Fear and loathing in Kampala

The Uganda Police Force (UPF) have come out with a statement today. Deputy Inspector General of Police Maj. Gen. Paul Lokech came with stern warning now. Just at the opposition and other election petitions are in town. It is like the authorities are prepared for a war-zone and havoc.

The Police Force and army should warn themselves, as they are the trigger-happy and the ones issuing tear-gas on the public. It is the same authorities that comes with weapons, tear-gas and units to disperse and get people going. The same security organizations that bundles people together and brings violence to the streets to quell peaceful protests. It is the state that has killed civilians in the campaign season and before the polls.

Today’s Statement:

This development by some opposition members of marshaling fear to rally support for street violence and civil uprising, for their selfish political advantage is not new to us. Therefore, for politicians to spread this kind of negative propaganda across the country is trying to provoke people to incite violence. We want to inform the public that we are taking these threats seriously and would like to assure them, that they should not be intimidated from going about their lawful businesses, because their security and safety is guaranteed. We have shown Ugandans over and over again that we would have a very peaceful election and indeed it was very peaceful. We are now doing everything within our means to keep the general public safe and secure, from all forms of violence including politics that is divisive and manipulative during this aftermath of the Elections” (Uganda Police Force – ‘THE JOINT SECURITY AGENCIES WARN POLITICIANS AND INDIVIDUALS AGAINST FEAR MONGERING’ 01.02.2021).

This statement is sending a stern warning to the public for the days ahead. Just like the President have done countless times. We know who they are directing this against. They are not going after the President or any of his allies. No, they are going after the opposition, this being Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine of National Unity Platform (NUP) and Forum for Democratic Change (FDC).

That is why they are claiming there is threats, but they are not naming it. They are saying they will incite to violence, but doesn’t specify. That is easily stated, so in the aftermath of any. They could point to the “intelligence” and pin the politicians. They are anyway violently arresting, detaining, abducting and torturing the ones associated with the opposition already. So, the state sponsored violence is already there. Its not like it has left or stopped to cease to exist. The election is maybe over, but their devious acts is continuing. Countless of political prisoners are lingering behind bars and the state wants to move on.

The state is manipulative and disingenuous here. They are coming with baseless claims. We can anticipate by actions made in the past. That the state will sponsor more violence against civilians and blame the victims. Just like it is always the opposition fault and never the authorities who comes in guns blazing. They are never to blame, but everyone else should have conducted themselves differently. Therefore, these sorts of mind-games isn’t working.

We know the drill. If these folks cared about keeping folks safe. Then they would let people riot and demonstrate, as they cannot do that without meeting a fatal police force. That is something they never mention, but is the naked truth. Peace.

Uganda Police Force: The Joint Security Agencies warn Politicians and Individuals against Fear Mongering (01.02.2021)

Opinion: Bobi Wine’s gamble with the Supreme Court Petition

Tomorrow is the final day of delivering election petition on the matter of the Presidential Election of the 14th January 2021. Alas, Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine tried to deliver a petition already on Friday 29th January 2021, but he was dismissed by the Supreme Court. The National Unity Platform (NUP) Presidential Candidate and Opposition leader plans to do this tomorrow on the 1st February 2021.

However, what his doing here is a gamble. Since all the judiciary appointments is working for the President. All these people are getting fed by the President. He always appoints loyal token judges ahead of the campaign season. Just so his safe and secure for whatever coming their way. Because, the President knows that these folks will do him favours. They will find the legal justification for his reign and dismiss anyone who is in his path.

Bobi Wine can have a team of astute attorneys, the People Power juggernaut can come with fierce force and evidence of the rigging. However, that might not be enough. Because the pendulum is controlled by the “high above”. His orders and his tricks matters more. The President is the personification of the state and therefore his words is law. That is why no matter what legal remedy or proof, the judges will in the end legitimize these affairs for Museveni. Just like they did with the Age Limit petitions too. They all vouched for the President and his excessive needs.

Bobi Wine is now following the footsteps of Dr. Kizza Besigye and Amama Mbabazi. Who both took it to Court. They have both tried to prove and make the election “null and void”. Nevertheless, that haven’t happened, as the state and the President wouldn’t have it. Besigye tried in 2001 and 2006. Mbabazi tried it in 2016. None of these was successful.

