Press Release: Sarbanes Leads Nearly 100 Members of U.S. Congress in Calling for Hearings on Democracy Reform (21.04.2016)

Members Highlight Bills That Would Repair and Restore Our Democracy

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) today lead close to 100 Members of Congress in calling on the Committee on House Administration and the House Judiciary Committee to hold hearings about reforms that will help restore American democracy and make the voices of everyday Americans heard in Congress.

“The two basic imperatives of a functioning democracy – the right to vote and the right to have your vote mean something – are under assault,” the Members wrote. “Spurred by the Supreme Court’s decision in Shelby County v. Holder, partisan operatives in state legislatures are crafting new ways to limit Americans access to the ballot box. At the same time, the corrosive effect of big money on our political system – an effect exacerbated by the Citizens United decision – has left many Americans wondering whether their ballots can ever compete against the power of a privileged few.”

The Members asked the Chairmen of each committee to schedule hearings on the following bills:

• The Voter Empowerment Act (H.R. 12)
• The Government By the People Act (H.R. 20)
• The Democracy for All Amendment (H.J.Res. 22)
• The Automatic Voter Registration Act (H.R. 2694)
• The Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2015 (H.R. 2867)

The letter came shortly after thousands of people from all over the country joined each other on the steps of the U.S. Capitol to call on Congress to fight big money in politics and return to a government of by and for the people.

A full copy of the letter can be viewed here.

Dr. Kizza Besigye: “My Message To The Youth Of Uganda: Claim Your Country! Claim Your Future!” (21.02.2016)

Thank you for fulfilling your civic duty by voting for change. Your enthusiastic participation in the stolen 2016 elections demonstrates that you wanted to change the politics of this country and secure your future through the ballot box; only to be frustrated by partisan security agencies and an incompetent electoral commission. The electoral process was rigged using intimidation of voters, imprisonment of opponents, sabotage of rallies, late delivery of election materials, delayed opening of election centers, vote falsification at undisclosed tally centers, and bribery, among other malpractices.

But do not be discouraged — the struggle for a democratic dispensation did not start and end on Election Day and the electoral process itself did not end with the announcement of doctored results. Therefore, do not surrender. The majority of you were not even born when the current NRM regime came into power in 1986. Yet all you have inherited are the consequences of its bad governance.

Youth unemployment in Uganda is known to be the highest in Africa estimated to be between 62%, and 83%! I addressed the unemployment rate, deteriorating quality of education, corrupt credit schemes that did not benefit you; and the desperate circumstances of Uganda’s youth during my campaigns. You know your conditions better than me. The election has been rigged and the government is doing all it can to silence me. It is time for you to claim your rights and lead this struggle.

Uganda’s future, your future is in your hands. Remain firm. We can make this country work for each and everyone of us. But you must assert yourselves and claim your future. There is no other person who will do it for us.

Here is where we are: As of now there is no winner, the election process has not ended. The law gives us 10 days after announcement of results to challenge the outcome that is announced. As you all know, I have spent the first of those ten days under house arrest. I am now left with 9 days to exercise this right. Therefore, tomorrow I am going to the Electoral Commission to receive their results. I will then meet the campaign team and following that we will go around the country and collect all our information in order to prepare a well-considered response. This is a right we take for granted and are not asking for permission.

I invite you my friends,

• To rally behind the demand for an independent and transparent audit of the 2016 presidential election results. Explain this to all your friends.

• If you are in Kampala join me to walk to the Electoral Commission. We leave my gate at Kasangati at 9:00AM. Police will try to stop us, I know; but this is about claiming our rights. We will walk peacefully.

• In every village, collect the Declaration Forms that may still be in your possession. Use your phone or camera to photograph the results Declaration form. We will tell you how to transmit them.

• My friends online, engage our African brothers and sisters as well as the international community to reject the results and support our demands for an independent audit.

Friends, I have warned that we are witnessing a creeping military coup that aims to subvert the will of the people. We set out to claim our rights and our country through defiance not compliance. We are still on that path and we shall win by defiance NOT compliance. The NRM government believes that by isolating me the defiance campaign is dead but it was not a one-man campaign. This was your campaign and you must now LEAD IT! Peaceful protest is a human right that is in our Constitution. As you know whenever we have gone out to exercise that right peacefully we have been met with extreme violence. But we will not be cowed. The most brutal dictatorships have crumbled when the people asserted themselves. In Philippines, Romania, Guatemala, Tunisia, Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso we have seen them fall when the youth stood up for their rights. There will be pain and sacrifice. I am ready for it and I have been absorbing it. Do not be afraid, it is our historic duty.

Aluta Continua
For God And Our Country

Dr. Kizza Besigye

NRM Primaries a little to Yellow? Sorry wange, it’s to Mellow!

Well after days of Primaries where I have showed details after details of practices of the NRM Electoral Commission and the actions on the ground. These primaries has been magnificent and that the proud professor Tanga Odoi doesn’t have the honor to tell the world that he didn’t have the capacity to deal with all of the voting stations, voting material and the excess of practices on the ground.

The National Resistance Movement who has run a country for 29 years ever since the year of 1986. Has held Internal-Elections to see who might represent them in the General-Election in 2016.

The surprise to people is how Ofwono Opondo spread the level of cost that was on the election 5, 5Billion shillings. That there was set up about 60, 000 voting stations. At the same time there been only registered 47 cars to the political party. The last straw today was that the NRM Register Office is set under the NRM Secretary General and not in the National Resistance Movement Electoral Commission. Therefore the governing body that is in charge of this spending and the amount of cars combined with initial areas that need material doesn’t sound like a something that easily could be questioned. Then they imported the Ballot-papers from Kenyan producers, surely as Dr. Odoi has said he wanted to secure that it wasn’t like in 2010 when people had ballot-papers in their houses and in their pockets. It still hasn’t been smooth.

