Museveni: Burundi government can’t set conditions (Youtube-Clip)

Go-Forward Team meets wokoloso Police Force in Dokolo

Dokolo Go-Forward 28.12.15

Yet another day into the line of fire for the Team Go-Forward and their presidential candidate Amama Mbabazi when they we’re getting ready for their campaign rally in Dokolo. As it seems to be in recent days, there are issues between his people and the police. Not peaceful events, but hard-core policing. Something that happen also today!

Dokolo Go-Forward 28.12.15 P2

District Police Commander Kayondo Lukanga firstly sent out troops trying to block the event from occurring. This with live bullets towards Amama Mbabazi car; when this wasn’t enough the DPC ordered his police to use further force against the Go-Forward supporters and citizens who was making themselves ready for the campaign rally.

At the blocked space the police decided to do even more! They we’re not done with that. They wanted to show more force unto the people who was screaming Go-Forward slogans. Therefore they must been ordered to be disperse the crowds with tear-gas! Another day in Uganda where the Police fired tear-gas into the crowds and public rallies of opposition leaders! O how proud IGP Kale Kayihura and Mzee must be! Peace.

Amama Mbabazi message after the events today:

“Amolator and Dokolo: Due to the bad road network that exists between Amolator and Dokolo, we were not able to make the final rally. Especially since the police found it prudent to teargas our supporters. We have however passed throughDokolo town greeting the people”

Police Denies Kidnapping Go Forward Supporter, Ayine (Youtube Clip)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZZfqrf3kx4

“The police says no one has officially filed a complaint regarding Ayine’s kidnap” (NBS TV Uganda, 2015)

Charles Rwomushana Speaks Out on Burundi Unrests (Youtube-Clip)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MF_V7XiyFkQ

“Rwomushana says there is still a long way to resolve the problem of Burundi” (NBS TV Uganda, 2015).

FDC in Yumbe talks on Veterans benefits and Dr. Besigye thanks for their support!

Yumbe 27.12.15 FDC

Message from Dr. Kizza Besigye after the rallies today: 

It was a nice to be in Yumbe today, it is true that Yumbe is like all the districts we have been to, they are also saying this time change will come to Uganda. Let me take this opportunity to thank people of Yumbe for welcoming us and attending our rallies. May God bless you all. #Wesige Besigye

Muntu Yumbe 27.12.15

From one of the rallies and speeches from Gen. Mugisha Muntu:

” I found many veterans here who are complaining that government has not paid them. I hear they have told you to open bank accounts. Let me tell you, you are wasting your time. I am also a veteran and I served as army commander but I too have not been paid! When I left the army, I was paid only for 4 months. Since then, I have not received a coin. If they can steal my benefits, what about you? Dr. Besigye is here, I can ask him too, have you been paid?” Dr. Kizza Besigye  answers: “No”. Only FDC can clear veterans’ arrears. Gen. Muntu in his address to the people of Odravu,Yumbe District.

Afterthought: 

That must seem as positive and giving compared to the other reports coming today. Therefore I let you all hear it and drop it today! Peace.

Go-Forward get into trouble in Masindi and Bulisa today

Masindi Go-Forward 27.12.15

Today have been a tough day for the Go-Forward Group and it started with hassle where they had issues in Masindi. But the first start is how Mzee serves his men in Ntungamo.

In Ntungamo after the clashes the Go-Forward and Amama Mbabazi Team has been handled by the UPF and security agents. Now Mzee says he will compensate the NRM-Supporters with 1, 5 Uganda Shillings. This will go to the ones that we’re injured in the skirmishes and they we’re the one that was in charge of violence ironically.

Public Address System Go-Forward Compond 27.12.15

Early in the Morning in Masindi before the rally the Police confiscated his Public Address System. And the Stadium where the Campaign Rally we’re set as a venue we’re shut down by the Police as well.

Go-Forward Truck Driver Jailed 27.12.15

Also the Go-Forward Truck driver meets with DPC Bakashaba and was jailed while driving campaign material towards the Campaign rally. Amama Mbabazi had to pick up the Public Address System and the Truck Driver in the prison in Masindi. And we’re released both the truck and the driver after inquiry to the matter at the Masindi Police Station.

