Cleanliness in Leadership is one rare commodity in Uganda: In the cases of Beatrice A. Anywar & Nabilah N. Sempala

We have seen deflections during the election period. That is not news. Something that is expected! Everybody changes fields for better fortune or ideology, even losing hope in the place they have been in. Get a better state of mind or have more faith in another leader. This here is about two woman who has been loyal and hard-core FDC, Pro-FDC if you want to say so. Even if Beatrice Atim Anywar have been rumored to have a close relationship with Mzee. That is kind of confirmed while NRM Presidential Flag-Bearer Yoweri Kaguta Museveni had his campaign in town. The other one which is more silent, but still showing lacking moral and party loyalty is Nabillah Nagayi Sempala. They both proved that they we’re interested in Go-Forward. They both have some kind of suction at times with NRM. If they are all true then it’s really deserves a spiteful chant. But that is for another day. I will not go into their CV’s. More just from summertime this year till today’s movement; this should be interesting enough.

Yoweri Kaguta Museveni said this once upon a time:

“Cleanliness in leadership is one of the rarest commodities in Uganda” (Weekly Topic June 6, 1980).

Some stories on Nabillah:

“Kampala woman Member of Parliament Nabillah Nagayi Sempala has withdrawn from the race for the Secretary General position of Forum for Democratic Change party citing anomalies in the compiled list of delegates meeting in Kampala today for the FDC Delegates Conference” ( 12.06.2015, 91.0 Best FM).

2nd September Statement:

“In a perfect world politicians wouldn’t lie. But when the voters elect politicians who lie over those who tell the truth then the voters shouldn’t be surprised when they get caught being less that truthful. But in order for politicians to tell the truth, the voters are going to have to stop punishing honesty. The voters are going to have to be ready to face the truth and the hard decisions that the politicians have to face in passing fair laws that are good for the people. Some issues are tough issues and require tough choices and require a solution that is more complicated than a slogan. So when someone running for office tells you that global population is a real issue and it’s not going away on it’s own, listen!”.

The real reason why she pulled out was so she could show support for TDA/Go-Forward candidate Amama Mbabazi as she did on 2^nd November when she went away from FDC to do so (Fakebeast, 2015).

On the Nomination day of Dr. Kizza Besigye, Nabilah Sempala turned back, just a week after saying she would be behind Amama Mbabazi. She was sitting at Namboole where the Electoral Commission issued the verification on the candidature of the FDC flagbearer. Which are strange moves from the woman (Observer, 2015).

On the 3^rd December she became an FDC MP candidate in Kampala today. She has really done some actions that have been questionable, but still been able to get back to the fold.

Some stories on Beatrice:

On 22^nd September:

She said: “What is wrong with welcoming Amama Mbabazi? I even foresee beyond that. If we came into government, Museveni [safety] should be secured. The NRMs who have done bad things in this country – there should be a reconciliation [ for them], they should be forgiveness, otherwise we are going to continue being in war. That is why am giving a challenge and a burden of challenge to Dr Besigye as a founding member of this party [FDC]. If TDA has decided on another [candidate], don’t bring other issues that ‘he was in government, he did this and that’” (Observer, 2015).

On 3^rd November her statement:

“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”.  She also said this: “I’m tired of being in one place stagnating. I want to move forward. All those FDC supporters who want to go forward, Amama is the man”.

Team JPAM Statement the same day:

“As proposed by Beatrice Anywar and Seconder Rosette Nsonga, Amama Mbabazi will run with the people’s flag, the go forward flag. See you at Nakivubo then, mid-day. Come one, Come all!”

On Amama Mbabazi nomination:

“Candidate JPAM’s papers already presented to the EC returning officer Eng Badru Kiggundu for scrutiny by Hon Beatrice Anywar” (88.7 Arua One FM).

She said this on 11^th November:

“We Should Move As One And Not Sit Back, we As People Must Unit. Amama Came With Keys That Can Open The Doors To State House… With Mbabazi Our Votes Will Not Be Stolen, jobs For The Youth, safety Of Mothers, plus Keys To State House” (Greenfield Radio).

Mzee states on 22^nd November on the Boma Grounds at Kitgum:  

“According to the files I have looked at, the nodding disease has been contained. It was being brought by the flies from the river and we have sprayed, it has now gone down. We fought this with my daughter Anywar Beatrice but now she went to another party, we shall continue doing this without her”.

