After successfully taking the Nebanda death saga out of the lime light of the press, Uganda government denies army take over : The purpose of all this hullabaloo on army take over simply aimed at diverting the press from the Nebanda death saga which exposed Museveni’s government

Late MP Cerinah Nebanda

FIRST READ

Rule of Rwitabagomi: President Museveni is reported to have warned the ruling party’s retreat in Kyankwanzi on Wednesday that if the “confusion” in Parliament persists, the military will take over.

http://watchmanafrica.blogspot.com/2013/01/rule-of-rwitabagomi-president-museveni.html

American Client states and the art of deception: Trying to Divert us from the Nebanda case using scare crows of Ebola and Political intimidation: Ebola suspected in Mubende district: Museveni summons NRM MPs to Kyankwanzi to frustrate a recall of MPs to debate the Nebanda saga 

 

Nebanda did not take a corrosive substance’

http://www.monitor.co.ug/Magazines/ThoughtIdeas/-Nebanda-did-not-take-a-corrosive-substance-/-/689844/1653690/-/10fu7gx/-/index.html

http://watchmanafrica.blogspot.com/2013/01/american-client-states-and-art-of.html

Nebanda Death saga: MPs punch holes in Kalungi confession as Ssekikubo is beaten and brutally arrested

http://watchmanafrica.blogspot.com/2013/01/nebanda-death-saga-mps-punch-holes-in.html

If you are not the killer why Doctor pictures??? Adam Musa Masuba the so Called ex-lover of late Nebanda says that the late started taking drugs this YEAR as a way of reducing her weight: Oh: really

http://watchmanafrica.blogspot.com/2013/01/if-you-are-not-killer-why-doctor.html

Gen. Kahinda Otafiire

Gen. Otafiire joins anti-military coup crusade

http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Issa-Aliga-Sembabule---Yasiin-Mugerwa/-/688334/1678030/-/f9e7nv/-/index.html

By Issa Aliga Sembabule & Yasiin Mugerwa

Posted  Tuesday, January 29  2013 at  02:00

In Summary

Gen. Otafiire’s remarks came after several senior soldiers who weighed in on the raging debate about the possibility of a coup, with some describing talk of a military takeover as “barbaric”. 

For saying that the army could be compelled to grab power, Maj. Gen. Kahinda Otafiire has reminded the army that President Museveni was elected by the people and swore to resist those who want to “disorganise” the country.

Gen. Otafiire who was the chief guest at Theodore Ssekikubo’s graduation party in Lwemiyaga Constituency in Ssembabule on Sunday had no kind words for the coup plotters. He asked soldiers to stay in barracks and warned the UPDF against meddling in the affairs of government and politics, saying such a move was uncalled for.

“I have heard that the UPDF have been talking about taking over the government. But I want to warn them that the role of the army is to defend the territorial integrity and the Constitution of Uganda not to hijack power. President Museveni was elected by the people to lead for five years and the parliament was elected by the people of Uganda,” Gen Otafiire said.

He said: “Leave the government alone. The three arms of government work like brothers; they know how to solve their issues [without military intervention]. Every person has his or her lubimbi (sense of duty), the government does not belong to the president, not even parliament, power belongs to the people and the role of the executive is to ensure that we deliver services and it’s the role of parliament to ensure oversight.”

Gen. Otafiire’s remarks came after several senior soldiers who weighed in on the raging debate about the possibility of a coup, with some describing talk of a military takeover as “barbaric”. The debate was started by Defence Minister, Dr Crispus Kiyonga, repeated by President Museveni in Kyankwanzi and later confirmed by army commander Gen Aronda Nyakairima.

Addressing the contest between the executive and parliament, Gen. Otafiire, who is the Justice Minister, who made it clear that he was not representing the government and that he came as a friend to Mr Ssekikubo to congratulate him upon his attainment of a Bachelor of Laws degree, commended outspoken NRM MPs for speaking the truth in the fight against corruption in government.

In applauding Mr Ssekikubo for being “courageous” and “outspoken” in Parliament, Gen. Otafiire who gave two cows to Mr Ssekikubo, invoked the analogy of a person with eye mucus and a mirror, wondering whether it’s logical for a person with “Obujonjo” (the eye mucus) to break the mirror instead of cleaning his or her eyes.

“If they speak about corruption within some of us; is it not true? I like Ssekikubo myself because when I am wrong, he tells me so and I like him for his honesty and always speaking the truth,” Gen Otafiire said.

