Opinion: This Ebola spread is getting ugly…

“The ministry of health has revealed that six school-going children in three schools in Rubaga division in Kampala have tested positive for Ebola” (NTV Uganda, 26.10.2022).

“The Ministry of Health has cautioned parents and schools in Kampala to increase vigilance and adherence to the standard operating procedures following confirmed cases of Ebola among some students in Rubaga division of Kampala” (NBS Television, 26.10.2022).

“President Museveni has imposed a 21-day lockdown on the central districts of Mubende and Kassanda to contain an Ebola outbreak that has already claimed 19 lives in Uganda. “Movements into and out of Mubende and Kassanda is prohibited,” President Museveni directed in his third quick-succession night televised address on Ebola” (David Vosh Ajuna – ‘Ebola: Museveni puts Mubende, Kassanda under 21-day lockdown’ 15.10.2022, 93.3 KFM Radio).

The lockdown of Mubende and Kassanda districts has clearly not stopped the transmission of the Ebola virus in the Republic. There is now more spread of it in Kampala. Things are getting worse and rapidly a problem, which seems to soon out of control.

This can also be said after not only the news from the Ministry of Health today with further cases in Kampala. However, also the boda-boda driver at Kololo. This shows that the virus is spreading and at a rate, which seems to be spiralling.

With the knowledge we have of Ebola, this is serious. Just read a part of the fact-sheet from the World Health Organization (WHO), which is specific on how Ebola virus is spreading…

“Ebola virus disease (EVD), formerly known as Ebola haemorrhagic fever, is a severe, often fatal illness affecting humans and other primates. The virus is transmitted to people from wild animals (such as fruit bats, porcupines and non-human primates) and then spreads in the human population through direct contact with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected people, and with surfaces and materials (e.g. bedding, clothing) contaminated with these fluids. The average EVD case fatality rate is around 50%. Case fatality rates have varied from 25% to 90% in past outbreaks” (WHO – ‘Fact Sheets: Ebola virus disease’ 23.02.2021).

Now that the Ebola is outside of the lockdown districts and within the Greater Kampala area. Soon we can see or here about cases in Mukono or Wakiso districts too. This is just the beginning of it, as I see it.

When we saw the last address of Museveni. With the newest information and such, more and extensive lockdowns are on the horizon. When the President could announce it for two districts. The news of transmissions in Kampala. We expect a lockdown and new stoppage of ordinary life. Especially, if we see the numbers rise and the amount of people reported with it. Because, this is spreading and evidently it’s not stopped.

When we see the numbers of other outbreaks of Ebola, the fatality rate is huge. So, this is worrying and should be a significant factor in acting swiftly. Peace.

NRM Primary continues in its usual Pace

There are some more initial and special reports even from the trenches and it is in an usual pace. In the one where we speak about vote-rigging and pre-ticket ballots, demonstrations against it or candidates now going independent claiming the election was filled with irregularities. Take a quick look!

NRM Secretary Justine Kalule Lumumba has been vocal today and with all the big birds shot down she was clear about one certain thing:

“Whoever lost in the NRM Primaries and is planning to run as an independent, will cease to be the member of the party”.  So the Ministers and big men who have lost their slot will surely lose their crony status if they go against the NRM-Regime in the General Election.

Deflectors after the elections:

Dr. Fred Ruhakana has today officially announced his defection from the NRM party due to irregularities that was practiced during the elections in Kabale district where he lost the seat for kabale district chairperson.

Deborah Mwesigwa has rejected the result and outcome of the Kabuli County. She has claimed that the election in the county was filled with voter intimidation, that they used government resources to gain the upper hand. So Deborah has said after this that she will goes an independent candidate in the general election.

Some reports from the country:

Alebtong County:

“Isaac Apenyo has been declared NRM flag bearer for Ajuri. He thrashed the spokesman NRM parliamentary caucus, Hamson Obua” (…)”Christine Jibu Mambo has taken over the elections for Woman MP, beating Dorcus Acen, Emily Akullu…” (…) ”Meanwhile, asides the reported violence & vote rigging in Moroto county, Minister Rebecca Otengo was declared the winner. The supporters of her rival Sam Okwir, are very bitter about the results, they claim the security agents were so brutal on them. And so they’ve not come to terms with the results, saying the numbers were changed from Abia & Apala sub counties” (94.3 QFM Lira).

