Selective protests will not work
Sep 28, 2011
ALTHOUGH Mike Mukula is entitled to stand for any political position in Uganda, including that of President, he needs to know that what is good for the gander is good for the goose. His wanting to occupy State House should not be at the cost of unfairly excluding other befitting Ugandans such as Col. Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
By Kintu Nyago
ALTHOUGH Mike Mukula is entitled to stand for any political position in Uganda, including that of President, he needs to know that what is good for the gander is good for the goose. His wanting to occupy State House should not be at the cost of unfairly excluding other befitting Ugandans such as Col. Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
WikiLeaks has made us now know the contents of some of the discussions that take place during diplomatic cocktails and dinners. One shudders, at the thought of what exactly Mukula had in mind when disclosing his inner feelings.
Did he suppose that America would impose a No Fly Zone on Uganda, or send in US marines and GIs to effect a regime change, if say Muhoozi stood for President?
No right thinking Ugandan would ever allow for such meddling by foreigners in our politics. Might is not right. Mukula requires to have acknowledged that Uganda is a sovereign democracy.
There is nowhere in Museveni’s long, distinguished carrier when he has undermined the democratic ethos. The constitutionalism we have consolidated as a country is anchored on the political will, exhibited by his leadership.
Put differently, as a senior NRM leader, Mukula should have realised that Museveni would never impose anybody on Ugandans, let alone his son, as next President. Furthermore, to become the Chairman of the NRM or the President of Uganda, one needs to obtain a democratic mandate, as outlined by that party’s constitution and also the primary law of this land.
It would be unconstitutional, unlawful and grossly unfair, to bar Muhoozi Kainerugaba to stand for any political post, including that of Chairmanship of the NRM and President of Uganda, simply because he is the son of Museveni. The constitution and the law applies equally to all regardless of class, or regional and ethnic origin.
I also find the attempt to bar Muhoozi from becoming the President of Uganda, simply because he is the son of Museveni, discriminatory, selective and opportunistic.
For instance, how come Museveni’s younger brother, General Caleb Akandwanaho (Salim Saleh), was never stopped by those with Mukula’s thinking from participating in the dangerous task of removing Idi Amin from power, right from the tender age of 16, when he opted out of Kako Secondary school, with Fred Rwigyema, to proceed to Mozambique for military training?
Being Museveni’s brother, why was Saleh not stopped from commanding the NRA forces that secured arms from the notorious Uganda National Liberation Army, at Masindi and Kambaba? Why was he not stopped from breaking the backbone of the UNLA while thoroughly deflating its morale at the Battle of Kembogo, in the Luweero Triangle?
Why did they not protest when Saleh successfully led the NRA in the Battles of Katonga and the eventual capturing of Kampala?
Washington has no moral high ground to decide for us on this matter. Right from the word go, the American body politic has been closely associated with dynastic politics. For instance, the 2nd and 6th Presidents of the United States, John Adams and John Quincy Adams, were father and son.
Theodore Roosevelt and Franklin Delano Roosevelt were cousins. Two of FDR’s sons were elected to Congress. Then, to mention but a few, there are the famous Gore, Bush and Kennedy dynasties.
Within the region, Mukula’s political ally, Raila Odinga is a son of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga. Uhuru Kenyatta is a son to Mzee Jomo Kinyata, Madaraka Nyerere, a leading member of Tanzania’s Chama Cha Mapinduzi is son of Nyerere. In South Africa, Thabo Mbeki was son of ANC and South African Communist Party ideologue Govan Mbeki.
Defence minister Lindiwe Sisulu is daughter to anti apartheid icons Walter and Albertina Sisulu. And Botswana’s current President Gen. Ian Khama is the son of the much revered Sir Seretse Khama. Family connections aside, all the above are people whose leadership abilities you cannot question.
Muhoozi Kainerugaba is also a man of ability. He has sacrificed for this country. For instance, he led the Garamba expedition to capture Kony and his murderous, primitive gang of terrorists. He is well educated, with elaborate military training and a scholar who is humble. And in case he so wishes, he has the required qualifications to compete for any political position in this country.
