Opinion: President Museveni burns the candle at both ends!

Even if the NRM MP is sick and sleepy, he’s still better than an acting opposition MP who’s very active. He might be inactive in other things but if he seconds the issues of govt, then he has contributed a brick to the peace of the country” – President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni at a Campaign Rally (13.03.2018)

It is time to for President Museveni to stop his mixed messages. Because today during a By-Election Campaign Rally, he said there was no issues if a National Resistance Movement (NRM) Member of Parliament is sleeping. Why I am revealed by that, is that he is initially telling the crowds. Just elect my stooges, my cronies, I decide anyway, it is all my agenda. All that is done is on my time and my watch. The NRM MPs can be sick and can sleep. You shouldn’t mind them. Because they are just voting when I need them, the rest of the time, they are just lackeys that I have to take care off. So it’s good that the President is telling the truth. Because that is what he did.

However, sleeping was a problem 24 hours ago. Therefore, it is okay for his lackeys, but not for people in general: “President Museveni has said Ugandans, and Africans more generally, are poor because they spend too much time sleeping. “Africa is so rich because we have got water, land, minerals, good weather. So, how does this (poverty) come about? It is because of nino (Langi for sleeping),” Mr Museveni said. In Africa, he noted, there is also a lot of “oversleeping”” (Oketch, 2018)

Shouldn’t there be a coherent message, that sleep for NRM MPs is good because it fixes my agenda and my life as President. But the citizens has to awake and work? How come? Why them and not the representatives? It doesn’t add up?

Well, if the riches, the cronies can get away with sleep, why shouldn’t the people of Gulu and Arua sleep? Why should they stress collecting, hustling and doing whatever, when their NRM representative is always sleeping the few times they have to show up for Plenary Session in Parliament. What gives?

Museveni is showing his lack of well-thought thinking. One day saying sleeping is bad, the next day it’s good. Africa and Uganda is poor because people sleep. However, his cronies and lackeys they can sleep all they want. They don’t have to work, because Museveni makes the agenda. When they are representing the people, aren’t it okay that the people also sleep? If they have sleepy-face in parliament, cannot the constituents be sleepy in alley and the valley? Why not?

I know that you have to awake to able to work. You have to enough sleep to be productive, that is the same for a farmer, as much as for an MP. Unless the MP get instruction and just have to vote “yay” and the day is done. While the farmer still needs energy to toil the soil and make sure the seedlings grow. So an MP needs less. That is natural, but still the MP should be the most eager, since the delivery of the MP is for his constituents and for the Republic.

That is lost in all of this, because Museveni wants people to sleep and not see his double-standard. Peace.

Reference:

Oketch, Bill – ‘Sleep making Ugandans poor – Museveni’ (12.03.2018) link:http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Sleep-Ugandans-poor-Museveni-Dokolo-Africans-/688334-4337600-116na2m/index.html

Opinion: Hon. Kipoi is in a land of trouble, but is the charges justified?

Today Tony Kipoi, the former Member of Parliament in the 9th Parliament in the constituency of Bubulo West. In 2014 he had issues that he had no excuse for not taking part of 15 sittings in the row. Therefore, the Parliament threw him out and had a By-Election to chase him out of his seat. Well, just a year into his term (2012) as MP he was arrested for his connection with rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo, however, that didn’t stop him from serving a few more years, before he was kicked out. Therefore, in retrospect, the issue wasn’t really there, but somehow it became one.

Other than this, there are a Press Release from 24th December 2012, where the Police Force states this: “Yesterday, Sunday, 23 December 2012, the Police with its sister security agencies, arrested Hon. Kipoi Tony Nsubuga of Bubulo East constituency at 10:30 in Matimuku Guest House, Njala Village, Fort Portal, Kabarole district, while he was holding a meeting with some Ugandan security officers and Congolese rebel officers. The Ugandan Officers and Congolese rebels were also arrested. For, some time, now, the Police with its sister security agencies have been closely monitoring subversive activities of Hon. Kipoi Tony in and out of the country. In particular, he has been recruiting personnel from our security services as well as Congolese rebels belong to a Congolese rebel group called COGAI, based in areas around Bunia, Ituri, Democratic Republic of Congo. He had promised to support the rebel groups with fire arms.We also have information, that Hon. Kipoi Tonny has foreign sponsors who at this point it would not be wise to disclose” (Ugadna Police Force, 24.12.2012).

In April 2014, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni expressed this about Kipoti:

You elected a mad man Kipoi and when he got there, he wanted to overthrow the NRM government with guns. We threw him in. But because of the courts which are confused, they released him on bond and he fled to Congo. You have been here for long without any representation” (State House, 14.04.2014). T

What is striking with this, if this fellow Member of Parliament was already monitored and already had an issue with the and had to be arrested one year after becoming MP. Why wouldn’t the Electoral Commission disqualify him and his candidacy in Bubulo West? Since he was already known for his foreign support of the COGAI in Ituri, Democratic Republic of Congo?

The strangest thing, is that there is no direct connection with COGAI or FPRI. Which the state tries to put forward, and when it comes to making such accusation the state has usually delivered easily against detractors. Therefore, I had to look into possible sources and finds very little proof behind the accusation and the actual connection. Other than police in 2012, but nothing else connecting Tony to any warlord in the DRC.

The pure evidence of a Ugandan connection to FPRI or COGAI is this one from the UN Security Council in 2012: “FRPI also sells gold directly to Ugandan armed forces officers posted along the Congolese border. A regular client, cited by Congolese armed forces, militia members and a Lendu community leader, is a former Ugandan armed forces officer, Alex Mugisha. In exchange for gold, he has delivered arms and munitions to FRPI at the Semliki border crossing” (UNSC, P: 25, 15.12.2012).

