“When we talk politics, wealth and controversy in Uganda, not so many names will top Alhaji Nasser Ntege Ssebaggala. The former Kampala Mayor’s life has been dogged by scandals over the last four decades. Mable Twegumye Zake spoke to Nasser Ssebagala who was recently appointed senior presidential advisor on investment promotion” (NTV Uganda, 2016)
Tag: Lord Mayor
Lukwago Statement: “Application to the Constitutional Court to impeach the Elected Leadership in Kampala” (26.04.2016)
Press Statement by Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago:
Some KCCA leaders and I have today morning filed an application in the Constitutional Court, seeking to be accorded our inalienable right to be heard in the Mulindwa Muwonge petition, wherein he is challenging the legality of the elected leadership in Kampala. We can’t peg our rights and hope on a mere presidential directive to Mulindwa to withdraw the petition. I also sought for audience with Justice Kavuma as a follow up on the controversies surrounding the reopening of the Lord mayor’s parlour. The Registrar, Deo Nizeimana assured us that the matters are cause listed soon. We shall not waver on matters of justice and Rule of Law.
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Opinion: Who is really the “Empty Suit”? Who might it be the Empty Suit in the Ministry of Health Care or KCCA? As the recent unfolded operations of maladministration in the public view… henceforth somebody who is just nodding to the Executive for the brown envelope.
McNULTY: “West Baltimore is dying and you empty suits are running around to pin some politician’s pelt to the wall. Thought you was real police, brother” (The Wire Season 2, Episode 13).
There is in this day and age lots of appointed government officials, they work supposed to be diligent and with honour of the codes of their work, not work directly for the ones that appointed them. That cannot always be easy as the station and the position would not been opened or given to the person if the appointee didn’t give that extended hand or blessing for the job. When you have that situation you need a strong state and strict regulatory regime that counter the possible backhand and kickbacks to the ones that appointed them.
Why do I discuss this at this point? Because it is a vital part of our government regimes and is a question that can be asked in nearly all parts of the globe. As all jobs in the branches of government does not automatically goes to the most educated, relied on or the one person who has the most integrity in the position. Instead the man or woman who gets appointed is an “empty suit”.
What some of them might do?
“What typically saves the empty suit is the tenuous relation between what he or she does and any actual business results. This may be a function of the job he’s in: a staff post, with lots of power to nix others’ initiatives but no responsibility to make or sell anything. Or a pocket of avoirdupois in a still-too-fat corporate bureaucracy, the kind of position that causes underlings to scratch their heads and wonder, ”Gee, do we really need all these vice presidents?” Or the empty suit may have come up through a system that rotates fast- trackers through a new job every 18 months, even though the effects of his tenure don’t become evident for two to three years. He hardly had time to get any grounding in the work his people do, and he may have royally screwed up the few decisions he was compelled to make, but when the chickens come home to roost, he has flown. If somebody has the bad taste to try to assign responsibility, the suit can easily fuzz the matter over by suggesting that the blame rests with his successor or former subordinates” (Kiechel, 1989).
There certainly similar like the ones described in our time in every department, every corporation and every single institution we know of. This might be the Electoral Commission of Uganda and the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission of Kenya. As much as the regulatory chairs of the banking industry of Kenya must feel like empty suits these days as the confidence at that is low-key as well. The Chase Bank, The Imperial Bank and National Bank of Kenya have fallen from grace. The most likely selling of the Barclays Bank African Group might also make the fragile banking sector into more disarray as the leading regulators seems like the extra board-members instead of people who uses their position and chair with care and uses the mandate to make a difference and even square.
