Uganda – Some reports from the Local Primaries Election in the NRM-Party

MuseveniNRM2016Election

If you thought the weekends reactions to the FDC party and their struggles to do party work and campaigning that has been an issue for a long time. The interesting about what I have seen and gotten news about, is how the Police and the Public is reacting in the ruling NRM-Party! While doing their duties to vote in the Primaries Election. So they can pick the ones to elect their own local leaders and who set to represent their area and a possible MP in the future. NRM-Regime goes even too far with the rigging and malpractices with the NRM Electoral Process and Commission who let this practices happening. We can see what has happen today and the reports are staggering, also with the former day’s events in Ngarama and Lwengo. All of the reports from National Resistance Movement Primaries should be seen as a warning. This is not looking good and with all the reactions the results and local disarray can be seen as the people see through the malpractices and rigging.

First issues – Ngarama:

“Supporters of Mr Benon Matsiko Kyampa, who was contesting for NRM flag for Ngarama LC3 top seat stormed the sub-county headquarters where they abandoned their party cards protesting poll results announced by the sub-county registrar, Mr Robert Baingana, in favour of Mr Silver Kiiza”. This led to even rubber bullets and agony in the district. So the way the police is used to quell issues is really a pattern. Which lead to this: “The deputy RDC Isingiro, Mr Damiano Turyatunga, said they will investigate why police fired bullets and will ensure calm is restored in the area” (Mugume, 2015).

Second issues – Lwengo:

“Ruling NRM party supporters in Lwengo District have threatened to boycott party primary elections over alleged inflation of voters registers. The supporters claim that a big number of registers in the district have been bloated with names of people who are not NRM supporters- something they say is a plot to rig votes in favour of some candidates” (…)”Ms Nakabira said she had discovered that some NRM village registers contain several names than those in the national voters register of the Electoral Commission. “Our party electoral commission should not bother bringing election materials to Lwengo District if they fail to sort out this mess. It will be a political suicide to take part in an election where registers have been filled up with ghost names,” she said” (Malik, 2015).

There have been reports that the District Leader George Mutabazi has fled the offices and area with the ballot boxes.

Sembabula NRM Office

Third Issue – Sembabule:

There been reports of fraud there in local elections as well and the NRM members couldn’t accept it. Therefore they set the NRM office on fire this 13.10.2015.

Fourth Issue – Kyannamukaaka, Masaka District:

Because of electoral issues and vote rigging NRM members has put on fire their member cards and also been as vile as peeing on Museveni T-Shirts as an reactions to rigging of the local elections. More from the Masaka District is that NRM has withheld the elections results and the reasons are that the winners in the district are suspected to be friendly to Amama Mbabazi. This is happening today!

Also from another source is this:

“This afternoon, Masaka District NRM party Registrar declared Ssekiwala winner after polling 2664 votes against Ssebulas 1780 votes. However, the declaration of Ssekiwala as winner has not gone down well with Ssebulas supporters” (Bindhe, 2015).

Fifth Issue:

There was another NRM office that was lit on fire. This was Isingiro on Sunday 3: AM, it apparently destroyed the older files from 2011 Elections and a dozen other party official papers.

Second Source:

She however, wants the complaints to produce evidence to substantiate their claims of rigging” (…)”Angry voters throwing pelting NRM party cards after disagreeing with NRM party officials at Endinzi sub county headquarters in Isingiro district” (Kabasongora, 2015).

Six issue – Bundibugyo:

“According to Idrisa, initially, Kifunga announced Steven Mugisa as the winners of the Bubukwanga Sub County chairperson NRM party ticket but later altered the results and declared his rival George Baluku” (Muhindo, 2015).

NRM 131015

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUupguzBx8s

Praise for the NRM Electoral Commission:

While this has happen during the elections in the NRM there are certain people who are impressed by the work. MP Cecilia Ogwal said: “”Dr. Odoi should be reassigned to assist Kiggundu because what he is doing is so impressive” (…)”We feel the impact of their confusion and I want the process to be peaceful” (Okino, 2015).

We can all see that there is a tone in the day and recent days when it comes to the NRM Primaries. The results and reactions show the issues that this Primaries Elections in the NRM are turning into a farce. Where the actual election doesn’t really matter and members of the party feels fooled. Therefore going into means that are harsh realities are not sinking in.

