Omoro By-Election: Bobi Wine and the Campaign Team released after hours of arrest under military supervision…

The latest report from Omoro By-Election is that Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine and his Campaign Team has been released. They are now returning back to Kampala. As the Special Forces Command (SFC) has released them after keeping them under arrest.

This is directly stopping the National Unity Platform (NUP) from campaigning and using their national figures to gain voters in Omoro County By-Election. It is just a proof of how the state intimidate, incite fear and uses their means to “win” an election.

The arrests today and the military supervised arrests of civilians, activists and political leader Bobi Wine. Only shows what the state is wiling to do. Just so their candidate can “win” and nothing else.

It is only 5 days to the 26th May and it shows the dire distress the NUP causes to the National Resistance Movement (NRM). That is so clear as the NRM has all their people campaigning in the election, but the NUP is blocked from doing the same. Just another proof of the “free and fair” elections in the era of the NRM. Peace.

Omoro County By-Election: Bobi Wine and the NUP Campaign Team arrested

Tonight, as the violent and brutal arrests of National Unity Platform supporters have been occurring in Omoro County ahead of the By-Elections there on the 26th May 2022. There are several of other reports of which shows the fierce force of the authorities in the area.

As the road-blocks and checkpoints are put up to stifle any movement or any sort of possibly public outcry of the residents there. There is reports that the NUP Campaign Team has all been arrested. This includes Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine, as well as Noah Mutwe, Maush and others too. That is happening as they were campaigning for the NUP flag-bearer Simon Toolit.

The Special Forces Command (SFC) of the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) is said to be deployed and using force today. These are the ones that is behind the arrests and taking them to unknown locations. This is similar to what happened in the Arua By-Election of 2018.

Now it is repeating itself and the arrests are occurring before the polls. Even before the NUP is able to canvass and campaign whole-heartedly in the county. That shows what the state is willing to do and how it uses it’s resources to stay in power. As they are fighting for the Son of Jacob to “win” this election.

Bobi Wine is reported to be under military supervision after the arrest hours ago. We don’t know where and with what charges, but everything is up for grabs here. Over the weekend everything will become clear. As we will here the UPDF drop a statement and the UPF as well. That is just happening whether we like it or not.

Alas, this just shows that the NRM doesn’t believe in their own candidates and own political platform. When they have to arrest the opposition and use military force to stop them from campaigning. That’s because the NRM and the army fears to lose even more influence in the Parliament. Even if it just a means to regain a seat the NRM already had.

A By-Election shouldn’t be bloody, vicious and need the usage of brutal force like this. However, this is the only way the NRM knows how to win and it shows. The Son of Jacob should feel weak and be praying to the Gods that the almighty forgives them. Because, his campaign is the reason for other people’s plights. The authorities are doing this on his behalf and he should remember that. Peace.

Omoro County By-Election: The Son of Jacob will only win by force and not by “winning hearts”

It is only 5 days to the polls in the Omoro County By-Election, which is scheduled for the 26th May 2022. The campaigns will last to the 24th May 2022. However, things are already spiralling out and the price of the politics is clear.

The National Resistance Movement (NRM) are acting like everything is going after normal programming, as they are campaigning to retain the seat in Parliament and get the son of the late speaker, Andrew Ojok Oulanyah elected. However, that couldn’t be harder from the truth.

The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) had to change their candidate in the last minute before registration, because the NRM had bribed their candidate and instead nominated Justine Odong. Therefore, from the on-set the NRM is using all means to win.

Just like today it’s reports of beating up and direct arrests of National Unity Platform (NUP) supporters in the county. There is also reports of checkpoints and authorities putting up road-blocks in the area too. So, like before… the state is making an election into a war-zone to ensure total victory.

There is reports that the Special Forces Command (SFC), which is a part of the Uganda People’s Liberation Force (UPDF) that is behind the brutal arrests and detaining the opposition members in the county. So, if he NRM believed this was a certain win and a walk-over. They wouldn’t need to do this…

As NRM Secretary General Richard Todwong was earlier in the day proclaiming that they had turned about a 100 NUP Members in Omoro County into NRM. Nevertheless, that is just the ordinary propaganda and most like a photo-op to sincere. As this is a way of people getting free t-shirts and possibly a cash-donation to “vote” for the NRM. So, yet another grand scheme.. because the real supporters of the opposition is meeting a blunt force. Not smiles and greetings from the comrades of the likes of Todwong.

