Opinion: Why does every By-Election these days look like a War-Zone?

Let us be honest for a minute, the recent By-Elections under President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, have become more hostile and more militarized, where the big guns, the soldiers and the mambas are all over the place. That is happening today in Sheema Muncipality in Ibanda and in Bugiri Muncipality in Busoga sub-region. Both National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidates and opposition contest in both of them.

What is striking today is the efforts of the police and the army to intimidate in both places. In Sheema Muncipality and in Bugiri Muncipality, the Army and Soldiers are armed to their teeth. Like there is a war going on, and not a democratic exercise on who gets to represent the people in the newly created districts. No, no, it looks like a war story and someone is going to die!

Seriously, who brings the war machine to an election, if they are not fearing for losing it? Who isn’t bringing the police to arrest opposition activist on the day of the poll and not afraid of losing it?

If the NRM was so steady and had a message, had a mandate and trust in the community, would they need the UPDF and the Police Force to settle intimidation into their eyes. Seriously? I beg to ask!

You can say what you want about elections and about campaigning, but when the ruling regime and the orders from above, is to send a brigades of soldiers to the polls. You know something is wrong, you know that these elections are no good. That is just a common knowledge. Maybe not for Ofwono Opondo or Frank Tumwebaze, but for the rest of us it is.

This isn’t a sign of strength, but more of weakness, of a justification of harassing and intimidating the public. Just because you can and because you have the army. This isn’t there to secure democratic values or secure the public. Than, the soldiers would have bases there and await a sudden strike from an enemy. Not suddenly come out of their barracks and post up in the middle of towns and poll stations in the early mist of morning. No, that isn’t it.

Maybe, just maybe, the NRM thinks so, but than they are gallantly, stupid and I cannot blame them anymore. They are just the National Rwakitura Movement, where all citizens are his cows and he is just waiting to spoil their milk. That is just what is up.

Are the NRM so afraid of losing, that they have to order soldiers in the street to prove they exists and that they can hurt you, if you don’t obey every command made by Museveni? Is that it, is that the magic potion to get people on board. If so, than the President have forgotten Franz Fanon and his wisdom.

As the war-zones of Sheema and Bugiri have smiled to us today and God knows how the tallies will be. Let me end with the words of Fanon.

“The state, which by its strength and discretion ought to inspire confidence and disarm and lull everybody to sleep, on the contrary seeks to impose itself in spectacular fashion. It makes a display, it jostles people and bullies them, thus intimating to the citizen that he is in continual danger. The single party is the modern form of the dictatorship of the bourgeoisie, unmasked, unpainted, unscrupulous, and cynical” (Frantz Fanon – ‘The Wretched of the Earth, P: 164, 1961).

That is enough of the nonsense. Peace.

Bugiri By-Election: The Final Stages now and Museveni offers only development there if they vote for NRM!

The last day of the campaigns in the Bugiri By-Election, which the final polls are on the 27^th July 2018. This is where the candidates of Asuman Basalirwa (JEEMA), John Francis Oketcho (NRM) and Eunice Namatende (FDC). All of this candidates has massive backings from their parties and allies. Where the Police Force have started to follow Asuman Basalirwa especially and his ally Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine, whose been followed and monitored by the Police Force. Therefore, you know that National Resistance Movement doesn’t want to lose this new district.

We know, that Museveni is behind his candidate, who will be part of the NRM Caucus and follow his every lead. That is why he went to Bugiri to tell his side of the story, because he couldn’t do without. Museveni have to be a part and also show his power to the tin-soldier he wants from the district. That is just the way he do.

“Bugiri by-election: President Yoweri Museveni has pledged to connect the people of Bugiri with clean water, construct for them better roads if they vote NRM’s Francis Oketcho. Museveni said the NRM is a party of action and this has been exhibited bvy the many things that have been done among them construction of better roads and the improved hospitals” (93.3 KFM, 25.07.2018).

What is the weirdest from all the final rallies from Basalirwa, Namatende and Oketcho where packed. That is just weird, all photos from these rallies are filled to the brim. Therefore, the pictures from Museveni rally isn’t alone. The FDC rally had Dr. Kizza Besigye and Patrick Amuriat Oboi, these two people could gain crowds on their own too. That Bobi Wine and Basalirwa would bring people are natural, as the swagger of Bobi Wine hits the masses. While Museveni could for all we know, be ferrying masses from other parts of Busoga and giving them food and gifts. That is what the NRM have done during the General Election last time. So why not do it now too?

Well, Voter Tourism might be a thing. While the bigger story is how Museveni continues to talk. The government will deliver project, only if Bugiri vote for his guy. The Bugiri people will get roads and such, if they do the right thing and votes for Oketcho. That means, the government is only there for you, if you follow the direct orders of the State House. This is the final implication and shows the lack of democratic values in the President.

He only gives, if people give him all power. That is what is just in the eyes of the President. NRM or nothing. No Remedy Mentioned (NRM) continues, as the pledges of roads hits Bugiri, a promise that Museveni have been given steadily since at least 2006 for certain parts of constituency. Therefore, as always with the NRM, there have to be recycled pledges. That is just protocol by now.

What is really insulting, is the state of “if they vote”, that means he will stop funding and stop being acting as President over the Constituency, if they vote for someone else. Bugiri will not get money or tax money for development projects, infrastructure development and everything else.

That is what he is saying.

Bugiri will be yet another place, that Museveni might wipe out of the map. As people will not follow his orders. They are not his property, even if he acts like it. Peace.

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