PATRICK ASIIMWE: The Regreats By Gen. Museveni are Normal, They Don’t Count as Apologies. Hold You Brooms Envujjo and Busuulu Collectors

Instead of receiving the communication in good faith, a section of the opposition has taken to the social and open media instead bashing what most writers including those who reported the event as well as those who organized it termed as “An Apology to Buganda (sometimes it talks about Uganda as a whole, sometimes all Africans).

All humans plus those who may feel that such humble and humane gestures by the President of Uganda are an admittance of wrongdoing or FULL culpability for whatever has gone wrong with their own lives and Society are free to Receive it as they feel but the statements may not entirely imply what you may desire. I would love to be open-minded and truthful about the nature of mankind.
In human societies, every animal makes Mistakes which they regret. This is because life as a survival system is a trial and Error game. As we humans grow older, it’s also natural for us to regret many a things. It’s normal and healthy and human.

In modern philosophy, it’s called “Retired General’s Syndrome”. This nome emerged after some Scientists and Generals in the USSR and USA, then retired from active duty, met at a very old age and most regretted why they had created Nuclear Weapons after seeing the apocalyptic risk they had left the planet in as they passed through Time and Space. They did not apologize though and none took responsibility for what happened in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Besides, their technologies had also saved so many lives and uplifted those chose to use it for peaceful purposes such as energy and medicine.

The bible talks of an adulterous woman who was about to be stoned according to the rules of Judaism then. Jesus Christ asks she or he who had never wronged anyone or anything or even God to be the first to throw the stone. By reality of life, Such a Human being can and will never exist. Jesus himself was finally murdered simply for ‘wronging and disobedience to the State” as well as attempting to CHANGE cultures of a thousand years in just 2 years and for ‘witchcraft’ according to Roman laws then. Well, it’s only by his Death that his revolutionary ideology became dominant to this date as a Faith among most men and women and children followed closely by Islam which is also one of Jesus’s works alongside Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) who came about 5 centuries after the death of Jesus (Issa bin Mariam).

Now because humans regret often, most times daily, it does not naturally imply that such Regret are daily Apologies to anyone in particular.

The alleged apology of His Excellency Gen Y.K Museveni also lacked most of the acceptable attributes of an apology as accepted by many laws including Uganda’s. The Oxford Dictionary of English makes the matter even more complex. Regrets may have NO serious legal implications as they are contained in every soul, most times uncommunicated. For instance I regret refusing to Go a Seminary because today, possibly I would have become a Good Catholic Priest to help “reduce societal crime and immorality” through the Gospel, but don’t expect me to #apologize to anyone who gets robbed today by an atheist in Uganda by claiming that “IF Makombo had become a Priest, MAYBE, the robber would have been moralized earlier”.

I should have purchased a house at 25 not a car. As an adult I now regret but I don’t apologize to myself because I also enjoyed the car. Driving around aimlessly swiii. But then, a Car was what I willfully thought I needed anyway. So then I was right to myself but not today. The true meaning of Right and wrong can therefore be influenced by TIME and SPACE too. When does it happen and where? Eating Pig ears may be fine in Katwe but wrong in Doha. Riding a merry go-round may be fine when you were 9 years old but not when you are 80 years of age.

As an NRM caused leader, I with my other comrades, pushing against Gen Museveni’s Regrets (not apology) hereby regret Failing to lower Ugandan Poverty levels from 70% to 0% of the Population instead of 21%, but I don’t apologize for the Poverty of anyone among the 21% because the 49% we have managed to cause guided by Gen Museveni is statistically more significant as a societal IMPACT result than the LOSS of 21%, which we are actually working on vividly by pushing PDM, Emyoga, NDPs, Vision 2040 etc, so why would we apologize for the loss and forget to ask everyone to applaud us for the BIGGEST GAINS among most Nations on earth in most aspects of democracy, socioeconomic transformation, Pan Africanism and Patriotism?

