Press Release: U.S. Gov. On Next Week’s Presidential Elections in Uganda (12.02.2016)

Uganda-Electoral-Commission

As Uganda nears its national elections on February 18, the United States supports the call by many Ugandans, including thousands of youth, for a peaceful, transparent and credible electoral process, before, during, and after the voting.

Violence or threats of violence from any group or individual are unacceptable, and those who participate in such acts – regardless of which candidate they support – must be held accountable. We call on all parties to refrain from provocative actions or rhetoric that raise tensions and that seek to divide Ugandans rather than bring them together.

We strongly urge the government and electoral authorities to ensure a level playing field and transparent process, including through fair application of the law, so that all candidates have an equal opportunity to express their views and voters have the opportunity to hear them. We look to the representatives of all parties and their supporters, as well as members of the security forces and the Crime Preventers, to support the peaceful and fair conduct of polls free from intimidation.

Uganda’s progress depends on adherence to democratic principles and processes. The United States stands by the Ugandan people as they undertake this most essential democratic endeavor.

Analysis of the Pre-Election Period; as the Parties and Candidates make the preparations before the polls

UGDebate2016 P6 Together

As we go in the final week before the polls happens on the 18th February as the public and citizens will go to the polls and give their votes. The parties are doing the final preparations and rallies to generate the outcome the want.

This has been three horse race, as the five other candidates has not shined as much as NRM’s President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, FDC’s Dr. Kizza Besigye and Go-Forward/TDA Amama Mbabazi. Not as Abed Bwanika of the People’s Development Party hasn’t had done a bad campaign; I would say the opposite; but he is not in the league of gentlemen first noticed. Another candidate who has done well considering the beginning is Gen. Benon Buta Biraaro of the Farmers Party has done a decent job and said certain things that have been spot-on. Still, his reach has not come to any level of challenging the big-league. Joseph Mabirizi has become a punchline and not a candidate that justify the time he has spent or the money his campaign used. The only female in the race Maureen Kyalya Wamula has not been great sport, she is smart and wise, but loses the final touch as she speeds away a month in London; when arrives back travers Busoga again. She should instead tried to become a MP from Busoga, then becoming President as it would be fitting by how she did her campaign! Professor Venansius Baryamureeba the independent candidate haven’t made any noticeable progress other than pledges that are out of his league and I personally lost touch of him after the #UGDebate16 as he been in the wind.

Mbabazi M7 Besigye

So I will not discuss the 5 candidates unless they did something magical. As there been moments, but not many. Just as the media report Museveni and his NRM has “owned” the media, had most space in papers, radios and TV, even with the issues Museveni has had with NTV, Daily Monitor and a rare bunch of local radio channels; Mbabazi comes second most of the time in the report, but either the same as Besigye or not; Besigye been third or second with around 20 %.. So when President Museveni has cried foul it’s been because his make-up hasn’t been perfect while the drones driving over the campaign venue or the headlines in the newspapers he never reads is written in wrong fonts so he can’t find out what it means. As he is watching the pictures and cartoons as that is deep enough for the Mzee!

Amama Kaabong 5th Jan 2015 P2

We can easily see the hurt in NRM, as Go-Forward and Mbabazi is getting crowds without ferrying them, even when they work hard to pay people to shun his rallies, while they people to come to rallies; but never in the same place as the rally, the buses has to go into the villages and give UGX 5k and a t-shirt to get them to show-up at the Mzee venue. While Mbabazi Go-Forward has had massive deflections even major parts of his security detail went to the NRM and Go Forward officials in Teso region have disowned purported defectors, from their camp to the ruling National Resistance Movement-NRM party.  On Tuesday, more than 700 people were paraded before the First lady, Janet Museveni at Soroti State lodge claiming that they had defected from the camp of ex-prime minister. Even in Karamoja Janet Museveni has paid people who supposed to be FDC or Go-Forward to deflect to NRM.