Ballot-papers has missed candidates, Independent candidates has been on the NRM Ballot-Papers in certain districts, there has been missing slots like 7 boxes to tick and 8 candidates, the ballot papers has ended in the wrong district, there been ballot-boxes in prisons and in Central Police Stations before arriving to Polling Stations. There have even been missing candidates on the ballot-papers. So many wrongs are just the simple ballot-papers or the slips that the voters are supposed to decide their vote. More candidates has been taken with tens of thousands or just thousands of pre-ticket ballot-papers in their houses and cars.

On top of this is the massive arrests, the winning candidates that are still in jail,  pre-ticket ballot-papers ready made for some candidates and some have pre-filled ballot-boxes arriving at the polling-station. FDC Members could willy-nilly vote and at certain voting stations. There been districts where the police have taken people with fake Yellow-Membership-Cards. People been taken to custody for election violence and others for charges of rigging the elections. The last charge has been in many districts. There been specific candidates who has had mobilization teams to bribe voters in counties, certain has been incarcerated for doing so. Certain candidates have held voters on gun-point to make them take the right decision on who to vote for!  The Police has thrown tear-gas into the public to shut down demonstrations after postponing the elections in the county.

There have even been candidates whom have stormed tally-centers with security personnel and demanded all the people to get out. So they could clear the results. Even certain candidates has stolen the ballot-boxes after voting and ended up in jail. There been even candidates who couldn’t control the tally-center so the candidate actually took the declaration form and got caught, ended up also in jail.

For all of this there has even been talking that the Ghost of Amama Mbabazi is the one behind all of this. Isn’t that taking away the 80% satisfaction of Dr. Odoi?

There has been talk of moles into this election and IGP Kale Kayihura has said that the media should step off from being the media and foreign influence is making a lot of trouble. Well, the bribes are local, the mobilization teams are local, the candidates rides locally, the districts are run by local men, the NRM has decided who the wanted on the ballot, not moles or international influences so, IGP Kale Kayihura need yet another reality check!

There has been voting in done electronically on their cell-phone through the magical place of WhatsApp. There has been candidates going to markets and buying soldiers and police officers votes. Some people in this Internal-Election have been stopped from voting in the polling station even when they are registered. The police have even stopped mini-buses with shipped people from county to county to make the tally. There has been magistrates and candidates held temporary hostages by the public for a hot minute for trying to buy the electorate in the municipality.

This here is to set the issues in perspective. To show how the practices has been during this internal election. I will not bring more or less election results from the rest of the internal election of the NRM because the Daily Monitor, Elections.co.ug or other outlets does it better and with manpower and time I don’t have. But you should look over the big birds that are shot down and the changes of guards that has happen in the party. Dr. Tanga Odoi needs to be set straight for this. There was chaos in 2010, but this here hasn’t been a smooth eiter! There have been districts and counties with peace. But there been a lot of irregularities in this internal exercise.

Hope that Eng. Dr. Badru Kiggundu and the big Electoral Commission of the state can do a better job or maybe even hide the malfunctions better for the General Elections coming. Because Dr. Tanga Odoi is showing so much weakness in this, the NRM party as the ruling party is showing shady practices and rigging on a major scale. And if this is a pre-run and test before the coming one, then there will be a long walk in the wilderness and an even longer walk for free and fair elections in Uganda. Peace!

NRM Primaries continues and is impressed by how they do it!

If you want some intersting news and reality check just check how the ruling party of 29 years has issues in their own internal elections. The rigging is so functional that the district without pre-ticket ballots should be showered with gifts from the leaders of opposition. Why? Because in the areas without election rigging the leaders of NRM might have some real character and not just buying the votes or pre-ticking the ballots which is easy. The funniest kind of voting is happening in Hoima and Bunyoro today where the chief of the area has decided despite not having ballot-papers and election material they started to vote with WhatsApp. Read the reports from the elections today! They are magnificent.

Ofwono Opondo said this today: “Because of this, elections for special leagues of NRM have been pushed to 30th October. They will report on 29^th” (…)”Kiruhura elections have been halted after death of one of the contestants in un clear circumstances”.

Ofwono Opondo said also this: “The National Resistance Movement has so far spent 5.5 billion shillings on the ongoing primary elections countrywide” (Nakatudde & Labeja, 2015).

Ofwono Opondo says: “party agreed to extend voting time from 4 pm to 5 pm, because of delayed delivery of voting materials” (Nakatudde, 2015).

Mr Muhindo said this today: “I must say this before you without fear or favour because we have seen President Museveni lose at polling stations where policemen vote from. You must know that NRM is the sitting government which you have to support for your brighter future”.

Opondo there was pictures of the crashing car in Kiruhura yesterday, is that unclear circumstances?  ‪Mr. Muhindo support NRM for a brighter future? You guys can’t even hold a clean internal election! Look at the evidence for yesterday and today. 5.5 billion Shillings that is a lot of monies for such much postponement and rigging surely some of that has gone to the ones that tries to buy the votes in the district. Not only to the producers of the ballots in Kenya where NRM has bought the Ballot-papers and printing jobs from. Did you know that?

Rogers Mulindwa the head of media and public relations as apologies for the irregularities and he believes the NRM has infiltrated by moles (And he is not kidding!).

There has even been seen that Police officer in full uniform going into the election and voting. Surely the Ugandan police is not partial at all in this coming General election!

Wakiso:

The primaries for Busiro North have been called off after reports of a certain candidate not being on the ballot. Annet Bakunzi was not even on the ballot. To further the foolishness in the area MP Tinkasiimire actually scared voters while carrying a gun to get them to vote. Mr. Al Hajj Moses Kigongo went to Lwengo to calm protesters between the fractions. After this the elections has been called off!

Ajuri District:

There been reports of already stuffed ballot boxes before starting the actual voting and they have been sitting in the NRM Registrar’s Office.

Arua:

In the sub-county of Ayivu the ballot papers missed a lot of candidates. These we’re MP and Flag bearer for the area Ben Dravile, also Simon Avutia, Alex Adia and Moses Etukibo.

