President Yoweri Museveni has warned political actors in this elections season against involving the national army -the UPDF in partisan , sectarian and tribal politics . While responding to messages on his social media accounts and handles- Museveni said: ‘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- Mitala- Unless he became a munyankore today – Head of Civil Service, Katuramu- Westerner- Kabalega’s land; President’s Office – Kakande- only munyankore through enkaanda, otherwise muganda from Ddwaniro- Masuliita State House Comptroller- Nakyobe – only guilty on the nkaanda side, Muganda of some place.
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,” Museveni stated in his response to various critics majorly the young people while at the same time addressing some controversial issues include perceived sectarianism and nepotism , errant armed vigilantes -the LDUs , corruption , why churches have not be opened yet , his long missives and repetitions of various national themes -to drive the masses for mass mind -change geared at prosperity , development and security .
About the issue of the LDUs who caused havoc in the recent past leading to their recall for more training -the combative Museveni said , “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?”
While referring to some comments on his social media accounts as being “hostile, negative, rude and arrogant, Museveni vowed to use his pleasure to” dismantle their erroneous and dangerous positions.”
He was however buoyant- that given his good leadership and guidance for the security and good health of Ugandans -even during the novel global covid-19 pandemic , the Bazukulu ( grandchildren ) were health enough and alive to post on social media.
Tackling the issue of old age, Museveni said it was an element of Biology vs. Ideology .
“ The NRM answer, young and old, is that politics (which means management of society) is not biology (young, old, woman, man) but ideology. Ideology is like diagnosis of a patient and prescribing treatment.
Similarly, political actors, individuals or groups, must first carry out diagnosis of the society they want to lead and prescribe a cure in the form of ideology, strategy and programmes (manifesto), the President argued while reminding the m7 dotcom generation that the ideology of the NRM right from the early days, has always been based on 4 principles: “Patriotism – love Uganda; Pan-Africanism – love Africa; Social – economic transformation – (from peasantry to middle and skilled working classes); and democracy (power of the people, by the People, for the people).
“This love for Uganda (anti-sectarianism) and love for Africa (Pan-Africanism) is not a fashion or mere slogans. It is because that is the only way we can guarantee the prosperity of each of us by creating big markets for our products. Currently, we have surplus sugar, surplus milk, surplus maize, surplus bananas etc. In some parts of Africa, they have need for these products. That is why the NRM always works for the integration of Africa – both economic and political. Social- economic transformation is in order to create a modern Ugandan – educated and knowledgeable, “he added.
On his long missives and repetitions of topics he addresses , Musveni provided some interesting insights arguing that there is everything right with singing the same song for a long time. “It is called consistency,” he noted .
“As long as the problems persist, we must address them until they vanish. How long have we been fighting with the problem of subsistence farming? I started dealing with the problem of subsistence farming in 1966 in North Ankole. There, it has been partially dealt with. We broke off to fight wars in 1971 and for 16 years, we were away. I resumed dealing with the problem until 1995, when I got good results; I started my countrywide campaign of bonna bagagawale.
Up to now, many of the communities are still Kukolera Kidda kyoonka, tic me cam keken. Should I leave this unsolved problem and start singing Hollywood songs and watching European Clubs of football only? No, NRM sings old songs as long as they are needed and new songs as is necessary. In 1986, the song was to deal with shortages of sugar, soap, paraffin, textiles, beer, etc. Where are the shortages now? Instead, the song now is how to market surplus sugar, surplus electricity, surplus maize, surplus milk, surplus industrial products etc. Be serious,” he reasoned .
On the issue of perceived tribalism with NRM- “ as a system monopolized by people from western Uganda, Museveni posed sme historical questions , “Since you are allergic to history, otherwise, I would have reminded you that much of my time I was in Tanzania, Mozambique etc. How many Banyankore or Westerners were there? We fought in the Luwero Triangle. Many Ugandan groups were there: Baganda, Banyankore, Barugwaara, Baruuru, Barundi, Banyarwanda, Baruuli, Banyoro.”
On currutption the President called upon wanaichi to engage their civic and political leaders to identify the corrupt with evindenve and the state would deal with them decisively . but he was particularly personal with a one muzukulu called FAD who posted that “Otweesibako” (you tie yourself on us when you are not welcome).
Museveni in his usual frank and humorous manner answered back; “FAD, munnange nkwesibako Kubanga nkwetaaga nsobole kubeela obulungi (prosperous). Atte, naawe FAD, singa oleengela wala, wandibadde onesibako kubanga onetaaga osobole okubeela obulungi. I tie myself on you because I need you for my prosperity.
Also, if you could see far, you should be tying yourself on me because you need me for your prosperity. How? FAD is one, most probably, of the people that buy my milk from Rwakitura and bananas from Ntungamo. Hence, FAD is supporting my prosperity. Yoweri Museveni and all the non-Baganda that live in Kampala are also buying a lot of things from the Baganda shops in Kampala. Hence, Museveni and other non-Baganda in Kampala, plus the Baganda of course, we are supporting the prosperity of many Baganda businessmen. What does FAD do? Therefore, if you do not love Museveni and do not welcome him and other non-Baganda in your midst, you are, actually, an enemy of the Baganda first and foremost and enemy of Africa. Why? Kubanga olinya musowaani kwebaliira – you are stepping in the plate from where the res
