The UTL Saga: The state salvages the debt to resurrect the Walking Dead

This Mango has gone through a lot. A former state company sold to Libyan investors and after the Libyan credit started to fail. The Ugandan Telecom Company (UTL) or Mango started to suffer too. The Telecom have been so hard hit that three years ago the state had to take it over.

There been so many twists and turns, where the company have been rumoured and speculations. Even the Minister and owners was speculated to moved to a shell company in Mauritius. Therefore, today’s sudden windfall and paying off debts. Is only bailing out a sinking ship and hoping it still doesn’t sink.

The UGX 45.6 Billions to the TDB (Eastern & Southern Trade & Development Bank). With this payment of this debt. The state is initially taking over UTL. This as they plans to make the UTL attractive to investors again. Mango haven’t been viable for years…

The Libyan Post ditched in March 2017 and since then it has struggled. The Libyans said the Government of Uganda needed to figure out a transformation plan for the UTL. It has clearly taken three years to figure this out. That nobody wanted to takeover the loans of a company, which haven’t invested in Telecommunications in years. Where the changes of mobile data, 3G and 4G networks for smartphones. The UTL haven’t had the funds or the ability to change with the times.

UTL is struggling because the state haven’t been able to save it before now. The regime needed over three years to figure this out. This with the steady leadership of Evelyn Anite, Frank Tumwebaze and Gen. Kahinda Otafiire interfering all at different times. While they have all done their part … it still took the Committee until now to secure payment for the debts. This should have been resolved earlier, if they intended to make it viable business.

In 2017, Anite even wanted all Ugandans for Patriotic reasons should have one UTL line. Maybe, she thinks everyone has a Airtel, MTN and could have UTL sim-cards in their phones. As the usual person should have at least double or dual sim-cards.

This all been a long lasting saga, which shouldn’t take this long. It is a fledging company. A former state corporation privatized and sold for scraps to Libya investors. Who earned on it in the good times, but ditched it when it got hot. Because, it been years since the UTL been viable and been a commodity.

This Mango is rotten. The Mango tree isn’t yielding any fruits anymore. This is a Walking Dead Enterprise. A Telecom who has no traction and is only throwing good money for bad investments. The money could have been burned in a street or thrown down a storm-drain, and it would still have more sense then investing it here.

UTL is being saved, but was it worth saving? Does it have any assets or financial liabilities worth mentioning? The competitors are miles ahead and the UTL needs huge investments to be in the same arena. Do they think another investor will spend money like a drunk uncle in a market, which is already filled with big companies. Who has small margins and higher taxes.

Therefore, the ones doing it … has to be regime “friendly” and willing to throw away good money for a bad investment. Peace.

Opinion: The “Scientific Elections” will unmask the brutal truth

As we are beginning the campaigns and the run-up to the elections of 2021. The reality will hit the public. We will see the truth about how the authorities and law enforcement act upon the dissidents and opposition. The regime will show it true colour and cannot act surprised. The way they do and what happens will clearly show a significant pattern. That cannot be judged on sudden reaction to an rally or a consultative meetings.

The National Resistance Movement (NRM) have before the campaigns already shown unfair the society is. As they have had the capacity to hold rallies and be in the general public. While the opposition have been blocked from radio stations and holding consultative meetings. This being the pre-equal to the General Election next year.

As well, as the same rules are allowing rallies, processions and so fourth for the aspirants of the NRM. While opposition cannot even be nominated or have a press conference without being directly arrested a hot minute after. That has happen to so many, that its total obstruction of their justice and rights to campaign.

These “Scientific elections” are supposed to be like this because of the danger of COVID-19 or Coronavirus. The pandemic that are upholding social distancing and PPE. The reality is that, we will see a double standard, which will be common. The opposition not allowed to rural radio houses and up-country. While NRM can campaign both within media houses and on the streets, The posters of opposition will be taken down. The NRM can even spread posters through Bukedde, Daily Monitor and so fourth.

The Uganda Communication Committee (UCC), Uganda Police Force (UPF) and Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) will all work directly for the NRM. These will order media houses to not have opposition leaders on-air. Neither, will the UPF and the UPDF allow the opposition to greet the public. While the UCC will not block the NRM from appearing on-air and neither will law-enforcement block the NRM for greeting the public. The UPDF and UPF will walk side-by-side with the NRM aspirants.

