Uganda: CSBAG – “Reducing Wastage and Curbing Inefficiences to Finance our Priorities for the FY 2017/2018 (09.04.2017)

PepsiCo ‘moments content’ ad were trivializing real-life demonstrations!

“…they’re weak, petty, so apathetic about this gift of life as if it were all a mere Pepsi commercial.”Marisha Pessl

We live in interesting times, where a soft-drink company’s advertisement can spark this sort of outrage, I wonder if people could have used this anger against the brutality and the violence around the world, when it comes to government sponsored authorities. I wonder, because this sort of act of discontinued discussions usually appears in culture, when there are something real behind it.

That it was, it was something real, the Pepsi Corporation together with a marketing company went together and made a fake ‘Black Lives Matter’ protest, but instead trying to say, “We will bring harmony to the world if you listen to Skip Marley’s and drinks Pepsi Coke!” Yeah, brother!

Well, the ad is trivializing the protest movements and their demonstrations, that is clear, making it seem so simple, while everyone around is drinking and giggling on the Pepsi. The way they have made it is with such flair and so look like it is a manufactured reality, which it seems that there should not be any police brutality when demonstrations appear. They should just be smiling and giggly, wearing designer clothes and be top-notch mood, while all are drinking Pepsi.

Therefore the company had to come out with this statement:

PURCHASE, N.Y., April 5, 2017 – “Pepsi was trying to project a global message of unity, peace and understanding. Clearly we missed the mark, and we apologize. We did not intend to make light of any serious issue. We are removing the content and halting any further rollout. We also apologize for putting Kendall Jenner in this position.” (PepsiCo – ‘Pepsi Statement Re: Pepsi Moments Content’ 05.04.2017).

That demonstrators worldwide and organizers feels a bit betrayed by the motivation and the use, is understandable, that Piers Morgan defended the corporation was to be expected. Corporations can do as they please and especially if it is benefits the likes of Piers Morgan, who we for some strange reasons doesn’t know why is famous or why he acts entitled to the world to care about his opinion. Well, let go back to the ad in question.

It is not like PepsiCo and other corporation’s tries to tap into the youth culture, the company of Pepsi have made fortunes doing so and selling stories that fits that paradigm. So that they trying to fit themselves into BLM, the growing resistance against Trump or any movement that is questioning the powers-to-be. That seems a little beneath a soft-drink company. It seems a bit insincere. Since a company of this stature and this size are blend into the establishment and the greater state, who is not that favorable of demonstrations.

That there will be trivializing this is natural, that will be people not understanding the outrage, but next time, the corporations might tap into your struggles and your fights to get justice in society. Than you up next homie. Your definition of understanding, of justice and freedom, liberty and fight for better society might be portrayed in a sugarcoated reality by Coca-Cola, will you accept it?

There is healthy reasons to question PepsiCo and their management for their use of demonstrations, which has inflicted pain and suffrage for many, as they have been there because of the violent police force, who has brutally used weapons and tactics to disperse fellow citizens. Around the globe, the police use all sort of methods to keep the demonstrations at bay and detain unlawfully citizens. Still, that was not in the sweat dreamy portrait of Pepsi.

We do not have to wonder, to know that the PepsiCo tried to tap into protest movement and be more edgy, as the world have become more fragmented and use of international model and reality star in Kendall Jenner would peak interest. Therefore, she jumped on the project in the faith of the PepsiCo as she considered this a good move and secure move to get even more exposure. Something she did, but not on the purpose as she anticipated. She anticipated the sort of glare and glory as Nespresso commercials does for George Clooney. That she should be an iconic commercial and a game-changer. Instead, it all has boiled down to controversy!

The misuse of public anger and of injustice in trying to sodas does not seem like a good idea, but for one or more in the boardroom of PepsiCo, it did for a brief moment. The ideals behind the demonstrations and the acts against violence on fellow citizens was supposed to tap into with persisting a message, if you drink Pepsi, there will be peace. That story no one else believe, than the ones stuck inside the boardroom.

Therefore, when a multi-national enormous corporation as Pepsi tries to sell their soft drinks, they should consider the stories they are sending! It is not rocket science. It is very simple; do your drink supposable taste better than the competition? If YES, sell that; is the drink more affordable than competition? If YES, sell that; is the drink more environmental friendly packed or produced? If YES, sell that; but a product and a company of this magnitude will never be symbol a protest. They are the same establishment that the Occupy Wall Street in 2011 would go against. Not only the Merrill Lynch‘s of this world and the other banking buddies, but also the core food and beverages producers as well.

So next time Pepsi tries to start a campaign, go back to the basics, the reasons why you still exists was that you became the cheap alternative to Coca-Cola and was the one for use in the kitchen. Time reconfigure out that message to the public! Peace

Uganda: UPC Calls for Economic Reforms (05.04.2017)

Communiqué of the Consultative Meeting of IGAD Member States on the Current Drought Situation in the Region (31.03.2017)

European Council: Draft Guidelines following the United Kingdom’s notification under Article 50 TEU (31.03.2017)

Opinion: Dear Swedes stick to IKEA, please forget the talks between Museveni and Besigye!

