“Uganda sacrificing civil liberties for the sake of stability” says US envoy (Youtube-Clip) & Ofwono Opondo responds!

“The United States Ambassador to Uganda has raised concern that government appears to be sacrificing the civil liberties of citizens rights at the altar of maintaining stability. Ambassador Deborah Malac who was addressing students from higher institutions of learning here in Kampala says the poor organization of the elections and detention of opposition politicians has dented Uganda’s democratic credentials. Herbert Zziwa has the details of that report” (NTV Uganda, 2016).

RESPONSE TO US AMBASSODOR MS. DEBORAH MALAC
7th April 2016

The Uganda Government notes and takes strong exception to the continued unfair criticisms about its elections and human rights records by the US Ambassador Ms. Deborah Malac. We would like to briefly respond as follows;
The U.S. Government sponsored an election observer team under the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy (EISD) in Africa, through the International Republican Institute (IRI) Washington D.C. This was led by former Zambian President Rupiah Banda, which issued a report giving credit to Uganda’s just concluded elections. We would like to advise Ambassador Deborah Malac to carefully read that report. Unless she is giving it a vote of no confidence, then she is at liberty to keep referring to and relying on the partisan and very shallow EU report.
lt is strange that Ambassador Malac doesn’t refer to the report her government commissioned. Secondly, she doesn’t acknowledge that late delivery of ballot materials was in only two out of 112 districts in Uganda. These were isolated incidents and indeed time was extended and all voters who wished to vote did cast their votes, and those votes were counted, tallied and added to final results.

Since the publication of the Uganda Presidential Election results, none of the observer groups has come with credible evidence to challenge the results posted by Electoral Commission. We therefore wish to ask them to either adduce evidence or keep their peace for good. Otherwise, we know that some groups in the US and EU, including diplomats accredited to Uganda, funded and are still funding opposition elements in Uganda to cause government change outside the constitutional framework but are disappointed this hasn’t been successful as yet.
The U.S., which uses raw power to project its influence and interests around the world, is the least competent to ask other nations for democratic accountability. Uganda’s democracy is progressing well and we are satisfied with both the pace and achievements registered so far.

Ofwono Opondo
Government Spokesperson

Besigye Gives Museveni Immediate Ultimatum (Youtube-Clip)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejbdfKccH3M

“FDC’S Dr. Kizza Besigye has given President Yoweri Museveni an immediate ultimatum to consent to have an independent audit kick off or he forms his own government with statehouse in Kisangani. Dr. Kiiza Besigye is one of the aggrieved presidential candidates who are challenging the legitimacy of President Yoweri Museveni as the president elect and has now resorted to a defiance campaign to win the presidency” (NBS TV Uganda, 2016).

Don Museveni says that he “promise to kill if you, if you attempt anything in his playground”; Don Museveni have a grand racket, so respect the Don, the Almighty Godfather of Uganda!

Mueveni Bundibugyo Pre-Campaign 2016 Gun

““[Opposition] MPs who will want to work, we shall work with them on development issues but if they want to protest, we shall refuse,” (…)”If you want to protest, go to your home, or to a playground and do everything you want… but don’t attempt playing in my garden. I can kill you,”President Yoweri Museveni on the 4th of April 2016.

You cannot imprison your challengers and then masquerade around as having won the election”Dr. Kizza Besigye.

As you see Mr. Museveni, the Executive, the man who have run Uganda since 1986 have yet again spoken his words on democratic behavior and activities as Uganda is his playground and non-other can act or play there. That is what he is saying. President Museveni is the only one who has a saying in Uganda. In a republic of Uganda that got estimated 39 Million citizens. In my view President Museveni is not acting as an Executive, but as a gangster. Let me explain that later.

kyankwanzi 2015

We know that he is the only man of that 39 Million with a vision. He proves that again with saying that protest against him is futile and uncanny. Also as the news today that the 6 persons chaining themselves in the streets of Kampala. So for setting themselves in chains in the recent days seemed to be a criminal act and now sent to Luzira Prison as common criminals. Somewhere is President Museveni and so proud. Don Musveni in action!

