Opinion: Museveni have become 2021 edition of Mobutu

“Nothing is not my business in this country: everything is my business, everything. The state of education, the state of our economy, the state of our agriculture, the state of our transport, everything is my business” – President Hastings Kamuzu Banda (1972)

In 2021 we can wonder if General Yoweri Kaguta Museveni wants to distort his whole legacy. He has already destroyed much of it and with more time in office. Now with a new term starting soon. The Self-Styled President for Life is soon ending up like Zaire’s Mobutu Sese Seko. Why do I say that? Mobutu was a man Museveni despised. However, it is so unique that he ends up replicating him.

Mobutu ruled Zaire (Democratic Republic of Congo) from 1965 to 1997. He ruled the Republic for 32 years after being installed by the CIA and Belgium after the assassination of Patrice Lumumba. Since then he had all power and the state was the personification of him.

What is making him more similar to Yoweri is that they we’re both getting old. In 1997 Mobutu was 67 years old and had cancer. His cabinet was decaying. The army was hated by the general public. An army that killed and preyed on the citizens for their cuts. Mobutu owned several of businesses and the treasury was his personal bank. There was reports that he had an wealth of USD $4 billion.

Another trick Mobutu had to prolong his time in office. Was the usage of Kleptocracy. Where the President held meeting with rivals, chiefs and opponents. Later he would appoint these persons into his cabinet or create positions for them. They became Ministers or at a leaders at a Governmental Parastatal. A place where they didn’t remain for long, but got enough coin to not create their own power-base.

I am just saying these things, as we can see similar things is happening to Museveni. Museveni is on the other hand celebrating 35 years since his takeover. Nevertheless, his popularity have been dwindling. He has used the tricks of Mobutu and become Ugandan answer to DRC’s Mobutu. If there was someone like a young Yoweri in the near proximity. They would have the rights to topple him and install someone else. As Museveni used all reasons and said it was for the betterment of DRC to get Laurent Kabila as the President there in 1997. Therefore, Museveni should be careful. Because, the old man has done this to others and his own actions could be applied to himself.

Yoweri Museveni is a walking contradiction and he knows it. If not his deluded and forgotten everything he did in the past. Something I doubt, as the old man is always telling stories that benefit him in the current time. That is how he white-wash history and ensures it fit his any given whims. Just like all the random people have on his pay-roll, as Presidential Advisors and appointed to a government parastatal.

The people despise the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF), Special Force Command (SFC), Uganda Police Force and all the other state security agencies. These entities are all destroying civil society and easily taking lives. They are state sponsoring violence and the civilians are their causalities. The President promotes this violence, usage of force and arbitrary arrests without any proper cause or justification for the action in the first place. Other then these people are associated with opponents and that’s why they are fair game.

We can wonder if Museveni wants to fall out like Mobutu. If he wants to fall out of favours in the West. Be a relic and a man who is a pariah. A man who went from being a donor darling into the total tyrant, which his currently proud of. The old man doesn’t care and he doesn’t mind it seems. That his turning into the 2021 edition of Mobutu. Where his kleptocracy and “Mobutuism” will destroy the republic. Where Museveni have skimmed off the top and built a extensive entourage of soothsayers, a rag-tag team of compromised opponents and loyalists. That is why there are former NRA historicals and Ghetto “Superstars” who was there to boost the President ahead of 2021 election.

Nevertheless, we are now on the 35 year of his reign. The man who promised “fundamental change” and promised more then he have ever given to the Republic. Instead he has turned into everything he promised to be different from. That is why his legacy is destroyed and what remains is how badly he wants to go out. There is no redeeming factor anymore. The old man had the opportunities, but he instead wants to become another Mobutu. Which is not a good look. When he spoke ill of everything Mobutu was about, but now he has become this man.

That what’s uncontrolled and absolute power does to you. It takes away your soul and whatever you possessed before and in return bathes in greed. This is why he resembles and have replicated the ones he promised to be different from. After 35 years in power. There should have been more positive things to look for. However, that train have left the station and there is no return. The General has ordered this meal and now he got to eat it. Even if it is bitter. Peace.

