Opinion: The Rise of the Cassava Republic

If there is no bread, eat muwogo (cassava). Africans confuse themselves. You are complaining there will be no bread, if there is no bread, eat cassava. I do not eat bread myself” – President Yoweri Tibuhurwa Kaguta Museveni (01.05.2022)

Eh! Are you hungry? We don’t eat bread around here. No matter if cooking oil prices is skyrocketing, if other commodities are going up. The fuel has already gone up and so has so much other things of late. So, when the President says people should eat Cassava instead of Bread. That is being said with the backdrop of rising wheat prices, as consequences of the Ukraine war.

It is not like this is only on cooking oil and wheat. No, this is on fuel, soap and sugar. Reported by Ssekandi: “According to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics, the price of cooking oil increased by 21 % between December 2021 and February 2022, and the annual rise was 77.6 %. In February, a laundry-soap bar cost 20 % more than in December and almost 50 % more than one year earlier. The petrol price surged by 15.3 % in three months and by 34 % in 12 months” (Ronald Ssegujja Ssekandi – ‘Ugandan government sees inflation as external shock’ 02.05.2022, D+C – Development and Cooperation).

So, this is a real issue. This is starting to look like the inflation of 2011 and how things became to costly. Which was creating strikes and the activist organizations of Activists for Change (A4C). The famous “walk to work” and that could happen again. As the prices are too high and the salaries are too low. If not to low… they are not co-existing with the realities on the ground. The gig economy isn’t ensuring a safety-net or a real adjustment of salaries in comparison of the rising prices.

The way the President spoke by it was damage control, because his government and institutions could do something about it. The state could insert trade-incentives and erase barriers to the market. The state could for time being suspend certain taxes and even value added taxes (VAT) in such a manner, that the prices would drop a little. However, that is of no concern. The same is with the expensive imports and whatnot. The landlocked republic needs imports, as it is not self-sufficient on a lot of commodities.

Yes, food wise there are alternatives and the farmers can sustain a lot. The massive production of plantain, cassava and millet can patch the hurt. However, that is not what everyone eats on the regular. That’s why imported rice and other things comes into play. Even maize-flour is imported and we can just imagine the rising prices on that as well. Not to talk about the beans and meat prices in all of this.

The President is just trying to get away from the problem, as it arises and he has seemingly very few tools at his disposal or any sort of coffers to clear the windfall. The cassava is only to patch the hurt, but will not salvage anything. It is only the fruits of his labour and how he has not set forward or had any clues how to govern. He only knows get-quick-rich schemes and Ponzi-schemes looking like micro-financing policies. This was bound to fall and you cannot spend money you don’t have and not have any sort of collateral or assets to trade with. That’s why his encircled by his own financial policies and cannot catch up. The spiralling debt, the lack of domestic revenue and the short-sighted government programmes only deprecates the state and gives it less incentive to move forward.

That’s why this is a real Cassava republic. Where it’s soon to expensive to fry it in the pan. Either the gas, the charcoal or the cassava itself is too expensive. While, the bread is only for the elites anyway. Lord have mercy, the damage we do upon ourselves. The heir is also rising to the throne, but he will have no clue what to do. Except for torturing, extra judicial killings and spreading false-hood on social media. Peace.

Opinion: When a soldier tortures a toddler, then the army can violate anyone…

Residents of Buvuma islands are living under fear after a Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) soldier only known as Robert brutally assaulted a 4-year-old boy for allegedly laughing at him while he was mastering how to ride a bicycle. Robert, who is attached to a detach in Nandala forest, Nairambi sub-county allegedly brutally beat a toddler identified as Najib Iguru, claiming that the boy had stoned him near his home. According to the boy’s mother, Aisha Namugaya, after the battering, the boy lost his body balance, his right leg started swelling while also struggling to breath” (URN – ‘Soldier tortures boy for mocking him, holds Buvuma village at gunpoint’ The Observer Uganda, 01.05.2022).

