OPM – Ministry for Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Refugees: Press Release – Clarification on the Status of Rwandan Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Uganda (22.11.2018)

Opinion: No need for a Constitutional Review, when you have a self styled President for Life!

Let me be clear, as long as Mr. 1986 and his Generals are in power. The changes and amendments of law. Will not be the betterment of the Republic. However, they will made for his clientele and cronies. They will be amended either to fit the Executive, the President, His Excellency or his closest associates who has stood loyally by him. It will not be for the greater good. That ship has left the port long time or go. Or for a landlocked country, that train has left the station.

Because now there is news of a 14 people appointed to a Constitutional Review Commission to consider various Constitutional reforms. These reforms are clearly following the Age Limit boosting of the Constitution of 2017. Also, the other amendments done to abolish terms before the 2005 General Elections. Therefore, it is now certain, that the President has eager to get his ways.

This is now coming up again, as the National Resistance Movement (NRM) and the President are planning again to revise the Constitution. Clearly, this is more on the land reforms. As the President had a second amendment in mind. Which he didn’t deliver at the same time as the Age Limit. As the President wants to secure easier access through law. So, that the state can access land and expropriate it when needed. Or whenever it is profitable for the ones in the State House.

There been things in sessions, but not acts which has been fruitful. Therefore, this process is a way of swaying it further and give it a nudge. Because, the President knows that he cannot push things to far at a time. Only micro-manage it little by little, so that people are getting used to closing of Radio Stations, Opposition leaders behind bars and other lingering around with treason charges.

Still, with all that in the context, the State and the Judiciary are certainly doing this to please the President. TO ensure his orders from above is followed and administered. This is only for appearances sake and not for the just cause. If so, why didn’t they appoint these people to look into properly the Age Limit Clause and Legal Argument of the Magyezi Bill of 2017?

It is because it didn’t matter that much, as the rule of law is the words of Museveni. He can change it and turn cow-turds into gold. That is what he does. That is the real metaphor for the ways of the President.

I don’t this, because I don’t trust the process and I always thinks there is an end-game for the President. He will configure some move or spectacle to get it his way. Where this might go, but the Judiciary wouldn’t do this, if there wasn’t any plans from the above. There are always some scheming going on and Museveni plays it like chess.

Therefore, he might be a slow king, but a king who knows the way. He always sends the useless pawns in his battles, the knights and the towers. But leave the queen to clear the table and for him to eat without even cooking. That is just what he does.

The same feat will be done here. It is just a matter of time. This Review will be centered on what Museveni. Not what the Republic needs. Peace.

Opinion: BoU illicit acts was accepted by the regime for decades!

The Bank of Uganda (BoU) have during the last two weeks shown it blatant side and also its frauds to the public. As the acquisitions of failing Banks hasn’t been done with procedures or protocols. They have not acted in good faith. They have acted ill-willed and certainly not considering that their actions would be looked into. As they was the buffer for the state and the Movement itself. While they could monitor and configure the acquisitions of these failing banks.

That the leadership of the BoU are a proof of the how the state are triggering themselves on the common market. It is a rodeo, it is the Wild West, where the biggest head are getting the stakes and hopefully nobody will look into the transactions. That was until the Parliament and the Parliament’s committee on commissions, statutory authorities and state enterprises (Cosase) started to question the acts of the Bank. The realities of how the BoU has acted.

They can not hide it under the rug. This all is happening because the BoU couldn’t explain the transactions and trade-off with the recent Crane Bank. That is why they are looking into Greenland Bank, International Credit Bank, Cooperative Bank, Global Trust Bank and Teefe Bank. The BoU even sold three banks to Ghost Companies not existing, that was based on Mauritius. Which, shows how the leadership have failed their role or if not laundering money for the high above.

As well, as the most striking feature, is not only loosing the documentations for the COASE Committee in the recent takeover. But the evident acts of not having the assets, the inventory or even following any procedures doing so. What is worse, the lack of oversight or even critical eyes by the Parliament or even the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED), as these should have seen it coming. They should wonder why securities, the statutes and the banks was sold without the procedures and needed clearances. This to secure the clients and also the assets of the banks.

It is like they have closed into thin-air, in major heists of the elites, where the BoU have used their tools of disposal, to clear the tenant’s and their liabilities without any scrutiny. Clearly that has been the message, as the Banks have been lost, but been transferred to new homes. These homes has gotten the fortunes or their assets without the BoU could tell what they pushed further. Even selling it to companies not existing.

