Don’t play with fire, Museveni tells agents of chaos

President Yoweri Museveni has issued a stern warning to Ugandans seeking to ferment chaos, advising them against such actions.

He issued the warning on Saturday, July 20, 2024, during a national address focusing on five key issues: environmental concerns (water bodies and wetlands), wealth creation, job creation, regional integration, and parasitism.

In his televised address, President Museveni criticised individuals and opposition groups collaborating with foreigners to stir unrest through riots, illegal demonstrations, and disruptive processions.

“These people are unfair and inconsiderate and should check themselves or we will have no alternative but to check them. What right do you have to seek to generate chaotic behaviour? We are busy creating wealth; you are getting cheap food, people in other parts of the world are starving, and you are here, you want to disturb us. You are playing with fire,” he warned.

The President highlighted the potential harm of demonstrations in urban areas like Kampala, where vendors sell goods on the roadside, stating, “So, don’t be tempted to bring chaos, to step on people’s products on the roadside. Don't have such ideas in your head. I congratulate the wealth creators and challenge the ones not involved to know that we, the wealth creators, are moving. Join us if you can, but if you can’t, don’t disturb.”

For those wishing to protest corruption, Museveni suggested they reach out to Col Edith Nakalema. He suggested organising their protests for a day, like Sunday, when traffic in the city centre is minimal, allowing them to discuss their concerns in a civil manner.

Col. Nakalema heads the State House Investors Protection Unit, having previously led the State House Anti-Corruption Unit.

On December 4, 2019, Museveni led the country in a weekend anti-corruption walk under the theme, “A corruption-free Uganda; it starts with me”.

This saw the President walk about four kilometres from Constitutional Square in the city centre to Kololo Ceremonial Grounds.

He was joined by other government, religious, traditional and civil society leaders that were organised by Nakalema, who is also a senior presidential advisor on anti-corruption.