Opinion: If you want to be remembered as a hero, act like one…

Today, the announcement of Gen. Elly Tumwine death. As he died while getting treatment in Nairobi, Kenya. He was airlifted last week, as his health deteriorating. Ever since then there been speculations and also dismissals of his demise.

However, the General, the former Security Minister and Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) Member of Parliament has a legacy, which he wishes he don’t hold. People want to be eulogized in the finest manners, especially the ones who held power. In the instance of Tumwine, you cannot get both and that’s because of his his judgment while living.

Gen. Tumwine could have planted roses, built magnificent buildings and been a charitable man after he “fought” the liberation war. He decided to do other things. Server the new regime and be the face of impunity. Tumwine wanted to show force and be reckoned with. That’s why nobody should look into his action or be transparent about it. This is why he blocked MPs from investigating in person at ungazetted “safe-houses” and neither has he served any consequences for using lethal weapons on protesting civilians up to the General Election of 2021.

So, the people wanting sympathy and eulogises of wisdom, mercy and mere legends. Well, that isn’t who he is. Yes “he fought” a selfish war for personal gains to grab land and power. That’s why he used “we fought” on a regular basis. He was part of the 1986 brigade that acted above the law and didn’t have pay for their misdeeds. While others would be severely punished by the same group of gentlemen.

Within family or friends, he might be soft-spoken, a loving father, uncle and buddy. That side the public didn’t see. Neither did they care if he loved music or not. When he could be part of system that kidnapped, tortured and kept civilians incommunicado in safe-houses with no prior conviction or trial. Those sorts of acts will be a mere reflection of his actions while living.

He chose this life and the burden of acting like this. The ones who wants a heroes journey and a braggadocios end. Well, that for someone else… that was maybe the beginning of his journey, as he participated in the liberation war or bush war in the 1980s. However, everything he did since then wasn’t noble and he became part of another dictatorship. Yes, he stopped the previous ones, but he ushered in a new one. Where he thrived and lingered in the offices of power. Where he was used as a tool and a face of injustice. He didn’t mind and kept on doing his business.

So, when all the innocent people has been touched by this man. All the people that lost their lives and the ones who are scared for life. The families who has lost their loved ones, the breadwinners, the fathers, the mothers and the sons or daughters. They never got a proper chance to say goodbye. Because, Gen. Tumwine had decided their fate. He accepted the merciless acts of injustice and he served it, time and time again. That was what he did with his role and his time on earth.

He could have painted pictures, written novels, a teacher of leadership or even bravery, as he stood in the battle and lost an eye doing so. Nevertheless, he didn’t do that. The sacrifices he made got paid back thousands of times. He got office, shillings and perks, because of what he did. The bills got paid and he got treatment of an honourable. That’s why it’s not like he didn’t earn on the bush-war. He did and he thought he was entitled to it.

One of the “We Fought” is now gone. One of the men who carried out order without mercy. Has now left earth. Now, the NRM and the UPDF will salute the man. He served them kindly, but not the people. Peace.

Opinion: Honourable Minister Kasaija is just proving that the PDM wasn’t prepared for launch…

As suspected before the launch of the Parish Development Model (PDM). The state didn’t do their due diligence or the framework to prepared for the launch of it. This is just a continuation of half-assing it and hoping it works. Because, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) is known for micro-finance schemes and done so since the 1990s without any real progress or luck for that matter.

The PDM is just the newest creation or scheme in a long of line of them. They are coming and becomes known entities around elections or campaigns for General Elections. After that the real trouble begins and the realities of the mismanagement, nepotism and hackwork is evident. Which is very clear by the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED) Matia Kasaija display in his statement about the current affairs surrounding the PDM.

There is no proof or evidence, which shows me this will be successful. The PDM was bound to fail, but he just spells it out. The lack of organization, planning and practical operation of the scheme is just staggering. This seems like a waste of a trillion shillings and is bound to be “heist”. It will not become beneficial or create any noteworthy development. No, this is made for a ghosts and lucky beneficiaries locally. That’s really it…

Just read these statements… it’s depressing… to say the least.

My Ministry therefore urges all Local Government Accounting Officers to fast-track the prior activities necessary to ready the PDM SACCOs for disbursement specifically: – to complete data collection on all households; and finalize the establishment of PDM SACCOs in all the Parishes under their respective areas of jurisdiction” (…) “Rt. Hon. Speaker and. Hon. Members, n July 2022, my Ministry requested the Local Government Accounting Officers to work with Operation Wealth Creation to validate the PDM SACCOs formed and verify the membership in the PDM Enterprise Groups and SACCOS, prior to the disbursement of funds” (Matia Kasaija, 23.08.2022).