The situations are different when the appointed is not hired for their knowledge of their field, but the loyalty of the regime or government that is running in the country. The likes of Ministry of Health in Uganda for the moment where the hospitals are creaking and the machines are criss-crossing between life and death. Electricity and other cases of depleted. As the missing extra blood for surgery, the copy-medication and the loss of necessary equipment; that shows the lack of management and reasons for empty suits. The highest empty suit for the moment must be State Minister for Health Hon. Dr. Chris Baryomunsi who seems to be more concern with catching checks then doing his job at this point. This point comes with the correlation of Minster of Health Hon. Elioda Tumwesige and the State Minister for Primary Health Hon. Sarah Opendi Ochieng. One of the three must generate a valued pay-check and makes sure that the NMS delivers the Global Funded projects and the other government funded health care, but either Chris, Elioda or Sarah, one of them or more must be a hired “empty suit” as the three of them are put into ministerial position working for initially the same thing.
It is just like the same mess with the KCCA where you have KCCA Executive Director of Jennifer Musisi. You have Frank Tumbewaze who is both Minister of the Presidency and Kampala Affairs. Then you have the third person who got a mandate the Presidential Advisor for Kampala affairs Mr. Singh Katongole what he does is surely only him and the Executive of Uganda who knows, since his appointment in December 2015 his silence must mean a envelope and letting Hon. Tumbewaze and Hon. Musisi does what they like. To make it more hectic you have the actual people’s elected through the ballot who supposed to run the Kampala Capital City Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago. So you have hon. Musisi, Hon. Tumbewazi, Hon. Katongole and Lord Mayor Lukwago. All of them are supposed to central people in the running of administration and regulate the divisions of Kampala politically and create policies that builds and secure the functions of KCCA. That must be hectic one of these men and woman must be a empty suit. Unless Hon. Katongole who I haven’t heard a word from since appointment is an ear-to-the ground and talking or addressing letters directly to the Executive or Head of State as his role has still not been served. As the accountability of the NRM-Regime is not strong they prefer keeping people in the dark. Hon. Tumbewaze seems more to be the ones who was appointed to turn opposition Lord Mayor on his knees and therefore also gotten a permanent Executive Director in Musisi to shut down the elected person. But the end-game is that one of them must be an “Empty Suit” as the basic needs cannot be that big, and one of them is catching the brown envelopes without doing anything.
There are certainly more empty suits in the system as I started with the appointed men who is not educated for the position, but are there for the loyalty not because of the office is needed or there for a general purpose. That is the same as extra board-members in a corporation who is hired to vote for the general consensus in the board, but not to generate profits in some sense. They are there because the Corporation and LLC need useful idiots to be paid to follow the remarks of the stakeholders and shareholders, not the common-sense of their position.
We can all question the value of these leaders and honourable men-or-woman in a representative or appointed position by the President for instance. The level of credible men and woman and the need for expertise in the government organisations, into the department and the civic care from the road-development to the health care facilities need men and woman who knows the trade. As long the men does what is needed for the President or for the Stakeholders. The ones that lose are the ordinary person, employee or civil servants as they will either work under them or have to pay them tax-money to keep them. As they have to be paid an envelope to be the empty-dress. The person who is an empty dress doesn’t become that for free. Somebody has to be charge to keep him there. Most likely it is me or you. We can just ask ourselves. Who of the appointed leaders in government is an empty suit? Who in the corporate world are the extras?
Lastly, why does the Minister Without Portfolio. Hon. Abraham Byandala gets away and is not questioned by the opposition or anybody else. Why is this man the free-man the invisible creature in the parliament that does not have scruples? This since this position is the epitome of a Empty Suit. He is a MINISTER, but does not have an OFFICE, Department or a MINISTRY to run. Hon. Byandala can do as he pleases and still get paid. You cannot check his ministry or running government portfolio as it is non-existence from the get-go. The Government Official without any oversight and anything to initial control or say in other words the official Minister of Nothing (MoN). Hon. Byandala is running the Ministry of Nothing. The Minister of Hot-Air and the checking the chapattis’ in parliament is fresh enough for Hon. Oulanyah’s taste.