With this evidence, there are clear indication that the group of rebels connected to Kipoi has traded their conflict minerals or gold with Ugandan counterparts. Therefore, to have middlemen in Uganda seems natural at this point. That is why the Presidents family is involved in this business as well.

But going back in time, the Observer had an article in 2nd November 2014 written by Sadab Kiatta Kaaya which stated: “In November last year, he was arrested by the DRC authorities but was later accorded a guest-of-the-state status, accommodated and protected by the DRC government. “You know he is a crafty man. I think when he got arrested, he told them that he has a rebel group and given the problems we have with them [DRC], they felt he would be of value to their interests,” Ambassador Kinobe said, when asked about Kipoi’s whereabouts” (The Observer – ‘DR Congo refuses to hand over ex-MP Kipoi’ 02.11.2014).

So after the troubles with law, even as a lawmaker and MP. He still had issues, which followed him from 2012 and also with the refusal to show-up in the Parliament. Tony has been one whose been in the spotlight of the President and the NRM. He has been one of many who has been alleged connected with militias and charged with treason. Kipoi isn’t the first one. He won’t be the last. What I wonder is who is connected to Alex Mugisha and does the business with the Congolese Rebels from Ituri. That would answer a lot of open questions.

It is hard to believe the information directly from the state, especially considering how they are not transparent about their looting of Congolese gold to through the Ugandan businesses. These are kept low-key and used to earn vast fortunes on others misfortunes. While supporting militias and insurgency inside the DRC. That is not news, but a fact that has been stated through international investigations and through the system of the United Nations Experts.

I’m just also wondering why Museveni turned on Kipoi and as he made him MP before taking him down. Now he is supposed detained and jailed in Uganda after a being in exile in Botswana. Why is suddenly back in the spotlight and getting into issues. What did he really do, pee on the lawn outside of the State House? Did he offend the buttocks of the Janet Museveni? What did he really do?

Would be nice to get some proper representation of the possible crimes he did, if he did any, since the evidence and the investigations of UPF isn’t representative and the criminal investigations can be turned in favor of the will of the President.

Why I can also question the government, is because the National Equality and Democracy, a liberation party from the diaspora wrote this on the 3rd December 2016: “The red notice meant that the Bubulo county West parliamentary representative Hon Kipoi Tonny Nsubuga would be arrested if found in any of the Interpol member countries. Interpol found that the organisation was being used wrongfully by the regime to pursue its political opponents. The winning of this case is historically a wakeup call and is a sign of injustice that all Ugandans are going through. Innocent Ugandans have been victims of circumstances for years under Museveni Rule. Since 2012 kipoi’s legal team has been battling political cases with Uganda government for an equal society. He emphasized much on Mr [ Museveni ] to do whatever he could in order to assist in restoring democracy, and stop unnecessary constitutional meddling which has lead to political instability in the country. The regime after falling out with him over political differences, he was accused of trying to overthrow the government, Kipoi left to exile in neighbouring DRC. The government continued to pursue him and even sued him under CRB No 1034/2013and secured a red notice 2014/11357 in Lyon France” (NED, 03.12.2016).

So we have the right to question the state, as the facts will not come from this regime, they will play it in their favor, just like they have done with other dissidents. Kipoi is just one of many in line of fire. Museveni isn’t graceful when coming to opponents. Peace.

The NRM Celebration in Kiboga only affirm one thing: They are all loyal minions to Museveni and his agenda!

If you believed the Age Limit fight and votes of 2017 was for the betterment of the Republic. Sorry brother, your so wrong, the celebration in Kigoba today is made for the 317 Members of Parliament, who voted for the Raphael Magyezi Bill. They are celebrating the life president of Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. This happens the same week the ruling party sacked dozens of staff. They can afford a grand party and start a second referendum for the President. They are now planning to change the constitution again, this time to add the Presidential Terms from 5 years to 7 years.

Therefore, the party is in the constituency of the Deputy Cheif Whip Ruth Nankabirwa, who led the removal of the article 102(b). Now she will led the change of the article 105(1). The National Resistance Movement, should just be honest, that all of them just serve one purpose. Working for the master and the President by all means. Not for democracy or for principals. Because Museveni has broken all his promises and pledges. This party proves that the NRM are broke this week, but can afford to slaughter 25 cows and pay buses for the MPs there.

They are now wishing Museveni Non-Stop and preparing for a new referendum, that fits the paradigm of the President again. Instead of age of the President, it is now the length of his term. They cannot put this on the age or the decisions, they are now countering it because they gave themselves longer terms. The 317 Members of Parliament has now a term lasting 7 years, instead of 5 years. Which should be long enough to be able to make a difference. However, they need longer time to be corrupted and work under Museveni.

So this party, is “Align and Arrive” campaign are yet another way of extending Museveni, just like they did themselves. It follows protocol that they work for him and not for the Republic. You know there is local problems in Kiboga Sub County NRM Chairman Stephen Matovu has asked for the president to buy a motorcycle for him. While the LC 3 Chairman of Kiboga Hajji Sulaiman Ssekiwunga has asked for a new house and car, after that has been torched. Therefore, the NRM and the State House maybe has to cover for their poltical affiliations has cost in the region.

Hope the bribes, the congratulations and the praise of themselves, to make sure Museveni can be for life. President Museveni are bashing and letting them praise it, because this is all making it seem like the party celebrates itself and accomplishment. Instead, it makes them look like they are catering even more to him. Because the NRM wouldn’t be there and have this event if it wasn’t for Museveni. The whole thing is that they won a “victory” for Museveni and used all means to do so.

