Attorney General Vs. Besigye & FDC – Constitutional Petetion No. 13 of 2016 (06.07.2016)

FDC Petiton 10th June AG

DP Press Statement: ” If Ugandans expected something different from business as usual they were badly disappointed” (07.06.2016)

Norbert Mao NTV

Kampala June 7, 2016. 
The long awaited cabinet list is finally out. If Ugandans expected something different from business as usual they were badly disappointed. True to its dominant nature of putting partisan loyalty above the public spirit and competence, the cabinet is another dose of more of the same. Apart from the laudable gesture of retiring those who were long overdue for retirement like Henry Kajura, Tarsis Kabwegyere and Dr. Nyiira, the cabinet doesn’t represent any change in political path. The tendency to entrench family rule and hegemony in our polity is still visible no matter the efforts to disguise it.

To the politically gullible, the inclusion of some members of opposition parties in the cabinet may appear to represent a spirit of inclusion. However to the adept and keen observers, the inclusion of people like Betty Amongi (UPC), Florence Nakiwala Kiyingi (DP) and Beti Kamya (UFA) in the cabinet is nothing but despicable tokenism and falls far short of any expectation Ugandans may have had that following a disputed election marred with unprecedented rigging and post election brutality and continued repression, an inclusive government based on a consensus reached through a national dialogue process. In a dialogue process, the direction of the country would be negotiated. We reject tokenism because it simply means trading a few crumbs for a fair share of the loaf of political power. As the Igbo of Nigeria say “No one gets a mouthful of food by picking between another person’s teeth”.

Florence MP

Uganda is a country that is deeply divided and hurting. The nation is badly in need of healing. Museveni’s one man rule ensures that no alternative voice will be heard in cabinet, parliament, the judiciary or even the streets. In terms of democracy, Uganda in the next five years will be nothing more than a political graveyard.

We therefore denounce the new cabinet as yet another lever in Museveni’s power arsenal. Museveni and his cabal are presiding over a malevolent and capricious state capture which is clearly seen in the tyranny of the majority in parliament, the elevation of so called cadre judges in the judiciary and the suppression of civil dissent. This cabinet therefore doesn’t represent a new direction. You cannot make an omelette by shuffling around rotten eggs.

DP 07.06.2016

On the State of the Nation Address delivered on 31 May, 2016, we await the National Budget. That is when we will give a comprehensive response. But we have something to say in the meantime. As expected the address skirted around the issue of governance without acknowledging the political logjam we have in Uganda today with an illegitimate government in place led by a person whose victory will continue to be questioned for ages. With characteristic arrogance Mr. Museveni declared, “Having followed closely world and historical events over the last 50 years, I am not aware of any society anywhere in the world that is more democratic than Uganda as far as the forms and structures of democracy are concerned….Democracy is one area where we do not need aid”. We note that this is a qualified statement. It is an admission that Uganda Is democratic only in form. In essence and substance Uganda is a totalitarian state.

The heart of the address was the economy. Mr. Museveni assured Ugandans that by 2020, that is in four years time, Uganda will be a middle income country. This may be an impressive jargon but let’s unpack it. That term is based on the so called Atlas Method that the World Bank uses to rank the economy of countries. Low Income countries where Uganda falls have a Gross National Income per capita of US$1,045 or less. Middle income countries have a Gross National Income (GNI) per capita of between US$1,045 and US$12,736. (Of course middle income countries are further subdivided into lower middle income and upper middle income countries. Lower middle income countries have a GNI per capita of between US$1,046 – US$4,125. Upper middle income countries have a GNI per capita of US$4,126 – 12,735). High income countries have a Gross National Income per capita above US$12,735.

