

Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF): Statement on Alleged Torture by CMI of one Mariwos Alexandria aka Esther (22.04.2022)





“According to a report, Uganda loses at least UGX 20 trillion annually to corruption. The Inspector-General of Government, Beti Kamya, told journalists that if at least half of that money (UGX 10 trillion) was saved per year, each parish would be able to get UGX 1 billion under the Parish Development Model” (NBS Television, 21.04.2022).
In Kampala this should haunt the institutions, the ministries and shake the whole Entebbe State House. If not both Kololo and Nakasero should be frightened by this report. That was if the rulers and the representatives was afraid of black-lash or ramifications of a report. A report that has such a vast result and damaging numbers, which could easily come to half of last years budget.
The last years budget was 44 Trillion Shillings in the budget year of 2021/22 and the estimates for 2022/23 is about 47 Trillions Shillings. With that in mind the corruption is about half of that one too. The numbers are staggering and isn’t only showing a little flex. No, the numbers are showing that it’s the norm. The corruption is a fact of life and way of living.
It doesn’t matter what authorities, bodies and mechanisms the state has… when half the budget can be siphoned, stolen or vanish without a trace. “Missing Funds” is a proverb in the vocabulary for a reason. It wouldn’t be a proverb and words of wisdom, as ghosts and fake tenders appears on a regular basis. Paying for projects only on paper and teachers who has never had a class in up-country.
Yes, there is a reason for all of this. The money is eaten and nothing to show for it. Except some spoiled brats big parties and SUVs for the ruling elite. They also can afford to rent jets to get medical treatment abroad. While hospitals are falling part, schools not having equipment and teacher being a boda-boda rider on the side. That’s all, because the state doesn’t’ have the funds or the allocated resources to finance these entities.
However, it has money for vanity projects of the President and his inner-circle. They have money for businesses, farms and whatever in need. They got money to pay-off opposition turned yellow and brighten a road for an official visit from a far-away land. Nevertheless, not enough to splash on vital institutions or government entities. That’s why UMEME is running black-outs and far to the nearest water-tap in region of your liking.
That’s why I am not shocked that the money goes missing. It is half a yearly budget wasted, gone missing and not being where it should be. Half a yearly budget eaten by corrupt bureaucrats and high ranking officials. This is done yearly and shows at what extent. It isn’t CHOGM money or GAVI funds of Muhwezi. No, this a yearly enterprise and planned efforts. Like someone is just taking the money van from the Bank of Uganda and directing to whoever it was designated without any receipts or transactional documents to show for it. The money was just taken away and “given” to whomever it was decreed to and that’s the end of it.
20 Trillion Shilling yearly or $5,662,905,997.73 US Dollars. That’s over 5 billion 662 million U.S. Dollars squandered and gone away to pay off whoever and for whatever reason. Which is not useful and is never received where it was intended to be… That’s 5 billion USD gone in the wind…
This is numbers that are staggering and outrageous. It is just really insane, but it shows what sort of government that is crippling the state and it’s for a reason there is no service delivery. The state got no money, since it is either siphoned or they are paying debts. There is little money to pay for things after that… that makes sense and is tragic. This is the nation that Museveni built. Peace.

“As far as the Omoro by-election is concerned, there is talk that the late Jacob Oulanyah’s son and Omoro leaders will be meeting the President. Some people want him to be unopposed, and others have stepped down for him” (NBS Television, 19.04.2022).
“NRM party aspirants eyeing the Omoro County MP seat have been summoned by Museveni. So far 11 people have expressed interest to replace the late Jacob Oulanyah. 4 of them subscribe to the NRM party. They include the Omoro LCV Chairperson Douglas Peter Okello alias Okao, Omoro District Speaker Richard Bongowat Luganya, Oulanyah`s son Andrew Ojok, and Oulanyah`s former campaign manager Ben Acellam” (Unity FM 97,7 Lira, 19.04.2022).
