Why are the leaders of our time so hooked-on Power? And some theories for why they don’t leave the Executive Power to somebody else..

Mugabe Military

We are living in a day and age where leader’s doesn’t leave from their office. You have likes of Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasongo who is making himself ready for another election in his country this year and he has been in power since 1979. You have the likes of President Paul Biya of Cameroon who has been the President since 1982 and was in government since 1970s. In Zimbabwe the President of the day President Robert Gabriel Mugabe has been the Commander in Chief.  And the list goes on.

Kagame Nkurunziza 2011

We have the third term phenomenon of President Pierre Nkurunziza of Burundi, President Paul Kagame of Rwanda both of them have changed the laws or used Courts to allow them to stay in power. So the leadership roles are sufficient to stay. You have the likes of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni who has been in charge since 1986 and stayed ever since, changed laws again and again to linger in power and is rumored to fix the age limit to stay passed his 7th Term.

Mittrand Rwanda President

So with this in mind, I will discuss it today. It is not a new phenomenon or a new change of guards. There are always leaders who linger and overstay their time in power. As President Juvénal Habyarimana of Rwanda took power with a coup d’état in 1973 and was in power until his plane got shot down in 1994. Just like the overthrow of first President Patrice Lumumba of Democratic Republic of Congo in 1965, who by foreign powers supposed to install Mobutu Seko Seko Kuku Ngebendu Wa Za Banga who was born Joseph-Desire Mobutu who was the President of DRC from 1965 until 1997. So there are leaders of the past who has not left office and is now long gone.

The issue with this is the way we build society around people instead of institutions and government structures. The Structures of government is kept weak and is not strong with procedure and predicated work for the civil service. That is why the leaders can linger and the way they keep it is fueling resources away from the government structures and institutions, keeping the progress weak and keeping the circle around them tight knit. Instead of having inner-circles with wits, knowledge and people who wants to succeed in their field; the leaders around the president is instead hungry men and woman who works for more and better civil service for the citizens.

US Dollar Campaign

That is because the leaders who circle all of government around themselves are not interested in great policies or deliver the promised pledges to the communities since then they have to give away power. When a leader tries to strengthen the power all around themselves then the necessary leadership is not about the government, but about the person who rules. The ruler set the standard ,not the laws of the state or the laws of the Parliament. As the Executive can fix the Supreme Court, Constitutional Court, can rig the Constitution and make draconian laws that issues more help for the Executive; instead of the Constitution and the Parliament representing the citizens and for the citizens it becomes for the Executive.

That is why the Executive or the Ruler, the President doesn’t want to leave power since the whole state is built around the one person. The One Person who has in his image or her image built the government around themselves. And when they have it all for themselves they don’t have to fight for anything else then themselves. That is what matters, if he schools is depleting, health care is non-functioning, roads have bigger potholes then the ones on the moon, the government loans are worse than the subprime-mortgage and so on. That doesn’t matter because the situations doesn’t hit the Executive, because the government funds goes directly to him instead of the ministries, departments and sections of government than really-really need it!

Zim 2008

The Power that starts with personal movement of fights and liberation, the ones that are personalized towards the one man who saved them all and then doesn’t leave is that the EGO and used to be center of attention. To have the voice of being right, so they can’t do things wrong in their own mind as they risk to lose their wealth and strength if they are out of office.

Barre Somalia

Some of these leaders have lived on the strength of the loyalty to foreign powers as they need their alliance in a region to secure peace in the neighbor country or during the cold war as the Americans did whatever they could to control the world and not lose nations to the Soviet communism. Therefore they fall of Said Barre of Somalia and the struggles of the Ethiopian Dirg of the 1970s. As the Cold War complex policies dissolved and built governments with influence of American and Russian strengths of the time. Take the example of President Mengistu Hailemariam who kept the Power from 1974 – 1991 with the Soviet influx and the Communist agenda that made the result of Somalia invasion with support of the Americans in 1977. So he himself had taken power in 1969 in Somalia the army fueled government of Said Barre as his power-play internally to keep the power together with the back and forth from the leadership at the time led to his fall, as he also had long-term squabble with Ogaden and Ethiopian neighbor after the tried invasion there. This the fall after 20 years might be because he circulated all power amongst himself and not in the powers of structures and department to delegate the powers.

