DP Press Statement on current affairs in Uganda (26.07.2016)

DP 26.07.2016

Kampala July 26th 2016The Party seeks to inform all Ugandans that we are ready to participate in the forthcoming elections of the newly created districts particularly Omoro where we have received Applications from four excellent candidates. The NEC has in consultation with the branch been assessing the suitability of the candidates. The process will be concluded today afternoon and a Press Statement will be issued unveiling the Party candidate for the seat of Woman MP, Omoro District. We are still committed to working with other opposition friendly forces and we shall support the opposition candidates whenever and wherever possible.

The Democratic Party is greatly concerned about the state of the Health Sector in the country. We are disheartened that the few erected structures have no personnel and equipment; where the personnel and equipment exist, the facilitation is meager while the equipment has no technical personnel well conversant with its operating. However the regime despite such shortcomings isn’t ashamed to attempt to bail out phony businessmen who claim to be wallowing in debts yet they live a life of showbiz. Provision of health services in the country continues to be described by social class and political affiliation discrimination yet we have a regime that prides itself in surviving courtesy of peasant class support.

Last month our Vice President- Buganda region MP Betty Nambooze was in South Africa seeking better treatment. She is improving and we thank all those who have been there for her especially the FDC Chapter in South Africa. The former Woman Leader Mrs. Maxensia Takirambule has been bed ridden for several months and needs USD140000 to go to USA for surgery. There is also a Fundraising Dinner scheduled for August 12, 2016 at Hotel Africana. What the above cases show us is that the Ugandan Health Sector itself needs diagnosis. We can’t go on living life normally when we know that minus the capacity to seek foreign treatment, death is an assured deal whenever one is diagnosed serious ailments. The amount spent on treating government officials and their close of kin abroad should be invested here to build a vibrant and competent health care system. This is a call that all Ugandans should embrace regardless of our political affiliations and other divisions that may exist among us.

Prisoners’ Rights
The Party also seeks to address an issue most people tend to ignore until they find themselves faced by the same. That is the issue of Prisoners’ Rights vis a vis the right of access to information. Last week, Mr. Abdallah Kiwanuka, an eminent Party member while from visiting Mp Bakireke Nambooze happened to use a road passing by Ronald Kibuule the Government Minister’s home and came across a group of uniformed prisoners doing manual labor at the Minister’s home. He took a photo of them that was to ‘spoil’ his whole day. Road blocks were laid to ensure he didn’t get to the city. This was followed by abduction by the police and an attempt to force him to offer apologies to the person of Ronald Kibuule.

What the fracas that was a circus indeed revealed is that some people have the ability to use the police like one would use a personal walking stick. Involved was a one Ssonko the Traffic commander for Mukono, the Mukono DPC Fred Ahimbisibwe and the OC station Mbalala Police Station in Mukono. These Officers must know we consider Individual Responsibility for Individual Crimes and they will be taken on as individuals.

We do therefore condemn this use of the country’s security apparatus by some individuals just as if they are their personal militia; they indeed might be when we all along haven’t known. We do ask Ugandans to take the issue of Prisoners Rights as an issue of importance. Kibuule’s attempt to stifle the information about the use of prisoners’ labor at his home shows there was something wrong going on. We as a Party therefore will continue striving for the application of Truth and Justice as tenets that will help our country get back to the road of reason and rationale.

Kakande Kenneth Paul
Publicity Secretary

Hon. Kyeyune blames defiance; I blame lack of governance for frustrated investors!

Kapwocha FDC 080116 P1

Well, it is one of these days where the NRM-Regime continues to pound on the Forum for Democratic Change and their Defiance campaign. It’s like the Resistance Movement having a hard time settling in as the 10th Parliament. Mzee must be so darn proud of loyal subjects who attacks Besigye and Company without ordering it.

