Opinion: The assassination attempt on Gen. Wamala is a part of a bigger problem

Today in Bukoto, Gen. Katumba Wamala was close to get assassinated, while stray-bullets took the lives of his daughter Brenda and his driver. Those two died on the spot and the car was filled with bullet-holes. The assailants and the assassins had a clear plan and a target. It happened to be Gen. Wamala, who survived this plot today.

However, this isn’t something new in the Republic. There been other high ranking officials who has suddenly been killed by unknown assailants on boda-boda’s. Which happens to trace the target from their home or in their area. Than attack the car and leave the victim for dead. This isn’t anything new and seems to a way they can get away from it.

These extra judicial killings and murders are appearing is usually after a fall-out, a gambit behind close-doors and in manner of keeping the elite under control. So, that people doesn’t have to much ambition or even considers themselves as future leaders.

If not if these are generals that knows to much. These have to taken-out and be silenced. They know too much and they should be worried. These men was useful, but at one point the regime needs them gone. They can talk and reveal facts, which they shouldn’t or even think off.

That’s why high ranking officials or generals have died in the past. This is not new and the ones who believes that is wrong. There is enough questionable deaths in the Republic. Not only happening to the abducted, tortured and suddenly left behind dead National Unity Platform (NUP) activists, members and whatnot. That is happening to, but that is to intimidate and silence the opposition, which the state cannot control or absorb.

However, the General’s taken out. Have been done for all sorts of various of reasons. That being their knowledge, being outspoken or defying the orders from the high above. If not they have to be taken out, because the state has others in the rank who needs their place. God knows, but these men on the top doesn’t value life. Except for their own life and titles. The rest of the public and citizens is disposable. This included the ones appointed by the high above and showing die-hard loyalty to the crown. Still, that is never enough…

This assassination attempt … is just one out of plenty. The past and present is filled with death. The extra judicial killings isn’t a new thing and too many people have lost their lives over stray-bullets and bullets in general. Gangs of Boda-Boda’s doing this isn’t new either. We shouldn’t be shocked, but the regime needs a reality check.

Since they were near to complete another assassination. They were so close to get rid of one of their generals. They have done this to Gen. James Kazini, Gen. Aronda Nyakairima and Assistant Inspector of General of Police (AIGP) Andrew Kaweesi. That’s three from the top of my head and they were done with different methods, but still had questionable demise. So, it is not like this is anything new… and only a slow bloodshed served the general public. As a friendly reminder of who and what sort of regime that is ruling the Republic.

Expect more people to be targeted in the near future. A death never happens alone. It might be the assailants themselves going after each other to leave no witnesses behind. Secondly, they might target more high ranking officials, as the state is clearing the offices for new blood. That wouldn’t be shocking either. They don’t value life and can easily just get rid of the ones who stands in their way. Even if they are loyal and serving silently. Still, if they fear anything or want to have more finessing “yes-men” in the reigns. Than, they will silence them totally.

What happened to Gen. Wamala today is the sort of act that shouldn’t happen in the first place. However, with the ones in-charge, that’s what you get… and they could easily pull the trigger again. Nobody deserves to die this way, but the ones in-charge doesn’t care and only value their own heads. They don’t mind if others lose their strawberry tart or stops breathing. Peace.

Opinion: Twine defends extra-judicial killings [stray-bullets doesn’t count… apparently]

“Not all killings are offences. For a crime to be regarded as a crime you must establish the ingredient and the intention. A stray bullet does not amount to a crime. If I am targeting somebody for a justification, and the bullet hits a person who is not my target, that is not an offence” – CID Spokesperson Charles Twine (Tabu Butagira – ‘Govt probe report on November riots leaks’ 17.05.2021, Daily Monitor).

The Spokesperson for the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (CID) is saying this. Which is supposed to this: “The function of the Directorate is to ensure effective detection, investigation and prevention of crime”. The CID is supposed to detect, investigate and prevent crime. However, it is not supposed to mask over or skip over crimes.

The CID shouldn’t erase crimes and it should be accountable for the actions of others. That the CID spokesperson isn’t preventing crimes here. It is instead allowing crimes being done. Let me explain this below. First with important codes from the Penal Codes, which is enacted and is law of the land. Especially, with the ideals the spokesperson is putting forward.

