Uganda Police Force: Security Situation in Arua Municipality (14.08.2018)

Uganda Police Force transferred DPC Abbas Senyonjo from Arua to Masaka after yesterday’s havoc!

Arua By-Election: Who really cares whose winning now?

At this point, after yesterday death of the driver of Bobi Wine, the arrests of journalists, Bobi Wine whisked away and Kassiano Wadri arrested with several others. We can wonder if this Arua By-Election really matters? Why is this so important for the President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni? That he will keep opposition, arrest them and also take care of journalists for reporting on the events.

That is what we should question, as lives are taken, the Presidential Guards are killing and leaving families behind it hurt. There are enough pain and suffering as it is, there are enough self-inflicted pains by the authorities towards innocent civilians. This is happening, while the Presidents own Press Squad trying to forge a story of destroyed wind-shield. Without any of the glass destroyed the car, neither the bulletproof vehicle had any other parts destroyed by the same stones. The destruction of that car, was made to steer the conversation, but we shouldn’t let Don Wanyama and Museveni steer the wheel, they are just trying to stop us talking about the real damage.

The real damage is on the opposition parties side, on the public side, where the public was shot at with tear-gas, where the Special Force Command went into a situation and blasted live bullets, directly at one car. This wasn’t a mere stray shot, this was deliberately, therefore, because of press on the ground covering it. They had to arrest the NTV Crew and take them to Gulu for “Questioning”. Because the President couldn’t have the real news of the tried assassination plot in the reports. They needed the fake vandalized car, because that isn’t an easy trick to pull. The bullets from the Presidential Guards went directly to the seat in the car, where usually Bobi Wine sits. If that isn’t marked territory, nothing is. They can foil a PR scam, but not fool you so many times.

We know they tried to take away the reporters and journalists on the ground, as they did not want the news of beatings of politicians, the arrests of several, the tear-gas nor the assassination plot to get to the public. However, that is the mere fact and the orders from above was set fore. If they we’re thinking this was wise, it was not, because it just shows how far Museveni will go over a By-Election to get his way. He will kill and destroy, he will assassinate and get rid of his mortal enemies. That is the way he is built and shows it with perfection in Arua.

This election was supposed to be about who gets the seat of the late Hon. Ibrahim Abiriga, who himself as assassinated earlier this year, now a second plot because of the same seat have been put forward. You can wonder, how many lives has to be taken, before people start to question the legitimacy and reason for letting Museveni rule indefinitely. Since, the innocents dies because of his reign and instead of showing compassion and mercy, he shows merciless attacks and propaganda to sway the public opinion. This is total disregard of life, which he is supposed to serve and take care of.

When he thinking of taking care of, he thinks of ending their lives apparently, not trying to find a solution to live together in harmony. Because yesterday was razing havoc and killing a driver, doing all kind of vindictive stuff and trying to forge a story of a destroyed car. That doesn’t work.

No sort of story should play out that this was the solution the SFC and Presidential Convoy could have managed this. If they we’re sincere, they would have found another way or used methods, however, shooting into crowds, using tear-gas and trying to hit at a target. Was their way yesterday, they can say whatever they like, but it is not believable, as the circumstances and results are in favor of the President. Not of the people or anyone else.

This shouldn’t be forgotten, as the steps of demolition of the opposition continues in the mind of the President. He is really pursuing it and it shows, with fatal circumstances like yesterday. Peace.

Arua By-Election: Did the Special Force Command try to assassinate Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine?

We can wonder, what was the plan of the authorities, as the vicious attempt to attack one car in Arua happen earlier today. This is after a report, that the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) – Special Force Command (SPC) did a direct shooting at the car of Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine in Arua. This has happen today as the Arua By-Election are going to the polls on the 15th July 2018. The SPC, the Presidential Guards and the Police Force have attacked the marches in and around the town. They have used tear-gas and live-bullets in town. This shows how the By-Elections turns into a War-Zone. Today, this has ended in fatal death of the Yasin Kawuma, the driver of Bobi Wine, as the SFC tried to assassinate him.

