Uganda Local Government Workers Union (ULGWU) letter to PM Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda – “Reminder: Remunerations Enhancement for Local Government Workers” (29.08.2017)

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Uganda Police Force – Press Release: “We refute claims by a local daily of using sex workers as spies” (25.08.2017)

Uganda: Electoral Commission Statement – “Programme for Conduct of Administrative Unite (Village and Parish Level) and Woman Councils and Committees (Village to National Level) Elections, 2017” (24.08.2017)

Uganda: Electoral Commission Statement – “Programme for the Conduct of Administrative Units (Village and Parish) Elections 2017” (24.08.2017)

Opposition Chief Whip Ssemujju provoking Besigye supporters just like Mwenda!

There are just some days, the true colors of some people appear, the real reason and the double-edged sword comes into play. There are times when the grandeur of support dwindles away like a dot-com bubble. It is this time and this sort of attacks within own party shouldn’t exist. Apparently it do, the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), has been a party where the different leaders has discussed matters and followed protocol. Also, ever since Reform Agenda of early 2000s the leadership has changed and other deserters from National Resistance Movement has come into the fold.

It has been the strongest opposition party because of how the internal party organization has been built, the trust between the aides of leaders and the members. This has been an element of a party structure that has been done with grass-root work and steady campaigning. The proof of being different and also wanting a possible peaceful change from the Museveni era. That has not happen, because of the oppression and the constant rigging. Also, the control of the army. Therefore, you can wonder why Besigye who was part of the foundation and creator of FDC are no under-fire from his own. That also sounding like Mwenda, who has become the giant commentator who really despises him. I wouldn’t expect this sort of words form someone in the FDC NEC, but everything is allowed in politics, I guess.

Ibrahim Nganda Ssemujju on the 16^th August 2017:

“That is how many FDCs, including sophisticated ones like Musumba, viewed anyone who dared contest against Besigye. This is because Besigye is the most charismatic and selfless leader that the FDC either has inherited or produced. He is nearly more popular than the party. Contesting against him is almost criminal, punishable by isolation and other social boycotts. Yet that is exactly what motivated Muntu. I remember interviewing him while still working with The Observer and he feared FDC was making the same mistake senior leaders in the NRM made – not contesting against Museveni. Today, we still have people in FDC who think Col Besigye’s word is law and opposing it is a crime. Unfortunately, some of them are senior leaders. When you win over state power with that sort of mentality, I am sure you will be another criminal gang. Because Besigye’s mobilization and presidential campaign catchword was ‘defiance’, even those who have never chased a caterpillar in their lives are dismissing the rest of the party members as being “compliant”. Therefore, to them, this campaign for the FDC presidency is between defiance and compliance. The truth of the matter is that this campaign is between blind loyalists and those opposed to the idea” (Ssemujju, 2017).

Andrew Mwenda on the 7^th January 2017:

“Dr. Kizza Besigye is totally convinced that he has a large number of extremely loyal supporters armed with fanatical zeal to die for him. Besigye supporters are equally convinced that they have a leader willing to die for their cause. Both sides are involved in a game of deceit and deception and here is how. Besigye die hards are either cowards or hypocrites or both. While they make the loudest noise on how they are ready to die for him, they have done nothing (except for insulting critics on social media) to prove they are worthy of their claims. Each time Besigye goes to town, Kale Kayihura sends only eight (8) police men who pick Besigye like chicken, bundle him over a pickup truck and take him to police as these “ready-die-for-our-man” fanatics watch helplessly. For many months after the elections in February 2016, Kayihura kept a small police contingent at Besigye’s home of not more than 20 police officers. This “large mass” of “ready-to-die-for-our-man” people couldn’t pass this small poorly equipped force to rescue their hero. What kind of loyalty is this? Besigye is deluded to believe in his fanatics” (Andrew Mwenda, 07.01.2017).

Why did I take a Facebook article from Mwenda and this week attack piece from Ssemujju, it is because they use same sort of form to attack Besigye. It is special and unique. I never thought Ssemujju would use the same of tricks of the trade to address greatest Museveni nemesis Besigye. This is just weird. Because, Ssemujju has often been a man of reason, a man of sound judgment, but this time, I beg to differ.

