Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago statement on the state of the nation (01.03.2016)

Gen Tukumunde Entebbe Dec 2015 - Money Man for NRM

The uncontroverted assertion by Gen. Tumukunde that the troops commanded by Lt. Col Karugaba were directed by the the CDF, Gen. Katumba Wamala to shoot and kill him( Tumukunde), is quite ominous!!!. This is not a statement Ugandans should take lightly in light of the fact that the country appears to be under a military rule. Dr. Besigye put uder house arrest; Gen. Ssejusa languishing in Luzira; journalists being harassed as some of us are kept uder 24hour surveillance. Where are we headed as a nation?

Press Release: Concerns and Posistion of the Ugandan Community in South Africa Regarding the 2016 Presidential and Parliamentary Elections in Uganda (01.03.2016)

Uganda in South Africa P1Uganda in South Africa P2

Ugandan Elections: How Museveni Killed Democracy (Youtube-Clip)

“This week on KIRWA, President Yoweri Museveni once again rigged the election in Uganda, declaring himself the elected president for the 5th time” (Kirwa, 2016).

Press Statement: Interparty Youth Platform calls for Peace and Calm (01.03.2016)

IPYP 01.03.2016 P1IPYP 01.03.2016 P2

NBS Reporter Bahati Remmy Under Arrest, Journalists Lash Out at Police (Youtube-Clip)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmZMqFEpEkg

“Fellow Journalists lash out at police for man handling and unlawfully arresting Bahati Remmy at Kasangati Kizza Besigye’s residence” (NBS TV Uganda, 01.03.2016)

Deadline day for petition deliverance for the ones the opposition to counter the Electoral Commission final result the 20th February; Journalist and Turinawe arrested at Kasangati today; while Mwenda and Dr. Kigozi enters the Compound and FDC Officials not allowed in!

Supreme Court 01.03.2016 Waiting for Lawyers

Early in the morning today there was reported that Independent Magazine editor and owner Andrew Mwenda entered and was allowed to enter Dr. Kizza Besigye home and discuss with him. The high work ethic of Andrew Felix Kaweesi and DPC Kasangati of James Kawwyla is busy arresting and sending people away from the area and usually not letting people in. IGP Kale Kayihura must find some well spoken word of wisdom must come soon, as the journalist detained and the amount of FDC agents and mobilisers are piling up into the deadline. While CP Fred Enaga can’t keep up with actions from his peers, the Police Force is acting as a tormentor of the people and opposition; not preserving the peace of the people. As much as the army is still staying in the streets of Kampala and other places on deployment to secure that Regime lives on in a tense state and not in a peaceful harmony between government and its people.   

Another report is that the money-man during the elections that had a son running as a Western Youth MP Gen. Tukumunde was either hurt by a canister of tear-gas or a bullet; the demonstrations against the result of the Western Youth MP.  Even the Police and Army entered the venue of the 800 youths voting for their representative of their region.

While also journalist are sitting and waiting at Kololo to see the opposition delivers the petitions at Supreme Court. They are waiting for the lawyers of the opposition to come with the petitions.

Muntu 01.03.2016

On Facebook after visiting Dr. Kizza Besigye:

Today I visited Dr. Besigye at his home in Kasangati. I did this after reading his Facebook post where he said he felt like becoming a real terrorist. Seeing his dilemma, I understand this sentiment even though I do not agree with it. We held very fruitful discussions on the present and future of Uganda. Even though we disagree on how to promote democratic reform, I have no doubt that he is genuinely convinced that he is working for the good of our country” (…)”But as an old man I told Dr. Besigye that truth is never objective but subjective; it is plural and not singular. We will never resolve the truth of who won the last presidential election but we can begin a dialogue on how to build a better future for our country. I hope all sides to the Uganda political debate see the need to work together rather than to work against each other. Hate will not bring us deliverance but destruction” (…)”If both sides cannot accommodate each other through compromise, there will be no winners. And Uganda will lose. Besigye represents a large disgruntled voter segment. We cannot afford to dismiss their disenchantment. Museveni represents an even larger voter segment. We cannot ignore their views. The challenge is how to create a common ground” (Andrew Mwenda, 01.03.2016).

