Uganda: Cabinet Meeting at the State House authorised building roads in the North Kivu Province! [A new saga begins]

Yesterday on the 28th September 2020 at the State House in Entebbe, the Cabinet Meeting have made several of decisions. These are usually rubber-stamped by the Parliament. Therefore, what they decided is decisive. The National Resistance Movement (NRM) and its government are really starting a expansive plan.

The NRM are now going forward with building roads in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

These roads are:

Kasinde – Beni (80 Km)

Beni – Butembo Axis (54 km)

Bunagana – Rutshuru – Goma (89 km)

They are building the roads in the North Kivu in a region, which the Ugandan state have both occupied between August 1998 to June 2003. As well, as the Ugandan involvement in toppling Mobutu and installing Laurent Kabila. Because, of the looting of the years and the loss of the compensation for it.

Is this the way the Ugandan government trying to bait- and switch the government of Kinshasa? Will President Tshisekedi and Kabila accept this?

This is about 223 kilometres of tarmacked roads within the North Kivu province. A place the para-military of the Uganda knows well. A region where the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) are familiar in. Who knows how they are planning to develop this and who will do the bidding?

Is this more Chinese Operators or in connection with the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA). One of the most corrupt institutions in Uganda, which is the reason why buildings roads in the Republic is so expensive.

That is why its weird that the Ugandan is doing this and made this decision in a Cabinet Meeting yesterday. Wonder, if the government and authorities within the DRC will accept this? Is this to patch the hurt or is this a gamble of the Presidency?

They are pursuing it for inter-connectivity, mobility and for security. That is what they are stating in the minutes from the Cabinet Meeting. However, in my opinion this isn’t about bilateral cooperation and further the ties of the Republic’s.

The Cabinet Meeting and the State of Uganda is gambling that this will be a sort of pay-off for their plundering. Do some good deeds, but that has to be accepted by Kinshasa. That is something we have to see and this can take forever before it starts. We can wonder who will deal with the tenders, the budgets and who will keep the governments accountable. This sort of building and development project is a corrupt man wet-dream. As there will be no clear oversight and will be raining funds. There will be ghosts, there will be goats and will be unallocated funds.

We can also wonder, if this will be an excuse to have the UPDF returning into the province of North Kivu, as they have to be security for the road-companies and the construction. That wouldn’t shock me at all.

That is all speculation, but this story is only starting. There will be devils in the details. We just have to see, if the states will write Memorandums of Understandings (MOUs) and Agreements to safeguard the deals. Therefore, the Cabinet Meeting yesterday is just a beginning. This is a saga that will continue… Peace.

Opinion: Are you ready for recycled pledges?

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The National Resistance Movement (NRM), the ruling regime and the party of government. Are rolling out in fashion. They will come with blazing statements, digital brigades and use all platforms for their causes. As they are going for another General Election in 2021. However, they are in the same space as before and there is not much more they can do.

The NRM and the President since 1986. Cannot continue to revise and reuse same pledges. They can talk about sensitizing the electorate. They can’t continue to say they promote anti-tribalism, when the President says certain institutions and parts of government shouldn’t be questioned. Like the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) can be filled with tribes of Western Uganda. Which isn’t shocking, neither is his top picks for ministries either.

The President and Party cannot profess to great riches or wealth creation. As they have to re-issue and re-use same strategy over- and over again. Which they have been doing for decades now. These sort of projects are short-term gains and patching of the wounds, but not systemic changes. Which implies more investment and also more policies to drive economic growth. Something, this government, this party haven’t favoured. They are instead using their time on the quickest scheme to get rich for the cronies and let everyone else fend for themselves.

This Party and President cannot speak well of industrial growth or infrastructure. Yes, they rebuilt a bridge, which they are so proud of. They have had road-projects, which is infused either by expensive loans or grants from Multi-National Organizations. These loans and such will be repaid. By that time, someone else has use funds to keep the upkeep of the same roads. That is why it isn’t a big deal, but more what a government should do.

They cannot speak well of the status of schools, educational institutions and such. As these have defaulted, lacked investment and not done due diligence. The ones who are not funded by MPs or elite is depleted. They cannot even afford lightbulbs and teachers salaries. As the teachers are having side-gigs to survive up-country. Because, the salaries are so late and they are not taken care off. These are the ones that is educating the future of the Republic and they are forgotten.

The hospitals are lacking, the health-centres doesn’t have equipment. Even some doesn’t even have money to pay the bills for electricity for months. The nurses are not equipped and the doctors doesn’t have the tools. This was an issue before the pandemic, but haven’t become better after that. The state is busy buying cars and pick-ups, but not picking up medical equipment or PPE. They are using it on the RDCs and Village Chiefs. Because, these pick-ups is saving lives.

