UPC directs Milton Obote Foundation (MOF) to Vacate Uganda House (17.08.2016)

My letter to retired Gen. Mugisha Muntu on the recent moves made by the FDC

Oslo 15. August 2016

Dear Gen. Mugisha Muntu and the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) National Executive Committee (NEC). This is not easy to write to you, so forgive me for my misgivings, but this has to be addressed.

I write to you today because of the worrying disbelief of methods to get rid of the police-state and the totalitarian behaviour of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) and the three decades run of affairs under President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. The reason for my writing is the concern of your party and the ways of backing away from going against the NRM.

I know you will not like my words Gen. Mugisha Muntu, even as democratic men we are we have to listen to each other and respect the opinions as they are for the greater good in the end. Like the Executive, President Museveni wouldn’t listen to me at all and wanted to jail me in the first second, I guess becasue he knew of my toxic writing. Because he is always right and the only man in the nation with a vision; I believe you are different and wiser than the current leader of your nation.

The state of affairs is not solid. President Museveni is a walking budget and uses the army and police to monitor and throwing your leaders and supporters behind bars. Using the judiciary as a tool of oppressing the FDC; the party you lead isn’t as strong as you think. If it we’re than you wouldn’t go against the man who gain public endorsement and public admiration anywhere in the republic. Something you are not gaining. I know you want to be more central, but you will always be second in command after Dr. Kizza Besigye. Besigye will lead in frontline, the hardliner and not the compromised parts of the party you run.

The compromised party of the FDC are the FDC NEC that let go of the man while he was lingering in Luzira Maximum Prison on the Treason Charge that he is still battling for questioning the “victory” of the NRM after the casting of the ballot in General Election 2016. This should been known and understandable of those feelings. As him and his loyal ally Erias Lukwago are still battling charges of the election of 2011 and the ‘Walk to Work’ protest. This should give you an indication of the usage of political gains through the courts instead of through the ballots.

Gen. Mugisha Muntu, I will be frank the Shadow Cabinet you have approved should be revoked and discontinued as it is not another thing that validating the Executive and his 10^th Parliament. Your decisions after the equilibrium and defeats of the Defiance campaign; you gave up and gave in to a few silver coins and made-up titles to stay so-called relevant in current politics. Instead of giving legitimacy to the NRM Regime you are supposed to stop and work against.

Honourable Muntu, you seem smart and wise. You seem like a man of reason and grand heart as you have showed through the recent years in the leadership of the FDC. But somewhere the battle and the building of the FDC have tired your mind and you seem more defeated than ready to fix the issues of the Republic. Therefore the reasons for defending the decisions to cease the Defiance Campaign and go into Shadow Cabinet shows so; I know that the party are heavy monitored that the Political landscape are militarized and corrupted.

That is why Hon. Mugisha Muntu that the NAADs are broke, companies being bailed out, SACCO’s needed extra funds and this is just basically government programmes to stimulate growth in the agricultural production. The others are the way the government under the NRM are hiring and firing health-works while not sufficiently fund the hospitals or salaries while the Hospitals are dwindling down like water at the Sipi Fall, all the way in a steady pace. And you believe that the negotiations and questioning of power in Parliament will bring down the NRM, really?

There is a part of me that is routing for you and also in sorrow of your bowed head. I understand you need food and your need peace. As the Defiance campaign made the fear of nation go into an evil spiral where even loyal youth leaders we’re tortured and citizens without court orders or a charge where lingering in jail just for being affiliated with the party under your leadership. I understand that might have torn you mind and tormented your faith in progressive change for the better. Because the power of the Police Force and Army has not dwindled or went weak, it has been strengthen and used more illegitimate means to silence the FDC. As with the court order to suspend the Defiance Campaign that had to be suspended after the reasonable doubt of interference in the FDC. This reality seems like has crushed your spirit and hope of a positive journey as long as President Museveni seems to be on the throne and run the nation as his own pocket.

This mentality and broken spirit is visible, the heart and passion of your decisions are not there. It’s hard for me to say this. But I have to, as man who stands by Besigye because he is totally opposite of Museveni. Norbert Mao is cool, but doesn’t have the suction or flamboyant means of gaining popular support. Olara Otunnu have stopped as career politician therefore he is not in the game. Hon. James Akena is pawn for Museveni and therefore the UPC is branch on the NRM-O party tree. UFA and the legacy of the opposition party is history with Kamaya speaking as a true NRM person and lost her ways.

