Statement by Members of Rwenzori Fraternity in Respect of Recent Acts of Violence Reported in Kasese District (14.03.2016)

Kasese Railway Station

As members of the Rwenzori Fraternity, a non-partisan grouping of people hailing from the region, working in different parts of Uganda but mainly in Kampala & Kasese, wish to state as here under.

We learnt of the unfortunate events that happened in Kasese on the 10th day of March 2016 after the just concluded local council 111 elections wherein violence broke up in Buhuhira and Kikongo villages in Hima Town Council that led to the unfortunate loss of lives and destruction of property. We condemn in the strongest terms the perpetuators of violence and send our deep felt sympathies to the families that lost their dear ones both civilians and in security forces. We also pray for quick recovery for those we have learnt are still in hospitals.

While many versions of these events have been out in the media and from government officials namely post election violence, allegations of a Yiira state, tribal or ethnic conflicts, etc, And Whereas we appreciate the concerns of the different stakeholders and the findings so far we wish to state the following. The violence that erupted was purely post election violence that came out of a poorly managed electoral process.

The so called Yiira state is a concoction that has no basis and founding among the Population in the region and we are equally perturbed by this malicious propaganda that has no basis but intended to taint and alienate us the people of the Rwenzori region from the Uganda that we have always belonged to and we treasure.

Ethnic violence.

Where as we recognize that for some time there has been some underlying political issues in the region that are funned by selfish politicians, We do not believe that this was the root cause of the violence that erupted in the past week.

We have lived as different ethnic groups in the region. We have been accommodative to each other socially, politically and economically and we would not wish anybody to appear to destroy the co existence that has been existent in the region for generations.

In the premises we ask our people back home in Kasese and the entire Rwenzori region to refrain from such acts that may cause violence and instead embrace peaceful and legitimate processes of resolving outstanding challenges at both individual, community and institutional levels.

We also implore government and all security agencies to take more interest in thorough intelligence gathering in the region. We call for more proactive rather than reactive approach to policing in the region. Government should endeavor to work closely with local, religious and community leaders during their operations. In the same vein, government spokespersons should desist from making alarming statements that may seem to seek to escalate the already porous situation but rather more calm statements.

We ask the government, the Civil Society Fraternity and all friends of the Rwenzori region to quickly focus on having a multi – stakeholder dialogue on the Rwenzori question and encourage local communities to actively engage in these peaceful efforts.

As a FRATERNITY, we think now is the time to start the journey to a long term and sustainable peacemaking processes. We have also resolved as a Fraternity to engage the different stake holders in the region in order to find a permanent solution to the Rwenzori question.

We also implore religious leaders, all newly elected political and local leaders to work together in an endeavor to foster peace and harmony in the region.

FOR GOD AND MY COUNTRY.

___________________________________________________

FOR AND ON BEHALF OF THE RWENZORI FRATENITY.

Losing candidate in Hima LC 3 polls calls for calm in Kasese (Youtube-Clip)

More to come as the events unfold.

Quotes and Outtakes from the newest UN Report on Violence in South Sudan!

South Sudan Cartoon

Here is the basic outtake from a report that was released on the 9th March 2016 from the United Nations Office of Human Rights Council. This focused on the matters of human rights and dignity, as it looks at the laws and regulations, how the state affairs with the matter and create safety and security for their people while not taken away their trust and their justice as free men and woman. As the Government of South Sudan has signed and ratified certain statues and human rights laws into their own as a civilized government who want to be respected and seen as a respectable state.

The major problems and issues is not only stemming from sexual violence towards the public as many has addressed, I have also taken that into the picture, but I want to show you the more of it, but not go into the laws and the ratifications, as that is important. For the moment we should all just see the pains that have unjustified hit many of the South Sudanese as the differences between Generals has hurt them. Take a look!

