Ker Kwaro Acholi: Statement on continued Violence in Apaa (01.09.2023)

Opinion: The UPF is ill-advised here…

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Uganda: Chapter Four – A Victory for free speech, digital freedoms and media rights (10.01.2023)

Opinion: Museveni knows the ills, but he doesn’t’ diagnose them correctly…

“Bad politics in Uganda produced bad governments which have plunged the country into the present crisis” (Yoweri Kaguta Museveni – Speech at a rally at Kawempe, Kampala, Uganda Times, August 3, 1980).

If President Museveni had been a doctor the patient would either get more sickly or be close to it’s deathbed. Because, every cure he comes up with or adjustment of treatment, things are not getting better, but worse. The body isn’t accepting the pills or the medicine. Neither is it taking in the exercise or the regiment of food. It is just not working and it’s only getting closer to the final breathe.

Right now, Museveni is continuing to enact draconian laws. The latest addition is the Computer Misuse (amendment) Act of 2022 and it follows a string of laws, which is creating lack of rights to assembly, political party freedom and now attacks the liberty of freedom of speech. We know this has been with charging people with either “annoying the President” or “offensive communication”. We have seen how the Public Order Management Act has stifled public gatherings, demonstrations are banned, political party works are monitored and total earth-shattering exposure of the daylight oppression of dissidents. Kidnapping of dissidents, extra-judicial killings and torture is the modus operandi of the authorities. The whole system is gathered and laws are created to silence its critics.

That’s why I have to go back to a speech that Museveni did to the United Nations General Assembly in 1987. This is the start of his reign and early days of his rule. It is significant, because, the ideals of speech and what he was lecturing the world has fallen on deaf ears. His own ears and mind has totally forgotten about this too.

Just read this as a small part of the speech:

“A hungry man cannot be said to enjoy a full life~ a sick man is an incomplete human being. The fundamental human rights popularly championed by worthy organizations, such as Amnesty International, important though they are, may well be meaningless or irrelevant to the millions who are tortured from birth by hunger and disease. What we want to point out here is that it is impossible to guarantee the human dignity of the people in a state of poverty, disease, ignorance and economic backwardness. In these circumstances, such efforts will be rendered peripheral to the real human rights problems which, as I have said, are based on the consequences of underdevelopment. It is not enough to speak of human rights in the formal sense of freedom of speech, freedom from arrest and that sort of thing. We must also speak of freedom from hunger, freedom from disease, freedom from living under a leaking roof. There is no way that one can speak of just one quarter of the human rights of man and forget about three quarters” (United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) – Address by Mr. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda, 21.10.1987).

I am sure the people of Karamoja is agreeing in 2022 that it’s more important to eat than having the rights to speak. However, after 36 years in power he haven’t even settled this. We are not seeing someone who has developed or helped the basics. While he has achieved a total control and stifling civil society, political participation and whatnot. The President has diagnosed the political sphere but not secured the hungry man in the streets. No, the President has failed in his own mission.

President Museveni haven’t helped people out of poverty. Neither has the nation gone forward or been developed in nature, which he should have after all these years. The mediocrity of the Musevenism is so clear. That this old man hasn’t listened to himself in his youth. He has betrayed all the ideals and pseudo-intellectualism, which he professed to early in his reign.

The recent legislation that has been made in the 2010s and 2020s are just proving how his fallen from what he regarded as important early on. It just proves that the freedom of speech matters. It proves that the freedom of assembly matters. It proves that the freedom to congregate and to demonstrate matters. All the things that the President has taken away. He said these things mattered in the past, but now? He couldn’t care less and isn’t bothered by it.

The President can call people parasites and promise to crush people. Though if you retaliate, you will be punished and he will have another national address the next week. Museveni will not face these laws, but you the civilian? Your in the firing line and this regime doesn’t care. They are only in it to eat and take away everything from you. In the end you have the air your breathe and the taxes you pay them. If you go out of the “correct line” you will be captured and you will be lost forever. Peace.

Opinion: Besigye is only temporarily free…

Ever since the 12^th May 2022, Dr. Kizza Besigye have been in legal trouble, as his starting his “Waking-Up” Campaign against the rising commodity prices. That is done through the Red Card Front and with allies within the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC). Today, his released again on bail after paying 2,5 million shillings to be on bond. Which is the price of freedom and temporary liberty that his getting for the first time since 14^th June.

