The Amendment of the Income Tax Act in Uganda; is the first out of many freedoms that the Members of Parliament have given themselves

Uganda Parliament Museveni

It’s been hectic around the Amendment for the Income Tax that has opened the possibility for Members of Parliament and the ones on Diplomatic Missions to not be paying the Income Tax in Uganda. There been an outrage on Social Media, therefore I started to look into it. First will I add the specific amendment that was voted in Parliament now in April 2016, that’s give’s the Members of Parliament no Income Tax, because older laws already gives them Immunity. Certainly this is gift basket to the coming 10th Parliament, as the 9th Parliament gives a tax-break to themselves, as they already have certain obligations and other services provided by law; and that is not so strange they are the makers of laws, so they have made laws that fits them and gives them advantages.

Uganda Shillings

Orignal Law before the Amendment:

93. Cases where returns of income not required

Unless requested by the Commissioner by notice in writing, no return of income shall be

furnished under this Act for a year of income-

(a) by a nonresident person where subsection (4) of section 4 or paragraph (c) of

section 87 or both apply to all the income derived from sources in Uganda by

the person during the year of income; or (effective 1st July, 2001- Income Tax

(Amendment) Act, 2002)

(b) by a resident individual-

(i) to whom section 4 (4) applies; or (effective 1st July, 2001- Income Tax

(Amendment) Act, 2002)

(ii) whose total chargeable income for the year of income is subject to the

zero rate of tax under Part I of the Third Schedule to this Act!” (The Income Tax Act, 1st July, 1997)

Ugandan shillings

Here is the what the Amendment of 2016 does to this section:

“Unless requested by the Commissioner by notice in writing, no return of income shall be

furnished under this Act for a year of income-

(a) by a nonresident person where subsection (4) of section 4 or paragraph (c) of

section 87 or both apply to all the income derived from sources in Uganda by

the person during the year of income; or (effective 1st July, 2001- Income Tax

(Amendment) Act, 2002)

(b) by a resident individual-

(i) to whom section 4(4) applies, except persons employed by diplomatic missions and prescribed organisations on which diplomatic immunities and privileges are conferred;”. (effective 1st July 2016 – Income Tax (Amendment) Act 2016)

(ii) whose total chargeable income for the year of income is subject to the

zero rate of tax under Part I of the Third Schedule to this Act!”

So with the important Amendment to the Tax law tha set the standard for the Diplomatic Immunities and Privileges. They are no except from the Income Tax. That means that the Income or Pay that they are getting so not taxed or their salary is now Tax-Free.

Uganda-parliament-2

And as this complies with Scetion 4 (4) here is what that says:

“4. Income tax imposed:

(4) Where the gross income of a taxpayer for a year of income consists exclusively of

employment income derived from a single employer from which tax has been withheld as

required under section 116, the income tax payable by the taxpayer for the year of income

is the amount equal to the sum of the amounts required to be withheld from such income

under section 116” (The Income Tax Act, 1st July, 1997).

So just to take the last piece of law to put this all together and give meaning while it have created a fuzz and been question what this part of law means that people with Diplomatic Immunity get exception from Income Tax. Even if the Third Part of Law says that people who lives most of the days in Uganda have to pay Income in Uganda, but with this new text to the law, that certain people are exempt and doesn’t have to cough-up the money.

This is what the Parliament (Power and Privileges) Act of 1955 of 24th February 1955 say this in the act:

“2. Immunity from legal proceedings.

No civil or criminal proceedings may be instituted against any member for words spoken before, or written in a report to, Parliament or to a committee, or by reason of any matter or thing brought by the member in Parliament or a committee by petition, bill, motion or otherwise” ( Parliament (Powers and Privileges) Act 1955).

Internal Memo Uganda Parliament 2013

And lets not forget this act to called Parliament (Remuneration of Members) Act 1981, that is still active and give certain benefits the Members of Parliament. It came into effect on 1st July 1981 and is still active and this is what it says:

“4. Regulations:

“amenities” includes housing, transport, medical attention, domestic servants, security guards and secretarial services;

“Minister” means the Minister responsible for public service and Cabinet affairs”, (Parliament (Remuneration of Members) Act 1981).

So they have no cut the Income Tax because the Parliament Law of 1955 gives the Immunity and therefore are they under the provision of the exemption. That is not surprising, but that is a fact. So it is clear that the end of 9th Parliament will be self-serving an in their own interest and not for any common-good for the people.  And the ability of still having colonial laws that are active and not terminated is a little profound for me. As the NRM Regime have tried to rewrite everything, but seems that certain relics of the past is a good thing, if it gives them more power or ability to harass the opposition or control fellow peers. The Immunity of Members of Parliament together with Amenities and now the exception of Income Tax proves the levels of positive acts that are made for MPs to be able to paid salaries and amenties without paying Income Tax. That is astonishing and questionable. That the Minister of Parliament can get funding for housing, transport, medical attention, servants, securities and sectorial services without paying Income Tax on the Salary that are getting. With the benefit of Immunity!

So some laws from the Colonial Past and one law made by Obote II gives an edge together with the new amendment of a law made two years after the “Museveni Constitution” of 1995. Certainly there some ironies that the Members of Parliament are getting funded amenities under the NRM Regime because of President Obote and his UNLA and UPC fixed it 5 years before NRA overthrow them. But that is just me.

The levels of self-serving is just continuing the traditions in the Ugandan Parliament. This is all the way from 1955 to 2016. It might be 50 years apart, still the same mentality is there and the men of power wish to extent their power, if it is immunity, impunity or exception from taxes. The same powers and same common greed is there. As showed in the laws that inflicts the Cabinet and the Members of Parliament. Peace.  

