Opinion: Nsereko MP needs a retirement plan

The Kampala Central MP Muhammed Nsereko lost the plot on NTV On the Spot last night. He was smoked and burned by the arguments made by lawyer Isaac Ssemakadde who was right on the money. Ssemakadde proven that wits and wisdom isn’t in titles or the office of the beholden, but of the character of a person. That’s why Nsereko couldn’t acknowledge it, because the lawyer didn’t give any moment to breathe.

I don’t feel sorry for the MP as he plans to put string on the freedom of speech, the liberty of expression and silence dissidents online. The state who already has the Computer Misuse Act with offensive communication and have the Penal Code of Article 24, which has made it forbidden to annoy, ridicule or alarm the President. Therefore, the state already has lots of stipulations, laws and regulation on media to block the unintended reports, articles, communications or messages online.

That’s why it was so vital for the lawyer to burn the bridges of Nsereko who is trying to forge his position and place within the NRM. The former rebel and “independent” MP who is as close to the NRM as you can be without being it. He is just another asset of the ruling regime and that’s why he wanted to discover and work on new legislation to silence critics.

This is the same man that has vast wealth and was at one point mentioned as the wealthiest MP in the Republic. That was said about him before the 2016 General Election in the run-up time in 2015. The MP has been in office since 2011 and been able to be reputable. While also swinging on the edges to be useful for the NRM. Therefore, his one of a few in the Buganda region that is NRM leaning in the 11^th Parliament. As the People Power wave too most of the constituencies there.

However, with that in mind, the populist and the calculated fellow has outmanoeuvred himself this time. His maybe trying his Magyezi private motion and private bill sort of trick. To do the emperor a favour and shut down critics totally online.

So, you would think a third term legislator and representative would have upped his game and made valid reasons for a change or make new legislation. However, his school-yard reasoning wasn’t flying high yesterday. No, it was falling flat and he could never recover from the fall-off.

Nsereko, if his wealth of the past still exists… he will always have huge investments in Zambia to live off from in the future. Secondly, he surely has invested the millions of shillings his been earning as an MP for all these years. Not like he has to worry about the NSSF payouts with grown age. He should be covered for life with the suits, envelopes, cars and salary, which he has earned over a decade in Parliament.

This man don’t have to worry…. We all know that and Nsereko should work on his stances and arguments. You cannot outsmart someone with a suit and tie. Nsereko needs to come correct and not only a mere full of empty statements, which is pointless. That’s only working on the naive or the belligerent people in the crowds. Clearly, he has taken water over his head and cannot cannot carry the weight.

Nsereko better revise his plans and maybe adjust himself to his own expectations. As the populist and wealthy MP can only get you so far. That was proven yesterday and he now has to find a way to land softly.

If not… just linger on as a silent partner of the regime in the Parliament and hoping people forgetting until next election. Since that’s years to come and many more scandals happen before that time around. Peace.

Uganda Police Force: Press Release – Police Clarifies on Edited Video Clip (20.02.2019)

President Museveni letter to Kwagalana Group: “Re: Appreciation” (29.04.2018)

Opinion: Mzee cannot handle real coverage of himself!

Well, again the lectures has to start, as the man whose says he is about free press and democracy, he has to call in a meeting to lecture them how to cover him. Not to attend a meeting of sorts, where the standing of the nation, no no, that is another bargain for another day. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, will tell stories of bravery from 1986 and beyond. He will express discontent, where his own words are taken out of proportion, because his erratic mind and his stances is changing with the wind. It would have been better to just drop a report and show the reality, however, the President wants positive spin ala Softpower or Chimpreports and so on. He doesn’t want media who questions and finds faults. Because the President is never wrong, everyone else is!

“President Yoweri Museveni has summoned all media owners and managers in Uganda for a meeting at State House Entebbe. The meeting was confirmed by the presidency in a brief message to journalists. “HE the President is due to meet media owners and managers today at Entebbe State House,” reads a message from Museveni’s press handlers. Accordingly, the agenda of the meeting is not yet clear, but inside sources hint on the fact that Museveni wants to dissuade the media from fanning conflicts between him and religious leaders as well as request for better coverage regarding the rampant cases of kidnap in the country” (Moses Namayo – ‘Museveni summons media owners’ 11.05.2018, Nilepost.co.ug).

