By Mulengera ReportersTime has proved that President Museveni isn’t an easy man to oppose despite being willing to forgive repentant foes. Since 1986, history has shown that there has always been a price to pay and over the years, victims have included the following (besides the former rebel MPs’ squad of Theodore Sekikubo, Mohammed Nsereko, Wilfred Niwagaba, Barnabas Tinkasimire and Vincent Kyamadidi who at some point were expelled from NRM for their outspokenness): We hereunder reflect on other politicians who have opposedMuseveni and consequently paid the price.They include MP Wasswa Ziritwawula who in late 1980s landed on hard times for opposing the extension of the interim four year period Museveni was supposed to rule after the 1986 take over. If not diverted from, Museveni’s earlier commitment, which Ziritwawula insisted must be complied with, Museveni would abdicate power to pave way for elections in 1990.Claiming to be a very principled Catholic, poor Ziritwawula protested in NRC (then parliament), hoping fellow legislators were behind him but he walked out alone. While out there, the man grassed until he reconciled with Museveni who helped him bounce back in public life as chairman Kampala Central LCIII chairman, a job he held for many years. He only lost it after standing with Sebaana Kizito who beat him for Mayorship in 2002.Poor Ziritwawula once again sunk into oblivion and as we talk he lives quietly in Rubaga division. Years ago, he returned to his mother party DP hoping to catch Museveni’s eye but the man from Rwakitura shunned him, convinced he was now effectively a spent force.John Kazoora: His “Betrayed by My Leader,” book clearly shows Maj Kazoora was very close to Museveni in his early years until early2000s when they fell out over term limits. The constitution was amended for Museveni to run again, a move Kazoora vehemently opposed. In one meeting in Rwakitura, Kazoora exchanged hot words with Museveni prompting the latter to dismiss him as a mere puppy. Consequently, Kazoora lost his Kashari MP Seat to then Museveni-backed Urban Tibamanya, a less prolific politician Kazoora had specialized at defeating. In 2011, soldiers in Makenke barracks were used to ensure Kazoora’s bid for easier Mbarara Municipality was decisively defeated. Kazoora eventually led an economically difficult life despite sticking to his FDC principles.Augustine Ruzindana: A FRONASA founder, Ruzindana had Museveni’s trust for a very long time until when he opposed his 3rd term. The former IGG, who eventually economically struggled, paid the ultimate price in 2006 when First Lady Janet Museveni was unleashed to oust him from his Ruhaama County MP Seat. Efforts to recapture it severally failed thereafter. The same can be said about Yona Kanyomozi, another vibrant son of Ntungamo, who continued hassling in the cold because of his principle disagreement with Museveni. In 2011, he suffered the embarrassment of being defeated by less prolific Yona Musinguzi.Jack Sabiiti: The Lion of Rukiga roared perhaps loudest protesting Museveni’s 3rd term. On average, every weekend, he would drive toMakerere during the 7th parliament to drum up support against 3rd term. He paid the ultimate price when in 2006 his MP seat, which many thought he would hold for life, was taken away by a political novice in Sam Byanagwa (RIP). He lost a couple of more elections until 2011 when voters considered him after tactfully toning down on his anti-Museveni rhetoric.Ingrid Turinawe: When they see her chocking on tear gas and police brutality, many Ugandans easily think the Rukungiri iron lady was born in opposition. Far from it, she was an NRM diehard and, as Rukungiri district Speaker, she would lead delegations to State House to meet Museveni whom she abandoned for Besigye in 2001. She has paid heavily through being defeated in elections including the one of 2021 when hitherto apolitical Sezi Mbaguta was brought to stop her from becoming Rukungiri woman MP. Its possible shrewd Turinawe would be a minister today if she had stayed on.The same can be said of Garuga Musinguzi whose businesses kept collapsing until some years ago when he went and pleaded to Museveni besides repenting his sins which included funding Besigye’s political activities since his inception in 2001.Salaam Musumba: In FDC, militant young boys fondly used to refer to her as “the FDC black mamba.” Her black Mamba credentials, however, failed to manifest in Kamuli when Museveni