November 2020 riots report will soon be made public, says Museveni

President Museveni has stated that the government will make the report on the November 2020 riots, in which over 50 people were murdered and many more were injured, public as soon as possible.

“Some of the persons killed during the November riots were rioters, but there was also an issue with stray gunfire. “Police have generated a report, which will be made accessible to the public when it has been scrutinized,” Museveni stated on Saturday while speaking to the nation about the security situation.

After the arrest of National Unity Platform presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi, commonly known as Bobi Wine, in Luuka district, spontaneous protests erupted in Kampala and other cities around the country.

As authorities attempted to subdue the rioters, over 50 people were killed and many more were injured during the two-day riots that began on November 20.

Last year, the president stated that while some of those murdered were rioters, a few others were injured by stray gunfire, and that he had requested police to examine the protests and produce a report.

“Police should conduct an investigation into the issue of persons being killed by stray gunshots. What was the initial intent of the stray bullets? It is necessary to investigate the phenomenon. Even if you don’t have anti-riot gear, you can effectively quell a mob by firing in the air. There can’t be stray bullets when firing in the air since the projectile has lost strength by the time it hits the ground,” he remarked in November of last year.

“A stray gunshot can only occur if you shoot straight at the attackers and the bullet misses the target, striking bystanders or people in their homes.”

President Museveni reaffirmed his views on Saturday, saying that it is unacceptable for security forces to kill anyone for any reason.

“Some of the persons killed in the November riots were rioters, although there were stray bullets in some cases, but what were you shooting at? The report will be made public when it has been scrutinized,” he stated.

“There should be no murdering of Ugandans for whatever cause other than if you are sentenced to death by a court of justice. Do not jeopardize our legitimacy, history, or accomplishments. Our record on human rights is unrivaled anywhere in the world. This was one of the key reasons why the NRM/A went to the bush and fought in the bush beginning in 1971.”

Commanders who do not effectively brief their juniors on how to deal with the public, according to the president, are to blame for such occurrences of “indiscipline” by security personnel.

He stated categorically that he will deal with all those implicated.

The West, particularly the European Union and the United States, were on Uganda’s case last year and early this year, demanding that commanders engaged in the November 2020 violence be punished.

These commanders, who are accused of having a hand in the deaths of some of the individuals and injuring others, should be held accountable.

According to a BBC investigation, despite the fact that the commanders responsible for the shootings during the November 2020 riots were identified, they were never brought to justice.

As a result, many have interpreted the president’s recent words as an attempt by Uganda to restore relations with the West.

President Museveni addressed a European Union group visiting him at State House in Entebbe in March that Uganda should not be viewed as an adversary.

“We don’t consider you as enemies,” Museveni added. “Remove all distractions and focus on our shared aims and help one another for the success of our people.”

He cautioned them, though, against interfering in matters they didn’t fully comprehend.

“By becoming involved in topics that you don’t understand, even if you do understand,” he urged them, “you should not get involved because this kind of wrongdoing can lead to many catastrophic consequences and suffering of the people, as it has in numerous African countries.”