Ugandas præsident siger nu, at det har han aldrig sagt, men politikere, der var til stede, er ikke enige i den fortolkning, skriver Uganda-avisen “Daily Monitor” onsdag.
Two weeks after President Yoweri Museveni reportedly told ruling party MPs that the military could take over the government if what he called the “confusion” in Parliament persists, a State House official has issued a semi-retraction (halvvejs tilbagekaldelse /tilbagetog).
Deputy Press Secretary Lindah Nabusayi Tuesday said Mr Museveni had been “misquoted”.
The suggestion of a likely coup has been criticised as a treasonable (forræderisk) attack on the Constitution and a continuation of the President’s wishes to curtail (begrænse) Parliament’s independence.
This is the first time State House is coming out to deny the army take-over talk, which has until now been defended by, among others, Mr Museveni’s spokesperson, Mr Tamale Mirundi.
Both the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Aronda Nyakairima, and Defence Minister, Dr Crispus Kiyonga, are at the heart of the raging public debate following their suggestions that the army could re-insert itself (genindtræde) in the East african country’s politics.
Under Uganda’s Constitution, the army is subordinated to (underlagt) civilian authority.
“Lad ham sige det selv”
Opinion is divided on Mr Museveni’s reported comments in Kyankwanzi.
Lwemiyaga MP Theodore Ssekikubo, however, Tuesday sharply contested (bestred) State House’s version of events.
“No, no, no. Ms Nabusayi should not amend (ændre) President Museveni’s statement for him. Let President Museveni clarify his own statement himself”, the legislator told “Daily Monitor”, adding:
“I was in attendance (til stede) and President Museveni clearly said that the army would not allow this kind of confusion to continue and that if it did, the army would take over.”
The United States government warned Monday it would not support any military in the region that uses its capacity to frustrate functional democratic institutions.
