Opinion: The Apex Platform is the epitome of what is wrong with the NRM

“NOTE: The Apex Platform is an Executive Decision-Making body whose decision shall be communicated accordingly by the Secretariat as directed by H.E. the President. The Apex Platform shall address the issues referred to it by Cabinet and report back by way of a Cabinet Information Paper” (APEX Manual).

The National Resistance Movement (NRM) and President Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhurwa Museveni has been in-charge and in-power since 1986. The Cabinet is huge, the Presidential Advisors are countless and Parliament is to big for its chambers. Therefore, the President has many hands, ministries, parastatals or state owned enterprises (SOEs). Heck he has created so many government bodies, oversight commissions and whatnot. However, with every withering year they are not creating anything.

Now, the officiating the APEX Platform, which he is set to be at the inaugural meeting, which will be convened soon, I suppose. As all the stakeholders and participants will ensure they are part of the new body.

That shall be chaired by the President, the Vice President, Office of the President, Office of Prime Minister, Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development and National Planning Authority.

In addition other permanent members of APEX is:

– Ministry of Public Service (MoPS)

– Ministry of Local Government (MoLG)

– Office of Auditor General (OAG)

– The Attorney Generals Office (AG)

– Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS)

– A Representative of the Private Sector and Think Tank Organization coordinated by the OWC (Operation Wealth Creation)

When you a see a list like this… and all the government entities in it and the OP & OPM. The clear indication is that the APEX will be a decree or a presidential directive organization. As the chair and head is him. This isn’t governing better, but making the government more hectic. As the President isn’t trusting the entities and needs another oversight body to look into the government entities.

This is made to ensure the implementation of Vision 2040, but we know the APEX Platform won’t make much different. It is just a fancy meeting place, which sounds good, but isn’t it. Apex will not make a difference in the long run. Since it is the same government bodies and following the direction of the President. This is just using the Ministries and Government Bodies to have a semi-annual gathering and meetings. It is just a glorified caucus and a new Executive Body.

What is striking is that it’s created because of the struggle of lack of implementation of goals, visions and planned programs of the state. However, this is only creating more hurdles and mechanisms, which is adding bureaucracy that will not add any value. Except for having another secretariat and possible busy-bodies working for Apex. Even if the already mandated government bodies has follow up, which is mentioned in the manual. It is still proving … that the lack of good structure or personalized issues of the state is going all back to the President.

This is following up the Presidential Decrees and Orders. They are following the Executive and his will. This is just making it a magnificent body to do it. Peace.

Auditor General Report says the government lacks ‘Fleet Management’

This is really special, unique and utter brilliance. For a government and a ruling regime so addicted to cars/vehicles. The Auditor General Report is really stating the errors of the National Resistance Movement (NRM). The OAG is clearly not saving its words.

When it states: “Management of government vehicles (Fleet management) is faced with a number of challenges, such as: inability to respond to national emergencies, like COVID 19; inability to support the delivery of public service by government entities; high government expenditure on purchase of vehicles; misuse of government vehicles; inaccurate vehicle management records; and a general lack of a comprehensive and standard government fleet management policy” (OAG, February 2021).

If you read those sentences… the challenges is the whole gig and set-up. There is nothing that is done correctly and neither is there any procedures to follow. That is the government of over 30 years for you. A NRM who is always in every election buying vehicles and gives away that to public officials. Therefore, they should have secured these things and ensured their ‘fleet’ which they clearly are not careful about.

Just in the last three years, 36 government entities bought a total of 677 vehicles with a total cost of 176 billion shillings. That is the average price of each vehicle for close to 260 million shillings each. While the COVID-19 donations to cars was only 38.98 billion shillings, which is used to acquire 202 vehicles. That is at a price of 192,5 million shillings for each vehicles. So, the prices on the cars have clearly gone down, but still expensive.

