Opinion: Katuntu is now yellow…

“How could you send entyabire (Kinyankole word for poisonous mushroom) to Parliament to represent you? You used your votes wrongly because your MP is anti-development” – President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni (26.01.2005).

The long term Member of Parliament Abdu Katuntu (Bugweri MP) have now officially become a part of the National Resistance Movement (NRM). For years his been lingering around the NRM and affiliates. Now it is official that the Former for Democratic Change (FDC) MP has become a NRM stooge too.

This period and until the General Elections of 2021. The MP became Independent after losing it the Primary Elections. That’s when he stood up as an independent and won. Now he has turned completely from FDC to Independent to the NRM. That’s who he is and no one is shocked or in awe.

We know that in the previous term that the Speaker Rebecca Kadaga saved him from total humiliation and kept him in office. Because the FDC had wanted to reshuffle him, but Kadaga kept him at bay. That’s a signal of where he was going. When the handlers and the powerful of the ruling regime keeps you close.

That’s when you know he doesn’t serve the interests of the opposition. His just one of them. Who uses the opposition banners and parties as a way of getting into position. He used the FDC for years, because it helped him. When they dismissed him and sought for fresher blood. He won on recognition and being the incumbent.

Now he will return to 2026 election and be in yellow. He will be a Movement aspirant and run as a NRM MP. That’s who he has become, and it shows. The morality and ethics of it doesn’t matter to the man. His just in it to eat and get a paycheck.

We saw another person when we saw how he handled the Presidential Handshake and the COSASE committee. It was a reason why the state kept him and didn’t want the FDC to change him. He served a purpose and now he has returned to that party.

He only went independent because he lost from within. Meanwhile he hasn’t challenged or gone after the government ever since. His now one of them and a former blue going yellow. One of many who has done this before him. They only used the FDC as a place of origin and ability to get into office. Down the road he turned from that home and has sought after more greener pastures. That he has found and now he will dine with the kings.

That’s why Katuntu has left. He is now a man of the ruling regime and don’t mind what it entails. He just want his meal-ticket and baseline for lavish living. This is why he becomes a yellow. That’s who he is and everyone should know now.

His not a poisonous mushroom anymore, but he is another compromised cadre who sold out. Peace.

Bobi Wine didn’t “stumble” on a bullet yesterday…

“Uganda’s opposition leader Bobi Wine has been rushed to hospital with injuries sustained during a confrontation with police outside the capital, Kampala. Images show him being assisted by aides, bleeding from his left leg” (BBC News Africa, 03.09.2024)

“3.When Hon. Kyagulanyi left the venue, he and his team moved out of their cars and embarked on a procession up to Bulindo town; however, the police advised against it. Despite their guidance, he insisted on proceeding and closing the road, leading to police intervention to prevent the procession.

4.During the ensuing altercation, it is alleged that he sustained injuries. Police officers on site claim he stumbled while getting into his vehicle, causing the injury, whereas Hon. Kyagulanyi and his team assert that he was shot” (Uganda Police Force, 03.09.2024).

“Roads to Nsambya Hospital have been closed by police barricades. Vehicles, Boda bodas, or pedestrians without identification are  not allowed to go to  Nsambya, where President Bobi Wine is being treated” (Kampala Updates, 04.09.2024).

Yesterday in Wakiso district the authorities and the police force violently attacked the surroundings of Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine. That has led to a lot of questions and unanswered speculation.

Meanwhile, what we do know is this… that the state used lethal force and used heavy weaponry on civilians. The authorities themselves says the opposition “stumbled” and hurt himself. We know they say they will investigate the matter, but we know that won’t go anywhere. Because the leads bullets of April 2011 that strike Dr. Kizza Besigye have never been answered for. Therefore, to expect any concern or any sort of serious report from the state is futile.