This is important when the ruling elite and the main NRM-Regime are shielding in a way. They are shielding the elite and handpicking their loyal candidates, but not the ones that might be wished from the grassroot-organization who might want another candidate and get a change of leadership. With the rigging happening then the exercise and voting is just a planned move so that it looks like a democratic choice. That is what is happening if you score away the local constituencies from picking their men or woman to be representatives. This is what has happen. And that makes the process illegitimate. The representative won’t actual represent the people, but the rigging Electoral Commission of the NRM. The Local Council and MPs might be “elected”, but in reality just picked by the Commission not the people of the Party and Organization. When there has already been famous for the rigging of the General Election in 2011. This here is a new low. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni party is rigging itself and people are reacting. This can only get more interesting. Just as this picture from a Cell in a Prison where they kept the Electoral Ballot Boxes for the Primaries in the area. This was taken photo from somebody kept in Prison of the FDC. Peace.  

NRM Material from Sanga Jail 101015

Reference:

Bindhe, Edward – ‘Angry NRM Supporters Burn, Urinate on Museveni T-Shirts’ (13.10.2015) Link: http://ugandaradionetwork.com/story/rioting-nrm-losers-burn-cards-urinate-at-museveni-t-shirts-as-pro-mbabazi-candidates-denied-victory#ixzz3oSx6lNLZ

Mugume, Chris – ‘Residents throw away NRM cards over vote rigging’ (09.10.2015) link: http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Residents-throw-away-NRM-cards-over-vote-rigging/-/688334/2905272/-/pmw73q/-/index.html

Okino, Patrick – ‘Ogwal praises ‘impressive’ work done by Odoi’ (13.10.2015) link: http://www.elections.co.ug/new-vision/election/1343246/ogwal-praises-impressive-odoi

Malik, Fahad Jjingo – ‘NRM voters threaten polls boycott’ (13.10.2015) link: http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/NRM-voters-threaten-polls-boycott/-/688334/2910484/-/ra7fg1/-/index.html

Muhindo, Patrick – ‘Bundibugyo NRM Members Return Cards Citing Mismanagement of Primaries’ (13.10.2015) Link: http://ugandaradionetwork.com/story/bundibugyo-nrm-members-return-cards-over-mismanagement-of-party-primaries#ixzz3oSy1V3SW

Kabasongora, Mariam – ‘NRM Officials Rush to Bukanga County to Calm Down Angry Voters’ (13.10.2015) Link: http://ugandaradionetwork.com/story/nrm-leaders-security-team-rush-to-bukanga-county-to-quell-tension-among-angry-voters-#ixzz3oSyUjfPS

Press Release: FDC mobilization goes to Eastern Uganda (12.10.2015)

FDC 121015 P1FDC 121015 P2FDC 121015 P3FDC 121015 P4

Press Release: UPF comments on their actions this weekend (12.10.2015)

Uganda FDC 101015 P3 Rukungiri

On Saturday 10/10/2025 at about 1130hrs at Kanyalyeru along Masaka-Mbarara road, the FDC convey proceeding to Rukungiri District for campaigns was stopped. One Naigaga Fatuma undressed herself, falsely claimed that security undressed her later and insulted the Police. She was arrested and later released with the rest of her colleagues and were instructed to go back to Kampala. Security has noted that some of these people are hired goons who are ready to undress or do anything to create an impression that they are being harassed by security personnel.
Of recent, several politicians especially the opposition, have adopted nudity of adult women of all ages as a form of political and protest action. In Uganda, the FDC as a party are using it as a statement to give life to their political ambitions over sympathetic voters.


Although the naked body has been used as an instrument of protest or tool of objection by many different groups of activists, it is a provocative technique where some activist present themselves in a deliberately provocative way in order to shock the viewer and draw awareness to their political and social protest.
As you must all be aware, in our country barring one’s body in public not only remains a taboo but is also perceived as a disturbance of proper public order. It is in addition exploitative and an insult to women and their valves, especially where they are hired to indecently expose their nakedness.
We want to appeal to the public especially young women to guard against such acts of criminality and further caution the media from displaying such brazenly disturbing photos and video footages.
In the most recent incident, of a female political activist indecently exposing her nakedness, is a subject of investigation who will be charged in due course.

