Uganda: Military Dictatorship, Elections of an Unknown Sort and Unwanted Visits From the Neighbors

President Yoweri Museveni and his one time rebel-comrade-turned-personal-physician, Dr. Kizza Besigye, just don't seem to be able to get along these days! I guess Dr. Besigye's return from exile in South Africa just in time to pose the only formidable threat to Museveni's third ten-year term as President, jjjuussttt isn't sitting well. Never mind the fact that Museveni originally campaigned on the idea that one of the greatest sources of corruption in all of Africa is the fact that once leaders get power they are not willing to let it go; this, hence standing in the way of true democracy. Of course, this is what he said in 1986 when he was first elected and also prior to him thanking the congress for categorically extending (a) the length of the Presidential Term and (b) the number of times one can be elected into the position.....hhhmmm...

One Ugandan was recently quoted in the print version of BBC Focus on Africa as saying "Of course we want Museveni again, because of his achievements; there is peace in Uganda and we are not troubled by soldiers." Uh, lady, where do you live??? Since Besigye's return to Uganda in late 2005, Museveni's "Men in Black" (aka "Black Mumba's Urban Hit Squad" - no joke, apparently the local Ugandan papers also enjoyed "Kill Bill") - an elite 21 man, heavily armed force comprising "the new face of the Ugandan Military"- have been hunting down Besigye and his 14 closest allies on treason charges. Minor detail: the Ugandan civilian court had already reviewed the case and released these men on bail. The “Men in Black” were assembled to bring Besigye and his men in front of a Ugandan Military court, which, in a previous ruling by Uganda’s Constitutional Court, was found to be inherently inferior to the rulings, precedents and decisions made by the civilian court. Once again: hhhmmm. No wonder Museveni got touchy when opposition leaders accused his government of being “a military dictatorship in disguise”….Uh, what disguise.

In addition to this Machiavellian ballet for political power, the DRC’s hunted refugees are flooding the Ugandan border. Turns out that not only are the state troops of the DRC and the UN blue helmets fighting together against the usual rebels, but battalions within the DRC army are fighting one another. What does this mean for Uganda? A new and delicate campaign issue: What to do with the, thus far, 2,000 refugees…. and who will take what stand...hhhhmmmm....