Opinion: Nabilah Naggayi Sempala tries to finesse the game again

At any point of time there is those Members of Parliament, those supposed representatives that jump between parties, affiliations and behind bigger-men. For just one reason, to save their own career, because its not like they got any chance on their own. They got to have someone bigger boosting their number and chances of success.

The biggest of these in the Republic is Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) Kampala Woman MP Nabilah Naggayi Sempala. Who in midst of November 2015 within a weeks time, went from endorsing Amama Mbabazi and his TDA Presidential Flagbearer to a little week later show-up at nomination day as a FDC MP. Therefore, jumping between the loyalty to Amama and going back to Dr. Kizza Besigye. She got later fully nominated in early december 2015. But that has been with me ever since.

She showed the way she will finesse things for power and possibility to become an MP. Nabilah will use all avenues, as long as it benefits her. There are nothing she will not say. Just like earlier in this year, she said Besigye is done and has had his time. That’s why she has no issues now to wear the red beret and be People Power affiliate. That’s because it boost her chances for a third term as an MP. She doesn’t do it because she believes no. Than, she would jump back to FDC if that added the options next week.

Nabilah Naggayi Sempala isn’t the loyal type, she fishes for relevance and importance. To be apart of the most dominating force of the moment. If it is Amama, Besigye or Bobi Wine doesn’t matter, as long as she is with the right big-man. She just need the right leader and the leeching of that. As long as she needs, until election season is over and she can cash in the envelopes.

That is why the Kampala Woman MP is finenessing this game. She ensure the deck is stacked in her favour and for her taking. Not matter what slogan, what bargain or what possible cost. As long as she get to keep the fiefdom and the payouts she’s accustomed too.

We all know this is game played for 2021. Just like she toyed around with Amama in 2015. She did so, because she felt the Go-Forward and TDA was a viable choice for a new home. But she ditched that, when she understood she had done wrong. Even as she was incumbent on a same ticket from previous election.

Nabilah could been loyal and shown some ethical and political savvy, instead she is doing shoddy homework and hoping no-one is noticing. The MP thinks people are forgetful. Not like she has dropped a legislation worth anything in two terms, neither has she had a pet-project to prove her value. What she is just another empty suit, but a finessing one at that.

If there is a new star on block next month, that becomes more viable than Bobi Wine. She would go his way. If she thinks the DP Block or ANT works. She might join them. Nabilah does whatever as long as she get the outcome she needs. The principals, the loyalty or the politics doesn’t matter, as long as she gets the paper. Peace.

Opinion: In Mwenda’s mind, everyone will turn into Jajja

Andrew Mwenda a former critique of the National Resistance Movement and President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. Has become his closest writer and supporter in his own media house, the Independent Magazine. Andrew is so positive to Museveni that it’s like he works directly for the State House and defends him without any sense. Especially, while telling that Dr. Kizza Besigye nor Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine are not up for the cut.

Today’s piece is more of the same, I will not address it all, because that’s a wast of time. Yours as a reader and mines as a writer. We only live ones, and the shade of one patron of the dictatorship shouldn’t steal to much of our precious time. So, I have only taken the last part of it. Because that shows his non-common sense, which is his staple.

Ideally Besigye and Bobi Wine can distance themselves from such social groups and start to continually condemn the behavior and conduct of their uncouth supporters. They could make it clear daily that they seek a politics of moderation and tolerance. But they haven’t and cannot. This is not because Besigye and Bobi Wine are bad people. Rather, both know that to take such action would alienate the base. To keep their supporters, they have embraced radical extremism and its sister politics of hate and intolerance. The defenders of both Besigye and Bobi Wine claim these two men will tame these forces once in power. In fact once in power, the forces of intolerance that today dominate Defiance and People Power will consolidate and drive the forces of moderation from the government and party. This is what has happened to the NRM over years. It is the logic of power that those who seek to strengthen it are those who win in any power struggle” (Andrew Mwenda – Uganda’s democratic delusions, 11.11.2019, The Independent Magazine).

