IEBC: “Withdrawal by NASA in the Fresh Presidential Election” (10.10.2017)

Opinion: Odinga’s withdrawal is a brave step hopefully towards a new beginning!

Raila Odinga and Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka decision to pull out of the Fresh Elections of 26th October 2017. Proves character, proves swagger and belief that the vision of a conducted free and fair elections under the current leadership of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission. Who is preparing just about a similar election as the one made on the 8th August 2017. There is lacking or no proof of any significant change after the annulment of the previous enterprise. Just a few mere small changes, that could be seen as insignificant by anyone.

Then also has the Jubilee Administration together with the IEBC undermined the efforts of changing the organization and the electoral body. It is insane to use the same companies to service the same sort of arrangement and believe that results be different. The lack of transparency and accountability for the missteps of August is proven. Instead they been steady pumping without any disregard of the consequences. They have not been listening or even showing any progress. The talks been facade and play for the gallery, as they want to stall for time. So that the National Super Alliance (NASA) would be again put in a corner and again has to petition the elections to the Supreme Court.

Uhuru Kenyatta might celebrate today, even Deputy President William Ruto, but if they do, they are foolish and ignorant to the fact. The mere election of 26th October is another front and not a real election. Since the competition is not there, there we’re two candidates on the ballot and now there are one. Certainly, this should be seen as a slap in the face of the incumbent President. The race towards 26th October has suddenly stopped.

We just have to wait and see if the NASA also writes to notify the IEBC. That is they obliged by law. But the Press Conference and officially withdrawing in public. Should really rattle the cage of the IEBC. Since their plan of same procedure should silence that. That the Jubilee throws shade and says it just continues is foolish. Because its not just to continue as usual.

That IEBC Secretariat has a hard battle to just continue and finish this one. That Chairman Wafula Chebukati and CEO Ezra Chiloba have to decide what they do, since the IEBC has not clean hands. They have to wash them and also find another soap. The soap and the water they are using is far from clean. Therefore, IEBC has to change guards and reform to become trustworthy.

Following the withdrawal of the NASA presidential candidate, the Commission and the legal team are meeting and will communicate way forward” (IEBC, 10.10.2017). We can just wait and see if the IEBC finds their way, if they will just announce Kenyatta or they will re-issue and actually try reform the electoral body.

Now is the time, his bravery is shown and now is the time for IEBC to step up their game. The cards are in play, Kenyatta is not yet the winner and neither is the date of 26th October put in stone. Since the law and the Electoral Codes has to be followed, by those provisions that are there. Peace.

Dumbfounded that President Museveni spoke about Tolerance and Democracy at the 55th Independence Speech in Bushenyi!

It’s shouldn’t be this hard to celebrate freedom and independence, but in Uganda at this very moment it is, because it is only the National Resistance Movement and the President’s Men who is free. They are rest are men and woman for hire, for their agenda and their usefulness is only when they are loyal to the state or the people who are public servants. This is the 55th Celebration of the Independence. All other than the Parade and Gathering in Bushenyi was banned. What sort of freedom is that? This happens days after the National Football Match at Nelson Mandela Namboole Stadium in Kampala. Between Uganda and Ghana. There all sort of attire wearing red got snatched by the Police Officers. They took caps with Airtel and Coca Cola, by all means all red-ribbons. That people wear to show their support of keeping the Age Limit of the Presidency in Constitution.

So when the President ends his speech like this today:

Finally, democracy is about the harmonious coexistence of contending views. A democrat is, therefore, a person who disagrees with a view but at the same time defends the right of someone to express the view he or she does not agree with. However, in the recent past, I have seen people who, for a long time, have claimed to be democrats attempt to violate the right of freedom of expression of the people they don’t agree with. This intolerance is not what we fought for and it will, therefore, be resisted in the strongest terms possible. I would like to conclude by saying that Uganda’s independence and democracy was bought with blood of our patriots. Therefore, nobody will be allowed to undermine it. I also wish to assure all Ugandans that the NRM Government will continue to maintain peace and stability in Uganda” (SPEECH BY PRESIDENT YOWERI KAGUTA MUSEVENI PRESIDENT ON THE OCCASION TO MARK UGANDA`S 55th INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY, 09.10.2017).