He must be proud of the revelation of the audacity of the Police yesterday shooting live bullets at the future of Uganda at the established and well-thought of University of Makerere. Where the students we’re demonstrating because of sudden hiking of tuition fees. So the Anti-Riot Police and their mambas entered campus and created havoc. As we have seen in the recent months. No dialogue or trying to negotiate, you go in with weapons and kills to shut down opposition. Don Museveni prefers once in a mock execution to set the standard and get the oppostion in line with the message. If they continue then he will bring vendetta to them.

museveni and his gun

That is also the words of their leader, the Executive. Its playground and his rules, nobody else then President Museveni is right to play. He is the kingpin, the kingmaker, the Grand Puba, the chief and commander that are righteous to stage any kind of action in his playground.  

And then the fellow and opposition Dr. Kizza Besigye trying to act on his playground, and have the audacity to say that President Museveni is not the righteous kingpin is a violation of the ruling regime. Nobody can question the Executive on his playground. Museveni initially saying that the FDC are foolish! FDC should not act upon the NRM-Regime. If they still do then they knew that by his words, they would face the guns and ammunition and get taken away.

President Museveni is not only like a bush-war general, he is now acting like a gangster. First the government is acting with guns and gangs where open aggression against its people without court. It is decisions taken in mysterious and devious ways, the same ways as the NRM-Regime is only accountable to themselves and not the public. The Racketeering is solving the democratic insufficiency in the country by the guns and gangs installed by the NRM and the Kingpin, the Don Museveni on the top. That is by that Racket he controls and the Playground he doesn’t care about the victory was maybe even meant for somebody else, as his guns controls through his gang UPF and UPDF. They follow the Don and his rules.

EC 22.02.2015 Guarded Heavy

Mzee is a gangster, not a statesmen and not a parliamentarian as the rules only applies when it not comes against him. The laws and regulates towards everybody else of the 39 million of the country, as his racket can break down any opposition and use weapons though all the gangs he has made. The intelligence and spokespersons is just to have a façade and look legit. While the tax-payers, bank of Uganda, budget deficit and other issues is because of the price of keeping up the racket and continue with the racketeering.

That is why the troubling concern with the people who have understood that the Ruling Party and the Don Museveni is not really a civil servant, but a gangster. That is what really Dr. Kizza Besigye understood in 1999 wrote this in a letter to the NRM when he left.

Dr. Kizza Besigye

Besigye could easilly see what kind gangster he was:  

“The Movement caucus acted very much like an organ of a ruling party. All ministers (except Paul Ssemogerere who later resigned from government) were members. The hand-picked group, and the Movement caucus after it, both undermined the principles of the Movement and the law. The Constituent Assembly was negatively influenced by executive appointments. In the middle of the CA proceedings, a cabinet reshuffle saw Speciosa Kazibwe elevated to the vice presidency, Kintu Musoke to premier and several other delegates appointed to ministerial posts. Many others were appointed to be directors of parastatal companies. It is my opinion that after these actions, some CA delegates took positions believed to attract the favourable attention of the executive” (Dr. Kizza Besigye, Letter in 1999).

The Don Museveni had handpicked the members and the caucuses that fitted the ruling party and the executive, himself and the people he could trust. They would all be in favor of him as he gives those positions and therefore naturally get loyalty, as a Don needs loyal men in his gang to control his racket. If that means making programs that his handpicked elite and cronies can eat from if it is GAVI-Funds, Operation Wealth Creation (OWC), SACCO’s, Youth Livelihood Program (YLP) or the 10 Point Program. These programs get international organization and donor countries positive for dazzling monies to the regime. The Don skims that on the top buy airplane, cars, cows, businesses and land for himself. The Don also makes sure the rest of his family owns businesses and land so they can live in wealth; as they all should live comfortable because of his racket.    

