Charles Rwomushana Presidential Candidacy: The intern that want to become king

Now that political analyst and former Internal Security Organization (ISO) Agent Charles Rwomushana. The friend who has the Presidents ear by being handled by Frank Tumwebaze for public appearances. Today it’s official that his standing as a Presidential Candidate too, as an independent. Just like Lieutenant General Henry Tumukunde.

Well, this is following a pattern of friendly faces suddenly turning right ahead of elections. We saw that Amama Mbabazi, Gilbert Bukenya and now these two. They are all suddenly out of the wood-works. As soon as that happen, the praises from team of Canary Mugume and Andrew Mwenda will happen. They will sing psalms and birds chirping in a symphony of greatness that makes classic composers of the stature of Beethoven look like child’s play.

If you get my drift?

It is insulting to think that Charles Rwomushana has anything to do as a Presidential Candidate. Unless, he wants to be a less funny character of Elton Joseph Mabirizi. He might think his important, has a vibe and could challenge anyone. However, the former agent and friendly fire Rwomushana isn’t scaring anyone. Except his own shadow and Lucky Luke.

Rwomushana will be as memorable as Tumukunde. They might catch some headlines, stirr some controversy, but their platform, ideals and ideas will be microwaved as some pop-songs. It will be all “Baby, I love You”, but no reason for why the singer love the supposed “baby”. The song could be for anyone, but we don’t get the context nor the greatness of the supposed “baby”.

The same I am seeing from Charles and Henry. They will both come firing from all cylinders, but there will be nothing substantial coming out. Charles might speak with fury and with reason. Still, he will not prove anything or be anything that matters. Unless, the 120,000 followers on Facebook will suddenly cause havoc all at once.

The agent knows the inside of this government. He is a former RDC of Pader too. So his been useful in the past and wouldn’t be shocking if his a Molotov Cocktail into this election. To spike it up and make it interesting. It is not like this man has a following or an organization that can suddenly cause a change. He maybe have a more public persona than Professor Venansius Baryamureeba, but still not a platform like most party leaders have.

Rwomushana will not cause a stir or a grand issue. Unless, he plans to leak old plans and deceiving information about the government. However, that will back-fire from the friendly relations he has with them. Unless, the leaks are coordinated and they are willing to doing so. To make the candidacy look “legit”.

I have hard time believe the candidacy of Charles. If I don’t believe in Henry? How can I believe in Charles? Well, I doubt them both and they are pawns. They are useful tools to be used as curve-balls into the 2021 election. These will not bring change or any difference.

Rwomushana good luck on your journey, but I don’t see it work out. He even tried to get the seat of Rujumbura County in 1996 and lost to Jim Muhwezi. If he couldn’t win there, how will he win in a national contest?

Shiish. This is taking an L before your starting. He should comment on TV and be a political analyst. His not fit or have the drive to do this. Charles should just breathe and take it easy. Your not capable to beat Besigye, Bobi Wine or Museveni.

It is like Joe Schmoe suddenly able to beat Messi on the football pitch. I am sorry, but that’s not happening. Unless lightning is hitting Messi and the ambulance has to send him directly to the ER. If that doesn’t happen. Then Charles has no chance to beat the big-men. Peace.

Opinion: Moses Byamugisha don’t become a punchline like Mabirizi

The ones that remember the independent Presidential Candidate Elton Joseph Mabirizi. He was a punchline and a joke during the Presidential Campaigns during the General Elections of 2016. Now, the previously trying to be a Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) Moses Byamugisha. He has walked in the shadows of other leaders within the FDC, but still has a positive standing there. Worked tirelessly for the activists and youth organizations of the FDC.

Byamugisha has criss-crossed the Republic doing this. He has gone to places where people been detained for the FDC campaigning and fought to get the youths released. Therefore, he has earned his place and hasn’t come out of nowhere.

Still, he should be careful as he now ushers his Presidential Aspirations for 2021. Not because his young and such. He is already mature in the game of politics. His seen and been in the line of fire. As an FDC Official, he knows this and therefore, its daring for him to go out now. Especially, if he plans to challenge Dr. Kizza Besigye and Bobi Wine. Since, he hasn’t the flair they got. But, he got to start somewhere

We know he doesn’t have a big enough political standing in his own party, as both him and Mugisha Muntu both lost to Partick Amuriat Oboi in that election. Even though that starts to be a while ago.

