Now this writer does not imply that all things in one’s life will have been merited. No, there are things such as gifts from loved ones, ejusdem generis, that we do not merit. Yet, an argument is still sustainable that gifts are a return on social investment. I need not explain further, lest I digress. However, there are spheres of life in which nothing which is not merited should ever be given.

One such sphere is government which is, at its core, a sphere of public service. Truly, if we were to dissect the core problem of the government’s short comings in service delivery, I dare say that we will find the primary culprits to be ineptitude and incompetence. These will often arise where the individuals to whom authority is given, have not merited it.

This phenomenon is best exemplified by the “rot in KCCA” (not my words). In a series of communications among the offices of, inter alia, the KCCA ED, the Minister for Kampala Capital City & Metropolitan Affairs, the Public Service Commission, and the Resident City Commission for Kampala, it was revealed that a great deal of mishandling of authority has occurred in KCCA. I need not get into the details of such abuses as these have been well elaborated by this very website.

Precisely, due to failures in certain departments within KCCA, mandates have remained unsatisfied in some areas and exceeded in others. Who has suffered for this? Look no further than the muntu wa wansi. People working in the markets have lost revenue due to power outages attributable to pending arrears. Also, water disconnections have occurred for similar reasons. Purely avoidable reasons if the people in ‘charge’ had been apt to administer their authority.

How does merit tie into all this? It has been alleged that the occupant of the top office at KCCA is a smidge underqualified for the job. Not only this, she is claimed to have a ‘psychological’ challenge (not in any sense a disease or condition) rooted in ego. Often, when one is underqualified and surrounded by people of better qualifications, the result is a contentious work environment.

Such a person will find other means of asserting his/her dominance; which in their mind will be an assertion of authority. Consequently, tensions become palpable followed by a rising of defensive walls culminating in a breakdown of communication. A brief perusal of the qualifications of the occupant of the top office at KCCA shall suffice to establish a premise for this article’s argument. I’ll spare you the details of the irrelevant primary and secondary levels results. She acquired a Pass Degree in Law from Makerere University in 1987 which was followed by a Diploma in Legal Practice from LDC.

One wonders what considerations are made for admission to this institute which ensures the quality of national legal practice. Anyways! Her Diploma was followed by two Masters Degrees to wit; a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership and Management from Uganda Christian University, and a Master of Arts in Leading Innovation and Change, awarded by York St John University, in the United Kingdom. As for her career prior to being appointed as KCCA ED, she had worked in several posts and positions which I must say are incredibly impressive. Understandably, one would look at that academic and career background and be awed by it.

Indeed, one would conclude that she is over-qualified for her task. Now, I’ll proceed to doubly and analogously illustrate why such a conclusion can be challenged. First, no man in his senses would let a lawyer operate on him; that is a task reserved for surgeons. Nor would I permit a surgeon to be my attorney in court and any man that would might need a visit to a different kind of doctor. Second, no reasonable man, after hearing that the surgeon assigned to him has lost all but one of his patients in the operating room, would refuse an option of having a more qualified surgeon operate on him.

If he did, there would be more than meets the eye in that choice; perhaps a prior personal connection between him and the less qualified surgeon. It is in this respect that this article argues that the occupant of the top office at KCCA is underqualified; there were better qualified individuals who, if merit had been the primary (as it should be) consideration, would have got the job instead of the person now in charge.

Consequently, due to that aforementioned psychological phenomenon which informed a rather offensive attitude towards her co-employees, many people working within KCCA felt slighted by the conduct of the ED. Now, if the root is bad, so the fruit will be. It is alleged that hiring in KCCA is so irregular; manifesting as unqualified hires. Little surprise then that the work of the Authority has become a mess.

There is reportedly a great deal of aggrieved employees whose half-hearted effort, a product of bad leadership, has resulted in a mess of KCCA activity within the city; some of which has been stated above. A revision of policy is necessary in government. Lest the country be handed to the dogs, unqualified hires must be done away with. This kind of hiring practice may be stomached in a private entity. However, where the people are concerned, it is important to hire on basis of merit. Let the best person get the job. Nor should you appoint a doctor to argue your case in court. Then again, who I’m I to speak; I’m only a twenty-something year old slighted by the ‘rotten’ fruits which our masters feed us.

The investigator has landed on the preliminary investigations report which lines out the chronology of the incidence on the fateful morning of April 25^th 2022. Contacted over the matter, the state minister for Tourism, Hon. Martin Bahinduka Mugaara confirmed authenticity of the report and its details, adding that upon completion of investigations, all the culprits, including the Irungu Lodge management members, “would inevitably be prosecuted.”

