The Ghost of Otunnu haunts the UPC…

“The Supreme Court has kicked Uganda People’s Congress president, Jimmy Akena out of office. In its ruling, the highest court in the land said there existed no exceptional circumstances that warranted it to hear an application without first obtaining the leave of the Court of Appeal as had been requested by UPC and its electoral commission. “From the foregoing discussion, we find that the application no longer bears exceptional circumstances as a basis for it to be filed in this court.” The Supreme Court’s ruling followed a 2015 ruling by the High Court that Akena is not the legitimate UPC president and consequently, threw him out office” (95.7 Radio Rupiny, 16.10.2023).

With passing time things can become fickle. The times of hardships, lockouts and even embarrassing means to undress an public figure. One that went through it all and didn’t catch much luck in office was Olara Otunnu. Since he took Office as the Party President of the Uganda Peoples Congress (UPC). Even the party called him out as far back as 2011 for his decisions. It even did so publicly after decisions made to reform the party.

That’s why you know things get reckless and the wheels falls off when it storms. The UPC has gone through a prolonged court battle. It has been going on for years. Akena himself is on his second term as the Party President and the incumbent one at that. While Otunnu was forced into retirement and fellow peers left the party or has fought for it over the years.

The UPC of Otunnu is history. There is to much water under the bridge. The ones who stood by or believed in Otunnu won’t be there tomorrow. The UPC that they knew is gone. It is all Jimmy Akena. Akena has run the show and it’s in his image it portrays itself.

Not that its clever or wise, but it is telling. The Supreme Court will in all practicality have no consequences for Akena or the ones his associated with. Because, that term is already over and he will not budge. There is no reason for him to retreat and give way. Akena is the Party President and was re-elected one more time in 2020. So, even if he did cheat or rig the system in 2015. It doesn’t matter now. His not living on that term or needs to forfeit anything. Akena is charge and Otunnu got no say.

Otunnu can just stay silent. His winning without even saying a word. He can be in the shadows and lurk as much as he wants. There is no reason for him to be public either. It is the ones that was hostile and brutal towards him years ago who has to answer. They got to defend their actions and their methods of eviction. That’s what is happening now. It is to be blunt… bloody and dirty laundry for the general public to see.

Akena doesn’t want this out and neither his allies. No, they rather want to live in harmony and forget the whole thing. It is the past and no one should question the past. The past is the past and you can’t rectify the past. That is true, but the past is important in the present. It shows what intent and what you are willing to do for your own personal gains. That’s why Akena cannot morally or ethically be Party President. However, we know he don’t mind… he clearly lived on a lie and it wasn’t even an technicality. If it had been.. the Supreme Court wouldn’t have sided and ordered it this way.

Otunnu won’t return. If he speaks… it would be a surprise. He won’t get the title or the respect he deserves either. No, that’s not in the cards. The times of humbly taking over or doing things with caution is over. That is proven and it even got addressed in the courts.

The UPC had deserved better, it really did and the wounds are still fresh. As a man who looked up to and admired Otunnu. It was just tragic to see what went down in 2015 and he deserved so much better… but here we are and no need to moment of nostalgia. There is nothing to gain.

Just like the Supreme Court Order won’t change the dynamics or the formation of the UPC. It will cause a stir and question Akena. However, he will just swing through the storm and call it a night. He got it all and there is nothing anyone can do about it. Peace.

Uganda Police Force: Public Security Warning ahead of Independence Day Celebration (28.09.2018)

An anecdote on how Uganda isn’t a Democracy: An answer to the Liberation Day Speech of President Museveni!

“For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.” – Nelson Mandela

Today is the 32^nd Liberation Day or National Resistance Army/Movement Day, the day that ended the Bush-War of the 1980s in Uganda. Where President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni made his career from being a Minister and a Rebel to become the President. A position and an executive, head of state who has shown no signs of stepping down. He was supposed to be the next generation of leadership. He was the positive force in 1990s and was golden-kid for Bill Clinton on the Continent. While that has disappeared and with time his legacy has withered. Museveni has closely become all the things he fought against, he still tries to use the language and the charisma that he had in his younger days. But its all facade, it isn’t the real deal. That I why I don’t care to drastically demolish the whole speech.