That the President says the first marked sentence is rich, very wealthy coming from him. If he believed it he would haven’t threaten, intimidated and detained opposition. He wouldn’t send police and monitor the opposition parties. The Forum for Democratic Change, Democratic Party, Justice Forum and such are offices that could become a crime scene any moment. Especially if they are going against the views of the President and his party. So if someone disagrees with the NRM and President, they could fear and possibly end in jail. They could even get charged with treason if they push the case for freedom, liberty and rule of law. This is something the President knows, so it is hypocritical of the man to say those words in Bushenyi today.

The President of Uganda is intolerant and narrow-minded. If he had an open heart and common sense, as he speaks of, the FDC and other parties should bail out their members, activists and their leaders so often on bonds. The Police shouldn’t be a partial force within the NRM Government and acts as extra guards for them and then detain the ones who are not apart of the NRM. Its rare that you are talking what you fought for, when you are on the daily basis and ordinary circumstance going against this. But it fits the paradigm of independence and tolerance as ethical backbone. Still, the NRM government are far from living within these visions.

Than he continue and shows his more real sentiments, that he means with more reality of his will and power. Therefore, is someone undermine what he fought for, the sort-of-peace he created, therefore, if you push him. Then the blood of the patriots, the ones that he fought for, will turn on you. Because no one should be allowed to undermine him and his patriotism. Even if he undermines that on the daily basis.

I don’t believe what the President says about Democracy and values of tolerance, when the society and what his security organizations does to ones who dissent from him. He has proven time and time again, that the freedom and liberty of Ugandans is limited. Not in the cozy limited edition, but in the way that its either Frank Sinatra’s My Way of the President or the small narrow road of oppression. Peace.

Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine: “My Letter to Young Ugandans” (09.10.2017)

Dear young women and men of Uganda, today our country marks its 55th independence anniversary!

I feel the urgency to communicate to you on this day, and through this letter on three things; the state of our country, the prospects for the future, and what each one of us must do TODAY to better our destiny.

I know this letter is a bit long, but I beg all of us to read it. We should disapprove those who say that in order to hide something from an African you should put it in writing!

*****************************

“…..We are that generation. The grandchildren of the independence generation and the grandparents of the future generations….. We must within ourselves find solutions, since our leaders don’t seem to care for the next generation but instead care for the next general-election…… We are the country, we are the future, we are the change we badly need. We are the youngest population in the world, we stand a chance. We are the leaders of the future and the future is today. If we only come together we can change our destiny.”

These are some of the lyrics from my song called ‘Uganda’ (ft. Nubian Li).

Firstly, I commend all of you for the zeal you show each day for a better country. Every day, wherever I go, whenever I read your social media engagements, whenever I tune into the radio and TV- I see a generation which is passionate about their country!

I see young men and women who are tired and fed up of a country which does not work for them and a system which is disconnected from their daily realties. The reason why I am writing to you today is because on an almost daily basis, these same young people, who unanimously agree that there is a problem, also ask me the question- “WHAT CAN WE DO?” The state giving up is real. Many have resigned to fate. Now, in 1962, exactly 55 years ago, the colonialists handed over this country to our grandparents. As we all know, as they left, they handed over a country which worked. Infrastructure was in place, having been built by the British- Mulago Hospital, Makerere University, roads, schools, power generating plants etc.

Institutions of government functioned- the public service, the police force, public transport, agriculture, etc. Merit was rewarded, mediocrity was shunned – if you worked hard you were rewarded.

The ‘colonial’ government gave scholarships to intelligent young people to study here or sent them abroad to further their education and help build the nation upon return, without need to pay any bribe or to go through a ‘big father.’