Dr. Emmanuel Dombo, Director communications and member of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), believes the President should be commended for his public act of contrition.
“I think people should be praising President Museveni for his apology and take a lead from his book,” he said, framing the gesture as a rare instance of humility from a leader with decades in power.
Comrade Dombo above insists that while mistakes may have been made in the course of leadership, Museveni’s act of repentance should be viewed as a step toward moral and national renewal. But the question is Renewal of what that is not already stated in the Manifesto of NRM that comrade Dombo possesses?? Is Dombo saying there is a flaw in the NRM master plan that needs renewal? Doesn’t the NDP plans for example demonstrate dire well intentions of a Noble?

According to the Daily Monitor, President Museveni and First Lady Janet Museveni “issued a rare joint public apology, acknowledging failures in governance, corruption, and alienation of citizens, “especially in Buganda”, as political tensions mount ahead of the 2026 general elections. I will tackle all the 3 today to prove to you that there would be no way of directly Linking these 3 to an apology by a Head of state and his Wife only but that each and everyone is to blame for the negative and takes credit for Uganda’s vivid progress under Gen Museveni’s leadership for the last 3 decades..
Mbu,
Failures in Governance
Corruption
Alienation of whoever citizens especially Buganda (as if Karamoja and West Nile is a Paradise. ) If Buganda which has the Highest GDP of any region in Uganda deserves an apology for such Growth in Wealth and livelihood then who should apologize to those in Nakapiririt and Busoga suffering with Jiggers and extreme Poverty. Do you know how many New Mansions are built in Masaka monthly ? From the SKY, she Looks like Paradise in Red dots, versatile Iron Sheets, Tiles, byona.

The couple read from a prepared joint “prayer of repentance”, admitting negligence and lapses within their government.
(It’s fine to admit what everyone already knows as these figures are released by UBOS but they belong to all Ugandans be they palatable or not).

“As the top leaders of the Movement, we humbly take responsibility for all the mistakes made by ourselves, our agents and representatives,” they added. (first of all, The movement as a party has had and still have so many technocrats tasked with attaining a certain role and some are paid heavily. Why can’t each take responsibility at their office level and apologize and before the Head of the Party does if indeed there is a need to? Isn’t the NRM owned and governed by a leadership chosen by the mass-line.
I saw Millions of Ugandans lining up to Vote the LC I chairman and almost All homes were empty on that day. But can you believe that my Village voted a DRUNKARD because the TOWN boys needs someone whom they can relate to.
If such a chairman helps increase Crime, should the President apologize to my Villagers and myself?

If the Ugandan leaders are incompetent, then why can’t the mass line which Chooses and have been chosing them apologize first? Doesn’t the President appoint Ministers and Permanent Secretaries and even RDCs from Leaders sent to him by the Same masses of Ugandan people whom “he is now apologizing to?”.

Yet let me ask, if the President has been making any Mistakes (I’ve never seen any directly by himself apart from when he said ‘go eat your mothers something ..haha”,,,), WHOM does he make these mistakes through? Where were they during the alleged apology?

Does his Excellency not appoint the SAME Ugandans who are now misjudging the statements at Kololo as a chance to “bash Steven with Stones”?

Why can’t all Ugandans who are tasked with doing something that has ever led to an ERROR in Ugandan societies first apologize, the Blacksmiths, MPs, Sub county Chiefs, UPDF heads in Somalia who were caught off guard and corrupt Intel chiefs, reactionary Traditional Leaders who lead to Anarchy and Female Genital Mutilation, for allowing Pornography, those who abandon their parental obligations, those who commit adultery and fornication hence hindering the fight against HIV, lazy and nepotistic Permanent Secretaries, traffic and ordinary policeman for taking bribes, lazy school teachers and Public servants for Absenteeism and inefficacy?? The several prime Minsters and Vice Presidents we have had, the poorly paying foreign capital-loaded exploitative private Sector for dodging taxes, the Foreign investors for stealing and exporting profits made in Uganda instead of re-investing it to create more jobs ?? Members!!?

