Another Opposition Coalition (UFC) to beat Mzee: Will it work this time?

There was once upon a time the Inter-Party Cooperation (IPC) for the 2011. This was a coalition of six parties, while three parties later had a fall out with it and its choices. Therefore, the Democratic Party (DP), Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) and Social Democratic Party (SDP) both went out and ran on their own. DP and UPC wanted to run their own Presidential Candidates, while SDP was furious that the mayoral choice for Kampala. We know that this didn’t work at this General Election. The coalition in the end was a mix of Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), Conservative Party and Justice Forum (JEEMA).

For the 2016 General Election there was another Opposition Coalition in play. This was the Democratic Alliance (TDA), which consisted of various of opposition parties too. However, here the parties that pulled out of it was the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) to field their own Presidential Candidate. The ones remaining was the pressure group Go Forward (Amama Mbabazi), Pressure for National Unity (PNU) Gilbert Bukenya, Democratic Party (DP), Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) and Justice Forum (JEEMA). We see here that DP and UPC didn’t ditch it, as Norbert Mao couldn’t run and James Akena didn’t run for the Presidency this time. Because these parties challenged with Mao (DP) in 2011 and Olara Otunnu (UPC), but this round they couldn’t or wasn’t fit. That is why they supported the candidacy of Amama Mbabazi (Go Forward). We know that Amama and the TDA flame fizzled out quickly.

So, when I heard today that the Pressure Group People’s Power Movement (PPM), Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), Justice Forum (JEEMA), Truth and Justice (TJ), Conservative Party (CP), Democratic Party (DP) and Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) are all involved in the United Forces for Change (UFC) for the 2021 General Elections.

The main leaders this time is Dr. Kizza Besigye (FDC) and Robert Kyagulanyi (PPM). Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) Mugisha Muntu has opted out and at this time his right not to join. His reasons are clear, but it’s a bit funny. Because he had no issues with joining the Special Utility Vehicle (SUV) of the Democratic Party (DP) and the union of similar parties. So, in this regard it might be spite, because he would still be in the shadow of former leader and party president of the FDC. That is just how it looks from the outside looking in. When leaders from all the other opposition parties are joining. Not that its shocking, but don’t expect everyone to join the ride.

Expect the DP to fall out, as Mao has grudges with Besigye. JEEMA, TJ and CP will be on the ride the whole time. They only gain positives by it and have a bigger platform during the election cycle. However, with the past history. The grinding questions of how close the UPC is to the NRM. There will only be fringes of the party to join the UFC. Akena will not ditch the money train of the NRM Alliance to be part of UFC. Also with all the things Mao has done behind the scenes, I don’t expect him to run behind Besigye and Bobi Wine. His already a bit mad at Besigye for some unfortunate reason. So, we can only imagine that he will ditch out here for the DP Block and whatever he calls it. So, I anticipate the UPC and DP to tell its members to come home. If they don’t than they are betraying their parties. That is why Lukwago is a TJ and not a DP anymore.

Let me clear after all that said: Yes, I want change, but if you cannot see a pattern here. These platforms, these coalitions aren’t making it. There is a reason there is a need for many challengers. The strength, their vision and their manifestos comes out and can change things up. To beat the NRM by the polls, by an election is futile. That has been proven since 1986. Not because of lack of trying. Not because there haven’t candidates suitable or popular to beat Museveni. No, because there haven’t been the will to give way for a peaceful transition. Museveni will not loose now either. He will rig the election into oblivion. No matter what the opposition throws at it, the results will be about the same. Just different faces, unless they want to show civil disobedience and actually attack the heart of the government. Break it down to its knees and ensure its downfall. That will cost, but through the polls. I can assure you, nothing will happen. The status quo continues and the same party reign supreme. They got the guns and the authorities to send the others packing.

The UFC will have the same fate as IPC and TDA. Maybe more finesse behind Bobi Wine than a insider and friendly NRMer in Amama. Still, the UFC will only have a fools hope. Just like Frodo in the Lord of the Rings. As Gandalf said in ‘The Return of the King’:

Tell me,’ he said, ‘is there any hope? For Frodo, I mean; or at least mostly for Frodo.’ Gandalf put his hand on Pippin’s head. ‘There never was much hope,’ he answered. ‘Just a fool’s hope, as I have been told. And when I heard of Cirith Ungol–‘ He broke off and strode to the window, as if his eyes could pierce the night in the East. ‘Cirith Ungol!’ he muttered. ‘Why that way, I wonder?’ He turned. ‘Just now, Pippin, my heart almost failed me, hearing that name. And yet in truth I believe that the news that Faramir brings has some hope in it. For it seems clear that the Enemy has opened his war at last and made the first move when Frodo was still free. So now for many days he will have his eye turned this way and that, away from his own land. And yet, Pippin, I feel from afar his haste and fear. He has begun sooner than he would. Something has happened to stir him.”- J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King