He added: “I don’t how to tell lies; if you like me or not, I don’t care as long I say the truth. These MPs were sent to Parliament to speak and that’s exactly what they are doing. Allow the President to do his job and the parliament to do its work. Those in parliament are not going to violate the Constitution and for us in the executive, we are not about to do that either. Nobody is going to disorganise our country when we are looking on.”

Gen. Otafiire who spoke in Luganda mixed with Runyankole said that the major reason why some big people complain about Ssekikubo is because he always speaks out openly against corruption and the questionable deals that they engage in.

He thanked the people of Lwemiyaga for voting a “fearless” parliamentarian. He asked Mr Ssekikubo to use the law degree that he acquired from Makerere University to articulate the issues affecting the people of Lwemiyaga in parliament. At least 10 outspoken MPs attended the function.

Mr Ssekikubo said those who describe him as a “rebel” and speak about sending him out of the NRM, are plotting to throw the people of Lwemiyaga out of NRM party. Most of the rebel MPs who spoke at the function said they will not be intimidated and vowed to keep talking about the government failures.

Asked what he made of Gen. Otafiire’s comments, Mr Ssekikubo said, the general’s comments should be taken seriously, adding that his message against corruption and abuse of office should be taken seriously. “I salute him for courage, not many ministers are brave to speak the truth. He never dipped his hands in public funds which has been a challenge to many ministers,” Mr Ssekikubo said.

Background

In August 2007, Gen. Otafiire warned that Uganda could slip into anarchy if there is no orderly transition from President Museveni to another leader. "If there is going to be transition, it has to be orderly. That is what we are struggling for," said Maj. Gen. Otafiire, adding that only President Museveni can decide on the issue of who will succeed him. He was appearing on 93.3 Kfm's Hot Seat Programme.

 Brig. Ggwanga.  

Coup not possible, says Brig. Ggwanga

http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Coup-not-possible--says-Brig--Ggwanga/-/688334/1678034/-/hhvcwjz/-/index.html

By JOHN TUGUME

Posted  Tuesday, January 29  2013 at  02:00

In Summary

Forget it. President’s adviser on security says coup won’t happen but the military will target the corrupt.

Ggwanga has joined a growing list of senior officers who have denounced talk about a possible army take-over, saying problems of the 21st century need brains and not guns and bullets.

Brig. Ggwanga, President Museveni’s adviser on security in Buganda, said people should not be worried about comments made by the Head of State that the army could take over if what he called “confusion” continues in Parliament.

“We are in the 21st century. You just don’t talk about military rule. If you want to tangle with (US president Barack) Obama, talk about military,” Brig. Ggwanga told this newspaper during an exclusive interview he requested on Sunday.

The President reportedly alluded, two weeks ago, at a ruling party retreat in Kyankwanzi about the UPDF taking charge of government.

Brig. Ggwanga said: “We, the military taking over? No way. May be what the President did not tell you is that we [the military] will go after his people … may be the President was quoted out of context.”

The senior soldier added: “We did our work, fought the war, and handed the government to civilians. But these civilians are betraying us through corruption. This is where we shall step in to lock up all those accused of misusing the taxpayers’ money.”

Asked what he meant by Museveni’s people, Brig. Ggwanga said: “Look at those ministers siphoning money to private use. You think we are not watching? We have decided that whichever corrupt official gets bail, we shall take them to the military prison. They are let free to go and tamper with evidence and the next thing you hear is they are innocent.”

Last evening, Presidential Adviser on the Media John Nagenda also ruled out the possibility of a coup.
The army spokesman yesterday dismissed the take-over talk as “something manufactured by the Monitor boardroom”.

“No one has talked about a coup,” Col. Felix Kulayigye said, before he hang up the phone.
Brig. Ggwanga said like-thinking colleagues were anxiously waiting for the Ssimbwa Bill for them “to jump into action”.

Makindye East MP John Ssimbwa has proposed in a private member’s Bill that whoever is found guilty of corruption should have their property or that of their immediate relatives confiscated to recover the abused funds. The Bill is yet to be discussed.

Brig. Ggwanga said the NRM MPs are to blame for the poverty in the country. “Look at the NRM manifesto. Agriculture should be prioritised and more jobs created for our youth. The MPs have gone astray...” he said.

“I hear them taking about punishing rebel MPs. That’s crap. Ugandans need food on the table, they don’t understand politics,” he added.

