By Hadijah Namyalo Uzeiye
The New Vision of October 17 had a news article on page three titled “Museveni important for the region, writes ex-UK premier.” The article had excerpts from the political memoir of former British prime minister Boris Johnson, in which he confesses that President Yoweri Museveni is so important for the peace of the region, from Somalia to Congo to Sudan.
He adds: “He (Museveni) is cautious and thoughtful and has no disapproval of any of the remedies (such as his 2014 turn to arms) he had to use to engage with those forces which have to be checked to enable the region to achieve sustainable peace.”
For the benefit of our young people, Johnson was the prime minister of the United Kingdom (UK) from 2019 to 2022. He replaced Theresa May. During the same period, he visited Uganda and had an opportunity to meet the President. Before that, he served as the British foreign secretary (2016 to 2018). He was also the mayor of London from 2008 to 2016.
In his memoir, he admits that President Museveni is strategic to the region and this was attested to by several Western leaders, including former United States (US) presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barrack Obama, who often consulted him during their times of service as UK’s prime minister.
Johnson’s book could also be seen as his appreciation of Museveni for his efforts in helping to end the civil war in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) from 1997 to 2003 and his role in helping the region deal with the al-Shabaab insurgency in Somalia. In the same vein, his acknowledgment of the war on terror, which was fought against al-Qaeda insurgents in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania, among other East African countries.
Again, Johnson’s memoir points out that Africa’s countries are being left behind in terms of democracy and development because of the selfishness of the political class, who have always taken their countries back due to poor governance, corruption and bad laws that do not favor the citizenry.
By confessing that President Museveni is so important for the peace of the region, it is important to remember the role he has played in offering security to our country, the region and the world at large. His wisdom and military skills are attested to by several foreign heads of state, especially the United States of America, Europe and North America had mostly sought the advice and guidance accorded to them by President Museveni, especially during the First Congo War (October 12, 1996 to May 16, 1997) and Second Congo War (August 2, 1998 to July 18, 2003).
For Uganda, President Museveni’s guidance brought sustainable peace and stability, coupled with the military intelligence he always shares with the international community. His efforts to support the United Nations (UN) resolutions to Uganda as it deals with several regional issues has President Museveni consulting, through diplomatic means, foreign governments with a common interest.
In his book, Boris Johnson reveals that several Western leaders and particularly foreign missions consulted Museveni regarding matters of security and peace for Africa. It is for that reason that Johnson agreed with the proposals by Museveni to engage the international community in offering security in Africa.
In late 2001, British Secretary of International Development, Claire Short, even made a statement while in Kampala that the UK would support foreign aid to Uganda for the same reasons, stressing that Museveni was right to enable peace and stability in the region.
Then in January 2012, a joint delegation led by the US Congress members met Museveni, acknowledging his ideas on Africa’s security and they told him to pursue the role of African leadership because of his service in the war on terror.
Above all, there have been state visits by foreign presidents; Bill Clinton and Barrack Obama seeking to have political solutions in East Africa. In his statement, Johnson is not alone in agreeing that President Museveni is a consistent fighter and the world’s ambassador for peace.
The writer is a senior presidential advisor, political affairs, Office of the National Chairperson/ Chief Coordinator Bazzukulu.
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