If Andrew Ajok Oulanyah thinks his campaign is solid and great. He should have asked the authorities to not use these means. Because, this is just showing that the barrel of the gun and the use of violence is what the NRM needs to get votes. The NRM needs the blunt force to beat people into submission. Not because of a manifesto or a political programme.

That is the message the NRM is sending here. As they are targeting the opposition. While sparing no concern or mind for their own campaigns. It is all smiles and joy for Oulanyah, but I can tell you. There are plenty others who suffers. This campaign isn’t friendly, free or fair.

There is one campaign for the NRM and another for the rest. That isn’t just and the world needs to know.

The Son of Jacob isn’t winning because of his charisma, character or political promises. No, if his winning… its because of how the government and the authorities targets everyone else who dares to challenge him. Peace.

A Trillion Shillings to the PDM is a waste of public expenditure from the get-go…

The Parish Development Model (PDM) which was launched recently is following the patterns of other micro-finance schemes that the Government of Uganda has started. The public shouldn’t expect to much from this, because the state doesn’t have a history of ensuring it and they are just throwing money at the wall… and hoping sooner or later that something sticks. Nevertheless, that has never been the case.

The PDM is a new breed of the Emyooga, NAADs, SACCOs and all the other methods that haven’t brought people out of poverty. It is a “get-rich-quick-scheme” which is bound to fail. That’s said for a simple reason, the state is never studying the failures of the previous schemes before launching another one. Therefore, I don’t believe the PDM will do anything.

If you remember “Operation Wealth Creation” and all the other ones are only made for the fellas and the cronies of the state. This will be no difference and now the state plans to spend a trillion shillings on it. They are willing to wage these funds on a gamble.

Just read these quotes from the recent Parliament report!

In FY2021/22, UGX 200 billion was appropriated towards preparatory activities for the phased implementation of the PDM. These funds were able to support key activities like the establishment of the PDM Secretariat, recruitment of 6,000 Parish Chiefs – the posts filled so far are 9,847 (93%);

popularization of the Parish Development Model; development of PDM guidelines and manuals for the seven pillars, among others. Furthermore, Parliament under Supplementary Schedule No. 1 for FY 2021/22, approved additional funding for PDM as follows: UGX 3 billion-Mindset Change and Community Development activities under MoGLSD; UGX 29.3 billion-operationalize the recently created sub-counties and town councils; UGX 20.98 billion-to increase Parish Revolving Funds to UGX 17 million per parish; UGX 6.6 billion for establishment of Parish SACCOs countrywide; and

UGX 3.96 billion to operationalize the PDM Secretariat” (REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON BUDGET ON THE ANNUAL BUDGET ESTTMATES FOR FY 2O22/23, May 2022).

Rt. Hon. Speaker and Hon. Members, in the FY2022/23, UGX 100 million per Parish have been earmarked under the Parish Revolving Fund, translating to UGX 1.059 trillion. These funds are a capitalization grant to the PDM SACCOs, which will be used for the sole purpose of lending to viable income generating activities in the Production, Processing, Marketing and Storage of agricultural products” (REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON BUDGET ON THE ANNUAL BUDGET ESTTMATES FOR FY 2O22/23, May 2022).

So, we are seeing that state wants to ramp up their investments into the PDM. As they only started in the last financial year with certain amount of expenditure. It would be very unique if the PDM actually did deliver something substantial or game-changing in all aspects.

The PDM is bound to fail and become a wasteland of government spending. There is nothing in the cards or in the report to say otherwise. No, it is just a continuation of other similar schemes, which is money for the boys and the close associates of the state. This here isn’t built to last and is a hack-work. That’s why the funding and the sort of operations is half-assed and without any proper mandate. Neither is it bound by protocol or a direct policy. It is just made for being a place of reckless spending and without proper accountability.

