Opinion: BoU illicit acts was accepted by the regime for decades!

The Bank of Uganda (BoU) have during the last two weeks shown it blatant side and also its frauds to the public. As the acquisitions of failing Banks hasn’t been done with procedures or protocols. They have not acted in good faith. They have acted ill-willed and certainly not considering that their actions would be looked into. As they was the buffer for the state and the Movement itself. While they could monitor and configure the acquisitions of these failing banks.

That the leadership of the BoU are a proof of the how the state are triggering themselves on the common market. It is a rodeo, it is the Wild West, where the biggest head are getting the stakes and hopefully nobody will look into the transactions. That was until the Parliament and the Parliament’s committee on commissions, statutory authorities and state enterprises (Cosase) started to question the acts of the Bank. The realities of how the BoU has acted.

They can not hide it under the rug. This all is happening because the BoU couldn’t explain the transactions and trade-off with the recent Crane Bank. That is why they are looking into Greenland Bank, International Credit Bank, Cooperative Bank, Global Trust Bank and Teefe Bank. The BoU even sold three banks to Ghost Companies not existing, that was based on Mauritius. Which, shows how the leadership have failed their role or if not laundering money for the high above.

As well, as the most striking feature, is not only loosing the documentations for the COASE Committee in the recent takeover. But the evident acts of not having the assets, the inventory or even following any procedures doing so. What is worse, the lack of oversight or even critical eyes by the Parliament or even the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED), as these should have seen it coming. They should wonder why securities, the statutes and the banks was sold without the procedures and needed clearances. This to secure the clients and also the assets of the banks.

It is like they have closed into thin-air, in major heists of the elites, where the BoU have used their tools of disposal, to clear the tenant’s and their liabilities without any scrutiny. Clearly that has been the message, as the Banks have been lost, but been transferred to new homes. These homes has gotten the fortunes or their assets without the BoU could tell what they pushed further. Even selling it to companies not existing.

That the BoU have problems are clear, but they are like the state in general. Who has Ghosts everywhere and creates them for a reason. To hustle and create ghosts to earn more on non-existing projects, this has been there as long as Museveni have been president. It is just a proof of illicit and the problems of society in general. BoU is just a mirror of the administration, of the government and the backwards ways to grabbing money, while the honest are thieved.

The BoU have all been wrong, done it horrific and massively underestimated their history, their practices and the realities, which they now suffer. Certainly for a reason. If the President wants to get rid of one of the leaders within the Bank. This is the sort of scandal that clears the house. But these transactions and these sort of activity will not go away. As the elites and the Presidency has accepted this for decades. This has been done since before the millennium.

Therefore, it will be more skeleton released and show more disgraceful acts from the BoU. They have done it, because the regime has earned on it. If not these practices would have been gone long time ago. Then the Special Force Command would have ambushed the Bank and barricaded it. Peace.

Mzee is halting the creation of new districts: Only to do it right before next General Election!

It is a hard time taking President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni serious, when he comments like today about creating districts. As he is the King of creating these, he has made a dozens in his span of Presidency. Museveni when he took power in 1986, there was 33 districts and by the o’clock 2018, there is registered 127 districts. Therefore, the map of districts and Local Government institutions have become a hectic mess.

That he is asking for halting today, only comes as a sign, that he wants to save of the funding and creations right before the next General Elections. Like he usually does. It is hectic to do it in the midst of term, but do it by the end. Also, as a way to sponge cronies and mend old wounds. Is a better way, than openly bribing during mid-terms like now.

About creation of districts, some of them were created because of ethnicity and others for geographical reasons like Moyo and Adjumani which are separated by water. But some people now want districts for greedy reasons. We can halt creation of districts for some years if we agree. We are spending 40% of the budget on the wage and administrative bills. They can wait till we have more money” (Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, 09.11.2018).

So, when you see that within the basis of 32 years rule. That he has in general created 2,9 or 3 district per year. This shows the intent to carve up the districts and bases, as a political game and also sufficiently make the local government bases so small. That the President easily manipulate and stipulate the results. Especially carve into districts where there is a huge opposition, or where he needs more support. As he lacks the basics of ordinary state delivery and even good governance.

