Opinion: 82 able-bodied persons don’t have the time for the August house…

The failure of some Ministers to regularly attend house brings business to a standstill, remember you are here for you to be able to respond as the Executive, remember we are holding these offices in public trust, and when you abdicate your responsibility as Ministers, that is breach, as leaders. Let us do what we are sent to do, let us be responsible enough. The absence of Ministers impedes the efficiency and effectiveness of the Legislature” – Speaker Anita Among (07.09.2023)

In the 11th Parliament, there is 82 appointed ministers. That includes three Deputy Prime Ministers and several other ministers under the Office of the President and Office of the Prime Minister, which all have different mandates. Alas, there isn’t only the problematic issue of what a difference between a Senior and Junior Minister, but also the various of complicated approaches or duplications created with these ministers. When you know that… you understand why people are not showing in Parliament or knowing if it is their turn.

The bloated government structure of President Yoweri Tibuhurwa Kaguta Museveni has been like this for years. It is not even looking into the amount of Senior Presidential Advisors or Staff in connection with the State House. No, this is just the mere appointees into his cabinet. It is so vast and huge, as they have trouble remembering what they are supposed to do. If not… there is someone else on the detail anyway. So why bother, right?

These Ministers has a fancy title and a salaries. These people are well off and getting paid. Regardless of what they need to do or what sort of work they have to put in. When there are so many in the same office and within the same parameter. It is hard to know which of the Ministry of Agriculture your supposed to talk too. There are one Senior and at least three junior with all different “missions”. Alas, that is where the problem remain.

This is created by the President and it’s his making. It is the system and creation of Museveni. He has ensured this mess. There are to many chefs and a small kitchen to make the feast. It doesn’t have the space or ability to fit them all. The Ministers can complain about workload or traffic-jams in Kampala. However, they still need to report to the Plenary Sessions and answer to outstanding questions or remaining oversight from the Parliament. That’s their duty and they are bound by law to do so.

I understand that the Speaker wants to do a grand standing and show character here. That she is the one and has the direct line to the President. As she’s tired of the lack of care or concern of the plenary sessions. As the Ministers are not there to answer or to even show work ethic. Alas, they are bound to end up like that when several of people are indirectly working for the same or just small pockets of it. Unless, they are directed to work on one bill, one vote or answer to questions about one motion. Which happens to be within their ministry and field. However, in some of these instances it could be two or three Ministers that could show up for one thing easily. Who is the person and what gives?

There needs to made an effort for the duplicated ministries and the people involved to know their turn. Secondly, the Speaker and Deputy Speaker have to have a hands on approach. If not have the Secretariat or Staff in their offices to fix these things. They got to direct it and tell when its appropriate for them to show up. Because, I could easily see several people showing up from Ministry of Works or Ministry of Gender etc. It is just so easy to see a few Ministers popping by, because they are guessing it is their turn. While in some cases, because of the way the Cabinet is organized. There was only one who was intended, but the Offices are so intertwined that its hard to follow suit…

So, yes the Ministers should show up and answer the call of the Parliament. That’s what they are supposed to do. There are 82 individuals who knows their place and turn. These should be notified and get a heads up. So, they know it isn’t another one of them. Since there are so many and they are so connected together. That’s why plenty of the 82 ministers are unknown to people, even if they were appointed in 2021 and we are in September 2023. The amount of Ministers makes things hectic and stressful.

This is the creation of Museveni and he is the one to blame for all of it. The cabinet is his making and because of his need to give all of his peers or cronies jobs. That’s what he does and this is why they don’t know what to do. Peace.

Opinion: Speaker Among has become to powerful [as she’s policing journalism now!]

UPDATE: Bugiri Municipality MP,Asuman Basalirwa just forwarded a WhatsApp message to speaker Anita Among who asked her guards to arrest Radio One/Akaboozi FM journalist Jude Bukenya (sender),who was investigating a scandal at parliament” (Rise News Uganda Network, 05.09.2023).

