Uganda Peoples Congress – Press Statement (14.11.2018)

Opinion: The National Dialogue is a stalling tactic by the President!

No man is crushed by misfortune unless he has first been deceived by prosperity”Seneca, Dialogues and Letters

I don’t believe that the National Dialogue, which is about to start in November 2018 and Roadmap made by the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda will amount to anything. It will be a lot about nothing. It will be like a Seinfeld episode, lots of simple fun and punchlines, but nothing substantial for the body or the spirit.

This is not something that will upheld or even be honored by the President. Because he has never honored a deal, where he has to loose something or even give way. The President are always finding his way to get the upper-hand and will do so again. To think otherwise is to think that the Old Man with the Hat has changed. Trust me, all the acts of late, shows that he is more ruthless and shows more force. Because he knows he isn’t loved or cared about in the general population. The empty pledges and promises of old is haunting him and the lack of progress on nearly every account is another reason for his total failure. That is because the President is busy micro-managing and not trusting in the appointed cronies even.

I know I should have had hope for such an arrangement, but the acts of the National Resistance Movement, the usage of the Security Organizations against the citizens, the representatives and the ones standing in their way of late. Shows the dire need of a change, but they do this to intimidate and control. That is why Bobi Wine isn’t even able to launch his album in the National Stadium. At the same period, as the ones standing in the way of the President are awaiting court cases and charged with treason. That is a reason why I don’t believe in it. Because, there are not acts by the NRM that are opening for opposition or even trying. They are even blocking the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) President Patrick Amuriat Oboi from operating and meeting internal-party forums. How can this government be real about having dialogue, when others cannot operate without meeting the police or other security outfits?

I wish I could be hopeful, as the dire need is there, but from the one who said he wanted to destroy the opposition and crash it after the last General Election of 2016. That President is most likely doing it to teach the opposition a lesson, not being there to give way or even give the public a hand. Because the old man want to control everything, every legislation and be the fountain of honor. At all costs and be celebrated, even when he is killing innocent people and making up stories, where the hoodlums are the problem.

That is the man that supposed to negotiate with, a war-lord with all power and his orders from above can be fatal to others. He has no trouble using Luweero methods, using bush-war tactics and to use the National Dialogue for that, would be stalling and securing who was the heads. What their needs are and find ways to consolidate them. In such a way, that they need him and not really talk. This is the man that haven’t the ability to find a successor for 32 years and always excused he has more things to finish before he leaves power. You can wonder is left to forget to do. What bridge isn’t fixed in Isingiro or what school is falling apart in Moroto.

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni will only be a post-boy with lectures, but at this point. He will only use this to make a positive vibe or address the opposition, as they are trouble. He has not long ago said where the opposition has MPs, he has striked that district out of the map and stopped developing it. When your discussing what that sort of man, you know it is only his vision and his stories that matter.

The President have to show another side of himself, but that will be lie. He will then lie, because we know what he does and what he has done. The misuse of power, the ruthless acts against people who are in his way. This is known and he cannot run away from it. It is known and public knows it too. His cronies cannot hide that fact. Even if they try.

At this point. National Dialogue is pointless, unless Museveni pulls a rabbit out of the hat and says, who he plans to succeed him and what the NRM dynasty wants to be the next Grand Pumba. Peace.

Sheema North By-Election: It went to the NRM, but nothing was left to chance!

It wasn’t only that the President graced the final rally the day before, or that the military and police used massive amount efforts to undermine the competition. No, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) had no message to send, so they had to arrest all Forum for Democratic Change Polling Stations agents and the big-shots, as they we’re not allowed to directly monitor the counting or the Return Forms from the Polling Stations. As well as we know the CCEDU are not allowed to observer the elections anymore. Therefore, the civil society and opposition was working with bent knees, while trying to run.

