A Smoking Gun: The Mzee conundrum with the SFC!

“The Commander in Chief of the armed forces Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has said will personally take action against members of the Special Forces command (SFC) implicated in human rights abuses” (NBS Television, 04.11.2018).

I have a hard time believing that President Museveni will react or do anything to the Special Force Command. This being commanded by Brig. Don Masaba and formerly by his son, Maj. Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who is currently a Presidential Advisor, but has had the command of the SFC until recently.

The SFC or the Presidential Guard, which is based of in Entebbe. Are clearly maneuvering on accord with the President. So, if he orders something, they will comply and there are embedded with the Executive. Therefore, reading his comments on NBS TV says it all.

Especially considering that the same man praised the SFC for their conduct in Arua after the By-Election, where they shot live-bullets into crowds and killed the driver of Bobi wine. Therefore, him saying he will take actions if they breach “human rights”. Isn’t that believable at this point. Only if your naive and does not know what this man does.

So, not to prolong this one. President Museveni are supposed to act towards his own guards, the ones he orders around and tells what to do. That means, he orders the shooting and beating of either MPs, invade the Parliament or brutally disperse people. Which is all on his orders. Later, he says he will take action against them. But that means he take actions, against the actions he put into play. That means, the man ordering them is also ordering their demise for following his words and commands. If you feels that foolish, say “aye”. Because it is, but that is how this President acts.

We all should look through it for the nonsense it is. Because it really is.

The President should do himself a favor. Not ordering the SFC to these mission, which are breaking the Human Rights. From there, everything else will be easy and he doesn’t have to take any after all. Peace.

Uganda: Press Statement by the Minister of Foreign Affairs on the UN Decision on Regional Service Center Entebbe (07.07.2018)

Uganda Police Force: Death of Two Foreign Nationals (26.02.2018)

Uganda: UPDF and Guardian Primary School Authorities Standoff (13.02.2018)

UPDF: “Allegations by Lt. John Harrison Obote” (18.01.2018)

Opinion: Not surprised Hon. Kutesa is implicated in an FBI bribing case; He is one of the untouchable in the Kitchen Cabinet!

Well, when the news broke that the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) of the United States of America, actually had a case implicating a “Ugandan Scheme” involving Honourable Sam Kahamba Kutesa, the current Minister of Foreign Affairs and previous President of the United Nations General Assembly. So clearly, even with all of these titles it is not enough for the brother-in-law to the President Museveni. As he wants more funds and more money without any consideration of the implications behind it.

The recent developments shouldn’t shock anyone. Kutesa has been in the rear-view of the corruption for decades, sometimes riding on a red-light for long, you wonder when the car was about crash into something. He has been walking on the edge and proves again to use his title and status, to again bribe and soliciting money without have proper guidelines behind it. So that the “investor” actually corrupted to get better deals in Uganda. It happen within 2016, but Kutesa has done similar within the energy and oil industry in 2012 and it goes beyond that too. Therefore, the breaking news this week, is that the U.S. Court are implicating Kutesa. Not that Kutesa is corrupt, that is open non-secret for the ones following Ugandan politics. Therefore, Kutesa or Kuteesa himself are part of an untouchable group of people, that has even been reflected upon in the past. Just take a look at the information, that fits the paradigm of what the FBI is investigating these days.

“Allegedly, there is an established cartel of untouchable individuals whose business is the president and who use his name to seek business opportunities for their gratification while at the same time seeking to perpetuate the regime that provides them with the opportunity to enrich themselves. A list that includes some of the president’s relatives and close friends would include, Sam Kuteesa, Salim Saleh, Odrek Rwabwogo (who is married to one of the president’s daughters), Moses Byaruhanga (who is married to a relative of the first lady), Bob Kabonero (the proprietor of Kampala casino), Haji Habib Kagimu (a business man and close friend to President Qadaffi), Noble Mayonbo, Jim Muhwezi and a few others. These people practically decide what to do, and then the president calls in the ministers to sign. These people constitute part of the group that is commonly referred to as the kitchen cabinet. It could actually be possible to do a power mapping in Uganda that identifies the power brokers in the country. (Interview with the Director for Economic Affairs at ISO, Mr. Cheeye, October 2005)” (Amundsen, 2006).