As long as I can remember and at every given moment, the President, His Excellency, Yoweri Kaguta Musveni has told the wonders of how disciplined his army is. He has spoken about the greatness and how he achieved peace. The President has spoken about how he came with fundamental change and how he revolutionized the Republic. However, things are not how it seems…

To the contrary, the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) and various agencies connected is as vicious, brutal and lacks order like the predecessors. The acts of torture and extra judicial killings is still rampant. The kidnappings and keeping civilians incommunicado persists. The acts of injustice and impunity is never far from sight. There more stories about these vicious acts than what we know. As either people are not allowed to tell, people are bruised or scared for life and many who fears to speak.

We have heard the stories of activists, political candidates and bystanders to campaigns. Now it is happening to kids or toddlers who is not fully grown. Neither should there be any sort of reaction to an action of a toddler. If the soldier felt mocked and hurt by the act of toddler. He should have spoken to the mother and the parents should have punished the toddler they saw fit. The soldier shouldn’t act as the judge, the jury and the executioner. The soldier did take it further and held the whole village at gun-point. Striking fear and avenging everyone know the toddler. That shows what sort of power and what the soldiers believes they are able to do.

The ones defending it… should think that this could be their own cousin or family member. This could happen to any villager or toddler across the Republic. The innocent civilian who isn’t eligible or able to be punished by law was still touched and violated by a soldier. The soldier took the law upon himself and tortured a toddler. Just writing these lines disgust me. The thought of a child being used blunt force against. No matter what he said or did, his reasoning and mental capacity to understand isn’t there. That’s why a toddler isn’t a legal subject, but the parent would be. Therefore, the soldier just shows how he was a brute and indisciplined.

We can just wonder else the soldiers are up too. They are allowed and follows orders of destruction, contempt of law and can act with vicious operations like the ones in Karamoja sub-region. That’s why we know their violence and know they can cause massacres with their bare hands. They can kill and without consideration of the justice or righteous reason to use the firearm. However, they do and the regime applauds it.

That’s why the incident of torturing a toddler isn’t directly shocking, but shows how far the army is willing to go. There is no decency or courtesy even. Just a brutal transgression and act with violence. Doesn’t matter if it is a civilian, toddler or anyone of stature really. As a soldier it is within your rights to destroy and violate someone. That is the message of the story.

The soldier should secure the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic. Meaning defending the borders from invaders. Not being a tool of oppression and injustice. However, the latter is what the UPDF is known for and it shows. Peace.

President Museveni’s 2022 Labour Day was all about micro-finance and cassava…

Before our time, no government was giving money to the people to get out of poverty. Getting out of poverty was everyone’s private business. If you wanted to get out of poverty that was your own private issue. But we (NRM) have been giving money [to citizens ] since the time of Entandikwa, then prosperity for all… But all this time, the responsibility was being taken by government officials. That was where the confusion started from” – President Yoweri Tibuhurwa Kaguta Museveni (01.05.2022).

It is just like President Museveni wants to sound like he invented everything. He speaks like no government have ever had social security nets or unemployment programs. Yes, he claims to be the first one, but there been plenty of governments who has made this happen. FDR in the United States did it through various of programs in the New Deals in the 1930s and several other nations has used socialist programs to get people out of poverty through various of social security schemes. This here is a fraud and a fake. A manner of which you take credit and say you invented the Micro-Financing schemes and the first to do it. That is really foolish, but that is the Ugandan President of 2022. Micro-Financing and Micro-Credit was introduced in the 1990s in Uganda, but it was already a thing from the 1970s. So, it wasn’t only done in Uganda, but done so in Bangladesh and elsewhere before Museveni came into power.

I heard Filbert calling me a chief worker. I’m not a worker; I’m a bourgeois. I’m part of the middle class. You can’t call middle-class a worker. That’s not an ideological definition. Of course I work, but I work as a member of the middle class” (Museveni, 01.05.2022).

This is maybe the first time he doesn’t call himself a farmer or a son of peasant. I’m shocked and in awe. His one of the richest people on the continent and still he describes himself as “middle-class”. Like we are supposed to believe he only earns the millions of shillings he gets through his salary.

