Opinion: For 65 dollars more and you can enter the Republic…

It is amazing that a Republic like Uganda can charge $65 or 245,000 shillings on entering the Republic to be tested for COVID-19 or Coronavirus. This from a same government that has gotten grants upon grants to combat the disease. That is why this is infuriating.

Yes, no republic have boundless of funds or money to combat a global pandemic like this. While the government of Uganda have gotten support from all sort of foreign donors and multi-national organizations to beat it. Still, they sought to profit and cover their expenses on the ones arriving at Entebbe and the border points.

This means, the truckers, foreign aid workers, tourists and the ones who has the disease has to be tested, pay and then even quarantine somewhere. Certainly all of that costs and the quarantine “hostel” or “hotel” will not come for free either.

The “Cost Recovery Fee” is really showing the blatant disregard for the ones entering the Republic. Also the diaspora who are stranded and has to cough up funds to pay additional fees on entering. Like foreign students and maids abroad cannot afford this. Neither can the average truckers. This will either stop the testing or create a market for questionable behaviour. Since people cannot afford this.

Yes, the UN workers and Multi-National Organizations can afford doing this to support their projects. They will just allocate funds to expenses to secure their staff. However, the random and ordinary citizen cannot afford this. This is such a huge cost.

This is also spitting in the face of the donors and the ones offering grants to Uganda. As they are charging the same people on entering. Ensuring they are both offering grants and also getting fees to cover expenses. They are double paying for this.

Nobody is winning on this. The National Resistance Movement (NRM) just showing they have no sense and doesn’t want to cover their bases. They rather get additional funds. Then actually ensure the safety of the border points and see if they can trace the sources of the spread.

That they are doing it is insane. The state should know better and the donors should now ask for transparency and accountability over the COVID-19 Funds. Since, they are now clearly asking to be covered twice and sometimes by their own, but also by the same people who has used grants and donations to make it possible. Peace.

Chad: Complex security, environmental crises worsen conditions for over 360,000 in western Chad (29.08.2020)

Many families are facing heavy rainfall without proper housing, with the added complexity of the COVID-19 pandemic.

NEW YORK, United States of America, August 29, 2020 – More than 360,000 internally displaced persons in Chad’s Lake province are facing a “double” crisis, exposed to security and environmental risks, the UN International Organization for Migration (IOM) has reported, highlighting the need to strengthen resilience of affected communities.

According to Paul Dillon, an IOM spokesperson, while the region has been a target of repeated attacks by insurgents since 2015, the situation has worsened dramatically in 2020.

“Recurrent security attacks and incursions by non-State armed groups since the beginning of the year prompted the Chadian Government in March to declare the departments of Fouli and Kaya, two of Lake Chad’s borderlands departments ‘war zones’,” he said.

Since April, the number of the displaced has increased by almost 22 per cent, according to the IOM Displacement Tracking Matrix, a tool to monitor displacement and movement of people in emergency or crisis situations.

Double crisis 

Located in the western part of Chad, the Lake (or Lac) region borders Nigeria and Niger. The three nations along with Cameroon form the Lake Chad Basin, where thousands have lost their lives and millions forced to flee their homes due to attacks by non-State armed insurgents.

The crisis has also exacerbated food security, leaving many dependent on humanitarian assistance.

In addition to the security challenges, the situation in the Lake region has been further complicated by some of the heaviest rainfall in nearly 30 years, with roughly 400 millimetres of rainfall that resulted in flash floods in villages and fields.

“This is a worrying trend as the displacement is recurrent, protracted due to the deterioration of security and environmental situations, and involves large in numbers of people,” said Mr. Dillon.

IOM response 

In response, IOM is providing emergency assistance to vulnerable populations. It has delivered more than 2,500 transitory and semi-permanent shelters to nearly 13,000 persons; and over 2,700 non-food item packages including hygiene kits, sleeping mats, clothes and basic cooking equipment for over 14,000 persons.

However, much more is needed immediately as many families are facing heavy rainfall without proper housing, with the added complexity of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition, three-quarters of the displaced persons IOM identified live in displacement sites, most of which are made of straw and metal shelters.

