Defiant Independent candidates dismissed from the FDC

“Opposition Forum for Democratic Change has expelled three of its prominent members including National Political Mobilizer Ingrid Turinawe, Darius Tweyambe and Winnie Babihuga after they stood as independents following their loss in the party primaries” (Voice of Kamwenge FM, 10.12.2020).

The Forum for Democratic of Change (FDC) has put their foot down towards three Independent candidates who lost in the internal party primaries earlier in the year. Ingrid Turinawe lost to Dr Warren Katoora Tumwine for the MP Rukingiri Municipality.

Another one of these three was Winne Babihuga who also lost in Rukungiri, as she was standing as the Woman MP. She lost to the incumbent Betty Muzanira.

While the final independent Darius Tweyambe lost his mayoral race in Rukungiri Municipality to the incumbent Charles Makuru.

What is unique is that two of them is close associates and been part of the People’s Government. Turinawe and Tweyambe have worked close to Besigye. These two are the ones who has worked for years together with him. Turinawe as a mobilizer and Tweyambe as the Chief Campaigner. Therefore, these two are “high ranking” though not in official capacity.

These have been in- and out of jail because of their consistent work for the party. Turinawe and Tweyambe knows how politics plays out. As they have been so involved. At one point Turinawe was house-arrested and had to barricade herself out of her own home. So, if someone knows the pain of association. These two knows it well.

This should affect them, but also the party. That other parties are throwing their arms around them wouldn’t be shocking either. As these are the stalwarts that is ready for the big-league. They have lingered close-by, but never gotten the titles. Yes, they are involved in the People’s Government. However, that doesn’t amount to much in the coming election.

These are the sort of hard-liners and opposition who are fierce and has ability to cause issues. I know I haven’t mentioned Babihuga, but there are not so much say there.

That these three would stand or other losing primaries as independents. Shouldn’t shock anyone. If these was NRM. They would seek refuge under the skirt of Museveni and find another shelter coming 2021. These candidates would have asked for an appointment and a plum-job. However, in the opposition its little to nothing to gain.

Turinawe and Tweyambe can now decide what they do. Most parties are already settled and the nomination period is over. Their allegiance after the elections is all up to them. That is if they want to return to the party or if they are over it. As they have gotten no favours, but lost their positions.

Yes, they are known characters and shown resilience. However, that isn’t enough and they could not spark popularity within their party in their own district. That is why they have lost. These are all from Rukungiri as well.

Defiance is apparently in them. The FDC have shown their hand. Though very late in concern with the campaigns and the polls. Also after the nominations and everything. It is a bit late, but it sends a signal. That the party doesn’t accept defiance within their own. Which is fine, as these folks didn’t honour the results of the primaries. However, choose go ahead and run against the same people again in the General Election. That says it all really. Peace.

Forum for Democratic Change (FDC): Dissmissal of Independent Candidates (07.12.2020)

A one-sided court system: Lukwago & 13 others Election Petition dismissed yesterday

What Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago and 13 others shown the world is that there is one-sided court system or judicial system in the Republic. For the ones that didn’t know that, should know that by now. Because, the state can easily go after Lukwago years after the supposed crime.

Like for instance, Besigye and Lukwago had to answer for “crimes” committed during the Walk to Work demonstrations of 2012 on the 18^th July 2016 at the Kabale Chief Magistrates Court. That was fine, but when his filling in an petition in consideration of the voter registration and election road map for 2021. His too late to do so. That is a double standard.

We can see quickly by two statements by the judge, that the 14 respondents had no chance in hell to let this pass the devil. There was no plan to do so. The judge even called the Lord Mayor an activist, as everyone is supposed to be equal by the law. Not treated differently because of role or your participation in society.

Here is the two quotes that says it all.

First:

“This court also realizes that the nature of the complaint seems to be made by a group of political activists, rather than the actual persons directly aggrieved by the timelines set by the Electoral Commission. This form of public interest litigation challenging non-inclusion of names in the Electoral register should be discouraged and is not maintainable. But a political party should be the best complainant in such matters rather than political activists” (High Court Judgement 21.02.2020).