What is more striking is this assessment of the Presidential Election Petitions of the past:

However, the Supreme Court’s decisions (PEPs No.1 2001, No.1 2006 and No.1 2016), indicate that the petitioner must prove, ‘to the satisfaction of the Court’, the allegations made against the respondent on a higher threshold, that is ‘beyond reasonable doubt’, which is the standard of proof required to validate a criminal conviction (Grechieng, Niclisch & Thoeni 2010, pp. 847-862). This imposes an almost impossible task for the challenger of the election’s outcome. For these reasons, s.59(6)(c) is deficient in preserving the will of the people and in facilitating fair competition for the presidency” (Dr. Fred Sekindi – ‘PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION DISPUTESIN UGANDA – A Critical Analysis of the Supreme Court Decisions, 2017).

So, now that NUP and Bobi Wine is preparing a case. They should know that this challenge is near impossible. The legal principals and international laws for annulments of elections does exists. However, the way the Ugandan laws are made. It is weak and tends to express the needs to prove it too such an extent, which is near impossible. This is where the Presidential Candidate Bobi Wine comes in. As his team and lawyers are planning to petition the court. The act is noble and an approach former opposition candidates has done too. They have all gone there, but with no luck.

That is why its like a game of snakes and ladders. Where no matter where you go. At one point or another, you fall behind and have try to trick yourself up again. You are also lucky if you can ever succeed to pass all the hurdles. That what worries me. It might even give the supports a false figment of hope. Just like this is the magic trick to conquer Museveni. When I don’t think this is the gist of it or the way out.

This is just buying Museveni time and keeping other preoccupied with a case, which he will do a few phone calls and settle. The judges will get their envelopes and faulty reason will dismiss this one too. As we just know, they need to prove it to such an extent that the Presidential Election get annulled. That has been tried before and this isn’t the first the opposition leader is petition the court. No, his the third in line and the fourth major case. Though the UVote collection of DR Forms in comparison to the Final Results will prove rigging. Don’t expect it to be enough. Even if it cannot be proof that the President was directly involved. Still, deep inside the chambers and the halls of the Courts. They do know he has his fingerprints all key aspects of the state.

That is why a petition is a “non-winner”. It is a way to exhaust all ways legally, but it is not a way change the outcome. No, they are only playing the game the President wants. It would be more powerful to drop a report. Show piece by piece, issuing statements of the proofs and hold talks with international media. Get the report exposed and get all local media to discuss it. As it proves every way the election was rigged. In that fashion, the publican be the court and not just a few hand-picked jesters of the President. Which is the ones who will deem it fit or not fit. Peace.

National Unity Platfrom (NUP): Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu letter to Chief Executive Officer of Next Media Services Ltd. – Protest Letter against NBS Television for Conspiring with other actors to Defeat the Will of the People of Uganda (27.01.2021)

Opinion: Cooked results is hard to publish [14th January 2021 Presidential and Parliamentary Results]

The Electoral Commission announced and declared the results of the 14th January 2021 on the 16th January 2021. The state didn’t really release the results or the announced results. The Commission haven’t to this day published the granular numbers or the ones in concern to each individual polling station. Therefore, we are at 28th January 2021 and the EC have now published the “official tally”.

They have declared the winner of the Presidential Elections and the Parliamentary Elections, but these victories are shallow. When the EC cannot drop the numbers and be game. The Uganda Media Centre dropped the announced numbers on the 18th January 2021, but the Electoral Commission came with new numbers today (28th January 2021).

That is really telling. When the EC cannot even compile or have the ability to drop consistent numbers on the polls. When it is so mismatched and changing. It is like they playing with an algorithm. Like Museveni alone had previously 5,851,037 and now he has 6,042,898 voters. Just like total valid voters went from 9,983,093 to 10,350,819 valid ballots. It is weird how it can change within 14 days.

This is 14 days or two weeks since the polls. The Electoral Commission and the National Resistance Movement (NRM) is not playing this one out well. It is only undermining their own efforts to legitimized the elections. This sort of play only shows how they tried to cook the results and they are failing. Because, they know the National Unity Platform (NUP) have the granular data and declarations forms digitally, which can be used to question the “announced or declared” results.

It is funny how the EC can drop so different numbers within this time. Because, if they had the numbers to announce the winner. It should be no issue to just release it. They should just make it public and not cause these issues. The EC have already dropped it once and deleted. This is the second time and now with numbers not associated with the first released. That the Uganda Media Centre referenced.

