UPDF: 38th Tarehe Sita Anniversary Celebration to be held in Acholi Sub Region (25.01.2019)

#LiberationDay19: A Day for the 27 Guns, but not for the Republic!

Clearly, the President and his cronies. Will celebrate, they will make it really festive, in yet another of supremacy, where they are residing in power and has the control of the Republic. But not let the President speech nor his tales fool you. The public is still under siege from him and his vision. His people are silencing and control the political sphere.

Therefore, I cannot look at this day and celebrate. Because there is plenty who has suffered, who has gotten ill and who is exile because of the National Resistance Movement (NRM). The NRM, the National Resistance Army (NRA) that took power in 1986 and beyond. Have clearly focused their vision, kept a tight rope and is already preparing for 2020/21 General Elections. Just like in previous times.

That is why the slogans, the heavy measure of accomplishments and the steady progress is coming out. When really, the NRM and the cronies are finding new ways of control. New IDs, new deportations of the Telecom Managers, banning clothing of opposition wear, new laws to restrict musical performance and continue the usage of Public Order Management Act or the Penal Code to assault the freedom of the dissidents.

That is why even NBS Frontline has lost a vital voice in Mira Matembe and others, whose been forced out. Just like the Radios whose been suspended for having Kizza Besigye on or even Bobi Wine. Where even his most recent singles has been banned from being played. Also his concerts has been cancelled for various of reasons, even run-away brides can apparently stop a show.

With this in mind, the NRM are working on overtime to finds way to silence, and still keep the Multi-Party Democracy alive. Because they need that to still be viable to donors. They still need to sugar-coat the reality to make it look real.

There will always be bottlenecks, always be things they are working on. Even if it is the same issues as in the last decade. The NRM and the President always needs more time to fix it. Even if he has had 33 years of fixing the issues. Who knows where the money or time goes, but certainly not to whatever he has promised or planned to do. Because, there are not enough funds for upkeep or the cronies to ever be satisfied.

The NRM and the liberation are at this point, not for the peasants, not for the citizens, but only for the 27 Guns. It is only for the little clique, the little brigade of close associates who stood by and who are related to the President. Because that is the way it is. To say something at this point is a bit of stretch. Since, if you try to challenge or even question the people in power. You get into trouble, get arrested, charged for inciting violence, tortured or charged with treason.

The NRM are using all tools at their disposal. All tricks of the book to cover over the reality. To show another story, than what it is. Since, they got to make themselves heroes. Liberators, which they were at one point, but ever since they have grabbed everything and embezzled the rest. Who knows, how this will end. Certainly, not as glorious as it started, because the roots are rotten and lack of bearing fruits.

Instead of ushering a stable peace, it will usher in uncertainty when the Bush Generation is gone. Sooner or later they will vanish to, because of ageing and natural deaths.

Therefore on this liberation day, it is just for the few to feel liberated. The bleak, but true picture of what has transpired. Since, you can fool it for a while, give hope for the next, but by the end of it all. The true acts of deception and lies comes to surface and you cannot hide from the fact. That this regime uses the army, the authorities and everything of the state disposal to take care of its own and let the rest succumb to luck to succeed. Peace.

Opinion: Another proof that The LDUs is the worst sort of Ad-Hoc decision ever made!

The Local Defence Unit that was proposed last year, are by all definition a sort of Ad-Hoc decision, which is made on the spot without considering the implications it has. To explain Ad-Hoc, let me take a definition from Merriam-Webster: “for the particular end or case at hand without consideration of wider application” (Merriam-Webster – ‘Ad Hoc’).

Why do I say that the LDUs are Ad Hoc, because they came after a series of assassinations of high-ranking officials in both the police, MPs and others. Who has been sought after and taken down during last year.

That is why the President in September 2018 said this:

“The LDU is not a new force; they are the reserve of the army. The security guards of the ministries are guarding ministries against break-ins. Terrorists are targeting soft targets, they are not bank robbers” (Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, 15.09.2018).

We can it is just a quick dip and decision made without any proper due diligence or consideration of why it is needed. More another force to quell the public and have more people with guns in close proximity of power, as the need for sudden reinforcement came during last year.

That is why the news from Daily Monitor is very compelling:

“The Defence ministry does not have the Shs9.25 billion needed to cater for Local Defence Unit (LDUs) salaries, the State Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Mr Bright Rwamirama, has said. “We have a shortfall,” Mr Rwamirama told the House Committee on Defence and Internal Affairs in Kampala yesterday. “An additional wage allocation of Shs9.2 billion is required up to the end of 2018/2019 financial year to cater for this category,” Mr Rwamirama said. Last year, Chief of Defence Forces David Muhoozi told the committee that the monthly stipend for each recruit is Shs200,000. It is not clear if Shs9.25b includes arrears. According to Mr Rwamirama, the recruits are still undergoing training” (Wesonga, 2019).

