Monday 24 October 2011

Stand with Uganda's Democracy and Human Rights Activists


CRACKDOWN ON UGANDAN ACTIVISTS
When Walking To Work Became A Crime Of TREASON

Anne Mugisha, for A4C
10/24/2011


An Appeal to human rights activists, human rights defenders, global citizens, civil society and free societies to stand up for democracy and human rights activists in Uganda



EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Activists for Change (A4C) is a non-partisan pressure group that uses nonviolent, peaceful action to hold the Uganda government accountable for its policies.  It was launched on April 7th 2011 in Kampala, Uganda by democracy and human rights activists to highlight the deepening economic crisis in the country and how it impacted on ordinary working class Ugandans.  Our mission is to foster peaceful change, in the management of public affairs of Uganda using nonviolent action to compel leaders at all levels to exercise sensitivity and compassion in the allocation of scarce and hard-earned resources.

On October 13, 2011, Activists for Change announced a ‘Walk to Work Week’ starting Monday 17th 2011.  Activists from across the nation were mobilized to focus the attention of policy makers on the intensifying economic hardship caused by inflation, escalating cost of living and wastage of public resources.  The campaign’s aim was to highlight two pressing issues of the day: the economic crisis and corruption.
Government responded to the appeal for austerity measures with arrogant denial and a crackdown reserved for terrorists and rebels. On the eve of Walk to Work Week, security personnel arrested activists as they mobilized people in their localities or during the night as they returned to their homes.   The pretext for the crackdown was that the campaign would disrupt schools where students were starting final exams.  On the second day of the campaign, the Inspector General of Police publicly alleged that he had audio evidence that the campaign’s goal was to unlawfully overthrow the government of Uganda.  

Based on these unfounded allegations, specific activists were targeted for the harshest measures so that others might be frightened into silence.  The arrests were brutal and inhumane across the country and a number of activists sustained injuries during their arrest.  They have since been charged with serious offenses including assault, incitement to violence, concealment of treason and treason.  Government interfered with the independence of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the judiciary to ensure that serious charges were proffered against activists or that courts set excessive cash bail terms; as a back door means of enabling an ongoing presidential push for a constitutional amendment to deny activists bail and to keep them in detention for lengthy periods without trial.  

Activist for Change has made the following demands and calls on all peace loving Ugandans and global citizens to add their voices towards realization of these demands:
1.                   The immediate and unconditional release of all activists who are unlawfully detained in police stations around the country
2.                   The unconditional dropping of all charges against activists including the ludicrous treason charges and the immediate release of remanded activists.
3.                   An immediate end to the ‘preventive arrest’ and siege at Dr. Kizza Besigye’s home by security forces.
4.                   Government’s commitment to respecting and guaranteeing all Ugandans’ rights and freedoms including freedom of movement and freedom of association.


WALK TO WORK CAMPAIGN
In April 2011, A4C launched its first Walk to Work campaign in which middle class Ugandans parked their cars and joined an increasing number of working class Ugandans who walk to work daily.  The campaign’s objective was to focus government’s attention on escalating fuel and food prices, abuse and squander of public funds as well as corruption; which were hurting the welfare of ordinary Ugandans.  Government’s response was a crackdown on A4C activists by the military, police and security forces that ended with at least nine people dead, including a 2 year old baby; hundreds of activists injured and hundreds more in jails on trumped up charges of incitement to violence and unlawful assembly.  All these charges were later dismissed by court. 
Kizza Besigye an opposition leader was brutally arrested for participating in the Walk to Work campaign and nearly blinded with pepper spray – leading to two days of riots by his angry supporters. 

Every single A4C campaign activity since April has been disrupted by security personnel who have ‘orders from above’ to ensure that such activities do not lead to a show of ‘people power’ and regime change.

Baby Juliana Nalwanga (2) was shot dead by security personnel during the April 2011 Walk to Work campaign

WALK TO WORK WEEK
On October 13, 2011, Activists for Change announced a ‘Walk to Work Week’ starting Monday 17th 2011.  Activists from across the nation were mobilized to focus the attention of policy makers on the intensifying economic hardship caused by inflation, escalating cost of living and wastage of public resources.  The campaign’s aim was to highlight two of the most pressing issues of the day: the economic crisis and corruption.