Many of them sleep in the open without adequate protection from bad weather, with limited access to amenities such as water, hygiene facilities, health services and COVID-19 protective equipment.

Tanzania: The CCM must be proud of blocking opposition candidates…[ahead of the polls]

If your thinking of free and fair elections? Are you thinking of Tanzania? If you do? Your wrong. They are neither free nor fair. In Tanzania, the Chama Cha Mapundzi (CCM) are the state and ruling with a whip. They are whipping the opposition into submission. The party is using the state to hold control and censor the dissidents.

That is why media houses are shut down or suspended. This is why the state has to allow opposition to hold press conference and rallies. Even their party program and their internal training exercises has to get a go from the authorities.

The CHADEMA and ACT-WAZELENDO are now being blocked. Just like they were in the 2019. They were ensuring the opposition parties couldn’t field candidates. That is why the CCM initially ran against ghosts and goats.

They are doing the same ahead of the polls in late October 2020. There are several of Members of Parliament of the CCM who are running unopposed. After the Electoral Commission have dismissed several of them. For various of reasons. However, there are never any reports of the same commission dismissing nominations made by the CCM. Isn’t that a sign of something, right?

The CCM is the state and acts like the state. They are appointing anyone and controls everything. The CCM has the army, legislation and the civilian government. There are nothing they don’t have. They even have a bickering, faint-hearted and weak-spirited President in Magufuli. Who cannot stomach criticism, statistics or foreign broadcast without giving a thumbs up. It has to fit his narrow mind.

In this regard, the state is more envisioned to the small perspective of Magufuli. That is why the CCM are blocking nominated MPs from the Opposition. So, they have constituencies without any competition. When you are blocking 100s of candidates from both parties. The CCM and the Electoral Commission is proving their “independence”.

The CCM is destined to win this. Not because they have any policies or manifesto. Neither does it has any will or character to pull it off. However, they are the state and controls the whole thing. They will use all means to dislodge and disrupt the opposition. The Opposition also have no power or ability to operate without validation from appointees from the CCM.

That is why the October Election is pre-fixed and the recent actions proves it again. The CCM are not even willing to play it out. They rather use their means to humiliate and destroy the opposition. Instead of campaigning against them. The CCM doesn’t even have the heart to pull that off under Magufuli.

That is who the CCM under Magufuli is, a bunch of cowards. Who doesn’t have the character to even try to run a honest campaign. They have to use the powers of the authorities to stop the opposition from challenging them. Cannot even be on the ballots and act this out. That is too much to ask from these folks, apparently. Peace.

Opinion: ODM’s audit is only to buy time

The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and unofficial Prime Minister Raila Odinga wants suddenly an audit of the COVID-19 Funds and stolen PPE equipment in the Republic. It is really evident that the ODM is doing favours for the state.

These statements are coming from the same guys and semi-government party, who claims to both opposition and a government party. Which is very evident by the recent moves. They have been crying out loud for arrests, demonstration and cried havoc over other scandals. Day-in and day-out.

This time they are just measly saying … let’s someone look into it and hope they spend time doing so. An inquiry and an audit will last until the next election or even after the polls. Kenyatta and Jubilee must be giddy.

Jubilee and the allies must feel relieved. The ODM is cleaning their house and their mess. The dirt is cleaned. They say there is a need for an audit. However, nothing specified and no talk of independent investigation. If it is an in-house investigation. Then, the smaller fish will be catched, while the big-fish will be released. They are the untouchables and the ones who are saved no matter what.

Odinga has made a living. ODM is now in the stretch of both angles, even if his close to be a Jubilee-KANU-ODM alliance, if there ever was one. The Jubilee have consolidated around Uhuru Kenyatta. He has distanced the DP and his TangaTanga. They are even crying out loud, the former known looters of the Republic.

Therefore, the whole elite and the ones associated is fine with the thieving. They are just buying time. Instead of direct investigations, indictments and charges on alleged crimes. They are crying for in-house audits, where a committee will look into it and buy the politicians time to bury the theft.