What is also special in consideration, when coming to the army in the Republic is that it is, usually one of the biggest posts on the budget! The UPDF is that, maybe except for the State House and the Office of the Prime Minister, that get funds upon funds for their activities. When, even much of the supplementary parts also goes to the Uganda People’s Defence Force. That is if you have followed this. Therefore, if there was somewhere that is well funded and should have capacity for a shortfall of cash. It should be one of the places where the most funds are put, right?

With this in mind, the LDUs should have something to eat out of the huge plate of the UPDF. Unless, they are made for ghosts and feed the invisible creatures they are. Because nothing seems right about this. Just another trick to put more weapons on the streets and intimidate even more. Not an AD Hoc decision to secure or salvage anything. Sort of like the promise of sharpshooters on the back of the convoys of MPs and VIPs. Because that would also solve their fear and lessen the violence.

You can really tell by the comments in the Daily Monitor piece, that this is all made because the President ordered so, without any prior suggestions or securing information on how to do it. It is really some hectic and rampage activity, that only shows that the “Only Man With A Vision” is losing his steps. He is going more erratic and less sense. If he had sense, he would have consulted the generals and the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED) to ensure the funds and possibility of finding funds for this policy. Alas, that was not the case. The state is starting something, without proper plan, execution or even funds. They are walking in blind, hoping to get a vision and find the way in the utter darkness, without a flash-light or anything to enhance the vision. That is what the state is doing, in the matter of the LDUs and it shows. Peace.

Reference:

Nelson Wesonga – ‘No money for LDUs- minister’ 24.01.2019, link: https://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/No-money-LDUs–minister/688334-4949198-e55kwx/index.html

Uganda Police Force: Press Statement (24.01.2019)

Uganda Police Force: Press Release (22.01.2019)

The 200 Shillings of Doom: Tumwebaze mixed messages concerning the Social Media Tax!

We knew that the statements of 2018, as the loyal ICT Minister Frank Tumwebaze hadn’t done his due diligence, as the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoPED) issued a Social Media Tax last year after President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni wrote a letter to the Ministry of Finance asking for the opportunity to tax this.

That has no been done over the last few months, but as the realization of the effects are coming. The forewarning of CSBAG and others wasn’t listen to. I wrote that it lacked due diligence of the tax in June 2018 and today. As I open Daily Monitor and seeing that Frankie Boy has changed his ways. He has opened his eyes and seeing what some of us saw all along. As the cost of content, the cost of using social media and that this has ensured that it is less viable. Since, its the elites who can use it, but the lower level civil servants cannot afford to be online. That was natural, that the 200 shillings per day would be taken directly of the plate and also evaporate funds for investment within the Republic. It is a negative tax, and therefore, naturally have reverse effect, than what the state promised when they levied it.

Tumwebaze statement in July 2018:

When Ministry of Finance is borrowing, we, the Parliament and civil society are grilling them for borrowing. But when we say this is a sector that has grown in the economy so let’s get a bit of it, let’s get Shs. 6,000 from every holder of a smartphone consuming OTTs, what production capacity will it stifle?” (…) “Is USD 1,4 too much for a citizen to contribute to tax yet you have money to buy a smartphone, minimumly at Shs. 300,000 that is data enabled, and you load bundles of over shs. 30,000? Logically it doesn’t make sense” (Frank Tumwebaze, 17.07.2018).

Tumwebaze statemetn in January 2019:

The committee chaired by Annet Nyakecho said Over The Top tax seems to negatively affect the consumption of ICT services and products. In response, ICT Minister, Mr Frank Tumwebaze admitted that the tax is has had adverse effects on the sector. He said they were “hoodwinked” by their counterparts in the Finance Ministry that the introduction of the tax on the basis that it would widen the country’s revenue base” (Ssebuliba, 2019).

ICT Minister Tumwebaze was so positive and thinking this was the future. This was how to widen the tax-base, but instead. It has as expected made the usage of Social Media expensive. Which means also there is lack of funds for the ones operating within the Social Media and making Online Businesses. This is both happening because of the hard hitting taxes on Social Media, but also the Mobile Money Tax. Both taxes has both the Mobile Money Industry and the ICT development, as they are both having less activity and less usage. Which is natural, when the costs are going up.

The ICT Minister should have known this before speaking so warm about it. Any tax are taking money out of the system. The 200 shillings of doom is clear. The state could have listen to the advice, but didn’t open the ears to it.

In June 30 2018, Daily Monitor reported this: “Civil society organisations have accused the government of trying to stifle debate online with this tax, while others like the Civil society Budget Advocacy group CSBAG, say the tax will have a negative impact on a business.” (Hinamundi, 2018).

