Pulkol now cites plot to kill him By Elias Biryabarema & Ignatius Ssuuna May 3, 2004
KAMPALA � Former spy chief David Pulkol yesterday revealed what he called a plot by some hardliners in the Movement to bump him off.
The claim, dismissed immediately as a sympathy-seeking ploy by the Movement�s spokesman Ofwono Opondo, came just a day after the former chief of the External Security Organisation revealed that he turned down a government appointment as deputy head of mission to the UK.
David Pulkol
The murder plot
Mr Pulkol said he is being trailed. �There are people who are discussing what to do with me. They are beginning to say that he takes tea from Hotel Africana and asking whether he takes African tea or what.
According to the information I have, they have been contemplating elimination,� he said.
Pulkol�s latest allegation was made on Sunday morning on 93.3 Monitor FM�s Straight from the Heart show hosted by Ms Desree Barlow.
Pulkol said that the plot to bump him off arose out of his opposition to President Museveni�s perceived intention to seek another term in office when his last five-year term ends in 2006. Pulkol could not say who was behind the moves to eliminate him.
But he said that it was by hardliners in the system and not an official plot by the Movement.
�Some of us are fearless,� he said stressing that he would not back down or temper his criticism of the Movement government�s excesses.
�There�s no amount of intimidation that can shut up some of us. Don�t forget that I�m a son of the Karimojong,� he said. But Mr Opondo said that Pulkol is a rabid dog.
�He has been bitten by a dog with rabies,� he said. �He should be avoided.� According to Opondo, Pulkol failed to win elections in Matheniko.
Opondo said Mr Museveni did Pulkol a favour and gave him a job as director general of ESO. �Pulkol has no political base and he is politically insignificant for the Movement to have sleepless nights over him,� he said.
�It is now a culture or a habit for people who have failed in life to come up with wild claims to win public sympathy. He is a miserable failure.�
A kitchen Cabinet
Pulkol attacked what he called a clique of well-connected people � the kitchen Cabinet � surrounding Museveni and misadvising him on the rule of law.
According to Pulkol, the hardliner clique � connected to Museveni via marriage, history or similar interests � is insisting on circumventing constitutional provisions for amending the Constitution.
He said the clique is pushing hard for the referendum even when it�s clear that it will only have propaganda value. He called the planned referendum on removing the presidential term limits, �reckless, wasteful and an extravagant act�.
The money to be spent, about Shs 30 billion, would easily be used to extend electricity to the whole of Karamoja, he said. The hardline clique, the former spy boss added, has increasingly made the Movement intolerant and dismissive of constructive criticism.
According to him sycophancy, which is fostered by this connected clique, is stifling the democratic developments from taking shape in Uganda.
He warned of �letting extremists take charge,� and �idolising leaders as [if] they are Jesus or Prophet Mohammed,� as a recipe for trouble.
According to Pulkol, Museveni has so drastically changed from the original principles. He said the President has transformed himself into an institution, which he said was a sign of growing personilisation of power.
Instead of strengthening democratic institutions, he said, Museveni is deliberately undermining them. He cited the recent strikes by teachers and doctors where the President had to personally intervene to end the crisis.
Deserting Movt bus
Pulkol said that even if it means abandoning the Movement bus and walking on tyre sandals (rugabire), he would not budge from pursuing his principles and conscience.
He took a swipe at Museveni � whom he called his mentor and hero � for what he called �creating persisting uncertainties and anxieties over whether he would stand for a third term�. Leaders, he stressed, must be honest, credible and straightforward.
But Opondo said that Pulkol together with former Internal Security Organisation chief Henry Tumukunde were some of the individuals who were giving money and beating people during the 2001 presidential elections.
�So he can be challenged, he has a bad record,� Opondo said. Pulkol also said that he is an associate member of the Parliamentary Advocacy Forum. Pafo is made up mainly of MPs opposed to the third term.
Additional notes by Badru D. Mulumba
� 2004 The Monitor Publications
Gook
"Rang guthe agithi marapu!" A karamonjong word of wisdom
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