So here is what was been said and reported in the Daily Monitor today:

“The State Minister for Microfinance, Mr Haruna Kyeyune, has expressed displeasure at the ongoing defiance campaign by the Opposition, saying it could stand in the way of government’s planned 2020 middle-income dream” (…) “You can then pick it up from there, because it frustrates investors,” (Emwamu, 2016).

With all that in mind, let’s be clear the FDC are not the main reason for lack of investors or investors fleeing. They are not the ones with guns, ammunition or tear-gas. That is the Government, the NRM-Regime and their security outfits. Therefore the stalemate is mostly created by the Uganda Police and the UPDF for their disregard for the citizens.

Hon. Kyeyune blames the other party because that is the easy way out and it shows loyalty to his boss. While doing so he is washing the hands of blood and the tears, so they are clean even though they never will be. As the government doesn’t wish accountability or transparent policies either with Electoral Law and organizations. Neither with security or economy. With that in mind, the Government themselves are hurting prospect of business, as the investors have to facilitate with government officials with secret deals behind closed doors; instead of transactions though open business. That is what is hurting the investments, together with uncertain currency, levels of inflation and the steady growth of government loans. That together is creating a fragile economic outlook that worries a fellow investor. But the easy way out is to blame Dr. Kizza Besigye and his DMC. Eh! What else Hon. Kyeyune, is it the ‘rollex’ fault that there are potholes at Kalerwe, Kampala?

Peace.

Reference:

Emwamu, Simon Peter – ‘Defiance hurts investment, says minister’ (26.07.2016) link: http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Defiance–hurts-investment–says-minister/688334-3310484-15qfnfz/index.html

Déjà Vu’: The Kampala Metropolitan Police doesn’t have common sense when it comes to Besigye!

Besigye 25.07.2016 P2

It’s is a déjà vu’ for Dr. Kizza Besigye today as he must have felt it, yet again entering Makindye Court to answer yet another case in-front of another judge; The Judge must really like Posho, because the charge was soft and gooey. Even ACP Polly Namaye claimed the infamous law Public Order Management Act on the detaining and stopping Besigye from attending the Tuesday Prayer at Najjankumbi Headquarters in Kampala on the 4th April 2016.

As the Police at that time called it a planned procession through Metropolitan Kampala as he was driving from Kasangati through the town. That day he was planning to cross Mulago toward the Central Kampala, but as Police Commanders under orders of Kampala Metropolitan Commander Andrew Felix Kaweesi. Then his car was whisked away as he was taken to Old Kiira Road Police Station. This was as he had disobeyed Police Orders at a Roundabout towards Kalerwe not far from Mulago. So the Police had already decided to detain him!

Besigye Jinja Road 25.07.2016

Now today he entered the Makindye Court together with Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago at his side, to address the court of the unlawful behavior and disobeying police orders in April 2016. Apparently the earlier trial dates are showing that the Government defense of the case was manufactured and wasn’t clear. As the State-Witness on the 22nd May when addressing the court was even contradicting himself and wasn’t really saying anything considerate about the case. For instance at one second he was a higher level officer in the Army before becoming Police, later he countered that statement with saying he never we’re in the Army. If that is the truth than he had a hard time becoming an officer in the army, when he never was there! Therefore the evidence of the crime we’re properly dismissed at Makindye on the 25th July 2016. This proves that the Police Force and Government have wasted lots of time creating issues instead of actually governing.

So the continued aggression from the state came quickly as the word of the dismissal and public walked and greeted Besigye in the Central of Kampala. This was not accepted by the government and Police. The Police still under Andrew Felix Kaweesi, had to silence the brief greeting the public. As the “procession” made-up by random people and supporters shows the popularity of the FDC leader.

Therefore today’s activity from the Metropolitan Police must feel back to the normal as he quickly from leaving the Makindye Court we’re taken to Jinja Road Police Station; while he car we’re towed away from the place in town he we’re picked-up by the Police. So the reality is that the Police is creating a problem; instead of erasing problems. They claimed his car was shoddy and a DMC or a Defect Automobile (Dangerous Mechanical Condition). So the White Toyota Land Cruiser been the criminal passing town and apparently the driver or driven by Besigye. So they couldn’t charge him with procession, I am sure the Police Officer wasn’t sure how to write that; as the Police Officers have written that wrong before.

