You’re not serious: Museveni tells off EU; urges Ugandans to ignore scheming foreigners, warns against excitement over sanctions

President Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni has taken a swipe at the European Union (EU) Parliament for adopting resolutions against Uganda, including a push for sanctions against government officials.

In a February 11 EU sitting, members of the EU Parliament (MEPs) adopted a raft of resolutions, condemning alleged acts of human rights violations, and shredding the recently held presidential election.

The MEPs also agreed on “sanctions against individuals and organisations responsible for human rights violations in Uganda must be adopted at EU level under the new EU (European Union) human rights sanction mechanism, the so-called EU Magnitsky Act.”

But in his February 13 night security address, Museveni blasted the EU for being unserious.

The president said he always requires a lot of convincing to fly to Europe for bilateral relations purposes.

“I read in the newspapers about the European Union Parliament sanctioning some Ugandans from traveling. For anybody to think that Africans are dying to go to Europe is something that shows lack of seriousness,” responded the president.

“Well, I need a lot of persuasion to leave Uganda. I normally do it for friendship.”

Museveni also cautioned Ugandans against being excited by Europeans, reminding them the same had welcomed an ideologically bankrupt Idi Amin Dada, only to throw Uganda into anarchy.

“I want to comment on excitement caused by some foreigners trying to interfere. Apart from ideological differences, Idi Amin killed a lot of people,” Museveni said.

“If we had listened to foreigners, we would have made mistakes. Foreigners can lead to a lot of distortions. Ignore them.”