Many of us have watched the short video titled ‘Africa’s largest Airport Opened’ in reference to Entebbe Airport when it was first opened. Professor Oloka-Onyango best describes what our country was like at the time in his book ‘Ghosts and the Law’- “The country was thus still in an age of innocence”. Newspapers of the time paint a picture of some kind of tropical paradise, of course with the nickname ‘Pearl of Africa’…… One could travel from Jinja to Kampala in one hour straight without meeting a pothole, and all traffic lights in Kampala- which were many more than they are today- worked. The railway network could take you virtually around the whole country. Cinemas existed not only in the capital but in major regional towns. Although education had not been universalized via UPE, a student from a rural school in Uganda could favorably compete with a student from the city.

It seemed like a time of order and tranquil governance; a time of social stability and economic prosperity.”

Those who got a copy of the Uganda Argus of October 9th 1962 (reproduced by the New Vision last week) must have read that Education took 27% of the national budget because the government at the time understood that quality education was a precursor to national development and improving the living standards of the people. They did all this, operating with a meagre budget, nothing compared to our present even when the value adjusted to the present.

Therefore, when our forefathers agitated for independence before and in 1962, their problem was not poor service delivery or a failed system. They were simply agitating for self-governance. They wanted to free themselves and their children from the indignity of being ruled over by the ‘white man.’

They understood that having good infrastructure, excellent service delivery and a functioning healthcare without political freedom meant nothing. To them, it was important to have both economic development while at the same time exercising their God-given right to self-determination! They wanted a black man or woman on the steering wheel of the country because they thought ‘Our own shall not betray us. Our own shall not enslave us. Our own shall be accountable to us.” Therefore, Independence Day was celebrated with pomp and flair.

For the new Uganda, some lyrics of the national anthem went like this; “United, free for liberty together we’ll always stand. Oh Uganda, the land of freedom, Our love and labor we give….In peace and friendship we’ll live.”

These lyrics echoed the kind of hope our forefathers had for this country. As they watched the Union Jack (British flag) go down and our Ugandan flag rise up- their hearts were filled with joy and anxiety. They visioned a better future for their children and their grandchildren- which is our generation.

They could never imagine that anyone- let alone their own black-man would ever step on and undermine the sweat, labor and in some cases blood, which they expended to create the nation of Uganda!

We all know what has happened to our country for the past 55 years. We have all witnessed the crushed promise- captured very well in the preamble to the 1995 Constitution, a history characterized by political and constitutional instability, tyranny, oppression and exploitation. The shattered hope!

In 2017, it is not yet Uhuru! True independence still eludes us. The good which the colonialists left has long been destroyed and the freedom which our forefathers struggled to give us only remains in song. It is shameful- a serious indictment on our leaders that many Africans, many Ugandans would rather have the colonialist rule over them than have one of their own who disrespects them in every way.

Yes, some progress has been made- but as if we live under a spell, there have always been people in these 55 years who are enemies of progress. They work so hard to destroy the little we have achieved and throughout our history, we have often times had to start afresh!

Mothers die in child birth, unemployment is everyone’s, the healthcare system is sick, corruption is the headline, the national debt has already placed a charge on our unborn children and grandchildren. The economic models are just irrelevant for the present times.

I watch with misery thousands of young Ugandans who struggle to get onto that plane to go and give their labor abroad- many times in great suffering. We have seen stories of young girls who go to find a job only to be turned into sex slaves and sometimes tortured to death.

We all know that doctor or nurse who had to leave Uganda for greener pastures; even in other African countries! Although they would love to remain here and serve their people who are in great need, the system doesn’t appreciate their services. Poverty is appalling. Only last month, Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS), a government agency, announced that 10 million Ugandans now live in poverty, and the numbers have not been reducing but increasing. 3.4 million of our people have slipped into poverty since 2012! Our GDP growth stands at a mere 3.9%!

As the gun reigns supreme, those who hold it- our brothers and sisters in the forces are equally hit hard (and sometimes harder) by these same unfortunate conditions. 30 has become the new 18. Previously, young people were able to stand on their own at 18 years of age, today, majority can hardly find their feet until about 30 or more. Even then, most are glad to be underemployed, and only very few are able to find befitting employment.

