Arua By-Election: Couldn’t the Opposition muster someone better than Wadri?

Well, it will be a race between the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Nusura Tiperu candidate and independent candidate Kasiano Wadri. This is the Arua Municipality By-Election that will happen on the 15th August, as the contested seat of late Hon. Ibrahim Abiriga is for the taking.

This means that the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) own person will step aside, this is the upcoming Bruce Musema. The vital change happens after Justice Forum, Democratic Party and Bobi Wine agreed upon this. The FDC have clearly folded after what happen in Bugiri Municipality, as former Party President Gen. Mugisha Muntu have already started to campaign from Wadri. There are clearly tensions in the air and the obvious outcome. Muntu clearly favored someone outside his previous party, than throwing his weight in favor of Musema. That is really showing lack of loyalty, btu that is to be expected these days. Abed Bwanika was also apart of the people who went in support of Wadri, as well as Norbert Mao, therefore, the DP is heavily invested in the candidate. As they need the result to prove their worth.

Nusura Tiperu is running a campaign of continuing the “Late Abiriga’s Agenda”, however if that will stick or be the reason for her victory, who knows, as the Electoral Commission, the Police Force and the NRM are usually busy rigging elections in their favor. Even as the Joint Opposition Candidate Wadri, will still battle hard, as he is not as viable as Musema might have been. This can really be shooting itself in the foot, as Tiperu might look much smarter, than Wadri ever will be.

Because if Wadri didn’t have the Democratic Party, Bobi Wine and Bwanika behind him. Would he even mattered in concern with Musema? That is the question we can now put. This questions are viable and it is just days ahead of the polls. That is not a sign of strength, but of weakness.

Tiperu couldn’t have gotten a better bargain, as she has to rally against weak Joint Candidate, instead of several Opposition Flag-Bearers. If the Opposition would have been smart, they had put Musema forward as it would have a younger and viable candidate, not an older character like Wadri. Tiperu doesn’t even need lots of big-men around her to win this. She has an advantage and she didn’t do crap about it. This is the own making of the opposition itself.

If your making a joint candidate, you put the best one you have, not the second best or the lucky loser, but you put up someone that you can actually believe in. That is not Wadri. Wadri is not believable, that Bwanika and Bobi Wine, even Muntu is up to something. That is clear, but the vindication of their political bargain, might be a cold cup of tea and not a drink you enjoy.

Wadri is the former Terego County MP, who lost in 2016, therefore, he is already and not a strong one. They are moving him to another district, but his person is still the same. He has already lost one to the NRM. What stops him from that happening again, the mystical powers of Bobi Wine?

We have to see, but Wadri shouldn’t be the one, in this one Musema should have, but maybe after the Bugiri Municipality, the FDC are throwing their weight behind as they were under-fire to field their own. But this time, it would have made sense, because will someone who lost to NRM. He has already had 4 terms in Parliament. There should be someone without entitlement to run.

However, that is what Arua is getting from the opposition. They are fielding a failed, career politician whose time is up. If he bounces back its because of mercy, not because of his swagger. Peace.

Uganda Police Force: No Guns Are Missing at Our Classified Stores (08.08.2018)

Exercise Duty: Tumwebaze and BoU sends mixed messages, today!

Today, it was striking that the government really hitting a home-run in double messaging. The National Resistance Movement (NRM) started from 1st July 2018 to tax all parts of the transactions with Mobile Money Tax. This is receiving, sending and also uploading the funds. That is why these funds have been tripled taxed with the other taxes that is already put on the transactions like PAYE and VAT.

That is why the Honorable Tumwebaze words seems fitting to post on the Mobile Money Tax, as this is discriminating people and making sure they cannot use the technology or digital way of paying bills and such. However, he don’t want people to resist it. How fitting, when the state have made it to expensive for people to be part of the modern world and have to use old methods to pay their relatives and companies, making sure day to day transactions becomes more costly.

