


Uganda: The Electoral Commission letter to Nkonge Moses Kibalama – Re: Returns on the Delegates’ Conference submitted to Electoral Commission (21.06.2022)








The former President the former president of National Unity Reconciliation and Development Party (NURP), Moses Kibalama is trying to make himself relevant again. This after losing in the courts, which dismissed his petition in October 21 2020. As he sought to regain the lost party called NURP, which was rebranded to the National Unity Platform (NUP), the political party of the People Power Movement and run under a new leadership of Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine.
It reminds of a quotation from the judgement in the High Court from 2020, which says this:
“The applicant in this case ought to have applied for judicial review within 3 months after the change of name of the party from NURP to NUP i.e by 6th June2019 but instead the applicants filed this application on 24th August 2020 after over one year. This application was made with a view of making some money during the election season and the applicants have no genuine grievance but rather want to be relevant and make some quick cash” (High Court, 21.10.2020).
So, seeing Kibalama building and rebranding a “new” headquarter in Lubaga is just nonsense at best. That’s just toying around with a ship that has sailed. The deal and agreement is sealed. Even the courts didn’t entertain him. Therefore, this gig is over and the show is over.
Kibalama wants to be in the spotlight and his party, which he founded back in the day became relevant. Heck, it became viable because the People Power Movement and Bobi Wine infused enthusiasm and a red wave, which Kibalama never would have achieved or dreamed off.
This is a Moses that never got enter Canaan and Joshua came into it instead. That’s why Kibalama is acting like this. He know he lost and has no real ownership of it anymore. It is really tragic that he does this… but he has no leverage or option to recover ownership of it either. That’s why he lost and was dismissed.
Certainly, no one should ever take this man serious again. He even made up and had talks after the case with Bobi Wine. So, this man knows the gist.
Well, just to show how quickly the man changes his mind. Only in February this year. Bobi Wine visited him and wrote this: “We spent part of today visiting mzee Moses Nkonge Kibalama, the former NUP President. Despite the challenges we had in the past, we have continued to be in touch with him and to offer support to him and his colleagues in their different endeavours. We are glad to see that his health has greatly improved.” (Bobi Wine, 22.02.2022).
Now, the same man is now trying revive himself and become the leader of the lost. However, the party he founded isn’t the same as the one running now. It is another machine and with another Party President, which is more successful. Bobi Wine has achieved something Kibalama never could or had the ability too.
That’s why he wants it back now. Because the NUP matters now is in Kamwokya and has a seat at the table. The NUP that means someone has MPs and a leader who faces off with the ones in charge. Maybe he wants another additional 5 million shillings or whatnot. Since the money-pit dried up and his not getting serviced like in the past.
Kibalama is a just a tragic figure. The “new” HQ is just a proof of that. He should rest and retire. This man will not be resurrected on the third day. The NUP he once knew is long gone and no way he can return to it. The only thing he can is to talk and have moments of nostalgia. Peace.




