A memo on how I will remember Museveni of the early 2020s

In the good old days the National Resistance Movement (NRM) and Yoweri Kaguta Museveni could easily win propaganda victories. The NRM and the Government of Uganda had all the goodwill of the world. The republic had been burning and Museveni could blame the previous administrations for everything. It wasn’t his men and they hadn’t followed the right path. If not they were not educated in the Movement system and its 10 point program.

That maybe worked like clockwork until mid-90s but that era is long gone. The crimes of those days got downplayed and the prolonged conflict in Northern Uganda got swept under the rug. Because, the President and the NRM was not only promising things, but reforming the state. They were issuing policy changes and making a difference. The policies wasn’t only get rich-schemes by the elite, but actual government work for the citizens.

Now these days the NRM has left the port and is sailing in the wilderness. All of the Presidential Advisors and Yes-Men cannot save this ship. It is sort of rudderless, but still seems deliberately so and does it with perfect. It is moving on the knives edge and pushing all of its boundaries. It has been able for so long to get away with horrific things and thinks it can do it now as well.

The NRM and Museveni have left several of things burn in the past and let other people clean up his mess. He has involved himself in conflicts and pushed his interests there. Seen a profit possibility and operations of looting as an outcome. Still, it is the general public who will pick up the bill for his warfare and looting. Not the gentlemen who was merchants of death and destruction. No, these people are ministers, high ranking officials and if not dead heroes.

With all this said we are in 2021and the legacy of Museveni is sort of getting written. His handlers and team is trying rewrite it all, but that shouldn’t be the truth. There is now real evidence of the torture, the kidnappings and detentions of civilians without a fair trial. The state is acting with swift impunity and vengeance against the National Unity Platform (NUP).

There been safe-houses for years who is un-gazetted by the state. Where the various of security organizations have held detractors, dissidents and supposed “spies”. While they are tortured and kept incommunicado. The state is also known now for “drones” or “Panda Gari’s” which is really bringing back the vicious techniques of the past. Taking people in the middle of the night or on the streets, in restaurants even without any forewarning or warrant. The security officers are coming in the famous wagons and just taking the citizens away. That is happening while the state plays around with numbers of missing people and not releasing any true reports on the matter. Like it is a joke, while families are missing loved ones because of their political affiliation.

That is the state Museveni is ruling at the moment. A man who came and promised a fundamental change. A man who came and was supposed to be different from Idi Amin and Milton Obote. However, it was a lie. His living a lie and the citizens are paying the price for it. He is using all the tricks of the past, but for his own agenda. In the end the fortunes and the wealth is in his hands. All decrees, orders and the final say is all up to him.

There is no middle ground. That he orders soldiers on the streets to crack-down on civilians protesting. A man who has no trouble using all security apparatus to detain a whole campaign team and impound all their gear, cars and such too. Arresting everyone in near association with a Presidential Candidate and take these folks to Court Martial to be charged as soldiers. While these are civilians and political prisoners of conscience. These men and woman are all behind bars, because they dared to be part of the NUP. That is the only reason for their demise and days behind bars.

That is how Museveni will be remembered. As well as becoming the personification of the state. Who has easier access to tear-gas than to needed PPE equipment. A state who has no issues lying about everything and blame everyone else. Have a huge machinery and bloated state budgets, but no good revenue. A state that is run on rampant grand corruption, but doesn’t take care of it. Neither does any of the parastatal’s or agencies supposed to combat it. They are just awaiting the go ahead from the “high above” before apprehending a small fish. The big men are in the kitchen cabinet and these are untouchable.

Museveni might say the right words now and then, but that doesn’t make it true. His reign is a mockery of a great republic like Uganda. There was so much potential, but he squashed it all with his ego and will to get massive wealth. The President is willing to do whatever to his enemies. There is no bound to the fate of the ones who opposes him. They can suffer and be in dire straits. The state doesn’t care, because the President doesn’t either. While his at a public function reciting the bible and at another hour ordering someone’s demise. That is the sort of character he is and the hypocrisy is the road his walking.

