Uganda Peoples Congress (UPC): Court Appeal Judgement Overtaken by Events (08.09.2020)

Opinion: Akena traded the UPC to become MP

James Akena, the son of Milton Obote. Who is now running for his second term as a Member of Parliament. Who is continuing to keep the agreement alive between Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) and National Resistance Movement (NRM). The deal has clearly been sealed and been favourable for a few within the UPC.

The UPC have gained some MPs and also Cabinet Members. Some of them has left the UPC for the NRM. However, it would be hard to spot the difference at this point. Akena took over … for Otunnu and since then made a deal.

A deal that has secured Akena and few others. He has traded away UPC’s legacy over nothing. A coalition who has sealed the fate for some.

The UPC isn’t much, when the Party President is going for a slot as a incumbent MP. It is not like the UPC is supposed to be a brief-case party. Alas, the actions made and the way it operates. It is getting closer to that. The NRM is swallowing it and the relevance is becoming meaningless.

Especially, when there is no motivation to stand up to the Presidency. Sign a deal with the ruling regime. The regime who toppled the founder of the party and Obote II. The same party that this happened too.

This is the UPC of 2020. A party who has traded its soul for a quick fix. Instead of trying to act as a opposition and be a different breed. It instead became a crony and a lackey. A cheap trick for the President and his men.

Akena has traded away the glory. Signed of the legacy of his father. Just to become MP and live a lavish life on the public expense. He could stand for something. The man could have used the platform for change and make a difference. However, he chose the easy route … a road ahead, which was a simple pay-off.

Jimmy got paid and is happy to reconcile his fate as a lackey. A man who uses his party as a way of securing his life-style.

The UPC was used in a bargain. The President didn’t do much, but got his former enemy to its knees. That is how easy it was… just a few envelopes and titles. From there no stress, no issues, just a deal. That was it and how simple to get his way.

Akena becomes MP and the NRM has an ally. They don’t have to care or even sign them off. Just give them a few shillings. Then, they will remain silent and be buddies. Peace.

Opinion: The UPC is loosing [and Akena is a failure]

That James Akena, Obote’s son get a second term as the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) Presidency is neither shocking nor surpising. He secured the role and title ahead of the General Election in 2016. When there been talk that Museveni paid him 1 billion shillings and dispersed Olara Otunnu from the throne.

There was also a deal made between the UPC and the National Resistance Movement (NRM). Akena became the Lira Municipality MP and two other UPC MPs became part of the cabinet. This was UPC President wife, Betty Amongi (Oyam County South) and also Ruth Acheng became Ministers in the 10^th Parliament.

Achieng have now switched camps and is running on a NRM ticket in Lira district. She has left UPC. As she got the most out of the political deal between UPC-NRM in 2016.

Now we got to wait what Akena and Amongi plans ahead for the Party. The status quo is cleared. However, the UPC isn’t in a sign of strength. It is not like Akena have the popularity or the reach to be viable for the masses. He got more than enough to get re-elected as MP in Lira Municipality.

Akena might think he has it, as his the next generation of UPC leader. The UPC only had 6 MPs in the 10 Parliament and the UPC blamed Otunnu fraction for this after t he polls. The party and the leadership have to use a lot of time to fight for Uganda House and the Milton Obote Foundation (MOF) nearly through the party out of it after the election in 2016. So, its not like UPC has gone from victory to victory.

In 2011 the UPC had 10 MPs and by 2016 when Akena ran the final campaign the party got 6 MPs. While they are losing main contenders who are going to the NRM like Achieng. There is little traction and the UPC becoming a fringe party.

One of the old horses who sold out. The UPC doesn’t have character under Akena. It is leaflet of a party, nearly a briefcase and that shouldn’t be the case for a historical party like this. The party wasn’t a one man ballad. Neither under Otunnu or anyone else. However, under Jimmy its been all him and they have campaigned with Museveni.

We don’t know what they will do ahead of 2021. Akena shouldn’t run for Presidency, he will get near nothing and be fruitcake compared to ones really standing.

