Opinion: Succession when talking about Mzee is nonsense!

“You do not lead by hitting people over the head — that’s assault, not leadership.”

Dwight D. Eisenhower

There is an ancient saying that you cannot teach old dogs new tricks, neither can you do with President who has been running a republic since 1986. Therefore, with this in mind, the new comic relief from the National Resistance Movement (NRM) is hard for me to take serious. Certainly, with the knowledge of all the men and possibly woman who could have become the leader of the party and the Executive of Uganda.

Still, in 2017, we are at the same crossroads, the same junction and nothing has changed. The partners and participants are practically the same, unless some new cronies and sugar-babies of the Movement comes into the mix. Perhaps, the most stunning fact is that old men like Gen. Otafiire steadily sink the world with his endless wisdom.

It is as if Museveni still is the Shepard and the Ugandan people is helpless sheep needing his guidance. The reality is that the belief that he can do something he has not done is pointless. The only card he has left is to destroy more kingdoms with force and kill more his opposition. If he had proved some sort of democratic figments in his in body, it has surely died with age. As his words are now more important than legislation.

The President handpicked elite and cronies, the suiters and the ones trying to eat while can. As they know not what will happen when their master stop breathing. The plans and the succession plans has not been official or even portrayed, there been rumors of Maj. Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, those leaks turned into a besieged offices and depleted staff at Daily Monitor, back-in-the-day.

Still, if he is the viable candidate to takeover and the family dynasty that the President tries to create is hard to know. Since none in public can read the mind of the old man with the hat. So that the “news” that NRM Members of Parliament finally planned to talk about the succession seems far-fetched! Should it been done a decade or two ago, if it was a serious attempt?

He is on his unofficially seventh term as President and leader of the NRM. The founder and current leader of it. Not as he has given in without weapons in the past and instead of dialogue, he still sends Special Force Command or the Flying Squad to doze of possible enemies. Not as if it is an open discussion, more like a ruckus of who can get first to the brown envelopes and get the license to blead the state out of more funds.

Therefore, here I am, and not believing one single bit that President Museveni or the NRM NEC or any other parts of the NRM have the slightest care in mind to change him for somebody else. NRM and the NRM elite needs Museveni and his cronies, the crony system is there because of him. No question and no one with a clear mind would not see that. He gives and takes away as he sees fit. When he needs you he pays you and your extended family, but when your aspirations or goals to become bigger than him. Then you securing that you become a fringe candidate.

Museveni and his family, Museveni as his business partners does not need succession. The ones asking for it now will become renegade NRM MPs and could end up independent in the Parliament, as in the past when MPs has taken a stand towards the NRM NEC or the almighty himself. I doubt there will be change of guards, as there have not been for decades upon decades.

What we can be sure of is that President Museveni and President Mugabe are doing the same thing in their nations, holding the power without hesitation of what will happen when they leave and what sort of power vacuum that will be unleashed. What we do know is that the NRM will use all of their tricks and manipulation, all sort of writings and public display to make this sort thing normal. Peace.

The People’s President campaigns in Budaka and Namutumba; The Calvary tear-gassed Budaka town the day before

Namatumba 14.01.16 FDC

Yesterday in Budaka there have been events transpiring around 9:40 AM in Budaka Town to around 10:00 AM where the Police wanted to be scary. The Calvary wanted to show their power the day before the People’s President and Forum for Democratic Change campaign convoy have rallies in town. They was successful and proves the reach of Dr. Kizza Besigye! Take a look!

 

Budaka 13.01.2016

The Police claimed yesterday that the FDC would not be allowed to have rallies in the central of the town, and would be confined with having the rallies on the outskirts.

In Budaka Dr. Kizza Besigye said this:

“Instead of Mr. M7 using our taxes to provide us with social services, he uses it for his survival in power. After visiting Abim Hospital in Karamoja, now every health centre and hospital all over the country is guarded like a barrack”.

Besigye Campaign 14.01.2016

Message from the People’s President after the rallies today:

“Thank you Budaka and Namutumba for the support for my candidature and all the FDC flagbearers. Our pledge to you Budaka and Namutumba your vote for me and FDC on 18th February 2016 is a choice for Equal Opportunity and Shared Prosperity. One Uganda One People. For God and my country! #WesigeBesigye”. 

Campaign Rally Eastern Uganda 14.01.2016

Well, this will not be extensive on the one district because of my limited time, but this tells enough!

Good governance level of Budaka:

Schooling:

“The Budaka district local government is grappling with the challenge of inadequate primary school teachers. The district is currently short of about 227 teachers needed to cope up with the overwhelming number of children enrolled under the Universal Primary Education” (93.3 KFM, 18.11.2015).

Environmental issues in Budaka:

“Budaka, Mt Elgon and Moroto areas in Eastern Uganda. Today CISU, which administrate the Danida grants for small Danish NGOs, has approved our Environmental Awareness Project, nearly 1.9 mio DKK. The project will focus on the energy crisis, deforestation, waste management, water management, land pressure: reasons, solutions, capacity building and advocacy. A 4 year project in partnership with NFRE ( Nordisk Folkecenter for Vedvarende Energy ), JEEP and SNF in Uganda” (Good Source, 05.03.2015).

