Letter CJ/C.15(A)(i) – Re: Request for Clarification on Concerns Raised by Rtd. Col. Dr. Kizza Besigye Regarding the Judiciary (23.06.2016)

Besigye fears for his health in Luzira (Youtube-Clip)

“Former FDC presidential candidate Dr. Kizza Besigye insists that his life could be in danger in Luzira Maximum Security Prisons. Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago who visited Besigye alongside FDC president Maj. Gen. Mugisha Muntu and other senior FDC officials told NTV that Besigye is worried about his health due to congestion in the cells at the prisons. He’s also said to be concerned about his security. Spokesman of the Uganda Prisons Service Frank Baine who admitted the space constraints at Luzira but said tghey were doing to ensure that all inmates live well. Luzira was constructed for 2,000 inmates but currently holds to over 6,000” (NTV Uganda, 2016).

Erias Lukwago’s Statement after Gen. Sejusa was escorted to Luzira Prison today

Today, I was convinced by comrades in the struggle to rescind a decision I had taken ten years ago never to bow before the General Court Martial as an advocate following the horrible treatment I was subjected to by the then chairman of the General court martial, Gen. Elly Tumwine during the perfunctory trial of Dr. Besigye in 2005. On the cool morning of that fateful day, I entered the General Court Martial premises in Makindye duly robbed as one of Besigye’s counsel but emerged out in the afternoon as a convict. It all happened when, in the course of the proceedings, I rose up to make submissions but was bundled into the dock where Besigye was standing, summarily tried on tramped up charges of contempt of court, convicted and sentenced to a fine of Ug. Shs. 1000= or imprisonment for a period of 2 weeks.

Today’s proceedings in respect to the trial of Gen. Ssejusa were reminiscent of the said experience, save that the current chairman of the General court martial, Major Gen. Levy Karuhanga was relatively civil as he did not overtly persecute the defence legal team. But for all intents and purposes the whole process was nothing short of a mockery of justice. Little wonnder that not even a single ruling was made on any of the oral applications made. In short, we just escorted General Ssejusa to Luzira remand prison.

It’s even a misnomer to call that kangaroo tribunal a court. I regretted why I cancelled my journey to Mbarara for our defiance campaign. What, however, brought a little smile on my face was the powerful message General Ssejusa sent out to President Museveni as he reminded him that the dungeon in which he was detained for the last two days is directly opposite the infamous Cell of no return where Iddi Amin confined him incommunicado in 1976 but his spirit to fight for good governance was never dampened. I hope The likes of Gen Kaihura, Tumukunde and their ilk will learn one or two things from this message. FOR GOD AND MY COUNTRY.

The Calvary continues their Opposition crack-down

Today there been certain actions done by the Police to go against activists and political affiliated to opposition parties in Uganda. Not that this is news, it as usual as the sun rise every morning. It is modus operandi of the Police at this point.

Yesterday Dr. Kizza Besigye had to leave his driver in Masaka as he was supposed to go to court in Kampala. He reached the Buganda Road Court. Where there was first detained there and not accepted to leave. That was not until hours after when the FDC officials discussed the matter with the court officals as David Kato presented himself in court. The judges then sat down after the discussion and gave the People’s President Driver bail. And let him go.

The reports a few hours later that the Court after the discussion with the FDC Officials, decided to counter their bail and cancelled their bail on David Kato. He will now spend the weekend at Luzira Prison.

Well, this wasn’t enough for the NRM-Regime. They continue the persecution of opposition activist as the democratic nation it is?

In another part of the country the Police continue to detain fellow activist Allan Kitonsa Saava. He is being held at the Kabuli Police Post. The story from well-founded sources is that: “Kitonsa was duped by an OB, who now works as a state agent, for a meeting. He then handed him over. He was 1st taken to Kabalagala police post, and now at Kibuli police post”.

This happens to him after he released this quote to IGP Kale Kayihura online two days ago:
“Violence is initiated by those who oppress, who exploit, who fail to recognize others as persons—not by those who are oppressed, exploited, and unrecognized”.

