Press Release: The African Union welcomes the Imminent Commencent of the Inter-Burundian Dialogue (25.12.2015)

StampBurundi

The AU reiterates its call on the Burundian Government to urgently consent to the deployment of the planned African Prevention and Protection Mission in Burundi

Addis Ababa, 25 December 2015: The Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union (AU), Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, continues to closely follow the situation in Burundi and efforts aimed at finding an early and peaceful solution to the current crisis.

In this context, she welcomes the resumption of the inter-Burundian dialogue in Entebbe, Uganda, on 28 December 2015, under the auspices of His Excellency President Yoweri Museveni. She calls on all the Burundian stakeholders to extend full cooperation to the Mediation and to place the interest of their country and its people above any other consideration. She reiterates that only a genuine and truly inclusive dialogue will enable the Burundian stakeholders to overcome the current challenges.

As a follow-up to the communiqué adopted by the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC), at its 565th meeting held on 17 December 2015, regarding notably the deployment of an African Prevention and Protection Mission in Burundi (MAPROBU), the Chairperson of the Commission has written to His Excellency President Pierre Nkurunziza of Burundi, to seek the consent of the Burundian Government for the early deployment of MAPROBU and the effective implementation of its mandate. In that letter, Dr. Dlamini Zuma stressed that the AU has no other agenda than to assist the Government and people of Burundi at their hour of need, consistent with its commitment to promote African solutions to African problems. She expressed the AU’s readiness to rapidly initiate discussions with the Government of Burundi to devise the best ways and means of facilitating the deployment of the Mission, in a spirit of mutual understanding and cooperation.

The Chairperson of the Commission has also written to the Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN), His Excellency Ban Ki-moon, to convey the PSC call for full UN support, including the authorization of a support package funded by assessed contributions, to enable the rapid and effective deployment of the envisaged Mission, on the basis of the expressed consent of the Government of Burundi.

The Chairperson of the Commission underlines that the deployment of MAPROBU and the effective implementation of its mandate will greatly help in defusing the current tension and reducing the level of violence. This, in turn, will facilitate the ongoing efforts to promote dialogue spearheaded by H.E. President Yoweri Museveni, on behalf of the Region.

As directed by the PSC, the Commission is taking steps to finalize the Concept of Operation and other planning documents for MAPROBU, to facilitate the early deployment of the Mission, on the basis of the expressed consent of the Government of Burundi.

Police tried to arrest an FDC supporter in Elegu Border Post…

Elagu Border Post Arrests FDC Supporter 24.12.15 P1

Today is the day where the Police again show their true color. In the border town of Elegu, the motorcycle driver was supposedly driving reckless and vile or as they claimed: “for dangerously riding a motorcycle”. But in all intentions was arrested for being a FDC-supporter and taken across town.

Elegu Border Post Arrests FDC Supporter 24.12.15 P2

Because they didn’t have any evidence or could charge the man they let him go! But this proves that the IGP Kale Kayihura and his police force are imbedded with the NRM. Peace.   

Elagu Border Post Arrests FDC Supporter 24.12.15 P3

Press Release: EU Statement on growing tension ahead of the Uganda February 2016 Elections (23.12.2015)

Ntungamo 13.12.15

The European Union notes with concern the increased tension in campaigning ahead of the February 2016 elections.

The European Union calls for all parties to exercise restraint, ensuring a climate conducive to peaceful, transparent and credible elections. In view of the recent cases of violence and counter violence, the EU invites in particular the Electoral Commission and the Ugandan Police Force to treat all occuring incidents with impartiality and neutrality, and to ensure a level playing field for all candidates allowing them to campaign without interference.

On the invitation of the Government of Uganda, an EU Electoral Observation Mission (EOM) will delpoy to Uganda on 28th December. The EU EOM will closely observe the election campaign and the role of law enforcement bodies.

Convoy of the People’s President and journalist’s harassed by Oulanyah’s men

FDC Campaign 22.12.15 Gulu

Today the FDC Presidential Flag-Bearer we’re on his way to rallies in Northern Uganda. We’re they didn’t get peace because of the Deputy Speaker Jacob Oulanyah.

