We volunteered to write textbooks to benefit Ugandan kids but the MOE wasn’t interested!

BY W.B.KYIJOMANYI VIA THE UAH FORUM

The problem in Uganda today is that YKM has not had a competent minister of education for some time. He may have had some in his early reign but lately, the ministers can be characterized as GIGO. They are not passionate about education.

YKM meant well when he introduced UPE and USE. But his ministers failed him in the implementation. I can say without any fear of contradiction that if YKM had a fairly competent Minister of Education like Brig Barnabas Kili (SP) who was Amin’s minster when we went to school, things would be somewhat different. Brig Kili with the help of seasoned educationists like Mr. Mugoya (quiz: Mugoya is a common name among 3 Ugandan ethnic groups, name them), the then Chief Inspector of schools and others made things run. Most students knew who the chief Inspector of schools was.

In the 70s it did not matter where one went to school. St Joseph Layibi then and it seems now was a giant. Comboni College in Lira and Nyapea did produce leading candidates in national exams. Of course so did Gayaza and Namagunga, Ntare Kisubi and others.

In terms of ability, students in Kampala or Wakiso are no more talented or able than their peers in Eastern or Northern. The difference is access to resources in terms of teachers and materials. With equity, students can performs from any corner of Uganda.

So the big question is this: does Uganda’s educational system embrace equity? No.

YKM and others want to see Ugandans embrace sciences or STEM. But what investments have they made in terms of buildings labs, training science teachers and yes, paying them adequately to feel motivated? Do all schools in Uganda have access to the required textbooks for example? If not what is YKM doing to ensure equity? What is the ratio of students to critical textbooks? What is the government doing to ensure all students have the required books? In other words how many students share critical textbooks?

Let me share with you something. A few Ugandans volunteered to write textbooks for A level. Some volunteered to write maths books to include abit more calculus, others-myself included -offered do write an Economics textbook. We contacted the ministry and the curriculum Development centre. Someone one was interested but the minister and top shots were not. The only person who expressed interested is the late Dr Rwandeire (RIP) but was soon out of office. I repeat we volunteered to write textbooks to benefit Ugandan kids. The ministry and the curriculum people were not interested. Later we found out the British Council in Uganda vetoed our suggestion. Why? Your guess is as good as mine.

Fyi, there was no money to be made from textbooks, may be some tokenism.

Spare a thought for candidates. Exams are based on a body of knowledge (BOK). Yet many students lack that body of knowledge due to poor teaching or even no teaching at all and especially lack of access to key textbooks. It is possible, nay likely that O and A level physics still depend on the iconic Nelkon and Abbot or the other way. It is also likely A level maths still depends on Backhouse (Sp). Do not get me wrong they are great books but may be time to change textbooks. This brings me back to why our proposal was vetoed. Think about it, we volunteered and the ministry said no thanks.

If it is lack of teachers, why can’t the govt create centers of excellence? This is how they would work. Great teachers are not many so they few capable ones should be shared and deployed to maximize their ability. For example, Kampala would be divided into 4 zones. If Kibuli has a good physics teacher, why can’t she or he also go and teach in Kyambaogo Demonstration ration Nabisunsa? Nabisunsa may have great chemistry or history teachers, and they can go and teach in Kibuli, and Kyambaogo. Meanwhile Kyambaogo may have great maths and Economics teachers who can be deployed to teach in the other school.

Now fast forward to upcountry schools. Take Gulu, a good chemistry teacher At Layibi can and should also go teach in neighbouring schools and vice versa. These centers can be created throughout Uganda. Remember resources ae scarce. Sharing excellent teachers can go a long way. Knowing UAH, some will ask why not simply hire teachers? They are assuming there exists enough competent-emphasis added-teachers to teach in single schools.

My argument is that Uganda lacks enough competent teachers in the core subjects hence the need to create centers of excellence to share their competency. How long does it take by Boda Boda travel from Kibuli to Nabisunsa or Kyambaogo Demonstration and vice versa? How long does it take on boda boda travel from Comboni to Boroboro or Lango College and vice versa?

Btw, such competent teachers would be immune from regular transfers and would be paid a lot more.

Today you have a situation where many students have no access to workable labs yet they are expected to perform practical exams and pass them? Come on.

Then for the love of Ugandan children we again came up with another idea to help improve learning. The remedial procedure was to be implemented in middle level primary schools from P3 to P5 to ensure literacy. We wrote the template, how it would work and who would undertake remedial teachings. Based on academic literature, we settled on female teachers. This is not the place to explain why but studies show female teachers are better positioned to carry out remedial teaching.

Fyi, remedial teachers would also be floaters and not restricted in one school and would work certain hours. Their job would be to ensure that students in grades 3 to 5 acquire the critical competencies in writing, reading and maths. This proposal was also shared with the govt but again the govt or the mandarins in the ministry were not keen. They kept asking where the money would come from. Btw, remedial teachers would also be picked from the most competent lot. May be had the late Dr Rwandeire (RIP) stayed longer in education some of the changes would have been implemented.

Btw, Harvard University and MIT routinely share professors in certain core competencies. No wonder they are top.

WBK

Want to save our country? Good. Start with finding a cause and hang on to it!

By Abbey Kibirige Semuwemba
UK

Honestly, nothing has been pissing me off more than the MPs that keep making excuses on why they voted to remove presidential term limits. I am hearing excuses, excuses, excuses. People trying to convince us that they care, that they cast their vote due to “pressure from Statehouse, that things will change when M7 is gone.”

Cut the crap. Its already done and majority of us feel so betrayed. The conscious decision to defend this, to accept such unconstitutional behavior is incomprehensible, ignorant. People get to know how much MPs value them by the laws they pass. A lot of people are so pissed off by this and feel very helpless and hopeless at the same time. Hopeless in the sense that they no longer see parliament as an avenue to change the political status quo in the country, and this is extremely dangerous for the times ahead. Basically, times ahead are gonna be challenging for all of us.

It’s 2018, yet the walls are thicker and the fear from all sides runs deeper. It’s all labels constructed to make oppositions. Setting the record straight on who I am for those who have been indirectly asking me questions, and falsely thinking that we favour Muslims and opposition on our forums.

For the record I am not a member of any rebel organisation opposing the Museveni government. I’m not Tom Okwalinga as some idiot alleged last year. I’m simply a nerdy with so many stuff in my head, most of which I picked from my days at university. I speak when I see injustice anywhere in the world, and this caused many “conscious’ people to friend or follow us on Facebook, especially through the Ugandans At Heart Forum.

I walk my own path. No school of thought raised me. I’m not a Communist like my mad ‘mate’,George Okello, in London. I’m my own master. Everything I learned came from my own yearning to learn more about the world that I live in, and the country where I was born and raised. I teach myself topics i’m passionate about, and I don’t care if you like what i post or not.

I follow Islam as a religion, and i’m so proud of it. I also respect other religions, as I expect them to respect mine.Islam is the only non-christian faith;which it’s a requirement of faith for Muslims to love and believe in the prophet Jesus Christ the son of Mary(peace be upon them)

My thoughts are my own and aren’t part of any political organisation. I don’t belong to any political party in Uganda or UK, though I’ve been voting for the Labour party ever since I moved to the UK, and I have been,and still iam a little bit sympathetic to Besigye Kiiza as a leader of the opposition in Uganda. But we are open to ideas from anybody regardless of their political or religious affiliation.

Want to save our country? Good. Start with finding a cause and hang on to it!

Mwenda really is lacking in personal integrity!

It’s quite telling that our celebratory journalist usually only emerges from the sewers when there is an opportunity to spout his Besigye/ Bobi Wine -hating opposition propaganda, which is amply demonstrated in his latest post.

Looking at it from an observer’s point of view, as we are the only ones who can be influenced, opinions are formed based not only on what is posted but also the manner in which postings are made. Anyone resorting to insults, in this case of the very most despicable nature, means from an observer’s position anything they post will have no credibility whatsoever. Calling Bobi Wine ” ignorant, emotional and lacking in an alternative vision for our country’, was uncalled for. He has his ideas and should be respected. I’m not one of his supporters but he has given voice to so many, he is a ceaseless supporter of people’s rights through his music and parliamentary activities, and is working so hard to help the indigenous people. Bobi isn’t an emergency to Uganda. Somebody else is!

