Lt. Gen. Henry Tumukunde letter to the Electoral Commission – Re: Presidential Aspirat Consultations (28.02.2020)

Opinion: Another bad Ad-Hoc Policy from Museveni – 20 Police Officers to 1671 sub-counties!

“President Museveni has directed the police leadership to deploy 20 policemen per sub-county and facilitate them with two motorcycles for patrol and easy mobility. This as he castigated the Uganda Police Force for sticking to the conventional methods of policing amidst dynamic modern crime trends. This as he closed the 25th police council meeting at police headquarters in Naguru” (NBS Television, 19.11.2019).

Before we look into the new directive of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, we can by the statistics of the Electoral Commission in 2016, estimate that there is 1403 sub-counties, as there is 112 official districts by 2016 alone. There been since then more created and awaiting more before the 2021 general elections.

By this its 1403 times 20 police officers, the grand total of 28,060 police officers. Which should be trained, stationed and paid for. By 2015 statistics there is already, all in all 44,897 police officers. That means half of them will go to sub-county level. Also, in 2015 there was a total of 1399 police posts all across the republic, which there is a lack of enough stations for all the ones whose suddenly deployed elsewhere. As well, as by the 44,897 officers only about 7,000 had supported housing. The Police Force is already underpaid and understaffed for the amount of work it has. With the new directive, the Police Force needs more police posts and more accommodations.

If we follow the Electoral Commission of 2018, then the numbers of districts are 122 and the amount of sub-counties is 1671. By the measure of police officers is then 33,420 who has to be deployed sub-county level. With that in mind, the numbers are even worse. We can imagine the even more lack of housing and police posts for them to be in. Not to think about the movement of them all. Not to imagine all them who are in special units, special training and whatnot. As there are detectives and whatnot in the police force. Not like these wants to end in Kagadi, Serere or in Lira.

With the knowledge of deploying 20 per post, which exists now, there is only capacity of 27,980. That’s with the knowledge of the 1399 posts, which exists now. But the ability to build more, must be a priority and also station it sufficiently across the sub-counties. If this policy should make any sense.

Unless, this is a political gamble and a election ploy to gain rural voters. Because, this is not only to combat crime, but show the needed amount of force. From the same presidency, that already lack the funding to pay Local Defence Units (LDUs). The same one that didn’t do enough for the Crime Preventers in the previous election cycle. This is a continuation of that.

With that in mind, I have to quote Finance Minister Matia Kasaija:

“We have discovered that many politicians simply agitate for the creation of new administrative units for creations of jobs. We already have 300 new sub-counties and 200 town councils, to get money for them to operate is a big problem” (Wilson Manishimwe – ‘Gov’t stuck with 300 newly created sub-counties’ 18.09.2019).

Seems like the President is busy creating jobs, but not having money to operate them. There are enough things that lacks funding and with this, is yet another government post, which lacks fiscal funding. Unless, the State House breaks the bank and use less on travel expenditure or payments of salaries for any of the Presidential Advisors. The Police Force might have some added funding. I am just smirking, but we know the gist.

The President is acting all out, doing quick-fix orders, ad-hoc without any thought of the budget nor implementation. It is just a snap of a finger and then suddenly things start to move. Peace.

Opinion: 10,833 LDUs without pay!

“The LDU is not a new force; they are the reserve of the army. The security guards of the ministries are guarding ministries against break-ins. Terrorists are targeting soft targets, they are not bank robbers” (Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, 15.09.2018).

We already knew in January 2019 that there was no money for the Local Defence Units (LDUs) in the budget year of 2018/19 and certainly not there in the 2019/20. Since today’s news proves this again. This is a re-issue of Crime Preventers Programme and a way to hire idle youth, but not do the due diligence of the actual needs to do it. That’s why the results is armed people with lack of pay, they will do anything to eat.

Look:

The Ministry of Defence has incurred a budgetary shortfall of 130.5 billion shillings as a result of the recruitment of LDU’s. This includes a wage shortfall of 40.9 billion for the 23000 LDU’s incurred in 2018/2019 and 2019/2020 financial years(Herbert Zziwa, 12.11.2019).