The education system is dead. The curriculum is not relevant to the needs of this generation. Only last week, a World Bank development report (Published in the Daily Monitor) revealed that at least 80% of pupils in Primary Two in Uganda cannot perform a two-digit subtraction, and 61% cannot read a single word of a short sentence!

Uganda, according to the report, is the second country in the whole world with pupils who cannot count. Yet these children everyday sing – “We young women and men of Uganda, are marching along the path of education singing and dancing with joy together uniting for a better Uganda. We are the pillars of tomorrow’s Uganda…. Let us rise now embrace true knowledge yielding disciplined resourcefulness to rebuild a great, great Pearl!”…Empty words!

Many studying on a hungry stomach, under trees and in most cases being taught by equally hungry teachers! This is the country in which our children are born in! Apart from very few, many of us understand the struggles our parents or guardians have gone through to raise us in this country. And indeed, we each understand the struggles we go through every day to afford a decent life in mother Uganda. Individuals and families are working so hard but the returns are too low. The phrase ‘times are hard’ used to be seasonal but it is now a daily for most of our people- January to December, times are hard!

Constitutionalism and the rule of law remains an aspiration. We are constantly reminded that power originates from and is sustained through the gun! We, the people cannot express ourselves freely. We cannot assemble freely. Political leaders who oppose the status quo cannot move freely in their country. This is not yet Uhuru. This is not the freedom our fathers bestowed upon us.

I can go on and on but we must not just lament. I have delved into the history and the present to try and put things into context. But I know that we all understand what is at stake. I just want each one of us to ask the one fundamental question – “What went wrong?” We well know that many African countries started with Uganda, some starting on an even worse footing than us- but now more than double us in terms of GDP growth and their people live in tranquility, dignity and freedom. The answer and indeed the only difference between countries which have seen the fruits of independence and those which have not lies in only one word- LEADERSHIP.

How a country is governed determines if it will succeed. Patriotic, selfless, courageous and competent leaders who put their country first, made progress for their people. And the opposite is true. As Proverbs 29:2 says, “When the righteous reign, people rejoice. But when the wicked rule, people groan.”

My message to you young Ugandans is this, the responsibility to build or fail your country lies completely with you!

As Frantz Fanon says, “Each generation must discover its mission, fulfill it, or betray it.”

John F. Kennedy also said, “Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country.”

Can we therefore stop lamenting only and think about what we can individually and collectively do to redeem this country and set it on a path to true independence? Can each one of us ask this noble question- “What kind of country do I want my child to grow in? What can I do to create that country?” As a generation, what shall we be remembered for? For looking on while our country went to the dogs or for standing up for what we believed was right?

Some of us continue to support a system and politicians who we know are not working for us. We align ourselves with leaders who only use us to get into positions of leadership only to forget us and return to us in the next election! All over the continent of Africa, we have seen wars and conflict spearheaded by young people. Who are they working for? Some greedy, power-hungry maniacs who are not bothered at all about them but about themselves and their own children!

Like the proverbial grasshoppers which fight amongst themselves in a bottle, we often forget what the real problem is and turn against each other for petty reasons. Even from debates on social media, you see forces in disarray- young Ugandans insulting each other because they belong to different tribes, religion or political parties etc… Yet these two young men or young women share the same challenges and problems every day. They are both unemployed, they both struggle to put food on the table; they both struggle to raise some little money to help parents or guardians who brought them up; and when they fall sick, both have to be admitted in some dilapidated hospital!

Rather than fight amongst ourselves and seek the attention and small favors from people whose cause we do not belong to; rather than continue to be used to fight other people’s wars, let us envision the kind of Uganda we want, and embark on building it.

We must never forget that about four decades ago, young people in Uganda faced similar dilemmas that we face today. They had a choice to make. They refused to sit down and fold their hands and watch as the country went to the dogs. We are once again at that point. Our generation does not have to resort to violence because as we have seen violence begets violence and the cycle never ends. But we can do something to refocus the direction of our country!