Adjumani:

MP Jessica Akabiku has had a team that was mobilizing in the area to a certain extent that they was caught buying voters and paying voters for their votes; as much as the police has a mobilization team in custody.

Bukedea District:

Lt. Gen. Charles Angina has arrest 7 persons alleged for election violence in the area. They are at the police station and in custody.

In the Kasoka Polling station there was delivered ballot papers for another district which is Bulambuli.

Rubabo County:

There been found ballot-papers supposable found in Bushenyi in Igara East. Yet, another place where they got the wrong ballot-papers!

Rubaga:

The people of the area are staring to questioning the election with the delays of material to their party secretariat so they can distribute the voting material in the county. Two hours later the famous Katongole Singh has cast his vote! And the election has started there.

Rubanda West:

It’s called off and postponed for the moment. That is because Henry Banyenzaki was taken with 16,000 pre-ticket ballot-papers. So there you have the reason why it was postponed.

Kitgum:

In Chua East there was a wrong person on the District Woman MP. The one set up on the Ballot was Lucy Rose Achan on the District Woman MP instead of being set on the ballot for the directly MP for the District. That has led to postponement of the local election.

Lyantonde:

“In Lyantonde district, a retired soldier identified as Sergeant Abel Kafuruka has been knocked dead by a convoy of four cars belonging to the incumbent woman MP Grace Namara Lutemba Kirumira which were reportedly carrying pre-ticked ballot papers. This came after the late tried to block these cars as he was waited for his candidate Pauline Kemirembe Kyaka to arrive. This incident happened at 1:00am at Seeta village in Kinuuka sub-county. The DPC of Lyantonde Rogers Kapere confirmed the incident and said the car which knocked the late is a premio registration number UAW 442L and the driver is on the run. Meanwhile two cases of assault have also been opened against the Kabula Mp James Kakooza for beating a Councillor of Kooki C in Lyantonde town council and a journalist attached to Vision Group Sadati Waligo who were following him as he tried to give bribes of 5000 notes to voters in Kaliiro sub-county. James Kakooza famously remembered for leading the debate for lifting term limits and his wanting academic papers which made the parliamentary vetting committee to throw him out of the Primary health care ministry where he was re-appointed lost the race for NRM district chairman and is now struggling to retain his parliamentary seat for the fourth time – (Source: Godfrey Ssali – Radio one).

Kibaale:

Ballot papers that were supposed to go Kibaale went to Luweero District.

Moroto:

The Ballot-Papers that was supposed to be sent to Moroto was forgotten in Kampala.

Soroti:

In Soroti the NRM-EC forgot to deliver Ballot-papers too, the same as happen to the people in Moroto. In Budaka District they got ballot-papers that we’re supposed to go Soroti.

Iganga:
Because of malpractices in the election members of the NRM has started to burn their membership cards in Iganga.

Isingiro North:

The Special Forces Command taken into custody two full boxes of pre-ticket ballot-papers for Kangwagye. MP Bright Rwamirama Kanyontore has also runs in the election for MP in Insingiro North have actually gone to the local market where he was trying to buy votes from the local police and UPDF guards in town.

Hoima:

They have found pre-ticked ballots in the town. Henry Muganwa Kajura the MP of Hoima has ordered the polling to start even without ballot-papers. There been rumors that they have accepted votes through WhatsApp.

Kabarole:

The voting material comes from Fort Portal Central Police Station to the districts in the area. And the journalist are not allowed to follow the elections.

Mbabara:

In the Rwampara Constituency had delivered voting materials as ballot-papers and ballot-boxes. The ballot-papers was pre-ticked for the one MP candidate and no other candidate to vote for, that was for MP Vicent Mujuni Kyamadiidi. The Ballot papers for local mayors in the municipality were not to get in the election.

Masaka:

Election in Masaka has halted. Kintu Musoke has found his car full of stones and kiboko.

Masindi:

Kahinda Otafiire the elected for Ruhinda County in Mitooma District has been seen on the Ballot-papers in the greater Masindi area.

Nakaseke:

The Nakaseke NRM Register Paul Tandeka has told that on the ballot in Nakaseke South had the Nakaseke North MP.

Lwengo:

The Police chief arrested the pre-ticket ballot-papers that was ticket for the candidature of Sarah Muwonge Nkonge for Woman MP. Sarah Nkonge and Isaac Sejjoba the MP of the Bukoto Midwest was caught with 7000 pre-ticket ballot papers!

George Mutabaazi and MP for Buyaga County Barnabas Tinkasmiire was put into jail over night for the vote rigging in the district. Michael Mbirimu is also into custody after tempering with the ballot boxes in the area.

Luweero:

Here there found ballot-papers belong to Kabale; yet another place where the NRM-EC has delivered the ballot-papers to the wrong location.

Nebbi:

In the sub-county Erussi the chairman Mr. Odubi has been found with pre-ticket ballot papers. There been found 3,000 pre-ticket ballot papers was ticket for the candidate of Allan Kajjik, which is the husband of the Minister Anite Evelyn. The local favored candidate Padyere will then be denied his possibility to run for the sub-country area because of the rigging. In the area there been people stopped from voting, but still they are registered to vote.

Rukungiri:

Actually a place where there is peaceful elections today. The place of the violence of FDC rally is a silent and peaceful paradise in the midst of the madness.

Kumi:

There been reports of violence and ambulances. Bloody clashes around the election! Apollo Mubiru was reporting!

Sembabule:

After yesterday’s violence and shootings there is rising a tension in the town today. Local NRM candidates of Nkarubo and Sekikubo have been publicly fighting.

Kabale:

There been reports that the Independent candidate of Riita Rhona has been on the ballot-papers.

Teso:

Been calm and well spent election in the primaries there. Good to hear that some areas has it peaceful.

Entebbe:

Voting today has been postponed. The ballot papers miss certain candidates for MPs and one of the mayoral aspirants is even missing on the same ballot-paper.

