How Museveni infiltrated FDC

Publicly, without mentioning names or dropping pointers, President Museveni subtly admits he is talking and working with some opposition people but privately, insider sources say, he has built nothing less than an empire of followers within the opposition.

On May 24, the ruling NRM muscled through parliament their choices for Speaker Jacob Oulanyah and his deputy Anita Annet Among with jubilant celebration after beating off stiff challenge from the opposition-backed former speaker Rebecca Kadaga.

Speaking in the immediate aftermath of that victory, at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds, President Yoweri Museveni revealed that
he was on good talking terms with two grand old opposition political parties; the Democratic Party and Uganda People's Congress.

He said that he has also started talking to some people within the Forum for Democratic Change, FDC, which before the January 14, 2021 general election, was the biggest opposition party in parliament. Museveni added that the only party, which is still elusive, was the Robert Kyagulanyi-led National Unity Platform-NUP, now the biggest opposition party in parliament.

Museveni's revelation jolted some FDC members who wondered how deep the NRM chairman had infiltrated their party. However, to some insiders, Museveni's announcement didn't come as a surprise. According to highly placed sources at the Najjanankumbi-based party, tensions within the party hierarchy have been bubbling for months, triggered largely by allegations that some top-tier officials are clandestinely dealing with President Museveni.

Dr Kizza Besigye, the founding president and four-time presidential candidate, is said to be very unhappy with the way the party is being run. Our sources said that towards this year's general election, two high-level party officials separately met with President Museveni to discuss the election.

One party official reportedly asked the president to bankroll the party's participation in the general election.

"The president agreed to give him money but he said he will send it through someone [name withheld]. Actually the money came and it's from it that you saw the party buying those big brand new cars that were used in the campaign," the source said.

Eventually, other top-tier officials including Besigye got to know that money had changed hands. Besigye is said to be very disappointed with the current party leadership. The source said Besigye's initial angry reaction was to publicly denounce the dealings.

"He felt betrayed; he said it was important to rescue the party from what he called businessmen," the source said.

However, the timing was bad for such a public denunciation, according to our source. The party was still recovering from months of negative publicity triggered by the defection of a number of MPs and the emergence of Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine as the most formidable political challenger to Museveni.

The last thing the party needed, according to our source, was another self-inflicted crisis. With the intervention of trusted allies, the source said, Besigye was soothed out of speaking publicly against the implicated party leadership. However, he vowed never to play any active role in the campaigns.

"It's true Besigye is very cautious about Covid-19 but it's not the reason he stayed away from Amuriat's campaigns. He just simply couldn't take part in a campaign sponsored by Museveni," the source said.

Besigye joined Amuriat twice; during the FDC manifesto launch in Hoima district and when he campaigned in Rukungiri district.

Even at last month's induction of members of parliament who were elected on the FDC ticket, Besigye was a noticeable absentee yet he was in the country.

"Do you think there was nothing Besigye could tell those MPs... he has just chosen to stay away because his relationship with some of the leaders in the party has really deteriorated. Don't be surprised if he supports another person other than Amuriat in the coming party election," the source said.

Besigye supported Patrick Amuriat in the 2017 party election that ousted the then president Maj. Gen Mugisha Muntu. Elections for new leaders were supposed to be held last year but were shelved for another three years because of Covid-19 pandemic. It was impossible to interview Amuriat for this story. He neither picked nor returned our calls.

Interviewed for this story, Ssemujju Ibrahim Nganda, the party spokesperson, said there has never been a party resolution to work with Museveni.

"I sit on all party organs and not once has a decision been taken to work with Museveni. If anyone is dealing with him, he/
she is doing so in his or her personal capacity," Ssemujju, the MP for Kira municipality, said.

BESIGYE RESPONDS

In response to our questions put to him through WhatsApp, Dr Besigye said he was sure Museveni never funded the FDC presidential candidate. In fact, Besigye said, Amuriat ran the most poorly funded presidential race that FDC has ever had.

