Opinion: Kusasira needed two weeks and she’s now the Queen of Kampala

“The position I have is more superior whether they want it or not. They have to formally write to me if they want me to meet them. To be a senior presidential advisor, it means I’m above them. They have to request me to go meet them to see how we can develop Kampala” – Catherine Kusasira (on the 9th November 2019).

It is 14 days since Catherine Kusasira was appointed as Presidential Advisor on Kampala Affairs. Already after two weeks she is now senior. Surely, that has to be explained to the 169 others who has the same capacity in the Republic. Three of them was appointed at the same time or in the same time. This being her, Jennifer Full Figure and Butchaman. These are all Presidential Advisors with new official cars.

Surely, the power goes to the brain of the public. She now thinks she’s so special and unique. That is just the way she is. Now, because of her role, she thinks she’s higher than the elected officials, the ones whose elected to represent the public. That she a bureaucrat and appointed leader are bigger than the Lord Mayors, the MPs and whoever else. That is the words she has.

A friendly reminder, when she was appointed:

“President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has officially appointed local Artiste Catherine Kusasira as presidential advisor on Kampala Affairs. Under this role, Catherine Kusasira will be charge of coordinating the young NRM recruits in the slum dwellings” (NBS Television, 26.10.2019).

It is not like Kusasira have done anything. Not that Catherine have a big name or proven her abilities to anyone. She has not even coloured her office or dirt on the wheels of the 4 Wheel Drive she gotten. Therefore, that she thinks so highly of herself is a bit far-fetched.

She should humble herself a bit. She only has it, because the President needs a few Ghetto passes and have some friendly faces from the ghetto. Catherine has a long way ahead. She can try to pull this stunt on Erias Lukwago, the KCCA Director or the Kampala MPs, but they will stop her. They will not accept this. She’s not bigger than the Minister of Kampala Beti Kamya and Lord Mayor Lukwago will also stand his ground. That’s why she’s crossing a dangerous path by doing this.

Kusasira better drop the act, she’s not a queen nor a super-high ranking official. She’s just another one of the needed stooges of the 170 Presidential Advisors. They are not that important. That’s why most of them are obscure and only fetching salaries. Therefore, she will soon be one of them.

Catherine should take it easy. Your not that grand nor great. You haven’t done anything to earns people respect. They didn’t even vote for you. Your not that special. You have been appointed a Presidential Advisor, one out 170. Kusasira, relax, your not a Queen, even Sheeba is more Royal than you ever will be. Peace.

Opinion: Too many cooks in Kampala…

The political landscape and the appointed leadership of Kampala is hectic. That is too be very frank. As someone who has seen this evolve over time. The amount leaders are staggering. Both with leaders in Wards, Divisions and district mayors combined with the City Hall. However, there is also the Kampala Capital City Authority too. So, there are so many heads and so little fish to fry.

Now, today there is reports from NBS Television about this:

“President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has officially appointed local Artiste Catherine Kusasira as presidential advisor on Kampala Affairs. Under this role, Catherine Kusasira will be charge of coordinating the young NRM recruits in the slum dwellings. Another local artist Mark Bugembe known by his stage name Buchaman was considered for the position of presidential envoy on Ghetto affairs” (NBS Television, 26.10.2019).

All of this is happening because of Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine and his support by youths and ghettos in- and around Kampala. However, doesn’t the President know how many people he have around him involved in the political landscape in the capital already?

First start with KCCA Executive Director Jamil Ssenyonjo, his just been there since January 2019. So, in the span of things his still fresh. You have also Ministry of Kampala and the State Minister Beti Kamya. Than, you have the elected Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago and lastly by not least, Presidential Advisor for Kampala Singh Katangole. Not to forget the seven MPs representing the city at the Parliament too. Therefore, there is not a lack of cooks, but maybe lack of prep to make it fine-dining.

Since, now the President is adding a sixth and possible seventh avenue of leadership and roles attached to Kampala. This being the Presidential Advisor on Kampala Affairs, Cathrine Kusasira. By my count, which might be off, she would be the 164 Presidential Advisor, the President has appointed and if Bugembe gets appointed it would be 165 of them. But that is just the tally at the State House.

What is more vital is that Kampala will have at least one more person in the central leadership keeping posted and involving itself in direct operations. That is what the Kusasira will most likely do. In whatever capacity and together with Ssenyonjo and Kamya, even pop-by Lukwago.