Salva Kiir P2

Internally Displaced Persons in South Sudan:

“By December 2014, more than 1.4 million South Sudanese had been displaced internally, while approximately 467,000 people had fled to surrounding countries. Additionally, roughly four million people in the country faced serious food insecurity. Humanitarian access continued to be hampered by fighting and violence perpetrated by both parties to the conflict against aid workers, equipment and infrastructure. In Unity and Upper Nile states, active hostilities and insecurity continued to disrupt humanitarian assistance as well as, road and air access” (…)”By mid-December 2014, more than 100,000 civilians were housed in UNMISS compounds – designated “protection of civilians sites” (POC sites) – because they were too afraid to return home, fearing potential violence. The bulk of these internally displaced persons (IDPs) were in Bentiu (43,000 people), Juba (32,000) and Malakal (17,000)” (UN OHRC, 2016)

Violence against IDPs:

“For example in Bentiu the SPLA soldiers have taken aggressive postures towards civilians in the PoC site. On 30 September, UNMISS witnessed approximately 20 SPLA soldiers in uniform, including child soldiers, outside the entrance of the PoC site pointing their weapons, including a vehicle with a mounted machine gun” (UN OHRC, 2016).

In Lakes State:

“In Lakes State, inter-communal conflict among different Dinka clans has continued despite efforts by the Government and state authorities to defuse tensions. Revenge attacks, including acts of sexual violence, continued in relation to the killing of a Paramount Chief in Cuei-Chok Payam on 5 August. In response to the violence, the Government has increased its security presence in the State. However, this has given rise to further violations as a result of heavy handed measures sometimes adopted by the security forces” (UN OHRC, 2016).

In Easter Equatoria:

“Eastern Equatoria has also witnessed major incidents of inter-communal violence, including on 6 December, in Loronyo, Torit, where several civilians, including women and children were killed. Reports received indicated that human rights violations were committed by security forces sent to the area in response to the violence, including sexual violence and looting of property. Likewise, the deterioration in the security situation in Chukudum in Budi County, Eastern Equatoria, in September and October, led to allegations of human rights violations by the SPLA, including arbitrary detention, torture and extra-judicial killings” (UN OHRC, 2016).

In Western Equatoria:

“In Western Equatoria, the influx of armed Dinka pastoralists from Lakes and Jonglei with their large numbers of cattle has seen an increase in tension with host communities, particularly in the Mundri West County areas.  In Central Equatoria State, UNMISS monitored developments in clashes between the Kuku and Madi communities spanning the border between Kajo Keji in South Sudan and Moyo district in Uganda, resulting in several deaths in both communities and the displacement of between 8,000 and 10,000 civilians from the Ugandan side to the South Sudanese side of the border” (UN OHRC, 2016).

UNMISS

Conflict related sexual violence:

“State officials allege that at least 20 women were abducted from Souq sabi, Dere, and Lich University and taken to Guit and Nhialdiu. Allegations have also been made that SPLM/A-IO used rape as a punishment for suspected Government sympathizers” (…)”In another incident, in December, three women out of a group of 30 were reportedly raped by SPLA soldiers while proceeding to a village located near the PoC site in Bentiu, after soldiers allegedly asked them to join them and then shot at the group” (…)”Incidents of sexual violence have also been reported in the context of inter-communal violence. In Lakes State, women and children have reportedly been used as proxies for revenge, including through rape. In Rumbek East, the allegation that the paramount chief of the Guony clan was murdered by the Thuyic clan reportedly ignited a wave of retaliatory attacks, including reports of rape against women and children” (UN OHRC, 2016).

Child Soldiers:

“Child soldiers have been observed in Bentiu, Malakal and Kuajok. Between September and November, UNICEF documented more than 70 incidents of grave violations against children affecting more than 2,000 children” (…)”During the reporting period, the SPLA issued new orders prohibiting the recruitment and use of children by the SPLA as well as occupation of schools. On 8 October, the United Nations submitted to the Government and SPLA a list of 20 schools reportedly used by the SPLA for military purposes” (UN OHRC, 2016).

I think the words in the reports say’s enough and I won’t comment on it; as the violence and actions are so straightforward and harsh. The people are victims and the reasons behind it should be sorted out. As they are violated, injured, harassed and killed by armies and militias while they are searching for power or keeping power. Peace.

Reference:

UN Human Rights Council – A/HRC/28/49: “Report on the human rights situation in South Sudan” (09.03.2016)

The Police say the Boycott from “FDC is Illegal!” The Police use their holy grail POMA, and that some actually stay home in solidarity with Besigye today; Actual shop-keepers get arrested for closing their store in Rukungiri today!

Lumumba Block C 10.03.2016

Today it is first Thursday when many people stay home in solidarity to Dr. Kizza Besigye’s house arrest and the stealing of the votes on 18th Feburary 2016. The Police can’t handle that people are staying home and not talking. They can’t gather evidence and find out who really is opposition to harass. Therefore the CP of the Police said this to the media! And he had to use Public Order Management Act (POMA) the bill who is more used in Uganda then the Constitution to give the Police right to whatever they want.

