The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Maj. Gen. Lokech meanwhile is an almost unknown quantity in civilian circles. Tall, lean, and intellectual looking, Lokech has made his mark mainly on the battlefield and in military diplomacy. He was among the first officers to head Uganda’s military adventure in Somalia under AMISOM between 2011 and 2012 where he earned the moniker of ‘Lion of Mogadishu’. He was involved in Operation Safe Haven in the DR Congo against the Allied Democratic Front (ADF) rebels in the DR Congo.
Lokech can be recklessly tough as when in May he got engaged in a confrontation with the Kira Division Traffic Commander, Ruth Kyobutungi who stopped him for driving on the road shoulder of the road. He has done diplomatic work in Russia and was until recently involved with the peace process in South Sudan. It is not clear what side of Lokech he will offer to the public. What is clear is that he risks being blacklisted by human rights advocate like America and sanctioned.
Just recently, the Chairman of the U.S. Committee on Foreign Affairs, Eliot Engel, sent a list to the U.S. Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, of seven top to middle commanders of security forces in Uganda that he wants to on the Specially Delegated Nationals and Blocked Persons (SDN) list.
The seven commanders include Lt. Gen. Peter Elwelu, the Commander of Land Forces, Maj. Gen. James Birungi, the outgoing Commander of the SFC, Maj. Gen. Don William Nabasa, a former Commander of SFC, Maj. Gen. Abel Kandiho, the Chief of Military Intelligence, Maj. Gen. Steven Sabiiti Muzeyi, the former Deputy Inspector of General of Police, Frank Mwesigwa, a Commissioner of Police, and Col. Chris Serunjogi Ddamulira, the Director of Crime Intelligence.
Despite being placed in the crosshairs of American sanctions, handling the opposition with kid-gloves appears not to be part of Museveni’s assignment for Muhoozi and Lokech.
Taming Bobi Wine supporters
Many observers say the former DIGP, Sabiiti Muzeyi was removed mainly because, under him, police has proved ineffective in taming the runaway campaign of Bobi Wine.
The changes in police leadership followed just five-days after President Museveni said they had failed to enforce the scientific campaign guidelines agreed to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
“I’m not happy with the Electoral Commission and police,” Museveni said during Thanks Giving Prayers head at State House on Dec.11. The televised prayers turned into an appeal by speaker after speak for peace during the election period. In response, Museveni said he would ensure that the elections would be peaceful.
“Nobody is going to disturb our elections. Anybody who will try will fail. Let everyone follow the law, then there will be peace,” he said, “We are also not going to tolerate criminals attacking people, destroying property and derobing women.”
Museveni’s comments appear to have been in response to violent events that followed the arrest of Bobi Wine by police on Nov.18 allegedly for engaging in activities likely to spread COVID-19 when he held big rallies of more than 200 people.
Angry Bobi Wine supporters took to the streets accusing the police of double standards and persecuting opposition politicians and letting those of Museveni’s party NRM campaign freely. They set up burning barricades on many roads across the country, attacked people in especially government vehicles and wearing yellow which is the NRM colour, and fought running battles with a joint force of the military and police who fired teargas and live bullets. Official police figures say security forces killed up to 54 people but others put the figure at over 100.
In an address to the nation regarding the events of Nov.18 and 19, Museveni said the police failed to anticipate the protest reaction to Bobi Wine’s arrest and stop them before they escalated. He said at the height of the protest some panicky people wanted him to intervene by making telephone calls but he refused.
He said the police responses were “weak” and listed a series of what he says should happen if what he calls “highly trained security personnel” are in operation. He said it is wrong for some groups to only condemn the Security Forces, but never condemn law-breakers that attack innocent people, kill them, and rob them.
“It is criminal to attack Security Forces by throwing stones or attempting to disarm them. In that scenario, the Police will legitimately fire directly at the attackers if they fail to respond to the firing in the air,” he said.
Muhoozi and Lokech’s appointment following these events and Museveni’s criticism of the previous security leaders shows that the new appointees are likely to be tougher, which is bad news for opposition candidates, especially Bobi Wine and their supporters.
