“Judges at the International Criminal Court declared a mistrial in the case of Kenyan Deputy President William Ruto, throwing out the charges he faced over post-election violence because political interference had made a fair trial impossible” (France24, 2016)
Tag: East Africa
Chain Protestors For President Elect Besigye in Uganda (Youtube-Clip)
“The Chain yourself movement is ongoing and here is a video from today. Courtsey of The Insider (a news website in Uganda)” (Martha Leah Nangalama, 2016).
Discrimination: Alphonse Kabalisa on anti-Tutsi propaganda (Youtube-Clip)
“Alphonse Kabalisa recalls listening to anti-Tutsi propaganda on the radio with his father, after the death of Rwandan President Juvénal Habyarimana. Alphonse’s testimony is featured in the IWitness activity, Information Quest: The Genocide Against the Tutsi in Rwanda. This clip testimony is preserved in the Visual History Archive: vhaonline.usc.edu To learn more and explore the stories of other eyewitnesses to the Holocaust and other genocides, visit sfi.usc.edu” (USC Shoah Foundation, 2016).
Dr. Kizza Besigye released from Bond from Naggalama P.S. for “Unlawful Procession” in Kampala today (05.04.2016)

“Just released from Naggalama Police Station. I was Charged with Unlawful Procession! I left home with one vehicle and never disembarked” – Dr. Kizza Besigye
I have to ask; Where is Wangegeya Police Station, Mr. Officer? I think you guys arrest and detained wrong person as Dr. Col. Kiiza Besigye must be an interesting character! The same UPF Police Officer also wrote “Prossession” when tthe right word is “Procession” as Dr. Kizza Besigye is quoted with as well. Well, what else can you expect from a Police Officer who clervly just follows orders and does not think for himself. As the Naggalama Police Station is an ordinary place for Dr. Kizza Besigye to spend his time in. Must be weird for the Officer to write a bond as he is not used to either. IT wasn’t done during the routinly activities after the Presidential Elections. So why now ,Mr. Officer? With the current and adherent stay from hours during day eating dinner there and then going back to rest in home. Something Besigye did many days during the late February, but does this look like a organized procession?

No, it doesn’t look like a planned event! But the NRM can’t help themselves.

This is an organized one right? Why wasn’t any of them in detained? Well, wait there where more people praying at Watoto;then in the streets of Kampala at this moment of celebrations for the NRM in Kampala. My bad Mr. Officer. Forgive this is the almighty N-R-M. No-Rescue-Me. Not-Repeat-Me. Nonsense-Raised-Me. And so on.
Dr. Kizza Besigye can show up in Wandegeya Police Station close to Makerere University. I am surely he will struggle to pass without making an illegal pocession through Central Kampala. As was the issue before the grand Election Day, but the NRM have forgotten that piece of intelligence together with their ability to write correctly.
I rest my case. Peace.
Ruto and Sang case: Statement, ICC spokesperson, 5 April 2016 (Youtube-Clip)
“Today, 5 April 2016, Trial Chamber V(A) of the International Criminal Court decided, by majority, Judge Herrera Carbuccia dissenting, that the case against William Samoei Ruto and Joshua Arap Sang is to be terminated. According to the majority, this decision does not preclude new prosecution in the future either at the ICC or in a national jurisdiction. This decision may be subject to appeal.
The Chamber considered the requests of Mr Ruto and Mr Sang that the Chamber find that there is ‘no case to answer’, dismiss the charges against both accused and enter a judgment of acquittal. The Chamber also considered the opposing submissions of the Prosecutor and the Legal Representative of the Victims, and received further submissions during hearings held from 12 to 15 January 2016.
On the basis of the evidence and arguments submitted to the Chamber, Presiding Judge Chile Eboe-Osuji and Judge Robert Fremr, as the majority, agreed that the charges are to be vacated and the accused are to be discharged. They provided separate reasons for this decision.
Judge Fremr found that there is no case for the accused to answer based on an assessment of the Prosecution’s evidence in accordance he considered that the Prosecution did not present sufficient evidence on which a reasonable Trial Chamber could convict the accused. Accordingly, he considered that there is no reason to call the Defence to bring their case or to prolong the proceedings any further.
Judge Eboe-Osuji, concurring with Judge Fremr’s evidential assessment, also vacated the charges and discharged the accused without prejudice to re-prosecution in the future, However, he declared a mistrial in the case, because it cannot be discounted that the weaknesses in the Prosecution case might be explained by the demonstrated incidence of tainting of the trial process by way of witness interference and political meddling that was reasonably likely to intimidate witnesses.
The majority of the Chamber, having concluded that the Prosecution did not present sufficient evidence on which a reasonable Trial Chamber could convict the accused, also concluded that a judgment of acquittal was not the right outcome, but only vacation of the charges and discharge of the accused. The majority also agreed that there is no reason to re-characterise the charges.
Judge Herrera Carbuccia appended a dissenting opinion. In her view, the charges against both accused should not be vacated in the present case. In her view, the Prosecution’s case had not ‘broken down’ and she concluded that there is sufficient evidence upon which, if accepted, a reasonable Trial Chamber could convict the accused.
Over the course of 157 trial days, the Trial Chamber heard the testimony of 30 witnesses for the Prosecution, including two expert witnesses. During that time, the Chamber admitted into evidence 335 exhibits for the Prosecution, 226 exhibits for the Ruto Defence, and 82 exhibits for the Sang Defence. The Prosecution closed its case on 10 September 2015. At the close of the Prosecution’s case, the evidentiary record contained 92 photographs, 27 maps, 77 items of audio/visual material, and over 8,000 pages worth of documentary evidence. Throughout the trial proceedings, the Trial Chamber rendered over 400 written and oral decisions” (IntlCriminalCourt, 2016)
University of Nairobi closing indefinitly after two days of Student Demonstrations!