Ntungamo:

Found bunches of fake party cards and the DPC of the area shows pictures of it. They were found in running Mayor Jacob Kafureeka’s house. Matayo has been caught with over a 1000 fake NRM cards. On the MP ballot papers was pre-ticked for candidate Yonah Musinguzi.

Busia:

There been pre-ticket ballot papers in the districts for the candidate for Nekesa Barbra Oundo who is the state minister for Karamoja that she is contested for the seat in the sub-country Bugwe North. Also to top it off on the ballot papers delivered they didn’t have Gideon Onyango. Barbra Oundo Nekesa is contesting for re-election as the Woman MP for the Busia District. Because of these irregularities the election is now cancelled and will be postponed.

Kiyandongo:

In the district the police have put the NRM Flag bearer into detention. Mr. Bitera has been charged for vote rigging, in meaning pre-ticketing ballot papers. As he still is in custody the elections continues and the other candidates are Limtho and Tampo Amin. An Tampo Amin is the grandson of Idi Amin.

NRM Electoral Commission:

There been reported of heavy meetings in the main office of the election after how the Primaries are going in the country in Kampala.

First election results:

Ibanda:
At Rwengwe Polling Station In Kashangura -ibanda District,

NRM PRIMARY MP IBANDA NORTH
Hon Kyooma: 99votes
Hon Guma: 65votes
Hon Asimwe: 3votes
Hon Kyakunda: 1vote
Hon Kanyandeko: 0
Invalid: 4votes

IBANDA DISTRICT L5 CHAIRPERSON
Kajwengye: 16votes
Mutabaruka: 55votes
Godians: 96votes
Samson: 1vote

WOMAN MP
Kalisa Hav 154 Votes En Kiboijana 10votes

Yeah, this looks good before the General Election this coming 2016. Nope, the ruling party can’t even run a decent internal election without violence, rigging or the police involved. The amount of postponement should also lead to Dr. Tango Odoi to get a new job or might even go back to lectures in Makerere University. Instead of this rigging nonsense; Where it’s so much chaos and making the NRM is officially short for National Resistance Movement. Instead the NRM should be now short for National Rigging Movement. Dr. Tanga Odoi, do you agree? Peace.

Reference:

Nakatudde, Olive & Labeja, Peter – ‘NRM Spends UGX 5.5bn On Primaries’ (27.10.2015) link: http://ugandaradionetwork.com/story/nrm-spends-ugx-5-5bn-on-primaries?utm_content=buffer20156&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Nakatudde, Olive – ‘NRM Extends Voting Time In Primaries’ (27.10.2015) link: http://ugandaradionetwork.com/story/nrm-extends-voting-time-in-primaries#ixzz3pmAk3SaM

The saga goes on and its called the NRM Primaries

Yet another day and the NRM Primary are postponed again. That is not really news when it happens with so often. There have been issues in the areas that already have had local council elections. Now it’s more elections for the candidates for MPs and Presidential. Before the continuation there been reports of military police going to areas of the NRM Primaries before starting of casting the votes, even mini-buses being shipped in between the areas to secure that certain individuals are winning the elections. In Kasese the losers of the local elections deflected from NRM towards the Go-Forward Ticket, and mean they no longer stand by the Mzee, but instead for Amama Mbabazi.

Norbert Mao of the DP is saying this on social media: “Have you heard? I hear the NRM primaries postponed…again! There is something rotten in Sevoland”.

IGP Kale Kayihura even had to say this before the primaries:
“Due to several violent incidents that have characterized the party primaries in the recently concluded elections, we felt it’s important to alert the country that the State is in control and will not allow any violence” (…)”Primaries must take place without violence; people must know that elections are not warfare” (Segawa, 2015).

The Chairman of NRM Electoral Commission Dr. Tanga Odoi said this:
“She is trying to destroy the party by trying to rig elections. We have credible evidence that she was trying to rig the eledctions” (…)”Nantaba was involved in a scam, she has to report to the NRM vice chairman, Hajji Moses Kigongo and apologize before I can act” (Kamugisha, 2015).

Dr. Tanga Odoi has been claiming that a candidate has been trying to rig the primaries election. This one is Aidah Nantaba. The claim is that she with a gang of folks went into Luzira and took ballot papers. Even with doing so, she still lost her mandate to Moses Karangwa in Kayunga district (Kamugisha, 2015).

The Secretary of the NRM Justine Lumumba said this recently:
“Those party members were rejected by voters in the party. They should not be talking about standing as independents now. They should be rallying behind candidates elected by voters in the party primaries. If they go ahead and stand as independents, the party constitution will be used to expel them” (…)”As a person responsible for supervising the NRM electoral commission, I have never received any complaints regarding the NRM primaries shortcomings. If I did, I would have resolved them. As far as I am concerned there are no complaints from the two party leaders for me to resolve” (Lukoma, 2015).

This weekends actions in Kashenyi in Ngoma Sub County:
“The minister of state for Justice also Deputy Attorney General Mr. Mwesigwa Rukutana and city businessman Bob Kabonero, the proprietor of Kampala Kasino were on Friday evening arrested and held hostage by voters over bribing electorates” (…)”This comes after the scuffle began when one of Mr. Justus Karuhanga’s Supporters Mr. Jamada Mawanda arrested by Mr. Rukutana at his rally, was tied up and beaten by his supporters, and put into a vehicle belonging to the minister on handcuffs” (…)”The Ntungamo district police commander Baker Kawonawo confirmed the scuffle at Kashenyi trading centre in Ngoma Sub County on the Uganda Rwanda border but dismissed the assault of Rukutana. Mr. Rukutana also denies being beaten up arguing that the scuffle only involved supporters (…)”Mr. Rukutana, Mr Herbert Nyongozi and Mr. Amon Kamugyene) at her home Irenga Ntungamo sub county on Saturday evening with the three candidates accusing Mr. Rukutana of using his position to threaten them out of the race. They also accused him of bribing votes and intimidating them” (MK News Link, 2015).

