Opinion: “Team Thorough” forgot to get blessed by the “high above”

A strategy meeting of ruling NRM coordinators under their pressure group “NRM team thorough” turned rowdy right before a walkout. This was after the angry supporters claimed they had not been recognized and compensated for mobilizing support for President Yoweri Museveni in the 2021 Presidential Election. The NRM Secretariat has disowned the group, saying the previous elections were scientific and it never had a covenant with anyone” (NBS Television, 18.06.2022).

A sub-group outside the official National Resistance Movement “umbrella” organizations has convened today and felt dissatisfied, because they haven’t been acknowledged for their work or compensated for it. However, there is digital records dating back to August 2019, which shows the existence of the “NRM Team Thorough YKM 2021” with the chief coordinator Eng.Idiri Kiiza Kamuntu.

Today isn’t only a sad day that the NRM Team Thorough YKM 2021 isn’t recognized or acknowledge by the NRM Secretariat or the NRM CEC for that matter, which is that the former Chief Coordinator Idiri Kiiza Kamuntu has only been deceased for two weeks; because he lack funds and couldn’t afford treatment. Therefore, even the hard-working political activists like him and his demise can easily happen. A man of the party and for the President who still isn’t helped or gotten any sort of direct support from the state. He died at Mulago Hospital for the lack of medicine. So, when that happened to the big-man and coordinator of the organization. Who thought the Organization itself would be supported?

It has happened before that parts of the NRM Team Thorough YKM 2021 have resorted to renegade against the organization and the party itself. In November 2020 Deus Mwebaze reported: “A group of NRM youths hailing from Eastern Uganda have vowed not to canvass support for the ruling party in case they are not paid their allowances. The youths under their umbrella organization Team Thorough for Yoweri Kaguta Museveni” (Mwebaze, November 2020).

That this NRM sub-group or organization thought it was special or could get any favours is just funny. In hindsight, anyone who is not vouched for or been blessed by the NRM Central Executive Committee, if not been invited to the State House and heard a lecture from the President there. Than you know your swimming against the tide. There will be no direct help or monetary gains from it.

The NRM Team Thorough YKM 2021 clearly haven’t followed what happened to NRM Poor Youth or any sort of NRM based organization. If it doesn’t have clearance or a sponsor from the high ranking officials of the state. There will be no will or heart in it. They will be left alone and will swim among the sharks.

These sorts of upstarts needs to petition the State House ahead of the elections and try to get a NRM Historical or a Stalwart in the NRM to vouch for them. If not it’s totally useless and nobody will care. This election was all about launching counter-productive measures towards People Power and the NUP. That’s why the likes of “Team Thorough” didn’t mean diddly squat to the NRM Secretariat.

This sort of story should be a warning. You can work and mobilize for months upon end. You can invest and spend all your time for the party. However, if you do it for organizations or sub-groups, which is not directly associated or vouched for. It is directly pointless, because they will acknowledge or respect your work. They will downplay it or openly disregard it. Peace.

Dr. Kizza Besigye to be behind bars until 1st July 2022…

““This is a purely political, rather than a judicial decision. The magistrate has not addressed himself to our justice system because someone is presumed innocent until proven guilty”- Lukwago after Buganda Rd Court denied Besigye bail” (Daily Monitor, 17.06.2022).

Former FDC president Dr Kizza Besigye and political activist Samuel Makaku have been further remanded to Luzira Prison until July 1 following their arrest on June 14 as they protested in downtown Kampala over high commodity prices” (STV Uganda, 17.06.2022).

Just like the tumultuous May, the June and possibly July will be for Dr. Kizza Besigye. He has already charges and is re-charged again this week. Now, he will have to await further court dates and await new bail/bond hearing in July. Therefore, the last two months it has been hectic and he has meet the hostile authorities.

