Fear and loathing in Kampala

The Uganda Police Force (UPF) have come out with a statement today. Deputy Inspector General of Police Maj. Gen. Paul Lokech came with stern warning now. Just at the opposition and other election petitions are in town. It is like the authorities are prepared for a war-zone and havoc.

The Police Force and army should warn themselves, as they are the trigger-happy and the ones issuing tear-gas on the public. It is the same authorities that comes with weapons, tear-gas and units to disperse and get people going. The same security organizations that bundles people together and brings violence to the streets to quell peaceful protests. It is the state that has killed civilians in the campaign season and before the polls.

Today’s Statement:

This development by some opposition members of marshaling fear to rally support for street violence and civil uprising, for their selfish political advantage is not new to us. Therefore, for politicians to spread this kind of negative propaganda across the country is trying to provoke people to incite violence. We want to inform the public that we are taking these threats seriously and would like to assure them, that they should not be intimidated from going about their lawful businesses, because their security and safety is guaranteed. We have shown Ugandans over and over again that we would have a very peaceful election and indeed it was very peaceful. We are now doing everything within our means to keep the general public safe and secure, from all forms of violence including politics that is divisive and manipulative during this aftermath of the Elections” (Uganda Police Force – ‘THE JOINT SECURITY AGENCIES WARN POLITICIANS AND INDIVIDUALS AGAINST FEAR MONGERING’ 01.02.2021).

This statement is sending a stern warning to the public for the days ahead. Just like the President have done countless times. We know who they are directing this against. They are not going after the President or any of his allies. No, they are going after the opposition, this being Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine of National Unity Platform (NUP) and Forum for Democratic Change (FDC).

That is why they are claiming there is threats, but they are not naming it. They are saying they will incite to violence, but doesn’t specify. That is easily stated, so in the aftermath of any. They could point to the “intelligence” and pin the politicians. They are anyway violently arresting, detaining, abducting and torturing the ones associated with the opposition already. So, the state sponsored violence is already there. Its not like it has left or stopped to cease to exist. The election is maybe over, but their devious acts is continuing. Countless of political prisoners are lingering behind bars and the state wants to move on.

The state is manipulative and disingenuous here. They are coming with baseless claims. We can anticipate by actions made in the past. That the state will sponsor more violence against civilians and blame the victims. Just like it is always the opposition fault and never the authorities who comes in guns blazing. They are never to blame, but everyone else should have conducted themselves differently. Therefore, these sorts of mind-games isn’t working.

We know the drill. If these folks cared about keeping folks safe. Then they would let people riot and demonstrate, as they cannot do that without meeting a fatal police force. That is something they never mention, but is the naked truth. Peace.

Uganda Police Force: The Joint Security Agencies warn Politicians and Individuals against Fear Mongering (01.02.2021)

Opinion: Bobi Wine’s gamble with the Supreme Court Petition

Tomorrow is the final day of delivering election petition on the matter of the Presidential Election of the 14th January 2021. Alas, Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine tried to deliver a petition already on Friday 29th January 2021, but he was dismissed by the Supreme Court. The National Unity Platform (NUP) Presidential Candidate and Opposition leader plans to do this tomorrow on the 1st February 2021.

However, what his doing here is a gamble. Since all the judiciary appointments is working for the President. All these people are getting fed by the President. He always appoints loyal token judges ahead of the campaign season. Just so his safe and secure for whatever coming their way. Because, the President knows that these folks will do him favours. They will find the legal justification for his reign and dismiss anyone who is in his path.

Bobi Wine can have a team of astute attorneys, the People Power juggernaut can come with fierce force and evidence of the rigging. However, that might not be enough. Because the pendulum is controlled by the “high above”. His orders and his tricks matters more. The President is the personification of the state and therefore his words is law. That is why no matter what legal remedy or proof, the judges will in the end legitimize these affairs for Museveni. Just like they did with the Age Limit petitions too. They all vouched for the President and his excessive needs.

Bobi Wine is now following the footsteps of Dr. Kizza Besigye and Amama Mbabazi. Who both took it to Court. They have both tried to prove and make the election “null and void”. Nevertheless, that haven’t happened, as the state and the President wouldn’t have it. Besigye tried in 2001 and 2006. Mbabazi tried it in 2016. None of these was successful.