“The national park sanctuary is gazetted for free wildlife movement”, Bahinduka however adds that people too, can live within the sanctuary as long as they can ensure wildlife conservation. On the power connectivity, the minister said all fences in National Parks are powered but with lower voltage meant to only shock and not kill the animals. “Ours is solar-powered. We suspect theirs (Irungu) is illegally connected.”    

Below is the full report in verbatim, read on…       

PRELIMINARY REPORT ON THE DEATH OF THREE LIONS FOUND DEAD ON 25TH APRIL 2022 AT IRUNGU FOREST LODGE WITHIN KATUNGURU VILLAGE OF RUBIRIZI DISTRICT

On 25/4/2022, at around 2100hrs, information reached UWA staff in Queen Elizabeth National Park from a concerned citizen of Katunguru village, Rubirizi District that lions had been electrocuted by an electric fence of Irungu Forest Safari Lodge within Katunguru village, Katunguru sub county Rubirizi district. The acting Chief Warden, Dr. Eric Enyel, with other staff, immediately went to cross check the information and indeed found two dead lions stuck in the fence wires of Irungu Forest Safari Lodge. One was a collared mature female lion and the other was a female sub-adult. The Manager of Irungu Forest Safari Lodge, Mr. Innocent Kahwa, who had joined the UWA team was advised to immediately switch off the electricity to avoid further fatalities.

At around 2200hrs, the Team Leader Investigations for Queen Elizabeth Conservation Area worked with rangers to cordon off the scene of crime until the morning of 26/04/2022. The GISO-Katunguru S/C- Mukonzo Pascal was also available. In the morning of 26/04/2022, the Warden Law Enforcement walked the entire fence and discovered a third dead sub-adult female lion also stuck in the wires. This area was also cordoned off. 

Meanwhile, the Assistant Warden Investigations, Mr. Ogik Emmanuel had travelled to Rubirizi Police station and registered a case against Irungu Forest Safari Lodge with a holding charge of killing wild animals VIDE sd reference 09/26/04/2022 and GIF 003/2022. He later came to the crime scene with Rubirizi Police Officers including OC/CID, CI, SOCCO and other detectives. Meanwhile, the Ag. Chief Warden, called on Dr. Siefert Ludwig, a wildlife veterinarian forensic expert to help with further investigation in support of other investigative efforts. Police detectives and UWA investigators documented the scene of crime before handing over the carcasses to Dr. Siefert for postmortem investigations.

Police was later interested in knowing the source of electricity that powers Irungu Forest Safari Lodge fence. On the 26th April, an electric expert from UMEME Rubirizi branch combined with UWA electrician took the lead and were guided by the Manager of the lodge to the power house. The source of power was confusing. UWA staff, Police and UMEME staff discovered that the power strength from the solar batteries was too low and couldn’t have killed the lions. They suspected the power could be illegally being sourced from UMEME lines in the area. The purported source of power was later locked and preserved by Katunguru Police.

On 27/04/2022 at around 0800hrs, the Ag. Chief Warden held a meeting with his staff (WLE, AWP, AWI, Team leader Investigations and UWA electrician) about the ongoing matter and dispatched them to Irungu Forest Safari Lodge for further inquiry about the source of electricity. They were later joined by UMEME electricians from Kasese and Rubirizi, Police IO handling the file and UPDF battalion IO, and found when the Manager had prepared his technician. The technician tried to reconnect power but all were in vain. The matter of electricity was later pushed to 28/4/2022 to allow Irungu Forest Safari Lodge management produce the technician who initially connected the power to the fence. Investigations into the matter are still ongoing. Conservation for Generations

In a statement to the press, Daniel Ogong, Stanbic Bank Uganda’s Head of Marketing and Customer Experience says the brand campaign is aimed at cheering Ugandans to believe and not to give up on their dreams—with Stanbic Bank as their partner.

“Every story should be placed in context and ours as a country is very clear—we have just returned from nearly two years of a pandemic induced lockdown, the economy was half at work with critical sectors such as education, and entertainment, down, this affected businesses with many losing revenues while others closed entirely,” said Ogong.

According to Ogong, the #OneStepCloser campaign aims at reassuring Ugandans that no matter what they have been through, they shouldn’t give up on their dreams and that every effort they invest helps them to get closer to achieving their bigger goals.

“Our role in the customer journey towards their respective dreams has always been that of a facilitator, inline with our business purpose—driving Uganda’s growth. As the economy reopens fully, we are committed to ensuring that all our customers get closer to achieving their dreams while sharing their success stories to inspire others to believe—it can be.

