Opinion: The NRM proves again that the IPOD is worthless…

“The NRM has boycotted the meeting of IPOD scheduled for the handover of IPOD seat from Democratic Party to FDC. This as FDC insists the discussion should focus more on the meaningful dialogue and smooth transfer of power in Uganda” (NBS Television 27.11.2019).

Not to long ago, actually for two IPOD Summits the FDC boycotted these, as they did boycott the first IPOD Summit, as an reaction to the police brutality and harassment from the authorities. The second one was because they didn’t want just a photo-op and a friendly greeting with the President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.

The IPOD Summits haven’t resolved anything or made any amends with the electoral reform or dialogue between the NRM and the opposition. The IPOD is just a paid journey from the Dutch, to preoccupy the parties on the way to yet another General Election in 20201.

Just a friendly reminder of what NRM said when the FDC boycotted it:

“Kasule Lumumba: NRM is the minority in IPOD. FDC is the leading opposition party. FDC shouldn’t run away from responsibility. NRM remains committed. Come and offer leadership and we work together, Come and show Ugandans that you can lead” (NBS Television, 17.10.2019).

“I have always said FDC is a radical extremist party behaving like a millenarian cult & hostile to dialogue. This was on display yesterday when they boycotted the first IPOD meet. They used to say they would only attend IPOD MEETINGS if Museveni attends. What is their excuse now?” (Andrew Mwenda, 18.12.2018).

“I don’t know why anybody [FDC] who says they are democrats would not like dialogue. I always welcome opportunities for dialogue because when you don’t dialogue, you miss an opportunity to be understood clearly” – President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni at the 12^th December 2018 at the Speke Resort Munyonyo

Therefore, I wonder what will be the excuses of the NRM in the upcoming days. One that has already come out, which is unbelievable is that they wasn’t invited. That one is just a lie, I don’t believe that Norbert Mao forgot to send the invitation to the NRM Secretariat. The DP head wouldn’t miss that one out.

It is weird that FDC comes now after boycotting for so long. It seemingly a play for them. It is insincere to take the helm. That it is, after calling out the other parties for being involved in the months ahead of this. The FDC knows this. Yes, this is politics, but the perception of this isn’t brilliant. It is insincere at best.

The FDC should have pulled out, unless it seems they are just in it for the party-funding and possible billions promised after the second summit in May 2019. The environment for the FDC isn’t better. Their party offices has been raided both in Kampala and in the up-country. Not like the FDC leadership is secure and safe for police brutality. Neither is their ability to conduct party activity in general.

What is weird is the NRM who has harassed and diminished the FDC for boycotting from before Christmas last year until the present IPOD takeover. That is very rich of them to not sit in the yellow chairs. Because, its not like the NRM will end up behind bars or get detained for participating. Neither house-arrested nor awaiting court-cases because of their loyalty elsewhere, than the President himself. Since all of them are loyal to him.

I never have believed in IPOD. Just like the Apple IPOD, I believe the relevance is gone and not vital for the changes in the Republic. It is just a tool for the NRM to keep the others in check. The NRM will only use this to settle the score and use the platform to ensure they are following guidelines and supposed protocol. The IPOD will not challenge or have any significant power, as the NRM and the government haven’t given it that.

The IPOD and IPOD Summits are PR stunts and play for the facade. It is weird that the FDC wants to play now. They should have dropped out and been righteous. Instead, they wanted a little spotlight and look decent now. That’s a bit late, but the NRM are totally in the wrong. When they have called the FDC out, but bails out themselves. That proves again the real value of it.

The real value of the IPOD is none, except for the Dutch donors who pays for the “dialogue”. Peace.

The Second Summit of Leaders of the Inter Party Organization for Dialogue (IPOD) – Monday 20th May 2019 – Joint Communique (20.05.2019)

Uganda Peoples Congress: Press Statement (22.05.2019)

UPC: Press Statement – UPC Hands Over IPOD Summit/Council/Chair To DP (27.03.2019)

Jajja’s eight time the charm: 2021 and beyond!

This upcoming election isn’t about reforms, isn’t about progress or about the ability to go forward. This up-coming election isn’t about the legacy nor the options or selections of candidates. That sort of ship has sailed, as the Age Limit bill enacted into law. Fixing the 1995 Constitution into the image, which the President needed.

We can all fool say, that Robert Kyagulanyi or Dr. Kizza Besigye have a shot this time. We can all joke around and think that the Forum for Democratic Change, Uganda People’s Congress, Justice Forum or the Democratic Party have a possible outreach to challenge the Movement. We can all mock ourselves, thinking that Norbert Mao, Asuman Basalirwa and James Akena will push the boundaries for this up-coming election. However, we all know that is a lie.

It is not that I am again change, not that I am against any of the opposition parties. I am not, but the cynical and free thinking spirit in me is saying, that this election is already pre-rigged, prepared and settled. There are no bounds for victory elsewhere. That is false-hope, which is fiction. It is political suicide to think that you can conquer or even beat Yoweri Kaguta Museveni in 2021.

