The obvious similarities between the 2016 Elections and the 1980 Elections; President Museveni should be proud!

M7 rescue

There been saying that there are similarities between the 1980s General Election and 2016 General Election when it comes to the Presidency and Parliament. Because of that I have checked and read some reports. Here is stories from the 1980 General Election, as the stories comes out and this here is not from articles from New Vision or Daily Monitor, this here is direct reports or educational-papers, even the international media and some of the people involved in the matter like Yusuf Lule and Paolo Muwanga. But there are lots of questions still, but the certainty of British involvement in the result and the outcome has surely come to mind. Here is some information and not just mere speculation to how the General Election went.

Background to the General Election 1980:

“Thus assured of support, Obote now moved in fact to destabilize the UNLF Government in Uganda. In this he found an ally in the Military Commission of the UNLF, whose Chairman Paulo Muwanga and Vice-Chairman, Yoweri Museveni, joined hands to stage a coup against the UNLF in May 1980. But Museveni was out maneuvered by the Obote-Muwanga clique. The latter rigged the December 1980 elections in their favor” (…)”Britain, in tum, manipulated the Commonwealth to send an “Observer Group” to witness the elections – a ploy that served to “legitimize” Obote’s victory, and thus secure the official suppon of all members of the United Nations and the OAU. Needless to add, Britain was the first country to recognize Obote’s fraudulent victory. Margaret Thatcher convinced the Americans to back the regime and to give the green light for IMF stand-by credits. The full regalia of a neo-colonial restructuring of Uganda was opened in front of all eyes to see. Obote was “the man of the hour”. Whilst Britain played a key role in legitimising Obote (through the mediation of the Commonwealth Secretariat), and later in providing him with assistance to train his army, the role other imperialists played must also be mentioned. The Germans, and in particular the Christian Democratic Party and its foundation the Konrad Adenaur Foundation, all linked with German monopolies, have had an historical interest in Uganda, and close ties with the mainly Catholic Party, the DP. They decided that in the interest of protecting broader Western interests in Uganda, Obote’s election “victory”, though fraudulent, must be recognized. The CDU played a significant role in convincing the DP to accept Obote on the grounds that since Obote had offered to “respect” a “multi-party system”, the DP still had a chance in the future” (Tandon, 1987).

Muwanga

From the 11th December 1980 Proclamation:

“The Chairman of the Military Commission, Mr. Paolo Muwanga, has issued a declaration regarding the confirmation of who shall be considered as having been elected a member of Parliament following the end of the 1980 General Elections” (…)”Any results declared otherwise than in compliance with the provision of the declaration shall not be valid or binding in any publication or such purported result by any means whatsoever” (…)”For the purpose of the 1980 elections to the National Assembly, section 47 of the National Assembly (Elections) Act shall be substituted by the following: “47A(a) when the result of the poll of a constituency has been ascertained, the returning officer shall make no public declaration of the finding but forthwith communicate it to the Chairman of the Military Commission with a confidential report on various aspects of the conduct of the election” (Muwanga, 1980).

The official Results:

1980s Election Results

Yusef Lule claims this:

“I accepted the cabinet on an interim basis. Once I got to Uganda. I shuffled my cabinet and brought in better people. In the 69 days, I tried to rectify the mistakes. For example, one of the roots of troubles in Uganda has been the recruitment of the army from only a few ethnic groups. The British had started this for their own reasons. But as soon as I was President in Uganda, I ordered the recruitment of soldiers from all elements of the population to make it a national army. Nyerere and Obote immediately saw their plan to sieze power after a year might be thwarted. From the moment on Nyerere withdrew from me the support of the Tanzanian troops that controlled the country” (…)”Nyerere insisted that Lule must resign even though the Consultative Council had no legislative powers. (Indeed, the Ugandan High Court ruled, in October 1980, that Lule’s removal had been unconstitutional)” (…)”Since then have come the Uganda elections of December 1980 and much fighting. Lule is highly critical of the Commonwealth Observer Group (COG) because they issued their much-publicized interim report stating the voting had been relatively free and open, before the results of the polls had been announced” (…)”After the Commonwealth statement, Muwanga, contrary to his supposedly neutral role, intervened in the electoral affairs by suspending the announcement of growing victory of anti-Obote forces, and declaring victory for Obote. Muwanga became Obote’s Vice President and Defence Minister” (…)”After the ballots had been counted in Gulu, the permanent secretary – a close friend – called up  Mrs. Aliker in Nairobi to congratulate her on her husband’s victory by 40,000 votes against 3,000 for his opponent. The tide was running heavily toward the anti-Obote forces. Then Paulo Muwanga announced suspension of the results. There was immediate tension. When Radio Uganda came on air the next day, they first announcement was that in Gulu, Dr. Martin Aliker had been defeated by 40,000 to 3,000. The candidate falsely announced as the winner refused to believe the result” (Munger – Lule, 1983).