We knew this would happen, as he together with the Red Card Front has launched the “Wake Up” Campaign to get people to protest the rising commodity prices in the Republic. The authorities, the law enforcement and everyone else is going after him. That’s why his been in Luzira earlier this year and was re-arrested yet again. Now his spending another 2 weeks in prison for protesting and demonstrating for a just cause.

The justification for all of this is the usual charge of “inciting to violence”. The state will never produce any proof of that or disturbance of public order either. That’s because there is no time for that and neither is there any levels of public outcry to begin with. This is why his alone in this and with very few allies on the front-line.

Dr. Kizza Besigye has done this so many times before. Someone who knows the judiciary, the courts and the prisons. That is something that his been excelling and has vast experience with. That’s because of his activism and his political drive. His a savvy man and a man who can inspire. This is why the authorities silences him and stops him in his tracks. They don’t want him to actually galvanise or even get people to understand his mission. Because, if he does… then it could spark a sincere revolution, which haven’t been seen before.

However, for that to happen. He needs enough meeting points and ability to organize. Which the state is doing whatever they can to stop. This is why they silence him and makes him a felon. As he goes from one prison to another. He goes from one charge to the next. This is a never ending cycle and Besigye seems to never win.

We are seeing constitutional rights being thwarted and devalued on a massive scale. As the rights to protest and demonstrate is dwindling. It was only the beginning with the Public Order Management Act (POMA) and they have a steady use of the Penal Code to incriminate people for misdemeanour crimes, which they never investigate or have any official discovery off. Therefore, the cases dies and the political use of the courts is all for the public to see.

Besigye is a victim. His an enemy of the state just for acting upon his own conscience and what he deems as right. The police and the army is following him. They are awaiting the next time he speaks on the streets and they will capture him. Where they will brutally take him away and whisk him off the streets. As his a problem and a voice of reason, a voice that is countering the agenda and the memo’s of the State House. Peace.

Uganda: Office of the President – Directorate for Ethics and Integrity – Hon Minister of State of Ethics and Integrity Media Brief on the Recent Unethical Behaviour Reported in some schools (16.06.2022)

Opinion: The 40 million shillings which makes the world go around…

The 11th Parliament is as corrupt and filled with stooges as the previous ones. The Speaker and Deputy Speaker is the “visionaries” of it and it shows by what sort of characters they are. Therefore, the news of an envelope for voting in the budget of financial year 2022/23 wasn’t shocking. It was more of the same…

The Members of Parliament allocates themselves a higher allowance and a kickback for their services. While teachers, nurses and civil servants will sought far and wide to get any help with the rising prices or the cost of basic commodities. No, this is the representatives and the ones who are working for the people. Who is giving themselves a pay-rise and an additional money-grab. While the President and others tell people to live within their means or eat cassava.

The 555 MPs was offered a huge fee as incentive and a bargain for doing their actual duty. They should scrutinise and have general oversight over the budget. Every vote and need should be looked into. The MPs should state the needs or the usage of the funds. However, by the manner of which the budget is passed. It seems like its ceremonial and pre-fixed ordeal where the MPs just has to accept and move-on. As if the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED) has everything covered and they should just nod their heads all along.

It is not strange that they accept the verdict and let bygones be bygones. When the money is coming in and it didn’t cost them anything. They are just accepting “free” money and can easily spend it however they deem fit. Nevertheless, their role as legislators and MPs is pointless. When they are not doing their job and is only stooges for the State House and the machinery of the “high above”.

We have seen this before and these sorts of votes will happen again. They called them suits or whatever really. As long as the National Resistance Movement (NRM) and their MPs follows the program, which is whatever Museveni deems fit. That’s the gist of it. They are additionally paid for their services and they have already high allowances, salaries and levels of perks. It is not like the MPs is unfortunate or lack wealth. No, this is the gig to go after and the state abundantly pay you.