Frank Tumwebaze statement:

Continuous technological advancement will further lead to other digital migrations in the way we conduct business. Let us embrace these technology advancements and not resist. If you resist technology it will disrupt” (New Vision, 2018)

BoU report on the tax after a month:

The 0.5 per cent tax on Mobile Money is discriminative and is likely to affect financial inclusion, officials from Bank of Uganda have said. The officials said this while appearing before the Parliamentary Committee on finance on Wednesday to give their views about mobile money tax. The officials, who also appeared before the committee alongside their counterparts from telecom companies, said mobile money transactions declined by 672bn shillings in the first two weeks of implementing the mobile money tax” (Tusingwire, 2018).

I am not surprised that the Mobile Money Market is hit and hard. Even if one percentage of tax doesn’t sound much. However, when you had put in on all parts of the transaction plus the other added taxes, the total cost of a transaction is huge. It is eating a lot of the plate for the same services, which has been provided for ages. There are already costs of the transactions to the companies, therefore the public have shunned and also stopped using it. Many even felt they couldn’t afford the usage of it.

That was to be expected. However, the Minister Tumwebaze have made the people resist moving to digital migration, move into the modern day transactions of money and such. That with the Exercise Duty, which was enforced two months ago.

The NRM cannot talk of people embracing technology, when they themselves making people resist or to expensive to use. Maybe, they have to figure out better ways of taxing people. If they want to be fair, because now even the National Bank of Bank of Uganda is saying it is discriminating. That should worry the Minister, but he is just using fashionable words. So he clearly don’t care. Peace.

Reference:

Tusingwire, Serestino – ‘Mobile Money tax discriminative – BoU’ 01.08.2018 link: http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Mobile-Money-tax-discriminative-BoU/688334-4692428-137ocmdz/index.html

New Vision – ‘Let us embrace technology advancements’ 01.08.2018 link: https://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1482566/us-embrace-technology-advancements

Opinion: Museveni goes bananas in his defense of the Bugiri By-Election loss!

“My Reflections on Age Limit and Election in new Municipalities” – Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on the 30th July 2018

There are something striking about the defense of the loss in Bugiri Municipality, would think there was warfare and additional cult-like obsessions from the opposition who won. That they we’re tricking the Electoral Commission and that they had the economic capacity of the National Resistance Movement (NRM).

When he claims the losses of the recent by-elections are on voter tourism, have he seen many buses hired by the Forum for Democratic Change? Have he seen or heard reports of dodgy caravans crossing one district to another on polling?

This is the whirlwind of nonsense, as a mad-man using all methods to capture the lack of finesse and use of message from him. President Museveni are using fear and intimidation towards the public, that is why everyone isn’t biting and he cannot manage that. He is now seeing that the opposition if they have the right amount of power behind them, they can actually galvanize popularity. However, he calls it sectarianism and pseudo-ideology, nevertheless, the first I don’t even care for answering, but second needs to be addressed.

By a man of recycled promises, an empty treasure chest, 32 years of rule, less and less results to prove of his ideology or even governance. He shouldn’t claim of others, he should keep his mouth shut and walk-on. Museveni is an empty headed buffoon, whose place is on the farm rearing cows and not being an executive. The defense of the loss in Bugiri proves it.

He call it these things, when they don’t follow the Correct Line, the “Follow My Guidelines”, that is how he is and he cannot help himself. That is part of the lost cause, the man with the old hat. Thinks everything should be focused around and his reign. The ones who doesn’t listen or being servants to his orders, are sectarian or following a pseudo-ideology, if you feel that sounds like hogwash? Your absolutely right.

President Museveni, you have overstayed your welcome, people are tired of you and your lies. You have promised the world, but not even given them a glimpse of honest leadership. That is why people become your enemies, when they are not listening to you or following your commands. Which is sort of a bugging narrative to repeat, but the reality, nevertheless.

You still have the majority, still sitting secure in the State House and controls the army, so right now, Mr. President, you have no need to fear. These elements will always be out there, because everyone will never follow your every command and every word. Because that wise your not and that level of expertise in every field, you have not.

You might have taxed the Over-The-Top Service, but your delivering Down-At-The-Bottom Services to your people. Time for you to relax and figure another way to rule. I know it is to late, but someone has to say it. Best would be to retire and hang-out with Mugabe. Peace.

