UPC: Solidarity/Congratulation Message (02.09.2016)

Sixth day of Presidential rallies in Uganda + JEEMA statement and more on NRM Primaries

This is one of those days. This is really not important because of all the lost lives in the terrorist attacks in Paris, France. We all have heard about those terrible events. But my sources keep feeding me material and I am humbly dropping it. The trail continues and here are the reports, there is still more to come since the rallies are continuing. So the feeds of that hopefully will serve you well on the Daily Monitor or something. New Vision will only show the beautiful sides of NRM. Get some balanced covering brother and sisters. Take a look!

Quote of the Day:

“Mbabazi says he was not in charge? JPAM got money for Northern Uganda, but he instead got a new Benz” – Hon. Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda

FDC – Rakai County rallies:

The FDC Team and the People’s President Dr. Kizza-Besigye are Rakai. They will be in Kakuto, Kyoteta, Rakai Town and other area. We are taking Power to the People. Kigwa Leero.

Besigye in Rakai today: “It’s not going to be business as usual”

NRM has rallies in Pakwach.

Message from NRM and YKM on the rallies today;

“I will wrap-up my campaign in Lango region today, thereafter move to West Nile starting with Jonam and Padyere counties in Nebbi District”.

Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on the NRM Primaries:

“The problem is that we have careerism instead of mission centered leadership”

Message from the NRM: UPC doesn’t have a candidate in Kole for MP, so vote for Ssevo!

“Since UPC doesn’t have a Candidate, people sh’d vote for M7” – Acheng Joy Ruth, MP Kole district.

Deflection from UPC and FDC to NRM:

“Over a 1000 former supporters of UPC and FDC crossed over to the NRM and were introduced to the Chairman of NRM, President Museveni, by the Vice Chairman of NRM for Northern, Hon. Sam Engola” (The Insider, 2015).

Go Forward Manifesto:

Amama Mbabazi has postponed the release of their manifesto due to negotiations with the TDA and integration of TDA ideas into the planned manifesto for the candidate and his program. It was due for release for today, but is apparently not coming.

Prof Barya: He rallies in Butabala, Gomba. 

“Big salary increases are possible. It depend on how we strategically deal with it” (…)”For Ugandans the issue is very clear, Uganda is transforming so the track record of Museveni is clear”.

Abed Bwanika is having rally in Wakiso.

TIC Candidates:

Maureen Faith Kayala and Elton Joseph Mabirizi travels and rallies in Busia.

TIC Statement today:

MUSEVENI HAS ALREADY LOST THE 2016 ELECTIONS

Museveni lost this election the day he declared himself sole candidate in Kyankwanzi. The opposition won this election the day they fielded two fellow very strong and organised bush war heroes Amana Mbabazi and Kizza Besigye. Amama has ripped the NRM into two equal parts and added a significant DP Buganda and northern vote.

Besigye has consolidated his party’s support, the “hard core pro-change opposition support” prepared it for defiance, and has committed allies in the new opposition formations like The Independent Coalition TIC led by Joseph Mabirizi. These two streams; (Amama part- NRM – part DP) and FDC -TIC will converge at some point before election day – don’t worry.

Museveni’s political end will come when he tries to declare himself winner of the 2016 elections.

It is common sense. If the NRM is now split into two, where can Museveni get 50% + one vote to be able to win? Recall also that of the so called 11 million NRM voters on the NRM register, only 3.0 million voted in the recent primaries.

President Museveni should only be re-assured that he will be safe in his retirement.

Next up: 

Gen. Benon Biraaro is unknown destination for the day.

Side-Note – NRM Primaries malfunctions:

NRM EC orders fresh Mbale Municipality mayoral primaries due to ‘anomalies that marred the previous exercise. The NRM electoral commission has set Monday November 16 for Mbale NRM mayor elections.