While Besigye is the one within reason and with his mental capacity to fight with his own tears, fears and torture still fights on. He is hitting the wall and being incarcerated again and again. Still, he has more heart than you! Hon. Mugisha Muntu you are not even taking in and detained, most likely it is Ingrid Turinawe, Doreen Nyanjura and so many other top-officials have been either house-arrested or being detained at random. While you could walk around proud in Kampala; there we’re only during certain besieging of the FDC Headquarters in Kampala that you got detained during the last election cycle. Therefore you have a guarding angle who leave you be. While the rest are taken away their rights and freedoms of assembly without question! That should be questioned and I do it here, how come that you often get scotch free while other party members and party officials get detained?

I hope to see the spark, see the light, see the vision of the man I once saw. Hon. Mugisha Muntu, you can be the leader that many of us admire and respect, but if you wavier and give in; you will be remembered for stabbing your own journey for safety instead of finishing the job. Certainly if you show your true character and not the sorry face of desperation and arguments for the Shadow Cabinet… the reality is something you can turn and therefore I write in a plea to you. So you can see. If not than you will go down as sorry man of a possible great party with not only liberation, freedom and peace. Instead you are the one that once again gave way to the NRM to run the nation on borrowed time. Is that your legacy Hon. Muntu?

Peace.

Best regards from the writer of this humble blog – minbane.  

Mzee have finally wiped out the opposition as he promised after the announced victory!

“I will wipe out the opposition completely in the next 5 years. NRM is going to be stronger” – Yoweri Kaguta Museveni

Let be clear, right after announced victory from the Electoral Commission and Eng. Dr. Badru Kiggundu, President Museveni said that he would wipe out the opposition and he has done it with passion and certainly soon done it as his duty. In a way to make sure that the Multi-Party system in the Nation is a flop.

The opportunities and the silver coined framed opposition figures in the Forum for Democratic Change are joining forces in the Shadow Cabinet to gain some estimated figures from the coffers of Parliament and play the parliamentary pawns that Mzee needs this term.

While the Uganda People’s Congress are busy trading their soul with NRM, as they are getting two slots in the 81 size cabinet of 2016-2021. The rest of UPC under Olara Otunnu are distancing and in general might even create another branch, and party that becomes a new profile, since they don’t want to be part of the NRM and Obote’s son selling of inheritance to Mzee.

Uganda Federal Alliance have also sold their fortunes for a Cabinet position and is therefore silenced by the Mzee, as she the leader of the party want to serve him and also be a part of his established court.

The hardliners of FDC are either lingering in jail, detained, house-arrested or kidnapped by security forces as the rest of the party are playing hide-and-seek close to Yusuf Lule Road in Kampala. So the party of FDC is even into the half who wants to continue the defiance of Dr. Kizza Besigye, and the ones that are settling for the silver-coins with the lingering blood on it.

The Grand question is: where is the Conservative Party of Ken Lukayamuzi? They are not to be seen, JEEMA are they still out there? Justice Forum and their men who even have been besieged by the Police during the days of officiating Mzee; the smaller parties are totally silent or at a non-approach. Democratic Party and Norbert Mao have addressed concern and the initial connection with the shoot-out in Gulu, while that was not true and government made conspiracy, and with the newly dispatched Amama Mbabazi, the party should be stronger, though their lingering nothingness, proves that the ability that Mzee have had since leaving for his swearing in,

The Police Force monitoring and detaining, silencing and attacking the opposition, together with trading with weaker minded opposition have made the stalemate livable, as the mentor and ticking problem of Besigye, is going from court to court, and addressing charges after charges and even treason, as IGP Kayihura are paying criminals to be witnesses and uses all means, and even most brain-dead police officers to lie in court; like he did in Kasangati Court of late; when the justice had to listen to the testimony of the Police Officer who was a former colonel, but never been to the army. So the truth is that, as long as he doesn’t have a voice, the men are walking around unsure of how behave towards the oppressive and militarized government of National Resistance Movement.

All of the Opposition parties are toothless right now, the Human Rights Organizations of Kampala are raided and nothing happens. People and activist are kidnapped, soldiers are being shot and killed in made up conspiracies, while colonels and sergeants are detained as well. The paranoia of the state combined with the militarized politics and police force are taken freedoms and taken all parts of the state. The Opposition is on life support… Who is out there to save it, as the big man Dr. Kizza Besigye is away and nobody else have the legitimacy or the charisma to fight the powers with peaceful means while Mzee uses every tactic in the book to destroy and conquer them. Something he has been successful with ever since election and the reaping results are happening now, as he 10^th Parliament are soon in function and the government are soon departing into brown envelopes, as business is back to normal after a hectic year. Peace.

History repeats itself: King Mutesa II and the KY traded his inheritance with Milton Obote; does his son, Hon. Akena sell the same inheritance of the UPC, when he goes into government with Museveni and his NRM?

