Opinion: Not shocked that Museveni get another day!

The Age Limit Saga seemed like it would never finish in Mbale today. The Constitutional Court today has given a postponed verdict. This was the finalization of the petition to withdraw or to get the Age Limit “null and void”. However, that didn’t happen and isn’t surprising, that out of the five judges, four judges voted in favor of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. So the life presidency is established by the Constitutional Court today.

This was expected. This wasn’t breaking news. This is just what to anticipate by the National Resistance Movement and the regime of Museveni. Nothing was shocking about it. That one man was against it, seems like a clever way of masking difference of legal opinion, but not making the charade more real. This result was to be expected, just like the lawmakers was supposed to deliver this law and ensure that Museveni got another day as the almighty ruler.

It became 4 to 1 in favor of Museveni becoming the life president, while the judges was agreeing, that the MPs are not allowed without a referendum to go from 5 years to 7 years referendum. Clearly, showing the lack of balance and also a back-slap from the Court to make it sting. This is sending the message, that the State House is deciding matters and not the Parliament. They are only loyal followers of the President. That is why the President is allowed to rule beyond his Age Limit, but the MPs are not allowed to give themselves more time in power.

This here should be seen as another day in the regime of Museveni. Where he has secured himself, used the institution in favor of himself, the MPs are just tools of his reign. If the MPs doesn’t understand that by now, then they are blind fools who has succumbed to the greed and opportunities of the office. They have been self-serving and shown that with their actions and voted for the President in hour of greed.

That is why Museveni knows even as he punish them and stings them, he takes the crown and secure himself. He doesn’t care, he got what he need and has validated himself, by his appointed judges, who delivered what he needs. That is not surprising. That is just to expect.

The ones saying this is a victory for anyone but Museveni. Is lying directly in your face. They are doling out a big fat lie. The winner took it all, took the bride and the kingdom, left only breadcrumbs for the guests. That is what happen today. Peace.

Age Limit: Justices Deemed it legal for the Special Force Command to assault MPs inside the Chambers!

One does not establish a dictatorship in order to safeguard a revolution; one makes the revolution in order to establish the dictatorship.”George Orwell in 1984

On the 27th September 2017, the Special Force Command or the Presidential Guards came into the chambers of the Parliament, evicted 25 Members of Parliament, these were opposition MPs. Who was against the Constitutional Amendment nicknamed the Age Limit. Whereas it give the President, a Life Presidency and also more terms, as well as the MPs gotten longer terms.

I will focus on what has been the outcome of some of the Court Justices at the Constitutional Court in Mbale. Where the Justices have defended that strangers has attended and been part of the Plenary Sessions, the first and second reading of the law. Especially, since in the days of the amendment being part of the order sheet, the army and police was making sure no one else entered and had militarized the street in and around the Parliament. That should not be natural around the Parliament, they enact the laws and make sure the standing of the state is secure. Not be a war-zone over a bill being read, the army should secure the borders and the wars they are in. They should not be entering the chambers and intimidate the MPs or the lawmakers of the Republic.

All of that should be natural reaction to what happen with the Age Limit proceedings, however, parts of the judiciary are on the defensive mode, in a way that is a disgrace. Will prove that with the law that is still active and in use. That being the Power and Privileges Act of 1955. First the statements from the justices, before the law itself and final comments.

Military intervention arose from Members’ conduct and is demonstrably justifiable in a free and democratic society” – Justice Elizabeth Musoke

I do not agree with the petitioners that the involvement of the army in parliament was unjustified. There were life-threatening incidents in Parliament and therefore it was justified for the army to be called in to support the police” – Justice Cheborion Barishaki

I have no evidence that the Army and Police would have come to Parliament if the MPs did not behave like that. They called it upon themselves, however, Police and Army must be kept out of Politics” – Justice Kenneth Kakuru

The conduct of MPs summoned the ‘beating’ they got from police/army. A number of MPs conducted themselves without the necessary expected restraint they are to blame for the scuffle at parliament” – Justice Remmy Kasule

After seeing those obnoxious statements from the judges. I will first show the law texts, that are my basis for understanding of the rules and why it is wrong to get strangers within the chambers. That speaker are allowed to ban MPs and send them away for disorder. That is fine and usual ordeal everywhere with a Parliament, however, the military intervention is just wrong and made the situation much worse.