Amama Mbabazi Masindi Police Station 27.12.15

In Bullisa there became more issues for the Go-Forward because the boda-boda drivers we’re promised monies from the local coordinator to drive people before the campaign rallies. They we’re promised fuel money and weren’t delivered. Because of this they first went house to house to find the local coordinator who promised monies. Couldn’t find him; therefore they ended up blocking the roads towards the campaign venue. The Police to disperse the boda-boda drivers they threw tear-gas into the crowd.

Road-Block from Boda Boda Go-Forward 27.12.15

Later in Semuto near the Hospital there, the Hospital have been shut down by the police and sealed it off from any politician. That is because Amama Mbabazi is not to “disturb the sick”.

The rallies of Amama Mbabazi ended late because of the boda-boda troubles of the day and also the Police actions in Masindi. The Campaign trail will continue. It was later proved that the man promising the monies to the Boda-Boda drivers we’re not a part of the Go-Forward Campaign Team so the Boda-Boda people we’re tricked! Peace.

An Exclusive with H.E Jean Bosco Barege, Bururundi Ambassodor to Uganda On Burundi Crisis (Youtube-Clip)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGJ1FS_lOMs

“He said there is no Burundian who was killed unfairly in Burundi. He also said the government is willing to sit and discuss and discuss with those with grievances” (NBS TV Uganda, 2015).

Press Statement: President Museveni assures Ugandans on peaceful elections

M7 NRM

President Yoweri Museveni has assured the people of Uganda that the country is peaceful and there will be no problem as Ugandans move towards the 2016 general elections. He, therefore, advised them to calm down and continue with their usual chores. Mr. Museveni, however, said that those who threaten to cause violence will be restrained.

The President was reacting to comments by Ms. Esther Magagga, a lay Christian leader, who said that in the current political environment, some Ugandans seemed to be at odds with one another over subscribing to different Political Parties.

The President, who was accompanied by his wife Mrs. Janet Museveni, today joined other Christians for this year’s Christmas Service that took place at St. Luke Church of Uganda, Nshwere in Kiruhuura district. Rev. Emmanuel Kwesiga led the service.

Turning to the local community, President Museveni strongly warned them against overstocking their farms saying that apart from starving their cattle, it also leaves land bare. He encouraged them to embrace paddocking and plant quality pasture to enable their cattle produce more milk.

Mr. Museveni stressed the importance of household income to ensure quality livelihood in homesteads. He also revealed that the Nshwere road will be worked on in accordance with the Government plan of ensuring good roads throughout the country.

He congratulated Christians of the area upon reaching 50 years since St. Luke Church was established.
The First Lady and Minister for Karamoja Affairs, Hon. Janet Museveni, thanked the people for turning up in large numbers to appreciate God’s blessings in the long journey that they have covered ever since the establishment of their church, what they are today and where God is taking them. She urged Ugandans to love one another. She asked them to support NRM because the Movement promoted unity among the people of Uganda. She also called for reconciliation between people of different political persuasions who may have developed issues between themselves.

Statement from Hon. Betty Ocan – on the events leading to campaign violence in Lalogi, Gulu (Released: 24.12.2015)

FDC Convoy Attack 22.12.2015 P1

Tuesday December 22nd, was the day for Uganda’s Presidential Candidate Dr Kizza Besigye to have a campaign rally in Gulu district. To build up to the this, the FDC national campaign team arranged to hold mini rallies in Bobi, Lakwana (Opit), Odek (Acet), Lalogi sub counties and Gulu municipality at the Carribean/ Kauda grounds.

After his successful rallies in Opit and Acet trading centers, Dr Besigye was due to travel to Lalogi. I, Hon Betty Aol Ocan being the area Woman MP and host of my Party President was in the advance team responsible for preparation of his rallies. As such I was always ahead and in Lalogi I arrived before the Besigye Team only to find that the Deputy Speaker Hon Oulanya Jacob was having a rally at our booked venue. He had mobilized his supporters and was physically present talking to a crowd. His parked convoy had one lead Police Vehicle and about 12 armed escorts and a number of “crime preventers” who seem stationed for a purpose at the venue Aketket Primary school ground.

