Fifth day of Presidential Rallies with issues between the Media and the NRM + KCCA saga continues.

Today it’s the fifth presidential rallies in Uganda. The first working week is over and the rallies will continue. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni is not riding in military vehicles, instead sending the NTV packing for their so-called biased views on the rallies. Then he does love the New Vision today who had a 5-page special on the NRM. There more deflections from the party. I will not spill all the beans. So keep on reading!

Quote of day:

“If you vote for somebody who gives some money, that person may not have the capacity to address you core interest” – Yoweri Kaguta Museveni

NRM Rallies and other issues:

NRM and Media:

Museveni expels NTV from his media team after what he called unbalanced reporting on him. As per now, NTV journalists are being escorted back to Kampala by soldiers of the Special Forces Command. Daily monitor was also warned of a possible closure should their reporting continue to ‘favour’ the opposition ‘against’ Mr. Museveni.

Dr. Livingstone Sewanyana needed to have dialogue with the media houses of New Vision and Bukedde about the current concerns the coverage of the campaigns. Dr.Sewanyana is a member of CCEDU, so he surely wanted to discuss the 5-page piece directly on the NRM rallies yesterday and not much about the other parties in that paper today.

Demonstration from the guys making NRM dummy plane for NRM Rallies:

For this dummy of a ‘plane’, the ‘manufacturers’ were reportedly contracted for Shs 400m to have this ‘crowd-puller’ at all President Museveni’s campaign rallies. Having not seen even a coin so far, a group of about 15 youths today stormed Kololo Independence grounds to take back their ‘plane’ but were ordered to back off by the mean-looking military police guards. So mean, the guards were, they threatened to beat up and break the journalists’ cameras who had been tipped off about the demo – warning; “for us, we are not your ordinary policemen”

Yoweri Kaguta Museveni had a rally at Omuge School in Bala Sub-County. Where he said: “Government to set up and maintain boreholes”.

NRM campaign in Kole South there was even UPC Officials was endorsing the President. At Benson Ogwal Obua the UPC spokesman has told the NRM Caucus and at the Rally that the UPC votes in the Lango Sub-County should vote NRM. Jimmy Akena of the UPC said this about TDA today: “Our instance on lowering our flag at TDA offices was because we hadn’t agreed to join the alliance. Party hadn’t agreed” (…)”I can’t make a decision on behalf of the UPC. Such decision are made by the party. Currently, we’re listening to both sides” (…)”We are listening to all voices. Our purpose in this election is to restructure the party and target 2021” (NBS TV).

He had a rally at Apac.

NRM members in Mbarara deflect to FDC:

“About 200 angry supporters of the ruling National Resistance Movement in Mbarara district this morning denounced the party and proclaimed support for the Forum for Democratic Change” (…)”The supporters led by Bitekyerezo’s chief campaigner Polly Katwiire gathered at Mbarara independence grounds before the Deputy RDC Jimmy Kateera and started destroying their party cards” (…)”They accused Chairman Jomo Mugabe of altering the election results and going ahead to publicly brag about it” (Nahamya, 2015).

NRM members and even FDC members from the Masaka deflect to Go-Forward:

“More NRM party members, including councillors from Masaka sub-region, have defected to the Go-Forward camp, declaring their support for Mr Amama Mbabazi’s presidential bid” (…)”Among the defectors were Dr Shanon Kakungulu, who represented Masaka Municipality in the 6th Parliament on NRM ticket, Ms Salama Nakandi, Bukomansimbi District speaker, and Mr Andrew Mutebi, the youth councilor” (…)”Others are Mr Daniel Ssejoba, a councillor for Lwabenge Sub-county in Kalungu District, Mr Raymond Sserunkuuma, an aspirant for the Masaka Municipality MP seat and Mr George William Bbuye. The political wave also snatched Hajj Musa Mutebi, the FDC chairperson for Lukaya Town council” (Ssekweeyama, 2015).