Point 5:

No stranger shall be entitled as of right to enter or to remain within the precincts of Parliament” (The Parliament – The Power and Privileges Act of 1955).

Point 18:

Any person who—

assaults, obstructs, molests or insults any member coming to, being within, or going from the precincts of Parliament, or endeavours to compel any member by force, insult or menace to declare himself or herself in favour of or against any proposition or matter pending or expected to be brought before Parliament or a committee; assaults, interferes with, molests, resists or obstructs any officer of Parliament while in the execution of his or her duty or while proceeding to or from Parliament; creates or joins in any disturbance which interrupts or is likely to interrupt the proceedings of Parliament or a committee while Parliament or the committee is sitting” (The Parliament – The Power and Privileges Act of 1955).

So for me it is hard to listen to these judges saying it was fine and dandy for the Special Force Command could enter the chambers, create havoc and evict the MPs. That should be deemed illegal, as they interrupted proceedings, they entered it assaulted MPs and also forcefully evicted them. If it had been the ordinary officers, it would have made sense. But it wasn’t.

It is like these justices didn’t know about this law or didn’t care. Yes, Speaker Rebecca Kadaga, got right to suspend and throw members out, but not send strangers in and let them assault people in the chambers. That is no justification for not in the chambers and neither in public.

This to me is insane and breaking boundaries with common sense. If these people did the same on the street, they would have violated the person and would gotten assault with a battery charge, but since it is inside the Parliament. The Constitutional Court are accepting it. That is just weird, especially from the judges, who are supposed to safeguard the people and give them justice. Instead, they are serving the master and not the public. They are not there for justice, not for something just, but for selfish reasons, I suppose. Peace.

NRA/M gone full circle: Demoting 27 rebel MPs!

“The power stays in the hands of the people. . . . I don’t see what opponents are so panicky about.”Yoweri Kaguta Museveni in 2005

There are sometimes some ironies, some reflective notes and historical facts, that is just to big to overshadow. That yesterday for instance many of the rebel Members of Parliament, who happen to National Resistance Movement. Was demoted for their non-vote against the life presidency, the age limit amendment to the 1995 Constitution. Clearly, that hurt the feelings and the honour of his excellency at the State House. Since months after, the NRM are now punishing the NRM Rebels MPs.

What is striking is that it took 27 guns to start the Bush-War of the NRA, the now NRM. There were 27 Rebel MPs in 2017 against the Age Limit bill, which give life President to Museveni. That should be a warning, and that is maybe why Museveni is striking so hard against them. Because he knows how many he needed to topple Obote and Okello back-in-the-day.

In 1984:

“Museveni says he took to the bush and began armed resistance in l980, after Obote’s followers allegedly rigged elections. He suggests that the proposed elections in 1985 will be a sham. My estimate is that there are about 6,000 well-armed and well-disciplined rebels, up from 27 at the NRA’s inception. Other exile sources say there are 7, 000 or 8,000 rebels. In most of its confrontations in this area, the NRA seems to come out on top in battles with the Army” (Pike, 1984).

So, a man of a rebellion, should understand others who rebel, even or especially against himself. However, he is so short sighted and thinking he is overpowerful, that even his allies within his own party. Who just differed on the life-presidency, are now people who deserve to be sanctioned and lose privileges. That is just weird, and what is weirder is the amount of MPs, which co-incidentally the same amount he claims he started his rebellion with.

