Opinion: A crisis like we’re living through now is exposing the leadership

You can sit back- and enjoy the show. No, you really cannot. There is no enjoyment. Nor relaxing, as the uncertainty is growing. The howling questions of how long will this state last and what measures are truly working.

We have borders closed. Airports shut-down, schools, churches, libraries and bars/restaurant all closed for the moment. There are only the bare minimum and necessities are still open. Hospitals are getting full of people with symptoms, the lack of enough health care workers, ventilators, masks and medicine is happening. Even enough test-kits and whatnot. This is an international problem and not just a problem locally.

The leadership with this sort of affair is exposed. The lack of enough ICU beds and extra ventilators, respirators and everything else shows the lack of investment. Also, that they never thought it could become like this. There was no plan for emergencies of these levels. There was no response team or task force put in place to research this.

The state have in the sunshine days never expected this. Even if there been smaller crisis like the Swine-flu and the SARS. Now COVID-19 or the Coronavirus is exposing the matters. They are showing that the Health Care systems provided wasn’t measured for this. Neither was the will to create enough beds and equipments for a possible outbreak. Now, there is added measures and procurement. Now, other factories are creating the needs, which usually made designer cloths and fabrics. Suddenly are used to fix the issues at hand. That is good business for them, but also a proof of actual leadership.

The things done and measures put are done with good intentions. The social distancing and the washing of hands programs. The solidarity and the asking for time to fix it. However, the states itself. The leadership should ask themselves, why they didn’t deal with it better in the sun, but cries havoc in the rain. There is a need for this hindsight 20/20 and also wondering if they could have invested more and built more robust hospitals.

It is easy to catch the breath for 10 seconds and check if you cough or not like the Taiwanese experts says. It is easy to wash hands and avoid other people. Be one meter away and if you have any symptoms, be home. That is not rocket-science.

However, the barricades at home. Still, should ask the authorities and the state if they could have done more to prevent it. If there was enough warnings and signs to follow. I don’t know, but I am questioning it.

Because, the lack of leadership, the lack of taking responsibility and the adjustment from the state. Shows that some states didn’t take this seriously and therefore, the public will now suffer. Just as they have not put measures or the needed investments from the federal state nor the central government to actually do something.

The ones hit the most is usually the poor, the poorly educated and the ones whose not covered. The ones who doesn’t have a pot to piss in and the ones whose far to reach. The ignorant and the ones with to much to pride to understand the task at hand. These are the ones the state needs to shelter and give direct relief too. Not its easy, it never is and it will cost.

But, if we cannot see redemption for the weakest among us, then who are we then? We are just shallow human beings, never thinking this could strike us too. At one point, it might be a neighbour or a family member. There is no boundaries with a pandemic or a crisis like this. Sooner or later, this bitch hits home.

The only redeeming thing we have then is a cut-throat situation, where the facts remains. The results are already there, we can accept them or be defeated. We can either look into the gist, into the headlines and let it be. We can accept to be muffled and toyed with or we can also question the powers to be. By all means, follow the instructions and show solidarity, but still at the same time wonder if they did enough.

Because, when the days are over and this slows down. When this is under control and the scientists, the doctors and the pharma-industry has fixed this. Then, we can look over the measures, look over the numbers and the statistics. Look over the timeline and ask ourselves. Did the leadership enough. Did the authorities do the right thing. That is what we should ask ourselves.

Last but not least. You really see where the leadership gives a damn, where they are trying to propagandaize this and where they trying to fix it. There is really different realities. There is various of attempts, but also small cover-ups, which will come to light later. Where own personal business, where own personalities has destroyed the effects and the possible changes quickly. Instead tried to downplay the pandemic and acted a fool. The ones paying the cost is the citizens and everyone else involved. They will be remembered for that, as they could see from the outbreak to today. That there were measures to make, but instead they deflected them. That is their legacy.

Leadership of our times is exposed. They could have done, what they precautions they could have done and what they did under the sun. Says a lot, but in the rain it is more important with an umbrella. Now, they are teasing those, but need to get them quickly for all of us. Let’s hope they get enough. Peace.

Opinion: Big-Men’s Medical Tourism is temporary suspended [and their neglect will be obvious]

We have seen over the years, that big-men from developing countries instead of fixing their own health-care system or even supporting the needs of the Ministry of Health. They have at every junction instead used foreign health care and hospitals to salvage the hurt and heal.

