Opinion: Ashburg Katto needs a new meal-ticket

He is at it again and in the news. The blogger Ashburg Katto or by his government name Ashiraf Ndagimana Gatto. The former People Power blogger and founder of Ghetto TV. We know he left Bobi Wine and the People Power Movement, as he turned to music promoter Baalam and GCIC Duncan Abigaba. As the National Resistance Movement (NRM) and President Museveni wanted to purge the people around Bobi Wine.

That’s why Ashburg have gone totally YELLOW. He is more yellow than MTN. Making things smell NRM and acting like a forever mascot of the Movement. He has joined the causes of the government and been a vocal supporter.

However, Ashburg have forgotten his place. He has just been in the good graces for over a year. It was last year before the polls the state purged him to hurt the cause of Bobi Wine. They promised him great platform and become a useful person to them.

Nevertheless, Ashburg doesn’t seem to understand his place. He has been useful ahead of the elections and been a good look for the NRM. Now, after the polls and when things turns back-to-normal. His services isn’t that important.

Ashburg Katto doesn’t seem to get this. His services and blogging isn’t that valued by the NRM. It is like he had to be violated and hurt by a police officer to see it. He needed to be beaten by the authorities to know what this government does. Like he haven’t seen how the same government have acted towards its citizens or systematic injustice, which it has been doing for years. Also, how the current regime have acted with the SOPs and COVID-19 regulations. That’s why the blogger should have been careful himself.

As he was thinking about his role after being beaten. He questioned himself and actually stated “I thought I was of a little value to my government. I was wrong”. I hate to break it too you. You don’t add much or is important. If you were anything of that kind you would have been appointed or even got a bigger role.

The President and NRM used Ashburg. The sad part is that he didn’t get it and whatever he does now. He sold out and cashed in… the blogger wasted his potential and what leverage he had. That was traded and now he got nothing.

The launching of a Bloggers Association is fine. Nevertheless, that seems like another scheme to deserve precious funding. Just like the Yellow Influencers and whatnot before the polls. Ashburg should know that his value hasn’t added, but tragically decreased. Since the polls are over and his role as a pawn to hurt Bobi Wine is sort of over. The state can use other means to hurt his party and his platform now.

They don’t need people like Ashburg. They have moved-on, but Katto cannot do that. This is all he got and he got to find a way. Unless, his able to get hired by Abigaba, anyone in the GCIC or elsewhere on the propaganda outlets of the state. As the blogger has pandered to these for months now. Peace.

GLCSMS Statement on Police brutality against Journalists (29.12.2020)

National Associations of Broadcasters (NAB) letter to IGP Okoth-Ochola – The Continous Assault and Brutal Attacs on the Media by Security Forces (28.12.2020)

Opinion: UPDF says journalist shouldn’t report on the “wrong side”

“But it takes two to tangle. If we all care to stick to professionalism, these unnecessary things will be minimized. You can’t have a State that is a threat to its citizens, and our position is clear. The State is there to mitigate internal and external threats. It gets hard when these are being implemented. If you mingle with a very volatile situation, it may be difficult to isolate the actors who are on the wrong side. Once you are a journalist, prove to us that you are exercising journalism. Professionalism will help all of us” – Chief Political Commissar UPDF, Henry Matsiko (28.12.2020).

What is a spectacle after yesterday that the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) or the National Army are now telling journalists and the media how to do their work. The ones that is supposed to defend them. Just like the President they are “enlightening” the crowds how they are supposed to work.

Matsiko is following the trend of former IGP Kale Kayihura who also had the skills to tell how others should operate or do their work. Kayihura could tell both journalists and opposition politicians how to work. Now he does the same.

However, Matsiko says its harder to know who is on the wrong side. We all know that is coded for “opposition”. To say anything else… is just rubbish. They are telling the journalists to be professional, while their operatives and soldiers are shooting bullets into crowds and hitting journalists in the head. That is really serious…

If the UPDF is afraid of threats. Shouldn’t they get help to investigate and look into the issues before they go into a situation like a warzone. When the Opposition have notified and sent letters to the authorities telling where they are campaigning and planning to go. So, it is not like the army doesn’t know where the NUP or FDC was planning to go. They have to get verified and allowed to continuing their campaigning in the Election Road Map.