I have a lot of trouble believing there’s anyone here whose views can be changed one hair either by Andrew Mwenda or by Museveni anymore (and most people will be wise enough to not even bother to read). So them two might as well go indulge in their “necessary” extreme measures in private. I think it’s safe to assert that by this time the various participants in this yelling match have made their positions clear to all onlookers. I recognize that the point of protest is to divert us from crucial issues, but please, he shouldnt divert us from the ongoing debate on age-limit and land bills.

Mwenda really is lacking in personal integrity. He made the claim that I’m part of the TVO group, and that really made me read his views with a pinch of salt. He has no hesitation or compunction about just telling another bald faced lie,when faced with his own mendacity. He has put innocent people in harms way and has never apologized for it! And now he’s self claiming to have written the truth about Bobi Wine?

As I look around, I see it in so many of us, all of us suffering to one degree or another from this virus that overtakes us. The truth no longer matters. Museveni’s disciples have made lies the new normal, and it’s contagious. We are already entrenched in a fascist regime, as Mrs. Mbabazi once said, and talk alone is incapable of healing what Museveni has wrought.

By his reckoning, ”Museveni is not in power by accident. He is there by organization and strategy.”…..Well, pretty sure all dictators are, and i’m not going to refute this. However, one of the problems continues to be the imperturbable belief that “NRM” are good and “opposition” are bad and that there isn’t the slightest ambiguity about this. Yes, I agree with Mwenda that the ‘ opposition lack alternative ideas and believe their anger is sufficient to cause change’. Nevertheless,most of the time their anger isn’t misplaced.The most recent and most emotional event by far is the killing of a young man in Rukingiri by the police over age limit protests. Our law enforcement kills young men for little or no reason. They disrespect our citizens, making them second class, they flog elders such as Besigye, and treat them like little children in police fans. Grenades have been found in homes of opposition leaders resisting the presidential age limit removal. And what’s more upsetting is the fact that those at the top level of government supports all these draconian things.

So, basically the opposition have the capacity to identify the causes of their grief. There is a wealth of solid validated information regarding the unique situation Uganda has found itself in. Dozens of political/social/psychological/philosophical professionals have credibly weighed in on this topic. I’ll leave it to him to access this, as long as he doesn’t limit himself to the 2011 and 2016 election percentages. The only answer is education to the masses and resistance(defiance) of the biased system, but bringing that about has not yet been successful. He(Mwenda) can be part of that solution. Just him saying that power is something that has to be ‘cultivated, accumulated, harnessed and consolidated’ when he seems to be singing praises for the other side, amounts to nothing.

People who feel powerless in the world have always felt disdain towards those perceived to be their oppressors. Instead of Mwenda yelling about disrespect, intellectual laziness, and some crap about road construction statistics(simanyi Museveni has constructed more roads), he should listen to what Bobi’s supporters had to say. And in doing so, he will learn something:They have a point. And he is missing it!

Yours, very sincerely and respectfully,

Abbey Kibirige Semuwemba

Check this If you still doubt that Mugabe isnt the president of Zimbabwe!

Mugabe is indeed gone forever…….Businessman James Makamba has reportedly arrived back Zimbabwe from a self-imposed exile. He fled the country in 2005 amidist rumours that he was having an affair with the then 1st lady, Grace Mugabe. The story has it that the old man had vowed to hunt down wherever he was hiding, but he never disclosed the country where he went.

Happy holidays to all my Non-Muslim friends

Happy holidays to all my Non-Muslim friends. I just want to say I appreciate and love you all. In a world where you’re all supposedly racists/Islamaphobic and I am supposedly a Muslim terrorist, we’re like family. Let’s all keep building bridges because it’s the only way of we’ll ever see peace on earth.One of my best friends in Kibuli S.S, Peter Sentongo, was also Non-Muslim. I love him dearly. We joked a lot, I recall when he asked me, we were in senior 2, why we(Muslims) only use water when we go to toilet,and touch ‘nagis’, and I remember telling him that we actually do better than people who think they’ve cleaned it but they’re still stuck with it. We laughed, we still laugh and value our friendship as in another place and another time our friendship would be taboo.Fight hate with love, guys. We’re overpowering them. I feel it!

Happy New Year!

2017 has been such an interesting and incredible year and I am so grateful for everything and everyone who has made the good, great and the bad tolerable.

I have learned so much about myself, my religion, my own country, my parliament, this year and it has been monumental, personally and professionally.

I am so excited to see what comes next year.

May 2018 be a year of peace, prosperity and freedom around the world. Happy new year.

Abbey Kibirige Semuwemba

“In tribute to the United Kingdom and the Republic of Uganda, two bastions of strength in a world filled with strife, discrimination and terrorism.”

Mwenda’s love for Museveni’s “good” dictatorship is fascinating!

By Abbey Kibirige Semuwemba
UK

It fascinates me how differently many of us see, hear, and react to Museveni’s dictatorship.There are democracy lovers here who prefer Besigye’s leadership to Museveni’s.There are some who find fault with Museveni and Besigye, and would rather have a Kyagulanyi or Norbert Mao. There are people here who do not like politics at all and can sit through shows like NBS-Frontline bored and dry-eyed. There are some, like Andrew M. Mwenda, who do not consider Museveni a ‘bad’ dictator, and would rather have him than Besigye or Kyagulanyi.I respect all of these opinions, though they are the opposite of mine.They are held by people with far more experience and expertise than my own.Yet I do not understand them at all!

My opinion is that anybody could do at the moment as long as its not Museveni and his family. And, at this moment, Besigye takes the biscuit. He has been remarkable since the late 1990s when he started opposing Museveni before any of the inner NRMs. One thing for which Besigye is not given enough credit, and perhaps it is not credit-worthy, although it is an interesting historical phenomenon, is that he has inspired hope in Ugandans, and he has made a lot of people to become fearless and determined in opposing the Museveni dictatorship. People like Mwenda interpret this determination and fearlessness as ‘hooliganism’, unfortunately. Since 2001, Besigye and Museveni have been the twin pillars of the political world in Uganda and no woman or man, I believe, has come close to challenging their fame since.And again,as excepted, I think that Besigye was a bigger draw in all previous elections than any candidate, and, I believe, he won the 2006, 2010, and 2016 elections.I think what makes Besigye unique in the modern era (i.e since the retirement of DP’s Kawanga Ssemogerere, if not before) is that his fame is universal throughout the developed world and perhaps beyond, a name recognised by just anybody with half a brain and the slightest passing interest in Uganda politics.

As to their comparative contributions to politics, Mwenda may admire Museveni more. Yet for me, the most important measure of one’s contribution to politics is how well one leads. When Besigye was FDC president, that party was the most vibrant in the country, the most promising, but he left the leadership to others for the sake of promoting internal democracy within the party. That’s quality leadership which you will never find in Museveni. He strategised himself as the leader of UPM before the 1980 elections, and never gave room for the Bidandi Ssalis and others. When Museveni’s PRA intergrated with Yusuf Lule’s faction, he still kept himself as the omega of everything, despite the fact that Lule was the NRM chairman.

So, I don’t really understand how Mwenda, with due respect, comes to look at Museveni’s dictatorship as better than a Besigye leadership. In his theory,he is already looking at Besigye as a dictator before he even becomes a president. He has already childishly prophecised that Besigye would never become president.The complexity of his theory is only partly responsible for the fact that knowledge of his ideas is confined to a small group of professional journalists(such as his friend, Timothy Kalyegira) and few elites:some of the blame must be given to a literary style that is often offensive and an arrogance that is easy to confound with fatuity.He calls himself the ‘smartest person in the room’ with a grin on his face, and I found this so disturbing. Thank God Mao, Hon.Kivumbi Muwanga and others were calm, because that is the kind of behaviour that would not have any place on any TV here in England.

Bobi Wine, on other hand, has the boyish charm that so endears him to the millions watching. It doesn’t matter whether Mwenda speaks better English than him. Yes, he is still learning his ropes but he’s doing well. I think Besigye would have far and away the best face and name recognition among foreign leaders and majority of Ugandans. Till when Museveni is removed from power, I even see no point wasting time on picking presidential candidates. Let’s just boost Besigye’s efforts for now, because how do you talk of removing someone through elections who is pioneering a constitutional life presidency!

Letter Writing Is Museveni’s Way Of Either Concealing Something Or Distracting Others!

