Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni speaks during the inauguration ceremony for his sixth term at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds in Kampala, Uganda, on May 12, 2021. (Photo by Badru KATUMBA / AFP)
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has cautioned political and religious leaders against imposing themselves on the people, urging them instead to win legitimacy through persuasion, good service delivery and tangible results.
Speaking on Monday in Kitgum District, Museveni said leadership founded on intimidation betrays the will of the people and weakens institutions.
“Influence people by doing good things which they see and appreciate. All these leaders, even now the ones who try to intimidate, are really like Idi Amin, who imposed himself and ended up assassinating many Ugandans, including Janani Luwum,” Museveni said.
Museveni said both scripture and political history favour persuasion over coercion.
“Amin’s first mistake was to impose himself on us. Who did he think he was? Leaders should not impose themselves on the people. Both the Bible and political strategy guides show that persuading people is better than imposing yourself on them,” he added.
The Ugandan leader also thanked voters in northern Uganda for what he described as an overwhelming “block vote” for the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) in the recent General Election.
He noted that the region had for years largely rejected the ruling party at the ballot box.
“Northern Uganda was not voting for us. At one time, we were getting 12 percent. In 2011, it improved slightly. But we continued working for northern Uganda, whether they voted for us or not,” he said.
Museveni cited investments in electricity expansion, schools, health centres, water projects and road infrastructure as part of government efforts to transform the sub-region.
“After some time, the people in the north started believing that Museveni and the NRM are good. I thank you for the overwhelming votes this time. This was through persuasion, not imposition,” he said.
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