The infuriating abuse of “Preventative Arrest” and “Inciting Violence” by the Authorities!

Let’s be clear, the misuse of certain laws and pattern of injustice have been rampant and grown over the years. If your an opposition leader and not in the good graces of the law. You will meet it and share custody with chicken thieves and common con-men. That is the nature of politics in Uganda. There are not a long level from driving a fancy SUV to be undetermined as a criminal politician in the Republic.

The usage of certain laws is staggering. The Penal Code and the Public Order Management Act (POMA). Recently, they have added to more things to equation that is getting on my nerve. They are misusing it and blatantly disregard of people’s way of expression. The POMA are used to silence possible demonstrations and political rallies the authorities doesn’t like, as the Anti-Besigye Act it is.

However, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) and the Security Operatives of the regime, have taken it up a notch with misuse of two other types of charges. I am not talking about treason, that has been used against the regarded rising stars of the opposition and the ones who light a spark within the community. Leaders who makes the President and his party looks like little begging children.

The one I first want to mention is the “Preventative Arrest”. The one used against leaders, activists and random people, who can suddenly be taken by the Security Organizations as Police, ISO, CMI, Special Force Command or soldiers. Because they have to take them for any sort of reason, as they can cause damage. They can damage a nerve in the head of the President or make his wife loose her cool. Who knows, but they are preventing something, as the Leopards Anus is afraid they might stir a hissy-fit and create ruckus in the middle of Nile Avenue. Who knows really right? Because anyone from everywhere can be charged with this one. Even a teacher spelling out the words M-P-I-G-S. Can be arrested for these reasons, as they are preventing further crimes.

I am sure they are using the Police Act of 1994 subsection 24. to justify the use of Preventative Arrests, which states that a Police Officer can arrest someone as a preventive action. However, that does not defend the usage of it, as the ones taken has not caused harm, made issues against human decency in a public space nor caused harm to kids or vulnerable people. Therefore, the Security Organizations should stop using this measure, unless they want to be an extended arm of the tyranny.

The second one I have to mention is the “Inciting Violence”, which goes to journalists, activists, TV-Shows, Members of Parliament, Opposition Leaders and anyone who has the capacity to bring more than people together in a crowded street. This is surely a charge that has been misused. The amounts must be at a level, where the fools becomes Einstein and the Police Officers can arrest anyone for this. If they are screaming “Besigye” or just being at a function as a leader. Than, your can be charged with this.

I am sure they are using the Penal Code of 1950 subsection 83 to justify the use of Inciting Violence. Where they use 83 (1), which says: “Any person who incites any other person to do an act of violence against any person by reason of his or her race, place of origin, political opinions, colour, creed or sex or office commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding fourteen years”. I am sure they are using the charge as someone who express their political opinion and does so in regard of the opposition and not the NRM.

That is why I am tired of this use. As they continue to misuse both of them. NRM are really using this combined with the Security Organization to control the public and stop the public from engaging politically.

The Authorities are making people criminal, they are making political active and leadership into con-men. Therefore, they are finding and pinning these charges on anyone who stands out or are active in the manner of opposition politics. If they are voices in rallies, demonstrations or even consultation meetings.

This is just showing how indifference and how they are misusing the power and blocking people from attending or being part of political landscape. Peace.

Dr. Kizza Besigye’s advice for termination of the NRM!

If you ever want the clear advice to bring down the dictatorship of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, who now acts and lives like he owns the Republic Uganda. Than if you want to get rid of that and want to use the advice of Forum for Democratic Change founder and former Presidential Candidate Dr. Kizza Besigye. Than his words and inspirational words should be for you. He explains the whole story and the whole theft of the state and how it was built around the President. How Museveni has taken all the institutions and the state is embedded with him. But that we already knows, therefore I have taken the part that people should listen to and use. The true defiance and defy the Museveni state, so that there are possible a peaceful transition from his rule. Where the state doesn’t belong to Museveni or the Movement, but to the people. The Citizens has a government who cares about delivery and not if Museveni get an expensive enough airplane or helicopter. Take a look!

Outtake from the Press Conference of Dr. Kizza Besigye today:

“Regardless of what the regime does, the people of Uganda are definitely closing in to take back their power and embark on a TRANSITION to a new dispensation.

