NRM BUSH WAR MEMORIES: Njuba recruited Kigongo, Nadduli

After Kampala fell and Kisekka had been named Prime minister, he came to me and said: “Let’s go”. He dragged me along on their small plane with Mrs Museveni, my wife, Eriya Kategaya and his wife.

Looking back

I think it was worth it. I have no regrets at all for having worked with Museveni. I have learnt a lot about people, including the man himself. I was in the struggle for five years and served nine years in government; I think I made my contribution.

But what disappoints me is that what we were fighting (against) is now gradually coming back – even faster than I would ever have imagined. So much that I wrote a book, which I have failed to publish: because whatever I was trying to justify as (lack of) progress has reappeared: corruption, nepotism, democracy – just look at the 10 points programme. We wrote a Constitution, yes, but it is now being trampled upon. We used to complain about business being done in State House by Binaisa and Obote, – Museveni is now doing it in State House.

So, why did we fight? We are not behaving any better than Obote. People are being arrested everywhere. I am doing a case tomorrow; someone who was picked up and they refused us access to her.

And it’s not only him. People have been killed; people have died in prison, why did we shed blood? Museveni used to ask of Obote: ‘how do you move with so many vehicles?’ Now look (at) how many vehicles Museveni moves with and how many soldiers accompany him.

How do you employ people like Kakooza Mutale? Even (when) joining NRM, Mutale came as a prisoner of war because he was disturbing areas. Now he is Museveni’s right-hand man.

Museveni has changed a lot. He used to consult and discuss openly with his colleagues. But over the years he has distanced himself. He has come to rely on people who are opportunistic: young people with no experience, who are totally dependent on him so that if he is to retire they have to go.

He is increasingly relying on people who do not know the background to our struggle – and they will not give him the right advice. When he edited me out of that book of his about our Libya trip, he mentioned Rukikaire. But Rukikaire is now anti-third term. I fear that in the next edition Rukikaire may not appear in that book.

Quick Notes

Date of birth: 22 February 1941
Place of birth: Gayaza
Father’s name: Malachi Musoke Njuba (RIP)
Mother’s name: Eseza Nantege Njuba (RIP)
Schools attended: Makerere College School, Mbale SSS, Makerere University, Queens University, Belfast.
Wife’s name: Gertrude Njuba
Number of children: Many
Favourite dish: Smoked Semutundu (Bagrus docmac) with Matooke
Hobbies: Watching football (was 3rd chairman of Express SC)