The sorry state of the nation of WaBenzi!

You are now entering into an alternative universe, where we have a nation called WaBenzi. Where the elites was eating of the state reserves, where the elite was there because of their connections with the political elite. A political elite made by patronage and nepotism. This political elite was made out a liberation battle done decades ago, either from a foreign force or from some dictator, whose legacy was murder of ethnic groups or even expelling others. The leader on top would be seen as a hero back in the day, but with lingering time, the party (the Movement) and the President would tarnish his own reputation for lingering on.

While that is happening, the written word is losing meaning in WaBenzi. Because the political are afraid of challenging the President and his party. They might have some newspapers, but their circulation isn’t on the basis for anyone outside many urban townships of the nation. Neither is the social media sites. The intelligence that has been leaked, has made the elite to shut-down, arrest and revoke the licenses of these media houses. Therefore, the media is careful and awaiting approval from the elite before publishing. They are careful with how they address the President and his movement. Because they don’t want to question his rule. At least not too much, because they don’t want to suffer. They got families to feed. Even if there is an inflation, even if the economy is in shambles. Even if the rising debt and lack of foreign exchange is hurting the economy.

The patronage is destroying the state, the lack of institutions that is meaningful is shown from anything from SIM-CARDs, or even as foolish as monitoring porn. The boards are busy bodies, while the state is eating the funds for the top-class. The state owned enterprises are giving away tenders to developers without any oversight of the contractors or their delivery. If this get public scrutiny, the President will offer them a new chance after a short suspension. Because someone he knows are eating of this plate.

In WaBenzi, the elite can get away with murders, they can get away with thefts and even land grabbing. As long as the State House is informed, it doesn’t matter if the house is a colonial masterpiece or a grand-farm. Everything can be taken, even evict whole villages for foreign investors, for factories which is promised on the land. The state can take away land for roads and for rail projects, even if the building is only on planning stage and not even the tenders of building it is open to the public. Therefore, if a garden estate for one of the elites is built there instead, it doesn’t matter. The elite of the Movement can do whatever they want.

The people of WaBenzi is so used, they are used that the President can what he wants and say whatever he wants. He can contradict himself, he does that weekly and yearly. If you followed the President. You know he talks against corruption, but let his ministers who is caught in international fraud walk around like nothing happen. The WaBenzi is so used to lied to, that their ignorance and lack of care is natural. They are tired and praying for the ending of the President. Because the President doesn’t plan to leave.

The WaBenzi are used to that the government talk about fair share of resources and development projects, even if the elite in West is getting more, than the Central, Eastern or Northern Regions. The Western has the best schools, the most Cabinet Members and the best infrastructure. The networks of hospitals and other needed government structures are there, but not in the others in that extent. The schools are decapitated, the police stations are unworthy shacks and the government offices for higher officers are looking like mansions for high-end business-men. The mayors and councilors are well-fed, the police-officers are beating on the public to get fed, the school-teachers are having side-jobs or even farming on the side. The civil servants are asking for kick-backs and fill their plate to do their civic duty, because the salary hasn’t risen in decades. If paid on time, it still would barely be enough for the rent of their home.

The hospital are lacking basics, politician of opposition parties are trying now and then to help out. They use their salaries to buy sheets, beds and even medicine. As the national medicine importer and delivery system is understaffed, lack preparation and even the tools to have enough medicine for all institutions. The lack of funding and governance is hurting the hospitals. As they cannot afford to pay their bills, as black-outs and lack of oxygen are common place.

The Electric company is run by private contractors and also private investments from abroad. The development of the energy companies and the plants are all based on either multi-national funding or possible foreign investments. These are done in random, while the different part of the sector is underfunded and also because of the issues from within, is overpriced, hard to get good rates on the electricity and also often blackouts. This hurts the industries, the public, who has to have generators and cannot trust the government run company to deliver enough and stable enough electricity.