ENHAS Part I:

“For example, Museveni refused to take action against Sam Kutesa who had been accused in a parliamentary report, of using his position to defraud Uganda Airlines Corporation. The President said the evidence against Kutesa was not conclusive. However, many people attributed Museveni’s defense of Kutesa to their joint family connections. Kutesa’s wife is a sister to the First Lady, and Museveni’s eldest son, Muhoozi Keinerugaba, is expected to marry Kutesa’s daughter. (Keinerugaba was, until recently, the manager of his uncle Salim Saleh’s business empire). The damning parliamentary report on privatisation was released in December last year while a meeting of European donors was taking place in Kampala. The public expected Museveni to take tough action against the ministers and other government officials implicated, if only to demonstrate to the donors that he was serious about fighting corruption. Instead, he told the donors that those shouting about corruption were «malicious and opportunistic,» trying to settle personal scores or gain political advancement. The censure motion against Kutesa is expected to be tabled shortly. Museveni is quick to enumerate the various institutions set up under his government to deal with corruption, including the inspectorate of government, the Public Accounts Committee, the vice-president’s office, and the Ministry of Ethics and Integrity” (Kirungi, 1999).

ENHAS Part II:

“Muhwezi’s counterpart and Minister of State for Finance in charge of Privatization, Kutesa, was charged with overseeing the divestiture of the cargo-handling operation of the Uganda Airlines Corporation (UAC). UAC had a 50 percent stake in Entebbe Handling Services (ENHAS), the company that handled its cargo operations, while Kutesa—in an apparent conflict of interest—owned the rest of the shares in the same company. In addition to being a shareholder, Kutesa was also chairman of the board of directors of ENHAS. This conflict of interest was contrary to clause 8(1-3) of the Leadership Code. A Parliamentary select committee, charged with investigating the privatization process, produced a lengthy report accusing Kutesa of directly influencing the decision to sell the airline’s 50 percent share to ENHAS, falsifying the company’s accounts, and evading taxes” (Smith, 2006).

ENHAS Part III:

The Paradise Papers has already proven that ENHAS profits has been tax evaded again as it has gone to a Shell Company in the Seychelles, which was a deal agreed upon in 2012. This was from ENHAS to Katonga Investment. We do not know much funds that is sent between them, but the reporting of the agreement and deals. Show that the ENHAS is a key component in the shady dealing Kutesa does. As he has previously used it to get ill-gotten gains.

As Global Witness is reporting it as: “Sam Kutesa, Uganda’s foreign minister, set up a discretionary trust in the Seychelles in 2012. Appley identified Kutesa’s companies a “high risk,” given his political role and media reports of alleged corruption and bribery involving Kutesa, during a routine review in 2015. In his response to ICIJ’s partner in Uganda, the Daily Monitor, Kutesa said “I don’t have anything to hide…”and that he established the companies, but “I have never done anything with it at all. I told Appleby to close it many years ago.” (Global Witness, 2017).

From Dorsey and Whitey Corruption Digest of January 2012:

“President Museveni has announced to members of the National Resistance Movement’s Central Executive Committee that he is investigating Justice Minister Kahinda Otafiire following an intelligence briefing that the minister masterminded the leaked oil bribery documents which accused Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi and ministers Mr Sam Kutesa and Mr Hilary Onek of taking bribes to influence the award of oil deals. As reported in the November edition of the Corruption Digest, the ministers maintain their innocence. However, Parliament has resolved that those involved step aside until the validity of the documents has been investigated. According to President Museveni, the intelligence report accuses Mr Ottafiire of masterminding the oil bribery scandal to disorganise perceived detractors in government. President Museveni has vowed to investigate the matter in his own capacity before briefing the National Resistance Movement Central Executive Committee”(Dorsey and Whitey Corruption Digest, January 2012).

Recent Bribe for Energy Deal:

“In or about February 2016 – after the Ugandan Foreign Minister had resumed his role as Foreign Minister of Uganda, and his in-law had been reelected as the President of Uganda – the Ugandan Foreign Minister solicited a payment from HO, purportedly for a charitable foundation that he wished to launch. HO caused a $500,000 payment to be wired to an account in Uganda designated by the Ugandan Foreign Minister, through a bank in New York, New York. In his communications, HO variously referred to this payment as a “donation” to the reelection campaign of the President of Uganda (who had already been reelected) and as a “donation” to “support” the Ugandan Foreign Minister. In fact, this payment was a bribe to obtain business advantages for the Energy Company in its efforts to secure contracts and ventures in Uganda’s financial and energy sectors. HO also provided the Ugandan Foreign Minister, as well as the President of Uganda, with promises of future benefits, including proposing to partner with both officials’ family businesses in potential joint ventures. In exchange, the Ugandan Foreign Minister assisted the Energy Company in obtaining business in Uganda, including by facilitating the Energy Company’s interest in potentially acquiring a bank” (DoJ, 2017).

