Opinion: We know why the UHRC is useless now…

Our entire budget was diverted looking for honestly what I considered non-existent persons or some who exist actually today live in foreign countries. Others were out on bail for some serious crimes like terrorism, vandalisation of electric wires, so when we reached them, they were so surprised that they appeared on the list of missing people. In my conclusion, none of these people are genuinely missing. From the interactions we have done with these people, none of those people provided for us is missing” – Miriam Wangadya (08.01.2024).

Let me remind you that the Uganda Human Rights Commission is supposed to: “To protect and promote fundamental Human Rights and freedoms in Uganda for sustainable development”. That’s Wangadya is supposed to do and thrive towards in her office as the Commission of UHRC. However, reading her quote about the missing National Unity Platform (NUP) activists and associates. Clearly, she is not working towards and neither the vision of the organization, which says: “A society that respects human rights and fulfils civic obligations”. Because her reasoning in this matter is against just that.

I understand why Besigye and the FDC was never taken seriously by the UHRC, as their cases taken years to consider or even being heard. When the leader of the organization talks and acts this way. She just shows that she’s unfit for her role and isn’t working within the mandate or the vision of the organization. That’s flabbergasting, but not shocking…

As a leader of the UHRC she serves a purpose and helps the cause of the National Resistance Movement (NRM). The Constitutional binding reason for its existence, but it doesn’t deliver anything according to the article 52(1). That’s proven now and its evident.

The ones that is in dire straits or in trouble. They will not be shielded or helped by the UHRC. No, she will rather make excuses or sound like Mwenda. That’s the sad reality of it all. We should have been amazed that she could utter these words, but we’re not. This is why the UHRC is toothless and without remorse. It is just existing for the hell of it and not for its purpose. As an constitutional organization it is a waste of time and energy.

It is just epitome of everything wrong in the government. That’s why the UHRC is such a flagrant misuse of government spending and time. It would be better to spend money filling potholes, than spending fortunes or billions on busy-bodies doing practically nothing. Especially, when the lives are on the line and the impunity is running rampant. There is no one talking out for the victims or the ones captured by the state without charges or a fair trial. That’s why the UHRC should speak up for these people, but instead it is making up excuses.

She should know better, but that’s too much to ask. Decency, integrity and honesty is a long gone chapter. When everyone has to live on lies and deception. That’s why she has to act like this and be in the good graces of the high above. Peace.

Opinion: The NRM needs billions of shillings to monitor itself and educate people to love it…

The Office of the President is also seeking for Shs5.517Bn to monitor and evaluate the NRM Manifesto, Shs2.058Bn to monitor Cabinet Decisions, Shs4.7Bn to monitor the Parish Development Model” (…) “The Office of the President has requested Parliament to avail it with Shs4.5Bn to train 225,000 Ugandans on patriotism ideology and conduct mindset change within 20 Communities in the coming 2024/25” (Parliament Watch, 05.01.2024).

It is a strange time to be alive, as the Office of the President is avail its needs for the future. That it needs about 12 billion shillings to monitor it’s manifesto, cabinet decisions and the PDM at once. This is expenditure and needs of the state. The state needs to spend billions of shilling to assess and review its own work.

That’s not governance or having oversight of matters. This is just adding expenses and not using government controller or the State House Controller for that matter. There should be Attorney Generals, the IGG or the PPDA to help out. Heck, the FIA and other organizations should help out too. This is why the OAG in the past dropped “value for money” reports and checked into the government expenditure. Which is why monitoring units seems like a duplication. It is just bananas.

12 billion spent on monitor various acts of government. This is wasted of the state reserves and the public coffers. Imagine, billions of shillings spent and justified to ensure you keep up to your manifesto. That the cabinet is actually acting accordingly to the pledges and promises of the past. Secondly, that the PDM is followed and enacted upon. It is just amazing really…

While we are on wastage, the state itself plans to “re-educate” or teach people about patriotism. That has to be budgeted for and needs further funding in the billions of shillings too. This costs 4,5 billion shillings alone. Meaning the state plans to pay people to “teach” it and “lecture” people about loving their nation. That’s what it really means, but also being patriotic in the “right way” which the “NRM way”. Not like they doesn’t have access to speeches going back to the 1980s of the President and could just make a silly leaflet of it, aye?

The NRM and the Office of the President doesn’t care really. In all practicality… this is just dumb. It is insane that they want to do it this way and spend billions upon billions on it. That they whole heartedly is selling it and want people to buy into it. We are just supposed to believe in all this monitoring. When we will read stories of ghosts, missing funds and whatnot. We will see potholes and lack of government services, regardless of the agents monitoring whatever in sight. That’s just what’s happening. So what are they doing?

