
Uganda Peoples Congress: IPOD First Summit, 2018 (05.12.2018)






“No man is crushed by misfortune unless he has first been deceived by prosperity” – Seneca, Dialogues and Letters
I don’t believe that the National Dialogue, which is about to start in November 2018 and Roadmap made by the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda will amount to anything. It will be a lot about nothing. It will be like a Seinfeld episode, lots of simple fun and punchlines, but nothing substantial for the body or the spirit.
This is not something that will upheld or even be honored by the President. Because he has never honored a deal, where he has to loose something or even give way. The President are always finding his way to get the upper-hand and will do so again. To think otherwise is to think that the Old Man with the Hat has changed. Trust me, all the acts of late, shows that he is more ruthless and shows more force. Because he knows he isn’t loved or cared about in the general population. The empty pledges and promises of old is haunting him and the lack of progress on nearly every account is another reason for his total failure. That is because the President is busy micro-managing and not trusting in the appointed cronies even.
I know I should have had hope for such an arrangement, but the acts of the National Resistance Movement, the usage of the Security Organizations against the citizens, the representatives and the ones standing in their way of late. Shows the dire need of a change, but they do this to intimidate and control. That is why Bobi Wine isn’t even able to launch his album in the National Stadium. At the same period, as the ones standing in the way of the President are awaiting court cases and charged with treason. That is a reason why I don’t believe in it. Because, there are not acts by the NRM that are opening for opposition or even trying. They are even blocking the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) President Patrick Amuriat Oboi from operating and meeting internal-party forums. How can this government be real about having dialogue, when others cannot operate without meeting the police or other security outfits?
I wish I could be hopeful, as the dire need is there, but from the one who said he wanted to destroy the opposition and crash it after the last General Election of 2016. That President is most likely doing it to teach the opposition a lesson, not being there to give way or even give the public a hand. Because the old man want to control everything, every legislation and be the fountain of honor. At all costs and be celebrated, even when he is killing innocent people and making up stories, where the hoodlums are the problem.
That is the man that supposed to negotiate with, a war-lord with all power and his orders from above can be fatal to others. He has no trouble using Luweero methods, using bush-war tactics and to use the National Dialogue for that, would be stalling and securing who was the heads. What their needs are and find ways to consolidate them. In such a way, that they need him and not really talk. This is the man that haven’t the ability to find a successor for 32 years and always excused he has more things to finish before he leaves power. You can wonder is left to forget to do. What bridge isn’t fixed in Isingiro or what school is falling apart in Moroto.
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni will only be a post-boy with lectures, but at this point. He will only use this to make a positive vibe or address the opposition, as they are trouble. He has not long ago said where the opposition has MPs, he has striked that district out of the map and stopped developing it. When your discussing what that sort of man, you know it is only his vision and his stories that matter.
The President have to show another side of himself, but that will be lie. He will then lie, because we know what he does and what he has done. The misuse of power, the ruthless acts against people who are in his way. This is known and he cannot run away from it. It is known and public knows it too. His cronies cannot hide that fact. Even if they try.
At this point. National Dialogue is pointless, unless Museveni pulls a rabbit out of the hat and says, who he plans to succeed him and what the NRM dynasty wants to be the next Grand Pumba. Peace.



It wasn’t only that the President graced the final rally the day before, or that the military and police used massive amount efforts to undermine the competition. No, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) had no message to send, so they had to arrest all Forum for Democratic Change Polling Stations agents and the big-shots, as they we’re not allowed to directly monitor the counting or the Return Forms from the Polling Stations. As well as we know the CCEDU are not allowed to observer the elections anymore. Therefore, the civil society and opposition was working with bent knees, while trying to run.
That the NRM won was made on the sky before the polls, as the military even took over Tally Centre before the ballots arrived to the polling stations. The talk of democracy or even level playing-field is foolish in this manner. When at the days of the polls, 20 FDC Polling Agents was arrested. These was the big-shots that was arrestd: Oddo Tayebwa and Stanley Katembeya.
To further prove the allegations. FDC MP Francis Mwijukye reported this earlier in the day:
“Police Director of Operations,Asuman Mugyenyi has ordered for the arrest of FDC leaders and agents in Sheema North where a parliamentary byelection is on going today. So far 15 leaders and 20 agents have been arrested. Meanwhile Am also surrounded here at Nyabwina primary school” (Francis Mwijukye, 08.10.2018).
When that is the case, as well as the police everywhere and the military too. The intimidation and the acts of government was made for the NRM to win. There was no other way out of this. The opposition wasn’t working together behind the candidate, which they have usually blamed FDC for their own works. So, now they left them all alone without any sympathy or putting up camp for the final week. There has been nothing from the ones talking of unity, the FDC was alone against NRM. Therefore, the ones speaking of ill of FDC’s actions in previous elections, better remember, that they have gone behind and supported other parties own candidates in By-Elections, but none gave the favor back here.
That Naome Kibaaju won wasn’t shocking with the manner this went down. If she thinks this is a whole-sum victory, she is apparently wrong. Not because the FDC lost. Any party can loose and that is justified. However, it is not justified when the tallying is done in darkness and the monitoring of the ballots has been only done by the government-friendly agents. That is easy math and shows the disgraceful acts of state.
This here saga continues. The good news is that this one didn’t end up in directly torture, forged up charges and more impunity from the state, other than the preventative arrests and the acts of intimidation. Because the NRM has no message to give the public.
The only thing make me happy, that there was no funeral because of this… there been to many dying over By-Elections and each one of them is one too many. Peace.