The audit is a fitting tool, where appointed commissioners and handy individuals can get a limited mandate and a scope. Where they possibly can find nothing or even deliver a result when its outdated. That is what usually happens.

This is why the call for a audit is buffoonery. It is playing bamboozle with the public. ODM knows this and Jubilee knows this. Odinga knows this and Kenyatta knows that too.

You can trick the public once, maybe twice, but three times. That is not happening. There been enough scandals without any consequences. This administration have several on their hands and no one has paid a price. An audit of this one will linger on for ages and will loose its steam before a bracelet is even procured.

So, while the stove is sizzling… the heat is on, the state and its allies shifts the show and side-track the conversation. Instead of actually getting a look at the culprits and the ones involved. Getting a committee and gazetted appointments. While the thieves moves on to another government tender, procurement scheme or funds to exploit. Peace.

Uganda: Ministry of Finance, Planning & Economic Development – Media Statement on COVID 19 Cases (24.08.2020)

Tchad: Groupe des Deputes du Mayo-Kebbi – Appel a la Paix et a la Securite au Mayo Kebbi (21.08.2020)

Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition (THRDC): A Notice of Cancellation of THRDC’s Activities (17.08.2020)

Memo to Museveni: Its not a level playing-field in campaign season..

I would address one subcounty and bring delegates from the other remaining three to address them. So, I would not reach all my people. But you can reach more people on radio when the Electoral Commission (EC) allocates politicians time, especially in the evening when people are at home”Yoweri Kaguta Museveni (Chris Kiwawulo – ‘Museveni speaks out on opening schools’ 16.08.2020).

President for Life, the Eternal Prince and the Don of the Republic, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni can act like its a democratic playing-field, where everyone can act accordingly and have their say. However, that is far from the truth. His people can do whatever and they are allowed to breech presidential directives and campaign guidelines from the Electoral Commission. Heck, himself doesn’t have to abide to it either. It’s all fair game and they will be ensured the victory in the end.

His Excellency can act like its an good idea to be on the radio. The President can say there will be delegated time-slots and opportunity for all candidates to be on-air. However, the issue is that the broadcasters, the editors and the owners are holding control over these. There are stations owned by relics, historicals and backers of the Movement. Will these open up the air for Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine or someone swinging for the FDC ?

Like we are supposed to forget there has been initiated two specialized units, one for media control and one for population control. Where one is part of the army and the other police force. Both will in general be used to disperse and arrest opposition candidates and their supporters. To think otherwise is to foolish at this point.

President Museveni can think we are all stupid. That we are all dumb and don’t know his ways. Not like he have opened the floodgates and given way to the opposition. It is not like they can run on any narrow street and spread their gospel. No, they have to get a nudge from the authorities, they have to secure a venue and then pray to the Gods that the authorities actually let them.

So, when they struggle so hard to do party politics outside their headquarters. You can wonder, if the President would have been able to walk so proud and with high regard. If he had to go through what the opposition does on his watch. The old man with the hat clearly doesn’t see the ills of his ways. The way his destroying the political sphere only for short-sighted personal gains.

The President is winning this election. Just like he has done with all the other elections. Not because of his popularity or his standing in the public. No, his winning because he has the guns and the loyalty among the authorities. The men he feeds and appoints serves him. However, when these rented men betrays him. At that point he will loose it all.

At this very moment. The opposition struggles to have a voice. Within the small space they have. They are trying to reach the public, use the digital means, while the Movement can campaign like usual. Clearly, there is a mixed bag of approach to the guidelines. One for the NRM and another for the rest.

The President knows this as well, but will act differently. That’s why he takes us for fools. That we are so dumb and doesn’t understand his vision. However, his vision is blurred, his foresight isn’t that clever and at one point of time. He will understand his failure, but he will not profess it. Because, that means he has to redeem his soul and his conscience. Two things he sold a long time ago for the golden opportunity to stay in power for life. Peace.

