Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) in the General Court Martial Holden at Makindye-Kampala – Case No. 040 – Charge Sheet of Dr. Kizza Besigye and Haji Obeid Lutale (20.11.2024)

Kenya: Governor James Orengo – Statement on the unlawful abduction of Kizza Besigye (20.11.2024)

Ugandan opposition aren’t safe in Kenya

“According to his family, Dr. Besigye was abducted on Saturday in Nairobi and is suspected to be under military detention here in Uganda. This is most unfortunate!  A few months ago, 36 other activists were abducted from Nairobi and brought back to Uganda in utter violation of the law. As we call for his immediate release, we condemn this blatant abuse of the law by the regime here in Uganda, and sadly the authorities in Kenya. We are back to the dark days when Ugandans were casually picked from the streets of Nairobi and returned to Uganda to be tortured, jailed and others executed. The abduction of Ugandan citizens from Kenya and handing them over to the regime in Uganda without following extradition laws must be condemned by all people of good conscience!” (Bobi Wine, 20.11.2024).

Yet again, the authorities and the state of the Republic of Kenya is allowing Ugandan citizens to be apprehended, kidnapped and taken into custody when they cross the borders by force. This happened earlier in the year, and it happens yet again.

The Operational Zone for foreign intelligence organizations is clear. The Kenyan authorities under the reign of President William Ruto is allowing it. They are accepting and vouching for these actions.

Just imagine that Dr. Kizza Besigye checked into the Waridi Paradise Hotel and met with a taxi driver for a meeting at Riverside Apartments. A driver that waited for him and he never showed up. The same happened with his supposed appearance at the book launch of Marta Karua on Sunday. Therefore, they knew he was going to the hotel and abducted him from there. Since he never saw the driver again for the planned meeting later the same day.

This just shows that someone flew into Nairobi and checked into a hotel. Then after all of this and with the planned schedule of Besigye. He was captured and silenced. As his communication was shut-off and the kidnappers muted him. Until we saw him again arraigned at the Makindye Military Court at the Makindye Military Barracks in Uganda.

There unverified reports that the Kenyan state is allowing Ugandan security operatives to abduct and kidnap citizens within the republic. If that is agreed upon between the heads of state. That is unknown too, but it is a reason for this speculation to happen. Especially, when stories like Besigye is happening. When other citizens are captured in Kenya and later either detained or arraigned before the courts in Uganda. Therefore, there is a coordination and allowed actions on Kenyan soil. If it is Nairobi or in Kisumu. They are allowed to act and do as they please.

This shows that the Ugandan activists and people aren’t in a safe haven in Kenya. The Government of Kenya is allowing it and letting it happen. They are saying “okay” and giving the Ugandan state a “heads up”.

If you are afraid of drones in Uganda. There is a possibility for a similar action happening in Kenya. That’s the message here. They are allowing it and accepting the fate of the foreigners who goes to Kenya. These are in an “operational zone” and are “fair game”. That’s why this happens and people should be concerned. Because the authorities are okay with it and they aren’t even worried about the consequences of doing so.

If they were afraid or worried about it. These people wouldn’t be captured and arraigned later in the courts in their nation. No, they would be safe and be able to escape the authorities in Kenya. Alas, that isn’t the case, and no Ugandan activist or opposition is safe in Kenya. That’s the message that is sent and it’s tragic. Peace.

Pan-African Opposition Leaders Solidarity Network: Abduction of Dr Kizza Besigye from Nairobi on the Night of Saturday the 16th November 2024 (20.11.2024)

Dr. Kizza Besigye facing the Court Martial at Makindye Military Barracks as a civilian…

“Dr Kizza Besigye and another FDC Katonga faction member, Obeid Rutale, have rejected being tried in Makindye miliary court martial citing the fact that they are civilians. “I have never joined forces or been a scout for me to be tried in a miliary court,” Rutale said” (97.5 Messiah Radio, 20.11.2024).

“Dr Kizza Besigye has been taken to Makindye Military Court. Besigye was abducted from Nairobi, Kenya, last week and forcibly returned to Uganda” (NTV Uganda, 20.11.2024).