“Our speaker is like a goddess. She’s the 3rd in order of national precedence. I can’t allow foolish journalists to joke with her name. I hope that idiot from Radio One gets killed wherever he’s being detained. Never play on Among’s name,”~Bugiri municipality MP Asuman Basalirwa” (The Kampala Journal, 05.09.2023).

The Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among has to much influence. She got the Uganda Police Force (UPF) on speed-dial. Apparently, she has the rights to detain and get people arrested. That’s done pre-emptively and without any consideration of the law. All she has to do is order her guards and they fixes it for her.

The journalist of Radio One/Akaboozi FM Jude Bukenya was only doing his job. We also see what sort of man Asuman Basalirwa MP is. We already knows he has little to no heart for people who isn’t like himself. His a man who calls himself a human rights lawyer, but has a jaded vision of what that really entails. When he rats people out and is proud of getting them arrested. Instead of considering the work of Bukenya and his rights to investigate the speaker as a journalist.

This is criminalizing a profession. It shows how dangerous it is to touch or even try to expose the high and mighty. They are only allowing certain amount of scandals or pre-planned leaks, as cabinet reshuffle or fall-guy for the President. The rest can use the authorities and the law enforcement in their own hands.

We have already seen that the Speaker acts above the law. She has worked outside her mandate in regards to the opposition. Speaker Among is partisan and a soldier for the cause. While her arrogance and her demeanour will be her downfall. Eventually she do something wrong or become to high on her own supply. That Mzee or associates have to tell him to clip her wings.

Speaker Among enjoys the privilege and the power. She bashes in it and has a wonderful time in office. Right now Among is at her peak and feeling the glory. That’s why men like Basalirwa will serve her and they allies. Basalirwa got his private motion and private bill enacted and he has felt like a Prince ever since. That he matters and the Speaker allows it.

It is just amazing that the Speaker can do this and without any hesitation. That’s how both Basalirwa and Among values others. As they are brutally arresting someone and without justifiable cause. Only out of spite and revenge. There is nothing substantial and the truth will exposed eventually. As secrets and leaks will appear. Especially, the moment the Speaker falls out with the master and his close associates. That’s when she’s the next washed up politician to fall on her sword.

Speaker Among should be careful. She is not only criminalizing journalism, but using force, which can easily one day turn against her. As a Speaker she will not be worried about that today. However, all lessons comes at a later point. When that happens – it is too late to say – I told you so. Peace.

Uganda: Director of Public Prosecutions Jane Frances Abodo – Circular No. 18/2023 – Re: Managment of Cases with Charges preferred under the Anti-Homosexuality Act 2023 (25.08.2023)

Opinion: Muhoozi needs to get the memo…

General Muhoozi Kainerubaga, the Senior Presidential Adviser For Special Operations and the Army Commander, the former Commander of the Land Forces and the former commander of the Special Forces Command (SFC). The avenger of the father, President Yoweri Tibuhurwa Kaguta Museveni. That man better listen and do it quickly.

The man is toying around with becoming his fathers successor. That’s been in the cards since the revelation of a “Project Muhoozi” in 2013. However, the times has changed and it isn’t even controversial. The General and First Son is now in the open campaigning for himself. His appointing his team and building his political platform/Pressure Group or future political party the MK Movement. Which is the Revitalized-National Resistance Movement (R-NRM) in many regards. Therefore, we know what is coming. If it isn’t in 2026, it is in 2031 or before that even. Depending on the sudden departure or end of his father. That is something nobody knows except for the almighty.

Let’s just be clear. The knowledge of coup d’etat’s and the sudden overthrow of despotic governments happen. Not only in West Africa, but elsewhere too. Things just has to get so grim and hopeless. That some patriotic or army commander steps in to fill the void. They come in as fresh air and believe they can spark reform and make a vast difference in the Republic. However, a lot of times… they just become alike the ones they overthrow. Just like the father became like every single one of them ones he toppled and has an even worser records as time goes by.

Muhoozi should read the room and should be careful. He can easily end up like Ali Bongo. If not be like one of the kids of Gadaffi. There is nothing that is certain. Even if he gets to inherit the throne after his father. We saw how suddenly things changed in Libreville. Same has happened in other nations too and it isn’t foreign to happen in Uganda either.

