{UAH} Gen Muntu: “Army must keep out of partisan politics”

Joseph, 

I wonder how one can create an effective change remotely compared to  when one is inside more so at top policy level. For instance, this Mugisha Muntu as a high ranking soldier was zealous in the bush and devoted his entire military career at developing and implementing bad policies to destroy anything with democratic semblance and focused his efforts on destroying Luwero Triangle, northern and eastern Uganda where he left an everlasting signature of burning Iteso in Mukura, second only to King Mwanga whose criminal act is remembered annually as Uganda Martyrs'. 

Suppose he had devoted even half of his zeal to lead by example to make the army independent of political influence by for example ably arguing against military representation in Parliament. Why didn't he do it? It simply means that his priorities, like many of his colleagues, were somewhere else. 

Comrade Muntu lost the opportunity to create change when he was still active in the army where he could have been very influential and would have done Uganda proud instead of being remembered by the Mukura inferno. 

Now my friend Muntu he is barking from outside like a dog that runs away scared at an "enemy" and barks at a distance, but very ready to take off at any given time. They are scared to make any serious argument when still inside because of the the very policies they deviously crafted.

Which reminds me of how Col. William Omaria was silenced by the Bazilio Okellos when he complained of the military doing little to contain the Karamojong incursion in Teso in the 1980s. Same observation was shared by Teso elders including late Bishop Ilukor. They asked him why he left the army and joined politics but turn around to blame the same army. 

Peter Simon 

On Friday, June 25, 2021, 'joseph ochieno' via Ugandans at Heart (UAH) Community <ugandans-at-heart@googlegroups.com> wrote:

Except that he was at the core of building the very partisan and repressive army that he now criticises, wrapping the State with the army as a perfection. Mukura massacres of 'biological substances' took place by his commanders and, with Museveni at the top. 

Any apologies?

Bandits.

Ochieno 

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Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone

On Friday, June 25, 2021, 3:29 pm, 'Owor Kipenji' via Ugandans at Heart (UAH) Community <ugandans-at-heart@googlegroups.com> wrote:

How do you keep the Army outside politics when you continue having the same military being

represented in Parliament?

What is their role in being MPs.

Kipenji

On Friday, 25 June 2021, 03:16:13 GMT-4, 'william Ekwelu' via Ugandans at Heart (UAH) Community <ugandans-at-heart@googlegroups.com> wrote:

The leader of the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT), Gen Mugisha Muntu has said that there is need to rethink the structuring of the army in order to complete the transition to a professionalised force under the command of civilian leadership.

Muntu who served as army commander from 1989 to 1998 made the remarks during an "Ask Muntu" session that took place online where he was asked why he declined a ministerial appointment and instead chose to retire after his time as army commander.

In his response, Muntu said, there were a number of reasons including political reasons, but largely, it was a value-based decision adding that from both a practical and conceptual point of view, there was no reason to remain in the forces.

He explained that having served as army commander, any position he would take after that would actually be a step down.

"While I personally didn't mind that, it would have raised several problems. First, my successor would have been put in the very uncomfortable position of recognising me as his predecessor while also establishing his authority. Both senior and junior officers would also struggle with the chain of command raising the possibilities of indiscipline or lack of cohesion," he explained.

Given our history and fractured loyalties as a nation, he noted that the last thing we need is an army with various, competing centres of power.

"Politically, I wasn't particularly keen on taking up a political appointment while also serving in the army. I had earlier argued (both as army commander and army MP) against the continued presence of the army in parliament. A ministerial appointment contradicted this position," he highlighted.

He said he had grown increasingly sceptical of President Museveni's commitment to the ideals they fought for but more than that, he was intent on ensuring he did not make the mistakes he was calling him out for.

He explained that the UPDF has many well trained and disciplined officers yet the reality remains that it can only be as disciplined as its (civilian) leadership.

He stated that the task of building the institutionalised army and indeed country we all desire falls on all citizens of good will both within the forces and among civilians.

"Until those in favour of such changes form the majority of Ugandans, our transition from a military state remains precarious," he noted.

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"When a man is stung by a bee, he doesn't set off to destroy all beehives"

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