The 2021 Elections can be Museveni’s final 1980 Election

On the 14^th January 2021 is the Presidential Election in the Republic. As things states the President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni is automatically winning. That is why the election is continuing. Because, he has put everything forward for a total victory. The rest is just procedure and pawns on his chess-set. His waiting to take everyone out, one by one and in the end up as the victor.

In regard to the 2021 elections nothing seems out of the ordinary in this fashion. Just like Dr. Milton Obote ordered full loyalty from all civil servants to his party. He appointed the Electoral Commission and District Commissioners. There was clear indication of gerrymandering, shut down public counting of the votes and suddenly announced the results over the radio.

Some of these things are not yet to happen, but knowingly how the National Resistance Movement (NRM) is working. We shouldn’t be shocked if some things are bound to happen in 2021.

First, the President has appointed loyalist and cronies into all institutions. They are directly involved in all government organizations. This being the Electoral Commission, Residential District Commanders, Judiciary, Police, Army and all other security organizations. Therefore, the President’s Men will be loyal and serve all his wishes.

Secondly, the state has been busy gerrymandering. That is why the extension of MPs never been higher between the 10^th Parliament to the 11^th Parliament. This is clearly done to able to fixate the voter registry and secure incumbent NRM friendly MPs. Just like the gerrymandering under Obote was to secure more UPC MPs in the Parliament.

Now, the President these days are offering a febrile and violent atmosphere, which could describe the days now. Museveni controls it all and orders everyone to his bidding. There is no difference from 1980 election. The election that brought him to the bush and made him overthrow the government at the time.

He is using the force to silence opposition. Using techniques of intimidation. His even arresting his main competitors. Like he arrested Patrick Oboi Amuriat and has still Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine behind bars as we speak. Therefore, the rules are rigged. The man does it differently. The names has changed, but the end-game is the same.

President Museveni is pushing on. Even as the army is on the streets. The scores of dead citizens is rising, the amounts of injured is on the rise too. This is the game the President is playing.

The 1980 election can teach us something. President Museveni felt scorned and was bitter. He felt cheated and used that as a reason for war. Now, his using the same means again. However, his the culprit and the head who spoils the polls in his favour.

That is the act that Obote did with the use of the mechanisms left behind by the colonial administration. Where the “administration” appointed the Electoral Commission, which is the same practice done today. This is why its loyal to the President and not to the public. Like so many of the other institutions who serves him, but not the public. They are all in the working for his end game. This is why there are MPs going directly into the next election without any polls. These are given the advantage before things are really starting.

That is why Museveni wants another 1980 election. The one reason for his reign and why “they fought”. When he has to rehash the sins of the past to get into power. In spite of giving reasons for others to become like he did. He walks into the same pitfalls, which he was supposed to liberate the people. An assertion we can all with time dismiss and know that he clearly haven’t regarded to fix. As that would make it impossible for him to win.

It is just a mere fact. In a free and fair election, where all candidates has a shot of winning. Museveni would never win. He wouldn’t have a half-chance. The old man wouldn’t even be reckoned with. So, if it wasn’t for all of his appointees, control of the state and intimidation. The man would have nothing and even less than Norbert Mao. Just think about that. Nobody in their right mind would elect that man can easily order the death or your son, daughter or nephew without a flinch of an eye.

That’s what he does and this is why the deaths of citizens doesn’t face him. Because, if it did. He would have acted differently. Like most of the time to show power he got to intimidate the public. Not that its enough with soldiers on the streets, para-military groups around and even armed people in plain clothes.

The 1980 election should be our lesson. As it shows where he gets the flair and bravado from. Museveni knows the Commonwealth and United Kingdom signed off the rigged election. There will be someone else doing his bidding this time. To ensure the election is legitimized in favour Obote. Now, in 2021 there will be someone else doing the bidding of Museveni. Surely we can expect Museveni wins by secure numbers and have total control of Parliament. Anything else is a shocker and a result the President wouldn’t accept.

