An affidavit from the former-editor of the Daily Nation Denis Galava who was “sacked” for Political reasons!

daily-nation-east-african-newspapers

This happens in the same time period that Gado the cartoonist at Daily Nation has been under fire for his cartoons of Kenyatta and later was finally sacked for a cartoon mocking President Museveni. So there were already issues between editorial freedom and the government control of media in Kenya under President Kenyatta, as this story will show.

Denis Galava the former editor Daily Nation who got fired for speaking up towards the President of Kenya Uhuru Kenyatta. This here is outtakes from his affidavit and is interesting as he was fired or sacked in the end of January 2016. The gaging of Kenyan Media comes to the surface and makes an impression!

Denis Galava

Problems of November 2015:

“Earlier in November, the Editor-In-Chief called me to his office for what I presumed was a routine discussion on the investigation docket. We had lined up stories on Eurobond, Jubilie’s Mega Scandal, the death of the manufacturing sector and the collapse of the coffee sector. While not disagreeing with the merit of the stories, he said timing was tricky. For that the Aga Khan was scheduled to visit Kenya in December 2015 as a State guest and the presidency accused the Nation of malice for interesting scandals in government” (…)”Mr. Mshindi also asked me to ask popular Saturday Nation columnist David Ndii to stop writing about Eurobond and NYS Scandal because of his provocative analyses had angered the government and cost the company business. I out rejected the proposal, saying the columnist had struck in the letter and spirit contract of his contract and the reputational damage of us gauging him was not worth the risk” (…)”And the Editor-In-Chief, instead of defending our editorial independence, had chosen to gag us” (…)”My experience with the senior editors and we concluded that the Editor-In-Chief had privilege political sensitivities and personal biases over good journalism”.

How it all started:

“Completed the Editorial at 05:30pm and alerted the acting editor of Saturday Nation to revise it. He told me it was hard-hitting, but truthful. Since the paper was in the midst of a staffing crisis, I also took on a few other tasks that evening – editing the special reports section and ‘Page one’. I left shortly thereafter for the night” (…)”Woke up on Saturday morning to a social media fest over the editorial” (…)”Around midday, the Group Managing Editor (GME) Weekend editions called saying the editorial was hard hitting but objective. He received many calls, most compelling the Nation for finally speaking truth of power and a few from State House officials saying that the editorial was a declaration of war against the president”.

This continued with reactions from the State house:

“It also learnt that there had been a call from a senior State House official later that afternoon which was to be the first rumble the thunder in the brewing storm. The official asked why the Nation was ambushing the President in the New Year. He said the President was angered by the Editorial and intended to take it up with the Nation’s founder, the Aga Khan, who had been a state guest at the 12. December 2015, Jamhuri Day celebrations”.

State House Kenya
State House Kenya

Calls on Sunday:

“the calls had become more frantic in tone. I learned from the GME Weekend Eric Obino that the Editor-in-Chief Tom Mshindi had called him from India saying the government had threatened serious sanctions over the editorial. That NGM board chairman Wilfred Kiboro and called and also written to the CEO Joe Muganda and Mr. Mshindi demanding immediate action to appease the government. Matters were complicated by the fact that for three years, the Nation board and the local Aga Khan network had been trying to reach out to State House in vain”.

On Monday:

“The Acting Saturday Nation editor Kariuki Waihenya and GME Weekend informants told me they had received emails from the editor in chief asking them to show cause why disciplinary action should not be taken against them over the publication of the editorial”

On Thursday – 5th January

“That morning, the HR director returned from leave for a conference call with the Editor-in-Chief, who was in India, and two Group Managing Editors for Weekend and daily editions (Mr. Obino and Mutuma Mathiu, respectively). After the discussion, the acting editor for Sunday Nation was given a first warning letter over the editorial, while his Sunday counterpart was also cautioned over the cartoon published on the January 3 that infuriated State House

Later on the same day after picking up and taking his niece to school he got a call:

“the GME Weekend editions called asking me to join him at the responding to mounting fury, added to the prevailing bewilderment. According to his statement expressing the official position of the paper, I had not been suspended but rather advised to stay away for a few days”

On Friday – 6th January:

“the BBC interviewed Mr. Muganda over my suspension. Mr. Muganda said I been suspended for not following procedure in writing the editorial and went ahead to compare me to a bank teller who steal cash”.

On Thursday – 14th January:

“the HR Manager in charge of editorial Ms Jane Mkituri(Not sure) called me to invite me for a disciplinary hearing at 2pm on January 18. She also invited me to respond in writing to the issues raised in my suspension letter”.

On 18th January:

“In my response letter dated January 18, I protested that the procedures and guidelines referred to in the suspension letter were communicated to me for the first time in the suspension letter” (…)”While I had in the past either written or authorized editorials based on my judgement, the issue of procedure had never come up”.

Reaction to the letter:

“I was surprised to learn that two hours after submitting my response stating from there were no written procedures for editorial writing, the Editor-in-Chief issued – for the first time – comprehensive guidelines and timelines for writing editorials”.

TV Kenyatta Odinga

On the disciplinary hearing:

“I was surprised that I had to defend myself to the very people who has accused me and suspended me unheard – the Editor-in-Chief, GME Weekend, HR Director and Company Secretary (Mr. Joseph Kinyua). I had expected a different, independent panel compromising at least one peer and individuals unrelated to the suspension the law states” (…)”The hearing turned out to be more of a dialogue of the deaf than even my initial cynicism anticipated” (…)”Every question started and ended with the word procedure, with an occasional dose of “disrespecting the presidency and endangering company business”. In 58 minutes, the duration of the hearing, I repeated 17 times that I not flouted procedure since, in actuality, there was no procedure to flout”.

The answer on the matter at the hearing:

“A panelist offered that he would be more cautious if he were in my shoes. Here I stood, he added, both having upset Kenya’s President and the Aga Khan, and risked the business of the paper, and yet here I also stood seeking justification rather than groveling for mercy”.

Continued part of the hearing:

“I explained that this section spoke of content and not procedure. None of the panelists cared to listen to me” (…)”Pushing the file I had given him aside, the Editor-In-Chief said I had hurt him, the tone of the editorial was disrespectful and it was risked the company business. The Company Secretary weighted in with similar comments, adding that this was the most disrespectful article on the presidency he had ever read and that I should be apologizing instead of defending the indefensible”.

Later on the 20th January:

“About 10am on Wednesday, January 20, the HR Director called and asked me to see him in the office at 4pm. He gave me the termination letter for “willful disobedience of the covenants and laid down process and procedures”. I protested this was unfair because in whole of my career at Nation”.

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Together with the Gado sacking and this story of how the Editor-In-Chief dedicated the stories and silenced the newspaper and their columnist to fit the State House, is a worrying sign when we think about the up-coming elections in 2017.

That the media have to worry about writing articles to step on their toes and not be able to make stories that they can cover, as the President and his advisor will call the Nations Editor-In-Chief or CEO. As the State House want the investment from the Aga Khan and the State House want to look decent, and not have the story of corruption or scandals out! Peace.

Hon. Nasasira’s new curse-word: “and with the approval of Parliament”, as he wants to rewrite the Ugandan Communication Act of 2013 with the new amendment!

VPN 18.02.2016 P2

I will here go through the piece of the Communication Act of 2013 sub-section 93 Regulation, where the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MoICT), the man who is the sponsor behind the new amendment of the act in 2016, happens to be the Minister of ICT Hon. Eng John Nasasira, he is now repealing a sentence from the law; he is not rewriting the law in a big part or changing the whole law. He is just crossing over a sentence, but that sentence gives the Minister less power, as if he uses the Communications Act of 2013, he have together with the UCC go to Parliament to get it approved for using the act; That is the major fact! And Hon. Nasasira want to do as he please without questions, open accountable actions or with the consent of other people than himself, he want this to be like the Public Order Management Act or the Public Finance Management Act; where the Police or Ministry can go into the Bank of Uganda without having approval of the Parliament to use those laws, this is the same Hon. Nasasira wishes to do. Take a look!

UCC

The Communication Act of 2013:

“93. Regulations.

(1) The Minister may, after consultation with the Commission

and with the approval of Parliament, by statutory instrument, make

regulations for better carrying into effect the provisions of this Act

(2) Without prejudice to subsection (1) the Minister may make

regulations relating to—

(a)fees payable upon the grant or renewal of a licence”.

The new Uganda Communication Act Amendment of 2016 says this:

“1. Amendment of Act No. 1 of 2013.

The Ugandan Communication Act 2013 is amended in section 93 (1)

By the repealing of the words “and with the approval of Parliament”.

(I am just saying) If they do repeal it, since it is not yet voted in the amendment of the law.

Then it would be written like this:

“The Minister may, after consultation with the Commission, by statutory instrument, make regulations for better carrying into effect the provisions of this Act”. 