Mugisha Muntu says: “Police was suggesting to send in their own representative. That is the level of arrogance we are dealing with”.

FDC 01.03.2016 Leave Cars to meet Besigye

The FDC said this:

“We are now heading to Kasangati to meet Kizza Besigye and come up with a conclusive decision” (…)”We are operating under very hostile conditions. Our candidate has been arrested 8 times in 10 days” (NBS TV, 01.03.2016).

Continued House-Arrest:

“Our reporter Bahati Remmy in Kasangati says Police is still deployed outside Kizza Besigye’s home” (NBS TV Uganda, 01.03.2016).

As the media is following the Kasangati, the one journalist detained and taken cameras from yesterday Abubaker Muwonge, was supposed to get back his gear today; instead he will not get for some reason from the Police.

FDC not allowed to have a meeting with Besigye:

“Party officials allowed to meet with Besigye. Only if they leave their cars at this cross section” (Nduhukire, 01.03.0216).

As the NBS TV follows the situation at Kasangati and the FDC meeting at the place today; the NBS Journalist Remmy Bhati has been beaten up by the Police and manhandled by the police.

NBS 01.03.2016 Arrested Journalist Kasangati

NBS TV on it themselves:

“BREAKING: Our reporter Bahati Remmy arrested by police live on air in Kasangati” (NBS TV Uganda, 01.03.2016).

On the FDC that had to leave their cars and supposed to be allowed in, that changed by the minute as the Police has changed their minds.

Turinawe 01.03.2016 Kasangati

Ingrid Turinawe said this hours before press conference and the arrival at Kasangati:

All earlier efforts, engagements and attempts to have Dr. Besigye freed by police remain imposible. The deadline for presidential elections court petition is today. FDC NEC meets today at Najjanankumbi. We still wait for Dr. Besigye to attend this meeting. He is expected to give direction and his views about the matter. We still keep the hope and patience despite dictator provocation. In case police block him again from attending or arrests him again… The party will communicate to Ugandans the next course of action” (Turinawe, 01.03.2016).

Kasangati 01.03.2016 FDC Leaves Cars

On the FDC:

“HAPPENING: Mugisha Muntu and other FDC members blocked from accessing Kizza Besigye” (NBS TV Uganda, 01.03.2016).

Turinawe 01.03.2016 Kasangati P2

The FDC Report on the matter:

“This is the current situation at Dr. Kizza Besigye’s home. The NEC has been told to leave its cars on the junction to Dr. Besigye’s road to the home. Heavy police present that outnumbers everybody else” (Forum for Democratic Change, 01.03.2016).

Also happening the FDC Secretary for Mobilisation Ingrid Turinawe together with a journalist has been arrested and is driven away to a unknown destination. As NTV describes it: “Ingrid Turinawe and a journalist have been held and detained in this van here in Kasangati” (NTV Uganda, 01.03.2016).

As the event’s unravel on the gates of Dr. Kizza Besigye’s home and FDC Officials are not allowed to enter to finish the petition to have the ability to deliver it to the Supreme Court in time. While that is happening, Dr. Maggie Kigozi has arrived at Kasangati. Gen. Mugisha Muntu and the FDC official’s plea with the Police enter the compound, as Andrew Mwenda could enter without any fuzz. Do you also see the double standard of the loyalist of Museveni and the others?

From Parliament:

MP Odo Tayebwa: “I am not in the mood to attend this plenary session, Mugisha Muntu has been denied access to Dr. Kizza Besigye”. Also: “MP Odo Tayebwa asks for leave from parliament, saying he is not in the mood to attend the session because of what is happening in Kasangati”. Proves his manner to justice, props to Tayebwa!

Womans Situation Room Besigye 01.03.2016

While the FDC Officials was not allowed to enter his home, the Dr. Maggie Kigozi and the Woman’s Situation Room have been allowed to enter and discuss matters with Dr. Kizza Besigye, while the time is ticking to the end of deadline day. As this is a sending that has come to stall the time until the Supreme Court closes.

