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Uganda: Is Mwenda Being Persecuted Over Northern Genocide?
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The Monitor (Kampala)
COLUMN
17 May 2008
Posted to the web 19 May 2008
Sam Akaki
His father's name was "Muhangaizima", literally meaning the "Rainbow". When Mzee Pilipo Muhangaizima died in late August 2007, I sent Mr Andrew Mwenda a condolence note, praising God for having allowed the old man to live long enough to raise a child who creates a rainbow-like emotive reaction: hated, tolerated, admired and loved by 10%, 20%, 30% and 40% by people at home and abroad who have had the misfortune or fortune to come in direct contact with him.
Although Mr Mwenda claimed that my condolence message was so funny that he laughed heartily, my description of him was not, is unlikely ever to be a laughing matter. Why?
In the United Kingdom, during a Parliamentary debate on UK Africa policy, held on March 24, 2005, the Conservative Member for Canterbury Mr Julian Brazier said, "One of Africa's most respected independent columnists, Uganda's Andrew Mwenda, puts the problem very succinctly."
"If in 2015 (the implementation date for the UN Millennium Development Goals) we will look back on Africa and see another doomed venture, after so many failed high profile initiatives, people in the west are going to write Africa off as a continent where even God's intervention cannot save the black person from misery".
In July 2006, Mr Mwenda appeared before the British House of Commons committee on International Development to testify against aid to Africa. His authoritative articles and interviews on Africa published by reputable international news outlets including the BBC, CNN, New York Times, Associated Press, United Press International and Agence Frence Presse.
Earlier, on October 24, 2005, in Akororo, Mr Mwenda's name was read out from a secret and sacred list, allegedly attached to Dr Milton Obote's will, in which the former president had named a select few people, excluding Lango Members of Parliament, who were to witness the historic event as his body was lowered into his eternal resting place next to his grandfather, Iburahim Akaki who died in 1939.
Today, Mr Mwenda is an honorary and valued member of the Oyima clan, while I am yet to prove mine with a DNA test, as decreed by the current clan leader Mr Adoko Nekyon.
Yet, despite the love and respect which he commands in Uganda and abroad, to Museveni's government, Mr Mwenda is a threat to national security and public enemy number two after Dr Kizza Besigye, the alleged leader of the People's Redemption Army (PRA), which the British have said does not exist.
In August 2005, Mr Mwenda was charged with 15 counts of sedition and promoting sectarianism. This followed his comments about the mysterious death of former Southern Sudan President John Garang, made on his talk show, "Tonight with Andrew Mwenda Live,"
On March 4, 2008, he was charged with a criminal offence following a report, "Does Museveni really favour Bahima", which appeared in his paper, The Independent.
On April 27, operatives of the dreaded Chieftaincy of the Military Intelligence arrested Mr Mwenda after raiding his office.
On April 29, he was interrogated on camera, following the serialised stories of some 17 people who claimed they were tortured in illegal detention centres or safe houses.
Now, according to Maj. Paddy Ankunda, the army Spokesman, Mr Mwenda has committed the ultimate crime by recording his interview with former UPDF Lance Corporal Godfrey Masaba who reportedly said "it was not LRA, but the UPDF who committed atrocities (read genocide) in northern Uganda."
Shouldn't we fear for Mr Mwenda's life, given the harsh treatment which the government has directed against those who have accused the UPDF of committing genocide in the north?
In 1987, the current Lands Minister, Daniel Omara Atubo along with then former MP Zachary Olum were tortured by soldiers before they were charged with treason for claiming that the army was committing atrocities in the north.
While Mr Olum has preferred a dignified silence, Mr Atubo was appointed a minister only having reportedly confessed to President Museveni that he was misquoted because the UPDF had not committed any genocide in the north. Will Mr Mwenda flee to exile, confess that Cpl. Masaba is a liar, or go to his grave insisting that both the LRA and the UPDF committed genocide in the north?
But is Mr Mwenda being persecuted for writing bout genocide in the north, or because he is a Mutoro by tribe? After all, Col. (Rtd) Tom Butime who risked all in the Luwero war was given a useless ministerial posting in charge of Karamoja, forcing him to resign, and Brig.
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Noble Mayombo has started the second year in his grave without proper clarification on the cause of his mysterious death.
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