Mzee says “Follow My Guidelines” and expect everyone to tag-along!

Repeatedly, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni cannot help himself. He just have to throw someone else under the bus. He is riding the bus, put up all the protocols for the bus, he has made the legislation and even made the entire legal framework since 1986 and still he complains about the judiciary. It is as if the man forgets his place and that his own role as the sign-offs of laws, the ones that put them through Parliament is himself.

How stupid does Museveni think people are? That should be an important question at this point, because he always blame others for his short-comings, if it wasn’t him; it was the British, the Obote’s and the Amin’s, but never the high and mighty Museveni. No, that cannot happen, he is perfection and the greatest ever gracing the blue planet of ours.

“But in a statement issued on Monday, Museveni, who is in South Africa for the BRICS Summit, said the judges fell short of understanding the importance of a long term for the elected leaders but concentrated on theatrics. “Unfortunately, our judges in Uganda spend more time on form and not substance, on procedure and not substance,” said Museveni. “My freedom fighter’s sense of justice, in this matter (the age limit ruling) focuses more on the convenience of 7 years rather than 5 years. With the 5 years, a lot of time is spent on electioneering and less time on development; the first two years settling in, the third year some work in the constituency and, then, by the 4th year, electioneering again,” he emphasised. Museveni said, in the end, however, “the judges are not the ones in charge of the country.” He stressed that, “If the NRM MPs follow my guidelines and bond closely with the people, through wealth and job creation, we can, together with the people, make the necessary Constitutional reforms, judges or no judges.” The President said the Constitution should “facilitate the modernization of Uganda and the economic and political integration of Africa for the survival of the people of Africa as free people, not just the theatre of democracy of form without addressing substance.” (Kim Aine – ‘Museveni on Age Limit Ruling: Judges are not in Charge of Uganda’ 30.07.2018, link: https://chimpreports.com/museveni-on-age-limit-ruling-judges-are-not-in-charge-of-uganda/).

He is blaming the judges for stopping the extension of the time of MPs, even if the legal framework doesn’t abide to it. Meaning, that if the President really cared about this and about the laws. He would ensure they were passed properly, even if I have a hard time believing his blast of them. Since, the same laws that ensured the passing of the abolishment of age limit, didn’t need to be fulfilled when concerning him. However, the laws was applied when concerning MPs, that was the need for a referendum and also more public consultations, not just rubberstamping the law and call-it a day.

The judiciary have their place, as they are following the rules of law put in front of them and abide by the set of framework the politicians put together in Parliament. As the pass the laws, it is not like the judges makes these laws and orders. Not in theory, therefore, the whole blasting of them is just weird. When the one law applied to MPs and their extension, but not to the President. He should be more careful with his wording, because why didn’t the same laws apply to him and with the consultation of the extension of his time in office?

Why?

Because the judges are appointed by him and they are working for him, they don’ won’t to bite the hand that feeds them. The key thing out of this was: “follow my Guidelines”, meaning, his words is law and the way forward. There are nothing else to state on the matter. Museveni have the guidelines and the rest have to be in submission and follow, there are no but, if’s or what. It is just follow me and than you can rest assure. That is it. Peace.

Age Limit: Erias Lukwago statement after Age Limit Judgement on the 26th July 2018

The frustration and disillusionment many of you and I feel this evening cannot be gainsaid. But I believe it has not been an exercise in futility, for the luganda adage that “nkuwaabidde takuvirako awo” has come to pass.

I am glad that the the Constitutional Court has embraced and incorporated in our constitutional jurisprudence the novel doctrine of “Basic Structure”; a very instrumental tool that informed judicial activism in a number of commonwealth jurisdictions like India, South Africa, Belize etc. I’m only disappointed that they shied away from applying it to all the provisions of the impugned age limit Act and strike it down. Nonetheless, it provides a firm foundation for the next course of action.

We shouldn’t loose sight of the fact that even leopards sweat. We should not despair. Step by step, brick by brick we shall build the Uganda we want. Remember that dictatorships world over do not fall by gravitational force like ripe mangoes, but through sustained struggles and concerted actions of right thinking people.