This election isn’t supposed to be about Bobi Wine, he is there as endorsement of Kassiano Wadri together with former FDC Party President Mugisha Muntu. While today President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni have campaigned for the NRM Flag-Bearer Nusura Tiperu. While the FDC have fielded Bruce Musema, who have campaigned together with Kizza Besigye. Therefore, there been three rallies on the final day before the polls. However, all of that fallen short, as the violence has hit Arua.

All of who is winning isn’t important today, as an innocent driver was killed by the Presidential Guards. These are people who came armed and ready, that is why the same security organizations have sealed of the hotel of Bobi Wine. Clearly, the authorities has tried to get rid of him.

This is clearly sending the message, that this by-election are so important, that they will even kill the opposition and their leaders to gain the seat of the deceased honorable Ibrahim Abiriga. I am sure the President will say some random hoodlum or terrorist did this. Promise to put up CCTV camera’s and such. However, the SFC will be untouched, as they killed the driver today.

The NRM cannot get away with this, as the driver was just someone caught randomly, as they went for the car of Bobi Wine. That could have been a political assassination, which haven’t been seen in a while. Even if the assassination of Abiriga was bad, this would have had more ramifications. As Bobi Wine has a standing in the population, while Abiriga was more a lonely fellow within the elite. Even the assassination of AIGP Andrew Kaweesi. Both have been serious and shown how easily big-men can get touched, however, trying to kill Bobi Wine is showing at what level of intimidation the NRM are up too.

This is coming, as Bobi Wine is arrested too. The endless impunity of the NRM and President Museveni isn’t stopped. The authorities knows this and ordered the SFC to attack and take out Bobi Wine. That happened as the opposition supporters was booing at the President during a march and the authorities went hostile. This shows how volatile the President is and how his ego plays out. That his opponents can make he take to arms, because his vision is jaded.

While Museveni are trying to play it out, that opposition members have attacked his car. How is people with stones able to destroy the windows of bullet-proof and tinted windows of his vehicle. There is no way this happen, as the police are arresting opposition leaders as culprits and making the public criminals. This shows how demeaning the President is, as the car of Bobi Wine was targeted, he is a bit lucky to be arrested and not silenced. That shows how little care the President has and how much force he needs to pull, to be able to intimidate and silence the public to get their vote. No vision, no message and no policies, just fear.

We can wonder if the President wanted to assassinate Robert Kyagulanyi, as his driver is now dead. That because the President ordered his Presidential Guards to stop them from marching. There was no mercy, no thought of consequences, just making sure he would overcome this nightmare of political opponent. The easiest way would be to assassinate him. Peace.

Mwenda’s recent Illusions of the ‘FDC versus NRM’ doesn’t make sense!

There are certain members of the media atmosphere, that is so deluded and so paid-off by the National Resistance Movement, that their vision is blurred. If someone would believe that this fellow was drinking or even lack of memory, than people would have believed that, since his reasoning is so far fetched and forged together. So, that the elitism and the favorable view is so in the open. That no matter what the Opposition would do. It would be wrong, anyone standing in the way of the NRM. They are vicious people and vindictive to be supporting the cause of toppling the dictatorship. However, that is the vision of Andrew Mwenda, the Independent Magazine owner and writer. The man whose lost his way, today. I will take extract of his two recent rants on the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC). I just have to scrutinize them, as they deserve.

First on disintegration of the FDC:

Besigye himself did not start out as a radical extremist. However he adopted this position in order to keep the loyalty of his base. These radical extremists believe in a politics of blackmail, insults, lies and intimidation to get their way. They represent a worse alternative to President Yoweri Museveni’s politics of corruption and patronage. For all his faults, Museveni represents a more enlightened politics than Besigye and his extremists. He is to some degree liberal democratic – to a good extent – he has some tolerance of and respect for free speech and other liberal democratic values. But the radical extremists are fascists” (Mwenda, 2018).

