Hon. Otto Odonga: Notice of Motion to Censure Betty Amongin over abuse of Office (23.05.2018)

IGP Okoth Ochola orders to shield the media: However, as long as they enforce POMA, will it matter?

In a Police Circular of 16th May 2018, the Inspector General of the Police Okoth Ochola has ordered a shift of policy towards the media. This is a change, but if we only see it on paper or in reality. Time will tell, because the laws that the Police use are still the same, they still have the Public Order Management Act (POMA), which has been used as a tool to oppress and silence opposition. Where the Police has interfered in journalistic endevours and political party works all across the Republic. All of that is well-known, as the Police needs to engage and give consent if anyone is gathering. That is so they can either stop it before it happens or have knowledge of any activity of any party, that is happening in public.

What is key from the message from the IGP was this:

Unit commanders must observe the safety of journalists very critically and no journalist or citizen should ever be abused or tortured. Torture is a criminal offence according to the law and whoever will be found to be involved in the crime shall be expeditiously investigated and prosecuted. The constitution calls upon us all to preserve, protect and promote media freedoms” (IGP Okoth Ochola, 16.05.2018).

CEON-U reported this from the General Election and Campaigning in 2016:

At the (media content) producer level, journalists reported pressure from government, security and ruling party officials, which sometimes saw the cancellation of critical radio programmes as well as suspension of presenters and talk show hosts for entertaining opposition candidates, especially Besigye. There were also increased cases of assaults and intimidation of journalists, self-censorship, and bribery” (CEON-U – ‘UGANDA GENERAL ELECTIONS 2016: REVISITING THE DEMOCRACY CONSTRUCT’ P:76, 2016).

It is not long ago, when Besigye was planning to hold a Radio Tour all-around Uganda, but the State sanctioned the radios holding him, but at the same period in time, the President could do the same and on the same topic, as Besigye was planning too. It is not many months ago. Therefore, the state is continuing to oppress and silence the other voices, than of the President.

Museveni likes to own the media, own the message and control it, therefore, he has lecture anyone to follow his voice and pattern, not question it, because then your not patriotic. That is what is well-known, so it is good idea that the Police are supposed to respect the covering of the journalists and their work. However, if they start to be to critical or get sources, which is questioning the Musevenisms, then know they will be besieged, be detained and lose their license. That is what Museveni does, so even if the journalist wouldn’t be arrested while on Live-Broadcast, like the police did in Kasangati in the recent year. Still, the NRM and Uganda Police Force has a long walk ahead.

It is nice that the IGP wants things to change, but they should also abolish POMA, so people are allowed to participate and be political active, without having the police breathing down their necks or coming with tear-gas, every time they congregate. This will certainly his a journalist, a camera-man or anyone covering it. They will not be totally shielded, I doubt the Police would do so. They usually cover all angles and anyone in the nearby passage get touched.

The Police can order and say they will leave the journalists be, but will they really follow through, when there are laws like the POMA in affect. That will not change the dynamics, unless, the Parliament makes other laws, that gives the provisions to the Police to act differently. Peace.

Here is the circular:

OO: Do us a favor, please, shut up!

If everything is amplified, we hear nothing.”Jon Stewart

Man, I am tired of his shit. Pardon me, but I am. I have seen and heard enough of the Musevenism and the giant National Resistance Movement (NRM) apologist Ofwono Opondo, the Director of Uganda Media Centre, which is under the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, therefore, he is also employed now by the Minister Frank Tumwebaze. Therefore, the famous OO are far of the left-field and everywhere. He is steady on Capital Gang and NBS Frontline. I am tired of him. Today he even written a piece.

He is defending the NRM and Museveni at a rate, that is extensive, that his blood-pressure isn’t out of whack is strange. Because his level of lies and deception that he plays. If he is proud of his work, I would feel sorry, but everyone wants to eat. I am sure the hypocrisy and the tarnish of reality must hurt his brain-cells. Since it is long inbetween any truthful statements and the reality. That is because he has to play to his master. The reason why I am tired of his crap.

So, those like Besigye, opposing NRM by propagating outright lies perhaps need to trade very carefully because Ugandans know the truth, otherwise, voters may not be kind to them at elections” (Ofwono Opondo – ‘NRM is Delivering on most of its Election Promises’ 10.05.2018).