“Special meeting of OMORO leaders with the President Museveni just got done. All aspirants from NRM have stepped down in his favour Andrew Ojok (son to the late Jacob), those who had previously occupied RDC offices will bounce back, LC5, speaker to say there positions” (Benson Ongom, 19.04.2022).
If you don’t believe the message of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) is that they are all in and for nepotism. You are clearly mistaken. The previous NRM Primaries before the 2021 elections proved that. Sons and daughters of the mighty men was allowed to stand. They got into seats and became Members of Parliament even.
Now in 2022 that has not changed. The Acholi, Lango and West Nile MPs was maybe not able to ring-fence the speakership for the Greater North. However, it is clear that the Oulanyah family will linger on and have a say.
That’s because of the son of the late Speaker Jacob Oulanyah is now going unopposed in the NRM. After Museveni summoned a meeting and settled the grievances ahead of the Omoro By-Election. We knew that the death of Oulanyah would trigger a by-election. What we didn’t know was how the party, the parliament or anyone else would take it. Since it created new openings and opportunities for several of the surrounding people there. That was evident in the race for speakership alone…
We shouldn’t be shocked that the son of the late is regarded as the candidate from the NRM. They easily does that and it continues his legacy. I still expect him to be challenged by Independent candidate Olal Andrew P’obong and Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) candidate Terence Odonga.
P’Obong could easily been a NRM flag-bearer if it wasn’t for the father in the first place. So, he wasn’t even in the draw this time either. Showing that the NRM clearly isn’t listening to the aspirants in the area. Only picking the most tolerable and the ones that is most vital to the cause of the State House. That’s why Oulanyah was returning in 2021 and why his son is the next in line 2022. It is really obvious…
Nepotism is a main staple in the NRM and no one can deny that in 2022. Peace.

The ones screaming and awaiting their 48th Birthday Bash Gig Money of Lt. Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba. Your turn is soon there and he has budgeted a party of which is even made of posters and whatnot across Kampala. It is like the Son of the President is trying to enforce himself on the public and tell that he exists. Because, it is not like we already knew and that Project Muhoozi has been a thing for years.
Now that the Father is getting old, advanced age even and should have considered retirement long time ago. We know that he has overstayed in office. He has entrenched it and made walls around it. The President has changed the 1995 Constitution twice to ensure longevity and legality to be in power. Therefore, he knew the ending could come, but he changed it in the last minute before the next election.
That is what Yoweri Tibuhurwa Kaguta Museveni have done. As President he has promised everything. The President have dropped every pledge. Heck, he has plenty of times… even said he would retire, wouldn’t overstay and the late Gadaffi would participate in his farewell/retirement celebration. However, none of these has even happened and he has continued nevertheless.
Not that it is shocking. He blocked elections for a decade and only did so to look progressive or as a reformer. Even if he has believed in “No Change” and his ideologies have been twisted to what has been profitable at the time. Therefore, his visions and speeches now would be a stark contrast to the ones he held in the early 1990s. He has said he has the solutions to any bottleneck or branches of the government of the state. However, that has never been resolved and instead they have all been corrupted by him.
The President is decreeing, ordering and having directives made into law. He is using the army and the government as his own personal shop. He can buy, deplete and destroy it all on his own merits. There is no need for other voices and if so.. they are just there to defend and justify his action. Sadly he has become the personification of the state. Instead of institutionalize the government and ensure proper mechanisms and safety-nets for the citizens. He has created a cess-pool of nepotism, corruption and impunity. That’s why the army is involved in everything and his son is participating wherever he can. Just like Gen. Salim Selah is a un-ceremonial minister and high ranking official who is peeling of funds and office within government. That’s who the Museveni is enacted.
Just like he makes a decree, he get it imprinted in the NRM CEC. Later it get tabled at the NRM Caucus at the State House before it’s voted into law or legislation in Parliament. From where he signed off on the bill, vote or motion to ensure it become official. This way he has sanitized it and secured loyalty from everyone.
That’s why when he has made this system and it’s all revolving around him. It has made it hard for him to distance himself or even consider himself out. While the state is all fixated around him and it’s by his own design.
