The Second Summit of Leaders of the Inter Party Organization for Dialogue (IPOD) – Monday 20th May 2019 – Joint Communique (20.05.2019)

Uganda Peoples Congress: Press Statement (22.05.2019)

Uganda National Oil Company: Press Release (14.05.2019)

Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC): Dr. Josephine Wapakabulo resignation letter as Chief Executive Officer (13.05.2019)

A Divided Nation: President Museveni Versus FDC Leadership Conference!

Today, we learned that in Buikwe District, the only allowed political activity was the launching of industrial facilities and not a leadership conference. It seems like the National Resistance Movement (NRM) and the President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni can open and launch new projects in a district. However, the opposition cannot operate any activity in the same realm. Only the President can act and do what it needs to do. That is why, the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) couldn’t hold this in Lugazi Town, as the President was at 6 factories the same day.

This shows the irrational behaviour of the government and the authorities, as the state had to send the Uganda People’s Defence Force aka the army to block a venue and shed tear-gas on the public, as the FDC was only trying to meet their leaders in Lugazi Town. They were not trying to hold a public rally or even procession in town. No, just a leadership conference in the district.

A district where the President was scheduled to be at six places and six factories or industrial facilities. Certainly, the President is such a fragile mind, that he cannot have opposition in the region where his spending time. Because, then the fountain of glory will not be able shed water like a waterfall. His light is dim, when the FDC is around.

It is so dangerous for the state, that the FDC had scheduled meeting at the Paradise Pub in Luagazi Town. That Dr. Kizza Besigye and Partick Oboi Amuriat cannot hold internal meetings, especially when His Excellency is around. Not that it makes a difference his not there, because what the 2019 has shown is that the Police and authorities does what it can to block the venues and leadership conferences of the opposition party. Therefore, it is just amplified with the army intervening today.

But, we have seen the same President sending the Special Force Command (SFC) into Parliament to get his will done. That is why the FDC shouldn’t be surprised that the President orders the army to settle the score in the same district he visits. Because, the President want it calm and easy as he steps on the hollow ground. He doesn’t want a popularity contest. That looks bad for the propaganda released after the visits in the district.

We have seen the President and the Army now really attacking the Opposition. That is why the soldiers was blocking the venue of Paradise Pub and not allowing them. Also, tear-gassing the public for showing up to greet the leadership, which was also illegal. Clearly, the Ugandan Republic the one Republic built for the NRM and the other whose allowed to be prosecuted and be suspended, as the laws to gather or even do internal party organizations are illegal for the other ones. This being the FDC and others. Peace.

Opinion: Bosco’s weird arguments for blocking public gatherings!

Well, its been a while since the President have addressed the public. Maybe, after meeting the diplomats from European Union at the State House of Entebbe. They told the old man with the hat, that he should try to sway public opinion about the acts of the Police Force and Army, which is used as tools to shutdown the Opposition. The President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni trying to defend the acts of the authorities, isn’t surprising, they are doing his bidding. I will not dissect the whole article published today, but just the vital parts in my opinion. Because lots of is his own self-praising, that he does at every opportunity he have. It is just his M.O at this point.

If you want to hold a public meeting (olu kungana) or a procession (ekivulu) for a legitimate reason, you should liaise with the Police, so that your public meeting or your procession does not endanger the lives of other Ugandans or the safety of their property. You agree with the Police on the route, if it involves a procession, or the venue if it is an event or a rally. The problem we have with some elements of the opposition is that they ignore this. They want to hold meetings or processions near markets or through crowded streets. This one we cannot allow” (Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, 05.05.2019).