Now in this COVID-19 or Coronavirus times, the borders are closed, ending flights between the nations and the quarantine of people crossing borders. The big-men cannot flea their own health care facilities, but instead has to trust them like everyone else. The neglect, the lack of investment and the years of brain-drain has hurt these hospitals and health care facilities.

They have gotten aid, gotten grants and promised to build sustainable health care facilities. However, the big-men have never trusted these ones. Only the ones whose retired and the ones who hasn’t saved up in office. Has in the end of their days and because of lack funds. They have used them and seen the grim state.

Like there been high ranking officials, who suddenly needs care and been brought to the closest hospital after a public function. Usually picked up by a army chopper and flown to the best nearby facility. However, than they have lacked electricity, enough beds, medicines or needed technical apparatus to function. That was okay, when the locals needed it, but when they pop-by than its an outcry. The state cannot even procure enough ambulances and have proper levels of in-need educated professionals in the field.

That is why, this sort of crisis undress the years of neglect, the years of corruption and lack of investment in the field. If they will lack blood, air and other needed things. It will be, because they didn’t care in days of sunshine. Now, that its raining and the roads are getting muddy. Than, the big-men will suffer with the general public.

They are maybe VIPs and have giant convoys. They are maybe paid a fortune for their high office and high ranking in society. However, they have to enter the same facilities, which they didn’t think of or consider. Because, there was always, China, Singapore, France or United States. Where they could go for check-ups and healing. Where they got better treatment and with modern facilities made for patching the hurt.

Now, they cannot go there. They are blocked. They cannot risk to enter there and the borders are closing in. The Big-men doesn’t have the meal-ticket or ability pay an easy way out. Instead, they have to suffer with public.

There is no way out. Just continue, but maybe their eyes will be opened when they will be questioned why they didn’t spend the needed funds in sunshine, but cries out during the rain. They spent on the army, ghosts and side-dishes. Nevertheless, they didn’t care for the health care, for the structures of healing and proper treatment.

Now, they will hold prayer sessions and ask for the Gods to intervene. Instead of using their minds and used their time to invest. They could have invested and could have made a difference. Instead, they got warplanes, got ammunition to start wWrld War III, but cannot have enough beds for a pandemic. Peace.

Third day of Presidential Rallies in Uganda and some reports on the PFMA and KCCA

There been a new day on the trail the third one. This day has made most sad. Not by what has been said or really done. Though the news of certain candidates abducted and detained at Jinja Central Police Station. That is sad, but not a shock in the environment they campaign in. It was just a matter of time. The really sad thing is not that the President rallies in a Helicopter in the Northern Ugand with Bebe Cool Yellow-editing the reality. That is just expected by the NRM-Regime. What are sad is not the bad roads that FDC is travelling in Kisoro. That is also expected. What is sad is that the Parliament has fulfilled the wet-dreams of President Museveni with adding his wished amendments to the Public Finance Management of 2015. That is sad. But let’s go through the election trail while we also have a little bit of sorrow for the cancellation of Nominations of the Lord Mayor race in Kampala. Cowardice from the Electoral Commission, check it out!

Quote of the day:

“The commission calls upon police to investigate and arrest the people who torched an agent’s car in Sembabule” – Kiggundu”

VOA:

“Had to ask does Brown Bags during corruption means corruption?”

FDC Today:

“Not even the bad roads in the villages of Kisoro will stop us from rallying”.

The People’s President Dr. Kizza-Besigye Wrn has campaigned in Mukotojjomuko Town in Rubanda West, Kabale District. Mukatojo trading centre was we’re he had his first rally today.

Bad roads force Gen Muntu and National Party Chairman Ambassador Birigwa to abandon cars. The Kisoro campaign trail is moving on well, Dr Besigye has 4 more gatherings to adress plus the main rally in Kisoro town

Dr. Kizza-Besigye Wrn and Gen Muntu campaigning in Rubugiri in Kisoro District.

They will have the main rally in the Mayor’s Garden in Kisoro Town. Here he got even more NRM cards up into the hundreds like in recents day from determind members who is thinking of leaving the ruling party.

Besigye said this today:

“Museveni can only be President up to May next year. The corrupt can only steal up to then. After May, whoever dips his hand in goverment coffers. His hand will stay in there”.

