Uganda Activist: Why I Don’t Support Ambassador Otunnu’s UN Bid
By Mordecai Muriisa Photos: Video Screenshots I would like to see Olara Otunnu lose his bid for UN Secretary-General. Stay with me for a second! I don’t support him not because he is Ugandan. Not because I hate Uganda. And certainly not because I am incapable of taking pride in seeing a Ugandan aspire to an international position. My objection is much more fundamental: I fear that Otunnu’s ambition to climb the UN ladder could ultimately serve to whitewash, sanitize, or downplay the turmoil, repression and violence that have characterized Museveni’s rule and, increasingly, the conduct of his son Muhoozi. I already know what will follow. Some Ugandans will attack me and accuse me of betraying my country. Why? Because they have been taught a very convenient definition of patriotism: if something carries the Ugandan flag, you must support it. If an Ugandan rises, you must cheer. If you question a Ugandan, you are attacking Uganda itself. I reject that logic completely. Uganda is not Museveni. Uganda is not his government. Uganda is not the NRM. And Uganda certainly does not become less Ugandan because a Ugandan citizen refuses to endorse the political ambitions of another Ugandan. I make a deliberate distinction between my country and the political regime that currently controls it. I can love Uganda deeply and still oppose the people who have abused its institutions. I can be proud of being Ugandan and still reject an international campaign that I believe could help rehabilitate or sanitize the image of a government whose record deserves scrutiny. Patriotism is not blind endorsement. Sometimes the most patriotic thing you can do is refuse to confuse the interests of a government with the interests of the nation. So, no, I will not support Otunnu simply because he is Ugandan. My allegiance is to Uganda not to anyone who happens to wield power in Uganda, and not to anyone seeking an international title while carrying the endorsement of that power that’s perpetuated lawlessness, violence, bloodshed, poverty, unemployment et al. Mr. Muriisa is an activist and political commentator
Black News 
By Mordecai Muriisa
Photos: Video Screenshots
I would like to see Olara Otunnu lose his bid for UN Secretary-General. Stay with me for a second!
I don’t support him not because he is Ugandan. Not because I hate Uganda. And certainly not because I am incapable of taking pride in seeing a Ugandan aspire to an international position.
My objection is much more fundamental: I fear that Otunnu’s ambition to climb the UN ladder could ultimately serve to whitewash, sanitize, or downplay the turmoil, repression and violence that have characterized Museveni’s rule and, increasingly, the conduct of his son Muhoozi.
I already know what will follow. Some Ugandans will attack me and accuse me of betraying my country. Why? Because they have been taught a very convenient definition of patriotism: if something carries the Ugandan flag, you must support it. If an Ugandan rises, you must cheer. If you question a Ugandan, you are attacking Uganda itself.
I reject that logic completely.
Uganda is not Museveni. Uganda is not his government. Uganda is not the NRM. And Uganda certainly does not become less Ugandan because a Ugandan citizen refuses to endorse the political ambitions of another Ugandan.
I make a deliberate distinction between my country and the political regime that currently controls it. I can love Uganda deeply and still oppose the people who have abused its institutions. I can be proud of being Ugandan and still reject an international campaign that I believe could help rehabilitate or sanitize the image of a government whose record deserves scrutiny.
Patriotism is not blind endorsement.
Sometimes the most patriotic thing you can do is refuse to confuse the interests of a government with the interests of the nation.
So, no, I will not support Otunnu simply because he is Ugandan.
My allegiance is to Uganda not to anyone who happens to wield power in Uganda, and not to anyone seeking an international title while carrying the endorsement of that power that’s perpetuated lawlessness, violence, bloodshed, poverty, unemployment et al.
Mr. Muriisa is an activist and political commentator