Akena should support one of the opposition candidates to give them more hope. Jimmy got nothing to do in the big-league. Forgive me, but a man signing a deal with NRM in 2016 and letting people run in the cabinet. Isn’t really someone who stand up to them years later. He is already compromised and this time he cannot blame Bbosa or Otunnu for his own failure to run the operation.

Jimmy is a train-wreck and he has done it all on his own. Akena comes from a political family, but that doesn’t mean he is political savvy or has the ability to do things. Just like the daughters and sons of pastors isn’t all made to run churches either. They can sing in the choir, but cannot lead the public to salvation. Neither can Jimmy spark any flame or interests outside his nearest constituents.

Akena can push through this second term. It will be gloomy, but if he continues dealing with NRM. He will still be relevant and keep his career alive. Not because of his work or dedication, but because Museveni has bought an ally. Which cost him nearly nothing and he get the party as a price. One less competition.

Jimmy, you can act like your big, but that doesn’t make you big. It is all an imagination… It’s fiction. Peace.

Opinion: Boda Boda Free Zone to implemented in November [another failed launch by a government agency]

On 25^th July 2020, State Minister of Kampala Betty Amongi launched the Boda Boda Free Zone in Central Business District of Kampala, which was legislation and decision made by the Cabinet. Which was to be implemented within reach of 2 days on the 27^th July 2020. We are now on the 29^th July 2020 and Minister of Works and Transport Gen. Katumba Wamala announced that the Free Zone will be implemented instead on the 1^st November 2020.

What we are seeing is a reappearing act of the government. They implement new legislation and new policies, but have not thought through the implications of it and how to actually do it. This happen a few years ago with SIM-CARD registration. When that happen it was postponements and changes over a long time, before it evidently was able to do it. Also, getting all the ducks in a row and secure the process, which was not possible when announced.

The same might be felt now. That Kampala Capital City Authority, the Ministry of Kampala and Ministry of Works and Transport wasn’t prepared for the ramifications. That it would cause issues in the CBD. That the drivers are stopped and not allowed entering. That there was no clear guidelines for the certified package delivery boda boda companies. These should be able to pass, also if it is not a passenger service, but a personal motorcycle, should they be able to pass into the free zone?

The gazetted areas of boda boda stages. We can wonder, if the owners, stakeholders, drivers and the public really knows about these places too. Or if they are put on random and suddenly need to move around differently all across the city. Just like the Free Zone, the Boda Boda and all associates should have time to move and know the new regulation. Not just over night change, because the cabinet said so.

If you wonder why Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago struggles to reign in the capital. He has the Cabinet ordering and micro-managing without his input or no knowledge of connection to his team. The elected representatives should feel baffled, that suddenly the City changes without votes or outreach. Later, they will throw blame at his administration, even if all decisions was made from the Cabinet and Ministries, while not even consulting the elected leadership. Except they maybe do something with KCCA as they were involved in the launch on Saturday.

We are now on Wednesday and the implementation has been postponed. Maybe now the causes and effects can be scoped in. The costs and the ability for both commuters, boda boda’s and Taxis can be put into play. Also, the possible stages and need U-Turns for the boda boda’s needs to be considered. Especially close to the zone. If not they will cause more traffic chaos, as commuters have to switch to either walk, taxis or bicycles. This has to be considered, as in rush-hours the boda boda’s are a gift to dip through traffic. In the CBD it will not be possible from November. That is why the state has to secure a safe passage and safety for everyone involved.

When you push out policies to quick without considerations or checking effects. Than you get work like this. They are pursuing changes, which will change the traffic flow and where people can cross the city. However, that is done quickly and now the state backtracks. Maybe, they should have a sit-down with stakeholders, ensure the passage and policy actually working. Instead, it has backfired and that is why MoWT had to postpone the Free Zone.