It is ironic that the Daily Monitor reported this earlier this year:

“The industry price increase is estimated to be between 6.25 per cent and 9 per cent spread across all sizes and models. Uganda is a net importer with much of the country’s motor vehicle imports sourced from Japan, India, South Africa, UK and Germany. According to data from Uganda Revenue Authority earlier this year, a total of 5,188 units were cleared in December 2020, which was a 22 per cent increase from the 4,012 units in the previous month” (Dorothy Nakaweesi – ‘Prices of used cars increase 30.04.2021).

So, on that note alone the OAG report doesn’t make much sense. Unless, the state suddenly bought smaller cars and not just Toyota Land Cruisers with V8 or something similar. Now, they are buying Toyota Corolla’s or a Sedan, which is cheaper than a big SUV.

We know there is no proper guidance or protocol for the fleet or vehicles as earlier stated, as the OAG Report further says this:

“Furthermore, I observed that 38 entities (76.0%) out of the 50 entities did not have a specific policy or guidelines on Motor vehicle management to guide the usage and eliminate theft, losses, wastage and misuse of motor vehicles. This was in addition to the absence of a comprehensive standardized fleet management policy of Government. Different aspects of government vehicles management are found in different policies and guidelines cited in various government documents, such as; the Uganda Public Service Standing Orders 2010, the Public Procurement and Disposal Act, 2014, and Treasury Instructions, 2017. This affects the entities’ ability to address the unique motor vehicle management challenges which may not be envisaged in the standing Orders and Treasury Instructions” (OAG February 2021).

So, the government haven’t any sort of idea what it needs to do, if the cars are lost, forgotten about or lack service. These cars can just dwindle or disappear into the thin air. Just like cars bought decades ago and suddenly found in a government organization parking lot dusting down. While the cars are falling apart without anyone knowing why and was a procurement deal gone bad or something. Therefore, this report isn’t shocking, but its proof of why this is a mismanaged cash-bonanza for the government entities.

To make things even worse, the OAG Report says this:

“I noted that 33 of the selected entities holding a total of 4,979 vehicles spent UGX.123.4bn on vehicle maintenance, and had an increment of 35.3% of the average total maintenance costs per vehicle over the 3 year period. The increasing maintenance costs were attributed to the ageing fleet. For example, 1,794 vehicles (55%) out of 3,234 vehicles held by 27 entities had exceeded the recommended 5 years useful life or had their mileage above the recommended 250,000km” (OAG February 2021).

The Auditor General is clear in the message. Though this is only from 33 government entities and still shows a pattern. It also shows the massive car-park or fleet it has. Which is ageing just like the President and needs a peaceful transition to buy new ones. Since, the government is on a spending spree when it comes to vehicles.

That will clearly not stop as there is a possibility there is a need to downplay the value of the current fleet and even scrap the cars eventually… as they are not fit to be on the road. This here is another proof of no guidelines or planned procurement of the vehicles. As that is a short-term expense and not planned for what happens after a while. That’s how it looks and it isn’t shocking.

We can always remember the vehicles bought for the papal visit a few years back. Those cars was spent a small fortune on, but left behind. To never be seen and kept in a government parking-lot.

The OAG is just putting the truth out and this needs to be discussed, as this is horrible governance and misuse of government funds. They are wasting millions of shillings and cannot even take care of the car park it has created. Peace.

Opinion: Museveni ask his new ministers to desist from himself…

“I call upon all ministers and public servants to desist from engaging in any form of corruption. Corruption by any government officials is a great betrayal to Ugandans who are desperately yearning for service delivery. I implore the general public to embrace this fight and report the crooked officials with evidence, as opposed to rumours and we will take action” (Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, 13.01.2020).

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the President since 1986, whose now richer than God, but came into power with little or nothing. Therefore, he knows what he did to get there. He knows the implicated scandals, the grand corruption and often noticed missing funds in the headlines in the Republic.

That is why these sorts of desisting from corruption Telling the Ministers and the Public from stopping it. Meaning it should stop and get all evidence on plenty of high ranking officials in this government. Get the evidence of state owned enterprises and authorities. There are plenty of officials who would easily be implicated and connected with government tenders and whatnot.