We cannot rest assure. This is only a temporary measure. Sooner or later the law will catch upon him. If you remember back in 2015 and 2016. Old cases was piled up against him just so he had to go to courts across the Republic while campaigning. This is why the previous charges and pending cases will be used against him again. If they will ever prove that he “incited violence” or whatever sort of counts of crimes he was supposed to have committed on the day of arrest. Since, it’s all going down to him protesting and directly moving into public spaces with the Central Business District of Kampala. Just so he can speak to people and get them involved in the struggle and fight with against the rising commodity prices.

We know the reasons of Besigye and his campaign. That is an honest one and a justified one. However, the state see it as a nuisance and a bothering element. A sort of activism that isn’t promoted or wanted in the Republic. That’s why a law has been created to possibly silence him and stop his campaigning in the public domain. This is why he isn’t even trying to comply with the Public Order Management Act (POMA) because he knows it was created with him in mind. That’s why the Anti-Besigye Act is coming into effect, every time he steps out of his compound in Kasangati and into the streets.

That’s why his return to his home today isn’t the end. Besigye is a journeyman and he will not stop until he has entered the other side. This man is so resilient and filled with the spirit in hope for change. That he will never stop until it happens. Until then he will continue and never let go.

Besigye will never relent or cease to operate. It isn’t in his character. He will fight on and continue the path he has already made for himself. That journey has taken him to prison so many time. He has been in bracelet a lot and been detained for all sorts of reasons. This will continue, because the state will not change or be any different towards him now.

No, he is an enemy of the state. Because Besigye represent everything the state isn’t and this is why his easily apprehended too. There don’t really have to be a reason or him doing anything significant. He just needs to be with a microphone or a loud speaker in a busy street. If he does that… his behind the slammer, yet again.

Some people might think… why does he bother? Why doesn’t he stop? Well… he doesn’t accept injustice and impunity. He fights against the military dictatorship and the junta in power. That’s what he does and he does so with peaceful means. This is why he never stops or retires.

It is commendable, but it must have cost him a lot. He has lost friends, family and such over it. Besigye has seen allies and activists betraying him. That could have gotten others to stop and maybe reconsidered if they should continue. However, Besigye have never looked and just continued to push through.

That’s why I know it is just a matter of time… before Besigye is back in Luzira, Kasangati Police Station, the vicious van, Nagalama Police Station or anywhere else for that matter. Peace.

Dr. Kizza Besigye to be behind bars until 1st July 2022…

““This is a purely political, rather than a judicial decision. The magistrate has not addressed himself to our justice system because someone is presumed innocent until proven guilty”- Lukwago after Buganda Rd Court denied Besigye bail” (Daily Monitor, 17.06.2022).

“Former FDC president Dr Kizza Besigye and political activist Samuel Makaku have been further remanded to Luzira Prison until July 1 following their arrest on June 14 as they protested in downtown Kampala over high commodity prices” (STV Uganda, 17.06.2022).

Just like the tumultuous May, the June and possibly July will be for Dr. Kizza Besigye. He has already charges and is re-charged again this week. Now, he will have to await further court dates and await new bail/bond hearing in July. Therefore, the last two months it has been hectic and he has meet the hostile authorities.

We knew this would happen, as he together with the Red Card Front has launched the “Wake Up” Campaign to get people to protest the rising commodity prices in the Republic. The authorities, the law enforcement and everyone else is going after him. That’s why his been in Luzira earlier this year and was re-arrested yet again. Now his spending another 2 weeks in prison for protesting and demonstrating for a just cause.

The justification for all of this is the usual charge of “inciting to violence”. The state will never produce any proof of that or disturbance of public order either. That’s because there is no time for that and neither is there any levels of public outcry to begin with. This is why his alone in this and with very few allies on the front-line.

Dr. Kizza Besigye has done this so many times before. Someone who knows the judiciary, the courts and the prisons. That is something that his been excelling and has vast experience with. That’s because of his activism and his political drive. His a savvy man and a man who can inspire. This is why the authorities silences him and stops him in his tracks. They don’t want him to actually galvanise or even get people to understand his mission. Because, if he does… then it could spark a sincere revolution, which haven’t been seen before.

However, for that to happen. He needs enough meeting points and ability to organize. Which the state is doing whatever they can to stop. This is why they silence him and makes him a felon. As he goes from one prison to another. He goes from one charge to the next. This is a never ending cycle and Besigye seems to never win.

We are seeing constitutional rights being thwarted and devalued on a massive scale. As the rights to protest and demonstrate is dwindling. It was only the beginning with the Public Order Management Act (POMA) and they have a steady use of the Penal Code to incriminate people for misdemeanour crimes, which they never investigate or have any official discovery off. Therefore, the cases dies and the political use of the courts is all for the public to see.