I am wondering if he plans to start his own political pressure group or going independent. Since this is a daring move of him. I admire his aspiration and his will power. But this will cost him. If he makes weak statements and speeches like Mabirizi, he will be youthful punchline this election. He will be the minion fighting kings.

The ideal and will is good in itself. He has aged in politics and been an operative for long. Not like his walking into this naively or blind. Moses knows this and knows parts of this. As his seen what happens and how things are. Therefore, shouldn’t he try to associate himself with others for a while longer. Instead of throwing everything at something that is initially impossible.

It is impossible, because its not like Museveni will loose in 2021. Its not happening, because of popularity or ability to get public engaged. It is because the system is all his and all men are loyal to him. If they doesn’t praise the ground he walks on, they will not get an envelope at the end of the month. Therefore, the costs of standing is not only foolish for anyone.

If your not doing it prove the system is rigged, that you hadn’t a shot in the first place and the ones standing wants to get validated for the public. Because, the race is already closed and we knows whose winning.

That is why I wonder why a man with this potential wants to put his chips in now. He plays with likes of Besigye, Bobi Wine and Museveni. It is not like he has that standing. His more known than Mabirizi was before the campaigns. However, he still not a big-man, but one that has the potential to be there in the future.

Byamugisha, don’t become a punchline. Don’t use this platform for useless spins on social media and in the media. Your hard work and dedication to the youth over the years. Deserves much more. You could even easily run for MP and be respected without any issues in a heartbeat. Like several of the coordinators of the Activists 4 Change (A4C) did in their heyday.

Therefore, this is just me thinking, but not being negative. Just paying my respect to your actions. As you have to answer for these. Just use it wisely, we don’t want remembered like Mabirizi. Feel me? Peace.

Opinion: What relevance will Kyalya have in 2021? – Practically none.

The former Presidential Candidate Maureen Kyalya, the candidate who ran under The Independent Coalition (TIC) together with Elton Joseph Mabirizi. They were both candidates during the General Elections for the 2016. Now, that the Election Road-Maps is soon scheduled and the parties are preparing for up-coming elections and registration. The previous candidate is returning.

In mind and in spirit, proclaiming the return, Maureen Kyalya is saying she is coming back with a party and candidature for the Presidential Election in 2021. Even if her last attempt was abysmal and should make her shed tears for her relevancy.

That is why she has spoken up against Bobi Wine during 2018 and proven her undying loyalty to the President. This meaning, that the only thing she thinks she get by doing all this. Is that she can get a pay-check and validate her needs to the Heads of State. President Museveni surely knows she is no threat, just like Gen. Benon Biraaro or Abed Bwanika. They are both posting up doing their thing and letting by-goons be by-goons. That is just the tradition of the elections. The other candidates are just stressing interfering individuals. The President needs more the VP Edward Ssekandi and the likes.

Presidential Candidate for whatever her name of her party will still be irrelevant. Even a chapti stand in any Kampala market have more fans than Kyalya, a newly furnished Taxi with grand seats have more spenders, than Kyalya will have. People know what she is, she does too, but want to play a big shot. When she really isn’t.

Maureen Kyalya can act like she has a shot like she has an opportunity to win or act like winner. If she was running to become a governor, residential district commander or even being an representative in the Busoga region. That would have made sense, because the candidate have been vocal about that, ever since she turned a politician. However, she has not shown interests or ability to prove knowledge of anything else. Maybe she should even visit the ferries and take a trip to the Ssese Islands to see the relatives of the Busoga. Just to get her mind refreshed and even see the borderline of the fiefdom of the Busoga. That would be healthy for her, maybe broaden her vision.

Because of last year, we know she is just a pawn, a secret lover of Museveni and his vision. She creates a party and candidature, only in hopes of being appointed somewhere substantial. She wants the Mama Mabira and Betty Kamya money too. Kyalya wants to pocket money too.