They are just making creative budgeting and hoping people fall for it. As it is various and nefarious ways of tricking the numbers. Just to make the budget bigger and find ways to siphon funds. Because, who works with this monitoring and where is the mechanism checking on them?

Well, we don’t know and no one is telling. They just needs these funds and the state just got to pay the Office of the President. Even if nothing is done or achieved. This have at least given the entity some more funds, which will be spent. However, it will not serve a purpose or interests of the society. No, this is ensuring someone is eating and everyone else is supposed to be happy with that. Peace.

Olukiko Lw’Abavubuka Ttabamiruka (Buganda Youth Council): Well-Done, Hon, Mathias Mpuuga Nsamba (26.12.2023)

Opinion: Ssenyonyi better get ready

This week it was announced that Joel Ssenyonyi MP is the next Leader of Opposition (LoP) his taking over from Mathias Mpuuga MP. This are Members of Parliament for the same opposition party, National Unity Platform (NUP). Mpuuga will get another role in the Shadow Cabinet and will still be relevant in matters of policy and in the public eye.

However, Ssenyonyi has rise through the ranks over the years. He went from being a journalist to become a Party Spokesperson. From there he was elected into Parliament and now years later he was appointed the Leader of Opposition.

His not a man who is seasoned and well travelled. To be frank, his maybe the most inexperienced LoP in years. The NUP is showing their strategies and their ways ahead by doing this. They are showing that loyalty matters there too and that the ones who stands tall get ahead.

Mpuuga was questioned and his way of moving things forward. The former one has been in Parliament for years and knew how things works. That is a vast difference for Ssenyonyi who has only been there for mere two years. Even if he has seen and partaken in plenary sessions over the term. It doesn’t make him ready for this.

I wasn’t even ready to see Winnie Kiiza as LoP back in the day. Now seeing Ssenyonyi MP I’m even more worried. Because, it isn’t an easy task. This regime isn’t making things easier and they are more willing to corrupt than ever before. The current government and their handlers are willing to make the August House a den of thieves and full of hypocrites. Therefore, you cannot be naive or be acting all in good faith. That will end up in nowhere and he should be concerned about that.

Ssenyonyi MP seems like a likeable guy, a reasonable man and an intelligent man. He has never seemed stupid or reckless. Even when he has gotten into trouble or tasted the brutality of the authorities. No real MP from the Opposition haven’t gotten a beating, been arrested or touched by a police officer. That just comes with the territory and Joel knows this.

That’s why his going in and the sharks smell blood. They will try to find his motives and the way he acts. They will do what they can to make him naked and undress him. That’s what they do and the party members will also go after him, if his too soft or if he acts according to the process. If he just follows due process and does average due diligence. He will be crucified, as Mpuuga MP was by several pundits. While he did have a plan and tried to use the office for good.

We can just imagine and wonder how he will act. Because, there is no road for him. That was shown under Mpuuga. If you think he would suffer in this office, Ssenyonyi will suffer even more. He will be tricked and will be an easy prey.

Ssenyonyi MP should be careful now and assess his next step. He needs strategies and plans ahead. Not just talk or empty pleas. The regime will not give him way. If he thinks so… his not prepared or ready for what awaits him. These are unforgiving men and they will use all methods to mock, harass and make him look like a fool. Peace.

Opinion: The Speaker takes the public for fools…

“What are we bribing you for? I want to request you people, before you come up with such an allegation, you must be able to substantiate. Our work is for the national service and we are paid for what we done. We aren’t bribed in any way and we aren’t going to be diverted, they are trying to cover their homosexuality saying Parliament was bribed, eat your money for homosexuality, sell your country and keep quiet on your own” – Speaker Anita Among (13.12.2023)

Well, it is that time of year. Like we don’t know that the Members of Parliament have gotten envelopes to do the bidding of the President or the State House. That has happened before and could easily happen again. Especially, when the President himself knows the MPs are corruptible and hungry individuals.

We could kid ourselves and act like the MPs wouldn’t do it, but we know damn well that they are capable of doing so. The 11th Parliament won’t be any different than the predecessors. The Speaker can act holier than though, but she knows the gist too. This is all a front and a play of common sense. Alas, trying to foil the narrative and spin it against the accuser.