Muhoozi Museveni

The Gangster who orders his gangs and set-up minor groups controlled by family-members and his closes associates that he can trust. Like the clearest example the UPDF Special Force Command or the Flying Squad that is under the Caporegime of Brigadier Muhoozi for instance. Or the newest of his gangs called the Uganda Police Force National Youth Crime Preventers Forum (NCPF) run by caporegime of Blaise Kamugisha the former head of the NRM chapter of Makerere. Another caporegime is Gen. Katumba Wamala who runs the UPDF for his Don. Not to forget the Capo for the Uganda Police Force IGP Kale Kayihura. All of these are just small pieces of the whole position in the racket of the Don Museveni!

That is why his racket answers with violence if it doesn’t work his way and why he has looted the DRC for own gains, why he has tried to get other bosses and Dons around him. So he can have loyal support from Rwanda, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo and also in Kenya, where he supports President Kenyatta, he didn’t “install” President Nkurunziza, but he helps him when he can. He does the same thing with the President Kiir of South Sudan, henceforth part of his racket was there for months without a mandate to secure that his fellow Don was in good hands, also during the last-period of the pre-election period Sudanese troops was to secure the safety for securing the continuation of the racket and the underbosses in the departments and the caporegimes all over the Ugandan nations.

Because the Kasese and Bundibugyo have dined the racket and taken in other political parties and shunned the NRM-Mob, the Don Museveni therefore his Capo’s got sent to clear away the people playing in his playground as the gangster he is, he had to answer with violence against the once taking away the his ground and area, which belongs the Don and nobody else. If they try then they deserve to be hit and violent takeover if necessary to prove that it belongs to the NRM.

UPDF Rwenzori

That is why the Don has decided to do this:

“UPDF has today launched a two months operation dubbed Operation Usalama Rwenzori to hunt killers” (O6.04.2016).

Capos and Underbosses might not deliver to the Don, therefore when the orders are not followed or the creeds he has written to them. When they don’t do what he says or get to ambitious then the get rid of them. Not just sack you, but put you into oblivion until they get back and his ring; if they don’t then they are stifled or put on close monitoring by ones of his capos as gangs take them in now and.  If he sees threats and worries then he takes them out like he has done with enemies in his past.

There is people who works hard as they are members and working for the NRM. But they are not yet made or trusted. So it takes a confirmed from a consigliere or a capo to be put in well-made position. As the Capos/Generals decide the faith of the members who is just associates until they are inside the elite and in the NRC CEC and inner-circle of the NRM Mafia to be trusted with the information and creeds from the Don Museveni. As he has trust issues and likes that the youth struggle to get jobs as he prefers to eat alone. The NRM Members who is not yet made, have to cugine and deliver to prove to administration and CEC that they are worthy of a better position and get jobs in the racket. If a cugine sees the possibility the member does what he can to give tribute the closest caporegime or the nearest wiseguy to be made and be a gangster like the Don.

That is why the Capos and soldiers take down the journalist and media. The reason behind that is that he is a Don. Where he are calling them enemies of the state and of him, that is something he does as a Don. Call the State Organs to fix the issues and get them to be mouthpieces to control the messages that is spread in the newspapers and TV channels. The ones that speak out of term are speaking of violence against him. That violent is in his mind as nobody can play in his playground or be able to run anything in his area. The Don is the only can run it. Don Museveni the Don of Uganda and the Godfather of Uganda. Peace.

