Opinion: the Real implications of the Interim Order towards the banning of the FDC and their Defiance Campaign!

FDC Youth 14.03.2016

“He has decreed that there would be no prayers. Can you imagine? Sometimes I wonder if I am living in the right country at the right time. I can’t believe that a person in 2016 can sit anywhere and order that people shouldn’t pray,” Dr. Kizza Besigye

There are days when we wish that we are united, we are in in sync and have a mutual respect for each even when disagreeing. That is not the line in the sand when it comes to National Resistance Movement, the judiciary of Uganda and the Uganda Police Force who are doing what they can to silence the opposition. The Interim Order is the last straw in a long line of oppressive behaviour from the authorities and the ruling party NRM towards the FDC.

As the Interim Orders come’s the Executive, the President, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has to warn opposition of demonstrating, the same as his fellow crony did first Inspector General of Police Kale Kayihura have done the same. They have to warn the public of demonstrating and taking parts of Defiance Campaign.

Museveni Odoi EC Flag Bearer P1

President Museveni have talked with anger and said he would crush the opposition and sensitize the public to be behind him, without any question. The same comes from the Police Force who has said they would not give power to the Opposition. Secretary General of the NRM Justine Lumumba has talked of killing civilians who goes against the ruling party. Even Local Councillors of the NRM have come with the same kind of words and said that the Opposition does not belong into power. So the ruling party from the top and down to the grass-root is spreading fear and loathing in the country.

So the Interim Order is the next step that the Judiciary bans the FDC from reacting to the flawed elections and the announced tally results that fits the mind of the Executive of the NRM. That again proves the rule of law only fits for the ruling party and everybody else have to nod along and follow; partly also not question the judgement of the Judiciary and the NRM who can do as they like.

As the Police Force have constantly done whatever in their power to stifle the FDC and the aftermath of the general elections; the way the Police Force even had to close down the Party celebrations of Local Councillors in Kampala proves the liability, and fear that the Ruling Party combined with the Police Force to harass the opposition with force.

Najjankumbi 05.04.2016

So the matter at hand is that Police Force and the Ruling Party is more ruthless in 2016 than in 2011. The way of the Ruling Party is to have consensus and trust of the people, but that is not the way the NRM and their regime is doing their thing. They have to fight with fear, with the army, with the Police and come with Court Orders to supress the fellow citizens into the Party Line and into the line of the Executive.

So yesterday President Museveni has to warn the public of disobedience to his POWER and his RULE. He is the grand leader and the elder who supposed to know how the system of loyalty is anymore. The Museveni of 2016 are using force to force himself towards the people. The Regime and their laws are becoming more beaming as they doesn’t control the people, but makes sure they can take down anybody who they need to silence. The NRM have no intent to give the power away and let it go. That from a man who went to the bush for a heavy rigged election and have now created the same kind of sham election in 2016. The only difference is that the army of him is stronger than the ones behind Obote, the Police Force have a bigger mandate then under Obote. So the ones that he needs and pays will willingly use their mandate to keep him there; the ballots and the will of people is not a worry for the President. The Army and Police Force is the beacon of what the Power that the President have for the moment.

As they use the levels of the oppressive regime, they will hunt down and detain all of the leadership of the FDC, they will viciously attack the headquarters of Najjankumbi. The cars of the FDC will be torn to pieces. The crowds that show up will eat tear-gas and even live bullets might hit some flesh. So the ones supporting the opposition and the cause of bringing down the NRM and their Executive will cost them and the Police Force will hunt them.

So if the International media and the men and woman, who cares about Free Speech, justice and true security of fellow citizens and human beings they should decree support for the FDC as the NRM Regime use all their weapons of fear and actual weapons to shut them down. That is something they will do without question.

Col Shaban

Col Shaban Bantariza said this yesterday:

“There is an English saying; “better a live rat than a dead lion”! Those who are swearing to die protesting, Uganda needs them more alive than dead!! Nobody dead saves those alive under whatever circumstances!”.

So the Regime is ready to address the public as rats, and says they will die protesting. Not let them protest in peaceful ways, but die protesting their regime. This is the Government spokesman of the country following the long line from the Executive addressing fellow citizens with words of honour and valour where he says they will die protesting. I wonder who will kill them, either the unemployment or the harassment from the government facilitated security organizations that will display violence towards fellow citizens who planned to peacefully display their disobedience towards the authorities, that takes it all to themselves then serving the fellow citizen. Peace.

The Interim Order from the Attorney General Vs. FDC “Banning the Defiance Campaign” (28.04.2016)

Interim Order Court Uganda April 2016 P1Interim Order Court Uganda April 2016 P2Interim Order Court Uganda April 2016 P3

Kayihura warns the Opposition that the Demonstrations will not be like in 2011; and they will stand down until the country is “safe” in the “new” government!

Kayihura Kasese Bundibugyo 24.03.2016

As we could predicate like clockwork is that the Police Force would enforce the banning and interim orders of the Constitutional Court from Deputy Justice Stephen Kavuma yesterday. So since the clock is ticking… the IGP Kayihura had to speak his peace, and his Peace is not peace for anybody else then the NRM regime and the NRM cronies. As proven with his rhetoric today. Take a look yourself!

