Museveni tells off Bobi Wine, US backers over ‘sanctions’ against top security commanders

President Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni has spoken out after National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine’s ally Eliot Engel, the chairperson of the US House Committee on Foreign Affairs, called for sanctions against seven security commanders over brutality.

Hours after Engel petitioned secretary of state Mike Pompeo, and Steven T Mnuchin, the Secretary U.S. Department of the Treasury, the former warned the Museveni Administration on the conduct of the 2021 elections.

Speaking hours after news of these development broke, Museveni made veiled statements about the threats of sanctions.

Museveni said his ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) government would ensure that the 2021 polls happen in peace.

He also sounded unmoved on threats of sanctions, insisting violence and disruptions would not be accepted.

“Our elections will be peaceful, NOBODY is going to disrupt us,” Museveni said on December 11.

“I have heard people here playing games with foreigners backing them. Well, I wish them luck BUT I can assure you, we shall NOT tolerate violence, we shall have peaceful elections.”

Uganda stole global news headlines over November 18 and 19 protests that followed the arrests in Gulu City and Luuka District of main opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) presidential candidate Patrick Oboi Amuriat and Bobi Wine, respectively.

At least 54 people, including 32 protesters, were killed as security agencies attempted to quell the riots.

Museveni’s government and security agencies blamed the violence on foreign agents whom they accused of facilitating Bobi Wine to plan the protests.

Uganda heads to the polls on January 14, 2020.

Museveni, in power since 1986, is seeking to extend his rule to four decades.