Mzee is either in the darkness of the forest or walking in the banana-plantation; he surely have no plans to leave; that is the true #SteadyProgress

It’s hard for me to write this in all seriousness. Since I writing about an African President whom himself said this in 1986: “The problem of Africa in general and Uganda in particular is not the people but leaders who want to overstay in power” (Ross, 2011).  The President in particular is His Exellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the President of Uganda for 29 years and counting!

Mzee said this in 1980 while running as a presidential candidate:

“Using a government position to a mass wealth is high treason. If the UPM is not going to be supported because it denounces such methods of getting rich, let it be”.

This he said while campaigning in Bushenyi and Mbarara districts(Weekly Topic, August 27. 1980).

So Mzee have  had a few points back in the day and knew this was an issues. Now he deflects  them to the extreme, to a point where it nearly get’s boring. Still here is his recents comments on the matter of riches and staying in power.

This was what Mzee said in November 2015:

““I have my own job at home of keeping cattle. Why would I stay when I have been defeated in the elections? I am not power hungry but I have missions to accomplish. I can’t leave without finishing with them” (Kazibwe, 2015).

Well, he has promised to step-down before, doubt he means this for long or even if this utter words was sincere other than for a show. This was for show from Mzee because of the coming Papal visit in Uganda (all seriousness the visit happen around 2 weeks after this interview). Well, let me continue on what he has said over the new-years and his ordinary modus operandi. When the pope has left the country and he could do what he normally do!

Mzee saisd this on 5^th January 2016:

“I have been hearing people accusing me of sticking around; that I don’t want to leave government. Why would I want to stay in government?” (…)”First of all I am a very rich man. I have a lot of wealth and therefore it cannot be riches that I am seeking in government” (Waswa, 2016).

Well, you have in been in power since 1986. That is sticking around for a while in government and as executive power for nearly three decades. We know you are rich you have a giant farm in Ankole, you and your families own a dozen businesses, some hotels and even some transport businesses as well. You started earning big bucks on transport under the DRC war in the 90s, but that is a nearly forgotten chapter for you and your brother Salim Selah, right? Still you’re in government because you fear what will happen if you leave it. Especially when there is oil-money soon coming into the accounts of Uganda and you want that slice to. The minerals and wood from Kisangani will be small-fry a bogoya. Well, we know about that and as your businesses and family businesses can be lost if you leave government. Therefore you want to secure those, it is a valid argument to stick around in government for wealth as man men make their wealth that way, one of the reason why you went to the bush to eradicate corruption and embezzlement. Well, that chapter is also forgotten and loyal cronies is more and more important therefore we have NRM-Independent and NRM Flag-Bearers in the coming elections, this is new and the NRM-Independents are breach of inner-party law. We know it is okay as long as Mzee,says it’s okay; he even pays the fees for the NRM-Independents to the Electoral Commission. This is to gain their loyalty as well as the ones the members picked in the district and sub-county. That is beautiful right? So, that is the reason why people wonder why you stick around and what can you do now that you haven’t already done? Still, let’s continue to the 10^th January 2016.

Mzee said this on 10^th January 2016:

“cannot leave power now because all he planted has started bearing fruits” (…)”Those who say, let him go, let him go, they need to know that this is not the right time. This old man who has saved the country, how do you want him to go? How can I go out of a banana plantation I have planted that has started bearing fruits?” (…)”We can’t be in the middle of a forest and want the old man to go. This is not right. We must concentrate on development, my time will come and I will go. I don’t fear going because I have where to go, but we must first see where we go” (…)”We can’t be in the middle of a forest and want the old man to go. This is not right. We must concentrate on development, my time will come and I will go. I don’t fear going because I have where to go, but we must first see where we go” (Rumanzi, 2016).

Now he is proclaiming that he has made a country into a banana-plantation, where it is finally bearing fruits. That means sweat bananas with good yields. That must be from the mustards seed he planted in 1986. Wait, this isn’t a mustard farm, but still the metaphor can be extended to the Banana farm. Yes, he has made the country into a Banana farm or should I say a banana republic. Now that all of that was daft, but the point is clear.

