CEON-U: Post election Press release (01.04.2016)

CCEDU Topowa

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 1, 2016

The post election season has been characterised by tension arising from the house arrest of lead opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye, a court case by former presidential candidate Amama Mbabazi and filing court petitions for MP, L.C and municipal elections.

The Citizen Election Observers Network- Uganda (CEON-U) is concerned that the continued house arrest of the lead opposition candidate infringes on his right to freedom according to article 23 of the constitution.

In article 43 of the constitution: (I) In the enjoyment of the rights and freedoms prescribed in this Chapter, no person shall prejudice the fundamental or other human rights and freedoms of others or the public interest.

(2) Public interest under this article shall not permit-

(a) political persecution;

(b) detention without trial;

(c) any limitation of the enjoyment of the rights and freedoms prescribed by this Chapter beyond what is acceptable and demonstrably justifiable in a free and democratic society, or what is provided in this Constitution.

NBS Besigye 16.02.2016

Section 24 of the police act gives the police a right to arrest someone if he is a threat to public security, but CEON-U demands that police produces evidence that makes Besigye a threat to public security, otherwise will his arrest be indefinite.

In a multiparty system, opposition parties should not be viewed as enemies of the state, but rather as groups that provide alternative Government programmes.

As part of a process of increasing citizen participation in Uganda’s electoral process, CEON-U recently carried out an opinion survey on the recently concluded general elections.

The survey was meant to expose electoral irregularities so as to provide a premise on how to better organise elections in Uganda.

EC 22.02.2015 Guarded Heavy

Consequently;  8 CEON-U managers visited areas where there is conflict, court petitions and requests for vote recounts to establish the causes of the disputed elections. The team visited Tororo, Gulu, Kotido, Butambala, Serere, Jinja, Mayuge, Iganga, Mukono, Kasese, Bundibugyo and Ntungamo. The managers worked closely with our long-term observers who are natives of the constituencies and the districts which they observed, before, during and are observing after elections. CEON-U held focus group discussions with members of the community, local council leaders, opinion leaders and voters from all political parties in the districts.

CEON-U also met district police officials, district returning officers, registrars in courts of law and victims of electoral violence.

Oulanyah House 20.02.2016

Findings:

Generally, the presidential and parliamentary elections were peaceful, but the period leading up to the election day was volatile in all the districts visited. In Mayuge for instance a man died under unclear circumstances. He was a supporter of Robert Ntende, an independent candidate. He is said to have been killed by supporters of Idi Isabirye.

In Iganga at Idudi supporters of NRM and FDC clashed on the eve of elections over voter bribery. The NRM MP was giving out cash to voters who alerted FDC supporters. FDC supporters reacted by blocking the NRM from giving out money, the NRM called a NAADS soldier to rescue them. He came and shot dead a 25-year-old man and the crowd became more rowdy. And the soldier continued firing live bullets. In the process of the scuffle, a woman was shot through the arm and an s.3 student was shot through the neck. Both these people were not involved in the scuffle but had gone to the trading centre to buy food. This shooting took place at 8:00pm. (attached are the pictures of the victims of the shootings).

The way results were tabulated and announced at the district provided a sharp contrast with what the locals had gathered from the polling stations. This happened for all the elections, presidential, parliamentary, district council and municipal elections.

NRM UPC Arua 16.11.15

There are mainly two known political parties, the NRM and FDC; even though Uganda has 10 political parties. UPC which was once a known party is almost non-existent.

In a strong multi-party dispensation system people are given an opportunity to have divergent views on handling issues of governance. A weak political party system promotes a one party system of governance which impedes institutional growth.

The management of electoral processes by some of the district returning officials was poor.

A case in point is Jinja: When it came to the L.C.3 election of Walukuba West Parish B;

The LC 3 election had five candidates Joseph Bateganya Atumika, Bisusa Amisi Kafuko, Kirunda Isaac Kiwunda, Mande Milton and Mbulugu Emmanuel.