So, if the ICT Minister Tumwebaze could have known and stopped this. They could have done the right thing and not continued this path. Instead they have hurt the industry, because they are all blindly following the orders of the President. That is what the state did and they levied the 200 shillings of doom, as it was anticipated by anyone else. Than, the authorities itself. Peace.

Reference:

Samuel Ssebuliba – ‘Parliament orders assessment on impact of social media tax’ 18.01.2019, link: https://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Parliament-orders-assessment-impact-social-media-tax/688334-4940312-rph8g3z/index.html

Collins Hinamundi – ‘How government will collect the new social media tax’ 30.07.2018, link: https://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/How-government-will-collect-new-social-media-tax/688334-4639596-juy8n3z/index.html

Opinion: The State Minister for Teso Affairs have forgotten her role as a Minister by getting people arrested over nothing!

Until you put these things to right, you’re not entitled to boast of the justice meted out to thieves, for it’s a justice more specious than real or social desirable. You allow these people to be brought up in the worst possible way, and systematically corrupted from their earliest years. Finally, when they grow up and commit the crimes that they were obviously destined to commit, ever since they were children, you start punishing them. In other words, you create thieves, and then punish them for stealing.”Thomas More

We have this week been really introduced to the State Minister for Teso, Honourable Agnes Akiror Egunyu, who has made headlines for not having patience to wait in a queue inside a bank in Soroti. She is supposed to be busy help the Internally displaced in Teso, following up Presidential Pledges in the Region and other matters. However, for her it was more important to get people detained for making her stand in a tiny queue.

I will, first show the six key activities, that the State Minister is supposed to focus on, but she has apparently other motives in her work. As the quote of the Daily Monitor first and than New Vision follow-up. Seriously, it is a real mess, because the Teso Affairs isn’t that important to her.

Minister of Teso Affairs is supposed to do this: “1, Monitoring and coordinating the implementation of PRDP and other Government Programmes. 2, Coordinating/liaising and collaborating with other Government MDAs delivery of services. 3, Following up on the fulfilment of Presidential pledges. 4, Resettling former IDPs. 5, Promoting peace building and resolving conflicts. 6. Implementing special and specific affirmative interventions” (OPM – ‘Teso Affairs’).

A bank teller, who spoke to Daily Monitor on condition of anonymity, said Ms Akiror entered the bank and wanted to go past other clients straight to the teller. When the queueing clients complained, she got angry and called Mr Ogwal. Mr Ogwal told Daily Monitor that he was contacted by the minister for help on allegations that she had been attacked at the branch by two men as she made her transactions. “She called me like any other person for help. It is the reason I ordered the district police commander to rush to the bank where the arrests were made,” he said” (Muron & Emwamu, 2019).

Two customers of dfcu Bank’s Soroti branch who were arrested for allegedly disturbing the peace of the state minister for Teso affairs, Agnes Akiror Egunyu, in the bank hall have been charged and released on Police bond” (…) “In an interview with the New Vision, Akiror accused the duo for abusing her while she was making a transaction. “I found clients queuing in the bank without a teller in the counter to serve them. One teller accepted to help me after I pleaded for help, but those men started abusing me seriously,” Akiror said” (Opio, 2019).

She is really acting entitled with this action this week. Seemingly, the State Minister has forgotten her work, he play in society and that she is not above the ordinary people. The State Minister should have no issues waiting in a queue. That she got the two people arrested inside the Bank. Really shows her ways and how she has gotten corrupted by the Public Office she has. Instead of working for any of the key activities, because that is not to get people arrested for being customers inside a bank. Because that is what she did.

If she had been serious as a State Minister, we would have read reports where she took charge in the plenty of Presidential Pledges made in the Teso Regions. State Minister Akiror Egunyu did this to the citizens, which happened to be in the bank at the same time. Just so utter disgrace for her role in society and her natural entitlement.

She thinks she is that special now, that she can force herself first, as she is a Minister. That shows what is wrong in society, when the Police is called upon for this and detains them. Just because, they didn’t let her first in the queue. Peace.

Reference:

Emmanuel Opio – ‘Two arrested over insulting minister in bank hall’ 17.01.2019, link: https://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1492780/arrested-insulting-minister-bank-hall

George Muron & Simon Peter Emwamu – ‘Bank clients arrested for ‘disturbing’ Teso minister’ 16.01.2019, link: https://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Bank-clients-arrested-for–disturbing–Teso-minister/688334-4936798-mklyiiz/index.html

Uganda Police Force: Release on National Jumaa Special prayers (18.01.2019)

The Anti Bobi Wine Act is on the Horizon: The Stage Plays and Public Entertainment Act of 2018!