What is more striking is this assessment of the Presidential Election Petitions of the past:

However, the Supreme Court’s decisions (PEPs No.1 2001, No.1 2006 and No.1 2016), indicate that the petitioner must prove, ‘to the satisfaction of the Court’, the allegations made against the respondent on a higher threshold, that is ‘beyond reasonable doubt’, which is the standard of proof required to validate a criminal conviction (Grechieng, Niclisch & Thoeni 2010, pp. 847-862). This imposes an almost impossible task for the challenger of the election’s outcome. For these reasons, s.59(6)(c) is deficient in preserving the will of the people and in facilitating fair competition for the presidency” (Dr. Fred Sekindi – ‘PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION DISPUTESIN UGANDA – A Critical Analysis of the Supreme Court Decisions, 2017).

So, now that NUP and Bobi Wine is preparing a case. They should know that this challenge is near impossible. The legal principals and international laws for annulments of elections does exists. However, the way the Ugandan laws are made. It is weak and tends to express the needs to prove it too such an extent, which is near impossible. This is where the Presidential Candidate Bobi Wine comes in. As his team and lawyers are planning to petition the court. The act is noble and an approach former opposition candidates has done too. They have all gone there, but with no luck.

That is why its like a game of snakes and ladders. Where no matter where you go. At one point or another, you fall behind and have try to trick yourself up again. You are also lucky if you can ever succeed to pass all the hurdles. That what worries me. It might even give the supports a false figment of hope. Just like this is the magic trick to conquer Museveni. When I don’t think this is the gist of it or the way out.

This is just buying Museveni time and keeping other preoccupied with a case, which he will do a few phone calls and settle. The judges will get their envelopes and faulty reason will dismiss this one too. As we just know, they need to prove it to such an extent that the Presidential Election get annulled. That has been tried before and this isn’t the first the opposition leader is petition the court. No, his the third in line and the fourth major case. Though the UVote collection of DR Forms in comparison to the Final Results will prove rigging. Don’t expect it to be enough. Even if it cannot be proof that the President was directly involved. Still, deep inside the chambers and the halls of the Courts. They do know he has his fingerprints all key aspects of the state.

That is why a petition is a “non-winner”. It is a way to exhaust all ways legally, but it is not a way change the outcome. No, they are only playing the game the President wants. It would be more powerful to drop a report. Show piece by piece, issuing statements of the proofs and hold talks with international media. Get the report exposed and get all local media to discuss it. As it proves every way the election was rigged. In that fashion, the publican be the court and not just a few hand-picked jesters of the President. Which is the ones who will deem it fit or not fit. Peace.

National Unity Platfrom (NUP): Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu letter to Chief Executive Officer of Next Media Services Ltd. – Protest Letter against NBS Television for Conspiring with other actors to Defeat the Will of the People of Uganda (27.01.2021)

11th Parliament UPDF MPs elected: This is why they are still there…

UPDATE: The army has elected 10 new MPs for the 11th parliament: they include Gen. David Muhoozi, Gen Katumba Wamala, Lt. Gen Wilson Mbadhi, Lt. Gen James Mugyira, Lt. Gen Peter Elweru, Maj. Gen. Henry Masiko and Lt. Gen. Sam Kavuma” (NTV Uganda, 29.01.2021).

I find it weird that the 11th Parliament, this is the term between 2021 to 2026. Maybe after the bush-war it was reasonable to have army representatives. Now it is 35 years since the bush-war. The National Resistance Army (NRA) surely issued this idea of army in the Parliament to give the President automatic votes there.

Now, they seems like a special interest group intended to have loyalists of the President. This is because the commander-in-chief have a partisan army and General Museveni intends to keep it that way. While the Parliament haven’t amended this, but if they did. We surely know that the President will not approve of this. Since the 10 MPs from the UPDF will serve the “High Above” and do his bidding.

The UPDF representatives acknowledge that theirs is indeed a fine line to walk as far as loyalty to the State and the exercise of their role swithing the Parliament. The then Coordinator of Intelligence and Army Representative, General Tinyefuza (now Sejusa) while contributing to Parliamentary debate in 2010 on this issue stated: “Our representation is a special kind of constituency; our representation in Parliament is not intended to cause disharmony and conflict within the armed forces. It is supposed to serve the strategic value of safeguarding the state and at the same time safeguarding the healthy situation within the armed forces. Therefore, while a Member of Parliament can come here and talk contrary to what your constituents sent you to say and nothing happens, for us that would constitute a service offence. We are a special category; we cannot defend this Parliament, defend the territorial integrity of the state, defend your property and person while we do not keep the rules of the institution intact. Therefore, there is a very thin line which we must walk” (BoreL,(2016).Army Representation in Uganda’s Multiparty Parliament–a critical review. CEPA Policy Series Papers Number 7 of 2016. Kampala).

