Museveni military shakeup: Besigye salutes Bizonto for ‘piling pressure on president’

Main opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye believes comedy outfit Bizonto’s skits critical of tribalism are partly responsible for President Yoweri Museveni’s August 01 UPDF shakeup.

Museveni announced a mini-reshuffle of the leadership of the national army, including replacing its spokesperson Brig Richard Karemire with Brig Gen Flavia Byekwaso, the first woman to hold such a position in the military.

According to Besigye the message in Bizonto comedy’s skits had reached the appointing authority, prompting the president to make changes in the military.

Recently, security operatives picked Simon Peter Ssabakaki (Akozonto akato), Julius Ssewanja (Ssabazonto), Marceli Mbabali (Giant zonto), Gold Kimatono (Jjaja zonto) and Saul Muro Kamya aka Baryanengwe from Radio Simba in Bukoto.

The five were detained at police’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) in Kireka for days, and charged with promotion of sectarian tendencies.

Bizonto had uploaded videos “with the potential of causing hatred and unnecessary apprehension,” and “threats of attack on government, and individuals,” said Criminal Investigations Directorate spokesperson Charles Mansio Twiine.

Read: Police: Bizonto videos had threats of attack on government

The reshuffle affected almost 30 officers, including former special forces commander Don Nabasa and ex-army spokesperson Felix Kulaigye, who will now head to Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) and Amisom, respectively.

The list of reshuffled officers looks better balanced than previous ones in terms of regional distribution.

Besigye, who joined the #FreeBizonto campaign while the comedians were in detention, has now encouraged Ssabakaki (Akozonto akato), Ssewanja (Ssabazonto), Mbabali (Giant zonto), Gold Kimatono (Jjaja zonto) and Kamya Baryanengwe to “Keep it up.”

The Bizonto say they have not given up on their quest to highlight key issues affecting the country through satire and comedy. In their first press address after release from detention, they said they wouldn’t budge.

In one of their new videos since their release from police cells, Bizonto have called on government to respect freedom of expression.

They also criticized government for pushing for regulations that could soon require approval of scripts by a select government committee before production into music and other art forms.

Samuel Kamugisha

Samuel Kamugisha is a Ugandan journalist, editor, language instructor, poet, fiction and non-fiction writer. A Makerere University graduate of Journalism and Communication with a decade-long experience in news reporting, writing and editing, Kamugisha is Editor at The Pearl Times. Most of his previous work was published by The Observer. When he is not doing journalism work -- which is rare -- Kamugisha will be reading or writing a short story or a poem, or caught up in the writer's block.

Recent Posts

BREAKING: Museveni Sacks KCCA ED Dorothy Kisaka, Deputy Luyimbazi. See Details Why

President Yoweri Museveni has sacked Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) Executive Director Dorothy Kisaka after…

10 hours ago

IT’S HIS RIGHT: Shock as Attorney General Defends Muhoozi on Army Blocking Civilians from Succeeding Museveni

MPs, some of whom went to school with Deputy Attorney General, Jackson Kafuuzi, were left…

11 hours ago

MOURNING JOLLY MUGISHA: Flags at NUP Offices Flying at Half-mast

A TRUE UGANDAN HEROINE! NUP Mourns Jolly Mugisha, Bobi Wine Deputy for Western Uganda Uganda’s…

16 hours ago

Minister Balaam Barugahara: God Has Changed His Mind of Making Muhoozi President in 2026

Junior minister in charge of youth and children’s affairs, Balaam Barugahara Ateenyi, has claimed that…

19 hours ago

PROFILE: Meet Dr Kedrace Turyagyenda, a former Chemistry Teacher Appointed Education Ministry Permanent Secretary

Dr Kedrace Turyagyenda is the new permanent secretary for the Ministry of Education and Sports,…

1 day ago

Kasese Students Tipped on Responsible Lifestyles

By Joseph Masereka Parents across Kasese district have been advised to offer education to their…

4 days ago