Donald Trump haven’t only made “Good Deals” he has failed exeptionally well; failures like in Scotland, Atlantic City, Airplane Company and Vodka; with this business-model, I doubt he will able to “make America Great again!”

donald-trump-make-america-great

Donald Trump the Reality TV Star who is famous for saying “You’re fired” and also for hosting a Miss Universe contest. He is not famous for being a politician and therefore I have not taken him seriously as Jon Steward on the Comedy Central bashed him on the day he announced his intention for running as President as he had a speech on the 16th June 2015 as a Republic Party Presidential Candidate.

He usually talks about how he can make good deals and do that in Government, I will show how he has done in the past to prove that he is not all good, and has earned money on government funding, fathers inheritance, and also destroying other people’s possibility to earn while smashing other people livelihood for his own benefit, as he has done in Scotland and Atlantic City.

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I could have bashed him for his empty rhetoric and for not telling how to really make “America Great Again” as he is an empty suit with no moral fiber what-so-ever as he uses Immigration policy and spread fear  to the public to gain momentum and surge of the angry clue-less white rednecks; who couldn’t open a book or read a Foucault explanation on how “Governance” supposed to be. As he believes he can with he deals structure can fix everything. While I doubt it, as the structures and procedures will stifle him, as he is not an island at the White House and in the Senate and House of Representative in Congress; as he has to follow the guidelines of these outfits.

USA_Government_Branches_Infographic

Something he can’t dictate as he does with his Trump Organization where all the Yes Men follow his every move; the same will not happen there as he cannot be the grand dictator and authoritarian leader who owns Capitol Hill, as it seems the “American Great Again” doesn’t have the pulse. But follows on the fear and not on political framework, unless Mr. Trump himself earns on the new taxation reforms, not for the public; as he is a rich man who doesn’t want to be more taxed. He wants to continue to have low tax on the rich and continue to have close to 30% tax on blue-collars and working-class, not the rich, or giant International Companies, as they have loop-holes and systems to get money to tax-heavens instead of paying tax directly in the United States. This is an international problem, but with the growing debt and less income, while having issues to pay to gain growth, there must be a way of getting the wheels rolling. But I don’t see that from Mr. Trump, rather from Bernie Sanders. That is just me. Let’s take a look at some of the bad-deals of Mr. Trump!

Trump 1990 People's Magazine

His value in 1990 out of his People’s Magazine Article:

“Indeed, Wall Street sources say that the purpose of the bailout is not to get Trump up and running, but merely to buy time for the banks to oversee the sale of virtually all of his assets. Donald Trump’s empire, once valued at $3 billion, may be as good as gone, and even his private wealth is at risk. His debt is said to include $500 million in personal loans, and though he claims to be worth more than that, some analysts assay his net worth at less than zero” (Kunen, 1990).

How he really earned his wealth:

“Trump was born in New York City in 1946, the son of real estate tycoon Fred Trump. Fred Trump’s business success not only provided Donald Trump with a posh youth of private schools and economic security but eventually blessed him with an inheritance worth an estimated $40 million to $200 million” (…)”In 1990, due to excessive leveraging, The Trump Organization revealed that it was $5 billion in debt ($8.8 billion by some estimates), with $1 billion personally guaranteed by Trump himself. The survival of the company was made possible only by a bailout pact agreed upon in August of that same year by some 70 banks, allowing Trump to defer on nearly $1 billion in debt, as well as to take out second and third mortgages on almost all of his properties” (…)”In 1995 Trump took Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts Inc. public and received a substantial financial boost from society and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regulations that enable the market to function. He initially sold 10 million shares at $14 per share and then in 1996 sold 13.25 million shares at $32.50 a share. This initial public offering granted Trump’s company a stability and legitimacy that would have been impossible without millions of people around the world trusting his organization and investing with the hope of shared success” (Lapham & Miller, 2012).

Now on some of his direct bad deals as the Scottish adventure, Atlantic City’s Casino’s, Trump Shuttle and Trump Vodka, take a look!

golfscenery_TRUMPSCOTLAND

Scottish adventure as his bullies the land of inheritance:

Where he wanted to build a Golf Resort:

“The site comprises the Menie Estate an area of 452 hectares (ha) of estate policies, agricultural land, heath and dune. It is located between the A90 trunk road (A90T) and the sea about 14 km north of Aberdeen city centre, and 8 km from the northern limit of the city at the conference centre. The eastern boundary with the foreshore at the high water mark is approximately 4.2 km long, while the site narrows to the west so that the boundary with the trunk road is no more than 1.1 km. At its widest the site is about 2 km from east to west. Balmedie Country Park lies immediately to the south on the coast, while further to the west and south farmland separates the site from the village of Balmedie” (…)”The Menie Estate was most recently used for a combination of commercial shooting and some agriculture but now forms the operating base for the applicant company; Menie House is undergoing restoration as a residence. Since taking ownership Mr Trump has stopped both shooting and hunting on the land” (…)”Mr Trump has been concerned about the environmental effects of the development from the outset, although he acknowledged that he did not know the land was protected when he bought it” (…)”  A world class golf course also requires world class facilities. The clubhouse would be the nucleus of the development. The hotel would be a grand five star building that would complement the landscape in the same way that the hotels at Turnberry and Gleneagles do. The hotel and conference centre would attract golfers and non-golfers. Mr Trump believes that it would in itself be a major boost to the economy of the north east of Scotland”  (Scottish Government, 2008). That was back in 2008 and was in the recommended because of the economic prosperity in the area at the cost of the special sand-dunes that had an environmental unique place in European standard, but for the price of getting a world-class golf-course was the price the Government of Scotland accepted together with the Aberdeenshire Council” (Scottish Government 2008).

Trump Turbines Aberdeen

Some other local punters – A timeline of actions from Trump in Scotland:

“Then, on 3 November 2008, the Scottish Government granted outline planning permission for the resort, subject to 46 conditions, indicating that ‘there was significant economic and social benefit to be gained from this project’ (Scottish Government 2008b). Again, the response to this decision was predictably polarised. Industry and tourism leaders declared that it demonstrated that the North-east, and Scotland more widely, was ‘open for business’ (Whitaker, 2008a); while environmentalists feared that it would set a ‘precedent which will undermine the whole protected-sites network in Scotland’ (Urquhart, 2008)” (…)”In May 2009, it emerged that Trump International, in preparing its detailed resort masterplan, had advised Aberdeenshire Council that it would be lodging further applications for outline planning permission, but for eight parcels of land not currently owned by the organisation. These included four private homes that Trump International was hoping to acquire through ‘amicable’ discussion. It also emerged, however, that Aberdeenshire Council had prepared a briefing note for councillors which raised the prospect of compulsory purchase orders being used to secure the land (Ross 2009), although Trump International insisted that this would only be pursued as an ‘absolute last resort’ (Urquhart 2009)” (…)”Eventually, in January 2011, Trump announced that he would not be seeking compulsory purchase orders for the residential properties; that he would effectively build his course around them. However, Trump also claimed that ‘we have consistently said that we have no interest in compulsory purchase and have never applied for it’ (Urquhart, 2011). This was despite the existence of a letter from early 2009, released under freedom of information, in which his legal representatives had clearly asked Aberdeenshire Council ‘to exercise its powers of compulsory purchase…to acquire the eight plots of land on behalf of TIGLE’. That letter has become widely available online (see, for example, Scottish Green Party, 2011)” (Baxter, 2014). “In 2013, the Scottish government approved plans for the installation of wind turbines off the Aberdeenshire coast – which would generate enough energy to power 68,000 homes. Trump soon claimed that having this windfarm near his golf course “would spoil the view”, and thus entered into a legal battle against the project. But this was a battle he would lose, leading Alex Salmond to call him “three times a loser” and argue that the legal process had potentially jeopardised “a vital £200 million boost for the economy of the North East of Scotland”. In response to Salmond’s comments, a Trump Organisation spokesman said the former first minister had an “overinflated ego” and that the Scottish government was embarking on a “dangerous experiment with wind energy” which was based on a “foolish, small-minded and parochial mentality”. This in spite of the fact that wind energy is now considered to be the cheapest energy technology available in the UK” (Sabio, 2015).

Alex Salmond regrets Opening business for Trump:

“There is nothing wrong with his golf courses, the problem is that Trump Turnberry is unlikely to ever get on The Open circuit. If Turnberry doesn’t get an Open, then that costs the Scottish economy £100m” (…)“I think the association with Trump is now net damaging to the Scottish economy.” (Schmid, 2016).

This here proves that all of his business is not a good deal as he has taken some of the special areas of Scotland, not followed his promise, stifled the locals and had issues the Government over their own development as the sufficient work with the Golf Course and area that Trump Organization had planned for the area, is not working as well as the Locals or Trump hoped for; as the development of the project never got into the stages that Trump promised.

Donald-Trump-Eminent-Domain

Atlantic City Casinos gone bad, his response to newspaper actually writing about him:

“He said the bankruptcy was the result of external forces beyond his control, specifically an extremely bad economy in 1990. He said he had “the prerogative” to change his mind about using junk bonds in the financing” (…) “I didn’t want to have any personal liability, so I used junk bonds. I accept the blame for that, but I would do it again,” he said. But Trump vehemently denied that the deal represented a personal failing or affected his personal wealth” (…) “This was not personal. This was a corporate deal,” he said. “If you write this one, I’m suing you.” (Bandler, 2016).

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Here are outtakes of the deals done in Atlantic City:

“The casino opened in April of 1990. Just over a year later, Trump was not going to be able to make his June payments. The Times said Trump was on the hook for $900 million that year, and the Taj Mahal eventually filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Trump lost about half of his interest in the casino, and had to sell his private yacht and plane to help pay his losses. His creditors even put him on a budget (of $5.4 million, so … not that bad of one)” (…)“Trump Plaza was the next to fall out of his control. It was hemorrhaging cash in the early 1990s — Johnston estimates that, in the end, Trump lost about a million courting high-roller Kashiwagi (who was found dead, stabbed 150 times, in Japan in 1992) — and filed for bankruptcy protection in November. The banks took a 49 percent stake in the Plaza in exchange for more favorable terms on the $550 million in debt the building had on it. Trump remained as CEO, but no longer had a role in day-to-day operations” (McQuade, 2015).

How the Locals in Atlantic City feels about Trump:

“Sen. Jim Whelan (D-Atlantic) said Trump’s legacy in the city is a “mixed one.” (…)”The notion that he was somehow responsible for the success that Atlantic City had is not accurate,” said Whelan (D-Atlantic), who was the city’s mayor in the 1990s. “Nor is he responsible for the problems we now have.” (…)”Whelan said Atlantic City already had casino gambling for several years when Trump arrived, adding: “It’s not like he was a pioneer.” (…)”Experts said Trump ran his casinos like other owners did — and stressed that he didn’t simply leave the city on his own terms. Though Trump’s casinos were hurt by the same factors as the others in Atlantic City — a sputtering economy and growing competition from neighboring states — and though other casino companies filed for bankruptcy over the years, his companies’ four bankruptcies are also more than any other in town” (Johnson, 2015).

Trump Shuttle

Another deal gone sour was “Trump Shuttle” or his Airlines:

“NEW YORK — The sky became the limit Thursday for real estate mogul Donald Trump with the maiden flights of his Trump Shuttle service – fashioned from the innovative Eastern shuttle — taking off after a fog delay” (…)”The inaugural voyages of the Trump Shuttle, with four newly painted airplanes bearing the developer’s name, were scheduled for 7 a.m. in New York, Washington and Boston. All were delayed at least 20 minutes by thick fog in New York and Boston” (…)”Trump purchased the shuttle for $365 million from strike-battered Eastern Airlines, which is owned by the Texas Air Corp. The deal was approved May 24 by a federal judge overseeing Eastern’s reorganization under Chapter 11 of the federal bankruptcy code” (…)”Trump hired some 1,000 workers, 800 of them former Eastern employees, for the new service, said Bruce Nobles, the shuttle’s president and chief operating officer” (…)”’People are really tired of being pushed around at Pan Am. Pan Am is not exactly one of the great stalwarts of the industry,’ Trump said. ‘We’ll have the safest, most beautiful planes in the air and we’ll have the best service.‘” (…)”Trump said he expected the fare to remain at $99, the same as Pan Am, but, ‘We’ll match any price on the market’” (Wolfhorst, 1989). Already in 1991: “USAir will retain the Trump Shuttle’s employees and has an “understanding” with its unions over the shuttle’s operations, Goldman said. USAir is holding talks with its unions seeking major concessions to help it ride out the recession and its heavy losses” (…)”The USAir deal must still win final approval from the group of approximately 40 banks involved in Trump’s finances and win regulatory approval from the Transportation and Justice departments” (…)”Trump said yesterday that the deal helps him reduce his debt. “That’s what we’ve been doing for the last year is knocking the hell out of debt,” he said. “USAir is a fine company, and the shuttle is a great asset.” (Hamilton, 1991).  In 1992 this happen to it: “On Mar. 13, he is expected to conclude the final segments of a massive debt restructuring, which will give lenders the Trump Shuttle airline and hand over 49% of the Plaza Hotel in exchange for a lower mortgage-interest rate” (Businessweek Archives, 1992).