Seems like this words are so true as he is now detained at the police post in Kibuli. Seems like the questioning of the NRM-Regime is illegal, by the way the Police detain this fellow gentlemen. Also the driver of Dr. Kizza Besigye have been in the spotlight of the Police since 2013 as he is driver of the front-runner in the opposition. Seems, like that is not allowed at this point. To drive Dr. Kizza Besigye, as well as not write online against the IGP Kayihura.  Peace.

The Curious Case of Tamale Mirundi

The former mouthpiece of Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the former Presidential Press Secretary Tamale Mirundi who has ever since been sacked by the State House he has been all around media blasting and commenting on politics. This has now been seen by the Uganda Communication Committee (UCC) as a volatile and meager expression of language and profanity that the media doesn’t need. This happens only two days after he appeared on AmamaRadio. He has been on NBS TV and WBS, also certain radio station talking ever since his sacking. Let’s look a bit on the fellow mouth-piece!

Some older news on the man:

In 2009 these reports came:

“FM radio campaigns by John Tamale Mirundi, encouraging squatters to attack land owners. Mirundi uses Star FM, TOP Radio and other FM stations to tell his targeted listeners: “When those land owners bring court brokers or surveyors and try to evict you, defend your selves. Be ready to use pangas (machetes), sticks and fire to get rid them.” In the last two months, mobs of bibanja holders have murdered two landlords in Bugerere county alone” (…)”As Mr. Museveni’s Presidential Press Secretary, Tamale Mirundi is widely believed by rural land squatters to be speaking on behalf of the Ugandan strong man. The emerging consensus among Buganda analysts is that president Museveni may be creating the terror because Mmengo seems to have successfully blocked his Land Act Amendment of 2009 the way they did with the his Regional Tier” (Kabaka Concern, 2009).

Here are some wonderful quotes in defense of the former chief and head of state Musveni:

“The President doesn’t have a key to State coffers. If there is extravagance, the MPs should be the ones to blame” (…)”They should tell us why they keep approving this money. And before they accuse the President of being insensitive to the needs of the people, let them come to Parliament on bicycles and cut their salaries” (…)”He must see what is going on, that is why under the Constitution he is obliged to take over the administration of a district if things are not going well” (Kiwanuka, 2011).

Also in 2011:

“Mashate’s case involves the government, so I’m not the right person to comment” (…)”“I’m not Museveni’s lawyer to know why the amount of money involved accumulate” (…)“I have to look for Museveni first before I can comment” (…)”The President’s office is not like a headmaster’s office. I am a highly trained journalist, I know you journalist what you want” (BlackStarNews, 2014).

In May 2013 Mirundi said this and did that:

“Sources have told us Mirundi was linked to Sejusa through the general’s phone call logs, which security operatives retrieved. Mirundi was reportedly asked to explain why the general was calling him regularly”. About that Mirundi said this: “They checked his (Sejusa) phone [numbers he has been dialing] and found out that I am one of the people who have been calling Tinyefuza.“I told them that ‘Yes Tinye is my friend and that I have been calling him.’ They later left” (UGO, 2013).

He said this in 2014: “spends hours… abusing members of parliament, abusing everybody and he says he is the president’s dog… the only person he spares is the president!”

“When Tamale was managing The Voice newspaper over ten years ago he failed to pay his workers numbering 17. Three of them, including his cousin Felix Kyeyune, sued him and the money (Ush 5m each plus legal fees) was paid just as the bus to take Tamale to Luzira prison waited outside courtroom in Mengo, a Kampala suburb” (Odinga, 2014).

In July 2014 he said this:

“My contract ended. It is now up to the president to either renew it or not” (…)”I entered State House when I had one suit. But look at what I have achieved. The President educated me and my children in some of the best universities in Scotland” (…)”Even if my contract is not renewed, I will not complain. I can assure you that I will never attack Museveni when I am outside State House” (Lumu & Anyango, 2014).