Second:

“If the applicants wanted to invoke the jurisdiction of this court they should have come at the earliest reasonably possible opportunity or sought leave of the court to file their application out of time but not to file the same as of right after such a long time of almost 3 years. The court could have exercised its discretion to extend the time depending on the facts to determine whether to extend the time to file for judicial review depending on the reasons on how the delay arose” (High Court Judgement, 21.02.2020).

We can see the judge determination to undermine the statutes with just this argument from him. Judge Musa Ssekaana had decided it. It doesn’t matter if Lukwago or anyone had merit for their arguments, when these sort of arguments runs the town.

Wonder if Musa could explain to me with statutes why Lukwago could be called for Walk to Work charges in 2016, when they were done in 2012? Why shouldn’t he and 13 others do this? They had nothing to loose to this.

Now that the case is dismissed, the ‘MISCELLANEOUS CAUSE NO. 431 OF 2019’ is now done. The chicken is fried and served. The dismissal sealed it. However, it proves on vital point. That the state is allowed to follow old cases on the opposition, but the opposition isn’t allowed to question old appointments nor cases. That is the double standard within the law.

Congs Musa. You showed the world that, maybe without even knowing. Peace.

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.

The House Always Wins: Turinawe and Nyanzi’s defiance loses!

Today, the authorities are finding way new ways to intimidate and insult intelligence in the Republic. This time its two suspects, whose already in trouble, who gets into trouble and continues to push for the good cause. These two are Dr. Stella Nyanzi and Ingrid Turinawe.

Today, as anticipated Ingrid Turinawe was in-front of Court, as she was produced after the foolish arrest during the weekend. As the only thing she did was to visit activists, who was brutally taken out of Buganda Road Magistrate One on Friday. Where she was just trying to deliver them. This was clearly an act of criminal intent, as she did try to do it twice. Therefore, the arrest and today’s short visit in the Court Room.

Ingrid Turinawe case is adjourned until the 16^th August 2019, she is charged with annoyance or inconvenience of the public nuisance and added assault. If anything ever was fabricated, these charges are, because as dumb as the arrest was, the charges are in the same category. The state is clearly pinning whatever they can to its dissidents. When is it annoying to give some prisoners food?

While the state hasn’t enough charges to pin on Dr. Stella Nyanzi, they got to oppress her some more. Just to prove their point. So, today, the NTV Uganda explained this:

“Stella Nyanzi faces fresh charges of unacceptable conduct in court. Uganda Prisons Service Spokesperson Frank Baine said the charges relate to Nyanzi baring her breasts as she was sentenced for cyber-harassment on Friday. The court session was held via video conference” (NTV Uganda, 05.08.2019).

The state cannot have the time to find evidence or the even the codes or statutes to pin people on, before they are arresting them and then sentencing them. This is impunity in its highest form. Where all sorts of rebellion are being criminal. Think about about, feeding prisoners and even showing flesh is now illegal? There is nothing that cannot be done, which is again make you a suspect of an offence? The ones throwing the bottles are now facing charges and sentenced too, by the way. They incited violence, Malice Damage and one with Assault (the one throwing the bottle at the magistrate). Clearly, everything that can be used, will be used against you.

The state is showing their finesse in the game of oppression and silencing of dissidents. They are doing this so steady, that you cannot follow up on all the cases. The state is so viscously going against people, that there is no time to rest.

Today, its Turinawe and Nyanzi. Who knows its tomorrow. My best guess is someone either connected to the People Power or someone in the camp of Besigye. The rest are on their merry. Because, the true opposition, the ones fighting for justice and liberty is the ones paying the price. The rest is just silently accepting the dictatorship and its painful exercise of arbitrary arrests, torture and suspension of freedom, liberty and justice. Which supposed to be all, but is apparently for a limited few. Peace.

A Divided Nation: President Museveni Versus FDC Leadership Conference!

Today, we learned that in Buikwe District, the only allowed political activity was the launching of industrial facilities and not a leadership conference. It seems like the National Resistance Movement (NRM) and the President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni can open and launch new projects in a district. However, the opposition cannot operate any activity in the same realm. Only the President can act and do what it needs to do. That is why, the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) couldn’t hold this in Lugazi Town, as the President was at 6 factories the same day.

