12^th-18^th July 2010

UC: The new UPC Party President Dr. Olara Otunnu has called for a fresh independent investigation into the atrocities committed in Luwero.  What are your views on that?

Col. Ogole: I knew you would ask me that question at some point.  But may I first of all take this opportunity to congratulate Dr Olara Otunnu upon his election to the Presidency of UPC. Dr Otunnu is a man of very high intellect, integrity, and a wealth of experience and skills in the field of international diplomacy and politics. He is a strong believer in full democratic governance and he is also committed to championing the cause of the suffering children of the world through his LBL Foundation.  I salute him for that.

Since his election, Dr Otunnu, like Dr. Besigye, has shown great courage, zeal and determination to bring Uganda back to a democratic system of governance.  He is incorruptible and leads a very humble and modest life.  I hope all Ugandans, young and old, men and women, are seeing his dedication to honest politics and will join the Inter-Party Cooperation [IPC] that he is a part of as they try to get rid of dictatorship and tyranny in our motherland.  These are the rare qualities Uganda badly needs now to lift itself from the quagmire caused by prolonged dictatorship and the time to join hands with the IPC is now; not tomorrow, not the day after.

As far as Dr. Otunnu’s call for a fresh independent investigation into the Luwero atrocities is concerned, of course, I strongly support his call without second thoughts or even blinking.  In fact, I would go even further and suggest that even atrocities committed during Amin’s dictatorship should be investigated.

These two dictatorships unleashed torrents of brutality and inflicted lots of destruction in the country.  Many silent victims continue to bear the pain and are haunted by the fact that they have been denied justice while the perpetrators of those heinous crimes walk free on the streets of Kampala today; some even holding high public offices despite their participation in those atrocities.

This inquiry is long overdue and I believe it will serve as a panacea to the affliction caused by the two brutal regimes.  For Uganda to move forward, it must honestly deal with its past and thereafter encourage reconciliation between victims and perpetrators.  South Africa and Northern Ireland have shown us that it can be done.

UC: Would you then be willing to submit yourself to the jurisdiction of the new Luwero probe committee that Dr. Otunnu is calling for?

Col. Ogole: Absolutely!  I can’t wait to testify in such an inquiry; if it’s independent and free of Museveni’s influence of course.  In fact, my firm willingness to submit myself to the jurisdiction of such an inquiry should tell all Ugandans something pretty powerful about the credibility of the tons and tons of garbage that Museveni’s propaganda machinery rolled my name in.  Secondly, the fact that Museveni’s men are now quaking at the prospect of such an inquiry should also tell you something pretty powerful about their innocence or guilt.  So I say bring it on!

UC: Museveni’s regime has made some serious allegations against you regarding the Luwero atrocities.  Do you have any counter allegations of against Museveni’s then NRA guerrillas?

Col. Ogole: I take no pleasure whatsoever in saying this.  But as I said before, I have been exonerated by time as more and more people experienced and became victims of the Luwero type atrocities long after I left Luwero.  In terms of me making counter allegations against Museveni’s NRA over the Luwero atrocities, I don’t think I want to say any more than I have already said for fear of sounding exactly like Museveni.  So I think Dr Otunnu’s suggestion for an independent inquiry should be the most appropriate, ideal, and right forum for bringing evidence of Museveni’s genocide in various parts of the country; not just Luwero.

Furthermore, it must be understood that I am not the only victim of Museveni’s war.  There are people who lost much more:  Lives, husbands, wives, dear ones and properties.  Nothing in this world can ever be sufficient compensation for such people.  So I don’t want a war of words between me and Museveni to add insult to their injury now.  It should all be left in the hands of the competent independent investigators who will hopefully deal with all the evidence presented before them.

UC: Some people, including ex- NRA rebels you fought against talk of you as an excellent military tactician.  Are they right?  And if so, do you still have anything constructive to contribute to Uganda?

Col. Ogole: I don’t know about excellent; ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!  What I will say is that my military knowledge and skills are built over a long period of military service, studies, engagement in war, and reading many books on military art and science.  I will tell you however that other than the training and reading, any military commander worth the name must have certain natural qualities and abilities to withstand and quickly adapt to the difficult situations that war brings.  Secondly, they must also be rational, quick thinking, and most importantly, be very, very mindful of the human element in war.

Thirdly, he must also understand the politics behind the war and the men and officers on both side of the campaign.  What we all call common sense also plays a big role in achieving victory in a war.  So I will let other people be the judges of my military capabilities.  What I will personally say though is that I feel I still have a lot to offer my beloved motherland.  In fact, I owe it to Uganda to make a humble contribution [if called upon] towards its final liberation from Museveni’s tyranny; after all, it is Uganda that made me the person I am.