Museveni runs Uganda from his Kitchen
By Lawrence Kasozi – 12th-18th July 2010
First I want to thank the proprietors of Uganda Correspondent for giving Ugandans what I think is a very good platform for constructive debate. I would therefore like to use this platform to comment on the article “NRM govt hits back at Ogole and UPC” in which Mr Ofwono Opondo, the NRM Deputy Spokesperson and Head of the NRM Communication Bureau challenged Ogole’s claims. I do not know Mr Ofwono Opondo personally but by the look of his photo, he appears to be a learned young man who most likely has his origins in Tororo-Eastern Uganda.
I have read many of Ofwono Opondo’s utterance but I have failed to work out what exactly makes him risk his reputation defending Museveni at all costs. Opondo, as usual, claims that the NRM waged a just war against the UPC government that rigged the 1980 elections and committed many atrocities in Uganda. And because Col. Ogole was part of that UPC government, he is a “wanted man”. He further claims that if Ogole is not guilty, then he should come back to Uganda as Olara Otunu and others did.
I find it extremely disturbing that Ofwono in his own wisdom as a true Ugandan has failed to see the fact that in each of the accusations he levelled against the UPC government and Ogole as an individual, the NRM government that he serves has surpassed the UPC government almost 100%.
In the case of rigging elections, Museveni has not only rigged elections but turned the Electoral Commission into his private institution that he dictates to. Museveni changed the constitution twice to fit his political desires. There have been many suspicious deaths under Museveni government and I think it is only a matter of time before the Republic of Uganda asks him to explain himself in a court of law over the deaths of people like Andrew Kayira, Gen. Kazini, Brig. Opon-Acak and many others.
Something horribly inhuman, perhaps money, has clouded Ofwono Opondo’s mind to the extent that he can’t see the glaring fact that Uganda, our country, is run from Museveni’s kitchen. His wife, brothers, children, and close relatives form the core of the Ugandan state. How can that be right? Museveni rules the country with the sword-of-demacle.
He started by confiscating peoples hard earned savings by slashing three zeros from their savings. Then some people dressed like our brothers the Karimojong [who I don’t believe were real Karimojong] went through Tororo, Teso and northern Uganda armed with sophisticated new weapons and collected cattle and all domestic animals which were the source of livelihood for the peasants in those areas.
This was followed by a swoop on civilians from those areas; many were left dead in the process. The North and East have suffered atrocities of genocidal proportions under Museveni’s rule and the IDP camps are a permanent reminder of that genocide. Innocent people were herded into train wagons at Mukura and burnt to death not far from Ofwono’s home. Perhaps Ofwono Opondo would like to tell Ugandan’s who introduced the “kandoya” torture methods to Uganda. Who introduced the torture places called “safe houses” to Uganda?
Whose soldiers shot and killed Baganda youths in cold blood during the recent Kayunga and Kasubi incidents? Did UPC ever beat up ex-DP President Dr. Paul Ssemwogere the way Museveni’s militarised police force working with the “Kiboko Squad” hooligans beat up Dr. Kizza Besigye? Whose party members called the Baganda “political condoms” and northerners “biological substances”? Mr Ofwono Opondo, make no mistake: The whole world has been watching and sooner or later, Museveni will find himself before a court of law.
Ofwono Opondo need not be reminded about the fate of puppet opportunists like him when the tyranny they defend blindly finally crumbles. Remember Sadam Hussein’s “comical Ali”? Where is he now? In Uganda itself, a very intelligent young Lawyer once went to UN General Assembly to defend Iddi Amin’s actions. When Amin fell, Ugandans did not take him to court but he died a broken man haunted by his deeds.
I do not know and I have never met Col. Ogole. But have heard a lot about him. Those who have met him tell me he is a decent, knowledgeable, and eloquent man who does not wear the face of the killer soldier that Ofwono Opondo gives him. I think it’s wrong to for Ofwono Opondo to compare Ogole to people like Olara Otunnu who have returned home because none of them engaged Museveni in war as seriously as Ogole did in Luwero. So Museveni would love to get his “itching” blood-stained hands on Ogole and possibly send him to the hangman’s gallows as a final solution. I congratulate Uganda Correspondent for opening this debate. Please give us more “bwino” [evidence Ed] from Ogole.
Mr. Lawrence Kasozi is a retired political assistant who served both Obote and Amin