“These demonstrations are deemed illegal because they are not authorized by Police as required under the Public Order Management Act, due to the potential of culminating into riots across the city; including arson, looting of properties, destruction and vandalism, and violent clashes between Police and rock throwing protesters. It is on record during the last such unlawful protests that several businesses reported damage, buildings destroyed, vehicles vandalized and injuries sustained,” says Fred Enanga, the police spokesperson” (Afunah, 2016).

That not going to work is illegal and not authorized from the Police is amazing. That the Police can state that you are making arson and potentially destroying property by not going to work is flamboyant at best.

Take look here:

Eyewitness: “Time check. 9:00 am I am at home i mean staying at home. The thought rung in my mind..go out and access the situation and find out the public response towards call for stay at home. Here i took a 5 minute walk to Kitintale taxi stage. This is one of the busiest stages in Kampala”

And if the police has issues with black or blue t-shirts while walking to work, it proves their partisanship and really, really foolish to demolish this way of showing their agony in public. The Police might not gotten a petition or form filled in with the planned demonstration, but the issue is that if they had filled it in, they would not been accepted. They have themselves aggressively preventative arrests of FDC and GO-Forward activists/officials/agents. Therefore the initial activities from the Police is not giving justice, but securing the Presidency and the elite of NRM. Not caring about democratic actions as they have sieged the home of Dr. Kizza Besigye since before the Election Day, the way the Police has attacked the Najjankumbi Headquarter have been raided twice. So if the Police expected that the FDC would comply with their rules now, it would be strange as they themselves has no regards for laws or regulations as they attack the FDC and Go-Forward by any means since the 18th of February.

The Demonstration of the FDC and their supporters is peaceful defiance and defying the institutions and businesses that supply funding to the NRM-Regime. They do not say that people should stay home if they fear of losing their job! It is a demonstration of character as they will defy the regime by peaceful means. The destruction and vandalism is more the way of the Police and Army as they hurt and kill. While the FDC want to wear a shirt and stop using MTN. If that is hard for Police to understand, I understand that as they have shown that they only understand violence, as they create it or harass the public. The Police cannot harass the public if they stay in their own home. They are allowed not to listen to Bebe Cool or Dr. Jose Chameleone or anybody else who supported President Museveni during his campaigning. They can listen to Bobi Wine or Lucky Dube if they want to, with that should cause tension. As much as staying home is a way of showing disaffection, if you couldn’t do that; than the public could do that through clothing as a sign of defying the regime; both of them are is soft and peaceful ways of demonstrations, not making the violence and creating vandalism.

So Uganda Police I do not know what you do in your homes if that is violent or vandalism, but that is up to you, and if the public is wearing something dangerous by wearing blue or black. Than you should start to wear that yourself since the Police are often the most dangerous, as you throw tear-gas, live-bullets and other aggressive behavior towards the people. And telling people that they are breaking the “Public Order” by staying home or even wearing some other clothing is just unserious, even if the FDC and the FDC NEC didn’t send a form displaying the articles and decisions to demonstrate peacefully in the country.

Rukungiri 10.03.2016

The actions of Rukungiri where shops have been closed in solidarity of the FDC and “Free My vote” campaign; the shop owners are now being arrested and detained by the Police;  So the Police have now lawful power to tell if the stores can be open and closed. By the assumption of the public display arresting Mr. Batuma and Mr. Sonko of Sonko Electronics in Rukungiri who has been arrested today after their store been closed. The FDC has been informed that UPF is looking out for business-owners that closed their businesses voluntarily. Is this the proud state of Police and NRM-Regime that you order businesses to be open or be detained by government forces? Is that parts of President Museveni’s pledges and speaking of peace during the pre-election period. As nobody could create violence or unrest in the country as long as he was President, the old man with hat and his security organizations has gone to far, when they take the men who lay down the work in solidarity for a cause and then detaining them, while looking for the other ones.

The people do this without creating any of the violence and vandalism. Even if a government car got burnt by the Electoral Commission offices in Kampala, compared to the violence you created when Dr. Kizza Besigye was crossing town to go to the Makerere rally on the 15th February 2016, this here has been nothing. I am sure the Police will blame it on the opposition, even if it was the Police themselves blazing the car, even if it was just a disgruntled employee of the Electoral Commission, who hadn’t gotten his/hers pay-check.