These days:

The National Resistance Movement (NRM) has reshuffled its leadership of sectorial committees and dropped all MPs who last year opposed the passing of the controversial Constitutional Amendment Act that removed age limit from the Constitution. On the other hand, NRM lawmakers who supported the removal of age limit have been rewarded with appointments to committee leadership positions. Government Chief Whip Ruth Nankabirwa tabled the new names in Parliament for approval, a formality that was done without much trouble” (Arinaitwe, 2018).

Among the 27 NRM MPs that opposed last year’s Constitutional Amendment that scrapped presidential age limits and extended the tenure of Parliament and Local governments to seven years, were MPs who held leadership positions as committee chairpersons and vice chairpersons” (Kabuubi, 2018).

The message of the 1980s have clearly died down, the party of born out of rebellion are now supposed to be into submission and nothing else. The Saga Continues. Peace.

Reference:

Arinaitwe, Solomon – ‘NRM fires, rewards MPs over age limit’ 26.07.2018, link: http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/NRM-fires-rewards-MPs-over-age-limit/688334-4679926-lfa46g/index.html

Kabuubi, Gyagenda – ‘NRM cracks the whip, drops ‘rebel’ MPs from leadership positions’ 24.07.2018 link: https://intelpostug.com/2018/07/24/nrm-cracks-the-whip-drops-rebel-mps-from-leadership-positions/

 

Pike, William – ‘Uganda can’t seem to crush guerrilla leader Museveni’ 20.09.1984 link: https://www.csmonitor.com/1984/0920/092044.html

#UGSecurity: Police will now enforce rules that makes them ready to be robbin’ the hoods!

There are sometimes, just sometimes you wonder if the blind is leading the blind, that the naïve or foolish is the leaders and the public just have to follow it blindly. That is how it can be perceived by plenty, because the latest “brilliant” and obvious idea from the head-honcho of 32 years is to ban hoodies from motorcyclists and drivers in general. It is foolish, it is not the hoodies that kill people, but the magnificent guns. When someone pulls the actual trigger. That the person behind the gun have the training and ability to shoot-and-kill anyone on the spot. The headgear and the law will not matter to a killer; the killer will pass through this and be undetected anyway.

Here is the ruling:

“Museveni banned wearing of hoodies following the murder of Arua municipality MP Ibrahim Abiriga. “H.E the President of the Republic of Uganda while addressing parliament of Uganda on state of security in the country on 20th June 2018, directed that inter-alia persons riding motorcycles/bicycles and driving motor vehicles should henceforth not wear hood. This also extends to driving/riding while putting on anything that can conceal/obscure facial disposition,” reads Mugyenyi’s message in part. He adds, “You are therefore directed to enforce H.E directive by arresting/apprehending defaulters thereof.” The officers have also been ordered to conduct community policing meetings to educate the public over the directive. Banning of hoods was one of the 10-point security plans, the president presented to parliament last month” (URN/The Observer – ‘Police to enforce Museveni hoodie ban’ 19.07.2018).

So now a month a later the Uganda Police Force is working high and mighty, they are pushing the envelope and making sure the youth are driving in smart fatigue. Instead of them hoodies. Because there are the root to all evil, not the guns or the thieves themselves. No, the ones that cover their face. They are all turning into criminals by appearance now, it is like magic, and you go from being a citizen into a master thief by putting on the hoodie.

That is how it looks like, a magical show of appearance, where the person goes from being an innocent worker, and turned into a master criminal working out inner demons to figure out how to empty the reserves of Bank of Uganda. Because, that is what the hoodie does to you. You become a fantastic arch nemesis of the state.

To be President Museveni cannot be easy, sharpshooters for his MPs, ban of hoodies and also the obstacle of actual trying to forge peace elsewhere, when everyone else is conspiring against him. When no one understand him or his orders. Everyone will misunderstand this one too. So, when is the burka and the hijab ban coming? Alternatively, is the arch criminals only Christian Urban Youth?

We should be allowed to ask that question to his royal highness, the grandest of them all, the banner of the hoodie and the one who rose from 27 guns unto vast power for decades. What provision of law is this directed under? Is this the penal code or the public order management act? What is it?