Besigye is a victim. His an enemy of the state just for acting upon his own conscience and what he deems as right. The police and the army is following him. They are awaiting the next time he speaks on the streets and they will capture him. Where they will brutally take him away and whisk him off the streets. As his a problem and a voice of reason, a voice that is countering the agenda and the memo’s of the State House. Peace.

Dr. Kizza Besigye arrested in Kampala Central Business District and is detained at Nagalama Police Station

“Besigye on Tuesday returned to the city center to resume his protests against rising commodity prices. He was however intercepted by dozens of law enforcement officers on Namirembe road where was addressing a crowd on top of his Toyota Land Cruiser” (Rest TV, 14.06.2022).

“Rt. Col. Dr. Kizza Besigye has been arrested & detained at CPS under heavy military deployment. Besigye was arrested at Mini Price, downtown Kampala rallying Ugandans to protest against the high commodity prices in renewed demonstrations” (97.8 Kazo FM Omushomesa, 14.06.2022).

Dr. Kizza Besigye has yet again come under surveillance and gotten into legal jeopardy because of his resilient and will to demonstrate for a just cause. The former Presidential Candidate and leader of Forum for Democratic Change are continuing the “Wake Up” Campaign against the rising commodity prices. As he again drove from Kasangati in Wakiso district to Kampala Central Business District. Where he started to drop off “Red Cards” or Flyers for the cause and talk in a public.

The ones that has followed Besigye knew it would end this way. There is no way in the world or within the current regime that a person like Besigye could protest or demonstrate without being arrested. That was inevitable. There was no way out and the authorities would apprehend him and take him away. They would impound the vehicle and take him far away.

It has been reported that Besigye was first taken to the Kampala Central Police Station and later whisked away to Nagalama Police Station in Mukono District. As there been reports that he was taken to Buganda Road Court and again dropped off at Nagalama Police Station.

We know that his now on a spiral of being kept in custody. Where he will fight for his freedom and return to the streets. As he will be produced and there will be a bond/bail application. We can expect it to be excessive and possible sky-high. In such a fashion, that you would think he killed a nursery or a kindergarten. Alas, all he did was doing his constitutional right of demonstrating for a just cause.

The final reports is that Besigye will spend the night at Nagalama Police Station. In this regard, everyone should expect this to play out for the next coming days and possible for a two weeks time or so. It depends on how the bonds will be made and if he again will spend a day or a few possible weeks in the slammer.

Besigye is just starting another stint and issues with the legal system, which is built to degrade and be a depressing ordeal for anyone who faces it. We know that Besigye is resilient and has a record amount of charges against him. He has more bond-notes or bail documents, which should be fitted to a part of a museum exhibition in the future. Because, no one has been in jail and detained as Besigye has ever been.

Time will tell, but will not be shocked if he sooner or later spends days behind bars in Luzira. Peace.

Amuru Land Grab: The Apaa Village evictions is never ending story…

“Legislators from the Acholi sub-region were blocked from accessing the Apaa township, bordering Adjumani and Amuru districts. The eight MPs from the region were in Apaa on a fact-finding mission following an arson attack, displacement, and reports of gross abuse of human rights over persistent land wrangles. These were instead met by police officers and army men heavily armed with teargas and guns who blocked their access” (NBS Television, 10.06.2022).

This here story goes back in time. So far back that we are now soon two decades since the state gave the land to the investor. Since then the Apaa village has seen the forceful state, evictions and other sorts of tactics of the state to takeover the land. In the Northern Uganda land has been taken and given to “industrial” purposes like the plantations for the Kakira Factory for instance. Therefore, the ideas of taking land for “development” isn’t new. However, the state doesn’t give anything in return to the evicted and only creates more internally displaced persons. Which is another crisis in the making.

The Apaa village and Apaa community deserves better. They have been victims, which shown by this quotation from a report in 2014.

“The case of land in Apaa Village (Amuru District) illustrates the suspicions of local people concerning the acquisition of large tracts of land. In 2005, when people were still living in the camps, land was given to Bruce Martin from South Africa who was investing in game reserves for sports hunting. When resistance from the community intensified, it is claimed that the government changed tactics and asked the neighbouring district of Adjumani to contest ownership and claim that this land actually lies within Adjumani District. The Adjumani District authorities then passed a council resolution giving the land away to the ‘investor’. Some participants in this research argued that the boundaries between the two districts of Adjumani and Acholi are clear, and that some district politicians are manufacturing the boundary conflict. During an interview with the District Chairperson of Adjumani, he showed a map of the area in dispute claiming the area belongs to Adjumani District” (Otim & Mugisha, P: 8, 2014).