FDC:

Dr. Kizza Besigye in Kaliro at Lyantonde District:

«How can 19 women die every day and then u find women singing no Change? That would be singing no change to your grave”.

Dr. Kizza Besigye said this at Katovu:

“Why should we have a parliament of 400 MPs! Only 150 members can be enough. We will reduce the cost of administration and do away with unnecessary expenditure. We will not have RDCs and presidential advisors. We shall only have 20 cabinet ministers and 20 state ministers. These ministers will be the presidential advisors.”

Dr. Kizza Besigye said this at Katovu in Lyantonde District:  

“We will reduce the cost of administration and do away with unnecessary expenditure. We will not have RDCs and, Presidential advisors. We shall only have 20 cabinet ministers and 20 state ministers. These ministers will be the presidential advisors. After we have cut the cost of public administration. All that money will then be brought to service delivery. Why should we have a parliament of 400 mps?! Only 150 ‘mps can be enough”.

FDC’s Kizza Besigye at Katovu…now headed to Mpumudde for the first rally of the day.

Dr. Kizza Besigye statement after the rallies today:

“Thank you Lwengo and Lyantonde for receiving us, we appreciate that you are all fired up to usher in the change we all deserve. ‪#‎WesigeBesigye”.

TIC Candidates – Maureen Kyala statement today:

“It would be injustice to myself and my country not thank my friends in the media for the voluntary and patriotic excellent job of giving me constant millage and coverage and talk-shows all thru. I value every effort you make yet surely even my press Secretary is struggling on his own to make every coordination. I now know who the patriots of this nation are and the struggle has just started. I am sorry to mention a few, Andrew Gulumaire Andrew, Mbajjwe Rodgers, Kimalyo Tom, Uncle Meddie, Aldon Walukamba, Moses Bikala, Antony Palapande, Ivan Lubega, Donald Kirya, Denis Edema, Joseph Gwina, Bakaki, Yazid Yolisigira Tausi Kizito, David Lukakamwa, Baleke Baleke Trevor Solomon John Magezi and Rachael Wambuzi, any way the list is long. Andrew Gulumaire, you deserve a special thanks, Your my strength.Tomorrow it’s Busia and Tororo”

Today Maureen Faith Kyala had a campaign together with Elton Joseph Mubirizi was in Luuka and Namutumba.

Abed Bwanika held his rallies in Jinja district today!

Gen Benon Binaaro said on his rally today:

“My government will be a government of action, not a government of hoodwinking farmers every year with promises of NAADS funds”. He had his campaign in Bugisu today and also in Sironko and Mbaale.

Professor Baryamureeba’s campaign:

“2016 presidential candidate Venansius Baryamureeba says campaigns will slow down the economy because Ugandans are staying away from work to attend rallies. Professor Barya cites this as reason behind his decision to suspend rallies and resort to door-to-door engagement, online — especially Facebook and Twitter — and broadcast methods of campaigning” (NBS TV).

Go-Forward rallies:

Amama Mbabazi said this today: “Land grabbing is a problem in Uganda”.

Message to Luweero:

“Thank you Luwero for welcoming me with open arms. We must continue to engage on issues that affect the community. Once again I would like to emphasize that we must tackle issues of veterans compensation; Forward linkages especially agro-processing of the main crops in the area (pineapples and oranges), cooperatives especially with regard to financing of agriculture as well as having adequate Health Centers 3 and 4 that serve the community”.

Side-note:

IPOD the platform where all parties that have representation in Parliament NRM inclusive is holding a special Council meeting today at 2pm.

The Agenda

KCCA Amendment bill

The abnormal increase of Nomination fees

Side-note 2 – NRM Primaries:

There will be a by-election in Rwampara in Mbarara District, after Vincent Kyamadidi contested the NRM Primaries and the earlier polls in the region.

Side-note 3 – Kampala Election:

Nominations of Lord Mayor and deputy hopefuls previously slated for November 16. This is deferred to the Minster of the Kampala is yet to guid the Electoral Commission.