Seriously. The Speaker must think people are dumb. Like we don’t know about the Presidential Handshake, the suits or the vehicle payments. It is like we haven’t seen additional payments and salary increases on a semi-regular basis. We know this is going on and the MPs are eating plentiful because of it.

That’s why I am not impressed by her. She would use the act as an shield and vilify the ones who defends the criminalized minority. That just shows how despicable she can be and how she regards others, which isn’t her own. However, we shouldn’t be shocked by that either. Everyone must bow down to the Queen and feel lucky that you get to share space with her. Because that’s the true nature of the Speaker.

It is really compelling to that she speaks of treason and in regard to questioning the validity of a certain law. That’s just shows contempt of others. It is not a good look and she’s not as smart as she thinks she is…

This is just depressing, and we know the MPs can be bought and vote according to the pay-off. That has happened before and wouldn’t be shocking. When we have seen it all go down in the past. We know it can happen in the present as well. Peace.

Uganda: MK Movement “The Bridge” – Press Release (21.11.2023)

Opinion: Mr. President, it’s your policies from the 1990s that made Busoga poor…

I have been peeping through my car window as I travelled here for this function and I have kept wondering to myself how do these people (in Busoga sub region) live through this sort of poverty? I have screened through all these villages where I have passed but the houses and all the other things I have seen have left me wondering how it’s possible for our people [in Busoga] to survive through these hard economic conditions”– President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni (18.11.2023).

We are living in 2023 and the generations that saw the implementation of the Structural Adjustment Programs (SAPs) are old, bitter or forgotten about. They saw the implications and the costs of doing so. The privatization and liberalization of the economy, which was the stipulations of the Bretton Woods Organizations and getting loans in the 1990s. This was at a time when President Museveni himself was a “new breed” of leadership and even a President that Bill Clinton spoke kindly of.

However, those days are gone, decades later and the grim realities of the effects of those policies are now coming to haunt the government. Industries and the industrial hub of Jinja city died as a cause of this. State owned and operated Cooperatives ceased to exist, sold or just dissolved. The ones thriving industries was sold for scraps and are now a jaded memory. While it was decades one of the points and cities that pumped foreign currency and created wealth.

The National Resistance Movement (NRM) and President Museveni earned fortunes on the loans, grants and the SAPs. They got favours and favourable terms for the central government, but the businesses, state owned enterprises or cooperatives had to adjust to new terms. Which inflicted harm and damage, which have never been able to heal.

That why this was reported earlier in the year:

According to the Busoga Development Agenda (BDA), Busoga’s economic collapse is partly a result of the collapse of Jinja’s industrial prowess due to the 1994 privatization policy and weakening of the cooperative movement in Busoga, a disunited political leadership and cultural leadership differences that destabilized the role of the Kyabazingahood as a rallying point for the unity of Busoga after the demise of the late His Royal Highness Henry Wako Muloki” (Busoga Today – ‘Development and Economic Empowerment’, 22.07.2023).

If you ever wonder how the process and the sales was done by the National Resistance Movement (NRM). Well, it is done like it has always been done. It has been done with favours and within own ranks, the NRM Way. The way of the President and his inner-circle. They are getting bargains and good deals or a trade for loyalty. That’s what Museveni does and he can sell of anything, if it benefits him and his time in office. He don’t care if a hotel goes bust or gets sold for scraps. Museveni don’t mind if a factory or a cooperative gets locked in and gets worse ownership. No, he sold something and return he got a loyal crony. That’s the business model and that how you destroy industries and production.

Just read this one here from an Academic Paper in 2011:

During the privatization process at least seven (9%) out of 74 SOEs were undervalued and sold to government employees costing government Shs. 4.3 billion (US$2.2) (over US$2,152,000 at US$=Shs.2, 000).xxxvi Undervaluation (AV>SP) was calculated as the excess of asset value (AV) over the sales price (SP). The undervaluation was explained by politics and weak private sector. First, the ruling party supporters included cabinet ministers, presidential advisers, National Resistance Movement (NRM) supporters and Members of Parliament (MPs). In order to marshal political support, the ruling NRM either undervalued or condoned default” (…) “Second, undervaluation was expected even before sale if the locals were to buy SOEs. What was not expected, however, was the preferred sale of the SOEs to NRM cadres and family members of President Museveni. Before sale, it was realized that the locals would not be able to buy all assets offered for privatization. Total SOE assets exceeded all the amount of money in the Ugandan Banks. While total SOEs assets were valued at Shs. US$ 1 m (Shs. 200 billion), the entire money supply was just shs. 50 billion and bank deposits stood at shs. 46 billion end of January 1989” (David Kibikyo – ‘Fiscal impact of privatization in Uganda 1992-2007’ July 2011, African Journal of Political Science and International Relations Vol. 5(7), pp. 371-387).

