Uganda Police Force (UPF): Uganda Police Message – Implementation of COVID-19 Regulations (22.02.2021)

Opinion: EC and UPF wants the election to be done in darkness

A historic day: Besigye could vote without being arrested afterwards!

“There should not be mass assemblies around polling centres according to the EC. You need to vote and go home. Any act of hooliganism around the polling stations will be dealt with – Maj Gen Paul Loketch, Deputy IGP” (NTV Uganda, 08.01.2021)

“The EC has barred all persons from taking pictures inside the polling station area on 14th January . EC chairperson, Justice Simon Byabakama says even the media will not be allowed within the polling area to preserve the sanctity of secret ballot” (NTV Uganda, 06.01.2021)

It is just mere days ahead of the polls on the 14^th January 2021. The Electoral Commission (EC) and Uganda Police Force (UPF) is steam-rolling ahead with their messages of voting and going home. Even if there are no laws stating this. There is no reason for the citizens and voters to trust the authorities and the preparation to the polls.

This is a mere reflection of how the whole election be handled. As the state is sowing distrust and a disingenuous attempt of controlling it all. They are willing to use any narrative to conceal the election and the results. In such a fashion, that the public is supposed to blindly trust the EC and the state itself. These gentlemen ruling and having powers must be foolish.

President Museveni, Electoral Commission Chairman Simon Byabakamba haven’t proved themselves to be trustworthy. As they are either inciting fear or wants the public to have less knowledge of the process. As there are no laws telling the citizens needs to home after dropping their votes. They can be there and oversee it. They are allowed to tape and take pictures of the Polling Stations. That is to ensure that the Returning Officers and the Declared Result Forms are genuine. That these are not altered or there been shady works of the polling officers and others.

Therefore, this whole act is a another angle of intimidation ahead of the polls. Not only the citizens are targets, but the journalists too: ““We’ve been beating journalists to restrain them from going where there’s danger. Polce beat journalists to help them…for their own safety. When a police officer tells you to stop, you must stop for your own safety. I won’t apologise for police actions” IGP Martin Ochola” (Daily Monitor, 08.01.2021).

This is just further proof of how the state wants the election to be done in darkness. They don’t want the people to know and know the affairs of how their ballots are counted or processed to final results. No, they are just supposed to trust these gentlemen with their future. No questions asked. No observers or people looking over the shoulders to ensure that the ballots are respected and the will of the people is served. No, that is not supposed to happen.

That is why the Electoral Commission and Uganda Police Force is doing this. They are all doing it to serve their master, instead of actually serving the people. They rather work directly for the President, then doing their duty to serve the general public. That is why they don’t want reporting or any oversight to their action. This is their message. Just like they are afraid to show what happens and what they will do when the ballots are done.

If they we’re sincere or had good intentions, but this actions only rely on the fact that the citizens should blindly trust the authorities. However, there are little to no reasons for them to do so. They should expect to be robbed and that they will be disingenuous about their motives. Therefore, they should ensure their votes are respected and that the polling officers are doing their duty. Nevertheless, expect election violence and arrests for the ones doing so. Peace.

European Commission: Press Release – Relations with the UK: Commission proposes targeted contingency measures to prepare for possible “no-deal” scenario (10.12.2020)

Opinion: The EC is trying to pull a trick

The Electoral Commission Commissioner Simon Byabakama written a letter called “Re: Alleged Blocking and Disrupting Scheduled Candidates’ Campaign Meetings’ the Inspector General of Police Okoth-Ochola today on the 26^th November 2020.

This letter is supposed to get the directions and reasoning behind the blocked rallies, campaign meetings and so fourth. However, we all know that Uganda Police Force, Uganda People’s Defence Force, Special Force Command, Internal Security Organization and so fourth will not cease their operations. Just because a letter like this.

The matters are coming from high above and this is only happening to shield the pain. The Police Force and the other law enforcement will not cease their activities. They will pursuit the same means and shut down venues. They will block radio appearances and so fourth. These folk will block the roads and districts too. On the orders from the various of authorities and local leaders like RDCs and RPCs.

That is why this letter will not be taken serious. The opposition candidates will still meet the same authorities today, tomorrow and beyond the polls. This letter is a smoke-screen. A way of showing grace and humility. However, it will not mount to anything.

It is not like the Police Force will stop or any other law enforcement. Not even the army or its outfits will not stop their activities. The letter from the Electoral Commission will not stop it. The police brutality and the extra judicial killings will not stop. The state will still make the supporters, bystanders and innocent civilians get caught in the cross-fire or stray bullets. There will be more tragedies ahead of the January 2021.

