Opinion: Amama Mbabazi chosen silence is a token of his loyalty to the NRM!

“I have never left the NRM. I just happen to be an NRM member who wants change” – Amama Mbabazi

I wonder if some has to put a sign or use one of those big posters by the Constitutional Square or the Square in Central Kampala with a giant picture of Amama Mbabazi and have a quote over it saying: “this guy has been missing, if have any information, give it to the proper authorities”. Maybe, then he will reveal himself and actually speak in public. Its like he is paid to be silent, that after a long campaign since 2015 and the takeover of The Democratic Alliance (TDA) under the political umbrella of Go Forward. He just has gone missing after his election petition was dismissed. He had some days of siege and was under house arrest, but he haven’t been vocal. Utter silence. Nothing.

Mbabazi, the former notorious devious character within the National Resistance Movement, the man who was a giant supporter and organizer, the man who fought cases abroad and internally. The man that pushed the NRM in the direction that pleased the President. Was suddenly to ambitious and the man clipped his wings. Not like Gilbert Bukenya will ever play a vital role anywhere. He is a stooge and massive bouncing balls of jello, moving where the envelopes are given. Not sure if the same is now the activity of Mbabazi. But his silence is a statement.

Amama Mbabazi rocked the scene and made himself a viable candidate for many, even got the Democratic Party Norbert Mao supporting his candidacy. Mbabazi seemed like a real contender and used massive funds to use Go Forward and even build up offices around the country. Even as his consultation meetings met the same fortune as the FDC and Besigye. Met with tear-gas and often harassment by the police. He got the taste of the Public Order Management Act (POMA), that he had supported and used against Besigye. So he got the feeling of being on the fringes and standing on guards against his former President and party. Even if he said he was still a member of it. The former Prime Minister and Secretary General of the NRM.

Mbabazi silence on all matters is visible, it is a token of his dying loyalty to Museveni. The man that built him up and later destroyed him. Mbabazi was a loyal subject, but when he started to show ambition, he was thrown to the dogs. That is why Vice-President Edward Ssekandi just existing and not even in the public much. He is just collecting his salary and not saying much, if anything at all. Seemingly, like the outcast Mbabazi.

Mbabazi might do this in solidarity with the President. Just sitting in his home and saying nothing. Not acting, just living and taking care of his spoils. His businesses and whatnot he has. Only mentioning the Uganda Cranes of late, other than that nothing.

We knew you traveled through desert between 2015 and 2016, even passed through a den of thieves and came out with scratches and humiliating results. Still, you didn’t expect fanfare and being called a legend after what you passed while being a NRM cadre and leader?

Let’s be clear, the silence is a token of your loyalty. That is why he doesn’t say or do anything. He is a NRM Member and NRM loyal subject, who still wants to show that to the President. Mbabazi don’t have the character or the guts to do anything else. He wont risk his ill-gained wealth or proposed possible authority, that could be given him at a later stage. Since he knows how the President operates and he is anticipating his next move. Peace.

Mbabazi your either a NRM member or a Opposition Candidate; You can’t be NRM and Oppositon at the same time!

If you was like me and wondered what was with the answers and figure of Honorable Amama Mbabazi on the #UGDebate16. Now he went on the first radio program after that. This is just days after and 30 days to go polls.

Why I react today is that he said this on the radio today:
“I have never left the NRM. I just happen to be an NRM member who wants change”.

Whatever he will say the rest of the program doesn’t matter. He has lost something or forgot something. Why is he still trying to be loyal to NRM? It might be true that you officially never left. The way you fired from being Primer Minister and losing your position in the party. Both Dr. Ruhakana Ruganda who took that place for you and how Justine Kasule Lumumba as the Secretary General in the NRM, both positions Honorable Amama Mbabazi had until recently.