We have seen how Gen. Elly Tumwiine have been serving in the Parliament and also others too. The UPDF MPs have tended to be partisan for the NRM. It would be shocking if they went against the President or his party. That would have been a shocking move. This is why it’s only how Gen. Tinyefuza went into exile and get released from being an MP.

The NRM and Gen. Museveni have the UPDF MPs to have an advantage and secure a bigger majority. The NRM have secured the bag with this one. Now, they have 10 loyal cadres in Parliament. People who listens and follows all direct orders of the Commander-in-Chief. These ones won’t dare to question the President and his orders.

What should cause an outcry is the Lt. Gen. Elwelu is elected in Parliament. A man who got promoted for the massacre in Kasese. Now, he got another promotion. This here is outrageous. However, in the end he will get all the blessings from the President and that’s why his there in the first place.

Don’t expect the UPDF MPs to do any good. They are their to serve the President and nothing else. Peace.

Obusinga Bwa Rwenzururu: Press Statement about the Burning of the Omusinga’s Royal Residence in Kasese Town 28th January 2021 (28.01.2021)

Opinion: Cooked results is hard to publish [14th January 2021 Presidential and Parliamentary Results]

The Electoral Commission announced and declared the results of the 14th January 2021 on the 16th January 2021. The state didn’t really release the results or the announced results. The Commission haven’t to this day published the granular numbers or the ones in concern to each individual polling station. Therefore, we are at 28th January 2021 and the EC have now published the “official tally”.

They have declared the winner of the Presidential Elections and the Parliamentary Elections, but these victories are shallow. When the EC cannot drop the numbers and be game. The Uganda Media Centre dropped the announced numbers on the 18th January 2021, but the Electoral Commission came with new numbers today (28th January 2021).

That is really telling. When the EC cannot even compile or have the ability to drop consistent numbers on the polls. When it is so mismatched and changing. It is like they playing with an algorithm. Like Museveni alone had previously 5,851,037 and now he has 6,042,898 voters. Just like total valid voters went from 9,983,093 to 10,350,819 valid ballots. It is weird how it can change within 14 days.

This is 14 days or two weeks since the polls. The Electoral Commission and the National Resistance Movement (NRM) is not playing this one out well. It is only undermining their own efforts to legitimized the elections. This sort of play only shows how they tried to cook the results and they are failing. Because, they know the National Unity Platform (NUP) have the granular data and declarations forms digitally, which can be used to question the “announced or declared” results.

It is funny how the EC can drop so different numbers within this time. Because, if they had the numbers to announce the winner. It should be no issue to just release it. They should just make it public and not cause these issues. The EC have already dropped it once and deleted. This is the second time and now with numbers not associated with the first released. That the Uganda Media Centre referenced.

I wonder what sort of foolish argument will come now. As this is only a numbers game, where the EC is loosing. Because, it doesn’t make sense to twist the results this way. Especially, if it was so secure and verified two days after the polls. The EC did declare the results within the 48 hours after the polls. So, if they did that… and could so easily pronounce the results. It should be easy to drop it too. They did it 2 weeks after the polls.

It took them 2 weeks to do it and the EC shouldn’t have made this hard. That is why there will be people scanning through the files, folders and statistics. As the EC has made this to hard. The EC have already by just dropping new numbers making it even more questionable. As they should be able to drop similar numbers between the announced and what is released today.

That is something they wasn’t able to achieve. It is a simple proof of the rigging. When they are making it so different between the 2 weeks in question. Peace.

The Panda Gari’s is back: Gen. Museveni is rehashing the era of 1971 to 1985

Since about mid-2020 it have become more common to read stories, hear tales of witnesses and people saying loved ones have been abducted in the night. People are taken from out of nowhere by either armed personnel, police officers or other state agents. These folks are taken to unknown locations for days, weeks and even months. The individuals are either returning to the surface tortured or sickly, if not dead without any investigations or answers to why it happened.

This is all happening to Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine supporters, mobilizers, activists or even political candidates. They have gone after people associated with People Power Movement and the National Unity Platform (NUP). These have been taken from all parts of Buganda. They are just seeing the van and taken away. They are incommunicado and the authorities cannot say anything or have intelligence on the matter. It is a darkness over the republic, as they are accepting this to happen. This has also happen to boxers and the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) who has served the same fate.

Here is how it was done before Museveni’s tenure, but clearly his been inspired by the efforts made by the predecessors.

