http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JI5mRc3iz5M
“FDC Announces Peaceful Demonstration” (NBS TV Uganda, 2016)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JI5mRc3iz5M
“FDC Announces Peaceful Demonstration” (NBS TV Uganda, 2016)


There been written a lot about the General Elections in Uganda of 2016, myself is guilty for doing so and with that in mind. I have read through the newly released Report of the European Union Election Observers Mission of 2016. That is worthy of taking what I see fit to broadcast and what the Europeans who went quick, took a safari and also spent some time at the Polling Stations. Here is what they said about the elections!
An important factor in what the EU thinks about the General Elections of 2016:
“Vital electoral reforms did not take place prior to the 2016 elections. Proposed amendments to the electoral legislation, compiled under the ‘Uganda Citizens Compact’, aimed at enabling the conduct of democratic elections, including to increase transparency in the appointment of the EC’s members, to restore presidential term limits and to improve parties’ financial accountability, were disregarded by the executive. Consequently, the legal framework contains gaps and ambiguities and therefore, in several instances, falls short of international principles for holding genuine democratic elections” (EU EOM, 2016).

Election Verification of Voters:
“The newly introduced voter registration system improved inclusiveness and accuracy of the voter register (VR). The final VR contained 15.277 million voters. However, establishing the cut-off date of 11 May 2015 for inclusion in the voter register disenfranchised approximately half million potential voters who turned 18 after this date” (EU EOM, 2016).
Lack of Transparency:
“While legislation contains provisions on reporting and disclosure of political finance, these are neither followed by parties and candidates, nor enforced by the EC. This lack of transparency weakens the credibility of the elections” (EU EOM, 2016).

Maladministration of the vote:
“Voters showed remarkable determination on election day, waiting long hours to cast their ballots. The markedly late arrival of electoral material in certain areas marred an otherwise calm election day. The EC failed to address growing tensions among people deferred from voting. Instead, an imposing presence of police in the vicinity of polling stations was observed. Further shortcomings, such as unsealed ballot boxes in 20 per cent and compromised secrecy of vote in 11 per cent of polling stations visited, were observed by the EU EOM. Positively, party agents and domestic observers were mostly present in polling stations visited by the EU EOM” (EU EOM, 2016).
Talley Centre mishaps:
“In 85 per cent of the District Tally Centres (DTCs) observed, the printed sub-county results, broken down to polling station level, were not handed out or publicised. The Electronic Result and Transmission System, used to transmit the collated results from districts to the EC, did not contain key anti-fraud measures. In several districts, the electronic transfer did not take place; the results were brought to the EC by the district returning officer in person. The final tallying for these districts could not be observed, further undermining the integrity of the process” (EU EOM, 2016).

The Badru Kiggundu’s soul:
“The chairperson of the Commission expressed regret that he had nominated an opposition presidential candidate; made public remarks on a candidate’s family member, and on another occasion described him as not “exactly being a fountain of honour” (EU EOM, 2016).

Police intervene in the Election:
“On a number of occasions, opposition candidates, particularly from the FDC and TDA/Go Forward, were denied access to campaign venues, restricting their ability to campaign freely. The EU EOM received reports and observed extensive use of force by police, including teargas and assault rifles, to disperse crowds during Kizza Besigye’s and Amama Mbabazi’s rallies in Bukwo, Kasenge, and Ntungamo, among others.25 On 15 February, police detained Besigye twice, preventing him from addressing scheduled rallies in Central Kampala, and used teargas and live ammunition against his supporters, resulting in one death and several injuries” (EU EOM, 2016).
Government officials intervene in the Election:
“The orchestrated use of state resources and personnel for campaign purposes was observed. Government officials took an active role in the NRM campaign, with several Resident District Commissioners and high-ranking security officials openly endorsing the candidacy of President Museveni and the NRM campaign. Thus, candidates’ equality of opportunity was not respected” (EU EOM, 2016).