Ugandan shillings

Even without waiting for the National Budget we can say for certain that the absurd proclamation that Uganda will be a middle income country by 2020 is a political hoax smacking of deception and gimmickry. With a balance of trade of minus US$164.6 million, global business confidence of only 54 percent, military expenditure of US$340 million, inflation of over 6 percent and growth at only less than 4 percent, Uganda’s ambition of attaining middle income status under the current NRM economic framework is a pathetic pipe dream that no one can take seriously. This is coupled with an unsustainably high external debt of over 14 Trillion Uganda shillings which costs Uganda a lot of money to service. Then there is the lack of fiscal discipline, high military expenditure, unattractive wages that fuel brain drain, high unemployment of over 60 percent and the run away corruption. This is what constitutes the hemorrhage that Museveni dwelt on during his dull and unimaginative address to a demoralized nation. It is this hemorrhage that is responsible for the heavy tax burden under which Ugandans agonize. What the Uganda Revenue Authority is attempting to do is thus akin to a person collecting water using a basket. Unless the leakages are plugged the whole thing is an exercise in futility. The strategy of fighting corruption using the methods he used to fight indiscipline in the army will not work against corruption. It will be like treating a cancer using Vaseline. While indiscipline in the army is not profitable, corruption has grown into an institutionalized and highly profitable activity. Museveni will not win the war against corruption unless he becomes born again and offer leadership by example. You cannot exhort your flock to drink water while you gorge yourself on wine! Sooner or later the flock will follow your bad example. Therefore the fight against corruption requires a level of moral authority that Museveni lacks. He cannot point out the splinter in the eyes of his followers because he has a log in his eyes. As I have stated before, fish rots from the head. Today, I wish to advise Museveni that when you are sweeping a staircase you start from the top. Let him start from himself and those closest to him then move downwards. Fighting corruption is the one thing in which the bottom up approach cannot work because the bottlenecks in the war against corruption are in the top of the table.

Fortunately, for Ugandans there is a political party called the DP which shuns corruption, violence, dictatorship and militarism. We shall continue to illuminate our political space with viable alternative policies that shall be cogently presented in all platforms. Our impact shall not depend on our numbers but rather by the superior quality of our ideas and the firm foundation on which we stand.

We call upon Ugandans not to lose hope. We shall work hand in hand with other democracy seeking forces in our motherland to see that the NRM, like all totalitarian regimes that have persecuted and oppressed people throughout the ages, ends up in the dustbin of history. We will continue to speak out without fear or favor against all ills that afflict our country and continue to keep hope alive that we shall overcome. The darkest part of the night is just before dawn. Let that hope for a better future keep us focused on the tasks of the present.

Hon. Norbert Mao
President

Uganda: Reshuffle of Military Attaches abroad

Military attache list Uganda

Surely Mzee didn’t see this coming, as the Government of Uganda, can’t hold their secrets until their official. The are certain men who release the information. The Nepotism and the value of NRM loyalty. As it been promised to so many during the election. Now the deals and promises are beeing revealed. That is why I say it is unfortunate.

Mzee, can play some men and play the guards, but this term will hard to keep business as usual, as the tension between the men who really wanted change, and the men who still wants to serve his brown-enevelops. Peace. 

Opinion: A Second look into Museveni’s growing ‘royal’ court

Museveni Kenya Speech 2016

“Our loyalty to NRM shouldn’t be mistaken for stupidity”Hon. Simon Aleper

As well as he has taken old friends and foes from the National Resistance Movement, there are some moves that proves the Mzee are now involving the others parties and does that to control more of the Parliament, as they even have a place in 80-81 Ministerial Cabinet, in the newly sworn-in 10th Parliament.

mugabe museveni

You have Hon. Beti Kamya (Betty Kamya) that comes from the Opposition party of Uganda Federal Alliance, she have been strong opponent and dragged and attacked the Forum for Democratic Change of late, and because of that gotten the joy of being minster. And some old quotes from Hon. Kamya: “He has approached me many times” (…)”I think I can manage the vice-president office in the Museveni cabinet. I would surely serve under that capacity” (New Vision, 2014). So two years down, and now it was okay with a Ministerial Post in the Museveni Cabinet.

Another one is Hon Betty Amongi, the wife of hon. Jimmy Akena, the President of the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC). This must be the payback for agreement between the NRM and UPC during the Campaigning period. So this must be part of the agreement between Mzee and Akena, right? Even if she is a NRM MP, she is married to an UPC President, it is like that was given because that.