The WaBenzi is hurt by the Western, little Elite whose eating of everyone’s plate. They are grabbing it all, while all part of society is hurting. They are not even caring about the Parliament, where the laws are rubber-stamped and secured in favor of the will of the President. The legislation is to favor his agenda and not the good-will of the people. The Elite is more busy securing tenders and their own future, than securing the better institution and society for the public.

The WaBenzi has strict laws on political gatherings, the laws are to secure that no-one will ever have the power or possibly can topple the President. No one should be able to create a protest or demonstrations that could take him down. He has the army and the police on his side. They are keeping people at bay, even invade the Parliament to get his will served. The Courts are listening to him and the orders are happening to his service. Opposition leaders can easily find themselves behind bars, the ones who voices against the Movement will easily get into trouble. That is the state of WaBenzi. Where the thieves and murders walk free and the opposition is the real criminals. Therefore, the trust in the Police and Security Organizations are not there. Because they are misusing their powers to arrest innocent people, activists and youths who are standing up against the President. He cannot manage that.

The government is usually fixing issues that doesn’t matter that much and making sure to make a stamp. Has some sort of campaigns, and making taxes on ordinary stuff, but not making sure the taxation is used properly. That is because the existence of the regime is because they feed the elite. The WaBenzi elite needs the President and the President needs the elite. The chronic patronage and nepotism combined with grand corruption is like daily. The Executives, the funds misused and the mismatch behind the use on programs and what is left to the public is staggering. The President claps his hands and gladly take his percentage of it too.

This is just a story about WaBenzi, how a country became a hostage of an elite that lives on the goodwill of the President. They are there and don’t want change, because they eat. Even if the people starve, even if they cheat on levels of poverty, even if the elite cheats on the amount of people living there and how many projects they have for development. The aid is still coming, the United Nations will still show up and pay for the supper of the poorest of the poor.

While this continues, the liberator who promised to never rig elections. The President has appointed and made sure the Commission who controls the elections are in his favor. The Election Laws are always amended and changed just before. So that the so-called opposition has another disadvantage. Not only that the state is busy giving away gifts to the public during rallies, even busing them to the stages if they have too. Paying off the popular musicians to perform and also pay-off journalists to write favorable coverage. The President is also busy paying the clan-leaders, the religious leadership and even some appointed leadership in the districts. They are getting cars and houses, as a token of their good work and making sure the President is elected again.

The President is also busy using the army and police to harass the opposition in the run-up to the election. Even make them illegal to make a point. The ministers and the Security Organization will defend it as constitutional and say the opposition are making war, not only campaigning. The President will use vile language and say people are fools if they trust anyone else. The Police will bar people, will be more into politics during campaigns, than actually doing police work. The Police will defend their monitoring and the micro-managing of the people. This is all to install fear and secure the President, that people will not really challenge the Presidency.

So after months of campaigning, the elections usually ends with days of tensions. While the Commissions are cooking the numbers, the ballots and the paper-trail, the police is busy chasing the opposition and the civil society. Offices are raided, the media are under attack, the internet is blocked and the observers are watching idly by, while silently saying the process has to move-on and electoral laws can be changed later. It is still progress for society. That WaBenzi had an election, even if it was rigged and the President took total control. He left nothing to coincidence. The public of WaBenzi was props to buy legitimacy for the Presidency, the Commission was another tool and the international observers was there. Just to secure the display of elections was shown. That people could que and wait in line before being registered to vote. Even if there was pre-ticked ballots. Even if the police officers was working and making sure the district got the right result. As the Police arrested people entering or even being party officials registered to be looking over the tally and getting copies from the return officers at the Polling Stations. That doesn’t matter. Because the result has to be in favor of the incumbent President in WaBenzi.

That is just WaBenzi, we are all happy that this what WaBenzi has to offer. This is what the WaBenzi gives of governance, of institutions and of lacking taxation without representation. We are all looking idly by, why the WaBenzi is taken for granted. The President knows this and lives on, happy and ready.