The NRM/Museveni Junta has no legitimacy to amend the Uganda Constitution as it’s planning to do. This will be an activity of the TRANSTION PROCESS.

Immediate task: Termination of the NRM/Museveni Junta:

The following needs to be done to terminate the Junta’s control of our country:

1) Intensify the “awakening campaign”, for most Ugandans to become active in the processes of achieving a transition. Everyone has a role to play in achieving this.

2) Forming activist networks to make it possible to act together and to be coordinated.

3)Everyone seeking a democratic transition should take deliberate actions, individually or in concert with others to disempower and break down the Junta. Each one’s actions, however small, contribute significantly towards the desired change.

4) Public servants, including those in the security and military are called upon to join the struggle for democratic transition.

5) In coordination with other political and civil society formations, we’ll soon start various activities that will disempower and bring the, now fragile, Junta to an end.

The transition:

A transition process will start when the Junta ceases the control of the state- either, through popular actions or a dialogue process.

The key activities of the transition period are:

1) Government of National Unity.

2) A comprehensive review of the Constitution.

3) Rebuilding State institutions to ensure transparency in recruitment and a national character, a high standard of performance and public accountability; non-partisan character; high standard of discipline and professionalism etc.

4) Truth telling, justice and reconciliation.

5) Free and Fair elections” (Dr. Kizza Besigye, 11.07.2017).

The acts of defiance and trying to coordinate the powers to be. Make the state dissolution over the citizens who doesn’t act upon the oppressive measures dropped by the central government. That they does what they can locally to make changes to the state. This done in demonstrations and stop using the state based operations that makes the NRM regime so rich and can rig themselves into power. That they follow a leadership similar to Besigye and other who trying to dismantle the Presidency. For the simplest reason of getting democracy and getting rid of the dictatorship of Museveni. These words of Besigye should be seen as the guidelines for the patriots and the ones who wants the Republic run by elected men, and not selected men by the NRM. This is how it is now.

The NRM acts like they own the nation and the state, the State is controlled from the State House and the orders are from there. There aren’t anything done without the State House involved, that isn’t a healthy state. That is a Banana Republic and an undemocratic state where one-voice control it all. There is time for change, it has been a long time for change. This cannot only be done by the freedom fighter Besigye, but has to happen by the will and acts of the people. The people have to say, enough is enough. The impunity, the theft and the ignorance of needs of the people is enough. Time to stand-up and be together in the struggle for just ice, liberty and accountability. For a regime who wants to deliver government services and also give taxation with representation. Something that isn’t done now by this government and the President. Peace.

Opinion: EU Envoy Schmidt are an speaking like an NRM apologist similar to Ofwono Opondo over Besigye’s 2016 Election defiance!

I feel sorry for European Union Envoy Kristian Schmidt who are now sounding like a National Resistance Movement (NRM) apologist, instead of an independent spirit and understanding of the short-falls of the NRM Regime. He seems to been misunderstanding what happen during the General Election 2016. Surely, he wants the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) and Dr. Kizza Besigye, to say it just water under bridge and let it go. Since the Supreme Court followed the orders of the 31 Years and counting President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. First introduce some of the beautiful words of Ofwono Opondo, before the Kristian Schmidt’s foolish interview with Daily Monitor, before enlightening fellow European of his ignorance or forgetting the blatant impunity towards Besigye and FDC in and around the General Election 2016. Since he has forgotten while drinking Nile Brew in the Embassy and going on Safaries with his dignitaries. Surely, Schmidt must feel good about himself!

““In this election, Besigye gained 1.5 million votes compared to two million votes he got in 2011 while Museveni’s gain was a paltry 500,000. To the NRM strategists, this is the most shocking, indeed worrying trend, and having located the cause as being our messaging, strategy, campaign style, internal laxity, occasioned fraud and widespread bickering. We shall not blame anybody else except ourselves. Actually, to be frank, we were almost swept away by our collective failure to robustly respond to the Opposition demagoguery on issues of youth unemployment, despair among the urban population, poor and yet expensive public service delivery and bad public relations, especially to distribution of soft campaign cash that often got stolen along the way among other issues. This, to the Besigye camp, should give hope that with better strategic organisation, not only falsehoods, they can in the future topple NRM through the ballot instead of being bad losers” (…) ““The claims of rigging, especially at the last minute through alleged intimidation of candidates’ agents, ballot stuffing, falsification or alteration of results on tally and declaration sheets and at announcements are perturbing and incredibly unbelievable. These could pass as truth if the peddlers could at least adduce some verifiable evidence from eyewitnesses and documents in their possession that differ from those of the EC, which ought to be available from the multiple sources, including the media that observed these elections” (Opondo, 2016).