Endorsment NRM Poor Youth

While the NRM front-man was really humiliated in Kayunga Town on the 8th February 2016 as the NRM Poor Youth would not mobilize for him. As he didn’t get the news from Isa Kato that NRM Poor Youth becoming Ugandan Poor Youth Forum on the 6th January and pleading their alliance to Mbabazi. That must hurt Mzee! As his former outfit have distanced themselves from NRM by giving their credentials to Mbabazi; it’s not a good luck when especially his NRM Mobilisers like Mike Ssebalu (Sebalu) didn’t contact the locals in other ways, as also the locals did not want to be ferried to the campaign venue. That must be slap on his face!

Kapwocha FDC 080116 P1

Besigye, the People’s President is really having a blast on the campaign trail and his campaign rallies has been massive as he has not gone into the meager display of the NRM, which has to ferry crowds from other parts of the country or villages with their yellow buses or even hire other transport companies to send people to his venues. While Dr. Kizza Besigye get people hyped and walking with swagger before arriving, they washing the roads and making the venues ready, the roads are blocked by crowds in procession to the stadiums and main squares as the people is really ready for change of the guards.

Kable NRM Primaries P1

NRM seems exhausted even when dropping millions upon millions to every village, having the NRM Mobilisers and NRM leaders giving money to villagers. NRM continue to give money to bribe people to vote for them, this is the way have to because they have no legitimate ways of political framework as everything seem more to corrupted by the position the leadership of NRM handling it. As the Primaries was a strange nearly fictional event which was marred with malfunctions.

NTV Odoi NRM Primaries

Just as the NRM EC under Dr. Tanga Odoi has been capable of doing some strange things during the party elections; the Electoral Commission have recently hope that the Ugandan citizens and NGOs continue to be ignorant about their actions. As they introduced a new voting slip system that you search on their site to get your place to go to vote, also where to pick-up the slip.

Badru EC

The Electoral Commission have also dropped the voters register who was compiled with deceased people and ghost voters in the size of 20,000 that took the Chairman nearly two weeks before he addressed. Before he addressed it the rumors of trying to leave the country during this week, while being stopped by 7 military vehicles and not able to leave as he has to do a service for the Mzee. Badru M. Kiggundu is soon looking like a Thomas Moore kind of man; as he is a blind Yellow Fellow who has sold his soul to Mzee, while missing the ingredient of the he getting his head chopped for not following the orders the king gives to him.

Jinja Police 10915 P1

The NRM people is addressing the public with fear and telling that the world will dismantle into pieces if they don’t go for the NRM. That is an terrifying way of rhetoric and that Mzee even had to address Lukwago in a dismissal and unfavorable way that none deserve, as the old man with the hat should show some respect to other leaders in the country. The Police continue to oppress the FDC and opposition parties.

Kampala 12.02.2016 Police Army

The Army is deploying more and more people in the streets as pictures of trucks and soldiers to spread fear in Kampala as the legitimacy is gone. The only way people staying loyal to the ruling-party is if they are payed enough or facilitated to the max so the houses and cars paid by the NRM; not on their own original salary.

New Vision 71% 2011 - 2016

New Vision continues writing fictitious polls giving the NRM and Museveni 53 % as servicing the ruling regime until the end. But while we know the Vision Media group and it’s radios and newspapers are owned by Museveni; so they will write in favor of Mzee at any cost, even if it is far from the truth, because they got nothing else.

The interesting last thing I will say my piece on is the second #UGDebate where Museveni actually said he will show up, but he needed to send Justine Kasule Lumumba to facilitate the events in favor of her meal-ticket. As the other parties has no issues about the event, NRM can’t handle that the one person moderate Voice of America own journalist Shaka Ssali from Kabale. They would rather have a UBC journalist or anybody they could pocket to make it beautiful fairytale the NRM want to portray. While Mwenda has said he is not Museveni’s campaign manager and would advise him not to show up and grace the event. That tells more about Mwenda then the debate, as Mwenda is more a closet fan of Museveni now than he will ever admit and seems like he has switches he googles and seen the Resistance Light as he has changed his view 360 from 2008. NRM might attend the event. The rest has promised like last time and will show up. We can be sure about that, they got nothing to lose.

