Mushega slams NRM over Bush War ‘blood’ talk

Retired major says “if it is about shedding blood, maybe we can take those still alive to the Blood Bank and return that blood so that everyone lives in peace in Uganda”.

Kampala- The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) vice chairman for western region, Mr Amanya Mushega, has criticised Bush War fighters in the NRM government who keep singing about how they shed blood to liberate Uganda from dictatorship.

Mr Mushega said the references of “we shed blood” are redundant and discredit the legitimacy of the 1981-86 Bush War that brought the NRM government to power. He said most of those who actually shed their blood during that war died.

In an exclusive interview with Sunday Monitor this week in Kampala, Mr Mushega, a retired Major and a historical member of the National Resistance Army (NRA) liberation struggle, likened the Bush War heroes who recycle the 1981-1986 guerrilla war gospel to mothers who go around the village chest thumping themselves about how they brought up their children.

Upon his return from the UN General Assembly in New York recently, President Museveni reminded a crowd of people who had gathered at the Mayor’s Gardens in Entebbe to welcome him, that the current stability the country is enjoying was born out of bloodshed during the 1981-86 Bush War.

Many NRM government officials and army officers who participated in the guerrilla war have often bragged publicly how they shed blood to bring peace in the country.

During the Justice James Ogola commission of inquiry into abuse of money of the Global Fund for HIV/Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the then Health minister, Maj Gen Jim Muhwezi, asked where the judge (now retired) was when the former and others were in the bush fighting.

The statement was perceived to mean that the Major General was telling the judge he had no legitimacy toask him for accountability of government funds because he did not fight to bring it to power. The judge had grilled Maj Gen Muhwezi on his role in the management of the Global Fund money.
Recently, at a heated NRM National Executive Committee meeting at State House, Maj Gen Muhwezi (Rujumbura MP) and Brig Matayo Kyaligonza were mentioned in the media as having reminded senior party members that “some of us” shed blood for this country. The duo were shut down by NRM Youth League leader Denis Namara who told them off: “We the young ones are tired of this gospel. Let’s move on.”

Mr Mushega argued that it is illogical for the NRM government to hold the country at ransom by drumming up the “we shed blood” song because majority of Ugandans, now aged 30 and below, could not have fought in the guerrilla war against former president Milton Obote’s regime as they were either babies or not yet born.
Uganda’s population is about 40 million, according to the current estimates, and half of those are aged below 35.

“Majority of those who shed blood are dead, I know some of them who are still alive, some are in government and others are out. Salim Saleh, Mugisha Muntu, Elly Tumwine got injured and are alive. So if it was a question of entitlement who would be more entitled?” Mr Mushega wondered.

“So it is not a question of who shed more blood because you were contributing to the country. If it is about shedding blood, maybe we can take those still alive to the Blood Bank and return that blood so that everyone lives in peace in Uganda,” Mr Mushega said.

However, he also warned that those who do not appreciate that some people made a sacrifice are also a problem. “It is about balancing the two. It is mutual respect. You the young ones also need to appreciate that role but over praising it is also a problem,” he cautioned.

Mr Mushega implored the NRM government, now in power for 28 years and which he once served, to respect leaders who have fallen out with it. Citing the treatment of former vice president Prof Gilbert Bukenya and former prime minister Mr Mbabazi, Mushega said the two deserve respect even after falling out with their former ally, Mr Museveni.

Mr Bukenya, who has declared his intention to stand for presidency was jailed shortly after being dropped as vice president and charged with corruption. He was later acquitted by court.

Asked where the country’s leadership went wrong, the former East African Community Secretary General said: “We over-trusted the leadership at the time, we relied on the good will of people but nations are not built on people’s good will but principles, institutions and rules, not leaders who are fallible.”

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