The SGR Trick: Which was all based on, if Beijing blessed Kampala!

The Standard Gauge Railway in the East African Community was all based on if the Chinese counterparts wanted to fund the infrastructure and the grand enterprise of rails in the region. Today, it was revealed, not shockingly that the SGR works in Uganda has been suspended. This after reports in the Daily Monitor revealed this:

“Uganda’s first phase of SGR, the eastern line running from Malaba to Kampala, about 273km (338km rail length), is expected to cost $2.3bn. Mr Kasaija admitted that Uganda has currently taken a back seat on the SGR venture, but will resume “serious discussions once Kenya is about to reach” the Ugandan side. President Museveni, according to sources familiar with the venture, in recent months had been directly involved in discussions on the project, and had hoped to secure financing for the first section of the railway line during his visit to China last month when he attended the seventh Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit. But he returned empty-handed. However, Mr Kasaija revealed that during the discussions in Beijing, it was agreed that “Uganda and Kenya will embark on joint financing negotiations” after Kenya has completed the current Nairobi-Naivasha section” (Daily Monitor – ‘Uganda puts SGR on hold over unresolved issues with Kenya’ 30.10.2018, link: https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/news/ea/uganda/Uganda-puts-SGR-over-unresolved-issues-kenya/4003148-4828902-156c5upz/index.html).

I have doubts that it will help reaching more agreements with the Kenyan counterparts at this time. As they have had plenty of agreements, joint communiques and meetings with the Northern Corridor Integrated Project (NCIP), which is going back to 2015. Where there was back in October 2015 on the 11^th NCIP Communique, where the document stated: “the summit noted progress made in the finalisation of bankable proposals for some sections and directed the Ministers of Finance, Infrastructure, Attorney Generals, coordinated by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, to undertake a joint visit to EXIM Bank in China to conclude Financing Agreements” (11^th NCIP Summit – Joint Communique’ Safari Park Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya 17.10.2015).

If you follow it clearly, the progress of the 2015 have been stalled or rejected, but the parties still want to pursuit the goal of building the rails. Even as even the Chinese doesn’t believe in it or seeing the lack of fortunes in Kenya to maybe wishing to extend the tracks further at this given moment. What we are seeing is that the Ugandan government has persisted, but not gone through.

They even had the idea of the SGR Railway in the National Development Plan II of 3^rd March 2015, which also holds the idea of the rails alive with this statement: “Joint formal agreements for plans to build a new Standard Gauge railway (SGR) have been signed by the EAC Countries. The SGR project starts in Mombasa through Nairobi, Kampala, Kigali and Juba. A cross section of the different routes of the SGR to the South Western, Northern, North Western and Eastern Uganda will aid the mining industry through transportation of equipment and raw materials. The overall objective of the SGR is to jointly develop and operate a modern, fast, reliable, efficient and high capacity regional railway transport system as a seamless single system and as a mechanism to stimulate overall economic development” (NDPII, 03.03.2015). By the way, the implementation of the NDPII is supposed to be between 2015/2016 to 2019/2020 to fulfill the Vision 2020. However, by the SGR failure, this shows the lack of progress and just the major agreements, but not the needed funding or possibility of partners to invest in the huge infrastructure projects the government has.

While on the 3^rd of October, the Ministry of Works produced the 14^th Joint Transport Sector Review Workshop presentation, where they by June 2018 stated: “The financing agreement for the SGR was not signed. However, negotiations to sign the financing agreement are in advanced stages” (Ministry of Works, 03.10.2018). So, you see, the government knows perfectly well, they cannot and doesn’t have finances for the building of it. It is soon November 2018 and getting closer to Vision 2020, but no sign of a working rails across the Republic. Especially not, when they are waiting for the Chinese to see it as a viable project in the first place.