That is why we know the game is rigged. The NRM will have all favours and always have a helping hand. The authorities and all part of the state apparatus will work for them. They are serving the NRM and not the general public. It doesn’t matter if it is DP, UPC, FDC, NUP, JEEMA or anyone else. They are troublemakers and will be hit by the state.

These elections and campaigns will not be fair. The state and all of its actors will use their mandates to put hurdles in the way of the opposition. The NRM will have a soft landing, while the others has to go on a crash-course and hope for as little damage as possible. Because, no matter what the opposition does. It will be countered and there will be resistance. The NRM will not offer any goodwill and will only cause havoc.

The NRM will use the state as their partner in crime. Every possible way to act will be punished and there will be no remorse. The state will have no sympathy and show no heart. They will not condone and not beg for forgiveness. That is because, the NRM and the state believes you where stupid to challenge it and to stand up against it. You were supposed to be blind and submissive.

The NRM will have all the perks, all the opportunities, while they will undermine and mock the opposition for their troubles. The NRM wouldn’t be able to run, if they had the same hectic mess the opposition has. The NRM would malfunction and be on self-destruction, if they met the same obstacles, which it serves all opposition. They are used to have no way, while the NRM has the big high-way and a free way of opportunities. That is a luxury, which nobody else have. This is why the “Scientific Elections” only will amplify this and expose this rotten game. Which is rotten from the head to the grassroots. A system blessed from “high above” to the lowest civil servant. Peace.

Opinion: Museveni will only audit elections, which isn’t involving himself

As Chairman of the NRM, when I was informed of this criminality, I ordered a nationwide audit which has done a good job, for a start. Although the time was short, the audit will continue even after the nomination. Cheating is a crime. Even after you are nominated, you can be indicted in court. I am also auditing the auditors, just in case they are also compromised. All those who committed these crimes, will be held accountable. This is on the Party side” (Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, 19.10.2020).

It is very clever to make it publicity that you want to audit and look into the electoral rigging and the questionable results in some of the races within the National Resistance Movement Primary Elections 2020. That President Museveni asks for this now a month after the NRM Primaries started and the nominations are delivered to the Electoral Commission. The President is deliberately inciting fear and also showing no remorse to the aspirants who misused their campaign and their means to get a good result.

President Museveni would never do this in a Presidential Election, which his own election would be “nullified” or be announced “null and void”. That will not happen, as long as his in power. He would never risk to be questioned or proven wrong. His the one that is righteous … and the only man with a vision. This is why he will not accept to be humiliated over an election.

Even if he uses the same tricks, as the ones his mentioning in the text released today:

Indeed, during the 1980 elections, one of the Parties was declaring that: “We shall win whether you vote for us or not”. How will you win, if we do not vote for you? The answer, was simple: “By cheating”” (Museveni, 19.10.2020).

The same is happening to this day. No matter what people are voting for, the winner will be Yoweri. That is the reality of it all. The same reasons he went to the bush. He is doing himself and with pride too. His winning, by attending and doing an election he has all the power over. The man appoints the Courts, appoint the ones running the elections and damn sure ensure the law enforcement has all the will to contain any sentiment, which isn’t his. That is why, he would never audit or jeopardize his elections. This will be predetermined by the President himself.

That is why we know he has the audacity to audit other elections, but the man would never do it to himself. That is because he believes his above the law and can do whatever he wants. The text he dropped himself today. Is filled with ironical anecdotes, which could easily be put on himself.

Therefore, this text is a lesson for society or a new Presidential Directive. It more of his self-imposed self. The arrogance and the self-destructive way that his going these days. At some points his saying the right things, but that doesn’t matter. When all of his actions are of the other demeanour. Peace.

Ironic that Museveni lectures about “gerrymandering”!

The additional new problem by elements of the elite is election rigging. Starting with 1961, for the elections organized by a British man known as Peagram, election rigging, designed to nullify the sovereignty of the People, was introduced. Initially, 1961 – 1989, it involved the following: • Gerrymandering constituencies by not following existing administrative boundaries (especially counties) and creating adhoc and planning-wise meaningless electoral areas designed to dilute the votes of the undesirable groups with the desirable groups” (Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, 19.10.2020).