On Election day the ballot papers that were supplied to the polling stations had wrong names. Mande Milton was called Mande Milton Kirunda. Also party symbols were mixed up between the NRM candidate and FDC candidate. This was sufficient ground for the election to have been cancelled. However, even when the Jinja district returning officer, Ambrose Mwaita was notified about the anomaly he told the candidate Kirunda Isaac Kiwunda that electoral commission Jinja was not going to do anything about this case. A case has been filed against the electoral commission in Jinja court by Kirunda Isaac Kiwunda.

There are several other electoral disputes that have been filed in courts of law in the various districts. In Omoro Constituency there is a Petition: Simon Toolit Vs Oulanyah Jacob was logged in on March 24 2016. Simon Tollit is suing the Incumbent Oulanyah Jacob and EC over election mal practice. These included ballot boxes being kept away in a saloon, EC tampering with DR forms, EC using a Different format of the District DR Form to declare results among other things.

Anti Riot Police 30.01.2016 Before FDC Campaign Kabale

Intimidation and Violence:

In Katawi, Amuria, Bukedea and Serere there were cases of intimidation and violence. The community claimed they were beaten by militia groups and crime preventers and were warned against voting an opposition party into power. ( attached is a picture of the people who gave confessions during a focus group discussion)

In Mukono the parliamentary campaigns were characterised by violence and chaos. According to the electoral commission, Fatuma Ndisaba’s supporters used to beat up Betty Nambooze’s supporters during campaigns. There was also the problem of candidates campaigning beyond the stipulated for campaign time and supporters clashing after the campaigns.

Badru EC

Recommendations:

 The military should be restrained from participating in elections, because elections are volatile in nature. Electoral commission should improve its image by investigating and eventually laying off district returning officers who are said to have altered DR forms and extorted money from candidates who wanted to be announced winners.   All political parties should be treated equally and respectfully by the Government in power.  The Government should seriously consider the electoral reforms that civil society presented last year. Presiding officers and polling assistants should be better remunerated to prevent them from being compromised during elections.  Management of elections is not a single days event. Planning and training of officials, desk officers, middle level managers, desk officers, heads of departments on the process of elections should start the second month after the general elections. Training presiding and polling officials should be done a month to the elections to minimise errors on the DR forms.

Ugandan Election 2016 Grieving

Conclusion:

The democratic path is a long bumpy one, despite the many electoral irregularities that marred the recently concluded elections, the gains made over the last 30 years cannot just be thrown away. We need more concerted effort to promote true democratic ideals.

For more information about CEON-U contact Dr Martin Mwondha on 0788929052 or email omwondha662@yahoo.com visit our website at http://www.ceonu.or.ug (CEON – Uganda) – Towards 2016: Conducting a Unified, Comprehensive and effective election Observation Mission in Uganda. You can also visit the FHRI offices in Nsambya.

Free Uganda statement in support of the YOUTH WARRIORS who are spreading the message of Revolution and mobilizing the masses for the Freedom Struggle (01.04.2016)

Museveni Idi Amin

Ugandans will not allow Museveni to impose himself on the country using NRM cadre judges, and the savage barbarism of Kayihura//Muhoozi killer-torture squads. The nation’s patriotic youths are igniting the fire of Revolution that will spread across the land in the coming months.

Uganda’s Revolutionary youth are leading the Struggle for Freedom, and their message of DEFIANCE is spreading like fire across the Motherland.

As the ‘CHAIN’ WARRIORS’ were successfully highlighting the state of terror in the country, by chaining themselves in strategic areas of the capital city, Music Superstars, like Eddy Kenzo, Bobi Wine, etc, were making their contribution by using their performances as a launch pad for mobilising the masses.

Free Uganda thanks these patriotic youth for paving the way for the evolving struggle. We applaud their courage and determination in the face of intense brutality and repression from the Museveni / Muhoozi / Kayihura negative forces.