“University of Nairobi closed indefinitely following two days of riots by the students over union elections; University orders students to vacate all campuses by 5PM” (Citizen TV Kenya, 2016).
This happens after Student Riots that we’re made after alleged rigged election where Francis Babu won over Mike Jacobs, there after there been Police Brutality and also burning of the SONU offices on Campus while the Jacobs supporters have been rowdy, therefore the Administration have determind to close the Campus and University, indefinitely. So now learning and yearning as the students have reacted to a stolen election. Peace.
UoN Students beaten up by the Nairobi Police after the Demonstration after the SONU Election (Youtube-Clip)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=putgwn1XNs8
Kenyan National Police Service aggressive against the students after the election yesterday and demonstration after Babu Owino was elected as Chairman of SONU Election. This is Police action the Government of Kenya cannot be happy about, as this is fellow students and not common criminals. Peace.
UPF Press Statement: The Police explain the reason for detaining Dr. Kizza Besigye before going to FDC HQ at Najjankumbi for Tuesday Prayer (05.04.2016)

The Uganda Police Force has learnt that tomorrow 5th April, 2016, RTD. Col Dr. Kiiza Besigye will attend prayers at the FDC party Headquarters at Najanankumbi. The prayers shall be held within the enclosed party premises and this therefore does not violate the law.
What is of particular security concern however, is information that after the prayers RTD. Col Dr. Kiiza Besigye intends to drive in a procession from Najanankumbi through Clock Tower to Container Village which is one of the most highly populated areas in Kampala City.
The purpose of this statement therefore is to caution RTD. Col. Dr. Kiiza Besigye to desist from carrying out any procession tomorrow because he has not notified the police in time as required by the Public Order Management Act sec 4 (1) 5(1). Violation of this law calls for sanctions as provided by the Act.
The public is strongly advised to shun anyone who tries to involve them in any unlawful activity that is likely to disrupt safety and peace within the city and which could result into damage to lives and people’s properties.
The Uganda Police Force assures all Ugandans and in particular the business community in Kampala that all measures are in place to ensure public order as well as security for persons and properties.By Blanshe Musinguzi
ACP Namaye Polly
Deputy PRO
UPF
Besigye had planned to participate at the Prayers at the FDC HQ in Najjankumbi by the Calvary; As praying is a tool of ‘Evil’ for the NRM-Regime; Dr. Kizza Besigye detained before the prayer and taken from Kiira Road P.S. to Naggalama Police Station to be detained!