The state knows this and the Army knows this. Especially a brother like Henry who happens to be the Chief Political Commissar. That man should know this and he knows perfectly well that there are journalists following and covering the convoys of the opposition. That was something Kayihura complained about too. So, the state knows this … and he cannot use professionalism. When the army is acting unprofessional and causing fatalities to unarmed civilians during campaign seasons.

That is what is infuriating here. If the soldiers, the authorities was professional. They wouldn’t kill or injure innocent civilians carrying around cameras and voice recorders. No, they would ensure their safety. Also, not hit people in the head as they are covering Bobi Wine’s campaign. Alas, that is too much to ask these days. It is the victims fault like always in the Republic. Victims are the ones to blame and not the trigger happy soldiers… Because, if these trigger happy folks was professional. Maybe they would have secured the territory and not gone after journalists. Peace.

Opinion: No way this election can be either free or fair…

I lack words today… just enough of the suffering. As yet another man dies on the roads to campaign. Yet more people are shot by the authorities in Masaka. As the 14^th January 2021 is approaching. Like that is a final end of things.

These sort of actions. The abductions of political affiliates, the arbitrary arrests and extra judicial killings. The state is on full alert. Arresting and nailing the coffins on the ones associated with either the National Unity Platform (NUP) or the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC).

Where activists, party leaders are going missing. Getting arrested like chicken thieves by law enforcement in the night. They are incommunicado and the news are breaking in the morning after. Since, suddenly these folks aren’t appearing or answering the calls like they used too.

This is the sort devious acts the government does. The usage of tear-gas, blocking and closing off public venues. The road-blocks, the arrests on the road and the live-bullets is bad enough. As the stray bullets are hitting civilians. Civilians are hurt by the state sponsored violence and the general public is tearing eyes as the pink tear-gas is appearing. This is happening again and again. A repetitive measure and the suffering continues.

If the National Resistance Movement (NRM) thinks this is cool. They are fools. They are allowing citizens to die on their watch. They are allowing citizens being deemed criminal before evidence and a fair trail ever happening. They are preventative arrests and usage of the power of the state to abduct and keep associated people hostage. This while they are neither getting justice or freedom. A freedom and liberty, a peace that the NRM claims the public has gotten under them.

However, doing this day and night ahead of the polls. Only shows the world one thing. That the President is a tyrant and a dictator. He got no back-bone to have real opposition. He cannot stomach a multi-party democracy. If he did, he would be happy that the NUP and FDC was campaigning and building up their parties. Alas, he rather destroy them with his military and his police.

While the President speaks of correct ideology. How can it be correct to use these means to silence critics? How can it be right to arrest people without warrants or evidence? How can it be right to use fatal force against civilians? You tell me, because I don’t have the answer.

This election is fraudulent and a charade even before the ballots are cast. These elections are marred with government sponsored violence and injustice. There is no justification to prolong the agony. The deaths and the injured says enough. The political prisoners and the issues of assembly. Says it all. Where the NRM can do whatever, while the others are tasting the brutal force of the state. They are coming in like the opposition are terrorists or serial killers. While the public are getting the blunt force right in their face. The authorities who are there to protect them are the ones that violates their space and their rights to gather and assemble. That is the tragedy here.

The President and his men can blame the victims, never take responsibility and call it “collateral damage”. Like they broke a glass at a pub during a brawl over who won the last game of Dominoes or something. However, the person who dies cannot be replicated like a glass. The person will not return, only the memory of what that person can linger in people’s heart. The death is the end of a life. That is why its tiring and exhausting knowing people dies over a campaign. Only to spread a political message and bring hope.

The NRM speaks highly of liberation from the past. However, these acts are like the past. The abduction, the arrests and usage of state to destroy the opposition. The amount of skulls, the amount of pain and suffering the NRM has caused. Will one day be tallied and be categorized. The day of reckoning and answering for its ills. Its injustice and impunity will one day happen. Even if it isn’t tomorrow.

