“UPDATE: The army has elected 10 new MPs for the 11th parliament: they include Gen. David Muhoozi, Gen Katumba Wamala, Lt. Gen Wilson Mbadhi, Lt. Gen James Mugyira, Lt. Gen Peter Elweru, Maj. Gen. Henry Masiko and Lt. Gen. Sam Kavuma” (NTV Uganda, 29.01.2021).
I find it weird that the 11th Parliament, this is the term between 2021 to 2026. Maybe after the bush-war it was reasonable to have army representatives. Now it is 35 years since the bush-war. The National Resistance Army (NRA) surely issued this idea of army in the Parliament to give the President automatic votes there.
Now, they seems like a special interest group intended to have loyalists of the President. This is because the commander-in-chief have a partisan army and General Museveni intends to keep it that way. While the Parliament haven’t amended this, but if they did. We surely know that the President will not approve of this. Since the 10 MPs from the UPDF will serve the “High Above” and do his bidding.
“The UPDF representatives acknowledge that theirs is indeed a fine line to walk as far as loyalty to the State and the exercise of their role swithing the Parliament. The then Coordinator of Intelligence and Army Representative, General Tinyefuza (now Sejusa) while contributing to Parliamentary debate in 2010 on this issue stated: “Our representation is a special kind of constituency; our representation in Parliament is not intended to cause disharmony and conflict within the armed forces. It is supposed to serve the strategic value of safeguarding the state and at the same time safeguarding the healthy situation within the armed forces. Therefore, while a Member of Parliament can come here and talk contrary to what your constituents sent you to say and nothing happens, for us that would constitute a service offence. We are a special category; we cannot defend this Parliament, defend the territorial integrity of the state, defend your property and person while we do not keep the rules of the institution intact. Therefore, there is a very thin line which we must walk” (BoreL,(2016).Army Representation in Uganda’s Multiparty Parliament–a critical review. CEPA Policy Series Papers Number 7 of 2016. Kampala).
We have seen how Gen. Elly Tumwiine have been serving in the Parliament and also others too. The UPDF MPs have tended to be partisan for the NRM. It would be shocking if they went against the President or his party. That would have been a shocking move. This is why it’s only how Gen. Tinyefuza went into exile and get released from being an MP.
The NRM and Gen. Museveni have the UPDF MPs to have an advantage and secure a bigger majority. The NRM have secured the bag with this one. Now, they have 10 loyal cadres in Parliament. People who listens and follows all direct orders of the Commander-in-Chief. These ones won’t dare to question the President and his orders.
What should cause an outcry is the Lt. Gen. Elwelu is elected in Parliament. A man who got promoted for the massacre in Kasese. Now, he got another promotion. This here is outrageous. However, in the end he will get all the blessings from the President and that’s why his there in the first place.
Don’t expect the UPDF MPs to do any good. They are their to serve the President and nothing else. Peace.