The NRM way is how they act upon the NUP. That is the NRM. Through and through. The death, the destruction and the use off all means to silence it. They are downplaying it and making it seem superficial, while people are living in injustice. Parents has lost their kids, grandparents lost their grand-kids and so on. Brothers, sisters, wife and husbands have all been scorn by the acts of the state. People have been missing and found dead no a field or left for dead on a street after weeks of uncertainty. These stories are the reflection of the ills of Museveni’s reign.

There is no half-way crook. Museveni is crooked and abide by this too. His lies and deceit is catching up on him. The way he speaks of democracy and such is all just a front. He always wanted to be the centre and be the man in-charge. That is why he doesn’t care about rigged elections, as long it is in favour of him and his allies. Nevertheless, he went into the bush over another rigged election in 1980. The 2021 is hopefully the final 1980 election of this kind. Where all things are in favour and built for one party. Instead of being credible, free and fair, which was far from it in January 2021.

Museveni’s actions will haunt him. Even if he thinks his above it. The scars, the wounds and the deceased will be his detriment. There is no way out now. He has created this and will have to answer for it all. The lives he has both taken and hurt is the ones who will in the end destroy him. Maybe not in this life, as all security organizations is defending his mortal soul. However, in the afterlife, the almighty will ask him and determine if this was all justified. Then he will get the verdict on judgement day.

As it seems like Museveni will rule until his final breathe. Still, we all should remember him for the NRM way, which wasn’t the prolific changes of the 90s but the deteriorating and destructive state of affairs of late. That is what he shall be remembered for and what he cannot run away from. These lives was taken on his watch and these fellow brothers and sisters ,will forever be remembered for their sacrifice. Peace.

Opinion: Museveni and the NRM is in a ill-advised debt-cycle

The National Resistance Movement and President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni have created a negative spiral of debt. The state have taken out more and more debt over the years. The CSBAG, Uganda Debt Network and other organizations have spoken out about this. As the state have the need to pay more in interests and it takes away more from the general budget.

Now the state is saying it has 65 Trillion Shillings in unsustainable debt. That is happening after the Parliament have had sessions over the last few years. Where the only thing they do is to vote over debt and approve more loans to the state for various of development projects, roads and you can wonder if it does anything.

The state is now owning a lot of money. More money than it usually uses in a state budget. The state budgets of late have had half of the revenue coming from domestic taxes and the other either grants or loans. There is also additional supplementary budgets, which is coming in cycles during the budget year. Which is adding more debt… and creating more debt.

There been worry about the rise of debt, but the NRM and the President has said it has been done within reason. However, that is now the chickens coming home to roost. There is enough problems ahead and the state has created this financial conundrum. It has been done deliberately over time.

The Parliament is on the regular issuing now loans… and taking new loans. While hoping one day they have the revenue to actually do these things. The state is spending money and funds it doesn’t have. That is an unforgiving task… and the NRM cannot run away from this.

The NRM have created problem. The appointments of the President is doing this. The Bank of Uganda (BoU) and Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED) should have seen this coming. They have been looking over the expenditures and the interests rates. They know when the grace periods of the loans are over. These folks are the ones who has the oversight and supposed sound judgement to advice the Parliament to accept all these loans. However, that is clearly not the case.

The state is crippling its budgets, overspending and over-loaning funds over time. Now, the creditors and debtors wants their pieces of coins back. They cannot bail on it or default on it. Then the state will not be trustworthy and be credible as a economic broker. The state is clearly struggling and lacking funds. That’s because they are having trouble to raise domestic revenue and have to high costs.

This is a self-inflicted ill-advised debt-cycle. A government not listening to CSBAG, Uganda Debt Network and others. The NRM and Museveni should have done that. It will be harder for them to get solidarity this time around. As the Museveni era of now is destructive. The state actions against its own citizens and totalitarian acts. Is not the ones who makes outsiders forgiving like it did in the early 1990s when Museveni was part of a new group of leaders that the West had hopes in. However, that boat has sailed and the truth has come out. That is why Museveni is still there and depleting the state like there is no tomorrow. This is why the debt is rising and its run without any balance of the budgets. That is why the debt is rising and there is no way out.

