Opinion: It shouldn’t be this hard to make Museveni’s credentials public

It was the other day, when Lawyer Male Mabirizi petitioned and got the academic papers of the Presidential Candidate Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine. In a heartbeat, the various parts of government scrambled the documents and delivered those to the lawyer. That happen without any hesitation. It was all released for the world to see.

While in Mid-August 2020 another lawyer Muwanda Nkunyingi petitioned the same authorities for the academic credentials of the President. The incumbent, the man of 1986 and beyond. This lawyer was asking for the documents produced for the General Election 2016. However, by the time of early September, the 3rd to be exact. The Electoral Commission only took a few words and sentences from the Election Petition of Amama Mbabazi No.1 of 2018 in the Supreme Court. That is all the public gets.

The President haven’t dropped the gems from the University of Dar Es Salaam or Ntare School, which he has often mentioned several of times. Still, the man who worked in the Research Bureau at one point should have documents and be able to prove his credentials. That shouldn’t be a toxic question and impossible. Unless, he has buried it, because it makes him look weak and not as intellectual as he wishes to be. The President always want to be right and be the teacher. Maybe, his just a KRS-ONE, instead of a Professor X. Who knows, right?

We are now over the middle of September 2020. This means it has gone close to a 1,5 month since the lawyer petitioned the Electoral Commission. The Electoral Commission answered a few weeks later and the letter from the 3rd September leaked today to the public on the 21st September. This means, the EC and the authorities have no plan of making them public. Like they do with the other opposition candidates.

If they could just use a minute to release the Bobi Wine credentials. It should be super easy to have the man who has stood for elections and had to be verified every 5 years. They should have copies upon copies in their achieves. There should be documents and credentials going back to 1996 or 2001. The President should have certified copies there.

Unless, he has dropped all those, because he wants to bury his past. Trying to make himself legendary by digging all his past into the ground. If not ensuring the institutions he went to deleted his and burned his past work. God knows right?

For a man that has ruled since 1986. It is weird that this is so hard to get a copy. That the Electoral Commission and the Uganda National Examination Board (UNEB) isn’t able to produce more than a fragment of a court order from 2018. That is like dropping nothing and intending to not release it. Because, the authorities and the state are wavy about how the public will react when they see the real deal.

The President wants to be a man of wisdom, but these sort of actions isn’t wise. It only proves that his hiding something. That he has some skeletons in his closet. If it was nothing… then it would have been released yesterday. Just like all the letters where the President micro-manage and directs others to do his bidding.

It is not a sign of strength, but a sign of weakness when your hiding this. The public deserves better, but the man of the ages is afraid of releasing this. It might show he sucked in in the sciences or had to retake a class. Maybe he never finished the studies in Tanzania? Who knows?

But… something is up. We just don’t know what. Peace.

Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF): Operation to pursue escapees from Singila Government Prison in Moroto (17.09.2020)

Mzee is educating about the elements now… [water for now]

“Tryna stay above water, that’s why we shun the navy”Kendrick Lamar on ‘HiiiPower’ of Section80 (2011).

The Self-Styled President for Life, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni today dropped a small lesson on water. One of the 4 Classical Elements. In the next up-coming editions, he might tell about the earth, the wind (air) and the fire. He called today’s piece “Know Your Country”.

Alas, he drops more gems about his own life and family, as that is the knowledge you need to know. Also, to know that the old man has bought more land. As the rich head-of-state never seems to neglect his estates or his ownerships. It just keeps expanding and expanding.

Where the old man speaks of water-levels and the closeness of his interests in that. An old man is supposed to be interested in these things. These sort of futile and local questions, historical records and the amounts of changes over time. As if the youths are caring about this now. They have enough trouble to find ways to eat and get a gig in this gig economy.

It is weird that he drops a piece like this. He could instead focus on how he hasn’t secured water in the tap. How, he hasn’t made it sufficiently and effectively water in the villages and the neighbourhoods of the slums in the cities. However, that would make him look dumb and foolish. After over three decades in power.

His talking about the amount of water in the lakes and the historical flooding’s of it. That is insincerity. If he was a history buff, someone who was holding seminars on historical facts of the Republic. It would have been fine and dandy, but this man is the Commander-In-Chief, the Head of State, the Fountain of Honour and not some random water-boy speaking about inner-workings of the lakes.

