South Sudan: The SPLM/SPLA (IO) Position on Sudan’s Foreign Minister’s Visit to Juba (06.06.2018)

#SOTNU18: Importing too much and Exporting too little; What could be the reason?

“Yet, as our Baganda people say, “Omugo oguli ku murirano, tegugoba engo” ─ (the stick in your neighbour’s house cannot help you to fight off a leopard)” Yoweri Kaguta Museveni at the State of the Nation, 2018 (06.06.2018).

I have stopped after a years to look and breakdown the whole speech of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. Because no one should waste that amount of time, unless your Don Wanyama, Tamale Mirundi or Andrew Mwenda. The rest of the random average Joe’s just shouldn’t waste our time with that. After 32 years, what new thing can he re-up and said, what sort of pledge haven’t he pulled out off his ass. Everything has been said, its just rewind of the previous years. There might something amazing, but you should doubt it.

That is why I will focus the passages on the growth to become a Middle-Income Country:

I hear so many people talk about the attainment of the middle-income status by Uganda. The main problem here is, actually, the problem of Uganda importing too much and exporting little. The GDP per capita today is US$776. To become a middle income country, you need, at least, US$1,006 per capita. This money is calculated in Dollars. Too much importing and too little exporting undermines the progress to a middle-income status. Therefore, Ugandans, please, buy Ugandan; travel Ugandan; health-wise, be treated in Uganda. The government will facilitate its part as outlines in this speech. All I have said above is about the economy that is being developed to create wealth and jobs for the Ugandans as well as widening the tax base for the State of Uganda. At the same time, this bigger economy provides more goods and services for Uganda’s domestic consumption and for exports. Your NRM, always looking ahead, has already negotiated and arranged with our brother and sister Africans to ensure the market integration of Africa (EAC, COMESA, CFTA), so as to provide capacity for the absorption of the greater supply of goods and services produced by the Ugandans awakened to realize their potential as we also buy from our brothers and sisters in Africa, as we all take advantage of the huge collective market of Africa. Besides the huge continental market we are creating with our African brothers, the NRM always never missing in action when it comes to African issues, we have also negotiated for third party market access to the USA, EU, Chinese, Japanese and Indian markets, in varying degrees. Hence, ladies and gentlemen, the NRM has addressed or is addressing all the factors that are necessary to open the gates to the Ugandans engaged in wealth and jobs creation. Let everybody, then, play his or her own part” (Yoweri Museveni – State of the Nation, 2018, 06.06.3028).

The ironies are staggering as the economic policies, the industrial policies and agricultural outputs of the Republic is all in the hands of Museveni. If the NRM wanted to have trade surplus, they would have put in work and made sure the industries, the agricultural output and the end-product that they wanted to put into the world market. That is if the NRM had actually cared, because most policies seems to be short-term and for the short-con, not even the long-con. The projects and projections are for short term gains, not building things.

The specialized boards for the promotion of Ugandan produce and products has been lacking. Also maybe that they haven’t configured to the standards of the world-wide markets. That is why the coffee is sold as beans and not locally branded robusta. It is blended into random blends of foreign corporations instead of being locally grinded and packed ready for the big multi-national supermarket chains. Instead they are sold with least profits as the produce and not as the product. That is what is wrong with the ideas of Ugandan business. They have not thought of how to get value for the produce. This is all because the business is fixated on quick profits, but not going the extra mile.

That is because the NRM have no incentive to this or to try to do it. If they had incentive and any ideas of this. They would have figured it out and industrialized the agricultural output. Neither is put in the cash and the investment to build juice-factories as promised in Amuru, That has been promised for so long, as people are giving up in Katakwi District. This is the reality.

Therefore, listening to the President bitch about the lack of modernization and industrialization of the Republic. Is his fault, as he has put in the work and the ability to change the business models. That is because the way the state does with investors and designate cronyism. Where the businessmen have to political connected and make sure to grease the wheels to get it running.

