In yet another vile display of his despotic tendencies, President Yoweri Museveni has issued a stark warning to the organizers of city riots, urging them to “abandon the ideas” or face the full wrath of his repressive law enforcement. This draconian stance is a blatant attempt to suppress dissent and maintain his vice-like, corrupt grip on power.
In his absurd national address, Museveni dismissed the legitimacy of demonstrations in Kampala during weekdays, branding them as “unfair” and likening them to someone allowing their animals to damage other people’s gardens. The analogy is laughable, at best. Here we have a president who has presided over rampant corruption and gross mismanagement of public resources, daring to lecture citizens on fairness. It is akin to a thief admonishing their victim for calling the police.
Museveni’s reference to the riots in neighboring Kenya serves as a convenient scapegoat to justify his oppressive policies. The Ugandan president seems to believe that by invoking fear of chaos, he can legitimize his iron-fisted rule. However, what he conveniently ignores is the root cause of such unrest: corruption, inequality, and the erosion of democratic principles—issues that are all too familiar to Ugandans under his regime.
The “Stop Corruption March to Parliament” scheduled for July 23, 2024, is a beacon of hope for many Ugandans who are fed up with the systemic corruption that has plagued the nation. But Museveni, true to his autocratic nature, views this peaceful demonstration as a threat to his tyrannical rule. In his convoluted logic, protesting against corruption is equated to disrupting the efforts of hard-working Ugandans. What he fails to mention is that it is his government’s corruption that has robbed these very Ugandans of opportunities, resources, and basic human dignity.
Museveni’s assertion that food prices have come down due to the diligence of Ugandan producers is a hollow claim. The reality is that many Ugandans are still grappling with high living costs and economic instability, largely exacerbated by the government’s corrupt practices. For Museveni to question the right of citizens to protest under these circumstances is an insult to their intelligence and their struggle for a better life.
The president’s rhetoric about people in other parts of the world starving, while Ugandans are supposedly creating wealth, is a blatant distortion of facts. It is not the protesters who are disturbing the peace and prosperity of the nation; it is the government’s endemic corruption and mismanagement. Museveni’s warning that organizers are “playing with fire” is a thinly veiled threat to quash any form of dissent and maintain his stranglehold on power.
The president’s condescending remark about protesters stepping on people’s products while demonstrating in Kampala underscores his detachment from reality. It is the government’s failure to address the needs and rights of its citizens that has led to this point. The notion that protests should be confined to weekends in places like Kololo is nothing more than an attempt to neuter the impact of such demonstrations and render them invisible.
Museveni’s call for order and his supposed concern for the well-being of Ugandans is a façade. His primary concern is to silence any opposition and continue his corrupt reign unchallenged. The “Stop Corruption March to Parliament” is a necessary and courageous step by Ugandans to reclaim their country from the clutches of a regime that has thrived on exploitation and deception.
It is high time Ugandans ask themselves why they are being denied their fundamental right to protest. Why does a government that claims to be democratic fear peaceful demonstrations? The answer lies in the fear of accountability. Museveni and his cronies know that a truly democratic Uganda would expose their corruption and bring their ill-gotten gains into the light.
Museveni’s warning to riot organizers is a desperate attempt to maintain his corrupt and dictatorial regime. His iron-fisted policies and blatant disregard for the rights of Ugandans are a testament to his fear of losing power. The upcoming “Stop Corruption March to Parliament” is not just a protest; it is a fight for the soul of Uganda. It is a call to action for all Ugandans to stand up against corruption and demand the change they deserve. Museveni’s era of corruption and oppression must come to an end for Uganda to thrive as a true democracy.
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