What happened on the political scene in 2018

Mugisha Muntu quits FDC

Although in late August, during consultations throughout the country Gen. Mugisha Muntu said he was not planning to leave FDC, he actually did in late September. The move received a mixture of reactions:
Wafula Oguttu said, “My good friend Gen Mugisha Muntu has no good reasons to quit FDC apart from the 10-year failure to control the party and realise his long-term desire to be on the presidential ballot paper. He has no ideological issues nor serious differences over principles and objectives we know of. He would not have left the party had he retained his position as party president.”
Wandera Ogalo, former Eala member, FDC said, “Gen Muntu’s departure weakens the party because every political party that splits becomes weak.”
Explaining his departure in a statement captured by Daily Monitor, Gen Muntu said, “….we do not do so in anger or animosity towards the current leadership, but in careful consideration of the national cause of liberating our country. The current party leadership needs to be given the opportunity to pursue their agenda untethered by the constant worry of sabotage or suspicion.”
Gen Muntu was followed by other members, such as former Serere District Woman MP Alice Alaso, Mbarara FDC general secretary Daniel Kafureeka, Kiruhura District FDC chairman Mweteise Bintabara, and the party’s Mbarara Municipality general secretary Ms Mary Francis K. Semambo.
He has so far set up a consultative forum- the New Formation to help in the setting up of his party which he promises will be unveiled before Christmas time.

Kale Kayihura loses post, jailed

In the start of his career as Inspector General of Police, replacing Gen Katumba Wamala, Gen Kale Kayihura was indeed President Museveni’s beloved. While it was required of him to be non-partisan, the General showed no remorse in acting in favour of the ruling party. It was during his reign that the Public Order Bill was penned and turned into law and opposition parties lamented because they felt capped. During his reign, tear gas was a rather common factor that many of us did not think a week would go by without hearing about or encountering teargas and the big dark blue armoured cars. He was indeed out to put all opposition against the ruling party out of the way.
Holding the title of Inspector General of Police for five terms, It was a surprise yet somewhat expected when Gen Kayihura was unceremoniously replaced by Mr Martins Okoth Ochola because the days leading to that, the President had accused him of crippling the police. The events leading to the arrest and jailing were synonymous to a relationship gone bad. Spending more than 48 hours on remand, we could only remember his request for remand time to be extended to give police more time to investigate cases. He fell from grace along with his aides, Herbert Muhangi, Joel Aguma, Abdallah Kitatta, Atwooki Ndahura, Jonathan Baroza Amos Ngabirano, Siraje Bakaleke, Richard Ndaboine, and Nixon Agasirwe.

Arua riots
The last day of campaigns for the by-elections in Arua Municipality to replace slain Member of Prliament Ibrahim Abiriga was marred with violence. That was due to allegations of the President’s convoy being pelted with stones by supporters of Independent candidate Kassiano Wadri, who would as a result be arrested and win the election while in jail. President Museveni blamed the newly-elected Arua Municipality Member of Parliament Kassiano Wadri and Kyadondo East legislator Robert Kyagulanyi, aka Bobi Wine, for the violence.
Many who were with Mr Kyagulanyi such as Ntungamo Municipality MP Gerald Karuhanga were jailed while Yasin Kawooya, Mr Kyagulanyi’s driver was shot dead. President Museveni had been in town to campaign for National Resistance Movement (NRM) party’s candidate, Ms Nusura Tiperu.
However, explaining his ordeal after the arrest, Mr Kyagulanyi in a statement that circulated on several media platforms, said, “They wrapped me in a thick piece of cloth and bundled me into a vehicle. Those guys did to me unspeakable things in that vehicle! They pulled my manhood and squeezed my testicles while punching me with objects I didn’t see.”

Winnie Kiiza dropped as LoP
In August, FDC president Patrick Amuriat Oboi made a rather staggering announcement that saw Winfred Kiiza lose her appointment as leader of the Opposition in Parliament. Anyone could tell that she was surprised as much as outraged by the announcement that we thought she would not relinquish the office for the new appointee, Betty Aol Ocan. However, she would later respect authority and hand over tools. The changes within the party also stretched out to other persons such as Ms Cecilia Atim Ogwal, the Dokolo District Woman MP who lost her place as representative in the Parliamentary Commission to Francis Mwijukye. There were also some appointments such as Mr William Nzoghu, the Busongora North MP who was appointed as the Opposition’s representative to the Pan African Parliament.
However, the Speaker of Parliament did not welcome all the changes as she said, “…the appointment of honourable Mwijukye cannot be effective since Dokolo Woman MP, Ms Cecilia Ogwal has not served for the two-and-a-half years…”

Jema returns to parliament with Basalirwa
Ever since Makindye West MP, Hussein Kyanjo chose not to stand again in 2015, Justice Forum (JEEMA) has not had any representation in parliament. It was therefore a joyous moment when party president, Mr Asuman Basalirwa was officially declared the Member of Parliament for Bugiri Municipality.
According to Daily Monitor, Mr Basalirwa had unsuccessfully contested three consecutive times for Bukooli North MP seat and won with 3,928 votes, followed by NRM candidate Mr Francis Oketcho with 3,267 and the FDC candidate Ms Eunice Namatende came third with 928 votes.

People power emerges

From what started as a stand against Mobile Money and OTT taxes, the move would later grow bigger to garner support and subsequently wins for MP aspirants Kasiano Wadri and Asuman Basalirwa. Clad in red, their presence cannot be mistaken for another. This group of young people, led by Kyadondo East Member of Parliament Robert Kyagulanyi believes that it is time to change the face of politics in this country and they are the agents of change. Nicholas Sengoba in his column in Daily Monitor says, “They now overshadow what we have always perceived as the major players on the political scene namely NRM and the shade of Opposition led by former FDC president, Dr Kizza Besigye.” We can only hope that they will keep the momentum and cause things to change in the political arena because many have come and gone without making much of a change despite their promises.