The only difference in Uganda is that his father used this method on several occasions and ensure to compromise or settle his opponents. In such a fashion that he bought himself peace and hope. That lasted for decades. However, Muhoozi isn’t the same breed or the same sort of character. Neither does he have the mental capacity or the charisma to pull it off. He cannot even dance on stage or show finesse in speeches. His living in a deluded world of “yes-men” thinking his the closest thing to God. While his just a mere mortal and not a demi-god like he think he is. Why do I say that?

Well, his invading Nairobi in three days. I don’t think he could barricade Kololo within 48 hours either. Except burning it down like the Palace in Kasese. This man isn’t a builder or a man of the future. No, Muhoozi is a man of the past before even settling into office. He got nothing to deliver and has no clue of how to achieve anything. Everything been handed to him and catered to him. The arrogance and the entitlement will haunt him.

Just like the funk musician of Gabon. The soldier of Entebbe or Kampala will be shell of man in office. He needs fellow wise-guys to takeover and be the shining star. However, we know that Muhoozi don’t want to share the spotlight and neither intends to share his power either. His a greedy and spoiled man. That’s why his bound to fail. He don’t have the character or the ability to figure this out. The Balaam of this world is only using him as a tool for personal gains and why shouldn’t he?

Muhoozi cannot grasp that and thinks his right. The arms and guns will turn on him. The moment the centre is weak and lacks courage. The moment the General and his men are not watching. That’s when the coup-makers will strike and his demise will be televised. The words of the fall of Muhoozi would create scenes of celebration across the Republic. The son of the tyrant and the end of tyranny. It would be finalization and end the chapter of the 1986 brigade. Because, Muhoozi lives on this myth and legend. He will further it in his quest of making the family a dynasty. However, it will fail and Muhoozi lacks the vital pieces of leadership skills to push things through. He needs others to facilitate and prepare for him. That’s why his a vessel that is bound to sink.

He might not see it himself. Regardless of that… his not that clever or smart to grasp the reality. Neither does he want to accept it. That would be humiliating and he wouldn’t be able to live with himself. His supposed to be next best thing, but his not. He never will be… and that’s why he could easily ask the public to “make some noise” after he was the avenger, the ruthless leader and the son of tyrant. That he wants people suddenly to save him. While he was in power… he didn’t mind keeping people incommunicado, kidnapped, tortured or even killed to ensure longevity of the regime. Nevertheless, the moment the army turns on him and they arrests him. He will beg for mercy and be humble.

Until then… he will act like the Crown Prince, the next in line to takeover from his father. Peace.

A look into Bobi Wine’s response to Mzee on suspension of World Bank loans…

It is you, Sir, who has left undone what you ought to have done, and did that which you ought not have done. There is no truth in you. Just take a long, hard look in the mirror” (Bobi Wine, 24.08.2023).

That Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine wrote a text and published it today. This is telling the importance, because Bobi Wine is the leader of the National Unity Platform (NUP) and the biggest contender for the Presidency at the moment. The 2021 elections if it wasn’t a rigged affair. It would have been his and he would have won it. However, we know the game is rigged and there is no true will of the people.

In this regard it is interesting to see what sort of retort Bobi Wine uses. Because, we know the drill and I have also retorted to President Museveni. Though this was a long awaited call, but a useful one.

Bobi Wine starts with this: “Gen Museveni, Your recent outburst about the World Bank withholding future assistance to Uganda is a clear indication of your ideological disorientation and policy nomadism that has characterised your four-decade rule. You wasted twenty-seven pages trying to distort history and divert reality, that an average reader was left wondering who is (or has been) in charge of Uganda” (Bobi Wine, 24.08.2023).

He is speaking facts, but you see how he calls him. That’s telling of the vision and how he perceives Museveni. His a General and not the President. A man of the guns and arms. Museveni was telling porkies and making a mockery attempt to swift blame elsewhere. However, that’s been his game since the start of his career. That is all Museveni knows and what he does to make himself look better.

