The Observer (Kampala)
Ssemujju Ibrahim Nganda
24 June 2009
opinion
Because of controversial views that I have expressed about Uganda's involvement in the Somalia conflict, colleagues at The Observer have legitimately restrained me from writing news stories about it.
Journalists who are neutral on this subject can objectively inform Ugandans about the progress their Army, Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF), is registering in this war-torn country.
This should make you understand the pain under which I am choosing Somalia as the subject matter of this column this week. The Army leadership's denial that six UPDF soldiers were killed by Al-Shabaab fighters as The Observer reported is what has tempted me to revisit the subject. Not because I expected the Army leadership to say the truth but because as media we have a professional duty to tell our readers the truth.
Just to remove any doubt, I want to restate that our story which reported that insurgents sneaked into the UPDF Hanale Camp and killed four soldiers on June 2 at 10p.m. was not a fabrication. The fifth soldier was captured but was later found dead and his SMG taken.The attempt to cover up these particular deaths means that more Ugandans could already have been killed and the leadership has just decided to keep mum.
The reason I vehemently opposed the Somalia expedition was because I knew it was going to cause more mayhem and death in that country. Except someone driven by hatred, no sane person would have supported the idea of toppling the Union of Islamic Courts which had restored law and order in most parts of Somalia. The Islamic Courts had progressively restored sanity in Mogadishu. The only sensible thing would have been to put them under international pressure to ensure they do not degenerate into a radical group motivated to hurt others.
But even this radicalism that Muslim youth are sometimes accused of, is sometimes conditioned upon them by the unfairness of some uninformed people in the US and Europe. That is the reason I despised George W. Bush and have respect for Barack Obama. I mean, not every world problem can be solved by pounding people. That is exactly what Bush and his mercenaries like [President] Museveni thought they would do in Somalia. I am happy it has backfired as was expected and the Army has to put on a brave face by hiding its deaths.
Imagine what Somalia would have been like if the US hadn't sent in Ethiopia to topple the Islamic Courts. The whole of Somalia would now be peaceful with the inhabitants enjoying their human freedoms, including freedom to worship the way they want, something that displeases some people. I will never forget the Museveni address in Ethiopia in which he said that they will not allow some pockets to impose their beliefs on the African people.
For unknown reasons, Museveni doesn't like people who practise pure Sharia Law; and that is why he was speaking about imposing Islam on people in a country where 99% are Muslims.
All I am saying is that the leadership laid its bed and should not be afraid to sleep in it. The Islamic Courts were dismantled but the will didn't die. That is why Al Shabaab, which is its offspring, is giving hell to our children in Somalia. Having overstayed in power, Museveni is afraid of international pressure.
By sending our soldiers to Somalia, Museveni was trying to compromise, call it bribing the US, for them to ease the pressure on him to hand over power. That is why as Commander-in-Chief he risked the lives of about 2,000 Ugandans. They are a sacrifice. I actually don't see any difference between people sacrificing human beings for wealth and those sending our soldiers to be butchered in Somalia for power. That is all this expedition is serving, to shield Museveni against international criticism and pressure.
Unfortunately for us, the opposition which should have probed the deaths and desertions in Somalia also swallowed the bitter bill by voting for the deployment in Parliament. That is one of the things that make me despise the political elite in Uganda. The opposition wants the US backing badly and that is the only reason they supported the destabilisation of Somalia.
The only difference is that they have not been invited to the funerals because the dead are hidden, but I guess they would have gracefully attended. Someone will tell you that the Islamic Courts posed a security threat because they are labeled a terrorist group. But how come Tanzania which suffered a terrorist attack in 2004 refused to send her troops?
When you deliberately tell a lie, it means you have capacity to lie more or you have lied a hundred times before.
The author is Political Editor of The Observer
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Dear Mr Nganda while I find your article interesting I very much take issue that Somalis would be able to enjoy their freedoms and worship they want under a sharia fundamentalist muslim regime. Having worked in places like Afghanistan I can assure you that people are not free to worship the way they want - try being a christian in Afghanistan and see how much freedom of worship you have. I guess you approve of stoning women to death as well???