They will say it is tear-gas cannisters or whatever shrapnel that hit the leg of Bobi Wine. However, the video-clips shows officers and security agents with weapons aiming and making shots. Which means they used live-bullets there and it could easily have hit Bobi Wine. Therefore, I wouldn’t be shocked if a bullet him either. Just like it hit his driver and killed in Arua a few years back. We aren’t forgetting that either.

The ones that are downplaying the severity and such are doing themselves a disfavour. Since the state has used live-bullets and lethal actions towards the dissidents. There is nothing significant in what happened yesterday. The authorities have apprehended, kept people incommunicado, tortured and extra judicially killed as well. Therefore, it is not like they are innocent and always working within the law.

The ones that believe that he stumbled and fell over. Your naïve and accept a brutal police force. A police force that doesn’t value the civilians or their rights. Neither does the authorities has any concern or sincere initiative to act accordingly. They rather silence and shut things down with vile force. Therefore, the brutality and misuse of weapons aren’t anything new. They are ordered to do so and have rouge agents doing so.

It is an deliberate act to make the whole things seems benign and less of a case. We knowh te authorities won’t do a follow up or anything of that matter. They will overshadow it or make a mockery of it. Just like the state own spin-team is busy downplaying it as we speak. Instead of grasping with the severity and the reality of it all. They hit one of their own citizens and they act like it didn’t happen.

Bobi Wine didn’t stumble on a bullet. However, that is the story the authorities are going with and that’s not trustworthy. This is insincerity. The sort of impunity that no one should get accustomed too. Peace.

Justice Forum (JEEMA): Statement by the JEEMA Chairman on the Preent State of the Party (04.09.2024)

Opinion: Lumu MP wants the NRM to decide who becomes the LoP…

“Election is the epitome of democracy, I am a Catholic, there is an election of the Pope, the highest and respected leader in the world, if there is an election there, there must be an election here. We are in the Opposition, we were elected and we also elected you (Speaker), the very reason why you are seated in that seat. We also elect the President therefore, there is no reason why when we come to Parliament as the Opposition, we don’t elect our leader who is the Leader of Opposition” (..) “It is important that the pillar of democracy, which is election should actually be done by us the Opposition, who are actually bout to take power. We need an election, clear, in the Opposition. Section 8 of the Administration of the Parliament Act Cap272 provides for the election of the Leader of Opposition by the Party in Opposition having the greatest numerical strength in Parliament. The Rules also say that other parties should be consulted, my Party has never been consulted on that whenever there is a new or the other Leader of Opposition” – Richard Lumu MP for Mityana South, 29.08.2024).

The Leader of Opposition has been the Parliamentary leader elected by the party in opposition which is having the greatest numerical strength in Parliament. That has been accustomed way of electing or appointing the LoP. This has been done for years and been a regular, which the Speaker has later officially announced for the Parliament. That’s how the National Unity Platform has appointed the LoP, first with Mathias Mpuuga MP and now Joel Ssenyonyi MP.

Before that it was the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) who has changed the LoPs, as they have been the biggest opposition party before the 11th Parliament. Where the National Resistance Movement (NRM) haven’t always been happy with the figure or the leader itself.

This is making it a spectacle and a show of popularity, which is very ironic. It is taking away the power of the opposition to chose its own. Deliberately giving the power to the ruling regime and their majority in Parliament. It is significantly taking away the powers of the opposition and the one with numerical strength among the opposition. This post and office can easily become the one that is the “Good DP” or the “Good NUP” for that matter. Instead of being the MP who challenges and checks the government as its supposed too.

The Leader of Opposition should be chosen by the opposition and not by the whole Parliament. Just like the Government Chief Whip shouldn’t be appointed or voted on by all Members of Parliament. The Government Chief Whip should be appointed by the party in government. The LoP should be appointed or nominated by the opposition itself. If not… what is the point of the office?

The LoP shouldn’t be a majority contest. Just like the Party Chief Whips shouldn’t be a party contest either. If not… then all roles in Parliament should be voted over and be announced after a secret ballot. However, that wouldn’t be useful for others than the government with the majority. They will have say in the matters of the opposition and clip their wings.