I will just take one principal and one point of it. Because it waste of time to do more at this point of time!

“The fourth principle of the NRM is the democracy. Democracy is clear enough. Ugandan’s democracy, the democracy pushed by the NRM, is much richer than anything, anybody, has attempted to do in the world, other than the ancient Greeks who produced direct democracy, in the City States. We have empowered women, the youth, the workers, the disabled, the soldiers, etc. The NRM democracy must be kukyenuura-based through production of wealth and jobs creation. Kukyenuura means to solve a solvable need” (Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, 26.01.2018).

Well, I don’t know how to start. Let’s talk the steady usage of arbitrary arrests of activists, opposition party members, civilians and direct arrest of opposition leadership. Most of the opposition MPs and leaders has at some point been detained, in court and had cases going against them. The biggest opposition leaders has been charged with treason. Some has been house-arrested without warrants or court-orders for months upon end. So just by looking how the Police and Politics is intervening, you know that the democratic values of the NRM is not going skin-deep. It is more, just to have it, but not making it real.

Another point on Democratic values is to let opposition parties hold consultation meetings, even rallies during election periods and meetings in general to gain interest for their causes and pledges. Clearly, that should be natural, but the most violent and where the most police brutality appear is every time an opposition party leader has a campaign rally. There will be tear-gas, live-bullets and even civilians killed, people patching their hurt in hospitals. All this for showing up to rallies. There been brutal beatings of civilians walking around the area of an opposition rally, they could get hurt or arrested. Even if they even wasn’t involved. This is just the gist of the madness of the Police Enforcement, not even putting in the measures of interrogations, confiscating of party materials, suspensions of campaigns, court orders and even closing of Party Headquarters. All of this is done, to prove that the NRM can do what they want and opposition has to fall in line. This would never happen to the NRM or his party.

Now I just pointed out the arbitrary arrests and crashing of rallies. Haven’t even started on actually balloting and such. I could have continued on the assaults on Democracy with just quotes from the President in 2015 or 2016, even in 2017. He has enough and promised enough venom on the opposition to fill whole books of vomit for our ears and our minds. So, I don’t care for repeating that. I don’t deserve that and neither do you.

Because, the flaws of the Democracy in the Republic is to gigantic in a simple post. Museveni has made sure of that, so that he owns the Members of Parliament, he orders everything as he wants from the State House and secured Life Presidency through yet another change of the 1995 Constitution in December 2017.

So that President Museveni speaks of Democracy and having the best. He better get his mind corrected, get his vision checked and his initial understanding of democracy put under a stethoscope. Museveni has left nothing behind, but cronyism and corruption. Where he is the sole-benefactor and his family. The rest has to beg from him and they are just useful tools for his agenda.

He is the Sole-Candidate, the Sole Party and the Commander-In-Chief, he is the General and the President who doesn’t let anyone succeed him. He didn’t accept losing a rigged election 1980 to Dr. Milton Obote, he has since then fought himself into power in 1986. Since then rigged himself and used all means to stay in power. Therefore, he is not the fella to educate people in Democracy or Democratic values. He should be the last person. Peace.

Opinion: The UPM’s Aims and Objectives are grand, but did Museveni deliver them?

During the last few days, don’t remember when, but Moses Byamugisha on Social Media showed two pictures, which is a part of the Uganda Patriotic Movement (UPM) Membership Card from 1980. This is the first party of now President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. It might seem as forgotten past, a past that we should just forgot, but I can’t, it is certain proof of important words and ideas, that still should be worked for. UPM and the agenda that Museveni worked for back-then. Is still worth doing today, even if President Museveni is just working for himself and his cronies. Not working for the betterment of society, that part of him is already gone.

I will first list of the ‘Aims and Objectives’ of the UPM Membership Card. Its 16 points, which seems like points, the Republic still needs and should work for.