I wonder what sort of foolish argument will come now. As this is only a numbers game, where the EC is loosing. Because, it doesn’t make sense to twist the results this way. Especially, if it was so secure and verified two days after the polls. The EC did declare the results within the 48 hours after the polls. So, if they did that… and could so easily pronounce the results. It should be easy to drop it too. They did it 2 weeks after the polls.

It took them 2 weeks to do it and the EC shouldn’t have made this hard. That is why there will be people scanning through the files, folders and statistics. As the EC has made this to hard. The EC have already by just dropping new numbers making it even more questionable. As they should be able to drop similar numbers between the announced and what is released today.

That is something they wasn’t able to achieve. It is a simple proof of the rigging. When they are making it so different between the 2 weeks in question. Peace.

The Panda Gari’s is back: Gen. Museveni is rehashing the era of 1971 to 1985

Since about mid-2020 it have become more common to read stories, hear tales of witnesses and people saying loved ones have been abducted in the night. People are taken from out of nowhere by either armed personnel, police officers or other state agents. These folks are taken to unknown locations for days, weeks and even months. The individuals are either returning to the surface tortured or sickly, if not dead without any investigations or answers to why it happened.

This is all happening to Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine supporters, mobilizers, activists or even political candidates. They have gone after people associated with People Power Movement and the National Unity Platform (NUP). These have been taken from all parts of Buganda. They are just seeing the van and taken away. They are incommunicado and the authorities cannot say anything or have intelligence on the matter. It is a darkness over the republic, as they are accepting this to happen. This has also happen to boxers and the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) who has served the same fate.

Here is how it was done before Museveni’s tenure, but clearly his been inspired by the efforts made by the predecessors.

Disappearances:

The Commission took a person to have disappeared if that person was arrested, seized, abducted, kidnapped, taken or detained by the military, police or other security agents or agencies, and had never been seen again, alive or dead. The phenomenon of disappearances was virtually unknown in Uganda between 1962 to 1970. During the 1966 crisis, a number of people from or near the Mengo palace disappeared, never to be seen again. It is presumed that they were killed in what came to be known as the “Battle of Mengo”. Disappearances because a common phenomenon in Uganda between 1971 and 1985” (Pamphlet – Summary of Report of Commission of Inquiry into Violating of Human Rights – Pearl of Blood, October 1994).

Panda Gari:

“Panda Gari” are two Swahili words literally meaning board the vehicle. It was a system under which the army or police, in swoops, collected people in large numbers from an area forced to board vehicles and transported them elsewhere for purposes of identifying whether or not they were anti government rebels or sympathizers” (Pamphlet – Summary of Report of Commission of Inquiry into Violating of Human Rights – Pearl of Blood, October 1994).

What is worrying to me.. that there is just some small posts on Facebook and not collected. That each and everyone is forgotten in the trail of spin. The state is busy preoccupying the space with other news. While the citizens are kidnapped, abducted, arbitrary arrested and even extra judicial killings of them without any warrants, charges or even taken to court.

We have no idea about the extent of this. There is already so many in Bobi Wine’s team behind bars and Court Martial as civilians say it all about this regime. The state is also using several of state security agencies and ungazetted safe-houses to detain and torture civilians.

There should be an outcry, investigation into it and take down the ones ordering it. The ones who are in-charge and makes it possible. The state is doing this to its own. When they can it to their own. What is the next extent and what is the next effort to take control and silence critics?

When they can re-issue the Panda Gari’s, what else can they do next? This is horrific and tragic… it is a need to collect the whole tragedies together to show the world the sinister extent of this. As I see various of numbers, but each number is a person. That is important to remembered, someone who was loved and cared for. Someone who was aspiring and maybe only wanted to see positive change for the Republic. That is so costly, they are destroyed by the state and even killed. That is why each and everyone one of them should be named. Written and published. So, they can use these abductions, kidnappings, torture- and extra judicial killings to prove how bad the state is.

It is needed. It is a about time. This is so evil… Peace.

NRM Liberation Day 2021: Day 12 since the polls [Bobi Wine’s house still surrounded by Police]

Since 14th January 2021 the National Unity Platform (NUP) Presidential Candidate Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine been house arrested in his home in Magere, Wakiso district. Yesterday, on the 25th January after 11 days the High Court re-instated his “freedom” and said the authorities should leave his home.

However, during the evening and such. There was reports that Bobi Wine wasn’t free and the authorities still kept soldiers around his home. His still behind bars and a prisoner in his own home. This was all happening in the hours ahead of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Day or the “Liberation Day”, which is today.

