Mao’s victory is a taste of good things to come

With the 2011 elections at hand and the leadership of this country having lamented the country’s lack of visionary leaders, the emergence of the new president of the Democratic Party Norbert Mao must be greeted as welcome news.

Against all odds, Mr Mao has been tested right from his guild leadership at Makerere University to Parliament. He has played clean politics though there were even efforts to tarnish his image when he was associated with the Lord’s Resistance Army. He was also known for his great contribution in legislation in the period of time he was in Parliament.

He must be appreciated for heading the leadership of Gulu District that even if he has an RDC who is an NRM diehard, they have often toed a people’s position.

Mr Mao taking the DP leadership, despite the confusion in the party, spells out what he represents for this country. Who else would sail above the bickering in the Democratic Party? He is above religion; he is above tribe and most of all, he has shown true party membership and with all loyalty he has not run away from DP.

I do not believe in those who are using the recently held elections in Mbale to categorically criticise the movement but would like to use what we saw in the elections in Mbale to criticise all. Elections in Uganda are seen as a means to an end. It is not about the party position but bread on parliamentarians table.

In a predator state like Uganda, we should appreciate people like Mr Mao who have clean track records. After Parliament he left for Gulu and in less than five years, Gulu is a consultancy hub.

Even President Museveni would be comfortable if Norbert Mao became president. Mr Mao has often been a mediator at all times between the President and his foes. Just look at the hand shaking incidence between the President and UPC strong man Dr Olara Otunnu.

I am sure several examples can be cited. Mr Mao appreciates President Museveni’s contributions but says the President should rest and allow players like him to come in. What would Museveni like to hear other than a peaceful transition?

Let us not be blind to the writings on the wall. It is not for nothing that we are being warned about what happened in Kenya. We have been forewarned by even Kenyans that we still have opportunity to have clean elections. In Mbale it was not the opposition that shot the bullets but the infighting within the NRM. It can spread to the whole country. Poverty is biting and clean elections will address all these.

In Uganda now we have a class that says “take advantage of the confusion to make money.” But for how long shall we make illicit money? We cannot deny that history repeats itself. Strengthening the military and paramilitary groups is not the way for democracy. Let us not forget a democracy has just fallen in Niger.

The writer is a social commentator. wmungadi@yahoo.com