The Victory Bash, is really just showing how the minions are working all for Museveni and his agenda. Not for making the republic better or give it better governance. That comes second or third. What comes first is Museveni and his needs. To say otherwise, is the second reason for this bash. It is to make sure he get 4 more years, not the change they did in 2017 to the Constitution. So they plan to alter it again, so he can become president for even longer. There no other reason for the event.

So just as these NRM MPs was getting bribes for their votes, get praise for the changes, they are now expected to move further the agenda for Museveni. To extend it even more, they are aligned to show allegiance and ready to arrive another step further for the life presidency. Because that is the goal, that the president will take his last breath as President. They want the same results as with Mugabe, that he clocked out, when he was over 90 years old. Because that is the values of the NRM, which want to be like ZANU-PF.

So do yourself a favor, stop talking about democracy and building a better Uganda. Your only serving Museveni and his agenda. Which is himself and no-one else. They are just useful props for his purpose. They are needed votes and cronies, which he can pay when needed be. The Constitution has to be altered for his narrative and not for the betterment of the republic. Therefore, the ones celebrating today, is complicit in the theft, in the taking and the total control in favor of Museveni. They are all tools who are getting used by him. So he can rule with impunity and with disgrace. Peace.

Minister Kasaija are borrowing more money, because of a shortfall he say!

Uganda is your country. When you’re writing a story, ask yourself if it is going to build or destroy Uganda. Is it going to bring peace or anarchy?” (…) “I’m advising my good friends of New Vision that for the good of your country, do not publish stories that are not true. My telephone number is known by everyone, call me. If I can’t respond then wait, because I’m also a busy man but I’ll respond. Let me repeat, for the good of your country, please don’t publish false stories” – Matia Kasaija, Minster of Finance.

I know, some people get touchy when stories comes out. Out of the woodworks suddenly the questions arise and people are thinking? Why? Why does the state borrow even more funds, is it needed even? How come the State, who is already borrowing heavy sums of money from all sort of bilateral, multi-national banking institutions suddenly need to borrow money from domestic sources. That question should be asked and need to questioned. Since the reality of the matter, isn’t what it is used to, since this government cannot even explain where the PTA Loans went. It is amazing how things are going, that the State can take up loans like this after already no accountability on the previous ones. The same minister is already questioned for the loans done with PTA loans, who knows what else that has gone missing, as the GAVI and CHOGM Funds of the past suddenly vanished into thin air, hard not imagine that this could happen again.

“Yesterday, Monday 19th February 2018 the New Vision Newspaper front page lead headline stated that Government is borrowing UShs. 700 Billion to pay salaries for public servants. I would like to inform the General Public that this story was an exaggeration of the proposed borrowing that I laid before Parliament. We borrow to a large extent to finance capital development and production. In my letter dated 9th February 2018; I submitted a proposal to Parliament seeking authority from the House, in accordance with the requirements of Article 159 of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, to borrow additional Ushs 736 Billion from the domestic financial market to finance the Budget for FY 2017/18” (Uganda Media Centre, 2018).

This money will go to “development and production”. We can wonder where that is, if it is the bills of Gen. Salim Selah hotels as the seedlings delivered by, Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) is lack-lustre at best. Who knows where all the pooled monies for NAADS are going, but clearly not all of it is not going to micro-economic benefits for the society.

Shortfall is clearly there and the weak economy, that has been juiced up and run like a drunk seaman. That is why as the last end of bottle of beer is there and the need to go down to the bar and buy more brew on credit. That is the ordeal of the day. It is not a narration by Morgan Freeman and a beautiful tale of forgiveness and hope. No, it is a tragic day of even more debt, this time internally and used by the state. Since they are embezzling and taking away funds from the public. This will create more pressure for liquidity in the banks who borrows to the state, as this is taking from their own reserves to bailout the state. Eventually, the state has to find other funds to pay back the banks.

It doesn’t take a wise to understand, that adding more debt, while growing debt and also paying interests is a vicious cycle. They are recycling loans and adding more interests and more debt to be repaid in due time. We can just pound on that and wonder why the state hasn’t made a budget that is within the reach of the economy, but the government isn’t like that. They are spending money like there are no tomorrow. Having one beer, another one and another one. Now it’s drunk and don’t want to lose the edge, the steam and the good feeling of tipsy. The state doesn’t want to get the hangover and deal with the cure. They just want to shug more bottles and hope no one notice. Peace.

Reference:

Uganda Media Centre – ‘Statement on the proposed government borrowing of UGX 700 billion #UGCabinetResolutions’ (20.02.2018) link: https://ugandamediacentreblog.wordpress.com/2018/02/20/statement-on-the-proposed-government-borrowing-of-ugx-700-billion-ugcabinetresolutions/

PTA Bank Loan Scandal: US$200m gone missing, you don’t loose that amount money, you spend it!

The government has announced plans to borrow US$200m from the Eastern and Southern African Trade and Development Bank (known as the PTA Bank)” (…) “It will, however, do little to ease the near-term pressures. The weak currency is pushing up the cost of external debt (the new PTA Bank loan will add to the burden of US dollar-denominated debt), while high interest rates are driving up yields on domestic securities. The government originally budgeted USh172bn to service external debt in the current 2015/16 fiscal year and USh4.8trn for domestic debt, but the actual outlays will exceed this” (The Economist, 2015).

