Opinion: CHOGM gave Kagame all the political capital he ever wanted

This here was served on a silver platter. The speeches, the interviews and the publicity is a wet dream for any sort of Head of State. The 26th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Kigali in Rwanda was just to perfect. It was a spectacle and a show worthy of anyone watching politics. Though the usage and the means of it won’t amount to much.

However, President Paul Kagame got exactly what he wanted. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaking well of Rwanda and other Heads of State doing the same. People seeing all smiles and the glory. That’s a propaganda victory of the ages. Just like the Olympics or Sporting events. This was just that sort of story and making the regime of Kigali look good.

We know that critics of Kagame goes missing, gets abducted, arrested or is inevitably silenced. The same with the opposition or anyone who really opposes him. That’s why he wins over 90% at every single election. His party is supreme and his words are decreed. Whatever Kagame decides is the law and order of the Republic. That’s how things are run… and what you not got to see.

People got to see a polished “statesman” though Kagame is as brutal as it gets. He kills his detractors and has earned fortunes on the plights of the people of Kivu Provinces since the 1990s in the Democratic Republic of Congo. So, while the M23 is ravaging in the DRC with the support of Kigali.

Kagame got to bash in glory. Got to get the spotlight on the clean-streets and the positivity of Kigali. Where things are correct and smooth. However, it is just perfecting things and making it look organized.

This will be shilled to the press and whatever sort of international media houses who reported on it. The Commonwealth was now a the sort of operation that skims over what the regime does. That’s the beauty of it and the United Kingdom is willing to be the supervisor of it all. Which is very ironic, because Rwanda has distanced itself from much of the relics of the colonial past. Nevertheless, they signed up for the Commonwealth and his now the Chairman of it.

That is saying something. Kagame is getting a title and a world stage in an organization, which is only reflecting good on him. Just like he used the year 2018 to be the Chair of African Union (AU) to spearhead himself and his own vision across the board. The same will now be done by giving him the honour of being recognized by the Commonwealth.

Certainly, it is like his past or present doesn’t matter. The ones who dares to defy him in Rwanda. Either ends up in jail or stops breathing. Therefore, this isn’t the sort of man you hire to get better governance. Unless, you prefer oppression and a full blown military dictatorship. Which uses all means to silence critics. The state uses various techniques to make it happen and it all happens simultaneously. People just end up dead and there is all sorts of excuses for it.

Kagame won’t state it and we know. We know that Kigali will not take any blame, but blame the victims. That’s just what it does and the same for the ones lingering in prison. The prisoners of conscience and political prisoners who defied him. They are there because they spoke out, made a cartoon or fielded their candidacy without him recognizing them. Because, no real opponent of him would get his blessing.

This CHOGM22 gave Kagame just what he wanted. It gave him positivity and it looked futuristic. The facade and the play of the guards. Where everything just looked amazing. However, the dark-side of this regime wasn’t spoken off. Neither was it addressed. Instead, Kagame down-played and acted like no one could give him any lessons. We have seen that before, but now at a grander stage and without any real push-back.

He shouldn’t get away with it. We know that he most likely will. This man is a warlord and a tyrant. It is just the way he wants to play things to get away from that. He wants to act like a natural leader, but we know that if he didn’t have the guns or the power of the army. Kagame wouldn’t get far either .That’s why anyone who opposes him gets into danger.

This man isn’t a gentleman, but a calculated killer and if you don’t believe me. Read up on why they nicknamed him: ‘Pilato’. Peace.

Opinion: Have the Ministry of Foreign Affairs lost 160 vehicles in the last few years?

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs led by Gen Jeje Odongo is appearing before the Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament to answer different questions raised by the committee. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has raised concern over the poor state of fleet vehicle for transporting dignitaries. According to PS Vincent Bagiire, the Ministry is using old fleet from the 2007 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting which are “Nolonger fit for purpose” (Parliament of Uganda, 13.01.2022).

When reading this from the Parliament of Uganda handle on Twitter. I was boggled, because it was only last year when the Chinese Ambassador in Uganda handed over 70 vehicles to then Minister of Foreign Affairs Sam Kuteesa. That happened in the end of March ahead of summits, which was supposed to be held later in the year. The Chinese government spent 5 millions United States Dollars on these SUVs last year.

Therefore, when Gen. Odongo says the Foreign Ministry has “ancient” cars from the CHOGM summit. The state also bought another additional 80 vehicles ahead of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC) in 2020. Therefore, the Ministry and the state should have vehicles in their car-lot. They have not only bought these 80, but gotten donated another additional 70 cars in the year after.

