Uganda: Press Release by Uganda Nurses and Midwives’ Union – Medical Interns Allowances for Nurses and Midwives (21.12.2021)

DRC: Joint Press Release from UPDF & FARDC on the Operation Shujaa (20.12.2021)

His Excellency is advising his own advisors [and sadly this is not satire]

Earlier in the year of 2021 after the General Election I calculated that the President has about 130 Presidential Advisors. This means the National Resistance Movement Chairman and Commander-in-Chief Yoweri Tiburhwa Kaguta Museveni has close to 140 of them.

We know this office and position in government is to keep them on his payroll and be loyal to him. They are not there to enhance the government or policies in general. If that is said, it is a lie, because no Presidential Advisor have ever made a legislation or something to vote over at the Parliament. Unless, a Presidential Decree or Directive have been written by them and suddenly the President has signed off from.

President Yoweri Museveni last week lectured his advisors on their role in national development and transformation, tasking them to have patriotism for the country while executing their duties. The President was speaking during a workshop for his advisors at the National Leadership Institute (NALI) in Kyankwanzi” (Chrispus Mugisha – ‘President Museveni advises his advisors on the need for patriotism’ 20.12.2021, Nile Post).

We should be worry about the state and the State House when they are wasting government funds on this. Having lectures or a work-shop for his Presidential Advisors. They are just there to listen to him to become patriotic. Their patriotic spirit is to be loyal to be President.

That is the lesson here. They were gathered to listen and follow his guidance. That’s all there is to it and it’s tragic. Just imagine these are on his payroll … gets allowances and vehicles. The state are even covering offices, which they are renting to them. Therefore, it is just a bit too much…

We haven’t seen any sort of help with these Presidential Advisors. They are just cronies and a large part of patronage, which is helpful for the President. However, it is not helpful for the costs or the expenditure of the state. Therefore, this is just wastage to keep people in line and loyal to him.

Just think about it… these folks are not doing anything, but still on the State House payroll. They are not delivering anything and their duties is just to prop-up the Presidency. We have seen this all before and it’s not changing today.

The President cannot act like this any different. It just another day for the NRM and the President. His trying to make seem like it is a game-changer. When everyone knows the deal and why they are there. Peace.

Kayunga By-Election: Some things never change…

It’s now official by the authorities and the state, that the winner is National Resistance Movement (NRM) own candidate for LCV Chairman in Kayunga District, Andrew Muwonge. We shouldn’t be surprised or shocked by this.

That the Electoral Commission and the state machinery has rigged it in their favour. Making magical numbers and ending up as “winners”. Hearing NRM sympathizers saying it was all fair game and righteously so. As the opposition have activists, polling agents and MPs barred behind bars as effect of this by-election. Heck, Zaake MP is still in the hospital because of it all.

The NRM can lie to themselves. They can do their pre-ticked ballot, stuff the ballot-boxes and come with all the security agencies they can muster. Still, they don’t have the popularity or the people behind them. If they did… then the Presidential convoy would have been met with masses on the streets and towns of the district. Which the pictures, the video-clips and everything else proves isn’t true. Even the paying 4k per attendance and ferrying crowds cannot shield the unpopularity of the tyrant and his men.

The Kayunga District By-Election only reflects everything, which is wrong with the political landscape and what the authorities is willing to do. This is not a reflection of the people or the district itself. It is the NRM that imposes itself and uses the state machinery to get their “win”. They are dubious and oblivious to the realities on the ground. Only to have a sort of show of force and “support” which are only made by ghosts and pre-fixed algorithms.   

If Mr. Muwonge believes he won, this fairly. His delusional and needs some counselling. There is a need for a reality check and the same with his party. Because everyone knows the drill and the deal here. It isn’t funny or a joke, but a brutal act of dishonesty masked as an “election”.

If it was sincere and true, the DR Forms wouldn’t be altered and neither the results to reflects the will of the high above. The High Above invested heavy in this election and used all tools at his disposal. He used the army and the police force to his benefit. This man didn’t stop at anything. That’s why we know he had to fix it and make it “believable”. However, you can put sprinkles on a piece of shit, but still, it won’t be chocolates.