Trump_Shuttle_727_safety

In 1993 the result was this: “A USAir Shuttle spokesman says the 87 were fired because the company wanted “an optimized cost-efficient operation.” Their work will now be done by an outside contractor who can do I more cheaply, says Terry Hallcom, manager of the shuttle. (USAir manages the former Trump Shuttle for Citicorp and about 20 other banks that acquired it when Donald Trump defaulted on $380 million in 1991.) “The shuttle management needed to cut jobs to cut costs,” says Citicorp spokeswoman Amy Dates. “We at Citicorp have gone through our own restructuring but have also gotten through it.” (People’s Magazine, 1993). You can say that the Trump Shuttle didn’t work out and the workers lost their jobs on the speculations of Donald Trump. As the Banks to ownership together with 20 Banks who salvaged the ownership of the company. That is a manifestation of how bad this deal was for Trump.

Trump-vodka

Trump Vodka ended with the bottum-up: 

Then we have his fallen throne with the alcoholic beverage Trump Vodka. Here is some on this: “Trump Vodka will be a major player in the vodka arena – it’s a superb product and it’s beautifully packaged,” boasted the teetotaling magnate. Cases of the Dutch-distilled, big-name booze were transported across a red carpet – behind velvet ropes – to a waiting delivery van. A Port Authority police escort accompanied the van to a warehouse in Long Island City, from where Trump Vodka will be distributed. It’s being advertised as “a vodka worthy of the Trump name” and will be sold in a “special gold crafted bottle” designed by graphic artist Milton Glaser, creator of the iconic “I [heart] NY” logo. Patrick Kenny of Drinks Americas Holdings Ltd., said all that matters is that his name is on the bottle. “It’s no secret that Donald Trump doesn’t drink,” he said. “But we’re in the super premium vodka market, and there’s nobody who markets better in the luxury category than Donald Trump” (…) “A one-liter bottle of Trump Vodka will sell for about $30” (Woodberry & Corky JR, 2006). A review of the dink: “The vodka, a five-times-distilled Dutch vodka by renowned distiller Jacques de Lat, is made from select European wheat. After distilling, the vodka is stored in stainless steel tanks for six months, run through a carbon filtration process twice, then a 9-column filtration process, and finally carbon filtered two more times. The vodka is then bottled in a sleek, tapered design from Bruni Glass, with label and packaging by the legendary graphic designer Milton Glaser. The result is what we’ve come to expect from anything branded with the Trump name. For all the attention to detail in the packaging and design, this is a vodka that doesn’t even make a good mixed drink. All of that filtration the vodka goes through has resulted in a spirit more akin to fuel treatment. The burn on the finish is intolerable – more “your mouth’s on fire” than “you’re fired” – with no discernable flavor from the wheat, and an oddly thin consistency for a spirit made from a heavy grain” (Sudo, 2007). In 2009 this happen to the company distributing the beverage: “J. Patrick Kenny, the Company’s CEO, stated, “We believe that this financing is very favorable for the Company especially in this challenging economic environment. The transaction will provide the Company with an immediate and near term cash infusion which will enhance our cash flow and enable us to continue to grow and expand our brands. Prominent in this growth is our imminent beer launch with Kid Rock, our growing Leyrat Cognac business, the continued growth of Trump Vodka and our rapidly growing Olfiant Vodka business, all of which this financing will help facilitate.” (Business Wire, 2009). Something is never seen or heard about since, the reports later said because of lack of interest for the beverage, the production of Trump Vodka went out in 2011. Though there are rumors that is still on sale in Israel as a Israeli Company got the license for in in 2010 from American Holdings Ltd and sell it for 15 years, as it the same year was sued from the Trump Organization, how the court case or beverage is; is not an easy task since there is so little precedence or evidence of actual production, as you can only buy from the early 2000s when the production of it was on Ebay, if you’re a fantastic fan of Trump and get a golden bottle.

Trump Old Newsweek

As I have showed he did not make money from scratch, he is not a self-made Millionaire or Billionaire! He inherent and gained early on the property market after his father’s rise in the business in New York; he did not come with Oliver Twist lifestyle and suddenly by pure genius gain an economic rise. That is somebody else who has done, not him.

Trump Quote

In the 1990s he went totally bankrupt; he was bailed out by big-government and luck of connection in banks as they gave him leverage on the property that could be profitable in the future. A possibility an ordinary person would never achieve or get. The rich also get better service and better treatment then the working-class. He was even at one point valued zero and having accumulated pure debt, while working with most of the banks to restructure his businesses. At this point there we’re none good deals, as he failed in the Air, later in beverage with his Vodka, also Casino’s that was not profitable in Atlantic City and his Scottish adventure that has not become what he promised Alex Salmond or the Aberdeenshire Council as they have lost both green energy source and a future potential tourism site; and a world-class golf course as he didn’t care for the locals, they just had to be happy that he could do as he please and his will was the best, and nothing else did matter. The same way he is discussing matter as a politician.

The Trentonian Trump Front Page

He tells the world he only make “Good Deals” then he must have a reactive memory, or a selective memory, this is not all of them, as this some of the big ones. And a reminder of the matter at hand; if he has plans of making America greater in this way then he will be a Machiavellian Lord who will do as he please without thinking consequence of the ordinary person or the effect of the policy/law. That should be stressed and thought about as the trickledown economics isn’t really a functional and the riches he gained wasn’t by rare luck, though he lived by the posh lifestyle by how he raised. He was raised rich and made himself even richer. There is a saying: “you need money to make money”. That is surely the tale of Mr. Trump. Not a good deal made his wealth, and if it wasn’t for the mercy of the state and the banks in 1990s he wouldn’t have been able to wealthy today. That is why he was positive to the Barrack Obama’s Stimulus Package to save the economy as it was similar to how his own businesses were saved. He could not hate something that saved his own skin. Even if he fear immigrants as his heritage is from Scottish roots and family coming from Europe back in the day. The irony is there and he is surely a strange clone in the elections in the United States. I have now on my page this described and showed something sinister of two candidates there, the first was Jeb Bush and now Donald Trump. I took the economic approach and not his human vision as it is ghastly and not worth spending my mind on or finding his terrible quotes as it is fear-mongering and not worth ink. This is enough for today. Peace.

Reference:

Bandler, Aaron – ‘One Newspaper Wanted To Report About Donald Trump’s Atlantic City Finances. So He Threatened Them’ (22.01.2016) link: http://www.dailywire.com/news/2827/one-newspaper-wanted-report-about-donald-trumps-aaron-bandler

Baxter, Graeme – ‘Open for business? An historical, comparative study of public access to information about two controversial coastal developments in North-east Scotland’ (01.03.2014) link: http://www.informationr.net/ir/19-1/paper603.html#.VrtmAFjhDI

Businessweek Archives – ‘The Donald’s Trump Card’ (22.03.1992) link: http://www.bloomberg.com/bw/stories/1992-03-22/the-donalds-trump-card

Businesswire – ‘Drinks Americas Closes Private Placement for Cash Infusion of Up to $3 Million’ (25.01.2009) link: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20090625005282/en/Drinks-Americas-Closes-Private-Placement-Cash-Infusion

Johnson, Brent – ‘Trump’s controversial time in A.C. under new scrutiny with presidential run’ (25.10.2015) link: http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/10/trumps_controversial_time_in_ac_under_new_scrutiny_with_presidential_run.html

Kunen, James S. – ‘Pop! Goes the Donald’ (09.07.1990) link: http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20118158,00.html

Hamilton, Martha M. – ‘USAIR REACHES ACCORD TO RUN TRUMP SHUTTLE’ (20.12.1991) link: https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/1991/12/20/usair-reaches-accord-to-run-trump-shuttle/a5870bec-d890-422f-9e4a-02360de12599/

Lapham, Mike & Miller, Brian – ‘ECONOMY Exposing How Donald Trump Really Made His Fortune: Inheritance from Dad and the Government’s Protection Mostly Did the Trick’ (09.07.2012) link: http://www.alternet.org/story/156234/exposing_how_donald_trump_really_made_his_fortune%3A_inheritance_from_dad_and_the_government’s_protection_mostly_did_the_trick

Lee, Michelle Ye Hee – ‘Donald Trump’s false comments connecting Mexican immigrants and crime’ (08.07.2015) link: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker/wp/2015/07/08/donald-trumps-false-comments-connecting-mexican-immigrants-and-crime/

McQuade, Dan – ‘The Truth About the Rise and Fall of Donald Trump’s Atlantic City Empire (16.08.2015) Link: http://www.phillymag.com/news/2015/08/16/donald-trump-atlantic-city-empire/#M16Ri9meooifJh9z.99

People’s Magazine – ‘Out in the Cold’ (20.12.1993) link: http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20107064,00.html

Sabio, Osio – ‘This is why Donald Trump is not welcome in Scotland’ (18.12.2015) link: http://www.thecanary.co/2015/12/18/donald-trump-not-welcome-scotland/

Schmid, Stefan  – ‘Alex Salmond insists Scotland does not need Donald Trump’s investment’ (18.01.2016) link: http://www.thenational.scot/news/alex-salmond-insists-scotland-does-not-need-donald-trumps-investment.12500

Scottish Government – Directorate for Planning and Environmental Appeals: ‘Case reference: CIN/ABS/001

  • Site Address: land at Menie House, Balmedie, Aberdeenshire
  • Application APP/2006/4605 for outline planning permission dated 27 November 2006

called-in from Aberdeenshire Council by notice dated 4 December 2007.

  • The development proposed: Golf course and resort development
  • Date of inquiry: 10 June – 4 July 2008 ‘ (10.10.2008)

Sudo, Chuck – ‘A Classy New Vodka From A Man Lacking Class’ (22.01.2007) link: http://chicagoist.com/2007/01/22/a_classy_new_vodka_from_a_man_lacking_class_.php

Woodberry, Warren & Corky JR, Siemaszko – ‘I’M DONALD TRUMP, DRINK MY VODKA’ (07.10.2006) link: http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/news/donald-trump-drink-vodka-article-1.643186

Wulfhorst, Ellen – ‘First flights take off on Trump’s renamed Northeast shuttle’ (08.06.1989) link: http://www.upi.com/Archives/1989/06/08/First-flights-take-off-on-Trumps-renamed-Northeast-shuttle/6472613281600/

President Museveni is not running for his 5th term, but he is running for the 7th! Proving it by going through his previous terms

Uganda-parliament-2

I know for some of you people this will blow your mind; some of you will tell I told you so. Other people will be like? How dare you insult my intelligence, well it depends on how you deem history and how you let the victors rewrite it. As President Museveni has been a victor and won over his predecessors like Yusuf Lule, Tito Okello and Milton Obote, even Idi Amin together with Milton Obote and the Tanzanian Army in late 1970s. So President Museveni has won the power through guns. At the same time as he has lingers he has tried to rewrite history as the people neglect certain fact.

We are supposed to see the people of Uganda to elect the 10th Parliament as this is the end of the 9th Parliament. I will not discuss that matter, as that is not important me. We could discuss if there only been 9 functional Parliament and representative government since independence in 1962, or should we also count the ones that we’re before this since the British introduced Parliamentarism in Uganda in 1882. Then it is with certainty more than 10 of them. If so is that based on the new constitution after independence or the newly written to fit NRA/NRM in 1995? Then so I understand the coming 10th Parliament. Still, this is also worth discussing and the matter of how we value the predecessors and the tools they left behind for the men of today who rule. Feel me?