If the MP succeeds with this legislation and get the law changed. He has initially given more power to the regime and written of the opposition. This is giving the NRM the power to decide who is the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament. That shouldn’t be the role of the government to do so, but the biggest opposition party at the time. In the past FDC and currently NUP. Therefore, the DP MP is selling his soul for popularity points, but it doesn’t make the Parliament or Government Business running any smoother. Neither does he help the government to be held accountable or transparent for that matter. Because this law will only give reasons for the NRM to chose someone who is friendly and NRM leaning opposition as a LoP and that’s making the office completely useless. Peace.

Opinion: Bwanika MP needs to chillax…

“Following the absence of the Leader of Opposition in Parliament Hon. Joel Ssenyonyi in the Parliamentary sitting in Gulu this morning, Dr. Abed Bwanika has offered to represent him!”Article 82A:1 clearly says there shall be a Leader of Opposition in Parliament (LoP)” (..) “In the absence of the LoP, Dr. Bwanika is able, willing and ready. I’m MP for Kimanya Kabonera Masaka City and I’m a member of the National Unity Platform” Bwanika said” (IT Media, 28.08.2024).

Someone needs to take a chill-pill and await their turn. This isn’t the moment to shine or be the one requested. Dr. Abed Bwanika MP is just a sign of failure and lack of substance. He couldn’t lead his own party, but could find a meal-ticket under the banner of the National Unity Platform (NUP).

Bwanika wouldn’t be in Parliament without the red wave and the rising popularity of the NUP. The People Power Movement and the political rise of Bobi Wine. That’s what has given Abed Bwanika a chance to get to Parliament. His there in behalf and his lucky stars that they let him into their big-tent. That’s how he entered and was able to gain enough notoriety to become an MP.

Bwanika MP isn’t a leader, neither is a true opposition either. A man who defies his own party and has fought it for personal gains. A man who has fought the party on behalf of Mpuuga MP. That’s who Bwanika MP is, and it shows.

His not following party line or the ideals of the party. He is more busy eating and living large on the public’s dime. That’s why his not boycotting it and staying away from the plenary session today in Gulu. His there to show validation and be part of the charade. That’s why his there.

Also, while his at it… he should just go independent and leave the NUP. Heck, he should probably become Yellow and be part of the brigade. Because there is little to no difference between him and them. He just used the opposition party banner to get elected. That’s what he did and it shows…

Dr. Abed Bwanika MP is a disappointment of a representative. He should know better, but he doesn’t, and it shows. The lack of tact and concern, neither lack of loyalty nor following party lines shows too. He just disregards anything that isn’t personally benefiting him. If it can benefit him. He jumps on board, and if it doesn’t… then he is nowhere to be seen. A mere shadow of what man he could have been, but that’s too much to ask. Peace.

The Gulu Sitting: More braggadocio and lack of substance…

“This session is devoted for the people of Northern Uganda and for us to discuss issues regarding the Greater North, let us have respect for the people of the Greater North. We should learn to have respect. Issues that don’t concern this region, shouldn’t be issues to be discussed. You have your Kampala House there, where you can do all the manyanga (Nonsense)” – Speaker Anita Among (28.08.2024).

“You should be commended, together with the leadership of Parliament, economically, is a big boost to the Gulu economy, to the Northern Uganda economy, because, over 10 Committees of Parliament in the last two weeks were deployed in west Nile, Acholi, Lango and Karamoja. All these members were sleeping in hotels within this region and for these days, we are sleeping in hotels in Gulu. We are eating from restaurants in Gulu, we are fueling cars from fuel stations in Gulu. Implying, a farmer growing cassava in Gulu benefits because we are eating food, locally grown” – Hamson Obua MP (28.08.2024).

The Greater North deserves better.

Say it after me, but the Northern Region deserves so much more than this. It is just a transactional affair and a short term feast for a handful of chosen few. They are masquerading it as a cause for the greater good. However, it is the MPs that gets  the perks, the allowances and the lavish life-style. Nevertheless, the public won’t gain much or even do good for them for long.

