NRM Primaries 2020: What have we learned from the polls…(?)

The National Resistance Movement (NRM) held their Primary Elections today on the 4^th September 2020. Some polls have been postponed because of the election violence between the candidates in the constituencies. That is not new, but it is between family members of the President and his nearest in-laws. Who are fighting for the next generation, who wants their next of kin in office.

What we can see as the Primaries have been going on. They are letting candidates be elected with polls in lines. There is no social distancing, masks or any other efforts of Coronavirus or COVID-19 Guidelines.

The Presidential Directives on gatherings, distancing and masks are down the drain. It isn’t important at all. The candidates and the NRM operatives are not following these. Neither, is the state sanctioning the party. They are even seeing violence between the candidates and trying to investigate after the melee. That is why there is reported of 4 deaths and more injured in various of districts.

The ones who voted for the Age Limit and OTT Taxes have in many places been hit and lost their seat. The incumbents MPs who did this and the Ministers have lost seats. Their choices in office has cost them. The electorate is remembering that and sending these folks out of office.

If NRM thinks this show their greatness, their pan-African and anti sectarian attitude. The NRM shows the opposite here. It shows their greed, their use of all methods to win and their lack of respect of the electorate. They are willing to use them and cheat to get ahead.

Not that any of this is new. The NRM has filled with this in the past. The same happens every single time. The new is the standing in line and not following COVID-19 Guidelines. The Police isn’t interfering or contributing to the violence. That is something it would have done, if this was done by any opposition or dissidents of the ruling regime. They would have shut-down the exercise and silenced it quickly with tear-gas, arrests and live-bullets.

What we are seeing is that some of the old heads are taken out. Also, that the NRM is ushering in their next generation. As the kin of the leaders are introduced like in the Kampala Central MP race, Cedric Babu has become the NRM Flagbearer to compete in that race. Just like Kuteesa¨s daughter and Museveni¨s son too. There are enough issues ahead, but shows the signs of a pattern here.

There will be more, as the postponement of some primaries will be returned. The deals have to either made behind closed doors or not. Just like reports of Beti Kamya paid of Singh Katangole 550m UGX for securing the Rubaga North. Wouldn’t be shocked if there was more deals like this behind closed doors. Where the documentation wasn’t out in the open.

That is also a very vital part of these elections. It is about ensuring your time to eat. So, that you have your slot, your seat and your money-bag from 2021. That is why its such a high reward for the risk of running in these elections.

The NRM Primaries are filled with irregularities, violence and use of force. They are always like that. That is why people are dying so some folks can secure power.

The NRM have in their slogan the word “Unity”. However, these elections are unifying, but showing a sign, which they shouldn’t be proud of. This is not the fault of the NRM Electoral Commission, but a party culture that been running rampant for years. That is the commercialization of the politics, the cost of operation and the price of losing. This is why the NRM is operating like this and with the risks of self-destruction at places too.

As they flaunts guidelines, social distancing and doesn’t safeguard the voting public. While holding rallies, polls and political meetings in the middle of global pandemic. Surely, the results of this will be more spread of COVID-19 and the state will pay that price.

What was the main lesson of today: The NRM Primaries is a circus, just another one compared to the ones in 2015. Peace.

NRM Primaries proves the deficiencies within the party… [and ministers are losing]

It is not shocking that Ministers are losing their seats in the National Resistance Movement Primaries. That has happen before, where NRA Historicals have lost favours after prolonged time in office and nothing to show for it. In 2020 that is no difference.

We are also seeing people who has moved from being Anti-Museveni and harsh opponents turned ministers failing to win. Beatrice Anywar and Beti Kamya being two of them. They have both lost their spots after moving to the Movement. They have to run as Independents. As they don’t have any favours where they fled from either.

That Elioda Tumwesigye lost for instance in Sheema, where he has run several of elections and one. Even a By-Election mid-term in this term. Therefore, it is a shocking enterprise to see him bow out in an inside party election.

In Bushenyi, Mary Karooro Okurut also lost out. In Nyabushozi, there is reports that Fred Mwesigye is loosing too. Evelyn Anite lost in Koboko as well.

