Statement by Canadian High Commissioner in Kenya David Angell on the Ugandan Elections (22.02.2016)

NTV 20.02.2016

Canada congratulates the people of Uganda for holding largely peaceful presidential and parliamentary elections, despite delays in the opening of polls in some regions and other voting irregularities.

We are concerned by the arrest and continued detention of opposition political figures, and the prospect of those actions inciting violence. 

The blackout of social media platforms is troubling given the impact on the right to freedom of speech, particularly as it relates to the democratic process.

We note with regret the preliminary findings of various international election observation missions which highlighted, amongst others, concerns over the transparency and independence of Uganda’s Electoral Commission, and alleged misuse of state resources for campaign financing purposes.

Canada encourages authorities, the government, and opposition leaders to work in collaboration to address these issues, in support of the full rights of all Ugandans and the electoral process.

Mbabazi M7 Besigye

All Canadians in Uganda should limit their movements, avoid demonstrations and large gatherings, follow instructions of local authorities and monitor local news and consult http://travel.gc.ca/destinations/uganda for further advice.

Dr. Kizza Besigye is still under House-Arrest and his home is besieged by the Police; After being detained the whole day at Naggalama Police Station (22.02.2016)

KB Taken Away from Kasangati in Police Van 22.02.2016

There is verified reports that Dr. Kizza Besigye is still under house-arrest. That has happen after the Police has taken him from the Naggalama Police Station in Mukono; back to Kasangati in Wakiso District. As he was taken and detained from the premises this morning when he was supposed to go to the Electoral Commission headquarter together with the party with the copies of Declarations Forms that the FDC parties has, as the polling stations agents from the parties share this. The FDC Party had collected these to be able to counter the verifying result that Eng. Dr. Badru M. Kiggundu announced on the 20th February and explained the tally result the Commission had gotten to; how he had the ability to give the NRM Presidential Candidate and incumbent of 30 years President the victory to Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.

Kasangati 20.02.2016

As they the FDC just as they also arrested in the 19th February before this morning the FDC had planned a Press Conference to deliver their tally results from the numbers and votes they had counted of the presidential elections and general elections as it has unfolded. This was not allowed from the Police and therefore were the Police going in, detaining the major parts of the FDC officials that day in question. As they also did the same today on the 22nd February so the government went all in taken the declarations forms, computers and detaining the staff. So the Forum for Democratic Change has been under siege, not only their presidential candidate Dr. Kizza Besigye. I hope to hear how it goes to Ingrid Turinawe, Gen. Mugisha Muntu, Harold Kajja and the others who also were detained today. Together with more staff that has not been named, they also deserve to be freed!

Road Block at Kasangati 22.02.2016

While it is a sad sight and vision to see yet again Dr. Kizza Besigye is back again at his home in Kasangati also known as “Benghazi”. This evening the Police deployment is even heavier than in the morning; as the Uganda Police Force could surely send some of their extras from the Electoral Commission offices as nothing happen there, then the fear of the public wanted to read the official paper themselves; as they should try to do. We can surely know that Dr. Kizza Besigye is not a FREE MAN and still a person under-lockdown and his house is besieged by the Police, as they fear the man and his position in society, and in the populations. Peace.  

BBC Africa: Museveni: “explains the clamp down on opposition” (Youtube-Clip)

“Uganda’s newly re-elected President Yoweri Museveni who was declared winner of last week’s presidential election and has been in power for 30 years. He talks about the opposition and why he is against presidential term limits. He spoke to BBC Africa’s Zuhura Yunus in his country home in Rwakitura, Western Uganda” (BBC Africa, 2016).

Ingrid Turinawe arrested by the Police; Some information about some arrests from the FDC HQ today!

Ingrid Turinawe

As the events unfold the gloves are all off and the nakedness of the totalitarian state and Police State that President Museveni has turned the Ugandan State into, as yet another FDC Opposition leader get jailed, again within days. She was just recently released and had stayed longer in the Naggalama Police Station together with the other FDC officials including Harold Kajja.

