Mbabazi is all of a sudden in the wind!

“in the wind: to disappear, unable to be found” (Urban Dictionary)

He has been the shadow and the loyal subject under the National Resistance Movement and as one of the men has followed President Museveni for decades, until his demise and his lost position of both Secretary General of the NRM-O and the Prime Minister post. Before that he had been a minister and also a long-serving member of the Movement.

Amama Mbabazi went from being the next in line to being an outcast. He tried to become the flag-bearer and presidential candidate in the Movement, but they wouldn’t relieve or give way for anyone else then three decades running president. So he was left out of the party, even as his membership still was there. Still, with that the The Democratic Alliance (TDA) allowed him and Gilbert Bukenya to stand as Presidential Candidates. Mbabazi achieved it with fielding the opposition parties and get Besigye to abandon the Opposition alliance. Therefore there was to major opposition candidates against Museveni. Both of them former allies and close knit in the Movement.

Besigye was the offensive and strong candidate, the man who gained the people and got the crowds that showed his popularity. Mbabazi started strong, but didn’t have the same amounts, but Besigye had been running many times before against Museveni, Mbabazi was a first time against his former boss. Mbabazi got to taste tear-gas, lose his allies, get supporters detained and even getting harassed by the police force for holding preliminary rallies. The reality of the code of conduct that the Movement has had for decades was something now the Mbabazi – Go Forward got to taste.

The sour and bitter taste of getting on the side-line of the Movement, getting their treatment and their recognition, the only attempt of some peaceful transition and smear of democratic behaviour was letting the Election Petition from the Amama Mbabazi legal team getting accepted even as it entered the Constitutional Court close to 30 minutes over the deadline. The rest was well rigged and malnourished to fix Museveni another term. Keep up, business as usual.

Mbabazi has after the election had meetings with the President, with many suggestions and wondering how come. I don’t really pound on that, as he was even pragmatic at the Presidential Debates of still being member of the Movement, while still running as an own flag-bearer in the TDA/Go-Forward outfit. Therefore I had giant issues that he run as an opposition, but still was a member of the ruling party. That doesn’t make sense and doesn’t seem reasonable.

So the NRM member was running on Opposition ticket. Seems foolish right that Norbert Mao and others accepted that request and dignified his approach? But, when darkness has been running for so long, a leaf of hope can resurrect a forest? Well, Amama Mbabazi didn’t run circles around Museveni. He just tangoed and made sure to make a good public figure.

His approach was more use cool designs, try to be a populist politician and hope he took some of the crowds of long-serving opposition. He really didn’t reinvent much or even sell his story strong, because who remember what sort of campaign the Go Gorward Group and allies did run on? I do not remember a single thing of what he did really stand for or what was his grand mission?

 

Mbabazi went underground or silent, nearly a visible character or public figure, as he wants a relief of public dedication behind him. Still, the rumoured visit or meetings with Museveni, proves that Mbabazi really never left, but was more of staged paradigm. You can wonder if he will have the same fate as Bukenya, suddenly be offered a senior position inside the NRM-O?

So that he can be compensated and silenced, not telling stories of old or even scorns the world with the realities of the inner-workings of the Movement. Since he is still paid by the Movement, he will not talk or disobey the President. Even if Museveni did scalp his ambition, and his dream of achieving, the executive position of Uganda. Certainly, the TDA was not built or had the machinery to conquer the movement-based Electoral Commission, neither was the quickly built organization around the Go Forward. Mbabazi wasn’t prepared with party apparatus to counter the Movement. The FDC had 10 years of building a party, Go Forward was months old and not allowed to hold preliminary meetings.

Mbabazi’s attempt was flawed, but dire as the proof of the invalid execution of NRM-O and Museveni who doesn’t care, because he is the only man with a vision. Mbabazi didn’t have his vision, since Mbabazi is Mbabazi and not Museveni. That is simplistic, but still a fact.

Mbabazi as long as he is a NRM-O member, an insider who is partly outcast, because of his wish of higher public office and that he wanted to take his masters place. President Museveni would not accept to lose his place and be succeeded. Succession has never been in the works of the NRM-O or the ruling regime, so that Amama Mbabazi thought he would exchange the current leader was failing from the beginning. The reason behind why Besigye had to start on his own on the outside of the Movement; the same Mbabazi was doing.

