DP Press Statement on current affairs in Uganda (26.07.2016)

Kampala July 26th 2016 – The Party seeks to inform all Ugandans that we are ready to participate in the forthcoming elections of the newly created districts particularly Omoro where we have received Applications from four excellent candidates. The NEC has in consultation with the branch been assessing the suitability of the candidates. The process will be concluded today afternoon and a Press Statement will be issued unveiling the Party candidate for the seat of Woman MP, Omoro District. We are still committed to working with other opposition friendly forces and we shall support the opposition candidates whenever and wherever possible.

The Democratic Party is greatly concerned about the state of the Health Sector in the country. We are disheartened that the few erected structures have no personnel and equipment; where the personnel and equipment exist, the facilitation is meager while the equipment has no technical personnel well conversant with its operating. However the regime despite such shortcomings isn’t ashamed to attempt to bail out phony businessmen who claim to be wallowing in debts yet they live a life of showbiz. Provision of health services in the country continues to be described by social class and political affiliation discrimination yet we have a regime that prides itself in surviving courtesy of peasant class support.

Last month our Vice President- Buganda region MP Betty Nambooze was in South Africa seeking better treatment. She is improving and we thank all those who have been there for her especially the FDC Chapter in South Africa. The former Woman Leader Mrs. Maxensia Takirambule has been bed ridden for several months and needs USD140000 to go to USA for surgery. There is also a Fundraising Dinner scheduled for August 12, 2016 at Hotel Africana. What the above cases show us is that the Ugandan Health Sector itself needs diagnosis. We can’t go on living life normally when we know that minus the capacity to seek foreign treatment, death is an assured deal whenever one is diagnosed serious ailments. The amount spent on treating government officials and their close of kin abroad should be invested here to build a vibrant and competent health care system. This is a call that all Ugandans should embrace regardless of our political affiliations and other divisions that may exist among us.

Prisoners’ Rights
The Party also seeks to address an issue most people tend to ignore until they find themselves faced by the same. That is the issue of Prisoners’ Rights vis a vis the right of access to information. Last week, Mr. Abdallah Kiwanuka, an eminent Party member while from visiting Mp Bakireke Nambooze happened to use a road passing by Ronald Kibuule the Government Minister’s home and came across a group of uniformed prisoners doing manual labor at the Minister’s home. He took a photo of them that was to ‘spoil’ his whole day. Road blocks were laid to ensure he didn’t get to the city. This was followed by abduction by the police and an attempt to force him to offer apologies to the person of Ronald Kibuule.

What the fracas that was a circus indeed revealed is that some people have the ability to use the police like one would use a personal walking stick. Involved was a one Ssonko the Traffic commander for Mukono, the Mukono DPC Fred Ahimbisibwe and the OC station Mbalala Police Station in Mukono. These Officers must know we consider Individual Responsibility for Individual Crimes and they will be taken on as individuals.

We do therefore condemn this use of the country’s security apparatus by some individuals just as if they are their personal militia; they indeed might be when we all along haven’t known. We do ask Ugandans to take the issue of Prisoners Rights as an issue of importance. Kibuule’s attempt to stifle the information about the use of prisoners’ labor at his home shows there was something wrong going on. We as a Party therefore will continue striving for the application of Truth and Justice as tenets that will help our country get back to the road of reason and rationale.

Kakande Kenneth Paul
Publicity Secretary

No Remedy Mentioned (NRM) is continuing to run, while they block the FDC with the Calvary and in the Courts!

“Am short of words to express my disillusionment with this level of impunity and bastardisation of the country” – Erias Lukwago

There have been a few nights and few days with sorrow for the Forum for Democratic Change and their leadership, that is far from over, as long as President Museveni and National Resistance Movement exist. So with this in mind, there are still Courtship for FDC MPs, FDC Leaders and Activist that are involved in the Defiance Campaign of the 2015-2016.

Just as the IGP Kale Kayihura written a Motion and Affidavit on the 30^th May 2016, as they will continue with the “Interim Ex Parte Orders in AG V. Besigye (Constitutional Petition No. 13 of 2016)”. This happens after the suspended orders went out on the 1^st June, as they got this served yesterday at the FDC Headquarter on the 1^st June 2016. So with that in mind, the Uganda Police Force together with Deputy Chief Justice Stephen Kavuma, the man who was officiating or swearing-in President Museveni on the 12^th of May. In the midst of the period that the Political Party of FDC was sieged and even the FDC HQ was at one point a crime scene by the Police Force.

While Dr. Kizza Besigye who is still in Luzira, was supposed to be tried first day on his “treason charge” against the Republic of Uganda, to be correct dishonoring President Museveni. Since he is such a problem for the state of affairs, he is National Security threat as he can weakens all transport in Kampala, not in the same way as the jams recent days with Turkey VIP Erdogan and South Korean President Park Guen-Hye, as the central Kampala and roads to Entebbe International Airports was closed. The Same Police Force could not also as they we’re on standby for the President and his guest, be able to see the KCCA Councilors and Lord Mayor Lukwago, as another excuse of the matter.