The previous reports on the OWC and PDM haven’t been favourable either. The ones from certain districts of the PDM shows that. Therefore, this will only end in tears and they are spending a trillion on it too. Peace.

What’s up doc? A brief look into Parliament Report on PRESIDE and the mismanagement of COVID-I9 funds in the Republic

I like the unfortunate phenomenon of western countries halting exportation of the COVID19 vaccine until all their citizens are fully vaccinated. This will enable Africans to wake up and manufacture their own medicines. I like the bad things because Africans sleep too much, I have never believed in dependency. This selfishness in the world is bad but it’s a shame that the whole of the African continent is asleep waiting to be saved by others… In the short run, we shall see who can sell COVID19 vaccines to us. As far as Uganda is concerned, I assure you, we will never again be in such a situation, we are making our own vaccine” – President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni (27.06.2021).

Another day, another Parliament Report exposing the rot of the Government. A government that isn’t follow the laws, codes and protocols of the republic. Direct Presidential Directives which have no barring and to ambition to be achieved. Neither was there anywhere close to be legit research or able to fulfil it’s mission.

The State House and Ministries clearly miscalculated their abilities and the promise of the project. Neither did it have the scientists or the manpower to do it. There was not enough time or enough research spaces to make it happen. The budgets was to slim and there was also spending unaccounted for. A sort of troubling project, which is meant to fail. A spending spree without any accountability or transparency. A money pit without without any sort of proof of value for money. The PRESIDE and associated projects was bound to fail. The Parliamentary reports published today is called: “REPORT OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION ON COVID-19 RELATED RESEARCH FOR FY 2019/20 TO FY 202/22”.

This report is a story of how a President and the State House directs, implement and execute without proper planning or direction for that matter. It is just headache and shows what sort of enterprise the whole COVID-19 vaccine programme PRESIDE was and that’s why the quotes of this report is so explicit.

It is a total utter failure and the President is implicated it, as it is his directive and run directly from the State House. This wasn’t a Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MOFPED) or Ministry of Health. No, this was an affair out of the State House and shows how it goes. Done without being bound by law or done correctly. That’s why this was bound to fail, which it did.

Just read these quotes from the report to get the gist:

In his statement, he indicated that up to UGX. 20bn had been drawn from the consolidated fund for scientists under PRESIDE to manufacture a COVID-I9 vaccine and an additional UGX. 50bn was drawn on 2021 for PRESIDE, and yet supervising Ministry (Ministry of Science, Technolory and Innovation) had been disbanded. He further questioned the legality of the Presidential Scientific Initiative on Epidemics (PRESIDE), queried its staffing, operations and whether its premises in Ntinda that had no laboratories would be able to produce a vaccine” (May 2022 report).

Overall funding for COVID- 19 research was as follows:

– UGX. 5.3bn for PRESIDE FY 2019/20

– UGX. 31.03bn for projects under PRESIDE, UGX. 3.35bn for PRESIDE secretariat operations, and UGX. 2.74bn under NRIP in FY2020/2l

– UGX. 25bn for project operations, a supplementary request of UGX. 50.4bn for a manufacturing plant and UGX. 27bn for additional operational funds for PRESIDE projects in FY 2021/22” (May 2022 report).

A total of (seventeen) 17 projects (Project l-17) was presented before Parliament with a total budget of UGX. 25bn, for implementation in FY2021/22. When additional funds of UGX. 27bn became available through a supplementary budget, the total number of projects raised to 27, where 10 new projects (Projects 18-27) were introduced and two of the already approved projects i.e. (projects 6 (Immune Therapy – Convalescent plasma). and 14 (Herbal Products for Management of COVID-19) were dropped. The Committee found that the two projects should have been given funds for implementation whether there was a supplementary or not since their budgets had already been approved by Parliament in the Ministerial Policy Statement. No reasons were given for their exclusion” (May 2022 report).

The Committee while interacting with the petitioner was informed that PRESIDE was a company formed by Dr. Monica Musenero and some of her family members including her husband. These allegations were disputed by Hon. Musenero, who informed the Committee that PRESIDE is neither an organtzation nor a company but a project under State House” (…) However, the Committee noted that the establishment of PRESIDE violates governance rules, as it has no legal status. The initiative has not been incorporated in accordance with the laws of Uganda. Therefore it is not a legal entity. The Committee also observed from the concerned officials that no steps had been taken to have it legally established” (May 2022 report).