Obote

Another story of the 1980 elections:

“Meanwhile, in Uganda, controversy raged over the electoral arrangements, amid an increasingly febrile and violent atmosphere. While under the supervision of the Electoral Commission, the actual mechanics of the election were largely in the hands of the administration – in a continuation from late colonial practice, each district commissioner was the returning officer for all constituencies in his district, and was in effect in control of the hiring and supervision of electoral staff. Just over a month before the election, 14 of Uganda’s 33 district commissioners were dismissed and replaced by men appointed directly by the Military Commission; soon afterwards, Obote publicly warned civil servants to ‘stop frustrating the UPC election efforts’.  One man who was a young UPM activist at the time recalled that in his constituency, the district commissioner set about ensuring that all polling staff were UPC supporters” (…)”well over 80% of the registered voters in most places, which meant that rather more than one quarter of the total population voted. This a remarkable number in a country where slightly more than half the population were under 18, while one constituency saw a 103% turnout. Such figures might seem to suggest wholesale ballot-stuffing, and it seems likely that there was some local malpractice involving multiple voting and/or stuffing. But if there was manipulation, it appears to have balanced out, because turnout levels were generally consistent across UPC and DP strongholds.In Buganda, where the UPC suffered more or less complete electoral annihilation, the turnout was as high as it was in the UPC heartlands in the north(the 103% came here). Tito Okello, the commander of the UNLA, ‘praised Ugandans for their peaceful attitude and love for political progress’ and called the election ‘a day of rebirth when Uganda will once more have its rightful place in Africa and the world community’” (…)”The Electoral Commission had, however, fallen silent; its secretary had gone into hiding (and fled the country two nights later) and the rest of its members temporarily vanished from the office.  When it resumed the announcement of results, these showed a very substantial UPC victory. In the end, UPC secured 74 seats, against 51 for DP and 1 for UPM; though in terms of the overall vote, the DP secured more votes overall. The process of tallying at a constituency level had been largely unobserved, since the Observer Group had returned to Kampala on 11 December and – following an outbreak of shooting around their hotel that evening – were largely withdrawn on 12 December” (…)”In his memoirs, the senior British member of the Observer Group, Robert Wainwright, comforted himself that Obote would have won anyway, even had he not cheated in the nominations. Obote’s biographer, citing the Observer Group report, insisted that Obote had won the election simply because of its ‘superior organization’, and dismissed accusations of malpractice as unfounded”  (Willis).

In 1981:

Mr. Obote’s party gerrymandered voting districts, delayed opposition candidates past deadlines for qualifying and in the end shut down a public tally of votes to simply announce victory over national radio. In the last two weeks, the Obote administration also has closed five opposition newspapers” (…)”We are going back on a course we thought we had left, just as things were under Amin,” said Paul Ssemogerere, leader of the opposition Democratic Party. A Democratic Party member of Parliament, John Magezi, said in an interview this week that: ”I’m not sure I understand what’s happening myself. This isn’t even third world politics; this is fourth world.” (…)”The most serious threat to the Obote regime is thought to be a rebel force led by Yoweri Mseveni, who was a member of the six-member military commission that ruled Uganda until the election. Making War From the Bush” (…)”Mr. Mseveni was the only man on the board who did not support Mr. Obote. He formed a political party, but he was trounced in the election that he is convinced was stolen by Milton Obote. Now he is in the bush – with a force of five thousand, he claims – preparing for a major offensive unless the Obote administration steps down” (Jaynes, 1981).

NRA marching to Kampala 1986

In 1982:

Without the investment budget, the economist said, Uganda’s chances of economic revival look slim. But frequent reports of violence, perpetrated particularly by Government troops, may make potential investors wary. And thus a vicious circle could be created with economic discontent fueling the problems that block economic revival. Many Ugandans still live in poverty. Dispute Over 1980 Election” (…)”Neither do the insurgents seem to offer an immediate alternative to the present Government. The guerrillas undoubtedly have considerable support among the Baganda people around Kampala, who form the nation’s largest single ethnic group. The Baganda have been opposed to President Obote since he banished their king during his first term of office, from independence in 1962 until his overthrow by Idi Amin in 1971. Mr. Obote returned to power in elections in December 1980, which the Baganda opposition charges were rigged, and which Mr. Obote says vehemently were free and fair”  (…)”The President himself asserts that, were the guerrillas to achieve their aims and install a Baganda leader, then the rest of the country – which, he says, voted solidly for him in the 1980 election – would rise up in revolt” (Cowell, 1982).

