Museveni wrong to sack Mbabazi – Brig Ggwanga

Brig Kasirye Ggwanga at an electoral reform rally in Kireka, a Kampala suburb recently. PHOTO BY ABUBAKER LUBOWA

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Brig Ggwanga says Mr Museveni’s action was a misjudgement and describes Mbabazi as “a smart politician.”

Kampala- President Museveni blundered in sacking former prime minister Amama Mbabazi, senior presidential adviser Kasirye Ggwanga, has said.
In an interview on K-fM’s flagship political talk show, Hot Seat on Thursday, Brig Ggwanga, the presidential adviser on security in Buganda sub-region, scoffed at Mr Museveni’s action as a misjudgement and admitted his admiration for Mr Mbabazi whom he described as “a smart politician.”

“Amama has played his role. Now he is off the stage. What is the big deal? Whoever sacked him made a mistake. That guy is smart. I don’t know what is going on. The demeanour he has taken over this incident has impressed me, he has ignored everyone, his wife is my friend,” Brig Ggwanga said.

Asked if he had talked to Ms Jacqueline Mbabazi in the wake of the current political developments, he said: “I don’t have time. She has much publicity, they will say I am colluding with Amama family.”

In an interview with BBC Focus on Africa show in London about two weeks ago, Mr Museveni said he sacked his former close political ally because he could not tolerate anybody who was playing divisive politics. Mr Mbabazi was sacked singularly from Cabinet on September 18 and replaced with Dr Ruhakana Rugunda.

Brig Ggwanga said Mr Mbabazi played a pivotal role in the 1981-86 Bush War struggle of the National Resistance Army (NRA) when he was the external contact of the rebels’ political wing.

“He wasn’t a combatant but he played a role because NRA had a political wing outside, they had to get resources to sustain them. I don’t see any crime he has committed. If they disagreed on some issues, they had to sit and discuss it out,” Brig Ggwanga said.

Political commentators have linked Mr Mbabazi’s sacking to his perceived presidential ambition which he has persistently downplayed saying, “I will not contest against President Museveni.”

Brig Ggwanga, 62, said he would retire at his pleasure. The Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF) Act bars serving army officers from engaging in politics.
The UPDF recently issued a statement distancing itself from the Mbabazi-Museveni contest, clarifying that it will not take sides and warning the media against zoning the army’s rank and file along lines of pro and anti Mbabazi officers.

NRM delegates conference
On the upcoming NRM Delegates Conference mid-December, the President’s adviser wondered: “What are they going to tell people who elected Amama as secretary general? I am waiting.”
He advised the two senior NRM cadres to work out a mechanism of resolving their differences since they have been allies for 40 years.