What the government didn’t tell today or yesterday, is that the Chinese said no a little while ago:

“For it to make business sense, the proposed line has to reach Uganda in order to take over a huge chunk of the haulage business in the landlocked country ahead of the Tanzania-Rwanda SGR line. Uganda is said to have decided to revamp its old metre-gauge railway when it became apparent that the Kenyan line could delay for up to three years. A regional weekly recently reported that the ministers for transport and finance of the two countries were supposed to have engagements with China Exim Bank on the sections of Kisumu to Kampala via Malaba” (…) “This, however, flopped and instead the executives from China Exim Bank flew to Kampala and later Nairobi last November to carry out due diligence on the Uganda project proposal and contract application” (Guguyu Otiato – ‘Worry as China puts SGR funding on hold’ 06.03.2018 link: https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/business/article/2001294667/alarm-as-china-puts-sgr-funding-on-hold).

So, when the government are saying it wasn’t signed, is that the Exim Chinese Bank rejected it and hasn’t accepted the infrastructure project at this point. Certainly, they don’t see it viable or even possible for profits. They have already started in Kenya, but has to finish that part, before they extend to the other Republics in the EAC. Therefore, the SGR is still a dream elsewhere in the Northern Corridor, as they seemed more ready in 2015, than the donors or the development partners ever where. Because the GoU are not ready to finance it self and not have the ability to do so. Without getting funding from the outside. They have to beg for loans and grants to get it. Peace.

EFF statement on the 63rd Anniversary of the Freedom Charter (26.06.2018)

Tired of President Museveni’s “1986”!

I know I am born in 1985, but I am tired of the year of 1986 and the year National Resistance Army (NRA). The now National Resistance Movement (NRM) and President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. The liberation movement that has run the republic since 1986. This war lasted from 1981 to 1986, the NRA went out of the Milton Obote II government after the illegitimate election of 1980s. Which from then on has been used as the scapegoat and the ones to put to blame for ever since.

The 1986 is the magical year that Museveni entered into supremacy. The Supreme kingpin and mastermind of all it. Sowing the mustard seed and creating a newer safer Republic. The one time the peasants was supposed to have their say in government and make the republic a democracy. The Republic of Uganda was going from strong-men and big-men to run the Republic. Instead, it has been now three decades with manufactured democracy in-line with the vision of Museveni.

President Museveni have used all techniques to fix election results, paying villagers and making new government forms to fit his paradigm. Instead of releasing his promises he has built elite around him that is loyal to his brown envelopes or public fearing his security organizations. This is a special coming from the man promises all the possible governance and government structures needed, if he got into power. Instead, he has done the opposite.

It was supposed to get into a middle-Income Country instead of the Less Developed Country, which is the state is in now. The LDC that Uganda now is because of the state of government that President Museveni has created around him. That can be seen with amounts of debt, the massive overspending on the State House and the pledges around the President. Government of Uganda, GoU have been built around Museveni, instead of institutions and procedures. Therefore, the state are following the orders of the President and his Presidential Handshakes.

That is why, every-time in a speech at any sort of occasion the President will mention 1986 and how the state used to be. As of today 1 out of 5 in the Republic or 21% are between 15 to 24 year old. And by 2016 there we’re only 2% who are older than 65 years old. Which means that the President are part of a minority age bracket. President Museveni 30 years old rule are older than many of the youths in the Republic. They should also wonder what is so special about the years they never we’re living and about governments they never lived under. There are big proportions of the population who cannot remember or has been apart of the first years of the NRA or the civil-war during the 1980s.

They would be like me, they would feel the same fatigue of the NRA and Museveni rule, the extension of the liberation from Obote and Amin. The ones that Museveni mention whenever he needs someone or somebody to blame. Certainly mention 1986. The 1986 that are the most important year since independence, therefore, the NRM Day, the 26^th January 1986, liberation day. Instead of the Independence Day 9^th October 1962. That one is not so often mentioned by the President, since he didn’t get them out of the British Empire and not be a British Protectorate anymore.

Still, the 9^th October 1962 doesn’t seem to be important for Museveni, the 26^th January 1986 is the most vital one. The one that sets the standard, the day that changed everything and gave him total access. Therefore, the celebration of 1986 is so key and be levied at any occasion, and at any speech. President Museveni praises his overthrow of Amin, Obote, Okello and Biniasa.

They all just had to be overthrown, he had to make coup d’etat and make folklore out of it. So his name can ring out and be praised. Let it be clear, the President sings 1986… 1986… 1986… like a jingle never stopping. Peace.

