“Uganda: A New Dawn Is Upon Us” (TV Commercial from Go-Forward/TDA); With thoughts on the TVC’s of Ted Cruz, Bernie Sanders and Amama Mbabazi

Is this the way to sway votes or just a cheap trick to play with your mind and gain empathy towards the end of the general election from Go-Forward/TDA frontman Amama Mbabazi? I am just asking because I got far from all the answers. Because it is just interesting! To take a distance from a totally different man and his campaign TVC Bernie Sanders in the Democratic Party in the U.S.A. While saying so, let take a look:

They both play with you heart and mind. Not just showing numbers and such. They are both respectable, but which tells the story the best and using the TVC best, is it Amama or Berne? But just put it up a bit, to make your mind boggle a bit. Let’s take a look at Ted Cruz of the Republican Parties new TV ad: 

And this here is totally different. It plays more on him as politician then the two above and is less heart into it. That is why you are more moved by the Amama Message and Bernie then by Cruz. Because it is instinct. A politican either shows what he will do, what the ideas of his political message or dropping bombs on his peers and “enemies”. As Trump would do in his, he will make somebody “enemies” because it is an thing to sell, instead of selling a program. Bernie is selling social programs for society and doing it with tact and finness. Something missing from Ted Cruz. Amama has it and shows the spirit of his program, but miss the final touch that Bernie has. That is my opinion! What is yours? Peace.

The adventures towards the polls 18th February; how the last days might go

UGDebate2016 P6 Together

We are in time and days where the government will be questioned for all their actions and all their misbehaviour towards its citizens. Not anymore that it is some foreign NGOs who complain first, no it’s public and opposition that discuss it in viral formats online. That makes the government and its regime look weak since they can’t spin those stories.

It is truly special times in the Pearl of Africa, voter tourism will be the new word of 2016 unless Mun G or Radio & Weasel makes up a new word for catching babes in Kabalagala. Until then remember the magic word of VOTER TOURISM. If you don’t know what that is about, that is about Mzee, the ruling president of 30 years who wants to have big crowds, but not pulling them. So to get that he pays attendance, gives them food and t-shirts, pay for rental of buses and get them to the campaign venues. Just like certain corporations does with foreigners when they travel in packs to National Parks to see the wild animals, they get that while the local public get to hear the recycled pledges of the old man with the hat. And for a free t-shirt, food and transport, it might be worth it, to listen to the old man for two hours… and that ladies and gentleman is Voter Tourism. Ferrying of voters and ferrying of crowds. A beautiful industry co-owned and run by the ruling NRM Campaign machine and Mike Sebalu. He must be so proud.

Mbarara Buses 12.01.2016

Other activity that doesn’t stop during these elections times is either the blatant attack on media and journalist. Like throwing cameras, shooting them, banishing them, getting them to delete pictures and get media houses to shun campaigns or campaign trails. The NRM have been vocal against radio stations for hosting Dr. Kizza Besigye and Mbabazi have seen their issues with Radio stations. NTV has also had issues early for not showing favourable pictures from the campaign. They we’re even detained together with Daily Monitor at some point. Now the barrier has been broken and the NTV cannot follow the campaign trail of Mzee anymore. Also if Mbabazi is at a radio stations like in Karamoja he couldn’t attend the radio station, other places they have shut of the transmitter after the airing of Mbabazi. The media and journalist have had hard treatment and been costly to follow the campaign trail, with the ones being in the middle of melee like the journalist covering the first planned campaign rally for Erias Lukwago in Kampala was actually shot, but not killed. There been violence in Northern region against Mbabazi and Besigye convoys as they have also hit against media. I assume that this will not stop without a big bang, like the Ntungamo clashes. It has be in those levels if there will be a total shut down.

Wenger Mourinho

Well, when we speak of violence we do not speak about specialized in failure like Arsene Wenger, sorry, I am not supposed to speak about football, and the man who said that was sacked for the second time in that club, so Mourinho is really the special one or the sacked one. Let me get back on the campaign trail. Violence isn’t coming from one man or one party. It usual contributed to the acts of the Police who interfere as NRM Police force, and not a political partisan unit, that was even seen in the primaries in Northern Region where fully uniformed police officer voted. So there traits are there and the IGP Kayihura was on second delegates conference in Kololo to vote for Mzee sole candidacy project, as he does, he just follows orders.

NTungamo 13.12.15 NRM - Amama

The violence of Ntungamo is the epitome of the violence during the campaign trail. There been violence pre-campaign trail when the opposition tried to hold meetings and get delegates to come forward as the police couldn’t accept this. They went fully fledge armoured with tear-gas and guns against people with not even a blade. As they we’re petty criminals instead of bank-thieves. The irony of that is that certain Police has during the campaign trail actually robbed a bank and is now jailed by the government. So there been actions from certain police and police interference into politics. Just like before the presidential campaign trail when IGP Kayihura told the world about the journalistic integrity, this was before his men was undressing opposition woman on the way to Rukungiri. Well, the Police have interfered though silent before Papal visit. It was so scary peace, a unusual peace. Now that the Pope is only sharing the #VoteSevo poster on some roundabouts around in the country; the police have after he left started with ordinary actions towards anybody else then NRM. We can see that they jails people for talking about partial voting, human rights activist for talking about human rights in up-country, detain people for pinning over NRM posters, while the Police help pinning up NRM posters, the police tear-gas late venues, they shut down hospitals for opposition leaders to see, the schools guarded, so guarded that the police stations or post are empty when the Mbabazi or Besigye is in the area. The proud police is busy containing the elements of opposition and even majors are shutting down opposition office in districts! The Police and army are busy being loyal to the NRM-Regime.

