Uganda: PM Ruhakana Rugunda letter to Ministers – “Restriction on Clearance of Public Officers to Travel Abroad and Authoriy to Purchase Foreign Exchange (16.01.2018)

UPDF: “Allegations by Lt. John Harrison Obote” (18.01.2018)

Issa Arinaitwe Furaha letter to President Museveni – “Re: Threats on My Life by Gen. Kale Kayihura and Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame through Rwanda Inteligence Operatives and their Embassy in Uganda because of my Exposure of their Deadly Actions against You, Ugandans and Rwandan Refugees (04.01.2018)

ULS Statement on Constitutional Petition No. 3 of 2018 (15.01.2018)

Opinion: Besigye launches ‘Tubalemese Campaign’; What about those unfinished ones and will the public be behind him?

I am not a critic of Dr. Kizza Besigye, I am a supporter and a well-wisher of the cause of the man, who is one of the founding men behind, the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) and a hardliner against the President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni regime. This should be well-known, so before you critique me over this, let it be known. I just want the best for the cause and for the total destruction of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) government. That would be golden and the best. To destroy what is there and then rebuild. Since the Ugandan government is rotten to its core and its roots are rotten, because the President want to direct order everything from the State House.

In November 2015 before the General Election of 2016, the then newly elected Presidential Candidate for the FDC, Besigye launched the ‘Defiance Campaign’. A campaign that has been suspended by the authorities, have gotten him house-arrested and also gotten many of his allies detained. This campaign really showed the impunity of the state against the opposition. Also, how much the state uses their resources to take control, instead of actually having a real democracy. The Campaign of Defiance really undressed it once and for all. With all the roadblocks, the closed off stadiums and rallies, all the activity that has been stopped and the live-bullets together with tear-gas. The proof of the impunity can be traced to the Campaign of Defiance, combined with the swearing-in of Besigye as People’s President. As he was taken to Moroto and was charged with treason. A charge he still has to this day and a court case that is still not dismissed.

In May 2017, Besigye launched the ‘My Land My Country’ Campaign against the Constitutional Amendment that was pointed to make it easier for the government to expropriate land for public use or development. A Constitutional Amendment that the President has had a Radio Campaign for late last year, while Besigye himself was blocked from doing similar. This campaign has come on the back-burner as the other Constitutional Amendment and campaigning against that took the most of the energy of the opposition in November and December 2017.

So now in January 2018, the People’s President has launched another Campaign, the Tubalemese, which could be seen as inspiration from the National Super Alliance (NASA) campaigns after the turbulent days after the second presidential election in October 2017. The newly inspired campaign seems like and sounds like what the NASA is doing in Kenya. That meaning FDC is taking advice and following the Odinga paradigm. Since the Besigye plans and former campaigns has not made fruits or made the juice. It has not created a ripple effect. After a while it has died down and nothing sustainable gained.

We cannot see anything significant happen out of the defiance campaign, the momentum and the popularity of Besigye. Didn’t make changes or make it possible for a transition from Museveni. Since the fear of smearing and weapons of the President could hurt the ones who turns against him. Museveni is without mercy and without any of a rebellion. Therefore, as long as the campaigns have been made with half-heartly, he have let them happen and when they are spinning. He uses the police force and the courts to stifle them. That is why its sad to say, at the top of the Defiance campaign, the Besigye leadership and people around him didn’t push it further. They just stopped and let it go.

Besigye lost his traction, the My Land My Country, never really got anywhere and the campaigns haven’t made progress. There been more substance of the giving of foods to Isingiro and other districts, than what the campaign on land could ever gain. The FDC and the newly elected leadership should focus on one campaign, use the newly elected leadership on the front-line together Besigye. Not let him stand there alone in the darkest hour, but support him when the rain start to fall. They are there in the sunshine and when they need his popularity. However, when the darkest hour comes, they flee like insects to find either food or light.

Besigye deserves credit, he deserves support and his persistence and hard-work should be recognized. He has fought for the cause for so long and with such bravado. Not like he has given up or given in. However, Lukwago are there and uses his position. Certain others do to, but there should be more people around to show the respect for the cause. Besigye needs ground support and needs to see the public swing in his favor. The fear of repression has to stop at one point.

