Opinion: Jubilee government detains protesting health care officials; instead of negotiating and having dialogue with the KMPDU!

ntv-ke-doctors-13-02-2017

The Kenyan government under the Jubilee leadership never stops giving; the Jubilee government under President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto wants to offer the world something astonishing. The same government that tries to disband and discontinue the refugee camp of Dadaab, are now prioritizing to detain and jail Health Care officials who works for a fair pay and working conditions for the Union Members. That is what the Kenyan government is up-to and what values they have!

“The Court has sentenced Doctors’ union officials to one month in jail after they failed to reach an agreement and call off medics strike as directed. The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) officials appeared in Milimani Law Courts earlier this morning. Judge Hellen Wasilwa had suspended their jail term and directed Central Organization of Trade Union (COTU) Secretary General Francis Atwoli to lead negotiations to bring an end to the industrial action. The meeting which included KMPDU officials, Council of Governors, the Treasury, Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) and other Government organs hit a deadlock after the doctors refused another deal offered by the government arguing that it is not what they were bargaining for” (Asamba, 2017).

The government that have left the NYS Scandal involved off the hook, the ones who stole the funds from Eurobonds has also been left free and so on goes it. The Jubilee government accept and produces corrupt behaviour like too much use of sugar make people diabetic. The government are behind a new scandal, instead of trying to give a proper deal and righteous deal to the Health Care union KMPDU.

That the Kenyan government doesn’t go into dialogue with the Union and KMPDU officials, instead they are jailing them for wanting the best for their members. Giving them a proper salary and working condition. The KMPDU are only doing what a union is supposed to do and because of that they are soon behind bars. If the politicians was doing what they was supposed to do, they would try to make sufficient funds ready to supply proper wages to the Kenyan medics and doctors, also make sure the Ministry of Health had enough civil servants to meet the patience and at the hospitals. Instead they are sending them court-side and also going to jail!

uhuru-dab

“Central Organisation of Trade Unions (Cotu) Secretary General Francis Atwoli wants President Uhuru Kenyatta to reign on Health Cabinet Secretary Cleopa Mailu and Principal Secretary Nicholas Muraguri to end the ongoing doctors’ strike. On Sunday, Mr Atwoli admitted that had been unable to end the doctors’ strike, signalling a continuation of the protracted industrial action that is in its third month. He blamed the prolonged industrial action on antagonism between the two high-ranking government officials. He said: “During the talks, we discovered that there is infighting at the Ministry of Health that involves the Cabinet Secretary Cleopa Mailu and the Principal Secretary Nicholas Muraguri. This affected our negotiations with the doctors’ union.” (Niyitegeka, 2017)

That the Ministry of Health are having internal problems as they were trying to negotiate with the KMPDU, it is not strange that the MOH couldn’t fix a deal; when they couldn’t work together internally. President Kenyatta and DP Ruto should mediate internally with their elected officials, so they could arrange a peaceful dialogue with the Medical Union and the Doctors who works under state contracts. Therefore if these reports are true, than the MOH has to clear shop internally and then meet the Union.

The State shouldn’t detain the officials; they should go in dialogue and fix the issues that are the reason for the strike and the arrays that are missing for the doctors. If not the warpath are only hurting the citizens and the patience at the hospitals. The Jubilee government shouldn’t wish for these dire situation months in advance of fresh elections. There are already a big sheet of scandals under the recent administration. They do not need a more prolonged strikes in the hospitals. They need to fix it and pay-up to the professional health care workers! Not detaining them! Peace.