That is usual end-game and most likely this time too. As there are already talks of carving up other districts, like Kasese and Budama (Tororo County) Districts, which has speculations about. Nothing is carved out yet, but there are plans to do so. That is why even Members of Parliament and local politicians has made plans in these districts. Now, the President calls them out.

However, he is the man that has made races and made it a goal to make small benign districts out of everywhere. That is why there is race to become of one of the three, every year made by the President. They want to get a slice too and that shouldn’t be shocking for anyone. Peace.

OPM Refugee Scandal: It is verified that it was 352k Ghost Refugees!

Minister Hillary Onek and Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda can make any excuses in the books of civil service. Not that they will be true for that matter, because earlier this year. It was revealed that in several of the refugee camps and settlements in the Republic of Uganda. The Government of Uganda had inflated the numbers, so they to could gain international recognition and also monetary gains for the needed people seeking refuge there.

This was ghosting refugees and the ones fleeing wars in Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan. Where the majority of the refugees comes from. This was a real scandal, that shown how the authorities are using the misfortune of others to eat donor pledges and multi-national organizations supply of foreign currency. To facilitate food, shelter and other needed services for the ones living in the refugee camps and settlements.

Take a look at this:

The Government of Uganda has one of the most progressive refugee policies, allowing refugees and asylum-seekers to live in gazetted refugee settlements and exercise freedom of movement and settlement within the country. As a routine practice, the government has provided a grace period of two months within which any registered refugee and asylum-seeker who missed the exercise, can approach OPM for verification. Taking this into consideration, the above verification numbers are preliminary. A more detailed analysis will be undertaken after the grace period. The difference between the initial verification target stands at 352,643 individuals. Among those, 255,490 individuals were verified as inactive and closed for the following reasons: a) 158,533 individuals whose whereabouts are unknown as reported by family members; b) 34,174 were reported by their families to have returned to their countries of origin; c) 9,481 were identified to have registered more than once; e) 3,931 were reported deceased; f) 1,489 were closed as they were Ugandan nationals; and (g) a verification exercise by OPM in April 2018 confirmed the urban refugee population to be 55,812” (UNHCR – ‘Joint statement by UNHCR and OPM on preliminary results of refugee verification exercise’ 08.11.2018).

So, the OPM and the National Resistance Movement (NRM) played this game with the lives of refugees and with the donor nations. Hoping to score more funding for non-existing refugees, getting funds and grants for people who never existed. That shows the devastation and extortion of the situation. When the ones in dire need and the ones in camp together with forged numbers are used in a scheme.

That is why the UPM and UNHCR had to do this exercise in the first place, as the lack of trust in the numbers. As they sky-rocketed and ballooned into ridiculous levels.

The OPM Refugee scandal of this years shows the value of oversight and due diligence, as the need to verify the numbers and the stats. That is why there is missing or ghosting over 352,000 people as refugees in Uganda. That shows how corrupt and how the state used the ability of refugees to take money from others.

Therefore, these sort of joint actions should happen often. To secure that the GoU and the OPM isn’t rigging the numbers in their favor. Peace.

Mzee spells out new guidelines: Don’t think these will fix the open brutality against the dissidents in the Republic!

In yet another letter, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni reveals himself, the character he is and the micro-managing efforts he does have. Instead, of significantly finding the wrongs of himself and his management. He begs to change other peoples ways and tell them directly, where they have to change. Like he forgets that he is the ones that has created this situation and also, the greed for power has costs and the attitude of the public is like this. Because of the amassed wealth of the few, while the rest is scraping by. That is the reality that this President has created, but doesn’t seem to figure out. As well, as the misuse of security organizations to interfere in political atmosphere, creates insecurity, made by orders from above. Meaning him and the rest of the cronies at the State House. That is known, but also overshadowed in his writings.

Yesterday, the President released a letter written on guidelines to Security Organizations within the Republic. Nothing much was new there, but there was concerning aspects. As of the narrative and the ideas coming from the old man. Who is clearly set in his way and writing on default, without much consideration for the other parties, that have been following orders, but now got new guidelines. Apparently.

