Maldives: Progressive Coalition – Regarding the Maldives loosing Ire Territorial Rights over a Region between Maldives and Mauritius (11.04.2023)

Uganda Law Society (ULS): Persistent Unlawful Interference by the Uganda Polcie with Citizens’ Rights to Peacefully Assemble and Demonstrate together (25.04.2023)

Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC): Statement on Police Brutality against Peaceful and Lawful Gatherings (27.04.2023)

Opinion: Bwanika is ready to dip…

“Abed Bwanika threatens to quit NUP if constitutional reforms regulating elected leaders to two terms are not reconsidered. The Kimanya Kabonera MP spit fire on CBS over the weekend where he claimed the reforms will deny the party senior and experienced leaders like himself” (The Kampala Journal, 25.04.2023).

I am neither shocked nor surprised that this comes from Hon. Abed Bwanika. He has become a journeyman of sorts. Bwanika is the former three times Presidential Candidate. A man who has been on the ballot in 2006, 2011 and 2016. Also created a church and a political party. Before joining National Unity Platform (NUP).

Bwanika was the only independent candidate in 2006 but had already launched his People’s Development Party (PDP) by the 2011 elections. A party he ran on its platform until the 2016 elections. In the term after that he joined the DP Block and became a part of the new outfit. That happened in 2019 and he bolted from that and stood on the ballot for NUP in 2021 elections as an MP.

That just shows how swiftly everything changed and how he went from one outfit or party to another. He went from his own and became a part of the DP Block. However, when that didn’t go to plan. Bwanika left and found a safe haven in the NUP.

Now he is issuing grievances and coming with threats of leaving. Surely, if he leaves his just another journeyman and vagabond who flees the party. Another one of them who got hooked on the wave, but now see the reality of the party he entered. A man who couldn’t phantom that the party had principals and ideals to adhere too.

Bwanika has already tried to get into Presidency three times and finally entered office with the NUP. He has gotten the opportunity to be an MP and he got nothing to show from it. As an MP he hasn’t been vocal or caused a commotion. Neither is he causing a stir or even writing motions to get legislation done. Therefore, his just eating and enjoying the perks of the office without doing more work.

I’m not surprised that he was against the idea of two terms for elected officials within the NUP. He could just dip or ditch the party. Nevertheless, a man who was willing to stand three times for the Presidency and fails. He feels obligated to try more than ones in another office. That is just basic human behaviour. It would go against everything inside him to do otherwise.

Bwanika wants to represent and be a high ranking official. He finally has entered Parliament and with this party constitution. His only allowed to be the MP one more term. That means it is all ending soon and before he really gets to eat. When he has fought tooth and nail since 2006.

We know he can trade his ideals beliefs, because he has in the past sworn an affidavit in support of the elections in 2006 and in defence of Museveni. Therefore, he could easily be swayed again. It just shows how open policy the NUP has when they have allowed these characters to join and get to eat cake.

Bwanika should feel lucky and blessed to be where he is. Because, as a Presidential Candidate he was a joke. Now he finally has a voice and a party to reconcile with. A party that isn’t a briefcase one, but a legit one. That’s why he was able to be elected in the first place. Bwanika should pray to the Gods and be grateful.

Now he does the opposite and proves what sort of journeyman he is. Peace.

National Unity Platform (NUP): Statement on Amended Constitution (16.04.2023)

Opinion: The UPF is ill-advised here…

“As the Joint Security Agencies, we have obtained credible about plans by NUP to reactivate their structures, through various mobilisation drives, in cities and major towns, to cause acts of disorder and lawlessness in the country. This development comes at a time when the county has been very peaceful. We therefore, call upon the NUP leadership to avoid such clandestine methods of work and instead use legitimate means to achieve their objectives. We also encourage them to emulate the other political parties like the FDC, NRM and DP, that have continued to work within the provisions of the POMA and in harmony with the police” (Uganda Police Force – ‘POLITICIANS WARNED AGAINST HOLDING KUNGA MOBILISATIONS AND DEMONSTRATIONS’ 12.04.2023).

