By Ahmed Kateregga Musaazi
On Sunday September 25th 2022, l met with Presidential Advisor on Buganda Owek. Robert Ssebunnya and we agreed that blocking construction of the East Africa Crude Oil pipeline from Hoima in Uganda to Tanga in Tanzania, the chief sufferers will not be President Museveni but ordinary Ugandans.
Owek.Ssebunnya is one of the wakomboozi (liberators) who was based in exile and persuaded Western donor countries like UK and USA to impose sanctions on Uganda in the seventies, over excesses of the Idi Amin regime.
My discussion with Owek Ssebunys was aired on Magezimuliro program on Radio Bilal 95.1 FM at Old Kampala Uganda National Mosque, moderated by Isma Kalimba Butabaziba. Other panelists included Luutu Mukasa from NRM, John Kikonyogo, FDC Deputy Spokesperson, Abbey Muwesi, leader of Conservative Party in Buganda, Siraje Lubwama, veteran journalist, Kitikyamuwogo, a controversial NRM media mobilizer, and officials from Uganda Petroleum Authority.
I criticised some Ugandan Opposition leaders like Bobi Wine, a NUP President for supporting a European Parliament’s resolution that wants the project suspended for a year over, among others allegations of violation of human rights in Uganda while in Tanzania it is said there is little or no compensation of land owners, and environment degredation.
EACOP has been criticised by Uganda leaders including President Museveni, who said that if France based Total, the leading financier of the project pulls out, Uganda will seek an alternative. He also threatened to take legal action against Total, in case they breach the agreement signed with Uganda and Tanzania. He was speaking during a recent NRM Parliamentary Caucus meeting that was held at Kololo Independence Grounds.
The Vice President, Rt.Maj. Jessica Alupo during her address last week , in a 77th UN General Assembly in New York criticised the European Parliament’s resolution as unfair deliberately intended to keep Ugandans and Africans poor.
Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa was the first to condemn the resolution, as a sign of Neo Colonislism, immediately after the resolution was passed.
Executive Director of Uganda Media Center called it imperialistic, racist and neo conial.
However , Uganda’s Permanent Representative to UN, Ambassador Adonia Ayebare, deferred from that approach and called for constructive engagement of the EU so that issues raised are addressed as the leading financiers of the project, are EU members.
Former Makindye Division Mayor Dr. Ian Clarke aka Busuulwa, blamed European Parliament for wrong timing as during mourning death of Queen Elizabeth ll of England, condemning colonialism and neo colonialism has been rampant. He said that not all EU member states are in agreement with the resolution. He however said that issues raised were genuine and required to be addressed. Ian however said that there is no justification for leading violators of the environment in the West , to sabotage Uganda’s efforts to diversify its economy and get oil cash to fight poverty from its people.
On Monday, Deputy Press Secretary to the President, Faruk Kirunda castigated those who passed the resolution and called them economic saboteurs.
In a Sunday Radio Bilal talk show, l called for patriotism and Pan Africanism, while tackling national issues regardless of political, religious , ethnic, gender or any other affiliation. I recalled during the seventies when Ugandan exiles like Robert Ssebunnya called for imposition of economic sanctions on Uganda to cause regime change. The chief sufferer was not Idi Amin but ordinary Ugandans.
Mr. Ssebunnya agreed with me and we called upon present Opposition to desist from sabotaging Uganda ‘s national economy, where chief sufferers shall be Ugandan rural and urban poor. All panelists and guests and most telephone callers agreed with us.
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