They want debt forgiveness. However, getting that now will be a feat, but not sustainable either. As this state will just take out new loans and not re-coup or try to absorb the lack of revenue, which is causing the problem in the first place. That is why the state doesn’t have any liquidity or equity to trade for the lack of revenue. It is just a sinking boat and the captain seems clueless…

Deficit financing can only take that far and now its at the end of that journey. Peace.

Opinion: First trade chickens before you establish a confederation …

Since the establishment of the East African Community (EAC) on the 30th November 1999 there been a promise of more integration and “open” borders between the member states. However, there has by the time and the promise been hurdles. Seemingly with time the EAC Partner States or Member States should have resolved these, but there seems to significant changes with every twist and turn.

This involves Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. They are part of it and has their place. The EAC is working on a Customs Union, Common Market, Monetary Union and the Political Federation/Confederation.

The last piece has moved further as the EAC secretariat is having a 14 day consultations in Uganda and drafting a EAC Political Federation Constitution. That will be vastly different than the treaty, which established the EAC in November 1999. The EAC haven’t even been able to create the other features promised in the EAC. How will it be able to create a confederacy? When it cannot even ensure common market and a customs union over all these years?

Rwanda has distrust with Burundi. Burundi has distrust with Rwanda. Rwanda and Uganda are distrusting each other. Kenya and Tanzania are having squabbles. Even Kenyan and Uganda are having trade-wars too. All of this are supposed to be settled and be water under the bridge. All the people are supposed to be humble and let bygones be bygones. Just forgetting about the issues and the diplomatic impasses, which haven’t been settled and cleared.

Justice Benjamin Odoki can believe in the Confederacy and establishing a Confederation. However, there are two many chickens who isn’t allowed to pass border points. There are to much milk wasted and fighting over ownership over islands on Lake Victoria to suddenly kiss and make up. There are so many hurdles which needs a resolve before even starting writing a constitution for a huge project like this.

Burundi wouldn’t even participate or be part of EAC Heads of State with Rwanda as the Chairman of the EAC of late. There so many possible conflicts and landmines, which if one person dances on that field. It would blow up right in your face.

In 2021 the EAC Confederacy seems like a dream. A dream Yoweri Museveni has had for years. However, it is not sustainable or viable when you cannot even set the bar or the standards for trading chickens across the EAC. When you are not able to trade milk or maize. There are just to many issues with the small offerings, before you take the whole house.

The EAC will go from being a regional intergovernmental organisation to a League of Nation with a Union of Sovereign States united for one purpose. The EAC would become similar to the European Union in East Africa. The EALA and EAC Head of State Summits would have more power and a bigger mandate. They would regulate the trading agreements and joint movement rules between all the member states. That is furthering the powers of today’s secretariat in Arusha.

The EAC needs to fix the spoils and the neighbourly spats which are happening in East Africa. Before they are bounding itself a bigger adventure. When it hasn’t fixed and ensured more flexible trading between the nations. How can it suddenly become a EU of the East Africa?

I don’t see that happening. The EAC needs to gets the ducks in a row or be able to trade chickens before it makes the EALA into the next European Parliament and configures its own European Commission. As it already has its Heads of State Summits, which is more a photo-op these days. Than a place of unity and pledges of furthering the integration of the partner states.

That’s why the EAC needs to swallow some chickens and drink some chai tea before it continues this journey. Peace.

Opinion: The Parish Development Model is the same old scheme rebranded for 2021…

The newly introduced Parish Development Model (PDM) isn’t anything new. The state is continuing their game drive and trying to find their prey. The National Resistance Movement (NRM) have launched all sort of money schemes to elevate the economy over the years. All of them have been quick-fixes, but not materialized. If it had… the state wouldn’t see the need to spend on yet another scheme of this fashion.

The NRM and President Museveni have launched all sort of schemes with similar outputs and lack of results. Just to take it all through the historical drive, which I did with the launch of Emyooga in 2020.

