By Mulengera Reporters
In his latest newspaper column, leading NRM ideologue Ofwono Opondo has rationalized the assertiveness with which Gen Kahinda Otafiire spoke in Parliament on Thursday when he uttered what has since been construed to have been veiled criticisms of the pride and indifference with which the CDF Gen MK has been conducting public affairs.
Otafiire called out a military general whose names he didn’t disclose as he called for de-escalation of torture acts and acts to do with widespread human rights violations in the country.
Gen MK has since pushed back vowing to arrest and lock up Gen Otafiire even if it means defying his equally powerful uncle Gen Salim Saleh.
In his latest Weekend Vision column (which doesn’t have a name and simply runs under the banner OFWONO OPONDO), the former government spokesman authors a headline: Like or Hate him, Gen Kahinda Otafiire Serves it deliciously hot.
Thereunder, Opondo asserts that he is 100% sure that many big people in security, cabinet and elsewhere in government are equally disgusted and share the views Otafiire expressed except that they are too terrified to speak out. That many people in government are not capable of freely expressing themselves anymore for fear of the ‘unknown.’
Opondo, who for long has been understood to be quietly uncomfortable with Gen MK and PLU’s way of doing things, implies that Otafiire deserves respect because he is renowned for being fearless and truthful, and he is one of the very few NRA bush war historicals who remain actively engaged, with a platform both in Parliament and Cabinet.
Asserting that many Ugandans must be considering putting aside time to read Francis Imbuga’s 1976 play “Betrayal in the City,” Opondo veiledly praises Otafiire for belling the cat (namely calling out Gen MK in ways not many have the guts to).
Opondo says it had to be “an all-round horse” of the Otafiire stature to call out Gen MK at a time “many have preferred silence because of the fear of the unknown.”
He suspects that even in silence, many Cabinet Ministers (who he says have privately been confiding in him) must have felt represented as Otafiire hammered out his points during the Thursday plenary session in Parliament.
Opondo says there is no need for anyone to pretend anymore that all is well in Uganda, because the truth is that the direction Gen MK has taken will have the effect of denting his and UPDF’s image while weakening Uganda as a country too as opposed to strengthening it.
He says the Lt Herbert Mabonga Matanda-released videos too, showing graphic scenes of torture, are going to make worse Uganda’s already complicated PR situation abroad.
Opondo also implies its going to be hard to credibly castigate the renegade lieutenant for speaking partisan politics given the controversial record or standard the CDF, his supposed boss, has set through his controversial tweets.
Opondo veiledly calls out Gen MK for being a CDF who freely engages in partisan politics “when he is still an active-duty military officer, contrary to the Constitution, UPDF Act, election and other laws.”
He also regrets the fact that Gen MK doesn’t seem bothered about the negative consequences of often coming out with tweets owning up and taking responsibility for torture situations and human rights infractions, victimizing renowned regime opponents and critics.
He writes: “As it stands, it is necessary for his own personal good, that of the UPDF he leads and commands, and the government he serves in, for Muhoozi to clear his image of these serious allegations of indictment.”
Saying he is coming in peace and with good intentions, Opondo fearlessly adds: “Speaking to many people in Cabinet, Parliament, top echelons of the UPDF and the Police, as well as other Ugandans, including ordinary market vendors, there is rising public concern. Muhoozi needs to know that even when many Ugandans may be silent, and others actively fanning his reported ambition to run for President in 2031, for yet an unavailable position, the path has thorns, which those people employing hubris [pride/arrogancy] may not be able to effectively handle.”
Renowned for taking no prisoners, Opondo proceeds to address the President’s son more directly thus: “Muhoozi, it’s not a nice thing to be feared. You should instead be voluntarily liked, appreciated, or even loved and worshipped, if you propose to do good in the interest of Ugandans. There was already a silver platter. It may, perhaps, be good for you to restrain those calling up hubris in your name because it is a game in futility.”
He proceeds to amplify the opposition sarcastic talking points of mocking PLU by likening it to pilau [to imply a spiced-up meal of rice]. This is how he expresses himself on that: “Please do not let followers of the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU), aka pilau, behave like those of the now dwindling National Unity Platform, and who are not, after all, united and seem to have no good purpose.”
This insinuation that there are fractures within the PLU movement will naturally anger many handlers in the MK universe who have always insisted on projecting a solidly united political movement.
Opondo doesn’t rule out the possibility of PLU ending up in very destructive disintegration similar to what befell UPC, UYD, FDC and the Buganda Ssuubi group of the early 2010s.
“Do not let PLU go down the lane of intolerance that brought down the UPC, DP’s Uganda Young Democrats, FDC and Buganda’s Ssuubi, with their dreams receding each passing day.”
Opondo asserts that there is no way Ugandans who have been used to Museveni’s 40 years of “politics of moderation and flourishing freedoms” are going to normalise the absurd and agree to put up with the intolerance and blatant human rights violations similar to what Gen Otafiire criticized in Parliament during his plenary submission on Thursday.
The older persons MP, who proudly hails from Mulanda village in Bukedi’s Tororo district, also says there is no reason why Parliament doesn’t “soon” find time to prioritize debate on the human rights violations and torture acts which Gen Otafiire boldly called out in his speech on Thursday.
It’s predictable that the bold contents of his Weekend Vision column could cause the thick-skinned man from Mulanda to be locked up inside Gen MK’s basement, and the same could cause sleepless nights for Vision Group CEO Don Wanyama who last weekend had to publicly apologize for failing to prevent “his boys” from writing Hoima land grabbing-related stuff that was deemed hostile to one of Gen MK’s favourite generals inside the UPDF.
Don Wanyama could this time round find himself faced with PLU militants demanding from him much more than mere apologizing because, to them, the Opondo content constitutes a direct attack onto their leader (Gen MK) who is supposed to be infallible/atasobya; exactly like Bobi Wine continues to be for his supporters inside the NUP party. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