What is weird about this argument is that he thinks the public is so ignorant and so blind to the activity of the opposition. Especially, the consideration of the applications and notifications of all public rallies, all ones done by the opposition. They have complied, but still the Police Force have blocked it. If it is concerts of Kyarenga Extra of Bobi Wine or any rally in any district by the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC). The notification and even the paying the stadiums and town gardens are blocked by the Police Force, even before it is starting. So, we know the state is not allowing the gathering of the FDC or real opposition by all means. Not for safety, but because they challenge Bosco. So, his issues are also backfiring. As the government party and ruling regime are allowed to do processions without any issues or public gathering where-ever it fits, even public markets like the Owino Market in Kampala. So, the President really thinks the public is stupid like his cows.

Therefore, if you want to assemble publically or to procession, it must be for a legitimate reason. If it is to preach hate, to decampaign investments in Uganda etc., then we shall not allow you. Those who have ignored this logic have paid a heavy price” (Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, 05.05.2019).

What is legitimate reasons? Is it stand for your sole candidacy or your causes? Because, anyone else will be shutdown, met with tear-gas and arrests. That is just what happens, if not blocked or house-arrested before entering the paid venue. This is just what is happening, as the Police Force are steady monitoring the acts of the opposition and criminalizing all their activities. Therefore, whatever they do is illegitimate in your eyes and by your authorities. They can never win, they can only loose.

They can notify and negotiate with the Police Force for a rally, a conference and even a concert, but by the ordinary option. The Police will block it or even disperse the crowds before entering the venue. That’s why his assessment is bit far fetched. There are no way the Police Force are accepting rallies, except in a limited window of an election roadmap, but even then the Police can close a rally then.

So anything that his not interfering with the ego of the President and his comrades. The rest have to beg for mercy to legitimate or be like Mama Mabira who kissed the ring. That is just who he his. Also, last part, which needs to be addressed:

However, I also disapprove of the method the Police used to break the glass of Bobi Wine’s car. They should have towed the vehicle to wherever they wanted him to be” (Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, 05.05.2019).

This one is really ironic, because this has been done to plenty of politicians in Uganda. This is not a new tactic of the Police. They have destroyed glass to throw in tear-gas into the vehicle. I know of plenty of times this has been done in the Republic. The Police Force have even towed Besigye across several districts to the closest prison at one point. So, he wanted the same thing when Bobi Wine crossed to property at One Love Beach and drag him to Mukono. Because, that is okay of them without warrants or even charges. This shows his lack of respect of individual freedom, which is only given to Jajja, but not the public in general.

This text shall be a warning, that all opposition is by all practicality illegitimate in the eyes of the President. Not that this is new, he has called by them all names and said he would destroy them. Surely, this sort of defence is showing his intent before the 2021 election. There is nowhere to hide, as they are clearly not spreading the message, the almighty accepts. But, we knew that already. Peace.

World Food Programme (WFP) halts distribution of super cereal while tests continue (03.05.2019)

As suspicion fell on Super Cereal as a possible cause or carrier of contamination, WFP acted swiftly, halting all distributions of the food first in Karamoja and then across Uganda.

ROME, Italy, May 3, 2019 – As a precautionary measure, the World Food Programme (WFP) has temporarily halted distribution worldwide of a fortified blended food from one of its suppliers as tests continue to establish whether it is linked to outbreaks of illness in East Africa.

According to medical centres and hospital records, three people died and 293 were admitted to health centres in the Karamoja region of Northeast Uganda in March and April after eating Super Cereal, distributed by WFP. The product is used by WFP and partners to prevent malnutrition, especially among women and children.

Preliminary investigations have failed to conclusively find what caused the illness. To date, more than 2,400 food-related laboratory tests were conducted – including for mycotoxins, heavy metals, pesticides and microbial contaminants – but the root cause of the problem has not yet been established.

As suspicion fell on Super Cereal as a possible cause or carrier of contamination, WFP acted swiftly, halting all distributions of the food first in Karamoja and then across Uganda. Communications campaigns were launched to urge any people in Karamoja with remaining stocks to return them. These campaigns included using radio messages, focus group discussions, community dialogues and public discussions with elders and community leaders.

On 9 April, WFP halted the distribution globally of all products from the supplier in question. This involved putting on hold Super Cereal stocks in WFP operations in 25 countries.

