Uganda: FDC Party Officially welcomes dialogue between the FDC and the NRM (31.03.2017)

Opinion: Dear Swedes stick to IKEA, please forget the talks between Museveni and Besigye!

I don’t know if I should laugh or cry, but what sort of discussion should be from people who gave us IKEA, Volvo and tiny meatballs. We know that the Swedish needs to prove their worth in the world on other venues, than the Eurovision and hair-styles of Zlatan Ibrahamovic. Still, the recent of willingly sending Pro Bono people to mediate between the long serving, self reliance and thief in chief, the National Resistance Movement wizard, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and the Opposition leader, creator of Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) Dr. Kizza Besigye are supposed to talk between cups of tea and biscuits provided with Swedish hospitality.

“The Swedish Government has confirmed that it has been approached and, has accepted, to mediate planned talks between President Museveni and former presidential candidate, Dr Kizza Besigye” (…) “The government of Sweden is involved in supporting and promoting dialogue in many parts of the world, as part of its policy of conflict prevention and support to peace processes. Sweden has been asked to facilitate a possible dialogue in Uganda,” Swedish Foreign ministry spokeswoman Katarina Byrenius Roslund, noted in reply to email inquiries from this newspaper. The “discussions are still at an early stage”, she noted, adding: “When there is concrete progress to communicate, we will do so” (…) “Ms Annika Söder, the Swedish state secretary, has been agreed on by the principals as the mediator for the expected talks. She flew into the country last week and held separate back-to-back meetings with the President and Dr Besigye on Thursday and Friday, respectively, in what knowledgeable sources described as “exploratory” (Butagira, 2017).

First and foremost, can the Swedes explain the content of tear-gas into public meetings, police blocking, detaining of FDC Youths, falsified charges against the FDC leadership, the Public Order Management Bill who is created to stop meeting of anyone else, than the loyal men of Museveni. How can there be talks between the parties?

Secondly, when every travel and meeting of FDC and Besigye is met with heavy police force, blocking of main roads and tear-gas when they congregate. What is there to discuss? What perimeter of Kasangati he is allowed to leave before it is an issue? What sort of ideas do the Swedes have in mind, except selling Volvo and SAAB to Uganda, instead of Isuzu and Toyota!

Seriously, that the Government of Sweden must either be blind or ill-minded if they think this will give way. If they know the history of Nairobi Talks of 1980s. When the National Resistance Army and the other parties gathered to iron out the differences. Than that was used to forge more way for the NRA agenda and silence the others with guns and ammo. Not generate peace without knowledge of Museveni landing on top. So this is in his blood and the blood that is shed for him to gain all power.

Global IDP Database wrote this about his negotiations:

“In July 1985, conflict between some Langi and Acholi soldiers led to the overthrow of the Obote regime. The coup, which brought General Tito Okello to power, shattered the military alliance between the Acholi and Langi and escalated ethnic violence. The Okello regime invited all fighting groups and political parties to join the military government. Every armed group and political party, with the exception of the NRA, joined the administration. The NRA, however, engaged the regime in protracted peace negotiations held in Nairobi. In December 1985, the Nairobi Agreement was signed under the chairmanship of President Moi of Kenya. However, the Agreement was never implemented and Museveni seized power on the 25th January 1986” (Global IDP Database, P: 18, 2004).

So will the Swedish buy into the mantra that everything can be reassembled and rebuilt? Since they want to forge a relationship between Besigye and Museveni. Museveni, who rather take up guns and get rid of opposition and vowed last year to destroy the opposition. Well, I am sure the Swedish we’re busy finding ways to export designer materials, than following the post-election dogma of Museveni. Since a man who only believes “he is the only man with a vision”. That is the man who is supposed to co-operate and negotiate with an advisory! Really?

A man who doesn’t want to talk about succession and doesn’t want to speak about his lingering in charge. A man who has run a country and nation since 1986, has nothing more to win or to gain by playing soft. If he does so and the Swedish is dumb enough to buy into the fake wood and think they get mahogany, than they will offer donor-funding and possible other prices for the so-called negotiations between the NRM and FDC. Even as the FDC Headquarter we’re a year ago a crime scene and many members and leaders we’re detained on manufactured charges.

There shouldn’t be these sort of talks at this point, if so, than the Swedish are legitimizing the thieving of Museveni and his NRM elite. Does the Swedish government want that on their plate? Is that the Swedish people’s prideful mission to support and trust in a corrupt and militarized government, while they at the same time is using Besigye as pawn?

The Swedish government, if they care should back-off, go home to Stockholm. Cut their aid and stop the talks. As they will only give more way to dictator and his clientele at the Okello House. There aren’t anything else to give.

Did the Swedish government do any research and care about the track-record of the Museveni regime? Have they seen how many mysterious deaths and men who has worked close who has either had to flee or been detained by his regime? Have the Swedish considered their implications in establishing legitimacy of the current leadership? Who doesn’t care if they bankrupt their country? While they are driving expensive cars on the State coffers?

Does the Swedish government need this win or this talks to gain international recognition, and not only sell IKEA furniture? Time to take the dozens pieces and assemble that the chairs in Umeå, and step away from Kampala.

Or do the Swedish government and their team no problem with losing their credibility for helping a fellow dictator? Peace.

Reference:

Butagira, Tabu – ‘Sweden to mediate Museveni, Besigye talks’ (29.03.2017) link: http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Sweden-to-mediate-Museveni–Besigye-talks/688334-3868674-b3fqil/index.html

Global IDP Database – ‘PROFILE OF INTERNAL DISPLACEMENT : UGANDA’ (17.06.2004)

Opinion: Besigye doesn’t need dialogue with Museveni!

