Yoweri Museveni lives in a palace in Entebbe, on the banks of Lake Victoria, far-off from the noise and chaos of the capital Kampala. Armed troopers guard the doorway.
Museveni appears relaxed as he welcomes the journalists from DER SPIEGEL for an interview. He has been mired in disaster since he barely received the election in January towards his challenger, the pop star Bobi Wine. But when he’s nervous in any respect, he would not present it.
Museveni has Uganda’s chief for three-and-a-half a long time and has more and more proven autocratic tendencies throughout this time. The elections in January have been overshadowed by violence and accusations of fraud.
DER SPIEGEL: Mr. President, you have been thought-about a freedom fighter and reformer while you took workplace 35 years in the past. As we speak, many Ugandans see you as an autocrat. How did this come about?
Museveni: I have not simply been in politics for 35 years, however for 60 years. I used to be energetic within the scholar motion, within the resistance, and now I am in authorities.
DER SPIEGEL: You possibly can’t let go of energy?
Museveni: Uganda is likely one of the most democratic nations on the earth. Each 5 years, we ask the individuals: Would you like a brand new president? On the similar time, we face utterly completely different challenges in Africa than in Europe. Should you make a mistake within the election right here, it may rapidly finish badly.
DER SPIEGEL: You consider it is going to take a agency hand to beat Uganda’s challenges?
Museveni: Our critics do not perceive the state of affairs in Africa. We’re working nonstop to vary Africa. In 1969, 96 p.c of individuals in Uganda labored within the casual sector; immediately it’s far much less. We have to wake individuals up, give them entry to new markets.
DER SPIEGEL: You apparently consider {that a} politician like your challenger Bobi Wine would plunge the nation into chaos.
Museveni: Completely. The dangers in Uganda are a lot better than in Europe.
DER SPIEGEL: Is that justification for arresting Wine’s supporters and for blocking the web for a number of days?
Museveni: The person was arrested as a result of he broke the regulation. Now we have banned giant gatherings of individuals due to the coronavirus pandemic. Wine refused to simply accept that. He put our individuals at risk.
DER SPIEGEL: In the course of the protests on Bobi Wine’s behalf in November, greater than 100 individuals have been killed by safety forces, in accordance with observers.
Museveni: It was a type of riot. Folks attacked safety forces and have been shot, some have been by accident caught within the crossfire. Errors have been made. The investigation is ongoing.
DER SPIEGEL: EU overseas affairs chief Josep Borrell has criticized what he calls “extreme violence” by state safety forces.
Museveni: The Europeans endure from vanity. Such lectures will not be acceptable. Folks do not even know what they’re speaking about.
DER SPIEGEL: How do you intend to win again the numerous younger individuals who help Bobbi Wine?
Museveni: I received virtually 60 p.c of the vote, as much as 90 p.c in lots of districts. Do you suppose it is doable to get that type of consequence if the youth do not vote for you?
DER SPIEGEL: The opposition has filed a grievance towards the election outcomes with the Supreme Court docket. Was the election rigged?
Museveni: No. The court docket is reviewing this proper now.
DER SPIEGEL: Observers complain that they’ve been denied entry to social media.
Museveni: Should you’re speaking concerning the omnipotent rulers of Fb, I can inform you it was the opposite manner round. Fb blocked my celebration’s accounts. Is that freedom of expression? If the individuals at Fb suppose they’re silencing me, they’re unsuitable.
DER SPIEGEL: It wasn’t nearly Fb. All the web was blocked in Uganda for days.
Museveni: That was carried out for safety causes. The web was misused to fire up bother. The opposition unfold misinformation concerning the election outcomes. The block has lengthy since been lifted.
DER SPIEGEL: How do you plan to make Uganda match for the longer term?
Museveni: Take a step again in historical past. My father was not but a part of the so-called capitalist system, he adopted a standard lifestyle. You produced and also you ate, you did not promote something. At the moment, there have been 80 factories in Uganda. As we speak there are 5,000.
DER SPIEGEL: You have minimize spending on schooling. Is that what a sustainable coverage seems like?
Museveni: We put some huge cash into roads, electrical energy and protection. That is why Uganda is an island of peace within the area. Some individuals suppose that protection has nothing to do with schooling. However that is not true. As a result of should you do not deal with protection, sooner or later, there might be no schooling. Simply take a look at Somalia.
DER SPIEGEL: Critics have accused your loved ones and buddies of corruption and nepotism.
Museveni: I do not know what you are speaking about. Solely considered one of my kids owns a manufacturing facility. The entrepreneurs I do know come from China and India. There are just a few Europeans in Uganda; they clearly discover it too strenuous right here.
DER SPIEGEL: In Transparency Worldwide’s anti-corruption rating, Uganda has slipped to 142nd place.
Museveni: There’s corruption, however we’ve arrange an anti-corruption group. We are going to defeat corruption. And issues cannot be all that dangerous for Uganda, as a result of our economic system is rising quick.
DER SPIEGEL: Observers name Uganda a army state.
Museveni: We’re a well mannered individuals, however I discover it laborious to take the lectures from the Europeans. Our democracy is likely one of the most superior on the earth. In contrast to Germany, for instance, we’ve seats particularly for ladies in parliament.
DER SPIEGEL: China has expanded its investments in Uganda. Do you now choose the Chinese language to the Europeans as a companion?
Museveni: The Chinese language definitely do not intrude in our affairs. They do not waste our time. China needs to do enterprise. Interval. In conversations with different nations, I am typically pressured to stay well mannered, to hear, even after I really feel like saying: “Go to hell.”