Besigye Gives Museveni Immediate Ultimatum (Youtube-Clip)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejbdfKccH3M

“FDC’S Dr. Kizza Besigye has given President Yoweri Museveni an immediate ultimatum to consent to have an independent audit kick off or he forms his own government with statehouse in Kisangani. Dr. Kiiza Besigye is one of the aggrieved presidential candidates who are challenging the legitimacy of President Yoweri Museveni as the president elect and has now resorted to a defiance campaign to win the presidency” (NBS TV Uganda, 2016).

Free Uganda statement in support of the YOUTH WARRIORS who are spreading the message of Revolution and mobilizing the masses for the Freedom Struggle (01.04.2016)

Museveni Idi Amin

Ugandans will not allow Museveni to impose himself on the country using NRM cadre judges, and the savage barbarism of Kayihura//Muhoozi killer-torture squads. The nation’s patriotic youths are igniting the fire of Revolution that will spread across the land in the coming months.

Uganda’s Revolutionary youth are leading the Struggle for Freedom, and their message of DEFIANCE is spreading like fire across the Motherland.

As the ‘CHAIN’ WARRIORS’ were successfully highlighting the state of terror in the country, by chaining themselves in strategic areas of the capital city, Music Superstars, like Eddy Kenzo, Bobi Wine, etc, were making their contribution by using their performances as a launch pad for mobilising the masses.

Free Uganda thanks these patriotic youth for paving the way for the evolving struggle. We applaud their courage and determination in the face of intense brutality and repression from the Museveni / Muhoozi / Kayihura negative forces.

Fellow Liberation Struggle Patriots of the young generation – the CHAIN WARRIORS, the MUSIC WARRIORS, the STREET WARRIORS, the CITY WARRIORS, the VILLAGE WARRIORS, etc, your noble stand against injustice and Museveni’s terrorism is inspiring millions of our citizens and preparing the country for the final show-down in the People’s Struggle for freedom and democracy.

Demonstrator Kampala 31.03.2016

A lot more is to come in the days and months ahead, and Despot Yoweri Museveni must know that the Ugandan People will not rest until he is squarely defeated in his attempt to illegitimately hold onto power after what was the MOST RIGGED ELECTIONS ON THE AFRICAN CONTINENT

Never mind what some NRM CADRE JUSTICES say, in such incredible shameless support for the Despot, Ugandan People are not going to allow the Museveni Family apparatus to continue forcefully imposing itself on the country. Ugandans will not allow Museveni to hang around state house for what are purely egoistical and self-fulfilling motivations.

Museveni must understand that this time round Ugandans are not going to play any SOFTLY-SOFTLY GAMES with him.

The liberty, democracy, happiness and ‘Museveni-less’ future they seek is not negotiable.

Ugandans have decided to move on without Museveni, and it shall be so, whether the despot wants it or not.

And, for God and Country, every means permissible by the Constitution of Uganda will be deployed to achieve the desired outcome.

Issued by Dr Vincent Magombe, Secretary FreeUganda Leadership Committee and Press Secretary FU.

My letter to President Museveni after the Supreme Court ruling today

NBS Presidential Election Petition 2016

31st March 2016, Oslo

Dear President Museveni.

As I writes to you again and the only election petition to the Supreme Court have been dismissed as all of our pundits and most of the general population expected. We expect you grant budgets for lavishly ferry Crime Preventers and the few die-hard NRMs to Kololo for your coming Swearing-In ceremony where you will promise to withhold the constitution and laws of land.

There are issues and there are hesitant, the blatant disregard of the county you have been ruling for 30 years, the distance from you Mr. President towards your own citizens are growing more and more distant. The more you are with the Army and the Police then with your citizens.

23.02. NRM Celebrates Kampala P2

The men and woman on your payroll and who are still obedient to your will say today was a gracious and monumental ruling as the dismissal of the petition while dropping most of the affidavits and evidence in the Supreme Court. While the general public and the reason why there are little share and joys in the cafes, restaurants and pubs where they have followed the live-coverage of the Supreme Court; if the people we’re agreeing they would be cheering in the streets, and you know that very well Mr. President. You know much your people like a celebration!

Mr. President today seemed like the Chief Justice Bart Katureebe and his fellow judges we’re hired men, just like Chairman Kiggundu of the Electoral Commission; that this was already your decisions and mind; let me speak your lingo Mr. President; they spoke and acted on your VISION.

NTV 20.02.2016

Today was in your Vision Mr. President in total disregard for the public perception and the public assessment of the events that transpired during the recent year and through the Pre-Election Period, Election Day and Post-Election to the Announcement of the Presidential Election result. The Vision was yours and nobody else!

You can appoint every man to every position that exists in country as the Executive or even impeach the ones you dislike or get them fired. Detain and preventative arrest as orders from you. This is things you Mr. President have known for a long time; therefore you cling to power Mr. President. For these reasons alone you don’t want to give up that power and the Executive position.

Bart Katureebe

The Supreme Court and the Chief Justice might read the verdict that gave you the power and validated the Election and the ballots that was announced. But the people and the pundits know the story and you can’t control it, even if you through every single opposition member and officials in jail without charges. Even if your going against every single media-house and censorship of the Social Media.

We know your military ways Mr. President as your been in the Western Uganda after the sparking violence that your Police set-off after Local Councilor III Elections went sour. That the government security forces went ballistic on the local population. We have seen your proud mind as your talks to locals and walk around in army fatigue and speak of going to punish the men and woman behind the violence.

High Court Appointments 01.03.2016

As you are in army fatigue and wearing the colors of the army, the Supreme Court validate your respondent to Amama Mbabazi petition. This is the result or you’re Vision and your ambition to continue to be the Executive of the country. The end-game is that distance between your power and structure, the vacuum of power between you the people is becoming at a distance. As the Opposition lingers in a limbo, a limbo created by your vision and the extensive use of Security Organization to distort them and detain them at will. Your Police Force and Army are creating criminals and making political activity illegal as long as it is not done in your blessing or your vision.