“Indeed, Uganda has been stable for a long time. It will remain stable. Therefore, nobody should be allowed to threaten life, property or orderliness (obuteeka) in Uganda. If you are a critic, do so truthfully and peacefully” (Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, 28.10.2018).

“The involvement of the SFC, Military Police and CMI in handling law and order issues has been caused by the kawukumi (bean weevils) that had invaded the Police. Otherwise, they should not have been involved and they were never involved. I commend them because the main aims of the government were achieved: to protect the lives of Ugandans and their property. The image of the country was somewhat affected. That, however, will be repaired. What is crucial is the country to be stable and not just to appear stable. Nevertheless, for logical and legal reasons, the army and the other security forces can, if required, backup the Police in Law and Order Management” (Yoweri Kaguta Museveni 28.10.2018).

These statements and typical ways of the President. Shows the insight into how he considers the security questions and how he look forward to ease the ways to peace. It is like he cannot see how the CMI, Military Police and Presidential Guards coming in as Police Officers as a problem, because he is the one most likely ordering it and giving the word to the underlings to strike. That is why he doesn’t seem to care about the attitude and the lack of protocol, only that the image is destroyed. However, he asked for, when he ordered torture, when he ordered the CMI and SFC to take matters into their own hands that bargain. That was a given after the melee.

The stability factor, is only because he is stagnant on his post, but the insecurity is rising, when he gives so much power to militarized organizations, who are there to secure the border. Not catch petty thieves or signal to the world, that you don’t steal Micro-Loans Money that was distend to Mzee himself. These public violent arrests, these killings of protesters and of opposition activists, Yasin the driver of Bobi Wine. Are all signs of the oppression and the lack of tolerance within the Republic. Just like the selective arrest of the people in and around Bobi Wine. Who only guilty of association, not of crimes on any levels. Except being loyal to someone else, than the almighty Bosco.

We know, even with these guidelines, more innocent people will die after a riot; more people will end up in a hospital, because the Security Organization and militarized organization will brutally silence the people. By any means people and most likely on orders from Jajja. That is just the way it is.

He can speak of codes, justice and rule of law, but it is not believable, as long as people are ending up for no apparent reason at SIU Kireka and arrested for association to someone else than the President. You know the stakes and stacks of cards is against the rebelling public. They cannot win and the powerful SFC, CMI, ISO and rest of them will silence the voice of dissent, whenever and wherever they might arise. That is just the way it is. Peace.

Reference:

Yoweri Kaguta Museveni – ‘GUIDELINES ON MANAGING RIOTERS, TERRORISTS, CRIMINALS AND LOOTERS AND METHODS OF ARRESTING AND HANDLING SUSPECTS’ 28.10.2018

Uganda: Judiciary reaction to Land Inquiry Commission Press Release (29.10.2018)

Bosco the Blogger: 2 texts within 24 hours – The Lectures of the Blame Game!

When it comes to someone who has been in a favorable position since the 1980s and had total power since 1986. You would think that the had some humility and some common sense. Apparently, as we all know, that is not the case. When it comes to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. His ways is the blame game, either blame the dead, the civil servants or the ones who are low-level underneath him. Because it can never be his fault. That he never allocate the funds, that he never applied the funds where they was supposed to go or even create the policies that the state needed. That is because of his greed and need for micro-managing.

We all know that, but his two texts today shows this. It is such a mess and shows his corrupted mind and wanting to steer the conversation, without any insights into how it looks from afar. It looks more like he is just deflecting his own vision and what he himself is up to. Like we cannot that and we are stupid peasants who are not understanding his Grace.

Text One:

Nevertheless, I criticized the Police for not implementing my directives previously. Let all the Police stations have cost free (toll-free) phones that are known to the public. When that is done everywhere, people being attacked, in addition to the “nduuru” to summon neighbours, somebody should ring that local police number promptly. Having removed some of the kawukumi (the bean weevils) from the Police, it is becoming more efficient. The criminals will not escape. In the case of Rwego, a lot of time was lost by the wife just making alarm only, if what I was told is correct. There was a house girl in the home. If only she had rang the nearby police, the story would have been different” (Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, 27.10.2018).