"For the most part, he had no public address system and was using the hand-held loudspeaker - mukalakasa. He had to do with a very thin support team that hardly had any basic facilitation," Besigye said.

The retired colonel said if indeed Amuriat was a friendly presidential candidate, he would not have exposed Museveni's use of crude violence and harassment of opponents as he did.

"You should revisit his campaign trail and see what he went through," Besigye said.

Asked why he stayed away from Amuriat's campaign, Besigye said he didn't want to draw attention away from Amuriat and in the process intensify conflict with the NUP campaign.

"This, in turn, would cause or increase demoralization of our activists and supporters. You may have realized that even with my non-participation, my name was still being dragged into the contest with a view of inflaming conflict among "pro-change" activists and supporters," Besigye said.

The other reason the four-time presidential candidate stayed away from the campaign trail was his strong conviction that the election outcome was predetermined by the state and the campaigns and electoral process was just intended to legitimize that fraud.

"I preferred to engage differently and quietly," Besigye said.

He, however, conceded that President Museveni has infiltrated FDC just like he has done with all other parties. This, Besigye said, has been ongoing since the party was formed and only escalates towards elections.

"That's how we lost senior leaders like Alex Onzima, John Butime, Beatrice Anywar, Christopher Kibanzanga, Anita Among, Michael Ocula, Jackson Kafuuzi, Agnes Akiror Eginyu, Francis Atugonza, Bernard Atiku, etc. These leaders are attracted by short-term personal gains and most of them regret in the end,' Besigye said.

He, however, added that despite buying off some leaders, the opposition against President Museveni countrywide is growing with more reliable and determined leaders emerging as others defect.

"I am personally, not discouraged; in fact, my optimism about the impending success of a people's revolution intensifies. Now that the phase of "office seekers" is over, the real struggle of our people is going to get more focused and intensified,' Besigye said.

After the 2016 general elections that Besigye and the FDC dismissed as rigged, there were attempts at mediation between
FDC and the NRM. The talks were midwifed by the Women Situation Room with support from the Swedish government.

However, after the tension that had been created by the arrest and detention of Dr Besigye ebbed, the talks suffered a stillbirth.

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Speaker Among’s rise and depth of her power

Anita Among's election on May 24 as deputy speaker of parliament, completed her five-year-long meteoric ascension to the apex of the elite legislative branch of government.

She garnered an overwhelming 415 votes to ultimately claim the crown and consign her opposition contenders; Mawokota South MP Yusuf Nsibambi (FDC) (35 votes) and Kampala Central MP Muhammad Nsereko (Independent) (24 votes) to oblivion.

The Bukedea woman MP has used individual political brilliance and unquestioning loyalty to the powers-that-be to scale the heights of politics. In terms of influence, access to resources and to the highest office in the land, Among continues to overshadow many lawmakers and ministers.

She's the latest example of the president's tendency to prize loyalty over experience. Political watchers say that for the first time, the country has a deputy speaker who is more powerful than the speaker of parliament, Jacob Oulanyah. In terms of access to President Museveni, Anita has first-class accessibility.

Insider sources interviewed by The Observer said Among has dual roles as a shrewd power broker and go-to-person for investors and politicians who want to meet with the president.

"It's that lady [Among] whose intervention led to the president to allow Roko Construction Company to finally get that deal of constructing the new parliament chambers. The president had completely rejected Roko Construction Company," one MP who declined to be named said.

"Do you remember when FDC changed leadership of committees? For her and Katuntu (Abdu, MP Bugweri) remained vice chairperson and chairperson of Cosase respectively even when the FDC hierarchy had replaced them with Hon Mubarak Munyagwa (then Kawempe South MP) and Hon Kasibante [then Rubaga North MP]," the same MP said.

