“Uganda holds an election this Thursday and President Yoweri Museveni’s 30 years in power is at stake. One major issue is healthcare and whether the President has done enough after opposition leader, Kizza Besigne exposed the condition of the medical system. Catherine Byaruhanga reports.” (BBC News).
The Woman who impeached and used every tool in the book to get rid of a elected offical to control City Hall and be parts of the Kampala Capital City Authority. The Message sending today is feeling strange as she doesn’t have much democratic backbone, as she like to be little Queen who controls Kampala without having a Lord Mayor asking for accountability and getting men in asking for transparency as Lord Mayor Lukwago wanted to do. Therefore they worked to get rid of him in last period.
So it is ironic and she just recently said this to the press as well:
““We are doing really well without the Lord Mayor. We have made tremendous progress without the Lord Mayor. Our administration minus the Lord Mayor is fantastic” (Mubiru, 2016).
So the LADY who does well without the ELECTED official asks people to go out and vote. I don’t accept the premise and the message from her. As she has done everything in her power to take away the value of the Kampala votes in 2011. There is something not right in that. As well as late in 2015 with the amendment of the KCCA ACT was to nearly abolish the Lord Mayors place and instead just have hand-picked men from the Parliament. So the Public and Citizens of Kampala would not have a certified and legitimate person to represent them. That is something Jennifer Musisi and Frank Tumwebaze has worked for. That is why I am irritated at this message from her. It doesn’t fit her or the KCCA as the KCCA only works for hand-picked cronies of the NRM-Regime, only the ones that haven’t follow it doesn’t know about it. Peace.
As Uganda prepares to elect its president on 18 February, I join all Ugandans in their hopes for an election with integrity, which will bestow legitimacy upon the winner and secure stability for the country.
Legitimacy is the crucial currency of government in our democratic age. Only elections that are transparent and fair will be regarded as legitimate, both by the people of Uganda and by the international community.
I therefore urge the government and the electoral authorities of Uganda to ensure a level playing field for all candidates, including the right to campaign free of intimidation.
I encourage the candidates and their supporters to exercise restraint in their deeds and in their rhetoric so as to ensure credible and peaceful elections, which the people of Uganda demand and deserve.
“Police has maintained it won’t hesitate arresting opposition leader Col Kiiza Besigye if he insists causing commotion in the city center. This is in response to the preventive arrest that police applied on him this morning when he insisted that he was driving to the city center with out notifying the police. Police publicist says this was un-called for and this forced the police to arrest him” (WBS TV, 2016).
This here was addressed and questioned earlier during December 2015 the Kenyan support of President Museveni. As we are close to the poll; I did some quick check up about it. And especially in Kenya as it is even a bit controversial there; even if the rumors of funding from President Museveni to the Jubilee Coalition in 2013; something that has not been denied or confirmed; as President Museveni or President Kenyatta will disclose the funds of the campaign.
As much as President Museveni prefers keeping information close or only throw shade on enemies. He keeps it tight until he needs to show it, as he plays things close. He needs loyal cadres everywhere and knowing that the Jubilee Coalition could be a great ally in the EAC, as the trade between Kenya and Uganda is important for both of the countries. The connections between has been pivotal. Here today I will go through the recent reports on the support from Government of Kenya towards the Campaign for re-elections of President Museveni. Another way of showing it is not a level playing-field for President Museveni as the opposition candidates do not have the international support that President Museveni does have! Take a look!
Group from Kenyan Government delegation help in Museveni campaign:
“Reports indicate that the team of more than five leaders will be pitching camp in Uganda just a week before the country holds its General Election. The delegation is said to be led by Endebess Member of Parliament Robert Pukose accompanied by Elgeyo-Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen, Uasin Gishu Governor Jackson Mandago and Deputy President William Ruto’s personal assistant Farouk Kibet. The Jubilee delegation is set to be hosted at a State Lodge in Kapchorwa where they will spend the night before participating in several rallies in the ongoing heated campaign” (Muchiri, 2016).
What they are doing and amount of funds:
“At a weekend fundraiser event in Sebei, Kenyan politicians Mr Pukose and Mr Tunai handed over 100 bags of cement, 170 iron sheets and Sh48 million for school projects in Tumbaboi (Kapchorwa), Ngenge (Kween) and Kapkoros (Bukwo). Reports also emerged that Kuka’s Inn in Kapchorwa was full of activity, as ruling party members prepared to receive the visitors. When the Kenyan politicians arrive, they are expected be hosted to a breakfast at State Lodge Kapchorwa and spend a night there after several rallies. On Saturday they will attend a get-together with the Sabiny community big shots” (Chekwech, 2016).