In September 2014 he was fired from being the Prime Minister of Uganda. This happen after the PM was against the constitutional change in the party so that Mzee could be the presidential candidates for yet another time. So the power-struggle led to his downfall from the higher parts of hierarchy in the NRM party and in Government. The trying to topple the President Museveni and stealing the hot-seat, and becoming His Excellency in the ruling party were to be expected! That Mzee would not forgive him for trying to take his posistion as he has done before. 

Then this happen in January 2015:
“NRM’s National Executive Committee has approved members of the NRM Secretariat who were recently appointed by the party chairman President Yoweri Museveni during December’s delegates conference” (NTV Uganda, 08.01.2016).

From there it has been issues lasting all summer with his ambitions of being presidential aspirant in the NRM, even when you had the new laws and amendment on the constitution of the Party to fix the motion to make it work; so that Mzee could continue as party Chairman and Presidential Candidate. This was something Amama Mbabazi at some point couldn’t accept. Because of that he lost his meal-ticket in the government and also in the party. That has apparently not stopped him. AS we have seen all through 2015 and beginning of 2016.

Now today he was on the 93.3 KFM Radio and he was quoted saying that he never left the party and was still a NRM member. That is conflicting since he is a so-called independent Candidate running also as the front-man for The Democratic Alliance (TDA), a loose based opposition alliance to counter the NRM, or was that not so?

He might be a member of the NRM since he is a NRA historical as some of the other presidential candidates pointed out at the debate this weekend. Still, it is suspect on his motives in opposition if he still feels loyalty to the party he has been running as Secretary General and been in different positions in Government for. That we already knew and his display on Saturday on the debate pointed that out. Though this one was on another level, like he we’re literally saying “I never left it, but I never really left it”. Either you did leave or got kicked out. Depends on how blatant you see the specifics of the actions of his former executive, and how he executed his order to when he was his subordinate. That is just me I guess. Since that is something that has died down and not really been discussed because everybody knows that you do not go against the king, and the king is Mzee, the executive who knows how to deal with those who wants his place. As he done with Bukenya and other before Mbabazi, for some reason that get forgotten now and then.

It is decent of man wanting change, though he still want’s be affiliated with NRM that he never left. That is bugging me; if he really wants change then he should try to distance himself from the former executive and his party, even if Amama Mbabazi feels ownership in it since he invested such a great piece of his life into it. The matter is the impression that he still feels so interconnected with the party that he has had issues with all through 2015. Still he points out he never left it. Still, is a member of the party while being a presidential candidate for Go-Forward and under the opposition TDA umbrella alliance who kept most of the essential opposition parties in the country.

If you don’t see something wrong in that, how is it possible to be viable as a opposition leader in the newly started Go-Forward party/group and becoming a presidential candidate in a alliance of opposition and still be a member of the ruling party! How can you live with that? Doesn’t add up, there is an extra piece in the puzzle and shouldn’t be there, because Amama Mbabazi should be either or?

He can’t be a part of the ruling party and be an opposition at the same time, it’s like Pepsi will be Coca-Cola or Coca-Cola trying to be Pepsi. He can’t be part of the ruling party while being in opposition, that doesn’t work; he can support the ruling party, but not be genuine part of it. That is a hard task since you should represent a different approach and reaches other parts of the public and citizens then the ruling-party; also address the issues in the country in another way then the ruling party. Hon. Amama Mbabazi has to distance himself if not he will look more like a knock-off version of Mzee, something that will not be going forward instead going backwards into the same snake-pit that eats the government funds like ants going after sugar.

Amama Mbabazi have a great issues if he is still part of the National Resistance Movement; even if he didn’t take part of the general conferences and other bigger councils in the previous year; this after his sacking  as the Prime Minister. The issue is that he can’t be a serious opposition candidate while being affiliated with NRM. That is not a great way and paved way into change, that is a goal and manifesto that his outfit now is supposed to have. Go-Forward or is it Go-Forward-NRM, since you never left? Then there are issues for CP, PPP, JEEMA and DP who still is a part of the TDA, are they supporting a NRM-ish candidate or are they supporting a opposition candidate against Mzee?