So what is up next is in the vision of Mbabazi and if he want to risk his lavish house, as he lost one of his cars as his place in parliament went away after the election. What else of Parliamentary perks he has lost is certainly a few. Other investments or ownership is only known by him and the movement, as Mbabazi wasn’t the most frugal MP. Mbabazi was known for his corrupt and grafting ability while being in power. So his wealth is built on agreements and his close-knitted community while being inside the Movement. Therefore he must know a lot that Museveni doesn’t want out. Therefore as long he is silent, he doesn’t have to fear, but if he would talk or release the intelligence, even if he would drop knowledge on certain older scandals, he could damage the Movement more.

Still, with his membership and dialogue with Museveni. Show’s that Mbabazi even though not official part of the leadership anymore in the ruling regime. Isn’t totally out of the picture or out of the elite, he is just silent relief.

So what do you think Mbabazi is up to and scheming? Is he done as political figure or will he brought into the NRM-O again? Peace.

Opinion: What will the Silent Mbabazi do?

There was once upon a time a lot of fuzz around this one politician, as he even at one point tried to become the Presidential Candidate in the National Resistance Movement, even when Museveni is still breathing; he tried to take over the NRM as a Secretary General and as a Prime Minister in the cabinet under Museveni. With that trying he was deflected and demoted from his positions and Dr. Ruhakana Ruganda, his childhood fried as the PM and Justine Kasule Lumumba as the Secretary General of the NRM.

So he seemed at that point to be lost with scarecrows and dustbins, as one of many men that the Museveni have left astray and left to dwindle. Even as he was demoted and had a ruckus internally in the NRM before the pre-election period of the General Election 2016, which led to his fall.

Now that his PM cars have been taken in, surely his pay has been cut off and other fees and Parliamentary bonuses are gone. While he surely have some money from the embezzlement projects of the past, as he has been on list of the most corrupt Ugandans year after year, it isn’t a secret, it is a fact. And the reason why he hasn’t been taken in or gotten trouble in court was because of his close ties to Museveni and the rest of the elite who also happen to eat of the plate where he was having a bargain.

The last big blow and act of his Presidential Candidacy was the Election Petition in Supreme Court as FDC was blocked with helicopter, besieged and even detained. While Mbabazi where house-arrested, but he had enough lawyers to hire so they; the government couldn’t monitor them all as they we’re busy putting in the hourly pay for the guards at Kasangati. So Mbabazi we’re able through his lawyers to deliver the petition 15 minutes after the deadline time. Even if the affidavit and witnesses disappeared like banana-flies and the nurture of yet another term for Museveni.

Mbabazi was able to collect the smaller parties and certain endorsements early in the campaign, like Otunnu and Mao, but they didn’t have their whole parties behind them, as the Opposition either we’re accommodating Museveni as UPC or parts DP did the same; while the Central leaders like Otunnu and Mao risked their own political capital in the former NRM Cadre. The Democratic Alliance had other smaller parties, but they did not have an impact as they wished to have. Especially when the FDC pulled out and Besigye felt he was the strongest Presidential Candidate besides Museveni, which was true.

With all of that in mind, as he has played his cards and is left on the table, he is not in parliament and will not be a Politician. He might be able to live on interest as he should have been able to fill his coffers in the years in the NRM elite. Still the Go-Forward Organization is either something he plans to build-on or if not, he has to forge new ways to reach the potential he seemed to have out of the gate.

Now he is in a pickle and in a blurred line where he has to decide, is his principals or is his own political life important; does he want to be outsider and opposition? Or does he want to be a loyal NRM cadre under Museveni? If you are in the NRM you have to be loyal to the vision of Museveni and nothing else, something he expect of the whole country, but trust me; he is not only man with a vision in Uganda. If there we’re so there wouldn’t be any businesses and ideas in Uganda, as entrepreneurial as the Ugandans can be; that is cannot true, Mzee.

Let be clear he can now either go the way of Mr. Mahogany, who after joining in the TDA went crawling back with broken heart and kissed the ring of Museveni; while doing so he would get a position on the NRM National Executive Committee as he is a “historical” in some points. If not he have to go the way of Besigye and create a strong opposition party with members and supporters allover. The last part is hard work and takes dedication. As if he does the latter… and if the Museveni would let him come, as I am sure he does, as he forgives, but never gives them the space and opportunity they had in past.