Fellow Liberation Struggle Patriots of the young generation – the CHAIN WARRIORS, the MUSIC WARRIORS, the STREET WARRIORS, the CITY WARRIORS, the VILLAGE WARRIORS, etc, your noble stand against injustice and Museveni’s terrorism is inspiring millions of our citizens and preparing the country for the final show-down in the People’s Struggle for freedom and democracy.

Demonstrator Kampala 31.03.2016

A lot more is to come in the days and months ahead, and Despot Yoweri Museveni must know that the Ugandan People will not rest until he is squarely defeated in his attempt to illegitimately hold onto power after what was the MOST RIGGED ELECTIONS ON THE AFRICAN CONTINENT

Never mind what some NRM CADRE JUSTICES say, in such incredible shameless support for the Despot, Ugandan People are not going to allow the Museveni Family apparatus to continue forcefully imposing itself on the country. Ugandans will not allow Museveni to hang around state house for what are purely egoistical and self-fulfilling motivations.

Museveni must understand that this time round Ugandans are not going to play any SOFTLY-SOFTLY GAMES with him.

The liberty, democracy, happiness and ‘Museveni-less’ future they seek is not negotiable.

Ugandans have decided to move on without Museveni, and it shall be so, whether the despot wants it or not.

And, for God and Country, every means permissible by the Constitution of Uganda will be deployed to achieve the desired outcome.

Issued by Dr Vincent Magombe, Secretary FreeUganda Leadership Committee and Press Secretary FU.

On the orders of the sudden change of guards from the Calvary to leave the home of the People’s President in Kasangati; Let be clear the message of IGP Kayihura is not doing this out of goodwill; the Police leaves because Mzee thinks he is safe

Kayihura Mentoring Service

IGP Kale Kayihura: “We shall not allow Kizza Besigye to continue violating the law. We shall watch his conduct to ensure people and property aren’t in danger. We are extending a token of goodwill but we expect him to respect the law”. He also said: “he has instructed Kasangati Police Station DPC to withdraw deployment outside Dr Kizza Besigye’s home as they maintain close monitoring of his movements to ensure people’s safety”. He said this today at a Press Conference at Nguru, the Police Headquarters.

Daudi Mpaka Kasangati Court 18.03.2016

This was supposed to happen at the Kasangati Magistrate Court earlier today:

High Court judge Justice Elizabeth Kabanda is expected to rule on the matter in which the DPP is challenging Kasangati grade one magistrate’s decision of continuing with the hearing of Kizza Besigye’s case challenging unlawful incarceration at his home.

While that was supposed to happen this morning after over 40 days without charges or warrant the IGP Kayihura has ordered the Police to leave the property of Dr. Kizza Besiyge.

Kasangati 20.02.2016

Let’s be clear on the matter, it is not good-will, it happens the day after the petition and the “official” post-election period is over. Because now the judiciary and the Electoral Commission is scotch free by law. Therefore the “threat” of Dr. Kizza Besigye and his FDC is gone in the matter of the law and the Elections laws of the country.

IGP Kayihura says it is goodwill that they leave, be clear it is not and they have been squatting in an unlawful action against a presidential candidate and besieged his legal political party. Now it’s supposed to be ordered by him to the local District Police Commander James Kawalya of Kasangati. They have been there for 41 days!

How is it to violating the law to defy the regime who detain you without reason while preaching and executing orders who resists common sense, as the ruling party is following a Resistance Movement, but cannot handle Defiance; that must be a lie as the defying the matters is clearly resisting and being of resistance towards what was then an oppressive regime of Obote. They did their resistance against that and took power. So it is foolish to stumble over the rhetoric of defiance campaign as the defying of the regime who can’t stand by their unlawful actions and their draconian laws.

Kizza Besigye 23.02.2016

During the 41 days, twice the IGP Kayihura has gone out with statements and press releases and claimed he was not to be under house-arrest, but with the orders today he establishing precedence as they have closed his area and his movement. They have taken him lots of time to be detained at different Police Stations and sleeping at night in his home, before the Police-Van stopped coming in the mornings at his home.

