NRA's 27-gun rhetoric should remain history, says Uganda Law Society president
The Uganda Law Society president Simon Peter Kinobe has said the always referred to story of how the NRA started the bush war with 27 guns has become tired rhetoric and the country needs to move on.
Speaking at the first Ben Kiwanuka Memorial lecture at the High Court in Kampala, Kinobe said on many occasions the narrative has been used to intimidate the public and act with impunity by some of the bush war heroes.
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"The story of 27 guns has been told even before I was born but it should stay as history that reminds us of what should not be done,"Kinobe said.
"We don't understand the rhetoric of "Twalwana"(we fought) that is always referred to."
The Uganda Law Society president said the story should only be used to preserve the country's peace other than intimidating members of the public.
He asked that there should be independence of the various arms of government,the judiciary inclusive.
In response,Kahinda Otafiire,the Constitutional Affairs minister urged Ugandans especially youths to desist from violence that would take the country back to the bush war days.
"The are two ways of obtaining political power. One is through elections and the other is through democratisation of violence. I have gone through both but I want to assure you that violence is extremely expensive. There is no reason for our children to experience what we went through in the bush. If we don't respect rule of law, some regimes will come and rule by law," Otafiire said.
He warned that instead of violence,Ugandans should always think of working to develop the country so as to reach levels attained by other countries.
On the 'rhetoric' of 27 guns,Otafiire said the statement is not made to cause havoc but to ensure peace in the country.
"To err is human but it doesn't mean that the mistakes are incurable. We can always fall down and rise."
"The country is on the right path to constitutionalism.We shall always continue to ensure rule of law and constitutionalism in Uganda."
