Opinion: The Authorities suddenly blocks Bobi Wine…

We’re going to put an end to the mob mentality, bullying and intimidating tactics of NUP radicals against civilians and law enforcers” – CP Fred Enaga (13.09.2023).

The honeymoon period of mobilization is over after the rally today in Arua and Pakwach. The National Unity Platform and Opposition Leader held a Mobilization Rally there today and that was the final straw.

The Uganda Police Force is now blocking any sort of gathering or public event from the NUP. Meaning the NUP is barred from mobilisation or campaign as it has done in Fort Portal, Kasese, Mbarara, Jinja, Mbale, Lira, Mayuge, Busia, Kabale, Hoima and Luweero.

So we have seen all through August and September the rising tides of change. The NUP and Bobi Wine has sparked excitement and public attention. In such a manner, that the authorities has had enough. They haven’t seen violence or public indecency. Neither has there been any looting or idle behaviour of hoodlums or anything else of that nature. There haven’t been any sort of problem or anything. Just public outcry and passion for the visitor from Kampala. The Bad Man from Kamwokya is sparking fire and making things lit.

That’s why the UPF and the National Resistance Movement (NRM) has to block it. They cannot say the NUP is a regional party and neither their support is lacking in rural Uganda. They have shown that the public shows up in the North, East and the West. The NUP wasn’t even allowed to gather the public in their supposed heartland in the Central Region or Baganda. They did so in Luweero, but what if they did so in Entebbe, Masaka, Mukono or Wakiso. We can just imagine the crowds and public display if they tried in the Greater Metropolitan Area of Kampala. That would be massive and parts of the city would practically be at standstill.

This tour and mobilisation campaign is just proving that the propaganda and the stories told by the state isn’t true. They have tried to forge narratives and stories about the NUP. However, they have disregarded the sentiments from the people. It is just further proof of what is going on.

They are using sudden “terrorist threats” which has been unproven and just happen to become a scenario when the NUP moves around. It didn’t happen when the NUP and Bobi Wine remained under lock and key at home. No, it didn’t happen when they tried to run the party from the headquarters of Kamwokya. No, it had to appear and become a big deal the moment that Bobi Wine travelled across the land. Especially, when the authorities see how peaceful and how organized the events are. They see how the NUP and the people are welcoming him. It is a humiliating loss of words and shows how unpopular the current status quo is. Because, it is just telling them that this love isn’t mutual at all.

The police should do policing and not politicking. However, we know the UPF has to do this, because they are ordered to do so. The NUP and Bobi Wine has spanked the NRM around. He has shown his character and why his beloved in the Republic. Something that hurts the pride of Mzee and the son. These two are not capable of what Bobi Wine is currently doing. They don’t have the love or the heart in this game. They are only able to intimidate and buy-off the competition. These two don’t know what popularity means or how they can access that. That’s why they have to block and silence the dissidents. They have to vilify and penalize the ones who stands in their way.

Bobi Wine and the NUP was lucky they were able to keep on this long. They were able to visit so many places before the authorities called it off. That was just lucky. We could have seen martyrs and possible police brutality if this continued. We could assess that the state would do mass-arrests and pre-emptive detention of the NUP leadership. That would be within reason of the state and their law enforcement. We have seen that before and it wouldn’t be shocking in 2023.

The UPF and the NRM is just showing it true face. Instead of actually allowing and accepting the popularity of the NUP. They are instead using the law and the authorities to stop them from going around. That is childish and very cowardly of them. Pinning blame on the people and the ones who shows up to NUP rallies. That’s what the Police is doing and they aren’t showing any credible evidence or it. Neither does they have any. It is just like the planted weapons and bullets in Arua on Bobi Wine. That’s how they operate and they think we will believe them.

The UPF and NRM is lost here. It isn’t funny and it’s a losing strategy. Peace.

Uganda Police Force (UPF): Police Suspends NUP Mobilization Activities til Further Notice (13.09.2023)

Opinion: KaBobi’s Upcountry journey…

The recent mobilisation tour of the National Unity Platform (NUP) and Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu aka Bobi Wine is sort of ended. As he went to Mbarara, Fort Portal, Kasese, Lira and Luweero. He traversed the countryside and got the ability to hold rallies. This happened outside of the Election Road Map. Meaning the National Resistance Movement (NRM) isn’t fearing the crowds, the surge or the popularity of Bobi Wine.