On 24^th November:

“The FDC spokesperson Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda has said the Kitgum woman member of parliament Beatrice Anywar by act of abandoning the party presidential flag bearer Rtd. Col. Dr. Kiiza Besigye to support the Go Forward candidate Hon. Amama Mbabazi has left the party” (Crooze FM 91.2)

On the 27^th November:

“FDC electoral commission chairman, Dan Mugarura says Anywar was denied the party flag because of her hostility to the party and its presidential candidate, Dr. Kizza Besigye. She continues to canvass for votes for former Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi despite the collapse of the Democratic Alliance (TDA)” (Radiocity 97FM).

On the 30^th November:

“Hon. Beatrice Anywar aka Mama Mabira bounces back to FDC in support of Kizza Besigye-Kifefe after she had publically decided to nominate Amama Mbabazi”.

On the 1^st of December: “FDC  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” .

Today:

“Beatrice Anywar, the embattled Kitgum Woman Member of Parliament has been nominated to run for Kitgum Municipality parliamentary seat as an independent” (…)”Anywar, who formerly belonged to the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party, promises to cooperate with the party in parliament, despite their frosty relationship at the moment” (3.12.15, Radio Buddu 98.8 and 95.5)

Afterthought:

We have should wonder about how long and at what reasons they sudden return to FDC and for much is their trade. I am glad that they didn’t take back Beatrice Anywar even if they gave her space at the campaign rally in Kitgum, her area. The Kampala Woman MP Nabillah Nagayi Sempala will still rally under the FDC banner and organization. Even if she has been trifling and wonder how she gets the forgiveness from the party… What is her suction for the Kampala position since Gen. Mugisha Muntu could easily done the same and given another person the post and nomination. She can’t be the only woman in Kampala who could stand for the FDC. That I doubt, though not as experienced. So that this election period turns interesting, that is for sure and the losing grip of Amama Mbabazi is showing. While FDC stay strong and relevant, at the same time NRM continue to pay for patronage like giving alcoholic’s free beer at the bar. Go-Forward lost already in few days 100 people and now two high-profile candidates. Even if Beatrice Anywar haven’t been let into the fold in FDC, she has proven she is not loyal to Amama Mbabazi either. That is something you… can think about. Peace.

Reference:

Fakebeast – ‘Nabilah, Kidandala, Segona join Amama’ (02.11.2015) link: http://www.fakebeast.com/nabilah-kidandala-segona-join-amama/

Observer – ‘Wolokoso: Nabilah dashes to be the ‘acting Winnie’ (09.11.2015) link: http://www.observer.ug/news-headlines/40889-wolokoso-nabilah-dashes-to-be-the-acting-winnie

Observer – ‘Besigye TDA stand selfish – Beatrice Anywar’ (22.09.2015) link: http://www.observer.ug/news-headlines/40017-besigye-tda-stand-selfish-beatrice-anywar

Uganda – President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni: Campaign of Fear for 2016 Presidential Election

When you have been in charge for a long time and no strategies to secure your position, it might be natural start campaigning as a politician with the results and the achievements that been made. A good politician would address the public with the progress and build on what has already been built. But this long term politician and president Yoweri Kaguta Museveni doesn’t do that in the run-up to the presidential election in 2016. Instead, He uses a whole other tool to bring the masses and secure his position in the country. His words are fearmongering and sectarianism, and that only he can keep order of the army. Which can’t be true and doesn’t look wise of a supposed statesman of his caliber, instead he speaks to his fellow countrymen like they need his guns and rigging to be sure of security. These quotes will show from July to August this year of how he speaks of his own regime and the necessary firepower for his reign.

President Museveni said in the 16^th of May through the statehouse channel that “I have been involved in the politics of Uganda for 51 years and I have experienced the cost of the politics of lies. So please I advise you to avoid them and stop misleading the population. I have heard some people use bad words like National Resistance Movement is bad for West Nile. Such a statement is poisonous and dangerous for national unity and development” (…) “When we overthrew Idi Amin ourselves, the Uganda People’s Congress with the support from Tanzania, we pleaded with the UPC leaders not to punish the people of West Nile because of the mistakes of Amin as an individual. The UPC leaders did not listen to us and instead imported criminality in West Nile because it was Amin’s home area leading to many deaths and forcing almost all West Nile people into exile in Sudan and DRC” (…) “I drove to Kaya myself near Oraba in Sudan when we had come into leadership and met two families. I asked them if they were Ugandans and they said yes and I asked them what they were doing in Sudan and the message went on. The others followed and today West Nile which was abandoned is one of the most populated areas of Uganda. So politicians please stop meddling in lies, just like the Bible puts it; say the truth it will set you free” (Uganda Statehouse, 2015).