Reference:

Asamba, Mercy – ‘Court sentences Doctors’ union officials to one month in jail’ (13.02.2017) link: https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/business/article/2001229238/doctors-union-officials-jailed

Niyitegeka, Theophile – ‘Kenya:Health CS, PS rivalry to blame for doctors strike, says Atwoli’ (13.02.2017) link: http://en.igihe.com/news/kenya-health-cs-ps-rivalry-to-blame-for-doctors.html

Zuma’s #SONA17 another spectacle of cold-blooded ANC with blatant disregard of the National Assembly and its Constitution!

sona17-parliament

Now that a few days have gone by and mind is put to the rest, the State of the Nation Address 2017 #SONA2017 of South Africa been held in the National Assembly and the dust have settled. We can still wonder if this was the outcome and the wished legacy that the African National Congress (ANC) wanted to leave behind. The speech of President Jacob Zuma will not be the important matter after the national tragedy; even the Greek legends couldn’t have created a masterpiece of this proportion.

Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) under Julius Malema or the Democratic Alliance (DA) under Mmusi Maimane couldn’t have wished for better audience to show the neglect and lost space under President Zuma. President Zuma has forgotten his heritage and what he carries with his position. Zuma is living on laurels of others, but not honouring it, instead he and his allies are eating of it. They are eating so heavy that all meat is scratched off the bone and digested.

Even The Congress of the People (Cope) leader Mosiuoa Lekota wouldn’t have thought this would go this far, even the so the South African Communist Party (SACP) Blade Nzimande must think that the freedom fighting days of ANC and wish for a equal distribution of goods and wealth is long dead in the ruling party. If it was so the ANC would not enrichen their elite and new-wealthy men and woman who loyally are eating of the government plate; instead of building progressive and clear-cut initiative to create work for a broader base of the citizens. Those days are long gone and forgotten after the term of Thabo Mbeki.

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Zuma had to bring the National Army into the chambers where the speech of the president was about to happen, as much as the Police Officers presences on the streets was like a lock-down from the get-go. Like Zuma was preparing for a show of brutal force and not a honouring the Parliament and its constitution. Not like he has respected before, he has only had eager for power and not for running it for a common good. That MP Mapisa Nqakula needed to gazette legality on the 9th February to make sure the public of legality of having the army in the Parliament between 5th to 10th February. Zuma has many loyal servants that honour him instead of the constitution. Nevertheless, that is just a floosy disgusting paper right, aye?  

No matter if an ANC MP created a fuzz with words and the ANC Parliamentary Speaker Baleka Mbete would have been Nobel in his approach. Instead of dialogue or even giving space, he expected to be a loyal servant only to Zuma and not to the rule of law. There are not many who doubt where the loyalty of Mbete lays, not with the codes of the sacred chambers of Parliament, but instead with the man who is the executive of the Republic. ANC has certainly forgotten their roots and their mission, the quests and their direction as a political movement.

What even more insulting after the violence of removing EFF and the DA walking out of the Parliament as a result of the misbehaving ANC MPs, the ones left behind started to sleep when President Zuma was addressing them. Well, there wasn’t anything serious left other than empty tin-box lies and deceit from the man-in-charge. Who has no scruples and no mercy for his opposition!

Zuma will now not tango with his enemy or even try to shadow play with the opposition, as the local election we’re insulting to the ANC and their ruling regime, that they lost important towns and places they have never seen others having mayors and local governments post-apartheid. That is the estate and the cracking into the party organization and the strain the chaos of corruption has left behind under Zuma. Something that not a puzzle of magic wand or public display can change, the heartbeat and the pulse is out of whack.

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Zuma and his cronyism aren’t benefiting anyone nearly except his men and woman. The rest are left behind and on unknown terms as the leadership of ANC skates by with no concern of their reputation or their legislation. The procedures and their neglect of the value of institutions or government companies are proven with the delayed 2015 report on Eskom, that we’re released the day after Sona17, because ANC wanted another scandal than this one in the news.

Zuma wanted to be released from fatigue and disgusted with the sleeping MPs and the attacking opposition. He wanted to be claimed to be corrupt and neglect of his role as executive of holding the report behind locked doors. Just like he wanted to silence the Capture of the State report, but that one became a hot-potato he couldn’t keep in the archives until it was meaningless.

