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Via @Unseen_Archive : It's 1973: A 29yr old Museveni forms a rebel grp, FRONASA, faxes its manifesto to the U.S embassy & declares war against Amin. Amin dismisses him as a 'confused agent of foreign interests.' 6 years later, M7 is made Defense Minister in the 1st post Amin govt
A 1973 U.S. cable of Amin complaining of 'Musebeni.' M7 swearing in as Defense Minister after ouster of Amin, 1979. Binaisa, terrified of the powerful and 'trickster' young rebel fired him. M7 in return masterminded his overthrow, replacing him with a 'Military Commission' 
The politics of Uganda at this time was like a game of chess. Everyone was playing Russian roulette. The jostling for power was insane. M7, only 35 at the time scared the hell out of the elders like Obote, Muwanga, Lule and Binaisa due to his militancy and ruthless ambition.
The Military Commission chaired by Paulo Muwanga and M7 as vice chair was the defector presidency at the time, meant Tibs was the de facto VP. Like a clever snake however, he chose to stay in the shadows, waiting for the right time to pounce
Following the elections held on 10 December 1980, Muwanga installed himself as the head of the Electoral Commission and declared Milton Oboteâs Uganda Peopleâs Congress the winner of The elections. M7, whose party UPM had won only one seat declared war over the rigged elections
The 1980 elections were rigged yes, but the true victim was DP who had won most seats, not M7's UPM(he even lost his race for MP, to...Sam Kutesa).UPM was a non-entity at the time (was like Muntu's ANT today). Inagine if Muntu went to the Bush saying 2021 was rigged against him
).UPM was a non-entity at the time (was like Muntu's ANT today). Inagine if Muntu went to the Bush saying 2021 was rigged against him
M7 and his UPM may not have been popular but M7 the man was clever, radical and power hungry. He had to be president at all costs. So he waged a bloody guerilla war in protest, culminating into his taking power in 1986. Now that you know How we got here, Happy ' #liberationday'
CONCLUSION: Given his history, if you think M7 will hand over power 'fwaaaa', you are deluded. The forces of change in Uganda therefore better buckle up: it's gonna be a bumby, blood ride to the 'promised land'
M7 started punching above his weight at 24 when in 1968, he escaped from the University of Dar to join Frelimo rebels in Mzb'que. He was nearly killed there https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/magazines/people-power/museveni-nearly-shot-in-rebel-camp-1605562. You can oppose M7 while acknowledging the man was/is a genius who risked it all for his ambitions
The mistake the opposition makes is that their hatred of M7 and his misrule blinds them from his military, political and strategic genius; what a disciplined, radical-to-the-hilt character he was from childhood. On the other hand, M7 never under-estimates any opponent, ever!
Whatever your politics, you have to give respect (however grudgingly) to the class of '86. Many of these were really kids when they joined the struggle. Salim Saleh was 25 when he commanded a whole battalion of troops to storm Kampala. Today's 25-year olds are twerking. ENDS
CORRECTION: The 1973 U.S state department cable on tweet number 2 featured a wrong pic. This is the right one. Amazing how M7, in his 20s was already on Amin's radar. Also note that Amin promised not to harm the relatives of the rebels though he 'knew where they live'.
Most of the images used in this thread are courtesy of @Unseen_Archive , an excellent initiative on a mission to bring back to life Uganda's history through restoring priceless images, videos & docs from long ago. Kudos to Prof Peterson and his partners on this incredible project