Young people ended apartheid, young people marched against slavery, and yes, young people fought for Africa’s independence. We should remember that there are some generations in this country which have been bypassed- which have not played any contribution to the development of this country.

If we do not make a conscious decision today, we may become one of them. The Obote, Kiwanuka generation fought for Independence, the Museveni generation fought against instability rising out of bad politics. There is a generation which came after- people who are presently in their late 40s and 50s. That generation did not play a decisive role. They are approaching the evening of their years, and those who I speak with, regret the missed opportunity to substantially contribute to this nation’s development. They were told that they were leaders of tomorrow. They waited for that tomorrow, and it never came!

Remember this- we shall not be young forever- not even much longer.

The statistics are clear. They are on our side! The median age of Uganda is 15. More than 77% of the people are below 30 years of age, and over 80% below 35 years of age!

The average age of our cabinet ministers is about 65 and the young people continue to be sidelined.

Rather than demand for and take their place in shaping their country, the majority continue to beg for handouts from the minority- turning themselves into subjects of patronage.

Out of the many intelligent, young Ugandans with great potential, it is the likes of Hon. Evelyn Anite and Hon. Ronald Kibuule who get appointed become ministers- to represent this generation!

This should and must bother us! It saddens me that our leaders are always on the plane visiting countries which with even fewer resources and less opportunities have been able to work for their people and make great strides. And yet, they return here to superintend over this mess!

Let me also speak to you, young people who live in some bit of comfort which has made you complacent. Some of us are luckier than the majority in this country. We are doctors, lawyers, musicians, bankers, insurers, IT specialists, economists, engineers,etc. We often feel comfortable and because we can afford some basics of life, we have become depoliticized. The temporary comfort has blinded us to the bigger picture and to the problems of our country.

Our silence in the face of injustice is loud. Our inaction is costly. Many of us do not even vote! By so doing we do not only betray our generation and country, but the effects of a badly run country will soon catch up with us. Assuming you were driving upcountry and you are involved in an accident and there is no ambulance or there is no blood in the nearby hospital (if there is one)- all of a sudden your disinterest becomes costly. If you’re a lawyer and the country’s Constitution is constantly undermined, sooner than later you may have no job.

Therefore the struggle for a better country must involve all of us- men and women, young and old, from rural and urban areas, educated and not educated, ALL OF US. Our country is endowed with enormous natural and human resources. There is no aspiration we cannot achieve, no height we cannot reach, no obstacle we cannot overcome. LET US UNITE, determine and purpose to take the long tiresome journey to make this country better.

We must build a country which works for everyone. Where merit is rewarded. Where if you work so hard you are 100% sure that you will succeed. Where all persons are equal before and under the law. Where freedom of expression and assembly are respected and protected. Where a national Constitution is indeed supreme, popular and durable. Where all persons are proud to be called UGANDANS.

I will repeat that this is achievable. And this won’t come from any politician. Not from any leader- not even me. We should not wait for another prophet. It all begins and ends with ‘WE THE PEOPLE”

Your friend and comrade,

*Kyagulanyi Ssentamu Robert- Bobi Wine*

South Sudan: “Subject: Appointment of Party’s General Secretary and Executive Secretaries of South Sudan United Movement” (07.10.2017)

Kenya: NASA Statement on Maa Community Talking Notes (09.10.2017)

Somalia: UN letter to Galmudug ‘President’ Haaf calling for dialogue between FMS and FGS (08.10.2017)

President Museveni you wonder why the Ugandans are praying so much? Well, they are Praying for the end of your reign!

I hate to tell you this, but they are praying for your fall. They hope you fall hard. That your time as the Commander-in-Chief will end. They pray for a peaceful transition and an end to your three decades of rule. You have served your time and it’s been plenty. You have had your time in the sunshine and can now take it easy. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni nothing in the world or in Uganda, says you have right to rule. Especially this long, you are not a king or a monarch. You are not entitled to rule, even you in your narrow-mind believes so. That you wish to change the 1995 Constitution again, to fit your life and the change of times. So that your skin and beating heart can be on the throne. That is why people are praying.

