Uganda Law Society (ULS): Uganda Law Society’s Position on the Directive Banning Land Evictions without the Consent of the Respective District Security Committees (11.03.2022)

Opinion: Mr. President your late to the party…

I have a hard time believing that President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and the National Resistance Movement (NRM) will stop creating districts, sub-counties and whatever local government administrations in the Republic. They will never really cease doing so, because they constantly carved the Republic into tiny pieces. So, that every single Sub-County today can become a district in the near future. It should be a joke, but looking at history, than it isn’t far-fetched at all.

By seeing this one piece from the New Vision:

“In 1986 when NRM took power, Uganda had 33 districts which increased to 81 districts by 2008. The districts increased to 112 by 2011, but reduced to 111 after the Capital city ceased to be a district” (John Odyek, Mary Karugaba and Moses Walubiri – ‘25 more districts created’ 19.07.2012, New Vision).

Than my own calculation from November 2019:

The State has continued to create the districts and sub-counties. In 2016 there was 112 districts and by 2021, there will be 135 districts. As well as there was 1,403 sub-counties in 2016, while in 2021 there will be 2057 sub-counties.

With knowing this and the knowledge of the mushrooming state. There is bit a late to cry foul over more town councils and the affordability. When during your time the state has gone from having 33 districts to 135 districts in 2021.

Therefore, this warning seems a bit late:

“They are going to be too many and not affordable. Let the little money we have be concentrated first in maintaining security, building infrastructure(roads, railway, electricity, schools, and health centres) and not expanding administrative costs,”Museveni warned in November 28 letter to Butime. The warning by the president comes at a time when government recently announced the creation of 162 new town council that started being operational this year, whereas others will be operational by July 1, 2020” (Kenneth Kazibwe – ‘Museveni warns against creation of new municipalities’ 08.12.2019).

Because of this, I don’t believe the man. I really don’t believe the President and his motives here. It is weird that he has issues, when his made so many districts and sub-counties already. That creating further town councils only follows the modus operandi of the state.

Not like its a revolutionary idea from the state to make more. It would be more shocking if he started to merge sub-counties and districts. So, that it would be less districts and sub-counties in the Republic. In this current stage and time, that would have been positive and plans for actual change. However, than the devolution and the years of curving the districts. It would show the public that it was only political motivated and not really making government better.

That he warns about this in 2019 after 33 years in power and been so hyper-active with creating smaller entities. His surely the wrong man to signal the red-flag. Yes, the state cannot afford more town-councils and such. But that is because the state has already to many districts and sub-counties to pay for.

The state is already deficit financing, the mushroomed state, which the President and his men has created over the years. That is why, writing a letter this year isn’t solving anything or making a difference on the negative and expensive spiral, the President has started. The President knows this, but thinks this make him look smart. When it doesn’t, since his in charge of all these small entities and that will part of his legacy. He can cry now, but his crocodile tears are coming late.

He should have stopped before he created a 100 districts more in his time. Who knows how many sub-counties his created, but surely a 1000 by now. Than count the Municipalities and Town Councils, than you get humongous number. That is what bloated numbers sound like. Therefore, sending out warnings now is late from the old man, he should have done it long time ago, but he didn’t care. Peace.

Opinion: RDCs getting cars isn’t governing, but a cheap trick!

“The Minister for Presidency, Esther Mbayo has given out 65 cars to Resident District Commissioners (RDCs) from different regions to improve on service delivery. The RDCs who received the cars on Thursday constitute 50% of the total number of Resident District Commissioners currently deployed in the country” (Muhamad Matovu – ‘Minister Mbayo Gives 65 Cars To RDCs From Different Regions’ 22.11.2019).

There are 135 districts, which is operative in the Republic. This is November 2019. There will come more districts in 2020 and so-on. As the Republic is made into smaller and smaller units as political favours and for personal gains of the political elite. That is well-known, as well as a measure done to establish good grounds of new constituencies with no voting history ahead of any given election.

With this in mind, there is an up-coming election in 2021. It is not the first time the National Resistance Movement (NRM) run government have given cars to its officials. They are not only giving that to the MPs and the cabinet, but also anyone in association with the State House. Therefore, the State House and the Parliament should have a car-lot and a car-dealership, if they were supposed to run it smoothly and cheaper.