This little extract shows how narrow-minded Mwenda has become, if that is in his own high esteem or his lack of vision. That he has to figure out a way to narrowly escape the perjury of his own mind. What we can see, is that no matter what Museveni does, it will be better than Besigye. Even if Museveni has all powers and made a crappy patronage system, that will be better than the FDC and Besigye ever will be. Even if no one has ever tried or succeeded in doing so. Therefore, just by this mere impasse, his reasoning are falling flat.

Secondly, how can liberal democratic values turn into fascists? Where in his right mind does this work out? It is just like reading political voodoo again. The mismatch of political in a petri-dish and use of tools to create an imaginary Nessie in the midst of Lake Albert. Because that is what Mwenda here does. If your members and supporters of Besigye, your fascists, by his reckoning, which is in itself a disgrace. As the Besigye supporters aren’t violent brown-shirt or ethnic cleansing individuals, even the P10 in diaspora isn’t supporting an armed struggle against the Museveni. So where in the mind of Mwenda makes these ideas. He surely need therapy or more schooling, because this doesn’t make sense.

FDC’s radical extremism:

Here has been the tragedy of the struggle for democracy in Africa. Claims by any group opposed to a dictatorial government to be fighting for democracy are taken on face value. Its internal operations and the behaviour of its leaders and members are rarely questioned. And in many cases these groups have captured power and produced governments that are worse than those they overthrew. The lesson for Uganda is simple but fundamental: denouncing Museveni’s dictatorial tendencies is not enough to make a political movement liberal-democratic. Its modus operandi is more critical. FDC is the best positioned party to capture power from NRM. The radical extremists are its strongest faction in FDC. Hence a capture of power by FDC would be a victory for radical extremism and a danger to democracy in Uganda. Whatever the democratic deficits manifest inside NRM, Museveni individually and his party and government generally are fairly tolerant and liberal-minded. I built my career as a journalist exposing the rot in his government alongside its dictatorial tendencies. Yet throughout this period I frequently visited Museveni at State House and we argued over our differences. He would come to my radio show. He would telephone me to express disagreement over opinions or facts I had written. The same applies to NRM and UPDF leaders. They were regular guests on my radio show and my major sources of information” (Mwenda, 2018).

It is weird again that someone would be danger to democracy, while the other one are keeping a narrow hold of power in the State House. That is why someone whose been into power for 32 years are no problem for democracy, but the ones in opposition will cause havoc. That even without proof of it. This is just peddling lies and deception. That Mwenda says NRM are liberal and tolerant minded, why does everyone has to follow the guidance of Museveni and the ones who doesn’t get demoted.

If the NRM was so liberal and tolerant minded, why the NRM rebels get demoted? Why did the leadership throw out Mbabazi, Bukenya and others because of their ambitions? Mwenda, why doesn’t you mention that? While the FDC has had three Party Presidents by now since its inception since 2005, while the NRM since 1986 has had one in command from the State House. There has been lack of control from others.

So, therefore it is special, that ones ordering the army and police to be able to control power, have trouble with supporters of the opposition. This is just weird, that the NRM are okay with its mistakes, but the FDC will become fascists and extremists, but the armed military government of NRM are fine and dandy. If you don’t see flaws in that reasoning, than your right and Mwenda is off the chains.

We can clearly see the brilliant mind or the wacked head of Mwenda. His own head must be a battlefield, as the lack of reasoning and mental breakdown of the defense of Museveni is in the open. It is just like accepting the dictator and making the opposition criminal hoodlums. Not complaining about the ones ordering the killing, but saying the ones reporting the killings as the ill of society. That is what Mwenda is doing these days.

If you know, you know. Peace.

