“When did the army realize People Power had encroached on their colour,” Tamale Mirundi questions directive of banning red beret
National Resistance Movement (NRM) die-hard Tamale Mirundi has questioned the police’s directive of banning red beret for people who do not belong to the army.
On 30th September, the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) announced the red beret and tunic as official military clothing that could land civilians who wear them in jail.
While speaking on a local television station, Tamale Mirundi called on NRM to stop threatening the public through monopolising red as a colour.
Mirundi stated that this action from the government is a characteristic of all African leaders towards a fearful opposition.
“The problem we have in Africa is to think in terms of legality. Because we’re not convincing, we handle enemies with force and we always resort to law,” Mirundi said.
“When did the army realize People Power had encroached on their colour? After this long, the ban becomes political. They should have raised it earlier,”
Mirundi added that the current situation is also similar to Milton Obote’s regime when the state (Uganda government) reacted the same.
The banning of the red caps was aimed at the opposition leader and people power initiator, Robert Kyagulanyi commonly known as Bobi Wine.
Ever since he made ‘People Power’ a known title to people’s ears when he declared it a political party, Bobi Wine together with his supporters have made the red beret their symbolic dress code.
However, the beret, also worn by some soldiers, was included in Uganda’s first ever gazette of all military clothing, which states that any member of the public found in possession of the items “is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years.”
“The dress code for the UPDF has been gazetted. The action was endorsed by the top organs of the army which also commended the dress committee for concluding the task assigned to it years back,” army spokesman Richard Karemire said in a statement.
“It manifests the commitment to define identity and outlook of a professional army as well as adhering to the EAC (East African Community) protocols,” he added.
When this news came to Bobi Wine’s ears, he referred to the police’s decision as being shameful.
“It is a blatant attempt to suffocate a successful threat to the autocratic status quo. But People Power is more than a red beret, we are bigger than our symbol. We are a booming political movement fighting for the future of Uganda and we will continue our struggle for democracy and prosperity for all Ugandans,” Bobi Wine said in a statement.
By John Dalton Kigozi
