We didn’t fight to loot - Gen Tumwine
Gen Elly Tumwine
What you need to know:
The Bush War General says corruption is worse than HIV and yet majority of Ugandans continue to lament without taking action against the national scourge.
Kampala
Gen Elly Tumwine, who is also known to have fired the first bullet during the Bush War that brought President Museveni to power, has said they never joined the bush in order to loot the country as some of his comrades are doing.
In an exclusive interview with the Sunday Monitor, he said it was high time every Ugandan came out to fight the vice that he describes as worse than HIV/Aids.
“HIV catches those who look for it or [get it] accidently but [with] corruption, no one can avoid it because even if you are not corrupt yourself, your property, resources are being swindled by those who are corrupt,” he said.
He said some of his colleagues may have been tempted by the “plenty” that they found themselves in adding that President Museveni sounded a warning as early as 1988 at an NRA meeting in Jinja after he got information that some of his bush war colleagues were indulging in corruption.
Asked about his view on the Executive’s stand on corruption, Gen Tumwine said although the President has declared the war on corruption and the Executive stand is zero tolerance to graft, this does not mean there are no corrupt executives and that these should be taken on at individual level and be exposed.
“Actually I can tell you every ministry has some element of corruption and I want a ministry to stand up and say there is none and I will expose them,” he said.
On the political transition, Gen Tumwine said there is no need for the public to panic because the issue is well highlighted in the Constitution. He said once Ugandans vote any person of their choice to the Presidency, there will be smooth hand-over of power, adding that the army’s role in the transition is limited to provision of security on voting day.
On Sejusa issue
Gen Tumwine also weighed in on the issue of his colleague Gen David Sejua a.k.a. Tinyefuza now exiled in London after his letter calling for investigations into alleged plans to assassinate senior army and government leaders perceived to be opposed to the so-called “Project Muhoozi” to have Brig. Muhoozi Kainerugaba succeed his father as President Museveni as leader of Uganda.
He said the issue of Gen. David Sejusa is still speculative as no discussion or meeting has been convened to discuss him. He said he was yearning to talk to Gen Sejusa and to listen to him.