“We issued the statement in parliament on behalf of our party relating to the running away of prices on essential goods. But the regime hasn’t considered anything. We asked them to cut on high taxes and to turn down their appetite for expenditure, but nothing has been considered” (..) “Stop questioning why we have not joined. Don’t wait for Kyagulanyi to do anything, do it yourself. Kyagulanyi is a leader, equally, you’re a leader in your own capacity because you head a family that is constrained. We want to invite fellow citizens to be alive. It is a matter of time. If you want change tomorrow, you will have it tomorrow. I want to invite you to participate in every activity” – Leader of Opposition Mathias Mpuuga (01.06.2022).
We all change and we all are appearing different with times. Our stances are fluid and changes, as we see things differently. It is nothing different with a leader and a Member of Parliament. That the former resilient leader, Democratic Party MP and now National Unity Platform and Leader of Opposition Mathias Mpuuga has changed over the years makes sense.
Mpuuga is a man of fire and bravado. A man who has stood amid fire and seen the price of rebellion. That’s why he was part of A4C/4GC and also a part of the rise of the People Power Movement and the NUP now. So, it isn’t like he has gone carefully ahead and been consistent in letting bygones be bygones.
I’m just dropping a part of a text showing how he used to sound like when the commodity prices were rising in 2011. When he was an active coordinator in A4C, because as the LoP his not the same. Maybe his gotten comfortable and wants to shield himself with the Parliamentary role, which he himself said wasn’t sufficient in the rising inflation of 2011. It is really striking how things changes.
Just take a look:
“The Walk to Work campaign is still on every Monday and Thursday for Ugandans to express their dissatisfaction with conduct of affairs of the state by the regime in power, especially neglecting the welfare of the common man. Take for instance the escalating prices of petroleum products. Government’s instrasigence and refusal to reduce taxes on fuel is a major reason ordinary Ugandans sleep and live in the dark both in towns and the country side. And while crude oil prices have gone down on the world market, the government of Uganda has not reciprocated by compelling dealers to reduce pump prices” (…) “Activists 4 Change stands in solidarity with all Ugandans who are outraged by the news that Parliament seeks to increase their emoluments in the face of rising inflation. Reports in the mainstream media indicate that an unholy alliance between some opposition MPs and some ruling party MPs put forward these offending proposals after throwing the media out of Parliament, blacking out television coverage and suspending formal recording of proceedings in the Hansard” (…) “If these reports are accurate, then it appears that MPs have prioritized their personal concerns ahead of those of their constituents in a very selfish and greedy manner. All Ugandans are affected by inflation, high interest rates and taxes. We send leaders to Parliament to address concerns that affect us all and not to sit behind closed doors and improve their personal welfare through lavish spending of public funds at our cost. These reports have cast a dark shadow over the August House at a time when government has failed to offer meaningful solutions to address soaring fuel and food prices affecting constituents” (Activist for Change (A4C) – “The Walk to Parliament on Monday” 28.05.2011, Mathias Mpuuga).
I could have found several of other texts from the days of A4C showing how resilient and willing to budge he was. Where he was standing on the barricades and wanted to reform the government from the streets. Now, his speaking like the men he casqued and spoke ill of a decade ago. His just like the MPs and the Parliament, which he didn’t favour when he himself was a radical and a firebrand politician fighting for the people. Now, that train has left the station and he uses the protocols and the lack of care of the NRM.
Mpuuga is using the excuses of the men and woman he fought in the past. Instead of understanding that things haven’t evolved. Instead, things are more of the same and he has gotten into a position where has more influence. However, he don’t want to use it and the NUP should unite behind the campaign of Besigye. Because, that’s what a sensible person would do.
Nevertheless, maybe the Perks of the LoP and the Parliament is eating his soul. His afraid of losing the pocket and the fortunes of his office. That’s why his instead seeking other means now. Since, it seems to cost to much to be like he was back in the day. That’s how I view it.
Mpuuga of a decade ago would have been running wild and been out there. Now, his in office and wants other to fence for him. Maybe it’s tiredness, fatigue or maybe he isn’t even hungry. His content with life and other can take the mantle. That’s how it looks like to me. Now that the same issue of a decade ago is resurfacing and instead of following up where he left off in the A4C. He has turned into the people he spoke ill of then. Peace.


The preliminary results are that National Resistance Movement (NRM) flag-bearer Andrew Ojok Oulanyah is projected to win. That will unlikely not change and the opposition will loose the chance to retake the seat, as the NRM retain it yet again. This is not shocking, because of how the state operates and uses the machinery for their advantage.
The NRM and the ruling regime uses all techniques possibly to win. They are using their appointed local leaders, national secretariat and government institution to serve their candidacy. This being the army, the police or any other sort of “help” for a push of their candidate. The Residential District Commander and the Regional Police Commander both will coordinate and fight for the NRM flag-bearer. Therefore, there is little left to chance or option to object to the one favoured by the state.
The ones who are canvassing and working for candidates of the opposition is naturally in danger of arrest, kidnap and kept incommunicado until the “victory” is sealed. This happened here and the soldiers will make people bounce. The county had road-blocks to stop people from entering and blocking “strangers” from entering. Meaning, anyone who could sway opinion or gain interests for anything, which wasn’t NRM isn’t allowed by definition.
The whole affair and polls just shows how important bribes, voter tourism and intimidation is to win at this stage. The NRM cannot pull or win with honest intentions. No, they have to rig it and block the opposition. They have to use force and be ill-willed. This is just the nature of things and the beasts are all out to play. The victims, the opposition or the ones associated with them are the targets. That’s their price of playing and participating in these elections. Even if the opposition plays by the rules or regulations, the goal-post changes and the authorities are using all excuses to go after them.
That’s why NRM can use government vehicles, institutions and appointees to secure their candidate gets elected. The soldiers and police officers will play out for their orders too. There is nothing that isn’t accessible for them and they uses all means to get there.
The by-election county looks like a war-zone. The Electoral Commission can put in guidelines, but the NRM don’t have to follow them. These are put out to limit the opposition and not for the ruling regime. Because, they can electioneer, rig and use violence to win. That’s what they do and they are proud of it too. Even if the election isn’t legit or the result isn’t transparent with the will of the people. Since, it has all been a game and it was rigged before the people stepped into the polling station to vote.
That’s why the NRM is a sorry state of itself. A place that used to have the Regional Party Vice-President of the NRM, the former Speaker who used to be the fourth high ranking official of the Republic. Still, in that constituency which the father won in 2011, 2016 and 2021. Even with that… the Son of Jacob needed all powers and all the help he could to get across the finish-line. It is not easy when you use all of this to get elected.
We are seeing that the Son of Jacob is happy about the result and becoming the winner. However, he should be concerned about how it happened. The whole system was on his side and there was no mercy served. It was a systemic brutality and usage of force to retain the seat. There was nothing in it showing a free and fair election. That is very obvious… therefore, it is false start to proclaim grandeur and solidify victory.
Ojok Oulanyah should know that he got elected not by the will of the people, but by the force of the gun. If that’s how he wants to be a representative and be known for. That’s his choice, as he got bills to pay and got a mansion to finish after his late father. So, most likely he doesn’t care, because he secures the continuation of his fathers legacy. However, he will also not be fondly remembered by all. As people have been scarred, taken into custody and been arranged by the authorities for just doing their mission for their candidates. That shouldn’t be the case, but is what went down in Omoro county.
The NRM cannot speak of being a nationwide party, when they operate like an army with a political wing. That’s how it looks like in these sorts of by-elections. Not looking like a strong or a popular people’s party, but an army with political figureheads. Peace.

