP Kale Kayihura, that he yet again spoke to media during the last 24 hours in Kampala saying that Dr. Kizza Besigye is only under monitoring by the Police Force and not under house. While that was happening hours later at Kasangati the scheduled Live TV Show Fourth Estate was supposed to have a live feed and interview with the Dr. Kizza Besigye at his home in Kasangati.

Kasangati 17.03.2016

As we know the Mzee has issues with the NTV, they have been banned before by the NRM and their Sole Candidate and front runner. So today the Police around the gates of Besigye home decided to gag the media and close the feed and the inital planned broadcasting of the TV Show. The Police actually ended up confiscating the cameras and equipment from the NTV TV Crew who was supposed to be live from the home.

This proves the words wrong, if he was a free-man as IGP Kale Kayihura recently said to the media and on the press conference, then the NTV TV Crew would walk like free-men in to his home and not go through roadblocks, signing in visiting books and checkpoints with heavy security personnel. I am sure that IGP Kayihura doesn’t sign in, get all of his visitors checked before they get to his own home in the suburbs of Kampala where he lives, right? I presume his living place, since he is surely not living in a shack in the Kalerwe slum. While eating the wealth of Mzee’s embezzled money.

So the Police have initially banned the Program from broadcasting as they had planned. The Fourth Estate is not allowed to discuss the manners and democratic values to the Ugandan people as the Police Force is in embedded with the NRM-Regime and follows their instruction without questions. They was allowed to go in, but not with the NTV first barred from entering the home, later allowed with the Fourth Estate Charles Mwanguhya Mpagi.

The Government and the Police have no honor and proof is just with the comment; you can tell your lies to somebody who might believe them. Because this is just a mockery of the justice system, the laws of the country and the regard for human rights in the case of man, who happens to be a symbol of everything the present President is. That is the scenario and as stated before, every actions and every single day the legitimacy of the President lingers away. Peace.