Joint Statement: Call for Respect of Human Rights at Makerere University (29.10.2019)

Foreign Correspondents’ Association of Uganda (FCAU): Statement from FCAU on press freedom and the Makerere University protests (29.10.2019)

Makerere University: It would have been better if Mama Janet didn’t say a thing…

The Minister of Education and First Lady Janet Museveni after three evening raids with horror, violence and arrests. Even revealed deaths has occurred because of the actions made b the Special Force Command, soldiers and Police Force during the raids. Still, the First Lady blame “outside” forces meddling in the student life and “non-students” attending the riots.

This is really rich, this is really insulting and insinuating a lot of things. Reverend Lokodo should teach this Minister a lesson in ethics, because this scriptural usage is bonkers at best. When, she defends the army attacking civilian citizens at night and comes with claims of opposition support. At best, that is not illegal, they are allowed to demonstrate and industrial produce for their own livelihood and student body. Unless everyone supposed to bow-down to the Queen and King like peasants, right?

However, she just shows her ignorance of the pleas of the students with her statement. I have only taken parts of it. Because, discussing it to broadly is not worthy of my time.

Just look!

“That notwithstanding, I have learned with dismay that some of the people involved in this “demonstration” are not students from Makerere University or any other university for that matter. They are people who have made it there way of life to be paid to joint any riot wherever it is happening. Apparently, the political opposition in this country – who are well funded “somehow” by some “unknown sources” – find it useful to pay unemployed young people to riot wherever and whenever they believe they see a viable opportunity” (Janet Museveni, 29.10.2019).

“For these vulnerable young people and the adults who pay them it seems as if nothing else matters – not these young people whose minds are distorted early in life; not the fact that the resources used to replace destroyed University property could have solved another problem somewhere; not the consideration that this is very wrong instruction to students of how problems are solved in life without confrontation and destruction of life and property. Nothing constructive or educational at all is achieved. Instead, the public is misled through there skewed propaganda as to what is really happening” (Janet Museveni, 29.10.2019).

The insults to injury to the side. Is that she has baseless claims, where she knows that the students and the Guild President is behind it. The raids yesterday was after 7 more ring leaders, where the live-bullets, tear-gas and violence occurred again. Just as the other nights, one has passed on from the violence done to her. She died in the hospital after the treatment and the suffering, which was not enough. After all, of that, she continues shifting blame.

The Minister of Education speaks of nothing constructive being made. Well, the state haven’t produced anything constructive or cared for the students life itself, when they raid with soldiers at night. When they barrage and besiege the campus with an army barrack. She speaks of knowledge, but this sort of action speaks of oppression and autocratic behaviour.

As this is happening, three journalists are arrested for reporting on campus. Two journalists was kicked-out by the students for pushing the state agenda. Lastly, the realities remain, that the state investigate the students and the funding of the demonstrations, but not looking in the hurt they have put the student through the last two weeks. It is outrageous and no-one want to see their kids live through this. No one in his or her right mind will defend making the army invade a campus, right?

Still, she was very silent about that, but targeting the students for their activity. Because, they are all to blame. They ordered the soldiers, they ordered the SFC, they bought the tear-gas and they wanted to see the live-bullets hit the halls at night. Let’s be serious, she cannot be this shallow, but then again. We know from the past that she got thin-skin and lack moral codes, that’s why she uses the bible as she see fit. Even when defending the indefensible. Peace.

Makerere University: Sound the alarm for more horror, not the bell for dialogue

Even as the Acting Vice Chancellor Umar Kakumba and Police Force earlier in the day called for dialogue. As the media houses are still in darkness on the acts done on campus. The little we do know is through the grapevine and through the leaks of the students with data-bundles and topping off airtime.

What we do know is that armed forces are again raiding the Lumumba Hall and Micthell Hall too. There are gunshots, live-bullets and tear-gas. That is done inside the halls as we speak at night. Students are targeted by armed personnel. Some says its the Special Force Command (SFC), others are saying military men in plain clothes. We cannot be certain, its not like the commander of these operations has gone public and taken credit for this assault on the student.

