Uganda’s Government Spokesperson Ofwono Opondo has told off the US Ambassador to Uganda Ms. Deborah Malac to mind her business and stay off Uganda issues.
Opondo said that the government of Uganda through its law enforcement agencies cannot sit back as misguided people especially opposition politicians and civil society leaders intimidate elected Members of Parliament and the wider public simply because they don’t hold the same views as theirs on any matter.
“Only Ugandans through their government and elected representatives know and shall decide how best they want to be governed and by whom. While we value diplomatic relations with all the countries of the world, Uganda is not very keen to take unqualified lectures from foreign agents”, Opondo said.
Opondo said that the on-going debate in parliament and within the country with regard to possible constitutional amendments, and electoral reforms must be conducted by all sides to the debate in a civil, cordial and peaceful way however contentious the issues may be in an effort to build consensus. He added that should consensus fail, then the matter shall be decided by parliament as the elected legitimate body as the constitution provides.
“The government of Uganda wishes to reiterate its firm commitment to observe and protect the enjoyment of all their rights and freedoms to peacefully assemble in order to, express, associate, and petition government on any matter without threatening the lives or property of others including those of the people with whom they may disagree”, Opondo added.
Opondo emphasized that in protecting rights and freedoms of Ugandans, the Government of Uganda will spare no effort in promptly dealing with and neutralizing criminal minded people including political leaders who think they enjoy the misguided protection from some foreign missions.
Earlier today the US Ambassador to Uganda Ms. Deborah Malac hastily issued a media statement expressing her concerns over freedom of Expression in Uganda, with regard the alleged arrests, and police search of offices of some Non-Governmental Organization that have been linked to receiving financial support from foreign sources with the intention committing illegal activities in Uganda.
In response, Opondo said that under the laws of Uganda, and in accordance with international protocols, it is illegal to receive money from undisclosed sources as those sources could be part of terrorism networks around the world, and also the need to disrupt money laundering.
“While the Government of Uganda notes her concern, it is our considered view that they are misplaced because those so far summoned or held as a preventive measure are well-known to have been making statements over the last couple of months on various public media (Radios, TVs, and social media) threatening violence over what should otherwise be a civil and democratic process and debate in the parliament of Uganda. Some of those summoned by police have made recorded statement and posted them on the media threatening to kill those they disagree with together with members of their families which cannot be tolerated. We therefore ask for patience as law enforcement conducts its investigations”, Opondo said.
