Museveni, media fall out a cover up – UPC
By Alex B. Atuhaire
September 11, 2003
KAMPALA - Party leaders of the Uganda People’s Congress said yesterday that President Yoweri Museveni’s recent outburst against the press is a cover-up for his failure to end the Joseph Kony rebellion.
UPC’s Presidential Policy Commission vice Chairman Mr Henry Mayega said that the strategy the president is using to end the rebellion in Teso can only treat the symptoms of a nation-wide problem.
Mayega dismissed Corporal Gimaro Pimundu’s death sentence as a cover up.
“The shooting of Pimundu would tantamount to murdering a sacrificial lamb. If this were to be followed religiously then most of the commanders would be executed,” Mayega told the party’s weekly media briefing at Uganda House, Kampala.
The UPDF Field Court Martial chaired by the 3rd Division Commander, Col. Andrew Gutti, on September 5 found Pimundu (attached to military police), guilty of cowardice and failure to execute his duties.
The court said Pimundu’s omissions led to the death of eight civilians, killed by the Joseph Kony rebels.
Mayega said that the corporal is being sacrificed for the inefficiencies of his senior commanders.
“This is merely an act of treating symptoms of a wider national political problem which can be solved peacefully without a single shot being fired,” he said.
The army spokesman Maj. Shaban Bantariza said yesterday that UPC has “nothing to say” when it comes to managing an army.
“Their own officers almost killed me for a watch, my own watch! So what are they talking about the army and discipline?” Bantariza asked.
Bantariza said that the army is not targeting low rank officers.
“The problem is that people talk from a position of ignorance about army operational tactics and responsibilities. For example it wouldn’t be possible to prosecute Bantariza for loss of money,” he said.
Even then, Bantariza said, there is a Division 5 major in jail for failing to appreciate the situation that led to the loss of soldiers.
He also mentioned Capt. Bizibu who has been sentenced to seven years in jail for failing to execute his duties.
“Action is being taken against everybody,” he said.
Mayega had said that Museveni is trying to make the independent media a scapegoat for his failure to end the Kony rebellion.
“While Lt. Gen. Museveni accuses the press of being liars, UPC wants to put it on record that he [Museveni] is the greatest liar of our times.
Examples of his lies are many and include claims that the UPDF has defeated Kony,” Mayega said.
Museveni last weekend wrote a terse letter accusing The Monitor of being allies of rebel leader Joseph Kony.
Museveni last weekend wrote a terse letter accusing The Monitor of being allies of rebel leader Joseph Kony.
© 2003 The Monitor Publications
