Why Tumukunde picked JEEMA's Kalinge-Nnyago to head his team

After forming his own political vehicle — Renewed Uganda pressure group — Tumukunde has begun selecting leaders who he believes will steer him to a presidential victory, come 2021 general election. We bring you what this means for the ex-spy chief

Walking on what analysts have described as a tight political rope, the former security minister, Lt Gen. Henry Tumukunde, on Monday unveiled an executive committee, which he said has been assembled to steer his campaign activities.

The ex-spy chief launched his campaign team a week after 17 coordinators of his Renewed Uganda pressure group were arrested by Police during a meeting in Wakiso district.

The launch also coincided with the Police summons, which have been hovering over his head over allegedly meeting veterans illegally.

Yet, despite what analysts call his unknown political future, at least for now, Tumukunde seems set for the 2021 general elections.

With the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) kingpin, Dr Kizza Besigye, off the ballot and backdoor talks in high gear to back Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine, the National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential flag-bearer, as a joint candidate, prospects for other contenders, such as Tumukunde, appear dim.

Nnyago-JEEMA factor

Tumukunde's campaign committee is chaired by JEEMA strongman, Omar Kalinge-Nnyago, who is deputised by Tororo North MP Annet Nyaketcho.

Others include Lucy Ajok, James Oromait, Kennedy Olum, Arthur Mwenkanya, Alex Luganda, David Lukwago, Judith Ananga, Sheila Obiya and Andrew Arach, who is the national political co-ordinator.

The head of the political strategy is Prof. Isaac Newton Ojok, while Dr Henry Ssali is the head of external relations.

The rationale behind the committee, Kalinge-Nnyago said, is to show that Tumukunde is not alone.

"At such times when the Government is trying to oust us out of the race by unlimitedly arresting Tumukunde, the organisation's activities should continue," Kalinge-Nnyago said.

"This struggle is not one of an individual, but of a well-organised team, brought together by the aspiration to bring peaceful change in Uganda's governance. We advocate for lawful and democratic means as provided for under the Constitution of Uganda," he added.

Kalinge-Nnyago, who is an old boy of Kibuli Secondary School, just like Tumukunde, joins the former spy at a time when the JEEMA party president, Asuman Basalirwa, recently said they will be rallying support for Bobi Wine.

On the other hand, Kalinge-Nnyago's wife, Aisha Kabanda, a former National Resistance Movement (NRM) cadre, is the deputy executive secretary for Bobi Wine's party, NUP.

So, what does JEEMA's Kalinge-Nnyago and Tumukunde alliance bring on board?

To some political pundits, JEEMA party is akin to girls in the city, they go with those who have cash. But, soon, they will come back if things do not work out.

Dr Dan Kazibwe, a political pundit, argues that Kalinge-Nnyago's entry in Tumukunde's presidential ambition plan is not a big deal.

"I do not see how this fundamentally affects JEEMA," he said.

Kazibwe added that although the entry of Tumukunde into the presidential race signifies the growth of democracy, the ex-spy has a lot of explanations to do if he is to be taken seriously.

"It is good for Uganda's democracy, but he has an uphill task to explain why he flip-flopped on a number of occasions," he said.

Yet, according to other political pundits, Kalinge-Nnyago, who has been in active politics since 1996, brings experience and clandestine organisational skills to the table, just like his friend, Tumukunde, whose experience in underground operations, including within the security circles, is an advantage.

"As a JEEMA founder member, Kalinge-Nnyago ran Muhammad Kibirige's campaigns as the national campaign co-ordinator in 1996 and 2001. He has grown some valuable experience working on national campaigns. He also played technical roles in the G6 in 2006, at the Inter-Party Alliance Co-operation (IPC) secretariat and the elect-Besigye task force, among others," said Henry Kassaca, a political pundit and executive director of the Dialogue and Democracy Training Centre.

"Few people in Uganda have the experience and temperament in working in inter-party arrangements like Kalinge-Nnyago. He is expected to bring that experience to Tumukunde's campaign,'' Kassaca said.

"Tumukunde wants to build a force of national character, driven by seasoned educated politicians who hitherto had abandoned politics," he added, noting that Kalinge-Nnyago is "a well-organised Muslim and Muganda any campaign would benefit from."

According to other analysts, Tumukunde's move to pick Kalinge-Nnyago as his campaign chief was not surprising. In the initial period when Tumukunde claimed that he wanted to contest for the position of City Lord Mayor, he reportedly held a series of engagements with some Muslim elders, courting them to back him. Kalinge-Nnyago is well-placed in the community.

Which way for Tumukunde?

So, if Tumukunde's agenda is the post- 2021 general elections, what could be his role in light of what analysts have described as a "polarised" Opposition without the Besigye factor on the ballot?

Some political watchers argue that Tumukunde's entry into the race presents an important perspective and agenda of leading and managing a transition within a broad context of our history.

"He believes that this transition process must start and should be well-managed. As a historical member of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) liberation movement, Tumukunde has seen it being fused with the state and he knows what must be done and how this can be done to build a pluralistic society, a democratic process and accountable state institutions," Kasacca said.

"Our transition as a country requires balancing so many interests, including those of people that find themselves fused with the State. Tumukunde gives these people confidence. He also represents an agenda that seeks to consolidate the achievements of NRM," he added.

Commenting on the political future of Tumukunde ahead of the 2021 general elections, the chief of staff of his Renewed Uganda pressure group, Beatrice Kiraso, said the struggle is not one of an individual, but that of a well-organised team brought together by the aspiration to bring about a peaceful change in Uganda.

Kiraso formerly served as a legislator and also as a senior official at the East African Community secretariat.

"We fear that the way things are moving, we do not know how far the trumped-up charges are going to go," she said.

In March, Tumukunde wrote to the chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), Justice Simon Byabakama, seeking clearance to start countrywide consultations. However, this move was cut short by his arrest over treason-related charges.

"We are in the middle of intimidation, but life will continue and we will push the struggle forward, regardless," Kalinge-Nnyago said.

Speaking at the launch of his campaign team, Tumukunde said:

"We feel offended, abused and dehumanised." He also decried obstacles to his campaign.