This shows the irrational behaviour of the government and the authorities, as the state had to send the Uganda People’s Defence Force aka the army to block a venue and shed tear-gas on the public, as the FDC was only trying to meet their leaders in Lugazi Town. They were not trying to hold a public rally or even procession in town. No, just a leadership conference in the district.

A district where the President was scheduled to be at six places and six factories or industrial facilities. Certainly, the President is such a fragile mind, that he cannot have opposition in the region where his spending time. Because, then the fountain of glory will not be able shed water like a waterfall. His light is dim, when the FDC is around.

It is so dangerous for the state, that the FDC had scheduled meeting at the Paradise Pub in Luagazi Town. That Dr. Kizza Besigye and Partick Oboi Amuriat cannot hold internal meetings, especially when His Excellency is around. Not that it makes a difference his not there, because what the 2019 has shown is that the Police and authorities does what it can to block the venues and leadership conferences of the opposition party. Therefore, it is just amplified with the army intervening today.

But, we have seen the same President sending the Special Force Command (SFC) into Parliament to get his will done. That is why the FDC shouldn’t be surprised that the President orders the army to settle the score in the same district he visits. Because, the President want it calm and easy as he steps on the hollow ground. He doesn’t want a popularity contest. That looks bad for the propaganda released after the visits in the district.

We have seen the President and the Army now really attacking the Opposition. That is why the soldiers was blocking the venue of Paradise Pub and not allowing them. Also, tear-gassing the public for showing up to greet the leadership, which was also illegal. Clearly, the Ugandan Republic the one Republic built for the NRM and the other whose allowed to be prosecuted and be suspended, as the laws to gather or even do internal party organizations are illegal for the other ones. This being the FDC and others. Peace.

The Calvary intervene in the midst of FDC Leadership Conference in Hoima!

This Uganda Police Force and their cadres got some nerve, there another sacred or anything they cannot touch, which the opposition does. This is well-known trick of them. To show-up with plenty of officers and with manpower. To spread fear and try to block an event. Today, the 1^st May 2019 was no different in Hoima.

As the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) was holding a leadership conference in Hoima. As they have tried to do across the Republic, with more or less problems. Today, the Police Officers even entered the stage where the Secretariat and Central Leadership of the Party was. As they were already gathered and starting to organize the event itself.

This was a regional meeting of the party with the leaders within the FDC in the region of Hoima. The districts and sub-counties of the region. This should easily happen without any interference, as this is not a big public rally or even concert. That they block even before the public are gathering around the venues. Unless, its the National Resistance Movement (NRM) they can do whatever and get away with it. But the FDC have to ask permission to travel into towns, hold leadership conferences, but the regime itself can just show-up without any trouble. Peace.

The Purge on the Opposition Continues: The FDC Edition!

Today is a very common day in the Republic of Uganda. Yet another day, where the opposition of the President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and his National Resistance Movement (NRM) are using all law officers and use of the law to purge the opposition.

As this was an insignificant day, the Forum for Democratic Change and their Year of Action Campaign 2019 was hit again. Early in the morning the leadership who was sleeping at the Bethel Hotel was raided by the Police Force. The others who came into town was asked for documentation by the Police Force to enter and to hold meetings. The Police Force had already disowned and blocked their planned rally at Nyakasanga Grounds at 2 PM. As the Inspector General of Police J.M: Okoth-Ochola hadn’t cleared the event, this is the information given by the authorities in Kasese. There was already a few hundred people who had gathered at the stadium, the way the state got them away was with sending an Armoured Personal Carrier (APC), live-bullets and tear-gas to get them away, which they did to disperse them.

While, this is very common. The asking of documentation of entering a town from the central leadership of the opposition and raiding the hotel they were staying at. Shows their intent from the get-go. During the day, the Police also showed up with tear-gas and violence against the public. Since, the FDC was passing through the town.

Even as the authorities claim about the public rally, the FDC leadership of Patrick Amuriat Oboi and Dr. Kizza Besigye was able to enter town and also hold a leadership conference at the Rwenzori International Hotel. Where they held a successful meeting there. But we now know, that the FDC needs visa or permits to travel around. They need documentation to enter somewhere and show reasons for their trips around the Republic. This is what the Police expects of the FDC.