It’s kinda hard believing that OO had to go this and say these words. When he knows the reality, but trying to make the numbers and the words fitting the paradigm of success. That always going back to the 1980s, always going back to a time with nothing and with inflation after a bush-war. Because that is the standard the NRM every single time seeks to. That they secured peace and made progress. But after doing, they haven’t delivered to the public, that is proven with the schools, the health care system and the unemployment rate. The lack of delivery of service, the rampant poverty, the debt level of the state and the lack of development in the state. All of that is the serious mess that the NRM are leaving behind, combined with a growing elite eating of the dying and rotten state, which is created in the image of Museveni. He has created this with all of his cronies and his self-control, that OO always say is right and doing the right thing.

OO is off the wall and high as a kite, when saying that, as the state is levying more tax on the public, the government loans are maturing and the oil revenue is still not hitting the fan. The giant development projects they have borrowed monies for are not to be sure off and the Rural Electrification Projects are still continuing. There are so many things missing and so much funding taken away, creative financing and creative spending of funds. That makes roads more expensive, more projects taking longer time and more cronies paid off, while land-grabs and grace periods to foreign investors, which makes sure the state earns less, but someone gets a favorable kick-back for so.

That OO is still praising all this is beyond me, that he is professing to a state that intimidate its citizens, that messes up the Sim-Card Registration for over a year and make a mockery out of the media. A state that is disconnected with the community, as they are not engaged delivering the needed services or state programs that actually could bring development. Instead they are looting and eating on the public plate. To say otherwise, is to look outside the window and lie.

That is why I am tired of the likes of OO. He can lie about his amount of hair on top of his head to his side-dish, he can lie about how many cups of tea has during the day, but he cannot lie about the reality and the state of affairs. Which he does everytime in public.

So, please shut up, OO stop lying, your bad at it! Peace.

The World Bank commends the rising taxes in Uganda!

Yep, the biggest bank and the Bretton Woods Organization called the World Bank has commended the works of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and his plans for added taxes. That comes from the similar institution like International Monetary Fund, that ordered Uganda to follow the Structural Adjustment Plan (SAP), therefore, the IMF that fixed more privatization without lacking investments. Are now okaying a higher rising taxes on the Republic’s citizens. This is done, while the economy is not strengthen, but with added external and internal loans. Therefore, the rise of GDP and use of loans, as well as repayments on those loans will sooner or later hurt the economy. Even with the rise of taxes. This will be start of vicious cycle where the state is issuing loans and taxes, while the revenue is used to repay loans, not development. It is basically. But before I go into the deep of the part of the troubling take from the World Bank. Let me just show you quickly the result of the SAP and their advice there.

The studies also make it clear that for SAP-type policies to have a chance of success, certain preconditions are necessary. The public sector had certain social responsibilities that the current framework has pushed it out of but without “a proper handing over” to the private sector. The assumption and hope were that the market would fill the gap left by the retreating state. Clearly this has not happened. There is therefore need for Government either to retain certain key social sectors, or only hand them over to the private sector only when the latter is ready to effectively take them over. Clearly non-profit making aspects of social responsibility cannot and do not get taken over by the private sector. For poverty to be reduced there are certain social responsibilities or even whole sectors that can only effectively be handled by the public sector. Welfare systems and subsidies to farmers in the developed world attest to the need for the retention of these key areas by the public sector. Therefore a policy that proscribes such a hand-over must also ensure that it is done in a verifiable manner so that the private sector can be held to account. Civil society has in the past tried to fill the gap but this has been done in an ad hoc manner” (Kevin Akoyi Makokha – ‘STRUCTURAL ADJUSTMENT PARTICIPATORY REVIEW INITIATIVE (SAPRI) – UGANDA COUNTRY REPORT: A synthesis of the Four SAPRI Studies’ September 2001).

So, when the last system from the World Bank and IMF was introduced the system and the government wasn’t ready to privatize, however, that didn’t stop them or the government to do so. Especially since the funds and loans at the time came with the hitch of doing so. Therefore, the troubles with the privatization and the lacking oversight is also partly because of these programs subsidized by these organizations. That is why the World Bank and IMF should be more careful professing what sort of thing would be genuine and sincere, since they have messed up before. It isn’t only the State House who has messed up, he has gotten help and followed the procedures of these mechanisms. If not, he wouldn’t be able to eat such vast amounts of donor funding in the past. This is well-known, but the lack of oversight, is because of the will of wanting to have control and a say in everything. That is why the letter from the President to Minister of Finance, is the reason for the new levied taxes. So, if you wonder why I have distrust to the World Bank and IMF, it is because of their history and that the public is paying for it, because their impact on the governments for the reasons. That these states should be guinea-pigs for the economy belief of trickling down economics, even as the results has begged differ if it really drips back into the system again. Which it doesn’t because the ones that gets a lot want to keep it and get some more. No dole it out to anyone they can find.

