Army abused, says Besigye

Dec 22, 2000

PRESIDENTIAL aspirant Col (rtd) Kiiza Besigye on Wednesday said the UPDF is the most abused institution in the country.

By Grace Matsiko PRESIDENTIAL aspirant Col (rtd) Kiiza Besigye on Wednesday said the UPDF is the most abused institution in the country. Besigye told Makerere University students at Nkrumah Hall that President Yoweri Museveni's plan to have the army professionalised in the next five years was a hoax. He said the term would instead entrench him in power. "The talk of professionalising the army is just empty. He has been in power for the last 15 years. How does he expect to professionalise the army in only five years?" Besigye said. He said for the last 15 years the UPDF had remained "the most abused and ill-trained force" in the region. "That's why in Congo, the UPDF were slashed three times by Rwanda Patriotic Army," he said to applause. Besigye asked how Museveni can boast of a well-trained intelligence network when "1,000 of his nationals were buried in mass graves in Kanungu." "This government should have retired several years ago and should be given this occasion to retire voluntarily now," Besigye said. "This army will only be professionalised in the absence of President Museveni," Besigye, who was flanked by his campaign assistant, Frank Byaruhanga, said. He appealed to the students to help him "push Museveni out of power." Besigye promised to improve education, health services, the economy, the judiciary and allow divergent political views in his government. He said if elected president, he will ensure regional stability and resolve Uganda's conflicts with her neighbours. He said the peaceful co-existence with the neighbouring states will enable Ugandans get jobs and stimulate widespread economic growth. He accused the government of rigging the past elections in some parts of the country. "They were able to rig in some areas because there was no opposition. Now they know there is opposition right from Kisoro to Koboko and that is why they are panicking," he added. At the same meeting, reports Denis Ocwich, Besigye said his government will apprehend all public officials who have embezzled State funds since 1986. "There will be no amnesty for the corrupt. All those who have eaten our money in the last 15 years will have to return it," he said. He said many qualified Ugandans are jobless because the money which should have been used for paying their salaries was being taken by a few people. He promised to triple the number of government-sponsored students at Makerere. Ends.

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