The Police have detained people trying to visit him, not letting FDC officials getting to his home and conduct party meetings, they have roadblocks and even squatted at neighbors’ homes since the Police never established mobile-toilets to the Police-Officers who besieged his home.

So the whole ordeal is messed up and the UPF, IGP Kayihura and the NRM-Regime do this like amateurs and like fools. They whined-up the Electoral Process, the people who got ecstatic and think that there will be changes, but that is not the fate of the people, as the NRM-Regime had it all already decided for them.

They might leave him for now, but don’t be surprised if he leaves his compound that the monitoring of his movement will leave him the opportunity to yet again visit and be detained at Naggalama Police Station or Kiira Road Police Station, even if he is extra lucky get a arrested and taken to Kampala Central Police Station, he knows the cell of every station because of the special place in the heart of Mzee.

Kiira Road Police 15.02.2016 FDC

What they fear is that he can ignite the people and no matter how much the army or the Police try to control them, they cannot shut it down when it becomes like his Nomination rally in November 2015. So they have not kept him under house-arrest since mid-February out of good heart or of the best of the country, but for the best of the Executive and for him to dissolve the will of the people as the monument of the opposition have been under siege and not really had the freedom or liberty to be an ordinary human being.

So IGP Kayihura, you can stick your “Goodwill” up your blindly following the Executives behind and take that arrogant mentality somewhere it is fitting. Because you have told fairytales and told nonsense for so long that the goodwill you speak of, is not a true assessment; for the simple matter you have no charge or warrant, taken the freedom of a presidential candidate and taken it away with force and made his home a prison.

Also the blatant disregard done by the Kasangati Magistrate Court and the judges who has used Pro-Bono, Waiting days and then send the matter to the High Court without the judgement been done there either. Therefore the matter of illegal house-arrest was today been set to determine at the Court again. While the IGP Kayihura orders might inflict and gives “freedom” under “monitoring” Police proves that he is still seen as a “criminal” by the NRM-Regime. Because a free-man and ordinary citizen would not be monitored and followed by the security organization. That is something that IGP Kayihura and the NRM have totally forgotten. But hey they don’t believe in the will of their people, only of the one man with a vision; the old man with a hat who has the only vision that matters and the orders that IGP Kayihura follows blindly.

This also happen at Kasangati today!

As this has been said there been a meeting with Youth Leaders at the home of Kizza Besigye.

Kasangati 01.04.2016

Think that is enough. Peace.

Free Uganda Statement on the Youth Revolt now underway in Uganda, led by the CHAIN-WARRIORS (31.03.2016)

Demonstrator Kampala 31.03.2016

Ugandan People Power Revolution in the making. The nation’s Patriotic Youth are leading the way. Freedom is the ultimate Destination.

Free Uganda applauds the courageous Ugandan youths who have today, 31st March 2016 launched the equivalent of the 1980 attack on Kabamba barracks by a small group of NRA guerrillas.

The difference is that this extremely symbolic action by the revolutionary youths of Uganda was entirely peaceful – CHAINING THEMSELVES TO POLES IN STRATEGIC AREAS OF KAMPALA CITY, as hundreds of chanting and singing citizens cheered them on.

The CHAIN WARRIORS have opened one of the most effective pathways to the liberation of Uganda, and they must be applauded for their determination and courage, in the face of brutal police arrests and torture.

Going forward in this Struggle, all creative means of defiance will be deployed by the People Power Patriots, but the Ugandan nation must prepared to confront the extreme and nakedly savage brutality by the Museveni / Muhoozi / Kayihura axis.

It is vital that the People of Uganda, while pursuing the freedom goal through peaceful and non-violent means, acknowledge the need to be open-minded about the possible use of ALL NECESSARY MEANS, and begin to build the necessary capacity for any such eventuality.

