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/

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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)

Kyadondo By-Election: Chaos as the President intervenes in the election!

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Bobi Wine: “In order not to cause a presidential embarrassment, we have agreed to hold our rally in Gayaza” (at Kiira Road Police Station after release, 27.06.2017),

Today is the final days of campaigns for the candidates of the Kyadondo By-Election in Wakiso District on the outskirts of Kampala. There is three main candidates as the DP Candidate pulled out in support of the FDC Apollo Kantinti, the ones previous election bid who got canceled by the courts. Therefore, he is running again to win his seat back. While the independent candidate Robert Kyagukanyi aka Bobi Wine, was blocked today from having his final rally at Szasa Grounds in Kasangati, because of Police interference his final rally will be in Gayaza town.

This proves the ability of the Police Force to threat the opposition candidates in favor of the ruling regime, as President Museveni comes to rally for the NRM Candidate Sitenda Ssebalu, who has buses upon buses with voter-tourism sponsored by the party. Because of the hesitation and importance of this election, they had to detain without charges the Independent Candidate Kyagukanyi at Kiira roads, until he found another venue for his final rally. President Museveni doesn’t like to pushed or dishonored, as the prospects of slap in-the-face of a new politician wasn’t in the cards.

So when they released after a done deal at the Kiira Police Station, Bobi Wine went-on to another venue, than the planned one in Kasangati, but has instead to be in Gayaza town. Proves the powers of intimidation and control of the NRM in favor of Sitenda Ssebalu and President Museveni. This is a-typical and Modus Operandi of the NRM regime. The ironies of it all, was that before President Museveni put his shovel into the By-Election, the Independent had followed procedure and warned about his campaign rally in Kasangati. This proves there is two classes of political classes in Uganda. Yet, again by the way!

“Bobi Wine has been arrested. He was meant to campaign in Kyadondo but police blocked him from accessing the grounds” (NTV Uganda, 27.06.2017).

As the final rallies are on, the Police presence is intense and at all venues. The Police are deployed at all venues to intimidate and silence opposition. There are many going from Kasangati to Gyaza as the rally shifted that way. Since the President Museveni and Ssebalu rally are held in Kasangati. Police has even interfered on the roads around Kasangati to get taxis to ferry people to the NRM rally. They really need their propaganda shots and the pride of the sensitized crowds in their favor. Since the NRM cannot win in a free and fair fight.

FDC Candidate was acting swift on arrest of Bobi Wine, stopped his rallying, went to Kiira Road and demanded the release of his competition. Apollo Kantinti didn’t do this because he had too, but proved his stance of vigilance as he as opposition has seen the cost of being so. Just by trying to figure out a way of making the NRM look better or alike it competitor.

The Communication Officer of NRM Rogers Mulindwa informed the public with this:

“NRM wishes to inform its supporters in Kyadondo East Constituency and the public at large that its Candidate Hon Sitenda Sebalu has this Tuesday afternoon been arrested by police on unclear circumstances. He was arrested together with the district NRM chairperson Hajji Abdu Kiyimba from Wampeewo playground, a second venue for today’s rallies. Police could not tell the motive behind this act but the party continues to seek a clear explanation. The venue was also later invaded by the FDC supporters rendering it impossible for our rally to take place. As an exemplary political party, we have therefore taken a decision to shift our rally to Sir Appolo Kaggwa Church of Uganda in order to avoid causing nasty scenes.We call upon our party members to remain calm and focus on the victory within our sight” (Mulindwa, 27.06.2017).

Pardon me, NRM, but this seems staged, since you arrest the Independent Candidate for campaigning in your area and than blaming FDC for having their campaign rally. This is all knowledge the Electoral Commission should have sanction on behalf of the candidates and accepted previous of the Election Road Map for the By-Election. Therefore, I am buying that the Police arrested Independent Candidate Bobi Wine for his rally in Kasangati, as President Museveni weighed in his support in the election, but that Sebalu suddenly behind bars. Seems more like play for the gallery. There is also reports that the lack of crowds around the NRM, they have not only ferried people from afar, but also closed near-by schools so the students has to attend the rallies of their candidate. A real disgrace of the NRM.

