South Sudan: Maribor Garang de Maribor open letter to the African Union (AU) – (14.02.2020)

SPLM/A-IO: Press Statement on the Government Consultation on number of states and their boundaries scheduled for Februrary 14th 2020 in Juba (13.02.2020)

The South Sudan Civil Society Forum strongly recommends reverting to ten states as a solution to the deadlock on the number of states (14.02.2020)

South Sudan: Important Urgent Annocement! (12.02.2020)

Gen. Benon Biraaro the loyal cadre of the NRM

“In 1996 I told President Museveni that the 10 years he had been in leadership were enough and advised him to leave power for others” – Gen. Benon Biraaro in November 2016

Maj. Gen. Benon Biraaro is one of those guys whose loyalty is not questioned. As he joined the Bush-War in 1982 and stayed the course. He has served several of high ranking positions, even as the Chief of Staff in the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) and been in the inner-circle of military commando, both as a rebel and as an armed commander.

The man of honour, the man who served so diligently for so long. Still, had one more rebellion in him to defy the bush-war General he previously served. As the Luweero Triangle Medal and others faded. Retired from the army in 2008 after serving it since 1982. He started the armed service after finishing studies at Makerere University. He formed in 2014, the Peace and National Unity (PNU) before relaunching himself again with the Farmers Party ahead of the General Election in 2016. Which was the party he used to stand as a Presidential Candidate in the last election.

The man who is now deceased. Claimed he opposed Museveni before Besigye. However, that doesn’t add up, as the man claimed he was against Museveni in 1996, but he was promoted several of times since then. Therefore, the man was clearly not that vocal before he retired. That is evident, because if he were. He wouldn’t gotten higher ranks and been promoted like he did. President Museveni wouldn’t have done that.

Some are claiming he was a syncopate and a stooge as an opposition candidate. As he didn’t have the recognition nor the flair to stand-up to Museveni. Only empty words, but not like crowds would surge around him. Therefore, Benon was a former Bush-War Veteran who seemed like a possible catch, but not of something that would aim for the stars as a candidate in the 2016 elections. The man who has held lectures for armed personnel, been a teacher and one whose loyalty haven’t been questioned.

Not like he ran against Museveni like Gen. David Sejusa aka Tinyefuza, who had to go to exile because he wanted to retire. No, Benon could just retire and start his own party without any interference or big question. That’s because Biraaro wasn’t anything Museveni feared nor had any issues with. Even if Benon during the campaigns and after it, as warned the President and the NRM of a possible Zimbabwe moment. In regards, that Museveni might get the same treatment, as Mugabe did in his final stages. However, that has happen without any fanfare.

What we do know, is that Benon Biraaro is now deceased. His no longer among us. A man who fought, who started on its own and is no longer amongst us. What he leaves behind is a fringe party, which is the Farmers Party. He leaves behind a weak attempt for a peaceful transition and post-Museveni.

He leaves behind a life in the armed forces, in the higher ranking position and where he was loyal to the core. Biraaro might wanted more for his legacy, but this is what it is.  We know he went together with others after the General Elections in 2016 to the house-arrested Dr. Kizza Besigye and tried to offer a power-sharing agreement, where Besigye would be Museveni’s VP. But we know that this was dismissed in February 2016. Therefore, the General wasn’t always able to serve, even when he was trying his hardest.

Benon might want to remembered for more, there isn’t more I can say. He trained people in the Bush-War, he did it after the Bush-War and was a high-ranking official, and gotten medals for his service. Therefore, its not like he didn’t get accolades while living. Now, he is gone, but his legacy is loyalty, but not greatness. That is more than what some will be remembered for. He was loyal to the NRA and the NRM, to the President and to that cause. Peace.

South Sudan: 32 Governors – Joint Press Release (11.02.2020)

Makerere University: Parliament Report strikes hard at the authorities

The Parliament made a report into last year’s violence and demonstrations at the Makerere University. The Report was made in December 2019, but only released in public now in February 2020. Therefore, I got it in hand today and will dwell on some aspects of it. As it shows what sort of fashion that went down and what the MPs see as vital information for the public to know after the deeds was done at the campus.

As the report states: “the demonstration led by the 85t1, Female Caucus was legitimate in nature [Article 29 of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda] and did not merit the brutal conduct of the University administration and the security operatives in managing the protests” (..) “there was lack of evidence to suggest that the University Students’ Disciplinary Committee headed by Justice Precious Ngabirano had convened meetings to hear and determine allegations levelled against the affected students. The Committee notes that it is now coming to two months without any report from the University Disciplinary Committee” (Parliament Report, 2019).

Just by these simple paragraphs shows the extent of force used to a demonstrations that had merit, which the University combined with the authorities escalated. As we known by following the events to a violent path.