So when a NRM spokesperson and Uganda Media Centre director had to come in defense of his master. In the aftermath and with the current illegitimate government. Who has no problems in misusing the government funds and had no problem rigging the election in their favor. As the FDC had massive scores of leaders behind bars, had people with Declarations Forms from Polling Stations at Gun-Point, had their Headquarter barricaded and sealed off, Besigye was under house-arrest and the story goes on. Not an adventure, but a true theft a nation. Still Schmidt says this to the FDC and former Presidential Candidate:

“He added: “That is of course an issue that is dividing but I think it would have been good to come together and discuss. It has not happened and election reforms seem to be not going forward.” (…) “The law of Uganda is what it is: the conditions of petitions are what they are, and for a petition to be successful you have to do a lot of homework. Under your Constitution I believe you have little time, 10 days. I know one of the recommendations of the Supreme Court is to extend that time which I believe makes sense.” (…) “ He said “I think if Dr Besigye was convinced before elections that he would not be happy with the outcomes and the process, he should have been the one to petition. He should have prepared for that but he decided before that he was not going to and under the rule of law.” (Musisi, 2017).

EU Envoy to Uganda Kristian Schmidt, I know you visited him while on undetermined house-arrest. Since the Police Force had been stationed in Kasangati, Wakiso for so long days before the election and until May 2016. When he was able to escape and have his own swearing-in ceremony, before air-lifted to Moroto, where the state charged him with Treason charges. Which he still carries today, he is an arch-criminal and seen as an enemy of the state. Than after all of this, you talk about rule of law, justice and courts. Like Dr. Kizza Besigye haven’t had his time in court, haven’t been detained on more occasions than ordinary thief, even more than average murderers in the Republic.

So, the FDC was unable to counter with a petition, Amama Mbabazi was the only one able to fill in a form or petition. Because FDC has done so after General Election 2011. So it is like the EU Envoy for Uganda Schmidt is not in concern anymore of all the breaches that happen to Besigye. Like the whole House-Arrest period, the whole part of the general assault on the rule of law considering the elections and polls. The self sufficient pre-ticket ballots and Badru Kiggundu’s own special math-class. The statistics and the vicious attempt of forging the whole election in favor of President Museveni.

It like he wants the one on Treason Charges since May 2016, since the coup d’etat in February 20^th 2016, when the Electoral Commission announced the result. That as the whole NRM and state organization was behind the whole ordeal. Even the European Election Observation Mission and the Commonwealth Election Observation Mission was explaining the massive flaws of the General Election. Still, the EU Envoy want Besigye just to let it go.

Let’s take his first reasoning, since it is shows his true passion, the Danish dignitary: “Now if this was in any other democracy, like in some European countries, it would be unacceptable that the Opposition party does not then recognise the winner of the elections” (Musisi, 2017). If this was an election in Europe, all of these ploys of the NRM wouldn’t have happen. Not normally, that the army is used to intimidate, that local leaders are paid-off with new cars, that ballot are pre-ticket ballots and all powers to be to silence the FDC. Together with the obvious rigging and mismatch of acts in favor of Museveni. If this would not have happen in a European elections and EU Envoy to Uganda knows this. That why it is remarkable that he says about Besigye.

Besigye knows better and the Ugandan people knows so. They are not fools, even if Schmidt is sounding like Ofwono Opondo and has taken lectures from Andrew Mwenda. He surely has hanged in the same bars in Kampala as these two. To sound so blatant ignorant and so forgetful. Peace.

Reference:

Opondo, Ofwono – ‘The media shouldn’t parrot Opposition false claims’ (28.03.2016) link: http://www.monitor.co.ug/OpEd/Commentary/Media-parrot-Opposition-false-claims/-/689364/3135890/-/2m2g7v/-/index.html

Musisi, Fredric – ‘Besigye refusal to recognise government not helpful – EU envoy’ (09.07.2017) link: http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Besigye-refusal-recognise-government-not-helpful-EU-envoy/688334-4006606-er8gyr/index.html

Bunyoro squabble: Besigye Rally blocked in Masindi!