“I can confirm that we are in talks whereby the core UPC minimum agenda that addresses key issues like health, education and agriculture will guide all engagements over the next 5 years. As UPC we firmly believe in the need for a peaceful transition cannot exclude Museveni, and therefore any meaningful transition cannot exclude him and NRM from this transition,” says James Akena

Just as mid-November 2015, there was speculation of a convenient marriage between National Resistance Movement and the Uganda People’s Congress, during the Campaign before the General Election of 2016 and as a preparation before the 10^th Parliament. The Parties have stalled before as the founder and first Prime Minister Milton Obote, didn’t have many kind words for now President Museveni, as his son James Akena, the now President of UPC have traded for brown envelopes of shillings and longevity. He was tired of running in the wilderness, while the NRM continue to have the finger in every pocket and he wanted to be able to get something extra. So as Mid-June 2016 and the new Cabinet, even UPC MPs was elected into the 81 large Cabinet as a token of the Memorandum of Understanding between Akena and Museveni. Something Obote back in the day would have slapped.

This is what Dr. Olara Otunnu has said about the marriage recently:

“They are his weapons of choice to destabilise UPC” (…) ”This is not an alliance between UPC and President Museveni but an alliance between masqueraders Jimmy Akena, Betty Amongi and Museveni” (…) “It is inconceivable that UPC would go to bed with President Museveni. It hasn’t happened and it will not happen. Never” (Atukunda, 2016).

Planned cooperation since 2011, apparently:
“President Yoweri Museveni on Wednesday this week held a meeting with NRM leaders from Lango sub region who were aggrieved with the appointment of 2 UPC members in the new cabinet, leaving out party members who sacrifice a lot for the ruling party. The President told the group: “I know you honourable are wondering why I picked some people out of the family (NRM) to the cabinet. I am only sorry that I did not tell you people earlier, but I have been in clandestine relationship with them (UPC) since 2011,” Museveni told the NRM members according to sources who attended the meeting” (Sewakilyanga, 2016).

So with this in mind, that Dr. Olara Otunnu has talked long time about Museveni moles in the UPC Party and with the knowledge of the UPC-NRM alliance. There are certainly that the UPC are no on the short side of the stick, as they are not the ruling party as they once we’re when father of James Akena was running the country under the UPC-Banner after independence and traded for loyal support Baganda together with the UPC-KY marriage. This was in the 1960s, but the way the party folded and lost relevance, as the resurrected Conservative Party, have never been able to take the place in the political spectrum as the Kabaka Yekka once had, as Dr. Milton Obote abolished the kingdom and also lost his place Prime Minister, before the Coup d’état against him as well, that ushers in the Dictator Idi Amin. That also opens for the surge and military operations together with Tanzanian troops to invade and set in place for a second term for President Obote. That also gives now President Museveni, a place in his cabinet, before he goes to the bush to bring down Obote. So with all the blood and tears, it is weird that the man that had the ability to bring down the father. The man who got rid of the father and run the country, are now collaborating with peaceful with his son James “Jimmy” Akena who runs his father’s party and from his father’s foundation, Milton Obote Foundation and headquarter in Uganda House.

With this quick recap of history and neglect, it is just weird that UPC who swallowed KY with ease and tried to silence the Central Kingdom of Uganda, Baganda and Mengo circuit of Kampala, still they are now forging a similar trade, as a minor agreement with NRM for their own goodwill, to be a loyal partner with NRM instead of working on their own.

So with all of this in mind, let us take a look at the 1960s struggle between convenient marriage then between Kabaka Yekka and the Uganda People’s Congress, then between the King Mutesa II and Dr. Milton Obote as they we’re going together in the first election to gain traction in the newly made Parliament and also force way for the first PM Obote, whom later would force the Baganda and king in Exile, as he wanted to centralize all power in the Executive and not have to tangle with royals or kingdoms, as he abolished it. But before that and while in the beginning, he had a cordial agreement who both parties earned on and gain majority in Parliament, as they could get a grander place then the Democratic Party of the day. Take a look!

First Report on the KY-UPC Alliance:

“According to the terms of the KY-UPC alliance, UPC leader Milton Obote became Uganda’s first post-independence Prime Minister in a coalition government with KY, while the Kabaka of Buganda, Mutesa II, was named Uganda’s ceremonial president by constitutional amendment in 1963.25 From independence in October 1962 to June 1966, however, the UPC-KY alliance disintegrated as the UPC expanded and aggressively centralized the powers of the federal government, showing little sympathy for Baganda nationalism or the rights of Uganda’s kingdom governments. Indeed, the UPC repeatedly attacked KY as a “tribal” party that was unable to meet the nation-building challenges that Uganda faced after independence” (Scott, 2006).