Side-note 4 – Erias Lukwago statement today:

“I picked the nomination forms for the position of the Lord Mayor a couple of weeks ago and set out to collect the requisite endorsement or signatures from the voters. On Wednesday this week, I proceeded to the EC offices and submitted the duly signed forms to the Kampala District Returning Officer, Charles Ntege, and booked my nomination for monday 16th November at 11:00am. Once that process was set into motion, Mr. Badru Kiggundu exhausted all his powers to reverse or halt it, and, accordingly, he is not at all seized with prerogatives to call it off on such spurious grounds that he is waiting for the enactment into law of what I would aptly term as the ”LUKWAGO BILL” that was tabled in parliament by Hon. Ruhindi . I wish therefore to inform all and sundry that our nomination programme is still on as earlier arranged”.

That’s enough. Peace!

Reference:

Nahamya, Joshua – ‘Mbarara: 200 NRM Supporters Turn to FDC’ (13.11.2015) link http://www.chimpreports.com/mbarara-200-nrm-supporters-turn-to-fdc/ :

Ssekweeyama, Martins E. – ‘Masaka NRM leaders cross to Amama’ (13.11.2015) link: http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Masaka-NRM-leaders-cross-to-Amama/-/688334/2954576/-/ka4ocrz/-/index.html

Third day of Presidential Rallies in Uganda and some reports on the PFMA and KCCA

There been a new day on the trail the third one. This day has made most sad. Not by what has been said or really done. Though the news of certain candidates abducted and detained at Jinja Central Police Station. That is sad, but not a shock in the environment they campaign in. It was just a matter of time. The really sad thing is not that the President rallies in a Helicopter in the Northern Ugand with Bebe Cool Yellow-editing the reality. That is just expected by the NRM-Regime. What are sad is not the bad roads that FDC is travelling in Kisoro. That is also expected. What is sad is that the Parliament has fulfilled the wet-dreams of President Museveni with adding his wished amendments to the Public Finance Management of 2015. That is sad. But let’s go through the election trail while we also have a little bit of sorrow for the cancellation of Nominations of the Lord Mayor race in Kampala. Cowardice from the Electoral Commission, check it out!

Quote of the day:

“The commission calls upon police to investigate and arrest the people who torched an agent’s car in Sembabule” – Kiggundu”

VOA:

“Had to ask does Brown Bags during corruption means corruption?”

FDC Today:

“Not even the bad roads in the villages of Kisoro will stop us from rallying”.

The People’s President Dr. Kizza-Besigye Wrn has campaigned in Mukotojjomuko Town in Rubanda West, Kabale District. Mukatojo trading centre was we’re he had his first rally today.

Bad roads force Gen Muntu and National Party Chairman Ambassador Birigwa to abandon cars. The Kisoro campaign trail is moving on well, Dr Besigye has 4 more gatherings to adress plus the main rally in Kisoro town

Dr. Kizza-Besigye Wrn and Gen Muntu campaigning in Rubugiri in Kisoro District.

They will have the main rally in the Mayor’s Garden in Kisoro Town. Here he got even more NRM cards up into the hundreds like in recents day from determind members who is thinking of leaving the ruling party.

Besigye said this today:

“Museveni can only be President up to May next year. The corrupt can only steal up to then. After May, whoever dips his hand in goverment coffers. His hand will stay in there”.

A Fun Fact: 

“Kisoro is one of those region herald has a stronghold of NRM, where its alleged that 93% of voters support the ruling party”.