Besigye 25.07.2016 Jinja Road

At the Jinja Road Police Station the detained politician and arch-nemesis of Museveni, Besigye we’re spending time with loyal allies in Lord Mayor Lukwago, Wafula Oguttu, Hon Amuriat, Hon. Geoffrey Ekanya and Ingrid Turinawe. As he we’re also collecting his statement on disobeying police orders, while his car we’re lucky to be claimed to be a DMC, while the footage on NBS and NTV of the matter shows the “damage” is fiction from the Police Officers to find reasons to detain him again and create new possible trial dates to stop him from attending and questioning the rule of law in the Nation.

So the phony and laughable perfect IGP Kayihura has yet another question about the man so-called fighting him. As he under his leadership tormenting Besigye another day at one of his Police Stations in the Central Uganda; one of the Police Stations Besigye knows well. Surely one of the places he should have wall where he could use chalk to imprint how many times he has been detained there. So IGP Kayihura must be proud of Commander Kaweesi for yet another time finding a solution to silence Besigye, with the charge of DMC. The car that the Police have broken before in 2016 to tear-gas the ones sitting in the car! Did you forget that, yes you did; and at one point Kayihura even promised a new car to Besigye, like that would happen?

Besigye 25.07.2016

Well, let’s be clear, this a phony charge, in the levels of impunity of the Calvary, the Kifeesi Police who has respect and want’s to silence the opposition with the detention of vocal opposition and men of defiance against the status quo of those who are dropping funds after NRM Cronies in scam-bailouts. That is the ones that are detained today and the conflict of justice for all is not there; it is only justice for elite and the men kissing Mzee’s ring. The rest can end-up behind bars, beaten by the police or shedding tears after shooting at the public with teargas.

This will continue as the NRM-Regime cannot help them, they are on sail-boat at the middle of sea, far from land without any wind and trying to find oars to row into land; but they are hidden behind deck and the Mzee doesn’t seem to know because his vision doesn’t say so. Therefore the men who are lost at sea are waiting for accurate statement and direction to the oars while the problem of no wind let them left at sea instead of getting into shade at the harbor. Peace.

Remmy Bhati interviews Besigye: “Besigye’s social life in Prison” (Youtube-Clip)

Seemingly the Ugandan Government bailing-out corporations… or is it way of Mzee to give monies to his loyal cronies?

Scambailouts Uganda

There are talks of bailing out businesses or corporations in Uganda, as the failing; it is not only the Republic of Uganda or the Government of Uganda is striking more and more debt to fulfil the budgets. As that happens, the businesses together with Ugandan Banks are sustaining investments and fiscal monetary situation for industries and businesses; something that is occurring with a steady pace.

The Steady Progress from the National Resistance Movement comes with a price of loyalty of the cronies and the elite; that happen to be fundraising for the NRM-O before the General Election of 2016 and building the famous “NRM-House”, for some strange reason never sees the light of day. Dwindling away in T-Shirt Money and other ways of funding the expensive campaign of ruling regime.

Here is some of the companies and some information on them. There are many more, but this shows certain levels of questions and also, the needed for funding should be gone, except if the owners have allegiance to the NRM-Regime. So it seems like the Executive wants them to have debt and all of a sudden he needs to save them.

Shumuk

Shumuk Aluminium who has failed on loans; these loans are Shs. 8.2bn to DFCU Bank, Shs. 6.6bn to Baroda Bank and Shs. 17bn to Crane Bank. The Shumuk Group have been an industrial manufacture that has made everything from steel to plastic bottles in Uganda since 1984. That is now troubled in debt, has also gotten donor-aid or grants through Danish Aid in 2008 on the level of USD 170.102 and in 2006 a total USD 167.940.; Still with time been able to get unsustainable, really?