CP Fred Enanga
Public Relations Officer
Uganda Police Force
12/10/2015

My afterthought: 

You can’t be serious? What have you been smoking in your pipe? (Certainly not Tobacco) Get real, CP Fred Enanga! Your proud force – used bad methods and used force aganst a political party. Be real! Grow up! This is some shallow nonsense that nobody deserves the actions that happen this weekend. It was caught on tape and the pictures is telling the tale for itself. You can easilly find it on Social Media. Your acting foolish and vile. And the world has seen it now. You can lie for you boss and your cronies. But we the rest can see through it. Step your game up and act with real policing for a change. You want appeal to us and getting us to stop showing the madness you have given the public? Get serious. Digital age is attacking you and your lies. And the footage is showing it so strongly. What you should instead of dropping this utter nonsense. Your people was doing it! Actual teach your police force some manners and also if Uganda has a multi-party democracy! Then the Police should give space to FDC to have public rallies without crashing them with police, tear-gas and crashing their cars on the roads form Kampala towards Rukungiri. Maybe the UPF should look into that?

And if you wonder! I am furious at this BS! Peace.

A Weekend where the Police is creating havoc in Uganda and the FDC is the prey.

Uganda FDC 101015 P3 Rukungiri

It’s been two days since the 53rd Independence Day in Uganda. Yesterday was a day of mayhem from the Police against the political party of FDC. They trashed the cars and sent people who were going to the event in Rukungiri. On the road in the Greater Masaka area DPC Maximal Ogwang even put metal trenches to stop the cars. The pictures from yesterday tell its tale. The FDC  people that had issues with the police and also got into trouble because of their travels was Hon. Godfrey Ekanya, Hon. Patrick Amuriat, Fred Turya, Dr. Kizza Besigye, Hon. Amuriat Semujju and Hon. Kevina Taaka.

In Rukungiri this led to arrests of unnamed people who were a part of the organization who was setting up the equipment for the event and arrangement. DPC Wotwali just followed ordered from up high.

The day before the NRM had issues in another district. This after the NRM-Regime got in trouble with vote rigging. “Supporters of Mr Benon Matsiko Kyampa, who was contesting for NRM flag for Ngarama LC3 top seat stormed the sub-county headquarters where they abandoned their party cards protesting poll results announced by the sub-county registrar, Mr Robert Baingana, in favour of Mr Silver Kiiza”. This led to even rubber bullets and agony in the district. So the way the police is used to quell issues is really a pattern. Which lead to this: “The deputy RDC Isingiro, Mr Damiano Turyatunga, said they will investigate why police fired bullets and will ensure calm is restored in the area” (Mugume, 2015).

But let me go back to the troubles of the FDC:

And he did this because of this:

Press Release and Letter from the IGP Kale Kayihura

Later on the day the FDC men got released from the prisons they we’re put in. The worst was seeing the pictures of Fatuma Zaina was put on a truck and undressed in a display from the police that isn’t justified anywhere in the world.

In Rukungiri the people who were supposed to attend even went to the Police station to get the people freed from custody. The reports I have has said that even the people was jailed where freed after the reactions from the people in the town.

Museveni Gulu 091015

In the same time as this happen to the opposition the President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni said this in Gulu:

“It is that if the country is going into election, some ‘people’ threaten violence, Uganda has long passed that kind of nonsense that portrays backwardness” (…)”I thought in elections you just talk and convince people, but in any case you want to cause violence, we also know how we shall deal with you because we shall not tolerate it” (Makumbi & Ocungi, 2015).

So the actions happening in the rest of the country towards the FDC is in his own words backwards. IGP Kale Kayihura has gone back in time and dropped the knowledge of oppressive behavior and misuse of the Public Order Management Act (POMA). That is because the President himself must fear the power of the FDC since he even gets the DPC to destroy the cars of they have.

To an extent yesterday the Danish Ambassador of Uganda had to go to the police and got Dr. Kizza Besigye and other FDC members out of prison. That tells the dire straits of the lawfulness. The Police of Uganda even drove him back to Kampala after the incidents on the road from Rukugiri. The same day after similar incident his own car was towed to Lyantonde. Where it surely still is sitting since the Police destroyed and trashed a few cars likes of Hon. Ekanya and Hon. Wafula.