As the Police has monitored and followed the moves of Forum for Democratic Change in Bunyoro, even standing guards around the compounds of the retreat that the FDC during the week. You can tell that the government does not spare a single shilling in the mind of keeping the FDC at bay. Clearly, the Police Force in Masindi was preoccupied with handling the matters and silencing the FDC. Not catching criminals, because that is not important in the Republic of Uganda. It is more important to count the steps and gasoline run by the White SUV of Dr. Kizza Besigye. Therefore, this shallow and truthful news coming from URN wasn’t that surprising considering how many times they have done it!

“The officials arrived at Masindi Stadium at around 5pm and agreed with police to conclude the rally within 30 minutes. Dr. Kiiza Besigye, the former FDC president addressed the residents and urged them to jealously guard their land from government officials who have turned to it for survival since they have stolen all the money for service delivery” (…) “Besigye ignored the directives and continued speaking leading to a heated verbal exchange between FDC party officials and heavily armed police personnel. As a result, Police threatened to use teargas prompting Besigye to cut short his speech and drive away with police patrol cars behind him. Waiswa told reporters that they couldn’t allow Besigye go beyond the allocated 30 minutes” (Ogga & Gucwaki, 2017).

So again, the Police Force has stopped a rally, another rally in the series of spreading the information of land grabbing and of making sure the citizens know their rights. That is deemed unfit and not the sort of subject the citizens need. Especially in districts close to the vast oil reserves, which the state intent to only to supplement the income of the President, not his fellow citizens. If it were, wouldn’t the new debt in the budgets be recovered sooner, instead of a Presidential Handshake?

Well, as state of affairs goes, the state continues to hamper with rallies of opposition, the police continue to vital part of politics, instead of fighting crime. The Police is more concerned with the moves of FDC and “Bad DP“, than of actual police work. The opposition are more often criminals, than the average chicken thief’s, just pound on that for a hot-moment. Certainly, it will be more chicken-soup and less chicken, boiled water on bones instead of flesh. Since, the Police Force cannot stop themselves from being political active. Their mandate under this administration is to subdue and silence the ones who does not comply with the vision of Museveni. Peace.

Reference:

Ogga, Thembo Kahungu Misairi & Gucwaki, Yosam – ‘POLICE STOP BESIGYE RALLY IN MASINDI’ (14.06.2017) – Uganda Radio Network – link: https://ugandaradionetwork.com/story/police-stops-besigye-rally-in-masindi

The Calvary arrested Besigye and blocked the planned ‘My Land, My Life’ rallies in Isingiro!

It feels like we have been here before, the attempt of stopping democratic rallies that was planned to be hold in the district of Isingiro today. ‘My Land, My Life’, as he earlier in the day was taken by Police and assaulted out of his vehicle on the Kikagati-Isingiro border, close to the Isingiro district. He was taken by the Police into Ntungamo, where he was detained for the day. Dr. Kizza Besigye arrested while traveling to a rallies, seems like the pre-campaign period of 2015 are mentally back in the minds of the Police Force.

This is not the first neither the last time the police will violate his rights in might of the National Resistance Movement and the wonderful dictator President Yoweri Museveni, the grand peacemaker of Congo, Rwanda and South Sudan. But in his own home, he cannot even let a political advisory travel and hold rallies. Therefore, again he was taken without warrant, without warning and without care of safety.

“Moses Muzima, the Isingiro District Police Commander, says they arrested the FDC officials for attempting to hold a rally in the market place and refugee settlement without police clearance” (Daily Monitor, 2017). We all saw that coming? The Public Order Management Act (POMA), the Anti-Besigye Act, the blessed gift of Parliament in 2013! The one used to silence the opposition and their rallies, whenever and wherever needed. So that the Police Force can assault and detain without any issues, not even use the Penal Codes or former colonial laws to arrest someone.

So the Police Force, together with Mambas, whole Police convoys was driving him home in Kasangati, as the whole day was in the hands of the Police. This all done without any issue of law or recognized criminal attempt of the opposition leader. Except for putting fear into the Movement and the Police Force loyal to him.