The only thing that can conquer him at this point is either that the military, the generals and the ones closest to the army are turning against him. If not its his age and his health that will go into default stages because of his advanced age. Therefore, when concerning ballots, campaigning and all the rest is a farce for the façade.

The façade of a democracy and an election of some sense. That the public are in-line awaiting their turn to throw their ballot into the boxes. Where the party and candidates hold rallies and come with manifestoes and pledges. They all can promise new and fresh days, all new roses and chapattis, not to talk about working out the bottlenecks and getting the country into a middle-income nation. However, how much of a mirage that is at this point.

We know they will do this, will come out, guns blazing and fuming with fire. They all will come as statesmen and nobles, stand up tall and smile, glace at the crowds and mysteriously be gone in the next hot-minute after the polls. Because, that is just what they do. They came all in, but forgotten the next moment.

As that is happening, as the 2021 elections are getting prepared. Let us not fool ourselves. We already knows who wins, who will have the margin in the Parliament and who will have the elective officials behind him. Not because he is the best candidate, neither the second best either, but he is the only alternative, because he cannot lose. Since the system is built on his image and his vision. It is all him and everyone else is supposed to bow down to his majesty, the royal king and this is his domain. The Republic and its citizens are his servants and they should be humble and oblige him for another term. Even if that means his eight shot to strike Royal Flush.

Clearly, the Movement, the President and the whole state apparatus will act like it is a fair game, when its not. It’s rigged and settled before even the ballots are procured. This game isn’t changing anything. This election could have been similar in 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011 or 2015. Even in 1980, but then there was another master who rigged that election. Now, it’s his time, yet again. Peace.

Opinion: The State House launch another busy body called the National Dialogue Committee!

“Talk sense to a fool and he calls you foolish.” – Euripides

Today, was the day where the extension of the IPOD Summit 2018 was launched with brazen words from the President and the other partners around the table. Where the glowing lights and media houses was welcomed for the new initiative and the new committee, which is placed under the wings of the State House. As most things this day, another parastatal closely connected with the President.

The Republic has already the aforementioned Inter Party Organization for Dialogue or the IPOD. Which will by next year, been there and going in whatever pace it is since 2009. That is decade and the first summit was this year. So, when Mr. President says he is all about Dialogue, he is lying, but that is tradition in his blurred vision.

That the President proclaims dialogue and talks now, is that he see that his figure abroad is distorted and that his allies is starting to question him. Not only that he is a weapon-brother, but that he keeps shady friends. The President is scheming with Sudan, North Korea and anyone coming his way. As long as he gets the cash, even Equatorial Guinea is a friendly haven.

That is why the dialogue is so important, because when he was opposition himself. It wasn’t vital or important. It was even needed, the other parties was criminals and looters. Now he is the one who has eaten and ate for so long, he forgotten the time he even was freed by soldiers in prison in 1980. However, at this point, that is water under the bridge.

That the President is starting a National Dialogue Committee at the State House in 2019. Is a bit late, is very late in the time of the Presidency, it is too late to be serious from someone who never retires. Never gives way or even surrender to his own narratives and going against his vision. The President has always to get on top and win. The others has to be his minions, if not they have to be useful tools in the box. That fix his issues and get it done. So he can bask in the glory. This would certainly be wish of this committee.

That I have little faith is that the IPOD has done little or anything. The coalitions of the opposition has done nothing to overcome the hardships of political landscape. None of their actions, none of their partnership into the elections has made significant progress. Not that their partnership or coalitions would matter, when you have an Electoral Commission and ruling regime rigging the results for their benefit.

If the President had cared about the IPOD, which has been there since 2009, than he would have looked into the The Democratic Alliance (TDA) in 2015/2016 or the Inter-Party Cooperation (IPC) in 2010/2011, also the Group of Six (G6) from about 2004 to 2006. That is three Opposition Coalition, who haven’t feared well, as the NRM has done it their way.

The Forum for Democratic Change has done more dialogue and talks, than the NRM has. As they haven’t been interested in that, they we’re never interested in Multi-Party Democracy in the first place. Therefore, Museveni is lying saying he has done talks since back-when. That was to solidify his position and strengthen the Movement System. He didn’t want anything else. Because he couldn’t control the outer bodies. That is why he has made laws he gets notified of other parties activity and public meetings. So, that they have to get verified and allowed to do so. If not they are breaking the law of the Republic, if they are crossing his laws.That is the initial act of the Public Order Management Act of 2010. That was a year after the 2009 launch of IPOD.

Now in 2018, he launches a National Dialogue Committee at the State House, like it will make a difference. As the IPOD never has achieved that, neither has the G6, IPC and the TDA. None of them have made enough progress or had the ability to make anything fruitful. Even if their initial idea or message was good. That because Museveni never been honest about elections or dialogue, as it has to only benefit him. If it doesn’t he will tarnish and destroy you. Don’t expect the new committee makes significant steps, they are a front and the wold should know it. Peace.

Opinion: IPOD Summit 2018, what gives?