Your vision was behind this Supreme Court dismissal and the ways the General Elections of 2016 have gone. The Vision of your leadership the ways of your Power and the Structures you have created or rebuild over the 30 years in Power. The Power and the Executive should be stellar and perfect, the houses of Bundibugyo and Kasese should be golden and the industrial country you have promised since 1986 should have arrived already, but it hasn’t that is because we who see you; see that your vision is jaded and built around your persona and not the civic duty or the Executive to serve the public; it is the Public’s duty to service you; and nobody else then YOU, and that what you envisioned in the bush battles and the meteorically rise from days in the University in Dar-es-Salam in the 1970s.

Road Block at Kasangati 22.02.2016

Therefore your vision has come to full fruition today in the Court Ruling at the Supreme Court this day 31st March of 2016, as the guns, ammunition, detaining of fellow citizens and the grand control of every government institution of Uganda. That is what you know have, but the people’s consent, the people’s will or the people’s justified and legitimate rule is the one thing you don’t have.

Mr. President you might have hired the Supreme Court Judges, the Electoral Commission, but you do not hire the minds of the people who feels sorrow yet again and should mourn in the decision of dismissal of the 1st Election Petition of 2016 from Hon. Amama Mbabazi. That will always be another stain to your accord of grievances against the population and their will.

Alaric

Your leadership is hired and taken for granted by yes-men and Nobel-Idiots who serve you blindly. Just as the hired armies of Roman Empire fall, one of the greatest nations and biggest nations fall when they didn’t pay enough to the barbaric princes and soldiers. Then their revolt burnt Rome. Your wisdom and your vision might serve you well as it has done, but just as the Roman Empire, your fall might come brutally and without excuse as your vision does not control the minds and hopes of all of your citizens. The Police State and Army aggression is not a sustainable governmental affair that you can suppress and execute without losing something dear. Something dear Mr. President that you lost long time ago, the legitimacy and the legacy of liberator, your now the main character of the oppression of the people and the citizens, through the Police Force and the Army.

Your vision is jaded and lost it. The Supreme Court and the validation of the election might occurred today; the reality is that the citizens and population is the ones validation you really need; the Supreme Court Justice might have given you a paper that validates your Executive Power, but it does not give you Carte Blanche to act as you please; or lets the people give your Modus Operandi of justice a free-for-all without questions the Authority you withhold without the clear consent of the publics will.

1996 Museveni Sworn in Ceremony

Mr. President is supposed to be with grace and honor, but the way you have handled it; it’s with disgrace. Not of me, but of your fellow citizens and their intelligence as your dishonestly takes their votes, their fate in the electoral process and their fate in the government as a representative authority and makes it your own personal playground. The Government is now in-graved in your name and your vision without any consideration of anybody else. The Statues and procedures and the coming Parliament is sham democratic place from a weaponized coup d’état where the opposition have been besieged and detained while the announcement was the final straw of pre-election period filled with malpractices of the whole process. Straight from the consultations meetings and state-lodge trips where you Mr. President gave ways to your coming next tenure and no disregard for your fellow citizens. This the legacy you leave behind, even the late Obote would be proud how you photo-copied and made it your own; in your VISON.

You’re said you are the only man in the country with a vision, and the vision is now that you are the one that decide everything. As you fixed and mended this Supreme Court ruling and dismissal of the petition. Hope you’re eating healthy and living well within your vision, but your blind by that vision, as that vision is not in everybody’s head. So please think about that Mr. President and is not what you have envisioned. Peace.

Best Regard

The Writer of the this Blog.

Supreme Court dismissial of the Election Petition No. 1. of Amama Mbabazi; As expected they would validate the votes for Mzee

Dolphines

Chief Justice (CJ) Bart Katureebe: “1st respondent (Museveni) was validly elected. This petition is dismissed. We make no orders for costs”.

It is not that I wanted to say this, but I had as little faith in the Ugandan Supreme Court as much the two dancing dolphins cares about Shakespeare or as much Donald Trump cares about his own integrity. Not much.

On the 30th March there been rumors and speculated that the Supreme Court Justices happened to visit the Entebbe Statehouse, the day before the Final Grand Judgement of the First Election Petition and the only one on the matter. Seems strange right? The day before in the middle of the process that the Supreme Court Judges ferries to the Executive or the President Museveni’s State House, Who happens to be the respondent or Defendant for the Electoral Process, is shipping the men to his hollow chambers the day before. Surely not for cooling chat with his loyal men, but securing the Power of his ruling power.

The Court case is supposed to be dismissed on the grounds of not valid evidence of bribing, pre-ticketing the ballots, re-writing the Candidates DR Forms from the Polling Stations, the later arrival of Polling Material, Discontinued or even dismissal of large amount of voters in Wakiso or Kampala, none of these evidence are credible or just mere rumors; barely mere speculations that cannot be the narrative of an election said to be credible by the East African Community (EAC), Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) who them all said they we’re “free and fair”; and since all of them came to that conclusion it has to be true!

Bart Katureebe

As I have been listening to the Chief Justice Bart Katureebe, my thoughts of yesterday were actually true. They have only given in on some demands, but have no plans of annulment of the Presidential Elections, as the affidavits was usually not taken in and the statements of the incumbent was the ones that we’re valid. The blatant lies of the Public Officials not campaigning for the Executive, but on their own capacity seems to be another way of cleaning their hands instead of looking into it. For instance of Frank Tumbewaze was not the campaigning on his own accord, but to be there to spread the news of the NRM.

The whole Supreme Court had not seen evidence or reasons for the annulment of the Presidential Election and therefore handing the announcement of President Museveni his seventh term. I know it is officially his fifth, but that is another lie that the NRM-Regime. The Declaration of the Supreme Court dismissed the case. We can now the Electoral Commission has been validate and the justices have been served for the Executive, but not respecting the people and the actual votes.

