16th March 2021
MUSEVENI HOSTED THE COMMONWEALTH SECRETARY-GENERAL 

I find it disturbing that the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Rt. Hon. Patricia Scotland QC, chose to visit Museveni at a time of such unrest in Uganda when there is so much evidence of irregularities in the Presidential Election compounded by intimidation, as well as daily abductions, unlawful detentions, torture and extrajudicial killings, which Bobi Wine (NUP Opposition Leader) and his supporters are being subjected to.

It was said to be a courtesy call to praise Museveni for his handling of the COVID pandemic. But she failed to take advantage of being in Uganda, only 3 months ahead of CHOGM*, to make a courtesy call on Bobi Wine.

It was reported that they “also discussed a wide range of issues among which were the strategies laid down by the Commonwealth towards the implementation of the proposed tool kits covering economic, social and infrastructure sectors in the entity’s member countries. Ms Scotland informed Mr Museveni that opportunities to support the youth in the area of employment, innovations and creativity are available at the Commonwealth. Mr Museveni asked her to support Uganda with technical consultancy on research, medical and ICT sectors. The meeting was attended by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Hon Sam Kutesa and the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hon Henry Okello Oryem among others.”

 

19th March 2021
ITALY IS SUPPORTING MUSEVENI’S MILITARY REGIME 

Special Forces Commander (SFC), Lt. Gen Muhoozi [Museveni’s son], has hailed Uganda’s strong ties with Italy. He made the remarks at a dinner he held on Friday evening (19th March) at the SFC Club for the Italian Ambassador to Uganda, Massimiliano Mazzanti. “I thank Mazzanti for his true friendship and goodwill for Uganda,” said Muhoozi in a Tweet on Sat 20th March.

This is the third time they have met in less than two years. The two had met at Mazzanti’s residence in Kololo in August 2020 and at the SFC HQ in January 2020. Officials reported that the two “discussed Uganda-Italy relations, especially the forthcoming defence and security undertakings.” [I don’t know what this is referring to, but it sounds ominous.]

Although the value of the Italian direct investments (joint ventures, investments and acquisitions) in Uganda is still limited, Italian diplomats say Uganda’s political and economic indicators appear, at the moment, particularly promising for the Italian companies. The trade exchange between Italy and Uganda has been growing steadily in recent years. (Chimp Report)

Such meetings by international leaders serve to bolster Museveni and give him credibility, thereby undermining the work of organisations and other countries concerned about the political repression and unacceptable daily abductions, torture and extrajudicial killings.

UGANDAN LIVES MATTER: UN, UK, USA, AU – WHERE ARE YOU?                                       A good question. Italy is a member of the EU which has already made decisions about sanctions, so why is Italy acting independently and undermining the EU’s position on Uganda?

 

MUSEVENI WARNS ABOUT THE SWEARING IN CEREMONY on May 12th                   

In an ominous warning, Museveni has reportedly said that “the security forces will deal with whoever plans to disrupt the swearing in to deny him another 5-year term.”

“The opposition have been again planning that they will stop the swearing in of the President, they won’t. Because anyone who is planning that, it’s criminal. The security forces will go for him or her. They plan all sorts of crazy things, including killing the opposition people themselves so that they say it is Government which has killed the people of the opposition. These are the schemes they go on hatching.” (Chimp report)

The Washington Post has a weekly report on Uganda

*CHOGM (pronounced Choggum) is the biennial Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting which starts on 21st June 2021 in Rwanda.