That the NRM won was made on the sky before the polls, as the military even took over Tally Centre before the ballots arrived to the polling stations. The talk of democracy or even level playing-field is foolish in this manner. When at the days of the polls, 20 FDC Polling Agents was arrested. These was the big-shots that was arrestd: Oddo Tayebwa and Stanley Katembeya.

To further prove the allegations. FDC MP Francis Mwijukye reported this earlier in the day:

Police Director of Operations,Asuman Mugyenyi has ordered for the arrest of FDC leaders and agents in Sheema North where a parliamentary byelection is on going today. So far 15 leaders and 20 agents have been arrested. Meanwhile Am also surrounded here at Nyabwina primary school” (Francis Mwijukye, 08.10.2018).

When that is the case, as well as the police everywhere and the military too. The intimidation and the acts of government was made for the NRM to win. There was no other way out of this. The opposition wasn’t working together behind the candidate, which they have usually blamed FDC for their own works. So, now they left them all alone without any sympathy or putting up camp for the final week. There has been nothing from the ones talking of unity, the FDC was alone against NRM. Therefore, the ones speaking of ill of FDC’s actions in previous elections, better remember, that they have gone behind and supported other parties own candidates in By-Elections, but none gave the favor back here.

That Naome Kibaaju won wasn’t shocking with the manner this went down. If she thinks this is a whole-sum victory, she is apparently wrong. Not because the FDC lost. Any party can loose and that is justified. However, it is not justified when the tallying is done in darkness and the monitoring of the ballots has been only done by the government-friendly agents. That is easy math and shows the disgraceful acts of state.

This here saga continues. The good news is that this one didn’t end up in directly torture, forged up charges and more impunity from the state, other than the preventative arrests and the acts of intimidation. Because the NRM has no message to give the public.

The only thing make me happy, that there was no funeral because of this… there been to many dying over By-Elections and each one of them is one too many. Peace.

Sheema North By-Election – Return Form for Transmission of Results (08.10.2018)

Sheema North By-Election: Voter intimidation and the Calvary on high alert with th arrests of FDC leaders!

Today is the open MP slot left behind after the Sheema Municipality By-Election earlier this year, when Hon. Elioda Tumwesigye one his second race since 2016 and had to resign the Sheema North. That is why there is a by Election in Sheema North and why the NRM is having all the stakes in. While the Opposition are alone with one candidate and one party, as the rest has left them behind. You can wonder why, because recently, there has been joint opposition races in the by-election.

However, this has been a weird by-election, but that is maybe because of the aftermath of the Arua By-Election in August 2018. When the army, the Special Force Command and the opposition there has been charged with treason ever since. That is maybe why there are only two candidates and the NRM is ready with the same weapons today.

We haven’t seen the joint-opposition behind the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) candidate, neither seen the critic against the NRM candidate either. The President joined the campaign on the last day before the election and held a big rally. But there haven’t been much scope or any seemingly to hit the radar. Before today, when the polls are appearing. The real NRM is appearing and they have to use the tools of intimidation and arrests to secure their results, even when they are just going against one candidate. They don’t have the message or the candidate to bring it in without all of that.

At Kigarama Sub County headquarters,the said Tally Centre for tomorrows Voting in Sheema North Constituency. As we speak, Military and Army have already taken over the center ahead of stake holders meeting with the electoral commission. Its supposed to start at 2pm and now 3pm. The meeting has not started. This seems already an army engineered election which calls for more vigilance and confrontation” (Augustine Ojobile, 07.10.2018).

Men in ‘police’ uniform commanded by ASP Kaganzi from Mbarara have arrested Hon. Odo Tayebwa at Kabutsye Town Council” (Forum for Democratic Change, 08.10.2018). Also reports of an arrest of Stanley Katembeya today as well. Therefore, the FDC are getting into usual trouble, as they are using their powers to control them.

Heavy police and UPDF deployment has taken place in Sheema North Constituency in western Uganda as voters elect a new MP today. The race is tight between Naome Kibajju of the ruling NRM party and Guma Nuwagaba who defected from the NRM to opposition party FDC and the security men are said to have deployed across several sub-counties in the constituency” (Capital FM Uganda, 08.10.2018).

