Kyuma Kya Yesu has done NRM’s anti-age limit supporters a favour

You bet, Mr Simeo Muwanga Nsubuga is still wondering and searching for what hit him. Images capture him smartly dressed in his white spotless tunic and jacket, marching with other MPs from the Buganda region as they proceeded to pay their respect to Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II on his coronation anniversary in Mubende District recently.
Then out of the blue, former WBS TV Journalist William Ntege, aka ‘Kyuma Kya Yesu, (Jesus’ machine), pounced on Nsubuga, pushed and shoved him like a petty criminal.
Kyuma kya Yesu’s troubles with Nsubuga are premised on the latter’s support for the lifting of the age limit for one to stand for Uganda presidency. This limit is capped at 75 years by Article 102(b) of the Ugandan Constitution.
Many believe that removal of the age limit is a ploy to allow President Museveni to rule for life as he will be beyond 75, come the next election in 2021. By extension, they argue that as long as Museveni is on the ballot paper, he will be announced winner. So the Article has his hands tied - once and for all.
In such similar circumstances, the Baganda from whom I originate say, Kyewayagaliza embazzi, kibuyaga assude. They view Article 102(b) as the blustery wind that will eventually fell the large tree that defied all axes.
So the likes of Nsubuga are standing in the way. I have heard and seen many praising Kyuma for ‘defending the Constitution.’ To each his own. It applies to opinion as well. To convince and not coerce is what happens under normal circumstances.
But we are dealing with a leader who has been in power for 31 donkey years. To some, he is an obstacle to their ambitions. More time for him means they are crowded out for longer time and that is unbearable. The circumstances cease to be normal and many players will not act rationally.
However, Kyuma’s act of valour may turn out to be the very undoing of those who want to maintain Article 102(b.) Let us not forget that we are dealing with NRM. In many moments of contention and controversy, NRM thrives by applying more brawn than brain.
In this vein, the security agencies come in handy. At other times, they will fold their hands and look on as pro-NRM voices violently subdue their opponents and make their point. At other instances, they act as cover for the NRM supporters to advance their cause by blatantly participating in a partisan way as ‘back up.’
In other times, they violently hinder the opponents of NRM from political activity, using tear gas, and live ammunition. In this vein, they take shelter under their own interpretation of the law, especially the one regarding Public Order Management.
In earlier times, they had the Kalangala Action Plan (KAP,) then there was the Kiboko Squad, the Black Mamba and so on.
So now those who intend to go out and popularise the argument for not lifting the age limit should watch their backs. NRM will most likely deploy its own versions of Kyuma Kya Yesu to counter those who don’t want to amend Article 102(b.)
The argument will then descend into a violent farce with beatings, witch-hunts and arrests. The environment will create fear and those who control the instruments of coercion will carry the day. Kyuma Kya Yesu has certainly opened up a Pandora’s Box and NRM supporters who are promoting lifting of the age limit must be glad.
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President Paul Kagame of the Republic of Rwanda has just won a free and fair presidential election by taking 98.66 per cent of the vote. Congratulations!
Rwandan elections have an interesting history of numbers as far as the incumbents are concerned. For instance, on December 24, 1978, Juvenal Habyarimana won with 98.99 per cent.
The same J Habyarimana improved to 99.97 per cent in the election held on December 19, 1983. There was a very slight improvement in the election held on December 19, 1988 by Habyarimana when he scored 99.98 per cent.
Because the country was at war in 1993, there were no elections. Then on August 25, 2003, Paul Kagame got 95.03 per cent, which went down to 93.08 per cent in the election held on August 9, 2010. Now we are at 98.86 per cent.
How do they do it? It appears when the Rwandans decide to vote, they do so as a block and give the incumbent as much as possible to erase any doubts and move on to build the country.
We wish them well as President Kagame, now in power for 17 years, proceeds with the mandate he has been given for another 7 years.
Like I hear some of the Banyarwanda back in my village in Namutamba say, in such situations, ‘tura kwifuriza amahirwe. Gir’inka gira abaana’ (we wish you well, good health and may your wealth multiply.)

Nicholas Sengoba is a commentator on political and social issues. [email protected]
Twitter: @nsengoba