Somehow they allowed him to do it. It must be reasons revealed at a later date. For sure we will see Muhoozi Kainerubaga do even more than sporting events and birthday bashes now. He will do campaigning for his MK Movement. That is the first step in all of this.

While we are seeing the NRM and the apologists attack every word or argument from Bobi Wine. They are downplaying and disregarding what they where seeing. If it wasn’t ferrying people from Kampala. It was all other things and they could just pin blame on him. While the army warned about wearing fatigues and red berets again. This time around there wasn’t mass-arrests, tear-gas, dispersing of crowds or any sort of brutal shut-down of the masses. No, the authorities and the state let it go. Even if there was instances of anti-riot police prepared up-country and waiting for the “final word”. Alas, that never happened and we can now wonder why…

That’s what is boggling my mind. The authorities and the state has allowed these sorts of things before with Dr. Kizza Besigye and Amama Mbabazi. They allowed big rallies and such but by the time of reckoning. The state machinery would be on top and ensure a safe haven for the Presidency. That’s what it does and the opposition is left behind.

This is why we cannot read into too much the big crowds. Especially, if these crowds aren’t participating or partaking in the struggle. If they are showing up for the party and the festivities of the newest upstart. They have done so with the aforementioned leaders too and to no avail. Unless, Bobi Wine has the new wine and not just copying the old, which I hope is not the case.

Bobi Wine and the NUP shows by doing this that they are not a just a Baganda party. They are not just a Central Region party. They have support across the Report. In the West, East and North. They have it even in the heartland and where the Mecca of the NRM, the Luweero Triangle. That’s where he ended this journey this time around.

We have seen the crowds, the joy and the public pleasure of greeting Bobi Wine. His a voice of reason and a popular leader. However, Besigye could do the same in his heyday. He could be everywhere and crowds followed him. It was for a reason that he had the nickname “the People’s President” and he created the People’s Government. That’s all out of his popularity and his defiance against the state structures who wasn’t acknowledging his results in the polls. Therefore, Bobi Wine has to learn from this.

Bobi Wine cannot just bash in glory and repeat what Besigye did. Especially, if the end-game is to remove a dictator. He cannot run the same course and the same approach, and expect a different result. Then you are repeating, rinsing and repeating. It is another year and another time, but reality is more of the same. No changes but the faces of the opposition. The rest is continuing where the previous generation left-off.

This mobilization tour hopeful has something lasting results. More than opening up party offices. Mbabazi did the trick too as Go-Forward opening up offices up-country. That didn’t do much for him either. Alas, that is why Bobi Wine and the NUP needs to think smarter. They need to think of the long-con and the longevity. Not just ahead of the 2026 polls. There is more to life then the election cycle. That is the bitter pill and the costly one too. The political party has its life-blood there, but the message and the will to transform the nation has to come from within. From there spread to the masses. In such a fashion that they are will to battle and go to the trenches. Because after all these years, we know Museveni won’t be defeated on a ballot and the system is rigged against the opposition. Bobi Wine knows this very well and so does anyone else too.

The crowds, the speeches and the popularity is all fine. It is a nice view. However, he needs to think ahead and try to be two steps ahead of competition. While not being tricked or be a tool for the betterment of Muhoozi. That’s possibly the outcome here. As it vindicates him and gives him more reason to campaign ahead of 2026. Because, they allowed Bobi Wine so… Muhoozi should do it too.

We see you, yes, we see you. That’s the game and it is rigged. KaBobi is a maverick, but even those can become pawns. If they are not trying to outwit the ones who has power. Peace.

Ker Kwaro Acholi: Statement on continued Violence in Apaa (01.09.2023)

Uganda: Director of Public Prosecutions Jane Frances Abodo – Circular No. 18/2023 – Re: Managment of Cases with Charges preferred under the Anti-Homosexuality Act 2023 (25.08.2023)

A look into Bobi Wine’s response to Mzee on suspension of World Bank loans…

It is you, Sir, who has left undone what you ought to have done, and did that which you ought not have done. There is no truth in you. Just take a long, hard look in the mirror” (Bobi Wine, 24.08.2023).

That Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine wrote a text and published it today. This is telling the importance, because Bobi Wine is the leader of the National Unity Platform (NUP) and the biggest contender for the Presidency at the moment. The 2021 elections if it wasn’t a rigged affair. It would have been his and he would have won it. However, we know the game is rigged and there is no true will of the people.

In this regard it is interesting to see what sort of retort Bobi Wine uses. Because, we know the drill and I have also retorted to President Museveni. Though this was a long awaited call, but a useful one.

Bobi Wine starts with this: “Gen Museveni, Your recent outburst about the World Bank withholding future assistance to Uganda is a clear indication of your ideological disorientation and policy nomadism that has characterised your four-decade rule. You wasted twenty-seven pages trying to distort history and divert reality, that an average reader was left wondering who is (or has been) in charge of Uganda” (Bobi Wine, 24.08.2023).

He is speaking facts, but you see how he calls him. That’s telling of the vision and how he perceives Museveni. His a General and not the President. A man of the guns and arms. Museveni was telling porkies and making a mockery attempt to swift blame elsewhere. However, that’s been his game since the start of his career. That is all Museveni knows and what he does to make himself look better.

Bobi Wine continues: “To date, you cannot account for the demise of the country’s textile, public transport, food processing, leisure facilities, agricultural cooperatives, and manufacturing capacity that made places like Jinja, Bushenyi, Masaka and Mbale shining beacons of the potential that our young country possessed. You have replaced Uganda’s public capital with miserable gimmicks like Operation Wealth Creation, replaced hitherto thriving agricultural cooperatives with non-starters called SACCOs. The NRA is not and was never the innocent, well-meaning, and foresighted actor that you portray it to be. It was and remains – as NRM – a corrupt, violent force that has played a major role in the delayed socioeconomic transformation of Uganda. Neo-colonialism is alive and well under you, Sir” (Bobi Wine, 24.08.2023).

Here again he issues the cold hard truth. The reality of what the reign of Museveni has brought. There is little to show for it and Museveni’s men has dismantled a lot of possible “value additional industries” across the Republic. That’s been done through incentives and with the hands of the neocolonial institutions after the Bush-War. As the subsidizes and the Co-Ops, and even vital agricultural boards was destroyed. So, Bobi Wine is right and Museveni is just trying to pin this all on them, instead of taking the blame himself for accepting the stipulations in office. Museveni has sold off and destroyed a lot potential for a quick buck. That’s why industries has failed and no real long-term policy has been enacted, which could have made a vast difference.

Bobi Wine further states: “Out of the nine men who have occupied the office of the President in the past 61 years since our supposed independence, you’re the undisputed champion of neo-colonial and neoliberal agendas. It is under your regime that the sale of public service infrastructure – under the guidance and encouragement of the same World Bank that you are blaming now – occurred. You have presided over the reckless liberalisation, extreme de-regulation, and sacrifice of our public sector at the altar of foreign interests. We can see through your hypocrisy” (Bobi Wine, 24.08.2023).

It is just rich reading this. The talking points and the way Bobi Wine describes things. This shows political maturity and deep understanding of things. It is commendable. The way that he debunks and says what Museveni contributed too. Which we all have seen and Museveni was a donor darling for a reason. He played and danced to their songs. Because that was easy money and he could eat of their plate. That’s why he accepted the stipulations and played with them. He didn’t have to work and still he could live lavish. Therefore, Bobi Wine undresses Museveni perfectly here.

Bobi Wine writes: “Your prioritisation of regime survival has destroyed, among other things, the district, national referral hospital system, and public health infrastructure generally. As a result, the formerly reliable hospitals in Iganga, Itojo, Mbale, Soroti, and Lira are now moribund, understaffed and under-equipped death traps that you replaced with equally miserable health centres. Your salvation lies in the fact that the United States Agency for International Development subsidises your failures by supporting critical public health needs, including catering for our military’s health and medical needs. So who is the neocolonialist here?” (Bobi Wine, 24.08.2023).

