Opinion: Beatrice Anywar is a lesson on how unforgiving politics can be…

“Any minute there is an opportunity, I will go to President Museveni with no regret. He is a great leader because he is tolerant. He is able to listen to some of us,” – Beatrice Anywar (December 2017).

At one point in her career. What is sad is that Beatrice Anywar was respected, honoured and feared. She was seen as a person of moral and resilience. A person who would stand up against oppression and for just causes. That was why she was nicknamed “Mama Mabira”, as she fought against illegal landgrabbing of Mabira Forest and using it for sugar-cane plantations.

Alas, that is years ago. Ahead of 2016 her ugly side was shown. As she walked around with Amama Mbabazi and his Go Forward. While, she was still contesting in the Forum for Democratic Change for Kitgum Municipality MP seat. This was after she had nominated Mbabazi, which was seen as a betrayal in the eyes of the FDC. 

In march 2018 she was accepted by the President and she also became a Member of the NRM. That leaving all doubts about her future. As she was spotted everywhere in yellow dresses and defending her change of heart. Beatrice even held a rally introducing Museveni to Kitgum as her guest.

She was appointed in december 2019 to the Cabinet and became a minister. So just mere months later her relevance for the President and party is shown.

Beatrice have left the FDC in 2016 to run as a independent after showing allegiance to Amama instead of Besigye. That is why she shown her self to the public by doing this alone.

Now, she is even more lost. She tried to run in the NRM, but wasn’t even on the ballot. She lost the NRM Primaries without even trying. She’s a NRM Member and a Minister. However, she’s not useful or have a standing anymore. Beatrice is even getting the cold shoulder, as the President doesn’t pick up her calls.

Anywar was once respected. She had it all. Fought the good fight and was behind people. Instead of building on that reputation. Beatrice decided to be selfish and get quick fixes to power. Her decisions now follows her.

Anywar first betrayed the FDC. Than, she has betrayed her opposition fellows totally by leaving her Independent MP stance. She became a yellow and a person behind the President. A President who didn’t care for her or her causes. That is why she wasn’t even there on the ballot. The NRM have used her and can now leave her alone.

Beatrice Anywar have used her platform, her position for selfish gains and now has to live with it. Seen as a Iron-Lady, a Fire-Band MP. Onto a suck-up and praising to the choir. Now, she’s left alone and not even respected by her own party in Kitgum. The one she represented in Cabinet and Parliament until late.

That must hurt her pride. To be ditched and left astray. “Mama Mabira” the one with a fierce tone and standing up against injustice. Are now without a home. Kitgum NRM doesn’t respect her and feels she haven’t deserved it. The NRM haven’t even had her on the ballot. This after publicly supporting the President and his cause.

That’s shows that nothing is permanent in politics. When you gamble and trade, you either win or loose. The deal that gave her a Ministerial Position didn’t give her any other favours. She now has to yet again fight as an Independent. However, everyone knows she can be bought and isn’t an iron-lady. Just another meal-ticket politician, who can be used and forgotten. Peace.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Anywar is now on the bus: Museveni embracing her in Kitgum!

We know that the Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, only works for himself and his agenda, nothing else. That is why all agenda that is benefiting the republic, benefits him first, than lucky losers next. That is just the way it is, but the good of having is graces is different, than being in his shadow. Someone who has shifted sides and gone from his critics to his supporter is Kitgum MP Beatrice Anywar. She has gone from Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), to become independent and now she is practically a National Resistance Movement (NRM) MP. So today, the circle has ended and Hon. Anywar, is now a total bought out and without principals. Only obsessed and adoring praise of the President in the future from her.

“Hon. Beatrice Anyway, the Kitgum Municipality MP, invited me to her constituency where I broke ground for the construction of the Centenary Church Kitgum, St Janani Luwum Church and the Irene Gleeson Memorial Public Library and Youth Training Centre. I also addressed a gathering at Boma Grounds. I congratulate Hon. Anywar for finally embracing the revolutionary message of the NRM after years of constantly bringing confusion among her people” (Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, 30.03.2018).

We have seen this coming, as she stated this in December 2017: “The Kitgum Municipality MP Beatrice Anywar, also known as ‘Maama Mabira’ has said she is ready to work in President Yoweri Museveni’s government if appointed minister. “Any minute there is an opportunity, I will go to President Museveni with no regret. He is a great leader because he is tolerant. He is able to listen to some of us,” Anywar said” (Sekanjako, Henry – ‘I am ready to work with Museveni – Anywar’ 27.03.2017, New Vision).

