A rare phenomenon exists in the groups opposed to the dictatorial regime in our country today, that makes them seem unfit for the great cause of liberation. Basic revolutionary code demands that a force must protect itself – its fighters, and those who support its cause, from the attacks of their common enemy.

But not Ugandan opposition groups. They view this – protecting the revolution, as the concern of each independent opposition group or person. This is also how they approach the task of liberating the country – going it solo!

They meet, “agree”, even “sign”… and yet before the sun goes down they lie, cheat and betray themselves.  Every day they say “all we want is to – overthrow this dictatorship, create authentic democracy and protect you.

Unless we believe that logic works the same way the chameleon works,  personally I don’t think protection, or democracy could come from one who does not stand on a principle for a full day!

It is because of believing such fallacies (misconception resulting from incorrect reasoning), that those who fought the 1980-86 struggle,  ended up creating bufere democracy and a mafia state 

We all know that the opposition parties/group/camps do not agree (consent), on pretty much anything, it doesn’t matter if they claim to agree, because the actions give it away, but the protection of revolutionary fighters like Nyanzi, and the supporters of the revolution – this is so pertinent that a mutual defense pact needs to be in place, for a common response against the strikes of the mafia regime, against them.

Protecting your own is a cardinal principle in revolutionary politics. Not only locally, but also regionally. The popular rebellion in Sudan North should by now have benefited from loud voices of support from Ugandan opposition.

How to do it – protecting fighters is protecting the revolution

The strategy of political opposition in Uganda should be broad in its coverage of political matters, and all inclusive in terms of its appeal.

Exposing the evils of the junta regime locally, regionally & internally

The opposition groups should seize every incident of the mafia and junta regime, each time they unleash terror against the citizens, killing of innocents, jailing innocents, and using the judiciary system as tools of political oppression. The opposition should seize each and every incident of these to decisively record, report and expose it across all corners of the country, the region and the international forums. This is a core function of peaceful opposition, and it should not be done without coordination of the groups, but all opposition players should have a common approach to exposing the regime. The junta regime loosing credibility locally, regionally & globally for its jailing opponents, activists, shutting businesses of those perceived to be not supporting the military junta in private sector, stiffing free speech by shutting newspapers and radios, and creating  sub-human conditions for citizens in hospitals, schools, jails – these serve as material to build the right momentum for popular liberation of the country.

Pinning down the Individuals who carry out injustice

The individuals within the junta regime who are the executioners and purveyors of injustice who carry out the matching orders from the political junta, against citizens, should be meticulously recorded in the black books of Uganda’s history.  Their names should be mentioned out out of the noise and cries they met on innocents, to be on the record as tools of political persecution, so that they may not escape justice when the junta can no-longer protect them. The opposition needs to be meticulous, thorough and scientific when pinning injustice to the real individuals who carry them out, and all their assistants – you cannot bring justice to a land without pinning the ones who committed the injustice. So all those members in the army, police, intelligence, judiciary and other areas of the junta state who are doing the work of political mercenaries should be well documented and exposed to the public, for the day of reckoning

Again this something that all political opposition would find common ground on, since they’re affected by it, so a common approach and efforts to doing it is the right answer to protecting themselves against the excesses  of the junta regime

It is not logical to say say: we’re going to win the coming election, if you cannot win personal freedom first. Obviously you’re not allowed to mobilise for the said election. If as opposition politician, your personal freedom is debatable, then by all means your mission is not winning elections, it is winning freedom!

Do not claim on the podium, to be the poster child of certain values, while in fact, there is no evidence of you having put such values in action

We, Young Revolution, wish to congratulations to the new FDC party President, Patrick Oboi Amuriat on a transparent victory. Forum for democratic change has lived up-to its name – democratic change, by divulging power transparently to a new leader. Not a single vote was stolen or lost, and there was no interference with delegates – they exercised their complete free will.

By choosing Patrick Oboi Amuriat, over Mugisha Muntu, the delegates were convinced that this change was what FDC needed. Change means change in FDC.

Let us remember that the very essence essence of politics is to change policy. Policy reflects people’s thinking and aspirations, not just at a party level but at a national level. So we congratulate Patrick Oboi Amuriat for espousing that which a trodden people have hope in. Some efforts by detractors of FDC have been made to brand Amuriat and his approach, to use their words “radical”, especially in comparison to Muntu and his approaches, which FDC detractors see as “gentle” and “calm”.  Personalities react differently to the dangers they face. From where I stand, it is FDC leaders, supporters and well wishers that have been killed, wounded, imprisoned, teargassed, trodden on and denied their human liberty to assemble. If you have a heart for those people, you cannot blame FDC and indeed a wider section of the Ugandan population to change their relationship with the state that is killing them, to one of self protection and self defense.  If Amuriat can give hope and reason to the people to defend their freedoms, rights and liberties, other than go down under the boots of the other political camp, that is a good thing, not a bad thing.

On the vote process, we saw the true, transparent free will of Ugandans at play in the election of FDC. By comparison, if this were NRM delegates, you’d hear of arrests of candidates, delegates pre-selected or bribed in the halls of their hotels, threatened and the integrity of the whose process sent to the dogs. So it is a triumph to hold free and fair elections at a party level, it is reflective of the type of election that could be organised by FDC as a government. That precedent needs to be set, and set it was, not once not twice but most of the time FDC held delegates conferences and election of party president. Free exercise has always reigned.

Ugandans are interesting in solving Uganda’s bigger problems such, moving away from tribalism in party or government and ethno-politics, corruption, semi-military government and creating a true democracy. These are prerequisites for economic order an growth.