Regional
Looming leadership crisis in Uganda
In
May 2013, the coordinator of intelligence services at the time, Gen. David
Sejusa, wrote a controversial letter to the Director General of the Internal
Security Organisation calling for a probe into allegations that senior
government and military officials, including himself, opposed to the “Muhoozi
Project” were on the radar of elimination. Defence Minister Crispus Kiyonga
then told Parliament that such a project did not exist.
Although
President Yoweri Museveni denied allegations that he had plans for his son Gen.
Muhoozi Keinerugaba to succeed him, security agencies ransacked and switched
off The Monitor printing press which had printed Sejusa’s letter. The Monitor
website and two radio stations were also switched off. It is then that Gen.
David Sejusa fled for his dear life, to the UK.
Gen.
Sejusa who was in a sensitive position in government seems to have spilled the
beans pre-maturely on Museveni succession plot.
As majority Ugandans are of the view that Museveni’s retirement is long
overdue, there is a fresh campaign from a few but well-connected individuals
who are sounding drums of support for the Muhoozi project. From the letter by Gen. Sejusa, it is
apparent that Museveni is the chief architect of the project to have his son
replace him by 2026.
Ugandans
are wondering whether Museveni thinks that the vision to lead Uganda can only
be found in his family, but the question as to whether Ugandans will accept the
plot, is another one that millions of Ugandans have to seriously ponder.
Of
recent, the Muhoozi project has gained momentum especially on social media
sites promoting the first son as “presidential material.” Some posters reading,
“For peace, unity, transparency and supersonic development, vote President
Muhoozi Kainerugaba 2026-2031,” are in the public. In Parliament, Kasambya county youth MP David
Kabanda, is the man said to be tasked to popularize Muhoozi in Parliament.
Kabanda claims to have gained the support of 120 MPs. The Ugandan Parliament
has a total of 529 members.
Businessman
Balaam Barugahara who is well connected to Museveni’s family and a beneficiary
of lucrative government contracts was quoted by media saying that, the Muhoozi
project is the best gift for Uganda because the first son was born into a
wealthy family and so he is not into accumulating material things like most
African leaders from poor backgrounds. Muhoozi, he said, is so different from
sons of ministers in the South Sudan government who are leading luxurious
lifestyles in Kampala.
Many
Ugandans we talked to do not agree with Balaam. Being born into a wealth family
is not the only criterion that makes one fit to be a president. Ideological
clarity and other leadership qualities that Gen. Muhoozi does not possess
matter more.
“Gen.
Muhoozi is known for his childish posts on social media that any Military
General worth the rank cannot do. How do you qualify him for presidency,” an
angry politician asked. For Balaam to despise sons of Ministers in the South
Sudan government is lack of respect towards officials of South Sudan.
In
some of his recent erratic tweets, Gen. Muhoozi said that the Ugandan Army -
UPDF - is one of the best armies on earth. He said the Ugandan army can remove
the New Guinea president Col Mamady Doumbouya in a matter of hours, with the
blessing from his father. He bragged
about fighting Abiy Ahmed’s government in Ethiopia.
Gen.
Muhoozi is considered by many Ugandans as a war monger, on social media, who
praises his father as a hero. In Buganda
we have a saying that whoever has not travelled thinks his mother is the best
cook (atanayitayita yatenda nyina okufumba.)
“Gen. Muhoozi’s irresponsible utterances show that he is not fit to be
in the position where he is. You now talk of him being the President of Uganda?
This would be a tragedy,” said a military officer in Kampala who did not want
his identity revealed.
Faces
behind Muhoozi Project
Veteran
Journalist Andrew Mwenda is among those on the frontline of promoting the
controversial Muhoozi project. Although at the back of his mind Mwenda knows
very well that Museveni’s son does not possess leadership qualities. Insiders
say that Mwenda, being a man who knows where his bread is buttered, is
targeting a ministerial post should the Muhoozi project sail through come
2026.
When Mwenda appeared in a T-shirt with a photo of Gen. Muhoozi captioned as “The Leader,” Muhoozi took on tweeter to complement Mwenda saying, “My friend and brother Mwenda never looked smarter than this. Finally he has good taste in his dress code.”
In
the National Resistance Movement (NRM), sources from within say that senior
party members are uncomfortable with Museveni’s plan to make his son who is a
non-NRM cadre, jump the leadership line. This is likely to break up the party
that has in the past lost a number of ‘historicals’ due to Museveni’s
dictatorial tendency.
Many
Ugandans today regret that after being failed by Museveni for more than three
decades, with rampant corruption and nepotism, the country could be leading
into a leadership crisis with serious security implications like never seen
before.
Let
us pray for our motherland, Uganda.