Its on its second week of assault, raids and violent oppression of the students at the campus of Makerere. The government persist with this and acts of indifference to the pleas of the student guild, the leadership and the needs of the students. As they want to violently overturn their voices.

They are torturing, making their homes as students into war-zones as the armed personnel barge into their lives with weapons and ammunition. We cannot know the possible damage nor the hurt this causes. Both the hurt of the flesh, but also the damage it does on the mental stability of these young students as their lives are shaken by the military presence in their homes.

This is the third raid, there are already plenty reporting on the amount of people already hospitalized and raped by the armed forces. With yet another night like this. We cannot rest assure, knowing that there will be more. Because, these men and these commander spear no-one apparently. They besiege and attack everyone into submission.

If this is what the NRA fought for, than they fought for nothing. Because this is the same old regime they overthrow. This is the same acts of brutality and insincere statehood, which the previous predecessors was known for. That is the memo the public gets from this, that the revolution eats its kids. In this instance, the youth studying at the prestigious Makerere University.

What is not yet verified is that the one leaked the video of tonight’s raid was shot and killed by the armed personnel there. We don’t know, but that is latest report on the matter. Also, that the raid is done to find the 7 ring leaders of the strike, but they cannot find them. Surely, this is a sinister act where the industrial action is not allowed and has to be treated like enemies of the state. That is the message the state is sending to these students and everyone living on campus. Peace.

Opinion: Otafiire better line-up a viable argument next time

I have heard all this noise about People Power, which power do you represent, where all these people? The one we know is the LC 1 Chairperson, People Power is exercised by LC1 chairpersons through the ballot box and we will guard this power using the army and air force. Whoever tries to disrupt this power, you are welcome but what will come next don’t regret”Kahinda Otafiire on the 28th October 2019

First and foremost, it is rich and funny that the Minister of Justice Kahinda Otafiire speaks of the value of the ballot box in concern of the LC1 Chairperson elections of 2018 wasn’t done through the secret ballot, but through the art of peer pressure or should I say by lining up behind the one the village or town wanted to have to represent themselves. Therefore, the Honourable clearly have forgotten how the state and the Electoral Commission did their work in 60800 villages last year.

Secondly, that he will guard the lining up of villagers for an election is showing that the backwardness of the National Resistance Movement (NRM). Instead of moving forward and doing elections with secret ballots, the Minister of Justice wants to defend the ideal of school-yard picking football captains in the villages. He will go so far to send the army against the ones going against that. That is loyalty towards the President and his self-styled President for life.

Well, thirdly, the Minister of Justice really thinks his smart, but I have already destroyed his arguments before he started. Because, the People Power is the power of the people. That they are stronger together and has the initial power of the government. Because the government is supposed to represent the people. As they are representatives of the people. Therefore, it is rich that that army has to defend that and not defend the people from enemies invading the territory of the people.

That is why you know the former NRA fighter and for life loyalist of Museveni sounds like this. His trying to sound wise, but instead sounds stupid. He sounds ignorant and dumb. That is a feat in itself.

But we can never take away this from him: “I can’t be a Minister for Crocodiles” and in the same regard. He cannot be the Minister for a Good Memory either. Peace.

Bobi Wine blast Museveni’s Ghetto Stunt!

 “Tired of indignity, the ghetto rose up to speak – led by the Ghetto President. He dismissed us. We persisted. Very scared and desperate, he now returns as ‘Man of Ghetto’. Museveni used and dumped all people who were telling him the truth about Uganda. It is not surprising that he now has the likes of Bryan White, Catherine Kusasira, Bebe Cool and Buchaman as his advisers, he will do it all, he will soon adapt to the ghetto behaviour and ‘smoke some’,” – Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine (28.10.2019).

Today, the MP and the Ghetto President Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine addressed the Ghetto Weekend of the President Yoweri Kaguta Musveni. We all knew this was bound to happen. Because, this had to be challenged.

We all know this is a stunt and trying to be relevant where his long been missing. We know that the President never really cared or done anything else than empty pledges and handouts. The recent efforts are only creating positions, but not elevating the public away from their circumstances. Because there are no policy, nor budget to create significant different.