“Kasese: The guns did not stop our supporters from expressing their inherent rights and freedoms even when the coercive instruments of state that should guarantee their enjoyment of these freedoms and rights were busy blocking them! We shall win by DEFIANCE!” (Forum for Democratic Change, 29.04.2019).

We are now seeing, this as yet another purge on the Opposition. They have to meet with live-bullets, military and police force, as they are trying to gather the public. Alas, the FDC is not allowed or cleared to do so. This is just the continuation of the oppression against them. Yet another violent day, as the FDC just tried to continue their internal-party work and also spread their message. Which again has been attacked by the authorities, because they are active and showing resilience. Even, when the state is giving no way and just trying to spread fear. Peace.

Lira turned into a “battlefield” as FDC entered town!

Yet another day of this, as the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) came into Lira town as part of their National Tour, which have turned violent. As the aggressive attacks from the authorities happens at every junction. The Police Force haven’t let the party organise a rally, a conference or even broadcasting at talk-shows on local radios. Only blocked it and served live-bullets, tear-gas and arrests, even tried to abduct and arrest Besigye while on-air. 

In Lira was nothing different. As the Police Force came with mambas, tear-gas and live bullets to disperse the crowds. Also, do whatever they could block the radio-show, where Dr. Kizza Besigye was scheduled to attend and appear. This didn’t happen, just like anywhere else.

This story of the troubles of FDC gets old. Not because it isn’t important, but because it is the same story. Just another town, another village and another district. All over the republic, the Police Force is going after and using the Public Order Management Act (POMA). They are using it as a tool to stop the all gathering and deeming them illegal. If not making all opposition movement illegal, like moving from one property to another like Bobi Wine did earlier this month.

However, this shows, why ONLY National Resistance Movement (NRM) can be a national party, the rest have to be fringe parties with smaller bases. As if the FDC tries to build, organize and hold meetings. They are meet with the police brigades, the water-canons, tear-gas and switched of signals of the radios. How could Bosco speak nationwide if the state did this to him? Didn’t think so.

Therefore, the state is deliberately stifling the works of the FDC. No matter if they apply or trying to follow the procedures of the POMA. The state will not sanctions or accept it. Just like the headaches of Bobi Wine to hold concert even on his own property. That is just the way this state is. To stop the Opposition from assembling and even spreading their message, the state fears that. That’s why its using all tactics to silence the opposition and stop them.

In Lira, as in Kitgum and so on. It just continues. As long as Jajja gives them a nudge. Peace.

FDC Opens Party Office in Kitgum and the Calvary caused havoc!

There is something that isn’t right in the Republic. As wherever the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) is opening up Party Offices or holding leadership conferences. It has to be with violent force from the Police Force. Just like yesterday, when the FDC was gracing a local talk show on Tembo FM, the authorities switched off the radio station. So, that the public couldn’t get the information about the opening the next day through the airways.

However, this didn’t stop the party from entering town with the central leadership and access the offices of the Party. Even if it meant, tear-gassing the town of Kitgum. Live bullets and what else the authorities has to offer the opposition party. It shouldn’t be this hard to build a political party and actually try to have district offices in the Republic. But it is, because the state using its resources to follow, monitor and silence the ones who dissent.

Today, was another day of heavy weaponry and tear-gas in a fashion, we have seen elsewhere. Even as the leadership got to meet the local leaders in Kitgum. The hardships and the hassle of opening offices, shows the disregard for a level playing-ground is there. Where every step of the way is a hurdle, where the law-enforcement isn’t there to secure the premises, but instead trying to fight the opposition party away.

The Police was ordered to disperse the crowds, stop the gathering as the opening of office was happening. The public didn’t let go of the idea of actually opening. As they did. But it shouldn’t be like this. Even if this a cycle that continues. Today it was Kitgum in Northern Uganda. Next time its somewhere in Western Uganda or Eastern Uganda, even in one of the municipalities of Kampala. Because, the same rules are put up everywhere and the Police Force have bountifulness of budgets, funds and equipment to go after the opposition.

Therefore, this story is one out of a dozens. There is more to follow, as long as the public accepts it and let the Police Force, the authorities and the orders from above high. All control this and that gives the nod for these actions to continue. Peace.