Africa-Press – Uganda. A screaming cover page headline in the Daily Monitor of Monday, May 27, 2025; “ We are sorry for any mistakes- Musevenis” subjected President Museveni, and First Lady Janet Museveni to social media ridicule, and opened up rather inessential debate pitying the Presidency against the wonderful government of Mengo.
The headline was conveniently obtained out of two quotes isolated from a two-page prayer read at the Light-Up Uganda for Jesus Mission crusade in Kololo over the weekend.
While it is factually correct that the two quotes are part of this prayer, taking them to build a mountain of a story, with abandon to the entire prayer as a whole, or without putting complete context on the prayer in its entirety, denied Ugandans the opportunity to debate the matter from an informed point of view, let alone concentrate on the Musevenis message and in particular, the aims of the event altogether.
First of all, the Light Up Uganda Crusades has been in existence since 2022, rotating from Luweero on 7th May 2022, Bunyoro on 21st Jan 2023, Gulu on 2nd Sep 2023, Ankole on 18th May 2024, Eastern on 13th Sep 2024, and Kololo in Kampala over the weekend. It should be noted that at all these events, President Museveni who has been in the company of the First Lady has made this prayer, albeit tailored to the specific region in which they are.
For instance in Luweero, President Museveni and the First Lady apologized for Luweero’s under development and on behalf of leaders who stopped the good groundwork and connectivity the government had with the people in the area as well as negligence and laxity on the part of these leaders.
The Kampala situation is not any different, the “Musevenis” as Daily Monitor called them, acknowledged that there has been laxity, negligence, and lack of diligence on the part of the team of leaders they entrusted with responsibility and resources to develop Buganda Region and the whole country.
They also reiterated, as with cases at other crusades, that such situations have caused disgruntlement amongst certain sections of the people, anger, and erroneous perception that the government neglected or forgot them, a responsibility they would want to shoulder and ask for forgiveness on behalf of all. This is irrespective of the political affiliations of the leaders in these areas provided they are in Uganda and serve under the Head of Government- President Museveni.
The First Lady has recently expressed the sadness that comes from the comfort with which media houses are gainfully peddling biased opinions and outright lies and maintained that the ‘Musevenis’ have done all that is within their power to do to serve Ugandans and do not seek cheap popularity.
The Monitor, in my view therefore, should have insisted on the proper context of the messages in Kololo, the outright show of religious unity, the disregard for denominationalism, such aspects that had plagued our nation for years until the NRA/M put their foot down to allow subscription of parties, irrespective of tribe and religion.
The unity of the people who flocked to Kololo Airstrip to pray for the steady progress of this country and a successful transition. The message of President Museveni as quoted in St Paul’s letter calls upon Ugandans to work hard using the available sectors NRM has earmarked; Commercial Agriculture with cuura, Services, ICT, and Industries.
Therefore, while it is not wrong to apologize to someone, it is important to put the entire context in perspective, to avoid veering into prejudiced conjectures. Buganda is indeed a goal for the NRM, not just to win back but to transform through the various poverty alleviation programs, health, education (free), security, and infrastructure development, so is the entire country.
Just like President Museveni quoted at the crusade that was taken out of context; Let your light shine before men that they may see your good deeds and praise your father in heaven, let the Musevenis be judged on that basis, and not on overcooked propaganda.
The writer is the Online Editor for State House Uganda
Source: Nilepost News
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