The economic state is getting dire in Uganda, the loans rate on the government budget is going up while the aid and donor funds goes down. While the oil-price lowers before the oil-monies are getting in. The sale of coffee is growing but it has not the yielded price on it neither is the sale of the tea. Like they are not producing enough sugar for consumption and have to import from Kenya.

IMF in July 2015 wrote in their report this: “Short-term benefits of the oil price decline have been less pronounced in Uganda than in other countries in the region. In the past nine months, petrol average pump prices have declined by 10 percent in domestic currency”.

He surely isn’t done by seeing all the campaign teams struggling with the villages roads his been building since 1986. Since FDC Campaign Convoy have been stuck in Rwenzori and in certain northern districts, while Mzee himself needed a military vehicle to be able to get to campaign rallies in Abletong. Well, the Banana-plantations don’t need a good road as long as the banana gets to market?

Or is it the growing amounts of districts, sub-counties and municipalities? Is that your proud work to make sure that that every corner of the country have a local council to control 1000 people and have loyal payment from you?  That seems like the final goal while going through your banana-plantation. In 1967 there was only 18 districts, by 1989 where already 34 districts and 150 counties. By my reckoning in late 2015 there are 111 districts and 167 counties. So the numbers has grown staggering amount of districts and steady rise of counties. Was this the big plan in 1986 make sure that there 3 times over district then when you came to power?

You might feel that you’re in the forest and not really in the mellow place of the banana-plantation since the situation economically, infrastructure, youth-employment, industrial-development, police-violence and so on. There are much darkness in the forest and not any sweat yields of the banana-plantation. The development that you have left is surely questionable; secondly the legacy you’re leaving behind is not the ones you wish you had. You could have been a man who led to real progress and stand for something new.  Instead you’re the same old tribe of African leaders who overstays in power and does let other people rule.

The economic state, together with the lower prices on coffee and oil should be worrying. Together with edged prices on imports as Uganda imports are higher than their exports. The weaker currency and higher inflation makes the trading barrier even higher. There are so many signs that the general election together with the laws that parliament passes gives more and more power to the Executive and his regime. Ever since Public Order Management Act there been more and more laws who gives the government more stronghold over the public instead of giving them freedoms and opportunity to evolve and think on their own. The laws that gives the government carte blanche to borrow money through the new Public Finance Management Act; one section of this law says this: “Amendment of Section 36: (5a) In addition to subsection (5), a loan raised by the Government as a temporary advance by the Bank of Uganda, which does not extend beyond a financial year shall not require to be approved by the Parliament” (P5, 2015, PFMA). That says how the government can initially use the Bank of Uganda as an ATM, was that the problem you had in the forest or the fruits your having yield on the banana-plantation?

I know that you have no plan of stopping being in power, I am just wondering when you actual thought of leaving since you have been there as long as have lived. Something not many Presidents have done except your friend in Zimbabwe, and maybe aquatints like Paul Biya in Cameroon, and Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatoral Guinea. But hey, they are from francafrique countries so I only expect you smile at them when you arrive at African Union meetings in Addis Ababa. Since they know and you know that all the fellows who meet with decades ago are no longer there.

We know that what you said before new years are utter rubbish since you have promised before to step down and haven’t. That has happened before 2001 and before 2006. Even before you got the multi-party system back into place; Gen. Benon Biraaro said this early part of his campaign in 2015: “When we captured power in 1986, Mr Museveni promised to rule for only five years and after he will go and look after his cows, I never knew his cows would be Ugandans”.

Surely, if his still is in the forest or in the banana-plantation or even with his cows in Ankole, it is for certain he is still the executive power and will do what he can to keep that in 18^th February 2016 or make sure the counting is fixed to measure the right way. Mzee will make sure that the counting of the ballots from the Electoral Commission declares him the President, AGAIN! If not he has prepared the police with a bucket full billions of shillings for post-election violence. So he must have looked in the darkness of the forest and worried for the outcome. In the sense that he smells the people are not his anymore. They do not follow him blindly and let him guide them freely. The banana-plantation is not as peaceful as it once was; This means that Mzee is not directly entitled anymore, to get the fruits of the plantation without any questions, from the people who are working on it. Peace.