Statement by Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, Chair of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic, to the Human Rights Council (21.06.2016)

While petty thieves get fined or detained; why doesn’t the international community or multi-national organization come with decent sanctions towards the Presidents who steals an election and in the end steals a Nation?

In our day and time there is a level of impunity and levels of carelessness that to an extent that revolutions and demonstrations are the only way out the deadlock that our leaders lead into it. The power-hungry and overstaying leaders who have no sense of fellow brethren and their woes as their cash-flow, castles, cars and estates grows piles upon piles up-to moon.

With that in mind you have these so-called elections that is more selected through in-party and electoral commission made-up for the ruling party and their President than for the people and the citizens to pick their leadership in the confidence of the polls. Even if the Election Day is there and the ballot-paper exists, there is still; the counting of the ballot and the rigging the result that matters. Especially when the higher courts and hollow chambers that are hand-picked men and woman that the President already trusts to deliver his verdict.

If a brother stole a can of fuel or took something at the supermarket and got caught. The World would proclaim and through fines and detaining be officially a crook or thief. Thieving on the higher level embezzling from banks and taking accounts of ordinary savers is called more economic mismanagement. The bank will get a fine and the CEO will be suspended, but the bankers will most likely get away since they are walking in the same clicks as the mayors, governors and Members of Parliament.

The Same mind is if you are a President or MPs and take the elections. If you are lucky then the international observers because of their affiliation with donor-countries or friendly powers of the regime; then the Observer Mission can be claiming fraudulent elections for free and fair with some malpractices and let it go. So politicians are not in the same league as the rest of us. If they are the right ones and ruling in the right area and have the right support from the international community. Then they can take a country, have an election and say they we’re elected free and fair.

Even if they create a sudden stability it will still be tension in the countries and certainly not a healthy peace. As the countries election is a sham and a fraud. The People know that and the citizens are not behind the Parliament and the President. Therefore the President knows this and hides behind the army and the Police. Those two are the keys to his long-staying in Power. Since they don’t need as big support as the public and their reforms for development; since the reforms and public transparency is not needed the President will not deliver that. So the central-leadership is more about delivering new equipment and salaries to the Police and the Army instead of citizens.

The Citizens are the ones that are stolen from and their voices are not being herd. The Police State and Militarized politics that are eating society and taking away the freedom and liberty that are expected to have legitimate power. Certainly the price of the stealing a Nation through the sham election should have created more fuzz and more sanctions. There should be an international reactions and not resume as everything is normal after a stolen election.

That Multi-National Organization and Bi-lateral unions between countries should make it harder for world leaders and Presidents to get away with the massive theft of taking a country. The certainty of if the leader can take an election, then the same leader can also take National Treasury and other funds as their own; make the national funds and budgets as private funds and embezzle national budgets to build own fortune instead of delivering citizens needed services of health care, infrastructure and schools.

The thieving of a nation should be questioned and should have certain reactions. Not walk like and react like you’re won the election and is a proud winner. Receiving congratulation letters and making plans for the swearing-in ceremony; also using a government funds on party celebrations while the decay of the institutions that the government is providing is falling apart. That is just wrong. That a man or woman who is illegitimate and uses the power would be more respect and not need the security organization to temper with the civil society or the opposition parties.

If the winner of the election was legitimate then the opposition would still create and question the ruling-party. Still the questions does not end with army taking over certain parts of the county, detaining leaders of the opposition or having most parts of the election decided in courts as the Members of Parliament squabble after a rigged election. The MPs shouldn’t need to settle the matter in courts as much as the Executive shouldn’t need to be questioned. The People should have given it and accepted it in accord with the ballots and the tally from the National Talley Centre. But when the Executive needs the Court and the MPs need it too; then you know something is up.