"Even the speaker [Rebecca Kadaga] did not only respect but feared her because of her high-profile connections and influence. When the Leader of Opposition [Betty Aol] wrote to her asking the duo to leave their offices since there were other people to serve in those capacities, the speaker defended their stay in office," the MP added.

Another MP told The Observer that in just one five-year term, Among has been able to start and complete several big projects.

"How many MPs have you heard have radio stations? They are not many but Among was able to open a radio station with powerful equipment, a science laboratory and build a teaching hospital in the shortest period of time," the MP said.

SEVERAL PROJECTS

Among in April 2019 launched several projects in her Bukedea district and President Yoweri Museveni was the chief guest. They included; a science laboratory at Bukedea Comprehensive School named after Yoweri Museveni, laid a foundation stone for Bukedea teaching hospital and opened a new radio station.

When she won her first term as MP in 2016, Among took parliament by storm, leaving colleagues wondering where she derives her power and influence from. One morning in September 2016, as Among entered parliament, a police officer bowed and said, "How are you, Honourable? Did you have a nice day?"

After exchanging pleasantries, the police officer handed over the first-term MP her phone and handbag. Among nodded in approval and broke into a beaming smile. It is not uncommon for security officers to exchange pleasantries with MPs and other parliamentary staff.

However, for the relatively-short time that Among had been in the 10th parliament, she had amassed considerable influence, respect and awe from amongst her colleagues and parliamentary staff that even some seasoned legislators did not command.

Those who have interacted with Among say her personality played a part in the rising influence of the then vice chairperson of
the influential committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (Cosase), who was also a vocal supporter of Kampala Central MP Muhammad Nsereko during his unsuccessful bid to become deputy speaker in May 2016.

"She is a go-getter. When she sets her sight on something, she will do anything to achieve it," said one opposition legislator, who like many people we talked to preferred to speak anonymously in order not to antagonize his relationship with her.

The legislator described Among as a "political merchant" who has perfected the skill of dealing with the opposition and the NRM at the same time. Another MP noted that she is good at relating with people.

"When you call her, she addresses you as 'dear,' 'sweetheart'," said the MP who sat with her on the committee on state enterprises (Cosase).

The MP added that Among always means well for other people and is concerned when someone appears not to be making progress in life. Among, who ran for parliament as an independent, beat Rose Akol, the short-lived minister for Internal Affairs, to the Bukedea woman seat in the February 18, 2016 elections.

It was sweet revenge for the MP who had been defeated by the same Akol twice before - in 2007 when there was a by-election after the district was created, and in 2011. During the two failed bids, Among contested as an FDC candidate. However, in 2016, Among left the party baffled when she declined its ticket and chose to stand as an independent candidate.

A senior party official told us that in one meeting in 2015, Among, a former FDC deputy treasurer, outright rejected the party ticket, which had been handed to her on a silver platter.

The official said an investigation by the party found that her election was funded by, among others, a senior army officer hailing from the Teso sub-region.

POWERFUL CONNECTIONS

It has been claimed in various circles that Among partly owes her influence and power to the connections she has with State House and some powerful businesspeople. Most of these relations she cultivated before she came to parliament.

For instance, Among is close to Hassan Basajjabalaba, an influential businessman and former chairman of NRM's entrepreneurs' league. Among in 2016 lectured at Basajjabalaba's Kampala International University (KIU), which she was associated with for at least five years.

Her relationship with Basajjabalaba came under close scrutiny when the state enterprises committee (Cosase) investigated the controversial sale of UBC land in Bugolobi. Haba group, a company that belongs to Basajjabalaba, was mentioned in connection with the loss of UBC's land title.

One MP told us that given her relationship with the businessman, Among should have excused herself from the committee when it discussed this matter. Among roundly rejected this notion in an interview with The Observer then. She suggested that it was because of her connection that the committee was able to secure the UBC land title.

"I got the land title when everyone was about to give up," she said.