Museveni doesn’t win elections, but he rigs them. Peace.

Opinion: Why isn’t the NRM and Museveni celebrating 11th April 1979?

It is special that the National Resistance Movement are celebrating the Independence Day on the 9^th October and the NRM on the 26^th January every year. The President is busy celebrating the end of the Obote II and the Independence from the British Empire, but something weird is up. Especially, considering how the President the National Resistance Army/Movement are so proud of being part of what toppled the Presidency of Idi Amin. They are still never celebrating an important day.

The NRM and Yoweri Kaguta Museveni haven’t in years been celebrating the 11^th April of 1979. It is like a day from the calender, that has vanished in thin air. The Independence of 9^th October 1962 is relevant. The victory over Obote II and the bush-war, the 26^th January 1986 is carved in stone. They got to celebrate it in lavish and nothing is speared in this manner.

However, the 11^th April is forgotten or is done on purpose. Because Milton Obote remembers Museveni’s way of liberating Uganda on that day: “ On 11 April, 1979 when Kampala fell to the Kikosi Maalum and TPDF, Museveni was in Fort Portal staying with Princess Elizabeth Bagaya in the Omukama’s Palace which the TPDF who had captured the Town never damaged at all. On that same day, the President of the UNLF and all his ministers who attended the Conference at which the UNLF was formed except Museveni were, like me, in Dar es Salaam” (…) “When the mobilisers and others left, Paulo Muwanga gave me what he and President Nyerere had discussed. Paulo reported that in the long meeting with President Nyerere, the President kept repeating and emphasising three points. The first was that 11 April, 1979 was a glorious day for him, the President and Milton Obote who had overthrown a most brutal dictator. The second was that he, the President, was very much pained that his “comrade” Milton Obote was not happy and the third was that he, the President, could not understand why his comrade Milton Obote was regarding Lule and the UNLF as anything other than flies falling on a carcass. Paulo reported that President Nyerere used the word comrade and the expression “flies falling on a carcass” repeatedly” (Milton Obote – ‘THE UPC ROLE IN THE REMOVAL OF AMIN – PAPER BY A. MILTON OBOTE)

Because, certainly if Amin’s rule was bad and Museveni was proud of taking part of the overthrow of him. The President of today would have celebrated this, but alas, it seems more to be part of his history, that he wants to erase and not speak so loud about. Since, his role in the overthrow of Amin wasn’t as successful nor as big as the President wants it to be. That is why, he cannot celebrate a military victory, where he was hanging out in Fort Portal, when someone else invaded Kampala. That is why the President celebrates the 26^th January and not 11^th April. Since, in January it was him entering Kampala, while in April it was someone else who did it.

That is maybe why it isn’t an important date to Museveni. His vanity and his lack of courage, that he has to rewrite history and make people forget of his mediocre role. Is the reason, why he doesn’t celebrate the victory over the Amin years. The brutality of Amin and the killings of Amin. As him as President didn’t get rid of him, but got rid of Obote II and others.

Certainly as a part of the newly transitional council, Museveni should take some credit and his participation from exile meant something. However, there are also evidence of his lacking resources and soldiers for the combat. But, the others saw the need for their and gave him a space in the National Consultative Council, interim government post-Amin.

That is why its weird for me, that he celebrates two other dates, which was ending of other people’s reign, but the President who usually credits himself as the saviour from dictatorships. Are not celebrating the one said to be the worst in time or his conscious playing tricks on him? As he feels guilty that he is acting as Amin and ordering killings in the same manner as he did?

Because, there got to be a reason, as this was a jubilant day and with celebrations in the streets of Kampala on the 11^th April 1979. Surely, the ones celebrating on the streets might not be living anymore. But the legacy and the history of that day is out there.