There is enough ghosts, over-inflated state contracts and some-what. Therefore, days like today. Feels futile. The state has created a lot of mechanisms, a lot of organizations fighting corruption. Still, the big-men, the men sanctioned by the State House and the secretive investment deals are overshadowing the supposed battle against corruption.

When there is lack of transparency from the top. There will be less from the bottom too. There is no reason for changes, when everyone is eating and the ones with influence of the State House. They got an ability to get kickbacks, suits, graft and so-on. This is not news, but a reality.

The NRA historicals can steal land, take property and easily, therefore have other perks too. The NRM knows this and let them go. If your big enough and has the blessing, you can eat UNRA funds, eat NSSF funds and GAVI Funds with no costs or damages. You get to build a mansion and own business, on stolen funds.

That is why statements like today is worthless. Not believable. He has the Public Procurement And Disposal of Public Assets Authority (PPDA), Financial Intelligence Authority (FIA), State House Anti-Corruption Unit, Inspectorate of Government (IGG) and Auditor General (AG). Nevertheless, the big-fish is not getting caught. You have the Police Force and the Judiciary too. Still, all of these cooks cannot make a decent meal. Its a bland mix of watery soup, not even a good broth.

That is why President Museveni. We have to see you fight yourself. Not walk, not talk, but battle your own shadow and that’s not happening. Because, your not a cartoon character, but a self-styled President for Life. Peace.

Opinion: Parasites and lies, a walk against himself…

“I have never stolen anything from anybody. And I am also not a poor man” – Yoweri Kaguta Museveni at the Walk Against Corruption on the 4^th December 2019

Today, was the official walk against Corruption in Kampala, as the President, the Anti-Corruption Unit at the State House and all other governing parties involved muster up a decent crowd of paid participants, staff and whatnot, security guards and whoever they could find. To walk a distance in the midst of Kampala.

At one point, the guards and security told pieces of the march to slow down, because it couldn’t walk faster than the President. Even as he went to Kololo, he still went at a rate, that was to slow too many. This walk will not change anything. It is a PR Stunt, which will not gain anything fruitful. It is more public wastage in order of looking sincere, which it is not and will never, be.

“It is a moral problem because you make yourself a parasite. Corrupt people are parasites because they get wealth which they did not earn, because they think that God does not see the bad things they do. In the last 60 years, I have been watching and I have not seen these corrupt people being successful sustainably” – Yoweri Kaguta Museveni at the Walk Against Corruption on the 4th December 2019

With this in mind, the President is truthfully telling the world that his rich. His vastly rich, Ritchie Rich, rich actually. However, the President doesn’t tell how he got there. It was not like he had wealth and assets going into the role of the Presidency. Not like he had estates, businesses and ranches going in. No, he was an impoverished former Minister, who had gotten grants by mercy of Nyerere and who was hired by Obote II. That is who he was until 1986. Therefore, his wealth has come with power and with incentives given to him over time, also boosting his accounts and also his cronies.

Secondly, if it is a moral problem, then its engraved into this administration. If corrupt people are insects and parasites, there is surely a lot of them in his cabinet, in his offices and around his closest associates. Himself is a parasite then. Because, he haven’t gained wealth on innovation, marketing or basic business models, but by being in-office and getting bargain by kickbacks and inside deals.

Last, but not last. We can say you Mr. President has been successful, gaining more and more power, more and more money and depleting the state, little by little. To a point, where nothing isn’t up for grabs, where secret deals inside the State House decides, if they are staying or going. The Presidential Handshakes and whatnot is the ones crediting to you. That is why walking today is obnoxious and outrageous. Only naïve and dumbfounded people believes this PR Stunt.

The man cannot fight himself. He will not tarnish his own creation and destroy what he keeps him there. Therefore, this is charade, packed as a rally and a march against something. But in the end, it will only further show the rot, the plight and the suffering the actions made by this cause. Peace.