When A4C started its campaigns in April 2011, the annual inflation rate was at 14.1 per cent; by end of September 2011 it had doubled to 28.3 per cent.[i] The shilling had depreciated to an all-time low and was trading at UGX 2850 to one US dollar[ii] from UGX 2170 to the US dollar last April.   Yet to date government has made no adjustment to the salaries of teachers, workers and other public servants to cater for inflation.  The purchasing power of middle class Ugandans and workers has diminished drastically yet the increase in cost of essential commodities like household goods, fuel, health care and education keeps escalating.  In April petrol was UGX 3,400= per liter, it is now UGX 3,900=.  Sugar was UGX 2,800/- a kilo, now it is UGX 6,000/=; charcoal, the main cooking fuel for the working class; was UGX 25,000/= a sack, now it is UGX 75,000/=.  Unemployment among the youth is at 83%.  

Government responded to the appeal for austerity measures with arrogant denial and chose instead to brand those who speak up as ‘terrorists.’  Shortly before the launch of the campaign the Inspector General of Police tried to link A4C to terrorism by falsely alleging in a public statement that A4C activists had taken some youth to Afghanistan to be trained in terror tactics by the Taliban and Al Qaeda.  The allegations were ridiculed by the public and soon lost traction.

Police and security forces were however determined to stop the exercise and on the eve of the Walk to Work Week, they moved into action with an operation in which several activists were arrested as they mobilized people in their localities or during the night as they returned to their homes.   The pretext for the crackdown was that the campaign would disrupt schools where students were starting final exams. 

TREASON
On the second day of the campaign, the Inspector General of Police publicly alleged that he had audio evidence that the campaign was intended to unlawfully overthrow the government of Uganda.  He also publicly stated that the planned rally at the end of the campaign Week was meant to create a ‘Tahrir Square’ at Kololo Independence Grounds.  Based on these unfounded allegations, specific activists were targeted for the harshest measures so that others might be frightened into silence.  

The arrests were conducted in a brutal and inhumane manner  across the country and a number of activists sustained injuries during their arrest.

A number of activists have since been charged with an array of charges including assault, incitement to violence, concealment of treason and treason.  Government interfered with the independence of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the judiciary to ensure that serious charges were proffered against activists or cash terms for bail were excessively high; as a back door means of enabling an ongoing presidential push for a constitutional amendment to deny activists bail and to keep them in jail for lengthy periods at a time. 
Dr. Kizza Besigye was singled out for preventive arrest based on an archaic law from colonial times which conveniently leaves him under house arrest until the police is confident that he will not walk to work.  His farm has been cordoned off by military and police officers since October 18th 2011 when he attempted to walk to work. 

The following is a summary of those who are known to have been arrested between October 16th 2011 and October 24th 2011. 
In Kasangati: Dr. Kizza Besigye, president of FDC, is under preventive arrest and his house has been besieged by military and police personnel.  He has been denied exit from his premises for one week. On Tuesday October 18th, 2011, Dr. Kizza Besigye aides Moses Byamugisha, Julius Amanya and Fred Kato were arrested and charged with assaulting a police officer.  They were remanded to Luzira prison for a couple of days as they sought to raise cash bail of UGX 300,000/=, 200,000 and 300,000/= respectively.  The three were returned to court and released on cash bail.  An attempt to rearrest them at the court was foiled by leading opposition politicians.

In Kampala: Mutagubya Alan a Makerere University student was arrested on Sunday October 16th, 2011 and detained at Jinja Road Police station.  He was released on police bond after a couple of days when Makerere students threatened to stage a demonstration at the station.  We have not established whether he was charged with any offence.  