It is a nice idea to get Ugandans to buy Ugandan products. But then you have to deliver good Ugandan products to fair price, also make sure it is competitive. There are lacking issues and basic need to make sure the possible produce could create added-value. Instead the quick profit and direct exports is the reason for lack of more currency. That would help the republic and make more money without to heavy investments, while using what they already produce plenty off.

While the state has to figure out if they want this, because this could help them to gain another monetary gain. But they doubt they will, because right now, it is the short-con and the quick-fix instead of actually building something for the future. Peace.

United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) strongly condemns attack on peacekeepers in South Sudan’s Unity region (06.06.2018)

The Mission continues to engage with local authorities and to urge the warring parties to stop the fighting and adhere to the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement signed by all parties just over five months ago.

JUBA, South Sudan, June 6, 2018 –  The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) strongly condemns an armed attack that directly targeted its peacekeepers in the country’s Unity region, on the morning of 4 June 2018.

A convoy consisting of peacekeepers and civilians came under fire when it stopped briefly to interact with a civilian in Rubkway, about 20 kilometers north of Leer town. The team was on a short patrol from the Mission’s Leer Temporary Operations Base to Thaker, in Mayendit County.

No one was injured in the incident, and so far, no damage to the vehicles has been identified.

UNMISS strongly condemns this attack against its personnel and calls on all parties to respect the freedom of movement of UN personnel carrying out their mandate, and to cooperate with the peacekeepers as they work to protect civilians; monitor human rights; create a conducive environment for delivery of humanitarian aid, and support efforts to restore peace.

The Leer area has been the scene of heightened insecurity in recent weeks, as humanitarian agencies working in the area continue to report that more people are still fleeing for their lives amid sharp escalation in fighting and attacks on civilians.

UNMISS has boosted its peacekeeping contingent into the area, flying in additional soldiers and airlifting in armoured personnel carriers to assist with patrolling in affected villages to better protect civilians.

The Mission continues to engage with local authorities and to urge the warring parties to stop the fighting and adhere to the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement signed by all parties just over five months ago.

South Sudan: Gen. Paul Malong Awan – “Re: Warning to President Salva Kiir Mayardit” (02.06.2018)

My letter to Janet Museveni: Stop mocking the parents whose living in poverty!

Dear Janet Museveni!

I am writing to you again, because of your statements to the Ugandan parents who isn’t apparently feeding their kids. Because this is epidemic and systemic default from your mans long-term government and his lack of integrity and also lack of building resilient institutions. Because all has to go through your husband, Yoweri. Therefore, he can write a letter and reappoint people your firing. Since he is the head, not only of the household, but also the Republic.

However, that is knowledge you already knew, Janet. That is why this is insulting, what you said in a Press Briefing today:

““It tells us something about selfishness that there are fathers who use Shs1000 for alcohol every day and mothers who spend money doing their hair and working on their nails but cannot buy containers to pack food for their children,” Ms Museveni said” (Daily Monitor – ‘Parents must feed their children or face the law, says Janet Museveni’ 02.06.2018 link:http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Parents-must-feed-their-children-face-the-law-Janet-Museveni/688334-4592282-4dh2vaz/index.html )

I find it selfish of you to single people out and to put everyone in one bracket. When you know the state of the budget, the misuse of government funds, the lack of funds for salaries for civil servants and teachers. The own ministry your running is controlling dozens upon dozens of depleted schools and lack of accountability. Therefore, you should be careful addressing others. When your not the perfect princess you want to be.

Janet, it is the government fault, that there are lack of jobs, lack of opportunities for the graduates from college and university and all the other compromised situations that your government is in control off. You should fix government, before blaming the poor for lack structure and lack of giving way. This belittling the poor, because you have the State House and all the riches of the world. Your entitled to be queen, while others struggle from hand to mouth. Not like the ones who are poor is deciding they don’t want to give food to their kids. But they have no option, because of the systems your government put in place or didn’t care about. Your reckless behavior, your vultures and your thieves are the reason for this poverty.

You Janet and the whole royal cabinet. Should look into yourselves, all your activities and all your policies, all the transactions and all the unaccountable funds and ask yourself. Did you do enough? Did you? Did you really do enough?

