{UAH} HOW DID MUSEVENI PLAY THE SECTARIANISM CARD IN THE BUSH NRA?
|
7:54 PM |
No comments |
HOW DID MUSEVENI PLAY THE SECTARIANISM CARD IN THE BUSH NRA?
Right from the formation of FRONASA's armed wing, Museveni intended to rise a southern region army to dislodge the alleged nothern historical dominance of Uganda's SECURITY SERVICES
. In this regard, one of the major subjects in the ondoctrination teachings (political education) in the bush was about the need to correct the colonial design whereby the Northern region was to provide members of the security forces, the central region was to prove clerks and the western region was to produce plantation workers etc. Therefore the UNLA was branded an Acholi army. To drive the point home, one of the earliest NRA 'patriotic' songs went as follows:-
Ooo Melida, Ooo Melda Ooh Muzuri saana.
Wacholi Ooo Wauliwe Ooo Muzuri saana.
This song advocated for the killing of Acholis. It was popular during morning and afternoon road run.
Around late 1985, it was banned because after the joining of hands by UNLA in Fortportal, the first Acholi became part of NRA.
Within NRA, Museveni played the secterian card to control the growth of influence that would breed another bull in the kral other than himself. After merging with the Prof. Lule group and the subsequent defections from the Kayiira group coupled by the bigger number of Baganda fighters, he had to contain their influence. The first Army Commander of NRA, Ahmed Seguya (BROTHER to Saida Bumba) died mysteriously and was replaced by Sam Magara. But still influential Baganda emerged later on like Kagwa, Musisi, Sebatta and others but did not live long. Kagwa had threatened to breakaway from the NRA. He was such a military guinus and physically appealing that he would operate while standing a machine gun that ordinarily needed to be mounted on the ground. His death became very controvercial and remains so todate. While Acholis in UNLA were grumbling over doing the donkey work, within the NRA too Baganda were in a similar position. These uneducated peasant boys endured enemy fire while manning forward observation posts (OPs), reconnaisance, but moreso looking for food (chicken, casava, kayinja etc) for the commanders. That is how Sam Waswa earned his nickname of Balikalege when he came running to the camp and repeatedly announced that the enemy was at Kalege. The likes of Oliver Zizinga and Getrude Njuba were at one time suspected of poisoning Museveni. Dr. Besigye diagonised poisoning as the probable cause of Museveni's ailment but then the duty of who could have done it belonged to somebody else. The disappointed Zizinga escaped and wished to be captured by the UNLA and killed but returned on the way. It had to take Prince Mutebi to vist the NRA liberated zone on a fact finding mission and to reassure the Baganda fighters. That is how and why there was no Muganda in the historical NRA High Command and at the fall of Kampala, there was no single Muganda in the top command of the NRA. Some Baganda university graduates like Mbuga Kojja, Serwanga Lwanga, Dibba Ssentongo, Late Mawanda and others existed in the bush but were delibarately sidelined.
Within his 'home boys' (Banyankole), the Bairu influence was contained at least during the time the NRA was in Luwero. In one incident, Tinyefuza was reprimanded for publicly declaring that how could he, a Muhima SHARE a woman with Julius Aine, a Mwiru. This was over wrangle over the daughter of Njuba. As earlier stated, these Bairus who had been fewer in Luwero, broke loose when the NRA moved to the western region and their numbers tremendiously swelled. They were collectively refered to as Busheyi UPCs. Tadeo Kanyankole and Julius Chihandae and most recent Ivan Koreta had to pay the heavy price.
As previously stated, the Bahima and Rwandese enjoyed a special status. But still, within the Hima community there existed and continues to exist privilleged classes prefered by Museveni. The Bahororo, Banyarujumbura and the ordinary pastrolist Himas go well with Museveni unlike the royal linage and historically wealthy and enlightened ones. The Rwandese Tutsi enjoyed first class treatment because of their 100% loyality to Museveni.
The significance of the rest of the minority tribes in the bush did not matter.
. In this regard, one of the major subjects in the ondoctrination teachings (political education) in the bush was about the need to correct the colonial design whereby the Northern region was to provide members of the security forces, the central region was to prove clerks and the western region was to produce plantation workers etc. Therefore the UNLA was branded an Acholi army. To drive the point home, one of the earliest NRA 'patriotic' songs went as follows:-Ooo Melida, Ooo Melda Ooh Muzuri saana.
Wacholi Ooo Wauliwe Ooo Muzuri saana.
This song advocated for the killing of Acholis. It was popular during morning and afternoon road run.
Around late 1985, it was banned because after the joining of hands by UNLA in Fortportal, the first Acholi became part of NRA.
Within NRA, Museveni played the secterian card to control the growth of influence that would breed another bull in the kral other than himself. After merging with the Prof. Lule group and the subsequent defections from the Kayiira group coupled by the bigger number of Baganda fighters, he had to contain their influence. The first Army Commander of NRA, Ahmed Seguya (BROTHER
to Saida Bumba) died mysteriously and was replaced by Sam Magara. But still influential Baganda emerged later on like Kagwa, Musisi, Sebatta and others but did not live long. Kagwa had threatened to breakaway from the NRA. He was such a military guinus and physically appealing that he would operate while standing a machine gun that ordinarily needed to be mounted on the ground. His death became very controvercial and remains so todate. While Acholis in UNLA were grumbling over doing the donkey work, within the NRA too Baganda were in a similar position. These uneducated peasant boys endured enemy fire while manning forward observation posts (OPs), reconnaisance, but moreso looking for food (chicken, casava, kayinja etc) for the commanders. That is how Sam Waswa earned his nickname of Balikalege when he came running to the camp and repeatedly announced that the enemy was at Kalege. The likes of Oliver Zizinga and Getrude Njuba were at one time suspected of poisoning Museveni. Dr. Besigye diagonised poisoning as the probable cause of Museveni's ailment but then the duty of who could have done it belonged to somebody else. The disappointed Zizinga escaped and wished to be captured by the UNLA and killed but returned on the way. It had to take Prince Mutebi to vist the NRA liberated zone on a fact finding mission and to reassure the Baganda fighters. That is how and why there was no Muganda in the historical NRA High Command and at the fall of Kampala, there was no single Muganda in the top command of the NRA. Some Baganda university graduates like Mbuga Kojja, Serwanga Lwanga, Dibba Ssentongo, Late Mawanda and others existed in the bush but were delibarately sidelined. Within his 'home boys' (Banyankole), the Bairu influence was contained at least during the time the NRA was in Luwero. In one incident, Tinyefuza was reprimanded for publicly declaring that how could he, a Muhima SHARE
a woman with Julius Aine, a Mwiru. This was over wrangle over the daughter of Njuba. As earlier stated, these Bairus who had been fewer in Luwero, broke loose when the NRA moved to the western region and their numbers tremendiously swelled. They were collectively refered to as Busheyi UPCs. Tadeo Kanyankole and Julius Chihandae and most recent Ivan Koreta had to pay the heavy price. As previously stated, the Bahima and Rwandese enjoyed a special status. But still, within the Hima community there existed and continues to exist privilleged classes prefered by Museveni. The Bahororo, Banyarujumbura and the ordinary pastrolist Himas go well with Museveni unlike the royal linage and historically wealthy and enlightened ones. The Rwandese Tutsi enjoyed first class treatment because of their 100% loyality to Museveni.
The significance of the rest of the minority tribes in the bush did not matter.
INFO IS POWER
Posted by Uganda - A Change of Guards! a
Viele GruBe
Robukui
UAH forum is devoted to matters of interest to Ugandans. 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.
0 comments:
Post a Comment