Now the SONA17 have put a new giant stain on the ANC, the Zuma administration and the National Assembly that prefers defending the Executive or defending the rule of law. As some say the constitution and the laws that built the Republic of South Africa. They doesn’t matter for Zuma or his cronies, but it means something to ones living in KwaZulu-Natal, the Orange State or anywhere else in the republic. Peace.  

Opinion: NRM SG Lumumba wants the CAOs only to work together with ruling party; as the Opposition are only creating trouble with the civil servants she assumes!

letter-from-the-cao-kabarole-district

I got to be honest, when the NRM SG Lumumba or any other in the Ruling Regime is forgetting how they hired people and for what reason; then I need to address the mistakes and the bewilderment in the lacking of institutionalism and professionalism in the Movement. Not that I am surprised as they follow any wink or movement from Mzee. Let’s show first what the Secretary General Lumumba said recently and then what a CAO was claimed to be doing when the Public Service Commission hired a dozen in 2014!

“The National Resistance Movement (NRM) secretary general, Ms Kasule Lumumba, has warned district Chief Administrative Officers (CAOs) against being influenced by Opposition district chairpersons while executing their duties” (…) “It has come to my attention that most of the district Opposition leaders use their positions to intimidate our CAOs, mostly those who have been transferred to new offices such as our CAO in Wakiso and others in different districts,” Ms Lumumba said” (…) “When I stop you CAOs from being influenced by the district chairpersons, it doesn’t mean that I have told you to have disagreements with them but when you notice that you’re being influenced, please refuse and report to our offices for technical support. But I also need you people to have harmony and good working relationship with them while executing your duties,” she added” (Kiggundu, 2017).

What are key factors in all job descriptions of CAOs?

“Providing direction and guidance to the Local Government Councils and their Departments in the application of the relevant laws and policies. Supervising, monitoring and coordinating the activities of the District and Lower Council’s employees and departments and ensuring accountability and transparency in the management and delivery of Council services. Developing capacity for development and management of the planning function in the District. Supervising and coordinating the activities of all delegated services and the officers working in those services. Keeping custody of all documents and records of the Local Government Council. Acting as liaison Officer between the District Council, Government and private sector. Advising the Chairperson and Executive on the administration of the Council” (Public Service Commission, 31.09.2014).

So when you see the NRM Secretary general statement, it is fault and mistaken it’s role of the CAO. The CAOs are for the better work of the Local Government Council, that means for all members neither if they are Democratic Party, Uganda People’s Congress, Forum for Democratic Change, Farmers Party or the Progressive People’s Party. What matters is that the results and the work of the Local Government Council, not their allegiance or their place in which party. The CAO are also for ensuring accountability and transparency. Being so means that the CAO has to look over the LGC and their portfolios, their works and their needed assistance across party lines, neither if it is NRM or any other party. Still, the NRM SG Lumumba is more about the opposition creating fear supposedly from the Opposition. Since the NRM are usually pre-occupied with finding ways of bribing justice and rule of law.

The CAO and the LGC are inter-connected neither party involved in the district that matters. The Councillors and other leaders need to know what plans and how to participate together with the CAO to fulfil the guidance and needed state oversight of the works of the district. If this isn’t done, than the checks and balances will be lacking trust.  There need to be a working relationship between the District Council and the CAO. When the CAO will be the liaison of the works done in the district!

So I would wish the ruling party and ruling regime had more tact. But that is asking too much, people like NRM SG Lumumba always create enemies instead of trying to bring an olive-branch. It is not in her character to be peaceful or dialogue. Instead she is on the war-path. Blaming the opposition and giving them a head-spin.

She would never ever have said this about her own, hey she would praise for the work in the districts. NRM SG didn’t say anything about the NRM Councillors because they are perfect and doesn’t try to intimidate or use their positions at all. They are perfect party members and local elected officials who work in wonderful harmony with the CAOs, not like the opposition. This could be the second meaning of what she did say?

