By FORTUNATE AHIMBISIBWE
KAMPALA – I am a muzukulu of 38 years. When we were growing up, we were told stories about the NRA revolution.
They told us President Museveni had gone to the bush to fight bad Government of Milton Obote for rigging elections and killing people.
We were told the liberation struggle was to put an end to the killing non-armed civilians, detaining people in torture chambers, generally abuse of human rights.
It’s now 33 years down the road, and the same evil spirit that afflicted our country has returned.
Now the same cycle: we shall also have to explain to our children why these injustices are taking place.
The torture of civilians has been on a steady rise, from election violence to Kasese, Nalufenya and now in Arua, sheer impunity at its worst phase.
All international media houses are reporting what is happening in Uganda and foreigners are wondering, has Idi Amin returned to Uganda or is it his son who took over from him?
These events affect the image of our country, they affect our Foreign Direct Investment portfolio and tourism.
President Museveni who is 72 or 73 has lived a long fruitful life but we must face it, he will not be around to face the long-term ramifications of his actions. These actions are putting Uganda on a dangerous path and an economic break down that will affect the young people. He will not be around.
For many of us who did not physically see the evils of the past regimes, have we now lived long enough to witness the same in Museveni’s Government? That Museveni liberated Uganda is now increasingly going farther from the truth.
My friend Angelo, Angelo Osama wrote recently wrote: “In such times…It’s important to publicly condemn impunity and reject this violence.”
Frederick Douglas, 1867 said, “If there is no struggle, there is no progress. Those who profess to favour freedom, and yet depreciate agitation, are men who want crops without ploughing up the ground. They want rain without thunder and lightning. They want the ocean without the awful roar of its many waters.”
Now I have to spend time explaining to my own children why Bobi Wine, Zaake and others were treated the way they were.
Impunity and intolerance is not good for anyone, it will only lead to anarchy and further resentment of the already resented regime.
My conclusion; Museveni has built and destroyed Uganda in equal measure. It’s time for him to retire when he still has a chance to do so with dignity.
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Mr Fortunate Ahimbisibwe is a seasoned Kampala journalist currently on a sabbatical to the UK
