Russian Probe: Roger Stone is ordered to appear before the Grand Jury!

What sort of Gold Nugget in the Treasury Chest came in the Russian Probe today, well, there is revealed through Court Document from Washington D.C. Beryl C. Howell ordered Trump-Aide and Associate Roger Stone to appear before the Grand Jury. This is breaking news and also astonishing enough in itself.

That the attorneys of Stone couldn’t produce legitimate reasons to dismiss and argue for not participating, says also a lot about him at this point. This means that Robert Mueller can continue to pursuit his subpoenaed documents from the aide and also get this:

For the foregoing reasons, the Witness’s Second Motion to Quash Subpoena is denied. Consequently, the witness is ordered, pursuant to the grand jury subpoenas served by the Special Counsel, to appear before the grand jury to provide testimony at the earliest date available to the grand jury, and to complete production of the subpoenaed records promptly” (UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA – Grand Jury Action No. 18-34 (BAH), 31.07.2018).

For the ones thinking, why hasn’t Roger Stone come up before or been part earlier, maybe because of the way he has tried to weasel himself out. In the Court Filings, he has not answered or replied to any of the subpoenas that Mueller have sent and therefore, the final order is the reason for the stalling of his participation in the case itself.

He is not a nobody as this was written about him in 1986: “At 33, Roger Stone — college dropout and Watergate dirty trickster — is either the hottest political consultant or the slickest self-promoter in town, depending on whom you ask. “He is the single best Republican consultant in a cluster of stars,” says close friend John Buckley, press secretary to Rep. Jack Kemp (R-N.Y.), whom Stone serves as a political adviser. “He’s one of the great all-time frauds of American politics,” says New Right point man Paul Weyrich, national chairman of the Free Congress Political Action Committee. “His reputation vastly exceeds his ability.”” (…) “His office at Black Manafort Stone & Kelly, the high-profile lobbying firm, is decorated in muted tones of gray. Stone, who served as Ronald Reagan’s regional political director for the Northeast in the 1980 presidential campaign, sits behind a large desk, his tasseled loafers propped up” (Stephanie Mansfield – ‘The Rise And Gall of Roger Stone’ 16.06.1986 link:https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1986/06/16/the-rise-and-gall-of-roger-stone/d8ce308b-7055-4666-860e-378833f46e17/?utm_term=.a526526d7b5d).

The company he worked for was Black Manafort Stone & Kelly together with Manafort, whose already on trial for dozens of count. Therefore, today the is special, when his former associate is also have to appear in front of the grand jury. To top it off, let show one sign of the long relationship with Trump. He has been a close associate since 1979, met through Roy Cohn, who was an associate at the lobbying firm he worked with in the 1980s. Therefore, the connection of him showing up before a Grand Jury must be interesting. Also, whatever he has done together with Paul Manafort, who is the first person put on trial by the Russian Probe by the Special Counsel Mueller.

This here will just get more interesting, as the Probe are pulling the net around Trump, piece by piece into the world of the President. This saga is far from over, but certainly a bleak day for Trump Campaign. Peace.

Russian Probe: Manafort Finally on Trial!

Finally, the long awaited trial for the former Trump Campaign Manager Paul Manafort, this happen today on the 31st July 2018. There will be a long time before anything is settled in Court. However, what we will know is the evidence value and the witness testimony for what Manafort has done before becoming Campaign Manager and also while being it for President Donald J. Trump.

We know there are dozens of counts of conspiracy, money laundering and tax evasion, which Manafort have to answer, as well as being a Foreign Agent without being Registered. This here will all come to light. Today, he was denied the will to turn-over the Pre-Trial Detention Order, which the Court of Columbia District dismissed. So, even as the Grand Jury released their opening statement today, the political asset of Trump lost in Court again.

Now the realities of his business, his wealth and his connections will all come to light, the dark shadow world of foreign influence and use of Ukraine connections will the headlines, but also show the ones who are in his network. Therefore, the plea deal of Richard Gates will be telling, as the former associate and partner. All the other government witnesses will swear affidavits, that could hurt him even more.

Therefore, the coming days, the reality of the world of Manafort will be offered to the world. Explaining the accounts, the companies and the networks he has created for himself. Also lack of taxation and the other questionable behavior from the political operative, who has used his skills and made a life sponging on others.