This here is not a reflection on how Uganda Patriotic Movement (UPM) lost and got 4% in the 1980s and 1 seat in Parliament, as this was the first outfit for President Museveni. Museveni didn’t even get a seat as he lost to Sam Kutesa in the distric he was running in; that is a worthy side-note!

m7-1970

His first term – Overthrowing Okello in 1986:

But his first term started as he was sworn in and the New York Times described it like this:

“KAMPALA, Uganda, Jan. 29Yoweri Museveni, whose National Resistance Army descended on this battered capital city last week and overthrew the military Government of Gen. Tito Okello, was sworn in today as the new President of Uganda” (Rule, 1986). Here is in my opinion his start of first term, as he took it by the gun. As he was sworn in as President of Uganda, which initial means he got the appointment of rule as he defeated his opposition at that time.

ReaganMuseveni

 His Second Term – Election in 1989:

“The elections in 1989 also included elections for the majority of seats in parliament. Candidates for all these elections stood strictly as individuals and not as representatives for a party although several of them publicly were known supporters for one of the older parties – including the UPC. The Ugandan constitution was abolished in 1966, and no basic consensus has ever since appeared on the most basic issues like: how to elect a President and whether the country should be an unitary state or a federation including several kingdoms” (P: 40, 1994, Tidemand). “As already noted, the 1989 elections were held under strict anti-party rules since the NRM government had suspended all political party activities. Indeed, the Resistance Councils and Committees Elections Regulations, 1989, forbade all use of party symbols, sectarian appeals, and threats of force, the offer of food or drinks and the display of candidates’ posters. The absence of open campaigning made it impossible to discuss policies” (Bwana, 2009). “Out of a total of 278 seats, 210 members were elected without party affiliation” (African Elections).

This here election was one, and gave NRM time to rebuild and rewrite a new constitution. So this gave way for his second term in my opinion. Since the first term was from 1986 – 1989. From 1989 to 1996 is his second as there weren’t elections towards the parliament and presidential candidates, which means that the country was still controlled tightly by the NRM. Before the 1996 election there was election a Council for writing the new Constitution. That was put into place in 1995.

the-1995-constitution-was-very-clear-on-two-terms-but-museveni-used-parliament-to-remove-term-limits

His Third term – 1996 elections:

“The presidential election was preceded by an aggressive electoral campaign which was dominated by intimidation, vote buying, bribery and promises of material benefits. These methods were employed by both the opposition and the incumbent government during the 39 days which were allowed for presidential campaigns. It would seem that the aggressiveness of the campaign was dictated to some extent by the limited time allowed for each candidate to cover all of the country’s 39 districts, which meant that candidates were allowed one day of campaigning in each district. Again, this arrangement favoured the incumbent, President Museveni who had been in power for 10 years and was therefore well known to the electorate, compared to his challengers. Moreover, the electoral law allowed him the continued use of his presidential privileges which made the 39 campaign days less problematic” (Muhumaza, 1997). “The I996 presidential election was deemed a ‘step forward’ by many Western diplomats, although before the election some diplomats privately questioned how the election could be fair because of the fact that political parties were not able to organise to compete with the political machinery of the NRM (Reuters, 6 May I996). Despite private reservations, the official donor attitude was that the losers of the election should not contest the results. When Paul Ssemogerere went to the European Union Parliamentary Committee on Development to complain about the unfairness of the election, the committee told him to accept his defeat (The New Vision, 3 June I996)” (Hauser, 1999).

Interesting allegation about campaign money to Museveni in 1996:

It was for instance alleged that one presidential candidate received funds equivalent to 600 million shillings (US$600,000) from certain foreign organisations while on a pre-election visit to Europe; and that another candidate had been funded certain Islamic countries. Similar insinuations were hurled against President Museveni who was alleged to have got financial contributions from the Indian community in Uganda” (Muhumaza, 1997).

The election results from the 9th of May 1996:

The results was: “Yoweri Kaguta Museveni: 74.33 %, Paul Kawanga Ssemogerere: 23.61 % and Muhammad Kibirige Mayanja: 2.06 %” (African Election Database).

This here was the official first term as he was this one. Even if he had already been ten years in power, that is why I am saying this is his third term, as he had the first one from 1986 to 1989, when the overthrow Okello, second after the parliamentary elections to the first presidential election in 1996. That lasted to the 2001.

Before the next election this was reports on the great democratic environment President Museveni was building:

“Political parties are prohibited from holding party conferences, a ban which severely hampers their own internal reform. Since this ban has been in place since 1986, reform in the structure and leadership of political parties has been virtually impossible. Attempts to hold party conferences have been met with strong and unambiguous warnings from the Ugandan government that they would prevent such meetings” (…)”Since coming to power, the NRM has used a state-funded program of political and military education called chaka-mchaka to spread its message that political parties are destructive sectarian organizations responsible for Uganda’s past woes, an argument that resonates given Uganda’s recent political history. Chaka-mchaka thus serves to rationalize the NRM’s denial of political rights of freedom of expression, association, and assembly. Government leaders, including President Museveni, often refer to advocates of democratic reform as their “enemies.” Other structures of local government such as the local councils (LC) and the Resident District Commissioners (RDC) serve to ensure support for the NRM, and often create a hostile climate for advocates of pluralism” (Human Rights Watch, 1999).

Old Campaign Posters Uganda

Fourth Term – General Election in 2001:

KAMPALA, Uganda, March 14— President Yoweri Museveni swept the hard-fought elections here today, in a victory that he called an acclamation of 15 years of peaceful rule but that his main opponent said was won only by extensive cheating” (…)”My votes are like Lake Victoria,” Mr. Museveni told tens of thousands of supporters this afternoon who marched to an airstrip downtown after the results were announced. ”They never dry up.” (…)”The main election monitors in Uganda said, however, that most allegations of cheating appeared to be against forces loyal to Mr. Museveni, estimating preliminarily that between 5 and 15 percent of the vote may have been won fraudulently. The fraud included people being forced or influenced to vote by election officials, intimidation and people being denied the right to vote” (Fisher, 2001).

The Election results from the 12th March 2001:

The results are: “Yoweri Kaguta Museveni: 69.33 %, Kizza Besigye: 27.82 %, Aggrey Awori: 1.41 %, Muhammad Kibirige Mayanja: 1.00%, Francis Bwengye: 31 % and Karuhanga Chapaa: 0.14 % (African Election Database).

Reactions to the election:

“Amnesty International (AI) agrees with the Besigye opposition that “the Presidential elections in Uganda have been marred by allegations of human rights abuses, both before and after the elections on 12 March 2001. An increasing number of human rights violations against opposition supporters, including illegal arrests and detention without charge, ill-treatment in detention, and alleged unlawful killings were reported by the Ugandan press in the weeks leading up to the elections. In some instances, supporters of President Museveni were also targetted.” (Afrol.com, 2001).

This here was the official second term, while I am saying it is the fourth one, that lead to him opening the Multi-Party elections in 2005. Also the referendum on term limits came into force in 2005. As the constitution made in 1995 gave the limit of the Executive Power and President had the ability to be elect twice. As he wasn’t elected in between 1986 to 1996; 10 years without accountability and still becoming a donor pleasant government as Structural Adjustment Program got eaten up by the Government of Uganda in that period. As President Museveni even met with U.S. President Clinton; as he was the new future leader of the “third world” development.

Uganda Term Limits Museveni

Here are the issues in 2005 with the abolishment of term limits:

“Museveni and his supporters, who pushed a controversial constitutional amendment rescinding presidential term limits through Parliament this month, are urging an overwhelming “yes” vote while the weak and fractured opposition want the country’s 8,9-million eligible voters to boycott the polls” (…)”Under current rules, political parties are allowed to exist but may not have branch offices and may not field candidates in elections. The only fully-functioning political entity is Museveni’s own “Movement” organisation to which all Ugandans theoretically belong” (Mayanja, 2005).

As it was voted in by the public he was allowed to be the Presidential candidate in yet another election. The one that happen in 2006!

Election 2011 Uganda

Fifth term – 23rd February 2006 Presidential Election:

As some context and pretext over the other issues written in between 2001 and 2006; this here is following the close and tense contest that was held in 2006; as the NRM was weaken over time, as the fatigue of running the country since 1986. As the fourth term was already showing how much they tried to continue to work under the Movement System, instead of giving way to Multi-Party Democracy, as people voted in the second referendum poll. Here is some things happening right before:

“A spokesman for the ruling National Resistance Movement told New Vision that the government had complained to the U.S.-based Web server which hosts Radio Katwe, Brinkster Communications Corporation, claiming that the site was publishing “malicious and false information against the party and its presidential candidate. (…)”Local journalists have expressed fears that the government could similarly block The Monitor’s Web site on election day, when the newspaper plans to keep a running tally of votes from across the country. “Our Web site has been going offline every day for the last three days” for several hours at a time, Monitor Group Managing Director Conrad Nkutu told CPJ. He added that while the problem appeared be a technical glitch, “we are also suspicious it might not be.” (CPJ, 2006).

Election results from 2006:

The results are:


Number of Votes
% of Votes
Yoweri Kaguta Museveni (NRM) 4,109,449 59.26%
Kizza Besigye (FDC) 2,592,954 37.39%
John Ssebaana Kizito (DP) 109,583 1.58%
Abed Bwanika 65,874 0.95%
Miria Obote (UPC) 57,071 0.82%

(African Election Database)

Aftermath after the first Multi-Party after NRM got into Power:

“The multi-party elections of 2006 saw only slight improvements from 2001, notably in the area of media freedom. Dr Besigye ran against President Museveni for the second time, but now as the leader of a new political party, the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), and garnered 37.39% of the votes, as against Museveni’s 59.26% majority. Dr Besigye’s Supreme Court case regarding the 2006 elections has become famous due to the ruling that Museveni was the rightful winner despite the Court’s acknowledgement of widespread electoral malpractices and vote rigging which were considered not to have substantially affected the results of the elections” (…)”For any engagement with these political parties a number of issues need to be taken into consideration, these include the multi-party system and the fact that the political playing field remains un-levelled in favour of the NRM. As such, donors operating in Uganda need to be cognisant of the implications of this, for the ruling party and for opposition parties. International donors have and continue to play a significant role in financing and monitoring Uganda’s elections. In the 1990s, the UNDP was the lead institution for donors who wanted to co-finance Uganda’s elections. The UNDP’s mandate involved managing a donors’ basket fund, and recruiting and supervising specialised technical assistance to support the EC and civil-society organisations to carry out tasks allocated to them” (Sekaggya, 2010).

Uganda Election 2011 P2

Sixth Term – General Election in 2011:

Some Pretext: “The 2011 Uganda elections have attracted a record 8 Presidential candidates from seven political parties and one Independent candidate. All the Presidential Candidates have been on the campaign trail marketing their manifestos to Ugandans and have dispelled earlier assertions that some of them, seen as weak, will pull out of the campaigns that like in 2006 were expected to majorly be between incumbent Yoweri Museveni of the National Resistance Movement and Dr. Kizza Besigye of the Forum for Democratic Change” (Rulekere, 2011). “FGD respondents said that this happens mainly on the election eve whereby candidates and/or their agents carry gifts and money in vehicles which have had number plates removed and they pack somewhere in the village and then walk from door to door giving money and/or gifts” (…)”Daily Monitor of Friday 7, January 2011 carried a lead story that President Museveni gave out $2.15 million (USh5 billion) in cash and pledges between July and October 2010 but the opposition is charging that such patronage is giving the incumbent an unfair advantage in the February 18, 2011 vote. Mr Museveni always conducts a countrywide tour before each election, during which he makes pledges and donations Critics say this is a disguised campaign that allows him to offer inducements to potential voters out of the public purse, a privilege unavailable to other candidates” (…)”Incumbent candidates have readily used their access to state resources to provide an unfair edge when running for re-election. This includes cash payments from the state treasury, use of state owned property and vehicles, as well as the fulfilment of campaign pledges during the campaign period. Voter have given up on their elected officials to fulfil campaign promises and seek to extract as much benefit as they can around the campaign period” (DMG, 2011)

The results are:

Candidate (Party) [Coalition] Number of Votes % of Votes
Yoweri Kaguta Museveni (NRM) 5,428,369 68.38%
Kizza Besigye (FDC) [IPC] 2,064,963 26.01%
Norbert Mao (DP) 147,917 1.86%
Olara Otunnu (UPC) 125,059 1.58%
Beti Kamya (UFA) 52,782 0.66%
Abed Bwanika (PDP) 51,708 0.65%
Jaberi Bidandi Ssali (PPP) 34,688 0.44%
Samuel Lubega 32,726 0.41%

(African Election Database)

Tororo town FDC Poster Former Campaign IPC

The Commonwealth Observation Group noted this:

“The main concern regarding the campaign, and indeed regarding the overall character of the election, was the lack of a level playing field, the use of money and abuse of incumbency in the process. The magnitude of resources that was deployed by the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), its huge level of funding and overwhelming advantage of incumbency, once again, challenged the notion of a level playing field in the entire process. Media monitoring reports also indicated that the ruling party enjoyed a large advantage in coverage by state-owned radio and TV. The ruling party in Uganda is by far the largest and best-resourced party and following many years in power, elements of the state structure are synonymous with the party. Further, reports regarding the “commercialisation of politics” by the distribution of vast amounts of money and gifts were most disturbing. Indeed, the „money factor‟ and widespread allegations of bribery and other more subtle forms of buying allegiance were key features of the political campaign by some, if not all, the parties. By all accounts, the 2011 elections were Uganda‟s most expensive ever. It is therefore important that for the future serious thought be given to election campaign financing and political party fundraising. This is more so given that there are virtually no checks on the levels of campaign financing and expenditure due to the cash-based nature of the campaign and the lack of stringent campaign financing regulations, both of which facilitate the use of illicit payments to voters as inducements and has the potential to undermine their free will” (Commonwealth Observers Group, 2011).

