Generals clash on coup talk

SOURCE: THE DAILY MONITOR, 26 JANUARY 2012

http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Generals-clash-on-coup-talk/-/688334/1675382/-/liq73/-/index.html

Several veteran soldiers have weighed in on the raging debate about the possibility of a coup, with some describing talk of a military takeover as “barbaric”.

Maj. (rtd) John Kazoora, who fought in the five-year Bush War have that brought President Museveni to power in 1986, said the possibility of a coup amounts to treason.

“The coup plotters should be questioned by police. It’s treasonable to insinuate that the army can take over power when we have a Constitution,” Maj. Kazoora, now a member of the opposition FDC, said. “If those treasonable comments were made by other people, I am sure they would be compelled to record statements with police. I want to make it clear; I will use my last atom/effort and energy to resist such barbaric acts.”

Maj. Kazoora, who described the comments made by Mr Museveni, Defence Minister Crispus Kiyonga and the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Aronda Nyakairima, on the possibility of a military takeover as unfortunate, did not explain how he intends to resist the action in case it happens.

However, Brig. Fred Mwesigye, who fought in the Bush War and currently represents Nyabushozi County in Parliament, defended the army, saying it is “trying to reclaim democratic rights it fought for”.

Brig. Mwesigye, without stating names, said some leaders were abusing parliamentary privilege to preach “hate” against the government.

But his views were contested by Maj. Gen. Jim Muhwezi, a former spy chief, minister and now backbencher in Parliament. Gen. Muhwezi, who vowed to oppose any attempts of a military takeover, said nothing warrants a coup currently.

He said such action could only be justified if the country slipped back into chaos and that the army is “non-partisan but a politicised”, adding that “it’s not apolitical, our army is political but it’s non-partisan” and it is conscious of the will of people.

Speaking on the matter yesterday, the Army Spokesperson, Col. Felix Kulayigye, said: “The UPDF cannot overthrow the Constitution of Uganda. The peoples’ army cannot overthrow democracy. But the people’s army cannot tolerate mobocracy.”

The army spokesperson said the military leaders are only cautioning politicians who are plotting to “overthrow the Constitution”.

Backing up the accusations, Col. Kulayigye cited incidents where MPs attempted to grab the Speaker’s mace during the controversial debate of the oil Bill and when they investigated the death of Butaleja MP Cerinah Nebanda alongside the police.

“We have witnessed so many deaths in the country, why did they get involved in this one and not others? No one has ever stopped police investigations and so they should never,” he said.

On separation of powers, Col. Kulayigye said: “You don’t expect the President to respect Parliament when they don’t respect the Presidency. The ultimate responsibility of security and stability of the country lies with the President. We call upon our leaders to respect the pillars of government.”

Asked to comment, Justice Minister and Bush War combatant Maj. Gen. Kahinda Otafiire, declined. “Why don’t you ask the people who made the comments? Leave me alone,” he told the Saturday Monitor.

A military coup cannot be justified

SOURCE: THE DAILY MONITOR, 26 JANUARY 2013

http://www.monitor.co.ug/OpEd/Commentary/A-military-coup-cannot-be-justified/-/689364/1675040/-/p55kp1/-/index.html

In Summary

Nobody ever dreams of using snakes to manage a rat problem because much as snakes can effectively control a rat population, snakes are also very dangerous to human beings and domestic animals. It is so obvious but sometimes absurd examples make the best illustration.

Imagine for a moment that your house had been invaded by rats, eating your food and destroying your property. If the rats were resistant to poison and wise to traps what would you do? Would you buy a cat? What if the cat was no good at hunting or was simply overwhelmed by the number of rats, what would you do? Would you buy some snakes? Snakes eat rats and can slither into the tiny nooks and crannies that a cat can’t reach. So surely it would make sense to use snakes to eradicate the rodent problem once and for all, wouldn’t it? Would it make a difference to your answer if the infestation was outdoors on a farm?

Nobody ever dreams of using snakes to manage a rat problem because much as snakes can effectively control a rat population, snakes are also very dangerous to human beings and domestic animals. It is so obvious but sometimes absurd examples make the best illustration.