Kale Kayihura says this today:

“We were able to have peaceful elections contrary to what had been anticipated by many people. It was a big achievement and something you cannot take lightly because had we not done it, it would now be a different story” (…)”We can’t allow something similar to what happened in 2011 during the swearing in ceremony. Our main mission (of securing elections) was done but we can’t stand down until the country is safe and secure with the new government” (…)”There were predictions of violence before, during and after elections but thanks to the security forces that ensured this did not happen. The future of our country is very bright as people live in peace and happiness” (Kazibwe, 2016).

Besigye 2011 W2W Arrest

This is might what he is afraid of:

“Cheers of excitement turned to eerie silence as the police fired tear gas to disperse the crowds. Protesters scattered and made their way to a soccer field, where they held a mock swearing-in of Mr. Besigye” (…)”But in recent weeks, the protests’ narrative and political momentum have built as the government has mounted a brutal and at times fatal response, making many Ugandans rethink the extent of the nation’s democracy” (…)”On Tuesday, the police used water cannons to disperse a group of six people, some of them political leaders, who were huddled against a building. Another opposition leader was whisked away in a police van” (…)”Lots of this anger is being vented at Museveni as he is sworn in, both because of widespread belief of fraud in the election and because of the way the government has handled Besigye,” said Elliott Green, a specialist on Uganda at the London School of Economics. “The next question is where things might go from here.” (Kron, 2011).

But last time it was the Police who came with brutality and used all force, dispersed and detained the opposition. Therefore Dr. Kizza Besigye had to go to hospital in Kenya before arriving back in Uganda. The Post-Election violence was massive in the last go-around.

Bukwo FDC Campaign Trail 060116 P3

This just had to happen the day after the Deputy Justice Stephen Kavuma who made the Interim Order of banning the Defiance Campaign. So that he comes with warnings is just a sensational as the sunrise every morning. It just have to occur; the issue is with the favour and extent he goes in. As he claims that the FDC and their campaign is to destroy the peace and the happiness of the country. That says that in his mind only NRM can bring peace, and if other disobey then they creating havoc and chaos. Initially saying so, but the words of non-violence during, under and after the elections of 2016 is a lie. He must have forgotten the pre-election violence of Rukungiri, Jinja and other. During the Campaign trail of Bukwo district, Ntungamo and the state of the violence before the Makerere Rally in February; then after that there been steady violence in the country. Something that IGP Kayihura knows as the army has been deployed in Kasese and Rwenzori. The Bundibugyo and Kapchorwa killings combined with the Kasese and Rwenzururu Kingdom killings proves the levels of blood that have been taken after the election. So a real it is not.

Lira10082015P2

Combined with the connection of the Police Force enforcing preventative arrests, detaining, stopping demonstrations, applying detaining for unlawful behaviour even when they just trying to do party work. The other is the monitoring and spying on the opposition even when they have to comply for their actions to the Police as the POMA act says. And the Parties have obliges with that, even when he ruling party together with the Police have used all force to oppress them.

So I have trouble with the simplistic view of the acts of his Police Force towards fellow country-men and how he target fellow citizens who happens to be Opposition as enemies and with Anti-Riot Police Force. So the Peace he speaks is a forced peace. A Peace that is forced by fear and by tear-gas and detaining the opposition, not creating a space for dialogue or real peace in the country; because the Police Force does not hesitate to act upon the men and woman who might counter to the NRM, as they did to the people who closed their shops as a demonstration to the rigged election.

Jinja Police 10915 P1

So his precaution of the 2011 Walk To Work is the statement as he has moved certain men who was involved like Andrew Felix Kaweesi and I am sure others are moved to the Kampala Metropolitan. Because they want to be sure that they can dissolve any demonstration as they want the perfect day for the 7th Term of President Museveni and his NRM that the Police Force is loyal too!

So we can be assured that the Police Force is ready to follow the words of the interim orders of the judge of 29th April 2016. Because he will use any excuse to extend the Police State of NRM and their thieving of power. Since the legitimate leader is not in the NRM, if it was so then they would not need to threaten the public. The Legitimacy is certainly bubbled down and cracked, therefore the silence and non-celebration except for the people of Uganda Media Centre who is paid men of the Ruling Party. So long behold the Swearing-In at Kololo Independence Ground on the 12th May. The reality is that the Police Force will use force on the 5th May, but if the Opposition able to mobilize as they did during campaign and Nomination day of the November 2015. Something I hope, and pray for, because if so the Police Force will be a small minority who should not hurt that big of a crowd and certainly that amount of people would monitor and share footage of the havoc so the media of the world would condemn the violent actions of the Police as they harass the Opposition with a steady pace. Peace.

Reference:

Kazibwe, Kenneth – ‘Gen. Kayihura Warns FDC on Inauguration Demo’ (30.04.2016) link: http://www.chimpreports.com/kayihura-speaks-out-on-fdc-inauguration-demo/

Kron, Josh – ‘Protests Overshadow Inauguration in Uganda’ (12.05.2011) link: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/13/world/africa/13uganda.html?_r=0

Besigye to ‘defy’ justice Steven Kavuma decision on defiance campaign (Youtube-Clip)

Former Presidential Candidate of Forum For Democratic Change Party Dr. Kizza Besigye has said that Justice Steven Kavuma’s ruling is unjust and lopsided. Addressing a news conference at his home in Kasangati, Besigye said the the Constitutional Court order blocking all defiance campaigns is one of the things he will defy. This came after Justice Steven Kavuma on Friday evening ordered the stay of all defiance activities including talk-shows on TV and Radio. Dr. Besigye says that Article 43 of the constitution only limits one from enjoying his rights if it is in public interest” (NTV Uganda, 2016).

