By Norman S. Miwambo

26^th March 2012:

UPC Party President Dr. Olara Otunnu has called upon Ugandans in the Diaspora to join the current struggle and fight for the restoration of sanity in Uganda.  In a speech to Ugandans living in the United Kingdom (UK) who turned up to listen to him at Birbeck College in central London on Saturday, March 24, Dr Otunnu said everybody must join the struggle to rescue Uganda from Museveni’s regime – a regime he described as “apartheid and economically criminal”.

“It is a land of apartheid.  The state has walked away from its duties.  The difference between those who have money in volumes and don’t know what to do with it and those who have absolutely nothing is unimaginable.  It is a cynical programme to produce a nation of beggars because they are easy to rule.  Humiliating poverty has punctured the dignity and self-respect of our people” Otunnu told his audience, some of whom were visibly fighting back tears.

The UPC leader said the same reasons why the unjust apartheid was fought in South Africa are the same reasons “why we can’t accept this to continue in Uganda.”  He said Museveni’s “apartheid” regime had conditioned Ugandans to see and accept things the way they are.

“People see things the way they are. Why not see things the way they should be.  We should see things the way they should be, but not the other way round.  If killing is unacceptable, in my view, we should see it the way it should be…and not see it as it is and accept it.” Otunnu said amidst a thunderous applause from the audience.

To hammer his point home, the UPC leader pointed to the September 2009 incident when a number of young men were gunned down in cold blood by government security agents for protesting against the government’s decision to block the Kabaka of Buganda Ronald Muwenda Mutebi from visiting Kayunga – a constituent part of his kingdom.

“Do you know that since September 2009…the ‘open day light massacre’ of unarmed demonstrators, nobody has been held accountable?  No investigation has taken place.  On the contrary, the victims of this massacre are still rotting in jail as I speak.  How can that be acceptable”, Otunnu wondered.

He said Ugandans must not only insist on accountability within their country, but also for the activities conducted on their behalf outside Uganda’s borders by their leaders.  Without mentioning any names, Otunnu said some generals had threatened to crush him for insisting on political accountability.

“Some people threatened to crush me if I dare insist that people should account for the atrocities and crimes committed against civilians.  But I will not stop…and I will insist that we need a truth telling and reconciliation.  Let the chiefs fall where they may.  If anyone is found to have been responsible for war crimes, then they must carry responsibility,” said Otunnu.

The UPC leader also faulted western countries for turning a blind eye to atrocities committed against Ugandans while they react to similar atrocities in other countries like Cote-d’Ivoire and Mali where he said fewer civilians are massacred on streets.  In response to a question from the audience about a possible international conspiracy against Uganda, Otunnu answered in the affirmative and said:

“Yes, very sadly, very painfully, the international community…among them leading western democracies, have been complicit in sponsoring, supporting, financing, and concealing an undemocratic and repressive regime in Uganda…a regime which committed genocide.  It’s not the first time I say this…it’s not in this hall, I have said it before…including to my friends who are key leaders of western democracies,” Otunnu said.

The UPC president also said the conspiracy of silence has done a lot to keep the people of Uganda in the terrible condition they are in today.  END.  Please login to www.ugandacorrespondent.com every Monday to read our top stories and anytime mid-week for our news updates.