Darton reported on the 30^th April 1979: “ KAMPALA, Uganda — When Tanzanian soldiers and Ugandan exiles marched into Kampala on April 11, they found the carnage left by the institution.’ alized brutality of a state gone insane” (John Darton – ‘Idi Amin: A Savior Who Became The Creator of 8 Years of Horror’ 30.04.1979, New York Times).

With this in mind, the state should celebrate this. A ending of one tyrant, however the current one is maybe not so jolly about remembering his end. Since, that even remind him, that his day will come too? Peace.

FYI: If you calculate this year, 2019 is actually 40 years since it happen. A fourth decade since the Tanzanian army went in and invaded Uganda to free them from Amin’s rule. Still, it doesn’t seem to matter to Museveni. Just a footnote in the scheme of things.

Opinion: Ssekandi you should talk to your boss, because he is the one that creates the insecurity!

There is times for the ones in power to called upon their bullshit. This sort of comments is foolish. It is not like the opposition has the army or have the police at their beckoning-call. They are following orders from above high and the authorities run by the ruling regime. The way the soldiers and police officers acts towards the citizens are report-on and uploaded instantly to the social media. So, if the Police or the Army is acting out. The world will know, the foreign investors will know. Therefore, if the President and VP cares about this. Maybe, they shouldn’t crash any opposition meeting. Maybe not send their ill-disciplined security officers.

VP Edward Ssekandi are really using the tactic of warning the citizens, while they are the ones oppressed. It wasn’t them sending the army to Entebbe or ordering the Presidential Guards into Kamwokya, Kampala recently. No, that was from above and their acts in Mityana and elsewhere, just resembles the chaotic nation he speaks off.

“GOMBA- Vice President Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi has warned that the country risks losing a number of foreign investors if Ugandans don’t shun political violence and land conflicts.“Be cautious about the ugly scenes you’re creating in our country because investors can’t put their money in a chaotic nation. Peace and security are paramount in attracting investments and therefore, I wish to call upon all Ugandans to ensure peace wherever you’re to see miracles of these investors here,” he said” (Mbogo, 2018).

Maybe not speak of chaos, on the day your government order the soldiers and the police to make road-blocks all around Masaka, because Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine travels from Kasangati to Masaka. Clearly, the NRM hasn’t gotten the memo from the big-man Ssekandi. Whose stretch of powers seems abysmal, as the Prime Minister has more of an office and voice within the Presidency.

While it is like that. Ssekandi should maybe think of what Bosco does and what orders he gives. As it is him whose most responsible for the acts of the Special Force Command and the Police, which is in-charge and the ones doing the torture. Doing the preventative arrests and whatnot else, which is creating chaos and problems. We know that the authorities just turned of the electricity, as Bobi Wine was addressing the nation from the United States. Therefore, the VP needs to address the State House. And not the citizens.

So, VP Ssekandi call-up Bosco, tell him to order the military back to the barracks and battlefields. Not be in public to intimidate and create chaos. Peace.

Reference:

Sadat Mbogo – ‘Political violence, land conflicts scare away investors – says Ssekandi’ 28.09.2018 link:http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Political-violence-land-conflicts-investors-Ssekandi-solar/688334-4781474-8893gwz/index.html

Uganda Police Force: Public Security Warning ahead of Independence Day Celebration (28.09.2018)

Amnesty International Report of 1978 could have been rewritten for Museveni in 2018!

Today, I am just showing some quotes and small fragments of the Amnesty International Report from June 1978. This report of the atrocities of that time shouldn’t be repeated, but because of the bush-war should have been eradicated. Instead, the rulers and the regime are continuing their works. Maybe not as violent or to the extent, but there is still civilians dying so the National Resistance Movement (NRM) and President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni can continue to rule indefinitely.

The NRM today used the Presidential Guards or the Special Force Command to intimidate the public, as they were starting to demonstrate in Kamwokya, as Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine was first blocked from leaving the Republic for medical treatment. He has later been allowed to leave, but Hon. Francis Zaake are still lingering in police custody at the hospital. Both of them after being tortured by the Security Officials. There was others who was hurt in the violence and torture by the authorities needs treatment.

