Coup talk dangerous, warns Gen. Tinyefuza
Generals Elly Tumwine, Salim Saleh and David Sejusa at a past function . MONITOR PHOTO
What you need to know:
Coordinator of intelligence agencies says talk on possible coup diverts focus from real ‘citizen’ issues
The Coordinator of Security and Intelligence Agencies, Gen. David Sejusa popularly known as Tinyefuza, has said the talk of a possible coup is diversionary, disruptive and dangerous.
In a statement sent to Saturday Monitor, the decorated Bush War hero said talk about an army takeover of government if politicians fail is “useless”, adding that debate should instead focus on issues that affect the livelihoods of citizens.
Gen. Sejusa said those making comments about a coup were trying to kill the important debate on how people are governed, noting that they were being diversionary, disruptive and dangerous .
In a case a coup happened, Gen. Sejusa warns, it will be defeated by “a people popular uprising which is legitimate.”
“Therefore, this talk about coups should not be allowed to divert us from the real issues confronting our country. It is neither helpful, desirable nor sustainable. The power lies with the people, period.
By the way, people should not confuse a people’s popular uprising with a coup. A popular uprising is a legitimate people’s struggle whereas a coup is an illegitimate anti-people activity,” he wrote.
“The central issue, however that is facing us and indeed staring us in our faces, which I think is causing all these frictions is how to manage the different forces that are taking central stage in the country,” he added.
He also warns that when a government has been in power for 27 uninterrupted years, it becomes inevitable that people will start asking questions about service delivery, accountability, crime and they will start demanding change of some sort.
Gen. Sejusa asks about the role of the military in the management of the state, wondering whether it will remain an embodiment of the aspirations of the people from whom it derives its legitimacy and power or it will try to subvert the power of the people.
He also cautioned the opposition and questions if they have the ideological depth to manage constructively the complex dynamics of moving a system from democratic centralism to liberal democracy peacefully.
