Bunyoro squabble: Besigye Rally blocked in Masindi!

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

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

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

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

Reference:

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

Kyadondo East By-Election: Sentiments should not stop the party line, not even for the friendship between Besigye and Bobi Wine!

“Who is this common person? By the ‘common person,’ I mean the men and women right here in Kyadondo East who work so hard and yet struggle to make ends meet; the people who pay huge taxes and yet get so little in return; the people who love their country so much yet they have given up on it, because their leaders are not inspiring enough… Leaders have become misleaders and mentors have become tormentors!”Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu aka Bobi Wine – ‘My Nomination Speech’ (04.06.2017).

As the By-Election in Kyadondo East is hardening, the Democratic Party has already shuffled their candidate. As the three main candidates in the race is now as the National Resistance Movement candidate William Sitenda Sebalu who are endorsed by the NRM leadership in the race, the Forum for Democratic Change Dr. Apollo Katinti and independent candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu aka Bobi Wine. It was in April 2017; the Courts of Appeal nullified and booted Dr. Katinti out of Parliament. This was after a petition of the runner-up in the February 18th 2016 General Election, which the NRM MP candidate Sebalu lost. Therefore, the current state of affairs and a new candidate who stirs up the waters in the Kyadondo East Constituency.

With this in mind, there been speculations as to the affiliation of Bobi Wine, as the FDC has their own candidate who has gone through the party nomination and gotten his candidacy there. Bobi Wine went solo to the Bad DP house Betty Nambooze and pledge for support. Later in the same week, he passed by his friend Dr. Kizza Besigye. Which is reason for the distance and support from the same man.

Dr. Kizza Besigye have long had the support of Bobi Wine, he even passed through the gates during his incarceration and house arrest after the General Election in 2016. This moment that still is fresh in mind and are being shared on social-media. Still, the pure support and recognition of the struggle has not been there. Bobi Wine has seen fellow musicians and even comrades taken to prison as the ballot boxes was open in February 2016. That will not be forgot. So the relationship between the People’s President and Ghetto President is well known.

What makes this election special is that it is at a seat that the FDC won and the NRM petition won over. Therefore, it is struggle to reignite and get it back. Even if a fellow cadre and a friend of Besigye is running. The FDC still, want to regain their slot in the 10th Parliament. This is not a slap in the face of disrespect to Bobi Wine. Bobi Wine who has followed politics from the sidelines and discussed it as an artist should understand that.

That NRM can gain the uncertain and the undivided ones are sure, as the internal squabble in opposition. Something that is mirage created between Bobi Wine and Besigye, which isn’t really there, as Besigye himself has said – no matter if the FDC candidate or the Independent Bobi Wine wins, they are in business.

That Bobi Wine wished he had is direct attention and his direct support is understandable. Who would like to have the strongest voice of reason and of devoted fighter for justice at their rallies! However, at this point, the mere point is that Besigye is bound by his party and his own creation, which is the FDC and its guidelines. This makes it impossible for him to not campaign for Katinti, the best for Besigye was if Katinti stepped down. Nevertheless, Katinti already was the flag-bearer and secondly he has already won the seat once.

By all means, it would be strange if Apollo didn’t want his seat back. That would be shocking and disarray, as the FDC flagbearer who campaign in 2015 and 2016, suddenly did not care. Even if a Besigye supporter and trusted ally went out left and suddenly joined politics. Like Bobi Wine has done.

Bobi Wine has discussed politics and been a starch support of Besigye, as he has spoken tireless against the NRM. That is an understatement. However, for Kyadondo East, the battle is not between Besigye and Museveni. Even though in all Ugandan elections the mere big-men are involved and pulling strings. Therefore, Bobi Wine would have enjoyed and felt appreciated if Besigye stood by his side. Instead, he is at the Katinti rallies and campaigns for him. But Katinti is the FDC flag-bearer so Ssentamu or Wine should understand that sentiment. If he does not than he is ready to be a politician and neither a real friend of Besigye.