If Bobi Wine goes ahead and responds to Museveni’s latest write up, then I will know that he has fallen in his trap. Actually, nobody should even respond to it at all. Chairman Museveni operates on a script, and this script has served him very well over the years. It’s effective, it sets the agenda for the opposition, and it produces results. He says something and everyone jumps on it,and this means he’s concealing something. Its hightime the opposition start setting the agenda for Museveni. Otherwise, we will end up in an endless cycle that started with Paul Ssemogerere in 1996 up to now: I write a letter to you, you respond,make you and your followers feel great,and keep you tied to a desk…..’olaba nange M7 yampandiseko’!

I know very well what some you think of Besigye, but he is the most sincere and brave politician I have seen in our generation. And my statements aren’t in any way meant to play Besigye against Bobi Wine because I don’t see a match there yet. Frankly, the worst thing that could happen to the opposition right now is if these two start seeing themselves as rivals. But since Bobi is not really wildly popular to begin with, I don’t see how any serious over the top nationalism could really happen, unless it is intertribal inclusive and founded in some sort of nationalistic pride or something like that. Understand I am not closed minded to the possibility of another person raising up and taking the opposition to another level, and I think i hinted on this in one of my articles this week.

Curious to know what you,guys, think of Winnie Byanyima, though. She seems like a smart, confident woman, and is the most mature and independent among women in her age group and status in Uganda right now, and claims to be a feminist from what I have heard. It seems she was brought up more of a liberal socially, but might lean more conservative regarding romance practices.The way her son dresses, and his hair styles, shows the liberalism in both parents. I know its a long shot but how would you feel about her as our next president some time in future?

In regards to age limit removal, dictators rise, but they also fall. We can’t block any legislation that is unconstitutional or bad because of the NRM numbers in parliament, but we can campaign against it, and most importantly, keep speaking out.Carl Albert Fritz (Michael) Gerlich (15 February 1883 – 30 June 1934) was a German journalist and historian, and one of the main journalistic resistors of Adolf Hitler. He was arrested and later killed at the Dachau concentration camp.Dr. Gerlich finished what turned out to be his last article with the words: “The worst thing we can do, the absolute worst, is to do nothing.”….So, we have to do something,and must be seen to be doing something.

As for NRM MPs, I sometimes feel sorry for them because they are trapped. They are supporting something they know that its not needed,but they’ve to support it. I don’t think they overall really have a system of belief, they just hate people blindly who speak against Museveni,and say whatever is convenient, and will work to draw weak minded people into their cult of hatred.

I have been trying to think about worse case scenarios (really BAD scenarios) after the removal of the presidential age limit, and preparing for them. On an emotional and spiritual basis. Obviously,not everyone believes the same religious or political beliefs. I try to think positive and hope for the best but I was raised a Muslim – I believe in the quran.I believe everything has an end.I am saying prayers that these haters(they hate Uganda) don’t succeed and that good will win this fight. I know I am oversimplifying but trying to keep this as short as possible. It’s an intense subject matter.

Abbey Kibirige Semuwemba
UK
“In tribute to the United Kingdom and the Republic of Uganda, two bastions of strength in a world filled with strife, discrimination and terrorism.”

This is how the Museveni letter writing game works!

Ok, this is how the Museveni letter writing game works:

1. I’m the president of Uganda. I’m the biggest celebrity in the country. If I post something to the media in reference to this new kid on the block, the kid will definitely get excited, so pumped up, and so will his supporters. I will even leave deliberate mistakes in my submission to give the kid something to grill on;

2. The kid will then write back to respond to me in the finest of languages and research. His supporters will go wild again with excitement;

3. Everybody will then expect me to respond again to the issues the kid has raised, but I will lay low for a while, as I have been doing with Besigye, Bidandi Ssali, and others, to assess the situation, keep the tongues wagging, e.t.c;

4. In the meantime, I must make the people believe that Besigye no longer matters to me. I’ve got a new thorn to remove from my way; i will encourage the Tamale Mirundis to sell him as a credible opponent;

5. But still I must watch out for Besigye’s reaction. Is this new excitement by some of the kid’s supporters taking a big toll on him or not? If it is, then that works out perfectly for me because I will just add fuel to the fire by financing some groups whose intention is to permanently create a rivalry between Besigye and the kid.

6. That will keep everyone busy for a while before 2021 as I push through my life presidency and land bills;

7. Come 2021, the kid will want to stand against me, and so is Besigye. That will be enough to help me sail through again unnoticed, obviously with the help of my Electoral commission.

Oh Lord, why I’m I always one step ahead of my opponents? May be it’s true what they say….that bald men are more intelligent. Hello sweetheart Janet, I could actually do with that cup of tea!

Abbey Kibirige Semuwemba
UK
“In tribute to the United Kingdom and the Republic of Uganda, two bastions of strength in a world filled with strife, discrimination and terrorism.”

The Partisan Uganda Police Have Become A Thorn For Bobi Wine!

Hey everyone.I’m sorry to hear that the police has banned Bobi Wine from using his music shows to sell his political message, and I just want to say something.The best way for authorities and establishments to make something popular is to make it forbidden. Censorship has a funny way of making people believe whatever opinion is being repressed. Mostly because of the following reasoning: If the thing being censored wasn’t right or didn’t make a good point, why would the government need to repress it? They’d just show it to be wrong or mistaken and that would be that. If the government decides to tolerate Bobi Wine’s ‘political’ shows, they would actually get credit for it, the NRM PR machine(Ofwono Opondos, Hudu Hussein , et al) could say “look how open we are, look how strong and stable our position is: we don’t worry about criticism from some people because we trust most people believe in us, in fact we encourage people to let us know what they think our shortcomings are so that we can solve these problems”.

By trying to avoid public airtime for his songs I think the PR machine is secretly whispering “look how closed off we are, look how weak and wobbly our position is: we can’t take a joke and laugh at ourselves even a little because our position is so unstable and we’re worried that people are losing faith in our ability to do anything more than repeat the same few words until they lose all meaning”.

Apparently the broadcasting rules prohibit the playing of very popular songs that contain political content, but they were absolutely fine with Museveni’s ‘MPENKONI’ when it became a hit in some elections years ago.

Here in the UK,the easiest way to have a No.1 Hit is to have the BBC ban your song. It worked for Jasper Carrott and Frankie Goes To Hollywood(One of the most recognisable songs today).

Music has always been part of politics. For instance, Eminem has always done political rap. In the Euroversion of 2016, the Ukraine contester sang a political song, and won. A lot of people especially Russians were upset.The Russians, naturally because the song was in large part about their historical atrocities during and after WW2; denial is part of their unofficial national motto. They were every bit as brutal as the Nazi’s and continue with their brutality and social backwardness today.

The 1950s in America with racial apartheid still standing by law in the South and in practice everywhere else. And along came Chuck Berry, a black man from Missouri ,singing, playing and throwing his body around. Mashing up white people country music with black people blues music and ramming it through a screaming electric guitar. The kids all wanted to dance to it. A change was gonna come. He sang about white women and “brown eyed men”.He touched on police harassment, Jackie Robinson and a bunch more in one powerful, cool rock n roll song.His music lives on. Those musicians who just want to be remembered by just their love songs,when the country needs them most, just stuff them.

This age limit bill has obviously got everyone split down the middle.The Police on the side of the ‘Tugikwatako'(president and some NRM MPs), and against the Togikwatako. In the past three weeks I’ve seen some really disheartening venomous anger and aggression from people on nearly every side of the political divide. I can say for myself I am just a little taken aback by the aggression I’ve been seeing in normally innocuous places, like the shooting dead of a young man in Rukungiri a few days ago.It’s just sad and draining. Also just look at the awful things people are saying to each other online,and it will only get worse when Museveni introduces the Land Bill that is widely believed to be part of his land grab scheme. When I look at this picture I worry about the future, I see an indictment of the entire system and how divisive it has become. Also we got to remember tension is extremely high because majority of Ugandans are clearly fed up with Museveni.

Anyway, People are venting but hatred is never the answer. Peace should always be the main goal in the long run as cliche as that sounds. Now I’m going to go listen to Bobi Wine’s song, ‘Uganda’. I wish you people could see my moves!

Abbey Kibirige Semuwemba
“In tribute to the United Kingdom and the Republic of Uganda, two bastions of strength in a world filled with strife, discrimination and terrorism.”

Mwenda Can Do Better Than Attacking Bobi Wine And His Supporters!

