Tag: Hero
Opinion: Dear Swedes stick to IKEA, please forget the talks between Museveni and Besigye!
I don’t know if I should laugh or cry, but what sort of discussion should be from people who gave us IKEA, Volvo and tiny meatballs. We know that the Swedish needs to prove their worth in the world on other venues, than the Eurovision and hair-styles of Zlatan Ibrahamovic. Still, the recent of willingly sending Pro Bono people to mediate between the long serving, self reliance and thief in chief, the National Resistance Movement wizard, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and the Opposition leader, creator of Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) Dr. Kizza Besigye are supposed to talk between cups of tea and biscuits provided with Swedish hospitality.
“The Swedish Government has confirmed that it has been approached and, has accepted, to mediate planned talks between President Museveni and former presidential candidate, Dr Kizza Besigye” (…) “The government of Sweden is involved in supporting and promoting dialogue in many parts of the world, as part of its policy of conflict prevention and support to peace processes. Sweden has been asked to facilitate a possible dialogue in Uganda,” Swedish Foreign ministry spokeswoman Katarina Byrenius Roslund, noted in reply to email inquiries from this newspaper. The “discussions are still at an early stage”, she noted, adding: “When there is concrete progress to communicate, we will do so” (…) “Ms Annika Söder, the Swedish state secretary, has been agreed on by the principals as the mediator for the expected talks. She flew into the country last week and held separate back-to-back meetings with the President and Dr Besigye on Thursday and Friday, respectively, in what knowledgeable sources described as “exploratory” (Butagira, 2017).
First and foremost, can the Swedes explain the content of tear-gas into public meetings, police blocking, detaining of FDC Youths, falsified charges against the FDC leadership, the Public Order Management Bill who is created to stop meeting of anyone else, than the loyal men of Museveni. How can there be talks between the parties?
Secondly, when every travel and meeting of FDC and Besigye is met with heavy police force, blocking of main roads and tear-gas when they congregate. What is there to discuss? What perimeter of Kasangati he is allowed to leave before it is an issue? What sort of ideas do the Swedes have in mind, except selling Volvo and SAAB to Uganda, instead of Isuzu and Toyota!
Seriously, that the Government of Sweden must either be blind or ill-minded if they think this will give way. If they know the history of Nairobi Talks of 1980s. When the National Resistance Army and the other parties gathered to iron out the differences. Than that was used to forge more way for the NRA agenda and silence the others with guns and ammo. Not generate peace without knowledge of Museveni landing on top. So this is in his blood and the blood that is shed for him to gain all power.
Global IDP Database wrote this about his negotiations:
“In July 1985, conflict between some Langi and Acholi soldiers led to the overthrow of the Obote regime. The coup, which brought General Tito Okello to power, shattered the military alliance between the Acholi and Langi and escalated ethnic violence. The Okello regime invited all fighting groups and political parties to join the military government. Every armed group and political party, with the exception of the NRA, joined the administration. The NRA, however, engaged the regime in protracted peace negotiations held in Nairobi. In December 1985, the Nairobi Agreement was signed under the chairmanship of President Moi of Kenya. However, the Agreement was never implemented and Museveni seized power on the 25th January 1986” (Global IDP Database, P: 18, 2004).
So will the Swedish buy into the mantra that everything can be reassembled and rebuilt? Since they want to forge a relationship between Besigye and Museveni. Museveni, who rather take up guns and get rid of opposition and vowed last year to destroy the opposition. Well, I am sure the Swedish we’re busy finding ways to export designer materials, than following the post-election dogma of Museveni. Since a man who only believes “he is the only man with a vision”. That is the man who is supposed to co-operate and negotiate with an advisory! Really?
A man who doesn’t want to talk about succession and doesn’t want to speak about his lingering in charge. A man who has run a country and nation since 1986, has nothing more to win or to gain by playing soft. If he does so and the Swedish is dumb enough to buy into the fake wood and think they get mahogany, than they will offer donor-funding and possible other prices for the so-called negotiations between the NRM and FDC. Even as the FDC Headquarter we’re a year ago a crime scene and many members and leaders we’re detained on manufactured charges.
There shouldn’t be these sort of talks at this point, if so, than the Swedish are legitimizing the thieving of Museveni and his NRM elite. Does the Swedish government want that on their plate? Is that the Swedish people’s prideful mission to support and trust in a corrupt and militarized government, while they at the same time is using Besigye as pawn?
The Swedish government, if they care should back-off, go home to Stockholm. Cut their aid and stop the talks. As they will only give more way to dictator and his clientele at the Okello House. There aren’t anything else to give.
Did the Swedish government do any research and care about the track-record of the Museveni regime? Have they seen how many mysterious deaths and men who has worked close who has either had to flee or been detained by his regime? Have the Swedish considered their implications in establishing legitimacy of the current leadership? Who doesn’t care if they bankrupt their country? While they are driving expensive cars on the State coffers?
Does the Swedish government need this win or this talks to gain international recognition, and not only sell IKEA furniture? Time to take the dozens pieces and assemble that the chairs in Umeå, and step away from Kampala.
Or do the Swedish government and their team no problem with losing their credibility for helping a fellow dictator? Peace.
Reference:
Butagira, Tabu – ‘Sweden to mediate Museveni, Besigye talks’ (29.03.2017) link: http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Sweden-to-mediate-Museveni–Besigye-talks/688334-3868674-b3fqil/index.html
Global IDP Database – ‘PROFILE OF INTERNAL DISPLACEMENT : UGANDA’ (17.06.2004)
Opinion: Besigye doesn’t need dialogue with Museveni!