“187. Manslaughter

(1)Any person who by an unlawful act or omission causes the death of another person commits the felony termed manslaughter.

(2)An unlawful omission is an omission amounting to culpable negligence to discharge a duty tending to the preservation of life or health, whether such omission is or is not accompanied by an intention to cause death or bodily harm.

188. Murder

Any person who of malice aforethought causes the death of another person by an unlawful act or omission commits murder” (Penal Code – Chapter XVIII, 15.06.1950).

We can easily see here what the Penal Code says about manslaughter and murder, which can be assessed to similar fashion of what the spokesperson is speaking off. He is calling “killings” not “offences” and I will disagree. That is degrading the laws and invalidating it.

The Penal Code is very clear… and that should be important the way forward. He speaks of intention. However, the law doesn’t have any sort of specifics or talk about motivation of the actor. The man behind the gun doesn’t need a motive or even a reason to do what he does. Since a person who causes death of another person commits manslaughter. That is the law and there is no say of intention. Just the result of the act done…. and the sudden demise of someone else. The death of somebody done with a action, which is seen as unlawful.

Therefore, there is no real talk of intention or target. The use of force, the bullet itself and that it kills is the main objective here. The person who does the “unlawful act” is the one in question. The person who kills and shoots the stray bullet. Not that they are targeting or having intentions. That is very clear. There is no middle ground or any sort of mechanism in law, which differs stray-bullets from other bullets. They are both bullets and use of force, which is an act that can be deemed “unlawful” and there be subject to manslaughter or murder charge. That is why the Penal Code says what it says.

It is tragic that the CID spokesperson doesn’t know the Penal Code, which have existent since 1950 and I do. That say more about him, than about me. A killer is a killer, no matter what his intention or act was as long as its fatal and causes the death of the person. Peace.

Opinion: Dave Chappelle’s ‘8:46’ is what we needed right now

Comedian Dave Chappelle has always been hard-hitting and critical of the times his living in. The ones who has been following him and his stand-up, his career on TV and so fourth. Knows that this man has no filter. He can use words, describe the reality and be direct about everything between the moon and the nearest McDonald’s. That’s what Dave Chappelle does with a grin on his face.

That is why with the surprise special 8:46 the comedian didn’t only show his skill as comedian. He showed how he could catch the pulse, the nerve and hardbreaking realities of our times. Maybe his not using the stage in a pitch perfect manner. Maybe he didn’t use PG13 words, but he spoke the truth. He broke the peace for a moment to reflect, to inject some words, which more powerful. This is not because of the man he is, but because he can tell a tale. He can narrate and he can explain himself.

The tone was harsh, the way he conducted himself wasn’t as easy nor gibbering like his known for. However, the need for this sombre and the anger expressed is what the world needs to see. They need the voice of reason from a comedian. When the President, when the White House and when the elected leadership cannot offer it. If the comedian had more time, he could have consoled a few souls and helped them to deal with their grief.

There was no time for that. Yes, he pointed out a few people. In my view that was only right for him. As he wanted to address both Don Lemon and Candance Owens. I don’t blame him for that. The stories of how the lives are taken and not counted for, just lost in the waves and the news cycles is more baring of our losses. Of how we as humanity haven’t grasped or seen the devastation and oppression. It have been forgotten as a new victim appear and the former police brutality victim get dim by the hour. This sort of explanation and wording is what we need. We need to be reminded. Not to forget all the ones whose losing their lives, as they are just citizens who meets the hand of injustice.

Dave Chappelle is an OG now. He don’t have to do this. However, he did and used the platform he have to enlighten and to entertain. Even if his voice, his demean or wasn’t his usual self. While I am saying that. I am happy he wasn’t because then it wouldn’t be him. This was genuine, this was all him.

His heart, his way of saying these things. Was just what the world needed. No one else could have dropped this piece, this gem and this sort of surprise to the world. It’s raw, brutal and not for Comedy Central nor HBO. This was direct to DVD, the straight to stream. Where it was intended to be.

Some people are searching for perfection and for the Teleprompter speeches. That’s not real, but a scripted reality. We don’t need that, but we need the raw emotion, the hurt and the anger to see the wrongs of the world. Also to be able to stretch our hands and make a difference together. To get a deeper understanding and a vision of the hurt others have. We cannot get that, unless its told. That’s what happened here and hopefully more people opens their eyes and see it.

