Museveni still better than Besigye, says Gen Otafiire
Justice and Constitutional Affairs minister Kahinda Otafiire at a past function. FILE PHOTO
What you need to know:
- While eulogizing the late Joseph Etima, Otafiire said: “His belief in justice and human rights was unequaled. He was reliable, affable, humble and intelligent.”
- The Widow, Ms Santa Grace Etima, said the late started falling sick in 1986.
ARUA. The Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Gen Kahinda Otafiire, has praised President Museveni saying he remains better than his arch-rival, Dr Kizza Besigye.
Speaking during the burial ceremony of late Joseph Etima, the former Commissioner General of Prisons on Saturday at Omugo village in Arua District, Mr Otafiire told mourners that: “Better the devil I know than the angel I don’t know. Those of you who are here, ladies and gentlemen, you may be excited about these other fellows. These Kizza Besigyes I know them; I was with them in the bush.”
He added: “If you want to know the character of a person, you should study them during difficult times. I am with Gen Museveni because I have seen both under difficult circumstances. And my observation is that Museveni is still better than these other fellows. Now me who knows Besigye very well from difficult times, if I don’t want to follow him, what about those of you who see him on televisions and hear him on radios…Don’t say I didn’t tell you.”
Dr Kizza Besigye and Otafiire participated in the guerrilla warfare that ushered in Mr Museveni in 1986. Although Besigye worked with Mr Museveni from 1986, the two later fell out with Besigye forming Reform Agenda which was rebranded to Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party.
While eulogizing the late Joseph Etima, Otafiire said: “His belief in justice and human rights was unequaled. He was reliable, affable, humble and intelligent.”
The Widow, Ms Santa Grace Etima, said the late started falling sick in 1986.
“Every time he fell sick, the doctors willingly treated him. Keep on praying for us because he was a prayerful man. God blessed us with two Doctors in the family and the late loved us a lot,” she said.
The daughter, Dr Monica Etima, said: “Our father survived many death traps, but he had love for the family and the country. He loved us equally and we would like to continue with his legacy. Some parents don’t want to pay school fees, but he paid for us to all levels. Sometimes, we may not do up to his generosity.”
The first Deputy Prime Minister, Gen Moses Ali, who represented President Yoweri Museveni, said: “Etima was a unifying factor and was a sincere man who gave great advice. We must emulate the good legacy that he left even when he was more intelligent than us. His life has inspired many people in Uganda and Africa because he carried out reforms in the prison service like introducing community service as an alternative form of punishment.”