It’s quite telling that our celebratory journalist usually only emerges from the sewers when there is an opportunity to spout his Besigye/ Bobi Wine -hating opposition propaganda, which is amply demonstrated in his latest post.

Looking at it from an observer’s point of view, as we are the only ones who can be influenced, opinions are formed based not only on what is posted but also the manner in which postings are made. Anyone resorting to insults, in this case of the very most despicable nature, means from an observer’s position anything they post will have no credibility whatsoever. Calling Bobi Wine ” ignorant, emotional and lacking in an alternative vision for our country’, was uncalled for. He has his ideas and should be respected. I’m not one of his supporters but he has given voice to so many, he is a ceaseless supporter of people’s rights through his music and parliamentary activities, and is working so hard to help the indigenous people. Bobi isn’t an emergency to Uganda. Somebody else is!

I have a lot of trouble believing there’s anyone here whose views can be changed one hair either by Andrew Mwenda or by Museveni anymore (and most people will be wise enough to not even bother to read). So them two might as well go indulge in their “necessary” extreme measures in private. I think it’s safe to assert that by this time the various participants in this yelling match have made their positions clear to all onlookers. I recognize that the point of protest is to divert us from crucial issues, but please, he shouldnt divert us from the ongoing debate on age-limit and land bills.

Mwenda really is lacking in personal integrity. He made the claim that I’m part of the TVO group, and that really made me read his views with a pinch of salt. He has no hesitation or compunction about just telling another bald faced lie,when faced with his own mendacity. He has put innocent people in harms way and has never apologized for it! And now he’s self claiming to have written the truth about Bobi Wine?

As I look around, I see it in so many of us, all of us suffering to one degree or another from this virus that overtakes us. The truth no longer matters. Museveni’s disciples have made lies the new normal, and it’s contagious. We are already entrenched in a fascist regime, as Mrs. Mbabazi once said, and talk alone is incapable of healing what Museveni has wrought.

By his reckoning, ”Museveni is not in power by accident. He is there by organization and strategy.”…..Well, pretty sure all dictators are, and i’m not going to refute this. However, one of the problems continues to be the imperturbable belief that “NRM” are good and “opposition” are bad and that there isn’t the slightest ambiguity about this. Yes, I agree with Mwenda that the ‘ opposition lack alternative ideas and believe their anger is sufficient to cause change’. Nevertheless,most of the time their anger isn’t misplaced.

The most recent and most emotional event by far is the killing of a young man in Rukingiri by the police over age limit protests. Our law enforcement kills young men for little or no reason. They disrespect our citizens, making them second class, they flog elders such as Besigye, and treat them like little children in police fans. Grenades have been found in homes of opposition leaders resisting the presidential age limit removal. And what’s more upsetting is the fact that those at the top level of government supports all these draconian things.

So, basically the opposition have the capacity to identify the causes of their grief. There is a wealth of solid validated information regarding the unique situation Uganda has found itself in. Dozens of political/social/psychological/philosophical professionals have credibly weighed in on this topic. I’ll leave it to him to access this, as long as he doesn’t limit himself to the 2011 and 2016 election percentages. The only answer is education to the masses and resistance(defiance) of the biased system, but bringing that about has not yet been successful. He(Mwenda) can be part of that solution. Just him saying that power is something that has to be ‘cultivated, accumulated, harnessed and consolidated’ when he seems to be singing praises for the other side, amounts to nothing.

People who feel powerless in the world have always felt disdain towards those perceived to be their oppressors. Instead of Mwenda yelling about disrespect, intellectual laziness, and some crap about road construction statistics(simanyi Museveni has constructed more roads), he should listen to what Bobi’s supporters had to say. And in doing so, he will learn something:They have a point. And he is missing it!

Yours, very sincerely and respectfully,
Abbey Kibirige Semuwemba
UK
“In tribute to the United Kingdom and the Republic of Uganda, two bastions of strength in a world filled with strife, discrimination and terrorism.”

I somehow miss prof. Apollo Nsibambi as PM!

Prof.Nsibambi

I have been so disappointed in Dr.Ruhukana Rugunda as PM such that I somehow miss prof. Apollo Nsibambi. What is he up to now? He(Nsibambi) looked like he was created for that office. Obviously, serving under M7 can damage anybody but he was the rational voice of reason during a difficult time. He was just a man, a person of a new generation. Out of the box. Having been a lecturer at Makerere helped him a great deal in picking vibes from both the old and young. He was a true symbol of open-minded people in Uganda. He smiled all the time and looked a kind man. However, I never understood how he came to be that much light skinned like ” omuzungu “. Even the heavy temperatures of Uganda never darkened him. I would love to see how his four daughters look like!

History will be on his side, can’t keep people away from the rest of the world forever. That was a cabinet worth sitting in, and i sometimes erroneously envisaged myself in it.

Joachim Buwembo wishes to know what a “pornography machine”

minister of ethics

Joachim Buwembo wishes to know what a “pornography machine” is……Oh God, I can’t stop laughing. If I may speculate, I think It’s a machine that detects anything that incites the hormone factory.

Of course, there’s so much disagreement over what pornography itself means exactly. Philosopher David Hume quotes a story to illustrate this. He tells of two expert wine-tasters who are asked to give their opinions of a barrel of wine.

“Good,” says one. “But it has a slight taste of iron.”

“Not bad,” says the other. “But I detect a faint taste of leather.”

No one else tastes this, and the two experts are dismissed with derision. Later, when the wine barrel is emptied, an iron key with a leather thong is discovered at the bottom.

If the wine barrel had never been emptied, there would have been no proof that the expert wine-tasters were right.Unfortunately, this is our situation when we argue over whether something is pornographic or not. Recently, Desire Luzinda posted pictures of herself enjoying a bath with a little bit of like a pump from below between her thighs, and my hormones remained intact. But I saw lots of complaints from Ugandans, probably less noise than when her Newyork twin towers were put on display. Nevertheless, the big question here is that should father Lokodo be wasting shs. 2b to fight something that is even interpreted differently, when our hospitals are like suffering? I think the ministry of ethics should be scrapped and that money be diverted to supporting religious institutions and religious studies in schools. Churches and mosques, if supported, could do a better job than anti-Pornography committees.

Age limit:My last appeal to NRM MPs

You could be NRM but still do the right thing, and create history like that Kenyan judge who cancelled Uhuru’s re-election, did. Many of the USA opponents of slavery who wanted to outlaw it during the Constitutional convention were Virginians and yes, they owned land, but they did the right thing, and slavery was abolished.

In my more open-minded moments, I try to make myself believe that if Ugandans had witnessed a peaceful transfer of power at some points since independence, then the issue of removing presidential age limit, wouldn’t have been of great concern. But with Museveni, he is already on the record saying that “Uganda etandise okumuwomela “. And that’s worrying, because it’s symptomatic of a leader who wants a life presidency. So, age limits is the only insurance Ugandans are clinging on to see the end of his regime, as elections have turned out to be more or less a useless exercise.

Secondly, when one becomes old , he or she becomes a drag for everyone else around them. It’s better to let people retire, do some self reflection, have a peace and quiet somewhere before meeting their creator. Chairman Museveni and his people are, in effect , being just selfish on this. What the argument that he is still physically strong propounds is similar to an individual driving a car with an inaccurate speedometer cannot be speeding so long as they rely on that broken speedometer. Try telling that to a judge.

In the eyes of most Ugandans, you, Mps, are the judge, the jury and the executioner. So, don’t let them down. Please, don’t execute them. A referendum, as proposed by religious leaders, won’t make a difference under the current electoral laws and appointment and disappointments. Kigwela mu parliament!

Abbey Kibirige Semuwemba

Age Limit Removal:Some images are unforgettable!

Some images are unforgettable!

Bobi Wine’ s hands are in good position, his legs with a good balance, and ready for attack.

His opponent is already on guard, which left me wondering why ,if he hadn’t already been attacked.

Ya I noticed the haircut too, and the way they both lined up ready for anything. The one at the front has got backups at the back, in case of a restrain, or being overpowered by Bobi……Bobi, on the otherhand, has no back up. He is on his own. Sewanyana Allan, et al, should have been behind him to act as back up, such that in case of an attack, they could have put up a strong front.

Then the guy on the side innocently staring at Bobi Wine’s moves, and trying to imitate him, just put the icing on the cake…….He looks so funny, a bit confused….oh man!

And then the woman sat on a chair…..i don’t know if she is cheering or trying to calm things down. …..What a day!