If you demonstrate or try to strike, he will catch and make a treacherous human being, because no one has the power to question the power of the army and the liberation. Even if the liberator only liberated himself and his cronies. The rest has to be hostages in the President’s will and President’s vision. That is the decision of the President, who can get away with anything and no-one cares. Therefore, the nation of WaBenzi is misused and the people are too. Every single day. Peace

Opinion: Apparently, the Crime Preventers program has lost it’s value a year after the Presidential Campaigns!

Yesterday (19.04.2017), the internal memo was sent out the leadership of the Uganda Police Force, to the district leaders to get back the Police Uniforms and Uniform parts from the Crime Preventers. The Crime Preventers even got motorcycles in 2015. The Inspector General of Police Kale Kayihura have defended the program since 2015, as the political opposition inside Uganda has questioned the use of it.

That is natural, as the National Resistance Movement (NRM) and President Yoweri Museveni has used the Crime Preventers, they we’re important part of the campaigns and the use of fear during the campaigns between 2015-2016. They we’re usually at the rallies and also in the villages drumming up people for the President. By 2016 the numbers of Crime Preventers we’re about 65,000.

So after getting the amount of the unemployed youth, getting them trained and paying them for the loyalty to the state, they are now trying to disembark the giant project of Crime Preventers, since it cost to much and has to many people to take care off. The NRM cannot sustain the brigades of Crime Preventers, the youth who learned the Movement mantra and use of propaganda for two years. As the use of them was valuable in 2015 and 2016, in 2017 less, as the rallies and the opposition is easier to control.

The Police Force can easily monitor the Opposition in the non-election time, but during campaigns the strength of manpower is hurt, as the UPF cannot hire enough proper officers and train them, than it is healthy to use of the unemployed. The Unemployed can very easy just become Crime Preventers and then loyal to the NRM. That was the sufficient need and they could also intimidate the public and make sure they where loyal to the Movement.

So that today the start of dismantling the Crime Preventers and the stage of need is gone. They are not seen as so vital, as the NRM feels safe about their state of affairs. Since they don’t need the youth group who are trained by the Police to be Community Policing, the NRM needed them only to do so when the Opposition parties where campaigning, now they need to clear the unnecessary bills. That bill now is the Crime Preventers and they are approximately 65,000 civilized police.

The civilian trained police force that was the Crime Preventers and they we’re needed in the 2015 and 2016, but not now in the 2017, as the republic are cash-strapped and the economy isn’t booming. Therefore, the Police doesn’t need a big budget post, which is unnecessary. The unemployed youth we’re needed while campaigning and promising pledges, but in office again, they are just big bill. Peace.

Uganda Police Message: “Withdraw of Police Uniforms and Uniform parts from Crime Preventers” (19.04.2017)

PepsiCo ‘moments content’ ad were trivializing real-life demonstrations!

“…they’re weak, petty, so apathetic about this gift of life as if it were all a mere Pepsi commercial.” – Marisha Pessl

We live in interesting times, where a soft-drink company’s advertisement can spark this sort of outrage, I wonder if people could have used this anger against the brutality and the violence around the world, when it comes to government sponsored authorities. I wonder, because this sort of act of discontinued discussions usually appears in culture, when there are something real behind it.

That it was, it was something real, the Pepsi Corporation together with a marketing company went together and made a fake ‘Black Lives Matter’ protest, but instead trying to say, “We will bring harmony to the world if you listen to Skip Marley’s and drinks Pepsi Coke!” Yeah, brother!

Well, the ad is trivializing the protest movements and their demonstrations, that is clear, making it seem so simple, while everyone around is drinking and giggling on the Pepsi. The way they have made it is with such flair and so look like it is a manufactured reality, which it seems that there should not be any police brutality when demonstrations appear. They should just be smiling and giggly, wearing designer clothes and be top-notch mood, while all are drinking Pepsi.

