President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has come out to sternly warn Ugandans who have been involving national army ‘UPDF’ in tribal discussion to stop nonsensical debate.
This came after police last week, arrested a group of comedians ‘Bizonto’ for releasing a video on social media criticizing army deployments. Bizontos’ arrest sparked public debate especially in opposition groups.
With such security issues, Head of State H.E Museveni has released a missive against people who have poisonous talk against UPDF leadership.
Below is President Museveni’s letter
Countrymen, Countrywomen and, especially the Bazukulu.
Greetings again from the old man with a hat.
When I last sent out a missive, it was talking about the prominent Ugandans that had died and what I knew about them. These were: Kirunda, the footballer; Kasirye – Ggwanga, Erica Mukasa, Bell and Nkeera.
So many of you had seen the message by the time I got the printout and many reacted- some positively and some negatively.
The responses were in three categories: the positive, the positive but unhappy with the lockdown and the hostile, negative and arrogant.
I salute the positive responders such as Alierson , Brian, Henseley, Arabian Restaurant, Jordan, Sebunya Shafique, HBB, Vice-President small Acco, Mcedgars, Naiga Mooza, Owori Moses, DewishJa, Jesus Loves you, Mulekwa, Godfrey, Ryder 256 (only worried about my hair-style), Kiganira Enock, Kip , Weyale Andrew, Busobozi Emmanuel, Raymond, Lwanga Charles, Hussein Sadda, Moseyz K Kiribwaz, Kasule David, Shisha Elijah, Kairanga Moses, Paul Opolot, Mujjuzi (who informed me about footballer Fimbo Mukasa that needs support), Tamale Mirundi, Sanford, Mugweri, Fix_IT, Publicity Nateete (that advised me to put ykm when I write myself), Paul Kirimbi, Twende Kazi Uganda (but they need capital), Knight king talking about Makerere Ventilators, The ancestor (wants bibanda to open), Dr. Jenipher Tigs, Kiranda David, Zigo, Born Word Radio (inviting me for Bible Society), etc. I thank and salute these positive responders.
Today, I will be responding to a number of issues raised here.
The second category of the people that responded to my message, are the ones that were positive but were not happy with the lockdown.
These were appreciating the NRM work but pointing out that the lockdown has killed some businesses, many jobs and created hardships for many families.
They were also complaining about the indiscipline of the LDUs. What we need to remind ourselves is that while we do not have a direct cure against COVID-19, there are alternatives to all the other problems and inconveniences as we shall see.
However, before I go into those in details, let me first mention the third category. These are hostile, negative, rude and arrogant. It will be my pleasure to dismantle their erroneous and dangerous positions.
Before I go for each category, I need to thank all responders and also congratulate the NRM for its good work.
I congratulate both the responders and the NRM because it is only people who are alive that post on social – media. I, therefore, congratulate the responders for using the gift of life to positively, negatively or maliciously post on social – media.
I congratulate the NRM for, in addition to immunization and the lockdown, defending the Ugandans and Bazukulu from war and terrorism so that, before the lockdown, they could have the bikesa (transnights) etc. You remember the Bijambiya? What happened to them? They were defeated.
I also congratulate the NRM for guaranteeing freedom of speech where the social – media actors, for instance, can insult everybody with no repercussions.
That is not very common in Africa. I enjoy it except where the unwise want to cause insecurity and unconstitutionalism and those who say there is no danger from Corona like a one Doreen Kyohairwe said.
On the COVID Pandemic:
I welcome the positive suggestions like the idea of sports without audiences that have been tried in other countries of Europe. There are also ideas of isolating the tourism areas that I saw in Cuba. However, all this must be subsidiary to life.
Any activity that can be opened safely, with SOPs, will be opened. I am one of the people most interested in good economic performance. However, economic performance should never be more important than lives.
Negative responders tried to cast the NRM as a system monopolized by people from western Uganda. They shared an unclear picture trying to show some army people. Kindly, leave our Armed Forces out of the nonsense of tribal debates.
They have serious work to do and they have done it well. Leave them out of your confusion. The only point one can say about that is recruitment in the Armed Forces is by quotas per district. You check during the recruitment time.
However, you can look at your fellow civilian officers. Here in the Presidency, I am quite comfortable without many Banyankore, or, indeed, any munyankore around.
1) Mitala- Unless he became a munyankore today – Head of Civil Service.
ii) Katuramu- Westerner- Kabalega’s land;
iii) President’s Office – Kakande- only munyankore through enkaanda, otherwise muganda from Ddwaniro- Masuliita.
IV) State House Comptroller- Nakyobe – only guilty on the nkaanda side, muganda of some place.
v) PPS to the President- Omona – Originally Acholi, but somehow Kumamunized by residence.
I am quite comfortable without any big munyankore in the vicinity. Do not tell us about those cheap things of tribes and religious sectarianism. The LDUs that you are complaining about were all recruited from Kampala and Wakiso.
Are you trying to say that people of Wakiso and Kampala are bad because of mistakes of individuals against laid down laws, who are, moreover, punished for those mistakes