My letter to Deputy Chief Justice Stephen Kavuma after yesterday’s Interim Order banning the Defiance Campaign of the FDC

kavuma

30th April 2016, Oslo

Dear Deputy Chief Justice Stephen Kavuma!

You have raised the bar honourable judge, then I don’t talk about the amount of Nile brew you might poured down during the last judicial year. I write to you Sir regarding the assessment you made yesterday. As you said this:

“”An interim order doth issue against the 1st [Forum for Democratic Change] and 2nd [Kizza Besigye] respondents, their agents officials, supporters or any other person acting under their authority from engaging in demonstrations, processions, other public meetings, media campaigns or pronouncements including but not limited to the planned demonstration or procession scheduled for 5th of May 2016 or any other day in furtherance of the defiance campaigning pending hearing and determination of the main application for temporary injunction,”  Stephen Kavuma said.

I know you must have had hard time lately, not been able to walk to the Workers house on the 9th Floor and eating with younger girls there lately. Time is a wasting, right? There are limited amount of time we’re living so time use sound reasoning Sir.

I have a hard time calling you Sir, as you have done something foolish. You have given an interim order that have stopped the grand party of FDC and their operation initially illegal. As the National RESISTANCE MOVEMENT can do what they like? Do you have problem that the country is run by the Resistance?

Defiance means defying and being disobedience. So honourable judge you have to have an interim order against any kind of teen-ager who is disobedient to their parents, because they usually defy their parents; neither if the kid is right or wrong them still do it. I propose you write a decree on Monday. This would be seen as being loyal to the Interim order of 29th April 2016.

While the resisting or resistance is from a Latin resistentia and meaning to Hold Back. So there are similarities between the disobedience and towards the men who hold back. And then my honour what is the full meaning of a Resistance Movement you might wonder:

“(also resistance movement)A secret organization resisting authority, especially in an occupied country: he went underground and joined the resistance’” (Oxford).

The NRM is not an secret organization though the accountability of it is lacking. As we know and you Sir Kavuma. But by your interim order against the defiance campaign you have initially made the Resistance illegal to. That means that you need to force and order of the secret running organisation that is resisting authority and holding back. Even resistance means that you’re a narrow-minded who doesn’t want’s change. As the resistance is used as refusing to comply to the orders or laws. Henceforth creating a Resistance Movement to build, which would be a loyal group working against the authorities to resist them and holding them back.

kampala road work

For me your honourable judge for the judgement is ridiculous in the sense. If made an interim order where you ban building boulevards, then you can’t build roads, could you? As a Boulevard is a thicker road with certain adjustments, while a road is something leading from A-B, but the same could be said about the Boulevard as well.

It is the same kind of mixture between the words of Defiance and Resistance honourable judge. Therefore as a sane man I hope you are and that you have your reasoning intact, a clear mind and does as your duty preside. To either abolish the order and say you did in a layman’s term a “Boo-Bo”. If you don’t do that you should as an honourable man do something about this Resistance and their will of holding back from authorities. They have to be stopped and should be hold in the same regard as the ones behind the Defiance campaign.

So the new interim order must be to change the NRM as they are spreading the same kind of venom and unfairness towards authorities with sounded mind like you Honourable Kavuma. I know that won’t happen as you want to be loyal to the pay-check and His Excellency who appointed you. Therefore to show him his honour you validated that with decreeing this interim order yesterday despite the lacking moral and linguistic authority to pull it off. As you will now be remembered for determined order to stop the FDC and their Defiance Campaign.

You should mind that this shows your value of your judgement judge. The interim order will be the landmark, the moment that you earned your coins in favour of the President Museveni, but not of the rest of the land. You have showed that you stand for empty principals and do not consider the real implications for your loyalty to the Resistance that is a narrow-minded man who doesn’t want change. That must be very bad, as I hope you have health coverage in Nairobi as the Mulago Hospital under current leadership is not that well-funded of late. So please honourable judge ask for coins to pay for your foreign health care visits in the near future as recite for your token of loyalty.

With best regards

Writer of Minbane

The Announced Double Swearing-in (In) Uganda on the 12th of May; Doubling down on the days ahead…

m7, besigye

There are circulated and planned demonstrations against the National Resistance Movement and their “elected” government during the General Election of 2016 and was announced and declared by Eng. Dr. Badru M. Kiggundu on the 20th February. That they waited for the Supreme Court Petition of Amama Mbabazi that they cascaded and destroyed by all means. Just the same way the Uganda Police Force went after Democratic Party Members, FDC supporters and leadership in the days after to destroy evidence of the altering and rigging of the election.