Hon. Ofwono Opondo are not for press freedom anymore:

“Media Outlets that are gonna be hacked by me are: New Vision, ChimpReports and Bukedde. HACKING in Progress. Thanks”, what pissed on his bonfire today?

While the actions and sieging of Kasangati continues. There was movement and people arriving at the Supreme Court. Here is the report:

Vex Kingo 01.03.2016 Supreme Court

“Vex Kingo ”Absolute Ambulera Govrnorment chairman as he claims has just arrived at Supreme Court Kololo to file his petitition.in brief he wants all recently concluded Presidential and Parliamentary Election be nullified because they were not carried out in accordance with eletral laws. VEX Kingo is known to be a political dramatist. But his arrived helped journalists break the boredom as the result of long day waiting for election petitioners”.

Yet more information about the Road-Blocks towards Kasangati:

“We are dealing with very unique and challenging times. A major route from Kiira-Matugga has been cut off. That means that many people are blocked and cut off to other destinations including Kasangati, a very sad state of affairs” (Forum for Democratic Change, 01.03.2016).

Amama Lawyer at Supreme Court 01.03.2016

After the time and closure of the Supreme Court the Amama Mbabazi legal team came. They came at 17.05 when the time for addressing the court with petition was original time was set for 17.00. So that the Supreme Court. Registrar says he’ll accept their petition after 17h. That is big-men of the court. The Lawyer Severino Twinobusingye was the one representing Amama Mbabazi and was the one who was able to deliver a petiton from the oppostion to counter the result of the election and final annoucement.

Petition 01.03.2016

From the FDC:

“We have failed to file an electoral petition today. We shall announce our next best steps on Wednesday 2nd March, 2016 at 11:00 EAT”.

There will come more as the story unravels. Here is what has happen this morning and the day is far from over and the Police and Government of Uganda. Will not let this one go, they do what they can to hold their hands over the opposition and with force at moment. Everything to stifle their chances to deliver the petitions while using unlawful methods as they have done since pre-election period. It is systematically from the Police and the Security Outfits in a display of arrogance and betrayal of freedom for the ballot or the FDC as civilized party during election time. This here is all nonsense and innocent journalist getting beating and arrested is just a manifestation of the militarized politics under President Museveni. Peace.  

Besigye and Mbabazi to announce whether they will challenge poll outcome (Youtube-Clip)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvdtQDhj-SA

“Uganda’s opposition leaders Kizza Besigye and Amama Mbabazi are expected to announce their decision on whether they will file their respective petitions at the Uganda Supreme Court challenging President Museveni’s win in the country’s 18th February poll” (…)”Besigye who has been held by Ugandan police nine times is still under house arrest at his home in Kasangati” (…)”The Ugandan opposition leader has protested his arrest saying a 2011 Kasangani Magistrate Court order still stands” (NTV Uganda, 01.03.2016).

Press Release: Social accountability vital for building trust in post-election Uganda (01.03.2016)

UGDebate16 Prayer

Development projects that pay greater attention to social accountability can improve citizen-state relations and trust in Uganda and other fragile countries, according to new research by International Alert.

The report, titled Making social accountability work: Promoting peaceful development in Uganda, evaluates  two large-scale development projects undertaken in Uganda and has been published following the recent elections in the country that have been undermined by widespread unrest and allegations of corruption.

The report states that development projects which build in transparency and accountability components can nurture more constructive government-community relations – vital for closing historical divides between citizens and state that fuelled the civil war in Uganda, and helping people feel they can influence change.

Richard Businge, Country Manager for International Alert in Uganda, said:

“Uganda is not alone in the region in experiencing tensions around presidential elections. It is vital that we avoid post-election violence of the kind seen in Burundi at present and in Kenya in 2008, which points to the urgent need to help more people participate in decision-making and ensure the government and development agencies respond to their concerns.”

