{UAH} THE THREE LEGS OF THE NRA DICTATORSHIP UNDER BUTARE BOY.
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Museveni's major power base is the military. He has successfuly personalised the army through his personal control of recruitment, training, deployment, promotion, dismissal and retirement. Forget about the law i.e the NRA Code of Conduct, the NRA Statute, the Armed Forces Act and now the UPDF Act, its just a one man show. Unlike past leaders, this is how he has managed to survive any kind of military take over. The more he succeeds in privatising the army, the more arrogant he becomes. When he attains Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe level of personal loyality, the world will witness his true colours.
During the bush war he personaly regulated recruitment in order to contain the number and influence of certain Ugandan communities. In this regard he had all along opposed the opening up of another front in the Rwenzori. When he returned from a long holiday abroad and found the NRA had enlisted a big number of 'undesired communities' in the west, he was unimpressed. The incharge of training and recruitment, Tadeo Kanyankole had to pay a heavy price. Earlier on he had delibarately excluded certain individuals like Kategaya, Mushega, Otafiire, Kibirango Gyagenda, Abbey Mukwaya, and others from the mainstream military command structures. Upon taking over power, such individuals were posted to civillian institutions. When formal military ranks were introduced, such individuals were awarded ranks just to hoodwink them. Even those who were left in the army but without exposure to military experience and training but simply given ranks of Generals, it was just a way of containing them. Also, a number of young educated Ugandans joined the NRA more especially around 1985/86 but to contain them, Museveni seconded them to ISO and ESO so as to keep them off the mainstream military. During the Kisangani clashes, Otafiire and Mayombo were caught up in a hotel during one serious battle. Talk is that they could not identify the right type of ammunitions for a particular machine gun! They were only rescued by Sgt Mugume of CMI. How and where had Mayombo and Otafiire learnt or been exposed to military exercises but Museveni would deceived them with higher ranks! By delibarately denying them an apportunity of exposure and training to match with the ranks that he awards them, Museveni aims at containing their influence on the military. That is how Rwanda's Gen Kabarebe who was a Private in the NRA was able to give them a challenge in Kisangani. When Ivan Koreta returned from a Peace Keeping Mission in Liberia, he was destined to the highest office but was instead sent to head ESO. When Katumba wamala exelled in West Nile and the DRC, he was instead sent to the Police. The diversion of these two was meant to give room to Kaziini and Aronda to rise and take over as CDF.
When Kyaligonza was a Brigade Commander in the eastern region, his influence was a threat to Museveni. He was recalled and removed from the army. The same applied to Julius Chihandae, Saleh and others. Interestingly such retired senior officers and many other innactive ones (Katebe) continue to be elavated in rank. Kyaligonza had to write a long letter to Museveni lamenting how he could not even afford school fees for his children. Mayombo delivered the letter and Kyaligonza was made Ambassador to Burundi and recently he was promoted to Major General. Chihandae had also earlier on been treated . Kasirye Gwanga returned from retirement and was promoted to Brigadier. It is presumed that all retired soldiers are members of the Reserve Force who can be recalled when the need arises. Can Mushega, Muntu and Besigye be recalled?
The World Bank imposed Reduction in Force (RIF) phase 1 took place around 1993. The second phase was of 1995. These are the ones refered to as Veterans who are languishing and only remembered either during elections or when there is an external operation in Congo. Another group was an internal NRA arrangement around 1997/98 meant to get rid of the physically unfit who were assembled at the Nakasongola Reception Centre (NRC) under Maj Mureeba and was also used for the creation of Ghost soldiers. A six months advance pay was the package. The first formal retirement from the NRA was a pilot programe in 2000. It involved 23 officers and men among them Lt Col Isoke, Capt Mugerwa, Capt Rusoke, Pte Kibuule brother to Abibu Kagimu. Lt Col Isoke is the officer who was an embarassing common figure always loitering in town on foot and at one time he stole tyres from a shop. The process took three years and cost over 300m shillings but Isoke even died before being formally discharged. The army claimed that retiring officers was an expensive venture. Since then only a few individuals would be allowed to leave i.e Muntu, Besigye and a few others. However, given the change of political landscape that ensued, soldiers feared to openly express a desire to retire for fear that they would be branded 'disgruntled' and intent on joining the opposition.
