Why is Sejusa silent? BY EDRIS KIGGUNDU Next strategy? Gen David Sejusa Gen David Sejusa has remained noticeably quiet two weeks after his surprise meeting with President Museveni at State House Entebbe. The silence of the former coordinator of intelligence services has raised questions about whether he was roundly cowed or he is simply contemplating his next political strategy. Upon his unexpected return from exile in London on December 13, 2014, Sejusa whipped up a political frenzy when he vowed to fight the political oppression by the NRM regime. Denying that he had agreed any deal with Museveni, he said during his homecoming party at Naguru on December 23: “I refused to surrender the UPDF to Mr Museveni even in exile. That is my family, it is my strength, to have the following of the army is a big opportunity for the opposition.” Days later, he told journalists that he had snubbed Museveni’s calls for a reconciliation meeting. His home was surrounded by military personnel before his resistance was broken by Gen Elly Tumwine, a bush-war colleague. On January 3, he met Museveni and along with this meeting, some say, went his enthusiasm and determination. The last time Sejusa spoke to the media was through lawyers Michael Mabikke and Dr David Mushabe, shortly after meeting Museveni. Among other things, the lawyers said that both sides (Museveni and Sejusa) had agreed not to trade any political insults. Sources in his camp said Sejusa’s last political activity was a meeting with Nasser Ntege Sebaggala, a day after the former Kampala mayor had resigned as Museveni’s advisor early this month. Our source told us that the two were scheduled to sign a memorandum of understanding last week, outlining the nature of their cooperation, but this, too, did not happen soon. Last Thursday, Sejusa attended a court session at the General Court Martial in Makindye, where people associated with him are being tried for treason. At Makindye, he declined to talk about his political plans or anything related to the trial, referring us to his lawyer. Michael Mabikke, one of Sejusa’s lawyers, told The Observer last week that his client’s silence is intended not to give the army any excuse not to discharge him, like he had requested. “His first priority now is to leave the army and he would not want to do anything to interfere with this,” Mabikke said. Mabikke said Sejusa had not abandoned his political plans, declining to reveal details of those plans. Wafula Oguttu, the leader of Opposition, said he believes Sejusa had taken a middle-of-the road position. “Sejusa could be genuine in his opposition towards Museveni but he seems to be caught in the middle. He is unsure how the president will react when he makes political utterances and yet the opposition has not fully embraced him,” Oguttu said yesterday. Aaron Mukwaya, a senior lecturer in the department of Political Science and Public Administration at Makerere University, said it was too early to make any accurate interpretation of Sejusa’s silence. “He could be thinking of a plan or maybe he does not want to go against what they agreed upon with the president. I cannot tell,” Mukwaya said last week. [email protected]
Posted on: Sun, 18 Jan 2015 22:28:27 +0000
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