16 Points:

1. Unity

2. Democracy

3. National Independence

4. Social Progress

5. Clean Leadership

6. Peace, Security and tranquility

7. Rehabilitation and reconstruction of the nation

8. National Common Language

9. Workers and Peasants participation in the decisions making process of the Party and State machinery

10. Building of a proper defence and security systems

11. Encourage and sustain collective leadership

12. Create condition that will make every citizens have a right to education and medical care

13. Follow and adhere to a policy of a viable mixed autonomy for Uganda

14. Follow a policy of non alignment on a basis of mutual benefits and subscribe to OAU and UN Charters

15. Subscribe to the Basic Human Rights as enshrined in the UN Charter

16. Give moral and material support to the orphans and widows and other victims of the Fascist rule and liberation war

All of this was subtle and good ideas, needed ones that hasn’t lost their power or need. The Republic needs first aim Unity, not only hire and develop the Western parts of Uganda. Just like the troubles of just hiring people from the northern of Uganda under Obote and Amin. Therefore, this is still needed, as the Ankoli and areas around has gotten more and become more important, than the rest of the republic. Bunyoro is getting vital because of coming oil industry. Not because Museveni cares about it deeply.

Second aim, Democracy still needs to be worked upon. By all means because of the Life Presidency, enacted by the National Resistance Movement (NRM). The Second Party of the President, all follows his whip and is non-democratic from the choices of Members of Parliament and their votes. If they don’t follow orders, like voting for life presidency, then they will not only be labeled rebels, but also punished through the party organization. The NRM isn’t democratic, neither is the state. There are lacking democratic decision making and the elections are rigged. Its not the will of the people, but the will of Museveni.

The third aim, don’t need comments, but fourth and fifth needs it. The ‘Social Progress’ and ‘Clean Leadership’. Needs to be address, it is better then back in the day, but having three decades to advance. The NRM should have come much longer, than it has. The Social progress has not evolved, its only for a minority group. Biggest part of society is stagnated and falling behind with unemployment and lack of development. Clean leadership is long gone with Presidential Handshake, pay-off of Members of Parliament, misusing opposition parties and trading position because of loyalty and not merit. Therefore, the NRM have failed with perfection here.

Aim six and seven are questionable at best. ‘Peace, Security and Tranquility’. Peace they do have, but the security and tranquility, not so much. The Security Organizations are more criminal than thieves, they are killers and hired goons themselves. Police are investigated by CMI and UPDF. There are lacking lines and trust to the Courts. The Northern Uganda is done with civil war, but the army has still created uncertainty in Kasese and Rwenzori as they are battling their own. Killings are happening and unsolved by the authorities. Even assassinations of big men within the Security Organization themselves.

The aim eight, ‘National Common Language’ have been effective and worked, as English and Luganda is well-known and most can understand either one or both. The NRM has worked smoothly with this. One of the few things, the NRM actually has achieved. The Uglish is fantastic.

Aim nine, peasants and workers are not really a part of making decisions and taking part of the party. The decisions are made in the State House. It is made by the President and not by Party. The Party is a front and its only there so the President can pay-off his loyal allies. Its seemingly so, when the NRM-O and NRM CEC are made for his best interest. Not to create a better republic.

The tenth aim which is ‘build a proper defence and security systems’. The Military is at its strongest and used as hired mercenaries in Equatorial Guinea and doing United Nations missions in both Somalia and Central African Republic. Its also the main reason for still the current president. He uses the military, because he doesn’t have the popularity. The Security Systems are fragmented and used against each other. Using military intelligence against the police. There is nothing that is certain and you are boggled at how and when something strike. When a crime will be solved and by who.

The eleventh aim to ‘encourage and sustain collective leadership’ is at best questionable at this day and age. The NRM have clearly forgotten this one. They have maybe never worked for this after 1986. That he has talked against sectarian and tribal leadership is well-known, but his achievement is questionable. Since he hasn’t promoted collective leadership, he has promoted his own leadership and the ones loyalty to him without ambition. It is reason why Vice-President Ssekandi are still there and Prime Minister Rugunda are there. They don’t want to get at the king, but if they get ambition to succeed him. Then they get demoted. Check history and you’ll see this.