Report from March 1962:

“Buganda and its king, the Kabaka, have been especially reluctant to cooperate with the rest of the country in its evolution towards a more centralized form of government. On the last day of 1960 it went so far as to declare its independence from the rest of Uganda” (…)”The UPC on the other hand is determined  to get into power, and many of their political maneuvers have a reckless flavour to them. Obote is unkindly reported to be willing to sell his soul to become the first Prime Minister of Independent Uganda. Some observers feel that his compromise with the Kabaka was just that. Buganda has quite a history of broken agreements, and the big question today is how far they will honour their word to support the UPC. The Kabaka, affectionately known around here as King Freddie, is the dominant figure in Buganda. A shrewd politician, he has a remarkable ability, no doubt inherited from his illustrious forbears, of playing one side off against each other (and often winning)” (…)”The Buganda-UPC coalition had fielded a new but all but unbeatable party calling itself Kabaka Yekka (Kabaka Only). There were high spirits in the UPC Camp, while the DP was exhibiting a stiff upper lip. Both sides claimed to be able to form for a national government even if they got less than half of the seats in the Lukiko” (Wright, 1962)

“In forty-eight hours the outcome was clear. As one newspaper summarized it:

The Result as always in Buganda when the Kingdom’s status and identity seems to be threatened, was a solid closing of the ranks and yet another demonstration that, as far as the vast mass of Buganda are concerned, nationalism ends at the kingdom boundaries” (…) “soon after we talked to Basil Bataringaya, the DP’s able Secretary-General who was in charge of the campaign” (…) “He was by no means pessimistic, however, about the DP’s future. He felt it had picked up much ground outside of Buganda at the expense of the UPC since last election. He was also sure that UPC’s marriage of convenience with Kabaka Yekka would work to its disadvantage outside Buganda where most tribesmen are intensely suspicious of the Baganda” (Wright, 1962).

This is what Mrs. Winklmaier wrote on the 6^th May of 1962:

“The Election results turned out as we expected. 21 seats of the National Assembly go to Buganda. They are elected indirectly through the Lukiko (Buganda Government) That means “Kabaka Yekka” (Nur der Kabaka) The other 61 seats are elected through the people outside of Buganda in a secret election. 37 seats went to UPC (Uganda Peoples Congress) and 24 seats to DP (Democratic Party). The Democratic Party is made up of the last Government. Then there are still 9 more seats, which are elected by the new Government. UPC is more or less a communist party. I cannot understand that UPC and Kabaka Yekka went together in a coalition. I don’t think that the Bugandas are aware of the consequences yet. [ The names of these two parties alone made it clear to me, that they cannot work together.] We are acquainted with both, our new Prime Minister, Mr. Milton Obote, as well as the former DP Prime Minister, Mr. Benedicto Kiwanuka. We are also acquainted with other Ministers of the New Government. One certainly cannot say that these are incompetent people – quite to the contrary. Moskau has a very good hand and in fact understands to fish for the best” (Winklmaier, 2008).

I think that says enough and gives you’re ideas on my perspective on the matter and also see the similarties, between KY and UPC of back then and today, today it is UPC who is ones that is trading it all for the little coins in NRM cabinet, while KY traded their legitimacy together with the ambitious Obote to control the new Parliament and Cabinet, as the independent country and new government loomed the nation. Today the UPC is one of the old parties, still their weakness is so obvious as the internal conflict between Otunnu-UPC and Akena-UPC continues, while the UPC now is really embedded, as proven with the ministerial position to two party cadets, the wife of Akena and also another family member of the Obote clan in the Cabinet.

Just the proof the issues with the alliance, not only Otunnu who has issues with it, there are more men who disagree with Hon. Akena trade off. Peter Walubiri says this: “Museveni gave Akena money and soldiers and they hijacked the electoral process. He wants to take over our party but he will not succeed,” (…) “We [UPC] have not got any ministers, people can leave the party anytime they want and those too have left. We are going to expel them” (…) “Everyone supporting Akena is no longer UPC, but Movement. Those that want to eat are the ones going to Museveni” (…) “Justice Musota decided that Otunnu is still president until fresh elections are held, Akena has never been UPC president. They hijacked the electoral process” (Mayemba, 2016).

So the convenient marriage between the parties might end up with fractioned party, even more fractioned and create more fracas between Otunnu, Akena and the ones that despise the agreement made between NRM-UPC. As there was surely some who disagreed back in the day with UPC-KY agreement, though with the time, their voices have been silent or haven’t surfaced. the UPC are surely only helping Museveni and not their own cause, one can wonder how much the trade for the agreement and what cost it has for Museveni, as he get his former nemesis son James Akena on his side, with ding-ling little coins and a ministerial position, but not any real power. While the UPC continues to wrangle and in-fighting that even the agreement creates more fire, and the hut is on fire, and the whole village sees it. Akena can claim there are no fire in the hut, but the villagers see it and feels the smoke in their lungs. With this in mind, the Akena-UPC are no marginalize the UPC even more, even if he thinks he is getting a good deal, he is not. The only one earning on it is Museveni, as he get UPC embedded and under his control, while he gives away to measly cabinet position. That is for him, nothing and also scrap-metal as they are meagre seats and not pivotal in government as it is not Education, Defence or Foreign Affairs, but Fisheries and other smaller ministries that doesn’t have power or reach to create havoc. Peace.