Certain Acholi feelings about the 1980s:

“This was followed by several short lived junta administration (governments) till the 1980 general election that was generally disputed by the majority of Ugandan political parties that participated. They claimed that the election was “not free and fair”. This led to a re-organization once more into another liberation movement that struggled till 1986 when they finally succeeded in capturing political power by force of arms. In this struggle, some members of the then defeated army were either taken as prisoners of war or voluntarily joined liberation movement or settled back home while a section regrouped in the north in order to launch a counter offensive to gain political power. It is generally accepted that this was the starting point of the Northern Uganda conflict that has changed faces of struggle which adversely affected the people of the greater North” (ARLPI, 2007).

Uganda 1980 Election UPM UPC

Here we see the British position to the matter and verifying the results and the way the rigging is open and blatant happening, even with witnesses and wife’s getting information about the victory by phone and the day after on the radio hearing and announced that the person didn’t get their seat in parliament after all.

The 1980s elections seem by many means rigged and the reports validate that sense. As some have question if that is true or something Uganda Patriotic Movement used to defend their rebellion towards the state, as the opposition does now; the FDC claims as the predecessor UPM did at one point. The worrying point about the whole election at that time is how the Commonwealth Observers is being used by British Officials, as the Dr. Milton Obote got the verifying force and the international credibility to stop the nuance of asking to accepted. While the Parliament and members was more selected than elected. Just as it seems as after 18th February as the Electoral Commission under Eng. Dr. Badru Kiggundu, put all the eggs in the basket of President Museveni and avoided lots of polling stations to benefit the ruling regime. The way the ruling regime of Uganda People’s Congress did their job and their Paolo Muwanga made the cake for Dr. Obote and his second term in office.

The way Obote told Civil Servants to serve UPC and not work against them, the same way Museveni today tells that everybody should stay behind NRM; they use other words, but initially mean the same. The same is also that Museveni says the election happen in a free and fair fashion as did Obote on the 1980s. They actually could be saying the same words or as similar as can be. They could be like brothers today and President Museveni did everything in his power in the beginning to demolish the legacy of Obote. So that he could be seen as the essential leader of the nation.

Today we see the ways that the army and police are used as tool of oppression as it was done during the Obote area as well. The determination of oppressing the opposition and making life hard for anybody who is not NRM is shown through the pre-election period and now after the polls as evidence today and the recent days where the Police have gone after the opposition with vigor and power. Jailed and detained FDC Mobilisers, Officials and others for affiliations or having the original declarations forms that the Electoral Commission have rigged, so to get rid of evidence.

So there is so many of the same traits that it is staggering… and the ways they are conducting the elections and polls; are nothing difference than from Obote, the man he fought for 5 years in a Bush-War to free the peasants, making himself to be like him. That is impressive as he was supposed to be an intellectual and a wise-guy who could make Uganda democratic, what that has happen is that President have made government of Uganda now acting the same ways as the ones he ousted. That is ironic and sad at the same time. Wished for the people Uganda another President who respect rule of law, the role of the executive and the true power of transparency and accountability, but that will not occur under President Museveni as he now will only seek his own gain and not care about the general state of Uganda; as his power and keeping that is main objective, everything else is secondary. Peace.

Mzee issues statement on the recent election; let me discuss certain exemptions; because it is not worth read the whole statement from the President; at the same time take the statement from the Statehouse on the 25th February; as they both are worth to counter!

1986 Joke

I will hear go through the basic statements, I will not offer the President of Uganda, his excellency the whole article as he in my opinion doesn’t deserve it as his police is harassing innocent opposition people and people visiting opposition people. Therefore as that happens this here will be an exercise of questioning the quotes I feel matters from his recently released article, but we know that President Museveni loves himself. That is easily showed through the article that I now has questioned. Take alook!

His vision of what he has done since 1986:

“Since 1986 we have successfully defended the revolution against a whole spectrum of counter-revolutionaries and terrorists, many sponsored by external forces.  We, therefore, as in the resistance wars, used bullets to successfully defend the Revolution” (Museveni, 2016).

Well, Mr. President, but it is okay that you were supported during the bush-war of Colonel Gaddafi of Libya during the 1980s, but hey! You needed the support and blessing from them and that is the difference, right? The same has been with the continuation after gaining power having and getting support from United States for his armies to fight the wars. That they don’t want to engage in, but that is okay, right? Since you talking about bullets, is that the same you use against the people who demonstrates and dies as they oppose your reign or have they not understood your revolution that you seem to own?