If Mukula and his likes feel strongly against this, they could effect a constitutional amendment that bars dynastic politics in Uganda.
The writer is deputy presidential principal private secretary
ALTHOUGH Mike Mukula is entitled to stand for any political position in Uganda, including that of President, he needs to know that what is good for the gander is good for the goose. His wanting to occupy State House should not be at the cost of unfairly excluding other befitting Ugandans such as Col. Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
WikiLeaks has made us now know the contents of some of the discussions that take place during diplomatic cocktails and dinners. One shudders, at the thought of what exactly Mukula had in mind when disclosing his inner feelings.
Did he suppose that America would impose a No Fly Zone on Uganda, or send in US marines and GIs to effect a regime change, if say Muhoozi stood for President?
No right thinking Ugandan would ever allow for such meddling by foreigners in our politics. Might is not right. Mukula requires to have acknowledged that Uganda is a sovereign democracy.
There is nowhere in Museveni’s long, distinguished carrier when he has undermined the democratic ethos. The constitutionalism we have consolidated as a country is anchored on the political will, exhibited by his leadership.
Put differently, as a senior NRM leader, Mukula should have realised that Museveni would never impose anybody on Ugandans, let alone his son, as next President. Furthermore, to become the Chairman of the NRM or the President of Uganda, one needs to obtain a democratic mandate, as outlined by that party’s constitution and also the primary law of this land.
It would be unconstitutional, unlawful and grossly unfair, to bar Muhoozi Kainerugaba to stand for any political post, including that of Chairmanship of the NRM and President of Uganda, simply because he is the son of Museveni. The constitution and the law applies equally to all regardless of class, or regional and ethnic origin.
I also find the attempt to bar Muhoozi from becoming the President of Uganda, simply because he is the son of Museveni, discriminatory, selective and opportunistic.
For instance, how come Museveni’s younger brother, General Caleb Akandwanaho (Salim Saleh), was never stopped by those with Mukula’s thinking from participating in the dangerous task of removing Idi Amin from power, right from the tender age of 16, when he opted out of Kako Secondary school, with Fred Rwigyema, to proceed to Mozambique for military training?
Being Museveni’s brother, why was Saleh not stopped from commanding the NRA forces that secured arms from the notorious Uganda National Liberation Army, at Masindi and Kambaba? Why was he not stopped from breaking the backbone of the UNLA while thoroughly deflating its morale at the Battle of Kembogo, in the Luweero Triangle?
Why did they not protest when Saleh successfully led the NRA in the Battles of Katonga and the eventual capturing of Kampala?
Washington has no moral high ground to decide for us on this matter. Right from the word go, the American body politic has been closely associated with dynastic politics. For instance, the 2nd and 6th Presidents of the United States, John Adams and John Quincy Adams, were father and son.
Theodore Roosevelt and Franklin Delano Roosevelt were cousins. Two of FDR’s sons were elected to Congress. Then, to mention but a few, there are the famous Gore, Bush and Kennedy dynasties.
Within the region, Mukula’s political ally, Raila Odinga is a son of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga. Uhuru Kenyatta is a son to Mzee Jomo Kinyata, Madaraka Nyerere, a leading member of Tanzania’s Chama Cha Mapinduzi is son of Nyerere. In South Africa, Thabo Mbeki was son of ANC and South African Communist Party ideologue Govan Mbeki.
Defence minister Lindiwe Sisulu is daughter to anti apartheid icons Walter and Albertina Sisulu. And Botswana’s current President Gen. Ian Khama is the son of the much revered Sir Seretse Khama. Family connections aside, all the above are people whose leadership abilities you cannot question.
Muhoozi Kainerugaba is also a man of ability. He has sacrificed for this country. For instance, he led the Garamba expedition to capture Kony and his murderous, primitive gang of terrorists. He is well educated, with elaborate military training and a scholar who is humble. And in case he so wishes, he has the required qualifications to compete for any political position in this country.
If Mukula and his likes feel strongly against this, they could effect a constitutional amendment that bars dynastic politics in Uganda.
The writer is deputy presidential principal private secretary