Uganda Police Force Press Statement on their “Crack-Down” on Civil Society and Lord Mayor Lukwago (22.09.2017)

Opinion: CSO’s Paper to IGAD HLRF is revealing!

There were many insights and deep stuff in the CSO Report to IGAD, which has been written and submitted to Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), has put their stakeholders, and their pride into trying to forge a peace, even after the peace agreement of 2015 has been shot into tatters recently. The IGAD are clearly on a mission to sustain their place and their negotiations with the parties in South Sudan. As the conflict and battles within becomes more dire, when the consequences of not doing it, is more life in danger and a more uncertain future for the republic. Clearly, all parties knows what at stake, as the IGAD have proven not to be to impartial, as well as the foreign intervention from Uganda, has been in favor of the SPLM-IG, clearly, there are many more obstacles to fix before the due date of the newly proposed peace mediation. That is why the paper from the CSO is revealing, especially, the part if IGAD fail, which I think it will do, as long as people are sidestepping the SPLM-IO and the newly created militias and opposition forces. Look at their take if the IGAD fails, which is such a dossier.

“IGAD faces a daunting task in securing a political settlement through the HLRF process. Not only must it contend with the fracturing of armed groups and the proliferation of new political formations, but divisions among IGAD member states themselves undermine the diplomatic leverage that mediators have at their disposal. From the very start of the conflict, it has been clear that the four frontline states of Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan and Uganda are essential to the solution of the conflict in South Sudan. Only they can offer the incentives and disincentives that are needed to bring the various factions together behind the terms of a political settlement. To date, the vested interests of some political elites in the region have prevented IGAD from mounting a united response. The next few months will show whether the situation in South Sudan has reached a point at which it poses such a serious threat to regional peace and stability that the region is forced to respond accordingly, or whether IGAD’s ability to respond will once again be undermined by narrowly defined state or personal interests” (CSO Paper, September 2017).

“If the HLRF process fails, the IGAD region must accept that it is unable to resolve the crisis in South Sudan and hand over responsibility for the mediation effort to the AU. The four frontline states can still engage in the context of an AU-led mediation, but they should not be able to dominate the process and use it as a forum to promote their own narrowly defined interests. The AU should start preparing itself now by developing a political strategy for a possible AU-led mediation effort. This strategy should go beyond any eminent personalities that may be appointed to lead the process to consider how the AU approach would differ from that of IGAD. In addition, IGAD and the AU should make clear to the warring parties that if they fail to agree on a political settlement in the context of the HLRF, IGAD and the AU will request that punitive measures be imposed on parties who undermine the process. Such punitive measures are long past due and are the only means to communicate to the leadership on all sides of the political divide that the African region will no longer allow the people of South Sudan and the region to be held hostage to their leaders’ pursuit of power” (CSO Paper, September 2017).

It is really telling how they are explaining in these passages, the reality of the daunting task ahead, as the SPLM/A and SPLM-IO are the key component to the crisis and stalemate, but this in effect has created many more enemies of both. The former SPLM/A and SPLM-IO who has become their own parties and their militias, are within all reason making the road-map for peace more hectic. As there isn’t just two leaders who wants to be supreme. But a dozens who wants to topple them both, by all means and with full force. This should not overshadow the need for diplomatic and negotiations between SPLM/A and SPLM-IO, neither stop the SPLM/A reunification project, even how flawed both has been.

The marginalized and silenced parts of the discussions, the rebellions against both parties, should be looked at if the IGAD HLRF Process is a honest one. If the IGAD approach should bear fruits, the SPLM-IO ghost is haunting the process and the dialogue. As well as all the former generals who has created their own outfits, who needs to included, unless they want to create a new fragile peace. That could blow up any second after the ink has run dry. Peace.

Reference:

CIVIL SOCIETY OPTIONS PAPER ON THE IGAD HIGH-LEVEL REVITALIZATION FORUM (September 2017)

 

The Uganda Law Society Statement Regarding the Age Limit Debate (21.09.2017)

Communiqué of the 720th meeting of the PSC, at the ministerial level, on the situation in South Sudan (20.09.2017)

NASA Letter to IEBC: “Re: Election Date” (21.09.2017)

Uganda Media Centre: “Response to the US Ambassador Deborah Malac’s Concern Over Civil and Political Rights in Uganda (21.09.2017)

Opinion: It is time for DEFIANCE, now more than ever! #AgeLimit

It is time to bring back the slogan and the act of defying in the face of oppression. It is not the time to cease the acts against oppression. The time for actual defying of the draconian and Orwellian behavior of National Resistance Movement. The Uganda Police Force and Uganda People’s Defense Force are acting brutality and without justification to quell and silence all parts of society, in favor of thieving and brutal regime, who do not care about the safety of the citizens, but of the security of the NRM elite and the President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni is more important than anything else!

