Opinion: No one is safe – when the authorities can take you in for “guilt” by association

The “drones” or “Panda Gari’s” never left the Republic. It is clear that abductions, kidnappings, keeping people detained incommunicado, torturing and also extra judicial killing is far from over. The authorities does it in broad daylight, they do it in the middle of the day. They come unannounced and without warrants, take away people and their remaining family or friends are shocked.

This can happen because the family is in exile, associated with the “wrong” political party or has some sort “questionable” behaviour. There can be “intelligence” gathered against the person, but nothing has been in the courts. None of the charges or the reasons to apprehend, abduct or kidnapped has been proven or tested. It is only on a hunch and possibly by association with someone. That’s all it takes and there is no other justification for doing so.

This is being done by the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI), Special Forces Command (SFC), The Flying Squad (Uganda Police Force) or Internal Security Organization (ISO). All of them are doing at different times to various of people. It is just so commonly happening. The only reason why we know about it is because people leak videos and messages from “loved-ones” or family members who has been “taken-in”.

The amount of this practice is hard to figure. The numbers fluctuate and the accuracy is hard to know. However, with the lack of oversight and no one been able to look into the practices of “safe-houses”. You just know the state has more facilities where they are keeping “prisoners” or “people of interest”. As they are held without their legal rights or after the 48 hours window to be taken to court to be processed. Because, the entities and the security agencies doing it is operating on a flimsy basis. There is little to no “intelligence” or “proof of criminal activity”. If the security agencies had it. They could have produced warrants and justification for the action in the first place.

The ones that is amazed by this have clearly lost a step. This has been done so deliberately over the years. In such a manner, that the state is now and then forced to pay damages to people captured without a legal basis. That’s why the Courts are forced to so, because the laws are stipulated in that way and the state has to fork out funds. This is for a reason and it happens too. The ones that is fortunate enough to challenge the kidnapping, torture, pain and suffering, which was caused on them by brutal force.

This is the legacy that the National Resistance Movement will leave behind. The acts of the CMI, SFC, Flying Squad, ISO and others will be things that has tarnished its reputation. Everyone knows they are doing it and they cannot run away from it. They have their Argentina House and other facilities that does it. There is no way to run away from it now.

There is no clever spin or sort of reasoning that can suggest otherwise. These actions will remain as dubious and be seen as deliberate acts of vengeance. They are not only done on political leaders, activists and random bystanders. It is also done on people by association and connected by blood. They haven’t even done anything, but their kin did a decision either in absentia, in exile or are already captured themselves. That’s how the state operates and they are not even hiding it. Peace.

The Cable Guy: The missing piece to why the Police Force couldn’t solve crimes

It seems like there is a reason why the Police Force cannot solve crimes. All along they never hired Jim Carrey or ‘The Cable Guy’ from 1996. He should really help the detectives, the police officers and every other agency in the Republic to solve the criminal activities there. His needed and that quickly.

This is since, the Police Force has claimed, when they get to study the tapes of the murder scenes and places where crimes where committed. They would able to solve these crimes. However, now as the murders are a week old and some are even older than that. Then, they are putting out a statement, that power outage and disruptions in fibre cables is the reason for their lack of possible leads.

Like, this is now UMEME Limited and Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited (UETCL) fault, they are too blame for the power outages. While the National Information Technology Authority (NITA) and National Data Transmission Backbone Infrastructure and e-Government Infrastructure (NBI/ EGI) is to blame for the bad fibre optic cables, which is also causing issues for the CCTV cameras.

It is like its a acronym jungle, where the Police Force (UPF) is lost together with Internal Security Organization (ISO), the Flying Squad and the Cheiftain of Military Intelligence (CMI). Who knows whose else is missing. Because, the UMEME, UETCL, NITA and NBI/EGI is all screwing up. I am sure someone there, they can need the service of the Cable Guy.

They surely seems to need him now. If not, the Police Force wouldn’t come with a statement like this. Where they are pleading to the public, like a school-kid who couldn’t finish their homework on time and blaming the dog for eating the assignment. Because, that what they did. Instead, as professionals call the technician. Or is it their plea to get money so they can get service on their operation? Do the Police Force need supplementary funds and more funds for upkeep?

Seemingly, the UMEME, UETCL, NITA and NBI/EGI should be offended, but also defend their craft. We know the UMEME has often outages, but the Police Force should be able to cover tapes, angles and have safety batteries in their operational CCTV cameras. In this day and age, even fire-alarms and other installations like that has alarms that has batteries that last for days even without electricity. That is if, the state and its producers has built a well-functioning system. Especially, considering the knowledge of the common cold or the common black-outs.

That is really the magic trick here. It is a reason why many fuel power-generators to keep the business humming, even when the black-outs are appearing on the skyline and awaiting for the return of the Dark Knight. However, the Police Force isn’t prepared for villains nor heroes. Only to be silently idle and await their next happy hour.