Well, enough of the nonsense from the Movement for today. Peace.

Reference:

Kiggundu, Joseph – ‘Lumumba cautions CAOs on Opposition leaders’ (12.02.2017) link: http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Lumumba-cautions-CAOs-on-Opposition-leaders/688334-3809580-41if1u/index.html

Finally released Dentons report on South Africa Eskom’s performance is revealing of malpractice in the state-owned energy company!

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A long-time delayed report have been released this week, as the South African ruling party African National Congress (ANC) and their ministers has tried to subdue the private analysis of the government energy company ESKOM. However, this report will assess needed information that should have been delivered before the other leaks of questionable transactions and contracts that Eskom has done in the recent years under President Jacob Zuma. President Zuma has used his presidency to earn monies for his family members and even some of his family work in corporations that have gotten state contracts through Eskom. Therefore this report is telling of how the sufficient business-model and energy production has been handled by Eskom. This will be about the years before 2015 and to that date. What Eskom has done since has either been revealed through the contracts or through the scrutiny of Public Protector or Finance Minister who has questioned the company themselves. Just take a look at what I find as key things from this report!

“Prior to 1997, Eskom plant operated at relatively low energy utilisation factors (EUF). However, from the onset of Eskom 90:7:3 operational strategy in the mid-90s, the Eskom plant operated at higher EUFs. After 2012, the plant operational at very high EUFs with the median being in excess of 90%” (Dentons, P: 19, 2015).

About the lacking investment in older plants:

“The Generation Sustainability Strategy document cited information that Eskom has reduced planned maintenance (reflected in the Planned Capability Loss Factor (PCLF)) in order to maintain “Keeping Lights On (KLO)” strategy. It could be noted that the historical 90:7:3 strategy applied by Eskom should also be factored in the assessment of the fleet performance as international practice typically targets values in the order of 85:10:5” (…) “The historically low PCLF coupled with the KLO strategy and factors such as coal quality and high utilisation factors have led to a sharp increase in Unplanned Capabilities Loss Factors (UCLF)” (Dentons, P: 19, 2015). “The Generation Sustainability Strategy document indicates that the Eskom generation fleet has experienced 15 years of under-investment in capital expenditure (capex) which is largely the result of cost cutting due to financial and capacity constraints” (Dentons, P: 20, 2015). “The analysis of this information indicates that there was significant under-investment refurbishment capex versus best practice for an extended period of time (from the mid 1990s). The under-investment at plant mid-life age is also critical and significantly contributes to the current poor plant performance” (Dentons, P: 22, 2015).

2010 Football World Cup:

“To uphold the KLO Strategy, short term decisions were made by Eskom that negatively impacted on the long-term sustainability of the generation plant. Historically, this would include the impacts of maximising plant availability during the critical period in 2010 prior to and including the FIFA 2010 World Cup. The knock-on effects of deferring maintenance may not be immediately materialised and often manifest themselves later in the generation planning/production cycle. As an example, the available documentation indicates that in January 2013, five previous maintenance outages were not executed as scheduled as sufficient generation capacity was not available on the grid. The lack of generation reserves has also resulted in units operating outside limits of good practice. As an example, in June 2014, 46 out of the 79 coal units were operating outside of good practice” (Dentons, P:27, 2015).

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Load Shedding:

“Load Shedding is the reduction of demand to achieve a balance between available generation and demand. If demand significantly exceeds available generation and reduction in demand is not achieved, the system will frequently drop, which may ultimately result in a system black-out” (…) “The problem Eskom faces is a steady decline in the performance and availability of its coal fleet. The further leads to a lack of ‘space’ to execute the maintenance required to restore the condition of the coal-fired power stations so as to achieve acceptable operating performance. This has been compounded by the delays in bringing on new capacity such as Mepudi, Kusile and Ingula” (Dentos, P: 30, 2015).