UCC 23.02.2016

Afterthought: 

That makes the simple matter that the Uganda Communication Committee can act without the approval of the Parliament and under regulation of the minister. That gives the minister the opportunity to act on his or her own without asking or questioned by the Parliament, that means that the powers of the minster is getting stronger, as the Minister of Information and Communication Technology, does not need the contact as the repeal of the law will give way to the Ministry of ICT.

The man behind the amendment is Hon. Eng John Nasasira he is the Minister of Information and Communication Technology (MoICT), so the man who support the amendment wants to give himself a bigger mandate without having to talk his arguments for using the Communication Act of 2013 can use with consent of the UCC, but does not need to get approval or tell anybody in Parliament! So the representative of the people and elected people does not have to power to question the MoICT and UCC for their actions, as the Ministry can on their own use the Act as they please, not according to the Parliament as a lawful provider and the custodian of the laws, as it is supposed to be.

So if you catch my drift the amendment will give more power the minister who oversees the law and the UCC, can use the act as they please, if they amend this amendment. The repeal of words gives the opportunity for the minister to use the extended law without questioning or accountability from the Parliament. So the Parliament should not accept this as this is a way of grabbing more power in a ministry and gives the minister more power. This is an example of draconian law where the minister eats the cake, control the cake and dispense the cake, without being questioned about how he share and show the cake. Hope you follow? Peace.

Reference:

The Ugandan Communication act 2013 – 18.01.2013

The Ugandan Communication (Amendment) Act 2016 – 11.03.2016

My letter to the Minister of Interior Affairs of Kenya Hon. Joseph Nkaissery on revoking firearm license of Govenor Joho

Nkaissey 2016

Dear Sir Honorable Joseph Nkaissery!

You honorable Interior Cabinet Secretary Nkaissery, I am writing you again. It is hard since you’re a man of your English. We both know the English language and respect it. But I am not writing a letter in the sense of the spoken word, but this is I will write to you about is more about what has happen in recent days.

As we all know there been smaller by-elections happening in Kenya, the country where you happen to be a big-man, with only two leaders above you, Honourable William Ruto and His Excellency President Uhuru Kenyatta.

It is in this context that you are ruling together with them and have powers through the parliament that is given by the appointment from His Excellency who has faith in your judgement, if not he would not have given you this chair and represent the government as you do.

Hon. Nkaissery, I want to write this to you in plain English, do you have an issue with Coalition of Democratic and Reform (CORD) and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM)?  Or am I wrong? I hope I am wrong as you can make decisions that can either hurt or secure these men, just as the same decisions can do the same to your party-men in the Jubilee Alliance Party (JAP).

Why I am writing this letter to you in plain English is because the sense of double standard is evident during the last few days, when Governor of Mombasa Hon. Hassan Ali Joho (CORD) lost certain members of his security outfit, while also getting orders of delivering his gun to the authorities, while other leaders keep their VIP security guards while the opposition loses them.

There is a reason why wonder about that, because you wrote this on the 12th March 2016: “In the case of Governor Joho, he should understand the rule of law must be respected and when he is asked to surrender his firearms, it is his duty bound upon him to do so. It is important that the Honourable Governor of Mombasa to note that the office he holds comes with the honor and dignity and the anger and demeanor that he portrays in public while feels provoked in whatever circumstances takes away that dignity”.

I don’t know if you have read what the Governor wrote to you and the authorities after you address him publicly.

He wrote a letter to answer your appeal on the 14th March 2016:

“As you are well aware of Mr. Samuel C. Kimaru, the Chief Licensing Officer on the 10th March, 2016, purported to revoke the Firearm Certificate Number 4773 by the above referred client Mr. Hon. Gov. Hassan Ali Joho” (…)”That Mr. Kimaru, did not satisfy himself that a reasonable and legal-basis for revoking the firearm exists in law and in fact” (…)”That Mr. Kimaru acted ultra vires and acted in gross breach of constitution” (Ahmednasir, Abdikadir & Company, AAC/GEN/2016, 14.03.2016).

Hassan Ali Joho 15.03.2016

Hon. Nkaissery that you today in the day ordered and gave the Governor two hours to deliver the arms, while you have already punished the opposition by taking their security guards, prove the bias is going to close courts of the president. That is how I understand you’re English. Justice Odunga on the case: “Only the firearm licensing board has powers to revoke a firearm certificate on lawful grounds. Kimaru acted ultravires (beyond his legal power or authority).” Justice Odunga once said on Security Act, “The court will not nurture the tumour of impunity and lawlessness. This tumour of impunity is like an octopus…”

So you are a man of Codes Cabinet Secretary of Interior Nkaissery, you should for once ask for forgiveness for your rash reactions, as you never acted in good faith towards the journalist covering the corruption in your ministry. This time it is a fellow brother who serves his district and constituency, maybe not for your party or up in high halls with the perfect etiquette and English as you commands, as your people in the cabinet speaks, but even filthy tasteless language and not moral codes can be a little dually. You claim that Governor Joho speaks in inferior language and therefore are not allowed to carry arms.

You Hon. Nkaissery also wanted the guns of MP Ferdinand Waititu. Your actions seem to be happening after a by-election that didn’t go the way of the JAP. Seems to be political motivated. By my reckoning hon. Nkaissery you have a bigger fish to fry then the guns and arms that the opposition leaders are keeping while serving as government officials.

Hassan Ali Joho 15.03.2016 P2

Mr. Nkaissery in plain English: “Cabinet Secretary Major-General (Rtd) Joseph Nkaissery’s Interior and Coordination of National Government Ministry is perceived to be the most corrupt, a survey by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) shows” (Daily Nation, 15.03.2016).

So when you’re hard work right after by-elections it seems a little devious. While your ministry because of the perceived levels of corruptions, questions your authority, your leaders, your civil servants, government officials and the system that you’re in plain English controls with your authority.

So when you have that in your hands together with the predicament of losing to courts of taking away the guns from Governor Joho of Mombasa, while MP Waititu discredits your orders in the public. As they both knows the laws and now your powers, even if you can use the same as Office of Inspector General as you; you used the same had against the opposition. That still does not make your argument and orders correct, even if you serve as the government and you are part the top third men of power in Kenya, just under Hon. Ruto and H.E. Kenyatta; so you have a massive amount of responsibility and therefore should show respect for your position and title.

I would respect you even more if you talked in a manner of respect to your fellow citizens and not lecturing them on simple manners, while taking the laws into your own hands and act reckless against those who write about you or oppose you. As you now do what you can to take away security and security of governors, while Governor Kidero of Nairobi who happens to be your part of your party have 12, while Governor Joho has lost part of his security outfit. That prove a double standard, not only with the arms and guns, but the whole shindig has left a sour taste in the mouth of many. As you are serving the interior ministry, internal issues and internal security honourable Nkaissery, that means that you serve both the oppositions security and JAP security, so they all should be made sure to be safe and not only the men who are parts of your loyal subjects and yes-men in your hollow chambers. That is the picture that comes as you together with the Inspectorate General are even bending laws, so fellow country-men pre-judged by your judgement has to go courtside to reside and get justice. Because they not part of your powerful trio or the men who you trust automatically, and you should worry a bit hon. Nkaissery, as your ministry is not trusted when it comes to corruption.

Nation 15.03.2016

Corruption Mr. Nkaissery is not only money between a police officer and his advisory that want to pass a check-point. The corruption is not only the once that scribes letter like this or writes in Daily Nation in 2015. The Corruption is the acts and ability to use the power of the ministry to personal gain, as you have used to threaten a fellow Governor Joho and MP Waititu, why haven’t you done the same to Gov. Kidero? Is Kidero okay because he has issues with the Tribunal so he does not more on his plate?

Honourable Nkaissery why I write to you is because of the perception people has of you and your ministry, the actions you put forward to people and the way you uses laws and language to gauge people around. You could be more powerful if you actually worked together with people and listened to people, as they believe your ministry is the most corrupt one, and when you get Justice Odunga saying your argument wrong and unlawful. The sad thing is that you are the one running the Police and the Courts, the man who set the standard for law-enforcement and apparently you prematurely went after fellow brothers in your country, who are citizens just like you, even if they can’t call that easily Hon. Ruto or H.E. Kenyatta.

So please Hon. Nkaissery, could you calm down and not just address opposition and threaten them next time? Could you honourable Nkaissery maybe get more advice and think strategy as you’re a man of language and law, you should set the precedence of not taking laws to seriously as you did before 2016 with the journalists following parliamentary actions, now you have gone after government elected leaders in the opposition like the Government of Mombasa and the Member of Parliament representing Kabete. An I wonder why you haven’t asked for the weapons of other who holds those roles and representatives, why you have chopped most security guards from men of opposition and not government or ruling-party. That you also tell how people are supposed to speak while you have gone out many times in a demeaning tone and fashion. As I don’t understand English as you, you have to forgive me. But let the people know all the ways people can speak in justified ways and how they can follow your laws, without going to court prematurely as the Governor Joho did today, because Mr. Mwangi of Nairobi might not have the connections you have Hon. Nkaissery or the once Gov. Joho had in court today. Maybe you could write a statement clarifies the different attitude and the rights as you have and your party-men towards the rest of us. Peace.

