Lengthy speeches at golden wedding anniversaries are no rarity but not many couples will have an autocratic leader boring their guests for hours with traditional folklore.
During his nearly four decades in power the speeches of President Museveni of Uganda have become longer and longer. His tribute at the golden wedding celebration of Amama Mbabazi, the former prime minister, and his wife, Jacqueline, on Saturday night was no exception. But by 11pm, the paid entertainment had had enough.
“We are tired, leave the microphone,” members of Crane Performers, the band that was supposed to perform at the event, muttered between themselves, or words to that effect, perhaps not realising their own microphones were still live.
“Immediately, security rounded up Crane Performers as suspects who had insulted the president,” sources at the party told reporters.
Eight members of the group, including its manager, were taken to the central police station in the capital Kampala where they were held over night before being charged with insulting the president.
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Most of the members of the band, named after Uganda’s national bird, the Crested Crane, have never known any other leader but Museveni who has used violence and election-rigging to hold on to power since 1986.
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The Crane Performers, who use a range of costumes in their shows, describe themselves as “talented youths with an objective of achieving education and a better future through the use of their talents in performing arts”.
Museveni, who leads a population with an average age of 16, while being one of Africa’s oldest leaders, has demonstrated a growing intolerance of criticism and social freedom. Recent legislation introduced a curb to what he called hate speech, but which critics warned would further squash free speech and cripple electronic commerce.
Penalties for violations under the law range from custodial sentences of up to ten years to steep cash fines. Last year Museveni signed anti-homosexuality laws, considered some of the world’s strongest, which impose penalties of up to life in prison and the death penalty in “aggravated” cases.
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In the face of international criticism, Museveni praised MPs for passing the bill and rejecting “the pressure from the imperialists”.