Bobi Wine continues: “To date, you cannot account for the demise of the country’s textile, public transport, food processing, leisure facilities, agricultural cooperatives, and manufacturing capacity that made places like Jinja, Bushenyi, Masaka and Mbale shining beacons of the potential that our young country possessed. You have replaced Uganda’s public capital with miserable gimmicks like Operation Wealth Creation, replaced hitherto thriving agricultural cooperatives with non-starters called SACCOs. The NRA is not and was never the innocent, well-meaning, and foresighted actor that you portray it to be. It was and remains – as NRM – a corrupt, violent force that has played a major role in the delayed socioeconomic transformation of Uganda. Neo-colonialism is alive and well under you, Sir” (Bobi Wine, 24.08.2023).

Here again he issues the cold hard truth. The reality of what the reign of Museveni has brought. There is little to show for it and Museveni’s men has dismantled a lot of possible “value additional industries” across the Republic. That’s been done through incentives and with the hands of the neocolonial institutions after the Bush-War. As the subsidizes and the Co-Ops, and even vital agricultural boards was destroyed. So, Bobi Wine is right and Museveni is just trying to pin this all on them, instead of taking the blame himself for accepting the stipulations in office. Museveni has sold off and destroyed a lot potential for a quick buck. That’s why industries has failed and no real long-term policy has been enacted, which could have made a vast difference.

Bobi Wine further states: “Out of the nine men who have occupied the office of the President in the past 61 years since our supposed independence, you’re the undisputed champion of neo-colonial and neoliberal agendas. It is under your regime that the sale of public service infrastructure – under the guidance and encouragement of the same World Bank that you are blaming now – occurred. You have presided over the reckless liberalisation, extreme de-regulation, and sacrifice of our public sector at the altar of foreign interests. We can see through your hypocrisy” (Bobi Wine, 24.08.2023).

It is just rich reading this. The talking points and the way Bobi Wine describes things. This shows political maturity and deep understanding of things. It is commendable. The way that he debunks and says what Museveni contributed too. Which we all have seen and Museveni was a donor darling for a reason. He played and danced to their songs. Because that was easy money and he could eat of their plate. That’s why he accepted the stipulations and played with them. He didn’t have to work and still he could live lavish. Therefore, Bobi Wine undresses Museveni perfectly here.

Bobi Wine writes: “Your prioritisation of regime survival has destroyed, among other things, the district, national referral hospital system, and public health infrastructure generally. As a result, the formerly reliable hospitals in Iganga, Itojo, Mbale, Soroti, and Lira are now moribund, understaffed and under-equipped death traps that you replaced with equally miserable health centres. Your salvation lies in the fact that the United States Agency for International Development subsidises your failures by supporting critical public health needs, including catering for our military’s health and medical needs. So who is the neocolonialist here?” (Bobi Wine, 24.08.2023).

It is like Bobi Wine just shoots a hole in any argument or reasoning Museveni had in his piece. His just piercing through it. Making enough holes to call him a Swiss Cheese. Bobi Wine is cleverly telling the tale of how Aid, Loans and Grants are the saving grace of the regime. Which has been stated by plenty before him. This is nothing new, but special that someone of Bobi Wine says it this openly. As it undermines the story and the tales that Museveni wants about himself. Museveni wants to be supreme and the all-knowing leader. The man with all the answers, but like always he needs other people’s money to foot his bills. That’s why Bobi Wine’s words are so rich and detailed and utterly destroys the reasoning of Museveni.

Near the end, Bobi Wine wrote these fitting words: “Accordingly, it is the height of fiction and deceit, for you to make the deliberately false prediction that “in a few years” Uganda’s economy will hit the half-a-trillion dollar mark. A cursory look at the revenue collection challenges the URA has experienced over the past several quarters, and the high mortality rates of SMEs tells you everything you need to dismiss this baseless projection. The truth is usually brief, so I need not elaborate these self-evident points in the same way you wrote nearly thirty pages to explain your ‘successes’ after almost 40 years in power! That you even had to ‘highlight’ for the country your supposed successes should tell you everything you need to know” (Bobi Wine, 24.08.2023).

