The former President of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) Maj.Gen. (rtd.) Mugisha Muntu has warned Ugandan security forces of siding with government leaders to Ugandans.
“If you choose today, to side with those oppressing the people, you will not only have failed in your duty to serve and protect, but you will also have thrown away your conscience as a citizen,” he wrote.
Muntu’s warning to the security forces comes at the time when the country’s image has been tainted following the brutal arrest of legislators and others by the security forces on Monday. Prominent among those tortured are MP Robert Kyagulanyi a.k.a Bobi Wine and Francis Zaake, both of who are nursing serious wounds with Bobi Wine being held at the Makindye Military Barracks.
Muntu who once served as the army commander said that the sole purpose of the army and the police is to serve the people. He said power belong to the people and not to any government present or past.
Muntu says that the armed forces should respect the badge of citizenship and do what is right as opposed to acting on the ‘orders from above’. “You had better make decisions in uniform that will ensure your safety when you are out of it,” he warns.
Muntu in his letter argues the security personnel to avoid brutalising Ugandans and instead protect them.
“There is nothing more rewarding, more fulfilling than leaving the army and finding that you don’t need guns on your shoulders to live peacefully with your neighbours,” he says, saying that Bobi Wine is fighting for the soldiers and police officers as well much as the forces have detained him on allegations of possession of illegal guns, but many say these are trumped-up charges.
Human rights activists and the international community have condemned the brutal arrest of the MPs and other civilians.
There have been protests in Kampala, Mityana and Jinja among other towns. Ugandans leaving abroad have held similar demos in Canada, South Africa.
Some Kenyans at Busia border reportedly blocked the road letting in trucks from Uganda and have urged regional governments to reign on President Museveni’s government to stop human rights abuses.