President Yoweri Museveni has warned that anyone planning violence should know that the government has the capacity to counter and defeat them.
While speaking at State House Entebbe on Tuesday as the country marked the 35th NRM/A Liberation Day, President Museveni congratulated Ugandans for holding peaceful elections, but sounded a warning against those contemplating mischief.
“I appeal to those thinking of violence to stop because it will not work. You are wasting your time. Don’t entertain any ideas about violence and intimidation," he said.
The Electoral Commission announced Mr. Museveni winner of the January 14th presidential election with 58% of the vote, followed by NUP’s Robert Kyagulanyi who came second with 34% of the vote.
The day's preacher, Msgr. Charles Kasibante the Kampala Archdiocese Vicar General prayed for reconciliation and freedom of Kyagulanyi who had been under house arrest for 12 days until Tuesday night.
However, President Museveni said he had no problem talking to and working with his political opponents.
“Idi Amin’s son is a director of intelligence, Tito Okello's son is my minister. Obote's daughter-in-law is also a minister in our government. We don’t have any problem but we won't tolerate violence,” Museveni noted.
While making a note about the victory of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) in 1986, President Museveni said it was not only a military (NRA) one but a success of ideas they represented.
He said the NRM/A victory came after a long period of struggle.
“It all started in 1965 when we formed a student movement separate from the three old parties; DP, UPC, KY, which were built on the foundation of sectarianism," said the President. "DP was for Catholics, UPC for Protestants and KY for Baganda."
He told a handful of guests at the event that they sensed the danger these three political parties posed with their ideology of focusing on identity.
The first problem, Mr. Museveni said, was that no political party would form a Government because they couldn't mobilize a national majority.
“We said no to this approach. Why would you look at people’s identity when they have similar problems and interests? Initially, people were laughing at us that we didn't know what we were talking about, that we were not realistic," said the President.
Many countries in Africa, the President said, have been affected by the problem of ideological bankruptcy based on identity, citing Sudan, Somalia, Central Africa Republic, among others.
“NRM from the beginning has been talking about the four principles of Patriotism, Pan-Africanism, Social Economic Transformation and Democracy," said Museveni. And that because of that, Ugandans have now woken up a little.