The NRM and Museveni will look even more foolish if they fear Shaka Ssali, then he really is a Donald Trump character as he can’t handle Megyn Kelly of Fox News. There is a picture for you. This is my view of recent; it changes with information and the movement on the ground. This is how I feel, not how mr. Zeke on Kampala Road feels, this is all me. Peace.  

Press Release: Over 57,000 Express Concern with Human Feeding Trials of GMO Bananas (12.02.2016)

gmofreebanana

Over 57,000 Express Concern with Human Feeding Trials of GMO Bananas
Simultaneous demonstrations in Ames and Seattle highlight controversy surrounding Gates Foundation-funded Transgenic Banana Study at Iowa State University

Ames, IA and Seattle, WA:  On Monday February 15th, Iowa State University graduate students will deliver 57,309 petition signatures to the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at ISU while AGRA Watch members deliver the same petition to the headquarters of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in Seattle, Washington. (The petitions will be delivered at 9:30am PST and 11:30am CST.) The petition asks the University and the Gates Foundation to cease supporting the transgenic banana study, including human feeding trials, and to change the trajectory for this type of research conducted at public universities.  Petition signatures were collected by ISU graduate students, AGRA Watch and CREDO Action.

With the purported goal of reducing Vitamin A deficiency in Uganda and other parts of the world, genetically modified bananas are enriched with beta carotene. The study examines the extent to which the bananas’ beta carotene is converted to Vitamin A in the body and absorbed by consumers.  The study is funded by the Gates Foundation.

Bogoya

The CREDO petition is a follow-up to a petition launched in 2015 by ISU graduate students who, in partnership with AGRA Watch, collected over 1000 signatures, that were delivered in December. These petitions respond to an email that was sent to the ISU student body in April 2014 inviting young women (ages 18-40) to eat genetically modified bananas in return for $900.

This study is one of the first human feeding trials of a genetically modified product, and there has been no prior animal testing of this product. Thus, ISU students are being asked to be the first to consume a product of unknown safety. The study is not being conducted in a transparent manner, and concerned ISU community members have not been able to receive answers about the research design, risks, nature of the informed consent given by the subjects, and the generalizability of the study.

The safety concern is not limited to students or activists. Dr. David Schubert, a molecular biologist at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, said, “Beta carotine is chemically related to compounds that are known to cause birth defects and other problems in humans at extremely low levels, and these toxic chemicals are possible if not likely by-products of plants engineered to make large amounts of beta carotene.  Since there is no required safety testing of the banana or any other GMO, doing a feeding trial in people, especially women, should not be allowed.  It is both unethical and immoral, particularly because there are several naturally occurring varieties of banana that are safe and have higher levels of beta carotene than the GM varieties.”

Beyond the possible harm to students, the banana may have negative long-term impacts on Ugandan agriculture.  Many banana varieties serves as staples in Ugandan diets. Ugandans have the right to have access to safe, nutritious, and culturally appropriate food. A coalition of over 100 U.S., African and international organizations expressed concerns in an Open Letter that genetically-modified bananas are not meant to serve such a purpose, and that this crop will have an adverse affect on Ugandan agriculture, food security and food sovereignty.

Bridget Mugambe, a Ugandan campaigner with Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa, declared, “What is eluding the Gates Foundation is the existence of diverse alternative sources of Vitamin A rich foods that are easily planted and readily available in Uganda. The need for this Vitamin A rich GM banana is clearly assumed, and may sadly end up destroying a food that is at the very core of our social fabric.”

The demonstrations come on the heels of a widely-reported new critique of the Gates Foundation, commissioned by UK-based Global Justice Now. In the reportentitled “Gated Development”, the organization argues that “big business is directly benefitting, in particular in the fields of agriculture and health, as a result of the foundation’s activities.” The report goes on to claim that the foundation creates “a corporate merry-go-round where the [foundation] consistently acts in the interests of corporations”.

Mariam Mayet, Director of African Centre for Biodiversity (South Africa) stated, “We in Africa vehemently oppose the introduction of GM crops plants into our food and farming systems that is being carried out in the name of the public good. Once again we would like to draw attention to the conclusions of the 400 global experts of the IAASTD report, who are under no illusion that the current obsession with yield and productivity (personified in the extreme by GMOs) is a panacea for a more ecologically sustainable and equitable food system.”

