A4C leaders deserve ‘detention without trial’
By Adam Kazoora
16th April 2012: First of all, let me congratulate the Attorney General Peter Nyombi for banning Activists for Change [A4C]. It’s a step in the right direction – direction towards restoring peace and stability in our country. I am however a little disappointed that the government only banned A4C.
Just over a month ago, on March 5, I wrote an article in these pages in which I argued that A4C’s activities amount to nothing short of high treason. [See: A4C activities amount to high treason]
In it, I also argued that the true hallmark of any politician who claims to be a democrat is in his or her humility to accept defeat. A4C leaders have clearly refused to accept defeat and are now hell bent on plunging the country into chaos.
They are now going around the country inciting wanainchi to use ‘people power’ to force Museveni out power. If that is not high treason, then I don’t know what is, or will ever be. As I have argued before, the stability of our country must be put above anyone’s political ambitions.
I have also argued passionately in the past that no democratic right, however desirable, should ever be allowed to threaten national stability. And yet, these so-called A4C democrats are going around the country addressing rallies which are threatening the country’s stability.
I totally agree with President Museveni when he said the current public order laws are too weak to decisively deal with the subversive A4C ring leaders. They cause trouble today and walk free the next day. That cannot be right! Persistent criminals like the A4C leaders must be sufficiently punished to deter others from joining their violent enterprise.
Therefore, since the current laws have been proved to be incapable of dealing with A4C, and until the new tougher Public Order Bill that is before parliament becomes law, my view is that the best way to deal with A4C leaders now is to bring back detention without trial.
With that, the government will be able to round up the A4C criminals, lock them up in Luzira, and throw away the key into the nearby Lake Victoria. That will teach them a lesson never to underestimate the power and authority of the state.
If we fail to do that, then there is every chance that A4C’s canny leaders will dream up new ways of causing instability in the country. We can already see how they are using bogus “book launch” excuses to cause trouble in the country.
All this makes them look innocent while at the same time portraying the government as brutal and barbaric when it reacts with force to deal with A4C’s treasonous activities. Who knows what they will decide to do next. There are rumours that FDC Youth League members are planning to provoke the police to beat them up by protesting outside police stations.
The media, A4C’s partners in crime, will of course be too happy to paint a bad picture of the government when it crushes such hooligans. In fact, the media should be the next target. Any newspaper that gives publicity to A4C’s subversive activities should also be charged supporting the commission of treason – whatever that is called in law!
The bottom line is that something harsh and drastic has to be done now. If we ignore A4C, it will eventually bring down our government. That is my patriotic warning to our NRM leadership. END. Please login to www.ugandacorrespondent.com every Monday to read our top stories and anytime mid-week for our news updates.