That the BoU have problems are clear, but they are like the state in general. Who has Ghosts everywhere and creates them for a reason. To hustle and create ghosts to earn more on non-existing projects, this has been there as long as Museveni have been president. It is just a proof of illicit and the problems of society in general. BoU is just a mirror of the administration, of the government and the backwards ways to grabbing money, while the honest are thieved.

The BoU have all been wrong, done it horrific and massively underestimated their history, their practices and the realities, which they now suffer. Certainly for a reason. If the President wants to get rid of one of the leaders within the Bank. This is the sort of scandal that clears the house. But these transactions and these sort of activity will not go away. As the elites and the Presidency has accepted this for decades. This has been done since before the millennium.

Therefore, it will be more skeleton released and show more disgraceful acts from the BoU. They have done it, because the regime has earned on it. If not these practices would have been gone long time ago. Then the Special Force Command would have ambushed the Bank and barricaded it. Peace.

Mzee is halting the creation of new districts: Only to do it right before next General Election!

It is a hard time taking President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni serious, when he comments like today about creating districts. As he is the King of creating these, he has made a dozens in his span of Presidency. Museveni when he took power in 1986, there was 33 districts and by the o’clock 2018, there is registered 127 districts. Therefore, the map of districts and Local Government institutions have become a hectic mess.

That he is asking for halting today, only comes as a sign, that he wants to save of the funding and creations right before the next General Elections. Like he usually does. It is hectic to do it in the midst of term, but do it by the end. Also, as a way to sponge cronies and mend old wounds. Is a better way, than openly bribing during mid-terms like now.

About creation of districts, some of them were created because of ethnicity and others for geographical reasons like Moyo and Adjumani which are separated by water. But some people now want districts for greedy reasons. We can halt creation of districts for some years if we agree. We are spending 40% of the budget on the wage and administrative bills. They can wait till we have more money” (Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, 09.11.2018).

So, when you see that within the basis of 32 years rule. That he has in general created 2,9 or 3 district per year. This shows the intent to carve up the districts and bases, as a political game and also sufficiently make the local government bases so small. That the President easily manipulate and stipulate the results. Especially carve into districts where there is a huge opposition, or where he needs more support. As he lacks the basics of ordinary state delivery and even good governance.

That is usual end-game and most likely this time too. As there are already talks of carving up other districts, like Kasese and Budama (Tororo County) Districts, which has speculations about. Nothing is carved out yet, but there are plans to do so. That is why even Members of Parliament and local politicians has made plans in these districts. Now, the President calls them out.

However, he is the man that has made races and made it a goal to make small benign districts out of everywhere. That is why there is race to become of one of the three, every year made by the President. They want to get a slice too and that shouldn’t be shocking for anyone. Peace.

OPM Refugee Scandal: It is verified that it was 352k Ghost Refugees!

Minister Hillary Onek and Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda can make any excuses in the books of civil service. Not that they will be true for that matter, because earlier this year. It was revealed that in several of the refugee camps and settlements in the Republic of Uganda. The Government of Uganda had inflated the numbers, so they to could gain international recognition and also monetary gains for the needed people seeking refuge there.

This was ghosting refugees and the ones fleeing wars in Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan. Where the majority of the refugees comes from. This was a real scandal, that shown how the authorities are using the misfortune of others to eat donor pledges and multi-national organizations supply of foreign currency. To facilitate food, shelter and other needed services for the ones living in the refugee camps and settlements.

Take a look at this:

The Government of Uganda has one of the most progressive refugee policies, allowing refugees and asylum-seekers to live in gazetted refugee settlements and exercise freedom of movement and settlement within the country. As a routine practice, the government has provided a grace period of two months within which any registered refugee and asylum-seeker who missed the exercise, can approach OPM for verification. Taking this into consideration, the above verification numbers are preliminary. A more detailed analysis will be undertaken after the grace period. The difference between the initial verification target stands at 352,643 individuals. Among those, 255,490 individuals were verified as inactive and closed for the following reasons: a) 158,533 individuals whose whereabouts are unknown as reported by family members; b) 34,174 were reported by their families to have returned to their countries of origin; c) 9,481 were identified to have registered more than once; e) 3,931 were reported deceased; f) 1,489 were closed as they were Ugandan nationals; and (g) a verification exercise by OPM in April 2018 confirmed the urban refugee population to be 55,812” (UNHCR – ‘Joint statement by UNHCR and OPM on preliminary results of refugee verification exercise’ 08.11.2018).

So, the OPM and the National Resistance Movement (NRM) played this game with the lives of refugees and with the donor nations. Hoping to score more funding for non-existing refugees, getting funds and grants for people who never existed. That shows the devastation and extortion of the situation. When the ones in dire need and the ones in camp together with forged numbers are used in a scheme.