NTV Uganda Presidential Debate 2016

While this is happening the opposition have been busy at the #UGDebate16 while Mzee was moving his mouth and brain in the districts, because he couldn’t discuss his policies or be questioned by either TV moderator or fellow Presidential Candidate, that is because Mzee is Carte blanche from those events, even if it is the first of its kind in Uganda. That is why Mbabazi was sounding like NRM spokesman. Something that has continued ever since for some strange reason!

UGDebate2016 P8 Amama

Mbabazi is curious pickle in the mix right now. He is neither nakati nor posho. He seems to want to be both at the same time. He can’t decide on the matter. Mbabazi is running as independent candidate with an independent mandate, in a independent party in a an independent coalition called the Democratic Coalition. The one coalition where Uganda People’s Congress went out off, and also Forum for Democratic Change went out of when Amama Mbabazi became their joint Presidential Candidate; the independent candidate Amama Mababazi; who still sees himself as part of NRM and as a NRM member is an independent presidential candidate. That is hard matrix of thought and also hard equation, even a PHD in math can’t get the numbers to be correct. There is a mix of check and balance that doesn’t add up. Mbabazi is political schizophrenic and can’t be both NRM and Opposition, though he struggles with that… Seems like he want to be friend of Mzee still, even if his friend Dr. Ruhakana Ruganda has taken over his place in NRM-Regime, that must be sad sight.

Go Forward 13.11.2015 Luwero Campaign

The other piece of hardships is the accidents of Go-Forward convoy, the deflections of his MPs and candidates, the little piece of men who turns over to him. The way it seems to many NRM moles in the Go-Forward camp, while he has been trying to capture big-fish from NRM without succeeding. Even if certain members leave in the villages there is many big-men and Woman MPs who has left his fold and regretting standing by him on nominations day. Something that hasn’t happen in the same fashion for Dr. Kizza Besigye during the campaign trail; the trying of fetching the NRM Primaries losers; who also was already MPs and Ministers proved to be meagre failure for the Go-Forward. So that he still get crowds and people behind him is good, but not in the extent of Besigye.

FDC 141015 KB

NRM have continued to trail and travel around the country. With their Voter Tourism, paying people to show up and using government institutions and facilities, also travel methods to show the beauty of their campaign. NRM have also used a fortune on the campaign compared to the opposition. The report that came in January showed the massive amount of war-chest that the President has. Hiring also and paying in towns that they didn’t have rallies so that the boda-boda drivers and other local’s transporters would be able to be used by Go-Forward or FDC in the area.

Museveni Idi Amin

Fear-mongering rhetoric comes from the NRM-regime and their cronies, not only Mzee, but their spokesmen and loyal party officials. That is either Police or Secretary General, even members and former members, talking coup d’état or vote rigging. Even shooting and killing the opposition if they feel the election was stolen away from them. IGP Kayihura wanting to arm his Crime Preventers to secure the NRM-Regime, while one of the Generals says to the media that he will not turn down and give away power if they lose the elections. Proves that the fear they are spreading to the public is staggering. Mzee has told for long he is the only one who create and keep peace within the army and to the public, Mzee has said he still isn’t done with his project; the one is his been doing for 30 years. While this is doing so the Police and Electoral Commission will go after the FDC for using the Defiance, while the Police are detaining and blocking them from travelling on while they are campaigning. So it is some kind of justice happening, but only against opposition, while supporting NRM. Who knew?

M7 NRM

NRM has been campaigning under the #VoteSevo or #SteadyProgress, while the Opposition has gone after this ones at every turn, especially when showing the schools and other government institutions who has deteriorating during his three decade tenure. Like Aswa bridges and Abim Hospital, that has been the epitome of the neglect of the government to serve the people. While NRM have come with the same pledges and same kind of attitude as they have done in two last campaigns. So people are tired of it, even in the place called Isigniro the people was so tired that they left in the middle of the speech of Mzee, that must hurt him, the ones left behind was crime preventers and paid crowd, the locals left the venue when they heard enough of the same kind of empty promises. As the rest of public is, not everybody, but a big bunch seems to be; since the crowds for Besigye isn’t going down and Mbabazi get decent crowds, and the two other ones doesn’t pay them to attend or use the tool called: Voter Tourism.

Uganda EC Wall

The initial scare is the coming rigging and the partiality of the Electoral Commission as the chief got a heavy pay check to stay as boss. Loyalty pays when it comes to Eng. Dr. Badru M. Kiggundu. He has gotten ballot-papers from South Africa, biometric-machines and promised to have enough people to make impartial voting process happen. As well as COMESA and the EU have sent monitors, the Commonwealth was monitoring the last election, not that; that made a difference. It was more we can now show after the rigging that the election was filled with malfunctions during counting, fraud and also buying voters as they did in the General Election 2011. Why should not Mzee use the same tricks now? If the NRM Primaries are a story of what can come then there will be a “Circus” as Kahinda Otafiire said then. As the pre-ticked ballots, stuffed ballot-boxes, MPs and winners in prison while the results coming, as the candidates comes into the tally offices and takes the register and the ballot-papers. This happen so that the NRM-EC couldn’t validate the result from the area. They we’re also using security officers by the polling station to make the voters afraid and scare them to vote for their candidate, so democratic of those NRM big-men who used this tactic.

