Museveni: Fighting tribalism helped NRM build strong army

President Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni has attributed the’strength’of Uganda’s army on his ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) government’s fight against tribalism.

For years, the opposition has accused Museveni of doing little to fight tribalism.

His critics claim people from western Uganda, his him region, have dominated top government jobs, including in the security agencies.

Months ago, security Operatives raided Radio Simba and arrested members of comedy outfit Bizonto over a skit.

In the video shared online, Bizonto listed key persons in the security agencies, most from western Uganda, and asked parents to encourage their children to always pray for these officials.

In his responses in defence of his government against claims of tribalism and nepotism, the president told Ugandans to stop dragging the army into’your tribalism nonsense.’

He added that he was comfortable without Banyankore around him.

The president further explained why it was wrong to say Banyankore have dominated government and military jobs.

In the heat of an election season, different political groups have accused each other of promoting tribalism.

Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine, one of the presidential candidates, recently used his marriage to a member of his non-Baganda tribe to explain why those accusing his of stoking tribalism fires were being economical with the truth.

But the president has warned that politicians playing the tribalism card would be disappointed as was the case with government leaders that ruled Uganda before his NRM.

“This wrong ideology of identity/tribe is what some of our leaders have concentrated on, creating disunity among the people,” he told NRM leaders in Bukedi on November 28

“Our immediate post-independence leaders had this problem and you all know how it ended.”

He added that his party had refused to toe the tribal line, choosing to focus on transforming lives and making the country peaceful.

“That is how we were able to build a strong army which ushered in peace and the great investment environment Uganda enjoys today,” he said.

In the meeting, part of his reelection campaign drive, Museveni called on his party’s leaders to unite the people to overcome their challenges, instead of dividing them along tribal and religious grounds.

“The task we have now is to expedite the wealth creation programme where Ugandans must all get involved in modern ‘calculated’ commercial agriculture for both food and financial security,” continued the president.

“We have already made great strides in this direction, I therefore urge our people to elect the NRM flag bearers in the forthcoming elections so that we complete what we started.”