Well, today the Police and Judiciary continues with the struggle against Opposition, as the incumbent Mayor Lukwago had to show up at Makindye Magistrate Court, where 7 persons from FDC was represented to answer to the Interim Order of Stephen Kavuma, but Dr. Kizza Besigye for the second day in row couldn’t be produced to Court.  The action of today’s court was the actual extension of the ban of “Defiance Campaign”. Because Lukwago and Besigye at one-point was charged with “Illegal Assembly” at Nsambya Sharing Hall in 2015; a trial that happen today without one of the main suspects as he is supposed to answer and the continuation of the suspension order of the “Defiance Campaign”.

This happens in the same space as the President Museveni in his speech in Parliament, at the State of the Nation Address, is saying this:

“The only pollution to this glorious and massive Liberation Movement has been the mistake of the careerists introducing the use of money in electioneering.  We shall also struggle against that.  Therefore, democracy is one area where we do not need aid because that is what we fought for here and in the rest of Africa for many decades”.

This happen while certain close in the leadership of FDC Doreen Nyanjura and Ingrid Turinawe was arrested around the Nakawa Court yesterday. While the level of tortured FDC leaders and youths have also been showed to the world in the recent months. As there was at one point a dozen FDC Youth detained in a Container on the Outside of the Rukungiri Police Station, they we’re charged with “Terrorism”. As their leaders was also detained and not charged for days in this May 2016. Hon. Moses Byamugyisha, was working for their freedom for days upon days. As the Police even when Rukungiri Court Order their withdrawal of justice, they still lingered in the Container there.

Now with this in mind, there are still charges on Dr. Kizza Besigye served in Kabale Magistrate Court together with Erias Lukwago, the same is surely also in Kasangati Magistrate Court, where he has served charges against the State for their unlawful house-arrest of Besigye himself, days upon days without charges in February and March in 2016, when they we’re besieging his home in Kasangati in 40 Days straight. Something that IGP Kale Kayihura should answer for!

There are reported that Besigye will be produced at the Constitutional Court as they will answer to affidavit of IGP Kayihura as he had intelligence of FDC Supporters was supposed to make problems around Nakawa Court, yesterday, apparently. There are also reports that the Police have sealed of Constitutional Court, as he is set to come there from the Fairway Hotel Junction down to Mulago-Wandegeya routes are closed as the Black Van with Besigye supposed to pass. So that the Judge presiding, surely Deputy Chief Justice Stephen Kavuma will continue the “Interim Order” with the passage of National Security as the DPP Mike Chibita couldn’t produce him yesterday as the passage would counter the news of Turkish President and President Museveni smiling on the front-pages on New Vision today. It would look foolish towards the new donors and allies from Turkey. Therefore they had to wait until today when both Presidents had left the Central Business District of Kampala and could siege the roads for the return of Besigye  to the Constitutional Court, where he last time we’re in late April 2016.

What I expect is that it will be continued as he is now by the Authorities and Legal forces seen as a “National Security” issue and a man who creates havoc and problems. Even when that is not true or proven; as much as the President wants to silence the FDC and hope that the population soon forgets the General Election of 2016 and the shameful rigging of Presidential Election 2016. That with the Army deployment and the continued stronghold of Police, as they continue to detain and harass the opposition, therefore the Democratic Party and Uganda People’s Congress is so silent, except that Hon. Jimmy Akena had to take his last shot at Dr. Olara A. Otunnu and blame him for the election. Not for his maladministration and agreement with NRM led to people despising the UPC, as they are now a branch of the NRM-O.

The Attorney General of Uganda Fred Ruhindi is issuing the extension of the Interim Order today because of this:

“The Attorney General wants court to declare both Besigye and FDC’S defiance activities as unlawful since they are not in conformity with the prescribed processes of challenging a presidential election. In the affidavit supporting the Attorney General’s interim order application, the Inspector General of Police Kale Kayihura says unless court stops FDC’s activities, the country will go back to political unrest and insecurity” (The Street Lawyer UCU, 02.06.2016).

So with this in mind, we know the tale will go, it is not all of sudden that the NRM Regime going to work against itself or going to contradict itself, more than President Museveni does with his speeches and development agenda, as that is the same in 1980s, he just don’t know that himself. The Constitutional Court will today continue to ban the Forum for Democratic Change and their Defiance Campaign as the “National Security” will come first. Because that “National Security” is meaning the continuation of the rigged coup d’état from President Museveni and his NRM Elite have done on the 20^th February 2016. So the Police Force and their tear-gas brigade fear the people who supported Besigye and the true state of electoral violence created under their reign and their initial Police brutality against civilians. Therefore the Attorney General and Inspector General of Police wants to make sure he is silent behind bars and that his party is muffled; because if so they can continue prosecuting the leaders and head-activist of the FDC party without interference of the population. That is securing the NRM elite and Ruling Party for continuing with some sort of business as usual.

There is now reports that AG Fred Ruhindi: “Attorney General withdraws application for an interim order (incl. an extension) against defiance” (The Observer, 02.06.2016).  So the hardwork and paperwork delivered together with IGP Kayihura will not be worked on.