Yet, again the State doesn’t care about justice, freedom and liberty. There are clearly violations of these as the draconian law are now used to stop Dr. Kizza Besigye from campaigning for land reforms, as the land grabbing are happening rapidly. Peace.

Reference:

Daily Monitor – ‘Police arrest FDC leaders in Isingiro’ (15.05.2017) link: http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Police-arrests-FDC-leaders-in-Isingiro/688334-3927742-r6ydoa/index.html

The Calvary tried to block “My Life, My Land” Campaign rally in Semuto Town in Nakaseke District!

In Nakaseke District. The Uganda Police Force have been preoccupied with blocking meetings with Dr. Kizza Besigye and the Forum for Democratic Change, as their national campaigns continues. As this was happening when they we’re traveling to Semuto, where the Party and FDC leadership held rallies. While the Police Force and District Police Commander Justus Asiimwe were prepared with roadblocks around the town and also police officers in the town center. There we’re also Armored Personnel Carriers (APC). The Police did what they could do to block. But when he did enter the town and held the rally for “My land, My life” campaign.

Certainly, the FDC have been holding campaigns in Mubende and Luweero where they have recently met the same hostile Police Force, as they are all trying to silence and stop the gatherings. As the people shows up when the People’s President and his FDC comes to town.

Yesterday the AIGP Asan Kasingye issued this statement relating to the public meetings of the FDC: “We wish to appeal to the members of the public to desist from attending their unlawful assemblies and to ignore the messages of incitement and disobedience from the above members of the party” (Uganda Police Force, 05.05.2017).

So the Police Force are calling it an unlawful assembly in Nakaseke District, this will not be last place that the FDC and their campaign team will meet hostile security forces. This is because the Police Force has decided to silence and stop the opposition party from campaigning for their cause. This was written by Erias Lukwago: “I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the people of Nakaseke District for their firm stance and resilience in the face of brutality and mayhem unleashed by the Police in Ssemuto town this afternoon” (Erias Lukwago, 06.05.2017).

So the intimidation and harassment continues and the FDC are under-fire where they go, where the police are following, monitoring and blocking where Besigye goes. Instead of stopping violent crime and the insecurity that appears on this sort of activity.

While the Red Repper reported this:

“Police unleash all the might on Besigye in Luweero Triangle as criminals ravage the city and entire country. Three businessmen were murdered last week in Masaka. Hardware tycoon kidnapped and murdered in Bushenyi this week. Two more kidnappings were reported yesterday in Mbarara and Bushenyi districts. Two businessmen were in past three weeks shot dead in Makindye, a Kampala suburb” (Red Pepper Uganda, 06.05.2017).

So there are certainly mismanagement in the Police Force, they are more keen on being involved in politics, than actually fighting crime and solving them. Since there seem to be problems that the Police has to solve, but isn’t fit to carry out. The reports from Red Pepper is really worrying. Doesn’t seem like the Police are occupied with that, more with if the FDC are campaigning or having public meetings, which should be seen as misuse of the public resources. Peace.

The UPF Statement on unlawful assembly of the FDC in Kyankwanzi (05.05.2017)

Besigye and the FDC met the hostile Police Force in Ngora, Teso Sub-Region!

That the National Resistance Movement and the Uganda Police Force have an issue with Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) and their leader Dr. Kizza Besigye. Therefore, he has a track-record for being detained and spent days in countless of prisons while awaiting charges. However, the persistence of courage and certainty of trying is there. So after months of turmoil and trouble, the FDC and Besigye we’re planning to hold some rallies and meeting in Teso Sub-County and in Soroti. That was clearly violating the rules and public engagement that the NRM Regime couldn’t handle.

The we’re even gun-fire and tear-gas today at Ngora Town, as the FDC Woman Sarah Eperu we’re swiftly detained at the Central Police Station in Soroti. The convoy of FDC cars into the rallies was also stopped on the highway as they had plans and rallies to hold in the region.

The Police reacted to Journalists Ronald Odongo and George Emuron:

“However, East Kyoga Regional Police Commander Francis Tumwesigye says police was not informed about the planned celebrations” (Uganda Radio Network, 25.03.2017). So the Police used the Public Order Management Act (POMA) or the ABA (Anti-Besigye Act) to aggressively block and stop the rallies. This in a district where the Police Force cannot contain ordinary violence as the spiral of murder and killings have certainly hit the district of Francis Tumwesigye, who should have enforced more of the personnel to solve the murders, than throwing tear-gas and shooting bullets in the crowds flocking around Besigye.