Maureen is not fielding her candidature for relevance nor popularity. Because there is none. Just like we haven’t talked about Mabarizi since the previous elections. 2021 will not make a difference, unless she can spend money like Mbabazi, spread the message like Bobi Wine and actually be a difference like Besigye. Alas, Kyalya is just a pawn, not a king or a queen. She wish she was, but the public is indifferent. The reason why I write this, because the public shouldn’t care or even take her serious.

Kyalya, the up-coming Presidential Candidate and newly minted Political Party, will not have organization or funding, unless someone who needs a Busoga party to represent itself. Than, there is just a front, a shop and one-person party made for the election. Not a sincere political apparatus or political motivated for a difference.

So, time to put the nail in the coffin and time for Maureen to go to the State House, beg for mercy and ask for a hiring. Become the Presidential Advisor for Busoga or something. Because, she will need that, she is not relevant now nor tomorrow, unless she stumbles on the humble onto something substantial and significant, which is profound and meaningful. However, trust me. That didn’t happen during the last campaign of hers and will not happen now either. Peace.

Otafiire is wrong on Museveni: He will not leave by the ballot, but when he dies!

“President Museveni will only go when you stop voting him not shouting. Nobody will shout Museveni out of office. The only way that you can remove Museveni from office is when you stop voting him” says Maj.Gen. Kahinda Otafiire in Ibanda” (Daily Monitor, 31.08.2018).

This is not a positive message, because there are really no narrative in this manner and with the times that can be like this. If President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni had shown any signs of giving way or even planning succession, the words of an election would have sounded real. However, for someone saying that knows perfectly well how the President is, Otafiire knows his words isn’t true.

Otafiire says Museveni will only leave if he voted out of office! How is that even possible? The Presidential Elections are filled with intimidation, rigging and securing the President by any means. There are no math, no possibility that Museveni will ever run a free and fair election. He will not let the people decide, he has already made his decision and the result is well-known, year in advance. Museveni has run the Republic since 1986.

He lost an election in 1980 and have never lost one since, the first one in 1996 and since then had total control. There haven’t been much change or significant changes since Multi-Party Elections happened in 2006. Which was something Museveni was against, he wanted everything in-house and under his umbrella. That is something he still wants and therefore, wants everyone to get people who will follow his guidelines and his vision from the State House. That is why he is saying people are misguided and wrong, when they pick leaders that he cannot order directly around.

Otafiire knows all this and has to change the narrative, because any government who meets to much internal pressure will fall. You are able to detain people, but not have the power to arrest the whole population. You might have the ability to torture the leaders and key activists, but you cannot torture all people. You cannot kill all opposition or everyone standing in the way of the King, but you can take out the chosen few who challenge the leadership. That is all well-known things for Otafiire. That is what the NRM has done since inception in the 1980s. One-by-One as it has been needed. The difference, is that now the news isn’t only in print, but the words and reactions from the oppression hits the web in minutes.

NO ELECTION will ever change the throne. That is not how to dismantle the rule of Museveni, if so, then there would have been a possibility in 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011 and 2016. Neither of them, there was any chances for anyone else to win. Even as the decades has gone and the time of liberation has shown to be the same as the tyrants before. Museveni was supposed to bring progress, but bringing more regress.

Otafiire knows, this the people should know too, as the military and army are in the streets. Because Museveni and NRM doesn’t have the love of the people, if they did, why do they need to guard the streets? They should secure the sovereign state’s borders and not occupy their own territory. That is what Museveni does and Otafiire knows that too.

Otafiire might have a blurred vision or is so loyal, that he have to spin it. Since he wouldn’t be relevant or even have Cabinet Post. If it wasn’t for the brownie points he has already scored with the President, he wouldn’t be there today.

The NRM apologists can lie to the public, but some of us has to address it, because we knows better. Peace.

Opinion: The EU is too late to the Party, when they are now asking for Electoral Reforms in Uganda!