Dr. Kizza Besigye and the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) do not need to have dialogue or negotiation with the National Resistance Movement (NRM) or the President himself. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni needs more the dialogue than the FDC and their party needs it. It is the NRM government and NRM regime who needs legitimacy and needs funds. That is proven with Civil Society Budget Advocacy Group (CSBAG) who proves with the 16 trillion shillings funds the for the 2017/2018 budget of the 30 trillion shillings needed. With this in mind there is certainly that the NRM needs more international support to fix missing funds.

That Museveni would need Besigye now a year after the General Election of 2016 shows how dire the situation is, the added debt and the troubling waters on the giant infrastructure projects, as much as the missing funds for the salaries or the other financial expenses that are occurring for the government. So the proof of issues is growing as the direct budget support has dwindled down as well as the elite and the cronies still expect to be fed by the regime.

Besigye has still a forged treason case, as much as Rwenzururu king Charles Wesley Mumbere has as well. The FDC headquarters was attacked and a crime-scene as the FDC Youth and FDC P10 was attacked as the defiance campaign was even banned by the Deputy Court Justice Stephen Kavuma. As well, the Police Force under IGP Kale Kayihura monitored and followed the leadership of FDC like they we’re criminal. There were many detained and house-arrested, there was more people hurt and hospitalized by state security organization. Also, the many inflicted and detained without warrants or court order shows the impunity of the state towards the FDC.

So after this impunity, after the illegal house-arrest of Besigye and the others who has been taken into prison without any justice served, why should the FDC try to sell their soul to the Movement? That is waste of time and waste of energy, it would be like the men who traded their political lives in Nairobi talks: “The NRA and the government signed a peace and power sharing agreement in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital Dec. 17 that called for an immediate cease-fire, the freezing of all troop movements and a half share of the ruling Military Council for the NRA” (…) “The provisions of the accord were largely ignored and both sides used the lull in the fighting to reposition and resupply their forces. The guerrillas claimed the military committed widespread human rights abuses after the accord was signed” (Charles Mitchell – ‘The National Resistance Army of rebel leader Yoweri Museveni…’ 26.01.1986 link: http://www.upi.com/Archives/1986/01/26/The-National-Resistance-Army-of-rebel-leader-Yoweri-Museveni/5549507099600/ ). So the agreement done by NRA in December 1985 wasn’t a big deal, so that Museveni could do a final sting and coup to gain power, which he has never left.

A negotiation with Museveni would only enforce his rule and his longevity in power nothing else. Besigye would not be offered anything substantial; his part in the matter would end in little or nothing. FDC would get the stick, but not get the price. Just like they wouldn’t feel a difference between now and then since the price of going into partnership would benefit Museveni. The Movement would get beneficiary funding and regard internationally since FDC has a higher standing abroad than Museveni.

Museveni is well-known now because of his 7 terms and his position of executive since 1986. The reality of this that a negotiation or dialogue with Museveni at this stage is redundant, unless the President all of sudden turns his own self sideways. That he would go back on all his empty promises and all of his glory. Certainly Museveni could do so, but he knows that he has too many people on his consciences to leave it all behind. The President has eaten too much of the state coffers and cannot leave the bank-accounts behind. The family is too connected and has all the leverage in the state. The movement is built around him and if he fails than the party does as well.

The Movement and Museveni would not co-sign their powers or the authority, not after the rigging and the massive misuse of the state funds, therefore the lacking funds for the current budget. Museveni knows that his loyal friends abroad will not give in to his ways anymore, therefore hoping to play other cards. Use his political brain to suck other donors in. That while waiting for more oil-monies and also trade of other with making the UPDF to mercenary army in Equatorial Guinea or South Sudan if needed. This is because they need to get fresh funding for the State House, which hasn’t paid their payment-arrears to the owners of the Okello House!

So Besigye doesn’t need Museveni at this point, he needs his party and the loyalty of his supporters. That is more than Museveni has who needs to pay for loyalty and to secure funding for the movement itself. Therefore the jobs and funds to come steady, there is always more mouths to feed and more people to silence with brown envelopes. So Museveni needs foreign support and foreign aid as the Uganda Revenue Authority has just enough regulations and taxes to bring in funds that scrape the surface, but not fill the state coffers.

So again I say and I stand by it, Museveni is the only one earning political capital on negotiations and dialogue, nothing is really to be earned by the FDC or Besigye. So with this in mind, Museveni will only gain and Besigye will only lose on it. If you know you would lose, why give way to somebody who comes to take it all and deplete it all? Peace.

Opinion: The next steps for Besigye and continued defiance against the Movement!

It’s not easy to give words of advice to the men and woman who are in the line of fire. But we cannot let the Movement and their spin-control run the mill. They are stealing and thieving with massive speed and impunity. They are trying to avoid the weakness of the economy, trying to find new ways of revamping the economy without too much state debt and without loving donor direct aid. They still have the military and equipment served from loyal allies in the United States, if that will happen under Trump and it has happen under Bush/Obama is not easy to know; certainly U.S. will still let other brigades do the dirt they don’t want to do themselves.

The ones who toll with the problems are Dr. Kizza Besigye and his Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), they work for a peaceful transition in Uganda from the militarized politics of the President Museveni’s Movement. So with this in mind, after a year of issues, a year of tribulations, arrests, detained and charges of treason against the government; the political change is still in the wind. Besigye had deserved a better start and a fresher place as he is still monitored and still has Police following all movement done by the man. The same with his party who cannot hold meetings and public consultations without police taking stereo equipment, arrests or intimidation of citizens who shows up or just happen to be around.

Besigye had started the Campaign of Defiance under the Election Road Map for the General Election of 2016. So in 2015 it was started and has been put under fire from the Resistance Movement, an ironic problem for a draconian and tyrant regime who cannot really be democratic as they tries to silence or get rid of the worst opponents. Besigye is only kept because of known place and international scrutiny of they try to attack him too much.

First Step – Defy with actions:

Besigye should continue and with more force, use more than just words and get the FDC to actually take a stronger stand against the ones that supports the regime. The Mafia regime or junta government, which he has described the Movement so many times. If FDC wants to be fair and wants to defy the Movement, they should suspend themselves first from Parliament. It is risky, but would be a grandeur position to take away the Shadow Government and the legitimacy of the current government.