African National Congress: ANC Statement on the Decision by the President to move the Country to Level Two – “Lets All Press Forward Together” (16.08.2020)

Opinion: Museveni can sleepwalk into the elections [as the opposition only aim at their own]

The National Resistance Movement (NRM) who are not caring about the guidelines or the regulations for COVID-19 or Coronavirus. Who are busy scheduling all activities ahead of the General Elections of 2021. also settling the final flag-bearers of the party. Which sometimes are the same-old, same-old and dozens of sole candidates. The NRM looks solid ahead of the elections.

At this point, as the President Museveni is busy preparing for this 8th Term since 1986. The man, the legend, the dictator and the President for Life. The supposed Fountain of Honour and His Excellency can just sleep. He can be lazy, he can squander around and even have a few scandals on his hands.

The opposition are busy scheming tearing each other apart. The Uganda People’s Congress is the NRM-Light at this point. The big-man Akena and his wife is both in the sphere of the President. They have traded perks and agreement with the NRM .The UPC is only viable in small pockets and doesn’t have the organization nor trust in the public. Because of the trade-off that Akena, Son-of-Obote did in the last election cycle.

Democratic Party have been raided, taken by everyone. Norbert Mao should by crying at home this weekend. The day of betrayal was this week and he lost his MPs. He got none of the big-men and the party is weakened. There is little left and the promise in the months ahead can’t be much. Not like they can muster such voices and cadres over night. To take the space, which these MPs left.

Forum for Democratic Change are also weakened, also many questions about where they are turning. The ghost of Besigye. While Lukwago only created questions of protocol and validity of the nomination process. No matter what it does, it has lost plenty of the faction belonging to Muntu. The pragmatic part of the FDC has left and the defiance of Besigye lingers on. We can wonder what it will do and how it will become the biggest opposition party again. It needs to show flex and muscle ahead. Needs to drop heavy hitters of flag-bearers and show it isn’t just a punchline.

One of the newcomers, who has shown new strength is Muntu and his Alliance of National Transformation (ANT). Most of this has come by weakening the FDC. The ones who was supporters and allies of Muntu is the ones that left the FDC. There are very few independents who has come, except for Kassiano Wadri. Who is also a former FDC, but had left the party already. Muntu got some good people around him, but he seems like his trying to do the same thing he always does. Saying the right things, but not really challenging status quo.

The second newcomer is the People Power Movement and the National Unity Platform. Where Bobi Wine have really scored big and creating headlines. A man who is getting support from all parties and independents. He raided the DP party and gotten several of MPs standing for the NUP. Right now the momentum of the opposition is in his hands. He even got the nudge of the DP Block and the Justice forum for the Presidency. However, JEEMA will field own MPs and not do that under the NUP flag. Showing, there are a balance of sorts and there will be honest competition.

The DP is losing big, FDC is weakened and creating uncertainty, as the biggest party and the one historically challenging the President. Museveni must be giddy that the FDC is lingering like this. Instead of having a steady line and showing resilience. The up-hill battle that persist must be tiring and that’s why its showing some fatigue.

ANT and NUP are revitalized, but they are still not that big or organized like the FDC. Bobi Wine has momentum, but he needs support from everywhere to get the final push. He got friends all around, but with purges like recently in the DP: There might be fear that does happen elsewhere too.

The NRM should be joyful that the opposition looks like this. The message is distorted and the opposition is busy seeing whose deflecting and whose staying. Not to talk about finding out who is the flag-bearer and who gets the nominations. There are so much in-fighting.

There is more talk about what’s happening between the parties. The new and the old. If the old parties have the push or if they are out of steam. We can wonder ourselves. If this is all meal-ticket politics or actual battle for change.

Museveni is lucky with this. They are not pin-point at his failures, at him tanking the economy, taking up more loans and continuing his impunity in power. He can walk free of that. Only touched a small amount of time. Instead of being the target, the one people are aiming for and proving his recklessness. That is what they should do. Expose and show the intolerant and the state sponsored brutality, which is the image of this state.

Except he gets away with that. As he visits factories, radio stations and hold speeches on the regular. He walks and travels at ease like a bird. While the others are in cages and they are not even allowed to sing. Peace.