This is why there is a need to ensure his end goes smoothly and also there is planned effort for a peaceful transfer of power. Though for a man of the army and use of the authorities to silence his critics. That path is most likely not happening and neither is there any will for him to retire peacefully. Because, he is the “father” and just belong in office. However, his ageing and advanced age will not make things better.
Sooner or later, he will end up like Mugabe. In the final years. There was others dealing with the day-to-day operations and he only signed up on things. He even fell asleep at functions and read the wrong speech too. This sort of thing can easily happen to Museveni in the near future. Where he will be a laughing stock and the butt of the joke.
The old man should try to make things change and a possible transition. Most likely he never will. The dictator wants to dictate the future as long as he can. Even if it does nothing possible and only achieving some quick-rich schemes for his conniving elites. While the public, see little to none and has to later find out ways to pay of the rising debt.
Museveni should consider retiring. The recent photo release from his ranch. Only solidify that. Not that people want a monarchy or believes the Republic is as such. His son is awaiting his turn and the option to hold office. He is paying people to look good and smell good. Even when it’s all a lie and his just brash brat with a military fatigue. There is no promise or prospect of a just rule under his name. Only more vicious and evils acts, which was shown in Kasese and now in Karamoja.
Museveni is not leaving behind stability or a better future. He is leaving behind doubts, a cloud of uncertainty and most of all. A lot of burdens, which was never resolved in his time. The state and the people have to live with these consequences. The ones who died for defying him and the ones who resisted his rule. They have all been punished and their names will be told. Because, they are what he served and the skulls of Luweero deserves a justification and their families should get rewarded for the sacrifices. However, that will not happen in Museveni’s time.
Since he is busy enriching himself and his son. That is very clear… while he should plan for retirement and ditch Project Muhoozi. No one is buying the project, unless they been bought by the Lt. Gen. themselves. Peace.

“A total of 17,083 square kilometers of land in Karamoja is licensed for mineral exploration and extraction activities, according to official data. Twenty-six companies currently have exploratory or mining rights in the region. In 2018, Chinese mining company Sunbelt was given 3.3 square kilometers of land to set up a $13 million dollar marble mining factory in Rupa sub-county. A year later, the company expanded its operations to cover an additional 4.1 square kilometers, ostensibly after a deal with local leaders. Hundreds of families have since been pushed out of their ancestral homes, local officials say. Locals accuse Rupa Community development trust, a community trustee group created three years ago, of conniving with investors to steal their land” (Diana Taremwa Karakire – ‘Mining Rush Threatens Indigenous Peoples in Karamoja, Uganda’ 01.09.2021).
What I feared the most seems to be reason for the joint operation of the Uganda Police Force (UPF) and Uganda People’s Defence Force (UDPF) in the Karamoja sub-region. Which is an continues operation and it is persisting. The state is even furthering it’s investments into it by deploying 6,000 Local Defence Units or LDUs in Karamjoa. Therefore, the burning and bleeding will persist for a long time.
The lack of accountability and transparency is very clear. The obvious reasons for that is the licensed land and territories given to mineral extraction corporation over the indigenous people. The people and the citizens are neglected. They are perpetrators and the unlawful one in the mind of the state, but not by their rights as people.
The Government and the Authorities are coming in as a colonial government. They are occupying and violently removing people. The state is blaming the cattle rustling, but it is obviously more too it. Because, it is not like the government would create so much and damage over some livestock. However, it would do so over the mineral extraction and possible gold-rush in Karamoja.
We know they have given this state operation the name of “Usalama Kwa Wote” to disarm and take away illegal guns, but I wouldn’t be shocked if it was an alternate motive. A cash enterprise and a possible profit objective of the state. As they know the values of the land and what it possesses. When knowing that… they might find it easier to scare people away and not take ownership of land. Make them displaced and ensure their fear to return. As the mineral exploration and exploitation can start. In such a manner, that the government and the companies can start their trading.
The unfortunate families, villages and the Karimojong is just dying. While they are defending their land and we don’t have any idea about the amount of fatalities. As the GoU, the State House and UPDF doesn’t release any sort of update on their Joint Operation there. Only in the beginning and stopped when the public outcry ceased to exist.