So, when the NRM comes to town and Busoga and says “vote for NRM we bring development”. Well, in regards to the Busoga sub-region. The NRM has brought the opposite. The President and his policies from the 1990s and early 1980s are the destructive means, which destroyed the industries of Jinja. That’s a fact and the sale of SOEs didn’t benefit the sub-region either. It was a drive to keep the inner-circle happy and the enrich his family. That’s what the gist of the privatization, which hurt Busoga and other owned state owned enterprises across the Republic.

The President can act like a visitor and as a stranger to Busoga in 2023. However, it is his will and his choices that put them there. He decided to take the International Monetary Funds (IMF) and World Bank (WB) funds that entailed the SAPs. The President didn’t mind the implications and complied, as he saw positive outcomes… profits internally and externally become beloved. Because, he followed “Washington Consensus” and traded the future of the nation for a few silver coins. That’s what he did and now his blaming the Busoga in part for their poverty. When he can be blamed and should carry a heavy burden for doing so. Peace.

The Misadventure of Samuel Walter Mukaaku Lubega…

I wasn’t invited to the NUP headquarters unveiling, but I guess they just forgot. However, my input in the formation of People Power was immense. If NUP has a mother, I am the mother” – Lubega Mukaaku (07.11.2023).

Sometimes, someone should be happy that they were that close, but they were still that far. There was a reason why Mukaaku Lubega was an aspiring Member of Parliament for Rubaga South Division and ended up running on a Social Democratic Party ticket. He wasn’t the flag-bearer for the People Power Movement or the National Unity Platform (NUP). No, he ran on the SDP and the Democratic Party Block (DP Block) ticket of sorts.

He really thought he was special and had a unique role. A somewhat “main character” syndrome and being the character of your own movie. Where you are the one who makes the changes and who has the ability to make a difference. Alas, that wasn’t the case and he even caused a stir from within. Not only is his barking and tongue twisting rhetoric, after Bobi Wine didn’t follow-up or care to join the DP Block. He saw it for what it was and left it behind. While Mukaaku Lubega was already invested in it and had a role. Regardless of the pressure group standing or even possibility of gaining a momentum.

We can understand that the man wants to be seen as vital person. He desperately wanted to a MP and be respected by the NUP. In the People Power Movement he wanted to be seen as an achiever and become a voice. However, his own blind ambition and lack of self-control possibly destroyed it all.

You know it is bad when the NUP sacks you outright and take your out of a race. There is something shady then and something not acting right. It had to be the character and smelling trouble. This is why the NUP fielded Mukasa Aloysius Talton Gold who won with over 49,000 votes, wile Lubega himself got only 719 votes. Therefore, the NUP did the right choice and picked a more suited candidate.

When you write this in July 2023 to Bobi Wine: “The public has many doubts and is asking many questions. It needs answers. There is a growing feeling that the struggle is off the rails rendering no hope for change. There is need to have a frank reflection and evaluation of the past period, if possible correct mistakes and clarify the above unsettling developments in order to regain public confidence . We in the DP BLOC too need clarity on these issues to adequately inform our decision on our next course” (Lubega, 2023).

We can just see where he stands and what role his playing. A man who sought distrust and trying to discredit the NUP and the People Power Movement. It was within reason that NUP in their time did sack him outright. Maybe not in the best manner, but the way they saw fight. Because, they knew he was a liability. That’s why he wants to be of vast importance now.

He wants glory and tell tales of old. Since he was in meetings and interviews. He was canvassing votes and trying to drum up support. Yes, he did so, but so did plenty others and they didn’t try to aim for roles or titles. However, you sought for that and got that in the DP Block. A place where you belonged and where you had history as a Young Democrat of sorts. Therefore, this tale today is bonkers and beneath you.

Lubega should know better, but apparently his not. Well… main character syndrome is powerful and can distort someone vision. Peace.

Opinion: You can apparently besiege a place, but not open it…

“I blocked NUP from unveiling its Kavule Headquarters because president Museveni shall be in Kawempe tomorrow and you know he needs people to be ferried to his processions. When we allow NUP to proceed, Museveni may not have people to attend his function,”~Kawempe Dep. RCC Ndidde” (The Kampala Journal, 01.11.2023).

Uganda Police and the army earlier today deployed heavily at the have deployed heavily at the new opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) offices in Kawempe Division where the party president Robert Kyagulanyi and other members had planned to officially open today” (STV Uganda, 02.11.2023).