Reference:

Kazibwe – ‘Museveni: I am Ready to Hand Over Power If Defeated’ (19.11.2015) link: http://www.chimpreports.com/museveni-i-am-ready-to-hand-over-power-if-defeated/

Ross, Will – ‘Would Uganda’s Museveni recognise his former self?’ (07.05.2011) link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/9477930.stm

Rumanzi, Perez – ‘I can’t leave power now – Museveni’ (10.01.2016) link: http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/I-can-t-leave-power-now—Museveni/-/688334/3027090/-/ldhhetz/-/index.html

Waswa, Sam – ‘It Is Never My Intention to Stick To Power – Museveni’ (05.01.2016) link: http://www.chimpreports.com/it-is-never-my-intention-to-stick-to-power-museveni/

Norbert Mao the DP chief not Nominated as MP for Gulu Municipality

Today is a special day, a former presidential candidate Norbert Mao who happen to be the Democratic Party in 2011, is after today not allowed to compete to become a MP from the Gulu Municipality, and we’re today told by Gulu Electoral Commission registrar Benson Obete for the reason of missing his National ID card. To top it all off now he cannot run as a MP, because he doesn’t have that National ID card(Had to say that twice!).

He had issues last time with photos and got a few hours to fix it(by the same Electoral Commission before the 2011 Nominations. This time it wasn’t that easy; because when the issuing of the National ID Cards he was sick (Reports are saying so). On that matter hen wrote to the Ministry of late General Aronda to get a reissue of the card. In so return nothing ever happen and Eng. Dr. Badru M. Kiggundu; has now said today; that he cannot give special treatment to any candidate.

Just a friendly reminder: Well, he did that with Yoweri Kaguta Museveni of the NRM, who didn’t need to be nominated by his party before he verified his nomination form like the other candidates did (I’m just saying). But that is another issue (Indeed it’s Mzee we’re speaking about).

Norbert Mao has been under fire since last election and the reckless fall of one of the oldest parties in the Ugandan country. He has been hectic activity since 2010. He was also parts of the ‘Walk to Work’ protest and a presidential candidate before that. He has had issues with the Police a dozen of times, seen rallies destroyed by police and been jailed. As so many opposition leaders and MPs has been now and then. Even totally pinked by tear-gas in Kampala (that picture is legendary); also rumored dead for a while during 2015, which we all know is not true. So let me give you some more quotes and issues in his political life!

Backdrops on today:

Mao we’re born on 12. March 1967. In 1991 he had been able to get bachelor degree in Law at Makerere University where he was Guild President school year of 1990/91. In 1992 he got the Post Graduate Diploma from Law Development Center in Legal Practice. From 1992 to 1996 he worked in two companies as a lawyer. From 1996 till now he has been an MP. And in General Election in 2011 he tried to be the DP Presidential Candidate.

Some of his love-life:

“Naomi Odong Achieng was seen leaving UK 16/10/98 in the company of Nobert Mao MP with whom she is reported to be deeply in love. Nobert Mao is a regular visitor to London and the relationship between the two has been going on for some time to the annoyance of Nobert Mao’s family” (…)”Last night I called Prof Ogenga Otunnu at his Offices at the York University Toronto Canada where he is a lecturer. I asked him if there was any rumour in the story that his wife had been snatched. He was reluctant to speak to me. He however confirmed that it was indeed true Mao had stolen his wife. He said that it was not news the relationship has been going on for some time now” (Masaba, 1998).