Disappearances:

The Commission took a person to have disappeared if that person was arrested, seized, abducted, kidnapped, taken or detained by the military, police or other security agents or agencies, and had never been seen again, alive or dead. The phenomenon of disappearances was virtually unknown in Uganda between 1962 to 1970. During the 1966 crisis, a number of people from or near the Mengo palace disappeared, never to be seen again. It is presumed that they were killed in what came to be known as the “Battle of Mengo”. Disappearances because a common phenomenon in Uganda between 1971 and 1985” (Pamphlet – Summary of Report of Commission of Inquiry into Violating of Human Rights – Pearl of Blood, October 1994).

Panda Gari:

“Panda Gari” are two Swahili words literally meaning board the vehicle. It was a system under which the army or police, in swoops, collected people in large numbers from an area forced to board vehicles and transported them elsewhere for purposes of identifying whether or not they were anti government rebels or sympathizers” (Pamphlet – Summary of Report of Commission of Inquiry into Violating of Human Rights – Pearl of Blood, October 1994).

What is worrying to me.. that there is just some small posts on Facebook and not collected. That each and everyone is forgotten in the trail of spin. The state is busy preoccupying the space with other news. While the citizens are kidnapped, abducted, arbitrary arrested and even extra judicial killings of them without any warrants, charges or even taken to court.

We have no idea about the extent of this. There is already so many in Bobi Wine’s team behind bars and Court Martial as civilians say it all about this regime. The state is also using several of state security agencies and ungazetted safe-houses to detain and torture civilians.

There should be an outcry, investigation into it and take down the ones ordering it. The ones who are in-charge and makes it possible. The state is doing this to its own. When they can it to their own. What is the next extent and what is the next effort to take control and silence critics?

When they can re-issue the Panda Gari’s, what else can they do next? This is horrific and tragic… it is a need to collect the whole tragedies together to show the world the sinister extent of this. As I see various of numbers, but each number is a person. That is important to remembered, someone who was loved and cared for. Someone who was aspiring and maybe only wanted to see positive change for the Republic. That is so costly, they are destroyed by the state and even killed. That is why each and everyone one of them should be named. Written and published. So, they can use these abductions, kidnappings, torture- and extra judicial killings to prove how bad the state is.

It is needed. It is a about time. This is so evil… Peace.

Getafix of Kampala: The launch of UBV-01N

In April 2020 Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina launched his herbal and natural remedy to the Coronavirus or COVID-19. That wasn’t clinically tested or proven to have any effects towards the virus. I wouldn’t mind if it did work. It had some natural components, which is known to have effect in concern to malaria, but to this day… there haven’t been any study or anything that proved that the Madagascar herbal tea had any substantial remedy towards it.

So, why do I mention this today? Well, today … President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni launches UBV-01N from the Presidential Scientific Initiative on Epidemics (PRESIDE). It will now be clinically tested. However, I smell the same as Yester-year and I wish it wasn’t so. Not that I don’t want remedies or drugs working against the virus. However, this sort of play seems like a game of propaganda.

It is like we are supposed to forget about the Tambvy filled with herbal remedies of Stevia and Artemesia, Artemesia Annua, which didn’t work. So, what sort of herbal mixture does the Ugandans have that the Madagascar scientists didn’t have? I wonder, because they are so numb to the vital factors of the pills or potion. We don’t know that and there is no list of ingredients. I don’t expect to get a fixed list like when you make a pizza margarita, but I do expect to know at least the two main components of the remedy. Because, there are medical and pharmaceutical books where they explain the usage of certain plants and other traditional herbal remedies. Therefore, if they are scientifically doing this. Then, they should be transparent about that.

This is a natural product and means another herbal medicine. The ones calling this a vaccine is wrong. That is another type of medication and shouldn’t get it twisted. The UBV-01N will help the virus from spreading and hopefully help you cope with the virus. Maybe even strengthening your immune-system, but it will not fully cure you from it. A herbal medicine will strengthen your body and help your system to handle the disease, but not “kill it”.

By all means the President wants this to be successful. Just like the counterpart in Madagascar wanted in 2020. We are seeing similar efforts. Soon in Pan-African spirit someone will praise this and by this in bulk. Even when there is no proof, because this is an answer to Western medicine. Western medicine is based on not only scientific practices, but also on remedies made by plants and such. So, I just hope it won’t be biased. Every sort of effort to help the global pandemic is cool and a good in itself. However, I lack trust to the ideals and the possible effects. Especially, when they are not dropping the basics even.

There should be some authorities and associations who should study the components of the medicine itself. Where they release the important factors and what its made off, which is vital. Because, if we know what is components. Then we can check what the herbs have been used against before and what scientific research on these. This would direct us and show what direction the Ugandan scientists have in this manner.

