07/03/2026
THE NARRATIVE THAT RUINS THE OPPOSITION SOLIDARITY.
That they have nothing tell us!!!
That they are all the same!!
Really?
For seven years now there has been a running narrative that those who began the struggle against Museveni's dictatorship actually did nothing and have nothing to demonstrate, advise or even to tell the young generation.
Some of the loudest mouths have even obscenely characterised our time-tested struggle pillars as friends (Ba Chali) of the NRM junta or pretenders in Ugandans' self- liberation struggle against the oppressive regime.
For seven years they have dominated the social media with divisive propaganda that has ruined the "solidarity of the oppressed", which has given the oppressor an entrenchment opportunity.
These new junta facilitators have nurtured a crop of disrespectful, misguided, unideological youths whose abusive and derogatory attacks on other opposition cadres, especially on social media and in their field operations have served to do nothing but to weaken the gains previously collected by the opposition solidarity under the Unity in Diversity concept, and have instead exacerbated the stranglehold of the junta on our country.
The junta now wears a new face of a useful old broom despite all the evil it is causing our country.
I reject the junta facilitators' narrative with the analysis of the phases of our struggle, to enable our new but misguided opposition actors to understand that the race we are running is a marathon, not a hundred meter dash; and that everyone's contribution counts, and so every contribution must be counted.
1. The first phase of the junta resistance began in the Constituent Assembly while they wrote the Constitution that was inaugurated in1995.
At that time our Patriots exposed the true intentions of President Museveni and the NRM/A bush war fellows as a group of "African zionists" whose interest was to monopolize power and to establish a dynasty that would stay for eternity, while masquerading as liberators.
Their potential to do the evil they are doing now was unmasked at that time.
The first Clarion call was made and a new liberation front that recruited us was formed under the INTER POLITICAL FORCES COOPERATION (IPFC) led by Dr Paul Kawanga Ssemwogerere in the 1996 general elections.
The IPFC united all political Parties that had been frozen in 1986 by the NRA/M, which included the DP, UPC, and CP, and the Monarchists, while the UPM, which was the de facto National Resistance Movement(NRM), was baptized as a "political system" called the MOVEMENT in the 1995 constitution.
2. After the 1996 rigged general elections, there were other forms of resistance some were armed, such as UFDF under Evaristo Nyanzi, yet the LRA under Joseph Kony, the ADF among others, were real wars , and serious resistances to the NRM than what these junta facilitators would like Ugandans to believe.
3. Between 1996-2005, there was a phase of Politico-Legal activism, whereby our Freedom Fighters, who had a strong resolve, with minimum resources, mobilised defunct Party Structures country-wide and they identified and trained grassroots leaders especially under the Foundation for African Development (FAD).
The branches that were established at that time are the building blocks of the cadre structures on which the New Youthful Opposition is thriving and yet, which they don't respect at all.
Apart from that, the legal activism led by Dr Ssemwogerere, Zachary Olum, Pro Ogenga Latigo, Senior Counsel Joseph Balikuddembe, Erias Lukwago and others helped to redeem the activities of the old Parties and secured the freedom of association including the formation of new political Parties.
What the new Opposition actors are enjoying today was paid for by those they call accomplices of the junta.
4. Over the years, there has been political and intellectual activism including mass mobilisation and civic education led by the UYD, Civil Society organisations, registered Parties, Makerere University and other tertiary institutions, Radio broadcasters and Television operations also helped the actors to educate masses about the cause for freedom, human rights and good governance.
Our Opposition journey included the demand from the NRM government, the Andrew Kayiira Murder report between 2006 and 2007, a demand that put many of us in harm's way, and also the struggle to stop government from giving away Mabira forest for Sugarcane growing.
We shall never forget the ACTION FOR CHANGE (A4C) and WALK TO WORK activism that was led largely by General Kizza Besigye and Mathias Mpuuga to protest against the escalating fuel, food and other commonly used commodity prices in 2011.
5. The use of the Electoral calender to MOBILISE and to test the Electoral fortunes. The Opposition share of the electorate being between 23% and 36% in all rigged elections, from Dr Ssemwogerere, through Dr Kizza Besigye, Ssebaana Kizito, Nobert Mao, and then Now our friend Kyagulanyi, to wit:
Dr Paul Kawanga Ssemwogerere with 1.42 Million votes in 1996,
Dr Kizza Besigye with 2.06 Million in 2001,
Dr Kizza Besigye with 2.59 Million in 2006,
Dr Besigye with 3.51 Million in 2016. And then,
Kyagulanyi Ssentamu with 3.63 Million in 2021 and,
Kyagulanyi Ssentamu with 2.74 Million in 2026.
Only Museveni's numbers purportedly grow while they change percentage shares here and there.
6. The Parliamentary engagements have also over time caused positive changes. A case in point is the debates and fights on lifting the term limit and then the age limit, debated on Public order management bill, political Parties and organizations act, among others.
7. Cases of political engagements where the state and obwakabaka bwa Buganda fought for space
The events and phases I have highlighted is a mere snapshot of the many milestones that legit and resilient Freedom Fighters have built in the politics of this country without fleeing the country or playing hide and seek.
For the sacrifices they have made to make our country they deserve better acknowledgement by the young Turks.
In conclusion, Ugandans have suffered a lot under the 40 years of a selfish group of people that captured the state, all the public institutions and the private civic spaces.
The group carries guns and money to intimidate and to suppress any form of demand for freedom, human rights, better governmenance in our country.
Unfortunately we, the captured have over the years ruined the chances of uniting to take back our country by preferring individualism to colleageality.
We can now speak with certainty that no single political Party has the capacity to go it alone, in an NRM organized election, to expect a win and to be declared as such, no matter whether the flag bearer is a soldier or a popular popstar singer.
We must learn to value one another's contribution and not to act too desperate, in the face of a need for a protracted spirited struggle because a better Uganda deserves our concerted and collective effort.
Dr Bayigga Michael Lulume(MP)