Nevertheless, the 14^th January 2021 is already set and the goal-post haven’t changed. The state is showing its insincerity and brutality. There is no way these elections will be free nor fair. That has been shown with this campaign. As Bobi Wine sleeps roadside in rural Uganda while awaiting a new day to campaign. That says it all.

These campaigns are rigged, the polls are rigged and the President is a bloodthirsty tyrant. If you don’t know, now you know. Peace.

Bobi Wine’s Bodyguard Frank Ssenteza knocked-dead in Masaka

Just after the terrible news of the three journalists shot in Masaka. Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine’s Bodyguard Francis Ssentenza Aka Frank, the Personal Bodyguard was knocked down by a police patrol car falling to the ground and dying on the spot.

So much impunity and injustice within a day. The National Unity Platform (NUP) Presidential Candidate and his convoy has been severely hurt by this. The Bodyguard was proclaimed and confirmed dead in Rubaga. Therefore, the fatalities surrounding this campaign continues.

The authorities should answer for this one. This is yet another one and its tragic that its coming to this. Innocent lives taken and just for campaigning. This shouldn’t be a thing. Frank deserves better, all citizens deserves better. He was just doing his job and that cost his life. Peace.

Journalists shot as they we’re following Bobi Wine’s Convoy in Masaka

Today as Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine was leaving Masaka district after visiting a church ahead of campaigning in Lwengo district. The authorities and the police ambushed the National Unity Platform (NUP) convoy passing the area. They used live bullets on unarmed civilians.

These bullets apparently hit journalist Saif-llah Ashraf Kasirye, a Radio One journalist and an online Ghetto TV in his head. He got taken to the Masaka hospital for treatment. Others who was also hit and injured by the police was the journalist Ali Mviule and Daniel Lutayaa (NBS TV).

This actions is police brutality and journalism isn’t a crime. These folks and citizens are only covering the campaign of Bobi Wine. They are not criminals and haven’t done a crime. These acts are devious and injustice.

Innocent civilians gunned down for doing their job by the security that is supposed to keep them safe. What the police are doing versus what they are supposed to do.

These actions shouldn’t happen, but they are reoccurring and there is no consequences. The only thing happening for this trigger-happy police officers and commanders. Is that they get moved and stationed elsewhere. There is no consequences if there is fatalities or brutality served the general public.

Today has been bloody and unnecessary so. Three journalists doing their job got injured while working. Because some local officer wanted to show his hubris. That isn’t a good sign and the people pulling the trigger will not answer to any courts or any law. While Bobi Wine and his folks has to thread the waters carefully. Since he can answer the same Police Force anytime. Peace.

Foreign Correspondents’ of Uganda (FCAU): Press Statement (27.12.2020)

Opinion: UCC goes only after Bobi Wine Friendly Youtube Channels …

The Uganda Communication Commission (UCC) wrote a letter to Google INC on the 9^th December 2020, as they stated that several accounts was breaching Ugandan Law through the Youtube Platform. These accounts, channels and media houses that is targeted just happening to be People Power and Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine friendly ones. They are not going after anyone who has made accounts praising the President or the NRM. No, they are just targeting a selective 14 channels on Youtube and Facebook. It is very intentional.

That the UCC does this isn’t shocking nor surprising. This is the same UCC who has blocked opposition from appearing on radio broadcasts and blocked people from wearing red berets on TV shows. This government entity is working as the good servant for the Presidency and his vision. The UCC is a slave to the President and all of his actions. If they weren’t that. It wouldn’t have acted like this. Muffling the free speech and using the law to suppress alternative media. If the UCC cared about that. They would have targeted these actions differently, alas they do it now in midst of campaigning. As they know no other follows the opposition and particularly Bobi Wine like these media outlets.

These fourteen in question is: TMO Online, Fred Lumbuye, Trending Channel UG, Uganda Yaffe, Uganda News Update, Ghetto TV, Busesa Media Update, Uganda Empya, Map Mediya TV, KK Tv, Ekyooto TV, Namungo Media, Jil Muwonge 2 and Bobi Wine 2021.