There are clear message sent by the NRM, that they are not losing this constituency, as they had it previously and intends to keep it. They have sent the Military to the Tally Centre yesterday, certainly not only at the one spot, but on the ones that matter. Where they can ensure the results are configured and rigged well. As the Opposition doesn’t have the manpower or reach to have checks- and balances.

The FDC are alone swimming in this and their campaign might have been good. Their candidate might be in question himself, as he was a loser in the NRM Primaries. The NRM seemingly still uses all intimidation and arrests to secure the outcome. They do not trust the Naome Kibaju candidacy to win the By-Election. If they did, they wouldn’t need the army and the police to do, what they do.

As long as there is no extra judicial killing and another funeral because of this By-Election. Then that is good somehow, though the NRM has little to bring to table, when they need the Security Forces to spread their message, which is, we rule, we reign and don’t try to stop us. Peace.

Opinion: Mbidde hopes people are so forgetful!

The folding his hands like “birdman” is Mbidde on the NRM Celebration of their 31st year in Masindi (January 2017).

This is not a written defense of Abed Bwanika, I have always found his ways weird and suspicious, as he turns up to Presidential Elections for a non-existent party, which amount of members and representatives are not really rewarding any politician who has been part of it for so long. If he was serious about it and had a plan, he wouldn’t walk around like he is hungry everyday and do what he does.

However, he moves in all sorts of circles, even joined the Democratic Party Reunion in Masaka on the 28th September 2018. Where many opposition leaders from various parties showed up in solidarity for the DP Party.

While that was happening, Fred Mukasa Mbidde have really spread the word and called Bwanika a Bosco mole in the opposition yesterday. As he claims Bwanika does his bidding and his works to participate and report to Bosco. That wouldn’t surprise anyone.

But, Mbidde shouldn’t speak so loud, as he did whatever he could to please Bosco in 2017, as he couldn’t win inside the DP or in the Masaka Municipality MP elections in 2016, as Mathias Mpuuga won over him. Mbidde have even threaten him too and promised to challenge him again in 2021. That is maybe why he is vocal now, to act out to have a place possibly by then.

However, people shouldn’t trust Mbidde, he would marry the enemy if that fits his narrative and his needs. As he even kicked it at the 31st Celebration of the National Resistance Movement in Masindi on the 26th January 2017. That was done so he showed Bosco loyalty. Just so he could be on the ticket for the Ugandan delegation to the 3rd Assembly of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA).

With the knowledge of that, as he himself has a cozy relationship with the NRM and Bosco. That for his own need of a meal-ticket. Because Mbidde wouldn’t have the EALA spot if he wasn’t a “Good DP”. Therefore, he shouldn’t be the first to throw a stone at Bwanika. Yest, Bwanika is a character that is hard to trust, because of his activity and his sudden rise, whenever it is needed. But is gone in the wind, the next movement.

Mbidde might be true, but people have the right to ask about him too, as Mbidde has done deals all the way back to 2010 for Norbert Mao with the NRM. Therefore, the reason for him being the “Good DP”. He should maybe not be the biggest voices of moles, as he has questionable relationship with ruling regime and Bosco. As he has made deals to twice be parts of the EALA in Arusha. Peace.

I wish I had the guts of Todwong: He forgets who NRM really are!

For us at NRM, we knew this was an accident about to happen, there was a lot of confusion in that home and what happened was the climax of what was happening over time. It portrays FDC as a party that can’t handle internal contradictions, it portrays a party with members who have an ego bigger than the party. We’ve seen this in all political parties like DP and UPC, when a party is formed out of one specific agenda like remove an individual from power, these are the outcomes. To us as NRM, we really say they weren’t ready enough to have a political party” – Richard Todwong at NBS Frontline, 27.09.2018.