What Mwenda has forgotten is that the NRM didn’t want to unleash the multiparty system in the first and needed two referendums to get it going. Secondly, NRM didn’t want to hold elections and suspended that after the coup in 1986. Therefore, the sudden change of high on power was from the on set and only changed because the donors and rebels to the first rebellion wanted to have a fundamental change, which the NRM never delivered.

Mwenda is forgetting that the NRM is using the tools of the previous dictatorships. That is their laws, the police force and the army to silence the opposition. Making it impossible to use their tools and using the authorities to get them into trouble for assembling, campaigning and building parties. That is why Mwenda is a bit wrong. It is not a power struggle and a dwindling values of the NRM over the time. It has been partly static, the difference is how it goes viral and how it can be reported.

Mwenda is implying that everyone will be corrupted and destroyed by the office. That is because, his blinded by the NRM. Not that it cannot happen to them, but not letting them get office is showing the lack of openness, tolerance or even democratic values itself. That because, one fella is just right for the highest office, like he was born for it and the others will become him.

Just because, the liberator became the oppressors. Doesn’t mean the next generation of leaders will not learn from the mistakes of the past. Especially, when they have tasted the brutal force of this one. It’s like he thinks that experience doesn’t change the pattern too. Since, his lack of judgement thinks everyone will turn into Jajja and emulate his hat. They will misuse the arms, guns and law enforcement to oppress dissidents of the state.

Andrew thinks this packaging is smart. That he brings the rabbit out of the hat. The only thing he exposes, is his narrative that everything is fucked the day Museveni leaves the crown. That’s sort of like a zombie apocalypse, which is only Armageddon and other prophecies of total destruction of society. That is what’s his initially saying. Because, that is to scare the possible peaceful turnover of power. What he should ask for is better institutions and rule of law. Andrew should wonder why everything is going through the State House and orders from Yoweri.

That’s what’s bugs me out. That he thinks the other side will turnout to be Museveni 2.0 when they get into office. Is what saddens me to see that. But that what gives, when someone has to defend the inevitable and the indefensible. As he now does and doing it so diligently over time. Peace.

Opinion: The impossible task of being Besigye

Former FDC President Dr. Kiiza Besigye defied Police orders & parked his vehicle in the middle of the road, blocking& inconveniencing other road users.The car was towed away and he was taken to Naggalama Police. At the moment no charges have been preferred against him” (Kampala Metropolitan Police, 04.11.2019).

At this point it must be impossible to be Dr. Kizza Besigye. Because by April 2018 he was already arrested about 1023 times, incarcerated 217 and indicted of 894 offences. Therefore, the opposition politician have been in plenty of courts, seen many lawyers and in prison. This is not calculation the time spent under house-arrest or even destruction of his property. Neither, the damages done to him to hurt him and torture him too.

Therefore, it is so much that Besigye has gone through in his pursuit of a peaceful transition from dictatorship. Not like it hasn’t cost him. The ones belittling him should try to be through his journey. The ones calling him a NRM stooge, would a stooge and enemy of state be able to pull that off with these sort of ridiculous numbers. Which is real, which isn’t a flawed statistic, but a reality that his been through. It continues to today.

He was arrested in April 2019 in Mubende district for visiting a radio show. That is what happens to happen and surely more than what I can remember right now.

Just like that, Besigye is still charged with treason, which happened on the 13th May 2016 at the Moroto Magistrate’s Court. Today on the 4th November 2019, its a total of 3 year, 5 months and 22 days. That’s a total of 1270 days, which he has had this hanging over him. That’s for swearing himself in as the President in the aftermath of the General Election of 2016.

