Uganda – Election Petition No. 1. of 2016 : “1st Respondent’s answer to the Petition” (06.03.2016)

Campaign Poster Paranoia

These election posters are both creating dismay and irregularities in this election period. The ongoing issues of the ruling-party have with the opposition. It is understandable that the Electoral Commission does do much about it. Since they are in bed with the ruling-party even if they are saying otherwise… Last piece of the puzzle is the Police that often help with the ruin of the opposition posters. So the opposition is alone fighting this, and final point is that the Presidential Posters are untouchable. That means if they have taken a spot on a wall or a dry-wall they have to stay there until end of times. Because the Police and Electoral Commission command the people to let it stays so. Let’s take look at recent movement on the ground concerning campaign posters in Uganda.

Recently there been issued statements by the Minister of Kampala Affairs Frank Tumwebaze that there is set fees for campaign posters in Kampala. This by all means is foolish idea and new way of grabbing money out of the pockets of candidates for Local Council members, Members of Parliament and Presidential Candidates. So there would be a giant pool of monies coming KCCA ways.

There have been all through the campaign and presidential campaigns people shunning, destroying or pinning over each others posters in the towns and villages where the campaigning goes on. Especially from NRM who has done deliberate actions against the Go-Forward Presidential Candidate Amama Mbabazi. Where they have either destroyed the posters like in Mbarara, Ntungamo or other places utterly displaced them. The pictures from the campaign trail shows it; at the same time the NRM posters are hanging like the holy father is hanging on the wall. Well, that is just plain foolish actions from the NRM and their police. Not unexpected. Here is some previous and recent attempts of foolishness from the same people!

In June 2015 CP Fred Enanga said:

“The president is the fountain of honour and he enjoys absolute immunity for whatever actions and enjoys structural advantages. You cannot just pull down his pictures under whatever circumstances” (…)”But even then, he has not come out to make such pronouncement (that he will run in the 2016 presidential elections),” (Tumwine, 2015).

In Mbale in October 2015 this happen:

““We are following up on the owners. We are going to drag them to court for littering the town and the clock tower,” Mr Wambedde charged” (…)”He said it costs the municipality Shs20m to renovate the clock tower and littering it with campaign posters would cost more money to restore its face” (Namono, 2015).

25^th November 2015 statement from Electoral Commission on Election Posters:

“The Commission warns the general public, candidates, their agents and supporters, that a person who malicious defaces or removes or tears any election poster of any nominated candidate commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment”.

The last one was written and published by Eng. Dr. Badru M. Kiggundu, that means that the Police and NRM supporters are to blame and liable for convictions for destroying and pinning over election posters of Amama Mbabazi, if your words actually means something right? Wonder why the Police doesn’t address themselves or they collect the NRM supporters who conduct this affairs. I wonder why, wait, they are loyal cronies of the regime and henceforth is free by law, or am I wrong? I don’t know, but that is what it seems by the minute, because Mr. Kiggundu hasn’t done anything in all the actions of destroying or pinning over posters across the country all of December. That means his words from November doesn’t comply to them apparently (it’s not stated by their words by the nature of their actions).

A viral NRM Poster taking off:

“A honest political campaign poster of a Ugandan man who is seeking for a public office has gone viral and has got people talking on social media” (…)”An aspirant for Kisementi Municipality identified as Eric Mununuzi’s campaign poster has been making rounds on social media as he reportedly decided to tell the electorate the simple truth” (Nigeria News, 2015).

In Kayungu Hospital 18^th December 2015:

“Dr.Kakooza on Wednesday blocked the district NRM publicity secretary Mutwalid Kizza from pinning Museveni’s campaign posters, saying the posters will damage walls during time of removal after campaigns” (…)”I got this job on merit and I am ready to be sacked for doing what I am supposed to do and if that one happens, I will go and work elsewhere in the world because I hold an international degree in human medicine and surgery,”(…) “Kakooza told New Vision when asked whether he does not fear to be sacked from the job” (Election.co.ug, 2015).

Early this morning the 19^th December 2015:

“Kayunga Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr.Francis Kakooza Arrested For Blocking The Pinning Of Museveni Campaign Posters on the Hospital Walls”.

