Opinion: Mr. Mahogany is back-at-it again

The former Vice-President of the Republic. The former the Democratic Alliance (TDA) Presidential Candidate Contender and one of the heads of the CHOGM Corruption Scandal is back at it again. This time running for MP in Busiro County North.

Gilbert Bukenya, The National Resistance Movement Central Executive Committee (NRM CEC) Member is clearly eyeing the price in 2021. Not that its shocking. The NRM are pulling all the grandeur old class to ensure they have enough representatives with advanced age. Bukenya is one of them, who wants to represent the elderly so badly this time around.

Bukenya aka Mr. Mahogany is known for being corrupt. His known for having very little morals. Even as a married man. He has cheated on his wife with singers, sugarbabies and students on the low. It has been leaked in Scoop and The Local. Where they have even called it “orgies”. Clearly, all of this has not stopped him returning to the NRM.

Nothing ever stops him. Mr. Mahogany is getting away with whatever really and still ending on top. It is one of them gifts the likes of him has. It is just like the High Above have pity with the man and wants him to succeed. If not, he must have something damaging on the President and therefore, is left off the hook.

Just like the man is owning taxis and they are impounded this year. As the man cannot handle time without the spotlight at him. He just have to create a scandal. Just like the public split with his wife. It is not strange, as the man like to connect with strangers.

Mr. Mahogany can seem like a man of wealth, but it is more of the new-money, but no class. That is why his racing to the bottom. You can wonder what objective or reason he has to run. Other than his awaiting his next pay-check and wanting to indulge more on the public’s expense.

It is not like he some secret formula or has anything to offer. Except, if he plans to fill the headlines of the Observer, Daily Monitor and New Vision. Maybe even take a few pages of the Red Pepper to juice up the publication for a while.

We know this man is something else too. He has toyed around Social Democratic Party (SDP) mocking Michael Mabikke. Who knows, if he bought the party or not. In 2015 he had his briefcase party the Pressure for National Unity (PNU). Who has not been revived since then or had significant activity. As he returned to the fold after the General Elections in 2016. Even if he has claimed like two years ago to have no political ambition or will to run again.

Today, that is proven to be false or just a short-sighted statement fitting the days of no elections. He was just waiting for the Election Road Map and Nominations papers to run again. This is what he does and his principals are non-existing. As long as he can eat and have a chair near His Excellency his moment is golden.

Mr. Mahogany isn’t here to play fair. His not there to win the hearts of the people. No his there to eat. Either by the hook or by the crook. He will pay non-existing companies money, overprice cars and do whatever it takes to get illegal tenders thrown his way. This man is there to get-rich.

Bukenya might act differently, but we all know his game. If you didn’t? Now you know. Peace.

Opinion: Amama Mbabazi chosen silence is a token of his loyalty to the NRM!

“I have never left the NRM. I just happen to be an NRM member who wants change” – Amama Mbabazi

I wonder if some has to put a sign or use one of those big posters by the Constitutional Square or the Square in Central Kampala with a giant picture of Amama Mbabazi and have a quote over it saying: “this guy has been missing, if have any information, give it to the proper authorities”. Maybe, then he will reveal himself and actually speak in public. Its like he is paid to be silent, that after a long campaign since 2015 and the takeover of The Democratic Alliance (TDA) under the political umbrella of Go Forward. He just has gone missing after his election petition was dismissed. He had some days of siege and was under house arrest, but he haven’t been vocal. Utter silence. Nothing.

Mbabazi, the former notorious devious character within the National Resistance Movement, the man who was a giant supporter and organizer, the man who fought cases abroad and internally. The man that pushed the NRM in the direction that pleased the President. Was suddenly to ambitious and the man clipped his wings. Not like Gilbert Bukenya will ever play a vital role anywhere. He is a stooge and massive bouncing balls of jello, moving where the envelopes are given. Not sure if the same is now the activity of Mbabazi. But his silence is a statement.

Amama Mbabazi rocked the scene and made himself a viable candidate for many, even got the Democratic Party Norbert Mao supporting his candidacy. Mbabazi seemed like a real contender and used massive funds to use Go Forward and even build up offices around the country. Even as his consultation meetings met the same fortune as the FDC and Besigye. Met with tear-gas and often harassment by the police. He got the taste of the Public Order Management Act (POMA), that he had supported and used against Besigye. So he got the feeling of being on the fringes and standing on guards against his former President and party. Even if he said he was still a member of it. The former Prime Minister and Secretary General of the NRM.

Mbabazi silence on all matters is visible, it is a token of his dying loyalty to Museveni. The man that built him up and later destroyed him. Mbabazi was a loyal subject, but when he started to show ambition, he was thrown to the dogs. That is why Vice-President Edward Ssekandi just existing and not even in the public much. He is just collecting his salary and not saying much, if anything at all. Seemingly, like the outcast Mbabazi.

Mbabazi might do this in solidarity with the President. Just sitting in his home and saying nothing. Not acting, just living and taking care of his spoils. His businesses and whatnot he has. Only mentioning the Uganda Cranes of late, other than that nothing.

We knew you traveled through desert between 2015 and 2016, even passed through a den of thieves and came out with scratches and humiliating results. Still, you didn’t expect fanfare and being called a legend after what you passed while being a NRM cadre and leader?

Let’s be clear, the silence is a token of your loyalty. That is why he doesn’t say or do anything. He is a NRM Member and NRM loyal subject, who still wants to show that to the President. Mbabazi don’t have the character or the guts to do anything else. He wont risk his ill-gained wealth or proposed possible authority, that could be given him at a later stage. Since he knows how the President operates and he is anticipating his next move. Peace.

Mbabazi is all of a sudden in the wind!

“in the wind: to disappear, unable to be found” (Urban Dictionary)

He has been the shadow and the loyal subject under the National Resistance Movement and as one of the men has followed President Museveni for decades, until his demise and his lost position of both Secretary General of the NRM-O and the Prime Minister post. Before that he had been a minister and also a long-serving member of the Movement.

