Tears roll at anti-Museveni protest in London
By Norman S. Miwambo
8th Aug 2011:
Centre with poster: Tearful protester Atiku at protest
LONDON – Protests against the United Kingdom’s continued support of President Yoweri Museveni’s brutal rule in Uganda intensified in London on Friday, August 5th where pro-democracy activists staged yet another demonstration outside the British parliament the House of Commons.
Launched under the Uganda United Pro-democracy Forum (UUPDF), the protests started two months ago and have continued almost on a weekly basis outside the British Parliament to highlight Uganda’s democracy shortfall to the international community [especially the UK and US] that sustains what the protesters call “Museveni’s autocratic regime” in Kampala.
With loud voices blaring through a megaphone, Ugandans living in the United Kingdom (UK) attracted the attention of British politicians, Journalists, passersby and tourists around the Palace of Westminster to listen what the messages were all about.
“…Ugandans are part of the human race. Therefore they should be treated as such. We are here to represent the voiceless Ugandans. The human rights abuses taking place in Uganda must be investigated and the culprits, (the NRM government) should be punished for the abuses”, Betty Atiku said in her loud megaphone message.
She added: “…If the Libyans, Egyptians, Tunisians have been heard by the international community, why not Uganda? How many Ugandans should die before they are allowed to choose their own leader democratically, without the threat, and intimidation by the incumbent that has ruled for over 25 years”.
Ms Atiku, a Ugandan born lawyer living in the UK, said Museveni’s iron-fisted government is now suppressing Ugandan citizens and that is why they are calling upon the peace loving world, the international community, to take a look to what is happening in Uganda.
She also demanded that all the financial aid that Uganda has been getting from the international community over the last 25 years be suspended forthwith because of Museveni’s failure and or unwillingness to fight corruption in the country. “…Due to the corruption, Uganda must not be given aid as there is no accountability”, Atiku said.
Ms Atiku said that giving more aid to corrupt Uganda government will only prolong the suffering of her people. “…We call upon the international community, the commonwealth, European Union, and others to condemn the rigging of the elections, and call upon fresh and fair elections, that can bring about true democratic government. Ugandans need change, not with the guns, fighter bombers, but with ballot papers”, Atiku said.
Nullify the fraudulent February elections
The protesters also demanded that the February 18th elections should be nullified because they were not held in a free and fair atmosphere; a claim that the government denies. “…A free and fair election, organised by independent body should be done, otherwise, the present NRM government has lost legitimacy to her citizens”, the protesters said.
With a raised voice, and a torrent of tears rolling from her eyes, Ms Atiku said: “…The corruption, intimidation of Journalists, opposition leaders, peaceful demonstrators, school children, women, ordinary Ugandans, and the killing of innocent Ugandans in “Safe Houses” [un-gazetted detention centres] should be condemned in the strongest possible terms”.
On corruption, Atiku cited the example of the Global Fund for HIV/Aids which was meant for all Ugandans but allegedly swindled by government Ministers, their relatives, and the regime’s corrupt men. “…All of them have been forgiven by the so called ‘parliament’. We are talking of billions of dollars. Yet, Uganda is rated the poorest in the world. Malaria kills every 45 minutes, HIV related diseases also kill due to lack of medicine”, Atiku stressed.
Museveni’s donation to Rwanda school attacked
“…How then can a government that is in such a sorry state go out dishing money to countries such as Rwanda?”, Ms Atiku said in an apparent reference to the $300,000 that President Museveni donated to a school in Rwanda during his visit there early this month as Ugandan teachers laid down their tools to protest the government’s refusal to increase their salaries.
The protestors also contend that continued financial support given to Museveni’s government amounts to sponsoring terrorism. END. Please login to www.ugandacorrespondent.com every Monday to read our top stories and anytime mid-week for our news updates.
