By Otim Nape
A few days ago, Dr. Paul Williams, a legislator in the British Parliament, called on his government to use this year’s CHOGM meeting the Queen hosted to prevail on veteran Ugandan leader Yoweri Museveni to retire insisting that 32 years was simply too much. Dr. Williams (the Stockton South MP) argued that by overstaying in power, Museveni had become “a barrier to Uganda’s development and good governance.” In response, Penny Mordaunt the UK Secretary for international development told the British Parliament that they intended to convey pro-good governance messages not only to Museveni but all the other heads of State descending on London for the CHOGM meeting. As expected back home in Kampala, the Museveni spin doctors couldn’t let Dr. Williams get away with it just like that.
M7 OFFICE LATEST;
The latest to speak out is Faruk Kirunda, a communications assistant in Museveni’s NRM Party office which is manned by Doka Milly Babalanda. The office is for Museveni in his capacity as NRM Party chairman and Faruk Kirunda is the communications person therein. Attached to this story is a statement Kirunda released sparking angry reaction from Museveni haters on social media. “Big up Dr. Williams. Continue awakening us Ugandans,” Enock Scott Ssemanda posted. Simon Oyo agreed saying that whereas Museveni benefited from the democracy that prevailed during Obote’s time, the NRM has only imposed vote-rigging in Uganda. Swabul Kalema contemptuously referred to Kirunda’s statement as “total rubbish.” Hassan Karuhanga says Dr. William spoke the truth, the very reason strong Musevenists like Kirunda are hurting. Hillary Baryats Mwambutsya posted something too derogatory we can’t repeat it here. Kenneth Bali too had no kind words for Faruk and thanked Dr. Williams for speaking out of behalf of many fearful Ugandans. Waiswa Lufafa says “the words of that brilliant MP came at a time we needed them most.” Raja Atwooki referred to Ugandan leaders sleeping in public functions. Whereas hundreds bashed Kirunda, there are some who supported him including RDC Moses Nuwagaba and Robert Kikulwe who wrote thus: “You people you should appreciate Museveni and what he has done for us. Some of you can’t even manage your families but you are here accusing him.” Issa K Barugahare captures the angry fellow face bookers exhibited towards Faruk in the following comment: “The writer [Faruk Kirunda] is informing Dr. Williams to leave the issues of Uganda to Ugandans but while reading the comments, Ugandans seem to be in support of Dr. Williams.” The other face booking Ugandans up in arms against Kirunda for defending Museveni included Rena Ahmed Mukasa, Ndwane Omwenemafundo, Peter Otwom, Fred Tugume, Willy Abilla, Prince Rax, Anthony Smith, Winfred Anyango, Fred Senteza, Stevens Kezaala, Eria Bamulumbye, Jeeh Douglas, Kassim Walakira just to mention a few.
WHAT DID FARUK SAY?
The following is the verbatim of the Museveni’s office rebuttal that Faruk Kirunda released in his capacity as the big man’s assistant in charge of media management;
VERBATTIM
We have heard with consternation statements made by British Member of Parliament, Dr. Paul Williams, in which he claimed that the “long” stay in power of President Yoweri Museveni, also the national chairman of NRM, is a barrier to Uganda’s development.
We received his selfish message aimed at creating hatred and a false impression on the relations between our two great nations, Uganda and Great Britain, with more or less surprise. Despite the colonial link between the two countries, bilateral relations are at their best. At the time Dr. Williams made his submission in the British Parliament, President Museveni was a guest of the government attending the CHOGM. On the sideline, he met Prince William, second in line to the British throne. Dr. Williams’ submission was, therefore, an abuse of protocol and an insult to the British crown and the Ugandan people who worked hard to attain their independence and have toiled day and night to preserve it. Museveni is an elected leader and just because the British people have never found anyone among them befitting an extended stay in power does not mean that Ugandans don’t know what they want.
Dr. Williams should consider Uganda’s history in three phases to educate himself on why Museveni has held steady power for 32 years; there is Uganda as a colony, Uganda with no rule of law between 1962 and 1986 and Uganda under functional democracy and rule of law since 1986. The colonialists subjected us to the worst form of tyranny where we were disenfranchised, marginalized and tortured in our own motherland. When they left, they handed over to a ruthless cohort of leaders that took us back a century. It’s only since 1986 that Uganda has tasted true democracy and self-governance. That state of affairs has been enabled only by the able leadership of President Museveni. We are aware that Uganda has many enemies. The same have no love lost for Museveni due to his unflinching resistance against immoral acts marketed by Western hypocrites and desire to see political, social and economic integration of East Africa and Africa at large. His commitment to the war on terror sends shivers down the spines of terrorists and their sponsors, thereby becoming a target of multi-pronged collaborators interested in destabilizing Uganda, Africa and the world at large.
Dr. Williams may wish to advise himself about where his statements place him and whether he has done sufficient research on Uganda of today and Uganda of back then. His statements are, therefore, the rant of an envious man who wished to be relevant by implying popular abhorrence to President Museveni whereas the opposite is true. We dismiss the futile one-man attempts of Dr. Williams and, sternly, call him to order and to leave Ugandan affairs to Ugandans!
KIRUNDA FARUK
Spokesperson,
Office of the National Chairman, NRM