Second Step – Defy with dialogue with other opposition:

Secondly the FDC should be in talks with Democratic Party and other smaller parties that are not involved directly in the Movement regime, as they can try to weaken and strengthen the other voices. As Besigye have already done with his friendship with Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago and Gen. David Sejusa. FDC needs to be connected with people of stature like Norbert Mao and others, who are real opposition to Museveni. Not talk to Jimmy Akena or others who just uses their parties as fronts of beacon of democracy, instead of actually challenging the Movement.

Third Step – Defy the Courts like IGP Kayihura:

Just as IGP Kale Kayihura defied his own court-orders, the same should Besigye himself start to do in 2017, to show that he doesn’t respect the unlawful character of the regime; as the peaceful acts of showing up for treason charge that continue running into oblivion. Time to just say it is a kangaroo court and is only doing it to silence his voice. Therefore not showing up and instead continue to travel around the country to meet and greet party officials and locals to prove the value of building institution over being a sole candidate in Museveni and the NRM.

Times is a wasting, it’s hard to do stuff when you’re behind bars or at court, it’s hard to always move when the Police Force and other Security Organizations follow your every step.

Fourth Step – Hurt the pocket of the Government:

Certainly the Defiance needs to be hurting the regime. Try to stop the foreign exchange rates, the taxation and the revenue of the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), even the business that is inter-connected with the Movement. As much as it should stop the state owned businesses that is being used by the Movement. Museveni would hate that he couldn’t misuse the profits of needed businesses, the ones that are owned by investors who are supplying him funds to pay Special Force Command and other militarized outfits that keeps him as the Executive.

If the Besigye and his folks stood behind and hurt the pocket and legitimacy, not in words only, but also actions that could move the regime and also create a vacuum that Museveni and his movement couldn’t control. The ripple effect and the true hurt would be shown. Especially with the knowledge, that the Election already hurt the economy with massive effect. So if they continue pounding on it took out the cash out of the Museveni owned banks and stopped profits to companies that the Museveni clan partly own. Than the Movement and family would feel the pinch.

Defying the state institutions and the government procedures, stop respecting the Police and Courts, stop listening to the draconian laws and also stop the funding of taxes and funds to directly keep the Movement alive. Something that would really hurt Museveni and his elite; this would really make it hard for the Movement to continue to use Police Force and use the state to gain wealth.

Besigye can continue to talk peaceful transition and I respect that. This sort of acts is not easy. They are hard and costly. Many will be arrested, many more detained, more torture and more innocent dying, but there been so much over 30 years that the defiance campaign has to take it to the next level. Show disrespect, let the government lose its value and show the world that the ones behind Besigye don’t see Museveni as their President. Museveni is just a citizen, not an Executive, as he wasn’t really elected to be so; he coup d’état again when he got sworn-in on the 12^th May of 2016.

Time for acts, not talk, time for really defying the government and use the power of the people. Time to use the popularity and risk being harassed, as if you don’t than the Police will continue as they do; business as usual and also target the FDC as much as possible without it costing much for the illegitimate government it is. The illegal detained and the illegal arrests cannot be sustained, as much as the house arrests and unlawful behaviour of the Police towards the FDC is unbearable. This is not militant; it is fighting for a just cause. The real freedom and liberty, not to talk about a real legitimate government who represent the citizens of Uganda! Not a government representing Museveni and only his vision. Peace.

Opinion: The only good news from Kololo, today; and also surprised that the Western diplomates didn’t know President Museveni sentiments on the ICC (or tried to forget)

Well, the good news is not that there was a Swearing-In of President Museveni for his Seventh Term, bite me, it is not fifth, it’s Seventh! Got to teach the National Resistance Movement to count, after that the international media some recent history to not shave off the first decade in Power for Mr. Yoweri in Uganda.

The good news was:

“Department spokeswoman Elizabeth Trudeau said U.S. Ambassador to Uganda Deborah Malac and a visiting Washington-based official, along with several European and Canadian diplomats, abruptly left the inauguration after Museveni made negative remarks about the International Criminal Court in his inaugural address. She added that the U.S. also objected to Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir’s participation in the inauguration. Al-Bashir has been charged by the court for atrocities in Sudan’s western Darfur region” (Lee, 2016).

Because this set the perimeter of next inaugurations as Uganda is not the only country where the Opposition is under fire and where the human rights are squabbled for the Ruling Regime to control. But the reaction from the European Union representative and the United States is a bit late now. United States Government have supported them the Ugandan Government for three decades as the Ugandans have fought wars you wouldn’t touch with a your little finger. The European Union have done so in good faith and with the hopes that this will be one of their success stories as the beginning of Museveni terms he was actually sounding like a democratic ruler and had swagger like no-one else and even swallowed the Structural Adjustment Program; more than many other leaders did for long-term loans and direct-budget aid to the Ugandan government.

But that is not why the diplomates left the Inauguration of President Museveni at the Kololo Independence ground. They left the event in midst of the speech and everything because of mentioning of International Criminal Court, the discontent that exist in certain parts of Africa, as the ICC have target many African leaders and Warlords, while nearly none of the allies of European or American Government have been taken. Which make it seem like Post-Colonial tool and certain totalitarian, and Police State leaders feels that especially since they might be the next in line to be charged by the ICC.

Even on the second Live Presidential Candidate or the second #UGDebate President: “A founding signatory of the Rome Statute, on ICC: Yes we should be out of the ICC. ICC is not serious. It is partisan. There are so many people who should have been tried if they were serious. The way to go is to have our own African Criminal Court. Trying to work with ICC was a mistake”.