On Wednesday October 19th 2011, Mugumya Sam, Mwijukye Francis and Ingrid Turinawe were charged with treason.  Mugumya Sam and Mwijukye Francis had been arrested and detained at Jinja Road station on Sunday 16th October, 2011.  They were remanded to Luzira prison because Magistrates courts in Uganda are not empowered by law to take a plea for capital offenses.  The High Court will hear their pleas and application for bail at a future date yet to be established.  In Uganda treason carries the death sentence.  A warrant of arrest was issued for Ingrid Turinawe and she was finally arrested on October 24th, 2011 in Kasangati and moved to Jinja Road police station for detention the same day.  

Kirunda Hassan, Sebandeke Shafic, Mutesa Ziyadi, Walakira Matthew, Jenny Lubega, Nakabugo Farida, Rajab Kaaya and Asiimwe Peace were arrested on Sunday October 16th 2011 and detained at Jinja Road Police Station.  They were released on police bond On Thursday October 20th, 2011, even though some of them were charged with treason; and ordered to report to police on a daily basis for an undetermined period.  Among this group of suspects were those who went to Jinja Road police station to deliver food to their detained colleagues only to be arrested.

Robert Mayanja, Matthew Walakira and Tony Sempebwa were charged with concealment of treason on Friday October 21st 2011 and remanded to Luzira because the Chief Magistrate was not available to hear a bail application.  They were produced in court on Monday 24th October, 2011 and granted bail.
Fiona Busingye was arrested on Sunday October 16th, 2011 and detained at Kira Road Police station.  On Thursday October 20th, 2011, she was produced in court charged with incitement to violence and released on a non cash bail. 

All detainees arrested in Kampala with the exception of Ingrid Turinawe and Mutagubya Alan were unlawfully detained beyond the 48 hours within which the law requires that detainees be charged in a court of law. 
 
In Ntungamo:  Aloysius Twiine, Mugizi Dennis, Sanga Julius, Alice Kafooda, Benon Nuwagira, and Justus Muhwezi were arrested in Ntungamo town as they walked to work on Monday October 17th 2011.  They were detained at the police station beyond the mandatory 48 hours and were produced in court on Friday October 21st, 2011, where they were released on noncash bail – Charges are not yet known.

In Mbarara: Yasin Masiko and a second man (not yet identified) were arrested on Sunday 16th October 2011 while Imam Makumbi, was arrested while walking to work on October 17th 2011 in Mbarara town.  They were released on noncash bail on Tuesday October 18th 2011.
And on Thursday October 20th, 2011, Malice Bainomugisha and Vincent Mugisha were brutally attacked and beaten by security personnel during their arrest as they walked in a procession that was protesting Kizza Besigye’s house arrest.  They were released on police bond on Friday October 21st and have not yet been taken to court.

In Bushenyi: Guma Gumisiriza, Mukama David, Besigye Robert, Tugume Amon, Baineki A Mustapha, Ninsiima Christine, Twambure Rosemary and Ibrahim Baryamujura and;
In Kabwohe: Sulaiman Kasule, Abdu Kivumbi Kyeyune, Rashid Kawesi and Henry Kahangire Byamukama were arrested on Monday October 17th, 2011. On Thursday October 20th 2011, lawyers secured an order for the release of all 12 detainees – having been detained without being charged for over 48 hours.  Later the same day they were charged with incitement to violence an offence which required an order from a senior magistrate.  On Friday they were remanded to Nyamushkyera prison and their case comes up for hearing on Tuesday October 25th, 2011.

In Isingiro: Yasin Abdu Karim and Bafaki Deo were arrested on Monday October 17th, 2011.  They were denied meals on their first night of custody.  They were moved to Mbarara police station and back to Isingiro but were not taken to court until Friday October 21st, 2011.  Their charges and current status of detention/liberty are not yet known.  However they were detained beyond 48 hours without appearing before any court.

In Hoima: Dan Tumwesigye, Kato Ronald, Muhumuza Ibra, and Muzamiro were arrested on Monday October 17th, 2011 and detained for longer the mandatory 48 hours without charge.  They appeared in court on Friday October 21st, 2011 and were charged with participating in an illegal assembly, but were remanded to prison for lack of cash bail of 500,000/= each.

