Why I accepted the Kagutas’ apology

Where does one begin this story? How does one accept the Kagutas’ half-hearted apology in 2025 – amidst all that the country knows.

This is 40 years of gangster, remorseless and arrogant criminality. Yet, this is what I am going to do. But while I accept this apology, behind my back, I feel the boiling anger of millions of Ugandans – including myself – who painfully listened to this apology as more crimes were still being committed at the same time.

Stock-taking: Northern Uganda – we now know enough that Joseph Kony’s ragtag army was just the excuse.

Teso crimes: what is truly fake about Speaker Anita Among leaked audio detailing Museveni’s crimes in Teso sub-region is just the AI voice – the crimes are public knowledge. Rwenzori-Rwenzururu crimes: these Museveni chaps dropped a bomb on a palace. Luweero crimes: the skulls aren’t yet buried.

Safe houses: these fellows were plucking knee caps off their victims’ knees. Murders of Muslims and other clerics. Assassinations. Poisonings. Auctioning country to foreigners and thereby impoverishing entire populations.

This list is 40 years long. In this context, an apology looks like a masquerade – a cover for something else. Look, not only is Museveni NOT signaling to putting an end to these crimes – by precisely giving Uganda a chance to re-imagine itself without him, but he is also only continuing.

Not too long ago, Museveni pushed through parliament a return of the tortuous Court Martial and wants the military to try civilians. His son, who now occupies the position of chief of defence forces, continues to gloat about his crimes.

He is proudly abducting and maiming people and arrogantly implicating an entire ethnic community. That they are in his “basement learning Runyankore,” and more candidates have been lined up for the basement.

Then he came out to apologise – in what is perhaps the most imperfect, poorly-timed, and remorseless apology in history.

Crime life is crime life

To begin with, Ugandans have to appreciate the painful fact that crimes keep Museveni in power. Indeed, after about 15-20 years in power, unless one is a monarch, any ordinary person – like our Yoweri Museveni – can only stay in power through coercion, violence, torture, deception, imprisonment, bribery, murders, humiliation, etc.

Therefore, as long as he is still in power, crimes have to be committed. There is no other way. Thus, as he was reading the apology at Kololo, Ugandans were being tortured in his son’s basement, as others were being abducted off the streets.

Like other political prisoners, an innocent man such as Dr Kizza Besigye was still rotting in jail as Museveni read his apology. The point I am making here is that an end to these crimes actually means Museveni losing power.

Secondly, I am not sure how specific we wished Museveni could be about his long list of crimes. These are 40 years. What is he supposed to include and leave out? I thus want to see this as the beginning of a country apology tour – soon to be launched. (Folks from Teso ought to be patient, the man is coming).

In the same breath, it would be unthinkable for this man not to call his crimes, ‘mistakes. Otherwise, calling them crimes would be a public acknowledgement, yet this is a quest for mercy, and fears of retribution.

The point I am labouring to make is this: the journey we have ahead of us is long and dangerous but definitely needs to begin from somewhere. An imperfect apology is all we needed to get us started.

Patience and Natasha

Dear reader, it is arguable that this gesture was forced onto the Kagutas by their daughter, Patience Rwabwogo. No wonder, it seemed rushed, incoherent, and not from the heart – with neither specifics nor signs of remorse.

They seem to have done it to please their daughter more than seeking forgiveness from the country. But whatever happened towards this public reading of an apology; whatever arguments prevailed for it to happen; this is a welcome gesture – with all its imperfections.

I want to persuade you, dear reader, that this ought to be treated as a sign – a signpost for things to come. We should accept it, and while we do, acknowledge the work of the man’s girls Natasha and Patience.

They may be less powerful in this entire monster of a regime, but seem to be using their space more carefully, more meaningfully. Not too long ago, eldest daughter Natasha Museveni profusely thanked her parents for the job “and sacrifices” made for the country. (I can hear you).

What she didn’t say – but easily inferable – was that they needed to take the next bus back to Rwakitura. Then, a couple of months later, Patience asked them to apologise to the country. It must have been hard on them, but they tried their best. (I know, it was nowhere near). There are two things readable from these signposts: first is the loud but indirect acknowledgment that the end is nigh.

Like Sam Kutesa who built a church instead of a hospital, it is a message that we have almost reached the end of our long-stay. This is actually an indirect call on the country to ready itself more for a new beginning. It will be such a beginning.

Second, the apology ought to be understood as the beginning of a long – certainly arduous journey – towards giving Uganda a chance. As someone who continues to ask the Kagutas to give Uganda a chance when they still can, I find this a good beginning. (Although that the crimes continued at the same time as they apologised is really difficult to stomach).

Against the above, I am making a plea to these two wonderful women: we see your work, and we are confident you can do much more. Ask the old man to spare some time – and a peaceful future – for his grand and great grandchildren. There is still a window to make amends.

yusufkajura@gmail.com

The author is a political theorist based at Makerere University.