The journey to 2016 and beyond under Gen Yoweri Kaguta Museveni (YKM)

By Christopher Omara

Gen Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’ speech to party officials and hundreds of enthusiastic supporters at the NRM headquarters on Plot 10 Kyadondo on July 31, was a major blow to counter-revolutionaries and has politically disarmed his disgruntled former allies who have continued to mislead some Ugandans with limited knowledge within the NRM party.

After He picked his nomination forms for the National Chairman and NRM presidential flag bearer; he brought to an end anxiety among his supporters countrywide and externally. Gen YKM made a very concise and precise speech that hit the road to 2016 and beyond under his leadership. His presumed challengers where politically and ideologically stripped naked in broad day light as matters of political party procedures and rules of the game were at play.

Hon John Patrick Amama Mbabazi and Dr Kiza Besigye must have been particularly humbled by their shortcomings within a revolutionary organisation and multi-party dispensation. Gen YKM’s appreciation of the revolutionary methods of work, the strength of organisational decision rather than individual ambitions, has demonstrated his ideological, administrative and revolutionary superiority over his critiques. Their political, strategic and tactical manoeuvres were no match to YKM whose landslide victory is now certain under the mighty ruling NRM come 2016.

In his speech, Gen YKM stated very clearly that he was asked by the historical leadership wing of the party, the historical high command and NRM members across the country to offer himself for the two positions. “... the historical agreed that as a way forward, I come and pick these nomination forms and I offer myself for the position of party chairman and NRM presidential candidates for the period 2015-2021” ... the culture of I want, is not part of NRM.... We shall wait for the Central Executive Committee (CEC) and the National Executive Committee (NEC) to do the needful and see how we can move forward” Museveni added. These were some of the revolutionary statements that contrasted Hon Mbabazi’s pronouncement in June 15, when he declared his presidential bid in a recorded video posted on his you tube channel. Certainly, the speech exposed the glaring distinction between Gen YKM and the political comedians in Uganda who thinks that ascending to the presidency is just like taking over the leadership of a village association.

Under the leadership of YKM, Uganda has registered significant stride that cannot be underestimated, especially in restoring peace and security, infrastructural development, regional stability, anti-poverty campaigns. His continuous emphasis on ideological orientation, infrastructural development, human resources development, industrialisation, expanded regional markets, modern and commercialisation of agriculture are far more superior to be challenged. Infact, this has been a fulfilment of his promise in his swearing in speech in 1986 – “...the second point on our programme is security of person and property. Every person in Uganda must have absolute security to live wherever s/he wants. Any individual, any group who threatens the security of our people must be smashed without mercy...” indeed from 1986 to 2006  Gen YKM defeated a total of over 25 insurgencies across the country, including the dreaded Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) in northern Uganda.

Considered to be the greatest and most successful revolutionary in contemporary world, Gen YKM is indeed the “beacon of hope” as remarked by USA former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. His personality, moral authority, the trust and confidence in him built over several decades are self-explanatory.

Based on his cherished ideology of pan-Africanism and the inevitable socio-economic transformation of the African continent, Gen YKM was the first African head of state to deploy troops to resolve the turmoil in Somalia in March 2007 under the African Union Peace Keeping Mission in Somalia (AMISON) with great success story. The NRA/UPDF has played significant roles in restoring peace and security in Somalia, Rwanda, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic and south Sudan among others. He has earned the respect of not only Ugandans, but regional and global communities that deserves huge applause.

On many accession, Gen YKM quoted the Book of Mathew chapter 7 verses 16-20 – “... by their fruit you will recognise them.  ... Every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognise them...” Certainly, the bad trees will be cut down and thrown into the fire in 2016.

The writer is a former NRM Senior Mass Mobiliser Gulu/Pader