In Busia - Ojiambo Peter Lwande, Idi Kibaki, Uayima, and fourth person (not yet identified) were arrested on Monday October 17th, 2011 and detained for longer the mandatory 48 hours without charge.  They were charged (charges unknown) on Friday October 21st, 2011 and remanded to Musafu prison for lack of cash bail of 2,000,000/= each. 

In Mubende and Rukungiri, those arrested on Sunday October 16th 2011 were released on police bond but their charges included treason.

We are still receiving reports of activists detained around the country. 

Recommendations
Activist for Change has made the following demands and calls on all peace loving Ugandans and global citizens to add their voices towards realization of these demands:
1.       The immediate and unconditional release of all activists who are unlawfully detained in police stations around the country
2.       The unconditional dropping of all charges against activists including the ludicrous treason charges and the immediate release of remanded activists.
3.       An immediate end to the ‘preventive arrest’ and siege at Dr. Kizza Besigye’s home by security forces.
4.       Government’s commitment to respecting and guaranteeing all Ugandans’ rights and freedoms including freedom of movement and freedom of association.



[i] Source http://af.reuters.com/article/investingNews/idAFJOE78T06J20110930
[ii] http://www.exchangerates.org.uk/USD-UGX-exchange-rate-history.html

Friday 21 October 2011

A4C Press Release, October 21, 2011 - Free the Walkers

A4C PRESS RELEASE
AT KAMPALA, October 21st 2011

Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press,

We have invited you here once again to address issues arising out of the Walk to Work Week.  In the last few days the government has showed the extent to which it is determined to go to restrict our rights and freedoms.  We have been labeled terrorists and accused of treason.  There has been a complete disregard of our human rights and the rule of law has been thrown out the window.  Government has put aside all pretenses at civility and bared its knuckles, targeting activists in the harshest way.
The government has used scare tactics to try and intimidate the public into quiet submission.  Specific activists were targeted for the harshest measures so that others might be frightened into silence.  Yet even in the midst of the chaotic disruption of our peaceful activities there are those who remain resolute and determined to carry on with the campaign to the very end.  We shall not let them down.
But first we would like to condemn in the strongest terms the brutal arrests and inhumane treatment of activists around the country.  In Mbarara town yesterday morning, a procession of activists was brutally attacked by security forces as they peacefully protested the house arrest of Dr. Kizza Besigye.  Police and LDU’s descended on Vincent Musiime and Bainomugisha Malice with knives and stones inflicting serious injuries on them during their arrest.  They were detained at the police station and denied medical attention until their fellow activists intervened.  Moses Byamugisha, Julius Amanya and Fred Kato who were arrested alongside Dr. Kizza Besigye in Kasangati on Tuesday were similarly brutalized during arrest and Kato is suffering severe injuries on his neck and rib cage.  We are continuing to receive reports of police brutality against innocent people who are participating in the Walk to Work Week.
In Isingiro, activists Bahati Deo and Yasin Abdu Karim who have now been transferred to the Regional Police Office in Mbarara were denied food brought to them by their relatives.  Three people, Mr. Rajab Kaya, Faridah Nakabugo and Jenny Lubega  who tried to supply food to those detained at Jinja Road on Sunday  were also detained with the rest.  In Kabwohe and Bushenyi where a total of 13 activists were detained, our lawyers filed an application for an order for their release after their were held for more than the mandatory 48 hours without arraignment and by last evening they could not find a magistrate to hear the cases.  At Kiira Road police station in Kampala Fiona Busingye unlawfully detained beyond 48 hours in police stations without arraignment.  This unlawful detention happened also in Ntungamo, Hoima, Busia and Mbarara.  At Nakawa court our colleagues Francis Mwijukye, Sam Mugumya and Ingrid Turinawe were charged with treason for successfully coordinating a country wide walk to work campaign.  In Kasangati, Kizza Besigye was placed under house arrest and remained closely guarded by the military, anti-riot police and an array of plain clothes police officers.  In Nangabo, Kasangati  an LC Chairman and a lady known as Jane were taken from their homes by security operatives at night and their whereabouts are unknown.  Several activists were unlawfully detained for 4 – 5 days in police cells at Jinja Road Police station.  They were released without any charges and are preparing to sue the Attorney General and Inspector General of Police for unlawful detention. 