Reference:

Andrew M. Mwenda – ‘The likely defeat of FDC’s radical extremism’ (13.08.2018)

Andrew M. Mwenda – ‘The disintegration of FDC’ (11.08.2018)

What is Nabilah Naggayi Sempala problem: Everyone lies, but who is telling the truth then?

The Forum for Democratic Change Woman MP for Kampala Nabilah Naggayi Sempala has spoken out about the state of affairs in general politics. Especially after the FDC Reshuffle within the 10th Parliament, where most of the loyalists to previous Party President Gen. Mugisha Muntu have been outcast and other people have been assigned roles within the shadow government. However, this has not gone without questions or even discussions. As the decisions to do so, has been done by the FDC Party President Patrick Oboi Amuriat. Which is a total normal procedure and has been done by the FDC for ages now. Therefore, the silent force and not so viable MP, Nabilah shows up to scene.

She is not the cleanest MP within the FDC, even during campaigns before the General Election in 2016. She campaigned both with Amama Mbabazi and Kizza Besigye. Seemingly, whenever the big-man was in town, she had to have support of both. Which is in itself weird and also disloyal. No-one should forget that. Maybe, that is why she is concerned about the state of affairs.

The current state of our nation political health is majorly caused by the willingness of most people to listen to lies especially those who are passionate about party politics and will be quick to rationalize or diminish the seriousness of lies told by a member of the political party they support, but will be merciless toward any member of the opposing political party caught telling a lie of any kind. I strongly believe that all of the problems facing Uganda can be traced to people’s collective choice to embrace Lies. But even though they will claim not to like lying, they continue to tolerate the people and institutions that do the lying so long as none of the specific lies they tell happens to greatly disadvantage or displease them personally; But in the confines of their homes and amongst close friends or family; they embarrassingly admit that the Leader of FDC has lied on several occasions or that President Museveni has not been exactly truthful to Ugandans! Over to you, Ugandans! When will “LYING” be faced and confronted straight in the FACE? Whatever is eating up FDC is the same eating up NRM! Dishonesty!” (Nabilah Naggayi Sempala, 10.08.2018).

If there is someone who is electioneering or trying to finesse herself in Uganda. Nabilah is one of them. Especially if there is coins or loyalty points to get out of it. This is happening now, she is trying to forge a better pattern and make herself viable. Not that she had done that when it came to Age Limit or possible Land Amendments. You wouldn’t hear her speak or utter a word, but when its mere political splits or political infighting. She shows up like hunger strikes. Nabilah have to get that bread and this is how she gets her butter.

Nabila N. Sempala has done this and will continue to pursuit this way. Because her messaging is lack-luster and needs a political sponsor to get pass anything. Her character is coning and will look for someone to carry her. That she blames both FDC and Museveni of lying is to cover all bases. Both her FDC base, but also show wits. What falls flat, is the lack of implying, who is lying and what lie?

Is it that the FDC are trying to forge fresh MPs within the Parliament and foster their talents? Is that the FDC branch of Muntu is being faced out? The NRM lies constantly, that is their bread and butter, the one you are also trying to score point on. What is drive there? Museveni lies all the time and false promises is his livelihood. So what is your point there?

Nabilah is electioneering and trying to finesse herself again. Nsereko bangs for bucks, Nabilah gives loyalty for bucks. Let see where the buck stops for her, maybe she will change party to before next election. She was part of Mbabazi before going back to Besigye in 2015. Let see if she pulls of the same sort of stunt in 2020 before the 2021. Peace.

Arua By-Election: Couldn’t the Opposition muster someone better than Wadri?

Well, it will be a race between the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Nusura Tiperu candidate and independent candidate Kasiano Wadri. This is the Arua Municipality By-Election that will happen on the 15th August, as the contested seat of late Hon. Ibrahim Abiriga is for the taking.

