The shocking confession by Prof. George Kanyeihamba that the National Resistance Movement (NRM) actively turned a blind eye to theft and corruption under the guise of “national reconciliation” is a blatant admission of the party’s willingness to sacrifice Uganda’s future for its own selfish interests. This was not a mere oversight; it was a deliberate and sinister plot to allow NRM cronies to raid the nation’s wealth unchecked, fattening their pockets while ordinary Ugandans languished in poverty. Kanyeihamba’s brazen declaration that they tolerated corruption to “reconcile” the country is a shameless and disgraceful display of a government that holds power and greed above all else.
In 1994, during a seminar in Kampala, Kanyeihamba’s unapologetic admission that the NRM was willing to share the bed with thieves as part of a so-called reconciliation strategy pulled back the curtain on a corrupt regime that had no intention of serving the people. This wasn’t about bringing Ugandans together; it was about bringing thieves together, giving them free rein to plunder the nation’s resources while the NRM stood by, complicit in their crimes. The talk of reconciliation was nothing but a cover for a looting spree that has left Uganda bleeding, betrayed by those who were supposed to protect it.
The hypocrisy of the NRM is revolting. On one hand, they present themselves as the harbingers of democracy and justice, yet on the other hand, they harbor and protect corrupt officials, turning Uganda into a den of thieves. Kanyeihamba’s admission of corruption being a tolerated evil within the NRM was met with outrage, but it is this very culture of corruption that defines the NRM’s legacy. Figures like Prof. Apolo Nsibambi, who dared to point out the inconsistencies in Museveni’s governance, were attacked and silenced. This shows how deep the rot runs, with even those who appear to be reformers playing along with the NRM’s corrupt game.
Prof. Foster Byarugaba’s revelation that over 20 billion Ugandan shillings were stolen in one fiscal year alone is proof that the NRM is nothing more than a criminal syndicate. High-ranking officials are implicated in this daylight robbery, while Museveni and his cronies shamelessly sing about their so-called “correct line.” Byarugaba’s exposure of nepotism and corruption within government recruitment, with the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) being used as a dumping ground for the relatives of government officials, is a damning indictment of a government that is rotten to its core. This is not just corruption; it is a systematic, state-sanctioned plundering of Uganda’s wealth.
Kanyeihamba’s and Byarugaba’s revelations are not isolated incidents; they are part of a larger narrative of a government that has betrayed its people at every turn. The NRM’s track record of prosecuting more treason cases than any other government in Uganda’s history is a testament to its fear of accountability and truth. The brutal repression of dissent and the silencing of critics like Prof. Ginyera Pinchwa, who pointed out that even Obote, for all his brutality, was not alone in his crimes, show that the NRM is willing to go to any lengths to maintain its grip on power.
The NRM has left a legacy of corruption, betrayal, and despair. The people of Uganda have been robbed of their wealth, their dignity, and their future by a government that cares only for itself. The revelations by Kanyeihamba and Byarugaba are a stark reminder that the NRM is not a government of the people, but a government of thieves, liars, and criminals. The time has come for the NRM to be held accountable for its crimes. Uganda deserves better than a corrupt, deceitful, and self-serving regime. The NRM’s era of plunder must end, and the truth of its betrayal must be brought to light for all Ugandans to see.
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