Mzee is the ruling party and its commander as he has been from the get-go, Amama Mbabazi have been a loyal subject and subordinate to him, therefore seems to be embedded to him still; that is natural for him and therefore he was acting like he was on the #UGDebate16, that was cleaning himself of the actions of his past. This answer proves also the clear past that everybody knows and why you can ask questions to his real motivations as a Go-Forward and TDA Presidential Candidate while calling himself a member of the Ruling Party NRM. That does not make sense.

Any member of NRM are allowed to want change and make a difference, though to a state that they cannot break the chain in command and go against its Mzee. Go-Forward can’t be independent and opposition while their leader still affiliates with the ruling party. Then their mixing their roles and isn’t either or… A boat has to have harbor where it sets sails from, right now he seems to be middle of the sea and hasn’t decided which harbor that he want to anchoring at. He is either anchoring at NRM or at the Opposition. That should not be confused or played around with. Amama Mbabazi who has been a political person for so long should know this simple rules of engagement and codes of conduct as man involved in the politics.

Go-Forward has many former NRM as it is natural, as they have former men from Activist4Change, FDC and other opposition parties, even people who haven’t been affiliated with any party before. Therefore it is centered on the faith and belief that Amama Mbabazi will bring change and difference, be a viable candidate who can become the President. He tried to become the Presidential Candidate through the NRM during summer which leads to NRM CEC meeting during July 2015. So the issues is that it seems the man is either not sure what he is or who he sends the message for, if he really want to be president on his own behalf or want to have loyalty towards the NRM. Go-Forward is a fresh party and built around him. Go-Forward has alliance and built a machine around the TDA. This can’t be a sideshow to the NRM, and if so: they are not really opposition.

I feel that if he was saying the truth at the radio, than he is a NRM member who runs a Opposition party in an Opposition Alliance. That sounds wrong in all ways and make his Go-Forward/TDA/NRM kind of constellation mixed of ruling-party and opposition, so how does that goes on a political scale between liberation force and wish of change, and is the change that you’re going to be you hopefully getting the executive power and becoming the president, or making a genuine change in a new NRM outfit named Go-Forward. That is an honest question, because if you are a NRM member, then Go-Forward is a NRM-outfit since the creator is still being a part of them. That is what I struggle with and makes his quote and words on the radio worrying. But that is just me. Let me clear: there is not possible to be part of the ruling-party and opposition at the same time. That is something that everybody understands. Except of JPAM aka Amama Mbabazi aka Deflectionator. Deflectionator, I am just kidding. I had to. Peace.

Press Release: UPF statement on the allegation of brutalization of the Go-Forward Team by the Police (07.01.2015)

Leaders of Opposition stay “United and support each other!”; Mzee works for a destabilized opposition; don’t help him!

There we’re loose talks between Dr. Kizza Besigye and Hon. Amama Mbabazi in Masindi recently. Just like the Kofi Annan talks in London in November we’re not fruitful. That would been seem like a pipe-dream with the way Amama Mbabazi won the race inside the The Democratic Alliance earlier in 2015. When Dr. Kizza Besigye pulled out of the coalition and went solo with his party as their sole-presidential candidate.

Therefore there shouldn’t be a stepping down at this point and this close to the General Election in February 18^th of 2016. That stepping down for both candidates would be risk. The FDC have an operational system of campaigning after doing so for a decade or nearly two. Hon. Amama Mbabazi have been on the bandwagon of NRM until recently so his formation and campaign team might have experience and some loyalty towards him, but it all based on the trust and support of him and his manifesto. Together with the men supported from the supportive parties in the Democratic Alliance (TDA).

So that some people wish for a united opposition would be big cut, still this election will not be like previous for the simple matter, the more the Mzee lingers the less of supports he gets. It’s proven by how much crime-preventers have to be driven around to campaigns, how much food that are bought to serve the public and boda-boda drivers paid extra for getting the public to the rallies.