This is the sort of reminder, the ones who doesn’t watch news or even understand the deep anger within the Black Lives Matter (BLM) Movement stems from. Dave Chappelle express it perfectly and to a T. That’s why recommend everyone to watch this piece from him. There wouldn’t be anyone better to say and to address this than him.

Dave Chappelle: Thank You! We needed this. Peace.

Uganda: Amnesty International Reports over the years shows a pattern in extrajudicial killings

Well, my comments will be brief. Since the statements from Amnesty International own reports speak for themselves. I just thought briefly for myself. What if I took small snippets from Amnesty International Reports, about one topic to show the reality of how things are. This is small cuts and sentences out of these reports. This gives a small gathering of proof from one source alone. This is from the annual reports and semi-annual, as they are some years combined efforts. Still, they show something that is insightful. Especially, for the ones saying everything has turned better under President Museveni.

We can still see the issue is prevalent and should a discussed issue. As these sort of killings are directly enforced by the authorities without any jurisdiction nor warranted. This is taken out civilians without any care or concern. That is why every single one of them is important. As this could be anyone, but someone was at the wrong place, at the wrong time and got snatched away. That is the reality. This is just a snippet of all that has happen, but gives a gist. That is all.

“Amnesty International periodically submitted reports of extrajudicial executions to the government for it to investigate and in July 1987 sent President Museveni an aide-memoire which detailed six separate incidents involving the alleged extrajudicial execution by the NRA of some 64 people.” (Amnesty Report 1986-1989, Uganda)

“A report by the chairman of the Koch-Gama divisional RC on 29 December 1988 describes the deaths of 88 people in the division at the hands of the NRA between 7 and 25 December. According to this report, 45 prisoners of the army who had been kept in a cell at Koch-Gama were taken to Lukutu village where they were forced into arass house and burned to death” (Amnesty Report 1986-1989, Uganda)

“Amnesty International also notes that in the past the authorities have announced investigations into a number of serious incidents reported in other parts of Uganda, notably the killing of 69 prisoners at Okungulo railway station in Kumi District in July 1989, incidents in Pallisa District in April and May 1990 in which 12 civilians are reported to have died, and various incidents in Soroti District in 1990, including the burning to death of 16 people in Bugondo Sub-County on 10 August and the extrajudicial execution of 20 people near Soroti town on 6 September 1990” (Uganda: Human rights violations by the National Resistance Army, Amnesty International).

“Despite public statements by the authorities that human rights violations were not tolerated, the pattern of extrajudicial executions by troops engaged in counter-insurgency operations continued. Incidents were reported from Gulu, Pallisa, Kumi and Soroti districts. In February a massive operation in the east involved the forcible relocation of 120,000 people to camps close to towns and NRA posts. Anyone found by soldiers in the cleared area was regarded as hostile to the army” (…) “As this list of killings illustrates all too starkly, there has been a consistent pattern of extrajudicial executions by soldiers since the NRM came to power. The victims have included prisonersand unarmed civilians who were not involved in fighting. It is also clear that the army’s High Command has failed to take concerted and effective action to bring this pattern to an end” (Amnesty International – ‘Uganda: The failure to safeguard human rights’ September 1992).

“Police and soldiers carried out extrajudicial executions. At least 996 prisoners were under sentence of death at the end of the year, including at least 30 sentenced during the year, and three men were executed. Armed opposition groups were responsible for gross human rights abuses, including hundreds of deliberate and arbitrary killings and rape” (Amnesty International Report 1997).

“Police and soldiers were responsible for at least 20 extrajudicial executions. In July police in Kampala arrested two suspected thieves and shot them dead a few hours later. In August police in Lira tortured Alex Okello, who they claimed was an armed robber, to make him reveal where he had hidden his weapon. They then took him outside the town and shot him dead. In September, four civilians in Omoro, who soldiers claimed were lra members, were shot dead” (Amnesty International Report, 1998).

