The Electoral Commission letter of 14th December 2015: Re: Fracas/Clash of Supporters of Presidential Candidates during Campaign Rallies

Electoral Commission 14.12.15 P1Electoral Commission 14.12.15 P2

Olara Otunnu: “I am UPC Party Leader, Akena is an Impostor” (Youtube-Clip)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqvGwBCma3I

“Following the court’s ruling that disregarded Jimmy Akena as UPC Party leader, Otunnu has called a press conference where he announce himself as party president though his term in office has expired.
Otunnu has also pointed accusing fingers at President Museveni and Kale Kayihura. He claims these two are keeping Akena in office by offering protection” (NBS TV, 2015).

DPC Tubonane warned about traffic to get rid of the rally in the town today for Dr. Besigye in Hapuyo in Kyegegwa district (and didn’t succeed!)

Kizza Besigye 14.12.15

I haven’t written much about the FDC rallies and People’s President Journey through the election even if he has gone from crowd to crowds in any district. He has come in by-passing because of the main events. Even if I am genuine admire of his politics and his swagger in public eye.  That’s because it been peaceful. Though the crowds and speeches deserves coverage, though my last piece was about his visit to Abim Hospital that also made the government look naked. A real power move by the Presidential Candidate; if not for that piece he has not been in main focus because Musveni and Mbabazi campaign trail has made more fuzz or more noise. Though it might not be as fruitful I still have felt the importance of it, even if it isn’t justified with the momentum that Dr. Kizza Besigye have for the moment.

DPC 14.12.15 FDC P1

Today I will talk about one report and what happen in Hapuyo Trading Center in Kyegegwa district where the District Police Commander Joel Tubonane claimed to the public and organizers that the venue and rally was disturbing the Trading Center and wanted the rally out of the road. He commanded them to stop the rally. The people answered him with chasing him away. So that Dr. Kizza Besigye holds his rally in Hapuyo. The ironic part of the statement of the DPC was that there were no visible cars in the road or traffic to interfere with the rally in the town.

The great issue about this is that FDC has given the Electoral Commission and Uganda Police Force its Campaign rallies plan and harmonized it after the laws that they have at their disposal, this has given way for the FDC to have rallies in the areas as they have accepted by the EC and UPF. Which should in effect give way for the FDC to do as they have already complied to the law to have these events, this is also into the famous Elections Roads Map that is the guideline that IGP Kale Kayihura spends time dreaming about when he crashes a event claiming it is not entitle in it It seems that the DPC Tubonane has the same ability, though not the same power or man-power in his district to do something about it. If he did he would violate the words of his boss and make him a hypocrite; that wouldn’t be surprising looking at the outcome of Amama Mbabazi rally in Ntungamo yesterday. That is in the same Election Road Map. I wrote about it yesterday, will not spend more on it, until the numbers and actual violence get more painted on the canvas I can’t describe it no more. Though I will say yesterday was unjustified actions from the NRM, period.

DPC 14.12.15 FDC P2

What happen today was a reaction to the reactionary DPC who thought by his mere presence would dissolve and abolish the planned rally of the FDC. Like on man and his words would do so. He would by that violate the higher powers that have for some reasons allowed them to do it. That’s the like Dr. Badru M. Kiggundu and IGP Kale Kayihura, the last one his boss. Instead of trying to force them away from the trading district he should have facilitated the planned rally. Not that he would do so, they doesn’t feed him like the loyal crony who hired him for the DPC position IGP Kayihura. Therefore his loyalty is to the NRM, even if the Police is supposed to be as the ARMY a units who are not participating in political activities, even if the latter has Parliamentary Members. That is just me commenting on the foolish reasoning of non-partisan army, which the UPDF is not, so why should the UPF not be loyal to their leader IGP Kayihura who gladly takes parts of great NRM events like recent ones on Kololo in November, and then we know that he will not judge against his own. That is why IGP Kayihura uses the Public Order Management Act to justify actions against opposition parties and activities in every turn that the Police throw tear-gas and tear up venues where the FDC and Go-Forward shows up.

This did not happen today, it is just to prove their viciousness. The actions of the normal police activity; it’s a reason why I am so blunt about it. That the DPC Tubonane in Hapuyo Trading Center was acting as the mouthpiece of his peers. And for those who have followed the UPF and their actions it’s like a déjà vu. We have heard it all before and it was expected.