Museveni-with-a-dummy-map-of-uganda

Important how President Museveni could run in the 2016 Election:

The Kyankwanzi Resolution of 2014 – President Museveni’s right for Sole Candidacy in the NRM:

“RESOLUTION ON PARTY COHESION AND GOVERNANCE

We, the undersigned members of the NRM Caucus attending a retreat at the National Leadership Institute(NALI) Kyankwanzi (6,February 2014); Fully aware of our Country’s historical  past and the need to consolidate and sustain the Milestones registered over the years since 1986; Cognizant of the fact that there is still a lot more to be done in order to realize our ideological vision of uniting Uganda(Nationalism), Pan-africanism, transforming our country from a poor peasantry society to a modern economy and upholding democracy; Conscious of the fact that what has been so far achieved over the last 28 years needs to be guarded jealously and improved upon to realize our vision; Aware  that when individuals engage in personal scheming, party cohesion is undermined, development efforts aredistracted and the population is diverted from work to early politicking;

DO here by resolve;

  1. To support H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni tocontinue leading and facilitating our country on its take off journey to transformation”

Afterthought –Run in to General Election 2016.

1986-1996: First and Second Term!

So I have now gone through the Elections since 1986 until today in 2016. That is thirty years in Power for the Executive Power and being President Museveni. 1986 to 1996, he didn’t really become elected as President as he did a coup d’état in 1986 to bring down regime at the current time. So the period from 1986 to 1996, there was an election in 1989 a Resistance Council elections which barred the Parliament with elected men and woman from the NRM/A, but was not an ordinary election to bring the people’s will in full effect and not even electing President Museveni, but securing polls to validate the rule of NRM at the time, also in my consideration to shut-up the donor-community; so they see the “democratic” vision of President Museveni. He even made a stunning Constitution in 1995. President Museveni had set the standard with two term limits and other regulatory tools to secure accountability that was new in Uganda, together with swallowing the Structural Adjustment Program to secure massive amount of funding to rebuild the country and secure Universal Preliminary Education. Something the citizens of Uganda got excited about and also gave him praise abroad.

museveni 2016 Poster

Third Term 1996-2001:

After the 1996 Presidential Election was his third term elections, and the official first term (which I can’t take serious) as he had already ruled for a decade, and you can’t shuffle that off that easy. Even with the bodies and violence to get the power in 1986, it cost so much suffering to gain that power; so to eradicate that and call this his first term, is to neglect the first ten years of power. Something we should be to damn wise to not. There we’re still not a Multi-Party Democracy or Elections as President Museveni doesn’t really believe in that; as the nation had to after this go through two referendum polls before initiating the hassle of letting people be controlled by other party functions then the NRM.

Fourth Term 2001-2006:

So when the fourth term came in 2001, he had already been long enough in power to already using up the constitutional rights as the Executive Power and President of the land. He was still popular and gained a lot of support. Even if the election was rigged and had a massive malpractices; the initial issues is how he pleaded and mixed up with referendum terminating presidential term limits to fit himself and rewriting the constitution of 1995 in 2005, so he could run off a third time. The second score of joy for the people was the second vote of the polls for Multi-Party Democracy, meant that the public could vote for other parties then the NRM during the 2006, as much as they could still as ever; vote for the old man with the hat! After 20 years in power he still used sufficient tools to be able to get voted in. And also stifle the completion in his favor, as the man who took power himself in 1986.

Fifth Term 2006-2011:

Set for the fifth term in 2006. The NRM and President Museveni at the time was re-introducing of multi-party election and continuing to go as the candidate, to secure the total tally of 25 years; when the term would be done.  He fixed the 1995 constitution one year advanced so he could run again! This time the third official campaign and polls, though still, with the 10 year as ruler before an election means, initially fifth. This here was the start of the down-turn as he now showed more and more the authoritarian leader and totalitarian state, compared to donor-friendly character he was when he first was sworn in 1986 and steady ship he hold while elected in 1996.

Sixth Term 2011- 2016:

As his sixth term in 2011, there was already starting to crack with the NRM leadership and the people, as they we’re ready for new leaders and a new executive. As the Kampala Riots and ‘Walk to Work’ demonstrations; proves that the leadership is in a fatigue state where the public is tired of the NRM and their ring leader President Museveni. Even still with well rigged machinery the NRM “won” again the election. To finish of this one, he had to swallow a few scalps to secure his sole candidacy, he had to break of Gilbert Bukenya his loyal fellow, he had to push of cliff Amama Mbabazi who wished to take his seat in the NRM, which is not a possibility unless you are the clone of Yoweri Kaguta Museveni; something Amama Mbabazi is not! In early 2014 he had to set up his machinery ready and get his party in line so that he could get the spot again with the Kyankwanzi Resolution in February 2014 and set his goals on the 7th Term as the Executive and President of Uganda, in the 10th Parliament. That is another timeline I am not sure of, I am sure there are more then 10 elected or appointed Parliaments and sessions in the great republic of Uganda. It is just a a way of rewriting history as the NRM is famous for.

Mbabazi M7 Besigye

That rewriting history comes in the sense of saying NRM and President Museveni is contesting for the 5th Term, I am saying his fifth term was between 2006-2011 his most turbulent ruling period after his first term in 1986-1989 when he still struggled to keep the whole country into peace, as there was still guerrillas and militias wanting to unsettle the new regime in Kampala. As we have seen, and we can see, there is a pattern and there is a reason why I am saying “we could really see his democratic wish” as the elections and malpractices seems like the same as when he took power. The rigging he claimed he wanted in the 1980s and why he lost as the UPM front-man, it seems to be same as it was under Dr. Milton Obote, the only difference is that he has been able to be stable and keep a strong army to spread the fear so that nobody has tried to really use a coup d’état against him. There been allegations in the past, and even persons been alleged in court for treason against the state, but they have been more political motivated then actual forces or militias in the sense they went to the bush to get rid of President Museveni. Though LRA and ADF has gone after his head, but failed.

President Museveni is now trying his best to get into his 7th Term, and we should not be surprised by election rigging, malpractices to destroy level playing-grounds for political parties, paying for votes and using both government institutions and government funds to be re-elected; Even supress the court to secure the validation or dismiss the allegation of election fraud in the 2016 election. I fear for the public response this time and how the security agents of the state will address them. As the Gen. Katumba Wamala of the UPDF will surely do what he can to impress President Museveni and Police Boss IGP Gen. Kale Kayihura follows orders blindly made by the Executive, as if he wants to shut down demonstrations and revolts against the totalitarian regime that the NRM has evolved into. As they are used to stealing the elections and taking the people for ransom to gain riches while the average people toil in poverty. There is time for change with a government with transparency, accountability and good governance; as the government now is famous for not caring about this issues and becoming dependent on feeding the cronies and loyal men of Museveni instead of serving the people. Peace.

Reference:

African Elections Database – ‘Elections in Uganda’ link: http://africanelections.tripod.com/ug.html

Afrol.com – ‘”Uganda needs to re-affirm human rights commitment” (17.03.2001) link: http://www.afrol.com/News2001/uga006_hrights_reaffirm.htm

Bwana, Charles – ‘Voting Patterns in Uganda’s Elections: Could it be the end of the National Resistance Movement’s (NRM) domination in Uganda’s politics?’ (2009) – LES CAHIERS D’AFRIQUE DE L’ N° 41

Commonwealth Observer Group – ‘UGANDA PRESIDENTIAL AND

PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS’ (24.02.2011)

Committee to Protect Jorunalist (CPJ) – ‘Critical website Radio Katwe blocked on eve of presidential election’ (23.02.2006) link: http://www.ifex.org/uganda/2006/02/23/critical_website_radio_katwe_blocked/

Democracy Monitoring Group (DMG) – ‘Report on Money in Politics – Pervasive vote buying in Ugandan Election’ (January 2011)

Fisher, Ian – ‘Final Count Has Uganda President Winning 69% of Vote’ (15.03.2001) link: http://www.nytimes.com/2001/03/15/world/final-count-has-uganda-president-winning-69-of-vote.html

Hauser, Ellen – ‘Ugandan Relations with Western Donors in the 1990s: What Impact on Democratisation?’ (Dec. 1999) link: http://www.constitutionnet.org/files/Hauser%20Uganda%20donors.pdf

Human Right Watch – ‘Hostile to Democracy The Movement System and Political Repression in Uganda’ (01.10.1999) link: http://www.refworld.org/docid/45dad0c02.html

Manyanja, Vincent – ‘Ugandans face paradox in referendum’ (25.07.2005) link: http://mg.co.za/article/2005-07-25-ugandans-face-paradox-in-referendum

Muhumaza, William – ‘Money and Power in Uganda’s 1996 Elections’ (1997) – African. Journal. Political Science (1997), Vol. 2 No. 1, 168-179

Rule, Sheila – ‘REBEL SWORN IN AS UGANDA PRESIDENT’ (30.01.1986) link:  http://www.nytimes.com/1986/01/30/world/rebel-sworn-in-as-uganda-president.html

Rulekere, Gerald – ‘Uganda Elections 2011: The Presidential Candidates – Early Predictions’ (17.02.2011) link: http://www.ugpulse.com/government/uganda-elections-2011-the-presidential-candidates-early-predictions/1207/ug.aspx

Sekaggya, Margaret – ‘Uganda: Management of Elections’ (01.01.2010) link: https://www.eisf.eu/library/uganda-management-of-elections/

Tidemand, Per – ‘The Resistance Councils in Uganda A Study of Rural Politics and Popular Democracy in Africa’ (1994) –PHD Dissertation at Roskilde University, Denmark.

WikiLeaks: Government of Uganda issues from 2007 to 2009/10; ENI/Tullow Oil, PRA, Wakiso By-Election, Election Rigging, Payed Media and so on

2005_uganda_corruption_presser

Here I will back into the past, as I have done with Museveni directly connected to violence in the past. Here it is more general. Some of this is to refresh the memory of the matter. And when the Government; back in the called all of this rubbish, it must have been some facts that the government doesn’t want into the light. There is certainty that this will shed some lights on matter of Corruption, Oil-Money, Election-Rigging and other saucy tales of the recent past. Enjoy!

Mabira Forest Cartoon

Mabira Forrest and sugarcane deal:

President Museveni has gotten tired of multi-party-ism after the dissidence to agreement between Asian business deals to make the Mabira Forrest into a sugarcane farms. Especially President Museveni is tired of FDC and Dr. Kizza Besigye and how he is addressing the matters of Mabira Forrest. Because the NRM is happy with their trade between Government of Uganda and the Metha Group that Besigye and the public who has a feeling that Indian business are getting sweet-deals, but the ordinary workers are getting anything. Certain sources are saying that the Cabinet has made an agreement with the World Bank on the Bujagali Dam, but a part of that deal is to secure the Mabira Forrest. Museveni’s argument for the sale is to get the country into a middleclass county and in that way you have to use all the countries minerals and resources (WikiLeaks, 2007).

The PRA Suspect on bail:

On the 1st March of 2007 has re-arrested the main offenders from the Peoples’s Redemption Army (RPA). These offenders are suspected on both murder charges and treason charges. They we’re given bail, but the police didn’t treat them correctly. The Police beat them with batons and their defense lawyers were injured in the altercation. “Minister of Internal Affairs Ruhakana Rugunda said that the PRA had been released on bail for the treason charges against them, and that the Government respected this decision” (…) “Principal Judge James Ogoola said that he was: “concerned for the Court, for liberty in this country, and for the peace of this country” (WikiLeaks, 2007).