While the reports of further deployment of troops in Kampala of 5000 soldiers to secure the peace of the election, or to shut down if the people reacted to the result and claim the rigging for the NRM-Regime, as they have done before, last time was in 2011. Something they want to be sure about. The General Katumba Wamala has said that the army will take control if the people are not accepting the result; I know I am paraphrasing, but that is initially what he meant. It is similar to the NRM-Regimes scary rhetoric, but he got the guns to blast Kampala into oblivion.

Topowa Vote

There rumours of more ballot-papers coming in the once who came to Entebbe on 28th January 2016, there rumoured that their will come a second batch ballot-papers from the Island state of Seychelles or Mauritius on the 4th February, to deliver and be able to pre-ticket them before arriving in Uganda, to secure the NRM and their men their seats in Parliament. We would not be surprised if this would happen, they have done something like this before.

Road Block from Police

The next days will be more police around the opposition rallies, they will block the people and be rowdy as the tension and fear of losing grips will take its toll on the police. While the NRM will portray the perfect picture and look beautiful towards the Election Observation Missions from COMESA and EU, while they will do the opposite to the opposition. Tear-gas venues, block venues, stop processions in towns, stop pinning up poster or detaining people for pinning posters or affiliated with the opposition. We will see more radios losing their transmitters, TV stations taking down content questioning the regime as the NBS Sunset did recently questioning the IGP Kayihura, TV-Stations being banished from the NRM or talked about in a vicious way. TV-Stations will either lose their licences or transmitter for having Mbabazi or Besigye, even if they have messages that are negative on the governance levels of NRM. If the NRM-Regime could they would have shut me down… but that is another story.

Museveni Gulu 091015

We will see coming and coming general election that will be questionable, the cringes to power… they will not let it go easy, President Museveni feels he owns the people and the country, even if the people doesn’t feel the same, as seen in Kiruhura district yesterday, his home area was totally blue and no people ferried there. As the FDC doesn’t have the budget of NRM or War-chest of the long-serving president. That will continue until the people goes to the polls. People will try to be bought before going into the voting booth, villages will be visited by NRM millionaires and billionaires who will lose their wealth if the NRM loses their power; so the way to keep their riches is to pay the locals to vote for NRM candidates and sole candidate Mzee. We will see and hear about giving goats, cows and gasoline to boda-boda drivers, as they will give away soap and other merchandize in town-centres from Tororo to Lira. We just know they will go to any measure to secure the power yet again.

So if there will be some other stories then the ones I accessing is because the Orwellian monster will not turn overnight, especially when they have built the King Kong monster over 30 years. So it is a giant who makes the Presidential Palace at Nakasero and Entebbe Statehouse wealth looks tiny. We can’t expect anything else, therefore FDC have to continue with defiance, and the opposition have to stay strong, because the Police have already funds for the post-election violence, and the UPDF is starting to prepare their security of the NRM-regime force of keeping power. So there is little to see unless the people goes back instead of reacting and then goes back to the villages to feed their families. We can hope for something else, but the fear to lose life for the power and seeing how it has turned; an also become after the people demonstrated in 201 P1. So there will be issues in the coming days and the police will show its flex and the army is starting deployment. This here  is not looking positive with the knowledge how this regime is keeping power and wanting to reign as long as possible.Peace.

The People’s President had rallies today in Kiruhura and Ibanda; while also inspecting a depleted government school in Kiruhura

Kiruhura District P.S. P3 29.01.2016

It is time again to show a campaign trail day of the FDC Campaign Convoy and Dr. Kizza Besigye, they are holding it up while the driver Fred Kato is detained and in jail. The campaign does not stop because of this. Though it is just the opposition who has to cope with that, it’s not like Mike Sebalu or Ofwono Opondo would be jailed for some nonsense, right?

Pretext to the campaign area:
“On the 6th January 2016 FDC offices in Kiruhura district were broken into by the military, the deadly illegal operation was led by an Army officer known as Major Rutakara (mrs) of Kyakabunga village, Nyakasharara sub-county, FDC materials such as Besigye Posters, T shirts, and P10 cards were confiscated” (Minbane, 06.01.2016).

Paying Boda-Boda drivers to shun the FDC rallies in Kiruhura and Ibanda:
Patrick Bitature was supposed to support men to walk around in the district to give the boda-boda drivers UGX 30k to not drive around people to the rallies in the district today. Just as they have offered before in other districts, they also used the same tactic when Go-Forward was in the area campaigning. The same strategy was used in Ibanda district where the men went around promise them a slaughtered cow if they didn’t drive people to the FDC rallies in the district. This was the promises done before the Dokita rallies in Ibanda.

Other news on opposition issues in Kiruhura district on 28th January:
A Church leader with the name of Justine Namara was thrown out of church after the congregation got to know that the leader was a supporter of Amama Mbabazi. In Kanoni town the Catholic Church Leader who was given a motorcycle by John Nasasira has been harassed by the people and the motorcycle have been withdrawn.

Kiruhura District Rushere FDC Campaign 29.01.2016

Kiruhuru district rallies didn’t start here, but he had an effective campaign rally in the town of Rushere. Where the locals even gave away NRM membership cards to the People’s President!

Kiruhura District P.S. P1 29.01.2016

Dr. Kizza Besigye between rallies in Kiruhura and Ibanda districts he visited a Primary School in Kiruhura, who was supported by funds of USAID, and now run on the Government funds, and the pictures of the school proves the local neglect from the Local Government Council and allocation to this school.

