Uganda: UPDF and Guardian Primary School Authorities Standoff (13.02.2018)

UPDF: “Allegations by Lt. John Harrison Obote” (18.01.2018)

Chapter Four Uganda Statement: “First Anniversary of Kasese Killings: We Remember” (27.11.2017)

One year ago, more than 55 people – including at least 14 police officers – were killed in the Kasese clashes on November 26. A day later, the military and police forces launched a deadly assault on the Rwenzururu palace killing more than 100 civilians – including children.

One year later, we know more than 180 civilians were arrested and charged in court. However, no military or police officer has been charged for the killing of civilians. Families continue to narrate their ordeal of missing relatives and the palace remains cordoned off by security forces as a crime scene.

We call for an independent and impartial investigation into the role of security forces in the Kasese killings to deliver justice to the victims and their families.

Should President Museveni have requested the Scotland Yard to Investigate in the Kasese Clashes and Assassination of AIGP Kaweesi?

Just as President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni issued a request to the Scotland Yard on the 26th March 1987 to independently investigate the murder of Dr. Andrew Kayira who was murdered on 9th March 1987. The same could have happen on two other recent occasions in the Republic of Uganda. The National Resistance Movement and the President if they wanted the truth on important matters.

Like the massive scores of dead and innocent lives lost in the hours around the skirmishes in Kasese on the 26th November 2016. When the Buhikira Royal Palace was burned down and the lives lost in the fatal hours. At a time the Royal Guards defending the palace as the Police Forces and Special Forces Command we’re attacking the palace. While the Omubusinga bwa Rwenzururu Charles Wesley Mumbere we’re detained. The same was the different numbers of dead Royal Guards, Police Officers, Soldiers and civilians. This is all shown the capacity of the skirmishes done to one kingdom of late, since then the king has been in exile and the treason-charge has been hanging over him. Still, no report of the call for violence and neither a verified number of deceased. This all prove there was something sinister that happen at the Buhikira Royal Palace and a reason for the Security Organizations to burn down the Palace.

When you know this and if you are in government, you should look for the facts and dig deep so the souls who lost their lives are answered for. All of the innocent lives who suddenly was taken away in Kasese, should be answered for. The monarchy of Rwenzururu deserves answers for the demise of so many of their own. The families of the Police Officers and Soldiers deserves the same. If the President had the honor and cared about lives, he would have gotten an independent inquiry into the skirmishes and gotten an investigation report from an outside authority, just like he did when he started as President. He could have done like he did in 1987, but now 30 years later. He doesn’t care, it doesn’t cost him support and neither makes him weak. Therefore, doesn’t have to like in the past, when he needed to clean his hands. Now the overall power is in his hands and therefore can shuffle it away. Still, the ghosts and the remains will hunt the government. Since these are not really answered for. Unless, he request for the Scotland Yard to do a special investigation into the Kasese Clashes and the skirmish at the Buhikira Royal Palace.

The second incident that would need a look into is the sudden assassination of Assistant Inspector General of Police Andrew Felix Kaweesi. In the morning of 19th March 2017, when the AIGP Kaweesi was killed together with the bodyguard Corporal Kenneth Erau and driver Godfrey Mambewa. There been dozens of suspects and people detained. Even the kids of suspects has been behind bars. Many been interviewed on TV, but none has proven a story or even had a fair trial. As the suspects and killers who drove away on boda-boda’s from Kulambiro, Kampala on the 19th March 2017 is still in the wind. The proof of evidence and the killing of the high ranking officer. Can be put in question. As the sudden death of the AIG Kaweesi. Has to be put in question if the efforts of the Police or the State has been thorough enough. Since there are many leads, but nothing has been cleared. The assassins are walking scotch free. So the political assassination are left in the dark.

If the President had acted in the past on the Dr. Kayira murder, he would have asked for help from Scotland Yard on the investigation of AIGP Kaweesi. To settle the score and find the culprits behind it. Not only creating diversions and trying to deflect the case. Like it has been done by the aggression in Kasese in November 2016.

