Whitewashing Amin, Obote for votes is absurd
Feb 06, 2011
TWO presidential candidates, Col. Dr Kizza Besigye of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) and Jaberi Bidandi Ssali, the flag bearer of People’s Progressive Party (PPP) have of late been quoted in the media praising the two previous Ugandan leaders, Dr Apollo Milton Obote and Idi Amin.
TWO presidential candidates, Col. Dr Kizza Besigye of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) and Jaberi Bidandi Ssali, the flag bearer of People’s Progressive Party (PPP) have of late been quoted in the media praising the two previous Ugandan leaders, Dr Apollo Milton Obote and Idi Amin.
Campaigning in Kiruhura and Mbarara districts, Bidandi Ssali, stated that both Amin and Obote, left a clean leadership record. He argued that the two leaders were not corrupt and served to fulfill the needs of the people.
Besigye, while campaigning in West Nile, stated that during the eight years he was in power, Amin contributed more to the development of the country than what President Museveni’s administration has achieved in 25 years.
It is a blunder for very senior political figures aspiring to lead this country to make such thoughtless and reckless political statements for the sake of pleasing a section of society and get votes. Bidandi and Besigye have served in the Government in very senior capacities and are expected to be well informed. Many supporters of Besigye and Bidandi must be feeling disappointed.
Tens of thousands of Ugandans lost their lives at the hands of the Obote and Amin regimes. Many Ugandans died in the struggle to liberate this country from the Amin and Obote dictatorships. Extra-judicial killings were the order of the day. The misguided policies of Obote and Amin completely ruined the national economy to the extent that in 1986, when the NRA captured power, the country had to start literally from scratch.
Anyone aspiring to be a leader, let alone to serve as a president, is expected to speak responsibly and to give credit where it is due. Politicking does not mean that a person must ditch all principles and peddle naked lies for the sake of votes. Besigye and Bidandi ought to retract their careless statements and apologise to the country.
Campaigning in Kiruhura and Mbarara districts, Bidandi Ssali, stated that both Amin and Obote, left a clean leadership record. He argued that the two leaders were not corrupt and served to fulfill the needs of the people.
Besigye, while campaigning in West Nile, stated that during the eight years he was in power, Amin contributed more to the development of the country than what President Museveni’s administration has achieved in 25 years.
It is a blunder for very senior political figures aspiring to lead this country to make such thoughtless and reckless political statements for the sake of pleasing a section of society and get votes. Bidandi and Besigye have served in the Government in very senior capacities and are expected to be well informed. Many supporters of Besigye and Bidandi must be feeling disappointed.
Tens of thousands of Ugandans lost their lives at the hands of the Obote and Amin regimes. Many Ugandans died in the struggle to liberate this country from the Amin and Obote dictatorships. Extra-judicial killings were the order of the day. The misguided policies of Obote and Amin completely ruined the national economy to the extent that in 1986, when the NRA captured power, the country had to start literally from scratch.
Anyone aspiring to be a leader, let alone to serve as a president, is expected to speak responsibly and to give credit where it is due. Politicking does not mean that a person must ditch all principles and peddle naked lies for the sake of votes. Besigye and Bidandi ought to retract their careless statements and apologise to the country.