

SPLM/A-IO: Press Release – Joint Communique on the Occasion of the State Visit to the Republic of Uganda by His Excellency Dr. Abiy Ahmed Ali, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (09.06.2018)






The Mission continues to engage with local authorities and to urge the warring parties to stop the fighting and adhere to the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement signed by all parties just over five months ago.
JUBA, South Sudan, June 6, 2018 – The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) strongly condemns an armed attack that directly targeted its peacekeepers in the country’s Unity region, on the morning of 4 June 2018.
A convoy consisting of peacekeepers and civilians came under fire when it stopped briefly to interact with a civilian in Rubkway, about 20 kilometers north of Leer town. The team was on a short patrol from the Mission’s Leer Temporary Operations Base to Thaker, in Mayendit County.
No one was injured in the incident, and so far, no damage to the vehicles has been identified.
UNMISS strongly condemns this attack against its personnel and calls on all parties to respect the freedom of movement of UN personnel carrying out their mandate, and to cooperate with the peacekeepers as they work to protect civilians; monitor human rights; create a conducive environment for delivery of humanitarian aid, and support efforts to restore peace.
The Leer area has been the scene of heightened insecurity in recent weeks, as humanitarian agencies working in the area continue to report that more people are still fleeing for their lives amid sharp escalation in fighting and attacks on civilians.
UNMISS has boosted its peacekeeping contingent into the area, flying in additional soldiers and airlifting in armoured personnel carriers to assist with patrolling in affected villages to better protect civilians.
The Mission continues to engage with local authorities and to urge the warring parties to stop the fighting and adhere to the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement signed by all parties just over five months ago.


“When one with honeyed words but evil mind
Persuades the mob, great woes befall the state.” – Euripides
As things are standing in Ethiopia there are minor changes in the ways it is perceived, this mostly because of how the new Prime Minister is carrying himself. This being Dr. Abiy Ahmed whose been all around and visiting all parts of the Republic. However, there been continued oppression, detaining and killings during his tenure in the regions where the State of Emergency has hit the hardest. This being in Oromia, Somalia Region and Amhara. All of these areas has been hit hard by the State of Emergency, where the police and military, the Aghazi Squad has attacked civilians and killed too.
“Addis Ababa, June 2, 2018 (FBC) – The Council of Ministers in its today’s regular meeting approved a draft law that lifts the State of Emergency. The draft will be sent to the House of People’s Representatives (HPR) for consideration. The Council noted that law and order has been restored. Ethiopia declared a six-month State of Emergency on February 16, 2018” (Fana Broadcasting Company – ‘Council of Ministers approves draft bill to lift State of Emergency’ 02.06.2018).
Therefore I am reluctant about this move, as long as the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Defence Force (EPRDF) is in power and using their methods. I wonder what is their safeguard and their next move, as they have done everything they can to silence dissidents. This being silencing phone-lines, blocking internet, stopping people from having sit-down strikes and generally banning all possible protests. While making activists, writers and everyone involved in these matters into criminals. Even as they fight for liberty and justice over their own. The EPRDF comes with the military as a hostile takeover and takes control. Instead of being in dialogue. That is what the State of Emergency and the provisions of the Commando Post is all about.
There is no reflection or anything saying that they will really change, the SOE now was really to stall for time. The demonstrations and the protest spirit is not gone, there are still lingering thousands upon thousands in jail. Even as high-profiled individuals has been released. The majority is still behind bars and the lack of freedom is still there. The New PM hasn’t changed that or the laws, not tried to repeal the Anti-Terror laws, which has used to oppress civilians who protest against the EPRDF.
We can hope for change, but its still lots of the same. The powers are within the same structures, a small change in the cabinet, but the reality is that Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) is still controlling the EPRDF. The government and its institution isn’t significantly changed, even as the Prime Minister has been in talks with Oromo Opposition leaders. That is positive step, just as the possible repeal of the SOE. However, as long as no one takes responsibility of the violence, the killings and the arbitrary arrests, there will not be real changes. It will just be patches on the hurt, but when the wounds are evident. The flair and the flames will start again, because no one acted upon the hurt. That should be the vision of the EPRDF, to take responsibility and charge itself. If they are real about the damage and hurt it has given over the years. Not just walk away because your in power.
Who knows if they within a months time repeal the SOE, will they do it again if the Queerro are starting to block the roads and stop businesses from moving goods from Djibouti to Addis. Will the army and the police accept that? As the TPLF and EPRDF will lose foreign exchange on it and also possible profits from doing so. Will they accept that the Amhara are also closing the roads into the capital. Would they accept it, as they are not listened to or even considered. As long as the government are caring about themselves. That is the reality.
This is a positive step, but if it is not followed up by more heartfelt measures, the reality will hit the fan and the possible violence will appear, because the government haven’t shown another side or character. Peace.


