KAMPALA, UGANDA – President Yoweri Museveni has dismissed claims by sections of Ugandans suggesting that the country is sliding back into a past era of atrocities, describing such assertions as false and misleading.
Addressing the nation on Saturday evening, Museveni said Uganda’s current trajectory reflects the consolidation of long-standing struggles for patriotism, Pan-Africanism, socio-economic transformation, and democracy.
He specifically rejected the growing public narrative branded “Bizeemu,” meaning that “the bad things of the past have returned,” insisting that critics are misrepresenting the situation.
“Therefore, those who have been putting forward the slogan ‘Bizeemu’—meaning the bad things of the past have come back—are wrong,” Museveni said.
The President’s remarks come amid increasing concerns from sections of Ugandans over alleged arbitrary arrests and reported heavy-handed actions by security agencies, with critics accusing the state of operating with impunity.
However, Museveni contrasted the present with past decades, arguing that Uganda has significantly improved in terms of rule of law and judicial process.
He said unlike earlier periods where arrested individuals allegedly disappeared without trace, today suspects are produced in courts of law and tried openly.
“Ebyaliwo in the past meant that anybody arrested (abducted) would not go to court but would end up as a dead body in places like Namanve forest, the River Nile or Kaaya’s farm,” he said.
The President cited ongoing court appearances by political figures, including Dr. Kizza Besigye, as evidence that the justice system is functioning. He also referenced former minister Miria Matembe, saying she attended court proceedings despite public debate over the treatment of opposition politicians.
Museveni urged the public to follow court processes involving accused persons, saying government would not tolerate impunity, including within security institutions.
“I cannot allow impunity in our system, even on the side of the security forces,” he said.
He further argued that failure to address impunity in the past has contributed to the rise of mob justice, as some citizens lose trust in formal justice systems.
According to the President, sections of the opposition have also engaged in what he termed “undemocratic practices,” which he said have at times triggered confrontations with security forces.
“It is this undemocratic culture among some opposition elements that has been provoking the security forces to fill these gaps,” he said.
Museveni maintained that the role of security agencies should not be interpreted as a setback to democracy but rather as part of efforts to maintain peace, stability, and accountability.
He further emphasized that both state actors and political leaders must uphold responsibility and avoid actions that undermine national stability.
“It is, therefore, in order for us to insist on full accountability and no impunity for our words or our actions,” he said.
The President’s remarks add to an ongoing national debate over governance, human rights, and the conduct of security agencies in handling political and civil matters in Uganda.