Here is what the World Bank stated today: “In the special section of the Update, the report analyses how Uganda could raise more domestic revenues to support its development. Uganda’s tax system is one of the most modern in the region, but revenue collections, at 14 percent of GDP, are low, and way below its tax potential. Tax avoidance and evasion, partly resulting from generous tax exemptions to investors, weak tax administration, and a large informal sector (now at 80 percent), pose challenges to increasing revenues. Up to 5 percent of GDP is lost annually in tax leakages. Personal income tax contributes roughly 18 percent of GDP compared to up to 40 percent in developed countries. VAT collections amount to 4 percent of GDP, but would rise to 6 percent if there were no exemptions. The report suggests that Uganda could widen its tax base by tapping into areas that are outside the tax net; applying tax instruments correctly and fairly; improving efficiency, transparency and accountability in tax administration; and delivering better public services” (World Bank – ‘Improving Taxation to Finance Uganda’s Development’ 15.05.2018).

Therefore, the World Bank likes the idea of adding more tax on the Mobile Money transactions and the movement of digital cash, as well as on Airtime and other needed things. The ones that hasn’t a bank-account or the ability to fund or even try to get a loans from the banking system. Are okayed by the World Bank as possible targets for taxes. This isn’t transparent, but making it more expensive to be poor, as the rates to transmit and the use mobile money will come. The companies whose use this method will bill the users, they will not take the hit. The same with all the traders and the importers of all the other items that was on the lists of the newly taxed items.

I doubt these new taxes will do any good, it will just be more funds for the elites, the NRM and the President to eat. They are not delivering government services with the trillions of shillings they are using now. They are billing up to their asses and spending rampant, without having the revenue. That is why the rising debts are there. Instead of living frugal and thinking of the future, the NRM and President Museveni are eating like there is no tomorrow!

State House, the President and the Cabinet are eating heavy, they are not delivering, they have no plans to do so. If so, they give locally when needed, but the lack of transparency and accountability, is the reason for missing funds. Recently even the documents from the GAVI Funds was taken from the Ministry of Health. Therefore, a government who cannot be trusted with funds giving donations to help the sick, how can we believe the tax put on Mobile Money will go to roads or teachers?

I doubt that, I am not that naive, this NRM has proven for 32 years, that they are eating and not caring. The World Bank can commend and praise. While I condemn, until they prove that they money are delivered to the schools, that the teachers have their salaries and the civil servants are properly paid. Not just hiring some random Cubans to fix the issues for a short time. That is not how to build a national health care system. That is how to mock the ones you already have. Peace.

A rebuttal to Mwenda’s Messiah Complex concerning Museveni!

Any religion whose messiah’s name isn’t recognized by Microsoft Word can’t be that much of  a threat.”Stephen Colbert

After reading Andrew Mwenda’s ‘Africa’s need for messiahs’ that is in the newest edition of the Independent Magazine. However, I feel Mwenda is insulting people’s intelligence with this piece. Because when he writes, that its wrong to have a “blame-the-leadership”, as Museveni also did in the past. He praises Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for his bush-war and that he didn’t sit in air-conditioned office and complained at the leadership. I am sure it would better to complain at the leadership with a drying robusta beans and a goat in a village up-country.

Whatever really, drink a stoney and take it easy. Well, let’s be serious, that this piece is just a reflection of how Mwenda has sold-out his own ambition and own belief. The only thing that was strange was that he didn’t mention Besigye. I was anticipating it, but it never happen. Just that the elite is bitching about Museveni, but not doing anything. Has he considered the price of doing something? Is he blind to the consequences of testing the powers in Uganda? Does Mwenda remember what happen to himself when he challenged the powers to be?

Yes. I think he does and partly that he get sponsored by the state, he is now envisioned to find anyways to defend the government and Museveni. Even if they are hiring Cuban Medical staff, instead of paying fair salaries to the Health Care workers. Because that is a healthy system, the whole state is in the image of Museveni. Even if his critics or his supporters say otherwise. When someone been ruling for 32 years, have made their mark and their signifying policies. Which has dwindled with time, as the fatigue, the greed and the need for the security organization to keep his up-keep. While also paying off cronies and the elites. The lazy elites of Mwenda, which he says he is apart of.

He says it is personal responsibility to bring down the leadership of Museveni, however, when Besigye and others was on the road with the Defiance and wanting to bring him down. They we’re extremists and dangers to the state, they were hooligans and people who haven’t given credit to Museveni’s state. Sorry, Mr. Mwenda, but you cannot have both ways. You cannot give people personal responsibility and in the months of 2015 and 2016, even parts of 2017 hashing out articles and posts attacking Besigye and FDC supporters for their will to topple Museveni peacefully. For months later in May 2018, blame the same elites and public. That is just insulting, do you think people are that stupid? Really?