Reference:

Atukunda, Rogers – ‘POLITICS Otunnu calls Amongi a mole, Akena fights Bbosa’ (20.06.2016) link: http://www.theinsider.ug/otunnu-calls-amongi-a-mole-akena-fights-bbosa/

Mayemba, Abubaker – ‘We shall expel Akena group for joining Museveni – Walubiri’ (20.06.2016) link: http://www.observer.ug/news-headlines/44903-we-shall-expel-akena-group-for-joining-museveni-walubiri

Sewakilyanga, Ivan – ‘I started working with Obote’s son in 2011 Museveni (17.06.2016) link: http://mycampusjuice.com/2016/06/17/i-started-working-with-obotes-son-in-2011-museveni/

Scott, James Peter – ‘Re-examining Uganda’s 1966 Crisis: The Uganda People’s Congress and the Congo Rebellion’ (2006) – University of Victoria, Canada

Winklmaier, Sonja – ‘Letters From Sonja: The Unlikely UPC – Kabaka Yekka Union’ (21.05.2008) link: http://www.ugpulse.com/people/letters-from-sonja-the-unlikely-upc-kabaka-yekka-union/405/ug.aspx

Wright, Ian Michael – Received letter 10.03.1962: Letter to Nolte, Richard H. – ‘Politics in Uganda I: The hoe and The Chair’ (10.03.1962) – Institute of Current World Affairs (ICWA), New York, USA

The Shadow Cabinet in the 10th Parliament… why we shouldn’t pay it no-mind; it’s a tool for legitimacy of Mzee and nothing else!

Let me be brutal and clear, as the FDC Presidential Candidate that at some point the day before the officiating of President Museveni on the 12^th May 2016, while Dr. Kizza Besigye we’re sworn-in on the 11^th May 2016. With that in mind, he has committed treason while certain Forum for Democratic Change is playing Democracy in the Parliament of Uganda.

It’s like the Community Colleges and Students are playing the United Nation Security Council to clear out the problems of the world and fixing the issues, the same is the value of the Shadow Cabinet in the 10^th Parliament of Uganda. When you have a gun-wielding, opposition detaining, arresting and detaining soldiers and leaders of the army, while also attacking Rwenzori Sub-Region to retake and pursuit the loyalty to towards the central leadership and President of the nation; that is all done to control the nation, and when you have those activities happening daily and constantly, than the value of a shadow cabinet is pointless.

I hate to say that, as Hon. Winnie Kiiza and Hon. Ibrahim Nganda Ssemujju are only useful for President Museveni and not really for themselves. If they we’re useful the up-and-coming not to talk about ambitions Hon. Nathan-Nandala Mafabi would have stepped up to the plate this time as well, but after he have played second fiddle in last term and tenure in Parliament; he knew that those who are in the Shadow is playing a ghost-goose hunt into the wilderness.

Why I don’t care about the men and woman picked? That Winnie Kiiza had reasons for not appointing Uganda People’s Congress members, as they are surely in cahoots and embedded with the National Resistance Movement with their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) together with the loyalist appointments from Mzee towards the Hon. Jimmy Akena pact. So if Kiiza thought she had got cards in the trade, she dust and hot air, while the ones filling in papers with the NRM-UPC pact would have a initial pay-day where they together are looting the Bank of Uganda, while they leave scrapped shillings to the ones in the Shadow.

I have nothing against the Hon. Kiiza or Hon. Nganda Ssemujju, but their role is only feeding the ego and arrogance of President Museveni, and they are supposed to be loyal towards the man in Luzira, that what hurts, that the FDC NEC and FDC-Party went for the Shadow Cabinet and doing this while the sizeable cabinet of 81 Ministers! Those 81 Ministers are supposed to follow by their shadows with checks and balance of their record. While that might be Nobel task and usefully a task of opposition, at this point there are so much to stagger the dominion of FDC.

The FDC, The FDC NEC and the FDC Party in general should be more focused on getting their party in line and continue to work for the audit of the General Election of 2016, get in line with securing the popular campaign together with Dr. Kizza Besigye, as he held together with FDC Activists nationwide during the Campaign Trail of 2015 and 2016. That shouldn’t be forgotten and the reason for the Mzee to ban the different media-houses for their treatment during the Campaign. That was because of the traction and real opinion during the Campaign that the NRM Regime have done by all means to silence with detaining, harassing, conspiring and making life hard for the opposition.