This is just a few of the issues at hand. The NRM will pledge, recycle old ones. They will come with funding. They will revive the old Universal Primary Education. The NRM will finalize the 10 Point Programme. Lira district will become the next Metropolis and so fourth. That is what they do in the election cycle. They will say the schools, the roads and the hospitals will be bang on. But with time, they have not invested or used time on it. From a government who has had the chance for over 3 decades to fix it.

If someone had the time and opportunity it was Museveni. The whole regime has had the time and even had the goodwill of the donors to adjust the situation. They could have made strides and made significant changes. Alas, that wasn’t their deal. Their deal was to get-rich by being in office. If they cared, it would have been done.

So, don’t eat out of their hands. They have said it all before and it will not change tomorrow. Peace.

Opinion: Kibalama’s story is a twisted tale of a failed enterprise

The National Resistance Movement (NRM) and President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni are working on overtime to dismiss, discredit and destroy Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine political career. Also, destroy his People Power Movement (PPM) and his newly acquired National Unity Platform (NUP) Party.

Because, Bobi Wine is the new arch-enemy of the regime. They have used all means to go after it. Arresting activists, political leaders and such. They have blocked meetings, radio-shows, concerts and rallies. The PPM and NUP are blocked on all levels.

The People Power have gotten into issues and they tried to block the usage of the Red Beret. As the symbol of the movement. They have also used the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) as a shield to block the red colour, which is also a symbol of the movement. Now, within the recent weeks. Suddenly, the regime are using the former leaders of the NUP to “arbitrary” or “unreasonably” lost their party to the People Power Movement.

Now, after the last few weeks and today’s statement by former leader Moses Kibalama. The contradiction of him shows why the Court Case happened in the first place. As the CDF David Muhoozi pressured him in combination with other state security antagonized him to do it.

Therefore, the stories and the discrediting of NUP new leadership have sort of failed. Kibalama, the former leader … who had to first make a statement of a missing payment of millions of dollars for the party. Now, that has been redacted and the pressure from the state made him say this.

That is why Bobi Wine have won and the regime have lost. Now Kibalama have lost all credibility, instead of “winning” back his old party. The army is supposed to be party partisan and not working for one party. In this regard, it is working for the NRM and their goals to destroy Bobi Wine’s chances. This after the NUP and Bobi Wine was able to get the party registered by the Electoral Commission.

The NRM have really tried to use all tricks and this one failed as well. They have now tried to use Kibalama to undermine the NUP without success. The attempt has only showed that they are forcing citizens to make false testimonies, which have backfired. It has undermined the character of Kibalama and the methods of the NRM. All showing what was the purpose and motives from the get-go.

This was a ploy of the NRM to crack the NUP. They even used the former leadership as a tool to question the party itself.

Bobi Wine and his team has proven to be righteous, as the NRM and the State Security used their force to intimidate Kibalama. This was done to put the NUP in trouble, but now they have lost it. That is even before the ruling of the Court. Since, the stories doesn’t add-up.

Kibalama has lost it. The NUP has won and the case isn’t finished. That is really humiliating and shows their real intentions, which wasn’t a good look. Peace.

Federation of Uganda Football Associations: Resumption of Association Football Activities (24.09.2020)

Opinion: It shouldn’t be this hard to make Museveni’s credentials public

It was the other day, when Lawyer Male Mabirizi petitioned and got the academic papers of the Presidential Candidate Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine. In a heartbeat, the various parts of government scrambled the documents and delivered those to the lawyer. That happen without any hesitation. It was all released for the world to see.

While in Mid-August 2020 another lawyer Muwanda Nkunyingi petitioned the same authorities for the academic credentials of the President. The incumbent, the man of 1986 and beyond. This lawyer was asking for the documents produced for the General Election 2016. However, by the time of early September, the 3rd to be exact. The Electoral Commission only took a few words and sentences from the Election Petition of Amama Mbabazi No.1 of 2018 in the Supreme Court. That is all the public gets.

The President haven’t dropped the gems from the University of Dar Es Salaam or Ntare School, which he has often mentioned several of times. Still, the man who worked in the Research Bureau at one point should have documents and be able to prove his credentials. That shouldn’t be a toxic question and impossible. Unless, he has buried it, because it makes him look weak and not as intellectual as he wishes to be. The President always want to be right and be the teacher. Maybe, his just a KRS-ONE, instead of a Professor X. Who knows, right?