Therefore the company had to come out with this statement:

PURCHASE, N.Y., April 5, 2017 – “Pepsi was trying to project a global message of unity, peace and understanding. Clearly we missed the mark, and we apologize. We did not intend to make light of any serious issue. We are removing the content and halting any further rollout. We also apologize for putting Kendall Jenner in this position.” (PepsiCo – ‘Pepsi Statement Re: Pepsi Moments Content’ 05.04.2017).

That demonstrators worldwide and organizers feels a bit betrayed by the motivation and the use, is understandable, that Piers Morgan defended the corporation was to be expected. Corporations can do as they please and especially if it is benefits the likes of Piers Morgan, who we for some strange reasons doesn’t know why is famous or why he acts entitled to the world to care about his opinion. Well, let go back to the ad in question.

It is not like PepsiCo and other corporation’s tries to tap into the youth culture, the company of Pepsi have made fortunes doing so and selling stories that fits that paradigm. So that they trying to fit themselves into BLM, the growing resistance against Trump or any movement that is questioning the powers-to-be. That seems a little beneath a soft-drink company. It seems a bit insincere. Since a company of this stature and this size are blend into the establishment and the greater state, who is not that favorable of demonstrations.

That there will be trivializing this is natural, that will be people not understanding the outrage, but next time, the corporations might tap into your struggles and your fights to get justice in society. Than you up next homie. Your definition of understanding, of justice and freedom, liberty and fight for better society might be portrayed in a sugarcoated reality by Coca-Cola, will you accept it?

There is healthy reasons to question PepsiCo and their management for their use of demonstrations, which has inflicted pain and suffrage for many, as they have been there because of the violent police force, who has brutally used weapons and tactics to disperse fellow citizens. Around the globe, the police use all sort of methods to keep the demonstrations at bay and detain unlawfully citizens. Still, that was not in the sweat dreamy portrait of Pepsi.

We do not have to wonder, to know that the PepsiCo tried to tap into protest movement and be more edgy, as the world have become more fragmented and use of international model and reality star in Kendall Jenner would peak interest. Therefore, she jumped on the project in the faith of the PepsiCo as she considered this a good move and secure move to get even more exposure. Something she did, but not on the purpose as she anticipated. She anticipated the sort of glare and glory as Nespresso commercials does for George Clooney. That she should be an iconic commercial and a game-changer. Instead, it all has boiled down to controversy!

The misuse of public anger and of injustice in trying to sodas does not seem like a good idea, but for one or more in the boardroom of PepsiCo, it did for a brief moment. The ideals behind the demonstrations and the acts against violence on fellow citizens was supposed to tap into with persisting a message, if you drink Pepsi, there will be peace. That story no one else believe, than the ones stuck inside the boardroom.

Therefore, when a multi-national enormous corporation as Pepsi tries to sell their soft drinks, they should consider the stories they are sending! It is not rocket science. It is very simple; do your drink supposable taste better than the competition? If YES, sell that; is the drink more affordable than competition? If YES, sell that; is the drink more environmental friendly packed or produced? If YES, sell that; but a product and a company of this magnitude will never be symbol a protest. They are the same establishment that the Occupy Wall Street in 2011 would go against. Not only the Merrill Lynch‘s of this world and the other banking buddies, but also the core food and beverages producers as well.

So next time Pepsi tries to start a campaign, go back to the basics, the reasons why you still exists was that you became the cheap alternative to Coca-Cola and was the one for use in the kitchen. Time reconfigure out that message to the public! Peace

Mbabazi is all of a sudden in the wind!

“in the wind: to disappear, unable to be found” (Urban Dictionary)

He has been the shadow and the loyal subject under the National Resistance Movement and as one of the men has followed President Museveni for decades, until his demise and his lost position of both Secretary General of the NRM-O and the Prime Minister post. Before that he had been a minister and also a long-serving member of the Movement.

