The Uganda Diaspora P10 , a group of Ugandan activists and pro-Besigye Team formed in 12 Countries of the world including the UK, USA, Canada, Japan, China, Netherlands, South Africa, Tanzania, Kenya and others recently released a statement on events unfolding in the Rwenzori region. Acholi Times reproduces the statement below
As Uganda continues to hurt with the high handed election fraud and eventual coup waged against the people of Uganda, the Uganda Diaspora P10 is concerned with the escalating post-election conflict situation that have riddled Kasese, Bundibugyo, Ntoroko, Kampala, and Kapchorwa.
The continued murder in cold blood of people in these Opposition strongholds requires immediate international intervention.
In Kasese, Bundibugyo and Ntoroko, several people been murdered extra-judicially in the last 2 weeks alone.
The gory images of dead people continue to litter the streets and appear on national TV. This is worrying.
The armed forces of Uganda have been active ingredients in inciting and exacting these murders, arrests, provocations, and harassment of the local people.
In light of these developments, the Uganda Diaspora P10 recognizes that the escalating conflict in the Rwenzori region is purely political, not tribal, as we are being forced to believe.
It is a clear indication that this regime [NRM government] is waging protracted revenge killings, torture, and exacting gross violation of human rights so as to coerce support where it has none.
We are further concerned about the directives issued by the Commander-in-Chief of Uganda people’s defense forces (UPDF), for deployments of heavy military arsenals and army in the Rwenzori region in an operation code-named “Usalama Rwenzori”.
The Uganda Diaspora P10 considers this a knee-jerk reaction of the regime to suppress legitimate concerns of the people of the region. This is reminiscent of “Operation Iron Fist” and preceding Scorched Earth Policy of the 1990s ordered in the north of Uganda during the times of insurgency.
We all recall well how those military operations destroyed the livelihoods of the people of the north for decades, decimated, and humiliated the people there. We are afraid that the situation in the Rwenzori region will deteriorate into the same levels of human suffering if left to the vices of this regime.
The Continued military occupation of these districts serves to narrow the space for the exercise of constitutional rights of the people. More so, people’s liberty and freedom of expression continue to be suppressed violently.
We urge the Uganda Police under Gen Kale Kayihura to restrain itself from inciting violence and perpetuating lawlessness in the Rwenzori region. It is very clear that the regime is imposing itself on the people after usurping people’s will through vote rigging. The Regime knows that the people are not with it. To establish its legitimacy, it is now resorting to violent coercion, intimidation, and by ensuring a strong presence of its instrument of repression in the Opposition Strongholds. This approach is not sustainable in the long run, as it will generate more apathy, discontent, anxiety, and escalation of violence.
Naturally, people will become defiant and noncompliant to unlawful conducts of the Police and the army.
We advise dictator Museveni and his henchmen that whatever they are doing contravenes the laws of Uganda and many international laws that protect the political and economic rights of the people. We are keenly watching as the situation deteriorates and we guarantee the actors in this heinous crime against the people of Uganda, a steep indictment.
To restore peace and harmony in Uganda, the regime should hand over power peacefully to the rightful winner of the February 18, 2016, Presidential elections. This will enable Uganda to return to the course of democracy and peace that many have so desired.
We applaud Dr. Kizza Besigye for remaining calm and peaceful during these hard times when his rights have been trampled upon unconscionably. The world is watching in solidarity. Dr. Kizza Besigye remains a subject of Police harassment, curtailment and several forms of human rights violations. We condemn the Police, its Inspector General Kale Kayihura and all the officers who have built a career by involving in acts of impunity, that have eroded the value of sanity, law and order.
We call upon the international community and those who value democracy and democratic governance to reign in on the regime. Uganda is right now under military occupation with orders to shoot-to-kill anyone who lawfully exercises their fundamental rights.
Dictator Museveni has promised to wipe out opposition groups from the country. Indeed, events ensuing in the country have so far been very consistent with Dictator Museveni’s promise. And, we foresee the situation slowly growing into genocide if it is unchecked.
Our fears are not far-fetched, given that Uganda, under President Museveni has supervised the execution of the 1994 Rwanda Genocide, the war of annihilation in Northern Uganda that lasted nearly 25 years; The DRC genocide of 1998, and recently the decimation of Bor, a small settlement town in Southern Sudan.
We pray for a return to rule of law, respect for human rights, peace and tranquil in our motherland.
Uganda Diaspora P10 -Publicity team.