Intimidation during the Election:
“In Bukwo district on 6 January, the police dispersed the campaign rally of FDC presidential candidate Besigye in Toriet Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp using teargas and assault rifles. Several senior FDC figures received minor injuries. The police stated that Besigye diverted from his planned route without justification and thus provoked acts of public disorder” (…)”On 25 January, the IGP stated that all critics who are simply ‘political opportunists’ can ‘go hang.’ On 27 January, he was also quoted saying ‘power shall not be handed over to the opposition to destabilise the peace the country has fought for.’ In a press release, the police later claimed that the media had misquoted the IGP” (…)”EU EOM observers received reports of intimidation of opposition and opposition supporters in Amuru, Bujenje, Buliisa, Gulu, Isingiro, Kamwenge, Kapchorwa, Kasese, Kiruhura, Kisoro, Lira, Masindi, Mbarara, Moroto, Mukono, Nakapiripirit, Nwoya, and Wakiso. Intimidation of voters was reported from Kiboga, Lira, Luweero, Moroto, Nakapiripirit and Sembabule districts” (EU EOM, 2016).

Bad rhetoric during the Election:
“On 9 October, the President was quoted as saying that anybody who attempts to oppose him will, ‘Be smashed completely and no trace of his remains will be found on the ground,’ and on 20 December that ‘The thugs who attacked NRM supporters in Ntungamo will pay dearly.’ NRM secretary general Justine Kasule Lumumba was quoted on Radio Simba on 25 January saying, ‘We shall shoot anyone who will come on the streets to demonstrate against vote rigging.’ On 1 February, the deputy RDC in Jinja was quoted saying: ‘Whoever will be found disrupting the February 18 elections in Jinja District will be shot dead.’” (EU EOM, 2016).
Campaign funding disclosure:
“The total amount of money jointly spent by presidential and parliamentary candidates is not independently calculated and verified. According to presidential candidate Amama Mbabazi, he funded his three billion UGX campaign from his personal funds and received no donations. Kizza Besigye disclosed that his expenses totalled one billion UGX, of which 96 million UGX were donations. Incumbent president Museveni’s campaign team refused to disclose the amount/value or sources of his campaign funds” (EU EOM, 2016).

Media Freedom during the Elections:
“The NRM, with more funds at its disposal, admits to frequently using paid-for pseudo-journalism to boost its visibility and enhance the reputation of both the party and its candidates. An edifying example of the system in place occurred in Rwenzori, where 17 outspoken journalists were compelled to attend the President’s briefing in Masindi state lodge. The President not only instructed journalists to campaign for the NRM at grassroots level, but also provided them with financial ‘facilitation’. Consequently, the line between advertisements and editorial content was blurred and the impartiality of information offered to the electorate was eroded” (…)”Hostile statements targeting outlets owned by the country’s largest commercial media house, Nation Media Group (NMG), were repeatedly made by the President and reiterated by the state’s top executives. This reverberated at the local level, with the RDCs and other state actors orchestrating measures that encourage self-censorship on issues that might be perceived as critical to the President or the government. Intimidating phone calls, “guidance meetings” for journalists and editors chaired by the law enforcement bodies, as well as requests to submit the radio’s programming to the RDC or local UCC representative prior to broadcasting were the most wide-spread measures applied to put media under pressure. The EU EOM received reports on such occurrences in 20 districts” (…)”On 24 January the President stated: “Monitor and NTV don’t know that there is a good, they just tell lies…. NTV is an enemy”. The President voiced a similar statement on 31 January. On 29 January the minister of Information and National Guidance: “There is no media house that can take the law in their hands…we definitely shall close them down”. The government/NRM spokesperson criticized media on 1 February. On 9 February owners and editors of all leading media houses were invited to the dinner hosted by the EC and the UCC where all were warned that UCC will “without a hesitation sanction the media outlets” (…)”Media monitoring findings correspond the parties’ and candidates’ assessment of the balance and quality of local radio coverage of their campaign. While 78 per cent of the NRM’s local leadership believes that media featured them fairly, the FDC’s assessment of radio’s impartiality is diametrically opposed, with 78 per cent of local party representatives listing examples of biased coverage. In 21 districts, opposition candidates were denied access to radio broadcasts or stations, and in 32 districts, biased coverage against FDC, Democratic Party (DP) or Go Forward was reported” (EU EOM, 2016).