Today, there was a leaked legislation called the Stage Plays and Public Entertainment Act Cap 49. This is legislation made to bend the crowds, ensure the promoters and the musicians are following due protocol and can be directly controlled by the state. They cannot just without justification put up an event, concert or any public gathering without proper acceptance of the authorities.

However, if you feel like you have heard about something before, it because you have. There was a time in our life, before the infamous and outrageous law, called the Public Order Management Act (POMA). The law made to ensure the state to know every single activity and political movement of the opposition. They had to notify and be accepted by the state and the Security Agencies before holding rallies, consultation meetings and whatnot.

In the same regard, the 2018 legislation, which is leaked today. Is in the same manner. The second law was make the ones rising to political stratosphere like Dr. Kizza Besigye. Make sure he couldn’t do his work and also make it near impossible to build party structure. Which in some regards has happen, as the strength of Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) isn’t everywhere. Because, they cannot be able or have the ability to get there properly without being arrested or breaking the codes of law, which is stated in the POMA.

In the same regard comes the new legislation. It is made for the nuisance, the man who has sky-rocket in the political sphere and has made mess for the President. Bosco is really worried and he has to contain it somehow. Just like he did with Besigye. So, now with the new legislation he hopes he can stop the rise and silence Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine. Because this law is targeting him.

As the leaked legislation says: “No person shall perform public entertainment unless that person is registered with the Ministry responsible for Culture in Uganda as a Performing Artist; An artist or entertainer shall submit his/her works for documentation and approval by Uganda National Culture Forum; No Performing Artist or Group of Performing Artists shall stage performances abroad without clearances from Minister responsible for Culture in Uganda” and also this: “The Event Organiser and/or Promoter shall obtain a Special Performance Permit from the relevant Local Government ( Where the performance is going to take place ) at least 30 days prior to the date, where such a performance involve: i Performing Artists not citizens of, or domiciled in Uganda; ii Three or more independent Performing Artists or three or more different Groups of Performing Artists; iii National Event; iv An annual event; – the permit shall NOT be unduly denied”.

These are just snippets of the law. Not the whole gist. But it smells like POMA for musicians right? The notifying of Local Government for any event or performance, also the registration of the performer and the clearance to do so. That is just like POMA. It is just the POMA made for musicians, comedians or anyone on stage, also for anyone planning to make a concert or holding one. They got to get the new permits, the new dispensation to do so. Since, the law will ensure, that everyone doing these activities are following the new guidelines. By all means, that is when this become official legislation and signed off by the President. But, that man wants to silence yet another critic, this is certainly the way to go. With another draconian legislation to curb the enthusiasm and make it stop.

The last paragraph from the leaked pages of the law, which is really striking. Is this one: “Performing Artists or a Group of Performing Artists shall not enter into other Public Performance Contracts on the same day at different venues, unless such other performances shall be held at least four hours after the end of the preceding performance. This provision shall form part of the Performance Contract between the parties”.

All of this is signs of the new found struggle Bobi Wine will have and the other renegade artists who stands a bitter fight against the oppression. As the government are trying to find other solutions to contain him and his career. Since, he has followed the protocol of POMA as public gatherings, but this is so they can really establish strict guidelines for Bobi Wine and other to follow.

What will be interesting when this come into action and being in-forced. Is how this will effect the campaigns and the NRM own concerts in the Campaign Rallies, as they are known for paying a stable of artists to perform before Bosco shows up to utter sadness in every corner of the Republic. Clearly, Bebe Cool and Jose Chameleone cannot perform more than twice that day. Meaning, if the NRM is supposed to follow this law. They got pick who goes where and limit the productivity of the artists it has in its back-pocket.

However, this is all just mere say. Even as the legislation has leaked. Showing yet again. How frighten the NRM is of Bobi Wine. Just like Besigye shooked them, he has too. That is why the President is cooking up legislation to beat him down with. So, that he can use justification to destroy his career or stall it. To show who is the man and who is the servant.

The POMA came because of the power of Besigye, now the SPPE or SPPEA comes as an effect of Bobi Wine. It is not enacted or in-force yet, but signs to come. Because, this is retaliation, Museveni style. This is what he does, he finds ways to assault your life by legislation or by mere humiliation through the courts. Clearly, he intends to do both. Surely, the Ministry will muffle with the works of Bobi Wine too. Just a matter of time, before most of it is banned. Let time tell, but not be confused or surprised by that. It is in the cards.

If not, why would they use time drafting and finding the words to ensure that Bobi Wine and the likes are in the mercy of the state? I just said it there.

FYI or BTW: This is the 2nd Generation Public Order Management Act, just made for musicians, nothing else. That smart aren’t the junta, the ruling regime and YES MEN of Bosco. This is just revising it for the ones being artists instead of politicians. Peace.