This short paper was prepared as a part of a contribution to a discussion of a study report by The Human Rights and Peace Center (HURIPEC) on the abuse of civic and political rights in the era of ‘Kisanja Hakuna Mchezo’! As a discussion paper, I have adopted an approach of highlighting salient findings and analysis in the study report, complimenting some of the recommendations drawing on my knowledge and reading of the wider context around which the study is situated.

In discussing the findings of this important study, I ask, ‘did Ugandans misunderstand Museveni’s Hakuna Mchezo?’ This question is inspired by a commentary in the study report on page three to the effect that, ‘Effectively, Kisanja Hakuna Mchezo could be interpreted to mean that there would be no playing games in as far as ensuring that things keep within the NRM’s advantage’. As the report rightly describes, the author of this phrase ‘Kisanja Hakuna Mchezo’, President Museveni used it to send the message that his 5th electoral term after being declared by the electoral commission to have won the 2016 presidential, was not one of playing games but serious action. The secondary question really is, what action? I will return to this later, for now, a short praise of the study report itself.