repeatedly unleashed his full might to prevent her from winning elections. Her crime was leading PAFO, a pressure group through which MPs mobilized to fail his 3rd term bid. In 2006, Musumba who almost became FDC founding president was easily defeated by then political upstart Asuman Kiyingi who was fronted by Museveni.Besides enduring economic difficulties, Musumba was also defeated by a novice in Hajji Kaugu in 2007 by-elections for Kamuli LCV chair. In 2011, she was expected to ride on a divided NRM and bounce back to Parliament but Museveni’s invisible hand ensured she trailed behind Kiyingi and Maurice Kibalya. She only regained her political happiness recently when she offered concessions for Museveni to give his no objection for her to reign as Kamuli LCV chairperson.The same persecution can be said of Annie Mugisha, a very brilliant lady who went through economic hard times and endured unemployment for over a decade simply because she openly embraced Besigye in 2001. Mugisha, whose father was a leading Anglican cleric in Ankole, had previously been a blue eyed girl to Museveni for whom she was a private secretary on diplomaticaffairs. She was also principal private secretary to Mathew Rukikaire who was a very powerful minister for privatization. She these days works with a UN project in Somalia, a job she got only after agreeing to tone down on the anti-Museveni rhetoric she famously used to post on Facebook. One time she reached a point of failing to get people to buy her posh house in Bugolobi because everybody was fearing the state.Other victims of Museveni persecution have over the years included Miria Matembe, former Buganda Katikkiro Mulwanyamuli,David Pulkol (who grassed in UPC besides being humiliated by a novice in 2011 Parliamentary election in Moroto Municipality), HenryTumukunde (who severally had to live difficult social and economic life of being isolated for the last 8 years for opposing 3rd term), Richard Kaijuka (had to lost many lucrative consultancies since falling out over 3rd term until he deescalated and once again cozied up to Museveni), Amanya Mushega (for long struggled to make ends meet until Janet Museveni rehabilitated him recently with a huge assignment at the MoES) and Olara Otunnu who claims to have missed UN Secretary General job because he lacked Museveni support.Others who over the years paid the ultimate price for standing up to Museveni include Capt. Charles Byaruhanga whose Kibale MP seat was easily taken by Frank Tumwebaze who was very a young boy at that time (2006). We are told Ben Wacha, who is one of the best legal brains Uganda has ever produced, is paying the price for contemptuously refusing Museveni’s offer to serve in his NRM government.THE SURVIVORS:There are also those who survived grassing by making calculated moves by returning to the Museveni fold before it was too late. They include Andrew Mwenda (had to make calculated compromises to keep his media business running), Bright Rwamirama (supported Besigye in 2001), Mwesigwa Rukutana (had to denounce his opposition to the Wyclif Karazarwe camp in Ntungamo), Kakoba Onyango (led YPA which preceded PAFO), Onapito Ekomoloit (belonged to YPA), Fred Ruhindi (belonged to PAFO), Emmanuel Ddombo (was PAFO founding chairman) and many others.Much earlier on in late 1990s, David Tinyefuza aka Sejjusa grassed until he went back to Museveni pleading that he had been bewitched and was only opposing him under the influence of witchcraft. Those who know him say Sejjusa whose names means no apologies to make, had reached a point of starving and weeping at his residence in Kyengera from where he would ring friendly journalists like the late Kevin Aliro to come and give him some money to make ends meet.A few years after defeating government in the constitutional court over his discharge from the army, Tinyefuza ran out of options and looked for Museveni, through Mayombo, to tender in his apology which the indispensable man from Rwakitura graciously accepted. In the end, Tinyefuza was rehabilitated by being appointed coordinator of intelligence services, a title that was being created for the first time.Mike Mukula is also understood to have repented his sins after trying to implicate westerners in government over the Gavi funds. Its also argued it took secretly reaching out and apologizing to Museveni for the late Cerina Nebanda family to retain the Butaleja woman MP Seat after their daughter’s death in December 2012.