Amama Mbabazi went from being the next in line to being an outcast. He tried to become the flag-bearer and presidential candidate in the Movement, but they wouldn’t relieve or give way for anyone else then three decades running president. So he was left out of the party, even as his membership still was there. Still, with that the The Democratic Alliance (TDA) allowed him and Gilbert Bukenya to stand as Presidential Candidates. Mbabazi achieved it with fielding the opposition parties and get Besigye to abandon the Opposition alliance. Therefore there was to major opposition candidates against Museveni. Both of them former allies and close knit in the Movement.

Besigye was the offensive and strong candidate, the man who gained the people and got the crowds that showed his popularity. Mbabazi started strong, but didn’t have the same amounts, but Besigye had been running many times before against Museveni, Mbabazi was a first time against his former boss. Mbabazi got to taste tear-gas, lose his allies, get supporters detained and even getting harassed by the police force for holding preliminary rallies. The reality of the code of conduct that the Movement has had for decades was something now the Mbabazi – Go Forward got to taste.

The sour and bitter taste of getting on the side-line of the Movement, getting their treatment and their recognition, the only attempt of some peaceful transition and smear of democratic behaviour was letting the Election Petition from the Amama Mbabazi legal team getting accepted even as it entered the Constitutional Court close to 30 minutes over the deadline. The rest was well rigged and malnourished to fix Museveni another term. Keep up, business as usual.

Mbabazi has after the election had meetings with the President, with many suggestions and wondering how come. I don’t really pound on that, as he was even pragmatic at the Presidential Debates of still being member of the Movement, while still running as an own flag-bearer in the TDA/Go-Forward outfit. Therefore I had giant issues that he run as an opposition, but still was a member of the ruling party. That doesn’t make sense and doesn’t seem reasonable.

So the NRM member was running on Opposition ticket. Seems foolish right that Norbert Mao and others accepted that request and dignified his approach? But, when darkness has been running for so long, a leaf of hope can resurrect a forest? Well, Amama Mbabazi didn’t run circles around Museveni. He just tangoed and made sure to make a good public figure.

His approach was more use cool designs, try to be a populist politician and hope he took some of the crowds of long-serving opposition. He really didn’t reinvent much or even sell his story strong, because who remember what sort of campaign the Go Gorward Group and allies did run on? I do not remember a single thing of what he did really stand for or what was his grand mission?

 

Mbabazi went underground or silent, nearly a visible character or public figure, as he wants a relief of public dedication behind him. Still, the rumoured visit or meetings with Museveni, proves that Mbabazi really never left, but was more of staged paradigm. You can wonder if he will have the same fate as Bukenya, suddenly be offered a senior position inside the NRM-O?

So that he can be compensated and silenced, not telling stories of old or even scorns the world with the realities of the inner-workings of the Movement. Since he is still paid by the Movement, he will not talk or disobey the President. Even if Museveni did scalp his ambition, and his dream of achieving, the executive position of Uganda. Certainly, the TDA was not built or had the machinery to conquer the movement-based Electoral Commission, neither was the quickly built organization around the Go Forward. Mbabazi wasn’t prepared with party apparatus to counter the Movement. The FDC had 10 years of building a party, Go Forward was months old and not allowed to hold preliminary meetings.

Mbabazi’s attempt was flawed, but dire as the proof of the invalid execution of NRM-O and Museveni who doesn’t care, because he is the only man with a vision. Mbabazi didn’t have his vision, since Mbabazi is Mbabazi and not Museveni. That is simplistic, but still a fact.

Mbabazi as long as he is a NRM-O member, an insider who is partly outcast, because of his wish of higher public office and that he wanted to take his masters place. President Museveni would not accept to lose his place and be succeeded. Succession has never been in the works of the NRM-O or the ruling regime, so that Amama Mbabazi thought he would exchange the current leader was failing from the beginning. The reason behind why Besigye had to start on his own on the outside of the Movement; the same Mbabazi was doing.