It feels deliberate, that Eduardo Kukan dropped a statement on the 8^th March 2018 as the General Election in Uganda was in February 2016. That is two years after, this is the Follow-Up Mission to the Electoral Observation Mission, that is long finished and didn’t deliver anything of significance. The whole thing ended up being a charade and mockery of the principals the EU is supposed to stand for. The rigging, the spending and buying votes, the inside deals and pre-ticked ballots should all say that the re-election to a fifth official term and unofficially 7^th shouldn’t be legitimized by any entity. This is the same fellas that left Kololo, because the President’s stance on the ICC. Like they didn’t know?

So, we are in March 2018 and its two years and a month since the entered the port and all of the containers are left, all produce is eaten, all parts of the products is sold, stolen or gone. Therefore, there is very little to regard about the process. Very little the EU can do, because they are beholden to the man they validated. They validated the Supreme Court ruling, they validated the Mbabazi petition, they accepted the stolen votes from Besigye and the obvious lies of the Kiggundu Electoral Commission in favor of Museveni.

The EU should have pushed for the reforms in 1995-1996 if they we’re serious. While the President still looked like he cared a little bit and was a donor-friendly guy, now he despise anyone questioning him and his authority. He is always right, and the rest of you is wrong or can be bought. That is President Museveni now. They could have had a short in 2000-2001, even 2005-2006. Even as the term-limits was deposed at the time. When the true reality was that Museveni had no place of really retiring and spend time with his cows. The EU could have pushed for reforms in 2010-2011, even as the Walk to Work demonstrations (W2W) and the Activists 4 Change (A4C) who both challenged the Presidency. Clearly, the EU could have done more as an outside entity, if they cared about the Electoral Reforms.

So now, that the last election went through, the syncopates, the technocrats and cronies of Museveni is elected, appointed as advisors and whatnot. The EU is asking and begging for changes, since suddenly now is the time. Like Museveni would care about the plight of the Follow-Up Mission in 2018, when he just gotten his carrot in December 2017, the Life Presidency. Did the EU miss that charade? Did they sleep in Brussels and eating Belgian waffles? That is how it seems to me.

That the President that has centralized most of the power around him and his State House would now care about the EU, is to say bluntly naive. That the EU comes with recommendations now will not be listened too. Unless, they are dropping bunch of external funds and juicing the rabbit a little bit. Because Museveni is eating, his cronies is too and there is nothing you can tell him.

So when the EU stated this on the 8^th of March 2018, its not hard to understand, why it is like this: “ The EU EFM has been heartened to find that the recommendations of the EU EOM have been disseminated across several institutions of State and that many interlocutors were familiar with the content of the recommendations. While there has been virtually no progress on implementation of the recommendations to date, awareness of proposals, and the grounds thereof, is a crucial first step in the achievement of the recommendations. Similarly, there is widespread awareness of the directives of the Supreme Court” (Eduardo Kukan – ‘EU Election Follow-up Mission to Uganda urges Authorities to take positive steps to improve electoral process’ 08.03.2018).

Like did you think the man, that has been running since a coup in 1986 would give in and change to a more democratic structure, the one who house-arrest his biggest threat without any jurisdiction or right by laws? Do you think the man who has all the state coffers, has all the bidders at his feet, will finally give way to your advice? Do you think the man who has used the guns to silence opposition and does it will kind of acronyms too.

I hate to say it to you Kukan, but your late to the party. The party-goers have left, they have their whiskey, their Waragin, their vodka and their Nile Brew, but are not interested in your anecdotes. They would have mattered some time ago, when the fire was burning, when Usher and Radio & Weasel was banging on the stereo. But now, the party has died down, the only left is the straws and the memories of the late night charade.

Kukan, you should have acted swiftly, you should have cared about the implications, but your entity and others validated Museveni. Just like you have done in the past. You let him of the hook and this here, will be a stain, but not something that covers the obvious. The theft of February 2016. That you accepted and did for selfish reasons beyond me.

You could have, you should have, but you never did. Peace.

Opinion: Mzee don’t want to bother foreign investors with taxes, just give him a Presidential Handshakes!