Today this Sunday the 11th October there been report that the once who got the FDC leaders out of prison in Lyantonde has themselves ended up in cells there. This people are FDC chairman in town Yusuf Matovu, Woman’s secretary of town Yudaya Naiga and Chairman of the Town-Council Richard Kayondo. The DPC in the area must be irritated man and need some love!

The brutality and sadness of reporting this! But somebody got to show the suspect behavior that continues into a brutality that is inhumane. The way they crashed the cars and undressed a certain FDC woman is insane!

Besigye 101015

Kizza-Besigye said”It’s very clear that the NRM and Museveni Police and Electoral Commission are intent on denying the opposition a chance fair chance to compete. This further underlines the fundamental importance of fighting for political reforms. It further shows why we must have a defiant campaign”.

I also will show back to something I even wrote a time back. Read this:

President Yoweri Kaguta Musveni Campaign of Fear

The must be a change from the Police and NRM-Regime. The way the FDC political leaders, men and woman of the political party treatment are dire and sadden. Nothing about the recent events is about justice and rule of law. IGP Kale Kayihura and his DPC have taken the levels of bullishness to another level.

What happen on the road and convoys of FDC personnel is just astonishing. The way the cars and upon cars with police in Rukungiri and the way they shut it down was insane. The warnings and arguments from the IGP is misuse of the POMA law. Amama Mbabazi must be sad the way he argued for the law a few years back.

Refering the POMA as this: “A short trip back in history will show that the POMA was designed in the heat of the Walk-to-Work (W2W) protests led by opposition leader Colonel Kizza Besigye. Besigye has thrice stood against President Museveni, with the latest controversial poll on 18 February 2011 being won by the incumbent. In a broad sense, the POMA can therefore be referred to as the ‘Anti-Besigye Act’ or the ‘ABA’, as it was clearly designed to tighten the grip of the Police and security forces in the wake of the protests which rocked the country in the aftermath of the election” (…)”Secondly, the ABA/POMA places an inordinate degree of discretionary power in the police, and specifically in the inspector general. This is obviously problematic because it makes the IGP prosecutor and judge in his own case, violating basic principles of natural justice. Thirdly, the law gives lower-ranking police officers the perfect excuse not to take action which supports human rights. Rather, they are encouraged to curtail them. Hence, the first words out of the mouths of officers charged with breaking up an opposition demonstration are: ‘I’m (simply) acting on orders from above’” (Oloka-Onyango, 2014).

POMA is used as the Anti-FDC law and give the token to Police to cross all levels of human dignity to against the opposition. The way this weekend has unfolded and the way the words has been said. Justice it’s not. Dignity isn’t something the NRM-Regime is showing to the world. The way and run up to the election will be violent. Not because the Opposition is gripping and being violent. It’s because the Ugandan Police Force is using rubber bullets, tear-gas and undressing woman in broad daylight. Also trashing cars and showing it’s true color. Museveni isn’t a man who can be proud of his loyal cronies. Since the actions are just dire and sad. The grips of power are now put into a state where the state is using the force and laws in ways that shouldn’t have occurred. This will light the fire of the opposition and give more energy to the struggle against the NRM-Regime. Not because the Opposition is always right. But because the NRM-Regime is so wrong and acting so insincere. There no justice in the vile attempt to secure peace.

The IGP Kale Kayihura and Yoweri Kaguta Museveni need a reality check. The recent events happen on their watch and the world is watching. People like me won’t accept that. Peace.

Reference:

Mugume, Chris – ‘Residents throw away NRM cards over vote rigging’ (09.10.2015) link: http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Residents-throw-away-NRM-cards-over-vote-rigging/-/688334/2905272/-/pmw73q/-/index.html

Makumbi, Cissy & Ocungi, Julius – ‘No violence in 2016 election – Museveni’ (11.10.2015) link: http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/No-violence-in-2016-election—Museveni/-/688334/2907504/-/4chm5c/-/index.html

Oloka-Onyango – ‘Understanding the genesis and impact of recent legislation in Uganda’ (05.01.2014) link: http://www.pambazuka.net/en/category.php/features/91567/print

 

Press Release and letter (OPS/175/219/01) from IGP Kale Kayihura on the Planned FDC rally in Rukungiri (09.10.2015)

Press Release 091015091015 IGP Kale

Prof. Gilbert Bukenya kissed the ring of President Museveni.