I got to rewind the winner of last year:

The Savings and Credit Cooperative Societies (SACCOs) was launched in 1992 in the Republic. The second started with Entandikwa in 1995. When that ended in 2002, they launched National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS). In 2004 they launched Rural Micro Finance Project. In the meantime there been launches of Micro Finances schemes for the public from donors and NGOs. In 2013 there was two new schemes, it was the Youth Livelihood Programme and Operation Wealth Creation (OWC).

So, it is nothing new with the PDM. The PDM following the history of Emyooga, OWC, NAADS, Rural Micro Finance Project, Entandikwa and SACCOs. All of these should have made a difference and created a paradigm shift and a new financial reality for the citizens. However, they have never cut it and the reports on their deliveries have been shattering. They are a cash-cow for the elite and the inner-circle of the state. Who are getting quick deals with shell-companies and selling bad products for a giant cut. That is how things are ending up eventually.

The bits and bobs get crushed. The lack of funds and lack of proof of expenditure. The auditor general and others will drop knowledge on the wrongs of the scheme, but nothing happens. Even when the Parliament Committee looks through it all. The state machinery continues and its at a loss without any constructive results.

There will be someone who gets kickbacks and there will be “missing funds”. The PDM will follow suit of the others. Especially, when the state says it will be “wealth creation” at “parish levels”. This is practically rebranding OWC, SACCOs, NAADs and Emyooga. There is nothing new here, but a new name and a new budget post. The Office of the Prime Minister might have a new portfolio and another outlet to do state work.

Therefore, this is just relaunching the same thing with a new banner. A banner and a programme without any new proof of working. They are just relaunching … and rehashing old ideas with new names. The government are only doing this for cheap publicity and seemingly doing some grass-root work.

The PDM is bound to fail, because the other ones did as well. The money will be wasted and it is just a matter of time… before scandals are rocking this and the ones running it has to address it. That is how these are goes. There is not enough checks-and-balances plus the big-men has an excuse to eat. That is what is happening and the reasons for relaunching failures like these. Peace.

Opinion: Bobi Wine – Only two things in life is certain – Death and Taxes…

The Uganda Revenue Authority has ordered former Presidential candidate, Hon. Robert Kyagulanyi to pay an extra UGX 337,698,776 in taxes before he can get back his armored car” (NBS Television, 22.04.2021).

In life there is always to certainties. There will either be death or taxes. Nothing else really certain. Well, except for impunity and excessive use of law towards dissidents and opposition in dictatorships.

This here is yet another one those… where the authorities was shocked that the opposition leader and National Unity Platform Presidential Contender Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine could muzzle together and get enough support for a bulletproof car. The remittance and support was so strong that they made it possible to purchase it for him.

Apparently, that gesture and ability to file the paperwork and get it concealed to the opposition was hurting the pride of the authorities. They had to retaliate and send a message. That is why after a long time of speculation and supposed works. They have now fined Bobi Wine and he has to pay a small fortune to get the car released. Surely, if he seeks relief in courts, they will dismiss it or not let it play.

Bobi Wine was destined to loose this one. Especially knowing how obsessed the President is with cars. The President nearly believes cars works as PPE against COVID-19. That is what he asked donors and companies to give to his government during the first lockdown. That’s why he was bugging at one address, that the companies hadn’t donated enough cars. So for the old man seeing the pictures of Bobi Wine flexing with a car must have hurt his pride. Bobi Wine got his pimped up ride and Museveni still drive his old Toyota Land Cruiser.

Well, this here is just a muster and a proof of a rigged system. This wouldn’t happen to a crony or an associate of the President. No, they would get cars for free and part of their office. The President would ensure that and they would also allowances on top of that. So, this is just retribution and trying to hurt the upstart.

The government have already gone after his friends, tried to purge his big-name comrades and taken away the freedom of plenty of others associated with Bobi Wine. So, taking his car is practically nothing in comparison to the drones, the abductions and political prisoners the state is keeping in their prisons.