There are reports of deaths in three districts. Where family members of the President is for instance fighting over a position like in Mawongola North, where the daughter of Kuteesa is battling the son of Museveni Sado. Clearly it turned violent and the elections was suspended. Similar things happen in Tororo and in Sheema as well.

In Rakai, five boda-boda’s have been burned. One candidates supporter beaten into a comma.

From the NRM Youth League, the leader Gadaffi Nassur for Katikamu North has won and Lillian Arber won in Kitgum.

Even with the voting in line, as in the 1980s elections. The NRM Electoral Commission cannot be proud of the hectic mess. They are not able to keep all the ducks in a row and has to manoeuvre things by the State House to solve the chaos committed. The stakes are so high and therefore, the fall is so massive.

There are reports of 33 or 43 MPs going in unopposed. Alas, there are sole-candidates in the party. That is why these districts and counties are not creating issues.

In 2015 someone called the NRM Primaries a circus. The same could maybe be said this year as well. There are always internal conflict, death, destruction and problems created by the polls. Nothing was different this time.

The NRM are creating havoc over seats in Parliament and the other positions as well. Peace.

What if the Public Order Management Act (POMA) was aimed at the National Resistance Movement?

I wonder, this is an experiment, what if the Public Order Management Act was measured in way, where it didn’t hurt the opposition or any dissidents of the government, the President and the National Resistance Movement, but instead went directly and worked against them. I know, its impossible at this point of time, but that is why this an example. An example that has been running in my mind all day.

Let’s say President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni was stopping in a roundabout in the middle of Kampala or even at Owino Market without any prior notification to the authorities. Where he would cease the ordinary life and people would congregate around his Toyato Land Cruiser, but also around the convoy of Special Force Command (SFC) and so-on. Still, because he didn’t apply to be there and hold this meeting.

The authorities would than be sanctioned to send the Police Force, the Residential District Commander together with the Regional Police Commander and the Kampala Metropolitan Police had to intervene. They could even send the Flying Squad there to stop the crowds to gather around the President. Arrest the “ring-leaders”, the people who he was planning to meet. Seal of the venues and tear-gas the crowds. Even put the President in the back of the black-van and drive him back to Okello House. Where he would be in House-Arrest until he followed the Police Order and didn’t incite violence. As he did on that day without notification to have a meeting with random people on the streets of Kampala.

In the same fashion as the National Resistance Movement was planning to hold a Conference and Leadership Training at Kyankwanzi. The Party would have to inform about the planned scheduled program, about the media meetings and the addresses, where the press is supposed to participate at the venue. Where the Police Force would swiftly deny entry because they don’t have manpower to keep the NRM safe or the public. As the NRM would still go ahead on their own property, the Police Force would have to seal of the venue, arrest Secretary General Justine Kasule Lumumba, Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda and Dr. Tanga Odoi. As they are parts of this, others that might be picked for rowdy behaviour and inciting violence would be Frank Tumbewaze, Ofwono Opondo, Kahinda Otafiire and Maj. Gen. Matayo Kyaligonza. All of them would be behind bars, awaiting trials for unknown alleged circumstances and the state awaiting to produce the evidence of it.

As those circumstances and contexts seems fine and dandy. There are others, that would seem fitting too. Since the NRM likes to ferry crowds in and around election times. Let say the NRM went around with their gadgets, their little soaps, foods and thousand shillings notes to the villages,as the NRM Village Projects always appear on the Campaign Trail of the Party.

As your playing that in your mind, as the NRM are travelling in the deep villages of Moroto or Adjumani. As the NRM Buses are ferrying crowds to the venues of the nearby stadiums. Where the President, his musicians and the SFC is in and about. The Police Force are coming with their mambas, arresting the coordinators of the Campaign. The driver of the President is taken to unknown location. His Land Cruiser is towed while he is still in it. The shocked NRM Party are following and trying to block the Police from doing this. While Secretary General Lumumba is trying to alarm the press. The NBS and NTV journalists following the Campaign Convoy is arrested and heading by another police van to Arua. The President is landing at the Moroto Magistrate Court, where his charged quickly before his airlifted to Luzira Maximum Security Prison. While the rest of the Campaign Team is either trying to get detained activists out of prison in Moroto Military Prison or awaiting trial themselves. Since, they have all broken the peace and public order by ferrying the crowds to the venue. A venue they hadn’t the clearance of the Police or the Police didn’t care about the notification and stopped it anyhow.