ODM accuse the Jubilee Government of Involvement in Museveni Campaign:
“ODM has accused Jubilee of using public resources to drum up support for Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni ahead of the country’s general election on February 18” (…)”The Ugandan elections have sparked a lot of interest among Kenyan politicians, with both Deputy President William Ruto and opposition leader Raila Odinga being actively involved in campaigns” (…)In a statement made by the ODM:“We remain deeply concerned about the involvement of the Kenyan government in the ongoing Ugandan presidential election campaigns in support of incumbent President Yoweri Museveni,” (…)”Kenya’s involvement in Uganda elections also sets a dangerous precedent that will see incumbents openly rally behind each other,” (…)”ODM said in the statement signed by director of elections Junet Mohamed” (Mbaka, 2016).
William Ruto rewarded for helping President Museveni:
“Reports emerging indicate that William Ruto grabbed a prime parcel of land in Kayunga Uganda, the same place where he went to campaign for Museveni” (…)”Charles Tabora, a local denizen narrated to our pressman that area residents have already suspected Museveni’s hand in the heist because his government is mum on the same” (…)”We shall not go to sleep until we redeem our land that has been grabbed by this Kenyan land baron. Museveni and his ‘land addict’ can go to hell for all we care. We will teach that Kenyan man that Ugandans are like the rock that is right in the bottom of the deep ocean and does not fear rain” Explained Mr. Joseph” (Politica, 2016).
Allegation of using Eurobonds funds to support Museveni campaign:
“Henry Rotich said Raila’s sentiments were only meant to create unnecessary anxiety” (…)”“We have provided all the information on our website for all to see and make their conclusion on who is telling the truth. What I know is that people cannot be fooled all the time,” said Rotich” (…)””We have invited him to table the dossier he has with PAC (Public Accounts Committee) but he refused and instead goes to the media to claim he has information. Odinga should table the evidence with the Auditor General and stop disturbing the CS,” the legislator said” (…)”“If Odinga does not have faith in Parliament he should visit agencies that will carry expeditious and independent probe about the alleged saga,” Mr Chepkonga” (Kibor, 2016).
This here proves that it is manpower and monies that extended the power of the campaign while the other candidates are struggling and howling over; the NRM get even support of Money from Eurobonds from Kenya as William Ruto want to pay him back for the support of campaign they had in 2013. The approach is to give back for the support earlier even with a full-fledged team who gives pledges and gifts in districts go give credit to NRM and President Museveni. There is an issue here as the involvement will question the Government of Kenya’s address if the rigged election turns sour and make the people demonstrate and react to the thievery of their public rights to elect their leaders. Something that will make H.E. President Kenyatta like a moron instead of Powerbroker as this might give him an edge and fulfill the promise to pay back for the election of 2013. His deputy seems to enjoy the spotlight of Ugandan crowd as he was on the campaign rally in late 2015. This here is just an insult to all the Ugandans who might stand for a opposition candidate, as their neighbor involves themselves with the ruling-party and their militarization of the politics in Uganda. Peace.
On hearing that Kizza Besigye is to hold his first rally at Kyambogo university play ground in Kakawa Division -Kampala today, all gets leading in side the university have been closed. No boda Boda is allowed to enter the university premises, Nobody is allowed to enter without an identification. When i asked the police man manning the gate he said that the OC in charge of police at the university has instructed him not to allow any politician to enter. Yesterday Dr. Kizza Besigye was denied access to Makerere university where he was expected to address thousands of students .
The Police has also been stationed at the Kisaasi Round-about to locate the public who want to attend the FDC Convoy and Dr. Kizza Besigye rally at Kyambogo! On their way from Ntinda – through Kabaka Road to Kyambogo, Besigye‘s Mobile crowd has been moving for close to 30 minutes and still counting from one spot. Some are using Kaduuyu road via Foxwoods.
Other reports is that People are rejecting to join in the rallies of the President Museveni in Kololo as they don’t want to be a part of the actions there. As many waits for the rallies of Dr. Kizza Besigye in other parts of the City.
Also there been huge running numbers of people has been seen around the Old Taxi Park in Central Kampala as they try to hike taxis and buses to the villages up-country; as the history repeats itself! Peace.
