
South Sudan: Joint Press Statement by SSOA and SPLM-FDs (04.08.2018)








There are something striking about the defense of the loss in Bugiri Municipality, would think there was warfare and additional cult-like obsessions from the opposition who won. That they we’re tricking the Electoral Commission and that they had the economic capacity of the National Resistance Movement (NRM).
When he claims the losses of the recent by-elections are on voter tourism, have he seen many buses hired by the Forum for Democratic Change? Have he seen or heard reports of dodgy caravans crossing one district to another on polling?
This is the whirlwind of nonsense, as a mad-man using all methods to capture the lack of finesse and use of message from him. President Museveni are using fear and intimidation towards the public, that is why everyone isn’t biting and he cannot manage that. He is now seeing that the opposition if they have the right amount of power behind them, they can actually galvanize popularity. However, he calls it sectarianism and pseudo-ideology, nevertheless, the first I don’t even care for answering, but second needs to be addressed.
By a man of recycled promises, an empty treasure chest, 32 years of rule, less and less results to prove of his ideology or even governance. He shouldn’t claim of others, he should keep his mouth shut and walk-on. Museveni is an empty headed buffoon, whose place is on the farm rearing cows and not being an executive. The defense of the loss in Bugiri proves it.
He call it these things, when they don’t follow the Correct Line, the “Follow My Guidelines”, that is how he is and he cannot help himself. That is part of the lost cause, the man with the old hat. Thinks everything should be focused around and his reign. The ones who doesn’t listen or being servants to his orders, are sectarian or following a pseudo-ideology, if you feel that sounds like hogwash? Your absolutely right.
President Museveni, you have overstayed your welcome, people are tired of you and your lies. You have promised the world, but not even given them a glimpse of honest leadership. That is why people become your enemies, when they are not listening to you or following your commands. Which is sort of a bugging narrative to repeat, but the reality, nevertheless.
You still have the majority, still sitting secure in the State House and controls the army, so right now, Mr. President, you have no need to fear. These elements will always be out there, because everyone will never follow your every command and every word. Because that wise your not and that level of expertise in every field, you have not.
You might have taxed the Over-The-Top Service, but your delivering Down-At-The-Bottom Services to your people. Time for you to relax and figure another way to rule. I know it is to late, but someone has to say it. Best would be to retire and hang-out with Mugabe. Peace.

Repeatedly, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni cannot help himself. He just have to throw someone else under the bus. He is riding the bus, put up all the protocols for the bus, he has made the legislation and even made the entire legal framework since 1986 and still he complains about the judiciary. It is as if the man forgets his place and that his own role as the sign-offs of laws, the ones that put them through Parliament is himself.
How stupid does Museveni think people are? That should be an important question at this point, because he always blame others for his short-comings, if it wasn’t him; it was the British, the Obote’s and the Amin’s, but never the high and mighty Museveni. No, that cannot happen, he is perfection and the greatest ever gracing the blue planet of ours.
“But in a statement issued on Monday, Museveni, who is in South Africa for the BRICS Summit, said the judges fell short of understanding the importance of a long term for the elected leaders but concentrated on theatrics. “Unfortunately, our judges in Uganda spend more time on form and not substance, on procedure and not substance,” said Museveni. “My freedom fighter’s sense of justice, in this matter (the age limit ruling) focuses more on the convenience of 7 years rather than 5 years. With the 5 years, a lot of time is spent on electioneering and less time on development; the first two years settling in, the third year some work in the constituency and, then, by the 4th year, electioneering again,” he emphasised. Museveni said, in the end, however, “the judges are not the ones in charge of the country.” He stressed that, “If the NRM MPs follow my guidelines and bond closely with the people, through wealth and job creation, we can, together with the people, make the necessary Constitutional reforms, judges or no judges.” The President said the Constitution should “facilitate the modernization of Uganda and the economic and political integration of Africa for the survival of the people of Africa as free people, not just the theatre of democracy of form without addressing substance.” (Kim Aine – ‘Museveni on Age Limit Ruling: Judges are not in Charge of Uganda’ 30.07.2018, link: https://chimpreports.com/museveni-on-age-limit-ruling-judges-are-not-in-charge-of-uganda/).
He is blaming the judges for stopping the extension of the time of MPs, even if the legal framework doesn’t abide to it. Meaning, that if the President really cared about this and about the laws. He would ensure they were passed properly, even if I have a hard time believing his blast of them. Since, the same laws that ensured the passing of the abolishment of age limit, didn’t need to be fulfilled when concerning him. However, the laws was applied when concerning MPs, that was the need for a referendum and also more public consultations, not just rubberstamping the law and call-it a day.
The judiciary have their place, as they are following the rules of law put in front of them and abide by the set of framework the politicians put together in Parliament. As the pass the laws, it is not like the judges makes these laws and orders. Not in theory, therefore, the whole blasting of them is just weird. When the one law applied to MPs and their extension, but not to the President. He should be more careful with his wording, because why didn’t the same laws apply to him and with the consultation of the extension of his time in office?
Why?
Because the judges are appointed by him and they are working for him, they don’ won’t to bite the hand that feeds them. The key thing out of this was: “follow my Guidelines”, meaning, his words is law and the way forward. There are nothing else to state on the matter. Museveni have the guidelines and the rest have to be in submission and follow, there are no but, if’s or what. It is just follow me and than you can rest assure. That is it. Peace.