This was just three random scenarios. Very real scenarios, which the Opposition meets every day and all the time. Especially, when trying to gather or do political work. They cannot manage to do it, without the police intervening or being in the way of their work. The Opposition, if they try, they end up house-arrested, detained or charged with a crime. Even if the only thing they tried to do, was to actually do party work.

So, when the likes of Frank Tumwebaze saying the Police have made the Opposition heroes. Well, the Police have made them felons and outlaws, by just doing their duty and to be the checks and balances in the system. In a system that monitor, control and charge them, any time they can. This is the system that is built around the Public Order Management Act, as the Opposition has to beg to gather and do political work. Which is not a given, because the Police can use any reason or any excuse not too. That is just the way it is, but the NRM can do whatever, since the President and NRM has the Police and the Army. That is why the President can make a meeting without any form of notification and doesn’t need to follow the POMA. Even if he should, because he shouldn’t be above the law, but actually abide to it. Like everyone else. Peace.

FDC opens up for an audit of Presidential Election of 2016: However, I doubt Mzee will ever do it!

The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) dropped today a report on the first 100 days of Patrick Oboi Amuriat as the Party President. This is a transparent and open move, to show what is happening behind the scenes, also show what they are doing at Najjanankubi Headquarters. It isn’t just mere hearsay, but recorded for the future to back-into the promises made and the building of party organization. This show resiliance, but also strength in the midst of oppression.

The paragraph that catched my eye was this one:

“Review of the initiatives on 2016 Election Audit process

A number of development partners and donor agencies have been met to highlight what went wrong in the Presidential elections of 2016. The failure of government to implement recommended electoral reforms and the rushed and forceful amendment of the constitution were addressed to the country’s

partners. The Party is persuaded about the reluctance by Mr. Museveni to agree to an Audit of the 2016 Presidential elections outcome. Whereas we are open to dialogue, we wish to maintain our demand that this will only be based on the Audit of 2016 Presidential Election being on top of the Agenda” (FDC, P: 10, 2018).

After a hurdle of an election, a rigged affair with a math question, a questionable equation that doesn’t fit the numbers. That is what the Electoral Commission dropped in favor of the National Resistance Movement and the President for Life Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. Therefore, the lines here from the FDC. Says a lot about the stalemate, that the lacking care and the forced changes of the Constitution with the Amendment, that gave him life presidency. That has been more vital for the regime, than making sure there is provisions for free- and fair election.

The FDC knows that the NRM will not audit or have serious look into the General Election and the Presidential Election of 2016, because the NRM knows what the result will be. Therefore, the agenda of the FDC will not change the matter. The ghost of the past will come out and scare Museveni in his sleep. He has stolen and rigged a victory. That the donor agencies and development partners have gotten information is fine, but they are still supporting and working directly with the NRM. They have not stopped being partners with Museveni, even if they know that he has stolen it. The NRM rigged it and took the Republic for a ride.

The wish for dialogue with Musevni, will only end-up in fashion of Nairobi-talks of the past. Museveni will never accept to lose, he might play, but he will end on top. If not there isn’t anything in it for him. The President is only in it if he gets to eat and be the king. If the President isn’t king, than he will not accept anything. He knows that it was rigged and it was rigged on his orders. Therefore, an audit cannot happen, because then the obvious rigging will be exposed.

So, POA and FDC can wish for dialogue on this, but they are losing the premise. I think they know that, but it shows character that it is mentioned nevertheless. Peace.

Reference:

Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) – ‘OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT – 100 DAYS’ (19.03.2018)

NRM failing on bills again, this time to New Vision!