Salary he had in the FY 2014/2015:

What did he earn during the last budget FY 2014/2015 while being a statehouse employee that was the net sum off US$ 9.846.672, and monthly salary we’re US$ 8.20.566. If I calculate this salary with exchange rate in November 2014 the UGX that would make that year’s salary: 27.078.348.000 Uganda Shillings that is if the exchange rate is on the level of 24. November 2014; when it was 2750 to one US dollar; so he we’re surely more paid then the average Ugandan in that financial year.

In April 2015:

“Mirundi reportedly singled out Kabiito for his handling of a case in which Cairo International Bank was challenging its prosecution in the Anti-Corruption court in regard to the theft of an estimated Shs 169bn meant for pensioners” (…)”Musota said Mirundi took issue with the judge’s handling of a case involving 1,000 former spies who wanted their retirement benefits worth about Shs 39bn paid. According to Musota, what angered Tamale was the judge’s rejection of an application by the Inspectorate of Government (IG) that sought to block the payments” (Kiyonga, 2015). Tamale Mirundi said this about it: “Those judges are suffering from colonialism. They think they are important but they are not important, they are just servants of the people and as long as they are corrupt, we shall talk about them” (…)”By the mere fact that they have reacted to my statements, that is an indication that I have defeated them. If they think that I’m guilty of anything, let them sentence me to death” (…)”I want Kabiito to tell me how I got his judgment [of Cairo bank] before he could read it out. I’m sure it wasn’t written by him and I have evidence to that effect. I just don’t talk without any proof”. He also laughed off the judges’ call for his firing’” (Kiyonga, 2015).

 

In May 28^th 2015:

“President’s Press Secretary, Joseph Tamale Mirundi, has been appointed as an advisor to the cabinet of Isaabaruuli Mwogezi Butamanya, the Baruuli cultural leader” (…)”Buruli chiefdom based in Nakasongola District, like Banyala chiefdom in Kayunga District, isn’t recognised by Buganda Kingdom and they have been on collusion course which has sometimes led to deadly riots” (Kaweesi, 2015).

And then he has since gone like every day said something vile on NBS as a commentator on the Campaigns and Politics. Trying to sound wise, but instead becoming a side-show and that is attacks on everybody from Bebe Cool, Dr. Tanga Odoi, Amama Mbabazi, Gilbert Bukenya and so on. The list is longer then the so called Membership register of the NRM that they said at one point they didn’t have before the NRM Primaries. Well, see why I took pieces of his history. Continue to look!

Today:

Uganda Communication Committee chairman Godfrey Mutabazi has said today after Tamale Mirundi in the recent weeks actually was on a show for AmamaRadio. Mr. Mutabazi said to the press: “The language used doesn’t deserve to be on the airwaves. The commission therefore directs you to stop broadcasting such programs with immediate effect” (…)”Some stations have written to us acknowledging the concern and promising to restrain their guest from such conduct” (NewVision, 2015).

Later today because Tamale Mirundi has a show on Radio Star 87,5 FM have been switched off or taken cutting their sender after the report and statement from UCC. The transmitter from the station has to be muted as a reaction to the UCC threat earlier.  

He must have said something profane and vile that makes UCC react like this. We all know that he have after being fired… spoken wildly on every political topic on every format possible in country. They must be listening to you “mute” since July and since he dropped his wit on certain newly founded opposition campaign radio-station AmamaRadio. AmamaRadio the lamest name for a radio; where he must has said something hurtful spiteful crap that is more hunting then calling a political person a walking coffin or Museveni all-of-sudden is not the revolutionary mind that Tamale Mirundi always have claimed. Right?

An UCC has made Uganda and its ruling party and its leadership proud! Yep. The all-time and lifelong legacy of the President Museveni; I am sure the UCC is as afraid of somebody as the Electoral Commission is at the point. We have seen Kiggundu recently act upon Amama Mbabazi and Dr. Kizza Besigye and now Mutabazi acting as an arm of the NRM. Not surprising, it’s expected, right?

Peace.   

