UPF: Hon. Francis Zaake MP Summoned to the CID on the 21st November (16.11.2018)

Mzee’s answer to everything: Bring out the Guns!

There is something magical, something so magnificent and unique. That every time there is a problem, the BIG GUNS have to show up. The President, the Almighty, His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has to address the problem with hiring, appointing or ordering the military to intervene. They even have a commercial arm to assemble cellphones in the near future.

The army is already involved in the NAADS and SACCOs as well as other Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) projects. They have been involved in arresting people and disrupting rallies, not to talk about pure election violence. The army has been involved in invading the Plenary Chambers of the Parliament. There is nowhere the army and these branches of it isn’t touching.

If there is a problem. The President orders the Special Forces Command to monitor riots in Kampala. The President orders to combat army-worms and pipeline problems together with the KCCA. This is just mere simple example of the usage of the army.

The President when the Members of Parliament asked for more security, he ordered sharpshooters and specialized cars for the MPs to security their movements and travels. It was later turned down, but the way of the President to resolve the matter, was by getting the soldiers on stand-by and secure the VIPs.

This is how the President moves, now that Chinese Investors are afraid. The President has ordered soldiers to facilitate and secure the Chinese investments and investors themselves. The answer isn’t looking into the ruthless and insecurity. Instead, put out more guns in the field. Thinking they will solve the issue.

This is the militarism of the President. Where he sends the para-military Police Squads against oppositions. Where he had the Flying Squad, the Special Force Command, Crime Preventers, the Internal Security Organization (ISO) and the Chieftain of Military Intelligence (CMI) or even foot soldiers on the streets. Just to prove to the people, that he is boss!

That is just a sign of the lack of progress, the lack of development. When every crisis, when every need and whim of the President. The ones he is calling is the military and the soldiers, not trying to figure out the needed remedy. That gravy-train has left.

It is time to ask the President is if he has other advice and other solutions, because calling the soldiers to fix defects in society isn’t their role. Their role is to guard the borders and secure the Republic, not being the waiters and dancers at the party. That is how they are playing today. I am just awaiting seeing pictures of soldiers dropping off Waragin and Beer to VIPs. Because that is the only thing they isn’t doing. Since it isn’t long ago, when they even was in charge of a Beauty Pageant. Peace.

Uganda Peoples Congress – Press Statement (14.11.2018)

Opinion: OTT and Social Media Tax is failing as anticipated!

The Over The Top Services Tax and Social Media Tax can only be said as utter embarrassment by the National Resistance Movement (NRM). There are enough things to know this would happen, as the plan was for getting the revenue, but not thinking the consequences of the taxes. That is why, today’s revelations about the levied taxes isn’t that surprising.

Without due-diligence, it is hard to know the effects and the means for why it is put. It seems like the President and the NRM had a dream of cash-flowing into the Consolidation Fund without any consequences, but apparently it does. And when you add taxes on things, people either use less or plan more effortlessly to circumvent this added cost on their daily lives.

Daily Monitor Reports: “Government collected Shs20.5b from social media in the last quarter ended September, according to data obtained from Uganda Revenue Authority. The tax, which was implemented in July, was however, less than the Shs24.9b target that URA had hoped to collect in the period. URA has a monthly target of Shs8.3b. The tax was introduced in the Excise Duty amendments of financial year 2018/19 requiring all social media users to pay Shs200 per day, before accessing certain platforms such as Facebook, Whatsapp and Twitter, among others. Government intends to collect about Shs100b before the end of the 2018/19 financial year” (Christine Kasemiire – ‘OTT raises Shs20b in first quarter, URA fails on targets’ 07.11.2018).

While it is a few days ago, that the MTN Uganda promised the 24 hours since paying tax, that the tax would last from the time of payment of the tax until the time is spent. Instead of how it has been, until the new day coming. Meaning, that often you would only get half-a-day with the Social Media, as the taxation would start again, when the clock turns 00:01.

That is why this was news to: “Airtel Uganda and other telecom service providers have announced a fundamental change in the Over the Top excise duty imposed on social media following a directive from Uganda Communications Commission, the telecommunications regulatory body in Uganda. Since its introduction in July 2018, the tax commonly known as OTT or social media tax, was only valid up to midnight of the payment date for daily users. With the recent changes, daily subscribers can now enjoy internet services for a complete 24 hours – right up to the time that they subscribed 24 hours earlier. This also applies to the weekly and monthly users who can also enjoy services until the time that they subscribed” Brian Emorut – ‘Social Media tax validity to now last 24 hours’ 06.11.2018 – Guide 2 Uganda).