Amama Mbabazi went from being the next in line to being an outcast. He tried to become the flag-bearer and presidential candidate in the Movement, but they wouldn’t relieve or give way for anyone else then three decades running president. So he was left out of the party, even as his membership still was there. Still, with that the The Democratic Alliance (TDA) allowed him and Gilbert Bukenya to stand as Presidential Candidates. Mbabazi achieved it with fielding the opposition parties and get Besigye to abandon the Opposition alliance. Therefore there was to major opposition candidates against Museveni. Both of them former allies and close knit in the Movement.

Besigye was the offensive and strong candidate, the man who gained the people and got the crowds that showed his popularity. Mbabazi started strong, but didn’t have the same amounts, but Besigye had been running many times before against Museveni, Mbabazi was a first time against his former boss. Mbabazi got to taste tear-gas, lose his allies, get supporters detained and even getting harassed by the police force for holding preliminary rallies. The reality of the code of conduct that the Movement has had for decades was something now the Mbabazi – Go Forward got to taste.

The sour and bitter taste of getting on the side-line of the Movement, getting their treatment and their recognition, the only attempt of some peaceful transition and smear of democratic behaviour was letting the Election Petition from the Amama Mbabazi legal team getting accepted even as it entered the Constitutional Court close to 30 minutes over the deadline. The rest was well rigged and malnourished to fix Museveni another term. Keep up, business as usual.

Mbabazi has after the election had meetings with the President, with many suggestions and wondering how come. I don’t really pound on that, as he was even pragmatic at the Presidential Debates of still being member of the Movement, while still running as an own flag-bearer in the TDA/Go-Forward outfit. Therefore I had giant issues that he run as an opposition, but still was a member of the ruling party. That doesn’t make sense and doesn’t seem reasonable.

So the NRM member was running on Opposition ticket. Seems foolish right that Norbert Mao and others accepted that request and dignified his approach? But, when darkness has been running for so long, a leaf of hope can resurrect a forest? Well, Amama Mbabazi didn’t run circles around Museveni. He just tangoed and made sure to make a good public figure.

His approach was more use cool designs, try to be a populist politician and hope he took some of the crowds of long-serving opposition. He really didn’t reinvent much or even sell his story strong, because who remember what sort of campaign the Go Gorward Group and allies did run on? I do not remember a single thing of what he did really stand for or what was his grand mission?

 

Mbabazi went underground or silent, nearly a visible character or public figure, as he wants a relief of public dedication behind him. Still, the rumoured visit or meetings with Museveni, proves that Mbabazi really never left, but was more of staged paradigm. You can wonder if he will have the same fate as Bukenya, suddenly be offered a senior position inside the NRM-O?

So that he can be compensated and silenced, not telling stories of old or even scorns the world with the realities of the inner-workings of the Movement. Since he is still paid by the Movement, he will not talk or disobey the President. Even if Museveni did scalp his ambition, and his dream of achieving, the executive position of Uganda. Certainly, the TDA was not built or had the machinery to conquer the movement-based Electoral Commission, neither was the quickly built organization around the Go Forward. Mbabazi wasn’t prepared with party apparatus to counter the Movement. The FDC had 10 years of building a party, Go Forward was months old and not allowed to hold preliminary meetings.

Mbabazi’s attempt was flawed, but dire as the proof of the invalid execution of NRM-O and Museveni who doesn’t care, because he is the only man with a vision. Mbabazi didn’t have his vision, since Mbabazi is Mbabazi and not Museveni. That is simplistic, but still a fact.

Mbabazi as long as he is a NRM-O member, an insider who is partly outcast, because of his wish of higher public office and that he wanted to take his masters place. President Museveni would not accept to lose his place and be succeeded. Succession has never been in the works of the NRM-O or the ruling regime, so that Amama Mbabazi thought he would exchange the current leader was failing from the beginning. The reason behind why Besigye had to start on his own on the outside of the Movement; the same Mbabazi was doing.

So what is up next is in the vision of Mbabazi and if he want to risk his lavish house, as he lost one of his cars as his place in parliament went away after the election. What else of Parliamentary perks he has lost is certainly a few. Other investments or ownership is only known by him and the movement, as Mbabazi wasn’t the most frugal MP. Mbabazi was known for his corrupt and grafting ability while being in power. So his wealth is built on agreements and his close-knitted community while being inside the Movement. Therefore he must know a lot that Museveni doesn’t want out. Therefore as long he is silent, he doesn’t have to fear, but if he would talk or release the intelligence, even if he would drop knowledge on certain older scandals, he could damage the Movement more.

Still, with his membership and dialogue with Museveni. Show’s that Mbabazi even though not official part of the leadership anymore in the ruling regime. Isn’t totally out of the picture or out of the elite, he is just silent relief.

So what do you think Mbabazi is up to and scheming? Is he done as political figure or will he brought into the NRM-O again? Peace.

Opinion: What will the Silent Mbabazi do?

There was once upon a time a lot of fuzz around this one politician, as he even at one point tried to become the Presidential Candidate in the National Resistance Movement, even when Museveni is still breathing; he tried to take over the NRM as a Secretary General and as a Prime Minister in the cabinet under Museveni. With that trying he was deflected and demoted from his positions and Dr. Ruhakana Ruganda, his childhood fried as the PM and Justine Kasule Lumumba as the Secretary General of the NRM.

So he seemed at that point to be lost with scarecrows and dustbins, as one of many men that the Museveni have left astray and left to dwindle. Even as he was demoted and had a ruckus internally in the NRM before the pre-election period of the General Election 2016, which led to his fall.

Now that his PM cars have been taken in, surely his pay has been cut off and other fees and Parliamentary bonuses are gone. While he surely have some money from the embezzlement projects of the past, as he has been on list of the most corrupt Ugandans year after year, it isn’t a secret, it is a fact. And the reason why he hasn’t been taken in or gotten trouble in court was because of his close ties to Museveni and the rest of the elite who also happen to eat of the plate where he was having a bargain.

The last big blow and act of his Presidential Candidacy was the Election Petition in Supreme Court as FDC was blocked with helicopter, besieged and even detained. While Mbabazi where house-arrested, but he had enough lawyers to hire so they; the government couldn’t monitor them all as they we’re busy putting in the hourly pay for the guards at Kasangati. So Mbabazi we’re able through his lawyers to deliver the petition 15 minutes after the deadline time. Even if the affidavit and witnesses disappeared like banana-flies and the nurture of yet another term for Museveni.