Because, back in 2015, the state bought 111 cars for District Chairpersons. Therefore, this sort of enterprise happens on near-regular basis. Just as the state bought cars for the CPC in Parliament in this calendar year. So, this is a business the state knows and deals with a lot.

The special thing about this, is that service deliver is important with a car. Not with a mandate or actual factual work that the RDCs do. The Residential District Commanders, the ones overseeing and oversight of the government works in the districts. This is 65 cars and in total, that is 50% of the appointed RDCs. This means there is 130 districts who has RDCs by what the Mbayo states. That means the state lacks funds, manpower and appointed leadership for 5 districts alone. Which is a rare move.

The President has the opportunity to give broader mandate, to give funds and opportunities to the RDCs to actually do more. But thinking a car would make a big difference is naive. As they have the same mandate, the same lacking structure and weak local government. Just today, the President and the state gives state officials cars, instead of building viable institutions.

The state is acting like a car dealership, not a governing institution nor following up on obligations in the districts. This is a cheap ploy for poor districts, for lacking funds and for not investing in all the created micro local-government units, which is now 135 districts and so-on. Where the RDCs and others has supervision and mandates to work. Therefore, there should be more than cars and more than a quick fix, which this is and nothing else.

To buy 65 cars will not fix the districts, it will only give for a short amount of time, mobility for some few persons in association with the RDCs. It doesn’t make the roads being built, schools being furnished nor town halls run properly. That is done over budgets, policies and actual governing being done.

To govern is an art and giving away cars isn’t building a nation, it is only cheap fix. You don’t give an alcoholic an beer, you take them to rehab and stops the availability to beer. Instead, here the state gives another beer and hope that it doesn’t catch on. Sooner or later, these cars will have a breakdown. As the cars are hit by driving miles upon miles every year.

Therefore, this isn’t it. Other than a rundown, over used idea, which isn’t scratching the surface. Peace.

Mzee is halting the creation of new districts: Only to do it right before next General Election!

It is a hard time taking President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni serious, when he comments like today about creating districts. As he is the King of creating these, he has made a dozens in his span of Presidency. Museveni when he took power in 1986, there was 33 districts and by the o’clock 2018, there is registered 127 districts. Therefore, the map of districts and Local Government institutions have become a hectic mess.

That he is asking for halting today, only comes as a sign, that he wants to save of the funding and creations right before the next General Elections. Like he usually does. It is hectic to do it in the midst of term, but do it by the end. Also, as a way to sponge cronies and mend old wounds. Is a better way, than openly bribing during mid-terms like now.

“About creation of districts, some of them were created because of ethnicity and others for geographical reasons like Moyo and Adjumani which are separated by water. But some people now want districts for greedy reasons. We can halt creation of districts for some years if we agree. We are spending 40% of the budget on the wage and administrative bills. They can wait till we have more money” (Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, 09.11.2018).

So, when you see that within the basis of 32 years rule. That he has in general created 2,9 or 3 district per year. This shows the intent to carve up the districts and bases, as a political game and also sufficiently make the local government bases so small. That the President easily manipulate and stipulate the results. Especially carve into districts where there is a huge opposition, or where he needs more support. As he lacks the basics of ordinary state delivery and even good governance.

That is usual end-game and most likely this time too. As there are already talks of carving up other districts, like Kasese and Budama (Tororo County) Districts, which has speculations about. Nothing is carved out yet, but there are plans to do so. That is why even Members of Parliament and local politicians has made plans in these districts. Now, the President calls them out.

However, he is the man that has made races and made it a goal to make small benign districts out of everywhere. That is why there is race to become of one of the three, every year made by the President. They want to get a slice too and that shouldn’t be shocking for anyone. Peace.

Resident District Commanders Re-Shuffle: A list of Honourable Mentions! (October Edition) Part II

I just had to go over the list of one more time, as there are plenty of names and figures in it. The Residential District Commanders are the ones whose supposed to implement the government agenda. That is why they are there as appointed officials, which the President directly put forward their agenda for their work and also oversee the elected officials and civil service there. That is why the manner and the acts of the RDCs could be important, as they are the ones reporting to the President.

