Amama Mbabazi drags President Yoweri Museveni into the Dock

By Valerian Kkonde

PEARL NEWS SERVICE

A critical analysis of John Patrick Amama Mbabazi’s June 13, 2015 letter to President Museveni

 

 Museveni. Amama Mbabazi says that Museveni is physically and mentally unfit to lead Uganda due to bankruptcy of ideas, accumulated fatigue and advanced age. PNS Photo

Former Prime Minister and Secretary General of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party, John Patrick Amama Mbabazi’s letter to President Museveni has not only pressed the panic button in the NRM camp but has also dismissed the party Chairman as an imposter, non performer, wishful thinker and a liability to the country. Museveni is further artistically labeled a dangerous dictator preying on every aspect of Uganda’s sector like a leach.

Mbabazi’s letter referenced 015/006-001 was issued two days after the 2015/16 Financial Year Budget was presented to the country.  It is evident, given Mbabazi’s every calculated movement, that the intention was to further prove that the president was no longer able to plan for the country, other than resort to rhetoric devoid of substance.

For long, the Opposition, development partners and other concerned individuals have been raising these issues but Mbabazi gives them a new urgency and pertinence. He was Prime Minister, NRM Secretary General, head of security agencies and has been at the fore front of introducing archaic, oppressive and sectarian laws. To some, Mbabazi has been the “Central Processor” of Museveni’s regime.

More so, Mbabazi’s relationship, with Museveni, dates back to the 1970s and is one of the surviving key figures of the Front for National Salvation (FRONASA) which later became NRM/A. President Museveni is the other surviving key figure.

All Mbabazi is doing is to tell off Museveni that he (president) is a hundred per cent responsible for the disastrous direction the country has been forced to take. He goes on to say that president Museveni is now a liability to the country since he lacks the ideas needed to satisfy the aspirations of Ugandans. And like a real fighter, armed for battle, Mbabazi boldly tells Museveni that he (Mbabazi) is best suited to lead Uganda into “the twenty first Century modernity.”

“And yet, today’s leadership is afraid of the unknowable quality of the future. It is apprehensive of the fast-shifting landscape upon which present Uganda unfolds. The leadership clings to the sails of a wearied boat that is familiar, not observing that it is no longer properly equipped to stay the post-liberation course, or that too great a number of its crew are now fortune-hunters and not genuine workmen.  

“The change Uganda must have requires someone with the requisite ideas, energy and drive; and the experience I have acquired has given me the wherewithal needed to successfully steer this change.”

Talk of taking the bull by the horns.

The former Premier takes on president Museveni on unemployment and the demeaning salaries of the public servants, after three decades in power. These two issues have been the source of bad blood between Museveni’s rule and the public. Museveni’s argument, even at the presentation of the 2015/2016 Budget, is that workers cannot get better salaries before the infrastructure is well in place.

Of late, there has emerged a group of youths who call themselves the Poor NRM Youths. This group, which has openly pledged to support Mbabazi’s presidential bid, is notorious with painting piglets yellow and dumping them at Parliament, strategic road points and other public places. Yellow is the colour for the ruling NRM. They too are accusing president Museveni of unprecedented greed.

The Poor NRM Youths continue to taste Police’s brutality just like other Opposition members. Their peaceful gatherings are always disrupted and ruthlessly dispersed by Police armed to the teeth. Their crime is belonging to and promoting political ideologies different from those held by president Museveni.

                                      

Doctors and teachers, on their part, continue to go on strike demanding for better pay. They are bitter that while they are paid peanuts, they go for months without getting that paltry pay! In the letter, Mbabazi gives the impression that the money for better wages is available but that Museveni is only being oppressive and insensitive to the demands of the people whose services the country cannot do without.

“The time is now for fairness; fairness in the salaries we offer  teachers, doctors, nurses, and other medical workers; fairness in the salaries and allowances offered to policemen and soldiers- the men and women who sacrifice their lives to protect us; fairness for those in Public service and all those Ugandans whose labour powers our economy.”

Mbabazi strongly faults Museveni on denying Ugandans a chance to meaningfully participate in the governance of their society at all levels. Mbabazi, rather cunningly, dismisses the ruling party’s slogan that galvanizes Museveni’s dictatorship claiming that he alone has the vision to lead Uganda. Museveni has thus become the Alpha and Omega. He knows everything and is always right.

“Good governance is based on the rule of law and not the whims of an individual. Good governance is grounded in equity and inclusiveness and demands the participation of citizens in decision-making. Good governance means a separation of powers where there is autonomy between the Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches of government.”

The tone of Mbabazi’s letter exudes confidence and disgust at the same time. Mbabazi is confident that he is doing the right thing, at the right time.  He whispers that he has the necessary support, resources, technical know-how and backing to see his project to its logical conclusion. The arrogance and impunity with which the country is being brought to its knees must be so disgusting to a person like Amama who has witnessed it all first hand. He can be excused for his impatience with the regime.

“The time has come for Uganda to go forward in pursuit of a radical system change based on the principles of good governance. We cannot tarry for this is the most critical endeavour of our time.”

That John Patrick Amama Mbabazi and Museveni have been working together for over forty years is not to mean that they cannot develop misunderstandings. If anything, this is what gives credence to Amama’s bid to rescue the country before it is too late. He is unequivocal in declaring that Uganda is more important than the NRM and must have precedence.

“I remain loyal to my party the National Resistance Movement. Yet, my greatest devotion and allegiance is fixed upon my country Uganda and its people.”

John Patrick Amama Mbabazi is explicit: President Museveni is not the messiah he claims to be. Museveni has outlived his usefulness and it is time he stepped aside to give room to others, Mbabazi in particular, to lead Uganda to the stage where its people want it to be. Museveni on the other hand vehemently clings to his tired slogan of being the only one who can lead Uganda to prosperity. But for the last thirty years Museveni’s dream of Prosperity for All has failed to materialize. And it seems his chance of seeing, let alone lead Uganda to that prosperity is far beyond his reach.

There is no doubt that the battle lines have been drawn. So far Mbabazi’s camp looks so meticulous that Museveni’s camp is already struggling to catch up with the pace at which political strategies are unfolding.

Whatever the case, Ugandans are praying for change that will make democracy, rule of law, human rights, justice and peace as well as sustainable development a reality.  A change that will bring about leaders who are accountable to those they lead, respectful and exemplary in promoting and entrenching good governance is all they yearn for. Uganda has had enough of strongmen and self- proclaimed freedom fighters who instead sow anarchy and destruction.

Uganda has for so long been held hostage by its would be leaders. If this is the time for the long awaited change, so be it.