STATEHOUSE TOO SHOULD BE RENAMED

State House, is it really a state house or ‘Museveni house’ right now? State House too,like NWSC, should actually be renamed in future to ” PEOPLE HOUSE”, to reflect that it’s working for people. The colonialists left us that name(before independence), and we are still hanging on to it. Now, there are even reports that they dont know where the land tittle for State House is.

Have you,guys, ever stopped to wonder why majority of people don’t bother to vote anymore? Have you ever stopped to wonder why, which ever party is in power, since 1962,nothing ever gets any better? Have you ever stopped to wonder why all the four major political parties in the Uganda have broadly the same policies? The answer is simple–the people feel detached from the state. They feel they cant change a govt through elections.They basically feel nothing for Museveni right now, and just waiting for a miracle from God.

WHY PEOPLE SUPPORT AGE LIMIT REMOVAL OR RETENTION?

Friends,

Let me again add my thoughts to the issue of age limit.First, any discussion is,of course, very speculative,but I believe It probably is a personal matter how any Ugandan decides to support or not to support the removal of age limit from the constitution.

1.Any Ugandan in their 60s and above, and harbour presidential ambitions, are so upset with Museveni for hanging on to the presidency like forever.That age group whether they are in NRM or opposition, just hate the man to the bones, but they cannot dare show it to anybody close to the president.

2.A small group already in their 70s support the removal in the hope that God could decide to take Museveni after the age limits have been scrapped, and then they will have a shot at the presidency before they die.

3. Then there is a group, i suspect, that has decided to support age limit removal because they realise that its useless to fight the inevitable, and they can as well make money or a career out of it. This same group supports or work with Museveni, not necessarily because they adore him as a leader, but they’ve basically given up on their ambitions. I believe Ibrahim Abiriga, Beti Kamya,Hajji Abdul Nadduli, some youths like Duncan Abigaba, Andrew mwenda, e.t.c, are part of this group. Abiriga is a very ambitious man, and that is why he quit his job as RDC to join politics.

4. Finally, there are those in any age group,and there are the majority, that just want age limits retained for patriotic reasons(basing on Uganda’s history). This same group is advocating for presidential term limits.

Museveni is ready to be president until the impediment of death gets in the way.The presidency is everything in Uganda. Museveni can front all the reasons he wants but its all still about personal ambition for him. When you’re president, you can become rich overnight, you can own any piece of land you want, you can shag any Ugandan woman you want, you can use parliament in any way you want, you can techinically do anything you want. You’re like a superking, man. While these are only anecdotes, it does make you wonder whether staying active as a president helps one to ward off osteoarthritis, for example, which is almost universal to one degree or another in people over age 75.

Yes, age does affect the way we do things.Obviously at some age, a person starts to lose flexibility.The Museveni of 1986-2001 isn’t the Museveni of 2017 howevermuch his handlers try to project him as still physically and mentally fit. Pushing himself into the domain of 2021-2026 will be trying his luck but he isnt afraid because he has seen Mugabe and club doing it. Already there are questions about his actual date of birth, as some think that he is already knocked his 80s.

One good thing that comes with old age is that its very rare for a leader in his 70s or above, to see killing an opponent as a solution to the country’s problems. This is something you cannot usually say for a leader in their 30s,40s or 50s,as ambition tends to overide anything including human life.

THE IMPACT OF BOBI WINE MUSIC AND HIS POLITICS

Hon.Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine

Friends,

A politician, whatever his message, can have no impact unless there are people willing to listen, and follow. And once they’re there, the politician have some responsibility to teach good, and not have his followers do evil things. Bobi Wine’s tours and music ever since he was elected as MP, are highly influential, and are not seen as mad ravings by a goodly proportion of Ugandans. Bobi has also written a few articles, and, i guess, he doesn’t publish out of stupidity, but out of conviction and hatred for the dictatorship in Uganda. He has clearly decided to make his politics, his writings and his music his life’s work.They are inextricably intertwined; you will find it impossible to do in-depth study of one without the other.

Here’s what: his music, and his fame, have made his views respectable and influential, and his music has come to represent his ideas.Political and cultural party lines are drawn with Bobi; the writings and the music have become intertwined in the culture of Uganda.His music is part of an overall literary and artistic effort on a political and social front. There is another musician called Mathias Walukagga who is trying to do the same, though he hasn’t joined politics yet. For some reason, he isn’t as popular as Bebe Cool and Chameleon,and I think its do with his wardrobe and the way he presents himself to the youths, but he should be up there.

Despite the character flaws of Bobi Wine(and I think he has got many, like his teenagish walking and sitting styles), I think it would be very foolish to dismiss his work on the basis of his opposition to Museveni’s leadership style. Whether or not his music is so anti-government, it’s not an uncommon sentiment among majority of Ugandans, and should not be used in evaluation of the validity of his artwork.

German composer,Richard Wagner, too was into politics and he used his music that way, too.Wagner made politics part of his music, and made anti-semitism part of his promotion of his own music, and used his reputation as a musician to advance his politics. I have never heard Wagner’s position in the history of anti-Semitism evaluated so hyperbolically. Iam not glad Wagner promoted his idiotic ideas through his operas, but let me strongly suggest that there is more to his ideas than antisemitism, even some ideas worth taking seriously. Wagner was so well liked by the Germans during WWI that they used his music at the death camps. Wagner considered his music to be an expression of Germanness (You might start with Barry Millington’s excellent biography of Wagner;Vintage Books.)

It is entirely possible to like Bobi’s music even while being aware of, and even studying the impact of this music on the politics of Uganda. In case you hadn’t noticed,majority of musicians and Ugandans — or at least the Stella Nyanzi-going world — has, for the most part, given up anti-Museveni ideas as a basis for most social intercourse, politics, etc.; the consequences thereof have been seen in all their horror. There’s nothing as dangerous for a leader as stopping people from criticizing you openly because you will never know what they are up to.

Again: there is nothing wrong with listening to Bobi’s music even if you are a Museveni diehard. It will not rot your teeth or make you want to drop your support for the age-limit removal. His music isn’t the sort of thing that two people play in a living room. It’s done in big concert halls, in festive atmosphere and utmost solemnity.It’s generally accepted as “meaning” something. That’s why everyone wishes to invite him to their conferences, the latest being the planned London UK Convention(by my mate, Willy Nsubuga Mutenza), and the coming FDC leaders Conference in Leeds,UK, in October this year(details attached).

As a Muslim, I now wish he composes a song, ‘A Muslim Museveni’, because i wish to see him revert to Islam. It would definitely ease on so many problems the Muslim community are facing right now. For example, Muslim unity will be accelerated, and I suspect Sheikh Kamoga and other Muslims will also finally get their freedom. Museveni already doesn’t drink alcohol and pork,and I suspect he is already circumcised because he is a man who knows the benefits of personal hygiene to human health. All we need is to get a proper ‘Shahada’ from him which is more meaningful than the fake one of pre-guerrilla war of just changing names. At the moment, there is a distorted view of Islam and Muslims in Uganda, and it hurts so badly, especially when one of their leaders is imprisoned for life over terrorism. Museveni could help us change that by starting to read the quran word by word.

Sometimes the evil in a person pollutes his creations, sometimes it doesn’t. In this case, though I can detect a soft touch by Museveni on Bobi Wine, as he doesn’t see him as a threat as he sees his former comrades such as Kiiza Besigye, a reason I think his tours wont likely be interrupted by police. His music is only limited to influencing public view of the regime, which, if we are being honest, doesn’t worry much a lot of dictators.–

*Abbey Kibirige Semuwemba*

Stalk my blog at: http://semuwemba.worldpress.com

“My journey is long and my preparation is so little, and weakness has gripped me and death is chasing me!”

THE ‘BOTTLE’ POLITICS IN MUSEVENI’S UGANDA!

KIBIRIGE SEBUNYA(R.I.P)

According to the late Kalega Sam Njuba, ‘Museveni dislikes drinking but not drunkards’ as ministers. The reason being that when the drunkards are under the influence of alcohol, they open up to him and spill each other’s beans. With alcohol taking control, they don’t leave anything out. Apparently, this is the reason he liked Prof. Yoweri Kyesimira and Hon.Kibirige Sebunya so much. It makes one wonder how many people have been appointed as ministers or in sensitive positions because of their love for the bottle?