Muhoozi’s reappointment to head SFC has also met criticism mainly because it appears to entrench the “family rule” view of Museveni, his wife Janet, his brother Gen. Caleb Akandwanaho aka Salim Saleh and Muhoozi as the quartet ruling the country.
“Bobi Wine has also become a regular guest on international news channels like CNN, Aljazeera, and BBC.”
The use of international news channels will not help Bobi Wine win power at home. Even his thick Luganda accent is being mocked and ridiculed. It is shameful and despicable to hear Bobi Wine’s accent. It’s better for him to speak in his mother tongue and get a translator. In fact, he’s shaming Uganda. Even Amin’s accent was better than Bobi Wine’s. He should first polish his English before appearing on those channels.
Miseducation of the nigros. The French, Chinese, Fins, Germans, etc.. speak English in their accents, are they mocked and ridiculed, do they even care ? A miseducated African thinks a British accent and good english is a proof for being intelligent, what a shame!
Spot on Charles, Victor and his ilk are a group with this inferior complex that speaking good English is all that matters, in fact this group has taken their complex to a whole new level by not allowing their children to speak their mother tongue, what a shame,
Even British accent is mocked in USA and Canada. The Australian accent is also mocked. The first thing Bobi Wine should have done was to earn a university degree so that he could have been taken seriously; then mostly lose that village accent. It is despicable for a graduate of MUSIRU DALA DALA (MDD) and a devil worshipper, Bobi Wine, to imagine that he can rule over a country like Uganda. From that day a lot of Ugandans would end their allegiance to their country and prefer to be called citizens of another country. It is unthinkable to have such a deluded dude as president.
i think u are either mad or stupid,how can you compare Amins accent to Bobi wines accent i can see you have a problem with your head
Shut up! Since you are a supporter of Bobi Wine you are no doubt too young and didn’t even see Amin. You are in no position to know what I am talking about.
Leave people alone. Opposers will never understand the Idea. But U speak True. BOBI wine is very very poor in Speach. HE WON’T HIS COUNTRY TO ANY place. Nooo He wont. It’s not in his lens.
Sometimes I do see idiocy in the people who undermine Bobi wine, not that somehow somewhere I may a supporter comparing him with the rest of opposition candidates he the top Challenger off the ruling part. If not why do you deploy massively police and army plus beating some voters denying them access to him.? If accent was the factor then M7 wouldn’t rule for even a year because he is the most African president with the worst English accent.
The other thing is that Bobi Wine is very ugly.
So, u think it is all about accent? Is the current president’s accent better than Bobi Wine’s? I believe u r aware that Jacob Zuma was RSA president notonly his poor accent, but also grammar was very bad. If you think accent is an issue, then it is up to you.
Whoever doubts Bobiwine shud wait 14th Jan. Uganda will be surprised including you “the accent” man.
The problem with untravelled, unexposed people is they think you gain a better standing in the world with Western accents and such polished English…absolutely not. What matters is being understood. Besides Kyagulanyi speaks excellent English. Travel a bit and discover for yourself!!
No matter as ajock bobi wine is serious needs to ahead Ugandan.
U need a supernatural lance b4 u speak but otherwise.. ally speak are carnality n partial… not just at all.
Once again, political pundits are misreading Museveni’s recent reshuffles. Certainly not about the elections, not even about the polling event BUT what happens well after the election. That a transition is eminent is certain, not because of the elections but because of a Museveni orchestrated action to transition from Museveni to NRM, because hitherto all transitions have been from Museveni to Museveni. Expect some equally powerful signals in the direction of NRM Secretariat and high command. The Presiddd Ed NRS current body language does not betray any fear of the we current electioneering process. If anything it seems to be going according to plan! And of course there is the divine question of life and death COVID or no COVID. Recent deployments suggest a farsighted capability strategy in the event of a power vacuum occasioned by God. In the meantime, the political vultures are positioning themselves! Sadly, it is the nature of the political game
Great article but hopefully Bobi Wine wins