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We need a govt of national unity
To ensure the GNU’s credibility and effectiveness, it must be supported by strong oversight mechanisms grounded in neutral institutions. These should include a High-Level National Unity Council, chaired by the Katikiro or a rotating panel of traditional leaders and co-chaired by senior religious figures.
Isaac Eyalama.
By: Admin ., Journalist @New Vision
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OPINION
By Isaac Eyalama
The passing of Kenya’s distinguished statesman, Raila Odinga, in October 2025 presents Uganda with a timely and valuable lesson in pragmatic leadership. Throughout his long career, Raila consistently chose dialogue and power-sharing over unending confrontation. For Uganda today, a government of national unity (GNU), carefully facilitated and overseen by our respected cultural, religious, and traditional institutions, offers the most practical and constructive path toward stability, national reconciliation and shared prosperity.
Several months have now passed since the January 2025 presidential election and the turmoil that followed. Significant developments have since occurred, including the exposure of serious corruption scandals in Parliament, the removal of Speaker Anita Among, the swearing-in of President Yoweri Museveni for another term, the election of new Speakers, and the ongoing vetting of cabinet appointees. While these events are important, they should not distract us from the larger and more fundamental question: how can we move Uganda forward as one united nation?
Bobi Wine’s continued self-exile represents a net loss for both Museveni and the country as a whole. It reinforces damaging international perceptions of Uganda as a dictatorship and an unstable democracy characterised by authoritarian tendencies and corruption.
Such a narrative harms Museveni’s legacy, discourages foreign investment, weakens partnerships with development agencies, and tarnishes Uganda’s standing on the global stage. A leader of Bobi Wine’s popularity, who kept away from his domestic base, keeps stories of repression alive in international media while diminishing his own capacity to contribute meaningfully at home.
Kenya demonstrates that there is a better way. Following the tragic 2007 post-election violence, Raila Odinga and Mwai Kibaki formed a GNU that helped restore calm and laid the foundation for the progressive 2010 Constitution. Raila’s later engagements, including the famous 2018 “Golden Handshake” with President Uhuru Kenyatta, further confirmed that constructive engagement produces superior outcomes to permanent opposition or exile.
In my considered view, prominent nonpartisan figures — particularly Charles Peter Mayiga, the Katikkiro of Buganda, together with other traditional leaders, religious authorities, and cultural elders — must now take centre stage. These respected institutions should convene, mediate, and oversee the formation of a GNU between Museveni, Bobi Wine and the freeing of Kizza Besigye from prison. At a minimum, they should facilitate Bobi Wine and his family’s safe return to Uganda without fear of persecution. Within such a framework, Bobi Wine could be given an official role in government, with appropriate adjustments made to accommodate new leadership positions, such as that of prime minister.
To ensure the GNU’s credibility and effectiveness, it must be supported by strong oversight mechanisms grounded in neutral institutions. These should include a High-Level National Unity Council, chaired by the Katikiro or a rotating panel of traditional leaders and co-chaired by senior religious figures.
Bobi Wine’s continued self-exile represents a net loss for both Museveni and the country as a whole. It reinforces damaging international perceptions of Uganda as a dictatorship and an unstable democracy characterised by authoritarian tendencies and corruption.
Such a narrative harms Museveni’s legacy, discourages foreign investment, weakens partnerships with development agencies, and tarnishes Uganda’s standing on the global stage. A leader of Bobi Wine’s popularity, who kept away from his domestic base, keeps stories of repression alive in international media while diminishing his own capacity to contribute meaningfully at home.
Kenya demonstrates that there is a better way. Following the tragic 2007 post-election violence, Raila Odinga and Mwai Kibaki formed a GNU that helped restore calm and laid the foundation for the progressive 2010 Constitution. Raila’s later engagements, including the famous 2018 “Golden Handshake” with President Uhuru Kenyatta, further confirmed that constructive engagement produces superior outcomes to permanent opposition or exile.
In my considered view, prominent nonpartisan figures — particularly Charles Peter Mayiga, the Katikkiro of Buganda, together with other traditional leaders, religious authorities, and cultural elders — must now take centre stage. These respected institutions should convene, mediate, and oversee the formation of a GNU between Museveni, Bobi Wine and the freeing of Kizza Besigye from prison. At a minimum, they should facilitate Bobi Wine and his family’s safe return to Uganda without fear of persecution. Within such a framework, Bobi Wine could be given an official role in government, with appropriate adjustments made to accommodate new leadership positions, such as that of prime minister.
To ensure the GNU’s credibility and effectiveness, it must be supported by strong oversight mechanisms grounded in neutral institutions. These should include a High-Level National Unity Council, chaired by the Katikiro or a rotating panel of traditional leaders and co-chaired by senior religious figures.
The council should feature balanced representation from the political parties, civil society, and youth, and meet regularly to monitor progress. Complementing this should be a Joint Performance Monitoring Committee responsible for tracking deliverables in critical areas such as youth employment, healthcare, education, agriculture, anti-corruption efforts, and electoral reform, with quarterly reports made public.
A truth, reconciliation and healing commission, led by religious and traditional leaders, would address past grievances. The entire arrangement should operate under a clearly defined three- to five-year transitional period.
The writer is a Ugandan-born Australian citizen and a lawyer
A truth, reconciliation and healing commission, led by religious and traditional leaders, would address past grievances. The entire arrangement should operate under a clearly defined three- to five-year transitional period.
The writer is a Ugandan-born Australian citizen and a lawyer