By Julius Tumukunde, a Ugandan based in USA.
On November 26, 2016, Ugandan government forces attacked Rwenzururu kingdom’s office of the prime minister, killing at least eight people.
Later that day, community members clashed with police, and at least 14 police and 32 civilians died.
The army responded the next day by raiding the palace of King Charles Mumbere and during the attack, they arrested him and over 180 others present in the palace compound. Human Rights Watch research in 2017 found that at least 153 people, including children, died during these clashes.
But Museveni easily got away with this. Indeed this appears to have been his belief when he ordered for the shooting of Ugandans demonstrating against the arrest of his main opponent, Bobi Wine during presidential campaigns.
On November 18 and 19, security forces clamped down on protesters demanding the release of then detained Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, killing at least 54 people, some shot dead from their offices and at work. Security Minister Elly Tumwine came out and warned against any further protests, telling the public that the police have the right “to shoot you and kill you.”
On his part, Museveni boasted of how his commando unit had killed what he called terrorists and vowed to clash more.
Well, not every day is a Sunday. Unlike before, these murders have returned to haunt him. All of the big powers have started zeroing in on him.
First it was the European Union when its members of parliament called for sanctions against the Ugandan govt over Human Rights abuses.
I think the US will come up with visa restrictions against govt officials who were involved in the killing and Human Rights abuses.
Enough is enough.
If Museveni and his son are lucky to escape the long arm of the ICC, at least they can’t run away from sanctions. Museveni’s prolonged stay in power as to a large extent been because of the support from the West. It is this support which he uses to suppress Human Rights and to fund his authoritarian regime.
Once this support is taken away, it will also likely mean an end to the Museveni Regime and subsequently an end to Human Rights abuses.