Besigye’s brother:

On the 13.06.2007 the High Court judge Caroline Okello granted the brother of Dr. Kizza Besigye bail. He is Joseph Musaizi Kifefe. He was charged at the time for being part of the uprising of the PRA (People’s Redemption Army). Further on he will stand trial for treason against the state. The lawyer for Kifefe has applied for bail on the grounds of medical condition of his client since he has blood cancer and need treatment at Mulago Hospital. On June 18 2007 he was discharged from Hospital after treatment that has lasted for over a month. The conditions for the bail was set for that he has to report to the Kampala Central Police Station, do this twice a month and register that cost $6,000, leaving behind his passport and not allowed to travel without permission. The issue for giving Kifefe bail was that the Government of Uganda feared the smear and loses appeal with the donor nations. Next date that is set for PRA suspects is set for July 16.2007 (WikiLeaks, 2007).

GAVI money disappears

Corruption cases:

Immunization Corruption Case:

In January of 2006 the President Museveni requested that the Inspector General of Government (IGG) to investigate the former Minister of Health Jim Muhwezi. This was because of the alleged scheming money from the vaccine program of Global Alliance for Vaccine and Immunization (GAVI). The funds for this program were instead spent on SIPIDIS – Constitutional Referendum and National Resistance Movement. President Museveni asked First Deputy Prime Minister Eriya Kategaya on how much of these funds we’re used for campaigning in 2005-2006. While the President pushed for IGG to investigate the Fund. Janet Museveni tried to stop this and support Jim Muhwezi. In April of 2007 the Justice Faith Mwondha that the former Health Ministery and other government officials had misused the GAVI funds. These persons were Jim Muhwezi, Mike Muluka, Alex Kamugisha and also the first lady niece Alice Kaboyo was part of the corruption case. The case was for the missing $900,000 from the $4,8M. 4th May 2007 Jim Muhwezi filed a petition against the case to block President Museveni’s case against the Gavi Corruption case. The argument being that it’s an independent institution that shouldn’t follow orders by the President and should get its mandate from the Constitution. The answer from the President came on the 16th May 2007 when he went to Constitutional Court to swear an affidavit that claims the corruption of Muhwezi and Kaboyo. At the same time the President claimed he hadn’t interfered in the investigation of the IGG. 18th May 2007 the arrest warrants on the Muhezi and Kaboyo was sent out. That also Kaboyo was implicated was not something the Ugandan public expected since she had been a part of the household of Museveni. Kaboyo claimed that she did this on verbal agreement with the President. Muhwezi was away when the arrest order came, but he turned to the police in 28th May 2007 from there he was sent to Luzira prison. Mukula and Kamugisha were granted bail on the 25th May 2007. The issue with this case was that the party of people took more money than where authorized to do and didn’t prove what they used that money for. Muhewezi is now seen as “not political responsible”. The Cabinet wanted just to “clip his wings” because they could be implicated by the case. This is something the President Museveni accepted (WikiLeaks, 2009).

Wakiso By-Elections:

4th November 2008 there was held by-election to fill the seat of the Kyaddondo North of the Wakiso District. “NRM candidate and son of Kibirige, Robert Kibirige Kasule, won the tightly contested race with 8,183 votes – just 60 more than DP candidate Regine Bakittee.  Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) candidate Pallyne Nakabuye finished a distant third with 1,900 votes” (…) “Allegations of electoral malpractice, including ballot stuffing, bribery, multiple voting, and violence were widespread. In one confirmed incident, a polling station’s presiding officer and other officials were found at the site before the polls opened with a number of pre-marked ballots already in the box.  The police and Electoral Commission Returning Officer were called in and the presiding officer was later arrested and the ballot box confiscated” (…) “DP Legal Advisor and Kampala District parliamentarian Erias Lukwago told the press that the election was not “free and fair” and vowed to seek legal redress” (…) “DP Secretary General Mathius Nsubuga contacted members of the diplomatic community to encourage missions to observe the election on December 4.  Nsubuga expressed concerns about increased Ugandan military deployments in the area in the days leading up to the election and reported increased incidents of intimidation.  He reported that Bakittee’s campaign manager had been knocked down in a hit-and-run car accident involving a government-marked vehicle” (WikiLeaks, 2008).

New Vision 71% 2011 - 2016

Media is bribed to write certain stories:

“De Temmerman expressed deep concern over the state of Ugandan journalism. “What is happening in the Ugandan press is pure exploitation and fabrication,” she commented. De Temmerman said that journalists are often paid to write stories aimed at destroying political rivals or advancing private economic agendas. She pointed to coverage of the recent National Social Security Fund’s questionable purchase of land belonging to Security Minister Amama Mbabazi and approved by Finance Minister Ezra Suruma (reftel). She said that a “considerable amount of money” exchanged hands as Parliament’s probe moved forward and that a number of her journalists had been offered bribes to “hit Mbabazi hard.” (…)”“The Red Pepper is 90 percent fabricated,” De Temmerman affirmed (Note: The Red Pepper is a salacious tabloid that is used by the government and private individuals to malign enemies. End note.). She expressed concern that the paper’s readership was rising and that some Ugandans might actually mistake it for factual journalism” (WikiLeaks, 2008).

Election 2011 Uganda

Local Council elections in 2009:

On 21th May of 2009 was there held in 79 districts that will fill the new seats in local councils and sub-country level. Observation teams saw this: “Voter turnout was low and there were very few contentious contests.  However, there were a number of irregularities and concerns that in a larger, more controversial election could be cause for conflict or possibly a rejection of the results.  Observation teams reported that several polling stations opened late due to tardy polling officials, missing or delayed voting materials, and rain.  Observers also recorded problems with the voter identification process, including multiple voters without voter identification cards or other identity documents, missing names, un-alphabetized voter registries, and conflict between polling officials and party agents over the identity of undocumented voters (Note: There were allegations that the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party’s officials brought people to the polling stations without identification to vote in the place of deceased individuals still on the list. End note)” (…)”Monitors reported inconsistent ballot box sealing procedures, mostly believed to be the result of poor training rather than fraud.  In some instances, polling officials mistakenly used regular ink instead of the indelible ink to mark voters’ fingers. In at least two cases, individuals responsible for marking voters’ fingers were absent from their posts.  Many polling officials, party agents, and Uganda Police Force (UPF) constables appeared to lack a strong understanding of their roles and responsibilities in the voting process and thus failed at times to properly enforce electoral laws.  This, combined with limited voter education and information, often led to confusion and in some isolated instances verbal confrontation.  In one district, observers reported a more serious case of ballot stuffing.  Although observers reported these findings to the District Electoral Registrar, the results from the station were still considered valid and were included in the final count” (WikiLeaks, 2009).

NRM Material from Sanga Jail 101015

Election Rigging:

“On October 22, Uganda’s main opposition newspaper published excerpts of an internal NRM report accusing core EC officials of conspiring with opposition parties to place “ghost” voters and “phantom” villages on Uganda’s voter rolls. Opposition parties have identified a new EC as a prerequisite for their participation in the 2011 elections because they view the current EC as pro-NRM (refs. A, B and C). Various iterations of the NRM report accuse the EC of placing 500,000 to one million pro-opposition “ghost” voters on the voter registry to force the NRM’s Presidential candidate into a second round election run off in 2011. The report singles out EC Secretary Sam Rwakoojo, Legal Council Alfred Okello Oryem, and a handful of mid-level officials for corruption, fraud and conflict of interest, and recommends firing Rwakoojo “forthwith as he as done the most to damage (the) NRM.” (WikiLeaks, 2009).

Amama 090915

NRM-Membership program:

“The NRM membership campaign probably also serves to strengthen Museveni and Mbabazi’s power within the party. NRM leaders are likely looking to prevent an embarrassing repeat of the 2006 legislative election when 37 NRM members, frustrated by the lack of internal democracy within the party, defeated hand-picked NRM candidates by running for parliament as political independents. With the registration campaign, party members could be identified earlier and threatened with permanent alienation from the NRM if they bolted to seek election as independents. Mbabazi may also use his control of the registration campaign to boost his own embattled position within the party by withholding registration to those in the NRM who do not support him. Mbabazi’s position as Secretary General is up for re-election in late-2010, and he will likely face stiff competition for the NRM’s contested top spot” (WikiLeaks, 2009).

The day before riots:

“The government closed five radio stations on September 11th two CBS stations plus Suubi FM, Radio Sapientia, and Radio Two Akaboozi Kubiri – for violating Uganda’s Electronic Media act.  At least two other stations – Radio Simba and WBS TV – have been warned to censor their reporting or risk closure” (…)“On September 11, well known Radio One talk show host Robert Kalundi Sserumaga was abducted by unidentified assailants riding in an unmarked sedan as he left the WBS studio.  He was later dumped in front of a police station and arrested” (WikiLeaks, 2009).

opposition-leaders-sam-lubega-2l-upcs-olara-otunnu-and-others-were-weted-by-tear-gas-yesterday-picture-by-michael-kakumirizi1

Riots in Kampala:

“Rioting in Kampala subsided on September 12 after the King of Buganda postponed his visit to the disputed district of Kayunga” (…) “There was sporadic gunfire during the morning of September 12 on the outskirts of Kampala, as well as road closures and checkpoints near the city center amidst a heavy police presence.  Several police posts and dozens of vehicles were burnt during the riots.  One reportedly Asian-owned paint factory was also torched” (…) “On September 12 Buganda Prime Minister John Baptist  Walusimbi asked the Inspector General of Police, Kale Kayihura to  “restrain his officers and men from indiscriminate shooting against unarmed civilians in order to cool the temperatures.” (…) “On September 14, state media reported 21 dead and over 100 injured (including 13 police officers) during two days of rioting.  Some of those brought to Kampala’s overflowing Mulago hospital, including a two year old child who was killed, were hit in their homes by stray bullets” (…) “An estimated 550 to 650 people were arrested during the  riots. Local media reports only 82 of these have been charged, meaning that the rest should either be charged today or released” (…) “Museveni also accused Libyan leader Muamar Qadhafi of trying to destabilize Uganda by funneling funds to the Baganda as payback for Museveni’s opposition to Qadhafi’s United States of Africa proposal” (WikiLeaks, 2009).

MuseveniandIdiAmin

President Museveni on alleged torture:    

On 14th October 2009 President Musveni told the press that those who are torturing Ugandans will be severely punished. The president does this because he want to squash the allegations that been made in UHRC that agencies of the state is violating the Human rights. Reuters also questioned the President on the arrest and beating of the journalist Robert Kalundi Sserumaga. Later on 18th October 2009 NRM spokesman Ofwono Opondo he was ashamed of the actions of the UPDF, the Police, Prisons and intelligence agency. Opondo has claimed that he didn’t Understand why this was happening since the government agencies are more educated then before therefore it’s a shock that they torture the people they are arresting. IGP Gen Kale Kayihura on the 17th October he had to change the Rapid Response Unit(RRU) in the Police after claims of torture of alleged corruption case against the Executive Director of UNFA (Uganda National Forestry Authority) and his wife where the RRU is suspected of detaining them for a week and threathen to torture them. The RRU director David Magara was because of this moved from his position into a leadership role in the CID (Criminal Investigation Directorat). In Hoima the mayor who is a part of the FDC Atugonza is in proceedings against the state for a torture case where he was attacked by JATT (Joint Anti-Terrorist Team) in April 2009. This was a closed session from the public. The Mayor of Hoima claimed in court that he was sent to a “safe house” and tortured there by the CMI (Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence). Because of this Dr. Kizza Besigye has said that he would make litigation against Minister of Security Amama Mbabazi for the treatment of Atugonza by security agencies he controls (WikiLeaks, 2009).