Well, what do you think? Are the somebody you feels are an Empty suit? Somebody you question or wonder if really have anything more than pay-check from the Tax-Payers money, but does not use it’s office or even delivers anything. Then that person might be an empty suit who just nods the head to the Executive and the general leadership without exercising power or determine the future of the government institution, department or ministry. Even if the person is really doing anything in the boardroom or a needed voter for the stakeholders; if it is only the needed majority to follow procedure then the scheme need a check or reform.
There will certainly be more stories and the existence of similar men and woman who can be described as “Empty Suits” and be stooges needed by any administration and corporations as they viciously need structure to control the citizens and the policies without questions from the inner-circle. Even if that means not procurement of needed medicines, fuel, transformers or building bridges to easier access the missing Okor Bridge in Kumi District: “This project was intended to connect Nyero and Mukongoro sub-counties in Kumi district” (MoFED, March 2015). A bridge that does not exist or is built by now so the sub-counties is not yet connect because of the altered situation and have to run long roads around the area than crossing straight over the river. So a project like this says there some empty suits as in 2009 as company was hired to build the river, by December 2012 the works by the river had stopped. Even if the departments to UNRA gave reports of progress of the project was last monitored in 2014 and by 2016 there not been done more to build the bridge since the monopoly of the Chinese Contractor have stifled the progression and in the end wasted government funds into a building a bridge who does not exist. Just like the Ministry of Nothing Hon. Byandala.
Think that is enough for today! Peace.
Reference:
Kiechel, Walter – ‘HOW TO SPOT AN EMPTY SUIT This breed of modern manager looks good and gets along splendidly with the brass. But is he contributing anything?’ (20.11.1989) link: http://archive.fortune.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/1989/11/20/72761/index.htm
Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development – ‘NATIONAL BUDGET FRAMEWORK PAPER FY 2015/16’ (March 2015).
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Letter to KCCA Executive Director Musisi: ED/KCCA/007/01 – “Legal Status of the Lord Mayor Kampala Capital City” (13.04.2016)
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Jennifer Musisi – “Go Out and cast your Vote!”; Here is why it is Ironic that she spreads the message of going out to vote!
The Woman who impeached and used every tool in the book to get rid of a elected offical to control City Hall and be parts of the Kampala Capital City Authority. The Message sending today is feeling strange as she doesn’t have much democratic backbone, as she like to be little Queen who controls Kampala without having a Lord Mayor asking for accountability and getting men in asking for transparency as Lord Mayor Lukwago wanted to do. Therefore they worked to get rid of him in last period.
So it is ironic and she just recently said this to the press as well:
““We are doing really well without the Lord Mayor. We have made tremendous progress without the Lord Mayor. Our administration minus the Lord Mayor is fantastic” (Mubiru, 2016).
So the LADY who does well without the ELECTED official asks people to go out and vote. I don’t accept the premise and the message from her. As she has done everything in her power to take away the value of the Kampala votes in 2011. There is something not right in that. As well as late in 2015 with the amendment of the KCCA ACT was to nearly abolish the Lord Mayors place and instead just have hand-picked men from the Parliament. So the Public and Citizens of Kampala would not have a certified and legitimate person to represent them. That is something Jennifer Musisi and Frank Tumwebaze has worked for. That is why I am irritated at this message from her. It doesn’t fit her or the KCCA as the KCCA only works for hand-picked cronies of the NRM-Regime, only the ones that haven’t follow it doesn’t know about it. Peace.
Reference:
Mubiru, Apollo – ‘Home National KCCA without the Lord Mayor is fantastic – Musisi’ (10.02.2016) link: http://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1416769/kcca-lord-mayor-fantastic-musisi
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UPF Press Release on Yesterday actions in Kampala (16.11.2015) + NBS Video Clip of Yesterdays Policing!
Yesterday, 16th November, 2015, at around 1230 hours, a Delta Television Journalist, Isaac Kugonza, 28, was injured during front line coverage of rowdy protesters at the home of Erias Lukwago, at Lungujja, a Kampala City suburb.