We must harness and seize every available lawful means to push on with the struggle for rule of law and Constitutional governance. My sincere gratitude to all Ugandans who have walked with us in this strenuous journey. Aluta continua.

For God and My Country.

Opinion: Not shocked that Museveni get another day!

The Age Limit Saga seemed like it would never finish in Mbale today. The Constitutional Court today has given a postponed verdict. This was the finalization of the petition to withdraw or to get the Age Limit “null and void”. However, that didn’t happen and isn’t surprising, that out of the five judges, four judges voted in favor of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. So the life presidency is established by the Constitutional Court today.

This was expected. This wasn’t breaking news. This is just what to anticipate by the National Resistance Movement and the regime of Museveni. Nothing was shocking about it. That one man was against it, seems like a clever way of masking difference of legal opinion, but not making the charade more real. This result was to be expected, just like the lawmakers was supposed to deliver this law and ensure that Museveni got another day as the almighty ruler.

It became 4 to 1 in favor of Museveni becoming the life president, while the judges was agreeing, that the MPs are not allowed without a referendum to go from 5 years to 7 years referendum. Clearly, showing the lack of balance and also a back-slap from the Court to make it sting. This is sending the message, that the State House is deciding matters and not the Parliament. They are only loyal followers of the President. That is why the President is allowed to rule beyond his Age Limit, but the MPs are not allowed to give themselves more time in power.

This here should be seen as another day in the regime of Museveni. Where he has secured himself, used the institution in favor of himself, the MPs are just tools of his reign. If the MPs doesn’t understand that by now, then they are blind fools who has succumbed to the greed and opportunities of the office. They have been self-serving and shown that with their actions and voted for the President in hour of greed.

That is why Museveni knows even as he punish them and stings them, he takes the crown and secure himself. He doesn’t care, he got what he need and has validated himself, by his appointed judges, who delivered what he needs. That is not surprising. That is just to expect.

The ones saying this is a victory for anyone but Museveni. Is lying directly in your face. They are doling out a big fat lie. The winner took it all, took the bride and the kingdom, left only breadcrumbs for the guests. That is what happen today. Peace.

Age Limit: Justices Deemed it legal for the Special Force Command to assault MPs inside the Chambers!

One does not establish a dictatorship in order to safeguard a revolution; one makes the revolution in order to establish the dictatorship.”George Orwell in 1984

On the 27th September 2017, the Special Force Command or the Presidential Guards came into the chambers of the Parliament, evicted 25 Members of Parliament, these were opposition MPs. Who was against the Constitutional Amendment nicknamed the Age Limit. Whereas it give the President, a Life Presidency and also more terms, as well as the MPs gotten longer terms.

I will focus on what has been the outcome of some of the Court Justices at the Constitutional Court in Mbale. Where the Justices have defended that strangers has attended and been part of the Plenary Sessions, the first and second reading of the law. Especially, since in the days of the amendment being part of the order sheet, the army and police was making sure no one else entered and had militarized the street in and around the Parliament. That should not be natural around the Parliament, they enact the laws and make sure the standing of the state is secure. Not be a war-zone over a bill being read, the army should secure the borders and the wars they are in. They should not be entering the chambers and intimidate the MPs or the lawmakers of the Republic.

All of that should be natural reaction to what happen with the Age Limit proceedings, however, parts of the judiciary are on the defensive mode, in a way that is a disgrace. Will prove that with the law that is still active and in use. That being the Power and Privileges Act of 1955. First the statements from the justices, before the law itself and final comments.

Military intervention arose from Members’ conduct and is demonstrably justifiable in a free and democratic society” – Justice Elizabeth Musoke

I do not agree with the petitioners that the involvement of the army in parliament was unjustified. There were life-threatening incidents in Parliament and therefore it was justified for the army to be called in to support the police” – Justice Cheborion Barishaki

I have no evidence that the Army and Police would have come to Parliament if the MPs did not behave like that. They called it upon themselves, however, Police and Army must be kept out of Politics” – Justice Kenneth Kakuru

The conduct of MPs summoned the ‘beating’ they got from police/army. A number of MPs conducted themselves without the necessary expected restraint they are to blame for the scuffle at parliament” – Justice Remmy Kasule

After seeing those obnoxious statements from the judges. I will first show the law texts, that are my basis for understanding of the rules and why it is wrong to get strangers within the chambers. That speaker are allowed to ban MPs and send them away for disorder. That is fine and usual ordeal everywhere with a Parliament, however, the military intervention is just wrong and made the situation much worse.