The Foundation that Kutesa used the bribe through from the HO has no headquarters, no email and is not registered. So the bribe was fueled through an organization not existing in 2016. That is solicited through the checks by the investigators from the United States in November 2017. It was Special Agent Thomas P. McNulty who was looking into the case concerning Kutesa.

Clearly, there are enough scandals involving the Kitchen Cabinet Member Kutesa or Kuteesa. He has a history of corruption and misusing his position for monetary gains. He is one of them and will be surely continue to do so. Even if the United States charges him with money laundering and soliciting ill-gained funds or bribes for energy deals within Uganda. That is not surprising, as he has done that not only in 2016, but back in 2012, as well as other speculative deals getting state reserves and other funds to put in his own pocket.

If we really took a deep dive into his estates, his businesses and into his accounts. I am sure we would find more shadow agreements and more questionable money that has been earned by him and others. A man who has been used to getting bribes, surely, will appreciate it and expect so. Since the power is within reach and he can grate favors for the investors. Therefore, better pay up to get license and possible markets for their trade. This is done by paying in advance the Minister and secure profitable resources and advantages, that others wouldn’t. While also getting an okay and giving a call to the President. To make sure this is okay. Certainly, Kutesa could have maneuvered this way, all along. Peace.

Reference:

Amundsen, Inge – ‘Political corruption and the role of donors (in Uganda)’(January, 2006) – CMI Commissioned Report

Department of Justice – ‘Head Of Organization Backed By Chinese Energy Conglomerate, And Former Foreign Minister Of Senegal, Charged With Bribing High-Level African Officials’ (20.11.2017) link: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/head-organization-backed-chinese-energy-conglomerate-and-former-foreign-minister

Kirungi, Fred – ‘Uganda – The fight against corruption at a crossroads’ ANB-BIA Supplement (March 1999) link: http://ospiti.peacelink.it/anb-bia/nr367/e06.html

Global Witness – ‘THE PARADISE PAPERS: TRUST TRANSPARENCY IN THE EU’ (November 2017)

Smith, John – ‘Case Study on the Role of Parliament and the Media in the Fight against Corruption’ (2006)

UPDF: Military Police has not taken over Police Powers and Resources (21.06.2017)

Opinion: Gen. Muntu wished back to NRM by Lumumba, is this another sign of disarming the opposition?

Well,  since the General Election of 2016, there been all sorts of play from the National Resistance Movement (NRM). Where the Opposition parties has either gotten ministerial posistions, EALA slots or even been detained. In ways of solidifying the NRM regime and their President for life – President Yoweri Museveni. Therefore the news that the NRM Secretary General Justine Lumumba wishes the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) President Gen. Mugisha Muntu, shows there some foul play in the cards. The deck is usually sealed and this cannot be the party line, as the talks of succession is a stalemate as long as Museveni breathes on planet earth. But take a brief look at the quotes from the Secretary General Lumumba.  

“Ms Justine Lumumba, who represented First Lady Janet Museveni at a belated Women’s Day celebrations for Ntungamo District at Rwenanura Primary School playground in Rweikiniro Sub-county, said: “Gen Muntu comes from this district, from Kitunga, I even know the village where he comes from, he is a sober man but he is walking with wrong company. Talk to him as his brothers that he comes back, if there are any grievances or anything that angered him, we can resolve it.” (…) “He is someone who can bring back the presidency here; he is such a good player in a bad team,” she added” (Rumanzi, 2017).

That Lumumba said the FDC was a bad team, was expected as she has that view of anyone who isn’t in the NRM Organization or the Movement. Therefore, that Gen. Muntu is around Lukwago and Besigye, means he is in a bad team. That Muntu is suddenly in the wrong company, means that he isn’t directly a part of the NRM. The right party and company is the NRM. That is if you get the deeper meaning of what NRM Secretary Lumumba was saying yesterday.

The good company is the 31 year old regime under President Museveni. It is not like the NRM has ever consider succession and using that as sweet gift to Gen. Muntu is most likely hogwash. As the Maj. Gen. Muhoozi Kainerubaga is most likely the next in line, if the President get his wish. Why else would he stop the Daily Monitor Press a few years back when the Gen. Sejusa tale leaked to the Press?