Besides Basajjabalaba, Among is said to be close to Wasswa Balunywa, the principal of Makerere University Business School (Mubs), where she lectured before. Sources told us that she was instrumental in soliciting scholarship opportunities for students and jobs for party supporters at Mubs and KIU.

An accountant by training, Among worked in Centenary bank for 10 years before she resigned in 2007 to contest for the Bukedea seat. After she lost the election, she got a teaching job at Mubs and later KIU. On top of this, Among has political connections to State House. We were told that she talks regularly to President Museveni.

One MP told us that Museveni was chief guest at her thanksgiving ceremony back in 2016. For unclear reasons, the ceremony was kept a low-key affair. Only a handful of people were invited.

Bank of Uganda governor Tumusiime-Mutebile (L) talking to Anita Among earlier

In an interview then, Among declined to comment about her personal life, insisting that she wants to focus on her work. She, however, admitted that she is open to working with everyone, including President Museveni, for the good of Uganda.

She said: "Being close to people in NRM and being an independent is a non-issue for me. These are irrelevant things that should not be talked about. We want results at the end of the day and I don't mind working with people in the NRM."

Among further told us that she decided to join politics for adventure, not for personal gain.

"There is a book titled Who Moved My Cheese? It is always good to move on in life to find out what is outside there. It is not good to cling onto one thing forever. I also felt that the leadership there [FDC] was not doing enough," she said.

Maintaining that she is still FDC "by heart," Among said she chose to stand as an independent after consulting people. She said a good politician always listens to what his/ her electorate says.

"It is my electorate that told me to stand as an independent. I am still FDC," she said.

Among further said she was not shocked by her appointment as vice chairperson of Cosase because she is "knowledgeable and competent."

CONTROVERSY

Controversy has always been part and parcel of Among's political career. Her journey to parliament was not smooth. On Election Day in 2016, she was briefly arrested and detained by police in Bukedea for allegedly trying to interfere with the vote counting process at the district electoral commission offices.

Tom Keith Eyaku, the Bukedea district police commander then, told journalists that he acted after receiving intelligence information that Among connived with one Electoral Commission official to gain entrance into their offices.

Yet long before she came onto the national political scene, Among had already become a phenomenon within FDC where she served as deputy treasurer in charge of fundraising.

In 2012, she defeated Salaamu Musumba, the then FDC vice president for eastern Uganda, and a host of other senior party officials during primaries for the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA). Her victory was shrouded in controversy after allegations sprung up that she had bribed delegates.

James Birungi Ozo, the then party deputy secretary for sports, petitioned the party president, Dr Kizza Besigye, claiming that Basajjabalaba had given Among Shs 150 million to facilitate her EALA campaign.

BACKGROUND

Anita Annet Among (born November 23, 1973) is a Ugandan accountant, lawyer and politician who serves as the deputy speaker of the 11th Parliament of Uganda (2021– 2026).

She also concurrently serves as the elected member of parliament for the Bukedea district Woman constituency, the same position she held in the 10th parliament (2016–2021).

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Gen Katumba bodyguard fired back at assassins - Oulanyah

The bodyguard of the former Works and Transport minister, General Edward Katumba Wamala engaged in a gunfight with the assailants who killed his daughter and driver on Tuesday morning, forcing them to flee. 

The speaker of parliament, Jacob Oulanyah disclosed this after visiting Katumba at Medipal International hospital along Acacia avenue where he is being treated for gunshot wounds.

Four masked gunmen riding on motorcycles intercepted Katumba's vehicle, registration number H4DF 2138 along Kisota road in Kisaasi, and sprayed it with bullets killing his daughter, Brenda Wamala Nantongo, 27, and driver, Haruna Kayondo on the spot. The vehicle bears over 20 bullet holes. 