Since 1986 the rise of districts, counties and sub-counties have been enormous. The President and his party have frivolously done this. Just to put things into perspective here. There was 17 districts in the Republic at Independence in 1962. By the time of 1980 it was re-organized to 33 districts. In 1997 the adds-on had become 44 districts. In 2005 the state created even more and it was up to 78 districts. Within the 2016 election it was already 112 districts and before the 2021 elections it will be a total of 135 districts. That means the gerrymandering have been on overdrive.

In the same regard, because of this. The National Resistance Movement has extended and made massive amounts of Members of Parliament (MP). That is in connection with this gerrymandering and creating of new local government bodies. The numbers of districts is already foolish. While just the imagination of the amounts of counties and sub-counties. As these has been carved out of the newly minted districts before every single election.

With this in mind, the same government have made more MPs in the same fashion. That is why in 2006 it was 319 MPs by 2016 it had become 459 MPs and in 2021 it will become 536 MPs. This is created by same government and same ideology that could run a Republic with 38 members in 1989. That was a transitional government, but became permanent using their means to do what he says was done wrong in the past.

President Museveni needs to be called out by it. Who has used the office and the power to gerrymander the Republic. This has all been done in the service of the ruling regime. It is the sad reality.

The old man with the hat is blaming the previous government of an issue, which he has excelled in himself. If someone has gerrymandered the Republic. It is him. He has done in such a manner and extent. That soon every village has an MP and every bodega has Local Councillor. That is the mere reality of it all.

The National Resistance Movement has carved the Republic into so small constituencies and electorate in such a manner. That the Electoral Commission can also rig the numbers and amount of eligible voters in the new constituencies. This is created and done with such a ordinary fashion.

This is why his the wrong lecturing about this. The President should bow down in silence. Not lecture people on something he has done at such a degree and call it bad. Then his the biggest baddie it is.

It is like the drug addict telling people not to take drugs. Its unbelievable. It isn’t just hypocrisy, but also very ironic. His the “mastermind” behind this and this is his system. A rigid state system with bountiful amounts of districts and local governments.

With the knowledge of this. The man shouldn’t teach people a lesson on this. He is the sole definition of doing this. No one has done it like him. Peace.

Opinion: Took 34 years to ensure food security

The time is right for Uganda’s leadership and technocrats to take heed and ensure a transformed food system which responds to all the four dimensions of food security and nutrition”Justine Kasule Lumumba on the 16th October 2020 (Farooq Kasule – ‘NRM secretariat champions food security’’, New Vision, 17.10.2020).

The National Resistance Movement (NRM) is proving why there are on a due date. Their deadline of being in power should be passed the expiration date. Since, they are still in power over all this years. You would think they had fixed the basics. Alas, that is not the case.

The NRM who are always praising their track-record and achievements since 1986. It is really brilliant, that a government of this calibre is still not succeeding in the basics. To ensure the citizens and the grand public having food. That is an issue for all governments since the early beginnings of man kind. This why even in Roman time, the tyrants ran the regime with bread and circus. Giving the public food and entertainment. So, they the elite could enjoy the spoils of the empire.

The NRM is surely lacking, when its time to fix this issue now. Food security should have been ensured long time ago. The party has had decades to fix this, have safety nets and ensured the public had food during crisis. However, the multi-nationals and UN Organizations are feeding the system. So, that the NRM can be lazy for years, because they are covering for their misgivings. They are coming with funds and logistics to pick up the slack of the state. This shouldn’t be shocking, because that is the sad reality.

If it wasn’t for donors and others, the pressure would have much stronger to fix this. The NRM can lean on them and anticipate them to cover it. That is why it has taken this long. Still, it is shows their lack of care and concern. Since, this has been an issue since 1986 and not fixed by the year of 2020.

The President, the whole regime should be horrified of themselves. That they haven’t been able to secure all citizens. This is sort of the backbone, the thing that keeps people alive. The same with lack of shelter and water. All of these basics are the sort of thing this state haven’t properly prioritized. Since, there is always a war to cover, an election and new police units to use funds upon. If not another prestige project of the regime, which will not cover the needs of society in general.

