A look into the new URA Commissioner General John Musinguzi Rujoki

Today its official that John Musinguzi Rujoki is appointed as the Commissioner General for Uganda Revenue Authority. He takns now over after 5 years and 5 months of Doris Akol at the helm.

So, the appointed Commissioner General has been the Head of Finance and Audit at the Special Revenue Protection Services under the wings of IGP Kale Kayihura. That’s something he was until he became the Senior Presidential Advisor for ICT. Last year he was appointed the Chairman for NITA-Uganda. Therefore, this man has risen to the upper echelon. His now switching boards and chairs to the liking of the President.

Musinguzi has shown his loyalty in the past as a false witness in the rape case against Besigye in January 2006.

At the rape trial he said this:

“ DM: At 27, you were heading the department of audit and finance?

MJ: Yes

DM: To whom were you answerable?

MJ: Head of the unit.

DM: Who was this?

MJ: The current inspector General of Police, Maj. Gen. Kale Kayihura.

DM: In your report line, did you have to report to the President?

MJ: Yes.

DM: Did you know the President before?

MJ: Yes.

DM: Prior to working with SRPS, were you known to the President personally or your family?

MJ: Yes.

DM: Was he known to your family?

MJ: He must be knowing the family because we come from the same county” (New Vision – ‘Details of Besigye rape case. DAY FOUR: Jan. 11, 2006’ 31.01.2006).

So, we know why his picked for the URA Commissioner General, as his a loyal waterboy of the President. Who the President knows and trust. That is why his been a Presidential Advisor and held responsibility for so long. His one of the cadre that will be used and also learned from Kayihura. Therefore, he has the qualities that the President looks for.

The appointment comes from the quasi-military outfit SRPS, which was important and lucrative. As it did cease contraband and smuggled goods. This was goods and valuables that could get “lost” and suddenly vanish. That is why there was questions about how the accounting about the SRPS and the “lost” billions shillings too. Also, how ceased goods like cars, tobacco and other valuables disappeared. Surely, these stories should haunt a former head like Rujoki. Not only his false testimony, which he did out of loyalty.

We can anticipate a loyal cadre, someone who will not even dare to insult the mind of the President. He follows the orders from above and will not question the President. He knows what happens if he does and he knows, if he stays loyal he will be compensated. Just like his been paid respectfully for the deed of being a false witness years ago.

Being the Chairman of NITA and now Commissioner General of URA. Surely, loyalty pays off. Gone from a hack inside SRPS to become a big-man in URA. If you know, now you know. Peace.

Opinion: Mzee’s rebuttal to the US sanction on Kayihura falls flat!

It was just a matter of time before Mzee or President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni was about defend former Inspector General of Police Edward Kale Kayihura, the loyalist and bush-war hero. Who was demoted, put through a trial and since then been in the shadows lingering without any concern.

Now that the United States had put sanctions on Kale and his closest families. This has ruffled with some feathers and hit the pride of the old man. Not that its surprising. Its expecting by this point. He don’t want to answer for his crimes and his own actions. That is why he will deflects his comrades ones too. Because, he has to save himself. To think otherwise is just being naive at this point.

I will not comment on the whole thing, because that is just a mere waist of my time and most likely yours. So, I am instead taking a few extracts of and will break those down in ordinary fashion. So, here we go.

“Before I comment on the action of the USA Govt in the matter of Kale, I should, first of all, say that, that excitement among some elements of the Opposition shows the poor quality of their spectacles when it comes to issues of Africa and Uganda. Why do they think that going to the USA or, indeed, any non-African country is so important that if you are not allowed there, it will amount to a painful punishment? I know of no Country that is more beautiful than Uganda on Earth Planet. It is actually a sacrifice for me to visit any non-African country on account of bad weather, strange foods etc” (Museveni, 22.09.2019).

For someone whose steady jet-lagging elsewhere, its hypocritical of him saying this. When is daughters are barred from giving birth in Uganda and has to this abroad. Therefore, when his ministers are taking health-care tourists and so-on. He should really make sure the beautiful is better equipped. However, his terms on the opposition is directing attacks on them. Instead of looking at own grievances. Which he tends to do. Because, that is way of defending himself.

I would say for someone whose has had the need for the support, the co-operation and the aid of the United States. It is very rich to call the opposition poor quality in this manner, when he spoilt the opportunities to use this for making the Republic better. That is why they are happy, that the US sanctions Kale, because the Ugandan are shielding him and not really enforcing rule of law. That because, if they do, then it will hit the President that ordered Kale to do certain human rights violations and crimes against humanity. But not the President will pursuit those, why? That will implicated his own ass and he don’t want anyone touch the leopards anus. Remember?