That is why the UPM and UNHCR had to do this exercise in the first place, as the lack of trust in the numbers. As they sky-rocketed and ballooned into ridiculous levels.

The OPM Refugee scandal of this years shows the value of oversight and due diligence, as the need to verify the numbers and the stats. That is why there is missing or ghosting over 352,000 people as refugees in Uganda. That shows how corrupt and how the state used the ability of refugees to take money from others.

Therefore, these sort of joint actions should happen often. To secure that the GoU and the OPM isn’t rigging the numbers in their favor. Peace.

Mzee spells out new guidelines: Don’t think these will fix the open brutality against the dissidents in the Republic!

In yet another letter, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni reveals himself, the character he is and the micro-managing efforts he does have. Instead, of significantly finding the wrongs of himself and his management. He begs to change other peoples ways and tell them directly, where they have to change. Like he forgets that he is the ones that has created this situation and also, the greed for power has costs and the attitude of the public is like this. Because of the amassed wealth of the few, while the rest is scraping by. That is the reality that this President has created, but doesn’t seem to figure out. As well, as the misuse of security organizations to interfere in political atmosphere, creates insecurity, made by orders from above. Meaning him and the rest of the cronies at the State House. That is known, but also overshadowed in his writings.

Yesterday, the President released a letter written on guidelines to Security Organizations within the Republic. Nothing much was new there, but there was concerning aspects. As of the narrative and the ideas coming from the old man. Who is clearly set in his way and writing on default, without much consideration for the other parties, that have been following orders, but now got new guidelines. Apparently.

“Indeed, Uganda has been stable for a long time. It will remain stable. Therefore, nobody should be allowed to threaten life, property or orderliness (obuteeka) in Uganda. If you are a critic, do so truthfully and peacefully” (Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, 28.10.2018).

“The involvement of the SFC, Military Police and CMI in handling law and order issues has been caused by the kawukumi (bean weevils) that had invaded the Police. Otherwise, they should not have been involved and they were never involved. I commend them because the main aims of the government were achieved: to protect the lives of Ugandans and their property. The image of the country was somewhat affected. That, however, will be repaired. What is crucial is the country to be stable and not just to appear stable. Nevertheless, for logical and legal reasons, the army and the other security forces can, if required, backup the Police in Law and Order Management” (Yoweri Kaguta Museveni 28.10.2018).

These statements and typical ways of the President. Shows the insight into how he considers the security questions and how he look forward to ease the ways to peace. It is like he cannot see how the CMI, Military Police and Presidential Guards coming in as Police Officers as a problem, because he is the one most likely ordering it and giving the word to the underlings to strike. That is why he doesn’t seem to care about the attitude and the lack of protocol, only that the image is destroyed. However, he asked for, when he ordered torture, when he ordered the CMI and SFC to take matters into their own hands that bargain. That was a given after the melee.

The stability factor, is only because he is stagnant on his post, but the insecurity is rising, when he gives so much power to militarized organizations, who are there to secure the border. Not catch petty thieves or signal to the world, that you don’t steal Micro-Loans Money that was distend to Mzee himself. These public violent arrests, these killings of protesters and of opposition activists, Yasin the driver of Bobi Wine. Are all signs of the oppression and the lack of tolerance within the Republic. Just like the selective arrest of the people in and around Bobi Wine. Who only guilty of association, not of crimes on any levels. Except being loyal to someone else, than the almighty Bosco.

We know, even with these guidelines, more innocent people will die after a riot; more people will end up in a hospital, because the Security Organization and militarized organization will brutally silence the people. By any means people and most likely on orders from Jajja. That is just the way it is.

He can speak of codes, justice and rule of law, but it is not believable, as long as people are ending up for no apparent reason at SIU Kireka and arrested for association to someone else than the President. You know the stakes and stacks of cards is against the rebelling public. They cannot win and the powerful SFC, CMI, ISO and rest of them will silence the voice of dissent, whenever and wherever they might arise. That is just the way it is. Peace.

Reference:

Yoweri Kaguta Museveni – ‘GUIDELINES ON MANAGING RIOTERS, TERRORISTS, CRIMINALS AND LOOTERS AND METHODS OF ARRESTING AND HANDLING SUSPECTS’ 28.10.2018

Uganda: Judiciary reaction to Land Inquiry Commission Press Release (29.10.2018)

Bosco the Blogger: 2 texts within 24 hours – The Lectures of the Blame Game!