Let’s put things in perspective, the National Resistance Movement wouldn’t be like they are, if they didn’t have power or didn’t have the army. They need both to exist, as well, as they are following the guidelines and all principals of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. The only man with a vision and leadership capacity within the party. That is why no-one has been able to succeed him since the 1980 election and the following Bush-War and the 32 years of ruling since.

It is like the NRM honcho Richard Todwong forgets that, as the biggest EGO of the land is Museveni. Not Kizza Besigye, Not Mugisha Muntu or even James Akena. But the biggest is Bosco.

NRM are not even ready to have another President, another ruler of the NRM and the Republic. Because no one is supposed to question the almighty Bosco.

In FDC where this problems all steams from, is because their delegates picked their third Party President since its inception. Something, that is still not happening in the NRM. They cannot even think of running against Bosco in the next presidential either. He is the sole-candidate for life.

Let’s be honest. If their been succession in the NRM, there wouldn’t have been no Reform Agenda or Forum for Democratic Change, because internally, the leadership would have rotated so that Besigye and Amama Mbabazi could eventually lead it. There would still be a DP and UPC. However, they we’re there before NRM and before UPM, the party before the now ruling party.

When the NRM says the FDC aren’t ready to be a political party, why are the NRM only able to change leadership, when they starting to get ambition for the throne and not before? Why are you taking out the Gilbert Bukenya and Mbabazi, when they want to get more? Not because of political differences or even mere policies, but for their naked ambition.

So, maybe the NRM isn’t ready for being a political party and only being the armed wing of the juggernaut called Bosco. Aye? Peace.

Sheema North By-Election: Couldn’t Bosco have postponed this one? We don’t want another funeral!

This Sheema North By-Election is the latest of plenty By-Elections during the 10th Parliament, as there been plenty of these, because of the new districts and the sudden deaths of Members of Parliament. However, this one is coming at a precious time. As the Police and Army are more alert, the violence are getting more striking and in the open. The blatant disregard isn’t only for the high-level activists and the leadership of the opposition. But anyone can be beaten to pulp and anyone can be shot by a stray-bullet. That is why, couldn’t the Electoral Commission and the National Resistance Movement (NRM) halted this one?

There has been enough death and problematic activity since mid-August. This is just mere months after and the ramifications of the latest by-elections is still in the wind. The wind-shield of the President is just one out of plenty accusations and possible unanswered violent activity. As the torture of the opposition leaders, their charges and the legal jeopardy many are in. This one will not go as the previous ones has. Where the camping of Opposition until final days of voting. The By-Election have looked like war-zones, but the deaths of civilians and the use of Presidential Guards (Special Force Command) of late, puts the hope for a peaceful outcome much less likely.

This Sheema North By-Election, which open up after NRM MP Elioda Tumwesigye had one his second seat and open the previous one he won. That is why, this election even are scheduled, as the one in Arua Municipality was because of the assassination of Hon. Ibrahim Abiriga. Therefore, the sudden acts and the control from the NRM. Is the reason for these extra races.

At this point, it is hard to believe in peace, as the authorities are speaking that the Security Organizations are acting with restraint, as they shoot live-bullets into crowds and beat the public with sticks. They are acting as occupants in their own country, instead of having steady trust, they are beating the people into submission. If not, that what they hope with the physical torture and hurt.

The 8th October 2018 is supposed to matter, this is to vote for their representative in their district. However, at this point, who will die? Who will be tortured and who will be detained is the questioned? What sort of narrative will the government push to forget their vile violence against the civilians and the public in general?

Because of this moment will we really care about if NRM’s Naome Kibaaju or FDC’s Richard Guma. I have a really hard time to digest this. As the end-game of Arua is still playing out, the deaths and all the victims, as so many people are on bond and awaiting trial. Therefore, the Sheema North seems just like a pinch of salt in wounds. As the beatings are not yet even healed. The lack of tolerance and space are being squeezed. Therefore, the authorities could have waited and postponed this.