Dr. Kizza Besigye and the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) do not need to have dialogue or negotiation with the National Resistance Movement (NRM) or the President himself. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni needs more the dialogue than the FDC and their party needs it. It is the NRM government and NRM regime who needs legitimacy and needs funds. That is proven with Civil Society Budget Advocacy Group (CSBAG) who proves with the 16 trillion shillings funds the for the 2017/2018 budget of the 30 trillion shillings needed. With this in mind there is certainly that the NRM needs more international support to fix missing funds.
That Museveni would need Besigye now a year after the General Election of 2016 shows how dire the situation is, the added debt and the troubling waters on the giant infrastructure projects, as much as the missing funds for the salaries or the other financial expenses that are occurring for the government. So the proof of issues is growing as the direct budget support has dwindled down as well as the elite and the cronies still expect to be fed by the regime.
Besigye has still a forged treason case, as much as Rwenzururu king Charles Wesley Mumbere has as well. The FDC headquarters was attacked and a crime-scene as the FDC Youth and FDC P10 was attacked as the defiance campaign was even banned by the Deputy Court Justice Stephen Kavuma. As well, the Police Force under IGP Kale Kayihura monitored and followed the leadership of FDC like they we’re criminal. There were many detained and house-arrested, there was more people hurt and hospitalized by state security organization. Also, the many inflicted and detained without warrants or court order shows the impunity of the state towards the FDC.
So after this impunity, after the illegal house-arrest of Besigye and the others who has been taken into prison without any justice served, why should the FDC try to sell their soul to the Movement? That is waste of time and waste of energy, it would be like the men who traded their political lives in Nairobi talks: “The NRA and the government signed a peace and power sharing agreement in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital Dec. 17 that called for an immediate cease-fire, the freezing of all troop movements and a half share of the ruling Military Council for the NRA” (…) “The provisions of the accord were largely ignored and both sides used the lull in the fighting to reposition and resupply their forces. The guerrillas claimed the military committed widespread human rights abuses after the accord was signed” (Charles Mitchell – ‘The National Resistance Army of rebel leader Yoweri Museveni…’ 26.01.1986 link: http://www.upi.com/Archives/1986/01/26/The-National-Resistance-Army-of-rebel-leader-Yoweri-Museveni/5549507099600/ ). So the agreement done by NRA in December 1985 wasn’t a big deal, so that Museveni could do a final sting and coup to gain power, which he has never left.
A negotiation with Museveni would only enforce his rule and his longevity in power nothing else. Besigye would not be offered anything substantial; his part in the matter would end in little or nothing. FDC would get the stick, but not get the price. Just like they wouldn’t feel a difference between now and then since the price of going into partnership would benefit Museveni. The Movement would get beneficiary funding and regard internationally since FDC has a higher standing abroad than Museveni.
Museveni is well-known now because of his 7 terms and his position of executive since 1986. The reality of this that a negotiation or dialogue with Museveni at this stage is redundant, unless the President all of sudden turns his own self sideways. That he would go back on all his empty promises and all of his glory. Certainly Museveni could do so, but he knows that he has too many people on his consciences to leave it all behind. The President has eaten too much of the state coffers and cannot leave the bank-accounts behind. The family is too connected and has all the leverage in the state. The movement is built around him and if he fails than the party does as well.
The Movement and Museveni would not co-sign their powers or the authority, not after the rigging and the massive misuse of the state funds, therefore the lacking funds for the current budget. Museveni knows that his loyal friends abroad will not give in to his ways anymore, therefore hoping to play other cards. Use his political brain to suck other donors in. That while waiting for more oil-monies and also trade of other with making the UPDF to mercenary army in Equatorial Guinea or South Sudan if needed. This is because they need to get fresh funding for the State House, which hasn’t paid their payment-arrears to the owners of the Okello House!
So Besigye doesn’t need Museveni at this point, he needs his party and the loyalty of his supporters. That is more than Museveni has who needs to pay for loyalty and to secure funding for the movement itself. Therefore the jobs and funds to come steady, there is always more mouths to feed and more people to silence with brown envelopes. So Museveni needs foreign support and foreign aid as the Uganda Revenue Authority has just enough regulations and taxes to bring in funds that scrape the surface, but not fill the state coffers.
So again I say and I stand by it, Museveni is the only one earning political capital on negotiations and dialogue, nothing is really to be earned by the FDC or Besigye. So with this in mind, Museveni will only gain and Besigye will only lose on it. If you know you would lose, why give way to somebody who comes to take it all and deplete it all? Peace.
Opinion: The next steps for Besigye and continued defiance against the Movement!
It’s not easy to give words of advice to the men and woman who are in the line of fire. But we cannot let the Movement and their spin-control run the mill. They are stealing and thieving with massive speed and impunity. They are trying to avoid the weakness of the economy, trying to find new ways of revamping the economy without too much state debt and without loving donor direct aid. They still have the military and equipment served from loyal allies in the United States, if that will happen under Trump and it has happen under Bush/Obama is not easy to know; certainly U.S. will still let other brigades do the dirt they don’t want to do themselves.
The ones who toll with the problems are Dr. Kizza Besigye and his Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), they work for a peaceful transition in Uganda from the militarized politics of the President Museveni’s Movement. So with this in mind, after a year of issues, a year of tribulations, arrests, detained and charges of treason against the government; the political change is still in the wind. Besigye had deserved a better start and a fresher place as he is still monitored and still has Police following all movement done by the man. The same with his party who cannot hold meetings and public consultations without police taking stereo equipment, arrests or intimidation of citizens who shows up or just happen to be around.
