ULS Position on the Unfortunate Development in Parliament Regarding the Age Limit Motion (28.09.2017)

Ugandans Must Join Forces to Halt the Slide-Back to Anarchy for Our Country (28.09.2017)

The day that Special Forces Command took commando of the Parliament Chambers!

The Special Forces Command, some call the Presidential Guards, but their mission is: “to develop and operate a powerful and versatile special operations force that is situated within the unique Ugandan way of war and is responsive to the requirements of the UPDF and the nation”. This is taken from their web-page that introduce them. SFC, the group that President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni son Maj. Gen. Muhoozi Kainerubaga was running and leading. Clearly, this one SFC is specialized and well-trained group that been known for their brutal and direct attacks on targets.

So that the SFC today we’re inside the Parliament Chamber should worry anyone. That the soldiers we’re on the gates of Parliament and barricading in town. Also that the Police Officers was on targets, barricading places and making sure that the motion would got through. No one would think the state would go this far. That the President would send his favorite armed group and the most loyal to his cause. To make sure the National Resistance Movement, the Speaker Kagada and Deputy Speaker Oulanyah got the message. That this motion where the age-limit should be lifted today and not prolong this any longer.

Special Forces Command where wearing plain-clothes and was ready from the moment they entered the chamber. There wasn’t any question. They had gotten the order and was on the go. The SFC knew when Kadaga announced and told the chamber at the start of the plenary session that the opposition and independent Members of Parliaments was suspended from taking part. Then they came an assaulted MPs and used violence. The hostile takeover happen. Nothing else. There wasn’t anything poetic, anything wonderful to say. Any speech or any words that covers the breach of trust. The breach of law and the massive hostile takeover of the Parliament.

It will be sad if the NRM defenders today will use the ‘Parliament (Powers and Privileges) Act 1955’, which is still in-force. And will use: “27. Power of arrest.

An officer of Parliament may arrest without warrant—

any person who commits in his or her presence any offence contrary to section 17 or 18;

any person within the precincts of Parliament whom he or she reasonably suspects of having committed, or being about to commit, an offence contrary to either of those sections” (Parliament (Powers and Privileges) Act 1955).

This law gives the Speaker the right after the suspension to do so. But if you look into Section 17 and 18 of the law. You can question if singing the National Anthem is the reason for the arrest inside the chambers. This law says officers, these officers are usually in uniform and displayed for safety. Not there for being ready – set and go!

Therefore parts of Section says this: “attends any sitting of Parliament as the representative of any journal after the general permission granted under any order made under this Act or under the standing orders to the representative or representatives of that journal has been revoked,

commits an offence and is liable on conviction before a court to a fine not exceeding five hundred shillings or to imprisonment for any term not exceeding three months or to both such fine and imprisonment” (Parliament (Powers and Privileges) Act 1955).

This proves that the Parliament has the rights, but still, most of the section is about if a stranger, someone who wasn’t there on business. The MPs today are elected into Parliament and where there doing their duty. There was no justification for their removal. Unless, they sing badly and should pick another trade, but Bobi Wine already did that. I am sure his voice is gentle in the ears of Kadaga. Even put a smile on that grim face she showed the world today.

From a part of Section 18: “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” (Parliament (Power and Privileges) Act 1955).

Here the Speaker Kadaga is within law to suspend them, but the assaults was not done by the men and woman who we’re assaulted by the SFC. Who came in and was ready to get them out by force. It wasn’t a peaceful suspension. Yes, they have disturbed the proceedings of the Plenary Sitting, but that gives no reason for the Specialized Operations from the Special Forces Command to breach the chambers of Parliament. The assaults was not done first, the SFC was ready to attack and get rid of the problem within the chambers.

If the SFC had been officers as a part of the Parliament they could have arrested fellow MPs. They are allowed to do so without warrants, but as long as they have done what was pointed out in Section 17 and 18.

The Speaker Kadaga actually let in strangers into the chambers, to clear the court and let it go. So she could follow procedure and make sure the motion got into force. That the sponsor of the motion can work on it, before he comes back to Parliament with a text for the first reading. Therefore, the SFC Strangers, who isn’t officers who has rights of the Parliament to arrest, did so. This is a breach of law! That is illegal to make ready for strangers within the Parliament and a sitting. Proves the contempt of the Parliament. If you thought the Opposition and their antics was bad enough, even as the provisions give the Speaker rights to do so. The Speaker has no rights in the laws to bring in strangers there. That is what she did and she accepted their violence and their arbitrary arrests. It proves that the strangers and the military has now gotten power from within. There is nowhere the army and SFC cannot intervene. Even if its breaching the laws themselves.