The Reason why Uganda People’s Congress haven’t done or had any issues after the Election is because their leader Jimmy Akena have done deals with the NRM and even had his own people in the party campaign for the NRM in certain areas. Therefore they have been left in peace as they in solidarity have concocted an campaign trail together with the NRM, as well as the Party had no Presidential Candidate, which is also an extended token to the NRM and their Executive.

So with all of that mind, with the electoral climate and the electoral process that have been farce, where the South Sudanese rented troops was around in the nation during the election days, together with the army and anti-riot police stationed on the streets while the election and polling where held. Where the ballots and pre-ticking extensions and the certainty of Police involvement in central parts of the electoral process, then you know that the general election was neither free nor fair for the people and the citizens hadn’t their vote, they got the people the Executive had selected, not the ones the people wanted to have elected.

NRM 13.11.15 Omunge

Elected by the people is whole stage of difference than the Selected from the Executive. That is power of the President and the president that has presided since 1986. The man who does not believes in the will of his own people, because he selected the leaders for them, if they don’t show loyalty towards him. He is the only man with a vision, as well have heard so clearly and everybody else is not able to run the country. I am sure he has stalled the procurement of the Cobalt 60 Teletherapy Machine at the Uganda Cancer Institute to facilitate more cows to one of his ranches.

In this days and age, the reason for extra haste and other meetings at the State House is that the Russian and French investors in the Oil Development that is the key to new ways of extorting the state, as the Executive have done for 3 decades. The reason why the deals of the Pipeline between Ugandan Government, Tanzanian counterparts and the Total E&P Uganda is uncertain, as much as the drilling agreements in Lake Albert by Total, China National Oil Offshore Corporation (CNOOC) and the others who have gotten rights to do so. But, that is not important as the exotic dancing at the clubs of Kabalagala in the Suburb of Kampala is the real danger of the country. Just ask the wise-guy Hon. Jim Muhwezi, he has the vision for the sodomy of the nation and the danger of dancing!

Uganda Campaign Poster 2016 Funny

The hesitation also of the final days of the 9th Parliament to fix themselves some more cash without questions while stalling the budget talks for next budget year of 2016/17 that was supposed to voted-in Parliament; but the Members of Parliament wanted to be sure of a pay-rise for the Nobel duty of being Selected by the Executive. The Executive knows this and let it go, because he knows if he needs anything done he can just give them little sweet brown-envelopes and they will let him be giddy.

So with that all in mind, the planned demonstrations, the running and planning building a petroleum industry behind closed chambers, the amazement of last-pitched laws of the 9th Parliament and last saga of late the speakership of the 10th Parliament.

Uganda-parliament-2

10th Parliament like the 9 Parliament before needs a speaker and people are fighting for it, the Incumbent Kadaga believes she is the one for it again, the deputy Oulanya believes it his turn and other are throwing in their vote for confidence of being it. The NRM have no plans of letting a opposition leading the Parliament minutes and the organizing the structure of the lawful assembly of the land. That cannot happen, because the NRM and the Executive need to work in own speed and own liking as the Executive is the final word as he fix the votes and run the land. Therefore his last word on who becomes it and who is dismissed, just like Amama Mbabazi and Gilbert Bukenya have been dismissed by him for their ambition, so if the speakers become the same; I am sure he will do it again with force of the NRM CEC and the screaming tone of NRM Secretary General Justine Kasule-Lumumba. Be noted, that will happen, because he keeps people hungry and when they see a moment of eating more than expected then he hit back.

As we note the days and coming days. The tension of the faulted election will unfold and the questions will remain at what force the Police and Army will address the men and woman who walks to demonstrate, and how will the rest of the days between the 5th May and to the 12th May go. There are the historical pains of the Walk to Work where the tear-gas and the crackdown of it. The Police have ever since been monitoring and also spying on the opposition with their Political Police and Commission that been vicious on the dismantling the hopes of the opposition.

Besigye 041115

So how it might go is hard to predict as we can hope of the grand show-up of the Nomination Day around Kampala, if so then the Police Force cannot take them all and wind-down the demonstration with water-cannons, live-bullets and tear-gas. This I say because this is the tactics of the Police Force, even take Helicopters and Armoured Personnel Carriers and Mambas filled with officers to control with harassment of the fellow citizens. So the Police will want to dissolve the matters and the will of the people with the tarnish of civil disobedience. That is what I am worried about as the loss of life and the loss of will after 30 years of oppression.

And I have not even mentioned the started wrangles between the councillors, KCCA administration of the selected men and woman of President Museveni and the elected Lord Mayor that they want to rid-off for the second time. Because the Mzee believes all of the opposition supporters of Kampala are cockroaches or rats, depending on the way he does not talk about crash or kill opposition as proven in the Supreme Court Election Petition of 2016. But, hey maybe I am wrong. You can do the fact check on the words used by the His Excellency during and after the Election Day.

Museveni 031115

So even if Don Museveni gets President Mugabe, President Kenyatta, President Kagame, President Kabila, President Kiir, President Al-Bashir, President Sheik Mohamud, President Magafuli, President Gulleh, Prime Minster Hailemariam Desalegn and so on. They will surely grace him at Kololo and surely nobody will attack the car of President Mugabe this time. As they did last time he entered a roundabout on the road towards Kampala from Entebbe International Airport. Surely the men and woman, who grace the Kololo, will either be the few die-hards of NRM, the actually paid for the day Crime Preventers and the ones that are earning on the National Resistance Movement. Even some ambassadors and other pleasantries will show-up. Even some of the singers like Bebe Cool and Jose Chameleone will be there to sing-a-song. So you are warned.

