People Will Fight For Their Rights

[Anonymous]

Betty Nambooze: With or without opposition, people will fight for rights
Written by Betty Nambooze Bakireke

Sunday, 24 April 2011 14:17

As ordinary Ugandans, business people and manufactures wilted under the searing heat of the rising fuel and commodity prices, the country waited with bated breath for President Yoweri Museveni’s address on the crippling inflation and the walk-to-work campaign.

When it finally came in the form of a press conference, the president’s speech was tinged with arrogance and insensitivity. In a manner reminiscent of the illustrious Marie Antoinette who, before the French Revolution, advised the poor to eat cake if they couldn’t have bread, the President, in his discourse, insulted the opposition, particularly Col Dr Kiiza Besigye as ‘idiots’.

The term now joins a list of Museveni’s preferred vocabulary such as tribalistic, opportunistic, unpatriotic, primitive, jigger and swine. He described the prevailing situation as ‘normal’ and remained adamant that he is not losing control.

This is not surprising for a president who thinks that his government is holy, infallible and flawless while dismissing any alternative view as backward. Such egotism has trickled down to the Police, who, of recent, have joined the President in persecuting the opposition.

Back when the Police still acted professionally, the President always alluded to their inadequacy, but today, after it was both militarized and politicized, he’s full of praises for it.

However, it would have been prudent for the President to admit that the country is in a crisis and that the rising food and fuel prices have created a sense of impasse which will be impossible to bridge if Museveni goes it alone.

Once, in response to a growing food crisis in the country, the President, while on the campaign trail in Mukono, on February 4, 2011, said the “barn” was full and that the likes of Dr Besigye were simply a greedy lot who wanted to reap where they never sowed.Elsewhere, he noted with pride that farmers were in a celebratory mood given the rising food prices. What this shows is that Museveni has lost touch with his once dear peasants.

For if not, he would have realized that the price for which a bunch of matooke is bought from a farmer hasn’t changed much. In addition, the farmer still has to purchase other goods and services. Besides, how much matooke do you expect a farmer to sell so as to educate a child through university?

In reality, the ‘happy’ peasants Museveni is talking about include those who die because they can’t raise Shs 50,000 for a surgery. Plus, the hike in food prices has come as a result of an increase in transportation costs which effectively cuts into the farmers’ profits if any.

When the world was hit by a nascent recession in 2008, Museveni assured the country that it wouldn’t affect us. As we lay back content with the assurances, other countries prepared their economies and citizens for any eventualities.

And what’s more, when the truth finally dawned on us, Museveni turned around saying that Uganda’s problems are external.

But while the high fuel prices and recession could be blamed on the unrest in the oil producing countries, our President should also accept that this is a direct result of dictatorship both in those countries and at home.

Unlike this government, the past regimes, which have been dismissed as buffoon, had at least 30 million litres of fuel in the reserves at Jinja. In fact Idi Amin had to import fuel into the country by air given the sanctions against his government but the reserves were kept operational for any eventualities.

Today, the reserves have been sold off and no account is given of the fuel therein. That means that should there be a shortage resulting from as simple a reason as a tree blocking the road from Mombasa, there would be massive fuel shortages in the country.

Yet, while the fuel crisis is an immediate problem, the President advises Ugandans to wait until Uganda starts drilling oil from Bunyoro. How could we rely on the oil in Bunyoro when we aren’t even privy to the contents of the agreements made with the prospectors?

What government ought to do is to look into a tax reduction on petrol. In the meantime, the President is advising Ugandans to be economical and walk to bars instead of burning fuel. One wonders if this differs from the opposition’s Walk to Work campaign and which of the two makes more sense: the bar or the workplace.

But if this were to work, government should be the first to tighten the belt. It wouldn’t make sense for locals to walk to the bar when the President is planning a Shs 4bn tab for the swearing-in ceremony.

It is also not economical to ferry over 100 journalists to Rwakitura, a private home for a press conference when both Entebbe State House and Nakasero State Lodge are operational.
President Museveni may, for personal reasons, prefer not to discuss the present crisis with the opposition, but our country needs a concerted effort to resolve the endless woes.

Because poverty is so rampant, the situation makes it inevitable for many to revolt – after all, they know they could still die of hunger and sickness from their homes without ever taking to the streets.
As an example, when I didn’t turn up for the walk to work campaign on April 18, the youth in Mukono still took to the streets in my absence.

