Gen Aronda Nyakairima was misquoted

EDITOR – Reference is made to a press story about a statement Gen Aronda Nyakairima made about the army not allowing ‘bad people’ to rule.

Speaking at the Mubende Military Rehabilitation Centre, the chief of defence forces, Nyakairima, was accused of making politically charged statements, contrary to the law which bars serving army officers from engaging in partisan politics.
The general was quoted as saying: “We liberated this country in 1986 and we will not allow bad characters to come back to power.”

This was interpreted as there is no “credible internal or external military threat to the Government.”
Put bluntly, the press meant that elections in Uganda were meaningless and that the military would always determine who should lead this country.

I have personally contacted Gen Nyakairima to ask what he said. He said he never said or even insinuated such a thing. It, therefore, appears he was misquoted. The press should have asked him what he meant by “bad characters”. It is degrading that the opposition are labelled as “bad characters”.

Our view is that the opposition must learn to trust the army for as long as they continue to seek to lead this country. The media must also learn to report more accurately and professionally in order not to cause unwarranted animosity. This way, we will move together towards sustainable stability.

Maj Paddy Ankunda
Defence/Army spokesman