It seems to be the time to re-issue the statement from the Auditor General Report of 2021:

“Furthermore, I observed that 38 entities (76.0%) out of the 50 entities did not have a specific policy or guidelines on Motor vehicle management to guide the usage and eliminate theft, losses, wastage and misuse of motor vehicles. This was in addition to the absence of a comprehensive standardized fleet management policy of Government. Different aspects of government vehicles management are found in different policies and guidelines cited in various government documents, such as; the Uganda Public Service Standing Orders 2010, the Public Procurement and Disposal Act, 2014, and Treasury Instructions, 2017. This affects the entities’ ability to address the unique motor vehicle management challenges which may not be envisaged in the standing Orders and Treasury Instructions” (OAG February 2021).

So, it seems like the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has no control or policy in concern to their car park. They are one of these entities with no management of the car park. That is very clear by Odongo’s statement. As it is easy to see the Ministry have purchased and gotten donated in total 160 vehicles or cars in the last three years alone. The state and the Ministry be able to keep it up and general up-keep.

Unless, the state has suddenly issued these for others and given them to other state affiliates like appointed district officials or whatnot. That’s how it looks like to me. Because, how do you base you vehicle-park on CHOGM in 2022. When your own Ministry have bought vehicles ahead of the CPC and donated from China the year later?

Are there no accountability for the ministry and could Sam, the man just drive away with all of these to the sun-set and sell them on a car-lot in Mbarara? Because, what happened to all of them or they given to the former Ministers employees at Entebbe International Airport?

Since, cars cannot vanish, unless it is part of a Hollywood script or a car lost at a plot forgotten by the state. In such a manner of which, Mobutu had hidden vehicles and his administration held vehicles in foreign missions, which years later was found in forgotten garage abroad. Therefore, is that the issue of the Ministry in Uganda too?

Because, how do you loose 160 vehicles in the time span of about 3 years? Peace.

The Commonwealth: Commonwealth Finance Ministers Statement on COVID-19 (07.10.2020)

Maldives Third-Way Democrats (MTD): Maldives Re-Admission to The Commonwealth – A great achievement to Maldives (02.02.2020)

Opinion: Is the 64th CPC another car scandal in the making?

When Ofwono Opondo today said the Parliament bought 80 cars for the upcoming 64th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC). I could help to recall the previous similar event at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in 2007. As with that time the sudden need for buying car for a short time period comes up.

Not only the reckless spending on visitors coming for a conference, but also the lack of tenders and procurement protocol. Just like last time, when the CHOGM taskforce just enforced a bid through a company owned by Minister of Foreign Affairs Sam Kuteesa. Who knows what happen this time around. Who owns the company that was procured from and by what protocol was it made?

Because, now the amount of cars is much more. We can wonder if they will be is idle and left behind, as the 30 BMWs left at the Ministry of Works and Transport post 2007. As the CHOGM cars was already not the newest model, but a two year old. Whose tender was questionable at best. Even the President questioned it in a letter back-in-the-day.

Therefore, when the Press Conference today, says the “Parliament” aka the state bought 80 cars or vans for the event. So, let it be clear, the Value for Money is peanuts and the usage minimal. The state would have been better off, renting all rentals and not buying. Which means they have to find ways of using them. Unless, they plan to store them of site at MoTW.

Surely, the VIPs could have used the old ones and leased cars. They don’t newly minted cars fresh from the factory or unused even. They surely just want to arrive and on-time to the conference itself. But, the government want to splash out money like no tomorrow.

We remember the procurement scandal surrounding the CHOGM. The state should be more careful with their ways of buying these cars. There is no proof of value of money, neither the way the tenders nor the budget was for it. Lastly, not plan for usage or whose need for these post-CPC.

That seems like a mismatch of work and also questionable spending at best. When the same government has done the same stunt a decade ago. It should be obvious, that they could have the capacity to do this again.

So, be warned… it is a scandal in the making, unless Ofwono knows something we doesn’t as it is not like the documents, the proof and purchase methods are proven at this point. Unless, a Parliamentary PAC is looking into it or the Auditor General looks through the paperwork. Which we only will know in the next budget year or something. Peace.

Opinion: Will the 64th CPC have a similar aftermath as the CHOGM in 2007?

Now that there is a month or so away from the 64th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC) in Kampala. When the 500 delegates from all the Commonwealth member states are coming to the Republic of Uganda. To be part of conference and work for a week.

By all means, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) and its handlers see this a opportunity to spread the good news, to show the grand side of the Republic and its nation. However, why I am writing is that I fear this will be another Commonwealth scandal.