Mwenda, I was a fan of you when you we’re on the Radio. You seemed like a decent character, but somewhere you lost your way. That is visible. As you are now counter-punching yourself.

You never wanted people to topple Museveni peacefully or demonstrate against him, that is not in your self-interest. Therefore its vindictive and vicious of you to write this now. When you have addressed this matters before and said something else. But you have shown your loyalty now with the sentence:

In many ways I find Museveni better than his critics”. Mwenda I might had find you better, if you we’re consistent. However, your not, you are self-serving and therefore, you can only serve your interests. Not serve the public with common sense. Someone who has only served his own interests to for decades is Museveni. So I start to understand why you are on his side of history. Even if it is flawed. Just like your article. Step your game up.

Uganda needs taxation with representation, it’s been enough time with taxation without representation. That is why the state isn’t delivering services, proper governance or transparency within the government. However, you don’t believe in this anymore. You just trust in Museveni because your pockets gets fat by him.

This isn’t about Besigye for me, this is about that someone else has the skills to lead the nation, not just one former-rebel and wealthy cattle-farmer. There are more people with quality to delegate and to find solutions. That is why Museveni needs to go, he isn’t hungry to deliver anything. He is just eating and the rest like Mwenda is looking for excuses to support him. Peace.

The NRM Way is Corruption, so please don’t be shocked when they do it!

You should never be shocked if a National Resistance Movement (NRM) Members of Parliament (MP) or Historicals are caught eating of the public plate. No matter who it is, they are acting as they are entitled to this. They are entitled not pay rent, they are entitled to grab land and entitled to get kickbacks on government contracts. This is the system the NRM has built. To say otherwise is naive. This is the continuation of the “pay-to-play” system that Amama Mbabazi was known for. How do you think him and Gilbert Bukenya made their wealth?

They did not sell Nile Brew on the streets of Kampala, no these two used their positions to eat and therefore was synonymous with the word corruption, at one point they could have their face in the dictionary as they we’re always connected with some sham transaction. The same can be said the Foreign Affairs Minister Sam Kuteesa, who always has some shady business deal or arrangement to make sure his pockets are fat. When the new generation of NRM MPs see how the old-guard did it. They want to be in on it. That is natural.

So when Betty Amongi does what she does, she has learned from her peers. Not that is right or by law, but by the activity of the party. The same can be said by Evelyn Anite, whose also has some shady deals now. Both of these are just the newest crop, in addition to the ones who has already played these games. I am just waiting for Frank Tumwebaze to have some sort deal with the Telecoms, so that he could earn something on the side with this Sim-Card Saga of his. That would have made sense and also within reason.

And we know the likes Jim Muhwezi and others has made enough fortunes, big enough homes, that is why the house of Gen. Elly Tumwine, whose trying to outshine the Gbadolite, the house of former Dictator Mobutu Sese Seko. Therefore, the NRM elite has money, while the government lacks it and borrows to keep the cash flow going. If not, they are begging for handouts to secure government projects. This is happening while the elite is finding all kinds of tricks to find new money.

These are MPs with a lavish pay, secured pay for cars and housing, these are MPs whose already getting well-fed on the government tab. So they shouldn’t need to do shady backroom deals, but still they do, because the ones with much, always wants a little bit more. The rich wants to get richer. That is also natural, but they are feeding themselves on a rotten root and hoping the tree will bear fruits next season. Which is impossible, as they are killing off the tree, instead of nurturing it and making sure it can last.

The NRM eating like there is no tomorrow, it isn’t only the President. The State House and the PM. They are the main beneficiaries, but the MPs want their part of the pot of gold. That is why we see Presidential Handshakes, bribes, kickbacks, graft, land-grabs and whatnot. They all want their slice, because they want to be like the previous NRM ministers who did the same. They are NRM and therefore entitled to eat. That is the system. Not a beautiful masterpiece, but when the predecessors did it, why can’t they?

I am not saying it is justified, but I understand why it happens, why they are acting like this. Because they want their loot and their fortunes. If not they wouldn’t run as MPs or part of the elites. This is the way to get it. Not by hard work or dedication, no by association and by office. That is how this system work. This is 32 years down the road, and nothing has changed…

So please don’t be shocked, its put into play long time ago. That is why even Mwenda was bitching about this a decade ago, before his “independent” magazine launch. Peace.