That is why you know this man has a lot of suffering, pain and torment, which that state has obliged him again, and again. That’s why his been answering for “crimes committed” during the Walk to Work in 2011, all over the place during the campaign trail of 2015/16. Something, that hampers and put more strains on a campaign. Plus, the newly added charges and sentencing, which comes by him visiting various of districts and Police Force pinning whatever statutes or codes of law they could on the man. That is just what they do.

That is why he was standing on the wrong road, at the wrong time today. That he was in the middle of the road in Kireka, as he was supposed to address the press at a Press Conference at the Namboole Stadium. That is the reality. Because of that, he was arrested again, his car smashed and towed away.

It is impossible to be Besigye in the Republic. That is because the state has designated it to be this way. That’s why has been arrested so many times and how it continues to stack-up. It is an never ending journey of hurt, pain and suffering. It is never ending story of oppression, where he cannot express him, be free and liberated. As he can at any minute be arrested, be house-arrested or be kidnapped by some sort of authority. Because, that’s what they do to him.

This is the mere reality. This is not fiction, but a real life journey of one man. Who is not free and whose the symbol of tyranny right now. While others suffers too, while others get arrested for challenging the authorities. His been the one fierce-fully lightening the torch for the next generation. Peace.

Kampala Metropolitan Police: Press Statement on the FDC and the arrest of Besigye (04.11.2019)

Police blocks the FDC Press Conference and arrest Besigye

Well, another day, another Dr. Kizza Besigye arrest. There must be someone whose job is to arrest him at the Kampala Metropolitan Police. That person’s sole duty is to follow and find out when to arrest the opposition leader, and People’s President Besigye are at any time. Because, the amount of times his arrested. Those numbers are outrageous for a civilian, whose not a terrorist or career criminal. Therefore, today is just another day in the Republic. Another day for Besigye to be arrested.

This is what it all goes down too. It is the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) had planned to hold a Presser or a Press Conference at the Mandela National Stadium. However, the Police weren’t happy or having it. That is why they blocked the venue and arrested Besigye on the spot. Towing his car. Breaking his windshield and water cannoning him like there was no tomorrow.

Two reports from what happened today:

“Police officers who were today deployed at Mandela National Stadium in Namboole, Wakiso District, to block a scheduled press conference by the leaders of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), have arrested the party’s former president, Dr Kizza Besigye” (97.8 Kazo FM Omushomesa, 04.11.2019).

“Police have stopped the FDC party from holding their weekly press conference at Namboole stadium. They have dispersed crowds using teargas and have followed Kizza Besigye, cracking the windscreen of his car and forcefully getting him out of it.” (93.3. KFM Radio, 04.11.2019).

Therefore, again we see what is up, where the state targets the FDC and Besigye. This is an old trick, but not a new one. This one was notified to the state, the Press Conference, but that didn’t matter. The state was prepared and ready, they had everything there. Instead of securing the premises. They took charge, went in on the civilians, on the leaders of the FDC, and took Besigye away.

His now in very familiar ground, as a man arrested at Nagalama Police Statopm. Where he has resided before, where he stayed for while before being dropped at home in Kasangati, Wakiso District. Where the Police is very familiar and have made roadblocks, plenty of times, even been stationed at the gates for weeks on end.

We have seen this all before, the same sort of acts, the same sort of play and state are continuing to do this. They use the law as a tool to oppress and silence. Where the FDC and Besigye cannot fully act as a party or as leaders, as their every movement can be stopped, either by the law or by default. That is just what the Republic does to him and others. Where the blockage of venues, media and so-on continues, as it is sanctioned and blessed by the man above. Peace.

Opinion: How many Besigye lessons do we need before we listen?

You are talking about 2021 elections, I was a candidate in 2016, and after elections, I was charged with TREASON for declaring myself winner. We are going into 2021 and that case has not been heard” Dr. Kizza Besigye (on NBS Breeze, 16.10.2019)

Well, there has been plenty of this, where Dr. Kizza Besigye the People’s President has spoken on these matters. This is not brand new, neither is it unique. However, his analysis is still as vibrant as before. The need for this clearly there. As the National Resistance Movement and President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni continuing their reign without question. Even, if there are major issues with his rule and the methods done to continue his self-styled President for Life project.