Bukenya A

TDA loose yet another pivotal man:

Mr. Mahogany or should I say his Christian name Gilbert Balibaseka Bukenya the former VP of the Republic of Uganda who himself went independent after being kicked out of NRM. He has today or very recent for some reason kissed the ring of his former leader Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.

The professor has said this: “TDA was poisoned and people who are there are very greedy. President Museveni has the right qualifications to lead this country” (…)”On four occasions, I met four different people who came to ask me to go back to the NRM. On the first and second time, I was not convinced. I was convinced on the third and fourth time, when they told me president Museveni has some good ideas. President Museveni promised me to fight poverty and land matters” (Daily Monitor, 2015).

For a brother who turned independent after losing his position in the NRM. President Museveni took him down and changed leadership because he had a plan in 2011 to go against His Excellency. His journey and saying now that President Museveni is the right guy in 2015 seems weird. Even for a man who has been loyal and kept close to the President.  

NRM

Reasons for this turn around are very dire:

“Sources say the group listed to Bukenya’s grievances against Museveni and later agreed with him that some of the issues he had raised were reconcilable” (…)”However sources told the New Vision that the two agreed that President Museveni would support Bukenya to defend his Parliamentary seat and campaign for him on top of securing for the former VP a position in the NRM highest decision making organ, Central Executive Committee” (…)”In return Bukenya would support and campaign for the President. Sources also said that former Vice President also requested he be appointed to cabinet in the next term” (Etukuri, 2015).

When you see this there will be more supporting of Pakalast-NRM ticket of Museveni. In turn he will go away for the unity of TDA that becomes smaller and smaller. With the FDC and Bukenya left the fold months before the actual event. Wonder if Norbert Mao, Akena, Otunnu and the other ones who still is a part of Alliance feels betrayed.

Bukenya has been bought for loyalty. He has done that before with CHOGM money. The indictment from 2011 says this:

“PROF. DR. GILBERT BUKENYA being a person employed as Vice President in the Government of the Republic of Uganda and Chairman of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) Cabinet Sub-Committee, on various dates between December 2006 and November 2007 within Kampala district did unlawfully and high handedly direct to be done arbitrary acts prejudicial to the interests of the Uganda Government, in abuse of his office; to wit; influencing and directing the award of the Contract for Supply of Executive Vehicles intended for use during Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2007, to Motorcare (U) LTD in total disregard of the laws, regulations and practices governing Public Procurements in the Republic of Uganda”.

If that tells what he can do and get gains then it isn’t a new thing from Prof. Gilbert Bukenya that he now will be bought by the NRM-Regime and in the end now get a position in the NRM CEC, the price his loyalty and support on the road on the Campaign for the Presidential Election for 2016. And all of this is a sad view for TDA and opposition that a deflected candidate can turn back to his fold again. This shows the weakness and also the power of reach that President Museveni still has over some of his former cadres. And for an outsider who was running for the Flag-Bearer for the Opposition Alliance of the TDA and when Amama Mbabazi got it. Then later totally go back to his former boss. This is a scary scenario and proves how little strength there is left in the TDA. Prof. Gilbert Bukenya has become a crony again. Become a part of the set-up of the NRM-Regime and given up. Mr. Mahogany is now going back for a secure paycheck. Sure I hope he has kept parts of the Exclusive Vehicles because this is just another foolish turn of events. On Independence Day of all days, proves that the Professor can’t be independent at all. Especially that he and some other can be bought with promises of positions in NRM-Organization.