There been sent a letter to the National Resistance Movement (NRM) from the New Vision Group. The NRM and the President paper, who usually write all the favorable propaganda for the NRM Regime. Therefore, that the New Vision sent a letter on the 13^th June 2017, didn’t pay for its adverts in the Vision Group in 2010 and 2011. In 2010, the party haven’t paid the bill of 508,886,927 Uganda Shillings and in 2011, the bill is 406,578,614 Uganda Shillings. The total lacking funds are 915,465,541 Uganda Shillings. So the NRM are closely behind to 1 Million in debt to the Vision Group.

Just like another report from the same campaign in 2016:

“Judgement on admission is hereby entered against the respondent (NRM) in the amount of Shs4.9b. The issue of cost of the application shall be determined by the suit” Mr. Opesen held yesterday” (…)”The money arouse of supply 60,000 T-shirts, one million scarves and 200,000 sleeveless shirts” (…)”Kampala Modernity Stationers and Printers sued the ruling party in 2013 for contribution of the said money to be paid to Dubai based firm, Bright Arrows Trading which supplies the ready-made garments” (…)”M/S Bright Arrows Trading have sued Kampala Modernity for breach of contract leading to third party proceedings compelling court to add NRM as party in the case” (Buule, 2016).

So the NRM Party and the NRM Campaign of 2011, clearly the NRM Campaign of 2011 was not run well. The NRM Organization clearly doesn’t respect the providers of the needed materials for their campaigns. This are old bills from the previous presidential election campaign.

You can wonder if they have stifled the men and woman making campaign material for 2015 and 2016. As they have done for 2010 and 2011, as if the providers want to come forward and leak it now? It would be natural to complain a year after for the missed tab created by the ruling regime and the ruling party. Seemingly, the funds from the NRM party are not sufficient, as even parts of 2016, the NRM wasn’t paying out salaries to their own staff.

The organization isn’t functioning or have good audits of their accounts, since they are not paying on time or being able to plan their actions and campaigns. That is why the old bills keeps pumping. This is just another one. There might be more skeletons in the closet, we just have to wonder if the NRM has paid the bus companies and the other one delivering services during the campaigns. Peace.

Reference:

Buule, Jon – ‘N.R.M. in 4 billion debt over poor quality Yellow T.Shirts!!!’ (01.03.2016) link: http://mycampusjuice.com/2016/03/01/n-r-m-in-debt-over-poor-quality-yellow-t-shirts/

Kibanda North By-Election: A silent conning by-election in favor of NRM!

Just as the National Resistance Movement Primaries (NRM) prepared for the By-Election in the Kiryandongo District, in the county of Kibanda North. The July 2017, the primaries was filled with irregularities in favor Taban Idi Amin, who won it for the second time in two years. The one running against him could have taken this to court, but Sam Amooti Otada Owor sent an injunction into the High Court in Masindi. Clearly, this didn’t go well, since on the 9^th August 2017. The other candidate and second placed in Kibanda North Otada Owor notified the Electoral Commission he withdrew his candidacy, the day before the 10^th August, when the By-Election appeared.

Even if the Primaries still states like this:

“The NRM Primary Declaration Form 14th July 2017 says that Taban Idi Amin won with 12,812 votes and had 73,6 percentage, while in second Sam Amooti Otado Owor got 2,761 votes and 15,9 percentage. In third and last George Maiteki Baitera Bigirwa got 1,472 votes and 8,5 percentage. While the total annulled votes are 367 and 2.1 percentage. Where the total votes of the whole Primary election we’re 17,412 votes and a 100 percentage” (Minbane – ‘Kibanda North County – NRM Primaries filled with irregularities as Tanga Odoi’s Declaration Form shows!’ 16.07.2017, link: https://minbane.wordpress.com/2017/07/16/httpwp-mep1xtjg-540/ ).

Clearly, Taban Idi Amin’s Primary election was flawed when the sheets and forms are so shady, the records for the electorate and the history will be remembered for the irregularities, not for a free and fair internal-party election.