NRM actions in October 2015:

“A group of Kanyamas/ militias have been ferried to Kibuku district & Butebo county to torture voters. These have been dispatched & led by Kalangala action plans. These were brought by the yellow bus and they have had over a break at Iganga from where they will be distributed to Kibuku district & Pallisa district to help other candidates i.e Dr. Mutono Patrick. These incidences have rocked these areas where over 200 voters have been tortured, property destroyed. They have petitioned the president & the Uganda human rights commission & the case is due for hearing. The masses are determined and unless police intervenes, there is likely to be a catastrophy ever registered in the area. The voters have petitioned the RPC & IGP to intervene in time” (Good Source: 25.10.2015).

BTW – Forum for Democratic Change volunteers:

“TEAM BESIGYE VOLUNTEERS. Next meeting will take place on 16th Saturday January 2015 still at Katonga road and we shall be meeting according to our regions. Central and Eastern Uganda will meet in the morning at 10:00am; While Northern and Western Uganda will meet in the afternoon at 2:00pm. Every one who is ready to volunteer for Dr Besigye’s mobilization campaigns is welcome and come with a friend. For any details kindly contact 0752871050. We are winning!!!!”

Thanks for today and more later when I don’t have too much ordinary work! Peace.

Maj. Gen. Matayo Kyaligonza, the NRM Historical; Who has interesting thoughts on President Museveni’s succession and retiring plans

NRM Ideology.jpg-large 2

Major General Matayo Kyaligonza who is part of the Ugandan Envoy to Burundi has started to speak his mind to the media. He has become critical of the way Museveni lingers in power and trying to get his son-in-law Rwabwogo to succeed him in power in country. At the same time talking about respecting him as the president he still is, but this is totally different from what other loyalist are doing in the country. A breath of fresh air, wonder how Mzee feels about this? Now all of a sudden brigadier Kyaligonza from the bush-war is questioning his methods and continuation of the power in the country.

Maj Gen. Matayo Kyaligonza has been saying recently:

“Let the president call a meeting of NRM top organs of the National Executive Council and Central Executive Committee and we discuss the matter [Sucession]” (…) “Our dear president has also made it very clear. Presidency is not like hereditary club. He should call NEC and CEC and let us discuss. We used to discuss matters in the bush really” (…) “I can defy any other person but Museveni is still the president and I respect him” (…) “the way I see it” (…) “If I meet him (Rwabwogo) somewhere and he says that I know nothing will give him a hot slap” (…) “the one who brought us here? If you want to succeed your father do you kill him in order to get your inheritance?” (…) “Youths shouldn’t think that they will start with wanting to be president. Let them start at the LC-I then we see how they behave. But when you say that the old guard are “bazeeyi”[old] and they don’t know what they are saying then we shall have problems” (…) “[Historicals] don’t want familiarity because when we came [into power] we didn’t disrespect people” (The Insider, 2015).

He has spoken his mind a little bit more:

“Who is that one? Odrek? I don’t know him, I have never even seen him,” he said. “Is he the one who gave me work? He should tell such things [about retiring] to his father in–law [Museveni]. We are the ones that brought his father-in-law in power. Don’t make me talk too much” (…) “As a matter of fact, he was the commander who took down Makindye barracks, attacking Ndeeba from Masaka road. I know that very well,” Rwabwogo said. “I give him the due respect and the honour that you give an elder. However, I stand on the shoulders of the elders in order to do something better because there is always an evening of something and a dawn of another” (…) “When I get annoyed, I really get annoyed and I say the truth. I never sugar-coat in order to make people happy. We [historicals] don’t want familiarity because when we came [into power] we didn’t disrespect people,” (…) ““Look at all those people who are attending [Col Kizza] Besigye’s rallies. They want to support a cause because they are tired” (Kiyonga & Nsubuga, 2015).

Kyaligonza Old Pic

Afterthought:

I think his quotes and words speak of volume on their own. That he is asking questions in this manner also from a man who has been that loyal and becoming part of the Historicals of the NRM. He has gotten even a place in the Ugandan Envoy to Burundi as talk of dialogue there. He straightforward talking about discussion of power in the NEC and CEC proves that their questions from the loyalist even in the party. Even if the Police have gotten control over NRM Poor Youth Forum it will be harder to push on the Historicals because of their history and place in the legendary bush-war that brought the NRA which is now the NRM into power. So the President has to listen to keep things in order he can’t ambush the brigadier in the same way as the youth, even if he ask sincere questions about the succession and sole candidacy that President Museveni lives by. And it should be thought about when he is quoted and clear voice: “I never sugar-coat in order to make people happy. We don’t want familiarity because when we came [into power] we didn’t disrespect people”. That should be red light for the president! That is not GREEN! Not a go. That is what he is saying! Though I believe that the Mzee he has served all this year’s, won’t listen now and he hasn’t listened before. Brigadier can have the best intention in the world and speaking his mind about the president, but he at the same time want to show loyalty, that doesn’t mix with the general words he speaking. Though that is something we can expect, he is after all a military man who want to be frank, but also want to keep up with chain-of-command! Peace.

Reference:

The Insider – ‘Kyaligonza demands NRM meet on Museveni exit’ (24.08.2015) link: http://www.theinsider.ug/kyaligonza-demands-nrm-debate-on-museveni-exit/

Kiyonga, Derrick & Nsubuga, Alex – ‘Kyaligonza to Rwabwogo: first tell Museveni about retirement’ (24.08.2015) link: http://www.observer.ug/news-headlines/39452-kyaligonza-to-rwabwogo-first-tell-museveni-about-retirement

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