Bufumbira East:

The Flag-bearer for the county is Paul Geoffrey Bavuga.

Burashya District – Kabarole MP:

The Police had to intervene in Kabarole, where the one involved into the matter was John Busingye and Maragreth Muhanga, not the candidates themselves, but the supporters of the two was battling each other. The protest became so violent that they actually broke a bridge and that one was the bridge of Katanda!

Busiiro South:

Peter Ssematimba won the MP seat there.

Kanungu:

Where the press release was coming earlier today was because of Police and Special Force Unit (SFU) has been involved in the balloting and changing of the result in this district. At certain stage at some polling stations there was more police officers then voters.

Kassanda South:

The flag-bearer of the county is now Nsubuga!

Koboko:

There been said that Anite Evelyn was contesting unopposed in the county. Though some says she was contested against a Baba Diri and even the rumors of her losing badly to this person. So did she go as sole candidate in the county or did she not?

Kumi Muncipality:

Charles Olaboro won the election in Kumi and because of that the one who lost the election in the area Silas Aogon cires foul and has sent an petition to the NRM Electoral Commission on the matter.

Luweero:

The Police has banned unapproved and the unregulated victory parties in the county especially the parties for the NRM candidates.  

Lwengo:

Where there been madness in the recent days a Police Officer has been taken with pre-ticket ballot-papers and he is being charged with the offence of rigging the vote.

Mbrarara:

“Although voting begun late,the exercise in Mbarara was peaceful with a heavy security presence to avert any violence.MP results at various polling stations in Kakoba are still being counted”  (…)”At Kakoba Police: Agip and Manji for mayorship and Kakyebezi is in the lead.Tumwiine is leading at Nsikye1 and Kiyindi polling stations” (…)”Booma didnt go to polls. Voters rejected the process since only ballots for MPs were delivered” (…)”Two people have been arrested over vote rigging.The duo identified as Frank Mugisha and Mwebesa were arrested from Nyakayozo with ticked ballot papers of two of the Mbarara mayoral candidates” (91.2 Crooze FM).

Ndorwa County East:

Grace Ankunda Bwesigye won the district and because of this the sour loser Osbert Byamukama quit the party this.

Ngoya:

The winner here is Terence Achia Naco.

Ntoroko District:

MP: Gerand Ibanda Rwemulikya

Woman MP: Jennifer K. Mujungu

Ruhinda County:

Captain Mugabe Domonzio Kahonda who won over Gen. Otafiire in the Primaries in the district has finally been released, but, there is a big but! He has to meet before Jinja High Court tomorrow! This starts be more interesting by the minute.

Rubirizi:

The winner and flag-bearer of the county is now Abas Agabe.

Last thoughts:

What do you think? This here never get boring, who and where is the next place for the police arresting and candidate together with security personnel going into the tally centers and secure voting results going their way. There will be more! But not more from me today I think, depending on what information I get… Peace!

How the new counties will change for the constituencies before the Presidential General Election 2016 in Uganda – and which MPs it affects.

Recently there been reports that yet again the government of Uganda has decided to split a certain numbers of counties into 39 new counties and in the end make the total amount of Member of Parliament (MPs) to 424 (Kisakye, 2015). This can only been seen as a calculated plan to gain more MPs by the government party to reign over this new counties. I will go through who will have to fight for new constituency and votes in newly created counties that the government wishes. This will be after the list that was on the Observer. I will take district after district. An over time I think you’ll see a pattern.

Agago County MPs:

Who?	Party:
John Amos Okot	NRM
Judith Franca Akello	FDC

Amuria County MPs:

Who?	Party:
Francis Musa Ecweru	NRM

Manjiya County MPs:

Who?	Party:
David Wakikona	NRM

Bukedea County MPs:

Who?	Party:
George Stephen Ekuma	NRM
Rose Akol Okullu	NRM

Bukomansimbi County MPs:

Who?	Party:
Deogratius (Deo) Kiyingi	DP
Susan Namaganda	DP

Bulambuli County MPs:

Who?	Party:
Irene Nafuna Muloni	NRM
Midimi Wamakuyu	NRM

Dokolo County MPs:

Who?	Party:
Felix Okot Ogong	NRM
Cecilla Barbera Atim Ogwal	FDC

Gomba County MPs:

Who?	Party:
Rosemary Muyinda Najjemba	NRM
Kyabangi Katusiime Nakato	NRM

Kilak County MPs:

Who?	Party:
Gilbert Olanya	Independent
Betty Bigombe Atuku	NRM

Dodoth East – Kaabong County MPs:

Who?	Party:
Samson Lokeris	NRM

Bulamogi County – Kaliro District MPs:

Who?	Party:
Kenneth Lubago	Independent
Flavia Nabugere	NRM

Kibuku County MPs:

Who?	Party:
Moses Saleh Wilson Kamba	NRM
Sarah Mwebaza Wanene	NRM

Nyabushozi County MPs:

Who?	Party:
Fred Mwesigye	NRM
Beatrice Rusaniya Namala Barumba	NRM

Kibanda County MPs:

Who?	Party:
Sam Owor Amooti Otada	Independent
Helen Kahunde	NRM

Chua County MPs:

Who?	Party:
Henry Okello Oryem	NRM
Beatrice Anywar Atim	FDC

Kole County MPs:

Who?	Party:
Fred Ebil	UPC
Joy Ruth Acheng	UPC

Kumi County MPs:

Who?	Party:
Patrick Oboi Amuriat	FDC
Christine Hellen Amongin Aporu	NRM

Kiboga West County MPs:

Who?	Party:
Samuel Ssemugaba	NRM
Ann Maria Nankabirwa	NRM

Kyaka County MPs:

Who?	Party:
William Ngabu Kwemara	NRM
Flavia Kabahenda Rwabuhoro	NRM

Mwenge North County MPs:

Who?	Party:
David Muhumuza	NRM

Luuka County MPs:

Who?	Party:
John B.  Ngobi Bagoole	Independent
Evelyn Naome Mpagni N. Kaabule	NRM

Maracha County MPs:

Who?	Party:
Alex Onzima	Independent
Ruth Molly  Ondoru Lematia	NRM

Kashari County MPs:

Who?	Party:
Yaguma Wilberforce	NRM

Ruhinda County MPs:

Who?	Party:
Kahinda Otafiire	NRM
Jovah Kamateeka	NRM

Matheniko County MPs:

Who?	Party:
Dr. John Baptist Lokii	NRM

Aruu County MPs:

Who?	Party:
CD Oketayot Lowila	NRM
Samuel Otto Odonga	FDC

Kooki County MPs:

Who?	Party:
Amos Mandera	NRM

Mawogola County MPs:

Who?	Party:
Sam Kahamba Kutesa	NRM
Anifa Kawooya Bangirana	NRM

Soroti County MPs:

Who?	Party:
Michael George Mukula	NRM
Peter Omolo	FDC
Angelline Osegge	FDC

Okoro County MPs:

Who?	Party:
Stanley Oribdhogu Omwonya	NRM

Butebo County MPs:

Who?	Party:
Stephen Oscar Malinga	NRM

Tororo County MPs:

Who?	Party:
Geofrey Ekanya	FDC

Kibaale County MPs:

Who?	Party:
Frank Kagyigyi Tumwebaze	NRM

Aringa County MPs: (Will be three more districts)

Who?	Party:
Achile Manoah Mile	UPC
Abason Huda Oleru	NRM

Bugahya County MPs:

Who?	Party:
James Kiiza Rwebembera	NRM

Koboko County MPs:

Who?	Party:
Ahmed Awongo	NRM
Margreth Diri Bara	NRM

Kassanda County MPs:

Who?	Party:
Godfrey Lubega	Independent
Thembo George William Nyombi	NRM

East Moyo County MPs:

Who?	Party:
Moses Ali	NRM
Jesica Ababiku	Independent

In numbers of the MPs that is on the line and getting new districts to get votes for re-elections in the 2016 elections. This here will be decisive for them. AS you can see that even some district has big birds and people who have been in the wind for a long time like Otafiire from Ruhinda County. But now let me show the numbers:

Party:	Total MPs:	Percentage:
NRM (National Resistance Movement)	45	69%
FDC (Forum for Democratic Change)	8	12%
DP (Democratic Party)	2	3%
UPC (Uganda People’s Congress)	3	4.6%
Independent	7	10.7%
Total Sum of MPS:	65	100%

This should be call on how the NRM wish to split the votes in certain areas so that they can eat more of the votes in next election. That they can take more of the independent votes and also from the opposition parties like FDC.