In the same way I look at this UFC. Not because I don’t want the junta, the militarized government and the oppressors out the Republic and into a proper civilian government. I want all of that to happen. The injustice has been going on for far too long. However, using similar tricks to beat the same dragon. I doubt it will have affect. Even if it has a new potential leader and could be the Frodo who gets the ring to Mount Doom to change history of Middle Earth to break the power of Sauron and Mordor. Still, that is a fools errand to believe that, even if the hope is there. Just like it was plenty of times with Besigye.

We need the hope and have fate that someone will bring the ring to Mount Doom. However, is this the team and the pacifier to stop the NRM? I don’t have the answer… I really don’t, but I just want them to challenge the authorities head-on and not play games that has been fought before. The names changes, but the end game stays the same.

Bobi Wine is maybe Frodo here, but that is only a lucky guess. Then Besigye is his Samwise Gamgee. But we don’t know that and Sauron continues to deploy his troops and ensure that no one gets unscratched by his army of Orcs. Right? You get the drill?

I don’t have the answers, but I just feel we are repeating history without crossing the authorities with enough power and finesse. We are doing the same old thing and getting nowhere. Stalling awaiting for the lucky brother to find the Ring in the river and get turned into Gollum. Instead of being a Frodo going into a journey, which will change everything, but will also cost. Peace.

Ministry of Kampala Capital City and Metropolitan Affairs: Press Conference on the Guidelines for Opening Public Transport Post-COVID 19 Lockdown (28.05.2020)

Uganda Police Force: Traffic guidelines during COVID 19 period (27.05.2020)

Today it’s Zaake, tomorrow it could be you…

Let’s be clear, when the authorities can torture, detain and charge someone as easy as they did with a Member of Parliament. Than you know, that they can touch anyone for no apparent reason. They will make up one after the fact and try to defend their actions. If not, they will blame the person they tortured and left behind to rot in his home after blatant impunity towards him.

We know why Francis Zaake MP was targeted. His an direct opposition MP and a voice of reason. He directly enforced local food distribution from his home in the midst of a pandemic and a lockdown. While NRM MPs has done it with flash and fury, they have been in the middle of it and even commercialized their donations in their respective districts. While they are taking the bashing sun and the PR. Zaake was being tortured, detained and in legal jeopardy. That shows how unfair and unreasonable, there is no common sense in this Republic.

Zaake was an easy target. His been there before. He has gotten tortured, arrested and had to become a medical tourist to India to heal his wounds. Therefore, this man knows the drill and knows what capacities the state has. He knows the risk of standing out and being obliged to stand-up to the regime. Still, with that knowledge he still does it. That’s the sort of character Zaake has.

But… you should know. Right now it was him. Next up could be anyone daring to question or challenge the high above.

If someone dares to push the envelope. Dares to insult the intelligence of the State House and the Presidential directives. If not, if a person really undermines and makes it look like dumb fools. You can be captured, taken away and intimidated. There will no line they will not cross to stop you. You are neither the first nor the last.

These people don’t care. If you think your voice is unique, special or even worth it. Know that without any warning, the CMI, ISO or UPF could suddenly knock on your door. You could end up in one of them ungazetted “safe-houses” and be there for days. Especially, if your some small-time activists and organizer. You could be gone for long. Nevertheless, they will not stop with that.

The big-men and leaders like Zaake ends up in SIU Kireka, Nalufenya or something alike. While a small-timer will end in a safe-houses without any blinking lights or warrants. They are just cast-a-ways for the authorities.

There will be more cases. Suddenly someone goes missing. Suddenly, somebody whose an activists or part of the opposition. Will not be found for while or known knowledge of their current location. People will wonder and speculate. The authorities will play dumbfounded and disingenuous about it.

Don’t be shocked, expect more of it. Especially ahead of the elections. During last campaign season, lots of youth leaders, activists and people in connection with FDC’s Moses Byamugisha suddenly was arrested and detained for longer time than constitutionally correct. So, expect this and be sure.

The ones pointing at the Leopards Anus will be burnt, it is just a question of how and when. Peace.

Uganda Police Force: Joint Task Force refutes claims of torture by Hon. MP (08.05.2020)

Opinion: UPF blames Zaake for the torture, how convenient right?