It is like Bobi Wine just shoots a hole in any argument or reasoning Museveni had in his piece. His just piercing through it. Making enough holes to call him a Swiss Cheese. Bobi Wine is cleverly telling the tale of how Aid, Loans and Grants are the saving grace of the regime. Which has been stated by plenty before him. This is nothing new, but special that someone of Bobi Wine says it this openly. As it undermines the story and the tales that Museveni wants about himself. Museveni wants to be supreme and the all-knowing leader. The man with all the answers, but like always he needs other people’s money to foot his bills. That’s why Bobi Wine’s words are so rich and detailed and utterly destroys the reasoning of Museveni.

Near the end, Bobi Wine wrote these fitting words: “Accordingly, it is the height of fiction and deceit, for you to make the deliberately false prediction that “in a few years” Uganda’s economy will hit the half-a-trillion dollar mark. A cursory look at the revenue collection challenges the URA has experienced over the past several quarters, and the high mortality rates of SMEs tells you everything you need to dismiss this baseless projection. The truth is usually brief, so I need not elaborate these self-evident points in the same way you wrote nearly thirty pages to explain your ‘successes’ after almost 40 years in power! That you even had to ‘highlight’ for the country your supposed successes should tell you everything you need to know” (Bobi Wine, 24.08.2023).

As I did discuss in my retort to Museveni. It showed that the lack of domestic revenue was a reason for the failure of progress and development. That’s why the World Bank loans, grants or aide hadn’t sufficiently created the purposed goals of investment or value of money. This is why it’s a well drafted and expose to say these things. Museveni knows his at fault, but easier to blame a neocolonial institution, than take blame himself. Because, he has had the time to do so and get things done in a proper manner. However, we all know that he prefers the get-rich schemes and eat of the plate of others. That’s what he has done and it’s the reason why the World Bank loans haven’t been enough.

Bobi Wine wrote a splendid piece here and shows political maturity. The ones underestimating him… they should fear him. He proves his calibre here and it should be respected. Bobi Wine could have taken plenty of avenues, but picked this one. Peace.

Opinion: OO’s maverick response to the World Bank…

With 530 MPs, 82 ministers, and thousands of other personnel on public payroll but whose real contributions to the country’ progress cannot be measured, many areas of duplication, wastefulness, and pervasive corruption, yet plenty of resources, Uganda probably deserves neither pity nor World Bank (WB) loans. There are faint-hearted quislings who falsely believe that foreign aid and loans are indispensable, yet it is possible to do without, but only if we enforced better planning and prioritization, frugality, transparency, strict accountability, effective implementation and supervision of plans and projects to the desired results” (OO, 19.08.2023).

Today I was seeing the article of Government Spokesperson Ofwono Opondo. The man who is the head of the Uganda Media Centre and is a defender of the National Resistance Movement (NRM). That man has dropped a very unique article on the UMC pages. This is titled: “WITH 530 MPS, 82 MINISTERS; UGANDA DESERVES NEITHER PITY NOR WORLD BANK LOANS” and it was published on the 19th August 2023. So, I lost a few days, but “oh” what a gem of a piece this is.

I did not expect him to use reasoning of the opposition and the defiant members of the Republic. Because, the manner of how he was introducing the piece. That could have been written by any sincere opposition leader and who would have talked down upon the NRM. OO is using talking points that is opposition based on the first paragraph of his piece. This has been addressed and been a key component in the drive for good governance. However, the President and his “yes-men” are in it and they want plum-jobs, which His Excellency is providing.

OO continues: “The fickle reason advanced by the WB, and others to halt future loan and grant considerations to Uganda over the recently enacted anti-LGBTQ+ law, should, in fact be a silver-lining below the dark cloud and compel government into fiscal consolidation and discipline. It’s fickle because the enactment of the law and before, there hasn’t been any reported case of harassment or discrimination of LGBTQ+ persons in Uganda. And well, WB has previously frozen lending to Uganda over myriad of issues, some very flimsy. It’s possible it’s under pressure from LGBTG+ groups hence issuing a hasty statement not supported by any evidence over an abhorrent lifestyle that is still contested including in western countries” (19.08.2023).