Well, I am biased, as the President are visiting Dubai for 4th Global Business Forum on Africa on the 2^nd November 2017. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni is trying to cater to foreign investors. People who he usually cater to at the State House, so he can get favors and Presidential Handshakes. That is why he isn’t bothered with taxes, because the tax-holidays and possible offerings will be huge for the investors who comes in. That is what the National Resistance Movement (NRM) are doing, especially if it is for instance a nations offering the state loan, than the same state can come with state-companies to build infrastructure like Chinese companies coming in after offering loans to the same NRM government. Therefore, just look at what he was saying yesterday, which is weird, but fit a pattern.

“Since you are business people, we must be talking about profits. When you talk of Uganda and Africa, you are talking about peace as an enabling environment; which we have. We have raw materials, and have a population of 40 million people that’s’ a market. And if we talk of integration we have a four tear market” (…) “In Africa, the demand is there and growing because we have been under-consuming while the rest of the world the demand is falling because they have been over consuming” (…) “There are plenty of raw materials, minerals, tourism and so on so when you invest there you have access to all these” (…) “I don’t have to bother investors with taxes, what I want is for them to invest, use our raw materials, create jobs, add value and promote exports” (State House Uganda, 2017).

Well, so the President trying to say to foreign investors, you don’t need to pay taxes for your output, just cater to me. The state you don’t have to bother about, just bother about catering to the State House and me. We will add value and promote exports, we will agreements and make sure you get the value on our resources and low-payed workers.

We know who is the biggest taxpayers in the republic, because of Uganda Revenue Authority own statement in the media on the 31^st October 2017, which stated names like Mr. Alnasir Virani Gulam Hussein Habib, Dr. Sudhir Ruparelia, Mohammed Hussain, Nakayima Janat, Karia Minex, Karia Kunnal, Alykhan Hudani and Dayalijil Karan. Who are sounding like foreign investors and they are on the top 25 biggest taxpayers in Uganda. So the state has already connected families from abroad to invest there in various businesses. This shows there are already people who is not worried about taxes, but about the output of their companies.

Some of these investors has made big names, while others have worked more in silence. Still, this shows that the top earners even promoted by URA and Doris Akol. Proves how they are working, as there wasn’t that many own citizens on the list. That shows that the foreign investors must get a special advantage and special agreements at the state house for their dealings. Especially, considering how it has been done, just for tearing down markets in Kampala for own investors and financial agreements. This has been done and arranged from the State House without consultation with locals, neither KCCA or the renters of these markets. That is how the NRM and Museveni do deals in favor of him and if he get ill-gained funds, he will support the “development”. It is in similar fashion he exposes his intent in Dubai.

That the State doesn’t need taxes or need structures to facilitate for foreign investors, they just needs agreements with State House and then it is all fair-game. It is insane, but fits the Modus Operandi of the Musevenism and NRM regime. Give him a Presidential Handshake and you can operate as you want in the Republic. Peace.

Reference:

State House Uganda – ‘President Museveni woos Arab investors to Uganda “We have the raw materials, human resource and market”’ (02.11.2017) link: https://www.africa-newsroom.com/press/president-museveni-woos-arab-investors-to-uganda-we-have-the-raw-materials-human-resource-and-market?lang=en

Opinion: It’s ironic that President Museveni is talking about disciplining the government!

“The three arms of government and their sub-branches must have discipline. For example I have been involved in disciplining the army. We should do the same for other sub-branches of government. If the Judiciary is also disciplined in fighting corruption, citizens will lead a good life.” – Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on the 1^st October 2017, State House Entebbe.

Its just one of these days that hearing the news and seeing the tweets of the President, makes me laugh and wonder if he listen to himself. He knows his system and has made his garden. The way the government steers and govern is because of his policies, his regulations and his support. It is not like there been other ruling for last 30 years in Uganda. The Republic has been under the control of Museveni and his National Resistance Movement (NRM).

The NRM has suffocated all other free-will and control. Therefore, Ministers, Members of Parliament and others seek guidance and funds directly at the State House in Entebbe. Even foreign investors meet there to make agreements. Everything is nearly sanctioned out there. The Discipline now is more on the narrow-minded government that is run from there. The institutions and the procedures are not so important. Since most things happening is with the words from “above”, meaning the President and his close advisers.