That is why yesterday’s statement from the Secretary General of the NRM is insulting, infuriating, but also showing lack of care of the citizens. This isn’t just a regime who started to rule last year. No, they started mid-80s and still haven’t fixed this. That is how little concerned they are about this. Why?

Because, someone else is always footing the bill and taking over for the slack of state. There is always some happy go-lucky CSO/NGO/UN Organization who can patch the hurt. They will come anyway and will have budgets, logistics and the needed expertise to run the operation. Not only in the middle of a crisis, but in ordinary life too.

The NRM should know better, they have had all the tools, the time and the capital, if they cared about this. However, there has always been some other priority, which isn’t about the basics to spend the fortunes on. Peace.

Total Crackdown on the Opposition… [as Bobi Wine, Ssewanyana and Ssemujju Nganda gotten arrested]

After yesterday’s raid of the National Unity Platform Headquarters in Kamwokya, Kampala. The Police have amped up the levels. Firs verified reports is that Presidential Candidate and Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine was arrested after the raid.

Another NUP heavyweight was arrested today, this being Makindye West MP and MP Aspirant Allan Ssewanyana was arrested and currently held at Katwe Police Station. The MP was arrested shortly after the nomination.

The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) Spokesperson and Kira Municipality MP Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda was also arrested today. He was bundled up to a police car after the nomination.

“All FDC Parliamentary candidates for Hoima City including ANT’s Kasule Ismail have been arrested immediately after nominations” (Capital FM Uganda, 15.10.2020).

This is just the beginning of the campaigns and elections in a way. As today was a day of delivering nomination papers to the Electoral Commission across the Republic. That will also happen tomorrow for the aspirant MPs in the up-coming General Elections.

As this is going on, the authorities are arresting people for selling People Power and NUP merchandise in the streets of Kampala and elsewhere. There is also reports of the authorities taking down posters with Bobi Wine and the NUP candidates. The state is really working hard to block and get rid of the contender.

This is yet another sign of how the state is working on overtime to stop, silence and go against the dissidents. As people are not allowed to sell merch made to supporters of Bobi Wine. That is how small of a man the President is. He cannot stomach real competition and therefore, has to use the law enforcement to get ahead. Peace.

Opinion: NRM’s Military Fatigues

Yesterday, the spokesperson for the army said the reason for the raid of the National Unity Platform Offices in Kamwokya was because of the red berets and their “military fatigues”. However, that is all ironic, as the ruling regime uses it when it deems it fit.

One of the Presidential Advisor Full Figure is posing around in military inspired clothes like she’s at a party of the YMCA in the 1970s. While that is not causing a fuzz or an issue. Nevertheless, the NUP and Bobi Wine get into a lot of trouble for having their own ways.

The NUP and Bobi Wine is not only into issues over the red berets, that has already been gazetted. The attires with stars and such, which resembles military fatigues has also hit a nerve. These are all excuses. And show how one standard is put on the opposition, but no retribution towards the ruling regime.

National Resistance Movement (NRM) have had yearly trainings at NALI or Kyankwanzi, where they have all been in green military fatigues. Heck, the President have used it in a budget speech and elsewhere. The NRM can use it whenever they deem fit. They can use it to promote themselves and their power.

We know the NRM is filled with a chosen few bushmen, who is proud of their achievements and feel above the crowds because of it. “They fought”, therefore, you got to serve me now. That sort of attitude. Where can boost their titles, their ranks and use the military to their convenience. Even when they have retired long time ago.

That is just the double standard, as the NUP should be 100% civilian and not even make their own. It is not like the UPDF and the NRM invented the berets. They have taken them from army history and “made it” their own. Now, they are causing a fuzz over a colour. Which just show how little they think of themselves.

The NRM is clearly allowed to not only use military fatigues, whenever they deem it fit. They can go all out. They can travers with the military, use the fatigues, carry the guns and tote all around town. While the NUP cannot even have resembling headgear. That shows how little faith the NRM have in humanity.