This call for preparedness to use ALL NECESSARY MEANS to secure the People’s Freedom and resist mass murder on the part of the Museveni / Muhoozi / Kayihura axis, is directed mainly at our brothers and sisters who are already armed and trained in the use of violent means, i.e those in the Uganda People’s Defence Forces, the Uganda Police Service and the country’s Security Services.

If Ugandans are to achieve the Burkina-Style liberation, which was initiated and overwhelmingly actualised by unarmed and peaceful citizens, those progressive and patriotic brothers and sisters in the armed services must be prepared to intervene on the side of the masses, when Museveni, his son Muhoozi and the rogue police general Kale Kayihura begin to commit mass murder of unarmed civilians or when pro-Museveni sections of the armed services chose to carry out a palace coup, as was the case in Burkina Faso, when the presidential guard attempted to reverse the People’s victory by carrying out a palace coup supported by the deposed president.

This foresight and visionary reflection on how things may go wrong in the course of the People’s liberation struggle is of vital importance to the success of the patriotic mission now underway in Uganda.

It is not good enough for the People to sacrifice their lives through peaceful struggle, only for their victory to be blunted or snatched away by the very illegitimate and criminal outfit that has imposed itself on the nation.

Where necessary, even the civilian population that is now involved in peaceful and non-violent defiance, must be prepared to use ALL NECESSARY MEANS should the evolving developments necessitate that course of action.

So, as the People Power Struggle picks momentum and becomes visible on the streets of Uganda’s capital and elsewhere across the country, it would be of strategic importance for the progressive forces in the liberation struggle not to rule out any RADICAL SOLUTIONS, IN THE FACE OF MUSEVENI’S, MUHOOZI’s and KAYIHURA’s EXTREME VIOLENCE, BRUTALITY and REPRESSION.

The Free Uganda (FU) view on the way forward for the Freedom Struggle is that Ugandan people must be prepared for any eventuality and all the patriotic forces in the country should empower themselves and the masses in ways that will be effective enough to overpower the reactionary terror machine currently assembled by Yoweri Museveni.

The Freedom Struggle is on!

Written by Dr. Vincent Magombe, Secretary Free Uganda Leadership Committee and Press Secretary FU – 31/03/2016

Press Release: UPF reasons for detaining Charles Rwomushana (30.03.2016)

Enage 02.03.2016

The Police, today, Wednesday, March 30, 2016, summoned Mr. Charles Rwomushana, a self styled political activist, at the Special Investigations Division, Kireka, at 10.00 am, and obtained his statement in connection with allegations of spreading false information and inciting the public to commit offences against the state during a talk show on one of the local radio stations.

Charles Rwomushana
The suspect, who appeared with his lawyer, has a tendency of making reckless and unfounded statements on different media platforms that infringe upon national security. The evidence accumulated against him that included a radio transcript was jointly reviewed and questions put to him on as to whether he was or not breaking the law in making such alleged falsifications and by explicitly inciting the public to violence. He was thereafter, released on police bond.


The investigations which are being conducted in full compliance with every individual’s right to freedom of expression, and in conformity with the regional and international laws, appear complete and the case file submitted to the office of the Director Public Prosecutions, to evaluate the evidence gathered thus far. Although the police are highly committed to fostering a vibrant and free media space in which people can freely express themselves, it does encourage the public to do so in a manner that is not illegal and does not incite violence and hatred.

CP Fred Enanga
Press and Public Relations Officer
Uganda Police
30.03.2016

A Free Uganda Statement on the growing attacks on police stations and other security installations Uganda (29th March 2016)

Kapchorwa March 2016

Despot Museveni’s refusal to step down, after an election that was clearly rigged, is propelling the Ugandan nation to a violent clash between him and the rest of Ugandan citizens.

There is now very little doubt that Ugandans are gearing up for a fight to dislodge Museveni from state house should he fail to step down voluntarily.

