South Sudan: The War-Lords wasn’t ready to speak about Peace!

In South Sudan the prolonged civil war is continuing and with the fresh dialogue between the parties didn’t help. Some had hope that the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement – In Government (SPLM-IG) or the Transitional Government of National Unity (TGoNU) under the leadership of President Salva Kiir Mayardit. He has been ruling and with an iron fist. While the main opposition leader and rebel Dr. Riek Machar are running the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army – In Opposition (SPLM/A-IO). There is also a coalition of other rebels and opposition, who is the South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA) of 8 political parties/militias, some of them are run by big men like Dr. Lam Akol (National Democratic Movement – NDM) and Gen. Thomas C. Swaka (National Salvation Front – NAS).

Therefore, the knowledge of delegations from SSOA, TGoNU and SPLM/A-IO in the IGAD High Level Revitalization Forum (HLRF) that has failed as even the house-arrested Machar couldn’t mend the fences or the idea of peaceful progress. That means the army and militias will continue to fight until they got supremacy.

Some people had hope as Ethiopian Government hosted this 32^nd Extra-Ordinary Session in Addis Ababa and the shared arrangement to work on the “Revised Bridging Proposal” for all the stakeholders in the conflict as IGAD prepared for the dialogue this week. Still, that did not make it easier. They have the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC), United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) &Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring Mechanism (CTSAMM). All of these are interfering and monitoring the Republic. This combined with all the NGOs and Bilateral Organizations who support as well. Therefore, the international community is involved in the process. They are bookkeeping and securing needed services in the midst of the civil war, even footing the bills for it all. So the TGoNU can continue their fighting against their opposition.

This combined with various agreements that has not been kept, cease fire violations and such. These War-Lords really has no plan of quitting. They are preoccupied with the continued conflict and the looting of the Republic. There major resources being squandered away, not only seen by the Sentry in their reports, but the Kenyan bloggers are looking into the money laundering and estates owned by the War-Lords from South Sudan. Clearly, they are preoccupied with earning money on the toils and tears created by the conflict. That is why they are afraid of their future if the conflict ends. The guns are speaking their language. Even as the people are still lingering in refugee camps abroad and the Republic has no solution. The leadership isn’t hungry for peace, it is hungry to overcome its advisory.

At this point as the years lingers and the leaders continue to eat of the poverty, the famine and civil-wars, even as the state is bankrupt, creating higher bank-notes and the international community is footing the bills for development and needed supplies in refugee camps. This is clearly not the intention. But that is the sad reality as the innocent are dying and is afraid. The own leadership are holding this on. They are violating agreements or stifling it. If they are not getting their way, they are picking up guns or sending tanks to their yards. That is what happen in 2016, when the 2015 Agreement was starting to be established. However, that only lasted months before the new fresh conflict we are seeing today. Since then, there has been more deflections and more creations of new outfits who wants both Machar and Kiir to step down. However, none of them seems to fit the bill.

The state of affairs is sad. The people deserve peace, but War-Lords are busy finding ways to outsmart the enemies. Instead of dialogue and building real bridges, they are instead blowing them up hoping no-one finds out.

The people of South Sudan deserves better, but the leadership is busy killing each other and trying only to use ammunition to do so. They are not interested in talking. They know the trigger and is ready to aim. Peace.

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Opinion: You know your Constitutional Amendment Sucks, when the Presidential Guards need to be your safety afterwards!

You know that the repercussions of the activity from last year is now in full affect. When the Members of Parliament, the staunch supporters and ones who was the mega-phones for the will of the President. Needs the added security because they are afraid of their lives. They know that the people are not in favour of a President for life. That is why they are now encircled with the Presidential Guards.

“According to sources, the MPs and government officials’ security was enhanced last Friday. They each got additional soldiers from the Special Forces Command, an elite presidential protection unit. The beneficiaries include; Government Chief Whip Ruth Nankabirwa, State minister for Privatization Evelyn Anite, MPs; Raphael Magyezi (Igara West), Jacob Oboth-Oboth (West Budama South), Grace Balyeku (Jinja West), Simeo Nsubuga (Kassanda South), Peter Ogwang (Usuk) and Doreen Amule (Amolator)” (Namuloki, 2018).

