When I read this story of Museveni dropping in on Mama Miria as she is fondly known, I was not surprised because President Museveni is not only a political Doctor but also a man who knows how to use his cards at the appropriate time.

 

Mama Miria Obote, is the elderly widow of the former president, Dr Apollo Milton Obote, of Uganda between 1962- 1971 and 1980- 1986. The President’s visit to the home of the man he fought in the 1980s and routinely vilified as being responsible for the extrajudicial deaths of thousands of Ugandans is an indication that politics is not enmity but rather a game of policies, but most importantly a vindication of forgiveness. Mama Miria was not only a widow of the former president but also a leader of the opposition party Uganda People’s Congress from November 28, 2005 — a party her late husband founded, upon returning from exile. She unsuccessfully ran for president during the 2006 general elections before retiring from party leadership ahead of her term ending. President Museveni launched a five-year guerrilla war against the Obote II regime in 1981 but took power in 1986 after ousting the military junta led by Gen. Tito Okello Lutwa which had toppled Dr Obote in a July 1985 coup. Although the coup that overthrew Obote was carried out by Gen. Okello and Brig. Bazillio Olara Okello, two senior commanders of the Uganda army then, Dr Obote blamed his second forced exit from power on Museveni whose National Resistance Army at the time waged a war of attrition against the Uganda People’s Congress government for five years. Whatever the Ugandan President discussed with the widow of the former Ugandan head of State, it is clear that President Museveni does not play politics of hate like some of his counterparts in the region. Indeed President Museveni has political differences with many politicians in Uganda including some of his comrades he fought side by side in the Luwero Bush War, but he has managed to live with them without necessarily exterminating them physically. People like Besigye his former Physician, Gen. Mugisha Muntu his former army Commander, Col Amanya Mushega, just to mention a few. This is what makes political maturity in Uganda. Although the widow of the late President Habyarimana of Rwanda is accused of having indirectly participated in the 1994 genocide abetting and aiding in the creation of Akazu( small clique of murders) there is no evidence to substantiate these allegations. It is equally to equate the current first lady in what his husband and his government is doing the people of Rwanda. I don’t think President Kagame will be amused while is in jail or hell to see his wife and children languishing in jail or traumatized by his successors. Indeed, since 1973, President Habyarimana had run a totalitarian regime in Rwanda, which had excluded many groups with dissenting views from participating in the national politics, so is the current President (Kagame). The signing of the Arusha accord on August 3, 1993 by President Habyarimana weakened significantly the powers of the President and as a result created uncontrollable militias who were notorious during genocide. Former President Obote of Uganda like President Habyarimana and Kayibanda made grave mistakes but they also contributed to the history of their country. Whether it is bad history, Rwandans and the rest of the world should know what they did, because what they were is part of our history. To deny the existence of these people it is to deny the history of our country. It is a noble thing for the President of Rwanda to forgive the widow of the late President and look for the grave of the Man who was at the helm of the Rwandan Independence and his family. What is the family of President Kayibanda have to with the politics of Kayibanda? It is a shame for the current regime to fail to notice that where there is seed of hatred the government should saw a seed of love. It is written in the New Testament that if you love your friends, you have no difference like the Pharisees because they do the same. I will also request my brother Andrew Mwenda who accompanied the Uganda President on this noble visit to the family of late President Obote to kindly pass this message of reconciliation to the Rwandan President since he happens not only to be his friend but also his advisor. Politics of killing people you disagree with politically does not only create resentment within the community but also undermines development. Whereas it is true the Media Played a Huge Role in the Genocide where the Kangura newspaper, controlled by extremists, had been spouting hate. The current government has not only muzzled the media but also many journalists have been killed or exiled. It is not the media in the opposition that creates hate; it is rather the media that is sponsored by the government that spreads hate and destruction. Indeed, like the organizers of the genocide thought they have suppressed dissents, they were in fact mistaken, they didn’t extinguish it. As the Habyarimana government was weakened by military losses and by the first signs of international disapproval, so will the government of RPF and Kagame. Obviously the majority of President Kagame’s comrades continue to withdrew one by one from his government it is evident that the power is now in the hands of smaller clique ,more zealous groups of assailants, who continued to hunt and kill in hopes of profit or because they are committed to fight for their survival . The Rwandan government, eschewing any genocidal ideology, has nonetheless continued to engage in massive slaughter of civilians whom it counts as supporters of the enemy, both in Rwanda and in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is increasingly clear to assess the people who are behind these inhumane atrocities and violence against innocent people within Rwanda and DRC. Indeed, these leaders and supporters of this violence in DRC have been identified by the international human rights groups and their report is indisputable, however, what I don’t want to see in the future, are the children and wife of President Kagame being dragged to court for the crimes of their father and husband respectively. Please President Kagame could you borrow a leaf of peace and forgiveness from your mentor (President Museveni). Jacqueline Umurungi Brussels..