Therefore, the excerpts of the NBS Breeze Programme on the 16th October 2019 was a breath of fresh air. His saying what his said before, as stated, but still. These things doesn’t seem to sink in. Like people are brushing it off, instead of understanding why he says it.

Then there is a question of legitimacy. One, we have an illegitimate person who violated the Constitution by detaining his opponent to declare himself. Two, a person who is in office illegitimately, he has already illegitimately appointed the new Electoral Commission headed by Simon Byabakama. By the way, Byabakama was my prosecutor on very funny cases. Thirdly, this illegitimate president violently destroyed the Constitution and invaded Parliament with his troops in order to procure an amendment to allow him contest beyond 75 years. Of all the people who have so far shown interest to contest for the presidency, only Museveni is already 75 years. Museveni would not have been a candidate if he had not destroyed the Constitution” (Dr. Kizza Besigye on NBS Morning Breeze on the 16th October 2019).

This is all well-known now, the things that Besigye is stating is facts. It is mere view of what Museveni has done. How his used his state power and control to secure his future. While that has happen, his also ensured that the opposition got into trouble. So that the issues would go away. However, breaches of legality and the violations of rule of law doesn’t go away. Even if all the courts of the Republic has accepted this. Still, we are supposed to believe that 2021 will be different , than 2016?

Who are we kidding?

Well, let me say it like this. A man whose made his life a con. A man that has rigged every single election his been in-charge off. Would you expect that man not to rig the up-coming one? Do you expect him to be honest? A man who constantly has made every single By-Election into a War-Zone and rigging competition of sorts. There is so much trouble ahead. That legitimacy is only the first bargain of the upcoming election.

That Besigye is still on bail three years after and not had to answer. Proves the ordinary troubles of a real opposition. As suddenly the Court will call trial and continue the case. However, the will not be produced affidavits or witnesses to ever create a viable case. Alas, this is being used to make it harder for someone to campaign and such. Just like all the old court cases coming and happening in the campaign period for Besigye in 2015 and 2016. This will most likely happen in 2020 and 2021.

We know the game. It is rigged, but people will not take the lesson. Getting National IDs and going into an Election. Bobi Wine and People Power means well, their reigniting flames and showing positive flair.

But, we all should remind ourselves of these words:

The struggle I know and understand is that we are looking for a country and first mission should be to recapture the country and then once we reclaim the country and have power over it, then we can choose and leaders and create rules how to choose leaders” (Dr. Kizza Besigye, 16.10.2019).

Because, right now Museveni decides and makes the changes. No one else does, except if they are his straw-men like Raphael Magyezi. There been others who carried the load of the President, but later are lost sheep without any office. That might happen to him, because he was useful to him that given year.

Museveni right now has all the cards, which he has kept close since 1986. That is why the struggle is the same. Just listen. Peace.

Opinion: Muntu’s mellow approach to end Musevenism…

Once upon a time, there was a bush-war NRA who became an opposition. Who went from having aspirations of being an journalists to become a full-time engaging opposition. However, in his quest to uproot the master he helped putting into power. He has never significantly been able to address to how to change this.

Even to this day, Maj. Gen. Mugisha Muntu, the former Party President of Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) and now Coordinator of Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) seems like a lost puppy on quest to nowhere. Before I continue. Let me take a snippet of yesterday’s speech from the man.

Ugandans could take to the streets one day and eventually drive Gen. Yoweri Museveni from power or he could fail to rig the next election and be gone. Unfortunately all of the problems that Uganda is enduring today will remain with us the day after Museveni is out of office. The most intractable problem is the lack of political engagement at the grassroots. That is why dictatorships have flourished, leading to political violence, deaths, corruption and economic destruction. There has never been a peaceful handover of power from one president to the next one in Uganda in our 57 years of independence. Yet the right of citizens to determine who governs them is a fundamental and universal human right. Those who govern must obtain the consent of those on whose behalf they exercise political power” (Mugisha Muntu 11.10.2019).