While the FDC leadership stands strong on their final rally for Apollo Kantinti where Ingrid Turinawe, Mugisha Muntu and Kizza Besigye shows up at their rally in Wampeewo. So the solidarity for their candidate is there. While Museveni needed the Police Force to clear Bobi Wine away from the venue and have control of the area, because he knew he doesn’t have the natural crowd support anymore. There are also reports of clashes in Wampeewo, as the NRM and FDC are both campaigning on the site. The FDC supporters even tell the NRM to leave the official grounds as it’s supposed to be FDC Official rally site. Certainly, the Electoral Commission has done something wrong, since both parties says there rallies are being hold there. Seems like the NRM will detain some FDC leaders and FDC supporters today, so they can hold their voter-tourism rally there. Since they have already pushed Bobi Wine to Gayaza town. Even if NRM Communication call them exemplary party, they should explain that to Bobi Wine’s supporters and barred rally, especially when all news are about the Wampeewo Play Ground rally for NRM, as the FDC are still already there. It wasn’t an invasion, they we’re already there! 

So if there will be more detained opposition leaders, I wouldn’t be shocked, as this the NRM M.O. and that is what they do. Especially, since the President Museveni and his candidate for the district will arrive in the area and doesn’t want to have fair competition, certainly he will use the Police Force to get rid of the FDC in the area. Even if the FDC has followed protocol, as the Bobi Wine candidature also did in Kasangati earlier in the day. Peace.

Uganda: Congratulations Hon. Chris Opoka-Okumu and Farewell Comrade Edward Segganyi (01.03.2017)

Opinion: EALA Parliamentary Election ended expectedly with massive win for former Movement MPs!

“Politics is like monkeys’ dance, if you do not want the tail of monkeys to touch you, you don’t join their dance” – Fred Mukasa Mbidde

Who thought this would be race for the opposition to get golden tickets to the Star-ship and fly-away to moon? Who thought that the Movement would act like gentlemen and give what is proper to the opposition, than you haven’t followed class or known the Movement’s way of doing business. Surely it was all fixed at the State House, the result was pre-fixed and the time it took in Parliament was made to make the charade look like an open bazaar, when it was a closed session for the chosen few that the kingpin had decided.

The ones winning were these ones:

“Mukasa Fred Mbidde (DP),

Akol Rose Okulu (NRM),

Mathias Kasamba (NRM),

Mary Mugyenyi (NRM),

Paul Musamali Mwasa (NRM),

Dennis Namara (NRM),

George Steven Odongo (NRM),

Christopher Opoka Okumu (UPC),

Suzan Nakawuki (Independent)” (New Vision, 28.02.2017).

The official results and votes don’t really matter, the winners out of the 49 candidates, two who was from Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) and none of them was elected. Surely, the FDC didn’t trade or give ways to the Movement. Therefore, the sudden resignation of Fred Mukasa Mbidde as Deputy President of Democratic Party (DP) before the EALA elections and he was even parts of the NRM EALA Primary Elections at the State House. Nevertheless, the man who was parts of the party that Museveni once a point in the time wanted to destroy dearly together with the Uganda People’s Congress, he has given one candidate from each party.

So who is this Christopher Opoka Okumu, the Nebbi representative who apparently was good enough for NRM MPs to vote for a another term for the UPC candidate, who wants James Akena to run for President in the next election, though that would alter the paradigm agreement done with Museveni. That is how the UPC-NRM agreement and why the UPC got even cabinet members this go around. Therefore, Museveni offers the UPC another slot in the EALA as thanks.