We condemn in the strongest terms the police, military and security officers who have become a law unto themselves and use coercion to arbitrarily detain, torture, persecute and prosecute innocent citizens.
Today we are here to urgently make the following demands to the state:
1.       The immediate and unconditional release of all activists who are unlawfully detained in police stations around the country
2.       The unconditional dropping of all charges against activists including the ludicrous treason charges and the immediate release of remanded activists.
3.       An immediate end to the siege of Dr. Kizza Besigye’s house by security forces and to his house arrest and the guaranteeing of his and all activists’ freedoms of movement and association.
Activists around the country will continue to demonstrate peacefully even beyond the Walk to Work Week, until these conditions are met.

We have notified the Office of the President and Police of our intention to converge for a rally at Kololo Independence  Grounds for a rally tomorrow at 2pm and we would like to invite you all to join us there.

Hon. Mathias Mpuuga (MP)
National Coordinator (A4C)

Thursday 20 October 2011

From Dictatorship to Democracy, the Luganda Version

A small group of activists who connected through the Facebook Group 'Activists4Change' https://www.facebook.com/groups/activists4change/ have accomplished a small feat by volunteering their time and skills to complete an important project to promote democracy in Uganda.

The activists based in Uganda and abroad have completed translating Gene Sharp's seminal work 'From Dictatorship to Democracy' to a major Ugandan language - Luganda.  The same group is seeking support to work on translating the book into other major Ugandan languages.  The e-book is free and we encourage you to distribute it widely and make it available in schools and institutions of higher learning.  The original English Version of the book can be found here:

http://www.aeinstein.org/organizations/org/FDTD.pdf


I would like to applaud the efforts of the committed A4C activists who completed this translation.  A website is being created where you may access an electronic copy of the Luganda Version.  In the meantime I will be pleased to send the e-book as an attachment to your email Inbox if you request it via

activists4change@gmail.com

Together we can make a difference!

Anne Mugisha
A4C

Tuesday 18 October 2011

Press Release, Day 2 of Walk to Work Week, 18 October, 2011

PRESS RELEASE

AT KAMPALA, October 18th 2011


Let me start by thanking all of you who stepped out in the face of intimidation and threats from the highest office of this land to the lowliest security official and walked to work these past two days.  I know the tremendous courage it took to do the most ordinary and mundane of things: To walk to work.  Your cause for a better Uganda was almost lost in the noise of propaganda that followed our decision to declare the Walk to Work Week.  The panic caused by your commitment to change is testament to your courage and dedication. 
I would like to address some key concerns relating to the Walk to Work Week.  The first being the concern that children were doing exams and they would be disrupted by our activities.  We took this into due consideration, because parents’ failure to meet their children’s education needs has been at the center of our campaigns.  Yet the Inspector General of Police using a letter from a dubious group known as the Parent’s Brigade decided to clamp down on our rights.  The brigade alleged they had information that participants in Walk to Work intended to take cover in schools when pursued by anti-riot police.  It is very revealing that the IGP was willing to take action based on the word of this dubious Brigade.  It is also revealing that both the Police and the Brigade worked on the assumption that walking to work is a chaotic activity that attracts anti-riot police.


Activists For Change is a pressure group that is founded on the principle of nonviolent action.  Our activities are peaceful and we disassociate ourselves from any group that uses violent methods to achieve its objectives.  We decided to go ahead with our Walk to Work week because we were confident that we would conduct ourselves peacefully and because we were not prepared to concede our constitutional rights and freedoms.  But there was another reason why we went ahead.  In our past dealings with the Police, they have found any and every reason to frustrate our activities.  Since we launched A4C last April we have had to carry out our campaign in spite of the police and not because of their cooperation.  


