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.

Uganda: Major National Review Recommends Ways of Ending Hunger in Uganda (27.07.2017)

10th Parliament MPs is extra greedy as they are eating another Shs. 100m. each!

You know there is something special, you know there is something out of bound and something compelling, when the Members of Parliament (MPs) who has no quarrels with eating without taxation, without thinking of their salaries compered to the ones who they represent. The constituency of the MP must feel betrayed as their allowances and their benefits are enormous, to say it at least, they are gigantic! But take a look at the latest big payment for the MPs!

“Parliament — MPs are smiling all the way to the bank after the government authorised the release of an extra Shs45b to Parliament, with each of the 449 lawmakers set to get an additional Shs100m, ostensibly to buy cars for constituency travels” (…) “In a June 13 letter titled: ‘Additional cash limit of Shs45.8b for the Parliamentary Commission’, Mr Keith Muhakanizi, the Secretary to the Treasury, authorised Ms Jane Kibirige, the Clerk to Parliament, to spend the cash as part of non-wage recurrent budget in the fourth quarter of the Financial Year 2016/2017. The clearance comes barely two weeks to the end of the Financial Year” (Arinaitwe & Manzil, 2017).

So the Members of Parliament are clearly getting another pay-day without passing to much legislation or any sort of consideration of the proposed budget or pledges they had for the financial year 2017/2018. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and the NRM Caucus have clearly made together with the Parliamentary Commission to make a new pay-day for the MPs, yet again!

The National Resistance Movement and their MPs clearly like to get extra brown-envelopes without any considerations of the state of the budget or the way the funds are raised. It is not shocking, it seems like an ordinary event at this point. Not like it is the first time, the MPs uses their Noble place in the august house to enrich themselves and add cost to the state. Therefore, the added debt and interest payments should be feared by the MPs. Instead, they are adding debt and creating more interest without concern of the citizens.

The citizens are going to pay extra for this, they are the ones that are ripped off at broad-daylight. They are eating directly of the state reserve and does it with impunity. Also worth noticing, President Museveni is not sanctioning against it, since he can do as pleases. Since he is eating directly and misuse s it whenever he wants. Peace.

Reference:

Arinaitwe, Solomon & Manzil, Ibrahim – ‘Uganda: MPs Get Extra Shs100 Million Each for Cars’ (17.06.2017) link: http://allafrica.com/stories/201706190735.html?utm_campaign=allafrica%3Ainternal&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&utm_content=promote%3Aaans%3Aabafbt

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

Bukedea district: NRM Government neglect to another level, they are stealing from their starving citizens!

“Once a government is committed to the principle of silencing the voice of opposition, it has only one way to go, and that is down the path of increasingly repressive measures, until it becomes a source of terror to all its citizens and creates a country where everyone lives in fear.” – Harry Truman (Special Message to the Congress on the Internal Security of the United States, August 8, 1950).

Certainly, the National Resistance Movement and their government doesn’t seem to care how they look. None of their pledges or even written letters to the Local Government matters. Not even in the midst of famine and starvation. You would think that a government and their agencies had sense of keeping their promises to the ones who needs the most basic in life – as their plates are empty after droughts and bad governance. Therefore, the NRM has no sense, when the Bukedea district are reacting that their promised food relief is less; than promised from the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) Dr. Ruhakana Ruganda and his department. Certainly, this is disrespecting the people and the citizens of Bukedea. Take a look!

“Mike Okwii, the district secretary for health and social services wants the matter investigated expeditiously before they can distribute what they have received. “According to the letter signed by the commissioner of disaster and preparedness, Bukedea was supposed to get 800 bags of posho and 400 bags of beans. But the district has received only 400 bags of posho and 50 bags of beans, which is shocking. So for us at the district leadership, we have decided not to distribute this food. Not until when OPM delivers all the food items”, he said. Okwii confirmed that as of now, nobody has given them any response as to why the Office of the Prime Minister delivered consignments that have fewer supplies that what was declared. “Nobody has given us the right answer why they delivered less food compared to what is on the delivery note. The minister for Teso Affairs is going to follow the matter because you can imagine the minister came to Bukedea to allocate food to the sub-counties. Little did she know that she allocated food which is not even there”, he added (URN, 2017).