Side-Note – NRM Primaries malfunctions II – Dr. Tanga Odoi:

“The National Resistance Movement (NRM) Chairman Electoral Commission, Dr. TangaOdoi has admitted that party elections district registrars and returning officers were involved in malpractice which led to cancellation of results in some areas” (…)”Speaking to the media at the party’s EC offices in Kampala, Dr. Tanga revealed that on a total of over 1200 petitions that were received after the party primaries, the commission has so far handled 500 while 300 have been handled by the team of lawyers that was set up recently” (…)“Some of the petitions that have been handled by EC are those where members were complaining about the conduct of our district registrars and the way elections were conducted,” Tanga said” (…)”He further revealed that the party has commenced conducting residual elections for those election areas that for one reason or another did not participate in the election of the recently concluded party primaries for the positions of District Woman MP, Constituency MP, LC V Chairperson and Lord Mayor”.

Side-note 3 – Parts of recent JEEMA Statement:

“JEEMA and our candidate of thoughtful choice Mr Mbabazi do not believe in political patronage. We believe in a one and the same economic empowerment of citizens. In fact, Mr Mbabazi testifies, for a long time to have advised Mr Museveni on this but in vain. We thus, together are for total economic liberation for all citizens” (…)”This is what practically candidate Museveni ought to have done over the last thirty years before focusing on the service industry. Unfortunately we had in place a well focused political regime only pre-occupied with survival instincts that include rendering the citizenry into economic limbo. In the new economic order, the nation will wake up to: Massive jobs to our youth in the countryside and a drastically reduced congestion in the only city a 52-year independent Uganda has” (…)”Thus far, JEEMA registers our deep gratitude to the international community’s first ever visible involvement in this electoral process. We also acknowledge the efforts of Mr Mbabazi in luring them—one of the reasons that informed JEEMA’s decision to back him” (…)”While we appreciate the increasing support rendered by JEEMA members and the general public toward Mr Mbabazi’s candidature, we urge you all to use your individual influence and build up the mobilization effort in favour of a legitimate cause of change that Mr Mbabazi represents. We are proud of you” (…)”FOR GOD AND MY COUNTRY.”.

Written by Kaggwa Nsereko

Party Spokesman, Jeema

That must seem interesting. Peace.

Reference:
The Insider – ‘1,000 UPC, FDC fans joins Museveni ‘go forward’ (14.11.2015) link: http://www.theinsider.ug/1000-upc-fdc-fans-join-museveni-go-forward/

Fifth day of Presidential Rallies with issues between the Media and the NRM + KCCA saga continues.

Today it’s the fifth presidential rallies in Uganda. The first working week is over and the rallies will continue. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni is not riding in military vehicles, instead sending the NTV packing for their so-called biased views on the rallies. Then he does love the New Vision today who had a 5-page special on the NRM. There more deflections from the party. I will not spill all the beans. So keep on reading!

Quote of day:

“If you vote for somebody who gives some money, that person may not have the capacity to address you core interest” – Yoweri Kaguta Museveni

NRM Rallies and other issues:

NRM and Media:

Museveni expels NTV from his media team after what he called unbalanced reporting on him. As per now, NTV journalists are being escorted back to Kampala by soldiers of the Special Forces Command. Daily monitor was also warned of a possible closure should their reporting continue to ‘favour’ the opposition ‘against’ Mr. Museveni.

Dr. Livingstone Sewanyana needed to have dialogue with the media houses of New Vision and Bukedde about the current concerns the coverage of the campaigns. Dr.Sewanyana is a member of CCEDU, so he surely wanted to discuss the 5-page piece directly on the NRM rallies yesterday and not much about the other parties in that paper today.

Demonstration from the guys making NRM dummy plane for NRM Rallies:

For this dummy of a ‘plane’, the ‘manufacturers’ were reportedly contracted for Shs 400m to have this ‘crowd-puller’ at all President Museveni’s campaign rallies. Having not seen even a coin so far, a group of about 15 youths today stormed Kololo Independence grounds to take back their ‘plane’ but were ordered to back off by the mean-looking military police guards. So mean, the guards were, they threatened to beat up and break the journalists’ cameras who had been tipped off about the demo – warning; “for us, we are not your ordinary policemen”

Yoweri Kaguta Museveni had a rally at Omuge School in Bala Sub-County. Where he said: “Government to set up and maintain boreholes”.