Because it seems like something taken out of thin air and blown out of proportions. Just like all the empty promises made by H.E. over 32 years. Peace.

Uganda Law Society notice ‘ Re: Update on Issues Relating to the Notice from the Ministry of Lands, Housing & Urban Development’ (17.07.2018)

Opinion: MPs Security Detail is prepared to be modern day Santana Scandal!

Shiish, there are just some news that doesn’t capture your eyes quick enough. I have read the letter, but didn’t capture all the details, neither the costs. However, there was several of gentleman at the Daily Monitor, that did. Therefore, I am writing here today, because of the possible cost of buying cars for MPs new security detail. This has been ordered by the President and his words is law. No matter how expensive or how insane it is.

Here is the case from today:

“On June 29, President Museveni ordered Finance minister Matia Kasaija to urgently procure bullet-proof cars with “sharp shooters” from the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) to protect lives of the MPs against what he termed “terrorists”. However, he did not give specifics on the cost of the vehicles and other related expenditures. Daily Monitor interviews with car manufacturers revealed that a 2017/18 model bullet-proof Land Cruiser pick-up costs about $520,000 (about Shs1.9b) while a 2017/18 model bullet-proof Hilux pick-up costs about $166,000 (Shs630m). Therefore to procure bullet-proof Land Cruisers for the 456 MPs at Shs1.9b each, the government would pay out Shs866b while to acquire 2017/18 bullet-proof Hilux model at Shs630m, it would cost government Shs287b” (Solomon Arinaitwe & Moses Kyeyune – ‘MPs security cars to cost Shs1 trillion’ 13.07.2018 link: http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/MPs-security-cars-cost-Shs1-trillion/688334-4660322-shcp27z/index.html).

This here deal is made for corruption and for ghost costs appearing out of nowhere. This here is just built for that. It is amazing if the government starts procuring, knowing with its history and misuse of state funds. This is the perfect blend, buying vehicles and add-ons on the spread-sheet, claim later added cost without explaining where the funds went. If not order things that never appear. That is also a beauty.

With this in mind, here is the old story that could be re-produced by buying the security detail:

“However, in mid-1988 when Balaki Kirya, minister of state in office of the President in charge of security went to Spain to sign an agreement, he found 260 Santana ‘Land-rovers’ valued at $6.1 million had already been shipped while the agents/lobbyists were negotiating for the importation of another 260 ‘Land-rovers’ now valued at $8 million. The saga leaked to the press. The Weekly Topic of May 3, 1989 had a lead story: ‘Old schemers at their game again, STOP MISUSING PRESIDENT OFFICE’. When contacted, officials from the National Treasury said the purchase was done without the knowledge of the Bank of Uganda (BoU). However, from the BoU archives, on April 8, 1988, a memorandum on the foreign exchange position, by the governor indicated among other payments to be made in the year was for the 260 Land-rovers from Spain for the President’s office and 600 Land-rovers for the ministry of Defence as well as the army uniform from Spain” (Eriasa Mukiibi Sserunjogi – ‘High-profile corruption scandals registered under NRM’ 24.02.2013 link: http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/High-profile-corruption-scandals-registered-under-NRM/688334-1702448-ndh6w6z/index.html).

I wouldn’t be amazed if the Ministry of Defence, the Minister of Finance and the Prime Minister would make a scheme worth paying off for. They would secure kick-backs and additional funds, this is a too important project and the safety of the MPs is the highest priority. Everyone knows that. Not that this is misusing of funds and making sure the MPs are driving around like hostages in their Republic. Nah, that is not important at all.

That the 456 MPs who already are allocated money for cars and upkeep of them. Still, they need a second one, with specialized produced safety gear, seems more like they are traveling past war-zones, than friendly neighbourhoods, what about the actual people that live there, are they safe?

Well, that was bit of subject. However, the reality is that this is made for corruption. Someone in the regime will eat and use this as package to get loaded. We can just wonder who and who will be put in charge, who will fake needed equipment and who will give away knock-offs instead of the real deal.