Emma Mugisha, the Stanbic Bank Uganda Executive Director and Head of Business said “when schools reopened after 2years of no work, we waived all their accrued unpaid interest on outstanding loans for the period ending December 31, 2021, that way, we were able to give them the opportunity to start afresh on a new slate.

For Ugandans in different sectors of the economy, we knew that most of them had spent their operating capital to survive through the lockdown; what we are now doing is to give money to SACCOS at interest rates of as low as 10{0945c2a372ac1e8bbfe7cc3e10f9b82eb0b8ae872b07368d754f0396b6ef2afe} (for agriculture based Saccos) and 12.5{0945c2a372ac1e8bbfe7cc3e10f9b82eb0b8ae872b07368d754f0396b6ef2afe} for general sector saccos, to ensure that they lend money to millions of their Ugandan members, at affordable rates to allow them rebuild their businesses.”

According to Sam Mwogeza, Stanbic Bank Uganda’s Executive Head for Consumer Banking, the bank is planning for all sectors of the economy and designing personalized products to address their respective needs.

“We have done something unique for the education sector, health workers, lawyers, farmers and university students and soon, we will unveil something exciting for women and youth—this way, we are walking the talk of driving Uganda’s growth,” said Mwogeza.

Stanbic Bank is Uganda’s largest commercial lender and publicly listed on the local stock market under the trading name Stanbic Uganda Holdings Limited (SUHL); other subsidiaries under SUHL include Stanbic Business Incubator Limited, Stanbic Properties Limited, SBG Securities, and FlyHub.  

In March 2020, Anne Juuko was unveiled as Stanbic Bank Uganda’s first female Chief Executive, succeeding Patrick Mweheire. It’s among Uganda’s largest taxpayers and also employs nearly 2000 Ugandans with 53 per cent of them being women.

Recently, the London based Global Brands Awards recognized Anne Juuko as the best female banking CEO for 2021, acknowledging her role in leading Uganda’s largest commercial bank through a pandemic while managing to sustain its profitability.

A newborn’s potential is unknown and unlimited; possibilities unfathomable! If a Ganda boy is born in Shanghai and taught the ways of the tribe/family into which he is born; shall we expect that boy to somehow be familiar with the Ganda ways? Personalities are not genetic; they are not innate. One’s nature is nurtured! That Ganda boy will speak Chinese and will be clueless about his ancestral culture. Thus, it is logical to posit that Hitler was not born a murderous psychopath! Similarly, crucifying Jordan should be done cautiously! Although, at his age, he ought to have aligned his morals with what’s agreeable, the misalignment was not all his own doing.

Mohan Kiwanuka is a known polygamous man! He was with his first partner long enough to beget offspring. Then, he went on to marry the second wife. Islam limits a man to four wives whereas tradition gives no limit! On the face of the facts, he did not marry Beatrice; his first partner. This was thwarted by the woman’s father when Kiwanuka and his sister had gone to seek his blessing. As such, the two simply cohabited until the relationship broke down. Therefore, Kiwanuka has only one wife; unless the word is given new meaning from its conventional one.

The rule in Islam is that the man can have more than one wife if he can properly take care of them. The question then is; what care is talked of here? I do not claim to know but I’ll talk of care in two forms; material and the kind that affects the mind! It’s indisputable that Kiwanuka could provide for as many as eight wives if he wished; this emperor has an empire of 33 creditworthy companies. But whether Kiwanuka can provide the psychological and emotional care that is also necessary for intimate human relations is debatable!

Enter the failed state of fatherhood in our society! Even Christian men openly cheat on their wives, just as many wives of the same affiliation do. But here, I talk of men and our infidelities! Even when we’re bound by religion and oaths, we still openly boast about having many women and this behaviour is condoned by our peers. Of course, it’s unlikely that one who sleeps about will attract the kind of friends that would condemn him. So, there are types in society that condone infidelity. Truly, I tell you, there is a price paid for this degradation! It is denial to think that its without consequence.

A study of the aggressors in mass shootings in America revealed a common thread. There was always a missing father figure or a missing father all together! To clarify, a man may be absent even when present. A child’s mind is affected more by what is seen than what is heard. Only a fool should think that auditory lessons on life carry more impact that the visual lessons children get through observing their environs. Many men fool themselves into thinking that as long as financial aid is given, their children should want for nothing!

We can endlessly rant about how unfortunate Kiwanuka was to have begotten a son who became a glutton. Truly, Jordan was Mohan’s own creation! To purge society of the gluttonous entitled generation of which I am a part, we must look to parentage. We cannot keep blaming children for what they are without considering the fact that we mould them. That’s analogous to the bad workman and his tool! Men must realize, though I doubt the ability of our wits in this regard, that dysfunctional relations beget dysfunctional offspring. This is the generation of daddy issues. When we see Jordan’s attempt to dethrone his father, we should see a lad with so many daddy issues!