The Liberation Day is the celebration of the Victory of the National Resistance Army (NRA). That day is a celebration of winning the bush-war in the 1980s. Where the NRA was able to overcome several of rulers and government. They overcome not only the Obote II, but also others to secure the victory for Museveni.

General Museveni has always compelled himself to others and that his a stark difference to the ones he has toppled.

However, Reuters Africa reports: “Despite a court order that security forces stop surrounding Bobi Wine’s home, the Ugandan opposition leader says he is still unable to leave. David Doyle reports” (Reuters Africa, 26.01.2021).

There is reports earlier this morning that the soldiers have left his home. The Police is still surrounding the home. Muhammad Ssegirinya confirms today that they are in the area and surrounding the home.

Police Spokesperson Fred Enanga was saying the Police Force would continue to surveillance and monitor every move of Bobi Wine. So, the Police Force is continuing. They are most likely doing what they can and will ensure that his not mobile. The Opposition Leader is still under siege and doubt he just can stroll outside his home.

As long as they are in the nearby area and following him. They are still making him the “enemy of the state”. So, his partially free. As long as he cannot move freely and be at liberty of his own movements.

Am awaiting his total release. Since, I doubt he can walk out without being arrested or detained. That is what I am waiting. Until then, he has limited freedom. It is nice that Bobi Wine can get visitors without to much hassle on Liberation Day. However, I am skeptical that his totally free. Until that is proven. He is limited in his movement and doesn’t have total freedom. As long as you don’t have total freedom and liberty. You are not fully free. Peace.

General Museveni will deal with the Opposition the NRA Way

““If you compete and lose and then you say you will take power through other means other than the election, that won’t happen here in Uganda and it will not take long to sort out. We sort out such rubbish the NRA way,” Yoweri Museveni barked while commenting on the deployment at Kyagulanyi’s residence in Magere, Wakiso district. “We will bring down whoever wants to destabilise our peace. We have enough space to accomodate for millions of prisoners,” he warned” (Emmanuel Busingye – ‘Museveni: We will sort Bobi Wine the NRA way’ 25.01.2021, Ekyooto.co.uk).

The General, Head of State and Commander in Chief is really ready to retaliate against the opposition. Nevertheless, Museveni never let them go and off the hook. The President have already ordered his troops, law enforcement and various of agencies to go after the National Unity Platform (NUP) activists, mobilizers, polling agents and candidates. The state has gone after so many and they are beyond reach behind bars. The general public and international community can have no idea of how systemic the abductions, arrests and taking people away.

So, Museveni is just showing his fierce force. The President is showing no remorse and his doing the ills of the ones he overthrow. He is using the same means to stay in power. That is the sick thing here. Tomorrow is supposed to be “Liberation Day”, but who is really liberated? When some of the other citizens are detained for their association with opposition candidates or parties.

When the President says the NRA Way?

Will the 35th Brigade be used towards the People Power Movement and the National Unity Platform (NUP)?

Also, will the President send everyone through the Court Martial and treat Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine like Gen. David Sejusa? Will the state charge him and never retire him from military service?

Will the President send the “Panda Gari” and drop him in Nalufenya or a “Safe House” to be tortured? What is the NRA Way?

The NRA took away all opposition and breached the Nairobi Peace Agreement of 1985. It is not like Bobi Wine have made an agreement with Museveni. No, Museveni is in his own regard. The President is using military language and wanting to use guerrilla tactics against a civilian. Who does that?

General Museveni lives in the bush state of mind. That is his glory days and he wants to live like that again. Instead of bashing in glory. If you are such a victor, why are you threatening your opponent?

Someone needs to reign in this old man. He needs some re-education or be re-instated to society. This old man needs some sensitization and maybe even entertain one of them patriotic programs at Kyankwanzi. Since, he clearly jaded and wants to use guerrilla tactics against civilians. Clear people out the bush-war way in peace-time.

Last, does the NRA way mean the method of assassinations? Since, the NRA did assassinate and kill the ones who was in their way. It also got rid of people in talks and negotiating with the NRA/M in the early stages of power. This was done to consolidate power. Is that another angle or plan of the President?

The NRA Way could mean a lot and the President wants clearly to go to war. Surely, the old man wouldn’t survive in the bush now. The old man wouldn’t get the locals support or help like he did in the 1980s. Since, they are tired of him and knows he doesn’t serve them anyway. That is why it has nearly taken 40 years of power and very little have been given to the people of the Luweero Triangle. Peace.