We are now over the middle of September 2020. This means it has gone close to a 1,5 month since the lawyer petitioned the Electoral Commission. The Electoral Commission answered a few weeks later and the letter from the 3rd September leaked today to the public on the 21st September. This means, the EC and the authorities have no plan of making them public. Like they do with the other opposition candidates.

If they could just use a minute to release the Bobi Wine credentials. It should be super easy to have the man who has stood for elections and had to be verified every 5 years. They should have copies upon copies in their achieves. There should be documents and credentials going back to 1996 or 2001. The President should have certified copies there.

Unless, he has dropped all those, because he wants to bury his past. Trying to make himself legendary by digging all his past into the ground. If not ensuring the institutions he went to deleted his and burned his past work. God knows right?

For a man that has ruled since 1986. It is weird that this is so hard to get a copy. That the Electoral Commission and the Uganda National Examination Board (UNEB) isn’t able to produce more than a fragment of a court order from 2018. That is like dropping nothing and intending to not release it. Because, the authorities and the state are wavy about how the public will react when they see the real deal.

The President wants to be a man of wisdom, but these sort of actions isn’t wise. It only proves that his hiding something. That he has some skeletons in his closet. If it was nothing… then it would have been released yesterday. Just like all the letters where the President micro-manage and directs others to do his bidding.

It is not a sign of strength, but a sign of weakness when your hiding this. The public deserves better, but the man of the ages is afraid of releasing this. It might show he sucked in in the sciences or had to retake a class. Maybe he never finished the studies in Tanzania? Who knows?

But… something is up. We just don’t know what. Peace.

Keeping up with Kaguta S1E19: 9 million radios and running

The government plan for long-distance learning through the provision of the 9 million radios sets is on course, the money is available and those radios will be provided” Yoweri Kaguta Museveni (20.09.2020).

Yet again, the President, the marvel and the relic of the Bush-War is holding another National Speech on the matter of COVID-19 or the Coronavirus. To direct, deflect and buy time… as there are always underlining elements, which are either ditched or forgotten about. The President and his handlers doesn’t look at these or says it isn’t wise.

The President have hold these speeches on a semi-regular since the first lockdown in March. He has prolonged the journey and be careful to open up society. Something he continues, as the elections are getting closer and the usage of the pandemic seems more and more obvious. As he don’t want to open to much. As that would allow the opposition and others to gather more frequent in the time ahead.

Today, I will only digress into the favourite quotes of the evening, as the whole speech is to much. He will pledge, offer tokens, which will not be delivered. Just like the Village TVs and Food Delivery during the first lockdown stages….

Here is the best quotes of the evening:

We plan to distribute radios for distance learning but the parents might take them from the children to listen to disco” – Museveni

Long distance learning will continue. The rest of the world is learning online. This route of distance learning is a very good route, and we will consolidate it” – Museveni

I therefore call NRM members not to fight. Why do you fight? Suppose you lose a tooth? Fighting is useless. Write a letter and send to Tanga Odoi. We shall come and audit” – Museveni

Bars remain closed because most of them are in enclosed areas. But also because drunkards can’t control themselves, and would therefore struggle to comply with Covid-19 prevention guidelines” – Museveni

So, here we are… there are still curfews. Restrictions on bars, pubs and elsewhere. Churches can gather, but with a limited crowd. Also, sports can resume and play, but without any spectators. Gyms and casinos are closed still… months upon months with lockdown.

He can try to play cute and funny about things. However, his still serious about the pandemic. Using it as tools for the up-coming elections. This speech was no different. The promises of radios are re-used and it will be an empty pledge.

This is just another edition of the President. With new directives yet again. Also, defensive…but that is to expect. That he defends the NRM and the NRM Primaries. Even saying staying in line for voting isn’t called a gathering. That shows the foolish of the enterprise of this President.

President Museveni can talk… that’s why its no need to look through the whole speech. This is a little gist. Peace.

Opinion: Birigwa should join Muntu [and if you don’t, opt for ‘Plan B’]

Birigwa stressed the need to continuously engage President Yoweri Museveni in a discourse on the future of the country” (…) “We need a negotiated settlement with the Government, without fighting” – Wassawa Birigwa (Jeff Andrew Lule – ‘FDC’s Birigwa wants dialogue with museveni’

16.09.2020)

I don’t know about you, but it seems like Wassawa Birigwa better leave the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC). The man sounds like another edition of Mugisha Muntu. The FDC Presidential Contender should act and have a more hostile stance. His a bit to peaceful.

Birigwa sounds like a bargain for Museveni. It seems like Birigwa haven’t learned from dialogue and negotiations with Museveni. In the end, Museveni will win. He will trick you, give you credit and dole out gifts. However, in the end you will loose.