The twelfth aim for ‘universal education and public health care’. There many more schools under the NRM. Though they are not well-kept or the up-keep is worth mentioning. The literacy rate has been rising in the three decades of rule, but the school system is far from perfect. Since teachers in the districts has side jobs because of lacking salaries, girls skip schools over lacking pads. That was even promised in the General Election of 2016. Still, the NRM haven’t delivered. They promised UPE, but never totally delivered on that promise.

Health care is a place where people are left to die. That is why MPs are getting treatment abroad, the daughters of the President giving birth in Europe. The Health Care is abysmal, lacking medicine, copy medics, X-Rays not working and awaiting between 2013 to 2018 before buying and putting up a new Cancer-Treatment machine. Only one for the millions of citizens of the Republic. There been a blood-drive, because of lacking blood for treatments in the hospitals. The air-machines has gone empty like in Jinja. The NMS hasn’t been able to buy in needed equipment. The Health Care is something the NRM really haven’t delivered anything to be proud of. They have build some buildings called hospitals, but they cannot treat people’s illness there.

The thirteen aim is about autonomy, but that is delivered from the State House. There has been growing amount of districts 118 if my calculation is right. So there has been changes, but it hasn’t given service delivery. Neither or anything visible changes. It is more district centre and more cronies paid-off making the civil service bloated, but not delivering services to the public. So the NRM has delivered dozens of new district and local government entities, but not that they matter. They only matters to the ones who get a paycheck and who is “running” them. But not for the public.

The fourteenth aim is about taking part of African Union and United Nations, the fifteenth aim was also about following their international standards and laws. In the beginning of the NRM rule, as long as he was a part of the new breed of leadership. It was seemingly important to respect international laws and enact those standards. With time this has withered, as he wants to rule on own accord and not let anyone question his reasoning. Therefore, he has become hostile to foreign interference, the ICC and all other who can question his acts and his use of military in foreign countries. Because of the fear of the repression from foreign entities, the former love-affair has become hatred and that has been shown over time.

The sixteenth aim has been done in some instances, that someone has gotten land and gotten measly awards. The State haven’t made functional programs, but more public givings and sudden awards as part of public display together with honors at liberation celebrations. Not really trying to give funds and such. NRM Historicals of all kinds, NRA soldiers and familes, haven’t been compensated, neither has the losers. They have gotten retaliation. So there are many families in disarray and lost of promises.

The whole republic has seen all the empty promises and the prospects of the Museveni era. He has had 32 years to create a state in his vision. The UPM isn’t that far from the 10 Point Program, that I have also dismantled, actually twice.

This here is another proof of how he promise big, but doesn’t deliver. Don’t be surprised, he is all talking big game, but never showing it on the touchline. He might be in the box, but never score. Peace.

Gen. Mugisha Muntu Press Statement (10.12.2017)

Gen. Mugisha Muntu Press Statement (29.11.2017)

Opinion: I expect Gen. Mugisha Muntu to start his own Political Party tomorrow!

Well, it has come to this, not this is wished upon as Retired General Mugisha Muntu has supporters all over for his moderate and strong belief in peaceful transformation of the Republic. Still, it is has not grasped enough and gotten traded in well within the Forum for Democratic Change own delegates before the recent internal elections.

Its been interesting in the aftermath of the recent internal elections, that the National Resistance Movement and their supporters has spread messages of fear and of dismay of the result. Like it where their own elections. Maybe, because there is only sole-candidacy and handpicked candidates that are getting chosen inside the NRM. Therefore, the FDC delegation and conference this recent week proven their democratic display. Not the result that Muntu or his allies wanted, but it showed that he still carries a big delegation and a loyal base. Even if Patrick Oboi Amuriat won over him.