Bobi Wine deserves better, but to expect that in 2021 is too much to ask. The Yellow Bus can only ride over its citizens, and only the compromised can take it for a ride. The rest is unlucky bystanders and walking citizens hit or knocked by the bus on the side-walk. That is just the way it is.

The Bulletproof car is only a proof of the vile and foolish reign of this President. The mismanagement and oppression. It is just the proof of the problems and the systemic maladministration. The NRM cannot offer anything better, because this is all they know and they are awaiting orders from the “high above”. That is why things ends up like this.

It is nothing new. It is a car today. Yesterday was the beret, the colour, the clothing, the party and the campaign itself. Everything Bobi Wine is illegal or have to be questioned. Since his existence by law is by definition “unlawful”. That is evident and until proven otherwise. That is what I believe. Peace.

Opinion: NUP is now following FDC’s Post-Election Programming

The National Unity Platform (NUP) after the January 2021 elections have the majority of the opposition in the 11th Parliament. Just the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) had in recent elections. Both the FDC and NUP have claimed the elections been rigged and righteously so. Still, they are playing the political games and taking positions in Parliament after. Therefore, their stance of the rigged elections falls flat when you buy into “positions” within the same political sphere.

If the NUP wants to be different then the FDC. Why are you playing into the same fold as them? There is only a name-change and the leader of the Party. The rest is more of the same. The same with Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine planning a tour across the Republic. That is no differences to all the different campaigns Dr. Kizza Besigye have launched over the years. That is all fine, but this isn’t creating something new. This is continuing the same charade and politicking that is lacking.

A glass is either half-full or half-empty. The glass either is soon running empty or have the ability to fill it with more water. That depends on how you look at it. For me, I want to be consistent. If I was against Winnie Kiiza standing as the Leader of Opposition in 2016. There will be wrong of the NUP to have Mathias Mpuuga or anyone else in the 11th Parliament as the ‘LoP’.

That is because both parties have flagged the same case and similar actions after the elections. They have stand the same ground and with similar principals. Therefore, the NUP is going into the same trap as the FDC. They are getting compromised by the ideals of a shadow government and perks of office in the 11th Parliament.

The NUP is supposed to challenge the NRM and General Museveni. However, if they go into the Parliament with this and take those titles. They are getting a cash-grab and getting compromised by becoming “high ranking” officials, instead of fighting the good fight. These are getting incorporated in the political sphere of the dictator. The man they are supposed to fight and get rid of in the first place.

They are going down the same rabbit hole and will caught in the same election cycle without any sort of proper avenue as a shelter for dissidents. To play second fiddle with the dictator and be within his rule will eat you alive. The Parliament will not shelter or ensure the safeguard of these values, but instead be a place for a quick pay-check and instant prospects of becoming a crony.

The NUP should have learned from the past, but now they are doing the same thing. There is no difference between the compromises of Muntu and the NUP selling out here. The radical NUP is becoming as mediocre as the Muntu faction of FDC, which became the ANT. Therefore, if you don’t like it. Check the track-record and see how it went.

Bobi Wine should know better and this gambit will trade-off his resilience. The NUP will become a “red” FDC instead of being its own entity. They will become the new established opposition, instead of being a possible successor to the NRM. The gamble and offering of the January 2021 polls for a cheap bargain of positions within the 11th Parliament. That is no different than what the “blue” did after the 2016 elections.

And I had no kind words for the Kiiza/Muntu actions post-2016 elections and I have no favours for Bobi Wine too. If he uses the same methods and moving post-2021 elections. Then the sacrifices and the costs to run was sold for a few silver coins. That is selling your political capital for cheap and short-sighted titles. The NUP deserves better, just like the FDC deserved as well. They are better than this, but greed can always overcome a ideological pathway. That has happened to others and now its the NUP’s turn to eat of the public plate. Peace.