Although PRESIDE was established with a visionary mandate, to be a vehicle to spear the pathogen economy, it has been mired with mismanagement, poor accountability practices and overall poor planning. At its inception, Government failed to define its legality, failed to analyze and optimize the structures that were already in place and build on these as a way of driving the pathogen economy forward. This went against the current government policy on rationalization and improvement of efficiencies within MDAs. The role of UNHRO, MoSTI, UNCST as regulators was usurped and replaced with PRESIDE which had a temporary supervisory framework in form of a MoU. With the expiry of the MoU, PRESIDE as a project remained operational yet not supervised because its Chairperson is the Minister responsible for the docket of STI and also the Special Presidential Advisor on Epidemics” (May 2022 report).

Reading a report like this is shattering. It just shows how the state is mismanaging funds and how the State House isn’t preparing things ahead. The whole PRESIDE shows how a Presidential Directive is put into life, but never able to implement, because the state doesn’t have the funds, manpower or the facilities to do it. The PRESIDE is an utter failure…

The National Resistance Movement (NRM) was all talk, but no business. They can start-up organizations and projects, but they have no plans of the implementation or protocols to ensure it is successful. PRESIDE is a proof on how not to run a project… as it has had no plan or any sort of proof that it would actually manage the mission from the on-set.

The ones that believes the NRM would be able to produce a COVID-19 vaccine was day-dreaming, because the whole PRESIDE can be seen as a nightmare. The ones running it should be ashamed and it was a waste of government funding. Nothing to show for it and only a name-tag, which runs back to the State House and the Presidential Directive. A

All of it is a waste … the President should be held to account as he ushered it in and it did nothing. They will fault everyone, but if it wasn’t for him… this mess wouldn’t exist and the report wouldn’t have been published either.

The PRESIDE should be lectured at Makerere University or something in how not to run things and be a case-study in bad-governance. This is a proof of how not to govern and nothing was done correctly. That’s why it deserve to be acknowledged and used as a learning experience. Since, the next government could do another properly and actually achieve something worthwhile. Peace.

Dr. Kizza Besigye blocked again from protesting the rising commodity prices…

We shall not relent, we shall only move forward” – Dr Kizza Besigye (19.05.2022).

Dr. Kizza Besigye has once again been blocked by police in Kasangati town, Wakiso district as he tempted to drive to the city center with a megaphone mobilizing people to awaken & join him in the protest against the high cost of living and bad governance. Besigye who is heard chanting 𝑴𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒏𝒂 𝒎𝒖𝒛𝒖𝒌𝒖𝒌𝒆, 𝑻𝒖𝒕𝒂𝒂𝒔𝒆 𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒊 𝒚𝒂𝒇𝒇𝒆 says this is not a presidential campaign but rather a campaign for ordinary and marginalized citizens” (97,8 Kazo FM Omushomesa, 19.05.2022).

On the 12 May 2022 he tried to start a “Walk-To-Work” sort of protest from his home where they wanted to walk from Kasangati to the Central Business District in Kampala. Now after 6 days of house-arrest and having his home besieged by the authorities.

On the 19th May 2022 he tries for the second time to demonstrate and protest against the rising commodities. This is the second time in about two weeks where his trying to start and get people connected with it. To not accept the rising prices in silence, but protest the government over it.

That is really saying something and shows how the state is using the Public Order Management Act to stifle, stop and silence all dissent. While we can anticipate a further arrest and new period of pre-emptive arrest for Besigye. That’s because he went out of the gate and returned to the streets. Instead of being on Twitter like the First Son. He went straight to the people.

That’s how Besigye roll and he came to Kasangati town and tried to enter the it with a message. However, the authorities blocked that entry and his not allowed to be active. His supposed to be a retired and chill person in his own compound.

This story is far from over and we should expect more. Besigye is a relentless fellow and a person of integrity. So, he will be on the forefront yet again. He will stay on the frontline and fight for the people, which he has done all these years. Peace.