Why you suddenly didn’t hear anything about the By-Election, since Sam Amooti Otado Owor did back-down on the 9^th August, the need for casting ballots was pointless. There was no other candidate standing in the way of Taban Idi Amin. He could walk back to Parliament without having the ballots cast and counted through electoral process. The Electoral Commission said it wasn’t needed. That is why the whole By-Election has suddenly disappeared, because their was no competition. Not like it ever was, since the NRM Electoral Commission had handpicked Taban Idi Amin and wanted his candidacy, as their forms was a charade of facade and not a real deal.

So on the 10^th August, the Museveni preferred candidate got his blessings, as the NRM was alone in the race, the were non UPC, DP, FDC, UFA or Independent that gave Taban any race. Therefore, no need for ballots and by-election. Just swearing-in and getting it over with. There was some reporting that Museveni forgave Otoda Owor over his rebellion against the party. Even if it was justified. Still, this made it easy to get another crony and stooge in the Parliament. Peace.

Kibanda North County – NRM Primaries filled with irregularities as Tanga Odoi’s Declaration Form shows!

There is a coming by election in Kiryandongo District in the Kibanda North County. This one was contested in the General Election 2016 with a National Resistance Movement winner by the name of Taban Idi Amin. This election was challenged in court and was annulled. Therefore, it is in preparation for new By-Elections in 2017, that things gets interesting.

Because the former winner of the NRM Taban Idi Amin won the flag-bearer seat again, the NRM Primary Election must have been strange or been rigged for some reason. Because the ‘Declaration for Results’ delivered and signed by Dr. Tanga Odoi on the 14^th July 2017 seems a bit out touch with reality. Let me take through it and the reason, why Sam Amooti Otada Owor has an electoral injunction at the High Court in Masindi on the same day. Where “Kiryandongo District and the status quo to be maintained is the status quo pending the determination of temporary injunction for the domain in the substantive application which is hiherto before the judge”. This is from the Order of the application put forward to the judge on the 14 July 2017 in Masindi, but the reason must be the NRM Primary Declaration form and anyone looked at it will know why it is strange.

The NRM Primary Declaration Form 14^th July 2017 says that Taban Idi Amin won with 12,812 votes and had 73,6 percentage, while in second Sam Amooti Otado Owor got 2,761 votes and 15,9 percentage. In third and last George Maiteki Baitera Bigirwa got 1,472 votes and 8,5 percentage. While the total annulled votes are 367 and 2.1 percentage. Where the total votes of the whole Primary election we’re 17,412 votes and a 100 percentage.

When you look at those numbers nothing seems strange, but a giant and clear victory for Amin, which wouldn’t be surprising since he won the same race in 2015 and won again General Election in 2016. But what is weird is that the counting and what it says further on the Declaration Form: “I therefore declare Taban Idi Amin who has polled the highest number of voters (17,412) representing 73.6 percent as the duly elected NRM Flag Bearer for Kibanda North County Constituency Member of Parliament, 2017”.

If you don’t notice the words of Dr. Tanga Odoi, the whole 100 % of Primary election is 17,412 that was shared between all three candidates, but on the declaration all of them is designated to the winner Taban Idi Amin. Which is strange since by the counting the second candidate got 15,9 % and the third one got 8,5 %. Which has suddenly vanished in thin air, since the Flag Bearer Amin got them all. This seems a bit of a stretch.

That the NRM can contest someone who has already gotten the election annulled. Than, the Electoral Commission of the NRM and the whole contest get question by someone who was a part of the whole race. Even as the whole ordeal get put into legal jeopardy when the application was sent before the judge on the same day as it ends. It is worth noticing the internal Primary Declaration Form, which states an anomaly. The indication of misconduct can again put the NRM in a pickle. Where for the third time within two years has to contest for the seat. That would be three NRM Primaries in the Kibanda North County.

