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Oh Uganda, may God Uphold Thee

(Warning, this is a "political post": but, we believe without a doubt that it is God who sets up and takes down kings, and ultimately they SERVE Him - God IS the KING over all kings and HE is on His Throne. Uganda needs PRAYER, above all. This is not a post against Museveni, but about democracy, and for the people!)
Samuel wrote a beautiful post about his country, and the need for peaceful change, that I wanted to share. It is in response to the recent unrest and protests over the proposed Constitutional change, allowing for President Yoweri Museveni to continue as President, even in his old age. He has already changed the Constitution, to allow himself to "serve" as President for more than two terms. He has been in power since he was sworn in, after (during) a war on Obote, as the new president. Museveni promised a return to democracy at his inauguration on January 29, 1986:  "The people of Africa, the people of Uganda, are entitled to a democratic government. It is not a favour from any regime. The sovereign people must be the public, not the government."  (Museveni sworn in as President", The Times, 30 January 1986)(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoweri_Museveni).  

THIRTY-ONE LONG YEARS LATER, and he has clearly stated that he is not a servant of anybody (Am not a servant of anybody says museveni - YouTube). 

Thirty-one years later, and the "democracy" that he promised, looks more like a dictatorship - even my 8 year old son, after watching "Student Votes" videos about government in Canada (Government and Democracy - YouTube), and knowing how long Museveni has been in power, questions whether he is a "president" or a "dictator".

Here is the post by my husband, whose home became a battleground, when Museveni came to power, and who was forced to live in war camps (for Internally Displaced People), until 1992 (some were in camps for longer):

My country has been "pregnant" with true democracy since 1986. Mother Uganda was promised true democracy and for 31 years she has been "pregnant" without a delivery date.
Everytime she is in labour, (in every election) the "expectant" beloved mother Uganda is  beaten and harassed to submission NOT to birth true democracy. 
Now mother Uganda can no longer take in the beating, the surpression and the manipulation.
I have learnt that now they are forcefully "stiching" (unnecessary Constitutional Amendment ) Mother Uganda such that she can not deliver the 31 year old baby called peaceful Change/true democracy. But the "stiches" (the system) can not hold back the baby -the change is coming. 
The stiches (the rotten blood-thirsty NRM system) is breaking up and it cannot contain the pressure of Mother Uganda's Labour. 
Mother Uganda is determined to deliver her long awaited baby (peaceful change/true democracy). Mother Uganda, your pain is but for amoment if you do not give up. 
May the God of heaven who lifts up leaders and takes down leaders bring true Justice in our corrupt leadership - who surpress and kill innocent people for their own selfish reasons. 
The blood of thousands of people who have lost their lives since 1986 in this blood-thirsty regime still cry-out in the ground to God for Justice. 
How long shall you continue to kill, torture, and surpress that you may rule? 
All we are asking is, for once, give Ugandans what they know is best for them. But even if you are determined to deny them their rights and kill them to submission. GOD who lifted you to that position is not blind.

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