So if the American or European diplomats were surprised by the words uttered by the President, they should check his track-record, and are you naïve? He is the same brother who toyed with the worlds in the Nairobi talks in 1980s, muffled the involvement in Rwandan Patriotic Front, the direct involvement in wars in Democratic Republic Congo that got rid of both President Mobutu Sese Seko and President Laurent Kabila. His involvement in South Sudan and also the claimed help of President Nkurunziza after the coup d’état in 2015; there are too many instances where he has went to the gun for himself and others. So that he dislikes the ICC should be seen as natural for his Western Allies, that have given military experts and equipment over decades.

He used ties to Libya to get arms to bring down Obote, Obote whom he had a agreement with to get rid of Idi Amin. This man has done whatever to get power and get powers other places. He is ruthless and does not care how far he has to go to have it. He builds people up and burry them if they get ambition. So many men have fallen and so many fallen without the reason or the authorities have cleared the cases of the killings. Many men who have had honorable positions and been high up in the military have been silenced by the NRA/NRM. And this isn’t just rumors, this is known, but not something that is talked about.

So European diplomates and American ones, you have to consider your obligation and role in Uganda, the walkout and the assessment of that, is only a small embarrassment, but to cut donor-aid and military equipment would mean something. To endorse directly Dr. Kizza Besigye would be another force of change. That would be like Alassane Ouattara won over Laurent Gbabgo in Cote d’Ivoire in 2010. Who made his own army and took over power when the International Community recognized Ouattara in 2011 and later detained Ggabo. So there are possible ways of creating the changes, but hopefully without guns though that is the only thing President Museveni believes in.

I know he told at one point he wanted to be a Pastor, but over the time he became a gun-loving, bush-war and embezzlement patriarch who oppose the idea of any other human being having a vision of leadership in the country he is running.

That isn’t a beautiful picture, but there certain questions remain why the American and European were mad about this:

“After introducing ICC indictee Bashir, Museveni said: “We lost interest in the ICC. We thought they were serious.” Museveni said he had supported ICC at the beginning but realised that “ICC is a bunch of useless people” (Trending.co.ug, 2016).

This words uttered from the mouth apparently was too much from the Western Diplomates today. Together with them we’re also the invited and warranted President Bashir; for me some strange reason no problem with the other hectic and problematic despots, dictators, lingering Presidents and so on; that also showed-up for the event. Why no problem with Cameroonian Biya? Why no problem with President Obiang? Why not mad about President Mugabe? And list goes on of people who disrespect democratic values and freedoms in their countries… though not sanctioned by the ICC.

For being diplomates, they should have known at least about the words said by the man on the Presidential Debate in February 2016. The ICC has already issues within the African Nations and the African Union have had talks on removing itself from the International Criminal Courts because of Post-Colonial affairs and targeting African leaders. So with that in mind, this doesn’t help the cause for the Europeans or Americans unless they do something serious, a ruthless man like President Museveni. Needs the guns and equipment, if not he trade with Russians and trains together with North Koreans, he has done it before and will do it again. Even order second level army equipment from China instead of getting training and army deals with Americans. The Western diplomats should not be surprised and should know his history and how reckless he can behave.

Why do you think Hon. Paolo Muwanga even feared and was disgusted with the man? He even understood to what extend the President would go when he got into power. Since he spoke beautiful words as it was needed in the Bush, the people and international community supported him.

Now there a long run since 1986, lots of European and United States Presidents have been in Power and changed leadership, while the Ugandan leader have lingered on and not caught flack before now, really? Late to the Party or is it the later redeemer now?

The issue is that they have known he has these sentiments, as the escalated violence, detaining and use of army against his own citizens. We can see it with the recent Post-Election killings in Kasese, the pro-longed Northern Uganda Conflict that lasted since 1980s into peace agreement in 2006; and the Ugandan-Fueled guerrillas in the DR Congo.

So that he is a little rash and rough with the introduction of President Bashir is the issue all of sudden, is sorry to say a little weak tea as you have given way for him to do all the other activities and not really condemn that. This because President Museveni have been a needed ally in the region after the fall of Mobutu, that American Government had for so long; that is why President Clinton even praised Museveni together with other leaders.

Today should not be surprising, the European and American Diplomates should have known his sentiments on the ICC, and he want to be a great leader, so he would invite anyone who wanted to show-up. This here is just the proof of it, nobody expected President Obama or Chancellor Merkel or even President Hollande to attend: They would rather have a cup of tea then showing-up. The strangest was that the former loyal ally President Kagame was in the wind… but that just so the strained relationship.

Well, this was my two cents. Not beautiful… just the way it is; when you have trusted a man to fight for you and expecting him to be peace loving democratic values full of integrity and standing by for liberty and justice in his Nation, while they have for decades let him get away with murders, destabilizing neighbor countries and done other adventures without giving him much of even a slap on his face. Then you expect him to be the grandest man… you have lost the plot fellow Western Diplomates. Peace.

Reference:

Lee, Matthew – ‘US diplomats walk out of Uganda president’s inauguration’ (12.05.2016) links: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/whitehouse/us-diplomats-walk-out-of-uganda-presidents-inauguration/2016/05/12/e461854c-1874-11e6-971a-dadf9ab18869_story.html?postshare=5891463086874273&tid=ss_tw

Trending.co.ug – ‘ICC is useless, says Museveni’ (12.05.2016) link: http://trending.co.ug/politics/icc-useless-says-museveni

My Letter to President Museveni: “On the Opposition which is silenced days before the Swearing-In on 12th May 2016; and you have become the same as the ones you Rebelled against in the Past!”

Oslo, 9th May 2016.

Dear His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni!

I write to you again as the Uganda Police Force is busy with rounding up and detaining all of these men and woman who are either parts of the leadership in the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) or members of this Opposition Party. I am sure you heard words on the men and women who are detained on your word, after a loyal judge Stephen Kavuma written-up an interim order of the ban of Defiance in the land.