What does it mean:

This means, when they have an annual wage of Shs.2.4mn. Their wage shortfall, which was 14.9bn in 2018/19 means that 6,208 LDUs out of 10,919 are owed wages. Again, in 2019/20, 10,833 LDUs out of 13,000 recruited in 2019/20 don’t have their wages either. Meaning many armed and well-trained personnel from the UPDF is out awaiting their salaries (Mary Serumaga, 12.11.2019).

We can see by these calculations how it really is. The realities on the ground and the issues at hand. This is a launch to have back-up personnel for an up-coming election. To ensure the public, that they cannot have a popular uprising nor a revolution. Because, the state has enough armed forces to crush it. If it isn’t soldiers, ISO, CMI, Flying Squad, Special Forces Command or the UPDF. They will have something to target you with.

But, they are leaving them high and dry. The State is not properly approaching this. They are not spending the dimes on this as people would see deemed fit. Because, this is trained armed personnel, which can cause havoc, if they decided to do so. Why shouldn’t they? They got guns and knows how to aim!

This was a bad Ad-Hoc decision made in the wake of the violence: But he also did it to ensure up-coming elections, because that is what the President does. President Museveni doesn’t toy around with this. This is carefully estimated to secure his next term and the times ahead. Because, with these gentlemen with arms, he will have another group of armed personnel at his disposal, that can skirmish and get deployed in haste. There is nothing else too it.

His just misusing funds and the trust of people, in manners, which is extraordinary. However, very common here. As this isn’t the first nor the last time, the government lack funds for new projects, new ad-hoc decisions. As it is struggling to pay of gardening hoes from pledges made in 2015. Therefore, don’t expect magic, just more of the same. Peace.

Opinion: Lt. Gen. Tumukunde history of indiscipline and sackings!

Well, I had written another piece earlier today, after being criticised for lacking research on the Lt. Gen. Henry Tumukunde, whose has been taken out of action plenty of times and cried out for unfair treatment. His now changed from going for aspiring for Lord Mayor of Kampala in the up-coming election to now run for President. Because he does this, I will show some aspects of his past. Which the media and the ones paid to write, will not show. An some will say is unfair crtisicm, which it is not!

I got no loyalty to National Resistance Movement (NRM) nor Forum for Democratic Change (FDC). I look up and admire people like Dr. Kizza Besigye, but they doesn’t blind my critical vision. I have seen enough of what Brigadier Tumukunde has done over the years. People will say his a fine leader, why does he get sacked and called indisciplined all the time then, over the years?

Why was he so close to the Temangalo land scandal? Why was this great leader disgraced together with Gen. Kazini after his mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo? Also, why did he have a public spat with IGP Kale Kayihura for so long before being fired again in 2018?

Do you see what I did there?

Seeing the placement of certain activity, something that repeats itself, he was fired or sacked for his actions in 2003 and again in 2018. He has in the mean-time been charged, house-arrested and suddenly gotten hot-again; when he become political mobiliser in 2016 for the Presidential Campaign of Museveni.

So let me show you some sources to balance my claims!

“Brig. Henry Tumukunde: Until recently, Tumukunde enjoyed all the trappings of the family rule. He is married to Stella Tumukunde, a cousin to Janet Museveni. Although he is now not on talking terms with his former boss, pundits say that Tumukunde is under rehabilitation and sooner or later he will bounce back. He once headed the Internal Security Organisation (ISO) and Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI)” (The Independent – ‘Museveni govt’s Family Tree’ 25.03.2009)

In 2000:

“The ‘Sunday Vision’, said the leader of the mutineers, a certain Kitenge, was the former bodyguard of Nyamwisa. He and the other mutineers were flown to Kampala on Friday by the UPDF’s Chief of Military Intelligence Colonel Henry Tumukunde and “MONUC”. RCD-ML has been bedevilled with leadership wrangles in the past two months, forcing the party leader to seek reinforcements from the UPDF to quell rebellions” (IRIN News – ‘UPDF crushes yet another revolt in Bunia’ 04.09.2000).

In 2003:

“A statement from State House later said that Museveni had also effected changes in other security agencies. He dropped the chief of his para-military Internal Security Organisation (ISO) spy agency, Brigadier Henry Tumukunde, and replaced him with his deputy, Elly Kayanja” (Spywar – ‘Uganda army commander sacked over DR Congo looting’ 06.06.2003).