So, the NRM can play this one out and claim victory. Though we all know it is hallowed and shallow. It is a fraud and a lie. Just like so many other elections held since 1995. This is just the mere reality and the system continues with the same charade.  

The NRM can celebrate the lie and live on it. However, that doesn’t make it true. In fact, it just makes them silly and look foolish. They are the false prophets who only contains power but doesn’t have the people behind them. Peace.

Kayunga District By-Election: Latest updates…

Electoral commission officials have admitted to being behind the pre-ticking of ballot papers which we found in the ballot box at 6:20am, they say it is an order from above” (NTV, 16.12.2021).

Today, it’s revealed that there are pre-ticked ballots and stuffed ballot boxes for this By-Election. The few polling agents able to cover and participate was able to reveal this online. That says it all about what the state planned for this race.

The state security agencies was busy last night arresting opposition activists, NUP polling agents, NUP supporters and journalists in the district. As unknown amount of people was ferried to the Naggalama Police Station. This just shows what extent the state does to win this by-election. They are not even trying to show some sort of modesty here.

The pre-election violence and the usage of state machinery isn’t new. The same with the house-arrest of Bobi Wine for “safety” reasons. As the same old trick and modus operandi. While arresting bodyguards and gardener. Shows, the state is exposing it’s tyranny to world to see.

This is done over a by-election and one districts need for LCV Chairman. That says it all and shows what the state is willing to do. The NRM cannot be popular or have the will of the people. When they are using these means to win. The Yellow isn’t strong, but mediocre and weak. Since, they have to pre-tick ballots, stuff ballot boxes and use the security agencies to stop eyes from watching the polls. That is just seriousness of it all.

We shouldn’t be shocked or surprised, this is what the state does and they have invested the army, police and the whole machinery behind it. Therefore, it would be a disgrace and be humiliating, if the public showed interest for someone else. Peace.

Kayunga District By-Election: Shows everything that is wrong with politics these days

The National Resistance Movement and the ruling regime continues to impose itself. Where it uses all of its might, state apparatus and means to silence it’s critics. House-Arresting Robert Kyagulanyi, arresting his bodyguards and even his gardener. While beating Francis Zaake MP to pulp.

The NRM showed up with buses and their black mambas. The whole Presidential convoy and team. Where all there to bash in glory and anticipate a easy victory. Harriet Nakwedde the NUP LCV Candidate for Kayunga District was beaten and hurt as well. This is really unheard of and shows the “multi-party” democracy that NRM preaches about.

The army and the police was all active during the day. It is clear that the NRM does intend to use every trick in their book. The state promised that anyone could enter and campaign in Kayunga district. However, that was big fat lie. As Bobi Wine was without any warrants or charges house-arrested. He wasn’t allowed to leave or participate in Kayunga district. While the Prime Minister Nabbanja and the President could easily pass through the district.

Nobody should care about Andre Nuwonge at this point. His just another pawn by the regime. Today was the final day of campaigns, which ended with tear-gas, state sponsored violence and impounding a sound-truck of the opposition.

While the NRM was busy with scheduled voter-tourism, using security agencies in their favours and trying to silence the opposition. That just shows what is wrong in the Republic. There is no fair playing field and the NRM just vicious attempt to bush-whack everyone else. Not that this is any new or anything. It is just so deliberate and the efforts are clear as day.

We know it’s bad when Zaake MP had to sent to Jinja hospital for treatment. That is just what the Special Forces Command does and what the security agencies are paid to do. There was several of others who was wounded too. Just so the NRM can prove a point in the district.

It is horrific, but this is how Museveni have made the political landscape and this is in his vision. He speaks of unity, but uses the violence against anyone in his path. There is no self-reflection or concern of civlians, but just the continued oppression of the ones who is in his way. Peace.

Bobi Wine house-arrested over a by-election of LCV chairman ….

More deployment by the Police and Military moves towards Bobi Wine’ s home in Magere. The NUP leader has been condoned off from his home ahead of his visit to Kayunga District and only Pedestrians allowed past the police barricades at Freedom Drive” (John Cliff Wamala, 13.12.2021).

Today, Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine was scheduled to travel to Kayunga District to support his party and flagbearer for the Kayunga District for the LC5 Chairman by-election there.