I don’t know about you, but this sort of address fails the parameter of a real change. This is the soft approach and the reason why NRM has said they are open for a return of this man. Because, his manner and ways are so smooth, that you cannot fix it all.

It is true, the dynamics and the state apparatus will need time to be rebuilt and institutionalized in a manner, where the orders from above doesn’t control it all. However, the approach of Muntu is weak, bitterly so. Like he wants to await the final destination and said his education of the grassroots is the way to solve it all. Which is really an insincere approach, considering how the other parties has tried to educate and operate within the limited space the state has given them.

If there is a election with Museveni on the ballot, he will not fail in rigging it. That is what his been doing ever since 1996. Not kid ourselves, no one can conquer him on a ballot. As long as Yoweri breathes, no win will win in a contest. Even if the tides are turning and the state has no support other than the army. Still, he will not loose. Because of the fear of opposing Mr. Incumbent President.

Once people are truly empowered at the grassroots they will be the guarantors against future dictatorships. We do not believe in replacing guns with guns” (Muntu, 11.10.2019).

Therefore, if Muntu was sincere, he would promise more than civic education to over win the dictatorship. Because, he wants a soft teachings and lessons for the public. So, that they can deep into their mind know what is just and what is their right. However, they most likely know this already, as it is basic and understandably so. Nevertheless, when risking life or arrests for questioning the actions of the state, they rather stay silent; which I don’t blame them. Everyone is not built for getting in trouble.

Just like, Muntu knows he cannot preach defiance or resistance against the state. He cannot, because than he sounds like the ones he lost in the FDC. He needs to preach another gospel. Though, it falls short. Because, we all know that educating isn’t enough. Action is needed too, even though it costs.

I’ll end with wise words of Dr. Kizza Besigye: “I am very alive to the fact that: no freedom, no political changes, comes without a cost” (June 2011). Peace.

Nathan Nandala-Mafabi MP Statement: Today we welcome Mr. Museveni to Bugisu and Sironko in particular (09.10.2019)

Bugisu region which this government has relegated to the periphery.

41% of people in Bugisu are below the poverty line. Simply put, its more less, for every two people in Bugisu, one is extremely poor.

For the last 33years of the NRM government, the Namagumba, Nalugugu road remains in a sorrow state; for the last 33years of this government, only Mbale Lwahaha road is being tarmacked in Bugisu sub region.

There is no new road that has been opened in the region. Yet, like all Ugandans, every person in Bugisu carries a debt of 1million shillings because of the debt burden, recklessly accumulated by this government.

The people in Bugisu are poor, not because they are lazy. Rather, they are an extremely hardworking and truthful people. They like organised systems where they can diligently serve. They can never thrive under a mafia corrupt system.

In 1962, before the British granted Uganda independence, they questioned whether Ugandans had financial capacity to govern themselves.

To alley British fears and excuse, Bugisu contributed £300,000 and Buganda £500,000 to show we could manage ourselves.

Ideally, it’s Bugisu and Buganda which guaranteed Uganda’s independence. But Bugisu has been sidelined.

The five years Sironko district was under the FDC leadership, it was always ranked amongst the best performing and corruption free districts. Today, the story is different.

That is why, the fanfare in Sironko will not detract some of us, we shall continue to mobilise and educate people about the dangers of a corrupt and disorganised regime.

We shall continue to mobilise people for change, for the liberation and true independence of Uganda.

I welcome everyone to Budadiri West.

The People’s Government: Taking stock of the 57 years of Independence (08.10.2019)

Opinion: Andrew, the man who will defend the indefensible too make Mzee look good!