“Veteran opposition politician Dr Kizza Besigye is appearing at the General Court Martial in Makindye, Kampala days after he was reported missing in Nairobi where he had travelled to attend a book launch of former Kenya’s Justice Minister, Martha Karua. He’s appearing in the dock alongside ‘his comrade’ Hajj Lutale Kamulegeya on yet to be known charges. Court proceedings have been adjourned for 15 minutes after Dr Besigye said he has no lawyer given that he wasn’t able to contact anyone since he has been in detention” (Daily Monitor, 20.11.2024).

If you ever wondered how despicable the authorities are and how they operates in regards to its dissidents. Just follow how they react and go after Dr. Kizza Besigye. It is new that they are apprehending him and allowed to kidnap him in Kenya. Meanwhile taking him into custody and days later arraign him in a Military Court.

That’s what the National Resistance Movement (NRM) is doing. They have all the ploys and all their guards up. They are treating him as if he planned a treasonous act and planned to topple the government by force. That’s how this looks like…

The nemesis of the President and his fellow comrades. The man who has faced the law more than any other. Who has been charged with everything between the moons, the stars and whatever that underneath the soil. They will be claiming he was found with arms or planned to purchase arms to topple the government. That’s how they will play it, but he was there for a book launch and not to plan a coup d’etat.

Nevertheless, we know how this will play out. The state has arrested him and will start the discovery and finding whoever they can deem fit as witnesses. They will prolong the agony, as they now have within their midst and can stifle his every move. It is just convenient, as him and others were starting to launch their own party and be out of the FDC quagmire.

This saga is far from over and only the beginning. It is sinister and dark when it is done like this. The manner of which the state produced him and how they are now pinning crimes on him. Just like it has done before. If they charge him with “treason” it wouldn’t be the first time or the last. Now they cannot use other penal codes or laws to take him down. We can just wonder how they will prove the conspiracy, collect evidence and have witnesses. Because that will take forever, and the reality is that it would be all made-up.

Besigye is yet again losing his freedom, liberty and rights as a civilian. His losing his ability to work and be a citizen. Instead, his again a felon and a criminal until proven innocent. Not the other way around. Where you are innocent until your proven guilty. Peace.

Dr. Kizza Besigye is missing

Two days without a word. Reports from Uganda Radio Network (URN) and Daily Monitor is resounding. The firebrand politician and maverick is now gone in the wind.

Two days since last spotted in Nairobi, Kenya. Dr. Kizza Besigye is now missing. That is concerning and worrying. It is very very unfortunate and worrying.

That someone like his is gone and haven’t communicated. Someone who speaks out and are a voice of reason. A man who is known for his resolve and his skills of building political platforms. Therefore, it is extra strange that his just leaving without a trace.

Unless, someone acknowledge where is and in what condition. The speculations will go haywire. There will be lost in the sauce. It is too many things that could appear and abductions on behalf of the Ugandan government have already happened in Kenya during Ruto’s term. So, to do this wouldn’t be out of the ordinary either. As other Ugandan civilians was kidnapped and later detained in Uganda. Therefore those sorts of things could happen to Besigye too.

Meanwhile at this current time. We know nothing. We haven’t a word. We haven’t a signal or even a little token. We got nothing. His communication channels are off or closed off. That seems deliberate, as he knows how to be shadowed and be spied upon. Therefore, this isn’t adding up…

It could be something sinister going on. A deliberate scheme, but it is no good to think of that or even consider it. Alas, we know nothing and haven’t heard a thing. Only last seen on Saturday and now it’s Monday ticking into Tuesday. That would be three days without a noise or a reassuring thunder from the man.

I cannot speculate now, but unless there is official words from someone close to him. Part of the Katonga Branch or the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) or cadres who has been associated with him for years. We need someone to vouch for him.

This freedom fighter and man of will for the betterment of the Republic of Uganda needs to heard from again. It is just frightening to know that it has been that many hours without ordinary activity or even public utterance from Besigye.

We need to hear from Besigye and a report of his well-being. This is dangerous and I only hope everything is well with the man. As his a hero and a living legend. One of kind and there isn’t many who has fought as long and haven’t seen his dreams come into fruition. Peace.

Opinion: The Dog Nation was too much to handle for the Liberator…

Entebbe Chief Magistrate Stella Amabilisi has sentenced TikToker Nabugodi Emmanuel to two years and eight months in Kigo prison. Nabugodi, who pleaded guilty, was charged with insulting President Museveni through a video he posted on his TikTok account, @rice027. The video, shared in September 2024, was deemed to demean and degrade the president, promoting hostility against him. The incident occurred in Wakiso District, after which Nabugodi went into hiding in the Bugisu subregion. Following weeks of tracking, police arrested him in Mbale” (What’s Up Mbale, 18.11.2024).