And in this picture the Opposition is only as their faith in the change, as the Opposition are steadfast in the belief, that they will overcome the fraudulent system and their works to counter the totalitarian and Police State that they are living under.

In this picture and under this oppressive state, as their leaders and so many activist are hurt, tortured, detained and even lingering in jail, the shadow cabinet is just a useful to toy for legitimacy of Mzee, so why are Hon. Kiiza and Hon. Nganda Ssemujju playing with the toy and thinking it matter. Because is shouldn’t, they shouldn’t’ and the force behind it is personal greed and status, not for the cause of the matter. What the leadership and tarnished exchange of a uncertain peace that Gen. Mugisha Muntu got out of giving in, is not sure! But certainly the value of the trade is certainly only in the hands of the oppressive regime and the FDC sold itself short.

Dr. Kizza Besigye have played that game before and this time, I am sure he wouldn’t give in as the cause, and the peaceful transition have to happen in Uganda, at one point, there been happening in villages and at county levels for decades, why can’t it happen on the highest governmental position, the Presidential change and rule of law for that. A president need to be changed as the Government need fresh blood, not to be feed the nepotism, cronyism and corruption in favour of the NRM Elite, Musevenism and other clans connected to the NRM-O and the NRM NEC.

So please FDC Shadow Cabinet, why do you want to be used by Mzee for the small pieces of silver, when your own are detain, harassed and kidnapped from their home? How can you play these shadows in the august halls of the Parliament, while your own loyal youth and the men risking their political future in the word of the ‘Defiance’ like Ingrid Turinawe and Doreen Nyanjura and so on; while you are eating and living well in the basking glory of Mzee with the rest of WaBenzi! Have you thought about that and the consideration of the reflection of your values, as the leader you stood by and earned your space, on his merits together with your groundwork gotten you into Parliament and your letting him dwindle in oblivion between dozen of court-cases as the Uganda Police Force and other State Authorities are pinning cases on him Christmas decoration on a Christmas tree while you are reading the ‘diary’ for the Parliament procedure and following the calendar of Parliament Speaker Hon. Rebecca Kadaga… instead of following the ethical and moral authority of Besigye and his cause of a government following the will of the People and not Mzee, as government should do! Peace.

President might re-appoint ministerial appointments rejected by Parliament (Youtube-Clip)

“It has emerged that the president may re-appoint some of the ministers who were dropped by Parliament’s Appointments Committee last week over concerns about their competence. The Government Chief Whip, confirmed the development to NTV’s” (NTV Uganda, 2016).

Museveni withdraws Ruth Achieng’s ministerial appointment (Youtube-Clip)

“Former Kole Woman MP Joy Ruth Achieng may have had her hopes of becoming a minister dashed after her name was reportedly removed from the list of ministerial nominees at the last minute. Sources told NTV that President Yoweri Museveni changed his mind on Aching after meeting ruling NRM party politicians from Lango sub-region where the opposition UPC politician hails from. The delegation led by outgoing junior housing minister Sam Engola reportedly told the President that Achieng could not be made minister ahead of other more deserving Lango politicians. And as Maurice Ochol reports, two other ministerial nominees were not vetted. Gen. Moses Ali is indisposed while Okello Oryem is currently abroad on state duty. They will be vetted at a later date” (NTV Uganda, 2016).

Analysts: UPC/NRM MoU Not a Surprise (Youtube-Clip)

“Jimmy Akena, the contested president of the opposition UPC and son to its founder the late president, Milton Oboteis set to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the ruling NRM. Political analysts say the new development should not surprise Ugandans as it’s the current trend of political transactions with more politicians expected to switch sides in the near future. While Akena argues that his decision to ally with Museveni was informed by the need for a peaceful transition in 2021, Godber Tumushabe says it’s clear why this alliance took place. It was merely in exchange for ministerial posts and shift of positions regarding opinion Upcoming negotiations are expected to streamline the type of relationship the two parties will enjoy. The two parties are looking at either forming a formal alliance or a cooperation for the good of Ugandans. But is this deal similar to the one between Uganda People’s Congress and Kabaka Yekka in the early 1960s? And on whether or not the UPC/NRM alliance impacts on the UPC party and opposition politics, Godber Tumushabe had this to say” (NBS TV Uganda, 2016)

Opinion: A Second look into Museveni’s growing ‘royal’ court

“Our loyalty to NRM shouldn’t be mistaken for stupidity” – Hon. Simon Aleper

As well as he has taken old friends and foes from the National Resistance Movement, there are some moves that proves the Mzee are now involving the others parties and does that to control more of the Parliament, as they even have a place in 80-81 Ministerial Cabinet, in the newly sworn-in 10^th Parliament.