We need a workforce of very many workers. There is a way for that. The Parish Development Model should kickstart us to have about 60 million workers” (Museveni, 01.05.2022).

Uganda is estimated to have around 48 million citizens by 1st July 2022 based on projections of United Nations data. Out of this about 30% of these are adolescents, meaning a third of the population isn’t eligible for full-time work since they are not of age to do so. Because adolescence is from 10 years to 19 years old. This is based on data from UNFPA from a few years ago. Still, this all shows that the President have clearly the wrong memo about 60 million workers in Uganda. That means everyone from toddlers to the elderly… will work on the field or become a part of the rampant gig-economy.

Part I:

We want everyone in the Parish who has access to land to join a Parish Development SACCO. It doesn’t matter if they have money to not. They should just prove that they have land to do agriculture” (Museveni, 01.05.2022).

Part II:

If you have agricultural land, do not work only for the stomach. You should also work for the pocket” (Museveni, 01.05.2022).

It is really weird the way this is said on labour day. As the micro-finance scheme is so vital in it. The sort of amplified SACCO and NAADs called Parish Development Model (PDM). Where every farmer has to be part of it and register to have access. So, just like in the Soviets every farmer should be part of a scheme and earn from it. Which is very ironic, as he asks of everyone to work for their pockets. That is initially wanting everyone to be profit driven and incentive by currency. Not be content with having enough food or shelter, but supposed to also strive for surplus funds. However, if it was that easy. His government would have made it happen over the last 35 years or so. It is really tragic that all of the schemes since launching in the 1990s are not working and they continue to relaunch them in new names. Just like they did with the PDM, Emyooga and Operation Wealth Creation. It’s all the same gig, built on the same foundation, but changing its name and partly how it’s operating. Nevertheless, it doesn’t come to anything and is only a money-pit. As its not giving incentives or the ability to create natural growth. That’s why we are seeing this sort of talk and it’s the failure of the President who continues to beg people to think of profits and not of leisure.

Last quote:

If there is no bread eat cassava. Africans really confuse themselves, they are worried about shortage of wheat supply caused by Russian Ukraine War. If there is no wheat, please eat cassava. Myself I don’t eat bread” (Museveni, 01.05.2022).

Do you ever wonder, if someone lives in a bubble and doesn’t see what people are seeing? Because, this man thinks this is splendid advice. The sort of talk that only shows his isn’t concerned and doesn’t feel the plights of the commoner. No, he is beyond that and telling the peasants to be happy with what they have and not strive for more. Which is ironic, as he has spoken of people wishing of wealth, think of their pocket, but they got to settle on cassava.

This shows how out of touch the President is and it’s not shocking as his ticking closer to 40 years in power. The President has lived in his bubble for all of these years and with more and more yes-men. People are just complying and not giving him any good advice. He orders, directs and tell how everyone is supposed to move. This speech was no difference. That is very obvious. As he believes in this 1990s mechanism and thinks the PDM will make a difference, which will be far from the truth. If the PDM would work, the Emyooga, the PDM and all the Micro-Finance institutions would have ushered in a new era already. However, it haven’t and that’s because the Republic and the nation isn’t built for it. The markets, the people and the structure isn’t ready for it. This is just a fact and it’s been proven time, and time again.

There is a need for a new direction and aims, which will improve people’s lives, as these short-term incentives only takes a few people that far and when the cash is low. They are back to nothing and with a loan to pay-off in their name. That’s why this is going nowhere and fast. It doesn’t matter how many times the President says people should work for their pockets. When there is few too little jobs, low salaries and rising prices, running inflations and lack of development in general. That’s all the fault of the President and his government who hasn’t served the community and citizens.

Nevertheless, the President will never take any accountability and he will blame everyone else. Now people should chew cassava, join a SACCO and think about their pockets. However, it isn’t that easy and when you cannot get your produce to the market or even have an ability to earn. Why should you or even be concerned with the pleas of the old man?