DPC Geoffrey Kahebwa has said that she was on the “Most Wanted List”. As she has said this today to the media: “About 5 members of the FDC have been pulled out of their offices at the FDC headquarters in Najjanankumbi and taken to unknown destination”. That does not give a good view of the situation of how the Police are carrying out their affairs and shutting down the operations of the FDC.

Ingrid Turinawe said this today about the situationa and elections result: 

“If at all you have won elections why arrest your opponent? For only 14 days to petition court, Dr. Besigye cannot have a meeting with his party officials, he cannot meet his lawyers, he cannot get a briefing from his election agents, he cannot move to gather evidence he needs for court processes, he cannot access the E.C declaration report! With only 9 days remaining to petition, today, he will spend the 9th day in unknown police cell. By the time he comes out, probably t0mmorow, he will be remaining with 8 days. This is too much pushing!”.

And hours before she was taken on Mukwano Road she complied this herself: 

“Our headquarter is now taken over by police. They are arresting every staff here. DPC Kahebwa says he is now in charge. He has just said he has been looking for me. Happening now”.

She has been taken by the Police Force on the Mukwano Road in Kampala to an unknown locations. As the FDC Officials and FDC Party Organizations is treated as an illegal organization by the Police State under the NRM-O and the President Museveni. Ingrid Turinawe is the FDC Mobilization Secretary and has a pivotal place in the party. So the inprisonment of her, and the other members in direct attack on how the party operates as political party. IGP Kale Kayihura better have a relavent argument for this blantant distruptions and destructions of the main opposition party; I am sure he is just following order to generate peace, but it can’t be peace by taking in innocent men  and woman. Who just fought their belief of a nation with accoutability and transparency in the government of Uganda. The Certainty is that as long as this unfolds the Government and the Police is losing track of their supposed jobs and titles, while make enemies and creating enemies instead of securing security to the people.

Latest information from parts of the FDC Staff and the FDC Officials:

“Our staff; Musoke Vincent, Byaruhanga Tadeo, Bichwa Rodgers & Byaruhanga William their offence is inciting violence” (FDC, 22.02.2016).

22.02. FDC Release Bond - 'Violence'

Well, it’s the Police who creates the violence and shot tear-gas, shot people, lock them up and detain people. The planned events from the FDC Party was a walk to the Electoral Commission; not vandalise the Parliament! The Police are now manufacturing reasons to initimidate FDC Party Staff. The world is watching!  Peace.

Dr. Abed Bwanika leaves the country after losing elections (Youtube-Clip)

“Former presidential candidate Dr. Abed Bwanika has left the country for Kenya, just two days after the announcement of the presidential election results” (NTV Uganda, 2016).

“50 Shades of Stealing Ballot’s”; Has still hope for peaceful change by the FDC; while waiting in the tense atmosphere.

Kampala 19.02.2016

As the silence of the streets, the result has been addressed and the congratulations are coming in, usually either between trading partners and close neighborhood countries that have worked together at some point with President Museveni.

The people are mourning the result as the shock of the thieving ways and the disregard of the value of the voters and ballots, as the elections was “50 shades of stealing the ballots”. The way Dr. Badru Kiggundu the chairman of the Electoral Commission ended his last term, was more of a morning ceremony where only NRM Secretary Justine Kasule Lumumba; only one with vigor and smile as the people was terrified.

The army has been on the streets, in the towns and the police force has worked hard and been armed with guns. The once seeing the pictures wondered if the authorities had plans of launching “Martial Law” or “State of Emergency”. That because of the disregard of voters with the police going in at polling stations even showing the voters whom to vote for as for example of walking with the voter and not trusting the voter to drop the ballot in the basin.

The way the Military Police or Special Force Command, even Formation Field Unit has been around the Presidential Candidates and securing them in their homes and areas so that they don’t deliver the reports and clarification of results that the Electoral Commission don’t want out. The Authorities want to silence the opposition as the legitimacy is non-existence. Just like Kofi Annan said in a statement days before the result got served the public.