It is not rocket science to know where the benefactor or the reason for lacking structures. That is because government waits for their go sign by the State House, they are waiting for funding of the projects and institutions from the State House. The projects and the works of the State House and under the Prime Ministers Offices are the key organizations within this government. They might say all of the massive cabinet has part to play, but that is the facade.

Therefore, it is ironic for a man so controlling and so disorganized that it gives sometimes way to the unthinkable. Just like the Presidential Handshake, that was sanctioned by the State House, but taken form the wrong account. That was the problem for the President, not that the corrupt behavior was occurring on his watch. Its like he talks against himself. Because he has no problem speaking anti-corruption, but if corruption benefit his cronies – its fine and dandy!

I am not surprised by him at this point of time, its fit his narrative. He says what he expects and wants out of others, but the next day he finds a way to benefit or use the loyalty of his cronies. Not like he would have excepted the UCC not to listen and stop the suspended MPs to hit the airways and be broadcast on TV. He rather being himself on radio and in the spotlight, but will accept anyone else sharing the same space.

President Museveni is the proof of someone saying something noble, but doing opposite. He might say something insane, but act rational. Therefore, you never know where you have him. I will never believe him actually disciplining the government, if doing so. It means they are all blindfolded and following his guidelines. It does not mean building proper governance and protocol, neither is institutionalize the departments and ministries, it is all about his will and his stature.

When it comes to Museveni, discipline is about following him. Not building transparent and proper government institutions. Peace.

Opinion: EU Envoy Schmidt are speaking like an NRM apologist similar to Ofwono Opondo over Besigye’s 2016 Election defiance!

I feel sorry for European Union Envoy Kristian Schmidt who are now sounding like a National Resistance Movement (NRM) apologist, instead of an independent spirit and understanding of the short-falls of the NRM Regime. He seems to been misunderstanding what happen during the General Election 2016. Surely, he wants the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) and Dr. Kizza Besigye, to say it just water under bridge and let it go. Since the Supreme Court followed the orders of the 31 Years and counting President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. First introduce some of the beautiful words of Ofwono Opondo, before the Kristian Schmidt’s foolish interview with Daily Monitor, before enlightening fellow European of his ignorance or forgetting the blatant impunity towards Besigye and FDC in and around the General Election 2016. Since he has forgotten while drinking Nile Brew in the Embassy and going on Safaries with his dignitaries. Surely, Schmidt must feel good about himself!

““In this election, Besigye gained 1.5 million votes compared to two million votes he got in 2011 while Museveni’s gain was a paltry 500,000. To the NRM strategists, this is the most shocking, indeed worrying trend, and having located the cause as being our messaging, strategy, campaign style, internal laxity, occasioned fraud and widespread bickering. We shall not blame anybody else except ourselves. Actually, to be frank, we were almost swept away by our collective failure to robustly respond to the Opposition demagoguery on issues of youth unemployment, despair among the urban population, poor and yet expensive public service delivery and bad public relations, especially to distribution of soft campaign cash that often got stolen along the way among other issues. This, to the Besigye camp, should give hope that with better strategic organisation, not only falsehoods, they can in the future topple NRM through the ballot instead of being bad losers” (…) ““The claims of rigging, especially at the last minute through alleged intimidation of candidates’ agents, ballot stuffing, falsification or alteration of results on tally and declaration sheets and at announcements are perturbing and incredibly unbelievable. These could pass as truth if the peddlers could at least adduce some verifiable evidence from eyewitnesses and documents in their possession that differ from those of the EC, which ought to be available from the multiple sources, including the media that observed these elections” (Opondo, 2016).

So when a NRM spokesperson and Uganda Media Centre director had to come in defense of his master. In the aftermath and with the current illegitimate government. Who has no problems in misusing the government funds and had no problem rigging the election in their favor. As the FDC had massive scores of leaders behind bars, had people with Declarations Forms from Polling Stations at Gun-Point, had their Headquarter barricaded and sealed off, Besigye was under house-arrest and the story goes on. Not an adventure, but a true theft a nation. Still Schmidt says this to the FDC and former Presidential Candidate:

“He added: “That is of course an issue that is dividing but I think it would have been good to come together and discuss. It has not happened and election reforms seem to be not going forward.” (…) “The law of Uganda is what it is: the conditions of petitions are what they are, and for a petition to be successful you have to do a lot of homework. Under your Constitution I believe you have little time, 10 days. I know one of the recommendations of the Supreme Court is to extend that time which I believe makes sense.” (…) “ He said “I think if Dr Besigye was convinced before elections that he would not be happy with the outcomes and the process, he should have been the one to petition. He should have prepared for that but he decided before that he was not going to and under the rule of law.” (Musisi, 2017).