NRM campaign in Kole South there was even UPC Officials was endorsing the President. At Benson Ogwal Obua the UPC spokesman has told the NRM Caucus and at the Rally that the UPC votes in the Lango Sub-County should vote NRM. Jimmy Akena of the UPC said this about TDA today: “Our instance on lowering our flag at TDA offices was because we hadn’t agreed to join the alliance. Party hadn’t agreed” (…)”I can’t make a decision on behalf of the UPC. Such decision are made by the party. Currently, we’re listening to both sides” (…)”We are listening to all voices. Our purpose in this election is to restructure the party and target 2021” (NBS TV).

He had a rally at Apac.

NRM members in Mbarara deflect to FDC:

“About 200 angry supporters of the ruling National Resistance Movement in Mbarara district this morning denounced the party and proclaimed support for the Forum for Democratic Change” (…)”The supporters led by Bitekyerezo’s chief campaigner Polly Katwiire gathered at Mbarara independence grounds before the Deputy RDC Jimmy Kateera and started destroying their party cards” (…)”They accused Chairman Jomo Mugabe of altering the election results and going ahead to publicly brag about it” (Nahamya, 2015).

NRM members and even FDC members from the Masaka deflect to Go-Forward:

“More NRM party members, including councillors from Masaka sub-region, have defected to the Go-Forward camp, declaring their support for Mr Amama Mbabazi’s presidential bid” (…)”Among the defectors were Dr Shanon Kakungulu, who represented Masaka Municipality in the 6th Parliament on NRM ticket, Ms Salama Nakandi, Bukomansimbi District speaker, and Mr Andrew Mutebi, the youth councilor” (…)”Others are Mr Daniel Ssejoba, a councillor for Lwabenge Sub-county in Kalungu District, Mr Raymond Sserunkuuma, an aspirant for the Masaka Municipality MP seat and Mr George William Bbuye. The political wave also snatched Hajj Musa Mutebi, the FDC chairperson for Lukaya Town council” (Ssekweeyama, 2015).

FDC:

Dr. Kizza Besigye in Kaliro at Lyantonde District:

«How can 19 women die every day and then u find women singing no Change? That would be singing no change to your grave”.

Dr. Kizza Besigye said this at Katovu:

“Why should we have a parliament of 400 MPs! Only 150 members can be enough. We will reduce the cost of administration and do away with unnecessary expenditure. We will not have RDCs and presidential advisors. We shall only have 20 cabinet ministers and 20 state ministers. These ministers will be the presidential advisors.”

Dr. Kizza Besigye said this at Katovu in Lyantonde District:  

“We will reduce the cost of administration and do away with unnecessary expenditure. We will not have RDCs and, Presidential advisors. We shall only have 20 cabinet ministers and 20 state ministers. These ministers will be the presidential advisors. After we have cut the cost of public administration. All that money will then be brought to service delivery. Why should we have a parliament of 400 mps?! Only 150 ‘mps can be enough”.

FDC’s Kizza Besigye at Katovu…now headed to Mpumudde for the first rally of the day.

Dr. Kizza Besigye statement after the rallies today:

“Thank you Lwengo and Lyantonde for receiving us, we appreciate that you are all fired up to usher in the change we all deserve. ‪#‎WesigeBesigye”.

