Govt creating another Amin, says Musinguzi
By Richard M. Kavuma
Defence minister Amama Mbabazi could turn out like Idi Amin if he continues using the army for political ends, James Musinguzi warned yesterday.Musinguzi, who withdrew from the race for the Kinkizi West parliamentary seat on Monday, also said people who lose election petitions should be barred from contesting for the same seats immediately.
�I hope this government will soon realise that the more you involve the army in elections the more you create Amins of this world,� said Musinguzi in an interview. �Obote created Amin; he also created Lutwa. I suspect that Mbabazi could be in the offing as another Amin.�
He said if Mbabazi is allowed to use the army to put himself in Parliament, there is no reason why he won�t use the army to make himself president.
But Moses Bayaruhanga, President Yoweri Museveni�s political assistant, dismissed Musinguzi�s claims as baseless.
Byaruhanga accused Musinguzi of creating excuses for quitting a race he was sure to lose.
�Mbabazi is not using the army,� Byaruhanga said firmly. �No! No! The soldiers in Kinkizi are not involved in politics. They are there in the interest of security of the country.�
About involving the army in politics, Byaruhanga said for Uganda�s case the army has been part of politics where issues such as fighting insurgency are involved. He said Kanungu was a sensitive security area because of the instability in DR Congo and the 1999 attack on Bwindi.
Mbabazi defeated Musinguzi in the 2001 parliamentary elections but both the High Court and Court of Appeal agreed with Musinguzi that Mbabazi stole the election, paving way for a by-election.
However, Musinguzi quit the race on Monday, saying the same conditions that characterised the 2001 poll were emerging again in the constituency.
�The very following day after the Court of Appeal ruling, Mbabazi started ferrying troops to Kinkizi West,� Musinguzi said. �So, what is the use of going into this election if the army is going to do what they did! last ti me? What is the use of telling my people to subject themselves to torture and harassment?�
He said his supporters lost eyes, manhood and pregnancies because of the violence perpetuated by Mbabazi�s agents.
�I don�t want to legitimise the thuggery of Mbabazi. Let him come to Parliament without beating innocent people. I can�t continue with a sham election,� Musinguzi said.
Musinguzi�s decision to quit was supported by Reform Agenda, the pressure group to which he belongs.
�We salute James Musinguzi for taking the courageous decision to subordinate his personal interest to become an MP to the broader interest of the safety and security of the people of Kinkizi West,� said Winnie Byanyima, Mbarara Municipality MP and Reform�s third vice president.
She said Mbabazi and the Movement appeared determined to use violence and intimidation in Kinkizi and to ignore the court verdict.
January 14, 2003 23:28:20
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