If this campaign is no more than a public display and a PR stunt. The public deserves better and Besigye deserves so as well. I want him to succeed. However, so many other campaigns has run into the sand. So much squabble and fighting that has not changed the system or taken away any power for the President.

But we do know if the President and his security agents feels the pressure, the opposition will be arrested on phony charges, his leaders around him too. They will not be allowed to breathe, the Kasangati home will he a prison and he cannot even go out an buy meat at the market. Besigye knows this and the public knows this too. However, if they want Besigye to succeed. They need to stand behind on the barricades, they need to walk with him. Not only in spirit, but in action. Peace.

A brief look into the IGG first report of 2018 with Lira District in FOCUS!

The Inspector General of Government (IGG) Irene Mulyagonja has recently published a new report, showing the corruption and the reported cases that has been sent to the IGG during the 6 month period. This report shows the key places where the complaints are about, which shows what kind of civil servants that has cases going or investigated. There also a major showdown of certain districts, which gets the most heat in this report. Clearly, they are picked up and shown the public, while others are kept in the archives. So I am showing the key aspects of where the complaints go and one key district that has been put on blast. That being Lira District, who together with others was also put on display. What is weird about that is the office of Lira is number 15 on the list of getting complaints. While the Central District and Kampala Headquarters has bigger numbers, but is not chosen to revealed for the public. Only district offices with less numbers are Kampala Regional Office (because all are delivered to Headquarter) and Gulu district office. So this been choice by the IGG to show their cases instead of the ones around the Central Government. That is how it can be perceived!

The Inspector General Report are clearly stating that the most common groups of people, which is mentioned in complaints are either directly individuals (public officials), District Administration/Local Government, Municipal & Town Councils, Head Teachers, District Service Commissions and sub county administration. In the time between January and June 2017, there was 330 complaints about Public Officials. Complaints about District Administration was 328. Municipal & Town Councils complaints was 144. The complaints concerning Head Teachers was 87. The District Service Commissions was 85 and sub county Administration complaints totaled to 68. This here is really showing where the state officials locally are misusing the public funds. It shows a warning sign of how people take advantage of the lack of paperwork and archives of procurement and also facilitation of the state reserves. That is why they could do this before the complaints come to the IGG.

IGG cases in Lira:

Alleged cause of financial loss by Principal Assistant Secretary, Lira District” (…) “Alleged mismanagement of Shs. 15,000,000/= meant for road maintenance by officials of Ojwina Division Council, Lira” (…) “Allegation of nonpayment of wages to former support staff by Lira Municipal Council” (…) “Report on investigations into alleged payments of salaries to ghost teachers and illegal appointments of Head teachers in Lira District Local Government” (…) “Alleged irregular remittance of Shs. 10M to Mr. Ario Benson’s account and subsequent deletion from the payroll by PPO, Lira” (…) “Alleged creation and existence of ghost primary school in Aloi Sub-county, Lira District” (…) “Alleged misappropriation of UGX. 9,000,000/= meant for the construction of roads in Adekokwok Sub-County Lira District” (…) “Alleged utterance of false academic documents by a Secretary at UTC – Lira” (…) “Alleged irregular earning of higher salary by a person at Lira school of Nursing” (…) “Alleged cause of financial loss by the Principal Assistant Secretary, Lira District” (IGG, P: 77-80, 2018).

I am just showing the alleged cases in Lira as well, as the main reports, since the Report itself should be question for lacking the alleged cases from Kampala Headquarters and Jinja Offices. It shown some cases from Arua, but very limited, since it was the third biggest place of complaints during the 6 month period. While other regions and districts had more open cases. I am really questioning why Lira was so in FOCUS, when the offices of Jinja, Headquarters and Arua had ten times more complaints than Lira did. Why are they not more evident in the report? What is the reason?

That is what we should ask and why the IGG are not revealing those complaint or keeping them on the low. Peace.