TIC Candidates – Maureen Kyala statement today:

“It would be injustice to myself and my country not thank my friends in the media for the voluntary and patriotic excellent job of giving me constant millage and coverage and talk-shows all thru. I value every effort you make yet surely even my press Secretary is struggling on his own to make every coordination. I now know who the patriots of this nation are and the struggle has just started. I am sorry to mention a few, Andrew Gulumaire Andrew, Mbajjwe Rodgers, Kimalyo Tom, Uncle Meddie, Aldon Walukamba, Moses Bikala, Antony Palapande, Ivan Lubega, Donald Kirya, Denis Edema, Joseph Gwina, Bakaki, Yazid Yolisigira Tausi Kizito, David Lukakamwa, Baleke Baleke Trevor Solomon John Magezi and Rachael Wambuzi, any way the list is long. Andrew Gulumaire, you deserve a special thanks, Your my strength.Tomorrow it’s Busia and Tororo”

Today Maureen Faith Kyala had a campaign together with Elton Joseph Mubirizi was in Luuka and Namutumba.

Abed Bwanika held his rallies in Jinja district today!

Gen Benon Binaaro said on his rally today:

“My government will be a government of action, not a government of hoodwinking farmers every year with promises of NAADS funds”. He had his campaign in Bugisu today and also in Sironko and Mbaale.

Professor Baryamureeba’s campaign:

“2016 presidential candidate Venansius Baryamureeba says campaigns will slow down the economy because Ugandans are staying away from work to attend rallies. Professor Barya cites this as reason behind his decision to suspend rallies and resort to door-to-door engagement, online — especially Facebook and Twitter — and broadcast methods of campaigning” (NBS TV).

Go-Forward rallies:

Amama Mbabazi said this today: “Land grabbing is a problem in Uganda”.

Message to Luweero:

“Thank you Luwero for welcoming me with open arms. We must continue to engage on issues that affect the community. Once again I would like to emphasize that we must tackle issues of veterans compensation; Forward linkages especially agro-processing of the main crops in the area (pineapples and oranges), cooperatives especially with regard to financing of agriculture as well as having adequate Health Centers 3 and 4 that serve the community”.

Side-note:

IPOD the platform where all parties that have representation in Parliament NRM inclusive is holding a special Council meeting today at 2pm.

The Agenda

KCCA Amendment bill

The abnormal increase of Nomination fees

Side-note 2 – NRM Primaries:

There will be a by-election in Rwampara in Mbarara District, after Vincent Kyamadidi contested the NRM Primaries and the earlier polls in the region.

Side-note 3 – Kampala Election:

Nominations of Lord Mayor and deputy hopefuls previously slated for November 16. This is deferred to the Minster of the Kampala is yet to guid the Electoral Commission.

Side-note 4 – Erias Lukwago statement today:

“I picked the nomination forms for the position of the Lord Mayor a couple of weeks ago and set out to collect the requisite endorsement or signatures from the voters. On Wednesday this week, I proceeded to the EC offices and submitted the duly signed forms to the Kampala District Returning Officer, Charles Ntege, and booked my nomination for monday 16th November at 11:00am. Once that process was set into motion, Mr. Badru Kiggundu exhausted all his powers to reverse or halt it, and, accordingly, he is not at all seized with prerogatives to call it off on such spurious grounds that he is waiting for the enactment into law of what I would aptly term as the ”LUKWAGO BILL” that was tabled in parliament by Hon. Ruhindi . I wish therefore to inform all and sundry that our nomination programme is still on as earlier arranged”.

That’s enough. Peace!

Reference:

Nahamya, Joshua – ‘Mbarara: 200 NRM Supporters Turn to FDC’ (13.11.2015) link http://www.chimpreports.com/mbarara-200-nrm-supporters-turn-to-fdc/ :

Ssekweeyama, Martins E. – ‘Masaka NRM leaders cross to Amama’ (13.11.2015) link: http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Masaka-NRM-leaders-cross-to-Amama/-/688334/2954576/-/ka4ocrz/-/index.html

Press Statement: ‪#‎TIC‬ On the Besigye-Mbabazi talks in London (26.10.2015)

TIC welcomes all efforts that are aimed at ensuring that the opposition in Uganda manages a SMART victory in the 2016 elections. We underline the word SMART, BECAUSE THIS VICTORY WILL NOT BE LIKE THE ONE YOU ARE USED TO.

We would like to give some advice though. Uganda’s political future cannot be left in the hands of these two respectable gentlemen and their ardent supporters.

