Museveni has betrayed NRA comrades, says Kazoora

What do you make of Tarehe Sita as an officer who participated in the war?
The attack on Kabamba must be put in its historical context of this country. The attack was as a result of rigged elections in 1980 because President Museveni promised that if elections were rigged, he would mobilise Ugandans and go to the bush and fight against vote rigging and establish an independent electoral commission.
Therefore, the Kabamba attack was a launch-pad of the people’s protracted war. Thirty years down the road, I think those who rigged elections are now amateurish compared to the current regime. You have even seen inside their parties and later on the national level how they have been rigging elections. The current electoral commission is a rubber stamp of President Museveni and the NRM. They refused to implement the recommendations of the inter-party coalition, citizens’ coalition and religious leaders.

Does that make you regret participating in the struggle to bring NRM into power?
I don’t regret but I feel a high level of betrayal by my leader. I am writing a book, the manuscript is being proof read. It’s entitled “Betrayed by leader; wasted blood”. I’m not leaving any stone unturned. When I remember fallen comrades we left in Luwero, the destruction that was caused by that war, the exploitation of our youthful years and only to come to this level, it is really disappointing. Our hope and desire were that the next generation would live a better life but nothing has come true.

How were you betrayed and who has betrayed you?
The predecessor of NRM was Uganda Patriotic Movement (UPM). It promised clean leadership, unity and peace. But when you look at the level of corruption, do you call this clean leadership? The perpetrators of corruption are protected by the President. I don’t know how you feel [about the] saying that Abanyankole bali mu kintu (Banyankole are the ones running this country).
This is because people see army generals are coming from the same place. This causes lots of dissatisfaction. The current generals are promoted like mushrooms sprouting from the ground. What historical imbalance cannot be explained in 30 years? Imagine what those comrades who perished in the bush war would feel if they came back today! Even if they don’t come back, they must be turning in their graves.

Is that the reason why you quit?
There are many reasons why I quit but the major one is that we were told in the bush that constructive criticism was healthy but when we came into government, constructive criticism was looked at as being subversive.
Look at [Rtd. Col. Kiiza] Besigye’s missive of 1999. He pointed out a number of wrongs and wrote to the chairman of the NRM Caucus and said let’s discuss it internally. But they said he should be tried by the court martial.

But Besigye was faulted for using the wrong forum to address his grievances yet he was a serving officer of the army?
He was writing to the Movement Caucus. Would it have been discussed by Uganda People’s Congress? Where else would it have been discussed? Look at the selective justice in the army; when [Brig. Henry] Tumukunde talks on the radio, he is taken to the court martial because he is a serving officer and has gone against the army discipline and conduct. But when Gen. Elly Tumwine who has never retired is invited to the media houses, he has no case to answer. The other day, Gen. Aronda Nyakairima was warning Gen. Mugisha Muntu who is a retired officer and no action has been taken against Gen. Aronda for engaging in partisan talk when by Constitution is supposed to be non-partisan.

Last year, President Obama sacked Gen. Stanley Chrystal for verbal attacks against his administration. Isn’t it common practice for the military not to attack the commander-in-chief or a government in power?
It depends on the Code of Conduct. But in Uganda, the army is mingled in politics. They are in Parliament. Col. Besigye had been a political commissar and a minister. When Tumukunde was still running Museveni’s errands, he was his favourite but when he started questioning the way things were running, he became subversive.
We also know that within UPDF, there is no transparency in choosing who goes for further military courses. There is no transparency in promotions. I don’t want to mention names but a person is recruited, in 10 years he becomes a General yet those who have served for long with experience and qualifications have remained on junior ranks for long. In 1986 we were the darling of the population but 30 years now, we are looked at instruments of terror.

Why? What has changed since then?
It is arrogance and hegemony. When we captured power, there was a man called Tadeo Kanyankole, when the first promotions were made in Lubiri, there were only three brigadiers. It was Kanyankole, David Tinyefuza and Joram Mugume. But because of intrigue Kanyankole was sidelined and mishandled and he died a pauper.
I don’t know where his children are. They could be on the streets. There was also another fearless officer called Katungi. He was nicknamed ‘suicide’. He died a pauper and I understand the roof of his house is falling on his family. But the generals of yesterday who have not shot even one bullet at the frontline are swimming in money. Look at the welfare of the soldiers. They still sleep in Mama ingiya pole (huts) after 30 years.

Government says it doesn’t have the money to build good houses at once because of other priorities...
Why do they get a supplementary budget worth Shs700 billion to be used on elections ironically by the army in one month? Look at the money that was misused during Chogm. Look at the money involved in Temangalo! Look at the money involved in the oil deals and the bicycle scandal. We only get money for scandals not for soldiers who are guarding these scandalous people.

