Bukenya backs off Mbabazi’s position

Garuga

Vice President Gilbert Bukenya has broken the silence over his political future, saying he will not contest for the influential Secretary General position of the ruling party.

Instead, Prof Bukenya says he will seek re-election as National Resistance Movement National Vice Chairman for Central region (Buganda), reasoning that running for the post of secretary general, currently held by Security Minister Amama Mbabazi, would be aiming low.

Junior position
“How can I move from a higher position to a lower one? To be a secretary, someone who takes notes?” the VP asked.

“No. I want to declare that I am not going anywhere and when the time comes [for the NRM primaries], I will contest and return as Member of Parliament for Busiro North Constituency, … as chairman for the NRM in Wakiso District and vice chairman for this region of Central in Buganda,” Prof. Bukenya said on Saturday.

The VP was speaking at his home in Garuga, where in characteristic style, he gathered at least 1,500 grassroots supporters from Buganda region who waved placards in a public spectacle demanding that he rescinds his alleged threat to retire this year. The placard and tree branch-carrying supporters were transported to the lakeside resort in over 40 vehicles.

Sunday Monitor yesterday reported that Prof. Bukenya, whom the media has recently linked to early retirement claims and being ejected from the VP position, would vie for the NRM secretary generalship. But Prof. Bukenya’s announcement on Saturday is likely to rile a faction within the NRM that was rooting for him to battle Mr Mbabazi.

Bukenya Vs Mirundi
Prof. Bukenya squashed reports that he planned to retire from politics this year. “Do not write it if it has not come from my mouth,” he told the few journalists present.

The VP also told his audience that State House spokesman Tamale Mirundi, whom he derided for his “abusiveness and lack of respect for elders”, was among his adversaries. “I want to know who is pushing Tamale Mirundi. I am following him step- by-step I want to know who is sending him to insult me,” he said, “He is pushing me, he thinks he can push a mountain?” asked Prof. Bukenya.

Mr Mirundi, who last week quashed the VP’s defence in controversy surrounding the procurement of the Chogm vehicles being investigated by Parliament, yesterday said he would fight back. “Prof. Bukenya wanted to use me in his scheme to become president but failed, so that’s why he thinks another person is using me. Let him know that not everybody is like him,” Mr Mirundi said.

Mr Mirundi said Mr Museveni had taken over the matter in which Prof. Bukenya claims the President cleared the Shs9.4b controversial procurement of executive cars for the 2007 Chogm in Kampala.

Whereas the spectacle of several mobilisers at Garuga was seen as a message to President Museveni with Prof. Bukenya touting the central region as a constituency he controls, the warnings against Mr Mirundi could be viewed as message to his internal party foes. “Who am I Bukenya not to listen to all these people small and big, young and old who have been telling me they still want me to serve?” the VP asked.

By transporting hordes of people to Garuga, Prof. Bukenya was seen as making an effort to stave off fears that he was to be dropped in a Cabinet reshuffle expected soon. The move, observers say, is typical of Prof. Bukenya’s political maneuvering when faced with uncertainty over his job which he has held for six years.