Uncovering some of the hormones between Otunnu and Museveni!

olara Otunnu

Venue: Nairobi Peace talks, 1985
Mediator: Daniel Arap Moi
Olara Otunnu(OO): ‘Hello Mr.Yoweri Museveni’
Yoweri Museveni ignored him, and instead pointed his finger at OO:”You young man, you are the one misleading the old man.We shall see”

The old man Museveni was referring to here was Gen. Tito Okello-Lutwa, and Olara Otunnu was then minister of Foreign Affairs, a position that left a sour note among some UPC members. Few months later, Museveni became the president and OO was on his bike to exile.

OO makes a promising come back to Uganda in 2010 with a CV Museveni could only dream of. He becomes the UPC president the same year, then the Kampala crafty boys get to work and made one ‘proposal’ after the other that supposedly drained all his money. He became financially strained,all the talk of him having been roommates with Tony Blair at Oxford University didn’t help, he went on a war path with the Obote family over who controls what; then Museveni seizes an opportunity and releases his ‘dogs’ on him, bite him harder, and guess what? Now UPC is in Akena James’s hands, or one could arguably say ‘Museveni’s soft hands’.

He told him, didn’t he? That he will see, and I guess OO has seen it all now!

STOP COMPARING BOBI WINE TO BESIGYE

Bobi wine sung for kizza besigye while at Besigye’s home in Kasangati

I have too much respect for Hon.Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine, but, please, for the last time, people should stop equating him or comparing him with Dr.Kiiza Besigye. The reason I respect Bobi is because he has been using his music to speak for the poor, the ghetto, for us.An artist that uses a big soapbox and loudspeaker to push their views, a power the rest of us do not have, deserves respect.When an artist makes a statement that is pro-people,he is sticking his neck out on the line.If a self employed business person makes prominent political statements that upset people, it may hurt his/her business, whether it is organized or not.

By the way, we should also stop ‘punishing’ those artists that ‘offended’ us during the 2016 elections by supporting Mr.Museveni. Let’s just find another way of convicing them to join our line of thinking.Telling you their opinion was actually exercising free speech, telling people not to attend their shows was attempted censorship,boycotting the show’s sponsors is punitive (and an attempt to stifle an opinion you disagree with!).So, my anger with Iryn Namubiru, Kanyomozi, and others is done, apart from Bebe Cool. The later continues to rub it in!

Sam Njuba on Land Amendment Bill now in parliament

“The biggest source of Baganda’s pride, power and confidence is the land that has economic value. Land, which under the present regulation, he(Museveni) cannot simply have access, and therefore, cannot give away easily. This to him is unacceptable and therefore, it has to change. And change to him will be effected at any cost.”

——-Sam Kalega Njuba, page 185, in his book, The Betrayal

Sam Njuba died in 2013 at Nsambya Hospital.Until 2011, Njuba was a Member of Parliament for Kyadondo East. Njuba served as Secretary in the External Wing of the then rebel National Resistance Movement/Army (NRM/A) between 1984 and 1986, Minister of State for Justice and Constitutional Affairs from 1986 to 1994, and member of the National Resistance Council (NRC) from 1989 to 1994. He also represented Kyadondo East in the Constituent Assembly from 1994 to 1995 during the constitution making process.

He went on to represent the same constituency in the 6th Parliament from 1996 to 2011 when he retired from elective politics. In 2001, he abandoned the Movement to join the elect Kizza Besigye Task Force ahead of the general elections, going on to play a major role in the formation of Reform Agenda and later Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) in 2005. He served as Executive Coordinator of before becoming party Chairman.

Before joining politics, Njuba worked as a Lecturer at the School of Law, Makerere University, from 1969 to 1972 and Chief Magistrate Buganda Road Court in 1972. Between 1976 and 1980 he served as President of the Uganda Law Society.

Njuba was born on February 22, 1941 in Gayaza, Wakiso, to Reverend Canon Malaki Musoke Njuba and Nantege Njuba.
Njuba attended Nyenga Primary School in Mukono District, Mpumu Primary School and Kadongo Gayaza Boys School for his primary education. He went to Shimoni and Kyambogo Teachers Colleges to pursue a teaching career. He however returned to do his A-level education from Mbale Secondary School.

He went to Dar es Salaam University where he graduated with a Degree in Law in 1968. While in Dar es Salaam, he met other Ugandan students such as Yoweri Museveni, Edward Sekandi, Benjamin Odoki, Joseph Mulyanyamuli Semwogerere, Eriya Kategaya and James Wapakhabulo among others. These were later to influence the political course of Uganda’s history.

Njuba went on to do a Master’s degree from Queens University in the UK and came back to work at Makerere University as a lecturer in the School of Law

In a 2009 interview Njuba recounted to the Observer newspaper his days in the National Resistance Army struggle and his days at Makerere University.

The book: ” Who killed Andrew Kayiira “?

Friends,
Has anybody got a copy of the book written by Francis Bwengye about the murder of Kayiira? The book is tittled; ” Who killed Andrew Kayiira?”

Apparently it was on sale in Kampala for weeks but disappeared from all book shops, without any explanation from Bwengye.

Fear of nepotism means something in France, at least.

Melania Trump with French First Lady Brigitte Macron

Brigitte Trogneux arrives to attend the handover ceremony between her husband, French President-elect

Friends,
I didn’t know that they’s no official position of “First lady” in France. The last one was beheaded in 1789,her name was Marie-Antoinette. She and her husband were living in golden palaces while the people of France were starving to death.Fear of nepotism is a great deal in France, at least. Even president Macron has failed to change this. But is there anything in the French law that stops him from making his wife a minister such that she earns her own money instead of totally depending on the husband?

Abbey

Are there Baganda MPS outside Buganda?

(Kabaka Ronald Edward Frederick Kimera Muwenda Mutebi II as a child (1960s?), photographed in London by ‘Lenare’, who in a stamp on the back claims ‘world copyright’ to the portrait.)

According to Sam Njuba in his book, The Betrayal, people who accuse Baganda of being descriminative are so easily forgetful and unfair. Baganda is the only tribe that leaves a fellow Muganda and supports a non-Muganda in elections and other businesses. They supported and harbored Museveni in Luwero triangle at the expense of Kayiira and Prof. Lule. Dr.Kunuka was an MP in Buganda despite the fact that he is a Munyoro.

In the rigged 1980 elections, Dr.Mulozi , an Acholi, was elected in preference to Bidandi Ssali. In Gomba, Yafesi Sabiti was elected though he was not a Muganda. In Singo, a Munyarwanda, Emannuel Kirenga, was elected.

Basically what Sam Njuba was saying is that ‘ Baganda have divergent political views and their allegiance is not necessarily Tribalistic but rather based on the correct political principles which have no tribe or religion. Congratulations to Baganda for having politically matured.’

Bobi Wine reminds me of Cardew!

Bobi Wine

36 years ago , on 13 Dec 1981, the music industry suffered a terrible loss, when Cornelius Cardew was killed in a mysterious hit-and-run accident in London. The following year, Robert Ssentamu Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine was born in Uganda. The first time I watched a video music of Bobi Wine, I told my wife, and my friend Johnson, that the guy was destined for politics at some point in his life, because he had a good mouth on him. So, when he joined the race to stand for MP in Kyadondo East, I wasn’t surprised at all. What surprised me was actually FDC fielding a candidate against him.

Truth be told, Bobi Wine(whatever that means) is more popular than any of his opponents in the Kyadondo East race. A lot of people in Uganda seem to translate their love of music (and the arts more broadly) into “support for anything”, which I would characterize as a liberal instinct.I’m rather moderate on this issue because I don’t listen to music that much, but I like Bobi Wine’s songs in particular. He reminds me of Cardew.

Cornelius Cardew

Cardew is perhaps more interesting for his politics than his compositions. He was the leading composer of the English experimental school in the sixties, and pupil of Stockhausen. His most famous composition is the Great Learning, a setting of Confucius written for the Scratch Orchestra. Many of his works of that period have more in common with “happenings” than traditional composition.

But the really interesting thing about Cardew is that sometime in the seventies, he either was told or realised himself that modern music did not appeal to working class audiences and gave it all up to write revolutionary songs. Cardew was active in various causes in British politics

Finally, in 1981 he was killed by a hit-and-run driver in east London whilst returning from a political meeting.The driver was never found.There are all sorts of rumours that this was a political assassination, possibly by one of the British Fascist parties.