As I did discuss in my retort to Museveni. It showed that the lack of domestic revenue was a reason for the failure of progress and development. That’s why the World Bank loans, grants or aide hadn’t sufficiently created the purposed goals of investment or value of money. This is why it’s a well drafted and expose to say these things. Museveni knows his at fault, but easier to blame a neocolonial institution, than take blame himself. Because, he has had the time to do so and get things done in a proper manner. However, we all know that he prefers the get-rich schemes and eat of the plate of others. That’s what he has done and it’s the reason why the World Bank loans haven’t been enough.

Bobi Wine wrote a splendid piece here and shows political maturity. The ones underestimating him… they should fear him. He proves his calibre here and it should be respected. Bobi Wine could have taken plenty of avenues, but picked this one. Peace.

Opinion: OO’s maverick response to the World Bank…

With 530 MPs, 82 ministers, and thousands of other personnel on public payroll but whose real contributions to the country’ progress cannot be measured, many areas of duplication, wastefulness, and pervasive corruption, yet plenty of resources, Uganda probably deserves neither pity nor World Bank (WB) loans. There are faint-hearted quislings who falsely believe that foreign aid and loans are indispensable, yet it is possible to do without, but only if we enforced better planning and prioritization, frugality, transparency, strict accountability, effective implementation and supervision of plans and projects to the desired results” (OO, 19.08.2023).

Today I was seeing the article of Government Spokesperson Ofwono Opondo. The man who is the head of the Uganda Media Centre and is a defender of the National Resistance Movement (NRM). That man has dropped a very unique article on the UMC pages. This is titled: “WITH 530 MPS, 82 MINISTERS; UGANDA DESERVES NEITHER PITY NOR WORLD BANK LOANS” and it was published on the 19th August 2023. So, I lost a few days, but “oh” what a gem of a piece this is.

I did not expect him to use reasoning of the opposition and the defiant members of the Republic. Because, the manner of how he was introducing the piece. That could have been written by any sincere opposition leader and who would have talked down upon the NRM. OO is using talking points that is opposition based on the first paragraph of his piece. This has been addressed and been a key component in the drive for good governance. However, the President and his “yes-men” are in it and they want plum-jobs, which His Excellency is providing.

OO continues: “The fickle reason advanced by the WB, and others to halt future loan and grant considerations to Uganda over the recently enacted anti-LGBTQ+ law, should, in fact be a silver-lining below the dark cloud and compel government into fiscal consolidation and discipline. It’s fickle because the enactment of the law and before, there hasn’t been any reported case of harassment or discrimination of LGBTQ+ persons in Uganda. And well, WB has previously frozen lending to Uganda over myriad of issues, some very flimsy. It’s possible it’s under pressure from LGBTG+ groups hence issuing a hasty statement not supported by any evidence over an abhorrent lifestyle that is still contested including in western countries” (19.08.2023).

Here the true character and nonsense of OO begins. When he goes into defence mode and defending the regime. This is him trying to clean the facade and make everything shiny. However, there is known oppression and targeting of the LGBTQ+ before the law. There been extra judicial killings and blocking of events. NGOs and CSOs has been in the firing line too for their involvement or participation in it. Therefore, OO must think we are fools… Yes, there are Western nations and others who has targeted the same minority. Still, with that in mind… two wrongs doesn’t make one wrong right. Just to be straight about it.

In the end of the piece he writes this: “President Museveni in particular, has been and continues to mobilize Ugandans, and Africa to stop exporting raw materials because it denies us true value, employment, revenues, skills and technology transfer, while making us completely dependent on outsiders. With such a stance, Museveni becomes a target for blackmail. President Museveni has stopped the export of raw minerals especially gold, iron ore, uranium, oil and petroleum among others, and as well unprocessed agricultural produce like milk, beef, cocoa and coffee which may all soon require enactment of laws and the west isn’t amused. All these, if well coordinated and implemented as should be throughout Africa, and the global South the main producers and suppliers of cheap raw goods will certainly disadvantage, if not ruin the prevailing Western dominated World order. And surely the West will seek to withdraw the little support they currently offer, and impose sanctions as well. Therefore, the WB strike at Uganda must be seen from a broader perspective, and not just LGBTQ+ disputes” (OO, 19.08.2023).

