Don’t substitute development agenda for northern Uganda with executive appointments

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OPINION

By Julius Peter Ochen

After the campaign, what? Campaign to win. Prepare to govern. These are popular phrases amongst the American political managers. Much as it may not mean anything for Uganda, where transition and continuation almost mean the same thing, it makes no offence to ask anyway. Because a smooth, quick start to a renewed term is key to a successful presidency. Of course, each new tenure faces a unique set of political and policy possibilities that emerge from the particular campaign and election results.

Besides, President Museveni has never been in the habit of revealing how he will govern, and with whom. This ultimately breeds post-election positioning and posturing where transition teams and individuals align themselves with the administration to secure key government roles.

For individuals seeking appointments, success often depends on demonstrating loyalty, displaying relevant experience, and having a clear, articulated value proposition for the role they seek.

Recently, while addressing the Gulu City community, the Hon. Minister Nobert Mao offered two words that were no longer new in people’s ears. The national cake and the political cake. What was new, though, was his explanation of the two. He suggested that the national cake was already provided for in the NRM 2026/2031 manifesto, and there are fatty pieces therein forthe  Acholi sub-region. However, the political cake is still under President Museveni’s ‘’armpits’’, which he will deep knife to when he renews himself to office after May 12^th 2026. Perhaps, Mr Mao meant Ministerial and other top executive appointments.

I am similarly alive to the fact that the said political cake is as significant as the national cake, and the northern electoral community should interest itself in its allocation.

For the first time, though, in President Museveni’s political career, the Acholi sub-region voted enormously in support of his 7^th term bid, amounting to over 84%. Grippingly, there were exceptional appeals from nearly all the political thespians in Acholi urging electorates to give Museveni his votes. They reasoned that this is unusual politics, creating grounds to demand and negotiate for development initiatives for the sub-region.

Indeed, the campaign ended without those in the rural community knowing who else President Museveni was contesting with, because nobody was talking about any other candidate other than President Museveni.

At the polling stations in the districts of Omoro, Pader, Lamwo, Amuru, Agago and Gulu, no presidential candidate presented polling agents other than Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. That’s how much his colossal win was sealed.

Incidentally, Mao’s political cake appeal coincided with my own opinion inquiry from the Acholi sub-region after President Museveni was declared the winner of the January 15^th Presidential election.

As a public policy researcher, I had commissioned myself to understand people’s choices in the 12^th Parliament, throwing out some ministers and those who bore potential for the same.

In addition to the sub-region’s general expectations from Museveni’s renewed term of office after jabbering 93% in Omoro, 87% in Pader, 86% in Agago, 84% in Lamwo, 81% in Amuru, 80% in Kitgum districts and so forth.

I can confirm for a fact that issues sitting at the heart of electorates, both from urban and rural communities, are on tangible infrastructural development.

Interestingly, most of these development aspirations were captured in the NRM 2026/2031 manifesto. Such as the Puranga – Acholibur road, Gulu – Omoro - Pader- Agago - Abim road, Atiak – Palabek – Kitgum road and Kitgum - Kidepo national park road for the Acholi sub-region. The elite community also concerned itself with the proposed 300 bed specialized Teaching Hospital for Gulu University.

The people also fret themselves with two political promises; the annual State House scholarships to 100 students from Acholi sub-region undertaking science courses, and the sh60 billion budget to enhance coffee production within Acholi sub-region in the 2026/2027 financial year.

They averred that if President Museveni ever wanted to reward the sub-region, then the works are already cut out for him in his own manifesto, because political appointments merely reward individuals, and if there are any falling cramps, it’s only for the benefit of the constituencies appointees represent. I believe the sentiments are the same in the Lango and West Nile regions, judging from the disposition of ministers from the last concluded elections.

Whereas a government with national representation and outlook in its construction breeds confidence in electorates, but only does so as much as it translates into something people can see, touch, feel and use.

It is, therefore, imperative that the President does not cloud political appointments with promised development plans against which he was voted and will be appraised

The writer is a public policy analyst with Kampala Analytica