Opinion: Museveni should check himself…

“I’m really not happy with the people who divert our people’s attention. I’m tired of the misleaders of our people and they should check themselves or I will check them” – President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni (02.11.2024).

Mr. 1986, the only man with a vision, the truly visionary and revolutionary leader should start to reflect on his own actions and words. These sorts of statements are getting old. Just like his campaigns, slogans and whatnot against corruption. It is a recycling of messaging and it’s meaningless in 2024.

This man can’t be serious. He cannot expect us to take him seriously either. The old man with the hat is a lost case. The words and retorts are pointless. As he himself doesn’t practice what he preaches. Just like he tells people to live within their means, but he lives on the public coffers and spends like there is no tomorrow on himself. Therefore, he isn’t a believable character anymore.

He is a man that has created scandals and allowed them to appear. Just to divert attention from the real reasons or problematic efforts of the state. That’s what his regime has done and he has done this deliberately too. People are preoccupied with one minor thing, instead of the bigger picture. They are more into the celebrities and nudity, than the actual government or policies, which will affect the citizens for decades to come.

That is who Museveni is and how he has operated. He has been happy to mislead and miseducate generations. Where he has used his bravado and charisma to sell stories. Tales of old and tales of now. Just so he can blame others or say others was in-charge. Even when its all built by him or been incorporated in a manner, which he is responsible for. His the guy that has appointed and made sure the legislation is put forward in the first place. Alas, when the reality of the gambit and the hustle comes to show. He will blame the forefathers and whoever else for the misgivings of his own creation. Therefore, he isn’t a jolly statesman, but a liar himself.

A man that lies about the past, present and about what he will do in the future. That’s who Museveni is and we can see it. That’s why he shouldn’t call someone misleaders. When he is the Pope of Misleading and the Archbishop of lying. It is so easy to assess and address. This isn’t even funny, but it’s tragic.

The response should have been swift, but people are tired. They are just so numb to it. The people have heard it all before and his excuses are getting old. The excuses are sooner older than the President himself. It is getting stale, old and we cannot digest it anymore. Peace.

Opinion: The bitter coffee of Musevenism…

The recent drama surrounding Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) is telling, as the status of the organization and the legality of it is in question. Just like the trouble of leaving the International Coffee Agreement (ICA) in 2022. This is a continuation of that, just like the monopoly plans of Pinetti to have a Coffee Processing Plant. It is just another in the matter.

The cash crop that was introduced and has held certain chokehold in the Republic. As it has given the Republic foreign exchange and also a surplus for its production. The coffee crop has been beneficial and been an asset. That’s why the Coffee Marketing Board (CMB) was involved and ensured a large part of the export in the past. The UCDA was supposed to takeover and centralize it even further. This happened after the liberalization and the new policy reforms of early 1990s.

That’s why it is interesting in 2024 that this is such a hot commodity. That the need for restructure and changes are that eminent. As if there is no other way around it. It is just a hurry to fix the cup and ensure the sale of coffee is over. That’s the gist here. The black gold has to be traded and done in a haste.

The NRM that dissolved the CMB and created the UCDA. Now it is planning to end the UCDA and it’s by all means painful. The Ministry of Agriculture won’t be ready or have an idea of how this is run. That will be another priority in a string of things, which will be hectic, useless and a bureaucratic mess… that’s ironic as this is done to steamroll and ensure better results. At least that is the excuse and that UCDA isn’t up to scratch as it is.

None of this is shocking, as the beast is roaring against itself. This is the bureaucracy that the NRM has created and thrived on. Now it is trying to reform itself and without any sort of certainty. Only big questions remains and a lack of oversight. Just a hurry to end paper tigers and not explain why your doing it. Meanwhile the duplicities of the state and the lack of proper planning is why we are here.

The own creation and makings is why the NRM are here in 2024. The lack of showing a clear pattern or an idea of the future. That’s why the whole UCDA saga seems like a heist and a planned effort to enrich a few chosen few. Instead of being a solid government policy or even well meaning change of an government entity. It is instead looked as a cash-grab and enrichment project of the upper-echelon of the food chain. That’s why people are crying out loud and rightfully so.

The UCDA is just showing the mistrust and lack of good governance. That’s why we are here and seemingly by default into more trouble. There is a need for proper procedure and a way of using cash-crops, by giving fair prices to farmers and ensure their longevity of their works. However, this seems more like a devious scheme to dissolve and give a mandate to a Ministry that isn’t ready to run it. Not like the CMB became UCDA and now they are getting another one to run in its stead. No, it seems like a final goodbye.

A goodbye and an end that someone will profit on and use the power to control the exports of it. That’s why people are horrified, and they know how the State House and others entangle themselves into these things. They dwell into the material and find ways to eat.