The levels and magnitude of it all is how the world will perceive the days and how the Police Force will act towards the Opposition. How the mentality and the grandest approach, how the rhetoric and words from the ruling party will also show the TRUE state of affairs.

MuseveniQuote

The international reactions and the real surface of how they will deal with it; as we know the American Africa Corp have recently given more technical gear and training to the Ugandan Army in Somalia. Not that makes headlines or be questioned as the President Obama have talked about leaders who never leaves, but at the same time gives handouts to the same men he critic. That is saying something, but acting differently and is hard to fully follow and accept.

It is in this view that the 12th May will show who is loyal and who his friends are, this will show how powerful and loyalty towards the 30 year ruling President Museveni. The Besigye move is deteriorate and also show that the legitimate Executive are something Museveni is not, not at this point and time. Therefore he uses all tactics to oppression and harassment of the opposition. That I fear also will transpire in the coming days as the Police Force, UPDF Special Force Command and the Flying Squad will surface to violate the rights of fellow citizens of Uganda without any consideration to the violence or the extended freedoms they take away to enforce the rule of their Executive. That is the sad prospects I envision, but if the people show up on the 5th May 2016 as they did on the Presidential Nomination day in November 2015, then the Police Force cannot “kill” or dissolve the demonstration. They have to let it go, because the majority will control the streets even when the Anti-Riot Police have to lay low as they can’t brawl with every person on the street. They can only take a small piece of the population, as they are a minority, but a minority with weapons.

Kampala 16.11.15 UPF

Let’s hope that the oppressive regime will get a peaceful shock and that the preparation for the Swearing-In at Kololo Independence Ground will be shackled and feel the heave of the population tiredness of their Executive and his regime. Peace.  

Opinion: The Ugandan Police is so embedded into the Politics; that it’s level is questionable; as IGP Kayihura decides and ushers political work: when he should focus on crime and not on Besigye!

Anti Riot Police 30.01.2016 Before FDC Campaign Kabale

The Ugandan Police have monitored and been a political engine for long but the recent days and months to prove to what extent. As the realization of how embedded in the ruling it is. There is not only the ways the Uganda Police Force is detaining Opposition and Monitoring Opposition leaders. That with the knowledge of the Democratic Party members, Forum for Democracy leader and supporters; the way the Police uses it’s time to cause havoc around Besigye every time he kicks his shoes on the outside of the compound of Kasangati, Wakiso.

We are at the point as I have realised something that is not only a Police State where the Police is embedded with the Political Framework and monitoring the Opposition. That is bad enough. It is nothing positive when you know that the Police is Preventative Arrest and dropping more charges on the Opposition leaders then there are Malaria Medicine at the Yumbe Referral Hospital. Not that says lots of the state of Yumbe Hospital, more about the state of Police who has the time to add charges on every movement from the several citizens who have a mind of not being parts of the National Resistance Movement, henceforth challenging the freedoms and liberty of these individuals deserve.

Well, the Police Force have taken the liberty to involve themselves directly in the Politics. As the Inspectorate General of the Police have taken decisions that he shouldn’t have. Not in an ordinary state of affairs, as his job should take criminals not decide political issues. The IGP Kayihura have taken the decisions to crash consultations meetings and stopping the opposition from having ordinary work and assemble in districts and towns around the country. Well, that is under framework of the Public Order Management Act. That is not what made me think today. It is because as the Councillors of Kampala was sent to the Executive or President Museveni, with the cover-up of the involvement of the Police in that shin-ding.

Kale Kayihura Letter to Amama 040915

“He [Kayihura] made telephone calls to some councilors who were having second thoughts about attending the meeting,” one of his aides told us” (Kiggundu & Lubwama, 2016). This proves his involvement in politics and using his networks of security organizations in Kampala together with talk to bring them to the State House. That is not the job of them, but in the regime these days it is…

What made me think was the knowledge of the existence of a Senior Super of Police Susan Kasingye Commissioner Electoral & Political. That the Uganda Police Force need a person to commission the Electoral and Political offenses and the admission of doing political work in the country as she must have a Commission who monitors and decisions of the Political Parties as she can’t be as useless as Hon. Byandala the Minister without Portfolio. Ms. Kasingye the daughter of Kayihura must have something to do, as she must be involved in the care of collecting information and spying on the Political Parties. If Norbert Mao thinks of drinking in Gulu or Padre; If Mbabazi thinks of filling gas on the only car he has in his driveway and so on.

sir-humphrey-appleby

But to have Directorate and Commission on Electoral and Political should boggle your mind and send the “Yes, Minister” squabble and crass reality as if a man throws the egg to the wall and think that it still be a whole egg. An egg is fragile and will break on the moment it hits the wall. That is something we knows as we know how weak the eggshell is before throwing it into the air.