That should be a warning about the extent of the NRM these day, they don’t care about the laws that are in-force, they can breach them, but use the same against opposition. That is striking and worrying, but not surprising. Now that the military and soldiers can do operations from within, nothing can be left untouched, until the will of the President is done. Peace.

Age Limit: Magyezi Motion got passed and militarism are now running the Parliament!

Today after the chaos in Parliament, it’s wasn’t just chaos, it was worse. It was the near death of the Parliamentarism and Constitutionalism. This can be said after the suspension of Opposition MPs, up to 35 MPs who was escorted in different ways away from the Plenary Session. This as the Parliament Avenue was filled with Police Officers and the Soldiers. This was all happening a few hours ago.

Because Hon. Raphael Magyezi has filled in a motion that was the number 4th on the Plenary Paper. It took over 45 minutes before the Parliamentary Session happen. That was because of the violent approach of military personnel who went in with a purpose. The Special Force Command (SFC) went in to pick up the opposition and independent Members of Parliament. So they could be taken to Police Vans. If they didn’t volunteer to go. This made some of the Opposition MPs into battle-mode and actual fights occurred. Other MPs fainted by the violence happening inside the chamber.

This all because of the Motion and the Proposed Constitutional Amendment written by Magyezi. The important part of the bill he has written in the bill:

Amendment of Article 102 of the Constitution.

Article 102 of the Constitution is amended by deleting paragraph (b).” (Constitution (Amendment) Bill of 2017).

After all the trouble and only with President friendly members inside the Chambers. They voted for the Motion of Hon. Magyezi was passed. But after that sort actions done by SFC… It should not feel like a victory or passing it in style. Its more a threat of justice and rule of law. SFC had to do the argument and the procedures of the parliament. The motion should have gone through reading and been passed, by the matter of numbers in the Parliament. Even if the public and all citizens hate the bill. Most of them does, unless they are getting contribution from the NRM elite.

The most likely use of text is “deleting” or “removing” the Article 102(b), this will also go through Parliament. You can expect that the Police Force and the SFC will take away the same people. That the SFC had to take them away and detain them. Shows the contempt of the chambers and the National Assembly. That the NRM don’t care about the Parliament and about the ethical value of the legal assembly. It is just a tool to make sure the President can rule for life.

This is a downer, that it went through and the way the Motion was passed. That the NRM and the Government used SFC to silence the Opposition. Also that Parliament Speaker Rebecca Kadaga suspended them, because of singing National Anthem. It proves how little it takes to do something “illegal”. But was it justified to bring the SFC to takeover the chambers? You really know now that the Military are running the state. The evidence was inside the Chambers of Parliament, it was outside in the streets and the Police was quelling possible demonstrations where they was happening! Peace.

Age Limit: A Bill for an Act – Entitled – The Constitution (Amendment) Act, 2017

The nightmare continues at the Parliament: SFC, Suspension and arrests of MPs as Age Limit Motion lives on!

This is surreal, but is the reality of the weakness of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) and their will of power. AS they are using the security forces, the Police and Soldiers to escort the Opposition MPs out of the Parliament, as the Motion for the Age Limit as about to erupt. It is like a very bad political movie.

Here is how New Vision reported it on twitter:

“The Speaker Rebecca Kadaga has named 25 Members of Parliament who have been suspended and asked them to exit the Chambers. The suspended MPs are; Kibuule, Ssewanyana, Amoding, Lyomoki, Kasibante, Nambooze, Kyagulanyi, Zaake, Kasozi, Nzohgu &Olanya. The other suspended MPs are; Osegge, Niwagaba, Odonga Otto, Mafabi, Munyangwa, Nambeshe, Mbwatekamwa & Mugume. Ssewungu, Tinkasiimire, Muwanga Kivumbi and Medard Ssegona are the others suspended. The Speaker has suspended the sitting to allow the MPs exit the House or be evicted by the Sergeant at Arms” (New Vision, 27.09.2017)

You know your system is wrong and fraudulent, when you have to expose the nightmare by evicting Members of Parliament for their peaceful protest in earlier sessions. You know your Parliament and the rule of law is dying. When the MPs are now banned and suspended from the legal assembly, the supposed representatives of the people as the Special Force Command are taken them all out. This is the guards and the brigades that are trained by Maj. Gen. Muhoozi Kainerubaga, the son of Museveni. It is ironic and sad that these men are the ones who are dispatching the suspended like smelly fish.

