Uganda-Rwanda Tension Part VIII: A look into the Parliament Report on the closure of Uganda-Rwanda Border

On the 23rd August 2019, the Minister of State for East African Community Julius Wandera Maganda sent the report on the Closure of Uganda-Rwanda Border. This report has been made to update the EAC Committee. Still, the public deserves to get the numbers and the gist of the closure. What it really means in the hard numbers and with the cross-border trade.

Clearly, the closure has had an affect on both republics. As the Report states are that:

Following the closure of Cyanika, Katuna and Mirama Hills Border Posts on the 27th Feb 2019 by the Republic of Rwanda, as part of their mandate, the Ministry of East African Community (MEACA) has undertaken a number of steps as indicated below”.

There has been certainly new rules for entry between Uganda-Rwanda:

i. There is still free movement of persons (Ugandan Nationals and other Nationalities) to and from Rwanda save for the Rwandan citizens who are only allowed entry and no ex;.t from Rwanda.

ii. The only Rwandan nationals allowed exit from Rwanda from the borders above are the drivers on transit to Kenya and not to Uganda.

iii. It was also noted that the Ugandans who cross to Rwanda only go there mostly to attend Parties or Funerals, and not business as the environment for Ugandan goods and products is hostile.

iv. Whereas Ugandan nationals are allowed to enter Rwanda, it is unfortunate that Ugandan goods/products arc not allowed entry. These are rejected with no reasons given, no rejection notes/documents are provided. Many drivers have suffered the disappointment of being told to turn back to Uganda”

All of this has consequences. Just as the financial implications by this alone. The Ministry can show that in FY 2017/18 value the imports from Rwanda at 160,293,270,436 UGX and in FY 2018/19 it has gone down to 123,338,816,439 UGX. This is downfall of imports of 23.05 % from the last year.

The consequences for the export to Rwanda is also hit. In FY 2017/18 was 585,436,037,282 UGX and in FY 2018/19 is 426,884,832,406 UGX. This is a downfall of export in the amount of 27,08 %. from the last year.

The results of the closure of the border at Katuna has ensured that there was no trucks passing this pass, between March 2019 to the June 2019. When the trucks started to crossover again. Still in a fraction of what was done in the past. Before February 2019, the average inflow and outflow of trucks was above 3000. However, in the months of March to June 2019, there was less than 500 every month. Even ZERO in the months of April and May 2019. Before, the numbers has started to rise, but not more than 300 in June 2019. Surely, One-Tenth is a major change and has affect.

This has resulted in more traffic, within the inflow and outflow at the Mirama Hill. Until February 2019, there was usually about 300 passing in both directions. However after this it was around 2000 trucks passing through every month between March to June 2019. Which is showing that there are blocking of trucks and also the total numbers of trucks passing on both passes is less than 3000 in both directions. That is really hurting the cross-border trade between the Republic’s. It is easy to see.

The closure has had an affect and the new measures on both sides. Has hit the trading, but also general movement. That is visible and surely, would be nice to see what the Rwandan Parliament would write as a counter to the Ugandan side. To see if their have another explanation for this. Peace.

Statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General on the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Rwanda and Uganda (23.08.2019)

The Secretary-General recognizes the important role of Presidents João Lourenço of Angola and Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in facilitating the signing of the Memorandum.

NEW YORK, United States of America, August 23, 2019 – The Secretary-General welcomes the signing on 21 August 2019 in Luanda, Angola, of a Memorandum of Understanding between Presidents Yoweri Museveni of Uganda and Paul Kagame of Rwanda, with the aim of normalising bilateral relations between the two countries.

He encourages the parties to implement the agreement in good faith, with a view to restoring friendly relations and cooperation between the two neighbouring states, in the interest of peace, stability and sustainable development in the region.

The Secretary-General recognizes the important role of Presidents João Lourenço of Angola and Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in facilitating the signing of the Memorandum.

The Secretary-General stands ready to support the momentum generated through this and other initiatives to advance peace, cooperation and integration in the region.

Uganda-Rwanda Tensions Part VII: Memorandum of Understanding of Luanda between the Republic of Uganda and the Republic of Rwanda (21.08.2019)

Opinion: Whose not annoying and ridiculing President Museveni at this point?

24. Penalty for acts intended to alarm, annoy or ridicule the President:

Any person who, with intent to alarm or annoy or ridicule the President— (c) assaults or wrongfully restrains the person of the President, commits an offence and is liable to imprisonment for life” (Penal Code, 15th June 1950).

