Museveni deserves one last ‘goodbye term’
By Adam Kazoora
6th January 2012: Like any other good National Resistance Movement [NRM] cadre, there was no way I could have missed the historic and happy celebrations to mark 26 years of the NRM’s successful rule in our country on the 26th of January 2012 in Kapchorwa district.
The atmosphere was electric, with thousands upon thousands of happy Ugandans joining in the celebrations. His Excellency President Museveni spoke with energy and optimism for the future as he outlined the NRM’s great achievements over the last 26 years. No one needs reminding anymore.
In 26 years, we have nearly one hundred radio stations broadcasting freely in Uganda. And every single Ugandan who can afford the fees charged by the individual stations always gets access to them without discrimination. The situation is not any different with television stations. From having only UTV when we took power, Ugandans are spoilt for choice today.
We got rid of non-performing government parastatals and liberalised the economy. Today, market forces are delivering just rewards for all hardworking Ugandans. They have build hundreds of shopping malls across the country, they have built personal residences and mansions, they have built hundreds of good quality private schools, and more people than ever before now drive their own cars.
Democracy is flourishing. We have a very vibrant parliament which, unlike before, can now challenge the President’s directives and still live to see the light of day. Unlike before, we have tens of opposition parties freely going about their businesses today, even though they have nothing useful to offer Ugandans. But NRM still respects their right to engage in useless walk-to-work protests and plenty of “wolokoso”.
When they misbehave, as they often do, we now have a professional army and police force that treats them firmly but fairly. In the old bad days, none of this would have been allowed to happen. Idi Amin for example would have simply put the like of Besigye on a firing squad and finished them off.
On the contrary, for 26 years, President Museveni has been a firm believer in the rule of law. That is one of the key things he fought gallantly for in Luwero triangle. And it is for that reason that he has preferred to use the law to deal with stubborn opposition people like Besigye, Mao, Reagan, Odonga Otto, Lukwago, etc.
In fact, to show that the laws of the land are enforced equally without fear and favour, even our own NRM cadres like Tumukunde, Cheeye, Kutesa, Rukutana, Nasasira etc who should have been given preferential treatment for their sacrifices to the liberation struggle have also faced the full wrath of the law.
On the economic front, President Museveni has excelled with flying colours. For example, as the world, including the world’s richest countries grappled with a debilitating economic crisis, President Museveni skilfully steered the country away from the turbulent economic waters that nearly sunk many giant economies like Britain, the US, Greece, Italy etc. So what more can we ask for?
I am not, and have never been in any influential position of leadership in the NRM. This has enabled me to escape the bondages of collective cabinet responsibility. From the sidelines, I can clearly see that President Museveni has done a wonderful job for Ugandans. That is why I said in this newspaper sometime back that we should appreciate the things he has done for Uganda.
Of course, Museveni is not infallible. He has made his fair share of mistakes over the last 26 years. To err is human. Over all however, there is no doubt that he has done a wonderful job. If I had been given the opportunity to speak during the celebrations in Kapchorwa, I would have urged Ugandans to give our dear President one last goodbye term in office. He deserves it.
I would have also said that if he tries to stay in power beyond 2021, then all Ugandans would be justified to pick arms to kick him out of power. But not now! And, regardless of all his many weaknesses, I must sincerely commend FDC leader Dr Besigye for consistently advising his supporters against picking up arms.
Democracy is here. Let us use it to push for what we want instead of fighting. That is my advice. But if Besigye’s impatient supporters defy his wise advice as some are indeed threatening to, then we shall have no option but to use the mighty UPDF to mercilessly eliminate them from the face of Ugandan politics.
I hope it doesn’t come to that. And the only way to avoid that is to let Museveni rule until 2021 when he will be too old to continue. END: Please login to www.ugandacorrespondent.com every Monday to read our top stories and anytime mid-week for our news updates.
Liaten to http://www.radiomunansi.com on Sat/Sun. Check website for times. No turning back, M7 this is your last year in power and Ugandans to the Resque is after you. Listen and learn.
Museveni does not deserve another term.
Mr. A. Kazoora, you are not sincere to yourself and to ugandans. Infact selfishness is what you are full of. You take ugandans for granted when you maraud with words like, “In 26 years we have nearly hundreds of radio stations broadcasting freely…… As if that was not enough you went ahead to say, “The situation is not any different with television ….. Kazoora, are you insinuating here that, the reason for Luweero war was due to lack of abandon radio station or tevelision? Is that the fundamental change ushered in, in 1986? I thought, 1981-86 war was because of election rigging and bad leadership. Why is rigging and killing still exist today?
I though ushering in a fundamental change would mean, well equipped hospitals, better shools, better roads and transport,strong agricultural sector, freedom of speech, association, demonstration etc, etc. None of these is in good condition in uganda today, M. Kazoora.
The NRA/M under the leadership of Museveni came to power 26 years ago, still ugandans are dying of treatable diseases. Today, in Northern Uganda, innocnet children who deserved urgent attention from their government, are dying of NODDING DISEASE, yet the government is moving at a snail pace to tackle the dreaded sickness that is raveging in the north. What have this innocent children done to the present regime which deserve neglect from the present authority? Is this how a good government should work? Is this really a good government?
Kazoora, when you talk of “bad old days”, I hope it include the time when Museveni was part of UNLA/F leadership and also Military Council as a member. So, Museven waged war in 1981 against a government he was part and parcel, which is treason. All the mess during UNLF and Military council government rest squarely on Musevenis’ shoulder.
When you say, “Democracy is flourishing” what do you mean, is democracy only in parliament? Here you say, We have a very vibrant parliament which, unlike before, can now challenge the President’s directives and still live to see the light of day”. Mr. Kazoora, even in Obote II there was vibrant parliament where opposition were free to challenge the president, Paul Mwangan is there to testify. During Amins time, that was a military government, unless you are telling us that todate ugandans are still under military government of Museveni’s 1980s and 90s. Its better to compare the present govenment with Obote I or II.
Also, don’t forget that, when Museveni openly declared that, he would go to the bush, should election be rigged,no one arrested or killed him. He was as free as bird in the air to run to the bush.
Today, can any opposition party leader declare that he or she would go to the bush should election be rigged and walk scot-free? No, it cannot happen without police and military brutality. The writing is on the wall for all ugandans to see, “Don’t dare tell Museveni/NRA/M that you will go to the bush”. Go to Museveni’s court instead, period.
Lastly, Kazoora, while your children and some lucky few ugandans whose children can afford everything, many far from your eyesight are dying un-notice.Northern Uganda have experience may bad things, today Museveni and his government refused to declare the North a disaster area, yet sometimes back western uganda was declared a disaster area when cattles were dying, so cattles are more important than children in the North, is it?
My last advice to you and Museveni is that, it is prudent for him (Museveni) to leave power now than later. He should not stress ugandans to the limit, otherwise, the seemingly docile ugandans will wake up one day and no one will stop them.
Adam you are really full of it, time will tell.
EVEN AFTER THAT LAST TERM, ADAM WILL STILL BE LIKE OLIVER TWIST, SEEKING AGAIN ANOTHER TERM FOR HIS GREAT LIBERATOR M7, POSSIBLY PAKALAST! ADAM, DOES THE WRITING ON THE WALL NOT TELL YU THE MOOD ABOUT YOUR HERO IN UGANDA? Look at the last two bye -elections in Jinja and K’la.
Good reading Adam