This shows that even when the government buys out the opposition leaders as they have done, the legacy will live on; new leaders will emerge. Military attempts soon give way as has happened in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya.

The picture of a dead two-year-old girl, Gift Nalwanga, in the hands of a young man in Masaka, pregnant Brenda Nalweeyo who was shot at Kajjansi, the story of Kato who is rotting in Mulago hospital with a bullet in his nose, the story of Kampala slum dwellers losing children due to storm water, the strikes in the country’s public universities.

Furthermore, Parliament’s clearance of all CHOGM ministers, the deduction made on the health budget to pay GAVI for funds stolen by wealthy members, the pictures of soldiers throwing tear gas canisters in people’s houses and the sight of army barracks mushrooming at all junctions in and around the city tell the story: true, Museveni could be mighty, but he is wrong.

To this end, I don’t even need to participate in the protests any more. Not even Besigye, Mao, Erias Lukwago or Ssemujju Ibrahim Nganda; the people will fight for their rights with or without us.

The writer is Mukono North MP and a member of A4C

comment’s

STILL NEED TO PARTICIPATE
written by CHARLES KINTU , April 24, 2011

Madam Teacher as usual you have hit the nail on the head.

I agree with you on almost everything however I still insist that you the leaders still need to participate.

First and foremost there is no law that you break when you do. Contrary to the public thinking, showing anger to the government through demonstration is legal and constitutional. Actually one does not even need police permission as the courts have already stated in the Muwanga Vs Attorney General case.

Secondly, leaders like you need to lead. This means looking for other ways to force the government to account. As things stand now there is no other way to make Museveni and his government to account.

It is common knowledge that the Parliament which would have done it is full of sycophants and greedy people who only looks after their stomachs instead of the interests of the nation. These are the people who exonerated the CHOGOM thieves, the Global Funds thieves, the Temangalo thief, the ebidiba thief, the junk helicopter thief to mention a few.

They approved Sam Kuteesa and Jim Muhwezi’ ministerial appoints even when they knew that the two were censured for corruption by the previous parliaments. These are the people who ate 20 million before the election to pass the Traditional Leaders Bill. Only Shs 5 millions was enough to bribe them into removing term limits to give Museveni life presidency.

With the massive vote rigging in Museveni’s regime and the shameless abuse of incumbency it is totally impossible for the people to force the regime to account through the vote.

Museveni has said it on several occasion that a mere ballot cannot remove him from power!!

In such a situation it is only the people’s power through massive demonstrations that can force the dictators to account as events in the Middle East has shown us.

Democracy all over the world has to be fought for. Ugandans should not deceive themselves that rule of law and freedoms will just be given to them by a power hungry regime like that of Museveni. There must always be a fight and a sacrifice to pay.
Ugandans should be ready for this fight and should not be deterred by any pseudo nationalists and self interested individuals

This fight should be joined by all Ugandans of good will. That is why I was a bit saddened by some religious leaders who still see this work as that of only opposition politicians. These leaders also have a duty to demand accountability from government otherwise they will lose credibility from the faithful.

By accepting cars from Museveni while their flock die in poverty they are also partcipating in the looting and if things change they will find themselves in very difficult situation.

Come on leaders join the demand for good governance.

[Anonymous]

[video]http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MO7_fxeAVBg&feature=player_embedded#at=35[/video]

[Anonymous]

[video]http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIWw4qNNCH4&NR=1[/video]

[Kulabako]

[attachment=2501]1304169309katwe_2011-04-30.jpg[/attachment]
KATI BULI YENNA GWEBASANGA BAYOOLA BUYOOZI ABAMUBABAJJA NA MUMAYUMBA
AGOBA MUSAJJA MUNNE ALEKAMU AGAMUZZA

Abeekalakaasi 100 bayooleddwa e Katwe

Abaduukirize nga bayamba omukyala eyayisiddwa obubi tiyagaasi.

ABANTU abasoba mu 100 be baayooleddwa poliisi y’e Katwe nga kigambibwa nti beenyigidde mu bikolwa by’okwekalakaasa nga bookera ebipiira mu nguudo wakati, okuziba amakubo n’okukuba abaserikale amayinja n’emmotoka zaabwe.

OC atwala poliisi y’omu katale k’e Katwe wansi, Sgt. Michael Okema yategeezezza nti abamu baasangiddwa n’obusaale nga kiteeberezebwa nti baabadde babukozesa mu bikolwa eby’okwekalakaasa nga nabo baagombeddwaamu obwala.