The launch of A4C in April at Christ the King was disrupted and we had to quickly find an alternative venue at a hotel.  Our first activity, Walk to Work; was fought tooth and nail by government’s security and PR apparatus.  The government was jittery and imputed reasons to our actions that were borne of its fear of a peoples’ revolution.  We defied their illegal attempts to muzzle us and went ahead with the first phase of Walk to Work.  As a result they used disproportionate force to clamp down our activities causing death and injuries as well as bringing this country into international disrepute.  When we launched the ‘Light a Candle’ campaign to honor the dead, it ended with the staccato noise of gunfire that has become the unfortunate finale of A4C’s peaceful events.  Soon thereafter we tried to join North Africans to celebrate the fall of dictators and once again Police refused to grant us permission.  We were labeled terrorists in what is an obvious design to criminalize our peaceful group.
These past experiences were instructive to our decision to go ahead with the Walk to Work Week.  We realized that there would never be a ‘right time’ for A4C events.  There would always be an excuse to stop our activities.  Such government interventions to frustrate the work of activists for change everywhere are not surprising.  Martin Luther King famously said: "The time is always right to do what is right."  And  Samantha Booke, frustrated by segregated education system, not unlike the one we have here with UPE and Private schools said: "To share the same campus. To walk into the same classroom. Well, would you kindly tell me when that day is gonna come? Is it going to come tomorrow? Is it going to come next week? In a hundred years? Never? No, the time for justice, the time for freedom, and the time for equality, is always right now!"
A concern that is ours as activists is the abductions, detentions, illegal arrests and trumped up charges.  In two days of the campaign we already have over 50 people arrested across the country for an array of charges ranging from vagabond to treason; all because they walked or planned to walk to work.  On Sunday security agencies swung into action with a sting operation at Katonga Road where a meeting of activists was taking place.  Plain clothes security officials surrounded the offices and started picking activists who were leaving the meeting.  Alan Mutagubya, Martin Mayanja and their colleagues were bundled into a van and ‘disappeared.’  By Sunday evening a full scale panda gari operation was underway and we received SOS calls from Francis Mwijukye and Sam Mugumya saying they were picked up and did not know where they were being taken.  On Monday morning after discovering that activists were being held at Jinja Road Police station , Jenny Lubega and Nakabugo Farida took them water and food, only to be apprehended and kept behind bars!  Reports started coming in that activists who were walking to work were being arrested country wide.  

On Monday our lawyers saw the charge sheets of our colleagues at Jinja Road Police station that stated crimes of incitement to violence and unlawful assembly.  But today we learnt that the charges had been changed to treason.  We learnt also that the government is leaning on officers of the judiciary to proffer serious charges that will make it difficult to grant bail and if bail is  granted then stiff monetary conditions should be imposed.  This afternoon the Inspector General of Police released a statement to bolster the trumped up treason charges.  He claimed that Ingrid Turinawe chaired a meeting in which she told her ‘commanders’ to overthrow the government by stopping the movement of vehicles at Kisekka market!  If it were not such a serious offense with a death sentence hanging over our colleagues; we might even have found it hilarious.  In the space of three weeks we have been accused by the Inspector General of Police of crimes of terror and treason.  We appear to be the biggest threat that the government is dealing with right now and Kayihura’s determination to criminalize us has made him blind to the ludicrous nature of his allegations.  We would not be surprised if he tried to concoct evidence to support his absurd claims because the police is infamous for framing suspects and Kayihura’s allegations are regarded by most people with the deepest contempt.  They have not forgotten Elizabeth Kutesa a senior police officer who distinguished herself as a forger.

Police has the technology to tap our phones and record our conversations but it is interesting that Kayihura would withhold such information until ‘Walk to Work Week.’ And release it only after he was stuck with suspects without an appropriate charge!  Rather than call press conferences to spread lies and preempt the work of court, the police should play its role, which is to gather evidence and take it to court to be tested.  Yet when our colleagues appeared in Nakawa court for arraignment this evening, the court was unable to proceed because the Police file was ‘missing.’  Our colleagues have now been detained longer than the mandatory 48 hours before arraignment while police engages in PR and political gymnastics.

Ugandans and the world know that this government exists on a life support system which comprises the military and the police.  We are not afraid to repeat here that a government that represses its people loses its legitimacy and is not fit to rule.