Over the last year or so, there has been tension between the 9th Parliament and the Executive. Although Parliament overwhelmingly comprises of members of the National Resistance Movement, on a number of occasions it has defied the express wishes of the President, Cabinet and the NRM Caucus. Led by a group of “Young Turks”, Parliament started exhibiting an “independent” streak with its fight against corruption, which led to the resignation of a number of Ministers and culminated in a pitched battle, as it were, in the famous Oil Debate. The tensions increased following the mysterious death of Cerinah Nebanda. A move to petition the Speaker to recall Parliament to debate Nebanda’s death was opposed by the Executive. It was halted when the Speaker declined to act on the petition.

The provisions of the Constitution, which is the supreme law of Uganda with binding effect on all persons and authorities, are very clear when it comes to setting out the functions and powers of the Executive and the Legislature, respectively. It is clear, that in a number of actions and utterances, some MPs have violated or acted in contravention of the Constitution. Perhaps out of an over enthusiastic interpretation of their oversight role, some Parliamentarians have encroached on areas that are constitutionally the preserve of the Executive or the Judiciary. On occasion, Parliamentary Committees have violated the constitutionally guaranteed rights of persons who have appeared before them. The behaviour of Parliament, as a whole, and individual MPs is subject to the law. The Speaker and the Parliamentary Commission can lawfully punish indiscipline using mechanisms and powers set out in the rules of Parliament. MPs are also politically answerable to their parties and constituencies. Party whips, in the first instance, and executive committees can lawfully bring political consequences to bear on any MPs deemed errant and out of line. Constituents can also democratically discipline an MP by voting him or her out in a general election. Ultimately, if any MPs or Parliament as a whole does anything that is inconsistent with or in contravention of the Constitution, then any person may petition the Constitutional Court for a declaration to that effect and redress where appropriate.

I am sure that the Executive has come to consider the 9th Parliament a little bit like a rat infestation. However, absolutely nothing said or done by any one or all of the MPs can justify the threats of a military takeover that have been attributed to President, Museveni, the Minister of Defence, Dr Crispus Kiyonga or, lately, the Chief of Defence Forces, General Aronda Nyakairima. A military takeover would amount to the overthrow of the established constitutional order and would be tantamount to treason according to Article 3 of the Constitution. The same article enjoins every Ugandan to defend the Constitution and, in particular, to resist any person or group of persons seeking to overthrow the established constitutional order.

Uganda’s experience with military takeovers, starting right from 1966, has not been pleasant. They set off a chain reaction of political and constitutional instability, which engendered tyranny and oppression and which, in turn, led to conflict and massive loss of life. The framers of the 1995 Constitution intended this Constitution to be the foundation of a lasting liberal democratic constitutional dispensation. In this dispensation everybody is equal under the law. All constitutional and other disputes incapable of amicable resolution must be resolved by resort to Courts. Political disputes must be resolved lawfully in the political arena by putting matters to the vote in general elections or referenda.

The Constitution does not condone or countenance any resort to violence to solve constitutional or political problems. A military takeover would also be totally disproportionate to any violation of the Constitution or political annoyance allegedly committed by Parliament; in short, much like using a snake to deal with a rat infestation.

In light of Uganda’s blighted and blood soaked history, whilst Parliament should be mindful of the constitutional constraints upon it, coup threats should be as socially and politically illegitimate as apology for genocide is in Rwanda today.

Muntu warns army on coup talk

SOURCE: THE DAILY MONITOR, 25 JANUARY 2013

 

http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Muntu-warns-army-on-coup-talk/-/688334/1674556/-/lhrp7g/-/index.html

The FDC president, Maj. Gen. (rtd) Mugisha Muntu, addresses journalists at the party headquarters in Najjanankumbi, Kampala yesterday. Gen. Muntu warned that any attempt by the army to overthrow the government, as suggested by top politicians recently, would be ‘stupid and counter-productive’.

In Summary

Warning bells. FDC boss and ex-army commander says military takeover would be ‘stupid’, as Maj. Gen. Jim Muhwezi says he will oppose any coup attempt.