National Unity Platform (NUP): Statement (19.04.2021)

Opinion: Museveni it’s your circus, you made it like this…

So for you to come here (Parliament) as MPs and you just sit, Members of Parliament, honourable, what! The whole day—standing, sitting down; point of order, point of information—you look like clowns in that Parliament there” – President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni at Kyankwanzi on the 15th April 2021

When the personification of the state starts to complain. The only thing you can do is to look at him. It is his legacy and his making. The state of politicking and talk of policy is made like this, because he has made it this way. That’s why amendments and changes to law comes as per decree from the State House in the manner of letter to the set Minister.

The President have commercialized and done the gerrymandering to such extent that he has levelled the ideal prospects for who can participate or get through the loophole of getting elected. The manufacturing of districts, counties, sub-counties and cities in general. All been made to get Yes-Men elected together with the Special Interests Groups as well.

That’s why its a bit funny that he says this:

You are like in a theatre, just acting! Your people who have remained in the village are carrying water on their heads; you are just here wasting time. I am not happy with the way you conduct yourselves” (Museveni, 15.04.2021).

The President have created this theatre or this circus. The clowns and the ones acting out is because of him. That the 10th Parliament became like that is after all the years of his reign. The 11th Parliament will also reflect that. It is the manner of which he made it happen. The National Resistance Movement (NRM) Primary Elections and the Sole-Candidacy affairs across the board. As well, as the total election rigging and securing majority by any means.

The NRM Central Executive Committee (CEC) and the NRM Caucus at the State House before the important votes and policies in Parliament. They are all just pawns of him and therefore, the way things goes when they are nearly there just to accept and vote for new acquired loans. That’s been the main staple in the Parliament and the others been supported legislation by the President. Meaning, the role of the MPs and the Committee has been demoted to be working directly for the Executive.

So, that the President calls the MPs out is his own blame and his own making. He has ensured this to happen. If he doesn’t like it or doesn’t feel its right. It’s because of his way of governing and controlling every aspect of the state. The “High Above” is micro-managing things and that’s how things goes.

The times I hear Museveni speaks like this and ridicule others. He is making a fool of himself. As its his state and the men he has mostly trusted to be there. The President has made this system and allowed it all to happen. It is his appointments and his people. It is not like the majority is his opposition or dissidents. No, its his peers and his folks, which he is directing.

That’s why when his doing this and saying this. His dismissing his own leadership and his own skills of governing. If he wanted it differently, he should have made the culture of the Parliament differently. The President if he felt like that… he should have enforced it and ensured it. However, his profiting from it and has made it happen.

This is why his making a fool of himself and not of the Parliament. That’s because this joint is his and the food that is served there. Is made by the receipt of the State House and the chefs are doing it because of the menu his written as well. They don’t decide, but they are just delivering what he wants. Peace.

Opinion: Kutesa lives in an alternative reality [and I needs to know how he got there]

Foreign Minister Sam Kutesa yesterday published a press release where he addressed Western Powers and the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). Which in itself is a natural thing to do for a Foreign Minister. Especially, when you want to address or explain certain situations for context to the international community. However, his so far from planet earth. He must either already entered Akon City or gotten a VIP ticket to Wakanda. Where I want to join him in the near future. Because, it must be bliss to live like him.

Kutesa is really out of line and lying out of his ass when his saying abductions doesn’t exist and arrests only happening through due process. The minister needs a reality check and maybe someone should enlighten him. He must living on pink cloud and drinking some powerful juices to not be able to apprehend the truth.

The Minister should connect himself with the Jeje Odongo and Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine. Even have a talk with the IGP Okoth-Ochola , Lt. Gen. Muhoozi Kainerubaga and others who are associated with the abductions, kidnappings and unlawful detentions. There are several of reports and security outfits, which has been in direct connect with the “drones” or “Panda Gari’s”. That is the state effort before, during and after the elections this year. Therefore, Kutesa needs to get his mind right and corrected.

He knows perfectly well that this has occurred and happened in the Republic. His just hoping the International Community and these dignitaries are naive. That these folks knows nothing and will eat the lies of his hands. While civilians are getting court martial like soldiers. People are abducted and the state doesn’t even produce the proper list of the ones who is taken away. That is why its disrespectful to the relatives and the loved ones of these individuals that the Minister says this.