Kiruhura District P.S. P2 29.01.2016

The wave of change has not spared Kazo sub-county here in Kiruhura district.
They telling Kizza Besigye at ” Kyahweire” that he shouldn’t worry.

Kiruhura District Kazo Sub County FDC Campaign 29.01.2016

Police in Kiruhura commanded by DPC Byaruhanga has tempted to break Dr. Kizza Besigye from using a road leading him to some campaign venues claiming there is a market place; where they claim Kizza Besigye was likely to disrupt business. At Bugaruhe police was found barricaded the road using police pick up which forced Dr. Kizza Besigye to ask the why they are denying him the way. After minutes of exchange between police and FDC supporters, police later backed back and left Besigye’s convoy to proceed to the next venue. Surprisingly the place where police claimed to be the market there were no people. Meanwhile the tirn up at Besigy’s rally in Kiruhura district is overwhelming.

Byaruhanga Kiruhura District 29.01.2016

Then we see the people greeting Dr. Kizza Besigye while driving into Ibanda Town before the main rally in town! Massive show-up and turn-up for the team!

As the massive rallies in the district where coming to the end. The Calvary had to show up and show their force as they couldn’t do anything else. In Igorora where he was about to hold his last rally before heading back to Mbarara for the evening; the Police intervened and baptized the crowd in tear-gas and scattered the public who had turned up for the rally.

Ibanda Rally P1 29.01.2016 FDC

Kizza Besigye words after the rallies today:
“Kiruhura and Ibanda now better to say thank you! You made it clear to the world some of you through TV interviews like Kiruhura. And many of you through the joy and strength to sacrifice your time and resources to have us continue with this struggle we started in 2001. We thank you for the keeping the faith alive and the support. May God bless each one of you.
Kabale here we come…”

That’s enough for today. Peace.

Court asks MTN and Airtel to release details of Aine’s phone usage (Youtube-Clip)

“High Court has began hearing an application by a team of lawyers and the relatives of Christopher Aine who want police to be compelled to produce him. The court has ordered MTN and Airtel Telecommunication service providers to avail recordings on two phone lines for the period 14th to 17th December 2015. The lines belong to Aine, who is an aide of presidential candidate Amama Mbabazi’s, and his cousin Ezra Kabugo” (NTV Uganda, 2016)

Police uses teargas to disperse Mbabazi supporters in Sembabule (Youtube-Clip)

Mateete trading centre in Sembabule district was rocked by gun shots and teargas as the police dispersed the supporters of Presidential candidates Amama Mbabazi and Col Kiiza Besigye allegedly found defacing posters of President Museveni the NRM presidential candidate. The angry opposition youth leaders were protesting against the security agents and NRM supporters whom they accused of defacing the posters of Besigye and Mbabazi” (NTV Uganda, 2016).

FDC Campaign Convoy traversed the Gomba and Butambala District; Youth show’s their local craft; Brief look at the Good-Governance-Level in the Gomba District

Buyana, Gomba District

Today the People’s President traversed the districts of Gomba and Butambala. The FDC Campaign convoy went to the districts and had rallies in towns and villages. Meeting the people and also saw the youth’s ability to produce, like they made their own type of gun. Also other activities that a certain Aspirant is having issues with affiliations and not sure if he is Go-Forward or FDC.

Gomba District FDC 25.01.2016 P1

As the Youth did in Kanoni in Gomba District and the pictures show their craft as they showed it Dr. Kizza Beisgye!

Butambala District 25.01.2016 FDC Campaign Rally

Butambala MP Aspirant Muwanga Kivumbi known to be Go Foward has faced it rough today as he tried to follow Kizza Besigye everywhere. Kizza Besigye campaigning in Butambala district; FDC supporters in the district kept on reminding him why; why he was a part of the Go-Forward and still tried to be hround Kizza Besigye. FDC has got a flag bearer by the names of Moses Kasule in Butambala!

At one point Kivumbe would plead to Kizza Besigye to tell our supporters to allow him seat on a platform. Besigye was a gentleman and later allowed him to address the audience. At the same time telling that FDC Flag-bearer in the district we’re Kasule. Kivumbi should explain to you where he belongs? Go-Forward or FDC? We know some of his colleagues have decided to move with FDC.

Madu 25.01.2016 FDC Campaign

Pretense before the FDC campaign in Gomba District:
NRM couldn’t help to stifle the local transport and movement for crowds for the FDC in a bitch move. NRM and Mzee invited all the Boda-Boda drivers in Gomba District to come to the Kisozi on the day that FDC happen to have campaigns in the district. So noble of you Yoweri!

I will now go into certain governmental issues in Gomba District as the government issues haven’t always followed procedures for procurement and also done it unaccounted for. So there is questionable behavior from civil servants. Also delayed works in the district and that it still is understaffed. Take a look!

Gomba District Logo

Hiring and signing public contracts unauthorized procurement:
“In eighteen (18) cases representing 36% of the sampled contracts with a total value of UGX 229,699,462/-, the audit team revealed that funds were certified by officers other than the Accounting Officer and without evidence of delegated authority” (PPDA, 2013).

Good Governance in Gomba district:
Unaccounted funds: “An amount of UGX.70,097,792 remained unaccounted for at the time of audit contrary to the regulations. Consequently, I was unable to confirm that the funds were utilized for the intended purposes” (OAG, 2015). Unaccountable advances: “a total of UGX.45,035,492 advanced to staff to execute council activities remained unaccounted by the close of the financial year” (OAG, 2015).