Sometimes, you wonder if the big-men think they are fooling themselves, with grandeur, with splendid facilities, with amazing statements, but however, there are no fruitful declaration or anything significant to prove of the gathering. Other than a few photo-ops and smiles from the attendees.

The IPOD Summit on the 12^th December 2018 seems like that today. As there are no concessions, no proof of any movement, the Movement is at a standstill and the Opposition Parties that did show up. Was seemingly there for leverage and not for any political gains. As there are none to prove after mere hours of attending.

That James Akena of the Uganda Peoples Congress (UPC) hailed the process, is fine in itself, but what use has process, when there is no outcome? Why was Norbert Mao blazing at the FDC, when his Democratic Party (DP) is split between the “Good DP” and “Bad DP”. Who knows what Asuman Basalirwa (Justice Forum) was up to really, other than switching sides from People Power to align himself with the NRM.

The only one earing on this affair is the National Resistance Movement and the President himself. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, who got them on a string. He got most of the opposition at his bay and playing by his rules, without giving away anything. That is the reality of yesterday. There was nothing given by the NRM.

He held a meeting, hold a Presser and spoke about his vision as he usually does without an proper outcome. That is how empty the affair was, that is why the NRM and his minions are attacking the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) for not attending. What was it to attend? To show loyalty to Bosco? To show that he matters and rules supreme. Because he has no plan of stopping to rule.

I find it amusing that the talk of the town is that FDC didn’t show up. Since that shows the weakness of the process, of the delivery and of the platform created by this Summit. If the summit had mattered, if it had any consequences or any sort of result. They would have shown that, that would have been manifested. Instead, they doing the opposite. Blaming the fella that stood them up. Because he knew this was fake dialogue and knew there was nothing real to talk about. As proven with the insults and statements thrown that way.

Why was there none about the Farmers Party,  People’s Progressive Party, Conservative Party, Uganda Federal Alliance or the People’s Development Party, because none of them was attending or said to show up with delegates? Is it because they are irrelevant at this point? One Man shows with no standing?

Because they bitch about the FDC, but doesn’t comment about the five parties also missing at the Summit. They gathered the big-shots, but the biggest opposition didn’t show. As there was no reasons to be there and that is now proven.

Time for the Movement to reconnect and digress their deceptions. It is time for the public to open their minds and asks questions. Because they have been, spoon-feed by the NRM. They continue to that, but the Movement are not proving anything. Especially, this IPOD Summit is a proof of that. Since they cannot even show a Joint Declaration or a MoU of some kind. Because there were none in the first place. Peace.

Uganda Peoples Congress: IPOD First Summit, 2018 (05.12.2018)

Uganda Peoples Congress – Press Statement (14.11.2018)

Opinion: Bosco said “Leaders seem to forget what they should do”, just like you then?

Sometimes I wonder if the brain of the President is not as advanced as his mouth. Because he speaks like a leader of old, but forgetting what he is doing himself. He says the rights things in a way, but he doesn’t act upon it. He is barely scraping by with huge loans and grants from afar. Bosco and his clan, the Movement has had time to build the Republic and make it grand if they cared. If they wasn’t preoccupied with eating and scheming. Not to talk about militarism, instead of institutionalizing the state. The lack of good governance and the transparency combined with cronyism is the reason for the weak personalized state, where most of everything has to pass by the State House.

That is why it rich today…

That the almighty president of the Generation 86 said this:

“Politics, in my view, should be about peace, education, health, infrastructure and wealth in homes. However people do not care about these things. Leaders seem to forget what they should do” (…) “The questions to pose to leaders are; how will you enable use to get into industry? What about cottage industries? And opportunities in the services sector and ICT? I urge NRM leaders to emphasise service delivery as opposed to personal relationships. What should be important to a leader is how to transform the lives of your people. On the question of fishing, the fact is people were harvesting immature fish and I was compelled to send soldiers to check this practice. If the soldiers are high-handed and there is evidence, I will deal with them” (Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, 25.10.2018).

I have to say, Mr. President, Bosco the Almighty, the man who does nothing wrong, but continues to forget his own past and his own administration. Not like he NRM are all about these subjects, they are barely being able to keep up. There are maybe one giant project and some projects done in the recent year. Mere basic upkeep, as the infrastructure in general isn’t splendid. There are enough bridges and roads lacking tarmac. Enough Primary Schools falling to pieces and not to talk about rampant poverty. Which hasn’t changed since the ruling regime came into power. It is more of the same, but a different calendar year. Also, the cars are different, no more Santana’s for the MP’s only Prado’s in this day and age.

President Museveni could have had the capacity to change people lives. He has had plenty of time to use and could spent it better. The President could have transformed and made a giant difference, if he cared about the Ten Point Program, even cared about Vision 2020 and so on. Yoseri aka Yoweri have clearly skipped class…

You forgot what to do, your telling other leaders, but never passed the exam yourself. Mister, better wise up. Time is running out and your aren’t getting younger Mr. Yoseri.

Or should I say Bosco, just to wipe that smirk of your face? Peace.