Then you have also Hon. Joy Ruth Aceng; she is a UPC MP becoming the Minister. During the Campaign in November 2015, who even praised and said also that the voters of her region to Vote Museveni. Have people forgotten that? So it is not a weird choice for Mzee, to pick her into the swollen cabinet of his.

Another halfway UPC is the oldest serving cabinet minister Philemon Mateke, he was a member of the UPC until NRM took power, then he became overnight NRM.

Florence MP

Democratic Party, President Norbert Mao have today gone out and said that it is not a Party move that a certain Hon. Florence Nakiwala Kiyingi, who has become a minister in the cabinet yesterday, she was even at one point a “Go-Forward”, but she went into the election one a DP ticket. So she certainly can work with whoever who gets her place in Parliament and now will easily work with NRM.

Nabila Sempala Quote

With the knowledge of having a DP MP, UFA MP and a UPC MP in the Cabinet, the only party left without a MP in the cabinet is FDC, though I would not be surprised if Hon. Nabilah Naggayi Sempala of the FDC would have said yes to become a State Minister in the Cabinet, she would been the obvious choice from the FDC, who isn’t a die-hard and really wanting change in the Parliament. And she is so devious to be able to jump camps to get political gain. I am right, right?

And then some stray thoughts. With ancient history of Mobutu and the two that was not in the giant cabinet of Museveni this time. They being Mbabazi and Bukenya…

Here is some old reports on Mobutu first:  

“I have no comment to make,” Tshisekedi, interior minister before he split with Mobutu, said as he left the talks. Aides said he had accepted the challenge of trying to steer Zaire through the crisis in an uneasy tandem with Mobutu. Mobutu, engaged in a determined fight to prolong his rule, emerged into a crowd of reporters looking impassive. Asked if the negotiations with a score of opposition leaders had gone well, the 60-year-old president replied: “I think so.” (Washington Post, 1991). “What are Tshisekedi’s credentia.s as an opposition leader? He helped form and run the Popular Movement for the Revolution, the single party with which Mobutu has ruled Zaire for 26 years. While castigating! his former ally Mobutu for getting rich at the expense of the country’s poor, he himself drives a Jaguar. Mobutu’s biggest crime, accordiing to the European and American powers that run the world’s financial system, is not that he oppressed his people and kept them poor, but that he would not put the screws on them enough (what Cohen called “economic indiscipline”) behalf of the IMF’s structural adjustment programs” (Scanlon, 1991). “The opposition announcement of a new government came as the new administration of Prime Minister Mungul Diaka faced a major crisis. Two newly appointed ministers resigned from the government that he appointed only Wednesday. Mobutu sacked Tshisekedi from the post of prime minister 12 days ago. Diaka has said that his government to be sworn in Friday balances opinion and regional representation. However, Tshisekedi denied the prime minister’s claim that 40 percent of the 27 ministerial posts had gone to members of the Sacred Union. Key posts in the Diaka government, notably the defense portfolio, have been retained by pro-Mobutu appointees” (Hub, 1991). So Mobutu tried to wind the opposition in his last decade of his regime, even not working well, he made it even bigger than Museveni, Mzee, does not want to give away to much. But Mobutu surely gave some lessons to Mzee; as the Kinshasa government was after rebellion from the opposition. So with that he took some of them in, to silence them and continue to have control.

Prunier Quote Museveni

Somewhere is Hon. Amama Mbabazi and Gilbert Bukenya, wondering how come they wasn’t one out of the 80-81 Cabinet or hired as one of the 141 Presidential Advisors, they could be the ones that get the places that are still occupied by the “dead-ones”. Well, surely Mbabazi is now DP, Gilbert Bukenya was promised after going back from Independent Candidate in the TDA, to become a part of NRM-CEC. While so many others of the loyalist to Museveni is hired in the Cabinet and even the twice loser in the election, Otafiire got a spot to continue to serve Mzee.

I think that is enough for now. Peace.