Ezimu ku mmotoka z’abantu ba bulijjo zaakubiddwa endabirwamu n’amayinja ne bazaasa era abamu bagguddewo emisango ku poliisi e Katwe eduumirwa DPC (ASP) Lauben Wasiima.

Omumyuka w’akulira bambega ku poliisi eno, Bernard Odyeke yategeezezza nti poliisi y’oku Ssaawa ya Kkwiini baakutteyo abantu 69, poliisi y’omu Ndeeba baggyeyo 7, e Nateete 18 okusinziira ku OC waayo Vincent Mwesigye, e Nyanama ne Kikajjo baabadde 20, e Katwe wansi 12 n’abalala.
ABAAKWATIDDWA:
1. Ivan Menya
2. Isama Sserugga
3. Alex Mpungu
4. Joseph Lukyamuzi
5. Vincent Muwonge
6. Faroul Busingye
7. Micheal Lubega
8. Alifan Koepeti
9. Charles Wamala
10. Aoron Tukwasibwe
11. Brian Kitali
12. Godfrey Kalamagi
13. Emma Kato
14. Alex Kigongo
15. Leonard Mugisha
16. Abdallah Kiwanuka
17. Joseph Namwasi
18. Sula Kabonge
19. Paul Ssenyonga
20. Charles Wamala
21. Kalifan Kikomo
22. Said Ssemyalo
23. Abedi Kimera
24. Amon Ssekyanzi
25. John Mulada
26. Shaban Masembe
27. Zaid Mukasa
28. Hamis Ssembajju
29. Godfrey Matovu
30. Bosco Bukenya
31. Joseph Ssenga
32. Wilson Ssenyonjo
33. Lawrence Ssebuuma
34. Livingstone Busuulwa
35. Richard Bongole
36. Ssalongo Bwekwaso
37. John Kimbugwe
38. Zaid Mukulu
39. Mubaraka Ssekandi
40. Pison Kafumisi
41. Innocent Ssenyonga
42. James Sserubiri
43. Ibra Mutebi
44. Tonny Ssemmombwe
45. Sulaiman Kanzi
46. Joseph Mugabe
47. Bashir Kalungi
48. Jimmy Walugembe
49. Mubiru
50. Mayanja
51. Kiwalabye
52. Kalyango
53. Kabugo
54. Fred Sseggane
55. Kimuli
56. Kalunguzi
57. Ndakiyo
58. Jamiru Musinguzi
59. Annet Nakku
60. Ronald Ssentongo
61. Usamu Kateregga
62. Enock Nuwagaba
63. Ivan Ssenkubuge
64. Henry Kasozi
65. Sternly Mwanje
66. Fred Kasibante
67. Ibrahim Ssebaggala
68. Joseph Ssegawa
69. Kassim Ssenabulya
70. Ivan Mpiima
71. Mustapher Lukenge
72. Joseph Ssekiziyivu
73. Ssekitooleko
74. Kalyowa
75. Lawrence Kasule
76. Godfrey Ssuuna
77. Samuel Kasibante
78. Ibrahim Muye
79. Moses Kalyango
80. Frank Mutyaba

[Kulabako]

Opposition shun Museveni meeting
Moses Mulondo

OPPOSTION parties have boycotted a meeting convened to plan for dialogue between the opposition leaders and President Yoweri Museveni regarding the current protests over the high commodity prices.

The meeting, which was convened on Friday in the VIP room of Serena International Centre, was only attended by the National Resistance Movement (NRM) and the Conservative Party (CP), according to the Government’s Chief Whip, Daudi Migereko.

“It is very unfortunate that these opposition parties did not turn up. These things happen in politics. We shall continue engaging them,” Migereko said.

The meeting had been scheduled to take place under the framework of the Inter-Party Forum for Dialogue, which brings together all the parties represented in Parliament.

But FDC, UPC, JEEMA and DP boycotted the meeting, which was a follow-up on the President’s request to hold talks with the opposition on Tuesday (May 3, 2011).

Meanwhile, the Activists For Change (A4C) pressure group behind the walk-to-work campaign rejected the meeting with Museveni, regardless of the conditions set. Other opposition leaders are ready to meet Museveni, provided he accepts to hold the dialogue on the terms they set.