While the less fortunate gets even lesser. The value of currency and lack of revenue makes it harder to get by. Meanwhile their representatives are getting paid-in-full with add-ons. These ones are living the high life. They are living life like there is no tomorrow and topping up at any given opportunity. Therefore, there is no second coming or worry…

It just shows how there is one world for the citizens and another for the MPs. Peace.

National Youth Council: Press Statement on the Dissastifaction of the Youth with the Implementation Mode of the Parish Development Model (15.06.2022)

Dr. Kizza Besigye arrested in Kampala Central Business District and is detained at Nagalama Police Station

Besigye on Tuesday returned to the city center to resume his protests against rising commodity prices. He was however intercepted by dozens of law enforcement officers on Namirembe road where was addressing a crowd on top of his Toyota Land Cruiser” (Rest TV, 14.06.2022).

Rt. Col. Dr. Kizza Besigye has been arrested & detained at CPS under heavy military deployment. Besigye was arrested at Mini Price, downtown Kampala rallying Ugandans to protest against the high commodity prices in renewed demonstrations” (97.8 Kazo FM Omushomesa, 14.06.2022).

Dr. Kizza Besigye has yet again come under surveillance and gotten into legal jeopardy because of his resilient and will to demonstrate for a just cause. The former Presidential Candidate and leader of Forum for Democratic Change are continuing the “Wake Up” Campaign against the rising commodity prices. As he again drove from Kasangati in Wakiso district to Kampala Central Business District. Where he started to drop off “Red Cards” or Flyers for the cause and talk in a public.

The ones that has followed Besigye knew it would end this way. There is no way in the world or within the current regime that a person like Besigye could protest or demonstrate without being arrested. That was inevitable. There was no way out and the authorities would apprehend him and take him away. They would impound the vehicle and take him far away.

It has been reported that Besigye was first taken to the Kampala Central Police Station and later whisked away to Nagalama Police Station in Mukono District. As there been reports that he was taken to Buganda Road Court and again dropped off at Nagalama Police Station.

We know that his now on a spiral of being kept in custody. Where he will fight for his freedom and return to the streets. As he will be produced and there will be a bond/bail application. We can expect it to be excessive and possible sky-high. In such a fashion, that you would think he killed a nursery or a kindergarten. Alas, all he did was doing his constitutional right of demonstrating for a just cause.

The final reports is that Besigye will spend the night at Nagalama Police Station. In this regard, everyone should expect this to play out for the next coming days and possible for a two weeks time or so. It depends on how the bonds will be made and if he again will spend a day or a few possible weeks in the slammer.

Besigye is just starting another stint and issues with the legal system, which is built to degrade and be a depressing ordeal for anyone who faces it. We know that Besigye is resilient and has a record amount of charges against him. He has more bond-notes or bail documents, which should be fitted to a part of a museum exhibition in the future. Because, no one has been in jail and detained as Besigye has ever been.

Time will tell, but will not be shocked if he sooner or later spends days behind bars in Luzira. Peace.

National Unity Platform (NUP): Statement on the 40m Uganda Shillings given illegally to Members of Parliament (14.06.2022)

Opinion: Museveni cannot govern… as he blames the colonial British for poverty in 2022…

Here we go again… Museveni blames the ones before him for his inaction and lack of ability to govern…

President Museveni said this words to the leaders from Acholi and Lango sub-region on Saturday:

““When the colonials came here, they made our people grow the crops they wanted: cotton, tobacco, coffee, tea, and then our leaders just copied what the colonialists told them…So, when I studied the issue, I could see danger, number one was only working for the stomach” (…) “They (locals) must work for the stomach and the pocket. But secondly, even the ones who are working for the pocket do so without cura (calculations). That is how you get West Nile growing tobacco. If you grow tobacco on one acre, you will never get out of poverty…” (Oketch & Akullo, 2022).

Since 26th January 1986 the National Resistance Movement (NRM) has been in power. The Ugandan republic has been freed from the colonial toils from 9th October 1962, which is close too 60 years of independence from the United Kingdom or the British. That’s a long time ago and there been several of administrations between Museveni and the British. Therefore, his really stinging it here.