It proves again, that the minds in-charge are sometimes reckless. Not thinking about consequences and just pushing through. Alas, that is not how life is and therefore, they have to retract and secure afterwards instead. Peace.

Opinion: The Boda Boda Free Zone – Will not decongest the CBD of Kampala

The Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) announced yesterday, their new regulations on the Boda Boda Industry, the motorcycle taxis transport, which are an integrated part of traffic and transport of the capital. Especially, in a congested and jam infested capital like Kampala. There is no luck to dip through traffic in a ordinary sedan or an SUV in the midst of rush hour. You need to be quick and either jump from a taxi onto a boda boda, if you want to dip through quickly.

This is common knowledge. When you have a private car and passing through jams. It isn’t the boda’s that create its. Its the lack of enough lanes, enough incentive for people to use collective transports and the lack options, also decongest the roads. It is not like you switch to decent roads, accept for the main roads or the feeder roads. The area around the Central Business District is packed. The roads out in all directions get filled quickly and at some point of the day. Your going to get stuck.

If the Boda Boda Free Zone get activated. There will be underlying issues. As the boda’s themselves has to avoid these districts. The passengers can only be transported to the edge and need to take a second option to get to work. They will switch from boda’s to Taxis or Specials. That will be costly to pay to fees for the same range. The shillings will go up for each employee within the CBD.

The ones who already drives cars to work will not feel this. They will be unaffected. The Boda’s are maybe out of the CBD. However, the same delivery cars, the same heavy cars, the convoys of VIPs and personal cars will pass. The Taxis will be in and around the area. They will go to stages and to the Taxi Parks. To think otherwise is naive.

The only ones hurt by this is the boda boda drivers and the passengers. Who has less options to dip through traffic and get quicker out of the CBD in jams. That option will be gone, because you have to get out those before switching transports. And inside a taxi in the middle of a jam. You are sort of stuck until you hit a stage. That might take some time and you could read a chapter in book before reaching there.

The idea are made with its best of intentions. However, the effects and the possible trouble it causes. The time consuming for the ones using it. Has that come into the equation or is that just mere bystander to the issue?

There is no cause without an effect. There is no action without a reaction. Also, a regulation like this will hurt some segments of the public. It will not only be hard for the policing and stop the drivers from passing. Has the KCCA thought of giving alternative routes and roads to pass to the boda boda’s?

In the statement, there is nothing like that and the operators. Have they gotten the proper guidelines and understanding of it? What is the cost, if they by mere unluck are going into the free zone? Will they be impounded and the passenger be detained too? What is the sort of fine or obstacle?

There is only a blockage and guideline. However, how will it be enforced and who will do the bidding for it?

What will the state earn on closing the CBD for boda boda’s and not having the ability to dip through traffic and jams from there. You have to get to outer stages to be able. That is really hectic. However, that is the will of KCCA and the citizens just have to abide.

Good Monday, the ones whose used to dip through traffic in jams after work on boda boda’s, better be prepared. They will not be able and they got to find other means. Also, bring a book. The jam is going to be there, but not the means criss-cross it and pass through on two wheels. Peace.

Opinion: Kampala is hectic [because the “high above” want it like that]

The Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) has a new leadership again after the President has appointed new Executives. This is yet another big change directly by him. At this point there is nobody who can run it smoothly or correctly. The President could appoint Steve Jobs or someone else with exceptional leadership skills. However, they will never do enough or have the capacity to make a difference. That is because of the system the President has made for Kampala.

It is a reason why there are issues in Kampala. KCCA isn’t the issue. It is part of the problem. You have the Ministry of Kampala Capital City and Metropolitan Affairs, which has its mandate in the city. Then you have the KCCA, which has their place. After that you have the Lord Mayor, the Division Mayors and Councillors.

Lastly, you have the Presidential Advisors for Kampala, Ghetto and such. So, when you know about all of these. There got to be a hectic mess. There is a levels to this and that has been made by the President. He has appointed them all, except for the elected leadership, which he cannot touch in a way. That is why he has made like this to stifle and ensure his total control over them.