I don’t know if I should laugh or cry, but what sort of discussion should be from people who gave us IKEA, Volvo and tiny meatballs. We know that the Swedish needs to prove their worth in the world on other venues, than the Eurovision and hair-styles of Zlatan Ibrahamovic. Still, the recent of willingly sending Pro Bono people to mediate between the long serving, self reliance and thief in chief, the National Resistance Movement wizard, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and the Opposition leader, creator of Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) Dr. Kizza Besigye are supposed to talk between cups of tea and biscuits provided with Swedish hospitality.

The Swedish Government has confirmed that it has been approached and, has accepted, to mediate planned talks between President Museveni and former presidential candidate, Dr Kizza Besigye” (…) “The government of Sweden is involved in supporting and promoting dialogue in many parts of the world, as part of its policy of conflict prevention and support to peace processes. Sweden has been asked to facilitate a possible dialogue in Uganda,” Swedish Foreign ministry spokeswoman Katarina Byrenius Roslund, noted in reply to email inquiries from this newspaper. The “discussions are still at an early stage”, she noted, adding: “When there is concrete progress to communicate, we will do so” (…) “Ms Annika Söder, the Swedish state secretary, has been agreed on by the principals as the mediator for the expected talks. She flew into the country last week and held separate back-to-back meetings with the President and Dr Besigye on Thursday and Friday, respectively, in what knowledgeable sources described as “exploratory” (Butagira, 2017).

First and foremost, can the Swedes explain the content of tear-gas into public meetings, police blocking, detaining of FDC Youths, falsified charges against the FDC leadership, the Public Order Management Bill who is created to stop meeting of anyone else, than the loyal men of Museveni. How can there be talks between the parties?

Secondly, when every travel and meeting of FDC and Besigye is met with heavy police force, blocking of main roads and tear-gas when they congregate. What is there to discuss? What perimeter of Kasangati he is allowed to leave before it is an issue? What sort of ideas do the Swedes have in mind, except selling Volvo and SAAB to Uganda, instead of Isuzu and Toyota!

Seriously, that the Government of Sweden must either be blind or ill-minded if they think this will give way. If they know the history of Nairobi Talks of 1980s. When the National Resistance Army and the other parties gathered to iron out the differences. Than that was used to forge more way for the NRA agenda and silence the others with guns and ammo. Not generate peace without knowledge of Museveni landing on top. So this is in his blood and the blood that is shed for him to gain all power.

Global IDP Database wrote this about his negotiations:

In July 1985, conflict between some Langi and Acholi soldiers led to the overthrow of the Obote regime. The coup, which brought General Tito Okello to power, shattered the military alliance between the Acholi and Langi and escalated ethnic violence. The Okello regime invited all fighting groups and political parties to join the military government. Every armed group and political party, with the exception of the NRA, joined the administration. The NRA, however, engaged the regime in protracted peace negotiations held in Nairobi. In December 1985, the Nairobi Agreement was signed under the chairmanship of President Moi of Kenya. However, the Agreement was never implemented and Museveni seized power on the 25th January 1986” (Global IDP Database, P: 18, 2004).

So will the Swedish buy into the mantra that everything can be reassembled and rebuilt? Since they want to forge a relationship between Besigye and Museveni. Museveni, who rather take up guns and get rid of opposition and vowed last year to destroy the opposition. Well, I am sure the Swedish we’re busy finding ways to export designer materials, than following the post-election dogma of Museveni. Since a man who only believes “he is the only man with a vision”. That is the man who is supposed to co-operate and negotiate with an advisory! Really?

A man who doesn’t want to talk about succession and doesn’t want to speak about his lingering in charge. A man who has run a country and nation since 1986, has nothing more to win or to gain by playing soft. If he does so and the Swedish is dumb enough to buy into the fake wood and think they get mahogany, than they will offer donor-funding and possible other prices for the so-called negotiations between the NRM and FDC. Even as the FDC Headquarter we’re a year ago a crime scene and many members and leaders we’re detained on manufactured charges.

There shouldn’t be these sort of talks at this point, if so, than the Swedish are legitimizing the thieving of Museveni and his NRM elite. Does the Swedish government want that on their plate? Is that the Swedish people’s prideful mission to support and trust in a corrupt and militarized government, while they at the same time is using Besigye as pawn?

The Swedish government, if they care should back-off, go home to Stockholm. Cut their aid and stop the talks. As they will only give more way to dictator and his clientele at the Okello House. There aren’t anything else to give.

Did the Swedish government do any research and care about the track-record of the Museveni regime? Have they seen how many mysterious deaths and men who has worked close who has either had to flee or been detained by his regime? Have the Swedish considered their implications in establishing legitimacy of the current leadership? Who doesn’t care if they bankrupt their country? While they are driving expensive cars on the State coffers?

Does the Swedish government need this win or this talks to gain international recognition, and not only sell IKEA furniture? Time to take the dozens pieces and assemble that the chairs in Umeå, and step away from Kampala.

Or do the Swedish government and their team no problem with losing their credibility for helping a fellow dictator? Peace.

Reference:

Butagira, Tabu – ‘Sweden to mediate Museveni, Besigye talks’ (29.03.2017) link: http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Sweden-to-mediate-Museveni–Besigye-talks/688334-3868674-b3fqil/index.html

Global IDP Database – ‘PROFILE OF INTERNAL DISPLACEMENT : UGANDA’ (17.06.2004)

Kenya: Chase Bank Limited (In Receivership) – (Been so since 07.04.2016) – (28.03.2017)

PM Theresa May letter notifying that the United Kingdom are today triggering the Article 50 to the EU Council President Donald Tusk (29.03.2017)