We could question why he didn’t ask for independent investigation help in both the Kasese Clashes and the AIGP Kaweesi assassination. Clearly, the truth would hurt the President and his leadership. Since that might implicate certain individuals around him and even himself. That can be put in question, because he had the ability in the past to contact and request help from Scotland Yard. Something he doesn’t do now. This wouldn’t be neocolonialism, more getting fresh eyes into the murders and death of civilians and high ranking members of Ugandan leadership. It should be important to reveal the truth and find the facts behind the deaths of all of them. Not hid it and try to silence it. Because that is how it seems with every day going without answers of what happen to these people. These cases are still not cleared or had their proper final findings. As long as it stays like that, the remains of these people are not respected. They have been violated, the same has their families and the state has to always answer for their lack of following their moral duty. The moral duty to find the culprits behind the killings. Peace.

 

UPDF: Military Police has not taken over Police Powers and Resources (21.06.2017)

My honest letter to the newfound peacemaker President Museveni!

Dear Sir, His Excellency (H.E.) President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni!

Though I am surely not so dear to you, I am sure if you we’re ever to read one of my pieces. I would end up in Luzira or even Nalufenya, in a dungeon not seeing daylight before my mind was weaken and my thirst for liberty and justice was all over. That is what would be my ending, if you got your will. As many others who has questioned your rule and your power. They have lost their days and their lives, they have been detained and been tortured. This is something you know and done your orders. That is well-known.

So the last week has boggled me, how you at the time taking the Chairmanship of the East African Community, which goes between the Member States. Therefore, your place there after the Tanzanian President Joseph Pombe Magufuli isn’t shocking. What is more important, is the stages of your concern of the nations around you. How you suddenly want to invest your time and urges to change and give hope the republic’s around you.

That you travel on credit to London to talk on AMISOM and possible peace in Somalia, than later you travel to Tanzania and discuss the sanctions and say the EAC should be able to solve what is in-house, and today you are in South Sudan, giving advice on National Dialogue there. You are certainly occupied with other nations troubles.

In London, United Kingdom on the 12^th May you said: “However, our strongly held view is that it is not enough to check Al-Shabaab. Somalia must heal completely and stand on its own feet. In our view, there are a number of bottlenecks that stop the complete healing of Somalia” (Museveni, 12.05.2017). In Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania on the 20^th May you said: “Burundi is our member and no action should be taken against it without our input. Our house is our house” (Museveni, 20.05.2017). Today in Juba, South Sudan you said: “Within the party, speak frankly to each other. Reach decisions by voting or consensus. Raise issues by having regular meetings in the party. Insist on having meetings in party organs. Never use force. Violence should be a means of last resort” (Museveni, 22.05.2017).

That you suddenly are the grand peacemaker is weird, the man who done his thing civil-war and coup d’etat in Uganda, you have been involved in two wars inside the Democratic Republic of Congo, you ushered the rebellion and ruling party of Rwanda Patriotic Front/Army in Rwanda. You have sent your army without mandate into South Sudan. The other mandated forces has been operations against Lord Resistance Army in Central African Republic and the African Union Peacekeeping Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). Also, being hired security agents without consent of parliament in the Equatorial Guinea. I am sure you have used them differently, like lately the UPDF helping mission for the SPLA in Bieh State in South Sudan in April 2017. So the use of army for your own gain and the foreign exchange is also well-known.

Therefore, that you suddenly speaks of peace, negotiations and of consensus, it must be a lingo you dislike. As you yourself want to get rid of opposition in Uganda and want only the one who agree with you. Therefore, that you advice President Salva Kiir Mayardit to talk consensus, while in Buyengo Sub-County on the 9^th May you said: “I am tired of wars. I want you to vote for pro-NRM members of parliament like our party flag-bearer, Mr Moses Walyomu.” (…) “I don’t want to go back to the bush to fight again. Don’t send me people who will disagree with me in parliament. I fought in 1986 and I am tired.”(Kirunda, Nakato & Katabulawo, 2017). So it is not like you believe the words you said in Juba today, aye? It seems more like a ploy and pigment of imagination, since you need to say this to look wise for the world. But we know that this isn’t the real you, you don’t believe in consensus, you believe in your vision and doesn’t trust anyone else, but yourself.