This MPs security deal can be a gold-mine to the right individual. However, whoever that might be, he has to remember to give the king his cut. That meaning the President in the State House, if not your see quickly the other side of the barrel. He has no issues getting rid of people. That is proven in history too.

I wish I could be hopeful, but to me, they are cooking another Santana Scandal. This time it might be the Hilux Scandal or the Land Cruiser Scandal of 2018.

I just know we will get there, but how, that is up to the magicians within the Kings court. Peace.

Statement by Uganda Law Society Concerning Continued Illegal Acts by the Security Organization (ISO) – (12.07.2018)

President Museveni letter to Finance Minister Kasaija: Additional Personal Security for Members of Parliament (26.06.2018)

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

Opinion: MP Magyezi you reap, what you sow!

You have plowed evil; you have reaped unrighteousness; you have eaten the fruit of hypocrisy; because you trusted in your own direction, and in the number of your mighty forces” – Hosea 10:13 (International Standard Version).

It is weird that Raphael Magyezi now months after the launch of Constitutional Amendment has been passed and the months of tension is sort-of-over. Now the MP comes with blazing guns to the public. Like he didn’t know what he did, when he unleashed this law, as a Private MP. Didn’t he think he would get reactions? When he was the most loyal of MP of the President. It is weird the way he defends himself. Because that counter everything he did while defending the bill in 2017.

Igara West member of parliament Raphael Magyezi has revealed that his life has been turned upside down since the debate on the removal of age limits and he now receives constant death threats. Magyezi is among the MPs whose security has been boosted by the UPDF after their police guards ran away for fear of their lives. Magyezi has told NTV that he is among the five MPs who have been singled out has targets after the killing of Arua Municipality MP, Ibrahim Abiriga” (Daily Monitor – ‘MP Raphael Magyezi decries intolerance in politics’ 01.07.2018).

It is wrong to get death threats, even killing someone because of differing opinions. Me and the MP agree upon that. But there is natural reactions to his actions last year. That has ushered in a President for Life, by legal means and now the President will rule indefinitely. Therefore, people are going to be angry, because people are tired Mr. 1986 already, he has served his time and there is need for fresh hands in the place of the Presidency. However, that is something Magyezi and I differ on.

What I do not get, is that he pledges intolerance, when he wanted to abolish the Legal Committee over the Opposition questioning his law, that he wanted to threaten the ones rebelling to the law and had no issues with the Special Forces Command (SFC) clearing the chambers, as the law was read and tabled. That all of that isn’t political intolerance, than nothing is.

The political intolerance is created by the NRM and the head-honchos Magyezi serves. It is not the opposition, who already despise the attitude and the ways things are done in the dictatorship. There isn’t much other to say about that. The military and the control done by the State House is the issue. The whole rule of Museveni and the fatigue is evident. Magyezi has been supporter of the whole arrangement, but is defending it in a way that is absurd. Especially, when he has used all methods to defend his law and his Constitutional Amendment.

He should have seen this coming, no one, except the elite and the NRM Cronies liked the Age Limit law. They are still fed by the kingpin and accept his controlling ways, because they are getting paid. However, the rest is tired of the charade and the occupying bush-war and warlord residing in Entebbe. They are ready for someone else.

Magyezi are trying to say that the opposition is intolerant. That the people are too, but his whole defense of the age limit was based on the hostile removal of provisions made to safeguard the people from a power-hungry cunt. However, that was not important for Magyezi and his kind. He needs to safeguarded, his views are perfection and the NRM can do no wrong.

Nevertheless, his views are distorted, as he during the time of tabling the law, reading it and getting it passed. He acted as a brat and proud cock, not having no quarrels using force to get rid of opposition and even banning them from the chambers for resisting/defying the codes of conduct at the Parliament.

Still, he now give the public another rap, but not a fun one. Just intolerant rant of nothing. Peace.