If you still, believe that the NRM and the President has your interests. You are wrong and soon your ideals are dead wrong. Since the initial acts of oppression is now everywhere, not even the chambers of Parliament are far-fetched from the aggressive rule of the President. Since these civil disobedient citizens are also leaving the last stand.

That the Age Limit bill and motion is vital for the President with the concern and expenses put to secure it all. That the Parliament is a fortress and the broadcast suspended, except for Bukedde and some other who apparently still has capacity to show it.

That the Special Forces Command or the Flying Squad is in the building is a coup d’état in itself. SFC are in charge of evicting and securing the Plenary Session proves the volatile situation and problems that are happening for the President. Since he cannot trust anyone else than the guns of the SFC.

The Security Operatives of the SFC has beaten, lifted and even taken one of the female MPs by the hair out of the chambers. There are nothing left holy and sacred for the NRM and their ruler. They will eat and destroy even the legacy with simplistic acts like this. Others of the MPs that has been suspended and taken out has been put into Police Vans.

The SFC and Police was ready to act and done so swiftly, they most likely had orders to do so by the man up high. He wanted them to stop singing the anthem and let it go on. So he could rule for life. The SFC are grabbing all cameras as they are trying to stop any footage or picture of the chaotic environment. MPs clothes are torn and the chaos has a boiling point. Clearly, the staged nightmare has arrived and its ugly! Peace.

The Parliament is at it again, still at Gunpoint and it’s Third Time the Charm for the Age Limit!

Hon. Nabilah Naggayi: “200 SFC officers brought into parliament in 4 vans to manhandle MPs opposed to deleting or amending” (Nabilah Naggayi, 27.09.2017)

Today is the third time in a row, this time the Plenary Paper has two motions considering the Constitutional Amendment, one from Hon. Raphael Magyezi, who is getting support from Hon. Moses Balyeku, Hon. Jackson Karubaga Kafuuzi and Hon. Doreen Amule. Clearly, all of these people wants to tarnish their reputation over a few extra coins of silver. At least the Parliament and the Speaker Rebecca Kadaga is not trying to submit it in the last minute, but being upfront about it. The fifth minute on the paper is the other Constitutional Amendment Motion made by Hon. Sam Lyomoki and seconded by Patrick Oshabe Nsamba. All of this to secure the age limit is lifted in favor of the President.

As all of this is happening the Opposition MPs has been followed by the Police, even tried to house arrest several of them. Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago has been ordered from up-high to be arrested. Surely the same has to be said about Dr. Kizza Besigye. Because they are followed. Ingrid Turinawe was arrested today as well. Moses Byamugisha, the Besigye aide has been arrested in Mbarara earlier this week and was released today. Clearly, the Police is working overtime, like they did during the elections to silence the opposition ahead of the Plenary Session today.

Uganda Communication Commission, if you did not it was biased before, it shows it now. Even if they did in the same month close down a radio station (Freedom FM) for hosting Besigye. When they have sealed of the premises of the Plenary Session and stopped the footage of the discussion of the Age Limit within the Parliament. It is something strange when without being called for or having to discuss security with the, which Inspector General of Police Kale Kayihura walked around like a proud man in the Parliament. I am sure he is giddy with the knowledge of the trouble of the demonstrators and the opposition. That is what gives him energy to wake up in the mornings. Just like not solving the murders in Entebbe. He is such a pride to the force!

They say it is less police and army around the Parliament, but clearly, it is enough Security Officers there to beat one of the MPs, who are disagreeing with the lifting of the Age-Limit. To continue the charade, the Speaker Kadaga has banned all red ribbons, so they are all wearing red hats. To prove their discontent with the motion that is coming to the Parliament. We can just wait if the rumor of yesterday is true. That the Speaker will also ban and stop certain individuals at the Plenary Session after their actions this week. So expect a dozens of MPs suspended, as the Plenary Session will start!

AS this happens, as the republics guards are all out, all over the country and the man who earn everything it is abroad. It proves that he do not have the genuine support, he needs the guns and ammunition to get his will through. There is nothing positive in this process. As the motion are put at gun-point, the countless arrests and barricades. The militarism of Museveni has gone full circle, as he went in with guns, he will leave the earth with the guns. He will not free himself from the guns or the people from it either. Because he needs the guns, because he has no real support and he knows it. That is why the Parliament been a militarized zone in Kampala, as the opposition been house-arrested or 24 hours detained without charges.