Ssentamu or Wine if he would have Besigye in his rallies, he should have gone through the nomination procedure of the FDC. Where he had been one of the nomination and gotten pledges by the FDC members in Kyadondo East. Certainly, than it would have been justified that Besigye would have campaigned behind him. Alas, he is independent and running on his own accord. Therefore, Besigye cannot and should not. Especially, when Katinti has already won the constituency once.

That Bobi Wine wanted the grand support, get a head honcho behind him and have the affiliation is clear. If he would not want that, than he would not be serious about running. Therefore, that is just making sense of it all. As the roads to ballot box continues. If someone feels it is wrong of Besigye to stand behind Katinti, than you have misunderstood party policy and procedure. Not because Bobi Wine is a bad candidate for Besigye and his cadres. However, because he did not run it through the FDC party and therefore excluded himself.

Time will tell, if Bobi Wine is splitting the opposition vote, if the FDC can regain and reignite the voters, or if the NRM swoop it all through their ordinary rigging schemes. Since they usually do that. Unless this time they will watch and see if the opposition self-destruct in the battle for the Kyadondo East Constituency. Peace

#SOTNUG17: A look into the Policing the NRM Way!

He was at it again for the 31st time or 30th since he didn’t do this in first year after the coup d’etat. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. That being the old-man-with-the-hat having his first State of the Union in 1987. Times are changing but he is still not caring about facts or using his tricks to make himself look like a genius and savior. Even if there are far from it and makes sure the others are to blame. That is what President Museveni do. Therefore, I am just looking at parts of his speech, since there are many details and many things you could put a finger on and discuss. As it could be as simple as explaining the roads funds and research the pledged roads, which he said today was all paid by Government of Uganda (GoU), while if you look over the previous funding of the roads you would see the money might be foreign. Instead, I will look the security issues, the torture and the Policing. Because it is so important and the man trust IGP Kale Kayihura so much, who has made the Police a long-arm of the ruling regime. With that in mind, I had to focus on this and not on all the other subjects that the President spoke about. Take a look!

The Police do not have to wait for the crime to be committed. Through good intelligence, most crimes can be prevented. Most of the suspects arrested after the murder of Kawesi and others, even if they were not involved in the killing of Kawesi, they had committed other capital offences, many of which carry death sentences or life imprisonment. Why, then, were they still in circulation? That means somebody was not doing his or her work” (Museveni, 2017).

Mr. President, why wasn’t these men caught for the other cases, than the murder case of the AIGP Andrew Kaweesi. This case has been public and there been an awesome amount of possible suspects. These has been hundreds and even the kids of suspects has been detained. Therefore, that all of these might have other crimes on their hands, that might be true, but still they all could be innocent. So the President has decided their fate without trial, which is a rare, but common practice by the President.

The other day, I was in Kalerwe and the youth there were complaining of the Police arresting them for being “idle and disorderly”. This must stop completely. Some of the youth are idle because they do not have jobs. Why arrest them for that? The revolutionary should be like “fish in water”. A revolutionary should never be “fish in no water”” (Museveni, 2017).

As seen how the Police are working there are reports and studies on the subject, as the Police are the long-hand of the regime under the President. This can be quoted by: “One sub-county official explained that the activities of crime preventers are handled at the village level and news of them doesn’t reach his office, while another said they are too informal to discuss in a semi-structured interview with me. What happens in the village is not of concern, so long as it is not organized violent crime or resistance to the government. Although security groups are framed as local responses to local problems, the government retains the right to intervene and police their activities, frequently making arrests in relation to groups’ night patrols, the degree of force they employ and the appropriateness of their involvement in interpersonal conflicts” (Tapscott, 2017). So the are local policing that are framing the locals. These seems like the ones the President are talking about. Just similar stories even made the Police themselves in April 2017: “Tools like pangas, hammers and pick axes were provided to carry out their missions. The suspects also said that, the many youths were collected from parts of Kawempe Kalerwe Namugoona among others areas specifically to break into houses and once you were in the gang there was no way out. The IGP said criminals have used crime to be a business venture, and after the tension caused by these goons the police has taken action, and over 100 arrested and 50 appeared before court. Since then areas of Masaka are secure” (Uganda Police Force, 2017). So there apparently gangs, that are idle and unemployed as well. Certainly, there could be incidents where the police detain and arrest youths as a way of extorting them, since the payment for being a Police Officer in Uganda isn’t that splendid. This has been reported a lot of times and stories been told on the social media from all parts of Uganda.