A Fun Fact: 

“Kisoro is one of those region herald has a stronghold of NRM, where its alleged that 93% of voters support the ruling party”.

The Message that Dr. Kizza Besigye had to the people of Kisoro after the rallies:

“Thank you very much Kisoro !..for the overwhelming reception you have accorded to my candidature today. Despite all challenges the people of Kisoro face ,ranging from lack of decent rural roads,.hospitals and schools you have braved the long journeys and I salute your hunger for the message of hope exhibited today at our rallies” (…)“Kisoro region is one of the most naturally endowed part of the country rich with fertile lands and tourist attractions, but having travelled through the remote areas of the region, I feel quite ashamed and disturbed by the state of affairs in this region, the situation is as alarming just like in all the other parts of the country” (…)“It’s not surprising that Mr. Museveni alleges 99% of Kisoro region support him and the NRM regime yet he abandons you to a state of abject poverty, because his government is riddled with corruption to the extent that he doesn’t care about the conditions he exposes you to, as long as you vote for him or he forces himself onto you against your will. The same person makes the other parts of the country believe that everything is rosy in Kisoro which in reality has never been the case” (…)“ Therefore my message to you today is ; begin to change your mindset, Mr. Museveni is not your master, he is supposed to be your servant, it’s you who have the powers to appoint and dismiss him. So Kisoro for you to have better services in the region, we have to work together, join up in the ‘Power 10’ agenda; organize ourselves in groups of ten and connect and liase with each other, and I can assure you this corrupt regime will be history and the Bufumbira region will develop to the great potential it should be” (…)“Thank you so much Kisoro ,I am leaving here in a very energetic mood and full of hope and optimism that the timing has never been more perfect, to liberate our beloved country Uganda. God Bless you the people of Kisoro. For God and my country”.

On the TIC:

Maureen Faith Kyala has been arrested today. She was detained in Jinja. Maureen is detained at Jinja Central Police Station.

Rule of Law and the FDC:

“Kizza Besigye risks being banned if he defies the law, Electoral Commission (EC) says as it warns the FDC flag-bearer against ‘inciting public with his defiance campaign’. Besigye who is seeking the presidency for the fourth time says his 2016 campaign is one of defiance, not compliancy” (NBS TV)

NRM Rallies today:

Had their campaign at Dokolo today. There was massive turn-up of Crime Preventers at the venue and especially at the Iguli rally of the President. He also had Rally in Lira.

YKM said today: “When we took charge of Uganda, we enacted a constitution – all power belongs to the people”.

Go-Forward rallies:

Amama Mbabazi held rallies in  Mityana today. At Mityana he received a spear, shield with the water-hoe symbolic of agricultural roots. DP Norbert Mao is part of the trail, even FDC’s Beatrice Anywar!

Beatrice Anywar said this today: “Who knew DP members would be at the same rally with FDC and NRM members, this is possible with Amama Mbabazi”.

Mathias Nsubuga said this: “We have not sold DP to Mbabazi. TDA is an alliance seeking change in Uganda. Change one person can not bring”.

At the Mityana rally a man asked “Amama how they used to rig the elections?”, he answered the man: “Never leave the premises or polling station”.

Amama Mbabazi said this today: “Every generation has its responsibility. Ours liberation this country, brought it this far. Need to carry on” (…)”I know a lot and can assure such (vote rigging) will not be done this time around”.

One candidate more:

Abed Bwanika was at Bugiri and Namayingo. Has anybody seen or heard him?

PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE MABIRIZI JOSEPH ABDUCTED FROM HIS HOTEL ROOM IN IGANGA

This is an official statement from the Head of Bureau.

At around 2.00am this morning, 11th November 2015, TIC Presidential Candidate Elton Joseph Mabirizi heard a knock on his hotel room. When he asked who it was, the assailant said : “I am your bodyguard”. So he opened. It turned out that it was not his bodyguard but two strange men.

He was in his Pajamas but without a top (bare chest). In that state he was blindfolded, walked to a waiting car, forced into the car boot and driven off to a bungalow where he was ushered in a room and unfolded. In the room he saw three men dressed in military uniform and the two plain clothed ones that had picked him from the hotel. They made no attempt to hide their faces.