Therefore, the change of Party President shouldn’t bring him down, but it is humiliating to lose. Still, Nathan Nandala-Mafabi did the same in the last time around and he is still a viable figure inside the Party. It is not like it is a death sentence to lose the Presidency. The first Party President was Dr. Kizza Besigye and he is still significant. Some says it his own making that Muntu has lost his place. That Besigye is all behind POA. That POA is no-one without Besigye. Besigye and POA are might both part of the same fraction of the party. Since they want the party to be more spirited with the Defiance and less of the Muntu spirited compliance.

That is also maybe reason why Muntu lost, Muntu is brave, but also shielded from a lot in the recent year. While other of the Defiance fraction has been detained and legal trouble. Muntu and friends has skated off into the sunset. This and his decisions to actually accept that the FDC are the leading opposition party in the Parliament. Which means they also formed a Shadow Government, as if they weeks and days before was saying was illegitimate. Therefore, Muntu have mad the bed himself and now has to sleep in it.

Muntu knew and knows what is brewing inside a party, who should be tired by the little movement and the stalemate. The Stalemate that is lasting now for two decades against the NRM. That Besigye, Muntu and all other in the leadership hasn’t been able at this point to have peaceful transition from the NRM. Since Museveni and his party of sole candidacy is staying either by the rigged ballots or by the guns.

“Fellow Ugandans, I would like to thank all of you for the great show of support for the pursuit of democracy as well as our concerted and continuing struggle for a better Uganda. I will be holding a press conference tomorrow at 10am at Hotel Africana. God bless you all” (Mugisha Muntu, 28.11.2017).

That is why this significant message from Muntu is telling. Since he as the former Party President should know the stakes ahead inside the FDC. It isn’t that Besigye kicked him out and got in a puppet as the Party President. But, that the moderate and careful working Muntu wasn’t proactive enough or even professing to the needed changes within the FDC.

That is why I expect him to start a new Political Party, as he will not be leader under POA or try to contest Besigye again for the Presidential Race. He rather run on his own and try to create his own party. He might bring with him many of the Shadow Government MPs and others. Muntu might bring a big group from the FDC. While FDC becoming more revolutionary and more in the spirit of defiance against the resistance.

What that will say about his, it might be a fluke or hot air like Go-Forward of Amama Mbabazi. It might be a party of the size of Conservative Party, Democratic Party or Uganda People’s Congress. But it might not have the role that FDC has and the FDC will find new leaders for the ones who left. There are lots inside the structure and the years on the sideline of the NRM.

It will not be easy for Muntu to be another one who works for himself. He has to challenge both FDC, but NRM. As well as all the rest of the Opposition parties. If that will be easy in this political climate, as the police are shutting down and silencing their consultations/meetings. That will happen with Muntu if he tries to be someone and somebody. He will not be in peace, unless he does like Beti Kamya and Uganda Federal Alliance, which is now a loyal stooge of the NRM.

We can just await and see what happens tomorrow. If he will roll out a new party, if he has plans inside the FDC or if he goes independent. There are rumors and speculations of several opposition MPs to be part of the press conference at Hotel Africana. That might happen tomorrow. We don’t know at this point, what we do know is that he has these options.

We can assume certain movement from him because he stated this after losing on the 25^th November:

“I want to operate in an environment where I feel I am trusted by those that I am working with. So colleagues, I don’t want to be unfair to you nor do I want to say that you are being unfair to me. Therefore, at a personal level, there are decisions I will have to make in the coming days and weeks. I ask for your patience and prayers. We need to bear with each other even as we ponder on the decision that we will have to make. We do our part as human beings and the rest we leave it to God” (Mugisha Muntu, 25.11.2017).

So, we know he feels disgruntled, because people are unhappy with some of his actions and of some of his decisions after the General Election in 2016. It is because of that, people has lost it and he also lost vital supports inside the party. Still, Muntu will get backers from the FDC if he shifts. That will be over the Defiance, but also because of his compliance.

We will see what happens. But will Muntu do like Mbabazi and try it all on his own? Nevertheless, his party would have longer time before the next election, than what Go-Forward had before the 2016 election. Peace.

Opinion: President Museveni call-out rebel MPs as Parasites; so the Age Limit is all about him then?