DPC 14.12.15 FDC P3

What was unexpected was the reaction to the Police Commanders wishes of skirmishing the venue and street on his own; because the people reacted to his ways and got him away. That gave way for the FDC to have a rally in the town as planned. Though I wished he walked away freely instead of being chased away. They still proved some humility by not doing anything more. And the DPC Tubonane could have gotten his fellow comrades and retaliated and instead didn’t put up his equipment. That is something we also could have for-seen but that didn’t occur today and we can be happy about that since there been enough innocent people who has been hurt in rallies and consultant meeting in 2015 alone by the powers of UPF.

We could have seen more violence today if the DPC Tubonane had acted against the people who sent him away after threating to close the rally in the trading center. He could have gone and made hazard. Instead nothing happen and silent ordinary rally happen in town where Dr. Kizza Besigye held his speech and travelled on to the next district of the day. We can be happy about that, though sad that the DPC had to go to these ways to prove his power, though he lost it when the people of the town weren’t buying it. We can be grateful for their resilience and really living by the force of defiance against the governmental forces that are holding them in invisible chains, by the long-serving NRM-Regime. Surely not the reports Mzee want to hear in his ear in Saudi Arabia, well, he can’t always be pleased. Peace.

Election Violence sponsored by the NRM in Ntungamo today!

NRM - Go Forward 13.12.15

There have been disruptions on the Go-Forward trail as I myself recently have reported. But today took the cake. The extensive payments of certain NRM men and also the way they started walking through town first plastering over the Go-Forward posters with NRM. Then later go into utter violence; that with help of the local RDC in Ntungamo.

In Ntungamo where Amama Mbabazi held a campaign rally; that place there reports of that the local RDC ordered men in Yellow shirts to crash the venue and let it become a hazard. There been also very simple resistance by the NRM where they have done the spiteful thing of replacing the Go-Forward posters with their own NRM. The youth and supporters of NRM have walked in the town all day securing the area.

NTungamo 13.12.15 NRM - Amama

About a certain car was this:

“Earlier this morning, a Land Cruiser Prado with number plates of State House drove Ms. Sarah Kagingo, A former state house employee, around Ntungamo town, distributing NRM campaign materials”.

On these actions by the NRM- Amama Mbabazi has stated this:

“I would like to urge the NRM to take it easy and know that there’s  real competition and rise up to the challenge” (…)”I don’t mind NRM attending my rallies, but their provocation, comments and interruptions constitute a strong reason for what happened”.

Ntungamo 13.12.15 Yellow

Justine Mbabazi the local RDC must be so proud of his policing today. The UPF surely let the NRM-Supporters do their thing. Also the car of Sarah Kagingo driving around dropping of materials in the town; there is too much rotten activity and the NRM blatant moves that can’t be justified. In the morning there was reports of Dan Nabimanya was going to the boda-boda drivers in Kitwe spending money on them and also giving them t-shirts before the rallies.

The violence towards them and also pure nonsense shall be brought to question. And while the NRM supporters went into the crowds justifying their actions the police protected the men going in on the Go-Forward supporters. The way certain cars and police acts is just vile! If the Go-Forward or FDC did the same towards the Presidents rallies; anywhere in Uganda, they would be shipped to Luzira before the ink is dry on the court ruling or to a “safe house”. The things missing is black mambas and Personal Armored Carrier together with police chasing the supporters and people taking a part of rally for Amama Mbabazi.

Ntungamo 13.12.15

I hope that the world get to see this and condemn it and destroy the happy trip of the President to Saudi Arabia. Because the way his supporters and his paid police did Ntungamo was unjustified. We all know that the President has issues with his former PM, but now it is hurting innocent people and only a few boda-boda drivers earned a few extra bucks and got free yellow t-shirts. That doing it during a opponents rally is just wrong. Hope that somebody else then me address it and release hurtful reports because this is madness. This had to happen after the Pope left the country back to Vatican. So now the gloves are off and hope this is not a start of what is to come. There was too much election violence before the 2011… Peace.

President on the move: All menacing acts in works to stop opposition while continuing to move forward through election

Mbabazi M7 Besigye

Well, this is as I have stated before President Museveni instead of going the high road depends on spreading fear amongst the population. He also fears that his so called project turns into shambles. Because of all of his programs can be scrutinized and he should expect so. He is like a spoiled brat telling off Dr. Kizza Besigye in this case. President Museveni doesn’t like the looks of Abim because that is the epitome of his project since 1986. Therefore I comment like he do, let’s take look at it all!

Abim Hospital 2014 P2

On an exclusive interview with NBS TV on Saturday 12.12.2015 President Musveni was uttering these words to the opposition in the Entebbe Statehouse:

“Besigye goes to Abim and doesn’t visit health center for which are there; which is doing the immunization! He goes to the only job that is not yet done and this is what he highlights. We say you are a liar. You are dishonest”.