Who knows what will be the reality and what sort of play the defense of Manafort will use and who they will sell out. As these charges, mountain of evidence and witnesses will tell stories that Manafort doesn’t want in the spotlight.

We will just know, but now the first piece of the puzzle within the Russian Probe has started. Alex Van Der Zwaan have already been in jail awaiting trial too. Therefore, the case is progressing and the future indictments will show. Nothing will stop this, as long as the Special Counsel is collecting evidence and making the case solid.

Manafort are in loads of trouble, whatever Mueller has in his net and awaiting to put out of his chest is hard to know. Certainly, this is not something can be anticipated, as there will be daily games of spinning it and making sure the hot water is getting lukewarm. Peace.

Final Report on the By-Elections: NRM slams Opposition parties, but that was expected!

If you would think that the National Resistance Movement would leave the new Municipalities MPs and other elected officials to the Opposition parties. You know it would be a lie. That the NRM are supposed to celebrate, but as the ruling party, they still lost Apac Municipality to the Uganda People’s Congress and lost Bugiri Municipality to the Justice Forum.

What is striking is that in Apac the NRM lost to someone who has faked his own death, Patrick Ochan, is a unique character, who forged money from Centenary Bank and declared his own death in 2006. Still, that was not enough for Obote’s son or the NRM to beat him in 2018. That says a lot of the state of NRM and also the opposition.

That Asuman Basalirwa won the Bugiri Municipality was a big deal and the NRM used all the big-guns there to sway the public. While Robert Kyagulanyi used his star-power to boost his campaign. The Forum for Democratic Change tried, but didn’t succeed either. However, it ended in the hands of the JEEMA Party and their only MP in the Parliament.

The rest of the districts like Nebbi, Kotido, Sheema, Ibanda and Njeru went all to the NRM. Sheema was also heavily contested and worrying signs yesterday, when the reports of late evening voting past fixed time for it. That means, the NRM could have countered the methods and secured it by late voting, which is fixing the score in their favor. As the trailing FDC in Sheema, was very close and the reality shouldn’t shock you.

This is like giving the opposition some posts, just so they exists, but still making sure the NRM have the majority. Just like they always do. There is always rigging and bribery, even voting tourism, where the NRM are ferrying people to vote in their favor. That could have occurred yesterday, but because of lack of observers and also intimidation from the army and police.

The Opposition should not shake their heads. They are working against the machine, they are not in a level playing field. The President are doing what he can wipe them out of the map. Therefore, only the dreamers would expect the FDC to get big. NRM won most, but is what they have done in most by-elections since 2016. It is only Jinja-East, Rukungiri and Kyadondo-East where the Opposition have won. The rest the NRM have taken. The NRM are usually the winner of By-Elections.

It is forgetfulness that hits you when you remember back to the rest of the By-Elections. Therefore, getting 2 out of 7 is a good score in a way. Also, the President gets what he wants. The majority and security of the NRM Caucus. That is all expected. To think otherwise, is to be naive, that the NRM is going to give the opposition opportunity to overcome them. As long as the President is breathing, he will not accept that and will rig to secure otherwise. The President is not democratic and not planning to become so. Peace.

By-Election Updates: Return Form for Transmission of Results from MP races in Bugiri (28.07.2018)

By-Election Updates: Return Form for Transmission of Results from MP races in Ibanda and Sheema (27.07.2018)

Ibanda:

Sheema:

By-Election Updates: Return Form for Transmission of Results from MP races in Nebbi and Kotido (27.07.2018)

Nebbi:

Kotido: 

Russian Probe: Manafort Case Alexandria Division – Government Witness List (27.07.2018)

By-Elections Preliminary Updates: From Bugiri, Sheema, Apac, Kotido and Nebbi!

I have collected various sources the preliminary reports from Bugiri, Sheema, Apac, Kotido and Nebbi. This are not the official results, the are first released, when the Electoral Commission is releasing them Return Form for Transmission of Results, which is verified ballots from each polling station combined in the district. Therefore, until those are released, the numbers are jumping.

