Museveni wants imprisonment without trial for rioters
John Stephen Katende
11th May 2011:
President Yoweri Museveni addressing Journalist
An angry looking Museveni yesterday announced plans by his government to amend the constitution of Uganda in order to deny economic saboteurs, murder, rape, treason, defilement and riot suspects the right to apply for release on bail until they serve at least 180 days in a remand prison without trial.
Addressing a press conference at his country home in Rwakitura-Kiruhura district, the President also singled out the Daily Monitor newspaper for particular criticism; accusing it of malice and bias. He said the new law, if passed, will deal with media houses that engage in what he called “irresponsible reporting”.
The President also said some media houses don’t seem to have any other work other than portraying Uganda as if it is in a permanent state of chaos. This, Mr. Museveni said, was damaging Uganda’s reputation internationally because of the speed at which news travels over the internet.
The President expressed his displeasure with a picture that appeared in the Daily Monitor that showed a number of civilians lying down with armed policemen standing over them. He said some people could have mistaken the civilians lying down under police watch to be dead bodies.
“…Your reporting is either wrong or in some cases malicious. This is something I would really advise you to stop because this country belongs to Ugandans, not newspapers or radio stations”, Museveni said.
He also attacked the media for failing to criticise opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye whom he accused of disobeying lawful orders. “…If you as a leader don’t follow the law, and I also don’t follow the law, [then] that is the beginning of chaos. Leaders must be exemplary and follow the law”, Museveni said.
In his response, Dr. Kizza Besigye said, “…I only have one thing to say about that. Martin Luther King once said, an individual who breaks a law that conscience tells him is unjust, and who willingly accepts the penalty of imprisonment in order to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice, is in reality expressing the highest respect for the law. Go and tell President Museveni that is exactly what I think”.
Clearly, it is fair to say that there is a huge difference in the way the two leaders think and any efforts to reconcile them might amount to naught. END. Please login to www.ugandacorrespondent.com every Monday to read our top stories and anytime mid-week for our news updates.