The earlier preliminary report released last September had showed there was an increase in poverty levels from 19.7 per cent to 27.7 per cent. The current figure now puts the total number of poor Ugandans who cannot afford three meals a day to eight million” (MARTIN LUTHER OKETCH – ‘Poverty level increases to 21.4 per cent, says UBOS’ 18.01.2018 link: http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Poverty-level-increases-per-cent-UBOS/688334-4268774-format-xhtml-ubneas/index.html).

When one your watch there is 8 million Ugandans who cannot afford three meals a day, that is your fault and your mistake. That isn’t only the parents. Some parents are bad and do bad with the money. But I doubt that 8 million are drinking, getting boozed up beyond intelligence and getting pedicure. Lets that be clear. Unless, the NRM has configured the stats on that too.

This is disgraceful, that you did this and mocked this people. Instead of figuring out ways of making it better for 8 million Ugandans. You are lecturing them and blaming them, calling them alcoholics and wasting money on luxurious items. That is by the way rich coming from you, as your administration is overspending on the State House and on your family. The wealth and the funds which is around the President is enormous and vast.

Mrs. Janet, there are so much you can do with your power and influence, but you have decided not to care. Your acting as a lecturer, but your actions are lacking any moral substance. If you did care and if your husband cared. There wouldn’t be 8 million in poverty and lacking three meals a day in the Republic. Your family and your husband has had three decades to fix this. Apparently, you haven’t tried.

8 millions are not alcoholics. That is impossible.

Step your game up. Act within reason and be rational. Not demean them, because your responsible, not only for the Ministry of Education and Sports, but for what your bed-mate is doing too.

Best Regards

Writer of MinBane

South Sudan: Ghana Police FPU – “Update on Formed Police Unit Alleged Sex Scandal” (31.05.2018)

Museveni stop blaming everyone else!

Good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will find a way around the laws” – Plato

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni cannot accept rejection, neither defeat, he never has. That is in his veins, he cannot accept being beaten, even when he used all the tricks in his book, paying out funds, using the police and military to intimidate. Still his party the National Resistance Movement (NRM) lost in the 31st May Rukungiri By-Election to the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) candidate for the Woman-MP seat.

What I have to say, is that Museveni always blames everyone else. If the taxes isn’t good enough or made with provision, which handle the reality of the day, it is either Uganda Revenue Authority fault of the Ministry of Planning, Finance and Economic Development (MoPFED). Because it couldn’t be his fault, it never is.

If the lack of organization between all security organizations is never his fault. It is not Museveni who has appointed and given the ISO, ESO, UPF and UPDF the mandates they have. No no, it is the generals who lacks their duty and the police officers whose not educated enough. Not that the state hasn’t sufficient protocol or budgets to actually do their jobs. That is another issue.

It is never Museveni’s fault when there is a new Cholera Outbreak or the health care system is failing. No no, that is the local government, who doesn’t have a dime to buy a cookie, but him in his private plane cannot be blamed. That the hospitals lacks equipment, medicine and even ability to pay their electricity bills. However, that is not to blame Museveni. No everything is fine and dandy, as long as his ministers in the Health Ministry can fly to India for treatment. Don’t blame Museveni, he hasn’t done anything wrong.

If the roads are full of potholes and you have to ride like a drunk on a straight road ahead. It isn’t Museveni’s fault. It is always Uganda National Roads Authority, Local Governments Councils and the developers whose tenders was given by the central government. The deals and arrangement is never Museveni’s fault, even when he allows the likes of Dott Services to continue their forgeries and mockery of road development.

It is never Museveni’s fault, when the education system is becoming a tragic stink. That he hasn’t invested in salaries, in the buildings or equipment to the students. Not able to secure lunch meals for the kids either. Teachers working to jobs, having gardens and boda-boda businesses on the side, as the teachers salaries are not paying enough on the low-level. But that is not your fault, because the State House, Office of Prime Minister and such is eating such a load of the yearly budget. Still, the Ministry of Education and lack of governance. Can only be the principals and others, but not you. No no.