As the NRM write on their own page: “Kibanda North Constituency final results released last evening by the NRM Electoral Commission Vice Chairperson Hon Kigyagi put Hon Taban Amin in a landslide victory with 12,812 votes. Just minutes after the release of the results last evening, the Party Secretariat learnt of an interim court order issued on July 14, 2017 restraining us from conducting this same exercise. Its however worth noting that the applicant of this order Hon Sam Otada was until the last minute part of the entire process and attended the joint campaign meetings supervised by the party’s EC till the end. This matter has now been left to our Legal Committee to follow it up to its conclusion” (NRM, 15.07.2017).

So if you believe there is an issue with the NRM Primary election there is. Since the possible tampering has appeared. Even the own documentation isn’t right and shows flaws. The declaration of Dr. Tanga Odoi proves the flaws of this exercise. Not that I am in favor of the second candidate Sam Otada Owor over the second time winner Taban Idi Amin. But is seems strange the way the NRM EC declared it this time. Peace.

Opinion: EU Envoy Schmidt are an speaking like an NRM apologist similar to Ofwono Opondo over Besigye’s 2016 Election defiance!

I feel sorry for European Union Envoy Kristian Schmidt who are now sounding like a National Resistance Movement (NRM) apologist, instead of an independent spirit and understanding of the short-falls of the NRM Regime. He seems to been misunderstanding what happen during the General Election 2016. Surely, he wants the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) and Dr. Kizza Besigye, to say it just water under bridge and let it go. Since the Supreme Court followed the orders of the 31 Years and counting President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. First introduce some of the beautiful words of Ofwono Opondo, before the Kristian Schmidt’s foolish interview with Daily Monitor, before enlightening fellow European of his ignorance or forgetting the blatant impunity towards Besigye and FDC in and around the General Election 2016. Since he has forgotten while drinking Nile Brew in the Embassy and going on Safaries with his dignitaries. Surely, Schmidt must feel good about himself!

““In this election, Besigye gained 1.5 million votes compared to two million votes he got in 2011 while Museveni’s gain was a paltry 500,000. To the NRM strategists, this is the most shocking, indeed worrying trend, and having located the cause as being our messaging, strategy, campaign style, internal laxity, occasioned fraud and widespread bickering. We shall not blame anybody else except ourselves. Actually, to be frank, we were almost swept away by our collective failure to robustly respond to the Opposition demagoguery on issues of youth unemployment, despair among the urban population, poor and yet expensive public service delivery and bad public relations, especially to distribution of soft campaign cash that often got stolen along the way among other issues. This, to the Besigye camp, should give hope that with better strategic organisation, not only falsehoods, they can in the future topple NRM through the ballot instead of being bad losers” (…) ““The claims of rigging, especially at the last minute through alleged intimidation of candidates’ agents, ballot stuffing, falsification or alteration of results on tally and declaration sheets and at announcements are perturbing and incredibly unbelievable. These could pass as truth if the peddlers could at least adduce some verifiable evidence from eyewitnesses and documents in their possession that differ from those of the EC, which ought to be available from the multiple sources, including the media that observed these elections” (Opondo, 2016).

So when a NRM spokesperson and Uganda Media Centre director had to come in defense of his master. In the aftermath and with the current illegitimate government. Who has no problems in misusing the government funds and had no problem rigging the election in their favor. As the FDC had massive scores of leaders behind bars, had people with Declarations Forms from Polling Stations at Gun-Point, had their Headquarter barricaded and sealed off, Besigye was under house-arrest and the story goes on. Not an adventure, but a true theft a nation. Still Schmidt says this to the FDC and former Presidential Candidate:

“He added: “That is of course an issue that is dividing but I think it would have been good to come together and discuss. It has not happened and election reforms seem to be not going forward.” (…) “The law of Uganda is what it is: the conditions of petitions are what they are, and for a petition to be successful you have to do a lot of homework. Under your Constitution I believe you have little time, 10 days. I know one of the recommendations of the Supreme Court is to extend that time which I believe makes sense.” (…) “ He said “I think if Dr Besigye was convinced before elections that he would not be happy with the outcomes and the process, he should have been the one to petition. He should have prepared for that but he decided before that he was not going to and under the rule of law.” (Musisi, 2017).

