
“It is very perturbing that people try to blame everything on the UPC government. There has never been a point where the UPC government has told police officers to take their guns and look for their salaries” (James Akena, 07.08.2024).
The last victor will always try to rewrite and vilify the predecessors. That is something we know the current regime is busy doing. They are undermining the ones before him and the Republic is used to stories, which sheds a negative light on the Presidents before Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. We all know this and heard several of stories. Therefore, we know there is spin and questionable narratives out there. Which is made to make Obote and Idi Amin worse than they actually where. Just so Museveni looks better and was the saviour of the day.
However, we also know that the sons and daughters of the predecessors want a better picture and image of their fathers. The sons of Amin wants him in a more fair and balanced perspective. Just like the son of Obote, Hon. Akena want his father in a more favourable image. I cannot blame them for that and their in the rights to do so. Nevertheless, the truth is usually in the middle.
That’s why I have to use an Intelligence Memorandum from the Central Intelligence Authority (CIA) to show what really went down… just to shed some light on Obote II and what they were known for. Even if the rebels and the guerrillas created a hostile atmosphere and made it hard to govern. Still, the government and the state itself carried itself in a manner, which could be breading grown for rebellion and armed insurrection. As there was no other way to answer it.
Just read this paragraph:
“Most members of the Army come from northern Uganda. Thus, when undisciplined troops rob and kill civilians in Kampala and other parts of southern Uganda in the guise of antiguerrilla operations, they are endangering Obote’s chances of gaining greater acceptance in the south. Many of the deaths during the recent fighting in Kampala apparently were caused by troops shooting innocent bystanders. Such incidents are likely to continue if nervous troops believe there is a significant risk of further guerrilla attacks in Kampala. Tensions also have increased between the Army and the police. The often better disciplined police recently replaced soldiers on foot patrols in Kampala in an effort to reduce looting and other criminal activity by the Army. Cooperation at senior levels of the two organizations reportedly is good, but personal and professional rivalry between lower level personnel has led to armed clashes. The spread of such violence would be another serious blow to Obote’s effort to improve security in the capital” (CIA – Uganda: Obote’s Problem and Prospects – An Intelligence Memorandum, May 1982)
When you read this… the words of Akena isn’t totally sincere. Yes, the police wasn’t looting and thieving. Regardless of that… the army was really reckless and serving the public with insecurity. The army was using force and taken the law into their own hands. They were thieving and robbing people. That’s the story that lingers. Even known for killing and extra judicial killing of civilians. Which is a story that Akena and others doesn’t want people to remember. Not like Museveni is a saint and hasn’t done similar in power. He has stolen, robbed and extra judicially killed civilians too. Therefore, he isn’t vindicated…
Neither is Obote II government, the UPC Government of the 1980s. No, it maybe didn’t have police that acted out. However, it did have army and soldiers who was known for despicable acts. Real sinister acts to enrich themselves. This is why the Obote II gave reasons for rebellion and gave other people enough legitimate arguments to partake in armed guerrilla warfare. Which is the reason for why Museveni is in power today.
James Akena MP can try to defend his father and his legacy. That’s within his right. He is partly right, but the truth is also grim and it’s written in pages that will linger on for years to come. As long as the CIA memo is alive and people can read it. They can see what the army and soldiers did to the community. That should be known and it shouldn’t be hidden under a rock. Peace.