Reasons for why they did so: 

“According to the FDC legal adviser and lawyer Rwakafuzi Radsrus,attorney general sought it important to withdraw the case on grounds that they government could not hold the million people who could invade the court and that even Dr. Kizza Besigye as the accused had written to appear in person without being represented by lawyers. Before at around 02:45 Beisgye’s Ernest Kalibala brought a letter signed by the accused (Besigye) himself requesting for his personal presence as by law for the accused to be available in court on such charges. In a letter signed by the Director Civil Litigation Denis Bireije quotes that under section 2 (2) of the court of appeal rules with orders for the government cost and a copy has been sent to FDC and Besigye Kizza. Rwakafuzi further says that the main application of attorney general seeking for the constitutional court to interpret the laws that ban defiance still stands but that it is useless since there has never been any where the government petitions the constitutional court against its citizens on constitutional interpretations” (Mukose Arnold Anthony, 02.06.2016).

Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago statement on today’s affair:

“Today midmorning, Hon. Mp Bakireke Nambooze, Kasibante Moses, Ssemujju Nganda and I visited Dr. Beside at Luzira Maximum Security Prison. We compared notes on the bizarre political developments in the country, including the current legal gymnastics in courts of law. I was personally shocked to learn that the prison authorities were never issued with a production warrant, requiring them to produce him before the Constitutional Court this afternoon, to respond to the AG’S application seeking to extend the ban on the defiance campaign. Besides, I think it is abuse of court process for the State to seek for injunctive orders against a citizen languishing in prison. Little wonder that they opted to withdraw all such applications. on a positive note, our legal team is working around the clock to ensure that Dr. Besigye regains his freedom. Aluta continua” (Lukwago, 02.06.2016).

Still there are enough cases in courts and acts from the Police, even if they are not officially banning “Defiance” they are still monitoring and detaining FDC leaders and activists. While also silencing the Opposition.  Even with the Defiance Campaign partly legal, it is still court cases and charges awaiting, not only Besigye, but many of the other close leadership of the FDC and the Youth Leaders in the Country.

There are nothing set in the stones that they will act differently, but they will follow orders from up-high and from their President, the man that feeds them and continue to inflict electoral and violations against multi-party democracy to protect their master. That is the only thing they know and they are bending their knees to supply the President with orders and tear-gas to assure that they are silencing the people, who are supposed to be sensitized for his ruling and his vision, and nobody else. That is the KEY to the RESISTANCE of Ugandan politics, to be unison agreement with Mzee Museveni and nobody else. Therefore people like Besigye, Lukwago and other have to be silent or not be questioning Museveni, because Museveni is always right and acting correctly. Even if his speech yesterday proves that even with 30 years in Power and Rule, he has the same problems in the Republic of Uganda, as when he took power. Peace.

Lord Mayor Lukwago on House-Arrest on the Seventh Day – Celebrates his birthday in incarceration!

This here is never-ending saga as he now feeling the same as Dr. Kizza Besigye, Besigye was last time 40 days under House-Arrest in Kasangati. Now it’s been 7 days for both of them. The leaders of Forum for Democratic Change are under siege and their homes are not free as the country is neither free and under the control of President Museveni. Who shows no mercy towards his opposition and the ones who are not loyal to him.

Still it is good to see that the Police Officers open the doors to fellow citizens to greet the Lord Mayor as they could have done what they do in Kasangati. In Kasangati anybody who tries to visit Besigye get Detained! So this here is something positive in the midst of darkness.

Well, here is his statement and read it.

Statement from Lord Mayor Lukwago: 

“DAY 7 OF HOUSE ARREST. What would ordinarily be a special day on my personal calendar unfolds with such uncanny feelings, pondering how it is going to be yet another vile experience in my life as I commemorate my 46th BIRTHDAY anniversary under illegal incarceration. I was on the brink of flipping the lid and vent out my anguish on this Platform, but then I reminded myself that great icons of civil liberties like Mandela did not have the luxury of celebrating such memorable events in one’s lifetime for over two decades. The only one little thing that has given me a fresh heart, though, is the sweet mother-to-child telephone conversation I have had this morning with HAJJAT SALMA NAKAYAGA. At the tail end of the said soothing talk she quipped, in a rather frail and resigned voince; ”YASI (she has fondly called me like that since childhood) nze ensonga z’omusajja oyo akutulugunya nazikwasa munyazimungu yatalemelerwa”( I placed the controversial matters concerning you and your chief tomentor in the able hands of the almighty). I should also acknowledge the kind gesture of my dear sister, Hon. Mp Bakireke Nambooze, Hon. Moses Kasibante, some Authority councillors, city mayors and a score of other friends and relatives, who paid me a courtesy call and generously brought lots of foodstuffs for my persecuted family. Of course, I can’t forget all of you, my amazing friends; your unflinching support and encouragement has definitely enabled me to soldier on against all odds. Together we shall overcome what apparently many pessimists perceive to be insurmountable challenges. For God and My Country” (Lukwago, 11.05.2016). 

I think that is enough for now. Congratulation on your day Lord Mayor Lukwago and you shall overcome! Peace.