By Norman Miwambo

16^th May 2011:

Libyan rebels' flag flying at Uganda House

London – Ugandans in the United Kingdom [UK] had prepared to stage a protest May 12^th against the rising price of the essential commodities to coincide with the processions in Kampala.  But when news trickled in that unarmed people, including foreign and local journalists were being clobbered in Uganda for merely doing their job, things changed.

Business came to a halt as protesters blocked the entrance to Uganda’s Embassy in London located at 58-59 Trafalgar Square – Central London. For the last month, protesters have been camping outside Uganda’s embassy in support of their counterparts at home, demanding that Museveni’s government heeds the concerns of all Ugandans. This time, some wheelchair demonstrators in their 60s joined the demo to convey a clear message.

The protesters, who included Libyan supporters of the rebellion against Col. Gadaffi, carried many placards, some which read:  “Ugandans demand freedom of speech, assembly and the press”; “Your taxes, my taxes, are paying for Uganda’s fighter jets act now”; “Uganda army join the struggle for democracy”; “Uganda Gov’t must stop spraying chemical and toxic substances on its people”; “Uganda needs democracy”; “ICC indict Museveni for Genocide”.

The UK protesters, who rallied under the umbrella of a non-political organization called United People Democratic Forces [UPDF] ironically called on the Uganda national army the UPDF and the police to stop harassing unarmed civilians but to join the struggle.

Richard Semitego, who was one of the protesters said, “…we believe the majority of the army and police officers in Kampala are ready to heed to the cries and will of the population.  We have no problem with them; they are being used to serve the interests of few unremorseful individuals with the regime. But our call is that it is time for them to avoid the ICC”.

Ugandans in the UK appear to have put aside their political differences and argued the British government and other donors to care about all Ugandans like they [donors] have cared about the Tunisians, Egyptians and Libyans rather than looking to Museveni as an individual.

“…It’s time for the West to look at Museveni like other African despots.  We demand that all donors open their eyes and ears to the cries of millions of Ugandans who cannot afford a single meal and healthcare as a result of a corrupt regime of Museveni and his cronies.  Enough is enough.  It’s time for the West to view Museveni as an aggressor. There is no reason to continue maintaining a regime which only cares about buying fighter jets”, said Betty Atiku, a member of the UPDF a pressure group.

Ms Atiku’s remarks are in reference to a recent deal worth $1.2bn that was signed by Museveni’s government to procure six Su-30MK2 model fighter jets from the Russia’s arms exporter Rosoboronexport.  Ms Atiku added that, “…we are not at war.  The West should help us get rid of Museveni who is now conditioned to violence rather than improving the dilapidated social service infrastructures in the country”.

In a previous interview with Uganda Correspondent, the ruling party’s [NRM’s] Deputy Spokesman Mr. Ofwono Opondo however dismissed Ugandans in the Diaspora as non-voters who cannot influence political developments in Uganda.  END.  Please login to www.ugandacorrespondent.com every Monday to read our top stories and anytime mid-week for our news updates.