Writer: Asuman Bisiika. PHOTO/FILE
Mr. Museveni visited Kasese on Saturday, December 7, 2024. He was there to attend a Thanksgiving (Ceremony?) organised by Gen. Wilson Mbadi. Gen. Mbadi, formerly the Chief of Defence Forces of the UPDF, is now a Minister of State at the Ministry of Trade.
The thanksgiving took place at Nyakatonzi, a stone's throw from Kiburara. I was one of those whose idea it was that the people of Bukonzo County East throw a small do for Gen Mbadi. Then BEC (Bukonzo East Community; a group elite from the constituency) took over my unpatented idea and made big. Then it stalled. Then in a typical act of a low-level NRM cadre from Bwaise Kimombasa, I threatened to hold a demonstration at Gen Mbadi's office in protest of his failure to hold a thanksgiving party. And then the appointed day came: Saturday December 7, 2024. I was indisposed; unable to go to Nyakatonzi to see Mr. Museveni.Wherever and whenever Mr. Museveni interacts with the population, things turn political. And some political jostling manifests in one way or the other.*****
In spite of all else, Mr. Museveni is still a crowd-puller. For any NRM political actor, one's closeness to Museveni gives one an edge (over potential competitors). So, Mr. Museveni's visit to Kasese was more political than my humble understanding of a thanksgiving (as special prayers).NRM political actors needed the mic so the President could feel their presence. We have learnt that some politicians are still wondering why they didn't appear on the who-is-who page of the Souvenir Magazine for the thanksgiving. Politicians boasted of having pulled the crowds Mr. Museveni was addressing. As is common in such circumstances, people renewed their commitment to rally behind Mr. Museveni (and any candidate he proposes; a code for Gen. MK). Mr. Godfrey Kabbyanga even claimed he would die for Mr. Museveni. Mr. Museveni, who has been in leadership for over half a century, is most likely familiar with such hollow entreaties. And then the blooper: Minister Kabbyanga sought Mr. Museveni to give a job to a retired civil servant. The said civil servant had retired in 2021 or thereabouts. He was retained on contract for four years. Now, after those four years (of retention on contract), Minister Kabbyanga asks Mr. Museveni to give our retired man a job? Maybe Mr. Museveni might; but I wouldn't.*****
Come 2026 General Election. Mr. Museveni's vist gave us some hints. Gen. Mbadi was his soldier old-self and never betrayed any interest in elective politics. During the ceremony, it became clear that Dr. Crispus Kiyonga and Godfrey Kabbyanga were aspiring candidates for Bukonzo West Parliamentary seat. Brace yourself for the NRM Primaries.Dr. Kiyonga is the Kasese District NRM Chairperson and Chancellor of Makerere University. Mr. Kabbyanga is a Minister of State at the Ministry of Information and National Guidance. If Mr. Museveni's intelligence were keen, there were detectable sparks in the speeches of both. Dr. Kiyonga said the party would need to work hard for the next elections. Mr. Kabbyanga said he had mobilised the mass of humanity before the president to show his capabilities.As we used to say in Kinshasa, faute ya ba politiciens (Lingala: the folly of politicians), none of these leaders presented any major issues of concern in Kasese. Like the issue Kilembe or Kasese Hospital. The good thing that Mr. Museveni's visit may have brought was ordering that the reconstruction of Kikorongo-Kiburara-Mpondwe Road be worked on as soon as possible. However, this was not even the initiative of the politicians. It was Mr. Museveni just making a pick from briefs on Kasese issues.
Mr Bisiika is the executive editor of the
East African Flagpost. [email protected]
