VIOLENCE THREATENS DEMOCRACY: Museveni Condemns Donald Trump Assassination Attempt

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has spoken out on the attempted assassination of Donald Trump, the former United States President and Republican candidate in the November 2024 US election.

On July 13, Thomas Matthew Crooks, a 20-year-old armed with an AR-style rifle, climbed on top of a building and shot at former president Trump, injuring his right ear at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.

Two men were injured in the shooting. Crooks was put out of action. Corey Comperatore, a 50-year-old former fire chief, lost his life as he attempted to shield his family.

Donald Trump appeared with a bandaged ear at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee where he was formally endorsed to face incumbent Joe Biden for a rematch since they first faced off in the midst of the Covid19 pandemic in November 2020.

At the Milwaukee convention, Trump unveiled Ohio senator JD Vance, a 39-year-old, as his running mate who will take the Vice President job if they beat democrat Joe Biden.

Now, three days since the shooting that shocked the world, Uganda’s long serving president Museveni has condemned the shooting. Museveni has also sent his sympathies to Trump and the families of the incident’s victims.

“I learnt of the assassination attempt on His Excellency Donald Trump’s life on Saturday, July 13, 2024, during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania,” the president wrote.

“On behalf of the Government and people of Uganda, and on my own behalf, I wish to convey our deep and heartfelt sympathies to His Excellency. At the same time, I condemn this despicable and cowardly assassination attempt that put his life and that of his supporters at risk. I also extend my deepest condolences to the family that lost their loved one.

In particular, Museveni said such acts of political violence were detrimental to the values of democracy.

“As freedom fighters and peace-lovers, we condemn political violence because it threatens democracy wherever it manifests,” wrote Museveni. “I wish His Excellency and all those injured a speedy recovery. Our thoughts and prayers are with them.”

But in Uganda, Museveni’s opposition has over the years accused the president of political violence and human rights violations.