Just to be a bit blunt, Merriam-Webster defines water like this:

“the liquid that descends from the clouds as rain, forms streams, lakes, and seas, and is a major constituent of all living matter and that when pure is an odorless, tasteless, very slightly compressible liquid oxide of hydrogen H2O which appears bluish in thick layers, freezes at 0° C and boils at 100° C, has a maximum density at 4° C and a high specific heat, is feebly ionized to hydrogen and hydroxyl ions, and is a poor conductor of electricity and a good solvent” (Merriam-Webster Dictionary – ‘Water’).

So, its weird that he picks that as a topic all of sudden. It’s all water baby. The old man says so. It’s all magic baby. No, I am kidding, but this is foolish. That uses his time and energy behind such a piece. His not even a lecture on WASH principals or the Scientist. He is a know it all and one that thinks he has the vision for everyone. Even if that is untrue. That is why his fuzzed mind, thinks this was a brilliant move too.

Alas, he has dropped knowledge on one of the 4 classical elements. Let’s see what he does next. Peace.

 

NRM Primaries: Rukutana MP gets a second life… [12 ghosts comes and saves him]

On the 9th September, Minister Mwesigwa Rukutana was announced as the loser of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Primaries, as he was supposed loser of the race for MP in Rushenyi County. Today on the 15th September 2020 he was released bail after using weapons and discharging guns at the winning team after the polls.

Not only was he released, but the NRM Electoral Commission have now announced him as a winner after a recount. This shows that the Bush-Men can win elections, even when they are loosing. There was to many Ministers losing, so the “high above” had to save him.

The man who has been a minister from 2001 to 2015 and Deputy Attorney General from 2015 to 2019. The State Minister for Labour still have to answer for the life of Dan Rweiburingi. The fatality after the post election violence that happen after Rukutana was announced the loser.

So, it’s not funny that the NRM EC and Dr. Tanga Odoi have now a week later changed the results. This just spitting in the face of the voters and the supposed members of the NRM. That is just a selection of a candidate, not an election. As the incumbent and big-man could just overturn the poll.

The NRM now says they didn’t count 12 polling stations before the first announced results. That sounds like ghosts appeared. Since, its weird that they didn’t have this on the first round. If you want contested results and questionable results. Then you delver life altering results this far after.

The person who has now lost the Flag-Bearer as MP for Rushenyi County for the NRM should petition the courts and go after the NRM EC. Especially since it out of nowhere there was 12 new polling stations.

The NRM must really believe in ghosts. Suddenly ghosts voted for the Minister and the ally of the President. To ensure his victory. They just appeared late after the fact.

If you want to believe in the results of an election. This is not the way to generate trust. Since, this seems like election rigging after the fact. Just to favour a beloved and trusted character of the President.

So, the ghosts of 12 polling stations gave him a second life, which is only because of his stature around the President. If he didn’t have a special place … he would have been ditched, but suddenly the NRM EC had a new tally. They could just configure the polls to fit the needs of the Rukutana. Peace.

A Breakdown: Oil Exploitation, which is so taxing… why are the deals confidential?

Today, the Government of Tanzania have together with the Government of Uganda signed off to a Host Government Agreement (HGA), also together with Total, the supposed builder of the East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP).

Today, all the years of waiting, stalling and finding measures of taxes pays-off. We can still wonder what is basic fee structure and what is the price of taxation of the extraction of oil exploitation in the Lake Albertine basin. In the same regard, we can wonder is the specific route for the pipeline and what consequences it will have to nature, reserves and national parks. Because, the drill itself is just in the near proximity of Murchinson Fall National Park. Before it will continue or pass through other untouched areas of both Uganda and Tanzania.

There is still not answers or openness about the deals in the regards to the Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC) and the Tanzania National Oil Company (TNOC), in combination to the ownership and licences of China National Offshore Oil Company (CNOOC) and Total. Therefore, there are plenty of stakeholders and everyone wants to profit on the resources.

With both Republics signing of the HGA agreement and preparing for the Final Investment Decision (FID). The building of the pipeline and the industry can start off. This has also been stopped by taxation and the questionable acquisitions of exploitation licences in Lake Albert. Therefore, the whole Heritage and Tullow taxation case and the costs it had for Total to pay off that. Is still not shown to the public or if the Government of Uganda has forgiven the past company to give way. While Tullow surely wanted profits for their time and the valuable licences they had gotten rights too in earlier rounds.