The other fitting paradigm of the previous dictatorship under Idi Amin, was the use of Military Tribunals or Military Tribunals on civilians charged with treason. That has happen over time under President Museveni. Other similarities that is mentioned are the violent arrests and bundled into the back of the trucks of vehicles. That picture has been more and more common, as people are rioting and demonstrating. Therefore, there are more and more signs that the liberators are looking more like they predecessors.

Just read this quotes:

“The effect of this structure of repression can be said without fear of exaggeration to have transformed the whole society in a short period of time into a ruthless military dictatorship marked by arbitrary arrest, torture, murder, the removal of virtually all fundamental human rights, the terrorization of the population, the turning of tens of thousands of Ugandans into refugees” (…) “Any security official is empowered to “use any force he may deem necessary” to arrest or prevent the escape of anyone suspected of kondo-ism (armed robbery, which carries the death penalty).3/ This supports a policy of “shooting to kill” on mere suspicion of kondo-ism, which is frequently used to justify arbitrary arrest or murder by security officers, whether in uniform or not. This was the case for example with the death of Makerere University student Paul Sserwanga” (…) “Military tribunals, originally confined to judging

cases within the armed forces, are empowered to try civilians accused of capital offenses such as sedition, subversion or treason” (…) “Victims of arrest by the security forces are normally bundled into the back or trunk of a security forces’ vehicle, Arrests are carried out by different branches of the security forces who normally take victims to their own headquarters” (Amnesty International, P: 2, 4, 6, 1978)

I don’t feel the need to address it again, As the state of affairs is like this. That the militarism of Museveni, could have its roots in the Amin and using same methods to intimidate and control the public. If he was a real freedom fighter and someone who fought for rule of law. Why use the same tactics and same means to silence critics and population in general. Because if they stood in the way of Amin, it would cost and President Museveni shows that it can be fatal in his rule too. Therefore, the world should know, that they supports same evils, but with just different flag at an another time.

The United Kingdom and United States, should be concerned that their arms and weapons are used against the public, as the state using the tricks of Amin. It is just ones of the fellows who toppled him, who later had his major movement in 1986 and stayed since. Instead of bringing new fresh ideas and actually changes of ways to govern. It is more of the same and the population deserves someone who represent them and actually be there for them. Not just use military force to prove you have the rights to rule. Peace.

Reference:

Amnesty International – ‘Human Rights in Uganda Report’ June 1978, England, United Kingdom

Museveni acts more and more like Obote II: A Bush-War Wasted! Part II

As the time is going and the National Resistance Movement (NRM) and President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni are just acting like the predecessors. This is making the supposed Bush-War in the 1980s pointless. As the President promised changes from the ones ruling before him. The NRM was supposed to be the golden age and greatness of the Republic. He come with pledges of respecting the peasants and create a democracy, instead it is the same type of tyranny of the past. There is now no difference between Museveni and Obote II. These regimes are acting the same and similar towards the opposition and media. Even American Journalists got two nights detained in the 1980s. Now the same is happening to local journalists in and around the Arua By-Election.

What I will now show, two stories or reports from the Obote II regime. Which shows similar resembles with today. All of the actions of the current day towards the Members of Parliament, are like of the previous President, these being Mubarak Munyagwa, Robert Kyagulanyi, Francis Zaake, Kassiano Wadri, Gerald Karuhanga and Paul Mwiru. All of these are now in the dire straits, they are in the midst of oppression, torture and detention, either with at Military Barracks or unknown locations. Therefore, there are two many similarities with Obote.