Mbabazi was able to collect the smaller parties and certain endorsements early in the campaign, like Otunnu and Mao, but they didn’t have their whole parties behind them, as the Opposition either we’re accommodating Museveni as UPC or parts DP did the same; while the Central leaders like Otunnu and Mao risked their own political capital in the former NRM Cadre. The Democratic Alliance had other smaller parties, but they did not have an impact as they wished to have. Especially when the FDC pulled out and Besigye felt he was the strongest Presidential Candidate besides Museveni, which was true.

With all of that in mind, as he has played his cards and is left on the table, he is not in parliament and will not be a Politician. He might be able to live on interest as he should have been able to fill his coffers in the years in the NRM elite. Still the Go-Forward Organization is either something he plans to build-on or if not, he has to forge new ways to reach the potential he seemed to have out of the gate.

Now he is in a pickle and in a blurred line where he has to decide, is his principals or is his own political life important; does he want to be outsider and opposition? Or does he want to be a loyal NRM cadre under Museveni? If you are in the NRM you have to be loyal to the vision of Museveni and nothing else, something he expect of the whole country, but trust me; he is not only man with a vision in Uganda. If there we’re so there wouldn’t be any businesses and ideas in Uganda, as entrepreneurial as the Ugandans can be; that is cannot true, Mzee.

Let be clear he can now either go the way of Mr. Mahogany, who after joining in the TDA went crawling back with broken heart and kissed the ring of Museveni; while doing so he would get a position on the NRM National Executive Committee as he is a “historical” in some points. If not he have to go the way of Besigye and create a strong opposition party with members and supporters allover. The last part is hard work and takes dedication. As if he does the latter… and if the Museveni would let him come, as I am sure he does, as he forgives, but never gives them the space and opportunity they had in past.

The last piece of political play he did was to offer Besigye lawyers for his sham trial in Moroto now in May, but he did not take the offer for special lawyers for his quick trial in (Nakawa Magistrate Court) Kampala before he was driven back to Luzira. Certainly he still tries to play a role in the Opposition, but does not have a platform or the reach that others who have danced in the wilderness for longer time.

That Mbabazi have hard days ahead as he is not naturally in the headlines, he is not in the NRM Elite, not a direct part of the FDC wrangles with the vote rigging, though surely his numbers we’re duped too. Still, he have been more silent and not made himself an opposition figure. Joseph Mabirizi has done more to take a stance against the whole shenanigans. Mbabazi went to court with his petition and after that been very silent. He tried in waiting period of collecting evidence to travel to Kasangati, but was sent back to his home and house-arrest. Little have been done since, just utter Silence…

The Silent Mbabazi, not the ones in the headlines, not the one with the answers and intelligence of the NRM, and why is he like this, is he worried? Is he unsecure of his future? Does the knowing that he either has to build on rocks and not on already fertile land scare him? He has been used to drive in sponge in the waters of others and drain the gold out of it. Now he can’t as he is alone leader of Go-Forward, and if it is more than a fluke and real organization, he has to invest and start to use loyal supporters and build his party. If not go back on his knees and kiss the ring of Museveni.

What will the silent Mbabazi do? Peace.  

Discussion: My thoughts on a Power-Sharing deal between President Museveni and Dr. Kizza Besigye

This here is something that has surfaced after Gen. Benon Buta Biraaro entered the premise and compound of Dr. Kizza Besigye on the 26^th of February 2016. This is just days after the announcement of victory of President Museveni on the 20^th February from the Electoral Commission.

So that the days of arrests and detaining of Dr. Kizza Besigye together with the oppression of the opposition party and his loyal officials and agents has been violated and arrested for following up on a flawed and a fraud of an election. The violence and police utilization as a tool to oppress the men who has declaration results forms from the districts agents as the candidates are getting to validate the counting of the ballots from the district before being announced and getting the right verdict of the will of their constituency. This here says it all when the police follows the men and trying to get the FDC officials and agents jailed and at gun-point or to rewrite the forms to fix the malfunction from the registered outcome that was announced from the Electoral Commission; it is in this context there have been talked about the opportunity to have talks to make President Museveni still in power, while giving Dr. Kizza Besigye to become his Vice President (V.P.) in a new government.

Let me be clear: this comes as the presidential candidate of the Farmers Party Gen. Biraaro have been at Kasangati home of Besigye; there been reports of meetings between Inter-Religious Council of Uganda and the Commonwealth Observer Group leader and former Nigerian President Olesegun Obasanjo, as he is supposed to mediate between President Museveni and Dr. Kizza Besigye; he is supposed to be able to talk them both into a deal that with power-sharing and keeping the peace between the persons in question.

This here happen between Morgan Tsvangirai of Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and President Robert Mugabe of Zanu-PF this happen after 200 dead and violent election during 2008 after a fraudulent election that opposition leader Tsvangirai was expected to have won as his popularity had risen in the public, while the economy had gone bonkers. Thabo Mbeki the President of South Africa mediated in this crisis of leadership and got the deal between the parties, where Tsvangirai accepted becoming the deputy in a coalition government that one that still President Mugabe controlled.

In the South Sudan there been issues in the leadership between the fractions of the Sudan People Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/SPLA) as they even have an outfit that is SPLM in Opposition (SPLM-O). This is as the power-struggle between President Salva Kiir and Vice-President Riek Machar; they had even used arms against each other. So when they signed a peace-agreement that was settled during the winter of 2015, has stopped the months on months with violence and destruction in the country. President Kiir has become of this also made his former enemy and now Vice President Machar. He was re-appointed after on the 12^th of February 2016.

This here shows examples of it of power-sharing deals between the ruling-party and the opposition. That is the dream of some people now as the tension is running high while the Police is harassing and detaining the FDC party officials and agents. While house-arresting Dr. Kizza Besigye since the Election Day; so that he cannot file in the petition to counter the declared results of the election results. Something that President Museveni and his security outfits works to stop by any means these days and also destroy the evidence of the actual rigging of the 18^th February 2016.