23^rd October 2009:

He said: “In Gulu Municipality we had to exercise serious vigilance to beat electoral fraud. In 1996, my toughest election yet, even dead soldiers ‘voted’!! But I know only one way to meet a cchallenge – HEAD ON!! when you stand up to bullies you get beaten down. But at least you can get up…unlike those who lie down voluntarily…they will be down for good…So let us stand up for our right to make our votes count…”

18^th November 2010:

He cited: “We are in Moroto! Last night 4 UPDF soldiers were busy tearing down my posters while putting up President Museveni’s. When challenged by my team, one cocked a gun. His colleague ordered him to shoot. Our police escorts disarmed him. If UPDF soldiers can do this then we are in a circus not a campaign. We are not campaigning against a party but the state itself. It is a mockery of democracy!”.

In 2010 the year before General Elections in 2011:

He said this: “hose holding guns are entirely dependent on the gun. Those who are spending tax payers’ money on campaigns are dependent on money but we are relying on the ordinary Ugandan and everybody should know that DP has resurrected” (…)”We welcome whoever had temporarily taken refuge elsewhere to return home. Whoever fears rain can even seek shelter in a night dancer’s home but the rain is no more” (…)”I told them I am a Ugandan and I never filled any form to be a Mucholi (sic). I told them those who attacked the Lubiri did so before I was born” (DP, 2010).  If you forgot the troubling paperwork on the 2010 nomination: ““I declare Nobert Mao of DP, who has complied with all the regulations,” Dr Kiggundu said, amidst ululations and shouts of joy from the 20 man team.

However, Dr Kiggundu also said because of natural justice, Mao would be allowed some few hours to present another set of postcard photographs to the EC “because the ones submitted have one ear.”The team comprised of MPs, John Kawanga, Joseph Balikudembe, Mathias Nsubuga, and Jinja Mayor Kezaala among others” (DP, 2010).

April 18 2011 Statement:

“We are now detained at Kiira Road Police Station. Seven of us are here facing ridiculous charges of being part of an unlawful society. They claim to have reinstated the old charges of inciting violence and holding an unlawful procession. We shall not be cowed. We remain resolute about the cause we have embraced”.

Reports from 2012:

“Norbert Mao has already been a disappointment to the party, including all the neutral potential supporters who would have joined DP.  It is two years since Mao was elected, and there’s nothing that one can show” (…)”I have not seen or heard Mao and his executive in villages consulting and building the party, or empowering supporters, except during the elections. Yet DP would probably find it a lot easier to mobilise people since its values are very close to people’s hearts, and it has no history of engaging in killings” (…)”he has failed to reconcile the DP young leaders who connect very well with the voters. These are Ms Betty Nambooze, Mathius Mpuuga, Medard Ssegona and Erias Lukwago, among others” (…)”The DP that Mao leads has not even got an official website.  Ironically, Mao has a personal website where he regularly communicates to his followers, but not to the entire DP membership” (…)”Surely the DP party leadership can afford to build four rooms somewhere in outer Kampala to house our offices in a clean and respected area. I am not expecting Mao to use his personal wealth, and that’s why I am talking about fundraising not bankrolling the party” (Mwaka, 2012).

30^th March 2012:

He cited saying: “My heart wept to see that displaced people who had returned to their homes in Apa, Amuru District have been beaten, killed and their houses burnt by the army and police on orders of the government. 25 people are in detention for saying no to this injustice. 9 people are unaccounted for. Police claims they shot dead two people but only produced one body. This is going to be a long struggle against a so called foreign investor who wants to turn our home into a game ranch! On Tuesday we shall see how to get the detainees out on bail…Truth will ultimately triumph…”.

6^th August 2012:

He said this: “We have just had a serious clash with NRM officials at Messiah FM when the radio talk-show host wanted to stop our program because Crispus Kiyonga and the NRM entourage were pressurizing him to close our program. We are filing an official complaint with the Media Council and the Broadcasting Council. Our program was cut to only 30 mins! Not just bad politics but also bad manners….”

30^th July 2013:

He stated: “Police today surrounded the DP headquarters. Six pick up trucks downstairs, a police bus and our balcony swarming with armed riot police. My Press Officer Fred Mwesigwa bravely faced them off when they claimed that they had heard that DP was planning to deliver foodstuffs to families of police officers and so they had come to search DP offices. Mwesigwa told them that unless they produce a search warrant from court the party would exercise its right to self defence and protect its right to privacy. Eventually they cops went to the street level when it became apparent that no one was afraid of them”.