Bobi Wine and the public knows this. It is all a ploy for 2021. Nothing else. All of these people he says are involved with Museveni only there because it pays, but they are not generating changes on the ground. Only a play for the stage, but none actually change for the citizens in the slums, in the ghettos. They are as lost as they have been, neither with the local councils, the mayors nor the KCCA doing anything. That’s because there are no money, no works or departments to actually work with all of the challenges at hand.

Therefore, the acts of the President is just a ploy and façade for the upcoming election. His screwed ways will backfire. Because, his just a visitor, even more than the NGOs and their volunteers. They are there for a while and get a feeling in their bodies of the environment, but the Executive or His Excellency are soon in his esteemed halls and homes. While he knows of the dire state of the citizens in the ghetto. Which he haven’t brought Steady Progress or anything of substance. Except for some free t-shirts and food for rallies every 4 years or so.

We can all see this, there will postponed and played around with, if the state cares they might start works that last as long as the Northern Bypass. Since there is common ground or nothing substantial. Only small handouts to new officials and SACCOs, but they are not doing anything that matters.

That’s why Bobi Wine blasts him and rightfully so. When there is no end product and only fanfare, we know something is up. Let’s see the President smoke some ganja and do the dance on the streets. Peace.

Makerere University: Acting VC blames the victims for the violence…

“Management is investigating cases of violence. Students who beat their colleagues and disrupted lectures. We have received cases of students who were battered and forced out of lecture rooms by fellow students, these incidents were captured and recorded” Ag. VC Umar Kakumba (Makerere University, 28.10.2019).

This is so A-Typical the behaviour of a rouge state, where the perpetrators are walking scotch free and the ones hurt, vilified and terrorized is the criminals. In this instance, it’s the students, the ones living on campus and at the Ivory Tower. The ones living at Lumumba and so on. They are the ones who has to be investigated.

Even if the army put up a army barracks, as the photos, the video-clips and so-on shows the intention of the armed forces violating the premises, hurting the students and the police later arresting them. There was 100 students arrested, central guild leaders, some are even kidnapped and not known where they are located as I write. Therefore, the Management of the University should be a bit more careful putting the blame on the students here.

This is washing away the blame for having soldiers violating the students rights to demonstrate, the police arresting them and the court allowing them out on bail. While several are in the hospital and one reported dead after the damages done. While the real numbers from the actions made last week is yet to be known. Because, this violence and this sort of actions doesn’t come without any results.

The state went in gung-ho. They went in with fierce precision, tear-gas, raiding the homes and hostels, they arrested and tortured the students. Now, days after this, the Acting VC blames them! How dare he? They don’t have tear-gas and weapons, that is what the state has.

Let’s be serious. This is a real infliction of harm on the future generation, this is showing how remorseful the leadership of today is. That they cannot stomach demonstrations, from the hot-seat of it in the Republic. There has always been rebellion and demonstrations at Makerere. As long as I can remember, but not with the assault of armed soldiers in the harms way of the students. This isn’t common and neither common sense.

The management and the state today are now throwing shade on the ones tortured, arrested and hospitalized. They are saying indirectly its their fault. They will investigate fellow students, but not the soldiers acts of oppression. The videos has exposed this, but hasn’t been touched, because then the Management of Makerere Univeristy would challenge the government and it cannot do that.

Therefore, it is the game of blaming the victim, to make the perpetrator innocent. It’s disgusting and disgraceful. Peace.

Makerere University letter to Guild President Kateregga (27.10.2019)

Opinion: [Alert] Museveni’s Ghettofication

We got our leaders too but where they lead us ?

Do they leave us or they see it through?

Yeah we packin’ precious metals

Our shit is next level

We raise the threat level” – (Talib Kweli on ‘Every Ghetto’ from the LP Indie 500, 2015).

We see the scheme ahead of the General Election of 2021. The focus will be on the ghettos, the slums and the areas close to home of Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine. Just like he has now a Presidential Advisor for Kampala Affairs and the Ghetto Youth, and there is another one in the making too. Therefore, his focus is there now.