Skills to execute new build projects:

“When the decision to proceed with the new build projects was made, Eskom had limited skills to conduct such a project. Eskom has not developed coal power plants for decades. Experienced power plant staff (mostly operational staff) were moved to new build programme which left substantial skills gaps at the operating power stations” (Dentons, P: 38, 2015).

Delayed Projects:

“One of the measures taken by Eskom to bolster knowledge and experience was to recruit experienced resources internationally to increase the skills base. Eskom recently announced revised timelines for the Medupi and Kusile indicating that these projects will be further delayed and are now only planned completion by 2020 for Medupi and 2022 for Kusile. These appear to be more realistic time frames given the current status, but there remains general scepticism as to whether Eskom will be able to achieve this given its past track record on contract management for these projects” (Dentons, P: 42, 2015).

Debt made by Eskom:

“New debt of R49.5bn was taken on in the year to fund the continued capex programme. However, Eskom was downgraded to sub-investment grade status by both Moody’s and S&P and thus the funding was provided at much higher finance cost. Liquidity concerns were heightened as the net cash flow from operating activities of R23.3bn was not sufficient to cover the total of debt due for repayment of R17.1bn as well as the net financing interest payable of R15.3bn resulting in a shortfall of R11bn. In essence borrowings were starting to be used for ongoing operations” (Dentons, P: 89, 2015). “Eskom Treasury recently highlighted the key risks that Eskom faces to execute the borrowing programme, and in turn therefore complete the new builds: realisation of BPP cost savings; cost overturns on Medpudi and Kusile; RCA cost recovery in MYPD3 future years; Declining future ratios; threat of future ratios; threat of further credit rating downgrades; inadequate liquidity buffer; Lack of market appetite for Eskom debt; and inability to execute borrowing programme. In FY2015, all of these risk materialised” (Dentons, P: 94, 2015). “Recent history does not place these risks in a good light. Eskom is currently sacrificing its future to survive. If sales and arrears continue to plague Eskom, there is a shortfall in lending, a failure to meet meaningful cost savings, and a continued EAF below 80% prevail (in other words a continuation of the trend of the past 2 years), Eskom’s bail-out funds will evaporate” (Dentons, P: 95, 2015).

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That this report is damaging to the reputation of Eskom. This shows the malpractice and lacking of guidance that the company has had. The monopoly and grand control over the market as the state corporation has given it kickbacks and security of funds, even as they haven’t done things properly or planned. Therefore the enlightenment and the clear indication of lose planning and less of experts on the field of building new power-plants is proof of the misguided and maladministration that’s been inside the Eskom company.

The African National Congress that has been the ruling regime and the ruling party, that has been in-charge of the resources and the selection of hiring and changing leaders of the company. Can be put to blame for lenient and lacking acts of putting in place enough expertise and enough clear procedures on how the changing leadership should go about. So the Eskom could be sure of having men and woman who we’re qualified and had experience to handle an organization and business like this.

The report highlights major facts and breaches in also ordinary buying procedures and lacking of that and other issues that I couldn’t fit. There are many lose ends that Eskom has and needs to address, that ANC has to take responsibility for and also answer for. Because the Company has dwindled and lost its edge during the reign of ANC and President Zuma, who rather spoils the company instead of investing in it! Peace.

Reference:

Dentons – ‘Report on Eskom’ (02.07.2015)

Confidential reports stern warnings about the Italian national bank debt ratio and possible damaging scenarios when restructuring it!

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The Astellon Capital Partners report on the Italian nation debt is troublesome, as the reports are indicating troubled waters ahead for controlling the debt and repayment on the defaulted loans. This will create other higher issues than only the Greek debt and interest-rates from Brussels and Berlin. The Italian and Rome problem will cause monetary effects for all of Europe, as the debt are like his:

“1980 –1995: Debt / GDP increased by 64%, due to high interest rates levied by Bank of Italy to fight inflation and promote exchange rate stability of Lira within European Monetary System, precursor to the Eurozone” (…)”1995 –2015: Debt / GDP increased by 11%, due entirely to debt servicing costs as Italy ran a primary fiscal surplus over this period” (Astellon Capital Partners, P: 2, 2017).