A bitter cup of coffee: A brief look into the Parliament Report on the agreement with Uganda Vinci Coffee Company Limited

Today the Plenary Session spoke about the “Report of the Sectoral Committee on Tourism, Trade and Industry on the Investigation of the alleged unfair terms in the MoU between Government of Uganda and Uganda Vinci Coffee Company Limited” published on the 29th April 2022. This is unravelling as the public and media is surrounding it. As the UVCCL company would get tax-wavers, coffee beans monopoly and other parts of the agreement, which is favourable to a company, which isn’t operational or fair for the farmers or coffee industry as a whole.

The UVCCL agreement is already questioned. The Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED) and other high ranking officials adamant defence of it. Only shows how the faulty and unfair, partly illegal agreement was put into play. While this agreement would also endanger and certainly become a real hurdle for a growing coffee industry. A cash-crop turned into a monopoly.

I will not discuss the free-land, the lease or any of those sorts. That is interesting on it’s own, but there are several of other quotes, which just shows how bad this deal was and how in the wrong the authorities are to authorize it. Secondly, the UVCCL was supposed to do magic and get huge funds out of nowhere. While not being operational to build a big coffee processing plant. It just shows how this deal was the rig the economy and the whole coffee sector towards on entity. That’s really despicable…

Here are some quotes from the Parliament Report:

6.1.7.5 MOU is not sincere on the quantity of premium grades According to the MOU, UWCL’s coffee supply requirement for the start of the project is estimated to be 27,000 metric tonnes and 60,000 metrics tonnes at full capacity. The committee was informed by Uganda Coffee Private Sector that the conversion rate of Green coffee to soluble coffee is 3:1 and this means that UVCCL requires about 180,000 metric tonnes of green coffee. The committee however observes that Uganda’s average annual export for the past 5 years is about 5.2 million bags which is equivalent to about 309,000 metric tonnes. This implies that WCCL at full capacity will take 58.2% (180,000 metric tonnes) of Uganda’s coffee production. The committee notes that the stated reason for UVCCL’s desire to “ring-fence” is to ensure uninterrupted supply of high quality soluble beans” (P 23, 2022).

The Committee observes that whereas UVCCL has share capital of USD 10 Million, the money required to construct such a factory envisaged in the agreement is estimated by UCDA to cost about USD 44OM in the first year alone. The committee is convinced that UVCCL given its limited share capital cannot be in position to borrow a sum which is 44 times the value of the company” (P: 28, 2022).

The Committee observes that UVCCL was not eligible to benefit from the 49- year lease extension since it had not complied with the building covenants under the initial Lease agreement. This means that the lease was irregularly extended” (P: 30, 2022).

The Committee further observes that the UVCCL has not, even after the extension of the lease to a full 49-year, done any construction works on site to-date” (P: 30, 2022).

The Committee notes further that, the VAT Act does not grant any person, not even the Minister, the right to waive a tax. In that regard therefore, the Minister acted irregularly and illegally in granting the VAT exemptions to UVCCL” (P: 38, 2022)

The Committee observes that clause 4.2 creates a monopoly in favor of UVCCL to the purchase of superior quality coffee beans from Uganda by restricting Government from registering any contract or acknowledging any arrangement for the export of coffee beans. The Committee observes that this means that no export of super quality coffee beans shall be allowed by Government until the quantity required by UVCCL is attained. Further still, a monopoly is created in favor of UVCCL since it controls the prices it pays for the coffee beans supplied to it” (…) “The committee also observes that this monopoly is a threat to the already existing 47 licensed processors of coffee with possibilities of causing unemployment, loss of tax and in the worst long term scenario, shut down of operations” (…) “This means the farmer has the right to determine how and to whom he or she sells his or her coffee to. The Agreement therefore interferes with the exclusive rights granted to farmers over their coffee by article 26 of the Constitution by pledging the coffee to a single entity without the consent of farmers. The farmer’s proprietary rights have been affected by the Agreement, irreversibly” (…) “The Committee also observes that whereas farmers are being promised premium prices, the agreement is silent on the method of supply of coffee beans to the factory. This therefore, this opens a window for possible contracted brokers by UVCCL since the factory will need constant supply from different regions of the country. Thus reducing the margin on the farm gate price. The Committee is concerned that designating UVCCL as a price determinant will distort coffee prices in Uganda by disregarding the forces of demand and supply, both locally and internationally, in determining coffee prices” (P: 47-49 + 51, 2022).