He comes with the idea that the World Bank and the West is collectively stopping industrialization or progress on the continent. While the World Bank itself in reports has stated the lack of domestic revenue and boosting the economy from within. The loans, grants or aide wouldn’t deliver the needs or even be able to keep up the upkeep as it was. This is why the government spokesperson pins the blame on outsiders, but the regime took the money and the strings attached to it. They accepted the terms and condition. While they ate the funds and didn’t deliver on the promise either. Therefore, it is high and mighty to blame “the West” and say they created this “world order”.

OO needs to get his arguments straight and also reasoning behind it. As he started the piece by blaming the Republic and the Government he represent himself. However, in the end of the piece. It is the West and their “world order”. While we know the NRM and Museveni has accepted and signed off on the financial instruments of the West. He accepted the mechanisms and the expectations of the fiscal funds disbursed to Uganda. Therefore, it is really special to blame them for everything after the fact.

The government spokesperson should look into own records and own achievements. As they where tied to the funding from World Bank and other similar entities. They invested and promoted Museveni as a “new breed” of leadership. Alas, he knows this and now wants to use the LGBTQ+ as a shield as well. While the World Bank isn’t in the right in the slightest of suspending the loans over the Anti-Homosexuality Act. They should have ceased funds over the impunity, the injustice and the oppressive behaviour of the state towards dissidents. That should have been the red flag and it should have acted accordingly. However, they only did it for one minority and their lifestyle. That’s why the NRM and OO has ammunition. As they feel the hypocrisy and it’s so obvious…

He ends with: “The west, aided by local poodles have run a global web of lies and manipulation which presented Chinese as insidious spies, Russians as evil mobsters, Muslims as terrorists, and Africans as murders and dictators. They present themselves as world heroes fighting for justice to save humanity. To survive and triumph, Africa collectively must strengthen and coordinate internal resistance” (OO, 19.08.2023).

In true Nollywood or Hollywood fashion, OO ends up with the utmost clichés. His speaking like everyone does this and believes these things. It is like he has found the villains in movies and thought this was facts. While fiction is fiction. Yes, there are political realignment and new diplomatic responses. There are undermining factors and a bigger picture at play. We know OO wants to defend dictatorship and his Boss Museveni. That’s his life work at this point and his livelihood. So, I cannot blame OO for trying.

While that was being said… his defence is weak. Only smearing the West but coming with hollow words… and sounding like he has read Hollywood scripts for action movies. Yes, the West has struggled with “white man’s burden” and that’s a legit thing to question. Especially, the real motives or ambition behind the funds or the aide in general. There is a need for broader conversation about that and what’s the purpose in the end. As there has been lacking results, but a huge payout of currency from the West to the African continent over the years.

That OO asks for resistance is brave. If the Africans was resist and do as he asks. That would mean the public would rise up and create revolutions. Revolutions that would target NRM and overthrow it. That’s the resistance that can end the addiction of foreign aide, grants or loans. This is the only way the measures or mechanisms of World Bank can loose it’s relevance… and OO doesn’t want to poke at that dragon. The “walk to work” proved that the NRM or Museveni couldn’t carry it forever, if people obeyed or tried to push them out. However, they where able to keep afloat and get by. That’s why OO has a job still and the NRM is in power to this day.

OO really stunned with this one. His trying two things at once. Trying to sound reasonable and be aggressive towards outsiders. His only partly reasonable and that’s when he used opposition talking point. When he was aggressive was when he grievances and addressed the World Bank or the West. Nevertheless, I didn’t buy it and he isn’t cutting it. Surely the NRM will be happy about this piece. Though it is a slap in their face, as the government spokesperson spoke ill of their gerrymandering ways or duplicated government organizations created by his Master, Museveni. Peace.

Opinion: Mzee is gaslighting everyone on the World Bank…

On the contrary, those loans and aid packages, can be a source of distortion and stunted growth as you can see across Africa. If foreign aid and loans, are a source of social-economic transformation, why the present growing crisis of even security and stability in Africa?” (Museveni, 17.08.2023).

