South Sudan Opposition Movements: Declaration of Principles – “Launching the New Vision of Hope and Transformation in South Sudan” (30.08.2019)

Parliament Reports shows Gen. Tumwiine lack of discipline!

Who is the Speaker? Who is she? What is Parliament? The Speaker rules over Parliament. She does not rule over Uganda. This Country was liberated by the military but not her Parliament. Do not tell me about your Speaker and about your Parliament. The army cannot be directed by civilians.– Gen. Elly Tumwiine on 23rd July 2019

We knew something was up as the reports of the altercation in parliament between Hon. Cecilia Ogwal and Gen. Elly Tumwiine on the 23rd July 2019. What went down where not been sure of, but what the reports are stating and the recommendation from the majority shows why these sorts of things has to be sorted out correctly.

Because, there is always to side to every story and by all means, the culprits, the ones charging against someone. Always or most likely want to look more innocent or more nicer, than they really was. Secondly, in this narrative as the story progress, the historical and the title of Tumwiine comes to haunt his actions. His a many of the army, the rebel outfit NRA and acts like a intolerant rascal. Which is not a good look, especially if his so proud of being an army man. Than, he should keep his cool and show finesse. Alas, that is not the case with an entitled man, who cannot come under question.

That is why these parts of the reports is striking to me. As they show the intent and also the reasons why Tumwiine lack discipline and needs to be reprimanded by the Parliament. Which is a bad look for a General and some of his stature, shows that his not that great after all.

Key aspect of Minority Report:

Hon. Cecilia Ogwal while in the committee averred that Gen. Elly Turnwine attacked her while sitted in the parliamentary lobby in the presence of some members of parliament. She further contended that the General pointed a finger at her and said “You are a liar, I have never pointed a gun at you”. That the General left and shortly came back and repeated the same words. That Hon. Gen. Elly Turnwine being a General of the UPDF, she apprehended fear for the safety of her life and the entire family” (Minority Report, 2019)

Key aspect of Majority Report:

Hon. Ogwal statement – “On what Hon. Gen. Tumwine said to make her feel threatened, she responded that, He said: ” You are lying, I did not pull a gun at you. You are a liar.” She also informed the Committee that his body language obviously displayed fury and agitation which scared her and the people around her. They anticipated a physical attack. She further said that if anything happened to her or any of the members of her family she would know that Hon. Gen. Tumwine was involved. She wondered why he would attack her twice with no provocation. She informed the Committee that she felt her life was threatened by the assault of a top military leader, aware of the fact that in the recent past many prominent Ugandans have been killed in unclear circumstances in this country. Her health was also affected as indicated by her blood pressure which continued to rise and could be controlled by medication since the incident of 23rd July 2019” (Majority Report, 2019).

Hon. Gen. Tumwine was pointing at Hon. Ogwal and leaning over her. He was almost poking her eye. Hon. Adong said she was so scared, more so with the fact that she grew up during the wars in Northern Uganda” (Majority Report, 2019).

Conclusions:

The House adopts the resolution to reprimand or admonish the Member; The Member to be reprimanded or admonished is ordered by the Speaker to stand at the Bar of the House. In the event that the Member is not in the Chamber at the time, the Member may be called in to receive the reprimand or admonition forthwith, or may be ordered to attend the House the following day or some later day (except if the House chooses to reprimand the Member in absentia). The Committee’s recommendation that the Member stand at the Bar is based on the precedent set by Rule 90(2)of our Rules of Procedure, where an apology is made at the Bar” (Majority Report).

Now we have to wait and see if Speaker Kadaga will force an apology out of the General. That would show some real character of him. Not that it suits him or his ego, but surely would show some humility. Which is not a word I would commonly use for a man Elly’s stature. Because, his more ruthless and direct. He doesn’t spare anyone and everyone should be his servants.

That is why his addressing the rest of the Parliament as mere civilians, who shouldn’t dare to insult his authority as the army of both liberation and now currently safeguarding the public. That is the sort of man Tumwiine is.

We can clearly see that Majority is displeased and concerned by the actions made by Tumwiine, which acted as brute within the chambers of Parliament. Instead of feeling the room, he went straight for Hon. Ogwal. Which even intimidated the ones around her. That shows what sort of play he did. That is why he should think of his actions and his words. Because, they matter and causes a stir. He could show finesse, could show character, but don’t expected.

His NRA entitlement will overboard any civility out of a man like Tumwiine. He will only loot, conquer and eat. He will not do an apology, unless the President sends him a order to do so. Peace.

Reference:

The Parliamentary Committee on Rules, Privileges and Discipline – In the Matter of Hon. Cecilia Ogwal and Hon. Atkins Katusabe Versus Gen. Elly Tumwine (25.08.2019)

Parliament of Uganda – REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON RULES, PRIVILEGES AND DISCIPLINE ON AN INQUIRY INTO ALLEGATIONS AGAINST GENERAL ELLY TUMWINE, MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT REPRESENTING UGANDA PEOPLE’S DEFENCE FORCES (UPDF) AND MINISTER FOR SECURITY (August 2019)

Uganda: Press Statement- Government Position on the Electoral Law Reforms (30.07.2019)

OTT Tax: Totally failed its supposed revenue targets in 2018!

Today, the Uganda Communication Commission released their annual sector performance report of July 2019. It was really a bit funny look, as the state, the President and all of his handlers said the Over-The-Top Services would create a tax-base and revenue, which would benefit the state. That is why Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) had set up targets to streamline these new taxes.