He talked further on about the opposition:

“You are opposition has been cheating as especially in Kampala. They go and claim one million voters. When in fact they are not there; what happens is that Museveni goes in and registers himself three times. And you are counting three people instead of one. That what I have been struggling with all these years. That’s why we want the fingerprint, computerized fingerprints”.

besigye_2

In the same day he said this about fellow Presidential Candidate Dr. Kizza Besigye:

““I heard that Besigye said he would allow you go and take over the forest. I am going to see if I can arrest that man because what he said is criminal” (…)”When king Solomon asked that the child be cut into two, the woman who was not the real mother accepted it .Besigye is not a mother of Uganda if he can accept people to destroy the forest. I am going to look at the recordings and if he said it, I will take it up with the Electoral Commission and police” (…)”I will try to get a tape of what he said because we cannot go on with this nonsense because of politics” (Kazibwe, 2015).

We all see how he thought and read them. They are disgusting. He is supposed to be a gentleman, a president and for some reason by length of his tenure an should by now act as a statesmen. But that is a pipe-dream. And I know that and that who has followed the man knows that. Because he only knows bush-war politics; the only thing missing from yesterday was that there is only one party and only one man who can run the country and the UPDF as he has been saying earlier this year. He has done more violence during elections and acted more brutal then Dr. Kizza Besigye will ever do. NRM and their men will buy off boda-bodas, spread demonstrations in towns where the opposition fractions happens, seal off venues where their holding their rallies; they will get the police to go door to door to address the population and citizens from not taking part of the rallies. And at that time he says that Dr. Kizza Besigye is acting wrong by saying he is campaigning for defiance? Really?

Kampala 16.11.15 UPF 2

When your men and your supporters only generate violence and misconduct during the elections! Then he got the rights to address the matters. Abim Hospital is just a proof of the judgement of lacking order in the civil service and health care system in Uganda, isn’t that why yourself when you are sick goes abroad to heal mister President? Why doesn’t you tell your citizens about that program?

We should tape you and your words when you travel abroad to see why you do it abroad instead for the country you have run for ages. Well, you claim also that the opposition is cheating in Kampala, we know you have issues with Kampala, that is well known. That is because Kampala has for a while not bought your words and programs. They can look through you and it hurts you. You don’t know that they wanted somebody you hadn’t handpicked; therefore you have made new laws to rig the system to fix it for you views. We all understand your ways. Fingerprints are just something you make up even though you should have all the material to rig it if you can and get another system your men can manipulate, as you need since the strength of opposition has risen in Kampala.

That you don’t like opposition and only your men a trustworthy until the point that they get in your way or takes your spotlight, like so many fallen and deflected NRM leaders in the past; they are now in your shadow and tries to get your place in the elections. That is why when you fear somebody you detain and get them arrest since you’re the commander and chief. Still that doesn’t make you right. Since you’re the man with the violent quotes first and actions against your opponents. It isn’t like FDC takes up the swords. They continue to campaign and being on the trail. They don’t make fuzz and hurt your campaign. Still, because of his willpower and wish to make changes that make you fear him.

If you didn’t fear the growing momentum and strength of loyalty in the people, that you don’t’ have, is that why you all of sudden leaves him alone? But still want to imprison him even if your own rhetoric is more harsh and violent then him! I can’t be the only one who sees that. A dog usually barks at people they don’t trust. And the same does Museveni every single time, because he can’t be democratic about it. He can only be who he has always been a man who grabbed the power by the gun and if FDC or any opposition candidate get in his way. That is why he goes to this length yet again; and makes me address them yet again. Peace.  

Reference:

Kazibwe, Kenneth – ‘Museveni : Besigye Should be Arrested for Playing ‘Stupid’ Politics’ (13.12.2015) link: http://www.chimpreports.com/museveni-besigye-should-be-arrested-for-playing-stupid-politics/

UPC Wrangles Deepen, Bbosa Tells Akena to Vacate the Office (Youtube-Clip)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCKlA6mKs9o

“Bbosa says Akena has never been UPC President therefore he should leave office. However Akena Faction accuse Otunnu and colleagues for clinging into power” (NBS TV 2015).

One on one with Jimmy Akena About his Loss of UPC Top Seat (Youtube-Clip)

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

“The Court dismissed Jimmy Akena as the UPC President on grounds that the procedure followed to elect him was not right. Olara Otunnu who was thrown out of office has been restored back. Jimmy Akena has not given up as yet as he has appealed to the Court of appeal” (NBS TV, 12.12.2015).