We are only half way through the Walk to Work week, and the events of this week so far have given us much more reason to walk.  We therefore urge you to continue supporting the cause of economic justice and responsive government by walking to work every day this week.  As expected the Police has set conditions to make our rally in Kololo nearly impossible.  We are considering converging at an alternative venue which we shall communicate in due course.

For God and my Country!

Hon. Mathias Mpuuga (MP)
National Coordinator, A4C

Saturday 15 October 2011

Press Statement and letter to IGP on Exams during W2W Week

ACTIVISTS FOR CHANGE-(A4C)


PRESS STATEMENT
AT KAMPALA October, 15th 2001

WALK TO WORK WEEK: October 17th - 22nd 2001

Ladies and Gentlemen of the media,

We have called this special and urgent press conference to inform the public that we are aware that 'O – level' students will be beginning their exams on Monday 17th October, which coincides with the start of our ‘Walk to Work week.’  We are anxious to ensure that they start and complete their exams successfully.

Accordingly, we have written to the Inspector General of Police, reminding him that it will be in the interest of all concerned that law and order are observed strictly during the Walk to Work week.  We wish to assure the public that activists will only be engaged in walking from their places of residence to their places of work.  There will be no assemblies or rallies until Saturday October 22nd, 2011 when we will converge in Kololo for a rally.

We recall with regret the incidents during the last Walk to Work campaign, when police unleashed terror against innocent school children in classes and schools.  We urge the police to desist from using tear gas, rubber and live ammunition against walkers who will include students going to schools to sit their exams.  They are already under academic pressure and do not need the extra anxiety that may be caused by trigger-happy security officers. 

We encourage students to wake up early, walk to school and be part of the campaign for change. We urge members of the public to participate peacefully in this exercise and ensure that they observe law and order.  We reiterate that Activists for Change only organizes peaceful nonviolent activities. 

Hon Mathias Mpuuga (MP)
National Coordinator, A4C


LETTER TO IGP

ACTIVISTS FOR CHANGE-(A4C)


October 15, 2011

The Inspector General of Police
Police Headquarters
KAMPALA

Dear Sir,

We are writing to inform you that O – level students will be beginning their exams on Monday 17th October, which be the start of our ‘Walk to Work week.’  We are anxious to ensure that they start and complete their exams successfully. We recall with regret the incidents during the last Walk to Work campaign, when police unleashed terror against innocent school children in classes and schools.  We urge the police to desist from using tear gas, rubber and live ammunition against walkers who will include students going to schools to sit their exams.  They are already under academic pressure and do not need the extra anxiety that may be caused by trigger-happy security officers. 

We remind you that it is in the best interest of all concerned that law and order are observed strictly during the Walk to Work week.  We wish to assure you that activists will only be engaged in walking from their places of residence to their places of work.  There will be no assemblies or rallies until Saturday October 22nd, 2011 when we will converge in Kololo for a rally.

We reiterate that Activists for Change organizes peaceful nonviolent activities only and they remain peaceful until disrupted by rowdy security officers.  We look forward to your cooperation and a successful week of the walk to work campaign.

Hon. Mathias Mpuuga (MP)
National Coordinator, A4C

Thursday 13 October 2011

A4C Launches 'Walk to Work Week'

Press Release

AT Kampala, October 13th 2011, Ladies and Gentlemen of the media

We have declared next week starting Monday 17th 2011, a ‘Walk to Work Week.’  Activists from across the nation will once again be walking in a campaign to focus the attention of policy makers on the intensifying economic hardship caused by inflation, escalating cost of living and wastage of public resources.  The campaign aims to highlight the two most pressing issues of the day: the economic crisis and corruption. The economy is in crisis, with soaring inflation, escalating unemployment, and rising fuel and food prices.  It is becoming harder and harder for Ugandans to feed their children and provide for their good health and education.  Meantime we are overwhelmed with scandal after scandal of unmitigated loss of public resources through government’s negligence and outright theft by public officials.