I will show more of the fun and explain, as the UCC report really shows how malfunction and lack of due diligence hurt. But first a previous calculation, which was stated to the media. To show how much lack of tax-base the OTT had in 2018, as it was implemented in July and keeps pushing to this date.

Look:

Daily Monitor Reports: “Government collected Shs20.5b from social media in the last quarter ended September, according to data obtained from Uganda Revenue Authority. The tax, which was implemented in July, was however, less than the Shs24.9b target that URA had hoped to collect in the period. URA has a monthly target of Shs8.3b. The tax was introduced in the Excise Duty amendments of financial year 2018/19 requiring all social media users to pay Shs200 per day, before accessing certain platforms such as Facebook, Whatsapp and Twitter, among others. Government intends to collect about Shs100b before the end of the 2018/19 financial year” (Christine Kasemiire – ‘OTT raises Shs20b in first quarter, URA fails on targets’ 07.11.2018).

Let’s first do the math, accordingly, as the URA monthly target is 8,3bn shillings in revenue, every single month. A quarter of a Financial Year is 4 months. In today’s UCC report, it shows the numbers for the Q3 and Q4 of 2018. Which means, that states revenue from July-September and October-December in the previous years. By these standards its 8,3bn X3 to get the supposed of any given Q. That is 24,9bn shillings is estimated to earn per quarter.

However, the UCC report states that in the Q3, the revenue was 12,696,558,400 or 12,6bn shillings which is only about half of the anticipated revenue. The final quarter or Q4 isn’t much better:12,952,833,800 or 12,9bn shillings. Of the estimated earnings, the state is nearly able to gain about half of its target. The market and the consumers are not contributing or using the phones as much as they thought. What is striking if you combine the two quarters of revenue is that the state earned approximately 25,5bn shillings, which is sadly just above one quarter estimate of the URA in supposed revenue on this tax. The estimated earnings of the period would be about 49,8bn and this shows the state managed a deficit of about 24,3bn shillings. That is about on quarters earning not happening at all. Thats a giant shortfall of cash and the URA/UCC needs to explain the Ministry of Finance this one, because this a major loss of promised funding for the state.  

This shows how failed this tax is and what a waste of enforcement and making the tax in its first place. This isn’t fun and games, but a way of misusing power to tax people, just because you find something obnoxious. That is how it seems, since the President want to stop the gossip online and such. Stop spreading of information and ensure that poorest cannot afford to get online and use the OTT services. Because, that what this tax does. Peace.

Uganda Police Force: Security Forces Arrests Suspect on Offensive Communication (12.07.2019)

Communique Final – Sommet Quandripartite Entre les Chefs d’Etat et de Gouvernement des Republiques d’Angola, Democratique du Congo, d’Ouganda et du Rwanda, Luanda le 12 Juilet 2019 (12.07.2019)

RSA: EFF Rejects the Ramaphosa Cabinet (29.05.2019)

Tanzania: Notice to Travelers Planning to Visit Tanzania (16.05.2019)

Opinion: Museveni knows his overstaying, but he doesn’t care!

Ours is not a mere change of guards but a fundamental change. The problem of Africa in general and Uganda in particular is not people, but leaders who want to overstay in power which breeds impunity, corruption and promotes patronage….For us in NRM/A, we shall be here for only four years, after which we shall hand over power to a free and fairly elected civilian government” – Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on the 26th January 1986

This weekend he defended himself again, therefore, we just have to prove what he said in his inauguration in 1986. As the words can now be said about himself. His is part of the problem in Africa. Yet another leader that overstays, which breeds impunity, corruption and promotes patronage. This is something President Museveni does on a grand scale in 2019. The words said for over 33 years could been said about him. It is like he has gone through all the stages and become the enemy of his own words. Which is showing his indifference and his lack of care.

The people who is busy defending him now, is busy eating and dodging the bullets. As they are eating and not in trouble, not having lack of funds and are secured, as they are part of the overgrowing patronage of the state. The people who are leeching of the state and the ones that the President needs support from. This is why, his defends of his actions to stay longer. Is an issue, that he has to defend. As the President knows the reality, that his advanced age and cannot even stand as a surety for someone, his to old if we have learned the codes from Bobi Wine’s latest trial.

Alas, this is what he said during the recent days:

Those people who talk about term limits and that a 75-year-old cannot lead a country is a lie. Those are just stupid ideas. The Banyankore have a proverb that when you have food, you sound a small drum, but if you sound alarm for war, you make it big so that more people can come and join. So, people think leadership in Africa is like food. I have seen that leadership in Africa is like a struggle, it is like war” – Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on the 11th May 2019 in Koboko

Certainly, the words of him taking power is stupid ideas now, as they have to be deflected, because if these was ideals and words the President meant. He wouldn’t have abolished the term limits and the age limit. However, he don’t care about a principal, when it concerns him. Everyone else has to follow it or be law abiding citizens, but he can changes laws to fit his life. That is the sort of President he is.

We can easily see, that the man of 1986 would kill the one of 2019. He would have used Luwero methods on himself and gotten some of his NRA general to assassinate him. That is just a mere fact.

We can shed tears or we can move along like its nothing… If not, we can support defiance and wish of the ideology of the words of 1986, the UPM and not the vampire state of NRM in 2019. Peace.