New Districts in 2009:

“On November 11, Minister of Lands Adolf Mwesige asked Parliament to approve the creation of seven new administrative districts on top of the 14 districts already slated for creation in 2009 and 2010. If approved, this will bring the total number of administrative districts to 101, or three times the 33 districts existing when Museveni took power in 1986” (…) “According to the Commissioner for Local Councils, Patrick Mutabwire, all of the 39 districts created between 2005 and 2009 depend on the central government to cover 90 percent of their expedenditures.  At the moment, government service provision in new districts remains poor or nonexistent” (…) “According to the Commisioner for Local Councils, new district start up costs range from USD 300,000 for smaller districts to USD 1 million for larger ones, and each new district employs between 250 to 500 local government employees/ new districts are attractive job creation mechanisms for the Ugandan government. These appointments provide a chance for the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) to reward specific constituencies and individuals, or entice opposition members back into the NRM camp” (WikiLeaks, 2009).

eni-petrolio-uganda-324x230

GoU and ENI deal – Mbabazi connection:

“The report claims that Mbabazi is using a front company belonging to the European owner of Asante Oil, and that ENI representatives distributed “fat envelopes” to a number of visitors – including Energy Ministry officials, representatives from the Office of the President, journalists, and Bunyoro Kingdom officers – while installed at a safari lodge in Murchison Falls National Park close to where drilling has occurred. NOTE: EconOff witnessed ENI’s presence at this lodge during a trip to Murchison in early December. END NOTE. Much of the report highlights ENI’s Libyan ties and accuses Qadhafi of funneling money to the Bunyoro and Buganda Kingdoms to destabilize the Museveni regime. The final two sections of the report purport to “show how ENI corrupts a country’s leadership and forces them to take unpopular selfish policies,” and the “dangers” of an ENI/Libya deal” (WikiLeaks, 2010).

Tullow oil corruption:

“On 14 December, Tim O’Hanlon, Tullow Oil’s Regional Vice President for Africa met with Ambassador Lanier to discuss recent developments in oil exploration in Uganda (see ref. A for background). O’Hanlon explained that the $10+ billion required to produce, refine, and export oil from Uganda far exceeds the financial capacity of Tullow and other mid-sized exploration companies currently working in Uganda. Tullow is therefore considering selling a portion of its Uganda holdings to a larger international oil partner, and has unofficially “short listed” three major companies as potential partners – including Exxon Mobil, Total (France), and the Chinese National Offshore Oil Company (CNOOC). After Tullow concludes its process of selecting a partner, likely in January or February 2010, Tullow will present the “bids” to the Uganda government and work with Ugandan officials to gain approval of the much larger oil partner” (…)”O’Hanlon referred to Minister Mbabazi, who facilitated an August 2009 meeting between ENI and Tullow, as ENI’s “patron” in Uganda, and said ENI created a shell company in London – TKL Holdings – through frontmen Mark Christian and Moses Seruje – to funnel money to Mbabazi. O’Hanlon also noted what he described as Onek’s recent unsolicited “grandstanding” before Parliament in support of ENI, and similar statements of support during a recent Indo-African energy conference in New Dehli. Onek made impossible claims at the Indo-African conference regarding ENI’s ability to export 100,000 – 200,000 barrels per day within two years” (…)”O’Hanlon said ENI’s Uganda deal is part of a wider effort, facilitated by Heritage, to gain control of all oil fields on both sides of Lake Albert. In addition to its exploration blocks in Uganda, Tullow claims to have exploration rights on the Congolese side of Lake Albert” (WikiLeaks, 2009).

This here must been seen as interesting, doest it? Aye? Especially so close to the elections, I am sure the local media would not like this to come out, especially the New Vision and such. I am sure Amama Mbabazi will not like this, but the history is the history, and people should know this, so you make the right decision on the polling day! Peace.

Reference:

WikiLeaks – ‘UGANDA: BESIGYE’S DETAINED BROTHER GRANTED BAIL’ (03.07.2007) link: https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/07KAMPALA1089_a.html

WikiLeaks – ‘UGANDA: IF A TREE FALLS IN MABIRA FOREST, WHO WILL HEAR IT?’ (02.05.2007) link: https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/07KAMPALA744_a.html

WikiLeaks – ‘RESPECTED EDITOR RESIGNS; GIVES VIEWS ON UGANDAN MEDIA’ (20.11.2008) link: https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/08KAMPALA1524_a.html

WikiLeaks – ‘UGANDA: CORRUPTION SCANDAL’S POLITICAL RAMIFICATIONS’ (29.05.2009) link: https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/07KAMPALA909_a.html

WikiLeaks – ‘UGANDA: MUSEVENI AND NRM SPEAK OUT AGAINST TORTURE’ (27.10.2009) link: https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/09KAMPALA1249_a.html

WikiLeaks – ‘UGANDA: GOVERNMENT RE-ARRESTS PRA SUSPECTS’ (02.03.2007) Link:  https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/07KAMPALA367_a.html

WikiLeaks – ‘UGANDA: DEATHS, DETENTIONS, AND DISTRUST AFTER KAMPALA RIOTING’ (14.09.2009) link: https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/09KAMPALA1055_a.html

WikiLeaks – ‘UGANDA: DISTRICT PROLIFERATION AS POLITICAL PATRONAGE’ (20.11.2009) link: https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/09KAMPALA1326_a.html

WikiLeaks – ‘LOCAL COUNCIL ELECTIONS IN UGANDA SIGNAL TROUBLE IN 2011’ (10.06.2009) link: https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/09KAMPALA576_a.html

WikiLeaks – ‘CONTENTIOUS UGANDAN BY-ELECTION AND ITS LESSONS FOR 2011’ (18.12.2008) Link: https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/08KAMPALA1613_a.html

WikiLeaks – ‘UGANDA: ALLEGATIONS OF “GHOST” VOTERS HAUNT ELECTORAL COMMISSION’ (17.11.2009) link: https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/09KAMPALA1323_a.html

WikiLeaks – ‘POLICE ARREST MAYOR (AGAIN) AND TEAR GAS OPPOSITION IN WESTERN UGANDA’ (10.12.2009) Link: https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/09KAMPALA1391_a.html

WikiLeaks – ‘UGANDA: SECURITY REPORT DETAILS OIL SECTOR CORRUPTION’ (13.01.2010) link: https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/10KAMPALA19_a.html

WikiLeaks – ‘UGANDA: TULLOW SEES CORRUPTION IN OIL SALE’ (17.12.2009) link: https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/09KAMPALA1401_a.html

WikiLeaks – ‘UGANDA: NRM LAUNCHES MEMBERSHIP REGISTRATION DRIVE’ (23.09.2009) link: https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/09KAMPALA1097_a.html

Interesting findings from the AG report on “Central Government and Statutory Corporations” – Part Three!

Ugandan shillings

Here I will Travers through the report of Auditor General of Uganda’s Annual Report for the year ended 30th June 2015. This is on: “CENTRAL GOVERNMENT AND STATUTORY CORPORATIONS”. I will take the quotes and stories that seem to show parts of how the Government of Uganda works and what the Auditor General have cared about addressing in this specific report. Take a look! This here is Part three!

Serere District Office

Ministry of Local Government:

Mischarge of Expenditure:

Ministry of Local Government’s expenditure revealed that the entity charged wrong expenditure codes to a tune of UGX.12,086,792,676. This constituted 40% of total actual expenditure for the Ministry of Local Government. Whereas the funds were spent on items for which they were not originally budgeted for, the accounts have been presented in a way that reflects that the amounts were spent on the earlier budgeted items” (P: 215). Comment: This here came up in the value for money edition from the AG, now here is the whole picture. How the management of the Local Government Councils that doesn’t follow procedures for the items bought into the LGC. As this is seen by the review from AG and that is scary parts is the amount of monies used without procedure and not following budget. So they can by rollex to the council meetings or fancy watches for all we know.

  • Millennium Village Project II: “Conflicts between appointed and elected officials in Local governments resolved” (…)”International conference with IPC conducted” (…)”Despite receiving all the funds no conference was held” (…)” There was budgeted UGX 200m and the allocated UGX 200m” (P: 217).

Uganda-parliament-2

Personal Advances to Government Officals:

“Personal advances to the tune of UGX.3,827,011,454 were not accounted for by the respective officials. As such, I could not ascertain whether the funds were used for the intended purpose. It was also noted that the unaccounted for funds were not reflected as advances receivable in the financial statements at the end of the year. The financial statements were therefore misstated by UGX.3,827,011,454” (P: 220). Comment: Certain officals have been gotten paid advances without proving where the monies have been used; surely this is questionable actions from the Local Government Councils.

Procurement of solar packages for the districts of Kabarole, Sheema, Rakai and Lwengo

“Withholding tax to the tune of UGX.36,561,220 from payments of UGX.922,845,962 to SHL and AVC for supply and installation of solar packages in the districts of Kabarole, Sheema, Rakai and Lwengo was not deducted for onward remittance to URA contrary to the tax law” (P: 235-236). “Audit review revealed that only two firms (SHL and AVC) won all the six contracts awarded during the year. However scrutiny of their bid documents revealed that they both shared an address as “P.O. Box 9784, Kampala” raising doubt as to ownership of the two companies given that at some point they were the only bidders who responded to the bids” (P: 236). “It was observed that invoices with higher amounts were entered on the system leading to overpayments of UGX.1,787,317” (P: 237). Comment: This here proves that there is something fishy in the financial audit on the contracts and the procurement of the solar packages. The statements and findings prove that two set of companies where at the same postbox; and they didn’t open an open bidding to the public as there should have been.

Rice in Market

Community Agricultural Infrastructure Improvement Programme – Project III (CAIIP III):

“It was noted that GoU contribution amounting to UGX.187,654,400 was released by Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to the project through the Ministry of Local Government Treasury General Account where the funds were subsequently spent” (…)”ADB Loan: Further, out of the released amount of UGX.187,654,400, UGX.102,932,000 was diverted by the Ministry and used on non-project activities” (P: 259). Comment: Out of the loan delivered the CAIIP III the funds was not used we’re they was supposed to be allocated and service delivered as was budgeted.

Uganda Good Governance (UGOGO) Progamme:

“It was noted that out of UGX.700,000,000 expected from the Government of Uganda, however, only UUGX.104,062,000 was disbursed. This led to a short fall of UGX.595,938,000” (P: 273). Comment: The GoU has just allocated about 14% of the amount that was budgeted. That such little funds that was to the UGOGO so they can’t do what it is supposed to do.

NUSAF

Second Northern Uganda Social Action Fund Project (NUSAF2):

“Section 2.2 of NUSAF II Operational Manual requires that at least 80% of previous disbursements are accounted for before replenishment to a subproject. The policy also requires that all funds to subprojects should be accounted for within six months. It was noted that UGX.5,159,940,305 out of UGX.281,974,035,473 disbursed to subprojects remained unaccounted for as at 30th June 2015” (P: 278). Comment: This here prove how little check up of the project that exisist. There is funds that are unaccounted for and that should be worrying, they could be used for ginger-snaps for all we know.

Think that was enough for today. More to come. Peace!

Reference:

Office of the Auditor General – The Annual Report for the Year Ended 30th June 2015 – Central Government and Statutory Corporations 30th June 2015.

Press Release: WorldRemit customers can now send money instantly to MTN Mobile Money wallets in Rwanda, Uganda and Zambia (28.01.2016)

MTN Logo

London, UK and Johannesburg, South AfricaWorldRemit and MTN Group today announced that WorldRemit customers can now send money instantly to MTN Mobile Money wallets in Rwanda, Uganda and Zambia.

The launch follows the signing of a global partnership agreement earlier this year, to enable WorldRemit customers all over the world to send international remittances to MTN’s Mobile Money customers.

“This partnership makes sense for both companies, as WorldRemit and MTN share a disruptive approach to innovation and bring impactful services to our customers. Together, we are now providing an instant, fully digital and very affordable solution to send international remittance to Rwanda, Uganda and Zambia. Other countries will follow soon,” says Serigne Dioum, MTN Group Head of Mobile Financial Services.

“At WorldRemit, we are pioneering international mobile-to-mobile remittances. Our partnership with MTN allows our customers around the world to send money instantly from the WorldRemit app to MTN Mobile Money users in Rwanda, Uganda and Zambia. Together with MTN, we make sending money home as easy as sending an instant message,” says Alix Murphy, Senior Mobile Analyst at WorldRemit.

She continues: “For diaspora members sending money to friends and family back home in these countries, Mobile Money is a real game-changer. In Uganda, Mobile Money has already overtaken cash pick-up and bank deposits as the preferred method to receive money. We expect this trend to continue as MTN’s Mobile Money services reach millions of people without bank accounts, giving them access to a variety of life-enhancing financial services including savings and insurance schemes.”

MTN UG

People in more than 52 countries already use the WorldRemit app to send around 400,000 money transfers every month to over 125 destinations. WorldRemit is the leading sender of remittances to Mobile Money wallets connecting to over 25 different services worldwide.

