Kuteesa and Museveni implicated in a U.S. Bribery Case!

Our people must be taught to desist from accepting bribes. The ability to say NO, must become a core value of our nation”Sunday Adelaja

It is such a convenience that President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni are planning an Anti-Corruption Drive and new measures on the 10th December 2018. As he was pledging that on the 4th December 2018. This case has been in the works, as it was revealed last year, that Foreign Minister Sam Kuteesa and Museveni was bribed for $1m by a Chinese Associate Patrick C.P. Ho. This news is vital, as it proves how untouchable both of these leaders are. As the Foreign Minister and President can do whatever and get whatever deals behind closed doors.

That Museveni and Kuteesa are doing this is not surprising, but the value and what was at stake. Shows how illicit and unknown the deals with the petroleum industry are in the Republic. They are clearly signing off deals and paying off the State House in Entebbe. As this deal shows how Kuteesa and Museveni operates. This is one of plenty, but one that is uncovered by the U.S. Department of Justice.

Look!

In or about February 2016 – after Kutesa had returned to Uganda and resumed his role as Foreign Minister, and Yoweri Museveni (Kutesa’s relative) had been reelected as the President of Uganda – Kutesa solicited a payment from Ho, purportedly for a charitable foundation that Kutesa wished to launch. Ho agreed to provide the requested payment, but simultaneously requested, on behalf of CEFC China, an invitation to Museveni’s inauguration, business meetings with President Museveni and other high-level Ugandan officials, and a list of specific business projects in Uganda that CEFC China could participate in. In May 2016, Ho and CEFC China executives traveled to Uganda. Prior to departing, Ho caused the CEFC NGO to wire $500,000 to the account provided by Kutesa in the name of the so-called “foundation,” which wire was transmitted through banks in New York, New York. Ho also advised his boss, the Chairman of CEFC China, to provide $500,000 in cash to President Museveni, ostensibly as a campaign donation, even though Museveni had already been reelected. Ho intended these payments as bribes to influence Kutesa and Museveni to use their official power to steer business advantages to CEFC China” (Department of Justice – ‘Former Head of Organization Backed by Chinese Energy Conglomerate Convicted of International Bribery, Money Laundering Offenses’ 05.12.2018, link: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/former-head-organization-backed-chinese-energy-conglomerate-convicted-international-bribery).

The Ugandans should be horrified how little the President and Foreign Minister cost, as they were selling off the petroleum licenses for the Lake Albertine Graben and Region. Where there are already dozens of Companies in. Even CNOOC! That is why this would be the second company who got a Petroleum Licenses in the Republic.

The Ugandans should also be terrified that the President only cost $500k and $500k for the Foreign Minister. They only cost A Milli, which is close to nothing. Especially considering what was at stake. These gentlemen are supposed to be there for the public and serve them. But showing only self-interest.

Now, the Chinese National Ho is found guilty in New York yesterday. Therefore, the evidence and the case was solid enough. That proves the reality of how he solicited bribes with the Foreign Minister and President. Clearly succeeded until the US Authorities caught a wind of it. Also, shows how the State House and the President is corrupted. Peace.

Joint UN-AU Statement on Conflict-Related Sexual Violence in South Sudan (05.12.2018)

The United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the African Union Commissioner for Peace and Security, Ambassador Smaїl Chergui, and United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director for UN Women, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka are appalled by the acts of sexual violence, including rape, committed against an estimated more than 150 women and girls recently near Bentiu in South Sudan.

Recalling their joint visit to South Sudan and Bentiu only two months ago, Mr. Lacroix, Ms. Mlambo-Ngcuka and Ambassador Chergui note the continued brutality to which women and girls are subjected and the lack of accountability.  They met with women who were hopeful about the signing of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS) in September 2018, but remained concerned and fearful about the fragile peace and security in their communities. This type of predatory behaviour is abhorrent and must end immediately.

The United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, the Executive Director of UN Women and the African Union Commissioner for Peace and Security recalled the resolve of Government authorities to address sexual violence. Given that these recent attacks took place in Government controlled areas, the three urge President Salva Kiir and his senior leadership to expedite efforts to prevent such violence, including through immediate justice and accountability measures.

Further, they urge all parties to the conflict in South Sudan to implement their obligations to address sexual violence and restore the dignity of the women and children of South Sudan, as well as prosecute those responsible to the fullest extent.

The United Nations and African Union stand ready to assist the parties in finding a political solution to the conflict, through the full implementation of their commitments to the Agreement, as well as continue to advocate for the safety of women and girls and their access to services and justice.

Press statement of the African Union High-Level Ad Hoc Committee for South Sudan visit to Juba (05.12.2018)

South Sudan: Termination of membership of defectors from FDP/SSAF (05.12.2018)

Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda letter to Parliamentary Committee on Presidential Affairs – “Meeting With the Prime Minister on the Bulambuli Resettlement Project” (05.12.2018)

Bosco’s fight against Corruption gets old real quick!