We know what he means with confusion, that meaning, that she was promoting something that wasn’t his vision. Everything that is not touched by Museveni is automatically no good. Even if that was saving Mabira Forrest or any other vocal point Anywar had. Now, she is turned into another crony, loyal MP, who will run after Museveni every time she can. She is now turned into a stooge and a relic of the past. The edge and the ethical backbone is traded away with the possibility of trading favors with the President.

Anywar wasn’t spreading confusing, but a message that Museveni wasn’t in favor of. That is why he dislikes the Opposition, because it counter his agenda. That is natural for any ruler, however, Museveni isn’t the ordinary Executive and Head of State. He wants to control anyone and everywhere. Museveni, want everyone to jump when he does. That is not how the world works, but his yes men around is saying so.

Anywar is now jumping, when Museveni is asking. She is now praising him and his works, even if she in past said the opposite. So it is a sad sight, seeing someone who was on the barricades for the people, are now juggling and bowing her knees for the grand dictator. It isn’t a sight, but it is maybe, tiredness and need for safety, why she has changed this way. Anywar has her reasons, but it is beneath the previous stature to be like this.

She was even mocked here, as she spread “confusion”, no she was spreading a message, now Mr. President, she is just kissing your ass! Peace.

Mama Mabira gone Yellow – In a 2 year period gone from FDC to Go-Forward and now to the NRM!

“President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has this afternoon attended the thanksgiving ceremony of the Kitgum Municipality Woman MP Beatrice Atim Anywar at Boma grounds. In his speech, the President said he was happy Anywar had survived three accidents” (…) “For the past 10 years, Anywar’s attitude has been changing positively. NRM should do what Jesus told people to do, become fishers of men. I’m here to see if I can fish Anywar and all the other fish in the lake,” said President Museveni (New Vision, 26.05.2017).

You can sometimes wonder why someone is loyal or cares about their affiliations, as this weeks evidence, the full-circle of disloyalty and money hungry politician is in full-affect. This from the woman who delivered back to Parliament back-in-the-day a Ushs. 20 Million shillings to Parliament in 5,000 notes. She is the ones who has fought tooth and nail against the government to save the Mabira Forrest from foreign investors to build sugar-cane plantations and a sugar mill. Therefore, her stride and passion has surpassed many of the current incumbent Members of Parliament. That is why the betray of the Forum for Democratic Change is even more despicable, even if it has been in the works over the last 2 years.

Kitgum MP Beatrice Atim Anywar is on her fourth term in the Parliament, she has been before shadow minister and also been arrested during the 2011 Walk to Work demonstrations. She was questioned and even detained at some points of it. So it is not like her political life has been easy. Still, because of this knowledge and knowing what President Museveni does to his opponents, you would think that these people wouldn’t be eaten by the envelopes. Surely, the missing funds for her last foreign treatment. Might be reason, as she has been unlucky and has survived three bad-car accidents. So, she has gotten more pain and with that plenty. Certainly, a man can understand the payment of doctors fees and the sudden help can change a persons affiliation. Especially since she was kicked out of being FDC Treasury, also had to go independent because of her loss in the FDC Primary in Kitgum. Therefore, with her alliance with Mbabazi and the The Democratic Alliance (TDA). She stood more alone, than together with the Besigye/Muntu and Mafabi party of FDC.

To give you a brief timeline:

In November 2015, Beatrice Anywar had another tone:

“HAPPENING: Beatrice Anywar

I am a fighter. I fought the Mabira war and won it.

I am a staunch FDC member, but I belong to an FDC that goes forward” (NBS Television, 03.11.2015).

On the 2^nd November 2015 the FDC Stalwart Anywar was the one proposed and delivered the papers of Mbabazi Presidential Aspiriant to Electoral Commission Chairman Eng. Dr. Badru Kiggundu at Kololo. She was also one the first key figures rallying at the Nakivubo Stadium on the Presidential Candidate Nomination Day of Go-Forward and for Amama Mbabazi. This was on the 3^rd November 2015. Then she followed and was also part of the AmamaTrail, like at the rallies of Mbabazi in Mityana on the 11^th November 2015. Beatrice Anywar was clearly involved directly with the Go-Forward and the TDA in its hey-day. While in the 30^th November she was joining again the FDC Team when they we’re trialing through the district of Kitgum.

