In his 2010 New Year’s address to Uganda and occupied Buganda, East African warlord Museveni has claimed that in 1962 God created “what is now Uganda”. This year’s speech stays on the same old Museveni themes: Kony and war, oil discovery, UPE and USE, increased revenue collection, the super fast economic growth, the coming elimination of corruption, national drug authority, agriculture value addition and incompetent and corrupt government officials. Mr. Museveni’s 21-page long speech conspicuously omits mention of Buganda, land, regional tier, Kabaka, the Kayunga unrest or the subsequent massacre of 30 Baganda
On Uganda and God, the NRM chief said: “If you want anything, do it according to the laws. In 1994/95, we elected people to represent us; they came and sat here in the CA for two years debating the Constitution of Uganda. This constitution is the only democratically agreed constitution in the history of Uganda since God created what is now Uganda. The one of 1962 was by some chiefs and some groups, political parties which had not even gone through elections that time. The 1995 Constitution was agreed by the people of Uganda. So I expect, I demand; and we shall have strict adherence to the constitution of Uganda. There should be no mistake about this. If you want to do anything, follow the constitution. You don’t follow the constitution; I will take action against you, as the elected President of Uganda.”
A Makerere based researcher has read Museveni’s speech and sent us his analysis for publication. We will not reveal the researcher’s identity to protect his job and personal safety.
In his opening statement, the reseracher says that: “Museveni is recycling the same old NRM ideas in his New Year speech. This means that he has run out of new lies to tell on the areas where he has failed most miserably, economic development, corruption, and rule of law and human rights.” Due to the length of the researcher’s paper, we have extracted his main points below for easier reading.
Economic Development
The researcher explains: “Museveni uses the term economic growth all over but never economic development because he knows, even as a poorly educated economist, that Buganda and Uganda have seen negative economic development since the NRM took power.
“Economic growth happens when the country owns more money or things, even if a small group has all the billions while the majority is dying of poverty, as in Uganda. When Museveni and his wife work through Allan Shonubi to build the Garden City Mall, using money that was intended for agriculture, there is economic growth even if only the richest 1% of the population can shop there. The same is true when Mrs. Museveni steals billions out of European Loan programs, with the assistance of Naomi Nasaasira and Tumusiime Mutebire, to buy Kampala International University.
“On the other hand, economic development happens when ordinary people can afford more good things and live better. In 1970, a Muganda policeman could pay school fees for 3 children, own a motorcycle and buy Christmas or Iddi presents without taking bribes. That policeman could even have a savings account. Today, the same policeman cannot even feed his wife and children two healthy meals a day on his salary alone. Baganda as a people are facing the highest levels of economic underdevelopment since modern money became common, around 1920. Economic development has been negative since Museveni took power. Even if the URA collects trillions and Janet Museveni owns the Garden City Mall, the average Muganda villager is now a destitute who is not ashamed to beg publicly.”
Corruption
The researcher says that: “Museveni used the word corruption only once in his 7,250 word speech, and only in a section heading. The word prosecute is totally omitted. He used the word arrest only once. And he used the word law only in connection with security, oil payments and UPE. When he used the word court, it was to blame courts for releasing suspects on bail, which happens to be a basic right under Museveni’s own constitution. It is evident that Museveni is not interested in fighting corruption at all.
“Expecting Museveni to fight corruption is the same as expecting the pope to fight Catholicism. Just like the pope is the most dedicated practicing catholic, Yoweri Museveni and his wife are the most corrupt Ugandan alive. He started robbing Uganda was back in the mid 1980’s, working with Jim Muhweezi, Frank Katana, Nyakayiru and the late Grace Ibingira and investing in the UK, Sweden, Iceland and other places. He later shifted to skimming off arms purchases and investor money. He brought in his Sam Kuteesa, Salim Saleh, Jovia Saleh, Tom Katto, Emma Katto, Mutebire and Basajjabalaba to help this phase. In the next phase, he included Museveni children, Edwin Karugire, Allan Shonubi, Mike Mukula, Karim Hirji, Sudhir Ruparelia, and the like. Museveni would have arrest, prosecute and imprison himself if he wanted to start fighting corruption.”
Rule of Law and Human Rights
The researcher accuses Museveni of being a pathological liar, based on his claim that his 1995 constitution is the only democratically agreed constitution in the history of Uganda since God created what is now Uganda.
The research explains: “Only a liar would claim that the constituent assembly members were democratically elected. Who organized that fair election and who appointed that organizer? And only a pathological liar would claim that when the British handed over state power to the natives of what is now known as Uganda on October 9, 1962, God was creating Uganda. If God created Uganda 40 years ago, then who created Buganda more than 800 ago?
“Secondly, the people of Uganda never agreed to the alien concept called ‘regional tear’ which Bidandi Ssali and Museveni forcibly inserted into the constitution, for the sole purpose of frustrating Buganda’s aspirations. That is why Baganda protested against the 1995 constitution from the day it was promulgated up to now. Over 95% of Buganda and over 65% of others wanted a federal system of government. And, even though many Baganda are losing interest in Federo, in favor of secession, many non-Baganda are now demanding it.
“In 2009 the NRM occupation government publicly massacred 30 Baganda civilians and secretly murdered more in connection with Kayunga crisis. Museveni and his NRM also denied Kabaka Mutebi freedom to tour Buluri and Bugerere. During 2009 Museveni’s NRM government committed internationally prosecutable crimes against Ssabasajja and his subjects only because they demand their internationally recognized human rights to their property, freedom of expression, freedom of movement and self-determination.
“Museveni does not respect any law. If he did, why would he steal elections. He talks about the constitution only to manipulate his audience. For example, he confidently breaks the law when abusing Baganda human rights, with assistance from certain leaders he bribes in Mmengo. Being a pathological liar, however, he readily insists that he is doing it all to help Baganda. Fortunately, Baganda are now ready to take the fight to his doorstep. So, expect to see more fire from Baganda under Museveni’s feet in 2010.”