Let me show the areas that are being split not just name of main counties. Since Uganda has been split to smaller and smaller fractions and now is hard to remember where the “original” bigger counties where before they got into the humongous number of 424. So let see here:

Part of the Country	Total Couties:
Buganda	VI – 6
Ankole	IIII – 4
Kigezi	0 – 0
Toro	II – 2
Bunyoro	II – 2
Acholi	VI – 6
West Nile	IIII – 4
Lango	II – 2
Karamoja	I – 1
Teso	III – 3
Sebei	0 – 0
Bugisha	0 – 0
Bukedi	II – 2
Busoga	V – 5
Total Counties:	37

(Aringa County will become three counties – North/South and Yumbe)

Numbers game:

If you can quickly see it’s the central regions that have a certain level of changes like in the Ankole, Busoga, Bunyoro and Buganda. The number of counties which is changing in the central/eastern is 17 of 39. Other areas that are also getting a renovation from the government are the Acholi, West Nile and Karamoja which is the Northern parts of Uganda. The total of areas that will be changed is 13 of 39.  Those total 30 of the 39. So it’s easily to see where the main changes are happening. Sometimes in the heartland of the opposition parties than in the Movement territory, so if you think otherwise. Look at the numbers and see even if this is going after 69% of the MPs are NRM. We all know that around Mbale and up north has voted for DP more than NRM in history. FDC is also gaining more grown in eastern, central and western areas. Therefore NRM fearing this, FDC candidate even won in Amuru by-election in November 2014. So that the Government is making a change in the districts around isn’t surprising. But let’s look at the other part of this changes that I haven’t touched on yet. Not the number game, but the real election game.

Election game:

This strategy is amazing. The way you split counties to reassure and get more loyalty from the new LDC then before. Therefore doing this so close to the election makes the 40 new counties and 40 new MPs. Also open up new constituency and voter’s numbers that need to be secure to get the MP for a county in. Thirdly and last point is that the history of voting in an area get diminish because the new counties. This will lead to smaller counties and need less people to vote the MP in the area. That can be either a gift or a curse. That the counties are getting to be smaller populations so that their easier to manipulate since their no current voting history in this counties. So that the loyalist will get more positions during next elections and also getting new LDCs that will supposedly to give the local community more control and also support the governments work in the areas. Like getting supervision over the primary school and police I guess. But we all know that this is more securing the NRM government more control over the areas and getting the loyal supporters of the Mzee becoming MPs and also making new counties to disfranchise the opposition if possible. That this  areas are also in places where the Independent MPs are coming from and just a few big shots like Kahinda Otafiire. I look forward to see the results from the Presidential General Election of 2016. Hope you do as well in the new counties and see if the MPs from the 9^th Parliament will arrive from the new counties.

Just a by the way – on the information flow:

The irony of it all, I couldn’t find the MPs on the Parliaments own site or government official sites online. I found the best by the sites that are targeted by the government. Like the lists from Uganda at Heart had an awesome and amazing list. Second list was from an anti-corruption NGO from Uganda. So the one that isn’t supposed to be friendly with the government is the one that has organized it the best and that is a rare instance. Because a brother expect to easily see who represent them. Taxation with representation, the parliament page of the Ugandan government isn’t sufficient or a page that is really working. Hope that Hostalite and make them a better page indeed. And the Parliament Watch site was ten times better. Where I could double check the result of the General Election of 2011 was from the elected MPs from the Electoral Commission of Uganda. I am grateful that one supposed to be unbiased governmental institution has certain information to the public so I could verify what I found at Uganda at Heart and also the information from Parliamentary Watch. Thanks! Peace.

Reference:

Kisakye, Frank – ‘Govt creates 39 new counties, number of MPs rises to 424’ (15.07.2015) Link: http://www.observer.ug/news-headlines/38782-govt-creates-39-new-counties-mps-rise-to-424