In defence of Mrs Museveni
May 19, 2005
I would like to make a few observations about Johnny Carson’s article, Mrs Janet Museveni's defence of her family against Carson’s accusations and some comments made about the two.
I would like to make a few observations about Johnny Carson’s article, Mrs Janet Museveni's defence of her family against Carson’s accusations and some comments made about the two.
Mrs Museveni, as any other Ugandan, has a right to defend her family against accusations that she sees as unfounded. Every one of us is duty-bound to defend our family members against accusations, most especially when we are convinced that the accusations are false.
Carson’s accusations against Muhoozi Kainerugaba are indeed malicious because they are not based on fact. What crime, pray thee, has Muhoozi committed? Elsewhere, Muhoozi would sue Carson who would have to produce evidence of Muhoozi’s culpability in court. Failing to do so, Carson would have to pay millions of dollars for damaging the young man’s name.
Secondly, the style Mrs Museveni uses in her defence of her family is informed by her social culture, in this case her strong Christian background. She sees the world through her Christian values and teachings. When she refers to the Bible, she is really speaking figuratively. Unfortunately, one writer, Muniini Mulera, has accused Mrs. Museveni of saying that her husband is God’s messenger. This is a misunderstanding of the use of allegory. All of us have a world outlook that is shaped by our beliefs and culture. For instance, while Mulera’s interpretation of what goes on in Uganda is through his eyes as an opposition member, Mrs Museveni interprets the same events through her Christian experience. Different strokes for different folks.
Carson alleges that kisanja will make Museveni a dictator. This is sheer rumour mongering. One could, for instance, suggest that George Bush’s attacks on Afghanistan and Iraq show that he wants to attack all Muslim countries. Would this be a sound supposition? But one could speculate.
Those interested to know who is likely to become a dictator should be guided by two things: One’s track record, and whether one is acting constitutionally or unconstitutionally. Can Carson show that Museveni is acting unconstitutionally?
Constitutions can be amended, as long as it is done constitutionally. How many times has the American constitution been amended? If Museveni wanted to be a dictator, why not simply govern by decree?
Given America’s track record of killing innocent people around the world (Vietnam, Laos, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guatemala) and facilitating such killings (Angola, Mozambique), what moral authority do American diplomats such as Carson have to talk about democracy?
We all witnessed the recent American Christian crusade against the people of Iraq, which culminated in the discovery that the weapons of mass destruction that supposedly made the Iraqis evil do not exist.
As a devout Christian, I believe that religious crusades are satanic: Our actions as Christians are supposed to be guided by love, not hatred. Before jumping on kisanja, Carson should explain all those Iraqis tortured and killed by his countrymen on a whim. Are the Iraqis half humans?
Instead of talking about public demonstrations as if they are the bread of life, Carson should talk about the right to life, which successive American governments have denied to millions of people around the world, including the people of Iraq (whom Americans insist on calling Airaqis). He should talk about his government’s policy of establishing safe houses on Guantanamo Bay where they have locked up and tortured innocent people, without trial, while brazenly telling the world that those people have no rights, despite the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. A bastion of democratic values or another fascist power in the making? One can speculate.
Mrs Museveni is right when she says that people like Carson (American diplomats) simply twiddled their thumbs while we were living in real agony here. Now that we are out of our agony, they are all busy telling us what to do. Please, Carson, spare us your patronising opinions. You may have the financial clout to moralise, but you have absolutely no moral authority to do so.
The writer is a special
presidential assistant
Mrs Museveni, as any other Ugandan, has a right to defend her family against accusations that she sees as unfounded. Every one of us is duty-bound to defend our family members against accusations, most especially when we are convinced that the accusations are false.
Carson’s accusations against Muhoozi Kainerugaba are indeed malicious because they are not based on fact. What crime, pray thee, has Muhoozi committed? Elsewhere, Muhoozi would sue Carson who would have to produce evidence of Muhoozi’s culpability in court. Failing to do so, Carson would have to pay millions of dollars for damaging the young man’s name.
Secondly, the style Mrs Museveni uses in her defence of her family is informed by her social culture, in this case her strong Christian background. She sees the world through her Christian values and teachings. When she refers to the Bible, she is really speaking figuratively. Unfortunately, one writer, Muniini Mulera, has accused Mrs. Museveni of saying that her husband is God’s messenger. This is a misunderstanding of the use of allegory. All of us have a world outlook that is shaped by our beliefs and culture. For instance, while Mulera’s interpretation of what goes on in Uganda is through his eyes as an opposition member, Mrs Museveni interprets the same events through her Christian experience. Different strokes for different folks.
Carson alleges that kisanja will make Museveni a dictator. This is sheer rumour mongering. One could, for instance, suggest that George Bush’s attacks on Afghanistan and Iraq show that he wants to attack all Muslim countries. Would this be a sound supposition? But one could speculate.
Those interested to know who is likely to become a dictator should be guided by two things: One’s track record, and whether one is acting constitutionally or unconstitutionally. Can Carson show that Museveni is acting unconstitutionally?
Constitutions can be amended, as long as it is done constitutionally. How many times has the American constitution been amended? If Museveni wanted to be a dictator, why not simply govern by decree?
Given America’s track record of killing innocent people around the world (Vietnam, Laos, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guatemala) and facilitating such killings (Angola, Mozambique), what moral authority do American diplomats such as Carson have to talk about democracy?
We all witnessed the recent American Christian crusade against the people of Iraq, which culminated in the discovery that the weapons of mass destruction that supposedly made the Iraqis evil do not exist.
As a devout Christian, I believe that religious crusades are satanic: Our actions as Christians are supposed to be guided by love, not hatred. Before jumping on kisanja, Carson should explain all those Iraqis tortured and killed by his countrymen on a whim. Are the Iraqis half humans?
Instead of talking about public demonstrations as if they are the bread of life, Carson should talk about the right to life, which successive American governments have denied to millions of people around the world, including the people of Iraq (whom Americans insist on calling Airaqis). He should talk about his government’s policy of establishing safe houses on Guantanamo Bay where they have locked up and tortured innocent people, without trial, while brazenly telling the world that those people have no rights, despite the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. A bastion of democratic values or another fascist power in the making? One can speculate.
Mrs Museveni is right when she says that people like Carson (American diplomats) simply twiddled their thumbs while we were living in real agony here. Now that we are out of our agony, they are all busy telling us what to do. Please, Carson, spare us your patronising opinions. You may have the financial clout to moralise, but you have absolutely no moral authority to do so.
The writer is a special
presidential assistant