For a man that was supposed to bring “fundamental change” and be different than his predecessors is saying he couldn’t change things. A man that has been in office since 1986 and for 36 years as the heads of state. If someone had the time or the ability as an executive and could appoint the right people in the Republic. That would be the likes of Museveni.

Museveni could have changed the policies, the incentives and the opportunities for the farmers. The President could decree and push the Ministry of Agricultural, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) into new ways of subsidizing or help farmers to choose the right cash-crops. However, the regime haven’t and certainly not tried. They are to busy making cash-grabs, land-grabs and quick-get-rich-schemes for that to fall on death-ears.

President Museveni has had the powers and the ability to make vast difference. He could have had parastatals or government institutions within MAAIF who could do bidding and ensure the sector was taken care off. The President has a choice but has chosen not too. That’s why his blaming Obote and the colonial leaders of the past.

The NRM could have done something, but haven’t done it all. It is like they had their hands tied and wasn’t able to do anything. For all of these years the President was in power. Nothing substantial did happen and he was powerless. That’s why his blaming the colonial leadership and previous leaders after ruling the Republic for 36 years. This is telling of how unsuccessful his at this point. Peace.

Reference:

Bill Oketch & Charity Akullo – ‘Museveni blames past regimes for poverty’ 13.06.2022, Daily Monitor, link: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/museveni-blames-past-regimes-for-poverty-3846976

Teso Affairs: In the Teso Sub-Region they are eating termites to survive the famine!

Residents of the hunger stricken areas in Teso region are now forced to eat termites due the current hunger crisis caused by last year and this year’s prolonged drought. Florence Kulume a mother of nine and a resident of Atira sub county in Serere district goes early morning to look for grass, sort it straight before washing it with roots of a certain tree locally known as “Ekoboi” in Ateso which is sour and loved by termites” (Kampala Dispatch – ‘Starving families in Teso resort to eating termites, Karimojong flee to Kenya’ 13.06.2022).

The Teso Sub-Region is hit with food insecurity yet again. It seems like the Teso Affairs and the state haven’t followed previous recommendations or any sort of thing. As the problems of past is revisiting the area. An area where the state has invested in a fruit factory, the Soroti Fruit Factory, but not secured the farmers or the agricultural sector as a whole. Since, within a few years time and a new drought settles in. The same issue of hunger and starvations sets in.

I have to use the sentiment of a farmer from the last time in 2017. Because the situation hasn’t changed but its more of the same.

Still, a local farmer wrote a piece to the Chimp Reports that has some valuable assessments:

The current hunger in Teso has largely been attributed to drought, while this assertion may hold some truths; there is increasingly evidence that the Ministry of Teso Affairs has not done its part. Hunger in Teso is as a result of both internal and external factors. For many years, the region has been experiencing declining productivity and this was recently worsened by drought. For districts like Ngora, Bukedia and Kumi, land fragmentation has heavily affected productivity” (…) “Clearly besides drought, Teso food systems are in a crisis and our expectation was that the Ministry of Teso affairs working with other stakeholders would work to address this problem. Our view is that hunger should be among the ‘affairs’ that Ministry of Teso Affairs should be engaged in. Agriculture remains a major livelihood for our people in Teso and therefore we require urgent response from Ministry of Teso Affairs on its plans to help our people get out of the current hunger crisis” (Akorikin, 2017).

Minister of State for Teso Affairs, Hon. Christine Aporu Amongin has to accept her faults and lack of good governance. The state haven’t done their due diligence or tried to mitigate it. That’s why it’s happening again after 5 years. We know the state will come with excuses. Last time around another minister blamed the suffering communities for selling their crops and whatnot to get money to stay alive. Therefore, we shouldn’t expect much from the state or the ministries in question.