During the bush war he personaly regulated recruitment in order to contain the number and influence of certain Ugandan communities. In this regard he had all along opposed the opening up of another front in the Rwenzori. When he returned from a long holiday abroad and found the NRA had enlisted a big number of 'undesired communities' in the west, he was unimpressed. The incharge of training and recruitment, Tadeo Kanyankole had to pay a heavy price. Earlier on he had delibarately excluded certain individuals like Kategaya, Mushega, Otafiire, Kibirango Gyagenda, Abbey Mukwaya, and others from the mainstream military command structures. Upon taking over power, such individuals were posted to civillian institutions. When formal military ranks were introduced, such individuals were awarded ranks just to hoodwink them. Even those who were left in the army but without exposure to military experience and training but simply given ranks of Generals, it was just a way of containing them. Also, a number of young educated Ugandans joined the NRA more especially around 1985/86 but to contain them, Museveni seconded them to ISO and ESO so as to keep them off the mainstream military. During the Kisangani clashes, Otafiire and Mayombo were caught up in a hotel during one serious battle. Talk is that they could not identify the right type of ammunitions for a particular machine gun! They were only rescued by Sgt Mugume of CMI. How and where had Mayombo and Otafiire learnt or been exposed to military exercises but Museveni would deceived them with higher ranks! By delibarately denying them an apportunity of exposure and training to match with the ranks that he awards them, Museveni aims at containing their influence on the military. That is how Rwanda's Gen Kabarebe who was a Private in the NRA was able to give them a challenge in Kisangani. When Ivan Koreta returned from a Peace Keeping Mission in Liberia, he was destined to the highest office but was instead sent to head ESO. When Katumba wamala exelled in West Nile and the DRC, he was instead sent to the Police. The diversion of these two was meant to give room to Kaziini and Aronda to rise and take over as CDF.
When Kyaligonza was a Brigade Commander in the eastern region, his influence was a threat to Museveni. He was recalled and removed from the army. The same applied to Julius Chihandae, Saleh and others. Interestingly such retired senior officers and many other innactive ones (Katebe) continue to be elavated in rank. Kyaligonza had to write a long letter to Museveni lamenting how he could not even afford school fees for his children. Mayombo delivered the letter and Kyaligonza was made Ambassador to Burundi and recently he was promoted to Major General. Chihandae had also earlier on been treated . Kasirye Gwanga returned from retirement and was promoted to Brigadier. It is presumed that all retired soldiers are members of the Reserve Force who can be recalled when the need arises. Can Mushega, Muntu and Besigye be recalled?
The World Bank imposed Reduction in Force (RIF) phase 1 took place around 1993. The second phase was of 1995. These are the ones refered to as Veterans who are languishing and only remembered either during elections or when there is an external operation in Congo. Another group was an internal NRA arrangement around 1997/98 meant to get rid of the physically unfit who were assembled at the Nakasongola Reception Centre (NRC) under Maj Mureeba and was also used for the creation of Ghost soldiers. A six months advance pay was the package. The first formal retirement from the NRA was a pilot programe in 2000. It involved 23 officers and men among them Lt Col Isoke, Capt Mugerwa, Capt Rusoke, Pte Kibuule brother to Abibu Kagimu. Lt Col Isoke is the officer who was an embarassing common figure always loitering in town on foot and at one time he stole tyres from a shop. The process took three years and cost over 300m shillings but Isoke even died before being formally discharged. The army claimed that retiring officers was an expensive venture. Since then only a few individuals would be allowed to leave i.e Muntu, Besigye and a few others. However, given the change of political landscape that ensued, soldiers feared to openly express a desire to retire for fear that they would be branded 'disgruntled' and intent on joining the opposition.
Posted by Uganda - A Change of Guards!
Viele GruBe
Robukui
Anybody know where Mr.Simon Peter Okurut is? UAH forum is devoted to matters of interest to Ugandans and Africans in general. Individuals are responsible for whatever they post on this forum.To unsubscribe from this group, send email to: ugandans-at-heart+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com or Abbey Semuwemba at: abbeysemuwemba@gmail.com.
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