One dude that should be hurt by this is Katangole, who has maybe to young starlets taking his spot. They are watering down his efforts or whatever his doing at his day-job. Because, they will fight with him and stand-by the President as newly appointed leaders. Surely, that must hurt the old man and his cause. Whatever that might be, because its not like Mr. Katangole has made anything relevant for months.

What we do see, is that the President prepares for 2021 and acts swiftly with appointing people like this. If Bobi Wine was a fisherman, he would have fetched one them fisherman at Lake Victoria. However, his an artist and therefore, the remedy is another artist.

Well, he must really think the idle and disorderly of Kampala is ignorant and stupid. When he thinks this trick will change their minds about his rule. This isn’t the way, because they are tired of his ways. Putting Bebe Cool at a Ministry wouldn’t make a difference either. Only show how his trying populism and thinking he can counter the uprising with decoys. But that is what this looks like.

This is just another crony and another cook in the midst of things in Kampala. Oh Golly, let see how this goes. Peace.

Kampala is a political mess: That is not Musisi’s fault!

That the political map and the organization in and around Kampala is frustrating. Is because there is first the Kampala Capital City Authority, who is a legal administration and Executive Director Jennifer Musisi. The Second there is the elected City Hall with the Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago and the Divisions and Wards. Thirdly is the Ministry of Kampala and the State Minister Beti Kamya. Fourthly is the Members of Parliament representing the Capital City itself and the fifth the Presidential Advisor for Kampala Singh Katangole. Plus you have the added interference of the State House and the President, who micro-manage everywhere and especially in the Capital.

When you see this and the stages, you knew Jennifer Musisi had a hard job. Surely it was easier when she and the Minister Frank Tumwebaze impeached the Lord Mayor in 2013. So, they settled the score and one less item to pass through. Because you don’t need to be a wise-guy to understand there are to many cooks and to many procedures to do anything in Kampala.

You don’t only has the elected from the Wards to the Lord Mayor, the ones elected in Parliament with their reasons and wants of change. The KCCA has their jurisdiction, the City Hall has their, the Ministry orders people around and the Presidential advisor says whatever he says to the President, who suddenly intervenes as well. That is why I have always been worried about Kampala.

The hierarchy and the political landmines are everywhere. There are no leeway, as the monitoring and the checks and balances comes into question. The KCCA answers to the Ministry and orders the City Hall. The City Hall is ordered by both the KCCA and Ministry, while the City Hall is trying to have a saying in the KCCA and the Ministry, without getting anywhere. As they are both acting as the City Hall is a symbolic enterprise. Instead of having elected leadership to make changes, the President has appointed the KCCA and the Ministry to try to evaporate the City Hall. To some extent they have managed that.

We know that even the Division Mayors have wondered what their tasks are, as they have little or less to do. As well, as the Lord Mayor are feeling override by the KCCA. The KCCA was established to counter the opposition and get in their way. Combined with the Ministry of Kampala, they are never giving space and when the State House orders the Minister. The whole chaos are happening. Like the kicking out of vendors from Owino Park Yard. This was done by the will of State House on decree by the Minister and met with hostile reception from the Lord Mayor. This is a sign of a messed up system and not of building a better Kampala.

There are too many cooks and for a reason. The President wanted to ensure the value of the elected leadership get as low as possible, while his loyal minions will overcome them. That is seemingly working, but must be tiring and Musisi gave up battling with the Ministry, State House and City Hall. That is unforgiving job, but she carried it and did what the President wanted her to do. The only thing she didn’t manage was to usher Ragga Dee in as Lord Mayor. Peace.

KCCA letter: “Re: Installation of CCTV Cameras and re-organisation of the Boda-Boda Operations in Kampala” (23.03.2017)

Lord Mayor Lukwago appoints members of KCCA Public Accountants Committee (19.12.2016)

KCCA Terminates Philips Contract for Solar Lights (15.09.2016)

Opinion: It’s a House of Cards when it comes to the KCCA and the Elected Kampala Leadership

House of Cards: “a complicated organization or plan that is very weak and can easily be destroyed or easily go wrong” (Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary & Thesaurus, Cambridge University Press).

Kampala 22^nd July 2016 is a house of cards. It is evident, it’s in the wind, it’s a maze of joy and crappiness as the President wished it to be. As he let it rots and is a giant toll of unstructured tool of public an institution that doesn’t co-exist or co-operate ordinary as the selected and elected men and woman doesn’t even know their duty or their job. Hard to work when you don’t have a specific workload or deadlines, aye?

