By Ssalongo Muwada Namwanja
I am writing on behalf of the children of the National Resistance Army (NRA) bush war veterans and on behalf of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) leaders and diehards in Masuliita, the epicentre of the guerilla that brought this government to power.

We are at pains to witness the unfolding unbelievable and shocking revelations coming from the centre of power of our much-cherished government involving cabinet ministers, who by all means should uphold the values of the NRM Government.

Other things aside, this government has been all along credited for being the first regime to exhibit good governance until recently when the iron sheets scandal took centre stage and seemingly unearthing a series of other outrages, one after the other.

We are baffled by the many scandals involving corruption, that recently forced Parliament to censure one of the cabinet ministers. There are many would-be censures in the pipeline, not involving ministers only, but also senior government officials occupying critical positions.

What has gone wrong? We believe there is lack of patriotism and discipline among many of those serving in the NRM Government, who should be good cadres and serving as role models.

We will remind you how the NRA won the hearts of the wananchi wherever they fought, which attracted many into joining the struggle. Right from its early days of the war in the original Luwero Triangle in 1981, the NRA ‘rebels’ exhibited rare discipline and strict adherence to the rules and orders of their commanders. Soldiers carrying guns would move through the villages, many times hungry but would never touch anything belonging to the residents, unless given.

It was a new experience that NRA soldiers never raped women, and the few who attempted to were executed by the top commanders. This was unlike the then government soldiers who, instead of engaging the enemy, would steal, rob, rape, kill and engage in  all sorts of criminality in areas they occupied. This forced the public to shun them and side with the rebels, with whom they became close friends.

Our parents remember vividly some of the shocking incidents during the bush war struggle that show proof of discipline that made the force successful. At a place called Kakinga in Singo, Gen Salim Saleh, the younger brother of Gen. Yoweri Museveni who was (still is) the overall commander of the NRA rebels, ordered his men to engage the enemy.

These were government soldiers of the mobile team headed by Obore but at the time of this incident were being commanded by one Kiyengo. Gen. Saleh had instructions not to engage the enemy unless cleared by his overall commander, but when he saw the enemy almost surrounding them, he directed his men to open fire and during a fierce engagement, they
repulsed them.

But his elder brother criticized him before others, which sent a strong warning to fighters and civilian collaborators to always have discipline and follow orders from the top commander.

This has been transmitted from the NRA to the current Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) that up today, they are credited for the exemplary discipline in the force. Many of the UPDF commanders have been appointed in civilian positions and are doing wonders because of the discipline.

Gen. Salim Saleh himself has been the chief coordinator of the Operation Wealth Creation and is working with a team of mainly UPDF officers who have touched and changed the lives of many people in agriculture.

The late Gen. Aronda Nyakairima at the time he was at the helm of the ministry of internal affairs he introduced changes at the passport office that almost eliminated corruption in the unit. We have seen Gen. Katumba Wamala doing wonders in the ministry of works and transport, Gen David Muhoozi, Gen. Jeje Odongo and many other former commanders. We also commend other UPDF soldiers who have carried out critical roles in serving Ugandans
including Major Gen. Elly Kayanja who fought hardcore criminals that had threatened our country.

All these soldiers, and several others have been able to achieve success because of the discipline that was nurtured in them while serving under NRA and later UPDF.
We would like to inform our party chairman, that part of the problem comes from appointing people from areas as a reward for support during general elections and placing them to high offices where they do not have traces of managerial skills and a background of patriotism.
Some of those serving in big government offices seem to lack the spirit of patriotism. When appointing, focus should be on personal character, patriotism and previous individual performance.

We need cadres who have the party at heart, who will not become arrogant. It
is regrettable that a few individuals have put our cherished government in a state of a laughing stock by critics who are dancing all the way, mocking our national chairman as the appointing authority. We need ministers and others in big positions who have a
record of good managerial skills and patriotic that they will not engage in petty issues like diversion of iron sheets. They spend a lot of time defending the obvious and others giving lame excuses for their own mistakes. Take a leaf from the NRA and UPDF discipline and values of the NRM party mainly patriotism.
We commend Gen. Museveni for instilling and maintaining discipline in the national army that have ensured soldiers don’t get involved in thuggery and other crime. At least individuals who have deviated have often been reprimanded and tried in open courts, organized where one commits the offence or in the court martial.

This has enabled the force to fulfil their mandate of protecting life and property of
Ugandans and maintaining peace beyond our borders. They have carried the dame discipline to countries where they are still protecting civilians and keeping peace, which has earned Uganda as a country much praise and they have been asked to stay longer. The public has a lot of trust in the UPDF for their good conduct and we are seeing them
taking over many other roles that used to be done by civilians, including constructions and other major projects.

Those serving in the government should copy a leaf. Though, we commend the President for
the well-thought move to help our vulnerable brothers and sisters in Karamoja. In addition to iron sheets, they should be given relief food and be helped to engage in growing food using modern methods ofagriculture. 

The writer is NRM supporter from Masuliita in Wakiso