The way the Police have deteriorating the opposition after the elections. So they could not gather their evidence and they continue to arrest candidates agents; as they try to deliver evidence and Declaration Results Forms to the Central Organization to secure the evidence and gather the basics to the petition. If you think this kind of actions talks of somebody who want to share power. Then your blind man trying to lead another blind man; that will lead the government with somebody else, seems more like a man who wants to own the executive position. Especially also his own words for the opposition and blame of stifling development on MPs, Opposition MPs and LCV of Opposition is usually the reason for the wrong kind of development. The last straw was when he wrote in the article on the 27^th February that the opposition is an “endangered species”. That says what kind of methods he will use together with the “knock-out” victory he proclaim in the article is just wild-talk from a President.

If President really wanted to have dialogue and actually honor Dr. Kizza Besigye and his FDC; than he hadn’t constantly stopped his movement and opportunities to make a petition or meet fellow officials to make a best casework possible. This here is viable and exercise of violent behavior that does not give credible and legitimacy for President Museveni. Except for his loyal cadres and payed mouth-pieces; the ones that has accepted his salaries for being there for the NRM and the Government under the Museveni umbrella, it is not like that will change with Dr. Kizza Besigye as V.P. The only result of such a match is to give credit to the fraudulent elections and kiss and make-up. But not do a substantial groundwork and honor the voters that were not taken care of during the Election Day and the tally that followed.

I do not believe that this is a good idea. For the simple argument: Legitimacy of a NRM-Regime and the NRM led Government. I stay clear on that point as the results has been deliberately cooked while mouthpiece of NRM Andrew Mwenda blames on twitter that opposition is lying; Mr. Mwenda there to many perfect scores and polling stations that doesn’t make sense; especially that 100% for Museveni in 133 stations, every single registered person, living and dead, every ballot and not a single invalid ballot. For some strange reason Mr. Mwenda every single ballot in those polling stations went to President Musveni! That is an amazing achievement when NGOs and CSOs who followed the elections claimed that the voter educations was lacking and missing during the pre-election period. So there are certain and even more questionable acts of fraud as the Declarations Results Forms that has altered so they can be compared to the released result from the Electoral Commission. And the voter intimidation and the way the army and police acted accordingly even facilitated rigging in certain areas, questions also the faith in the ballots and the tally result from this presidential election exercise. And with all of that mind; the FDC and Dr. Kizza Besigye should not legitimize a government who got power in that way, and by house-arresting their presidential candidate days in and days out without a warrant or reason.

The only one earning on this President Museveni and his NRM, by trading away a ceremonial position of the Vice President; silencing the opposition and their claims while still having the Executive power. The same way President Mugabe through thorough negotiations gave the V.P. to Morgan Tsvangirai, but got little legitimacy and even credit for sorting out peace between political parties. That gave him also time to give more power and access to it to the Executive. That is the same way would happen with President Museveni and instead of Mbeki negotiating the agreement; It would be Obansanjo. He is not the kind who serve power away and if a person get to much of following. And that follwing not beeing directed  to him or he feels that person has to much control in the NRM; then he clips your wings. Just as he has done in the past with Gilbert Bukenya and Amama Mbabazi; they are the essential former loyalist to NRM and Museveni, but is now outplayed by their former master.

In the same way President Museveni would have done with Dr. Kizza Besigye. At this point former Nigerian President Obasanjo should just take a ticket home to Lagos instead of trying to mediate between the NRM and the FDC. As this here is a stalemate and deserve to be one until justice and rule of law is followed; not only orders from President Museveni. That is the tale of the day and the way the Police and Army uses to oppress the opposition.

As he has said he wants to destroy the opposition and make them go away as they are burden to his rule. And when a President has that kind of wish and does not respect the ballots or electoral reform that does not fit him. Why should the opposition give him the honor of legitimizing his stay in power?

Dr. Kizza Besigye, Amama Mbabazi, Olara Otunnu, Norbert Mao and all the other opposition leaders should shun the President and not honor him. Instead they should stay away from or not negotiate with him, until justice prevails and the truth of the matter get to the surface as the blatant disregard for the election from the regime is obvious and carefully orchestrated and taken care of to secure President Museveni, not the will of the people, just as Dr. Milton Obote did what he could to secure his will in 1980 election.

Kigwa Leero!  Peace.  

Mbabazi your either a NRM member or a Opposition Candidate; You can’t be NRM and Oppositon at the same time!

If you was like me and wondered what was with the answers and figure of Honorable Amama Mbabazi on the #UGDebate16. Now he went on the first radio program after that. This is just days after and 30 days to go polls.

Why I react today is that he said this on the radio today:
“I have never left the NRM. I just happen to be an NRM member who wants change”.

Whatever he will say the rest of the program doesn’t matter. He has lost something or forgot something. Why is he still trying to be loyal to NRM? It might be true that you officially never left. The way you fired from being Primer Minister and losing your position in the party. Both Dr. Ruhakana Ruganda who took that place for you and how Justine Kasule Lumumba as the Secretary General in the NRM, both positions Honorable Amama Mbabazi had until recently.

In September 2014 he was fired from being the Prime Minister of Uganda. This happen after the PM was against the constitutional change in the party so that Mzee could be the presidential candidates for yet another time. So the power-struggle led to his downfall from the higher parts of hierarchy in the NRM party and in Government. The trying to topple the President Museveni and stealing the hot-seat, and becoming His Excellency in the ruling party were to be expected! That Mzee would not forgive him for trying to take his posistion as he has done before. 

Then this happen in January 2015:
“NRM’s National Executive Committee has approved members of the NRM Secretariat who were recently appointed by the party chairman President Yoweri Museveni during December’s delegates conference” (NTV Uganda, 08.01.2016).

From there it has been issues lasting all summer with his ambitions of being presidential aspirant in the NRM, even when you had the new laws and amendment on the constitution of the Party to fix the motion to make it work; so that Mzee could continue as party Chairman and Presidential Candidate. This was something Amama Mbabazi at some point couldn’t accept. Because of that he lost his meal-ticket in the government and also in the party. That has apparently not stopped him. AS we have seen all through 2015 and beginning of 2016.

Now today he was on the 93.3 KFM Radio and he was quoted saying that he never left the party and was still a NRM member. That is conflicting since he is a so-called independent Candidate running also as the front-man for The Democratic Alliance (TDA), a loose based opposition alliance to counter the NRM, or was that not so?