The continued pressure of the Italian debt is showed with the average primary balance since 1995 have been 2, 1% and the average interest costs of the GDP have been 5, 5%. “Italy among the most fiscally sound member states in the Eurozone, yet also among the most burdened by interest costs” (Astellon Capital Partners, P: 3, 2017).

These numbers are not really positive at all, as the high interest rate by the Bank of Italy together with the rise of debt servicing that increased 11% alone in a decade. That the Italian state have the amount of costs of interests amounting to 5,5% says lots of the economic pressure on the budgets and fiscal policies within the government structures. This does not like a prosperous and strong economic situation.

The report continues with more worrying numbers that the Italian labour costs are 11% higher than rest of the EU average. Certainly also that the average productivity of the labour are 12% lower than the Eurozone average. So you got higher paid workers that work less, which also isn’t strengthening the economy.

That the Italians bank’s they have deflated badly loans that has gone from under 5% in 2005 to the running value of close to 15% in 2016. So that the European Central Bank have bought into the government debt issuance: “2014 –2019: At current government debt net issuance rates and announced QE levels, ECB will have been responsible for financing 100% of Italy’s deficits from 2014 –2019”. This is if the debt is: “Assumes €50bn annual run-rate of government net debt issuance” (Astellon Capital Partners, P: 6, 2017). That is a hefty sum when considering all the other fiscal issues that already put forward.

“Substantial increase in non-bank net purchases of Italian debt required ECB and Italian Banks acquired 88% of government debt net issuance since 2008. Over next six years non-banks will need to increase purchase activity to 7x that of past nine years” (Astellon Capital Partners, P: 7, 2017). So a nation that struggles with high paid performance with low productivity are suddenly needed to get the workforce to 7 times higher purchase activity, meaning the production and selling has to increase seven-fold if the state should have ability to sustain the defaulted debt that has increased and the debt the ECB has bought. Together with the Italian Bank gold-reserve which is lower than the stated and needed figures to be sufficient. The bank has gold-reserves by today’s value about €100bn, but by the ECB agreement need to collateralised that needs to be up to €350bn. That the report claims to be only 25%; while the assets are dwindling too and that is also worrying!

The Assets have from 2011 gone from being around 0% or none, to 2016 when the assets of the Italian bank is now in 2016 -20%. Because this have come a German proposal to avoid an new Argentine Bank collapse case. As the Italian Bank are required independent assessments of debt sustainability.

The great risks for Italy and the Italian republic are these scenarios. Like the hedge funds can buy into with high risks and yields through BTP yields during the 2016-2017. Second scenario in 2018 is that the ECB or European Central Bank will be a marginal buyer of the government bonds and buying debts. Third scenario is that the Italian Banks becoming net-sellers and therefore losing their assets with less of profits in the 2016-2017. Last scenario is unilateral re-profiling or re-domination or some form of Greek-Haircuts by 2017-2018, that means trade-offs and cutting taxes to try to revamp the economy (Astellon Capital Partners, P: 21, 2017).

With these numbers and situation, there are certain men in ECB and in Italy that is worried. The strength and sovereign nation of Italy has to find ways of restructuring the debt and assets. What is certain is that the debtors cannot take it easy on this one. The Italian debts and reserves are worrying as the debt has to restructure and the focus on how the Italian republic has to get more productivity and create more production so the taxes and debt per GDP can go down. This will be painful for the Italian state and their government institutions, together with all the debt and bad-debt that the state has to cover, because the banks cannot afford to lose all of these fiscal funds. There have to be a revolution of something if the Italian republic and its workforce are able to 7 times higher purchase activity. That will not come easy and how they will ever achieve that must be by a unicorn arriving and spinning the Fiat wheels of Torino more than ever before; even getting the world more hooked on Milan fashion design or Illy coffee. Peace.