The last piece of political play he did was to offer Besigye lawyers for his sham trial in Moroto now in May, but he did not take the offer for special lawyers for his quick trial in (Nakawa Magistrate Court) Kampala before he was driven back to Luzira. Certainly he still tries to play a role in the Opposition, but does not have a platform or the reach that others who have danced in the wilderness for longer time.

That Mbabazi have hard days ahead as he is not naturally in the headlines, he is not in the NRM Elite, not a direct part of the FDC wrangles with the vote rigging, though surely his numbers we’re duped too. Still, he have been more silent and not made himself an opposition figure. Joseph Mabirizi has done more to take a stance against the whole shenanigans. Mbabazi went to court with his petition and after that been very silent. He tried in waiting period of collecting evidence to travel to Kasangati, but was sent back to his home and house-arrest. Little have been done since, just utter Silence…

The Silent Mbabazi, not the ones in the headlines, not the one with the answers and intelligence of the NRM, and why is he like this, is he worried? Is he unsecure of his future? Does the knowing that he either has to build on rocks and not on already fertile land scare him? He has been used to drive in sponge in the waters of others and drain the gold out of it. Now he can’t as he is alone leader of Go-Forward, and if it is more than a fluke and real organization, he has to invest and start to use loyal supporters and build his party. If not go back on his knees and kiss the ring of Museveni.

What will the silent Mbabazi do? Peace.  

In Kampala tensions is rising; EC cooking ballots; Military and Police in high gear; as incumbent men doesn’t accept defeat!

The tense and tearing reports that are reported and the comments made while the Electoral Commission is witholding informations as they are the only once allowed to check the votes and declarations forms from the polling stations; as they want the information of the public on their own and not in the public domain; as the votes are a civic duty done by the public and the once voted in is supposed to represent the public will. So hat Dr. Badru M. Kiggundu says: “Anyone who mimics Electoral Commission mandate of declaring results is likely to find themselves in trouble.”

As 30 Military Police Men armed with AK47 telling residents to get home and stay inside while they take the ballots in Kisasi in Kampala.

As the NSSF leaders are telling their staff to go home and get safe as the tension of the town is boiling as the streets are filled with military police and armed police officers, mambas controlling the streets. This here is no fiction this here is the will of the President Museveni.

The continuation of striking rigging has happen again at another Polling station in Kampala as in the St Peters Nsumbi-Nansana where the public reacted to the late delivery of the ballot-papers and voting material for the second day in the row. As the Electoral Commission has a blatant regard to the people of the area, as the public and citizens was angry at the way the authorities treat them; ended with Police shooting at the public and the ballots hasn’t even been casted at the polling station. “The new reports is that 12 Polling stations in Kampala where people not have the ability to go to the polls in this elections” (Uganda Radio Networks, 19.02.2016).

Police and Military has taken over Kampala as pictures of police in heavy gear shown in Bwaise as well. Even Badru Kiggundu the chief of EC has said about the places that has burned ballots: “They can wait until 2021”. If you rig this elections hope you can rot in Luzira until 2021 Mr. Kiggundu!

As the Army and Police is going at Talley Centers and addressing the public with guns and tear-gas. The NRM has this message: “Comrades we encourage you to keep the peace and avoid getting on the wrong side of the law”. The law the decides if you’re not one of us you can lose everything in a heartbeat, you are such gentlemen especially right after the polls, when the public you been rallying for months have tasted the tear-gas and live bullets from the police, military police and army men. You can be so proud of your comrades who creates violence!

As this happens the UCC calls in the public and says that those that uses VPN to access Social Media that the UCC monitoring it and sees them, and will call it treason. Then 1,5m people are breaking the law and committing treason against the state… means that UCC must create a big state prison or sending them to one of the islands at Lake Victoria. Since that is massive amount of people; want to wish UCC a great job clearing that slate.

Police Spokesman Patrick Onyango says; “We are holding Dr Besigye for his safety. We fear he might be crushed to death by his supporters.” Something is wrong in that picture as the FDC doesn’t have the issue it the police who struggle with the publics reactions to the support they have for Dr. Kizza Besigye. That is the truth and the Police, and the authorities cannot live with it. Deputy Spokesman Polly Namaye says on NBS TV: “Besigye, Mutu and others were not arrested today. Rather their ‘mobility was inconvenient’”. She must make IGP Kale Kayihura so proud where he is delegating the charade today.