So if the Police struggle with the sit-home demonstrations and the clothing to show allegiance with opposition, with boycotting NRM and showing public disobedience. That should be allowed and not be questioned. Peace.

Reference:

Afunah, Badru – ‘Police Warns As FDC’s Protests Begin’ (10.03.2016) link: http://news.ugo.co.ug/police-warns-fdcs-protests-begin/

Press Statement: P10 says: “Defy any provocation to any violence” (05.03.2016)

KB Kasangati 23.02.2016 Night

Uganda Diaspora P10 March 5, 2016

As we focus attention on the coup de tat in Kampala and illegal detention and violation of the rights of President-Elect, Dr. Kiiza Besigye, we are mindful of the well-being of all Ugandans. News making rounds that some gun men raided a Police Post in Kapchorwa and stole guns, killing 2 cops in the process, should be treated with the grain of salt that it comes with. After the regime’s bogus orchestration of youth attack of the American Embassy in Kampala, lets be very vigilant because they are capable of doing anything, including attacking their own Police posts and killing their own Policemen.

These desperate vote thieves are viciously looking for means to justify their primitive use of force to subdue the population. Earlier, we heard that a grenade was left at the home of the sister to Eng. Kiggundu’s. I would like to remind you that any acts of violence and atrocities are a sole trademark of IGP Gen. Kale Kayihura and the Military, thus far. These snippets of news of armed men and grenades, are merely usual diversionary tactics intended to draw away attention from the Military Coup in Kampala and violation of Dr. Besigye’s rights.

The regime has done everything possible to find an excuse to kill Ugandans and to provoke violence. But Ugandans have decided to be silent and composed as they grieve the forceful usurpation of their collective wills. It is the silence that is making the trigger-happy NRM Police and the Special Force Brigade very nervous – such that they have killed Ugandans in Soroti already. We members of the Uganda Diaspora P10 have recommended that this regime is very incompetent in handling peaceful means to resolve political issues.

The most strategic approach for us, in our noble pursuit of the Peoples’ mandate from the grip of the armed coup leaders, is by civil defiance – purely peaceful means. Ugandans have suffered a lot of aimless or rather useless wars in the name of democracy. We all agree that the events of 2016 have dwarfed whatever vote rigging that took place in 1980 and it warrants similar or even more adverse response from conscious Ugandans. However, we believe that enough is enough. Mr. Museveni must hand over power peacefully to the elected leader – President – Elect Dr. Kiiza Besigye. We are in full support of our leader and we shall stand by him in the name of democracy and good governance. Peace be thy name.

“Carine Kaneza on the Burundi crisis” (Youtube-Clip)

The African Union will send 100 human rights monitors and 100 military monitors to Burundi as the tiny nation faces its worst political crisis since a civil war ended a decade ago. Vincent Makori talks to Carine Kaneza a member of the Burundi Women and Girl’s Movement for Peace and Security and a transitional justice practitioner” (TV2 Africa, 2016)

The Police shows their arrogance toward the FDC; the Police said they had the ability to fill in the Petition!

Enage 02.03.2016

Well I will start with a quote from the Uganda Police Spokesman as it says it all! Read what he is saying: “Confining Dr. Kizza Besigye could not prevent FDC from filling a petition if they wished so” – CP Fred Enaga (Kampala Dispatch, 02.03.2016) to the press on the 2nd March 2016.

The days on end with house-arrest, the days on end with detaining at Naggalama Police Station and Kira Road Police Station for going out his home, and that is not preventing him filling a petition? Mr. Fred Enaga is you listening to your own reasoning?

You guys in the Police have done everything in your power to destroy the ability for the FDC to fill a petition. You have guarded the FDC Headquarter at Najjankumbi, attacked and arrested FDC staff at one point. You have stopped FDC Officials and FDC agents who had the Declaration Results Forms. So you could get the DR forms and save face for the mismanagement of the Electoral Commission during the days after the Election Day and the tallying.

If it is arresting continuously FDC agents and men who have evidence of rigging; if that is not stifling the works on gathering evidence to file a petition, than your stupid or ignorant Mr. Enaga. But you’re just saying the words IGP Kale Kayihura want you to say.  You are just proving that the Police is one of the tools to demolish the opposition; as that is the wish of President Museveni.