Katumba sustained two gunshot wounds in his shoulders and was rushed to Malcolm clinic in Kisaasi for first aid treatment before being transferred to Medipal hospital. Oulanyah, who visited Katumba together with his deputy Anita Among, says that the attackers approached the former chief of defense forces' vehicle from the back and front and were determined to eliminate him.

Although in subsequent social media videos captured, Katumba's bodyguard appears slightly apprehensive, Oulanyah says Katumba told him he owes his life to the bodyguard who fought off the assailants, forcing them to flee. Amazingly the bodyguard escaped uninjured. 

"He's the one [guard] who actually engaged the attackers. The attackers came from the back and the front and they were firing. So he got out and engaged the ones at the back and they ran away, he then engaged the ones at the front but the one in the front was very determined to finish whatever he'd started. So when he engaged him, he also ran away because the car was already down, he'd to hold the general and take him to someplace and hide because everybody had locked their doors there was nowhere to hide until he found some ramshackle place and took cover there," Oulanyah said. 

Earlier, in a statement through his Twitter account, President Museveni blamed the bodyguard for firing in the air instead of directly at the attackers, whom he called pigs. 

"The bodyguard should not have shot in the air. He should have shot to kill. We could be having a dead terrorist instead of scaring away the terrorists. His shooting saved Gen. Katumba by scaring the criminals away. However, killing one or more of the terrorists would have done the same and more," said Museveni. 

According to some eyewitnesses, one of the assailants was actually injured during the shootout. Oulanyah says Katumba is heartbroken because of the assassination of his daughter which came just a day after losing his mother-in-law.

From his hospital bed, Katumba said he was out of danger because he didn't sustain any grave injuries and that God has given him a second chance. He however said he was devastated because "the guys" had killed his daughter and driver. 

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Japan extends $1.6m grant towards Uganda COVID-19 response

Uganda has received $1.6m (about Shs 5.8 billion) grant from Japan to boost the country's COVID-19 response efforts.

The grant is supposed to help Uganda procure cold chain equipment for the storage and transportation of COVID-19 vaccines in the country. The funds will be channeled through the United Nations Children's Emergency Fund (Unicef).

According to the joint press statement, the funds will be used to procure 106 solar vaccine refrigerators, 190 cold boxes and 2,200 vaccine carriers. The money will also be used to procure 10 generators.

Uganda is one of 31 countries in Latin America, Africa and the Caribbean that have benefitted from a $39 million emergency aid extended to countries suffering from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr Safieldin Munir, the Unicef representative in Uganda says the funds will be used to address some of the challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant consequences not only in Uganda but the world over. The children have not been spared either. Unicef is supporting the government of Uganda and working with different partners to make every effort to protect children, including through our efforts to build more resilient communities," Munir said.

Japan's emergency aid grant this time around aims to deliver vaccines to every person in all corners of developing countries, which will complement the efforts of the COVAX Facility.

The Japanese Ambassador to Uganda, Hidemoto Fukuzawa says the grant will be used to ensure equitable access to vaccines even in hard-to-reach areas.

"Currently, ensuring equitable access globally including in developing countries and accelerating vaccination is the common challenge for the international community towards the goal of containing COVID-19. Japan has been contributing to formulating the COVAX Facility, an international mechanism for the procurement of vaccines, and has already made a financial contribution of US$200 million," he said.

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Covid-19: Over 200 vaccinated as Corporate League resumes

By Alex Balimwikungu The 19th edition of the corporate league kicked off on Sunday May, 30 2021 following clearance from the Ministry of Health and National Council of Sports (NCS).  Despite the early morning shower that drenched the pitch at Legends Grounds, Lugogo action was off the pitch as hundreds turned up to take the […]
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I play Geosteady’s songs & take care of his children – Mr. Henri

By Ahmad Muto Media personality Mr. Henri has defended himself following accusation by a section of the public and singer Geosteady himself that he does not play his songs. Geosteady's made the claim a month ago while appearing on a local television. According to Mr. Henri, he plays Geosteady's songs' particularly 'Energy' his collaboration with […]
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Gunmen shoot dead Gen Katumba's daughter, driver

Unidentified gunmen have shot dead the daughter and bodyguard of the former Transport and Works minister, General Edward Katumba Wamala. 