What is also worrying to me? Well, the deals are not public. The agreements between the Corporations and the Republics are practically unknown and only mere fragments is out. Just like the power-sharing of 60% to Tanzania and 40% to Uganda. Is still not saying much, considering this will be still carved up by Total and CNOOC too, also some sort of deal with UNOC and TNOC. These will not operate on charity, but as a benefactor of the Republic itself.

The public should know this, because it is public resources, state resources and oil exploitation on public land. The companies are using licences and also the same licenses to transport the crude oil in the pipeline from Lake Albert to Port Tanga. Therefore, it is needed to get this knowledge to show the price, the agreements and the possible perks. Because, we don’t if they even have strings or not.

We should wonder why its confidential and kept a secret. The companies should also be displeased, unless they like to exploit without any transparency. Because, these deals and arrangements haven’t been made transparent or with accountability. It has been done in the chambers of Entebbe and in Tanzania. The general public will only see a fraction and not know the full extent.

That is a deliberate action by Presidents and their handlers. The UNOC, TNOC, Total and CNOOC can operate without to much scrutiny and just enjoy the cheers. There is a need to know, but don’t expect it. Since, the GoU and GoT haven’t delivered this in past, neither has the GoU showed anything from the previous deals with Heritage/Tullow. Why should they suddenly change of heart?

I don’t think so… unless there is a sudden miracle. If not … if there is a shady deal and one company feels used and will take it to an international court. Then, we will see some evidence of what went down. However, until then… we only know the bits and pieces. Peace.

A Breakdown: Oil Exploitation, which is so taxing… can start if Tanzania signs a deal too..

Last year in September 2019, the Farm Down Agreement of Tullow Oil was supposed to be traded to Total E&P Uganda. This was a long and prolonged negotiations, as the British Tullow Oil has been in dispute of taxation and payments of fees the Government of Uganda, which was deemed as the “Presidential Handshake”.

What happen yesterday with the Financial Investment Decisions (FID) of Total, as it has taken over the stakes of Tullow Oil. While agreeing on added terms in combination with the China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) to drill after petroleum in various of blocks on Lake Albert, also build the petroleum pipeline from Hoima to Port Tanga, Tanzania.

The Port Tanga and Pipeline agreement was sealed in 2017 between the Government of Uganda (GoU) and Government of Tanzania (GoT). That after lots of meetings and consultations between the parties. There was some who even tried to get it Port Lamu in Kenya, but that was ditched. Also, causing a rift between Dodoma and Nairobi.

Now, the next step is that Total and CNOOC is able to get a Host Government Agreement (HGA) for the East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) project. That was agreed by the parties in Entebbe for the territory of Uganda, but it is not sealed with Tanzania.

Though it should be in the interest to sign an agreement with President Magufuli and the CCM. Now, that they have fixed the first part and the licences to drill on Lake Albert. Total and CNOOC needs the HGA in Tanzania too. That will be beneficial for the Republic there too.

This has been a long time… the first reports of agreements and production licenses to blocks on Lake Albert in early 2000s. This was agreements being made between the government and the Tullow/Heritage and ENI as well. Which later has caused rift between the companies and the Republic, as the Oil Companies wasn’t willing to pay taxes and the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) needed to win a Court Case in 2014 to get taxes owned paid by Tullow, as they had to cover the loss of taxes from their acquisition of Heritage Oil.

So, the news today is big. Maybe, the President got another Presidential Handshake, as the Tullow Oil Taxes case brought a lot of kickbacks. The deals sealed between Museveni and Total is a secret. Therefore, only the agreement of what it does is in public, but not the costs, the tax-grade and the limitations of it. Total and CNOOC can have gotten it for cheap for all we know.

That is something for the time to tell. Now, the Lake Albert Basin, the Lake Albert Blocks for drilling is sealed, which has been in question and awaited a verdict for years. The same has the years of a agreement for a company to build the pipeline and pay the rates for having the operation going.

Now, there is one final agreement that needs to be sealed in Tanzania. By all means, the Republic’s needs also to settle the routes, the land-acquisitions and other arrangements too. While the other HGA is necessary to get started. As the process is now moving. The initial agreements are made, but the companies still needs goodwill elsewhere to make this pop-off. This will be years in the making. As the state of Uganda is scheduling a Oil Refinery in 2023, but that depends on everything else goes as planned at this point.