Museveni has had a hard time with the media, he has closed radios, bullied newspapers and editors. That is why some of the most prominent reporters and notable writers are still in exile, not in Uganda anymore. Because they cannot stay there in fright of the penalties their writings will have. Everyone is supposed to praise every word coming out of the President mouth. Even when he is one week saying the priest and clergy are good folks, next week bashing them for connecting with politics and thirdly wondering why the clergy is silent doing nothing during the celebration of the martyrs?

That is just how the days goes by, and he expect everyone to tune into his message and his deluded beliefs. As he is the master and chief, the mastermind and the inventor of liberation, even as he keeps the whole republic as hostages to his rule. That is the magician who thinks he tricks everyone, but only tricks himself. President Museveni isn’t that bright or that smart, even the street smart, non-educated and the villager can see through it. That is why his own party officials was rebuked recently in Rukungiri.

So, don’t expect the fountain of honour to be regarding the media. It is all about himself and his agenda. That he needs to massage the message. There aren’t anything new, just that they need guidance to follow his memo and not think for themselves. That is the patriotic stance of the republic, to be on guard and follow the leader. If you don’t then your rights can be revoked. Peace.

Opinion: The EU is too late to the Party, when they are now asking for Electoral Reforms in Uganda!

It feels deliberate, that Eduardo Kukan dropped a statement on the 8^th March 2018 as the General Election in Uganda was in February 2016. That is two years after, this is the Follow-Up Mission to the Electoral Observation Mission, that is long finished and didn’t deliver anything of significance. The whole thing ended up being a charade and mockery of the principals the EU is supposed to stand for. The rigging, the spending and buying votes, the inside deals and pre-ticked ballots should all say that the re-election to a fifth official term and unofficially 7^th shouldn’t be legitimized by any entity. This is the same fellas that left Kololo, because the President’s stance on the ICC. Like they didn’t know?

So, we are in March 2018 and its two years and a month since the entered the port and all of the containers are left, all produce is eaten, all parts of the products is sold, stolen or gone. Therefore, there is very little to regard about the process. Very little the EU can do, because they are beholden to the man they validated. They validated the Supreme Court ruling, they validated the Mbabazi petition, they accepted the stolen votes from Besigye and the obvious lies of the Kiggundu Electoral Commission in favor of Museveni.

The EU should have pushed for the reforms in 1995-1996 if they we’re serious. While the President still looked like he cared a little bit and was a donor-friendly guy, now he despise anyone questioning him and his authority. He is always right, and the rest of you is wrong or can be bought. That is President Museveni now. They could have had a short in 2000-2001, even 2005-2006. Even as the term-limits was deposed at the time. When the true reality was that Museveni had no place of really retiring and spend time with his cows. The EU could have pushed for reforms in 2010-2011, even as the Walk to Work demonstrations (W2W) and the Activists 4 Change (A4C) who both challenged the Presidency. Clearly, the EU could have done more as an outside entity, if they cared about the Electoral Reforms.

So now, that the last election went through, the syncopates, the technocrats and cronies of Museveni is elected, appointed as advisors and whatnot. The EU is asking and begging for changes, since suddenly now is the time. Like Museveni would care about the plight of the Follow-Up Mission in 2018, when he just gotten his carrot in December 2017, the Life Presidency. Did the EU miss that charade? Did they sleep in Brussels and eating Belgian waffles? That is how it seems to me.

That the President that has centralized most of the power around him and his State House would now care about the EU, is to say bluntly naive. That the EU comes with recommendations now will not be listened too. Unless, they are dropping bunch of external funds and juicing the rabbit a little bit. Because Museveni is eating, his cronies is too and there is nothing you can tell him.

So when the EU stated this on the 8^th of March 2018, its not hard to understand, why it is like this: “ The EU EFM has been heartened to find that the recommendations of the EU EOM have been disseminated across several institutions of State and that many interlocutors were familiar with the content of the recommendations. While there has been virtually no progress on implementation of the recommendations to date, awareness of proposals, and the grounds thereof, is a crucial first step in the achievement of the recommendations. Similarly, there is widespread awareness of the directives of the Supreme Court” (Eduardo Kukan – ‘EU Election Follow-up Mission to Uganda urges Authorities to take positive steps to improve electoral process’ 08.03.2018).