NRM MPs wants to secure an extended term from 5 to 7 years for President Museveni; fits the Modus Operandi of Museveni; As Mzee seeks to stay in power forever!

the-1995-constitution-was-very-clear-on-two-terms-but-museveni-used-parliament-to-remove-term-limits

There are stories that are breaking, stories that are strange, stories that are surprising, what I write you today are the new normal and the Modus Operandi of the NRM-Regime and the NRM party. As there been a pattern when it comes to President Museveni, as his grips of power and continues to be the Executive. This he has done deliberately since 1986. Or since after the rigged election of 1980; a history most that has followed the Uganda President should know by now, and should be part of their knowledge.

In the beginning he stated that the Movement System would continuation of the African democratic model as the constituencies would pick their men, than through Multi-Party System, he hold on to it as long as he could. And he kept it until second voting on a referendum that leads into the 2006 elections with the Multi-Party system, and not only NRM party as it had been since 1986. Before 1986 there been other parties that long had been in shadow or worked under the system and being imbedded in the Movement System to sustain positions, but not free-parties to hold their own consultations and own meetings. As the referendum opened up for; just with this proves how little he works for the dissidents or other views in the country, as it is the NRM who matters as that is his Party!

What I will discuss today is how he has used laws both inner-party of the NRM and the deepest in the general law to keep the laws that fits him. Such it was in beginning of the Constitution, who also gained him credit abroad and made him a donor-friendly destination. I will take the amendment, sole-candidacy of 2014 and now the longer terms for him. Take a look!

In 1995 the new constitution gave the President or the Executive power under the Article 105 a basis of two terms, which each term would last 5 years. That was the basis of the new constitution that NRM and President Museveni made during the first period of his presidency.

The Original constitution states this:

“105.  Tenure of office of a President.

(1)       A person elected President under this Constitution shall, subject to clause (3) of this article, hold office for a term of five years.

(2)       A person shall not be elected under this Constitution to hold office as President for more than two terms as prescribed by this article”

But in 2005 he had changed his mind as he wanted to keep power in the country even if he had been elected twice in presidential elections in 1996 and in 2001. So when 2006 elections were coming, he had together with his party change the law to fit him.

As the Constitution Amendment Act 2005 which states:

“28. Amendment of article 105 of the Constitution Article 105 is amended by repealing clause (2) and substituting for it the following—“(2)A person may be elected under this Constitution to hold office as President for one or more terms as prescribed by this article.”

That got voted in Parliament and lead to the general election in 2006, where President Museveni also won the election and took a landslide of MPs in Parliament, as he has always done. This has continued into a single spiral of his strengthen power of the NRM, while cutting ties with men inside the party wishing to take his place in the party, as with Gilbert Bukenya and Amama Mbabazi at times.

Museveni-with-a-dummy-map-of-uganda

So to solidify his position he made this happen on a Party Retreat or Conference at Kyankawanzi and the words express the readiness for yet another term and rule under President Museveni and not have a new leader controlling the ruling party. As it says here:

The Kyankwanzi Resolution of 2014 – President Museveni’s right for Sole Candidacy in the NRM:

“RESOLUTION ON PARTY COHESION AND GOVERNANCE

We, the undersigned members of the NRM Caucus attending a retreat at the National Leadership Institute(NALI) Kyankwanzi (6,February 2014); Fully aware of our Country’s historical  past and the need to consolidate and sustain the Milestones registered over the years since 1986; Cognizant of the fact that there is still a lot more to be done in order to realize our ideological vision of uniting Uganda(Nationalism), Pan-africanism, transforming our country from a poor peasantry society to a modern economy and upholding democracy; Conscious of the fact that what has been so far achieved over the last 28 years needs to be guarded jealously and improved upon to realize our vision; Aware  that when individuals engage in personal scheming, party cohesion is undermined, development efforts aredistracted and the population is diverted from work to early politicking;

DO here by resolve;

To support H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to continue leading and facilitating our country on its take off journey to transformation”.

As we seen that the President Museveni together with Parliament in 1994 before introduction of the Constitution of 1995. Where it stated certain limits for the president, meaning two periods for the actual president and that was that. After and near the end of the official two periods as presidents the constitutional amendment abolished that in 2005. Later he continued to rewrite the NRM Party guidelines and got the resolution of 2014, where they rewrote it so that he is the Sole Candidacy of him as a presidential candidate for the party and be the president of NRM at the same time, as he has been for decades.

So now the news of a new resolution from yet another conference or retreat at Kankwanzi, that will give the Presidency more Power and for longer time!

Today the 14th March 2016 at another NRM MPs retreat at Kyankwanzi:

“Live in Kyankwanzi where the NRM orientation and retreat is on going! Resolution has been passed to extend the term limit from 5 years to 7 years!” (The Inspector, 2016).

This is an amendment that supposed to the same that the MP James Kakooza the MP for Kabula County in Lyantonde District initiated in 2010. The Kyankwanzi resolution for the longer term length is on the precedence of the Rwandan Presidents who have 7 year terms already and the idea of MP Hon. Kakooza want to emulate that. What the NRM MPs does not is copying and also doing this to show support to the President for their ability to be MPs in the 10th Parliament. They should initially give thanks to once they represent (the people) and not the President, they serve him, but they in theory represent the people first. This kind of law and resolution does not give more power to the people or represent them better. On the other hand it gives longer staying power for President Museveni and nothing else. As his next term would be extended with two more years not the 2016-2021, but now would be 2016-2023. That is massive difference and giving him more time to make more laws fitting him.

e8807-votemuseveni

As I am sure we will see more of this and make sure the laws that fit the NRM-Regime and the longevity of President Museveni and his presidency. That is the only certainty as the opposition gets worse treatment and the laws made to suit the Executive and not the people. As it come more and more to forefront and becomes the reality. Last time at Kyankwanzi resolution gave carte blanche for a sole candidacy, now in a similar fashion they want to give him two more years as head of state, as he already embarks on the 30th year in power. And with the new term system the nedt tenure would total 37 years! That is like fish out of the water, and surely is not just an idea from a MP, I am sure this seems like a tactic from the Presidency to do it now after the polls; to justify his extended time in Power.

I don’t believe that this all of sudden happen out of the nowhere. As the other extensions have happen deliberately and through steady choices of the executive, he has made choices and decisions how to manipulate the electorate, the parliament and the laws to fit his way. That has been strength of him and as long as that gave positivity in the county, the people didn’t mind. Now it is not positivity as at the beginning of the presidency, instead the totalitarian power who keeps the power to himself and using all methods to keep it.

This here today is yet another method and another way of securing the power for the presidency, the extension of the term is just the next step for him and his rule. Peace.    

Press Statement: On the Ugandan Government’s Post-Election Conduct (11.03..2016)

NBS 01.03.2016 Arrested Journalist Kasangati

The United States reiterates its ongoing concerns with Uganda’s post-election environment, in which the government and its security forces persistently have violated the rights and freedoms of Ugandan citizens and the media.

The continued detention of opposition figures without legal justification, the ongoing harassment of opposition supporters, interference in legal challenges to the election results, and the intimidation of Uganda’s media are unacceptable activities in a free and democratic society. Recently proposed legislation to enhance the powers of the government to restrict media is an attempt to further limit the country’s political space.

The United States and Uganda have a long standing and strong partnership that has contributed to the stability and prosperity of the region. We are concerned that the Ugandan government’s recent actions could endanger the economic and political progress that has enabled our relationship to grow. We urge the government to take prompt action to reverse this troubling trend.

John Kirby
Assistant Secretary and Department Spokesperson, Bureau of Public Affairs
Washington, DC

A look into the fear-mongering in modern day politics; while showing politicians who believed in building inclusive and unified nations; as a counter to the fear-mongering politicians!

Cartoon-immigration-26-728

This here is not easy write as it is such a fearful debate; I will discuss the matter of fear in politics. I have taken it in pieces here and there because the militarization is a distinguished part of politics these days as they have always been. Military and armies have always been influential of how the political movement has been and how the structure of power has been established. But today I will not discuss the militarization of politics that I can do another day. Certainly I will discuss it more closely as it is ever present in politics. While today the main topic is the other part of politics who is the rhetoric of spreading fear about foreign influence, immigrations or the foreign people in the country! While I will counter them with leaders who wanted to build countries, and this in countries with many tribes and creeds as they have to work together to build the nations; these are the men I look up to, not the ones who spread fear, as that is the simplest and easiest tool to get the masses behind without showing a proper political policies or framework that can define a parties groundwork or ideology as the one goal is to do something fruitful as a politician.

History Immigration

FEAR and fear is a tool that many politicians use all over the globe. Usefully to gain political advantage and create a platform for their framework or even just cease the power the politicians wish to achieve. This piece will not be about Donald Trump even if he thrives on racial hatred and fear of the non-American value without being able to say what that is, which is from an outsider laughable, as it usually is the once spreading the fear use one Markie technic. He will still have a space as he is so visible by doing it and how he uses that technic.  