Besigye had started the Campaign of Defiance under the Election Road Map for the General Election of 2016. So in 2015 it was started and has been put under fire from the Resistance Movement, an ironic problem for a draconian and tyrant regime who cannot really be democratic as they tries to silence or get rid of the worst opponents. Besigye is only kept because of known place and international scrutiny of they try to attack him too much.
First Step – Defy with actions:
Besigye should continue and with more force, use more than just words and get the FDC to actually take a stronger stand against the ones that supports the regime. The Mafia regime or junta government, which he has described the Movement so many times. If FDC wants to be fair and wants to defy the Movement, they should suspend themselves first from Parliament. It is risky, but would be a grandeur position to take away the Shadow Government and the legitimacy of the current government.
Second Step – Defy with dialogue with other opposition:
Secondly the FDC should be in talks with Democratic Party and other smaller parties that are not involved directly in the Movement regime, as they can try to weaken and strengthen the other voices. As Besigye have already done with his friendship with Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago and Gen. David Sejusa. FDC needs to be connected with people of stature like Norbert Mao and others, who are real opposition to Museveni. Not talk to Jimmy Akena or others who just uses their parties as fronts of beacon of democracy, instead of actually challenging the Movement.
Third Step – Defy the Courts like IGP Kayihura:
Just as IGP Kale Kayihura defied his own court-orders, the same should Besigye himself start to do in 2017, to show that he doesn’t respect the unlawful character of the regime; as the peaceful acts of showing up for treason charge that continue running into oblivion. Time to just say it is a kangaroo court and is only doing it to silence his voice. Therefore not showing up and instead continue to travel around the country to meet and greet party officials and locals to prove the value of building institution over being a sole candidate in Museveni and the NRM.
Times is a wasting, it’s hard to do stuff when you’re behind bars or at court, it’s hard to always move when the Police Force and other Security Organizations follow your every step.
Fourth Step – Hurt the pocket of the Government:
Certainly the Defiance needs to be hurting the regime. Try to stop the foreign exchange rates, the taxation and the revenue of the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), even the business that is inter-connected with the Movement. As much as it should stop the state owned businesses that is being used by the Movement. Museveni would hate that he couldn’t misuse the profits of needed businesses, the ones that are owned by investors who are supplying him funds to pay Special Force Command and other militarized outfits that keeps him as the Executive.
If the Besigye and his folks stood behind and hurt the pocket and legitimacy, not in words only, but also actions that could move the regime and also create a vacuum that Museveni and his movement couldn’t control. The ripple effect and the true hurt would be shown. Especially with the knowledge, that the Election already hurt the economy with massive effect. So if they continue pounding on it took out the cash out of the Museveni owned banks and stopped profits to companies that the Museveni clan partly own. Than the Movement and family would feel the pinch.
Defying the state institutions and the government procedures, stop respecting the Police and Courts, stop listening to the draconian laws and also stop the funding of taxes and funds to directly keep the Movement alive. Something that would really hurt Museveni and his elite; this would really make it hard for the Movement to continue to use Police Force and use the state to gain wealth.
Besigye can continue to talk peaceful transition and I respect that. This sort of acts is not easy. They are hard and costly. Many will be arrested, many more detained, more torture and more innocent dying, but there been so much over 30 years that the defiance campaign has to take it to the next level. Show disrespect, let the government lose its value and show the world that the ones behind Besigye don’t see Museveni as their President. Museveni is just a citizen, not an Executive, as he wasn’t really elected to be so; he coup d’état again when he got sworn-in on the 12th May of 2016.
Time for acts, not talk, time for really defying the government and use the power of the people. Time to use the popularity and risk being harassed, as if you don’t than the Police will continue as they do; business as usual and also target the FDC as much as possible without it costing much for the illegitimate government it is. The illegal detained and the illegal arrests cannot be sustained, as much as the house arrests and unlawful behaviour of the Police towards the FDC is unbearable. This is not militant; it is fighting for a just cause. The real freedom and liberty, not to talk about a real legitimate government who represent the citizens of Uganda! Not a government representing Museveni and only his vision. Peace.
My Letter to President Museveni: “On the Opposition which is silenced days before the Swearing-In on 12th May 2016; and you have become the same as the ones you Rebelled against in the Past!”
Oslo, 9th May 2016.
Dear His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni!
I write to you again as the Uganda Police Force is busy with rounding up and detaining all of these men and woman who are either parts of the leadership in the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) or members of this Opposition Party. I am sure you heard words on the men and women who are detained on your word, after a loyal judge Stephen Kavuma written-up an interim order of the ban of Defiance in the land.
I know you are preoccupied with making the best and controlled Swearing-In ceremony as possible, while your henchmen and made-men are making their effort to silence all other opposition that can make you look foolish through international press. There are rumours of shutting down social media and banning Facebook and Twitter totally on 12th May 2016. Just as you did in on the Election Day in February in 2016; so you can have the control and send the message that you want the world and your citizens to hear, not some words like mine.
I know I have written hard about you and your regime, and it is been justified. The Justification is now clear as the Opposition are being detained in their homes and even charged with terrorism and getting objectionable charges to spread fear and control the rest of the population; as nobody want to be taken away without their family members knowledge or being detained without warrants or reasons for their custody in the hands of the men of the law.
There are reasons for those actions, you are worried Mzee, you are worried for how these opposition members and leaders can spread the news and views on how society should be. I am talking about this, Mee, a Ugandan society where you doesn’t detail control or usher in the leadership as you do now. Just as you did with the Swearing-In of High Court judges on the Entebbe State House steps earlier today and later in the day had meeting with Kampala NRM Councillors who we’re asking for guidance and their roles under you.