Kutesa should know better, but rather live on a lie, than speaking the truth. That is the character of him and the regime he serves. The Minister is a reflection of how the NRM operates and how they think they can whitewash the sinister acts they do. That is just the reality of it all and its tragic.

Sam Kutesa needs to produce does tickets and ways to get Wakanda. If not how he already has entered Akon City. Since, with this sort of statement he cannot be sincere. It is false and a lie. The minister needs to chill or apologize about this.

The Minister needs to get an understanding or back-off. Because, the lies is easy to decipher in 2021. It is not like the grapevine is silent and the truth isn’t leaked out. This isn’t the bush and where you can control all aspects of information. That is impossible at these days and he cannot pull up a smokescreen to hide the facts.

Kutesa needs to call up Odongo and get some knowledge. Clearly that’s not happening. If not, his trying to deceive the world and that wouldn’t be shocking in 2021. Peace.

Uganda: UN experts extremely concerned at serious rights violations linked to general elections (13.04.2021)

GENEVA (13 April 2021) — UN human rights experts* today called on the Government of Uganda to immediately stop the brutal crackdown on its political opponents which began in the lead-up to January’s disputed general elections and continues to suppress opposition supporters.

“We are particularly alarmed by the reports of widespread and continued repression against opposition leaders and their supporters,” the experts said. “More than 50 people have been killed as a result of the brutal policing methods, including the use of live ammunition fired without warning, and at least 20 others have lost their lives in incidents linked to the electoral context.”

They urged the authorities to immediately and thoroughly investigate and prosecute all human rights violations, including allegations of extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrest and detention, enforced disappearance, torture and ill treatment, deprivation of due process of law and assault on freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.

Several thousand people have been arrested and while some have been released, others have allegedly been tortured before appearing in military courts, the experts said. Relatives of others often do not know their fate or whereabouts. “It is outrageous that those who are requesting information about their forcibly disappeared relatives are further subjected to reprisals and arrest,” the independent experts said.

“We are urging the Government of Uganda to take all necessary measures to immediately stop the concealing of information concerning individuals arrested in the context of the general elections, a practice amounting to enforced disappearance, and reveal their fate and whereabouts.

“The arbitrary house arrest between 14 and 25 January 2021 of the prominent opposition leader known as Bobi Wine (Mr. Kyagulanyi), which a High Court ruled to be unconstitutional, is symptomatic of the flagrant suppression tactics of the opposition and the absence of due process of law,” the experts said.

Opposition leaders and their supporters have protested against alleged electoral irregularities and the prohibition of gatherings under the guise of preventing the spread of the COVID-19 virus. The massive deployment of armed forces in cities, as well as the intimidation and attacks of opposition observers at polling stations, reportedly affected voter turnout; while the interruption of internet services slowed the voting process and affected counting.

“The curtailing of freedom of press and media, the intimidation, ill-treatment and assaults of journalists covering the elections and especially the opposition is simply unacceptable. The Government must provide immediate remedies and reparation to all the victims,” the experts said.

ENDS

****The experts:* Mr. Tae-Ung Baik (Chair), Mr. Henrikas Mickevičius, (Vice Chair), Ms. Aua Balde, Mr. Bernard Duhaime and Mr. Luciano Hazan, Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances; Mr. Nils Melzer****, Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment;Mr. Morris Tidball-Binz****, Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions*; ***Irene Khan, Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Opinion and Expression*; **Clément Nyaletsossi Voule*** Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association

Special Rapporteurs are part of what is known as the *Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures’ experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity.*

For more information and media requests , please contact Ms. Yayé Ba (yba@ohchr.org/+41 22 917 99 32)

For media enquiries regarding other UN independent experts, please contact Renato de Souza ( +41 22 928 9855 / *rrosariodesouza@ohchr.org), Jeremy Laurence (+ 41 22 917 7578 /* jlaurence@ohchr.org) and Kitty McKinsey (kmckinsey@ohchr.org)

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