This robusta is far from over. The reality here is that the crux of the matter is who earns what and where. That’s the gist here. The beans will be spilled, and the truth will come to light. The NRM wouldn’t reform or act in this manner. If there wasn’t some sort of financial benefit for someone in association with the State House or the inner circle of power. That’s the motivation of this. It isn’t for the betterment of the farmers or the ones producing the coffee. No, they are blindsided regardless and only a pawn for the master’s on top. Therefore, time will tell… time will tell. Peace.

Opinion: Among better answer for her tribalism…

Then better make sure that those baganda don’t get numbers!” – Speaker Anita Among (24.10.2024).

Yesterday’s Plenary Session has exposed how the Speaker of the 11th Parliament, Anita Among operates. It was a moment that was supposed to be held in silence and her microphone was meant to be muted. Regardless, we are seeing how she targets and are going after certain groups of Members of Parliament.

The honourable speaker is showing her tribalism. Where she has picked up one group of MPs and where they are from. This is going to far. It wouldn’t be right if she did this against the Acholi, Langi or whoever else either. Right now we are just discussing this because it is targeted against the Baganda MPs.

The ones that are from the Central Region or the Baganda Kingdom. The ones that are elected from a variety of districts surrounding the capital. That’s who the Speaker spoke ill about and wanted them to not know about the situation.

The Speaker isn’t impartial in the affairs either, but the ones directing and taking the shots. She is pushing the legislation and isn’t the one overseeing it. No, she is taking her hands into the cookie-jar to ensure the legislation is pushed through the house. The Speaker don’t care how and what it takes, as long as she serves the interests of the State House. This is why she goes to this length and is willing to take shots at others.

The bill itself isn’t important in this regard, because she is just doing the bidding of the Head of State. She is a marionette in this game and it’s telling. That’s why she’s kept there and is allowed to be despicable at it.

It is just really telling that someone is speaking like this and at her office. In other places she would have to resign and been replaced. However, we know that won’t happen here. She is serving a purpose and that’s why she’s allowed to do whatever.

Speaker Among should consider herself and her role. This is disrespectful and beneath her station. She should know better, but we everyone is supposed to apologize to her and ask for forgiveness. Meanwhile she can act as a thief and disingenuous as she wants. Nevertheless, anyone else doing that in “her” house would get into trouble.

Speaker Among should retract and consider her office, but we know she won’t, because she is shielded by the State House. She will get off and live another day. Like yesterday never happened. Peace.

Amuru Land Grab: The Legacy of Atiak Sugar Factory – Part III [Spending 553 billion shillings on nothing]

“The factory is currently non-operational, not producing any sugar, and this raises concerns given government’s intervention over the years. Management intimated that the reason for non-production is because sugarcane is not readily available. All this despite the huge investment by Government” (…) “Despite the factory being non-operational for couple of years, it spends 200 liters of Diesel on a daily basis, running turbines, apparently to prevent the machines from rusting and malfunctioning. This regular expenditure is disturbing given that there is no production going on” (…) “Management told us that the factory’s sugarcane plantation totaling 7,900 acres had been burnt down in December 2020, and this also affected the operations. However, the cause of the fire was unclear” (…) “Despite the heavy financial investment of 553.71 billion by Government in the joint venture, what is on ground is not commensurate with this investment. This raises questions about whether this not another white elephant” (Office of the Leader of Opposition – REPORT OF THE OVERSIGHT VISIT BY THE LEADER OF OPPOSITION AND OPPOSITION MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT TO ATIAK SUGAR FACTORY ON 7 TH OCTOBER,2024).

The saga continues, the Amuru Land Grab and the whole Atiak Sugar Factory, which has no results and nothing to show for it. After all of these years. All the budget posts and whatever the state promised the Great North. The Sugar Factor of Atiak is a failure. It is the worst sort of development project and a added value sort of enterprise in the region.

This whole ordeal just shows how the National Resistance Movement and the Governmneto of Uganda operates. They are showing their inept and inaction, their lack of good governance and even ability to make things work.

The ones running the Uganda Development Corporation should answer for their failure. This is in disregard to their mandate, which is: “To promote and facilitate industrial and economic development of Uganda”. These words are hallow and meaningless, when you see how the UDC has worked and operated in regard to Atiak.

Atiak is a proof that the UDC isn’t fit to run these sorts of businesses. They aren’t able to get it up and running. This is neither a profitable business or even a company worth investing in. There is nothing here and only been a bottomless pit. That’s what Atiak has become and everyone involved should be ashamed of the wastage of public expenditure on this.