Here the true character and nonsense of OO begins. When he goes into defence mode and defending the regime. This is him trying to clean the facade and make everything shiny. However, there is known oppression and targeting of the LGBTQ+ before the law. There been extra judicial killings and blocking of events. NGOs and CSOs has been in the firing line too for their involvement or participation in it. Therefore, OO must think we are fools… Yes, there are Western nations and others who has targeted the same minority. Still, with that in mind… two wrongs doesn’t make one wrong right. Just to be straight about it.

In the end of the piece he writes this: “President Museveni in particular, has been and continues to mobilize Ugandans, and Africa to stop exporting raw materials because it denies us true value, employment, revenues, skills and technology transfer, while making us completely dependent on outsiders. With such a stance, Museveni becomes a target for blackmail. President Museveni has stopped the export of raw minerals especially gold, iron ore, uranium, oil and petroleum among others, and as well unprocessed agricultural produce like milk, beef, cocoa and coffee which may all soon require enactment of laws and the west isn’t amused. All these, if well coordinated and implemented as should be throughout Africa, and the global South the main producers and suppliers of cheap raw goods will certainly disadvantage, if not ruin the prevailing Western dominated World order. And surely the West will seek to withdraw the little support they currently offer, and impose sanctions as well. Therefore, the WB strike at Uganda must be seen from a broader perspective, and not just LGBTQ+ disputes” (OO, 19.08.2023).

He comes with the idea that the World Bank and the West is collectively stopping industrialization or progress on the continent. While the World Bank itself in reports has stated the lack of domestic revenue and boosting the economy from within. The loans, grants or aide wouldn’t deliver the needs or even be able to keep up the upkeep as it was. This is why the government spokesperson pins the blame on outsiders, but the regime took the money and the strings attached to it. They accepted the terms and condition. While they ate the funds and didn’t deliver on the promise either. Therefore, it is high and mighty to blame “the West” and say they created this “world order”.

OO needs to get his arguments straight and also reasoning behind it. As he started the piece by blaming the Republic and the Government he represent himself. However, in the end of the piece. It is the West and their “world order”. While we know the NRM and Museveni has accepted and signed off on the financial instruments of the West. He accepted the mechanisms and the expectations of the fiscal funds disbursed to Uganda. Therefore, it is really special to blame them for everything after the fact.

The government spokesperson should look into own records and own achievements. As they where tied to the funding from World Bank and other similar entities. They invested and promoted Museveni as a “new breed” of leadership. Alas, he knows this and now wants to use the LGBTQ+ as a shield as well. While the World Bank isn’t in the right in the slightest of suspending the loans over the Anti-Homosexuality Act. They should have ceased funds over the impunity, the injustice and the oppressive behaviour of the state towards dissidents. That should have been the red flag and it should have acted accordingly. However, they only did it for one minority and their lifestyle. That’s why the NRM and OO has ammunition. As they feel the hypocrisy and it’s so obvious…

He ends with: “The west, aided by local poodles have run a global web of lies and manipulation which presented Chinese as insidious spies, Russians as evil mobsters, Muslims as terrorists, and Africans as murders and dictators. They present themselves as world heroes fighting for justice to save humanity. To survive and triumph, Africa collectively must strengthen and coordinate internal resistance” (OO, 19.08.2023).

In true Nollywood or Hollywood fashion, OO ends up with the utmost clichés. His speaking like everyone does this and believes these things. It is like he has found the villains in movies and thought this was facts. While fiction is fiction. Yes, there are political realignment and new diplomatic responses. There are undermining factors and a bigger picture at play. We know OO wants to defend dictatorship and his Boss Museveni. That’s his life work at this point and his livelihood. So, I cannot blame OO for trying.

While that was being said… his defence is weak. Only smearing the West but coming with hollow words… and sounding like he has read Hollywood scripts for action movies. Yes, the West has struggled with “white man’s burden” and that’s a legit thing to question. Especially, the real motives or ambition behind the funds or the aide in general. There is a need for broader conversation about that and what’s the purpose in the end. As there has been lacking results, but a huge payout of currency from the West to the African continent over the years.