It is really interesting the whole agreement, as the inept or the gravity of the whole situation was never there. If not, the MOFPED and other agencies involved never studied or thought of the implications of the arrangement. That a company with lacking funds was to build a big coffee processing plant. Secondly, the plant in question wouldn’t be able to fulfil its mission or planned monopoly itself. As the scale of production only will not meet the targets or the available beans for the plant in question. The farmers are producing to much beans for it process. Therefore, the monopoly is faulty from the outset. Thirdly, the agreement is done without thinking or considering the ones processing coffee-beans already, which is 47 companies and their livelihoods are in danger because of this agreement.

The agreement further has irregularly given a lease of land and it has done any construction work on the site. Meaning the company has some funds on paper and exists, but the operational and plant itself is far ahead of time. The UVCCL gotten dozens of advantages, but has nothing to prove for it. Neither does it has anything materialized.

The state has furthered breached several of tax-wavers to the company and given incentives, which is breaching with laws and regulations. It is like a whole enterprise of inept, incompetent and ill-advised high ranking officials inside the MOFPED. It just like all procedures, all protocols and all safeguards of the state has been thrown out of the window in a haste to sign a deal or amend it in favour of the paper-tiger called UVCCL. A brief-case company which is getting monopoly on the coffee-industry.

The company would further undermine the whole industry from the farmer to the exporters. This company would have all the rights and the positive outcomes. The farmers would be locked into selling to it and that after the price it would set. The UVCCL would practically be a state owned enterprise and be the only one allowed to operate. This giving no incentives and no rights to either farmers or former coffee processors of the Republic. Because, the UVCCL would have the monopoly of the industry for years. That is really bitter and shows how destructive this agreement is.

The MOFPED has served some “high above” or “interests” which we don’t know today. Because, we still don’t know who is behind Hawk Limited, which is the biggest shareholder of the company. However, sooner or later that information will trickle out as well. Because, that is the main benefactor of this agreement and a company like that is owned by somebody with influence and power to get such favours from the state. Peace.

Opinion: Besigye’s 6 Day’s of House-Arrest is the proof of everything that is wrong in the Republic

Since 12th May 2022 Dr. Kizza Besigye was arrested and detained in his own home. The surrounding areas of the compound in Kasangati was a “war-zone” with several of checkpoints and places of which the authorities was blocking any entry to him. This all happened after he tried to stage a demonstration or protest against the rising commodity prices in the Republic, which was supposed to go from Kasangati to Central Business District of Kampala. Alas, we know that didn’t happened.

What did happened was that the Anti-Riot Police came and squashed, quelled and silenced the small protest very quickly. It arrested Besigye brutally and dragged him away. They arrested him and swiftly transported him home. Where he has stayed ever since and wasn’t allowed to go out. Neither was people allowed to enter. First it was only his lawyers and yesterday they allowed several of MPs from his party, the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) to see him.

Besigye is a citizen and has his rights, which is based in the 1995 Constitution. However, those are violated and taken away at any given moment. The Public Order Management Act is a proof that demonstrations and protests are only allowed by some, but not by others. POMA is a law made to silence Besigye and his supporters. This because they could create a revolution and end the regime. That’s why POMA is a tool of oppression, since it takes away the citizens rights to demonstrate and protest. It is not only Besigye, but everyone else. That’s why the same law has been used to block Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine from having concerts and rallies. Therefore, it is just a proof of everything that is wrong in society.

The National Resistance Movement (NRM) and President Museveni speaks of bringing democracy and multi-party-ism, but it has also brought a ruthless system. The NRM has brought militarism and an open brutality where all who dissent can be touched, detained, kidnapped and possibly die on their watch.