That is the problem with the leaders who get fueled with power. They circulate all power and decisions are under the Executive. So with this in mind instead of building institutions and government structures, they build the armies and police force to enforce the Power of the Executive, not only to enforce national security, but to secure the Power of the Executive. Therefore the first to get payment are the armies and police officers before the teachers and other civil servants.

social-policy-analysis-political-economy-of-welfare-38-728

The Rulers and the Executives keeps the ignorant yes-men around them to secure that they don’t get to opportunist or wanting to get the Executive position. Therefore they elite around the Ruler get lots of perks, tax-exemptions, cars, housing and servants while the rest of the country can’t afford that. Unless it is foreign investors in businesses owned by the Party Elite or the Government elite that belongs to the inner-circle of the Executive; as the license and openings happens on the watch of the Executive and the Power not the legal justice system or the society binding corporate bondage towards the procedures of setting up business in the country. So the way the Executive get drunk on power is set on the fact that they having everything at nearly no cost.

The Presidents who are drunk on Power have centralized all powers around them and not the government structures and the decrees and the policies are made to keep them in power; not to build a grand state who offers their citizens what they need. Therefore the laws becomes for the MPs and the Elite that fuel the money and Power towards the President, then the President delivering to the People.

The remains of Mobutu's Palce
The remains of Mobutu’s Palce

So with the Inner-circle finding ways to support the President instead of serving the citizens as a government is supposed to do. Why are the Executive and rules high-on-power you asked?

That is because all of the Power, all of the resources and all of the goodwill of the nation is determined by the Executive. As the Power is resumed and determined by the Executive there is hard to leave that, as the knowledge of the system given to coming new leader can take away what the Executive already have built around itself. Therefore the security of having the power instead of giving it the next; that is why the lingering Executives and Presidents are like alcoholics!

equatorial-guinea20100317-9-728

Let me explain why the similarities are there. An Alcoholic has the hunger and need for another drink and beer. They do whatever they can to get another drink and beer, at all means and steal if they have to get that fizz. So the Alcoholic is so used to the alcohol that the feel of it weaken and needs much of it to feel it. The Alcoholic just need another brew and another brew. And never stops taking in the alcohol. In the beginning the alcoholic never think that they would end being so, and the same with power-hungry individual. It just became a habit. The alcoholic needs the alcohol, just as the Executive is drunk on power and needs some more drinks. The Executive gotten so used to and the habit of getting their will and generating the funds out of the governmental funds; so if they don’t get more the donor-funds or the Bretton-Woods Loans to their nations then they feel something is missing. They need the spotlight to be the king of the nation and the supreme ruler.

So the drunkenness and needed attention, the needed judgement and decision rate from the Executive that lingers in powers while they build the government system around themselves and weakens the people around them. So they are more needed and so that ambition gets squirrelled around them. There can only be one vision, one leader and one nation under God. That is the usual factor and the events that unfold as the dissidents and opposition get harsh treatment without any cost spared. Something that happens because they crossed the territory of the Executive and the rules of set-up by the President and the predicated actions are seen as violations of laws and constitution; that apparently been rigged in favor of current leader. Therefore another bottle of beer for the President as the sufficient drunkenness of power is staggering. Suddenly change would be hard and taken with haste. Because the drunken leaders will with force and madness go all-inn if they all of sudden loose it, they will be become bush-warriors or stealing elections to continue their Presidency. As we have seen through 2015 and 2016 that is how far these leaders goes to get the shot of power and not stop drinking from the fountain of government power. Peace.  

The Amendment of the Income Tax Act in Uganda; is the first out of many freedoms that the Members of Parliament have given themselves

Uganda Parliament Museveni

It’s been hectic around the Amendment for the Income Tax that has opened the possibility for Members of Parliament and the ones on Diplomatic Missions to not be paying the Income Tax in Uganda. There been an outrage on Social Media, therefore I started to look into it. First will I add the specific amendment that was voted in Parliament now in April 2016, that’s give’s the Members of Parliament no Income Tax, because older laws already gives them Immunity. Certainly this is gift basket to the coming 10th Parliament, as the 9th Parliament gives a tax-break to themselves, as they already have certain obligations and other services provided by law; and that is not so strange they are the makers of laws, so they have made laws that fits them and gives them advantages.