Otafiire caught on audiotape trying to bribe Kahonda aide (Have the Audio-tape in question)

“Now this Kahinda Otafiire, he tries to bribe the campaign manager of his opponent with 7 million, not knowing that his opponent has been given 500 million by Kuteesa and Janet to defeat him and bump him off the political stage” (TVO, 2016).

Lukwago Statement after President Museveni addressed him a rally as “Rat”; Have the footage(Youtube-clip) where Mzee displays arrogance towards Lukwago in Kampala today!

lukwago-musisi

Statement by Hon. Lukwago:

With all due respect to H. E. President Museveni, I take exception of the outlandish statement he made on his campaign trail in Kampala wherein he referred to me and other elected leaders in Kampala as ”RATS”. That there is insurmountable pressure on him to relinquish power to the people’s president, Dr. Besigye, in a week’s time, is a given, but as a fountain of honour he should exude statesmanship under all circumstances. All in all, no matter what he says, his exit from state house is irreversible and he is right now in the departure lounge.

Response to this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijyxiWEwadM

My thought on the matter: 

Not so stateman like of him, disrespectful of the President. But hey, he has no respect for anybody else then himself. As I have proven again and again. This here is just another display of his arrogance and ignorance of other people who is not on his team. A quick reminder of how he act not to generate democratic values, but to keep power himself and to his men. Peace.

Mzee had today a weak campaign rally at MUBS (Nakawa, Kampala) today; As the crowd left when the musicians done playing! (Footage of it!)

A Politician that people is tired of, as we saw in Isigniro where the public and locals went in the middle of Mzee speech. The Youth of Makerere University Business School (MUBS) or Nakawa and locals, went away from the campaign rally today when they had seen and listen to Jose Chameleone and Bebe Cool; then they we’re ready to take a Sambusa or rollex in town instead of listening to the same old pledges of the President. This should be a worrying side for NRM as the YOUTH doesn’t eat his words and pledges, instead they comes for free music and entertainment, not HIM! Or his National Resistance Movement…

How did the NRM get people there today:

“People of Nakawa division a suburb of Kampala City today got a share of the taxes they pay when the Ugandan dictator Yoweri Kaguta Museveni went to campaign in their constituency.  Not only empty yellow buses were moving around carrying people to Makerere University Business School but also taxis were moving all over the division. This time it was clearly seen when these vehicles were making stop overs in various places carrying people to MUBS the center of campaign for Mu7 today.  Each time a person enters the vehicle, he or she is given 10,000/=(Ten thousand Uganda shilling cash)”. 

Yellow Buses Luweero 081115 NRM

(A rumor) I don’t know is true but:

The NRM owns 148 Buses and has 15 Trucks to ferry people under their “NRM Bus Company” or “NRM Transport Limited”. As their main business since Nomination Day in November 2015 has been Voter Tourism. What does the people say? Peace.

 

FDC had successful campaigns in Entebbe; Even as the Calvary set-up roadblocks; Later in Kasanje used “live-bullet” towards the crowd!

Entebbe Road Kampala 11.02.2016 FDC Convoy

The FDC had a convoy from Kampala to Entebbe.

Today we have again seen the power and surge of people surrounding from Kampala down to Entebbe district. The days after NRM have had campaigns; as NRM have had Voter Tourism and their Steady Progress Bus Company or NRM Bus Company with the spokesperson Ofwono Opondo and Mike Sebalu as if there is trouble with the buses, they are the ones to call. While I don’t care about their manufactured Campaigned Rallies and has a picture from the little people really showed up for a stopover.

Museveni in Kayunga 08.02.2016

The FDC and Dr. Kizza Besigye had successful rallies in Entebbe that lasted late into the night; the same as yesterday in parts of Kampala; the continuation of his campaign that has been a victory lap since nomination day in November 2015. Let’s take a look!

