Why Mozambique visit should give Museveni opportunity for deep reflection

What you need to know:

Legacy. More than 30 years now and time seems to be running out. The determination and vigour once demonstrated by the ruling party dwindles without much strength left to fight poverty and create jobs.

Recently, President Museveni travelled to Maputo, the capital of Mozambique, on a three-day working state visit.
The President praised Mozambique’s ruling Mozambique Liberation Front (Frelimo) party for the role they played in training Uganda’s Front for National Salvation (Fronasa), later instrumental in developing the backbone of Uganda’s National Liberation Army (UNLA), National Resistance Army (NRA), and ultimately the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF).

The President was accompanied by three of the remaining NRM survivors from the group of 28 freedom fighters he led to Mozambique in the early 1970s: Gen Caleb Akandwanaho, aka Salim Saleh, Lt Gen Ivan Koreta and Col Bosco Omule.
As a goodwill gesture, President Museveni offered $26,000 (Shs93 million) to the Montepuez veterans – driver, radio signaller and cooks – who once helped during the training days. The money is meant to help alleviate poverty by setting up an income generating large-scale poultry and crop growing project in Montepuez.

As many Ugandans struggle with poverty and look for fees now that children are going back to school, some people believe that maybe the Mozambique trip was an opportunity for deep reflection for the few remaining NRA freedom fighters on what could have been done differently to eradicate poverty in Uganda many years after Montepuez.

The President, accompanied by his Mozambique counterpart Jacinto Nyusi, visited Maputo Municipal Council, Mozambique National Assembly and a veterans-hosted luncheon at the Military Club in Maputo. He also visited the Heroes’ Memorial Square where fallen Frelimo heroes such as Chivambo Mondlane and Samora Machel were laid to rest.

President Museveni in his speech said, “I am indebted to the veterans for helping train Ugandan soldiers in the liberated zones of Montepuez in the 1970s. These trainees greatly contributed to the liberation of Uganda, laying a firm foundation for the UPDF that has done much for Uganda and Africa.”

Although the trip highlighted the nucleus of exemplary performance by NRA leadership, by stark contrast, failure to implement the same discipline in alleviating poverty 30 years after Montepuez was magnified. The reminiscence Mozambique trip somehow overshadowed the NRM manifesto week themed “taking Uganda to modernity through jobs creation and inclusive development”.

Instead, poor implementation performance was reported at just 38 per cent in the last two years. The intense corruption that plagued the NRM government ferociously without an end for three decades could well be the legacy that the party leaves behind, instead of a legacy of key achievements of poverty eradiation, jobs creation and sustainable peace and security in the 5th presidential term.

The legacy should not be working for personal interests, but promoting the ideology instilled in Montepuez in the 1970s to work for all Ugandans, protect and defend the pearl of Africa, manage corruption and eradicate poverty.
However, more than 30 years now and time seems to be running out. The determination and vigour once demonstrated by the ruling party dwindles without much strength left to fight poverty and create jobs.

Although the ruling party’s historic actions may have initially been guided by great pan-African leaders and fallen hero’s that had a clear vision for Africa, it is increasingly becoming difficult to understand what legacy NRM wishes to leave behind by tolerating corrupt practices that continue to hinder the regime’s performance and the successful implementation of the current manifesto.