Now, I do not think that children should justify their wrongs with inefficient parentage. Humans are blessed with reason as opposed to mere instinct. We have the ability to tell right from wrong. Thus, when a boy becomes a man, the rebuttable presumption is that he can use his judgment to re-orient his being to satisfy general moral tenets. There comes a time in life when we must evaluate every lesson we’ve ever learned and weigh it against moral values determined by faith/religion, culture and social consensus. In so doing, one must learn new virtues, relearn the good ones already taught and unlearn those which are detrimental to one’s own moral stability! The other reason this is necessary is that as a child, it is easy to misconstrue what you see and thereby pick the wrong lesson.

In my view, Jordan, like many people, failed to do this. He lacked the intellect to reform his nature in alignment with sensible values. He took to heart what he’d already learned and did not question the viability of his actions in light of the general good. I think this is to be expected from a son whose lessons were learned from the actions of a successful businessman. It is necessary to note that even if Mohan had done everything right, the vicious nature of the business world involves actions and omissions that are easily misconstrued by a child.

Parenting is one of the most difficult tasks any human has. We have so little instinct, if any, overshadowed by reasoning; learning for human minds is difficult, diverse and happens over so long a period of time that it takes a toll on the teacher. In fact, learning for a human being lasts a lifetime! Yet most importantly, I think that when it comes to teaching as a parent, the actions are much more crucial than the intention!

Though I pity Mzee Mohan Kiwanuka in his plight, I’m not all too sympathetic. The less a parent is in a child’s life, the more room there is for the world to teach him or her all the wrong lessons. For me, Jordan is a tale of the consequences of our failure to question our values and very being; we live on in a delirium wherein we are the source of our own morals. Everything we do is right and justified; it’s a tale of woo! In any case, I’ll have my own children who I’ll somehow ruin and they, in turn, shall drive me nuts!

In the late twentieth century, the West ‘won’ the cold war and the battle of economic ideology. For matters of clarity, the west is capitalist Europe and America. The west, being masters of media, managed to spread the capitalist gospel. They successfully painted communism as an oppressive ideology aligned with the likes of Joseph Stalin.

In time capitalism, inherent in which is the theme of a free market, was globally adopted. This, it was said, was designed to grow the wealth of nations. Today, formerly communist states are grappling with adopting a capitalist system. The question of state power and a free economy is still prevalent. We can’t, of course, forget Obote’s 1968 move to the left and Museveni’s switch from communistic ideologies to capitalism at the opportune time.

Yet today, as Hernando De Sato relays in his Mystery of Capital, capitalism has proved to work best, if not only, in the West. Other countries that have attempted to adopt the system have struggled with corruption, inequitable distribution of wealth among other things. Further, he shows that capitalism has failed to do the one thing for which it was adopted; elimination of poverty. Therefore, why has it failed? Why would it fail elsewhere and work in the West?

It’s that idea again! We can all do anything; for, anything is possible! The West preached capitalism without preaching its will. As a Christian ought to do God’s will, a capitalist ought to do as capitalism wills. It is a system built on capital. Before diving, let’s be clear about the fact that wealth isn’t capital. One would have to know how to transform one’s wealth into capital. If we’ve been attentive, wealth is abundant in many of the countries that are now struggling under capitalism.

What, then, does it require to turn wealth into capital?  Simply, people prefer the unbureaucratic informal sector to the tedious bureaucratic necessities of the formal sector. Thus, proper documentation is absent from most businesses in the country!

Yet, as Hernando notes, the basis of capitalisation is engrained in documentation. The channels through which an entrepreneur can accrue capital all demand it. Transaction receipts are as important as a certificate of incorporation. The things that many business owners overlook – especially those who run SMEs – are the most important when seeking to acquire a loan; or even when simply opening a bank account for a business.

It is inarguable that banks control the economy! In any case, an individual with a piggery will achieve growth to a certain point beyond which it is impossible to grow without relying on a bank. The biggest block to this is that such growth requires expansion which in turn demands loads of capital. A person in such a case has the option of seeking a bank loan; or an investor. None of those options are practical if proper documentation has been missing form the firm. The investor will want to know the firm’s financial position before committing; as will any bank. As such, those individuals who ignored invoices, receipts, audit reports and taxes are hindered!