Well… he just wants to be right, but at this his wrong. His doing the same trick, as he promised in the 1990s and think it can work in 2020s. Well… the old man is late and he should reconfigure and find tricks that fits the vibrant markets of this era and not continue with the schemes of the Structural Adjustment Programs. Peace.

Opinion: “Pastor” Kasolo’s prosperity gospel … Part II

Spend only when you must. I teach you this so that you save. Saving is the major point. For anyone to become rich, you must have a business that gives you money every day. If you are a man or woman, and you wake up to do nothing, I don’t what to call you. Every human being must save money every day. Even beggars on the streets earn money every day, but for you, you are not earning anything. Vend sugarcanes or fry chapati, but to get out of poverty, you must have a business that earns you money every day. Other than that, you are off track” – State Minister for Microfinance Haruna Kyeyune Kasolo (Kenneth Kazibwe – ‘Spend less, save every day, you will soon become rich- advises Minister Kasolo’ 30.04.2022, NilePost)

Yet again, the Minister and Prosperity Gospel provider, the reverend of promising wealth, Haruna Kasolo has returned. Because the end goal in life is to get wealthy, rich and living large. Not living within our means or having stability. No, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) cannot ensure or secure social security. Neither can the NRM ensure policies or markets of which is stable enough for businesses to thrive in. That’s why the prosperity gospel is sickening.

The NRM and Kasolo’s party has soon had 4 decades in power. Nevertheless, there isn’t any growth or possible change, which is significant. The public isn’t the GDP growth, but they are eating accordingly to their pocket. The NRM has created a gig economy and a get-quick-rich schemes as state programmes, which I can promise you will not last. It isn’t far from a pyramid-schemes to the Operation Wealth Creation, neither is it far to Emyooga or the Paris Development Model. The state is just giving short-sighted monetary programmes without the institutions or the markets for the public to trade. There isn’t a natural growth and neither is there a framework to make it possible.

The NRM is artificially funding small pockets of society and without a long-term plan. There is only incentives and programmes, which is made within the road-maps of elections, but not having protocol or ideals on how to implement. That’s why today’s message is insincere.

Yes, savings are good and people should save money. They should be able to pocket and have money for rainy-days. As every day isn’t sunny and the sun doesn’t always shine. However, when you live on gigs, hands-to-mouth and barely scraping by. Its a lot to ask… those people to save and able to put money away. When they are not having enough food for electricity, airtime or food for that matter. It is really showing the hubris and lack of code, as the poor cannot save, because they are already prioritizing what they have and spending it as they see fit. To ensure their basics is met and needs of their loved ones.

As he continues:

Salary earners who don’t have daily income generating activity always forms long lines at the bank to withdraw money at the end of the month. They are badly off. A salary can never make you rich. A person’s wealth is determined by their daily saving. So, if you don’t have a business that earns you money every day, after here, go and start it. Stay home women, make sure you have a project at home that earns you money every day” (Kasolo, 30.04.2022).

This MP and Minister has clearly forgotten the plights of the citizens and poverty. It is not like these has the time or ability to start a business. Families with kids, housing and rent to pay, rampant inflations and lacking concern to the devalued salaries in comparison to the prices on necessities, which is growing by the day.

The ones that is living on salary and has a stable job. As long as that is paid out on time can ensure some stability and give a person the ability to get by. Plenty of people don’t want to be rich, but just live and be content. Salary can also be a result of the education and the profession a person has. Therefore, the Minister is forgetting how people are earning money as civil servants and government workers. Everyone cannot be farmers and wait for the prices from traders buying their produce. Neither can everyone have a hobby or a plot where they can grow a cash-crop. Therefore, the Minister should be sincere about this.

His speaking like there is a middle class and people can afford to save money. That everyone has the dream and the vision of getting wealthy. Most people want a house, food security and have a good life with family. That is more enriching that fat pockets and lack of integrity. Alas, that is why the Minister has become a Prosperity Gospel peddler and not an honest politician. The Minister has spread this message for at least two years now. Last time I commented on it was in 2020. So, this is his stick… Peace.