So the list could go on. It is never Museveni’s fault, the Gods knows that. He is innocent, he is never guilty. Museveni is the Saint of Uganda, the greatest man ever to grace the hills and valleys of Uganda. No can ever be on the level of Museveni. He is the grandest king and his holiness, he is the one whose never done a fly anything. He cannot do mistakes.

Just like the pope in the Catholic Church has the teaching of Papal infallibility, where in general the pope cannot fail. It is a misconception, however, the idea is fitting. As Musveni are clearly never able to fall or do wrong. He got a gift like that, if it was so. Why isn’t the golden gates already popping by at the State House of Entebbe? Why isn’t Uganda industrialized and Modernized in the perfect vision of Museveni?

He has had 32 years to do it and still haven’t achieved it. Time to take the cross and carry it. Peace.

Communique of the 62nd Extra-Ordinary Session of IGAD Council of Ministers on the Situation in South Sudan (31.05.2018)

Rukungiri By-Election: Return Form for Transmission of Results (01.06.2018)

What have we learned today from the Rukungiri By-Election?

A historic day: Besigye could vote without being arrested afterwards!

There has been a contested Woman Member of Parliament Seat for the polls today in Rukungiri District. It has been like always in the recent years, massive sides of Military Police, Soldiers occuping the streets and also detaining plenty of Forum for Democratic Change leaders and activists. Because that is the Modus Operandi of Musevenism. The National Resistance Movement (NRM) lack of mission and tact comes to the forefront every time there is an election. Especially contested by elections like these.

That the FDC are under heavy weather is natural, as they are main opposition party and showing no remorse on the affect of that, as they have campaigned and camped in the district. Brought all the big-men and the ones that is significantly differs from the NRM. While the NRM has used over 10 billions and used loads of funds on SACCOs, NAADs and whatnot in the district. Not to talk about voter tourism and other ventures to gain popularity. The President also rallied behind their candidate. Therefore, the stakes are high, but is the payoff really worth all of this?

Is the assault on freedom, liberty and electioneering worth all of this for single Woman MP seat? Is that the message NRM is sending? They will come with an army like they were trying to both LRA and ADF-NALU, also coming with police whose job is to securing the polling stations, but instead arrests polling agents from FDC. Because what else could they be doing.

What is also significant about this election, is how there are little or no presence of media. The local media is clearly muffled with and silenced. NTV Uganda and NBS Television are sending other shows, that actually following the By-Election. Just think about that for minute… another minute and no someone ordered that. Just like they did on Age Limit. Silence and shut up. They are censoring themselves from being on the ground and pounding on the locals. To see what is really up.

We shouldn’t be surprised if the Electoral Commission and the rigging is in high gear. Since the Police and Military was there securing their efforts. They are afraid that the bribes and use of intimidation wasn’t enough to get the NRM Candidate into office. The NRM couldn’t win a fair fight, they have to rig to win. We have seen that since they had to use the state machinery and the handshakes to local community projects to ghosts.

All DR Forms have been delivered and the FDC has the copies. But the EC is awaiting to able to release the real numbers. Seemingly as they could be cooking. That is well-known, they have tried this before, even as the reasonable outcome would be slim victory of the FDC candidate. But the NRM doesn’t want to lose after bribing and usage of the army.

There also been reports of jamming of the phone-line and trouble with mobile data, meaning they are trying to make a black-out locally in Rukungiri District. That wouldn’t be new from the NRM, but the long delays of results and official numbers. Shows that the EC is cooking the books and trying to forge something, that with the media silence isn’t a strong suit. More weakness and intimidation.

All indications and the real numbers are swayed in for the FDC. But if the state rigs, than the NRM wins. They have used a fortune and put a lot into play. So it would be humiliating to lose. That means even the machinery isn’t enough to beat the supposed MP.

We have to wait for the official result. But be aware, they could be cooked. All provision results during the aftermath of the polls was in favor of the FDC candidate, so if it changes significantly, expect some ghosts and some polling stations now one knew existed before the election came into affect. Peace.