Oxford Dictionary says Defiance is: “Open resistance; bold disobedience: an act of defiance the demonstration was held in defiance of official warnings” (Oxford Dictionaries – ‘Defiance’)” (…) “Origin: Middle English (denoting the renunciation of an allegiance or friendship): from Old French, from defier ‘defy’” (Oxford Dictionaries – ‘Defiance’).

Let’s be clear wearing red bandanna on the steps of Parliament is not bold disobedience, neither is singing the National Anthem during the plenary session. It is defying, but not bold. It is obvious and in the public space, but the ones really defying. Is the ones breaking the bans and laws, who we’re out in the streets. Demonstrating in Bushenyi, Arua and Lira. The ones demonstrating at Makerere and Mbarara University, where the Police where detaining and throwing tear-gas.

The defiance that matters and makes it expensive to up-keep is the ones that breaks the system. The ones actually defies and the system. Not the ones sponsoring it and legitimizing it. Like the Opposition MPs did and the Shadow Government did after the General Election of 2016. They gave way for the NRM and the President to continue as normal. None of them gave him reason to change or to give-in. Since he saw they became weak and could get bought by a title and allowances.

Defiance has to capture the spirit and give hope to organizations and movements who actually defies the system. The underground activity and the possible defiance could hurt the government. Instead, they have now postponed the debate, but that is only making the troubles come back to haunt them. Not stop them! It will return like any sequel, like any Hollywood remake of a franchise. It just keep on returning. The lifting of the Presidential Age Limit will not leave the scene. Neither will other laws made for securing the life Presidency of Museveni.

Therefore, more than ever it is important to defy the system. Stand up against it and not accept it. Stop buying from companies that are connected with the NRM elite, stop registering and being connected with NRM affiliated organizations and avoid all sort of legitimizing the current government. That meaning, being bold and brave. Actually, show your disregard to the current leadership. T-Shirt, Campaigns and Open dialogue in the public sphere, that will hurt the government. Make sure they will lose their arguments and ideals to upkeep the Presidency.

Besigye himself gave this advice in July 2017:

The following needs to be done to terminate the Junta’s control of our country:

1) Intensify the “awakening campaign”, for most Ugandans to become active in the processes of achieving a transition. Everyone has a role to play in achieving this.

2) Forming activist networks to make it possible to act together and to be coordinated.

3)Everyone seeking a democratic transition should take deliberate actions, individually or in concert with others to disempower and break down the Junta. Each one’s actions, however small, contribute significantly towards the desired change.

4) Public servants, including those in the security and military are called upon to join the struggle for democratic transition.

5) In coordination with other political and civil society formations, we’ll soon start various activities that will disempower and bring the, now fragile, Junta to an end” (Dr. Kizza Besigye, 11.07.2017).

The words Besigye are relevant for DEFIANCE. It is the making of shaking the system. Give the Oppressor a kick where it hurts, but with bold actions. Not dancing like hooligans on the outside of the Parliament. These acts would actually hurt the government. The public would really defy the government with this acts. It is time to activate and listen to Besigye. So that the NRM can be taken down, by peaceful means and a meaningful transition of power. Since it doesn’t belong to Museveni alone. But all citizens of Uganda.

It is time not accept official warnings and protocol. The Public Order Management Act (POMA) should cease to matter, the notification of demonstrations and processions should not happen from the defiant organizers. The defiant organizers should focus on the cause, not respect the laws that are there to uphold the government. They should step up their activity and not fear the government. But disrespect it and make it on edge. It should start to shake and wonder what is the next move. Not be able to anticipate or expect the next move. The POMA makes it easy for the Police Force to block and throw tear-gas. The informing of the planned defying acts should stop. The CSOs and the Opposition Parties should start with actions that are in the shadow and out of reach of the government. Go into the “black” and sudden appear as unknown force of loyal subjects to the cause.