He might be a member of the NRM since he is a NRA historical as some of the other presidential candidates pointed out at the debate this weekend. Still, it is suspect on his motives in opposition if he still feels loyalty to the party he has been running as Secretary General and been in different positions in Government for. That we already knew and his display on Saturday on the debate pointed that out. Though this one was on another level, like he we’re literally saying “I never left it, but I never really left it”. Either you did leave or got kicked out. Depends on how blatant you see the specifics of the actions of his former executive, and how he executed his order to when he was his subordinate. That is just me I guess. Since that is something that has died down and not really been discussed because everybody knows that you do not go against the king, and the king is Mzee, the executive who knows how to deal with those who wants his place. As he done with Bukenya and other before Mbabazi, for some reason that get forgotten now and then.

It is decent of man wanting change, though he still want’s be affiliated with NRM that he never left. That is bugging me; if he really wants change then he should try to distance himself from the former executive and his party, even if Amama Mbabazi feels ownership in it since he invested such a great piece of his life into it. The matter is the impression that he still feels so interconnected with the party that he has had issues with all through 2015. Still he points out he never left it. Still, is a member of the party while being a presidential candidate for Go-Forward and under the opposition TDA umbrella alliance who kept most of the essential opposition parties in the country.

If you don’t see something wrong in that, how is it possible to be viable as a opposition leader in the newly started Go-Forward party/group and becoming a presidential candidate in a alliance of opposition and still be a member of the ruling party! How can you live with that? Doesn’t add up, there is an extra piece in the puzzle and shouldn’t be there, because Amama Mbabazi should be either or?

He can’t be a part of the ruling party and be an opposition at the same time, it’s like Pepsi will be Coca-Cola or Coca-Cola trying to be Pepsi. He can’t be part of the ruling party while being in opposition, that doesn’t work; he can support the ruling party, but not be genuine part of it. That is a hard task since you should represent a different approach and reaches other parts of the public and citizens then the ruling-party; also address the issues in the country in another way then the ruling party. Hon. Amama Mbabazi has to distance himself if not he will look more like a knock-off version of Mzee, something that will not be going forward instead going backwards into the same snake-pit that eats the government funds like ants going after sugar.

Amama Mbabazi have a great issues if he is still part of the National Resistance Movement; even if he didn’t take part of the general conferences and other bigger councils in the previous year; this after his sacking  as the Prime Minister. The issue is that he can’t be a serious opposition candidate while being affiliated with NRM. That is not a great way and paved way into change, that is a goal and manifesto that his outfit now is supposed to have. Go-Forward or is it Go-Forward-NRM, since you never left? Then there are issues for CP, PPP, JEEMA and DP who still is a part of the TDA, are they supporting a NRM-ish candidate or are they supporting a opposition candidate against Mzee?

Mzee is the ruling party and its commander as he has been from the get-go, Amama Mbabazi have been a loyal subject and subordinate to him, therefore seems to be embedded to him still; that is natural for him and therefore he was acting like he was on the #UGDebate16, that was cleaning himself of the actions of his past. This answer proves also the clear past that everybody knows and why you can ask questions to his real motivations as a Go-Forward and TDA Presidential Candidate while calling himself a member of the Ruling Party NRM. That does not make sense.

Any member of NRM are allowed to want change and make a difference, though to a state that they cannot break the chain in command and go against its Mzee. Go-Forward can’t be independent and opposition while their leader still affiliates with the ruling party. Then their mixing their roles and isn’t either or… A boat has to have harbor where it sets sails from, right now he seems to be middle of the sea and hasn’t decided which harbor that he want to anchoring at. He is either anchoring at NRM or at the Opposition. That should not be confused or played around with. Amama Mbabazi who has been a political person for so long should know this simple rules of engagement and codes of conduct as man involved in the politics.

Go-Forward has many former NRM as it is natural, as they have former men from Activist4Change, FDC and other opposition parties, even people who haven’t been affiliated with any party before. Therefore it is centered on the faith and belief that Amama Mbabazi will bring change and difference, be a viable candidate who can become the President. He tried to become the Presidential Candidate through the NRM during summer which leads to NRM CEC meeting during July 2015. So the issues is that it seems the man is either not sure what he is or who he sends the message for, if he really want to be president on his own behalf or want to have loyalty towards the NRM. Go-Forward is a fresh party and built around him. Go-Forward has alliance and built a machine around the TDA. This can’t be a sideshow to the NRM, and if so: they are not really opposition.

I feel that if he was saying the truth at the radio, than he is a NRM member who runs a Opposition party in an Opposition Alliance. That sounds wrong in all ways and make his Go-Forward/TDA/NRM kind of constellation mixed of ruling-party and opposition, so how does that goes on a political scale between liberation force and wish of change, and is the change that you’re going to be you hopefully getting the executive power and becoming the president, or making a genuine change in a new NRM outfit named Go-Forward. That is an honest question, because if you are a NRM member, then Go-Forward is a NRM-outfit since the creator is still being a part of them. That is what I struggle with and makes his quote and words on the radio worrying. But that is just me. Let me clear: there is not possible to be part of the ruling-party and opposition at the same time. That is something that everybody understands. Except of JPAM aka Amama Mbabazi aka Deflectionator. Deflectionator, I am just kidding. I had to. Peace.

The surge of deflections between the political parties in Uganda and how to live with it

This is the round-up to the General Elections in 2016 in Uganda. Where we will see deflections like never before. There will be run from people going from wherever to Go-Forward and people leaving the parties after missing their spots to become Independent candidates in the polls.

Deflections are norm and allowed, but there are something about timing and explaining it. Like if you’re been somewhere for long and is tarnished by the way the party leads, then it feels natural to leave. Which many of the big-men has done in Uganda for that reason we have FDC. They are an reaction to the ruling party NRM. UPC has had people leaving to NRM in the Past, like Hon. Amama Mbabazi was at certain time a piece of that puzzle. Dr. Kizza Besigye was a piece of NRM until the fallout. Hon. Amama Mbabazi went finally away; when he got kicked out and Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda his childhood friend took his place as the PM in Uganda.

