{UAH} Kiiza Besigye : Mr Museveni’s NEPOTISM is providing fertile ground for those with bad intentions to promote TRIBALISM.

Yesterday, 15th December 2018, I addressed a meeting of our leaders from the Divisions of Kampala. Some statements that I made have (not surprisingly) been spun out of context. It's necessary to respond to the controversy that is being fanned in the media.i

Before doing that, I'd like to condemn, in the strongest terms possible, the ongoing acts of impunity by Uganda Police. Yesterday, Hon Robert Kyagulanyi (Bobi Wine) and his colleagues and supporters were once again attacked in Jinja.

People were brutally arrested, beaten and some detained, while others were forcefully taken out of Jinja. All this was aimed at stopping Bobi to meet his funs and supporters and to conduct his business.

Public meetings of political parties, MPs and, even, Civil Society Organisations have been similarly attacked.

There is no doubt that the NRM/M7 Junta is determined to brutally violate rights of all they consider to be political threats, in order to enforce the Life-Presidency project that's been openly declared by Mr Museveni.

I commend Bobi for defying the Junta in spite of serious threat to his life. They may have thought that after Arua, he'd be quite; he's totally defied them!

However, people must understand that safety of activists is important too. Dead people don't fight. Activism is not seeking martyrdom! It's our vigilance and the Grace of God that keeps us alive so far.

Yesterday's address was focussed on current political situation and the way forward.

I thanked our leaders for the hard and long struggle so far. My assessment is that our struggle has already, essentially, led to the collapse of the NRM/M7 Junta.

The Junta Security, Economic &Social systems are now largely dysfunctional; the popular legitimacy of the Junta is the lowest ever; and international credibility is in tatters!

However, I pointed out that we've not succeeded in regaining our power because of some confusion still obtaining in the networks of the struggle. That's to say:

First, we need to have clarity on the strategy and plan for achieving a democratic transition from the Junta.

Secondly, we must not be destructed by struggles for leadership while under Junta captivity. Fighting to become wardens among the prisoners! Focus must be on regaining control over the country.

Thirdly, we must recognise and appropriately respond to the Junta propaganda. This propaganda is intended to, mainly, demonise activists and their networks (platforms); foment conflict and divisions among the activists; and whitewash the Junta and it's leadership.

Fourthly, (and partly linked to the third above) we must be conscious of the activities of 5th Columnists (Junta agents), whose mission is to cause divisions, paralysis and confusion among the activists. The longer the struggle takes, the more numerous and sophisticated these actors become. Social media has afforded them fertile ground for this.

A dangerous trait of causing divisions and confusion among the activists that I pointed and that is a subject of some controversy is fomenting tribalism. This is real and must be confronted. Mr Museveni's nepotism (favouring relatives and friends) of 33 years offers fertile ground for the emergence of this dangerous vice.

For sometime now, but,  especially since the election of 2016, some leaders have been insensately calling on Baganda not to support leaders from elsewhere again. This has been done on popular radio programs and on public functions.

One of the leaders is now well-known for referring to Bible verse in Gal 3: "You stupid Galatians! Who put you under a spell?".

My concern about the use of the word "Twebereremu" therefore, is because I've heard and seen it (on social media) used to promote the tribalism campaign.

I've since realised that some people understood what I said as an attack on Bobi Wine, because, apparently he uses it frequently.

I can certainly say that I've never heard him use the word for negative purposes. That's why I sincerely apologise to all who felt that this was my intention.

However, words can start assuming different meanings from those originally intended- depending on users. MTN's advert about Bosiko's life is a case in point. When we now talk about Bosiko, it's not the advert one. So, words can assume mutating meanings.

The more important point is that Mr Museveni's NEPOTISM is providing fertile ground for those with bad intentions to promote TRIBALISM.

People of Ankole, Mr Museveni's home, were starving to death last year. Kind Ugandans donated food to save some lives. They want change very badly because, as they starve, they live near some individuals that are very well off, having illicitly acquired wealth.

Tribalism can actually shield the thieves from Western Uganda. They can, justifiably, claim that all in the region are endangered. Of course, it would also seriously suck oxygen from the liberation struggle under way.

Having made the above observations, the main thrust of my recommendations was that we need to urgently UNITE around a common strategy for immediate procurement of the Junta end. We should not wait for another rigged election.

As I was concluding these remarks, I received a phone call from Bobi to inform me about yesterday's troubles. We shall be meeting again soon to reflect further on the way forward.

Enough is enough! #M7mustGO!

Kizza-Besigye

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