But what’s relevant is to investigate how and if a particular political view of a composer is reflected in his or her music.The fact ‘composer X supports candidate B’ taken on its own doesn’t mean shit.

But if composer X starts composing agitprop-type of music, regardless of whether it is a nazi or commi staff – well, it’s a sell-out.

And then there are those who prostitute themselves like Bidandi Ssali’s son, Bebe Cool. Nobody could ever convince me that Bebe Cool composes songs to praise Museveni because he thinks he is the best leader for Uganda, and that’s because I don’t think he is a dummy. I strongly believe he only does it for money and other privileges that comes with it.

The bottom line is that what someone composes ultimately determines how he or she would be remembered, and not the particular political believe. Interestingly enough, I still log on youtube to watch Iryn Namubiru yet she sold us out too in the last elections, and I could probably be in a sombre mood for days if she dies before me. Good luck to Bobi Wine and other candidates in the race!

Abbey Kibirige Semuwemba
UK

This is what DP needs to get their emojo back!

I don’t know what exactly Erias Lukwago’s plans are but I think my mate,Norbert Mao, should do the honourable thing and support him as the next DP president. Yes, Erias Lukwago is a work in progress but he could bring glamour back to DP. All he( Erias) needs to do is to drop the suite and tie while out and about with Besigye, or on streets. The suite makes him look like a normal opposition leader, and that’s not right under the present political climate in Uganda.He needs to borrow more of a Besigye style in him(roar at them, smile a little like Rambo, scratch them(police) if you can), and we see if other oppositionists will see him as someone to take over from Besigye. Just hanging around Besigye builds little political capital.

Some of the points Norbert Mao recently made against Mp Bakireke Nambooze were a trifle sententious. OK. But he is right in feeling that Hon.Mp Bakireke Nambooze was trying to undermind him publically(nobody wants that). Mbidde’s utterances didnt help much to the situation.Some things he(Mbidde) says are purposely putting the cat among the pigeons.Other things are OK.Some others are quite silly.But its time, for the sake of DP, for everyone to bury the hatchet, and allow Lukwago to take over!

Abbey

IS MBIDDE REALLY RICH? RICH WITH MONEY?

Friends,
I’ve never understood that part of people’s character where someone openly comes out to boast that he or she has a lot of money, especially in an environment where majority of the people are so poor. It beats my understanding about life and human beings.It just sounds so out-of-character.

“I’ve struggled from being a newspaper vendor to owning shares in newspapers companies. Linking me to NRM because of my bank balance will not help,…….I’m a shareholder in news papers and radio stations within and outside Uganda. I’m not poor ………Someone to look at my bank balance and think its NRM Money,This is hogwash,I have been rich since my days at University…….”——Fred Mukasa Mbidde,Democratic Party Vice President

As a x-tian man, Mbidde should read the following verses in the Bible: Jeremiah 9:23 and Proverbs 27:2…….”Olulimi olwo silulungi nakatono”!

It reminds me of some play I once read. There was a man called Casanova who was an ugly thief. He broke out of a makeshift prison in an Italian village, and made his way to Paris where everybody was expecting an ugly Italian thief.

“But NO – I am not a thief”, he said, “I am a GREAT LOVER.
“I seduced the mayor`s wife, and he FAKED UP the charges”.

He was ultimately met by a pair of Scottish Presbyterian Freemasons. “You will NEVER clear your name without US”,
they said, “because WE control the PRESS”. Everybody had expected an ugly Italian thief because his escape had been published in the papers.

“We KNOW that you are both a THIEF and a LIAR. The mayor was a BACHELOR. Shall we PUBLISH”?

Casanova was COMPROMISED. The game was up. What would happen next? They made a SURPRISING OFFER.

So, just because one’s hands haven’t been caught in the till jar, it doesnt necessarily mean that they didnt steal something. I also keep telling people that money, power, wealth,e.t.c all come to an end at some point. What defines you as a person after your death is mainly your character towards others. If Mbidde really care about the opposition and Hon. Mp Bakireke Nambooze, he would have rushed to call a press conference to condemn what the police did in Masaka, but he is instead portraying himself as the owner of Hon.Nambooze just because he simply recruited her into DP.

And the truth is there are very few rich people(in the real sense of the word) in Uganda,and i’m yet to be attempted to include Mbidde among them.In a way, It just sounds weird someone being ‘rich’ during university days, and then come out to do newspaper vending??

RESPONSE TO GEORGE OKELLO’S QUESTIONS ON UAH

Hello George,
I dwelt for a while here on what to say to you.The issues you raise are provocative indeed. Such questions are good as it helps all of us rethink, reconsider, and question why your view UAH that way.Your views are certainly not out of line though you’re certainly accusing me of all kinds of things that you don’t like.

First of all, when I revealed the UAH numbers here, I was by no means implying that UAH’s Popularity = Quality.That’s an easy enough position to shoot down. What I meant was, a forum cannot be “uninspiring, inaccessible and dull” while simultaneously being favoured by many Ugandans.The quality and quantity are not in any way related. You could have less numbers in a forum and still end up with a poor debate or an inactive forum.

I think that the issue of quality vs quantity becomes problematic when one does not consider certain environmental and emotional issues which humans face.Its exactly because of this that we set up UAH to discuss a variety of topics at the same time, because we are aware that:
1- Some Ugandans aren’t really interested in politics but we want them to pick interest. So, we allow them to post stuff that interest them but in the process they unknowingly read political messages,
2- Some people just hate anything NRM or Museveni, but we also know that Museveni is the law in Uganda. For instance, there is a woman who is a member of this forum. She used to work in the UPDF and she is now living in London, but she told me that she deletes every post with Museveni’s name on it because she hates him. I told her that she shouldn’t do that because everything in Uganda revolves around him. She said that she doesn’t care anymore. She just wants him and his people gone, and she doesn’t a solution in people just talking about it.

Assessing quality also becomes difficult when we press the question into our preconceived ideas of what constitutes quality.And then there is the difficulty of having to force ones mind to compose in styles foreign to ones taste.Most everything in these groups is personal taste but like minds can ponder things like evolution and quality and such.God isn’t participating in these discussions. People don’t just speak about things that a title over their heads directs them to.They would be regimented little cowards. People talk about many things and they do it in whatever forum they happen to be in. The question of quality debates seems far too complex with too many variables to possibly have a substantive answer.

Let’s try a different spin on this one.You feel that UAH should be moved to another level, right? But you never suggest that level, right? Because you don’t know, right? But for some reason, you want Abbey to come up with something that could magically take all of you to another level. Look, I’m not accusing you or anybody of anything, and I understand where you are coming from. I just want to critically think this through before you throw everything at Abbey(me). One approach to solving problems is to put a lot of attention into what not to do. It still leaves the question of what to do. Progress is by trial and error. Frankly it is much faster to model those who have been through all that trial and error.They offer a condensed version of what to do.

There was a time some members organised a mother of conference in Netherlands where a lot of UAH members attended. I didn’t attend but contributed to someone’s ticket from Uganda to attend.I wanted to know how exactly the conference is gonna move Uganda forward. The conference ended with certain resolutions made that have never been implemented up to now.I think Eric Kashambuzi was among the few UAH members that attended that conference.

What I’m trying to tell you is that unless you want me to declare a rebellion against the government, with some of you as my lieutenants, there isn’t not much we can do through a mere forum.That’s why a lot of enthusiastic members we started with are so inactive at the moment.Sometimes people are PULLED in two opposing directions.You know the sort of thing, wanting A but this stops you doing B, wanting B but this stops you doing A.These are also known as dilemmas.The corny but successful method to bust these dilemmas is to find a way to be pulled in a third direction ie to want C(e.g.joining another forum to see if there’s something different offered there). Such situations are most unlikely to be stable for long so one is able to regain action more rapidly. Life moves on.

UAH has done a lot in terms of exposing the bad ‘smells’ in the government, enlightening our members, educating people about the country’s history, e.t.c, and we will continue to do so, God willing. The government follows this forum intensely and they know what needs to be done to change Uganda for the better, but, for some reason, I don’t think they wanna do it. And honestly speaking, I cant be blamed for that one too, can I ?