MTN Mobile Money enables users to perform utility payments, save money, purchase airtime and access a range of mobile financial products. To date, MTN Mobile Money is used by customers in 15 countries across Africa, i.e. Benin, Botswana, Cameroon, Congo, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Guinea Republic, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Swaziland, Uganda and Zambia.

In keeping with its aim to accelerate the rollout of international remittance, MTN launched a cross-border mobile money transfer service between Uganda and Rwanda in August. The service allows customers in both countries to transact via MTN Mobile Money with the same simplicity as for a local money transfer. MTN also offers a mobile money cross-border remittance service between Ivory Coast, Benin, Burkina Faso and Niger. The remittance corridor between Kenya and Rwanda is the latest addition to MTN’s Mobile Money bouquet of services. It forms part of a major initiative between MTN and Vodafone, to enhance financial inclusivity in East Africa.

In the six months to 30 June 2015, MTN grew mobile money subscribers by 45,8% to 32,4 million.

*NB: All figures are unaudited

 

About the MTN Group

Launched in 1994, the MTN Group is a leading emerging market operator, connecting subscribers in 22 countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. The MTN Group is listed on the JSE Securities Exchange in South Africa under the share code: “MTN.” As of 30 June 2015, MTN recorded 231 million subscribers across its operations in Afghanistan, Benin, Botswana, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Cyprus, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Guinea Republic, Iran, Liberia, Nigeria, Republic of Congo (Congo-Brazzaville), Rwanda, South Africa, Sudan, South Sudan, Swaziland, Syria, Uganda, Yemen and Zambia. Visit us at, www.mtnbusiness.com and www.mtn.com

Interesting findings from the AG report on “Central Government and Statutory Corporations” – Part One!

Ugandan shillings

Here I will Travers through the report of Auditor General of Uganda’s Annual Report for the year ended 30th June 2015. This is on: “CENTRAL GOVERNMENT AND STATUTORY CORPORATIONS”. I will take the quotes and stories that seem to show parts of how the Government of Uganda works and what the Auditor General have cared about addressing in this specific report. Take a look! This here is Part one!

What it contains:
“This is Volume two of my Annual Report to Parliament and it covers financial audits carried
out on Central Government Ministries, Departments, Agencies, Universities and Uganda
Missions abroad” (…)”Section 2 presents my findings and audit opinion on Government of Uganda Consolidated Financial Statements including major observations” (P: 25).

kampala road work

Nugatory expenditure:
“Government paid UGX.26.1bn during the period under review as delayed settlements of obligations arising from contracts for construction services, Court awards, and contributions to international organizations etc” (P: 34). Comment: The government has no issues wasting giant sums of settlements it seems, shouldn’t’ there be away to not use the money on these settlements?

Unsustainable pension liability:
“The Ministry of Public Service recorded an outstanding pension and gratuity liability of UGX.199,255,907,539 as at 30/6/2015 (up from UGX.108,681,159,047 as at 30/6/2014). It was noted that the gratuity and pension arrears continue to accumulate, a fact which the Accounting Officer has attributed to inadequate budgetary provisions over the years” (P: 35). Comment: There been press release from the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development during 2015 doesn’t seem like they want to fix it, instead blame the pensioners. Well, they have learned from their master right?

Understocking of the Government petroleum strategic reserves:
In 2012, the Government of Uganda and a private petroleum company entered into a concessional agreement to refurbish, restock, maintain and manage the petroleum strategic reserve facility at Jinja. Despite the concession requiring the operator to ensure that 40% (12million litres) of the storage capacity of the products is available at all times, I noted during inspection in September 2015, there was only 274,000 litres of petrol and 331,000 litres of diesel in stock compared to the required stock levels of 20,000,000 and 10,000,000 litres respectively” (P: 38). Comment: Doesn’t seem like they follow the guidelines from 2012 and proves that the Governmental agencies doesn’t follow the plans they have or have the procurement to buy what their supposed to. This here is just barely enough considering the use of oil and diesel!

JinjaRoad Roundabout Kampala

Construction of Kampala-Entebbe expressway:
“It was observed that the unit cost for the Kampala-Entebbe expressway was US$ 2.315 million per lane kilometre while the similar expressway was US$ 1.204 million per lane kilometer” (…)”This is less than half of the cost of Kampala-Entebbe Expressway which is US$.9.261 million per Km” (…)”However, a review of the services provided by the consultant’s revealed duplication of activities as the originally recruited private firm serves the same purpose as the international firm” (P: 38-39). Comment: This here has been discussed and been put out there, but still proves the misuse of funds, especially when one of the reasons is that you have two companies that have the same role on the site, instead of only one, and that adds the price per kilometer of roads.

Mismanagement of funds under the Ministry of Local Government (MoLG):
“the diverted funds revealed that UGX.3,827,011,454 remained unaccounted for and UGX.635,621,910 was questioned due to inappropriate accountabilities” (P: 39). Comment: Unaccountable use of funds is a beauty and proves that funds have been used without waivers or accounted for; where it has been used is something that we can ask, but they could by Kit-Kat bars in Masindi or extra bottle of cokes in Lira for all we know.

Abim Hospital 2014 P3

Fixed budget allocation for essential medicines and health supplies:
The annual budget allocation of UGX.218bn for essential medicines and health supplies to all health facilities across the country has remained constant since 2011/2012 despite the remarkable increase in the number of patients” (P: 42). Comment: That the money are stagnate while the amount of patience goes up shows quickly; why the hospitals doesn’t have the necessary medicine? That is the simple reason why they don’t have enough.

Regional coordination and monitoring framework for Northern Corridor Integration
Projects:
For example amounts totalling to UGX4.2bn was disbursed to fund the power interconnection and the Hoima-Lokichar-Lamu oil pipeline. However, the protocols do not provide for regional coordination and monitoring as well as the audit framework to provide an independent assurance on the utilization of joint funds” (P: 43). Comment: Money to a project that don’t have a framework for the regional coordination and can’t utilization of the funds, that means they are just sitting in the fund, without any use or monitoring it.

Compensations of Project Affected Persons (PAPS):
“Review of the compensations for the Project Affected Persons (PAPs) on the two projects of Mukono-Kyetume-Katosi road and LPC Busega revealed inconsistencies in the names of the PAPs appearing in the Chief Government Valuers report and those compensated” (…)”A sum of UGX.1.3 bn paid without resolving the inconsistencies was questionable” (P: 44-45). Comment: That already over-expensive road project that has gone over margin and had issues with the contractors of the road-building. So that the government haven’t compensated the once that lost land where the road where built. Therefore the project is even more expensive, since this will be add-ons to the ones that already registered and billed for.

Budget performance-Budget shortfall:
“21 entities budgeted to receive UGX. 2,272,017,747,273, out of which UGX. 1,481,698,945,173 was received translating into a 65% out-turn for the financial year. This left a funding gap of UGX. 790,318,802,100 (35%)” (P: 55). Comment: This here proves how the budget is underfunding and not procuring from the Ministry of Finance, Planning Economic Development (MoFPED) to deliver the cash in-due time to the projects and other state entities that supposed to get funding to do their work. The ministry with biggest shortfall was the Ministry of Energy and Mineral!

MoFPED – Payment of avoidable interest on VAT:
“It was noted that as of November, 2014, the outstanding VAT obligations for BIDCO stood at UGX.744,420,170, included in this figure was late payment interest charge of UGX.168,747,557. Accordingly, a sum of UGX.700,000,000 was paid to URA towards settlement of the tax arrears” (P: 93). Comment: Bidco got to pay less to cash to URA then expected in a settlement, instead of paying everything they needed as they hadn’t cleared in their VAT. So the government was not getting what they we’re entitled so the company of BIDCO got off cheap.

AfDB STATS

Payment of the fourth instalment under ADB Subscription:
“It was noted that the payment of Uganda’s 4th instalment of UDS.1,293,299 which became due on 16th March, 2015 had not been made. As a result, the callable shares related to the missed instalment had been suspended in line with the Board of Governors resolution on the sixth general capital increase of the bank meeting” (P: 95). Comment: This here proof that they don’t take the place in the Pan-African Bank institution, only take the loans from African Development Bank, but not taking charge in paying dues to it.

Presidential Initiative on Banana Industrial Development (PIBID):
“It was noted that the PIBID project has been operating without an approved strategic plan. The strategic plan is supposed to guide the budgeting process by creating integrated link with the annual work plans which feed into the budget to ensure effective service delivery and achievement of set project objectives” (…)”During the financial year 2014/2015, the PIBID project had a budget provision of UGX.9bn out of which only UGX.2.7bn was released as vote on account and as a result, activities worth UGX.6,682,145,000 were not under taken. (P: 100- 103). Comment: 6,3bn was not released so that is under the double, but not triple of the ones that has procured to the PIBID.

Department of Ethics and Integrity:
“Directorate’s approved structure/establishment indicated that whereas 60 posts were approved, only 46 had been filled by the year-end leaving 14 vacant” (…)”that withholding tax amounting to UGX.4,662,524 due to URA was not withheld from seven (7) service providers and as such, funds were not remitted. Failure to withhold tax exposes the entity to a risk of penalties and interest charges by URA which may lead to nugatory expenditure” (P: 111-113). Comments: This here proves the defaults on the hiring of people in the department and also mismanage off tax.

This here must been seen as interesting; the report is big, so there is more to come. This here will be series with many pieces as the actions of government is to interesting to NOT be put on blast. Peace.

Reference:
Office of the Auditor General – The Annual Report for the Year Ended 30th June 2015 – Central Government and Statutory Corporations 30th June 2015.

Water-Crisis in the City of Flint; Time to call in USAID to solve it as they do around the world; because water matters!

USAID_Water_Strategy_3-1_0

USAID and World Bank need to offer loans to Flint, Michigan; they can facilitate tap-water to the citizens of the city. This in a county where they have year after years of financial deficit and defaulted on budgeted projects of the city. This just by browsing through google after writing Flint, Michigan Budget Deficit, the articles goes back to 2009. That means 6 years where there been missing money for the county budget. This means that the country can’t deliver the community what it needs, because they don’t have the funds to finance what the town and county need.

Here is the USAID mission statement:

“Ending extreme poverty and promoting the development of resilient, democratic societies that are able to realize their potential. We fundamentally believe that ending extreme poverty requires enabling inclusive, sustainable growth; promoting free, peaceful, and self-reliant societies with effective, legitimate governments; building human capital and creating social safety nets that reach the poorest and most vulnerable” (USAID, 2016).

I will look at some reports of the water quality that has been in media where Cher and Big Sean has donated some Dasani water to the public because the bottles settle the issue with the tap-water that the county doesn’t have money to fix or use proper water-sources. Let’s say what certain reports done by various enteritis say about the water and economy in Flint. Take a brief look:

gm-confirms-flint-east-plant-closing

About Jobs and Poverty in City of Flint:

In a town of “In Flint, for example, absent other factors, employment would have declined by 12.7 percent between 1980 and 2009 because nationally, the industries it specialized in actually shrank over those years. However, Flint lost jobs in those poor performing industries in which it specialized faster than other metros due to a de!cit in the competitiveness of its existing local industries” (…)”At the most basic level, poverty results in lower standards of living. However, there are other, less direct effects that are even more troubling. For instance, poverty is highly correlated with low levels of education, and can thus trap individuals and households for generations, lowering socioeconomic mobility through lack of opportunity. The failure to combat the causes of poverty is also scally unsound; if those problems are not eradicated, state and local governments face smaller tax bases as well as higher outlays to support their populations. Poverty rates were well above the U.S. metro average in 2009 in all of Michigan’s metros except Holland and Jackson” (Michigan Economic Condition Assessment).

Flint GM Plant Workers

Economic situation in 2011 in Flint:

“In 2011, the numbers bear a startling story, as of 2009, 36,2 percent of Flint’s 102,000 residents were living below the poverty level, and nearly 20 percent were at an income level that was 50 percent below poverty level” (…)”In mid-1980s, General Motors – at a time when the company was experiencing records profits – laid off 30,000 autoworkers in Flint, eventually 80,000 in all, and shut down several factories” (Smith, 2011).

Emergency Manager takes control because of budget deficit:

“However, on December 1. 2011, the Governor of the State of Michigan appointed an Emergency Manager for the City of Flint, due in part to a deficit in the general fund, the decline in pooled cash, budget issues, and unfunded liabilities for post-employment benefits. The appointed Emergency Financial Managers and Emergency Manager  were authorized by virtue of their appointment to “act for and in the place and stead of the governing body and the office of chief administrative officer of the City of Flint” (…)”The General Fund deficit as of June 30, 2013, is now $12.9 million” (City of Flint, 2013).