Asked for an update on their plans to meet Museveni, Muwanga Kivumbi, one of the architects of A4C, said: “That is rubbish. There is nothing we can get from a meeting with Museveni, except a cup of tea, photo opportunities and maybe his usual lectures which are usually out of touch with reality.”

Kivumbi warned that any opposition leader who dares meet Museveni would be treated as a traitor.

“If any opposition leader makes a blunder and meets Museveni, we shall have nothing to do with him, except to isolate him.”

Kivumbi said they had for a long time observed the behaviour of President Museveni and had discovered that he had no respect for opposition leaders.

“The actionable points of what needs to be done are clear and it is the Government that has the monopoly of implementing them. Government should just apply the solutions to the problems causing this crisis to show their seriousness,” Kivumbi said.

But in a joint statement issued on Friday, UPC, JEEMA, and DP leaders set several conditions for the dialogue with the President which include having the meeting chaired by a neutral person, the need for Museveni to apologise to the nation over the way the security forces have mistreated people, the need for the President to personally apologise to Dr. Kizza Besigye over the humiliating way he was arrested, the need for the resignation of internal affairs minister Kirunda Kivejinja, Police IGP Kale Kayihura, and Kampala Metropolitan Regional Commander, Grace Turyagumanawe.

The opposition leaders also demanded that before they meet Museveni, security operatives like Gilbert Arinaitwe, who vandalised Besigye’s car and sprayed pepper into his eyes, be apprehended and brought to book.

The statement was issued by JEEMA chairman Kibirige Mayanja, DP secretary general Mathias Mpuuga and UPC president Dr. Olara Otunnu.

On whether the Government will accept the conditions set by the opposition which have to be fulfilled before they meet the President, the Government Chief Whip, Daudi Migereko said, “IPOD had a framework under which dialogue should be held. Giving ultimatums and conditions for dialogue is outside the IPOD arrangement.”

Published on: Saturday, 30th April, 2011

[Kulabako]

NABAKOOBA NE KIVEIDINDA YOU DONT NEED TO LOOSE SOMEONE TO UNDERSTAND THE PAIN YOU GUYS YOU ARE GIVING OTHERS , BUT HEY SOMEPEOPLE NEED TO GO THROUGH THE EXPERIENCE

Uganda burns
Top Stories
Written by Edris Kiggundu

Friday, 29 April 2011 23:14
What started as widespread condemnation over the manner in which FDC President Dr Kizza Besigye was arrested on Thursday degenerated into running battles yesterday as police and other security agencies battled protesters in Kampala, its suburbs and various parts of the country.

This inspired sporadic riots in Rukungiri, where Besigye hails from, Jinja, Mbale and Masaka as people there took to the roads. Literally for five hours (9am to 1pm), there was an unofficial curfew over Kampala, as security agents blocked people from entering the city centre from the neighbouring suburbs, while those caught up in the chaos had nowhere to run.

Matters were complicated further when security ordered commuter taxis to vacate the old taxi park, leaving many people stranded. Traders locked their shops and for a moment Kampala was a ghost city.

Real action started at 9am at Kisekka market when the youth blocked Kyaggwe Road with boulders and went ahead to burn car tyres. Military police quickly moved in to quell the uprising, but the angry youths threw stones at them, forcing them to fire tear gas and, in some instances live bullets, to crush them.

The chaos later spread to almost all other city suburbs. In Kireka the protesters momentarily overpowered the police. They blocked the roads that lead to Namugongo town and Kamuli trading centre. Similar riots engulfed Kyaliwajjala, Najeera, Kamwokya, Kawempe and other suburbs.

At Namasuba, along Entebbe Road, angry youths disarmed a military man before bludgeoning him to death. An eyewitness told The Observer that the soldier was beaten to death with all manner of objects – sticks, metals, stones.

At Makerere University, military police moved in swiftly to stem an uprising by the students. All the gates leading to the university were closed as soldiers patrolled the vast institution. In Mitchell Hall, the students hurled stones at them, forcing the officers to shoot tear gas into some of the rooms.

In Rukungiri town, FDC supporters blocked the two roads that lead out of the district – Ntungamo and Ishaka roads – and marched through the town to show their displeasure at Besigye’s inhumane treatment. Police, however, used minimal force to disperse the demonstrators who were described as peaceful.

In Masaka, the riots were crushed before a lot of damage could be done. Around mid-day yesterday, police dispersed youths who had lit a bonfire in the middle of the road that leads to Kyotera town.