“However, for Kale or other Ugandans who are suspected to have made mistakes, they will always be handled in Uganda. That is why we shall never hand any Ugandan to, for instance, the Court in The Hague- the ICC. Kale is already facing whatever mistakes he is suspected to have committed in our Courts. What value addition is, then, there from external actors?” (Museveni, 22.09.2019).

Without to much repetition, how much else than being demoted and taken on charges is Kale at this point? His not really serving time or answering for his crimes in office. That is because his part of the Bush-War elite and the ones that the President cannot touch. The invisible NRA elite who can do whatever they want. By all means, we know the President fears the ICC for his crimes in Uganda, Rwanda, DRC and elsewhere. He don’t want to answer for those, as he wants to be shielded and expect to get away with it. That by using Pan-Africanism and other Isms to look smart.

I’m tired of bullshit and you should be too. So take a sip of coffee, milk-tea or whatever tasty beverage you got close. Since this madness got to stop, but I don’t know when. Peace.

Opinion: Off Course Kayihura wants to be vindicated

Let me be short on the former Inspector General of Police Edward Kale Kayihura. His done enough of illicit business, oppressive behaviour and acts as an henchman or a Capo for the Don or the President to ever be vindicated. His statement today was against the United States for sanctioning him yesterday.

He literally told them: “Go Hang”. Than a whole another nonsense, which is not worthy to repeat. Unless, your National Resistance Movement (NRM) friendly media. Because, this is one of the previous loyal subjects, who followed orders from above and had a listening ear to the needs of the Head of State. So, its not like the man is innocent.

Kale can think it was bloody brilliant to answer and give a retort. That he should have gotten special treatment and been exonerated. However, all his actions over the years speaks for itself. If they ever get properly investigated or get looked into. Surely, he would answer with time and with sentences. Because, Kale has made plenty people suffer, more people hurt and taken away innocent people’s lives to serve his master. Therefore, all the sanctions are justified.

His rant is just an smear campaign back. Just like all his endless statements over the years of justification of arbitrary arrests, illegal detentions, abductions and injustice done to civilians under the banner of policing. Surely, if you have followed the man a little minute. You have seen this. That why it’s no sense to drop it here. As a token of his marvellous enterprise as the IGP.

IGP Kale Kayihura is right to seek judgement, but that doesn’t mean his actions as an IGP was justified. He wants to be vindicated and have a clean slate, but kinda hard to get that with all the dirt on your fingers. Those stains doesn’t easily get washed off. Peace.

Opinion: The U.S. sanctions the Capo, but not the Don!

Well, it is about that time, the actions made by the United States Department of State and loyal minion of Trump, Michael Pompeo is supposed to send a message, but does it? Nah. Not so much, since his target is who he is and seemingly a fitted one. It isn’t like the former Inspector General of Police Edward Kale Kayihura of the Uganda Police Force was working in a vacuum.

Before, I tell short stories about Kayihura and his inter-connections, just look at the orders from the US:

U.S. Department of State statement: “The Department is publicly designating Kale Kayihura, the former Inspector General of the Uganda Police Force and its commanding officer from 2005-2018, under Section 7031(c) of the FY 2019 Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, due to his involvement in gross violations of human rights. Specifically, the Department has credible information that Kayihura was involved in torture and/or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment, through command responsibility of the Flying Squad, a specialized unit of the Uganda Police Force that reported directly to Kayihura” (…) “These actions against Kale Kayihura underscore our concern with human rights violations and abuses in Uganda, as well as our support for accountability for those who engage in such violations and abuses. We call on the Ugandan government to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the freedoms of expression and peaceful assembly” (Michael Pompeo – ‘Public Designation, Due to Gross Violations of Human Rights, of Kale Kayihura of Uganda’ 13..09.2019).

IGP Kale Kayihura is not a man’s record I will defend. We all who has followed politics in the Republic a hot minute. Knows what he did and have done. No denying fact how he controlled, patrolled and enforced a brutal regime upon the public. How the opposition suffered, tear-gassed, arbitrary arrests and rampant injustice from this man.

There is no opposition, no activists or anyone connected with that, whose haven’t seen the forces or the oppressive behaviour of the Police Force and its connected groups snatching people’s freedom, liberty and justice. In the snap of an finger, he could arrest, detain and await proper procedure, as he could use preventative arrests, public order management act and every other tool in the penal code. To strike at civilians and do the bidding of the head of state.

