Uganda: Scream for change as Museveni is sworn in

Frustrated Ugandans held massive celebrations Thursday to welcome back the nation’s most prominent opposition leader, Dr. Kizza Besigye, casting a shadow over the inauguration ceremony of President Yoweri K.Museveni. But what started as joyful celebrations turned into chaos when the army and police fired teargas and live bullets to disperse the mostly peaceful crowd.
By Marlies Pilon, Kampala
Besigye, who was behind the recent ‘walk-to-work’ demonstrations over high food and fuel prices, is back from Nairobi where he received treatment for a severe eye damage after he was pepper sprayed by police during his arrest.
The 'true President'
After having attended Museveni's swearing-in ceremony, presidents Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, Goodluck Jonathan from Nigeria and Joseph Kabila from Congo, amongst others, drove past cheering crowds. But the crowds were not there for them. They were eagerly waiting for the arrival of their ‘true President’, Dr. Besigye.
The Presidents, ambassadors and ministers could not have missed the massive chanting of the crowds, singing protests song in the local language, Luganda: ‘Yabba obululu Iwaki alayira? Eeh Iwaki alayira?’ (‘He rigged the votes, why is he being sworn in? why is he being sworn in?’). Newly elected Jonathan Goodluck’s car was even bombarded with stones.
International intervention
“The world must know what is going on in this country. We Ugandans are so poor and M7 (Museveni, ed.) is treating us too bad. We deserve better, Obama and the international community must intervene because Museveni rigged the votes and he just doesn't want to go!” said Sam Namale, holding up a poster of Dr.Besigye.

Rumours that Besigye would be arriving in the capital provoked an increase in the number of army tanks, helicopters and police around the Kibuye roundabout in Kampala. But with more and more people gathering to welcome their ‘true leader’, tactics of the overwhelmed army and police changed.
Around 4pm, the sound of gunshots and people screaming filled the air as helicopters dropped teargas on the demonstrators. Live-bullets were fired. Journalists were beaten indiscriminately and cameras and film equipment were confiscated. Five people died and many more got wounded.

Gathering momentum
The protests have been dismissed by some as shallow and incidental, but in recent weeks momentum has been building as the governments responds with brutal force against mostly peaceful protestors. This has caused frustration and anger among the mostly poor Ugandans who are questioning the level of democracy in their country.
‘Oba amagye ne police batutta batutte naye omusajja agende tukooye Besigye ye muzira mukulembe ze waffe’ (‘We are ready to die even if the troops and police shoot at us. The President has to go, Besigye is our hero and the real President’), shouted the demonstrators at President Museveni when his car drove past them after the swearing-in ceremony.
Uncomfortable feeling
Coupled with the international condemnation of the brutal force that has been used against the demonstrators must have provoked a quite uncomfortable feeling for Museveni, who has been in power for the past 25 years.
In a press statement issued by Dr.Besigye after Thursday’s violent clashes, he announced that more massive demonstrations are being planned in the coming weeks. “This is only the beginning,” he said.