Like did you think the man, that has been running since a coup in 1986 would give in and change to a more democratic structure, the one who house-arrest his biggest threat without any jurisdiction or right by laws? Do you think the man who has all the state coffers, has all the bidders at his feet, will finally give way to your advice? Do you think the man who has used the guns to silence opposition and does it will kind of acronyms too.

I hate to say it to you Kukan, but your late to the party. The party-goers have left, they have their whiskey, their Waragin, their vodka and their Nile Brew, but are not interested in your anecdotes. They would have mattered some time ago, when the fire was burning, when Usher and Radio & Weasel was banging on the stereo. But now, the party has died down, the only left is the straws and the memories of the late night charade.

Kukan, you should have acted swiftly, you should have cared about the implications, but your entity and others validated Museveni. Just like you have done in the past. You let him of the hook and this here, will be a stain, but not something that covers the obvious. The theft of February 2016. That you accepted and did for selfish reasons beyond me.

You could have, you should have, but you never did. Peace.

A look into how little the Wakiso Vote mattered to President Museveni in General Election 2016!

You would think on a day like this as the final rallies in Kyadondo East, which is part of Wakiso District, that the National Resistance Movement and the Police Force would bring peace. But they didn’t, they created chaos and moved independent candidates, as well as detaining them for interfering in their campaign rallies. This is the proof of vicious ruling regime and how the basic freedoms are limited for others, than the NRM elite and the President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, rallying for his candidate in the district. But it seems strange that he cares, since with all due respect. He didn’t care about their votes in the General Election of 2016, as these areas have been a stronghold for opposition party Forum for Democratic Change and because Dr. Kizza Besigye reside in Kasangati, which is a vital part of Kyadondo East.

“In Kampala and its adjacent districts, the Group observed voting delayed by as much as two to four hours and subsequently observed polling locations where voting was delayed by as much as six to nine hours. Anecdotally, in Kampala, there were several polling stations located within minutes of the premises of the Electoral Commission that did not receive voting materials on time” (…) “The voting hours were subsequently extended in Kampala. However, it appeared that this information was not extensively communicated, as voters and polling officials appeared confused and uncertain of the process. The EC announced that polling would continue in a number of constituencies in Wakiso and Kampala districts the following day. Turnout, however, was low on the second day – which was a working day – and it is possible that many potential voters decided not to attempt to vote, after having waited for many hours the previous day”(Commonwealth, P: 13-14, 2016).

“Furthermore, eight teams across the country reported that polling stations could not open before 10 AM. A number of polling stations, notably in Kampala and Wakiso, had not opened within six hours. Significant delays and a lack of effective communication by the EC fuelled frustration and tensions among voters, with EU EOM observers and media reporting about large crowds protesting against being deprived of their right to cast the ballot. In at least four cases, the police used teargas to disperse voters at polling stations. Only shortly before the official closing of the polling stations at 4 PM did the EC chairman announce the three-hour extension of voting in Kampala and Wakiso district. This was poorly communicated to the polling staff in affected areas, and EU EOM observers reported polling stations being closed at first and only after some hesitation did the polling staff improvise and try to re-open voting sites” (EU, P: 29-30, 2016).

“The EC failed to communicate and declare final results of presidential and parliamentary elections in a comprehensive, timely and transparent manner. The announcements of the presidential election’s preliminary results started while voting was still ongoing in parts of Kampala and Wakiso. The final results were declared within the legally binding 48-hour deadline, but they did not contain data from seven per cent of all polling stations, and therefore excluded some 675,000 votes cast. The EC delayed the publication of the final results broken down by polling station till 25 February and uploaded them on its website in a manner that did not allow for easy access or use. The EC also did not publish the scanned copies of the DRFs online although they were readily available in electronic format, thus further reducing voters’ access to information of public interest and in contravention of the principles outlined in the ICCPR” (EU, P: 3-4, 2016).