There been much speculation between the Chief Executive Jennifer Musisi, Cabinet Minister Betti Kamya, Presidential Advisor Singh Katongole and Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago. But today more stones started to roll for the already hectic enterprise as NRM like bloated and un-facilitated organizations to represent their past and present achievements.

If you though it was too irrational between the heads on the top it continues to next level. The City of Kampala has 5 Division Mayors who are actually feeling like “Lame Ducks”. Not so strange when Lord Mayor Lukwago is “Ceremonial Mayor”, what should the leader of Nakawa or Kawempe do?

These Division Mayors who feels like extras in Kampala are: Kasirye Nganda (Makindye), Ronald Balimwezo (Nakawa), Joyce Ssebugwawo (Rubaga), Emmanuel Sserunjogi (Kawempe) and Charles Musoke Sserunjogi (Kampala Central). These five Divisions Mayors seems to not have any powers, just the way the Lord Mayor feels and feels overruled by the Executive Director of KCCA and the Cabinet Minister. So when you have Three leaders over you and you are supposed to run it isn’t much left. Not like Dr. Jennifer Musisi is interested in giving way to Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, why should she give ways to authority’s legal and operative management of Kampala to the elected leaders in the Divisions?

This is a “House of Cards” for the Authorities as the divided and unsecure placement of the different government bodies and institutions, the Local Councilor’s in the Divisions must have less to do when even their Mayors are complaining about their ability to authorities anything in their constituency as Mayors. When already Lord Mayor has complained about his position and his role in the hierarchy of Kampala; how wouldn’t anybody under him feel?

The system is set-up for the fixed unelected men and woman of KCCA to overrule the Divisions and City Hall as the Chief Executive Musisi can just sweet talk with the Cabinet Minister Kamya as she did with Hon. Frank Tumwebaze. So for her it is nothing new and the Institutions are there, but the how operative are they really, that should be questioned and secondly; which ones does the President wish to work? Because he wants to silence the Opposition of Kampala and make them look bad. So they might picks his leaders instead of their own. Peace.

NRM Primaries continues and is impressed by how they do it!

If you want some intersting news and reality check just check how the ruling party of 29 years has issues in their own internal elections. The rigging is so functional that the district without pre-ticket ballots should be showered with gifts from the leaders of opposition. Why? Because in the areas without election rigging the leaders of NRM might have some real character and not just buying the votes or pre-ticking the ballots which is easy. The funniest kind of voting is happening in Hoima and Bunyoro today where the chief of the area has decided despite not having ballot-papers and election material they started to vote with WhatsApp. Read the reports from the elections today! They are magnificent.

Ofwono Opondo said this today: “Because of this, elections for special leagues of NRM have been pushed to 30th October. They will report on 29^th” (…)”Kiruhura elections have been halted after death of one of the contestants in un clear circumstances”.

Ofwono Opondo said also this: “The National Resistance Movement has so far spent 5.5 billion shillings on the ongoing primary elections countrywide” (Nakatudde & Labeja, 2015).

Ofwono Opondo says: “party agreed to extend voting time from 4 pm to 5 pm, because of delayed delivery of voting materials” (Nakatudde, 2015).

Mr Muhindo said this today: “I must say this before you without fear or favour because we have seen President Museveni lose at polling stations where policemen vote from. You must know that NRM is the sitting government which you have to support for your brighter future”.

Opondo there was pictures of the crashing car in Kiruhura yesterday, is that unclear circumstances?  ‪Mr. Muhindo support NRM for a brighter future? You guys can’t even hold a clean internal election! Look at the evidence for yesterday and today. 5.5 billion Shillings that is a lot of monies for such much postponement and rigging surely some of that has gone to the ones that tries to buy the votes in the district. Not only to the producers of the ballots in Kenya where NRM has bought the Ballot-papers and printing jobs from. Did you know that?

Rogers Mulindwa the head of media and public relations as apologies for the irregularities and he believes the NRM has infiltrated by moles (And he is not kidding!).

There has even been seen that Police officer in full uniform going into the election and voting. Surely the Ugandan police is not partial at all in this coming General election!

Wakiso:

The primaries for Busiro North have been called off after reports of a certain candidate not being on the ballot. Annet Bakunzi was not even on the ballot. To further the foolishness in the area MP Tinkasiimire actually scared voters while carrying a gun to get them to vote. Mr. Al Hajj Moses Kigongo went to Lwengo to calm protesters between the fractions. After this the elections has been called off!