Interfering with the Police Work:

“Given the intricate link between businesspeople, politicians and gun related crime in the region, senior police officer Obura told this newspaper that: “Investigations get complicated. My appeal is that police should be allowed to do its job, to investigate cases to the best of [its] ability with utmost independence. When politicians interfere they make our work difficult.” (…) “One District Police Commander who was transferred to northern Uganda told this newspaper on condition of anonymity that he had been relocated because he refused to “budge to the interests of those Teso mafias. You don’t do as they say they mess you up, they set you up as they did with Mr Okello Obura” (Okuda, 2017).

So it is the Teso Mafia that makes it impossible for the Police to solve the crimes and the killings, that initially makes the Police Commander forced to prove his capacity by shutting down political meetings and rallies of the FDC. Shows lacks of integrity and of the ability to serve the community when they work in silence on murders, but can easily throw tear-gas in Ngora.

Like Komuge village in Teso:

“Yet in its remoteness, Komuge buries the ignoble secrets of a village consumed by the toxic tales of extra-judicial killings, lawlessness and impunity stringed to political and military heavyweights powerful enough to cover their tracks or frustrate prosecution even of incarcerated suspects.  Human rights activists that raise an alarm are targeted, forcing some to flee the locale, while police officers investigating the cases find themselves momentarily transferred or prosecuted for alleged command lapses whenever they close in on those implicated” (Okuda, 2017).

So you can wonder if the Police are unwilling or transpiring with the criminals in Teso and Teso Sub-Region, as the Mafia or Criminal enterprise can control society and kill of the ones questioning or owning the resources the powerful men wants. Therefore, the Police Force is merely a safeguard for the citizens.

It’s weird that the FDC has to have these issues to have rallies and also commemorate a former MP Phillip Ekemu in Ngora, as the convoy of FDC was stopped before doing so today on the highway towards it. So now Besigye convoy we’re able to celebrate the memory of the deceased MP, but not able to hold rallies in Ngora, as the local police force had to use tear-gas.

“Besigye had planned to hold massive rallies in Teso Sub-region this week but the police warned him to abort his intentions, assuring him that such rallies would be handled as illegal assemblies” (Grejeen News Uganda, 25.03.2017). So the Soroti and Teso Sub-region handled it as illegal assemblies, as expected, as the Police Force have to handle this as criminal, but cannot handle murder investigations. The killings and extra-judicial murders should be focused as people are dying.

The FDC and Besigye had planned rallies for Katakwi district tomorrow. Certainly, these will also be meet with hostile meeting the Police. Just as the tear-gas who appeared today in Ngora in the Teso Sub-Region. This is just really a proof of the non-democratic environment in Uganda, when the FDC cannot even hold rallies and public meetings, as the NRM can travel as they please. Something they really do. Peace.

Reference:

Okuda, Ivan – ‘ No end in sight for Teso killings as govt folds arms’ (23.03.2017) link: http://www.monitor.co.ug/SpecialReports/No-end-in-sight-for-Teso-killings-as-govt-folds-arms/688342-3863190-4dbeh5/index.html

Okuda, Ivan – ‘Hitmen invade Teso, kill and torture with impunity’ (17.03.2017) link: http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Hitmen-invade-Teso–kill-and-torture-with-impunity-/688334-3852750-f5xp20/index.html

Uganda: There has been no notice issued of a Curfew in Kampala (21.03.2017)

Opinion: NRM works on overtime to delegitimize the FDC though various media, since they are themselves an illegitimated regime!

There are running battles between the shadows of the Movement and the Forum for Democratic Change has been going on for a while. This has happen as Secretary General Nathan Nandala-Mafabi wrote this in the EALA Nomination letter to the 10^th Parliament wrote: “These clearly spell out the positions of the Ruling Party and the Official Opposition Party in the multiparty democracy. In regard to numerical strength. EAC Treaty is also clear on multiparty democracy”.

