Page 11 - Nile Explorer Issue 12

Opinion & Views Ugandans are tired of

Museveni but can’t vote

him out

Daniel Gakuba

he latest protests in Uganda are an
Tindication that people are sick and
tired of President Yoweri Museveni’s
insatiable appetite for power. But the ex-
guerilla fighter is not going anywhere,
writes DW’s Daniel Gakuba.
As the grieving families were still burying President Museveni Bobi Wine, opposition candidate
their loved ones who were gunned down
in the streets of Kampala, 76-year-old
President Yoweri Museveni - a former
guerilla commander - running for the weakness. So, he doubled down on the condemned, most of the protests were
sixth term, had no calming words to approach that has served him so well staged spontaneously and sporadically,
unite his nation. - the threat of using more violence. out of frustrations caused by the selective
According to the official report by the In a ranting spell during his campaign in use of law enforcement tools to target
Uganda police pathologist, up to now, the aftermath of the deadly crackdown, their preferred candidate.
at least 50 people are reported to have Museveni threatened to crush those The inability of Uganda security
died in last week’s widespread chaos that whom he accused of attacking institutions to contain small-scale
followed the arrest of Robert Kyagulanyi, sympathizers of his party, and who used public dissension manifests their
a former musician turned politician, abusive language against him, warning lack of professionalism. Harassing
famously known by his stage name Bobi that they have ventured into an area of the opposition candidates under the
Wine. Other sources say the number of his expertise - fighting. pretense of enforcing COVID-19
casualties could be higher. His reaction once again proves what prevention guidelines, at the same time,
turning a blind eye to similar activities
Many of the victims were killed by he said on record during one of the by the ruling party candidates, lay bare
live bullets from uniformed and plain retreats for his ruling NRM (National the fact that the coming elections are
cloth soldiers and police. Bobi Wine Resistance Movement) party. He is already compromised.
supporters took this as a strategy used nobody’s servant, but rather, a And that does not come as a surprise
by the ruling party to intimidate and revolutionary leader who fights for to the long time observers of Uganda’s
squash their growing dissent movement. himself and his beliefs. politics under Museveni, who during
Kyagulanyi, a presidential candidate When he captured power on his more than three decades of rule has
for the January 14, 2021 elections, on January 29, 1986, by use of the gun, twice changed the constitution, first in
the ticket of his NUP (National Unity Museveni famously wrote that «the 2005 to remove the presidential term
Platform) party, was detained for two problem of Africa in general and limits, and later in 2017, to abolish the
days by police while on the campaign Uganda, in particular, is not the people, age limit which barred people over 75
trail in the eastern part of Uganda. but leaders who want to overstay in years old from running for president.
Authorities accused him of breaching power.» Thirty-four years later, he It is in line with the vow that Museveni
COVID-19 preventive guidelines. is using the same weapon to silence made back in 2001 while referring to
President Museveni could have the young generation, most of whom the acquisition of power through the
demonstrated some decency by have lived their entire life under his barrel of a gun - he compared himself
coming out and condemning the rule, whose main crime is to demand to a cotter pin in a bicycle crank,
excessive use of force and consoling the change through the ballot. which is inserted by hammer and can
bereaved families, as is expected of any While it is true that some criminal gangs only be driven out by the same means.
democratic leader. Instead, his guerilla took advantage of the chaotic situation Contemplating removing him through
fighter’s instinct may have told him that to loot and attack civilians and security the ballot is a waste of time, at least for
showing compassion would be taken for personnel alike, which should be equally now.

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