Opinion: Should Bobi Wine let the “journey men” go?

Now that the Parliament Exhibition is undressing several of opposition leaders. It is becoming hot at the National Unity Platform (NUP) Headquarters. This is the aftermath. People are saying the same should happen to the regime and the National Resistance Movement (NRM). However, people expect this to be the case in regards to the NRM, but the opposition should be better. The NRM are known for mismanagement and misuse of office. Therefore, the NUP and other opposition Members of Parliament should act within reason and challenge the NRM. Alas, that is apparently not the case.

Some might say the whole system is rotten and the spoils are there for the taking. Still that doesn’t save the NUP MPs and whoever that is eating regardless. That’s being said… the People Power Movement and the NUP should have seen this comng. They entered an uneven playing field and accepted a broad base of allies. These have used the red-wave and ensured electoral offices.

That being from the likes of Mathias Mpuuga, Medard Ssegona and Abed Bwanika. The DP Block had several of MPs who deserted the previous party and became a part of the NUP. That’s why the NUP suddenly had a bigger fraction and leaders who was seasoned. But that also meant that footsoldiers and activists down the line was cut of from getting nominated to positions in the General Election of 2021.

The Journey Men who joined NUP is now castigated. They are now questioned and the motives of joining NUP was for a meal-ticket. No one should be shocked by that. They needed the NUP and Bobi Wine to be elected. That’s why some has left for the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) and some might create their own parties. There is even talks about Mpuuga and Bwanika creating one as we speak. However, that will be a briefcase party and lack general support.

We can just wonder if there will be people following them. That’s all because of the “service award” and the internal party action against Mpuuga. While Mpuuga has defied the party and been silent about the possible action. The NUP NEC has to act upon it and show face. Nevertheless, there is nothing official yet.

With this in mind… there is tea leaves in the wind, but nothing is certain. Especially, when there is lack of progress or even rumours to settle in. Bwanika is supposed to hold a meeting with his coordinators in Masaka. We don’t know if Mpuuga is shaking it with his stakeholders and trying to forge a way ahead. Regardless of that… they are on the losing end. They have dined with kings and allowed to be out done by their own actions. The greed is destroying them and such.

Not shocking with Bwanika though, he went from singing psalms of “free and fair elections” in 2006 in favour of Museveni. To become an opposition MP. He could easily become a stooge and try to get a way to be in the good graces again.

It would be more shocking of Mpuuga and other DP Block MPs joining in. They would dip from the party that gave them a second life. Mpuuga needed the red wave just like he needed TDA/DP in 2016. That’s why he has searched for the hottest leader to cling on too. If he tries to run alone now. It can cost him his career and his future, but that is maybe lost already in the 500m shillings.

Whatever happens now… there will be questions in the air. Things are lingering without certainties. The NUP Party have to engage and show integrity. Especially, if it wants to be a viable and be for change. The MPs in question have to decide their way forward, especially if the NUP wants to sanction them or clip their wings. That’s within the power of the party and it should act on the greedy guts. This is if the party wants to be difference from the NRM. It is up the NUP NEC and the leadership in general.

Mpuuga can decide to eat and Bwanika can join him. Other former DP Block MPs can do the same and they are within their rights to do so. If they fear transparency and being accountable for your own actions. That’s what representatives should be, but apparently in some regards. That’s too much to ask. Peace.

Opinion: The Convoy is the owner of the Republic

When the President thinks of leaving his home to Kampala, you mean you have no mechanism of knowing when to close the road? He doesn’t pay in the first place, now you inconvenience people who pay and that isn’t to say that the President is less important. I personally appreciate the value of the President’s security that is why I have no quarrel with lining up his soldiers along the entire route, but the President is using one lane, you close even the next one, does it make sense to you whether economic or social sense? Instead, it endangers his security because somehow, he is going to be entangled with people who have been locked up in a particular area and congested” – Medard Lubega (12.03.2024).

Someone didn’t get the memo. I cannot fault the Member of Parliament for not getting it. Nevertheless, His Excellency, the Fountain of Honour and the President is the “owner” of the Republic. It is all in his hands and his words are the law. That’s why he can write a letter and direct people where to go or do. Therefore, it makes sense that in his power to stop traffic and takeover roads.

The President is living the high life. The man, the myth and the legend of Museveni is allowed to whatever he feels like it. His the man who are a demigod and a unique person. The forever Very Important Person (VIP) and Commander-in-Chief. There is nothing that the General and Head of State cannot do.

That’s why roads have to be blocked and the routes his taken has to be sealed off. It don’t matter if citizens or people are getting issues because of it. They are there to serve him and be the servants he needs.

We can see it and we know the President has a massive convoy. That has been recorded and his minions has it too. Cabinet Ministers and other high ranking officials drives like they own the roads too. They have learned that from the head and its shown for everyone.