Uganda Shillings

Orignal Law before the Amendment:

93. Cases where returns of income not required

Unless requested by the Commissioner by notice in writing, no return of income shall be

furnished under this Act for a year of income-

(a) by a nonresident person where subsection (4) of section 4 or paragraph (c) of

section 87 or both apply to all the income derived from sources in Uganda by

the person during the year of income; or (effective 1st July, 2001- Income Tax

(Amendment) Act, 2002)

(b) by a resident individual-

(i) to whom section 4 (4) applies; or (effective 1st July, 2001- Income Tax

(Amendment) Act, 2002)

(ii) whose total chargeable income for the year of income is subject to the

zero rate of tax under Part I of the Third Schedule to this Act!” (The Income Tax Act, 1st July, 1997)

Ugandan shillings

Here is the what the Amendment of 2016 does to this section:

“Unless requested by the Commissioner by notice in writing, no return of income shall be

furnished under this Act for a year of income-

(a) by a nonresident person where subsection (4) of section 4 or paragraph (c) of

section 87 or both apply to all the income derived from sources in Uganda by

the person during the year of income; or (effective 1st July, 2001- Income Tax

(Amendment) Act, 2002)

(b) by a resident individual-

(i) to whom section 4(4) applies, except persons employed by diplomatic missions and prescribed organisations on which diplomatic immunities and privileges are conferred;”. (effective 1st July 2016 – Income Tax (Amendment) Act 2016)

(ii) whose total chargeable income for the year of income is subject to the

zero rate of tax under Part I of the Third Schedule to this Act!”

So with the important Amendment to the Tax law tha set the standard for the Diplomatic Immunities and Privileges. They are no except from the Income Tax. That means that the Income or Pay that they are getting so not taxed or their salary is now Tax-Free.

Uganda-parliament-2

And as this complies with Scetion 4 (4) here is what that says:

“4. Income tax imposed:

(4) Where the gross income of a taxpayer for a year of income consists exclusively of

employment income derived from a single employer from which tax has been withheld as

required under section 116, the income tax payable by the taxpayer for the year of income

is the amount equal to the sum of the amounts required to be withheld from such income

under section 116” (The Income Tax Act, 1st July, 1997).

So just to take the last piece of law to put this all together and give meaning while it have created a fuzz and been question what this part of law means that people with Diplomatic Immunity get exception from Income Tax. Even if the Third Part of Law says that people who lives most of the days in Uganda have to pay Income in Uganda, but with this new text to the law, that certain people are exempt and doesn’t have to cough-up the money.

This is what the Parliament (Power and Privileges) Act of 1955 of 24th February 1955 say this in the act:

“2. Immunity from legal proceedings.

No civil or criminal proceedings may be instituted against any member for words spoken before, or written in a report to, Parliament or to a committee, or by reason of any matter or thing brought by the member in Parliament or a committee by petition, bill, motion or otherwise” ( Parliament (Powers and Privileges) Act 1955).

Internal Memo Uganda Parliament 2013

And lets not forget this act to called Parliament (Remuneration of Members) Act 1981, that is still active and give certain benefits the Members of Parliament. It came into effect on 1st July 1981 and is still active and this is what it says:

“4. Regulations:

“amenities” includes housing, transport, medical attention, domestic servants, security guards and secretarial services;

“Minister” means the Minister responsible for public service and Cabinet affairs”, (Parliament (Remuneration of Members) Act 1981).

So they have no cut the Income Tax because the Parliament Law of 1955 gives the Immunity and therefore are they under the provision of the exemption. That is not surprising, but that is a fact. So it is clear that the end of 9th Parliament will be self-serving an in their own interest and not for any common-good for the people.  And the ability of still having colonial laws that are active and not terminated is a little profound for me. As the NRM Regime have tried to rewrite everything, but seems that certain relics of the past is a good thing, if it gives them more power or ability to harass the opposition or control fellow peers. The Immunity of Members of Parliament together with Amenities and now the exception of Income Tax proves the levels of positive acts that are made for MPs to be able to paid salaries and amenties without paying Income Tax. That is astonishing and questionable. That the Minister of Parliament can get funding for housing, transport, medical attention, servants, securities and sectorial services without paying Income Tax on the Salary that are getting. With the benefit of Immunity!

