Ugandans Must Reject All Retrogressive Amendments to Our Constitution – A Statement by Leaders of Civil Society to Fellow Ugandans (16.09.2017)

My Letter to Evelyn Anite: If you need the army to amend the constitution, maybe you shouldn’t do it!

Dear Evelyn Anite!

I write to you in haste, seems like you have been forceful and aggressive. You need to calm down and take little soda. Seems like you need to sit under a tree and read a book. Maybe even two, that can open your mind and perspective.

Your the State Minster for Privatisation and Investment, Evelyn Anite, I have to first quote your own words. Since they are so rare and proven your weird solution to get the Constitution amended to fit the life of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.

Here is your own statements!

You cannot intimidate a ruling party. For them they are looking for support, but we are not. We are the party in government; we have the support of the magye (military)” (…) “We have 265 members who have supported this bill. We have the numbers; we have the people; this is the battle of the brain” (…) “We heard they are threatening to beat us; we shall not beat them physically but on the floor of the house. But if the worse comes to worst; we are not going to the gym. They should know that we are the ones in charge. If they cannot outsmart us, they should shut up and wait for Ugandans to decide” (…) “You cannot tell me ‘togikwatako,’ when that is my job. So, you are asking me not to do my job? We shall amend that constitution! If we want to do amend it 10 times we shall do it” (Waswa, 2017).

Seems like you Anite wants to misuse the army in favor of a political party and their agenda in Parliament. That you as a State Minister is saying, that the Uganda People’s Defense Force (UPDF) will take brigades and military into parliament. Shut the doors and say, unless you enforce this law, we will keep all of your honorable Members of Parliament (MPs) hostage until the law passes in favor of the President.

It seems like you Anite, who already are an MP, in a republic, which is militarized already. The President wear military fatigue to Parliament when they had the last Budget reading on the 9th June 2017 at the International Conference Centre at Serena Hotel. So, it’s not like NRM are far away from the military. In the middle of the campaigning, President Museveni took a break and went on the shooting field. Showing his force in and power to the public. Clearly, this isn’t enough for you. That the President uses his army as favors for his fellow Commander-In-Chief in the likes of South Sudan and even Equatorial Guinea.

Hon. Anite, I understand that you have no valid reasoning for lifting the Article 102 (b), when you have to use the army to fight your battles in the Parliament. That your struggling with finding proper solutions and also arguments to continue the Presidency. You are doing the President his handy work and trying to show loyalty. With talking like him, that he will kill and get rid of the opposition.

But if you think this is the way of enforcing rule of law and enact amendments, you need some serious counseling. You need some people around Anite, that can guide you and make you understand how a Parliament supposed to work. Unless you want to act like military leader, instead of being a part of the National Assembly, where you make the laws and regulations for all Ugandans.

Seriously, you should ask for a paycheck and envelope from President Museveni. Since, you are doing his work and for his continued Presidency. That you are clearly misguided and misunderstands the role of the army and the Parliament. Clearly, you want a law to be voted through the Parliament, you need something else than the army. Maybe a consensus and public support for the possible bill. Not spread fear of guns and ammunition. Unless, you want a coup d’etat!

Hon. Anite, is that what you wanted, take hostage of the Parliament and enforce the law. Instead of an ordinary vote of the possible motion and amendment. Have possible Parliamentary work, as they have readings of the laws, and the Parliament has to PASS them; so they can enforce the laws all in the republic afterwards. So if the Honorable Anite wants something passed, it should follow protocol and procedure so that the bill could be enacted.

Evenlyn Anite, you should know this and should work so the Amendment could be passed if you believed it. Anite don’t need the army to get a law passed, in Uganda you just need President Museveni’s approval. This law is fitting his paradigm and vision. So, it should be no problem, since the NRM MPs are already trying to find new ways of being loyal to Museveni.

Anite, you should never need the Army to pass a law and if you do, then the MPs and Parliament is front. Is that what you saying? That your ruling party and ruling regime should not need to use the army in this sort of activity. The majority of the parliament should easily get it done, but still you have to spread fear and wishes of misuse of the army. Clearly, that is your way now.

So please Anite, learn your craft. Learn it well, act with sense and duty for your republic. Instead, your misunderstanding your role. That you are saying this is proving a vital point. Anite, that you don’t have good reasons, other than cronyism for wishing this bill to pass. Passing an Amendment that gives life Presidency to Museveni. Seems like that is the outcome by any means.

And your strongly in favor of it Anite. So, it is time for you to stop your betrayal of the National Assembly and the Army. Time to ask yourself why are an MP and what your role in the Parliament. Since you should know better, but apparently you don’t!

Best Regards

Write of Minbane!

