Don't drag the army into tribal talk - Museveni

ARMY|TRIBAL TALK|SECTARIANISM

In his second missive to the public especially the Bazzukulu, President Yoweri Museveni cautioned against preaching sectarianism and tribalism, especially the tendency of dragging the army in tribal talk.

"Also, preaching sectarianism on the media (social and otherwise), should stop. Although I am always ready to explain, also remember that such false allegations, carelessly or maliciously made, are criminal," he said.

"Coming to the armed forces, especially the army, my advice to all of you, is that leave your army out of that nonsense.

The National Resistance Army (NRA), the Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) are armies of sacrifice, all the time for no pay or low pay. They (we) put their lives on the line.

Therefore, leave UPDF out of the circus of sectarianism," he said.

"Fighters, real fighters, never have interests in tribes or religious sectarianism, but in comrade-in-arms. I became a comrade with the mad Ageta on September 17, 1972, because we found ourselves together taking cover, while combating Idi Amin's gigantic sergeants in the anthills that dotted the area, where the Coca-Cola factory is now, near the Mbarara Barracks. 

When my small group crossed to the right of the Mbarara-Masaka road and got near the barracks' fence, I found there another Obote fighter who became my comrade, known as Opio.

I worked with him thereafter, until 1980, when I lost contact with him," he added.

Responding to people who took to social media to demand that the rank and file of the army be made public, the President said: "If you are not working for the enemy, you cannot go on the social media and demand that we publish the names of the personnel of UPDF, their ranks and their jobs.

The only thing we can say and what you know is that recruitment into the Police and UPDF is by quota. Beyond that, leave our army alone and I mean, leave our army alone."