In today’s exchange rate the loaned planned would be 727,749,571,653.20 Uganda Shillings, or UGX 727bn. So that means that the Minister of Finance Matia Kasaija cannot find the documentation for a huge amount of money. This isn’t a lost pocket or recite, this is like loosing bank. However, we know the context, the loans that came from PTA came within months of the General Election and the Campaigns. Therefore, we can imagine where the money has gone. That is just speculation, but National Medical Stores (NMS) has given some signs, that the PTA Loans was not for them.

In June 2017, the Public Notice of NMS said this:

This funding facility was the PTA Bank loan, which was later approved by Parliament on 26th April 2016. The record on the Hansard clearly indicates ugx. 68billion required to avert an impending crisis at NMS as one of the primary reasons why the loan “should be urgently” approved. If NMS was therefore not meant to get the ugx. 68billion as additional funds, then the Ministry of Finance, Planning

and Economic Development misled Parliament” (…) “NMS provided the contracts by a letter

dated 13th September 2016, and waited for disbursement of the money from PTA Bank. However the said funds have to-date not been provided. This fact was brought to the Ministry of Health and the Permanent Secretary/ Secretary to the Treasury on 27th March 2017. It is important to note that the PTA Bank Loan, was approved by Parliament on the understanding that part of the Proceeds would go to NMS to cover the sh.68billion deficit” (…) “We wish to restate that if this money is not provided, over and above the Budget for FY 2017/18, all Health Centre IIs, IIIs and IVs, including those of UPDF, Uganda Police and Uganda Prisons, shall not receive Medicines in the FY 17/18 except ARVs, Vaccines, ACTs and TB medicines” (NMS, 2017).

Although documents indicate that PTA Bank released the loan basing on documents submitted by the agencies, it was never remitted to them accordance with the agreed terms of the funding. Last week while requesting for a supplementary budget for NMS, Finance State Minister David Bahati was put to task to explain why NMS lacks funds to procure medicines yet the funders released the money in November last year. MP Cecilia Ogwal (Dokolo) wondered why NMS was going through a financial crisis when Parliament approved a loan request of $200m. During the meeting yesterday, members put Bank of Uganda officials led by the Governor Tumusiime Mutebile to task to explain whether the loan was released from the funders to the respective recipients. Mutebile told the committee that between October20th 2016 and May 23, 2017; BOU received $97.9m from PTA bank and transferred all the money to the Ministry of Finance Consolidated Account as instructed by the Ministry of Finance. “How it was used, is the ministry of finance to explain,” he said” (Karugaba, 2017).

So just part of the loans that trusted to NMS never came and never was delivered. The amount of funds needed the crisis in the NMS was not given. Therefore, the lack of oversight of the funds and the loans was evident even last year. Still, PTA Loan of 2016 has not been honored. The BoU will explain what happen after the money was released. So, it means that the documentation of receiving it is there, but what happen after is now gone. The NMS are clear, the BoU, but not the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED).

Just to put the loan in more perspective, even the World Bank described there in January 2017:

Uncertainties related to both local and external events, including the freezing of new loans by the World Bank and the impact of the results of the Brexit referendum and the US presidential election being the most significant causes of this uncertainty. This is notwithstanding the fact that the Government has contracted balance of payments support credit from PTA Bank to provide the BoU with sufficient resources to prevent spikes in the foreign exchange market when the need arises” (World Bank, P: 11, 2017).

However something that is striking is the Letter of intent written by BoU Governor Tumusiime Mutebile and Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development Kasaija. Who both prepared a statement, to build trust in the economy and the loans made by the government.

Who wrote this this to IMF on 18th May 2016:

Government requested a line of credit of USD 200 million from the Eastern and Southern African Trade and Development Bank (PTA Bank). The three year revolving facility has terms that are deemed more beneficial than those prevailing in the domestic markets at the current juncture and near future, so we plan to use these resources in FY2016/17 and FY 2017/18 to finance our deficits. Therefore, these resources will replace existing, more costly domestic financing, rather than expanding the available envelope. We will not use the loan in FY2015/16” (Kasaija & Tumusiime Mutebile, P: 6-7, 2016).

While this story started after Public Accounts Committee in the Daily Monitor this:

Two of the most prominent Banyakigezi – Bank of Uganda Governor Tumusiime Mutebile, secretary to the Treasury Keith Muhakanizi and other top officials in the Finance hierarchy are set to answer questions over how Shs340 billion of Shs720b ($200m) loan meant for medicines and rural electrification was used. They are going to be quizzed by Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) with the vice chairman Gerald Karuhanga saying that Muhakanizi, Mutebile, Auditor General John Muwanga and Mr. Lawrence Semakula, the acting Accountant General have been summoned to appear before MPs on Wednesdays to “explain the whereabouts of the money because no agency has received anything.” Mr. Muhakanizi called the probe ‘misdirected’ because ‘everything was done properly and I will prove that with documents.’ He said the money was pooled into the consolidated Fund and spent on approved expenditures” (Daily Monitor, 05.07.2017).

On the 13th June 2017, Treasury Secretary Keith Muhakanizi tried to explain where the money went:

As explained above, all the funds disbursed from the PTA Bank Loan have been fully accounted for. ii No funds has been lost as the Monitor Newspaper has alleged. iii I thank the PTA Bank for quickly providing the funds to the Uganda government when needed. iv It is, therefore, professionally unacceptable for Monitor Newspaper which has represented at the meeting of PAC in Parliament on Wednesday 7th June 2017, to have published an incorrect story in its editorial of 11th June 2017” (New Vision, 2017).

