![NO EXAMPLE: Mugisha Muntu]( "NO EXAMPLE: Mugisha Muntu") |
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NO EXAMPLE: Mugisha Muntu |
Ofwono Opondo
FOLLOWING public pressure critiquing his past record as one of the former senior NRA/UPDF officers, including as army commander for eight years, Maj. Gen. (Rtd) Mugisha Muntu has now accepted to own up mistakes during his tenure.
But appearing before a worldwide audience on Straight Talk Africa show hosted by Shaka Ssali on Voice of America (VOA) and relayed by WBS television on Wednesday night, Muntu took advantage of being alone without another informed alternative view to make false and sweeping statements that should not go unchallenged.
Among the issues he raised were President Yoweri Musevenis alleged lack of political will to fight corruption, downgrading the Inspectorate of government, the anti-corruption agency, and manipulating the constitutional amendment process by bribing and intimidating MPs, Muntu talked of the failure to end the war in northern Uganda, and the resultant humanitarian problems especially in the in
ternally
displaced persons (IDPs) camps.
Muntu painted a grave picture for the democratisation process alleging it has been subverted and that prospects of holding free and fair elections were dim. He then intimated that apart from cobbling a united opposition front against Museveni, FDC will be forced to take civic action to liberate the people.
Knowing the on-going FDC schemes, civic actions does not preclude civil disobedience, and even a civil war should they fail to achieve their objective through democracy.
Firstly, Muntu was the director of military intelligence, commander, Fifth Division based in Lira, army commander for nine years until December 1998, and a historical and an army MP from 1986-2001.
He was among the 10 army delegates to the constituent assembly in 1994-95. Muntu has never, on his own, owned up the mistakes of the army since the Mukura railway incident in which 39 people died, Bur Coro in Gulu (1989), Atiak massacres of May 20
, 1995
and abduction of 148 Aboke schoolgirls on October 8, 1996, by LRA rebels.
When an entire brigade of the NRA broke away, stole huge quantities of arms and invaded a neighbouring country, Muntu never gave an explanation as to what happened under his able watchful eye. Muntu has never visited these areas to assess the causes of these grave incidents throughout his career, nor has there been an apology, and or resignation! The visitors books of Mukura, Atiak, Aboke and Kichwamba technical college dont contain Muntus signature. Instead, Muntu waited until he was booted in December 1998. Therefore, taking personal responsibility that Muntu claimed on VOA is false.
Muntu also asked Museveni to take personal responsibility for problems in his regime, which is fine, but Museveni has done this all the time, including taking the flak. He visits and commiserates with war or natural disaster victims and in fact camps in Gulu, Lira, Kitgum, Karamoja, and western U
ganda,
which no other leader has done. Museveni does not go there on picnic to only meet leaders as FDC does, but holds extensive face-to-face consultations with ordinary people, and photographic evidence is available. No other leader holds countless productive meetings with locals in Uganda as he does!
On the show, one expected Muntu to outline the strategies he established to end the war but were frustrated by Museveni or other commanders. Indeed, we expect the FDC to give mechanisms they intend to use to end that war, among other critical issues facing Uganda rather than talking of a coalition to over-stretch Museveni.
On the contrary, there is a written presidential directive of early 1998, in which Muntu was required to submit measures he intended to apply to resolve three main problems in the army at that time.
The problems as seen by Museveni and which impinged on the efficiency of the UPDF, included but were not limited to poor welfare of the ord
inary
soldiers, especially feeding, and late delivery of salaries and supplies.
The second was a war strategy to defeat LRA, and third, how to fight corruption, and indiscipline in the UPDF because Muntu had simply put officers on katebe (undeployed).
Muntu also alleged that Museveni does not have the political will to fight corruption, and has instead chosen to strip and undermine the IGGs office.
One would have expected Muntu to illustrate how this is being done.
The Inspectorate of Government was first established by Museveni through the IGG statute of 1987, and has continuously been funded to enable it recruit, train staff, and deploy them in offices throughout the country.
Today, the IGG is independent in initiating investigations and prosecuting cases, and reports directly to parliament and not the president. So, if there are weaknesses, that can only be un-intended, not deliberate.
And surely, Muntu should not expect the presiden
t to
take action against accused persons without evaluating what the law provides for. He mentioned some investigative reports he claimed have not been acted upon citing the Justice Julia Ssebutinde report on the army.
Again the public should know that all these took place while Muntu was army commander.
But even then Muntu knows the dismissals, interdictions, and the ongoing court case, and he is even a surety for one of the suspects! And we all know that reports on the violation of human rights of Justice Arthur Oder, Prof. Ssenteza Kajubi on tertiary education, Prof. Mahamood Mamdani on local government reforms, Uganda Posts and Telecommunications Corporation, Uganda Railways Corporation, police force, and URA are at different stages of implementation.
To be credible, the opposition, especially the FDC, should avoid appearing like clones of each other, just opposing for the sake of opposition!
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