The reports from Kampala coming in as the demonstrations in different parts of town has happen and even tires been burned in the middle of the street. The tally of diseased citizens is up to 5 and one policeman. Six people too much as they all have family and friends. Dying for the ballots and for the reasonable results after the elections it is not worth it. It is not worth it to be hurt by tear-gas or detained as the people are suffering in the dictations from above, as the regime is struggling with seeing the power slide-by and change that is coming.

Inside information on how NBS TV is instructed to drop the regimes messages to the public:

“Keep my identity to yourself but truth is, NBS seems to be under an “order from above” influence. All the results we are relaying are from Kasule Lumumba. The situation is so tense here because SFC is all deployed in our office here. Hope you know what I mean”.

In Kamuli the Tally Center has been closed to the public as the place is guarded by armed police force and heavy military deployment of the building. People cannot get information there to verify the results of the ballot count or tallying as that is not a public affair, but a Police and regime controlled affair.

In Rukungiri the public goes mad as the Police stops them from entering the Talley center in town as the results are about to change from last night, as even monitors on the inside has announced that they will put the numbers in from the declarations forms again; as the first batch of numbers has to be crunched again. Minister of Information Jim Muhewezi has stopped the people with Special Forces Command reacts to the people’s reactions and shooting in the air as they attack his car!

Defense Minister Crispus Kiyonga of Kasese is not happy with not being popular in his own area in Kasese. So the issues that he will not verify the numbers and tally result of the votes. The public of the town is displeased with the actions done by the incumbent as the police and military police share their bullets and tear-gas on the citizens as their will doesn’t matter.

In Gulu breaks into CHAOS as the local Talley Centre proclaim that Jacob Oulanya declared the winner and the MP seat of the area (New Vision, 19.02.2016). The locals are angry as they feel betrayed by the ones counting the ballots and stealing the election in the area.

Even UMEME Limited Power Company are serving their master today:

“Power has been switched off to work on broken wires at Yesu Amala T/C . affected areas. Namugoona, Part of Nakibinge Rd, Nansana Jenina, Nansana Church of Uganda, Nansana Yesu Amala, Nansana Police, Part of Ochieng,  Part of Nabweru Rd, Nansana Kabumbi,  Part of Kyebando SDA Church, Nansana Masitowa” (UMEME, 19.02.2016).

As the regime continues with attacking democratic values and the public will at amp speed Andrew Mwenda has speak his peace: “Electoral Commission has been under immense pressure from Museveni hold free and fair elections”. The tally and numbers of bullets and tear-gas canisters in the street; shows that they have not delivered and secondly the peace has been far away as the hours pass, the fair is not even close as the NRM-Regime has run the pre-election period as a wild west and giving hard time to the opposition.

US Embassy in Kampala statement of actions today:

“We strongly condemn the disproportionate police actions taken today at FDC headquarters in Kampala. We call on security forces to exercise restraint. The Ugandan people have exhibited patience despite their frustrations during the voting period” (U.S. Embassy, 19.02.2016).

If you thought it was only Leaders of Opposition who is under fire today and civilians supporting them. Even Gen. Katumba Wamala has been confirmed arrested. The loyal UPDF general who has followed orders and taken charge of the army during the last months; even during the pre-election period spoke well about how the Army will support the Electoral Commission in their mission. He was taken yesterday and taken to secure location around Entebbe during the night.

There will be more to this story as the actions unfolds and the stories from the ground hit the wall with a bang, as the regime using the security outfits to spread fear and take control of political partisan affair, as they can’t trust other things than guns, President Museveni forget that the world sees and as I able to get this information this quick 10.000 miles away and knows that he is rigging numbers in Amuru and for instance dropping lies on NTV earlier today saying NRM have won Amuru. Proves what is wrong and they should fear that the truth will be dropped and 2011 losing will not happen as the cooking of number is not accepted this time around. Peace.

Amama Mbabazi says: “the Police is used to resolve Political Issues” (08.02.2016) – (Youtube-Clip)

“Amama Mbabazi addresses press conference on Monday 8th Feb 2016”

“No Peace In Uganda” – CBC’s The Journal from 1985 (Youtube-Clip)

“The Journal’s Ann Madina investigates the period in Uganda after Milton Obote is deposed in a second coup.It highlights the period when the civil war was raging in Luwero shortly before the NRA marched to Kampala” (CBC USA Footage/Clip)

Besigye Address to the Media after Release from Police Custody (Youtube – Interview!)