1. December 2015:

“FDC yesterday maintained that Mr Denis Okalit was the party flag bearer for the Kitgum municipality MP seat even as Ms Beatrice Anywar made last minute attempts to persuade the party to reconsider the decision. The party endorsed Mr Okalit last Friday as its flag bearer despite a petition by Ms Anywar against the decision. The party accuses Ms Anywar of supporting presidential candidate Amama Mbabazi’s candidature. Ms Anywar seconded Mr Mbabazi’s nomination but the party says she acted outside the party laws” (…) “Gen Muntu said the party was facing several challenges in different parts of the country following the party primaries but said everything humanly possible will be done to resolve them. “Mr Okalit is the one with the party ticket. Ms Beatrice Anywar is running as an independent. I was telling party leaders in Kitgum District that whoever they choose to support, they must not cause confusion during campaigns because after four months, the party has to remain,” Gen Muntu said” (Kafeero, 2015).

Later in December 2015:

“Kitgum Woman MP Beatrice Anywar says she is not campaigning for any particular presidential candidate. Anywar’s troubles stem from her recent public support for independent presidential candidate Amama Mbabazi yet she is still a member of FDC” (NTV Uganda, 05.12.2015).

So her misconceptions during the early campaigning as she claimed to be FDC, but working for the Go-Forward, while also being Independent MP candidate in Kitgum. Clearly shows that she was on the ways to greener pastures and hoping for yields in the Go-Forward/TDA umbrella, instead of the FDC. She got elected into the 10^th Parliament and was sworn-in as Independent.

Months after being sworn-in as independent MP, she proposed on the 30^th May 2016 a power-sharing agreement between Dr. Kizza Besigye and President Yoweri Kaguta Musevei. Something that was just talk, but clearly she figured something out. Certainly since the election she needed to see where she could get loyalty. As her role as independent and supporting Mbabazi had backfired. Go-Forward didn’t really go as planned for the politician. Therefore, she had try to create another fix. Since she still has linkage to FDC, while trying to mediate with Museveni. This has certainly happen in the shadows, as the President will really listen when he thinks he can get his way. Than we fast forward a year. As she doesn’t make any significant sway of leadership or change of position. Other than again, falling unlucky, having a car-crash, which she doesn’t have the money to pay the hospital bills. As she will get treatment in India. This is happening in April 2017. As the bill of charge grows and how it get paid. Is not known, but on a separate note, the wife of Mbabazi got paid by the state for her overseas treatment in 2017. Therefore, it is most likely that the Museveni footed her hospital bills in India.

While the time lingers, the evidence of her needs of funds and help is clear, as the rumors was as the Oil Cash Probe or the Presidential Handshake hit a high point, in early May 2017. She was rumored to have visited the President at the State House asking for her own funds. Beatrice was one out of a group asking and begging the President for money. This was big news around 1^st May 2017. And not strange concerning the rumored and alleged paid funds for her hospital bills in April 2017. Whey you know this and she has a thanksgiving ceremony in Kitgum this 26^th May 2017, where the fountain of honor is President Museveni. You know the political affiliation is now towards the Movement and the President. Honorable Anywar is now officially affiliated with Museveni and his party.

This has happen over the last two years, as she lost the FDC Primaries and had to find other homes. Tried in Go-Forward. That didn’t go well, and now she has found shelter in NRM. As the founding member of FDC, and that she was adamant of being apart of FDC while running for a new term in office. Therefore, the stages of disloyalty is clear in the sand. The recognition of it and the questionable will of her can be in doubt. As she was a harsh critic of Museveni’s ways and his attack on the Mabira forrest, but now in these days sh can be parts and even wear yellow. The whole world can see and learn by the Anywar case. How dirty and how the politicians can change camps to gain cheap popularity. Therefore she even went on the rallies of both Mbabazi and Besigye during the campaigns of 2015. You can wonder how she plans to do it in 2021 and in 2020. To gain another term in Parliament, as she clearly are now loyal to Museveni and his cause. He even praised her like he did with the Good DP Mbidde and Mao.

This story will only continue and the proof that the envelopes of Museveni has power, more than his ethics, his control of society and his demands of no scrutiny into his backroom policies. That is clear to loot the state reserves. Now, Mama Mabira, the former strong opposition leader, are now marginalized over a little help. All of her history of the past vanish, even if some remember, that will be gone as her newfound home destroys her former attacks on the government. Just like the record of Beti Kamya is also wrecked. Peace.

Reference:

Kafeero, Stephen – ‘Anywar pleads with FDC leaders for Kitgum municipality flag’ (01.12.2015). link: http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Anywar-pleads-with-FDC-leaders-for-Kitgum-municipality-flag/-/688334/2978950/-/op6ssyz/-/index.html