The Karamoja sub-region continues to burn, be looted and is destroyed by government entities. While they are blaming old cultural factors and blaming the herders. That just shows their sinister motives. Because, we are not supposed to know about the vast licensing agreements and the planned mineral exploitation, which has been sanctioned without the concern of the locals or the Karimojong in general. They just have to accept the loss of land, livelihood and where they have lived for generations.
Because, that is the “steady progress” and “securing your future” means for Karamoja these days. The state don’t mind violating or destroying, as long as it has a prosperous future ahead of it. Peace.

The last few days the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED) has defended it’s agreements with Uganda Vinci Coffee Company Limited. This stems from the agreements, addenda’s and whatnot.
This is the same investor that is building the Lubowa Specialized Hospital. When seeing the results of that and lack of progress. The sort of deals and agreements with UVCC is only beneficial for the owners and the ones arranging it in the state.
The coffee-farmers had no say in this and the monopoly of trading beans will possibly destroy the exports of coffee. Especially, when the company has been working on the factory since the investor with a delegation held a meeting at the State House in January 2014. This means it has gone 8 years and little to nothing has been moving. Just like there Hospital that been in the works since 2015. It is not like any of these has seen the lights of day and it isn’t getting any better.
The UVCC is getting tax-holidays and monopoly on coffee beans. Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) should have a say in this and you can wonder why the Minister of Agriculture doesn’t want to have any play in it. That just shows the shoddiness, since one of their own and loyal cadres in Frank Tumwebaze is downplaying his role.
Finance Minister Matia Kasaija and Permanent Secretary Ramathan Ggoobi is both busy defending and selling the agreement in concern to UVCC. The company is given 10 years with monopoly and a tax-holiday, which is respectfully a terrible agreement. Especially, when there is no proof of the profitability or even if it is able to trade in this market. Secondly, the company has used years on end without any movements. The last proven change of the plot has been a field investigation in March 2020. Therefore, giving them a ten year monopoly two years later. Make you wonder why? What is so special and unique about UVCC? What leverage does this company has on the paper and makes it reasonable for the state to give away everything to it?
It is like the state owns the UVCC and the Italian investor for something. Even if there is no proof of profits or even able to carry it out. The reason why this can be said, because neither projects is anywhere close lights of day. At least the Soroti Fruit Factory actually exists, even if it is producing for the wrong fruit and isn’t profitable. Neither the hospital or the coffee factory is existing.
The Vinci Company is selling dreams… and the state is catching nightmares. The MoFPED is busy selling stories and fairytales. Since, the coffee processing plant is far from being built. There is no movement and proof of such. Neither is the Hospital getting into a stage of being operational. It is all on paper and agreements made by trading ghosts. The government is giving away a lot to a business, which is not even operational or has the proven ability of trading the commodities on the world market.
That’s why this whole deal is a mess. The naive will believe the numbers and the charts that Ggoobi was shelling out today and yesterday. The coffee market worldwide is huge, but how will a paper-tiger compete with the international companies and the ones that has been up and running for generations? Aha… that he will not answer too. Because, the trade and the business is already in motion. The state has already signed off it’s rights to a non-existent coffee factory and a company, which isn’t operational. That’s why the state has to patch the hurt, but the ones in-charge should smell the coffee, because this will get bitter very soon. Peace.

The ones that is believing the greatness and the proper means of the Vinci coffee deal signed by the Government of Uganda. They are naive and not seeing what has happened before. This agreement and deals between the investor and the GoU is bad at best. There is no denying in that. This is agreeing with the same investor and company, which was supposed to build the sophisticated Lubowa Specialized Hospital. That is yet to happen and is hard to believe that the same government would trade with the same person in another deal.
That’s why it’s interesting that Frank Tumwebaze was back-tracking. When he was in the room with one of the agreements was signed. While we know that the different ministries and government entities has participated in this.