Delayed Staff house at Maddu:
“A contract was awarded to a private firm to construct a 3 unit two bed roomed staff house at Maddu HC IV under phase 1 which included substructure, roof, external walls, windows and external doors, internal walls and partitions, internal doors and internal finishing. The contract price was UGX.50,102,034 of which UGX.27,880,983(46%) had been paid at the time of audit. Although the contract completion date was 16th July 2014, inspection of this project in October 2014 revealed that the structure was not completed” (OAG, 2015).

Understaffed district:
“The District has a staff establishment of 419 positions. However, out of the 419 approved posts, only 256 posts were filled, leaving a balance of 163 posts vacant, representing 39% of the approved posts” (OAG, 2015).

I think that is enough for today. Peace.

Reference:
OAG – ‘REPORT AND OPINION OF THE AUDITOR GENERAL ON THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF GOMBA DISTRICT LOCAL GOVERNMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30TH JUNE, 2014 ‘ (24.02.2015).

Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Asset Authority (PPDA) – ‘PROCUREMENT AND DISPOSAL AUDIT REPORT OF GOMBA DISTRICT LOCAL GOVERNMENT FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 2011/2012’ (April 2013).

NRM Papal Poster; And other victorious ideas from Mzee’s team!

Papal Poster NRM Campaign

NRM has so little to show that they have to use the powers and goodwill of the Papal Visit in November to look good. NRM Campaign Team must have lost the plot, but Mike Sebalu is not the smartest trickster or campaign manager in the world, but the here take the Cake!

Uganda Campaign Poster 2016 Funny

This here is also so Priceless! Wonder if the candidates feels the same?

NRM Dumpster Posters

Wonder if Mzee feels that this is a perfect spot to pin the posters up? 

Well, there been more, but this the ones I could find now. Peace.

 

 

Political Parties spending during campaigns in November and December 2015; NRM buying shirts and ferrying crowds; while the others Parties use meager funds their campaigns

NRM Pakwach 14.11.15

This here has been address by others, but this is my view on the report released by NGOs recently. So here is my view on how the parties have spent on the two months, and the issue is that is very important to discuss. Since this is use of money to gain power or to shape the political landscape. The use of moneys and what you use it on show the values and to what extend you will pay to either continue or get power. The pages are after the counting system of Acrobat document, the official document will have different numbers because Acrobat count the empty pages in the beginning also. Therefore the numbers are higher then what it is in the report and don’t get that confused. I just do it to make it easy.

“The minimum amount of money observed to have been spent by parties and their flag bearers in the observed districts was UGX 49.6 billion in November and 88.1 billion in December representing an increase of 77% over the two months. This increase is largely attributed to the commencement of member or parliament campaigns having been nominated on the 3rd and 4th of December 2015” (…)”ACFIM observers reported use of motorcades, bodabodas cyclists, entertainers; and provided transport refund, food and drinks for supporters that accompanied them to nomination and attended the nomination rallies” (P: 8, 2016).

“Assessment of Minimum Expenses by Party:

According to ACFIM observers, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party candidates are leading by far terms of campaign spending. The party accounts for 87% of the total minimum observed expenditures reported by ACFIM Research Assistants/Observers in the months of November and December. NRM is trailed by Independent Candidates who have spent 7.9%, FDC (2.1%), Go Forward political group (1.1%), DP (0.5%), UPC (0.3%) and other parties (0.3%)” (P: 10, 2016).

Yellow Buses Luweero 081115 NRM

NRM Minimum costs:

There has been observed how the NRM have been using funds on their candidates and campaigning from June 2015 to December 2015. This here proves yet again to what extent the ruling parties secure loyalty and MPs. Every NRM Village has spent minimum UGX 15m. The delegates conference for the constitutional amendment they spent UGX 19M. The Second delegate’s conference to elect Flag-Bearer UGX 20M; then it’s the monies spent to MPs to secure the vote for sole-candidacy that was UGX 6M. They also spent money for Posh Cars for party officials UGX 10M. Last was paying for the NRM Primaries which cost about UGX 30M. That means the minimum cost for NRM we’re UGX 100M (P: 12, 2016). That is before you really start to campaign!

Page 12 Expenses FDC June - December 2015

Expenses of Presidential Candidates in November and December:

“The candidate Yoweri Museveni accounts for majority of the total minimum expenditure with 91.6% of the total minimum expenses recorded. Candidate Museveni is followed by Amama Mbabazi whose expenditure accounts for 4.6% and Kizza Besigye (3.3%). The rest of the candidates spent less than 1.0% combined” (P: 16, 2016).

NRM giving money away to gain support:

“The Money Man”; He is retired Leut. Gen. Henry Tumukunde. He was handing over UGX 20million to an association of vendors in Entebbe Market in December. He has been leading the advance party of candidate Yoweri Museveni. Observers in Arua reported that he handed out UGX 50,000 to 400 voters who claimed to have converted from FDC – they met him at White Castle Hotel in Arua” (P: 19, 2016).

Elton Joseph Mabirizi 17.11.15

Expenses on Journalists by Presidential Candidate (Nov & Dec):

“Yoweri Museveni outstrips his competitors in terms of expenditure on facilitation of Journalists on campaign trail. Observers report that candidate Yoweri Museveni has a team on 20 local journalists (electronic and print) that are covering his campaign trail, each of these journalists receives daily upkeep (per diem and incidentals) of UGX 150,000 from the candidate’s campaign coordination team. In addition when the candidate conducts regional press conferences, the facilitation for journalists attending the press conference rises to UGX 500,000 and about 50 journalists can be in attendance (i.e. the 20 on campaign trail are joined by 20-30 others from the region). Journalists on candidate Amama Mbabazi campaign trail get up a reported minimum of UGX 40,000 while journalists covering candidate Kizza Besigye and others get much less or nothing” (P: 31, 2016).