So some laws from the Colonial Past and one law made by Obote II gives an edge together with the new amendment of a law made two years after the “Museveni Constitution” of 1995. Certainly there some ironies that the Members of Parliament are getting funded amenities under the NRM Regime because of President Obote and his UNLA and UPC fixed it 5 years before NRA overthrow them. But that is just me.

The levels of self-serving is just continuing the traditions in the Ugandan Parliament. This is all the way from 1955 to 2016. It might be 50 years apart, still the same mentality is there and the men of power wish to extent their power, if it is immunity, impunity or exception from taxes. The same powers and same common greed is there. As showed in the laws that inflicts the Cabinet and the Members of Parliament. Peace.  

Lukwago Bows to Pressure, Not Entering Office (Youtube-Clip)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VxcPRiDU2k

“Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago has finally bowed down to pressure and accepted not to get into office until court finally resolves his issues. Lukwago was advised by the deputy chief justice to wait for the hearing of the Attorney General’s appeal against high court orders that reinstated him into office” (NBS TV Uganda, 2016).

Lord Mayor April 2016

Dr. Stella Nyanzi sacking and eviction letters; This is a obvious Political Motivated Sacking from Makerere

Stella Makerere Letter 2. 2016Stella Makerere Letter 1. 2016

My two cents: 

This can only happen, because she has showed loyalty to Dr. Kizza Besigye and been open on Social Media for his Presidential Candidature. She as a Doctor would have had the Posistion; if she was a Yellow NRM Party Member and also Stayed silent if she was a Opposition Member. So this here is a Political Move to prove that the Makerere University and the MISR. This can’t be because of lack of work or ethical modus operandi at the University. So this is just a pointless sacking with Political Substance.

The Racketeering has now wings into all organizations, all businesses, all poltical activity get chain-reactions and the ones that tries to defy Don Museveni. Apparently deserves a sacking. This also ends with an eviction from her home with her family. So the Dr. Stella Nyanzi lost her job and home because of her affiliation to FDC instead of NRM. Congratulation to Makerere University for proving that they are on the knees and bending their hands to get more into their pockets from the racket of the NRM. Peace.

Letters on Karuma and Isma Dam and they “Quality of Work” from the Construction Company there.. Not looking good!

Karuma dam is going to produce electricity that is four times that of Jinja. These are things the media should focus on and not trivia” – President Museveni. 

There is movement on the Karuma and Isma Dam. Now are the two letters that are clarifying the situation and the works of the dam. I have said one or two words about it before. But I prefer that the letters says it all and express what is needed. This here is yet again a public fueled funding into a massive construction and energy project to prove the ability of the NRM to do something for the state.

Here is the first letter:

Letter Karuma Dam March 2016

Here is the second letter:

Letter Karuma Dam April 2016

Also this one – Energy Officials Ignores Warning on Karuama and Isma Dams, Written on 4th April 2016: 

Energy Infratech, the company said to be responsible for supervising works at the plants says that they have written over 1000 letters about shoddy work being done and the ministry officials seem to be giving a deaf ear, according to Mr.Velusamy Vasu, the Chief Executive officer.

ISO chief, Mr.Balya managed to commission a team to follow up the non compliance and they gave the report to President M7 who reffered the matter back to the Ministry. According to sources from ISO, they found out that the consultant kept raising the red flag to the contractor but Ministry officials kept covering up Sinohydro, and they suspect that they are shy bse there must have been money which crossed hands.

IMPLICATIONS

Should the work go on, we are likely to see a scenario wen Gilgel Gibe 111 dam high roller compacted concrete dam in Ethiopia and critical water passage tunnel collapsed. Should the works stop,there might be high litigation costs and tax payers money will be wasted. Ugandans will also suffer with low capacity of power since our target was 600MW frm Karuma and 183MW frm of Isimba.

We shall also experience constant repairs and faults in the plants. As youth leaders of this country for example Youth League, National Youth Council, what is you input? What is your role? This is a youth project of which you should be fighting for. Why wait for the old generation to plan for your future?

Youth power Research will be carrying out independent audits to all govnt projects and we shall always be giving our findings to the President’s office, Youth Ministry and other relevant stakeholders for action.