“This follows Parliament’s move to investigate the deal that the government through the Ministry of Finance signed with the company. The agreement in question was signed in February 10, 2022, amending an earlier agreement signed on April 29, 2015, and the accompanying addenda signed on December 21, 2015 and 17 October 2017. The amendment gives Uganda Vinci Coffee Company Limited a monopoly over the purchase and export of coffee from Ugandan farmers” (Mary Karubaga – ‘Agriculture minister says not a party to Vinci coffee deal’ 13.04.2022, New Vision).
“Commenting about the matter on Thursday, Ministry of Finance Permanent Secretary, Ramathan Ggoobi defended the deal as one of the best the country can ever get. “The agreement was signed with Uganda Vinci Coffee Company Limited to assist in the development of an 80million dollar plant, add value to coffee and export it globally. The agreement was therefore signed following a protracted process of due diligence and feasibility studies,”Ggoobi said. To further defend the agreement, the Ministry of Finance Permanent Secretary said the deal was cleared by the Attorney General and was subsequently signed within laws governing the country and that none was broken. Explaining about the agreement, Ggoobi explained that the agreement will support government in the realization of its coffee production target from the current 7 million bags per year to 20 million bags by 2030” (Kenneth Kazibwe – ‘Uganda: “It Is the Best Deal Ever” – Finance Ministry Defends Controversial Coffee Agreement’ 14.04.2022, Nilepost/AllAfrica).
After reading this. You would think everything was clear and things was moving. The last piece of information about the movement on the matter. Was that there was a field investigation in March 2020 on the site of the Coffee factory. Alas, there has been little to no movement, except for huge promises and big dreams of achievements.
The Vinci Company have worked with this since they we’re visiting the State House back in January 2014. That is over 8 years of little to no progress. Only more agreements and furthering a paper-trail of it. It is so slow… that it’s hard to believe it’s the best deal a government could have. Neither can the company be so great… when the movements are so slow. The promises of vast production and jobs seems far-fetched. When there is no proof on site and neither in general.
The Vinci Company and it’s Coffee Processing Factory seems to be a dream that won’t come into reality. The Government or the Company doesn’t have the ability to pull it off. This would make sense and be adding value to the coffee beans, which is growing in Uganda. The idea is positive and the amount of bags would make good profits. However, if it is sustainable or have the funds to do so.
You can wonder, if there was any feasibility study or anything else. As there are little to nothing to show for it. Only huge hubris from the government and now from the Ministry of Finance. Which has to 8 years later say it is a grand deal. While nothing can be proven. If it was the best deal ever. Why haven’t Vince Company set up shop long time ago and even built anything? This is going glacier slow and isn’t promising. Neither is the possible stipulations or articles of the hidden agreement. Which should be public. Because, a monopoly of all coffee beans is a bad deal and would possibly stifle the farmers who is selling their coffee-beans. Peace.

Again and again, the budgets and the supplementary budgets are revealing what priorities that matters. In the recent release of the 900 billion shillings supplementary budget. The Office of the President is destined to get 168 billion and the Office of the Prime Minister gets an additional 40 billion shilling. While the Ministry of Defence and the National Army is getting 79,2 billion shillings.
That just shows the priority, we know the UPDF is stretched in the Democratic Republic of Congo and suddenly deployed in Karamoja. That got to be paid and the soldiers equipment has to be reimbursed. Therefore, the necessity of added funds there makes sense.
However, the extended and added funds on the Office of the Presidency shows how the State House can mismanage and spend like there is no tomorrow. The President has already a massive budget in the first place and this addition only shows that they cannot manage these vast funds.
They are now claiming these funds will go to scholarships for students, Kiira Motors and whatnot. It is better than other eyars to water-bills and utilities. Still, shouldn’t the Ministry of Transport and Works fund the Kiira Motors? Why is that under the Office of the Presidency? Why is the Office of the Presidency paying scholarship? Shouldn’t scholarship be under the Ministry of Education and Sports? Isn’t that wifey material … and paperwork for her to handle?