In a further precautionary move, on 30 April, WFP ordered all stocks of Super Cereal from the same supplier should be secured in WFP warehouses and storage areas belonging to partners. Samples from the stock will continue to be tested to confirm or rule out any of the preliminary conclusions.

This issue is unprecedented in its implications for WFP’s global supply chain as the food supplies on hold around the world amount to over 21,000 metric tons, with an estimated replacement value of US$22 million. WFP has taken extensive preventative action as the health and safety of the people we serve is our foremost concern.

Super Cereal is maize or wheat blended with soya beans, fortified with vitamins and minerals, processed into a flour and supplied in 25-kg bags and is a critical part of WFP’s efforts to prevent malnutrition and save lives.

Uganda: Judiciary Investigates journalists’ assault claims (29.04.2019)

What if the Public Order Management Act (POMA) was aimed at the National Resistance Movement?

I wonder, this is an experiment, what if the Public Order Management Act was measured in way, where it didn’t hurt the opposition or any dissidents of the government, the President and the National Resistance Movement, but instead went directly and worked against them. I know, its impossible at this point of time, but that is why this an example. An example that has been running in my mind all day.

Let’s say President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni was stopping in a roundabout in the middle of Kampala or even at Owino Market without any prior notification to the authorities. Where he would cease the ordinary life and people would congregate around his Toyato Land Cruiser, but also around the convoy of Special Force Command (SFC) and so-on. Still, because he didn’t apply to be there and hold this meeting.

The authorities would than be sanctioned to send the Police Force, the Residential District Commander together with the Regional Police Commander and the Kampala Metropolitan Police had to intervene. They could even send the Flying Squad there to stop the crowds to gather around the President. Arrest the “ring-leaders”, the people who he was planning to meet. Seal of the venues and tear-gas the crowds. Even put the President in the back of the black-van and drive him back to Okello House. Where he would be in House-Arrest until he followed the Police Order and didn’t incite violence. As he did on that day without notification to have a meeting with random people on the streets of Kampala.

In the same fashion as the National Resistance Movement was planning to hold a Conference and Leadership Training at Kyankwanzi. The Party would have to inform about the planned scheduled program, about the media meetings and the addresses, where the press is supposed to participate at the venue. Where the Police Force would swiftly deny entry because they don’t have manpower to keep the NRM safe or the public. As the NRM would still go ahead on their own property, the Police Force would have to seal of the venue, arrest Secretary General Justine Kasule Lumumba, Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda and Dr. Tanga Odoi. As they are parts of this, others that might be picked for rowdy behaviour and inciting violence would be Frank Tumbewaze, Ofwono Opondo, Kahinda Otafiire and Maj. Gen. Matayo Kyaligonza. All of them would be behind bars, awaiting trials for unknown alleged circumstances and the state awaiting to produce the evidence of it.

As those circumstances and contexts seems fine and dandy. There are others, that would seem fitting too. Since the NRM likes to ferry crowds in and around election times. Let say the NRM went around with their gadgets, their little soaps, foods and thousand shillings notes to the villages,as the NRM Village Projects always appear on the Campaign Trail of the Party.

As your playing that in your mind, as the NRM are travelling in the deep villages of Moroto or Adjumani. As the NRM Buses are ferrying crowds to the venues of the nearby stadiums. Where the President, his musicians and the SFC is in and about. The Police Force are coming with their mambas, arresting the coordinators of the Campaign. The driver of the President is taken to unknown location. His Land Cruiser is towed while he is still in it. The shocked NRM Party are following and trying to block the Police from doing this. While Secretary General Lumumba is trying to alarm the press. The NBS and NTV journalists following the Campaign Convoy is arrested and heading by another police van to Arua. The President is landing at the Moroto Magistrate Court, where his charged quickly before his airlifted to Luzira Maximum Security Prison. While the rest of the Campaign Team is either trying to get detained activists out of prison in Moroto Military Prison or awaiting trial themselves. Since, they have all broken the peace and public order by ferrying the crowds to the venue. A venue they hadn’t the clearance of the Police or the Police didn’t care about the notification and stopped it anyhow.