So, as long as I cannot check the vital parts of the remedy. I have a hard time trusting the usage or the promotion of the clinical test of it. The studies of this herbal or natural drug should be released. The sheet of ingredients. That would prove the values and the ones studying it could verify it. Just like I could do with Tambwy of Madagascar. There you could check the two main components and could question the use of it against COVID-19.

The same is needed with UBV-01N. Peace.

Opinion: Museveni have become 2021 edition of Mobutu

Nothing is not my business in this country: everything is my business, everything. The state of education, the state of our economy, the state of our agriculture, the state of our transport, everything is my business” – President Hastings Kamuzu Banda (1972)

In 2021 we can wonder if General Yoweri Kaguta Museveni wants to distort his whole legacy. He has already destroyed much of it and with more time in office. Now with a new term starting soon. The Self-Styled President for Life is soon ending up like Zaire’s Mobutu Sese Seko. Why do I say that? Mobutu was a man Museveni despised. However, it is so unique that he ends up replicating him.

Mobutu ruled Zaire (Democratic Republic of Congo) from 1965 to 1997. He ruled the Republic for 32 years after being installed by the CIA and Belgium after the assassination of Patrice Lumumba. Since then he had all power and the state was the personification of him.

What is making him more similar to Yoweri is that they we’re both getting old. In 1997 Mobutu was 67 years old and had cancer. His cabinet was decaying. The army was hated by the general public. An army that killed and preyed on the citizens for their cuts. Mobutu owned several of businesses and the treasury was his personal bank. There was reports that he had an wealth of USD $4 billion.

Another trick Mobutu had to prolong his time in office. Was the usage of Kleptocracy. Where the President held meeting with rivals, chiefs and opponents. Later he would appoint these persons into his cabinet or create positions for them. They became Ministers or at a leaders at a Governmental Parastatal. A place where they didn’t remain for long, but got enough coin to not create their own power-base.

I am just saying these things, as we can see similar things is happening to Museveni. Museveni is on the other hand celebrating 35 years since his takeover. Nevertheless, his popularity have been dwindling. He has used the tricks of Mobutu and become Ugandan answer to DRC’s Mobutu. If there was someone like a young Yoweri in the near proximity. They would have the rights to topple him and install someone else. As Museveni used all reasons and said it was for the betterment of DRC to get Laurent Kabila as the President there in 1997. Therefore, Museveni should be careful. Because, the old man has done this to others and his own actions could be applied to himself.

Yoweri Museveni is a walking contradiction and he knows it. If not his deluded and forgotten everything he did in the past. Something I doubt, as the old man is always telling stories that benefit him in the current time. That is how he white-wash history and ensures it fit his any given whims. Just like all the random people have on his pay-roll, as Presidential Advisors and appointed to a government parastatal.

The people despise the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF), Special Force Command (SFC), Uganda Police Force and all the other state security agencies. These entities are all destroying civil society and easily taking lives. They are state sponsoring violence and the civilians are their causalities. The President promotes this violence, usage of force and arbitrary arrests without any proper cause or justification for the action in the first place. Other then these people are associated with opponents and that’s why they are fair game.

We can wonder if Museveni wants to fall out like Mobutu. If he wants to fall out of favours in the West. Be a relic and a man who is a pariah. A man who went from being a donor darling into the total tyrant, which his currently proud of. The old man doesn’t care and he doesn’t mind it seems. That his turning into the 2021 edition of Mobutu. Where his kleptocracy and “Mobutuism” will destroy the republic. Where Museveni have skimmed off the top and built a extensive entourage of soothsayers, a rag-tag team of compromised opponents and loyalists. That is why there are former NRA historicals and Ghetto “Superstars” who was there to boost the President ahead of 2021 election.

Nevertheless, we are now on the 35 year of his reign. The man who promised “fundamental change” and promised more then he have ever given to the Republic. Instead he has turned into everything he promised to be different from. That is why his legacy is destroyed and what remains is how badly he wants to go out. There is no redeeming factor anymore. The old man had the opportunities, but he instead wants to become another Mobutu. Which is not a good look. When he spoke ill of everything Mobutu was about, but now he has become this man.

That what’s uncontrolled and absolute power does to you. It takes away your soul and whatever you possessed before and in return bathes in greed. This is why he resembles and have replicated the ones he promised to be different from. After 35 years in power. There should have been more positive things to look for. However, that train have left the station and there is no return. The General has ordered this meal and now he got to eat it. Even if it is bitter. Peace.