My first thought? Are you having little sleep Jimmy? Are you stressed with the Ruling from the High Court!

Some reports say this:

“High Court has declared the presidency of Jimmy Akena, the embattled Uganda People’s Congress Party president illegal. Justice Yasin Nyanzi made the ruling this evening saying the UPC party Electoral Commission didn’t have the powers to declare Akena UPC president since the delegate’s conference, which elected him wasn’t properly constituted” (Radio Buddu 98.8, 11.12.2015).

“The ruling was in response to an application filed by Joseph Bossa, the UPC vice President under the Olara Otunnu administration and two others, challenging Akena’s presidency. The petitioners rushed to the High Court Civil Division on June 17th shortly after Akena was controversially declared UPC party president” (94,3 QFM Lira, 11.12.2015).

Sarah Kagingo stated this on 1. July 2015: 

In steps of his father, Lira municipality MP Jimmy Akena is announced winner today in the UPC district conferences elections held on Saturday. He won in 67 districts out of 110. Congrats in order…” (…)”Sole candidate? I’m told, under UPC constitution, one needs at least 37 districts’ support before they are eligible to be voted. Hon. David Pulkol who came second was supported by 12 districts. Therefore, of the nine who stood, Hon.Jimmy Akena is the only one who qualifies to be elected as party president at the party’s national conference on July 10 making him sole candidate.

Well, there seems that something was fishy about how Hon. Jimmy Akena took over for Hon. Olara Otunnu in the summer, but now with the ruling it seems even worse with the condition of the UPC. An how can UPC work together with NRM, if they don’t have a legit leader, well, NRM has a sole candidate! Why can’t the UPC? Just joking, but I am sure your seeing my valid point. Though I support Olara Otunnu in the matter and he has right to have justice done. If I after this clip calls him Red-Eye Akena, then you understand why, right? Could his eyes be more red! Well, he has surely been awake and afraid of the verdict. Since we can see how he answers for himself and it was not in anyway clarifying or address the matter of his Presidency properly, just terms null and void answers. Olara Otunnu must be jolly and smiling somewhere together with his fellow comrades in the party. Peace.

 

 

Joint Security Statement: Securing the Future of Out Country Together (12.12.2015, Uganda)

Security Statement 2016 Election

Press Statement: No Change UPC Party Election Program Continues as Normal (11.12.2015)

UPC 11.12.2015

Two weeks of disrupting the campaign trail of the Go-Forward/TDA candidate Amama Mbabazi

Kabare Hospital 11.12.15

In the last ten days there been various reports on how the NRM is staging and making it harder for the Go-Forward/TDA Presidential Candidate Amama Mbabazi. We should by now the history that Amama Mbabazi has in the NRM and he is now contesting against his former ally Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the President since 1986. Feels writing that is just a boring repeat, but doing it incased you have missed it.

We are now in the middle of the campaign trails for all the presidential candidates. Some are more in the shades and other are in the spot light. Amama Mbabazi is one out of three who the main ones are; the others are Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and Dr. Kizza Besigye. We all know that these three has history between them. But that is not what this piece about.

This piece is a timeline of actions and reports that has surfaced from the Campaign trail. There is visible bad blood between NRM and Go-Forward. It’s like the NRM and their regime fears the knowledge of Amama Mbabazi. Therefor it starts with clashes between NRM supporters and Go-Forward agents clearing the venue for a rally. There been other questionable actions that have been agents of NRM paying and ordering police to close of areas where the Go-Forward camp was supposed to hold their rallies.  

AmamaNRMElection2016

At the 5th December events during the campaign trail of Amama Mbabazi who is the TDA and Go-Forward Joint Candidate his security agents who were going to venue was maliciously attacked by NRM supporters, if that wasn’t enough election violence the police of the area stepped in support of the NRM supporters. So there were serious clashes.

At the same venue in Iganga to prove their loyalty to Amama Mbabazi there was NAADS secretariat that has deflected from NRM to Go-Forward. There initial movement indeed.

On the 6th December NRM members deflects to Go-Forward:

“Amama Mbabazi has today received a number of NRM membership cards from supporters in Buzaya, Kamuli who say have defected from the ruling party to back his ‘Go Forward’ campaign” (NBS TV, 06.12.2015).

7th December:

“Some of Gen. Henry Tumukunde’s operations to sabotage Mbabazi’s campaigns could be scaled back in December, especially as hints increase that he and others using strong-arm tactics could be listed for prosecution by the International Criminal Court or at least subjected to travel bans by certain western countries sympathetic to Mbabazi” (Kampala Express, 07.12.2015).