And only one man is to blame for this state of affairs – Yoweri Museveni.

Not only did he rig the elections in such a comprehensive manner, but his daily repressive actions against innocent Ugandans, who are merely demanding for their constitutional rights and freedoms, has set the stage for violent show down, which is now more than mere speculation.

Because of the continued arrest and house arrests of freedom struggle leaders like Kizza Besigye and General Sejusa, as well as thousands of other pro-democracy activists, many of whom have disappeared without trace, this, in addition to wanton killings of unarmed civilians, daily tear-gassing of babies, pregnant women and even religious leaders, Ugandans are now realising that all peaceful means of expressing their grievances have been denied to them.

They are now left with little option but to prepare for a big fight to end tragic occupation of state house by a man who was overwhelmingly voted out by the majority of Ugandans.

It is no coincidence that many of the armed groups now launching their initiatory attacks on police stations in places like Sebei and Kasese, by all indications, military or, as it were, well trained people.

Ugandans will remember that the members of Ugandan armed forces, and even the police service, voted overwhelmingly against Yoweri Museveni in the February elections, a fact fully and publically acknowledge by Museveni himself.

The signs are that the men and women in uniform are slowly but steadily joining the People’s Struggle for Freedom.

It is true that a few of the police and UPDF functionaries are still offering their services to Museveni, his son Brigadier Muhoozi and the rogue police general, Kale Kayihura. Those are the ones killing, tear-gassing and intimidating innocent citizens in places like Kasangati, outside Dr. Kizza Besigye’s home.

But, without any shred of doubt, the overwhelming numbers of UPDF soldiers, police and security service functionaries, would love to help rescue their Motherland from Museveni’s illegitimate and illegal terrorist outfit that is falsely claiming to be the government of the Republic of Uganda.

The coming months will prove this to be the case.

The Struggle for Uganda’s freedom is on.

Hon. Nasasira’s new curse-word: “and with the approval of Parliament”, as he wants to rewrite the Ugandan Communication Act of 2013 with the new amendment!

VPN 18.02.2016 P2

I will here go through the piece of the Communication Act of 2013 sub-section 93 Regulation, where the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MoICT), the man who is the sponsor behind the new amendment of the act in 2016, happens to be the Minister of ICT Hon. Eng John Nasasira, he is now repealing a sentence from the law; he is not rewriting the law in a big part or changing the whole law. He is just crossing over a sentence, but that sentence gives the Minister less power, as if he uses the Communications Act of 2013, he have together with the UCC go to Parliament to get it approved for using the act; That is the major fact! And Hon. Nasasira want to do as he please without questions, open accountable actions or with the consent of other people than himself, he want this to be like the Public Order Management Act or the Public Finance Management Act; where the Police or Ministry can go into the Bank of Uganda without having approval of the Parliament to use those laws, this is the same Hon. Nasasira wishes to do. Take a look!

UCC

The Communication Act of 2013:

“93. Regulations.

(1) The Minister may, after consultation with the Commission

and with the approval of Parliament, by statutory instrument, make

regulations for better carrying into effect the provisions of this Act

(2) Without prejudice to subsection (1) the Minister may make

regulations relating to—

(a)fees payable upon the grant or renewal of a licence”.

The new Uganda Communication Act Amendment of 2016 says this:

“1. Amendment of Act No. 1 of 2013.

The Ugandan Communication Act 2013 is amended in section 93 (1)

By the repealing of the words “and with the approval of Parliament”.

(I am just saying) If they do repeal it, since it is not yet voted in the amendment of the law.

Then it would be written like this:

“The Minister may, after consultation with the Commission, by statutory instrument, make regulations for better carrying into effect the provisions of this Act”. 

UCC 23.02.2016

Afterthought: 

That makes the simple matter that the Uganda Communication Committee can act without the approval of the Parliament and under regulation of the minister. That gives the minister the opportunity to act on his or her own without asking or questioned by the Parliament, that means that the powers of the minster is getting stronger, as the Minister of Information and Communication Technology, does not need the contact as the repeal of the law will give way to the Ministry of ICT.

