[UAH] NRM regime losing control – Gen Muntu

NRM regime losing control – Gen Muntu

News

Tuesday, 21 May 2013 22:13

Written by Emma Mutaizibwa

17 Comments

FDC president, Gen Mugisha Muntu

FDC President Mugisha Muntu has said the latest government crackdown on the independent media sends the unmistakable signal of a desperate regime which is losing control.

"Because of the accumulation of errors, the [intimidation] methods that have served them are coming to an end. You can see MPs not easily giving in to the manipulation within the party.

It is now filtering into state security agencies and that terrifies the president because he knows he will totally lose power," the former army commander told a news conference at the FDC offices in Najjanakumbi today, a day after security operatives raided and shut down Daily Monitor and its two sister FM stations, as well the Red Pepper and its sister papers Hello and Kamunye.

The police say they closed the media houses for refusing to surrender Gen David Sejusa's letter, demanding an investigation into an alleged plot to frame and possibly kill key figures allegedly opposed to a Brig Muhoozi Kainerugaba presidency. Arguing that journalists were being punished for being messengers, Muntu compared the media to a sailor who comes ashore after overcoming the rough seas.

"We should prepare for the worse that is yet to come. If they shut down one media house, we should continue reporting as we see it," arguing that as he grows desperate, the president will resort to brute force.

But Information Minister Mary Karooro Okurut dismissed Muntu's statement as an illusion.

"The regime is very much in control and it is a dream by the opposition that it will collapse. Police deemed this a matter of national security. Police followed due legal process, they acted within the law. They [police] should expedite the investigations so that people can get back to their business," said Karooro.

However Muntu said no acts of terror and intimidation would save the regime from a slow and systematic state of disintegration.

"There will be a problem if this [disintegration] happens and there is a vacuum and no credible alternative political system," he said. He asked the elite, businessmen and civil society to speak out boldly "because this is our country."

Muntu also criticized the police as a highly-compromised tool of repression.

"State security agencies must remain neutral. I have no desire to have support from any officer of the army, any officer of the police or any officer of intelligence," he argued.

Muntu for the first time revealed that when the president asked him what his response would be if DP candidate Kawanga Ssemogerere won the 1996 presidential election, his answer was: "The army must support the will of the people."

He also cited an incident in 2001 when an advertisement was aired on Radio Simba alleging that he was among the generals supporting Museveni.

"I heard it [advert] from a third party. But I had to call the radio station and say that I'm a serving UPDF officer and I'm not supporting Museveni," he said.

On the combustible subject of Gen David Sejusa, Muntu said he was ready to meet his former bush war colleague, if he returned to the country.

"I have not met him yet but if he is back in the country, I have no problem meeting him. But we have been meeting many people in the country. Gen Tinye [Sejusa] is free to meet anybody and as a party leader I'm free to meet people who want to bring positive change to the country," said Muntu, who was asked whether he had met the maverick general in London.

Muntu urged Ugandans to look beyond the Sejusa event, arguing that there would be much more crises ahead.

"Even in the next two weeks, we cannot rule out another crisis until the regime is through self-implosion or defeat," he said.

Commenting on the Muhoozi project, Muntu said he did not care whether it exists or not. "My belief is to wipe out President Museveni with whatever projects he has," Muntu said.

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H.OGWAPITI
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