The first Markie technic from the politicians is finding the enemy, or if has to create the enemy. Usually a foreign forces, foreign people or foreign investments, as all of them will create a unstable environment and that these people, investors will take away the freedom and liberty, even steal the jobs that are there. This technic is used because the politician initially doesn’t have a political framework or policy on how to create the space of economic sense to find other solutions to make the laws, policies or the country’s budget to make a difference.

This will be most often by the biggest group of the people, neither the elite nor the educated; instead the majorities who have less education and more blue-collar work or industrial workers and the men and woman from both smaller towns and rural areas; as the capitals and central regions usually are more open and have more open approached to people and are more liberal in general. As the rural and smaller towns are further away therefore the people usually doesn’t get the same level of information as the central regions. Even in the digital age and watching TV and tabloid news gives the masses quick-feeding news instead of the deep diving information. This leads the masses and population into the levels of not checking the information or questioning the forces who spread certain information to the people.

UKIP Poster

Farage of UKIP has unemployment of British people because of immigration, and Romanians are the greatest criminals in the UK:

The fear they spread is like that East-European people are stealing the jobs in the United Kingdom as the party of United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) leader Nigel Farage fears portrayed in his owns words: “I would rather we had communities that were rather more united and we had a situation where young unemployed British people had a realistic chance of getting a job, so yes I do think the social side of this matters more than the pure market economics” (Wintour, 2014). He also said this in 2013: “There have been an astounding 28,000 arrests in the Metropolitan Police area of Romanians in the last five years alone…92 per cent of ATM crime in the capital is already being committed by Romanian gangs” (Worral, 2013). This here is just typical living on fear as the place will only stay united if the British people is employed and chance of getting a job. That is not because of the market economics, but because of other reasons, that is typical rhetoric of men who thrive on fear, as he did the year before. As he then blamed Romanians for thieving as the Police had not the statics or proof of this number. It is as this is simply a matter that cannot be pure market economics. This proves the levels of fear that UKIP spreads with their words. Let me show you other people doing the same.

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Wilders of the PVV believes the Western hemisphere will not survive with the influence of Islam:

As in Netherlands the level of fear spreading and finding the once creating issues there in words of Geert Wilders of his Dutch Party for Freedom (PVV) who has built a career on thriving the fear of foreign faiths and beliefs as his own exclusive piece he stated this: “Islam is an existential threat to our Western freedoms and our Judeo-Christian civilization. It also threatens the Atlantic partnership between America and Western Europe. It is our duty to limit this threat. It is our mission as patriots to protect our nations. The first measure we must take to stop Islam, reduce the risk of terrorism and save our civilization, is to stop all immigration from Islamic countries. It is a matter of survival” (Wilders, 2016). He proves his fear here that the level of problems coming to Europe through the Islamic faith is survival and if we don’t succumb to it we will be killed. This is demonetization of something else they yourself as it easier then unifying the countries and citizens. As the faiths are dangerous in his opinion as he does not have a framework or structure to regenerate or rejuvenate anything. Therefore he uses Islamic faith as a tool to spread fear for it as the immigration and immigrants from the countries of this faith is dangerous. That is rhetoric suited in the fear based policies.

Front National France

Le Pen’s National Front fears a barbaric invasion of France:

In France you have Marine Le Pen of the National Front who has as her father lived on the fear in the French population and thriving on it as well. She has said this: “Migrants are now wandering in our neighborhoods, around the train stations or in the slums, the cause for France of immense security and public hygiene problems” (…)“In the coming years, we could be in the presence of the invasions that were lived through in the Fourth Century,” said Ms. Le Pen, referring to the Barbarian invasions of Western Europe” (Nossiter, 2015). She proves the level of fear as the immigrants even invading the country and create hygiene problems. This sound more like of a past parties that nobody really want to be associated with. Let me give you an example: “In 1935, Dr. J. Goebbels, Nazi Minister of Propaganda, made the unconsciously sardonic statement, “National Socialism has simplified thinking for the German nation and brought it back to its earlier and primitive form” (Krzesinski, 1945). It is nearly the same the fear level of Le Pen as the fear of the nation back to the primitive aggression of the barbarian invasion will come back, if they don’t take care of the society.

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Siv Jensen of Norway does not want to the state of Malmø to Norway:

There leaders like this in Norway as well, take for example Siv Jensen of Fremskrittspartiet (The Progressive Party) who said this in 2013: ”If we permit this, Oslo and other Norwegian cities may approach the state of Malmö [Sweden], where emergency service personnel do not dare to enter certain parts of the city, and where Sharia law has entirely taken over. That is the reality in Sweden; we are not attempting to scaremonger” (Alm, 2013). She proves that ability as the counterparts in Europe to put Islamic people and their faith in one basket and expect everybody to be the same. It’s ironic that she is saying she is not scaremonger, while portraying a bleak picture if we let them come and we will create Malmø in Norway as well. That just proves to what an extent she goes to establish an enemy to generate votes.

Trump Quote

Donald Trump having issues with Mexicans:

Let me take Donald Trump as well, the American who also uses them versus us rhetoric to gain votes. See here: ““When Mexico (meaning the Mexican Government) sends its people, they’re not sending their best. They’re not sending you (pointing to the audience). They’re not sending you (pointing again). They’re sending people that have lots of problems, and they’re bringing those problems to us. They’re bringing drugs.They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people! But I speak to border guards and they tell us what we’re getting. And it only makes common sense. They’re sending us not the right people. It’s coming from more than Mexico. It’s coming from all over South and Latin America, and it’s coming probably from the Middle East. But we don’t know. Because we have no protection and we have no competence, we don’t know what’s happening. And it’s got to stop and it’s got to stop fast.” (…)”The Mexican Government wants an open border as long as it’s a ONE WAY open border into the United States. Not only are they killing us at the border, but they are killing us on trade … and the country of Mexico is making billions of dollars in doing so” (Walker, 2015). This here proves the fear mongering technic of Trump as he has nothing else, as the Mexicans are the issue, they creates the bad business and trade, they bring the wrong people to the United States and so on. This here is just like the right-wing politician who uses this level of fear to generate votes. He thrive on it and get the afraid white votes in United States, as they can’t check if this is true or not.

Now I want to go to something positive as the ones above has just spread the words of fear and that the world we are living is going to hell if we let our neighbors and refugees get a place to stay our whole system will collapse and Armageddon will come quicker than a Mel Gibson racist rant. This here is one part of the politicians that are out there and they are gaining and getting crowds; people are following it and respecting them. As fearful it is. But let me prove the different men and woman who creates unity and implement proper politics and framework, not FEAR as the only tool to build support. The healthy political venue and also show how to respect and create peace In between people and tribes.

Tanzania Nyerere

As one of greatest statesmen ever (in my opinon) wrote about unity for his fellow countrymen in Tanzania in 1967:

“A truly. socialist state is one in which all people are workers and in which neither capitalism nor feudalism exists. It does not have two classes of people, a lower class composed of people who work for their living, and an upper class of people who live on the work of others. In a really socialist country no person exploits another; everyone who is physically able to work does so; every worker obtains a just return for the labour he performs; and the incomes derived from different types of work are not grossly divergent. In a socialist country, the only people who live on the work of others, and who have the right to be dependent upon their fellows, are small children, people who are too old to support themselves, the crippled, and those whom the state at any one time cannot provide with an opportunity to work for their living” (…)”The development of a country is brought about by people, not by money. Money, and the wealth it represents, is the result and not the basis of development. The four prerequisites of development are different; they are (i) People; (ii) Land; (iii) Good Policies; (iv) Good Leadership. Our country has more than ten million people1 and is are; is more than 362,000 square miles” (Nyerere, 1967).  This man shows the real material and values of somebody uniting the people even if he does not even want the nation into classes, some people might see it socialism and Marxism. And the maxim does not need be in that way to become peaceful or uniting. Let me take a man who speaks peace between people and not having socialist feeling, still proving the possibility of unification between people.

Kaunda Book

How Dr. Kenneth Kaunda united the tribes of Zambia:

“Interviewer: United 72 tribes together was a major challenge. How did you manage, as the First President of Zambia, to overcome such thing?” His answer: It was very important and a difficult situation for us as a country. We still had our small tribes and we still did not know what was coming ahead of us. We had to build all this up into ‘One Zambia, One Nation’.  Living this slogan is not just something that was talked about, but something that Zambians believed in, and they began living and behaving in the spirit of unity as quoted in the slogan” (Winne, 2015). His other important question: “As the First President, you have implemented humanism and nationalisation of the economy. What were the main reasons for doing so?” His answer to the question: “Humanism formed a basis to guide everything that was done or implemented in the country. Moreover, the economy has to be nationalised to help raise the standards of living for the poverty stricken people” (…)”At the time, there was racial segregation and the challenge was to tackle this situation. It was important for people to understand that it was not their colour that mattered, but rather the behaviour of the person. As such, humanism became important and it helped us overcome racial segregation.  The concept of humanism meant that all human being lived united according to how God wants them to live” (Winne, 2015). Dr. Kenneth Kaunda does something important and says that the value is the people of all the tribes belongs to the country and pride in the idea of one Zambia. Not segregating, that was the matter with humanism and let the people be united. It proves the greatness in believing in that if people unify they will be stronger.