Afterthought:

There is reasonable ways of seeing this. Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) feels the need to levy laws to regain more money from the Local Candidates, Mayoral candidates, Members of Parliament and Presidential Candidates to pay for the service of having the ability to put up posters in and around Kampala City. I want to wish Frank Tumbewaze a Grinchy moment and wish to serve his greed. Even if it is Jennifer Musisi who thinks that this is the way to be able to gain the money they need to fuel the rail-service that they just opened in town, or maybe I am wrong. I am sure it is to keep the town in order or clean… no then I am talking about somebody else.

This poster thing has been an issue through the whole election period. It’s like a constant feature in the actions of especially NRM supporters and DPC who displays their lack of moral standing and ethics towards other parties. They are solely behind most of the destruction and malicious actions towards the others party’s posters in towns, cities and villages. Like the pictures of torn posters of the Go-Forward/TDA U from NRM, either destroyed or pinned over with a poster off Mzee. So there are issues there.

The other issue is that people fear taking down campaign posters of the Mzee or the NRM presidential candidate. Therefore earlier in the election before the Road Map was even started and the opposition rallies was bombarded by the Police, a police officers and military men was open to media telling they feared both the president and taking down campaign material. Therefore I am sure your still seeing campaign posters from 2010 and 2005 still hanging on walls around the country, not only the new for 2015. That’s because for the fear of taking it down for the repercussion as an act against His Excellency President Museveni.

This comes with the actions towards opposition parties posters proves that in this simple and easy step proves by all means that there is not a level playing field in this elections. When one poster has the ground and can be pinned over the opposition, even by police officers, while the same police guarding and supervising the NRM supporters or Crime Preventers to destroy campaign posters of the opposition, proves the malice that are from the governing party and the NRM-Regime.

The Mbale Clock Tower is a landmark, I understand that, that isn’t a political move, but more a placement of wrong material, and there are more fitting walls in Mbale. That is something the local politicians and national politicians should keep to make sure of the state of the town.

Kayunga Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr. Frank Kakooza has said no to all of the opposition candidates to put up campaign posters inside the Hospital. He was afraid of the dry-walls and also of the effect it might have on the patience of the hospital. There might also be the thing of how it will be perceived if there election material in a state institution, even if there is often NRM material in the Police stations, because we all seen their allegiance to the government and regime, there hasn’t been visible touches of that in health institutions. Still, since he has stood up against pinning NRM and Mzee Campaign posters in the Hospital. He said he feared of sacking and today that happen. The Superintendent did it for the best of the Hospital and not to be in the way of the NRM-Regime. That doesn’t seem to matter since he didn’t facilitate to hang up NRM campaign poster in the facility.

The Election Poster saga will continue and will not stop. As long as we have the NRM-Regime because they will keep their nest and power; showing that by keeping up the work and also posters in the towns. So this here will be discussed during this period until February 2016 and should be after. It is just about a certain point of showing your ways towards the ones who is not in your party. NRM can run it like they do and they have to give way for the opposition. Not like they have acted in this election. That is not acceptable. Peace.

Reference:

Election.co.ug – ‘NRM supporters force posters into hospital’ (18.12.2015) link: http://www.elections.co.ug/new-vision/election/1413694/kayunga-hospital-boss-nrm-leaders-clash-museveni-posters

Nigeria News – ‘Controversial Campaign Poster In Uganda Currently Trending Online (Photos)’ (12.11.2015) link: http://news2.onlinenigeria.com/africa/440589-controversial-campaign-poster-in-uganda-currently-trending-online-photos.html

Namono, Caroline – ‘Mbale council pulls down campaign posters’ (24.10.2015) link: http://www.monitor.co.ug/SpecialReports/Elections/Mbale-council-pulls-down-campaign-posters/-/859108/2926806/-/m8vt1g/-/index.html

Tumwine, Albert – ‘We cannot pull down Museveni posters- Police’ (16.07.2015) link: http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/We-cannot-pull-down-Museveni-posters–Police/-/688334/2753854/-/lr6i1x/-/index.html

Press Release: FDC mobilization goes to Eastern Uganda (12.10.2015)

Press Release: Ugandan Parliament justifies commercialisation of Elections (12.10.2015)

This is just a reminder,putting in mind that many of these parliamentarians have stayed in those offices for 10 or so years, with a few innocents ones, who are yet to join the give me money I do by your will category, since they are either pretenders or legislators who silently kill you slowly.

