Museveni remains key pillar in regional peace

By Davis Akampurira

On his recent trip to Africa that took him to Kenya in his capacity as the first sitting President of the United States (POTUS), President Barack Obama praised Uganda for its unwavering role in regional peace and securityciting the great effort in pacifying Somalia, and bringing the warring parties of South Sudan (Salva Kiir and Riek Machar) to turn back their swords under the IGAD-led negotiations.

On his second leg of the African tour in Addis Ababa where he gave a keynote address to the African Union (AU), Obama engaged President Museveni on regional security.

As Uganda goes to the polls early next year, a number of surveys and opinion polls are being generated by various organisations and media houses, with majority Ugandans affirming that President Museveni’s greatest hallmark is peace and stability. Most Ugandans are on record for saying that they will return Gen Museveni owing to his stellar record as far as peace and security is concerned.

Recently, the President was quoted saying that he “cannot leave power to wolves”, a statement that sparked debate on Gen Museveni’s intentions as to remain in power. By alluding power-hungry politicians to wolves, the President was only cognisant of where Uganda has come from as a country shaped by blood-shed and tyrannical rule. We need a tested and peace-loving leader such as Museveni to drive Uganda to a peaceful and orderly transition as opposed to opportunistic individuals who only want power for its sake.

The 29 years of NRM strategic leadership under the visionary leadership of Gen Museveni has seen Ugandans enjoy unprecedented peace and security – a fundamental pillar which has accelerated Uganda’s socio-economic development and tremendously transformed the body politics of the country; from a state of limbo to functioning democracy.

Uganda’s borders are all secure thanks to the gallant men and women of the mighty UPDF who have defeated the various rebel groups/terrorists such as the Lord Resistance Army (LRA), the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) whose leader Jamil Mukulu is in Uganda answering to charges of terrorism and among other war crimes; the Karamojong cattle rustlers and among others. The NRA decisively eliminated other rebel movements such as the Alice Lakwena rebel group, the Uganda National Rescue Front (UNRF I&II), Force Obote Back (FOBA), etc. After the capture of power, some rebel forces were integrated into the national army in line with the NRA/M spirit of forgiveness, reconciliation and unity under a broad-based government of the Movement System (No-party system).

As commander-in-chief, Gen Museveni presides over an army which is disciplined, professionalised, well-equipped, better –trained, well-remunerated, etc. This is the army which was once a rag-tag army at the time of the capture of power in 1986 and the years of waging a liberation war in the jungles of Luwero. This is the army which today is billed as a people’s army national in character, subordinate to civilian authority and contributing to national development.  

At regional level, President Museveni has led a concerted effort to pacify the countries that were once burning with war. True to his character of a peace icon, the President has been up and about to ensuring that peace reigns in the troubled regions, for example, Uganda was the very first country to send boots into the troubled Somalia at the time other African countries were fearing to venture into the war theatre. The President worked round the clock to end a civil war in Burundi and he is still there negotiating the return of peace following turmoil as a result of President Nkrunzisa’s controversial third term; he worked hard to end another civil conflict in DRC, and more recently he helped to end the two-decade civil strife in Sudan which eventually led to the independence of South Sudan. The President is the key player in the pacification of the ongoing conflict in South Sudan pitting President Salva Kiir and Riek Machar. Uganda is participating in a number of peace-keeping missions around the African continent.

Today, Uganda is a success story. Gen Museveni’s strategic leadership has transformed Uganda to a take-off stage; to a country where people live in peace and harmony without fear of the uncertain future.

The writer works with National Youth Council/Aspiring Youth MP-Western Region