UGANDA: Museveni's Bunyoro oil and Gen. Kyaligonza's warning shot

Uganda ambassador to Burundi, Gen. Matayo Kyaligonza slaps a Kampala area traffic officer who was enforcing law.  Matayao Kyaligonza is UNTOUCHABLE

MUSEVENI'S BUNYORO OIL AND GEN. KYALIGONZA'S WARNING SHOT

CHANGE OF GUARDS - Gen. Matayo Kyaligonza is under fire for beating up a female Traffic Police Officer. Parliament has called on Museveni to recall Kyaligonza from his ambassadorial position in Burundi. As usual, the Police has been dragging its feet in carrying out investigation of the incident. It is only yesterday that Museveni gave a go ahead for Kyaligonza to be interrogated by police.

 At a public function, Museveni hit at Kyaligonza;
"Recently, we had a retired General slapping a police woman and everyone shouted. Now, that General is facing the law because you are not allowed to slap and bark at people. If you are angry and aggressive, you can ask for permission and we deploy you to Somalia where aggressive services are needed."

Consequently, the police has now summoned and grilled Kyaligonza over the issue. Obviously, it is Museveni and not the DPP to sanction whatever the charges that will be preferred against Kyaligonza.

Gen. Kyaligonza, the Greece trained Iddi Amin army commando from Bunyoro subregion is one of the few remaining Museveni Bush War heroes. He commanded the dreaded urban hit squad, Black Bomber that terrorized Kampala city during the war. As a norm he was sidelined decades ago but only to be brought back and assigned to diplomatic services in a less significant Burundi.

Museveni has always been looking for a way of curtailing his influence through humiliations. Gen. Kyaligonza resolutely defeated Museveni's attempt to have Gen. Kyaligonza replaced by his son in-law, Odrek Rwabwogo on the regime's Central Executive Committee (CEC). Aiming at Museveni, Gen. Kyaligonza told The Observer newspaper in September 2015;

"If I meet him (Rwabwogo) somewhere and he says that I know nothing will give him a hot slap” (…). "Who is that one? Odrek? I don’t know him, I have never even seen him,” he said. “Is he the one who gave me work? He should tell such things [about retiring] to his father in–law [Museveni]. We are the ones that brought his father-in-law in power. Don’t make me talk too much” (…) “When I get annoyed, I really get annoyed and I say the truth. I never sugar-coat in order to make people happy. We [historicals] don’t want familiarity because when we came [into power] we didn’t disrespect people,” (…) “ “Look at all those people who are attending [Col Kizza] Besigye’s rallies. They want to support a cause because they are tired."

Before Museveni made a last minute intervention, Kyaligonza gave Rwabwogo another punch;

“You have never really chaired LC1 and you want to become Vice Chairman Western region? Your father-in-law is the Chairman of NRM, your mother in law sometimes attends CEC as an invited guest. Rwabwogo is like any other human being who marries from the first family. Maybe if Museveni was still producing, my son would marry a daughter from his family.”

Owing to the aforementioned humiliating defeat by Kyaligonza, Museveni must have been in ambush waiting for an opportunity to deal a decisive revenge blow. It looks like the moment is now.

However, given the history of the Great Bunyoro Kitara and its brave people, the Banyoro who courageously fought colonial rule, it is not yet over until it is over. Already, Kyaligonza who is very popular amongst the Banyoro, has invoked the tribal and regional card.
"If the decision is to recall me, then so be it. I would not be the first person to lose a post in Bunyoro. Kajura left, I and Matia Kasaija were the only two politicians remaining on the national cake from Bunyoro and yet Kasaija’s position (minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development) is overshadowed by his deputy [David Bahati].”

Museveni has his much cherished oil wells in Bunyoro. Its successful extraction depends on the goodwill of the Banyoro. The underdeveloped Bunyoro feel they have never been treated well economically since the colonial era. To hoodwink them, Museveni has created a Ministry for Bunyoro Affairs. Behind their backs, he has been managing a scheme to bring in non Banyoro to take over land. The Banyoro resisted the Balalo pastoralists but have not done well with the so called Bakiga Bafuruki because Museveni introduced the land fund exclusively for Bunyoro land.

He will have to weigh his options between eating his cake and having it. Gen. Kyaligonza's warning shot is loud and clear.

INFORMATION IS POWER AND THE PROBLEM OF UGANDA IS MUSEVENISM