Kyagulanyi's CNN interview with Amanpour was full of deceit

OPINION

I watched CNN's Christiane Amanpour's interview with the Hon Robert Kyagulanyi. I shuddered at the unashamed deceit by the MP.  Does he think the world believes his blatant lies? Do mixing fact and fiction get him on to another level of support and respect? To make matters worse, the normally respected Journalist Christiane Amanpour seemed to confirm President Donald Trump's tagline of ‘fake news CNN'. She exhibited lop-sidedness in the way she probed MP Kyagulanyi and failing the objectivity test of presenting the other side of the coin.  Did she seek to balance her interview and fail to get a comment from other actors? Obviously not.

 Let's have a quick look at Hon Kyagulanyi's lies:

Uganda has had 35 years of stagnation.  In reality, Uganda has posted consistent economic and population growth since 1986. At 6-7% GDP growth per annum for the last 25 years, the country's stock of wealth has grown from $1.5bn to the current $35bn. 

Young people are yearning for freedom of speech, Kyagulanyi avers.  Uganda is a free nation and believes in freedom of speech. There's a variety of quantitative media uncontrolled by the state and available to all. With 367 radio stations, 25 million internet users, hundreds of private broadcast and publishing houses, Uganda is a match to many an African nation. 

The Youth's greatest need is industrialisation and enterprise creation to enhance employment.

Critics of Government and political contenders for the presidency have all gone into exile, are in prison or have been killed. What a travesty! From Kawanga Ssemogerere in 1996 to Kizza Besigye and others in 2016, all the more than 20 contenders who participated in the last 5 cycles of elections have lived happily in Uganda!  Can Kyagulanyi name a single political prisoner dead or alive?

President Museveni only listens to the international community especially the USA.  Far from it, President Museveni is keener on his electorate, regional leaders and respects international leaders. He has been a trailblazer in international relations, peacekeeping and fighting terrorism on the African continent and beyond. However, he respects the sovereignty of nations. Bilateral and multilateral relations between Uganda and other nations are governed by mutual interest and integrity.  In fact, he stated as soon as he came to power that Uganda was non-aligned in the context of the old cold war lines but was keen on mutual interests and benefit.

Kyagulanyi said that the elections will not be free or fair - Participation in a pointless exercise renders the participant hopeless and indicates crass decision making. There are 12 nominated candidates in this election and if the purpose of Kyagulanyi was to protest, there would be no need to run his show. He could easily stay home and protest. 

Instead, he risks the lives of many people, supporters and passers-by to the infection of the deadly coronavirus, defying common sense and the guidelines of the Ministry of Health.  Any wonder that the virus is spiralling out of control, courtesy of his recklessness?

His last point that President Museveni is a killer who has ordered mass murder of protesters on the streets should be thrown back to him.  Who is the initiator and instigator of riots on the streets? Is it not the self-styled Ghetto President?  Does Kyagulanyi expect President Museveni and the Security forces to turn a blind eye to the mayhem on Uganda's streets?  Who was undressing women in yellow, burning Government vehicles, attacking innocent motorists and extorting money?  Hon. Kyagulanyi and those of your ilk, Uganda has a sober, tried and tested leader.  If you expect to cause trouble and get away scot-free, then you have another thing coming.

Hon Kyagulanyi may court international media and purvey lies, but the people of Uganda will determine their leaders at the ballot box come January 14th.

Dennis Katungi is Communications & Media Relations Manager - Uganda Media Centre.   @Dennis_Katungi