That is seemingly not enough of the state of affairs. Mzee is not capable of letting there be a level playing field for all the presidential candidates. He uses police and military outfits together with the Electoral Commission to subdue and stop the other candidates to do their campaign trail in an ordinary fashion. They have Special Forces Command after them, Anti-Riot Police follows then, the DPC does look and keep track of the candidates, and the Police Force does shut down venues and public buildings and block roads. Mzee have a second campaign team combined with his fellow foes in the NRM-O party.

That is why the Opposition has to work together. Because the force against them isn’t just political, it’s the government and NRM-Regime uses the knowledge of these to its advantage. But that is something the Opposition knows well. Therefore they have to use other means to get the people behind them.

TDA with the FDC would be stronger and more united. Without FDC they are weaker because of the consistency of the parties and their structure. So with that in mind the UPC-NRM proves the weakness of TDA. FDC on its own have a structure and base. FDC have wise leaders under the presidential candidate that can reason and make changes to society. Go-Forward and TDA does so, but not so many on its own. TDA have certain left from DP, JEEMA, Go-Forward and the PPP. There are the places for the smaller parties except for the TIC and Farmers Party. Rests of the presidential candidates are solo and totally independent.

The small talk and craziness of blowing fire in-between Hon. Amama Mbabazi and Dr. Kizza Besigye, the Go-Forward and Forum for Democratic Change is unnecessary in the rest of the campaign-trail towards 18^th February 2016. This will not generate anything good! That Abed Bwanika would throw shade on Dr. Kizza Besigye as he claims to be the first speaking up against Mzee. Let him do that, but for the moment Mr. Bwanika doesn’t have the support or structure to go against either top three presidential candidates, he might have more supporters then Joseph Mabirizi and Maureen Faith Kayala Walube, seen pictures even from Kampala with meager crowds. These candidates might have a good wish and dream to be leaders of the country, but to be honest the public also know they don’t have suction to succeed yet.

The Mbabazi and Besigye story is the third time with talks and the outcome was expected for the simple matter, none of them will back down. Besigye have a real momentum and beacons of hope in the deep darkness between now and the future that he sheds lights on. Amama Mbabazi has become the unlikely enemy of Mzee. Therefore Mbabazi and Go-Forward feels the pressure of the police and the other NRM infested entities of the land.

While Dr. Kizza Besigye has the momentum he have had since start of Nomination Day in November. Every step of the way have been a ceremony of victories, even when the police have stepped out of line and crashed the party. The Electoral Commission can ban and police can block the ways, but still the power of people seems to be behind the People’s President. Hon. Amama Mbabazi knows this and knows the structure of the FDC, even when he was siting as the PM, he knew about the structures and situations in place, since he had the accommodation and put together with NRM in place Public Order Management Act in 2010. To help the NRM stop Dr. Kizza Besigye by any means take him down. This have led to Government of Uganda turns more because of this like a Police State, state protected from it own people with the Police. That is what the POMA laws have done and stops opposition parties to meet the people and follow ordinary structure and meetings without thumbs up from the police. So with this knowledge Amama Mbabazi knows that he has worked to help crushing opposition, which is where he is stuck himself and just a hot minute before the General Election.

Dr. Kizza Besigye has secured himself in a party built with structures, loyalty and values. Even with the deflections and such, there is still certainty that they have party level expertise and support to fetch and support their FDC members. The Go-Forward is a young organization who was birthed and came to fruition just in minutes before the nominations and picking candidates to deliver them to the Electoral Commission. The certainty is that every party and people leaving to create a party happens at any moment. But this here is a party built around Amama Mbabazi. The values and such is based on how he is and is quickly mended up, there are deflections from FDC to Go-Forward. That is expected!