According to him on the 21th July 2015: “We have built a strong army but it’s not a dictatorship and needs a well founded and clear headed leadership to be sure that the country’s future is safe. Even if you have a strong army without clear political leadership you can’t guarantee national peace and transformation therefore value your vote because it counts” (…) “We took a leadership decision to strengthen the army against the wishes of many other players because we had realized that insecurity was bred out of the weaknesses in the army and by 2003 we had defeated Kony and you can see the development taking place in Northern Uganda. We have totally defeated Allied democratic forces and arrested their leader Jamil Mukulu who should tell us why they have been killing Ugandans and they can never attack Uganda because they will pay a heavy price” (Waswa, 2015).

On 24^th of June he said: “There is peace in Uganda. No one has the capacity to destabilize Uganda” (Uganda Media Centre, 2015).

The President said on 31th July 2015: “We have built a strong army but it’s not a dictatorship and needs a well founded and clear headed leadership to be sure that the country’s future is safe. Even if you have a strong army without clear political leadership you can’t guarantee national peace and transformation therefore value your vote because it counts” (Lutaaya, 2015).

On the 5^th of August he said: “he historical agreed that as a way forward, I come and pick these nomination forms and I offer myself for the position of party chairman and NRM presidential candidates for the period 2015-2021” (Omara, 2015).

The President even said on 6^th August: “No one should poison your minds with wrong ideology based on tribe” (…) “If evidence is adduced, your victory will be annulled.” (…) “Leaders should be chosen based ability on to uplift the standard of living of the people not on ethnicity” (…) “We defeated ADF and ensured peace. Leadership premised on tribes will destabilize the area” (Ayiswa, 2015).

On his own web page, he quoted on 6^th of August: “Let leaders tell you what they want to do for you and their usefulness and leave your tribes because all tribes and people were created by God and none of us created any person. Not even the children that I have and all of you. We are not our own creation. We are all gifts from God; so don’t divide God’s people” (…) “I am not campaigning but when time comes, I will come here and tell you that NRM defeated rebels and brought peace to this region and I will ask you to vote NRM on those grounds not on tribal or religious basis because sectarian politics is evil. Uganda is peaceful, united and developing and nobody should divide Ugandans and spoil all the gains the country has realized” (Museveni, 2015).

Other part of his campaign:

He even sent messages to the people; the President had to send his message to the people literally. Even sent SMS to all the people owning phones in the country, and it wasn’t just to NRM members, but all the telecoms users of their service like the once using Airtel (Kaaya, 2015).

(Kaaya, 2015).

Now, here is a gist!

How the Police keeps the posters of the President on the walls everywhere: 

Fred Enaga said: “The president is the fountain of honour and he enjoys absolute immunity for whatever actions and enjoys structural advantages. You cannot just pull down his pictures under whatever circumstances” (…) “But even then, he has not come out to make such pronouncement (that he will run in the 2016 presidential elections),” (Tumwine, 2015).

How his army men fears him or misunderstood love:

Army Chief Brig Elly Kayanja says: “I am fully aware of the regulation that stops us (soldiers) from engaging in partisan politics but personally, I cannot hide my love and loyality to NRM and to President Museveni”. Vincent Bamulangaki Ssempijja says this: “We fear Museveni so much because he was our bush war leader, so we cannot just easily talk to him” (…) “When he (Museveni) comes to a cabinet meeting, we discuss issues of government and, after that, none of us get the chance to talk to him. Its very few amongst us who can call him, and likewise, he also calls a few of us” (TheInsider.ug, 2015).

All of this sectarianism treats isn’t strong enough to put a kettle on and see if the water is boiling. Because that`s what he is said that if you vote for something else then his, then your diffusing and voting actual ethnic reasons then NRM. Which we all know by now is a bit foolish, even though a party has their strongholds in the country. That is normal anywhere in the world. Certain parties have a stronger vibe in one area than the next because of the leadership of the party in that area and the public will recognize that they have. So that isn’t sectarianism, more given credit to the locals that are credit due.

The security issue that he continues to ponder on that, isn’t un-suspected. In other part of the country it’s all that he has to show for while being in power. So that he also uses the strong-man and big-man has to control the UPDF and the army to keep things secure isn’t something that should come as lightning on a clear sky, instead should be as visible as rainwater in the streets after a rain-shower. It is true that the current president is the reason why the UPDF and UPF are so strong and also as massive as it is. But he can’t believe his own words that he is the ONLY leader who got the power to command this brigades, right? If so, then he has lost his plot. That he is the sole reason for the peace in the Northern Uganda and also that the ADF has lost it strength over time, also their main leader which is now having court-time for his actions. I am sure that their more than one person who should get credit, also the support from SPLA and FARDC to push LRA into C.A.R. where the UPDF is still continuing the hunt. That the generals in the UPDF admire and fear their commander in chief isn’t unexpected though they are kind of over the line when even the president himself has said earlier that UPDF generals should not join into politics and they obviously do!