Clearly, the Movement MPs are feeling the hatred and the local dismay over the decision to make the President for Life. They have tarnished the Constitution in favour of one man and his lifestyle. They have given the NRM regime the life-line by a thread and is now afraid of meeting the people. That is what this is all about. All of them knew what they we’re up to in the end of 2017, when they we’re ushering this and their legacy will be remembered for this. They cannot run away from the status quo they have created.

The Movement are fixated and doing the bidding of the President, the most loyal now needs the Presidential Guards to shield them from the people. A real sign of the state of affairs, how they are not the people’s candidates and their flag-bearers, but instead the King’s Men. They are the loyal servants of the President and is part of his court. That is the reality and they cannot run away from that.

The Movement MPs have to responsible for their actions, they have to able to go to the Constituents and answer for what they did. They are in charge and threw behind their names in the name of abolishing age limit for the Presidency, and that is why they have to answer for that as well. Therefore, they should man-up and set it straight.

This is the aftermath and this MPs are afraid of their own community, that says more about their behaviour, than the community itself. The Community are just addressing their disbelief that the so-called representatives are opposing what the people want. That is why they are angry and displeased when they meet. Clearly, this is now addressed.

That is why they are hiding behind the Presidential Guards, since he sends them that as a token of their loyalty to him. Peace.

Reference:

Namuloki, Josephine – ‘Age-Limit MPs get more SFC guards’ 20.06.2018 link: http://www.observer.ug/news/headlines/57990-age-limit-mps-get-more-sfc-guards.html

SPLM/A-IO: On the Reckless Statement of Juba Spokesman – Michael Makuel Lueth (22.06.2018)

SPLM/A-IO: On the Face-to-Face Between President Salva Kiir and Dr. Riek Machar Teny-dhuorangun (21.06.2018)

SSOA delegation Meets Dr. Riek Machar in Addis Ababa (20.06.2018)

South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA) Press Statement on Dr. Riek Machar attending Peace Talks in Addis Ababa (20.06.2018)

#SecurityUG: Museveni repeats himself, again!

For someone who has said everything and commented about everyone. You would think he would look into advice and policies before opening his mouth, alas that is not the case. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, addressed the Parliament like an open book and without any hesitation. None idea to stupid or to hard to achieve. There we’re no person whose place in the state couldn’t be addressed by him either. As his achievements and his works shouldn’t be shattered even. There is always root causes back to colonial times and because of the British. It is not him and his works behind no, no, that is lie in the eyes of Museveni.

He promised again CCTV Camera’s that is a promise that reappear every time some significant dies or assassinated. Because that is a costly budget post and eats of the bribes needed for the constant cronyism. A new one was the Fingerprinted ID Guns, that is a good idea, but with Forensic Laboratory, does the state has enough resources or even digital structure to pull it off?

He again promised registered number-plated helmets which is processed and in the registry. Who will actually do it and what it will cost. Who knows at this point, but some nut-job in the civil service will in the end crunch the numbers. Alas, the magical enterprise is also banning hoodies, and hoods from drivers of boda-boda and vehicles in general. Because you become a villain and a gangster for wearing one. Wonder if he will ban the burka’s and other head-wear like hats? Since the law should be equal, that everything covering the eyes should be illegal and when you cannot recognize the person. It is a no-go as the driver of the moving object.

As he continues the assault on boda-boda’s he wanted them to have specialized digital number-plates. So if the owner did something, they could easily find it in the registry. However, does this solve it if they tries to cover the plate or even take them off before the deed. Therefore, the exercise itself might futile, even some criminals might interchange number-plates so they can pin the crime on someone else. That is why the possible use of this is questionable at best. But having a registry for ownership of boda-boda is good in all sense and purpose of a state.