Opinion: Yoweri always blame others for his bad governance…

The problem is our people who do not listen, they are always sabotaging our programs. When political leaders fight government programs, it’s the people who suffer” (…) “Religious leaders please help me to expose bad politicians because they are causing problems to all of us” – President Yoweri Tibuhurwa Kaguta Museveni (29.04.2022).

It is never Museveni’s fault… it is never his fault. As long as I can remember, it is always other people’s fault. In the past it was Obote fault, Amin or even you can trace things back to that. If not it’s the pastoral culture or villagers way of living. At this very moment and time, President Museveni is never at fault. He doesn’t do mistakes, act wrong or trespasses anyone. No, his always righteous and correct on a regular basis.

He maybe believes that, but that is far from the truth. The handlers and appointees around him will never challenge him or even say so. Because, if anyone said that His Excellency was wrong or acting badly. They would be dismissed and sent packing. No one in their right mind is risking their meal-ticket or losing their office.

So, this follows a pattern and he hopes because his giving or donating funds to religious leaders. That these will speak and whistleblower on leaders, which isn’t following party-line. This is what his saying without saying it. He wants religious leaders to snitch on his behalf.

While the President is blaming unceremoniously “bad politicians” without naming them. We know this would be defiant opposition leaders or people who are directly in defiance to his rule. The Self-Styled-President for Life is saying this now. It really shows his sentiment and how he directs thing.

Museveni is yet again blaming others for the failure of his government. He claims bad politicians is the reason for government programs to not work. While Museveni haven’t always done the background work or even stress-tested government programs. Neither is he initiating programs without evaluating the previous ones. That’s why things are failing and not working.

The intention is a get-rich-scheme for his cronies and allies. While the government program is a shell-company or even a nice body to siphon funds. The state and the government officials had no plans in implementing or even succeeding the program. The program was just an excuse to get money and not execute it. That’s how it looks… and the ones behind it is able to run away and never get caught. Because, this is happening again and again. If not the programme is launched, but never really running. Neither is there any plans, protocol or care for how to do it. That’s why the programme is a wasteland and money-pit without any results. While countless of officials and cronies are paid-off…

So, it is striking that Mzee or the President is blaming bad politicians… those bad politicians must be the appointees or elected National Resistance Movement cadres across the Republic. Since they never seem to achieve anything substantial. Because, if it was always other people’s fault. Why is Museveni micro-directing and putting in directives and decrees on all parts of government?

If he does that… isn’t he at fault for directing and ordering people to comply to his wishes? While he has issued these programs without proper work before launching it. So, it is not strange it’s not working. Neither is he funding or securing the secretariats to be prepared to actually implement it. That shows how is a bad politician and maybe the religious leaders should give a memo about him. Peace.

Opinion: The army is involved everywhere Mr. Muntu

Gen Muhoozi has his own right as a Ugandan citizen to exercise that right as a Ugandan and run for any political office. The only problem I see if he is really interested in running as a President of the country, Gen Museveni who should be more experienced in these matters, should have first released him from the army because the moment you let Gen Muhoozi who is in uniform, a serving officer, trying to project him for politics, you are literally trying to drag in the whole national security apparatus, something which has its own problems” – Maj. Gen. Mugisha Muntu (25.04.2022).

The sentiment the leader of Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) Maj. Gen. Mugisha Muntu is right… but it’s faulty. The Uganda Peoples Defence Force (UPDF) is already involved and participating in every part of life. The UPDF and the authorities are inside and part of politics, because that’s how the regime rolls and continues to thrive.

The UPDF is building roads, construction of public buildings, giving away mosquito-nets, killing army-worms, going after rouge fishermen on Lake Victoria and participate directly in politics. The ones who don’t believe that… should be reminded that the UPDF have 5 MPs elected into Parliament. These are supposed to be “non-partisan” but we know they are towing the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party line. They would never double-cross the State House or the NRM Caucus. That’s not happening…

The UPDF and all of it’s agencies are used to intimidate, keep civilians and activists incommunicado. The UPDF and the other agencies has kidnapped, tortured and even used Court Martial as a means of silencing opposition leaders. The UPDF is so embedded that it’s a tool of oppression and using vicious impunity to strike the dissidents hard. The CMI, SFC, LDCs or UPDF are all involved and makes the state more powerful in comparison to everyone else.

