Kampala — Uganda People's Congress president Olara Otunnu has accused President Yoweri Museveni of planning to arrest, imprison and eliminate him.

The UPC leader said Museveni had perfected methods of dealing with his enemies. He said the methods were poisoning, staging accidents and using robbers and criminals to shoot all those perceived to be his enemies.

Otunnu said this shortly after the Constitutional Court scraped sedition off the law statues. The court ruling is not licence to tell obnoxious lies but it seems Otunnu wants to exploit it as that.

But by doing that he is playing gutter politics - fabricating stories as a tool to improve his political fortunes. In addition it entails using personal attacks for lack of articulate ideas on issues of governance.

This kind of politics must be scoffed at and voters should rejected politicians espousing it. Otunnu's wild allegations erode any presidential material in him. And only portray him as a selfish politician focusing on himself and that Museveni wants to eliminate him. To him important issues affecting Ugandans are subordinate to his exaggerated safety concerns.

The point is a politician never worries about his safety - real or fabricated - but rather the people's welfare. It would be wise for Otunnu to think again.

The people would want to hear his position on issues like health, road network, education, children and employment. But not fiction about Museveni planning to incarcerate and eliminate kill.

Uganda is changing, it would do well if politicians also matured and not take the people for granted by feeding them on lies. People want to listen to politicians who give them hope for a bright future but not imaginary stories.