There are so many well organized, experienced and well resourced political forces of Ugandans within Uganda and abroad. Let no one deceive themselves that political change will/can come unless these groups have been consulted in a concerted manner. Without a broad based input, whatever we imagine as possibilities might become nightmares.

Uganda’s political space is no longer a preserve of those who emerged from the Luwero bushes in 1986 and their allies. If it were the case, the matters at TDA would have been very simple to handle. What made them rather complicated, until we have to travel to Kenya and now London?

We just have to scratch a little deeper than we are doing right now.
This is the same call we made during the TDA days. We repeat it here in a different way.

The key to change is not where you wish it should be. It is where it really is. And we have to be SMART enough to find it, by first of all dropping all manner of arrogance of either individuals or political parties, organizations or pressure groups.

Press Statement: What is the relationship between TIC and TDA? (25.10.2015)

Since the launch of TIC and more especially after the TIC presidential flag bearer Mr. JM (Joseph Mabirizi) was cleared by the Electoral Commission for nominations, we have been asked on the above subject. To us, TDA is a partner in democratic change. TIC will partner with all democracy seeking partners on the basis of mutual benefit and respect, but above all, on the understanding that UGANDA COMES FIRST.

We are not in competition with TDA. We are complementary to TDA. We are not in competition with any other opposition formation either.

WE are, however, in smart competition with the National Resistance Movement. We respect the NRM. But we will defeat them. We hope they will accept the defeat that awaits them.

TDA picked the Joint Presidential Candidate and now changes are coming!

Amama Mbabazi of the Go-Forward Ticket became the Joint Presidential Candidate in the coalition of TDA. As a lightning strike it’s has had an effect on the parties and candidates.

Instead of bring unity and strength as I and other people hoped the retaliation and movement of the parties has shambled the idea of a strong coalition against the NRM and the Mzee, head of state and long-time ruler.

First the UPC Mr. Jimmy Akena took down the UPC flag at the compound of the TDA. Olara Otunnu said the party where in the spirit and taking down the flag wouldn’t make a difference. As Akena has also denounced the Amama Mbabazi and make even the UPC camps go against each other.

Secondly the FDC has pulled their Flag-Bearer and leader Dr. Kizza Besigye after the decision to pick the other leader after a long wait for the stalemate in the coalition.

The main issue is that UFA, DP, PPP and UPC in general are following the picked candidate though that some of the parties have issues. Norbert Mao of the DP is following and supporting the candidature, the same with Gilbert Bukenya. Gilbert Bukenya while still go on his own independent candidature instead of being a part of the TDA. DP will follow Amama Mbabazi and hope to regain a bigger crowd with loyalty to the coalition.

FDC is big and biggest party except for the NRM. Mugisha Muntu and Dr. Kizza Besigye got big crowds and support in the land. Also a loyal staff and a hardworking party, that has run campaign for a long while on their own. So that Dr. Kizza Besigye has send in again his own nomination form to the Electoral Commission and standing with his party shouldn’t be seen as strange move after being snubbed by the TDA.

Though this makes a lot of the wishes and makes the opposition a bit fractioned instead of a strong unity. With the movement in the UPC which also shows to faces after the recognition and placing the bets on Amama Mbabazi. This have now showed frictions and weakness in the strength of it all. It could be for seen that Amama Mbabazi had gone out of the TDA if he wasn’t picked as the leader and Joint Candidate for coalition. So that the FDC does the same shouldn’t be seen as a wrong move. It’s right for them! But it gives the opposition less strength into the 2016 election against the Mzee. It has now two fractions with different programs and even if they both work for getting NRM regime out of power.

Amama Mbabazi deflection from NRM and into independent candidate turned TDA has really made the coalition weaker in some ways. Especially losing the FDC and also making the UPC’s own issues to the surface. That he can bring more issues up from is if the DP will struggle with Norbert Mao after taking over from Paul Ssemogerere. And that JEEMA Asuman Basalirwa hasn’t made any noise! Jaberi Bidandi Ssali of the PPP has also been silent. Ken Lukyamuzi of the CP hasn’t said a word either.  Beti Kamya of UFA has not been anywhere worth mentioning more than seeing she is somewhere and maybe in recent days signed a paper.

