By Norman Miwambo

25^th March 2013:

On a charm offensive

The Inspector General of Police Maj. General Edward Kalekezi Kayihura has in an unprecedented move offered to personally be at Entebbe International Airport to receive Ugandans in diaspora who are scared of being arrested upon arrival in Uganda.

General Kayihura made the offer to members of the UK based Ugandans At Heart (UAH) forum where he had been labouring for close to three days to convince Ugandans in the diaspora that Uganda is not a “police state” but a safe place to live and work.

Kayihura, a top ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) cadre who has been publicly praised by President Museveni for his loyalty, didn’t disappoint when he asserted in what some may call the typical NRM arrogance that Ugandans in the diaspora have “…a very distorted view of the situation at home.”

He said he had seen fabrications on the UAH and wondered “…why people do these things when they know that it will be disproved with time”.  According to Kayihura, the country is safe, and people who allege that it’s not were having “delusions”.

“…I am ready to personally receive at the airport a representative delegation from abroad. I will arrange for you to move around and get acquainted with what is going on. Uganda is for all of us. This is your home and nobody can deny you your birth right.  I am not a liar…I am being honest.” Kayihura said.

General Kayihura went on to question whether Ugandans in the diaspora ever read Ugandan newspapers – insisting that they (who are accused of arresting Ugandans) “…wine and dine” with people who accuse them of “…all sorts of things under the sky.”

General Kayihura’s claims that Uganda is a safe place are however contradicted by the incessant flow of disturbing images showing his police officers brutalising and harassing unarmed Ugandans for merely attempting to exercise their democratic right to peacefully demonstrate against real and perceived government injustices.

All that notwithstanding, Kayihura defended the NRM regime and said:  “…Quite frankly, our main weapon has always been the force of argument. Yes, of course, when debate fails, and we are confronted by argument of force and we have to defend ourselves.  Nobody has, or will be victimized simply because they have said things on the net.”

Asked if he was surprised by Gen. Kayihura’s offer to personally receive Ugandans at the airport, UAH Moderator Abbey Ssemuwemba answered in the affirmative.  END: Login to www.ugandacorrespondent.com every Monday to read our top stories mid-week for our updates

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