Reference:

Committee on Presidential Affairs Meets the Office of the Precidency – (19.03.2014)

BlackStarNews – ‘U.K. Court Says Publisher’s Multi-million Dollar Case Against Gen. Museveni Still Active’ (27.11.2011) link: http://www.blackstarnews.com/others/extras/uk-court-says-publishers-multi-million-dollar-case-against-gen-museveni-still-active

‘Kabaka Concerned, Museveni and Mirundi Promoting Landlord Murders’ (27.08.2009)

Kaweesi, Samuel – ‘Tamale Mirundi appointed advisor to Buruuli Kingæ (28.05.2015) link: http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Tamale-Mirundi-appointed-advisor-to-Buruuli-King/-/688334/2732166/-/gjeoad/-/index.html

Kiwanuka, William Kituuka – ‘TAMALE MIRUNDI REASONS CHILDISHLY’ (22.07.2011) link: http://williamkituuka.blogspot.no/2011/07/tamale-mirundi-reasons-childishly.html

Kiyonga, Derrick – ‘Judges want Museveni to fire Tamale Mirundi’ (24.04.2015) link: http://www.observer.ug/news-headlines/37533-judges-want-museveni-to-fire-tamale-mirundi

Lumu, David & Anyango, Aida – ‘My contract has expired, says Tamale Mirundi’ (24.07.2014) link: http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/657962-my-contract-has-expired-says-tamale-mirundi.html

NewVision – ‘UCC moves to stop Tamale Mirundi’s ‘abusive remarks’ (01.11.2015) link:

http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/676351-ucc-moves-to-stop-tamale-mirundi-s-abusive-remarks.html

Odinga, William – ‘Tamale Mirundi punches former employee below the belt’ (18.03.2014) link: http://williamodinga.blogspot.no/2014/03/tamale-mirundi-punches-former-employee.html

UGO – ‘Tamale Mirundi grilled over Sejusa calls’ (15.05.2013) link: http://news.ugo.co.ug/tamale-mirundi-grilled-over-sejusa-calls/

Mugesha’s words against Besigye’s candidacy in the FDC and the result from the Flag-bearer voting at the FDC Conference in Nambole today (2.9.2015)

It isn’t everyday another deflector from NRM who has been a vital part of FDC goes in on Dr. Kizza Besigye. As he has done with Museveni when he lingered in power he switched party to be a part of FDC as well. The words and letter he wrote to the Dr. Kizza Besigye is powerful words from a man who support the party that he deflected to. Both men left the NRM for some of the same reasons. They are both educated and has been on a long road to where they are today. So I respect the views from Mugesha. Therefore I see them as valued debate about how the opposition should show leadership skills and also get new blood in. I am a big-fan of Dr. Kizza Besigye candidacy, but I still see the issue! It isn’t just NRM who should have renewed leadership; its steady ships everywhere that need shifts. If not the staleness and roughness get inside the organizations and parties that doesn’t evolve, but makes certain systems around them. This is the big issue with the NRM. But the People President deserves another chance to win in an election and run as a president. Though with the rigging and running of the Electoral Commission the race isn’t in there in other lanes then theoretical, in reality it’s something else.

Who is Nuwe Amanya Mugesha?

“Nuwe Amanya Mushega is a law graduate of the University of Dar es Salaam, from where he left for Makerere University, becoming an Assistant Lecturer at the Faculty of Law. In 1974 he obtained a Masters and became a Lecturer in the Faculty of Law at the University of Zambia in Lusaka. He returned to Makerere University in 1979 as a Lecturer and continued in that capacity until 1981” (…)”In the same year Mushega joined the National Resistance Movement/Army (NRM/A) of Yoweri Museveni where he rose to the post of National Political Commissar. He also served in various ministerial roles in the ministries of defence, local government, education, and public service. During that time, he also served as the Member of Parliament representing Igara East in Bushenyi District” (…)”In 2001, he was appointed by the EAC heads of state to serve a five-year term as Secretary General of the East African Community (EAC).He later disagreed with President Museveni over his continued stay in power and subsequently joined the Forum for Democratic Change(FDC). He was promoted to the rank of Colonel, and retired from the UPDF” (Mandu, 2015).