This means that the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) own person will step aside, this is the upcoming Bruce Musema. The vital change happens after Justice Forum, Democratic Party and Bobi Wine agreed upon this. The FDC have clearly folded after what happen in Bugiri Municipality, as former Party President Gen. Mugisha Muntu have already started to campaign from Wadri. There are clearly tensions in the air and the obvious outcome. Muntu clearly favored someone outside his previous party, than throwing his weight in favor of Musema. That is really showing lack of loyalty, btu that is to be expected these days. Abed Bwanika was also apart of the people who went in support of Wadri, as well as Norbert Mao, therefore, the DP is heavily invested in the candidate. As they need the result to prove their worth.

Nusura Tiperu is running a campaign of continuing the “Late Abiriga’s Agenda”, however if that will stick or be the reason for her victory, who knows, as the Electoral Commission, the Police Force and the NRM are usually busy rigging elections in their favor. Even as the Joint Opposition Candidate Wadri, will still battle hard, as he is not as viable as Musema might have been. This can really be shooting itself in the foot, as Tiperu might look much smarter, than Wadri ever will be.

Because if Wadri didn’t have the Democratic Party, Bobi Wine and Bwanika behind him. Would he even mattered in concern with Musema? That is the question we can now put. This questions are viable and it is just days ahead of the polls. That is not a sign of strength, but of weakness.

Tiperu couldn’t have gotten a better bargain, as she has to rally against weak Joint Candidate, instead of several Opposition Flag-Bearers. If the Opposition would have been smart, they had put Musema forward as it would have a younger and viable candidate, not an older character like Wadri. Tiperu doesn’t even need lots of big-men around her to win this. She has an advantage and she didn’t do crap about it. This is the own making of the opposition itself.

If your making a joint candidate, you put the best one you have, not the second best or the lucky loser, but you put up someone that you can actually believe in. That is not Wadri. Wadri is not believable, that Bwanika and Bobi Wine, even Muntu is up to something. That is clear, but the vindication of their political bargain, might be a cold cup of tea and not a drink you enjoy.

Wadri is the former Terego County MP, who lost in 2016, therefore, he is already and not a strong one. They are moving him to another district, but his person is still the same. He has already lost one to the NRM. What stops him from that happening again, the mystical powers of Bobi Wine?

We have to see, but Wadri shouldn’t be the one, in this one Musema should have, but maybe after the Bugiri Municipality, the FDC are throwing their weight behind as they were under-fire to field their own. But this time, it would have made sense, because will someone who lost to NRM. He has already had 4 terms in Parliament. There should be someone without entitlement to run.

However, that is what Arua is getting from the opposition. They are fielding a failed, career politician whose time is up. If he bounces back its because of mercy, not because of his swagger. Peace.

Gen. Mugisha Muntu statement (09.08.2018)

Opinion: Are we seeing an original FDC split? – Into two Parliamentary Groups?

Just as things merger for a political outcome, things can also dismantle for the same reason. That is maybe something we are seeing these days, as the new leadership inside the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) is splitting the party, as the hardliners and the ones who are more favorable working with the National Resistance Movement (NRM) are separating. There been two fractions, the ones who stood by Gen. Mugisha Muntu and the ones who are now behind newly elected Patrick Oboi Amuriat. Therefore, this fraction has appeared ever since the last election of the FDC Party President.

Now that POA has taken his first major leadership move inside the party, there seemingly quick to address and show their allegiance. They are not working with the party, but already showing their attitude and lack of serving their party, even their constituents, as they are more into their committee roles and perks. Than actually thinking, that these are allocated by their respective parties and not because of entitlement.

Reported meeting at Fang Fang:

The fired Leader of Opposition, Winnie Kiiza and 28 other Members of Parliament on the Forum for Democratic Change ticket are said to have resolved to form a separate entity at Parliament. Sources are telling us the MPs, who sat at Fang Fang Hotel Kampala for up to 6 hours last night, decided to cautiously detach from FDC leadership in Najjankumbi, mobilize other opposition parties and leaning independent colleagues to establish a significant numerical opposition power house targeting over 70 members” (…) ““We have decided to come up with a separate entity in the house for all opposition members and independent leaning MPs,” one of the sources who attended the meeting told us. ChimpReports has learnt that, the 29 FDC MPs will immediately withdraw the Shs 500,000 monthly contributions to the party” (Dickens H. Okello – ‘Winnie Kiiza and Team to End FDC Ties, Form Parallel Group’ 08.08.2018 link: https://chimpreports.com/winnie-kiiza-and-team-to-end-fdc-ties-form-parallel-group/).