If the NRM would offer anything it would be a ministerial role, an ambassador and trading away the normative and legitimate leadership role of Gen. Muntu. Even if Gen. Muntu sometimes isn’t progressive, aggressively enough against the regime, who use all sorts of tricks to manipulate and control the Republic. Therefore this must been seen as a ploy to destabilize the FDC. As they hope the fraction and people loyal to Muntu would be swayed back to fold. Leave Besigye and the hardliners behind.

This would be typical way of offering a gift and then destroy the competition, as they know many of the FDC NEC and FDC leadership has no real need of either going back to the NRM or any wish to be back there. Since many of the FDC leaders has been former NRM, especially the ones who established the party and wanted a significant different party than the NRM.

So the Machiavellian approach by Secretary General Lumumba and the NRM, can be seen as a tactic to undermine the leader in the FDC; while offering and saying he would be fit to come after President Museveni. Like the NRM could offer anyone that, as the NRM couldn’t do that to their own like Amama Mbabazi or back-in-the-day Kizza Besigye. So why should Gen. Mugisha Muntu suddenly be good enough? Do the NRM think their citizens are generally stupid?

Peace!   

Reference:

Rumanzi, Perez – ‘Return Muntu to succeed Museveni, says Lumumba’ (17.04.2017) link:http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Return-Muntu-to-succeed-Museveni–says-Lumumba/688334-3892216-h9ejj2/index.html

Did President Museveni set-up Hon. Kabafunzaki for the three counts of corruption?

“It is the responsiblity of every human to know their actions and the consequences of their actions and to ask questions and to question things when they are wrong.”– Michael Moore

As it been told by the unraveling stories on the corruption scandal landing our way, is that Herbert Kabafunzaki went into a trap at the Serena Hotel, where everything was prepared, even the camera’s and the media was there at the arrival. As the Police Officers was the closely monitoring if he would eat the monies offered by the Aya Group. What makes me suspicious is two new revealed things, not the three counts but this.

“Kabafunzaki charged on three counts of corruption for soliciting a Shs.15M bribe and directly accepting 5M bribe in exchange for clearing Mohammed Hamid from allegations of sexual harassment” (NTV Uganda, 11.04.2017).

So with the knowledge of the counts of corruption put on the State Minister Kabafunzaki, as he is lingering in Luzira Prison. This revelation in New Vision earlier if true, show’s that it is something missing right now: “He was allegedly arrested with an envelope containing the money by a combined team of Special Forces Command and Police at around 3pm” (…) “Hamid said President Yoweri Museveni was informed about the minister’s demand from which Police was tipped” (Lumu & Etukuri, 2017).

Three key aspects here, that should not be put under the rug. That the businessman himself, the one who needed to clear his charges of possible sexual assault tipped of the President. That means that the President himself called the Special Force Command, the group that has been run and become his Maj. Gen. Muhoozi unit inside the army and than also tipping the Police Force. This shows how little institutions and how little care there is inside the Security Organizations. That they follow the orders of the President blindly.

Secondly is that the mixed Special Force Command, army personnel are together with Police while arresting a fellow Minister and State Official. That they are there without warrants and for-warning. Thirdly, which are mysterious, that the Aya Group has the direct-line to the President. Also shows how license and business in general is operated in Uganda. That the foreign investors are directly in the loop of the President!

“Counsel Kenneth Muhangi (Kabafunzaki’s lawyer) has presented three sureties as requested by court for Minister Kabafunzaki’s bail application. State prosecutor asks court for stringent bail terms including hefty amounts of money, passport & a land title. State prosecutor also wants Minister Kabafunzaki to report to court weekly if granted bail” (NBS TV Uganda, 11.04.2017).

So the Minister set for Luzira is really in a pickle and has a few hefty nuts to crack. This corruption scandal and Aya Group ordeal will be hard stain to wash off. Hon. Kabafunzaki can clearly look guilty and can be determined after the evidence to set so as well, but the idea that the President knew from Aya Group’s own Hamid, the man paying the bribe. Says something is wrong. Why would the one fixing the bribe and the payment of the Minister keep the President in the loop? Why? Secondly, why aren’t the Aya Group and Mohammed Hamid charged with trying to corrupt a fellow State Official?

His P.A. pleads guilty:

“Brian Mugabo, the political assistant to Minister Herbert Kabafunzaki, pleads guilty of the charge of accepting a bribe of Shs5m from AYA brothers, on behalf of the minister and trying to make the minister escape punishment by throwing away the Brown envelop that contained the bribe” (Wesaka, Anthony – Daily Monitor, 11.04.2017).