Oh golly, this is from the same man that said this in February 2015:

““I am a professor of medicine and I am supposed to gesture while stressing a point. As a teacher, I am supposed to communicate well. There is no way you can say that I am the one copying Museveni. May be its President Museveni copying me. I am a professor and he is not. Who should copy the other?” (…)”I remember in 1986, President Museveni said the biggest problem of Africa is leaders who overstay in power. Unfortunately he has become that very problem. He is now Uganda’s biggest problem. The President should avoid killing the legacy he has struggled to build throughout his life” (…)”We went around the country asking voters to give Museveni one more term. But now, there is every indication that he is set to become a life president” (…)”President Museveni has been in power for over 29 years but our hospitals are in a terrible state. He has failed to even repair the 29 hospitals Dr. Milton Obote built. Whereas he calls him swine, Obote did better than Museveni in this area” (Mulondo & Oryema, 2015).

When a brother can say this and months later kiss the ring! You sure know that Museveni can bring everybody back or get them soften their approach against him. I am sure if Museveni wanted and could bring a sweet enough meal Amama Mbabazi would turn back. Though I know and others should by now know that Mbabazi was also a part of the CHOGM scandal as Bukenya.  He has gone from being in opposition fighting the NRM-Regime for a little second. When he even in February this year said he was “Uganda’s Problem” to now in October he is saying “President Museveni has the right qualifications to lead this country”. There are surely shows the powers of what a few pieces of silver can do. Peace.

Reference:

Daily Monitor – ‘Prof Bukenya makes U-turn, pledges support for Museveni come 2016’ (09.10.2015) link: http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Prof-Bukenya-makes-U-turn-pledges-Museveni/-/688334/2906144/-/9qem5wz/-/index.html

Etukuri, Charles – ‘Bukenya makes U turn, supports Museveni’ (09.10.2015) link: http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/674310-bukenya-makes-u-turn-supports-museveni.html

Mulondo, Moses & Oryema, Kennedy – ‘Museveni is Uganda’s biggest problem – Bukenya’ (11.02.2015) link: http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/664720-museveni-is-uganda-s-biggest-problem-bukenya.html

Uganda – 53rd Independence Day Message from Yoweri K. Museveni, Dr. Kizza Besigye and Amama Mbabazi!

YKM 53 Ann Message

(YKM will hold a speech later today on Kololo Airstrip. Sure it will give even more “insights”)

But before that, enjoy the message from the FDC Flag-bearer!

Dr. Kizza Besigye Independence day message:

Independence Is not about just changing flag. In this county, Ugandans do not control the means of production. production is governed by two cardinal factors.
One land
We have Ugandans who are completely landless, they have no rights to land. They don’t have control over their natural resources including the most basic one which is water. The only natural resource they control is air.

Ugandans do not control the capital assets and they don’t control their labor. They are toiling for free. Govt has failed to put in place policies. Those who are lucky are exploited. They are modern slaves.
They don’t have control of technology.

The majority of Ugandans have no say in the trade and exchange policies. Wat ever little they make is taken for less.
We have no control over our taxes and expenditures.
We have a citizenry who are powerless after more than a quarter of a century.

The unprecedented poverty and unemployment.
These conditions will not change until the people of Ugandan acquire their power..

As we mark the 54th independence, Ugandans must regain their power. This is the most fundamental tasks of our people.

A powerless Citzen has no business in an election. Ugandans are still defrenchised as when they didn’t have votes.
You have a piece of paper without power.

I would like to invite our fellow citizen to rethink their role and how they determine it in the next election.
We are refuges in our country.

To gain power we must do three things.
We must realize that we don’t have power and without it, nothing will change.
We must regain our confidence as Citizens that this is our country.
With a confident citize we must get power the rest is easy.
We must stand up and say no. We are not going to be dominated again.
That unity is a unity of purpose. We need to get together inorder to regain our power. Not to get together to comply with our oppressor.
Some people want us together to comply with our oppressor.
We must defy our oppressor.
Those who want to organise to defy the oppressor to regain our power, am going to join them all the way.
Those who want to comply with the oppressor, I won’t be on their side.

Am happy on the Eve of Independence, am excited about the young people who are setting the agenda.
Am excited about the young people in MUK who are saying NO to the 100% tuition payment. We shall set the agenda.
The young people will lead the way to our liberation.
Am joining the 54th year of independent with hope. Am only disappointed where everybody is up for sale.
When I was moving around the country, poor Ugandans were giving me money to liberate our country.
We shall use our meager resources to liberate our country.
God Bless You.