There many NRM losers all over the country who is deflecting to the Go-Forward Group and Amama Mbabazi. This proves that there is slot open for sore people and a reach for surge that hasn’t happen. Because for many NRM people Dr. Kizza Besigye and Gen. Mugisha Muntu haven’t had the power and spirit of the NRM party, that means that Amama Mbabazi has that or else he is promising to feed them. There is not easy to know what is what. Even FDC members and kind of high ranking members like Mathias Mpuunga the Walk to Work head honcho gone over to Go-Forward.

The validation from JEEMA, DP, CP, UFA and PPP gives an edge to Go-Forward. But their powerbases is small and has been small. Even if all arguments are that Dr. Kizza Besigye has lost the last times against the ghost of all elections Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and National Resistance Movement. The President has won everything since gripping power with the civil war to tore down UPC and Okello’s and all the other former short term presidents. Museveni has secured first a few elections as sole party and as a sole candidate. Sole Candidacy is his wish. I am sure that if he could run as he please then this election in 2016 it wouldn’t be any FDC, TDA and him!

Go-Forward and the allegiance that is with him, gives him an edge. That is even though FDC has the long standing force of the opposition in the country. So here we are, people are crying foul. I have cried foul over Gilbert Bukenya, but that is because was a hot-minute on the outside of the Movement throwing shades at the President and calling him a problem. And seconds later when he offers a position in the NRM CEC he crawls back.  The president might not offer him a place in the NRM CEC, but I am sure NRM has promised a nice position to Alhaji Nasser Ntege Ssebagala for his allegiance.

But there aren’t just the big men who switch allegiance; it’s also on the grassroots-level where members are burning their membership card and switching alliance to another party. That should be worrying for NRM to see that on the Social Media and how their cards are blatantly being discarded like worthless mud.

Though I am sure the result of the election is already picked by the Electoral Commission and the lack of electoral reform to gain population support and not support by the NRM-Regime, it will surely be set for yet another term for Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.

Even if this is surely the end-game we can still see that the movement of people is changing. The sadness is to see that the movement between opposition parties making sour feelings between them; especially with the Second Round K.O. and stop of the consultation between the FDC and Go-Forward. I expected it to fall to pieces by how it ran into sand after the smaller parties of the TDA endorsing Amama Mbabazi over Dr. Kizza Besigye.

The Movement and Museveni will do whatever to destabilize the other parties, rule and conquer. Therefore he had to say at the NRM CEC at Kololo Independence Ground that nobody in the party shouldn’t say that somebody is “Pro-Mbabazi” or “Pro-FDC” because the party is the ones that matters.

That the NRM-Youtb Brigade/League leaders of   Omodo-Omodo and Adam Ruzindana has officially not endorsed should be sad view for the NRM since they even had been rounded up in August to change their stance from this to support Mzee. Seems like it didn’t work even after being under siege by the NRM-Regime! 

There are different ways and easy jumping ships so often between parties proves that it can buy and it isn’t ideological reasons between it. That is what Go-Forward camp should ask them since they get deflectors from all over the map in short space of time. Will it be a sand-castle that the wave from the sea will brush away or can it be sustained?

FDC has a situation and is used to be in the war-zone through the elections and being in trouble with police for trying to be a political party. The Go-Forward is doing everything for the first time, though Hon. Amama Mbabazi has been in election, but then in friendly territory in those times under the wings of the Mzee.

The deflections is a natural thing, especially the ones who has lost their Flag-Bearer positions in the NRM is surely natural to try to get other ways into the Parliament and Constituencies again, though their stripes should be wacked because their couldn’t handle to lose for somebody else, even if the primaries we’re filled with malfunctions, pre-ticket ballots and general rigging.

The FDC can that has decided to move on; can have done that for ideological reasons. If so then it’s should be seen as okay. Secondly if it is a tactical move instead of ideological move; then we have more to question the person that goes from a set off fixed situations with a party actually functioning, though there was some Electoral malfunctions some of their internal election.

Some facts from the CCEDU

“In advancing this objective, CCEDU sought accreditation and deployed a technical team of eight to observe the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) Elections held at a Special Delegates’ Conference on 12th June 2015 at the UMA main exhibition Hall, Lugogo, Kampala” (…)”Claims of vote buying were received by the observers. Allegedly, some camps were sending delegates mobile money in a bid to secure their votes. These claims were not verified. A pledge by one of the candidates vying for the position of Secretary General to supply smart phones to districts secretaries general and another candidate for the post of Treasury General to contribute Shs10m to a party Savings and Credit Society were interpreted by some as an effort to induce support” (…)”It was noted that delegates did not heed the call by the Electoral Commission that no campaigns should take place during polling time. Unfortunately, there were no measures to curb this vice” (CCEDU, 2015).

So the surety that the ones leaving from the other parties like FDC/DP/UPC/PPP/UFA or Independents to the NRM has to promised something because they know what they have done and how they have done it to get it.

Independents can do as they please and show allegiance or alliances as they please. Nothing can be taken for granted by any parties they can be bought or ordered, even if they want to be by-partisan. That is justified, though it is a favour to them all if they know where they have them. Independents can either fill their pockets or actually stand for something. So if their flag their place and who honours who. Because they can became pawns on the chess set and easy capped if they don’t take a stand.

Though we will see more movement and deflections we can see the difference between ideology and tactical movement from the politicians. There will be some sour feelings and hurt. There will be some sees it as betrayal. The betrayal is when it so not justified by their recent actions and sudden move to do it for self-serving instead loyalty to party. Independents can move as they please, but the ones moving from any other parties can be questioned, even if it reasonable. Prof. Gilbert Bukenya kissed the ring of President Museveni. That is the truth!

Deflections from the parties will happen. From the FDC and NRM, from all the other parties as well for different reasons and if UPC will be split in two it wouldn’t  surprise anybody with the different of opinion between Jimmy Akena and Olara Otunnu. That could easily be two separate organizations. And leave to more deflections. Especially if they continue as today to address themselves as presidents of the UPC! There will be deflections from there as well.

Deflections from the parties occur neither you like it or not, because that is part of the political game and life. There will be more leaving any party into the General Election and move for possible gain. The men and woman who does that has to address themselves and argue for their move. As the men and woman who is left behind has to respect it, depending on the motive of it all. Even if the motive is only a place in their party-organizational structure or get a free place in higher organ; instead of doing the work as politician to gain the constituencies trust.