And that he drops gig songs isn’t new. I will not discuss the second song from the President (since I, myself is not a big fan). That is utter nonsense. But what is worthy of the campaign is the SMS sent to all the ones with SIM-cards for certain companies and not only for NRM members. That means that the President has bought the airtime and lists of numbers that the company has and maybe even violated its nation privacy laws. No matter what laws you have it’s a shady way of spreading your own vision to world. Isn’t it enough that they print your own views day in and day out in the New Vision?          

A Timeline for how the Police and other institutions have gone after the opposition in the recent months before the 2016 elections: 

The Amama Mbabazi planned to start his campaign and have demonstrations on the 15^th of June as a “Presidential Aspiration” in the NRM party in Kampala. The day before the Press Secretary of Uganda Police Fred Enanga that if Amama Mbabazi did so it would be: “Therefore, whoever is involved in organizing the demonstrations, or intends to participate in them will be in violation of the law, and will face criminal sanctions in accordance with the law”. IGP Kale Kayihura sent a letter preceding that the Amama Mbabazi campaigning that he needed to be careful about holding public meetings as a presidential aspiration on the 23^rd of June. On the 24^th of June a letter from the Mbabazi lawyers addressing the IGP Kale Kayihura wasn’t correct according to the law. Because a person in the NRM party should be allowed to ‘run’ for the “Presidential Aspiration” and hold public meetings to gain more popularity for his elections.

Even on the 8^th of July the Uganda Communication Commission and their Executive Director Godfrey Mutabazi who wrote to all Medias in Uganda that they have to be careful with the messages and what kind of voices they spread to the press either if it is radio, tv, newspapers and other formats. On the 9^th of July Dr. Kizza Besigye was arrested by the UPF when going from Kasangati in Wakiso Disctrict when he was supposed to start his political campaign for his presidential front runner for the FDC. He was admitted on a “preventative arrest” from the Police. Even the Insepctor General of Police Mr. Okot-Ochola on 13^th of July wrote a warning letter the FDC on their public meetings and explaining to them how the “Public Order Management Bill” works.

“Team Amama Mbabazi for President 2016-2021” had one NRM Youth Leader named Vincent Kaggwa that lost his ranks and was missing from 18^th of July until 20^th of June because he wore a T-Shirt with Amama Mbabazi.

After rallies in Jinja and Iganga on the 21^st of July, Dr. Kizza Besigye was supposed to have an interview on Radio Baba/87.7 Basogo Baino FM. Only minutes into it the transmitter for the radio station was turned off by the government. On the 8^th of August Dr. Kizza Besigye was not allowed to travel from his home and into a meeting at the American embassy in Kampala.

Even in Lira when FDC and Dr. Kizza Besigye had a rally in town. The police was all over town held the town under Siege the whole of 10^th of August. In Padre the day after the FDC wasn’t able to hold a decent rally in the 11^th of August the local police took the microphone from one of the FDC leaders holding it and Dr. Kizza Besigye wasn’t able to hold at the venue, instead the police went mad and trough tear-gas and beat the people attending. On the 14^th of August the Lord Mayor of Kampala DP Erias Lukwago was blocked to attending as a speaker on a seminar on the Makerere University.

Afterthoughts:

I have no plan of going into too deep waters with this time line. Since this is a picturesque and historical how the progression of the police and other institutions are going after the opposition parties and those who are going against him as the flag-bearer and presidential candidate in the NRM party. It’s obvious that it’s nearly daily for months now that the regime has tracked and gone against those who isn’t following the president and NRM regime, even if the comply to the rules and laws of the Public Order Mangement Bill/Act, still they will be incriminated or threaten and violate common sense with sending troops with tear-gas and beating people up for showing up to FDC rallies. Then also to top it all off they have without being judged in court taken people to custody for wearing a Team Amama Mbabazi shirt in Kampala. This should be seen as something foolish and not as actions of rule of law. The fear the president is spreading with his words and actions is astonishing.    