Andre Kaweesi FDC HQ 19.02.2016

There is a reason why there wasn’t a jubilee in the streets of Kampala, there was reasons there wasn’t NRM people screaming around and just a few people trying to recuperate the internet and tell about the wonderful wins of Moroto and other districts that the Electoral Commission told of the wonderful victory of Museveni and his men. The issue is that we know that most loads of ballots got invalid or never gotten tallied as of the time of verifying the result the Electoral Commission; so no matter how valid some results might be; I don’t or wont trust these results as the rigged elections doesn’t give me faith in the results.

m7, besigye

And then todays press conference post-victory as he as a winner has to tell the world this:

“I don’t need lectures from anybody on how to organise elections” (…)”I have been doing it since school says at Ntare School” (The Insider, 2016). As the clearly you might not need lectures; you need a new way of doing it as this here was a shambles of one and a reason why you we’re alone with your cows; instead of celebrating with the ones that apparently or supposed to vote for you.

On Dr. Besigye and his house-arrest:

““Col Besigye cannot be allowed to disrupt our peace” (…)”Nobody can burn our city. We shall use both soft and hard means to guard our city” (The Insider, 2016). The Peace that your supposed to have created is kind of vague as the people are hiding in their houses of fear of your police force and army as they have killed people who have demonstrated and you have detained, jailed or house-arrested during the election day and the days that has followed. If this is generating peace by detaining your opposition then is not a joyful peace or a true election as the ones you don’t need lectures on.

As the vital information and the tension, the mourning of the thieving level of the government that has decided for them and taken their fate in their hands as their paternal advisory of giving the power-hungry and army man President Museveni another shot of taking more of the gold and government funds, instead of earning the money as civil servant and serving the nations as the President should do. I am sure if you Mr. President thinking of getting the buses ready and getting the leftover t-shirts and get ready to use more governmental funds to pay the Crime Preventers to secure crowds for Kololo Independence Ground on your Swearing in.

Jinja Road 15.02.2015 P2

There is very few indications or any certainty of the ruling regime caring about anything else then themselves and tried to pull the card that certain MPs have been voted in from the Opposition, but that is just a too save face and try to look like a legitimate affair. That is while many expected the numbers for Museveni to end between 60% to 69% so when it ended where it ended, it was something wrong, especially with the tally-numbers and the declarations forms that has surfaced online; something that says a lot that the fortune tellers can fore-say the results months in advance; as a certainty! That is not looking good as non-expected Barrack Obama at his first tenure to really get all the way. This is elections and a guy who doesn’t need lectures should know that; if had known elections that his facilitations of the “NRM” Independent Candidates, that many of them would fly out the gate; is that they we’re voted away from their constituencies and councils already, with adding more locals they should not be able to get through anywhere… But hey President Museveni doesn’t need any lectures. Kahinda Otafiire might need one!

As the “50 Shades of stealing ballots” is the next book from Amama Mbabazi, President Museveni or Janet Museveni, Mike Ssebula will get funding for the publishing and the forward will be written by H.E. Uhuru Kenyatta and Hon. Ofwono Opondo. While a honorable mention will go to Dr. Ruhakana Ruganda. That is the future of this sad affair where the people has mourned and been silent; as they should be their fate and future gotten for the moment stolen from them; their own government and government entities has stolen their civic duty and taken it right in front of them.

Amuru Election Statment Paper

The international community should act and not recognize the Presidency of Museveni while the donor funding shut be suspended until the public and citizen’s will has been teared apart in minutes on the screen and days of labor; the Electoral Commission fried the crested cranes and goats while the people was stolen their beans that was promised to their stews. This here is such a wild affair and assessing the manufactured results that make the tally centers look like the Police did the counting instead of Polling Officers and rewriting Declarations Forms as the result did not fit their masters, the police, the army and the President. This here has been a display of arrogance from the NRM-Regime as the Opposition is detained or silenced. There is certainty that the people should react in ways the NRM hasn’t seen before, as the November nomination day and all the rallies been happening across the country should be visible The same crowds could show the level of loyalty and wish for change as the sounds of the campaigns; the way people turned up and cheered for their hopeful in the far corners of Uganda. That is the hope and that was the thing that gave me hope before the tallying and the ballot-papers got pre-ticket or disqualified by the Electoral Commission, and even the non-concern of the voters who never got to give their votes or counted their polling-stations. That should be worry because that is what will be remembered as the fear speeches of NRM regime and the security outfit leaders ahead of the elections. That is the story that will be put a blazed and tarnish the legitimacy of the regime that currently running the great nation; which deserves a government that the people wanted to represent them, not the one that pre-ticket their choice for them and used the government funds to pay Bebe Cool and Dr. Jose Chameleone for free concerts country-wide. That is not the business of a serious government, that is concert promoters job; hope that sinks in Mike Ssebula.