That OO asks for resistance is brave. If the Africans was resist and do as he asks. That would mean the public would rise up and create revolutions. Revolutions that would target NRM and overthrow it. That’s the resistance that can end the addiction of foreign aide, grants or loans. This is the only way the measures or mechanisms of World Bank can loose it’s relevance… and OO doesn’t want to poke at that dragon. The “walk to work” proved that the NRM or Museveni couldn’t carry it forever, if people obeyed or tried to push them out. However, they where able to keep afloat and get by. That’s why OO has a job still and the NRM is in power to this day.

OO really stunned with this one. His trying two things at once. Trying to sound reasonable and be aggressive towards outsiders. His only partly reasonable and that’s when he used opposition talking point. When he was aggressive was when he grievances and addressed the World Bank or the West. Nevertheless, I didn’t buy it and he isn’t cutting it. Surely the NRM will be happy about this piece. Though it is a slap in their face, as the government spokesperson spoke ill of their gerrymandering ways or duplicated government organizations created by his Master, Museveni. Peace.

Opinion: Mzee is gaslighting everyone on the World Bank…

On the contrary, those loans and aid packages, can be a source of distortion and stunted growth as you can see across Africa. If foreign aid and loans, are a source of social-economic transformation, why the present growing crisis of even security and stability in Africa?” (Museveni, 17.08.2023).

Yes, we can morally question the World Bank for its reasons to cease to give new loans or grants to the Republic of Uganda. That is fair and assess the reasoning behind that is a matter of debate. As they are only doing it for one sole purpose and not for how the Republic itself is run or what sort of leadership it has. The World Bank has been in dialogue and been in negotiations with the Republic plenty of times over the years. The World Bank has been coordinating and ensuring development projects, budget support and other measures for the benefit of the Republic of Uganda. Therefore, they know the costs and the suffering, which will come with a ceasing of operating or offering support there.

That President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni uses the populist angle isn’t surprising. He has done so in regard to the Anti-Homosexuality Act and he thrives on it. It is easy political currency and now he can vilify the West and their means to an end. While his not coming with solid proof or reasons for his onslaught. He is acting like we don’t know he used to be a donor darling and a man of the West.

Museveni lived large and got big aid-money after the Bush-War. He was the new breed of leadership and the hope of a brighter future. Museveni and the likes was easy to sell and he was supposed reformer, a man of principals and a man with a vision. However, that was all false and narratives sold to make him feasible for the many.

That’s why I will only take a few words from a World Bank report, which is an assessment of the Poverty Eradication Action Plan (PEAP). That respectfully got funding from World Bank, which the report states this: “The total amount disbursed for the first PRSC5-7 series was $462 million ($137 million for PRSC5, $125 for PRSC6, and $200 million for PRSC7). PRSC5 was approved on January 17, 2006 and PRSC7, the last in the series, closed on November 30, 2009. The amount disbursed for the second PRSC8-9 series was $200 million ($100 million each operation). Because of delays in reform implementation and a corruption scandal involving diversion of bilateral donor resources, approval of PRSC9 was delayed” (World Bank – Report No. 96202, June 29, 2015).

When you read that and that’s only through one mechanism and one way of the World Bank. There are other ways that the Republic got funds or grants. This through the International Monetary Funds (IMF) or elsewhere, which isn’t covered here. Neither is this a overlook or a total oversight of the funds or grants given to Uganda. Only the ones through PEAP. That says something about how much money that was coming in and could be spent by the Republic or their respective government agencies, in coordination with the World Bank.

