President Yoweri Museveni praised their efficiency in safeguarding the Nyege Nyege Festival in Jinja against potential security threats.
The President, currently returning from a diplomatic visit to Abu Dhabi, specifically lauded the UPDF, Uganda Police, and intelligence services for their successful handling of the massive public function.
Addressing the suspected interference from the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) in Congo, President Museveni revealed that the pigs of ADF had attempted to disrupt the festival, but thanks to the vigilance of Uganda’s security system, the event proceeded without incident. He further highlighted the strength of Uganda’s security apparatus in managing such large-scale public gatherings, even in the face of potential terrorist threats.
“This shows you the strength of the Uganda security system to be able to guard such a long pre-announced massive public function, the threats of the terrorists notwithstanding. It is true that the pigs of ADF in Congo had sent a few infiltrators to try to disrupt the function of the suspected sinners.” He wrote on his official social media platforms
In a strong rebuke to what he perceived as foreign interference, President Museveni criticized advisories issued by the United States and the United Kingdom cautioning their citizens against traveling to Uganda. He asserted that such advisories were unwarranted and accused these nations of attempting to meddle in Uganda’s internal affairs. The President emphasized that if the situation were genuinely dire, it would be Uganda issuing advisories, not foreign nations.
“Indeed, I hear that the panicking Americans and British sent out what they call advisories to their citizens not to come to Uganda. These are mistake makers. If the situation was so bad, it would be us to advise people not to come to Uganda, not the British and the Americans. We know what we are doing, always. Even if a mistake occurs, we know how to handle it. These advisories by some of these actors are another form of interference in our internal affairs by these elements.” he asserted
The President also delved into broader issues of terrorism in Africa, attributing the chaos in Libya and the Sahel region to certain global actors attempting to play the role of “global policemen.”
Museveni argued that the United Nations, under the influence of these actors, had contributed to the conservation of terrorism in Eastern Congo for the past two decades, neglecting the suffering of the Congolese and Ugandan populations in the region.
Drawing attention to the Biruunga National Park in Congo, President Museveni expressed doubt about its status as a tourist destination, linking it to the origin of perpetrators of violent acts against Ugandans. He underlined the historical significance of the park, mentioning its connection to the Battle of Makara in the 1840s and its shared heritage with Busongora, emphasizing the need for greater awareness about the complex history of the region.
“There is a national park in Congo called Biruunga National Park (pronounced Virunga by people who do not know our language) on the other side of the border. I am not sure that tourists visit it because it is where the killers of the Lhubiriha children, the killers of our two tourists and their driver and the ones who burnt the onions truck were coming from.” He stated