Dennis Namara is the former NRM Youth Chairman and Presidential Advisor for Youth, George Steven Odongo the former Resident District Commissioner (RDC) of Lira, Rosa Akol Okulu, the fomer Minister for Internal Affairs, Mary Mugyenyi, the former MP for Nyabushozi County and former State Minister for Animal Husbandry, Mathias Kasamba, the former Kakuuto MP, who lost in the NRM Primary in 2015.

Susan Nakawuki is a former UPC member of EALA, but this time around she went as an Independent candidate this time around. Last time she was representing UPC and as MP for Busiro MP, who even wasn’t believed to be an MP because of her dress-code in 2009, also been in trouble with the law in 2011. So after the issues, she still had capacity to get elected for EALA in 2012. So now she soon starts her second term in EALA as part of the Ugandan Delegation.

So the opposition that isn’t really opposition is the ones that one a slot to the EALA, because the ones been in EALA delegation there, are not rocking the boat or using the title to pressure anything vicious in the East Africa Community (EAC). Therefore, that Mbidde who was part of the celebration of the movement in Masindi and even parts of the Primary in the State House, the other UPC candidates are already spoiled by the wealth of EALA, that they do not want to cut their pay-check and lose their livelihood.

The others are old-timers and former leaders who certainly have traded favours with the president, as some of these lost out at the NRM Primaries in 2015. We the knowledge of the pay-checks coming with the service at the EALA, the price of getting the offer and lose out on being a MP for the NRM. Must seem decent for the loyalist that Museveni can count on to continue his trench-hold on all most of the seats anyway!

Like Nabilah Naggay Sempala wrote on a secret meeting in Parliament:

“The meeting scheduled at Parliamentary building for 10am according to sources at the Government Chief Whip’s office, is to strike a deal with the leaning independent Members of Parliament to vote for all the 6 NRM candidates. The NRM would also in turn vote an independent candidate who is yet to be agreed” (…) “In politics nothing is done until it is done. We need any potential ally at this time to comfortably secure victories today,” a source from NRM said. The independent members are 66 accounting for 16 percent of the total members and bigger than the combined opposition members” (…) “NRM has 6 candidates in the race including former ministers Rose Akol and Mary Mugenyi, former Government Chief Whip’s office Policy Analyst Paul Musamali, former RDC George Innocent Odongo and former NRM National Youth boss Denis Namara” (Nabilah Naggay Sempala, 27.02.2017).

So with this in mind that these members we’re mention in regards, plus the amount of fixed movement MPs there wasn’t hard to see how this would go. As well, the ones that one today are proven to be former losers in the Primary, therefore the meetings that was at the State House was making sure the loyal MPs of the past would get a secured livelihood after their days in Parliament. However, there are now also Youth League leader, RDC and Political Analysts that are now paid with a heavy salary in Arusha. You can just know that there have been a trade-off and Museveni offered it for creating no issues during the campaign of 2016. That has been visible as the NRM stalwarts was offered plenty. Expect other NRM former MPs to be hired as Envoys or even Ambassadors to the UAE or any other place with a Mission.

Enough of the mellow yellow brown envelope fellow! Peace.

Opinion: NRM works on overtime to delegitimize the FDC though various media, since they are themselves an illegitimated regime!

There are running battles between the shadows of the Movement and the Forum for Democratic Change has been going on for a while. This has happen as Secretary General Nathan Nandala-Mafabi wrote this in the EALA Nomination letter to the 10^th Parliament wrote: “These clearly spell out the positions of the Ruling Party and the Official Opposition Party in the multiparty democracy. In regard to numerical strength. EAC Treaty is also clear on multiparty democracy”.

So now that the FDC is the official opposition party and not the winner of the General Election 2016, even though the rigging master Eng. Dr. Badru M. Kiggundu of the Electoral Commission and the deputy chief justice Stephen Kavuma had to ban the campaign of defiance, that was the Presidential Candidate Dr. Kizza Besigye who run hard against the ruling party and the ruling regime of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and his National Resistance Movement.