However, the story is not ended in last year. The PTA Loan continue to haunt the MoFPED and the BoU. They both have answers to give. Now a few months later. The answer from MoFPED are differently. Because the Treasury suddenly promised documents in June 2017. However, we are in February 2018 and still not there. Even his own defense that was a notice in the New Vision. Now a half year later, we see the same story and the same issue in the Parliament. That the same amount of monies are not accounted for. The same actors are trying to defend it. The whole affair smells not like Teen-Spirit, but more of State House affair. Since, they are trying to defend the misuse of funds and loans in the timeline of Campaigning. That is what it seems. Since suddenly during campaigns and such the needs for funds is there. Paying off political parties and loyal commissioners. There are so many things to buy and needs. So much material, buses, t-shirts and bribes. You have to print massive amounts of money. In a way where the State House also always needs bigger Supplementary Budgets after the General Election of 2016.

Here is the movement today:

Mr Kasaija yesterday failed to present a personal statement detailing what went wrong with the loan but maintained that no money was “stolen” as he fought to save his job.“I request that we should give an opportunity to a government authority to find out where this money went. But I want to give assurances to this House that no money was diverted or stolen,” Mr Kasaija said. With the loan approved only after the Finance ministry changed its labelling, Speaker Rebecca Kadaga last evening ruled that she will today make a decision regarding the fate of the report, with the duos fate set to be decided today. “I may not talk much but I had engagements with Ministry of Finance over that money. I had engagements to remind the ministry that that money was partially borrowed for NMS. I had meetings in my office over that money,” Ms Kadaga ruled. The loan put the Executive and Parliament at loggerheads with the Speaker at some point ordering the Rules Committee to investigate Mr Kasaija over contempt of Parliament as the fallout escalated” (Arinaitwe, 2018).

So still to this day there is no proof of where it went. Even if the trail leads to two familiar faces, the MoFPED Kasaija and Treasury Muhakanizi, who both trying to save faces. This all seems like misused funds from the Consolidated Funds for Campaigning. Since it was not used for the Rural Electrification Funds or the NMS. Who was both in dire needs, but not important enough. The NMS has lacked it anyways, and not gotten the needed medicine.

Therefore, the two financial heavy-weights has to either forge the paper-trial, since the NMS and the other agencies hasn’t received the funds. They have been spent elsewhere. Suddenly missing and that Muhakanizi uses so long time, that from June 2017 to February 2018 is unbelievable. If you use that long time proving parliament where the funds went. You know there are some shady misuse of it. It has gone to all sorts of activity, to tear-gas, paying police officers to keep Besigye under house arrest and whatnot. Because it didn’t go the place where the MoFPED and BoU promised.

This the GAVI Funds and CHOGM scandal all over again. This isn’t new, it is just PTA Bank loan gone missing. You miss a shilling, you miss a book or even some keys. But you do not loose this amount of money. They have gone to a growing patronage and securing the President’s Private Plane or something. Peace.

Reference:

Arinaitwe, Solomon – ‘MPs plot to censure Kasaija over Shs700b’ (07.02.2018) link: http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/MPs-plot-censure-Kasaija-over-Shs700b-/688334-4294524-r1k3ls/index.html

The Economist – Intelligence Unit – ‘ Loan secured from regional bank’ (11.12.2015) link: http://country.eiu.com/article.aspx?articleid=63762990&Country=Uganda&topic=Economy&subtopic=Forecast&subsubtopic=Fiscal+policy+outlook&u=1&pid=923837876&oid=923837876&uid=1

Karubaga, Mary – ‘Finance makes U-turn on sh150b NMS loan’ (08.07.2017) link: https://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1455202/finance-makes-sh150b-nms-loan

Kasaija, Matia & Prof. Emmanuel Tumusiime Mutebile – ‘Uganda: Letter of Intent, Memorandum of Economic Financial Policies, and Technical Memorandum of Understanding’ (18.05.2016) link:

NMS – ‘CLARIFICATION ON FUNDS RELEASED TO NATIONAL MEDICAL STORES (NMS) FOR PROCUREMENT, STORAGE AND DISTRIBUTION OF ESSENTIAL MEDICINES AND HEALTH SUPPLIES (EMHS)’ (16.07.2017) link: https://www.nms.go.ug/jdownloads/Press/NMS%20Full%20pg%202017.pdf

New Vision – ‘Clarification on Allegations that US$200 million meant to procure medicines for health centres and implement Rural Electrification Projects Went Missing’ (17.07.2017) link: https://www.newvision.co.ug/digital_assets/fa485f48-5a96-4b7b-be1a-3969e7a45cc3/9-Min-of-finance.pdf

World Bank – ‘Uganda Economic Update 8th Edition, january 2017 – Step by step Let’s solve the finance puzzle to accelerate growth and shared prosperity’ (January 2017) link: http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/662191486394023103/pdf/112621-WP-P161699-PUBLIC-UEU-8TH-edition-final-for-web.pdf

The starting point of a Political Stalemate in Kampala: Luwkago Vs. Kamya!

This had to come at some point, especially by the one that inherited the Minister Post from Frank Tumwebaze, this being Uganda Federal Alliance and best friend with the man in the Entebbe State House Beti Kamya. She is now taking the place of Tumwebaze and doing exactly like he did back-in-the-day. He stifled the powers of the elected Local Councilors and Divisions Mayors. By all means going against the opposition leader and Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago. This is deja vu. We have been here a few years ago. We can just wait to KCCA Executive Director Jennifer Musisi to jump behind Kamya and say Lukwago is all wrong in his acts. That is what we can anticipate. I just wonder when Presidential Advisor Singh Katongole will advise Musisi and Kamya. This will just start a fire, where usually the elected leaders get into the burning flames and not the selected people of Museveni. That is what history has learned us.

