Two Movement historicals with differing tactics
9th March 2003
Alhajji Moses Kigongo:<br>In the last few months, Movement Vice-Chairman Al-hajji Moses Kigongo and Local Government Minister Jaberi Bidandi Ssali have been calling for change in the Movement. Kigongo is on a country-wide tour to purify it, while Bidandi has consistently called for the Movement to
In the last few months, Movement Vice-Chairman Al-hajji Moses Kigongo and Local Government Minister Jaberi Bidandi Ssali have been calling for change in the Movement. Kigongo is on a country-wide tour to purify it, while Bidandi has consistently called for the Movement to become a party. Joshua Kato profiles the two Movement historicals
Al-Ahajji Moses Kigongo
When you see a toad moving in broad day light, something is after its life. This resembles the life and times of Movement Vice-Chairman Al-hajji Moses Kigongo. Kigongo is not known as a regular maker of political statements. Each time the soft-spoken Movement stalwart has come out of hibernation, he has been on a mission.
Kigongo is rarely in the news. But currently, he is. This is after he came out and launched what he called “a New War,†to purify the Movement and seek reconciliation with those who are opposing it. His revolutionary instincts are never hidden. Whenever there is need for a revolution, he is there to help instigate it. He has never been afraid of joining others to effect change.
“He was living a comfortable life as a businessman in the 80s when he decided to go to the bush and fight for freedom,†says one of his friends.
According to President Museveni, leader of the Popular Resistance Army (PRA) at the time, Kigongo visited them at Migadde near Matugga: “He came and asked, ‘How can we contribute to the war,’ †Museveni wrote in his book, Sowing the Mustard Seed.
“I thought it okay. We have formed the PRA and a committee known as the high command to run it. Maybe we should form a sister committee,†Museveni wrote.
Subsequently, the National Resistance Council was formed by Kigongo. The council became the basis of the Movement. At first, Professor Yusuf Lule was Chairman of the council. Museveni was first Vice-Chairman, while Moses Kigongo was the second Vice-Chairman. When Lule died, Museveni became Chairman and Kigongo the Vice-Chairman.
As head of this council, he mobilised resources to finance the war, and effectively led the powerful political wing of the NRA/NRM. It was because of efforts of people like Kigongo that the politics of the Movement was spread throughout Luweero Triangle.
Addressing one rally after another in Luweero, he spelled out the objectives of the war. Like the rest of the fighters, he persevered and shared their suffering.
Like most of them, he had the dream that all would be well. This is the message he always proclaimed. In 1983 while the Uganda National Liberation Army was forcing the NRA to retreat to Singo, he addressed a gathering in Semuto with the usual hope that he always carried.
“We are going now, but the war is not over,†he told the gathering. “We shall be back and fight this war to victory,†he added. Indeed, a few months later, the NRA came back.
When the NRA/NRM captured power in 1986, Kigongo remained the Vice-Chairman of the Movement. He went to the first National Resistance Council (NRC) and steered it in the absence of the chairman for 10 years.
His slow, soft talk is rich in parables, whose power rivals the punch of a heavy weight boxer: “You are either with us or not with us,†he tells his listeners during one of his addresses. This was in reference to people who are hiding in the Movement. He tells those who feel they love the Movement at heart to “stand up and be counted.â€
“The winds of change are on the way. Where will they find you when they come? Prepare for life without the Movement,†he said at another gathering, leaving them to guess what he meant by ‘life without the Movement.’
Kigongo says that he has fought for peace all his life. And peace is what he wants for everybody: “Why should you abuse your enemies? Why should you call them bad names? Uganda is for all of us,†he once said.
Under the theme of reconciliation, he wants all those who have gone into exile to return. This includes Milton Obote, who he fought against: “Obote is an old man who can give advice to the young generation. There is no problem if he returns,†he says.
Kigongo agrees that it is time for change in the Movement:
“I have no problem with change, so long as it follows the law. We made laws that should direct us. We should follow them,†he says.
Is the Movement being torn apart by factionalism? Kigongo sees none of this: “There are no factions in the Movement. Those are just individual views. Such discussions are healthy in a big organisation like the Movement,†he says.
He is disturbed by the nature of Ugandans: “They are easily excited by everything. They are fond of creating mountains out of ant-hills,†he explains.
