Ugandan President shows opponents his iron fist

May 18, 2011 (KAMPALA) – Uganda President, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, says in a statement sent to the media on 17 May, that opposition parties’ “walk-to-work” demonstration and media that applauds illegal demonstrations will be dealt with by amending the constitution and penal code.

In a strongly worded letter under the heading “We shall know them by their fruits”, the Ugandan leader describes opposition parties’ protests over increasing fuel price and general cost of living as a “treacherous” attempt with hidden agenda.

“Ever since Dr. Kizza Besigye started the latest of his treacherous ‘walk-to-work’ – those who did not know the history of these groups started saying: ‘Let him walk. What is the harm?” writes Museveni .

“Those who were of that view [allowing ‘walk-to-work’] did not know the ever constant hidden agenda,” he added.

Kampala has witnessed a series of tense protests since 11 April when opposition leaders led by Kizza Besigye of Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) and Robert Moa of Democratic Party (DP) among others. At least nine people are known to have died when security forces fought running battles with opposition supporters.
Museveni, whose February election victory is rejected by his rivals, came to power in 1986. Having won another five year term of office, he will have served 30 years in office by 2016.

The letter come less than a week after his swearing-in ceremony, coincided with opposition leader’s return from Kenya, which caused confrontations between police and his supporters on the Entebbe—Kampala highway where dignitaries’ cars were allegedly pelted with stones.

The incident angered Museveni who asked “why insist on the day of swearing-in ceremony [when] there are 365 days of a calendar”.

“…the NRM [National Resistance Movement—Uganda’s ruling party] has already started the process of strengthening the law by amending the constitution and Penal Code to ensure that this indiscipline end,” he wrote.

“The media houses house both local and international such as Al-jazeera, BBC, NTV, The Daily Monitor etc, that cheer on these irresponsible people are enemies of Uganda’s recovery and they will be treated as such. Why do they not also report the negative acts of these elements,” Museveni noted.

(ST)