By Norman Miwambo

03 June 2013:

Spitting Fire: Gen David Sejusa aka Tinyefunza

Renegade Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF) General David Sejusa – aka Tinyefunza has urged all Ugandans to start thinking and behaving like soldiers in order to attain freedom in their country.

“…Every citizen should be a soldier. The highest obligation and privilege of citizenship is of bearing arms for one’s country.  This was the case with the Greeks and Romans, and must be that of every free State. Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil. In its worst state, it is intolerable – it looks like High School bullies in power,” the fiery General said.

The row between President Museveni and his general stems from Gen. Tinyefunza’s letter, which was addressed to the Director General of Internal Security Organisation (ISO), Col. Ronnie Balya, in which he directed the intelligence agency to investigate allegations that there was a plot to eliminate top government officials opposed to a ‘Muhoozi Project’.

The ‘Muhoozi Project’ is an alleged plan by President Museveni to have his son Brig. Muhoozi Kainerugaba installed as president after Mr Museveni steps down from power.  The publication of Gen. Sejusa’s letter on May 7 gave Museveni’s militarized police force the perfect excuse to besiege the independent Daily Monitor newspaper which the regime has always accused of being anti-government.

Commenting on the police siege of the Daily Monitor, however, Gen Sejusa said: “…The media siege is like the eighth kick of the last ten kicks of a dying horse…a nation that is afraid to let its people judge the truth and falsehood in an open market is a nation that is afraid of its people…it is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles but rather his actions.”

In his most scathing attack to date, Gen Sejusa described his boss President Museveni “totalitarian”, adding that, “…this topic brings me to that worst outcrop of herd life – the military system which I abhor.  The day the soldiers stop bringing you their problems is the day you stopped leading them.  They have lost confidence in you. One more dance along the razor’s edge and you are finished.”

Gen Sejusa, who has remained in London since the publication of his famous letter, also appeared to be challenging Museveni’s military superiority when he reminded him that “…battles are won by slaughter and maneuver. The greater the General, the more he contributes in maneuver, and the less he demands in slaughter.”

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