President Yoweri Museveni has cautioned people against spending a lot of time praying and advised them to spend more time working and inventing ideas and solutions that would help them have dominion over all creatures because that’s their fundamental mission on earth. Mr Museveni says man’s fundamental mission, as stipulated by God in the book of Genesis in the Holy Bible, is dominion over nature. Mr Museveni said he hates the helpless approach of people spending days and nights “praying…praying and shouting as if God is deaf,” while ignoring the fundamental role of dominion over nature” (Daily Monitor, 2017).

I am sure many Christians in Uganda are praying and have overnight prayers for your downfall, for the day your reign will cease. They will not pray for your death, but for end as their President. You have served them long enough. You have played your part in History and its about time you become that. History, something you try to teach every time you write. You go historical and biblical. You lecture fellow politician. Like an older people do and your soon in advanced age. Time to brush of your shoulders and leave for one of your farms.

They are praying overnight, into the Morning Glories that you leave. They are praying:

Dear Lord, almighty father, we are praying for your wisdom and salvation. That you will free our country. That you will share your knowledge with our leaders, that they will serve and be humble as us. We are citizens of the eternal realm and this earth. We are living here on borrowed time. We have to live harmony and peace. We have to listen to you and follow the Divine Spirit into eternal life. That you guide us throw the valley of death, guide through the hardships and into salvation. We pray that the leadership and kings, that they follow your commands and wisdom, that they do know their place and know path. That you lead them on your path and don’t go astray. We pray holy father for the change, for a transition from the oppressors, from the benefactors of thieving, for the liars and false prophets. That you will give them the time of day. That their rule will end as you have envisioned. We pray that your mercy will be on the citizens on earth as it is in Heaven. That we pray, in the power and in glory, in the father, the son and holy spirit. Amen”.

That is how they could pray, how they could vision themselves, be in their hut in Amuru, house in Kabale, farm in Ibanda and in the mansion in Kampala. Where they all could pray for your end. That your time is done and you can tick-out.

Mr. President, it is not that they don’t want to enrich themselves, that they are lazy and don’t want to work. But for thirty years you have not created the possibilities or the growth for that to occur. You have had your time in the limelight. All sort of funding and schemes to make it happen, except you have become wealthy and people not. Hard to believe you will deliver now, with your track-record, aye?

That is why we pray for salvation, for hope of future without you as the executive, as the President and as the Commander-in-Chief, people are praying for a leader who lead and inspire. Not for a leader who eats and expire. There is so much to be desired. You leave nothing behind for the next generation, other than youth with jobs and poverty. That was the same when you entered as President too. That is another reason for the prayer, that God will intervene and make things possible, because with you. It don’t! You haven’t used your wisdom, your lectures or your experience to serve others than yourself. That is why people are praying, they are whispering, lightening candles and wearing red-ribbons.

They are praying for you end and counting your days. You have had yours. Time to step down and see the next leader take wheel. You are not the only one in the Republic with a vision.

God of power and might, wisdom and justice,

through you authority is rightly administered,

laws are enacted, and judgment is decreed.

Assist with your spirit of counsel and fortitude

the President and other government leaders of Uganda

May they always seek

the ways of righteousness, justice and mercy.

Grant that they may be enabled by your powerful protection

to lead our country with honesty and integrity.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

For God and For Country”

Peace.

Reference:

Daily Monitor – ‘Museveni asks Ugandans to spend more time working not praying’ (08.10.2017) link: http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Museveni-Ugandans-work-prayer-Parliament-Kadaga/688334-4130426-luje4dz/index.html

Kenya: NASA Statement – “Uhuru must stop playing victim on Economy” (08.10.2017)

SPLM Leaders Former Political Detainees (FDs) letter to IGAD: “Visit of IGAD Foreign Ministers Delegation on the ARCSS Pre-Revitialization Consultation Forum” (07.10.2017)