Ongongonja road 28.10.2015

Direct Service Delivery:

“Even then, that should not have been the vote we should have got given the work NRM has done, especially in the area of infrastructure (roads, electricity, schools, health centres, piped water, etc.) and also in the area of peace and security.  We should have got 80% in my opinion” (Museveni, 1986).

Well, Mr President, the issues of governance while following the magical works of the NRM, there can nearly in any district show that the money is not going where it supposed to, the roads are not built or in a sub-standard way, except for the ones that are built by direct investments or donor aid from foreign powers. The schools are depleting, the UMEME is half of the time on, the other half on, always a district where the electricity is gone. I could go on, but a bit boring Mr. President, right? You have given a peace and security, but to what price when you go against everybody who is not you ally. The country has national security, but the public is not safe as the people who are opposition can be detained for just existing and you address the people of Kampala rats as they votes opposition is not validating your own people. Your opinion that you deserve 80% is something you to have talk about with Eng. Dr. Badru Kiggundu and he might can alter the results they was on the 18th February; as he has already assured you 60% and with the strength of the opponent you keep under house-arrest. You should think about the rigging strategy and might splash out more money under the next pre-election period, maybe even earlier than a month before the polls.

Gen Tukumunde Entebbe Dec 2015 - Money Man for NRM

His own leaders under him:

“The other mistake is the selfishness and dishonesty of some of the NRM leaders.  When money is sent to do political work, these leaders steal it.  The money that was sent to help the Village Committees to buy stationery was stolen by some leaders.  The masses come to know about it and they, really, get annoyed.  Those who stole that money must refund it or be arrested.  It is not only the dishonesty; but there is the attitude of only undertaking missions for money” (Museveni, 2016).

Well, Mr. President you have set the premise when you let people eat grant-money and secure funding projects never existing, while eating the money. As long as you have splashed money to loyal subjects who creates ghost schools and teachers than you have made the dinner and dessert, but only the subject that got the money got to eat; not the public in the constituency or county in question. The thing is that you should give back all the money you have been embezzling before the cronies does, as the nations has higher debt now than ever because of the monetary policies you have made in recent years. So that your loyal cadre steals money on your watch and does not get punished, is a token of your leadership and your values, as you know than they can be bought and shut-up for a lollipop while you take a ride in your expensive car to your extravagant farm.

Uganda Parliament Museveni

Leadership culture in the Parliament:

“This spirit was undermined by the ego-centric MPs that were misusing their presence in Parliament and the vague Constitution of 1995 on the issue of remuneration for Public Servants to award themselves huge salaries.  This selfishness and short- sightedness transformed the MP job from being a mission – oriented job to being a rewarding job for the individuals involved” (Museveni, 2016).

Well, Mr. President, these MPs are often the men you have handpicked during the selections in inner-party circle, you’re the primary leader and de-facto chief of them. You see the premise of how the parliament is conducted as even general in the army said publicly that they fear you. You have made them selfish, as you are selfish and the centre of attention, as nothing gets put forward unless you have stamped. That has been told by many sources Mr. President. You have yourself together with loyal cadres offered cars, higher salaries, higher nominations fees for MPs and that they need to earn back, secondly: there been steady reports under Ninth Parliament that the MPs got paid to vote “Yes” or for a law that was in favour of your stance and for that they got millions of shillings each. That is the vision you give them and how your cadre and loyalty model feed the MPs and Parliament. So you have made this leadership structure and the way the usage of Parliament is. So you have been rewarding them for this behaviour and wanted them to act this way.

NTV 20.02.2016

What NRM always do:

“We were able to give a knock-out on the first round to the opposition, as we always do, because of, mainly, four factors: promoting unity among the people; peace; electricity; and the new tarmac roads in areas that had never seen much development” (Museveni, 2016).

Well, Mr. President if your rigging the votes calling it a knock-out, or the police and military continue to presocute and arrest fellow opposition while calling out for unity is a little wrong. If you really wanted peace and unity you would not arrest and detain Amama Mbabazi and Dr. Kizza Besigye. You would not get a helicopter to throw tear-gas into the FDC headquarter in Najjankumbi, but that is just me Mr. President. If you really won a knock-out, wouldn’t the streets been filled with people in similar ways the Kampala went blue on 5th November 2015. As your hired Crime Preventers at Kololo was stuck in town after your rally the day before, I am sure you’re neglecting or trying to forget that fact.

Museveni in Kayunga 08.02.2016

Last remarks:

“The NRM Secretariat must be very active in sensitizing our masses” (…)”We have the capacity to resolve the residual problems, one by one.  That is why the opposition in Uganda is an endangered species” (Museveni, 2016).