In 2005:

“Kampala — Brig. Henry Tumukunde not only violated army rules and regulations, but he also “talked too much,” the army has said. “For him to say the president must go! As a serving officer that does not concern him. He talked too much and broke army laws not once, not twice,” the UPDF and Defence Spokesman, Maj. Shaban Bantariza said yesterday” (Frank Nyakairu – ‘Uganda: Brig. Tumukunde Talked Too Much, Says Army’ 30.05.2005).

Ranking of Army leadership:

“However, the UPDF chief political commissar, Col Felix Kulayigye, said Brig Tumukunde should not have expected to be promoted because he was on trial. “Did he expect to be promoted in 10 years of which eight he was on trial? Does he want to say that by the time he became brigadier, he was the most senior officer at that time?” Col Kulayigye asked” (Daily Monitor – ‘Tumukunde cries out on UPDF ranks’ 20.07.2013).

“Tumukunde, was placed under house arrestand then later court martialled on allegations of making political statements in the media (after he appeared on a radio program), indiscipline and disobeying lawful orders contrary to the army code of conduct” (…) “Tumukunde was promoted in 2015 to the rank of Lieutenant General (by passing the rank of Major General) before being retired from the army, therefore allowing him to become a “political mobiliser”for the 2016 presidential campaigns” (Bore L, (2016).Army Representation in Uganda’s Multiparty Parliament – a critical review. CEPA Policy Series Papers Number 7 of 2016. Kampala).

In 2015:

“In 2005 he was forcibly detained by troops led by General Kale Kayihura, now Inspector General of Police. Two years of extra-judicial house arrest continued until his eventual release and the dropping of charges. His rehabilitation was maybe not completely unexpected. His NRM and NRA history speaks for itself, and his wife Stella Tumukunde is a cousin of President Museveni’s wife Janet Museveni. Henry Tumukunde’s role is unclear, but includes managing the controversial ‘Crime Preventers’, a mass nationwide vigilante or community policing network. With their T-Shirts in National Resistance Movement yellow, their loyalty is clear” (Menas Associates – ‘Henry Tumukunde comes in from the cold as rehabilitated spy master’ 09.12.2015).

In 2017:

“Tumukunde was convicted of the offense involving dishonesty or moral turpitude, thirdly, whether the appointment of Lt Gen. Tumukunde as the minister is a violation of Articles 80 (2) of the constitution and lastly whether the petitioner (Mr Kanti) is entitled to the declarations sought” (Anthony Wesaka – ‘Government defends Gen Tumukunde’s ministerial appointment’ 01.03.2017, Daily Monitor).

In 2019:

“Watchdog Uganda understands that Kulubya failed the “PR” test four times and therefore has been served four publicity invoices amounting to Sh36 million. He published stories about Gen Henry Tumukunde planning to stand as Lord Mayor of Kampala which his bosses say were published to promote the general” (Lawerance Kazooba – ‘Kabushenga deducts Shs45 million from Vision Group editors for publishing Tumukunde, NWSC ‘PR’ stories’ 25.07.2019).

If you want a ghost-soldiering, spat-spewing and power-hungry man to be the Presidential Candidate, be my guest. Let the high ranking and former loyal subject Lt. Gen. Tumukunde be your guy. We can just wonder whose next to praise this man and follow the man.Who will blindy say his fitting leader and has the astounding record. If he had that, why has he had so many scandals behind him and been sacked for his actions? Why? That doesn’t make sense to me. Maybe to his clients and fans.

That is the track-record of this Lt. Gen. and it speaks for itself. Peace.

UPDF to Recruit more 13,000 Local Defence Unit (LDUs) Personnel (04.07.2019)

Mzee ushers in the LDU like he did with the Crime Preventers before 2016!

“Since the NRM has already addressed the other bottlenecks such as ideological disorientation, a weak state (no Army etc.) and market integration, we are now able to move decisively on building an integrated and self sustaining economy that is independent. Here independence has never meant isolation. It means participation in the World economy on an equal and comparative basis” (Yoweri Kaguta Museveni – ‘Speech at the opening of NRM MPs retreat, 2019’ 15.03.2019).

We have seen this movie before, we have seen the stages of building up a military parastatal organization to ensure and have enough guards in the streets ahead of the General Election. That was the Crime Preventers in 2015 and 2016. Since then it has been disbanded and stopped functioning. Even if it was founded in 2014, it would be fitting to see the similarities.