“The 2016 Elections witnessed a number of violations of the right to vote, most notably due to late delivery of materials in Kampala and Wakiso districts, described by the Supreme Court as evidence of incompetence and gross inefficiency by the electoral management body. A number of potential voters we’re disenfranchised during the voting exercise, in particular persons who turned 18 between May 2015 and February 2016, detainees, including some pre-trial dententions and Ugandans in the diaspora” (FHRI, P: 25, 2016)

So both, the Commonwealth report, FHRI report and the European Union Observer Group saw the same vast indifference for the votes and voter turnout in Wakiso, the same was seen in capital, but that isn’t where the By-Election is happening now. This proves the lack of care and common sense as President Museveni drives Tuk-Tuk and talk of importance of electing people who serves him. He might say he wants to be challenged in Parliament, but everyone knows that is a lie. Therefore, he detained Bobi Wine earlier in the day and moved him to Gyaza town, so his presence could be in Kasangati and at Szasa Grounds. Not like he could be more ruthless, but surely he would rig these election like he did in 2016. Nothing new there, if the turnout would be meager and lack-lusting that would hurt the old-man. Since he cannot show 90-100% turnout, when there would be no lines of people showing up. Harder to rig just a bunch of paper compared to buck-load, which can be pre-ticket into ballot boxes and look legit. That is how they do, especially under President Museveni. The man who made himself a revolutionary by claiming UPC rigging in 1980s. Such a class-act the President, becoming worse than the ones he toppled! Peace.

Reference:

Commonwealth – ‘Report of the Commonwealth Observer Group Uganda General Elections – 18 February 2016’ (18.02.2016)

COMESA – ‘COMESA ELECTION OBSERVER MISSION TO THE 18 FEBRUARY 2016 GENERAL ELECTIONS IN THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA’

EU – ‘Final Report – Uganda Presidential, Parliamentary and Local Council Elections 18 February 2016’ (April 2016)

Foundation for Human Rights Initiative (FHRI) – ‘COMESA ELECTION OBSERVER MISSION TO THE 18 FEBRUARY 2016 GENERAL ELECTIONS IN THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA’ (June 2016)

CS Bett blames consumption of UNGA for the UNGA Crisis!

Certainly, one of these days the Jubilee government Cabinet Secretaries going to wake-up from their sleep and start to act with common sense. Since the release of subsidized maize and opening imports, the markets has not overflowed with Unga. Neither, the reality that some of the millers kept stockpiles of it, as they knew they would be subsidized from the state. So why sell it months ahead, when you can keep it steady and unleash when you get double bonus. The Jubilee government knows this and therefore right on the day of the subsidized maize and the possible export provisions came into effects. Boats with foreign maize came pouring in through the ports of Mombasa.

“He witnessed the arrival of 12,000 bags through the Rift Valley Railways yesterday. “To ensure every Kenyan enjoys the Sh90 subsidised maize flour, all maize from Mombasa will be removed using SGR, RVR and trucks,” Bett said. In two weeks, the market has been experiencing a shortage of unga. “Since we started the subsidised programme, we have witnessed more Kenyans preferring unga, thus the high demand for maize flour,” he said” (Ngotho, 2017).

CS Willy Bett, need some guidance, needs some reassurance and some sort of stiff upper-lips for insulting fellow citizens. It isn’t the sudden love for UNGA. This the staple food. This is what Kenyans are known to eat. UNGA, Ugali or Posho (Ugandan I know). Still, the maize flour meals is not a well-kept hidden secret. It would be like taking potatoes as out of the equation when feeding massive parts of Northern Europe. That is just the staple food. Period.

The CS clearly, has some internal issues and need to stop thinking he can deceive fellow citizens. As the indicated exports combined with the stockpiling was very evident. That people are buying lots of it now, is because they might even fear for more scarcity. Since it isn’t only drought, but man-made problems that has given way to shortage of UNGA.

It is time to wake-up for Mr. Bett and smell the UNGA. Time to see and relieve his fellow brothers and sisters. Not just find excuses upon excuses and think it can save his grace. You do not take away some-ones staple and think you can get away with it. Seriously, that is insulting. The insinuation and undermining of the needs and the will of Kenyans. Are evident in his approach to the UNGA crisis. This should not be forgotten, because his grace has clearly not done his job and then blames the citizens for either their staple food! Peace.