Well, Mr. President have called them rats, now the opposition is endangered species, this kind of talk proves the values that the President owns up to. It is a dangerous ways that the NRM secretariat should be active to clear the opposition behaviour and thinking by sensitizing it, as well as the problems shall be resolved one-by-one as the opposition will be destroyed as it is an “endangered species”. He must see how this rhetoric and words complied with the security outfits arrests, detaining, house-arrests and violence towards them does not clear the masses or the population, but instead make him and his party look like a militarized politician who incarcerate the citizens and makes them subjects who follows his orders, instead of making up their own minds, as the police continuously attacks the oppositions.

As you see, I got bored by the fact of the article that President Museveni is discussing the victory, but not telling the reality of the victory or how he got the crowds to all those rallies as he paid so much money and spent so much funds to ferrying crowds. As he struggled many places to get them to come! As eye-witnesses said there we’re people in the area they had never seen before, something he did certainly not to write about. We all know why because that notion hurts his pride and honour, especially also his beloved National Resistance Movement aka the Movement.

Uganda EC Wall

Now that I have discussed his article, let me just briefly look at some aspects of the rant the State House of Uganda dropped on social media on the 25th February:

“A lot of (Opposition leaning) ‘Facebookers’ are alleging that the ‪#‎NRM rigged the election. That is all ‪#‎NOISE or even ‪#‎TANTRUMS.

* Why don’t you get and/or provide evidence and go to courts of law?”(State House Uganda, 2016).

Well, you writer of the State House, you have missed one important aspect, how can the opposition create any evidence or any indication on the rigging into a fully-fledged paper or petitions, when your army and police arrests, detains, house-arrests and beat the opposition aides, officials and leaders. It is not easy to send petitions in to Court when your operations are being sieged by the security outfits. That is direct orders from the State House and the incumbent President! I am sure the State House would struggle to do proper work if the locals in Entebbe would siege the buildings and have guns around the gates, telling who to come in or go out. But that is just me!

Transmission of Results Omoro

Let me continue as the rants of the State House continues apparently:

“If the elections have been rigged, let’s hear from the winning Opposition candidates (MPs, Mayors, Councillors) to that effect – otherwise their behaviour smacks of double standards. Did they win through rigging?

* Losing NRM candidates (including 24 Ministers) have exhibitied political maturity by conceding unlike losing Opposition candidates and supporters who shout ‘rigging’.

* It is the Opposition who have been rigging knowing that the NRM still has widespread support in the country.

* Talk or comment in your individual capacity – don’t assume that your opinion is that of all Ugandans or readers” (State House Uganda, 2016).

Well, State House writer certain winning MPs from the Opposition has come with the claimes Francis Mwijukye, Ibrahim Ssemujje Nganda, Nathan Nandala-Mafabi and the list goes on. So the State House has a deaf ear or only reading into things as they see fit. It is not double standards; it is just that they don’t have faith in a system where the majority of winner seemingly fits the NRM-Regime, while the reality on the ground has not been likely for that. But the State House is directly paid by the President, so surely your loyalty lay to him and not with the people. The NRM candidates are surely been spoon-feed and secured their position in the hierarchy of loyal cadre, certain NRM losing MPs has been violent used police forces to attack the courts like in Lira, or the men in Gulu who went all out to change the results. There is also the stories of Kasese and other areas where the NRM losing MPs has not showed maturity, as we also saw the maturity of the NRM when the Independent NRM candidates lost the NRM Primaries, but that is just me right?

The opposition would not have issues keeping Declaration Results Forms if they we’re rigging the elections as the Police are putting FDC officials at gun-point and putting the Headquarters of the party under siege, if they was rigging the elections, there would also most likely been more FDC or opposition party MPs. The actions of security agents and outfits proves that they have not done so, if so it would be foolish as the NRM and the Police are close connected in the works of rigging this election to the benefit of the man who secures the salaries of the writer from the State House. That means your blind loyalty is proven in this text and your rant is not better or worse than the opposition on social media. The difference is that the opposition get behind bars while you drink tea in safety.

I know that my comments is far from what everybody’s view in Uganda, as I am a man who has no problem to counter everybody. At this moment I doubt I do so. If I did that, then the Mr. President hadn’t needed to write this article defending his “knock-out win” or the State House writing their rant! As much as your view is not the ones everybody in Uganda stand by either, while you complain of the rants online, you did the same; to defend the State House and the master of the House; President Museveni. Your defence of the matter and the election is weak tea and giving a bitter after taste. We all have seen the party partisan ideas and acts of the police have become and is now used as a tools for the President. This is something the writer of the State House of Uganda certainly knows by now!

