Brig. Tumukunde: We want freedom
SOURCE: THE DAILY MONITOR, 21 MARCH 2012
Speaking at a function in Rukungiri, Brig. Tumukunde, a former spy chief who fell out of the regime’s favour for opposing Mr Museveni’s third term, said he has failed to have an impact because of limited freedom. File Photo
IN SUMMARY
Talking tough. Former spy chief laments limited political space and thanks Dr Besigye for treating him during the Bush War.
Former internal security chief, Brig. Henry Tumukunde, has become the latest senior army officer to denounce what he says is the lack of freedom under the leadership of President Museveni, whose government he criticised for betraying some of the ideals that inspired the 1981 - 86 bush war.
“I am a victim of not getting free competition. If I was given free competition, I am sure I would have made an impact,” said Brig. Tumukunde, the former head of the Internal Security Organisation at a celebration to mark the installation of Mr Mathew Rukikaire as honorary canon of St. Emmanuel Cathedral Kinyansano, Rukungiri District.
“Those who reach people who deny us free competition please communicate this because we fought for freedom such that freedom may rain on us.”
The weekend criticism echoes a similar though much harder-hitting critique of the leadership of Mr Museveni by another Rukungiri politician and former soldier, Dr Kizza Besigye, whose 1999 paper outlining how the NRM lost the broadbase, fell under the spell of a manipulative leadership and became undemocratic, set off a chain of events culminating in the prevailing tense political environment today.
Brig. Tumukunde said the lack of free competition had disadvantaged people like Mr Rukikaire.
“In Africa, there is no free competition. If there was free competition I am sure Mathew would have made a serious leader,” Brig. Tumukunde said, attracting applause.
A bush war hero, the former intelligence chief, fell out of favour with the establishment in 2005 and was forced to resign as army MP after he openly expressed his opposition to plans to have presidential term limits lifted from the Constitution to allow Mr Museveni run for a third term.
He was subsequently arrested, placed under house arrest for two years, charged and court martialled.
Since his fallout, Brig. Tumukunde, who is out on bail awaiting disposal of the case in which he is charged with allegedly spreading harmful propaganda, has kept a low profile.
Since his fallout, Brig. Tumukunde, who is out on bail awaiting disposal of the case in which he is charged with allegedly spreading harmful propaganda, has kept a low profile.
His comments, however, will offer credence to recent remarks by former premier Kintu Musoke about the ailments afflicting NRM, including impunity, lack of ideological direction and corruption.
He also joins FDC leader Besigye, and other former bush war fighters who have either crossed to the opposition or continue to speak against the reported excesses of a government they see as being just as intolerant and disrespectful of the rule of law as the regime they went to the bush to fight.
At the function, Brig. Tumukunde thanked Dr Besigye -- himself a former ally and personal physician of Mr Museveni -- for treating him in the bush but questioned what could have inspired the “good doctor” to “go into murky politics.”
“When we were in the bush, I was shot. We never had many doctors but the first doctor to treat me was Dr Kizza Besigye. He was a very good doctor I don’t know why he chose to go into murky politics,” Brig. Tumukunde said.
Rujumbura MP, retired Maj.Gen. Jim Muhwezi backed Brig. Tumukunde’s assertions.
Rujumbura MP, retired Maj.Gen. Jim Muhwezi backed Brig. Tumukunde’s assertions.
“What he (Tumukunde) is saying about freedom is right. Fighting for freedom and then after they cover your mouth and then those who didn’t then enjoy it is wrong. We must oppose it strongly, we must enjoy the fruits of our struggle,” said Gen. Muhwezi, a former bush war fighter.
He added: “People of our time would defend you against any false allegations because they knew your integrity. Now in Movement (NRM) we don’t defend each other, instead we accuse each other such that we get promotion. We no longer cooperate instead we are accusing each other. During the last election I was not fighting with FDC, I was fighting with my fellow NRM members who brought tribalism and religion.”
Mr Rukikaire said as long as people know what they want and fight for it, they will always get it.
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