KAMPALA – The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda has on October 7 said President Museveni is using the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Force (UPDF) to do the National Resistance Movement (NRM) work.
While addressing the media at the party headquarters in Najjanankumbi, FCD’s Ssemujju said military involvement in politics poses great danger.
“It is UPDF that Museveni used especially to cheat elections in the just concluded Hoima District Woman MP by-election. It is UPDF which Museveni is using to ban People Power red beret. And it is UPDF which Museveni is using to do NRM work,” he said.
He further cautioned the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen. David Muhoozi and all the army leadership to resist Museveni’s invitation to participate in partisan politics.
“There will be a day for each one of you to account when 75 year-old Museveni has long gone. Uganda will not end with Museveni and you will not follow him to his grave. Follow the Constitution and you will be remembered, the way we are now remembering Musaazi and Abu Mayanja,” he said.
Mr Ssemujju added, “The Constitution is very clear in chapter 12 on Defence and Security. Article 208 is very clear. “The Uganda People’s Defence Forces shall be nonpartisan, national in character, patriotic, professional, disciplined, productive and subordinate to the civilian authority as established under this Constitution.”
He further alleged that soldiers deployed in Somalia to protect a 12-year weak government, have not paid all their allowances for several months.
“A group of 530 soldiers under an operation name UNGU deployed in Somalia for 12 months between July 2018 and July 2019 were paid for only five months. They did not receive payment for seven months yet UN and AU paid all the money. Another contingent of 1830 soldiers under the name UGABAG 25 deployed during the same period have also not been paid their full allowance. And so is another group UGABAG 24 deployed between Feb. 2018 and Feb. 2019,” said Ssemujju.
Mr Ssemujju tasked President Museveni and his commanders to explain what happened to their (soldiers) allowances and told them that Museveni is using them for his selfish interest.
