These are interesting times. And on behalf of the Amin family, I would like to respond to Dr. Kizza Besigye's statement on Museveni's 2016 'coup' as he called it ( facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=554081851432443&id=192296097611022&refid=52&__tn__=C ) Just like any Ugandan, we have political preferences within our family as well. But when something is wrong politically, I speak out publicly or privately regardless of which side I see it happening. That's why I cherish being politically independent and therefore balanced. Yesterday Dr. Kizza Besigye made a public statement about the situation in the country. He rightly said: "Kampala remains under siege". Those who know my thoughts on the matter can confirm that I also agree when he says that what we are witnessing today is a "coup". Though attempts seem to have been made to cover it under a questionable electoral sheepskin that bearly hides the military underbelly. However the only point where I disagree with the FDC presidential candidate, is when the good doctor says: "the streets are reminiscent of 1971, in the aftermath of Gen Idi Amin's coup!" I am aware that Idi Amin's name is brought into the equation for dramatic effect given the international smear campaign to demonize him and anyone mentioned along with him. I have hereby attached the picture of that 1971 aftermath so that Besigye and others who think like him (and thereby contribute to distorting the true patriotic history and outstanding economic legacy of Idi Amin) can understand how mistaken they actually are. If you can identify Amin in that massive joyous crowd, then you probably have 20/20 eyesight. Though haters might say "it is photoshopped". In 1971 similar scenes were everywhere including at Makerere University where students were said to have celebrated non-stop for an entire week. Idi Amin coming to power was equivalent or more popular than Thomas Sankara, another African hero soldier who came to power in a military coup (1983) and who the continent will forever mourn. This is in stark contrast to the historic silence, heartbreak and deserted streets countrywide that we all witnessed the day Ugandan presidential results were announced last month, and where military battalions were then deployed everywhere, intimidating the people. The only time I can remember Kampala falling that silent was when Tanzanian forces were approaching the city (1979). I wondered why Besigye didn't compare todays siege to the one the people of Luweero experienced under the well known NRA/UNLA deadly lockdowns for example? But then I remembered that Luweero was so devastatingly gruesome compared to anything Uganda has ever seen. And though they throw the grim responsibility at each other so as to try and hide their little care for human life, confessions have been reported from both the Obote and Museveni camp. There are at least three confessions from the NRM side that include the infamous UPC T-shirt saga by the current Justice Minister, then the book "Betrayed by my leader" by Major John Kazoora, and the famous (and controversial) girl child NRA soldier China Keitesi who wrote "Child Soldier. Fighting for my life." plus a CNN award-winning documentary "China, war child" where she recounts the horrors she was forced to commit, but also the ills done to her by her own NRA superior officers. On the Obote side there is actually no need for confessions. They are actually far too guilty that they live in exile though trying hard to wipe their hands off anyone that merely says "Hi" to them. But as an active combattant during the NRA bush war, Mr. Besigye must be spoilt for choice of gruesome events that he would like to make comparisons with. So why Amin now? However, returning to todays events, I publicly declared Besigye president when electoral tallying fraud started rearing its ugly head last month during results announcing. His supporters on social media were greatful that I did that. But after seeing Besigye's statement yesterday, I re-read my declaration again on social media, and was left shaking my head as I awoke to how they repay my family if/when we support them. I hereby withdraw that declaration. One that I had written at great risk since the law says only the Electoral Commission declares the winner. But then I thought it is one thing to make a public declaration to 39 million Ugandans as they eventually did, and its another when I declare my opinion to the few thousand followers I have on social media. Something I did as we mourned the death of free and fair elections on 18th February 2016. The points above aren't the only time that I have disagreed with Dr. Besigye. Last year as campaigns kicked off, when the candidates were competing for who had the biggest crowds, I wrote an opinion article where I asked what had happened to the "No Reforms, No Elections" campaign that he and some civil society/pressure groups were declaring vigurously prior to nominations. As far as I recall the only reforms made were cosmetic. Changing the Commissions name from "Electoral Commission" to "Independent Electoral Commission". None of the indepth proposals contained in the much publicized Citizens Compact 2015 were implemented. So for him to then join the race after urging everyone not to, was slightly dishonest and unpatriotic I thought. Notable is the fact that he never publicly recanted that call for no electiond prior to presenting his candidacy. To me it was like the captain of the Titanic secretely jumping ship, and leaving unsuspecting passengers dancing to "No Reforms, No Elections" when he knew that ship was sinking. Only for the drowning passengers to see him passing on a sofa set and now dancing to "Toka kwa barabara". But on the flip side, here is a historic fact that I was told last September when Dr. Besigye famously came from nominations seated on that couch. I was with a few elders watching the event when one of them told me: "There are only two other times in the history of Uganda that I have ever seen such a massive crowd on Kampala streets. - On Independence day 9th October 1962. - And the crowds that rejoiced at the advent of Amin/departure of Obote on January 25th 1971".
Hussein Lumumba Amin Kampala. 05-03-2016
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