That the MP is questioning it now shows ignorance to the fact that his the almighty and the others are in his way. Everyone is supposed to know this and his an overlord. The man above society and the one who has all answers. That’s why he was the only man with a vision. Therefore, anyone shouldn’t challenge him and his rights.

When he needs a road. The other commuters and people needs to back-off. It becomes his and he can do whatever he feels like. They can use safety and whatever regulation as a reason for it. However, we know this is a power-move and the President bashes in the prestige.

The MP will never stop this from happening. Museveni will continue with his activity. The people around Museveni will direct and ensure his passage without concern of others. It is only one man that matters and that is the President.

That’s the memo that the MP never got. The State House should send it to him and get him to acknowledge that. Peace.

Opinion: Ssekikuubo MP wants to hold the House accountable…

The Prime Minister is telling Parliament, you can’t sit. This is very strange; Parliament has been captured. This is the Parliament of the Republic of Uganda; it isn’t the branch of the Executive. It isn’t, in my long tenure here, this is strange. Where did Nabbanja get the power to counter-command Parliament? I know we don’t look good, but they shouldn’t take advantage of the vacuum where the Speaker and Deputy Speaker is in disarray” (…) “Even the Commissioners themselves are in hiding. We are here, we are loitering around corridors of Parliament, we can’t see anybody. These are very disturbing issues and we are calling on the Speaker, Deputy Speaker and the Clerk to live up to their calling to restore Parliament. Parliament is being run down” (…) “We can’t now walk with our heads high on the streets of Kampala, we smuggle ourselves and bold out. It isn’t now the best time to be identified as MPs. We are all bundled up, nobody is giving answers, should we all go by rollcall, not me, not me? We are all being castigated and we look bad in the eyes of the public” said Theodore Ssekikuubo (Lwemiyaga County)” (Parliament Watch, 13.03.2024).

The truth is brutal, a man who has been in office and in Parliament since 1995. Ssekikuubo MP knows the ins and out of the regime. He is a part of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) and been so for the better part of his life. At one point he even fought against Sam Kuteesa. So, this man has been through the ringer.

This is Ssekikuubo MP are now speaking out as the Plenary Sessions are blocked and there is transparency in regards to the Parliamentary Exhibition. That has reflected badly on the MPs and the high ranking officials. As one of them… Ssekikuubo MP is afraid of his own legacy and being part of it.

He has now a chance to prove himself and show his worth. This is about how the Parliament operates and how it functions. Because now everything is question. That’s the truth and brutally it needs to be assessed.

The spending on the MPs and the Committee’s needs to investigated. There is a need for change and make a difference. The rot needs to uprooted and there is a need for new procedures. Especially, when the MP can reveal that the Prime Minister can block sittings or Plenary Sessions in Parliament. She shouldn’t be able to do so and the Speaker shouldn’t allow it either.

There is a new for a say, to look into the spending and the usage of funds. As there are now revelations of envelopes, perks and expenditure out of the wood-works. There is a need to look into it and arguments behind them. It just seems to be a money spending bonanza. The our turn to eat and enjoy the reserves of the state. That because they can… and everyone is supposed to look the other way.

The Exhibition is just showing the dark side of the Parliament. Mpuuga, the Speaker or Deputy Speaker are just shown to be misusing their offices. That’s what is proven and also the 100 million or 50 millions shillings x2 since December 2023. Therefore, the MPs are getting additional funds on top of the all the salaries and allowances they have. Which means they are getting so much wealth quickly without considering the state of affairs. The state cannot afford proper government services, but suits, vehicles and side-dishes for the MPs.

That’s why Ssekikuubo MP is speaking out. Nevertheless, he will never fill the void and it won’t amount to anything. As there are other above him who has a real say. His just showing finesse, but that won’t change anything. Peace.

Public Square: Public Square letter to Financial Intelligence Authority (FIA) – Request for Information related to Financial Transactions of some staff and the Institution of Parliament of Uganda (12.03.2024)

Opinion: Nabbanja we see you…

Stop accusing me of stealing iron sheets. Talk about the things you have done for the people, I have never stolen iron sheets. Don’t accuse me of stealing iron sheets. You have done the likes of [Mathias] Mpuuga giving themselves Shs500m, did you hear my name among those? By the time I became Prime Minister, I had already roofed my house with roofing tiles (tegula), the other iron sheets I took them to Kagadi where they were used to roof a church. So don’t spoil my name, Ssenyonyi and team, the problem of corruption will kill our country. Money is stolen; iron sheets are stolen, even from the Office of the Prime Minister” – Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja (10.03.2024).

The Prime Minister thinks we have forgotten that she was investigated together with several ministers and high ranking officials who was a part of the mabaati scandal last year. This one is lingering on her, as it was part of her Office, which the stockpile of Mabaati was taken from. She had to know what went down and not just blame lower ranking officials within her office. However, we know her arrogance and won’t take responsibility.