With being in this day and age we should expect of something else of our presidents and prime ministers. This is a leader he has been educated back in the day, though seem to forget the lessons he had learned there. In his thesis written about Frantz Fanon he wrote: “The process of creating the subjective conditions is as hard as the organising of revolution itself. However, it can be accelerated by various devices. The most important thing is to win confidence of the masses. It is necessary for all the local cadres or ‘terrainers’ as they sometimes called, indeed for all the activists that seek to enlist support of the masses, to lead a pure, exemplary and, most preferably, ascetic life. The person seduce peasents’ wives or daughters, will never win the confidence of the masses. Though personal example, political propaganda – in the simplest language about the simple and, to begin with, parochial problems – and through demonstrating the power of the people vis-à-vis the enemy, the cadres are able to create the subjective conditions, a fully and politically conscious people, that are indispensable for the revolution” (Museveni, 1971).

When he could write this and stand behind this words while being a student and seeing how he comes with force and fear now. His mind can’t be the same as it was. We should expect something else from somebody that makes the population either eat the fear or he actually never won “the confidence of the masses”. The president has surely forgotten these words while he stated in his speeches and outlets during start of his campaign for Uganda Presidential Election in 2016. That the Police Spokesman is saying that people don’t have the right to take down posters from the walls. He should already know that it’s not right how he speaks and acts. Generals are even afraid of him. Even quoted some members of the MPs who feels the same when he is around! So he is not the example he supposed to be anymore. So if the people are politically conscious they should by his own-old-selves be able to brush his fears off, right?          

And also the speeches and daily acts against opposition should be addressed by bigger multilateral institutions and nations so that this “so called” and “multiparty democracy” isn’t really an actual state of affairs the country and republic of Uganda should be proud of. The way that the NRM regime is hurting its radios and newspapers, how it goes against the FDC leaders and certain DP leaders. Even though who’s has become independent and not dependent on the “Mzee” or the President of Museveni. It’s the same natural and calm level of fear that the president Museveni are both speaking in his speeches and acting out with the UPF and the UPDF. If this is his way to regain his popular stance somebody or even a presidential advisor! The Presidential Advisor should ask him behind closed doors “have you lost the plot?”

Peace.

Reference:

Ayiswa, Issa – ‘Museveni warns those pedaling sectarian talk risk losing seats (06.08.2015) link: http://www.ofuganda.co.ug/articles/20150806/museveni-warns-those-pedaling-sectarian-talk-risk-losing-seats#sthash.TgvP4A2E.dpuf

Kaaya, Sadab Kitatta – ‘Uproar over unsolicited Museveni campaign SMS’ (10.08.2015) link: http://www.observer.ug/news-headlines/39174-uproar-over-unsolicited-museveni-campaign-sms

Lutaaya, Henry – ‘Museveni exploits incumbency ahead of 2016’ (31.07.2015) link: http://www.sunrise.ug/news/201507/museveni-exploits-incumbency-ahead-of-2016.html

Museveni, Yoweri – ’Sectarian politicians to be arrested, prosecuted” – Museveni’ (06.08.2015) link: www.yowerikmuseveni.com/news/%E2%80%9Csectarian-politicians-be-arrested-prosecuted%E2%80%9D-%E2%80%93-museveni#sthash.aJNiX7oP.dpuf

Museveni, Yoweri – ‘FANON’S THEORY ON VIOLENCE: ITS VERIFICATION IN LIBERATED MOZAMBIQUE’: which was an essay/thesis in “Essays on the Liberation of Southern Africa”, Tanzania Publication House (Released in 1971).

TheInsider.ug – ‘Army Chief, minister confess love, fear for Museveni’ (05.08.2015) link:

http://www.theinsider.ug/army-chief-minister-confess-love-fear-for-museveni/

Tumwine, Albert – ‘We cannot pull down Museveni posters- Police’ (16.07.2015) link: http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/We-cannot-pull-down-Museveni-posters–Police/-/688334/2753854/-/lr6i1x/-/index.html

Omara, Chris – ‘The journey to 2016 and beyond under Gen Yoweri Kaguta Museveni (YKM)’ (05.08.2015) link: http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/671825-the-journey-to-2016-and-beyond-under-gen-yoweri-kaguta-museveni-ykm.html

Uganda Media Centre – ‘“No one has capacity to Destabilize Uganda” (24.07.2015)  link: http://www.mediacentre.go.ug/news/%E2%80%9Cno-one-has-capacity-destabilize-uganda%E2%80%9D-%E2%80%93-president-museveni#sthash.9ovML4Po.dpuf

Uganda Statehouse – ‘President Museveni warns politicians on lies and sectarianism’ (15.06.2015) link: http://www.statehouse.go.ug/media/news/2015/05/15/president-museveni-warns-politicians-lies-and-sectarianism

Waswa, Sam – ‘Museveni: UPDF Needs Clear-headed Political Leadership’ (21.07.2015) link: http://chimpreports.com/museveni-updf-needs-clear-headed-political-leadership/