AI Report 1983:

“According to Amnesty International’s information, most people arrested in 1981 on grounds of national security, were arrested by the army. Same arrests appear to have been arbitrary or indiscriminate, but the majority were apparently directed at particular individuals. Most people arrested by the army were taken to army barracks and detained there, contrary to the law. Many were held for weeks or months. In very few cases were people known to have been transferred without delay to police custody. Detentions in military barracks were not recorded for police or legal purposes, and were not officially acknowledged. Such detainees had no legal protection in practice and the courts had no effective jurisdiction over them. In time, many of the detainees who survived were released or transferred to police custody, but it appears that torture was systematic, and many of those in military custody “disappeared” or were known to have died, particularly at Makindye and Kireka barrack” (Amnesty – ‘Memorandum to the Government of Uganda on Anmnesty International mission to Uganda in January 1982 and further exchanges between the government and Amnesty International’ April 1983)

One Story:

“Those suspected of supporting the guerrillas were viciously hounded. Mr Mukasa’s wife was beheaded by government soldiers in 1981 and his brother was shot dead. After two years in exile near London, Mr Mukasa returned to Uganda only to be arrested by Obote’s security service which mistook him – Mr Mukasa says – for Godfrey Binaisa who had been president for a short period between Amin and Obote. Mr Mukasa still bears scars from the torture sessions in the Nile Hotel. His interrogators dripped burning plastic down his right leg to make him talk. Not surprisingly, he has not been back to the hotel since. “The Nile Hotel was a slaughterhouse”, I was later told by Brigadier Jim Muhwezi who, as head of internal security, now has an office in the adjacent conference centre. “A number of my friends were interned and died there. It’s hard to believe the beautiful gardens were once littered with bodies.”” (David Orr – ‘KAMPALA DAYS; Ghosts that lurk in shadows of hotel’s gory past’ 20.05.1996 link: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/kampala-days-ghosts-that-lurk-in-shadows-of-hotels-gory-past-1348320.html).

As we see the similarities between the past and present. We see that the Bush-War is wasted, the freedom fighter is taking away people’s freedom. The liberation, wasn’t really liberating. The Orwellian nightmare is in the Republic. Museveni does whatever it takes stay in power. No torturing, harassing and charging fellow MPs with treason. All deliberately to send a message and intimidate the public. This is what Museveni has done since 1986. Now it is just appearing before our eyes.

President Museveni are now acting like Obote II towards the public, sending mambas, soldiers and police to intimidate the public. They are killing civilians and detaining civilians on military barracks. No matter who you are in the republic, Museveni can take you down and make sure your begging for mercy. If your killed by his Soldiers or his Presidential Guards, it will not have any consequences, they can do whoever and get rid of whoever. It doesn’t cost anything, for the President it is just collateral damage for the cause. The cause, which is just staying in power.

That is the reality. Nothing else. There is no difference between Obote II and Museveni. Peace.

Museveni acts more and more like Obote II: A Bush-War Wasted!

With the recent by-elections in Rukungiri, Bugiri and now in Arua. There been so much election violence and even killings in all three. There been enough of the army and mambas in the street, to intimidate the public. While the army and police are busy arresting opposition leaders and also activists. Therefore, the levels of arrests are over dozens, scores and in such levels that it has to hit about 20 and above to be right. This is what happens under President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. He is acting like President Milton Obote did in the 1980s. The second term of Obote was filled with arbitrary arrests, violence, torture and killings by the authorities. Now in the 2018, the Museveni regime is acting like them.

In 1982:

“The President allows a legal opposition party (the Democratic Party), and Obote seems to be trying to make parliamentary government work. However, opposition MPs for a time were arrested and detained. In a new-year amnesty, Obote allowed four MP detainees to be released; some 1,000 other detainees were released recently as well. The MPs, who had been accused of ‘‘connection with acts of violence,” were received personally by Obote” (John Worrall – ‘Uganda registers modest gains under Obote’ 04.01.1982 link: https://www.csmonitor.com/1982/0104/010442.html).