Why should a Whole President of a Country called Uganda who is in real practice a honorary Leader of Business who does not implement anything by himself but through other people, systems and processes be apologizing for anything wrong with that country when it is everybody else doing the mistakes? Am still asking because I need an answer !! When the UN says “Uganda is Corrupt”, they technically do not imply that the Leader of that country is the one stealing Resources, time, debt etc, but more or less is referring to total cumulative economic WASTE caused by the intentional or unconscious actions by ALL citizens of that country. I hope this is clear. You the Reader is therefore Uganda, not only whoever Leads it as it is yourself who gets to determine who leads you from local council level to Presidency. Even your Schools were chosen by you or your own Mother, if they miseducated you, that’s up to you. Apologize to yourself.

It must be noted that whatever the President and the First Lady “regretted” (to me), if statistically assessed, scientists would conclude all results as only PROGRESS, as success is defined as a ‘succession of losses over and over until a valid result is attained”. Success does not therefore imply Lack of mistakes by any leader or actor. Mistakes by humans are regrettable but may not desire any apology. ONLY those errors Intentionally committed to HARM do. To me , none of the scenarios stated by His Excellency demonstrated any Premeditated PLAN to FAIL or cause any loss or harm to any group, person or entity in Uganda. If the PLAN was noble, then the faulty result is called an unintended mistake, a necessary consequence of trial and error of life. Convicted criminals may for instance apologize because they are convicted by their intentions NOT actions. Killing someone is not necessarily called Murder as the Courts use the Intent to convict. The Court also attempts to ascertain if it’s indeed part of your nature to repetitively OFFEND. That’s why first time offenders usually have lenience from a jury or judge.

If Gen Museveni managed to return Buganda Kingdom BUT could not return MONARCHISM as anticipated by some reactionary (opposite of revolutionary) Baganda Bunyoro, Toro, Rwenzururu etc Politicians and activists must remember that Gen Museveni and Hon Janet Museveni Started from and found whatever you are advocating for at NEGATIVE (not even Zero) as regards every Performance objective for Buganda and Uganda at large. On top of liberating an economy totally defunct, exhausted by decades of mismanagement by past regimes. Before 1980, Idi Amin had banned all Kingdoms. Zero, no Federo, no Ebyaffe, but even so, Amin also found these entities Powerless and subdued by unfortunately serious of histories.

Earlier in the 1950s the Kabaka Mutesa II had been deposed and Exiled by the British Central Government Politicians and pre 1900 Buganda agreement, all Ancient Ugandan Kingdoms and Chiefdom Dynasties had literally been toppled and replaced by Puppet Kings whose DNA only the British Government can verify today. Infact this matter is the root cause of the current Succession conflicts in Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom where some Royal clan members believe that “to correct everything, all systems must revert back to 2 days before Kabalega was REPLACED” as they claim ‘the throne was hijacked”. There are rumors of Milton Obote even trying to install Jomo Kenyatta of Kenya as Omukama of Bunyoro as recorded by Ugandan officials. But General Museveni has Never even imagined any of the above. Yet he is the one whose apology is being disrespected? By who?!

Most thinkers forget that TIME and SPACE determine all Events. Today it may be impossible to award all Federo and Ebyaffe as demanded by Some Buganda Kingdom loyalists not because General Museveni and NRM don’t want,, but because THIS TIME and SPACE we are ‘enslaved in” by nature does NOT permit.