Therefore the news coming from Kampala today, wasn’t surprising:

City Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago has suspended the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) council meetings indefinitely following a stalemate between the technical and political wings. KCCA directors have so far boycotted three consecutive council meetings. The impasse started on January 25 when the directors refused to participate in a council meeting that had been described as “null and void” by the Kampala minister, Beti Kamya. Kamya argued that argued that there is nothing called “resumed meeting” in the KCCA Act. The resumed meeting is a continuation of previous meeting’s agenda. Councillors blocked the directors for over an hour when they decided to walk out of the “resumed meeting”, saying they are only answerable to the minister” (URN, 2018).

We clearly knew this would happen at some point. That it took this long time was rare. Since Hon. Tumbewaze went in after the General Election in 2011. So he got the Lord Mayor impeached and removed in 2013. So he had grievances before entering his chair as Lord Mayor as incumbent in 2016. When he tried to get the lost salary between 2013 and 2016 returned. However, the new Minister Kamya dismissed that early in a letter. Therefore, the relationship between Kamya and Lukwago was settled from the start.

We know that Kamya is a wild-card, most likely why she was appointed this position. Since she can run fire and she is power-hungry. So we will not respect any Ward Mayor, Division Mayor or Lord Mayor. Even the Executive Director Musisi seemingly seems more distance and having less of appeal after the appointment of Kamya. Musisi had more say during the years of Tumbewaze. That is not so for now. She is more ceremonial and galleon figure in the spot-light, but not the real power. Kamya has all of that and shown that with directives and decisions within the City. This without consultation in the other boards, other than directives from the State House and such. That is why traders and hawkers has kicked out of important trading places for development projects. This is proven during 2017. It is now becoming now hostile. It is now lit between them .

Musisi seems happy that Kamya are attacking and making life harder for Lukwago. Seemingly, that will be next step. Since Lukwago has suspended meetings, which Kamya hasn’t honored. She is supposed to follow and write yearly reports to the Parliament, also she could veto if she disagrees. However, she has decided not to show up. While the other mayors of Kampala has done so.

This here is the proof of the tangled deliberate attempt of not only undermining Lukwago, but all sort of opposition to NRM in Kampala. That is why the Minister is trying to take control and that is why the KCCA came into function. So that the Lord Mayor whoever opposition candidate to NRM would be caught under fire and could be dismissed to the dogs. So that one of the appointed leaders could takeover and take credit for the development of Kampala. If that isn’t visible, why are even the Division Mayors and Directors of Kampala undermining Lukwago? Who just most like trying to make sure there are checks- and balances. The only thing mattering to Minister is her loyalty to NRM and State House. That is why this is good news for the State House.

If this is the first step for the second trial and taking hostage of the Lord Mayor. I wouldn’t be surprised. The whole build-up of political framework and organizations are built to destroy and deplete the Lord Mayor. The City Hall are supposed to be controlled directly by the Minister and KCCA. Not by the political committees or others. Who are just there because the President needs someone there, but they are not his cronies. Peace.

Reference:

URN – ‘Lukwago suspends KCCA Council indefinitely’ (05.02.2018) link: http://observer.ug/news/headlines/56822-lukwago-suspends-kcca-council-indefinitely.html

The weird arrest of DPC Kirumira show’s us all what is wrong within the UPF!

The case of District Police Commander Buyende Muhamad Kirumira today is a warning, since he was set for a Police Tribunal in Naguru. Still, that was of no concern to the officers and the commandos storming his home today.

What is striking is that he gets his house raided with live-bullets, without court-orders or warrants, while being a Police Commander who has resigned and awaiting Police Tribunal. Therefore, the Police couldn’t await their own instruction and following procedure, to assign his early departure from his home and evict him with force. It shows the world how ridiculous their current activities is.

It is an overall sad day for the Police Force in the Republic, that they are doing this to their own. That a man questioning the powers to be and IGP Kale Kayihura, are now hunted down like a chicken thief, when he himself has enforced the visions from the top and gotten rank. You don’t rank and titles, without following orders and doing the jobs assigned to you. That is what a DPC has done and how he became that, initially that hasn’t mattered.

That they are sending the Flying Squad or the Special Forces Command to apprehend a DPC, show’s how ill the system within the Police is. Not only that they work with Kifeesi gangs, and Boda Boda 2010, but that the rotten core is now shaking. When one of their own is questioning their methods and behavior. Therefore, because he does that, he has to suffer. Not the ones who made the system, but the ones that talks about it.

He is whistleblower, who open a lid of a can of worms. That is why the IGP and the Flying Squad came to his house. They cannot accept their dirty on public display, even if they tarnishing their reputation just a little more by doing so. That the Police and Flying Squad has acted with sound minds, is evident. Especially with the knowledge of a upcoming Police Tribunal.

There was no need of what happen today. No need and no haste, especially without any court order or warrants. They we’re loose goose hunting and hoping to catch a sitting duck. Instead, they found a raging bull, who knew his rights. Certainly, the Flying Squad should have anticipated that, instead they are treating him like a common criminal.

That is insane, but shows also the state of affairs and how little trust it can be within the force. When they can take down their own without any consideration or protocol. That is a warning. That is a sign. It is dark times and the Police is not showing brilliance, more of disappear! Peace.

Uganda Police Force – “Press Release on the Alleged Resignation by ASP Muhamad Kirumira, DPC Buyende” (31.01.2018)

An anecdote on how Uganda isn’t a Democracy: An answer to the Liberation Day Speech of President Museveni!