So what is up next is in the vision of Mbabazi and if he want to risk his lavish house, as he lost one of his cars as his place in parliament went away after the election. What else of Parliamentary perks he has lost is certainly a few. Other investments or ownership is only known by him and the movement, as Mbabazi wasn’t the most frugal MP. Mbabazi was known for his corrupt and grafting ability while being in power. So his wealth is built on agreements and his close-knitted community while being inside the Movement. Therefore he must know a lot that Museveni doesn’t want out. Therefore as long he is silent, he doesn’t have to fear, but if he would talk or release the intelligence, even if he would drop knowledge on certain older scandals, he could damage the Movement more.

Still, with his membership and dialogue with Museveni. Show’s that Mbabazi even though not official part of the leadership anymore in the ruling regime. Isn’t totally out of the picture or out of the elite, he is just silent relief.

So what do you think Mbabazi is up to and scheming? Is he done as political figure or will he brought into the NRM-O again? Peace.

Opinion: What will the Silent Mbabazi do?

There was once upon a time a lot of fuzz around this one politician, as he even at one point tried to become the Presidential Candidate in the National Resistance Movement, even when Museveni is still breathing; he tried to take over the NRM as a Secretary General and as a Prime Minister in the cabinet under Museveni. With that trying he was deflected and demoted from his positions and Dr. Ruhakana Ruganda, his childhood fried as the PM and Justine Kasule Lumumba as the Secretary General of the NRM.

So he seemed at that point to be lost with scarecrows and dustbins, as one of many men that the Museveni have left astray and left to dwindle. Even as he was demoted and had a ruckus internally in the NRM before the pre-election period of the General Election 2016, which led to his fall.

Now that his PM cars have been taken in, surely his pay has been cut off and other fees and Parliamentary bonuses are gone. While he surely have some money from the embezzlement projects of the past, as he has been on list of the most corrupt Ugandans year after year, it isn’t a secret, it is a fact. And the reason why he hasn’t been taken in or gotten trouble in court was because of his close ties to Museveni and the rest of the elite who also happen to eat of the plate where he was having a bargain.

The last big blow and act of his Presidential Candidacy was the Election Petition in Supreme Court as FDC was blocked with helicopter, besieged and even detained. While Mbabazi where house-arrested, but he had enough lawyers to hire so they; the government couldn’t monitor them all as they we’re busy putting in the hourly pay for the guards at Kasangati. So Mbabazi we’re able through his lawyers to deliver the petition 15 minutes after the deadline time. Even if the affidavit and witnesses disappeared like banana-flies and the nurture of yet another term for Museveni.

Mbabazi was able to collect the smaller parties and certain endorsements early in the campaign, like Otunnu and Mao, but they didn’t have their whole parties behind them, as the Opposition either we’re accommodating Museveni as UPC or parts DP did the same; while the Central leaders like Otunnu and Mao risked their own political capital in the former NRM Cadre. The Democratic Alliance had other smaller parties, but they did not have an impact as they wished to have. Especially when the FDC pulled out and Besigye felt he was the strongest Presidential Candidate besides Museveni, which was true.

With all of that in mind, as he has played his cards and is left on the table, he is not in parliament and will not be a Politician. He might be able to live on interest as he should have been able to fill his coffers in the years in the NRM elite. Still the Go-Forward Organization is either something he plans to build-on or if not, he has to forge new ways to reach the potential he seemed to have out of the gate.

Now he is in a pickle and in a blurred line where he has to decide, is his principals or is his own political life important; does he want to be outsider and opposition? Or does he want to be a loyal NRM cadre under Museveni? If you are in the NRM you have to be loyal to the vision of Museveni and nothing else, something he expect of the whole country, but trust me; he is not only man with a vision in Uganda. If there we’re so there wouldn’t be any businesses and ideas in Uganda, as entrepreneurial as the Ugandans can be; that is cannot true, Mzee.

Let be clear he can now either go the way of Mr. Mahogany, who after joining in the TDA went crawling back with broken heart and kissed the ring of Museveni; while doing so he would get a position on the NRM National Executive Committee as he is a “historical” in some points. If not he have to go the way of Besigye and create a strong opposition party with members and supporters allover. The last part is hard work and takes dedication. As if he does the latter… and if the Museveni would let him come, as I am sure he does, as he forgives, but never gives them the space and opportunity they had in past.