In the grand scheme of events, I never thought the UPF or the Uganda Police Force would say the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) is righteous in their actions. That I cannot phantom or believe in 2023. Not after all the years with Dr. Kizza Besigye and how the UPF has monitored, targeted and the regime enacted the Public Order Management Act (POMA) just because of the FDC!

That’s why reading this today infuriating me. Not only because the Constitutional right to assemble and demonstrate is gone from the opposition. To protest or demonstrate in the Republic is long gone. That is in the wind and the authorities will not allow it. They not allowing opposition candidates at Guild elections to hold Press Conferences either. Neither is the Opposition allowed to hold friend football matches to fundraise for good causes either.

So, it isn’t like the UPF or the authorities are allowing the opposition to move or operate. The UPF who is blocking radio stations, venues, conferences, and whatnot for years. The UPF who isn’t allowing the opposition to pray or even participate at events. The same UPF is now saying they are the good ones. They must be kidding me and think we are stupid.

It is amazing that the UPF is lecturing the National Unity Platform (NUP) this way. When nothing they are doing is allowed. Nothing that they think of or even considers doing. They are only allowed within the premises of the Headquarters and after that it’s a free-for-all. Therefore, putting them in the same line as the ruling party NRM is exhausting. The NRM can hold rallies, galivanting across the republic and not consider even to petition the UPF. They just show up and can even hold demonstrations for “favourable” causes. Therefore, who is the UPF trying to fool?

We know the tear-gas, the arrests, and the well-known police brutality. We know how the UPF operates and how it will raid the offices of the NUP or FDC. The way and manner of pre-emptive house-arrests of leaders, if not take them away and keep them incommunicado for a while too. That’s what the UPF does, and I wouldn’t be shocked if it happens now too. It is just the way the authorities and the UPF acts. Peace.

Maldives: Joint Press Statement – Transparency Maldives and Maldives Journalists Association express concern regarding the proposed amendments to the Election (General) Act 11/2008 (15.03.2023)

Opinion: National Promoters Association has re-invented the POMA…

“Halima Namakula, Music Promoter: The National Promoters Association is pleased to announce that effective 13th March 2023, all promoters organizing events in the country shall have first to acquire a letter of clearance from the National Promoters Association. Halima Namakula, Music Promoter: National Promoters Association is committed to ensuring promoters comply with the new guidelines irrespective of the associations they are affiliated with” (NBS Television, 13.03.2023).

There is nothing new under the sun, but here comes the rain. It needs to rain and thunder, because this is foolishness at its best. The National Promoters Association has no law or stipulated articles in legislation, which gives them a mandate, a right or justification to block promoters or anyone from organizing events across the Republic.

The ones in-charge of the events has to comply with current legislation or laws. Which means they have to file in documentation and get vouched for by the Uganda Police Force (UPF) through the Public Order Managament Act (POMA). That law stipulates certain criteria and needs of the organizers to file in time and get a go ahead from the authorities. There is nothing in the POMA stating they need to follow the “guidelines” of the NPA. This is just a money-grab for the secretariat and the leadership of NPA. That’s all this is, because there is no law or justification to implement it. Especially, when the authorities already has rigid laws and regulations to block, stop and justify reasons for organizers to not hold events.

Therefore, today’s presser and news is just flabbergasting. It is obnoxious and outrageous that an organization is putting this in play. This is done to play second fiddle with the authorities. Just so the ones organizing events has comply with yet another institution. The NPA is now copying the POMA and acting as a silent partner of the UPF. While the UPF has a mandate and law for their operating behaviour, the NPA has nothing.

The NPA is playing an air-guitar and thinking it’s playing an awesome solo. It is just hot-air and a mess. A tragic mess and a self-created one. This is playing footsie with the authorities and their draconian laws, which are blocking assembly of people and their rights to congregate.

Seriously, someone got to give way. Because, this is rubbish and nonsense, until a lawmaker, an MP or anyone with a marble has enacted a law. Until then, there is no reason to comply with the NPA and their “guidelines”. Since they already need to beg for mercy to the UPF. Peace.

Maldives: Joint Press Release – Stop the use of Conductive Energy Devices (Tasers) by the Maldives Police Service (09.03.2023)

Maldives: Protect the Rights to Expression, Peaceful Assembly and Association and halt the Obstruction of Protests (10.01.2023)