What is striking is that this case has been a running case in the 9^th and 10^th Parliament. Now, it returns to prominence in the 11^th Parliament too. That means the Apaa village never been resolved, neither has the rights of the Apaa community really been heard. Secondly, the former MPs and Local Councillors haven’t been able to voice it up. This because it is a stalemate and the land is still up for grabs.

We know in 2018 that Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) did some evictions of people in the area. This was done with the support of the army or the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF). That just shows that the District Land Board and Area Land Board wasn’t able to petition or have a say. Therefore, the directives and the promise of land was already settled without considering the implications locally.

That’s maybe why the MPs are trying to investigate it. They are MPs representing the Acholi sub-region, but still not allowed to access the area. That says something about the what is going on and possibly could be furthering escalations. We can be rest assured that the State House has directed it and is silently behind it all. As they have promised the land for the investor.

It is tragic that this is happing to Apaa village. Wonder, if the President would have been so kind to an “investor” if it happened to his farm in Rwaiktura farm in Kiruhura district. As a Namibian “investor” was given land and for “development” purposes in the greater Mbarara area. Because, that would be the same and he would have to idly move without any compensation. That would have been a similar act of land grab, which is what’s happening here in Apaa village in the Acholi sub-region. Peace.

Reference:

Otim, David & Mugisha, Police Charles – Saferworld: ‘Beyond the reach of the hoe: The struggle for land and minerals in Northern Uganda’ (April 2014)

Opinion: Besigye is paying a to high fee for his freedom

“Dr. Besigye whisked away from CPS Kampala where he had gone to demand for his impounded vehicle moments after Buganda Rd court released him on bail at a fee of UGX 3m relaxed from UGX 30m by high court judge Michael Elubu!” (Ekyooto, 06.06.2022).

“Dr. Kizza Besigye,the Former FDC Party President who was earlier on arrested and remanded to Luzira prison, has been granted bail by the High Court after his bail fee was reviewed by reducing from the earlier UGX 30 million to UGX 3 million” (SpiceFM 89.9 Hoima, 06.06.2022).

Dr. Kizza Besigye who two weeks ago was on the streets and after over month of his “Waking Up” Campaign. As he is fighting on the streets and with the people to demonstrate against the rising prices on basic commodities. Since the inflation is growing worse and the salaries are not following the adjusted prices. Therefore, the public have to scrape by and has less purchasing power. So, the campaign is a justified one…

Though we know under the reign of President Museveni and his National Resistance Movement (NRM) no demonstration or protest is justified. No, sort of dissent or voice of reason, which isn’t the “high above” is worthy or deemed fit. That’s why the dissent and the rebellious Besigye is getting into trouble and been “felon” again for a while.

Besigye paying 3 million shillings to get his “freedom” is extremely high. It isn’t like he committed murder or actually burned down Kampala Central Business District. No, he just tried to get people to demonstrate and speak the public who was around Arua Park. That all he did as he dipped through traffic and was able to get out of house-arrest in Kasangati, Wakiso District.

It isn’t like he did something directly wrong. His within his rights to drum up protest and be vocal on the sidelines of streets in Kampala. The law enforcement is just taking away that right and stripping of his liberties. Which has become so common, that people can spell out the regulations of the Public Order Management Act (POMA) and the Penal Code(s) as well. Since, these are used against anyone who dares too and voices grievances in public spaces.

Besigye price for freedom is to large. This is just another matter of injustice. Just like his prolonged house-arrests, the pre-emptive arrests and the taking away of vehicles. The impounding of his vehicle and other gadgets. Which are just what the state does…

You would think Besigye was a danger to society. That his a serial criminal and villain of epic proportions. When all he is a political activists and a freedom fighter. His an actual renegade for justice and liberty, which he seems to never get himself. That’s because the system is built against him and the likes of him. They are all facing the law and become criminals for doing the bidding of a righteous cause.

Besigye is paying a price, which has already paid in ten-folds. Not only this bail or bond payment. No, all the time spent behind bars, all the charges and the bruises, which his skin has felt countless of time. He has suffered, been scorned and dealt an unfair hand. Still, he has played with those cards and tried to forge a way. A road that is never coming, a peaceful ending, which never seems to come.

Still, he hangs in and never gives up. That is resilience. That is inspiring. He deserves so much better, but somehow his ends up with a losing hand. Peace.