Former Ethics Minister Miria Matembe has called on President Yoweri Museveni to step down from leadership, even as she expressed personal concern for his well-being.
Matembe, a seasoned Ugandan politician, made the remarks on X, highlighting what she described as the deceptive adulation surrounding the president.
“President Museveni is my brother. I want him to live, and at the same time, I want him to leave the leadership of this country,” Matembe said.
She drew parallels with past political transitions in Uganda, noting the public euphoria that followed the departures of former leaders Idi Amin and Milton Obote.
Matembe recounted the celebrations after Amin’s fall and the popular songs and dances that marked Obote’s exit, stressing that similar reactions would follow if Museveni were to resign.
“All these people dancing and singing as they follow Museveni in yellow… if he quit tomorrow, they will be the same people who flood the streets of Kampala and Mbarara singing and dancing,” she remarked.
The veteran politician warned that such displays, while seemingly supportive, masked the reality of public deception.
“It would pain me to see them dancing because he’s gone, yet they have been deceiving him that he’s the god of this land,” she added.
Matembe’s comments come amid increasing scrutiny of Museveni’s long tenure, now spanning over four decades, with critics arguing that his continued presidency stifles political renewal.
Her statements reflect a call for leadership change while maintaining respect for the person of Museveni, urging a balance between personal concern and national interest.
Her reflections serve as both a historical reminder and a cautionary note for the future of governance in the country.