It is hard to celebrate, and the donated bikes to the public, will be impounded if the NRM looses. Just like it did in Rukungiri. So, the Sheema North should expect it is only given to them, as a token, if the NRM wins. They double down if they loose and we knows this.

Lets just hope that this doesn’t become bloody, hurt more people and that the final days of the By-Election turns as tragic as the whole Arua did. Because no place should become like that. However, the NRM just wants to signal that it costs to stand in their way. That is why SG Lumumba had to talk about staying loyal to the NRM who came with these “gifts”.

We know what they are. The people should know what they are, a small deposit and if they are not getting anything in return, they collect it back. As the constituency was a bad investment.

Let’s pray, but we know that Bosco is a unforgiving man, who calls the opposition by many names. So we just have to prepare for another funeral. Even if these are supposed to be joyful occasions, where people are supposed to do their civic duty of electing their representative to the next-highest office. Peace.

President Museveni says: “he can get rid of Parliament,” so he wants to rule by military decree, then.

“Between 1971 and 1979 (Idi Amin dictatorship – Ed), there was no parliament…Don’t think that you are in heaven; do what took you there. You should know where the power of that parliament comes from… in fact, I can do away with that parliament,” Museveni, also a retired army general, is quoted to have said. “And we brought it [parliament] back, so do whatever you are doing knowing…” Museveni reportedly said” (Sadab Kitatta Kaaya – ‘Museveni: I can do away with parliament’ 05.09.2018, link: https://www.observer.ug/news/headlines/58601-museveni-i-can-do-away-with-parliament).

President Museveni have told the Members of Parliament, that he can abolish the Parliament, if he wants too. Museveni said on the 27th August 2018 at Entebbe State House to the National Resistance Movement Caucus, that he can get rid of the Parliament and be the sole confined power in the Republic. He has said he can take it away and rule supreme.

If you thought that the man wasn’t serious, it took ages before ushered in Multi-Party elections, he took power in 1986, but the first election with that was in 2006. Therefore, he shown in the past, he only does “democratic” incentives, when he really has too. Not on his own merry, but by default.

Now, he says he can bring back military decrees and rule from up high, without any consideration of representatives of the people or MPs. As they are just questioning his reasoning and use of the military. This being in Arua and with the tortured MPs in question. That is why he is like this now. He wants to rule over the people without question, because he owns it.

In the same regard, people should stop paying taxes to him. Since he eats it anyways and shouldn’t care for paying OTT, VAT or anything as long as he don’t want to represent other than himself. He wants to be the kingpin, the almighty, who rules without questions. That is who is now. There isn’t anything he wants to control and if you question the military, than he brings the guns and suppress those ideas. That is why the Presidential Guards are in Kamwokya after arresting Bobi Wine. Because, he needs his sharp-shooters to send the message. That no one else has the power he does, because of the weapons, not because he has the support of the people in general.

That he now wants to talk like Amin and act like him, rule on military decree, shows how he lack fundamental understanding of all branches of state and how he wants to stifle it. He only opened up for things when it was beneficial, but now he wants to abolish it and take it away. He will soon wish back to Resistance Councils and the Movement System instead of the Multi-Party model, as that way he can monitor and control it in-house. That is who he is. However, will the people accept that in 2018?

This is not the same people as in 1986 or in 1996. This are doing this to people who never seen or touched the bush-war, the post-generation of that. He speaks of as it was his gift to give back parliament, soon he does the same with the kingdoms and whatever else he returned. As the pawns on his chess-set, as long as anyone obey it cool, but when they question him; your out of line!

Therefore, we now see how belittling and how hungry for the power the old man has. That he will even go to the levels of the ones he overthrow, just to prove a point. He already use the tactics of military courts, soldiers against civilians and torture like the ones before him. Now he wants to copy their military decree too. Soon there is no difference between him and the ones he liberated people from, its just like a mere façade and not reality. As he himself is as vindictive and horrific as them. Only he had more time using harm against people, then they ever could. Peace.