The writter is the Team Leader,Youth power Research Uganda,SG Uganda Poor Youth Movement and candidate for EALA.

My short take on it:

I think that is enough about it for now. Peace.

Don Musevei will chrush the ones that kills; Again showing no mercy to the ones playing in his playground!

UPDF Rwenzori

“I have no time to discuss the killing of innocent civilians or rape and defilement. Issues of security are not negotiable and I pity leaders who want me to meet them over killings. I have told them to tell their people to stop the killings or else we shall crush them”President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni (Daily Monitor, 14.04.2016).

Yet again there are certain quotes from the leadership of Uganda that are flabbergasting. This is disgusting and outrageous. While the Don Museveni the one behind the NRM Racketeering he has said worse during the year of 2016. That was talking about the certainty about the Army involvement in Rwenzori and Rwenzori Sub-Region. They continue to prosecute the people there. With this is the continuation of the Post-Election Violence where UPDF have gone in with full-force. Now it has been reported that Rwenzururu Kingdom Royal Guards are no disarmed and the Army is planning to be there for 1, 5 month more under their Operation Dissolution. As they continue to arrest locals and some of them might be killers from the clashes. There was regional killings in Bundibugyo and house-burning, so there certainly are violators, but also video footage are proving that State Agencies and Security Forces as Uganda Defense People’s Force (UPFD) and Uganda Police Force. So the killings and crush them down is believable, as the footage of killings of Rwenzururu Royal Guards both at the Palace and the Villages have clearly been targeted.

Museveni Rwenzori 07.04.2016

The last attack on Rwenzururu Kingdom came after Omusinga bwa Rwenzururu Charles Wesley Mumbere that asked for while negotiations with NRM man Captain Mike Mukula. So there are certainly UPDF plans behind this, as their deployment have become stronger after the attack on the Palace. It seems like it and the violence is endless and has lasted since the end of February. The government forces and Police have claimed about this “Kirumamutima” and “Yiira Republic” something that President Museveni has used again and again! And the reason why that is strange is that the reasoning; because it seems like a fiction and tale to clean the hands of the governmental forces. These Government Forces are spreading fear and even left many people living in IDP Camps and also villages left behind. So the stress and agony that has happens after in the area and the certainty of voting for FDC and not NRM.  Therefore the NRM Generals and NRM President, as I call the Don Museveni is using gangster tactics and killing Royal Guards demoting the kingdom and striving for being respected in the Rwenzori while also using the ethnical and tribes against each other to gain more power. Even it cost lives, because the Museveni want total control at any price. That is why he comes with treats again. So now he wants to crush them. Peace.

Steady Regress of Health Care in Uganda; 400 Cancer Patients to Nairobi and working the Cancer machine without license at Mulago!

Cobalt-Machine

Today yet more is covering up as the story of failings of Mulago Hospital Complex, former Kings Hospital of Mulago, where the Uganda Cancer Instute or the Cancer Ward is supposed to be. There the only Cobalt-60 Machine for Chemotherapy have been down for over a month. The one they have was bought in 1995. Dr. Jackson Orem have given two statements that counter each other and the reality of the matter, is that this is just sad, and not funny; though it is systemic default as the government are busy with creating Anti-Porn Bill Committee, instead of healing fellow citizens.

UCI Vote

The Ministry of Health Hon. Dr. Chris Baryomunsi has said in the Plenary Session in the Parliament that Aga Khan Hospital of Nairobi has offered for treatment of 400 cancer patients. So there will not be any patients who need treatment taken care of at Mulago, since the Uganda Cancer Institute has to wait for a new machine. Therefore the country does not a have the machinery for the treatment. That is sad enough to know at this point.

Then this comes up as well: “Mulago is operating the cancer machine illegally. The licence expired. Its Ugx 800,000 per year,” Parliament Watch quoted one of the council officials. “We could not give Mulago a new licence without addressing the safety measures we raised.” The official noted that Radiation workers in Mulago are not being monitored yet they are being exposed.“We visited Mulago in 2013 and we found out that the cancer machine was not in good conditions…We found out that the cancer machine in Mulago used to get stack. It had to be operated manually,” the official added” (Red Pepper, 2016).