The educated ones leave, the ones with the potential to right the wrongs. They leave the weak behind. The tyrants continue to reign because the weak cannot resist. Do you not see that it is a cycle? Who will break that cycle?”Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

There is something about a man who has run the Republic since 1986. The Republic which is now made in image and with his institutions, with his appointed men and woman. Where his cronies, businesses, lobbyist and friendly voices are living close connected. It is in a Republic with various of bodies working on Corruption and ensuring a legal remedy against it. However, none of them is able, none of them has capacity to follow the Ministries, the Cabinet, the Members of Parliament, the Government Organizations or the Bank of Uganda for that matter. They are all falling short, as the corruption scandals are in all corners of the state and still, the President says he has new remedies to ancient problem of eating on people’s dime without a recite.

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has had the opportunity since 1986 to fix this. That is if he really cared about it . Mzee would have done with already, but he doesn’t. Because, he knows the eating of his cronies and himself is rampant. That is why he even sanctioned, the Presidential Handshake and other deals behind the scenes at the State House. That is the way to do business, that is why the Attorney General, Inspector General of Governor, PPDA or the Police Force for that matter. Cannot touch the corrupt souls, because they can walk. Abraham Byandala walking free after ripping away money from UNRA like M&Ms wutg the Mukono-Katosi Road Scam. While the Courts couldn’t find significant evidence and had let him go. Therefore, believing that the President cares about fighting corruption isfar fetch. If he cares he has to capture himself first and we know that is a fish he doesn’t want to fry.

On Monday December 10th, I will announce new measures and the direction we shall take in our renewed fight against corruption. That said, there is corruption in Uganda. It stems from the colonial times. However, when we undertook the liberation struggle of this country, there were more pressing problems than corruption” (…) “However, corruption will now be defeated. The corrupt civil servants have exposed themselves. The population is angry with them. Also, we now have more educated young people. The pool from which to pick their replacements has grown. The problem now is the law manipulated by corrupt civil servants. We now need quicker methods of accountability to deal with the corrupt. I have the political will but I do not want to deal with them outside the law. There must also be a reflection on the morals of our young people. When setting up the Uganda Revenue Authority, we carefully identified young people to work there. But now, URA has kawunkumi (weevils). We need to deal with it” (Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, 04.12.2018).

To believe the President now is naive, as the deals and arrangement that matters are done behind closed doors. The same is done with the Oil Refinery, Petroleum Pipeline, the licensing for oil exploitation and so on. These are major deals and been postponed. It is already a tax case concerning the oil industry that unleashed the Presidential Handshake. There are already other major donor scandals, not only the recent UNHCR and OPM, who has messed up the allocated aid money, there been the GAVI-FUNDS and CHOGM Funds. There are so many corruption scandals, that the National Resistance Movement, has always found a short-cut to eat of the public plate.

Not only when building road, building buildings, but everywhere. Ghosts of all kinds, expenditure that cannot be found or plans that are only made in the thin air, but would never ever exist. That is the manner of how the NRM and the President are eating on people’s dime. They are not accountable, neither really transparent. That is why there are leaks and documents surfacing proving the ills of society and the misuse of money. Which again and again show the Top Officials and ordered from High Above, who steer the money in their way. They are securing their cut and then the businesses can set-up shop or get the land for a factory, hunting ground or some sort of project. While the people are becoming landless and Internally displaced People in some NGOs Camp. That is how the government have fixed the matters and it happens, again and again.

That is why I have little or no faith in the President and his battle against corruption. If he was serious, he would hurt himself, even go after the likes of Amama Mbabazi, Jim Muhwezi, Salim Selah or Sam Kuteesa, but they are untouchables. Just like the Master himself. Peace.

South Sudan: SSOA – Press Statement (04.12.2018)

Kenya Pipeline Company Limited – Press Release (04.12.2018)

Statement attributable to the Spokesman for the Secretary-General on South Sudan (04.12.2018)

Rape and other forms of sexual violence have been a consistent feature of the conflict in South Sudan, used both as a tactic of war and a driver of forced displacement.

NEW YORK, United States of America, December 4, 2018 – The Secretary-General strongly condemns the brutal sexual attacks perpetrated against women and girls in the last ten days in the Unity region of South Sudan. These horrific acts are a distressing reminder of how, despite recent recommitments by South Sudan’s leaders to a cessation of hostilities and a revitalized peace agreement, the security situation for civilians remains dire, especially for women and children.

Rape and other forms of sexual violence have been a consistent feature of the conflict in South Sudan, used both as a tactic of war and a driver of forced displacement. The Secretary-General underlines that such predatory behavior against the most vulnerable is unacceptable.

The Secretary-General urges the leaders of all the parties to the conflict – and future leaders in the Transitional Government of National Unity – to ensure the safety of civilians and address impunity for these crimes through investigation and prosecution of perpetrators, including through the operationalization of the Hybrid Court, as an immediate priority.

The Secretary-General underlines that the only viable solution for the security and prosperity of the people of South Sudan is the immediate cessation of hostilities and the full implementation of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan. The United Nations stands ready to support all national, regional and international efforts to that effect.

South Sudan: European Union Delegation & EU Heads of Mission in Juba issued a statement on reports of sexual violence on women and girls in the Bentiu area (03.12.2018)