The reason for the disrespect is staggering as the reports of termites and insects to survive, proves the lacking governance and upkeep of institutions. Also, the agricultural sector has been left behind, as the irrigation and thinking of how use water in farming. Certainly, the food relief is a way of making sure the people eat while they wait for next season and possible time to start farming again. These in regions that has been hard hit and the government had been warned by FAO and FEWSNET, so these reports should have forewarned them.

“Food is required besides the medication. If someone is sick, the first treatment is food; medicine works well on a well fed body,” said Dr. Chebitai” (New Vision, 2017). Therefore, with the knowledge that the state still has the capacity to not deliver what so needed and necessary is not only a theft, but taken food of the plates of those who starve. That the NRM has the audacity to this proves how they can easily neglect their citizens. Even taking away their first treatment, that is the level of disappointment, the ruling regime can to do their own. Peace.

Reference:

New Vision – ‘Parliament staff donate food items to Teso’ (07.05.2017) link:http://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1453187/parliament-staff-donate-food-items-teso

In the Teso Region they are eating termites to survive the famine!

There are something deeply wrong, so sincerely wrong when the citizens doesn’t get needed food relief and have to eat termites and insects to survive. This is the state of the famine now in Teso Region, in Katakwi, Amuria, Bukedea and Kaberamaido district.

“Mr Robert Okitoi, the Amuria District council chairperson, said “The situation is bad, people are now eating termites. I think the government should just declare a state of emergency for the regions of Teso, Karamoja and Lango.” (NTV Uganda, 01.06.2017). On the 26^th April 2017 the Parliament has passed a motion to declare ‘State of Emergency’ in Uganda, but the President and the State House has not done anything about it.

Still, a local farmer wrote a piece to the Chimp Reports that has some valuable assessments:

“The current hunger in Teso has largely been attributed to drought, while this assertion may hold some truths; there is increasingly evidence that the Ministry of Teso Affairs has not done its part. Hunger in Teso is as a result of both internal and external factors. For many years, the region has been experiencing declining productivity and this was recently worsened by drought. For districts like Ngora, Bukedia and Kumi, land fragmentation has heavily affected productivity” (…) “Clearly besides drought, Teso food systems are in a crisis and our expectation was that the Ministry of Teso affairs working with other stakeholders would work to address this problem. Our view is that hunger should be among the ‘affairs’ that Ministry of Teso Affairs should be engaged in.Agriculture remains a major livelihood for our people in Teso and therefore we require urgent response from Ministry of Teso Affairs on its plans to help our people get out of the current hunger crisis”(Akorikin, 2017).

This here proves that the drought is just the last piece of the straw in a bigger problem, that even the State Ministry has not been in-charge and had the oversight of the Teso Region. There are lacking the support they need. Still, the government still have done something now and then. Like this one relief to Kaberamaido district: “Kaberamaido district has finally received 12, 000 kilograms of relief food from government valued at Shillings 33 million. Kaberamaido is among the districts battling a severe food crisis resulting from crop failure due to prolonged drought. The most affected areas in the district are Ochero, Bululu, Kobulubulu, Kaberamaido, and Apapai sub counties. With over 5,000 households facing starvation representing about half of the total population in the district, the 12,000 kilograms of flour delivered is far from solving the food crisis” (Odongo, 2017). That means on the 30^th April 2017, the government delivered 12.000kgs of flour that is estimated to be 231,000 citizens in the district alone. Therefore, you don’t have to be rocket scientist to know that this food relief to the one district isn’t enough…