It is not like IGP Kayihura as an island. Not like his was alone on the corrupt bids. Not like he didn’t house arrests Besigye without orders. Not like he tried to sway elections, tried to rig polls and do what needed to be done. Without the mercy and the steady support of the State House. That is to naive and think he was Don. No, he was a Capo or a Caporegime. He was one in-charge of made-men in the National Resistance Movement (NRM). That is why the President let him handle stuff, because of the levels of trust.

In 2015 report:

“Kale Kayihura was responsible for jointly forwarding the information gathered using FinFisher under the Fungua Macho operation to President Museveni. A former military assistant of Museveni during the ‘Bush War’, Kayihura is widely seen as unfailingly loyal to his boss. Kayihura gained notoriety during the 2011 presidential election and the Walk to Work protests because of his brutality in crushing the protest movement. Kayihura presides over the Joint Intelligence Committee. The JIC assembles the ISO, ESO, CMI and Police. Kayihura is heavily involved in defence procurement, and has been implicated in corruption scandals. He reportedly failed to account for UGX 15 billion (US$ 4 million) while commander of the Special Revenue Protection Services between 2001 and 2006” (Privacy International Report – ‘For God and For My President: State Surveillance in Uganda P: 28, 2015)

In 2016: “Mr Museveni said: “People are attacking Kale (Kayihura), Kale has done a good job; he stopped fujo; because people wanted to bring fujo to disrupt business. If you have fujo, you will not have wealth.” (Leilah Nalubega – ‘Kayihura has done a good job, says Museveni’ 23.08.2016, Daily Monitor).

In 2017: “President Yoweri Museveni has hailed the Inspector General of Government Gen. Kale Kayihura for being a true cadre of the ruling National Resistance movement party. Presiding over the thanksgiving ceremony of the Police chief in Kisoro, the president described gen. Kayihura as a hard working officer who has sacrificed to protect its citizens” (NBS Television, 16.10.2017).

So, its not like the former IGP worked alone. He worked in tandem with the high above, the almighty and on the blessing of him. Still, its only him whose sanctioned and it is peculiar that its happening now a year after the sacking. Since, it didn’t happen while his in office and actually has the power to create the hurt. But after being released and a civilian, his sanctioned by the US Administration. If the US really cared, they should have acted when they gathered the intelligence, because Uganda is a military partner and an ally in East Africa. Therefore, it is weird that it happens now.

That its a symbolic act, as Kayihura will not care about this. It is not like the US is freezing his accounts or even trying to arrest him for human rights violations in office. They are banning him from entering the United States. Not like his going to vacate for Florida or California anytime soon.

I have never seen anything good in the acts of Kayihura, who was a political pawn, a man of scruples and who had trouble putting other peoples in harms way to show loyalty to his boss. That is why his a former Capo or Caporegime. Who went from being someone who enforced his groups on accord with the Don. Now, his not useful, that is why the US can also sanction him this late.

So in my view, the US went for the Capo, but forgot the Don. Peace.

Makerere University Professor Nawangwe letter to Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago: “Re: Unacceptable Conduct of KCCA representative to Makerere University Council” (28.09.2018)

UPDF Press Statement on opening recruitment of the Local Defence Unit in Kampala and Wakiso (22.09.2018)

Double Standard: IGP Kayihura is out on bail, but shouldn’t he linger in jail; While investigation goes on?

Since the 12^th June 2018, former Inspector General of Police Kale Kayihura have been in the custody of the military, as he has been under investigation and arrested. This was until today the 28^th August. As he was released on bailed after being detained at the Makindye Military Barracks awaiting trial for 3 charges. Now, today he was released and is out while awaiting possible more trials on the charges.

So, it is not like Gen. Kayihura is free or even close to freedom. He went over two months before his first trial and without direct charges. Now, he himself has tasted the system that he used against other people as the IGP. Therefore, I don’t have much sympathy for the man.

What we know with former IGPs under Museveni, as either they get other roles or end up in a demise. As they know to much and there are reasons why the President wants to get rid of them. We cannot know for sure, but the former loyal cadre of Museveni is surely not done with the Courts. As he is awaiting to answer the trials, as this is just a temporary release though.

What is ironic about today, is that back in the day. He was himself against the bail. Back in April 2015 for cases like himself and treason, the really serious cases against the state and with dire consequences. He wanted the bail abolished and the opportunity to release this charged persons behind bars indefinitely as they was a cause to interfere with the investigation itself if they was released. His argument was that this temporary freedom could undermine evidence gathering, therefore, that he is released on bail today. Is that a giant worry for the state or doesn’t the argument valid for him? Is he above his own argument as the three charges are serious? What if he can silence or even intimidate the ones who will testify against him?

