Aruu County Member of Parliament, Odonga Otto, has warned the youth, mostly those subscribing to the National Unity Platform (NUP), against inciting violence and deliberate defiance by wearing red berets.

He claimed that the state, presided over by President Yoweri Museveni, has gone on rampage to ‘punish’ all those who oppose it, and sadly enough, the victims are empowering the alleged tormentors to justify their horrible acts through defiance.

Otto, a former member of the opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party, emphasised that being extremely defiant about every little aspect of life actually aids the state to justifiably “act with reason”.

“I know you want to show resistance because you’re not contented. But please don’t wear red berets if the authorities say you shouldn’t. If you don’t want to be in trouble with the army, don’t put on that red beret. That is my free advice to the youth. You will be charged in the military Court Martial,” Otto said.

The outgoing MP made the remarks while on NXT Radio, today, referring to the current mysterious disappearances of Ugandans, especially those presumed to be Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine supporters.

The police have since confirmed that many of the missing people are in detention and some have been confirmed to be detained at Makindye Military Barracks and other barracks across the country.

Narrating his own ordeal on The Big Talk show on NXT radio, Otto said; “The first time I was in the Court Martial, I found myself in the dock as a prisoner. We were representing Dr. Besigye, and they arrested us together with our client. I made a vow never to return to that court. Now I do everything I can to avoid it.”

Otto put all the blame on President Yoweri Museveni, whom he faulted for being behind the abductions.

“This is the only country in the world where the State gets annoyed. When the President is not happy, the military will react like it’s doing now,” the mortar-mouthed politician added.

About the Inter-Party Organization for Dialogue (IPOD) summit that was meant to resolve such concerns, Otto said the IPOD is window dressing. He described the summit as a perfect waste of time.

“It is just a show. I sympathize with FDC, my former party. Showing up at IPOD would just make them look ugly. We need genuine dialogue with all players on board. We need church leaders, the judiciary, and all political actors involved,” Otto said.

However, the director of Information and Publicity at the National Resistance Movement (NRM), MP Emmanuel Dombo, said that dialogue at the moment is the most appropriate action to be taken.

“Politics is not done by bullets and guns. People must talk about politics and issues of governance. As human beings, why can’t we talk about issues that affect us?” Dombo stressed.

On her part, human rights activist, Sarah Bireete, admitted that Uganda truly needs dialogue at the moment, but not one by IPOD.

“Ugandans need dialogue but not one by IPOD. There are few Ugandans who subscribe to political parties. I know some parties have exaggerated registers,” she said.

“We are a faith-based country. I think the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda is a better uniting factor for Ugandans instead of cultural institutions,” she added.

By Baron Kironde