The journalist was taking photos and videos under the security cover of the police, before he was caught up and injured by a stone hurled at the police by the rowdy protesters. He took injuries to the right side of head, where he suffered a wound to the ear and a swollen eye. The Police immediately rescued and rushed him to Mulago National Referral Hospital, where he is being hospitalized.
The victim was subjected to a CT scan and the preliminary examination shows that he is out of danger, and will further be evaluated tomorrow 17th November, 2015. Meanwhile another female victim, Nyamwiza Molly, 21, is also being hospitalized, after sustaining a serious fracture to the leg when she was knocked down by a boda boda rider, who was attempting to escape from the protesters. She had visited her elder sister at Nyanama Zone and was injured while proceeding to Kampala, on her way back to Hoima.
The police upon intervention arrested two suspects that included Erias Lukwago and Sewanyana Allan a Councilor at Makindye Division who are being detained at Nagalama Police Station, while the charges of incitement to violence, assault and malicious damage levied against them are being investigated by police at Old Kampala Police station.
Today’s confrontation between the police and protesters could have been avoided if Erias Lukwago had observed the instructions from the electoral body that deferred nominations to a later date, as they awaited communication on Regulations governing the nomination for the two elective positions of Lord Mayor and Deputy Lord Mayor, from the Minister for Kampala, as required by the KCCA Act. This communication was brought to his attention by the DPC Old Kampala Police Station the previous evening.
The police remain committed to enforcing law and order, without fear or favor, in respect of all people and calls upon each and every one of us to uphold the law for the good of our land.
CP Fred Enanga
Press and Public Relations Officer
Uganda Police
16.11.2015
Look at this clips:
On the clip, you heard the shots right? – that was not stones!
A Tiny Comment to this:
You can write and type hog-wash honorable Fred Enanga to look better, but the video clips and vivid pictures tells a story! How the police vandalized and harrased the public in the area. That was not stoning of a journalist? He was shut by your bullets. You can lie and keep on lying, but the truth will stand. Your not ensuring or enforcing positive actions, instead your creating violence. The world knows that. Your not policing! Proof yet again. Peace!
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The Eight day of Presidential Rallies in Uganda + UPC & TIC Statements and more
There been yet another day of Presidential Rallies. There been more movement from all candidates. NRM continues… Go-Forward and Amama Mbabazi has had a hectic day. The FDC team and Dr. Kizza Besigye have been in Busoga… the other candidates were there also on the trail… Let’s continue!
NRM:
He continued to travel in the Northern Uganda on his trail. And the UPC candidates continue to support NRM like they are the same party. Akena must sit somewhere proud. Otunnu must be sad somewhere else… Milton Obote be pissed at his son somewhere in his eternal rest. Well, let’s go back to the trail!
YKM said this today:
“We are in alliance with the UPC” said today by Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. Also saying today: “Whoever who ate that money, going to vomit” (…)”Some problems in the Health Ministry – Corruption, Stealing drugs”.
Go-Forward:
Before his campaign rally in Hoima the police has thrown out tear-gas to scatter the public who was supposed to go the venue where Amama Mbabazi.
“Hoima District, 16th November, 2015:
On our agenda for 2016-2021 shall be revisiting land compensation for those who were not compensated for loss of land during the oil exploration exercise. This will be resolved. Additionally we intend to empower local governments to manage their own budgets for infrastructure development especially municipal roads”.
Sunday 22nd November 2015 is the new date set for the release of the Go-Forward and TDA joint manifesto release.
Professor Baryamureeba:
The race has been halted by the issue that the professor doesn’t have the money for his campaign. There it has been postponed. He has been steady tweeting all day!
TIC Candidates:
The Joseph Mabirizi and Maureen Faith Kyala were scheduled to have rallies in Butaleja and Kibuuku District today.
Abed Bwainka had today campaign rallies in Iganga, Kamuli and Namayingo.
FDC:
He has been talked in Irudu in Buyende district. Later he had rallies in Bukungu.