Starlink Buses for NRM 06.01.2016 P1

Voter Tourism:

“Voter tourism as the practice by candidates where voters are provided with buses, trucks, minibuses or cars and driven from their homes to campaign rallies or around the constituency as an inducement to voters in return for their support come polling day. Clearly a poor voter who has not sat in an automobile for a year or more will be more than excited to enjoy the ride provided by the political candidate free of charge. Voter tourism has been prevalent in November and December with candidates of the NRM party most commonly observed engaging in this campaign tactic. Voter hospitality on the other hand is a situation where political candidate host voters to a banquet or party or meal or retreat where are treated to a good meal, animals slaughtered and cooked or roasted, lots of drinks including booze, music/disco, live entertainment and sometimes lodging in a comfortable hotel, motel or lodge. Voter tourism and voter hospitality were prevalent in November and December with majority of candidates across political parties complicity to this” (P: 41, 2016). To continue why the candidates use this tactic; “Political candidates that have been observed to engage in campaign tactics like voter tourism and voter hospitality in November and December, do not do so because they are generous, but because they expect recipients to return the favour. The timing of these offers in the middle of an election campaign and the nature of intended beneficiaries for this generosity is clear manifestation that the aim is to induce voters in return for their support on February 18th, 2016. This clearly is voter bribery” (P: 43, 2016)

Handouts During Campaigns 2015 Uganda

Misuse of Government Resources:

“On the 9th of November 2015 a number of government vehicles were used on candidate Museveni’s rally held at Kasana Play Ground. Some of the vehicle registration plates observed in action at the rally include: UG2183C, UG 0178H, UG1427W, UG 0187D, UG 2688D, UG 2183C, UG 2043C, UG 2405C. UG 1832S, UG1768C. Observers in Katikamu report that on the same day government vehicle number UG 2708R was used to transport supporters to Kasana playground” (P: 44, 2016). “Similarly on December 3rd 2015 dependent candidate for Katikamu South Member of Parliament Patricia Magara was observed using a bus with government number plates to ferry campaign attendees from different sub counties to her nomination rally in Bulakasa” (P: 45, 2016).

Gen Tukumunde Entebbe Dec 2015 - Money Man for NRM

The minimum NRM expenses of only November 2015 are 125,219,922,000! (P: 50, 2016) That is a lot’s of money. I will point out some special expenses that the NRM party has used this giant UGX 125bn on campaign for November 2015! That is lots of lots money! For Voter Tourism they have used UGX 140m in November alone. Allowances for 500 Special Force Command men as Campaign Security total pay cost UGX 300m in November alone. On Yellow T-shirts the NRM party used UGX 15,806bn that is a lot on type of item, it surely is to sprite up those campaign rallies and Yellow crowds! After quick calculations they used close to UGX 1,4bn on media advertisements on TV, Radio and Newspapers. On campaign posters the hefty sum of UGX 1,7bn (P: 49-50, 2016).

Though FDC used a UGX 1bn as the biggest opposition party, it still proves the total use of funds from NRM. I am not surprised with all the knowledge of voter tourism and also giving away foods and items at their campaign venues. The tally has to get big for the ruling party with all the hiring of buses and such proves how much their viable to use to get the perfect crowds and pictures to the press. Like yesterday there we’re reports of a village that was the size of 500 people, the NRM had a campaign rally of 20,000. Surely they had some buses and shipped them to that venue as they have done before and hired bus-companies to travel and pay to get crowds. Something FDC and the other parties does not do.

NRM Terego East 17.11.15

The NRM proves to be the big-spender and would be surprised if the result from a NGO would be different, maybe if Ofwono Opondo would describe it differently.  He said this recently: “It is true that NRM is outspending other parties. It is true that we spent over UGX32b during NRM primaries” (…)”We are spending the money locally. We are buying t-shirts, water, paying musicians, hire cars from Ugandans” (…)”There’s no evidence that money being spent by political parties is causing inflation pressure” (TheInsider, 2016).

Mr Opondo is not a giant economic sense of a guy, the extended monies into use without monetary policy can lead into higher inflations, that is why the two recent elections periods in Uganda in 2006 and 2001 that the inflations rate we’re escalating and also led to higher prices on the household commodities. But Mr. Opondo has a way of forgetting such while his party is big spending. As they have their own “Money Man” during the campaign and continue to support the level of Voter Tourism. I am surely they have an own warehouse just for Yellow T-Shirts near a Headquarter of the NRM. They should they have used such a fortune on it and the ones they haven’t given away should be stored well.

The war-chest of NRM must be huge. As the reports before November was expected that NRM would use UGX 500bn, and by seeing the results of November alone in this report proves that those estimations was spot-on. If you can calculate the same amount for December and January; then you get up to the estimated usage of NRM party. Mzee surely like to make blast and bang while using spin-doctors to portray him as the national father of the country. While the other parties can nearly scrap enough funding for their own campaigns! And the other parties can’t use government equipment like the NRM does once in a while. As this report has pointed out and none of us who follows the NRM should be shocked and awe, it’s more the same old story. Well, that was enough for today. Peace!

