Museveni is keeping Ugandans in slavery, says Besigye

The former president of the Forum for Democratic Change- FDC, Col. Dr. Kizza Besigye has accused the President Museveni’s government of keeping its citizens enslaved for 38 years of his rule.

The four times presidential candidate said the NRM regime has promoted modern slavery throughout its 38 years which includes socioeconomic vulnerability, discrimination and exploitation in the labour force, bad governance, limited access to basic needs, inequality and creation of disenfranchised groups in the country.

According to him, Museveni and his “dictatorial” government have stripped off Ugandans their rights to vote even though they have constitutional rights under Article 1 which grants power to the people. He said the ruling government has deprived people of their power which has made Uganda a non free society where government serves its citizens instead it’s the citizens serving the interests of the government.

Besigye made the remarks in his country home Rukungiri during a consultative meeting to find way forward to resolve his internal party disputes.

He noted that the 38 years of self-preservation by the NRM government have led to so many problems for we the Ugandan citizens and called for a drastic changes in the country’s enforced government mandates.

The 2024 Global Slavery Index rated Uganda 62.92 percent of the world total vulnerability score, and has below average vulnerability for the region. According to the report, Uganda is ranked 105th globally and 29th within Africa in terms of prevalence of modern slavery.

The report further indicated that the government of Uganda scored 46 out of 100 in their response to modern slavery which placed the government’s response above the average regional response.

Of the five areas of response assessed (milestones), the government has taken most action on national and regional coordination of the response to modern

slavery and the least action on addressing risk in government and business supply chains.