A Tale of Two Campaigns: The Stark Contrast Between Museveni’s and Obote’s Political Battlegrounds
Museveni’s main grievance against Obote’s regime was the alleged election rigging that denied him victory. But despite these allegations, Museveni was able to publicly voice his discontent, mobilize his supporters, and ultimately launch a guerrilla war that saw him capture power in 1986
Uganda Today Edition: A Tale of Two Campaigns: The Stark Contrast Between Museveni’s and Obote’s Political Battlegrounds
By Uganda Today Analysis Desk www.ugandatoday.co.ug
For close to four decades, Uganda’s political landscape has been dominated by President Yoweri Tibuhaburwa Museveni, a man who once stood in opposition against an entrenched regime. His campaign as a candidate for the Uganda Patriotic Movement (UPM) in 1980 under Milton Obote’s rule was devoid of military crackdowns, beatings, and extrajudicial killings. In stark contrast, opposition figures in present-day Uganda face brutal repression at the hands of the very government that Museveni leads.
Museveni’s Unrestricted 1980 Campaigns
During the 1980 general elections, Museveni, then a young revolutionary, was able to move freely, addressing rallies in open spaces, including the City Square in Kampala. His campaign, though not without challenges, was never marred by state-sanctioned violence to the scale we see today. The Uganda National Liberation Army (UNLA), the official military force at the time, did not descend upon opposition figures with the brutality now witnessed under Museveni’s regime.
Museveni’s main grievance against Obote’s regime was the alleged election rigging that denied him victory. But despite these allegations, Museveni was able to publicly voice his discontent, mobilize his supporters, and ultimately launch a guerrilla war that saw him capture power in 1986.
The Reign of Repression: Museveni’s Clampdown on Opposition
Fast forward to the present, Uganda’s political environment is unrecognizable compared to the one Museveni campaigned in during Obote’s reign. Since 1996, opposition leaders and supporters have been subjected to systematic state violence. The police and military, under the direct command of Museveni as the Commander-in-Chief, have unleashed beatings, arbitrary arrests, maimings, and even killings on opposition figures and their supporters.
The most chilling of these repressions was witnessed on November 18 and 19, 2020, when Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) commandos indiscriminately massacred citizens on the streets of Kampala. The protests erupted following the arrest of opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu (Bobi Wine) in Luuka, Busoga. Security forces opened fire on unarmed civilians, killing at least 54 people, with countless others injured or arrested. This level of political violence is in stark contrast to Museveni’s own past experience as an opposition candidate in the 1980s.
Opposition’s Ingenious Response: Digital and Rural Outreach
With the streets patrolled by soldiers and open-air campaigns practically impossible for the opposition, the National Unity Platform (NUP) has devised alternative strategies to reach the masses. One of the most effective has been the use of video clips recorded in various local dialects, which are then shared through social media and offline channels to mobilize support in rural areas.
These video clips—spoken in community local dialects—have become a powerful tool to bypass state-imposed restrictions on opposition campaigns. By speaking directly to different communities in their native languages, opposition leaders are ensuring that their message resonates with voters who may otherwise be cut off from traditional campaign rallies.
Below is one such video clip recorded in Runyoro-Rutooro-Runyankore-Rukiga that has been instrumental in countering the regime’s suppression:
Conclusion: The Irony of Power
The contrast between Museveni’s 1980 campaigns and the political violence under his rule today lays bare the irony of power. The man who once decried electoral malpractice and state repression now presides over a government that has perfected the art of political persecution. The video clip below, showing Museveni campaigning freely at the City Square in Kampala during the 1980 election cycle, further highlights the sharp disparity between his past and present approaches to opposition politics:
As Uganda moves towards another election cycle, the question remains: will the country ever witness a return to the free and fair political engagements that Museveni himself enjoyed in his early days as an opposition candidate? Or will the cycle of repression continue, forcing opposition figures to adopt more unconventional means to reach their electorate?
One thing is clear—Ugandans will not forget the events of November 18-19, 2020, nor will they stop seeking alternative ways to reclaim their democratic rights.
Published by Uganda Today, your trusted source for news and analysis
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