Reference:

Alliance for Campaign – ‘MONITORING CAMPAIGN EXPENSES DURING

THE PRE-ELECTION PERIOD’ – PROGRESS REPORT NOVEMBER – DECEMBER 2015

The Insider – ‘Opondo: NRM money won’t cause inflation’ (23.01.2016) link: http://www.theinsider.ug/opondo-nrm-money-wont-cause-inflation/

Press Release: Sauti Ya Vijana denounce JPAM and now Support President Museveni (22.01.2016)

Sauti Ya Vijana 10.11

We salute the media, all Patriotic youth forums present, members of the public, ladies and gentlemen. Before you today is the National Executive Committee and Regional Coordinators of Sauti Ya Vijana.

Preamble;
We are gathered here today after a series of consented regional meetings, consultations and guidance from all stakeholders including our partners in and around the world.
In these deliberations, Sauti ya Vijana unanimously agreed to revise our positions in regards to forthcoming national elections and conclusions have been drawn on these grounds:-

1.Declare our consented support for the NRM candidate Gen Yoweri K Museveni for 2016 presidency

2.Withdrawal of our petition to the UN Security Council for military support against a backdrop of the possibility of specious results of the 2016 elections.

3.Denounce our support for Rt Hon Amama Mbabazi and his Go forward pressure group.

Details.
1. Declaration of our consented support to Gen Yoweri K Museveni.
i) we Sauti Ya Vijana, on this day declare that we have decided to support Gen Yoweri K Museveni for president of Uganda 2016.
ii) The grounds of our support are clear minded. We are convinced that Gen. Museveni will offer Ugandans both the transformational & transitional leadership necessary at the time.
iii) We from Now henceforth join the NRM mobilizers to nationally canvass for votes for the president of Uganda.

Museveni UN 25092015 P1

2. Sauti ya Vijana withdraws its petition to the UN Security Council on the following grounds.
I ) After a 3weeks feasibility study (across the country) on the possibility of vote rigging, we express confidence in the Independent Electoral commission to deliver a free and fair election in February 2016.
ii) In our view a military struggle (war) will be unnecessary rather peaceful resolutions to any eventuality or uncertainty.
iii) Leaving nothing to chance we have set up sauti ya vijana election observation team. (SYVEOT) This team will monitor and observe the elections across the country. Consequently our findings will be translated into a report that will be published and distributed to government, International human rights organizations and all stakeholders.

AmamaNRMElection2016

3. Denunciation of Rt. Hon Amama Mbabazi and Go Foward.
I) we joined go forward with the confidence that it was the epitome of our aspirations as a transitional generation. However we have been dumfounded with the reality that ‘go forward ‘ is simply rhetoric with NO transparency, farsightedness, ego-centricism and smuggery fiefdom.
ii) Go forward has already failed. It’s a treacherous movement with self-centered individuals with cryptic intentions. We fear that these intentions are not in national interest and will only draw Uganda to Its perilous past.
iii) We have therefore unanimously agreed to revise our initial position and support Gen Yoweri K Museveni.
We thank you all for coming.

For God and my country.

Peter Mukiibi
Director; Information

Mzee bans NTV from the rest of the campaign trail; proves again how Two-Faced NRM can be; cries foul awhile ago about little media coverage

M7 16.11.15

Today the NRM-Regime is in panic mode or just wants to look foolish; maybe even both depending on which side of the Penndel that is hitting them at the set moment. First they had the nerve to yet again shut down a radio-station where Amama Mbabazi the independent Presidential Candidate we’re scheduled to be a part of show on air. This was at the Mbarara Radio Station of Endigyito FM of the MP Nulu Byamukama.

That is not really news anymore because the NRM-regime and its cronies in all the government institutions like police, army or electoral commission stifle the Go-Forward at every step of the way as thorns on roses.

Bukwo FDC Campaign Trail 060116 P1

At a rally of NRM Sole Candidate Yoweri Kaguta Museveni or Mzee the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) told the NTV camera men and journalist from the Kidaga campaign rally. The UPDF told the NTV that they are now banned from campaign trail of the NRM from now on. That is deep, and second breach in 24 hours from the NRM-Regime and the NRM-O. They surely must have a hissy fit. If not its Mzee who feels bitchy; either or he is stopping the free press and free media from telling the story as they see fit.

New Vision 71% 2011 - 2016

While New Vision the Government paper drops in the same week the same poll as it did earlier last summer, it was like in 2011 when NRM had 71% in the polls, the same they happen to happen now in January 2016 again 71%. Like a photo-copy in the same paper and such. I haven’t checked if the same journalist, but if it had been it would surely been nearly the same kind of commentary since the number we’re practically the same.

It is rumored that Mzee is furious that NTV used another poll then the ones used in New Vision, the one manufactured to suit the regime. He cannot look weak in front of the world in the final stages of the campaign trail. There is now at a stage where the President does not want to look like a fool. That is why the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) to switch off transmission after hosting Presidential hopeful Hon. Amama Mbabazi on Tuesday from 9:30pm-12:00am. Because Mbabazi can’t speak his mind and deliver his message to the people at this moment. Just as they have closed KFM radio and shut Mbabazi out of radio-station in Karamoja during the campaign trail. There is also other media has gotten harassed by the police under orders of IGP Kale Kayihura and other leaders above him. Like the journalist during the Bukwo campaign of FDC who got destroyed cameras. Another one was the incidents where the journalist was shot on the first rally of Erias Lukwago in Kampala. Oulanyah’s men we’re also harassed journalists in Alalogi sub-county. I could go on, but the last straw at Parliament where the Ugandan Press Association Office on the 18th January 2016. There been so many incidents during the campaign trail this is just snippets.