Text Two:

At Kapeeka recently, I commissioned the factories of ceramics, fruit processing etc. This has frightened the parasites and other pigs that do not appreciate value. These parasites, these pigs have been sending threatening letters and recorded messages to steal money from these investors or to even frighten them so that they run away. I am sending this message to the investors to be calm. We shall expose and defeat these pigs, the parasites. Who is it that does not want Uganda to industrialize and why ? They claim to be politically motivated. What sort of politics is it that does not welcome the industrialization of Uganda and yet you claim to be concerned about the welfare of the masses? You are bogus and a charlatan and we have dealt with many in the last 60 years of struggle” (Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, 27.10.2018).

When you read this snippets of the two texts from a President of 32 years. You wonder why he still has the throne and what sort of mindset does the guy have? He is supposed to be the Statesman. However, he is acting like radical tyrant and shows it in his words. The President isn’t reassuring or writing what people want to hear. Unless, it is the “Yes Men” who will jump, when he says: “Jump”.

There are something rear, when the President says he has cleared the Bean-weevils from the Police. While his law-officials and security operations are violently arresting people and people are disappearing. It is like he says he got ride of Boda Boda 2010 and IGP Kayihura, therefore, the difference of the Police supposed to be there. However, that seems not to be the case. The violence and insecurity as the lack of process and partisanship of the Police is shown and known. It is not like there is trust within the community and the public towards the Police. That is because the Police isn’t handling the VIP cases of assassinations of this year or last year even. There is no proof of care or investigations that matter. It is all just talk and it is more likely they will arrest another politician violently for a public statement, before they catching one of the assassins.

If there anyone sending threatening messages to investors in the Republic. They are stupid and it doesn’t do any good. However, questioning them and the tax-holidays, plus possible Presidential Handshakes. That is a healthy conversation and needed one. The way the President passes through it just weird, as he has to make people into insects.

Bean-weevil and parasites is what he called out people today. These are the men he disrespect. Is the way, you want the Executive or Commander-in-Chief sounding like? Is that a healthy vision of fellow human beings, you might disagree with someone and such, but calling them out in this manner. Is that suitable for a man in his position?

I wish he had the sense of saying. I have messed up, I haven’t delivered. I have created a system where ISO/CMI/UPF/Crime Preventers/UPDF/SFC and so on. That is all going out and deliberately doing business with orders from high above. Meaning most likely the President and the State House. When we know this, it is rich that he blames them for the lack of good work. The President could have made systems and policies that sufficiently secured the public. He has had three decades to do so… but haven’t apparently done so.

Again, step your game up and act upon your role. Not act like you didn’t do this and didn’t educate the police officers and such. Peace.

OPM-UNHCR: Verification Exercise since March 2018 proves there is 1m refugees in Uganda!

Since February 2018, the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) Dr. Ruhukana Rugunda has been under fire for faking the numbers of refugees in the settlements and camps within the Republic of Uganda. Where they we’re doubling and tripling the numbers of refugees in Kampala and West Nile. These figures and set-backs have clearly sent out a memo to the United Nations Organizations. As they have been active since March 2018.

On the 20th October 2018 this has been done by United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the OPM are now verifying the amounts of refugees. This is significant, since this will establish the real numbers and how many who is really there. The individuals and their fate is more important, than their numbers, but when they have cheated on it to get more donor funding. These numbers become more vital. So, that the donations and the grants to help out these individuals come to the right ones and not being eaten by government officials.

The numbers dropped on the 20th October 2018 are after a verification exercise done in Adjumani District, this being in Bidibidi settlement on the 16th October 2018. They we’re able to target what they estimate 85% of the population there. In Bidibidi verified a total of 203,392. That is not all, but shows to what extent the refugee crisis is.

While in Kampala: “the daily turnout continues to be very low despite additional efforts on mobilization. The verification site remained open on Saturday to allow students and others to be verified over the weekend. However, over the period of six days, only 1,583 individuals were verified, majority being Congolese. In light of the low attendance, the verification team has operated at reduced capacity and the final day has been agreed by OPM-UNHCR as Wednesday 24th October” (OPM-UNHCR VERIFICATION EXERCISE: Update, 20.10.2018).