What do you think? Peace.  

Reference:

CCEDU – ‘FDC Party Elections – Observation Reports’ (17.07.2015)

Prof. Gilbert Bukenya kissed the ring of President Museveni.

TDA loose yet another pivotal man:

Mr. Mahogany or should I say his Christian name Gilbert Balibaseka Bukenya the former VP of the Republic of Uganda who himself went independent after being kicked out of NRM. He has today or very recent for some reason kissed the ring of his former leader Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.

The professor has said this: “TDA was poisoned and people who are there are very greedy. President Museveni has the right qualifications to lead this country” (…)”On four occasions, I met four different people who came to ask me to go back to the NRM. On the first and second time, I was not convinced. I was convinced on the third and fourth time, when they told me president Museveni has some good ideas. President Museveni promised me to fight poverty and land matters” (Daily Monitor, 2015).

For a brother who turned independent after losing his position in the NRM. President Museveni took him down and changed leadership because he had a plan in 2011 to go against His Excellency. His journey and saying now that President Museveni is the right guy in 2015 seems weird. Even for a man who has been loyal and kept close to the President.  

Reasons for this turn around are very dire:

“Sources say the group listed to Bukenya’s grievances against Museveni and later agreed with him that some of the issues he had raised were reconcilable” (…)”However sources told the New Vision that the two agreed that President Museveni would support Bukenya to defend his Parliamentary seat and campaign for him on top of securing for the former VP a position in the NRM highest decision making organ, Central Executive Committee” (…)”In return Bukenya would support and campaign for the President. Sources also said that former Vice President also requested he be appointed to cabinet in the next term” (Etukuri, 2015).

When you see this there will be more supporting of Pakalast-NRM ticket of Museveni. In turn he will go away for the unity of TDA that becomes smaller and smaller. With the FDC and Bukenya left the fold months before the actual event. Wonder if Norbert Mao, Akena, Otunnu and the other ones who still is a part of Alliance feels betrayed.

Bukenya has been bought for loyalty. He has done that before with CHOGM money. The indictment from 2011 says this:

“PROF. DR. GILBERT BUKENYA being a person employed as Vice President in the Government of the Republic of Uganda and Chairman of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) Cabinet Sub-Committee, on various dates between December 2006 and November 2007 within Kampala district did unlawfully and high handedly direct to be done arbitrary acts prejudicial to the interests of the Uganda Government, in abuse of his office; to wit; influencing and directing the award of the Contract for Supply of Executive Vehicles intended for use during Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2007, to Motorcare (U) LTD in total disregard of the laws, regulations and practices governing Public Procurements in the Republic of Uganda”.

If that tells what he can do and get gains then it isn’t a new thing from Prof. Gilbert Bukenya that he now will be bought by the NRM-Regime and in the end now get a position in the NRM CEC, the price his loyalty and support on the road on the Campaign for the Presidential Election for 2016. And all of this is a sad view for TDA and opposition that a deflected candidate can turn back to his fold again. This shows the weakness and also the power of reach that President Museveni still has over some of his former cadres. And for an outsider who was running for the Flag-Bearer for the Opposition Alliance of the TDA and when Amama Mbabazi got it. Then later totally go back to his former boss. This is a scary scenario and proves how little strength there is left in the TDA. Prof. Gilbert Bukenya has become a crony again. Become a part of the set-up of the NRM-Regime and given up. Mr. Mahogany is now going back for a secure paycheck. Sure I hope he has kept parts of the Exclusive Vehicles because this is just another foolish turn of events. On Independence Day of all days, proves that the Professor can’t be independent at all. Especially that he and some other can be bought with promises of positions in NRM-Organization.

Oh golly, this is from the same man that said this in February 2015:

““I am a professor of medicine and I am supposed to gesture while stressing a point. As a teacher, I am supposed to communicate well. There is no way you can say that I am the one copying Museveni. May be its President Museveni copying me. I am a professor and he is not. Who should copy the other?” (…)”I remember in 1986, President Museveni said the biggest problem of Africa is leaders who overstay in power. Unfortunately he has become that very problem. He is now Uganda’s biggest problem. The President should avoid killing the legacy he has struggled to build throughout his life” (…)”We went around the country asking voters to give Museveni one more term. But now, there is every indication that he is set to become a life president” (…)”President Museveni has been in power for over 29 years but our hospitals are in a terrible state. He has failed to even repair the 29 hospitals Dr. Milton Obote built. Whereas he calls him swine, Obote did better than Museveni in this area” (Mulondo & Oryema, 2015).

When a brother can say this and months later kiss the ring! You sure know that Museveni can bring everybody back or get them soften their approach against him. I am sure if Museveni wanted and could bring a sweet enough meal Amama Mbabazi would turn back. Though I know and others should by now know that Mbabazi was also a part of the CHOGM scandal as Bukenya.  He has gone from being in opposition fighting the NRM-Regime for a little second. When he even in February this year said he was “Uganda’s Problem” to now in October he is saying “President Museveni has the right qualifications to lead this country”. There are surely shows the powers of what a few pieces of silver can do. Peace.

Reference:

Daily Monitor – ‘Prof Bukenya makes U-turn, pledges support for Museveni come 2016’ (09.10.2015) link: http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Prof-Bukenya-makes-U-turn-pledges-Museveni/-/688334/2906144/-/9qem5wz/-/index.html

Etukuri, Charles – ‘Bukenya makes U turn, supports Museveni’ (09.10.2015) link: http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/674310-bukenya-makes-u-turn-supports-museveni.html

Mulondo, Moses & Oryema, Kennedy – ‘Museveni is Uganda’s biggest problem – Bukenya’ (11.02.2015) link: http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/664720-museveni-is-uganda-s-biggest-problem-bukenya.html

Amama Mbabazi went out of the desert and went into the lions den

Today isn’t a normal day. Today is a day where it’s reviled after hazardous consulting meetings in Soroti and Jinja that a certain high caliber politician has switched sides. Amama Mbabazi is not any longer a Presidential Candidate in the NRM, but is becoming a part of the of opposition coalition The Democratic Alliance (TDA).

