[UAH] Let Gen. Tinyefuza carry his own cross as he rides the tiger

Let Gen. Tinyefuza carry his own cross as he rides the tiger

In Summary

He has expressed fear that there is a plot to eliminate top Military officers including himself and other prominent political figures.

When the late Brig. Nobel Mayombo died in May 2007, there was raging debate and condemnation regarding the vicious activities of the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence CMI; during the time Mayombo headed it.

There was concern that Mayombo had with impunity overseen the gross abuse of human rights which led to the death of the late Patrick Owomugisha Mamenero among several others.

Enter the Coordinator of Intelligence organisations, Gen. David Tinyefuza. Tinye, as he is popularly known, defended Mayombo by saying that "there are no two ways about it. Nation building is about coercion and in the military it is hard to build a nation democratically without coercion!"

Now Tinye is again in the spotlight. He has expressed fear that there is a plot to eliminate top Military officers including himself and other prominent political figures. The motive in his understanding is to clear the deck of those who might stand in the way of the President's wish to have his son Brig. Muhoozi Keinerugaba succeed him.

What an irony. Tinye's words have come back to haunt him. If at all such a scheme of purging exists, then it falls well within Tinye's theory on nation building and that should be understandable to him.

Trouble is that like all of us,Tinye loves his life and would not want to serve as a log to stalk the fires that burn the bricks that build a strong nation. That has been the dilemma of many who hold public office. In their bid to please those that personalise the State the way it has happened in most of Uganda's history, they do and say things that endanger their lives and the lives of others.

In the 60s when Obote was the State and the State was Obote, some of his ministers came up with the detention without trial laws to rein in his opponents. When things changed some of them including Godfrey Lukongwa Binaisa were incarcerated using this very law.
The politics of Uganda is mainly about convenience for survival and not conviction for service. The question of principle is rare or non-existent.

And this applies to the leaders as well as the led. The history of Uganda is full of leaders who have received a hero's welcome simply because they have stood up to an unpopular leader. People rally behind them only to suffer more disappointment. It happened in 1971 when Obote fell. Then in 1979 when Amin was ousted.

Obote to some was a relief from the commotion of the short lived UNLF governments of 1979-1982. The Okellos in 1985 where looked at as saviours from the menace of Obote. Then Museveni in 1986 became the long awaited messiah.

Today after about 28 years in power, there are many who believe Museveni has outlived his welcome and uncritically view whoever threatens his hold onto power as a likely redeemer.
Many do not care about the history and character of people like Tinyefuza who has a questionable record not only for his utterances but also for his alleged vicious conduct during Operation North and other operations that have seen the suppression of opposition figures.

I have heard many express their reservations about Tinye but say if he took on Museveni it would be a welcome idea because they are simply tired of Museveni.

That is why we should worry. If Ugandans are so desperate to get rid of Museveni, they may choose whoever rises up to take the mantle. We may end up with a change that is no change. Museveni like Tinye in his own words in not a pacifist. He loves to quote the Kiganda adage that 'ensi egula mirambo' (dead bodies are the foundation of nations.) This is in line with Tinyes theories on coercion. Tinye taking on Museveni and vice versa is akin to a case of wolves devouring each other. It is smarter to stand aside and watch without taking sides because their interests may bring them together at some point in time and endanger those who took sides.
In the mean time let General David Ssejusa aka Tinyefuza carry every gram of his cross as he rides the tiger that he fed. If he ends up inside it, he will take the heroes accolades for offering himself to nation building.

Mr Sengoba is a commentator on political and social issues

nicholassengoba@yahoo.com

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Rehema
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