 State Minister for Regional Cooperation Asumani Kiyingi (R) with US ambassador to Uganda Scott Delisi at the opening of a four-day workshop in Kampala yesterday. The workshop seeks to improve the regional response to transnational threats in eastern Africa. PHOTO BY STEPHEN WANDERA 

US warns E.A armies on undermining democracy

http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/US-warns-E-A-armies-on-undermining-democracy/-/688334/1678050/-/fbg4vsz/-/index.html

By John Njoroge

Posted  Tuesday, January 29  2013 at  02:00

In Summary

Peppering the cracks. U.S Ambassador to Uganda reminds regional army leaders how they have come along way in maintaining peace, warning that they must not turn the guns on civilians.

The United States government has expressed concern that there could be a threat to democracy if some regional militaries abdicate their functions of upholding the rule of law.

“Strong, professional militaries are essential to regional security. Security, in turn, is essential to development as it allows economies to prosper and democratic institutions to grow,” U.S Ambassador to Uganda, Scott Delisi said yesterday.

“If, however, those militaries threaten that prosperity, if they do not support the democratic institutions they are meant to uphold, then the foundation of our efforts crumble, and East Africa risks falling back into the bloody cycle of revolution and counter-revolution,” Ambassador Delisi added.

The ambassador made the observations while opening a four-day workshop on improving regional responses to transnational threats.

The appeal

He noted that the U.S did not want regional nations to “descend into morass of problems generated by poverty, infectious disease, and unchecked conflict.”

The remarks come a week after both the Chief of Defence Forces General Aronda Nyakairima and Defence Minister, Dr Crispus Kiyonga said the Ugandan army could re-insert itself in the country’s politics.

The US government representative did not make any direct reference to the current debate about the possibility of the army staging a coup d’tat in the face of the stand-off between the Executive and Parliament.

The two arms of government have been at loggerheads over the anti-corruption fight. Commending President Museveni’s efforts in the regional war on terror and the fight against the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), Ambassador Delisi also warned that such progress was “fragile.”

“As nations move forward to address threats to peace and stability, they must also ensure that the tools they use to combat these threats do not become the threats themselves,” Ambassador Delisi said.

Intimidating Parliament?

Following the comments by Gen. Aronda and Dr Kiyonga, political commentators have criticised what they consider is a ploy to intimidate Parliament.

Others have suggested that the coup talk which Mr Museveni was also quoted hinting on amounts to a direct attack on the Constitution and may constitute an incitement to commit the offence of treason.

However, Deputy Police Spokesperson Vicent Ssekate yesterday said the Force has seen no offence in the statements of the two officials.

“We see no offence hence there is nothing to investigated,” Mr Ssekate said last evening.
At State House, Presidential Spokesman Tamale Murundi insisted Uganda’s military was entitled to its opinion on political events in the country.

“That is why we have 10 military MPs in Parliament and not police officers or prisons officers. The army is simply telling Parliament that they too have a role. Let the politicians not think this is a one-man-show,” Mr Mirundi said.

“Why is the opposition afraid of a military headed government? They have been saying that the current government is incompetent and corrupt. They should be jubilating,” Mr Mirundi added.

Parliamentary summons

The Parliamentary Committee on Defence and Internal Affairs has been quoted saying it will summon the two officials to clarify their reasons for suggesting a possible overthrow of the government by the army.

Deputy Attorney-General Fred Ruhindi yesterday told this newspaper his office had not received any formal communication or complaint over the matter.

“I have only been reading those things in the media. Nothing has been directed to me in my official capacity,” Mr Ruhindi said.

Museveni on coup talk, Besigye and Muhoozi

Wednesday, 06 February 2013 15:32

Written by President Yoweri Museveni

I have been watching, without comment, the circus that has been going on in the newspapers of Uganda about UPDF wanting to make a coup; that some leaders, including myself, made comments to that effect.

Then, that manufactured lie being amplified by individuals who, for many years, have been in the habit of promoting intrigue and indiscipline in the NRM. A few other commentators like Mr. John Nagenda appeared to have been genuinely duped by this subterfuge manufactured by the Daily Monitor newspaper and its collaborators.

I refused to comment for two reasons. Reason number one is that some of these newspapers endlessly tell lies. One would have to abandon more useful work to respond to the lies and malice of these papers always manipulated by the enemies of Uganda.

The second reason is that I do not want to be used by the enemies of Uganda to also contribute to the diversion of the public’s attention from their core interests to the endless schemes of these enemies.