The issue of alleged torture by the Police, was addressed by myself in the usual NRM/NRA way. We always combine educational methods (sensitization) and administrative methods (punishments, demotions, etc,). When these reports came up, I carried out analysis of torture and how it, actually, impedes successful investigations. That is a very powerful message because it addresses the whys and the why-nots of an issue. It addresses the “Policeman of the mind” rather than just the “Policeman of the body”. I saw some NGOs and allied persons pouring scorn on my methods and recommending only fascist methods of arrests and imprisonment without education. Could these “experts in-everything” tell us why the UPDF is able to operate in Somalia, Central African Republic, Congo, South Sudan, etc. without complaining? Is it because of high pay or fear of imprisonment? Do these “know-it-alls” remember that our Army is a volunteer Army? Do they know that one can make much more money in the private sector than in the army? it, actually, impedes successful investigations. That is a very powerful message because it addresses the whys and the why-nots of an issue. It addresses the “Policeman of the mind” rather than just the “Policeman of the body”. I saw some NGOs and allied persons pouring scorn on my methods and recommending only fascist methods of arrests and imprisonment without education. Could these “experts in-everything” tell us why the UPDF is able to operate in Somalia, Central African Republic, Congo, South Sudan, etc. without complaining? Is it because of high pay or fear of imprisonment? Do these “know-it-alls” remember that our Army is a volunteer Army? Do they know that one can make much more money in the private sector than in the army? Let the “know-it-alls” be informed that the UPDF does what it does because of conviction. Okunyonyora (to explain, to sensitize) has been the life and blood of Fronasa, of the NRA, of the UPDF. To end this point, be informed that Uganda is free of war and it will remain so and the spike in lawlessness is being defeated even before we fill all the gaps and will be totally defeated when the gaps are filled” (Musveni, 2017).

The NRM Way are clearly not a healthy one, even if this is reported through the wits of NGO’s who know’s to much and cannot be trusted. This is what the President himself said. Because the UPDF are such wiseguys, since they are there voluntarily, But here is some quick reports of the torture, that has been also rampant part of the security organizations at places like Nalufenya. So this has been a discussed theme, but show’s the part of how the State in Uganda uses the Police Force and also other organizations in oppressive behavior.

Like these two reports: 

In similar fashion, presently, there is the recruitment of persons, undergoing rigorous training for purported legal purposes. Under the auspices of the Uganda Police, ‘crime preventers’ are being recruited and trained, ofcially, to fght crime.14 However, a critical assessment of this group reveals that it is a band of civilian vigilantes recruited by the government aimed at intimidating or reducing support for the political opposition through illegal means, including torture” (Chapter Four, P: 13, 2016).

Various reports indicate the following as some of the patterns of torture in Uganda.

i) Being held incommunicado – where a person is arrested, detained and no access is allowed and no opportunity to communicate with other people.

ii) Extra-judicial executions – where suspects are executed without going through the due process of law and in most cases where they lack sufficient evidence on a case.

iii) Threats and intimidation through text messages and phone calls.

iv) Enforced disappearance – where a person is arrested in context of terrorism and treason suspects then disappears with trace and explanation.

v) Cases of rape by government and rebel forces during the conflict in Northern Uganda” (ACTV, P: 21, 2015).

This is just the sensitization and the NRM way of torture, that is well-known, so when the President speaks so found of his army. I have a hard time believing him or trusting his words. Seems more like promising words and praising of UPDF. Since it solves everything, the Operation Wealth Creation are even parts of the UPDF. That should make you think and also consider the places of the army. Since the army and police force aren’t only there for security reasons, but also for political reasons. That is why the President has to praise the army.