Election Day:
“In at least four cases, the police used teargas to disperse voters at polling stations. Only shortly before the official closing of the polling stations at 4 PM did the EC chairman announce the three-hour extension of voting in Kampala and Wakiso district. This was poorly communicated to the polling staff in affected areas, and EU EOM observers reported polling stations being closed at first and only after some hesitation did the polling staff improvise and try to re-open voting sites” (…)”Unauthorised persons were present in eight per cent of polling stations observed, and in none of them did the presiding officer requested them to leave. Essential election material was missing in 12 per cent of polling stations observed. Typically, the missing material was seals, but in a small number of cases also ballot boxes, ballot papers in sufficient numbers and the voter register was not available” (…)”In one quarter of the polling stations, observers encountered voters being turned away for not being on the voter register. Such a high percentage of voters not being aware of the location of the polling station indicates the lack of voter information prior to the elections. Only in two per cent of the polling stations visited were voters deprived of voting without lawful grounds” (EU EOM, 2016).
Counting:
“In 37 per cent of polling stations observed, the Presiding Officer had difficulties completing the Declaration of Result Forms (DRF), and in almost half of the polling stations the filling in of the Accountability of Ballot Papers Form proved to be problematic. In 20 per cent of polling stations where closing was observed, the numbers in the DRFs did not reconcile. This can be attributed to malpractice, negligence and/or numerical errors. The latter two were widespread since there were neither provisions nor even proper guidelines on how to conduct the reconciliation at the polling station level. Moreover, after filling in all forms, the safety and integrity of the DRF was not ensured in 30 per cent of polling stations observed, as they were not put into the tamper-proof envelope as prescribed by EC instructions. Intimidation of polling staff during the counting was reported from four polling stations observed by the EU EOM observers. In 93 per cent of polling stations observed at closure, results were not posted outside the polling stations, as required by law. Nevertheless, party agents were given copies of the DRFs in 93 per cent of cases” (EU EOM, 2016).

Tallying:
“The ban on social media on mobile devices was not lifted for four consecutive days. The overall environment created by state actors during the final stages of the tallying of results curbed voters’ right to access to information as called for in Uganda’s international and regional commitments” (…)”Further constrains on the public’s access to information originated from the EC’s statement de facto prohibiting media to publicise results announced at the polling stations. Such live reports on results by polling station is a habitual and defining feature of Ugandan media’s election coverage as it enables each voter to independently verify the results in his or her polling station. With the FDC’s leadership being detained, the police surrounding Mbabazi’s home, and with critical media being effectively silenced, the EC held a monopoly over both the content of electoral results information and the pace of its disclosure” (EU EOM, 2016). “The results, however, did not contain data from 1,787 polling stations, affecting 43 districts, eight of them strongly” (EU EOM, 2016). The EC eventually updated the final result on 22 February, adding the results from 1,658 polling stations. The EC also nullified results from 129 polling stations in 34 districts due to various malpractices, including disruptions during voting and the number of votes cast exceeding 100 per cent of registered voters. However, the list of affected polling stations was not published, thus compromising the EC’s accountability” (…)”These were Jinja with 388 polling stations (PS) out of 399 missing, Rukungiri with 273 PS out of 276 missing, Kyenjojo with 277 PS out of 337 missing, Kabale 190 PS out of 478, Kampala with 162 PS out of 1,338, Wakiso 119 PS out of 1,359, Isingiro with 88 PS out of 385, and Ntungamo with 78 PS out of 432 missing. These eight districts account for 1,575 or 88.5 per cent of the missing PS” (EU EOM, 2016).

It is good to see that the Elections Observers is saying the same as so many other people have said about it. This here counters the words of Andrew Mwenda, Ofwono Opondo and President Museveni. The words that should stick to into President Museveni mind is this:
“Consequently, the legal framework contains gaps and ambiguities and therefore, in several instances, falls short of international principles for holding genuine democratic elections”.
Because he said this after the elections was over: “am glad that my people here have seen the mistake of listening to foreign meddlers.” (…) “If the international community has lost confidence in us, it is a compliment and it means we are right”.
So in his mind because the European Union now saying he is wrong and that the framework is co-operative with free and fair elections; then in the mind of President Museveni means we’re right. The President Museveni has now “won” the 7th Term and is ready for his 31 years of power. He is double the age of average aged Ugandan. So there is something missing and wished for. Therefore the ending of the tension and the presence of security outfits in nearby area. The Army and Police Force is close by and the ones that keep him in Power. Not the loyalty of the people or the legitimacy of the way he became the incumbent again! Peace.

