FREE UGANDA CHAIRMAN, GENERAL SEJUSAS SPEECH DURING THE HOMECOMING WELCOME EVENT AT HIS HOME IN NAGURU Below is an abridged version of the General’s speech: I thank you all for welcoming me at my residence. First and foremost, I am glad to be back home. I thank all the people here and in the Diaspora who have been supporting me since I left till my coming back. I will address you mainly on three issues. First issue: I did not enter into negotiations with the ruling dictatorship. The issue of deal or no deal is caused by the opposition’s inabilities who up to now have still not exactly known the purpose of their cause. In the universe, there are other great people and on earth there are greater people. If people understand dynamics, then they can get the desired power. First of all, how did I come back? I informed some of the opposition leaders here. I asked them to come and meet me at the airport. They said they were not ready, failing to grasp that available opportunity. Realizing the values of my coming back, (President) Museveni sent his men led by the director general of the Internal Security Organization (ISO), Brig Ronnie Balya, who joined one of my family members and my lawyer Ladislaus Rwakafuuzi. With such weaknesses, it may be difficult for the opposition to seize the desired power. I never at anytime talked with or met Museveni during my stay in exile but I knew everything that was happening abroad and here. If you see some of the government officials now on televisions rolling their eyes and are not afraid to tell lies, you realize how rotten this leadership is. How does a leader peddle unfounded lies that the Ugandan government bought my return ticket? I bought my ticket with my credit card. If any body has proof indicating that I entered into negotiations with government and I was compromised to come back, please present it. Another big lie peddled is that the Ugandan government offered me a red carpet on my arrival. Possibly, the red carpet they meant was the arresting officer Balya they sent. Since when did Balya become a government welcoming officer? To me, Balya’s presence at the airport was an insult because I’m not only a four-star general but an experienced one. How can Balya be a red carpet for me? Some of the deployed security personnel who were deployed at the airport, wanted to take my finger prints and I refused. Being disciplined officers, they dropped this idea after discussions with Balya. All these things you are hearing are spinned. Some people think that because I am still a serving army officer, I must have negotiated my return. I had the right to come back at any time because the fact is government was aware of my coming. Anybody should be happy that Sejusa, Kabaka’s subject and a Ugandan at that, is back unless that person draws political capital from my staying abroad. You can’t ask a person who had disappeared why he comes back at home. I survived being killed in London three times. Second issue: When I went to UK I formed a political organization Free Uganda (FU) with membership and capacity. I was sent by FU to come back. The reason you see Owek Sewava and people from different political organizations including NRM here is because unity is strength. In our liberation struggle of the 1980s, we had to involve other people not from NRM and these were led by the late Prof Yusuf Kironde Lule [former president] plus those from UNLA and some of Obote’s [also former president] supporters. This is partly how we defeated those in government. In my struggle now, I don’t need to leave out disgruntled people. I am not an extremist; when you exclude, you limit opportunities; mine is to grasp anybody and any opportunity. We will work with anybody who realizes that there is injustice in government. Now issue No 3: Those trying to shun me partly claim I have not been discharged from the army and they say: ‘we are waiting to see your discharge certificate before joining you”. Such arguments do not differ from those of NRM cadres. If you are serious about changing this country, join me whatever the situation. I was in police before I joined Museveni and others remained with Obote. Supposing the Museveni people said that: “before joining us, first get a discharge [certificate] from the police force”, what would have happened? Museveni, himself a soldier then, did not have a discharge certificate from UNLA. People who are fighting do not mind because even in the 1980s, I was charged with desertion. As a revolutionary, I can’t be held hostage by some rules. As my constitutional right, I will demand to be discharged. [His body shaking]. Even if they refuse, I must fight oppression [ululations from supporters followed by music interval]. How do we move forward? I think time has come for leaders to know that time for politicking is over and people need to go to the drawing board and plan for change [more ululations]. I talked to retired Col Dr Kizza Besigye several times including when I met him in London. I think we should sit down and strategize if we are to achieve change. After my return, I stayed nine days in Sembabule and went to Mbarara to meet some other relatives