Ajuri District:

There been reports of already stuffed ballot boxes before starting the actual voting and they have been sitting in the NRM Registrar’s Office.

Arua:

In the sub-county of Ayivu the ballot papers missed a lot of candidates. These we’re MP and Flag bearer for the area Ben Dravile, also Simon Avutia, Alex Adia and Moses Etukibo.

Adjumani:

MP Jessica Akabiku has had a team that was mobilizing in the area to a certain extent that they was caught buying voters and paying voters for their votes; as much as the police has a mobilization team in custody.

Bukedea District:

Lt. Gen. Charles Angina has arrest 7 persons alleged for election violence in the area. They are at the police station and in custody.

In the Kasoka Polling station there was delivered ballot papers for another district which is Bulambuli.

Rubabo County:

There been found ballot-papers supposable found in Bushenyi in Igara East. Yet, another place where they got the wrong ballot-papers!

Rubaga:

The people of the area are staring to questioning the election with the delays of material to their party secretariat so they can distribute the voting material in the county. Two hours later the famous Katongole Singh has cast his vote! And the election has started there.

Rubanda West:

It’s called off and postponed for the moment. That is because Henry Banyenzaki was taken with 16,000 pre-ticket ballot-papers. So there you have the reason why it was postponed.

Kitgum:

In Chua East there was a wrong person on the District Woman MP. The one set up on the Ballot was Lucy Rose Achan on the District Woman MP instead of being set on the ballot for the directly MP for the District. That has led to postponement of the local election.

Lyantonde:

“In Lyantonde district, a retired soldier identified as Sergeant Abel Kafuruka has been knocked dead by a convoy of four cars belonging to the incumbent woman MP Grace Namara Lutemba Kirumira which were reportedly carrying pre-ticked ballot papers. This came after the late tried to block these cars as he was waited for his candidate Pauline Kemirembe Kyaka to arrive. This incident happened at 1:00am at Seeta village in Kinuuka sub-county. The DPC of Lyantonde Rogers Kapere confirmed the incident and said the car which knocked the late is a premio registration number UAW 442L and the driver is on the run. Meanwhile two cases of assault have also been opened against the Kabula Mp James Kakooza for beating a Councillor of Kooki C in Lyantonde town council and a journalist attached to Vision Group Sadati Waligo who were following him as he tried to give bribes of 5000 notes to voters in Kaliiro sub-county. James Kakooza famously remembered for leading the debate for lifting term limits and his wanting academic papers which made the parliamentary vetting committee to throw him out of the Primary health care ministry where he was re-appointed lost the race for NRM district chairman and is now struggling to retain his parliamentary seat for the fourth time – (Source: Godfrey Ssali – Radio one).

Kibaale:

Ballot papers that were supposed to go Kibaale went to Luweero District.

Moroto:

The Ballot-Papers that was supposed to be sent to Moroto was forgotten in Kampala.

Soroti:

In Soroti the NRM-EC forgot to deliver Ballot-papers too, the same as happen to the people in Moroto. In Budaka District they got ballot-papers that we’re supposed to go Soroti.

Iganga:
Because of malpractices in the election members of the NRM has started to burn their membership cards in Iganga.

Isingiro North:

The Special Forces Command taken into custody two full boxes of pre-ticket ballot-papers for Kangwagye. MP Bright Rwamirama Kanyontore has also runs in the election for MP in Insingiro North have actually gone to the local market where he was trying to buy votes from the local police and UPDF guards in town.

Hoima:

They have found pre-ticked ballots in the town. Henry Muganwa Kajura the MP of Hoima has ordered the polling to start even without ballot-papers. There been rumors that they have accepted votes through WhatsApp.

Kabarole:

The voting material comes from Fort Portal Central Police Station to the districts in the area. And the journalist are not allowed to follow the elections.

Mbabara:

In the Rwampara Constituency had delivered voting materials as ballot-papers and ballot-boxes. The ballot-papers was pre-ticked for the one MP candidate and no other candidate to vote for, that was for MP Vicent Mujuni Kyamadiidi. The Ballot papers for local mayors in the municipality were not to get in the election.

Masaka:

Election in Masaka has halted. Kintu Musoke has found his car full of stones and kiboko.

Masindi:

Kahinda Otafiire the elected for Ruhinda County in Mitooma District has been seen on the Ballot-papers in the greater Masindi area.

Nakaseke:

The Nakaseke NRM Register Paul Tandeka has told that on the ballot in Nakaseke South had the Nakaseke North MP.