That you speak of violence as last resort, what about all the tear-gas as the opposition? What about all the harassment of them? What about all the ones detained for their political affiliation? Than, I also have to ask, why did all of the innocent had to die in violence in November 2016 in Kasese? There are so many questions, you should also answer for detaining all the kids of suspects in the killing of AIGP Andrew Kaweesi? If you doesn’t want to resolve with violence, why is the Flying Squad and the UPDF so quick to spread fear every-time there is ballots and elections. Why did you send the fighter airplanes to fly over Kampala on the days after the Presidential Election in 2016? I ask these questions since you tell people not to use violence, but speaking frankly; which I am doing to you now.

So with your history of violence, your love of guns and militarized government. I have little or to be honest. No faith in your mediation. Mr. President you have no character of trying to make peace. You have only made war and stifled your opposition. Therefore, very few of your adversaries are still alive. Most of them is gone, as well as the UNLA mates are gone and others who has stood in you way.

President Museveni, a leader and Commander-in-Chief since 1986, what sort of history and guidance can you bring from you experience and reasoning inside the Ugandan Republic, to build bridges in Burundi and South Sudan? Other than, bring the Special Forces Command and blow the possible enemies to pieces, Mr. President is that avoiding violence? Or throw tear-gas at consultation meetings of Opposition parties, is that mediation and consensus, Mr. President?

I am just asking because this is your advice… your own advice to the fellow brother in South Sudan, Somalia and in Burundi. Kinda hard to follow where you reside and run the nation, aye?

With

Best Regards

The Writer of MinBane!

Reference:

Kirunda, Abubaker; Nakato, Tausi & Katabulawo, Andrew – ‘I don’t want opposition in parliament, says President Museveni’ (09.05.2017) link: http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/I-don-t-want-opposition-in-parliament–says-President-Museveni/688334-3919496-71atniz/index.html

Opinion: Maj. Gen. Elwelu shouldn’t be interviewed as he deserves ‘to be put on trial’!

“A poor person is very dangerous. He can do anything to survive. We need to support projects such as Operation Wealth Creation and others that focus on the socio-economic development of this country,” Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) Commander of Land Forces, Maj Gen Peter Elwelu (Daily Monitor 17.04.2017).

Let me be clear, when Brig. Peter Elwelu  was a bit unknown his voice and opinion might have mattered to me, as then he would just be another fellow human being with an understanding of the world. But people like him, now after the crime, I cannot let him discuss state and government matters and not talk about what overshadows for me.

Brig. Elwelu or Maj. Gen. Elwelu now, is for me until proven innocent, a man who was in-charge of unlawful attacks on the Royal Palace in Kasese and the massacre of unknown amount of guards, police officers, civilians and others. So while the Obusinga bwa Rwenzururu Charles Wesley Mumbere is in house-arrest in Baganda. The army commander in charge of the operation, the one that killed innocent and burned the palace without any forewarning is looming the streets.

That the army man who was in-charge has since than been promoted, while the families of Kasese does not know the consequence and the reason for their death. Other than the salaries and that the state sanctioned the army to do this at one point. That the Kasese attacks and tragedy escalated quick is easy to understand, that it became is evident and that the army had to hide their crimes with even burning. Letting the dead decompose while the “evidence” of it all was collected. Since the knowledge of who ordered it and who wanted it come from up-high.

That Brig. Elwelu just followed orders might be true, still he completed and directed the mission, with bravado as the dead was dug into mass graves while the priests we’re praying for the lost souls. They should have also prayed for the soldiers who killed innocent men and woman on the compound in Kasese. That Brig. Elwelu made happen with his ordered and persistent attitude during these days of violence.