“Voting in the Omoro County by-election continues with low voter turn-up at most polling stations. Over 38,000 voters are expected to cast their ballots in a bid replace former MP & Speaker Jacob Oulanyah who died in March this year” (Daily Monitor, 26.05.2022).
It is clearly not all rosy at the polls of the Omoro County. That’s because of the usage of authorities and state machinery to gain advantage. That’s why the polling agents are arrested and the coordinators of the main opposition is out of play. This is deliberate acts to ensure the counting and the ballots are cast in darkness. As there is only government friendly polling agents and such in the area.
As reported by several media houses:
“Police have cut off the Omoro Central Police Station after the arrest of NUP agents as well as MP, David Kalwanga. The police say that the arrested were conducting themselves in a manner contrary to the guidelines issued by the EC” (94.3 QFM Lira, 26.05.2022).
“Leader of Opposition in Parliament Mathias Mpunga, NUP Secretary-General Lewis Rubongoya and other NUP party members are currently at Gulu Police Station after some of their members and agents in the ongoing Omoro by-election were arrested” (NBS Television, 26.05.2022).
“Security personnel have arrested Chua West Member of Parliament Philip Okin Ojara and three other members of the FDC party in Omoro District. Patrick Oboi Amuriat, revealed that security personnel raided the FDC office in Opit Town Council before violently arresting Okin” (Baba TV Uganda, 26.05.2022).
“Police has arrested several people in the ongoing Omoro by-election. According to the Police
spokesperson Aswa region ASP Ongom David said: We have intelligence that there are organised people with the intention of disorganizing this election” (Gugudde TV Uganda, 26.05.2022).
We should be worried that the authorities are using these tactics. That just shows that they cannot trust the voters and their choices. As they don’t want to have oversight or accountability for their actions.
We can anticipate the Special Forces Command (SFC) to put all the pressure on the pressure-cooker and ensure the results are boiled in favour of Andrew Ojok Oulanyah. That is all we can await for. The state has put all their prestige into it and wants to secure the Seat for the Son of Jacob.
Instead of having an honest, free and fair elections. The polls and the day of the by-election is marred with police brutality and use of force. That is not how you run trusted polls, but electioneer in favour of the ruling regime.
There is reports of kidnapping and keeping mobilizers and polling agents taken away in the polls ahead of the final hours of the vote. That is just proving that the regime don’t even want to try to conceal their actions to secure the result in their favour. Peace.

The war-zone was to be expected and the nerve, the tension and the intimidation too. Because the yellow of the Republic cannot win without using these means and the authorities to get ahead. The reports from both National Unity Platform (NUP) and Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) is familiar with previous by-elections of this era.
That there are prolonged arrests of mobilizers, activists and use of roads-blocks to “stop strangers” for interfering. While the National Resistance Movement (NRM) walk around like demi-gods who can break any law or electioneering as they deem fit. The reports of giving away money to voters, soap and other minor donations in the hot-minute before the polls. There been already reports of NRM Teams in coordination with the Residential District Commander (RDC) and canvass all parts of the county that way.
No one should be shocked, if the offices of the FDC was raided in the evening before the polls. As their first candidate for the polls was even bribed himself and they had to field another one before the nomination. So, the continuation of voter bribery and intimidation as well.
There is even reports of possible pre-ticking of ballots ahead of the polls tomorrow. So, there is nothing left to chance here. Just to take it even further the state has deployed government vehicles without number-plates and army vehicles without number-plates to the county. That is all to ensure the votes and the polls goes after plan. These things are not for the weak or the ones who don’t want to fight. Because, these sorts of affairs are just a proof of how the game is rigged.
The ones thinking that the President and his hand-picked candidate would be let to chance. Those are not familiar with protocol or how these things operate in the Republic. All that mention has been done before and what we are seeing is similar to what has occurred in the past. It is not an election under Museveni is peaceful or fair. They are battleground and a place where the state interferes with everything at their disposal.
What is striking is that all of this is done to retain a seat and further the nepotism of the NRM. Just so their guy and their flag-bearer Ojok Oulanyah can takeover the seat of his father in Parliament. The candidate who didn’t need a primary election, but be directly picked by His Excellency. Therefore, this is high stakes for the President and he don’t like to be humiliated. Even if it is all a charade and mockery of an election. As the war-zone, rigging and intimidation only further shows that the NRM doesn’t even believe in their own propaganda or agendas. Since, they need to use all tricks from their book to get a “result” that’s worthy of the Fountain of Honour. Peace.