There have been reports of even more postponing of the primaries in Kiruhura District. It has been postponed after the main candidate suffered a fatal death in a car accident on the Masaka – Mbarara road on Saturday even. The sudden death of Michael Nyamuguri Kananura was the comping MP aspirant of Kiruhura. This postponement came as a request from major stakeholders in the area (Twesigye, 2015).

Like earlies report is that their fires as Sembabule in the town of Mawogola today! That is where the police have been shootings into the crowds. To top it all of the police have actually has shot directly at people’s houses in the area. A lot of people have ended up being hurt by the shootings.

In Kinkiizi East earlier today, there has been exposed trying to elaborately vote rigging. Where Mr. Chris Baryomunsi had pre-ticked NRM ballot tickets in his car and this got found out by a crashing that set vehicle before reaching Kanugu.

At the Kasese Police Station there are impounded cars owned by MP Mbahimba over trying to bribe voters. Therefore the car is set in the compound of the police right now (Kahungu, 2015).

In Mbale there also been actions and the police has arrest 32 people, allegedly for planning to disrupt the primaries in Bungokho South. The suspects are now under detentions in the Mbale Central Police Station (Omagor, 2015).

In Jinja there have been reported coming more police and security agents ahead of the Primaries in town yesterday (Walukamba, 2015). At the same day Annet Musika commented this: “the NRM primaries in Jinja are likely not to be free and fair because of bribery” (Gulumire, 2015).

What you think? Seem like there will be issues. Especially with reports of rigging and trying to rig it! There are so many issues that it seems like Dr. Tanga Odoi has not total control of the movement on the ground. Tamale Mirundi must have a field day and will call him out again. How the candidates and the police even arrest people. Shows that there are deeper issues and with the reports from earlier NRM Primaries proves the quality and how it is mended to fix certain candidates instead of honoring the members with their will. That is not a good luck before the main General-Election coming 2016. Especially with evidence of pre-ticket ballots and violence from the Police at every turn. The NRM party is showing frictions and also that their struggles with the different wings of the party. Especially when one part loses or is rigged lose, they shifts to Amama Mbabazi or goes independent. Then the Electoral Commission of the Party will expel the individual who does so. That proves that there is some arrangements that is hurting the Party and that the NRM Electoral Commission is not honoring the members like we saw earlier this year. Peace.

Reference:
Gulumire, Andrew – ‘Jinja Woman Parliamentary Aspirant Quits NRM Primaries’ (25.10.2015) link: http://ugandaradionetwork.com/story/jinja-woman-parliamentary-aspirant-quits-nrm-primarie

Kamugisha, Samuel – ‘Tanga Odoi To Minister Nantaba: Apologise Within Four Hours Or Be Arrested’ (26.10.2015) link: http://www.hotspot.ug/2015/10/26/tanga-odoi-to-minister-nantaba-apologise-within-four-hours-or-be-arrested/

Kahungu, Thembo – ‘Police Impound MP Mbahimba’s Vehicle Over Voter Bribery’ (26.10.2015)
Link: http://ugandaradionetwork.com/story/mp-mbahimbas-vehicle-impounded-over-voter-bribery

Lukoma, David – ‘Minister Nantaba, Nankabira Face Expulsion From NRM’ (26.10.2015) link: http://news.ugo.co.ug/minister-nantaba-nankabira-face-expulsion-from-nrm/

MK News Link – ‘NRM Election Violence: Minister Rukutana, Bob Kabonero Assaulted by opponent’s supporters’ (25.10.2015) link: http://mknewslink.com/nrm-election-violence-minister-rukutana-bob-kabonero-assaulted-by-opponents-supporters/

Omagor, Javier Silas – ‘Mbale Police Arrest 32 Ahead of NRM Primaries’ (26.10.2015)
Link: http://ugandaradionetwork.com/story/mbale-police-arrest-32-ahead-of-nrm-primaries#ixzz3pg5tAbN2

Segawa, Nixon – ‘Kayihura Warns Against Violence in NRM Primaries’ (25.10.2015) link: http://chimpreports.com/kayihura-warns-against-violence-in-nrm-primaries/

Twesigye, Faluku – ‘Kiruhura NRM Primaries Postponed’ (25.10.2015) link: http://www.redpepper.co.ug/kiruhura-nrm-primaries-postponed/

Walukamba, Aldon G. – ‘Security Beefed up ahead of Jinja NRM Primary Elections’ (25.10.2015 Link: http://ugandaradionetwork.com/story/security-beefed-up-ahead-of-jinja-nrm-primary-elections

NRM – Special Announcement – Postponement of Party Primary Elections (26.10.2015)

Uganda – Some reports from the Local Primaries Election in the NRM-Party

If you thought the weekends reactions to the FDC party and their struggles to do party work and campaigning that has been an issue for a long time. The interesting about what I have seen and gotten news about, is how the Police and the Public is reacting in the ruling NRM-Party! While doing their duties to vote in the Primaries Election. So they can pick the ones to elect their own local leaders and who set to represent their area and a possible MP in the future. NRM-Regime goes even too far with the rigging and malpractices with the NRM Electoral Process and Commission who let this practices happening. We can see what has happen today and the reports are staggering, also with the former day’s events in Ngarama and Lwengo. All of the reports from National Resistance Movement Primaries should be seen as a warning. This is not looking good and with all the reactions the results and local disarray can be seen as the people see through the malpractices and rigging.

First issues – Ngarama:

“Supporters of Mr Benon Matsiko Kyampa, who was contesting for NRM flag for Ngarama LC3 top seat stormed the sub-county headquarters where they abandoned their party cards protesting poll results announced by the sub-county registrar, Mr Robert Baingana, in favour of Mr Silver Kiiza”. This led to even rubber bullets and agony in the district. So the way the police is used to quell issues is really a pattern. Which lead to this: “The deputy RDC Isingiro, Mr Damiano Turyatunga, said they will investigate why police fired bullets and will ensure calm is restored in the area” (Mugume, 2015).

