President Yoweri Museveni has dismissed claims by a section of Ugandans that the country is sliding back into the past era of atrocities, saying such assertions are incorrect and misleading.
Addressing the nation on Saturday evening, Museveni said current developments reflect the consolidation of Uganda’s long-standing struggle for patriotism, Pan-Africanism, socio-economic transformation, and democracy.
“Therefore, those who have been putting forward the slogan ‘Bizeemu’—meaning ‘the bad things of the past have come back’—are wrong,” Museveni said.
A number of Ugandans have raised concern over the ongoing in the country with many accusing security forces of operating with impunity.
However, the president contrasted the current situation with past periods, arguing that Uganda has moved away from eras where individuals who were arrested allegedly disappeared without due process.
“Ebyaliwo in the past meant that anybody arrested (abducted) would not go to court but would end up as a dead body in places like Namanve forest, the River Nile or Kaaya’s farm. On the contrary, here you see Besigye creating scenes in the courts of law. I could even see my sister Matembe limping into court but forgot to limp when she was leaving court. Therefore, those who want to know the truth, wait for the trials of the accused People. I cannot allow impunity in our system even on the side of the security forces.”
The President further cited the example of former minister Miria Matembe, saying she attended court proceedings despite public concerns over political treatment of opposition figures.
He urged those seeking clarity on the matter to follow ongoing court processes involving accused persons, insisting that government would not tolerate impunity, including within security agencies.
“I cannot allow impunity in our system, even on the side of the security forces,” Museveni said.
His remarks come amid recurring concerns from sections of Ugandans over alleged arbitrary arrests and detention of political figures and civil society actors—claims that critics have previously compared to past authoritarian eras.
Museveni, however, rejected this characterization, arguing that the state’s actions are aimed at enforcing accountability and preventing lawlessness.
“This allowing of impunity to continue for so long is responsible for the culture of mob justice. The population suspects that the police and judiciary may not hold criminals accountable, hence mob justice, which is unfortunate,” he said.
He also accused some opposition actors of engaging in what he termed “fascist tendencies,” saying such actions have at times triggered public unrest and confrontations with security forces.
According to the President, incidents such as violent protests and attacks on political supporters have previously endangered public order and necessitated intervention by security agencies.
“It is this undemocratic culture among some opposition elements that has been provoking the security forces to fill these gaps,” he said.
Museveni maintained that the actions of security agencies should not be interpreted as a regression, but rather as part of efforts to uphold law and order while strengthening democratic governance.
“It is this undemocratic culture of some of the opposition elements, that has been provoking the security forces to fill these gaps. Therefore, what the security forces have been doing recently is not a regression in the fight for freedom but a consolidation of our long fight for the principles of patriotism, Pan-Africanism, socio-economic transformation and democracy.”
“It is, therefore, the impunity promoters that have been inviting the security forces to finally do something. It is the security forces that die to keep peace in Uganda and in our turbulent Region. If the security forces give their lives to keep peace in the country, why can’t some of the political actors give up their egos and greed, to make a contribution to that peace? It is, therefore, in order for us to insist on full accountability and no impunity for our words or our actions.”