Flint-sweepstakes

Assessment of the water from City of Flint in 2014:

“The City of Flint did experience drinking water issues in the summer of 2014. Issues began with areas of the city experiencing “rusty” water. This was largely due to the fact that the city distribution system contains hundreds of miles of cast iron pipe” (…)”The City of Flint received violations from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ). The violations included a total coliform and E. coli in August and September of 2014, and a corresponding total trihalomethanes (TTHM) violation in December of the same year” (City of Flint, 2014).

Flint Michigan

Water quality report 2015:

“Prior to April 30, 2014, the city of Flint purchased water of the City of Detroit. On April 30, 2014, the City of Flint switched from utilizing purchased water from Detroit to a new water source, the Flint City River. Subsequently to the change in source water, the City of Flint experienced a number of water quality issues resulting in violations of National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) including acute and non-acute Coliform Maximum Contamination Level (MCL) violations and Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) MCL violations” (…)”National Primary Drinking Water  Regulation (NPDWR) Violations – City of Flint:

Following the switch to the Flint River, the City of Flint experienced a series of NPDWR violations as follows:

Acute Coliform MCL violation in August 2014

Monthly Coliform MCL violation in August 2014

Monthly Coliform MCL violation in September 2014

Average TTHM MCL violation in December 2014

Average TTHM MCL violation in March 2015

Average TTHM MCL violation in June 2015” (US EPA, 2015).

Statement on quality of water in 2016:

“The American Water Works Association applauds President Obama for signing an emergency declaration that makes available federal aid for the drinking water crisis in Flint, Michigan” (…)”When a community changes water sources or water treatment, unintended consequences can occur. Water systems must be alert to these potential issues and have plans in place to address them” (…)”AWWA is committed to helping water utilities, elected leaders and customers in applying these and other lessons from the crisis in Flint” (AWWA, 2016).

Flint Michigan P2

Afterthought:

So with seeing this little evidence and also seeing how the state goes in with Emergency Managers both over-controlling the mayor and the city hall because of the growing deficit that surely must have taken emergency measures that must have been done to save budget funds.

The result that has caused havoc now has been visible since August 2014. That is more 17 months when they had it in after changing of water sources to the Flint River. It is staggering how long the results have been – if it is the pipeline or the source it is still scary to know that there been steady violations; that have been pushed under the rug or not discussed. I don’t know why the fuzz is happening now or if it is campaign season and that is why the Americans and world hear about water-quality and crisis in Flint.

The unemployment that goes back to foreclosure of car-factories and other automobile industry has destroyed the economy while the rich have moved from the central town to the suburbs in the county while the town has had steady rise of poverty in the city of Flint. That is why I ask for USAID to do their business and bore holes in the city of Flint in the state of Michigan. USAID has an mission to work amongst poverty and create possibilities and with the amassed levels of poverty in Flint, with closure of schools and abandoned houses an such proves the need for AID from USAID. They should come in with their programs to salvage and create better water with their technicians as they have done for decades in African Countries and Latin America, and help their own as they are in need.

Dasani

The bottles of Dasani given from Big Sean and Cher won’t do much but a tear-drop in the ocean. The emergency funding from the federal funds might help, but that is also done in fashionable loans so the debt burden on the City of Flint. So as a failed banana republic that usually gets programs and aid from USAID, it is time to deliver that to City of Flint. As they have unemployment on the levels of sub-Saharan Africa, they have high crime-levels and public with little faith in the government institutions. Schools are detreating and other institutions are weaker than before. People are living on non-working programs and many suspended as they have been living to long on this state-program. They work with poverty eradication that the City of Flint needs. They can start microfinancing programs to get people to start smaller businesses and grow the level of monies spent in the city. Fund them through water programs similar to WASH strategies of the USAID to secure the level of water quality and food security as a part of that. Something USAID can do in city of Flint. They have already lost some part of their autonomy as the Michigan state put in two Emergency leader both Emergency Manager and Emergency Financial Manager who overpower the people’s chosen leadership of the town and also control the monitoring of the functions of the town, this to get control of the deficit; but also leaving the limbo of the democratic institutions in the city. That means it fits perfectly to what kind of environment that USAID goes into which often is totalitarian or semi-democratic societies with big-men who are stronger control over government institution than ordinary procedure. This is the same with the Emergency leadership of City of Flint. So it not only the economic difficulties, unemployment rate, poverty standard, in the end it also fits the levels of institutional malfunctions to fix the budget deficit as the governor of Michigan has seen.

usaid_water_strategy

So if the USAID will follow their mission and do something good, use their skills and WASH programs, then they should put them into use in the City of Flint, Americans helping Americans. Not a vile and foolish picture, the money that US Government have put into USAID over the year, this here good be a good service back and prove that the money is well spent, as the USAID can finance and find way to fix the water and give of their knowledge to create a more prosperous society. City of Flint should try to get a Memorandum of Understanding to give way so that USAID can give the citizens of Flint what they deserve before Michael Moore makes another film displaying the deteriorating city he was raised in. USAID shouldn’t just build water wells in Afar region in Ethiopia, when there a city in America where they can’t get healthy water; their WASH personnel could really give AID and create development in Flint. This is if the City of Flint could accept it and give way to the organization to show way. USAID have the skill and manpower needed, Flint have not the funds or the situation to get out of it. This here is a decline of a city ever since General Motors starting to leave and move automobile factories since the 1980s. Therefore the reforms have to come and why not through USAID. They can bring hope and more then Big Sean’s bottles of Dasani. Peace.

Reference:

American Water Works Association (AWWA) – ‘Statement from AWWA CEO David LaFrance concerning Flint water quality crisis’ (19.01.2016)

City of Flint – ‘Annual Water Quality Paper 2014’ link: https://www.cityofflint.com/wp-content/uploads/CCR-2014.pdf

City of Flint – ‘Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30. 2013’

‘Michigan Economic Condition Assessment 2.0’ link: http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/Research/Files/Reports/2012/2/23-michigan-economy/0223_michigan_mid_metros.pdf

Smith, Jay Scott – ‘Flint’s economic fall like none other in the country’ (26.11.2011) link: http://thegrio.com/2011/09/26/flints-economic-fall-like-none-other-in-the-country/

USAID – ‘MISSION, VISION AND VALUES‘ (07.06.2016) link: https://www.usaid.gov/who-we-are/mission-vision-values

United States Environmental Protection Agency – ‘Transmittal of Final Report – High Lead at three residences in Flint, Michigan’ (04.11.2015)

U.S. Gov. condems Rwandan President Kagame; Proves the double-standard; It’s okay for the U.S. ally President Museveni and wrong for President Kagame

 

East-Africa

We live in interesting times. The U.S. Government has condemned the Rwandan Government for giving the opportunity to have a third term for their President Kagame. President Museveni did the same in 2004 and the U.S. Government at that time couldn’t care or give two cents since him where their loyal ally. We didn’t hear anything last year when President Nkurunziza added to his two terms and only we’re late to the party when the news of the election-violence and assassinations came to broad light than the tune changed.

US Magazine Zaire LR

The same nation and government that supported the now deceased Mobutu Sese Seko in Democratic Republic of Congo then called Zaire. He we’re in charge of the country from about 1965 to 1997; when Laurent-Desire Kabila together with President Kagame’s and President Museveni’s armies; brought down the American sponsored and supported dictator. Who they needed through the cold-war to have a presence in the area, and not give that away to Soviet. We’ll they didn’t give him an army worth anything; when his neighbor countries invaded and took him down. That is just a sidebar.

Since the U.S. have supported dictators when they have needed them. The irony now for attacking Paul Kagame for doing his thing to get a third term seems a bit farfetched. We can see that U.S. trying to do something worth a damn in the area, since they have recently visited Kenya and Ethiopia. Well, recently U.S. reacted to Burundi President Pierre Nkurunziza violence against opposition after an election for a third term and also going against the 2000 Arusha Peace Agreement, that we’re accepted by the courts as the first term; we’re accepted as adnominal since he was voted to power by parliament and not directly by the people! Even so, the public demonstrated and still is in turmoil and violence ever since March 2015 and we are in January 2016. The only thing U.S. did we’re to cut them from AGOA and that is zappy and looking meaningless in the big picture. They did not even have the ammunition to say it was wrong from the get-go for President Nkurunziza, surely because he is from a zip-code even the U.S. can’t care about.

Paul Kagame. P3jpg

 

U.S. Reaction on the 19th December 2015:

“The United States is disappointed that a referendum was called on short notice to amend the Rwandan constitution and introduce exceptions to term limits. While we commend the people of Rwanda for peacefully exercising their civic rights, we regret that the arrangements for the referendum failed to provide sufficient time and opportunity for political debate on the merits of the proposed provisions” (…)”The United States continues to be concerned by long-standing restrictions on peaceful assembly, association, and free expression in Rwanda. We urge the Government of Rwanda to enable the full and unfettered exercise of these fundamental freedoms as the country moves toward local elections in 2016, presidential elections in 2017, and parliamentary elections in 2018″.

This must have touched some nerves… So here is what he said back to them after the new-years.

So, the track record of recent is not beautiful. That President Kagame answers on twitter back we’re he was answering the U.S. Reaction on the 4th January 2016:

“So,…’diappointing?’ as a people and a leader/choices?? Uhm …it hurts!!! I promise we don’t intend to disappoint…esp ourselves!!”.

The issue is really, why the international bandwagon is reacting to him and not to all the other ones who keeps steady and sitting in power until death. Like the brother in Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Zimbabwe and Sudan. Ugandan leader got some comments on the Barrack Obama visit in Africa in 2015, but they didn’t more or say since they need President Museveni sometimes it seems.

KabilaCartoon

The world is not reacting to the change of laws to make it happen in Democratic Republic of Congo where the son of Laurent-Desire Kabila, Joseph Kabila who does what he can to have a third-term as a president in the DRC. He seems he can move in silence and as he please not even the foreign affairs brother from Belgium reacting as he have done so much when it comes to Burundian President Nkurunziza. President Kablia seems like somebody who is not worth stressing about even when the news came out last year and the public reacted with #Telema demonstrations.

While the nuisances’ towards Rwanda and President Kagame seems like a doubled game, because you haven’t given a rats ass before and now you cry foul. I wonder if they will say anything if President Salva Kiir Mayardit stays in power after his second term of 6 years that will stretch to 2017. Since he have been in power of the nation since 2005 and when he continues from 2017 it will already be 12 years and with one more term will get 18 years; and that is a long time!

Salva Kiir Poster

President Kagame has been in power for a long time and people should be allowed to question his actions. Rwandan government and country is sovereign. As the same use of sovereign state Burundi have used against having an AU Peacekeepers in the country because that will take their freedom and justice as a nation because they can handle the turmoil internally. President Nkurunziza says so and the international community doesn’t speak up against that.

U.S. Government might have forgotten that Franklin Delano Roosevelt had three terms he was in power from 1932 to 1945. He would have if he didn’t die of health problems actually could have served a fourth term. Unprecedented in American history, still it proves they can do it to!

And when they need somebody they can support them even when they are undemocratic, but the U.S. doesn’t need President Kagame. They do not fear the turmoil of Burundi even though the Inter-Burundian dialogue that happens in Uganda, issued and led by the President Museveni. Who have no plan to step-down even though he have run the country since 1986. He follows suit of former fellows. President Museveni would if he could; Help out the son of Jomo Kenyatta and get a bigger suit in East Africa. President Musveni might even give him lessons on how to keep power in Kenya to President Uhuru Kenyatta; who is currently working on his campaign and party structure of the new Jubilee Party in the country. Preparing for a second term and campaign to secure that! Nothing is meantioned about the issues of the growing tension, the embezzlement and the corruption in Kenya; That is not an issue for the U.S. Since they need Kenya to fight Al-Shabab as well! Therefore they let all the other issue to the side.

President Museveni is allowed to do as he need and can. The U.S. would never say anything crazy unless he bans the gay community and put fire unto the “Anti-Gay-Bill” again! President Kagame can be taken and punished since he doesn’t have a role to play that U.S. need. President Kabila in DRC trades rare-earth minerals and other commodities cheaply so if he wants to stay; hell; he can stay! President Nkurunziza is only an issue when starts to harass and assassinate people in his own country, if he we’re silent about it, the U.S. government would not care. But President Kagame is the issue. Hope there anybody else who see something wrong with that picture?

Peace.