Tradeau Poster

Let me take the new Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau who speaks totally different on cultural differences than other in western hemisphere:

“Canadians have proven that a nation can be strong not in spite of our differences but because of them, and we all have a responsibility to be custodians of this country’s character. Canada’s success is rooted in its unique approach to liberty through inclusive diversity. While we have built vital institutions like the Charter, sustaining this liberty requires continued political leadership” (Liberal, 2015). He believes that the diversity through liberty is a reason for success for Canada, while his counterparts in Europe fear the diversity and sure the world will fall into abyss, he differ; as he continues on his victory speech: “To her I say this: you and your fellow citizens have chosen a new government, a government that believes deeply in the diversity of our country. We know in our bones that Canada was built by people from all corners of the world who worship every faith, who belong to every culture, who speak every language” (…)”We believe in our hearts that this country’s unique diversity is a blessing bestowed upon us by previous generations of Canadians, Canadians who stared down prejudice and fought discrimination in all its forms. We know that our enviable, inclusive society didn’t happen by accident and won’t continue without effort. I have always known this; Canadians know it too. If not, I might have spoken earlier this evening and given a very different speech” (Trudeau, 2015). He proves his faith in the diversity and how that built the country and an inclusive society. The positive belief that people of all kinds can build a society together; as the Canadians can and that all of them can build the country no matter creed, language or faith that is telling that nobody is enemies of the idea of Canada. That is a strong unifying message!

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Another hero with a unifying message to his people was first ANC President in South Africa, Nelson Mandela on his inauguration on the 10th May 1994:

“That spiritual and physical oneness we all share with this common homeland explains the depth of the pain we all carried in our hearts as we saw our country tear itself apart in a terrible conflict, and as we saw it spurned, outlawed and isolated by the peoples of the world, precisely because it has become the universal base of the pernicious ideology and practice of racism and racial oppression” (…)”We trust that you will continue to stand by us as we tackle the challenges of building peace, prosperity, non-sexism, non-racialism and democracy” (…)”We deeply appreciate the role that the masses of our people and their political mass democratic, religious, women, youth, business, traditional and other leaders have played to bring about this conclusion. Not least among them is my Second Deputy President, the Honourable F.W. de Klerk” (…)”We have, at last, achieved our political emancipation. We pledge ourselves to liberate all our people from the continuing bondage of poverty, deprivation, suffering, gender and other discrimination” (…)”We have triumphed in the effort to implant hope in the breasts of the million of our people. We enter into a covenant that we shall build the society in which all South Africans, both black and white, will be able to walk tall, without any fear in their hearts, assured of their inalienable right to human dignity – a rainbow nation at peace with itself and the world” (…)”We are both humbled and elevated by the honour and privilege that you, the people of South Africa, have bestowed on us, as the first President of a united, democratic, non-racial and non-sexist government” (…)”We understand it still that there is no easy road to freedom” (…)”We know it well that none of us acting alone can achieve success” (…)”We must therefore act together as a united people, for national reconciliation, for nation building, for the birth of a new world” (Mandela, 1994). He has faith that the white and blacks could build a country on a road to freedom, as a united people, not that it would be easy, still wanted the country to be a rainbow nation and let everybody walk with dignity. Mandela does not make anybody enemies, but says the people and the government must be united for a reconciliation and building the nation, as a united people. That gives not only a certain people the responsibility, but both people and government. Also that he earlier says that not only the former ethnic difference has to be changed, but also the economic bondage and other discrimination, therefore he sees the whole society.

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Afterthought:

I wanted to show the difference between those who spreads fear and the ones who see multiculturalism as the fear levels certain politicians are sending is just horrific. They disrespect the intelligence of the audience and society. Not to talk about the long living history of different people living in the same area, different religions in the same dominion and so on.

I hate the way the fear of other people being used and the way it supposed to destroy the nations and governments, the reason for unemployment and so on. The fear is just a given from this men and woman because they don’t have a political framework or political policy worth listening to. The people don’t need to look at the basic parts of their plans. They can see that the ideal that they carry is a fairytale story, instead of building nations and a legacy that they really will be remembered by.

While the once had a faith the people of the country and their support too actually to address the way ahead, instead of finding an enemy and creating a problem to fight together. That proves certainty of leadership, instead of making up and saying that people are coming to steal, invades or take the jobs; because the men who say that the people could unite and become one has tried to generate positive development and made history by doing so. Even though the Canadian Prime Minister has just recent one the campaign in 2015, so he needs some time. While Nelson Mandela, Julius Nyerere and Dr. Kenneth Kaunda did their countries, good, still Nyerere and Kaunda also made wrong decisions, but their initial try and their vision has created peace between the tribes and made the country envisioned in the idea of Zambia and United Republic of Tanzania. That shows the great work of these men and their level of starting to build a state. That does not come easy.

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I will another day look into the way certain government uses militarism to generate fear in the population, as this is the fear of an invisible enemy or an enemy amongst the citizens. That the citizens should be aware and that the unity will be gone if they get to be a part of the people and united together. As differs from the people who tries to build their nations, or even believe that the multiculturalism is a reason why the country is succeeding as the Canadian PM says. I am sure if we had an discussion between Trudeau and the Wilders it would be heated, even with Le Pen and Trudeau would make a general fight of ethics and how to make society great. As Le Pen and Wilders has another view and uses the fear to generate votes in their countries. While Trudeau salutes multiculturalism. Donald Trump even massively lives and thrives on throwing immigrants under the bridge, while he marries immigrants (that is a side-note check that fact yourself).

That is enough for today. Remember we are as strong as our friendships, as we united against hatred and those who create fear. We the rest who really see through their shenanigans and racist behavior, even pro-nationalism men and woman who address fellow human beings as lesser people, should think more through their words. As we all have the same needs and needs the same kind of childhood, livelihood, education and life. The difference is the staple-food, the environment and so on. So that they establish the other people as significant different is just ignorance and also wrong. As the thing you can learn from other cultures can enrichen your life and your thoughts as the world really get smaller and at the same time more complex. But the men and woman who speaks fear and thrive on it does not have the interest for that. I would doubt that.

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Last thought, a reason why the fear-mongers get a big space in society:

I am one of them who stand by the men and woman who believes in multiculturalism and also in the possibility of unity and unifying the countries. Not that is easy, but the constant dialogue and the continuation to listen, and come to a consensus can bring hope between all groups of society instead of looking for enemies or blaming other people in society. As the other people looks for and can’t find a way to build or rebuild society, they find immigrants and Islamic faithful as the men and woman that creates the social issues, not the basic wrongs in government or free-market thinking, even in post-modern Europe, but that is not a question for now. This here is something that should be considered; as there might be a vacuum of power and levels of from central government and the citizens, and that is why this politicians who spreads fear get a the giant microphone and place in society, instead of the people who has certainty thoughts and ideals to build peace together and not creating fear of each other in society! Peace.

Reference:

Alm, Christina – ‘Siv Jensen of the Norwegian Progress Party – embattled and popular’ (06.06.2013) link: http://www.d-intl.com/2013/06/06/siv-jensen-of-the-norwegian-progress-party-embattled-and-popular/

Krzesinski, Andrew J. – ‘NATIONAL CULTURES, NAZISM AND THE CHURCH’ (1945) – . Rare Books and Manuscripts. Book 17 link: http://digital.kenyon.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1016&context=rarebooks

Liberal – ‘Statement by Liberal Party of Canada Leader Justin Trudeau on the anniversary of multiculturalism’ (07.10.2015) link: https://www.liberal.ca/statement-by-liberal-party-of-canada-leader-justin-trudeau-on-the-anniversary-of-multiculturalism/

Mandela, Nelson – ‘Nelson Mandela at his inauguration as President of South Africa, Pretoria’ (10.05.1994) link: http://mandela.gov.za/mandela_speeches/1994/940510_inauguration.htm

Nossiter, Adam – ‘For Marine Le Pen, Migration Is a Ready-Made Issue’ (05.10.2015) link: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/06/world/europe/for-marine-le-pen-migration-is-a-ready-made-issue.html?_r=0

Nyerere, Julius – ‘The Arusha Declaration’ (05.02.1967) link: https://www.marxists.org/subject/africa/nyerere/1967/arusha-declaration.htm

Trudea, Justin – ‘Victory Speech’ (20.10.2015) link: http://www.macleans.ca/politics/ottawa/justin-trudeau-for-the-record-we-beat-fear-with-hope/

Walker, Hunter – ‘Donald Trump just released an epic statement raging against Mexican immigrants and ‘disease’ (06.07.2015) link: http://uk.businessinsider.com/donald-trumps-epic-statement-on-mexico-2015-7?r=US&IR=T

Wintour, Patrick – ‘Nigel Farage: Ukip wants five-year ban on immigrants settling in UK’ (07.01.2014) link:  http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/jan/07/ukip-ban-immigrants-nigel-farage

Winne – ‘Zambia: Interview with Dr. Kenneth Kaunda’  (14.04.2015) link: http://www.winne.com/zm/interviews/dr-kenneth-kaunda

Wilders, Geert – ‘EXCLUSIVE – Geert Wilders: Stopping Islamic Immigration Is a Matter of Survival’ (09.02.2016) link: http://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2016/02/09/stopping-islamic-immigration-is-a-matter-of-survival/

Worrall, Patrick – ‘FactCheck: Nigel Farage’s Ukip conference speech’ (20.09.2013) link: http://blogs.channel4.com/factcheck/factcheck-nigel-farages-ukip-conference-speech/15888

Discussion: My thoughts on a Power-Sharing deal between President Museveni and Dr. Kizza Besigye

m7, besigye

This here is something that has surfaced after Gen. Benon Buta Biraaro entered the premise and compound of Dr. Kizza Besigye on the 26th of February 2016. This is just days after the announcement of victory of President Museveni on the 20th February from the Electoral Commission.