History lesson from TVO:

“The venue is Lubiri barracks and the day the NRA captured Kampala in 1986, Yoweri Museveni had just announced to his commanders that he was only going to rule for 2 years. One man stood up and told Museveni that the two years were not enough and it should be at least four.years before elections. THE NAME OF THAT MAN WAS NUWE AMANYA MUSHEGA.NEBASE”.

Nuwe Amanya Mugesha has said about Dr. Kizza Besigye:

On the 10^th of August:

“No, I am not disappointed, but I am not happy [with Besigye] and I have no shame about it. You see, you cannot tell what you don’t have. When people believe that you are the answer God has given, [because] I have heard people say it’s only Besigye who can manage the FDC… “ (…)”But [Julius] Nyerere [Tanzania] gave up the leadership of CMM which he led and eventually the country, but he went on to support those who came after him in the party and the country to make Tanzania a better place. He even advised them not to do some of the things he had done and apologised to his people” (…)”[Nelson] Mandela in South Africa gave up the leadership of ANC and the country he even criticized them sometimes. He never went behind the scenes to create parallel structures to create civil society and other things…” (…)”So, let us learn from others. The moment you think you are indispensable, you begin to be a problem whether you see it or not, you will be and you are undermining the institution. It will be good if a leader steps down and then works hand in hand with those after him, and advise them if they see that they need you back, they should be the ones to genuinely say so. But when people praise you that without you there will not be a party, then you are not everlasting. We will all come to end but what will you leave behind” (…)”The crucial issue is not washing linen in public; it’s washing linen wherever you can wash it because if you don’t wash it and keep it in the closet, it will eventually stink and cause more problems. Don’t you see people washing clothes and plates and put them on wires when you move in Kampala? What are you hiding if the linen is dirty? Wash it” (…)”You are taking me back to my first answer. I don’t believe in saviors, I have seen it…there are things you will do by leading others…by advising your successors than leaving the grave to advise them…it’s not a question of defeating Museveni, it’s about if you are to be in power, what organisation is likely to lift Ugandans out of this situation. Is the priority strong leaders or strong institutions? But I have told you that the graves are full of indispensable leader” (Walusimbi, 2015).

Ingrid Turinawe answers to Mugesha on 12^th of August:

“Hon Mugesha (with due respect) observer newspaper interview and attacks on KB remind me of the time when KB was in luzira prison before the 2006 election” (…)”we were organizing to nominate him in absentia, FDC members from all over the country had fully signed and submitted required signatures from nomination” (…)”I am trying to write all this history in a book that I will release soon” (TheInsider.co.ug, 2015).

She continued: “They were fronting Gen Muntu, a matter that would have left Dr Besigye to rot in prison. Don’t joke with FDC members; people refused to sign, and in most districts, these forms were torn into pieces while others were burnt” (Sadab, 2015).

On the 24^th of August journalist Komakech wrote this about it: “Recently, Amanya Mushega, a former Museveni Minister, and now Opposition FDC elder, revealed that the sole candidacy idea was first mooted in 2001 when Besigye emerged to challenge the status quo. Subsequently stunts by MP Okot Felix Ogong and others who tried to challenge Museveni, made ring-fencing of the Party’s Chairmanship inevitable” (Komakech, 2015).

Again on the 31^st August:

“You stated that in 1999, you approached some of us to leave the Movement and when we failed; you decided to start the work of ‘heavy lifting’ to remove the dictatorship and that you left the Movement for that purpose” (…)”For how long will this ‘heavy lifting be a personal obligation and mission? The fact is that you did not leave the Movement; you just run for the office of the President under the Movement system. There were some members who moved a motion that Mr President be declared a sole candidate in 2000. Some of those movers are now victims of that thinking, some of us openly opposed this move and argued that you were free to stand. We even advised against the efforts to have you arrested and victimised. Your ‘entasiima’” (…)”By the way, to refresh your memory, just 10 years earlier in 1989, you led a team to draft a resolution for a constitutional amendment to extend NRM rule and hence the leadership of President Museveni for an extra five years which was passed” (…)”We may recall that when the Constitution was being amended to remove term limits, there were many clear voices in and outside Parliament who opposed it and some paid and are still paying a price. Not everyone succumbed to money offers. This was before FDC was formed” (…)”Later on at the first NEC meeting at party headquarters, a meeting you chaired, it was raised that actually there were other people who had been nominated but papers not presented. To cut the long story short, Wandera was dropped and replaced by another person. The real reason, he had supported Muntu. Wandera is alive” (…)”When you stepped down, I told some leaders at that time that you had stepped down tacticfully in order to come back with a bang as flag bearer. So your coming back was not a surprise to me, what surprised was the spurious reasons you advanced” (Mushega, 2015).