P.S. Mr. Eduard Kukan I will be honest I had little faith in you and your mission as the fraudulent and praising foreign missions to express faith in the government they are funding through donor-aid and direct-budget funds. Therefore I thought that you would naturally say it was free and fair without hesitation. Because you went from Slovakia to go on Safari, drink some sodas and have matooki and be merry. But I am glad you did your job well, not because of your view, but because of sense observations and reports been told. That seems genuine as your concern for the maladministration and fraudulent elections you observed.
Reference:
European Union Election Observation Mission – ‘Uganda Presidential, Parliamentary and Local Council Elections, 18 February 2016’ (April 2016)

I have written about this before, since there was no clarity of what happened after the Election Violence between NRM Supporters and Go-Forward Supporters in the Ntungamo clashes. That was on the 13th December there with NRM People and Regional Commander involved in the sponsoring of the violence,;therefore the Don Museveni said the famous words of never playing with the Leopards Anus. The Go Forward camp got detained and the NRM supporters got facilitated with monies for their hurt; because the only Ugandans that matters is the ones that follows the vision of the Don.
The Good News:
“Christopher Aine, Amama Mbabazi’s security aide has resurfaced alive and well, four months after he reportedly went missing. Aine has handed himself over to government, according to Gen. Salim Saleh. A soft spoken Aine says he spent the last four months hiding in Tanzania. At the height of Aine’s disappearance, his family accused police of being in possession of their relative. Social media was later awash with a photo purported to be Aine’s body. During the entire time of his ‘disappearance’, police maintained it was not in possession of the aide who was reportedly picked up by police in December” (NBS TV Uganda, 07.04.2016).

Before all of this, the Inspectorate General of the Police Kayihura took out Cash Reward for telling where he was on the new-years. That was necessary skeptical about since it seemed so strange from the Police Force and the amount of detaining the opposition. Especially since this kind of thing happens the detaining family members for questioning the authorities for his whereabouts. That former Police Intelligence worker and now Political Analyst Charles Rwomusushana for posting a picture on social media get detained and questioned at Special Investigation Unit at Kireka. That Norman Tumuhimbise of the Jobless Brotherhood who went looking in the missing person in Nakaseke District without look; and second person to offer reward for finding the man. So with all of these actions while nobody coming up front with great details. And the Police through CP Fred Enaga claiming this and that do not secure the family. While later the Police Slamming the Family of Aine to create drama about his status. That while the son still not-knowing the whereabouts.
So the picture of a seemingly dead man makes a person suspicious when it comes to a Police Force who shots journalist and detain opposition without trials or court verdicts, henceforth the initial thoughts went to he was dead. The assumption should not be weird knowing the violence from the Police Force and the Army in the Pre-Election Period.

On 11th January 2016 I wrote this one the case:
“The starting spin-control in the end of December 2015; show’s a man like me that they know more then what they are telling the public. So we can question what is happening, I don’t have the answers, it just don’t add up. The Police know more then what they release, the Go-Forward team comments are direct, and the family of Aine has been upfront from the get-go since it their son and family member. They are the only ones in this who has been totally truthful and saying how they feel. Something they are entitled to and they should be the first ones to gain information on the matter” (Minbane, 11.01.2016).
We had the right to question what happen and what we’re the truth, as the Authorities and the Go-Forward Group tried to either deflect or attack each other, while the family and Civil Society Organization, together with Political activist went in to try to find answers.

Even with him surfacing today, there is many unanswered questions where was he really? Who has supported him while being gone? Why did the Police detain his family member, Rwomusushana and Tumuhimbise? Because there must be reasons for the issues the Government had with them trying to find out his whereabouts and question the Police in their search for him. The supposed death and the intelligence if the government had it; could have issued something else then the Spin-Control that was done during the month of January in 2016.
It’s good news that has surfaced in the home of Gen. Salim Selah, brother of Mzee, the former General of Intelligence. That the military man sheds light on the giant question that has been in public during the Pre-Election Period and the worry of the Go Forward Security Officer. There were many reasons for this, as the violence from the government could be put in question and the militarized politics that the President Museveni stands for.
When the truth get shed light on and when we can see who coined the most for his disappearance and the agreements for hiding him. Then we will truly know the truth behind it, because parts of the disappearance are still in the dark and the play it did on the Hon. Amama Mbabazi campaign. Also what did President Museveni have done when it comes to the disappearance as well, because the NRM regime could have done a lot and shed light on matter; but that didn’t happen at all!
So the story will continue to unfold and many questions remain, where was Christopher Aine during the Pre-Election Period, and why did he surface today? Peace.