Reference:

Ngotho, Agatha – ‘Kenyans eating more ugali to blame for unga shortage – CS’ (20.06.2017) link: http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2017/06/20/kenyans-eating-more-ugali-to-blame-for-unga-shortage-cs_c1582605?platform=hootsuite

Kenya: KMPDU – Press Statement “Health Sector Crisis Industrial Unrests” (16.06.2017)

Mama Mabira gone Yellow – In a 2 year period gone from FDC to Go-Forward and now to the NRM!

“President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has this afternoon attended the thanksgiving ceremony of the Kitgum Municipality Woman MP Beatrice Atim Anywar at Boma grounds. In his speech, the President said he was happy Anywar had survived three accidents” (…) “For the past 10 years, Anywar’s attitude has been changing positively. NRM should do what Jesus told people to do, become fishers of men. I’m here to see if I can fish Anywar and all the other fish in the lake,” said President Museveni (New Vision, 26.05.2017).

You can sometimes wonder why someone is loyal or cares about their affiliations, as this weeks evidence, the full-circle of disloyalty and money hungry politician is in full-affect. This from the woman who delivered back to Parliament back-in-the-day a Ushs. 20 Million shillings to Parliament in 5,000 notes. She is the ones who has fought tooth and nail against the government to save the Mabira Forrest from foreign investors to build sugar-cane plantations and a sugar mill. Therefore, her stride and passion has surpassed many of the current incumbent Members of Parliament. That is why the betray of the Forum for Democratic Change is even more despicable, even if it has been in the works over the last 2 years.

Kitgum MP Beatrice Atim Anywar is on her fourth term in the Parliament, she has been before shadow minister and also been arrested during the 2011 Walk to Work demonstrations. She was questioned and even detained at some points of it. So it is not like her political life has been easy. Still, because of this knowledge and knowing what President Museveni does to his opponents, you would think that these people wouldn’t be eaten by the envelopes. Surely, the missing funds for her last foreign treatment. Might be reason, as she has been unlucky and has survived three bad-car accidents. So, she has gotten more pain and with that plenty. Certainly, a man can understand the payment of doctors fees and the sudden help can change a persons affiliation. Especially since she was kicked out of being FDC Treasury, also had to go independent because of her loss in the FDC Primary in Kitgum. Therefore, with her alliance with Mbabazi and the The Democratic Alliance (TDA). She stood more alone, than together with the Besigye/Muntu and Mafabi party of FDC.

To give you a brief timeline:

In November 2015, Beatrice Anywar had another tone:

“HAPPENING: Beatrice Anywar

I am a fighter. I fought the Mabira war and won it.

I am a staunch FDC member, but I belong to an FDC that goes forward” (NBS Television, 03.11.2015).

On the 2^nd November 2015 the FDC Stalwart Anywar was the one proposed and delivered the papers of Mbabazi Presidential Aspiriant to Electoral Commission Chairman Eng. Dr. Badru Kiggundu at Kololo. She was also one the first key figures rallying at the Nakivubo Stadium on the Presidential Candidate Nomination Day of Go-Forward and for Amama Mbabazi. This was on the 3^rd November 2015. Then she followed and was also part of the AmamaTrail, like at the rallies of Mbabazi in Mityana on the 11^th November 2015. Beatrice Anywar was clearly involved directly with the Go-Forward and the TDA in its hey-day. While in the 30^th November she was joining again the FDC Team when they we’re trialing through the district of Kitgum.

1. December 2015:

“FDC yesterday maintained that Mr Denis Okalit was the party flag bearer for the Kitgum municipality MP seat even as Ms Beatrice Anywar made last minute attempts to persuade the party to reconsider the decision. The party endorsed Mr Okalit last Friday as its flag bearer despite a petition by Ms Anywar against the decision. The party accuses Ms Anywar of supporting presidential candidate Amama Mbabazi’s candidature. Ms Anywar seconded Mr Mbabazi’s nomination but the party says she acted outside the party laws” (…) “Gen Muntu said the party was facing several challenges in different parts of the country following the party primaries but said everything humanly possible will be done to resolve them. “Mr Okalit is the one with the party ticket. Ms Beatrice Anywar is running as an independent. I was telling party leaders in Kitgum District that whoever they choose to support, they must not cause confusion during campaigns because after four months, the party has to remain,” Gen Muntu said” (Kafeero, 2015).