EU Envoy to Uganda Kristian Schmidt, I know you visited him while on undetermined house-arrest. Since the Police Force had been stationed in Kasangati, Wakiso for so long days before the election and until May 2016. When he was able to escape and have his own swearing-in ceremony, before air-lifted to Moroto, where the state charged him with Treason charges. Which he still carries today, he is an arch-criminal and seen as an enemy of the state. Than after all of this, you talk about rule of law, justice and courts. Like Dr. Kizza Besigye haven’t had his time in court, haven’t been detained on more occasions than ordinary thief, even more than average murderers in the Republic.

So, the FDC was unable to counter with a petition, Amama Mbabazi was the only one able to fill in a form or petition. Because FDC has done so after General Election 2011. So it is like the EU Envoy for Uganda Schmidt is not in concern anymore of all the breaches that happen to Besigye. Like the whole House-Arrest period, the whole part of the general assault on the rule of law considering the elections and polls. The self sufficient pre-ticket ballots and Badru Kiggundu’s own special math-class. The statistics and the vicious attempt of forging the whole election in favor of President Museveni.

It like he wants the one on Treason Charges since May 2016, since the coup d’etat in February 20^th 2016, when the Electoral Commission announced the result. That as the whole NRM and state organization was behind the whole ordeal. Even the European Election Observation Mission and the Commonwealth Election Observation Mission was explaining the massive flaws of the General Election. Still, the EU Envoy want Besigye just to let it go.

Let’s take his first reasoning, since it is shows his true passion, the Danish dignitary: “Now if this was in any other democracy, like in some European countries, it would be unacceptable that the Opposition party does not then recognise the winner of the elections” (Musisi, 2017). If this was an election in Europe, all of these ploys of the NRM wouldn’t have happen. Not normally, that the army is used to intimidate, that local leaders are paid-off with new cars, that ballot are pre-ticket ballots and all powers to be to silence the FDC. Together with the obvious rigging and mismatch of acts in favor of Museveni. If this would not have happen in a European elections and EU Envoy to Uganda knows this. That why it is remarkable that he says about Besigye.

Besigye knows better and the Ugandan people knows so. They are not fools, even if Schmidt is sounding like Ofwono Opondo and has taken lectures from Andrew Mwenda. He surely has hanged in the same bars in Kampala as these two. To sound so blatant ignorant and so forgetful. Peace.

Reference:

Opondo, Ofwono – ‘The media shouldn’t parrot Opposition false claims’ (28.03.2016) link: http://www.monitor.co.ug/OpEd/Commentary/Media-parrot-Opposition-false-claims/-/689364/3135890/-/2m2g7v/-/index.html

Musisi, Fredric – ‘Besigye refusal to recognise government not helpful – EU envoy’ (09.07.2017) link: http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Besigye-refusal-recognise-government-not-helpful-EU-envoy/688334-4006606-er8gyr/index.html

A look into how little the Wakiso Vote mattered to President Museveni in General Election 2016!

You would think on a day like this as the final rallies in Kyadondo East, which is part of Wakiso District, that the National Resistance Movement and the Police Force would bring peace. But they didn’t, they created chaos and moved independent candidates, as well as detaining them for interfering in their campaign rallies. This is the proof of vicious ruling regime and how the basic freedoms are limited for others, than the NRM elite and the President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, rallying for his candidate in the district. But it seems strange that he cares, since with all due respect. He didn’t care about their votes in the General Election of 2016, as these areas have been a stronghold for opposition party Forum for Democratic Change and because Dr. Kizza Besigye reside in Kasangati, which is a vital part of Kyadondo East.

“In Kampala and its adjacent districts, the Group observed voting delayed by as much as two to four hours and subsequently observed polling locations where voting was delayed by as much as six to nine hours. Anecdotally, in Kampala, there were several polling stations located within minutes of the premises of the Electoral Commission that did not receive voting materials on time” (…) “The voting hours were subsequently extended in Kampala. However, it appeared that this information was not extensively communicated, as voters and polling officials appeared confused and uncertain of the process. The EC announced that polling would continue in a number of constituencies in Wakiso and Kampala districts the following day. Turnout, however, was low on the second day – which was a working day – and it is possible that many potential voters decided not to attempt to vote, after having waited for many hours the previous day”(Commonwealth, P: 13-14, 2016).

