Promotion of human rights and democratic governance remain central to the US foreign policy, Wharton noted. But in the face of security challenges, Washington, like Kampala, appears to be grappling with how to strike a balance between the two.
For both, however, security is a more immediate priority to keep their different enemies at bay: For the US, terrorism and radical Islam, and for Museveni a persistent and troublesome opposition.
Even if neither the US nor the EU, who have been most outspoken about Museveni’s governance record, has mustered the boldness to say so, both essentially appear to be stuck with him since on balance he remains the most assured guarantor of their security interests in the region, some analysts say.
Currently, no situation best sums up these interests than the war against terrorism, for which East Africa is a major battleground, thanks to the Al-Qaeda linked Al-Shabaab terror group that is based out of Somalia. The 6,223-strong Ugandan army is a key fighting force against it under the African Union Mission to Somalia (Amisom). Full Story