Museveni explains sackings

Dec 15, 2004

PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni said yesterday the ministers he sacked wanted to gag him from pointing out their mistakes and shortcomings. He said they have since turned it into a personal vendetta.

By Ann Mugisa & Raymond
Baguma in Ntungamo


PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni said yesterday the ministers he sacked wanted to gag him from pointing out their mistakes and shortcomings. He said they have since turned it into a personal vendetta.

He said many of them did not want to be moved or directed, even though they were not performing. He said some of them were lazy. “I have tried to ignore some people because I didn’t want to be distracted from my programme, but they have insisted. This time I will talk. Abamwe baine akamanyiro (some of them have familiarity),” he said.

“We saw a lot. We didn’t say anything. If you make a mistake we keep quiet, but when you insist, we will confront you. We shall deal with the problem,” Museveni added.

The ministers who were sacked last year were Eriya Kategaya, Bidandi Ssali, Miria Matembe and Sarah Kiyingi, all whom have become virulent critics of Museveni.
Museveni was yesterday closing a three-day conference for Movement leaders from the seven districts of south-western Uganda.

The conference held at Ntungamo district headquarters attracted 1,500 participants from Ntungamo, Rukungiri, Mbarara,
Kanungu, Kisoro, Kabale and Bushenyi districts.

Representatives of women, youth, people with disability, and local councils also attended.

Museveni said gagging was done during Obote’s regime where Rwakasisi, Rurangaranga and Paul Muwanga intimidated Obote into cowering from criticising them.
He said, “But me, chairman of the Movement, commander-in-chief of the army, president of the Republic of Uganda, why can’t I talk? I will not be intimidated.

“The peace we have came out of that. I will not bow to those who think they cannot be advised.”
He said some leaders admitted they could not handle certain duties and were redeployed.

He cited Dr. Crispus Kiyonga, whom he removed from the Ministry of Finance. He said Prof. Mondo Kagonyera was also shifted. “That shows a good leader, but others whose shortcomings cannot be pointed out, I doubt they are good leaders,” he said.

He said the same people used to tell lies about him to former Tanzanian leader Julius Nyerere in 1979 trying to cause confusion, which made Nyerere furious.

Museveni said later when he went to the bush, he wrote to Nyerere, but he refused to reply. He said Nyerere realised the truth and gave him guns with which he captured Kampala.

“If you are lazy and we point out your weakness and you get angry, we will still point out your weakness,” he said. He said if Movement leaders did not work hard, they would be punished. He said they should sensitise the people on development, implement government programmes and network to help people develop.

The Movement leaders resolved to intensify mobilisation for NRM, hold similar conferences countrywide, strengthen Movement offices at all levels, fight poverty in homesteads, add value to products and create jobs.

They also said they stood by the Movement NEC and National Conference resolutions made at Kyankwanzi on lifting of the presidential term limits. They want Museveni to stand in 2006.

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