As we still remembers how the public shunned the local councillor elections and the tiny numbers as the Electoral Commission was tallying the results. In midst of this there was waiting for the final call from IGP Kayihura to verify if Makerere Division of Kampala where the results was showing that Doreen Nyanjura was the winner, but the EC didn’t verify and accept the result before Kayihura had given his thumbs-up; as there was speculated that he tried to trade the position to somebody else and the deal went through. And if it is so, then the Political system is totally infiltrated by the Police Force.    

When you also knows that the Daughter of Kayihura is a SSP Kasingye and works with the Political Aspect of Policing then you can start to wonder what they are up-to and to what extent as the Police Force have already destroyed and inflicted their presence into the sphere of the opposition parties and their assembly. The other is the way the IGP Kayihura have all through the Pre-Election period and Campaigning either stifled the opposition or ushered the stage for the ruling party. That is evident through the stages, radio-closing, guarding the government buildings, anti-riot police following the campaign trails and detaining opposition members and electoral monitors right after polls. The Police involvement is embedded in the structure of the state. It is not the equation that they should be in, they should catch and secure that their no theft, killings and crimes done, not what Mbabazi or Besigye is up to as citizens of the Republic of Uganda. Peace

Reference:

EDRIS KIGGUNDU & SIRAJE LUBWAMA – ‘Inside story of Museveni, KCCA Entebbe meeting’ (27.04.2016) link: http://www.observer.ug/news-headlines/43917-museveni-meeting-with-councillors-attacks-musisi

Up and About – Besigye Speaks out on Next Plan (Youtube-Clip)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JI5mRc3iz5M

“FDC Announces Peaceful Demonstration” (NBS TV Uganda, 2016)

FDC 05.05.2016 Planned March

Footage of how the Police Blocked Ingrid Turinaw on the Kabale Rukiri hills and pictures of how the Police acted the rest of the 19th April 2016

I think the footage speaks volume itself of the dire sitatuation that the FDC are in when it comes to the Police Force and their impunity against their own citizens. Peace.

EU Election Observers reports says the Ugandan Elections of 2016 was: “Consequently, the legal framework contains gaps and ambiguities and therefore, in several instances, falls short of international principles for holding genuine democratic elections”

UGDebate16 Prayer

There been written a lot about the General Elections in Uganda of 2016, myself is guilty for doing so and with that in mind. I have read through the newly released Report of the European Union Election Observers Mission of 2016. That is worthy of taking what I see fit to broadcast and what the Europeans who went quick, took a safari and also spent some time at the Polling Stations. Here is what they said about the elections!

An important factor in what the EU thinks about the General Elections of 2016:

“Vital electoral reforms did not take place prior to the 2016 elections. Proposed amendments to the electoral legislation, compiled under the ‘Uganda Citizens Compact’, aimed at enabling the conduct of democratic elections, including to increase transparency in the appointment of the EC’s members, to restore presidential term limits and to improve parties’ financial accountability, were disregarded by the executive. Consequently, the legal framework contains gaps and ambiguities and therefore, in several instances, falls short of international principles for holding genuine democratic elections” (EU EOM, 2016).

BVVR Uganda 2016

Election Verification of Voters:

“The newly introduced voter registration system improved inclusiveness and accuracy of the voter register (VR). The final VR contained 15.277 million voters. However, establishing the cut-off date of 11 May 2015 for inclusion in the voter register disenfranchised approximately half million potential voters who turned 18 after this date” (EU EOM, 2016).

Lack of Transparency:

While legislation contains provisions on reporting and disclosure of political finance, these are neither followed by parties and candidates, nor enforced by the EC. This lack of transparency weakens the credibility of the elections” (EU EOM, 2016).

FDC 18.02.2016 Besigye Arrested

Maladministration of the vote:

“Voters showed remarkable determination on election day, waiting long hours to cast their ballots. The markedly late arrival of electoral material in certain areas marred an otherwise calm election day. The EC failed to address growing tensions among people deferred from voting. Instead, an imposing presence of police in the vicinity of polling stations was observed. Further shortcomings, such as unsealed ballot boxes in 20 per cent and compromised secrecy of vote in 11 per cent of polling stations visited, were observed by the EU EOM. Positively, party agents and domestic observers were mostly present in polling stations visited by the EU EOM” (EU EOM, 2016).

Talley Centre mishaps:

“In 85 per cent of the District Tally Centres (DTCs) observed, the printed sub-county results, broken down to polling station level, were not handed out or publicised. The Electronic Result and Transmission System, used to transmit the collated results from districts to the EC, did not contain key anti-fraud measures. In several districts, the electronic transfer did not take place; the results were brought to the EC by the district returning officer in person. The final tallying for these districts could not be observed, further undermining the integrity of the process” (EU EOM, 2016).

Kiggundu 19.02.2016

The Badru Kiggundu’s soul:

“The chairperson of the Commission expressed regret that he had nominated an opposition presidential candidate; made public remarks on a candidate’s family member, and on another occasion described him as not “exactly being a fountain of honour” (EU EOM, 2016).

Amama Blocked from enroute Mulagi to Busolwa 11.01.2016

Police intervene in the Election:

“On a number of occasions, opposition candidates, particularly from the FDC and TDA/Go Forward, were denied access to campaign venues, restricting their ability to campaign freely. The EU EOM received reports and observed extensive use of force by police, including teargas and assault rifles, to disperse crowds during Kizza Besigye’s and Amama Mbabazi’s rallies in Bukwo, Kasenge, and Ntungamo, among others.25 On 15 February, police detained Besigye twice, preventing him from addressing scheduled rallies in Central Kampala, and used teargas and live ammunition against his supporters, resulting in one death and several injuries” (EU EOM, 2016).