I will discuss more when the Supreme Court Documents are actually leaked to the public and discuss the so called missing evidence and the reasons for the validating the elections. Proves that the visit at Entebbe State House have given way for the Court Justices or Judges to oversee the compliance of evidence.

Besigye Amama

Hon. Amama Mbabazi the Presidential Candidate have now gone through the same dismissial in the Supreme Court as Dr. Kizza Besigye twice had gotten dismissed. That the Chief Justice talks about Substantial or sufficient amounts of voters not respected their ballots.

So the NRM have maybe won through total intimidation and thieving the election as the Executive is making himself ready for the sworn-in-ceremony together with the loyal presidents from abroad. While the will only be hired crowds and guns on the street; not a legitimate celebration; as there hasn’t been any good public relation between the opposition and the continuation of the ruling-party.

NBS Presidential Election Petition 2016

“We are satisfied that the results used to declare Museveni winner were valid. The petitioner did not produce any evidence against this. We also found that there was non compliance but we are not satisfied that the non compliance affected the results announced”Chief Justice Bart Katureebe

The Executive proves he does not care about the integrity and honoring of the public will. As the Police have taken the opposition hostage and taken their votes away; now together with the Supreme Court ruling and dismissing of the elections. There been to many Electoral Frauds, the Supreme Court does not see merits, because their payed puppets of the ruling regime, and those who thought they would give a different verdict; have lived in an alternative world where the dancing dolphins rules the world. Something it is not.

There will be more to come… as I myself can read the documents and the affidavits, and the unproved allegations have been dismissed by the court; therefore the Court Ruling have dismissed the people and their will, the case for court as long as the NRM-Regime and their Electoral laws are there, they are mended and tailor-made for the Executive. Peace.   

Press Statement: Kigali Regime’s Dangerous, Desperate, and UN-Diplomatic Attacks Against the United States at the United Nations (26.03.2016)

Rwanda Press Release 26.03.2016 P1Rwanda Press Release 26.03.2016 P2

Mzee and his Militarized State; the Guns never left the Executive it seems!

M7 rescue

“Soldiers feel that the Police are not serious with the criminal elements and that they are corrupt. The army had to come in and insist that criminals must be punished. It happens in all countries, there is a time when the army assumes the duty of internal security”. General Museveni (Daily Nation – Nairobi – January 26, 1987).

This is ironic that President Museveni said in 1987. We can see that times has changed or that his mind set to other perspective then directly from the bush. With the guerrilla warfare and the so-called liberation struggle, that has been discovered more and more about the tactics done to get power.

It is surely and clearly many ways President Museveni talked democratic values while it has been uncovered that he oppressed the media and opposition. It has done that since day one of the regime, just different how far and to what extent. It has always tried to look beautiful on the surface and smiles to the donors and Election Observers Missions while in the end, the institutions built around the Mzee. That the Electoral Reforms haven’t really been there for free and fair elections. When I went through the 1996 elections the stories are similar to today’s oppression of the opposition.

M7 2016 Post Interview quote

While opening up for free-market thinking has over time and letting the United Kingdom, Kenyan, South African, Indian and Libyan businessmen got easy trading ability in the country, while the exports and trade boards are gone, less of unions and other governmental structures. In the later years the government has started with micro-credit, Operation Wealth Creation and Youth Livelihood Programs as a cheap way of trying to patch up with the loss of sufficient structures that are sold out, by government to get loans in the beginning of its administrations.

We can easily see that the government who came to power with the guns and ammunition, and still has MPs directly from the army is bound to have the militarized effect on the politics. As the Police are acting with direct force and not following always rule of law. While the government overflows with former colonels and generals becoming politicians instead of businessmen and civil servants as the President is a bush-man himself and been part of two insurgents to power. One in the end of 70s and one in the famous 1986, so the guns never left the power and stayed there; even the tale with the donor-funding of the army from abroad to fight dirty wars the U.S. don’t want to stick their finger in, as in Somalia and Central African Republic.

EC 22.02.2015 Guarded Heavy

The Electoral Reforms as discussed briefly the NRM-Regime have stifled most of the time any kind of reform and ruling power therefore had to have two elections on referendum to release the Multi-Party Democracy and also been making the difference between using government funds and using the well-known factor of promises pledges from direct government subsidies to the big-men and chiefs, even Parejo’s and other SUV’s given to men to secure the votes and loyalty to the Mzee.

There been steady shifts in leaders underneath Mzee as he has taken down the men who has been built by his leadership, as he want the ones with his former MPs, VPs and PMs as they wanted to elevate themselves and leave him behind. As the founding father of NRM, nobody else should rule the party and have the Executive control. He took it with a gun and easily takes pictures with it to show where his strength is.

The government have used all kind of methods and tricks to gain riches to NRM elite and leave the certainty of other manufactures, industries and even achieve certain outcomes only for the closest allies of the NRM, even on Town Council levels where NRM members and NRM elders have closest call to get add-ons and secure funding for projects, while the opposition and other institutions have to get hands-out by international NGOs or Bilateral funds to get enough for what they need. The Resistance Councils and the now Local Councils are built for securing de-facto loyalty to the Executive and learn the strength of regime, not to be a democratic system.

UPM Poster

The Police and Army is built around loyal men in the top and men the Executive can trust to follow his suit and have his family close connected, even with Gen. Salim Selah not in direct leadership position as he has been involved into too much thefts, thieving and other activities to clean the leadership to look decent for international community, even with Brig. Muhoozi Kainerugaba who is groomed and quickly up the ante with running the Special Forces Command. The ruthlessness of the army and Police never left, and the new laws in place have given lee-way to them to use it as free-for-all to shut down dissidents. While the leadership is steady shifting  and moving as they don’t want the DPC, RPC and Army commanders to be on short-leach and not be to homely where they work.