Later in December 2015:

“Kitgum Woman MP Beatrice Anywar says she is not campaigning for any particular presidential candidate. Anywar’s troubles stem from her recent public support for independent presidential candidate Amama Mbabazi yet she is still a member of FDC” (NTV Uganda, 05.12.2015).

So her misconceptions during the early campaigning as she claimed to be FDC, but working for the Go-Forward, while also being Independent MP candidate in Kitgum. Clearly shows that she was on the ways to greener pastures and hoping for yields in the Go-Forward/TDA umbrella, instead of the FDC. She got elected into the 10^th Parliament and was sworn-in as Independent.

Months after being sworn-in as independent MP, she proposed on the 30^th May 2016 a power-sharing agreement between Dr. Kizza Besigye and President Yoweri Kaguta Musevei. Something that was just talk, but clearly she figured something out. Certainly since the election she needed to see where she could get loyalty. As her role as independent and supporting Mbabazi had backfired. Go-Forward didn’t really go as planned for the politician. Therefore, she had try to create another fix. Since she still has linkage to FDC, while trying to mediate with Museveni. This has certainly happen in the shadows, as the President will really listen when he thinks he can get his way. Than we fast forward a year. As she doesn’t make any significant sway of leadership or change of position. Other than again, falling unlucky, having a car-crash, which she doesn’t have the money to pay the hospital bills. As she will get treatment in India. This is happening in April 2017. As the bill of charge grows and how it get paid. Is not known, but on a separate note, the wife of Mbabazi got paid by the state for her overseas treatment in 2017. Therefore, it is most likely that the Museveni footed her hospital bills in India.

While the time lingers, the evidence of her needs of funds and help is clear, as the rumors was as the Oil Cash Probe or the Presidential Handshake hit a high point, in early May 2017. She was rumored to have visited the President at the State House asking for her own funds. Beatrice was one out of a group asking and begging the President for money. This was big news around 1^st May 2017. And not strange concerning the rumored and alleged paid funds for her hospital bills in April 2017. Whey you know this and she has a thanksgiving ceremony in Kitgum this 26^th May 2017, where the fountain of honor is President Museveni. You know the political affiliation is now towards the Movement and the President. Honorable Anywar is now officially affiliated with Museveni and his party.

This has happen over the last two years, as she lost the FDC Primaries and had to find other homes. Tried in Go-Forward. That didn’t go well, and now she has found shelter in NRM. As the founding member of FDC, and that she was adamant of being apart of FDC while running for a new term in office. Therefore, the stages of disloyalty is clear in the sand. The recognition of it and the questionable will of her can be in doubt. As she was a harsh critic of Museveni’s ways and his attack on the Mabira forrest, but now in these days sh can be parts and even wear yellow. The whole world can see and learn by the Anywar case. How dirty and how the politicians can change camps to gain cheap popularity. Therefore she even went on the rallies of both Mbabazi and Besigye during the campaigns of 2015. You can wonder how she plans to do it in 2021 and in 2020. To gain another term in Parliament, as she clearly are now loyal to Museveni and his cause. He even praised her like he did with the Good DP Mbidde and Mao.

This story will only continue and the proof that the envelopes of Museveni has power, more than his ethics, his control of society and his demands of no scrutiny into his backroom policies. That is clear to loot the state reserves. Now, Mama Mabira, the former strong opposition leader, are now marginalized over a little help. All of her history of the past vanish, even if some remember, that will be gone as her newfound home destroys her former attacks on the government. Just like the record of Beti Kamya is also wrecked. Peace.

Reference:

Kafeero, Stephen – ‘Anywar pleads with FDC leaders for Kitgum municipality flag’ (01.12.2015). link: http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Anywar-pleads-with-FDC-leaders-for-Kitgum-municipality-flag/-/688334/2978950/-/op6ssyz/-/index.html

Kenya: Press Release on the Cholera Outbreak in the Country (24.05.2017)