Therefore, the total estimate with all this exercises since March 2018 to 20th October 2018. Which states: “The ongoing verification of refugees in Uganda that started on 1st March 2018, verified a total of 17,428 individuals last week bringing the total as of 20th October 2018 to 1,088,415” (OPM-UNHCR VERIFICATION EXERCISE: Update, 20.10.2018).

So the are margins of error are still there. But the real crunched numbers are there. As the UNCHR wants the truth, as they are trying to collect funding for the operations of the settlements. Since the Ugandan government also wants to secure the donations too. This is all part of that and validate the need for the refugees. The scandal could block the support and trust in the agencies and the rampant forgery of numbers earlier in the year. This exercise was needed to build trust. Now the accuracy is more likely there. They might still try to find a way to inflate it, but it will be harder. Because the base-numbers through the verification makes it harder.

This was needed because of the lie, the lie of the numbers. These are now shattered. Now, the reality is there. It is still a million refugees and they need help. Both in the present, but also for building their future. That perspective is needed. This is people who fled burning villages, militias and armies fighting each other. They need space and trust to grow and rebuild. These people are trying to build a home. That is what should be focus and giving them hope in a dire situation. They are not just numbers.

Even if this story has been about the baseline numbers of refugees in the republic. That is because of the OPM inflated numbers to cheat donors funds. To earn money on their tragedy. That shall not be forgotten. But in the same manner. We need to discuss, how we can give this people hope for a better tomorrow. Peace.

Opinion: The National Dialogue is a stalling tactic by the President!

No man is crushed by misfortune unless he has first been deceived by prosperity”Seneca, Dialogues and Letters

I don’t believe that the National Dialogue, which is about to start in November 2018 and Roadmap made by the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda will amount to anything. It will be a lot about nothing. It will be like a Seinfeld episode, lots of simple fun and punchlines, but nothing substantial for the body or the spirit.

This is not something that will upheld or even be honored by the President. Because he has never honored a deal, where he has to loose something or even give way. The President are always finding his way to get the upper-hand and will do so again. To think otherwise is to think that the Old Man with the Hat has changed. Trust me, all the acts of late, shows that he is more ruthless and shows more force. Because he knows he isn’t loved or cared about in the general population. The empty pledges and promises of old is haunting him and the lack of progress on nearly every account is another reason for his total failure. That is because the President is busy micro-managing and not trusting in the appointed cronies even.

I know I should have had hope for such an arrangement, but the acts of the National Resistance Movement, the usage of the Security Organizations against the citizens, the representatives and the ones standing in their way of late. Shows the dire need of a change, but they do this to intimidate and control. That is why Bobi Wine isn’t even able to launch his album in the National Stadium. At the same period, as the ones standing in the way of the President are awaiting court cases and charged with treason. That is a reason why I don’t believe in it. Because, there are not acts by the NRM that are opening for opposition or even trying. They are even blocking the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) President Patrick Amuriat Oboi from operating and meeting internal-party forums. How can this government be real about having dialogue, when others cannot operate without meeting the police or other security outfits?

I wish I could be hopeful, as the dire need is there, but from the one who said he wanted to destroy the opposition and crash it after the last General Election of 2016. That President is most likely doing it to teach the opposition a lesson, not being there to give way or even give the public a hand. Because the old man want to control everything, every legislation and be the fountain of honor. At all costs and be celebrated, even when he is killing innocent people and making up stories, where the hoodlums are the problem.

That is the man that supposed to negotiate with, a war-lord with all power and his orders from above can be fatal to others. He has no trouble using Luweero methods, using bush-war tactics and to use the National Dialogue for that, would be stalling and securing who was the heads. What their needs are and find ways to consolidate them. In such a way, that they need him and not really talk. This is the man that haven’t the ability to find a successor for 32 years and always excused he has more things to finish before he leaves power. You can wonder is left to forget to do. What bridge isn’t fixed in Isingiro or what school is falling apart in Moroto.