Koboko 18.02.2016 Evelyn Anite Voting

While we mourn and wonder, while we hope the FDC Power 10 structure can bring a change, while we hope that the government and the regime can be toppled in a peaceful way and get the honest result and honest ballots cast that is the fate of the citizen of the country. Then the leadership will deliver and try to deliver as they are will try to work for the ones that elected them and not because the big-man with the hat wanted his loyal YES MEN and BOUGHT cronies into parliament to give-way so he can steal more of the state coffers… Peace.   

Uganda Police Force informers the Public that the “Peaceful walk to the Electoral Commission Headquarters” is Illegal (21.02.2016)

NRM Police 17.02.2016

In reference to media statements by Rtd. Col. Dr. Kiiza Besigye, of plans to hold a procession, tomorrow Monday 22nd Feb 2016 from Kasangati to The Electoral Commission head office to purportedly pick up his copy of the declaration of results form, the police wish to inform the general public that it has not received any formal communication from him of the intended procession as required under Section 5 of the Public Order Management Act 2013.

Kasangati 20.02.2016
It is clearly stipulated under Section 4 of the Public Order Management Act that a procession is a public meeting and can only be held in accordance with the said Act. On the 8th of December 2015, the Government and the opposition agreed on a harmonized interpretation of the Public Order Management Act. Both parties agreed, among others that notice of a public meeting is mandatory and that the police retains its mandate under the constitution and other relevant laws to preserve law and order even when implementing the provisions of the Public Order Management Act.

UPF 11.02.2016 Block FDC P1
In addition to the above, the planned procession coincides with the opening of the new school term and any procession will infringe on the collective rights of the parents and their school going children.
We therefore urge Dr. Kiiza Besigye to respect the law as well as the rights of the parents, their children and the travelling public. Failure to comply will leave the police no option but to use necessary means to maintain law and order in accordance with the Constitution.

CP Fred Enanga
Press and Public Relations Officer
Uganda Police

Dr. Kizza Besigye: “My Message To The Youth Of Uganda: Claim Your Country! Claim Your Future!” (21.02.2016)

FDC Kizza Besigye Home Kasangati

Thank you for fulfilling your civic duty by voting for change. Your enthusiastic participation in the stolen 2016 elections demonstrates that you wanted to change the politics of this country and secure your future through the ballot box; only to be frustrated by partisan security agencies and an incompetent electoral commission. The electoral process was rigged using intimidation of voters, imprisonment of opponents, sabotage of rallies, late delivery of election materials, delayed opening of election centers, vote falsification at undisclosed tally centers, and bribery, among other malpractices.

But do not be discouraged — the struggle for a democratic dispensation did not start and end on Election Day and the electoral process itself did not end with the announcement of doctored results. Therefore, do not surrender. The majority of you were not even born when the current NRM regime came into power in 1986. Yet all you have inherited are the consequences of its bad governance.

Youth unemployment in Uganda is known to be the highest in Africa estimated to be between 62%, and 83%! I addressed the unemployment rate, deteriorating quality of education, corrupt credit schemes that did not benefit you; and the desperate circumstances of Uganda’s youth during my campaigns. You know your conditions better than me. The election has been rigged and the government is doing all it can to silence me. It is time for you to claim your rights and lead this struggle.

Uganda’s future, your future is in your hands. Remain firm. We can make this country work for each and everyone of us. But you must assert yourselves and claim your future. There is no other person who will do it for us.