Last time was the Commonwealth Head of Government Meeting (CHOGM) held in Kampala a few days in November 2007. Which in retrospect was a graft-party for the Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi and Vice-President Gilbert Bukenya, also Foreign Minister Sam Kuteesa. Who all were implicated in millions of dollars gone missing on tenders and spending on the CHOGM conference that year.

As we know that the same people and organizers were around. The same people running the ministries and having vital roles. We know, that the NRM and its high ranking officials might see a new opportunity to eat. Don’t be shocked if the CPC becomes a modern day CHOGM. It is 12 years apart, but the same President and his party at the helm.

I would not be shocked if the Office of the Prime Minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, Foreign Minister Sam Kuteesa, Gen. Salim Selah and someone implicated in the State House would suddenly misuse allocated funds, which Keith Muhakanizi can explain nor anyone else. They will vanish in a tender, fake tent or even some VIP cars whose never gotten imported through a shell-company owned by high ranking officials. The IGG, Auditor General or Attorney General can implicate any of them, as they cannot find the paperwork, which also happen to go missing. As the state prosecutors doesn’t have enough evidence to produce a case against them. Don’t be shocked, it is just business as usual.

This is just me thinking loud. I wouldn’t be shocked or surprised if the CHOGM scandal in a new version for the CPC would happen. If it appear for us in late 2019 or in 2020 as the revision of budgets, the value of money reports and whatnot. They will reveal that some company, which happens to be in connection with high ranking officials, suddenly have vanished government funds.

Let’s wait and see. I hope I am wrong, but don’t be surprised if suddenly we have modern day version of CHOGM scandal. Don’t be amazed if the 46^th CPC suddenly turned into a goldmine for the big-men at the NRM. Peace.

Brexit: Layla Moran MP letter to Cabinet Secretary Mark Sedwell on the appointment of Dominic Cummings as Senior Advisor to the PM (24.07.2019)

Brexit: David Gauke MP resignation letter to PM Boris Johnson (24.07.2019)

Brexit: Philip Hammond MP resignation letter to Prime Minister May (23.07.2019)

Opinion: Boris is elected in a storm, but is he the trusted captain to get the public safe on the shore?

“Interviewer: Can you give an example, in your political life, when you’ve set your own self-interest aside for the benefit of the country?

Boris Johnson: Well, er, pfft, um, it’s a good question, but er, I, I, I would, you know, I don’t, obviously, it’s an embarrassing but, but true that, um, er, it is obviously, possible, er, how should I put this, to make more money, er, by not being a full-time politician. Um, I don’t, I don’t want to put too finer point on it, er, but, you know, you have to, you have to, you have to, make sacrifices sometimes” Conservative Leadership Contest Hustings in Darlington (5 July 2019)

Well, this whole Brexit ordeal has been chaotic and without any strong leadership. The Conservative Party or the Tories have been shambolic. They have now used the added time from Brexit Day in March to fight. Whose get the mantle post Theresa May, instead of finding liveable solutions to the biggest quest in their lifetime.

Alas, that is what the British does and the elite, who will not pay for the added austerity, troubling markets or hard border with Northern Ireland. While the Irish has prepared over three budgets and trying to get secured by the European Union. The Tories are flying in without much and still trying to configure the needed basics for a withdrawal from the Union. It is clear, that the Tories and the government doesn’t care much of the consequences as long as they are in power. If they did care, they would have shown the effects of leaving and also put up proper measures to tackle the coming hardships of post-EU membership.

Still, Boris Johnson will try to make it sound simple, as the populist and braggadocio man he is. Johnson will smooth talk, just like he did as Foreign Secretary, but don’t expect him to do much. Because, that is something he really doesn’t do. His a lazy bugger in power and has shown little flex, than playing for the guards whenever it has fitted him.

Johnson is a conning man, a man of big promises, lot of bravado but little flair or care for others. That is why other MPs are resigning as he becomes the PM. Others are condemning him, even before he starts, because has shown racists remarks and utter machoism in attitude. Not the perfect start for any MP, but this is a self-created obstacle, as he himself has shown disregard for a big portion of society and his racial slurs will always follow him.

That is why a man whose career has been to mystify and create division, will not supposed be there to create unity is utterly ridiculous, its obnoxious and demeaning to the public. Maybe the people of Brexit Party and far Right loves this man. But very few else do.

This is not the sort of man that should guide the British out of the self-made crisis they are in, which has been inflected on them because of men like Johnson. Who is a self-seeking diva and lover of power, but doesn’t know how to use it or get things done. That is the sort of man at the helm in London. Surely, Brussels must shiver, but also the other capitals, because his a despicable example of a man and a politician. Boris the Blade has arrived and it’s going to get bloody. Peace.