Go-Forward would earn a lot on having FDC on board. NRM would lose on it. NRM is doing whatever to breach the momentum of FDC. Go-Forward have suction, but I don’t see the same level of the FDC. Though anything else then FDC would be bonus and the best. While I stand by the People’s President; Dr. Kizza Besigye is the leaders of the opposition and is why the NRM and former NRM PM Amama Mbabazi made the POMA. Therefore the defiance campaign got to continue but in great spirit to the Go-Forward, as we all wish Mzee to lose, even if know the rigging is extensive and police is interfering in the election more the Electoral Commission observers. The expected result is victory for NRM and Mzee, even if the momentum and honorary public seems to support Dr. Kizza Besigye, because the president has the army and police on speed-dial. That is why Besigye shouldn’t throw shades on the other opposition candidates. Hon. Amama Mbabazi should not talk trash about Besigye or other candidates than the NRM Flag-Bearer. The TIC, PDP, Farmers Party and independent can throw more shade, but their caucus and words means less since their structures and support is smaller at this point. It is the general feeling of the top-three that will set the standard of the campaigns.

We don’t need to go dirty when you have a ruling party who does that in extensive ways. They do everything in the book plus bonuses every day. Therefore the Go-Forward and Forum for Democratic Change needs to be cool and calm. Progress and continue the struggle. Because the candidates should work towards a better future already now; not continue with the struggles by framing each other. FDC’s Dr. Kizza Besigye has this and can have it. If this was a fair fight and a fair election he would win. Since we know about the rigging and the other malpractices there will be announced most likely somebody else, we know Mzee. But the issue is how we go about it and be gentlemen about it; something that the times as this are missing. Peace.  

A walk through the current election time in Uganda 2015

We are coming to the years end. In a little week we will kiss the new-year and touch 2016. What a day that will be! We have seen and felt in 2015 what politics do and does to society in Uganda. This would have sounded differently a few months ago. This is a quick current pre-view and I hope you don’t mind! 

The General Election is set for mid-February that means we have over 50 days still of campaigning. The Campaign rallies will feel a déjà vu at this point and would not be different unless the NRM, FDC or Go-Forward does any major stunt. The minor candidates are dwindling in the wind and are gone as quick as they set of at their nomination day.

The Chairman of the Electoral Commission got a heavy pay rise and earns now 35 Million shillings a month. That must be to settle the score for the government and secure the rigging system. We can’t not believe earning all of sudden 29 million more shillings a month comes for free and not with a price. He surely will pay Mzee back.

The IGP Kale Kayihura went into the Ntungamo after the clashes in the town. The reports we’re blaming NRM big-men and Police to taking charge against the Go-Forward Supporters at the venue. Gen. Kayihura has said after “he only went on orders”. We can also see a week or so after there have been arrested many of the leaders and campaign officials for Amama Mbabazi, but none of the NRM men. Later Mzee has promised to pay a sustainable fee to the NRM-Supporters who was hurt, but not the others and it was 1, 5 million shillings each to mend their wounds.

We can also see how the Police get more and more violent on the campaign trail. There been attacks by NRM men towards the FDC convoy when they trailed the north. Deputy Speaker Oulanyah was in charge of the men standing off towards the FDC and their convoy. Nothing has happen ever since that happened. The FDC has had stand-off near Fort Portal and in Gulu with no feedback from Authorities on the matters. The Go-Forward have also had issues in Northern Uganda. The police interfere and also shut down venues as they feel. They are interfering into politics more than the UPDF Members of Parliament do!

On the 29th December a traditional day of rallying the FDC convoy got violent meeting with police while going to Rhino Camp Health Care facility in Madi. The Go-Forward aspirant Bright Muhumuza we’re supposable jailed in Ntungamo for his involvement in the Ntungamo clashes. While this was happen around the NRM who we’re sending men door to door in Kalangala and offering the people 500 meager shillings to shun the rallies of Go-Forward Amama Mbabazi. This is just another day in the democratic nation of Uganda.

An Independent Candidate Elton Joseph Mabirizi was early on the campaign trail taken and kidnaped. He we’re returned after that but his campaign has been silent and not made fuzz since.