I will not look into the whole piece that Andrew Mwenda dropped on Facebook today. Because, that is a waste of time. However, I will look at few extracts and dismiss them. Since, the realities are far-fetched. Just like pointing at cars, carrying goats or saying corruption is good for economic growth. Is all staple defence of the editor and owner of the Independent Magazine.

Surely, Mwenda knows all this, but hopes people are eating of his hands. He hopes people are so naive and lack free thought, to think that his ideas and his ways of explaining things have become bonkers. He should join in with Ofwono Opondo, get reassigned to the New Vision and UBC. There is where he belong. There is no independent thought in this man, only if it is deflect the actual issues of the day.

Just look at this: “While NRM’s political fortunes are declining, the opposition is not inspiring much confidence. The growth in the opposition’s is far below the growth and spread of disaffection with NRM and President Yoweri Museveni. The radical extremism of the two most popular cults of the opposition – Defiance and its bastard child, People Power – has led to levels of intolerance of divergent views that most Ugandans have decided to keep away from electoral politics” (Andrew Mwenda, 30.09.2019).

What is striking, how his not seeing his own delusion, but maybe some favours and envelopes makes the man close his eyes. It is like his only seeing negative and negate all acts of the state against the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) – Defiance and the People Power Movement. These are only an ill or evil, for someone who blamed Museveni of killing Garang and saying he was the common denominator of the troubles of the Republic. There years has worn off.

His seeing differently and for a reason. The opposition isn’t always right. That is a given, it has policies and ideas whose not all good. But that doesn’t defend the ways Mwenda attacks them. Like they are organizations with sacred secrets, which only the anointed could get. That is not how these two opposition parties work. It is more closer to the “orders from above” and the personality cult built around Museveni. That Mwenda should questioned, but when your paid writer for him. You will, overlook the narrative and cast the troubles on the other side automatically.

He speaks of intolerance within the opposition. It isn’t strange the opposition sees issues different from the NRM. As the NRM and the authorities are arresting, detaining and directly using oppressive means to silence the opposition. All means, all laws and all organizing proper party works are monitored, followed and if you misstep you get arrested. While the NRM can do whatever it will. This is not something Mwenda touches, because that destroys the Saint Museveni, as he sees him these days.

Uganda’s opposition is deluded. They believe they occupy such a superior moral ground, that they are so awesome and cool, their position is so self-evidently righteous; so they do not need to win over people. They believe everyone should support them as of right because they are “liberators.” They believe, and I think correctly, that most Ugandans are frustrated with Museveni and his NRM. However, they mistake this to mean most Ugandans love them” (Andrew Mwenda, 30.09.2019).

If the NRM is so loved and Museveni has such an popularity. Why does he need the army to make every single by-election looking like a war-zone? If his so loved, why does his RDCs order the radios from blocking opposition from being on-air? Why if the NRM is such a popular party, why does it give monetary and things to the voters to get votes? If the NRM is so popular, why does it has to detain the People Power coordinators and other opposition activist ahead and in the final days of the polls?

Why, Mr. Mwenda, why isn’t this mentioned? That because, that breaks the ideal of this so-called popularity. Also, why no mention of the open bazaar of pre-ticked ballots into the By-Election that the NRM “won”.

If his so loved, why does he have to pay the citizens and voters to get their vote? That doesn’t make sense to me. But neither does saying corruption and counting cars in the streets say anything about the growth potential in the Republic. However, you believed in this and now you writing such things like this.

Mwenda is a lost soul, but we know why. His free-thinking days are gone. His blind-sided and we has to expect that. He will defend murder for the case of the NRM. He will defend theft and thieving for the case of the NRM. He will defend election rigging for the case of the NRM. No matter what the NRM does, it is better than anyone else. Because, Mwenda cannot have his place or prestige without the NRM. His bound by the fate of the NRM.

The yellow has to pump in his veins, if not his ability to have a proper meal ticket goes away. That is why he cannot strike against the NRM. Peace.