Uganda Police Force: Clarification on allegations made by Bweranaho Charles against the Flying Squad (09.05.2018)

Opinion: Museveni’s misguided Labor Day Speech of 2018!

Its hard time taking the Labor Day Celebrations seriously, as the President for Life, the fountain of honor, never does wrong and always has the right way out of issues. He never needs checks and there is always somebody else at fault. Even as he has run the republic since 1986. Its the Presidents bad product and lack of governance, which is the reason for the defaulting state. This is his vision, his institutions and his results. Its not only his hands that builds, but its his programs, his provisions and his sort of ideals, that comes to bear fruit. The lack of harvest, is because of lack of shade, water or fertilizer. Which could have been procured, irrigated the water-ways or even ways to keep it, however that is costly. Something the President doesn’t want to spend. So here is the mesmerizing quotes from the President today.

I wanted to bring Cuban doctors because our own doctors behaved very badly and unprofessionally… The doctors who went on strike made me want to go back to the bush” (…) “The issue of Cuban doctors which I keep hearing about, I wanted to bring Cuban doctors because our own doctors behaved very badly and unprofessionally, they tried to incite their fellow doctors to leave patients to die but they failed” (…) “We the freedom fighters have been working for Uganda for either no pay or low pay, I’ve been fighting for this country for the past 53 years, I’m the president of Uganda, I get a low pay, 3.6M shs salary and I accepted it in 1996, the MPs tricked me” (…) “Underdevelopment means not being able to utilize all your potential, you have potential but it isn’t fully used. That’s why we were colonized, we were colonized for political reasons however, we had also lagged behind in our potential” (NBS Television, 01.05.2018).

This is small outtake of what he did say during the speech. This is a gist, but gives you sense of the headache he has to defend himself after all these years. He is quick to blame the doctors, but who hasn’t facilitated them and given them a livable wage? That is you Mr. President.

Who hasn’t developed Uganda? That is you Mr. President. You could have made Uganda better if only followed the 10 Point Program, that you have forgotten along the way or discarded like an old mango. Because surely, the ideals of UPM and 10 Point Program would have revolutionized today’s Uganda. Instead, “you pity a fool” like Mr. T. and it’s time for you to look at it from another angle. This is making you look foolish. You have been on the top of the Pyramid for 32 years running, you could have, but you haven’t. Its all your fault!

You can call yourself a freedom fighter, but the public doesn’t feel free. You freed them from Milton Obote, Idi Amin, Paulo Muwanga, Tito Okello and Yusuf Lule. However, you never freed them from the National Resistance Movement/Army (NRM/A) or yourself. You are free, but the people are bound by you. Because your not leaving, you are imposing yourself. Certainly, the meager paycheck cannot be the real deal, since you are the wealthiest in the Republic. You have more value than all Members of Parliament combined. The amounts of businesses your family owns, the vast estates and farms. You are far from poor, you are Richie Rich Rich. So you can try to lie to novice, but pardon me, I’m not.

So, this is a disgrace of a labor day speech. Where the workers are not appreciated, neither values of ethics or the safety of it. By the way, where was the message of solidarity? More like workers are lazy, not good enough and if you don’t follow my command. I will get someone else in your stead. Such a gentlemen, this President.

Therefore, Happy Labor Day, Mr. President for Life, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, in solidarity and for a better tomorrow, but before dawn. However, we are not seeing hope with you in charge of it. Peace.

Robert Kyagulanyi MP aka Bobi Wine – Labor Day Message 2018 (01.05.2018)

Today is the INTERNATIONAL LABOUR DAY.
We celebrate every Ugandan worker home and abroad whose labour sustains our mother land.

The men and women who dig the land from where we get food. The women who by 4:00am are in our markets selling commodities. The men who travel different routes transporting us in taxis and on boda bodas. Our citizens who put on uniform and stay up in the night to keep us safe. Our health workers who without proper facilities and equipments do everything in their power to treat us. The midwives who must use anything at their disposal to help our mothers bring new life. Our teachers who, despite little pay still make it to class every day to teach our children. And yes, all Ugandans whether in the formal or informal sectors, who work hard and earn their bread from their sweat- you guys are the champions: the heroes of our nation. HAPPY LABOUR DAY.

And Mama, those who simply exploit our people are also here. Those who impose taxes on anything and everything in the name of increasing the tax base when in actual sense they are just increasing their stealing base. Those who milk the tax payer dry. Those who have no compassion for the poor person, the common person. Those who undermine the sweat of our people. Mama, all of them are here. Give us a signal on what message to give to them on this Labour Day.

Uganda Police Force: Press Statement on the raid of USAFI Mosque in Kisenyi, Kampala (28.04.2018)