Reference:

Rumanzi, Perez – ‘Museveni vows to crush protesters’ (04.04.2016) link: http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Museveni-vows-crush-protesters/-/688334/3144726/-/ysnu5w/-/index.html

Dr. Kizza Besigye released from Bond from Naggalama P.S. for “Unlawful Procession” in Kampala today (05.04.2016)

Besigye Release on Bond 05.04.2016 P2

“Just released from Naggalama Police Station. I was Charged with Unlawful Procession! I left home with one vehicle and never disembarked” – Dr. Kizza Besigye

I have to ask; Where is Wangegeya Police Station, Mr. Officer? I think you guys arrest and detained wrong person as Dr. Col. Kiiza Besigye must be an interesting character! The same UPF Police Officer also wrote “Prossession” when tthe right word is “Procession” as Dr. Kizza Besigye is quoted with as well.  Well, what else can you expect from a Police Officer who clervly just follows orders and does not think for himself. As the Naggalama Police Station is an ordinary place for Dr. Kizza Besigye to spend his time in.  Must be weird for the Officer to write a bond as he is not used to either. IT wasn’t done during the routinly activities after the Presidential Elections. So why now ,Mr. Officer? With the current and adherent stay from hours during day eating dinner there and then going back to rest in home. Something Besigye did many days during the late February, but does this look like a organized procession?

FDC Besigye 05.04.2016

No, it doesn’t look like a planned event! But the NRM can’t help themselves.

Kampala NRM Celebration 31.03.2016 P1

This is an organized one right? Why wasn’t any of them in detained? Well, wait there where more people praying at Watoto;then in the streets of Kampala at this moment of celebrations for the NRM in Kampala. My bad Mr. Officer. Forgive this is the almighty N-R-M. No-Rescue-Me. Not-Repeat-Me. Nonsense-Raised-Me. And so on.

Dr. Kizza Besigye can show up in Wandegeya Police Station close to Makerere University. I am surely he will struggle to pass without making an illegal pocession through Central Kampala. As was the issue before the grand Election Day, but the NRM have forgotten that piece of intelligence together with their ability to write correctly.

I rest my case. Peace. 

FDC Supporters detained in Entebbe; while FDC Officials visits Besigye who is detained in Naggalama Police Station; FDC Supporters and Boda-Boda drivers beaten and detained at Naggalama P.S. as well!

Entebbe 05.04.2016 Clear cut

As the FDC Leader Dr. Kizza Besigye got detained the reaction sparked instantly in the FDC branch in Entebbe, where a group of FDC supporters went to walk-around the State House in silent demonstration against the oppression of their party.

This was not something the NRM-Regime could accept, this defying spirit and peaceful demonstration around the premises of state property, so the FDC supporters who was walking along the sides of State House, was finally taken by the Special Force Command and detained as well.

Naggalama Police Station 05.04.2016

Also later in the day the FDC Officials went to Naggalama Police Station in Mukono to visit the detained leader:

“Visiting The People’s president at Nagalama police station.I am with General Muntu, Hon Wafula, Hon Nandala, Hon Mwijukye, Pastor Ngabo e.t.c. The OC CID, DPC have all fled their offices” (Doreeen Nyajura, 2016).

Naggalama Police Station 05.04.2016 P2

There are more people there with him from the FDC, like  Susan Norma, Ingrid Turinawe and more where they are getting Past Ngabo to pray for Besigye!

Naggalama Police Station 05.04.2016 P3

More actions at the Naggalama Police Station:

“KB supporters terribly beaten and arrested here at Nagalama police station, the bodabodas that were transporting them have been arrested 2!” (Doreen Nyajura, 2016).

Also been said about actions there:

“Police are scared and firing bullets in Nagalama now. The people have had enough of the police criminality, we have to confront these goons. They have arrested even Mr. Ajuna the FDC candidate Fort Portal municipality as if he is a petty criminal” (Moses Atocon Atyeko, 2016)

There will come more, as it evolves and as the Government of Uganda, and the Police continues to stifle and undermined the opposition in Uganda. Peace. 

Press Release: MRG calls on Uganda government to investigate cause of escalating violence in Rwenzori region (04.04.2016)

Kasese attack

Minority Rights Group International (MRG) expresses grave concern about recent clashes between the Bamba-Babwisi and Bakonzo communities in the Rwenzori region, and calls on the Ugandan government to investigate the root causes of the conflict.   The violence has left at least 33 dead, 10,000 displaced and 366 houses burnt.