To think otherwise at this point is naive. The IGP and EC Commissioner will not change that. They are working on orders and command from the high above. These folks cannot stop their duty to serve the State House. That is what they are doing.

That is why I have no faith in this letter. IGP Okoth-Ochola will not change it. Neither will army commanders change their ways. It is not happening. Let me repeat, it is not happening. Peace.

Electoral Commission: Press Release – Extension of the Period for the Nomination of Candidates for Local Government Councils Elections, 2020 (01.10.2020)

The Electoral Commission: Press Release – Lifting of the Suspension of Accreditation of CCEDU for Election-related Activities (21.02.2019)

The Electoral Commission: EC Meeting Officials from Citizen Coaliton for Electoral Democracy (CCEDU) – (24.10.2018)

KCCA Executive Director Jennifer Musisi Resignation Letter to President Museveni (15.10.2018)

Mwenda’s recent Illusions of the ‘FDC versus NRM’ doesn’t make sense!

There are certain members of the media atmosphere, that is so deluded and so paid-off by the National Resistance Movement, that their vision is blurred. If someone would believe that this fellow was drinking or even lack of memory, than people would have believed that, since his reasoning is so far fetched and forged together. So, that the elitism and the favorable view is so in the open. That no matter what the Opposition would do. It would be wrong, anyone standing in the way of the NRM. They are vicious people and vindictive to be supporting the cause of toppling the dictatorship. However, that is the vision of Andrew Mwenda, the Independent Magazine owner and writer. The man whose lost his way, today. I will take extract of his two recent rants on the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC). I just have to scrutinize them, as they deserve.

First on disintegration of the FDC:

“Besigye himself did not start out as a radical extremist. However he adopted this position in order to keep the loyalty of his base. These radical extremists believe in a politics of blackmail, insults, lies and intimidation to get their way. They represent a worse alternative to President Yoweri Museveni’s politics of corruption and patronage. For all his faults, Museveni represents a more enlightened politics than Besigye and his extremists. He is to some degree liberal democratic – to a good extent – he has some tolerance of and respect for free speech and other liberal democratic values. But the radical extremists are fascists” (Mwenda, 2018).

This little extract shows how narrow-minded Mwenda has become, if that is in his own high esteem or his lack of vision. That he has to figure out a way to narrowly escape the perjury of his own mind. What we can see, is that no matter what Museveni does, it will be better than Besigye. Even if Museveni has all powers and made a crappy patronage system, that will be better than the FDC and Besigye ever will be. Even if no one has ever tried or succeeded in doing so. Therefore, just by this mere impasse, his reasoning are falling flat.

Secondly, how can liberal democratic values turn into fascists? Where in his right mind does this work out? It is just like reading political voodoo again. The mismatch of political in a petri-dish and use of tools to create an imaginary Nessie in the midst of Lake Albert. Because that is what Mwenda here does. If your members and supporters of Besigye, your fascists, by his reckoning, which is in itself a disgrace. As the Besigye supporters aren’t violent brown-shirt or ethnic cleansing individuals, even the P10 in diaspora isn’t supporting an armed struggle against the Museveni. So where in the mind of Mwenda makes these ideas. He surely need therapy or more schooling, because this doesn’t make sense.

FDC’s radical extremism:

“Here has been the tragedy of the struggle for democracy in Africa. Claims by any group opposed to a dictatorial government to be fighting for democracy are taken on face value. Its internal operations and the behaviour of its leaders and members are rarely questioned. And in many cases these groups have captured power and produced governments that are worse than those they overthrew. The lesson for Uganda is simple but fundamental: denouncing Museveni’s dictatorial tendencies is not enough to make a political movement liberal-democratic. Its modus operandi is more critical. FDC is the best positioned party to capture power from NRM. The radical extremists are its strongest faction in FDC. Hence a capture of power by FDC would be a victory for radical extremism and a danger to democracy in Uganda. Whatever the democratic deficits manifest inside NRM, Museveni individually and his party and government generally are fairly tolerant and liberal-minded. I built my career as a journalist exposing the rot in his government alongside its dictatorial tendencies. Yet throughout this period I frequently visited Museveni at State House and we argued over our differences. He would come to my radio show. He would telephone me to express disagreement over opinions or facts I had written. The same applies to NRM and UPDF leaders. They were regular guests on my radio show and my major sources of information” (Mwenda, 2018).

It is weird again that someone would be danger to democracy, while the other one are keeping a narrow hold of power in the State House. That is why someone whose been into power for 32 years are no problem for democracy, but the ones in opposition will cause havoc. That even without proof of it. This is just peddling lies and deception. That Mwenda says NRM are liberal and tolerant minded, why does everyone has to follow the guidance of Museveni and the ones who doesn’t get demoted.