“Soldiers and police were responsible for at least 40 killings that appeared to be extrajudicial executions. For example, in January, three prisoners in Luwero were shot dead by police officers who had taken them into the countryside, ostensibly to recover abandoned arms. In May, three alleged armed robbers were shot dead in Gulu. In both cases the police claimed that the prisoners were trying to escape” (Amnesty International Report, 1999).

In 2000 and 2001 (4 officially killed Hafusa Muzamili & 3 others killed, they mention one incident of extrajudicial killings. But not big ones like in the past.

“Amnesty International is concerned for the safety of 19 prisoners held by the Ugandan army, the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) in Gulu Municipality, northern Uganda. On 16 September, Peter Oloya was killed by the UPDF in a suspected extrajudicial execution within the prison grounds, as they tried to illegally remove all 20 prisoners from Gulu Central Prison” (Amnesty International, 2002).

There was no referral to extrajudicial killings between 2003 to 2006 in the Amnesty reports. Neither was there any direct referral to extrajudicial killings between 2007 to 2009. Not in the ones I could see. 

“Up to 27 people were reportedly killed during the riots. At least half of them died after being shot by police and security personnel. The government did not conduct an independent and impartial investigation into the killings by security forces, some of which may have been unlawful, in order to bring those responsible for human rights violations to justice” (Amnesty Report, 2010).

“Dozens of people in the north-eastern Karamoja region were reported to have been killed during the year in disputed circumstances by government soldiers engaged in security and disarmament operations” (Amnesty International, 2011).

“The police and military personnel used excessive force during public demonstrations on at least six different occasions in April and May. Live ammunition was fired into crowds of protesters, killing at least nine people – including a two-year-old girl – and injuring dozens of others” (Amnesty International, 2012).

“In July, groups of armed men staged violent attacks mainly on police posts in Bundibugyo, Kasese and Ntoroko. At least 65 people were killed in the attacks, including civilians, some of the attackers, and members of the police force and the army” (Amnesty International, 2015).

“On 28 November, at least 100 people were killed and 139 others arrested in clashes between security agencies and palace guards in the western town of Kasese, according to police” (Amnesty International, 2017),

“Police and military shot and killed at least six people in Kampala, Mityana, Katwe and Gomba, during protests against security forces’ abusive conduct in the period around the Arua by-election” (Amnesty International, 2018).

We all, know who has followed Uganda knows there are more than this. Still, this are the ones amplified by the Amnesty International Reports. They still show a pattern and worth reading. Because it shows something about the use of extrajudicial killings in the Republic. Which is worrying, as the elections usually amplify the violence from the authorities against the crowds of citizens flocking around opposition candidates. Like the death of Ritah today in Kampala.

That is why this need to be addressed. This is just one simple man, looking into one set of data. But considering doing this properly, the amount of extrajudicial killings would be even more staggering. This is just the tip of the iceberg. Still, its breathtaking and showing how prevalent it is. Peace.

Opinion: Is President Museveni taking the role of the IGP?

When reading the letter ‘Update on combating crime’, which was released today on the 3^rd November 2019. It was like reading a spread-sheet from an Inspector General of Police. It was reading into the works of the police and investigations made by the Police Force. This wasn’t an letter made by actual President. The Head of State and the Command-in-Chief. No, this was the letter an Inspector General of Police (IGP) should have made.

That President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni is micro-managing is now common knowledge. This is why just mere week ago or so, the Deputy IGP had to formulate a plan to criminal gangs, which was just putting basic policing onto a spread-sheet and call it a day. Therefore, what was made today, as a show of effort and work. The President really should have had the IGP J.M. Okoth-Ochola released this letter or something similar. Since, this is initially his job, if not let CP Fred Enaga do his thing and shred some cheese over it and call it a meal.

When saying all this. I will take some pieces of it and show why I feel like this. Because, that is the only way this letter from him makes some sense.

“Greetings, after some weeks of absence. This time, I will, again, address you on the issue of combating crime because crime was appearing, again, after we had suppressed it with Operation Wembley in the year 2002. The criminal groups, in recent times, had killed people in the areas of Kampala-Entebbe, Ntungamo, Lyantonde and the Kisoro areas. I have not yet received the report for Kisoro. However, for Kampala Metropolitan, Ntungamo and Lyantonde, the gangs have been wiped out. These gangs had killed 13 people, injured 2 and robbed sh. 24 million in total” (Museveni, 03.11.2019).