Mwenda wrote this: “Dr. Kizza Besigye is totally convinced that he has a large number of extremely loyal supporters armed with fanatical zeal to die for him. Besigye supporters are equally convinced that they have a leader willing to die for their cause”. We can easily detect that anyone supporting Besigye has to be a die-hard supporter and dying for his cause. Because the support of Besigye has to be this hard, then seeing Ssemujju: “Today, we still have people in FDC who think Col Besigye’s word is law and opposing it is a crime. Unfortunately, some of them are senior leaders. When you win over state power with that sort of mentality, I am sure you will be another criminal gang. Because Besigye’s mobilization and presidential campaign catchword was ‘defiance’, even those who have never chased a caterpillar in their lives are dismissing the rest of the party members as being “compliant””. You can see that Ssemujju also calls Besigye radicals, as it is criminal not supporting him inside the FDC. That is the coded language used for, that the ones standing against Besigye is a “criminal gang”. This sort of addressing it, shows how he tries to make the decisions of Besigye into attack on the FDC Organization. That since Besigye has and wanted to be different than the NRM and the government itself. Since, if they gave way to the government, then there was no difference. If Besigye supporters really did boycott and stopped being part of state, the FDC would be legitimate opposition party. What is worrying is how he uses the same sort of words to address Besigye.

I would not expect that Ssemujju would write in a manner of Mwenda, but he did. It is right, Besigye is not perfect, but he has given way to other parts of the party, that has opened windows of more than just “hard-liners”. If it wasn’t so, the FDC NEC wouldn’t have the power and the ability to become a Shadow Government with Shadow Cabinet. Something Gen. Mugisha Muntu and Party President was voting for, while Besigye was in house-arrest and detained. If Ssemujju feared the prison and the oppression to the levels of Besigye, he might have turned a bit more radical himself. But safety of Parliament salaries and remuneration must surely put the ideology on the side.

It is a sad sight seeing Ssemujju turning this way, instead of actually being honest, being up-front for why he uses Besigye, who is not standing for the FDC Presidency and that Gen. Muntu is also an incumbent. Another “No-Change”. Since Gen. Muntu has been the Party President since 2012 after Besigye stepped down after being elected in 2005. So it is not like Besigye acts like he is bigger than FDC. That is lie, if it was so he would be like Museveni who is the Party President and the President of the Republic. Its a big difference there. So the rants against Besigye and his supporters should be futile. If not it is the Muntu fraction that fears the Besigye supporters will be behind his aide Byamugisha.

But it is with sadness, that a bright mind like Ssemujju are using rhetoric and tricks of Mwenda’s playbook. Sorry brother, you should know better and should also be wiser. You are FDC leader, not a NRM Stooge, right? You give respect to Besigye, but same time slams him. What are you trying to say, only the ones supporting Muntu and his side of the Party are the ones justified? Since Besigye garn different kind of support, but you will quickly embrace the man, when you need votes?

Is that your game as well, we have seen similar acts of late, when the chips are down the people leave the fold, but when the tide is rising the people come running back. Peace.

Reference:

Ssemujju, Ibrahim Nganda – ‘Why I am for Gen Muntu this time’ (16.08.2017) link: http://observer.ug/viewpoint/54408-why-i-am-for-gen-muntu-this-time.html

Uganda: Electoral Commission Statement on Parliamentary and Local Government Councils Elections and By-Elections 2017 (02.08.2017)

UPF: Suspending Officers from duty for findings connected with the Land Probe (25.07.2017)

Norbert Mao’s unique experience yesterday; how it opens up the question if it was a real arrest!

When I saw the Democratic Party President residing and discussing change on NBS Frontline, I was shocked, he were arrested in few hours before and the DP headquarters was supposed to be sealed off. What happen there from the morning and the start of the campaign against the abolishment of Article 102 (b) and it seemed fair that the Police did this. When knowing what it did to fellow opposition leaders in the Forum for Democratic Change.

“Arrested for launching campaign against Land And Age Limit Amendments. Our spirits and resolve are strong. The police should not manhandle our people who are constitutionally mandated to exercise their rights. Ugandans join us in the struggle” (Norbert Mao, 20.07.2017).

Well, what amaze me is that in the Police Station he was drinking Pepsi and waiting to be released, not looking bothered by the place he was in. The pictures speak for themselves; we have seen when others been arrested and how they feel. They look miserable and a bit fatigued. However, honorable Mao was just waiting for it soon to be over. There even been rumors that DP Youth and Activist came to his rescue and wanted him free. However, they were getting threats of arrests. So Mao told them to scatter and do not save him.

The whole in retrospect seems a bit strange, since the FDC leaders are still lingering together in the maximum prison of Nalufenya far from where they was arrested in and around Kasangati in Wakiso District. This clearly shows who the real opposition to the NRM are! Since the arranged detaining of Mao had no dire consequence. He could wash it off and spend time talking against Museveni again on NBS TV Frontline, like nothing happen earlier in the day.