That is why they are lonely and need a friend like the Cable Guy to save the day. He might even cover them with a free cable to save the next coming crime. Because, you invited him and befriended. He needs a companion and who better, than the lost in darkness, Police officers in the Republic. Peace.

Opinion: Tumwiine thinks his above the law in concern of the safe-houses

“What I know is there is safe houses but you (MPs) will not be allowed to go there because the laws does not permit you” – Gen. Elly Tumwiine on 28th August 2019

General Elly Tumwiine, the Security Minister and the one who has the oversight and governing role over the safe houses, the Police Force and so-on. The General has blocked the Human Rights Committee from the Parliament to access the Safe Houses. As they should be able to assess and report on the works of the state.

Alas, the General has denied that and even asked for the MPs to ask forgiveness for doing so. As they humiliated the owners and the ones whose running these houses. What is out of this world and lack of understanding of his role as a Minister. His not a higher ranking, above the people, but a servant of the public. His Security Ministry is in-charge of Internal Security Organization (ISO), External Security Organization (ESO) and Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI).

The National Resistance Movement (NRM) apparently needs these Safe Houses, as they are still keeping Nalufenya Prison also. The NRM are not interested in disclosing or stopping these practices. That is why the Parliament and the Committee are doing this to the General. Since, the General are not willing to let them overlook the acts of it.

Like the NTV report today:

“Parliament has adopted a motion to censure Security Minister Gen Elly Tumwine for blocking the committee from visiting safe houses and repeated contempt of parliament and the office of the speaker. This follows a report of parliament’s Human Rights Committee that faulted Tumwine for blocking the committee’s work on safe houses, before also stopping the Director of Internal Security Organizations Col Kaka Bagyenda from appearing before the committee” (NTV Uganda, 05.02.2020).

The Parliament is not wrong looking into it. The General should be worried, when you easily access horrific stories of people whose been taken into these places without trial. Tumwine might think he can do it, because there is no repercussions for his actions. Neither will the NRM take any hits for this. Even as they continuing the post-colonial legacy of it. This practice was before the NRM and will hopefully be abolished after it.

“The word “safe house” has now almost gone out of use in Uganda, but multiple sources within the police and accounts by people who have been subjected to torture recently suggest that such places still exist. In his narration to the MPs, the tortured Byamukama said the beating that nearly ended his life did not happen in Nalufenya, for instance. He was blind-folded and driven to a location within Kampala City where he was tortured and was only dropped in Nalufenya after the fact” (Eriasa Sserunjogi – ‘ON WHOSE ORDERS? Torture as an instrument of repression in Uganda’, The Elephant, 29.07.2017).

Gen. Tumwiine knows these stories, there been several cases in Court, which the state has lost. As they are breaching the Constitution and their own laws. By not abiding to it, as they are not gazetted neither are the detained and tortured individuals following the courts nor the rule of law.

That is why Nalufenya is still a thing in 2020. He might be censored, but that will not change the fact of the innocent behind bars and tortured in ungazetted safe-houses across the Republic. Where people who dissent or who are troublesome to the NRM are put. Without trial, without justice and without answering in courts of law. They are guilty before even proven innocent. Instead of being innocent until proven guilty. 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.

My letter to Gen. Tumwiine on the role the MPs and their investigation of Safe-Houses!

“I am a member of parliament, honourable members and I felt hurt when you ashamed the institution of parliament for knocking at peoples gates thinking that its a safe house. I want them to apologise for shaming parliament” – Gen. Elly Tumwiine (Moses Namayo – ‘Gen Tumwine wants MPs to apologise for “invading safe houses”’, Nilepost, 02.10.2019).

Dear Sir, General Elly Tumwiine, Members of Parliament (MP) and the Minister of Security.

I am writing to you, because clearly it is need. For someone being an MP and Minister. You surely need a kind lecture.

I know your arrogant and feels entitled to living lavish and being unquestioned for role in the National Resistance Army war against Milton Obote II government from 1980-86. Since, then you have been in power together with the President. This is public knowledge.

However, I am not writing to you because of your history. I am writing to you, because you need to hear this. I cannot believe I have to write it even, but apparently I do. The Members of Parliament are Representatives of their constituents, they are the Representatives of the citizens. Initially, they are the lawmakers and the ones having oversight of the government, the Republic and secures the state. The Security Organizations are mandated to secure the country for crime, spying and possible insurgency. The army has mandate to secure the territory and safe the Republic, but not to be policing.

Just as I wrote that, I have to be clear, as Representatives of the Citizens, they are there to ensure the citizens are safe and taken care of accordingly to laws. The MPs did their job as an oversight mechanism to see the state of the safe-houses. Because, this is ungazetted safe-houses should be scrutinized and analysed like Nalufenya Prison before its closure. Surely, there is found and litigated violations of laws from the safe-houses, as this has been proven in the Courts. Therefore, the MPs should be allowed to enter and report to the Parliament.

