Opposition and the fulfillment of Museveni’s 1988 prediction

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OPINION

By Faruk Kirunda

A major political awakening is unravelling, thanks to another “fundamental statement” that President Yoweri Museveni made back in the late 1980s when he was only a few years in power. On January 26, 1988 (Liberation Day celebrations), the 44-year old Museveni made a prophetic proclamation and appeal when he said: “It would save a lot of time if people could settle down and forget about having alternative arrangements for Uganda.

There’ll be no alternative arrangements for Uganda for a long time to come. It would, therefore, save a lot of effort if people could settle down and work with the National Resistance Movement (NRM) and develop the country. Those with illusions in their heads, that’s their own business.”

That is 38 years in the past and here we are; NRM is still in charge. A clip of the President’s prophecy is online and, from the many commentaries, people appreciate how he accurately foresaw the future. Not only that, but also how he set out to build the future. You see, Museveni doesn’t just give direction to the nation. He leads the charge! While other leaders think in installments of time (two or three years ahead), for him he thinks decades ahead, while playing an active role in making that future come true.

When he made the declaration, it’s probable that some in his audience took it as the usual “dreamatics” of politicians, forgetting that the man speaking had just undertaken highly risky liberation struggles and won. Would he be less skillful at leading a civilian administration? It is with that backdrop that we realise that NRM’s longevity is not accidental.

As if on cue, the political landscape is shifting and aligning more with the “long time to come” prediction. The rate at which members of the Opposition are willing to work with government speaks volumes. It’s unprecedented. After a long time making failed attempts to dislodge Museveni (despite his prophecy), more than ever, opposition is adapting to the adage of “if you can’t beat them, join them”. Going by the shuffling and outreaches happening overtly and covertly, I can predict that there will be no opposition by 2029.

Previously, Museveni predicted that there would be no opposition by 2021. That came true! The Opposition that is in place is structural by virtue of the multi-party dispensation in operation. In practice, there is no opposition to talk of. All we have are disgruntled groups in need of closer attention and services, while others are in it for the jobs and benefits they get by virtue of posing as possible alternatives to NRM. Others are on the fringes, acting to be seen and fished, but to say that there is an opposition front posing a challenge to Museveni is futile imagination.

By 2029, the acting will be at its lowest, with Ugandans embracing NRM without fear of witch-hunt or being derogatively dismissed as sell-outs. Many willing converts have been afraid to be labelled that way, while others are intimidated and humiliated. Just pick out any one who has joined NRM from the Opposition and ask them what their worst fear is. It is the few opposition members. Yusuf Nsibambi (formerly of Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) and outgoing MP Mawokota South) will tell you that his former close ally and fellow lawman, outgoing Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, had no kind words for him when he converted.

Or ask minister Nobert Mao! Even though he is only in a formal co-operation between NRM and Democratic Party, and hasn’t picked a yellow card, yet. Who knows where Lukwago could be in future? The political field is shifting fast. Politics of identity is dying out. It’s now politics of ideals and “developing the country” (together), again, as the President advised on that auspicious day in 1988.

There is always a claim that a “one party” state is nothing but autocracy. However, there is nothing that mocks democracy and national stability like fielding shadowy political parties to create a semblance of democratic competition. There can be a dominant party and democracy in one basket and life goes on. NRM will be a dominant party that accommodates all going into the future. This has always been the central idea of President Museveni in his leadership. It was why at first, he was cold to reintroduction of multi-partism; he saw the danger of adding a layer of sectarianism and divisionism in the national fabric, and he was correct.

But since there was pressure and excitement from different sources, multi-partism was reinstated. Unfortunately, it has done a lot in dividing Ugandans and causing unnecessary tension. But those who have been engineering tension have been weakened and exposed with time. People’s eyes have been opened to the deception of an opposition lacking in ideas and strategy, driven chiefly by hatred for Museveni and to hoodwink donors for money under the pretext of fighting dictatorship where there was none.

Recently, former National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi (Bobi Wine) has been abroad pushing a bid to remain afloat politically after losing a second run for presidency. His interviews and statements have been rather uninspiring, and in some cases, humiliating to his agenda. Add that to his lackluster campaigns and one can see that except for an unlikely miracle, his future in politics is a gamble.

Government should quickly plan how to accommodate these hitherto “prodigal children” in its programming. They should be introduced to Parish Development Model and the other counterpart livelihood development programmes because all citizens need a better life and prosperity.

The author is the Special Presidential Assistant-Press & Mobilisation/Deputy Press Secretary