Muntu saying Muhoozi is problematic because his an army-man and a commander is right. That is an observation, which is truthful, but at the same time. The militarization of the NRM and politics is just proven every time they are holding conferences at Kyankwanzi. When you are seeing ministers and MPs wearing military fatigue. Heck, the President either wears a yellow shirt, a suit or military fatigue. That’s his whole closet and it’s evident how important the armed forces are for him. Because, everyone knows that the NRM and the regime isn’t living on its popularity. It thrives on intimidation and fear… that’s when the soldiers and military is useful.

We all knows this and Muntu should know this as well. The NRM and the state has been this for a long time. Muhoozi is now more involved, but that’s by entitlement and not by his achievement by any means. The Lt. Gen. is only there because his the son and nothing else. He got no skills, charisma or ability worth a damn. He can only live on the wealth of the inner-circle and the power of the army. That’s why he had to wear a military fatigue and be like his father.

However, Muhoozi is just the symbol of how the military is needed and a reason for the current status quo in government. The NRM cannot survive or hold power without the army. The army and their agencies gives them an edge and can silence the ones they need to stop. That’s why Muhoozi doesn’t distance himself and wants to be looked like a powerful General. His boosting his ego on twitter and being part of campaigns when he can like in the DRC, Karamoja and even Kasese. That’s why he got blood on his hands and no one is even questioning that.

Muhoozi just think he can walk from one office into another one. He thinks he can occupy and takeover without merit from his father. The officers and the ones hired for the gig will praise the man, but everyone knows that his useless. The ones saying otherwise has little to nothing to prove. The NRM and such will ensure he gets a soft landing. “Project Muhoozi” has been in the works and that’s evident by now.

Muntu is right, but the UPDF is everywhere and isn’t going anywhere. Peace.

Uganda: State House – Presidents’ Museveni, Kagame discuss regional peace, stability (24.04.2022)

Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF): Statement on Alleged Torture by CMI of one Mariwos Alexandria aka Esther (22.04.2022)

Opinion: Half of a yearly budget wasted on corruption… and its annually [not a one of a kind grand corruption scheme]

According to a report, Uganda loses at least UGX 20 trillion annually to corruption. The Inspector-General of Government, Beti Kamya, told journalists that if at least half of that money (UGX 10 trillion) was saved per year, each parish would be able to get UGX 1 billion under the Parish Development Model” (NBS Television, 21.04.2022).

In Kampala this should haunt the institutions, the ministries and shake the whole Entebbe State House. If not both Kololo and Nakasero should be frightened by this report. That was if the rulers and the representatives was afraid of black-lash or ramifications of a report. A report that has such a vast result and damaging numbers, which could easily come to half of last years budget.

The last years budget was 44 Trillion Shillings in the budget year of 2021/22 and the estimates for 2022/23 is about 47 Trillions Shillings. With that in mind the corruption is about half of that one too. The numbers are staggering and isn’t only showing a little flex. No, the numbers are showing that it’s the norm. The corruption is a fact of life and way of living.

It doesn’t matter what authorities, bodies and mechanisms the state has… when half the budget can be siphoned, stolen or vanish without a trace. “Missing Funds” is a proverb in the vocabulary for a reason. It wouldn’t be a proverb and words of wisdom, as ghosts and fake tenders appears on a regular basis. Paying for projects only on paper and teachers who has never had a class in up-country.

Yes, there is a reason for all of this. The money is eaten and nothing to show for it. Except some spoiled brats big parties and SUVs for the ruling elite. They also can afford to rent jets to get medical treatment abroad. While hospitals are falling part, schools not having equipment and teacher being a boda-boda rider on the side. That’s all, because the state doesn’t’ have the funds or the allocated resources to finance these entities.