Bugiri have most likely gone to JEEMA, Sheema might swing between FDC and NRM, Apac could become a UPC MP, Kotido could go to either FDC or NRM, Nebbi are expected FDC, but might get rigged for NRM. However, this is just the preliminary results and the reality will be different when the EC and the machine have used their time. That is the longer the time for the results, the more worry is the for securing it in hands of the regime and not for opposition candidates.

Bugiri:

Asuman Basalirwa and the Justice Forum won the MP contest for Bugiri Muncipality, that after a knocking campaign together with Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine. Therefore, the opposition got this post and carved this newly created municipality out of the map of the President. They should not expect any development there, if the words of the President is sincere. Forum for Democratic Change candidate and the National Resistance Movement (NRM) lost here, they didn’t have the capacity or the ability to gain popularity, like JEEMA and Bobi Wine. No one had that moxy to do so.

Sheema:

There is a tight race between the National Resistance Movement candidate Virgina Plan Mugyenyi and Forum for Democratic Change candidate Dr. Elioda Tumwesigye. All reports through the day have been tight and swinging. But with time the FDC candidate had better numbers, but the final tally will really tell.

Apac:

Patrick Ocan of the Uganda People’s Congress are expected to win the municipality over the National Resistance Candidate Akai Ayumu. The other independent candidates are trailing behind the NRM and UPC. This here seems like the stronghold of UPC get their votes, just like they have done in this area and the NRM are losing here too.

Here in the district, there been dozens of arrests of UPC members, the official number is 18 individuals on election day. Also, there are reports of ferrying voters and also open bribery.

Kotido:

Peter Abrahams Lokii was the National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidate here, while Moses Oryono Okot Mabeno are the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) candidate. While the preliminary results in the newly created district have put the NRM in front, but only added independent candidates, therefore, you can wonder if the Electoral Commission have dismissed the FDC Candidate in spite before the election. Since, the reports was that FDC was gazetting a candidate.

Nebbi:

Robert Onega are the Forum for Democratic Change candidate, the National Resistance Movement fielded Hashim Sulaima, than you have Patrick Aloysius Okumu Ringa, running as an Independent, but leaning towards NRM. Three more key Independent Candidates are Betty Udongo, Berocan Okurulal and Enrico Opio. However, how all of this will work out.

In this district there been reports of low-voter turn-out. During the evening, local radio station and New Vision said Sulaima have won the district. However, that wouldn’t be surprising, as the election rigging that have been reported was massive, as even open boxed with pre-ticked ballots was coming to the district last night.

We just have to see how this goes. But there is a lot in the air and see how this falls to ground. Let see them forms and get these results verified. Don’t postpone that, but deliver credible results, even as the observers from CCEDU are suspended for these elections too. Which is concerning, because than the CSO of volunteers are not able to report and make sure the rights of the voters are taken care off.

By-Election done in darkness, deliberately done by regime. Remember that, so that they can come with other reports, if that fit their paradigm since the CCEDU and Opposition will just fight with arguments. While CCEDU could have come with issues on the ground and also filed reports for the future. That should worry every citizen, that the NRM does this. Peace.

Opinion: Why does every By-Election these days look like a War-Zone?

Let us be honest for a minute, the recent By-Elections under President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, have become more hostile and more militarized, where the big guns, the soldiers and the mambas are all over the place. That is happening today in Sheema Muncipality in Ibanda and in Bugiri Muncipality in Busoga sub-region. Both National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidates and opposition contest in both of them.

What is striking today is the efforts of the police and the army to intimidate in both places. In Sheema Muncipality and in Bugiri Muncipality, the Army and Soldiers are armed to their teeth. Like there is a war going on, and not a democratic exercise on who gets to represent the people in the newly created districts. No, no, it looks like a war story and someone is going to die!

Seriously, who brings the war machine to an election, if they are not fearing for losing it? Who isn’t bringing the police to arrest opposition activist on the day of the poll and not afraid of losing it?

If the NRM was so steady and had a message, had a mandate and trust in the community, would they need the UPDF and the Police Force to settle intimidation into their eyes. Seriously? I beg to ask!

You can say what you want about elections and about campaigning, but when the ruling regime and the orders from above, is to send a brigades of soldiers to the polls. You know something is wrong, you know that these elections are no good. That is just a common knowledge. Maybe not for Ofwono Opondo or Frank Tumwebaze, but for the rest of us it is.