The first attacks broke out following the declaration of local council election results on 27 February, although many brushed them off as simply post-election violence. However, despite heavy police and military deployment, the killings have continued, with victims including a 13 year-old in Kanyansiri village in Bundibugyo district.

Addressing a press conference, President Yoweri Museveni told media that although his government had never deployed the army to quell a tribal conflict, he was going to now do so.

‘While we understand the President’s urgency to solve this problem, a military solution treats the symptoms not root causes. There is need for genuine dialogue among communities in conflict, mediated by a team of experts,’ says MRG Africa Office Manager, Agnes Kabajuni.

The events playing out in Rwenzori replicate a scenario in 2014, when violence between communities claimed 72 lives.

According to MRG, the causes of the current conflict in Rwenzori date back many decades.

For instance, to solve the Rwenzururu war, a guerilla campaign waged by both the Bakonzo and Bamba to gain recognition and secede from Toro Kingdom, then President Idi Amin negotiated a settlement to create Rwenzori District for the Bakonzo, Semliki District for the Bamba and Kabarole District for the Batoro.

Charles Wesley Mumbere

The Rwenzururu Kingdom, now comprising Bundibugyo, Kasese and Ntoroko districts has since the 1980s established itself as a movement which has continued to pose a serious threat to central government control. In order to calm the ethnic tensions in the region, the government in March 2008, after a ministerial committee recommendation, endorsed the Kingdom of Rwenzururu as a cultural institution headed by King Mumbere.

However, the decision to endorse Rwenzururu Kingdom was done with no prior and adequate consultation of both tribes in Kasese and Bundibugyo, pre-empting demands for recognition of other tribes like Basongora, Banyabindi and Bamba.

‘It is telling to see two groups, which have long co-existed and intermarried, now fighting with each other. At a political level, the government has to facilitate a genuine mediation process involving the Bakonzo under the Rwenzururu Kingdom and the Bamba cultural institution in order that they may peacefully co-exist once more,’ says Kabajuni.

‘As a long term strategy,’ argues Kabajuni, ‘the government has to address the economic marginalization of the communities in the Kasese, Bundibugyo and Ntoroko Districts, caused by historical injustices relating to land, equality, decision-making and economic opportunities for all tribes.’

Notes to editors

  • Find out more about MRG’s work in Uganda
  • Minority Rights Group International is the leading international human rights organization working to secure the rights of ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities and indigenous peoples. We work with more than 150 partners in over 50 countries.
  • For further information or to arrange interviews with our partners in Rwenzori region contact:

Mohamed Matovu, Media Officer, MRG Africa (Kampala, Uganda)

E: mohamed.matovu@mrgmail.org

M: +256 782 748 189
T: +256 393266832
@MinorityRights

Skype: mohamed.matovu

Facebook: www.facebook.com/minorityrights

W: www.minorityrights.org / www.minorityvoices.org

Besigye had planned to participate at the Prayers at the FDC HQ in Najjankumbi by the Calvary; As praying is a tool of ‘Evil’ for the NRM-Regime; Dr. Kizza Besigye detained before the prayer and taken from Kiira Road P.S. to Naggalama Police Station to be detained!

Besigye Kasangati 05.04.2016

Today the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) had yet another planned Tuesday Prayers at their headquarters all over the country. This is the continuation of the boycott that has been going on from the Political Party since the Announcement of the Result from the Electoral Commission and Eng. Dr. Badru Kiggundu. So today was the first day that Dr. Kizza Besigye has driven out of his home since he went to All Saints, when he was detained straight after Service.

Besigye 04.05.2016 P1

While at the FDC Headquarter the Police have sieged the building and discontinued the planned prayers. Journalist from the area has been whisked away as the Police do not want this to be reported in the spirit of the new Kampala Metropolitan Police chief Andrew Felix Kaweesi.