Reference:

Inspectorate of Government (IGG) – ‘BI-ANNUAL INSPECTORATE OF GOVERNMENT

PERFORMANCE REPORT TO PARLIAMENT – January to June 2017’ (January 2018)

Age Limit: No honor among thieves – “27 NRM ‘Rebel’ MP’s needs to apologize to Mzee”

Last year, the Raphael Magyezi Private Bill and Life Presidency for Yoweri Kaguta Museveni was through Parliament and the final nail in the coffin. Was when the Parliament voted for it after a hectic second reading and adding longer terms for current MPs and beyond. The reality is that some Members of Parliament, even in the National Resistance Movement. The almighty NRM voted against the Life Presidency act, which would be its proper name. Instead of the ugly duckling of ‘Constitutional Amendment Bill’.

Because 27 NRM MPs didn’t follow orders from the State House. They didn’t honor the almighty President and his will. The party and the NRM Parliamentary Caucus has to sanction these individuals, even if they followed the public of their constituencies and their electorate. Because their real electorate is the old man with the hat. Nothing else matters in the state of affairs. They should have known this, but apparently, they didn’t get the memo.

Here is some outtakes:

The Leadership of the NRM Parliamentary Caucus has advised the 27 NRM rebel legislators who voted against the Controversial constitutional amendment bill 2017 to apologize to the country or else face the disciplinary committee. The Vice Chairperson of the NRM Parliamentary Caucus Solomon Silwany says the decision made by the 27 NRM rebel legislators was uncalled for and failure to apologize they will face the disciplinary committee of the Caucus” (NBS TV, 09.01.2018).

However, the Vice Chairperson of the NRM Parliamentary Caucus, Solomon Silwany says the decision made by the 27 NRM rebel legislators was uncalled for and failure to apologise will face the disciplinary committee of caucus. Following the resumption of the work of the August house after the Christmas and end of year recess, Silwany said the increasing indiscipline amongst members of the caucus will not be tolerated. He urged those who voted against the Magyezi bill to apologise to the party leadership before facing the wrath of the party caucus. Silwanyi told the Nile Post that the party parliamentary caucus leadership is set to meet this week to the decide the fate of these ‘rebel’ legislators” (Mugabi, 2018).

Now the party founded on rebellion against the previous leadership. Is now casting stones against the ones rebelling against itself. It is neat and also foolish. But that is how it is, when you have to blindly follow a leader or a President who has no agenda, other than his own belly. The NRM is blindly following Museveni until their own graves and hoping they will buried with dozens of shillings. That is why they are contemplating sanctions and taking action against the ones voting against the Life Presidency bill.

That the NRM has sunk this low. That the barrier of code of conduct is the meager, says it all by how the State House wants the Parliament and the NRM MPs to function. They are tin-soldiers or marionettes for the President to order around like headless chickens. Awaiting signals for when to cluck or to duck. They are awaiting their time to speak and their time to be silent. It is all on orders from the high and mighty at the State House. The El-President, the Mzee and “the man without a vision” President Museveni.

That they shouldn’t apologize, I mean that sincerely, the ones who should apologize is the ones that voted for the life presidency. They have given way for Museveni to rule two 7 year terms from 2022. That is appalling and insulting to a Republic of educated men and women. Clearly, there should be possible to muster someone in his place. Museveni doesn’t think so, but why should he? He has had total control since January 1986. Museveni clearly doesn’t give a damn about perceptions anymore.

The NRM MPs didn’t rebel when voting against the Magyezi bill. They did what they are allowed to do and should be able to do. It is in their rights as MPs, as lawmakers to either vote “yay” or “nay”. To either stand behind a law or to reject it. Just like any other Parliamentarian. That isn’t to hard to understand, even if the NRM Caucus leadership want blind foot-soldiers drumming to the beat of the weakling President. Who cannot muster courage to perform his own duties and therefore, uses the party to silence his own ‘rebels’.

Its a failure of the Party and of the Caucus to understand the August House, if these men has to apologize for their righteous act against a life presidency bill. It is a disgrace and disappointing affair if they are sanctioned or put on retainer for acting against the will of the State House. It shows the impunity and lack of tolerance. If the NRM cannot accept within their own party, that everyone isn’t blindly submitting their lives into the hands of Museveni. That is anticipated, but shouldn’t be protocol. Then the MPs should sign with blood their loyalty to the Don and promise never to break the codes.

