The Outspoken Priest of Kitanga Parish in Kabale Diocese Rev. Fr. Gaetano Batanyenda has challenged the opposition in Uganda to put aside their differences and combine efforts if they are to stop the First son, Lt. Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba from succeeding his father as the next president of of the East African country.
Fr. Gaetano who is also the Chairperson of the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda -IRCU, Kigezi Region made the call amidst the ongoing national debate on the alleged plan by President Yoweri Museveni to oversee Uganda’s first peaceful transition of power by handing over the highest office in the country to his son through a syndicated procedure in the next presidential elections.
The allegations come at a time when Gen Muhoozi who is also the UPDF Land forces Commander is holding nationwide celebrations of his 48th birthday, a move that has been described as political campaigning by a section of political pundits and members of the opposition.
Despite Muhoozi explaining that his birthday parties were in celebration of the victory over COVID-19 and the re-openning of the Uganda-Rwanda border at Katuna in Kabale District, the Forum for Democratic Change – FDC, Alliance for National Transformation – ANT and other political organizations and individuals in the opposition have asked the Electoral Commission to stop him, arguing that Muhoozi is holding early political campaigns.
It is on this note that Fr. Gaetano challenged the opposition to stop speaking from different platforms and join voices to rally Ugandans against what he termed as “planned hereditary presidency.”
Fr. Gaetano said that the opposition should equate the ruling NRM as a Lion or Leopard that requires more than one hunter to kill, or else they would never achieve their goal to change government.
” I thank Mugisha Muntu, Kiiza Besigye, and others for coming out to speak against Muhoozi’s campaigns. However, their voices will only be effective when they come together and forget their personal differences to fight for the liberation of Uganda,” said Fr. Gaetano.
The cleric added that the opposition should learn from their past mistakes that made them fail to form a coalition to oust President Museveni.
Without unity, Fr. Gaetano warned that President Museveni who is set to rule Uganda for at least 40 years will attempt passing on the presidency to his son Muhoozi who will also rule Uganda another 40 years or more before he hands over to one of Museveni’s grandsons.
Meanwhile, the Constitutional Court has summoned Gen Muhoozi , to respond to a petition in which he is accused of expressing his presidential ambitions yet he is still a serving army officer.
Last Thursday, lawyer Gawaya Tegulle petitioned the Constitutional Court challenging what he called unconstitutional acts by Gen Muhoozi of engaging in political activities and pronouncements as he celebrated his 48th birthday last month despite being a serving army officer.
In his petition, Gawaya also wants Muhoozi prosecuted for treason because of the activities on his Twitter handle which he says are political in nature and aimed at taking over power as successor to his father President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni using methods and means that are not consistent with the constitution.
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