The NRM will say they came and created order. The NRM will say they came with peace. But a peace for who? An order for who? Not for the public or the citizens, but for the NRM Elite and the rest has to beg for mercy. The FDC and Besigye has met the blunt force countless times. The same has happened to the National Unity Platform (NUP) and Bobi Wine as well.

The state is using pre-emptive arrests without court-orders, warrants or any proper justifications. They are claiming to have intelligence or safeguard of public order, but there is no direct proof of that. Only that the designated person is taken out of public domain and is silenced. That is all there is too it.

This is what has happened to Besigye again and again. He has been silenced and stifled in his tracks. The authorities has been monitoring him and followed him. They have stopped him from acting or coordinating his work. Because, they fear the consequences of it and don’t want to allow it to go it’s natural cause. Instead, it stops early and isn’t finished causes.

The latest is stopping an early reaction to the rising commodity prices… this is in away of taking away people’s rights to demonstrate or even gather. That’s the cost of this regime. They are talking of democracy, but one fundamental part of that is to meet and protest when something is unjust. However, in the state of mind of the NRM… that is out of the question and you shouldn’t even bother.

Besigye is just a symbol of everything that is wrong in society. Not because of what he has done or who he is as a person. No, his is that because his showing the Republic how it serves injustice, delivers impunity and brutal crackdown on civil society. Besigye is by being who he is able not only to undermine the powerful, but also undress them in public. His able to show the sinister and the dark side of the regime. That’s what he has been able to do and done successfully for years.

It has cost him dearly. Besigye has paid a price for doing. He has lost so many people around him and so many has been hurt. Besigye has been hurt himself and gone into exile as a cause of it. That’s why he knows what they can do to him and what the authorities are doing to others. No parts are not a target and not a possible piece, which the state cannot cause harm upon. Because, that is what they are doing and they proud of serving their master while doing so. Peace.

Opinion: Otafiire is the blind leading the blind….

It is a shame for Pentecostal Church ministers calling yourselves bishops and other names when a big group of your followers are in poverty. I hear that even pastors stop people from going to hospitals, which is so bad because science works together with God” (…) “If you are a leader, in a country like Uganda that has all the natural resources and still people cannot afford to have three meals a day, it means there is a big problem, but to my surprise, some of you are proud because you are leading people who are even infected with jiggers” (…) “Let people worship their own God so long as they follow the laws. Stop internal fights because for us who are not frequent church goers, we have failed to understand what to follow. When you are involved in wars even with other religions, this will not only affect you, but also the development of this great nation” – Maj Gen Kahinda Otafiire (Milton Bandiho – ‘Otafiire: Pentecostal churches keeping the faithful poorer’ 17.05.2022, Daily Monitor).

It is really strange that a Minister and Maj. Gen. who has gone through the ranks and had a life-long career in the National Resistance Movement (NRM) to say this in 2022. The man has been a commander and a minister over the last few decades. Heck, his been a Member of Parliament for much of it too. Maj. Gen. Otafiire has been a high ranking official and been appointed to offices of importance for years.

Otafiire is one of the reason why the state isn’t moving forward or getting better. It is his government and the policies his promoting on a daily basis, which is a reason for continued poverty. Yes, the pastors, the leaders of church and clerics should be worried and not only be pastrepreneurs. They should teach the gospel and also help their communities. Not only collecting tithes or donations from their congregations, but use those money to help the ones in need and have projects in the community they are a part of, which plenty of churches does. Therefore, Otafiire should know about that and look into his own acts.

Because, he spoke about this to pastors, priests and the likes. I will take a passage from the book of Luke, which seems fitting for the current state of mind of Maj. Gen. Otafiire.

The Bible says:

37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

39 He also told them this parable: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into a pit? 40 The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher.

41 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 42 How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye” (The Bible – New International Version, Luke 6: 37-42).

Why do I use this scripture today? Well, Otafiire is judging the pastors and priests with contempt. His judging their actions, but his forgetting his own role in it all. To make matters worse is that he could have ensured that there wouldn’t be any poverty or lesser extent himself. For years in office and as a high ranking official he could have forwarded policies, budget posts and whatnot to make a difference.

