Besigye arrest undid the CNN advert
Nov 21, 2005
<b>Caroline Lamwaka</b><br><br>The recent arrest of Dr. Kizza Besigye just after he had been welcomed by thousands of Ugandans does not augur well for the country. The timing was just not right. If Besigye is linked to the PRA and LRA, why didn’t government arrest him as soon as he flew into the
Caroline Lamwaka
The recent arrest of Dr. Kizza Besigye just after he had been welcomed by thousands of Ugandans does not augur well for the country. The timing was just not right. If Besigye is linked to the PRA and LRA, why didn’t government arrest him as soon as he flew into the country, instead of waiting for him after his tour of the North and West of the country?
Why was he not charged with rape in 1997 when he is alleged to have committed the offence? It might be very difficult for the government to convince a section of Ugandans that the arrests are not politically motivated.
What is important now, however, is that there should be a fair and speedy trial. From what has come of the Besigye arrest, even the nation is on trial.
The Chief of Defence Forces and the Inspector General of Government should act with restrain in case they have to face large crowds of protesters.
The deployment of soldiers in parts of Kampala and other areas where there are no rebels certainly sent a wrong signal. This could easily intimidate the electorate and force them to vote in a particular way. Many Ugandans are tired of war and have had relative stability over the past 20 years.
Deployment of soldiers might send signals that, “If you oppose me, this is what you get.†So some people might be intimidated to vote NRM against their wishes. In other words, freedom of choice could be
easily affected. For most Ugandans, it is peace first and other things later. That is why in many rural areas where there is peace, many people prefer to maintain the the status quo.
However, there are also many people who want change and they must be given a choice. In Acholi, for instance, where a war has raged for the last 19 years, and
many people live in camps, most people want change. They have spent agonizing years under Museveni and FDC and other parties offer them an alternative to the current government.
Recent events have given reason to believe that we have a leadership which might not be willing to relinquish power even after defeat in free and fair elections.
There are many Ugandans who are demoralized and devastated by Besigye’s arrest because they feel that the future of the country is being threatened again. Government recently spent US$ 1 million to restore its image abroad.
But Besigye armed, and armed men usurping the powers of the judiciary as well as the deployment of soldiers against unarmed civilians have done to the image of Uganda in recent weeks. I am a concerned citizen who does not wish to see more bloodshed in Uganda or to flee into exile.
The recent arrest of Dr. Kizza Besigye just after he had been welcomed by thousands of Ugandans does not augur well for the country. The timing was just not right. If Besigye is linked to the PRA and LRA, why didn’t government arrest him as soon as he flew into the country, instead of waiting for him after his tour of the North and West of the country?
Why was he not charged with rape in 1997 when he is alleged to have committed the offence? It might be very difficult for the government to convince a section of Ugandans that the arrests are not politically motivated.
What is important now, however, is that there should be a fair and speedy trial. From what has come of the Besigye arrest, even the nation is on trial.
The Chief of Defence Forces and the Inspector General of Government should act with restrain in case they have to face large crowds of protesters.
The deployment of soldiers in parts of Kampala and other areas where there are no rebels certainly sent a wrong signal. This could easily intimidate the electorate and force them to vote in a particular way. Many Ugandans are tired of war and have had relative stability over the past 20 years.
Deployment of soldiers might send signals that, “If you oppose me, this is what you get.†So some people might be intimidated to vote NRM against their wishes. In other words, freedom of choice could be
easily affected. For most Ugandans, it is peace first and other things later. That is why in many rural areas where there is peace, many people prefer to maintain the the status quo.
However, there are also many people who want change and they must be given a choice. In Acholi, for instance, where a war has raged for the last 19 years, and
many people live in camps, most people want change. They have spent agonizing years under Museveni and FDC and other parties offer them an alternative to the current government.
Recent events have given reason to believe that we have a leadership which might not be willing to relinquish power even after defeat in free and fair elections.
There are many Ugandans who are demoralized and devastated by Besigye’s arrest because they feel that the future of the country is being threatened again. Government recently spent US$ 1 million to restore its image abroad.
But Besigye armed, and armed men usurping the powers of the judiciary as well as the deployment of soldiers against unarmed civilians have done to the image of Uganda in recent weeks. I am a concerned citizen who does not wish to see more bloodshed in Uganda or to flee into exile.