Former army commander and now leader of the Forum for Democratic Change, Maj. Gen. Mugisha Muntu, yesterday warned that a military takeover of government would not only be stupid, but also counterproductive.

Maj. Gen.(rtd) Muntu, who commanded the UPDF for nearly nine years, becoming the longest serving officer in that position in the country’s history, sent a direct warning to the men and women in uniform at a press conference he called at the headquarters in Kampala.

He, however, refused to be drawn into commenting on whether the President, Defence Minister Crispus Kiyonga and army chief Gen. Aronda Nyakairima’s comments about a possible coup may amount to treason.

“I don’t want to speculate and say much,” he said when asked if the comments were treasonable. “To the UPDF, I have this to say: no officer should be tempted to think of overthrowing the government as insinuated by the Head of State as trying to do so would not only be foolish but also counterproductive,” he said.

Uganda’s Constitution provides that all power belongs to the people who shall express how they will be governed through free and fair elections. Any attempt to take control of government under any other means is prohibited by the same Constitution and is sanctioned as treasonable.

Maj. Gen Muntu said the President, Dr Kiyonga and Gen. Nyakairima were engaging in “psychological warfare” as a tactic to intimidate political actors. He said the government, which marks 27 years in power this week having shot its way to power in 1986, is in free fall.

“Personally, I think it is a tactic to intimidate Parliament for it to check itself. President Museveni has realised that he has lost control over the party and he knows that if he loses control over Parliament, he will lose whatever means he has been using to manipulate power,” Maj. Gen. Muntu said.

“The regime is in a state of free-fall and the military must start engaging in scenario building because there is an inevitable change that is coming and the institution should not be taken by surprise.”

President Museveni was quoted as having told ruling party MPs at their recent Kyankwanzi retreat that if the “confusion” in Parliament persists, the military would not allow it.

Dr Kiyonga had earlier said the army was watching and could take over to “refocus the future of the country”. On Wednesday, Gen. Nyakairima said this message “was deliberately sent out.”

Yesterday, Maj. Gen. Muntu pointed out that “when Members of Parliament rise up in a bipartisan effort to demand a stop to the cancer of corruption, it cannot be characterised as confusion.”

A dispute arising out of perceptions that Mr Museveni is interfering with the independence of Parliament and the constitutional principle of separation of powers gained momentum when he moved to stop a bid to have the House recalled.

MPs, who have taken an increasingly independent line in their fight against what they say is widespread corruption in government, wanted Parliament recalled from recess following the sudden death of the Butaleja Woman MP Cerinah Nebanda in December.

Mr Museveni, however, resisted the bid, held meetings with Speaker Rebecca Kadaga, who recently indicated that she would not recall MPs. Ms Kadaga has since been accused of bowing to Mr Museveni and compromising Parliament.

Nagenda responds
Senior Presidential adviser on the Media, Mr John Nagenda, yesterday insisted that President Museveni is still in control of Parliament and the NRM but “is just employing a three-line whip to contain” legislators.

Aronda says army takeover possible

SOURCE: THE DAILY MONITOR, 24 JANUARY 2013 

http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Aronda-says-army-takeover-possible/-/688334/1673856/-/eg5q6q/-/index.html

Army Commander Gen. Nyakairima addresses journalists yesterday in Kampala. PHOTO BY Rebecca Vassie 

In Summary

Threat? Days after the President and Defence minister warned of possible military takeover in case of a political stalemate, army commander says the warning is not far-fetched. 

The military leadership yesterday weighed in on the debate around the likelihood of the army staging a coup as has been suggested by President Museveni and his Minister of Defence, warning that “the message was deliberately sent out.”

Addressing a press conference to announce plans for this year’s Army Day, which falls on 6th February, the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Aronda Nyakairima, said the military would not allow “bad politics” take Uganda back into turmoil.

“We are going about our normal business. I can’t do more than what they said. The message was well taken for those to who it was intended. Stand warned. Stand advised. Should you not change course, other things will be brought into play. Let no one return to the past. We have seen enough, almost 25 years of turmoil.

Gen. Aronda was responding to a question raised by a journalist and when asked for clarification on the coup talk, he said, “the message was deliberately sent out and we leave it at that.”