Reference:

Waswa, Sam – ‘We Have the Support of the Army – MP Anite Warns Age Limit Bill Opponents’ (14.09.2017) link: https://www.chimpreports.com/we-have-the-support-of-the-army-mp-anite-warns-age-limit-bill-opponents/

Gen. Mugisha Muntu: Official Statement on the Ongoing Attempt to Subvert the Constitution (14.09.2017)

Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu MP: A Very Important Message to Uganda (14.09.2017)

Wau could provide “model” for return home of South Sudan’s displaced people (13.09.2017)

The number of displaced people living in the UNMISS Protection of Civilians (POC) site has fallen from 38,000 to 32,500 over the last two months.

JUBA, South Sudan, September 13, 2017 – The return of displaced people to their homes in Wau in north-western South Sudan could provide a “model” for other parts of the country, the Head of the UN Peacekeeping Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has said.

David Shearer, who is also the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, was speaking on a visit to Wau town.

The number of displaced people living in the UNMISS Protection of Civilians (POC) site has fallen from 38,000 to 32,500 over the last two months. Many of those people have returned home to cultivate their land.

“The security situation has improved in recent weeks,” Mr Shearer said. “I am pleased to see that the local authorities, the police and National Security have worked to improve the security environment.”

David Shearer met with the Wau Governor and security officials about cooperation with the UN, humanitarian agencies and importantly the displaced people themselves, to create the enabling conditions to assist people to leave the camps and go home.

“This collaboration could represent a new model for the return of displaced people,” he said.

“It is important that people return to their homes voluntarily,” Mr Shearer added, “and for that to happen they need to feel safe and confident about their future.”

UNMISS has recommended launching night peacekeeping patrols to residential neighbourhoods to provide additional security and boost confidence, a proposal that the State authorities are considering.

“UNMISS and our humanitarian partners both have a role to play in the eventual return of displaced people,” added Mr Shearer. “UNMISS can help by providing a greater sense of security and humanitarian agencies can offer more services outside the protection camps so those people will have more incentives to leave and restart their lives at home.”

In April this year the alleged ambush and killing of a government SPLA General in Wau led to clashes in the town resulting in the deaths of around 30 civilians.

The Special Representative visited the neighbourhood of Lokoloko on the outskirts of Wau where some residents have returned to their houses and started growing food on a small scale.

Opinion: A Motion to unleash Mzee for life!

That the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Members of Parliament, the 250 MPs did this earlier today: “NRM MPs pass motion to table a private members bill to amend article 102b to scrap the presidential age limit” (NTV Uganda, 12.09.2017). So the NRM MPs has now decided that they will make it possible for President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni can become Executive for life. Life Presidency is the mission and to do so, since he cannot amend and cannot change his Date of Birth. Even if he tried to do so earlier this year. Now, the NRM MPs wants new suits and new perks, they want to eat more funds and prove loyalty to Museveni.

The NRM MPs has argued like this:

Ugandans have the capacity and freedom to choose the person who should lead the country as President in accordance with art 103 of the Constitution. The people’s freedom of choice of the President is expressed through regular free and fair elections and this right should be guaranteed and not restricted. If the voters do not want a particular person to lead them or they are tired of his/her governance style, they will reject that person at the time of elections and vote them out” (…) “The law is discriminatory against Ugandans who are aged 75 and above. Article 32 of the Constitution prohibits discrimination based on age and other factors. Members of Parliament and other leaders (except President and District Chairperson) do not have this kind of restriction. It is necessary that this imbalance is redressed as provided by the Constitution” (NRM Arguments, 12.09.2017).

It is rare that in a Republic like Uganda, in 2016 there are about 750,000 over the age of 65 year old. That is out of 38 million citizens, which means it is about 2%. So the discrimination cannot be serious, but the groups with little voice and possibilities are the youths under 21 years old is 69 % of the people in country. They are about 26 million people, which is a bigger group. It is special that the young republic filled with youths are caring about the age limit and making sure the 2 percentage of the people can get one title.

Clearly, it is not made for discrimination, it is cater-made and tailor-made for Museveni. That his own party and his own cronies are creating excuses to make a bill, a bill made for life presidency. Nothing else, the other words are lies or made to secure funding of their enterprises. To make sure the cronyism is staying alive. President Museveni will make sure the Constitution of 1995, be more drilled into. So that the Constitution is made for Museveni and no-one else.

That is the reality, not that its breaking news. President Museveni has been working on this and now they are trying let his die in charge. Become Uganda’s Mugabe, as noble as that is. To stay in-charge until he falls asleep abroad and his wife becoming vicious. That is what the NRM wants for their own. Peace.

South Sudan: ICRC condems killing of staff member (09.09.2017)

South Sudan: “Why a technocratic transitional government in South Sudan” – Dr. Lam Akol

FAO calls for greater international support for Uganda’s growing number of refugees (31.08.2017)

FAO Director-General visits refugee settlements in Uganda’s North.

ROME, Italy, August 31, 2017 – The FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva called for greater funding for a sustainable response to the refugee crisis in Uganda, after concluding a visit today to refugee settlements in the country’s north.