The continuation of post-election violence in Bundibugyo and Kasese, the way the army is deployed there days on days, shooting Rwenzururu Kingdoms security guards, while the treat of the ADF-NALU who is stations right over the border in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and as always the Police issues statements blaming other forces, even when video footage and other eye-witness counter their words and intelligence; in the end insulting the intelligence of the people.

1986 Joke

The NRM-Regime and the words of their Executive is now totally different than what he was talking the first years of their reign. The Economy is dire, the donors are more futile and less interested in involving themselves in a militarized economy and where the NRM-Elite instead of the citizens and general population, the ones that get funding is direct funded projects as roads and buildings, but not economic prosperity as the inflations is high, the value of currency dwindles, the amount of monies to buy ordinary food-stuffs, the government have added higher loans to sufficiently take up the vacuum of the loss of donor-funds to the governmental budgets.

The whole picture is not as it should be after the ruling-party have run the country for 30 years, the picture should be a steady economy, a secure police-force respected and honor the citizens, an army working for securing the borders and doing international missions not for securing funding, but to generate peace. The country should have beneficiary institutions and taxations with representation, the ones that been done have not delivered, the steady progress has not been delivered, and when is when the media has blasted or BBC have got a whiff of it. As the NBS or NTV cannot whip the power to change, the same with the papers as they are mostly censored and controlled as the radio-stations have lost their transmitters, license and even their hosts been detained while being on air, the Daily Monitor ransacked for two days and the NTV banned from following the Presidential Campaign trail of the Executive.

Police 29.02.2016 Kasangati

There is an issue when the army is such a big part of nation, in the parliament, in the streets, in deployment and around all the time. The internal security is based on the army, not the police who is also militarized with sections of special units with military equipment for breaking down demonstrations and other gatherings of opposition, even independents who was former NRM have struggled with army and the Police Force. As the detaining of Opposition without charges, house arrests of Presidential Candidates and taking people with Candidates Declarations Forms from the Polling Station.

The whole picture is not of the state of business, the way of government that NRA and the NRM promised, it has overtaken the control of the institutions, but not given the accountability and transparency, not the economic landscape or investment climate that they have promised for so long, the basics are much of the same and the deals between the oil companies and drilling has been happening behind closed doors; like not open dealings and showing how the companies pay for their operations and how the government structures are as the oil-laws are not strict and not fully operative yet.

Jinja Police 10915 P1

The tear-gas operations and the live bullets are not showing the proof of democratic values and society. The internal security and the structures are not strong, when the army enters all kind of operations, as they even killed bed-bugs in neighborhoods of Kampala in mid-February as the KCCA didn’t have the manpower to reach the area, as the UPDF have been used in any kind of processes, even the training-center of the army Kyankwanzi the National Leadership Institute and military training camp; where the NRM MPs has had retreats before the new parliament like the 9th and 10th Parliament went there.

The Kyankwanzi resolutions or decrees as party MPs has set precedence for the coming term and the evolution of the ruling-party as the structure in the last go-around left many of the old-foes behind, and the former secretary-general and Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi behind. While this time the struggles with Justine Kasule-Lumumba, Jacob Oulanyah and Rebecca Kadaga might go through hardships in the coming 10th Parliament as the internal security means the security of the Executive and bring down the men and woman who has ambitions. That is why the Executive have centered the powers close to him. As even ambassador’s claims he is hard to read, the generals of UPDF fear him and just want to do his will, and the same with the police force who has a loyal Inspector General who follows every whiff from him. Even former Warlords and M23 are yearly on the payroll from the State House. As they are securing the security of the state and the government institution as civilian militia-men that does their army bidding; also does discreet business for the Executive as their role have never been told to the world. Therefore we can only be guessing at this point; though they are not cutting the grass at Entebbe or Nakasero!

The way the Army is embedded in the society and external politics, the guerrilla warfare brought the Executive first to a Ministerial Position before the General Election of 1980 and again at the takeover in 1986. He came with the gun and never left it, and never let it go, in all endeavors and structures the embedded army has followed, the loyal cadres and commando have continued, the re-payment of loyalty and offered protection have come in handy. The kickbacks and graft never left the offices, the building of the businesses have also centered the government officials, while the former government businesses has been sold for quick bucks or privatized.

Daily Monitor 1993

The internal security can be questioned with the army running the streets in Kasese, Kapchorwa and Kampala as a steady force and looking like Marshall Law or state of emergency as the government shows the display of power, and the Police rides around in Personal Armored Carrier and have mortars as Journalist lose their cameras and the media get muffled with. The insecurity created and the ballots been stolen in broad daylight, the impunity of law of fellow citizens is not creating the peaceful atmosphere the Executive have promised and said he delivered, as the Kenyan funding of the campaign and Sudanese Army men proves the Executive went far to secure his stay in power, instead of trusting the ballots and votes, he trusted his instinct and went for the guns and ammunition that have given him the power before, as he had loyal well-paid puppets in the Electoral Commission and generals in the Campaign Team, together with losing NRM Primaries who was paid off; in his mind this should have gone in silence and gotten the credible result needed to be respected statesman abroad, instead the announcement and the cracks of the army and the social media showed the true colors and not the story given by the Executive or his party cadres, which shows the payments and party program is shell of keeping power by any means, instead of building fruitful societies and institutions for better tomorrow. The lies are not invisible anymore, the questions the actions and killings is not only in the hands of semi-army police force and the general populations knows it. As the mourning of the announcement and the weakness of the state comes forward; therefore army had to be deployed and the reshuffling of Police Commanders happening a month after Election Day.