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni will only be a post-boy with lectures, but at this point. He will only use this to make a positive vibe or address the opposition, as they are trouble. He has not long ago said where the opposition has MPs, he has striked that district out of the map and stopped developing it. When your discussing what that sort of man, you know it is only his vision and his stories that matter.

The President have to show another side of himself, but that will be lie. He will then lie, because we know what he does and what he has done. The misuse of power, the ruthless acts against people who are in his way. This is known and he cannot run away from it. It is known and public knows it too. His cronies cannot hide that fact. Even if they try.

At this point. National Dialogue is pointless, unless Museveni pulls a rabbit out of the hat and says, who he plans to succeed him and what the NRM dynasty wants to be the next Grand Pumba. Peace.

The Sentry’s new report have been digging into the export of conflict Gold to the Gold Refinery in Entebbe!

The conflict gold trade sustains ruthless armed groups such as the FDLR and Congolese army units that commit mass atrocities, sexual violence, and other human rights abuses against the population of eastern Congo. It is critical that actors in the international community, especially global banks that trade gold and the consumers of gold, know the origins of the precious metal they are buying. More importantly, governments and companies need to take action against the corporate networks that traffic conflict gold and move it into the global economy” (The Sentry, P: 20, 2018)

Just as the Global Witness Report of June 2017 named “Under Mined” and United Nations Security Council Report from June 2018 named “Final report of the Group of Experts on the Democratic Republic of the Congo”. Today, the Sentry launched today the report named “The Golden Laundromat”. They are all digging into the illegal and sinister gold trade of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the possible money laundering scheme of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and his brother Gen. Salim Selah. Who is both invested in this operation.

This report is again stating the fact and the reality with this trade. As the Sentry is proving new perspective to the matter. These being their analysis of the documentation of the operation and more into the Goetz business practices, which are vital for the export of these conflict minerals. They are showing the trail from the fields and mines in the DRC to the World Market.

Here is some quotes, which I think was worth taking a minute to digest:

According to interviews conducted and documents obtained by The Sentry, there is a significant risk that AGR sources conflict gold from eastern Congo, and that it imports illegally exported artisanal gold mined in eastern Congo. In 2017, according to documents reviewed by The Sentry, AGR refined and exported 9.3 tons of gold, although the company says it exported 7.7 tons. Several people involved in the trade of Congolese gold with direct knowledge of AGR’s operations told The Sentry that the company sources gold from conflict-affected parts of eastern Congo. Two prominent gold smugglers in eastern Congo acknowledged they sold illegally mined and trafficked gold to AGR from 2016-18, which two South Kivu-based traders confirmed” (The Sentry, P: 8, 2018).

Furthermore, there is at least reason to suspect that AGR buys gold. Trade insiders told The Sentry that AGR buys gold, and Goetz reportedly decides on the price paid to traders, as well as arranging terms and scheduling of payment. Ugandan export records indicate that AGR exports gold: it exported 9.3 tons of gold in 2017, although AGR says it exported 7.7 tons. Goetz’s original AGR project proposal sent to President Museveni in 2014 calls into question the company’s commitment to due diligence. In the document, Goetz, on behalf of Tony Goetz NV, states that AGR should attract gold from the region and that any gold traders who do not have official documents should be allowed to sell gold to AGR but pay a $500 penalty” (…) “From Uganda, AGR’s gold flows to other Goetz-controlled companies in Dubai. The DMCC was scheduled to audit another company in the Goetz network, Tony Goetz NV, in 2017, but no new audit report has been published. Despite the lack of an updated audit, Tony Goetz NV remains a Dubai Good Delivery (DGD) member today. It had passed the DMCC’s audit on responsible practices in 2015 based on its 2014 activities – before AGR was launched” (The Sentry, P: 13, 2018).

According to documents reviewed by The Sentry, Goetz sought the intercession of President Museveni in 2014 in order to gain a 10-year tax break for AGR. Three years later, that became a reality when President Museveni announced a pending zero percent tax rate essentially benefitting only AGR. This, in turn, potentially relates to a fourth FATF AML red flag that is applicable to the Goetz network: registration of a trading company in a tax haven even though its business relates to another jurisdiction. While Uganda is not a traditional tax haven, as a practical matter, it presently serves as one for gold refining since Uganda changed its tax structures on gold to attract gold companies” (The Sentry, P: 17, 2018).