NRM-P

So that the NRM-Regime yet again closes a radio as a result of a major opposition candidate has a show there proves the steady progress and free-thinking spirit of Mzee. Your free as long as the people eat out of his hands and doesn’t think for themselves. The next step was in hours to ban the NTV Uganda crew from following the NRM Presidential Candidate Rallies, we know it is boring and they struggle to get crowds that are why they had to hire 600 boda-boda drivers from the districts around to pick-up people and ride them to the rallies. That is so noble of the NRM, so they can get nice pictures and have the awesome shots of picturesque propaganda for #VoteSevo and #SteadyProgress Mike Sebula dream team.

National Resistance Movement can ban a media coverage, while they have earlier complained about the level of coverage while they hog the media and give little or less to minor parties or independent candidates. This here shows the arrogance and vile attempt of self-justified meager assessment of the media coverage and how the NTV is treating the NRM. It is so ironic that the party said this in November 2015.

Justine Kasule Lumumba

The Secretary General of NRM Justine Kasule Lumumba said this: “You should take note that our candidate has so far addressed 70 rallies and some haven’t even covered 20 of them” (…)”I have observed that some media houses are biased and do not cover all the candidates equall” (FakeBeast, 2015).

It’s funny that the Secretary General said this for two months ago and then sudden attack on NTV today at their campaign rally. So that they act differently than how they speak, but that is just like their boss and Mzee! They can’t help themselves, the NRM can speak the most Nobel way and pledge to save the nation. Initally they can speak of freedom of the press and free speech, while aggressively attacking journalist, using police and IGP Kayihura to explain the journalist how to act, like he did through summer and before the presidential campaigns. Kayihura is a savvy media mogul and knowledge of all things, that is why he knows the proper ethics for journalist and a like, while his police-men undress opposition woman, but that is not his fault! My bad!

NRM

NRM can be so two-faced. This is the typical two-faced actions from the NRM and their regime. They call foul complain like cry-babies and second later complain when the actors finally acts because the NRM doesn’t comply or act as they say therefore the reports doesn’t add up to the reality. That is why when it comes to the media they want the perfect screenshot and Musevenist dream-land that tells how he liberated the land has still some works to finish his project. As Mzee has told time and time again; I am sure I could write one of his speeches just with my blinking eyes and the rising eagles of Luweero fly passed me while typing.

NRM can’t hold the facade and their wished story out to the people anymore. People know more and the educated masses will not eat of the hands of the Mzee. As the internet and social media can show, that is why NRM tries its best to fill the scope and streams to own it. Instead of letting other voices out; then NRM can’t have the issues of a National TV-station questioning the winning charm of the oppressive regime and long-time ruler of his Excellency. So that the NRM uses UPDF to tell them of instead of using proper formats to address the NTV instead of having men with guns telling them to step-off. But that is the NRM way; they can’t do it peacefully or with manners. They have to use guns as that was the way they got to power. This is just an extension of the vile actions of the regime. The behavior is so natural that Oulanyah a big-man had to use violence against journalist and FDC convoy because that is what NRM know. Not something else, that is why NRM use methods to destroy campaign material of opposition and block them with the police at every turn, I am sure there would be more tear-gas if the Police could afforded newer boxes and still not use the ones procured from the ‘Walk to Work’ demonstrations.

M7 NRM

NRM can’t help themselves they have to play foul; NRM behave like this because they don’t know anything else. Mzee uses everybody as a tool, as long as they are useful for his project he proclaim their value and use in society and how he let them be able to work. If they counter and show his darker sides he either shut them down or bans them like now he ordered to ban NTV from his campaign trail. It’s because he is weak and can’t get the truth out, the ignorant and village people can’t watch in taverns in towns all over Uganda that he has less of appeal as he get Vision Group papers to put to press. That makes the stories fail. The Ugandan loyalty is proven when it is to NRM, and Mzee thinks so. So right now NTV is not loyal to the country, but foreign and dangerous belief that NRM doesn’t have all the answers; something Mzee can’t handle. His mustard seed and now 30 year old mustard tree hasn’t yielded as much as he has wished. Therefore when the media coverage is portraying the reality it is not the reality Mzee want the world to see. Journalist therefore as long as they tell the story Mzee wants the world to see, they can travel and show smiling pictures from the campaign trail or in Parliament, but if you question the NRM-Regime you are vile force of evil. NRM can’t handle the media anymore and doesn’t know all the ways of spin-control even Tamale Mirundi talks crap about them now and then. It’s like clockwork. Now the NRM has banned NTV and next is NBS, and then WBS! UBC will never be banned, but they are like New Vision and sister papers that portray the stories of the NRM-Regime. So clap-clap for the level of free speech where is the useless European Observation Monitoring of the elections. They are surely at some location in a studio talking about their magnificent work while not doing anything, but they had the nerve to shake hands with Mzee and swallow all his lies recently. But hey a few shallow muzongos are nice for the NRM-Regime to give legitimize them. That they can because the EOM is useful stooges. Mzee has still played the cards wrong and played the cards while the world is watching. NRM-Regime is so nervous and foolish that they continue their ploys against the opposition while now stopping the biggest TV-station to follow on their “magnificent” campaign trail. Might need to ferry some more crowds and pay more for more yellow shirts to make the NRM look like their winning YET AGAIN! Peace.

Reference:

Fakebeast – ‘Media ignores Museveni, Kasule cries out’ (26.11.2015) link: http://www.fakebeast.com/media-ignores-museveni-kasule-cries-out/