Norbert Mao, the former harsh and real critic of Musevenism and the NRM, what have you done? How can this be, in one moment your acts and the parties acts get you into trouble, a few hours later your on stage discussing politics and debating on NBS. AIGP Asan Kasingye even said this: “we just accompanied him to police”. If it is so, then the whole ruckus was a forged and staged affair from both the authorities and the DP. This does not look good. To be clear it insightful to the place Mao has in the political landscape.

If a FDC leader and FDC President were to be detained, he would have been there to late night and any sort arrangement later in the day would have to be postponed, because the authorities would not care. They could even leave you behind bars so you do not get the opportunity to meet in court to answer for another of your crimes. That has happen and will surely happen again, especially since the NRM continues to use the Police Force for political gains!

So the play-play of the matter is still at large and how the outcome will be, if this was a façade or a real deal, I am not sure, because the interesting picture from the Police Station together with the Police Force spokesperson seems odd, in the sense that the fighting in the streets was real and the brutal arrests. However, the aftermath and the ease of getting out of there. Make the whole thing seem a bit strange. Not real, not genuine. The reality of the matter is very unclear.

Because the narrative is not that he got arrested, but the demonstration got squashed, he went on NBS TV and the FDC leaders are still lingering in jail for doing the same acts. This shows the double standard of the Police who with ease are throwing the FDC behind bars, but letting the DP President go. That is what is so rare and shows the reality of his position. The Good DP are so good and can therefore get away. However, if he was Bad DP he might have ended in the hospital.

These sorts of acts adds to the speculations and the arrangement of shadow deals done by the DP and the NRM. Since they are getting away and sipping soda at the Police Station, while the FDC are taken away in haste. Clearly, the reality and the perceived are playing games on you. The strangest of it is that the Police Force was not claiming it and brushing it off. While Mao was condemning the Police and hours later appearing with his usual grin on NBS Frontline. That is just rare and special. If this had happen to Besigye or even Muntu, the whole NRM would praise democracy, but alas it is not so.

This is just the state of affairs and what is beneath the surface is hard to know, but if it is rocks, dirt or oil. Who knows, but what we do know was this whole arrangement looks staged and sounds staged. It is just the matter of how deep the matter goes and who sanctioned it. Peace.

UPF Confirms the 56 FDC Leaders are arrested for “unlawful assembly” and detained at Nalufenya (20.07.2017)

Opposition Parties like FDC and DP have now dozens arrested because of their campaigns against the abolishment of 102 (b)!

President Museveni: “Those debating age limit, what are u debating? Who has brought that proposal? Don’t waste time with people who don’t have what to do” (NBS Televison, 19.07.2017).

You just know that the National Resistance Movement, their Police Force and the whole Republic are in all alert as if someone is ever thinking of campaigning against the abolishment of Article 102 (b), you will be detained and you will serve time. This is evident over the last few days and hours.

Yesterday, it is hard to count how many in the leadership of the Forum for Democratic Change, who were detained and shipped like rats to Nalufenya. Today the Democratic Party was about to start their campaign against the possible amendment of the law. Even Norbert Mao were detained. This prove even the “Good DP” can become “Bad DP” if you fight for the wrong cause. The cause being ushering in lifetime presidency of Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. Apparently, that is crime to stand against the man.

Just like during post-election in 2016, the Police has sealed of the DP Headquarters, similar to what they did to FDC. So we have seen these sort of acts of violence against free speech and liberty to participate in dialogue. The only ones allowed to act upon the article is the NRM members, NRM Youth and NRM organizers who can plan the possible amendment and the road map to do so! They can meet in restaurants and discuss, even come and talk about plans as if the NRM Youth did NBS TV. Clearly, the NRM stands above the law, since FDC and DP are under fire now for their involvement in the matter.

Well, if it is waste of time, why use resources to detain and arrest fellow citizens discussing it? While letting the internal party organization within the NRM do what they please and plan for the future of the abolishment. The hypocrisy and acts of violence against common sense is clear.

So now that both FDC are in midst of new court battles and trying to get both leaders, members and activists out of prison. The same acts has the DP to handle as well, since also their President was detained today for starting their campaign. You get clever insights into whose role really matters and who does not when you see who can talk and who has to look idly by like nothing. That is concerning since the state are viciously going against the ones asking for debate and trying to garn attention to the matter.

That is why the DP and FDC has such a few bad days. The last 48 hours have really proven the value of the NRM versus the rest. How the President lets the NRM do what they like, because they are all his minions, but the rest has to scatter. That is the true sense of it all and the end game seems to be, if you talk against the master. Expect to serve time at a prison facility. Because the NRM and the Police Force has no shame and no honor to bestow the man questioning the life presidency of Museveni. Peace.