In 1983:

“Obote, moreover, has denied that any civilian detainees are being kept in military barracks. Yet he has not allowed officials of the International Committee of the Red Cross to inspect the suspected military barracks. “There are no detainees in military barracks,” Obote said in an interview. “There are no detainees who are tortured or murdered or killed in any way in government custody.” A 1982 report by the human rights group Amnesty International and a U.S. State Deparment report released earlier this year support allegations of civilian detentions, widespread abuses of human rights and killings carried out by soldiers in the military barracks. Well-informed western diplomats, one Ugandan government official who declined to be identified and political opposition leader Ssemogerere said abuses directed at civilian detainees is continuing in the Army’s barracks” (Leon Dash – ‘Brutality Marks Army’s Conduct in Uganda’ 29.11.1983, link: https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1983/11/29/brutality-marks-armys-conduct-in-uganda/342af52f-fbdc-4491-a399-208124c677db/?utm_term=.a95022d4262a).

Later 1983:

“Soon after Obote’s inauguration speech, civil war erupted when two groups of his political competitors, both of whom charged Obote with fraudulently winning the December 1980 election, retired to the countryside surrounding this capital of Kampala and began waging a guerrilla war. The Army has recently managed to put the insurgents on the run, but political assassinations and the detention without trial of nonviolent politicial critics of the government have escalated as the war has died down. On Oct. 25 unknown gunmen abducted Mary Luswata, the chairman of Obote’s Uganda People’s Congress party in a district 80 miles from here, plus three members of the party’s youth wing and three party supporters. They were found shot to death two days later nearby” (Leon Dash – ‘Violence Poisons Political Process Within Uganda’ 01.12.1983, link: https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1983/12/01/violence-poisons-political-process-within-uganda/1d4a504d-d186-4100-ba19-971dbaa4c577/?utm_term=.321bf5362f86).

Militarism under both rulers:

“Although a small incident, (and indeed much larger incidents might have been cited), it has all the ingredients of militarism. “We fought for you” singles oult the “military” contribution to liberation to the denigration of all other kinds of contribution (including political) which people made towards the downfall of Obote’s dictatorship. It also becomes a “license” in the hands of the men in uniform to treat “you civilians” with derision and contempt. Although NRA’s record, compared to the that of Obote’s UNLA, has been generally impressive, this was so as long as they were in the bush, and did not enjoy “state power”. Now that they enjoy state power, their “militarism” is coming to the surface. Earlier in the same week that the above incident happened at Walukuba, soldiers burst into the house of the editor of the Weekly Topic (a paper that is critically sympathetic to Museveni), and searched his house, as also the office of his brother, a former Member of Parliament. Later they arrested a few people in the area who previously had UPC connections. All this was done without informing the Resistance Councils of the area, thus undermining their authority and relevance in matters of “high security”. When criticized, the NRA is consistently defended by Museveni on the same grounds that “they fought for you”. It is clear that Museveni derives his legitimacy and authority more from his army than from the political efforts of “the civilians”. The RCs with all their weaknesses analysed earlier, are nonetheless never likely, under Museveni, to acquire political control over the army, and hence militarism is likely to remain, as under Obote, the hallmark of Museveni’s regime” (Yash Tandon – ‘Elements of Continuity and Change Between Obote and Museveni: Some Lessons from Obote’s Rule for Musevents Government’ 01.01.1987, link: https://escholarship.org/content/qt667686n5/qt667686n5.pdf).

We can see now, that the ones that President Museveni overthrow for the betterment of the republic, he has become alike. He might not have arrested 1000 opposition leaders at the same time, but over the years he has detained, arrested and charged more than I can count. He has done the same during the recent days and even within this year. The NRM are acting as the previous leadership did. They are torturing opposition MPs, they are arresting them and also showing violence towards the public.

Right now, there are more and more similarities between Obote II and Museveni of now. The 1980s Uganda and current Uganda isn’t that much different. Only, that the public have smart-phones and the reports are spread without the central government control like in the 1980s. That is why we will know quicker and the reports will make sense. This is information sharing the authorities cannot control. That is why we knew of the violence in Rukungiri, Bugiri and in Arua.