Birigwa is playing a game he will not win. Wassawa is talking so softly and pragmatic that he seems to be in the wrong party. He should maybe switch to the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT). Because, if he believes in a negotiated deal with the NRM. He seems like a brother in arms with Muntu.

The FDC is the ‘Plan B’ and Defiance party. That is why the Mwenda’s and others are directly hostile. They are damaging the calm of the elites and the cronies. The one earning millions of shillings on impunity. They despise the FDC and the whole paradigm shift on weakening the government before a peaceful transition. Using civil disobedience and protest to get rid of the government. That means, no talks, but direct action to hurt the heart of power.

Alas, Birigwa seems to be on a crash course on this one. He is going head-to-head. This man could be the side-kick of Muntu. Especially sound like that. That is giving way to the man of 34 years. The one who duped the Nairobi Talks, tricked others and made a fool of other former heads of state.

Museveni will not be soft, he will sound smooth, but we stab you in your back when your not looking. That is what he does and Birigwa should know this.

That is why the idea alone should be buried and forgotten. It will not happen and will amount to no good. Unless, he wants to get a new deal to be Leader of Opposition in Parliament and get some millions shillings for the service.

Birigwa don’t need to engage Museveni. The FDC and the Presidential Candidates needs to challenge him. They need to aim at his heart, go directly at the things the President treasure and ensure he can loose it all. Not sweet talk and be a sweetheart. That will work in romcoms, but not in reality.

Birigwa this is weak tea. This will not work. Negotiate with Museveni is a lost cause. There is nothing to get there. He will get rid of you and ensure your fate. You will go missing and will not be found. If not end up in exile. There be no safe journey if you tries. Museveni will not give away power. The power he has held all of these years. That’s not happening.

To be clear, better sign up to ‘Plan B’, better start to listen to Besigye, because this is not it. If you believe it? Go to Muntu, his the pragmatic non-starter and the one for the future of the Christmas past. Peace.

Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF): Operation to pursue escapees from Singila Government Prison in Moroto (17.09.2020)

Mzee is educating about the elements now… [water for now]

“Tryna stay above water, that’s why we shun the navy”Kendrick Lamar on ‘HiiiPower’ of Section80 (2011).

The Self-Styled President for Life, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni today dropped a small lesson on water. One of the 4 Classical Elements. In the next up-coming editions, he might tell about the earth, the wind (air) and the fire. He called today’s piece “Know Your Country”.

Alas, he drops more gems about his own life and family, as that is the knowledge you need to know. Also, to know that the old man has bought more land. As the rich head-of-state never seems to neglect his estates or his ownerships. It just keeps expanding and expanding.

Where the old man speaks of water-levels and the closeness of his interests in that. An old man is supposed to be interested in these things. These sort of futile and local questions, historical records and the amounts of changes over time. As if the youths are caring about this now. They have enough trouble to find ways to eat and get a gig in this gig economy.

It is weird that he drops a piece like this. He could instead focus on how he hasn’t secured water in the tap. How, he hasn’t made it sufficiently and effectively water in the villages and the neighbourhoods of the slums in the cities. However, that would make him look dumb and foolish. After over three decades in power.

His talking about the amount of water in the lakes and the historical flooding’s of it. That is insincerity. If he was a history buff, someone who was holding seminars on historical facts of the Republic. It would have been fine and dandy, but this man is the Commander-In-Chief, the Head of State, the Fountain of Honour and not some random water-boy speaking about inner-workings of the lakes.

Just to be a bit blunt, Merriam-Webster defines water like this:

“the liquid that descends from the clouds as rain, forms streams, lakes, and seas, and is a major constituent of all living matter and that when pure is an odorless, tasteless, very slightly compressible liquid oxide of hydrogen H2O which appears bluish in thick layers, freezes at 0° C and boils at 100° C, has a maximum density at 4° C and a high specific heat, is feebly ionized to hydrogen and hydroxyl ions, and is a poor conductor of electricity and a good solvent” (Merriam-Webster Dictionary – ‘Water’).

So, its weird that he picks that as a topic all of sudden. It’s all water baby. The old man says so. It’s all magic baby. No, I am kidding, but this is foolish. That uses his time and energy behind such a piece. His not even a lecture on WASH principals or the Scientist. He is a know it all and one that thinks he has the vision for everyone. Even if that is untrue. That is why his fuzzed mind, thinks this was a brilliant move too.

Alas, he has dropped knowledge on one of the 4 classical elements. Let’s see what he does next. Peace.