Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni says he rejected actions by Resident District Commissioners (RDCs) to close bars as a way of improving security.
President Museveni made the revelation on Thursday while delivering an address on security in the country.
His address came on the heels of a terror alert issued by the United Kingdom which warned that Uganda could experience attacks.
“I saw some RDC closing night discos. No, Ugandans like partying. You cannot close the bazukulu. We shall discuss the ADF issue. Let the bazukulu enjoy the nightlife, but tell me what to do when an issue arises,” President Museveni said.
Bazzukulu loosely translated as “grandchildren,” is a term President Museveni has been accustomed to using in reference to Uganda’s youth.
He listed a number of measures saying with the right ideological orientation, terrorism and crime can be erased.
His address also came a couple of weeks following an attack on a school in Kasese District, western Uganda, where more than 40 students were killed by rebel group, Allied Democratic Forces (ADF).
“Closing borders and building walls is not the solution. The only way forward is to crush the ADF. Fortunately, with the coming of President Tshisekedi to power, he has been more cooperative since 2021, allowing us to take action against the ADF. It has yielded positive results because the ADF had foolishly gathered in big camps, under the false belief that they were invulnerable and untouchable,” the president said.