World leaders set to snub Museveni swearing in
By Julius Odeke Onyango
9th May 2011:
Anne Mugisha at Nairobi Hospital doing the interview
Nairobi-President Yoweri Museveni is believed to be in a state of panic after several Heads of State whom he had invited to attend his fifth swearing in ceremony scheduled to take place on 12th May at Kololo Airstrip turned down the invitation.
The developments have come in the wake of the on-going walk-to-work demonstrations that have been rocking Kampala and other parts of Uganda in the last four weeks; prompting the government to respond with unprecedented violence and brutality against unarmed protesters.
Initial reports from State House indicate that 32 Heads of State across Africa have been invited to the posh ceremony that will see Museveni sworn in as President of Uganda for another five year term of office. The ceremony is estimated to cost Ugandan tax payers anything up to Shs4 billion.
Speaking to this reporter from Nairobi Hospital where top opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye was getting medical treatment after being seriously roughed up by security agents, M/s Anne Mugisha, FDC’s Secretary for International Affairs, said, “…Museveni is worried about his swearing in ceremony… many heads of state have turned down his invitation…that is why he had to come [to] beg his Kenyan counterpart the President of Kenya”.
On Saturday 30th, Museveni was given a red carpet welcome at the Jomo Kenyatta International airport, while Dr Besigye was being treated at Nairobi hospital the same day having arrived to the medical facility late on Friday night to the high pitch of ambulance sirens.
M/s Mugisha added that, “…it’s not true that he (Museveni) came to Nairobi to give a speech at the Mindspeak forum, he has a hidden agenda. But it’s no longer a secret to the world because we have known that many of his friends are not turning up for his affluent ceremony.
The FDC firebrand also accused President Museveni of trying to intimidate the people of Uganda by harassing Dr Besigye. “…But that does not work…in Uganda. It’s too late. These demonstrations are not only for Dr Besigye. The on-going protests are not a personal thing as the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party is trying to portray it before the world. People have come to realize that this is for their common good and that is why they are fully participating in the demos”, Mugisha said.
She also said the walk-to-work demonstrations will not stop. “…We shall keep protesting till Ugandans achieve what they want. So we are continuing and that is the message that we are passing to every concerned Ugandan. The cost of stopping these demonstrations is now so expensive that we have decided to continue till we achieve the target. Even the protesters are not ready to stop. Whoever tries to stop them from protesting risks being lynched because they want to see the results”, Mugisha warned.
Dr Besigye’s injured hand was at the time of the interview still bandaged and he was still wearing dark glasses to protect his tear-gassed eyes from bright light. The brave and defiant FDC leader however told this reporter in a brief interview that he is getting better. “…I am getting fine except these hiccups around my stomach and some wounds around my nostrils which are giving me some problems. But I believe I will be fine”, Besigye said.
A source at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs however cast doubt over Anne Mugisha’s claims, saying, “…I am not aware of any regrets from our invited guests yet. In any case, how did they know about the cancellations”. END. Please login to www.ugandacorrespondent.com every Monday to read our top stories and anytime mid-week for our news updates.