You know he really has thought through a new idea when he the name of the Canine Unit is being established to hunt for the criminals stealing produce like Coffee and Tea in the rural areas. This means a separate police unit with dogs will sniff after possible produce stolen from farmers. Instead of looking into the gangs or the ones trading-off the ill-gotten goods, they are looking into minor offenses with a new mighty barking unit. Such a Noble idea!

Therefore, listening to Museveni for advice at this point is hard. Because he has said and pledged the same sort of stuff before. Like the CCTV and the massive registration of anything considering Boda-Boda’s. Not thinking of the implications, neither of the cost or whose job it is book-keeping it. That always comes in the aftermath and is the Ministries problem. Not his problem.

Secondly he comes with the weird as topics of a Canine Unit for the Police Force to sniff out agricultural produce. Not having dogs to sniff out cocaine or illegal drugs. No, sniff after coffee and cash-crops in the villages and in rural areas. They will have killer and kick-ass dogs sniffing into oblivion.

There is never a dull day in the mind of Museveni. It cannot be and neither anything spotted in his mind, that is dumb. Because his solutions is always golden. He is like MIDAS. Everything turns to gold.

Are you ready for dogs sniffing after coffee in Ibanda? Museveni is… Peace.

IGAD: A Revised Bridging Proposal On the Outstanding Issues Pertaining to Governance and Security Arrangements in the High Level Revitalization Forum of the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (12.06.2018)

Opinion: Museveni and his four excuses for losing the recent by-elections!

We can just wonder, when this grows old, kinda like the 1986ing the issues, and saying he has solved issues ever since then. Therefore, he has the answers and no one else. They are just not listening to him and his ways. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni have now written an analyzes of the losses of the recent losses in Rukingiri, Jinja-East and Kyadondo East. Three contested By-Election that the National Resistance Movement (NRM) has lost. In all of them, the NRM has used their machinery and the acts ruling party to get their candidate through. Even without achieving it. They haven’t had the plan or the message that could gain the ballots. They are tired of the regime and of the President. Who is all ruling on borrowed time, as he uses all times to put blame on others. Like he has done today in his statement on the By-Election. I will take on excuse after another. He says its the four mistakes, I would say it his four excuses for losing.

First Excuse:

“Leaders not linking with the economic interests of the Local people in a systematic way. The People need clear examples, in each area, of how they can get out of poverty by implementing our 4 acres plan model, or the different variations of it” (Yoweri Kaguta Museveni – ‘Full Statement: Museveni Analyses Parliamentary By-elections’ 16.06.2018).

It isn’t like he didn’t try, he came with bashing glory of all sort of gifts and funds for the youth, the NAADs and the SACCO’s. Therefore, the NRM did this and at the blessing of Museveni. It wouldn’t be that sort of rally without him. You should wonder if he should have explained the use of the motorcycles and the gifts to the business-groups better himself? Since he as the President is nearly there just for show-off and also PR Stunt to show the greatness of the NRM. As the gifts are pouring into the region, when the By-Election is going on.

Second Excuse:

“The lack of organisational linkages with the grass roots is the next problem. In the case of Rukungiri, in spite of some elements using crude sectarianism, the people could not be swayed. What, then, did the opposition do? Use manipulation taking advantage of the lack of linkages between the Local people and the NRM leadership that was directly managing the operation. One of the rumours they started was that the FDCs had been given money by the NRM. They said: “Itwe nitutuunga sente, Imwe muteera oburuuru mutaine ekimutungire”. This could be translated as: “for you, you vote for the NRM, while for us the NRM leaders give us money even when we vote against them!” With our fast communication with our mobile phones, this would have been detected by our grass-root groups and counter-acted with SMSs. After campaigning very successfully on the 28thand 29th of May, 2018, holding 9 big or very big rallies at the Sub-county levels except for Nyakagyeme, I did not follow up again and I shouldn’t have done so because there are people to do that. Only to find out later that, that was one of the problems” (Yoweri Kaguta Museveni – ‘Full Statement: Museveni Analyses Parliamentary By-elections’ 16.06.2018).