As you are the president, the people are yours and they are supposed to follow you blindly. You are the men with vision and they don’t have the vision as you. At that point your right Mzee, they don’t have the vision as you anymore. You have deflected and neglected them and forgotten what the State does and what a Statesmen are supposed to do. A leader is supposed to groom succession and people who are taking over and have the ability to make better result than him. That is succession you have forgotten as the power have totally eaten your soul up and your family up.
The legacy you leaves is not that you ushered Uganda out of dictatorship, you will be remembered for trying to liberate the Ugandans and ending up being the same as before, only difference you got 30 years of rule, while they got one or lucky two terms in power. Dr. Milton Obote and you is much of the same. Idi Amin Dada and you are much of the same as you use Spies and Safe-houses to keep the opposition silent. You use the army to hold the people intimidated and you have rigged the elections. You’re much of the same of the men you took down. Now you are the same as the man you got rid of together with President Nyerere and Obote to Coup D’état the Amin regime. You are now the same as him and Obote, you may not have the absolute killings of Amin, but you have and left many men in shadow and gotten rid of your enemies. Mzee you have done silently and over time, as they had shorter time and fewer morals. Because you started doing it in bush as guerrilla and being a liberation movement gives you an edge; a momentum to give you space to do as you like.
There are many dead who is not accounted for and many who has never been on trial for, not only men and woman of the guerrillas that have been created to bring you down, but the men and woman who has become your enemies and suddenly fallen of poison or other special “accidents”, even hit-men hired by not-known persons in due time for the murders of these persons. They are not forgotten Mzee, as all men and woman are equal under God, though you feel extra special and with a magnificent vision, Mr. President.
There are one thing though, you might are able to charge, house-arrest, preventative-arrest and detain opposition. Silence them for a hot-minute, but the legacy and the name you have will not be a name remember for liberation. As you are alike the masters before you or worse, because you knew better and you condemn the actions you are doing now. The man with knowledge, but did not act upon it. You are the leader who knew the contemplated scenario, but never decided not to do anything about it. So certainly the pain and horror of the men and woman who have their life’s in the mercy of police and army, as your orders to silence them, you know exactly how it feels to be a powerless citizen under this type of regime. Still, you do the same without mercy and without questioning.
Your Army leaders and your Inspector General of Police follows you decrees and orders to word and execute them with brutal perfection as the Courts are diving into the lawful behaviour you have built up. As the economic malpractices you accept as you can skim the top and make giant funds for the generations of Museveni’s to come. Instead of these funds used to build government institutions as you we’re supposed to do. A forgotten practise and forgotten procedure from your chambers as the embezzlement and the cleaning the coffers so that the men and woman working closest to you can get “free Toyata LandCruiser Prado” to they want to follow your orders. That is why the Regional District Commanders gotten new cars days before the Election and the same with other men who you wanted to silence.
But the money for the Cars and other gifts to get loyalty have to come somewhere… they happen to come from the government funds that was supposed to keep the upkeep of schools and hospitals, but they doesn’t give you loyalty as much as the Police Commanders and Army Leaders who sufficiently keeps the civilians and citizens under tight control. Therefore they have to be paid first and the other can scatter. Mzee, the gig is up and your mind should have been preoccupied by baby-sitting grand-children and not detaining Forum for Democratic Change leadership and activist around the country for phony charges. You should be busy serving matooki to fellow family members not finding new ways of thieving money from the budget of 2016/2017 fiscal year.
Mzee, there is time to step back and give way to new leadership. I know it is not easy as you are making ready to swear yourself in to 7th Term, to run the country in the 30 years to the 35 years in Power and Control the State, the Republic and the Kingdoms of Uganda. You have had your hour.
You have had the ability to sell the vision of liberation, but now you’re following the steps of leaders you left behind and beaten with either force or tricks. And you know this as Dr. Paul Ssemongerere could have told the effects of your leadership and what it did to his opportunities to topple you in a peaceful manner… But that train has gone as so many former leaders and men fallen in your time, therefore the President that was new breed with you are either gone or become totalitarian as you. You know Mzee and feel the sting as you are not as respected and honoured as you we’re. That is your own making Mzee and the actions of latest years proves the control and the state of affairs you delivered. Not the ones promised, but the ones you found feasible as it gives you Power and let you keep that.
You can imagine the tales and stories you could have told if you had already left office to somebody else and left in peace. Instead you’re clinging onto Power without question and without impunity. Leaving scourged earth and detained citizens for their political affiliation and not for killings or thieving as the normal prison population have. Mzee the tales are told and your name is now synonymous with dictatorship, dictator, totalitarian, Police State and Oppression of Opposition. Your name does not cling anymore more with liberation, freedom, liberty, freedom of speech, democratic values, progress or industrialization. That must be downer, I know your YES-MEN and LOYAL Cronies would say this to you, but I will, because I don’t fear being thrown into jail or being beaten by your Police Force while trying to get a pass from the Police Officer to be allowed to walk to work. That is something I don’t need as I live in a free society.
Mzee, His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, I know you would never read this, but hope some of your Citizens does and that it makes them think a second. As the FDC Leader/Activists/Members are detained because of the word “Defiance” and their campaign as a viable Political Party in the country, Mzee, that was not expected of you and your regime.
That your battle against Defiance comes from the man who have proclaimed Resistance, is just mind boggling and feels like mockery of a dictionary. And you know that Mr. President as you are former student at a Tanzanian University in the 1970s. That is why you went from Patriotic Movement to Resistance Movement over time. You did it with a reason back-in-day. You Mr. President have might forget this and the value of the state of affairs you’re in charge of. So the end-game is now that you are in charge of a state apparatus that have a ‘Modus Operandi’ to detain fellow citizens with impunity and take them from their homes in the name of “Defiance” and shut down a Political Party as the Swearing-In day is coming up the 12th May 2016. I never though a man would sink this low to stay in Power… but you have and scores of detained are over 200 men and woman, and that is the few I can calculate, and not the current I haven’t heard of yet. The liability and the feasibility of these actions cannot be strengthening the Nation or your Rule. You are the Commander-In-Chief and the Executive, Mr President and you are without questions arresting fellow citizens for their political place and not on direct crimes.