Here is where we are: As of now there is no winner, the election process has not ended. The law gives us 10 days after announcement of results to challenge the outcome that is announced. As you all know, I have spent the first of those ten days under house arrest. I am now left with 9 days to exercise this right. Therefore, tomorrow I am going to the Electoral Commission to receive their results. I will then meet the campaign team and following that we will go around the country and collect all our information in order to prepare a well-considered response. This is a right we take for granted and are not asking for permission.

I invite you my friends,

• To rally behind the demand for an independent and transparent audit of the 2016 presidential election results. Explain this to all your friends.

• If you are in Kampala join me to walk to the Electoral Commission. We leave my gate at Kasangati at 9:00AM. Police will try to stop us, I know; but this is about claiming our rights. We will walk peacefully.

• In every village, collect the Declaration Forms that may still be in your possession. Use your phone or camera to photograph the results Declaration form. We will tell you how to transmit them.

• My friends online, engage our African brothers and sisters as well as the international community to reject the results and support our demands for an independent audit.

FDC HQ 19.02.2016 Police Siege

Friends, I have warned that we are witnessing a creeping military coup that aims to subvert the will of the people. We set out to claim our rights and our country through defiance not compliance. We are still on that path and we shall win by defiance NOT compliance. The NRM government believes that by isolating me the defiance campaign is dead but it was not a one-man campaign. This was your campaign and you must now LEAD IT! Peaceful protest is a human right that is in our Constitution. As you know whenever we have gone out to exercise that right peacefully we have been met with extreme violence. But we will not be cowed. The most brutal dictatorships have crumbled when the people asserted themselves. In Philippines, Romania, Guatemala, Tunisia, Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso we have seen them fall when the youth stood up for their rights. There will be pain and sacrifice. I am ready for it and I have been absorbing it. Do not be afraid, it is our historic duty.

Aluta Continua
For God And Our Country

Dr. Kizza Besigye

Somali President H.E. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud congratulates President Museveni

Somali President Museveni

The President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, HE Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, has extended a congratulation message to HE Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on his re-election as the President of the Republic of Uganda (Sonna, 21.02.2016).

“I am greatly pleased to seize this great opportunity to extend my warmest congratulations and wish you every success in the great task of taking Uganda to greater heights in terms of stability, national unity , prosperity and maintaining the position of Uganda in Africa as an example of development and contributing in peace building efforts in the continent’’ said the President (Sonna, 21.02.2016).

Reference:

Somali National News Agency – ‘Somali President extends congratulation to Uganda’s Museveni for his re-election victory’ (21.02.2016) link: http://sonna.com.so/en/2016/02/21/somali-president-extends-congratulatory-message-to-ugandas-president-museveni-for-his-re-election-victory/

COMESA wraps up Mission in Uganda – commends voters for ordely conduct

ug 3 close - copy

Kampala, Saturday, 20 February 2016: COMESA Election Observer team to Uganda has completed its mission and commended voters for turning up in large numbers to exercise their constitutional right of choosing their leaders in the February 18, 2016 elections.

In a joint press briefing with the East African Community (EAC) and Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) election observer missions, Leader of COMESA Mission Ambassador Ashraf Gamal Rashed hailed the massive turnout in casting the ballots, and the orderly manner in which voters conducted themselves.

“The polling process was generally free, peaceful and transparent despite the logistical challenges that delayed the opening of polling stations,” Ambassador Rashed said.

The Mission made several recommendations to enhance the conduct of future electoral processes in Uganda. Among them is the need for the Electoral Commission to ensure better organization with regards to logistics such as marking of polling stations, preparation, distribution and delivery of polling materials.

It emphasized the need for a robust communication strategy that will ensure information is relayed in a timely manner from the EC to the polling stations to avoid misinterpretations and confusion that might arise due to delays.

“While noting the progress made to consolidate multi-party democracy, there is need for increased dialogue among political parties and other stakeholders to address any challenges and enhance the credibility of the electoral process and the acceptance of all parties of its outcome,” the mission leader said.

Further, he stated that the credibility and impartiality of the EC should always be maintained and urged the government to adequately provide funding should for the EC to enable it to execute its mandate effectively.

Amb. Rashed encouraged the citizens of Uganda to remain calm and address any electoral disputes that may arise through the proper legal channels.