Amama Mbabazi, the Movement has been and is still going forward

By Mary Karooro Okurut

Over the last two days, Uganda has witnessed the nominations for the presidential candidates, usually the first event that kicks off the actual electoral process.

People showed up in thousands to support the candidates of their choice. Security agencies – and the Independent Electoral Commission - must be congratulated on ensuring that everything went smoothly – not a single acrimonious incident.

President Yoweri Museveni – he is always Number One….the best – came first on Day One and went about his business at Namboole Stadium in a very businesslike manner that belied his prominence as the First Citizen and CEO of the country. His supporters – who in their millions seemed to rival the sand on the seashore – were waiting for him at Kololo Airstrip. The fanfare was incredulous as the crème de la crème of Uganda’s artistes’ corps entertained and excited the supporters.

Then came Amama Mbabazi and Prof. Venansius Baryamureeba who, after peaceful nomination, addressed rallies at Nakivubo Stadium and Nakawa, respectively.

Day Two saw the nomination of perennial contenders – Dr. Kizza Besigye, who is taking on the presidential challenge for the fourth time running and Dr. Abed Bwanika, who is having his third shot at the hot seat.

With respect to all the candidates, the one who has, hands down, attracted the most curiosity is former Prime Minister, Amama Mbabazi, who left the Government after nearly 30 years of serving in the top echelons. The President didn’t pull any surprises – all people who wish Uganda well had always demanded that he stands for office again and what is more, he is the outright favourite to win.

The debate about his performance is focused on by what percentage he will win, rather than whether or not he will do so. Doctors Besigye and Bwanika are perennial contenders, so everything there is to know about them is basically already known. Baryamureeba – a brilliant academic who earned fame as the youngest vice-chancellor Makerere University ever had – is in politics for the very first time; his work is cut out for him. It is, therefore, the former Premier who has caught the eye for the past one year because he pulled a shocker, when he decided to stand against his former boss (who had in contrast, made a habit of standing by him in his darkest political hours when he was on the verge of being tipped over the precipice).

Many members of the NRM didn’t agree with the President on those occasions when he was saving the political life of Mbabazi and they were rightly disappointed that the man who had enjoyed the benefit of the President’s benevolence on so many occasions did not hesitate to walk out on him when the lure and beckon of presidential ambition crossed his mind.

In his speech at Nakivubo Stadium, Mbabazi – whose platform is “Go Forward” (implying that the country is either stagnant or retrogressive) - said, rather curiously I must add, “…this is the right time to invest in Ugandans, other than investing in buildings and weapons.”

This is very strange because this must be another country that he is talking about. I have written time and again in these pages about how far we have moved as a country, rebuilding this nation under the NRM, led by President Museveni, from scratch. Civil strife has been quenched through diplomacy and force of arms; the economy has recovered and is now one of the fastest growing in the world.

Our people enjoy a liberalised economy fettered only by occasional governmental intervention in case of market failure, their children attend elementary school and secondary school free of charge and there is free healthcare available in every sub-county.

Of course in all these programmes we have challenges; but the thing is, we have made steady progress and the government is constantly exploring ways of improvement. We are industrialising rapidly, generating more power and the transport infrastructure has greatly improved; it is now possible to traverse the country on tarmack. Improvements in our transport system have received global acclaim.

When a child has washed his hands, he may sit at the table with elders – a proverb I have used on this page for similar reasons: We are now a respectable member of the international community. When you mention Uganda anywhere in the world now, it is usually received with nothing less than admiration and respect. As a tourist destination, Uganda is consistently ranked among the top 10 in the world. We are a favourite global conference destination and top world leaders frequent our capital and countryside. In fact as we speak now, the Pope (no less) is packed, ready to fly to Kampala.

If it is important for a country to invest in its human resource, we know as much and have done exactly that. When you see free education and healthcare or better service delivery, what is government trying to do apart from investing in the people? Is all this going forward or backwards?

I watched a live television broadcast of Besigye as he made his way into the city after nomination – hundreds of people thronging his procession as he himself, seated on a sofa on top of his car – waved at them.

It summed up the status quo in this country – people being able to rally around candidates of their choice without any fear, as police provide security. Political stability doesn’t come on a silver platter; you must invest in it. As a country, we are reaping the fruit of this investment – political stability, economic advancement, better social services, human resource development, foreign direct investment, mobilisation of local capital, growth of savings, etc.

It is, therefore, wise to invest in security, for the simple reason that it guarantees every other benefit that we need. Foundation of peace and security is where everything begins. Take it away and you’ll never be able to do anything else. There is no country in the world regarded as progressive, which is in turmoil – everything begins with security and safety. This is the much-needed foundation for development that President Museveni keeps reminding us about.

I, therefore, hesitate to see merit in Mbabazi’s theme of “going forward”. One could write books and books about how far the country has gone forward under NRM and President Museveni – and I think many have done so, without exhausting the subject. This country has gone forward and is definitely still on the move. In saying “Go Forward”, Mbabazi is, therefore, saying precisely what has been happening since 1986!

The writer is the security minister