Lwengo:

The Police chief arrested the pre-ticket ballot-papers that was ticket for the candidature of Sarah Muwonge Nkonge for Woman MP. Sarah Nkonge and Isaac Sejjoba the MP of the Bukoto Midwest was caught with 7000 pre-ticket ballot papers!

George Mutabaazi and MP for Buyaga County Barnabas Tinkasmiire was put into jail over night for the vote rigging in the district. Michael Mbirimu is also into custody after tempering with the ballot boxes in the area.

Luweero:

Here there found ballot-papers belong to Kabale; yet another place where the NRM-EC has delivered the ballot-papers to the wrong location.

Nebbi:

In the sub-county Erussi the chairman Mr. Odubi has been found with pre-ticket ballot papers. There been found 3,000 pre-ticket ballot papers was ticket for the candidate of Allan Kajjik, which is the husband of the Minister Anite Evelyn. The local favored candidate Padyere will then be denied his possibility to run for the sub-country area because of the rigging. In the area there been people stopped from voting, but still they are registered to vote.

Rukungiri:

Actually a place where there is peaceful elections today. The place of the violence of FDC rally is a silent and peaceful paradise in the midst of the madness.

Kumi:

There been reports of violence and ambulances. Bloody clashes around the election! Apollo Mubiru was reporting!

Sembabule:

After yesterday’s violence and shootings there is rising a tension in the town today. Local NRM candidates of Nkarubo and Sekikubo have been publicly fighting.

Kabale:

There been reports that the Independent candidate of Riita Rhona has been on the ballot-papers.

Teso:

Been calm and well spent election in the primaries there. Good to hear that some areas has it peaceful.

Entebbe:

Voting today has been postponed. The ballot papers miss certain candidates for MPs and one of the mayoral aspirants is even missing on the same ballot-paper.

Ntungamo:

Found bunches of fake party cards and the DPC of the area shows pictures of it. They were found in running Mayor Jacob Kafureeka’s house. Matayo has been caught with over a 1000 fake NRM cards. On the MP ballot papers was pre-ticked for candidate Yonah Musinguzi.

Busia:

There been pre-ticket ballot papers in the districts for the candidate for Nekesa Barbra Oundo who is the state minister for Karamoja that she is contested for the seat in the sub-country Bugwe North. Also to top it off on the ballot papers delivered they didn’t have Gideon Onyango. Barbra Oundo Nekesa is contesting for re-election as the Woman MP for the Busia District. Because of these irregularities the election is now cancelled and will be postponed.

Kiyandongo:

In the district the police have put the NRM Flag bearer into detention. Mr. Bitera has been charged for vote rigging, in meaning pre-ticketing ballot papers. As he still is in custody the elections continues and the other candidates are Limtho and Tampo Amin. An Tampo Amin is the grandson of Idi Amin.

NRM Electoral Commission:

There been reported of heavy meetings in the main office of the election after how the Primaries are going in the country in Kampala.

First election results:

Ibanda:
At Rwengwe Polling Station In Kashangura -ibanda District,

NRM PRIMARY MP IBANDA NORTH
Hon Kyooma: 99votes
Hon Guma: 65votes
Hon Asimwe: 3votes
Hon Kyakunda: 1vote
Hon Kanyandeko: 0
Invalid: 4votes

IBANDA DISTRICT L5 CHAIRPERSON
Kajwengye: 16votes
Mutabaruka: 55votes
Godians: 96votes
Samson: 1vote

WOMAN MP
Kalisa Hav 154 Votes En Kiboijana 10votes

Yeah, this looks good before the General Election this coming 2016. Nope, the ruling party can’t even run a decent internal election without violence, rigging or the police involved. The amount of postponement should also lead to Dr. Tango Odoi to get a new job or might even go back to lectures in Makerere University. Instead of this rigging nonsense; Where it’s so much chaos and making the NRM is officially short for National Resistance Movement. Instead the NRM should be now short for National Rigging Movement. Dr. Tanga Odoi, do you agree? Peace.

Reference:

Nakatudde, Olive & Labeja, Peter – ‘NRM Spends UGX 5.5bn On Primaries’ (27.10.2015) link: http://ugandaradionetwork.com/story/nrm-spends-ugx-5-5bn-on-primaries?utm_content=buffer20156&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Nakatudde, Olive – ‘NRM Extends Voting Time In Primaries’ (27.10.2015) link: http://ugandaradionetwork.com/story/nrm-extends-voting-time-in-primaries#ixzz3pmAk3SaM