We know they fought, we know they won and the rest is history. The 1986ers are running the Republic and doesn’t care if their revolution is eating and killing its kids. They just don’t care, everyone is charged with phony charges, taken by the courts in premeditated statutes and usage of colonial laws to pin them as criminals for standing up against the President and his patronage. They own the land, the rest is the peasants, whose lucky enough to live on rented time on the soil of the Republic.

Today, Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine is charged with annoying, ridiculing and blocking the road in Arua, as the President was passing with his convoy. The other Arua 37 was charged with this too. This is not new, because anyone can be charged with it these days. These people are still facing treason charges from the same Post Arua By-Election, so what the state put these additional charges on them.

There takes nothing to insult the President, if your Joseph Kabuleta writing about Project Muhoozi. If Bobi Wine tries to use his popularity to win By-Elections, which is demeaning to the almighty President, whose supposed to be the most loved person ever to grace the planet earth. You get charged with cyber harassment, if you just write a poem about you, this is the fate of Dr. Stella Nyanzi. Whose now under more trouble for demonstrating in the midst of sentencing on the last Friday.

So, we know that people are annoying, bugging and has to be charged for doing so. Even if the President says no-one is arrested for annoying him. Apparently, plenty are and in legal jeopardy. If you just spit in the wrong pit, they will charge you for it. However, in this regard, the citizen can just be in wrong place, at the wrong time and the state will capture you. That is what the state is doing.

The state and the authorities are using the Penal Code, Public Order Management Act and Computer Misuse Act to take people away for any reason from her until the sun. There is nothing the state cannot pin on its dissidents. They will create mirages, they will fix the codes and pin it on someone who happens to be the opposition to the regime. This is what they do.

At this moment, anyone can be charged with annoying the President. If you write a poem, if you drive on the wrong road, if you don’t take his biscuits as he doles it out through his aide, or dare to speak ill of him in public.

This shows the foolishness of the state, as they think they are bloody brilliant. The charges are forged, manufactured and if a serious court would look at it. They would dismiss it, because there is no case. If the state was serious, the Treason case against Bobi Wine and the Arua 33 wouldn’t last this long, but these bastards doesn’t care. They have not produced any evidence or affidavit to prove it. Even if their lives depends on it. Because, they know its just playing and misusing the time of the ones charges. So, that Bobi Wine and the rest have less time politicking. That is what the state does.

That is why everyone is annoying the President and he just have to pin something on them. Peace.

Impunity shall not thrive: Uganda Law Society (ULS) call to Action against Internal Security Organization (ISK) – (03.08.2019)

Uganda Police Force: Security Forces Arrests Suspect on Offensive Communication (12.07.2019)

Museveni’s Legacy: Using colonial law to supress dissidents!

This is not the first time nor the last, when the National Resistance Movement (NRM) will use the legal means to supress or oppress certain dissident or individuals who oppose his regime. The NRM and President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, claims to be a freedom fighter, but he enjoys the perks of colonial laws and has not abolished them like the Age Limit. No, his authorities are frequently using it, whenever they deem it fit.

Now, instead of charging the Opposition MPs and the Arua 33 with treason, illegal firearms or throwing the Arua Stone. The results are out and the verdict in the open. The NRM and the Courts are using the 1950 law of Penal Code article 24 (c.), which states:

“24.    Penalty for acts intended to alarm, annoy or ridicule the President:

Any person who, with intent to alarm or annoy or ridicule the President— (c) assaults or wrongfully restrains the person of the President, commits an offence and is liable to imprisonment for life” (Penal Code, 15th June 1950).

Surely, the convoy of Opposition should trade the waters carefully when the President arrives on the scene. Anything can be disobedient or seen as a mockery. Especially if you bend your hat wrong or tries to stutter like the President does.

Now, everyone who was in the near proximity and is associated with the Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine is charged with this. That is what the state of affairs. By all means, who wouldn’t ridicule a President of 33 years? We are not Dr. Stella Nyanzi, but who doesn’t find easy ways to mock or annoy a man of advance age, who still thinks he has the rights to lecture every single subject?

Pardon me, right?

Well, at this mere junction. This is the foolishness of the state, trying to pin any sort of code, violation or charge on the ones they don’t seem fit. At this very moment, Bobi Wine cannot expect a welcoming parade when entering the Republic. Neither should Francis Zaake. They are both awaiting a hostile return. As the state configures new methods of silencing them.

They have dropped plenty of charges already, but will add new ones to ensure; that this people will revisit the courts and answer for their “crimes”. That is just what the state does and has operated with during the recent years. They have done this with several others and now it’s the People Power Movement and their associates to go through the wind and fire of the state system.