Let’s first start with a new word (Parasitism) from the Encyclopedia Britannica: “Parasitism, relationship between two species of plants or animals in which one benefits at the expense of the other, sometimes without killing the host organism” (Encyclopedia Britannica – ‘Parasitism’). So clearly, the words of Parasites are important today, because of the use of it from a President to his fellow MPs. It is inspiring to know how he feels about his comrades who are disagreeing with him. It is just something else.

Because, it is now revealed in a letter sent from President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, who sent a letter on the 7^th November 2017 to the National Resistance Movement MPs: Theodore Ssekikubo, Monicah Amonding, Barnabas Tinkasimire and Patrick Oshabe Nsamba. All of these wrote a letter on the 4^th October questioning the Age Limit and the lifting of the Article 102(b). This is clearly insulting to President Museveni. As I will quote some parts of this 2 page letter to fellow MPs, which all are part of his own party.

“It is your duty to contribute to that process and not to undermine it” (…) “There are still problems of poverty (19% now from 56% in 1989) and also inadequate jobs. This, partly, is due to the obstruction by some of you” (…) “Many of you talk negatively have not to contributed to the ideology of patriotism, to the liberation of the country, to the recovery of the economy and country, to the consolidation of peace or to the great developments that we have achieved. Yet you benefit economically and otherwise. We call this parasitism and that parasitism will be resisted and defeated. I hope you find this information useful” (Yoweri Kaguta Musevei – ‘ Re: Constitutional Amendment of Article 102(b) to lift the Age Limit for President’ (07.11.2017).

That was the parasitism, which means that the NRM MPs are benefiting on the expense of Museveni and without killing him by doing so. That their role as MPs is costly for Museveni and that it hurts him. They are combined together where the other MPs are abusive of Museveni, therefore, they are sticky parasites who eats the good stuff and leaves the leftover for Museveni. That is how we can understand this letter and his insulting words to fellow comrades and MPs. This are men and woman who have been rising inside his party and within his organization. That he has such effortless insults to his own, shows how all of them are just props and needed gallery functions, unless they are standing against him politically.

That is why the letter is saying a lot. That President Museveni see’s dissidents to him as parasites. Who leach of his skin and who eats his benefits. Benefits he gives them and make sure they are well feed. That is how it is sounds, so the cronyism and necessary control is understandable, as everyone, who needs anything. Will have to show up and be parasites at the State House. Before they are returning with their needed goods and food to survive. Since he is giving them benefits and giving them what they need. Without any of them dying from it. They are eating of him and they are benefiting, but he is not sacrificing himself. Which is within reason, considering he has been doing this sort of transactions since 1986.

But know now, that the dissidents within the NRM are parasites, that are benefiting from his mercy and goodwill. Not their good work or initiative, they are only benefiting because of Museveni. Everything is connected with Museveni and he is making sure the parasites are okay. They are dependent on him and his possible energy and reserves. The parasites usually dies, while the host continues to live on. That have seen with dozens of former loyal parasites in the past. Who all have leached off him and is now Historicals of different kind.

We can just wonder, what was his motivation to call several of his own MPs parasites? What was running through his mind and his vision, when writing these words? Did he think of the disgraceful and merciless attitude. We all know that the lifting of the age limit is for his life presidency and nothing else. There are no good legal argument that has come forward or anyone who has come with explanations worthwhile to listen too. This is all made for President Museveni and nothing else.

He must surely think the same about every single one who are working for him and around him. That they are parasites who eats of his cake and his veins. They are tiring him and taking away his nutrients, so they can live of him. Because everything is usually about him. In this case, the whole amendment of the Constitution is about him. He knows it and the world knows too. It is just a matter of little information and knowledge of the President. And you know his reasons and his ways, will always be about him. He is the giver and the ones that takes away. He is the one man that makes sure they can be MPs and the ones that make them civilian again. Peace.

Uganda Police Force Investigates the Red Pepper (21.11.2017)

Age Limit: President Museveni letter to NRM Rebels – “Re: Constitutional Amendment of Article 102(b) to lift the Age Limit for President” (07.11.2017)