Despite all the poor conditions you are talking about, the UPDF have done wonders in the region. In Somalia, they are a shining star, don’t you think?
There is a Runyankole proverb that says; Koshoberwa eshweza kambenkwine (desperation can hold you in a marriage that has gone wrong) Look at the segregation I have talked about in promotions. There is a promotions board which must look at the qualities, training and experience in combat but it seems it’s not doing its work. The other day, the minister of Education, Ms Jessica Olupo, came wearing pips of a Captain and saluted Museveni and the President said “how can a minister be a Captain?” And the following day she came dressed in pips of a Major.

How do you think these soldiers who participated in the struggle should be rewarded?
During the bush war, I was on Mityana-Mubende axis. This was a very sensitive axis because of surveillance on Kabamba. So many people sacrificed a lot and some of them were killed by the Obote Youth Brigade like a 90-year old man called Kyeyune. They have never been recognised with medals. Instead they are giving medals to cheer leaders of today or those who voted Kisanja (lifting presidential term limits). The medals have become orufuzi (dripping saliva). They don’t mean anything.

What do you see the current regime becoming in future?
I once wrote in an article in Daily Monitor and I talked about Field Martial Idi Amin Dada. He said he feared nobody apart from God. I also talked about Mobuto Seseseko Wazabanga who said he was King of kings. Those Generals will go the same way.

But these Generals seem to be having the best relations with civilians and this discipline could be one of the reasons why they have been in power for 26 years compared to the past regimes which were known for brutality.
How come these powerful Generals fear when people say they are going to walk? When we were still in the bush, there is what we used to call Kipindi kya Siasa (Political sensitisation) and I remember Museveni telling us a scenario in 1964 when an army truck knocked dead some students of Kisubi and there were spontaneous riots in Kampala, Obote sent soldiers who shot and killed people in Nakulabye and Museveni wondered; “surely how can a sensible president use the army to quell a civilian demonstration?”
First forward, during the Kayunga riots, the same Museveni sends the army, not police and they did exactly what Obote did in 1964.

What do you think is causing these contradictions in him?
It is power and greed. Greed and power have overshadowed reason. Sometime back in 1988, I was a Special District Administrator and the late Sserwanga Lwanga was the Principal Private Secretary to the President. We were coming from Namiremebe in the convoy of five vehicles with the President. When we reached Baganda Bus Park, Mr Museveni stood in an open roof of his Cross-Country Mercedes Benz to wave to the people, and people were chanting “President Waffe, President Waffe”. Lwanga rushed to him and said Mzee Tula Bajja Kukuba esasi (get inside the car, they will shoot you). He rebuked him, “Why should they shoot me? What have I stolen?” He now drives in a convoy of 40 vehicles and heavily guarded. What has caused that paranoia?

Are you happy that you quit this government?
Yes, because history will absolve us and we will never be lumped together with the people who ditched this country and our children will walk with their heads up.

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Who is kazoora?

Born in Kashari, Mbarara, Maj. John Kazoora joined National Resistance Army, now UPDF IN 1982 after graduating from Makerere University.

He says he was inspired to join the NRA by President Museveni, who was in the 1980 elections a presidential candidate and lost but his ideals were appealing to the youth.

During the bush-war he operated along Mityana-Mubende axis. When NRA captured power he was appointed Special District Administrator of Kampala. He was later taken to Internal Security Organisation. He contested for Kashari Parliamentary seat in 1996 and became an MP from 1996 to 2006.

He was one of the MPs who formed the parliamentary pressure group, Parliamentary Advocacy Forum (PAFO) whose majority members later formed the Forum for Democratic Change. He is the FDC secretary for defence.

Quotes by Kazoora
“Is the Inter-Party Cooperation all about the mayoral race in Kampala? That is where we have been having disagreements. IPC is big and has candidates all over the country. In any case, which political group in Uganda does not have disagreements?” he was explaining the disagreements in the IPC.

“I don’t think Ankole or western Uganda always votes Museveni. Voters are intimidated to vote otherwise because you will soon see all the military Generals coming here to intimidate people. There is nothing like free and fair elections here. Voters are intimidated and they vote against their will,” on why western Uganda normally votes Museveni

“ I don’t know why people forget history when history is written on their doorsteps. When Mr Museveni took over power 26 years ago, he said he could not imagine being a president when he is leading people who do not put on shoes. But what do we see in this country? Jiggers are killing people.” on why Ugandans should not vote for Museveni