The report further states:

On the positive side, the PRSCs helped finance Uganda’s budget within this broader budget support framework and shared priorities, contributing to macroeconomic stability and to maintaining public spending on basic social services (education, health, and water and sanitation) that otherwise would not have been possible given the low domestic revenue mobilization. The Bank also maintained broad and high-level policy dialogue with the government” (…) “But in their drive to extend budget support focused primarily on social sector expenditures, the Bank and the other budget support donors missed a major opportunity to help significantly increase domestic revenue mobilization, which would have made these gains more sustainable. In the event, as the donor budget support began to decline in 2009 and then came to an abrupt halt in 2012 as a result of a corruption episode with bilateral donor funds, low domestic government revenues––at 13 percent of GDP–– increasingly put pressure on public expenditures on basic social services. As a result, these services became underfunded and outcomes began to suffer in education and, especially, health. Even in water and sanitation––a comparative sector success story–acute underfunding is threatening to reverse past gains in access, especially in the most vulnerable rural areas” (World Bank – Report No. 96202, June 29, 2015).

This here report just shows how quickly the gains was lost. Also, what was offered and how the Republic itself didn’t galvanize the domestic revenue. Therefore, the NRM and the government itself didn’t do its due diligence, but hoped for a “helping hand” indefinitely. When the Republic of Uganda suddenly got a set-back and lost donors in a short-time span. The government couldn’t cover the shortfall and the government services came to an halt. When we know this from history.

We just know this will repeat itself now. When the World Bank is ceasing its operations or renewal of loans/grants to the Republic. That will hurt the economy and with an state budget run on deficit financing. The state will lack funds quickly, as it is servicing rising amounts of loans or debt. It has has to cover the debt before even paying the running costs of operating as a government. Meaning, the state will be in a deficit very quickly and there will be lack of funds. As the ones utilized will go to pay interests and pay the creditors for old debts. That’s where the World Bank would come in with budget support and facilitate good terms for credit. However, with the ceasing of operating and freezing loans. Means that ship has sailed and the short-term crunch is bound to happen. It will cost and no signal boosting can help the government out.

That’s why it is really unique that Museveni wrote these things in his 26 pages long piece…

They are so shallow, they do not know when and where to stop. It is this shallowness in philosophy, ideology and strategy, that interferes with the global efforts to generate consensus for the good and even for the salvation of mankind from possible environmental and other man-made catastrophes. Hence, the recent provocation and arrogance by the World Bank Group on a subject of the homosexuals that we have so patiently discussed with so many of those elements. To dare think that the Ugandans, the brothers, the sisters and grandchildren of the Christian religious Martyrs of 1884 against our own tyrannical Kings, the Martyrs of the Luwero War (the 9th of June-Heroes), can be intimidated by the threat of withdrawal of loans and aid, that are, moreover, peripheral to our transformation efforts, is the epitome of mistake-making, to say the least” (Museveni, 17.08.2023).

That is why Uganda under the NRM is an unsinkable ship in the stormy global sea of the World economy. It may be useful to remember the words of Dr. Mutharika, himself a former worker of some of those international bodies, when he became President of Malawi. He said that he wanted “a Malawi economic plan supported by the World Bank” and not “a World Bank programme for Malawi”. The Ugandans, should not waste time on it. Instead, we should launch a merciless war on the two internal inhibitors of our own: the corrupt and the neo-colonial planners. It is hightime, the two got off the scene completely. They have delayed us enough” (Museveni, 17.08.2023).

Musveni and the National Resistance Movement (NRM) got a bounty when they got into office. In the 1990s and early 2000s times where good. The International Community and its lenders covered the basics. There was so much money and ability to raise funds. The NRM and Museveni was promising and they could ate of other peoples plates without any hesitation. They were the new Kings in town and lived grand on donors money. Now those things are dwindling down and the goodwill is over. The outside isn’t as favourable and that hits the pride of the old man.

Museveni isn’t as beloved or bestowed. His not the future, but a relic of the past. His a man who has lost his way and trying to lecture anyone else on their misgivings. While never looking into what he himself never did. The World Bank commended the achievements earlier of his administration, but they also acknowledge that their easy money was taking away the ability of the state to raise domestic revenue. That is the problem to this day and is a reoccurring issue. That is a “bottleneck” that Museveni never got a handle of or idea of how to solve. This is why the Government and the NRM will have a hard time ahead.