You have forgotten why you came into power, or the power ate your soul and took your heart, your mind and the ethics you spoke of in the bush. You wanted to be the kingmaker, the Nyerere of your time, you wanted to be the man people remembered with nostalgia and honour like Mandela, instead you and President Mugabe will not be remembered for the liberation of the countries from tyranny, but will be remembered for the liberators who turned into the worse Tyrants then ones before them. Why? Because you knew the pain and the suffering under the men and woman before you; an you knew the heart-breaking defeat and discouraging election rigging, still your machinery does now the same to fellow citizens of the country. So President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the tale and the mercy of the land, the oppression and the dictations of orders from you to uphold the rule and control of the land have in the eaten all of the things that could have made you great. Instead you’re the cancer and the one that kills the institution and opportunity to rebuild and create a better future for the Ugandan nation. You embezzle and oppress people, get state to silence the media and stops the truth from being free, as the truth is hidden the lies that comes from the State House and is the official communique the State gives out. Peace.
Best Regards
The Writer of MinBane.
My Letter to President Museveni after the recent polls and post-election period; I am sorry, but not sorry; Mr. President you are a coward!
1st March 2016, Oslo
Dear His Excellency (H.E.) President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni!
It isn’t easy writing this letter to in this moment as your astonishing Police Force holds 300 FDC agents detained. At this moment Dr. Kizza Besigye is still under house-arrest, as you and your men does what you can destroy the evidence of a flawed election. That you claim to get 80 % of the votes; While your cadre Dr. Badru Kiggundu only gave 60%. If it was so, why were there more army men in the streets than people celebrating your massive victory? That meagre display of people happens after the Electoral Commission announced you the winner of the 5th official term on the 20th February; I am still not giving in, if you have this whole term: it is your 7th. His Excellency, I can’t shave of a decade of your rule that is disrespectful towards you.
I have a hard time writing this word about you His Excellency as a Bush-war leader, a man who has sent so many of his citizens into battles in South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Central African Republic and Somalia. It is hard to say your acting cowardly. Yes, President and commander-in-chief right now you’re acting as coward.
I know that there are many decisions to take in and to live with. As how to feed your cows and how many cars you need to travel between Mbarara and Kampala. How many you need to hire in the Special Forces Command. That his hard questions. Also it is how to be able to make yourself yet again president of the country you have been ruling since 1986.
The world is looking at your actions Mr. President. The notion of your ways getting viral now, not like when you first took power and could control the media and the people; the people can now spread information. Before the Executive get time to edit the news and message you want spread to the general public. I know that is hard to swallow as you want to rule and have the power of their minds. This is something that differs from earlier times and even when you tried to stop the social media. We know you dislike the Social Media, so during the Election Day and such you really showed how much you hate it; there is still ways of broadcasting there without the ordinary channels that you blocked. I know that hurt your pride and that your “Yes Men” didn’t know about that technical solution. During the Election Day he was also a coward to make sure that Kampala and Wakiso District got the polling material very late, while in Amuru and Kisoro had it on time. So it was cowardly to not give the same treatment everywhere especially with the short distance from the Electoral Commission office and the central region. A very cowardly move… That was so disrespectful actions from the EC and the regime toward the most populace area in the country.
Well, I called you coward Mr. President. I know that is disrespectful from a commoner like me. But the issue is that you’re disrespecting the people and the institutions you have facilitated. While attacking freedoms and liberty of other peoples in your country. That is why you’re a coward in my eyes. As you cannot and don’t have the ability to be questioned by your greatest opponent in court. Especially since you also selected the Electoral Commission and the way you have facilitated this General Election. The way the Police Force and Army has spread fear and been Partisan in your favour as they are on your pay-roll. All of this action’s shows that you’re a coward Mr. President, I know I am not supposed to say that, but I think you would understand as you didn’t give the opposition a same level between the opposition and your ruling party; The NRM your beloved NRM, Mr. President.
It is extraordinary how you have ordered the Police to rig the results and change the declaration forms, while detaining the FDC agents. That is because the original Polling Station forms would not be favour of you Mr. President. At the same time keeping the FDC Headquarter under siege and the house-arrest of Dr. Kizza Besigye; also keeping Hon. Amama Mbabazi under the same treatment on the other side of town. This proves your cowardice ways. As you could not manage the dirty laundry in public and put into systematic order during court sessions as the elections has been a shambles of procedure. Deep inside you, Mr. President you know, what I mean as you went to war because of rigged election. The rigged election of Mr. Paolo Muwanga in 1980 for Dr. Milton Obote. So that you do the same now proves how you have changed. The glory days are totally over for you!
Even with the Go-Forward and Amama Mbabazi petition. You’re still a coward. I mean that because you have acted cowardly. With surely cowardice ways of using all tools of oppression and governmental funds to secure the presidency! This is something you have prepared since the Kyankawazi Resolution during February 2014. That means that you have been two years ago. You have worked for the sole-candidacy and the road to the elections have showed you have become a coward. A sole-candidacy of a coward that can’t have a honest campaign or a honest result. Not even a honest speech or even honest pledges. As a coward you even had to recycle old pledges to look formidable in rural districts; that you only visit if there is rallies and campaigning Mr. President.