More than a week ago, Defence minister, Dr Kiyonga, said that the army was watching and that there was a possibility that it could re-insert itself should the politicians in Parliament continue “not showing seriousness that they can solve the problems” facing the country.

He said that such an intervention would be carried out to “refocus the country’s future”.

Assertive Parliament
The comments came at a time when the regime is faced with an assertive Parliament which refuses to back down in the fight against widespread corruption, among other social ills.

Days later, President Museveni was also quoted as having told ruling party members of parliament in Kyankwanzi that if the “confusion” in Parliament persists, the military would not allow it.

Both comments have drawn swift condemnation from regime critics who say that the ground is being set for Mr Museveni to carry out a ‘palace coup’ and replace the current relative democratic order with an overt military government.

The President and Dr Kiyonga have also been asked by the same critics to remember that Uganda is a democracy with an elected government.
Others have pointed out that the military is already an intimate part of the country’s political landscape with serving army officers deployed in non-traditional roles, and 10 representatives sitting in the House as army MPs.

Professional army
Uganda’s present army evolved from a guerilla force (NRA) but is today applauded by Mr Museveni as a professional law-abiding force unlike past armies that were notorious for committing atrocities and overriding legitimate civilian authority.

The country has suffered a bloody history associated with military rule which the President usually refers to whenever he talks about what he calls the “peace and stability ushered in by the NRA/M”.

Yesterday, Gen. Aronda said the three-week civil military activities before February 6 will see UPDF repair 15 boreholes, renovate six health centres, construct two toilet and bathrooms, four classrooms and two bridges in West Nile region.

The Chief of UPDF medical services, Lt. Col. Dr Stephen Kusasira said starting Monday, the army will carry out public health interventions that include cleaning of general wards, immunisation, deworming, dental and maternal health services in the districts of Koboko, Nebbi, Arua, Yumbe, Zombo and others.

The Chief of Defence Forces said the Uganda Peoples Defence Forces was giving back to society as part of celebrating peace, development and security in the country.

The One Question Network

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Why FDC Picked Muntu: Inside Story

SOURCE: THE RED PEPPER, 24 NOVEMBER 2012

 

http://www.redpepper.co.ug/?p=2598

 

Muntu and wife.