“Furthermore, eight teams across the country reported that polling stations could not open before 10 AM. A number of polling stations, notably in Kampala and Wakiso, had not opened within six hours. Significant delays and a lack of effective communication by the EC fuelled frustration and tensions among voters, with EU EOM observers and media reporting about large crowds protesting against being deprived of their right to cast the ballot. In at least four cases, the police used teargas to disperse voters at polling stations. Only shortly before the official closing of the polling stations at 4 PM did the EC chairman announce the three-hour extension of voting in Kampala and Wakiso district. This was poorly communicated to the polling staff in affected areas, and EU EOM observers reported polling stations being closed at first and only after some hesitation did the polling staff improvise and try to re-open voting sites” (EU, P: 29-30, 2016).

“The EC failed to communicate and declare final results of presidential and parliamentary elections in a comprehensive, timely and transparent manner. The announcements of the presidential election’s preliminary results started while voting was still ongoing in parts of Kampala and Wakiso. The final results were declared within the legally binding 48-hour deadline, but they did not contain data from seven per cent of all polling stations, and therefore excluded some 675,000 votes cast. The EC delayed the publication of the final results broken down by polling station till 25 February and uploaded them on its website in a manner that did not allow for easy access or use. The EC also did not publish the scanned copies of the DRFs online although they were readily available in electronic format, thus further reducing voters’ access to information of public interest and in contravention of the principles outlined in the ICCPR” (EU, P: 3-4, 2016).

“The 2016 Elections witnessed a number of violations of the right to vote, most notably due to late delivery of materials in Kampala and Wakiso districts, described by the Supreme Court as evidence of incompetence and gross inefficiency by the electoral management body. A number of potential voters we’re disenfranchised during the voting exercise, in particular persons who turned 18 between May 2015 and February 2016, detainees, including some pre-trial dententions and Ugandans in the diaspora” (FHRI, P: 25, 2016)

So both, the Commonwealth report, FHRI report and the European Union Observer Group saw the same vast indifference for the votes and voter turnout in Wakiso, the same was seen in capital, but that isn’t where the By-Election is happening now. This proves the lack of care and common sense as President Museveni drives Tuk-Tuk and talk of importance of electing people who serves him. He might say he wants to be challenged in Parliament, but everyone knows that is a lie. Therefore, he detained Bobi Wine earlier in the day and moved him to Gyaza town, so his presence could be in Kasangati and at Szasa Grounds. Not like he could be more ruthless, but surely he would rig these election like he did in 2016. Nothing new there, if the turnout would be meager and lack-lusting that would hurt the old-man. Since he cannot show 90-100% turnout, when there would be no lines of people showing up. Harder to rig just a bunch of paper compared to buck-load, which can be pre-ticket into ballot boxes and look legit. That is how they do, especially under President Museveni. The man who made himself a revolutionary by claiming UPC rigging in 1980s. Such a class-act the President, becoming worse than the ones he toppled! Peace.

Reference:

Commonwealth – ‘Report of the Commonwealth Observer Group Uganda General Elections – 18 February 2016’ (18.02.2016)

COMESA – ‘COMESA ELECTION OBSERVER MISSION TO THE 18 FEBRUARY 2016 GENERAL ELECTIONS IN THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA’

EU – ‘Final Report – Uganda Presidential, Parliamentary and Local Council Elections 18 February 2016’ (April 2016)

Foundation for Human Rights Initiative (FHRI) – ‘COMESA ELECTION OBSERVER MISSION TO THE 18 FEBRUARY 2016 GENERAL ELECTIONS IN THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA’ (June 2016)

Kyadondo East By-Election: EC Letter to Apollo Kantinti – “Re: Supplementary Campaign Programme” (19.06.2017)