That is what we should question today, if the rules changes when your in power and when your not. If the used argument while your in power are still valid when you have lost your title and station. As Kayihura is at this point a citizen without a position. He is a former cadre and loyal henchman of the state, who now is a target by the authorities he himself served for life. Therefore, his vision might be blurred now, as he is feeling a bit of pinch, as he knows what the state does to their enemies.

With knowledge of what he has done to the opposition and activists, how he has been a tool and used his time in power to suppress people. There is hard to wish his to meet the rule of law and justice. It is supposed to equal to law. That means also for Kayihura even with all kind of harassment, intimidation and arbitrary arrests.

He has to report to Court as required and cannot move wherever he wants, as this is partly freedom on state terms. He should know this and so the celebration of his family today. However, there are many of us, that wants him to answer for all the ills and the orders he has put, as people have died for attending rallies, lingering in jail without trials and so-on, that was all done by his orders and his watch. Therefore, people like me isn’t happy he is on bail. He doesn’t deserve it, he should pay for his sins, as he has been a loyal stooge of the tyrant and accepted to do dirt for him. Peace.

Gen. Kazini’s nightmare could soon follow Gen. Kayihura!

Today, in Makindye General Court Martial, the former Inspector General of Police Kale Edward Kayihura was charges with three counts of criminal conspiracy. This was after 72 days in Military Detention at the Makindye Military Prison at the Barracks there. So, that Lt. Gen. Andrew Guti was saying the words and the conspired charges against him. Is just like other men who the President has built up, put on a pedestal and later dismantled into tiny pieces. We can soon await more trouble, as the twisted tale of Kayihura is not over, as the Court adjourned today.

I am expecting the same sort of ordeal of Gen. James Kazini, who rose the ranks, became a big-man and suddenly fallen dead at the home of his side-dish. The story of Gen. Kazini is relevant today, because both Kayihura and him has been vital parts of machinery of President Museveni at some point. Kayihura was the loyal IGP for two terms and now is a criminal. Therefore, because of how he lacked tact towards opposition and citizens in general. There is little sympathy for Kayihura. Because he knows what he has done, even if he had deserved fair justice, he served dozens of people and activists with less human respect in his time in office. He should get justice and get fail trail. However, he has himself let people through fire to be loyal to Museveni. Now he get to feel the side of the side stick himself.

Kayihura should worry that he would become the next Kazini. Because just like Gen. Kazini, he knew enough and the President didn’t want that out. The same might be similar to Kayihura. As they have both been close the President at their time. Now, he is paying for the loyalty with harsh charges. The same happen to Kazini, that was supposed to overthrow Museveni from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Now, Kayihura are supposed to have brought weapons from Rwanda and supposed other misgivings. Both Kayihura and Kazini has been charged with neglect of official duty. Therefore, Museveni is returning old tricks against his own former henchmen.

Because both of these men has been hailed by Museveni at one point, before later stabbed in the back by the same man. It is just like Museveni likes to repeat himself. Another General is taken down. Because they both was fired swiftly and months later take to trial. We can just await what happens after the up-coming trials and collected evidence from the state towards Kayihura.

I don’t know how the last demise will be for Kayihura. But if he repeat himself, there will be love-triangle, maybe even at the Sky Blue Hotel in Lyantonde, Western Uganda. Where he liked to spend his time, when the former IGP wasn’t on his farm. I wouldn’t be surprised if he was found there and there was wide speculation of his sudden fall and loss of life. That is just me guessing, as the great Kazini suddenly was found with his side-dish and never returned.

The similar efforts done to Kazini could easily be done again. Museveni have the ability to order and do this. We shouldn’t be surprised by this.

Kayihura should worry himself and not feel safe, as the program is put into play and how this ends, might be fatal. Hopefully I am wrong. But Museveni doesn’t play around. He has had the power and ability to do it to the ones he knew in the past. Museveni could do it again.

Kayihura should pay for his sins. These sins should he answer for, but not possible extra-judicial killing. That is what I am implying, but with the history and acts of Museveni. There is the possibility. Not like the old-man is more tolerant with his age, more hostile and less caring about the environment around him. Peace.

Uganda: Press Statement by Mrs Angela Kayihura (18.06.2018)

UPDF Press Statement on Gen. Kale Kayihura 2.0 (14.06.2018)