Today, Police Spokesperson went in-front of the Press blaming Member of Parliament Francis Zaake is indirectly to blame for the torture he had while he was arrested. They are blaming him for previous things too. Just piling on blame on the man that couldn’t at one point open up his eyes and who had blunt-forced trauma. That was stated by one doctor during last month.

Therefore, rich of the Uganda Police Force to pin everything on Zaake. Like its his fault he cannot open up his eyes or chemical conjunctivitis and got blunt-forced trauma. It is really rare that a person get both of these illnesses on his own.

Especially, when the Police Force states this:

We would like to strongly dismiss these allegations as false and misleading. And the reason we are responding is to counter the sophisticated propaganda aimed at negatively portraying security forces as brutal and further tarnish the image of Uganda as a country. Investigations into his allegations have shown the following” (UPF, 08.05.2020).

In this regard, the image of the security forces is already breached abroad, by also knowing the European man lingering in Luzira and dying in Court yesterday, while fighting skin-cancer. This is the sort of action the security forces of Uganda does. Zaake is just your own and you trying to dismiss your actions towards people.

Allegations are true, the Hospital would make up what sort of illness he had and that they wanted to transfer him to another hospital. You instead moved him from Courts to Courts and dropped him off in SIU Kireka. Instead of giving him treatment for the illness he got by being with the Police Officers. He didn’t catch this at home giving food to boda-boda’s, but by the actions made by the Police Force.

The statement from the UPF ends with this:

Although the specific allegations of torture in his affidavit are not consistent with the physical evidence gathered thus far, the Leadership of the Joint Security agencies remain committed to protecting the fundamental rights and freedoms of all Ugandans as guaranteed in the Constitution. We remain confident that once the facts gathered are presented before the Civil Court, our officers will be considered to have carried out their duties in accordance with the law.” (UPF, 08.05.2020).

Well, about evidence, do you have anything on Ziggy Wine or MP Ibrahim Abiriga? Is there anything in the works on the other weird deaths in the recent years, whose not solved or resolved? Just a bunch of cold-cases in the freezer and nothing happening, because when they are dead. The people will not cry and the families will not speak out either, because they don’t want to die as well.

So, in this regard, what about Bobi Wine’s fake arms in Arua? Is this the same sort of collected evidence, since your disregarding the findings of the doctor in your statement and politicising the arrest itself.

It is funny talking about the Constitution and the Courts, when the Police Force keeps people arrested without producing them in Courts with time. Neither warrants nor Court Orders to arrest them. They can just be pick people up and make-up charges later. Then, the family members or trusted people can pay bonds a few days later. This has happen so many times, that I cannot even count. So, don’t use the 1995 Constitution, when you use the Penal Code like a man-whore dipping into every ocean you can and hope you don’t catch an STDs.

So, in this regard, the UPF cannot play this one out. The documents from Iran-Uganda Hospital is clear. It’s not like hospital would make up illnesses and ask for him to be transferred elsewhere for treatment. Not for more days in custody of the coppers. Let’s be clear about that.

This was just so convenient …. so easy access and you could blame Zaake. His the bastard, the arrogant ass-hole and a man who should know his place. He shouldn’t even do anything, but a be silent as a grave. However, that is not the man Zaake is. What he has done again is to show the real side of UPF. He has shown your actions towards your own citizens and that has made headlines abroad. Because it is special, that you does this to representative of the Parliament. That is rich. Really Richie Rich. Peace.

Opposition Leaders of Uganda letter to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres about the ongoing human rights violations in our country (04.05.2020)

Zaake MP is the Patient Zero of Injustice

Member of Parliament, People Power Youth Leader Francis Zaake who was arrested on the 19th April and since then not released from custody. Having pains in arms and legs, generalized blunt forced trauma and chemical conjunctivitis. It is so severe hurt that he was to be referred from Iran Uganda Patients Referral Hospital to St. Francis Nsambya Hosptial for futher treatment. However, that didn’t happen, instead he had a hogwash of a day as the authorities wants to continue to punish him. 

The Police Force have worked continuously to downplay the aftermath of the efforts made to Zaake. As his hospitalized after their arrest on the 19th April 2020. We are now over a week and he has to change hospitals to get the care he needs.

The investigations upon his arrest were expeditiously conducted, and the charges were accordingly sanctioned by the Director of the Public Prosecutions. Unfortunately at the time he was to be produced to Court, Hon. Zaake through his lawyers complained of ill health, which prompted the Police to have him examined. Indeed an examination was conducted by the Uganda Police Medical team in the presence of his Lawyers, personal Doctors as well as his dear wife, where by the team unanimously agreed of some treatment to be extended to him. Hon. Zaake is currently undergoing treatment at Iran –Uganda Hospital Naguru and he is very conscious and in stable conditions” (Uganda Police Force, 24.04.2020).