The Uganda Police Force, the high ranking officials and whoever was in-charge of the security detail surrounding the new Headquarters of the National Unity Platform (NUP) has lost the plot. Seriously. It is just dumb and the reasoning was foolish.

Telling 48 hours in advance that the NUP had to find another date to get accommodated too. Because, the authorities and the security couldn’t handle it. Alas, here is problem with saying that. When you in advance of the scheduled opening has besieged the plot and the compound. In such a fashion that no entry is possible. That’s what the authorities did today and they had plenty of guards, police officers and soldiers alert. Meaning, the authorities could have ensured the safety of the NUP and let them open the Party Headquarters. However, that wasn’t the order and that’s why the Party was forced to wait to tomorrow.

The authorities aren’t that wise here. Neither are they showing any finesse. The President is making himself look unpopular too. As he knows the people would surround the NUP Headquarters and not at his function. That’s why his appointee had to serve him and block the NUP from opening up their own offices. It just shows the ironies of life and how “one man” rules them all.

This wasn’t to safe-guard or benefit the people. No, this was all done to serve His Excellency. Not to secure and make it right for the NUP. The state and the President had a plan, which was so important that everything else had to stop. Because, if it didn’t he would look humiliated and alone. The state handlers and the servants of the President couldn’t let that happen. Which is why the NUP had to pay a price and open their offices on another day.

It is just really amusing that the RCC and the Authorities stated they didn’t have the manpower to secure and facilitate the opening. When they had enough soldiers and police officers to ensure a rigged election out there. They had enough officers to stop all movement and traffic, if they wanted too. However, the same guards, officers and soldiers couldn’t ensure the safety and the opening. That is just ridiculous!

The emperor is naked. The foolishness of the oppressor has no end. This is the democracy and the freedoms that the National Resistance Movement (NRM) abides by. It is how they roll and people just have to accept it. Peace.

Opinion: Alien Skin better entertain…

I’m going to stop doing music in December, I’ve done everything, it’s time for me to pave the way for young Artists, I don’t want to be a dictator like other musicians. I will quit music but that does not mean am quitting fame. I will be there even after music, I’m planning to join politics, don’t be surprised when you see my political party called Fangone Unity Platform soon” – Patrick Mulwana aka “Alien Skin” (The Kampala Journal, 20.10.2023).

I don’t know why Alien Skin has turned on Bobi Wine, but he has and with massive online efforts too. Making a mockery of the People Power Movement and their political party the National Unity Platform (NUP.

That’s why suddenly Alien Skin comes with the Fangone Unity Platform (FUP) as a challenger to NUP. Which is so childish, but also so foolish… a briefcase party against a certified opposition party.

Alien Skin hasn’t done edu-tainment, but just pure entertainment. Neither has he shown any finesse or gratitude for the levels he has hit. Instead, he is acting high and mighty. The levels of arrogance is on another level, actually.

This musician thinks very much about himself and his company. He thinks his the next big thing and the ones to conquer all stages. A man who will follow the predecessors and become huge. Might even think he will have hits like Jose Chameleone or Bebe Cool. Heck, might even score a few like Bobi Wine and others. However, that is to early to tell…

What his doing now… is being a pawn and a fool. Playing at events for Muhoozi and being blunt about Bobi Wine. That is serving the interests of the First Son and alienating a lot of the ones who would feed him. Unless, he wants to be a “gig artist” for Muhoozi and do like Bebe Cool has done in recent years. Just followed on the campaign trail and gotten paid for serving a political purpose. Instead of being able to tour by your own self.

You know it is bad… when they call you Muhoozi Plant and such. That’s when you know things are going south. That’s what some are saying in the grapevine and the streets are talking. If it is true that the man has become public, because Muhoozi has a plan with him. Well, that will be his loss and he will not able to forgive himself.

While being on the ballot or creating his own party is fine itself. He will loose and look like a drunkard. That’s all up to him. His not viable candidate or a man of a message. Just another public figure dabbling into politics. He can become like Butchaman or Jennifer Full Figure. They also did this to no avail. Accepted to play a role for the government and didn’t gain scraps for it. The same will happen to Alien Skin, if he does…

Alien Skin is useful right now and the drama he causes are an asset. However, that isn’t valuable for long. It will be played out and he will be as important as Ashburg Katto. That’s where things are going.

Patrick should know better, but his to arrogant to see or think that far. He rather be on this train and hope the journey never ends. Peace.