So with that in context, the months after has been smeared with irregularities and malfunctions as the NRM and their Police has targeted FDC with full force. This they did with detaining members and leaders without court order, house-arrests, blocking of the headquarters and all sorts of other injustices done with an ordinary fashion of contempt of the constitution and law. These have been done as the 10^th Parliament was sworn-in and the President was busy having dignitaries from Turkey and South Korea.

Now that 2017 has arrived and ever since December 2016 the Independent Magazine editor and founder Andrew Mwenda has gone all wild on social media. At the same time TVO has disgraced him and his magazine. The graceful attempts have not been there as the words have addressed each other in fashions that would be in bars and not all in public. So Mwenda are using all tricks with his connections as he even seemingly has traded his popularity and his work ethic for goods from the ruling regime. Because he has gone from being a fierce critic of the Movement and now he defends them.

With this in mind Mwenda has attracted and attacked with more and more staunch words, even as he becoming a laughing stock and a wild-card. Even if he would have pieces of truth, the spin and the propaganda fashion of it all is spoiling facts that might be there. Just like Uganda Media Centre and Hon. Ofwono Opondo spills the beans and defends the Movement with all means. Though his entitled way of sounding more like a NRM Spokesperson than a man who is government spokesperson is showing the transgression of the party itself; just like the NRM inner party election for the EALA done over two days there.

This is still not an issue in nation of Uganda and under the rule President Museveni, which want to be legitimate by every mean possible. Therefore he uses the media and false stories on NTV Uganda where the Party Constitution of FDC is in question. As NTV Uganda wrote yesterday:

“A plan to amend the constitution of Uganda’s main opposition party, the Forum for Democratic Change could cause a huge rift among its members if it goes through. The plan is to change clauses in the constitution to allow former FDC leaders another go at the helm of the party. According to the movers, many of FDC’s past leaders have been rendered useless to the party and yet they still have a lot to offer.” (NTV Uganda, 08.02.2017). However, as the story unfolded the FDC leadership debunked the story, Besigye said he would never run as a candidate under that or heard about it. TVO came out saying it was Mwenda who was the source and Hon. Francis Mwijukye wrote this about the farce:

“ Am told that there was a confusing story on NTV last evening about ammending the FDC constitution. Will be hosted on NTV Uganda 8.00 to 8.30am today morning. Let me go and make it clear. I think I was misquoted” (…) ”We were asked about the future of former FDC leaders and party founders. All I said was that I would support an inclusion in the party constitution of a party organ to deal with a council of Elders whose sole role would be to advise where necessary and for institutional memory. There was nothing like allowing former leaders to compete for top FDC positions in the party asked to me. Otherwise I can’t support that amendment” (Mwijukye, 08.02.2017).

When the higher echelons from the FDC are addressing the matter nearly simultaneously with the clip of the story aired, there are clear indications of malpractices in the standard. The NTV surely did this for political purposes. Just as there we’re reports that NTVs Sheila Nduhukire did directly celebrate with the NRM Party when they had done their EALA Primary Elections at the State House. Certainly the media and media houses are getting to close to the ruling regime.

We can just expect that government fuel illegitimate stories in their portrayal to demoralize and legitimize their own existence in power. Because they cannot do it by their own merit anymore, that gravy train left the station long time ago. They will use all means to establish and make the blatant ignorance of Mwenda and use their connections in NTV Uganda to portray the FDC as wolfs or even better wolf in sheep’s clothing.

The NRM and the Movement cannot sell the truth at this point, because that will undress their own existence and their own established fanfare of just cause. The probable cause that has left long time ago, the decades of bribes, thieving and misgivings has now caught up with them. The rigging and ill-forced ways are now what entitles people and therefore EALA elections are ugly instead of silent shows of democratic balloting. The NRM has to use the media and spin to make their biggest threat FDC into a shambolic affair of political charade. Since they have the ability themselves to make itself look unwise.

So the spins and the lies of deception will continue to fluster from the NRM and their media hawks, but still the truth will shine in the end. Peace.