A man who had a special thing and now has gone from being the guy who has a vital part of the chambers in parliament, also and secretary of the party of the NRM party for years has gone into the lion’s den together with the opposition yesterday.

It proves the powerful idea behind FDC, JEEMA, DP, and UPC, so they are now accepting the brother into the camp when the internal parties has already picked their flag-bearers for the presidential election in 2016. He went from being a vital part of the NRM, a man Museveni trusted. Even if Mbabazi is famous for eating big slices of governmental deals and have even chartered high on corruption indexes, they are still letting him in the fold and umbrella of the TDA. This must be joyful reunion for Hon. Gilbert Bukenya who has trades silver coins from the CHOGM scandal in the past. Olara Otunnu knows the man well and has discussed matters concerning Mbabazi in length in the past. The same has Norbert Mao they all know him and how he has acted. As the public knows as well!

Well, so when the tides are turning and the opposition can prove greatness, while the NRM is losing ground. They still have the powerful army and police on their hand. We will sure see more teargas and venues in towns being under siege before the election in 2016. Since we’re still in the run-up! While we waiting we know that the ones that went independent earlier from NRM, might run back to fold to get feed and be underline of the main stem leadership protocol of the party. Though it seems that the fallout rate and big-men that has been around for ages is on the level of agony that Louis Van Gaal in Manchester United doing. Where certain former loved players has all left the club. Now the same is happening with the NRM. Though it is happens in other fashions and ways, but initially the same outcome. There consistency of harsh brutalities and the way people are getting out of the NRM, it doesn’t seem healthy.

You’re either forced out with the skin on your teeth or you’re getting flogged in the main streets of Any-Town in Uganda. Amama Mbabazi I wrote earlier this year that he was starting a walk through the desert. He finally has found shade in the midst of darkness. The campaign he will run now will not be affiliated with the party he has been involved in for so long. This has been the end of it.  He lost when he questioned the power of the man on the top, that man would not accept somebody questioning the fact and realities of one sole candidate before preliminary voting inside the party. H.E. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni would not have JPAM or Amama Mbabazi questioning his powers and reach, nor anybody else for that matter. That is why when other people are campaigning in the lands. The government bodies for securing peace will make fuzz and be violent against the crowds. We have seen all year from the campaigning of Dr. Kizza Besigye and recent attacks in eastern Uganda in Soroti and Jinja.

It shows that there are no nobility amongst the cadres of NRM especially when you look at the way they leave their people behind. There so many reasons for the end game of certain long serving politicians seems like their left to rot after being loyal subjects and done all in favor of the mighty president.

So yesterday’s signing of TDA protocol proves a vital point and strength of this unity. Also of the fallout of Amama Mbabazi was inevitable after the clippings of his wings in not so distant past. Which lead to his childhood friend Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda taking over his position as the PM. That was for the big-man on top fearing the issue of aspirations that Amama might have of one day wishing to succeed the fellow leader on the throne. Something that we all know isn’t acceptable by the sole candidate in 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011 and to come in 2016.

We will see what outcome and reach this symbolic turn of events will have. Though this signing of Protocol from Amama Mbabazi should by just the signature on the paper, strengthen the movements of the opposition since they have yet another former weapon-brother of the mighty Museveni.

This also leaves Mbabazi after months into wilderness and without shade, finally getting a gracefully sit-down with fellow peers. Who has for years and decades been under the scrutiny of regime that Mbabazi has partly put into effect especially with Public Order Management Act, which will always hunt him! Like a now evil ghost that was built to suppress anybody who wasn’t directly coordinating their movement with the government of Uganda, this is initially the cronies of the NRM.

So there we have it! TDA with Dr. Kizza Besigye, Olara Otunnu, Norbert Mao, Asuman Basalirwa and so on has now Amama Mbabazi in their ranks. They can soon be sitting together in the lion’s den and plotting their next move.

We can all wonder what this will say about the issues and coming elections while the parties themselves has picked flagbearers, who will be the main candidate of the alliance and the TDA. Will be race to follow and also see how the come-up to the 2016 in the end will be looking because if it follows the start, it will be violent and dangerous to be at other rallies then ones run by Museveni and his cronies. The rest will have to wear gas-masks and heavy gear to not taste rubber bullets of the police force and the rulings from the local DPC. Peace.

Press Statement: Professor Gilbert Bukenya returns Nomination Forms (04.09.2015)

I came here sometime ago and picked TDA Nomination papers for aspirants to the position of TDA presidential flag bearer.

I also picked forms for members of Parliaments that believe in our vision; today we bring back our completed nomination forms. We believe in unity and TDA is the answer. That is why we are here to demonstrate our full support to TDA.

All the problems of Uganda will not be solved at once, even democracy will grow and no country in the world are at the same level of democracy. we therefor strongly believe that when we are in the next government we shall bring about many meaningful changes.

1. Electoral Reforms
2. Constitutional amendments
3. Reducing public expenditure (number of MPs, number of districts and presidential advisors etc…)
4. Increase productive expenditure
5. Fight corruption.

The current government will never tackle these changes if they are still in power, this they have demonstrated a number of times.

Therefore i am not a believer in “no reforms, no participation in elections” this is giving a silver plate to the current dictatorship to retain power. I will participate in the coming general elections to defeat this regime. Thereafter embark on genuine reforms. We shall then prove ourselves to be different and committed to our country THE TIME FOR CHANGE IS NOW.

Do not take us for granted we mean what we say. I thank all those Ugandans who are deeply supporting our cause. I have so far gathered the required electoral Commission signature for my presidential nomination bid in 82 districts of Uganda in less than 2 weeks. but i will stand with the TDA procedures for concluding on a single presidential flag bearer and i will support whoever is concluded on.

TDA must not delay and if it delays it will be its fault.

Tackling poverty is my priority number one. Poverty for today, tomorrow and future generations. We have the plan that will be wholly and fully implementable. The poor have been so abused and so exploited beyond reason by the government of today.

They are handed money in bags instead of teaching them to look for their own money. These sharks don’t want to teach the poor “to fish”but want to give them fish making them beggars. This must change.

Bukenya will teach you how to fish and eat fish whenever you want.

Thank you
For God and My Country

Prof. Gilbert Bukenya
Presidential Aspirant 2016.