Second issues – Lwengo:

“Ruling NRM party supporters in Lwengo District have threatened to boycott party primary elections over alleged inflation of voters registers. The supporters claim that a big number of registers in the district have been bloated with names of people who are not NRM supporters- something they say is a plot to rig votes in favour of some candidates” (…)”Ms Nakabira said she had discovered that some NRM village registers contain several names than those in the national voters register of the Electoral Commission. “Our party electoral commission should not bother bringing election materials to Lwengo District if they fail to sort out this mess. It will be a political suicide to take part in an election where registers have been filled up with ghost names,” she said” (Malik, 2015).

There have been reports that the District Leader George Mutabazi has fled the offices and area with the ballot boxes.

Third Issue – Sembabule:

There been reports of fraud there in local elections as well and the NRM members couldn’t accept it. Therefore they set the NRM office on fire this 13.10.2015.

Fourth Issue – Kyannamukaaka, Masaka District:

Because of electoral issues and vote rigging NRM members has put on fire their member cards and also been as vile as peeing on Museveni T-Shirts as an reactions to rigging of the local elections. More from the Masaka District is that NRM has withheld the elections results and the reasons are that the winners in the district are suspected to be friendly to Amama Mbabazi. This is happening today!

Also from another source is this:

“This afternoon, Masaka District NRM party Registrar declared Ssekiwala winner after polling 2664 votes against Ssebulas 1780 votes. However, the declaration of Ssekiwala as winner has not gone down well with Ssebulas supporters” (Bindhe, 2015).

Fifth Issue:

There was another NRM office that was lit on fire. This was Isingiro on Sunday 3: AM, it apparently destroyed the older files from 2011 Elections and a dozen other party official papers.

Second Source:

“She however, wants the complaints to produce evidence to substantiate their claims of rigging” (…)”Angry voters throwing pelting NRM party cards after disagreeing with NRM party officials at Endinzi sub county headquarters in Isingiro district” (Kabasongora, 2015).

Six issue – Bundibugyo:

“According to Idrisa, initially, Kifunga announced Steven Mugisa as the winners of the Bubukwanga Sub County chairperson NRM party ticket but later altered the results and declared his rival George Baluku” (Muhindo, 2015).

Praise for the NRM Electoral Commission:

While this has happen during the elections in the NRM there are certain people who are impressed by the work. MP Cecilia Ogwal said: “”Dr. Odoi should be reassigned to assist Kiggundu because what he is doing is so impressive” (…)”We feel the impact of their confusion and I want the process to be peaceful” (Okino, 2015).

We can all see that there is a tone in the day and recent days when it comes to the NRM Primaries. The results and reactions show the issues that this Primaries Elections in the NRM are turning into a farce. Where the actual election doesn’t really matter and members of the party feels fooled. Therefore going into means that are harsh realities are not sinking in.

This is important when the ruling elite and the main NRM-Regime are shielding in a way. They are shielding the elite and handpicking their loyal candidates, but not the ones that might be wished from the grassroot-organization who might want another candidate and get a change of leadership. With the rigging happening then the exercise and voting is just a planned move so that it looks like a democratic choice. That is what is happening if you score away the local constituencies from picking their men or woman to be representatives. This is what has happen. And that makes the process illegitimate. The representative won’t actual represent the people, but the rigging Electoral Commission of the NRM. The Local Council and MPs might be “elected”, but in reality just picked by the Commission not the people of the Party and Organization. When there has already been famous for the rigging of the General Election in 2011. This here is a new low. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni party is rigging itself and people are reacting. This can only get more interesting. Just as this picture from a Cell in a Prison where they kept the Electoral Ballot Boxes for the Primaries in the area. This was taken photo from somebody kept in Prison of the FDC. Peace.  

Reference:

Bindhe, Edward – ‘Angry NRM Supporters Burn, Urinate on Museveni T-Shirts’ (13.10.2015) Link: http://ugandaradionetwork.com/story/rioting-nrm-losers-burn-cards-urinate-at-museveni-t-shirts-as-pro-mbabazi-candidates-denied-victory#ixzz3oSx6lNLZ

Mugume, Chris – ‘Residents throw away NRM cards over vote rigging’ (09.10.2015) link: http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Residents-throw-away-NRM-cards-over-vote-rigging/-/688334/2905272/-/pmw73q/-/index.html

Okino, Patrick – ‘Ogwal praises ‘impressive’ work done by Odoi’ (13.10.2015) link: http://www.elections.co.ug/new-vision/election/1343246/ogwal-praises-impressive-odoi

Malik, Fahad Jjingo – ‘NRM voters threaten polls boycott’ (13.10.2015) link: http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/NRM-voters-threaten-polls-boycott/-/688334/2910484/-/ra7fg1/-/index.html

Muhindo, Patrick – ‘Bundibugyo NRM Members Return Cards Citing Mismanagement of Primaries’ (13.10.2015) Link: http://ugandaradionetwork.com/story/bundibugyo-nrm-members-return-cards-over-mismanagement-of-party-primaries#ixzz3oSy1V3SW

Kabasongora, Mariam – ‘NRM Officials Rush to Bukanga County to Calm Down Angry Voters’ (13.10.2015) Link: http://ugandaradionetwork.com/story/nrm-leaders-security-team-rush-to-bukanga-county-to-quell-tension-among-angry-voters-#ixzz3oSyUjfPS

More arrests of opposition members in Uganda today

Today there been reported through several sources that certain members of the FDC party has been arrested and taken to the Police. Some of these persons are Mubarak Munyagwa the Mayor of Kawempe, Nasurdin Basalirwa the FDC Youth Chairman for Kampala and Hamidah Nalongo Nassimbwa the VC of FDC Woman’s League in Central Region.

They got jailed after being active activist going to the Parliament to ask the Parliament to implement Electoral Reforms. That seems like a sin in the country when you go against the man with a vision and the only revolutionary in the country. Then you’re allowed to be imprisoned for their opinions and wish to make change. Also to demonstrate against NRM regime and the laws set for the General Election in 2016. Peace.