The Director-General also reaffirmed FAO’s support to the Government of Uganda in its compassionate asylum policy under which land is allocated to refugees for shelter and cultivation.

“Uganda’s refugee model is an example to the world.  It is vital that funds be mobilized to support this effort so that refugees can provide food for themselves sooner rather than relying only on food aid, and so that refugees and their host communities can have a real opportunity to overcome hunger and poverty,” said Graziano da Silva.

“Uganda is giving not only food and land but hope,” he added.

Fastest-growing refugee crisis  
Uganda is host to the fastest-growing refugee crisis in the world. Since July last year, more than one million South Sudanese refugees have crossed into Uganda. The refugees are predominantly women and young people and come from farming or livestock herding communities.

Graziano da Silva visited two refugee settlements, Agojo and Mungula 1, in Adjumani district near Uganda’s border with South Sudan.

At Agojo, the Director-General helped distribute crop and vegetable seeds to more than 1,000 refugee and host community households. This support will enhance families’ nutrition, and generate income from the sale of any surplus.  At Mungula 1, he inaugurated a micro-irrigation project that will provide the refugee and host community households with a reliable source of water for their crops and animals.

High-level dialogue
Prior to visiting the settlements, Graziano da Silva met with Uganda’s Prime Minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda.

“People don’t chose voluntarily to become refugees. We have a responsibility to help our brothers by giving them hope because it’s them today, but the situation could change tomorrow,” said Dr. Rugunda.

Under a new response plan, FAO is intensifying its efforts in providing livelihood assistance to refugees and host communities. The plan focuses on food and livestock production, nutrition, protecting the environment and enhanced technical support to the Government.

The Director-General’s visit comes after the UN Secretary General called on the donor community in June to strengthen their support to the refugee response. Uganda requires around $2 billion annually for 2017-2020 to address refugee needs, and donors have so far only pledged around $358 million.

 

US: State Department plan shelving Special Envoys to the Great Lakes, South Sudan and Sudan!

The Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, as part of the Trump Administration has clearly been working hard. Since the revamp of the Department of State, the Secretary has letter explaining cuts in the Department to the Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations at the United States Congress, Bob Corker. The United States government has clearly shifted their foreign policy and care for former allies. Their engagement are moving, but not as ready-made policy!

Tillerson wrote in his letter about this shift in African diplomacy or foreign relations:

The titles for following positions will be removed and the functions and staff assumed by the Bureau of African Affairs (AF):

U.S. Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region of Africa & Democratic Republic of Congo. The Special Envoy position currently is organized in AF, however the authorized staff positions and associated funding are currently in the Office of the Secretary and will be reprogrammed to AF. This will involve realigning 4 positions and $957,000 in support costs within D&CP from the Office of the Secretary to the Bureau of African Affairs (AF).

U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan and South Sudan. This will involve realigning 6 positions and $4,408,000 in support costs within D&CP from the Office of the Secretary to the Bureau of African Affairs (AF). We intend to request that Congress repeal the statutory provision for this special envoy position, since a deputy assistant secretary in AF already fulfills the responsibilities” (Rex Tillerson to Bob Corker on ‘Special Envoys and Special Representatives’).

So the Department of State will remove the Special Envoys to the Great Lakes and Democratic Republic Congo, also to the Sudan and South Sudan. These are all nations where the United States has been involved and been important part of the development. Their sanctions and acts within these republics has been vital. That is why the opposition in the DRC has asked for stronger sanctions and travel bans on the Kabila government.

The others are the South Sudan, where the US are parts of the Troika, who is also major donors to the South Sudanese government. The newly independent republic, that got massive help from the Americans for their independence from Khartoum and Sudan. The Sudan has also been important for the Americans as they have tried to solve the crisis in Darfur and it has also worked well with them for their oil. The reasons for why usually the Americans has involved itself in foreign countries.

The US now clearly doesn’t see the value in Sudan, South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo and the other countries of Great Lakes. These are now undervalued, as the Special Envoys and their functions are now moved to others. The African Affairs staff gets more functions, as the Special Envoys will not create relationship it used to have.

The Envoy will have the same close work with Burundi, Rwanda, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan and Sudan. All of these Republic will not be represented in a fashion that the United States has done before. This proves that the American government doesn’t care about the state of affairs or wanting to engage in the conflicts, the internal problems and the totalitarian governments. The US neglects its place and purpose in these republics.

So when the United States comes to the crisis in South Sudan and other places. They will not have the same connections or understanding of the republics. This will second-sourced information, instead of getting it directly.

The United States are downgrading their diplomatic leadership to all these nations, as the Special Envoys will be shelved by the force of the State Department. The Americans are clearly not caring or bothered by the conflict, the refugee crisis or the oppressive behavior against opposition. The United States are now distant and not engaged there. They will be far away and only there when it fits their interests. Peace.