“Museveni has been speaking about democracy, but where is that democracy he speaks of if he can't tolerate those who criticise his government? What is happening in villages undermines the same democracy he talks about,” Ssenyonyi said.
The competition aims to encourage every Ugandan to confidently sing the National Anthem while promoting the use of Kiswahili and increasing appreciation of the East African Community anthem as Uganda advances regional integration.
“Museveni has been speaking about democracy, but where is that democracy he speaks of if he can't tolerate those who criticise his government? What is happening in villages undermines the same democracy he talks about,” Ssenyonyi said.
The President directed veteran leaders to account for UGX 231 billion disbursed over the years under a 2009 arrangement that provided financial support to liberation war leaders, their spouses, and support cadres.
“With trailblazers like YPA, our young people can create millions of jobs and opportunities back home for themselves rather than flock out of the country to work as maids and offer unskilled labour in what are sometimes indecent and very dehumanizing conditions abroad,” Museveni said.
As Nelson Mandela observed, nations can choose between conflict and cooperation. Increasingly, countries are choosing negotiation, reconciliation, and coalition-building. These require political maturity, for instance, a clear ideology, internal democracy, and a willingness to compromise without losing identity.