Entebbe Road Kampala 11.02.2016 FDC Convoy P2

The Action was the first the total stop of traffic on Entebbe road as the scorn of people surrounded the convoy on the way to the campaign rallies that the People’s President headed to.

UPF 11.02.2016 Block FDC P1

On the road at the Third Hill of Entebbe or the Abaita Babiri where the Police and Police Special Forces Command (SFC) hold the supporters of the People’s President back with the roadblock as they we’re trying to get to his rally.

UPF 11.02.2016 Block FDC P3

Best witness report of the day from Mr. Baron:

“Today NRM learn once, atleast you were taught a lesson. And for those who still think there’s no change today State House Entebbe saw it with their real eyes when Besigye held rally in Entebbe with the biggest crowd who are all Entebbe residents. Museveni held his yesterday still in Entebbe and imported over 50 buses and over 50 taxis of people from Busoga, problem came in today when these very many ferried supporters of his refused to leave Entebbe yet Besigye was coming at 5pm. Pressure started drawing no matter how much the police force begged those NRM supporters to leave Entebbe for security reasons, few went but upto now others still remained. As usual Entebbe people are kind principled and mind of their business. Besigye arrives at 5pm it was a lesson for our Busoga brothers and sisters who were ferried to attend Museveni’s rally, from nowhere Kizza Besigye receives the whole Entebbe residents amidst the heaviest security, intimidation etc. The rally went on very well there were no fights but NRM learnt a real lesson”

UPF 11.02.2016 Block FDC P2

Later in the evening:

“Police has fired dozens of live bullets against Dr. Kizza Besigye supporters in Kasanje and nobody moved an inch! This is the first act of defiance I have seen. The locals blame a police officer identified as Kiggundu. The crowd has forced the OC to call his men to order after about 20 rounds were fired bit crowd simply chanted ‘tetuvawano tetuvawano mumala budde’ DEFIANCE”

Entebbe 11.02.2016 FDC Campaign Rally

Yet another day the Forum for Democratic Change had a great day on the campaign trail as the road to 18th February seems like shot snap of great rallies in every district and many sub-counties in the country, as it has been from Northern, Eastern, Western and now in the Central Region. Peace.

People’s President Campaigns in Kampala today! Footage from Youtube!

Here is different footage from Kampala as the FDC or the Forum for Democratic Change had campaigns in Kampala today the 10 February 2016!

Here is the first one from Lubaga Division, Nedeeba. 

Here is the seceond one from Katwe Division:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REhNs3cehTI

Even the Museveni Channel had a postive clip of the Campaign in Kampala: 

NTV Coverage on the Kampala rallies:

“As the presidential and parliamentary campaigns enter the home stretch, the struggle to get the blessing of opposition icon Dr. Kiiza Besigye among opposition politicians is hitting fever pitch. At Besigye’s main campaign rally in Katwe, a Kampala suburb, Makindye West parliamentary contender Allan Ssewanyana was nearly strangled as he struggled to accessing the platform where Besigye was to speak from. Besigye spent the day traversing city suburbs where he promised that an FDC government would promote all-inclusive development in Kampala and pledged better planning for the city” (NTV Uganda, 2016)

Dr. Kizza Besigye Message after the Rallies today:

“It was a busy day in Makindye and Lubaga, we are grateful for your contribution to this campaign. Thank you for the support. Many of you left your places of work and came to be part of this historical moment where Ugandans will place their power in the hands of one their own and take charge, and that leader will be accountable to all the people of Uganda. 18th February 2016 ✅ote Kizza Besigye for President of Uganda. Good night!”

NRM Letter to the Daily Monitor: “Re: Daily Monitor Headline and Article of 5th February 2016” (09.02.2016)

NRM to Daily Monitor 09.02.2016

What they might talk about:

Daily Monitor 05.02.2016 NRM Cases

I can’t understand why they feel sohurt to be called “most corrupt” by Dr. Kizza Besigye, but they are called so on daily basis! So NRM becoming like cry-babies right before the poll? We know they are corrupt and the cases are so many. So there is hard to count the levels of corruption through the 30 years of power. Really is that the issue, NRM Secreteriat?  Peace.