Roofing Steel Mines have failed loans; Shs. 201bn to IFC and Shs. 8bn to Diamond Trust Bank. Company’s assets supposed to be Shs. 15bn. It’s a company that has existing since 1994. “Mr. Sikander Lalani, Roofings Group has recently completed its ambitious expansion plan by commissioning Roofings Rolling Mills (RRM) limited, a Ugx320 billion(US$127 million) mega project which is set to change the face of steel manufacturing in the East African Region. This state of the art complex is located in Kampala Industrial Business Park, Namanve” (Constructionreviewonline.com, 2013). In 2014: “Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi and his wife Jacqueline were the chief guests at the Serena event, hailing the Lalani family for creating jobs for Ugandans in their business empire and contributing to economic development of Uganda” (Scoop.co.ug, 24.01.2014). Apparently now the business of Lalani is creating a debt issue and not jobs.

BM Steel has debt of Shs. 66bn. President Museveni said this about the company in the 2015: “The recycled steel that is being produced by Casements, Roofings, Tembo Steel, BM Steel (Mwebesa), Modern Steel etc. cannot be used for very high-rise buildings, hydro-power dams etc. It does not have that strength” (Museveni, 29.04.2015). With this in mind the quality of the steel is low, but their debt is still raising, and the same apparently with Roofing as well, who has debt. Worrying sign?

Salim Selah NAPIL

Namunkekera Agro Processing Industries Ltd (NAPIL) has an outstanding debt of Shs. 4.8bn to the Uganda Development Bank. It was incorporated 25.06.2007. It is a business run by the family member of President Museveni, General Salim Selah. In 2015 Gen. Selah said this: “made these remarks as he toured 40 agriculture projects under the umbrella of Namunkekera Agro Processing Industries Limited (NAPIL) in Kapeeka” (NTV Uganda, 20.03.2015). So the Government will on this bail-out the family member for his miscalculation on the Agricultural investment.

Job Coffee got a debt of Shs. 21.3bn to Stanbic Bank. In the month of September 2014 number 7 exporters from Uganda, with 7,960 bags of coffee. Total market share of 2013/2014 we’re 1.97%. What has happen since is not easy to know, but what is certain is that they have accumulated debt.

Simba Group owned by Patrick Bitature has debts of Shs. 210bn. In 2012 Forbes wrote this about him: “Bitature is the founder and chairman of Simba Telecom, East Africa’s largest mobile phone retailer with over 100 modern retail outlets in Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya Telecom. The company is also the largest mobile phone airtime distributor in the region. Bitature owns Protea Hotels Kampala, a 5-star hotel located in the upmarket suburb of Kololo in Kampala. He is also chairs the Uganda Investment Authority and Umeme, an energy distribution firm which is gearing up for an IPO on the Uganda Stock Exchange” (Nsehe, 06.11.2012). In 2015 in the African Report said this: “When asked about his net worth, he says: “That I don’t talk about. I have shares in listed companies in London, Johannesburg and here. The share prices keep changing. All I know is that I have a portfolio of different companies.” He says Simba Group employs more than 1,700 people” (Mbanga, 19.06.2015). Certainly he should talk about his net-worth now as his being bailed-out in Uganda, maybe he should sell some of the companies in London and Johannesburg, if he is as rich as that or maybe it is just big-talk?

Freedom City

Grapes Construction has a debt of Shs. 100bn to Stanbic Bank. Who owns the Freedom City Mall in Kampala; The owner of Grapes Construction is subsidiary of Grapes Group who is owned by John Ssebalamu. In 2014 he had an issue with the Kenyan renter at the mall of the Company UCHUMI: “At the end of last year, it emerged that Ssebalamu the owner of Freedom City had sued UCHUMI for failure to pay him arrears amounting to over Shs340million” (Red Pepper, 2014). In 2015 he had monies to spend on the NRM: “John Ssebalamu shs100M”. This Shs. 100m was going to build the NRM House, so the coins given seems to give back profits. (Xclusive.co.ug, 28.06.2015).

