Coup talk should not blunt President’s warning on responsible leadership

So, did the President talk about the possibility of a military coup? Definitely yes, but in the specific context and words captured above - where a criminal, irresponsible and reckless careerism instead of a mission of service, takes centre stage in the politics of Uganda.

The political class and the intelligentsia have been struggling to outdo one another about whether or not President Museveni the other week talked about a military coup while in Kyankwanzi, what he meant and did not mean, whether or not the army can carry out a coup, ad infinitum.
Incredibly, someone even wants the Chief of Defence Forces to be tried for “treason”! I have been wondering instead, if some of those talking loosely about treason in this context, may not themselves qualify for trial on charges of “misprision of treason”! Then, the Parliamentary Committee on Defence and Security are reportedly weighing in, wanting to do their “investigative bit”. I am waiting for another (any) parliamentary committee for good measure, to announce an investigation into President Museveni’s charge of the presence in Parliament, of what he described as “careerism” - also, in Kyankwanzi. All this, as we worry about “what are the Americans going to do now?”
I thank my colleague Linda Nabusayi Wamboka (deputy press secretary to the President) most warmly, for availing to the general public an extract from President Museveni’s recent speech at Kyankwanzi, a little bit of which speech sparked off the brouhaha about “military coups”, unfortunately blurring the totality of the President’s message.
Let us quote from the extract which Ms Wamboka gave us: “If the good, decent people who cannot afford to have money withdraw, then Uganda may be taken over by crooks and that will be a real crisis, we may even have to have a military coup because I don’t think the army can accept crooks.”
So, did the President talk about the possibility of a military coup? Definitely yes, but in the specific context and words captured above - where a criminal, irresponsible and reckless careerism instead of a mission of service, takes centre stage in the politics of Uganda.
Moreover, he talked very clearly and eloquently about what he meant by “careerism”, and how it flourishes in a dearth of ideological clarity. What is the responsibility of the revolutionary leader here? To speak candidly about shortcomings in our polity, political class and elite - or to ignore them? To talk candidly about all plausible scenarios and consequences of gross irresponsibility and recklessness on the part of some elements in Parliament, or to pretend that all is “cool and sexy”, as the saying goes today?
Instead of lambasting Mr Museveni about “coups”, shouldn’t we look harder at the reality surrounding us? Do we not see the careerism in action in some of the organs of the State, including in the Parliament of Uganda? Do we not see how careerism dogs and sabotages every major development undertaking by Government?
In this column on March 2, 2012 under the title “Anatomy of a futile parliamentary coup”, we cautioned: “A creeping coup … stalks the corridors of the Parliament of Uganda”.
“A number of factors have weaved themselves into the charade. First, are opposition elements that are hell-bent on regime change … skillfully presented themselves as anti-corruption crusaders, when they are in reality the parliamentary face of the ‘walk-to-work’ contraption”.
“Second, are very well-intentioned but equally gullible members of the NRM - who have jumped headlong onto the ‘anti-corruption crusade’. In their gullibility, they have been put to work by the first group”.
“Third, are elements who, in their campaign to get into Parliament, professed membership of the NRM, and yet have completely rejected the party whip!”
“Fourth, are elements from all the political persuasions in Parliament and from the three groups named above, who … make the much vaunted doctrine of separation of powers stand on its head, and in the process, make all manner of mistakes in the name of ‘the work of Parliament’!”
On October 21, 2012 under the title “Revolt in Parliament: the irresistible, the immovable and untying the Gordian Knot”, we added, “… how do we teach some Members of Parliament to internalize where precisely parliamentary oversight and legislation stop, and where precisely executive authority for managing public affairs is vested”?
We concluded; “… the ruling party owes it to the country to discipline … its members who are consciously disdainful of its leadership- including working to paralyse the operations of their own government! Political intrigue and sabotage must be dealt with most firmly.”
Now, who is committing treason?

Mr Mafabi is the private secretary/political affairs- State House.

kdavidmafabi@yahoo.com