The KCCA, the Ministry and the Presidential Advisors are all increasing tensions and ensuring that there are to many cooks in Kampala. Because, you have the elected leadership too. There are so many players, everyone supposed to act and do things. Still, they are all in the midst of the same pot with the same problems and the same lack of results.

Kampala is a political farce. That has been made by Museveni and his cadres over the years. He has made this system. He has amended it and changed it. Because, he knows he cannot win this City. The President knows that he doesn’t have the characters or believable politicians to overpower the opposition in Kampala. That is why he has made the KCCA, the Ministry and the other appointments.

That is why the KCCA are struggling to deliver too. Yes, they have made new laws and regulations. It is still not happening. The President can butcher, axe and sack the leadership of KCCA at any given day. The President can appoint a new Minister and State Minister for Kampala. Still of all of that will not change the issues on the ground.

I don’t believe the new leadership will make a difference. They could be Gods among Men. However, they still have to configure, work and adjust within the means of the KCCA in combination with all the other players of Kampala. It is not like the KCCA is working a vacuum, but its in the midst of fire. They just have to await their time to get burned.

No one can save the KCCA. Because there isn’t anything to save. It is a mechanism to break, shred and trying to destroy the elected leadership from within. They are there to overpower and outsmart the Lord Mayor and Division Mayors. To make them as ceremonial as the Kings. The Ministry is there to oversee the KCCA and elected officials. While God knows what the Presidential Advisors do, except for cashing in checks. Still, they will blast out anyone who doesn’t act right.

That is why the President has made this system. He should carry the blame. It’s been all done on his watch. He can re-appoint, change the Executive Director as much as he please. However, that doesn’t change the structure or the problems from within. It only amplifies it and shows it again.

It is easy to pin the blame on the appointed leadership. As everyone should, but the ones that has created this mess. Should carry the most of it. That is only fair. Peace.

Ministry of Kampala Capital City and Metropolitan Affairs: Press Conference on the Guidelines for Opening Public Transport Post-COVID 19 Lockdown (28.05.2020)

Currency Squabble: The Landlord and Tenant Bill of 2018!

“The most controversial provision in the The Landlord -Tenant Bill is that, requiring all rent to be paid in shillings rather than dollars as earlier proposed. Lands minister Betty Amongi has explained why all transactions must be done in shillings” (NTV Uganda, 05.07.2019).

The Members of Parliament and the National Resistance Movement (NRM) continues to insist there are some clauses or parts of the legislation that says there no regulation or stipulation, which says the tenants has to pay in Uganda Shillings and not in US Dollars. Alas, after screening throw it. There is none. Nothing, nada and no proof of UGX or a specific currency in play.

The MPs and the NRM must take people for fools, it is easy to download the bill from the Parliament web-page and browse through. You don’t have to be a legal scholar to understand the texts either.

Like Clause 23: “(1) The rent payable for any premises under a tenancy shall be determined by mutual agreement of the parties to the tenancy”. This here opens up a lot of can of worms. It does not specific say if should be paid in Euros, US Dollars or Shillings.

Some might say the continuation of the clause, which stipulates: “(2) All rent obligations or transactions shall be expressed, recorded and settled in the shilling, unless otherwise provided under any enactment, or is lawfully agreed to between the parties to an agreement under any lawful obligation”. Here it is specified, but there is a major but, the clause opens up for other lawfully agreements made between the parties. Meaning, you don’t have too, if you have a legal obligation between the parties. This is restricting it, but not deeming it unfit to pay in US Dollars.

By the clauses or codes in the law. There is by no clear definition of the tenant agreement needed to have it in shillings. These are the only one specific enough and they are not done properly. If the Members of Parliament and their legal teams had put it together. They would have settled with “shall be expressed, recorded and settled in the shilling and be paid in no other currency” end, stop. However, they made a reasonable suggestion and gave way.