However, it has money for vanity projects of the President and his inner-circle. They have money for businesses, farms and whatever in need. They got money to pay-off opposition turned yellow and brighten a road for an official visit from a far-away land. Nevertheless, not enough to splash on vital institutions or government entities. That’s why UMEME is running black-outs and far to the nearest water-tap in region of your liking.

That’s why I am not shocked that the money goes missing. It is half a yearly budget wasted, gone missing and not being where it should be. Half a yearly budget eaten by corrupt bureaucrats and high ranking officials. This is done yearly and shows at what extent. It isn’t CHOGM money or GAVI funds of Muhwezi. No, this a yearly enterprise and planned efforts. Like someone is just taking the money van from the Bank of Uganda and directing to whoever it was designated without any receipts or transactional documents to show for it. The money was just taken away and “given” to whomever it was decreed to and that’s the end of it.

20 Trillion Shilling yearly or $5,662,905,997.73 US Dollars. That’s over 5 billion 662 million U.S. Dollars squandered and gone away to pay off whoever and for whatever reason. Which is not useful and is never received where it was intended to be… That’s 5 billion USD gone in the wind…

This is numbers that are staggering and outrageous. It is just really insane, but it shows what sort of government that is crippling the state and it’s for a reason there is no service delivery. The state got no money, since it is either siphoned or they are paying debts. There is little money to pay for things after that… that makes sense and is tragic. This is the nation that Museveni built. Peace.

Omoro County By-Election: The son to inherit the seat of the late father

As far as the Omoro by-election is concerned, there is talk that the late Jacob Oulanyah’s son and Omoro leaders will be meeting the President. Some people want him to be unopposed, and others have stepped down for him” (NBS Television, 19.04.2022).

NRM party aspirants eyeing the Omoro County MP seat have been summoned by Museveni. So far 11 people have expressed interest to replace the late Jacob Oulanyah. 4 of them subscribe to the NRM party. They include the Omoro LCV Chairperson Douglas Peter Okello alias Okao, Omoro District Speaker Richard Bongowat Luganya, Oulanyah`s son Andrew Ojok, and Oulanyah`s former campaign manager Ben Acellam” (Unity FM 97,7 Lira, 19.04.2022).

Special meeting of OMORO leaders with the President Museveni just got done. All aspirants from NRM have stepped down in his favour Andrew Ojok (son to the late Jacob), those who had previously occupied RDC offices will bounce back, LC5, speaker to say there positions” (Benson Ongom, 19.04.2022).

If you don’t believe the message of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) is that they are all in and for nepotism. You are clearly mistaken. The previous NRM Primaries before the 2021 elections proved that. Sons and daughters of the mighty men was allowed to stand. They got into seats and became Members of Parliament even.

Now in 2022 that has not changed. The Acholi, Lango and West Nile MPs was maybe not able to ring-fence the speakership for the Greater North. However, it is clear that the Oulanyah family will linger on and have a say.

That’s because of the son of the late Speaker Jacob Oulanyah is now going unopposed in the NRM. After Museveni summoned a meeting and settled the grievances ahead of the Omoro By-Election. We knew that the death of Oulanyah would trigger a by-election. What we didn’t know was how the party, the parliament or anyone else would take it. Since it created new openings and opportunities for several of the surrounding people there. That was evident in the race for speakership alone…

We shouldn’t be shocked that the son of the late is regarded as the candidate from the NRM. They easily does that and it continues his legacy. I still expect him to be challenged by Independent candidate Olal Andrew P’obong and Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) candidate Terence Odonga.

P’Obong could easily been a NRM flag-bearer if it wasn’t for the father in the first place. So, he wasn’t even in the draw this time either. Showing that the NRM clearly isn’t listening to the aspirants in the area. Only picking the most tolerable and the ones that is most vital to the cause of the State House. That’s why Oulanyah was returning in 2021 and why his son is the next in line 2022. It is really obvious…

Nepotism is a main staple in the NRM and no one can deny that in 2022. Peace.