Point 5:

No stranger shall be entitled as of right to enter or to remain within the precincts of Parliament” (The Parliament – The Power and Privileges Act of 1955).

Point 18:

Any person who—

assaults, obstructs, molests or insults any member coming to, being within, or going from the precincts of Parliament, or endeavours to compel any member by force, insult or menace to declare himself or herself in favour of or against any proposition or matter pending or expected to be brought before Parliament or a committee; assaults, interferes with, molests, resists or obstructs any officer of Parliament while in the execution of his or her duty or while proceeding to or from Parliament; creates or joins in any disturbance which interrupts or is likely to interrupt the proceedings of Parliament or a committee while Parliament or the committee is sitting” (The Parliament – The Power and Privileges Act of 1955).

So for me it is hard to listen to these judges saying it was fine and dandy for the Special Force Command could enter the chambers, create havoc and evict the MPs. That should be deemed illegal, as they interrupted proceedings, they entered it assaulted MPs and also forcefully evicted them. If it had been the ordinary officers, it would have made sense. But it wasn’t.

It is like these justices didn’t know about this law or didn’t care. Yes, Speaker Rebecca Kadaga, got right to suspend and throw members out, but not send strangers in and let them assault people in the chambers. That is no justification for not in the chambers and neither in public.

This to me is insane and breaking boundaries with common sense. If these people did the same on the street, they would have violated the person and would gotten assault with a battery charge, but since it is inside the Parliament. The Constitutional Court are accepting it. That is just weird, especially from the judges, who are supposed to safeguard the people and give them justice. Instead, they are serving the master and not the public. They are not there for justice, not for something just, but for selfish reasons, I suppose. Peace.

NRA/M gone full circle: Demoting 27 rebel MPs!

“The power stays in the hands of the people. . . . I don’t see what opponents are so panicky about.”Yoweri Kaguta Museveni in 2005

There are sometimes some ironies, some reflective notes and historical facts, that is just to big to overshadow. That yesterday for instance many of the rebel Members of Parliament, who happen to National Resistance Movement. Was demoted for their non-vote against the life presidency, the age limit amendment to the 1995 Constitution. Clearly, that hurt the feelings and the honour of his excellency at the State House. Since months after, the NRM are now punishing the NRM Rebels MPs.

What is striking is that it took 27 guns to start the Bush-War of the NRA, the now NRM. There were 27 Rebel MPs in 2017 against the Age Limit bill, which give life President to Museveni. That should be a warning, and that is maybe why Museveni is striking so hard against them. Because he knows how many he needed to topple Obote and Okello back-in-the-day.

In 1984:

“Museveni says he took to the bush and began armed resistance in l980, after Obote’s followers allegedly rigged elections. He suggests that the proposed elections in 1985 will be a sham. My estimate is that there are about 6,000 well-armed and well-disciplined rebels, up from 27 at the NRA’s inception. Other exile sources say there are 7, 000 or 8,000 rebels. In most of its confrontations in this area, the NRA seems to come out on top in battles with the Army” (Pike, 1984).

So, a man of a rebellion, should understand others who rebel, even or especially against himself. However, he is so short sighted and thinking he is overpowerful, that even his allies within his own party. Who just differed on the life-presidency, are now people who deserve to be sanctioned and lose privileges. That is just weird, and what is weirder is the amount of MPs, which co-incidentally the same amount he claims he started his rebellion with.