We only knows that the NRM produces wasteful and lack-of-accountability get-rich-quick-schemes which goes nowhere and only enriches the men on the top. The elites are eating and the poor are starving. That’s how the NRM is operating… while promising to secure people’s future and steady progress. However, nothing ceases to move and no real advances is in the republic. Development projects are stalled, made for wrong purposes or cash-cows for the developers. While the farmers, the added value projects aren’t living up to it’s promises. That’s why him telling this to the pastors, priests and clerics is a bit out of touch.

Otafiire can say and speak ill of the leadership of the churches, that they are taking advantage and being greedy. Some might are using their congregations and churchgoers as a means-to-an-end. However, the same is what the state does to every single citizen. As the state is using the citizens and their poverty to get grants, loans and development funds to cover it’s shortfalls in its bloated budgets.

Otafiire should be concerned how the government he has been a part of much of his life haven’t helped the poor or given them a chance to get out of it. The Maj. Gen. should be shocked that with all this time and opportunities the state haven’t been capable or fixed the policies to ensure a better tomorrow. Nevertheless, that has never happened and with the NRM at the helm… it never will be.

That is why these lectures from Otafiire is insulting. As he has sit by the side of the throne for decades. He has been eating, entitled and enriched himself. Otafiire and the likes are enjoying all the perks of life and can easily access health-care services abroad. While the likes he speaks too cannot even afford Panadol to cure headaches. Therefore, he should ask himself what he could do and what sort of office he serves. As he has power and influence to make a difference, but he chooses not too. Peace.

The Dead Silence: The two MPs – Sseginya and Ssewanyana still behind bars without any proof of their criminal conspiracy in the Greater Masaka Murders of last year

Fear has increased in Masaka region after the panga-wielding assailants killed another man in Sembabule district. His death brings the number of murder victims to 18 in Greater Masaka Region in one month” (Urban Television, 27.08.2021).

The murders of the Greater Masaka area of last year has gone out of the folklore. The cases and pending evidence is lost. The momentum of the authorities, the DCI, the UPF and everyone is gone. The proof the alleged criminal conspiracy seems to be all made up. As the victims of the murders are not answered, the real culprits are on the move and the injustice served the opposition is getting ever so clear.

Instead of finding, arraigned and detain the ones who was behind the killings. The authorities did chose to use these murders and crimes to pin it on two popular National Unity Platform (NUP) MPs. These being Kawempe North MP Mohammad Ssegirinya and Makindye West MP Allan Ssewanyana. Who was summoned in September 2021 and is still behind bars to this day.

They are lingering in Kigo Prison and charged with murder and terrorism. While there is no proof of this. They have been pinned with these crimes, but the authorities has not provided any evidence or affidavit or anything else of that sort to prove it. What is striking is that one of the members was in the Netherlands when he was supposed to do it. He was ensuring his district to get medical aid and an ambulance as well. This was Ssegirinya MP, that’s how shoddy the case is and shows how political it was.

These has now carried the debt of the murdered people of Masaka, which at one point was estimated to be 30 murders. That is 30 people with families, friends and loved ones who are never seeing them again. Which is used to implicate and charge innocent men who isn’t participating in these crimes. The criminal conspiracy was done by someone else and is shielded since the state has used all resources to go after these two MPs.

This isn’t the first time or the last time the National Resistance Movement (NRM) has done this. No, they have done this before and the MPs are just a proof of how the state oppress its dissidents. The two MPs are treated as outlaws and terrorists, but that’s only happens because of their political affiliation and their popularity. Because, everyone with some sense knows that these two aren’t behind it all.

What is sad is that the Greater Masaka murders are never resolved. The ones who lost their lives was used as pawns in a political game and not for the greater good either. Just to prove a point and show who has the authority. Since the state has not let them off the hook and doesn’t seem intended to do so either.

This is the dead silence. No one is caring for the loss of lives, these people just died and life moved on. People are seeing their leaders taken away and they are forgotten about behind bars. That is the dead silence…

I wrote these final lines about the murders in August 2021 and it seems fitting today: “It is tragic and sinister… but that is how it seems and it’s not looking good. The murders after curfew seems to continue. Lives is at stake and these are untouchable assassins” Peace.