When I arrived, as you may have seen on the NTV news footage on that day, I reached out to engage Hon Oulanya and his team on what was going on in our booked campaign venue. We chatted amicably as we always do in the corridors of parliament and he argued that his rally was prearranged before Besigye. He stated that there was no need for Besigye to interfere and in that case we should leave. I reminded him of our arrangement with the community leaders who agreed with me and we chatted on….

For a reason I am yet to know, many of his supporters started waving sticks and hoes, axes, stones at my team as time passed by. The situation quickly became tense and in the confusion his “security” manhandled me in a failed attempt to get me away. I am sad to note that my hair was pulled and I was physically assaulted which led the gallant youth on my campaign team to protect me from the rowdy melee. All this while, the fracas was being filmed by NTV and NBS news crew who were also present at the venue.

Atiak 23.12.15

Now, as the disturbance escalated, the attention of the rowdy NRM supporters was drawn to the TV crew and their news van which had been well documenting the situation all this while. Their anger was perhaps due to fear of exposure of their conduct. They attacked the crew and journalists were pelted with stones and great damage was caused to their equipment. Villagers started gathering from all over in large numbers despite the security deployment and over powered Hon Oulanya and his supporters. The deputy speaker quietly escaped from the site and his guards fizzled out one by one. This brawl lasted about 35 minutes!

Dr Besigye then later joined us at the venue and we had a clam campaign as scheduled later having a big rally in Gulu town that evening. We have reported the matter at Lalogi Police Station and a case of threatening violence, causing injury and damage has been opened against Hon Oulanya and his campaign team involved. Assault case SD REF:08/22/12/2015.

I later heard the Aswa Region police Spokesperson Jimmy Patrick Okema comment on Mega FM that “the action of the Deputy Speaker at Lalogi was provoked by Hon Betty Aol.” Of course they are trying to cover up the misuse of power and state security by Hon Jacob Olanya and we dismiss such a baseless statement due to lack of substance. We do have the footage of the entire fracas and our people are on the ground in the villages.

Also, you may be aware that the Electoral Commission had suspended ALL parliamentary campaigns and Hon Jacob Oulanya campaigning on that day was in violation of this Electoral Commission directive. His team was shamelessly and unlawfully breaching that directive. Only presidential campaigns were scheduled to go ahead at the time.

Friends, this campaign should not be a matter of Do or Die. People should not take the law into their hands and should respect the election schedule. The youth being used to break the law in the name of “crime preventers and security” will account individually and collectively. If may be they thought fear and intimidation would cow us in to giving up our rights, they are miscalculating big time. We have been in those trenches for a while now. Our team will continue to obey the law and we request other political players and the police to do the same. And intimidation will not get you votes we promise!

Our sincere apologies to the people of Lalogi who were affected by this unfortunate event and unnecessary attention. I have known people in Lalogi as some of the most calm people I have met in my decades of community work in Gulu district. Our biggest regrets to the NTV and NBS crew whose independent work was unduly interfered with and suffered physical attack and property damage. That is not how we do things in Gulu; We will all get justice.

We want to wish every body a happy festive season, let us celebrate in peace, let us refrain from violence in this campaign. Let us spare resources for the next year. Education of our young people should be our focus in the New year. Let us also remember to vote and maintain leaders who will keep our interests on the contentious issue of land and education, livelihood empowerment, social services and culture among others. I love you all very much.

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and Happy New year. May God Bless you richly next year.

–Betty Aol Ocan, Gulu Woman MP 2016.

FDC Campaign Trail Update – 25.12.15 still in Yumbe

25 Dec 2015 FDC Message

Dear friends,

We have decided to postpone Yumbe program tomorrow, we will spend the day in Moyo and share the joy that Christmas brings with the good people here, among the activities we are doing is attending church, visiting friends and getting to know more people here. Enjoy your Christmas and the blessings brings

Merry Christmas.#Wesige Besigye

Message from Dr. Kizza Besigye yesterday:

Dear friends,

As we join together to celebrate this special season of goodwill, let our thoughts reach out to those at home and abroad who may be facing difficult times this Christmas.

Let us hope for peace and harmony for next year and beyond.

I wish everyone a happy Christmas and a prosperous new year that can deliver all your promises. Next year is a year of alot of expectations and dreams.

For God and my country.