The disregard for the other parties to meet and consult their supporters for rallies and mobilization; while you could as president travel all around on government funded trips as a honourable gentlemen and leader. That proves your disregard and is a coward’s way of pre-campaigning.
The biggest coward move from you Mr. President was the booming hiring of unemployed youth in the Crime Preventers program. That was groups of youth used cowardly to intimidate opposition and the public, not securing the violent behaviour or security in general. Second cowardly behaviour was your Post-Election Violence budget and the new Personnel Armoured Vehicles (PAV) and special anti-riot vehicles just before the Election Day. That was cowardly of you and your brigade.
It isn’t easy saying you’re a coward. While the behaviour of the state your sponsor and the men you have around you make you look like a coward. You’re not acting like a proud man. This election and result is not an honest victory, if it had been so Mr. President. It would be more than Uganda Media Centre had celebrated your victory and you hadn’t felt the need to be with your cattle instead of your celebrating people. That is actions of coward.
The coward’s way continued with ban of social media and using the Uganda Communication to shut down radios and broadcasters who was not positive to you. Another cowardly move is how the Police continue to arrest and harass the journalist who follows the elections and the candidates as the ones that have lost their cameras, the ones that been detained, the ones that has been shot and so on. As you the coward you are complained at the state of journalism and the ethics they had while following your campaign trail. At one point Mr. President you suspended NTV Uganda from your trail. Others has felt your wreath and been detained and had to delete photos. You even called all Ugandan Newspapers rubbish and said you only read headlines and looked at the pictures. If you read some newspapers you might read and understand how people really feeling about you. I am sure your listening to your “Yes Men” like Hon. Frank Tumwebaze, Hon. Ofwono Opono and Hon. Dr. Ruhakana Ruganda; they will only tell you what you want to hear and not the truth, Mr. President!
Another cowardly move is the use of tear-gas and use of violence. You have also used mental violence through your hate speeches and sectarianism; something that counter the vision of you; Mr. President and you even speaks with that rhetoric as you called people around Kampala “rats” days before Election Day. Also Mr. President it is cowardly to say you are the only one who can keep the country safe. That is cowardly as you play your safety card and telling nobody else can; as most of the citizens hasn’t seen anybody else being a President.
If I offended you by calling you a coward, than I am not sorry! I am more sorry for the people behind bars, just for their political allegiance or belief in universal human rights. It cowardly not to let them counter your policies and your security outfits. It is cowardly that you not let them speak up and give them that freedom. Even one human rights activist had teaching in Namutumba district got detained for doing so! That is not peaceful and security that talk when you can’t teach youth about human rights without ending behind bars. That is a coward’s move Mr. President.
As long as you militarize politics and uses military as a tool to secure your power in the country you’re not a legitimate president. So long you use the police to harass your opposition and civil society, even citizens who are caring about politics and going to rallies. You’re a coward Mr. President. Because all of this shows that you don’t have faith in your presence or your policies. Mr. President it is strange that you don’t believe in your own programs and political framework. As it seems not to be strong enough to bring the masses or gain you goodwill. That shows the moral authority that has dwindled away over time as you have yet to fulfil ten-point program. You’re such a coward that you trust more in the Army and Police than in the political program of his beloved party!
So it is a sorry state Mr. President, your Excellency that I can call you a coward. I could have given you lot words. But that is the most fitting in the way you have threaten your opposition, given fear to your people and rigged this election to come out with honour. You’re not legitimate until the petition is sealed. President Museveni you might have run your country since 1986, but from the start of the pre-election period your actions has been of a man who acts like a coward. The cowardly move was to even amendment to Financial Management Act to make sure you had enough cash for your campaign funds. It proves how big of a coward you are when your opposition had to get funds from supporters; while you had the government funds or state funds to pay for your ferrying crowds and giving NRM village funds.
So I hope more people than me will call for what you are now. I know this will not make me popular, like Andrew Mwenda who is your golden mouthpiece. The worst thing is that you can’t shut me down. Still as long as you treat you’re opposition, your citizens and your government as your own playground, than I will continue to address you as a coward. As it is well deserved as a man who is a hero and democrat does not need armies deployed on the streets during elections, a man who has the public behind him and their votes would see people celebrate and not mourn. A man who has the legitimacy does not need army instead of the people. But you have always relied one the guns and not the votes as you only got one MP under the election in 1980. Than you used the guns and you still do. You we’re seen as a hero from taking the people away from totalitarian and despotic rulers; but now your alike them. You’re a coward who can’t leave power and a coward with government institutions and a arms. That is what you are, not the proud man who built possible democratic institutions, but instead depleted the ideals you built them on. Be proud of that, Mr. President officially a coward who is soon sworn-in for his seventh term. Peace.
Best Regards.
Writer of Minbane.
Press Release: Lt. Gen. Henry Tumukunde’s Travel to South Korea (01.11.2015)
Power eats our big-men – The reason for why we need Presidential Term limits
There is for some strange reason a big discussion on the matter. Since some countries have them, some don’t. It is not like every constitution should be written the same with the same accords. In my homeland for instance there is no limit on how long the Prime Minister can sit in power, but that that depends if the people of my country get tired of the PM or the party affiliated with the PM. In bigger countries like the US there is a limit of two terms and only once a President who has broken that rule, was during Second World War and that was Franklin D. Roosevelt. Who had three terms and is the only one well known.
I am sure that Greece would have seemed happy with more often change of leadership. So if they hadn’t sunk that deep with loans and debt. Then it wouldn’t matter how long a regime is in power, if it essentially good, but if it’s not. Then it would be healthy with changes, so that the government recharge and fix the issues of old. That is for check and balance, also to stop cogging the machine with nepotism and local graft from local councils and smaller government entities.