The last piece of political play he did was to offer Besigye lawyers for his sham trial in Moroto now in May, but he did not take the offer for special lawyers for his quick trial in (Nakawa Magistrate Court) Kampala before he was driven back to Luzira. Certainly he still tries to play a role in the Opposition, but does not have a platform or the reach that others who have danced in the wilderness for longer time.

That Mbabazi have hard days ahead as he is not naturally in the headlines, he is not in the NRM Elite, not a direct part of the FDC wrangles with the vote rigging, though surely his numbers we’re duped too. Still, he have been more silent and not made himself an opposition figure. Joseph Mabirizi has done more to take a stance against the whole shenanigans. Mbabazi went to court with his petition and after that been very silent. He tried in waiting period of collecting evidence to travel to Kasangati, but was sent back to his home and house-arrest. Little have been done since, just utter Silence…

The Silent Mbabazi, not the ones in the headlines, not the one with the answers and intelligence of the NRM, and why is he like this, is he worried? Is he unsecure of his future? Does the knowing that he either has to build on rocks and not on already fertile land scare him? He has been used to drive in sponge in the waters of others and drain the gold out of it. Now he can’t as he is alone leader of Go-Forward, and if it is more than a fluke and real organization, he has to invest and start to use loyal supporters and build his party. If not go back on his knees and kiss the ring of Museveni.

What will the silent Mbabazi do? Peace.  

Opinion: The Ugandan Police is so embedded into the Politics; that it’s level is questionable; as IGP Kayihura decides and ushers political work: when he should focus on crime and not on Besigye!

The Ugandan Police have monitored and been a political engine for long but the recent days and months to prove to what extent. As the realization of how embedded in the ruling it is. There is not only the ways the Uganda Police Force is detaining Opposition and Monitoring Opposition leaders. That with the knowledge of the Democratic Party members, Forum for Democracy leader and supporters; the way the Police uses it’s time to cause havoc around Besigye every time he kicks his shoes on the outside of the compound of Kasangati, Wakiso.

We are at the point as I have realised something that is not only a Police State where the Police is embedded with the Political Framework and monitoring the Opposition. That is bad enough. It is nothing positive when you know that the Police is Preventative Arrest and dropping more charges on the Opposition leaders then there are Malaria Medicine at the Yumbe Referral Hospital. Not that says lots of the state of Yumbe Hospital, more about the state of Police who has the time to add charges on every movement from the several citizens who have a mind of not being parts of the National Resistance Movement, henceforth challenging the freedoms and liberty of these individuals deserve.

Well, the Police Force have taken the liberty to involve themselves directly in the Politics. As the Inspectorate General of the Police have taken decisions that he shouldn’t have. Not in an ordinary state of affairs, as his job should take criminals not decide political issues. The IGP Kayihura have taken the decisions to crash consultations meetings and stopping the opposition from having ordinary work and assemble in districts and towns around the country. Well, that is under framework of the Public Order Management Act. That is not what made me think today. It is because as the Councillors of Kampala was sent to the Executive or President Museveni, with the cover-up of the involvement of the Police in that shin-ding.

“He [Kayihura] made telephone calls to some councilors who were having second thoughts about attending the meeting,” one of his aides told us” (Kiggundu & Lubwama, 2016). This proves his involvement in politics and using his networks of security organizations in Kampala together with talk to bring them to the State House. That is not the job of them, but in the regime these days it is…

What made me think was the knowledge of the existence of a Senior Super of Police Susan Kasingye Commissioner Electoral & Political. That the Uganda Police Force need a person to commission the Electoral and Political offenses and the admission of doing political work in the country as she must have a Commission who monitors and decisions of the Political Parties as she can’t be as useless as Hon. Byandala the Minister without Portfolio. Ms. Kasingye the daughter of Kayihura must have something to do, as she must be involved in the care of collecting information and spying on the Political Parties. If Norbert Mao thinks of drinking in Gulu or Padre; If Mbabazi thinks of filling gas on the only car he has in his driveway and so on.