Follow the Code: A secret walk against corruption

“On 4th December, 2019, H.E the President of the Republic of Uganda will lead the walk code named Anti- corruption walk. The walk is aimed at intensifying the fight against corruption. The walk will start from Constitutional Square to Kololo and a number of people are expected to participate in this walk” (Uganda Police Force – ‘TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR ANTI-CORRUPTION WALK ON 4/12/2019’ 03.12.2019).

Merriam Webster states that a code name means: “a designation having a coded and usually secret meaning” (“Code name.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/code%20name). With this in mind, I never believed that His Excellency or the President is serious about this.

This is the President whose have had issues with demonstrations, protests and rebellion. Therefore, his not the man whose walking against anything. He was a rebel at one point, but that was for his own cause. That is why his stayed in power since 1986 and never left.

With that in mind, the man whose known for having someone close to his office or cabinet connected in some corruption every single year. It is seemingly happening, there are like those proverbs in the papers saying: “Missing Funds”, “Unaccounted Donor Grants”, “Fake Corporations/Products”, “Ghost Employees” and so-on. Even knowledge of kickbacks, secret agreements between the President and Foreign Investors. That is just happens on the regular.

That’s why the President has created dozens of agencies supposed to have the ability to monitor the state organizations, businesses and tenders. This being the Inspector General of Government (IGG), Office of the Auditor General (OAG), Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority(PPDA), Anti-Corruption Unit – State House or even the Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA). All of these are supposed to combat the ill called corruption. Still, these are not able to do so, neither are the Judiciary nor the Law Enforcement they are working in tandem with.

That is why the walk is even more ridiculous, as if it’s not the man whose the V.I.P or the Fountain of Honour, whose often involved or accepts the corruption. That being some road-scandal, illegal tender nor the Presidential Handshake. Neither some procurement for some government agency played around with to ensure someone got greased.

So, this walk against corruption. The man whose behind the grand-corruption and his party is usually connected directly in these operations. That is why tomorrows walk is walking against itself. This is like the man who makes everyone sick, suddenly will drop the cure. The man who drops bombs over a nation, suddenly calls and walks for peace. It doesn’t work. That isn’t real!

Unless, the old man with the hat starts to shadow boxing himself, knock himself out and suddenly understand that his the problem. Not that it will happen. This is a PR stunt and nothing else. The NRM MPs, the ones who wants to show loyalty will show up. But everyone knows the state who does this on the regular. Will not stop doing it. That is why Total had secret talks in the State House with the President just this week.

We cannot expect anyone than the small-fry gets charged and taken into custody. The ones who are the big-fish will not touched, unless they have fallen out with Jajja. Peace.

Opinion: Did the Anti-Corruption Unit at the State House overtake the IGG?

Irene Mulyagonja, the fourth Inspector General of General (IGG), who was appointed to this position in 2012. Are now six years later appointed to Courts of Appeals as a judge. A position she used to have since 2008, when she appointed as a High Court judge back-then. Therefore, she’s returning to her field of work after 7 years in “absence”.

What is clear is that the IGG has lost the mantle, haven’t been as focused or had the pivotal role as it could have had. However, that is not her fault. The state has established a new Anti-Corruption Unit in the State House. The IGG, had already competition with the Financial Intelligence Authority (FIA), the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority (PPDA) and the Uganda Investment Authority (UIA). Combined with the Office of the Attorney General (OAG), the Judiciary and the law-enforcement in general. Therefore, in the field of anti-corruption, there is a bit many chefs to compete with.

So, as an IGG she’s become more of a ghost. But that is because, well, the state has funded and created the State House initiative, which have put the others on the back-burner. Not like they have any prominence or reckoning of late. I cannot even remember a substantial report from either of the authorities in ages. That revealed something substantial or even investigated state owned enterprises nor the government tenders. Its been so little or nothing.

With this in mind, maybe it was a gift from the President to appoint her to the Courts of Appeals. So, she can use her skills, her experience and her knowledge to good use. Since it was wasted at the IGG.