The other issue for the clashes between the candidates was that Oulanyah we’re having a rally when Dr. Kizza Besigye wer’e supposed to have a campaign rally in Alalogi Sub-County. Will elaborate more on that…

FDC Convoy Attack 22.12.2015 P1

While this was happening the NBS TV crew was attacked by the men of Oulanyah. Also the NTV men were busy and the one running was NTV Camera-man Galiwango. This attack on journalists following the FDC Convoy was in Agago. The reports say that some of the attacks on the journalist was not only controlled by the Mr. Oulanyah and goup of locals at Aketket primary school Alalogi sub-county, Amoro-county Gulu district. Journalsts attached are Ronald Galiwango NTV, Anthony Palapande NBS and Francis Tumwekwasize freelance journalist. All camera men the incident happened when journalists were covering the scuffle between FDC supporters Deputy speaker Jacob Olanya. It’s alleged by FDC mobilisers that Jacob Olanya had occupied the same venue FDC had organized to hold the rally. When the woman MP Guru district Betty Acan to find out why they occupied the venue. Olanya ordered his body guard to block her. Acan also claimed Olanyah’s rally was illegal because of the Electoral Commission have suspended the rallies for Members of Parliament. Because she said so, that is why the havoc and madness happened in the area.

FDC Convoy Attack 22.12.2015 P2 NTV Cameramen

At the same time there we’re already before the convoy was coming to Gulu, the Gulu Hospital we’re shut and closed down so they would not a visit from the opposition presidential candidate. 

FDC Convoy Attack 22.12.2015 P3

They did also attack the FDC-Supporters. This can’t be justified. Another day in Uganda with election violence; wish it didn’t happen especially not into the Christmas season, but for the political candidates and their henchmen that doesn’t matter.

Peace!

UFP 22.12.15

Go-Forward Campaign Staffers and Volunteers that have been arrested since Ntungamo Rally

List of Go-Forward Members Arrested Late-2015

We can now see how stupid and foolish the Police of Uganda is or they just follow blindly the orders of their president in arresting Go-Forward people like they are common criminals. This is no doubt unjustified. Since the reports was that the Police together with NRM-Supporters was behind the Election Violence happening in Ntungamo recently. The one that has led into a vile state. The NRM-Regime looking like fools and the world knows the truth of the matter. The pictures and videos shows the tale. the NRM machine can lie to it’s supporters as much as they like, but that still doesn’t change the fact of what happen and how the Crime Preventers, NRM-Supporters and Police attacked and tried to destroy the mood and venue where Amama Mbabazi and their Go-Forward Camp/Campaign Team where holding their rally. Peace.

Kampala 21.12.15 Go-Forward Hq

 

President Museveni on ‪Ntungamo Clashes (Youtube-Clips)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MaLJOzKNGWw

“”Thugs attacked NRM supporters. They are being rounded up, you cannot attack Ugandans. How can you attack NRM supporters in Uganda?. They’ll regret it” (NBS TV Uganda, 2015).

Campaign Poster Paranoia

NRM - Go Forward 13.12.15

These election posters are both creating dismay and irregularities in this election period. The ongoing issues of the ruling-party have with the opposition. It is understandable that the Electoral Commission does do much about it. Since they are in bed with the ruling-party even if they are saying otherwise… Last piece of the puzzle is the Police that often help with the ruin of the opposition posters. So the opposition is alone fighting this, and final point is that the Presidential Posters are untouchable. That means if they have taken a spot on a wall or a dry-wall they have to stay there until end of times. Because the Police and Electoral Commission command the people to let it stays so. Let’s take look at recent movement on the ground concerning campaign posters in Uganda.

Recently there been issued statements by the Minister of Kampala Affairs Frank Tumwebaze that there is set fees for campaign posters in Kampala. This by all means is foolish idea and new way of grabbing money out of the pockets of candidates for Local Council members, Members of Parliament and Presidential Candidates. So there would be a giant pool of monies coming KCCA ways.

There have been all through the campaign and presidential campaigns people shunning, destroying or pinning over each others posters in the towns and villages where the campaigning goes on. Especially from NRM who has done deliberate actions against the Go-Forward Presidential Candidate Amama Mbabazi. Where they have either destroyed the posters like in Mbarara, Ntungamo or other places utterly displaced them. The pictures from the campaign trail shows it; at the same time the NRM posters are hanging like the holy father is hanging on the wall. Well, that is just plain foolish actions from the NRM and their police. Not unexpected. Here is some previous and recent attempts of foolishness from the same people!