Uganda – TDA is to be TBD!

Today was the day the result of the Flag-Bearer for the coalition of the oppisisiton parties in Uganda. The Presidential Candidate of the TDA is supposed to go against the big shot, His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and his NRM party. The machine that also controls the Parliament and the Electoral Commission of the country!

So the candidate that is running against the machine and manufacture of the modern Uganda has to be strong. Have to viable, have a moral code and some integrity to pass on the marshes to corruptness in a political landscape where the parties and fellow politicians has been bought or brought into shambles. If you don’t follow the codes of ethics of the man with a vision you can be played out and lose your career in a hot minute. If you don’t follow his words and the main cronies of the nation then your left behind. If you try to be independent and thinking in the NRM party then you’re pushed to the side and clipped your wings. If the Mzee fears that you have ambitions to take his slot, then he will leave you behind as he has done to Hon. Gilbert Bukenya and Hon. Amama Mbabazi.

Four Men standing up for being the Joint Presidential Candidate in the TDA: 

So we are here today when many has followed this Ifs in different equations and with various formulas that ends in the result of losing out on their place in the ruling party. An makes you lost in the opposition. Certain people has gone out after finding the words of the Mzee to be going back on the principals they fought for their freedom in the Bush. This is the likes of certain FDC historical’s and the famous Flag-Bearer of the FDC Dr. Kizza Besigye. Who have been a pawn and a man who has gone for title and grand position election after election and lost after rigging and harassment!

The second man who also wants to be the Flag-Bearer in the TDA is Hon. Amama Mbabazi who has gone from being a loyalist to the Mzee and recently fallen from grace. Even tried in the preliminaries to go head to head and be the Presidential Candidate in the NRM. He sure lost that one to Mzee, not surprisingly; only one man’s vision can rule the NRM! So that the Mababazi is a runner for it was after signing the deal to be a part of the TDA only 12 days ago and independent candidate through the Go-Forward Ticket in the hierarchy of the coalition.

The third ones was Gilbert Bukenya as another former loyalist in the NRM regime that fallen from grace, but didn’t have the strength and support from others in the coalition therefore hasn’t been issue of his place. Still it proves that the fallen ones have a place and their knowledge can be used in a coalition to defeat the NRM and Mzee.

Last candidate was Norbert Mao who has had a viable position up North and been long in the politics. But still hasn’t the whole nation behind him. Especially with his bickering back and from acting as opposition candidate to speaking like he was a part of Mzee’s team. So that the parties didn’t see him as serious flag-bearer in the coalition wasn’t really a newsflash!

The other parties didn’t send their front men or woman to being Presidential Candidate. Like the CP, PPP, UPC and JEMA. That is Olara Otunnu of the UPC, Jaberi Bidandi Ssali of the PPP, Ken Lukyamuzi of the CP and Asuman Basalirwa of the JEEMA. Leaders who could easily gone forward and also filled the nomination form and justly so.

So that it’s natural and would be worrying wouldn’t be issues between Amama Mbabazi of the Go-Forward Ticket and Dr. Kizza Besigye of the FDC Ticket. The issues will be on who is most fit. Then that the parties also vote differently on who they believe is most fit as the Press Statement from TDA told today. That certain parties went for the People’s President and the other went for the Go-Forward Ticket. It’s natural that people choose differently. Even if there is only one man with a vision – the Mzee! But he is not really the issue the here, only that the candidate as Flag-bearer has to beat the Mzee. Therefore the coalition can’t be fragmented and weaken since the approach as single units against the NRM ruling party hasn’t been fruitful before. Therefore this is the time to stay stronger together then weaken alone. Especially since that hasn’t worked before.

The NRM has the machine and power. That should be reason to stay united and prove the Mzee that they have an edge. Alone they will be disfranchised and played out. Some can be bought and run to show off so it seems as the country has a multi-party elections and democracy. The elections has been well-rigged and Electoral Commission has placed loyal men of the regime, with the same in courts that has verified the results in the past and given rulings in favor of the ruling party and the Mzee. While the world and nations accepting the rulings and not pressuring the regime to change ways.

With this in mind and with the knowledge both men has Dr. Kizza Besigye and Amama Mbabazi has together with the supposable strength of the opposition parties and the protocol of the TDA to prove guidance and integrity to the Presidential Election in Uganda this coming 2016 that the world has never seen before. That can they do if they have the courage and vitality take the pressure and malice from the NRM regime for a few more months. If so that person should step up and try. Not that there is great chances of succeeding as it looks today, but the opposition has to give it hard nudge in the right direction. As they want to show the citizens and public in Uganda that they want to rule for real as a coalition willing to change and rebuild. Make structures for more free and fair society not only for the cronies and nepotistic Movement Men that want to follow the words and monies from the Mzee. That is not an easy act to change when so many are eating of that plate, even if it is breadcrumbs their better than nothing. But they would be proud if they learned how to fish and catch it themselves and may be even earn enough to actual buy the bread fair and square.

So that the TDA who has been for too long TBD: To Be Determined! Time to determine the place and actions as simple as the Joint Candidate for the TDA! And have a man who can rein this coalition and honor the codes and protocol, with diligence and fight through the coming election which will be full of struggles and not easy ride. If the run-up and months of preliminary meetings has proven anything, then this will be more arrests, more loss of personnel, some more people vanished, preventive arrests, teargassed meetings, sieged town where the oppositions has meetings and so on!

Please all men of TDA take a minute be wise. You all know you go up against and has tasted the bitter taste of being opposition against the NRM regime who will use all the tricks in the world to regain their rule and therefore the opposition got to show heart and prove that there are noble men in the land. Please show that and be different then Mzee who only cares for his coffers and his vision, and has forgotten the words he stood for long time ago. Which is a reason why so many people has deflected from the NRM and from Mzee. Peace.