The Message that Dr. Kizza Besigye had to the people of Kisoro after the rallies:

“Thank you very much Kisoro !..for the overwhelming reception you have accorded to my candidature today. Despite all challenges the people of Kisoro face ,ranging from lack of decent rural roads,.hospitals and schools you have braved the long journeys and I salute your hunger for the message of hope exhibited today at our rallies” (…)“Kisoro region is one of the most naturally endowed part of the country rich with fertile lands and tourist attractions, but having travelled through the remote areas of the region, I feel quite ashamed and disturbed by the state of affairs in this region, the situation is as alarming just like in all the other parts of the country” (…)“It’s not surprising that Mr. Museveni alleges 99% of Kisoro region support him and the NRM regime yet he abandons you to a state of abject poverty, because his government is riddled with corruption to the extent that he doesn’t care about the conditions he exposes you to, as long as you vote for him or he forces himself onto you against your will. The same person makes the other parts of the country believe that everything is rosy in Kisoro which in reality has never been the case” (…)“ Therefore my message to you today is ; begin to change your mindset, Mr. Museveni is not your master, he is supposed to be your servant, it’s you who have the powers to appoint and dismiss him. So Kisoro for you to have better services in the region, we have to work together, join up in the ‘Power 10’ agenda; organize ourselves in groups of ten and connect and liase with each other, and I can assure you this corrupt regime will be history and the Bufumbira region will develop to the great potential it should be” (…)“Thank you so much Kisoro ,I am leaving here in a very energetic mood and full of hope and optimism that the timing has never been more perfect, to liberate our beloved country Uganda. God Bless you the people of Kisoro. For God and my country”.

On the TIC:

Maureen Faith Kyala has been arrested today. She was detained in Jinja. Maureen is detained at Jinja Central Police Station.

Rule of Law and the FDC:

“Kizza Besigye risks being banned if he defies the law, Electoral Commission (EC) says as it warns the FDC flag-bearer against ‘inciting public with his defiance campaign’. Besigye who is seeking the presidency for the fourth time says his 2016 campaign is one of defiance, not compliancy” (NBS TV)

NRM Rallies today:

Had their campaign at Dokolo today. There was massive turn-up of Crime Preventers at the venue and especially at the Iguli rally of the President. He also had Rally in Lira.

YKM said today: “When we took charge of Uganda, we enacted a constitution – all power belongs to the people”.

Go-Forward rallies:

Amama Mbabazi held rallies in  Mityana today. At Mityana he received a spear, shield with the water-hoe symbolic of agricultural roots. DP Norbert Mao is part of the trail, even FDC’s Beatrice Anywar!

Beatrice Anywar said this today: “Who knew DP members would be at the same rally with FDC and NRM members, this is possible with Amama Mbabazi”.

Mathias Nsubuga said this: “We have not sold DP to Mbabazi. TDA is an alliance seeking change in Uganda. Change one person can not bring”.

At the Mityana rally a man asked “Amama how they used to rig the elections?”, he answered the man: “Never leave the premises or polling station”.

Amama Mbabazi said this today: “Every generation has its responsibility. Ours liberation this country, brought it this far. Need to carry on” (…)”I know a lot and can assure such (vote rigging) will not be done this time around”.

One candidate more:

Abed Bwanika was at Bugiri and Namayingo. Has anybody seen or heard him?

PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE MABIRIZI JOSEPH ABDUCTED FROM HIS HOTEL ROOM IN IGANGA

This is an official statement from the Head of Bureau.

At around 2.00am this morning, 11th November 2015, TIC Presidential Candidate Elton Joseph Mabirizi heard a knock on his hotel room. When he asked who it was, the assailant said : “I am your bodyguard”. So he opened. It turned out that it was not his bodyguard but two strange men.

He was in his Pajamas but without a top (bare chest). In that state he was blindfolded, walked to a waiting car, forced into the car boot and driven off to a bungalow where he was ushered in a room and unfolded. In the room he saw three men dressed in military uniform and the two plain clothed ones that had picked him from the hotel. They made no attempt to hide their faces.

He was thoroughly roughed up and warned that if he still wanted to stay alive, he should quit the Presidential race. They had a hot plate in the room which they plugged into a socket till red hot. They told him that if he does not abandon the campaign, next time they would make him sit on it.

He was then blindfolded again and dropped at a small urban settlement at around 3.30am,. He was rescued by the area LC who made arrangements to take him back to his hotel.