Dr. Kizza Besigye Statement after midnight at Kasangati:
“IGP Kayihura once again deceived Ugandans today that I’d been freed. It was fools day anyway!!! I took the pictures here after midnight- on 2nd April 2016. It terrible to have a leader of a police force that breaks the law routinely and willfully; that seems to enjoy telling lies; and that has no regard for the opinion of others!”

And here his last released picture to the Public from Kasangati:

FDC Statement on it earlier in the day on the 1st of April 2016:
“What was an open secret that Mr. kale Kayihura had instructed his policemen to move away from Dr. Kizza Besigye’s home has now turned into a fat lie, the Uganda Police Force has actually multiplied in number”.
My take on it:
IGP Kale Kayihura of the Ugandan Police Force might have had the ability to fool some people. But the pictures and the manifestation of the Police Officer talking in the phone while monitoring Dr. Kizza Besigey should be send a clear message, while they talked about the leaving the premises of Besigye’s gate and compound; they still have the metal-teeth and the Police Officers squatting in reach of the gate and still having the ability to check-in everybody who enters and leaves his home. So Practically the House Arrest never stopped and the illegal detention and unlawful detaining of the FDC Presidential Candidate and the man who never had the ability to really content the result of the February 2016 Presidential Elections have been sufficed to his own gates and home without being the ordinary man who can walk to work or even go out to buy his food. This has been going for over 40 days, since straight before the Election Day on the 18th February. So you know that the Police Force is still besieging the Compound at Kasangati.
Truly and clearly the IGP Kayihura lied and tried to deceive so that his master and the Government could work in Peace and hopefully without issues from the outside world; as even the U.S. Mission talked about progressing toward democratic elections in recent statement. I am paraphrasing the U.S. Mission, but that is in general what the army ally wrote as the Post-Election Period is going away and “ordinary” State of Affairs resumes before the swearing-in and the 10th Parliament sessions starts. As paraphrasing is not good enough here is actually the main quote in my opinon from the United States Embassy that is worth noticing.

Here what the U.S. Mission in Kampala says in their Statement to the Public:
“The U.S. Embassy notes today’s Supreme Court ruling affirming the results of Uganda’s February 18 presidential vote that saw President Yoweri Museveni re-elected to his fifth term. We encourage all Ugandans to respect the Court’s decision, and express their views in a peaceful manner” (U.S. Embassy of Kampala, 31.03.2016).
Certainly one thing is clear. The House Arrest of Dr. Kizza Besigye never happen and the orders from above would not let that happen, as he is the epitome of everything President Museveni is not, a legitimate leader compared to Executive; who have to House Arrest his main opponents. Peace.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 1, 2016
The post election season has been characterised by tension arising from the house arrest of lead opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye, a court case by former presidential candidate Amama Mbabazi and filing court petitions for MP, L.C and municipal elections.
The Citizen Election Observers Network- Uganda (CEON-U) is concerned that the continued house arrest of the lead opposition candidate infringes on his right to freedom according to article 23 of the constitution.
In article 43 of the constitution: (I) In the enjoyment of the rights and freedoms prescribed in this Chapter, no person shall prejudice the fundamental or other human rights and freedoms of others or the public interest.
(2) Public interest under this article shall not permit-
(a) political persecution;
(b) detention without trial;
(c) any limitation of the enjoyment of the rights and freedoms prescribed by this Chapter beyond what is acceptable and demonstrably justifiable in a free and democratic society, or what is provided in this Constitution.

Section 24 of the police act gives the police a right to arrest someone if he is a threat to public security, but CEON-U demands that police produces evidence that makes Besigye a threat to public security, otherwise will his arrest be indefinite.
In a multiparty system, opposition parties should not be viewed as enemies of the state, but rather as groups that provide alternative Government programmes.
As part of a process of increasing citizen participation in Uganda’s electoral process, CEON-U recently carried out an opinion survey on the recently concluded general elections.
The survey was meant to expose electoral irregularities so as to provide a premise on how to better organise elections in Uganda.