When we started protesting in April 2011, the annual inflation rate was at 14.1 per cent, it is now at 28.3 per cent. The shilling has depreciated to an all-time low and is now trading at UGX 2850 to one US dollar from UGX 2170 to the US dollar last April.   Yet as you know there has been no adjustment in the salaries for workers to cater for inflation.  The purchasing power for middle class Ugandans and workers has diminished drastically yet the increase in cost of essential commodities like household goods, fuel, health care and education is unrelenting.  In April petrol was UGX 3,400= per liter, it now goes for UGX 3,900=.  Sugar was UGX 2,800/- a kilo, now it is UGX 6,000/=; charcoal was UGX 25,000/= a sack, now it is UGX 75,000/=. 

Government has responded to our appeal for austerity measures with arrogant denial of the harsh economic reality.  It has chosen instead to brand those of us who speak up as ‘terrorists.’  There have been no serious policy interventions that match the seriousness of the current economic situation.  The cosmetic attempts at lowering taxes on kerosene and sugar in the 2011/12 budget have had no impact on escalating food and fuel prices. 

As Ugandans struggle to keep up with the rising cost of living they learn of billions of shillings lost in shoddy government contracts every day.  Parliament has helped to expose serious fraud, embezzlement and bribery among senior members of the government.  Taxpayer’s money is stolen and it ends up in private accounts of government officials and in their bedrooms. When teachers went on strike for increased salaries, government’s response was that there is no money, but a week later Parliament was presented with a supplementary budget of 190 billion for State House and soon thereafter, billions of shillings went missing from State House vaults! 

Government continues to encroach on taxpayers resources through secretive deals like the sale of shares in Kinyara Sugar Works and oil deals whose magnitude we are yet to fully grasp.  We pay special tribute to those who have worked tirelessly to expose the rot in government.  Government’s attempt to whitewash corruption and wastage through selective prosecution and resignations of senior cabinet members, is ineffective and an affront to the people of this nation.  The President has stated that he has had complete oversight of all oil contracts and we demand a thorough and open investigation of the President and his Cabinet in the oil-gate scandal.  The Prime Minister should follow the cue of his colleagues and resign immediately.  In fact the whole Cabinet should resign because we are not convinced that this government can lead the fight against corruption.

Our appeal to you, the media, is that you speak up loudly and clearly when we resume the Walk to Work campaign this month.  Your voices will strengthen advocacy for the ordinary people of Uganda who are robbed in daylight as they struggle to cope with the economic crisis. We invite the public to participate in the campaign and show solidarity with the increasing number of people who walk to work every day; people who can barely afford a meal a day or health care and education for their children even as billions of shillings are being siphoned by conmen from public coffers into foreign accounts.  For a long time, our patience and tolerance have been abused and mistaken for weakness.  Let us take seven days to peacefully demonstrate our outrage at the gross mismanagement of our country.  We urge you to park your vehicles and boda bodas every day starting Monday for a week and walk to work and to worship. 

Thank you for supporting the cause for economic justice and responsive government. 

Sincerely,

Hon. Mathias Mpuuga (MP)
National Coordinator, A4C

Tuesday 11 October 2011

Invitation to Launch Event - W2W Phase II

ACTIVISTS FOR CHANGE(A4C)

Invitation
Activists for Change (A4C) is a non-partisan pressure group that uses nonviolent, peaceful actions to hold government accountable for its policies and actions
We are writing to invite you to an event to launch our next campaign against rising cost of living, inflation and wastage of public resources.  The peaceful activities that we will engage in, will address the two most pressing issues today: the economic crisis and corruption. The economy is in crisis, with rising inflation, escalating unemployment, and soaring fuel and food prices.  It is becoming harder and harder for Ugandans to feed their children and provide for their good health and education.  Yet as we struggle to keep up with the escalating cost of living we also learn of billions of shillings lost in shoddy government contracts every day. 
The event will take place at Christ the King Cardinal  Wamala hall, on Thursday 13th October, 2011 at 11am.
A calendar of our activities will be released to the public at the same function.
Your presence will be highly appreciated.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Hon. Mathias Mpuuga (MP)
National Coordinator, A4C
RSVP