The people of Amuru District deserves better and so does anyone else. The ones who can loose their livelihood and the plots they resides on. Just so the state can take their land and they are not even producing anything substantial. That’s what is horrific here and the owners of the Atiak aren’t doing anything either. Horyal Investments Holding Company Limited needs to answer for this too. As well, as the UDC for their lack of proper action in regards to Atiak.

Atiak is a white-elephant and one of plenty that has been made during the years of Museveni. Peace.

Uganda Law Society (ULS): Statement of Position of Isaac Ssemakadde, Radical New Bar President on the Trial of Olivia Lutaaya and Others Before the General Court Martial (22.10.2024)

Uganda: Ministry of Defence & Veteran Affairs – Uganda Peoples’ Defence Force (UPDF) – UPDF Condemns Murder of People in Agago District (21.10.2024)

Opinion: The MPs hyper-focus on SEX…

“41. Voidable marriage (1) A marriage is voidable where one of the parties to the marriage(a) is unable to consummate the marriage within six months of celebration of marriage; (b) willfully refuses to consummate the marriage within a period of three months from the time of celebration of the marriage; or (c) conceals a material fact which would otherwise vitiate the other party’s consent to the marriage; (2) The aggrieved party may, at his or her option, apply to a competent court on any of the grounds in subsection (l), to nullify the marriage” (Marriage Bill, 2024).

The recent laws that have been read and been tabled at the Parliament is main focused on the sex-life of the citizens. The Members of Parliament are willing to Police the fornication and the bed-rotation of citizens of the Republic. This is a continuation of the Anti-Homosexuality Act. Therefore, this is the main perspective of the MPs and what they deem fit or most important use of their time.

We have the bill tabled Sara Achieng Opendi, which is the Marriage Bill of 2024. Which I have shown one really bad article of, and I cannot understand the need of this being in law. Unless the state needs to know that the married couples are doing it. That’s how you can interpret it.

In coordination with this… at the same time, Anna Andeke Ebaju MP has tabled the Sexual Offences Bill of 2024. That is furthering the cause too and wants to make the oldest profession illegal. Which is stopping one part of society and will make it more underground. This sort of thing will always exist, and people will seek it out. So, this won’t stop the practice, but make it even more dangerous for the people who are working as prostitutes and the ones whose sheltering them at their “workplace”.

Just read this:

“12. Brothels A person who knowingly keeps a house, room or place of any kind for purposes of facilitating the commission of an offence under this Act commits an offence and is liable, on conviction, to imprisonment for seven years. 13. Prohibition of prostitution A person who practices or engages in prostitution commits an offence and is liable, on conviction, to imprisonment for two years. 14. Prohibition of sexual act with a prostitute A person who engages in a sexual act with a prostitute commits an offence and is liable, on conviction, to imprisonment for two years” (The Sexual Offences Bill, 2024).

Yes, prostitution is immoral from some sense of the imagination. At the same time, everything that is immoral shouldn’t necessarily become illegal. Then you’re going down a slippery slope of things that can become prohibited. That’s something that is in need to be discussed and needs further reflection on.

I’m just here to address the matter that sex and sexual acts are regulated like this. Yes, the laws in themselves aren’t all bad. There is just a need to look into it and speak out about it. We know “sex” sells and this shows it. It is populist moves of the MPs and how they show their acts in the 11th Parliament.

One MP is worried that the couples are consummate their relationship after the celebration of marriage. While another MP is worried about people actually paying for the same sort of service. Meanwhile, the same Parliament has made it illegal to have one sort of sexual behaviour. Therefore, this is just continuing the path and policing bed-side behaviour from all aspects of life. That should be discussed before all dirty laundry have to be publicized and follow the articles of law.

We can wonder why they are doing this and creates legislation like this. When there is so many things that needs a fix. There is so many issues within the Republic, which isn’t part of the activities between the sheets. No, there are more troubling issues, but they are not as politicized or as populist as finding punitive measures for what the MPs deems as immoral within the bedframes of the citizens home. Therefore, the MPs wants a say in how you act and with who you act it with. That’s the reality here and how they are becoming the ones that legalize your rights and what you can do in bed.

This is what is happening here… the MPs should ask themselves if they want the state to control and navigate other parts of their lives. As their private parts aren’t that private, when the state must allow them to use them or not. This is the backside to the laws. All sorts of sexual activity are now becoming law. Yes, these laws have reasonable aspects which makes sense, but I am just pointing out the ones that are questionable.

They need to be blasted. Because… the citizens should know what the MPs are doing and where they are willing to go. Peace.