Chris Baryomunsi Quote Daily Monitor

So the story of the Cancer Machine at Mulago does not stop up or silently goes away as this is the neglect of the government, ministry and the economic regress that the NRM Regime have put in place. This is happening in the time-span that they have been ordering more Anti-Riot Police Cars, tear-gas, bullets, ammunition and bribes for fellow NRM Elite, than fixing and procuring a new machine for the Cancer Treatment at the Mulaga Hospial Complex. It saddens me, and the more we know, the bleaker the state of affairs in the matter it seems. The end-game is that certain 400 lucky patients get treatment in Nairobi. But that is not how is supposed to be in Steady Progress mantra, this here is Steady Regress. Peace.

Reference:

Red Pepper – ‘Mulago is operating the cancer machine illegally — Atomic Agency Council’ (14.04.2016).

Picture of Week: Similarities between Amin and Museveni, yet again!

Idi Yoweri

Scary similarities, right?

Museveni Idi Amin

And this is just so special that the man who went ahead and got rid of a dictator, became alike; even using the same tactics and same ways of keeping power. So the times might are changing, but the leadership is the same, a military Political Party who controls the funds and tax-money. That is why certain facilities does not have the funds needed for the equipment while the Police Force and the UPDF have everything they need. Peace.

Dr. Kizza Besigye left Kasangati Magistrate Court with a “No Cash Bond” today; Will return to Court on 27th April!

Besigye Kasangati Magistrate Court 13.04.2016

Today, Dr. Kizza Besigye was in court for taken the wrong route through Kampala Metropolitan Area, when driving to the FDC Prayeers at Najjankumbi on the 5th April 2016. As the bond leaving Naggalama Police Station was claiming and charging him for a Illegal Procession towards Najjakumbi from Kasangati.

He could argue that it wasn’t planned and that he left alone in his own car from Kasangati and as long as he drove towards Najjankumbi through Kampala more people surged around him and tailed him. This should not be seen as illegal activity for a man trying to get to Central Kampala and meet with fellow Party Officials and Party Members at the Party Headquarter. But because this he got first hold and detained at Kiira Road Police Station, before moved to Naggalama Police Station in Mukono. And stayed there all day without reason, until he got “freedom” that evening.

Here is the result from Kasangati Magistrate Court on the case for now:

Besigye Kasangati Magistrate Court 13.04.2016

Besigye was granted: “has been granted non cash bail”. He will be back to Court on the 27th April as the case will be up-to court at that date. So this is yet another case where the Police Force and Magistrate facilitate to stall the verdict and the ruling. That is what happen today.

That is what the document also says, and should not be forgotten. An if he does not answer to the charge at that day, then the FDC Mobiliser Ingrid Turinawe  and Tonny Sempebwa have to cough-up UGX 2 Million! Peace. 

Besigye was the “Man About Town” in Kampala, today!

Kasangati 12.04.2016

This morning the Regional Police Commander Wesley Nganyizi came to Kasangati home of Dr. Kizza Besigye, not only for pleasant conversation about how the route to FDC Headquarter in Najjankumbi would be to the ‘Free My Vote’ Prayer. As we could see he was finally a bit active in town, allowed to be at FDC Headquarters and also to the bank. Wonder what next sightseeing for Kizza Besigye is as he was allowed to do party work and also take-out money from the Crane Bank.

12.04.2016 Kampala P1

He came also to inform Besigye about this:

“The police are running out of funds for abusing the rights of Besigye. The operation has become too costly and exhaustion has caught up with the force”.

12.04.2016 Kampala P2 Crane Bank

After the Prayers Besigye needed to take out money and went to the Crane Bank, as the FDC leader who had a Police Convoy from Kasangati to Najjankumbi, the same Police Convoy has followed him to the bank. The Police even sealed of the Crane Bank and the Kampala Road, while also chasing away people from the Bank because Besigye was there.

As he went there on the Kampala chaos started to occurs as the cars and the bank is sealed off while his car is monitored. The pictures show how much fuzz it creates with a Police Convoy around the Besigye in the central Kampala.

12.04.2016 Kampala P3

They really fear that the crowds will attach to him and his presence outside his home. Therefore the convoy even had boda-boda in civil that drove around with pepper-spray so that they will back-off from the convoy of Besigye. Peace.