This is indecency and insincerity at its best. The sort of low blow, no show, nonsense, which is deliberately done, again and again. A sort of play that has been done all before. This isn’t a new, but the same-old same old story.

The President and his team might think this is a winning formula. However, this is just undeniably showing his ignorance and his blatant use of force. That is all he got, because he got less and less love with the ages. Therefore, he clings to the army like its his saviour, which it paradoxically is. Peace.

Opinion: Museveni have delivered a false liberation

President Yoweri Tibuhaburwa Kaguta Museveni own story is that he liberated the Republic on the 26th January 1986. However, day-by-day, that story is altered. He came into power with a lot of power and promise. Nevertheless, that wasn’t to be fulfilled.

President Museveni came in with the promise of changing the Republic. Where he would make a difference. So, that the National Resistance Movement (NRM) would differ from previous Presidents. That he would free the citizens and give them a prosperous liberation for the Republic.

The state has been carved into small constituencies, a rotten judicial system and corrupt elite. An elite filled with cronies and family members of the President. All gathered in looting the state and using force against the ones who stands up to them.

The President came in with a promise of another state of affairs. Alas, he is delivering the same as his predecessors. There is little to no difference between them. The NRM is acting like the previous ones did. Using the military as their own political proxy. Making laws to silence dissidents and keeping colonial laws active to subdue the public. Therefore, the Lords now are no different than the ones in the past.

The President has the same tribalism in the army as the past. Instead of being high-ranking officials from the Northern tribes, it is now mostly Western. The ruling elite is also Western. The development is mostly in the Western region too. The state is focused on the Ankole and the where the Bush War Historicals resides. They are all upper-echelon.

People are arrested over their association, by trying to gather and being active with opposition parties. The state using violence to dissolve and intimidate the opposition. They are sending soldiers, agents and police officers after them. Using safe-houses to hide them away so they don’t have to follow the Constitutional rights of the person detained. This is what they do and what sort of freedom the state is giving.

The President is saying he brought liberty, peace and democracy. However, how free are you? If you stand against him, you can either become dead, arrested or tear-gassed? That isn’t freedom or justice. That is a limited freedom, which requires you to obey his rule. Not think of your own and being told where to go. That is the liberty this Presidency is giving.

That is why, the liberation promised with the deadly bush-war in the 1980s was wasted. The President has become everything he fought. He is using the same means, the same mannerisms and misuse of power, as the ones he liberated the public from. That is the reality in 2020.

A man who went to war over rigged elections. Has rigged them all since 1996 and plans to rig the 2021 too. That is the sort of man he has become and is. A man who knows the right things, but cannot act upon it. He has said all of the right things, but his henchmen is doing the wrong. They are most likely following his orders. While his spewing hypocritical dogmas to the citizens through speeches and national addresses.

The man will continue to promise wealth and a brighter future. Alas, he has said it all before and its a repetition. It is recycling and things that could just be binned. The President will continue the same sort of dream. The dream that he made into a nightmare. A system he has created, a violent regime with the same issues as the ones he liberated the public from.

The only difference is that his on the top now. This time its not Obote or Amin, but its all Museveni. The President knows this… he came with a false promise and now the whole Republic is living under it. Peace.

Opinion: If Museveni could he would relaunch the Movement System

President Yoweri Tibuhaburwa Kaguta Musveni never wanted the Multi-Party Elections and a Multi-Party System. The President would have preferred that everyone was under the Movement System. Where everyone is sensitised and getting their patriotic teaching through the party. The Movement would take care of you and ensure your on the right track.

That is what President Museveni really wants. He would like to swallow everyone and have them all under his banner. This is why there was a Referendum in 2000 and again in 2005. Therefore, the first Multi-Party Election was in 2006. That gave the National Resistance Movement (NRM) the advantages ahead of it, as they had total control since 1986. That is 20 years of solid foundation and having appointed people where they needed.

The Movement System was already embedded, it was even a part of the 1995 Constitution. The state was fixed with Resistance Councils, which initially was Local Councils and Local Government. It is from there the state was controlled and how the supposed NRM became a “mass party”. That’s because it had the power in every aspect and kept siege over the seats from the bottom to the top. A fancy way of being a “one-party state”. 