Reference:

Washington Post – ‘MOBUTU SHARES POWER WITH ZAIRE’S OPPOSITION’ (29.09.1991) link: https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1991/09/30/mobutu-shares-power-with-zaires-opposition/2a6536ae-e7e4-488e-ae0f-2652e8e27067/

New Vision – ‘I can be VP in Museveni’s cabinet – Beti Kamya’ (13.08.2014) link: http://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1306914/vp-museveni-cabinet-beti-kamya

Scanlon, Dana S. – ‘Zaire, Zambia: IMF moves in for the kill’ (22.11.1991) – EIR Volume 18.

Hub, Mark – ‘ZAIRE OPPOSITION FORMS ‘GOVERNMENT’ (01.11.1991) link: https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1991/11/01/zaire-opposition-forms-government/23f3dc58-e4a6-4aba-b86a-5b8a2ad5eb21/

Mrs. Beti Kamya – “Where is Museveni’s Heart” (Daily Monitor Article of 28.01.2008)

Beti Kamaya 2008 Article P1Beti Kamaya 2008 Article P2Beti Kamaya 2008 Article P3Beti Kamaya 2008 Article P4

Uganda: New Cabinet List Out (Youtube-Clip)

Press Statement: IMF Executive Board Completes Sixth PSI Review for Uganda and Approves One-Year Extension of the Program (07.06.2016)

Bank notes Uganda

WASHINGTON D.C., United States of America, June 7, 2016 –  The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund today completed the sixth review of Uganda’s economic performance under the program supported by the Policy Support Instrument (PSI).1.

In completing the review, the Board approved the authorities’ request for a one-year extension of the current PSI arrangement to facilitate policy continuity and allow sufficient time for ongoing structural reforms to progress and also granted a waiver of the nonobservance of the end-December 2015 assessment criteria on the overall deficit of the central government.

The PSI for Uganda was approved by the Executive Board on June 28, 2013 (see Press Release No. 13/78). Uganda’s program under the PSI aims at maintaining macroeconomic stability and alleviating constraints to growth. The program supports the authorities’ objectives on reforms to the monetary policy framework, tax revenue mobilization, public financial management, and financial sector development. It also backs efforts to improve the business environment, including by preparing the economy better for oil production.

Following the Board discussion, Mr. Min Zhu, Deputy Managing Director and Acting Chair, made the following statement:

“Despite external shocks, and amid election-related uncertainty, Uganda’s economy demonstrated resilience, with robust growth, low inflation, and strong international reserves. However, structural reforms have lagged and need to be revitalized to enhance competitiveness, promote economic diversification, and foster sustained and inclusive economic growth.

“Economic policies will remain focused on keeping inflation low and boosting growth. Fiscal priorities include shifting public spending toward infrastructure and poverty-alleviating expenditures, boosting domestic revenue mobilization, and enhancing public investment efficiency. Continued fiscal prudence could facilitate further monetary policy easing, which would help ease tight credit conditions.

“More progress is needed on key structural reforms. Prompt parliamentary approval of the Public Financial Management Act regulations in line with international best practice, decisive action to reconcile and validate the stock of domestic arrears, and finalizing the charter of fiscal responsibility are paramount steps to further improve governance and strengthen the budget process. Final approval of legal amendments to the Bank of Uganda Act will strengthen the central bank’s independence and support the inflation targeting regime.

“Vigilance is needed to ensure continued financial stability. Plans to further strengthen prudential supervision in line with the Basel III guidelines are welcome. Ensuring that regulatory oversight keeps pace with financial innovation will help preserve financial stability. Prioritizing prompt parliamentary approval of the Amendments of the Anti-Money Laundering Amendment Act and the Insurance Act should help Uganda exit from the FATF gray list, further strengthening the investment climate.”

1 The PSI is an instrument of the IMF designed for countries that do not need balance of payments financial support. The PSI helps countries design effective economic programs that, once approved by the IMF’s Executive Board, signal to donors, multilateral development banks, and markets the Fund’s endorsement of a member’s policies (seehttp://www.imf.org/external/np/exr/facts/psi.htm). Details on Uganda’s current PSI are available at imf.org/uganda.