Amama NRM 25.11.15

In June 2015 CP Fred Enanga said:

“The president is the fountain of honour and he enjoys absolute immunity for whatever actions and enjoys structural advantages. You cannot just pull down his pictures under whatever circumstances” (…)”But even then, he has not come out to make such pronouncement (that he will run in the 2016 presidential elections),” (Tumwine, 2015).

In Mbale in October 2015 this happen:

““We are following up on the owners. We are going to drag them to court for littering the town and the clock tower,” Mr Wambedde charged” (…)”He said it costs the municipality Shs20m to renovate the clock tower and littering it with campaign posters would cost more money to restore its face” (Namono, 2015).

25th November 2015 statement from Electoral Commission on Election Posters:

“The Commission warns the general public, candidates, their agents and supporters, that a person who malicious defaces or removes or tears any election poster of any nominated candidate commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment”.

The last one was written and published by Eng. Dr. Badru M. Kiggundu, that means that the Police and NRM supporters are to blame and liable for convictions for destroying and pinning over election posters of Amama Mbabazi, if your words actually means something right? Wonder why the Police doesn’t address themselves or they collect the NRM supporters who conduct this affairs. I wonder why, wait, they are loyal cronies of the regime and henceforth is free by law, or am I wrong? I don’t know, but that is what it seems by the minute, because Mr. Kiggundu hasn’t done anything in all the actions of destroying or pinning over posters across the country all of December. That means his words from November doesn’t comply to them apparently (it’s not stated by their words by the nature of their actions).

Honest NRM Poster 2015

A viral NRM Poster taking off:

“A honest political campaign poster of a Ugandan man who is seeking for a public office has gone viral and has got people talking on social media” (…)”An aspirant for Kisementi Municipality identified as Eric Mununuzi’s campaign poster has been making rounds on social media as he reportedly decided to tell the electorate the simple truth” (Nigeria News, 2015).

In Kayungu Hospital 18th December 2015:

“Dr.Kakooza on Wednesday blocked the district NRM publicity secretary Mutwalid Kizza from pinning Museveni’s campaign posters, saying the posters will damage walls during time of removal after campaigns” (…)”I got this job on merit and I am ready to be sacked for doing what I am supposed to do and if that one happens, I will go and work elsewhere in the world because I hold an international degree in human medicine and surgery,”(…) “Kakooza told New Vision when asked whether he does not fear to be sacked from the job” (Election.co.ug, 2015).

Early this morning the 19th December 2015:

“Kayunga Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr.Francis Kakooza Arrested For Blocking The Pinning Of Museveni Campaign Posters on the Hospital Walls”.

Amama 17.11.15 Poster

Afterthought:

There is reasonable ways of seeing this. Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) feels the need to levy laws to regain more money from the Local Candidates, Mayoral candidates, Members of Parliament and Presidential Candidates to pay for the service of having the ability to put up posters in and around Kampala City. I want to wish Frank Tumbewaze a Grinchy moment and wish to serve his greed. Even if it is Jennifer Musisi who thinks that this is the way to be able to gain the money they need to fuel the rail-service that they just opened in town, or maybe I am wrong. I am sure it is to keep the town in order or clean… no then I am talking about somebody else.

This poster thing has been an issue through the whole election period. It’s like a constant feature in the actions of especially NRM supporters and DPC who displays their lack of moral standing and ethics towards other parties. They are solely behind most of the destruction and malicious actions towards the others party’s posters in towns, cities and villages. Like the pictures of torn posters of the Go-Forward/TDA U from NRM, either destroyed or pinned over with a poster off Mzee. So there are issues there.

The other issue is that people fear taking down campaign posters of the Mzee or the NRM presidential candidate. Therefore earlier in the election before the Road Map was even started and the opposition rallies was bombarded by the Police, a police officers and military men was open to media telling they feared both the president and taking down campaign material. Therefore I am sure your still seeing campaign posters from 2010 and 2005 still hanging on walls around the country, not only the new for 2015. That’s because for the fear of taking it down for the repercussion as an act against His Excellency President Museveni.