We can hope this is greener pastures, maybe even a relief. Since, the hopelessness and the diverted fight against corruption must be boring. When the ones and cases are directed to the State House and not to the other authorities. Even if their mandate, their mission and their government position is more bearing in law and in print, than the one suddenly created last year.

Well, good luck at a new venture Irene Mulyagonja. We have to see who will be the fifth IGG and who will be the ghost in the machine. Because the role of the IGG has diminished with time. We can just wonder, why they bother even having it at this point and time? Peace.

Uganda National Oil Company: Press Release (14.05.2019)

Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC): Dr. Josephine Wapakabulo resignation letter as Chief Executive Officer (13.05.2019)

Uganda: Anti-Corruption Unit – Request for Your Intervention in the Delayed Confirmation of Officers in Acting Capacity and Irregular Recruitment of Inspectorate Officers into the Inspectorate of Government (20.03.2019)

AG Byaruhanga tries to make a bribe into a donation: Per President Order!

“Do not act as if you had ten thousand years to throw away. Death stands at your elbow. Be good for something while you live and it is in your power.” – Marcus Aurelius

Today, Attorney General William Byaruhanga delivered his Interim Report on the indictment and the criminal charges of Patrick Ho in connection with Minister of Foreign Affairs Sam Kuteesa and President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. This has been known now and if these was just mere charges, than the Chinese National wouldn’t get charged and sentenced in a United States Court.

This is because the Chinese National offered a bribe of 500,000 USD each for a possible Oil Deal for a Chinese Company in Uganda. Therefore, the Chinese National made it possible for the high-ranking officials in the Ugandan government to solicit half-a-million United States Dollars for it. That is why we are here today. This was signed off as a Campaign contribution, but by that time, the President had already been re-elected in 2016. We know this, but has to say all this before I quote the Interim Report. What is special about the case too, is that the government will claim the Foundation owned by Kuteesa, but has anyone seen it outside of a paper and a registered entity outside of Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB), which it was in 2015. That is why today is special, because a ghost entity got good money for a possible business transaction… that would favorable for the repentance, which happens to the Minister and President.

What is also important to state, which is already white-washed in the interim report, is the delivery of the bribe. That went through customs, which was mailed between the Chinese National and the Minister. Who both combined their efforts to send the money and deliver it in cash, in secrecy, as it was intended to a favorable transaction. Not something that was supposed to end up in Court Documents in the United States and incriminate one, while implicating the high-ranking officials in Uganda.

With that in mind.

The quote:

“The Foundation received a sum of US$ 499,993 on 9’h May 2016 from a Hong Kong-based NGO known as China Energy Fund Committee. The money was a donation to the Food Security and Energy Sustainability Foundation which Hon. Kutes a and his wife started as a vehicle for enabling Hon. Kutesa to continue to champion some of the causes he had spearheaded during his tenure as the President of the General Assembly of the United Nations with respect to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals”.

While that quote is special and says a lot, it does trying to clear the implicated Minister in the Corruption Scandal that has rocked the man. That the Auditor General did this on direct order from the President. This was to ensure the President and his ally Kuteesa got off the hook. That is why the Foundation and the “donation” we’re the Chinese National had reasons to give there. Like we are naive.

The Foundation is just based on paper. There are no proof of their work or whatever their supposed to do. Certainly, they are servicing some special and unique unicorns, sorry, ghosts. Because, this money came by plane from the United States to Entebbe International Airport, as it entered the Customs as warned to the parties involved.

So, I have a hard time believing the AG in this matter, as he is trying to figure out a way to clear he Minister of his implication, per order as a loyal subject of the President. Who also got money in the transaction done by the Chinese National. They all know this.

Time for the AG get his act together, unless he is a blind soldier for the President. Peace.

Reference:

Interim Report of the Auditor General on Allegations of Bribery against Hon. Sam Kuteesa, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in Connection with the Trial of One, Mr. Chi Ping Patrick Ho, A Chinese National, In the United States