General Tumwiine, you need to understand your place. Your in the mercy of the MPs and the citizens who elected them. They are not your minions or your little civilians. They are the people, who is there to ensure the public safety. Which you are supposed to respect as a Minister and MP in Parliament too. Instead, you want to keep these practices secret and only the survivors and brave enough to speak about it. Get to give a little gist of the acts done by the Security Organization within these ungazetted safe-houses.

Mr. General, your not superior, these practices will be shed lights on, whether you like it or not. Because, the truth will appear eventually, not because you want it, but the reality will be surfaced or leaked. At one point, the acts and the questionable violations done in the mercy of the security agents of the state. Will shed lights on the ones you want to keep a secret.

Still, you should let the citizens and the MPs know what that is done. General Tumwiine you need to understand your part. Because, you got no rights keeping people without warrants, without court rulings or in detention indefinitely. These things needs to be brought to light. We cannot let this be in the darkness. What we already know about these Safe-Houses is grim and bleak parts of humanity, which a state shouldn’t do. However, you want this behind closed doors and forgotten.

What if one day, another regime put you and your family members in a house like this, General? Wouldn’t you like your MP to knock on the door and check if he laws was abided and your rights was preserved? Have you considered that?

General Tumwiine, tides are turning, times are changing. We don’t know tomorrow, that is why we have to make the best of today and try to make tomorrow, even better. Therefore, you should think of the future and what might happen to you. Who is now defending these practices, who says that you cannot end up in similar places?

I am not the one to charge you, I am just the one to make you think and maybe reconsider your approach. General, the MPs should be allowed to enter and do their duty. Just like you have the duty to ensure the Republic is safe and prevent crime. That doesn’t mean, the state shouldn’t allow questions in how it does it.

Time for you to respect others and actually listen to others. It would be helpful.

Best regards

Writer of Minbane

ACTV: Rising Cases of Child Torture in Uganda (30.09.2019)

Opinion: Mzee’s rebuttal to the US sanction on Kayihura falls flat!

It was just a matter of time before Mzee or President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni was about defend former Inspector General of Police Edward Kale Kayihura, the loyalist and bush-war hero. Who was demoted, put through a trial and since then been in the shadows lingering without any concern.

Now that the United States had put sanctions on Kale and his closest families. This has ruffled with some feathers and hit the pride of the old man. Not that its surprising. Its expecting by this point. He don’t want to answer for his crimes and his own actions. That is why he will deflects his comrades ones too. Because, he has to save himself. To think otherwise is just being naive at this point.

I will not comment on the whole thing, because that is just a mere waist of my time and most likely yours. So, I am instead taking a few extracts of and will break those down in ordinary fashion. So, here we go.

“Before I comment on the action of the USA Govt in the matter of Kale, I should, first of all, say that, that excitement among some elements of the Opposition shows the poor quality of their spectacles when it comes to issues of Africa and Uganda. Why do they think that going to the USA or, indeed, any non-African country is so important that if you are not allowed there, it will amount to a painful punishment? I know of no Country that is more beautiful than Uganda on Earth Planet. It is actually a sacrifice for me to visit any non-African country on account of bad weather, strange foods etc” (Museveni, 22.09.2019).

For someone whose steady jet-lagging elsewhere, its hypocritical of him saying this. When is daughters are barred from giving birth in Uganda and has to this abroad. Therefore, when his ministers are taking health-care tourists and so-on. He should really make sure the beautiful is better equipped. However, his terms on the opposition is directing attacks on them. Instead of looking at own grievances. Which he tends to do. Because, that is way of defending himself.

I would say for someone whose has had the need for the support, the co-operation and the aid of the United States. It is very rich to call the opposition poor quality in this manner, when he spoilt the opportunities to use this for making the Republic better. That is why they are happy, that the US sanctions Kale, because the Ugandan are shielding him and not really enforcing rule of law. That because, if they do, then it will hit the President that ordered Kale to do certain human rights violations and crimes against humanity. But not the President will pursuit those, why? That will implicated his own ass and he don’t want anyone touch the leopards anus. Remember?

“However, for Kale or other Ugandans who are suspected to have made mistakes, they will always be handled in Uganda. That is why we shall never hand any Ugandan to, for instance, the Court in The Hague- the ICC. Kale is already facing whatever mistakes he is suspected to have committed in our Courts. What value addition is, then, there from external actors?” (Museveni, 22.09.2019).

Without to much repetition, how much else than being demoted and taken on charges is Kale at this point? His not really serving time or answering for his crimes in office. That is because his part of the Bush-War elite and the ones that the President cannot touch. The invisible NRA elite who can do whatever they want. By all means, we know the President fears the ICC for his crimes in Uganda, Rwanda, DRC and elsewhere. He don’t want to answer for those, as he wants to be shielded and expect to get away with it. That by using Pan-Africanism and other Isms to look smart.

I’m tired of bullshit and you should be too. So take a sip of coffee, milk-tea or whatever tasty beverage you got close. Since this madness got to stop, but I don’t know when. Peace.