A business loan necessitates – inter alia – having a trading licence, sales records or financial reports, loan budget, financial cards for owners and the company itself; all these need to be had at hand. Their absence translates into further expenses to acquire them – as laymen say –  express! Many Ugandans rob themselves of access to capitalisation channels because they shy away from ‘formalities’.

Therefore, one of the qualities that has to be imparted or groomed is the culture of documentation. Only it can reflect the true health of a firm’s financial status. Those that understand this fact struggle in partnerships with those that are ignorant of it.

For many entrepreneurs, the solution has been discovered in hiring specialists. Ironically, many business men and women talk of how useless it is to pursue further education; yet the backbone of their success is the educated.

One of the embryonic steps to acquiring capital from wealth is mastering the art of documentation. Tedious as it is, the necessity of it is inevitable in a capitalistic economy! Yet, it is only the genesis of entrepreneurs’ struggles!

The mighty DP has fallen so far as to be pleased with filling only 9 of the 498 direct elective seats in Parliament. The party president noted that should DP fail to get at least 15 seats, he would resign. Should Mao elect to remain as party president, he ought to see Museveni when he looks in the mirror. Nevertheless, he is only an appetizer to the topic herein.

In the tenth parliament, the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) had 38 seats – the majority opposition seats. In this eleventh parliament, National Unity Platform (NUP) shall have the majority opposition seats amounting to 61; quite the statement!Though incomparable to NRM’s 316 seats, that impact of NUP’s performance on the composition of parliament is indicative of an east wind for NRM. The blast will leave few erect in that party; 2021 was the Tropical wave!

As witty ones may know, the inspiration that was caused by NUP was built on being genuine, especially the party president. Little may be known of the alignment of ideologies and motivation within the party inner circle.

The populace cares not for wits and ploys; it cares not for what is said; not so much as how it is said. Looking into Kyagulanyi’s speeches reveals damning similarities between his statements and those of the Doctor. It appears that the path Kyagulanyi and his party now march may lead them to a similar destination in Uganda’s political theatre as that of his predecessor.

The next ten years are very crucial for Kyagulanyi. His loss carries a heavier responsibility for him than Museveni has from his victory. I may say here – risking ridicule – that unless something drastic befalls this nation, Kyagulanyi will lose the 2026 Presidential elections. It is my view that NUP should be a formidable threat to the NRM in 2031. Thus, the next decade will make or break Kyagulanyi. His relevance in that year shall be determined by NUP’s performance on all fronts.

It is imperative that he should, in the near future, devise another strategy besides relying on being victimized. The Doctor’s story reflects how tiresome that gets for the public. He must endeavour to formulate a far-reaching tactic that will keep his party worthwhile for all stakeholders.

Therefore, it is important for NUP to engage real developmental projects. Vigorous debate against unfair government policy, though pertinent, will not suffice. Also, the party ought to avoid heavy indulgence of the international community. Even a jester would know that foreign interference is as dreaded as it is hated. Also, Biden’s administration will be difficult to keep out; his America looks to enjoy dipping its nose in everyone’s business. As such, Kyagulanyi must endeavour to resist that temptress; lest he fastens the chains about him!

Simply, NUP must utilise it’s 61 parliamentary seats and 41 Council seats to establish dominance as the leading opposition. It must create a challenge for the ruling party in parliament and be the driving force of development in the city. Kyagulanyi must utilise this time to keep his house in order to deter a fate similar to that of DP. Adulterous men must know their mistresses to be disloyal; any apprehension to the contrary is detrimental!

Kyagulanyi now faces the challenge that many a party president has. He must fight to keep command and remain relevant without having access to the platform he had in 2018. Now, his administrative skills are put to the test. Vulnerability and public tantrums are ineffective as long-term political tools. Much as his purity is a good quality, he now has to play politics; deception and perception are key! Lessons must be learned from history! Kyagulanyi has not been subjected to anything new; whatever is done to him was done to the Doctor. Now, it is about how he plays the hand he is dealt – for, he must play it. Yet, Ugandans make for an immature lover; they get easily bored, snort excitement like cocaine and ecstatically search for intrigue elsewhere.

Notably, Kyagulanyi was able to convince us that he wants what we want. This outlook must be maintained. Nevertheless, NUP must keep the electors engaged for a whole decade. It is possible that in 2031; UPC will be unheard of, DP following on that path, FDC becoming as irrelevant then as DP is today and NUP will be the FDC of the past two decades. NUP therefore, must be stronger.

All through Uganda’s brief post-independence history, never had a political contender been non-aligned and new to politics as Kyagulanyi has been. It is therefore not shocking that the political gurus and matadors had no counter-strategy to Kyagulanyi’ s puristic strategy – which was itself not a strategy. So, we were witnesses to NRM groping in the dark for solutions to the overwhelming influence of Kyagulanyi and his puritan approach.