Today is the open MP slot left behind after the Sheema Municipality By-Election earlier this year, when Hon. Elioda Tumwesigye one his second race since 2016 and had to resign the Sheema North. That is why there is a by Election in Sheema North and why the NRM is having all the stakes in. While the Opposition are alone with one candidate and one party, as the rest has left them behind. You can wonder why, because recently, there has been joint opposition races in the by-election.
However, this has been a weird by-election, but that is maybe because of the aftermath of the Arua By-Election in August 2018. When the army, the Special Force Command and the opposition there has been charged with treason ever since. That is maybe why there are only two candidates and the NRM is ready with the same weapons today.
We haven’t seen the joint-opposition behind the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) candidate, neither seen the critic against the NRM candidate either. The President joined the campaign on the last day before the election and held a big rally. But there haven’t been much scope or any seemingly to hit the radar. Before today, when the polls are appearing. The real NRM is appearing and they have to use the tools of intimidation and arrests to secure their results, even when they are just going against one candidate. They don’t have the message or the candidate to bring it in without all of that.
“At Kigarama Sub County headquarters,the said Tally Centre for tomorrows Voting in Sheema North Constituency. As we speak, Military and Army have already taken over the center ahead of stake holders meeting with the electoral commission. Its supposed to start at 2pm and now 3pm. The meeting has not started. This seems already an army engineered election which calls for more vigilance and confrontation” (Augustine Ojobile, 07.10.2018).
“Men in ‘police’ uniform commanded by ASP Kaganzi from Mbarara have arrested Hon. Odo Tayebwa at Kabutsye Town Council” (Forum for Democratic Change, 08.10.2018). Also reports of an arrest of Stanley Katembeya today as well. Therefore, the FDC are getting into usual trouble, as they are using their powers to control them.
“Heavy police and UPDF deployment has taken place in Sheema North Constituency in western Uganda as voters elect a new MP today. The race is tight between Naome Kibajju of the ruling NRM party and Guma Nuwagaba who defected from the NRM to opposition party FDC and the security men are said to have deployed across several sub-counties in the constituency” (Capital FM Uganda, 08.10.2018).
There are clear message sent by the NRM, that they are not losing this constituency, as they had it previously and intends to keep it. They have sent the Military to the Tally Centre yesterday, certainly not only at the one spot, but on the ones that matter. Where they can ensure the results are configured and rigged well. As the Opposition doesn’t have the manpower or reach to have checks- and balances.
The FDC are alone swimming in this and their campaign might have been good. Their candidate might be in question himself, as he was a loser in the NRM Primaries. The NRM seemingly still uses all intimidation and arrests to secure the outcome. They do not trust the Naome Kibaju candidacy to win the By-Election. If they did, they wouldn’t need the army and the police to do, what they do.
As long as there is no extra judicial killing and another funeral because of this By-Election. Then that is good somehow, though the NRM has little to bring to table, when they need the Security Forces to spread their message, which is, we rule, we reign and don’t try to stop us. Peace.