Now that the decision has been made and FDC has pulled their power move. Amama Mbabazi has made a coup in the opposition and gotten a prize of rising as a head of the rest against Dr. Kizza Besigye and Mzee. There are now three horses running for the Head of State. The ruling party and Mzee must enjoy this fraction instead of hearing of strengthen the unity toward NRM regime!

So if Gilbert Bukenya goes a single unit as well then it will be four people race for the Presidential Candidate, with three big men in the driving seat for the election in 2016. The NRM ticket, the Go-Forward/TDA Ticket and FDC ticket! Which is three swords with different edges into each other during the campaign while supposable being able to show power against the reigning power which seems a losing battle. With two pieces going against one big-man will be battle of noise instead of the unity that they could have been.

We could see something different and a positive note into the campaigning of the presidential election in 2016.

Instead we have now the same old instead a weak unit, FDC party with its own strength and the NRM party with the Mzee who use every tool in the book to keep his position in place and let everybody else scatter. Destroy and conquer is working its magic wand without pulling the string. He has pushed Amama Mbabazi out of the NRM and used him as pawn in the opposition that he could never achieve himself. Because his actions could bring the opposition could bring them back together, but the question if the FDC see the legitimacy of Joint Presidential Candidate who is not from their party. This is a slap in the face of those who trust in the Go-Forward ticket as the main ones of the rest of the opposition who is a part of the coalition!

The only winner of this tale now is the ruling leader. Mzee has yet again a fragmented opposition and not a collected force against his reign. His Excellency can smile wherever he is and know that Amama Mbabazi and Dr. Kizza Besigye will go against him, also each other so he can steal the whole dime and leave scraps for the rest as always. Because like Joseph Stalin said: “it’s not the ones that cast the ballots, but those that count them that matter”, I know I am paraphrasing the quote. Still the meaning is there and we know the Electoral Commission and its track record in the sense of how it pleases the NRM regime.

The now TDA Joint Candidate will have a mountain to climb in the new landscape he is in. He has always been a NRM candidate and lived in the shadow of his master. Now he is alone in the wilderness, but has support of many minor parties so he can say he is not totally alone. The biggest fellow supporting his candidacy in TDA is DP and Norbert Mao. Who would not have grasp or ability to reach in the Uganda! That is something that the TDA parties have recognized. So that it would be late comer Amama Mbabazi or Dr. Kizza Besigye was natural. Gilbert Bukenya couldn’t also have the reach of the two main candidates. This has beaten the opposition into a weird shape instead of strong unity, me and other people wished. So they could have moral and ethical leader to be something else then Mzee. Instead we have three parts rally for the Head of State and beat the NRM regime.

So know the People’s President will still be the man the integrity, but not with the support of all the other parties, though parts of the UPC wanted him as chief of the TDA it seems. Jimmy Akena has already tried to split the UPC so that Olara Otunnu would lose his margin in the party; instead it shows the fractions there.

This all leads weakness of the opposition… and the crater of the FDC are now showing what is left behind. FDC created a real vacuum and should be worry for Amama Mbabazi Go-Forward ticket. As the race against Mzee can they now be seen as a soft teams instead of a having combative strength together. Mzee can smile and relax a bit. The cracks in the TDA might happen even further if Gilbert Bukenya will branch out himself on a later stage. If the UPC continues to struggle with themselves and if they following the words of the Jimmy Akena or Olara Otunnu!

Mzee! Mzee will have a field day after today. The TDA has lost a piece of it integrity and edge as the FDC deflects and the stages of the UPC and other parties place will further imbalance the opposition coalition and we can wonder if the TDA will be totally fragmented into the campaign of the 2016 Presidential elections. Peace.