Museveni’s ways of control is looking more like Obote… therefore, the bush-war is more and more pointless. As he is acting like the ones he overthrow. Not only overstaying and being an arrogant prick, but also being reckless, relentless and destroying people’s lives to stay in power. Using state sponsored violence to control the public.

The Ugandan people deserves better, all the lives lost are now just pawns in the eyes of the ones who had hope in the 1980s for something better for their kids. They fought and celebrated the fall of Obote II, but instead they got someone who was as brutal as him. Using the same force and same methods to stay in power.

It isn’t beautiful, not planned to be. It is just a cynics way of staying in power. Peace.

Uganda Law Society notice ‘ Re: Update on Issues Relating to the Notice from the Ministry of Lands, Housing & Urban Development’ (17.07.2018)

Opinion: MP Magyezi you reap, what you sow!

“You have plowed evil; you have reaped unrighteousness; you have eaten the fruit of hypocrisy; because you trusted in your own direction, and in the number of your mighty forces” – Hosea 10:13 (International Standard Version).

It is weird that Raphael Magyezi now months after the launch of Constitutional Amendment has been passed and the months of tension is sort-of-over. Now the MP comes with blazing guns to the public. Like he didn’t know what he did, when he unleashed this law, as a Private MP. Didn’t he think he would get reactions? When he was the most loyal of MP of the President. It is weird the way he defends himself. Because that counter everything he did while defending the bill in 2017.

“Igara West member of parliament Raphael Magyezi has revealed that his life has been turned upside down since the debate on the removal of age limits and he now receives constant death threats. Magyezi is among the MPs whose security has been boosted by the UPDF after their police guards ran away for fear of their lives. Magyezi has told NTV that he is among the five MPs who have been singled out has targets after the killing of Arua Municipality MP, Ibrahim Abiriga” (Daily Monitor – ‘MP Raphael Magyezi decries intolerance in politics’ 01.07.2018).

It is wrong to get death threats, even killing someone because of differing opinions. Me and the MP agree upon that. But there is natural reactions to his actions last year. That has ushered in a President for Life, by legal means and now the President will rule indefinitely. Therefore, people are going to be angry, because people are tired Mr. 1986 already, he has served his time and there is need for fresh hands in the place of the Presidency. However, that is something Magyezi and I differ on.

What I do not get, is that he pledges intolerance, when he wanted to abolish the Legal Committee over the Opposition questioning his law, that he wanted to threaten the ones rebelling to the law and had no issues with the Special Forces Command (SFC) clearing the chambers, as the law was read and tabled. That all of that isn’t political intolerance, than nothing is.

The political intolerance is created by the NRM and the head-honchos Magyezi serves. It is not the opposition, who already despise the attitude and the ways things are done in the dictatorship. There isn’t much other to say about that. The military and the control done by the State House is the issue. The whole rule of Museveni and the fatigue is evident. Magyezi has been supporter of the whole arrangement, but is defending it in a way that is absurd. Especially, when he has used all methods to defend his law and his Constitutional Amendment.

He should have seen this coming, no one, except the elite and the NRM Cronies liked the Age Limit law. They are still fed by the kingpin and accept his controlling ways, because they are getting paid. However, the rest is tired of the charade and the occupying bush-war and warlord residing in Entebbe. They are ready for someone else.

Magyezi are trying to say that the opposition is intolerant. That the people are too, but his whole defense of the age limit was based on the hostile removal of provisions made to safeguard the people from a power-hungry cunt. However, that was not important for Magyezi and his kind. He needs to safeguarded, his views are perfection and the NRM can do no wrong.

Nevertheless, his views are distorted, as he during the time of tabling the law, reading it and getting it passed. He acted as a brat and proud cock, not having no quarrels using force to get rid of opposition and even banning them from the chambers for resisting/defying the codes of conduct at the Parliament.

Still, he now give the public another rap, but not a fun one. Just intolerant rant of nothing. Peace.