You can lie once and fool the crowd, but lie twice and then the storm comes on the horizon. That is what is happening now and the Executive knows and knew before these elections that the people are tired of his lies and reprogrammed pledges. As the changes of society has only brought bottled water from mountains of the Rwenzori and cellphones, certainty at one point the Universal Primary Education and extended Local Councils that has benefited, but also after a while the schools started to disappear and become depleted. The more districts, sub-counties and counties have taken a toll on the economy. Also been set-up to secure more loyal cadres in Parliament and locally. Through the chain-of-command as the structure is militarized and set to fix the monies, the government institutions, government businesses, government organizations and the commission to be loyal to the Executive, even the churches and holy institutions, if possible they can have some dissidents and opposition; that is just enough for the country to have a rouse and jolly while eating the donor-funding and letting the people stay poor while the NRM-Elite stays powerful. Especially the NRM and the Executive does not care about the FDC and their claims to justice, as the justice is the basics, but for the NRM it is to keep Power and let their Executive stay continuously. And by the minute does not seem to want to leave the country in a state that he promised when he took power.

The Star Paper Article 04.02.2016

As his guns does not seem to be silenced, the level of fear, the way the PAV rides down the streets and highways, the way the roadblocks are put, the way the Police detain without charges and the way the government mend laws to fit the Executive, the way the banks are demonstrating their will of following him to earn monies, the way the businesses are centered around him and given favorable deals, the way the harassment of opposition and media, the way the army and police involve in politics and daily life, it does not seem as a democratic and just society. The detention of the ballots and preventative arrest of citizens are worrying, as much as the control and efficiency of it. The pride of the government and its institutions are weak when the KCCA need the Army to fight local problems, the Executive does not trust anything else and therefore the biggest smiles on the photos from him comes in army fatigue and guns as that is the place he feels the best, not in the office or at state meeting. If not it is on his farm relaxing while the monies are piling in without doing anything. Peace.

Press Statement: Transfer of Ladislas Ntaganzwa to Rwanda by the Democratic Republic of the Congo (24.03.2016)

Ladislas Ntaganzwa

WASHINGTON D.C., United States of America, March 24, 2016 –  Mark C. Toner, Deputy Department Spokesperson,  Washington, DC, March 23, 2016:

The United States welcomes the transfer of Ladislas Ntaganzwa by the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to face trial in Rwanda for several crimes, including genocide and crimes against humanity, pursuant to an arrest warrant by the United Nations Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals (MICT).  This transfer is a positive example of regional judicial cooperation and took place as a result of close coordination and consultation by the DRC government and the MICT, as well as other diplomatic partners. Ntaganzwa is the sixth individual indicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda who has been arrested by the Government of the DRC and transferred for trial.

Ntaganzwa’s apprehension is a welcome step toward justice for the victims of the Rwandan genocide.  Ntaganzwa is accused of abusing his position of power as a mayor to help plan, prepare, and carry out the massacre of over twenty-thousand Tutsis at Cyahinda parish—many of whom had gathered to take refuge from massacres in the surrounding countryside—as well as thousands of killings elsewhere in Rwanda.  As a reminder of the brutal way in which sexual and gender-based violence is often used as a tactic of war, Ntaganzwa is also charged with giving direct orders for women to be brutally, and repeatedly, raped.

We commend the efforts of those involved in Ntaganzwa’s transfer and whose actions made it possible for Ntaganzwa to face justice, and we encourage continued efforts to bring to justice those responsible for genocide and other atrocities in Rwanda.  Eight individuals charged by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda remain at large, and the United States remains committed to supporting their apprehension  – and to showing the survivors of atrocity crimes around the world that the pursuit of justice knows no expiration date.  Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of the remaining fugitives is encouraged to contact the War Crimes Rewards Program at state.gov/warcrimesrewards orWCRP@state.gov.

The Power of arguments during the UN Security Council on the Security and Stability in the Great Lakes Region

East-Africa

There been talk about the long terms in Great Lakes Regions, as the big-men lingers, it is a tale I written about for a long time. That Samantha Power addressed it yesterday during the United Nations Security Council in New York. This is where she was direct to the Presidents of the area on accountability and democratic values.

KabilaCartoon

On President Kabila

“The DRC is not the only country in the region where civil society is threatened, or where democratic processes are being deliberately undermined. This, unfortunately, has been the accelerating trend in recent months – evident at the top, where leaders make increasingly blatant power grabs to remain in office”.

This here a remark on the long-term plan for President Kabila in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) who is thinking and making the possibility for a third term in the coming election. This is together with the detaining and jailing the opposition and human rights activists. That is what she is calling this grabbing the power and office, which is true. He plans to continue his power and leave the public wish behind even with the #Telema uprising. Still he want to linger and keep the power in his reach as the Executive. So the coming time will be interesting to see how far President Kabila will go to keep power and how much he oppress the other candidates, medias and civil society during the pre-election period in the country.

KagameCartoon

 

On President Kagame

“The United States remains deeply committed to our partnership with Rwanda, but the continued absence of political space – the inability of individuals and journalists to discuss political affairs or report on issues of public concern – poses a serious risk to Rwanda’s future stability. Rwanda can achieve lasting peace and prosperity through a government centered on the principle of democratic accountability, not centered on any one single individual”.  

Here the American is singling out the Rwandan President and his work to get a third term for President Kagame, who has first been the Vice-President, then the President. He has been a central figure in the political framework since the Genocide in the country. Kagame might have built a steady economy, but killed the democratic values as he strengthens the powers and government: President Kagame has steady getting rid of opposition and silencing them.

MuseveniandIdiAmin

On President Museveni

“The government and its security forces detained opposition figures without legal justification, harassed their supporters, and intimidated the media. It passed legislation restricting the operations of NGOs, banning them from acting against the “interests of Uganda.” President Museveni’s actions contravene the rule of law and jeopardize Uganda’s democratic progress, threatening Uganda’s future stability and prosperity”.