And in this business, at this point, everything that can be stalled and discontinued can happen. Even, if one of the companies stops seeing the financial viability and lack of profits. Than, they might suspend and try to sell the Producing Licenses Agreement to someone else again.

I wouldn’t be shocked, if Total bails out or something. There been so many companies involved and we are still not starting production. This being in the works since the early 2000s with the modern day deals and new arrangement for petroleum activity in the Lake Albert basin. That is why I am reluctant. Because, at any given moment, someone gives way and it sto

Opinion: Museveni, Meal-Ticket Politicians is your “invention” …

Politics is working for the people, to get them out of poverty and solve their problems, not to escape poverty for your own self” – President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni (10.09.2020)

That someone who has rebuilt and remade the political system, the one who has made the new constitution and signed off laws, which has commercialized politics. This being the price of party nominations and the price to pay for nomination forms to the Electoral Commission. Together with the hefty salaries, allowances and perks in-office. The ability to spend the fortunes comes with the opportunities of getting in office after paying back the fees to stand as a flag-bearer.

The National Resistance Movement (NRM) and all their leaders have made this system. Ever since the Constitution of 1995 and the laws for elections that has been made with deliberate action. The NRM knows this and the President knows this too.

That’s why his a bit delusional when he says this:

The main reason why people are fighting hard to go to Parliament is because MPs increased their salary. They earn more than scientists and many other important people to our country. I tried telling them not to do it but they insisted. Now, people want to leave their other work to go to Parliament and earn much. Yet, their motivation should be to serve their people rather than earn from Parliament” (Museveni, 10.09.2020).

Because, the President knows about the rise of salaries and allowances within the Parliament and for the Representatives. The NRM have promoted this and made it more profitable to become an MP. They are getting suits, cars, salaries and allowances, which are really making people millionaires over night.

The President knows this very well. Museveni have made this all happen. While endorsing it and knowingly that the cronies have gotten the wealth. The men loyal to him would get a pay-off and kick-backs from the state. That is why the ideal to run for office isn’t all about the representation, but getting rich. This is not strange, as the MPs and candidates has to spend massive amount of money to able to get in office. That has to later be repaid … and therefore, the knowledge of the costs and the needs to get covered after the campaigns.

So, initially the President is saying the rights things, but his actions has made this system. That is why I am not so forgiving. He has promoted and built this regime. That has all benefited him and his associates. If it wasn’t so, this wouldn’t be like this. The whole system and policies have been enacted within the reach of this Presidency. This wasn’t relics of previous regimes, but his own.

President Museveni can be right, but is terribly wrong at the same time. If he was against it. Why didn’t he act upon it? Well, he wants loyal allies and the easiest way is to pay them off, instead of giving them credit. The President, if he didn’t want this to become like this. He wouldn’t have supported, helped and built the system up this way.

That’s why these statements made by him is hypocrisy… however, that is his M.O. these days. Sounds correct, but acts a fool. Hoping nobody catches his game. Peace.

NRM Primaries: Mzee’s defence is surreal… Part II

Yesterday, the first defence of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Primary Elections of 2020 came out. Today, the second edition came out. Now, he has to drop the skulls of the Luweero Triangle to warn people standing in his way. Even if the whole NRM is filled with his vision and his party culture. If it is like it is, it’s because the man has created this monster and he runs it. This is what his liberation party have become too. As the power corrupts and destroys. It even does it to its own.

He defends the lining behind candidates for stopping election rigging, however that hasn’t been the case. The President continues with the village scenario, even if the cattle corridor with the men of power and close association with you are the ones behind the worst violence. You don’t name-drop them, and the open bribery of the big-men. They are not looked after, but only for political brownie-points.

That is why you wrote this:

However, I want, for now, to repeat a few points. By going back to lining behind candidates, the NRM laid a good trap for the cheaters (the riggers). The voting is done and concluded in each village and the scores are witnessed by hundreds of People. It is shallow criminality to think that you can enter false numbers on a piece of paper known as DR form and that that will give you the flag. You will end in prison for forgery and subversion instead of Parliament. An audit of village by village will expose you. The villages have not shifted. They are still there. Even if you bribe the agents of the victim candidate to tell lies, the People who voted are there. They will bring out the facts” (Museveni, 08.09.2020).

