Museveni meets Acholi leaders
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has warned “some politicians who threaten violence to restrain themselves and stop such utterances immediately.â€
By Milton Olupot
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has warned “some politicians who threaten violence to restrain themselves and stop such utterances immediately.â€
He advised them to take advantage of the structures set up by the Government to concentrate on drumming up support from the electorate.
“Let the people vote for you,†he said on Sunday, while closing an Acholi leaders’ retreat at Paraa Safari lodge in Gulu.
MPs from the opposition, while debating the Constitutional Amendment Bill No.3, last week, threatened that there would be chaos if Parliament lifted presidential term limits.
Others said they would resort to unconstitutional means to remove Museveni from power.
“It is not possible for any force to destabilise the democracy of Uganda using any force because the UPDF has the capacity to deal promptly with such forces. Anyone who does not believe in the referendum is an enemy of the people and a criminal,†he said.
The retreat convened by the Acholi Paramount Chief, Rwot David Onen Acana II on the theme “Together, making a difference for peace,†attracted over 60 political, religious and traditional leaders from Acholi.
It aimed at harmonising peace efforts of Acholi leaders and to adopt a common approach in expediting the restoration of peace in the region.
Sources said the meeting was relaxed, with Museveni in a jovial mood, chatting freely with participants. He cited sectarianism as another element that had plagued Uganda from the colonial era.
He said he did not tolerate it, adding, “My stand on such issues is very clear. In 1989, I dismissed my own brother, Saleh, from the army for drunkenness. Yet, very few people in Uganda could compare with Saleh in contributing to our struggle. He had, however, lost bearing. I had to act.â€
Museveni hailed Acana for following suit by reprimanding LRA rebels.
He said because of sectarianism, Obote did not act against Amin even when the British Governor-General gave him evidence of all the crimes he had committed. Museveni commended Acholi leaders for openly condemning violence and indiscriminate killing meted out on innocent people by Joseph Kony’s LRA.
“The Movement government and the UPDF have stood with you throughout this struggle in addition to our previous stand against Idi Amin and Milton Obote. We support right, oppose wrong, unite as many people as can be united, to isolate the enemy to the maximum. You can see that our stand is finally and irreversibly bringing peace,†Museveni said.
Museveni appealed to Acholi civil and religious leaders to help eliminate superstition, which Kony uses to manipulate the masses and said the Government was now focusing on fighting corruption.
The full speech will be published in The New Vision tomorrow.
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has warned “some politicians who threaten violence to restrain themselves and stop such utterances immediately.â€
He advised them to take advantage of the structures set up by the Government to concentrate on drumming up support from the electorate.
“Let the people vote for you,†he said on Sunday, while closing an Acholi leaders’ retreat at Paraa Safari lodge in Gulu.
MPs from the opposition, while debating the Constitutional Amendment Bill No.3, last week, threatened that there would be chaos if Parliament lifted presidential term limits.
Others said they would resort to unconstitutional means to remove Museveni from power.
“It is not possible for any force to destabilise the democracy of Uganda using any force because the UPDF has the capacity to deal promptly with such forces. Anyone who does not believe in the referendum is an enemy of the people and a criminal,†he said.
The retreat convened by the Acholi Paramount Chief, Rwot David Onen Acana II on the theme “Together, making a difference for peace,†attracted over 60 political, religious and traditional leaders from Acholi.
It aimed at harmonising peace efforts of Acholi leaders and to adopt a common approach in expediting the restoration of peace in the region.
Sources said the meeting was relaxed, with Museveni in a jovial mood, chatting freely with participants. He cited sectarianism as another element that had plagued Uganda from the colonial era.
He said he did not tolerate it, adding, “My stand on such issues is very clear. In 1989, I dismissed my own brother, Saleh, from the army for drunkenness. Yet, very few people in Uganda could compare with Saleh in contributing to our struggle. He had, however, lost bearing. I had to act.â€
Museveni hailed Acana for following suit by reprimanding LRA rebels.
He said because of sectarianism, Obote did not act against Amin even when the British Governor-General gave him evidence of all the crimes he had committed. Museveni commended Acholi leaders for openly condemning violence and indiscriminate killing meted out on innocent people by Joseph Kony’s LRA.
“The Movement government and the UPDF have stood with you throughout this struggle in addition to our previous stand against Idi Amin and Milton Obote. We support right, oppose wrong, unite as many people as can be united, to isolate the enemy to the maximum. You can see that our stand is finally and irreversibly bringing peace,†Museveni said.
Museveni appealed to Acholi civil and religious leaders to help eliminate superstition, which Kony uses to manipulate the masses and said the Government was now focusing on fighting corruption.
The full speech will be published in The New Vision tomorrow.