The Office of the Prime Minister and the Minister for Relief and Disaster Preparedness should together with the Teso Affairs make some mechanisms and help people out. Not only with the direct aid and need food right now. That what they should do and in such a manner that people can eat nutritious food.

Now that it has happen for the second time in 5 years. The state needs to do more than short-term relief. There is a need for more food security mechanisms that actually can help the farmers and the hit communities in the Teso sub-region. Peace.

Reference:

Akorikin, Francis – ‘OPINION: Government Should Review the Relevance of Ministry of Teso Affairs’ (05.05.2017) link: https://www.chimpreports.com/opinion-government-should-review-the-relevance-of-ministry-of-teso-affairs/

Amuru Land Grab: The Apaa Village evictions is never ending story…

Legislators from the Acholi sub-region were blocked from accessing the Apaa township, bordering Adjumani and Amuru districts. The eight MPs from the region were in Apaa on a fact-finding mission following an arson attack, displacement, and reports of gross abuse of human rights over persistent land wrangles. These were instead met by police officers and army men heavily armed with teargas and guns who blocked their access” (NBS Television, 10.06.2022).

This here story goes back in time. So far back that we are now soon two decades since the state gave the land to the investor. Since then the Apaa village has seen the forceful state, evictions and other sorts of tactics of the state to takeover the land. In the Northern Uganda land has been taken and given to “industrial” purposes like the plantations for the Kakira Factory for instance. Therefore, the ideas of taking land for “development” isn’t new. However, the state doesn’t give anything in return to the evicted and only creates more internally displaced persons. Which is another crisis in the making.

The Apaa village and Apaa community deserves better. They have been victims, which shown by this quotation from a report in 2014.

The case of land in Apaa Village (Amuru District) illustrates the suspicions of local people concerning the acquisition of large tracts of land. In 2005, when people were still living in the camps, land was given to Bruce Martin from South Africa who was investing in game reserves for sports hunting. When resistance from the community intensified, it is claimed that the government changed tactics and asked the neighbouring district of Adjumani to contest ownership and claim that this land actually lies within Adjumani District. The Adjumani District authorities then passed a council resolution giving the land away to the ‘investor’. Some participants in this research argued that the boundaries between the two districts of Adjumani and Acholi are clear, and that some district politicians are manufacturing the boundary conflict. During an interview with the District Chairperson of Adjumani, he showed a map of the area in dispute claiming the area belongs to Adjumani District” (Otim & Mugisha, P: 8, 2014).

What is striking is that this case has been a running case in the 9th and 10th Parliament. Now, it returns to prominence in the 11th Parliament too. That means the Apaa village never been resolved, neither has the rights of the Apaa community really been heard. Secondly, the former MPs and Local Councillors haven’t been able to voice it up. This because it is a stalemate and the land is still up for grabs.

We know in 2018 that Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) did some evictions of people in the area. This was done with the support of the army or the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF). That just shows that the District Land Board and Area Land Board wasn’t able to petition or have a say. Therefore, the directives and the promise of land was already settled without considering the implications locally.

That’s maybe why the MPs are trying to investigate it. They are MPs representing the Acholi sub-region, but still not allowed to access the area. That says something about the what is going on and possibly could be furthering escalations. We can be rest assured that the State House has directed it and is silently behind it all. As they have promised the land for the investor.

It is tragic that this is happing to Apaa village. Wonder, if the President would have been so kind to an “investor” if it happened to his farm in Rwaiktura farm in Kiruhura district. As a Namibian “investor” was given land and for “development” purposes in the greater Mbarara area. Because, that would be the same and he would have to idly move without any compensation. That would have been a similar act of land grab, which is what’s happening here in Apaa village in the Acholi sub-region. Peace.

Reference:

Otim, David & Mugisha, Police Charles – Saferworld: ‘Beyond the reach of the hoe: The struggle for land and minerals in Northern Uganda’ (April 2014)