We have seen yet again that the popularity of the candidate doesn’t determine the victor. Whereas it should, it simply doesn’t! The self-proclaimed free world and the oldest practitioners of modern democracy rely on an electoral system that, in a way, defeats the purpose of popular democracy. The United States electoral college represents the presidential choice of a certain class. Arguments may be made left or right, it is undeniable that at the end of the day, there is a certain class of people in the free world that cannot become president. I digress!

In practice, democracy is not a choice of the people; it is a government of the minor majority. Consider Uganda, a country with approximately 45M citizens. Of these, only 18M were registered to vote; this doesn’t amount to a simple majority. Understandably, among the 45M are children who are not eligible, inmates who are denied the opportunity – which, if I may say, is unconstitutional – the mentally encumbered and other groups that are excluded.

Simply, Tibahaburwa won the election with approximately 5M votes! In what sane world is this a majority of 45M. Do not misconstrue my submission; I do not argue that the result is a flaw of our electoral system – these are all well known – rather, this result is a reflection of a flaw in democracy.

In addition to this inadequacy, countries such as Uganda have other factors hindering proper representative government. I need not repeat them here; reports have been made over the same issues since 2001. However, the query is whether Uganda should continue its pretence!

The Electoral Commission reportedly excluded results from over 1,200 polling stations. The justification was that the incumbent president-elect had already obtained the necessary 51{0945c2a372ac1e8bbfe7cc3e10f9b82eb0b8ae872b07368d754f0396b6ef2afe} of the vote and the numbers from the excluded polling stations could not change that fact. This has been reiterated in courts since the first presidential election petition under the 1995 Constitution.

Petitioners have presented numerous factors that affected the credibility of the result in all these petitions. I take the opportunity here to make reference to Daniel Kalinaki’s Kizza Besigye and Uganda’s Unfinished Revolution. In this work, it is stated that the Supreme Court was on the verge of nullifying the 2001 elections. The Justices, while in chambers, received a call from Rwakitura. The caller stated his knowledge of the intended direction of the Court regarding the election. He warned that a decision in that direction would keep him in the outskirts while the country dealt with any subsequent anarchy. The consequent of the call was that a 4:3 verdict to nullify turned into a 5:2 verdict to uphold the elections despite the discrepancies.

The learned Justices noted that although there were inconsistencies, they were not substantial enough to alter the elections result. The Supreme Court gave recommendations for curing the inconsistencies. Such became the precedent and practice; the highest court in the land would declare inconsistencies while overlooking them and issuing recommendations. It is unlikely, as we wait for the petition that will follow this election, that the result of the petition will be any different from those of 2016, 2011, 2006 and 2001!

Further, in the last cycle, social media was shutdown. This time, the government made a bolder move to shutdown the internet; and numerous businesses along with it. Many enjoyed a forceful holiday following a Covid19 forced break. Yet, there are no foreseeable consequences to this new and growing policy. The country stomached the financial implications of the first and will surely be complacent about this as well. It is only an evolutionary addition to Uganda’s many electoral policies.

I think that we can find feasible solutions to our political inequities after conceding that we lack democratic institutions proper. Uganda’s history bears all the signs; it is not a country built for popular democracy. One that has the army decides what’s best for the country. It has never been any other way. It does not matter if all eligible Ugandans were willing to vote, the goal posts can be moved to alter who is eligible.

This country is the motherland of dictatorial democracy; always has been! If we deny this truth, we are bound to keep hopeless hope to the ends of time!

This time, the EC was edged out of silence and expressed dissatisfaction through the aforementioned letter. The first police commentary on the letter was made by Fred Enanga who acknowledged receipt of the same.

On the 27^th of November, the IGP wrote back to the EC requiring details of those candidates who were claiming to have been blocked from accessing their venues. The reason he gave for this was “to be in a position to make specific response to the allegations once the particulars are made known” to them.

He further noted that the police had done its best to restrain candidates from staging rallies which could have risked the lives of citizens. They did this in consideration of the Covid19 pandemic. A noble thing indeed! It’s also an explanatory aid for several actions by the police. Whereas the EC, the public and the candidates were unaware, the police had not forgotten its primary role in this campaign; blocking candidates from accessing venues to deter mass gatherings.

One may sense that the IGP is very proud of the role his command has played in the campaigns so far. It is fathomable that he would, in the same measure and spirit, be aware of police operations. He would be aware of those candidates that have been the proverbial thorn in his side. Those candidates who the police have, on several occasions, encountered with the intention of holding mass gatherings.