Extract from Statement by Winne Kiiza:

Allow me to thank the FDC party under the leadership of, Gen. (Rtd) Gregory Mugisha MUNTU for the opportunity they gave me to serve my country. It is one I will never regret. It is some opportunity that saw us move strides together for a common and a better tomorrow. I would like in a special way to thank my colleagues from all opposition parties in the 10th Parliament. Equally, those in the NRM who stood with me and supported the voice of reason when the situation demanded” (Winnie Kiiza, 08.08.2018).

What I am thinking when reading this are we going back in time before the 2006 elections, when the FDC hadn’t been established and was negotiations between two parliamentary groups named Reform Agenda (RA) and Parliamentary Advocacy Forum (PAFO), even some of the gentlemen who was apart of these units are in the midst of these movements today. This is Gen. Mugisha Muntu, Reagan Okumu, Odonga Otto and so on. These people are still in the mix and playing this out.

Are these now playing their cards to answer back to Besigye or are they trying to figure out a new way. Because the old merger didn’t play out as they wanted? Now that their fraction are now loosing and their loyalty to Muntu is making them looking weak inside the FDC. As the POA is putting his stamp on the organization.

Since, there is sources of an informal FDC spilt within the Parliament, are the PAFO sort of organization opening and becoming a new party for the 2021. That will be official in 2020. If so, than we might see Muntu running it, even if he screams: “Country before Self” every time he can. Surely, he does not like being in the shadow of Besigye and POA. Who like being pushed to the side, when you have worked for a long time as a Party President.

However, this is just speculations, I expected when POA won the Presidency, that Gen. Muntu would start on his own. Now, that his allegiance of people are starting their own parallel parliament group. This is the marsh towards 2021 elections. Clearly, this could be the next move for him to join these 27 MPs and try to get another position as he is a fringe candidate within the FDC. As these people are already stopping to associate themselves with the party.

That is why we are seeing another Reform Agenda Versus Parliamentary Advocacy Forum in the 10th Parliament. The FDC is established, but with the loss of 27 MPs, these are really showing the force right now. But if the voters will be so forgiving, that is another scenario. Time will tell and if these people still have suction at all or if they will fall back, as there is always some who goes back in the needs of campaign. To get the needed support and machine behind them.

This is not a positive move, it is only doing justice to the wish of Museveni. Who wished to destroy the opposition after the 2016 General Election. Just as he has skirmished in the Democratic Party (DP) and Uganda People’s Congress (UPC), he can continue to purge the opposition with the Parallel FDC Parliament Group, who he surely can drop envelopes to secure the needed votes in the Parliament.

Let see how this goes or if the rebellion will even become something of power or if they are falling flat with time. Nevertheless, this is a victory for Museveni. As he has possibly put the FDC in pre-2006 state, where it was two fractions.

Therefore we have FDC and FDC Parallel, which is two different entities. Clearly, to make sure the party are weaken. Because by the election of 2016, the party had 36 MPs. This means if all of the 26 MPs are leaving 10 MPs, but there was 10 Independent at that time, so if it is 10 independent plus 16 MPs. Means that there are left 20 MPs who are loyal to the case. It is still a big defeat, but shows the marginalization of the FDC in parliament. The numbers have changed with by-elections, so there would be a few more FDC MPs, but the damage is still severe.

Now, its just have to play out. Peace.

Forum for Democratic Change: ‘Re: Change of Opposition Leadership in Parliament’ (06.08.2018)