These 14 entities are on Youtube and these channels have to follow Terms of Services. These channels have to follow laws and the jurisdiction to the Youtube and Google. These entities are following the usage and rightfully so. They are putting out content, because of the ability to do so. If they are putting out content that is deemed illegal or unfit for Google/Youtube. The company can strike them, they can suspend and they can delete it. This is being done on a regular and they can also get demonetized as well… which means that the entities or channels can loose ad revenue, if Youtube deem it unfriendly and make it unprofitable content. That is also something they do to their creators. Therefore, the UCC is sending a warning and possibly making this possible for these channels.

However, the UCC doesn’t have a direct connection or control here. The Google/Youtube enterprise is following laws and statutes from elsewhere. Therefore, the question is in another dominion. Meaning, this can only be a plea by the UC to shut these down or suspend them. However, the UCC doesn’t deliver anything substantial. Other than some nice wordings in a long letter, but no direct proof of the allegations. They are not proving which videos or clips that is horrific or “hate speech”. That is why this is very fruitless.

The UCC is acting as the mouthpiece of the President. He only wants UBC, UBC lite versions out there and New Vision outlets. Which only spew out his propaganda. The President only wants his words and his “victories”. The man doesn’t want other things out and that is undermining his standing in the public. As people are getting news, views and perspective outside his controlled media space. This is why the UCC is going after these 14 Youtube Channels.

The UCC wouldn’t do this, if they wasn’t interested to prove their loyalty. These channels are only targeted because they dare to make content, which is friendly to the main opponent Bobi Wine. If they weren’t they wouldn’t be in trouble or hit like this. Peace.

Opinion: Three Stooges and One State House

At this point, we are hearing so much about the conflict between Andrew Alfonso Mukasa a.k.a Bajjo Events, Balaam Barugahara Atenyi and Cathrine Kusasira within the State House. It had to even be addressed by Ashburg Katto on NBS Television. That is how low these people are taking it.

They have all reached the upper echelon for one reason. To hurt the campaign of Bobi Wine and have some useful ghetto people. This is all to counteract the standing Bobi Wine has as the “Ghetto President”. Before this, the State House and the President wouldn’t even given these people the time or the day.

That Balaam is supposed to block Kusasira from accessing the President. Balaam who has also been coordinating as a “Social Media Coordinator” together with Gen. Salim Selah. As they together was giving food to the NRM Friendly “Media”, the “Yellow Influencers” and Vloggers. That happened earlier this year in May 2020.

So, the Presidential Advisor Kusasira is suddenly blocked from the President. By a guy who has suction to the President. Balaam clearly has powerful friends and not just a simple appointment. This is why Ashburg Katto is speaking today as well. Since, he got covered by the NRM and the State House. When he went from Bobi Wine to the NRM.

These are all useful idiots, stooges or even chumps. They are all thinking they are so special and unique, because the President has appointed them or given them a role. However, that is only for a short time. They are not elected, not hand-picked, but only done to damage an opposing candidate.

IF Bobi Wine hadn’t run for office or challenged the President. Their political career wouldn’t have existed. These people wouldn’t have been close to the State House. Unless, they were suddenly having concerts and entertainment for dignitaries. If not making another gig-song ahead of the election year.

These people aren’t winning anything. It is just about how much they are not loosing. Sooner or later they will loose relevance for the “high above” and will be left crying. If they are already bickering and complaining. It will get much worse, as bigger men and more vicious who has been left behind by this man.

The President could easily make them “honourable” and as easy make them a “civilian” again. That will happen with time. Neither, if these ones like it or not. They are getting a short-time in the spotlight this way. These people will not suddenly be granted all their wishes and become big-men. They might think so themselves. However, these stooges are being used by one State House.

If you know, now you know. Politics are a cold cynic game and these ones are prepared for the reality. If they bickering about small stuff now. It will become much harder… it is just a matter of time. Peace.