Yet, the police boss seems not to be as enthusiastic about records keeping as he is about executing blockades. In any case, he claimed not to know who these candidates whose freedoms have been so violated are. For that reason, we should not expect to see substantial change in the manner in which police operates. At least, not until the EC has notified the IGP of who the mysterious claimants are.

Of course, as one may expect, the police by its nature is impartial and indifferent. Similar to the nature of courts which bars them from making judgments based on facts not presented to them during proceedings. Simply, it doesn’t matter that something, though not substantiated, is public knowledge. As such, the police cannot be expected to act off of unknown reports and media coverage, which the EC cited in the letter.

Meanwhile, Justice Simon Byabakama has met with Presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi to discuss the prevalent problem of violence. He had requested to meet with the Chairperson and members of the EC to make a presentation on issues concerning the conduct of Presidential campaigns. The EC granted the request and a meeting scheduled for this morning. He attended it in accompaniment of NUP officials.

As we wait for the outcome of this meeting, perhaps the IGP may take a hint at who is claiming police unfairness! Police ought to end the habit of playing fools to fool the public. This nosense of ‘order from above’ is not valid authority. Who on earth is this ‘above’?

It is apparent from the IGP’s reply that the police is not phased by the EC caution. One thing’s for sure; although the EC is mandated to issue electoral guidelines and ensure that they are followed and enforced correctly, it is not the ‘above’ in this context. Though, by all intents and purposes, it should be!

What followed his arrest would cost over fifty Ugandan lives at the hands of merciless unprompted shootings at people. Truly, shooting recklessly at people was unprompted. One holding a gun cannot claim to have been threatened by another armed with a stone. Discharging the firearm in such a situation amounts to disproportional force.

The police alleged that Kyagulanyi was failing to observe and adhere to the SOPs that were issued by the Ministry of Health. Nonetheless, it was not made clear whether the police would act against similar violations in other camps, especially the NRM camp.

It was clear, however, that it seemed not to matter if one was observing the SOPs in a harmonised campaign programme. Police would interfere with any opposition candidate at the slightest cause they could fancy.

After his release, Bobi Wine tried to incorporate using media to reach out to voters. He would pay to book a time slot with a station or channel yet, he would hardly be allowed by police personnel to utilise the platform. A radio station reported that Bobi Wine had, for a third time, been interfered with by Police after following the right procedures to book air-time with them.

This was not new! Before he had started mass rallies, Bobi Wine had, on numerous occasions, attempted to use media as a platform for his campaign. This campaign method was often frustrated by police personnel who sought to block him from accessing the media premises.

The same was encountered with a blockade of police and army personnel at a Hotel in which he had booked rooms for accommodating his team. Whatever, the cause of this blockade was, it never became public knowledge. The public were reminded of the 2018 Arua saga.

Aside from Bobi Wine whose campaign trail and activities have dominated the national political stage, Amuriat has faced similar challenges with the police force. He was also arrested for police allegations similar to those trumped up against Kyagulanyi.

All this queer conduct of business by police solicited comments from the EC, a body that has often distanced itself from such executive decisions. In a letter to IGP Okoth Ochola, the EC Chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama reminded the police boss of the candidates’ rights during this campaign period.

The EC mentioned complaints from the Presidential candidates and media coverage of the Police blocking candidates from accessing venues. The police was reminded not to intervene with candidates that followed the harmonised campaign programme. Justice Byabakama also reminded the IGP of the a copy of the harmonised campaign programme schedule that must have been received by Uganda Police because the same was duly forwarded.

Further, it was made known to the IGP that the police has a duty to ensure that the electoral activity takes place in a peaceful manner and in accordance with the law and guidelines. He was also urged to ensure the smooth actualization of the electoral process. Simply, he, or at least the force he commands, must drop the illiterate and ignorant based modus operandi. It must not be an agent of aggravation!

The police spokesperson, Fred Enanga, duly notified the EC that the letter was received and taken under advisement. For matters of clarity, that is how polite people say ‘Mind your bloody business’!

Truly, the police will still brutalise the public at any opportunity that avails itself. Of course, they will create justifications for it, with the help of the President. A murderous government will rarely fail to rationalise brutality. In those very rare circumstances where all logic fails and police actions cannot be rationalised, we can count on Fred Enanga to argue an apology!

In the plea presented by the Chairman of Bar Owner’s Association, Gheratgu Tesfalem, a pledge is made to adhere to the Standard Operating Procedures issued by the Ministry of Health. However, how viable is this pledge?