We have seen the NRM Primary Elections which have been fraudulent and tragic events, not only for the losers, but for the party in general. Hard to take serious with the magnificent missteps and arrogance not only from Dr. Tanga Odoi and the other men running it. Okay that Secretary General Justine Kasule Lumumba can be mad and or whatever potion she is on to save face, still the NRM looks weak and foolish. The Unnecessary violence, rigging and bribing makes it looks a picked race from the get-go not a fully-democratic-exercise where the NRM members decided who is their favorite, instead sole candidacy and a few fallen Minsters are the outcome and NRM looks weaker than before, instead of a strong force behind their almighty Mzee.

The Uganda People Congress has had their wrangles before the up-coming general elections. First with the issues within the opposition alliance TDA or The Democratic Alliance! This shows that the TDA-wrangle proved to have split leadership something have been brewing for a while. Ever since Jimmy Akena became the President in the Party in November 2014 there has been issues. This been visible with the former-president Olara A. Otunnu who has led the party for a decade before, the wrangle led to the UPC going out of the TDA alliance as they picked their common presidential candidate and FDC went out of the TDA a little later as well. The UPC went further with their trail in this elections, the new leadership has lost in court and have to give back to Otunnu, even though Akena will reaffirm the party with a new National Council and get his position as president again. This is not the only thing Akena has been doing. They have no Presidential Candidate and pulled out of TDA. Therefore he has gone and done something that would be unheard and should be unheard of since looking at the history of the party, the UPC has gone into alliance and will collaborate with the NRM in the General Election, there been reports of decent pay-off to Akena, and that would surprise me or anybody else for that matter, but the legacy of his father is really vomiting on.

The DP and Norbert Mao have also gone into a strange state. The UPC is two of many parties this time that doesn’t have a presidential candidate. Norbert Mao have been a vital part of the TDA and is as a rare breed, a President of a Party and not officially running for MP in his constituency even if he have been running there since the 90s. There must be somebody grinning in Gulu knowing that UPC and NRM can take the spot. The DP have weaken themselves with the alliance. They need a good result from Go-Forward Presidential Candidate to eat well and see the fruition of the alliance. Neither or they looks stupid with their loss of their main candidate. They have also missed their prime candidate in Kampala Erias Lukwago who have gone independent and is supporting Dr. Kizza Besigye for presidency instead of Mbabazi. Therefore the DP is struggling and will not be seen as a vital part or piece in the election. They will be more a tool in the tool-box for the TDA instead of strong force anywhere.

If we go a bit back in time again, there been steady spread of fear and fear-mongering from Mzee. Something that I have seen all 2015! We can see that with the condition, that he is the only one who can control the UPDF; that is the definition of spreading fear.

There will be more empty promises from the NRM-Regime, be more police interference in the coming elections and after since they have promised much more money since they gotten post-election violence money.

There is too much who is wrong. There might be European Monitoring team of the election period in Uganda, but doesn’t seem to stop the violations from the central government. The only one who let it be peaceful in November was the expected and two-days of papal visit in Kampala and to the martyrs resting place. After that the Police and NRM have gone back to normal. The only one with some peace and only some attention from the Police is the FDC presidential Candidate.

The mayoral candidates of Kampala Erias Lukwago have also met strong opposition from the local community and police in the city. That might happen again. I would not be surprised. It is natural that they support the NRM candidate.  I am sure that the EC and KCCA have a plan to upset and cut the grip on the public that Lord Mayor Lukwago have on Kampala.

We will see more foolishness during election time and until February! The NRM-Regime and their forces can’t help themselves! They have a natural talent to throw BS towards the leaders of opposition. Still waiting to see one of the Presidential Candidate in prison or get preventative-arrest. The interesting thing is how little use there been of Public Order Management Act that been used more than toilet-paper by the Ugandan Police in recent times. We will see how it goes and how they will behave. We will also see how the NRM-Regime will continue to accept the FDC progress and the public acceptance of the Go-Forward campaign. We can’t expect it since it’s against the normalcy of the arrogance of Mzee and his loyal paid-off cronies. Peace!