This comes with the actions towards opposition parties posters proves that in this simple and easy step proves by all means that there is not a level playing field in this elections. When one poster has the ground and can be pinned over the opposition, even by police officers, while the same police guarding and supervising the NRM supporters or Crime Preventers to destroy campaign posters of the opposition, proves the malice that are from the governing party and the NRM-Regime.

The Mbale Clock Tower is a landmark, I understand that, that isn’t a political move, but more a placement of wrong material, and there are more fitting walls in Mbale. That is something the local politicians and national politicians should keep to make sure of the state of the town.

Kayunga Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr. Frank Kakooza has said no to all of the opposition candidates to put up campaign posters inside the Hospital. He was afraid of the dry-walls and also of the effect it might have on the patience of the hospital. There might also be the thing of how it will be perceived if there election material in a state institution, even if there is often NRM material in the Police stations, because we all seen their allegiance to the government and regime, there hasn’t been visible touches of that in health institutions. Still, since he has stood up against pinning NRM and Mzee Campaign posters in the Hospital. He said he feared of sacking and today that happen. The Superintendent did it for the best of the Hospital and not to be in the way of the NRM-Regime. That doesn’t seem to matter since he didn’t facilitate to hang up NRM campaign poster in the facility.

The Election Poster saga will continue and will not stop. As long as we have the NRM-Regime because they will keep their nest and power; showing that by keeping up the work and also posters in the towns. So this here will be discussed during this period until February 2016 and should be after. It is just about a certain point of showing your ways towards the ones who is not in your party. NRM can run it like they do and they have to give way for the opposition. Not like they have acted in this election. That is not acceptable. Peace.

Reference:

Election.co.ug – ‘NRM supporters force posters into hospital’ (18.12.2015) link: http://www.elections.co.ug/new-vision/election/1413694/kayunga-hospital-boss-nrm-leaders-clash-museveni-posters

Nigeria News – ‘Controversial Campaign Poster In Uganda Currently Trending Online (Photos)’ (12.11.2015) link: http://news2.onlinenigeria.com/africa/440589-controversial-campaign-poster-in-uganda-currently-trending-online-photos.html

Namono, Caroline – ‘Mbale council pulls down campaign posters’ (24.10.2015) link: http://www.monitor.co.ug/SpecialReports/Elections/Mbale-council-pulls-down-campaign-posters/-/859108/2926806/-/m8vt1g/-/index.html

Tumwine, Albert – ‘We cannot pull down Museveni posters- Police’ (16.07.2015) link: http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/We-cannot-pull-down-Museveni-posters–Police/-/688334/2753854/-/lr6i1x/-/index.html

Quotes of the Day from Ibrahim Nganda Ssemujju

Ibrahim Nganda Ssemujju

Ibrahim Nganda Ssemujju on the radio today:

A “Capital Gang” panelist and MP Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda said of the opinion poll: “I know even Ofwono Opwono [the deputy government spokesman] does not believe” that if we held an election today, President Yoweri Museveni would defeat opposition presidential candidate Dr. Kiiza Besigye in Kampala.

“Someone in the lead doesn’t behave the way the Ofwono Opondo’s group [the NRM campaign team of Museveni] is behaving, the kind of panic that you see. They’ve had meetings in my constituency, quarrelling, beating each other where money has not reached…There is one [candidate, Museveni] who will continue quarrelling, closing hospitals, abusing the media like you saw him in Soroti declaring [the Daily] Monitor and NTV enemy media, one candidate who is consistently quarrelling not only with his team but everybody. Unfortunately, the opinion polls say that candidate is leading.”

MoU between European Union and Government of Uganda concerning observation of the 2016 General Elections

Mou EOM GoU 2015

EU accepts invite to observe Feb 2016 polls, signs MoU with GoU. Electoral Observers arrive 28/12.

President Museveni Quits Burundi Talks For Campaigns (Youtube-Clip)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-sbHr2kaEE

“He has been mediating the talks since fighting broke out in Burundi early this year. Due to his tight schedule due to campaigns he has appointed Defense Minister Chrispus Kiyonga” (NBS TV, Uganda, 2015).