First, let’s consider the nature of SOP’s and the modus operandi of a bar. Some of these SOP’s would make the operation of a bar incomprehensible if they are to be followed. I’ll consider the basic SOP that would affect the nature of business in a bar and perhaps the reason people love them.

The 2mtr social distance rule! Before any further considerations are made, first note that this SOP has been violated around all corners of the country. Perhaps even in the NRM, only Y.K. Museveni adheres to it; as we may see from other party members’ campaigns that they’ve never heard of such a thing as social distancing. I digress! The issue is that observing such an SOP would be rendered impossible – in honesty only improbable – by the nature of a bar environment.

Consider first that people who frequent bars are not there for the beer per se. They are there for the company – sometimes intimate – of peers. For them, the desire of being out in a bar is slain by the requirement to conduct themselves in a manner akin to courtship in the African Traditional Society.

Rather stay home than ‘enjoy’ the dead ambience of a bar. Perhaps I should note that some bars, if not most, have restaurants in them; these were opened up months back. On this end of it, these are making something, albeit peanuts compared to their true income.

Further, the bar clientele is not one to fear for their lives, especially after a great deal of support has been evinced through the magnanimous purchase and consumption of the bar-renown commodity.

At such a time, as any person that’s been around one whose mind is inundated in liquor knows, these people know themselves to be the Solomons of the latter day. They know what’s good for the universe and have the most impressive ideas of how to achieve it. These crowds are uncontrollable. It is due to this that the possibility of observing social distance becomes inconceivable.

As for the other SOP’s, if we disregard the incorrigibility of a reasonably drunk human, they are achievable. I need not delve into them lest I digress a second time.

A Twitter user – @PatriqKanyomozi – noted, when the President alluded to bars remaining closed, that perhaps the bars he’d referred to were bars of soap; seeing as the others had already resumed operation in incognito mode.

Nonetheless, as I blindly regard that to be conjecture and not factual, I’ll come to the heart of the matter; is it viable to open up bars? I think, to conclude on this, I’ll consider other sectors of the economy that have been opened for operation.

The arcades are some of the areas one may consider when they think of a bar, with regard to environment. The congestion in those downtown areas reflects a presumable inexistence of Covid19.

For business owners in those areas, there is no such thing as the ‘new normal’! When one observes keenly, it may seem that the people are not well versed with how a mask should be effectively used. You see, they use the masks to cover their chins instead of the mouths and noses. That area is a hotspot for spreading the virus, yet it has been operating for many months now.

The markets are not any better. They involve more bodily contact than you’ll see in any other area; at least the few that I’ve been to since the loosening of the restrictions.

I’ll cut to the chase. The only businesses that are adhering, as strictly as is managable, to the SOP’s are high-end businesses. To paint it clearer, I’m talking of bank halls, shopping malls and businesses in which government has an interest.

I do not think that the bar environment is capable of observing SOP’s; there is no need to be dishonest about it! However, is this a justifiable cause to keep them closed? It has been shown that most businesses are not observing SOP’s and these have not been shut down for it. Heck, the NRM campaigners are some of the biggest violators of these SOP’s; doing so with an enviable edge of arrogance.

Also, it is important to view bars in light of their proprietors. Bars are not a one-dimensional aspect of the economy. As I have noted at the beginning, these accumulate, in totality, an enviable sum of UGX.2.1Tn annually. There are beneficiaries, aside from government, of this sum.

Bar owners, as any other business proprietor, have families to feed and children to educate. They have relatives for whom they have been breadwinners. Some of these relatives need that money more than ever in consideration of the days they’ve spent without income. Their premises also have to be paid for, just as any other business. Like the teachers, they need to regain their ability to earn.

When one considers that the cumulative figure of Covid19 infections stands at nearly 16,000 people with close to 5,000 active cases, the President’s failure to act on this reflects a kind of resignation. He seems to have taken up Magufuli’s concept.

I am not an expert adviser! Nevertheless, I find that given the circumstances and undeniable state of affairs regarding the open businesses, there is no justifiable cause for protracting the closure of bars. It seems, to my meagre understanding, that either the economy should be fully open or, restrictions should be equally and equitably applied.

I ask not to be misconstrued! I do not say that it is right for bars to be opened. Yet, I think that because other sectors have been opened, bar owners are struggling with keeping afloat. This is more so in light of their landlords and their insatiable appetites. Such facts have placed bar owners in a position that requires them to be operational. They need the income.

Perhaps, the President should consider the recommendation of one of his envied advisers, Bebe Cool. The curfew should be extended to mid-night and bars should be allowed to operate till then. Bars are not autonomous economic persons, they are managed by people who must make ends meet.