Francis K. Butagira statement at the United Nations in New York on the 8^th July 2003: “The collection of illicit arms in an ongoing activity by law enforcement agencies. A Joint Task Force by the security agencies, code named “Operation Wembley” set up early in 2002 to tackle increased armed crime resulted in the recovery of hundreds of firearms” (Butagira, 08.07.2003). Sam A Akaki wrote: “Creation of ad hoc and unauthorised detaining agencies, such as Operation Wembley and its successor, the Violent Crime Crack Unit (VCCU)” (Written evidence submitted by International Lobby for Reform in Uganda (ILORU), December 2004). What this is showing how he promoted the Operation Wembly now and saying what is happening is the same the past ad-hoc action. This means, there are something similar in the path and usage of the police resources. Therefore, he could just have been an IGP and not so presidential.

After this he shows stories from several places in the Republic, where the been murders, thieving and gangs on rampage. Just writing a protocol of what is the gist of the criminal activity done and even whose name behind it. That is so not like a President, but like a Police Commander. However, he ended this piece with this:

“You all can see that what was missing was vigilance by the public and the Police and increasing the speed of responding by the Police. The cameras helped in a few cases. Forensic analysis of cartridges helped in all of them. Police dogs, helped a bit in the Ntungamo incidents. It is easy to defeat these criminals as I said from the very beginning. You can see, how the criminals are trying to use our good roads and the good telephone system to move from Kampala and commit crimes in Ntungamo or any other far corner of Uganda. I will not use permanent road-blocks to catch them. It disturbs Nalumanya and Ssalumanya (the ones who are guilty and the ones who are not guilty). I will always use the technology of jigger extraction. You do not hurt the toe because there is a jigger there. You patiently pull back the skin, until you extract the jigger itself and reward it with fire with little damage to the toe” (Museveni, 03.11.2019).

We can all see, that his pleased by his own achievement like a Police Commander would be, if his policies and his methods was working. However, his the President and not the Police Commander. Even, if he has the overall leadership of the Republic. That doesn’t mean that he should involve himself as directly as this.

The way he wrote the stories of the crimes. The way he is saying that the roads, the telephones and everything else makes it easier for criminals. What makes it easier for criminals to thrive is the lack of policing, lack of rule of law and also an impoverished police. What has been done here is ad-hoc acts of sudden change of what the police was focused on. Instead of focusing on opposition police, it actually did police work and went after gangs. However, that shouldn’t be commended, but says more about the lack of work been put in the right places by the authorities, by the President and by the supposed IGP. Nevertheless, this will continue and this is not the final word in the saga.

We just know it comes more, but this isn’t the sound of reassuring President. No, this is the words of a proud IGP doing his thing. Peace.

Uganda Police Force: Police Dismantles Additional Criminal Gangs (21.10.2019)

Opinion: DIGP Sabiiti’s security plan is basic policing!

“Okay The point I’m making is this: Soldiering and policing, they ain’t the same thing. And before we went and took the wrong turn and start up with these war games, the cop walked a beat, and he learned that post. And if there were things that happened on that post, where there be a rape, a robbery, or a shooting, he had people out there helping him, feeding him information. But every time I came to you, my DEU sergeant, for information, to find out what’s going on out on them streets… all that came back was some bullshit. You had your stats, your arrests, your seizures, but don’t none of that amount to shit when it comes to protecting the neighborhood, now do it? [sighs] You know, he worst thing about this, so-called drug war, to my mind…it just, it ruined this job” – Howard “Bunny” Colvin – The Wire Season 3:10 (2004).

What Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIGP) Sabiiti Muzeyi wrote and spelled out to the media in this weeks “Enhanced Security Plan to Curb Violent Crimes”. It was basically spelling out what policing is all about. Not strange it is like this, when the army is more involved, the leadership is patriotic, loyal cadres of the army and leaders from with the Police Force itself.

That is why these fellows could have been re-watching The Wire or any other Police TV-Series, which has been known for a while. Even Pacific Blue, Luther, NYPD Blue, Colombo and all the editions of Law & Order. All of these could say about the same thing.

