NUP leaders should not engage youth in conflict with law

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OPINION

By Ssalongo Muwada Namwanja

Last week, many Ugandans had different reactions to the news that the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (Amendment) Bill, 2025, had been finally passed by Parliament.

The news was a big shock to mainly the opposition political parties and human rights groups. The law will see civilians tried in the courts martial again.

This is despite an earlier ruling by the Supreme Court that had blocked the trial of wananchi (civilians) before the General Court Martial. This law is targeting people who engage in military-related offences.

Although mainly the opposition groups have spoken against this law, saying it would have negative consequences on anti-government political players, I think we should not stop at criticising it, but look out as well to its positive side.

Ugandans, without bias, should understand why President Yoweri Museveni and the NRM Government intend to achieve this by reinstating it.

As observers, we were again shocked to see many opposition MPs storm out of Parliament at a time when it was being tabled.

Although the opposition MPs knew very well that this affects many Ugandans, they chose to walk out of Parliament. If they stayed, maybe they would have influenced more changes, as indeed some of their colleagues successfully changed some clauses.

Walking out did not serve anybody, and it was, therefore, a failure on their role. The practice of opposition MPs storming out of Parliament whenever there is a contentious issue should be condemned.

In 1989, the famous Joseph Wasswa Ziritwawula walked out of the National Resistance Council protesting against the National Resistance Army’s decision to extend their stay in power beyond the three transitional years, but he never returned.

The MPs who stormed out of Parliament should have volunteered not to return to Parliament after the passing of the law because they took the oath to serve Ugandans, not their political parties.

We needed to see them fighting on the floor of Parliament because they have the obligation to debate all laws until they are either passed or thrown out, and they do this on behalf of Ugandans. I, therefore, appeal to opposition legislators to stop fighting everything from the Government. No law can ever be fair to all people, but NRM should not be viewed as working against its own people, who pay taxes that sustain it.

We need to shun the talk that the NRM Government has bad intentions against its own people, because that will eventually affect our progress as a country.

But one may wonder why the Government was pushing this law. In my opinion, the behaviour of the opposition activists has often compelled the Government to come up with such laws to tame those who want to use violence to achieve popularity.

Ordinary Ugandans were recently alarmed by the decision by the National Unity Platform (NUP) to conduct a parade similar to military drills and allow its leader to inspect some youth as if they now own a government within a government. No government globally can allow such provocative actions. Any government in power will always react to incidents that are viewed as criminal, and the NRM cannot, therefore, just look on when some groups try to undermine its power.

The NUP parades and other provocations should be avoided if we want to have peace, especially as we move towards the 2026 general election.

We should also encourage people in the opposition to shun actions of direct attacks on the personality of the President and his family.

We have often listened to alarming statements by members of the opposition, including rebuking supporters of the NRM party. This is bad politics.

People have reasons why they choose to support a particular party, so demonising, abusing or insulting supporters just because they are opposed to your ideas is bad politics.

Our parents in Luwero who participated in the liberation struggles between 1981 and 1986 that brought this government to power have remained loyal to the NRM for their own reasons.

They feel offended by insults uttered by opposition leaders and supporters, who continue to enjoy the current peace for which they sacrificed. Those who insult and refer to our parents as fools for just supporting the NRM should remember that it was their sacrifice through fighting that they enjoy the freedom of speech that was never in place. Those who insult our supporters are instead reaping the fruits of the NRM successes more than even those who fought in the liberation wars, and continue to struggle with life deep in the villages.

We therefore commend Gen. Museveni that even during the period he was fighting the past regimes, he never insulted his opponents. He would explain his mission to ordinary people who understood his vision and mission and joined him.

NUP leaders ought to copy a leaf from his type of leadership and instead work towards convincing Ugandans to join them instead of insulting those who oppose them. We have listened to complaints by the opposition leaders, and indeed, the majority of us Ugandans do not condone the manner in which some of the NUP supporters are treated by the security forces when they get arrested for various suspected offences.

But one needs to reflect on the mistakes committed by their leaders or as a party, which could be the reasons behind such treatment.

Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine, the leader of NUP, should reflect on his personal conduct towards fellow leaders within the party and outside. He should review his personal approach towards leaders he thinks are against his views and stop making public attacks on them. We have followed him the way he has consistently rebuked the former Leader of Opposition in Parliament, Mathias Mpuuga and others who seem to believe in him.

This is the same approach he makes towards the authorities in Government. If nothing changes, such approaches spell doom for many youths who adore and take his path.

Many of us NRM supporters were saddened by the way Kyagulanyi’s bodyguard, Eddie Mutwe, was treated after he was arrested over suspected crimes. But this was in response to Kyagulanyi’s approaches and his statements. Our youth should be cautioned against falling into such dangerous traps. I, therefore, believe the new law is majorly a reaction to the general behaviour of opposition supporters.

Kyagulanyi’s new campaign, dubbed ‘protest vote’ for example, is also dangerous for his followers who may not fully understand it and its outcome. The UPDF amendment Bill 2025 targets those who engage in criminality.

Also, NUP youths stop using social media to attack cultural and religious leaders who condemn their actions.

One wonders why NUP leader have turned a deaf ear on their conduct.

The writer is NRM supporter from Masuliita