So why is it without reason, not really questioned or not really any sanctions against the men and woman who steals elections and rig them for their own benefit? While a man stealing a beer at the local supermarket get fined? There is a double standard as it is with bankers who through rigid laws and rigid malpractices of economic framework can get away with mismanage fortunes; while the man who empty the cash-register at the store on the corner get detained for up-to a year depending on the local laws. I am just questioning the reasoning for the well-meaning and fun-loving society we live in where the impunity and the world leaders are in cahoots to take power; while we the ordinary people see the arrangement and should question the demeanor and the reason behind why the national leaders and President with all their power. Can take the Power and get away with it, while we the other ones cannot do the same. That is not justice or rule of law. That is injustice and impunity. Then you shouldn’t ignore the call for defiance or resistance or demonstrations as the people should react to the open-door theft of their state, their government and their public will. Peace.

Office of the Coordinatior of the People’s Government Statement of Objectives and Directions (21.03.2016)

21st March, 2016

Fellow Ugandans,
Following Kiggundu’s fraudulent declaration of Museveni as winner of the 2016 Presidential elections, Uganda will never be the same again. The winner of the election was FDC’s Dr. Kizza Besigye. He is Uganda’s president elect. Museveni knows it too. That is why he has tried all he can to keep him under house arrest and to turn the streets into barracks, in order to intimidate the winners by creating a war like situation in some villages, towns and Kampala.

You have been asking “what next?”. You are right. Some of you think that the leadership is doing nothing about this situation. This is not correct. A lot is being done and the purpose of this communication is to let you know what is being done so that you can also find your own role to play in these developments. This is what is being done:

1. We are engaging our friends in neighboring countries of the East African Community, Africa in general, our friends in Europe, the United States, Asia and the Arab world to share with them the steps we are taking in protecting our victory and the presidency of Dr. Kizza Besigye, and to seek their support moral and diplomatic support. We have made good progress.

2. We are continuously assessing the capacity and deployment detail of Museveni’s security apparatus and working with our friends in the security establishment we have a sound idea of the capabilities on a half-day basis. We can confirm that Museveni’s security apparatus is in disarray, their morale is low, and units have been shuffled several times due to suspicion. You must have known that the Police and Army voted overwhelmingly for Dr. Besigye. The Special Forces Command which we had believed to be totally under Museveni’s control through his son Muhoozi, is no longer as homogeneously loyal. There is still some work to do there, especially since the SFC structure rests on Hima and Rwandan ethnicity. We know for a fact that there are already problems between the two groups.

3. We have also finalized mapping out the country into liberated zones where the bulk of the activities will be planned and piloted before rolling out countrywide. We have established control centers in all districts of Uganda. The responsibility of these centers is to develop the organizational infrastructure to service the new government headed by Dr. Besigye, which will be formally unveiled in May 2016 as the constitution stipulates. Arrangements for the swearing in of H.E. Col (rtd) Dr. Kizza Besigye have been finalized.

4. All efforts of our struggle at this stage are geared towards making it impossible for Museveni to fraudulently be sworn in as President in May. This we shall achieve, through your support and sacrifices.

5. We are finalizing negotiations with land lords in urban centers, market owners and managers not to collect rent from tenants for one month after we have established our authority. Landlords who will violate this one-month free accommodation agreement will be penalized accordingly. A one-month tax and licence holiday will be applied to Boda-Bodas, Taxi and Bus operators, traders and market vendors. We have completed negotiations with transporters to reciprocate by reducing transport fares for one month.

6. For university students, after we have established our authority,we will grant a fees-demand break for 30 days and a student who will have paid at least 50% of fees shall be allowed to sit for their examinations at any stage.

7. As incentive, once we have established our full authority, with your active participation, we shall reduce the cost of petrol, diesel and paraffin by 300 shillings a litre. This is also our way of appreciating the people of Uganda for the support they will have extended to the forces of change but also to compensate the losses that are going to be suffered in the coming days as we struggle, through peaceful means of civic nature, to establish the civilian authority led by Dr. Besigye.

8. Other such incentives are being considered for importers of essential commodities and other for other trades. We have also finalized negotiations with foodstuff and meat providers to reduce the prices for one month. For some of you are old enough to recall, (if you are not, ask who was old enough then); lowering of prices was done voluntarily in all sectors after the fall of Idi Amin in 1979 in the short period (68 days) of Yusuf Lule’s leadership which was rudely interrupted by the same forces that are tormenting Uganda today. So this is a practical revolutionary step we are undertaking.