This Gulu Siting is a publicity stunt. That’s what it is. The MPs from the Greater North is grateful for it, but they are just getting paid for working one day and letting everything else be. They haven’t been there working hard or been delivering government services. No, they have been a public wastage and misuse of office. These MPs has been busy causing more public expenditure. The state has money to spend on these MPs and for their travelling expenses. However, the same government cannot afford to pay medical interns. That’s saying something…

We knew the MPs likes leisure and like to be vastly paid. This whole enterprise is a mini-vacation on the clock.  These MPs are getting paid and getting everything covered. It is just a fun week in the North. They won’t solve things or even handle things accordingly. They could have had the focus in the Parliament. These MPs could have had a Plenary Session on the Northern Region there. Which is possible with all the Northern MPs having a say and pushing the agenda of the region there. However, that wouldn’t be as “useful” or as “lavish” as travelling to the North doing so. Now they are paid and get to live life with all perks paid for. That’s a much better life and easier too.

It is just really showing what is important for the MPs. That they get to live lavish and get everything served for them. That’s what happened here.

The MPs are just eating. Their turn to eat. They found a way of massively doing so and taking the “parliament” to the people. However, these MPs can travers their constituencies and bring back the message from them in a plenary session, if they want too… but we rarely hear that or even concerns of that matter. No, they could go to the sub-county or their district, which elected them. Nevertheless, that isn’t as profitable as a Sitting like this. Gulu and the other districts won’t develop or get enriched by this. They will just get a small insignificant stimulus for a hot minute. Peace.

A paid vacation for a week: The Gulu Sitting

“There are MPs who don’t know even the road to Gulu, but now this time when we are sitting in Gulu, you find all the hotels are full, all the food is being eaten. People are benefitting. But it is also important for us to take Parliament to the people. We are elected by the people, so it is just prudent enough for us to take Parliament to the people not always people going to Parliament” (…) “It is nothing peculiar, it has ever happened and it is going to continue happening. Those who are saying they are going to boycott or whichever, it is going to continue happening until we say stop. Parliament will sit here, and it will go to another region, but the first priority was Gulu for us to recognize that the Late Speaker, came from Gulu” (…) “The sitting in Gulu and greater North is a normal sitting. Parliament isn’t a building in Kampala, we can proclaim and sit anywhere in this country, even in the middle of the road, that is what the law says. And bringing Parliament to sit in Gulu is an added advantage to the people of Northern region. Gulu or Northern Region belong to Uganda and because it belongs to Uganda, it must benefit from what the normal sittings takes place in Kampala benefits”– Speaker Anita Among (27.08.2024).

The 11th Parliament isn’t the place to look for good governance or governing for that matter. The Members of Parliament (MPs) and the elected officials are more busy eating, indulging and living large on the expense of the public. The ones in power and in-charge are happy with this.

They are all corruptible and gullible. These people are using their roles as Representatives to get paid, perks and living life like Kings and Queens. These are the elected representatives of a constituency. They are all sitting in Parliament to answer for the nation at large, but also the constituency that elected them.

The MPs should be busy for causes in regards to their constituencies. These should be addressed in Parliament and in the Plenary Sessions. That should be reported and be part of the work as an MP. Meanwhile, when they are in the constituency, they should petition, and hold talks with the citizens to get knowledge of what they possibly need. As the Parliament is doing Government Business and is the legislative body of the nation.

The whole sitting in Gulu and in the other regions are just a way of ensuring the MPs get a long vacation with paid perks. They are holding one sitting in a week. They are travelling, living in hotels and spending fortunes on one single sitting. Which is a wastage of funds. These people are paid for taking a trip to Gulu and spending time with leisure. This is not work, but a paid vacation to the North. Just like it will be in the East and the West too. Certainly, the one in the Central Region will be a wastage too.