This is just a mockery of the Parliament, but the same parliament was attacked by Strangers to save this law. So the NRM Caucus shows that the President and his will are above the LAW. The President and in his favor can do what ever he wants, and everyone else has to obey. They didn’t obey and didn’t vote in favor of the President. Therefore, they have to punished. It is insane and foolish.

There is no honor among thieves, clearly that is the case at the 10th Parliament of Uganda. Peace.

Reference:

Mugabi, Sam Ibanda – ‘ NRM MPs who voted against lifting of age limit asked to apologise; or face action’ (10.01.2018) link: http://nilepost.co.ug/2018/01/10/nrm-mps-who-voted-against-lifting-of-age-limit-asked-to-apologise-or-face-action/

Uganda Police Force: John William Okalany appointed as Commandant at PSU (10.01.2018)

Opinion: Mr. Life-President Museveni is apparently a little bit testy!

There is no shadow of a doubt that President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni is a testy and a sour old man, who expects to praised and loved. Therefore, when people doesn’t show him love, he forces himself on you and the public in ways than none other he could. So when he was worried that no one was interested in his New Years Address to the Public. He used the Uganda Communication Commission to use licenses agreement to force the broadcasters on TV and Radio to show his speech. Everything else had to stop and his voice and wonderful poetic words of wisdom had to shared countrywide.

It is just daunting that this man is living in bubble, in a bubble of yes men and dozens of useless cronies. While several family members and clan people without knowledge or clue are running key institutions and businesses. That this President doesn’t see his mismanagement or are blind by his own EGO is not easy to say. But clearly, he is short-sighted. As during the General Elections of 2016, when he was planning more rigging. The President paid dozens of Pastors and Clergy a visit, he gave dozens of them cars and envelopes so they could spread the Yellow Steady Progress.

Now that he has signed himself recently into life presidency, as the terms are supposed not to end in 2021, but in 2023. Since the Private Bill of Raphael Magyezi got signed, the infamous and deception bill ‘Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 2. of 2017’. Is now enacted after the Parliament after shady dealings and “consultations fees”. Has pushed through and forced Museveni on them. While they returned the Presidential Limits, like they matter. They will be taken away, if Museveni still breathes by the end of the next coming two terms. We know it and they know it.

That is why it is interesting and sad, that the President and his fellow cronies cannot manage some questions from a Bishop. If you are so high and mighty, life president, why worry about what a some clergy men are saying in Church? Why are you so worried and why does Ofwono Opondo care? He liked it when the paid and gave SUVs to Pentecostal Pastors during the elections. Then they could have a summit with the President and pledge allegiance to their earthy king and get fed too!

Now, that he has signed the doomsday bill, the one bill made for his legacy, the one where he proved for the second time; that the Constitution has to be altered when it doesn’t fit. Just as before the 2006 elections, the same happen now before he turned 75 officially. Who knows how old Museveni really is, he could be older than Moses for all we know. The documentation we do have is shady and weak enough for any public official. He even tried to forge a birthday and age in 2016, without anybody believing the trick.

That is maybe why he is so defensive, he struggles with the fact. The fact that he is living on lie, the lie is that he is not popular, he is not elected by the people and he is not loved by the people. The people he serves despise him and dislike him. The ones near him who is not family or clan-members are only there to eat and couldn’t care less about him. The former friends are now bitter enemies and easily become targets. Therefore, it is very few he can trust.

President Museveni is clearly loosing edge and knows it. His aides knows it and the defenses are becoming so benign. The reality is that Age Limit Bill of 2017. Is now the ones sealing his final chapter. The chapter that dissolved the whole idea of liberation. He is now the Mobutu in the flesh, he is now despot for life. Nothing change him from his predecessors. The only thing is the name and the promise he had in the late 1980s and early 1990s. That train has left, there is no slow train coming of promising reforms. Only more shady deals, trying times of paying back gained debt and troubled waters of insecurity created by his vicious political games. We can just imagine what the outcome can be.

What we do know, is that NRM and Museveni is testy, they cannot mange to be question. Not even by a Bishop. Not by Clergy, then they cannot manage to be questioned by anyone. They are now walking on thin ice and wondering when they will fall through and drown. That is what Museveni and NRM fears. They will not say it, but they knew they spiked their own water when the President signed the bill.