Yesterday even late President Museveni held a rally in the midst of the stars and moon with a dimming light lightening his presence the day after the #UGDebate16. Today is two days after, the evening rallies are supposed to be illegal by the Electoral Commission, but the Uganda Police Force and their Inspector General Police Kayihura doesn’t mind his leader doing as he please while telling the public that Dr. Kizza Besigye is not allowed to have night campaigns.
“There will be peaceful elections in Uganda. Nobody will disturb our peace. Nobody will threaten us. We cannot allow anyone to disrupt and threaten people.” – Yoweri Kaguta Museveni during the #UGDebate on 13.02.2016.
The Police would not stop with words, not even in the days before polls on the 18th February. Today on the 15th on February have yet another days of rallies in the glorious land of Uganda. There been steady campaigning in the country since November in 2015. As we speak the Police used tear-gas and live ammunition in Wandegye in Kampala as students during the day has reacted to the demonstrations.
A scuffle has ensued at Jinja road traffic lights where police commanded by Aaron Baguma, DPC, Central Police Station has arrested FDC’s Kizza Besigye barring him from proceeding to Nakasero Market in the heart of Kampala and Arua Park in downtown Kampala. Tear gas fired in the process.
The Reaction to this:
As in between rallies and after arresting the Opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye was traversing through Kampala supposed to have rallies in parts of it. As also the citizens and publics was celebrating around the man who comes with the message of defiance; caring and wanting to have a government who delivers with accountability. This is a message that resounds with the public as they surround him. The Police started throwing tear-gas and dispersing the crowds.
Not only Dr. Kizza Besigye was arrested, he was arrest alongside Kampala District Woman Member of Parliament Naggayi and she was also taken to Kampala Central Police Station.
As the issues continues and Dr. Kizza Besigye was taken from Kampala Central Police Station moved to Kiira Road Police Station. As he was taken for travelling through the center of Kampala; the public used tear-gas and shot in the public. As this happen the loyal FDC supporters was on the outside of the Police Station singing towards the Police men who kept Dr. Kizza Besigye and Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago.
This did not end at the Old Kiira Road Police Station as the Police after while considered their situation as the media and social media took off after the armed Police reacting to the Public demonstrations around town as the news of the arrest spread quickly from Jinja Road. Dr. Kizza Besigye was then moved again this time to Kasangati to his home in Wakiso.
Even later in the day as Dr. Kizza Besigye was supposed to held a rally at Makerere University.
An eye witness tells the state of affairs there is like this:
“At Makerere University where thousands of students had anticipated his rally; angry students are up to now 19.20 PM battling with police from the institution’s main gate”.
The Police stopped the traversing through town as the FDC Convoy and supporters would be a conflict for the local business. As the Police coming with Mambas, tear-gas and dispersing is healthy for the same business, I think really it destruction of it as the fear spread doesn’t make it happen. The Peaceful campaigning is certainly over as the Kampala Metropolitan Police is heading in for creating violence in central parts of Kampala.
As he planned to arriving back in Kampala for more rallies Dr. Kizza Besigye has said this:
“What is happening was expected; the regime is panicking given its lack of support. My request is that our people should remain firm and vote out this regime. What the regime is doing is simply intimidating our people. Intimidation keeps dictatorships in power”(…)”Let us be strong, resolute, firm and also law abiding. We have not broken any law. We are doing what we are doing lawfully and will assert our right against law breakers. Our campaign is one of defiance. We defy law breaking by the regime which is what happened today”.
However Dr. Kizza Besigye has left his home in Kasangati headed back to Kampala for the rest of his rallies claiming he will attempt to today. The Police was waiting for his return as on the round-about before Wandegye the Police was stationed with 40 Police men and 2 armed trucks.
Dr. Kizza Besigye car was also towed as the Police have trowed tear-gas in Wandegye as Supporters has followed him today and demonstrated; as he was headed for a campaign rally in Makerere University outside Wandegye in Kampala. The tear-gas was even spread on Bombo-Road towards Wandegye as the Police had a hard stance against Dr. Kizza Besigye rallies supposed to happen at Makerere. Even DPC Wandegye Brian Ampaire said to him: “the official campaigning time is up!” well, if they didn’t shot, tear-gas and detain the man nicknamed the People’s President; he might have entered Makerere University Grounds around the promised time!That is just me though! Mr. DPC you arrogant bastard!