Rt. Hon. Speaker and Hon. Members, for effective management of PRF funds by PDM SACCOs and learning from past experiences, the target beneficiaries should not access the disbursed PRF funds before they are prepared. Initial access to funds shal1 be preceded by training and preparation of PDM Enterprise Groups and PDM SACCOs on Governance, Loan Management, Records Keeping, Good Agricultural and Agribusiness Practices. Furthermore, the Parish Development

Management Information System (PDMIS) has been designed with the capability to track daily transactions in the PDM SACCOs” (Matia Kasaija, 23.08.2022).

Here after all this time. The PDM was launched in February this year. We are now half year later and the organization in the districts or parishes are far from ready. While the budget and revolving fund has cash-flow. The MoFPED is prepared financially, but the structures are non-existing, if ever ready it seems.

The PDM SACCOs needs to be in a designated gazetted parish. They need to have an account at a supervised financial institution. The PDM SACCO needs to be registered and be certified as well. The PDM SACCOs has to sign the agreement with the RPF agreement with the CAO or Town Clerk. The Local Government Accounting Officer has to submit a form to confirm that the PDM SACCO is under guidance of pillar three or financial inclusion. The last part of the PDM SACCO has to verified by the CAO/Town Clerk, supported by the Operation Wealth Creation and proven by data in the Parish Development Management Information System (PDMIS).

Yes, there are sort of system, but they are very hectic. The PDM SACCOs who are new creations in the over 10,000 parishes in the Republic. They have to go out there and get registered. These has to comply with all the various entities, both locally and financial instruments (account in a bank etc). While they are awaiting the disbursement of funds and get operational. That’s really hectic.

The PDM SACCOs has to be able to get a hold of the CAO/Town Clerk and get the paperwork done. To even be eligible. This is creating a huge secretariat and a registration process, which will take time. Both in the banks and in the local government. Local government that is understaffed and has enough work on their plates as is.

I cannot see this going well. It was very interesting revelation that this has to go through the Operation Wealth Creation (OWC), which has already been a failure and haven’t lived up to the hype. Wondering if they will create another hurdle passing by Emyooga later on too. Because, this is a hectic mess and the state wasn’t prepared. Neither can the villages or the local government be. Since, this will cause a lot headache and needs of papers to even get started.

That’s before the Value for Money Reports or even consideration of if it is even worth it or has any sort of justification to be disbursed as it is. Since, this seems like scheme, which is bound to fail. Today statement isn’t inspiring or showing any hope of otherwise either. This is maybe to be “big” to fail, but I have a feeling… this will end in tears. Peace.

A DP MP plea for sanity: Where is the DP MPs placed in the order of Parliament Procedure…?

Today there might a talk after Democratic Party MP Michael Lulume Bayigga have issued a statement for the plenary session dated back to the 18th August 2022. Where the main grievances are if the DP is an “opposition” or a “government” party now. That means the 4 DP MPs has to sit with the NRM and not in Opposition. Neither can the DP MP partake in Opposition activities in the Parliament either.

This here is obvious questions and should have been resolved with the ushering in of DP Chairman Norbert Mao becoming the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs. Nevertheless, that has never been settled. This is why the MP has to issue this statement and get some answers.

One part that is really amusing and compelling about the agreement is this one: “We would like to state categorically clearly that we have never been part of a Party process that sanctioned any negotiations or Consultations to get the impugned agreement done, Hon Speaker, peaceful assembling organs of the Democratic Party were disperscd by the Uganda Police Force while scores of others were arrested on the 4th August at Tal Cottages in Rubaga” (Lulume Bayigga, 18.08.2022).

So, this undermines the agreement, as it was a solo-mission and expedition for the Chairman to get political relevance. Since, he was lingering on the outskirts of politics and only held some national relevance on the NBS TV Frontline show. The rest of the time he made statements and political aligned quotes on his Twitter. That’s about it.

He further states: “Hon. Speaker, whereas some of us sit on the National Executive Committee and

the National Council; which are the decision making organs of the Party, We state unequivocally and in no uncertain terms that neither the National Executive Committee, the National Council nor the Parliament Group has ever sanctioned a process of Negotiation for Cooperation agreement between DP and NRM at all” (Lulume Bayigga, 18.08.2022).