Besigye 04.05.2016 P2

FDC reported:

“Many are gathered at our HQ, waiting for Dr. Kizza Besigye to arrive. The police has stopped him from proceeding and journalists denied the right to do their work. Police is armed to the teeth, beating up people” (Forum for Democratic Change, 05.04.2016).

Besigye Car Towed Yusuf Lule Road 05.04.2016

FDC’s Presidential Candidate’s Dr. Besigye car was towed away by insecurity police. This is a photo taken by Besigye’s in the car .Now at Yusuf Lule road. Meanwhile the FDC prayer has been disrupted by the same Uganda police.

Najjankumbi 05.04.2016

Dr. Kizza Besigye while being towed:

“Scared regime!! We couldn’t be allowed to get to Fdc Hqs for prayers. Now being towed to… I don’t know where!”

As the day went ahead and the Prayer was stopped and the Police had stopped the FDC convoy at Kalerwe and they planned to drive over Mulago to Central Kampala and the FDC Headquarter. But the Police towed his car and detained Dr. Kizza Besigye at the Kiira Road Police Station.

Besigye Kiira Road P.S. 05.04.2016

MP-elect Francis Mwijuke statement:

“We were towed together with the president of the people Dr. Kizza Besigye and taken to Kiira rd police station. We were led to the DPCs office. Two minutes later we were asked to get out and board a police van. When we reached at the van UP 4860, only Dr. Was forced into the van and driven away. Meanwhile there was an van UP 4861 which police surrounded to confuse the journalists and the public. Later the journalists followed the second van and then we were release” (Francis Mwijuke, 05.04.2016).

FDC Najjakumbi 05.04.2016

Certain FDC Officials are now traversing to Kasangati, others plans to see at Naggalama Police Station where Dr. Kizza Besigye have been detained before. As the Uganda Police Force continues to display arrogance towards the opposition party and destroy their peaceful prayers. The final news is that Besigye is detained at Naggalama Police Station in Mukono.

FDC Besigye 05.04.2016

Kampala Police Spokesperson Onyango Said: “Besigye defied orders, charged at Wandegeya police station with participating in unlawful procession”.

Let me explain:

So for those who don’t know the coded langauge of the Uganda Police the people who turned up to finally see Dr. Kizza Besigye and followed him by their own will. Made a Procession that was not seeked for; as the Police Force need to award the Opposition Party and Opposition Officials for the planned activities that any other then NRM have to follow under the Public Order Management Act (POMA); who nicely been dubbed the Anti-Besigye-Act (ABA); so if Besigye to be allowed riding down to central Kampala and go to his office he has to file papers to allow his movement. If not the Police will through tear-gas, storm the Najjankumbi Headquarters of the FDC in the name of that draconian law!

Police 05.04.2016 Mukono

So as I expect and what we thought the Police would do when he entered out the home; Dr. Kizza Besigye would enter into pastures where he is well known in the Police Stations of Kiira and Naggalama, as the NRM-Regime keep him under surveillance and want to stop him from doing political work and drain his spirit. While he is strong keeps pushing the peaceful actions against the regime that uses tear-gas and preventative arrest of him and others to keep the opposition on leach. Peace.

Rwenzururu king hands over UPDF guns captured in weekend shoot-out (Youtube-Clip)

“The Rwenzururu king, Charles Wesley Mumbere today handed over three AK47 rifles to the army. The guns, which belong to the UPDF soldiers guarding Mumbere’s palace, had been taken from from the palace armoury during a scuffle between the Omusinga’s royal guards and his UPDF guards. According to the king, the guns were used by the royal guards to defend the palace after a UPDF soldier who was guarding the palace shot and killed a royal guard after a scuffle.  The army has temporarily withdrawn from the palace as talks between the kingdom and Security agencies continue.  Mumbere has also asked the police chief Gen. Kale Kayihura to immediately withdraw crime preventers for peace to prevail” (NTV Uganda, 2016).