The NRM knows this and the President knows this. It wasn’t a trap, it wasn’t a trick, but a cheap way of using old methods of voting. As the school-yard picking captain for a team is the way your picking leaders, lawmakers and MPs. That shows how the lack of secret ballots and voting. Because, the art-of-peer pressure is the thing of the 2020 apparently.

In the age of social distancing, the President calls this a trap for cheaters. They could all stand in line, but the numbers could still be rigged. Who knows how many who stood in line at any given time? There is no proof? Only talk and rumours after the fact? If the ones counting them switched the amount and even miscounted.

That is why its really rich to defend it like that. Use these means… and being proud of re-using methods that the NRM was supposed to stop and ensure more credible elections. Alas, the NRM uses the means of the parties, which it was supposed liberate from. The rigging, bribery and untrustworthy elections is the reason for the existence of the NRA/NRM and the loss of lives in the Luweero Triangle. However, these lives are now used to defend the same tactics and same means as the ones he opposed back-in-the-day.

That is why this defence script part II is surreal. He is defending the same reasons for what brought him to the bush. He is running similar operation to the ones he went to war for. That is why the grievances within his party is even more richer. The use of all means to get ahead. The mentality and the party culture cultivated by this man. The man who was supposed to bring a fundamental change.

That change is apparently more of the same. The same greed, the same addiction of power and misuse of it.

The President can promise the right things, say the right things, but as long as he promotes the wrong ones. It doesn’t make it true or make sense. If he didn’t use these means himself and techniques, he wouldn’t be ahead himself. He isn’t in office because of love, but for the power of the gun. Peace.

Uganda Peoples Congress (UPC): Court Appeal Judgement Overtaken by Events (08.09.2020)

OTT Madness Part II: A Crackdown on Online Publications…

Yesterday, the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) issued a statement that they would need to obtain persons who are operating online and publishing content online. That is not only blogs, but video and media in general. This is if you are on social media or just a blogger. Everyone in the Republic must be authorized and registered as such to be regulated by the UCC.

This is happening in the short span of the Over-The-Top Taxes, the Social Media Tax, the 200 shillings of doom. The state continues their crackdown and wanting to monitor and control the publications, the content online. This is a deliberate effort to know about who is behind the online media and who is posting online content.

That is happening, while the state combined with their institutions are gearing up for a “Scientific” election in 2021. As the campaigns, the electorate and the political operatives must use either online outlets or print media. If not broadcasting either on-air og on television.

So, it’s not shocking that the UCC does this. Just like it did the Sim-Registration drive as well. They are suddenly acting swift in the name of the authorities to ensure they can have access and control of a certain part of the public space.

It is just interesting that they need this now. Just as the Electoral Commission and everyone else is gearing up for the various of flag-bearers and candidates. That they need to access these places, knowing about the news publications on Facebook, the ones dropping teasers on Instagram and the verified accounts on Twitter. Because, that is suddenly important now. So, they can deem your ass fit or not.

They will likely try to crash down on the media houses, the outlets and the publications who are deliberately spreading bad news for the regime. The ones who like TVO style and hurt the pride of Muhoozi and Bosco. That is just life, I suppose and how narrow minded the regime is at this point.

The OTT Tax and Social Media Tax is just a proof of how far the state will go. That is already limiting the space online and the amount of content. With this, the people will be even more limited and the ones who has their own platforms and uses it. Has to register and maybe will be revoked. Even if they have paid a third-party, have agreements and payment-plans for their operations. Still, the UCC can and will stop you from doing so.

The state has pushed for digital and online campaigns, but these sorts of actions speaks another tone. Seemingly, the only one allowed in the end is the “NRM Friendly Press” and “Associates of the Online Brigade”. The NRM SOMA and outreaches of Uganda Media Centre are allowed to operate, the ones like Ashburg and other content creators. While the rest are blocked or lost their privileges by the state. I don’t believe the UCC does this to be kind and keep a registry for “fun”. No, this is not that sort of business and the UCC isn’t a friendly uncle, but a tool for limiting the freedom of expression.

The ones who differs, be your guest, but don’t be shocked if someone loses their livelihoods and their platform. Because, they are voices of dissidents and the opposition. The ones who dares to speak against the President and his Party. They are all under fire by this. The NRM operatives will move along and get even more space. However, the others will be in trouble…

This is a crackdown; we just don’t know to what extent. The UCC will claim and say otherwise, but we all know the drill. Peace.