Government officials intervene in the Election:

The orchestrated use of state resources and personnel for campaign purposes was observed. Government officials took an active role in the NRM campaign, with several Resident District Commissioners and high-ranking security officials openly endorsing the candidacy of President Museveni and the NRM campaign. Thus, candidates’ equality of opportunity was not respected” (EU EOM, 2016).

Bukwo FDC Campaign Trail 060116 P3

Intimidation during the Election:

“In Bukwo district on 6 January, the police dispersed the campaign rally of FDC presidential candidate Besigye in Toriet Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp using teargas and assault rifles. Several senior FDC figures received minor injuries. The police stated that Besigye diverted from his planned route without justification and thus provoked acts of public disorder” (…)”On 25 January, the IGP stated that all critics who are simply ‘political opportunists’ can ‘go hang.’ On 27 January, he was also quoted saying ‘power shall not be handed over to the opposition to destabilise the peace the country has fought for.’ In a press release, the police later claimed that the media had misquoted the IGP” (…)”EU EOM observers received reports of intimidation of opposition and opposition supporters in Amuru, Bujenje, Buliisa, Gulu, Isingiro, Kamwenge, Kapchorwa, Kasese, Kiruhura, Kisoro, Lira, Masindi, Mbarara, Moroto, Mukono, Nakapiripirit, Nwoya, and Wakiso. Intimidation of voters was reported from Kiboga, Lira, Luweero, Moroto, Nakapiripirit and Sembabule districts” (EU EOM, 2016).

M7 16.11.15

Bad rhetoric during the Election:

“On 9 October, the President was quoted as saying that anybody who attempts to oppose him will, ‘Be smashed completely and no trace of his remains will be found on the ground,’ and on 20 December that ‘The thugs who attacked NRM supporters in Ntungamo will pay dearly.’ NRM secretary general Justine Kasule Lumumba was quoted on Radio Simba on 25 January saying, ‘We shall shoot anyone who will come on the streets to demonstrate against vote rigging.’ On 1 February, the deputy RDC in Jinja was quoted saying: ‘Whoever will be found disrupting the February 18 elections in Jinja District will be shot dead.’” (EU EOM, 2016).

Campaign funding disclosure:

“The total amount of money jointly spent by presidential and parliamentary candidates is not independently calculated and verified. According to presidential candidate Amama Mbabazi, he funded his three billion UGX campaign from his personal funds and received no donations. Kizza Besigye disclosed that his expenses totalled one billion UGX, of which 96 million UGX were donations. Incumbent president Museveni’s campaign team refused to disclose the amount/value or sources of his campaign funds” (EU EOM, 2016).

Police 29.02.2016 Kasangati

Media Freedom during the Elections:

“The NRM, with more funds at its disposal, admits to frequently using paid-for pseudo-journalism to boost its visibility and enhance the reputation of both the party and its candidates. An edifying example of the system in place occurred in Rwenzori, where 17 outspoken journalists were compelled to attend the President’s briefing in Masindi state lodge. The President not only instructed journalists to campaign for the NRM at grassroots level, but also provided them with financial ‘facilitation’. Consequently, the line between advertisements and editorial content was blurred and the impartiality of information offered to the electorate was eroded” (…)”Hostile statements targeting outlets owned by the country’s largest commercial media house, Nation Media Group (NMG), were repeatedly made by the President and reiterated by the state’s top executives. This reverberated at the local level, with the RDCs and other state actors orchestrating measures that encourage self-censorship on issues that might be perceived as critical to the President or the government. Intimidating phone calls, “guidance meetings” for journalists and editors chaired by the law enforcement bodies, as well as requests to submit the radio’s programming to the RDC or local UCC representative prior to broadcasting were the most wide-spread measures applied to put media under pressure. The EU EOM received reports on such occurrences in 20 districts” (…)”On 24 January the President stated: “Monitor and NTV don’t know that there is a good, they just tell lies…. NTV is an enemy”. The President voiced a similar statement on 31 January. On 29 January the minister of Information and National Guidance: “There is no media house that can take the law in their hands…we definitely shall close them down”. The government/NRM spokesperson criticized media on 1 February. On 9 February owners and editors of all leading media houses were invited to the dinner hosted by the EC and the UCC where all were warned that UCC will “without a hesitation sanction the media outlets” (…)”Media monitoring findings correspond the parties’ and candidates’ assessment of the balance and quality of local radio coverage of their campaign. While 78 per cent of the NRM’s local leadership believes that media featured them fairly, the FDC’s assessment of radio’s impartiality is diametrically opposed, with 78 per cent of local party representatives listing examples of biased coverage. In 21 districts, opposition candidates were denied access to radio broadcasts or stations, and in 32 districts, biased coverage against FDC, Democratic Party (DP) or Go Forward was reported” (EU EOM, 2016).

