Uganda Police Force: Police Statement on Planned Political Activities (13.05.2019)

Opinion: Muntu’s ANT(s) start building!

Even the sharpest ear cannot hear an ant singing. – Sudanese Proverb

Today, the New Formation, the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) is unleashed, as the Party Name and certainly a logo/sign will come. Therefore, the awaiting new party of the retired general and former Forum for Democratic Change President, Mugisha Muntu is happening. This has been something in the works and been a slow reform.

However, we have really waited since Gen. Muntu left the FDC after he lost the FDC Presidency to Patrick Oboi Amuriat (POA) in November 2017. Clearly, he couldn’t manage to be uprooted and be lesser of a person, he wanted to lead himself and not be a part of a party. That is why he has used this time since he held a presser with several MPs in the end of September 2018. We can wonder if these MPs still will leave their parties and their stations to join this ANT.

These being Paul Mwiru, Herbert Ariko, Elijah Okupa, Angeline Osegge, Gaffa Mbwatekamwa, John Baptist Nambashe, Anna Andeke and Gerald Karuhanga. We can wonder if these ones are ready to be under the umbrella of ANT or if they just thought it was a good idea last September.

We can also wonder, if there are more NRM rebels joining or even people from the UPC/DP to go with Muntu. Not only a bunch of FDC MPs whose already been speculated joining him. We are even wondering if the ones close and the ones appointed him in the Shadow Cabinet like Winnie Kiiza and others would also jump ship. That they would do it in time before the General Election of 2021. To all show the strength of ANT.

At least, the ANT would have more force, than the Go-Forward of Amama Mbabazi had in 2016 Election, even as the political pressure group did have the The Democratic Alliance (TDA), but still not as plenty of regional and representatives like the ANT could have. Even before starting to recruit or becoming viable.

Even so, the ANT or the New Formation has to sing, it has to dance and it has to build a party in the climate of nothing accepted, unless the Police Force is knowing it in advance. Therefore, even putting up a Party Office can be a criminal affair. This is something Muntu knows well, that is why he really has to work hard. Since, there is no supporting structures, only himself and his close associates.

That already, by the slow time coming, people has been awaiting the official ANT since 29^th November 2017. This is 475 days from losing in Party Presidency to get the Electoral Commission to accept his new party. Clearly, he has ensured funding and enough stakeholders to get a party. Since, he should have that done by now. That is why his been so silent and slowly working.

We are now awaiting more information about this infamous party, this new formation, this new breed into the politics. Even if it is with old faces and we can wonder, what Muntu means with Country Before Self, when he couldn’t even demean himself and be humble after the loss in the biggest opposition party. Alas, he couldn’t manage to be second fiddle, that is why his running around on his own.

Certainly he wants his ends. He wants his paycheck and his respect. Who would deny him of that. He has struggled with the FDC and before that the NRM. Now he has to struggle again with the ANT. Who knows if it will be successful. If not, he can do like Beti Kamya, bail on his own party and ask to be in the good graces again.

Nobody hears the ants sing, we can wonder if we will really hear Muntu scream as well. Peace.

New Formation: Press Statement (19.03.2019)

New Formation: New Year’s Message (31.12.2018)

New Formation: Press Statement on Registration and Unveiling of New Party (12.12.2018)

New Formation: Remarks to University Student Leaders during the Inter-University leadership Dialogue Organized by Nkumba University Guild on the 9/11/2018

New Formation Statement (01.11.2018)

Opinion: What is illegal about Patrick Oboi Amuriat?

I just have to ask after the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) Party President was scheduled to meet with party leadership for an internal meeting with the party leaders of Kasese today. However, he was blocked from entering today and was ordered to travel back to Kampala. The Police arrested him on the spot after blocking the road. Also because of lack of gas, they dropped him off in Fort Portal and further released him.

This is in the same month, the same Party President haven’t been allowed to accessing Kumi, Bukedea and Soroti. Therefore, he will struggle to meet and greet, but also access the party, as is his duty as the Party President.

If the police in these instances are using the Public Order Management Act of 2010 as reference, the law states that the internal gathering to discuss party organization and internal affairs, does not mean it is a public meeting and therefore, does not constitute the use of the law in question. This is in the explanation part of law.

What was happening today and earlier in the month, have been internal party gatherings and functions of the party, to discuss the way forward and how to organize their efforts. This has not been public meeting or rallies. Today was a meeting with local party leadership where the President of Party could also reside to follow.

Clearly, this is problem to the state, since they are now blocking the Party President to do his functions and follow his party. This is part of the paradigm, as the NRM are allowed to everything without any consequences, but the FDC have to be burned. This is yet another prime example of this. Where now Patrick Oboi Amuriat is now paying the price and cannot do his elected job.

What is weirder in this manner, did the police ever do this to Rtd. Gen. Mugisha Muntu? Did they stop him from doing his job and such? They stopped a few rallies in the Ankoli in the running up to the General Election, but at that point, the Police is stopping everything associated with Besigye. However, I cannot remember the Police crashing Muntu’s internal party work or even arresting at the FDC Headquarters, where others was taken away, but not him.

That was a side-note, but shows the difference of leadership and what it cost. It costs for POA to be who is and what he represents. Clearly he is striking a nerve and paying the price. As they are not allowing him to meet his own party leaders in the districts of Kasese, Bukedea, Kumi and Soroti. Who knows, which else districts they will block him from accessing?

Secondly, what is illegal with what POA is doing? To what extent and what rights has the security forces right to do this to him?

Certainly, with the knowledge of this police force and this leadership. This is not the last. Not the final straw. This saga will continue. Peace.

New Formation: Opening Remarks to Members of the New Formation’s Media Engagement Team (12.10.2018)

FDC: Membership Audit (01.10.2018)