I know you are preoccupied with making the best and controlled Swearing-In ceremony as possible, while your henchmen and made-men are making their effort to silence all other opposition that can make you look foolish through international press. There are rumours of shutting down social media and banning Facebook and Twitter totally on 12^th May 2016. Just as you did in on the Election Day in February in 2016; so you can have the control and send the message that you want the world and your citizens to hear, not some words like mine.

I know I have written hard about you and your regime, and it is been justified. The Justification is now clear as the Opposition are being detained in their homes and even charged with terrorism and getting objectionable charges to spread fear and control the rest of the population; as nobody want to be taken away without their family members knowledge or being detained without warrants or reasons for their custody in the hands of the men of the law.

There are reasons for those actions, you are worried Mzee, you are worried for how these opposition members and leaders can spread the news and views on how society should be. I am talking about this, Mee, a Ugandan society where you doesn’t detail control or usher in the leadership as you do now. Just as you did with the Swearing-In of High Court judges on the Entebbe State House steps earlier today and later in the day had meeting with Kampala NRM Councillors who we’re asking for guidance and their roles under you.

As you are the president, the people are yours and they are supposed to follow you blindly. You are the men with vision and they don’t have the vision as you. At that point your right Mzee, they don’t have the vision as you anymore. You have deflected and neglected them and forgotten what the State does and what a Statesmen are supposed to do. A leader is supposed to groom succession and people who are taking over and have the ability to make better result than him. That is succession you have forgotten as the power have totally eaten your soul up and your family up.

The legacy you leaves is not that you ushered Uganda out of dictatorship, you will be remembered for trying to liberate the Ugandans and ending up being the same as before, only difference you got 30 years of rule, while they got one or lucky two terms in power. Dr. Milton Obote and you is much of the same. Idi Amin Dada and you are much of the same as you use Spies and Safe-houses to keep the opposition silent. You use the army to hold the people intimidated and you have rigged the elections. You’re much of the same of the men you took down. Now you are the same as the man you got rid of together with President Nyerere and Obote to Coup D’état the Amin regime. You are now the same as him and Obote, you may not have the absolute killings of Amin, but you have and left many men in shadow and gotten rid of your enemies. Mzee you have done silently and over time, as they had shorter time and fewer morals. Because you started doing it in bush as guerrilla and being a liberation movement gives you an edge; a momentum to give you space to do as you like.

There are many dead who is not accounted for and many who has never been on trial for, not only men and woman of the guerrillas that have been created to bring you down, but the men and woman who has become your enemies and suddenly fallen of poison or other special “accidents”, even hit-men hired by not-known persons in due time for the murders of these persons. They are not forgotten Mzee, as all men and woman are equal under God, though you feel extra special and with a magnificent vision, Mr. President.

There are one thing though, you might are able to charge, house-arrest, preventative-arrest and detain opposition. Silence them for a hot-minute, but the legacy and the name you have will not be a name remember for liberation. As you are alike the masters before you or worse, because you knew better and you condemn the actions you are doing now. The man with knowledge, but did not act upon it. You are the leader who knew the contemplated scenario, but never decided not to do anything about it. So certainly the pain and horror of the men and woman who have their life’s in the mercy of police and army, as your orders to silence them, you know exactly how it feels to be a powerless citizen under this type of regime. Still, you do the same without mercy and without questioning.

Your Army leaders and your Inspector General of Police follows you decrees and orders to word and execute them with brutal perfection as the Courts are diving into the lawful behaviour you have built up. As the economic malpractices you accept as you can skim the top and make giant funds for the generations of Museveni’s to come. Instead of these funds used to build government institutions as you we’re supposed to do. A forgotten practise and forgotten procedure from your chambers as the embezzlement and the cleaning the coffers so that the men and woman working closest to you can get “free Toyata LandCruiser Prado” to they want to follow your orders. That is why the Regional District Commanders gotten new cars days before the Election and the same with other men who you wanted to silence.

But the money for the Cars and other gifts to get loyalty have to come somewhere… they happen to come from the government funds that was supposed to keep the upkeep of schools and hospitals, but they doesn’t give you loyalty as much as the Police Commanders and Army Leaders who sufficiently keeps the civilians and citizens under tight control. Therefore they have to be paid first and the other can scatter. Mzee, the gig is up and your mind should have been preoccupied by baby-sitting grand-children and not detaining Forum for Democratic Change leadership and activist around the country for phony charges. You should be busy serving matooki to fellow family members not finding new ways of thieving money from the budget of 2016/2017 fiscal year.

Mzee, there is time to step back and give way to new leadership. I know it is not easy as you are making ready to swear yourself in to 7^th Term, to run the country in the 30 years to the 35 years in Power and Control the State, the Republic and the Kingdoms of Uganda. You have had your hour.

You have had the ability to sell the vision of liberation, but now you’re following the steps of leaders you left behind and beaten with either force or tricks. And you know this as Dr. Paul Ssemongerere could have told the effects of your leadership and what it did to his opportunities to topple you in a peaceful manner… But that train has gone as so many former leaders and men fallen in your time, therefore the President that was new breed with you are either gone or become totalitarian as you. You know Mzee and feel the sting as you are not as respected and honoured as you we’re. That is your own making Mzee and the actions of latest years proves the control and the state of affairs you delivered. Not the ones promised, but the ones you found feasible as it gives you Power and let you keep that.

You can imagine the tales and stories you could have told if you had already left office to somebody else and left in peace. Instead you’re clinging onto Power without question and without impunity. Leaving scourged earth and detained citizens for their political affiliation and not for killings or thieving as the normal prison population have. Mzee the tales are told and your name is now synonymous with dictatorship, dictator, totalitarian, Police State and Oppression of Opposition. Your name does not cling anymore more with liberation, freedom, liberty, freedom of speech, democratic values, progress or industrialization. That must be downer, I know your YES-MEN and LOYAL Cronies would say this to you, but I will, because I don’t fear being thrown into jail or being beaten by your Police Force while trying to get a pass from the Police Officer to be allowed to walk to work. That is something I don’t need as I live in a free society.