EU Envoy to Uganda Kristian Schmidt, I know you visited him while on undetermined house-arrest. Since the Police Force had been stationed in Kasangati, Wakiso for so long days before the election and until May 2016. When he was able to escape and have his own swearing-in ceremony, before air-lifted to Moroto, where the state charged him with Treason charges. Which he still carries today, he is an arch-criminal and seen as an enemy of the state. Than after all of this, you talk about rule of law, justice and courts. Like Dr. Kizza Besigye haven’t had his time in court, haven’t been detained on more occasions than ordinary thief, even more than average murderers in the Republic.

So, the FDC was unable to counter with a petition, Amama Mbabazi was the only one able to fill in a form or petition. Because FDC has done so after General Election 2011. So it is like the EU Envoy for Uganda Schmidt is not in concern anymore of all the breaches that happen to Besigye. Like the whole House-Arrest period, the whole part of the general assault on the rule of law considering the elections and polls. The self sufficient pre-ticket ballots and Badru Kiggundu’s own special math-class. The statistics and the vicious attempt of forging the whole election in favor of President Museveni.

It like he wants the one on Treason Charges since May 2016, since the coup d’etat in February 20^th 2016, when the Electoral Commission announced the result. That as the whole NRM and state organization was behind the whole ordeal. Even the European Election Observation Mission and the Commonwealth Election Observation Mission was explaining the massive flaws of the General Election. Still, the EU Envoy want Besigye just to let it go.

Let’s take his first reasoning, since it is shows his true passion, the Danish dignitary: “Now if this was in any other democracy, like in some European countries, it would be unacceptable that the Opposition party does not then recognise the winner of the elections” (Musisi, 2017). If this was an election in Europe, all of these ploys of the NRM wouldn’t have happen. Not normally, that the army is used to intimidate, that local leaders are paid-off with new cars, that ballot are pre-ticket ballots and all powers to be to silence the FDC. Together with the obvious rigging and mismatch of acts in favor of Museveni. If this would not have happen in a European elections and EU Envoy to Uganda knows this. That why it is remarkable that he says about Besigye.

Besigye knows better and the Ugandan people knows so. They are not fools, even if Schmidt is sounding like Ofwono Opondo and has taken lectures from Andrew Mwenda. He surely has hanged in the same bars in Kampala as these two. To sound so blatant ignorant and so forgetful. Peace.

Reference:

Opondo, Ofwono – ‘The media shouldn’t parrot Opposition false claims’ (28.03.2016) link: http://www.monitor.co.ug/OpEd/Commentary/Media-parrot-Opposition-false-claims/-/689364/3135890/-/2m2g7v/-/index.html

Musisi, Fredric – ‘Besigye refusal to recognise government not helpful – EU envoy’ (09.07.2017) link: http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Besigye-refusal-recognise-government-not-helpful-EU-envoy/688334-4006606-er8gyr/index.html

A look into how little the Wakiso Vote mattered to President Museveni in General Election 2016!

You would think on a day like this as the final rallies in Kyadondo East, which is part of Wakiso District, that the National Resistance Movement and the Police Force would bring peace. But they didn’t, they created chaos and moved independent candidates, as well as detaining them for interfering in their campaign rallies. This is the proof of vicious ruling regime and how the basic freedoms are limited for others, than the NRM elite and the President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, rallying for his candidate in the district. But it seems strange that he cares, since with all due respect. He didn’t care about their votes in the General Election of 2016, as these areas have been a stronghold for opposition party Forum for Democratic Change and because Dr. Kizza Besigye reside in Kasangati, which is a vital part of Kyadondo East.