You have Hon. Beti Kamya (Betty Kamya) that comes from the Opposition party of Uganda Federal Alliance, she have been strong opponent and dragged and attacked the Forum for Democratic Change of late, and because of that gotten the joy of being minster. And some old quotes from Hon. Kamya: “He has approached me many times” (…)”I think I can manage the vice-president office in the Museveni cabinet. I would surely serve under that capacity” (New Vision, 2014). So two years down, and now it was okay with a Ministerial Post in the Museveni Cabinet.

Another one is Hon Betty Amongi, the wife of hon. Jimmy Akena, the President of the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC). This must be the payback for agreement between the NRM and UPC during the Campaigning period. So this must be part of the agreement between Mzee and Akena, right? Even if she is a NRM MP, she is married to an UPC President, it is like that was given because that.

Then you have also Hon. Joy Ruth Aceng; she is a UPC MP becoming the Minister. During the Campaign in November 2015, who even praised and said also that the voters of her region to Vote Museveni. Have people forgotten that? So it is not a weird choice for Mzee, to pick her into the swollen cabinet of his.

Another halfway UPC is the oldest serving cabinet minister Philemon Mateke, he was a member of the UPC until NRM took power, then he became overnight NRM.

Democratic Party, President Norbert Mao have today gone out and said that it is not a Party move that a certain Hon. Florence Nakiwala Kiyingi, who has become a minister in the cabinet yesterday, she was even at one point a “Go-Forward”, but she went into the election one a DP ticket. So she certainly can work with whoever who gets her place in Parliament and now will easily work with NRM.

With the knowledge of having a DP MP, UFA MP and a UPC MP in the Cabinet, the only party left without a MP in the cabinet is FDC, though I would not be surprised if Hon. Nabilah Naggayi Sempala of the FDC would have said yes to become a State Minister in the Cabinet, she would been the obvious choice from the FDC, who isn’t a die-hard and really wanting change in the Parliament. And she is so devious to be able to jump camps to get political gain. I am right, right?

And then some stray thoughts. With ancient history of Mobutu and the two that was not in the giant cabinet of Museveni this time. They being Mbabazi and Bukenya…

Here is some old reports on Mobutu first:  

““I have no comment to make,” Tshisekedi, interior minister before he split with Mobutu, said as he left the talks. Aides said he had accepted the challenge of trying to steer Zaire through the crisis in an uneasy tandem with Mobutu. Mobutu, engaged in a determined fight to prolong his rule, emerged into a crowd of reporters looking impassive. Asked if the negotiations with a score of opposition leaders had gone well, the 60-year-old president replied: “I think so.” (Washington Post, 1991). “What are Tshisekedi’s credentia.s as an opposition leader? He helped form and run the Popular Movement for the Revolution, the single party with which Mobutu has ruled Zaire for 26 years. While castigating! his former ally Mobutu for getting rich at the expense of the country’s poor, he himself drives a Jaguar. Mobutu’s biggest crime, accordiing to the European and American powers that run the world’s financial system, is not that he oppressed his people and kept them poor, but that he would not put the screws on them enough (what Cohen called “economic indiscipline”) behalf of the IMF’s structural adjustment programs” (Scanlon, 1991). “The opposition announcement of a new government came as the new administration of Prime Minister Mungul Diaka faced a major crisis. Two newly appointed ministers resigned from the government that he appointed only Wednesday. Mobutu sacked Tshisekedi from the post of prime minister 12 days ago. Diaka has said that his government to be sworn in Friday balances opinion and regional representation. However, Tshisekedi denied the prime minister’s claim that 40 percent of the 27 ministerial posts had gone to members of the Sacred Union. Key posts in the Diaka government, notably the defense portfolio, have been retained by pro-Mobutu appointees” (Hub, 1991). So Mobutu tried to wind the opposition in his last decade of his regime, even not working well, he made it even bigger than Museveni, Mzee, does not want to give away to much. But Mobutu surely gave some lessons to Mzee; as the Kinshasa government was after rebellion from the opposition. So with that he took some of them in, to silence them and continue to have control.

Somewhere is Hon. Amama Mbabazi and Gilbert Bukenya, wondering how come they wasn’t one out of the 80-81 Cabinet or hired as one of the 141 Presidential Advisors, they could be the ones that get the places that are still occupied by the “dead-ones”. Well, surely Mbabazi is now DP, Gilbert Bukenya was promised after going back from Independent Candidate in the TDA, to become a part of NRM-CEC. While so many others of the loyalist to Museveni is hired in the Cabinet and even the twice loser in the election, Otafiire got a spot to continue to serve Mzee.