This happen in 2015:

“President Y.K. Museveni on Tuesday the 18th August 2015, passed out 3,348 crime preventers after undergoing a seven weeks training at Police training school Kabalye in Masindi district under the theme: The fight against unemployment and poverty through enterprise partnership and production. The crime prevention and self-defense course was aimed at equipping the youths with skills necessary for job creation in a bid to fight poverty through enterprise partnerships. The crime preventers were drawn from higher institutions of learning throughout the country” (Uganda Police Force – ‘Pass out of Crime Preventers’ 18.08.2015).

Now in the 2019, the Local Defence Unit (LDU) is being ushered in, even earlier, than the regrouping and the impressive stature of National Crime Preventers Forum (NCPF), which was important and a group cleaning the slate for the state during and before the polls last time. We can anticipate this new unit doing the same. Even if it is more directly with guns and training, as the CP was more of police foot soldiers, whose less training and active by measures of the Police. The LDU is directly under the army and is a outfit directly there.

The President is clearly preparing to ensure the public to know of the amount of security organizations, soldiers and even LDU’s in the streets. This is the same he did with the Crime Preventers. LDU’s in this narrative makes sense. He has used the excuses of street violence and riots to create it, but will use it to intimidate during elections. Just like he did with the Crime Preventers and the President cannot use the same outfit again. Than, he will look ugly to the Election Observers, whose not following it steady.

LDU’s today:

“This evening, I passed out 6,239 Local Defence Unit (LDU) trainees at Kaweweta Military Training School. The recruitees from Wakiso, Mukono and Kampala districts have completed 16 weeks of basic military and tactical training. In defending a country, you must look at the economics and find an affordable formula. You may not have such a big army but you must ensure it has the necessary strategic elements. For the UPDF, these elements are in place and we are enhancing them. We have the infantry which is easier and faster to train. It should have officers and men ready for duty. Then you have the reserves, like these LDUs, from whom we can recruit rifle men and machine gunners when necessary. When not on military duty, these reserves will be into other work like farming. But as the budget improves, we shall ensure they have frequent refresher courses. This LDU training is a robust programme. We focused a lot on the villages and some people thought they could destabilize Uganda by attacking towns because of heavy motor and human traffic” (Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, 15.03.2019).

He calls them reserves, he is calling them an extra army and the training of them must be for some reasons, other than riots and demonstrations. This is a clear vindictive tactic, both to show power over the people. Its not enough with the laws, restricting their political freedoms, liberties or even ability to act upon the supposed multi-party democracy it’s supposed to be. However, that is not enough, how easy it is to be a political criminal. That is why the Police Force doesn’t have enough manpower, neither the Courts or any part of the Legal System is there for citizens, but for the patronage of the President.

That is why he needs more security forces for the elections, to intimidate and show his strength. Because, the President and his Party doesn’t have the popularity or the public support. He needs guns, he needs guns in the streets to show his greatness. Therefore, the LDU’s comes in as a substitute for the Crime Preventers. He just need a new program to be set-off for the old ones.

The LDU’s are reserves now, but will get more vital, more funding and become important in the hot minutes before the polls. The LDU’s will be stationed all across the Republic and with time also get posts where its needed. The LDU’s will not be used for just stopping possible urban demonstrations. Because, the President wouldn’t invest this much, if he couldn’t use it for his needs. They are up and coming.

Don’t get shocked, don’t get confused, this is preparations for the 2021. Mzee has played this game before and the saga continues. Peace.

Mzee’s answer to everything: Bring out the Guns!

There is something magical, something so magnificent and unique. That every time there is a problem, the BIG GUNS have to show up. The President, the Almighty, His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has to address the problem with hiring, appointing or ordering the military to intervene. They even have a commercial arm to assemble cellphones in the near future.

The army is already involved in the NAADS and SACCOs as well as other Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) projects. They have been involved in arresting people and disrupting rallies, not to talk about pure election violence. The army has been involved in invading the Plenary Chambers of the Parliament. There is nowhere the army and these branches of it isn’t touching.

If there is a problem. The President orders the Special Forces Command to monitor riots in Kampala. The President orders to combat army-worms and pipeline problems together with the KCCA. This is just mere simple example of the usage of the army.