He was thoroughly roughed up and warned that if he still wanted to stay alive, he should quit the Presidential race. They had a hot plate in the room which they plugged into a socket till red hot. They told him that if he does not abandon the campaign, next time they would make him sit on it.

He was then blindfolded again and dropped at a small urban settlement at around 3.30am,. He was rescued by the area LC who made arrangements to take him back to his hotel.

It should be noted that he has 11 armed Counter Terrorism Policemen guarding him. Not even one of them including his personal body guard learnt of the abduction until he was brought back to the hotel by the area LC I.

The latest now (12.03 pm) is that he has been driven in another police car to Jinja Central Police Station and has been taken inside.

We have spoken to the EC spokesperson Mr. Taremwa to report the incident. We explained that our candidate had been abducted under that watch of 11 counter terrorism policemen. The phone went off during the conversation. We have called back five times- he is not picking his phone. We have sent a text message to him requesting to call me back. It is now 30 minutes, he has not done so yet.

This should give an idea on how important the EC takes Candidate security.

We shall have tie to address the press when my candidate has been safely evacuated from Busoga region to Kampala.

 Today he was scheduled to address rallies in Jinja and Mayuge.

It is not clear whether he will be able to do so.

Statement issued at 12.21 pm. November 11, 2015

Omar Kalinge-Nnyago

HEAD OF BUREAU

THE INDEPENDENT COALITION, TIC

After all of this, this morning the UPDF had to question the Presidential Candidate.

Mayoral Race in Kampala – Erias Lukwago comments:

“Addressing the press on the obnoxious KCCA Amendment Bill that seeks to whittle down people’s sovereignty. It’s only a collapsing regime that takes refugee in draconian laws. I have submitted to the Electoral Commission all the relevant signatures endorsing my candidature ahead of the nominations slated for Monday 16th. I have also called for a stakeholders’ meeting tomorrow 12th November at my residence in Rubaga at 11am to chart a way forward. The struggle continues”.

NRM Primaries – Saga doesn’t stop:

Makindddye Muncipality aftermath:

“This morning l have submitted a video recording of massive rigging in Makinddye Ssaabgabo Municipality masterminded by the Municipality NRM Registrar Charles Settebere, in favour of the outgoing twice flag bearer . l have submitted it to NRM Electoral Commission Legal Officer Mubarakia Kalungi, but his boss Dr. Tanga Odoi and NRM First Vice Chairperson Ah Haji Moses Kigongo, were also aware of the event. l have called for the cancellation of results and a call for fresh party primaries, and to do away with the notorious registrar, Settebere, and replace him with one from the headquarters. All Polling Station registrars should also be reinforced from those at headquarters. Failure to respond to my prayers, l intend to stand on an independent ticket. In my own observation however, three man Tanga Commission is over whelmed. Capt. Abbey Mukwaya Committee should come to its rescue” (Written by Ahmed Musaazi).

Side-note:

In Kijabijo (Gayaza Karagi Road). The community says «they need power back». They have spent 4 months since the transformer was taken by UMEME. So they have put fires into the main roads as a demonstration against the government and UMEME for taking away electricity.

Side-note 2:

Eng. Dr. Badru Kiggundu of Electoral Commission has suspended the nominations for Lord of Mayor of Kampala. Surely they trying to coup the place for Babu instead of having a fun race between Raga Dee and Erias Lukwago. That is because the NRM-Regime hasn’t the balls to do so, because they know what might happen! Especially since they remember in 2011 and also the last by-election in Amuru…

Side-note 3:

Finance Minister Matia Kasajja told the Parliament today that there is no money in the Contingency Funds therefore the need for the Public Management Fund 2015 Amendment. The sad note on this matter is that the Parliament passed it. So the Government can just ride into the Bank and take short term loans as they please now!

Aftermath: 

Think that was enough for the day. Don’t you think this was more than enough. THE PMFA 2015 amendment is frightening enough. The things that been said on the trail is not important, now the Government and the ruling NRM-Regime has secured funding for their campaign and buying of fresh gear to their “Anti-Besigye-Act” and their fresh tear-gas. Surely these elections will be mad and brown bags. Since the Bank of Uganda is now a free for all. You can be surely be proud Hon. Kasajja and President Museveni, there will surely be inflation and devalue of the Shilling in the near future. Kiss 5% inflation rate goodbye! Peace.