Yes, we can morally question the World Bank for its reasons to cease to give new loans or grants to the Republic of Uganda. That is fair and assess the reasoning behind that is a matter of debate. As they are only doing it for one sole purpose and not for how the Republic itself is run or what sort of leadership it has. The World Bank has been in dialogue and been in negotiations with the Republic plenty of times over the years. The World Bank has been coordinating and ensuring development projects, budget support and other measures for the benefit of the Republic of Uganda. Therefore, they know the costs and the suffering, which will come with a ceasing of operating or offering support there.

That President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni uses the populist angle isn’t surprising. He has done so in regard to the Anti-Homosexuality Act and he thrives on it. It is easy political currency and now he can vilify the West and their means to an end. While his not coming with solid proof or reasons for his onslaught. He is acting like we don’t know he used to be a donor darling and a man of the West.

Museveni lived large and got big aid-money after the Bush-War. He was the new breed of leadership and the hope of a brighter future. Museveni and the likes was easy to sell and he was supposed reformer, a man of principals and a man with a vision. However, that was all false and narratives sold to make him feasible for the many.

That’s why I will only take a few words from a World Bank report, which is an assessment of the Poverty Eradication Action Plan (PEAP). That respectfully got funding from World Bank, which the report states this: “The total amount disbursed for the first PRSC5-7 series was $462 million ($137 million for PRSC5, $125 for PRSC6, and $200 million for PRSC7). PRSC5 was approved on January 17, 2006 and PRSC7, the last in the series, closed on November 30, 2009. The amount disbursed for the second PRSC8-9 series was $200 million ($100 million each operation). Because of delays in reform implementation and a corruption scandal involving diversion of bilateral donor resources, approval of PRSC9 was delayed” (World Bank – Report No. 96202, June 29, 2015).

When you read that and that’s only through one mechanism and one way of the World Bank. There are other ways that the Republic got funds or grants. This through the International Monetary Funds (IMF) or elsewhere, which isn’t covered here. Neither is this a overlook or a total oversight of the funds or grants given to Uganda. Only the ones through PEAP. That says something about how much money that was coming in and could be spent by the Republic or their respective government agencies, in coordination with the World Bank.

The report further states:

On the positive side, the PRSCs helped finance Uganda’s budget within this broader budget support framework and shared priorities, contributing to macroeconomic stability and to maintaining public spending on basic social services (education, health, and water and sanitation) that otherwise would not have been possible given the low domestic revenue mobilization. The Bank also maintained broad and high-level policy dialogue with the government” (…) “But in their drive to extend budget support focused primarily on social sector expenditures, the Bank and the other budget support donors missed a major opportunity to help significantly increase domestic revenue mobilization, which would have made these gains more sustainable. In the event, as the donor budget support began to decline in 2009 and then came to an abrupt halt in 2012 as a result of a corruption episode with bilateral donor funds, low domestic government revenues––at 13 percent of GDP–– increasingly put pressure on public expenditures on basic social services. As a result, these services became underfunded and outcomes began to suffer in education and, especially, health. Even in water and sanitation––a comparative sector success story–acute underfunding is threatening to reverse past gains in access, especially in the most vulnerable rural areas” (World Bank – Report No. 96202, June 29, 2015).

This here report just shows how quickly the gains was lost. Also, what was offered and how the Republic itself didn’t galvanize the domestic revenue. Therefore, the NRM and the government itself didn’t do its due diligence, but hoped for a “helping hand” indefinitely. When the Republic of Uganda suddenly got a set-back and lost donors in a short-time span. The government couldn’t cover the shortfall and the government services came to an halt. When we know this from history.

We just know this will repeat itself now. When the World Bank is ceasing its operations or renewal of loans/grants to the Republic. That will hurt the economy and with an state budget run on deficit financing. The state will lack funds quickly, as it is servicing rising amounts of loans or debt. It has has to cover the debt before even paying the running costs of operating as a government. Meaning, the state will be in a deficit very quickly and there will be lack of funds. As the ones utilized will go to pay interests and pay the creditors for old debts. That’s where the World Bank would come in with budget support and facilitate good terms for credit. However, with the ceasing of operating and freezing loans. Means that ship has sailed and the short-term crunch is bound to happen. It will cost and no signal boosting can help the government out.