Reference:

Astellon Capital Partners – ‘Q1 2017 Notes No. 24 – Ciao a tutti: An orderly restructuring of Italian debt’

Ross Thomson MSP letter to Kevin Stewart MSP on Brexit (06.02.2017)

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#ThisFlag: Evan Mawarire – “I’m so glad to be back home in Zimbabwe where I belong” (Footage)

“Thank you for your support and for speaking out for Zimbabwe. None of us should ever be intimidated into silence. This is our home and we have the full right to participate in making it a better country. Like we said in the beginning, HATICHADA, HATICHATYA! ASISESABI njalo ASISAFUNI! FED UP & NOT AFRAID!” (Mawarire, 10.02.2017)

Opinion: NRM works on overtime to delegitimize the FDC though various media, since they are themselves an illegitimated regime!

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There are running battles between the shadows of the Movement and the Forum for Democratic Change has been going on for a while. This has happen as Secretary General Nathan Nandala-Mafabi wrote this in the EALA Nomination letter to the 10th Parliament wrote: “These clearly spell out the positions of the Ruling Party and the Official Opposition Party in the multiparty democracy. In regard to numerical strength. EAC Treaty is also clear on multiparty democracy”.

So now that the FDC is the official opposition party and not the winner of the General Election 2016, even though the rigging master Eng. Dr. Badru M. Kiggundu of the Electoral Commission and the deputy chief justice Stephen Kavuma had to ban the campaign of defiance, that was the Presidential Candidate Dr. Kizza Besigye who run hard against the ruling party and the ruling regime of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and his National Resistance Movement.

So with that in context, the months after has been smeared with irregularities and malfunctions as the NRM and their Police has targeted FDC with full force. This they did with detaining members and leaders without court order, house-arrests, blocking of the headquarters and all sorts of other injustices done with an ordinary fashion of contempt of the constitution and law. These have been done as the 10th Parliament was sworn-in and the President was busy having dignitaries from Turkey and South Korea.

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Now that 2017 has arrived and ever since December 2016 the Independent Magazine editor and founder Andrew Mwenda has gone all wild on social media. At the same time TVO has disgraced him and his magazine. The graceful attempts have not been there as the words have addressed each other in fashions that would be in bars and not all in public. So Mwenda are using all tricks with his connections as he even seemingly has traded his popularity and his work ethic for goods from the ruling regime. Because he has gone from being a fierce critic of the Movement and now he defends them.

With this in mind Mwenda has attracted and attacked with more and more staunch words, even as he becoming a laughing stock and a wild-card. Even if he would have pieces of truth, the spin and the propaganda fashion of it all is spoiling facts that might be there. Just like Uganda Media Centre and Hon. Ofwono Opondo spills the beans and defends the Movement with all means. Though his entitled way of sounding more like a NRM Spokesperson than a man who is government spokesperson is showing the transgression of the party itself; just like the NRM inner party election for the EALA done over two days there.

This is still not an issue in nation of Uganda and under the rule President Museveni, which want to be legitimate by every mean possible. Therefore he uses the media and false stories on NTV Uganda where the Party Constitution of FDC is in question. As NTV Uganda wrote yesterday:

A plan to amend the constitution of Uganda’s main opposition party, the Forum for Democratic Change could cause a huge rift among its members if it goes through. The plan is to change clauses in the constitution to allow former FDC leaders another go at the helm of the party. According to the movers, many of FDC’s past leaders have been rendered useless to the party and yet they still have a lot to offer.” (NTV Uganda, 08.02.2017). However, as the story unfolded the FDC leadership debunked the story, Besigye said he would never run as a candidate under that or heard about it. TVO came out saying it was Mwenda who was the source and Hon. Francis Mwijukye wrote this about the farce:

“ Am told that there was a confusing story on NTV last evening about ammending the FDC constitution. Will be hosted on NTV Uganda 8.00 to 8.30am today morning. Let me go and make it clear. I think I was misquoted” (…) ”We were asked about the future of former FDC leaders and party founders. All I said was that I would support an inclusion in the party constitution of a party organ to deal with a council of Elders whose sole role would be to advise where necessary and for institutional memory. There was nothing like allowing former leaders to compete for top FDC positions in the party asked to me. Otherwise I can’t support that amendment” (Mwijukye, 08.02.2017).