A man I have discussed and written page up and page down. This is all not news, as the detaining opposition, rigging the election and shutting down the media. As media and radio stations lost transmitters because of their content during the pre-election period, even loses the passes to go the NRM rallies for being against the President. Having NGOs and seeming them as a problem. That the U.S. now claims that Museveni is the man who creates unstable society seems viable, as the creates lawlessness where a Presidential Candidate can be detained for no “charges”, detained witnesses and rewritten the Candidates Declarations Form from the Polling Stations to fit the announced Election Day results; so they fit the result wished from President Museveni, and not the people’s will. NRM more owns the country, then getting the blessing to control the country. It is in that disregard that President Museveni clearly didn’t recognize the power he controls and what he has lost. As he needs more the army and guns to keep it, while losing the goodwill of his own citizens; also the trust between the government and people is gone; that is what creates an unstable future.

Burundi Cartoon

On President Nkurunziza

“We need look no further than Burundi to see the dangers of pursuing personal power over the people’s interests. Burundi’s economy grew steadily for a decade, but contracted by an estimated 7 percent last year. President Nkurunziza’s decision to stay in office in defiance of the Arusha Accords and his crackdown on political opposition have swiftly undone the country’s progress of recent years. This is evident in the widespread reports of sexual violence, the more than 400 people who have been killed, the 250,000-plus who have fled the country, and the even-more challenging economic times that unfortunately lie ahead”.

President Nkurunziza made sure with a little fix in court right before the election to secure a third term, as even the opposition decided to skip the election, as the result was fitting the President to keep power. This in turn led to the failed Coup d’état and after been a civil unrest and crises. Which has led to people fleeing and recurring violence has ever since happen, opposition leaders killed, tried assassinations and governmental leaders killed. Even top officials and ministers have fled the country to safety as the power of unstable forces happens in the country, even circulated that the Rwandan Government have sponsored militias to coup the power and settle the regime in the country. The Army strength even with the international problems and suspending the aid; even having issues with inter-Burundian inclusive dialogue that even

US Magazine Zaire LR

Here is the remarks from the Burundian, Congolese and Rwandan officials as they re-addressed Samantha Power during the Security Council meeting with this.  

ALAIN AIMÉ NYAMITWE, Minister for External Relations and International Cooperation of Burundi, said” his country was recovering from a massive and severe campaign of violent regime change.  Contrary to the rhetoric used in the Council, the security situation was improving, he said, adding that, on the human rights front, the Government had issued a presidential decree granting pardons to 2,000 prisoners.  While emphasizing his understanding of the legitimate concerns raised by Member States, he invited them to understand Burundi’s peculiar situation.  It was difficult to understand some of the decisions made against Burundi, he said, pointing out that cutting aid to the Government did not fall into the category of decisions aimed at stabilizing the country” (…)”On Burundi’s cooperation with the United Nations, he noted that the Government had demonstrated its openness to working with the Secretary-General’s Special Adviser, stressing the need to discuss the deployment of his office to Burundi.  Turning to Rwanda’s actions against his country, he emphasized that such acts of aggression contravened the United Nations Charter and the Framework agreement”.

RAYMOND TSHIBANDA N’TUNGAMULONGO, Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, said “the recurring conflicts in the Great Lakes region were the result of the moral and political failings of the elite, which had resulted in a selective application of international law.  Nevertheless, the spirit of the United Nations Charter was alive and well in the region, he said, pointing out that, since the creation of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region, the signing of the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework, and the adoption of the relevant Council resolutions, his country had been one of their most responsible implementers.  The Democratic Republic of the Congo continued its collaboration with MONUSCO, and the country’s struggle would not end until the remaining retrograde forces and armed groups had been neutralized”, he emphasized (…)”The Democratic Republic of the Congo called upon other signatory States of international and regional instruments to be scrupulous in their implementation, with a particular eye to non-interference in the affairs of other States, and asked them not to provide assistance to retrograde armed groups.  He called for the adoption of policies that would encourage private investment and regional cooperation in order to achieve balanced development.  “The wounds of the past cannot lock us forever in a hopeless situation,” he emphasized, calling upon all States in the region to eschew the use of force for dialogue in settling disputes”.

EUGÈNE-RICHARD GASANA, Minister of State for Cooperation of Rwanda, said “that, while conflict prevention and resolution had become the centrepiece of the work of the United Nations since the 1994 genocide in his country, the concept had been used more in theory than in practice.  The Council was still much more focused on crisis management than on crisis prevention.  Instead, early warning mechanisms should guide its efforts to prevent conflict.  In the Great Lakes region, very few efforts deployed had been aimed at addressing the root causes of conflict, he noted, adding that the current situation in Burundi proved that the region was far from stable.  That country was in political turmoil, with State-sponsored militias killing civilians in broad daylight.  Unsubstantiated allegations against Rwanda by the Group of Experts on the Democratic Republic of the Congo were yet another attempt to shift responsibility away from the real causes of conflict, he said, stressing that his country should not be “negatively exploited” by those who were expected to find solutions to the crisis in Burundi” (…)”In conclusion, he responded to the statement by the representative of the United States by noting:  “Ms. Power does not have power over Rwanda”.  She should avoid lumping the countries of the Great Lakes region together because there was no “one-size-fits-all” solution to their problems.  Moreover, no other country could occupy Rwanda’s political space, he added”.

That was the defense for the remarks from the United States of America during the UN Security Council. They all defended the authority and sovereignty in different ways, thought the Burundian government claims the suspension of aid is not stabilizing the county. The DRC officials was more on the implemented laws and the ratifications as a recognition of what his government has done to be a better society and would not step the United States comments on the leaders. The Rwandan Official was more on the defensive telling the Security Council that they we’re not at fault for the violence in the DRC or Burundi as the violence is state-sponsored by the Congolese and Burundian, and they are not involved. They claim they are victims by the neighbor countries and do not accept the stance of the United States. Just as Rwandan Government says that Mrs. Power does not have over Rwanda and feels the urge to say so. All of this here is interesting and should be discussed as this is a high-end discussion in the United Nations. This is firmly not over as the situation in the Great Lakes area is tense and interesting as the Big-Men keeps power at any cost and at any price of lives and justice. The world will discuss it and the question remain will it be more than words or just silently. Peace.