Sojovalo Hotel has debt of Shs. 8.3bn to the Kenya Commercial Bank. The owner William George Kajoba also gave Shs 50M to the NRM House(Xclusive.co.ug, 28.06.2015). So with this new project from the government, the pledge in 2015 gave a hand back to the businessman and his Hotel close to the Kabaka in Kampala.

Krone Limited Uganda

Krone Uganda Limited owes Shs. 2.5bn to the Tropical Bank; the business has 3.000 empolyees. Krone Uganda Ltd is the largest miner and exporter of wolfram (tungsten). In the Daily Monitor in 2015, this was written about the company: “the ministry refused to allow them export three containers – 20 metric tons of wolfram worth about Shs1.4 billion ($450,000) that is stuck in various warehouses. They are charged Shs640, 000 ($200) every day as “demurrage” (charges that the charterer pays to the ship-owner for its extra use of the vessel) since February” (Musisi, 18.07.2015). So the government own policy on mining and Value-Added Producing is the reason behind the debt growth of Krone Uganda Limited.

MS Frank Ssonko Ltd owes Shs3.5bn to the Crane Bank, but got assets worth Shs. 9.9bn. Another one is Ahmed Zziwa owes Shs. 10bn, but has assets worth Shs. 20bn. Ahmed Zziwa are the owner of Anglo Fabric (Bolton) limited who imports and sells soap in Uganda. Steven Mukasa owes Shs. 10bn. While having Shs. 40bn in assets. Even owning land on Makerere University, at the level of 8 Acres and even at one point was putting Prof. Baryamureba for stealing Shs. 140m of building material from him in 2010. So he must be NRM guy!

I hope this was enough for now. Not to talk about too much tax-money given away in the name of saving them, instead of making the rich even richer! Peace.

Uganda: Single Entry Visa goes from 100USD to 50USD (15.07.2016)

Uganda Single Entry Visa July 2016

Press Release: Over 26,000 people flee to Uganda to escape uncertainty in South Sudan (22.07.2016)

Kiryandongo

The influx continues to be characterised by a high proportion of women and children (more than 90%).

GENEVA, Switzerland, July 22, 2016 Thousands of people continue to flee uncertainty and fighting in South Sudan. Since fighting erupted on July 7 between forces loyal to President Kiir and First Vice President Machar, 26,468 people have crossed into Uganda’s northern region, including 24,321 in the previous six days alone. The influx continues to be characterised by a high proportion of women and children (more than 90%). 

Yesterday, an estimated 8,337 refugees crossed in to Uganda from South Sudan, a new record high since the influx began and in 2016. An estimated 6,500 crossed in Elegu, 659 in Moyo, 156 in Lamwo and 642 in Oraba while 380 arrived in Kiryandongo Reception Centre.

The influx is severely stretching the capacity of collection points, transit centres and reception centres. Elegu collection point is full to the extent that it is not possible conduct a head count. New arrivals figures in Elegu are based on an analysis of trends throughout the day. On Wednesday night, more than 7,000 people slept at Elegu collection point, significantly beyond its 1,000-person capacity. Similarly, Kuluba collection point is hosting 1,099 refugees, compared to its 300-person capacity. Torrential rains are further hampering registration efforts.

New arrivals in Adjumani report continued fighting between forces loyal to President Kiir and those loyal to First Vice-President Machar. There are reports that armed gunmen continue to loot properties, forcibly recruit boys and young men, and murder civilians in Magwi.

Another Uganda People’s Defense Force convoy evacuating Ugandan nationals from South Sudan is expected today. On previous occasions, a large number of refugees have taken the opportunity to flee the country by accompanying the convoy.

Press Release: Suspended elections of Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson for the AU Commission (18.07.2016)

UG PR 18.07.2016

Gen. Katumba: We are not in South Sudan to support Kiir (Youtube-Clip)

Message from the Governor of Mityana to Mr Longo (Youtube-Clip)