When it comes to someone who has been in a favorable position since the 1980s and had total power since 1986. You would think that the had some humility and some common sense. Apparently, as we all know, that is not the case. When it comes to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. His ways is the blame game, either blame the dead, the civil servants or the ones who are low-level underneath him. Because it can never be his fault. That he never allocate the funds, that he never applied the funds where they was supposed to go or even create the policies that the state needed. That is because of his greed and need for micro-managing.

We all know that, but his two texts today shows this. It is such a mess and shows his corrupted mind and wanting to steer the conversation, without any insights into how it looks from afar. It looks more like he is just deflecting his own vision and what he himself is up to. Like we cannot that and we are stupid peasants who are not understanding his Grace.

Text One:

Nevertheless, I criticized the Police for not implementing my directives previously. Let all the Police stations have cost free (toll-free) phones that are known to the public. When that is done everywhere, people being attacked, in addition to the “nduuru” to summon neighbours, somebody should ring that local police number promptly. Having removed some of the kawukumi (the bean weevils) from the Police, it is becoming more efficient. The criminals will not escape. In the case of Rwego, a lot of time was lost by the wife just making alarm only, if what I was told is correct. There was a house girl in the home. If only she had rang the nearby police, the story would have been different” (Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, 27.10.2018).

Text Two:

At Kapeeka recently, I commissioned the factories of ceramics, fruit processing etc. This has frightened the parasites and other pigs that do not appreciate value. These parasites, these pigs have been sending threatening letters and recorded messages to steal money from these investors or to even frighten them so that they run away. I am sending this message to the investors to be calm. We shall expose and defeat these pigs, the parasites. Who is it that does not want Uganda to industrialize and why ? They claim to be politically motivated. What sort of politics is it that does not welcome the industrialization of Uganda and yet you claim to be concerned about the welfare of the masses? You are bogus and a charlatan and we have dealt with many in the last 60 years of struggle” (Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, 27.10.2018).

When you read this snippets of the two texts from a President of 32 years. You wonder why he still has the throne and what sort of mindset does the guy have? He is supposed to be the Statesman. However, he is acting like radical tyrant and shows it in his words. The President isn’t reassuring or writing what people want to hear. Unless, it is the “Yes Men” who will jump, when he says: “Jump”.

There are something rear, when the President says he has cleared the Bean-weevils from the Police. While his law-officials and security operations are violently arresting people and people are disappearing. It is like he says he got ride of Boda Boda 2010 and IGP Kayihura, therefore, the difference of the Police supposed to be there. However, that seems not to be the case. The violence and insecurity as the lack of process and partisanship of the Police is shown and known. It is not like there is trust within the community and the public towards the Police. That is because the Police isn’t handling the VIP cases of assassinations of this year or last year even. There is no proof of care or investigations that matter. It is all just talk and it is more likely they will arrest another politician violently for a public statement, before they catching one of the assassins.

If there anyone sending threatening messages to investors in the Republic. They are stupid and it doesn’t do any good. However, questioning them and the tax-holidays, plus possible Presidential Handshakes. That is a healthy conversation and needed one. The way the President passes through it just weird, as he has to make people into insects.

Bean-weevil and parasites is what he called out people today. These are the men he disrespect. Is the way, you want the Executive or Commander-in-Chief sounding like? Is that a healthy vision of fellow human beings, you might disagree with someone and such, but calling them out in this manner. Is that suitable for a man in his position?

I wish he had the sense of saying. I have messed up, I haven’t delivered. I have created a system where ISO/CMI/UPF/Crime Preventers/UPDF/SFC and so on. That is all going out and deliberately doing business with orders from high above. Meaning most likely the President and the State House. When we know this, it is rich that he blames them for the lack of good work. The President could have made systems and policies that sufficiently secured the public. He has had three decades to do so… but haven’t apparently done so.

Again, step your game up and act upon your role. Not act like you didn’t do this and didn’t educate the police officers and such. Peace.

Kawooya admitted to Kampala Hospital after getting bond: Police Brutality as its worse!

On Thursday the 18th October 2018, in the middle of the street and while people where watching in the street. Armed men was using their guns to hit individual there. His name was Yusuf Kawooya a Young Uganda Democrat (YUD) Member. This was a fierce arrest on Colville Street near King Church in the midst of Kampala. The video of the arrest went viral.

While he was taken for unknown reasons and was arrested with mere brutality, later found out the same people left him detained at the SIU Kireka. Which is sort of the new Nalufenya. The place where you sent when your really into trouble and has issues with the state. Even if Nalufenya is closed, the practices of that place lingers on. The torture and pains of people are evident.