We just have to await and see how long for the spiked water to have an affect and self-destroy. Peace.

Opinion: The Coup d’etat of 1986 continues to this day!

The Coup d’etat of 1986 where Yoweri Kaguta Museveni was sworn-in on the 29th January 1986. Since then he has never left. He went to civil war against Uganda People’s Congress and the Second Term of President Dr. Milton Obote. For reasons, which he himself embodies over the years. The rigged election of 1980 are similar to ones today. National Resistance Movment (NRM) are doing the same with his rigged Electoral Commission. Delivering the results he needs and not the will of the people.

We should have seen this day of his Life Presidency a long time ago, as he ended these words on the steps of the Parliament on the 26th January 1986:

To conclude, I am appealing to those people who are trying to resist us to come and join us because they will be integrated. They should not waste their time trying to fight us because they cannot defeat us. If they could not defeat us when there were just 27 of us with 27 guns, how can they defeat this army which you saw here? They cannot defeat us, first of all, because we have a correct line in politics which attracts everyone. Secondly, we have a correct line of organisation. Thirdly, our tactics are correct. We have never made a mistake either in strategy or tactical calculation. I am, therefore, appealing to these people not to spill more blood, especially of the young men who are being misled by older people who should know better” (Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, 26.01.1986).

President Museveni said it back then and acts similar as the Constitutional Amendment Number 2, the Raphael Magyezi Private Bill that got voted in twice today. Will now be written into law. So President Museveni can stand again as President in the next election in 2023. He can stand for two more terms. That means he would have official 7 terms in office. Unofficially 9 terms, as nobody are counting the first decade of his rule.

We can question the moral judgment of the all the Members of Parliament who voted to lift the Age Limit. The Article 102(b) who was part of the Constitution to safeguard and to make sure the President wasn’t of advanced age and had the mental capacity to do the job and represent the people in all aspects. Clearly, it wasn’t about discrimination of the elderly. Then the same MPs has to change the laws for others Civil Servants and not let them retire so early. Since the President should be that special of a person.

It is incredible, that a Liberator, a so-called Revolutionary are going to this step to stay in power. That he goes to this length, pushes the buttons at this stage and amputate the Constitution in his favor. Pays the NRM MPs and also others in favor of it with 40 Million Shillings. That the President are doing this just for himself. Shows the disregard of all the citizens of the Republic. Only care for his own existence and his own power.

The power corrupt and has made him into a Smeagol, who is keeping his “precious” power ring all to himself. We are wondering when the President will walk to Mount Doom and get his legacy into the burning fires of the volcano. The ring that he has forged himself on the Parliament steps of 1986. Is something he cannot be able to leave. Therefore, every time he is on his last term, he has fixed the Constitution to fit him. The same happen today, the ring is not ending. It continues and its eating him. He is becoming more addicted to ring and cannot let go.

President Museveni isn’t a victim, he is using the ring to extend his powers and his rule. His reign is continuing and not letting it go of it. He never will, he will change the laws until he stops breathing and looting the Republic.

Museveni thinks he has the ‘Correct Line’ but he is wrong. Dangerously wrong. There is no return from self-inflicted life presidency. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni will go into history as the rebel who turned into the captor and hostage taker for decades upon end. The dictator and the despot who never ceased to give in and give up. Who had issues with killing in his own republic or using the national army as mercenaries in the bordering countries in the East African Community or the Horn of Africa.

That is the man, that was voted for and got all support from the Parliament today. On the 20th December 2017, it has been 11,648 days since he was first sworn-in as President, which is 31 Years 10 months and 10 days.

Clearly, he lives in the state of mind, that he cannot be defeated. What wounds he will collect and with destroying the legacy of his Constitution. The proof that it has no value was shown today for the whole world to see. It is now amended for the one who feels superior, who no one can beat and no one can take down. The one with the Correct Line.

However, that will not last forever, the NRM and Museveni has already lasted for this long. Nothing is written that it will last much more. But that depends on the react from Ugandans. From the people of the Republic. If they want to get rid of this man with his “precious” power.

The Smeagol, the Gollum and the addict of power. Museveni has his precious. How long that is his to keep. Is not up to him, but to the people of the Republic. So what say you, can he be defeated? Peace.