The Proposed changes and added amendments on the Election laws that can be seen as preparation for the Election in 2016 in Uganda.

On the 25^th September 2015 three amendments will be read for the parliament. These Amendments are the President Elections Amendment Bill of 2015, Parliamentary Elections Amendment Bill of 2015 and the Electoral Commission Amendment Bill of 2015. They are all interconnected and will be a part of the preparations to the election that is happening in 2016.  All the Amendments comes from the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Hon. Fredrick Ruhindi

The Main parts of the Presidential Elections (Amendment) Bill of 2015:

Parts of the bill with revise the requirement for a candidate to campaign in every district in Uganda and to stop the polling stations at 4:00PM on the polling day. Another main part of the bill is that nominations fee for the candidate will go from Shs. 8Million/= to the the new fee of Shs. 20Million/=.

The first issue with the candidate is that with the surge of districts make it difficult for a candidate to be in all the new districts before the polling day while campaigning. The second one is for fitting the economic environment that is different than in 2005.  The third issue is that the polling time is set from 5:00PM to 4:00PM to give the Electoral Commission more time to count the votes.

And a new amendment to proof the voter’s identity:

“a fourth table located at least ten meters from the ballot boxes where every voter, after deposing the ballot paper into the ballot box, shall proceed and the thumb or other finger on the voter’s right hand determined by the commission marked with or applied with inedible ink as one indicators that the voter has cast the ballot”.

The Main parts of the Parliamentary Elections (Amendment) Bill of 2015:

First part of the bill is to get four representatives of persons with disabilities to be elected by Electoral Colleges Constituted in accordance to the four traditional districts: Central, Eastern, Northern and Western regions. The second part of the bill is on the nomination fee for the candidate will go from Shs. 200k/= to new fee of Shs. 1Million/=.

The Main parts of the Electoral Commission (Amendment) Bill of 2015:

First part of new amendment is: “The commission shall, not later then two weeks before polling day, transmit to every political party and organization and independent candidate taking part in the election, an electronic text based copy of each voters’ register which the commission shall use on polling day”.

Second part is that the Commission has to employ one a District Election Administrator and an Assistant Election Administration. The District Election Administrator has the supervision, is in charge and custody of the voters’ in the district, and also seeing through the manner of the voters registers. Important character that the Administrator need is integrity, high moral and also “a person taken to have behaved in a corrupt manner in relation to his or her duties if he or she commits any act of dishonesty in connection with his or her duties, whether or not it constitutes a criminal offence”.

Third part is: “the Commission shall, before the display of the copy of the voters’ roll publish in the Gazette and in the print media, a list of all the places at which a voters’ roll is required to be displayed under this section”.

Aftermath:

The Presidential Candidate first gets more expensive to pay the nominee fee as a candidate it goes up Shs. 12Million from the 2005 to the total of Shs. 20Million and was at 2005 set to be Shs. 8Million. Everybody understands that’s a viable and big fee change and the argument is for the economic climate that has changed since 2005. If the value of the shilling has devalued that much in about ten year period that the candidate must pay over double of the fee, then the economic system has server issues.

The Second change is the time that is set from 5:00PM to 4:00PM on the polling station at the Election Day to give more time for counting. I am sure that this will be more of a statuary fix. The counting will have enormous ability to be manipulated after the votes are cast. The time set or fixed times is just an small tweak.

The third change in the Election laws are the thumb print that each voter has to get before casting the ballot. This will be sign of ink on the thumb proving that the voter has cast his or hers ballot. It’s a nice fix especially thinking about how the reports was a last election that people and military personal was bussed between voting stations to vote multiple times. With the ink on the finger it should be harder to dupe this one and the officials should easily see the print of ink on the thumb if a person tries to vote twice.

Fourth change is that a nomination fee for representatives for the disability goes up to Shs. 1Millon. There will also be four representatives one each representative from traditional districts: Central, Western, Northern and Eastern. This is in general a nice gesture to the community with applying that the Parliament gets people with special needs to the Parliament from now on.

Fifth change is that each political parties and independent should at least receive the voters register before two weeks before the polling day.  This is good thing to give them time to see the registers and check it. Might even give feedback to the Electoral Commission on shortfalls for the registration of voters in districts and municipalities that is necessary, though two weeks are little, if the registers are big who would have the capacity to oversee and scrutinize the register?

Sixth change is the additional new staff each district need. The new staff by the law is now District Election Administrator and Assistant Election Administrator who will look over the Polling and Election in the District. The person who will be hired has to have a moral compass, integrity and not act in a corrupt manner. All of the ones that are put into law are not exceptional this is what they should be as members of society and also professional people delivering and serving their nation and government so that the citizens can be sure of a valid result. A result and poll that is efficient and following procedure so that the tally can be justified and also being correct. Because if the Election Administrator doing their job and picking the right people, not letting the Electoral Commission having ability to trick the numbers or anybody else. Then the ballots and elections would be less rigged and actual have trustworthy people doing their jobs. If not, this is just a nice on paper and we still see the same issues in the Districts and clear the ballots for a free and fair election in 2016.

Seventh change is the publication in the Gazette or in print media. Where the Voters roll will be published, that is just a good thing. And proving to the public that the results getting official and can be explained. That should have already been there and is basic of official and public order, with this the Electoral Commission proves that it does it actual job in the election.

This all should be seen as interesting and see if this get voted in. If this gets official law it will have some effect on certain aspects on the coming election and the later by-elections as well. Since the signs of the public and local display will be visual with the thumb print and the District Electoral Administrator getting a vital role in procedures of the polling. Also the establishment of higher nomination fees for Presidential Candidates and also Special Disability representative which is total 4 representative one from each traditional regions. That is a great sign of all of the laws.

I don’t want to write for the third time what the laws says, but the issue is that it’s really patchwork and also quick fixes. If they will play big in the election is time to tell. And see if the next Commonwealth Report of 2016 will be as harsh as it was on Presidential Election in 2011. Peace.