The Police and the Security Organizations of the state was really at it, as the Chief of Military Intelligence (CMI) officers was behind the arrest and detained him. Where they went in on him, apparently. Since on the 24th October, he was released on bond by help from MP Michael Kabaziguruka. So, that he gotten free, after they did all of this, because the Security Organizations alleged that Kawooya hit on Presidents car, when he visited Owino Market on the 6th of October 2018.

This seems more like an attack on the YUD member, which was deliberate and made to show a signal, that he was a “Bad DP”. Like the President has talked about in the past. They sent the men to the streets, they hit with their guns and now after days in arrests. He is released and has to get specialized treatment at Kampala Hospital. That is what the state does to you.

Yusuf is yet another example, in a long list of political operatives who are badly hurt or in constant distress, because of their political affiliation or their message. Something, that has been actively done against the opposition. There are so many walking with Cains and Wheelchairs because of their political stance. That it shows their battle against the dictatorship, as they are victims to his oppression and lack of tolerance.

What we have seen today, is that the victim and not even a prosecuted felon. Has been tortured by the state officers and on bond. Because they think or alleging crimes on him. There is no proof of it, therefore, this a political act to spread more fear. As they did it publicly and has shown no signs of truthful exercise any legal remedies or trying to tell the public what went down. This seems like a show of force and not of an arrest.

This is a bad sign and shows how impunity and lack rule of law. When the ISO, CMI, Special Force Command and other Security Organizations can do this to civilians and get away with it. That he is out on bond is good, but still. With this sort of state, they will pursuit him and prolong the case for years if needed.

Yusuf will be picked up again. Maybe not early, but later. This is not over. Another proof of the violent tyranny of Museveni. Peace.

OPM-UNHCR: Verification Exercise since March 2018 proves there is 1m refugees in Uganda!

Since February 2018, the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) Dr. Ruhukana Rugunda has been under fire for faking the numbers of refugees in the settlements and camps within the Republic of Uganda. Where they we’re doubling and tripling the numbers of refugees in Kampala and West Nile. These figures and set-backs have clearly sent out a memo to the United Nations Organizations. As they have been active since March 2018.

On the 20th October 2018 this has been done by United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the OPM are now verifying the amounts of refugees. This is significant, since this will establish the real numbers and how many who is really there. The individuals and their fate is more important, than their numbers, but when they have cheated on it to get more donor funding. These numbers become more vital. So, that the donations and the grants to help out these individuals come to the right ones and not being eaten by government officials.

The numbers dropped on the 20th October 2018 are after a verification exercise done in Adjumani District, this being in Bidibidi settlement on the 16th October 2018. They we’re able to target what they estimate 85% of the population there. In Bidibidi verified a total of 203,392. That is not all, but shows to what extent the refugee crisis is.

While in Kampala: “the daily turnout continues to be very low despite additional efforts on mobilization. The verification site remained open on Saturday to allow students and others to be verified over the weekend. However, over the period of six days, only 1,583 individuals were verified, majority being Congolese. In light of the low attendance, the verification team has operated at reduced capacity and the final day has been agreed by OPM-UNHCR as Wednesday 24th October” (OPM-UNHCR VERIFICATION EXERCISE: Update, 20.10.2018).

Therefore, the total estimate with all this exercises since March 2018 to 20th October 2018. Which states: “The ongoing verification of refugees in Uganda that started on 1st March 2018, verified a total of 17,428 individuals last week bringing the total as of 20th October 2018 to 1,088,415” (OPM-UNHCR VERIFICATION EXERCISE: Update, 20.10.2018).

So the are margins of error are still there. But the real crunched numbers are there. As the UNCHR wants the truth, as they are trying to collect funding for the operations of the settlements. Since the Ugandan government also wants to secure the donations too. This is all part of that and validate the need for the refugees. The scandal could block the support and trust in the agencies and the rampant forgery of numbers earlier in the year. This exercise was needed to build trust. Now the accuracy is more likely there. They might still try to find a way to inflate it, but it will be harder. Because the base-numbers through the verification makes it harder.

This was needed because of the lie, the lie of the numbers. These are now shattered. Now, the reality is there. It is still a million refugees and they need help. Both in the present, but also for building their future. That perspective is needed. This is people who fled burning villages, militias and armies fighting each other. They need space and trust to grow and rebuild. These people are trying to build a home. That is what should be focus and giving them hope in a dire situation. They are not just numbers.

Even if this story has been about the baseline numbers of refugees in the republic. That is because of the OPM inflated numbers to cheat donors funds. To earn money on their tragedy. That shall not be forgotten. But in the same manner. We need to discuss, how we can give this people hope for a better tomorrow. Peace.