However, when it’s coming to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, I feel these bars are more fitting for him: “I’m on the porch like a slummy Ralph Lauren model” (Yelawolf – ‘Daylight’ from the LP Trial By Fire, 2017).

His not a gangster, a slum-dweller, someone who has cared for the ghettos or slums of Kampala. No, his now a poser and a model. Like the one mentioned by Yelawolf. That is who the President is. His starting all sorts of initiatives, but it only happens because his preparing for 2021. There are no other reasons for it.

That’s why he did this today:

Launched the NRM empowerment office for youth living and working in the areas of Kibuye and Katwe. The office will be a registration point for SACCOs and will make it easy for us to support the youth in their different productive groups” (Museveni, 27.10.2019).

We can lie to ourselves, but he hasn’t really been initiating much. He dropped 100 millions shillings last year too. But that is about it and this is a continuation of it. Instead of finding proper remedy his giving away charity and hoping it sticks. There is no difference between this and sudden drop from an NGO. As the NRM might open an office, but what is the budget and mandate? Who does it answer to? Is it under the State House, KCCA or the City Hall? Will they answer to the needs of the Katwe Council or is that not important?

Since, if the President did care or wasn’t only a visitor doing photo-ops and photo-bombing in the area. He would sincerely try to involve all the stakeholders and check their needs. Instead of patching the hurt by dropping a few dimes, hoping that would save someone’s day. Because, that’s how it looks.

We can anticipate that the President will do similar things now in Kamwokya, Kalerwe, Kisenyi and elsewhere. That is if he cares, but right now his just tasting the grounds and trying to eat of the spoils. He is dropping small currency and hoping to triple it in support. To think otherwise is naive at this point. The President is a screwed politician and to not think this is calculated is to think to well of the old man.

Therefore, he will go all ghetto. He will even hum the tunes of Elvis if he got too, with the sounds of “And his hunger burns

So he starts to roam the streets at night

And he learns how to steal

And he learns how to fight

In the ghetto”Elvis Presley on ‘In the Ghetto’ from the LP ‘From Elvis in Memphis’ 1969).

The only reasons he sings these tunes now is because of Bobi Wine. There is nothing else too it. He might soon make an Ghetto MP or even a Ghetto Ministry. Just to show that he cares, even if he never really has. Unless donors has paid for programs and ensured shelters. Some figments of micro-loans schemes and such. There aren’t much proof of care or change. Only, that his now boosting it up ahead of a up-coming election. That is the sad reality.

The President has had the time to fix and find avenues to make change in over 3 decades, 33 years and still not achieved anything. From 1986 until present day, he has had the time and ability to do something. But he hasn’t. This is a generation left behind by him and his accepted that. Until, the rising starlet and popular politician Bobi Wine MP showed up. Than he had to change the guards and move.

Well, to quote the old man: The power stays in the hands of the people. . . . I don’t see what opponents are so panicky about”Yoweri Kaguta Museveni in 1995. That might me 24 years ago. But still a friendly reminder, that the Poeple Power is powerful and that is why he suddenly cares about the slums/ghettos. Peace.

Robert Kyagulanyi MP aka Bobi Wine Statement on President Museveni being the “Man of Ghetto” (27.10.2019)

The folly of dictatorship! Ba dictator ensonyi baazinaaba. For 34 years, this man impoverished, marginalised & ignored the ghetto people. He evicted them from their land. He didn’t care about their health, their education or their lives. He over taxed them, tortured them and killed so many of them. He thought the ghetto didn’t matter.

After so many years, and tired of indignity, the ghetto people rose up to speak for themselves. Led by the Ghetto President, they made it clear that enough was enough. The ghetto went to Parliament and embarked on the process of taking over the nation’s leadership and changing the country forever.

He first dismissed us. But we persisted. He threatened us. We stood firm. He bribed some ghetto people but the ghetto youth stated on course. They asked me to continue shaking the tree, because that is the only time they saw government coming to them.

Having failed in all his schemes; very scared and desperate, President Museveni now returns as ‘Man of Ghetto.’ The sheer lack of shame! I can assure him that the authentic ghetto people will not permit him to mock them.