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

Findings:
Generally, the presidential and parliamentary elections were peaceful, but the period leading up to the election day was volatile in all the districts visited. In Mayuge for instance a man died under unclear circumstances. He was a supporter of Robert Ntende, an independent candidate. He is said to have been killed by supporters of Idi Isabirye.
In Iganga at Idudi supporters of NRM and FDC clashed on the eve of elections over voter bribery. The NRM MP was giving out cash to voters who alerted FDC supporters. FDC supporters reacted by blocking the NRM from giving out money, the NRM called a NAADS soldier to rescue them. He came and shot dead a 25-year-old man and the crowd became more rowdy. And the soldier continued firing live bullets. In the process of the scuffle, a woman was shot through the arm and an s.3 student was shot through the neck. Both these people were not involved in the scuffle but had gone to the trading centre to buy food. This shooting took place at 8:00pm. (attached are the pictures of the victims of the shootings).
The way results were tabulated and announced at the district provided a sharp contrast with what the locals had gathered from the polling stations. This happened for all the elections, presidential, parliamentary, district council and municipal elections.

There are mainly two known political parties, the NRM and FDC; even though Uganda has 10 political parties. UPC which was once a known party is almost non-existent.
In a strong multi-party dispensation system people are given an opportunity to have divergent views on handling issues of governance. A weak political party system promotes a one party system of governance which impedes institutional growth.
The management of electoral processes by some of the district returning officials was poor.
A case in point is Jinja: When it came to the L.C.3 election of Walukuba West Parish B;
The LC 3 election had five candidates Joseph Bateganya Atumika, Bisusa Amisi Kafuko, Kirunda Isaac Kiwunda, Mande Milton and Mbulugu Emmanuel.
On Election day the ballot papers that were supplied to the polling stations had wrong names. Mande Milton was called Mande Milton Kirunda. Also party symbols were mixed up between the NRM candidate and FDC candidate. This was sufficient ground for the election to have been cancelled. However, even when the Jinja district returning officer, Ambrose Mwaita was notified about the anomaly he told the candidate Kirunda Isaac Kiwunda that electoral commission Jinja was not going to do anything about this case. A case has been filed against the electoral commission in Jinja court by Kirunda Isaac Kiwunda.
There are several other electoral disputes that have been filed in courts of law in the various districts. In Omoro Constituency there is a Petition: Simon Toolit Vs Oulanyah Jacob was logged in on March 24 2016. Simon Tollit is suing the Incumbent Oulanyah Jacob and EC over election mal practice. These included ballot boxes being kept away in a saloon, EC tampering with DR forms, EC using a Different format of the District DR Form to declare results among other things.

Intimidation and Violence:
In Katawi, Amuria, Bukedea and Serere there were cases of intimidation and violence. The community claimed they were beaten by militia groups and crime preventers and were warned against voting an opposition party into power. ( attached is a picture of the people who gave confessions during a focus group discussion)
In Mukono the parliamentary campaigns were characterised by violence and chaos. According to the electoral commission, Fatuma Ndisaba’s supporters used to beat up Betty Nambooze’s supporters during campaigns. There was also the problem of candidates campaigning beyond the stipulated for campaign time and supporters clashing after the campaigns.

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

Conclusion:
The democratic path is a long bumpy one, despite the many electoral irregularities that marred the recently concluded elections, the gains made over the last 30 years cannot just be thrown away. We need more concerted effort to promote true democratic ideals.
For more information about CEON-U contact Dr Martin Mwondha on 0788929052 or email omwondha662@yahoo.com visit our website at http://www.ceonu.or.ug (CEON – Uganda) – Towards 2016: Conducting a Unified, Comprehensive and effective election Observation Mission in Uganda. You can also visit the FHRI offices in Nsambya.

As earlier in the day the IGP Kayihura talked bravely again of leaving the home of Dr. Kizza Besigye, the reality of on the ground and around his compound is the same. It is more or less the same as in the recent 40 days of house-arrest! The Police is in the Anti-Riot Vehicle guarding his home and keeping him under strict surveillance and has not left the gates of his home. This is strictly countering the words earlier in the day.
So IGP Kayihura the man who says he never was under house-arrest and now said he ordered DPC Kawalya to drop the Police from the premises and the compound of the FDC Presidential candidate and the Amama Mbabazi Petition to Supreme Court for annulment of the Election have been dismissed, why are they still there?

Or has somebody after hearing your lying words countered you and not allowed for another deployment of the honorable Police that are still standing outside the gates of his home!
For those who forget quickly this is what was being told to the press for IGP Kayihura: ““he has instructed Kasangati Police Station DPC to withdraw deployment outside Dr Kizza Besigye’s home as they maintain close monitoring of his movements to ensure people’s safety”.
Wafula Oguttu statement today:
“The police has just deployed more officers around Dr Besigye’s home. More than before with more motorcycles and closer to the main gate. We are yet to know what is going on especially given the fact that the IPG told the world today that they had given back Dr Besigye’s freedom. I am here”
Does not look like that to me. They are still sitting there and wondering if he ever going to leave the compound so they detain him again, that is the routine for the men at the gates of Kasangati.
Well, same old same old. More lies from the proud, IGP Kayihura and the pictures say it all. Peace.
An Important Update!
Look now at evening time they are still there and not planing to leave!