In Kamuli this is what Dr. Kizza Besigye said:
“We shall improve agriculture. We shall invest in research, promote irrigation, establish a farmer’s bank, insure gardens. We shall also fix prices so that any farmer knows that u can’t sell below that price. We shall have silos”.
Dr. Kizza Besigye after the rallies today:
“We want to thank the people of Buyende and Kamuli for the warm welcome to Dr. Kizza-Besigye Wrn. He discussed with them how the Fdc govt will solve the problem of poverty thru putting in place people centered programs and projects. We implore you to go door to door and spread the message of Liberation. Kigwa Leero”.
UPC Statement:
“I can confirm that we are in talks whereby the core UPC minimum agenda that addresses key issues like health, education and agriculture will guide all engagements over the next 5 years. As UPC we firmly believe in the need for a peaceful transition and recognise that this could only be the last term for President Museveni and therefore any meaningful transition cannot exclude him and NRM from this transition. UPC from its founding as political Party, sought the preservation of national unity and integration which remains a key guiding principle” (…)”As the UPC President, I am committed to abide by the National Council decision to build the party from the grassroots in preparation for the 2021 elections. I am similarly urging all UPC members to actively support and campaign for UPC candidates contesting for elective positions from LC I to Parliament in the 2016 elections”.
Written by UPC President Jimmy Akena.
Hon. Frank Tumwebaze statement on the KCCA ACT:
“Broadly why are we amending the kcca act law? In 2005, Article 5 of the Constitution was amended to reflect the special status of Kampala as the Capital City of Uganda, which means that Kampala ceased to be a district under the Local Government system, and that the Capital City was therefore to be administered by the Central Government. That provision is in the constitution and its supreme. Any other law made under the same constitutional provision must not contradict it or attempt to undermine the spirit of the constitution framers in as far the administration of Kampala is concerned” (…)”The objective of the aforesaid constitutional amendment was to introduce reforms to the governance of the Capital City in a bid to address the numerous issues that Kampala faced at that time, for example poor transport infrastructure, traffic congestion, uncontrolled developments, flooding, unregulated transport industry, illegal street trading, corruption, poor service delivery etc…” (…)”In order to give effect to the new status of Kampala under Article 5 of the Constitution, Parliament enacted the Kampala Capital City Act, 2010 which came into force on the 1st of March 2011. The provisions of the Kampala Capital City Act 2010 prescribe, among others, the administration of Kampala by the Central Government, the establishment of the Kampala Capital City Authority (hereinafter referred to as the KCCA) as the governing body of the city, the composition of the Authority, election, removal and powers of the Lord Mayor, Deputy Lord Mayor and members of the Authority” (Tumwebaze, 16.11.2015 – Press Statement).
Side Note – NRM Primaries:
“Police arrest 20 youth with sticks in 2 vehicles moving towards Rubanda, Kabale. This happens as the NRM Primaries is underway” (CroozeFM News).
Side-Note 2:
Conservative Party is set to expel their leaders Ken Lukyamuzi.
Side-Note 3 – TIC Statement on the Police:
TIC CONDEMNS ATTACK ON DELTA TV JOURNALIST
The Independent Coalition, TIC, condemns in the strongest terms the police shooting of a Delta TV journalist on duty. Thus occurred during another blatant attempt to stop the Lord Mayor from leaving his home to exercise his democratic rights, who was also illegally arrested. TIC calls upon the Uganda Police Force to remember that they are expected to be non – partisan.
I think this was enough for today, a bit better then yesterday on the trail. Peace!
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Lord Mayor of Kampala Erias Lukwago detained today and more news on the mayoral race in 2016
(Photo from 14.5.2015 – Still relevant though)
He has just been arrested and is detained in Maganjo Police Station. The Lord Mayor of Kampala has been jailed before and also lost powers to Jennifer Musisi in Kampala Capital City Authority since he is a DP Mayor in the Capitol and not one of the loyal subjects of the NRM-Regime.