there. In all Ugandan districts, Museveni has RDCs, CAOs, DISOs and some GISOs at Gombolola levels. With this structure not mentioning those at parish and village levels, plus the massive rigging and money in distribution, what available strategy do opposition leaders have to neutralize this force in the coming general elections? People should demand electoral reforms as they show the alternative they have. I joined the struggle in this country and I don’t want to leave it to my friend God. I want to know a practical way to accomplish it, not just a myth. People must know that NRM has been in government for 30 years and can continue. I say this because I just left the other day; so when you get a dream to fight, where necessary, you must be ready to shed blood provided you have a legal political and genuine cause. Tumwines eye The reason you saw some UPDF people saluting me on my way here is because we are a family. UPDF belongs to Museveni just like it belongs to me. The army goes beyond ideology; politics and it becomes a personal relationship. During the liberation war, I was injured twice in the legs and near my heart. In November 1981, when we attacked Bukulula, Gen Tumwine, who led the operation was also injured. Colleagues brought him while we were at Kansiri. He had lost his eye which was in his shirt. As commander of this area, I had [earlier] ordered the killing of one of our own, a one Kabereza – we shot him dead because he was so injured and we did not want him to be tortured by the enemy. Even after Tumwine was injured, we sat down with our 34 guns we had and decided that he must be killed. Before fulfilling this decision, I, who is not a doctor picked up Tumwine’s eye and placed it back into his socket. So, my relationship with Tumwine is beyond politics. When I got injured, some other colleagues helped me too and this is part of my strength. Those in the opposition and in the army must learn how to build power blocks until victory. This is part of the reason why CCM [Chama Cha Mapinduuzi] in Tanzania has succeeded being in power for 50 years just like the ruling South African party, ANC. There is need to change the NRM leadership because it is to its benefit. Called by God As I was coming here today at Nyendo, a convoy of both army and police stopped me from addressing any gathering anywhere and some followed me right to my residence. They made sure I don’t come through the city’s CBD [Central Business District] guiding me to follow the Northern by-pass. I also used to do these things before God called me while I was in London. My life changed in London and I realized the truth after a European lady and wife to one of those who were guarding me talked to me and advised me to humble myself, go down, acquaint myself with foreign life and forget that I was a General. I was advised to rent a house which I did through a one Semujju and bought curtains and forgot the posh houses I left here plus the expensive cars. When I reached Masaka, this afternoon, I had a 15 minute stop over there, fueled my vehicles at Nyendo filling station as security was further heightened. I went to a supermarket to buy water and an attendant wanted to help me carry things I had bought, which offer I refused because I had become used to ordinary life during my stay in London. While in London, I started travelling in buses and later in trains. I knew now I was being a responsible person. I even started walking till my first pair of shoes got torn in four months. Those shunning me and others who wanted me arrested or killed have not gone through what I went through. How can somebody doubt me? In CA [Constituency Assembly] I stood with [Dr Paul] Ssemogerere and took a stand which came to pass and what they refused at that time, we will eventually get it. I, Besigye and the late Serwanga Lwanga opened up this political space some of you are boasting of. Those opposition leaders who ask me to first leave the army before we join hands, should be reminded that in 1996, I brought Ssemogerere to run for president while I was still a serving soldier and he and his colleagues did not ask me to first leave the army. While at Entebbe Airport, Balya offered to give me soldiers to guard me. I did not only refuse his offer but also warned that I would deal with him. I tasked him to explain why in the first place he had arrested those army officers who were guarding me shortly after I left the country. The opposition should cool down and grasp the opportunity of my coming back because I’m not a mole as they think but one of them, a subject of Mengo establishment whose headquarters I have been frequenting. When I was still in the system, I made some mistakes and after leaving, I have now realized this and that is why I am in the struggle to see that bad acts are not repeated by those I left there. My experience is important to everybody. Those who want power, I offer myself to be used maximally. Let me end by also thanking the media for being the mirror of this country. God allowing, I will give details of my agenda soon.
Posted on: Mon, 29 Dec 2014 20:25:16 +0000
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