Opinion: Museveni’s growing ‘royal’ court

Parliament Uganda

As of today the Executive, the 7th Term of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni that started now recently after a rigged election. There been selected 31 Ministers, 49 Minster of State and one Vice President. The total amount of honorable Ministers is 80! The one career that is resurrected as he is the ‘Minster for crocodiles’ Maj. Gen. Kahinda Otafiire, the man who lost NRM Primaries this last fall in 2015, and lost again in the General Election in 2016, still he was able to escape and be get brownie points for Mzee.

Hon. Betty Kamya who has defended and attacked Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) and Besigye through her campaign, have been also elevated as she run for the Uganda Federal Alliance (UFA), she took over the Minister for Kampala City after Hon. Frank Tumbewaze who is now the Minister for Information, ICT and Communication, a Ministerial Post; that the now gone MP Gen. Jim Muhwezi.

Chris Baryomunsi Quote Daily Monitor

Well, the good news is that Dr. Chris Baryomusi went to the Ministry of State of Housing, went from Health Care, where he said it wasn’t a big deal with the missing Cobalt 60 Teletheraphy machine at Mulago Hospital and the Uganda Cancer Institute, as the Cancer Patients’ would die anyway… So there is some justice in his demoted state into state minister for Housing… the people who has sickness in Uganda should be giddy, but wished that he was out of Parliament as he was so despicable when the Health Care scandal of Mulago came to light!

Well, then there Hon. Simon Lodoko, who for some reason are Minister of State for Ethics and Integrity… who wanted to sack Dr. Stella Nyanzi after her naked crusade after unethical political motivated in April 2016 from Makerere University.

Al Hajji Abdul Nadduli

And you have the wonderful Al-Hajji Abdul Nadduli, the former NRM Vice-Chairmen for the Central Region, gotten the fantastic Ministerial Post that I hope to have one day in my own country; Minister Without Portefolio. He can chill and get the brown-envelope with Ministerial perks and be a secure vote in Parliament as he is a Minister in the Cabinet. If the man ever wants to do crap, and deliver a petition or notion in parliament, it will be a bonus, but he could just relax in Kabalagala or hang out at the ‘Chicken-In’ at Wandegeya.

Well, will not take on more Minister’s even if there more than in enough the Cabinet, as other die-hards and loyalist Gen. Henry Tukumunde aka Money Man of General Elections, got his corrupt hands into a ministry as well, together with other Musevenism ministers like Hon. Sam Kuteesa, Hon. Matia Kasaija, Hon. Adolf Mwesige, Hon. Irene Muloni, Hon. Dr. Elioda Tumwesigye, Hon. David Bhati, Hon. Sarah Ochient Opendi and Hon. Oryem Okello… that I can mention in haste, without caring for their ministries… 9 ministries and ministers, also the First Lady got a bigger role this time Hon. Janet Museveni, she was tired of the Karamoja and not enough funds to take from Northern Uganda Social Action Fund (NUSAF II)…

museveni and his gun

As for the ministers and amount of them, the Executive are hiring more loyal people around him, he want a giant royal court and be midlevel level, as he wants to be the king on the Iron Throne, with the AK-47 and have whispers from every corner as he wants to control all men of his kingdom. President Museveni, are hiring and hiring men who are loyal to him and men who went as independent, as they lost the NRM Primaries… but he still want them around as they are good people for him and will not sell him out, as long as they are kept fed. Take a look at the numbers!

Museveni currently has 116 advisors in the Office of the President; but the statement suggests this number is to rise to 121 this financial year. This is 39 more than the number of advisors the president had at the beginning of his fourth elective presidential term in 2011” (…)”For instance, after the March 2015 cabinet reshuffle, former Attorney General Peter Nyombi and former Finance, Planning and Economic Development Minister Maria Kiwanuka joined the long list of presidential advisors who are former ministers. Some of the former ministers who are advisors include Gerald Ssendaula, Ham Mulira Mukasa, Ezra Suruma, Namirembe Bitamazire, Beatrice Wabudeya and Gen Salim Saleh. Others are former prime ministers Kintu Musoke and Apolo Nsibambi, former vice president Specioza Wandira Kazibwe, Dr James Makumbi and Muhammed Mayanja who were ministers in the 1990s” (Kaaya, 2016).