Opinion: Balaam has become a mercenary for the junta…

“I believe in clean politics. It’s crucial for Uganda’s progress. We must reject deceptive tactics; the tactics that make young people misguided. We must embrace transparency and accountability” (..) “The president has no power to pardon unless someone has been sentenced. So the option available is to cooperate and put in their submissions very fast so that we can have a speedy and fair trial” –  Balaam Barugahara (16.10.2024)

The Minister of State for Youth and Children Affairs, Hon. Balaam Barugahara is reported to have visited prisoners of conscience at Kitalya and Luzira Prisons to coerce the prisoners of their guilt. In such a fashion that they will plead guilty to the charges pinned on them. Which he promises their only way to freedom.

It just shows the sinister part here. Several of political prisoners who has fraudulent charges on them. They have been in jail for years upon years now. Where the system has deferred and taken them to Court. Meanwhile, the state is supposed to build a case and prove with evidence of their criminal intent. Alas, the state has nothing and cannot come with anything. That’s why it’s sending Balaam after years of carnage behind bars. To promise them “freedom” and “liberty”, if they accept to become felons and get a pardon from the President.

That’s what we are seeing here. The activists and political affiliated to the opposition who are behind bars. People who have been there since late 2020. These people have gotten changing charges over the years. These civilians has been going to trial in Court Martial and tested through the military courts. These are possibly moved to a favourable court and possibly released after accepting guilt. This isn’t justice, but further injustice, as they are now felons and convicts, which they never did. However, they are out of prison but won’t be totally free. As the state can used the charges and the cases against them at a later date.

Balaam knows all of this… but he wants to be a stooge of the government. His now using his title and office to be a beneficiary. The Minister is now doing the bidding of the state and making the victims further punished for doing nothing. Just imagine people who has lingered behind bars and now have to accept their plights. They are told all of this and released, because they said “okay” to become felons. That’s the injustice here. There is no fair trial or justice here. Only pleaded guilty to “hot air” and then released. Meanwhile, that will be on record and haunt these political prisoners.

Yes, they should be released and freed, but not an a technicality like this. They should be exonerated and acquitted from the cases itself. Now, they are validating the charges and eating the criminal intent of doing so. They are admitting to acting in malice, when they never did. That’s what is disgusting about it and Balaam is giddy about it.

Innocent people are becoming criminals here. Just because of their political affiliation. It isn’t humorous, but tragic. Peace.

Uganda Law Society (ULS): Executive Order RNB No 1 of 2024 – Expulsion of the Attorney General and Solicitor General and their Representatives from the Uganda Law Society Council (14.10.2024)

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Olivia Lutaaya is a victim of political circumstances…

Today is a sad day… when a political activist named Alivia Lutaaya has “pleaded guilty” to the charges put on her. After years in prison. The Military Courts has deferred the case and never proven their guilt. They don’t have the evidence or the witnesses to the charges. However, the cases have been pending and their lives have been on hold in prison.

Olivia Lutaaya has now been four years in prison. First as a part of a group that had “13 explosives” which was an army monopolized weapon. Meaning the army and the government claimed the 32 individuals in question had the weaponry and the authorities captured them with it.

However, that was in 2021 and in 2023 the charges changed, and the 32 individuals are now part of a “bali bali” group and was planning “treachery”. That’s how to extend their time and resolve in prison. As a way of forging new charges and pinning new crimes on the people in question.

That’s why this case shows the ramifications of partaking and being vocal for the opposition in the Republic. These are people who was active and supporting the “red wave” and the National Unity Platform (NUP) ahead of the 2021 General Elections. They were picked up from Mbale, Jinja, Wakiso and Kampala. The ones charged together with Olivia Lutaaya wasn’t only in Kalangala on the 30th of December 2020.

No, these people weren’t organized or in connection of each in this manner. Nevertheless, the state alleges that and says so now. These people are prisoners of conscience. Those people are behind bars for their political affiliation.

The initial reason for their arrests was wearing red-berets. It has further extended to having explosives to later being charged with treason. If you think this case is rock solid and has the hallmark of proof. I hate to break it too you, but the state got nothing. They only have fear, intimidation and the monopoly of violence. That’s why they can do this and can take away the liberty, justice and freedom of these civilians.

Oliva Lutaaya deserves better. Everyone on the list of these days and the nights they are having behind bars. All of them deserves better. That Olivia has pleaded guilty is only because the state broke her. Not because she did anything criminal or with criminal intensions. No, it is only because she was associated and an activist from the NUP.

Oliva Lutaaya and everyone else who is a part of this deserves justice. However, they are only getting injustice and impunity. They are victims of who they believed in and who they wanted to rule the Republic. These people fought for their party and their candidate. The price they have taken is too high. It shouldn’t be this way. The cost of being politically active shouldn’t be like this. Risking your life and being behind bars for years. Just because you support Bobi Wine. That’s foolish, but that’s where the Republic is today. Peace.