So now, Airtel and MTN has changed their pattern of getting the OTT tax. While URA is struggling to met the supposed the quota. This shows that the state had not considered all implications to the levied taxes. The NRM clearly didn’t envision, either the use of VPN and also that people cannot afford it. Because it is barrier to be even using the social media after the taxes.

Surely, the 24 hours usage and the lack of collection. That the Telecoms and the Mobile Money outlets has been pushed and lost revenue is certain. As the data-bundles and Air-Time had to be corrected from July on and also now the barrier for OTTs are changing again. This is surely showing that the Telecoms and the Republic wasn’t prepared for this, but doing it on orders from the President. Peace.

#SecurityUG: My take as nearly all Security Organizations are doing Police Work!

In this present state, we can start to question the safety of the public, not only that the Gen. David Muhoozi, the CDF of Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) thinks it is all cool; that the UPDF or the Army are investigating and arresting people. This is happening as the Internal Security Organization are doing the same. While the Flying Squad of the Police Force have sacked their Operatives and the Crime Preventers have become Reserve Army. While Boda Boda 2010 have been disbanded and Kiatta’s fate is all in limbo still.

We can certainly see the fluid situation, as the Flying Squad, the Chieftain of Military Intelligence (CMI), ISO, UPDF and Police Force are all directly trying to address the same problems in society. Even when needed, the President comes to scatter crime scenes and orders the Special Force Command (SFC) to tdo their thing.

Clearly, this is all should send the memo. That there are many cooks, many orders and units, but few who cooks perfectly. Because there are so many chefs, but so little output. Maybe that is the point to, as this is not the whole spectrum, but a big part of the Security Organizations involved.

The National Resistance Movement (NRM) and the President have built this system. We know it is messed up and that is because he has arranged it like this. Made a dozens outfits, possible to combat various intrusions and whatnot’s, but goblins doesn’t just appear from the thin-air. So, they got to do something.

That is why suddenly the UPDF are implicated in Police work, the Crime Preventers was too, but now are in the shadows, the Flying Squad was around flexing muscle, the CMI attacking and detaining people without warrants, but the Police Force was preoccupied following and monitoring opposition politicians. That is just the way things are and is, apparently, not to forget SFC was both doing political ambushes, also following President direct order to assault and detain politicians without any other reason. That they are in the near facility of his highness.

It is sad that all questions revolves around the President, even with the personal changes of new IGP or new CDF. The situation isn’t strengthening or becoming better, it is more of the same. Political prisoners kept long without trial like Dr. Stella Nyanzi. There are other too, but she is the biggest catch of the month. There are nothing happening with Sam Mugumya in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Therefore, the security with murders, assassinations and arrests, without the violence stopping. The salvos of attacks on the streets from CMI, shows the brilliance of the police brutality to whole world. It was broadcast from the street of Kampala.

Therefore, as the Flying Squad is demoted, the Boda Boda 2010 is too, the CMI acting out, the SFC wilding out and the list goes on. We can wonder what will be up, but there is nothing that is promising for a better security situation, as it has deteriorating a bit. Also, the lack of action and promise that is profound. The NRM and the President knows this, but just patching the hurt. They are not healing wounds or even closing the unanswered cases. As with time there are opening new cases and they move on. Even as the victims and their families are left astray, by all the organizations that is supposed to protect them and defend them. Peace.

MTN Uganda: Daily OTT tax now valid for 24 hours (01.11.2018)

Opinion: The National Dialogue is a stalling tactic by the President!

No man is crushed by misfortune unless he has first been deceived by prosperity”Seneca, Dialogues and Letters

I don’t believe that the National Dialogue, which is about to start in November 2018 and Roadmap made by the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda will amount to anything. It will be a lot about nothing. It will be like a Seinfeld episode, lots of simple fun and punchlines, but nothing substantial for the body or the spirit.

This is not something that will upheld or even be honored by the President. Because he has never honored a deal, where he has to loose something or even give way. The President are always finding his way to get the upper-hand and will do so again. To think otherwise is to think that the Old Man with the Hat has changed. Trust me, all the acts of late, shows that he is more ruthless and shows more force. Because he knows he isn’t loved or cared about in the general population. The empty pledges and promises of old is haunting him and the lack of progress on nearly every account is another reason for his total failure. That is because the President is busy micro-managing and not trusting in the appointed cronies even.