I think this is enough for now! Peace.

Reference:

African Centre for Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture Victims (ACTV) – ‘THE SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS ON THE PREVALENCE OF TORTURE IN UGANDA’ (November 2015)

Chapter Four – ‘Free Expression and Assembly in Peril ahead of 2016 Polls’ (2016)

Tapscott, Rebecca – ‘The Government Has Long Hands: Institutionalized Arbitrariness and Local Security Initiatives in Northern Uganda’ (06.03.2017) link: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/dech.12294/full

Uganda Police Force – ‘MASAKA, KAMPALA CRIMINALS GANGS HAVE CONFESSED’ (24.04.2017) link: http://www.upf.go.ug/masaka-kampala-criminals-gangs-confessed/

Yoweri Kaguta Museveni – ‘State of The Nation Address’ – Republic of Uganda, Kampala (06.06.2017)

Daily Monitor forgot the fourth candidate [Byamugisha] for Party President in the FDC!

I was no longer seeing any reason to participate in the FDC because as a youth I saw that we were actively engaging in the full affairs of our party. But following your announcement I can assure you that we are back”Moses Byamugisha

There are already speculation of the inner-party election in the opposition party of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC). This coming in the year after the General Election. So the talk of who will become this is already in the making. Not like in the ruling regime, where the handpicked person of the President Museveni is handed the spot. The electoral map will during next month be released as well as the nomination papers will be released later as well. So who will go ahead for the Presidency in the FDC is still to come. But the Daily Monitor piece was missing someone, because they doesn’t take him serious yet. But take a look at the people by the people in DM!

Three people have so far expressed interest in the Opposition Forum for Democratic Change party presidency as the term of the current president, Maj Gen Mugisha Muntu, expires on November 22.

Besides the incumbent, the other aspirants are FDC secretary general Nathan Nandala Mafabi and former Kumi County MP Patrick Amuriat Oboi. Addressing journalists at the party headquarters in Najjanankumbi yesterday, the party deputy spokesperson, Mr Paul Mwiru, noted that besides the three candidates, other FDC party members who are interested in vying for this position should prepare to pick their nomination forms” (Mukhaye, 2017).

So, the Daily Monitor expect the incumbent since 2012 Gen. Mugisha Muntu, and also Nathan Nandala Mafabi and Amuriat Oboi are running in this years race for Presidency. Why I am a little confused is why aren’t the paper also saying Moses Byamugisha? We can all expect that Gen. Muntu want to keep his position and lead the party further. Also, that Mafabi is hungry for more and also want to succeed. Oboi is more inner-party candidate with some swagger. Therefore, I was surprised that the Journalist from Daily Monitor didn’t mention Byamugisha!

Byamugisha has been the National Mobiliser in the FDC Youth League, during the recent campaign he did a lot of grassroots work where he worked to bail-out Youth Members who was detained without charges. He has also been a Dr. Kizza Besigye aide, so he knows the structures from the inside and worked within his means. Arrested he has been just by thinking to visit Besigye while under house-arrest, while addressing concern over the exiled FDC member Sam Mugumya and cases has ended himself in jail. Therefore, he knows the price of his political affiliation at this point.

So, when there was an official launch of his candidacy yesterday. You would expect a big media-house as the Monitor Group with their Daily Monitor, to be able to pick up the willing man’s bid for Presidency. Still, they didn’t but they should since his name will be visible and well known. Especially since he is Besigye aide who has been on the campaign trail with him. So there is something fishy when the DM doesn’t mention the brother. Like they have all the stakes at Gen. Muntu and Mafabi, because Oboi will get little or no traction unless he really has a heavy campaign. Time will only tell, but the DM should fess up and apologize for not mentioning the only man who has officially presided his bid. Even Muntu hasn’t said he would like to continue to be the Party President. Peace.

Reference:

Mukhaye, Damali – ‘Three eye FDC top seat’ (30.05.2017) link: http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Three-eye-FDC-top-seat/688334-3947310-a3h7js/index.html

Deliberately without thinking, Mwenda ‘spilled the beans’ of the NRM Police State!