For instance the former Kitgum RDC Captain Okot Santos Lapolo are re-appointed for the Gulu District, which has been a career RDC first for over 12 years in Kitgum, before he has now been in Gulu since 2016. In early February 2018, he closed Radio Mara as he ordered the arrest of Choice FM editor there.

The Fred Bamwine, the former RDC of Nakawa, Rubaga, Bukiwe, Butambala and Ntungamo has now been appointed as the RDC of Mukono. He has addressed the amount of Ghost Workers in Ntungamo District in 2014. He is a career RDC, whose been often moved and not worked long. As shown by all the districts he has worked in, in 2017 he said: “What happens to districts that don’t get certificates of compliance so that they don’t do the same things,” (CSBAG – ‘Poor infrastructure, weak accountability hurting Local gov’t service delivery’ – CSOs, 18.09.2017).

The Former FDC Deputy Speaker of Kumi, Ambrose Oronia, gone from being a Deputy RDC of Amuria and is appointed to be RDC of Ngora district. She went from the FDC to NRM because she “wanted to serve the people”. That was back in 2008.

The newly appointed Rukungiri RDC Dan Kaguta is the former Wakiso District RDC. Kaguta has been called the brain behind the NSSF Bribe case of the IGG in the 2014, where he was an accomplice with Jane Mpeirwe. Back in 2012, he was involved in possible extortion of the KCCA. So this man has a record himself and been steady in questionable cases, however, that doesn’t stop the President from not appointing him.

Then there was Wilberforce Tukei, who lost the NRM Primaries in 2015 to become the NRM MP Flagbearer for the Bukedea district. He is now appointed as the RDC of Soroti District. He is the former LCV Chairman of Bukedea. Wilberforce has also fallen out with Rose Akol in 2015.

Richard Andama Ferua has been taken with forged academic papers (2006), jailed over rental arrears (2011) and jailed for debt in 2016. The former Arua LCV Chairman are now appointed to become the RDC of Yumbe District.

Then you have Maj. Ret. David Matovu, who is the former RDC of Mukono and Masindi. Before that he has been appointed as early as in 2008 by the President to be Chairman of the University Council at Makerere University.

In 2006 was the former Adjumani District Chairman Nixon Owole freed after being jailed for defilement. He has also been the LCV Chairman of the same district since. He is now appointed the RDC of Tororo.

This was just 8 more persons on the long list of appointed RDCs. Therefore, hope more people scan through and shows the past of the people, that Bosco put his trust in. Peace.

Resident District Commanders Re-Shuffle: A list of Honourable Mentions! (October Edition)

Again, there is shuffles within the Residential District Commanders, which not to long ago, he bitched about their uselessness, however, with that in mind. He still uses them and has them in his upkeep of his growing state apparatus, which he controls with an iron fist. Today, the list of the shuffles was released to the public. This changes was sanctioned by Bosco on the 30^th September 2018, but is public now on the 3^rd October 2018.

Former Tororo RDC Martin Oroch is moved from there to Budaka district, he is famous for saying this in July 2016: “He stressed that some of the students are in advanced stages of HIV/Aids so parents should not “waste their resources” on them. “I have heard about situations where parents have wasted resources to raise tuition and before completing university education, they [students] die. Parents should be aware of their children’ status before undertaking risks,” Mr Oroch said amid boos from parents and students” (Joseph Omollo – ‘Don’t take HIV-positive children to university – RDC’ 10.07.2016, Daily Monitor).

The Former Flying Squad Commandant Herbert Muhangi is now assigned as the RDC of Isingiro. Darius Nandinda continues as the RDC in Kabale, where his bodyguard earlier this year shot a civilian. Because of his loyal contribution through the election period, where his orders was to seal of a local radio station in 2015 and arrest panellist who differs from the stance of the government.

Lt. Joe Walusimbi is moved from Masaka and reassigned to Kasese district, one of the things done while his tenure in Masaka, was to close down the Mutesa 1 University after student riots in 2017. There has also been Taxi Strikes in 2017, as the local authorities has issued an illegal tax on them. Therefore, it is interesting times ahead for Kasese.