It is a doggy dog world and who let the dogs out? Woo wooo, who let the dogs out?

The Judge of the Dog Nation was arrested, detained and now is sentenced for insulting President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. The Republic is in a sorry state when a guy makes his own Kangaroo Court on TikTok, but Teacher Mpamire is walking on holy grounds. You just know there is one law for Peter and another for Paul. We have seen that in other instances too, but this is just the gist of it.

The content creator was unlucky to not have good counsel or good representation. As he was bound for failure. The video in question is satire. The TikTok itself isn’t mentioning any names or such. So, the man should have gotten off the hooks on technicalities. Regardless, they wanted to make an example out of him. Just like they did to others before him. There is only one chief blogger in the nation and that’s His Excellency himself.

So, please get at me dog. Well, there is a lot of barking going on. Certainly the authorities do bite. They sniff one out and then decide to retaliate with their attack. That is showing here.

The ones justifying it is either naive or content with the status quo. Because they are getting worried about TikTok getting 20,000 followers and spreading his content online. Certainly this is a way of silencing him and stopping him progress. As they want people to only follow the NRM Way and not be left astray.

It is really showing the character of the state… and who they really are. When someone of this stature and with this sort of following is getting charged and sentenced like this. When they are making an example of him and giving him such a harsh sentence. It just shows who they are and what the state does now.

Rice027 shouldn’t get this punishment. The state should wonder why people are making skits and comedy like this. The state should be concerned with why they are doing it and for what reason. Secondly, why people find it funny and why it resonate with the people. That’s what it should have done. Even question the man for his motivation and why he does this value-addition and over-the-top entertainment to being with. Instead they are making him a felon and a criminal. It is just showing how limited freedom and liberties there are in the Republic. When you can’t make a mock court and be a mocking judge. That is too far…

The party of liberation cannot even stomach just that. The Liberator and the Freedom Fighter cannot handle the Dog Nation. Peace.

Opinion: Gen. Salim Selah we would have preferred you silence

Caleb Akandwanaho aka General Salim Selah, the President’s brother and Minister without a Portfolio or an Office. The unannounced and above the scrutiny of the bureaucracy. The man, the myth and the legend in the flesh.

This is the mighty of the mighty. The demigod and the one and only. This sort of character that is high above and where you have no say. Where not even the Generals are allowed to speak or acknowledge. They are just supposed to drink their tea and shut the hell up. They should read the room and await their turn for getting the mercies of the Gods.

Alas, wherein there is the problem. That someone who haven’t been elected or appointed on merits. That has such power and ability to suck himself to the state. His there out of hereditary politics. Just because his the brother of the President. There is no skill-set or proof of wisdom from this man. No, just that he was born by into the same family and worked beside the President on certain affairs.

He won’t have it with questioning NAADs, OWC or anything else his operating. The things his the coordinator of and has a way of getting public funds for. He can linger in hotels and live a lavish life. Act like his making a difference, but never have to prove it. That is like enjoying the perks of office, but not having to account for it.

This is why his butt hurt by a Member of Parliament questioning him. A loudmouth at that. A sort of figure, former journalist and MP of the Opposition. Who dares to question him and calling him out too. That man should have known that the General and the brother of the President is untouchable. Just like the son is too. They can misuse office and piss public expenditure away with no regards of the people. These are the ones that dines with the gods for a reason. While the MP and civilians are dining with mere mortals.

Let’s be real for a minute. Gen. Salim Selah should have been silent. He shouldn’t have published those pages on Social Media. In reality it just exposes his vanity and entitlement. Like he is above it all. Neither is it reflective or genius. Instead he spits on the elected official and reasoning without reflecting on how it looks. This isn’t bad PR but generally an utter embarrassment.

The General would be better with a side-dish in an up-country hotel. Then spending time like a bored pen-pal writing letter to long lost friend. Because this is just exhausting. He should know better and some of the Presidential Advisors should give him a word. If not one of the staffers at the Office of the Prime Minister, which are directing the things his supposed to coordinate. Therefore, he could kick some knowledge and maybe even be better in public.