Around last week, the Members passed a law stating that Presidents must pay 20million and members of Parliament paying 3million just as nomination fees. Not surprising though, but unrealistic in the current situation where we are struggling to build the sense of money out of Uganda’s politics.

As Ugandans, I realized we forget sooner than even a hen, many of these legislators took part in University politics and hardly had posters for their campaigns, went to the constituency when nomination fees were as low as they couldn’t even afford, communities contributed to see them through, and today they have the power to stand and say, “let members of parliament pay 10million”, because you don’t want another young man do be helped by the community to reach your level.

Members of Uganda Parliament, you have behaved more like a pig than a dog, this is a pity but you have opened up the country in to voter buying right from nomination to election, since you want only those who have the money like that of yours from unknown sources to come as leaders, kicking out those with little but clean money but with leadership ideas. As you enjoy your honey moon, remember some wedded couples separate just after leaving the church on wedding day.

From Ojobile Augustine
National Mobilizer of The Jobless Brotherhood

Anxious and bickering about tomorrow’s decision to know who runs as the TDA Flag-bearer!

The Democratic Alliance has postponed the decision to decide the matter of whom of the big-men from all the parties and independent men will have the ability to run as flag-bear under the opposition against the long-serving President Museveni.

We all knew all along that this would be a grand finale; it was just the matter of whom the lucky contestants would be. It would be natural the one of the main candidates for the position would come from the FDC, DP or UPC, even JEEMA if he had some character or flash behind him.

The unexpected one is the one that makes the decision harder is that Amama Mbabazi turned away in the last minute from the NRM, because he knew that he would never beat Museveni in the NRM. The power-move to be independent where in the cards when he wanted to be the new Mzee! Well, he had to fall a bit more out of the party. It was already starting when he lost his position as the PM.

There will be reasons why he is not fit and the Go Forward Team not matching the standards of the parties that has run for ages against the NRM Regime and the Election rigging lobby. As I has said before there has to be a strong candidate to prove the validity of the opposition, somebody that has the unique character that can bring the citizens together and prove that there is more than one man in the land with a vision.

There will be coming accusations after the result when the TDA has picked their man from both camps. That Amama Mbabazi is a theif and corrupt fellow and you can question his loyalty. We all knew that already, but his coffers must sure be a blessing to the newfound operations and organization who plans to campaign against the machinery and well-oiled crony system that leads to the Mzee winning with big margin over who ever who goes against him.

The attacks that will be on Dr. Kizza Besigye for not being suited is that he has run three times before and have lost those. We all knew that also, for those who didn’t should have checked the Peoples President track-record from before 2011. But I guess you didn’t?

We have to candidates in the TDA with rich history, what should matter is what their beneficial line is in the run-up? Can one of them actually go through the harassment and still look like a Nobel Presidential candidate?  The candidate that will run for the TDA in the race will he get support from all the parties in the coalition? If not, will he have a majority support? Last question will the candidate actual have a moral point and place against the Mzee?

Because if the candidate that runs against Mzee has no moral or ethical back-work and knowledge, if the candidate doesn’t be real change from the current leader. Than it would be a lousy election. It would be in general just switching names and titles. And Uganda need more than that in this day and age.

We have heard the accusations from the JPAM camp towards the FDC camp and so on. That should not be visual things going into the main choice of Flag-bearer of the coalition. Because that is futile and not worth a hot damn! So my point is, who is suited to beat Mzee in a fair fight? If it ever was – I am sure that it will be more or same wrongdoings as in the Commonwealth Report after the 2011 election in the 2016 election.

So if it will be same, than the issue of who the other candidates will just be mockery. If it wasn’t so and it was a pure multiparty system, then the upcoming election would be interesting. And the TDA candidate would be a man on fire since he has all parties from the Opposition under one umbrella against the ruling party. Which in any ways would be a interesting move of play. So the like in Chess, the King stays the King, and the pawns just get lucky to switch if they comes to the other side of the board. I don’t expect the TDA candidate to get to the other side of the board. Only to capped early and left astray. That’s my fear that will happen again. We just get to see the opposition as pawn on the chess set so that Mzee can show the world that he has opened elections for many parties, but the counting get controlled by his men in the Electoral Commission and by his laws that is beneficial for NRM.

But I hope that the TDA does a wise choice and pick somebody that has the honor and pride of the people, not just the monies and quick fix. The elections don’t need that flag-bearer! Peace.