If President Museveni wanted another legacy, he wouldn’t have used the same tricks as the Colonial administration, but apparently, he does. He did it with Kizza Besigye, Erias Lukwago and plenty of other fellows, who stood in his way. That is why civilians have been before the Military Court Martial at Makindye Barracks, and not in civilian courts. That is just the man that the President is and is proud of being.

He calls himself a freedom fighter, but in general, as a General, he takes away people’s freedom. Kudos for that. Peace.

State Oppression Continues: The Arua Stone Case continues to haunt Opposition MPs!

Today, the 4th July 2019, the day where again several of Opposition Members of Parliament was summoned to Gulu Magistrate Court to follow up on the treason case going from the 13th August 2018. The prolonged case and lack of discovery, combined with very little movement of authorities, other than making new court dates. Has surely let them believe that this case is dead on arrival. Especially since the state has charged an advanced age man last month for throwing the Arua Stone.

Therefore, today’s news of a judge actually ordering the arrests of the Opposition MPs, whose some are even abroad in a Conference. Shows, the issues of the state and their monitoring of their own. As they should know about their movements and know why didn’t show today. Also, others suffered mechanical challenges, which should have given way too. Alas, that wasn’t the case.

Take a look:

Gulu Magistrate Court presided by Grade One Magistrate Kintu Isaac Imuran, has issued criminal summons to 10 accused persons who failed to appear in court today. These included MPs Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu aka Bobi Wine Zaake Francis, Gerald Karuhanga, Paul Mwiru, Abola Jane, John Mary Ssebuwufu and others. Defense lawyer, Tony Kitara informed court that both Bobi wine and Zaake were attending a conference in United States while others suffered vehicle mechanical challenges while coming to court” (87.7 Baba FM, 04.07.2019).

This is the same-old, same old. If these people only had bribed the Republic like Dott Service or been connected like the ones ordering the Santana Cars back-in-the-day, they wouldn’t have had any issues. Not even if these people had suction like the ones inside in the Bank of Uganda. Than, would have gotten away with murder. Alas, these people are opposition. They cannot do anything wrong. Then, they will be punished.

Even if the state doesn’t have a case, they are just pursuing empty leads. Just like it did on Gen. David Sejusa aides, who was freed recently after years in the pen. The same is happening here, the state is making a case, not a solid one, wasting time and trying to dodge this people from campaigning or even having a political life. That is why the case is running, months on months end.

There is no sentencing, there is no proof or evidence brought to court. There is no affidavit or even witnesses coming forward, which would be evident of a prolonged case for these suspect. Alas, the state has just built another case against individuals it cannot stomach. This is an ancient tactic in the Republic.

Just like others has answered for years, nearly a decade on old cases in towns all across the Republic. Bobi Wine and associates will do too. That is because they defied the King, the mighty mighty President. Peace.

Uganda-Rwanda Tensions Part VI: Press Statement on a Public Interest Litigation Case on the Closure of Uganda-Rwanda Border (01.07.2019)

MP Zaake’s Magical Journey has ended!

“MP Francis Zaake off the hook. Grade one magistrate Swaleh Asiku, has acquitted the Mityana Municipality MP, Francis Zaake of the case of escaping from Police custody in Arua on August 14, 2018, a day before the Arua Municipality by-election” (New Vision, 21.06.2019).

Well, the lies and deception is finally over. As the tortured soul post Arua By-Election 2018 has now gotten one final verdict on one of his charges. The Member of Parliament Francis Zaake was charged with escaping Police Custody. Even if the Security Officers dropped him off at a hospital after days in unknown territory last year.

Therefore, the whole process and justification of the charge has been bogus and a bogey since get-go. There been no justification or within reason to charge the man with fleeing. When he couldn’t even walk or have capacity to run away from his own shadow. The MP was in dire need of medical attention and even struggled to get allowed to travel for visa to India.

That is why the whole case been magical journey of lies and deception. Where the state has thought they could fool everyone, but only fooled itself. Zaake is out of this charge, but surely they will pin more on him. As he is a People Power Movement MP and is a sharp critic of the regime.

Zaake is not out of the woods, but has one less charge on his name. Still, there is more Post Arua By-Election to come. Since, the state is still working on cases considering the people involved in that. It is just a matter of time, before more happens. However, we all knew that Zaake couldn’t flee last year. He couldn’t even walk nor run. He was bedside and in need of medical care. Peace.