As it further states: “The Committee observes that the deployment of the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces [UPDF] to participate in the management of the protests at the University were not justifiable” (Parliament Report, 2019). With these words in mind, it is not strange that the UPDF and the authorities, which was not justified, misused their means on civilians and students alike. The acts of ill towards citizens and students demonstrating at unfair raise of student fees. Which is a natural reaction to sudden change of livelihood.

While the minority report stated this for instance: “the senior Minister of Education and Sports makes a public apology in light of the statement she made depicting Makerere University as a drug infested institution. We presume the statement is an indictment to the students and the university at large, and her apology would restore confidence and trust on Makerere University” (Parliament report, 2019).

Also, states a reason why there was no evidence in the majority report of sexual harassment: “The Committee on Education and Sports did not spare time to specifically inquire and interface with alleged victims of sexual harassment at the Campus of Makerere University” (…) “One female student [names uithheld] testified that she was subjected to verbal sexual insults inside the hostel and at Wandegeya Police Station after her arrest. Among the insults, a uniformed security officer threatened called her a prostitute and threatened to put his genitalia in her mouth” (Parliament Report, 2019). Therefore, the concerns of these actions made by security personnel, neither police nor soldiers on the ground. Show, that there was no actions being done to ensure their hurt nor their stories to collaborate with the alleged sexual harassment. This could have further shown the ills that were done and the amount of pain the students went through those weeks of last year.

Let me end with a final statement from the Minority report: “The recent students’ demonstration at Makerere was indicative of the fact that some interests were ignored by the University authorities” (Parliament Report, 2019). That is enough. Peace.

South Sudan: Communique of the 34th Extraordinary Summit of the IGAD Heads of State and Government (09.02.2020)

South Sudan: Governors Communique (04.02.2020)

Opinion: Tumwiine thinks his above the law in concern of the safe-houses

What I know is there is safe houses but you (MPs) will not be allowed to go there because the laws does not permit you” – Gen. Elly Tumwiine on 28th August 2019

General Elly Tumwiine, the Security Minister and the one who has the oversight and governing role over the safe houses, the Police Force and so-on. The General has blocked the Human Rights Committee from the Parliament to access the Safe Houses. As they should be able to assess and report on the works of the state.

Alas, the General has denied that and even asked for the MPs to ask forgiveness for doing so. As they humiliated the owners and the ones whose running these houses. What is out of this world and lack of understanding of his role as a Minister. His not a higher ranking, above the people, but a servant of the public. His Security Ministry is in-charge of Internal Security Organization (ISO), External Security Organization (ESO) and Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI).

The National Resistance Movement (NRM) apparently needs these Safe Houses, as they are still keeping Nalufenya Prison also. The NRM are not interested in disclosing or stopping these practices. That is why the Parliament and the Committee are doing this to the General. Since, the General are not willing to let them overlook the acts of it.

Like the NTV report today:

Parliament has adopted a motion to censure Security Minister Gen Elly Tumwine for blocking the committee from visiting safe houses and repeated contempt of parliament and the office of the speaker. This follows a report of parliament’s Human Rights Committee that faulted Tumwine for blocking the committee’s work on safe houses, before also stopping the Director of Internal Security Organizations Col Kaka Bagyenda from appearing before the committee” (NTV Uganda, 05.02.2020).

The Parliament is not wrong looking into it. The General should be worried, when you easily access horrific stories of people whose been taken into these places without trial. Tumwine might think he can do it, because there is no repercussions for his actions. Neither will the NRM take any hits for this. Even as they continuing the post-colonial legacy of it. This practice was before the NRM and will hopefully be abolished after it.

The word “safe house” has now almost gone out of use in Uganda, but multiple sources within the police and accounts by people who have been subjected to torture recently suggest that such places still exist. In his narration to the MPs, the tortured Byamukama said the beating that nearly ended his life did not happen in Nalufenya, for instance. He was blind-folded and driven to a location within Kampala City where he was tortured and was only dropped in Nalufenya after the fact” (Eriasa Sserunjogi – ‘ON WHOSE ORDERS? Torture as an instrument of repression in Uganda’, The Elephant, 29.07.2017).

Gen. Tumwiine knows these stories, there been several cases in Court, which the state has lost. As they are breaching the Constitution and their own laws. By not abiding to it, as they are not gazetted neither are the detained and tortured individuals following the courts nor the rule of law.

That is why Nalufenya is still a thing in 2020. He might be censored, but that will not change the fact of the innocent behind bars and tortured in ungazetted safe-houses across the Republic. Where people who dissent or who are troublesome to the NRM are put. Without trial, without justice and without answering in courts of law. They are guilty before even proven innocent. Instead of being innocent until proven guilty. Peace.