Uganda of 1945 may not be the same as that of 2026 and it’s peace, security and stability could instead be jeopardized by attempting Such a Moranchial system of 1760 AD. If Ebyaffe (self governance) is awarded to a ONE portion of Uganda e.g Central/Buganda, then YIIRA republic shall demand,,the West Nile (LADO state ) Republic will arise and are justified to demand too, Tororo will begin war with Soroti, the Lango Chiefs will Expel Acholi and Vice Versa, the Emorimor will demand part of his Kingdom in Kenya and attack Kenya. But you want someone to apologize for NOT awarding on a Silver platter such an outdated, pre-modernity management system to only ONE ethnic group in a Nation of over 100 cultural varieties each with a separate Culture and local leadership? In that case, not even the most tribal republican who becomes head of a Ugandan Government can ever succeed in such a Goal. Though, such a leadership may Regret NOT being able to attain it such. For Buganda to demand and Apology for lack of Federo too, Bunyoro must demand almost 50% of Buganda and all the Counties grabbed from Bunyoro by British invaders and handed over to Buganda e.g Kooki, Bugerere, Kayunga and Almost every territory sorrounding Kampala City as was in the year 1600 BC. So unrealistic. Move on ! Time changes and Times change.

Bunyoro would then demand Toro Kingdom to get back to Bunyoro as Kabalega had done it before the British invaded. Then even Bwamba, Rwenzuru etc are all Banyoro. See ? Who should apologize therefore for failing to REVERSE all the above historical confusion of Ugandan not caused in anyway by Gen Museveni and NRM? Should anybody even be apologizing or it should be History talking?

Below are some of the attributes of a real acceptable apology (not regrets) include)

Being Specific and particulate e.g Am sorry for insulting (the exact harm caused) you dear Apio (person) on Sunday. 2.Take Sole full Responsibility for the action stated. Not ‘through my agent, I was annoyed by what you said, my sister misled me ,, so I slapped you”…
To the best of my knowledge, the said Apology of the President lacked the above
and does not qualify to be called an apology but simple normal regrets of any leader even father or mother. Your mother could not take you to Oxford and she regrets her poverty, but she has no Right to apologize to you because of it because it’s not solely her duty but for your father and clan mates and nation too.
Willingness and a Clear concrete well articulated Plan to repair the damage. E.g I slapped you but am going to take you to hospital for check up and give you 20,000 to take some Meat to boost protein growth on you cheek which I bruised.
4.Empathy . The EXACT feelings and the state of the alleged wronged must be stated by the Apologizer. E.g I understand that being slapped in painful and embarrassing and I know how it would feel it I were slapped. I WILL never do it again.

The above attributes are missing in the alleged apology that some are “asking for more Demands to accept”. And am Happy. Imagine they had been stated!. Possibly, the reasons maybe intentional as a real written apology often attracts litigation, even after the apologizer’s demise.

I have often advised my students that Half a Loaf of NRM bread is better than “Kabalagala” eaten on a tadooba. I can’t then be expected to apologize (but may Regret) if the abundant and cheap wheat I caused becomes adulterated with Cassava by the Chapati maker because this was NOT my INTENTION as the creator of Cheap chapatis and Bread business in Uganda, for example given.

Most of the so called points of the Apology cannot even be rectified by the alleged complainants if given Power. That’s the irony as pointed out in the example of Federo requests above.

For instance, those who want Cooperatives operating in a communist Market system that NRM replaced (I heard one demand being ‘go back to 10 point program as if NRM would have survived with such a Communism laced Plan in a collapsed USSR but vibrant Global Capitalist Market of the Dollar West).

I regret writing a long missive but I surely don’t Apologize for it as I don’t control most of the aspects I have written or even the speed of the device. Maybe it would have been longer.

It’s indeed true that Uganda should be developing at 10% and above per annum economically BUT the 5% average under NRM is better than the 2% of USA within the same time frame. Also, the factors causing failure to hit 10% were not caused by Gen Museveni but are a result of cumulative past poor economic, political and Economic leadership merely inherited and these may need more than a mere 50 years to call perfect. As regards societal growth and human development What matters therefore is, , do you CALCULATE and attain a positive or negative progress result, not only in national management but also your personal lives.

Regards,

Asiimwe ‘Prof Makombo Jago Minyang” Patrick
Philosopher, African, Historian,
Global Strategist africanacup.org and Asst. RDC of Masindi
Email: oildimes@gmail.com