What the DIGP did launch was more surveillance and investigation capacities, fingerprinting firearms, improving forensics department and more visible police officers in the traffic. This is all steps of ordinary policing. That is not re-inventing an art-form. Alas, this is not changing the ways of doing work.

That is why what they are wanting to do. Is to directly wire-tap gangs, follow-up on CCTV Cameras and investigations itself. So, that they can follow-up on suspects and find proper evidence to link possible criminals. This should be their works, follow leads and breadcrumbs, even have proper detectives, that detect things and solves cases. That shouldn’t so hard, but you cannot anticipate soldiers and the army men to get this. They are securing a territory, they are in the line-of-fire, they are not getting affidavits, finding the motives and the evidence. The Army will use force to keep safety, they will guard a perimeter and secure a venue. They will not find a person with a guilty conscience and ID a suspect with fingerprints and so-on. This they could have learned from watching TV.

Therefore, this sort of enhanced plan to crack down on gangs isn’t that substantial. It shows more the lack of finesse, the lack of protocol and the lack of work ethic within the force. They are just soldiers on the beat and not doing policing. That is why they are not able to stop the gangs from existing. This is how it seems.

This report and PR hasn’t shown strength or ability to restructure. Instead, it has shown weakness and that they have been focused on other work. The Police is known for monitoring opposition leaders, their gatherings and such, but not handling actual criminals. This is maybe why it has to learn basic policing. Which is a sad sight.

Maybe, the UPF should hold seminars, hold course and even have bonus evenings in the police stations with talking points and questions after watching the Wire or anyone else. To see, if there are anything they could learn to do their actual job. Peace.

Opinion: Mzee made a 9 Point Plan to end insecurity last year, now his giving DIGP Sabiiti 48 hours to solve it!

“I have given 2 days to Commander Sabiiti of the Police to come out with a plan to combat these gangs. The IGP is away in Peru for a meeting. I will look at that plan, comment on it and it will, then, be communicated to all of you. It is easy to defeat these gangs. Their crimes will only add to the credit of the NRM because we are going to defeat them. Yet, the People have already seen the bankruptcy and the criminality of these groups and those who back them” (Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, 15.10.2019).

Well, Deputy IGP Steven Sabiiti Muzeyi has really only about 24 hours to finish the plan to challenge gangs as a Police Officer, a high ranking security official and a former Major General in the army. This on orders and by commands put on Social Media yesterday by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. Who should have just sent him the package of already well-written ideas from last year. Unless, these are already fixed.

Because on the 20^th June 2018, the President dropped his 9 Point Plan to end insecurity. Which was an extensive plan, but you can bug now 1 ½ year later if the Uganda Police Force and the other agencies did comply to this. Even if the magical plan of last year was implemented and put into action.

Like are the police able to collect fingerprints and ID guns? Are the police able to find out by register of boda-boda’s? How is it going with those specialized helmets for boda-boda drivers? Haven’t the CCTV’s done anything, now that they are actually up and going? How is it going with the building of that forensic laboratory? What is going on wit the Flying Squad? Are the any regulation of drones? How is it going with the thieves den on WhatsApp and on Social Media, any signals of catching up on that? Finally, have the Police and Customs acquired any scanners to secure transit of cargo?

This is brief and quick asking of the 9 Point Programme, as the DIGP Sabiiti only has one more day left. But if felt I left out the breadcrumbs of the DIGP to follow, as he stated earlier in his text: “However, for today, I will only comment on the pigs that are attacking People with pangas and mitayimbwa (steel- bars) and robbing them” (Museveni, 15.10.2019). Not that he has to register or look for lost pigs. No, that he has to register pangas, get people to them illuminated numbers in a registry and also combat illegal imports of steal bars. Maybe even, secure previous 9 point plan and actually enforce it.

Who knows, maybe the bans of hoods wasn’t an bad idea, since the Police Force neither has capacity or resources to follow up on previous orders above high. DIGP Sabiiti won’t say that, because than he might be forced to resign or get assigned to a foot-post in Kotido district or something.

If the President was serious he would have given him more time. As he himself hasn’t finished any of his previously made plans, starting all the way back to the 10-Point Programme, before the Vision 2020 or 2040, even the National Development Plan I and II. Therefore, the man should be a bit more patient with his technocrat or civil servant. However, don’t anticipate that. But just like the 9 Pointer of last year.