When an MP addresses the NRM-DP agreement like this. It really says something about what went on and how Mao himself made it happen. He didn’t inform or concerned about the party itself. It was only his own making and getting a title. The Chairman ensured his own safe-haven and a Ministry of his choosing. That’s how it looks, especially, when an MP from his own party writes this statement and wants it discussed by Parliament.

The MP wants also know “which side are they on”… if they are still Opposition or Government now. If the DP MPs can vote with the Opposition or is bound by an Agreement, which they didn’t sign off on. Because, if so… the DP MPs has to vote in concert with the NRM Party and cannot decide on their own. Also, if there will be any clarification to why the DP MPs are part of any Opposition Activities in the Parliament. That’s all that need to be addressed.

It is really fitting and wise decision to push this. Especially, when the MP seems to be pushed into a stance and place, which isn’t it’s own choosing. That is very apparent by the statement and the disappointment of not taking the party into consideration, as it made arrangement and an agreement with the NRM.

Here the MP shows how Mao did foul play with his own party. This is an interesting turn of events. I just wonder how this unfold in Parliament. Especially, knowing how partisan the Speaker and Deputy Speaker is. They are not considering anything else than the business of Mzee. So, it will be compelling to see how it will be handled. Because, this is surely a test of procedure and righteous test of the divide of who is “opposition” and who is “government”. Peace.

Opinion: Minister Tumwebaze over-the-top tractor scheme…

There are about 10,694 parishes in the Republic. At this current time there are 4,000 tractors in both private and public ownership. Some of these are said not to be operational. However we don’t have an exact amount of working tractors or farming equipment that is working.

The golden boy of the regime and unopposed MP, Minister Frank Tumwebaze has a statement on the performance of the Tractor Scheme. We have seen the performance of Tumwebaze in the past. As the man tried to get everyone to register their SIM-Cards and unleash the 200 shillings tax OTT services on their smart-phone devices. So, we know the man is working and been a loyal subject of the National Resistance Movement.

Now that his the Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry & Fisheries has released a statement on the 18th August 2022 about the Tractor Scheme. So, the newest idea of the NRM is to buy more tractor and get one in every parish. That’s to beat army-worms and combat food insecurity. The idea itself isn’t foolish or dumb in any sense. However, how will this government ever make this happen? Who will fund it and where will find the organizational skills to make it happen?

Because, the NRM regime has all the programs of the books. They have schemes and ideas out of this world. Nevertheless, over the years we have seen them turn into get-rich-schemes of the chosen elite and little-to-none service delivery. Should we think any different of this one? No, it is a continuation of others.

That’s why the statement of Tumwebaze mentions the SACCOs. NAADs, OWC and the newly minted Parish Development Model (PDM). The PDM that haven’t become functional or working of yet.

In addition, the Minister acknowledges that the Cabinet approved the operationalization of 19 Zonal Agricultural Mechanization/Irrigation Centres. However, by the time of the statement only 3 of these was operational and 2 are in the works. So, there is a long time before all the larger regions has this even. These are supposed to be up and be place of workshops, repair and get maintenance skills. Which is all a fine idea too, but shows how slow this process is.

In the medium term, the Tractor Scheme needs not only to make 16 Zonal Agricultural Mechanization/Irrigation Centres operational. They need to find funds and get tenders to buy at least over 6,000 tractors, which needs to be donated or designated to each parish.

What is also making this more expensive the need for monitoring device and software to be able to follow up on the usage of the tractors donated to the parishes. This is surely meant as a supplement and to advance the agricultural sector.

However, I wonder if Tumwebaze ever studied the Soviets, because this sort of out of their play-book: “Conceived as a voluntary union of peasants, the kolkhoz became the dominant form of agricultural enterprise as the result of a state program of expropriation of private holdings embarked on in 1929. Operational control was maintained by state authorities through the appointment of kolkhoz chairmen (nominally elected) and (until 1958) through political units in the machine-tractor stations (MTSs), which provided heavy equipment to kolkhozy in return for payments in kind of agricultural produce” (Britannica – kolkhoz).

That didn’t add more produce or make the production of the agricultural produce in the Soviet Union. These sorts of entities crippled the Kolkozy and the leaders tricked their numbers. So, this actually caused famine and more hardships.

We can wonder, if Tumwebaze ever looked into that or even cared to see how it worked. It is sort of ushering in the mechanical agricultural revolution by the parish model. In such a manner, that can be seen as similar to the ones of the Soviet.