It takes to two to tango, and it takes many hands to destroy a community, but it does not take many to usher in policies. Therefore, in the mix of Ugandan politics and with time the Police has added significance, as the IGP Kale Kayihura has many times told how to hold consultant meetings and even been teaching journalist how to do their jobs. This is in the effort to stifle the opposition and their mission to prove their viable candidates over the only man with a vision. Mr. President, His Excellency President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, he who Kayihura is so loyal too. So certainly, the Independent and Mwenda without thinking in his praise of the political police sessions and the use of the Police Force to either create an unlawful arrest, harass them and even obstruct political dissidents in their rallies. Let’s take the words of Mwenda himself for a minute.

“Hence, Kayihura’s most critical role has been to transform the police into an arm of the NRM. He secured for Museveni the loyalty of a major security institution that had been independent of NRM politics, hence reducing the role of the army in quelling protests. Kayihura did for Museveni what Central Bank governor, Emmanuel Tumusiime-Mutebile did for IMF. Mutebile converted Museveni into a free market ideologue, thereby turning a Marxist revolutionary into an agent of imperialism” (…) “This masterstroke significantly shrunk the role of ISO and CMI in the soft game of consolidating Museveni’s power. Kayihura’s success here has come at the price of reduced emphasis on criminal investigations, hence negatively impacting the rate of its professional development in the force. However, overall Kayihura’s strategy has bolstered the position of the Uganda police politically, making it a powerful centre of power” (Mwenda, 2017).

The thing that strikes me and should strike anyone who cares about justice or free and fair policing. Is that he is saying it is a good thing, that the Police Force is embedded with the ruling regime. The development under IGP Kayihura is so that the Police get better control because they work directly for the NRM. Not that Police works for the Ugandans or after its supposed constitutions and laws, but for the mercy of the NRM. That is unique and shows how oppressive the mind of Mwenda has become. If not he has become subdued by the NRM and is now the grand apologist.

This sentence should boggle anyone with a sound mind: “Kayihura’s success here has come at the price of reduced emphasis on criminal investigations”, well Mr. Mwenda is not the Police Force supposed to catch criminals and do criminal investigations. Certainly, if it was an arm of a Political Party it would have other functions, but the UPF or Police Force are supposed to solve criminal activity and monitor that. They should not need to look and see, if Olara Otunnu are buying cassava, Norbert Mao feeding his chickens or be part of the convoy of Jennifer Musisi. That is just me though. Peace

Reference:

Mwenda, Andrew – ‘THE LAST WORD: Why Kayihura remains IGP’ (22.05.2017) link: https://www.independent.co.ug/last-word-kayihura-remains-igp/2/

Let’s be clear Dr. Kizza Besigye isn’t appointed as the UN Envoy for Uganda!

Besigye on the 25th July 2016

The Junta deliberately circulates FAKE news to discredit social media! Am legitimately elected President!” (…) “Absolute rubbish: M7 isn’t legitimate President of Uganda. Propaganda to legitimize him or discredit Social Media!” – Dr. Kizza Besigye

By yesterday an unknown source and someone did photo-shop a picture where the text was spelling out that Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) leader Besigye was handpicked and appointed to be the United Nations Envoy of Uganda. That is a noble position.

KAMPALA–President Yoweri Museveni has this evening named Uganda’s Opposition leader Kizza Besigye as Uganda’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations. “In exercise of the powers conferred on the President of Uganda by Articles 108(1), 108 (2), 113(1), 114(1) and Article 99(1) of the 1995 Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, I have appointed Mr. Kizza Besigye as the new Uganda’s Representative to the United Nations,” said President Museveni” (TheT1mes.com, 26.05.2017).

I would think it is more likely than anyone of the Presidential Advisors, that means the 164 appointed men and woman the President already trust and also pays. These people are more likely to be appointed, even Ragga Dee for his trying to pursuit the ballots in Kampala for the President. There, are so many loyal cronies and people who wants his envelope.