The President when the Members of Parliament asked for more security, he ordered sharpshooters and specialized cars for the MPs to security their movements and travels. It was later turned down, but the way of the President to resolve the matter, was by getting the soldiers on stand-by and secure the VIPs.

This is how the President moves, now that Chinese Investors are afraid. The President has ordered soldiers to facilitate and secure the Chinese investments and investors themselves. The answer isn’t looking into the ruthless and insecurity. Instead, put out more guns in the field. Thinking they will solve the issue.

This is the militarism of the President. Where he sends the para-military Police Squads against oppositions. Where he had the Flying Squad, the Special Force Command, Crime Preventers, the Internal Security Organization (ISO) and the Chieftain of Military Intelligence (CMI) or even foot soldiers on the streets. Just to prove to the people, that he is boss!

That is just a sign of the lack of progress, the lack of development. When every crisis, when every need and whim of the President. The ones he is calling is the military and the soldiers, not trying to figure out the needed remedy. That gravy-train has left.

It is time to ask the President is if he has other advice and other solutions, because calling the soldiers to fix defects in society isn’t their role. Their role is to guard the borders and secure the Republic, not being the waiters and dancers at the party. That is how they are playing today. I am just awaiting seeing pictures of soldiers dropping off Waragin and Beer to VIPs. Because that is the only thing they isn’t doing. Since it isn’t long ago, when they even was in charge of a Beauty Pageant. Peace.

#SecurityUG: My take as nearly all Security Organizations are doing Police Work!

In this present state, we can start to question the safety of the public, not only that the Gen. David Muhoozi, the CDF of Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) thinks it is all cool; that the UPDF or the Army are investigating and arresting people. This is happening as the Internal Security Organization are doing the same. While the Flying Squad of the Police Force have sacked their Operatives and the Crime Preventers have become Reserve Army. While Boda Boda 2010 have been disbanded and Kiatta’s fate is all in limbo still.

We can certainly see the fluid situation, as the Flying Squad, the Chieftain of Military Intelligence (CMI), ISO, UPDF and Police Force are all directly trying to address the same problems in society. Even when needed, the President comes to scatter crime scenes and orders the Special Force Command (SFC) to tdo their thing.

Clearly, this is all should send the memo. That there are many cooks, many orders and units, but few who cooks perfectly. Because there are so many chefs, but so little output. Maybe that is the point to, as this is not the whole spectrum, but a big part of the Security Organizations involved.

The National Resistance Movement (NRM) and the President have built this system. We know it is messed up and that is because he has arranged it like this. Made a dozens outfits, possible to combat various intrusions and whatnot’s, but goblins doesn’t just appear from the thin-air. So, they got to do something.

That is why suddenly the UPDF are implicated in Police work, the Crime Preventers was too, but now are in the shadows, the Flying Squad was around flexing muscle, the CMI attacking and detaining people without warrants, but the Police Force was preoccupied following and monitoring opposition politicians. That is just the way things are and is, apparently, not to forget SFC was both doing political ambushes, also following President direct order to assault and detain politicians without any other reason. That they are in the near facility of his highness.

It is sad that all questions revolves around the President, even with the personal changes of new IGP or new CDF. The situation isn’t strengthening or becoming better, it is more of the same. Political prisoners kept long without trial like Dr. Stella Nyanzi. There are other too, but she is the biggest catch of the month. There are nothing happening with Sam Mugumya in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Therefore, the security with murders, assassinations and arrests, without the violence stopping. The salvos of attacks on the streets from CMI, shows the brilliance of the police brutality to whole world. It was broadcast from the street of Kampala.

Therefore, as the Flying Squad is demoted, the Boda Boda 2010 is too, the CMI acting out, the SFC wilding out and the list goes on. We can wonder what will be up, but there is nothing that is promising for a better security situation, as it has deteriorating a bit. Also, the lack of action and promise that is profound. The NRM and the President knows this, but just patching the hurt. They are not healing wounds or even closing the unanswered cases. As with time there are opening new cases and they move on. Even as the victims and their families are left astray, by all the organizations that is supposed to protect them and defend them. Peace.

UPDF: Arrest of Four Suspected Armed Criminals in Areas of Buziga-Kampala (13.10.2018)

UPDF Press Statement on opening recruitment of the Local Defence Unit in Kampala and Wakiso (22.09.2018)