If not stopping Journalist around Kasangati to report the movement of your police force is not stifling the world to know your mental violence against Dr. Kizza Besigye. Than I don’t know what freedom is?

A little example to you Mr. Enaga:

Mr. Enaga, I hope you get house-arrest, get your people who work for you perpetrated by men of law, and stifle your every movement. Take your car away from you while you go to church. Get your credited police force to get tear-gas into the offices where you work and get men with riot-gear to detain you. Guard the building you work at and not give your ability to work. I will execute this orders to this to you because I have: “intelligence that you’re terrorizing your own citizens and planning to persecute innocent people and hurting them with mambas in the street and house-arresting people without charges”.

Than you can try to do police work and speak your mind to the public. I am sure you couldn’t even put a parking ticket in Kasangati, which was the official excuse for detaining Ingrid Turinawe of FDC and NBS reporter Remmy Bhati who was on Live-TV yesterday.

I do not really wish you this treatment Mr. Enaga; the treatment your Police Force has been doing to the FDC has gone through. For the simple reason: I don’t wish any men or woman go through the hardships that the FDC are and the life that Dr. Kizza Besigye has right now. Mr. Enaga, you sound like fool and act like a fool. Please look at yourself and your police force, be proud of your nonsense. Peace.

Go Forward: Statement on Filling of Election Petition Challenging Process and Outcome of the Presidential Elections 2016 (01.03.2016)

Go Forward TDA 01.03. P1Go Forward 01.03.2016 P2

Besigye and Mbabazi to announce whether they will challenge poll outcome (Youtube-Clip)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvdtQDhj-SA

“Uganda’s opposition leaders Kizza Besigye and Amama Mbabazi are expected to announce their decision on whether they will file their respective petitions at the Uganda Supreme Court challenging President Museveni’s win in the country’s 18th February poll” (…)”Besigye who has been held by Ugandan police nine times is still under house arrest at his home in Kasangati” (…)”The Ugandan opposition leader has protested his arrest saying a 2011 Kasangani Magistrate Court order still stands” (NTV Uganda, 01.03.2016).

Press Release: Social accountability vital for building trust in post-election Uganda (01.03.2016)

UGDebate16 Prayer

Development projects that pay greater attention to social accountability can improve citizen-state relations and trust in Uganda and other fragile countries, according to new research by International Alert.

The report, titled Making social accountability work: Promoting peaceful development in Uganda, evaluates  two large-scale development projects undertaken in Uganda and has been published following the recent elections in the country that have been undermined by widespread unrest and allegations of corruption.

The report states that development projects which build in transparency and accountability components can nurture more constructive government-community relations – vital for closing historical divides between citizens and state that fuelled the civil war in Uganda, and helping people feel they can influence change.

Richard Businge, Country Manager for International Alert in Uganda, said:

“Uganda is not alone in the region in experiencing tensions around presidential elections. It is vital that we avoid post-election violence of the kind seen in Burundi at present and in Kenya in 2008, which points to the urgent need to help more people participate in decision-making and ensure the government and development agencies respond to their concerns.”

An informant of one of the report’s case studies commented that people in northern Uganda had previously felt neglected and humiliated by the government, but relationships improved “quite tremendously” after the project integrated a social accountability component. Teaching communities conflict-management skills also empowered them to resolve more local disputes among themselves.

It was also found that accountability initiatives can help make communities more cohesive. For example, forming local groups to interact with the district government and give voice to local concerns is an effective way of improving citizen-state relations, laying stronger foundations for building mutual trust and understanding.

As well as being a critical component of development projects, the report reveals that technology can also amplify citizen voices and enable better information sharing, therefore strengthening social accountability.

Jo Robinson, Programme Officer on International Institutions at International Alert, author of Making social accountability worklead author of Making social accountability work, said:

“Online spaces can sometimes represent more open forums for discussion on state behaviour than those offline, allowing people to engage frankly in democratic debate not just during election time, but whenever decisions are being made which may affect their lives”.

The report findings will be presented at the World Bank Group Fragility, Conflict and Violence Forum in Washington DC on 1-3 March 2016 (website).

The research was based on two projects: Lakes Edward and Albert Fisheries Pilot Project (LEAF I), funded by the African Development Bank; and the Northern Uganda Social Action Fund Project (NUSAF II), funded by the World Bank.