This sitting, even if all the pieces of plenary session is all about the Greater North. It still won’t solve it or be resolved. It is a publicity stunt and misuse of office. They aren’t building a greater North by doing this. Neither is the Parliament building anything substantial. If it was so, then all the multi-national and bilateral conferences of Kampala would build sustainable wealth there. As they are holding conferences and such on a regular. This is about the same and not a new invention.

Other than MPs wasting their time and only having one full days of work. They are getting time in hotels and spending leisure outside of Kampala. That’s what they are doing and they are doing it per diem.

This is an official vacation with a piece of work. Just to look like they are busy doing something, but they are really not. A week away from Kampala and away from the jams of the capital city. Peace.

Kenzo: The Presidential Advisor Number 140

“Lawmakers sitting on the Public Accounts Committee (PAC-Central Government) quizzed officials from the Office of the President about the bloated list of 139 Presidential Advisors, yet some of these advisors are already enjoying benefits from their previous Constitutional offices. Officials from the Office of the President led by Permanent Secretary Yunus Kakande were appearing before the PAC-Central Government to respond to queries raised in the Auditor General report for the year ending June 30, 2023” (Prisca Wanyenya – ‘MPs Seek Answers On Bloated List Of Presidential Advisors’ 18.03.2024, Parliament Watch).

“Edrisa Musuuza, popularly known as Eddy Kenzo, has been appointed by President Museveni as a presidential advisor on creatives” (NBS Television, 22.08.2024).

The musician Eddy Kenzo has walked closer to the realm of power for long now. He has associated himself with the National Resistance Movement (NRM) and geared himself close to the ruling regime.

Now it is official and a part of the government too. In a honorary role and we can wonder what sort of real mandate he has. As his the 140th Presidential Advisor on the books. There are so many of them, it’s hard to keep up!

There are already others in the same line and part of the team or payroll that could easily gotten the gig. That being Jennifer Full Figure, Butchaman or Kusasira for that matter. They are musicians that the President has appointed and kept under his wings. Not that these have achieved greatness or delivered anything. Not like we have seen magic or anything substantial from the 130ish advisors that he has.

We have seen the President having a meeting and holding a “conference” with his advisors. Where he did his accustomed lectures towards them. Just so they knew how to be “patriotic” and work for the betterment of the government. That we have seen happening, but not heard or seen any acts made by the Presidential Advisors.

So, by all accounts Eddy Kenzo isn’t the problem, but his now apart of the problem. The reasons are clear. The President has a vast network of advisors, but nothing is done by them or even proven worthy of their existence. They are fine on paper, and these people are given titles. These people are getting paid and being employees of the state. However, their delivery or their purpose should be questioned. As they have nothing specific or even proof of activity.

The only activity we know of is publicity stunts, meet and greets, sometimes showing up at functions and speak Godly of the President. That’s about it. Presidential Advisors and Senior Presidential Advisors are a useless enterprise, as the President doesn’t take advice, but giveth it on a regular basis. Therefore, these are there to collect, but not serve.

These people are there to earn, but not work. That’s what they are busy doing and being loyal cadres as a result. They will swim in the sea of luxury without having the practice of working hard for it. It is a salute and praise of their livelihood, but they don’t need to clock in their working hours.

That must be a good life. A life on easy mode. Where you have the perks and prestige, but don’t have the need or idea what to do with your day. That must be golden and a perfect scenario for any man. Just knowing the President has put you on payroll, but there is no defined work or purpose for your office. That is just splendid for the person appointed, but a wastage of expenditure for the citizens. This is the issue and the problem that Kenzo is becoming. His a part of the people who getting a big salary, but doesn’t have the need to show anything for it. Kenzo is vouched for by the President and he can live on that blessing. Peace.

Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU): Response to the Utterances of the “So-Called Disciples of Mr. Odrek Rwabgo”, against our Chairman, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba (19.08.2024)

The Disciples of Odrek Rwabwogo: Statement on Gen. Muhoozi Kainerubaga Twitter(X) Reckless Utterances against Mr. Odrek Rwabwogo (17.08.2024)