{UAH} HOW UGANDA'S MUSEVENI'S CONTINUED HOLD ON POWER HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH HIS LIFTING OF TERM AND AGE LIMITS

By CHANGE OF GUARDS

    "I am not going anywhere until the country is completely secured.  These self-seekers are saying Agende (he must go).  I can't handover the running of this country to wolves.  They will divide this country and bring confusion here.  I am still here.  I will not go.  I will not give them a chance."

    Museveni speaking in Kabaale - Jan 2015.

"Museveni Agende" (Museveni Must Go) is a slogan that was coined by the opposition and the pro-change agents in general as a rallying point.  Museveni's camp has consistently accused the opposition of having no agenda for the country other than simoly wanting Museveni to leave power.  Museveni has repeatedly personally responded by making it clear that he is not about to leave power.

In January 2001 during a campaign rally in Rukungiri, Museveni issued a stern warning to his political opponent Dr. Besigye (who had claimed that he enjoyed 90% support from the army) to keep off his army 

     "Leave my army alone.  It listens to me as President or else I will sent you six feet deep."

In December 2005 during his campaign trail in Nankulabye, Museveni said;

    "They are saying Museveni Agende.  Agende was"? (They are saying Museveni must go.  Go where?)

In January 2006 during a campaign rally in Mukunyu, Kasese District, Museveni said;

    "You don't just tell the freedom fighter to go like you are chasing a chicken thief from the house."

In January 2006 while appearing on  Radio West, Museveni said;

    "There are issues that require my presence to be solved.  Seeing how Uganda is, they (other candidates) cannot manage.  It will be tough for them.  I love to leave and I will leave.  I have not failed to get where to go but I want to go when the time comes; I want to leave knowing there will be no politcal disruption."

In February 2008 while on a visit to the Greater  Bushenyi, at Mungonya Village in Kyeizoba, Museveni who spoke in Runyankole said;

    "It's me who hunted the animal and after killing it, they want me to go.  Where should I go."

In May 2009 during his address to Parliment, Museveni said;

     "I first have to develop faith in an alternative leadership before I can leave ..........at the moment I see nobody."

In February 2014 while addressing his regime Parlimentary caucus, Museveni said;

    "I am a war General, not a classroom General.  Those who think they can dislodge me like that are mistaken."

In December 2014 while on a Capital FM Radio talkshow, Museveni said;

    "I don't think Ugandans are obsessed with my retirement, because wherever I go for elections, five million tell me not to go, but stay.  I don't need power.  For what?  I don't need power as a person.  I have my home, I have my house.  I need nothing from anybody as long as there is peace in Uganda."

In November 2015, during a press conference at the State Lodge in Arua, Museveni said;

    "I will hand over power if defeated in general elections but not to people who do not have a vision or targets such as Dr. Besigye."

In January 2016 during a campaign rally in Eastern Uganda, Museveni said;

     You hear people say 'Museveni must go' but go and leave oil money!"

In January 2016 during the election campaigns,  Museveni said;

   "Those who say, 'let him go, let him go, they need to know that this is not the right time.  This old man who has served the country, how do you want him to go?  How can I go out of a banana plantation I have planted and it has started bearing fruits."

In February 2016 while appearing on CBS radio station, Museveni said;

   "I am here to see whether we can help you get the East African political federation.....I am not a fanatic of the presidency."

In October 2017 while appearing on a local radio station in Teso region, Museveni equated the opposition to wolves in a sheep skin.

In December 2018 while meeting leaders of political parties under their umbrella, IPOD, Museveni said that;

     "I hear people like Mao talking about transition; how they would like to sit in the audience and see Museveni handing over power ............that is why I have said if I still have strength, I will continue.  If they are still thinking of me leaving State House soon, they should better start dreaming of other alternatives."

On August 6, 2020,  responding to a social media comment that required him to retire from the presidency, Museveni wrote a missive;

    "I am in leadership because my party nominated me and I accepted because I know there is work for all of us to do.  The majority of the people in government are young, but young people working with old ones.  If you are not happy with this, you have your parties.  Peacefully compete for votes like others have done."

His boot-leakers have also been aggressively urging him to hold on power through hypocritical praises and threats.  They have described him as superhuman, God sent and equated him to Jesus Christ.  In 2005 and 2017 he scrapped the constitutional presidential term and age limit respectively.  May gullible Ugandans think that this is the reason Museveni continues to hold on power.  Moreover, he at one time made it categorically clear that a mere piece of paper (ballot) cannot remove him from power.  

In early 2013 amidst political tensions between Museveni and Parliament over institutionalized corruption, the regime issued stern warnings to the effect that the army would take over in case of a political stalemate.   First it was the Minister of Defence, Mr. Crispus Kiyonga who warned that the army would takeover in case of a political stalemate. He stated that the army was watching and that if there was a possibility it could reassert itself should the politicians continue not showing seriousness that they can solve the country's problems.  His assertion was echoed by Museveni during his parliamentary caucus retreat at Kyankwanzi where he told them that if this 'confusion' in Parliament persists, the military would not allow it.  This was during manoeuvres to coerse his parliamentarians into backing his secret oil exploration deals.   The issue was more boldly brought  to light by the then Army Chief, Gen. Aronda Nyakairima  who a week later while addressing a press conference when asked about the treasonous statements by Museveni and Kiyonga.  He  asserted thus: 

   "the message was deliberately sent out; I can't do more than what they said.  The message was well taken for those to who it was intended.  Stand warned.  Stand advised.  Should you not change course, other things may be brought into play."

In September 2017 during the manoueveres to scrap the age limit, his Minister of Investment Evelyn Anite said that;

    "For them (opposition) they are looking for support, but we are not.  We are the party in power and we have the majje (army).  We shall amnend the Constitution and if we want to amend it 10 times we shall do it."

Indeed the army invaded parliament and beat up legislators before the amendment was effected.  The most recent threats came from his blue eyed government Chief Whip in Parliment, Ruth Nankabirwa at a public rally in Kiboga on September 27;

     "You think the son of Kaguta iscan easily let you take over his oil.  We have built airports and tarmacked roads in Bunyoro and you think we can easily allow you take over this country?  He risked his life to travel to a Covid-19 infested Tanzania just to append his signature to the oil pipeline memorundum of understanding with President Magufuli." 

Therefore, it can be authoritatively argued that Museveni's continued hold on power has nothing to do with his having scrapped the Constitutional term and age limits; but his fusing of the state with his regime and his privatisation of the security forces.  He will only leave power the same way he acquired it. For those wasting time in seeking a change of government through constitutional means like participating in his electoral process, just admit that you are taking Ugandans for a ride.

--

Rehema
Patriot in Kampala,East Africa:Assalamu Alaikum

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