The military has increased deployment around my home. No one is allowed to leave or enter. Our security guard and gardener have been violently arrested, beaten and bundled into ‘drones’ outside our gate. Their phones confiscated” (Bobi Wine, 13.12.2021).

This by-election is scheduled to be happening on the 16th December 2021. However, we are seeing very clear signs that the opposition and the ones who are dissidents silenced. Bobi Wine is blocked from supporting his own party.

That is the tragic here. Just as we know the National Resistance Movement (NRM) is sending the President Museveni to galvanize support. While we know the state has been busy to abduct journalists and the ones following the NUP candidate during the weekend too. Therefore, the government is putting a lot of stakes in this by-election.

They are violating people’s rights just to win a LC5 councillor. The state is really continuing to serve injustice and impunity. Peace.

The Medical Interns strike is a self-made crisis… and the state has the the tools to resolve it…

This is what empty promises and sending love letters between the bureaucratic institutions. The state and the government have promised a relief and added salary for the medical interns. This is going back to the first strike this year in June 2021 and the promises of the President and his letter to the Ministry of Finance and Planning, Economic Development (MoFPED) in July 2021.

Now, we are in mid-December 2021 and nothing has happened. The Federation for Uganda Medical Interns (FUMI) have rights to fight for their members and for the ones who is on the front-line. For a President who defends and wants to pay scientists. It is really weak that he cannot find the funds or allocate funds to fix this. Alas, this isn’t an priority.

That’s why on the 10th December 2021 the Ministry of Health has sent out an letter and said the medical interns can be evicted and vacate the Hospitals within a week to pave way for new ones in January 2022. This shows that the state was never interested in paying a fair salary and the covering their basic needs. As these are the future of the Ministry of Health and the ones who can become the Health Care professionals the MoH needs.

This government clearly doesn’t care about the Ministry of Health or the ones working there. They don’t prioritize it or have any concerns, because there is always an Non-Governmental Organization or United Nations Organizations covering the shortfalls. If not, the high ranking officials is taking trips abroad to get healing. The medical tourism of the big-men and the patronage is the reason for not valuing the hospitals and health centres.

When the President knows perfectly well the problems. He has even written a letter directing the MoFPED in July 2021. There is all the reasons to listen to the grievances and needs of the medical interns. This is if the government or the National Resistance Movement (NRM) even values the scientists or the ones who combat a pandemic. The NRM thinks they can assault and silence the ones who cannot even feed themselves.

On the 10th December 2021, the same day as the MoH went after the Medical Interns. “The Uganda Dental Association (UDA) hereby informs the general public that we will be joining the ongoing industrial action organized by the Uganda Medical Association. We sincerely apologize for any and all inconveniences caused” (UDA, 10.12.2021). They are joining the Uganda Medical Association, which is on their 5th week of industrial action and that’s all because the state cannot live up to their own promises. This is neglecting their mission and good governance, which is proving how bad the state is at governing at this current time.

Association of Graduate Nurses and Midwives of Uganda wrote yesterday a press release. Where the AGNMU states the importance of the medical interns. They are not only condemning, but stating that it’s a dangerous decision by the MoH, which will affect the 2022 cohort. Secondly, which was interesting was this line from the

AGNMU: “Ministry of health should pay medical interns as per the presidential directive. Why should a mother starve her children? Medical interns deserve to be paid for their great work they contribute to health care in Uganda” (AGNMU – ‘Press Release on Medical Interns Strike’ 11.12.2021).

It is clear, that the President, MoFPED and MoH have no plans of honouring their promises. This has been going on for too long and they have no plans of changing it. The state shows that with initially firing the interns and wanting to hire others. Which is not respecting or honouring the ideals of a strike. They are making the workers and the medical professionals into a commodity they can easily transfer or change. So, if these sorts of actions causes a brain-drain. The state created this by themselves and gave no incentives for the ones trying to be come a nurse, midwife or doctor to stay in the Republic. Since, the state doesn’t value your eduction or your profession anyway. That’s the message here and they been saying that with the inaction for months. Peace.