 

Office of the Coordinatior of the People’s Government Statement of Objectives and Directions (21.03.2016)

Uganda EC Wall

21st March, 2016

Fellow Ugandans,
Following Kiggundu’s fraudulent declaration of Museveni as winner of the 2016 Presidential elections, Uganda will never be the same again. The winner of the election was FDC’s Dr. Kizza Besigye. He is Uganda’s president elect. Museveni knows it too. That is why he has tried all he can to keep him under house arrest and to turn the streets into barracks, in order to intimidate the winners by creating a war like situation in some villages, towns and Kampala.

You have been asking “what next?”. You are right. Some of you think that the leadership is doing nothing about this situation. This is not correct. A lot is being done and the purpose of this communication is to let you know what is being done so that you can also find your own role to play in these developments. This is what is being done:

1. We are engaging our friends in neighboring countries of the East African Community, Africa in general, our friends in Europe, the United States, Asia and the Arab world to share with them the steps we are taking in protecting our victory and the presidency of Dr. Kizza Besigye, and to seek their support moral and diplomatic support. We have made good progress.

2. We are continuously assessing the capacity and deployment detail of Museveni’s security apparatus and working with our friends in the security establishment we have a sound idea of the capabilities on a half-day basis. We can confirm that Museveni’s security apparatus is in disarray, their morale is low, and units have been shuffled several times due to suspicion. You must have known that the Police and Army voted overwhelmingly for Dr. Besigye. The Special Forces Command which we had believed to be totally under Museveni’s control through his son Muhoozi, is no longer as homogeneously loyal. There is still some work to do there, especially since the SFC structure rests on Hima and Rwandan ethnicity. We know for a fact that there are already problems between the two groups.

3. We have also finalized mapping out the country into liberated zones where the bulk of the activities will be planned and piloted before rolling out countrywide. We have established control centers in all districts of Uganda. The responsibility of these centers is to develop the organizational infrastructure to service the new government headed by Dr. Besigye, which will be formally unveiled in May 2016 as the constitution stipulates. Arrangements for the swearing in of H.E. Col (rtd) Dr. Kizza Besigye have been finalized.

4. All efforts of our struggle at this stage are geared towards making it impossible for Museveni to fraudulently be sworn in as President in May. This we shall achieve, through your support and sacrifices.

5. We are finalizing negotiations with land lords in urban centers, market owners and managers not to collect rent from tenants for one month after we have established our authority. Landlords who will violate this one-month free accommodation agreement will be penalized accordingly. A one-month tax and licence holiday will be applied to Boda-Bodas, Taxi and Bus operators, traders and market vendors. We have completed negotiations with transporters to reciprocate by reducing transport fares for one month.

6. For university students, after we have established our authority,we will grant a fees-demand break for 30 days and a student who will have paid at least 50% of fees shall be allowed to sit for their examinations at any stage.

7. As incentive, once we have established our full authority, with your active participation, we shall reduce the cost of petrol, diesel and paraffin by 300 shillings a litre. This is also our way of appreciating the people of Uganda for the support they will have extended to the forces of change but also to compensate the losses that are going to be suffered in the coming days as we struggle, through peaceful means of civic nature, to establish the civilian authority led by Dr. Besigye.

8. Other such incentives are being considered for importers of essential commodities and other for other trades. We have also finalized negotiations with foodstuff and meat providers to reduce the prices for one month. For some of you are old enough to recall, (if you are not, ask who was old enough then); lowering of prices was done voluntarily in all sectors after the fall of Idi Amin in 1979 in the short period (68 days) of Yusuf Lule’s leadership which was rudely interrupted by the same forces that are tormenting Uganda today. So this is a practical revolutionary step we are undertaking.

9. Your responsibility is to be vigilant, cautious, and all the time active and united as forces of change. Be on the lookout for Museveni spies and zealous sympathizers who try to stand in our way and justly but decisively deal with them, on case by case basis.

10. In this difficult period, save all the money you can. Don’t be extravagant. Don’t frequent public places of entertainment unless it is absolutely necessary. Practice walking long distances on foot. Practice staying hungry even when you have some money to buy your lunch. Stock up on food and vital medicines that can last several weeks. Obtain a solar phone charger and affordable solar lights. As much as possible, don’t move at night unless it is absolutely necessary.

11. Don’t respond to invitation to meetings unless you have cross checked thoroughly and made sure that the invitation is genuine. Establish neighborhood security cells to protect yourselves from the so called crime preventers and other lawless regime functionaries. Don’t let anyone of you get arrested without a charge is spelled out by the arresting (police) officer. If any of you is arrested, inform the relevant persons immediately and ensure that if they have families, provide for their welfare, however small. Never abandon your colleagues in the struggle and their families.

12. This is the order you have been waiting for. You know the objective. Museveni must not swear in fraudulently in May, regardless of what the Supreme Court says. You know the time frame. You know who Uganda’s new president is. Your job is to make it happen. Methods will vary from place to place. This is not Besigye’s struggle. It is your own struggle. It is your vote that they tried to steal. You want your country back. You want a better life. You want to stop the corrupt and the arrogant from dominating you. You want to live in a democratic society that respects human rights. The ball is entirely in your court. Just do the right thing.

13. To protect our victory and to execute the mandate that was given to us by the people of Uganda, we are committed to pursuing peaceful alternatives. We sincerely hope that armed struggle won’t be necessary at this stage. However, should circumstances demand, we shall act decisively.

FOR GOD AND OUR COUNTRY