9. Your responsibility is to be vigilant, cautious, and all the time active and united as forces of change. Be on the lookout for Museveni spies and zealous sympathizers who try to stand in our way and justly but decisively deal with them, on case by case basis.

10. In this difficult period, save all the money you can. Don’t be extravagant. Don’t frequent public places of entertainment unless it is absolutely necessary. Practice walking long distances on foot. Practice staying hungry even when you have some money to buy your lunch. Stock up on food and vital medicines that can last several weeks. Obtain a solar phone charger and affordable solar lights. As much as possible, don’t move at night unless it is absolutely necessary.

11. Don’t respond to invitation to meetings unless you have cross checked thoroughly and made sure that the invitation is genuine. Establish neighborhood security cells to protect yourselves from the so called crime preventers and other lawless regime functionaries. Don’t let anyone of you get arrested without a charge is spelled out by the arresting (police) officer. If any of you is arrested, inform the relevant persons immediately and ensure that if they have families, provide for their welfare, however small. Never abandon your colleagues in the struggle and their families.

12. This is the order you have been waiting for. You know the objective. Museveni must not swear in fraudulently in May, regardless of what the Supreme Court says. You know the time frame. You know who Uganda’s new president is. Your job is to make it happen. Methods will vary from place to place. This is not Besigye’s struggle. It is your own struggle. It is your vote that they tried to steal. You want your country back. You want a better life. You want to stop the corrupt and the arrogant from dominating you. You want to live in a democratic society that respects human rights. The ball is entirely in your court. Just do the right thing.

13. To protect our victory and to execute the mandate that was given to us by the people of Uganda, we are committed to pursuing peaceful alternatives. We sincerely hope that armed struggle won’t be necessary at this stage. However, should circumstances demand, we shall act decisively.

FOR GOD AND OUR COUNTRY

Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma on “Empowerment of Woman and the silencing of guns in Africa” (Youtube-Clip)

“African Union chairperson, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, says that should the violence in Burundi persist, the continental bloc can still deploy peacekeepers to Burundi” (SABC, 2016).

Museveni dismisses criticism that he has stayed too long in power (Youtube-Clip)

“President Yoweri Museveni has scoffed at critics who say after 30 years in power, he should not be seeking yet another five years at the helm of Uganda. The NRM presidential candidate who was campaigning in Ndorwa country, Kabale district, said it doesn’t matter how long he’s president but what he does for the country. He boasted of transforming Uganda and that he still has a lot to accomplish” (NTV Uganda, 2016)

Dr. Kizza Besigye message after the Arua Rallies

This election is about Mr. Andrew Buzzu, 90 years old; he has never seen a peaceful hand over of power from one president to another. This historic election can be Mr. Buzzu gift, yes we can give it to him because he deserves it, and all we deserve it.

It has been a two days sojourn over a total of 14 rallies, tens of thousands of men, women, young people, children grand fathers and mothers, we have talked to and I am sure as we left Boma Grounds when they were convinced that we have the answers to Rhino Camp, health care, jobs, agriculture, social security, Petition for infrastructure, education, national security and many more.

Let me take this opportunity to thank our party leaders and members that voluntered to make our campaign trail a success. Many of you who donate to our campaign do not have so much money to give but you are selfless men and women who have chosen to get involved in shaping a future with your voice.

Yes some people will come to you to buy you, but that money they are using to buy your support is your money so eat it with pride and ask for more, but secure your future by voting for FDC candidates and those who identify with our cause to bring the change we all deserve at all levels.

Thank you Arua.

For God and my country.

#Wesige Besigye

A NRM Twitter lie on a Infrastructure Project..

We can here see an mash-up between the NRM-Twitter page today and show the difference between their deception and the truth. The picture they used is the official picture and opening of A2 near Poznan which is by my recogning a bit far away from Kamuli or Jinja! What a #Steady Progress NRM! You are so smart when dropping knowledge like this! Be proud of your work and remember one thing, the internet doesn’t forget. Peace.