Opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party has reiterated a call on president Yoweri Museveni to begin a dialogue that should result into peaceful transfer of power if Uganda is to avoid the Congo, Sudan and Somalia situations.
Addressing the party weekly press conference on Monday, Ibrahim Semujju Nganda the FDC spokesperson says at least five neighbouring countries including DRC Congo, South Sudan, Sudan, Ethiopia and Somalia are experiencing violence resulting from unresolved governance issues.
“The common denominator is that all these countries were once ruled by life presidents; Gen. Al-Bashir in Sudan (30 years), Mobutu Sese Seko of Congo (25 years), Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia (17 years), Siad Barre of Somalia (21 years). All these leaders were removed from power creating a vacuum because the removal affected institutions of the state that had been affected by the life presidency.” noted Semujju
According to Semujju, they are willing to participate in an honest genuine dialogue that will save the country from violent change of government adding that it is possible to avoid violence if Museveni tames his appetite for power.
“The population is desperate and no amount of handouts through Myoga, Parish model will stop a pending explosion. Only dialogue and a peaceful transfer of power will.” He added
Meanwhile, the party cautioned president Museveni against employing populist measures to resolve land conflicts in the country.
This follows the president’s recent statement to the NRM leaders in which he attacked mailo land tenure system and declared Buganda Land Board illegal.
Semujju says Museveni’s aggressive and unrelenting attack on the country’s land tenure system is causing unnecessary tension and insecurity.
“The content of his recent statement to the NRM leaders in which he attacked mailo land tenure system and declared Buganda Land Board illegal, should be ignored because it is a recipe for violence and will drive the population into breaking the law.” Said Semujju
He said population growth is the main source of pressure on land and therefore should be the one delt with.
“Even if you confiscate land from the Kabaka of Buganda and all mailo land owners like the Church and redistributed it, tension and conflicts will remain because of the sheer size of the population. The country’s fertility rate at 5.8% (number of births per woman) remains one of the highest in the world.” Emphasized Semujju
He said with a growing population, a big percentage of it poor and with impunity of well-connected people, evictions and land conflicts can only increase.
In a November 8 letter to the ruling National Resistance Movement Central Executive Committee members, Mr Museveni declared BLB illegal, and directed the party’s mobilisers to fight it.
“Resist land evictions for bibanja owners and work for the emancipation of the bibanja owners and compensation of the exploitative Mailo owner. Resist all schemes of okutemako (cut pieces from) of the bibanja owners’ land or kyaapa mungalo (“leases” given by the illegal Buganda Land Board),” the President wrote.