This excuse is because of how the party and the leadership of Museveni has been. Everything has to sanctioned and accepted from the State House. All and everyone who matters are decided from the State House. If there is anything happening, the orders has been from the State House and with the blessing of the State House. Therefore, the lack of grassroot organization is a systemic issue that Museveni himself has created. Because of his obsession with power, that is the reason for this. This is not the local leadership issue, the excuse is worthless at best. The President knows this and said it in the end. “I did not follow up”, that shows the initial problem with his leadership style and organizational focus, as he has to follow up and he has to guide, he has to delegate and control. That is the reality and he says it himself. Like he admits his excuse, but still blames the local leaders, when he himself didn’t follow up on it.

Third Excuse:

“The third mistake appears to be some of the NRM Leaders taking sides in the intra –NRM competitions. When, some weeks ago, I met the confused Catholic Priests, led by one Katsigaire, they were bitterly complaining about Major General Jim Muhwezi’s bias, or opposition to, Hon. Paula Turyahikayo and yet she was the Movement flag bearer. Apparently, Jim fought her in the primaries and, even after she won the primaries, the priests were alleging that the Jims promoted an Independent against her. When I met Leaders at Ntungamo, I criticized this. I had criticized this tendency in the past. When Hon. Janet K. Museveni developed interests in competing in Ruhaama, I first opposed the idea totally until the Local elders insisted” (Yoweri Kaguta Museveni – ‘Full Statement: Museveni Analyses Parliamentary By-elections’ 16.06.2018).

When Museveni says someone is confused politically, it is always, that they are not in accordance or within his camp. They are usually a problem or someone who is thinking freely outside the borderline crazy control freak of Museveni. That is why Katsigaire are getting called that and told-off like that. This is just standard by him and his excuses. That he defends his loyal cadre Muhwezi is natural and had to show loyalty to his wife Janet. Because both of them cannot do anything wrong. What the President wants is that he wants all of NRM to follow his favorable NRM Flag-Bearers and his candidates. So that the party continues on his line and his vision under him. No one else understands, if they oppose that. Then they are confused. That is why he is a borderline crazy control freak.

Fourth Excuse:

“Finally, the problem of lack of thorough preparation. Rukungiri has got 16sub-counties, 75 parishes and 280 polling stations. Surely, the NRM leaders should have had their agents per polling station to, first of all, verify the voters on the register. Are they the true voters known in the area? Secondly, ensuring that, through cheap means, you keep in touch with the 30 leaders per village, who also keep in contact, by word of mouth, with the NRM members in the village. Thirdly, when it comes to the voting day, we should have our own hard cover book where everybody that comes to vote will be recorded, so that we guard against votes stuffing” (Yoweri Kaguta Museveni – ‘Full Statement: Museveni Analyses Parliamentary By-elections’ 16.06.2018).

This here is just insulting and insinuating that the opposition are stuffing ballots and rigging. As the NRM has to prepare to secure the vote. It is like he doesn’t know what his party does and the fantastic levels of rigging the NRM are doing. That is why Pre-Ticked Ballots and marked ballots are common place in the police stations and with the NRM leaders in the elections. Therefore, writing like this is to shelter his own, when he certainly knows what the NRM leaders does. He even sends the army to intimidate and harass the locals to vote in his favor. He uses the police to detain and take away the polling agents of other parties. Uses all sorts of methods to intimidate the opposition. That is why the preparation excuse is just insulting our intelligence. It is like he says his democratic, when he really uses all tricks to get his way.

This is the short commentary to the nonsense of the day. It isn’t the last time Museveni will come with excuses. That is something he could do all day, he will complain even back to the enclave and the British arriving in Uganda. He expect the Ugandans to be like Tippu Tip who left everything for Stanley to explore the DRC. The same Museveni expects of his people, that they leave everything behind and follows his lead. Peace.

SPLM/A-IO – On the Trump Administration’s Proposal of Freezing Assets and Imposing Other Sanctions on South Sudan Leaders (15.06.2018)