We shouldn’t be shocked that Nabbanja acts like this. She has the hubris and arrogance of it. At the moment she’s untouchable and one of them. It is really striking that she defends the Mabaati thieving… by roofing a church in Kagadi, but it was destined for Karamoja sub-region. Which means the mabaati never went where it was supposed too. No matter what the cause or the supposed usage in another region.

Her defence is that things, money and in general things are stolen from her office anyway. That isn’t a valid response. It is just an admission of guilt and telling what is going on behind closed doors. She isn’t showing strength or leadership by saying it.

Well, things are going missing like mabaati, money and whatnot. People just take things from the stockpiles, which are supposed to be delivered to certain programs and people. Nevertheless, my minions and other high ranking officials are eating of this plate. Don’t mind us… we are doing our duty and we are working for the people doing so.

It is just striking the way she tries to defend all of this. The mismanagement, the rot of the system and how the Office of the Prime Minister is a den of thieves. If it was run correctly she wouldn’t need to defend it. We wouldn’t have to call her out and knowingly seek out her part of the theft. However, we have too, because there is no other way.

The PM cannot spin this around. Especially in her defence of herself is saying there things stolen from her office anyway. That is just really strange, but that is also done to pin blame on others in her near proximity. She speaks of not spoiling her name, but she’s weakening her office by saying what she said.

If you want good spin or better arguments. Don’t expect them from this Prime Minister. She will only try to forge a narrative that others are to blame, but not her. That’s not working when the ill deeds are happening in her midst. Peace.

Turinamukama Bayern Turinawe: Statement on my Abduction (The 9th Day of March 2024) – (10.03.2024)

Yellow Youth Movement (YYM): Response to NRM Youth League Leadership Propaganda Statement titled ‘For Immediate Release’ disregarding the YYM Petition to the Chairman of hte NRM Party and the CEC (10.03.2024)

National Resistance Movement – Youth League (NRM-YL): Press Release (09.03.2024)

Opinion: Did the MPs receive a 50m kickback this week?

There are rumours and speculations that the Members of Parliament this week got a monetary gain of 50 million shillings. They needed to pass by the house of Speaker Anita Among in Kololo. When going there they would receive the cash in hand and go on their merry.

The same deal happened in December 2023 before Christmas. That time the payouts was hidden under the budget vote of “classified expenditure” of the State House. This time it might be somewhere else, but it won’t be in plain sight.

The Speaker wants to vindicate her name and have unbound loyalty. So as she’s eating and control the plate. She can use some additional expenditure and funds to buy that. The MPs are getting “free” and being bought for silence. They won’t target Among’s expenses and misuse of office, if they are doing the same. That means everyone is part of the con and getting the bargain.

The “service award” to the Parliament Commissioners are bad enough. Just like the “per diem” expenses to several individuals in Parliament. There is so much wastage and abundance of funds. While the government services are lacking or not even having enough to sustain itself. The expenses of the Parliament cannot be deemed “value for money”. As it is an open heist.

The MPs are representatives of the people and not robbers. However, they are acting like it and could easily be deemed thieves. The millions of shillings going their way should go to schools, hospitals and paying civil servants. Nevertheless, it instead goes to side-dishes, mansions and luxurious outfits that looks smart on NBS Frontline.

It isn’t surprising that the MPs would sink this low and accept these sorts of money. We have seen it in the past and previous MPs doing it too. Now they are accepting a bribe to be silent about how the Speaker operate. That is done to shun the Exhibition and whatever it reveals. Because everyone knows the IGG, OAG or the State House Anti-Corruption Unit won’t do anything about it. They will look the other way just everyone else.

This is just another “Presidential Handshake” or a “sophisticated” tender that is tricking the trade for a quick pay-off. They are just eating of the plates of others and hope nobody notice. That’s why there will be little to no paperwork on this here transaction. It will be hidden in votes of “confidential funds” and be lost in the sauce. That’s how they work and they are proud of it too.

Being dishonest and accepting theft. It isn’t directly stealing from people, but these funds should have been used for more needy people. There are enough public entities and government institutions that could need an upgrade or more money to work sufficiently. However, it is more important that the MP can afford a new SUV or fix his second home somewhere.

This will be quickly dismissed and some will be running back to Parliament with the funds. As they are obvious to the outcry. They will look like fools, as all the other backbenchers and MPs are eating. The honest ones who dares to challenge after accepting the envelopes will be in trouble. That will be investigated and they will regret doing it.

They will not regret taking the money, but actually returning it. They should have never accepted the millions of shillings anyway, but they did… and others will suffer the consequences. Peace.

National Unity Platform (NUP): Letter from Acting Party President Dr. Lina Zedriga Waru to Mathias Mpuuga MP – Notice to Show Cause why the Party should not Recall you as Parliamentary Commissioner (05.03.2024)