“NRM supporters in Mukono celebrated President Museveni’s victory in the Amama Mbabazi petition which was dismissed today by the Supreme Court “(NBS TV Uganda, 2016).
Today there was the Supreme Court ruling that dissmisal of the Election Petition number one, and therefore there was all of a sudden a giant celebration, so big that we can forget the Nomination Day in Kampala; when Dr. Kizza Besigye was sitting on the chair between Central Kampala to the Stadium where he had the first rally of the pre-election period and Presidential Campaign. Here is two pictures show’s the” massive” grand celebration for the NRM and the President Museveni re-election in Kampala!

How the NRM got the crowd today:
“The National Resistance Movement – NRM hired boda boda riders and skate boys to hold stage-managed celebrations in Kampala, amid heavy police deployment. The public ignored them, which is a huge political statement indicating the unpopularity of President Museveni’s electoral and court victory among Ugandans”.

Somewhere sits Dr. Kizza Besigye, wait, he sits in house-arrest in Kasangati and laughs at the meager display from the NRM-Regime. He should have a laugh at this, because this proves his rhetoric and arguments earlier today. Peace.

“Today, Uganda’s Supreme Court dismissed the petition to annul the result of the 18 February 2016 presidential elections thereby validating the result. In its ruling the Supreme Court also identifies a number of areas in need of structural and legal reform.
In this context, the EU recalls the preliminary statement made by the EU Electoral Observation Mission (EOM), and the concerns expressed by both domestic and international observers about serious shortcomings in the election process, including the violation of fundamental freedoms and the obstruction of the opposition’s work in the post-electoral period.
The final EU EOM report, due on 18 April, will make recommendations, including on how the election framework can be improved.
The EU stands ready to continue its dialogue with Uganda to foster democracy. The Government of Uganda, Parliament, political parties as well as the Electoral Commission, and all stakeholders need to build on the experience of this election and to work together constructively and peacefully in the direction also indicated by the Supreme Court.”
“Besigye reacted to the dismissal of Mbabazi’s petition saying he has been under house arrest since election day and was not able to file his petition” (NTV Uganda, 2016)

31st March 2016, Oslo
Dear President Museveni.
As I writes to you again and the only election petition to the Supreme Court have been dismissed as all of our pundits and most of the general population expected. We expect you grant budgets for lavishly ferry Crime Preventers and the few die-hard NRMs to Kololo for your coming Swearing-In ceremony where you will promise to withhold the constitution and laws of land.
There are issues and there are hesitant, the blatant disregard of the county you have been ruling for 30 years, the distance from you Mr. President towards your own citizens are growing more and more distant. The more you are with the Army and the Police then with your citizens.

The men and woman on your payroll and who are still obedient to your will say today was a gracious and monumental ruling as the dismissal of the petition while dropping most of the affidavits and evidence in the Supreme Court. While the general public and the reason why there are little share and joys in the cafes, restaurants and pubs where they have followed the live-coverage of the Supreme Court; if the people we’re agreeing they would be cheering in the streets, and you know that very well Mr. President. You know much your people like a celebration!
Mr. President today seemed like the Chief Justice Bart Katureebe and his fellow judges we’re hired men, just like Chairman Kiggundu of the Electoral Commission; that this was already your decisions and mind; let me speak your lingo Mr. President; they spoke and acted on your VISION.

Today was in your Vision Mr. President in total disregard for the public perception and the public assessment of the events that transpired during the recent year and through the Pre-Election Period, Election Day and Post-Election to the Announcement of the Presidential Election result. The Vision was yours and nobody else!
You can appoint every man to every position that exists in country as the Executive or even impeach the ones you dislike or get them fired. Detain and preventative arrest as orders from you. This is things you Mr. President have known for a long time; therefore you cling to power Mr. President. For these reasons alone you don’t want to give up that power and the Executive position.