For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.”Nelson Mandela

Today is the 32nd Liberation Day or National Resistance Army/Movement Day, the day that ended the Bush-War of the 1980s in Uganda. Where President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni made his career from being a Minister and a Rebel to become the President. A position and an executive, head of state who has shown no signs of stepping down. He was supposed to be the next generation of leadership. He was the positive force in 1990s and was golden-kid for Bill Clinton on the Continent. While that has disappeared and with time his legacy has withered. Museveni has closely become all the things he fought against, he still tries to use the language and the charisma that he had in his younger days. But its all facade, it isn’t the real deal. That I why I don’t care to drastically demolish the whole speech.

I will just take one principal and one point of it. Because it waste of time to do more at this point of time!

The fourth principle of the NRM is the democracy. Democracy is clear enough. Ugandan’s democracy, the democracy pushed by the NRM, is much richer than anything, anybody, has attempted to do in the world, other than the ancient Greeks who produced direct democracy, in the City States. We have empowered women, the youth, the workers, the disabled, the soldiers, etc. The NRM democracy must be kukyenuura-based through production of wealth and jobs creation. Kukyenuura means to solve a solvable need” (Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, 26.01.2018).

Well, I don’t know how to start. Let’s talk the steady usage of arbitrary arrests of activists, opposition party members, civilians and direct arrest of opposition leadership. Most of the opposition MPs and leaders has at some point been detained, in court and had cases going against them. The biggest opposition leaders has been charged with treason. Some has been house-arrested without warrants or court-orders for months upon end. So just by looking how the Police and Politics is intervening, you know that the democratic values of the NRM is not going skin-deep. It is more, just to have it, but not making it real.

Another point on Democratic values is to let opposition parties hold consultation meetings, even rallies during election periods and meetings in general to gain interest for their causes and pledges. Clearly, that should be natural, but the most violent and where the most police brutality appear is every time an opposition party leader has a campaign rally. There will be tear-gas, live-bullets and even civilians killed, people patching their hurt in hospitals. All this for showing up to rallies. There been brutal beatings of civilians walking around the area of an opposition rally, they could get hurt or arrested. Even if they even wasn’t involved. This is just the gist of the madness of the Police Enforcement, not even putting in the measures of interrogations, confiscating of party materials, suspensions of campaigns, court orders and even closing of Party Headquarters. All of this is done, to prove that the NRM can do what they want and opposition has to fall in line. This would never happen to the NRM or his party.

Now I just pointed out the arbitrary arrests and crashing of rallies. Haven’t even started on actually balloting and such. I could have continued on the assaults on Democracy with just quotes from the President in 2015 or 2016, even in 2017. He has enough and promised enough venom on the opposition to fill whole books of vomit for our ears and our minds. So, I don’t care for repeating that. I don’t deserve that and neither do you.

Because, the flaws of the Democracy in the Republic is to gigantic in a simple post. Museveni has made sure of that, so that he owns the Members of Parliament, he orders everything as he wants from the State House and secured Life Presidency through yet another change of the 1995 Constitution in December 2017.

So that President Museveni speaks of Democracy and having the best. He better get his mind corrected, get his vision checked and his initial understanding of democracy put under a stethoscope. Museveni has left nothing behind, but cronyism and corruption. Where he is the sole-benefactor and his family. The rest has to beg from him and they are just useful tools for his agenda.

He is the Sole-Candidate, the Sole Party and the Commander-In-Chief, he is the General and the President who doesn’t let anyone succeed him. He didn’t accept losing a rigged election 1980 to Dr. Milton Obote, he has since then fought himself into power in 1986. Since then rigged himself and used all means to stay in power. Therefore, he is not the fella to educate people in Democracy or Democratic values. He should be the last person. Peace.

Opinion: The UPM’s Aims and Objectives are grand, but did Museveni deliver them?

During the last few days, don’t remember when, but Moses Byamugisha on Social Media showed two pictures, which is a part of the Uganda Patriotic Movement (UPM) Membership Card from 1980. This is the first party of now President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. It might seem as forgotten past, a past that we should just forgot, but I can’t, it is certain proof of important words and ideas, that still should be worked for. UPM and the agenda that Museveni worked for back-then. Is still worth doing today, even if President Museveni is just working for himself and his cronies. Not working for the betterment of society, that part of him is already gone.

I will first list of the ‘Aims and Objectives’ of the UPM Membership Card. Its 16 points, which seems like points, the Republic still needs and should work for.

16 Points:

1. Unity

2. Democracy

3. National Independence

4. Social Progress

5. Clean Leadership

6. Peace, Security and tranquility

7. Rehabilitation and reconstruction of the nation

8. National Common Language

9. Workers and Peasants participation in the decisions making process of the Party and State machinery

10. Building of a proper defence and security systems

11. Encourage and sustain collective leadership

12. Create condition that will make every citizens have a right to education and medical care

13. Follow and adhere to a policy of a viable mixed autonomy for Uganda

14. Follow a policy of non alignment on a basis of mutual benefits and subscribe to OAU and UN Charters

15. Subscribe to the Basic Human Rights as enshrined in the UN Charter

16. Give moral and material support to the orphans and widows and other victims of the Fascist rule and liberation war

All of this was subtle and good ideas, needed ones that hasn’t lost their power or need. The Republic needs first aim Unity, not only hire and develop the Western parts of Uganda. Just like the troubles of just hiring people from the northern of Uganda under Obote and Amin. Therefore, this is still needed, as the Ankoli and areas around has gotten more and become more important, than the rest of the republic. Bunyoro is getting vital because of coming oil industry. Not because Museveni cares about it deeply.