Therefore this story in Red Pepper in March, says enough:

FDC sources have confirmed to PIU that the recently appointed Ugandan Permanent Representative to the United Nations (New York) and formerly with the African Union, Amb. Adonia Ayebare, was agreed upon by both sides late last year as the mediator of the talks aimed at bridging the increasingly widening gap between government and the opposition. “The ambassador has in fact already met both leaders on several occasions to lay groundwork for the talks,” our source added” (Pepper Intelligence Unit, 2017).

So the UN Envoy Adonia Ayebare has had two terms before in the United Nations, but his latest appointment was on the 29th January 2017. It would be strange to be cut short on his third term by just months. To hire the biggest competition and the worst enemy to a honorable position. It is not like Besigye has been bitten by the envelopes or empty promises like Beatrice Anywar or even Beti Kamya.

This was how the news of the newest term for Ambassador Adonia Ayebare: “The President has appointed the following ambassadors and heads of diplomatic missions Pursuant to Article 122 (1) of the Constitution. The President has sent the names to Parliament for consideration and approval” (The Kampala Times, 27.01.2017).

So, with this in mind, we should know that today’s news isn’t real, as Dr. Kizza Besigye wouldn’t trade away Kasangati or the FDC leadership role for becoming an Ambassador for Museveni and his regime. Especially considering the battles between the gentlemen. Knowing Besigye is not the kind of person who stops his causes or his ideas. They are steadfast even as the troubles comes his way. It is more likely that he is visiting Nagalama Police Station in Mukono, Kira Road Police Station or Kasangati Police Station. Before he ever get hired by the NRM and their loyal cronies.

Let’s be clear, I don’t want Besigye detained on fake charges or become a jail-bird, that is what the Movement has done steady in the recent decade. It is their M.O. when controlling the FDC and Besigye. They use the Police and even uses his home as prison on-end without charges if they have too. So it is not like I am thinking of fiction. It is the sad reality of the Police Force and the methods of oppression under President Museveni.

Key point from today’s rumor: More likely that Besigye get’s detained at some Police Station, than him being hired as Ugandan’s Permanent Ambassador at the United Nation. Peace.

Reference:

Pepper Intelligence Unit – ‘UN Envoy Cited In M7- Besigye Talks’ (01.03.2017) link: http://www.redpepper.co.ug/un-envoy-cited-in-m7-besigye-talks/

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 12th 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 20th 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 9th 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: Tired of NRM apologists defending the record of President Museveni!

It is depressing, it is sad and it tormenting to listen and read the defenses of National Resistance Movement. The defense of the 31 years of rule, the rule of the for life President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and his cronies. The cronies and their 10th Parliament, the By-Elections that are rigged in favor of the NRM Regime. The government of Uganda is totally controlled by the one in-charge, the President and kingpin.

The Parliament are following orders and making amends to seem to be different. Therefore, the results of elections are more to just show overpower, but not to have real elections. As the NRM sends buses and pays of villages with small-fees and commodities. There aren’t anything fruitful or sincere by the regime. The ones who put dissidents in the Nalufenya prison. Where they will be beaten, tortured and get ill. As well, as in the overcrowded prison in Luzira. The organized silence of opposition, as their rallies are filled with tear-gas and police brutality. If not the ones who are feared by the NRM are put on treason charges and called terrorists.

President Museveni with his patronage, his bloated State House, the massive cabinet and the Presidential Advisors. There certainly enough ghosts, fake bills and misuse of state reserves to write books ten times thicker than the bible. We can know by the lost trillions of the Petroleum monies, as the “Presidential Handshake” is a drop in the ocean. As the UNRA and other agencies has misused the taxpayers monies. This happens with such ease and lacking finesse, but the agencies looking into graft and corruption is compromised, because the ones leading it are loyal Musevenist.

That the government and budgets are bloated. That the financial and economic state is in deep distress, as the state is suffering from lacking provisions and revenue. As well, as they are struggling with the stop of donor friendly relationships. People’s and Foreigners trust in the leadership of Museveni has been dwindling. President Museveni are also already prospecting the revenue of the oil and petroleum, even before it has surfaced. Therefore, the future will also be compromised by the deals done today.