DRC: Joint Press release from FARDC and UPDF on the Operation Shujaa (11.12.2021)

Another “Last Word of Mwenda”: He belongs now in a den of thieves….

The editor and founder of the Independent Magazine, Andrew Mwenda is back with his articles on social media. Today he published an article called ‘Uganda’s anti corruption pretense’ which I will discuss. Last time I did this was in September and once in March 2021. So, this year I haven’t cared much about his writing. Neither, has he been so controversial either, but he always has a mannerism ,which puts him on my radar.

Mwenda did defend corruption on a TV Program yesterday on NBS Television. Since 2015 he has become a man who defends that and does it wholeheartedly. That’s why I have to address it. Because, someone needs to retort him and it just happens to be me…

President Yoweri Museveni came to power promising to fight graft. He has presided over the most corrupt government in Uganda’s history. This, in large part, explains why he has lasted longest. This is not a moral judgment on his leadership. I do not think he would (and can) govern Uganda without corruption. It is just a statement of fact. I believe many opposition politicians genuinely believe corruption can be defeated. However, if they came into power, they would be just as corrupt” (Mwenda, 10.12.2021).

We know that the editor doesn’t believe anyone else can rule in the Republic. He just another pawn of the National Resistance Movement (NRM). His paternalistic way is that everyone in a system just has to get corrupted and continue the what the previous leaders did. Because, nobody has agency or ability to choose themselves… secondly, if life was as tragic as this… than there would never be reform or development. In the way Mwenda looks at things… cars would never have been created and people would still use horses to get from A to B. So, the opposition should get to try and some might get caught in the greed of power, but hopefully some will be morally strong to compete against the greed and easy money.

There are many sources of legitimacy for governments. However, critical to the legitimacy of the modern state is the ability of the state to provide a large basket of public goods and services to all its citizens. This governance model requires high levels of social organization and lots of money. Poor countries don’t have these two endowments to govern this way. So, they rely on cheaper and affordable strategies of governance – repression and patronage” (Mwenda, 10.12.2021).

Mwenda starts his defence of it and does it deliberately…. and it’s not funny anymore. It’s like the poor countries doesn’t have money, but if they have money to pay the patronage and use corrupt methods they are depleting the funds, which could have been spent on the government service. The same government services only the rich countries has and not spend it on vehicles for MPs for instance. Alas, this is an flawed argument, because the incentives is taken away and the poor are just supposed to stay power. In the same manner, which no opposition can ever reform or transform a nation. That’s a lie, because some might fall in the same trap of the past, but others might resolve the issues and find another way to govern. That implies another ending, which repression and patronage doesn’t become the end-game for any government.

Poor countries of today inherited the ethical and moral architecture of their governance from departing colonial powers and/or as copy and paste values based on “best practice” in rich Western countries. Yet reading the history of the West showed me that these ethical and moral values had not always been the basis of their governance. When still at the same level of per capita spending as us, the state did not provide a large basket of public goods and services to all citizens. Instead, governments in the West managed their societies using similar cheaper and affordable strategies of governance our leaders employ today – repression and patronage” (Mwenda, 10.12.2021).

Here is what is ironic here… yet, part of it is true too. Yes, the undefined “poor countries” have inherited a state, laws and institutions of which was based on the nations, which held them captive until liberation from the previous colonizes. However, in plenty of these nations, the rulers and the elites have thrived in using the same means, as the colonizer did. They have inherited it and used the same tricks to salvage wealth and create a microscopic local middle-class and wealthy elite. This elite is most likely connected to the political elite. That’s what his neglecting here.. by just saying the leaders employ repression and patronage.

Secondly, in this manner, yes, the West and multi-national organizations have imposed the governance and government policies, which has been strings reflected on the barrier or stipulations of loans. If not these has come as a costs for cheap loans, grants or development funds. These are money and funds the state could have blocked or not taken. Therefore, the state is doing this to cover for own deficits and shortfalls. Third, as a matter of truth here. The leaders and the elites has used the means of the new governance to assault and stop the others in the tracks. Also, issue in new forms of agendas to be the “new breed” of leaders, which has paid of in the West. One man doing so was Museveni and his party. He promised all of this, but instead only paid of the patronage. That shows that it wasn’t his priorities, but he masked it by following “western” objectives to get funds to cover the shortfall of his cronyism. Which is an ideal, that Mwenda masks over with brush of the pen. It is like it’s no need to mention that, but just take it under the rug and forget it about it.