POLLING 393 VOTES (50.6%), Gen. Mugisha Muntu was declared winner of the FDC party presidential race. He beat close rival Nathan Nandala Mafabi who got 360 votes (46%). Geoffrey Ekanya trailed with 17 votes (2.2%). The two losers gracefully accepted defeat and vowed to rally behind Gen. Muntu to build a stronger party. But they didn’t concede without raising a finger. Ekanya said Secretary General Alice Alaso’s failure to publish the register on time created some credibility problems for the process which must be rectified in future. Nandala was characteristically even more direct in his complaint.
Whereas he congratulated Muntu whom he described as a very strong candidate, Nandala accused Alaso of personally discrediting the process by abusing the proxy arrangement through which the absentee delegates representing the Diaspora were required to delegate people to vote in their name. These had to be cleared by Alaso as Secretary General. Nandala claimed the Teso politician abused this arrangement in the end, saying between 6-8 votes were irregularly cast and added onto the final tally.
He didn’t tell for whom these were cast but nevertheless he said Muntu was the winner and was going to be his party president for the next two years up to 2014. Muntu’s victory sparked wild jubilation which saw some party members like Alaso shed tears of joy. Muntu’s aide Ibrahim Kasozi collapsed during the victory procession inside the hall and had to be rushed out.
He was yet to regain his senses at the time of writing this story. He has backed Muntu thrice for the slot of party president. Earlier in the day, Joyce Sebugwawo, another fanatical Muntu supporter attacked Col Besigye, Sam Njuba and Jack Sabiiti; rebuking them for not doing enough to restrain Nandala’s agents from making personal attacks on pro-Muntu MPs.
Inside Story
A number of factors buoyed Muntu into victory. All candidates brought their wives but Muntu simply stood out: his pretty wife who works as Country Director for African Development Bank in Mauritius was simply too hot.
The sight of a very styled up couple no doubt swung a few undecided voters in Muntu’s favour. His speech was simply the best: he was eloquent, accommodative, composed and reconciliatory despite provocative utterances Nandala’s agents kept hurling. His speech, in which he paid glowing tribute to Col Kizza Besigye saying he had known him as selfless for the last 30 years, harnessed the political capital he had accumulated at the WBS debate three days earlier. Besides using his 30 minutes to clarify wild allegations previously levelled against him such as being a mole, Muntu used the speech to reach out to his rivals saying “this isn’t about me, my brother Nathan or Geoffrey but about our party.” He also dispelled reports that he is weak or soft, wondering how he would lead such a fractured UPDF force of 100,000 officers and men for a straight 10 years. As usual, he recited his usual “by the grace of God” line which excited many. He also made several Kiswahili statements saying he is a soldier and knows when to apply his military credentials. Besigye’s neutrality was key: many claimed he was for Nandala but there was no evidence and there is no way Nandala would use Besigye’s name to get votes.
The man from Rukungiri in fact in his speech reprimanded the trio for coming late for the conference: they found him midway through his speech. Nandala’s speech somewhat betrayed him. He spoke for 30 minutes but many delegates felt his speech didn’t address what they felt were the relevant issues at the conference. He said many have dismissed him as a villager “but I don’t deny I’m a villager and vote me your fellow villager.” He also threw some barbs at especially Muntu, like he did at the WBS debate, which many felt was unnecessary since in his earlier speech, Muntu had extended an olive branch. There were also fears that Nandala would, in an effort to purge FDC of alleged NRM moles, kill it off just like DP and UPC sunk to oblivion.
As we had been reporting earlier, Nandala never won over key game changers like Buganda’s Joyce Sebugwawo, majority MPs, Francis Atugonza, Patrick Baguma and Jackson Wabyona in Bunyoro. It had been expected Salaam Musumba would boost his campaign but she was also busy with the Kamuli by-elections. In fact she came around, cast her vote and went away: perhaps she rightly realises she needs everybody to campaign for her in Kamuli. John Kikonyogo played a very big role in Nandala’s camp but delegates kept saying he is the man who onetime worked with Beti Kamya to antagonize FDC after Suleiman Kiggundu’s death. Nandala’s perceived backers amongst senior leaders didn’t come out openly: they include Yusuf Nsibambi, Garuga Musinguzi, Sam Njuba and others.
In contrast, Muntu’s supporters like Alaso, Sebugwawo and others didn’t take chances. They openly campaigned their man pakalast. NEC members also sealed Nandala’s fate: they are over 120 and majority of them were openly hostile to the man from east because they feel he is too strict. This same group ganged up to defeat Nandala-backed Salaam Musumba during the EALA primaries. MPs closely worked with NEC to conspire against Nandala. NEC members painted such a bad picture of Nandala to the extent of claiming he had ferried hundreds of kanyamas or bouncers from Mbale who were outside Namboole waiting to undress party officials in case he had won. Nandala strangely also lacked unanimous support from his home area.
For instance snoops saw several delegates from Mbale running to Muntu and Dr. Patrick Wakidda asking to be protected from pro-Nandala bouncers who they claimed were out waiting to beat them up. Mariam Nagudi, the former FDC woman MP candidate for Mbale woman MP, was among those who sought protection saying Nandala’s boys had vowed to beat up her up. Mbale Deputy Mayor Zanubia Namutamba too was hiding saying she was going to be killed by Nandala’s boys outside the venue who it was claimed, were being supervised by the other two FDC MPs from Sironko.
As for the FDC’s future the trio predicted a stronger party: Muntu spoke of what he called “three fronts but one cause” whereby Besigye will concentrate on what Muntu called civic action of fighting NRM on the street while he (Muntu) builds party structures.
Nandala will remain LoP and his main occupation is going to be galvanizing MPs to push through electoral reforms to ensure the ground is levelled in 2016. To demonstrate that “the struggle has just begun,” Nandala said his next destination was Kween district where he will camp up to November 29th when there is a by-election in which the FDC candidate is running against his own father who is the NRM candidate. Muntu said the “one cause three fronts” formula will ensure FDC sweeps all electoral positions come 2016. Watch out for more on the FDC elections in our subsequent editions.