I think that is enough for now. Peace.

Reference:

Washington Post – ‘MOBUTU SHARES POWER WITH ZAIRE’S OPPOSITION’ (29.09.1991) link: https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1991/09/30/mobutu-shares-power-with-zaires-opposition/2a6536ae-e7e4-488e-ae0f-2652e8e27067/

New Vision – ‘I can be VP in Museveni’s cabinet – Beti Kamya’ (13.08.2014) link: http://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1306914/vp-museveni-cabinet-beti-kamya

Scanlon, Dana S. – ‘Zaire, Zambia: IMF moves in for the kill’ (22.11.1991) – EIR Volume 18.

Hub, Mark – ‘ZAIRE OPPOSITION FORMS ‘GOVERNMENT’ (01.11.1991) link: https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1991/11/01/zaire-opposition-forms-government/23f3dc58-e4a6-4aba-b86a-5b8a2ad5eb21/

Opinion: The silent Mbabazi deflect from his Go-Forward to the DP!

Finally the former Prime Minister and former leader of the newly formed Political Group Go-Forward have been discontinued, as the work to create a own political party are too much work, and has he gotten allies in Democratic Party; which have been DP leader Norbert Mao, who won’t even be in Parliament after he was rejected before the campaign period in November 2015.

So now finally there are news from Amama Mbabazi, the former loyalist and close ally of President Museveni. He have taken another twist and added himself to the Democratic Party (DP), the party must be jolly as they have taken in one of the biggest catches from the NRM in recent history.

Well, the DP didn’t have much traction in the general election, in the DP Press Statement on 31^st May 2016:

“The Democratic Party would wish to implore the President and his handlers to cease the opportunity the “State of the Nation” address is offering as it can be the beginning of a journey towards a national consensus that will surely offer the President a new face and possibly acquire a Statesman stature. He can do away with the now more pronounced stature of an inconsiderate, unaccommodative African strongman, feared and loathed by his people but scorned and laughed at by foreigners” (…)”There is need to find middle ground with those who politically disagree with the President and more importantly, let the Museveni government drop it’s trumped up charges against the former Presidential Candidate and unconditionally release him from prison. Let the President address himself to a peaceful change of government and acknowledge that the time is now for the country to focus on the succession process from his Presidency to another. Let him assure the nation and the new Parliament that he is not about to embark on efforts to tinker with provisions of the constitution that bar him from contesting in another election. Let Mr. Museveni take political responsibility for the 4 trillion shillings lost in sham road construction undertakings that have been happening under his watch. We believe that this is the gist of the State of our Nation” (Democratic Party Uganda, 31.05.2016).

With this kind of moves and statements together with deflection from his own Go-Forward to the DP, the party can officiate a new period as the new term happens now. Even with fewer candidates and honorable men in Parliament, as there are only key strongholds where the councilors of DP are residing still, therefore you have seen surge to FDC and still kept close by NRM who pays villages for their votes in the elections. That is proven, so the DP have caught Mbabazi, but will he easily work under Mao, who is the leader of the DP and have been for a while now?

The DP Dr. Paul Ssemogerere was the recent leader from the party with major traction countrywide, even the threat let Museveni promise Universal Primary Eduction (UPE) at one point to gain more votes during the 1996 election. There was a surge when Norbert Mao also hit the trail as a Presidential Candidate before the 2011 election, but still, it wasn’t really happening then, as the rigged election and the Walk to Work demonstrations proved there was a wish for change, but it didn’t deliver that.

Now we are in 2016, there just been held a fraudulent election where Amama Mbabazi went as Independent and started his Go-Forward Group and went under the The Democratic Alliance umbrella of dozen smaller political parties in opposition, that we’re DP, JEEMA and others, as UPC and FDC went out of it at one point. So it wasn’t all opposition who was a part of the coalition.

Norbert Mao must be happy today as he will have somebody that can stand the ground against the NRM in his party, somebody who knows all about the maneuvers of President Museveni and his NRM-O. That must be a brilliant gift to the DP, as the DP need some fresh blood and stronger leadership if they want to be a serious party in coming elections, as Go-Forward was a one-man leadership and therefore unless many was bought, if they wasn’t paid they wouldn’t show-up, just as the Security Outfit of Mbabazi who went to NRM when the NRM-O offered money to them.

So it is good day for DP, who has kind of lost Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, who went independent in Kampala and they had their own DP Candidate in that election and he and the NRM singer didn’t reach Lukwago in the Mayoral election. With that in mind, the DP need players like Mbabazi to reach something, as the FDC NEC and FDC leadership is well-known, but that is not the case in the matter of DP anymore, as much as the other of Akena and the UPC, is similar. The old parties that have lost traction and needs a change, this might be what the DP needs, what do you think? Peace.