Mzee, His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, I know you would never read this, but hope some of your Citizens does and that it makes them think a second. As the FDC Leader/Activists/Members are detained because of the word “Defiance” and their campaign as a viable Political Party in the country, Mzee, that was not expected of you and your regime.

That your battle against Defiance comes from the man who have proclaimed Resistance, is just mind boggling and feels like mockery of a dictionary. And you know that Mr. President as you are former student at a Tanzanian University in the 1970s. That is why you went from Patriotic Movement to Resistance Movement over time. You did it with a reason back-in-day. You Mr. President have might forget this and the value of the state of affairs you’re in charge of. So the end-game is now that you are in charge of a state apparatus that have a ‘Modus Operandi’ to detain fellow citizens with impunity and take them from their homes in the name of “Defiance” and shut down a Political Party as the Swearing-In day is coming up the 12^th May 2016. I never though a man would sink this low to stay in Power… but you have and scores of detained are over 200 men and woman, and that is the few I can calculate, and not the current I haven’t heard of yet. The liability and the feasibility of these actions cannot be strengthening the Nation or your Rule. You are the Commander-In-Chief and the Executive, Mr President and you are without questions arresting fellow citizens for their political place and not on direct crimes.

You have forgotten why you came into power, or the power ate your soul and took your heart, your mind and the ethics you spoke of in the bush. You wanted to be the kingmaker, the Nyerere of your time, you wanted to be the man people remembered with nostalgia and honour like Mandela, instead you and President Mugabe will not be remembered for the liberation of the countries from tyranny, but will be remembered for the liberators who turned into the worse Tyrants then ones before them. Why? Because you knew the pain and the suffering under the men and woman before you; an you knew the heart-breaking defeat and discouraging election rigging, still your machinery does now the same to fellow citizens of the country. So President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the tale and the mercy of the land, the oppression and the dictations of orders from you to uphold the rule and control of the land have in the eaten all of the things that could have made you great. Instead you’re the cancer and the one that kills the institution and opportunity to rebuild and create a better future for the Ugandan nation. You embezzle and oppress people, get state to silence the media and stops the truth from being free, as the truth is hidden the lies that comes from the State House and is the official communique the State gives out. Peace.

Best Regards

The Writer of MinBane.

#SitukaMay5: The thoughts I have after the first day of Demonstrations

Many and many more will say it is pointless, many many more will say it wasting of business and destroy tourism industry. Many Many more will say that the Demonstration does not hurt the NRM. Let me counter those men. If it didn’t hurt the National Resistance Movement, why would they get French speaking deployed men in streets of Kampala? Why would they send 3 Sukhoi Su-30Mk2 Russian Fighter Jets to fly low over Kampala?

And why would they send Police Force to House-Arrest Lord Mayor Lukwago, MP Elect Mwijkye and Dr. Besigye. If it didn’t matter why towns and many parts of Kampala would be filled with tear-gas! As this happen why would they detain so many citizens on the spot and take them away? If the demonstration wasn’t a priority why would the NRM use so much space on early broadcast to warn against it?

Why would men like Hon. Muhwezi of NRM and Ministry of Information and National Guidance together with Uganda Communication Commission warn media on covering the Demonstrations and the FDC in general as they tried to sound like Musevenist; who already we’re bent their knees to his power! The same as IGP Kayihura who just follows orders and recently said the same that the Media should not cover the Defiance Campaign! So the Authorities use all methods to intimidate fellow citizens.

They use Airplanes, Army and the Police Force. They detain activist and hurt fellow citizens as the footage and pictures all day have shown the world of their actions. The International Media cares about the proposed ban from the Media, not the detained, not the violence of the Police Force or even maybe connection between the French Speaking Army and the M23.

People have again claimed that Besigye and FDC is wrong as the NRM deservedly won the elections, well if they did so why does they still need to intimidate the population instead of being a legitimate power? Well, the Opondo, Tumwebaze or Muhwezi can’t answer that with a straight face as they are so into the pockets of their master that they don’t want to see the truth.

That people who are Red-Tops get taken from Central Kampala and detained as well. The arrests in Bushenyi, the tension in Mbarara, the closed shops of Rukungiri; the general feeling is that Demonstrations have proved their point that the intimidation does not stop the will of Ugandan people to counter the regime. This morning, the police arrested the former FDC Entebbe Municipality parliamentary Mr. Alex Gitta Mulibanga, he is now the Express Football Club head coach, the FDC Entebbe Municipality chairman Mr. Peter Othienor and other 4 members were picked from FDC Entebbe Municipality office and are now detained at Entebbe Police Station. Also police arrested FDC Kyambogo university students led by Moses Aguuda, the FDC Kyambogo University Chapter Chairman and also FDC National Youth League secretary for Foreign Affairs, Joshua Akoyoyi, the Kyambogo university students’ Guild Speaker, Ambrose Mukwaya and Paul Okuni who are now being detained at Jinja road Police Station.

This demonstration is not about FDC or Besigye, even if they are behind it. It is about basic human rights and the will of the people to have the opportunity to pick and vote for their leaders. Not the ones handpicked and pocketed by the Executive, President Museveni who have done like that since 1986. Time for a change of guards and somebody who cares about the people, not a giant army and using Police Force to detain fellow citizen who disobey his will!

That the US Mission to Kampala slams the Media Ban is ironic as they does not speak high about the other values as the capital and other towns are filled with tear-gas! Where Anti-Riot Police and the Army is deployed to dispersed the demonstration. Why not condemn that to, not only the ban on the media, is the people or the press the most important, I may ask? 

