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Uganda's Museveni seeks to extend rule for life triggering countrywide protests
by Joseph Earnest September 21, 2017
Newscast Media KAMPALA—Demonstrators in Uganda who had marched to parliament on Thursday to protest a bill that extends the dictatorship of Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni were dispersed with tear gas and arrests, as soldiers camped outside the parliament building in Kampala, to intimidate lawmakers into voting for the controversial bill.
Museveni, who claims to be 73, would be exempt from being disqualified in the 2021 election, since the current Constitution of Uganda forbids anyone over 75 to run for president. Prior to introducing this bill that guarantees Museveni a life presidency, corrupt members of parliament changed the constitution to eliminate term limits, enabling Museveni to run multiple times. He currently has been in power for over 30 years, and doesn't intend to relinquish power, since there were oil reservoirs discovered the western region of Bunyoro, and gold in Mubende and Karamoja.
Students in the capital Kampala waved branches and chanted "K'ogikwatako!" - meaning "Don't dare touch it!" in the local Luganda language - in reference to the constitutional clause on age limits.
The Weekly Observer reported that MPs vowed they will never debate under gun point and that their message has been sent out loud and clear to President Yoweri Museveni. The MPs wore red band claiming it signals blood and they are ready for war.
Armed officers - including military police - fired volleys of tear gas forcing the students to flee to their residence halls and hostels, the AFP reported.
Ugandan authorities postponed a bill to extend leader Yoweri Museveni’s rule after a chaotic parliament session in which members of parliament heckled each other.
Parliament speaker Jacob Oulanyah told lawmakers during a raucous session that the legislation due to be introduced on Thursday afternoon was "bringing tension" and would come back on another, unspecified date, according to Reuters.
The United States, issued a statement through the US Ambassador in Uganda, Deborah Malac condemning the arrests and people’s right to free expression.
"The United States is deeply concerned that recent arrests and raids stifle the Ugandan people’s right to free expression and tarnish Uganda’s global image. We are disturbed by reports of raids on NGOs. Infringements on protected rights under Uganda’s Constitution will impede the country’s development. We call on the Government of Uganda to guarantee all its citizens freedom of speech, expression, and assembly, without fear of intimidation," the statement read.
The Delegation of the European Union to Uganda, however, issued an extremely weak statement, once again indicating it has no spine when it comes to condemning dictatorships. The statement read in part:
"We are deeply concerned about the build-up of tension in and outside Kampala that might lead to infringing the fundamental freedoms of Ugandan citizens and damage the country’s international reputation..."
Here we see the European Union panderers using the words, "that might lead to infringing on the fundamental freedoms," as tactic to pussyfoot around the real issue at hand. The semantics or word-play suggest, no violation of fundamental rights has occurred. It would make as much sense as "cautioning" someone who has just stolen a briefcase full of money, to be responsible with the money and avoid any habits that might lead to overspending the money contained in the briefcase.
What would be the purpose of laws and statutes against theft if one is only cautioned to "spend wisely" the stolen money?
Likewise, what would be the purpose of a Constitution, which is the law of the land, if leaders can change it arbitrarily, as often as they wish, to suit their purposes, the way prostitutes change underwear (if at all they do), after sleeping with as many people as they wish? (By the way, male prostitutes do exist too).
Apparently, in the eyes of the European Union, as long as there is no tension that might lead to infringing the fundamental freedoms of Ugandans, there is no problem with the State abrogating the Constitution as often as it wishes, for its benefit. How absurd!
The real issues that need to be addressed by the EU are: the unjustified arrests of opposition politicians, blasphemy upon the Constitution and actual violence perpetrated upon innocent citizens exercising their freedom of expression enshrined within the Ugandan Constitution, which has become a laughing stock. Add Comments>>
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