FDC Youth Forum reacts to the TDA approval of Amama Mbabazi and want Dr. Kizza Besigye out of the coalition

The saga continues. The race between the Amama Mbabazi new position in the TDA has set things on fire. The same is with the FDC and FDC Youth Forum whom has rights to question the position of their flag-bearer which they wish to have as the leader of the opposition and not the fallen out of grace from the NRM which the other guy has.

Pretext:

“The group of FDC youth have raided storm Royal Suites Bugolobi, the venue for the TDA summit meeting demanding for their party’s withdraw from the opposition alliance” (Odongo, 2015). “The youth who were armed with placards demanded that Besigye leaves the summit and announces that FDC has quit the Alliance. Despite hesitating, Besigye came out of the meeting to address the rowdy youths. He advised them to go to the party headquarters in Najjanakumbi where he would address” (…)”The Youth were lead by MPs Odongo Otto, Geoffrey Ekanya and Jack Sabiiti who some days ago petitioned that FDC withdraws from the Alliance” (Waiswa, 2015). “The National Candidates Selection Committee of the Opposition coalition, The Democratic Alliance, recommended Mbabazi as the most favorable to joint presidential candidate. Not long ago Mbabazi as prime minister was being faulted by the opposition for stifling democracy in the country” (Waiswa, 2015).

This is what really went down:

“Dr Kizza Besigye, the FDC flag-bearer in the 2016 presidential elections has called for restraint and calmness after a group of radical party youth dragged him from a meeting of The Democratic Alliance on Thursday” (…)”The youth warned that FDC would not accept TDA’s endorsement of Amama Mbabazi as the alliance’s flag-bearer in the 2016 election, as alleged in the media” (…)”The youth claimed that while they did not have anything personal with Mbabazi, his alleged “involvement in the suppression of our struggle are still fresh in our minds, he is responsible for our continued suffering” (Aine, 2015).

Dr Kizza Besigye said this: “Our people are concerned by this alleged unfairness” (…)”They are saying the process is unfair. The people are right, it must be questioned. The process must fair” (…)”NEC must sit and discuss concerns of unfairness. People are confused that how can a coalition of opposition support Hon Mbabazi who is an NRM member” (Aine, 2015).

Afterthought:

Well, with the recent actions from the FDC Youth Forum proves that the issue of whom is running for the flag-bearer post in the TDA. That will also create issues between the parties in the alliance and coalition. The frictions that it takes when a independent man that was the former menace to society is now the front-runner of the opposition. Now he is the man to run for office after being split from the mothership or the party he was a poster-child in.

Dr. Kizza Besigye was the same for the NRM, but went out earlier and was involved also from the Bush to the rewrite of the constitution so that President Museveni could sit until indefinite and not leave the office. So after that Dr. Kizza Besigye has lost elections in 2006, 2011. Who even made the issues with the government over the famous ‘Walk to Work’ riots!

That’s why the FDC Youth Forum reacts when the opposition candidate to fight the NRM sole candidate who has been there since 1986, which everybody already knows. The issue that is concerning is the reaction, not from the Youth Forum since they already has addressed their plea. It’s the reaction from FDC flag-bearer Dr. Kizza Besigye who is the people’s president. That has addressed the matter and how it changes the power struggle in the coalition of the TDA. But it’s frightening if this is the way that Dr. Besigye is now addressing the procedures of NEC in the TDA. If this is now really weakening the coalition then it will hard to go back, that the issue becomes a struggle between Amama Mbabazi and Dr. Kizza Besigye, instead of a unity going to show strength towards NRM regime. They need to stay strong against it, if not the fractions and frictions will always be in a coalition, but the way it’s turning isn’t making a solid effort to achieve the changes in electoral reform and also making sure of giving an honest fight against the NRM party. If they go back to scratch then the time was a wasting in a unity that didn’t leave a trace in the 2016 race other than failure. That Dr. Besigye or any of the other opposition party leader want to see happening. Peace.