For a few hours ago he wrote this on social media:
“This is a defining moment in as far as the political history and trajectory of this country is concerned. It’s therefore imperative that we should be judicious, meticulous and diligent in all crucial decisions made during this season. The people’s sovereign authority and political stability of our country should reign supreme over any other parochial considerations. Divine intervention is of critical importance in guiding this intricate political process. May the good lord bless this pearl of Africa. Nice weekend” (Erias Lukwago).
Greenfield Radio had an poll on who people wanted as mayor right now:
“RESULTS
These Are The Final Outcomes Of The Yesterday’ Mayoral Opinion Poll Elections Held On Our Page.
1-Erias Lukwago (TJ) 22 Votes
2-Daniel Kazibwe Aka Ragga Dee (NRM) 03 Votes
3-Isa Kikungwe (DP) O0 Votes
4-Milles Rwamiti (FDC) 00 Votes.
Out Of 26 Votes Only 1 Vote Was Counted Void” (Greenfield Radio with Robert Onyango).
Yesterday this happen as he contest get further people involved in Kampala:
“DP MP Issa Kikungwe has announced that he will contest for the seat of Kampala Lord Mayor currently held by another DP member Erias Lukwago who has already expressed interest in retaining his seat”. Take a look at the press release.
A tiny report from NRM Primaries:
“50 NRM councillors in Kampala were dropped in the NRM primaries by the voters. The voters say that most of these were punished for illegally censuring the lord Mayor Erias Lukwago” (Credible source!).
Peace!
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Press Release: New party elections dates set for the NRM-Party (06.10.2015)
The Electoral Commission of the National Resistance Movement has set new dates for key party elections
At a press conference addressed by NRM deputy Secretary General Richard Todwong, Deputy Treasurer Kenneth Omona and Part EC chairman Tanga Odoi, elections for LCIII chairpersons, LCIII councilors, LCIII women councilors, LCV councilors, municipal councilors, division councilors and city division councilors for Buganda and Kampala will take place on October 12.
“On 26/11/2016, primaries for Constituency MPs, Woman MPs, LCV chairpersons, Lord mayor and Municipal Mayors,” A press release signed by Mr Todwong and Dr. Odoi reads in part.
Elections for LCIII chairpersons/councilors and district councilors for Bushenyi and Kanungu Districts will take place at date to be agreed on after meeting elders and stakeholders of the two districts on the 15th and 16th for Bushenyi and Kanungu respectively. Elections for Kyeizoba NRM 111 will take place on Saturday October 17.
At the same media briefing, it was announced that the first meeting of the third national conference will take place between October 30-Nov 2nd at Namboole.
“Nomination of the NRM presidential candidate H.E. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni will take place on November 3.” Thereafter the President will address a post-nomination public rally at Kololo.
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Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago writes to president Museveni about Gen.Sejusa
“You preposterously lock up the Lord Mayor’s Parlour for over a year now; you put me on bridle and shackles; you make me plod various corridors of courts to answer a plethora of frivolous criminal charges, and in search of civil justice; you subject me to horrid and humiliating treatment, and ironically demand for an apology from your hapless victim. A four star UPDF General, hitherto serving as the axis of intelligence, mysteriously flees into exile and accuses you and the entire government of a litany of felonies and crimes against humanity. You, in a blatant disregard of a court order invade, ransack and eventually cordon off the Monitor publications (scene of crime!!!) in a frantic search for some ”treasonable document” and issue a stern caution to all media houses never to mention the General’s name. 20 months later he sneaks back to the country in the wee hours and warmly embraced by security operatives. Your government not only declares him innocent but General Elly Tumwine warns the media not to sensationalise the matter. Your Excellence am not suggesting that you harangue and humiliate my brother Gen. Sejusa(it’s my pleasure to welcome him back to his ancestral home) but only wondering whether he has apologised to you; and whether this is the Rule of law for which Ugandans painstakingly sacrificed their irretrievable blood!!!!”
—-Erias Lukwago
MinBane 