If you believe in this bill at this point, he has put you into submission. There are not anything good. There are arrests and there is intimidation, nothing poetic.

We just have to wait and see if this end in something at all. If the rumors are happening or not. If the police brutality will continue in favor of the President and his cronies. We just have to wait and see. Who knows, but the ones who do is the ones who is ordering it. Peace.

Uganda Communications Commission: “Guidelines on Live Broadcast” (26.09.2017)

#AgeLimit: Updates on the hostile environment the government creates!

Hon. Magyezi looks on as he hopes to table a motion that seeks leave of Parliament to move a private members’ bill on” (NBS Television, 26.09.2017).

Today, there we’re no Age Limit Removal Bill by Hon. Raphael Magyezi who entered on a Plenary Paper Amendment after the Plenary Session started in earlier today. I was suspecting this, as it would the way the business is conducted in the Republic. The Uganda People’s Defense Force was defending the Parliament and blocking roads. This day has gone as it had too. Therefore, the scattered information from all over the country. Since the Republic reacted to the possible launch of lifting the Age Limit for Presidents. Take a look!

Dr. Kizza Besigye wasn’t house-arrested, but was able to get to Central Business District of Kampala, after driving from his home in Kasangati in Wakiso District. Clearly, they had to tow his car. They we’re trying to block Robert Kyagulanyi Sseentamu aka Bobi Wine, he parked his car at Casablanca bar and took a Boda Boda from there to Parliament. The Police Officers who tried to apprehend him, we’re also supposed to jump on Boda’s as well. But they we’re not able to get anyone to drive after him.

In Arua: “Three people arrested in Arua over #AgeLimit demonstrations as Polcie battles protestors” (Urban Television, 26.09.2017).

In Mbale: There we’re big demonstration in central parts of Mbale and around the clock-tower. There we’re Police Forces around.

In Lira: “Four journalists have been arrested for covering the age limit demo along Oyite Ojok lane in Lira town where a group of protestors reportedly stormed the street and lit tyres in protest of the move to remove presidential age limit this evening. The arrested include Denis Engena, the correspondent of NBS TV in Lira” (TNT.CO.UG, 26.09.2017).

In Pader: “The protesters, who had lit up tyres in the middle of the road, chanted slogans criticising the proposed move by some NRM MPs to lift the age” (New Vision, 26.09.2017).

At the Kampala Universities:

In Kampla like at Makerere University the Police throw tear-gas into Mitchell House. “Six students of Ndejje at Old Kampala police, 15 students of MUK at Wandegeya” (Harold Kaija, 26.09.2017). In Kyambogo University, there was heavily deployment of Police. Uncertain about how many who was arrested at Kyambogo.

Ten FDC leaders have been arrested in Luweero Town and Wobulenzi Town. Now locked up at Luweero Police Station. Luweero has been fired up. Masaka 10 arrested” (…) “BUSOGA: Four in Bugiri, Four in Namayingo One in Iganga arrested over Age Limit Demos in Busoga” (Harold Kaija, 26.09.2017).

In Parliament as Kadaga wanted sessions to debate the Age Limit:

Chaos in Parliament as the House attempts to introduce a motion for lifting age limit. Opposition MPs break into singing the national anthem ignoring Speaker Kadaga” (…) “Speaker Kadaga adjourns the House to 2pm tomorrow after opposition MPs sang the National Anthem for over 40 minutes effectively denying the NRM a chance to introduce the Age Limit motion” (Red Pepper, 26.09.2017).

There has also been reported that some of the MPs ended in a brawl at one point, there we’re some of the MPs who threw chairs, some even damaged their shoes. This was all before the Age Limit Bill was tabled by the Speaker, before the National Anthem and such. There are rumors which isn’t verified that the speaker Kadaga has written down the ones singing and plans to ban them from the next session. That means some opposition MPs might not be able to attend the session. When the bill finally arrives and get debated by the either National Resistance Movement (NRM) and NRM friendly Opposition Members of Parliament.

We just knew it was ending up like this. Clearly, the oppression is at high gear. Not to expect the Parliamentary Speaker Rebecca Kadaga to be forgiving, she wants to deliver her loyalty to her master. She wants to deliver to the President. The good news is that its postponed in Parliament, but the government continues to quell the demonstrations and it’s not big enough for the state to lose control. Therefore, they will continue to push. They will not give way. This agenda is not silenced as the NRM and the President wants this by any means. Peace.

Uganda Police Force: “Groups planning to use the cover of peaceful political demonstrations against the so-called Age limit debate to cause violence” (25.09.2017)