So that the days of arrests and detaining of Dr. Kizza Besigye together with the oppression of the opposition party and his loyal officials and agents has been violated and arrested for following up on a flawed and a fraud of an election. The violence and police utilization as a tool to oppress the men who has declaration results forms from the districts agents as the candidates are getting to validate the counting of the ballots from the district before being announced and getting the right verdict of the will of their constituency. This here says it all when the police follows the men and trying to get the FDC officials and agents jailed and at gun-point or to rewrite the forms to fix the malfunction from the registered outcome that was announced from the Electoral Commission; it is in this context there have been talked about the opportunity to have talks to make President Museveni still in power, while giving Dr. Kizza Besigye to become his Vice President (V.P.) in a new government.

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Let me be clear: this comes as the presidential candidate of the Farmers Party Gen. Biraaro have been at Kasangati home of Besigye; there been reports of meetings between Inter-Religious Council of Uganda and the Commonwealth Observer Group leader and former Nigerian President Olesegun Obasanjo, as he is supposed to mediate between President Museveni and Dr. Kizza Besigye; he is supposed to be able to talk them both into a deal that with power-sharing and keeping the peace between the persons in question.

Zim 2008

This here happen between Morgan Tsvangirai of Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and President Robert Mugabe of Zanu-PF this happen after 200 dead and violent election during 2008 after a fraudulent election that opposition leader Tsvangirai was expected to have won as his popularity had risen in the public, while the economy had gone bonkers. Thabo Mbeki the President of South Africa mediated in this crisis of leadership and got the deal between the parties, where Tsvangirai accepted becoming the deputy in a coalition government that one that still President Mugabe controlled.

Salva Kiir Poster

In the South Sudan there been issues in the leadership between the fractions of the Sudan People Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/SPLA) as they even have an outfit that is SPLM in Opposition (SPLM-O). This is as the power-struggle between President Salva Kiir and Vice-President Riek Machar; they had even used arms against each other. So when they signed a peace-agreement that was settled during the winter of 2015, has stopped the months on months with violence and destruction in the country. President Kiir has become of this also made his former enemy and now Vice President Machar. He was re-appointed after on the 12th of February 2016.

FDC HQ 19.02.2016 Police Siege

This here shows examples of it of power-sharing deals between the ruling-party and the opposition. That is the dream of some people now as the tension is running high while the Police is harassing and detaining the FDC party officials and agents. While house-arresting Dr. Kizza Besigye since the Election Day; so that he cannot file in the petition to counter the declared results of the election results. Something that President Museveni and his security outfits works to stop by any means these days and also destroy the evidence of the actual rigging of the 18th February 2016.

The way the Police have deteriorating the opposition after the elections. So they could not gather their evidence and they continue to arrest candidates agents; as they try to deliver evidence and Declaration Results Forms to the Central Organization to secure the evidence and gather the basics to the petition. If you think this kind of actions talks of somebody who want to share power. Then your blind man trying to lead another blind man; that will lead the government with somebody else, seems more like a man who wants to own the executive position. Especially also his own words for the opposition and blame of stifling development on MPs, Opposition MPs and LCV of Opposition is usually the reason for the wrong kind of development. The last straw was when he wrote in the article on the 27th February that the opposition is an “endangered species”. That says what kind of methods he will use together with the “knock-out” victory he proclaim in the article is just wild-talk from a President.

Missing boxes 20.02.2016

If President really wanted to have dialogue and actually honor Dr. Kizza Besigye and his FDC; than he hadn’t constantly stopped his movement and opportunities to make a petition or meet fellow officials to make a best casework possible. This here is viable and exercise of violent behavior that does not give credible and legitimacy for President Museveni. Except for his loyal cadres and payed mouth-pieces; the ones that has accepted his salaries for being there for the NRM and the Government under the Museveni umbrella, it is not like that will change with Dr. Kizza Besigye as V.P. The only result of such a match is to give credit to the fraudulent elections and kiss and make-up. But not do a substantial groundwork and honor the voters that were not taken care of during the Election Day and the tally that followed.

I do not believe that this is a good idea. For the simple argument: Legitimacy of a NRM-Regime and the NRM led Government. I stay clear on that point as the results has been deliberately cooked while mouthpiece of NRM Andrew Mwenda blames on twitter that opposition is lying; Mr. Mwenda there to many perfect scores and polling stations that doesn’t make sense; especially that 100% for Museveni in 133 stations, every single registered person, living and dead, every ballot and not a single invalid ballot. For some strange reason Mr. Mwenda every single ballot in those polling stations went to President Musveni! That is an amazing achievement when NGOs and CSOs who followed the elections claimed that the voter educations was lacking and missing during the pre-election period. So there are certain and even more questionable acts of fraud as the Declarations Results Forms that has altered so they can be compared to the released result from the Electoral Commission. And the voter intimidation and the way the army and police acted accordingly even facilitated rigging in certain areas, questions also the faith in the ballots and the tally result from this presidential election exercise. And with all of that mind; the FDC and Dr. Kizza Besigye should not legitimize a government who got power in that way, and by house-arresting their presidential candidate days in and days out without a warrant or reason.

The only one earning on this President Museveni and his NRM, by trading away a ceremonial position of the Vice President; silencing the opposition and their claims while still having the Executive power. The same way President Mugabe through thorough negotiations gave the V.P. to Morgan Tsvangirai, but got little legitimacy and even credit for sorting out peace between political parties. That gave him also time to give more power and access to it to the Executive. That is the same way would happen with President Museveni and instead of Mbeki negotiating the agreement; It would be Obansanjo. He is not the kind who serve power away and if a person get to much of following. And that follwing not beeing directed  to him or he feels that person has to much control in the NRM; then he clips your wings. Just as he has done in the past with Gilbert Bukenya and Amama Mbabazi; they are the essential former loyalist to NRM and Museveni, but is now outplayed by their former master.

Obansanjo Uganda 2016

In the same way President Museveni would have done with Dr. Kizza Besigye. At this point former Nigerian President Obasanjo should just take a ticket home to Lagos instead of trying to mediate between the NRM and the FDC. As this here is a stalemate and deserve to be one until justice and rule of law is followed; not only orders from President Museveni. That is the tale of the day and the way the Police and Army uses to oppress the opposition.

As he has said he wants to destroy the opposition and make them go away as they are burden to his rule. And when a President has that kind of wish and does not respect the ballots or electoral reform that does not fit him. Why should the opposition give him the honor of legitimizing his stay in power?

Museveni Debate16

Dr. Kizza Besigye, Amama Mbabazi, Olara Otunnu, Norbert Mao and all the other opposition leaders should shun the President and not honor him. Instead they should stay away from or not negotiate with him, until justice prevails and the truth of the matter get to the surface as the blatant disregard for the election from the regime is obvious and carefully orchestrated and taken care of to secure President Museveni, not the will of the people, just as Dr. Milton Obote did what he could to secure his will in 1980 election.

Kigwa Leero!  Peace.  

“50 Shades of Stealing Ballot’s”; Has still hope for peaceful change by the FDC; while waiting in the tense atmosphere.

Kampala 19.02.2016

As the silence of the streets, the result has been addressed and the congratulations are coming in, usually either between trading partners and close neighborhood countries that have worked together at some point with President Museveni.

The people are mourning the result as the shock of the thieving ways and the disregard of the value of the voters and ballots, as the elections was “50 shades of stealing the ballots”. The way Dr. Badru Kiggundu the chairman of the Electoral Commission ended his last term, was more of a morning ceremony where only NRM Secretary Justine Kasule Lumumba; only one with vigor and smile as the people was terrified.

