Response to Monitor article, ‘When a revolution eats up its children’

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It is unfortunate that we live in a time when misinformation and spreading hatred have become common place. Today, one has to sift through the media to glean truth in what are overwhelmingly biased opinions and even outright lies. I was deeply saddened to see an article in the Monitor Newspaper entitled, ‘When a revolution eats up its children.’

The author purported to know and speak authoritatively about the life of the late Jimmy Bageire and his family. I am saddened that a journalist would cast aspersions on someone who has passed away and is not able to speak or answer for themselves.

As a parent, I would like to ask us all as Ugandans to please remember that regardless of our political differences, we are all human beings, we come from homes and families. We must ask ourselves,” How would I feel if they were spreading lies about my loved one or family member?” In this internet age, we must strive to hold on to our humanity and see each other as members of the same community and fellow citizens in our beloved country, Uganda.

Jimmy Bageire was a vibrant and kind young man who came from a wonderful family, who are still our friends to this day. Through the years, we have done our best to serve the people of Uganda with a clean conscience before God. We serve all the people of Uganda, whether we know them personally or not. Are we perfect? No, but I can say with a clear conscience that we have always done all that is in our power to do to help and serve all Ugandans.

What we do or do not do for people that we have walked with as friends on this life’s journey is known by God and the people who are close to us. We do not seek cheap popularity, and we do not work to please man but rather to please the Lord. Ultimately, our service is to Him, and we have spent our lives as servants of the people of Uganda and Africa.

So I would like to caution young people. It takes much more to build up than it does to tear down. Many people have sacrificed so much, and some even paid the ultimate price for the peace, stability and freedom of our nation. Tread gently on what others sacrificed so much to attain and recognise that you too have a contribution to make, to build our country. When you are in a position to influence others in your generation through your work, please make the choice to be a positive force in our community.

I refuse to be engaged in deliberate lies that are meant to misinform the public, but what I would rather remind everybody is what Apostle Paul advises us to do in Philippians 4:8;

“For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them].”

God bless you.

Janet K. Museveni