That Brig. Elwelu believes poor people can be dangerous is true, but his voice on the matter. Shouldn’t he important. As he has poor record of caring about how people has it and how people live. He had no issues with burning and killing in Kasese, he could do the same in Teso, Tooro and Busoga, why not?

I do not trust this man and I can surely not be alone. His voice shouldn’t have space in the Daily Monitor, as Brig. Elwelu suddenly deserves to be in the public sphere. Lets be clear he don’t! Not until he has answered and maybe cleared his name for his possible, and most likely crimes against humanity in Kasese in 2016! Peace.

Statement by the European Union and its Member States present in Uganda on the situation in Kasese District (16.03.2017)

Opinion: Why hasn’t there been any real investigation into the #KaseseAttacks?

There has now gone months since the Uganda People’s Defence Force, Special Forces Command and the Police Force on the 27^th November 2016 has skirmishes inside the Buhikira Royal Palace in Kasese. This we’re done again as the authorities have done in the past in Rwenzori and Rwenzori sub-region, as they have made the Rwenzururu Kingdom and their Ombusinga Bwa Rwenzururu Charles Wesley Mumbere a guerrilla leader for a unknown militia called the ‘stronghearted’ or the Kirumiramutima. If these allegation we’re true and the government had real investigation to all the acclaimed issues since 2014, than they would have charged someone before blasting and killing so many Royal Guards in November 2016.

The whole last skirmish was dim of justice and real security operation as the Brigadier Peter Elewu and Maj. Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba cavalry ran into the compound and did their disgraceful acts of vile violence and human rights violations. They killed and burned down the palace, they put graves with no names days after and wouldn’t let the families see the deceased, and they left behind trials of misconduct. Such, acts of killings that the world only see’s in time of war or even a civil-war. The state organizations and their security organizations are secretly about their acts.

If the State had been serious they hadn’t made the ones who were the targets of the gunfire and the burning the ones lingering in jail in and around Jinja. The same happen to the remaining royal guards also detained there. There wasn’t much grace or glory, as the king was at one point out for under an hour time before getting back inside prison. On the second time now he is exile in Kampala as the government doesn’t let him out of control and travel to his kingdom.

While this has happen the M23 has crossed from Ugandan territory to the Democratic Republic of Congo, as they have left the barracks and they have even been caught few of them in the Kasese District and Mbarara Region. There are prospects that could easily fix into a conspiracy as the insurgency and attacks on Rwenzururu Kingdom could be seen as shadow game for the release of the M23.

So, with the rumours that haven’t been verified as well, was French speaking army men at the Buhikira Royal Palace in Kasese. What are more worrying are the open questions, as of the verified numbers of dead between the army and police force. That was in the days after skirmishes. They we’re really not making sense as the amounts of dead after it all. With the loss of lives to all the royal guards, unknown civilians, police officers and so on. The State Figures still doesn’t make sense with the reports and spokespersons release in the army and police in the early days after.

The need for an investigation is clearly there, the army, police force and security organizations who acted vile in Kasese. The Rwenzururu Kingdom have been violated, the Rwenzori and Rwenzori Sub-Region has been used as a boxing bag by the NRM government. No visits from the President, the mediators or even the IGP Kale Kayihura have stopped it. As the army intervention have still let the government killings continue, as the post-election violence was created from the Special Force Command, maybe M23 and other operatives in the UPDF. That can be said, as their no clear investigation or intelligence that can be truthful, as the government tries to silence the truth. Their cherry of innocence is long good. If the NRM government really cared about their victims they wouldn’t defend the culprits, but the victims, the unknown and the unnamed dead who was assaulted and lost their life to early, as so many of the Royal Guards has done during the last year in the Rwenzururu kingdom. Peace.

UPDF: Appointments, Transfers and Promotions in the UPDF (10.01.2017)