Now that Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Rwanda and Burundi is following Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Sudan, Zimbabwe and Uganda. They have big-men who have been sitting for ages and continue to break a certain switch of leaders. Burundi has just been through a farce of a election that brought their President Pierre Nkurunziza to his third term. Paul Kagame in Rwanda is thinking the same. Paul Biya the President of Cameroon has ruled since 1982 and is still sitting comfortable. Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo has been the president of Equatorial Guinea has been in charge since 1979. Omar Al-Bashir in President of Sudan has been the chief since 1993. Robert Mugabe is the President of Zimbabawe is the big-men of the country since 1987. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni the President of Uganda has been the head honcho since 1986.
Have in mind Ben Ali in Tunisia, Hosni Mubarak in Egypt and Muammar Gadaffi in Libya. All of them had a hard fall during the Arab Spring. So during a short period of time these long times serving rulers was ousted by the public or militias in their countries. And those people mentioned that has been sitting since 1979 to now should have them in mind. They could be next.
Its reasons like this big-men why countries and constitutions, law and rule of laws should fix the longevity for the leaders of the countries. Even if some countries has benefited from leaders sitting long. There have been many who show other tales. That their starting and dealing with matters. Making sure that the countries are progressing, but the issue with all men, power can eat you and when it’s at your grasp you don’t want to leave it. The power corrupt and make sure your family eats and friends to. An leave the matters and supposed people your supposed to serve. That makes the basic issue of leaders who becomes the proof of states where there is “taxation without representation”. They goes from being heroes and big-men with legacy into Machiavellian and Orwellian monsters that swallows the governments, states and organizations. That evaporates and follows the pinpoints from the leaders, but not actual procedures or democratic values. Transparency does matters, checks and balance of information from the regimes dies down especially if it pokes at the government. Ethics of codes of conduct matters for the ruling party, but for the opposition is otherwise since they will be thrown into shackles and dungeons for standing up against the regimes.
There is a reason why media has to be strong against this leaders and big-men. Why term limits is a good thing? It’s because power corrupt and eat men. When you first get a spoon of the sweets they want the champagne and cocktails in the statehouses. While many of the big-men don’t strengthen the basic institutions and ministries of the countries they are in charge of. Instead they put more money into the security and armies, but not too strong because then they are worried that their general’s would make a coup d’etat, especially since some of them took power by the gun themselves. So they usually promise grand changes and grace periods where the institutions left soiling by former leaders. While they does certain things and necessary by them, if so only what needed and supported through aid or donor money they might do something more with this.
While these leaders also often toiled with multilateral organization that put strains on the economic freedoms and loans that funds the countries. The forced moves of liberate institutions instead of strengthen the powers of the nations. Free market thinking that has weakened the economies then making them stronger. So that they import more then they export. Produce simple raw material or farm products and import finished sophisticated products that give the budgets negatives for the countries and also a reason why the countries end up with loaning more money from the multilateral organization. Because of this the big-men make shady deals with international donor countries and producers that lead to more corruption. Their zealous and loyalist under-leaders get cuts and that happens as long as they follow the party lines. The sellers from abroad couldn’t care less because usually they get overpaid for the product and there wasn’t a fair process of the sale. So if there is a transparent overlook of the sale and ordering of the products to the country it wouldn’t have gotten a green light.
This thing grows and grows until it hit either the moon or the sun. The terms are what people looking at. Then you could have discussed and talked more directly about the countries that don’t have it. There isn’t like universal rules to how the constitutions should be and what countries should have in it. There is other ways around that countries has to follow the international agreements, resolutions, charters and convents they have to follow and make amendments to their existing laws. But that is whole other matter. The term limit question is more about the ethical place and trust in the big-men that is either elected or taken power on their own. And if you have issues with leaders taking power on their own, there is a slim chance of them actually caring about rule of law. Instead even if they say something they will turn against close to date of the final period of terms. Just like Yoweri Museveni did in Uganda, Pierre Nkurunziza did in Burundi, Paul Kagame in Rwanda and Joseph Kabila in Democratic Republic in Congo (DRC). They all did a turn-around in limited time right before the end of the official second term. So they could fix the laws and get an official third term.
We the people and the citizens care about our big-men and nations, about the institutions that are made to be around us and supposed to support us. As we want good leaders that actually lead and make changes, and structures to secure their people. Instead when their reign for so long that their stealing of wealth, lands and positions for loyalist can be vial and hurting the country, instead of reaching and making the place better. This could be less of a viable possibility if there were structures and codes into place that pushed leaders to leave behind a legacy and go off in grace instead of sitting into the man with a scythe coming and taking their souls to eternal rest.
If society fears that leaders will lead into nepotism, graft, corruption and other evils of long term stand still of leaders and philosophy. The journey that the political climate needs is sufficient tools to stand in rainy days and in glorious ones. Also proper training to lead the next generations into a secure place and leave a foundation that can bring something positive for the people and the nations as whole.
And it isn’t pure and true leadership if they aren’t coping with the ability of leaving the power. They know that and we the people know this. When that happens we see the issues translate into situations that nobody really wants to see. Like the failed Coup d’etat in Burundi in 2015 and the violence that has surged since. Then the failings of the ‘Walk to Work’ protest after the 2011 elections in Uganda. That only led to few fallen activists for the cause, but lead to now initial change. Also the reactions in the DRC after lawfully allowing it’s president a third term, this made people react and the #Telema uprising happened as a aftermath. This because the leaders don’t accept their reach and doesn’t step down in time, instead tries to sit until the chair is breaking. And in due time they will fall out of the chair, it’s just about how they will land and which legacy they want to leave behind.
