Colleagues and Friends,
Never tire of searching for justice and undoing the lies and deception that are peddled by the Ugandan government abroad in search of awards and recognition. We know the truth and we must let it shine through the darkness of deception. Museveni's award cereminy will be hosted at the Hart Senate Building on Tuesday 20th September 2005. The following is the contact information of the Host Committee. Please make every effort to send this letter to each of the host committee members and their staff individuall through fax or email so that by Tuesday they will be thinking hard about their decision to honor President Museveni. Send the letter herebelow or an adapted version to the following Host Committee members:
Senator James Inhofe (R-OK) http://inhofe.senate.gov/contactus.htm Fax Fax: 202-228-0380
Senator Michael Enzi (R-WY),
Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED].gov and [EMAIL PROTECTED] on email and Fax (202) 228-0359
Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA) Contact Form is at http://landrieu.senate.gov/contact/index.cfm
Congressman Donald Payne (D-NJ) Contact Form http://www.house.gov/payne/IMA/issue.htm Fax: (202) 225-4160
Congressman William Jefferson (D-LA) Fax: 225-342-1057 You can also reach him through the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Contact Form http://www.cbcfinc.org/contactus.html
Congressman John Boozman Fax (202) 225-5713
Institute for Youth Development (A pro abstinence organization) at http://www.youthdevelopment.org/contact.asp
Hon. Representative,
We have learnt that you will be hosting an award ceremony to honor President Museveni of Uganda for his leadership in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Your timing for such an award could not have been more deficient. President Museveni's decision to amend Uganda's Constitution so that he can become President for life has left the country divided and bitter and he will soon face the uphill task of returning to voters to ask to lead the country for a fifth (5 year) term as President of the country. He is doing this against a backdrop of increasingly unpopular policy decisions to maintain his grip on power. Most notable and relevant to the cause of HIV/AIDS is his failure to hold his Cabinet Ministers accountable for financial impropriety which has led to the misuse of donor funds meant for the treatment of people living with HIV/AIDS. At this very
moment in Uganda, as the following open letter to President Bush indicates; Mr. Museveni and his Cabinet are under fire for the misuse of resources provided by Donors under the UN's Global Fund for HIV/AIDS and other diseases. It is scandalous that while Ugandans are crying foul for his reckless leadership in this matter, he will appear in the US Senate, a global pillar for democracy to be honored. Please keep in mind that your actions at the Hart Senate Building in Tuesday will be regarded by Ugandans as an endorsement for Mr. Museveni's authoritarian leadership and misuse of public resources.
We pray that you might reconsider.
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Attached: http://www.monitor.co.ug/oped/oped09165.php
Open letter to Bush |
| Anne Mugisha |
Dear President Bush, We have learnt that you will be hosting President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda at the White House during his current visit to the United States. Unfortunately the photo opportunities that you give President Museveni in the United States are interpreted by Ugandans to mean that you support his bid to become life president of the Republic of Uganda.
You previously advised President Museveni to stand down and refrain from seeking another (fifth) five year term as President of Uganda.
Instead he has used public resources to bribe legislators and manipulate a constitutional review process and as a result the Ugandan Constitution was amended.
Mr. Museveni will become life President unless friends of
Uganda like yourself exert influence on him to stand down.
Uganda has never seen a peaceful transfer of power from one leader to another and President Museveni has laid the groundwork for the possibility of more violence in our country.
We pray that you will find the grace to side with the Ugandan people in telling Mr. Museveni that his time is up.
Mr. Museveni' search for life presidency has alienated him from the people and he is increasingly making unpopular decisions in order to maintain his grip on power.
We believe that if he does not step aside Uganda's election in March will be bloody and violent as he tries to repress popular opposition to his regime.
The photo opportunity that he is seeking with the Bush White House will only serve the purpose of misinforming Ugandans
that he has your blessing for his continued rule.
President Museveni's last bastion for international recognition has been his personal claim for the success of Uganda's HIV/AIDS policies. Yet even that success has today become a source of shame for his regime as millions of dollars meant to assist thousands of pregnant women and children who are victims of HIV/AIDS are embezzled and stolen under the supervision of a Cabinet Minister who was previously censured by Parliament for financial impropriety.
President Museveni reappointed this Minister in complete disregard of the Ugandan taxpayers and of the distinguished members of Parliament who censured him thereby giving the Minister carte blanche to siphon funds that are made available by tax payers in Donor countries like the USA.
We
hope that in your meetings with President Museveni you will not send a signal that Museveni has the support of the US government to mismanage Donor funds and to rule for life.
Anne Mugisha
Forum for Democratic Change |
Anne Mugisha
One Uganda One People