He can speak vile and be angry. That doesn’t resolve the matter or help anyone. Neither does this text or article help his cause. The World Bank only cares about one thing. The President can torture, extra judicially kill, criminalize the opposition and use the military to detain civilians. Alas, the World Bank will not care about that, but they do want to save the Homosexuals of the World. That is obvious. Which is noble in one regard, but also very limiting in the other. As they are only safeguarding one minority, but not considering the implications for the rest of society. That’s where the scope of the World Bank is missing.

Museveni is right that the World Bank is shallow. That shallowness and pride was feeding him for years. It was giving him and his government a boost. The World Bank and other financial institutions gave Museveni the fire-power and ability to look successful without doing much labour. A lazy way of ruling the nation. Because, everyone else was paying the tab at the bar, but Museveni continued drinking. That’s what Museveni does and his now mad at the bartender for not allowing him another brew. Peace.

Uganda: The Anti-Homosexuality Bill, 2023 – Certificate of Financial Implications (09.03.2023)

Uganda: The World Bank draw the line [and shows how hopeless it is…]

Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Act fundamentally contradicts the World Bank Group’s values. We believe our vision to eradicate poverty on a livable planet can only succeed if it includes everyone irrespective of race, gender, or sexuality. This law undermines those efforts. Inclusion and non-discrimination sit at the heart of our work around the world. Immediately after the law was enacted, the World Bank deployed a team to Uganda to review our portfolio in the context of the new legislation. That review determined additional measures are necessary to ensure projects are implemented in alignment with our environmental and social standards. Our goal is to protect sexual and gender minorities from discrimination and exclusion in the projects we finance. These measures are currently under discussion with the authorities. No new public financing to Uganda will be presented to our Board of Executive Directors until the efficacy of the additional measures has been tested” (World Bank Group Statement on Uganda, 08.08.2023).

Yes, the Anti-Homosexuality Act is wrong, by all accounts and definitions, as it is a tool to oppress one minority and their lifestyle. The government are not only interfering in their lives, but it is by all sense criminalizing one minority for populist gains. Alas, I will not dwell on that.

However, what I will do… is say my displeasure with the World Bank. The World Bank is ceasing their operations or diverting funds to the Government of Uganda. The World Bank is by far freezing funds for development projects and other planned efforts, which it has coordinated with the state. That is what is happening here and it’s all because of one law.

The same bank never had these actions when people died on the streets because of election rigging. Neither did the bank say anything or act swiftly when people are prolonged in jail for their political associations. Neither is the bank saying anything substantial when the military is interfering in all parts of society. The bank is silent when people are kept incommunicado or kidnapped. The bank hasn’t uttered a word or cared for the extra judicial killings. Neither does it care for the lack of services, health care or government services as a whole. Schools can be faulty and roads can be mismanaged. While “missing funds” are going on overtime and trillions of shillings are siphoned any Financial Year. Alas, the bank is silent on all of these. Not saying anything.

The bank is fine that the military courts are used to sentence and keep people of the streets. The bank is fine with political parties not allowed to assemble or even gather in public. The bank is fine that the state targets NGOs and CSOs. The bank is fine that state has ungazetted “safe-houses” where the dissidents and activists of the opposition are kept. The bank is fine that army and security organizations are monitoring and trailing high ranking officials in the opposition. That’s all fine and dandy…

but the moment the gays or the homosexuals are in trouble. That’s when you cry havoc. That’s when enough is enough. The hypocrisy. The audacity. When so many people are scorned, in pain or has lost loved ones. When people are kept behind bars for years and the police start the investigation after they have detained them. Assets and vehicles captured for years. Charges never ceased and cases never dropped. Politicians have long rap-sheets and a big book of charges while awaiting trials or even some sort of relief from the cases itself.

When you know all of this and suddenly read this statement from the World Bank. It is disappointing. This is the hill they want to die on. Not when it is systemic oppression, but one minority is hit. The whole society and the general public can be muffled, but there is just the one special class you are not allowed to touch. That’s the message I get here and it’s beneath the organization and the World Bank itself. If they believed in these things. They should have done so when they saw people dying in the hands of the guns of the state. Alas, we haven’t seen that and it shows that one life is more valuable than another. It shows that some people are more worthy than others. If you are a certain way, you can get access and get credit. If you are the other way. Well, good look and you can only hope for a better tomorrow… Peace.