The army has been on the streets, in the towns and the police force has worked hard and been armed with guns. The once seeing the pictures wondered if the authorities had plans of launching “Martial Law” or “State of Emergency”. That because of the disregard of voters with the police going in at polling stations even showing the voters whom to vote for as for example of walking with the voter and not trusting the voter to drop the ballot in the basin.

The way the Military Police or Special Force Command, even Formation Field Unit has been around the Presidential Candidates and securing them in their homes and areas so that they don’t deliver the reports and clarification of results that the Electoral Commission don’t want out. The Authorities want to silence the opposition as the legitimacy is non-existence. Just like Kofi Annan said in a statement days before the result got served the public.

Andre Kaweesi FDC HQ 19.02.2016

There is a reason why there wasn’t a jubilee in the streets of Kampala, there was reasons there wasn’t NRM people screaming around and just a few people trying to recuperate the internet and tell about the wonderful wins of Moroto and other districts that the Electoral Commission told of the wonderful victory of Museveni and his men. The issue is that we know that most loads of ballots got invalid or never gotten tallied as of the time of verifying the result the Electoral Commission; so no matter how valid some results might be; I don’t or wont trust these results as the rigged elections doesn’t give me faith in the results.

m7, besigye

And then todays press conference post-victory as he as a winner has to tell the world this:

“I don’t need lectures from anybody on how to organise elections” (…)”I have been doing it since school says at Ntare School” (The Insider, 2016). As the clearly you might not need lectures; you need a new way of doing it as this here was a shambles of one and a reason why you we’re alone with your cows; instead of celebrating with the ones that apparently or supposed to vote for you.

On Dr. Besigye and his house-arrest:

““Col Besigye cannot be allowed to disrupt our peace” (…)”Nobody can burn our city. We shall use both soft and hard means to guard our city” (The Insider, 2016). The Peace that your supposed to have created is kind of vague as the people are hiding in their houses of fear of your police force and army as they have killed people who have demonstrated and you have detained, jailed or house-arrested during the election day and the days that has followed. If this is generating peace by detaining your opposition then is not a joyful peace or a true election as the ones you don’t need lectures on.

As the vital information and the tension, the mourning of the thieving level of the government that has decided for them and taken their fate in their hands as their paternal advisory of giving the power-hungry and army man President Museveni another shot of taking more of the gold and government funds, instead of earning the money as civil servant and serving the nations as the President should do. I am sure if you Mr. President thinking of getting the buses ready and getting the leftover t-shirts and get ready to use more governmental funds to pay the Crime Preventers to secure crowds for Kololo Independence Ground on your Swearing in.

Jinja Road 15.02.2015 P2

There is very few indications or any certainty of the ruling regime caring about anything else then themselves and tried to pull the card that certain MPs have been voted in from the Opposition, but that is just a too save face and try to look like a legitimate affair. That is while many expected the numbers for Museveni to end between 60% to 69% so when it ended where it ended, it was something wrong, especially with the tally-numbers and the declarations forms that has surfaced online; something that says a lot that the fortune tellers can fore-say the results months in advance; as a certainty! That is not looking good as non-expected Barrack Obama at his first tenure to really get all the way. This is elections and a guy who doesn’t need lectures should know that; if had known elections that his facilitations of the “NRM” Independent Candidates, that many of them would fly out the gate; is that they we’re voted away from their constituencies and councils already, with adding more locals they should not be able to get through anywhere… But hey President Museveni doesn’t need any lectures. Kahinda Otafiire might need one!

As the “50 Shades of stealing ballots” is the next book from Amama Mbabazi, President Museveni or Janet Museveni, Mike Ssebula will get funding for the publishing and the forward will be written by H.E. Uhuru Kenyatta and Hon. Ofwono Opondo. While a honorable mention will go to Dr. Ruhakana Ruganda. That is the future of this sad affair where the people has mourned and been silent; as they should be their fate and future gotten for the moment stolen from them; their own government and government entities has stolen their civic duty and taken it right in front of them.

Amuru Election Statment Paper

The international community should act and not recognize the Presidency of Museveni while the donor funding shut be suspended until the public and citizen’s will has been teared apart in minutes on the screen and days of labor; the Electoral Commission fried the crested cranes and goats while the people was stolen their beans that was promised to their stews. This here is such a wild affair and assessing the manufactured results that make the tally centers look like the Police did the counting instead of Polling Officers and rewriting Declarations Forms as the result did not fit their masters, the police, the army and the President. This here has been a display of arrogance from the NRM-Regime as the Opposition is detained or silenced. There is certainty that the people should react in ways the NRM hasn’t seen before, as the November nomination day and all the rallies been happening across the country should be visible The same crowds could show the level of loyalty and wish for change as the sounds of the campaigns; the way people turned up and cheered for their hopeful in the far corners of Uganda. That is the hope and that was the thing that gave me hope before the tallying and the ballot-papers got pre-ticket or disqualified by the Electoral Commission, and even the non-concern of the voters who never got to give their votes or counted their polling-stations. That should be worry because that is what will be remembered as the fear speeches of NRM regime and the security outfit leaders ahead of the elections. That is the story that will be put a blazed and tarnish the legitimacy of the regime that currently running the great nation; which deserves a government that the people wanted to represent them, not the one that pre-ticket their choice for them and used the government funds to pay Bebe Cool and Dr. Jose Chameleone for free concerts country-wide. That is not the business of a serious government, that is concert promoters job; hope that sinks in Mike Ssebula.

Koboko 18.02.2016 Evelyn Anite Voting

While we mourn and wonder, while we hope the FDC Power 10 structure can bring a change, while we hope that the government and the regime can be toppled in a peaceful way and get the honest result and honest ballots cast that is the fate of the citizen of the country. Then the leadership will deliver and try to deliver as they are will try to work for the ones that elected them and not because the big-man with the hat wanted his loyal YES MEN and BOUGHT cronies into parliament to give-way so he can steal more of the state coffers… Peace.   

The 1996 election and the 2016 elections; staggering similarities of government party and actions towards the opposition! The difference now is Besigye VS M7; then it was Ssemogerere VS M7!

1996 Museveni Sworn in Ceremony

As President Museveni lost with no swagger in 1980 he later returned twice with armies to become the president in 1986. The 1986 where NRA took the power; that story knows all of Uganda well; what Uganda has forgotten is the tactics and ways of rigging the elections of 1996. Even Dr. Kizza Besigye was ready for somebody else in 1996. That says something as the NRM tactics was using levels of fear and tell the general public: “if you vote for somebody else then the Obote-Dictatorship will return!” There is something wrong with that picture as this should be the ushering of democratic values that was installed and promised in the 10 Point Program from President Museveni. This was also the Election that ushered in the Universal Primary Election (UPE) while has done certain things with educations and spreading schools around the country, after many years to many of them has been neglected and has shown that the promise and reform was easier then actually achieving quality school education under the NRM-Regime.

The democratic values and fair elections were not achieved in 1996. As the countless reforms says. The Western nations and International Organizations accepted the result as a positive move for Uganda, even with the malpractices and also because still at this time the world saw President Museveni as the new breed of leadership. He would go away from all the things he might have built later in his presidential career. 1996 Elections was “No-Party” election with a new Interim Electoral Commission who was far from impartial. Kind of what the Electoral Commission proves without any subtlety in today’s election climate.

Besigye against Museveni candidature in 1996:

“Though Besigye was a National Political Commissar, minister and Museveni confidant, by 1996 – as his 1995 decision, and that of other officers like  now Lt. Gen. David Tinyefuza and the late Lt. Col. Serwanga Lwanga to oppose entrenching the Movement’s monopoly of power in the constitution and the  near-banning of political parties – the differences were public” (…)”However, it has now emerged that Besigye and other people in the NRM and army  in 1996 were opposed to Museveni running as the Movement presidential  candidate” (…)”In 1996 Besigye relented at the last minute to go and campaign for Museveni in Rukungiri. He appeared at no more than two rallies, and spoke at one. The very personal and acrimonious face off between the two men last year therefore arose from a feud that had been simmering for about 10 years” (COO, 2002).

Ssemogerere Manifesto

How not to vote for Ssemogerere:

“The Constant refrain during Museveni’s 1996 presidential campaign was that a vote for his opponents would cause a return to the past, the former dictator Milton Obote was waiting in Zambia to return to power if Museveni was defeated. One of Museveni’s presidential election poster featured a picture of skulls and bones besides a mass grave in Luwero with the caption: “Don’t forget the past. Over one million Ugandans, our brothers, sisters, family and friends, lost their lives. YOUR VOTE COULD BRING IT BACK”; another campaign advertisement stated bluntly: “A vote for Ssemogerere is a vote for Obote” (Bouckaer, 1999).

How the sentiment was during the campaign:

“Ssemogerere seems to have hugely underestimated the depth of fear and hatred for Obote and his party among the majority of Buganda. Virtually everyone interviewed  who had voted for Museveni emphasized that they had voted in part to avoid any chance of a return to the violence and anarchy of the early 1980s. The effect of Ssemogerere alliance with UPC, however, does not seem to have been intimidating. Most people felt shift in sentiment against Ssemogerere in the last two months prior to the election. The Museveni campaign strategy of increasingly emphasizing the UPC and Obote connection towards the end of the campaign period was felt to been effective” (IFES, 1996).