“In Kampala and its adjacent districts, the Group observed voting delayed by as much as two to four hours and subsequently observed polling locations where voting was delayed by as much as six to nine hours. Anecdotally, in Kampala, there were several polling stations located within minutes of the premises of the Electoral Commission that did not receive voting materials on time” (…) “The voting hours were subsequently extended in Kampala. However, it appeared that this information was not extensively communicated, as voters and polling officials appeared confused and uncertain of the process. The EC announced that polling would continue in a number of constituencies in Wakiso and Kampala districts the following day. Turnout, however, was low on the second day – which was a working day – and it is possible that many potential voters decided not to attempt to vote, after having waited for many hours the previous day”(Commonwealth, P: 13-14, 2016).

“Furthermore, eight teams across the country reported that polling stations could not open before 10 AM. A number of polling stations, notably in Kampala and Wakiso, had not opened within six hours. Significant delays and a lack of effective communication by the EC fuelled frustration and tensions among voters, with EU EOM observers and media reporting about large crowds protesting against being deprived of their right to cast the ballot. 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” (EU, P: 29-30, 2016).

“The EC failed to communicate and declare final results of presidential and parliamentary elections in a comprehensive, timely and transparent manner. The announcements of the presidential election’s preliminary results started while voting was still ongoing in parts of Kampala and Wakiso. The final results were declared within the legally binding 48-hour deadline, but they did not contain data from seven per cent of all polling stations, and therefore excluded some 675,000 votes cast. The EC delayed the publication of the final results broken down by polling station till 25 February and uploaded them on its website in a manner that did not allow for easy access or use. The EC also did not publish the scanned copies of the DRFs online although they were readily available in electronic format, thus further reducing voters’ access to information of public interest and in contravention of the principles outlined in the ICCPR” (EU, P: 3-4, 2016).

“The 2016 Elections witnessed a number of violations of the right to vote, most notably due to late delivery of materials in Kampala and Wakiso districts, described by the Supreme Court as evidence of incompetence and gross inefficiency by the electoral management body. A number of potential voters we’re disenfranchised during the voting exercise, in particular persons who turned 18 between May 2015 and February 2016, detainees, including some pre-trial dententions and Ugandans in the diaspora” (FHRI, P: 25, 2016)

So both, the Commonwealth report, FHRI report and the European Union Observer Group saw the same vast indifference for the votes and voter turnout in Wakiso, the same was seen in capital, but that isn’t where the By-Election is happening now. This proves the lack of care and common sense as President Museveni drives Tuk-Tuk and talk of importance of electing people who serves him. He might say he wants to be challenged in Parliament, but everyone knows that is a lie. Therefore, he detained Bobi Wine earlier in the day and moved him to Gyaza town, so his presence could be in Kasangati and at Szasa Grounds. Not like he could be more ruthless, but surely he would rig these election like he did in 2016. Nothing new there, if the turnout would be meager and lack-lusting that would hurt the old-man. Since he cannot show 90-100% turnout, when there would be no lines of people showing up. Harder to rig just a bunch of paper compared to buck-load, which can be pre-ticket into ballot boxes and look legit. That is how they do, especially under President Museveni. The man who made himself a revolutionary by claiming UPC rigging in 1980s. Such a class-act the President, becoming worse than the ones he toppled! Peace.

Reference:

Commonwealth – ‘Report of the Commonwealth Observer Group Uganda General Elections – 18 February 2016’ (18.02.2016)

COMESA – ‘COMESA ELECTION OBSERVER MISSION TO THE 18 FEBRUARY 2016 GENERAL ELECTIONS IN THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA’

EU – ‘Final Report – Uganda Presidential, Parliamentary and Local Council Elections 18 February 2016’ (April 2016)

Foundation for Human Rights Initiative (FHRI) – ‘COMESA ELECTION OBSERVER MISSION TO THE 18 FEBRUARY 2016 GENERAL ELECTIONS IN THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA’ (June 2016)

NRM Letter to President Museveni: “Re: Memorandum of Important Issues Affecting Our Party and The Running of Government under the National Resistance Movement” (03.03.2017)