Second aim, Democracy still needs to be worked upon. By all means because of the Life Presidency, enacted by the National Resistance Movement (NRM). The Second Party of the President, all follows his whip and is non-democratic from the choices of Members of Parliament and their votes. If they don’t follow orders, like voting for life presidency, then they will not only be labeled rebels, but also punished through the party organization. The NRM isn’t democratic, neither is the state. There are lacking democratic decision making and the elections are rigged. Its not the will of the people, but the will of Museveni.

The third aim, don’t need comments, but fourth and fifth needs it. The ‘Social Progress’ and ‘Clean Leadership’. Needs to be address, it is better then back in the day, but having three decades to advance. The NRM should have come much longer, than it has. The Social progress has not evolved, its only for a minority group. Biggest part of society is stagnated and falling behind with unemployment and lack of development. Clean leadership is long gone with Presidential Handshake, pay-off of Members of Parliament, misusing opposition parties and trading position because of loyalty and not merit. Therefore, the NRM have failed with perfection here.

Aim six and seven are questionable at best. ‘Peace, Security and Tranquility’. Peace they do have, but the security and tranquility, not so much. The Security Organizations are more criminal than thieves, they are killers and hired goons themselves. Police are investigated by CMI and UPDF. There are lacking lines and trust to the Courts. The Northern Uganda is done with civil war, but the army has still created uncertainty in Kasese and Rwenzori as they are battling their own. Killings are happening and unsolved by the authorities. Even assassinations of big men within the Security Organization themselves.

The aim eight, ‘National Common Language’ have been effective and worked, as English and Luganda is well-known and most can understand either one or both. The NRM has worked smoothly with this. One of the few things, the NRM actually has achieved. The Uglish is fantastic.

Aim nine, peasants and workers are not really a part of making decisions and taking part of the party. The decisions are made in the State House. It is made by the President and not by Party. The Party is a front and its only there so the President can pay-off his loyal allies. Its seemingly so, when the NRM-O and NRM CEC are made for his best interest. Not to create a better republic.

The tenth aim which is ‘build a proper defence and security systems’. The Military is at its strongest and used as hired mercenaries in Equatorial Guinea and doing United Nations missions in both Somalia and Central African Republic. Its also the main reason for still the current president. He uses the military, because he doesn’t have the popularity. The Security Systems are fragmented and used against each other. Using military intelligence against the police. There is nothing that is certain and you are boggled at how and when something strike. When a crime will be solved and by who.

The eleventh aim to ‘encourage and sustain collective leadership’ is at best questionable at this day and age. The NRM have clearly forgotten this one. They have maybe never worked for this after 1986. That he has talked against sectarian and tribal leadership is well-known, but his achievement is questionable. Since he hasn’t promoted collective leadership, he has promoted his own leadership and the ones loyalty to him without ambition. It is reason why Vice-President Ssekandi are still there and Prime Minister Rugunda are there. They don’t want to get at the king, but if they get ambition to succeed him. Then they get demoted. Check history and you’ll see this.

The twelfth aim for ‘universal education and public health care’. There many more schools under the NRM. Though they are not well-kept or the up-keep is worth mentioning. The literacy rate has been rising in the three decades of rule, but the school system is far from perfect. Since teachers in the districts has side jobs because of lacking salaries, girls skip schools over lacking pads. That was even promised in the General Election of 2016. Still, the NRM haven’t delivered. They promised UPE, but never totally delivered on that promise.

Health care is a place where people are left to die. That is why MPs are getting treatment abroad, the daughters of the President giving birth in Europe. The Health Care is abysmal, lacking medicine, copy medics, X-Rays not working and awaiting between 2013 to 2018 before buying and putting up a new Cancer-Treatment machine. Only one for the millions of citizens of the Republic. There been a blood-drive, because of lacking blood for treatments in the hospitals. The air-machines has gone empty like in Jinja. The NMS hasn’t been able to buy in needed equipment. The Health Care is something the NRM really haven’t delivered anything to be proud of. They have build some buildings called hospitals, but they cannot treat people’s illness there.

The thirteen aim is about autonomy, but that is delivered from the State House. There has been growing amount of districts 118 if my calculation is right. So there has been changes, but it hasn’t given service delivery. Neither or anything visible changes. It is more district centre and more cronies paid-off making the civil service bloated, but not delivering services to the public. So the NRM has delivered dozens of new district and local government entities, but not that they matter. They only matters to the ones who get a paycheck and who is “running” them. But not for the public.

The fourteenth aim is about taking part of African Union and United Nations, the fifteenth aim was also about following their international standards and laws. In the beginning of the NRM rule, as long as he was a part of the new breed of leadership. It was seemingly important to respect international laws and enact those standards. With time this has withered, as he wants to rule on own accord and not let anyone question his reasoning. Therefore, he has become hostile to foreign interference, the ICC and all other who can question his acts and his use of military in foreign countries. Because of the fear of the repression from foreign entities, the former love-affair has become hatred and that has been shown over time.

The sixteenth aim has been done in some instances, that someone has gotten land and gotten measly awards. The State haven’t made functional programs, but more public givings and sudden awards as part of public display together with honors at liberation celebrations. Not really trying to give funds and such. NRM Historicals of all kinds, NRA soldiers and familes, haven’t been compensated, neither has the losers. They have gotten retaliation. So there are many families in disarray and lost of promises.

The whole republic has seen all the empty promises and the prospects of the Museveni era. He has had 32 years to create a state in his vision. The UPM isn’t that far from the 10 Point Program, that I have also dismantled, actually twice.

This here is another proof of how he promise big, but doesn’t deliver. Don’t be surprised, he is all talking big game, but never showing it on the touchline. He might be in the box, but never score. Peace.