“Good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will find a way around the laws” – Plato
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni cannot accept rejection, neither defeat, he never has. That is in his veins, he cannot accept being beaten, even when he used all the tricks in his book, paying out funds, using the police and military to intimidate. Still his party the National Resistance Movement (NRM) lost in the 31st May Rukungiri By-Election to the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) candidate for the Woman-MP seat.
What I have to say, is that Museveni always blames everyone else. If the taxes isn’t good enough or made with provision, which handle the reality of the day, it is either Uganda Revenue Authority fault of the Ministry of Planning, Finance and Economic Development (MoPFED). Because it couldn’t be his fault, it never is.
If the lack of organization between all security organizations is never his fault. It is not Museveni who has appointed and given the ISO, ESO, UPF and UPDF the mandates they have. No no, it is the generals who lacks their duty and the police officers whose not educated enough. Not that the state hasn’t sufficient protocol or budgets to actually do their jobs. That is another issue.
It is never Museveni’s fault when there is a new Cholera Outbreak or the health care system is failing. No no, that is the local government, who doesn’t have a dime to buy a cookie, but him in his private plane cannot be blamed. That the hospitals lacks equipment, medicine and even ability to pay their electricity bills. However, that is not to blame Museveni. No everything is fine and dandy, as long as his ministers in the Health Ministry can fly to India for treatment. Don’t blame Museveni, he hasn’t done anything wrong.
If the roads are full of potholes and you have to ride like a drunk on a straight road ahead. It isn’t Museveni’s fault. It is always Uganda National Roads Authority, Local Governments Councils and the developers whose tenders was given by the central government. The deals and arrangement is never Museveni’s fault, even when he allows the likes of Dott Services to continue their forgeries and mockery of road development.
It is never Museveni’s fault, when the education system is becoming a tragic stink. That he hasn’t invested in salaries, in the buildings or equipment to the students. Not able to secure lunch meals for the kids either. Teachers working to jobs, having gardens and boda-boda businesses on the side, as the teachers salaries are not paying enough on the low-level. But that is not your fault, because the State House, Office of Prime Minister and such is eating such a load of the yearly budget. Still, the Ministry of Education and lack of governance. Can only be the principals and others, but not you. No no.
So the list could go on. It is never Museveni’s fault, the Gods knows that. He is innocent, he is never guilty. Museveni is the Saint of Uganda, the greatest man ever to grace the hills and valleys of Uganda. No can ever be on the level of Museveni. He is the grandest king and his holiness, he is the one whose never done a fly anything. He cannot do mistakes.
Just like the pope in the Catholic Church has the teaching of Papal infallibility, where in general the pope cannot fail. It is a misconception, however, the idea is fitting. As Musveni are clearly never able to fall or do wrong. He got a gift like that, if it was so. Why isn’t the golden gates already popping by at the State House of Entebbe? Why isn’t Uganda industrialized and Modernized in the perfect vision of Museveni?
He has had 32 years to do it and still haven’t achieved it. Time to take the cross and carry it. Peace.






There has been a contested Woman Member of Parliament Seat for the polls today in Rukungiri District. It has been like always in the recent years, massive sides of Military Police, Soldiers occuping the streets and also detaining plenty of Forum for Democratic Change leaders and activists. Because that is the Modus Operandi of Musevenism. The National Resistance Movement (NRM) lack of mission and tact comes to the forefront every time there is an election. Especially contested by elections like these.
That the FDC are under heavy weather is natural, as they are main opposition party and showing no remorse on the affect of that, as they have campaigned and camped in the district. Brought all the big-men and the ones that is significantly differs from the NRM. While the NRM has used over 10 billions and used loads of funds on SACCOs, NAADs and whatnot in the district. Not to talk about voter tourism and other ventures to gain popularity. The President also rallied behind their candidate. Therefore, the stakes are high, but is the payoff really worth all of this?
Is the assault on freedom, liberty and electioneering worth all of this for single Woman MP seat? Is that the message NRM is sending? They will come with an army like they were trying to both LRA and ADF-NALU, also coming with police whose job is to securing the polling stations, but instead arrests polling agents from FDC. Because what else could they be doing.
What is also significant about this election, is how there are little or no presence of media. The local media is clearly muffled with and silenced. NTV Uganda and NBS Television are sending other shows, that actually following the By-Election. Just think about that for minute… another minute and no someone ordered that. Just like they did on Age Limit. Silence and shut up. They are censoring themselves from being on the ground and pounding on the locals. To see what is really up.
We shouldn’t be surprised if the Electoral Commission and the rigging is in high gear. Since the Police and Military was there securing their efforts. They are afraid that the bribes and use of intimidation wasn’t enough to get the NRM Candidate into office. The NRM couldn’t win a fair fight, they have to rig to win. We have seen that since they had to use the state machinery and the handshakes to local community projects to ghosts.
All DR Forms have been delivered and the FDC has the copies. But the EC is awaiting to able to release the real numbers. Seemingly as they could be cooking. That is well-known, they have tried this before, even as the reasonable outcome would be slim victory of the FDC candidate. But the NRM doesn’t want to lose after bribing and usage of the army.
There also been reports of jamming of the phone-line and trouble with mobile data, meaning they are trying to make a black-out locally in Rukungiri District. That wouldn’t be new from the NRM, but the long delays of results and official numbers. Shows that the EC is cooking the books and trying to forge something, that with the media silence isn’t a strong suit. More weakness and intimidation.
All indications and the real numbers are swayed in for the FDC. But if the state rigs, than the NRM wins. They have used a fortune and put a lot into play. So it would be humiliating to lose. That means even the machinery isn’t enough to beat the supposed MP.
We have to wait for the official result. But be aware, they could be cooked. All provision results during the aftermath of the polls was in favor of the FDC candidate, so if it changes significantly, expect some ghosts and some polling stations now one knew existed before the election came into affect. Peace.