The man behind the amendment is Hon. Eng John Nasasira he is the Minister of Information and Communication Technology (MoICT), so the man who support the amendment wants to give himself a bigger mandate without having to talk his arguments for using the Communication Act of 2013 can use with consent of the UCC, but does not need to get approval or tell anybody in Parliament! So the representative of the people and elected people does not have to power to question the MoICT and UCC for their actions, as the Ministry can on their own use the Act as they please, not according to the Parliament as a lawful provider and the custodian of the laws, as it is supposed to be.

So if you catch my drift the amendment will give more power the minister who oversees the law and the UCC, can use the act as they please, if they amend this amendment. The repeal of words gives the opportunity for the minister to use the extended law without questioning or accountability from the Parliament. So the Parliament should not accept this as this is a way of grabbing more power in a ministry and gives the minister more power. This is an example of draconian law where the minister eats the cake, control the cake and dispense the cake, without being questioned about how he share and show the cake. Hope you follow? Peace.

Reference:

The Ugandan Communication act 2013 – 18.01.2013

The Ugandan Communication (Amendment) Act 2016 – 11.03.2016

Another group called USF claimes responsibility for the violence at the Kapchorwa Police Station on the 5th March 2016 (11.03.2016)

USF Kapchorwa 10.03.2016

Afterthought:

Is these folks the same as the “Save Uganda Now” or claiming to be somebody else, as the name has a similar tone and style as it it: “Uganda Saving Force”. Have they changed their name? Or is it somebody else claiming the liability for the violence and killings at Kapchorwa Police Station? Because the Press release from SUN was very detailed and clear about how they acted.

No matter what, there seem to be a group or groups taken responsibility for the actions in Kapchorwa, so that the UPF does not need to conduct business and find intelligience. Because both the SUN and now USF take charge and say did it. And the question is if the SUN and the USF is the same, in the same way NRA and the NRM is the same. Peace.

The Police say the Boycott from “FDC is Illegal!” The Police use their holy grail POMA, and that some actually stay home in solidarity with Besigye today; Actual shop-keepers get arrested for closing their store in Rukungiri today!

Lumumba Block C 10.03.2016

Today it is first Thursday when many people stay home in solidarity to Dr. Kizza Besigye’s house arrest and the stealing of the votes on 18th Feburary 2016. The Police can’t handle that people are staying home and not talking. They can’t gather evidence and find out who really is opposition to harass. Therefore the CP of the Police said this to the media! And he had to use Public Order Management Act (POMA) the bill who is more used in Uganda then the Constitution to give the Police right to whatever they want.

“These demonstrations are deemed illegal because they are not authorized by Police as required under the Public Order Management Act, due to the potential of culminating into riots across the city; including arson, looting of properties, destruction and vandalism, and violent clashes between Police and rock throwing protesters. It is on record during the last such unlawful protests that several businesses reported damage, buildings destroyed, vehicles vandalized and injuries sustained,” says Fred Enanga, the police spokesperson” (Afunah, 2016).

That not going to work is illegal and not authorized from the Police is amazing. That the Police can state that you are making arson and potentially destroying property by not going to work is flamboyant at best.

Take look here:

Eyewitness: “Time check. 9:00 am I am at home i mean staying at home. The thought rung in my mind..go out and access the situation and find out the public response towards call for stay at home. Here i took a 5 minute walk to Kitintale taxi stage. This is one of the busiest stages in Kampala”

And if the police has issues with black or blue t-shirts while walking to work, it proves their partisanship and really, really foolish to demolish this way of showing their agony in public. The Police might not gotten a petition or form filled in with the planned demonstration, but the issue is that if they had filled it in, they would not been accepted. They have themselves aggressively preventative arrests of FDC and GO-Forward activists/officials/agents. Therefore the initial activities from the Police is not giving justice, but securing the Presidency and the elite of NRM. Not caring about democratic actions as they have sieged the home of Dr. Kizza Besigye since before the Election Day, the way the Police has attacked the Najjankumbi Headquarter have been raided twice. So if the Police expected that the FDC would comply with their rules now, it would be strange as they themselves has no regards for laws or regulations as they attack the FDC and Go-Forward by any means since the 18th of February.