Well, Mr. President, I did not like the rhetoric of your article and the way you described that people would not understand certain aspects that is disrespectful of your own people.

Ugandan Election 2016 Grieving

Let me show one phrase:  

“I talk of moneylessness, rather than poverty.  This is because the poverty statistics are not easily understood by the public“ (Musveni, 2016).

Well, Mr. President, thank you for disrespecting the ones who so-called gave you a knock-out victory as they can’t understand statistics, if that is so, haven’t you had 30 years to teach them that, if that a lost cause since they live in poverty or are money-less while your government supposedly collecting more revenue, but while the numbers are higher so is also the issuing of money and the amount of money is connected to value of the currency over the 30 years, the 100 shillings used in 1980s cannot buy as much today as it could back then, right? So the steady inflation and deteriorating of monetary policy has surely not made the economic climate better, as much as the education who cannot be understood by the general public; your wrote that yourself Mr. President, not me. That says enough for that you have neglected certain parts of the education and the levels of understanding of own society as they cannot be trusted with statistics while you in your own article live on dropping number of collected tax. As you do not show the value of the shilling or the rates that gives real indication of the revenue made by this. But that would not be good for your result or argument, right, Mr. President?

I know you won’t read what I have written, I doubt any of your cronies, but surely somebody will catch a whiff of it. As they can question your words and behaviour as they should. Peace.

Opposition leaders say they saw rigging in Uganda polls (Youtube-Clip)

“Foreign observers say the polls were not free nor fair, and some former ruling party members agree.Malcolm Webb reports from the capital, Kampala” (Al Jazeera English, 2016)

Press Statement: Foreign Journalist Condemn Assault Against Members (26.02.2016)

FCAU P1FCAU P2

Picture of the Week: “The Ballot that stomps on the Leopards anus”

Picture of day 24.02.2016

Difiance in action, indeed!

The President of the United Republic of Tanzania, H.E Dr. John Pombe Joseph Magufuli has sent congratulatory message to the President of the Republic of Uganda, H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni following his re-election as the President at the election held on February 18th 2016.

Linger at Inaguaration in Tanzania

H.E. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni,

President-Elect of the Republic of Uganda,

KAMPALA.

Your Excellency and Dear Brother,
It gives me great pleasure, on behalf of the Government and people of the United Republic of Tanzania and indeed on my own behalf, to extend to Your Excellency our heartfelt congratulations on your re-election as the President of the Republic of Uganda. Your re-election at the helm of your country is a true reflection of the confidence that the people of Uganda have in you as well as a testimony of their trust in your exemplary leadership.

I also take this opportunity to congratulate your party, National Resistance Movement for its outstanding victory in the General Elections. As you are well aware, both my party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) and the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania have enjoyed brotherly relations with the Ugandan people throughout the years.

While congratulating you on your well deserved re-election, I wish to reaffirm my readiness and determination to continue working with you in further strengthening our relations for the benefit of our two countries and peoples.

Please accept, Your Excellency and Dear Brother, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, East Africa, Regional and International Cooperation

February 24, 2016.

Dr. Kizza Besigye still under House-arrest at Kasangati; while Lukwago and EU EOM visits; the Calvary is kind and let a FDC supporter go in with some food to Besigye (26.02.2016)

Kasangati 26.02.2016

Yet another day under house-arrest as the world follows the situation and the way the depressing; Uganda Police Force continues to hold Dr. Kizza Besigye house under siege and have no direct answer other than “preventive arrest”. They have not directly complied with it, while Kale Kayihura wrote in a statement on the 24th February:
“Rtd Col Kizza Besigye is not under house arrest. He is allowed unlimited access to his lawyers, family and party officials, among others, and is not in any way hindered from preparing to legally challenge the results of the Presidential Elections if he so chooses to do so”.

Well the DPC of Kasangati must be counting his boss or the direct orders of his master; if not it is a pure lie on the 24th February 2016 as the Uganda Police chief Inspector General of Police Kayihura. The DPC of Kasangati James Kawalya has the power to either let people in too Dr. Kizza Besigye or not. Therefore up to 15 people and supporters of Presidential Candidate has today been taken to custody by the police as not “everybody” can visit him; as they have to check if you fit the profile of the men that enter the home.

Lukwago Besigye 26.02.2016

The ones that was allowed earlier in the morning today was one of his lawyers and also newly elected Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago was allowed into the premises with foodstuffs and having a chat with Besigye.