Therefore, whatever the state says, the Minister and the news is broadcasting isn’t true. Unless, they have secret text, an draft, which was put in motion and amended to the bill. Which by my estimate, doesn’t exist, other than in the minds of those who enacted the law. The minister have not established, which provision or clause, which mentions only pay in shilling. Because there is none. It does not act that way.

This is bad work of the state, lazy work of the MPs and embarrassing performance by the Minister Amongi. Who really just thinking that people cannot understand or reads the bill their passing. Because, in the provision in question, there is byline, a loophole giving way to pay the rent in other currencies.

Therefore, the next time you guys make laws or bills. Ensure the provisions are there and has the wording, the intended purpose and crafted in way, which doesn’t put the important change in the law in question. Which this one does. Peace.

Opinion: Mzee, its your system that let the Minister’s sleep!

“Do not blame people and their attitudes: the problem is not corruption or greed, the problem is the system that pushes you to be corrupt. The solution is not, “Main Street, not Wall Street,” but to change the system where Main Street cannot function without Wall Street.” – Slavoj Zizek

That this is an issue now isn’t strange. The National Resistance Movement have run the Republic since 1986. The growing amount of cronies, corruption and filled with useful idiots around the President. The President are clearly acting out. The NRM knows this, because they have made the entitlement, the ones who are eating, but not talented or anything. They are appointed, not on merit, but by either family or loyalty. That is why the Ministers and Presidential Advisors are like they are.

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni knows this perfectly well. He could have sacked all of them. The growing level of the Cabinet, which is about 81 Ministers in total and 146 Presidential Advisors. They can all chill-out, as they can rarely be changed or even sacked. Cannot remember that in a long while. If something is happening, there are some minor changes or they end up in the NRM Party Organizations, like Dr. Tanga Odoi ended up with NRM Electoral Commission for the Primary Elections. That is how the NRM does and the President knows. Therefore, there are no need to overwork or do to much. Because, there are no sanctions or such. Since they are all secured and eating as they are in office under this President.

“Many of my ministers are sleeping. They are selfish and only think about themselves. Ugandans know how to listen if they are told the right things, that is how we managed to build the Movement by learning and listening to others” – Yoweri Kaguta Museveni while addressing investors during the sixth Presidential Investors Round Table (PIRT) at State House on the 8^th February 2019 (Misairi Thembo Kahungu – ‘Museveni: My ministers are selfish, sleep on job’ 08.02.2019, link: https://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Museveni—My-ministers-selfish–sleep-job/688334-4971964-60mn1qz/index.html).

There are reasons why they are sleeping. There are Ministers for small or minor Ministries with Micro-Budgets, where they have a lax mandate or not even enough Principal Secretaries or Organization that matters to fulfil the work they need. The Ministries are inter-connected and doesn’t have the funding or the manpower. As there are so many Auditor General reports, where the open post of lacked hired staff comes up, again and again.

There are so many systemic defects, but surely that is done deliberate by the President. As he offers the most funds to the Ministry of Defence, State House, Office of the Prime Minister and so on. The others are getting less, as well, as the amounts of funds that goes to pay back loans that the state has collected. This is known, as the deficit are filled not with donor funds, but loans, which they are now paying more and more by every year.

The President can complain about his Ministers. But he appointed them and trusted them. He has made their positions and made them responsible. They are supposed to answer to him and follow the mandate the government have given them. The possibilities to do so, are made by the budget and funds given. Also, the strategic and willing to let them develop it. However, the President usually goes for quick fixes and not for long-term planning, as his erratic micro-management style. That is well-known. As well, as the President always blame others, but take all CREDIT.

Therefore, this President is not someone who will stay behind his people, but push them to the crocodiles, if they are not doing their thing or if they become to ambitious. Certainly, the President can complain, if they don’t do enough. He should sanction the ones or give them a carrot to act. Peace.

Uganda Law Society notice ‘ Re: Update on Issues Relating to the Notice from the Ministry of Lands, Housing & Urban Development’ (17.07.2018)