You Never See How Beautiful Your Face Is, Or Ugly Your Face Is, Until You Look Into The Mirror- Says Otafiire As He Warns Against Generals Who Like Violence

Minister of Water and Environment Maj Gen (Rtd) Kahinda Otafiire has warned against the use of violence in resolving disagreements, saying leaders should instead seek peaceful ways of addressing their differences.

Speaking in Parliament, Otafiire said disagreements are normal in society, but the important thing is how people choose to resolve them.

He said the ability to resolve contradictions without violence is one of the key signs of a civilized society, warning that problems arise when military leaders view force as the best solution.

“When you see a general who prefers violence as the best means of solving problems, then there is a problem,” Otafiire said.

Otafiire said intelligence and information should be used to understand what an adversary intends to do before a confrontation develops. He explained that such information can help leaders prevent conflict or change their approach.

He also said diplomacy should be considered after efforts to prevent confrontation, adding that war should only come after diplomacy has failed.

Turning to politics, Otafiire urged Ugandans to tolerate different views and said both winners and losers in political contests have responsibilities.

“You know, you never see how beautiful your face is, or ugly your face is, until you look into the mirror,” Otafiire said, describing the opposition as a mirror reflection of the ruling NRM.

Otafiire did not name any individual general in his remarks about violence, leaving the specific target of that part of his message unstated, while emphasizing the need for tolerance, intelligence and peaceful resolution of disagreements.