This is the turning point for Uganda - Muntu 

SOURCE: THE DAILY MONITOR, 24 NOVEMBER 2012

http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/This-is-the-turning-point-for-Uganda---Muntu/-/688334/1627162/-/15ijdhyz/-/index.html

 Maj. Gen. (rtd) Gregory Mugisha Muntu receives a hug after he was announced winner of the FDC party president polls at Namboole yesterday.

In Summary

Bows out. As Dr Besigye, says he will now concentrate on the struggle for liberation and that the next party president must devise new methods of raising money for the party.

A former Army Commander, Maj. Gen. (rtd) Gregory Mugisha Muntu, is the new Forum for Democratic Change party president. At 6:36pm yesterday, the FDC Electoral Commission chairperson, Mr Dan Mugarura, announced that Maj. Gen. Muntu had returned 393 votes (50.64 per cent), defeating Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, Mr Nathan Nandala Mafabi, who got 361 votes (46.392 per cent).

Tororo County MP Geoffrey Ekanya came third with 17 votes (2.91 per cent) in the three-horse race to lead the biggest opposition party in the country.

Gen Muntu’s win marked the end of a tense 90 days that saw the three candidates traverse the country to canvass for votes in a campaign which has tested the FDC’s ability to stay united.
The party rules provide that a winner would be decided if one candidate gathered 50 per cent plus one vote.

A total of 776 votes were cast as the party marked a transition from founding president, Dr Kizza Besigye, who has thrice run against President Museveni in bitterly fought national polls. Dr Besigye has consistently rejected the outcome of his contests with Mr Museveni in 2001, 2006 and 2011 as having been rigged in favour of the incumbent.

Jubilation
Delegates, who had convened at Namboole stadium erupted in jubilation as Gen. Muntu was lifted shoulder high by supporters.
The Mafabi camp was clearly devastated, with some of his supporters collapsing.

Mr Mafabi, however, promised to work with the winner and asked members to be accountable to the party. Proceedings at Namboole were not without some drama. At polling station number 7, controversy brewed, forcing a recount of votes.

Mr Toterebuka Bamwenda, the FDC deputy spokesperson, and a member of the Elect-Nandala task force, said his team would petition the FDC National Election Tribunal over “multiple voting”.

“Alice Alaso voted seven times and Francis Epetait voted three times,” Mr Bamwenda said. Ms Alaso, who is the party secretary general, however, said she would reply after reading the promised petition.

Tension, excitement and intrigue characterised yesterday’s election as delegates drawn from Uganda’s 80 districts as at 2010 struggled to marshal last minute support for their candidates.

Police was heavily deployed in and around the stadium complex as voting commenced at 2pm. Earlier, at 11am, rumours of voter bribery rippled through the conference. A lady identified as Ms Anita Among was reportedly caught distributing money. No action was taken by party security though. Other unknown persons were seen holding tags written on “Namboole staff” although the stadium management could not positively identify them as part of their staff.

At the main gates, there were skirmishes as police fought off people without accreditation. Most claimed to be delegates who had been disenfranchised. Several people were arrested on suspicion that they wanted to take advantage of the commotion to commit crimes.

Dr Besigye had stayed in the shadows throughout the campaign, refusing to take sides in a process which sometimes threatened to come undone by mudslinging, sectarian tendencies and accusations of voter manipulations.

Yesterday, he told delegates he was leaving the party leadership “to concentrate on the struggle to liberate Uganda.”
Dr Besigye leaves the party leadership just two years shy of the end of his presidency, which would have ended in 2014.

“Once I have handed over the party leadership today, I will concentrate on the struggle to liberate Uganda,” he said.
This was yet the first hint Dr Besigye was giving that he will again offer himself for election when the country goes to the polls in 2016. The FDC constitution allows any party member, popularly elected, to stand as party flag bearer in national elections.

“I will be available to the new party leadership and to the party if called upon to do so. I am not going to the tall grasses,” Dr Besigye added.