Kasangati 26.02.2016

Also later in the day the European Union Election Observers Monitoring (EOM) mission during the General Election in Uganda was courting together with the American embassy riding a big convoy through Wakiso into Kasangati. They could not drive to close and had to have a conversation with the the director human resource development for Police, Mr Andrew Felix Kaweesi. He had to allow them to enter! As the EU EOM was not able to meet him yesterday meet him then, as he was arrested and taken to Kira Road Police Stations and deployed in the evening back to Kasangati. The issue is that EU had to court the Police to enter the compound. This here shows that the words written in the hands of IGP Kayihura from 24th February is utter lies; if he was a free man, the police would not arrest FDC Supporters, would not siege his home and would not tell who could enter and who would be lucky to get to meet him. That is not freedom or liberty, which is a house-arrest where the Police decide for Dr. Kizza Besigye and tell him if he can leave or can visit! This here proves the arrogance of the Police and how the use some words of peace, and does unjust actions the second the public shows the blind eye or doesn’t watch carefully.

Kasangati 26.02.2016 P2 Supporter

Take a look at this arrogance as the loyal supporter show trust and care for his candidate:
“FDC supporter seen escorted by a number of police officers as takes food into the private residence of Ugandan Opposition heavyweight Dr. Kizza Besigye, barricaded by both Ugandan military and Police force for a week since polling day”.

From clear sources when they arrived in the convoy this was the message from the Police:
“A European Union (EU) delegation has been denied entry into Kizza Besigye’s Kasangati home. The delegation arrived this afternoon in a convoy of about six cars. Police which remains deployed outside the residence declined to let them in” (Forum for Democratic Change, (26.02.2016). Something that changed after a conversation with Andrew Felix Kaweesi before entering by foot, because the compound is closed for cars for the moment, as the Police has to secure the area! For some reasons they wouldn’t discuss or really tell, while we all kind of figured it out; as the subtle ways of the Ugandan Police doesn’t really exists... as seen through the pre-election period and continue every single day!

This here shows that there are no moral standards to the leadership of the police as they use the force to the people; as they are treated as subjects, not as citizens as many of the ones by the gates of Kasangati has been detained and driven away. As even the ambassador and the representative from U.S. and EU had to plea to Human Resources Kaweesi as he has the final say together with DPC Kawalya who orders and gives the opportunity to let them in or not. I am sure If they wasn’t international observers and ambassadors that could really sham and destroy the little integrity of the government, they would not have entered the premises and had the talk with Dr. Kizza Besigye. This here proves the mobility and the arrest that he has. If this does not give way and prove the determination of the Police to keep him monitored and also secured in their power instead of giving him an opportunity to talk to his FDC officials and also petition the elections. As the NRM-Regime fears that, because of the massive rigging; they would not go to this extent if he was somebody who doesn’t have the support or political capital to force a change. That is why the Police is not around Joseph Mabirizi’s house, only Professor Joel circles around it to get new jokes to his TV show.

So IGP Kayihura shut-up and talk’s sense, as you ask the public to talk sense and not sensationalize events and rhetoric from the opposition or media. This time it all makes sense, and it is common sense as the facts and the fiction from the Uganda Police Force is just foolish and they could you know; easily see that he manipulates the laws and use Public Order Management Bill as it was intended  the“Anti-Besigye Act” used to suppress his party and his affiliates, as the NRM can do as they want and nobody; especially the Police does not mind, but if the opposition, and especially Dr. Kizza Besigye and the FDC officials; than it is another story and even doing the same; is illegal while it’s okay for the NRM.

So now that Dr. Kizza Besigye continues to live under house-arrest, get detained without a warrant or reason other than pure fiction from the Police, as he supposed to generate chaos or violence; while the Police kills and throw tear-gas unto civilians, while he last time ask for people to walk to a destination, not grab arms and bring down the NRM-Regime as the rhetoric from the IGP Kayihura could sound like. That is the honest truth, though Gen. Kayihura would never say it, because his NRM-Police has loyalty toward President Museveni. That is why the Police secure peace from the President Museveni (that is main objective). The Police does not need to think to much about the government of Uganda or the citizens;  who apparently is the people, because none of them is President Museveni. The IGP Kayihura they are second fiddle and not that important, because he just follows orders directly from President Museveni. Peace.

Press Relese: Worrying Trends of Journalists Targeted for Covering Political Campaigns in Uganda (26.02.2016)

HRNJU 26.02.2016 P1HRNJU 26.02.2016 P2HRNJU 26.02.2016 P3HRNJU 26.02.2016 P4

A statement from the U.S. Embassy in Kampala regarding the Ugandan elections of February 18 and the detention of Dr. Kizza Besigye (26.02.2016)

US Mission to UG

The U.S. Embassy calls again on Ugandan authorities to release Dr. Kizza Besigye from house arrest and to permit him to travel freely. We note that Dr. Besigye has been under near continuous police detention since the February 18 election, has not been charged with any crime, and was denied his constitutional right to participate in the February 24 elections.