So, they are really seriously not taking it serious. They are not taking charge, no one in their rational mind get blunt force trauma out of nowhere. That happens when someone get stabbed, kicked or in a car accident. It is a severe hit to the body, which creates bodily harm and can be fatal if its done to certain areas of the body. The Iran-Uganda Hospital didn’t mention where on the body Zaake have the blunt forced trauma. Certainly, it will be hurting and need treatment.

chemical conjunctivitis is the “pink eye” or means that he either got smoke, liquids, fumes or chemicals in the eyes. This means someone administered and put it in his eyes. That is the reason why Zaake is struggling to open his eyes. So, the man who didn’t have this issue before this address. Means the Police Force did something and it causing concern now, as it is not a mild one, which would have been caused by chlorine in a swimming-pool. Not like he was swimming in the pen.

What’s even more special today, as he was moved from one hospital to another. While the Police Force is downplaying it and saying its nothing. Wonder if this happen to one of their own and even Fred Enaga got this treatment. Would someone lie and say it was nothing too?

Well, what was more special than the common lies of the Police Force. Was the at Nakawa Court order Zaake on Bail. However, the same Police Force took him to Mityana Court and ordered him to be in the Hospital. While the second court ordered that, the Police Force took him back to SIU Kireka. So, the more treatment is suspended then?

The moving from Iran-Uganda Hospital to St. Francis Nsambya Hospital was just a facade from the authorities. Instead, they are sending him back to the wolfs who already beaten him and put some sort of chemical in his eyes? Because that is the treatment he needs, apparently. So, the referred order from Iran-Uganda Hospital was pointless, as he went from between two courts and ended up where he started. Back to the ones who harm him. Such a noble move of the authorities.

Right now, Zaake is the Patient Zero. The man whose the sole benefactor of the pain and suffering of the Republic. Because, he had the audacity to feed the hungry of Mityana district. Peace.

Opinion: Zaake MP is in a perfect storm…

The People Power Movement Members of Parliament Francis Zaake has been arrested because he sent food with boda-boda to his constituents. Zaake MP didn’t act vile or in discontent with any law. He used his wealth of office to give food to the ones who needs it in the midst of the second lockdown period. Not like he went house-to-house or used broke the law in other ways.

Zaake only got into trouble, because his a vocal opposition leader and MP. If he was an NRM associate or one of them. He would have gotten away with it. Like the Pastor who did the same thing the other day. However, the President directive and all controlled through the COVID-19 Fund. That is why Zaake gets into trouble. Because, Zaake MP needs to be named in one of the National Addresses, since he would have spent more than 3,000 shillings on it.

Zaake is in a perfect storm. If he doesn’t spend funds on his constituents, they are not getting fed. If he does do it, he gets into trouble. He got the latter after trying to do the merciful thing. He had chosen to defy the directive and not use the COVID-19 Fund and OPM Food Delivery Unit. He decided to do it on his own in his constituency.

This is the same government that sent the public to the Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago to get food. Where they pushed the community to his doors during the weekend. So, its ironic that they are arresting Zaake for doing what they pushed on Lukwago. Lukwago who didn’t actually do this service was pushed and held captive by the public from Rubaga Division in Kampala. He had crowds around his compound on the 19th April. Yes, Zaake did it on his own merry, but Lukwago had more people around him. Zaake was in home as his home was raided and arrested for his operation.

The State House and Office of Prime Minister (OPM) is in-charge of an operation, where the state is asking for donations and the President specifically asks for cars. While, a man who defies Presidential Directives are charged with murder. Even if he didn’t make crowds, didn’t defy social distancing and such. Sent small tokens of foods in Mityana district. That is clearly the message.

Zaake should have just sent the food to the stockpile of the COVID-19 Fund. Not, that the food and packages would have been received to his constituents. Because, then its up to the ones who runs it. The COVID-19 Fund who has been busy giving out in Wakiso and Kampala, not in Mityana. That is why the President and his team is ignorant of the plight elsewhere. Maybe they are looking the other way and hoping this will pass.

Zaake could either let his constituents starve or feed them as he saw it possible. Now, his paying the price for doing this. However, this is also a signal of the failure of the state and the COVID-19 response of the central government. If the government was working, than Zaake wouldn’t need to do it at all. That is how you can see its a perfect storm.

He can either play with fire, add more wood or get burned. He got burned by playing. However, if he didn’t play, the fire would burn out and there would be no heat. That is why he acted. That says it all. Peace.