It should be noted that he has 11 armed Counter Terrorism Policemen guarding him. Not even one of them including his personal body guard learnt of the abduction until he was brought back to the hotel by the area LC I.

The latest now (12.03 pm) is that he has been driven in another police car to Jinja Central Police Station and has been taken inside.

We have spoken to the EC spokesperson Mr. Taremwa to report the incident. We explained that our candidate had been abducted under that watch of 11 counter terrorism policemen. The phone went off during the conversation. We have called back five times- he is not picking his phone. We have sent a text message to him requesting to call me back. It is now 30 minutes, he has not done so yet.

This should give an idea on how important the EC takes Candidate security.

We shall have tie to address the press when my candidate has been safely evacuated from Busoga region to Kampala.

 Today he was scheduled to address rallies in Jinja and Mayuge.

It is not clear whether he will be able to do so.

Statement issued at 12.21 pm. November 11, 2015

Omar Kalinge-Nnyago

HEAD OF BUREAU

THE INDEPENDENT COALITION, TIC

After all of this, this morning the UPDF had to question the Presidential Candidate.

Mayoral Race in Kampala – Erias Lukwago comments:

“Addressing the press on the obnoxious KCCA Amendment Bill that seeks to whittle down people’s sovereignty. It’s only a collapsing regime that takes refugee in draconian laws. I have submitted to the Electoral Commission all the relevant signatures endorsing my candidature ahead of the nominations slated for Monday 16th. I have also called for a stakeholders’ meeting tomorrow 12th November at my residence in Rubaga at 11am to chart a way forward. The struggle continues”.

NRM Primaries – Saga doesn’t stop:

Makindddye Muncipality aftermath:

“This morning l have submitted a video recording of massive rigging in Makinddye Ssaabgabo Municipality masterminded by the Municipality NRM Registrar Charles Settebere, in favour of the outgoing twice flag bearer . l have submitted it to NRM Electoral Commission Legal Officer Mubarakia Kalungi, but his boss Dr. Tanga Odoi and NRM First Vice Chairperson Ah Haji Moses Kigongo, were also aware of the event. l have called for the cancellation of results and a call for fresh party primaries, and to do away with the notorious registrar, Settebere, and replace him with one from the headquarters. All Polling Station registrars should also be reinforced from those at headquarters. Failure to respond to my prayers, l intend to stand on an independent ticket. In my own observation however, three man Tanga Commission is over whelmed. Capt. Abbey Mukwaya Committee should come to its rescue” (Written by Ahmed Musaazi).

Side-note:

In Kijabijo (Gayaza Karagi Road). The community says «they need power back». They have spent 4 months since the transformer was taken by UMEME. So they have put fires into the main roads as a demonstration against the government and UMEME for taking away electricity.

Side-note 2:

Eng. Dr. Badru Kiggundu of Electoral Commission has suspended the nominations for Lord of Mayor of Kampala. Surely they trying to coup the place for Babu instead of having a fun race between Raga Dee and Erias Lukwago. That is because the NRM-Regime hasn’t the balls to do so, because they know what might happen! Especially since they remember in 2011 and also the last by-election in Amuru…

Side-note 3:

Finance Minister Matia Kasajja told the Parliament today that there is no money in the Contingency Funds therefore the need for the Public Management Fund 2015 Amendment. The sad note on this matter is that the Parliament passed it. So the Government can just ride into the Bank and take short term loans as they please now!

Aftermath: 

Think that was enough for the day. Don’t you think this was more than enough. THE PMFA 2015 amendment is frightening enough. The things that been said on the trail is not important, now the Government and the ruling NRM-Regime has secured funding for their campaign and buying of fresh gear to their “Anti-Besigye-Act” and their fresh tear-gas. Surely these elections will be mad and brown bags. Since the Bank of Uganda is now a free for all. You can be surely be proud Hon. Kasajja and President Museveni, there will surely be inflation and devalue of the Shilling in the near future. Kiss 5% inflation rate goodbye! Peace.