Hon Ssemogerere in Northern Uganda campaigning

Museveni used the laws to stifle Ssemogerere campaign:

“The Ssemogerere camp tried to set up branches in the country. This ran foul of the law against setting up party structures. The police constantly frustrated this method of trying to reach the voters. There was a simpler and more effective method used by the Museveni camp. It is simply to announce campaign task forces and groups for given locations. While Ssemogerere was attempting to organise by “structure”, Museveni was organising by “process”. The former violated the existing law; the latter did not. The task force approach recognises the criticality of patrons who mediate the delivery of the votes of their peasant flock. In this approach it is not direct contact with voters, which is not feasible in backward areas with all forms of barriers (language), but contact with the patrons who go through lesser nested patrons to reach the final voters. Yoweri Museveni set up a more effective patron–client campaign network than Ssemogerere’s party structure approach” (Kotorobo, 2000).

How it ended:

“Hours after the Interim Electoral Commission (IEC) led by Stephen Akabway had announced provisional results on May 10; the IPFC candidate Ssemogerere dismissed them as false at a press conference at IPFC headquarters in Kabusu, Kampala. Ssemogerere said: “I cannot accept these results as valid”. The New Vision, The Monitor, as well as the Crusader newspapers of the following day, quoted him as having said. “I have been a patient person in public life. I thought this was the best thing for this country. I have spent time with people I don’t agree with for the sake of democracy. I have not known time before or after independence, when people of different political beliefs, religions and nationalities have come together for once. Now all this has been shattered by the stubbornness of [Yoweri Museveni] wanting to cling to power,” he added. During the press conference, Ssemogerere also revealed 54 cases of malpractices recorded by DP across the country. The 64-year-old DP stalwart said rigging of votes included intimidation of voters by the State, use of pre-ticked ballot papers, use of fake voter’s cards and doctored voter registers” (Mugabe, 2016).

Questionable freedom of speech during the 1996 campaign:

“The Government controls one television station and the radio station with the largest audience. There are three local television stations, three local radio stations, and five stations available by satellite. Uncensored Internet access became widely available through three commercial service providers in major cities, although its price was prohibitive for all but the most affluent noninstitutional users. Freedom of speech did not fare well in the context of the transition to constitutional government, including the presidential and parliamentary elections. Guidelines imposed by the Ministry of Internal Affairs prevented members of the former constituent assembly from addressing groups outside their constituencies. Electoral rules prohibited “campaigning” by presidential challengers until the official start of the campaign 39 days before the election. However, in their official capacity, President Museveni and senior members of the Government were free to travel throughout the country for months prior to the election. Rallies in support of all three presidential candidates suffered varying levels of harassment from thugs, in some cases resulting in physical injuries. It appeared, however, that such incidents were particularly directed at President Museveni’s opponents. Yusef Nsubuga Nsambu, a leader of the Conservative party and a supporter of presidential challenger Dr. Paul Ssemogerere, was arrested in May and charged with sedition for his unflattering descriptions of President Museveni. He was released unharmed 2 days later” (U.S. Department of State, 1997).

Celebrating the victory:

“KAMPALA, UGANDA — Thousands of President Yoweri Museveni’s supporters drove through the capital honking car horns and chanting “No change” Saturday to celebrate his first electoral victory” (…)”When Museveni was declared the winner on national radio Saturday, tens of thousands of his supporters poured onto Kampala’s streets, chanting “No change” in the local Luganda language, blasting car horns, and waving branches and flags” (Bashor, 1996).

One reason why he won the 1996 Election:

“Not all NRM successes showed the system’s popularity. The government manipulated small constituencies to gain beholden candidates in many special interest seats created by the 1995 constitution for women, youth, workers, the disabled and the army” (ICG, 2012).

Ssemogerere Museveni

Reports of malfunctions during the 1996 elections:

““The election drew a lower turnout than expected and suffered some logistical problems, but Ugandans generally avoided widely feared violence” (…)“Many of the country’s 8.4 million voters stayed away from the polls, and in many districts, turnout hovered around 50 percent. Logistical problems also hampered voting. At numerous polling stations, Ugandans complained that their names were not on the list of registered voters. “We have waited for hours, and we cannot vote,” said Patrick Nuwgaba, 20, surrounded by about 20 people who said they had been barred from voting. “We have our voter cards, but they say the numbers we have don’t match the numbers they have for us.” Despite those problems, calm prevailed around the country. Election observers reported, however, that in some pro-Museveni districts, especially in western Uganda, Ssemogerere backers had difficulty voting because of hostile crowds” (Buckley, 1996).

Questions about the victory:

”Within 24-hours of voting — and while the ballot papers were still being counted — the Inter Political Forces Cooperation (IPFC) backing the main opposition candidate Ssemogerere, announced that the constitutionally imposed “no-party” elections had been rigged” (…)”We have left it up to individuals to decide whether to stand,” Ssemogerere told IPS. “The electoral process is wrong and its going to be wrong again. If anyone stands they should know it will be with those disadvantages.” (…)”The IPFC’s compromise decision was reminiscent for some people of the 1980 elections in which the UPC are widely believed to have cheated the DP of victory — leaving Ssemogerere open to accusations of legitimising the government when he then took up position as leader of the opposition” (…)”Museveni was backed by, and represented his Movement “no- party” system of government while Ssemogerere was supported by the DP and UPC alliance and represented a return to multi-party politics — a return which would have required a change to the constitution” (Bozello, 1996).

m7, besigye

As we see about this Dr. Kizza Besigye and other opposition candidates get the same treatment that Dr. Paul Ssemogerere of Democratic Party in 1996. The vote-rigging, the issues with meeting people, with consulting the party members in the districts, the time for campaigning which apparently happens also before the pre-election period in Uganda in 2015. President Museveni doesn’t only recycle pledges his Police acts similar in 2015 as in 1996. That should be thought of as he talks of that the Movement brings progress. If progress means the same structure that doesn’t offer people freedom or liberty to discuss politics. Then it is NRM for you tomorrow. As the 1996 experience shows; there is a multi-party elections tomorrow, but the signs of 1996 looks strikingly similar, and the Police Force and Governmental institutions is structured to facilitate for the ruling party and funding his campaign while the opposition struggles with unleveled campaigning field that has been all through to the 18th Feburary polls. There is a certainty that Dr. Kizza Besigye has used smarter tactics than Dr. Paul Ssemogerere, but them both has fought the same monster which used the same style of campaigning in 2015-2016 as before the 1996, as he then gave 40 days campaigning as the districts was less, and the same now to the other candidates.

The fear used to intimidate candidates has been used in 2016. As even the security outfits has been deployed and both the army and Special Forces Command; they have been there following opposition and the police has target their trail as the Electoral Commission has given okay to their campaign trail in the start of the campaign in November 2015. This here shows the levels of fear and strong militarized politics that President Museveni feeds on; that has occurred through the whole campaign in the same way it did in 1996. That 2016 and 1996 looks so alike is staggering. The names of the other “actors” are different, but the end-game is the same. Though we hope that the people who are ready for change will see it as the old-man with the hat will do what he can to keep power; even if the people are ready for something else then his empty promises. Peace.

Reference:

Bashor, Richard – ‘In First Direct Election Since ’62, President Wins Overwhelmingly’ (12.05.1996) – Chicago Tribune.

Bouckaer, Peter – ‘Hostile to Democracy: The Movement System and Political Repression in Uganda’ (August 1999).

Borzello, Anna – ‘UGANDA-POLITICS: ‘Where-To-Now’ Conundrum For Opposition’ (16.05.1996) – Inter Press Service

Buckley, Stephen – ‘INCUMBENT LIKELY WINNER IN UGANDAN PRESIDENTIAL VOTE’ (11.05.1996) – Washington Post

Katorobo, James – ‘The Uganda Presidential and Parliamentary Elections 1996’ (2000)

Mugabe, Faustin – ‘How free and fair was the Uganda 1996 election after 10 years of rule by the political party of the National Resistance Movement?’ (30.01.2016).

International Crisis Group (ICG) – ‘UGANDA: NO RESOLUTION TO GROWING TENSIONS’ (05.04.2012).

International Foundation for Election Systems (IFES) – ‘Uganda: Long Term Observation of 1996 Presidential and Legislative Election (May-July 1996).

Onyango-Obbo, Charles (COO) – ‘Besigye Opposed Museveni’s Bid in 1996, And Set Off Movt Demons’ (15.12.2002) – Daily Monitor

U.S. Department of State – ‘Uganda Country Report on Human Rights Practices for 1996’ Released by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, (January 30, 1997).

“Nkandla is about much more than paying back the money” – Bokamoso by Mmusi Maimane

“DA Leader, Mmusi Maimane, explains why the DA chose to reject President Jacob Zuma’s offer to settle his Nkandla debt out of court “