“The minister for Relief and Disaster Preparedness, Hilary Onek, has offered a bit of advice to the hunger-stricken; stop selling the little food you have left. Onek said the weather has become so unreliable for Ugandans to hold on to the little hope for better yields. “They should consider family needs first before selling all the food. Districts like Lira had a lot of food but it [food] was sold to traders from Kenya, South Sudan and even Rwanda because people want money,” he said in an interview. Asked whether government would consider banning the sale of food to outsiders, Onek said they wouldn’t, in the spirit of the East African Community. “That is not an option we will consider; we only want people to behave responsibly to take care of their family needs before they sell all the food,” he said” (UMDF, 2017).

So now the Minister Onek gives advice to the impoverished citizens, so that they are careful with their food stocks, as the relief of the districts are not up-to par. Therefore, that they didn’t stock the extra foods and now they tell the families to take of it. The government could have used their resources and built food-stocks, instead of living hand to mouth. The small-time farmers in the Teso-Region certainly, needs more than fear of selling what they don’t have, they need support and food relief.

The state also has to facilitate the farmers, not in Operation Wealth Creation or Jerry-Can irrigation, but real projects, storage of food-stocks and recreate farmers Co-Ops in the districts and sub-counties to collectively earn and work together to get better yields and also productivity in general. But that isn’t a scheme and way the National Resistance Movement can corrupt or thieve the funds from. Therefore, that will not happen and is the reason why the similar institutions are gone during the decades of President Museveni.

The Teso Region and these district needs help, the man-made famine together with the drought that has worsen it. So the Government has to charge and actually make a difference, not just thieve monies away from Kampala. Peace.

Reference:

Akorikin, Francis – ‘OPINION: Government Should Review the Relevance of Ministry of Teso Affairs’ (05.05.2017) link: https://www.chimpreports.com/opinion-government-should-review-the-relevance-of-ministry-of-teso-affairs/

Odongo, Ronald – ‘Kaberamaido Receives 12,000 KGs of Food Relief’ (30.04.2017) link: https://ugandaradionetwork.com/story/govt-delivers-12000-kilograms-of-posho-worth-ugx-33m-to-famine-hit-residents

Uganda Media Development Foundation (UMDF) – ‘HILARY ONEK TO HUNGER VICTIMS: DON’T SELL FOOD’ (01.05.2017) link: https://www.umdf.or.ug/?q=content/hilary-onek-hunger-victims-don%E2%80%99t-sell-food

The Wonderful Dictator Museveni says to his starving citizens: “that they are eating their state services!”

“A dictator who is elected 5 times. That must be a wonderful dictator. That must be a special one” – President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni (Al Jazeera Interview on the Talk to Al Jazeera, 29.04.2017).

First of President Museveni isn’t in his 5^th Term, rewriting the history as they have deleted the coup d’etat in 1986 as well, as the period into the first election of 1996. Therefore, he has decade most people tries to forget, where he was “unelected” and power-grabbing. If you then count on the time and such, the right amount of terms would be that he is currently in his 7^th !

Well, enough of the sadness of how many terms the 31 year long ruling and wonderful dictator has, today he had to cast his spell on the Labor Day and show his fury of his lazy citizens. Not that he is that hardworking himself, as he eats of the plate himself and empty the state reserves to buy private planes. But that is another discussion!

Therefore, here is the key parts of the speech that is important for me to discuss!

“On the issue of the shortage of food in some areas that hit us last season, my advice is to use relief very carefully for two reasons. The first reason is that relief can kuremaza (disorient) our people away from production to, instead, get in the habit of waiting for relief. Secondly, Ugandans should know that when we are eating relief food, we should know that we are chewing a road, a school or a health centre. Therefore, relief should only be for the really unavoidable situations. It should not be used by politicians for cheap popularity or frivolously (let us take the government food since it is available) or even for corruption by government officials (get the food for selling claiming that it is for relief). Finally, I would like to say that work is the only way to get people out of poverty. I, therefore, urge all Ugandans to develop a positive attitude to work. The NRM government will continue to provide an enabling environment for establishing businesses and creation of employment” (Museveni, 2017).