Kampala 18.02.2016

Election Day:

“In at least four cases, the police used teargas to disperse voters at polling stations. Only shortly before the official closing of the polling stations at 4 PM did the EC chairman announce the three-hour extension of voting in Kampala and Wakiso district. This was poorly communicated to the polling staff in affected areas, and EU EOM observers reported polling stations being closed at first and only after some hesitation did the polling staff improvise and try to re-open voting sites” (…)”Unauthorised persons were present in eight per cent of polling stations observed, and in none of them did the presiding officer requested them to leave. Essential election material was missing in 12 per cent of polling stations observed. Typically, the missing material was seals, but in a small number of cases also ballot boxes, ballot papers in sufficient numbers and the voter register was not available” (…)”In one quarter of the polling stations, observers encountered voters being turned away for not being on the voter register. Such a high percentage of voters not being aware of the location of the polling station indicates the lack of voter information prior to the elections. Only in two per cent of the polling stations visited were voters deprived of voting without lawful grounds” (EU EOM, 2016).

Counting:

“In 37 per cent of polling stations observed, the Presiding Officer had difficulties completing the Declaration of Result Forms (DRF), and in almost half of the polling stations the filling in of the Accountability of Ballot Papers Form proved to be problematic. In 20 per cent of polling stations where closing was observed, the numbers in the DRFs did not reconcile. This can be attributed to malpractice, negligence and/or numerical errors. The latter two were widespread since there were neither provisions nor even proper guidelines on how to conduct the reconciliation at the polling station level. Moreover, after filling in all forms, the safety and integrity of the DRF was not ensured in 30 per cent of polling stations observed, as they were not put into the tamper-proof envelope as prescribed by EC instructions. Intimidation of polling staff during the counting was reported from four polling stations observed by the EU EOM observers. In 93 per cent of polling stations observed at closure, results were not posted outside the polling stations, as required by law. Nevertheless, party agents were given copies of the DRFs in 93 per cent of cases” (EU EOM, 2016).

Masaka Talley Center 19.02.2016

Tallying:

“The ban on social media on mobile devices was not lifted for four consecutive days. The overall environment created by state actors during the final stages of the tallying of results curbed voters’ right to access to information as called for in Uganda’s international and regional commitments” (…)”Further constrains on the public’s access to information originated from the EC’s statement de facto prohibiting media to publicise results announced at the polling stations. Such live reports on results by polling station is a habitual and defining feature of Ugandan media’s election coverage as it enables each voter to independently verify the results in his or her polling station. With the FDC’s leadership being detained, the police surrounding Mbabazi’s home, and with critical media being effectively silenced, the EC held a monopoly over both the content of electoral results information and the pace of its disclosure” (EU EOM, 2016). “The results, however, did not contain data from 1,787 polling stations, affecting 43 districts, eight of them strongly” (EU EOM, 2016). The EC eventually updated the final result on 22 February, adding the results from 1,658 polling stations. The EC also nullified results from 129 polling stations in 34 districts due to various malpractices, including disruptions during voting and the number of votes cast exceeding 100 per cent of registered voters. However, the list of affected polling stations was not published, thus compromising the EC’s accountability” (…)”These were Jinja with 388 polling stations (PS) out of 399 missing, Rukungiri with 273 PS out of 276 missing, Kyenjojo with 277 PS out of 337 missing, Kabale 190 PS out of 478, Kampala with 162 PS out of 1,338, Wakiso 119 PS out of 1,359, Isingiro with 88 PS out of 385, and Ntungamo with 78 PS out of 432 missing. These eight districts account for 1,575 or 88.5 per cent of the missing PS” (EU EOM, 2016).

M7 2016 Post Interview quote

It is good to see that the Elections Observers is saying the same as so many other people have said about it. This here counters the words of Andrew Mwenda, Ofwono Opondo and President Museveni. The words that should stick to into President Museveni mind is this:

“Consequently, the legal framework contains gaps and ambiguities and therefore, in several instances, falls short of international principles for holding genuine democratic elections”.

Because he said this after the elections was over: “am glad that my people here have seen the mistake of listening to foreign meddlers.” (…) “If the international community has lost confidence in us, it is a compliment and it means we are right”.

So in his mind because the European Union now saying he is wrong and that the framework is co-operative with free and fair elections; then in the mind of President Museveni means we’re right. The President Museveni has now “won” the 7th Term and is ready for his 31 years of power. He is double the age of average aged Ugandan. So there is something missing and wished for. Therefore the ending of the tension and the presence of security outfits in nearby area. The Army and Police Force is close by and the ones that keep him in Power. Not the loyalty of the people or the legitimacy of the way he became the incumbent again! Peace.

Mou EOM GoU 2015

P.S. Mr. Eduard Kukan I will be honest I had little faith in you and your mission as the fraudulent and praising foreign missions to express faith in the government they are funding through donor-aid and direct-budget funds. Therefore I thought that you would naturally say it was free and fair without hesitation. Because you went from Slovakia to go on Safari, drink some sodas and have matooki and be merry. But I am glad you did your job well, not because of your view, but because of sense observations and reports been told. That seems genuine as your concern for the maladministration and fraudulent elections you observed.

Reference:

European Union Election Observation Mission – ‘Uganda Presidential, Parliamentary and Local Council Elections, 18 February 2016’ (April 2016)