This proves that men who are loyal and silent without going into opposition, can expect to get a unelected position by serving President Museveni, as he likes loyalty and knowledge that him paying them keeps them close, as he knows the fellows who are corrupted by him and wants his corrupted behavior gone, will not be close; they will be silenced. The strange news from today was this:

“A further scrutiny of the list also found that former envoys Francis Butagira and Ibrahim Mukiibi are also presidential advisors. Two of the listed 116 advisors such as Hajji Badru Wegulo and Besweri Mulondo are dead” (Kaaya, 2016).

Museveni Kenya Speech 2016

2 men are dead that are currently on the Presidential Advisory list of Uganda, that is explanatory of level of scrutiny the governance of Central government needs, the need for restructure and need for change from the Musevenism that everything circles around him and his visions, as they are now so corrupted and so owned by own personal gain… instead they are now all indebted to Museveni, instead of trying to build better government and ministries that serves the people, the citizens, instead they serve Museveni and wants to be in his court and get his word. That is why they want to be hired, instead of actually making a genuine difference and using the state affairs and state ministries to show accountability for state funds and their pledges. They are instead there all to serve President Museveni, and that is not a healthy functioning state, the government is paying for the bloated ministries, ministers, members of parliament, and all the loyal men that President Museveni keeps in his court, as the numbers of men on the State House Payroll, is also staggering, but that is for another day! This is just the official hiring, not the ones that serving the MPs, Ministries and State Ministers… Peace.

PS: I wonder who eats on the dead-men’s salaries, because surely somebody is catching in on the paychecks of the fallen Museveni soldiers… Think about that for a minute.

FDC Letter to the 10th Parliament Speaker Hon. Kadaga – “Re: Appointment of Oppostion Leadership in the 10th Parliament (06.06.2016)

Uganda Parliament FDC 06.06.2016

My 2 cents on this sad, sad letter from the Forum for Democratic Change National Executive Committee:

FDC NEC is fiddling while Rome burns..

Cry havoc, did you win or lose the General Election of 2016 Hon. rt. Gen. Mugisha Muntu? What point and what kind of envelope changed your mind? What is the point of the asking for International Audit, when you ask for the Leader of Opposition? Doesn’t that counter the uncertain peace that you stated after the Election Day in late February after the first siege of the FDC Headquarter, have you lost faith in ability to change the Political Landscape in Uganda? Have you given up Hon. Rt. Gen. Mugisha Muntu? Do you think this can implicate the lingering former Presidential Candidate, who sworn himself in, in presence of others in the FDC leadership in the day before President Museveni swore his oath. What will it mean to him and his case for disobedience or defying the ruling regime, when you accept with your actions and the actions of FDC NEC to take their minority and Opposition posistions in the 10th Parliament. Have you taken that into accuout, or was it all a charade from you? Peace.

Footage: Luweero the Killings Fields of Uganda (Interview from 1985)

The regime of Milton Obote (1980 to 1985) was characterized by an excessive disregard for human rights. Government troops massacred civilians, especially in the “Luweero triangle” in Buganda. The U.S. State Department estimated that between 100,000 and 200,000 civilians were slaughtered in the Luweero triangle by the government troops. Peter Otai, Ugandan Minister of State for Defense, was interviewed by Peter Sisson in April 1985.

NEWSWEEK/AUGUST 13, 1984 – Starvation and Slaughter in Uganda

One of the world’s most massive – and deadly – violations of human rights in recent years may now be occurring in the Luwero triangle of Uganda, according to State Department sources in Washington. That area is a center of the Baganda tribe and also the site of an ongoing insurgency against the Ugandan government. North Korean-trained Ugandan soldiers are reported to have killed thousands of Baganda. The death toll from the slaughter and from starvation is estimated to range from 100,000 to 200,000, but international refugee organizations have been prohibited from distributing food in the triangle, which is located north of the Ugandan capital of Kampala.