That he has problem that people are asking and needing food relief is beyond me. Secondly calling them disoriented because of the lacking yields, the burning fire of the sun and the result of the El Nino. But that is just me. That the State and Government could have made sure the rainwater was saved and have more structure so they wasn’t starving in the first place. But then again, Mr. President is never at fault, always casting blame on someone else. Therefore, the citizens is to blame for lacking rains and yields, and also lacking government policies and will to implement some sort agency that support the farmers.

The popularity he speaks of it the ones that want the President to act and declare an emergency, as the volatile and dire situation, as so many people in the hurt districts are eating less a meal a day! Still, he claims people are trading and selling the food without giving it away for relief. Like they sometimes do with clothes, the secondhand rule that some is given, but other is traded away for profits on the secondhand markets. If it was so, shouldn’t the president set his standard and authority to stop this men and woman from thieving the food from the ones in need? I guess he is lazy and disoriented, eating of the licensed roads and royalties of oil prospects instead of really feeding the ones in need.

This isn’t about poverty itself, it is the core mismanagement of his 7^th term government, the lack of institution and the lack agricultural oversight, as the jerrycans into prosperity is a lie. That the starvation and famine is about attitude and not about lacking government oversight. If it was the latter and not the first, he was to blame; since he is the kingpin on the top and should have acted before the famine occur, but that had happen if he was legitimate leader. Nevertheless, he is self-made, self-righteous, individual who doesn’t care how ruthless and inconsiderate he is. This wasn’t words uttered for the betterment of the Republic of Uganda, it was to wash to hands of his sins and walk away from the problems. That because the famine and the food insecurity was made of lazy Ugandans and not because of drought…

Well, the wonderful dictator has hands in the state reserves and dislike that he cannot expand his ranch as much usual, pay of his daughters travels expenses or Lady Janet luxurious footwear. Who knows where all the confidential funds go, but certainly not drip-drop/bottle irrigation scheme. Certainly, this President isn’t worried about district roads, which is nearly impossible to travel through in Abletong on anywhere else for that matter. So when he says that the public is eating of roads and other infrastructure projects when they are starving during droughts and famines. Shows little mercy, this little despot with no empathy… it is gone with all the souls he has captured and stolen their future from by staying in power, I guess.

That President Museveni trying to put a spell on the people for trying to survive in hard-times, in times of tribulations and drought, as the state as struggling to give them a decent food relief. The man in charge is saying they are the reason for lacking roads and infrastructure projects because of that! Than, he also says the ones who stands firm in Parliament, asking for him to humble himself and stand down. To beg for mercy and help, to gain extra support and tell that he has mismanaged the Republic with a “State of Emergency” proves true leadership. They want their leader to take responsibility!

If he was truly elected 5 times, wouldn’t he offer more to the ones that he needed their support? Alas, it isn’t so, because he knows he rigs and put fear into the public… instead of having their real support and getting their votes. If he had so, he might have showed some flair and said he would help them because it was his duty. Not that the people are eating of the infrastructure budget.

Me translating so anyone really understand what he is understating in his speech today:“You lazy bastards are eating of government money because you are starving, you should be able to dig roots and eat rats, not eat of the state reserves. The sun didn’t burn that hard and you didn’t collect enough water with your bare hands. While I am driving 30 cars convoys and flying overseas to be a VIP. How dare you insult these foreign investors by eating my road money, aye?”. That is what you can take from the speech of this wonderful President and wonderful dictator Museveni! Peace.

Reference:

Museveni, Yoweri Kaguta – ‘SPEECH ON THE OCCASION TO MARK INTERNATIONAL LABOUR DAY’ (01.05.2017) link: https://www.yowerikmuseveni.com/speech-occasion-mark-international-labour-day