So that the PA didn’t ask for guidance or even advice before the trial, as the Minister brought his set of lawyers, as the PA did say he was guilty of accomplice from the get-go. Makes the whole events seem stranger. Have the PA already made a plea-deal and made sure his future is set, as he did fix the set-up for the State Minister? Since the Personal Assistant usually keeps the diary and the other needed administrative tasks a Minister needs. Therefore, he knew what was happening at Serena Hotel and who he was meeting.

What still, doesn’t stop pumping in my chest, as the bets are off and the trials are really starting. Why did the Aya Group report to the President Museveni before the arrests and reveal the corrupt behavior of the Minister?

Because the counts shouldn’t only be on the State Minister and his PA, why isn’t their any case against the company who planned to alter the sexual assault case with him. Not that I want this minister free as the tapes and the revealed evidence to the public. There are many lose leads… there are many things leading one direction. But will the State House and the President say why they intervene and make arrangement for this too happen. That is how it looks and it is weird that these conclusions can come. Since a President should have better things to do, than to incriminate a fellow Parliamentarian… Peace.

Reference:

Lumu, David & Etukuri, Charles – ‘Minister Kabafunzaki arrested for soliciting bribe’ (08.04.2017) link: http://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1450604/minister-kabafunzaki-arrested-soliciting-bribe

Opinion: Succession when talking about Mzee is nonsense!

“You do not lead by hitting people over the head — that’s assault, not leadership.”

― Dwight D. Eisenhower

There is an ancient saying that you cannot teach old dogs new tricks, neither can you do with President who has been running a republic since 1986. Therefore, with this in mind, the new comic relief from the National Resistance Movement (NRM) is hard for me to take serious. Certainly, with the knowledge of all the men and possibly woman who could have become the leader of the party and the Executive of Uganda.

Still, in 2017, we are at the same crossroads, the same junction and nothing has changed. The partners and participants are practically the same, unless some new cronies and sugar-babies of the Movement comes into the mix. Perhaps, the most stunning fact is that old men like Gen. Otafiire steadily sink the world with his endless wisdom.

It is as if Museveni still is the Shepard and the Ugandan people is helpless sheep needing his guidance. The reality is that the belief that he can do something he has not done is pointless. The only card he has left is to destroy more kingdoms with force and kill more his opposition. If he had proved some sort of democratic figments in his in body, it has surely died with age. As his words are now more important than legislation.

The President handpicked elite and cronies, the suiters and the ones trying to eat while can. As they know not what will happen when their master stop breathing. The plans and the succession plans has not been official or even portrayed, there been rumors of Maj. Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, those leaks turned into a besieged offices and depleted staff at Daily Monitor, back-in-the-day.

Still, if he is the viable candidate to takeover and the family dynasty that the President tries to create is hard to know. Since none in public can read the mind of the old man with the hat. So that the “news” that NRM Members of Parliament finally planned to talk about the succession seems far-fetched! Should it been done a decade or two ago, if it was a serious attempt?

He is on his unofficially seventh term as President and leader of the NRM. The founder and current leader of it. Not as he has given in without weapons in the past and instead of dialogue, he still sends Special Force Command or the Flying Squad to doze of possible enemies. Not as if it is an open discussion, more like a ruckus of who can get first to the brown envelopes and get the license to blead the state out of more funds.

Therefore, here I am, and not believing one single bit that President Museveni or the NRM NEC or any other parts of the NRM have the slightest care in mind to change him for somebody else. NRM and the NRM elite needs Museveni and his cronies, the crony system is there because of him. No question and no one with a clear mind would not see that. He gives and takes away as he sees fit. When he needs you he pays you and your extended family, but when your aspirations or goals to become bigger than him. Then you securing that you become a fringe candidate.

Museveni and his family, Museveni as his business partners does not need succession. The ones asking for it now will become renegade NRM MPs and could end up independent in the Parliament, as in the past when MPs has taken a stand towards the NRM NEC or the almighty himself. I doubt there will be change of guards, as there have not been for decades upon decades.

What we can be sure of is that President Museveni and President Mugabe are doing the same thing in their nations, holding the power without hesitation of what will happen when they leave and what sort of power vacuum that will be unleashed. What we do know is that the NRM will use all of their tricks and manipulation, all sort of writings and public display to make this sort thing normal. Peace.