That’s why it is really unique that Museveni wrote these things in his 26 pages long piece…

They are so shallow, they do not know when and where to stop. It is this shallowness in philosophy, ideology and strategy, that interferes with the global efforts to generate consensus for the good and even for the salvation of mankind from possible environmental and other man-made catastrophes. Hence, the recent provocation and arrogance by the World Bank Group on a subject of the homosexuals that we have so patiently discussed with so many of those elements. To dare think that the Ugandans, the brothers, the sisters and grandchildren of the Christian religious Martyrs of 1884 against our own tyrannical Kings, the Martyrs of the Luwero War (the 9th of June-Heroes), can be intimidated by the threat of withdrawal of loans and aid, that are, moreover, peripheral to our transformation efforts, is the epitome of mistake-making, to say the least” (Museveni, 17.08.2023).

That is why Uganda under the NRM is an unsinkable ship in the stormy global sea of the World economy. It may be useful to remember the words of Dr. Mutharika, himself a former worker of some of those international bodies, when he became President of Malawi. He said that he wanted “a Malawi economic plan supported by the World Bank” and not “a World Bank programme for Malawi”. The Ugandans, should not waste time on it. Instead, we should launch a merciless war on the two internal inhibitors of our own: the corrupt and the neo-colonial planners. It is hightime, the two got off the scene completely. They have delayed us enough” (Museveni, 17.08.2023).

Musveni and the National Resistance Movement (NRM) got a bounty when they got into office. In the 1990s and early 2000s times where good. The International Community and its lenders covered the basics. There was so much money and ability to raise funds. The NRM and Museveni was promising and they could ate of other peoples plates without any hesitation. They were the new Kings in town and lived grand on donors money. Now those things are dwindling down and the goodwill is over. The outside isn’t as favourable and that hits the pride of the old man.

Museveni isn’t as beloved or bestowed. His not the future, but a relic of the past. His a man who has lost his way and trying to lecture anyone else on their misgivings. While never looking into what he himself never did. The World Bank commended the achievements earlier of his administration, but they also acknowledge that their easy money was taking away the ability of the state to raise domestic revenue. That is the problem to this day and is a reoccurring issue. That is a “bottleneck” that Museveni never got a handle of or idea of how to solve. This is why the Government and the NRM will have a hard time ahead.

He can speak vile and be angry. That doesn’t resolve the matter or help anyone. Neither does this text or article help his cause. The World Bank only cares about one thing. The President can torture, extra judicially kill, criminalize the opposition and use the military to detain civilians. Alas, the World Bank will not care about that, but they do want to save the Homosexuals of the World. That is obvious. Which is noble in one regard, but also very limiting in the other. As they are only safeguarding one minority, but not considering the implications for the rest of society. That’s where the scope of the World Bank is missing.

Museveni is right that the World Bank is shallow. That shallowness and pride was feeding him for years. It was giving him and his government a boost. The World Bank and other financial institutions gave Museveni the fire-power and ability to look successful without doing much labour. A lazy way of ruling the nation. Because, everyone else was paying the tab at the bar, but Museveni continued drinking. That’s what Museveni does and his now mad at the bartender for not allowing him another brew. Peace.

Parliament of Uganda: Forum for Democatic Change Secretary General Nathan Nandala-Mafabi letter to Speaker Anita Among – Re: Appointment of Hon Yusuf Nsibambi as Party Whip for Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) in the Parliament of Uganda (17.08.2023)

Parliament of Uganda: 7 Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) MPs – Joint letter to Speaker Speak Anita Among – Re: Petition Against the Removal of the Forum for Democratic Change Party Whip in Parliament in Violation of the Internal Rules and Procedures of the Party (14.08.2023)

Parliament of Uganda: Speaker Anita Among letter to Forum for Democratic Change Secretary General Nandala Mafabi MP – Re: Appointment of Hon Yusuf Nsibambi as Party Whip for the Forum for Democratic Change in Parliament (16.08.2023)