(And the last Amama Mbabazi and the TDA:)

Amama 53rd

Statement by Center for Constitutional Governance on the 20th Anniversary of the 1995 Constitution of Uganda (08.10.2015)

the-1995-constitution-was-very-clear-on-two-terms-but-museveni-used-parliament-to-remove-term-limits
Today marks the 20th Anniversary of the 1995 Constitution as Amended. Many, if not all African countries have Constitutions. It is one thing to have a Constitution; it is another to practice Constitutionalism.
Constitutionalism presupposes three things:
i) A belief in the Constitution by many political parties and political leaders. If the main political actors do not believe in Constitutionalism, you may have a constitution as a mere document with no constitutionalism;
ii) Recognition of its importance by the main actors in the citizenry or population. If the Constitution is of relevance to a few people in the capital, in the political parties or academia; then you cannot have constitutionalism where there is no minimum consciousness by major actors amongst the population.

iii) Presence of organized political forces that are not only interested in constitutionalism but are ready to defend it.
Once you don’t have the above three elements, you cannot have constitutionalism – a belief needed by the major political actors, recognition of its importance by the citizens or its major actors and the presence of organized political forces that are prepared to defend it. If these tenets are not present, constitutionalism becomes an academic or religious ritual; the way like many people say “our father who art in heaven, or hail Mary full of grace”.
A constitution may also become a ritual if the above elements are not present among the political leaders, among the citizen and if there are no organized political forces prepared to defend it
The passing of the Constitutional Amendment Bill, 2015 yesterday, 11th August 2015 by majority MPs, after totally dis regarding the peoples’ views amounted to an overthrow of the 1995 Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, as amended.

Uganda-parliament-2
The spirit of the Constitution is enshrined in its preamble and paragraph 5 of that preamble states that: EXERCISING our sovereign and inalienable right to determine the form of governance for our country, and having fully participated in the Constitution-making process. The sovereign and inalienable right of Uganda was usurped by the MPs through the failure of the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee of Parliament to integrate peoples’ views in their report and the subsequent total disregard of the peoples’ views by the whole House.
What we have in place after the 4th Amendment is a New Constitution that has no consensus of the people, which does not represent the peoples’ views and aspirations of the people on how they would like to be governed. This was in fact the birth of the 2nd “Pigeon Hole Constitution” of the Republic of Uganda.
Faced with a rubber stamp Parliament which ignores peoples views and goes ahead to amend the National Constitution ,the people of Uganda should therefore, strive to restore constitutional order premised on peoples’ views and aspirations on how they wish to be governed. We call upon the people to elect MPs that will respect their allegiance to the Constitution and commit to restore the sovereign and inalienable right of Ugandans by setting up a qualified Constitutional Review Commission to restore the supremacy of the people
FOR GOD AND MY COUNTRY.

Press Release: United States Contributes US$9 Million To WFP To Support Refugees In Uganda (06.10.2015)

Nyakabande TC

KAMPALA – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) today welcomed a contribution of US$9 million from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to provide food assistance for more than 320,000 refugees living in Uganda.

“This generous contribution has arrived just in time, as a funding shortfall was threatening to force WFP to reduce rations for refugees, including the new South Sudanese arrivals,” said acting Country Director Michael Dunford. “Those cuts will not be necessary now, and we are extremely grateful to USAID for its lifesaving support for people fleeing conflict in neighbouring countries and seeking refuge in Uganda.”

Dunford said WFP will use the funding, received through USAID’s Office of Food for Peace, to purchase more than 13,000 metric tons of cereals and beans within Uganda for more than 300,000 refugees.

The support will also allow WFP to provide cash to 20,000 refugees in areas where markets are able to meet the demand. As well as meeting the immediate food needs of refugees, cash assistance has the added benefit of allowing some flexibility for the refugees to buy nutritious foods that may not be part of WFP’s food basket and to manage their household food resources themselves.

This contribution brings USAID’s 2015 WFP support to refugees in Uganda and extremely vulnerable populations in Karamoja to an estimated US$26 million.

Uganda currently hosts more than 490,000 refugees, mostly from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), South Sudan and Burundi. Roughly two-thirds of the refugees in Uganda depend on WFP to meet their basic food needs.

WFP’s assistance for refugees is closely coordinated with the Government of Uganda through the Office of the Prime Minister, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and NGOs.

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