The leader of Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) political party Gen Gregory Mugisha Muntu has warned top army officers to desist from being used by politicians to fulfill their partisan derives.
Muntu’s remarks follows Uganda people’s Defence forces (UPDF)’s decision to civilians from wearing red berets, which are associated to the people power political pressure movement.
This order cane a few months after the people power movement officially declared the red Bert as their symbol.
“The dress code for the UPDF has been gazetted. The action was endorsed by the top organs of the army which also commended the dress committee for concluding thw task assigned to it years back”, army spokesperson Richard Karemire said.
Gen Muntu who spoke to this website during the National dialogue on advancing citizebs audit for sustainable development on Tuesday said the ruling government to using the army to suppress the opposition side.
“First all military berets have a UPDF logo which is different from that of people power secondly in the military, no soldiers is allowed to wear only a cap but full combat so how will the people putting on red berets only be similar to the army? Muntu asked?
Muntu who is also the former chief of the Defence force (CDF) said that the military is allowwd to arrest a civilian who puts on their full combat or berets with their logo only.
“This is a sign of fear by the regime, however I want also to advise my comrades to treated when they no longer have the power and authority”.
He said that the army is for the people of Uganda but the NRM government is selfishly owning it.
“Since independence we have had three army formations, we wouldn’t want our army to be infiltrated by selfish politicians”, he said.
Muntu also advised the minister of security Gen Elly Tumwine to start investigating people than accusing them of associating with Lesbian, Gay Bisexual and transgender (LGBT) and cryptocurrency.
However, Muntu advised the army general to stop black mailing people in opposition just because their ideas different from them.
“Today you are in power, Tomorrow you will be powerless and you will be judged by your comments. If you go when they get into power? How would you want to be treated when you are opposition?”, he inquired.