Amama 17.11.15 Poster

8th November – Museveni lashes out:

“President Museveni has lashed out former premier Amama Mbabazi, saying that he no longer has power over the ruling party” (WBS TV, 08.12.2015).

10th December reports from Amama Mbabazi camp was this:

“The Go Forward campaign team of independent presidential candidate Amama Mbabazi has asked the Electoral Commission (EC) to exercise its mandate and stop individuals and groups who disrupt his campaigns” (Daily Monitor, 10.12.2015).

10th December there was reports coming in that the local RDC in Kabale was paid to pay people not go to the Go-Forward Campaign in the area. The local police was going into the villages and doors to door paying the locals not to go. This money came from the NRM campaign fund and initially paid through the NRM chief Henry Tumukunde who was in charge of this smear campaign.

10th December:

“Hope Mwesigye, the Coordinator of the Go Forward campaign team in Kabale says the posters were pulled down on the orders of the Resident District Commissioner, Darius Nandinda” (88,2 Sanyu FM, 10.12.2015).

11th December this happened around the trail of Amama Mbabazi:

“Police deploy heavily at Kabale Hospital following reports that presidential candidate Amama Mbabazi is planning to visit it today. Area police insist Mbabazi has no permission to visit the health facility. The hospital gate is closed but patients are being allowed to access premises” (NBS TV, 11.12.2015).

Some more reports on the 11th:

“Shortly after Mbabazi’s arrival, the Police Officers on duty ordered for the closure of the Hospital gate and drove off leaving behind unarmed men. Mbabazi walked to the gate but couldn’t get through since it was locked” (Elgon FM 101,4, 11.12.2015).

Bahati Remmy

Third report on the 11th:

“At The Hospital.NBS TV Reporter Bahati Remmy Was Locked Up By Police In One Of The Hospital Rooms For Some Good Time But Later Released (Greenfield Radio, 11.12.2015).

Fourth Report on the 11th:

“Mbabazi started his campaigns in Kabale district yesterday and addressed several rallies in the counties of Rukiga Ndorwa and Kabale municipality where he also threatened to deal with the Kabale deputy resident district commissioner Denis Nzeirwe for blocking his supporters from attending his rallies” (93,3 KFM, 11.12.2015).

NRM response to Amama campaign:

Justine Kasule Lumumba said this: “independent presidential candidate Amama Mbabazi cannot perform because he will have no members of parliament in his government.

Justine Kasule Lumumba

Addressing NRM Mukono district flag bearers at Mukono Boarding Primary School, Lumumba has scoffed at some of the presidential candidates who say they will sell off government assets like a presidential jet and cut the state house budget to reduce government expenditure, saying this can only be done through parliament’s approval. She has also threatened to expel historicals like General Kahinda Otafire who have chosen to go independent if they do not abide by the party regulations. At the same meeting Lumumba denied media reports that she received 800 billion from the party for the campaign programs. She says “that is not true because many of her staff have not been paid and many party district offices have had issues with rent since August” (93,3 KFM, 11.12.2015).

Afterthought:

This here just proves that NRM can’t handle proper campaigning of opposition. They don’t things to Joseph Mabirizi or Gen. Benon Biraaro because they are so far off as real contenders this coming 2016. There is different with Amama Mbabazi and Dr. Kizza Besigye.

Amama Mbabazi seems to be the villain for Mzee. Therefore he has to do everything in his power to destroy his campaign trail and make it harder to “set up shop”. NRM really fear Amama Mbabazi and it shows. That is why the Mzee and his party try at every turn to discredit or maneuver in a way that supposed to make it worse for the Go-Forward camp. Instead the aftermath of it makes them look like silly! NRM and President Museveni is not showing their democratic behavior if they have any when they pay locals to not attend and threaten them with police going door to door to keep them away from the venues. That is just wrong. The reports is not the usual that NRM pays for people attending their shows or paying boda-boda drivers to drive people to their venues of where Museveni campaigns, that is the norm after all these years. The thing that is bugging is that their paying people not to attend other candidates rallies and also does what they can to stop it, by forcing Regional District Commanders to shut down or walk door to door to stop people from going. That is not a good sign and also a breach of trust and work that the Police is supposed to do. But we all know by now how the UPF is an arm of the NRM. If you don’t then do some research!

The reports on how they act towards the Amama Mbabazi campaign trail and his Go-Forward is foul. Nothing more and nothing less.

Peace.