Games ‘chameleons’ play in Parliament

In a game of tennis, if the ball is in your court then it is your turn to hit the ball. But in the game of thrones, the rules change depending on the situation. In this funny game, the real scene of action is expected in Speaker Rebecca Kadaga’s office when she rules on the petition to recall the House from recess to discuss the political storm surrounding the mysterious death of Butaleja Woman MP Cerinah Nebanda.

In this unending drama, Ms Kadaga finds herself sandwiched between a rock and hard place. Any option she takes, in attempting to soothe the tempers between the Executive and Parliament in the handling of a petition to recall Parliament to discuss “the doctrine of separation of powers”, “constitutionalism and rule of law”, she risks being damned.

What Riemer says

The tragedy in the House of chameleons reminds me of the prophecy about politicians told by the late Neal Riemer in his book: The Challenge of Politics: An Introduction to Political Science. He describes politics like this: “At its best, politics can be a civilising activity that preserves the peace, protects human rights, advances economic well-being, and encourages excellence in the arts and sciences.”

But let’s not forget that at its worst, politics - particularly for those on the losing side of the struggle for power - sometimes makes for war, tyranny, economic ruin, and barbarism. In grim countries, whichever side that wins, national interest normally takes precedence. In the political arena, as we are going to see in this column, certain patterns emerge, which we call “political games.”

The continued reference to our MPs as chameleons in this column is probably unfair to “honourable” members who - at least in our understanding of the kind of frivolous politics we see today - shouldn’t be required to focus on the games other members play in the House in trying to hoodwink the gullible voters. There are some serious and blunt legislators in Parliament.

The small number of steadfast members should be applauded for their enduring spirit. In a political contest between Parliament and the Executive, the outspoken members find themselves in trouble. Those, especially from the ruling party, face dismissal from their party on account of “indiscipline” and going against the agreed party positions. It’s a shame that some of our members have turned themselves into shameless political scavengers in the House. We will go back to this issue but in all this comedy in the House, Ugandans find solace in the few pristine apples in a basket of reeking political mangoes.

There is no any befitting word other than “chameleons” to ably describe the type of MPs we have today. Not long ago, I argued here that some of our members behave as if they are suffering from amnesia - a deficit in memory caused by brain damage, disease, or psychological trauma. Therefore, the term “chameleons” captures the attitude of many politicians who are all too willing to exploit the “rational ignorance” of the voters.

When you match the views in Riemer’s book with the latest developments in Parliament these days, you will certainly think through politics as a humanising endeavour that relies on values and judgment. The co-authors [Douglas W. Simon and Joseph Romance] agree that all politics, as contests, have certain basic elements commonly found in other kinds of games: Players, stakes, rules, strategies and tactics. What makes our politics different is the unfortunate.

To better understand the variety of political games, the authors created a scheme called the “destruction-accommodation-conversion continuum”. At one end of the continuum are games aimed at the complete destruction of the opposing player. In the middle of the continuum are games of accommodation, marked by cooperation, bargaining, and balloting. At the other end of the continuum are games characterised by the peaceful conversion of the opponent. This pattern of politics stresses voluntary agreement and emphasises free choice.

Using these concepts, let’s look at the dramatic games our “political chameleons” play in the battle for Parliament. First, some MPs were arrested over scornful comments on the death of Nebanda. The President called those who accused his government of killing the MP “idiots” and “fools”.

Again, at one of the news conferences I attended in Nakasero, the President said police will go and knock at Speaker Kadaga’s door, salute and ask her to explain what she knows about the death of Nebanda. Ms Kadaga rejected the government’s autopsy and toxicological report that linked Nebanda’s death to narcotic drugs. Then, more summonses were issued to three MPs requiring them to appear before police authorities for questioning.

Again, the Government Chief Whip, Ms Justine Kasule Lumumba, who appeared to be under instructions, last week wrote to the most critical NRM MPs threatening them with dismissal from the party. I am told Cabinet on Wednesday, discussed these matters and resolved that Theodore Ssekikubo (Lwemiyaga), Wilfred Niwagaba (Ndorwa East), Vincent Kyamadidi (Rwampara), Barnabas Tinkasiimire (Buyaga West) and Muhammad Nsereko (Kampala Central) be called to order. On the same day the President addressed a news conference in Rwakitura and promised to “sort out the bad boys” in Parliament.

At the end of the game, the group led by Dennis Obua (NRM, Ajuri) collected 127 signatures to recall the House amid accusations of forgery and that they had hoodwinked some members to sign what they did not understand. This is what has become of our Parliament! When you think through the context of this circus, you occasionally feel sorry for the Speaker. To date, she has sat in two high-profile meetings to either discuss or get directives on how she should steer a flooded boat in the middle of the storm.

In the events that followed the submission of the petition to the Speaker’s Office on Monday, I saw letters from 12 MPs begging the Speaker to allow them withdrawal their signatures on flimsy grounds that they have now seen the light at the end of the tunnel. The puzzling part of this lugubrious story is that these ‘chameleons’ had genuinely signed the petition and now they want to withdraw.
If their signatures were forged as one of the somnolent UPC members - Fred Ebil (Kole) indicated, that would make sense. But for members to imagine that they can just withdraw their signatures as if they signed under the influence of ‘something’ is an insult to Parliament.

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