So now that the FDC is the official opposition party and not the winner of the General Election 2016, even though the rigging master Eng. Dr. Badru M. Kiggundu of the Electoral Commission and the deputy chief justice Stephen Kavuma had to ban the campaign of defiance, that was the Presidential Candidate Dr. Kizza Besigye who run hard against the ruling party and the ruling regime of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and his National Resistance Movement.

So with that in context, the months after has been smeared with irregularities and malfunctions as the NRM and their Police has targeted FDC with full force. This they did with detaining members and leaders without court order, house-arrests, blocking of the headquarters and all sorts of other injustices done with an ordinary fashion of contempt of the constitution and law. These have been done as the 10^th Parliament was sworn-in and the President was busy having dignitaries from Turkey and South Korea.

Now that 2017 has arrived and ever since December 2016 the Independent Magazine editor and founder Andrew Mwenda has gone all wild on social media. At the same time TVO has disgraced him and his magazine. The graceful attempts have not been there as the words have addressed each other in fashions that would be in bars and not all in public. So Mwenda are using all tricks with his connections as he even seemingly has traded his popularity and his work ethic for goods from the ruling regime. Because he has gone from being a fierce critic of the Movement and now he defends them.

With this in mind Mwenda has attracted and attacked with more and more staunch words, even as he becoming a laughing stock and a wild-card. Even if he would have pieces of truth, the spin and the propaganda fashion of it all is spoiling facts that might be there. Just like Uganda Media Centre and Hon. Ofwono Opondo spills the beans and defends the Movement with all means. Though his entitled way of sounding more like a NRM Spokesperson than a man who is government spokesperson is showing the transgression of the party itself; just like the NRM inner party election for the EALA done over two days there.

This is still not an issue in nation of Uganda and under the rule President Museveni, which want to be legitimate by every mean possible. Therefore he uses the media and false stories on NTV Uganda where the Party Constitution of FDC is in question. As NTV Uganda wrote yesterday:

“A plan to amend the constitution of Uganda’s main opposition party, the Forum for Democratic Change could cause a huge rift among its members if it goes through. The plan is to change clauses in the constitution to allow former FDC leaders another go at the helm of the party. According to the movers, many of FDC’s past leaders have been rendered useless to the party and yet they still have a lot to offer.” (NTV Uganda, 08.02.2017). However, as the story unfolded the FDC leadership debunked the story, Besigye said he would never run as a candidate under that or heard about it. TVO came out saying it was Mwenda who was the source and Hon. Francis Mwijukye wrote this about the farce:

“ Am told that there was a confusing story on NTV last evening about ammending the FDC constitution. Will be hosted on NTV Uganda 8.00 to 8.30am today morning. Let me go and make it clear. I think I was misquoted” (…) ”We were asked about the future of former FDC leaders and party founders. All I said was that I would support an inclusion in the party constitution of a party organ to deal with a council of Elders whose sole role would be to advise where necessary and for institutional memory. There was nothing like allowing former leaders to compete for top FDC positions in the party asked to me. Otherwise I can’t support that amendment” (Mwijukye, 08.02.2017).

When the higher echelons from the FDC are addressing the matter nearly simultaneously with the clip of the story aired, there are clear indications of malpractices in the standard. The NTV surely did this for political purposes. Just as there we’re reports that NTVs Sheila Nduhukire did directly celebrate with the NRM Party when they had done their EALA Primary Elections at the State House. Certainly the media and media houses are getting to close to the ruling regime.

We can just expect that government fuel illegitimate stories in their portrayal to demoralize and legitimize their own existence in power. Because they cannot do it by their own merit anymore, that gravy train left the station long time ago. They will use all means to establish and make the blatant ignorance of Mwenda and use their connections in NTV Uganda to portray the FDC as wolfs or even better wolf in sheep’s clothing.

The NRM and the Movement cannot sell the truth at this point, because that will undress their own existence and their own established fanfare of just cause. The probable cause that has left long time ago, the decades of bribes, thieving and misgivings has now caught up with them. The rigging and ill-forced ways are now what entitles people and therefore EALA elections are ugly instead of silent shows of democratic balloting. The NRM has to use the media and spin to make their biggest threat FDC into a shambolic affair of political charade. Since they have the ability themselves to make itself look unwise.

So the spins and the lies of deception will continue to fluster from the NRM and their media hawks, but still the truth will shine in the end. Peace.