Kampala– Opposition Uganda Peoples’ Congress has lashed at the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon’s choice of picking President Museveni as peace broker in the ongoing Burundi political crisis.
UPC party Spokesperson, Okello Okello says it wouldn’t be Museveni as a perfect choice because he has maintained power through change of the Constitution to granting himself life presidency a project Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza is trying to implement.
″Mr.Museveni has no moral authority to intervene in the Burundi matters because he and Nkurunziza are not any different, ″ said Mr.Okello.″ Take Rwanda for example after the genocide, Museveni acted partisan and we all know who he supported, his army and the Rwandan army massacred Hutu refugees in Congo forests and we all know that.″ added Mr.Okello.
In the recently concluded United Nations High level Thematic Debate on strengthening co-operation between the UN and Regional Organizations in maintenance of peace, security, Human Rights and Development, the UN secretary General Ban Ki Moon, is reportedly having asked President Museveni to intervene in the ongoing political turmoil in Burundi.
However, Presidential Press Secretary, Tamale Mirundi dismissed UPC’s augment as narrow that can’t be compared to that of the UN. Mirundi further revealed that what many political players have forgotten is the role that was played by Museveni in pacifying Burundi in the accord that was signed in Arusha.
“Burundi was pacified by UN with the assistance of late President, Julius Nyerere first before late President Nelson Mandela came in. After Mandela, it is Museveni who came and with that he can’t be any wrong choice for another peace initiative.” Mirundi said.
He added “Museveni is best suited to handle Burundi because he was part of the medical team that prescribed the medicine for Burundi then and even now he will find solutions to the current crisis.”
Lucima said his party (UPC) disagreed with the UN Secretary General’s choice sighting events that brand Museveni as the ″wrong man″ for the job.
Addressing journalists at the party headquarters this afternoon May 13, 2015; Mr. Lucima expressed their disappointment with the UN. He went ahead to point out that from the East African Community, the potential candidate for this job should have been Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete.
″We as UPC support that the UN should choose a person with credibility and from a democratic country like Tanzania and Jakaya Kikwete would be the ideal person.″ Mr. Okello said.
At the UN general assembly, Museveni, in his keynote address said that African Problems require African interventions and not from the west.
But Lucime despised the above statement saying such words coming from a leaders whose citizens’ rights are abused is basically a shortcut for impunity.
“There are no rights categorical for Africans and Whites, they are all the same and universal.″ Mr.Okello said. He added, “This is a bid to find sanctuary to international standards against the brutality and promotion of impunity.”
President Museveni this morning joined other East African Community (EAC) leaders in Dar es Salaam for EAC extra ordinary summit on the crisis in Burundi.As the meeting was underway, an army was reported to have staged a coup against Nkurunziza