According to him, Ugandans enjoy loose talk more than anything else: “You hear them discussing the third term. You hear them talk about other people’s achievements with hate,†he laments. This he says makes him worried as a leader.
Nearly 23 years as Vice-Chairman of the Movement is a long time. Asked if he is going to stand for the same post again, he applies the typical caution. After thinking hard, he replies: “I will decide when that time comes. I don’t think it is proper to ask for supper when it is lunch time. Every thing has got its own time.â€
Kigongo believes that the Movement government is the best thing to ever happen in independent Uganda. Asking him to point out one ill or failure of the Movement is like milking a rock.
“How about corruption,†I ask. Holding his hands together while leaning back on his rotating chair, he smiles: “But we have measures to fight corruption. No government has fought corruption the way the Movement has. The difference is that we talk about it. This is why people say we are very corrupt,†he says.
“How about the safe houses equipped with the latest technology in biological torture — snakes and crocodiles?†I ask. There is silence.
Kigongo’s eyes are all that moves. Slowly, he raises his finger above his head: “Can you take me where the snakes are?†he asks me. “No one will arrest you,†he adds. He keeps quiet again. It is a tense moment.
“But the prisoners have said it,†I insist. Observing me closely, he replies, “I have never seen the snakes or crocodiles. All those are rumours. I don’t discuss rumours.â€
A stern finger emphasises this point. Enjoying the sparse office at the Movement Secretariat, his detractors say he sometimes loses touch with the peasants, the core of the revolution: “He only comes to us when there is a problem. We fought together in the bush. We fed on the same tiny piece of cassava. Why has he forgotten us?†a veteran asked.
Kigongo responds: “Services are much better in rural areas now than they were. UPE, electricity, water — It takes a whole day to list the achievements,†he says. No one has been forgotten,†he says.
He owns and runs Mosa Court Apartments. He has an expansive knowledge of the problems of Uganda today. Take the issue of unemployment: “We have laboured to create jobs,†he says.
He adds, “The trouble is that the youth of today don’t want to take some of these jobs.†Giving the example of his Hotel business, he explains: “I am forced to employ expatriates simply because Ugandans don’t want to work. They hate to take up certain jobs,†he says.
As a Hajji whose origins are traced to the nominally Muslim area of Butambala, he suspends his heavy schedule on Friday to go for prayers. He is commonly seen at Kibuli, Old Kampala and Kawempe mosques.
He says he loves to work. His wife Mrs. Kigongo loves work too. She is the Chairperson of the Uganda National Chamber of Commerce. His family is hard-working. Most of his children have gone high in education, so they are happy.
Al-Ahajji Moses Kigongo
When you see a toad moving in broad day light, something is after its life. This resembles the life and times of Movement Vice-Chairman Al-hajji Moses Kigongo. Kigongo is not known as a regular maker of political statements. Each time the soft-spoken Movement stalwart has come out of hibernation, he has been on a mission.
Kigongo is rarely in the news. But currently, he is. This is after he came out and launched what he called “a New War,†to purify the Movement and seek reconciliation with those who are opposing it. His revolutionary instincts are never hidden. Whenever there is need for a revolution, he is there to help instigate it. He has never been afraid of joining others to effect change.
“He was living a comfortable life as a businessman in the 80s when he decided to go to the bush and fight for freedom,†says one of his friends.
According to President Museveni, leader of the Popular Resistance Army (PRA) at the time, Kigongo visited them at Migadde near Matugga: “He came and asked, ‘How can we contribute to the war,’ †Museveni wrote in his book, Sowing the Mustard Seed.
“I thought it okay. We have formed the PRA and a committee known as the high command to run it. Maybe we should form a sister committee,†Museveni wrote.
Subsequently, the National Resistance Council was formed by Kigongo. The council became the basis of the Movement. At first, Professor Yusuf Lule was Chairman of the council. Museveni was first Vice-Chairman, while Moses Kigongo was the second Vice-Chairman. When Lule died, Museveni became Chairman and Kigongo the Vice-Chairman.
As head of this council, he mobilised resources to finance the war, and effectively led the powerful political wing of the NRA/NRM. It was because of efforts of people like Kigongo that the politics of the Movement was spread throughout Luweero Triangle.
Addressing one rally after another in Luweero, he spelled out the objectives of the war. Like the rest of the fighters, he persevered and shared their suffering.