There are so many questions to this… not only the funding and the supposed operation of it. After that… how is the oversight? What are the goals? Are it to buy over 6,000 tractors and that’s it? What happens after that?

If there is no plan or sort of objective after that. What does it really do? Except making the MAAIF busy and have something to say in Parliament. Peace.

Busongora South By-Election: Return Form for Transmission of Results (18.08.2022)

Busongora South By-Election: A few updates on the polling day

The ones that expect free and fair elections. Well, the reports are in dark contrast of that. Everyone should anticipate a “victory” for the National Resistance Movement (NRM) flag-bearer and case-closed. Because, the military is participating and voting bribery is happening in the open.

The NRM with the help of the forever busy Prime Minister Nabbanja is giving the voters 2000 shillings to vote for her party. That’s what a government official is busy doing in the middle of the polling day. The NRM is giving away 2,000 shillings to the citizens to vote for them. Because, that is what’s called service delivery in 2022 by the “liberators” of the past.

The NRM has also ordered the soldiers to participate in voting in plain clothes and doing it several of times, if they must. That’s certainly a way of boosting the numbers. In addition to that, the armed officers did manhandle and violently attack Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) flag-bearer Kighema Alosious Baguma at his polling station today. He was also arrested as an affect of the commotion. Which happened because the candidate saw the military did go more than once to vote in plain-clothes and reported it.

It is also reported that a NBS TV Reporter was arrested during the By-Election today for covering the incident of FDC flag-bearer being beaten up. The Reporter also had to delete the footage. There are also reports of ballot-stuffing. So, all the tricks of the NRM rigging book is used.

They are pre-ticking ballots, voting bribery and violent intimidation. The perfect combo for a NRM “victory” in a by-election. The only thing missing is mass-arrests of polling agents from the opposition and the whole mixer of pre-fixed results are on schedule. This is the “democracy” that Museveni has created and is so proud of.

There is also reports of ferrying voters from Busongora North to vote in Busongora South County. So, all the tricks in the book is used. The NRM has no heart or ability to play fair. Neither is it free as the Police, Army and the Authorities are all on guard to secure the NRM Flag-Bearer get “elected” to the Parliament. They are using all means and it’s never ending really.

So, all we can do is to await the declared results and the Return Form for Transmission of Results, which will be the end of it. Because, these sorts of elections are getting old. It is the same old tricks and schemes, which is made to benefit one party. That’s all they do and it’s just a loss-loss operation. It is no integrity or honesty in it. Only an open day-time robbery and proof of rigging. This is so obvious and it’s just shows how the NRM operates.

Gideon Thembo Mujungu is bound for the Parliament. His not going there out of charisma, character or campaign. No, his going there for one reason: The NRM decided it and that’s why. He is just another pawn and a “yes-man” they need to vote in favour the State House. Peace.

Uganda: Africa Institute for Energy Governance – Government should stop the Ongoing Loadshedding (17.09.2022)

Opinion: Gen. Tumwine cannot intimidate death

The National Resistance Movement and National Resistance Army General Elly Tumwine cannot run away from the past or the present. There is a reason why people are celebrating your death and wishing you dead. That’s because of the choices you did while in power and in office. It isn’t like Gen. Tumwine is innocent or a choir-boy. We all know what sort of man he was and that’s why people are addressing their grievances.

Gen. Tumwine won’t be fondly remembered by plenty. That’s his legacy and the career that he built. No matter what sort of sacrifices he did in the Bush. The generations after that didn’t eat out of that. Except for a small marginalized click of NRA fighters and the anointed people around the President. Therefore, Tumwine can be praised by those, because he kept the NRM alive, but not serving the people.

Gen. Tumwine was on Thursday flown to Nairobi, Kenya in critical condition. After rumours of his death yesterday on Saturday. We don’t know how his condition or sickness for that matter. He has to be ill to be flown out and not getting treatment in Kampala. That’s why the state has offered this and made it possible for him. A sort of service and option that the average citizen would never see or have ability to do.

The General knows perfectly well what he did and the lives his taken. That is something he knows. Both as an army commander, Minister of Security and all the other roles he had in government. Tumwine has played a vital role in the security apparatus and he has had no scruples. That’s why he blocked MPs to have oversight of “Safe-Houses”, using soldiers to quell to demonstrators and all other measures to be in power. Therefore, his life work has been surrounded by terror and death.

He has chosen to intimidate and scare. The weapons, the soldiers and the use of torture to get his ways. Gen. Tumwine has used this and spelled out it a lot of times. He has acted above the law and been practically the law in flesh. Now, his meeting the one thing he cannot overpower, which is ageing and health.