Poor countries adopted this architecture of governance without the financial and a developed social organization to deliver on it. So, our nations are over developed in functions but under developed in capacity – their reach goes far beyond their grasp. The consequence of this mismatch between ambitions and resources leads inevitably to corruption. Meagre resources are spread too thinly across a large territory that is sparsely populated. Then they are placed into the hands of myriads of state employees with limited skills and oversight to do the job. Corruption and incompetence are inevitable byproducts of this effort” (Mwenda, 10.12.2021).

Here again he continues. It is like the states and republics, the former colonies or anyone didn’t have a choice. Yes, there would be reactions and efforts would have been made to change it. We know the former colonizers and the Western powers used all means and ploys to get their favoured leaders in office. Therefore, the will and abilities wasn’t huge.

However… every nation and head of state has choices. Like Museveni could have invested in education, schools and the such. Instead he has decided to spend on huge patronage, cronies and the army. Which isn’t means to an end, but to secure his longevity. The state could have used the resources and decided to spend on education, infrastructure and create policies of which had made thing reform in a positive direction. Nevertheless, when that isn’t the goal, but the end-game has been set-up differently and for only the ones that breathes lives to the rulers. That’s why things are not moving forward, but stagnate. It’s like Mwenda doesn’t want to see that and only wants to defend the corrupt and the ones eating of the plates of others. Instead of sharing the resources they actually have… that’s pathetic.

Because financial and human resources available cannot deliver the large basket of public goods and services, governments find it cheaper (and affordable) to invest in buying-off elites in the different ethnic or religious communities with patronage. In exchange, these elites create a bridge between the state and their constituents. This forms the basis for the politicization of ethnicity – as ambitious people make moral, cultural and psychological appeals to identity to gain the following of particular constituencies. They leverage this following to gain positions of power and influence; and they sustain these through the distribution of material benefits to their constituents by indulging in activities that are largely corrupt” (Mwenda, 10.12.2021).

Here his saying it’s cheaper and easier, which is partly true, but also shows the ideals or the supposed states has given up on their mission. It is like he accept the idea that the state only serves an elite or the patronage of the state. They are accepting to buy up a small patronage, but not use the resources it has to serve it’s citizens. That is devaluing the state and what it could do. This is showing the needs for reform and change things. The government and the state could actually try to serve the communities or the citizens, but the focus isn’t on them, but a chosen few who can get to eat. That is a tragic pattern and prospects for the state.

At the top corruption is the glue that holds the flabby and heterogenous coalition of powerful religious and ethnic elites together. Then below, corruption is the grease that turns the wheels of the state because public sector employees work in large part because their official incomes are supplemented by unofficial earnings through corruption. Therefore, corruption is the way the system works not the way it fails. By adopting the ethics of a modern state at very low levels of public spending, we have criminalized the very governance strategies that allow our states to function. This conclusion is frustrating but realistic. It means that we need to see corruption not as a problem which we can solve but one we should manage” (Mwenda, 10.12.2021).

Here is the end to this sad tale of defending corruption. The magical way of building society by stealing, thieving and siphoning funds. The way of taking money and eating of other people’s plate. The state and the elites are allowed to run rampant and only give scraps away to the majority. Because, that keeps the status quo alive and everything dandy for the elites of Mwenda. He lives with the wealthy and hang around the greedy guts… this is maybe why he endures corruption and gets a few kickbacks himself.

The editor and the journalist should think more straight ahead. The patronage, the cronyism and the corruption is only making everything costly. That’s why roads are so expensive to build, so many needs their envelopes and it gets plenty more hurdles to get things done. The state isn’t becoming better, but everyone needs to be greased. That’s not how to build anything and the values of life will go away as well. Since, everyone is down to be bought and possibly corrupted. If Mwenda believes that is how he builds society. He surely belong in a den of thieves.

This pseudo-intellectualism at it’s finest. Some will buy into it, but anyone who can see through it. Will know it is nonsense and deservingly so. Peace.