Muwanga Kivumbi, one of the architects of Activists for Change (A4C), the pressure group spearheading the walk-to-work campaign, told The Observer that even the risk of death will not deter them.

“Ugandans are overcoming intimidation and they are ready to pay any price for the liberty of their country,” Muwanga said.

He said the pressure group had singled out security officers who are perpetuating violence and will deal with each of them.
Muhoozi in charge

By and large, yesterday’s riots were quelled by the army and the military police. The police, while involved, played a peripheral role.

The commander of the Special Forces Group (SFG), Lt Col Muhoozi Kainerugaba (who is President Museveni’s son), made an appearance at Kisekka market and took charge of the operations.

He was seen commanding men in plain clothes. A videographer with WBS TV who tried to capture these events had his camera briefly confiscated before he was ordered away, together with other journalists.

Police spokeswoman, Judith Nabakooba, declined to comment about the army’s involvement in yesterday’s events when The Observer reached her.

‘Besigye deserved it’

As the violence escalated, Kirunda Kivejinja, the minister of Internal Affairs, told journalists at the Media Centre that the media had misreported the events surrounding Besigye’s brutal arrest on Thursday.

“The police had heard intelligence reports that Dr Besigye wanted to divert through Makerere University to attract university students to improve his crowd to greater chances of causing chaos,” Kivejinja said, reading from a statement.

The minister added that security was justified to use the kind of force they employed to arrest Besigye because the FDC president was holding a hammer and warning police officers: “I will hammer you!”

Kivejinja turned hostile when journalists, especially the international media, tried to challenge the government’s version of events, at one point retorting that “they are bedfellows with Besigye”.
A week ago, after a rubber bullet hit Besigye’s finger as police dispersed crowds along Gayaza road, Kivejinja told journalists that he (Besigye) was feigning the injury.

“He says they hit his finger, but I see his entire arm wrapped up in a bandage. Maybe he even bit his finger,” Kivejinja said then.

Public incensed
The violent arrest of Besigye on Thursday provoked angry reactions from his supporters across the country. Many self-confessed NRM supporters were also outraged.

TV images of his car window being broken into, of him being sprayed with pepper and of him being bundled under the seat on the floor of a police pickup truck like a chicken thief, drew tears from many viewers.

A government minister who was scheduled to appear on a radio talk-show at one of the FM radios said before he entered the studios: “This is unacceptable. Police should not handle anybody like that even if it is Besigye.”

Parliament, including NRM MPs, condemned the actions of the security operatives.

Deaths According to Kivejinja, by yesterday evening, two people had been confirmed dead and 127 injured. Police had also arrested 360 people in connection with the riots.

Uganda Red Cross Society secretary general, Micheal Nataka, told journalists at Mulago hospital that ten people sustained live bullet wounds. He said the injured included a ten-year-old child and a pregnant woman identified as Patricia Namugomya.

However, unconfirmed reports indicated that at least five people had died, including two security operatives at Namasuba, two people at Katwe and one at Kisekka market.

According to a statement released by the US embassy, the American government condemned the escalating violence in the city, calling for dialogue between the government and the opposition.

“The United States calls on all protesters to refrain from violence, obey the rule of law, cease all destruction of property, and avoid harming others… Above all, Ugandan authorities must avoid using excessive force against civilians in this situation. Constructive dialogue is needed now,” the statement read.

SOME COMMENTS
The Kirundas
written by Twalaba dda , April 30, 2011

Hon. Minister, Kirunda Kivejinja, you happen to share a name (Kirunda) with one of Obote’s henchmen, Luwuliza Kirunda.

Just have a glance at his ending and have a chat with your innermost self; let it come to your realisation, that your end will not be very different. Luwuliza could detain Ugandans at will, with no proper constitutional channels followed. Perhaps he even had more powers than you do today. Your age should command wisdom.

Kivejinja
written by R. Zikulabe/ Belgium , April 29, 2011

You are an election thief as the Ugandan courts of law ruled and you do not even spare the area where you were born.

It is on record that you opened up even “safe houses” in your born village. Time is near and you will end like the many of your likes _”in jail”. Remember Kale Kanyaihura & the police is under your command as Minister for Internal Affairs.

By early morning today, an uneasy calm had returned to most parts of the city, but the situation was still tense.

ekiggundu@observer.

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