The defenders of the NRM now, does not believe in real democracy, as they defending the rigging and militant Movement. A President who has no trouble with killing and destroying to stay in power. The ones defending him has no trouble to stand by a man who empties the treasury and state reserves with no hesitation. As well, as the men and woman who stays by the regime, are easily taking land and resources, they are eating of the plate and selling it back to the Ugandans. This with impunity and without any consideration of the ones who loses their chances.

It is a nation who has a government, not based on merit, but on loyalty. The loyalty to Museveni and his agenda. The agenda to work for him and his ideas. Not work to develop the nation, but develop the estate of Museveni. The idea of real Movement is ploy from the master himself. He just needs shadows to work for him and for envelopes. Not a real party who deliver policy or working for the future Republic. No the Movement is now a shell used pounce out the empty ideas of greed, nurture of the estates of Museveni and of the staging the power of the old-man with the hat!

President Museveni and his apologists knows all of this, they live by this and has faith that this is ideal and the dream. That someone comes with empty promises and lives by the fake party celebrating the 1986 coup. The coup that overruled the government and the old constitution, that President Museveni couldn’t pigeonhole. That has he done to his own and plans to do it again for his 8th Term.

The apologists can say he created safety, but he also created warfare and civil-war to get to power. Some called it a revolution, other calls it a takeover. But with time it wasn’t for the idea of a people’s government, but more a government and state built around the revolutionary, who didn’t really believe in the words he spoke.

The ones defending him, is defending a lie and that for the sake of eating. Not for the benefit of the Republic or the public. The struggling public is pawns, they are just needed props now and then for the Movement. As they praise their master, as they know if they get to close or too ambitious they are surely losing their place. Therefore, all of them are loyal cadres, elite and patrons who surely basks in the pasture of the President. But really, they should know it is on borrowed time. No-one knows how long the patronage and military can be serviced, how long they can all live on the charade and the misuse of power.

Certainly, the President knows this too, therefore, he uses all ways to make sure and get people on board. Even if that lets people starve, let them cheat on food reliefs and even use refugees as bailing-out card on the struggling economy. That is solely made of the patronage and grand-corruption orchestrated from the seat of the President at the Okello House. He can created all sorts of schemes and manufacture new ways of promoting better agriculture or better yields, but it is all ploys of generating more funds for his own. Not for the public to earn or get better output of the seeds and seedlings. If so, than the agricultural should be booming after 30 years in power.

However, the defense of this will be in the patronage and by the spokespersons appointed by the President. These ones will make a fuzz and say the Opposition never was a viable option and never had the leadership to overturn the Movement. The Movement has always been the only option, they say and use new ways of saying so. But that doesn’t make it true, as the rigging and the intimidation is used to forge this facade. The flawless untouched ballots doesn’t exists, there has been all sorts of play to get the will of the President.

President Museveni, even detain opposition, he uses safe-houses and some like Sam Mugumya are detained in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with no plan of getting him home. Him and others are lingering abroad as the political prisoner lingers in uncertainty. This is the legacy of the revolutionary, who became the draconian and the militarized government who uses all means to stay. He uses all methods on earth, Machiavellian and Orwellian blended in a Yellow Color with no fear of repression… no fear that the Movement can be touched, but when the moment appear. Than the Ugandans shouldn’t lose it, because they have already lost so much in the name of Museveni. Museveni has stolen the past and the present. His men has rewritten the history and tried to become the grand hero, and the generations from the rebellion is dwindling away. The young generation only knows the folklore and should beware, it is not all what it seems. The ghosts are not only in the budgets, but they are haunting the President from the past. They are the ones he stole to gain power and to silence the opposition. These souls will ask in the after-life, why he did what he did to them and also why he punished their grand-kids. Since they all lead the same faith. They all got to feel the pain, with no mercy from the leadership controlled by the President.