In August 2013:

He said: “The Public Order Management Act is the last nail in the coffin of civil liberties in Uganda. It is a monument to arbitrariness. It has amended the constitution by the back door concluding the formality of turning Uganda into a police state”.

In November 2014:

“Mao said that he declined the Prime Minister’s position because he knew it was going to yield nothing for him and the people of Uganda whose interests he fights for” (…)”He says that the only way he was ready to work with Museveni was to restore peace in northern Uganda and take Internally Displaced people back to the homes” (ThemBokaHunga, 2014).

In September 2015:

He said: “The opposition is not as weak and unkempt as it seems. If the opposition was so weak and utterly in disarray as some people seem to think, Museveni would not be running around scared of losing elections” (…)”He (Museveni) would not be seeking to be guest of honour at every little ceremony in the country. Museveni is running around scared because for once he can smell defeat and he knows that the army will not defend him and keep him in power when he is defeated at the polls. He is desperate for a semblance of legitimacy” (Musinguzi, 2015).

And in a statement: “The Bank of Uganda will still be used like Museveni’s private ATM, the military and police will serve the role of appendages to the regime and the Electoral Commission will be but a figurehead as state operatives run the elections behind the scenes” (…)”Museveni was a Minister at the time when I was a primary school pupil. I am now 48. Museveni is combatting the onset of senility. He struggles to present an image of youthfulness. He does press ups to dupe the unsuspecting public that he still has stamina. He dabs in rap music to project the image of a man in tune with modern musical trends. But all that cannot beguile Ugandans. As Bob Marley sang, you can fool some people all of the time and you can fool all the people some of the time but you can’t fool all the people all of the time” (Musinguzi, 2015).

Afterthought:

If he doesn’t get it fixed to become really nominated to be MP for Gulu Municipality which gives a free for all for the other candidates in that constituency and the candidates that are nominated there either UPC or NRM. This gives other parties than DP who has made head-weight by the voters in that area. Since one of their big men and main candidates since 1996 is not on the ballot in February 2016. I am sure this has something to do with his affiliation at the current moment. He has been on the trail with Amama Mbabazi and supported him as a TDA Joint Presidential Candidate that is one of the reasons why DP doesn’t have a Presidential candidate, the same with Justice Forum Uganda (JEEMA) and People’s Progressive Party (PPP) so on. DP is not alone, even the UPC who now has a deal with NRM has the same conundrum. They solved it differently and directly having a deal with Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.

For some time it seemed that DP was lingering towards NRM. That train has now left station. This proves the situation and how rigged the elections are. Certain bunch of losers from NRM Primaries can still be a part of the elections in 2016. They are running as Independents and have now worries. A number of them have been in talks with statehouse and they are already reassured from the Mzee.

The Gulu Municipality MP election results will be mind boggling and be weird. Since Norbert Mao will not be on the ticket. And he was going in for the President in 2011! Only – Made in Uganda! Peace.

Reference:

DP – ‘DP HAS RESURRECTED, SAYS MAO’ (26.10.2010)

DP – ‘I AM UGANDA’S OBAMA SAYS MAO’ (28.10.2010)

Masaba, Tony – ‘MP MAO STEALS EXILE’S WIFE; UK ACHOLI COMMUNITY OUTRAGED’ (17.10.1998)

Musinguzi, Bianshe – ‘Museveni Is Scared—Norbert Mao’ (08.09.2015) link: http://www.redpepper.co.ug/museveni-is-scared-norbert-mao/

Mwaka, Timothy – ‘Norbert Mao is a very weak DP leader’ (28.05.2012) link: http://www.ugandacorrespondent.com/articles/2012/05/norbert-mao-is-a-very-weak-dp-leader/

ThemBokaHungu – ‘NORBERT MAO REFUSED MUSEVENI’S OFFER FOR PREMIER’ (01.11.2014) link: http://thembokahungu.blogspot.no/2014/11/norbert-mao-refused-musevenis-offer-for.html