But to have Directorate and Commission on Electoral and Political should boggle your mind and send the “Yes, Minister” squabble and crass reality as if a man throws the egg to the wall and think that it still be a whole egg. An egg is fragile and will break on the moment it hits the wall. That is something we knows as we know how weak the eggshell is before throwing it into the air.

As we still remembers how the public shunned the local councillor elections and the tiny numbers as the Electoral Commission was tallying the results. In midst of this there was waiting for the final call from IGP Kayihura to verify if Makerere Division of Kampala where the results was showing that Doreen Nyanjura was the winner, but the EC didn’t verify and accept the result before Kayihura had given his thumbs-up; as there was speculated that he tried to trade the position to somebody else and the deal went through. And if it is so, then the Political system is totally infiltrated by the Police Force.    

When you also knows that the Daughter of Kayihura is a SSP Kasingye and works with the Political Aspect of Policing then you can start to wonder what they are up-to and to what extent as the Police Force have already destroyed and inflicted their presence into the sphere of the opposition parties and their assembly. The other is the way the IGP Kayihura have all through the Pre-Election period and Campaigning either stifled the opposition or ushered the stage for the ruling party. That is evident through the stages, radio-closing, guarding the government buildings, anti-riot police following the campaign trails and detaining opposition members and electoral monitors right after polls. The Police involvement is embedded in the structure of the state. It is not the equation that they should be in, they should catch and secure that their no theft, killings and crimes done, not what Mbabazi or Besigye is up to as citizens of the Republic of Uganda. Peace

Reference:

EDRIS KIGGUNDU & SIRAJE LUBWAMA – ‘Inside story of Museveni, KCCA Entebbe meeting’ (27.04.2016) link: http://www.observer.ug/news-headlines/43917-museveni-meeting-with-councillors-attacks-musisi

Remmy Bahati Speaks On Her Ordeal With The Police (Youtube-Clip)

“Remmy Bahati, the second NBS journalist who was arrested while reporting live outside Kizza Besigye’s residence, spoke to the Morning Breeze crew on her experience with the police after her arrest. A traumatic experience but a highlight in her career” (NBS TV Uganda, 02.03.2016).

My thoughts:

It is hard to listen to her and hear what she went through in the car. Remmy Bahati and what they did in the car was sad to hear. The issue is also about Press Freedom and that Andrew Felix Kaweesi telling at Kasangati Police Station to not tell the Dr. Kizza Besigye or following what happens around his home there. That says how much they are trying to stop media and the press to be around Dr. Kizza Besigye. She had an appointment to get there, but she was not allowed in. She questioned that Andrew Mwenda could enter yesterday without an appoinment, but not her! The irony! It was DPC Kasangati who ordered the arrest of her yesterday, DPC James Kawalya! 

I feel sorry about Remmy Bahati and I am glad she is telling the story of how the Police have harassed her and without charges. This here will always torment the regime that are now. Because the issue of not caring about the journalists or about the justice. Here is the example for inciting fear and unjustifying their actions towards her. This here is just sad that the Government of Uganda and that the Police of Uganda did. Peace. 

NBS Reporter Bahati Remmy Under Arrest, Journalists Lash Out at Police (Youtube-Clip)

“Fellow Journalists lash out at police for man handling and unlawfully arresting Bahati Remmy at Kasangati Kizza Besigye’s residence” (NBS TV Uganda, 01.03.2016)

NO REGRETS : Uganda Police says “they will not hesitate re-arresting Besigye” (Youtube-Clip)

“Police has maintained it won’t hesitate arresting opposition leader Col Kiiza Besigye if he insists causing commotion in the city center. This is in response to the preventive arrest that police applied on him this morning when he insisted that he was driving to the city center with out notifying the police. Police publicist says this was un-called for and this forced the police to arrest him” (WBS TV, 2016).