Gen. Tumwine and the family might want sympathy. However, the General never shown that to the dissidents, the rioters or the ones fallen. No, he has expected total retribution and demise of the ones in his way. This man haven’t served with concern of life or worried about using lethal means. No, that’s been his code. So, a man like that is hard to give any sympathy too. His made this bed and he got to sleep in it.

That Tumwine is on life-support at Aga Khan in Nairobi says it all. He did his whole defend a government and a system, which couldn’t help him when he needed the most back-home. The man who was UPDF MP in Parliament for ages. A former Minister for Security and all the other roles served. Certainly, he could have offered and made amends while in office. However, he chose to be a Freedom Fighter and be a loyalist of the NRM.

This is why Gen. Tumwine is paying the price now. His part of “them” and the ones who has enforced brutality, torture and extra judicial killings. As a leader and as a man who choose to do this and that’s why people will not shed tears for his demise. Because, people know people who has been touched by his orders. The system he was part of and he could easily order death. That’s why people will not sorrow when his day comes.

Gen. Tumwine and family might want him to be remembered as a legend or bush war hero. However, the innocent lives on his record will stain him forever. The lives that he has shattered, the families he has broken, that will linger on and be part of his legacy. This was choices he made and prospered while doing so. It isn’t like he couldn’t have changed path or decided differently. Everyone can take a moral stance or consider their actions. However, he choose to get people abducted, use safe-houses, order soldiers onto the streets and use lethal force against civilians. That’s the sort of man he was and that he cannot run away.

He cannot run away from that, not even in death. Since that’s what he did as a living and a man in power. The General could have done it differently, but that wasn’t his character. People are celebrating his demise, because he ordered the demise of others. That’s why he will not be fondly remembered by everyone. He might have been a good father, a great grandparent and a family man. However, that doesn’t change the blood that is on his hands. That they cannot erase or get us to forget. Peace.

Opinion: “Be Frugal” isn’t a government intervention…

The President and his team making a statement of sorts… when they are claiming that “Be Frugal” is a short-term intervention of the state. That is really foolishness and inaction at its best. This is putting all the weight on the citizen and the population itself. They just have to be careful with every single shilling and the state will in the short-term not give you anything or any sort of substantial relief. That’s really the point here…

The state that is filled with nepotism and cronyism. A state so filled with government entities and ministries, huge budgets and salaries. A state that is overspending over capacity on bloated government structures, districts, counties and cities, which are not even able to absorbed in the budgets. That sort of government is telling it’s citizens to be frugal.

The high ranking officials and ministers are complaining about old vehicles. They are getting the state to pay for newest models and custom made to VIP treatment. While citizens are told to be frugal. A State House and an Office of President who is eating large every day. A President with over 130 Presidential Advisors and a cabinet around 80. Not in putting the amount of MPs who are the on the state payroll. In combination with the RDCs and everyone else who is directly appointed in combination with the elected officials both in local government and state level. This whole government is made to be a cash-cow and that’s before civil servants are even paid. The bureaucrats, the teachers, nurses or anyone else holding offices in a government entity. They are part of the play, but the politicians and their appointments are the expensive ones.

That’s why the message in the rising inflation, rising prices on basic commodities and food. The government answer to that: “Be Frugal”. Seriously, that’s it? That’s all you can do? Save some money you either have or don’t have. Wash yourself with less soap, buy less bread and don’t even think using your car. Cars and vehicles are only for the VIPs and the ones who has salaries that actually counts. They have also budgeted pay for air-time and phone-bills, so they don’t have to worry about use of data. Heck, these folks don’t have to worry about Yaka or paying the electric bills either. It is just prefixed and they are well-off because of their office.

Be Frugal”.

That’s all you got? When people don’t have money or currency worth a damn? It is not like the people had much to begin with, but now even less. Their currency or money is less valued as the prices are going up. The salaries are stagnate and the expenses are just going up. You cannot stop the ordinary expenses, it costs to live and it’s like the President and government doesn’t understand that.

The message is just insulting. This is the Cassava Republic and the Republic that is mirrored in the image of the President. It is what his created and his minions are proud of his messaging. However, it is flawed and it isn’t helping. It isn’t even helping himself, as his sitting on the pedestal watching down on people. The poverty is real, even if the President and his kind is “living” in a middle-income country. Peace.

Bukimbiri County By-Election: Return Form for Transmission of Results (11.08.2022)