President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has distanced the army and other security forces from the alleged disappearances of people in the country.
The President says that the security forces including the army and police are taught not to violate people’s rights. He dismissed claims that the forces have a hand in the said kidnaps and disappearance of people.
Museveni who was addressing the nation on prevailing security issues noted that the disappearance of Ugandans cannot happen under the National Resistance Movement-NRM government and if any mistake is made it will be addressed and answered. He further pledged that under NRM every Ugandan will be accounted for.
Mr Museveni said that security operatives have picked up scores of ‘terrorists and lawbreakers’ from different places including Kampala, Wakiso, Mpigi, Mukono, Nakasongola, and Kyotera during several operations.
The said terrorists, according to the president had plans to disrupt the electoral process in the country.
The president blamed the said criminals for trying to intimidate NRM supporters and destroying their property.
According to figures read by the president, 242 people were arrested by the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence–CMI while 76 were arrested by a unit of commandos which was brought from Somalia to man security in different violence-prone areas during the elections.
Out of the 76 arrested by commandos, Museveni says 17 have been released and 59 are still held helping the security to trace their accomplices.
To answer the talk about disappearances, Museveni has directed that the list of the suspected criminals who have been arrested be availed to the public.
On the issue of foreigners trying to meddle in Uganda's internal affairs, Mr Museveni said it would be unserious for anyone to think that Africans are dying to go to Europe.
This comes after the European Union (EU) Parliament debated imposing restrictions on some government officials last week.
“I read in the newspapers about the EU Parliament sanctioning some Ugandans from traveling. For anybody to think that Africans are dying to go to Europe is something that shows lack of seriousness,” President Museveni said.
Accusing former president Idi Amin of killing many nationals and being a ‘foreigners’ favorite, he told Ugandans: “When Idi Amin made a coup (1971); he was supported by foreigners but for us straight away after he had announced his coup, we decided to fight him because he couldn’t understand our Pan-African aims. We need state-power to solve problems of Africa not just positions. Ignore foreigners.”
Mr Museveni slammed foreigners saying, “If we had listened to them, we would have made mistakes. Foreigners can lead to a lot of distortions.”
