Kalyaburo, as they say in my
part of the country, ‘entonge etakuniga’ (don’t choke on your food, read
popcorn); for the drama in Uganda right from the media siege to Sujusa’s
missives is a joke that is refusing to go away and one is bound to choke on
their meal at the rate that it is playing out!
However, I doubt that this
saga is of the significance that it has claimed, but I believe that government
lacks a serious Public Relations machinery to combat such incidents and ends up
playing in the hands of the so called victims.
To that later; first, let us
look at the man in the limelight. General David Sejusa aka Tinyefuza aka Tinye.
I believe that never in the
history of Uganda, has much emphasis been put in a name. Sejusa or Tinyefuza
translates to ‘I don’t regret’ while Tinye means (it wasn’t me).
Sejusa for most part of the
guerrilla war of the 1980’s ending in 1986 with the usurpation of power by the
NRA, was a key player and a member of the inner command structure, albeit a
stretch of time (September 1984 – March 1985) spent in detention for insubordination.
During the Northern Uganda uprising of
the Lakwena’s and later Kony, Sejusa was a blunt tool used by government to
bring the North to its knees and he was the architect of the scorched-earth
approach against the LRA and the Northern Uganda populace.
Later on after the famous
fall out with his boss over his utterances on Nov 28,
1996, when he told the parliamentary committee on Defence and Internal Affairs
in a testimony, that the war in the north was not ending because of
mismanagement and inefficiency of the army, he was ordered to appear before the
High Command. He refused and instead applied to resign, writing to the
president that; “…I know my own faults
very well and I do not suppose I am an easy subordinate; I like to go my own
way.”, he found himself in courts of law, and subsequently on katebe
(read redundancy). Writing later to apologise to his commander in chief the
humiliated General says; “you know that I am stubborn and a pain in the ass”
(not his actual words, but you get the gist).
Sejusa was after the eating
pie humiliation brought back in favour and was pronto sent to his blunt tool
duties; to do what he does best. You all remember the black mambas saga at the
courts of law which the High court judge termed the rape of justice. Much later
he would preside over the police high handedness in the blockage of the walk to
work demonstrations in Kampala.
The most recent typical
Sejusa stunt was when the current Kampala Chief Executive Jennifer Musisi was
threatened with death over a house eviction by our very own General. And I
believe that this is the incident that rubbed him the wrong way. He must have
expected some protection from his mentor and commander in chief. Wasn’t he
after all using the premises to execute his blunt tool duties at the whim of
his boss? Wasn’t this his duty station? Of course the boss would rein in
Jennifer and all would be duty as usual.
Unfortunately, whether
pre-planned or not, Museveni’s attention was turned to his blue eyed girl
Jennifer. Sejusa was evicted, and that must have hurt!
How does one try to
understand such a two faced individual? Sejusa; I don’t regret! Well, the name
says it all. After falling out (not for the first time) with his boss, he ran
to the court of public opinion and cried wolf. Internally as his name suggests
he doesn’t regret his actions but expects us the masses to sympathise with him.
I will make a fuss, throw a
tantrum and later on, the public will sympathise with me!
How else do
you explain his apology to the president during his daughters wedding: “It was
as if I was possessed because I received advice from some circles but I later
woke up to my senses and made a turn-around. I am prepared to work with you
even more,” he added: “Everyone here, please join me to thank the President for
forgiving me, because he accepted my apology.” Typical, I say! Immediately when
the money purses are drying out, he creeps back with a public apology to his
mentor asking for mercy? No regrets!
Where was he when the army
hierarchy was fighting with the same Tumukunde that he is referring to in his
most current missive? I know where! Sitting with the army high command drafting
the rules! Sejusa – no regrets!
The only time we are going to
see this gentleman come out showing any semblance to regret, is when his very own
livelihood is at stake. Forget the youth; forget the soldiers that he wants us
to focus on. This is about Sejusa and his new found predicament.
Given a few years of exile
where the monthly stipend for an asylum-seeker in the UK is not more than £280
equivalent to Uganda Shillings One million, we are bound to witness another
about-turn from our ‘hero’ seeking for a renewed lease of tenancy on the
feasting table.
What is at stake is the
generalisation of the issues raised by the General namely; the Muhoozi project,
the dissatisfaction in the army and personal interests of an individual riding
on the sentiments of a disgruntled society.
Which brings me back to the
issue of government’s public relations; which is either deliberately lacking or
definitely lacking. I will prefer to go with the later, mainly because
government has already shown its hand by the crude media siege saga and
consequent demonstrations which in our famous Uganda style, go hand in hand
with tear gas and police high handedness. Sejusa one government nil!
The solution in my opinion is
two-fold. Government can come out with a dossier on the General, pointing out
his shortcomings (tricky if some incriminate Government), publically sack him
from his post and demote him to a lower rank (Major or worse?) while at the
same time recalling him from parliament. High-handed? Not at all! You will find
that all these remedies are catered for in whichever instruments governing the
different sectors that this General served in. This is a full frontal attack
that will shock the General because it is a language he understands. Settling
the score through suffocating the media is collateral damage which makes the
General come out on top. Bring the battle closer to home; where it hurts. Make
it personal.
On the other hand, ignore the
man and hope that he will fade away! Target everyone else that seems to support
him passively or actively! A folly I would advise against, because you know
what? This is exactly what he expects Government to do. And guess what? So far,
they have fallen right in his trap!
Kalyaburo, I advised you not
to choke! This saga is still playing out! How it ends depends on the public
relations capability of the two warring parties. So far, the winner has no
regrets. Well, it wasn’t him!