However, that is too much to ask of an old gentlemen like Caleb. His used to finer parts of life. Enjoy all the luxurious things the world posses. Meanwhile, no one is supposed to study his works and how he earned those. No, we are just supposed to accept that and call it a night. Peace.

Kisoro By-Election: A look into Bobi Wine’s response after the polls

We are certainly not saying that we would have won each of these by-elections. But there is all evidence to prove that they were neither free nor fair. Even in places where their candidates could potentially win comfortably, they engaged in massive ballot stuffing” (Bobi Wine, 15.11.2024).

On Friday 15th November 2024, Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine published a text on social media addressing the aftermath and the results of the Kisoro By-Election. That to no avail or surprise went to the National Resistance Movement (NRM) or a NRM leaning Independent. This what went down and no one in the Republic was shocked by it.

We know how these By-Elections goes down and sometime you have to wonder if the Opposition parties aren’t reflecting on how they are operating. Because these elections goes down and they are all shocked about it. Instead of seeing the pattern and evolving. Following the same procedure and not acting accordingly. That’s what we have seen from the National Unity Platform (NUP). It haven’t barricaded or tried to force itself on the system. Instead it is just as complicit as the predecessors. Who are all banking on the same authorities and living in the hope that it will change itself. Which we aren’t seeing decades after decades…

Bobi Wine says: “Come back to yesterday, by 10:00am, regime officials started reaching out to our polling agents with money and telling them if they resisted, they would be arrested. Many indeed gave in and abandoned their stations. Only a few resisted and reported what was happening.

The regime does this to deliberately downplay our strength and to drive the narrative that the masses we attract do not necessarily translate into votes. Given that we’re heading towards the general election, they know this might have an effect on the psyche of the population, such that when they rig, they have recent by-elections to justify their theft!” (Bobi Wine, 15.11.2024).

We know these things are happening. The militarized zones and the usage of force by the authorities. The NUP and other parties knows this happens very well. That isn’t anything new and been modus operandi for years. Therefore, the opposition should reflect on how it works around it and guard the votes. How it can retaliate in a peaceful manner and be agents of change. Instead of letting them “win” in fear and in the possibility of retribution. Therefore, this is just a disregard of the will of the people and what they really want.

He continues: “Certainly, there are many places where NUP and the larger opposition need to do much more work in mobilising and awakening people, and Kisoro is one of them. It is clear that even without the kind of rigging they engaged in, the independent candidate would still have won. (But what is true also is that the NUP candidate would have gotten many more votes than those allocated to her.) This is in part because in Kisoro (and Oyam) there was another dynamic of a protest vote against the official NRM candidates. The would-be opposition voters chose to unite behind candidates they considered having the best chance against the NRM” (Bobi Wine, 15.11.2024).

This here is a mere fact, but its troubling for any opposition or party to do this. As the NRM and the authorities blocks the parties from engaging and building up structures. The state is interfering in internal party business and how it supposed to build party organizations. Therefore, they are tied and handicapped, which isn’t helping ahead of any polls. In addition to the rigorous activities during the polls and during the counting of it. Which is just a charade and make a mockery of the shindig.

Bobi Wine is even spelling out what I said after the polls. That in some races the Opposition should rally behind one candidate. Just to have a bigger shot at defeating the NRM. However, then you need to coordinate and have a willing of dialogue in a short span of time. Where the trust is built up between the parties and they are willing to forfeit candidature too. As it could be more humiliating if they fail to succeed. Regardless, in some instances it could be helpful. Especially, if the goal is to get the number of NRM MPs down in Parliament.

He continues: “Therefore friends, DO NOT BE DISCOURAGED. The struggle against dictatorship and misrule will involve many challenges before we get to victory. And yet we keep using all avenues including elections to awaken our people and push the message of freedom” (Bobi Wine, 15.11.2024).

Yes, the struggle lives on. Just like it did in the past. More of the same. Where people are doing the same and thinking they will get another result. Trying to configure the same system that is built to destroy the competition. Therefore, the way to victory over it isn’t to play as a part of it, but outwit it. However, that seems uncertain and as unknown terrain for plenty right now. Besigye have outlined the needs and the steps to do so. Nevertheless, those steps are forgotten and people aren’t reminded about those. That’s why we copy-and-paste. Meanwhile, the NRM lingers on and nothing changes. Peace.

Uganda Police Force (UPF): Halting of NUP Mobilization Tours Across the Country (15.11.2024)