Today the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) had yet another planned Tuesday Prayers at their headquarters all over the country. This is the continuation of the boycott that has been going on from the Political Party since the Announcement of the Result from the Electoral Commission and Eng. Dr. Badru Kiggundu. So today was the first day that Dr. Kizza Besigye has driven out of his home since he went to All Saints, when he was detained straight after Service.

While at the FDC Headquarter the Police have sieged the building and discontinued the planned prayers. Journalist from the area has been whisked away as the Police do not want this to be reported in the spirit of the new Kampala Metropolitan Police chief Andrew Felix Kaweesi.

FDC reported:
“Many are gathered at our HQ, waiting for Dr. Kizza Besigye to arrive. The police has stopped him from proceeding and journalists denied the right to do their work. Police is armed to the teeth, beating up people” (Forum for Democratic Change, 05.04.2016).

FDC’s Presidential Candidate’s Dr. Besigye car was towed away by insecurity police. This is a photo taken by Besigye’s in the car .Now at Yusuf Lule road. Meanwhile the FDC prayer has been disrupted by the same Uganda police.

Dr. Kizza Besigye while being towed:
“Scared regime!! We couldn’t be allowed to get to Fdc Hqs for prayers. Now being towed to… I don’t know where!”
As the day went ahead and the Prayer was stopped and the Police had stopped the FDC convoy at Kalerwe and they planned to drive over Mulago to Central Kampala and the FDC Headquarter. But the Police towed his car and detained Dr. Kizza Besigye at the Kiira Road Police Station.

MP-elect Francis Mwijuke statement:
“We were towed together with the president of the people Dr. Kizza Besigye and taken to Kiira rd police station. We were led to the DPCs office. Two minutes later we were asked to get out and board a police van. When we reached at the van UP 4860, only Dr. Was forced into the van and driven away. Meanwhile there was an van UP 4861 which police surrounded to confuse the journalists and the public. Later the journalists followed the second van and then we were release” (Francis Mwijuke, 05.04.2016).

Certain FDC Officials are now traversing to Kasangati, others plans to see at Naggalama Police Station where Dr. Kizza Besigye have been detained before. As the Uganda Police Force continues to display arrogance towards the opposition party and destroy their peaceful prayers. The final news is that Besigye is detained at Naggalama Police Station in Mukono.

Kampala Police Spokesperson Onyango Said: “Besigye defied orders, charged at Wandegeya police station with participating in unlawful procession”.
Let me explain:
So for those who don’t know the coded langauge of the Uganda Police the people who turned up to finally see Dr. Kizza Besigye and followed him by their own will. Made a Procession that was not seeked for; as the Police Force need to award the Opposition Party and Opposition Officials for the planned activities that any other then NRM have to follow under the Public Order Management Act (POMA); who nicely been dubbed the Anti-Besigye-Act (ABA); so if Besigye to be allowed riding down to central Kampala and go to his office he has to file papers to allow his movement. If not the Police will through tear-gas, storm the Najjankumbi Headquarters of the FDC in the name of that draconian law!

So as I expect and what we thought the Police would do when he entered out the home; Dr. Kizza Besigye would enter into pastures where he is well known in the Police Stations of Kiira and Naggalama, as the NRM-Regime keep him under surveillance and want to stop him from doing political work and drain his spirit. While he is strong keeps pushing the peaceful actions against the regime that uses tear-gas and preventative arrest of him and others to keep the opposition on leach. Peace.
Burundian Ambassador Jean Bosco Bareza Speaks Out on Burundi Crisis (Youtube-Clip)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UonkokbxnlA
“The United Nations Security Council has unanimously backed a resolution that lays the groundwork for deploying a UN police presence in Burundi to help calm the violence in the troubled nation. The resolution tasks UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon with drawing up within 15 days a list of options for the proposed police force, in consultation with the Burundian government and the African Union. NBS’s Solomon Serwanjja spoke to the Burundian ambassador to Uganda, Jean Bosco Bareza about his government’s reaction to the possible deployment of the UN police in Bujjumbura” (NTV Uganda, 2016).