The intention of these enemies is to divert the attention of the public from their core interests to these lies and also to scare businesses that may want to come to Uganda by presenting Uganda as potentially unstable. I cannot join such schemes annoying though they may be. At Kyankwanzi, we only allowed the Press at the opening ceremony and the closing ceremony. During the rest of the time (this time, from 11th to 18th of January, 2013), we were engaged in very serious discussions about a very large number of topics confidentially.

In the end, we passed Resolutions which were published. The Daily Monitor newspaper may not even have published those Resolutions – deliberate conclusions of the NRM’s Parliamentary Caucus Retreat.

Instead, they manufacture a lie or bring issues totally out of context. I cannot, nevertheless, be provoked into answering the lies of such schemers in order to “clarify” because those were confidential discussions.

As time passes, Uganda will grow more immune to this endless blackmail and provocation. As for the schemers, there is a time for everything, it says in the Book of Ecclesiastes Chapter 3: 1-8: “…There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the Heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot…..a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace”

We have seen such characters before. On the 23rd of January, 1973, for instance, I was on a clandestine mission with two of my colleagues in Mbale against Idi Amin’s regime. We were in Maumbe’s house, House No.49, Maluku Estate. At around 1500 hours, we were suddenly surrounded by about 15 military Police of Idi Amin. I fought my way out of that encirclement but, unfortunately, my two colleagues were killed.

We also killed two of the Military Police. The schemers and the enemies were soon at work. “Museveni is the one who killed his colleagues. If he did not kill them, why did he not die himself? Why did he escape alive?” All those schemes never stopped the NRM from winning victories. We are now much better positioned to defeat those schemes compared to 1973, when we were much weaker but as greatly motivated as we are today.

I wish good luck to the schemers. Nevertheless, I have now decided to write something because the Sunday Monitor of the 3rd of February, 2013, published an interview by Dr. Besigye. The aim of the Monitor paper is always to demean the achievements of the NRM and divert Ugandans from their core interests. Now that the whole of Uganda is peaceful, we have adequate electricity, we (the NRM) discovered the oil for the Ugandans, we have a massive educated force, etc., this is too much for the Monitor newspaper.

They must promote chaos through talk of coups, lies about the Prime Minister and Ministers taking bribes from oil companies, recall of Parliament, Museveni killing the late Nebanda, etc. Monitor newspaper you will fail.

Since, however, Dr. Besigye gave an extensive interview in that enemy paper attacking the achievements of NRM over the last 43 years of struggle for liberation and the building of Uganda in the last 27 years of that time, I will answer him for the sake of the young people who do not know that history well.

I will start with his last point while responding to the Monitor Interviewer who asked Dr. Besigye the following question: “But the NRM has as well grown the economy.  President Museveni revealed at the same function that the economy is growing 14 times annually?”  Of course, this question had itself a mistake.  The economy is now 14 times bigger than it was in 1986.  It is now 50 trillion shillings while in 1986, it was 3.5 trillion shillings.

In dollars, it is US$ 20 billion.  In the 1990s only the economy of Kenya was US$ 12 billion in East Africa.  We have now surpassed that level.  By the end of this Financial Year, the economy will be 58 trillion shillings or about US$ 22 billion in spite of the slower rate of growth created, partly, by the slower global rate of growth.

Dr. Besigye answered the interviewer by saying that the NRM has failed to live up to Point Number 5 of the NRM Programme of building an integrated self-sustaining economy – that is, creating an economy with inter-sectoral linkages, e.g. agriculture producing raw materials for industry and industry producing inputs for agriculture, etc.

It is true that the NRM has not completed the job of transformation of the economy, mainly, for two reasons: the very low base from which we started and sabotage by some political actors, especially, those who, eventually, joined FDC and other opposition groups.  I remember very well that, for instance, many of those who opposed Bujagaali hydro power project were individuals who, eventually, joined the opposition groups. Bujagaali is now finished, but late by about 15 years. That is why we will no longer tolerate those internal saboteurs or those from the opposition opposing industrialization.

Nevertheless, that sabotage and the low base we started from notwithstanding, the progress in industrial production can only be denied by somebody who is pathologically biased.  The share of industry to GDP is now 26.4% while in 1986, it was 9.9% of GDP. This is 26.4% of an economy that is 14 times bigger than it was in 1986. The industrialization of the economy under NRM started with the rehabilitation of industries that were producing consumer goods: beers, sodas, soap, sugar, tea, etc.

Before 1986, all these were being imported from Kenya, they were in great scarcity and they were being smuggled into the country.  The smuggling (known as magendo) meant that the State was not getting taxes on these goods. Uganda is not only self-sufficient in most of these goods but is, actually, exporting a lot of them to the neighbouring countries. The value of the exports of industrial goods is now US$ 509 million.

