By Aggrey Baba
There was a heated exchange of words at late King Oyo’s Buziga residence during the Monday vigil, as People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) leader Dr Lulume Bayiga used his tribute to accuse the Museveni government of politically motivated persecution of Dr Kizza Besigye and former mayor Erias Lukwago, only for Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister for Luwero Triangle and Rwenzori Region Alice Kaboyo, speaking immediately after him, to hit back at his criticism.
Lulume, who was accompanied by former Kampala Deputy Lord Mayor Doreen Nyanjura, Ambassador Wasswa Birigwa, Mr. Harold Kaija and other PFF leaders, brought the plight of incarcerated PFF leaders into the mourning proceedings, arguing that their continued detention was politically motivated.
The clash acquired an unusual dimension given Kaboyo’s long association with the Museveni family. Before taking on her current ministerial role, Kaboyo worked as a helper within the Museveni household during the exile years and at State House and has continued to serve as one of the close confidants to First Lady Janet Museveni. She is also reportedly the person who babysat and looked after Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba and the other Museveni siblings during their childhood, placing her among the figures with a long-standing connection to the first family.
Against the backdrop of their incarceration, Lulume revealed that the two PFF leaders had been moved from the Luzira Prison hospital to an unknown clinic, despite, according to him, their health conditions requiring specialized medical attention abroad.
He used their situation to argue for a Uganda in which citizens enjoy greater freedoms, equality and the right to participate fully in the country’s political and economic affairs without getting into trouble for their individual beliefs.
The remarks immediately injected a political dimension into what had otherwise been a solemn gathering to mourn the young Tooro monarch.
Kaboyo, who took the microphone immediately after Lulume, appeared unwilling to let the opposition narrative go unchallenged, questioning whether democratic freedoms should mean that people who commit crimes should simply be left untouched.
The exchange came in sharp contrast to the earlier appearance of National Unity Platform (NUP) leaders, who had visited the same residence earlier in the day and deliberately kept their familiar criticism of President Museveni out of their tributes.
Instead, the NUP delegation had concentrated on celebrating King Oyo’s life, leadership and legacy.
Lulume, however, used his moment at Buziga to bring the country’s political tensions into the mourning proceedings.
He spoke of the Uganda he wants to see, one where citizens are free, equal and able to participate in the economy without discrimination.
“We want a Uganda that can work for everybody, where we are all free, equal, and can participate in the economy,” Lulume said, further calling for freedom of speech, freedom to operate and prosper, as well as greater respect and empowerment of kingdoms and their leaders.
“We need to have a Uganda in which you can have free speech, freedom to operate and to prosper. A Uganda in which you can all contribute to nation building,” he said.
Kaboyo, however, countered the argument that government action against the opposition leaders could simply be dismissed as political persecution.
“So people should just commit crimes and they are let alone because, you know, people, they have freedom to commit crimes?” she asked, further arguing that the government has a duty to fight crime and insisted that democracy does not mean that the state should sit back and watch if it believes individuals are planning to overthrow the government.
Her remarks appeared to directly touch on the controversy surrounding Besigye and other opposition figures, whose prosecution and detention have repeatedly triggered fierce criticism from the opposition.
After the political exchange, Kaboyo returned to the purpose of the gathering, praising King Oyo as a young, educated and accomplished leader who nevertheless remained humble.
“Imagine a young person, handsome, young, keen, educated. He had it all, but he was so humble and he was such a good leader,” she said.
She urged Ugandans to continue praying for the royal family and remember the example set by the late King during his reign. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