When the higher echelons from the FDC are addressing the matter nearly simultaneously with the clip of the story aired, there are clear indications of malpractices in the standard. The NTV surely did this for political purposes. Just as there we’re reports that NTVs Sheila Nduhukire did directly celebrate with the NRM Party when they had done their EALA Primary Elections at the State House. Certainly the media and media houses are getting to close to the ruling regime.

We can just expect that government fuel illegitimate stories in their portrayal to demoralize and legitimize their own existence in power. Because they cannot do it by their own merit anymore, that gravy train left the station long time ago. They will use all means to establish and make the blatant ignorance of Mwenda and use their connections in NTV Uganda to portray the FDC as wolfs or even better wolf in sheep’s clothing.

The NRM and the Movement cannot sell the truth at this point, because that will undress their own existence and their own established fanfare of just cause. The probable cause that has left long time ago, the decades of bribes, thieving and misgivings has now caught up with them. The rigging and ill-forced ways are now what entitles people and therefore EALA elections are ugly instead of silent shows of democratic balloting. The NRM has to use the media and spin to make their biggest threat FDC into a shambolic affair of political charade. Since they have the ability themselves to make itself look unwise.

So the spins and the lies of deception will continue to fluster from the NRM and their media hawks, but still the truth will shine in the end. Peace.

President Trump: “Presidential Memorandum: Suspension of the Conflict Minerals Rule” – Legalizing export of questionable minerals from the DRC!

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#PresidentialHandshake: URA Staffer’s earns nearly UGX30m bonus for clerical work!

copying-document

The Republic under the National Resistance Movement doesn’t create any dull moment. Uganda Revenue Authority staff Paul Ojiambo got UGX29.5m net for photocopying beyond official time. That was a part of the Presidential Handshake, since he copied the documents that contained information of the Tullow tax case.

As NTV Uganda put it:

“URA’s Paul Ojambo was paid UGX 29.5M for overtime photocopying of documents used during the oil court cases” (NTV Uganda, 08.02.2017).
“Katuntu- What extraordinary work did you do?

Ojiambo-Photocopying beyond official time.

Katuntu-Is that extraordinary

Ojiambo- yes” (Parliament Watch, 08.02.2017).

Ojiambo also claimed this: “official says he served documents, raised assessments and kept documents confidentialy” (Parliament Watch, 08.02.2017). So the copying of documents is a job that deserves higher payment than usual, especially when they are kept secret. Ojiambo is the next Police Officer or Clerical worker for Central Intelligence Division in the Uganda Police Force.

Another civil servant from URA getting extra funds was Rose Adakuni who received UGX 29m because of the handshake; usually her yearly wage is UGX 2m monthly. With these to you can wonder how the spoils really got served around and to what point inside the Uganda Revenue Authority. She was doing the E-Mail management during the case; therefore she got a big pay-out when the case was over.

Third office worker who got UGX 29m Joseph Agulla as a Clerical Officer got his with his statement, not done anything special. Still, the Authority thought of him as worthy of big-bonus.

You should question the URA, when one person for copying document later than 17:00 got millions upon millions. This shows how rotten the system is and how they all eat of the government funds without any concern of the wasted monies. The trust in URA and spending of the taxes is not strengthening, as the governance in the URA isn’t trustworthy.

When people are getting bonuses for doing their duty as civil servants and given such massive funds, than you have the right to wonder and boggle your mind around the values that are given away from the Authority to their civil servants. The Movement really is careless with their spoils and internally giving away bribes to their own. Peace.