Then, there is the production of intermediate goods (goods that are needed as inputs into other industries) such as cement and steel-bars (mitayimbwa) for construction.  The relevant figures are: the production of cement in 1986 was about 76,400 metric tonnes per annum; the production is now 2.4 million met. tonnes per annum.

The production of mitayimbwa was 832 metric tonnes per annum in 1986. It is now about 240,000 metric tonnes per annum. The production of car batteries in 1986 was 4,000 batteries per annum. The production is now 170,000 batteries per annum. Many of these products are being exported to the neighbouring countries.

Uganda is now exporting industrial products.  Then, there is the value addition to agricultural products.  Let us take the example of milk.  By 1986, all processed milk was coming from outside (Kenya, Denmark, etc.).  Today, Uganda is not only self-sufficient in processed milk products but she is actually exporting quite a bit of these, not only to the region but internationally.

Recently, we have been negotiating with India to accept our processed milk. There are scientific innovations and inventions – banana starch, juices, machine-parts and machines, the electric car, etc. Now that we have, finally, overcome the sabotage of the groups people like Dr. Besigye belong to by regaining the initiative in electricity, nothing will stop us. Uganda is now generating (installed capacity) 828 MW compared to 60 MW in 1986.

We would be much further if it was not for the sabotage of the said factions.  Dr. Besigye keeps deceiving civilians who do not know the history of NRA well that we have been running a Military Government all these years. Surely, Dr. Besigye, you know very well that these sabotages by your groups would not have been possible if we were running a Military Government; nor would have been the indiscipline by the political actors possible.

It is precisely because of the early civilianization and democratization of the politics that saboteurs have been able to delay our progress including industrialization. We do not regret this, however, because it allows the whole population to be involved in the debates (needless debates created by either saboteurs or ego-centric actors) and, in the process, the population matures more politically and ideologically.

That is why the NRM has been winning in all the General Elections in spite of the reckless and irresponsible lies by the opposition – “Museveni has sold Lake Victoria; Museveni has sold Lake Kyoga, etc.” It is slower but it is the only way to move.  An NRA/UPDF Military Government, provided we had our own financial resources (we did not have to depend on the outside money), would have moved much, much faster on the transformation of Uganda and Dr. Besigye knows that very well.

The sort of schemes he has been promoting would not have been possible. However, right from the beginning we democratized Uganda and have had to cope with the slower pace and more tedious work of dealing with indisciplined, malicious, opinionated or, sometimes, just un-informed actors.  Since 1986, the UPDF-NRA ensures peace as well as stability and the civilians manage or mismanage the politics, the administration and the justice.

That is the accurate characterization of the situation of Uganda under the NRM. I must congratulate Dr. Besigye because, in recent statements, he has acknowledged the undeniable success of the NRA/UPDF. In his recent interview, he, for instance, said: “in some parts of the country where there were no insurgencies, especially the Southern and Central Uganda, security has been generally better than it was before 1986 and one can say, therefore, thanks to the NRM Government.”

He, then, spoils that correct assessment by quickly adding: “But that is debatable because indeed there was no challenge to the regime”!!  Well that is not correct.  There was Itongwa who was quickly put out of action.  There was “walk to work”, which was defeated by the Police in spite of the very weak legal framework that would allow a trouble maker to flout bail terms and continue to be free to threaten the merchandise of tomato sellers in the markets.

There were challenges in the South and the Central regions but they were defeated. After all, the Rwenzori and Bunyoro are part of the South where ADF tormented people.  ADF was defeated without NRA/UPDF violating the human rights of the population. Similarly, in the North and North-East, the terrorists and cattle-rustlers were defeated.

There were some mistakes like Mukula and Bucoro incidents as well as deliberate crimes like Kanyum. Where these mistakes and crimes came to the surface (were reported) decisive action was taken. Since 1986, we have publicly executed 22 soldiers on account of committing serious crimes against wanainchi, such as murder, armed robbery, rape, etc.

That is why the much suffering population of Northern Uganda and North-Eastern Uganda ran to IDPs because they were protected by the Army. They did not run into exile. They had confidence in the Army and they knew they were running away from terrorists. In fact, the population was blaming us for not defeating the rebels quickly.

After all, the first people to take up arrows against the terrorists in 1991 were the people of Acholi.  That is when Kony started cutting off people’s limbs, noses, legs, etc., because they were reporting him to UPDF because he was disturbing their peace.