The gunmen today morning at about 9 am intercepted Katumba, who was driving in his vehicle registration number H4DF 2138 along Kisaasi-Kisota road, and sprayed it with bullets. 

Eyewitnesses say Katumba's daughter identified as Brenda Wamala Nantongo and his driver, Haruna Kayondo died on the spot while the general escaped with gunshot wounds in the hands.

The bodies are still in the vehicle that is still at the crime scene, now cordoned off by the detectives in search of clues. Katumba was first rushed to Malcolm Clinic in Kisaasi for first aid before being transferred to Medipal International hospital. Katumba had reportedly like always just bought newspapers from the nearby mosque when he got attacked. 

General Katumba is not the first high-profile Ugandan official to be attacked by armed gunmen riding on motorcycles. On March 17, 2017, unknown gunmen trailed and shot dead the former police spokesperson, Andrew Felix Kaweesi, his bodyguard, Kenneth Erau and driver, Godfrey Mambewa.

The trio was gunned down, a few meters from Kaweesi's home in Kulambiro in Kisaasi, a Kampala suburb. Kaweesi's assassination followed the nearly a carbon copy murder of former state prosecutor, Joan Kagezi in 2015 and Major Muhammad Kiggundu in 2016.

In June 2018, unidentified assailants also gunned down Arua Municipality member of parliament, Ibrahim Abiriga in a similar manner.

Details to follow.......

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Former minister Kyambadde distances self from slay queen fraudster

By Ahmad Muto Former Trade minister and Mawokota North member of parliament, Amelia Kyambadde has distanced herself from a social media slay queen who has been masquerading as her daughter. The slay queen, Prisicilla Kibira has been posing as her daughter with the goal of defrauding unsuspecting members of the public. Kyambadde took to social […]
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WHO requests for 20m doses of COVID-19 vaccine for Africa as cases jump by 17%

The World Health Organization (WHO) is asking for 20 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine for African countries to administer second doses to those who have received their first shot.

After three weeks of declining rates of COVID-19 infections in Africa, the World Health Organization is reporting an increase in cases. It says its latest figures of more than 4.7 million cases, including 128,000 deaths indicate a 17 per cent rise over the previous week.

WHO regional director for Africa Matshidiso Moeti says she is concerned, but that it is too soon to tell whether Africa is on the cusp of a third wave.

"While it is too soon to say if Africa is seeing a resurgence, however, we are seeing increases in a number of countries, we are monitoring the situation very closely. And we see that we are balancing on a knife's edge," she said. "So this makes the rapid rollout of COVID-19 vaccines all the more important."

Moeti says South Africa accounts for nearly one-third of the 65,000 new cases reported by WHO. She says she fears new variants of the virus circulating in South Africa may be spreading into neighboring countries. She notes Namibia and Zambia are among 11 African countries experiencing more cases.

So far, 28 million COVID-19 doses of different vaccines have been administered in Africa, a continent of 1.4 billion people. Moeti says Africa needs at least 20 million second doses of the Oxford-Astra Zeneca vaccine by mid-July to give everyone who has received the first dose full immunity.

"Africa needs vaccines now. Any pause in our vaccination campaigns will lead to lost lives and lost hope," she said. "Another 200 million doses are needed so that the continent can vaccinate 10 per cent of its population by September this year."

Moeti appeals to countries that have vaccinated their high-risk groups to share their excess doses with Africa. She notes France is the first country to donate tens of thousands of doses to Africa from its domestic supply.

WHO says the European Union has pledged more than 100 million doses for low-income countries and the United States has promised to share 80 million doses with lower-income countries. Other wealthy countries have said they will follow suit.

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