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President Museveni made an important point when he said a political opponent isn’t an enemy, that although the late Prof. Adonia Tiberondwa was a UPC diehard, he was a good opponent.
During the 1996 presidential elections, Prof. Tiberondwa was among the members of UPC who vigorously campaigned for Paul Ssemogerere. Tiberondwa was particularly notable for his very stinging criticisms of President Museveni. Museveni acted like a statesman when, in spite of his disagreement with Tiberondwa, he still had some nice words for him. He has demonstrated that even if you disagree politically you do not become enemies.
It is important, as the country enters the critical phase of the transition from the Movement to multiparty politics, that politicians do not regard opponents as enemies but treat them with respect and dignity. The country has had a violent history because successive
leaders regarded opponents as enemies and sought to eliminate them politically or physically. Many Ugandan politicians in government and opposition now were in exile for most of the 70’s and 80s. Fear for their lives forced them to flee from the country to seek asylum abroad.
During the UPC regimes in the 60s and 80s, although the country was purportedly under a multiparty system, the opponents were indiscriminately hounded routinely.
Some opposition MPs couldn’t even travel freely to their constituencies. Some were murdered. Ssemogerere, the leader of the opposition, was often blocked from visiting parts of the country. I wonder why the Rwanyarares, Ogwals and Mwondhas never spoke out against these abuses by the Obote regime. Did they fear to confront Obote and tell him what was going on in the country? Why did they close their eyes to the massacres in Luweero Triangle? What
moral authority do they have now to lecture those in government today about democracy and human rights. Certainly they owe Ugandans an apology.
While the situation has remarkably improved under the Movement administration, there are still disturbing tendencies of political fanaticism, which don’t augur well for proper functioning of a multiparty system. The recent incident where four members of Parliament from Acholi were flogged by soldiers was scandalous and extremely unfortunate.
The way government has handled the matter leaves a lot to be desired. Soldiers who flogged the MPs should have been punished. Instead it appears the government is trying grossing over the matter and unashamedly shifting the blame to the MPs. This sets a bad precedent and doesn’t contribute to the nurturing of a democracy.
The Kira town mayor, Mamerito Mugerwa recently blocked the supporters of the
opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) to convene a meeting in any of the hotels within his area. I do not recall that government has ever reprimanded him for his unwarranted action. The Luweero district leaders have also exhibited high handedness and political fanaticism.
In one incident Luweero authorities literally bundled opposition activists into a Kamunye and forced them out of the district. Then there was the incident where Luweero authorities attempted to block Maj. Gen. Mugisha Muntu from visiting a local church in the area. The Iganga district boss Asuman Kyafu and a number of local council leaders from Jinja were recently implicated by a parliamentary inquiry in the attack on the members of the Parliamentary Advocacy Forum (PAFO) in Jinja. It is unfortunate that police has not taken any steps against these individuals. The Movement should promptly take steps to
restrain its political and security functionaries from mistreating political opponents. This is the only way the country will establish a genuine multiparty democracy. In a multiparty democracy, the opposition is extremely vital. But African politicians loathe opposition. Often leaders, through their security and political functionaries, subject opponents to physical harassment or psychological torture. Legitimate political activities are criminalised. Opponents are humiliated, which leads to resentment and hatred. Opponents with business interests are ruined.
Subsequently, when those in opposition get into power, they seek retribution. This ends up in a vicious cycle of political violence.
Ends
Published on: Monday, 3rd January, 2005 |