Uganda Police Force warn all those hell bent on causing violence ahead of 2016 elections (Youtube-Clip)

Uganda – Statement by the Chairperson, Electoral Commission at the Closure of the Presidential Nomination Exercise – 2016 General Elections (04.11.2015)

Ref: ADM72/01 – The Republic of Uganda – The Electoral Commission:

The Electoral Commission appointed 3^rd and 4^th November 2015 as dates for the nomination of candidates for the 2016 Presidential Elections. There were forty eight (48) persons who picked Nomination Forms for Presidential Elections. Twelve (12) persons/parties returned the Forms to the Commission for verification. The nomination exercise which commenced yesterday Tuesday 3^rd November 2015, has been concluded today, Wednesday, 4th November 2015, and the following have been successfully nominated as candidates

No	Nominated candidate	Political party/Organisation	Symbol
1.	Yoweri Museveni Kaguta	National Resistance Movement	Party Symbol
2	Amama Mbabazi	Independent	Chair
3	Baryamureeba Venansius	Independent	Clock
4	Besigye Kizza Kifefe	Forum for Democratic Change	Party Symbol
5	Abed Bwanika	Peoples’ Development Party	Party Symbol
6	Mabirizi Joseph	Independent	Ball
7	Maureen Faith Kyalya Waluube	Independent	Pot
8	Biraaro Buta Benon	Farmers Party of Uganda	Party Symbol

 

One of the presidential aspirants, Mr. Bbaale Charles Lwanga (Ecological Party of Uganda) presented himself to the Electoral Commission but did not satisfy the requirements for nomination as a candidate for the Presidential Elections, 2016.

Another Presidential aspirant, Hajji Nasser Ntege Sebagala, who had picked nomination papers, complied with the provisions of Section 10(1)(b) and (3), of the Presidential Elections Act 2005 (as amended) on supporters for the nomination, and booked nomination date and time did not turn up for nomination as required by the law.

The Commission congratulates all those candidates who have been successfully nominated and wishes them the best as they go out to campaign and solicit for votes from the electorate.

The Electoral Commission wishes to emphasise the following: 

The Electoral Commission has appointed the period 4th – 9th November 2015 as the period for inspection of nomination papers for candidates contesting for Presidential Elections 2016.

The inspection of nomination papers will be held at the Office of the Chairperson, Electoral Commission, who is the Returning Officer for the Presidential Elections, during office hours.

During this period, any person will be free to raise objection, to the qualification of a nominated candidate, to the Chairperson, Electoral Commission/Returning Officer, at the Electoral Commission Headquarters in Kampala.

No complaints shall be accepted after the expiry of the appointed dates.

Meeting for Harmonisation of Campaign Programme 

The Electoral Commission will hold a meeting with all the nominated candidates and/or their agents on Thursday 5th – Sunday 8th November 2015, at the Electoral Commission Boardroom, at 10:00am, to harmonise the campaign programme.

After harmonisation of the campaign programme, candidates will be expected to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), calling for compliance with the campaign guidelines and programme, to achieve peaceful campaigns and elections.

The Commission wishes to appreciate the following who have made the nomination exercise a success:

1. The National Organisation Committee (NOC);
2. The aspirants, their families and delegations;
3. Protocol team, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Associates;
4. Security, particularly the Uganda Police Force;
5. The Management of Mandela National Stadium, Namboole;
6. Uganda Red Cross Society, and St. John Ambulance;
7. Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA);
8. Development Partners (IFES, DGF, British High Commission, and others);
9. Always Be Tolerant (ABETO)
10. Service providers;
11. National and International media;
12. National and international observers;
13. And in a special way, the entire Electoral Commission family.

Finally, the Commission announces the Polling day for Presidential/Parliamentary elections being Thursday, 18th February, 2016.

Eng. Dr. Badru M. Kiggundu

Chairperson, Electoral Commission/Returning Officer, Presidential Elections