We further call upon Uganda authorities to cease and desist from any further harassment or intimidation of members of the opposition, such as the reported arrests of FDC party agents. Officials of all parties, including the opposition, must be allowed to provide their leadership with polling data collected during the vote, free from intimidation or threat of detention, in accordance with international norms and the principles of a democratic society.

We are also deeply concerned by the Electoral Commission’s delay in releasing polling data. This, along with Dr. Besigye’s detention and arrest of party agents, has inhibited citizens’ ability to verify vote tallies and potentially challenge the election results in court within the constitutionally mandated ten-day period.

We expect the Ugandan authorities to uphold the rights of all of their citizens, regardless of political affiliation, and allow the opposition to play a legitimate role in the country’s politics. We further expect all parties to refrain from actions or rhetoric that may lead to violence and to resolve their disputes peacefully.

Dr. Kizza Besigye statement on the Police-Force, how he was detained and the house-arrest during the 25th of February (26.02.2016)

KB 25.02.2015

Tonight, I feel like becoming a real “terrorist”! This is the effect of endless acts of impunity on the part of the Uganda Police. When the people assigned the responsibility of maintaining law and order become deliberate and arrogant law breakers, where does one turn to? The day (Thursday 25th Feb 2016) started on a bright side, with a visit by my colleague Maj Gen (rtd) Benon Biraro, who shared a number of ideas on how our country could be put back on rails.

I was also expecting a visit from some Human Rights defenders, including Ms Maria Burnett of the Human Rights Watch. These visitors had come to see me the previous day but were blocked by the police at the barricade they erected on the driveway to our home. In spite of sending my aide to plead with the police (since I couldn’t be allowed to get there myself), they were turned away after waiting for more than 2hrs. They were, instead, asked to come back today at 9am. The Human Rights defenders, who arrived at the police blockade at 8.45am, eventually left about 10am without seeing me. After the usual lengthy “consultations”, that involve talking to the top police commanders, my visitors were told that they won’t be allowed to see me! Shortly after 10am, some visitors, who hadn’t informed me of their visit (a normal occurrence), arrived at the police blockade in a minibus from Kakiri, in our District of Wakiso.

As they inquired from the police whether they could be allowed in to see me, the goons that man the notorious police van UP 4860 sprung into action. They opened the minibus, pulled out two of the occupants and threw them into their van. The driver of the minibus quickly reversed and sped off with the other visitors. At 11am, I made my attempt at leaving home for Najjanankumbi, our party headquarters. As before, I was told that I wasn’t allowed to move out. When I insisted, I was arrested and pushed into the notorious van.

Here, I found two terrified men that were in immense pain. The van had a strong smell of pepper spray that immediately made my sore throat worse and affected my eyes. The two men informed me that they had been badly beaten and pepper-sprayed while in the van. One of the men held in the van, named Jamilu Budde (whom I know) was crying with pain and holding his left arm in a manner that suggested he could have had a broken collar bone.
I pleaded with the “Commander” of the van, one Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Kidandi to let me help Budde with First Aid and get him taken to the clinic, but this was denied. Instead, the two men were roughly thrown off the van and I was carried away alone. After driving through Matugga, Kawempe, Mpererwe, Kisaasi, Northern Bypass, and Naalya, I was deposited in Kira Division police Hqs. This is where I stayed until I was given a bond and “released” at about 9pm.

I made it clear, like before, that if the reason they arrested still existed, then they should keep me in detention. Otherwise, once freed, I should be truly free and not expect the police to detain me at my home. As before, I was told that I’d no choice but to be taken back home. I am now back home and, as before, detained there! I tried as much as I could, unsuccessfully, to demand that they take me to a proper (gazatted) detention place or let me free. My sore throat was worsened by the pepper spray I found in the van. I informed my captors about this and that I would do well to consult my physician. All this fell on deaf ears. I have since found out that Mr Budde and his colleague, who were tortured and left on our home’s driveway earlier, were later briefly held at Kasangati Police Station and later transferred to Kireka Police. Mr Budde hasn’t had any medical attention that I am sure he badly needs.
This is the dilemma of leaving in a country governed by a rogue regime. This is the very reason I wake up early everyday to do something about it. I am confident that, by the Grace of God, we shall overcome.
One Uganda, One People!!