This was just three random scenarios. Very real scenarios, which the Opposition meets every day and all the time. Especially, when trying to gather or do political work. They cannot manage to do it, without the police intervening or being in the way of their work. The Opposition, if they try, they end up house-arrested, detained or charged with a crime. Even if the only thing they tried to do, was to actually do party work.

So, when the likes of Frank Tumwebaze saying the Police have made the Opposition heroes. Well, the Police have made them felons and outlaws, by just doing their duty and to be the checks and balances in the system. In a system that monitor, control and charge them, any time they can. This is the system that is built around the Public Order Management Act, as the Opposition has to beg to gather and do political work. Which is not a given, because the Police can use any reason or any excuse not too. That is just the way it is, but the NRM can do whatever, since the President and NRM has the Police and the Army. That is why the President can make a meeting without any form of notification and doesn’t need to follow the POMA. Even if he should, because he shouldn’t be above the law, but actually abide to it. Like everyone else. Peace.

Not Breaking News: The Supreme Court Validated the Age Limit Amendment today!

If you ever thought the Supreme Court would allow the appeal on the Age Limit or the abolishment of the Article 102(b) your wrong. The 1995 Constitution is a document that is to change, as the President see fit or as he is in need.

The ones that believed that the Supreme Court would dismiss it. The result 4 Judges to dismiss versus 3 to appeal. Seems more like trying to make it balanced, than it really is. Because, the judges could have just made it 7 to dismiss or even 6, maybe even 5. Since, the result is practically the same. Close, but no cigar.

There are nothing that is changed, only that all legal remedy before the General Election 2021 is gone. The road for the sole candidate of the National Resistance Movement. Nothing will stop him, yet again. Like it is child’s play, which it is. Because, everyone around him plays to his tune. The ones who doesn’t end behind bars for silly reasons like Besigye. That is just life in the republic.

Again, and again, all the remedy, all the legal and Parliamentary steps is taken to secure the Self-Styled dictatorship of the President. In the vision and way of Museveni. If you think it is brilliant. It is not, it is just misuse of state institutions and ensuring one man get everything.

This isn’t validating a constitution or rule of law. This is validating the Presidency and his cronies. There is nothing noble or justification of it. Except keeping the status quo and the misuse of the power, which the NRM and the ones around the President already does.

If you think the verdict of 18th April 2019 is splendid and worth celebrating. Than celebrate the arrests of opposition members, the assaults on civil society organizations, political rallies ambushed, concerts blocked, journalists silenced, radios losing their licenses and everything else that is used to stop the opposition from organizing. It will only get worse, before it gets better.

For one reason, there is less and less reasons for Museveni to play around. He has everything and all laws is in hands. All the security organizations is following his memos and the Parliament is doing as directed. There is no one questioning or stopping him from doing what he says. Even if it failure and foolish.

Don’t anticipate this verdict to make things better. It won’t, it will just give the President all the reasons to continue his run. To continue his persistence of stealing, dealing and killing everyone else seeking office. Ensuring overpower and control. Giving no way. Just being him. There is no other way to look at it.

This is again, giving all the powers to the same man, that has run the republic since 26th January 1986. We could joke, may even say Bosco is out of his mind. But he isn’t, his just using the Supreme Court, like he has used everything else for 3 decades.

He just got the final nudge, the final nail in the coffin. He has abolished the term limits, now he officiated the destruction of the age limit. Who knows what is next, but this man will do whatever it takes to be in power. To think otherwise, is a lie or you haven’t gotten the whole picture. If not you are naive and thinks this is a good. Which is not.

This is validating the corruption, the arrest of democracy and also the ability of others to compete. As it is yet another fixture ready for the victory of Team Museveni. Peace.