{UAH} Maj Gen Peter Elwelu Is Showing Signs of Being More Dangerous Than Gen Idi Amin
|
3:22 AM |
No comments |
Maj Gen Peter Elwelu Is Showing Signs of Being More Dangerous Than Gen Idi Amin
In the most recent days, the body language of Maj Gen Peter Elwelu has been that of a bullish, confrontational and a very aggressive lad.
This week, NTV broadcast his loud and vigorous interview, with a wide eye contact like that of a man possessed by demons. In fact, if you had the opportunity to see the first commanders of the NRA, you realize that Elwelu was not in the bush at all.
After getting controversially promoted from brigadier to Maj General and upgrading his posting from division commander to overall commander of the land forces, Elwelu has ballooned into a dinosaur.
A friend told me that Elwelu, who joined the army some 30 years ago in 1987, never had such a bullish attitude before. 'Maybe power is now getting to his head'. It is not entirely wrong to suggest that Elwelu is drunk with power.
Before he got the posting as commander of the land forces, Elwelu concealed his character so well that he managed to win the trust of the appointing authority.Contrary to what many people think, the army is not conducive for aggressive people. Normally bullish characters do not get too far in the military because of fear that they can abuse their authority. In any case, they normally get an assignment that 'kills off' their careers.
For instance when Amin was still in the kings African rifles, he was assigned a military operation to disarm cattle rustlers in Turkana. And he indeed blew his cover when he embarked on a number of human rights violations. Amin allegedly told the captured Turkana cattle rustlers to surrender their guns or they'd lose their penises!. Those who hesitated had their balls chopped off by Amin!
The immediate cause of action by the British army was to banish Amin from service, but historical events played in his favor as Uganda was preparing for independence. The British had to groom officers who would takeover command after independence and Amin was one of the few available at the time… in fact, one British officer warned the new Ugandan Prime Minister Milton Obote that he should carefully watch over Amin.
But as you all came to know, Obote assigned Amin more strategic duties that included the infamous attack on the kabaka's palace in 1966. Amin was then promoted from colonel to Major General, just like Elwelu has been promoted from brigadier to major general for the recent attack on Omusinga Charles Wesley Mumbere's palace.
And by the way, looking back critically, you will realize that Amin was even more humble and less aggressive than Elwelu – which explains why he was called the gentle giant.
Why The Amin-Elwelu Analogy
The fundamental aspect about this analogy between Amin and Elwelu is that the latter has also emerged at the helm of the army at a very critical time when the country is as deeply divided like it was in the 60s.
Political events moved so fast in the 60s that the country degenerated from a multi party democracy to one party dispensation, monarchies were abolished and the country was strictly under the state of emergency.
The other thing is president Obote had lost most of the practical credibility he had amassed in central Uganda.
Therefore having a man like Amin in the circles of command was a very dangerous thing. And voila, he indeed exploited the situation and overthrew Obote in 1971!
Today, Uganda seems to be at the same crossroads as those of the 60s. The country is more divided today than any other time in president Museveni's 30 year reign. Although there is no war in most parts of the country, there is a general consensus that president Museveni's continued stay is counterproductive.
The Ugandan army and the UPDF, is not as united as it used to be in the past – if you base on the voting patterns. In fact, during the post election period for the 2016 elections there was a lot of talk about a coup which culminated into sporadic attacks on some military installations around the country.
Although the situation was calmed down with some arrests of some senior officers, the message was sent that the UPDF was not in its usual united form.
You can say that president Museveni has no political threat in the country today. But you need to remember that president Obote had ALSO destroyed the opposition to an extent that almost the entire members of parliament, mostly from DP, had crossed over to UPC.
By 1969, Obote was politically unworkable just like Museveni appears to be today. But that did not stop Gen Amin from overthrowing him in 1971.
Therefore having a man of a volatile nature like Maj Gen Peter Elwelu in such a volatile political circumstance in the country is as dangerous as it was having Gen Amin in the late 60s.
The Author Fred Daka Kamwada Is A Journalist And A Blogger
--
Disclaimer:Everyone posting to this Forum bears the sole responsibility for any legal consequences of his or her postings, and hence statements and facts must be presented responsibly. Your continued membership signifies that you agree to this disclaimer and pledge to abide by our Rules and Guidelines.To unsubscribe from this group, send email to: ugandans-at-heart+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
0 comments:
Post a Comment