Opinion: Lt. Gen. Elwelu stern warnings to the MPs are foolish!
“I have seen our honourable MP (Luwero District Woman MP Eng. Lillian Nakate) here. We love you very much, but you people (MPs) like causing chaos in Parliament, without knowing that chaos is our business. You try creating the chaos again and we shall come and bring peace in your heads again” – Lt. Gen. Peter Elwelu
Surely, I would never anticipate anything of democratic values or understanding of Parliamentarism from the dude behind the burning Buhikira Royal Palace of the Omusinga Charles Wesley Mumbere Irema-Ngoma and killing of his royal guards plus other casualties. I would not expect that man to care about Members of Parliament, that they supposed to control him and give him as a Lieutenant General a mandate. As the Lt. Gen. Clearly doesn’t understand his role, but that is because the President is acting a militarised leader and not a representative of the people.
The whole NRM is praising the army and what it does. Therefore, it is not surprising that Lt. Gen would say this stuff. However, this proves that the army can easily invade and be strangers in the national assembly as they did during the Age Limit Plenary Sessions on the 27th September 2017. This is done to prepare for the President for the General Election of 2020. Clearly, the Lt. Gen. is ready to do this again. Who needs Parliamentary rules, when the army is ready to cause havoc, because of chaos.
The army man is not finished with his speeches, as the opposition also get also under fire. This being another stern warning, since this man cannot shield himself from himself nor the ability to understand his place again. That is not new, but his just repaying favours to the ones who has promoted him. Therefore, he is defending the UPDF and indirectly the NRM. Which he knows is the reason for his fortune.
“You will not destabilize peace in this country when we as UPDF are here, UPDF will not allow this. We fought for this peace and we shall defend it at whatever cost because we are trained to do that. You will meet us ready, you will meet fire and you will meet a disaster” – Lt. Gen. Peter Elwelu
The Lt. Gen needs some civic education, maybe even some understanding of politics and parliament, but we cannot blame him for this. He is just trained to be this way. We couldn’t expect a man whose proud of killing innocent civilians and being promoted for it. That he would care for civilians, neither caring for civic education either.
The Constitution of 1995 is very clear on the article 79: “Functions of Parliament.
Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, Parliament shall have power to make laws on any matter for the peace, order, development and good governance of Uganda. Except as provided in this Constitution, no person or body other than Parliament shall have power to make provisions having the force of law in Uganda except under authority conferred by an Act of Parliament” (Constitution of 1995).
Clearly, the Lt. Gen cannot grasp this, as he thinks the army has the control and set the bar. Instead of remembering the representatives of the people, the lawmakers are the one setting the standard. Something, the army man doesn’t understand. Maybe, he doesn’t want to. As he just want to show force and intimidate the MPs into submission like the President likes.
Also the Constitution says what the UPDF are supposed to do in the article 210: “Parliament shall make laws regulating the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces and, in particular, providing for— the organs and structures of the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces” (Constitution of 1995).
Surely, it is not the army man whose supposed to regulate them, but the other way around. This is by law, by the Constitution, the one guiding law and principal document of the Republic. Therefore, the mandate of the UPDF is set by the Parliament. This is why the argument of the Lt. Gen is foolish. He should start to grasp reality, but then again his a hired gun for the regime.
I don’t expect the man has studied the Constitution, his been busy with weapons instead of picking brains, except exposing brain-matter. Peace.
