Writer: Asuman Bisiika. PHOTO/FILE
During the 2016 presidential elections, I remember writing a piece titled “What if Museveni wins the elections?” Below is part of what I wrote under that title.
“The presidential election campaign is turning the last corner; it is the final push, so to say. All the contenders are sure of victory; yet Uganda needs only one president. I have just learnt that one of the candidates has already asked his aides to draft a possible cabinet line-up.
Now contrast that confidence with remarks attributed to Ms Justine Lumumba (NRM secretary general), Gen Kale Kayihura (Inspector General of Police) Prime Minister Ruhaka Rugunda. The media quoted Ms Justine Lumumba as saying that people protesting the election outcome will be shot with live bullets with the objective of shooting to kill. Gen Kayihura is also quoted as saying they were preparing for war and that the ubiquitous crime preventers would be given firearms.
And what did Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda say? That ‘they’ (Mr Museveni, I guess) can only hand over power if the elections were free and fair. Of course, I am highly inclined to think that these fine officials were quoted out of context. Otherwise, the statements sound uncharacteristic of a government in power and betray a sense of fear that candidate Museveni may lose.
Well, perhaps these fine people know something some of us don’t?” That is why I felt a sense of déjà vous when former minister Richard Kaijuka called on Mr Museveni to retire and manage a smooth transition of power to the next leader. Mr Kaijuka (popularly known as “Sir Rich”) made these remarks at a gathering in memory of former deputy prime minister Eriya Kategaya. I think Mr Kaijuka’s remarks were not given the deserving attention.
Why? Because he was making a wrong call: No one expects Mr Museveni to listen to such counsel. But then, some people have been saying Mr Museveni is already managing a smooth transition of power. Why haven’t Ugandans appreciated that Mr Museveni is managing a smooth transition of power at his own pace and liking? Here are the particulars: The UPDF establishment elevates the chief of defence forces to share in the glory and command of commander-in-chief. Add to that the way Cabinet ministers, Parliament conducts public business, one can say that Mr Museveni has set up the path to a transition of power.
Mr Museveni may have divested himself of some elements associated with power through near-executive delegation and influence accruals to people who enjoy proximity to him. To ask for more than what is already happening is asking for too much. For a leader who has been head of state and government for about 40 years, it is difficult to retire.
In the circumstances, I always bring the testimony of Mobutu. To manage stuff, he relinquished the executive presidency and designated himself Marshale de l’Etat (marshal of the state), an office above the day-to-day running of government. But as he retained the power to appoint the head of government. And boy, oh boy, he changed prime ministers like changing pants. Findings from a research by our study group show that African presidents who have been in power for over 30 years are unlikely to leave power or even manage a smooth transition without the involvement of family members. So, for us we are even planning a constitutional amendment to promote Mr Museveni from eligible for life to life president. For the gods, I don’t even fathom the possibility of a Museveni who is not president; I think he too doesn’t see himself outside the presidency.
Mr Bisiika is former executive editor of the East African Flagpost. [email protected]
