Student leaders blast foreign gov'ts for meddling in local politics

Feb 29, 2016

The leaders said they had evidence showing that some staff of the US embassy were using social media to incite the public

The United States and the European Union were on the receiving end of backlash by youth leaders and political activists from a cross section of higher institutions of learning and political parties who protested against what they termed their continuous meddling in the local affairs of the country.

The leaders from Law Development Center (Ronald Tugume, Kenneth Kabushenga Gumaho), Mukono University (Onesmus Mwesigwa), YMCA, Makerere University (Michael Opoya) among others under their loose umbrella organisation Youth Against Foreign Interference (YAFI) urged the foreign partners to be mindful of the fact that Uganda was a sovereign state while addressing the media in Kampala.

"As Ugandan's we have inalienable right to complete freedom, the exercise of our sovereignty and the integrity of our national territory. We should therefore freely determine our political status and pursue our economic, social and cultural development without foreign interference," Ronald Tugume the Guild President of the Law Development Center said.

Tugume further said the interference of the foreigners in the country's political processes especially in the just concluded elections continued to disrupt peace and stability of the country.

"Their increased support to the opposition politicians during this post-election period causes tension, division and fear among the citizens of Uganda," he further said.

Mugume said they had evidence showing that some staff of the US embassy were using social media to incite the public against a democratically elected government.

"We call on the US and the EU to respect the will of the local population," Mugume added.

In the statement the leaders said Uganda had internal mechanisms which included a competent well equipped judiciary, ready to settle any election related disputes legally.

"We advise any aggrieved persons to use the proper channels in place to settle their grievances other than undermining the same by using unlawful means to settle disputes," the leaders said.

Speaking at the same function, Kenneth Kabushenga Gumaho threatened a massive demonstration against the foreign governments if they did not heed the warning.

"We will write to the Inspector General of Police asking for permission to stage a peaceful demonstration against these elements," he said.

They also advised the political heads who contested in the 2016 to air their grievances in the courts of law rather than mobilizing the youths to go on the streets and demonstrate.

Blaze Kamugisha said no political system was perfect giving an example of the US which has been embroiled in a number of electoral controversies.

Efforts to get a comment from the EU and US embassies proved futile by press time.

On Saturday, officials from the US and EU visited former Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) president Kizza Besigye's home following police decision to temporarily prevent him from coming to town.

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