Right now seems that the extra allocation of funds to Post-Election Violence even though I am sure the Army Operation in Rwenzori and Rwenzori Sub-Regions have used the money and that they know are using funds that are expected to go to other public functions that they can let-go off. That Charles Rwomushana now speaks the tone of the Government is not strange, as he has to eat humble pie after saying his sources knew that Christopher Aine where dead at one point, secondly because of that it’s not too easy to take his analysis seriously.

So the actions of the Government, their Security Organization and other connected to the Ugandan Authorities should know that this is the first day and not the last. This is the beginning and we who feels the Leadership and current National Resistance Movement is a Police State and Totalitarian government that serves President Museveni; that does not serve the purpose of the state. The State of the Government is now fully going into intimidate fellow citizens with fighter jets from the Army, tear-gas, deployed army with guns as the size of a boom-blaster and people detained while peacefully demonstration for their rights.

So Mr. President Museveni, get your mind right. These men you can detain them, you can make them scatter, but their ideals and their feeling for true justice does not go away with your violence and Post-Election violence as you terrorize the ones you are supposed to represent. They don’t feel you represent them as you have violated their liberty, their freedom and feeling of justice. Peace.

Don Museveni says “I would never accept these foreigners to give me orders about Uganda”; Time to cut the direct donor assistance to the government budget of Uganda and after that let Don Museveni eat alone!

“I wouldn’t ask these foreigners, but I would never accept these foreigners to give me orders about Uganda. Or about anything in the world! They got their own countries to run. Let them go and run them. Uganda is ours. Nobody gives us orders here” – President Museveni at Kololo Independence Grounds Speech while celebrating the “Double Victory” on 9^th April 2016.

Now that it is not long ago he told the world that Uganda was his playground and he could shot and kill opposition because they had no place in his country. From the same man and leader comes this. Let me ask the international community to react to violent behavior and the aggression this President shows his own county.

The racketeering of the NRM and their Executive has to stop at one point. That can happen when the funds dry up and the ammunition does come with the next boat. The American should stop with their alliance and their UPDF trainings. The Americans should do as they did with the MCC in Tanzania; suspend the projects and direct-donor aid to budget funding of the Ugandan Government.

The French should stop supporting the Government projects in Northern Uganda and cut their loans as they have promised to effect directly the RDC and the other loyal cronies of Northern Uganda. This does so the Capos of the Don get their monies and keeps eating. While the Japanese should stop supporting infrastructure projects together with the Chinese Foreign Ministry, while the CNOOC should terminate their contract with the Uganda Government. Total Oil firm of the French should suspend their operation until the government accept their blood-money. The Same with Heritage Oil for Britain so the UK Gov. should disband their direct government support and take away the incentive from UK to Uganda. The Norwegian Government should suspend the Oil for Development Program that have been a steady program since 2006. Because if you hurt it where it could become most important, then the Don Museveni might listen.

The European Union should to hurt the Foreign Exchange rate suspend the import of Robusta Coffee beans from Uganda, as the export of this is a major factor in the economic trade in the land-lock country. “A total of 271,941 bags of coffee valued at US$ 25.12 million were exported in February 2016 -Source UCDA report”. If you want to hit where it hurts, then you take away the foreign exchange and the foreign exports. This here could really hurt the government that does not want to have any interference or questions about their rule.

If the Donors and giving aid, would suspend or cut the services for the Peacekeepers, the same reaction that the Dutch did with the Burundian Peacekeepers in the AMISOM in Somalia. The same could be done by the American Government and EU as they are the major benefactors for the economic spending ground and facilitators for it.

It is not like I am for neo-colonialism, but when a totalitarian and gangster like Don Museveni complains about the US Mission questioning his oppressive behavior and European Union saying their opinion on the display of character showed during the Election and announcement of the results. Then it seems like he does not need any-more international legitimacy for his rule. Only their money and aid when it comes in handy too fuel money to a private plane, refurnishing the State Houses, buying new cars and more estates. Especially considering in FY 2013/2014 the donor assistance of the total budget was 21 % of it. Therefore the USAID, World Bank, IMF, DFID, European Commission, Irish Aid, NORAD and the other contributors should suspend that for the coming financial year of FY 2016/2017. To not hurt the citizens do this instead!

They should support the IDP camps and refugee camps in the Ugandan country through United Nations programs and organizations, build stronger relationship with NGOs in Uganda and forge good governance programs instead of supporting a government who is carrying out rigged election and embezzlement of government funds and international aid. Therefore progressive use of the tax-payers money from the Western Hemisphere, and if that is not working then, use it instead on local infrastructure projects to their own tax-payers.

Especially when a specialized report on Donor Aid to Ugandan Government says this:

“Budget support has not helped much in relation to cross sectoral dialogue. Some improvement was realized in education sector as dialogue with Ministry of Local Government and Ministry of Public Service improved. But this has not happened for the health sector” (…)”The power relations between bilaterals and Global Health Initiatives including PEPFER, Global Fund, GAVI, Stop Malaria etc shifted in favour of the latter who had no experience in the development of the budget support process and completely ignored to an apparent ineffectiveness” (…)”Budget support resulted in a greater commitment and quality of dialogue on PFM issues, especially after 2007 with the launch of FINMAP and JBSF. The influence of performance measures on sector dialogue declined from 2011/12, as the link with releases became less clear” (Joint Evaluation of Budget Support to Uganda – Final Report – 2015, P: 132).

This here proves the values of the Donor-Funding and the Budget Support from the International community to the Ugandan Government and the NRM-Regime. The NRM mafia under Don Museveni who says that the Ugandan authority do not want to have internal interference and foreign people questioning his playground. Therefore the authority and the Don want to rest things into peace he lets the people end up resting in peace. As he takes the Army and Police to detain the ones it needs and use draconian laws to oppress his own people.

