Museveni- I Would Have Joined Tuesday’s Protests Led by Gen Zs
President Yoweri Museveni delivered a powerful message to the nation on Thursday, July 25, 2024, in response to the recent demonstrations in Uganda spearheaded by Gen Z.
The demonstrations that occurred on Tuesday, July 23, 2024, have sparked widespread concern and discussion.
“Fellow Ugandans, especially the Bazzukulu,” President Museveni began his statement, using a term of endearment for the younger generation.
“Greetings. I want to congratulate the Armed Forces and the Security Forces and the Wanainchi, for foiling or not participating in the bad demonstration that was planned for Tuesday.”
2 main issues
President Museveni pointed out two key concerns regarding the demonstration: foreign interference and malicious intent.
“Element no.1 was funding from foreign sources that are always meddling in the internal affairs of Africa for the last 600 years ─ the slave trade, colonialism, neo-colonialism, genocide, economic exploitation, etc. All those involved should know that Uganda is not a neo-colony where those shallow schemes can be deployed.”
He highlighted Uganda’s resilience against foreign interference and declared that such tactics are unwelcome in the country.
Museveni further mentioned that individuals with malicious intentions sought to cause significant harm during the demonstrations.
“The second element was that some of the authors and participants of the demonstrations were planning very bad things against the people of Uganda. Those very bad things will come out in court when those arrested are being tried,” Museveni continued.
Museveni admitted that some individuals might not have known about the sinister intentions or the external financial support for the protests.
“It is possible, that some of the participants, did not know of the planned foreign funding and the planned bad things. That is why, they should have listened to the police advice, not to go on with the demonstration. But they rubbished the police advice.”
Museveni joining protests
President Museveni voiced his backing for lawful and non-violent demonstrations, mentioning that he would have participated in Tuesday’s protests if there had been no foreign interference and if the demonstrators had sincere intentions.
“Otherwise, if it was a patriotic, anti-corruption, peaceful demonstration, coordinated with the Police, I would have been the first to join,” Museveni said.
The Ugandan president also reminisced about his participation in peaceful protests in earlier times.
“Indeed, in the year 2019, Nakalema organized us and we marched from the city Square through Kampala Road to Jinja Road and went to Kololo.
“So many people were there- Bishops, Soldiers, Wanainchi, etc. I thought that Nakalema had timed a Sunday because there was neither traffic nor pedestrians on the road.
“Nakalema has now told me, that it was a Wednesday, the 4th of December, 2019, but that they had organized with the police to block traffic for some hours,” he said.
Adding that; “That part of Kampala is, besides, lightly populated except during the daylight hours. Nakalema can coordinate with genuine anti-corruption fighters for a similar effort, especially on a Sunday.
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“It was not correct for Nakalema to use a working day. In particular, the heavily populated suburbs of our cities – Kawempe, Bwaise, etc. should never be used for demonstration, because they will damage the little wealth creation that our people are painstakingly building up. Kololo ceremonial grounds are being repaired now. When the work is finished, Nakalema should organize us. I will be there.”
In his final comments, Museveni emphasized that external meddling in Uganda’s internal affairs needs to cease.
“However, those being funded by foreigners, should stop and report to the Minister of State for Ethics, those that have been funding them.
“We shall not arrest them. In any case, we know a lot about the goings on in those groups. Our interest is to immunize Uganda against the schemes of the imperialists and their agents,” Museveni stated.
The Ugandan government emphasizes its commitment to upholding sovereignty and enforcing law and order in response to the rising concerns of the younger generation.
Museveni- I Would Have Joined Tuesday’s Protests Led by Gen Zs
