Tayari News
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has said that it is not good for leaders to impose themselves on people, arguing that the practice is contrary to both Biblical and political teachings.
The President was officiating as the Chief guest at the annual Janan Luwum Day commemorations held at Mucwini, Kitgum district, on Monday, when he told his audience that the former President of Uganda, Idi Amin Dada, imposed himself on Ugandans and ended up committing atrocities.
Telling the audience that the celebration of Janan Luwum brought shame to the devil, the ninth President of Uganda, said that Amin and his group made many mistakes.
“We are here to shame the devil, the devil who was operating in people like Idi Amin. Amin made many mistakes. First of all, he imposed himself on us as a leader. I was in the president’s office that time as a research assistant, and Amin used to come, and we would talk outside the office when he would be coming from meeting Obote, and we were busy with several programs,” he said
He added, “The first mistake of Amin was to impose himself on us. Who was he to impose himself on us? And the leaders should not impose themselves on the people,”
President Museveni noted that “both the Bible and the political strategy guide that persuading people is better than imposing yourself on them. Persuade and influence people by doing good things so that they will see and appreciate.”
The second mistake of Amin was to use killing. We have fought many wars, as you know, but we despise the killing of people or assassinations. If we want to fight, we kill, we are killed, and it is a battle, but not killing people.”
He held that persuading people wins, and that’s how his National Resistance Movement (NRM) government has been able to win the hearts of many, including parts of northern Uganda.
“In many elections, northern Uganda was not voting for us. I think at one time we were getting 12 per cent. In 2011, it was much better than that time. But NRM continued working for Northern Uganda, whether they were voting for us or not. After some time, people in the North thanked Museveni, and this was through persuasion, not imposition.” The president said, adding, “I am glad we avenged the death of all those people who were being killed by those criminals. They thought they would succeed, but I am glad we took part in making sure that they failed.