I know I should have had hope for such an arrangement, but the acts of the National Resistance Movement, the usage of the Security Organizations against the citizens, the representatives and the ones standing in their way of late. Shows the dire need of a change, but they do this to intimidate and control. That is why Bobi Wine isn’t even able to launch his album in the National Stadium. At the same period, as the ones standing in the way of the President are awaiting court cases and charged with treason. That is a reason why I don’t believe in it. Because, there are not acts by the NRM that are opening for opposition or even trying. They are even blocking the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) President Patrick Amuriat Oboi from operating and meeting internal-party forums. How can this government be real about having dialogue, when others cannot operate without meeting the police or other security outfits?

I wish I could be hopeful, as the dire need is there, but from the one who said he wanted to destroy the opposition and crash it after the last General Election of 2016. That President is most likely doing it to teach the opposition a lesson, not being there to give way or even give the public a hand. Because the old man want to control everything, every legislation and be the fountain of honor. At all costs and be celebrated, even when he is killing innocent people and making up stories, where the hoodlums are the problem.

That is the man that supposed to negotiate with, a war-lord with all power and his orders from above can be fatal to others. He has no trouble using Luweero methods, using bush-war tactics and to use the National Dialogue for that, would be stalling and securing who was the heads. What their needs are and find ways to consolidate them. In such a way, that they need him and not really talk. This is the man that haven’t the ability to find a successor for 32 years and always excused he has more things to finish before he leaves power. You can wonder is left to forget to do. What bridge isn’t fixed in Isingiro or what school is falling apart in Moroto.

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni will only be a post-boy with lectures, but at this point. He will only use this to make a positive vibe or address the opposition, as they are trouble. He has not long ago said where the opposition has MPs, he has striked that district out of the map and stopped developing it. When your discussing what that sort of man, you know it is only his vision and his stories that matter.

The President have to show another side of himself, but that will be lie. He will then lie, because we know what he does and what he has done. The misuse of power, the ruthless acts against people who are in his way. This is known and he cannot run away from it. It is known and public knows it too. His cronies cannot hide that fact. Even if they try.

At this point. National Dialogue is pointless, unless Museveni pulls a rabbit out of the hat and says, who he plans to succeed him and what the NRM dynasty wants to be the next Grand Pumba. Peace.

UPF: “Re: Provision of Security to cover an Album Launch at Mandela National Stadium on 20th October 2018” (16.10.2018)

Opinion: What is illegal about Patrick Oboi Amuriat?

I just have to ask after the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) Party President was scheduled to meet with party leadership for an internal meeting with the party leaders of Kasese today. However, he was blocked from entering today and was ordered to travel back to Kampala. The Police arrested him on the spot after blocking the road. Also because of lack of gas, they dropped him off in Fort Portal and further released him.

This is in the same month, the same Party President haven’t been allowed to accessing Kumi, Bukedea and Soroti. Therefore, he will struggle to meet and greet, but also access the party, as is his duty as the Party President.

If the police in these instances are using the Public Order Management Act of 2010 as reference, the law states that the internal gathering to discuss party organization and internal affairs, does not mean it is a public meeting and therefore, does not constitute the use of the law in question. This is in the explanation part of law.

What was happening today and earlier in the month, have been internal party gatherings and functions of the party, to discuss the way forward and how to organize their efforts. This has not been public meeting or rallies. Today was a meeting with local party leadership where the President of Party could also reside to follow.

Clearly, this is problem to the state, since they are now blocking the Party President to do his functions and follow his party. This is part of the paradigm, as the NRM are allowed to everything without any consequences, but the FDC have to be burned. This is yet another prime example of this. Where now Patrick Oboi Amuriat is now paying the price and cannot do his elected job.

What is weirder in this manner, did the police ever do this to Rtd. Gen. Mugisha Muntu? Did they stop him from doing his job and such? They stopped a few rallies in the Ankoli in the running up to the General Election, but at that point, the Police is stopping everything associated with Besigye. However, I cannot remember the Police crashing Muntu’s internal party work or even arresting at the FDC Headquarters, where others was taken away, but not him.

That was a side-note, but shows the difference of leadership and what it cost. It costs for POA to be who is and what he represents. Clearly he is striking a nerve and paying the price. As they are not allowing him to meet his own party leaders in the districts of Kasese, Bukedea, Kumi and Soroti. Who knows, which else districts they will block him from accessing?

Secondly, what is illegal with what POA is doing? To what extent and what rights has the security forces right to do this to him?

Certainly, with the knowledge of this police force and this leadership. This is not the last. Not the final straw. This saga will continue. Peace.

UPDF: Arrest of Four Suspected Armed Criminals in Areas of Buziga-Kampala (13.10.2018)