The additions made by the DIGP will be put in a stacks of paper and forgotten. That is just the way it is, because the funds are only for monitoring opposition and not fight actual crime. Peace.

A retort to Museveni’s recent letter: Will there be a difference between injustice and justice?

I will not use too much time looking into the recent letter written by Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. I will instead show some significant pieces of it. That settles the puzzle of who he is as an President and Head of State. Because, it shows his force and his way of governing, by mere words. That his the overlord and without question has the right to take lives. Especially, since killers are pigs, but if it wasn’t for killing himself. He wouldn’t have won his own rebellion in the 1980s. But we’re supposed to forget that, in which, makes that statement contradictory.

Before I go on a long rant… Just look at this!

“ As I told you before, these criminals are pigs. Anybody who kills people outside war is a pig. Moreover, many are stupid. They forget that all crime leaves clues and, eventually, the criminals will be captured. Up to the killing of Kaweesi, Kiggundu and Abiriga, the security infrastructure had lagged behind. You remember after those killings, I presented to Parliament a 10 points anti-crime plan on the 20th of June 2018. Although we have only partially implemented it, many of the killers in recent times have been arrested. The Masaka gang of Kiddawalime was wiped out (killed or arrested), Serugo Paul and his Syndicate in Masaka, Kanyesigye Juilius alias Mwesigye Amon in Rwizi and Kampala and the Usafi mosque criminal syndicate were neutralized” (Museveni, 10.09.2019).

I am sure that Obote, Tito Okello or anyone else he got rid of would call him a criminal or a pig over his actions. As the rebellion he used was over his own grievances. His saying certain sanctioned killings is cool, as long as they are done in the midsts of war. Even though certain criminal activity and crimes against humanity can warrant arrests, charges and sentencing at the Internal Criminal Court (ICC). Surely, the President who fears that institution, will not mention that, as he acted without question, in a brutal way in the Democratic Republic of Congo and could at one point answer for that in Hague.

Well, the other striking distinction … is how is openly saying he failed implementing the 10 point plan of June 2018. That must surely be as failing to implement as the 1986 Ten Point Programme, which he still haven’t finish. Maybe, we need to give the President another 32 years to finish of his second 10 point plan. He always needs time, while partly making things work.

Before I continue, the President had this to say as well:

“You may commit a crime, carelessly taking away the lives of others; however, you will also lose your own life. We need to make this clear to the Courts. It must be an eye for eye. Nothing less will be acceptable to the freedom fighters that I represent and the entirety of the electorate of Uganda that I represent” (Museveni, 10.09.2019).

The President will ensure that state is allowed and can shoot-to-kill before the Courts have found a verdict and said a set individual is guilty of the charges. This sort of policy is made for police states who will not answer to laws, but to enforcement itself. Killing of killers is within reason, but with the enforcement of laws and by evidence produced in the courts.

If it is directly an eye for an eye, than a stray-shot might kill another innocent civilians and anarchy will persist. Where there is no legal bound, but to carry weapons. As everyone will can do it. Instead of making changes and securing the public, these sort of acts will if it is enforced, make life very cheap. Who knows if the ones killed by law-enforced is the killer or his neighbour? Because, when your dead, your either a hero or a terrorist. In the eye of the President, the dead man would initially be a criminal pig. Even if the person shot and killed by security officials was innocent, they can frame it like yet another criminal taken-out.

This is enough for me, because, there is so much in the text that he wrote, but for me this is the standout. Which needs to be addressed, if he believes in justice. He should consider measures that secures a verdict based on evidence, affidavits and proof. Not hearsay and random picking people out and giving them a fatal punishment. Than the innocent could loose their lives, just like the lives taken by the killer. While the ones whose supposed to get sanctioned runs free, because you claim that the innocent did the evils bidding. Did he ever consider that?

Don’t think so, because he seemed focus on retaliation, more than countering injustice with justice. Which means, there is hard to strike a difference between whose the criminal and whose the law-enforcement. That should worry anyone. Peace.

Ministerial Statementon to Parliament in respect of murder by shooting of ASP Muhammad Kirumira and Mbabazi Resty Alias Nalinya (13.09.2018)