[UAH] Pius Katunzi: What does Tinye mean this time?
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10:53 AM |
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This is what the Igbo elders in Nigeria would classify as attempting to scratch the chief's beard from his compound. Early this year, he wrote a missive, complaining about the "creeping lawlessness, impunity, primitive arrogance and insensitive behaviour of some public officials."
Some observers claimed he was having a go at Jennifer Musisi, the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) executive director, for demolishing part of Centenary park.
See, there is no love lost between Musisi and Sejusa after the former ordered out the latter from the mayor's official residence. When that order was made, Tinye responded in a typical chauvinistic tone: "I will arrest that girl [woman]."
He didn't. Instead he peacefully vacated the house. Tinye's missive raised some dust but was ignored by his boss, Gen Museveni. Not to be outdone, he has written another one, this time attempting to explain the recent attacks on Mbuya military barracks.
He claims this was a ploy by the Inspector General of Police, Lt Gen Kale Kayihura, intended to impute treasonable acts on the ebullient Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi, Tinye and other officers. Tinye also inferred that the steady rise of Brig Kainerugaba Muhoozi, the first son, could be raffling some feathers in the army and public.
Tinye may have been a guerrilla genius but as a political strategist, the jury is still out. There may be some grain of truth in what he is writing about but I doubt whether many people empathise with him.
It is wrong timing. Why? Tinye once commanded some reasonable respect from the army and the public as well, but he lost it when he returned to work for the man he once vilified.
It was in 1996, when government threatened to punish him for spilling "army war secrets" in Parliament; he ran to court to enforce his right to a fair trial and treatment. He also reminded his employer that his submission was privileged and had ceased being a serving officer by virtue of being appointed presidential advisor. In his resignation letter, he said in part: "I find it unjustified to continue serving in an institution whose organs I have no faith in or whose views I do not subscribe to."
The people revered him and supported him throughout the court process. If at that time snap elections had been held, perhaps the scales would have tipped in Tinye's favour. When he lost in the Supreme court, there were efforts to lure him back into the army. Tinye first refused, telling the emissaries that he was not like a dog which turns around to eat its vomit.
But life became harder for Tinye. He was isolated and almost suffered a pariah status. This is when he buckled. He apologised to Museveni and even lied to him that he was misled by friends to disobey and oppose him. It was humbling experience for Tinye and by his own admission, he knew his faults very well, was not an easy subordinate, and always preferred to go his own way. This was the personification of Judas Iscariot.
When he returned to government as the coordinator of intelligence services, Tinye became ruthless in the execution of some covert and overt operations. His footprints were visible in some of the cruel and ruthless operations that were visited upon Ugandans. For instance did he raise a finger at the siege of the High court in 2005?
This was when the infamous Black Mamba blocked suspects of the alleged People's Redemption Army (PRA) from leaving court premises after they had been granted bail. The military might that was unleashed on walk-to- work protesters did not attract Tinye's disapproval. When the CBS and other FM stations were closed, in the wake of September Kabaka protests, it was Tinye who designed the tough conditions for the radios which sought to reopen. Certainly, Tinye cannot claim to be a democrat.
He cannot speak for the down trodden. He had a chance to live a civilian life but he chose to turn on his own words to serve a regime that he had lost faith in. He made it appear that outside the army, there is no life.
It is unfortunate enough for a professional like Tinye to think like that, and it seems he is bored and simply courting our attention. Since he comes from Sembabule, he must be familiar with this Kinyankore proverb: "Nkumanya takureka okeetonda… (We are used to your antics; so, we can't be sure you mean what you say).
The author is the Business Development Director, The Observer Media Ltd.
pmkatunzi@observer.ug
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