President Yoweri Museveni has faulted fallen Libyan strongman Col. Muammar Gadaffi for not investing adequately in the military fighting equipment, which led to his defeat, according to reports from a retreat for National Resistance Movement (NRM) MPs at the National Leadership Institute in Kyankwanzi .
"Even though he had a lot of money, he had not invested in equipment like the surface-to-air missiles. He would have used this to bomb at least some NATO planes. This contributed to his downfall," Museveni is quoted to have said by NRM Caucus chairperson David Bahati. Museveni is said to have however added that Gadaffi exhibited bravery because he died on the battlefield.
Gadaffi's ouster was made possible by the NATO airstrikes that decimated his war machinery. Reports said it was NATO fighter jets that hit the over 70-vehicle convoy in which Gadaffi was travelling, blocking his escape from Sirte.
When the news of Gadaffi's death broke last week, President Museveni was attending a retreat for National Resistance Movement (NRM) MPs at the National Leadership Institute in Kyankwanzi.
NRM Caucus chairperson David Bahati said they observed a moment of silence before they kicked off the Friday session, which was attended by Museveni.
"Mike Mukula (Soroti Municipality) asked the caucus to observe a moment of silence after which the President made some remarks," Bahati said.
Mukula is also the chairperson of the Pan-African Movement Uganda chapter.
On his part, Bahati also said the death of the Libyan leader was a very unfortunate development for the African continent.
"It is unfortunate that Col. Gadaffi died in the circumstances he did. We condemn the manner in which he died, but we have a number of lessons to learn from this incident," Bahati said.
"He was a courageous man who died in battle. But he carried out many extrajudicial killings in his country. This is dangerous and should be avoided," Bahati said.
He called on African leaders to be frugal with their countries' resources while providing better services for the people, saying the western powers were not interested in a developed Africa.
"The way the West is treating Africa is not right and I want to tell anyone thinking that Africa will develop using money from the West to forget it."
The legislator also noted that Gadaffi's death "brings the continent together to reflect on what the future of the continent should be."
Gadaffi was killed on Thursday in his home town of Sirte following eight months of fierce fighting between his forces and rebels of the National Transitional Council (NTC).
Bahati also said the President praised Gadaffi for his Pan-African spirit. "There are mistakes Gadaffi made, such as killing his people in Tripoli, but at the same time he showed a lot of bravery because he died in battle. He did not run away," Museveni told the MPs.
Although Museveni and Gadaffi remained close allies till the end, the two at times disagreed on some issues, like the formation of a single government for Africa.
"We held a moment of silence to thank God for Gadaffi's contributions and in the spirit of Pan-Africanism," Bahati told New Vision.
"The West should be concerned because Africa is quiet while they (western powers) are celebrating. Let the West take note of this," Bahati quoted Museveni as having said in response to the news of Gadaffi's death.
The manner in which Gadaffi was killed has caused controversy, with reports that he could have been summarily executed by the NTC fighters who captured him from the road culvert in which he was hiding.
Most African leaders have not publicly reacted to the killing of Gadaffi. But South African President Jacob Zuma condemned the way in which Gadaffi was killed.
In a surprise move, the African Union said it had lifted its suspension of Libya's membership and said in a statement it would authorise the current authorities in Libya to occupy the country's Libya in the AU and its organs.
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