An informant of one of the report’s case studies commented that people in northern Uganda had previously felt neglected and humiliated by the government, but relationships improved “quite tremendously” after the project integrated a social accountability component. Teaching communities conflict-management skills also empowered them to resolve more local disputes among themselves.

It was also found that accountability initiatives can help make communities more cohesive. For example, forming local groups to interact with the district government and give voice to local concerns is an effective way of improving citizen-state relations, laying stronger foundations for building mutual trust and understanding.

As well as being a critical component of development projects, the report reveals that technology can also amplify citizen voices and enable better information sharing, therefore strengthening social accountability.

Jo Robinson, Programme Officer on International Institutions at International Alert, author of Making social accountability worklead author of Making social accountability work, said:

“Online spaces can sometimes represent more open forums for discussion on state behaviour than those offline, allowing people to engage frankly in democratic debate not just during election time, but whenever decisions are being made which may affect their lives”.

The report findings will be presented at the World Bank Group Fragility, Conflict and Violence Forum in Washington DC on 1-3 March 2016 (website).

The research was based on two projects: Lakes Edward and Albert Fisheries Pilot Project (LEAF I), funded by the African Development Bank; and the Northern Uganda Social Action Fund Project (NUSAF II), funded by the World Bank.

Monies, Guns and Tear-Gas enters the race for Western Youth MP Elections in Fort Portal

Fort Portal Youth 29.02.2016 P2

There is always interesting during the General Election in 2016. The Electoral Commission and the Government of Uganda or the NRM-Regime can’t make a genuine exercise. The reports are staggering. Here are some of them and even an footage.

Pre-Text:

“Over 800 youth delegates from western region are expected to take part in the youth elections slated for Monday 29. In this part of the country, polls will be held at Kagote SDA hall in Fort Portal municipality” (New Vision, 27.02.2016).

Eye-witness on the direct campaign:

“Supporters of Mwine Mpaka son to Minister Bright Rwamirama are pelting stones at supporters of Amanya Tumukunde son to Rt Lt Gen Henry Tumukunde. They are aspiring for western Mp seat here in Fort Portal. Voting is tomorrow. Only Chairperson, Secretary for Female and Finance secretary youth councils at sub county level are only legible to vote” (“28.02.2016).

Here is what has happen today:

“Western Region youth MP race turn chaotic after a man only identified as Buryo has been arrested in Fort Portal at Kagote SDA hall with a pistol. Has has been arrested. It is said he was under the instruction of a one Michael Katungi who went in to harass supporters of Independent candidate, Amanya Tumukunde” (Eagle Online, 29.02.2016).

Fort Portal Youth 29.02.2017

Updates from Fort portal: According to the one in charge of Youth elections, the regional Registrar “Candidates are to be nominated today at 10am, massive rally Campaigns are to be staged at 11am, voting at 01:30 The battle is between the son to Gen.Tumukunde, Amanya and the son to the minister of Agriculture Mwine Mpaka. All camps are 50%” (Fatwes Solutions, 29.02.2016).

There been reports from certain sources that two people have been hurt during the election as the Police and Army has taken control of the venue in Fort Portal!

Footage of the Yout Election in Fort Portal:

As the campaign and voting continues in the hall eyewitness report says this:

“Tear gas rocking at Kagote SDA hall, as the western youth MP elections is still going on”. The tear-gas happens while they are counting. There are rumors that Tumukunde is detained and arrested by now. But that is not confirmed.

A Side-note – on the MP as Alex Ruhunda:

“Our credible source revealed that Alex Ruhunda supplied, 1m to each polling station 64stations in the municipal, him and his agents bought a vote at 10k.which means at every polling station he bought 100votes” (Tooro News, 28.02.2016).

I think that is enough for today. Peace.

Nobert Mao at a Polling station in Gulu – Youtube-Clip (18.02.2016)

“Uganda: Democratic party president Nobert Mao turns to cast his ballot on February 18, 2016 with an iPad to capture every development”.

Worth taking a look at and listening to, the man who has been voting for a long time. Also the view on how the process and the way voting where going. As a former presidential candidate, it is a good insight to hear him give his view and aspect from Gulu. Peace.