That is why all parties that has challenged the President gotten into double jeopardy. The armed forces, the police force and everything else has been thrown at them. If this was Paul Ssemogerere, Kizza Besigye and now Robert Kyagulanyi. Everyone is feeling the blunt force and the retribution for challenging him.

In 2020 and 2021, we are repeating history yet again. The same forces are at use and the same means are taken against the opposition. The same is on the throne and he is not giving way. The President will use all means to stay there. Everything will go against the ones who goes against him. Either by the hook or by the crook. Nothing matters, as long as the ones challenging him is humiliated and hurt. They should go to him and kiss the ring.

President Museveni wants everyone under his wings. The man wants everyone to be on his beacon-call. The President wants to annihilate the opposition and get rid of all dissidents. He doesn’t want them, but got too. Just so he can score some brownie points and claim he brought democracy. Even, when it is not that deep, but only in the name.

If the President had his will. There wouldn’t be no Multi-Party Elections and be other parties than the Movement in the Republic. Because, everyone is supposed to follow him anyway. They are all wrong and deluded to stand up against him. These folks needs re-education and debriefed to understand the grandeur of the Movement. This is how it seems…

President Museveni wants to be the sole answer, the only leader and the kingpin. Museveni wants to be solution and have the automatically mandate to reign supreme. This is who he is. A President who only made it happen, because he was pushed and public wanted it.

The President would prefer to not only have the army, but have the whole public naturally assigned to the Movement. Without question and have them as “members” of his party. This is the sort of character he is. That is why nobody should challenge him, but people should just obey him. Peace.

Opinion: After the 27 guns his past became a mystery…

It is made like this for a reason. A man who has run a nation for 34 years and is a self-styled President for Life. That his willing to hide and bluntly classify his past. This being President Yoweri Tibuhaburwa Kaguta Museveni.

He has added another name, the President has added before the election before the Kaguta name. This time it was Tibuharburwa. However, his credentials and his academic documents is still under seal somewhere. If not it was burned in a fire, dodges in the midst of the bush-war or if not erased after he got into office.

The President might have erased the documents from the time he was a civil servant. The time he was in school in Ntare and so fourth. Because, he deleted and erased it. He could make up his own story. Make it into a myth. The story of a living legend. The President wants grandeur … and become legendary.

After the bush-war and the National Resistance Army (NRA) war against Obote and the others. The President sealed his fate and had to rewrite his life. So, that he could fit the paradigm of a Ugandan peasant turned into Head of State.

That is why he has added the name of the stepfather, Kaguta. Now, he has added the nickname he got from one of his grandmothers, Tibuhaburwa. It is all to play part of the fiction of his story. To ensure he can rewrite and make his life more interesting.

The President needs to do this, as he cannot unleash his documents. Then he would show a story, which he doesn’t want to tell. Maybe he learned this as a bureaucrat in the Research Bureau back-in-the-day.

As he knows, the story is more important than the truth. His been able to sell lies for years. The President hope he can do this again. The pieces he has given haven’t been coherent. It is all a fun tale of stories. The times and times of drops, it doesn’t make sense and he makes it seems so special. Alas, the stories from the people around sounds differently.

After the 27 guns, the man has changed and altered his story. This has all been a ploy with some sort of angle every single time. The action made in 2020 is for a reason too. His been pushed, but still haven’t delivered.

There must be a reason why its like this. The mustard seed isn’t growing and reaping good harvest. The President need more than a 10 pointer. The man needs to address it and heads on. He needs to reveal and put forward the truth.

It is like he has lived on a lie, thought he could get away it and not be undressed with time. The President thought he could dodge this.

Museveni have a story to tell, another one than the ones he did in the past. It is time for the real and not the propaganda. The man got to talk and be sincere. Not being a rich fresher affording a farm, which was new to him in the 1990s. Because, he wasn’t a fresher at the University in the 1990s, but he got into power in 1986.

So, the story there doesn’t make sense. This is why the old man with the hat got to stop lying and speak the truth. The President need to set the record straight. He might think its not important, but if he wants a proper legacy. It is needed, unless he wants lie until his six-feet under. Peace.