Museveni of the Kaunda suit is the best President we will never have

Any leader who stays in power for three decades or more is bound to suffer from a decreasing marginal return on political productivity and popularity but there is something more at play here.

But his domestic presidency continues to shrink. With his party in open revolt and Parliament showing growing signs of intransigence, Museveni has in recent times increasingly had to dangle the military threat which, like the Sword of Damocles, continues to hang, half-leashed, over events. However much the threat of violence signals military might, it will always smell of political weakness and suggest that where he ought to win alliances and make friends, Museveni has chosen to fight wars and alienate people.

Museveni has been abandoned by many of his old allies. Many who stayed did so to make money; political pirates who have pillaged and plundered in their primitive accumulation of wealth.

They, incidentally, have a lot more to lose should there be a coup, as has been bandied around, or a sudden changing of the guard, as is more likely.

Museveni’s political opponents might celebrate the apparent feet of clay. They might even commit the usual cardinal sin of underestimating the man and prematurely celebrate his impending departure (my money is on him running again in 2016, mind).

For many of us though – we the Children of the Revolution – the slow decay is painful to watch, like the degeneration of an ailing loved relative.

We will look back at that lanky man in a Kaunda suit standing by a blackboard and see the best President we could have had but will never have.

dkalinaki@ug.nationmedia.com