These days:

The National Resistance Movement (NRM) has reshuffled its leadership of sectorial committees and dropped all MPs who last year opposed the passing of the controversial Constitutional Amendment Act that removed age limit from the Constitution. On the other hand, NRM lawmakers who supported the removal of age limit have been rewarded with appointments to committee leadership positions. Government Chief Whip Ruth Nankabirwa tabled the new names in Parliament for approval, a formality that was done without much trouble” (Arinaitwe, 2018).

Among the 27 NRM MPs that opposed last year’s Constitutional Amendment that scrapped presidential age limits and extended the tenure of Parliament and Local governments to seven years, were MPs who held leadership positions as committee chairpersons and vice chairpersons” (Kabuubi, 2018).

The message of the 1980s have clearly died down, the party of born out of rebellion are now supposed to be into submission and nothing else. The Saga Continues. Peace.

Reference:

Arinaitwe, Solomon – ‘NRM fires, rewards MPs over age limit’ 26.07.2018, link: http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/NRM-fires-rewards-MPs-over-age-limit/688334-4679926-lfa46g/index.html

Kabuubi, Gyagenda – ‘NRM cracks the whip, drops ‘rebel’ MPs from leadership positions’ 24.07.2018 link: https://intelpostug.com/2018/07/24/nrm-cracks-the-whip-drops-rebel-mps-from-leadership-positions/

 

Pike, William – ‘Uganda can’t seem to crush guerrilla leader Museveni’ 20.09.1984 link: https://www.csmonitor.com/1984/0920/092044.html

#UGSecurity: Police will now enforce rules that makes them ready to be robbin’ the hoods!

There are sometimes, just sometimes you wonder if the blind is leading the blind, that the naïve or foolish is the leaders and the public just have to follow it blindly. That is how it can be perceived by plenty, because the latest “brilliant” and obvious idea from the head-honcho of 32 years is to ban hoodies from motorcyclists and drivers in general. It is foolish, it is not the hoodies that kill people, but the magnificent guns. When someone pulls the actual trigger. That the person behind the gun have the training and ability to shoot-and-kill anyone on the spot. The headgear and the law will not matter to a killer; the killer will pass through this and be undetected anyway.

Here is the ruling:

“Museveni banned wearing of hoodies following the murder of Arua municipality MP Ibrahim Abiriga. “H.E the President of the Republic of Uganda while addressing parliament of Uganda on state of security in the country on 20th June 2018, directed that inter-alia persons riding motorcycles/bicycles and driving motor vehicles should henceforth not wear hood. This also extends to driving/riding while putting on anything that can conceal/obscure facial disposition,” reads Mugyenyi’s message in part. He adds, “You are therefore directed to enforce H.E directive by arresting/apprehending defaulters thereof.” The officers have also been ordered to conduct community policing meetings to educate the public over the directive. Banning of hoods was one of the 10-point security plans, the president presented to parliament last month” (URN/The Observer – ‘Police to enforce Museveni hoodie ban’ 19.07.2018).

So now a month a later the Uganda Police Force is working high and mighty, they are pushing the envelope and making sure the youth are driving in smart fatigue. Instead of them hoodies. Because there are the root to all evil, not the guns or the thieves themselves. No, the ones that cover their face. They are all turning into criminals by appearance now, it is like magic, and you go from being a citizen into a master thief by putting on the hoodie.

That is how it looks like, a magical show of appearance, where the person goes from being an innocent worker, and turned into a master criminal working out inner demons to figure out how to empty the reserves of Bank of Uganda. Because, that is what the hoodie does to you. You become a fantastic arch nemesis of the state.

To be President Museveni cannot be easy, sharpshooters for his MPs, ban of hoodies and also the obstacle of actual trying to forge peace elsewhere, when everyone else is conspiring against him. When no one understand him or his orders. Everyone will misunderstand this one too. So, when is the burka and the hijab ban coming? Alternatively, is the arch criminals only Christian Urban Youth?

We should be allowed to ask that question to his royal highness, the grandest of them all, the banner of the hoodie and the one who rose from 27 guns unto vast power for decades. What provision of law is this directed under? Is this the penal code or the public order management act? What is it?

Because it seems like something taken out of thin air and blown out of proportions. Just like all the empty promises made by H.E. over 32 years. Peace.