Greetings fellow Ugandans and friends
Let me begin with good news. The United Nations and the international community in general have increasingly shifted focus from support to governments and national sovereignty to people and their search for freedom, liberty, dignity and equality.
In 2005, the United Nations adopted a resolution on the Responsibility to Protect. It means that if a government is unwilling or unable to protect its people against crimes of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity, the international community has a responsibility to respond and restore order.
Thus, as we struggle to prevent Museveni from forming an illegitimate regime, we need to realize that the international community is on the side of Ugandans who have rejected the recently held elections. To facilitate our discussion this morning about the illegitimacy of elections, let us remind ourselves of the following points.
1. For elections results to be legitimate there must be a level playing field to allow a free and fair electoral cycle. While peace on polling day is necessary, it is not sufficient to render elections results legitimate as some people have argued.
2. The Commonwealth Observer Team recorded that the electoral cycle lacked a level playing field. The European Observer Team reported that there were serious irregularities including military intimidation and massive use by NRM of state funds.
3. Therefore the elections were not free and fair and the results are illegitimate.
4. Opposition candidates should be commended for not conceding defeat and for not going to the Supreme Court to have the results annulled because the Court lacks impartiality. Thus, the Supreme Court has lost credibility.
5. Therefore there is no basis for congratulating Museveni on his re-election. UK and USA governments in particular should be reminded of the illegitimate results.
6. Ugandans with support of the international community should not allow Museveni to form a government based on illegitimate results.
7. Peaceful demonstrations should be used at home and abroad to discourage formation of such a government. Instead a coalition transitional government should be formed to prepare for free and fair elections.
8. To achieve desired results peaceful demonstrations must attract many people countrywide with high morality, bravery and determination to force Museveni to concede. The number of demonstrators must increase and not decrease with time. Demonstrations must persist and opposition leaders must avoid shoddy deals with Museveni including cabinet positions.
9. In 1993 Museveni declared that if the people who are the sovereign force don’t want their leaders, then they should go. The people of Uganda don’t want the re-election of Museveni through rigged (2011) elections. They want new elections.
10. In 1993 Museveni further declared unambiguously that the role of the army is to guard borders and maintain internal peace. The army should guard what the people want, not do what the people don’t want.
11. Museveni should therefore not interfere in peaceful demonstrations using the army as that would constitute a serious violation of a human right. Some western governments have already advised him to stay away from peaceful demonstrations. If Museveni uses force and Ugandans are killed or injured, he will be individually responsible and liable for punishment by the International Criminal Court (ICC). If Museveni and/or his advisers are listening, they should take this warning very seriously.
12. Similarly the Inspector General of Police and Army Commander must refrain from unleashing their troops on peaceful demonstrators. If they do and Uganda citizens are killed or injured they will be individually responsible and liable for punishment by the ICC. If Kayihura and Nyakairima and/or their advisers are listening, they should take this warning very seriously.
13. We appeal to all demonstrators to be peaceful. They should not carry weapons of destruction or attack anyone. Security forces have a duty to maintain law and order. They should apprehend anyone who disturbs peace and security and bring them to court for appropriate legal action.
14. We appeal to the public to provide information including photographs and names of security personnel that harass or hurt demonstrators for appropriate action.
15. If we stick together wholeheartedly, we shall prevail.