I am Sure Honorable Mister Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe could have been a real gentleman and been in the league of freedom fighters who fought a just cause against oppression of a foreign power. He could have been seen as that if he stepped down in proper time and given security to the country. Instead he has let the economy run loose, people fleeing the country, rigging elections, letting special army and police trained by North Koreans go into villages before elections and spread fear amongst the citizens. If he had stopped before turning into a villain, he could have been seen as hero. Something that would been worthy actually of how he fought with the comrades against a far-away rulers to secure peaceful nationhood to Zimbabwe together with Joshua Nkomo. Today he will not only be remembered only for the Lancaster House Agreement! But for all of the other madness that has happen after.
The same will happen with these other leaders who might have done great things. And they have made a difference. They have made some kind of changes and progress in their countries. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni of Uganda has made progress in Uganda. Even by sitting very-very long in the chair of power. After uncertainties of the 80s he has with the Movement system made the land peaceful and that has made gains in the aspect of food productions. Even with help of neighbors and the U.S. sent LRA on the run to C.A.R. where he is trying to get them again. Though with lingering into power it’s now taking a toll on the budgets, inflation levels, value of the currency and the enormous level of spending to local councils since there is new district every 5 years or so.
I could go on about every leader I have mentioned and what has happen because of their steadiness of power. How that effects and what that has led to in the countries that their leading, still. Similarities are still that the countries don’t earn much on having the same leaders reigning for many terms. Because the countries getting sucked into the system and patrons of the big-man instead of build functioning institutions and ministries to really developing the countries.
And let this be clear, I don’t want the systems of the West unto these countries that is not what I am implying. The simple thing I am pounding on is how it will be healthy for a nation to have leaders and their big-men for too long. I doubt if it is healthy. The same with MPS and Ministers, they all will eat too much and become fat, instead of serving the people. The same happens with the grand big-man; therefore the change of leadership is an essential feature to society and government.
Therefore what I am initially implying is that no matter what kind of society the human soul and body will be eaten by the power. That’s simple reason is that this is a universal issue, the location and countries could be a mayor in my town for the matter or the leader of European Union, the secondly it could be a president in South America or Asia. This is a phenomenon that is everywhere if the big-man has the possibility. Let me take a few more honorable mentions:
- Alexander Lukashenko has been the president of Belarus since 1994.
- Saparmurat Atayevich Niyazov has been the president of Turkmenistan since 1985.
- Nursultan Nazarbayev has been the president of Kazahstan since 1989.
- Issas Afweki has been been the president of Eritrea since 1991.
- Emomali Rahmon has been the president of Tajikistan since 1992.
- Hun Sen has been the president of Cambodia since 1985.
So thanks for reading. Hope it was worth it and that this wasn’t as long as the tenure of certain big-men. Peace.
The world needs Wesley Snipes, NOW!
This is an emergency. Its total mayhem out there! Can’t you see? We need somebody to save us. John Kerry and Barrack Obama don’t have the manpower. William Hague in UK needs somebody with strength to support the effort of the British. President Vladimir Putin doesn’t need Wesley Snipes: he just need another PR strategy that isn’t written by Violator Management. The press conference from Moscow was a charade. Wesley Snipes, the Central African Republic needs you! Might even to secure safe passage before the growing food crisis that is coming in the DRC. We need you! NOW!
There supposed to be no Russian forces in Crimean peninsula. The issues on Belbek Air Force base in closed and Ukraine forces don’t get allowed in it. So in that sense there got to be some Russian Forces in the area and all the other things that has happen during recent hours. Should tell us one thing: We need Wesley! Not Sneijder in Galatasaray, the Snipes. The great man who is the New Jack! We need him. And that is NOW!
The Ukraine and Russia issue is a big one. This is not a war game playing RISK. It’s real life shit! Therefore we need Wesley Snipes the blade, the hero to save the day! NOW!
It’s crazy. The diplomacy is a slow machine in the making. Kind like the chemistry between Ross and Rachel it takes off to late and then goes into flames!
I know the godly voice of Morgan Freeman sure could have made the world a better place. We need Vladimir Putin sitting a safe seat on the one side of the table. Then the new President of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov on the opposite side. In between them Wesley Snipes with his dialog and hardheaded looks. Will make them weep and might even shake hands. Gazprom will surely shut up and make them get closer. I know this is cheap shot. But what can’t Snipes sort out with his twitching eyes.
I am sure the navies of the world will turn into circles and all hurricanes will stop. Snow will unfreeze and fall as water(I know some of you guys call that rain – good for you!). Chuck Norris will make jumping jacks so that over the Rockies has a earthquake cracking. This is in the meanwhile Pharrell is extremely ‘happy’ and wish to ‘get lucky’.
We need Wesley Snipes! We need something! Not a beer or coke. We need Wesley Snipes. John Kerry needs stronger manpower then what he is having. Barrack Obama getting pushed from every angle. Angela Merkel is too confined with export of German industry products to the Federation. I say Snipes! We all should say: Snipes! Come to the rescue: NOW!
We all know: Guns, Oil and Drug – the unofficial G.O.D, the unholy trinity that makes changes to the world. Wesley Snipes! In the middle of that we have the situation. A situation that is clearly hard hitting. Where certain two elements of is already in play. Gazprom is pushing Ukraine(Its gas but simillar to Oil). The Guns is in use with the army of Ukraine and Russia is having issues in Crimean peninsula.
Wesley Snipes! We need you! Come to the rescue! A cup of coffee or a cup of tea won’t solve crap. President Museveni could make another Rap. But that is for another day! We need Snipes and that NOW!
So before the madness gets to another level. Please just show up with your sunglasses and brush this crisis away! Now!