The Demonstration of the FDC and their supporters is peaceful defiance and defying the institutions and businesses that supply funding to the NRM-Regime. They do not say that people should stay home if they fear of losing their job! It is a demonstration of character as they will defy the regime by peaceful means. The destruction and vandalism is more the way of the Police and Army as they hurt and kill. While the FDC want to wear a shirt and stop using MTN. If that is hard for Police to understand, I understand that as they have shown that they only understand violence, as they create it or harass the public. The Police cannot harass the public if they stay in their own home. They are allowed not to listen to Bebe Cool or Dr. Jose Chameleone or anybody else who supported President Museveni during his campaigning. They can listen to Bobi Wine or Lucky Dube if they want to, with that should cause tension. As much as staying home is a way of showing disaffection, if you couldn’t do that; than the public could do that through clothing as a sign of defying the regime; both of them are is soft and peaceful ways of demonstrations, not making the violence and creating vandalism.

So Uganda Police I do not know what you do in your homes if that is violent or vandalism, but that is up to you, and if the public is wearing something dangerous by wearing blue or black. Than you should start to wear that yourself since the Police are often the most dangerous, as you throw tear-gas, live-bullets and other aggressive behavior towards the people. And telling people that they are breaking the “Public Order” by staying home or even wearing some other clothing is just unserious, even if the FDC and the FDC NEC didn’t send a form displaying the articles and decisions to demonstrate peacefully in the country.

Rukungiri 10.03.2016

The actions of Rukungiri where shops have been closed in solidarity of the FDC and “Free My vote” campaign; the shop owners are now being arrested and detained by the Police;  So the Police have now lawful power to tell if the stores can be open and closed. By the assumption of the public display arresting Mr. Batuma and Mr. Sonko of Sonko Electronics in Rukungiri who has been arrested today after their store been closed. The FDC has been informed that UPF is looking out for business-owners that closed their businesses voluntarily. Is this the proud state of Police and NRM-Regime that you order businesses to be open or be detained by government forces? Is that parts of President Museveni’s pledges and speaking of peace during the pre-election period. As nobody could create violence or unrest in the country as long as he was President, the old man with hat and his security organizations has gone to far, when they take the men who lay down the work in solidarity for a cause and then detaining them, while looking for the other ones.

The people do this without creating any of the violence and vandalism. Even if a government car got burnt by the Electoral Commission offices in Kampala, compared to the violence you created when Dr. Kizza Besigye was crossing town to go to the Makerere rally on the 15th February 2016, this here has been nothing. I am sure the Police will blame it on the opposition, even if it was the Police themselves blazing the car, even if it was just a disgruntled employee of the Electoral Commission, who hadn’t gotten his/hers pay-check.

So if the Police struggle with the sit-home demonstrations and the clothing to show allegiance with opposition, with boycotting NRM and showing public disobedience. That should be allowed and not be questioned. Peace.

Reference:

Afunah, Badru – ‘Police Warns As FDC’s Protests Begin’ (10.03.2016) link: http://news.ugo.co.ug/police-warns-fdcs-protests-begin/

Amama Mbabazi speaks on arrest of petition witness and burglary at lawyers’ offices (Youtube-Clip)

Amama Mbabazi addresses the media and talks about the cases of alleged police raid on his lawyers’ offices in which materials and evidence linked to the election petition were stolen. Mbabazi also briefly addresses reported cases that some of his petition witnesses have been arrested or are being harassed by police” (NTV Uganda, 2016).