Let us be honest for a minute, the recent By-Elections under President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, have become more hostile and more militarized, where the big guns, the soldiers and the mambas are all over the place. That is happening today in Sheema Muncipality in Ibanda and in Bugiri Muncipality in Busoga sub-region. Both National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidates and opposition contest in both of them.
What is striking today is the efforts of the police and the army to intimidate in both places. In Sheema Muncipality and in Bugiri Muncipality, the Army and Soldiers are armed to their teeth. Like there is a war going on, and not a democratic exercise on who gets to represent the people in the newly created districts. No, no, it looks like a war story and someone is going to die!
Seriously, who brings the war machine to an election, if they are not fearing for losing it? Who isn’t bringing the police to arrest opposition activist on the day of the poll and not afraid of losing it?
If the NRM was so steady and had a message, had a mandate and trust in the community, would they need the UPDF and the Police Force to settle intimidation into their eyes. Seriously? I beg to ask!
You can say what you want about elections and about campaigning, but when the ruling regime and the orders from above, is to send a brigades of soldiers to the polls. You know something is wrong, you know that these elections are no good. That is just a common knowledge. Maybe not for Ofwono Opondo or Frank Tumwebaze, but for the rest of us it is.
This isn’t a sign of strength, but more of weakness, of a justification of harassing and intimidating the public. Just because you can and because you have the army. This isn’t there to secure democratic values or secure the public. Than, the soldiers would have bases there and await a sudden strike from an enemy. Not suddenly come out of their barracks and post up in the middle of towns and poll stations in the early mist of morning. No, that isn’t it.
Maybe, just maybe, the NRM thinks so, but than they are gallantly, stupid and I cannot blame them anymore. They are just the National Rwakitura Movement, where all citizens are his cows and he is just waiting to spoil their milk. That is just what is up.
Are the NRM so afraid of losing, that they have to order soldiers in the street to prove they exists and that they can hurt you, if you don’t obey every command made by Museveni? Is that it, is that the magic potion to get people on board. If so, than the President have forgotten Franz Fanon and his wisdom.
As the war-zones of Sheema and Bugiri have smiled to us today and God knows how the tallies will be. Let me end with the words of Fanon.
“The state, which by its strength and discretion ought to inspire confidence and disarm and lull everybody to sleep, on the contrary seeks to impose itself in spectacular fashion. It makes a display, it jostles people and bullies them, thus intimating to the citizen that he is in continual danger. The single party is the modern form of the dictatorship of the bourgeoisie, unmasked, unpainted, unscrupulous, and cynical” (Frantz Fanon – ‘The Wretched of the Earth, P: 164, 1961).
That is enough of the nonsense. Peace.

The frustration and disillusionment many of you and I feel this evening cannot be gainsaid. But I believe it has not been an exercise in futility, for the luganda adage that “nkuwaabidde takuvirako awo” has come to pass.
I am glad that the the Constitutional Court has embraced and incorporated in our constitutional jurisprudence the novel doctrine of “Basic Structure”; a very instrumental tool that informed judicial activism in a number of commonwealth jurisdictions like India, South Africa, Belize etc. I’m only disappointed that they shied away from applying it to all the provisions of the impugned age limit Act and strike it down. Nonetheless, it provides a firm foundation for the next course of action.
We shouldn’t loose sight of the fact that even leopards sweat. We should not despair. Step by step, brick by brick we shall build the Uganda we want. Remember that dictatorships world over do not fall by gravitational force like ripe mangoes, but through sustained struggles and concerted actions of right thinking people.
We must harness and seize every available lawful means to push on with the struggle for rule of law and Constitutional governance. My sincere gratitude to all Ugandans who have walked with us in this strenuous journey. Aluta continua.
For God and My Country.