That is why there are no defending a man like Museveni. He has used all tricks, even was able to deceive the west for decades to pay for his decadence. Certainly, he must laugh about the dumb-white men and their agendas. His grin must be wide thinking of all the sorts of cars, airplanes and ranch expansions that are paid by the friends of direct-state aid. They have kept his roof and his ammunition, to oppress and to relief his patronage. Therefore, if someone is defending this man. Think of his track-record and all the souls he has left behind. Peace.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Reference:

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

Kagoma By-Election: Grand issues as heavy deployment seems to rig it all for the NRM!

The 11th May are the Polling Day of the Kagoma By-Election in the Jinja District. As there are unsettling reports and also proves that the National Resistance Movement (NRM) cannot win a sincere election. Since they are coming with a presence of mambas, armed police officers and all the gear to intimidate the public. As even during the campaigning, the President Yoweri Museveni 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).

Arrested day before the ballot:

Sadiq Amin, the National Defense Secretary of the opposition Forum for Democratic Change-FDC party and seven others are in trouble for alleged electoral violence in the Kagoma parliamentary by-elections. The eight were picked up last evening from Buwenge town council ahead of the Kagoma County parliamentary by elections later today. Asuman Mugenyi, the Director of Police Operations, told journalists at Kagoma county headquarters last evening that Amin is wanted for masterminding violence in the just concluded Kamuli municipality MP by elections” (URN, 11.05.2017).

The Police has deployed heavy in the district and in the area. They have even arrested people around the voting stations, on the charges of violence. But there aren’t reports of people at the Hospitals. As there is only FDC leadership who has been detained the day before and know more people being charges. Seems like a day where the Police Force are intimidating the public to vote for the NRM candidate today.

Security has been beefed up in Jinja town as voters in Kagoma County constituency go to the polls to elect a new MP in today’s by-election . Busoga regional police commander Twishimwe Geofrey says the tension between two groups; supporters of Brandon Kintu, an Independent candidate, and Moses Walyomu of the NRM, were high and so far eight people have been arrested in connection to violence” (88 SMART FM, 11.05.2017).

Despite some polling station receiving voting material beyond the required time as well as reported cases of a pre-ticked ballot paper, heavy police deployment, the country’s election prefect maintains that nothing is amiss. According to the schedule, voting was supposed to begin at exactly 7am and close at 4pm” (…) “However not all polling centres kept that time. Some polling stations were also forced to suspend voting for hours after the biometric machines failed to function despite earlier assurance by the chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), Justice Simon Byabakama Mugenyi that everything was good to go. According to Mr James Otim, a resident of Budondo sub-county, it emerged that voting some at polling stations started late” (Ladu, Tausi & Okeya, 2017).

Byakika Voting was suspended for nearly two hours at Kiranga-Busoba Polling Station in Butagaya Sub County following the breakdown of election machines. Only 19 people had voted before the thumb-detecting machine stopped working. The station Presiding Officer Paul Kigenyi says the voting temporarily stopped around 8:30am. By 10:30am the E.C team led by one Samuel Kiyingi was still struggling to fix the machine. Voting resumed a few minutes later as voters expressed their anger” (City Beat Magazine, 11.05.2017).

So there been clear malpractice and also intimidation, as the FDC leadership has spent time behind bars, as the Kagoma By-Election was going-on. So if the result doesn’t end with victory for the NRM candidate, I would be shocked. All the cards are stacked against the independents as well as the FDC candidate. This is going on and the government sponsors the fear, in the midst of a by-election in the Jinja District. The clear evidence is already there, that before the tallying, the return forms and the party agents start to take charge over the ballots. This is just beginning of the electoral process, and the issues are here from the get-go. Peace.

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

Ladu, Ismail Musa; Tausi, Nakato & Okeya, Moses – ‘Complain of pre-ticked ballot papers, faulty voting machines blemish Kagoma by-election’ (11.05.2017) link:http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Preticked-ballot-papers-faulty-voting-machines-blemish-Kagoma/688334-3922948-s0x8bxz/index.html