VP free to meet officers

May 28, 2005

VICE-President Prof Gilbert Bukenya is free to meet UPDF officers, spokesman Maj. Shaban Bantariza said yesterday<br>Bantariza, speaking at the defence briefing held at the National Theatre Gardens, said there was no harm in the Vice-President meeting senior Baganda army officers.

By Josephine Maseruka

VICE-President Prof Gilbert Bukenya is free to meet UPDF officers, spokesman Maj. Shaban Bantariza said yesterday
Bantariza, speaking at the defence briefing held at the National Theatre Gardens, said there was no harm in the Vice-President meeting senior Baganda army officers.

“No law prohibits the Vice-President from meeting anyone. He is second-in-command. We’re his soldiers.”

Bantariza added, “Whatever we hear and read in the media, we are not bothered because that is politics.”

He asked, “What harm is there in Prof. Bukenya talking to Bogere? Do you want him to talk to Otema? It is like when Museveni talks to Bantariza. The problem in Uganda is that people are very tribalistic.”
Bukenya told The Monitor that he was being secretly probed by Cabinet colleagues to bring him down.

Bantariza said the UPDF would protect all Ugandans during the political transition and during elections. He refuted claims that Brig. Henry Tumukunde had been blocked from retiring. He said Tumukunde had never officially applied to retire.

“He only applied when he was on trial in the Court Martial and you cannot short circuit the court process by applying to exit the UPDF. Brig. Tumukunde must wait until the case is disposed of. Even if he applied to the Commissions Board today he would not be allowed to retire because the army is not a club you just enter and leave,” Bantariza said.

He refuted claims by Major General Mugisha Muntu that president Museveni was using the army to remain in power. “The President has given more authority to other players to lead the army. He is now less involved in the army despite being an army commander. He has appointed a defence minister and an army commander, posts which were exclusively for the head of state.”

Bantariza advised Mugisha Muntu to mobilise voters instead of making false claims. “President Museveni cannot stay in power by force. It is up to the people to vote him in or out.”

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