Well… here we are and things are moving just along the same lines as our ancestors and little to nothing has changed. We have soda bottles, cellphones and fancy cars. There is ability to import and export from far and wide. Information is moving swiftly and the tyrants cannot control the formation of all intelligence anymore. However, they are still working on overtime to control the narratives and history telling.
On a day like today, in memory of the martyr Reverend Luwum. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni is working on overtime to discredit and make the predecessors look as evil as possible. To shed a positive light on his own reign and reason to self-styled Presidency for Life. Because, it is not like he ills of the past ceased with their end. No, he has re-issued them and made them a part of his imprint of government.
I will only take few passages from the speech, as it reflects his jaded mind in 2022.
As we begins with this passage:
“Government gazetted 16th February as a public holiday, to commemorate Archbishop Janani Luwum’s legacy and martyrdom. The day is also an opportunity to reflect on the valor and courage displayed by Ugandans in the fight against bad leadership and dictatorship. We honour the memory of the dead and celebrate them for their sacrifice and contribution to Uganda’s liberation from the shackles of oppression. For instance, two Cabinet Ministers, Charles Oboth-Ofumbi and Erinayo Oryema, were murdered alongside the Archbishop by Idi Amin’s soldiers” (Museveni, 16.02.2022).
It is amazing to read these words from a man who has run a nation with blunt force since January 1986. Someone who has put the shackles, assassinated and silenced the dissidents over all these years. The only difference is that his the Head of State and Amin is deceased at this point. Museveni have done everything Amin did and continues to do so. There is no stop of the oppression and use of military force to control the masses. If it is abductions, kidnappings, torturing or keep civilians incommunicado. Also, in addition extra judicial killings of both high ranking officials and opposition activists. Therefore, the bad leadership and dictatorship hasn’t ceased to exists, but only has a new head on top…
Another passage he says this:
“Therefore, as you reflect on our tragic past, you should also thank the Almighty God for enabling us to correct the mistakes which stalled Uganda’s progress. Some Countries have failed to emerge from the mistakes of bad leadership. They got severely torn apart and have remained in an ungovernable condition as a result of the bad decisions of their leaders. There are many examples that one can quote. However, in the case of Uganda, we were able to rescue the Country from total collapse and redirect it on the path of stability and prosperity” (Museveni, 16.02.2022).
What is striking that Museveni cannot see what he himself is doing and what sort of state his running at the very moment. It is like his distorted mind has jaded it all. He says Uganda has emerged from bad leadership, but that isn’t true. There been plenty of bad decisions made by him over the years. The President in 2022 is still promising stability and prosperity like it is 1990s. However, this man hasn’t changed things to much and the militarizations of politics haven’t made things better, but has ensured the UPDF involvement in all parts of the civilian government. That isn’t solving problems, but making army commanders working in civilian fields, which they are not fit for. That is bad leadership, but the President would never say so… we know that and it’s really bad or getting worse over the years.
Final passage:
“The fruits of liberation are now ripe in every sector of our society. Uganda enjoys unprecedented peace and stability. There are some few evil doers, like the ADF, who are puzzled by this great achievement. Their attempts to distract us from the work of building Uganda into a modern middle income Country have been decisively defeated. The UPDF is determined to uproot any disruptive and negative forces inside or outside Uganda. Uganda’s rapid march towards the goal of socio-economic transformation cannot be stopped by anyone” (Museveni, 16.02.2022).
Here we just see it and he sets up the stage as well. It is really so revealing how his banking on the middle-income country status, which he has been promising for over a decade or so now. It is the promise of rainbows and unicorns, which never get to encounter or even see in the flesh. The dream that turns into a nightmare, because the President cannot govern or have the ability to make things properly. He has had decades to ensure this and has had all the support a leader could from donors and aid organizations. Still, his mannerisms and choices is self-deprecating and therefore, the results are there after. We are also seeing how he has to use fear both internally and externally too, which is such a nice thing to do on a day of a martyr. It is just a sensible thing to do for the old man. As it is fitting to put the pressure on, I suppose.
Well… this wasn’t jolly reading, but that’s because Museveni’s reign isn’t all that. It is grim and it isn’t getting better. It is tragic as a man who had all the hope and the promise in the early years, even as he was burning the North. Still, everyone had hope that he would be different than Amin. However, he has taken all of his traits and evolved them into the imprint of the state. Which is tragic and for him to celebrate this day is disgusting. As he resembles everything Rev. Luwum fought against. Peace.