What we are seeing as some would be shocked, other would see the deliberate action of the President to support and earn of the illegal gold trade, also ensure the business in Uganda. That the DRC can be used and illegally export the gold, where the business-partner are acting on behalf of the President that has made the arrangement for the refinery in Uganda. This has been done, while also giving AGR a tax-holiday, so that the production will not be taxed and neither able to follow ordinary customs. That means the President and brother together with Goetz knows perfectly well what happens from the DRC to the World Market. They are earning fortunes on the illegal gold trade and is single-handed securing the profits because of it.

The Sentry has done great work collecting the documentation for this and proving their allegations. As others has done to of late. They have extended their work and shown more meat to the bones. Making it a juicy stake. That is showing the acts of violence and killings in the DRC are benefiting the Ugandan President to this day. He is earning wealth on the misery of the Kivu’s, as they by doing this trade keeping up the in-security there. So, that the illegal gold trade can persist… and linger on.

President Museveni knows this and blames the MONUSCO still for being there to long. But his reach and his hands are in the cookie jar. As it has been since he supported Laurent Kabila to overthrow Mobutu. Peace.

Reference:

The Sentry – ‘The Golden Laundromat – The Conflict Gold Trade from Eastern Congo to the United States and Europe’ October 2018

Kampala is a political mess: That is not Musisi’s fault!

That the political map and the organization in and around Kampala is frustrating. Is because there is first the Kampala Capital City Authority, who is a legal administration and Executive Director Jennifer Musisi. The Second there is the elected City Hall with the Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago and the Divisions and Wards. Thirdly is the Ministry of Kampala and the State Minister Beti Kamya. Fourthly is the Members of Parliament representing the Capital City itself and the fifth the Presidential Advisor for Kampala Singh Katangole. Plus you have the added interference of the State House and the President, who micro-manage everywhere and especially in the Capital.

When you see this and the stages, you knew Jennifer Musisi had a hard job. Surely it was easier when she and the Minister Frank Tumwebaze impeached the Lord Mayor in 2013. So, they settled the score and one less item to pass through. Because you don’t need to be a wise-guy to understand there are to many cooks and to many procedures to do anything in Kampala.

You don’t only has the elected from the Wards to the Lord Mayor, the ones elected in Parliament with their reasons and wants of change. The KCCA has their jurisdiction, the City Hall has their, the Ministry orders people around and the Presidential advisor says whatever he says to the President, who suddenly intervenes as well. That is why I have always been worried about Kampala.

The hierarchy and the political landmines are everywhere. There are no leeway, as the monitoring and the checks and balances comes into question. The KCCA answers to the Ministry and orders the City Hall. The City Hall is ordered by both the KCCA and Ministry, while the City Hall is trying to have a saying in the KCCA and the Ministry, without getting anywhere. As they are both acting as the City Hall is a symbolic enterprise. Instead of having elected leadership to make changes, the President has appointed the KCCA and the Ministry to try to evaporate the City Hall. To some extent they have managed that.

We know that even the Division Mayors have wondered what their tasks are, as they have little or less to do. As well, as the Lord Mayor are feeling override by the KCCA. The KCCA was established to counter the opposition and get in their way. Combined with the Ministry of Kampala, they are never giving space and when the State House orders the Minister. The whole chaos are happening. Like the kicking out of vendors from Owino Park Yard. This was done by the will of State House on decree by the Minister and met with hostile reception from the Lord Mayor. This is a sign of a messed up system and not of building a better Kampala.

There are too many cooks and for a reason. The President wanted to ensure the value of the elected leadership get as low as possible, while his loyal minions will overcome them. That is seemingly working, but must be tiring and Musisi gave up battling with the Ministry, State House and City Hall. That is unforgiving job, but she carried it and did what the President wanted her to do. The only thing she didn’t manage was to usher Ragga Dee in as Lord Mayor. Peace.