Uganda to small groups privately discussing politics: shut up or we shoot you

Alessandra Kelley said:

In other words this new law applies to any gathering of three or more people, in public or in private

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On a non-serious note, this reminds me of one of Umbridge's Educational Decrees during her reign of terror... (the one where she banned gatherings of 3+ students)

On a completely serious note, no matter how badly we feel our rights are being trampled on, this serves as a reminder that there are always countries that are far worse.

Is it possible that Museveni is worse than Idi Amin?

I'm sure the US and her minions allies will be along shortly to topple this dictator soon. I mean, they've done so well in Iraq and Afghanistan.

What's that? No oil in Uganda? My goodness, whatever could that have to do with anything?

JimmyB27 said:

I'm sure the US and her minions allies will be along shortly to topple this dictator soon. I mean, they've done so well in Iraq and Afghanistan.

What's that? No oil in Uganda? My goodness, whatever could that have to do with anything?

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Only about 2.5 billion barrels.

Torgo said:

Only about 2.5 billion barrels.

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I stand corrected. Maybe they can look forward to American salvation and imposed democracy then!

This is the first I've heard of this, which is strange because people are getting pretty fed up with M7 and his tactics.

Alessandra Kelley said:

In May of this year the Ugandan government closed two newspapers and two television stations "for reporting on an alleged government plot to assassinate opposition MPs."

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Sort of. The closing of the Daily Monitor and Red Pepper, and the two radio (not television) stations they own, was in response to the papers' not disclosing the source of a letter written by an exiled opposition leader named David Tinyefuza, aka Sejusa, claiming that Museveni is grooming his son Muhoozi, who is currently commander of the Ugandan special forces, to succeed him. The action met public outcry here, as it should.

ETA: The papers did report on "rebel MPs" within M7's own party who opposed him, and his casting them into outer darkness. This, however, was not what prompted the closure of the papers.

Uganda has been in the news lately for its horrific anti-gay laws and policies, which many believe are a deliberate scapegoating by Museveni to distract attention away from the massive corruption in Uganda's government and oil industry.

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Museveni has vowed never to sign the "kill the gays" bill (which in it's most recent version only prescribes imprisonment, which an improvement anyway), but is nevertheless opposed to any efforts to move the country toward true equality. He says he will not prosecute any gays, just so long as they "don't promote homosexuality." But what he thinks would constitute "promotion" is anyone's guess. And frightening to contemplate. Both the US and UK (and probably others) have pledged to withdraw all foreign aid from Uganda if the law gets passed, which is a big incentive in this part of the world.

Shakesbear said:

Is it possible that Museveni is worse than Idi Amin?

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Depends on the definition of "worse." Despite the severity of anti-LRA actions in the north, whole villages are not getting burned throughout the country, the foreigners are not getting expelled and their lands taken--which caused near total collapse of the economy in 1972--and M7's rule has not been brutal in the way Amin's was. M7 is a dictator to be sure, and he is rapidly losing support here. Corruption is rife, and people are getting pretty sick of him. The consensus is he was exactly what Uganda needed in order to rebuild, and the first 20 years of his rule were great. But now it's time for him to leave. But he came with guns, he's not leaving without guns.

Torgo said:

Only about 2.5 billion barrels.

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If you think Ugandan corruption is bad now, just wait until they start drilling. Uganda is landlocked, so the oil will need to be piped to a port unless they (I can't imagine this happening) only sell it to South Sudan, Congo, and Rwanda like they do the electricity (the load shed within the country, leaving their own people in the dark). Kenya would be closest, but Kenya is having troubles of its own and no matter who Uganda partners with to pipe the oil the corruption is going to be beyond belief, even by African standards.

Chris P said:

T
Depends on the definition of "worse." Despite the severity of anti-LRA actions in the north, whole villages are not getting burned throughout the country, the foreigners are not getting expelled and their lands taken--which caused near total collapse of the economy in 1972--and M7's rule has not been brutal in the way Amin's was. M7 is a dictator to be sure, and he is rapidly losing support here. Corruption is rife, and people are getting pretty sick of him. The consensus is he was exactly what Uganda needed in order to rebuild, and the first 20 years of his rule were great. But now it's time for him to leave. But he came with guns, he's not leaving without guns.

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It seems that is some ways he is better than Amin, but possibly worse in others.

Thanks for the information - it has straightened out some of my thoughts. Much food for the thoughts though.

Alessandra Kelley said:

In May of this year the Ugandan government closed two newspapers and two radio stations "for reporting on an alleged government plot to assassinate opposition MPs."

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The evil fiends. Imagine, they might have even found a culprit.