Applaud President Museveni's radio talk shows

By Jerome Kansiime

On January 3, President Yoweri Museveni was hosted on the Capital Gang show of Capital Radio for the second time.

The first at State House Entebbe denied the audience an opportunity to question the President. Unlike state-managed messages like end of year speeches.

The President thought it wise to give the listeners another opportunity. This was one of its kind.

The verbal exchange between the show participants will go down in Uganda’s political history unprecedented I bet. Listeners called in to ask questions to which the President responded satisfactorily. To some he directed a revival to especially the ‘bimeza’ debates when it was brought to his attention by a one Nuwabiine (caller).

The debate helped to give illumination to some institutions we see today, the likes of Universal Primary Education (UPE).

For example how the pilot schools were started in the President’s villages. How he built blocks, hired teachers and paid them to teach. This helped us have an insight first in the education sector and secondly understand the character of the person Museveni on issues concerning the plight of Ugandans.

These debates, if sustained, will help in defining most of the institutions we see running today. This is on grounds that failure to know our history will impede our progress.

The participants included Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda, who undisputedly was one of the best debaters of his times. He had edge cutting questions and statement to the President.

Undoubtedly a representation of what most critics would put out to the President given opportunity. Kudos to him none would have put them any better than he did. No wonder, the interview especially his interjections were broadcasted in the news bulletin that evening and in most publications the days after.

What stood out for me the most is the demeanor and composure to which the President responded to questions put to him by the ‘gangsters’.

It is a fact that the President has been in power for a long time than most of his global counter parts. But the thing about this long serving leader is his groundedness and failure for power to get to him.

From his responses, scholars and political spectators could find an answer on what has kept him a darling to most of his electorates.

Whereas, institutions are important in progress of a state, the President has consistently defied these to meet the daily needs of people. Notable of these are formation of units such as the health unit, lands unit and the ‘up coming education unit’ under his office.

Despite the provoking personal attacking questions brought to him, his composure could be felt through the radio.

Statements like ‘Museveni is the project’ were provocative in tone but never did we hear the general like responses we would expect from a close to 30 year old presidency.

On being asked at the size of his motorcade protection he was spot on to highlight the terror era to which the region is facing. Undoubtedly, Uganda has had its share in restoring sanity to the region and sure saboteurs may not like this.

These debates, if consistently followed, will surely define political maturity of our country and put to shame the opposition politicians who shun debates. Its been alleged that after the 2006 elections, some mediators asked the leading opposition figure to come to a round table with the President to which he turned down.

This goes further explicitly to explain why the President has time and again stood out against those who oppose him and remained a darling to sober headed and intellectual loving leaders.

The writer works with Uganda Media Centre


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