This isn’t a sign of strength, but more of weakness, of a justification of harassing and intimidating the public. Just because you can and because you have the army. This isn’t there to secure democratic values or secure the public. Than, the soldiers would have bases there and await a sudden strike from an enemy. Not suddenly come out of their barracks and post up in the middle of towns and poll stations in the early mist of morning. No, that isn’t it.

Maybe, just maybe, the NRM thinks so, but than they are gallantly, stupid and I cannot blame them anymore. They are just the National Rwakitura Movement, where all citizens are his cows and he is just waiting to spoil their milk. That is just what is up.

Are the NRM so afraid of losing, that they have to order soldiers in the street to prove they exists and that they can hurt you, if you don’t obey every command made by Museveni? Is that it, is that the magic potion to get people on board. If so, than the President have forgotten Franz Fanon and his wisdom.

As the war-zones of Sheema and Bugiri have smiled to us today and God knows how the tallies will be. Let me end with the words of Fanon.

“The state, which by its strength and discretion ought to inspire confidence and disarm and lull everybody to sleep, on the contrary seeks to impose itself in spectacular fashion. It makes a display, it jostles people and bullies them, thus intimating to the citizen that he is in continual danger. The single party is the modern form of the dictatorship of the bourgeoisie, unmasked, unpainted, unscrupulous, and cynical” (Frantz Fanon – ‘The Wretched of the Earth, P: 164, 1961).

That is enough of the nonsense. Peace.

Bugiri By-Election: The Final Stages now and Museveni offers only development there if they vote for NRM!

The last day of the campaigns in the Bugiri By-Election, which the final polls are on the 27th July 2018. This is where the candidates of Asuman Basalirwa (JEEMA), John Francis Oketcho (NRM) and Eunice Namatende (FDC). All of this candidates has massive backings from their parties and allies. Where the Police Force have started to follow Asuman Basalirwa especially and his ally Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine, whose been followed and monitored by the Police Force. Therefore, you know that National Resistance Movement doesn’t want to lose this new district.

We know, that Museveni is behind his candidate, who will be part of the NRM Caucus and follow his every lead. That is why he went to Bugiri to tell his side of the story, because he couldn’t do without. Museveni have to be a part and also show his power to the tin-soldier he wants from the district. That is just the way he do.

Bugiri by-election: President Yoweri Museveni has pledged to connect the people of Bugiri with clean water, construct for them better roads if they vote NRM’s Francis Oketcho. Museveni said the NRM is a party of action and this has been exhibited bvy the many things that have been done among them construction of better roads and the improved hospitals” (93.3 KFM, 25.07.2018).

What is the weirdest from all the final rallies from Basalirwa, Namatende and Oketcho where packed. That is just weird, all photos from these rallies are filled to the brim. Therefore, the pictures from Museveni rally isn’t alone. The FDC rally had Dr. Kizza Besigye and Patrick Amuriat Oboi, these two people could gain crowds on their own too. That Bobi Wine and Basalirwa would bring people are natural, as the swagger of Bobi Wine hits the masses. While Museveni could for all we know, be ferrying masses from other parts of Busoga and giving them food and gifts. That is what the NRM have done during the General Election last time. So why not do it now too?

Well, Voter Tourism might be a thing. While the bigger story is how Museveni continues to talk. The government will deliver project, only if Bugiri vote for his guy. The Bugiri people will get roads and such, if they do the right thing and votes for Oketcho. That means, the government is only there for you, if you follow the direct orders of the State House. This is the final implication and shows the lack of democratic values in the President.

He only gives, if people give him all power. That is what is just in the eyes of the President. NRM or nothing. No Remedy Mentioned (NRM) continues, as the pledges of roads hits Bugiri, a promise that Museveni have been given steadily since at least 2006 for certain parts of constituency. Therefore, as always with the NRM, there have to be recycled pledges. That is just protocol by now.

What is really insulting, is the state of “if they vote”, that means he will stop funding and stop being acting as President over the Constituency, if they vote for someone else. Bugiri will not get money or tax money for development projects, infrastructure development and everything else.

That is what he is saying.

Bugiri will be yet another place, that Museveni might wipe out of the map. As people will not follow his orders. They are not his property, even if he acts like it. Peace.