As the violence has erupted the news of that Dr. Kizza Besigye is safe and sound in Kasangati, but the party has not been allowed to follow the people’s will and campaign in Kampala, as President Museveni did recently before travelling Northern Uganda. This sends a clear message of the dual laws of Uganda. As the FDC and Oppositions parties are second class citizens; also the public is a equally not important to the Police or Security Organs as they threaten the citizens of Kampala with tear-gas and bullets.
One quote from the Police after today’s rallies was this:
“The police did not arrest Besigye, we took him to his home to freshen up for his rally” – Abas Byakagaba, Kampala Metropolitan Police Commander.
See what his boss said:
You know there is something wrong with this. While President Museveni is travelling and enjoy life in presidency his own capital town is under siege of his Military Police and his loyal cronies working to destroy the opposition and their rallies. The violence and attack on the local people is a sad view and a picture destroys the view of the campaign rallies. There is no justice in this. While Museveni wrote this to Social Media this evening:
“I want to remind Ugandans that only the NRM can assure them of peace and stability and therefore ask that you vote for us. I thank you” (15.02.2016).
Earlier today around Mulago Round-About before the violence arupted the city!
To write that today as Kampala turned militarized and tear-gas with public fear and demonstrations. As the left over cans of tear-gas and bullets lay in the street; as people are hurt and people scattered by the Military Police and the Police Force while them defend themselves in a way that is disrespectful to the agents of opponents.
As today it was not FDC or Dr. Kizza Besigye who travelled through town in a car, not a Personal Armored Carrier (PAC) or rifles still. Just himself and his team being part of the town and as scheduled with the Electoral Commission travel in between mini-rallies before the main in the evening as he has done since early November 2015. Today the Kampala Metropolitan Police and the above would not have that. The Military Police is acting and shooting at citizens is so far from justice, as they want to see and be a part of rallies of Dr. Kizza Besigye. This here is a sad day. As the NRM and their ignorance as they set the standard for the Uganda Police Force, Military Police and the Army as they has acted in violence and spread; pain and suffering; as this campaign did not need. The FDC has seen violence in Northern Uganda and other places. But today the NRM-Regime put themselves in high-gear and showed their ugly truth as the words of Peace from President Museveni is meaningless as long as his Police attacks innocent civilians as they we’re ready to greet Besigye; follow his convoy or being part of the rally in Makerere! Peace.
A old man with a hat uses old tricks. He has done it before and does it again. Here is proof! Furfilling old pledges in the last minute to win over votes, and use government funds to gain support. Here is the proof of it and the love is a bit late. The government should have been able to do so in 2011 or 2012 if it had mattered to President Museveni, but now he needs votes. So then he can give a bottle of wine and expect people to dine at his feast. Hope that the people of Lira can see through the arrogance of it; And the accountability of the state it is not, as the government funds are splashed for services the day before the rally of President Museveni. You can easilly read through the motive for the gift to the Lira Distric Local Government to constuct and fulfill the pledge of 2011.
Museveni Pledge of 2011 all of a sudden fixed:
“Lira district local government has received 400 million Shillings from the central government to facilitate the first phase of the construction of the Akii-Bua Memorial Stadium. The money is a partial fulfillment of a pledge made President Yoweri Museveni in 2011 for a stadium built in memory of the late John Akii-Bua, Uganda’s first Olympic champion” (Metro FM 90.8, 13.02.2016).
Museveni pledge funds to Gulu:
“NRM Presidential Candidate Yoweri Museveni is expected to commission a 3.1 Km road within Gulu Municipality this afternoon. Works on the road funded by World Bank at a tune of Shs 16 billion started in November 2014″ (Daily Monitor, 14.02.2016).
As he did during the 2011 election:
“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).
I think this proofs it and also how the NRM uses old tricks in the last part of the Pre-Election period. They have already used the UPDF and paying to get crowds. So soon Hon. Sam Kutesa or Dr. Ruhakana Ruganda giving directly out money is the missing piece today. The ignorance and thinking that nobody questioning the actions of the ruling is weird, but that is because the New Vision and other media will not question it; Instead spray it in nice words as a fulfilling moment of glory for the NRM. Something it is not; as it is a moment where they use government funds as bait to suck in the local men and woman. Who deserve accountability and transparency from the Central Government and for both Gule District Local Government and Lira District Local Government. Peace.
Reference:
Commonwealth Observer Group – ‘UGANDA PRESIDENTIAL AND PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS’ (24.02.2011)