The former deputy RDC of Kasese Aminadabu Muhindo has been reassigned to Kiruhura district. This man is famous and infamous for working directly for the NRM Program, to an extent where he has warned radio presenters, parents to keep their properly for schools and engaging the army for the Kasese attacks on the Rwenzururu Kingdom. Therefore, this man will do whatever it takes to please the government. He is also a director and a board member for the Kilembe Investments Limited (K.I.L).

The former RDC of Kasese Maj. James Mwesigye have also gotten reassigned to Mbarara district. So the ones overseeing the Kasese skirmishes and clashes have been moved without any injury.

This are just a few on the massive list, but how easy it was to find weird and special events concerning this promoted individuals or re-assigned, is if the crimes or questionable behaviour would have demoted someone had been natural. Not be re-assigned to another district. Peace.

Finance Minister Matia Kasaija letter to UIA ED Jolly Kaguhangire to “Hand-Over Office” (09.07.2018)

More Musevenisms as the cronyism is real!

Danger, danger, be alert, this here will be sinful text. As the sins of the minds and spirit is shown again and again. By the same system and the same lord, nothing is changing only the names on the boards and on the appointments, but the same insignificant attributes continues. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has during the last appointed and re-appointed twice Residential District Commanders, he has also redirected appointments directly at Makerere University and to top it off, he has sacked and re-appointed a Executive Director and board for Uganda Investment Authority (UIA). All of these within days.

What is striking is how the State House is all involved in these matters, how connected the actions of the President and his will is the main factor in the decision made by the state. The government is de facto the President, we all knew this, but with the RDCs, UIA and Makerere, the Ministers and the Ministries, the experts and whatnot’s all have to wait for the blessing from Museveni.

It isn’t weird things are going slow, as the rubber-stamping son-of-a-gun in Entebbe has to deliver the verdict and put his seal on the matter, as he has to validate and secure every single appointment, even the janitors are surely hand-picked by the President. This is the proof of cronyism if there ever is one. The way he has to single-handedly decide and give people merits. After a month of speculation and a claim from Hon. Evelyn Anite that the Executive Director of UIA was corrupt and now the President has re-appointed someone else, while the former ED is challenging the merits of the case. It is really astonishing.

Just like the one day, a new batch of appointments and redeployment of RDCs came about, a day later revealed that some had been dead, one all the way back to 2014. Therefore, kind of hard to be a RDC when your deceased. That is why, on the 15^th June 2018 the new list came into circulation and people started to speculate. However, by 24^th June 2018, the RDCs fraternity had to be calm down await new orders, as the list was changed and by 25^th June 2018, Uganda Media Centre had to write similar to calm it down. It just shows the madness in system and the erratic behaviour has consequences on the ground.

Jolly Kaguhangire, the now former ED of UIA is the crown-example of cronyism in the time of Museveni. The relative of the First Lady Janet Museveni. Who has been the ED since 2017 and now fired in mid-2018. Certainly, the stand-off, the whistleblower to the IGG and the whole farce will continue and persist as the family squabble will hit the headlines. There aren’t anything, which that will stop that at this point. The UIA is used as pawn in a game and the reality is that the Musevenism is the end-game.

This here will not end with the squabble between the board of directors, neither the IGG or even the Minister Anite who has used her role as the one with oversight to look into the activity of the UIA. But this will end with either ruthless activity, re-appointment or even being posted somewhere else, the ED of UIA is a family member, she will in the end be shielded. However, this shows why the family sagas and the interference are dropping the level of integrity and transparency, as they are obliged to be in-charge. Not on merits or skills, but because of their entitlement to the first family.

This is cronyism at its worst, where the ones either in family or loyal to the President get favours, either as RDCs or as Executive Director of some sort of government Authority. It is just a play of games with the taxpayers, with the citizens and the ones hurt is the innocent, while the elites created by the President continues to merge and surge. There isn’t anything that they will not do to get the cash-in-full. Peace.

Uganda Media Centre: Press Release on RDCs (25.06.2018)

Uganda: Office of the President – Press Release concerning RDCs Fraternity (24.06.2018)