If the NRM was so liberal and tolerant minded, why the NRM rebels get demoted? Why did the leadership throw out Mbabazi, Bukenya and others because of their ambitions? Mwenda, why doesn’t you mention that? While the FDC has had three Party Presidents by now since its inception since 2005, while the NRM since 1986 has had one in command from the State House. There has been lack of control from others.

So, therefore it is special, that ones ordering the army and police to be able to control power, have trouble with supporters of the opposition. This is just weird, that the NRM are okay with its mistakes, but the FDC will become fascists and extremists, but the armed military government of NRM are fine and dandy. If you don’t see flaws in that reasoning, than your right and Mwenda is off the chains.

We can clearly see the brilliant mind or the wacked head of Mwenda. His own head must be a battlefield, as the lack of reasoning and mental breakdown of the defense of Museveni is in the open. It is just like accepting the dictator and making the opposition criminal hoodlums. Not complaining about the ones ordering the killing, but saying the ones reporting the killings as the ill of society. That is what Mwenda is doing these days.

If you know, you know. Peace.

Reference:

Andrew M. Mwenda – ‘The likely defeat of FDC’s radical extremism’ (13.08.2018)

Andrew M. Mwenda – ‘The disintegration of FDC’ (11.08.2018)

Democracy dies on the altar of Stability!

“the crisis of democracy” as when normally passive and apathetic populations become organized and seek to enter the political arena to pursue their interests and demands, threatening stability and order.” – Noam Chomsky

I know, this is our time paradigm and it isn’t a shift of policy, just a ignorance of the mere fact that dictatorships and totalitarian affairs gets to linger, because the international stakeholders rather see stability and military efforts to control the population, instead of a tolerant and transparent democracy. That is just the mere reality, it isn’t fiction.

This happens again and again, it rebounds and recharge after every contested and questionable election. Now in Zimbabwe, previously in Kenya last year and in Uganda the year before. It doesn’t matter if the head of state rigged themselves in and used the army to silence the population after. As long as they are stable and loot their nations at a steady pace. It isn’t happening on our shores, so why should the international stakeholders suffer and make the public lose faith in the institutions. They are moving forward and showing some signs of democratic values, even as belittling as letting them have a rally or two without interference of the police.

Therefore, this get boring as this sort of play get back-to-back, no return and steady road without any redemption. Only more of the same old suffering and toils in the midst of oppression. We see no salvation and not turn of events, where the mere factors changes. It is just the same old story with new names and new charges put on opposition leaders.

If not there will be ‘Unity Governments’ where the loser reign supreme and the winner begs for breadcrumbs, where the rigging master get the head of state and military, while the real winner get meaningless positions and a title not even worth the print of ink. It is just a mere puppet show the façade to look beautiful, while the population and the ones who govern knows it is just a play. They could be shooting a movie and not run a government, because this is just nonsense. They all know it, but they have to secure donor funding and legitimacy.

This is the sort of game we play, we return to it, as the opposition is tarnished, called terrorists and hooligans, while the democratic playing field is shrinking and no one seems to care. Unless, you’re the President and you’re the VPs bitch, because you cannot pressure the VP or the army, since they hired you to be the head of state. That is why Mnangagwa will speak of tolerance and unity, but will not challenge any solider killing innocent civilians, than he plays against the ones who hired him.

The army will hold Kenyatta in force too, and they did with their assaults on the public after the Fresh Presidential Elections, as the did their duty in Kisumu and Kibera. They really went ahead with violence and killed civilians. Just like the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) did after the 2016 in Kampala and elsewhere to prove their majesty, his excellency Museveni all power.

Therefore, this game is getting old and stale, where the ruling regime is eating of the plate, taking it all and only leaving pain for the majority. It isn’t funny, but the same old play we have seen before and no one seems to really care. They accept this and doesn’t really challenge it. They are putting out statements: We condemn. But a few minutes later, they will not do anything about it.

We are just moving in circles and it isn’t funny. Democracy is dying and it does it on the temple of stability. What is the value of stability, if the elite eats 99 % and the 99 % eats the 1 %. It is worthless, as worthless as these “elections”, where the handpicked Gentlemen are doing as they please and has no consequence. Seriously, what value does it add? Other than for some empty headed businessmen who eats of the electoral tenders. Very little are to gain for the society or the stakeholders. Just buying legitimacy and race to the supreme.

Just getting tired of this scheme, of this race and of these sort of play. It is time to get serious and engage properly, respect the ballot and the will of the people. Not just use that election for the little regard regime so they can stay afloat for another term. That isn’t cool, screw stability, when it only leads to power-vacuum and a more intolerant society afterwards. Peace.