The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Biting sanctions
Sarah Bireete, executive director of Centre for Constitutional Governance, says if Museveni does not want lectures on democracy, he must allow free participation of political actors and freedom of assembly. She says having many elected representatives at all levels is not enough and decries the political and civil strife in the country and freezing of accounts of NGOs, arrests of NGO leaders without the police ever producing a single report.
“The duty of the government is to protect the citizens. No government has a license to torture,” she says.
According to her, the previous term of Museveni ended on a bad note as far as respecting human rights is concerned.
“He needs a new approach. He has sanctions on his trusted cadres. There has been electoral violence, gross violations of human rights, torture and abductions.”
She adds, “It’s disappointing that someone who was a champion of Article 5 of the Rome Statute is now the one involved in mass atrocities.”
The Rome Statute created the International Criminal Court (ICC) and Article 5 stipulates the court’s jurisdiction with; the crime of genocide; Crimes against humanity; War crimes; and the crime of aggression. Uganda was the first country to refer a case to the Hague-based court- notorious warlord Joseph Kony and his rebel group, Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA).
As a result of the rampant cases of torture and abuse in Uganda, opposition actors; Kizza Besigye and Bobi Wine have petitioned the ICC to intervene in Uganda accusing the Museveni government of several crimes.
The age factor again
At home, there are questions as to whether President Museveni, who is officially four years short of turning 80, can still ably tackle the country’s most challenging issues.
“There is no scientific evidence that when people reach a certain age, they begin to depreciate,” says minister of state for ICT Peter Ogwang when asked whether the President’s abilities have not withered out of accumulated fatigue of being the country’s chief executive.
Ogwang was just two years old when Museveni assumed power in 1986. He says he is undeterred by the passage of time and he firmly argues that the President’s age should not be an issue in as far as doing his job is concerned.
Museveni, however, said the exact opposite of Ogwang’s statement nine years ago about one’s capabilities after they attain the age of 75.
“After 75, the vigour, I think there is some scientific idea there that maybe the vigour is not as much after 75 so that one I would not quarrel so much. I know there are some leaders who have been leading beyond 75 but I think if you want very active leaders, have the ones below 75,” he said in an interview with NTV in 2012.
But the President changed tune when he came within range of the 75-year age mark.
A ruling party dominated-Parliament amended the constitution in 2017 by lifting the presidential age limit to enable Museveni run again but the decision remains an open wound. Some of those behind the move like Raphael Magyezi, minister for local government, decided not to contest again possibly in fear of a rout at the ballot.
Some of Museveni’s most devoted aides like minister of state for ICT Peter Ogwang feel the aging President can ably tackle the country’s most challenging issues such as corruption while steering Uganda in other areas. “ There is a lot we are losing to corruption but we can fight that hemorrhage” he tells The Independent.
“The question of age does not carry much water. What are you able to do for your people? Let us be realistic,” Ogwang says and adds, “It is why some of us decided to amend the constitution so that all Ugandans can be able to run.”
Ogwang who was appointed minister in December 2019 is keen to keep his job. He comfortably won his seat in Usuk County and has taken on a more prominent role speaking for government, sometimes out of turn. On the other hand, Judith Nabakooba, the senior minister for ICT, lost her Mityana Woman MP seat.
It is not surprising that he fended off indisputable criticism of Museveni’s long presidency being a one man show.
“He does not work alone. He has technical people.”
For example, even if his party still enjoys a majority in parliament, Museveni has vowed to disregard the House this time round if it challenges him.
Anne Adeke, the incoming Soroti Woman MP, says Museveni has always got what he wants from Parliament and deems his statement redundant. She says Museveni gets his way by “either by bribing his way to it or intimidating MPs”.