There is times for the ones in power to called upon their bullshit. This sort of comments is foolish. It is not like the opposition has the army or have the police at their beckoning-call. They are following orders from above high and the authorities run by the ruling regime. The way the soldiers and police officers acts towards the citizens are report-on and uploaded instantly to the social media. So, if the Police or the Army is acting out. The world will know, the foreign investors will know. Therefore, if the President and VP cares about this. Maybe, they shouldn’t crash any opposition meeting. Maybe not send their ill-disciplined security officers.
VP Edward Ssekandi are really using the tactic of warning the citizens, while they are the ones oppressed. It wasn’t them sending the army to Entebbe or ordering the Presidential Guards into Kamwokya, Kampala recently. No, that was from above and their acts in Mityana and elsewhere, just resembles the chaotic nation he speaks off.
“GOMBA- Vice President Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi has warned that the country risks losing a number of foreign investors if Ugandans don’t shun political violence and land conflicts.“Be cautious about the ugly scenes you’re creating in our country because investors can’t put their money in a chaotic nation. Peace and security are paramount in attracting investments and therefore, I wish to call upon all Ugandans to ensure peace wherever you’re to see miracles of these investors here,” he said” (Mbogo, 2018).
Maybe not speak of chaos, on the day your government order the soldiers and the police to make road-blocks all around Masaka, because Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine travels from Kasangati to Masaka. Clearly, the NRM hasn’t gotten the memo from the big-man Ssekandi. Whose stretch of powers seems abysmal, as the Prime Minister has more of an office and voice within the Presidency.
While it is like that. Ssekandi should maybe think of what Bosco does and what orders he gives. As it is him whose most responsible for the acts of the Special Force Command and the Police, which is in-charge and the ones doing the torture. Doing the preventative arrests and whatnot else, which is creating chaos and problems. We know that the authorities just turned of the electricity, as Bobi Wine was addressing the nation from the United States. Therefore, the VP needs to address the State House. And not the citizens.
So, VP Ssekandi call-up Bosco, tell him to order the military back to the barracks and battlefields. Not be in public to intimidate and create chaos. Peace.
Reference:
Sadat Mbogo – ‘Political violence, land conflicts scare away investors – says Ssekandi’ 28.09.2018 link:http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Political-violence-land-conflicts-investors-Ssekandi-solar/688334-4781474-8893gwz/index.html



This Sheema North By-Election is the latest of plenty By-Elections during the 10th Parliament, as there been plenty of these, because of the new districts and the sudden deaths of Members of Parliament. However, this one is coming at a precious time. As the Police and Army are more alert, the violence are getting more striking and in the open. The blatant disregard isn’t only for the high-level activists and the leadership of the opposition. But anyone can be beaten to pulp and anyone can be shot by a stray-bullet. That is why, couldn’t the Electoral Commission and the National Resistance Movement (NRM) halted this one?
There has been enough death and problematic activity since mid-August. This is just mere months after and the ramifications of the latest by-elections is still in the wind. The wind-shield of the President is just one out of plenty accusations and possible unanswered violent activity. As the torture of the opposition leaders, their charges and the legal jeopardy many are in. This one will not go as the previous ones has. Where the camping of Opposition until final days of voting. The By-Election have looked like war-zones, but the deaths of civilians and the use of Presidential Guards (Special Force Command) of late, puts the hope for a peaceful outcome much less likely.
This Sheema North By-Election, which open up after NRM MP Elioda Tumwesigye had one his second seat and open the previous one he won. That is why, this election even are scheduled, as the one in Arua Municipality was because of the assassination of Hon. Ibrahim Abiriga. Therefore, the sudden acts and the control from the NRM. Is the reason for these extra races.
At this point, it is hard to believe in peace, as the authorities are speaking that the Security Organizations are acting with restraint, as they shoot live-bullets into crowds and beat the public with sticks. They are acting as occupants in their own country, instead of having steady trust, they are beating the people into submission. If not, that what they hope with the physical torture and hurt.
The 8th October 2018 is supposed to matter, this is to vote for their representative in their district. However, at this point, who will die? Who will be tortured and who will be detained is the questioned? What sort of narrative will the government push to forget their vile violence against the civilians and the public in general?
Because of this moment will we really care about if NRM’s Naome Kibaaju or FDC’s Richard Guma. I have a really hard time to digest this. As the end-game of Arua is still playing out, the deaths and all the victims, as so many people are on bond and awaiting trial. Therefore, the Sheema North seems just like a pinch of salt in wounds. As the beatings are not yet even healed. The lack of tolerance and space are being squeezed. Therefore, the authorities could have waited and postponed this.
It is hard to celebrate, and the donated bikes to the public, will be impounded if the NRM looses. Just like it did in Rukungiri. So, the Sheema North should expect it is only given to them, as a token, if the NRM wins. They double down if they loose and we knows this.
Lets just hope that this doesn’t become bloody, hurt more people and that the final days of the By-Election turns as tragic as the whole Arua did. Because no place should become like that. However, the NRM just wants to signal that it costs to stand in their way. That is why SG Lumumba had to talk about staying loyal to the NRM who came with these “gifts”.
We know what they are. The people should know what they are, a small deposit and if they are not getting anything in return, they collect it back. As the constituency was a bad investment.
Let’s pray, but we know that Bosco is a unforgiving man, who calls the opposition by many names. So we just have to prepare for another funeral. Even if these are supposed to be joyful occasions, where people are supposed to do their civic duty of electing their representative to the next-highest office. Peace.