That’s why you know these Supplementary Budgets are questionable at best. This is just a measure to ensure the President has more funds for his inner-circle. The lack of oversight is clear. When the Office of the President is paying for such projects and participating in other Ministries work. The Office of the President shouldn’t be entangled into so much of the Ministries of the Government. However, it is and it shows what sort of governing the President does.
This budget is questionable and shows what is priorities. The State House and the Office of the President is getting a huge slice of the cut. That isn’t shocking, but proves what is important and what the state see as important. They rather spend money on the President than on Health Care or any other Ministry, which is lacking or not having proper budgets. That could even be said about Ministry of Education for that matter…
Therefore, President Museveni is the one who gets the funds and get to spend the way he likes. That is the message of this Supplementary Budget. Peace.

“Even if a snake is not poisonous, it should pretend to be venomous” – Chanakya
At the burial of late speaker Jacob Oulanyah, the father stated again that his son was poisoned and it was to late to save him when he was sent for treatment in Seattle, United States of America. That has been stated before and clearly the story haven’t ceased to stop. The speculations and the questions are remaining, as the coffin has been a day or two in the ground.
The reality is that the late speaker isn’t the only cadre, loyal subject or former ally of the President who has had mysterious fall from grace. No, during the 36 years in power… Generals has died of blood-clot and other weird diseases, even when their family members and loved ones has said until the last minute that they was healthy and fit. Therefore, their sudden demise can be called weird and without justification. Neither are the paperwork or the official reasons fitting the narratives of family members. That’s why you know something is up.
Just like Oulanyah is buried without an official reason and when the father says he was poisoned. The questions will remain and the lack of proof from the state doesn’t make it better. That’s why people will claim this until proven otherwise.
This is not the first time. Just like the questionable death of: “From the time Brig. Noble Mayombo’s illness became publicly known to his burial last Saturday, little else has made the front page of the national newspapers. Away from the newspapers, there has been a rumour briskly circulating around Kampala and elsewhere in the country. The rumour, quite simply, casts doubt over any explanation that somehow Mayombo simply contracted an infection of his pancreas and died” (Timothy Kalyegira – ‘Uganda: The Political Implications of Brig. Mayombo’s Death’ 09.05.2007, Daily Monitor).
Another one is this one: “The first official statement from Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda the following day noted that the cause of death was not yet known and that a team of doctors and pathologists had been dispatched to the United Arab Emirates to help with the post-mortem and repatriation of the body. Yet, this communication from the government did not stop the whispering campaign about what — but mostly who — killed Gen Nyakairima, and about his enemies, real and imagined. At least one post mortem report managed to attain velocity in the forward-first, think-later world of social media, claiming he was poisoned by a South Korean passport holder” (The East African – ‘Nyakairima death: Radio Katwe, social media explode with conspiracy theories’ 19.09.2016).
When you have these sorts of cases in the past and now the sudden death of Oulanyah… you know things will be put into question and it doesn’t help that the government was supposed to probe the incident in 2021. While he died in 2022.
A failed attempt at Gen. David Sejusa aka Tinyefuza aka Tinye: “According to Lukwago, the General made stunning revelations at the party on how he survived being murdered since he parted ways with government in 2013. He reportedly told guests that the NRM government functionaries plotted to eliminate him when he was in exile in UK. Most recently while on remand in Luzira, Sejusa said he narrowly survived beingI poisoned” (Sam Wasawa – ‘I survived poison in Luzira – Sejusa’ 22.04.20216, ChimpReports).
These are just four cases and Oulanyah is the newest. It just shows what the state does and is willing to do. They will claim it all is conspiracy theories and whatnot. We know about other claims too and other cases, which is not mentioned here. Which could have been the same. Where the state has possibly targeted opposition or rising stars within own ranks with poison. Therefore, it is likely that it could have happened. This government doesn’t value life much and the attempts of poisons, assassinations and other extra judicial killings proves just that.
Nevertheless, at this very moment we will not know. The lack of verified proof stifles it. However, the knowledge that it could be real and could be possible is dangerously enough. To know that the government are willing and justifies these activities says it all. That they plot someone’s downfall and does it with deceptive means of venom. Peace.