Reference:

Aine, Kim – ‘Besigye Calls Crisis FDC NEC Meeting as Youth Denounce Mbabazi’ (17.09.2015) link: http://chimpreports.com/besigye-calls-crisis-fdc-nec-meeting-as-youth-denounce-mbabazi/

Odongo, Otto – ‘Otto, FDC youth stir chaos at TDA meet’ (17.09.2015) link: http://www.theinsider.ug/otto-fdc-youth-stir-chaos-at-tda-meet/

Waiswa, Baz – ‘Youth Storm TDA Summit, Force Besigye To Withdrawal From Alliance’ (17.09.2015) link: http://news.ugo.co.ug/youth-storm-tda-summit-force-besigye-to-withdrawal-from-alliance/

Amama Mbabazi had a plan to have a consultation meeting in Jinja that got spoiled by the UPF

The Government of Uganda and its security forces goes wild again in the Eastern town of Jinja. When Amama Mbabazi tries to have yet another consulting meeting in another town, we all know that there was issues with meeting in Soroti. Today the UPF went ballistic literally in Jinja. Which isn’t very democratic, and the Electoral Commission is objective the consultation meetings while the Museveni can do the same thing for some strange reason. Who wonder what he does before he went to eat sushi in Tokyo?

One report:

“The Regional Police commander, Edgar Nyabongo, said they will not allow Mbabazi to hold a rally. The former premier is set to hold a consultative meeting at Kakindu and later address a rally at Kazimungu industrial park” (NewVision, 2015).

A well written timeline of the events transpiring today:

“2:14pm Mbabazi is 3km away from Jinja:

Jinja town is awaiting the arrival of former prime minister and presidential aspirant Amama Mbabazi. Mbabazi who left Mbale town in the morning is about to reach Jina. However, the road entering Jinja from Iganga has been blocked by the Police. Traffic is slowly building up as the vehicles are forced to use a narrow area the Police has left for the other road users. There are groups of people at the roundabout, occasionary shouting out at the Police’s decision to block Mbabazi. We are following his convoy, which is under the escort of Police” (Kirya, 2015).

“2:54pm Police clashing with Mbabazi supporters:

Mbabazi has arrived at his meeting venue, Kazimingi Industrial grounds with hundreds of supporters. He has been received by the Police and told he cannot use it. After a heated exchange between supporters and the Police, the Police fires tears gas and is still trying to disperse the crowds. The convoy is now moving towards Zamo Hotel, about a kilometre away. Mbabazi entered the town using a different route despite the fact that the highway had been blocked” (Kirya, 2015).

“4:00pm: Mbabazi bodyguards clash with Police:

Mbabazi convoy is still heading to another venue after he was blocked from using Kazimingi Industrial Park. After a heated exchange between Mbabazi and Kiira regional Police commander Edison Nyabongo, Mbabazi left for Zamo Hotel. However, the RPC had a fist fight with Mbabazi bodyguards and their leader Christopher Aine was briefly held before being released back into Mbabazi’s vehicle as they snake through the heavy jam to the meeting venue (Kirya, 2015).

Other reports from what happen at the spot:

“Most of the residents fled towards the maize mills while others scattered towards Jinja Central Market, where they remained watching what was transpiring at a safe distances. Mbabazi closely watched was happening from the roof on his vehicle while raising his ‘go forward’ symbol” (…)”One of Mbabazi’s guards known as Aine was arrested while another was shot in the leg. This morning, David Kyasanku, the Jinja Town Clerk asked Mbabazi to look for alternative venues saying both Kakindu Stadium and Kazimingi were unavailable” (…)”Heavily armed Police officers led by Haruna Isabirye, the police director operations and Edgar Nyabongo, the Kiira Regional Police Commander intercepted Mbabazi at Lubogo road on his way to Travel Hotel” (URN, 2015).

I think the reports and letters was interesting, right?

The world should know more about what is happening in Uganda, right?

Peace!

Reference:

Kirya, Donald – ‘Mbabazi in Jinja’ (10.09.2015) link: http://www.elections.co.ug/new-vision/election/1000571/live-police-assures-mbabazi-security-indoors

NewVision – ‘Police ‘force’ Mbabazi out of Mbale’ (10.09.2015) link: http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/673213-police-force-mbabazi-out-of-mbale.html

URN – ‘Police disperse Mbabazi supporters in Jinja’ (10.09.2015) link: http://www.observer.ug/news-headlines/39791-police-forces-mbabazi-out-jinja-disperses-crowd

 

Uganda – UPF Press Release on the Amama Mbabazi Illegal consultation meeting in Soroti Town today (09.09.2015)

Letter from the Electoral Commission to Amama Mbabazi – Re: Notice of Intention to Conduct Consultations (18.06.2015)