By John Stephen Katende

FDC UK/EU Envoy Akaki

18^th April 2011:- FDC’s top ‘diplomat’ in Europe Mr. Sam Akaki, who is the party’s International Envoy to the UK and EU, has petitioned NATO to either disarm President Museveni’s security forces, or arm Uganda’s pro-democracy activists who are agitating for democratic reforms.  In his opinion article published in Uganda Correspondent today, [see: NATO must disarm Museveni or arm opposition ] Mr. Akaki said:

“…As NATO was finalising plans to arm the Libyan opposition to defend themselves, and intensifying  the use of 340 jet fighters, military helicopters and ships to deplete Muammar Gaddafi’s military, communication and command structures in order to protect Libyan civilians; in Uganda, General Museveni’s Apartheid-like army and police were terrorising the population across the country with impunity; indiscriminately firing rubber bullets, live ammunition and tear gas to disperse unarmed civilians who were demonstrating against the unaffordable food and transport costs, which are rocketing, daily”.

Mr. Akaki goes on and says, “…in Kampala, the main opposition leader and three times presidential candidate Dr Kizza Besigye was shot and wounded in what some observers believe was an assassination attempt, or at least a dress rehearsal for a public execution.  Several opposition MPs like Jack Sabiiti, Wafulla Ogutu, Nathan Mafabi and Kampala Lord Mayor-elect Erias Lukwago were arrested and bundled onto pickup trucks like chicken thieves.  Thousands of people were wounded including a pregnant woman”.

Akaki said as Ugandans took to the streets to exercise their constitutional rights to peaceful demonstration, Museveni responded by sending armed soldiers with orders to shoot and kill.  Consequently, Akaki says, the demonstrations that started last week will show in the next weeks and months that Ugandans are now left with only one option – to repeat after 18^th century US politician Henry Patrick and demand: “give me liberty or give me death!”

The FDC Envoy then concluded by saying, “…this leaves the United Kingdom, the EU, USA and the UN with three simple choices: Disarm Museveni; arm the opposition to protect innocent civilians; or become willing collaborators in genocide through inaction as they did in Rwanda in 1994”.  END.  Please login to www.ugandacorrespondent.com every Monday to read our top stories and anytime mid-week for our news updates.