Like most of them, he had the dream that all would be well. This is the message he always proclaimed. In 1983 while the Uganda National Liberation Army was forcing the NRA to retreat to Singo, he addressed a gathering in Semuto with the usual hope that he always carried.
“We are going now, but the war is not over,†he told the gathering. “We shall be back and fight this war to victory,†he added. Indeed, a few months later, the NRA came back.
When the NRA/NRM captured power in 1986, Kigongo remained the Vice-Chairman of the Movement. He went to the first National Resistance Council (NRC) and steered it in the absence of the chairman for 10 years.
His slow, soft talk is rich in parables, whose power rivals the punch of a heavy weight boxer: “You are either with us or not with us,†he tells his listeners during one of his addresses. This was in reference to people who are hiding in the Movement. He tells those who feel they love the Movement at heart to “stand up and be counted.â€
“The winds of change are on the way. Where will they find you when they come? Prepare for life without the Movement,†he said at another gathering, leaving them to guess what he meant by ‘life without the Movement.’
Kigongo says that he has fought for peace all his life. And peace is what he wants for everybody: “Why should you abuse your enemies? Why should you call them bad names? Uganda is for all of us,†he once said.
Under the theme of reconciliation, he wants all those who have gone into exile to return. This includes Milton Obote, who he fought against: “Obote is an old man who can give advice to the young generation. There is no problem if he returns,†he says.
Kigongo agrees that it is time for change in the Movement:
“I have no problem with change, so long as it follows the law. We made laws that should direct us. We should follow them,†he says.
Is the Movement being torn apart by factionalism? Kigongo sees none of this: “There are no factions in the Movement. Those are just individual views. Such discussions are healthy in a big organisation like the Movement,†he says.
He is disturbed by the nature of Ugandans: “They are easily excited by everything. They are fond of creating mountains out of ant-hills,†he explains.
According to him, Ugandans enjoy loose talk more than anything else: “You hear them discussing the third term. You hear them talk about other people’s achievements with hate,†he laments. This he says makes him worried as a leader.
Nearly 23 years as Vice-Chairman of the Movement is a long time. Asked if he is going to stand for the same post again, he applies the typical caution. After thinking hard, he replies: “I will decide when that time comes. I don’t think it is proper to ask for supper when it is lunch time. Every thing has got its own time.â€
Kigongo believes that the Movement government is the best thing to ever happen in independent Uganda. Asking him to point out one ill or failure of the Movement is like milking a rock.
“How about corruption,†I ask. Holding his hands together while leaning back on his rotating chair, he smiles: “But we have measures to fight corruption. No government has fought corruption the way the Movement has. The difference is that we talk about it. This is why people say we are very corrupt,†he says.
“How about the safe houses equipped with the latest technology in biological torture — snakes and crocodiles?†I ask. There is silence.
Kigongo’s eyes are all that moves. Slowly, he raises his finger above his head: “Can you take me where the snakes are?†he asks me. “No one will arrest you,†he adds. He keeps quiet again. It is a tense moment.
“But the prisoners have said it,†I insist. Observing me closely, he replies, “I have never seen the snakes or crocodiles. All those are rumours. I don’t discuss rumours.â€
A stern finger emphasises this point. Enjoying the sparse office at the Movement Secretariat, his detractors say he sometimes loses touch with the peasants, the core of the revolution: “He only comes to us when there is a problem. We fought together in the bush. We fed on the same tiny piece of cassava. Why has he forgotten us?†a veteran asked.
Kigongo responds: “Services are much better in rural areas now than they were. UPE, electricity, water — It takes a whole day to list the achievements,†he says. No one has been forgotten,†he says.
He owns and runs Mosa Court Apartments. He has an expansive knowledge of the problems of Uganda today. Take the issue of unemployment: “We have laboured to create jobs,†he says.
He adds, “The trouble is that the youth of today don’t want to take some of these jobs.†Giving the example of his Hotel business, he explains: “I am forced to employ expatriates simply because Ugandans don’t want to work. They hate to take up certain jobs,†he says.
As a Hajji whose origins are traced to the nominally Muslim area of Butambala, he suspends his heavy schedule on Friday to go for prayers. He is commonly seen at Kibuli, Old Kampala and Kawempe mosques.
He says he loves to work. His wife Mrs. Kigongo loves work too. She is the Chairperson of the Uganda National Chamber of Commerce. His family is hard-working. Most of his children have gone high in education, so they are happy.