If the ones in the deep darkness of oppression actually acted in defiance, defied the law and the state, as it has turned to be oppressing instead being their to serve. Therefore, the citizens has the right and is justified to defy the laws, who are there for the emperor and his court; it is not there for serving the people. It’s time to listen Besigye as the brutality and the crack-down shows the true heart of the government. Peace.

Opinion: Kenyatta claims SCOK ruling is a ‘Judiciary’ Coup, I beg to differ!

The incumbent continues to be a bitter man, a very bitter man. Certainly, the hours of ruling didn’t help his mind or his spirit. Since the ruling was known on 1st September 2017, the explanation from the Supreme Court has not landed well with him. Uhuru Kenyatta is mad and his logic is bonkers. Therefore, I first shows his quotes and after that, briefly comment on it.

What happened is a judicial coup,” President Kenyatta said. “We have a constitution which has placed the interests of wananchi far above those of individuals; we have a constitution which has curtailed the powers of the Presidency, so that the will and wishes of the citizens would be respected,” said the President” (…) “In a democratic and free nation, where citizens’ rights are to be respected, we are now being told their will doesn’t matter; … wananchi who thought that the constitution guarantees their sovereign will are being told it doesn’t matter; it’s only few individuals who can decide for the 45 million people who their leaders can be,” said the President” (…) “As Kenyans, we have witnessed what has never happened in any democratic country in the world. We thought we were instilling democracy as a result  of our new constitution; we were entrenching devolution to ensure equity in the disbursement of national resources so that no Kenyan is left behind,” said the President” (Kenyatta, 2017).

Oxford dictionary explains a coup as a: “A sudden, violent, and illegal seizure of power from a government” (Oxford Dictionaries – ‘Coup’). To put into the judicial coup, would mean that the Judiciary took power away from government. The Supreme Court of Kenya never took anything away in their ruling, they followed the laws, the constitution and the electoral legislation that was not kept by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission. This is why the Supreme Court Justices could vote in favor of Kenyatta and the IEBC.

Therefore, this was not a coup, if the SCOK did a coup in Kenya, it would mean the CJ Maraga or any other ones voting on nullification of the Presidential Election of 8th August 2017, they didn’t take power themselves. The SCOK just put the check-in balances and justice for the ballots. The announcement of the results and verification of it. That is why the coup is nonsense, since the Court Justices didn’t take power, they just suspended the power of Kenyatta and stopped his second term. They just put the incumbent in a limbo. Something he certainly don’t like.

It is weird that he tries to defend the Constitution and talks of a few people’s individuals rights countering the value of 45 millions citizens. What is strange about this, is he saying that Kenyatta own value is higher, than the ones of the legal scholars who wants the elected people and representatives actually being elected by the 45 millions, not rigged in without evidence. Clearly, the President believes that the laws has lesser values because of the people, but the laws are made so the rules are the same for all citizens. That implicates that the IEBC has to make sure all citizens votes are counted and announced after the law. Something that apparently didn’t happen in the recent election. The reason for the mad attacks on the judiciary and not the IEBC. It impress me, the continuation from Kenyatta!

It wasn’t the Supreme Court that decided for the Kenyan people, neither did Jubilee, it was the rigging of the IEBC, that decided for the Kenyans. They made sure through their shady work and little evidence of following the Electoral Laws, was the reason for the judgment. Kenyatta, should respect it and not call it coup. Neither say the judges are a little group who acts against the people. They are safeguarding the people, because the ones who should feel tricked is the people. They went innocently to the polling stations and their incumbent President would easily have continued with a forged and rigged result. That is the will of the people, that they are listen to and not be cheated. It is a sad sight, that the President continue to pound on the people who are safeguarding the laws. The ones who respects and honors the laws, that is made in his August House, the National Assembly or the Parliament. Peace.

Reference:

Kenyatta, Uhuru – ‘Supreme Court ruling a set back to democratic ideals, says President Kenyatta’ (21.09.2017) link: http://www.president.go.ke/2017/09/21/supreme-court-ruling-a-set-back-to-democratic-ideals-says-president-kenyatta/

Gen. Mugisha Muntu: Statement on Police Brutality, Arrests and Siege on Parliament (21.09.2017)

IEBC: Update on Preparations for the Fresh Presidential Election (21.09.2017)