Therefore with also the fraudulent election to keep the NRM mafia in order and also silence the opposition; as it even did yesterday the 9^th March 2016 with the Military Police taking over the Nakivubo Settlement Primary School so the “Victory Celebration” that was supposed to be held there with Lord Mayor Lukwago and FDC Leader Besigye. This happen while the Crime Preventers, NRM Diehards and the new MPs we’re celebrating at Kololo Independence Grounds while costing the 1, 5 billion shillings. The racket also carries to pay their own and let the kingpin eat the money alone. As he has done since 1986 and the donor have continued to fund the budget support and give Don Museveni money to do his bidding.

Therefore I ask the governments to question if they want to deliver more money the NRM Mafia who uses monies to the army and police, squander away State House money on funding his campaign and also rumors of AMISOM contingent. There are certain numbers on his spending on military is staggering over the years. In between 2011 and end of term 2016 the taxpayers and donor-funding the total Shs. 6.617 trillion to the Army, Police and Intelligence Agencies. Of this in MPS in February 2015 into the portfolio of sophisticated military equipment there was the extended use of Shs. 470 billion, alone that year.

So with that knowledge and knowing the international donors should consider some reactions as he does not accept any interference not internal and not external. The Playground might be for the moment him, the Don Museveni has spoken of killing demonstrating citizens and opposition. The harassment of the ones that question the power of the kingpin!

That is when the international donors in the powers of US Mission in Kampala and their Amb. Malac recently; and also when the European Union does state the fact that the election was not free and fair. Therefore the Don Museveni feels betrayed as this has been loyal men who have given money to his government and not question his power or rule. Because they needed him to do their dirty-laundry and also have a steady ally in the East Africa; as the US have a relationship with Ethiopia and also Kenya, but have a longer engagement with the Ugandan Government, and now accepting the harassment of opposition as a price for some form of stability.

While the other donor-funding is not questioning other than expressing some have cut funding over the $12 Million that was going to Northern Uganda Development Fund (NUDF) in the 2012, that went lost to through the Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi. Also the Anti-Gay Bill had their reactions from UK, Norway and Dutch who cut parts of their aid. So now it is the time again, as the oppression, election fraud and the man who want to be the Don and acts like the Don of Uganda. The Godfather of Uganda has spoken. He does not want to be inference. So since he does not wish to have interference the international donors and bilateral organizations should offer him a hand with that.

The International donors and bilateral organizations should certainly suspend their direct budget support to the Ugandan Government. As they don’t wish to have any interference and can handle it all on their own. The money should instead spend on the Multi-National Organizations working in Uganda, as the OCHA, UNICEF and WFP as they will submit and carry out quick resolved matters in Internal Displaced Camps and around the borders through their projects. Since that will not have any other government questioning their actions, then the other governments should not help to fund their actions. Simple rhetorical assessment that banish the 20 % power of the funds that Don Museveni has at his disposal and use; when outsiders are such a pain, then the pain should leave Don Museveni alone and not support him.

So the Donors and Bilateral organizations should cut their aid and give less power to Don Museveni and his NRM Mafia who spends and eats alone; while his government does not have money to build health care, roads, schools or the other necessities in the Ugandan Society. But not with Foreign tax-payers money, when they get used on the expensive cars, lavish lifestyle, foreign health care and private planes for the Godfather. There is time to take action as the gangster will act as Don and not as a Statesman. Henceforth, when a player does not want question, but accept your money and not accountable for them; and when the player squander the money and expect to get away with it. Then the Player should lose the ability to get the money from you. The Don Museveni have already had long enough time to deliver and used enough of donor-funds without showing progress. Time to cross out the donor-funding to direct budget support; then Don Museveni does not need to be questioned. As the international community will not have put a stake and being stakeholders for certain parts of the budget. But when they step away, then Don Museveni can be the kingpin and the gangster he want to be in military fatigue and do as he want in his playground, without opposition who should just stay home; and also without foreigners questioning him. Then he can rule alone with the capos, underbosses and then be grand Don Museveni. Peace.  

“Uganda sacrificing civil liberties for the sake of stability” says US envoy (Youtube-Clip) & Ofwono Opondo responds!

“The United States Ambassador to Uganda has raised concern that government appears to be sacrificing the civil liberties of citizens rights at the altar of maintaining stability. Ambassador Deborah Malac who was addressing students from higher institutions of learning here in Kampala says the poor organization of the elections and detention of opposition politicians has dented Uganda’s democratic credentials. Herbert Zziwa has the details of that report” (NTV Uganda, 2016).

RESPONSE TO US AMBASSODOR MS. DEBORAH MALAC
7th April 2016

The Uganda Government notes and takes strong exception to the continued unfair criticisms about its elections and human rights records by the US Ambassador Ms. Deborah Malac. We would like to briefly respond as follows;
The U.S. Government sponsored an election observer team under the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy (EISD) in Africa, through the International Republican Institute (IRI) Washington D.C. This was led by former Zambian President Rupiah Banda, which issued a report giving credit to Uganda’s just concluded elections. We would like to advise Ambassador Deborah Malac to carefully read that report. Unless she is giving it a vote of no confidence, then she is at liberty to keep referring to and relying on the partisan and very shallow EU report.
lt is strange that Ambassador Malac doesn’t refer to the report her government commissioned. Secondly, she doesn’t acknowledge that late delivery of ballot materials was in only two out of 112 districts in Uganda. These were isolated incidents and indeed time was extended and all voters who wished to vote did cast their votes, and those votes were counted, tallied and added to final results.
Since the publication of the Uganda Presidential Election results, none of the observer groups has come with credible evidence to challenge the results posted by Electoral Commission. We therefore wish to ask them to either adduce evidence or keep their peace for good. Otherwise, we know that some groups in the US and EU, including diplomats accredited to Uganda, funded and are still funding opposition elements in Uganda to cause government change outside the constitutional framework but are disappointed this hasn’t been successful as yet.
The U.S., which uses raw power to project its influence and interests around the world, is the least competent to ask other nations for democratic accountability. Uganda’s democracy is progressing well and we are satisfied with both the pace and achievements registered so far.

Ofwono Opondo
Government Spokesperson