Day 11: Bobi Wine is “freed” but is he really free though?

High court in Kampala has ordered police and UPDF to vacate Bobi Wine’s home in Magere Wakiso. Police spokesperson Fred Enanga says they are waiting for copy of this court order” (91.2 Crooze FM, 25.01.2021).

Since the 14th January 2021 the presence of Police Force and soldiers been stationed at and around the home of Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine. Some reporters did state that the military presence of Magere in Wakiso district dated back three weeks of the polls. So, the state had planned and did issue more security details in the area. All in order to surveillance and monitor the National Unity Platform (NUP) Presidential Candidate.

Just read here:

We shall withdraw the deployment from Hon. Robert Kyagulanyi’s home as per the High Court ruling issued this morning. However, we shall maintain surveillance on his movements – Fred Enanga (Police Spokesperson)” (91.8 Boona FM, 25.01.2021).

This here proves that Bobi Wine isn’t free yet. They might take away the soldiers on the compound and around his gate. However, the checkpoints from Kampala to Magere in Wakiso district. There has been put up several of checkpoints on the way to his home. These will be there. It will also be several of areas in the nearby his home.

Bobi Wine isn’t yet totally free. Not until the Police Force is stopping the surveillance and monitoring his movements. Because that is done without court orders and charges. They are still treating him as a “enemy of the state”.

The “No. 1 Terrorist” and danger to society is Bobi Wine at this given moment. Especially, when the citizen is followed and usage of surveillance to know everything he does. That is only done to a person like that. If he wasn’t a big-man and someone in the spotlight. Bobi Wine would already dwell in a safe-house somewhere. That is what the state does to minor candidates, activists and civilians in military confinement.

This is why today isn’t the end. The “house-arrest” and illegal arrest of Bobi Wine will continue in one way or another. The state will not stop this. The same state held Besigye under House Arrest for over 40 days. This is Day 11 … so expect more. There is more to come. Peace.

Opinion: Electoral Commission is in a pickle [since it still hasn’t released the “declared results”]

The Electoral Commission in 2021 is doing itself a disservice, as it is has no released or made the declared Presidential and Parliamentary Results public on its page. Just as the polls of 14th January 2021 is “contested” but more “rigged” than truthful. It is not like the public can trust these results, when the main contender is house-arrested and his allies is rounded up and detained indefinitely. It is not like the state or the ruling regime wants it to be legitimately at all. Their actions speaks of rigging, injustice and impunity.

The EC could have been transparent and the authorities could have acted like that. They National Talley Centre could have been sincere and open, but it wasn’t. It doesn’t help that law enforcement and soldiers are doing what they can to get their hands of Declarations Forms from the opposition. Just so the opposition doesn’t have the first declared results from their polling agents. While the state also arrested so many polling agents from the opposition the day before the polls itself. Therefore, the state does what it can and deliberately make it all go into the dark.

Now that we are on the 24th January 2021 and the announced results was on the 16th January 2021. The amount of days makes people question it even more. The secretive measures, keeping the declared results under wraps. Uploading and later deleting it too. Doesn’t make someone trust the EC more. It makes you wonder, if they found issues in the algorithms that made the “results” possible.

The EC is showing its a heist. Because, if the numbers and percentages of a victory was real. They would have released the results as soon as possible. The EC is quickly releasing By-Election results when its in favour of the state. The same should be possible here. However, the DR Forms uploaded to the UVote App and that will distort the possible breaches. Just like the results first dropped proved some polling stations had more voters, than registered voters there.

This is why the EC is still keeping it under wraps, even when the President has “won” and its over with. If it was already fixed and done. It should be in the public domain. As the NBS Television and NTV Uganda proclaimed it. The EC had their presser and announced it. Still, the lack of transparency and accountability proves they are neglecting their mission. They are not counting the initial votes, but is fixing the results in favour of man. That is why its hard to jumble the results and get it correctly to what they said.

When you do fraud at least try to make it seem legit. However, the EC cannot even do that. They have stolen the money from the bank, but they are not even willing to spend the money. They are not buying flashing cars and expensive meals. No, they are keeping it in another vault and hidden. These folks did the robbery, but will not prove their heist. Because, if they did. The ones looking through UVote results versus EC announced results would get two different outcomes. Which we know will happen, but they are just postponing the inevitable. Peace.