The Supreme Court and the Chief Justice might read the verdict that gave you the power and validated the Election and the ballots that was announced. But the people and the pundits know the story and you can’t control it, even if you through every single opposition member and officials in jail without charges. Even if your going against every single media-house and censorship of the Social Media.
We know your military ways Mr. President as your been in the Western Uganda after the sparking violence that your Police set-off after Local Councilor III Elections went sour. That the government security forces went ballistic on the local population. We have seen your proud mind as your talks to locals and walk around in army fatigue and speak of going to punish the men and woman behind the violence.

As you are in army fatigue and wearing the colors of the army, the Supreme Court validate your respondent to Amama Mbabazi petition. This is the result or you’re Vision and your ambition to continue to be the Executive of the country. The end-game is that distance between your power and structure, the vacuum of power between you the people is becoming at a distance. As the Opposition lingers in a limbo, a limbo created by your vision and the extensive use of Security Organization to distort them and detain them at will. Your Police Force and Army are creating criminals and making political activity illegal as long as it is not done in your blessing or your vision.
Your vision was behind this Supreme Court dismissal and the ways the General Elections of 2016 have gone. The Vision of your leadership the ways of your Power and the Structures you have created or rebuild over the 30 years in Power. The Power and the Executive should be stellar and perfect, the houses of Bundibugyo and Kasese should be golden and the industrial country you have promised since 1986 should have arrived already, but it hasn’t that is because we who see you; see that your vision is jaded and built around your persona and not the civic duty or the Executive to serve the public; it is the Public’s duty to service you; and nobody else then YOU, and that what you envisioned in the bush battles and the meteorically rise from days in the University in Dar-es-Salam in the 1970s.

Therefore your vision has come to full fruition today in the Court Ruling at the Supreme Court this day 31st March of 2016, as the guns, ammunition, detaining of fellow citizens and the grand control of every government institution of Uganda. That is what you know have, but the people’s consent, the people’s will or the people’s justified and legitimate rule is the one thing you don’t have.
Mr. President you might have hired the Supreme Court Judges, the Electoral Commission, but you do not hire the minds of the people who feels sorrow yet again and should mourn in the decision of dismissal of the 1st Election Petition of 2016 from Hon. Amama Mbabazi. That will always be another stain to your accord of grievances against the population and their will.

Your leadership is hired and taken for granted by yes-men and Nobel-Idiots who serve you blindly. Just as the hired armies of Roman Empire fall, one of the greatest nations and biggest nations fall when they didn’t pay enough to the barbaric princes and soldiers. Then their revolt burnt Rome. Your wisdom and your vision might serve you well as it has done, but just as the Roman Empire, your fall might come brutally and without excuse as your vision does not control the minds and hopes of all of your citizens. The Police State and Army aggression is not a sustainable governmental affair that you can suppress and execute without losing something dear. Something dear Mr. President that you lost long time ago, the legitimacy and the legacy of liberator, your now the main character of the oppression of the people and the citizens, through the Police Force and the Army.
Your vision is jaded and lost it. The Supreme Court and the validation of the election might occurred today; the reality is that the citizens and population is the ones validation you really need; the Supreme Court Justice might have given you a paper that validates your Executive Power, but it does not give you Carte Blanche to act as you please; or lets the people give your Modus Operandi of justice a free-for-all without questions the Authority you withhold without the clear consent of the publics will.

Mr. President is supposed to be with grace and honor, but the way you have handled it; it’s with disgrace. Not of me, but of your fellow citizens and their intelligence as your dishonestly takes their votes, their fate in the electoral process and their fate in the government as a representative authority and makes it your own personal playground. The Government is now in-graved in your name and your vision without any consideration of anybody else. The Statues and procedures and the coming Parliament is sham democratic place from a weaponized coup d’état where the opposition have been besieged and detained while the announcement was the final straw of pre-election period filled with malpractices of the whole process. Straight from the consultations meetings and state-lodge trips where you Mr. President gave ways to your coming next tenure and no disregard for your fellow citizens. This the legacy you leave behind, even the late Obote would be proud how you photo-copied and made it your own; in your VISON.
You’re said you are the only man in the country with a vision, and the vision is now that you are the one that decide everything. As you fixed and mended this Supreme Court ruling and dismissal of the petition. Hope you’re eating healthy and living well within your vision, but your blind by that vision, as that vision is not in everybody’s head. So please think about that Mr. President and is not what you have envisioned. Peace.
Best Regard
The Writer of the this Blog.