Afterthought:

The opinions of Mr. Mugesha are important. He has history in both parties. Both in the NRM and also the FDC, he has been an important man for Museveni. He was even trusted with a position in the EAC. That was before he had fallout with him and went then to the FDC. And he will not be alone with these thoughts about Dr. Kizza Besigye. Especially since he now made a decision to stand again as a flag-bearer in the party.

By all means he is dramatic in words and tone. That is expected. If he is supporter for Gen. Mugisha Muntu then all of that is understandable. Mugesha has the right to ask and its healthy to be questioned the rights of Dr. Kizza Besigye to run again. The issue that can be clear is to have a viable candidate against M7 or Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the long-serving president in Uganda. And he would not fear Gen. Mugisha Muntu, but he will fear Dr. Kizza Besigye! That is something we will already know and is powerful in its self, especially when this continues to on the election trail to the February 2016. It is true that all the elections before Dr. Kizza Besigye has lost, but Mugesha nows, the whole FDC nows that the EC has been rigged by the NRM.

The history both this fellows has with Museveni is special because the way they we’re trusted men in the movement before their fallouts of his ranks. So that there will stories from 1986 and actions that is lacking of the ethics that are today can be understandable. Their words today will be different then back then. The way they act is different and being in opposition has changed them both. They also have stories from the NRM that hasn’t surfaced yet and the years they both have had there. The stories of how they lived in the FDC will also come to light there more things happen. For both Dr. Kizza Besigye and Mugisha Muntu their ways will be in the spotlight until the flag-bearer for 2016 is picked and is valid by the party. The NRM shouldn’t really matter and the Yoweri Kaguta Museveni ghost shouldn’t hunt the FDC party, but it does. Therefore when your hunted you have to use strategies to withhold the pressure and make sure you’re ready for wild goose hunt and hope you get the prey.

Reports as I write are that in the voting from the delegates at the Conference of the FDC for flagbearer.  The report is actually from Francis Mwijukye and says the result is:

Dr. Kizza Besigye got 718.

Gen. Mugisha Muntu 289.

So the party has made a good decision, but the issues and questioning from peers in the party is healthy for a democratic and influential party. Even though we can question the motives and time for doing so. Then again, what do you think?

Peace.    

Reference:

Komakech, Morris DC – ‘Contextualising Besigye’s real trial’ (24.08.2015) link: http://www.independent.co.ug/column/comment/10557-contextualising-besigyes-real-trial

Mandu, Steven F. – ‘Powerful voices of the 1970s and 1980s long gone or silent: Part 4’ (14.08.2015) link: http://www.eagle.co.ug/2015/08/14/powerful-voices-of-the-1970s-and-1980s-long-gone-or-silent-part-4.html

Mushega, Amanya – ‘Mushega’s answer to Besigye’ (31.08.2015) link: http://www.monitor.co.ug/SpecialReports/Elections/Mushega-s-answer-to-Besigye/-/859108/2853060/-/vytlkwz/-/index.html

Sadab, Kaaya Kitaffa – ‘Besigye supporters attack Mushega’ (12.08.2015) link: http://www.observer.ug/news-headlines/39202-besigye-supporters-attack-mushega

TheInsider.co.ug – ‘Ingrid to leak Mushega secrets for attacking Besigye’ (12.08.2015) link: http://www.theinsider.ug/ingrid-to-leak-mushega-secrets-for-attacking-besigye/

Walusimbi, Deo – ‘Mushega attacks Besigye U-turn’ (10.08.2015) link: http://www.observer.ug/news-headlines/39175-mushega-attacks-besigye-u-turn