Abbey
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Dear Members,

A number of new Uganda social media groups have started, and a few are quickly gaining ground. They include groups by Omar Kalinge-Nyago, Douglas Katosi and Okello Lucima . This is a welcome development, and is a response to what me and many others have been telling the UAH owner Abbey Semuwemba for a long time- that UAH as it stands today has totally lost focus and does not serve any useful purpose anymore

Although I took a sabbatical for a few weeks, I still logged into UAH and what strikes one most is the number of posts and discussions on American politics and on Donald Trump in particular. .This accounts for nearly 90% of traffic on UAH, but Mr Semuwamba does not seem to think this is a serious problem for the forum and allows this anomaly to play out, day in and day out.

Also important to note is the prominence that Mr Semuwemba gives to Mr Edward Irundrua. This Nubian fool posts nearly 30% of all traffic on a forum of 250,000 members. If this does not strike Mr Semuwemba as strange, then I dont know what else will. Irundrua has now become an official chart show host on UAH, with others chipping in as his quests. It would not matter if this discussion on American politics was constructive and relevant to the political discourse in our country- but alas!! You would be waiting for the second coming to expect the Nubian pillock to engage in anything constructive.

Mr Semuwamba has concentrated all his efforts at expanding the membership of the forum and paid no attention whatsover to the quality of the contributions, or making it a serious forum that people can visit for reference. I may be biased, but there are less than 15 people, out of 250-000 members who make good quality contributions on this forum, and this includes Dr Kayondo, Simon Peter Okurut, Edward P’Ojim,Ronald Okuonzi, Ikanos, Barigye, Gwokto, Annet Kobusinge, Sekajja, Magandazi, Mutgagabya, Galabuzi,Henry Ford Mirima, Frank Mujabi, John Kwitonda, Ocaya Mike p’Oure, Afuwa Kasule, Mayimuna, Moses Nekyon, Rev Paul Mugerwa and a handful of others. The rest just look at the forum as they would a traditional English pub, as a place you go to relax, exchange pleasantries and gossip. No serious intellectual discussion is now possible on the UAH, and I had warned Mr Semuwamba about this more than 3 years ago. I dont want want to brag, but I have a very active mind and I dont want to mix with people who dont think at my level. And I dont want to waste the remaining years of my life gossiping about inanities.

It is also worth noting that the fascist regime of Kayibanda Money Museveni does not take this forum seriously. It has only deployed spies like Robert Atuhairew,and not suprisngly, Mr Atuhairew plays the role of a childish clown and so no serious debate can take place with the intellectual midget. Atuhairew’s role is to scupper discussion, and make the tragedy playing out in Uganda look like silly fun. It is very frustrating to find NRA sulberterns like Atuhairew reducing matters of great suffering among Ugandans, to just childish pun, intended to make people laugh. How can NRA supplicants like Edward irundrua and Ingram Kampe laugh at the shocking picture of a hanging Itesot woman, and even have the audacity to blame her for her fate? Yet these are the type of NRA contributors Mr Semuwemba has encouraged and continues too molly coddle.

:Lastly, Mr Semewemba has allowed his forum to become a vehicle of abuse, concoctions and vile calumny. He does absolutely nothing when people make concocted postings or patently false allegations against others. His competitors like Mr Kyalimpa of the UAH RESISTANCE or Leah Nagalamba of Uganda Friends take their duties as administrator much more seriously, and they are not afraid to remove scurrilous posts or to suspend members. In the 3 years I have been a member of his forum, Mr Kyalimpa has suspended at least 15 members that I know of. Mr Semuwemba knows he has a responsibility to his members, but he has allowed it to become a free for all, a cess pit where anything goes. No serious intellectual or political activist would now seek to join UAH, all he needs is to look at a day’s postings, almost all dominated by Edward irundrua, and that would be enough to make them puke.

Mr Sewuwemba has done a great job creating and sustaining UAH to its current level, with almost 250,000 members. But sadly he has failed to move the forum to the next level. I will still continue to be a member of both UAH and UAH Facebook, but writing only on selected issues. I will continue to write a parody commentary or column on UAH Facebook, because that is well received and liked, but on this forum, I will write mainly on ideology and avoid Ugandan issues altogether because the standard of analysis is not up to my level. I would rather discuss Ugandan issues on the new groups that have started, because nearly all of them are about Uganda, and nothing else. There was a very brilliant discussion on the Land Question in Buganda in Mr Katosi’s group, for eg, to which I was invited and made a widely acclaimed contribution- something that simply does not happen here on UAH. These new groups are by invitation only and all of them are moderated in order to eliminate scurrilous posts or deter idiots like Irundrua from turning them into pit latrines. It is high time that we Ugandans took the plight of our country in our hands- gossiping on UAH may help us pass time and laugh, but it will never help our people who are now entering a fourth decade of brutal occupation, oppression and subjugation

Thank You

GEORGE OKELLO
LONDON

Anti-Stella people don’t understand the purpose of satire!

Friends,

I am a bit of Stella Nyanzi fan, so it will be a bit biased to say this but I will,because, not even the horrible Computer Use Act will stop me. I feel that in the light of her imprisonment,we should try to understand the metaphorical nature of her postings. Messages like hers which are subtle yet vulgar-beautiful, graspable yet undefinable – like nature herself – will undergo a great revival, if it hasn’t started yet. I feel that the people centred on her usage of certain words they don’t approve of, are lost in translation, and ,therefore, want her to write like the way the rest of us write. They are suffering from MASS CULTURE which is a form of making everything the same, making everybody “do the same thing” (whether they like it or not). For example, the modern way of mass education forces everyone to go through the same classes and learn the same things.This in no way helps the individual who may have a higher capacity for life. On a political front,It’s called censorship, Stella’s case is objectively about online censorship by the government. They want to control how they are criticized.

Secondary, the anti-Stella people have written enough to demonstrate that they don’t understand the purpose of satire.The best definition, from the 18th century, is that it “exposes to laughter the vices and follies of mankind”. Satire makes fun of the powerful; at its best it acts as a sort of accountability check, at its worst, it brings them down to size. That’s why the best satire is aimed at politicians, monarchy, etc, or at celebs or civvies who ‘bring it on’, and the least successful is aimed at belittling ordinary people or the dispossessed. President Museveni and his wife are politicians, and therefore a legitimate target in a country where power is centered almost in one man.

Yes, there is usually an implied serious moral or artistic standard by which the object of the satire is held to account. But I feel the vulgar definition, to which Ms.Nyanzi appear to adhere, is meant to attract people to the serious points hidden in her messages. Nobody in the government should expect critics to be nicer.If one analyses her messages, Stella seems a bit more focused and more informed about exactly what it is she’s criticizing. She’s not like attacking Museveni’s tribe(as some people carelessly do), she is attacking Museveni, the president of Uganda.There is a difference between criticizing a ‘choice’ e.g presidency and criticizing something inherent e.g being Kabakaship, Muganda (or Munyankole). Organised write-in campaigns against governments are notorious – I’ve participated in a good few myself, through mainly the Ugandans At Heart Forum.

Uganda as it is now needs real soldiers-in-writing and Ms.Nyanzi seems to have upped the game.We shouldn’t need to wait for the infection to fester before the real pus comes to the surface. We’re ‘officially’ a military state and nobody had the courage to write an opera called “Buttocks and the Buttocks” till when the allegedly ‘mad’ lady(according to the state) now in Luziira prison showed up from nowhere.

On my last trip to Uganda a few years back I was amazed to see how so much violence was depicted in our television programming. It’s all guns,teargas,land grabbing, acid attacks, fires in schools, killing Muslim clerics, murders, e.t.c. It seems that showing brutal murders, eyes gouged out, limbs chopped off, sadistic torture, rape, etc., is less bad than if one of the victims yells ‘kabina'(bum) as such acts are being committed.In Uganda, people find it easy to slap,or clip anyone.

If there should be any compromise I would propose it be this:Let’s scale way, way back on the gratuitous violence on television and Facebook posts, and, in exchange, let’s not throw a fit about vulgarity(popularity) and/or sensuality.It is clearly not a big deal in Europe, and I would offer that it does far less harm to children (if it does any at all) than depictions of violence. Naturally, I don’t think this would fly at all with complaint-factories like: the Uganda Communications Compromise(UCC) under Mutabazi, Father Lokodo, etc., whose real battle is against sex, and to whom any depiction of the human body is scandalous.

That said, I’m far more opposed to exposure to violence than vulgarity, yet it’s much easier for a child to be casually/accidentally exposed to violence in our culture.

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*Abbey Kibirige Semuwemba*

“My journey is long and my preparation is so little, and weakness has gripped me and death is chasing me!”