By Ambrose Mwesigye
The Month of June 2021 has been of high frequency political activity coupled with mixed expectations, anxiety and curiosity among the public and key political players especially those with ambition for high positions of power in government, stemming from the delay by President Yoweri Museveni to announce his cabinet for the 2021/26 political term of office.
The same month has had Ugandans hear a trumpet sound for peaceful transition of power, blown by non other than Bushwar hero Gen. Elly Tumwine as he handed over the Security Ministry office.
A part from that, the public had certain names of their leaders in mind as possible Ministers in waiting while several seasoned politicians had their hopes high that they would appear on the Mzee Museveni’s list for the privileged executive slots. Some even spent some good dollars/Shillings to influence intelligence personnel in a bid to influence positive profiling, while others visited shrines, prayer mountains to consult and activate spiritual fortune in their favour.
While this went on, the President was in his own world and in his own words went to the “underground” to uninterruptedly study, meditate upon and have godly insight on the names of the many called for him to clearly identify the chosen among them and come out with his final list without any external influence.
His “underground” encounter finally resulted into the June 8th cabinet list of “Fishermen” which came with a mixture of surprises, disappointments and approval of public and politicians’ expectations and ambitions. Some least expectant personalities got miraculous surprises like new Vice President Her Excellency Major(Rtd) Jessica Alupo who had been off the political scene for Five years since 2016, new Prime Minister, the vibrant jovial Rt Honorable Robina Nabbanja aka Majegere, Bududa product and TV personality of the Point-blank fame Honorable Agnes Nandutu, among others who unexpectedly but deservedly fell in things.
There are others who recieved Museveni’s cabinet announcement which schockwaves like the eronious former Minister for the Presidency Esther Mbayo who spent most of her Five years in office unprofessionally fighting her staff especially the helplessResident District Commissioners as way of showing her prowess; and was in a surprise replaced by humble, loyal and transparent Milly Babirye Babalanda hitherto a Senior Presidential Advisor and Personal Assistant to the NRM National Chairman.
Without taking much time on details of the list, most key about the new cabinet list is the fact that President Museveni appointed and swore-in a transitional cabinet.
For the first time since 1986 the executive in dominated by non Bushwar figures in strategic dockets right from Vice President, Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Ministers, to other Ministries with sensitive responsibility in running the state. The other transitional factor is that apart from himself, lifetime Minister General Moses Ali, humble Muruli Mukasa of Public service, Security Minister Gen.Jimm Muhwezi, Foreign Affairs Gen Jeje and afew old men, the rest of the Ministers are young and products of the post-bushwar era. This implies and signifies a shift of power broadly from the Bushwar club of Gen.Museveni and commrades to ordinary Ugandans especially with the inclusion of opposition figures in the executive.
The appointment of over 40% women in cabinet is a signal of transition from traditional African partriachal tendencies in politics to modern global democratic practice of gender equity which is key in influencing good governance and peaceful transition world over.
The most recent gesture that Ugandans including historical General Elly Tumwine of most recent transition trumpet call have got pay attention to is the June 24th Army reshuffle. On the 24th June the President and Commander in Chief – CiC made changes in the Army leadership elevating the former Deputy CDF Gen. Wilson Mbadi to the top position replacing his former boss Gen. David Muhoozi who was transited to cabinet as Junior interior Minister.
Important to note about the Army changes, like in the case of the cabinet, President Museveni handed over Army leadership to post-bushwar officers, fully phasing out the bushwar influence and somewhat entitlementism.
Gen. Mbadi, the new Army Chief Joined the Force in 1986 after the NRA had taken over power and is therefore a product of the post-bushwar era who has grown through the ranks to the top under the mentorship of the system. His predicessor was of 1985 intake as the war was only one year to end and becomes the last Bush war fighter perhaps to head the forces.
At plot 10 Kyadondo, Party Leadership was handed over to still young and energetic Richard Todwong, himself an NRM raised cadre right from University in the early 90s through the years and ranks to the helm of the party. Many young people are hopeful in these changes.
Under normal circumstances, it is only through a systematic calculous that a revolutionary government can plan for and implement a transition strategy successfully otherwise a country can be inadvertently plunged into undesirable political setbacks that can lead to instability.
President Museveni knows this and has for the last Five years in all his public speeches apart from the one of Friday 25th sent a message to the young people to raise up and take the mantle. Those who have done so have taken up key leadership roles and are automatically in the course of the transition.
Mr. Museveni’s consistent respect to the constitutional obligation to run elections every Five years including the most recent elections that were held amidst pandemic panic with the emerging of hostile youthful Kyagulanyi’s PeoplePower- NUP wave was a sign of commitment to constitutional democracy and statesmanship.
Looking at the above and in cognisance of Uganda’s peculiarities in Political morphology, it is crucial to know that the definition of transition in our country has got to be defined by our own circumstances in the right context of our political genealogy, as opposed to the archaic colonial parameters which undermine the African model of socio-politicalpolitical organisation.
With all respect to the celebrated Hero of the NRA/M revolution Gen. Elly Tumwine and others of the same mind; What else would a leader elected by both his political party and National citizenry do to prepare the country for peaceful transition apart from the systematic bestowment of roles to the young from the old under the circumstances?
Ambrose Mwesigye is a former RDC, currently Interim Chairman: Mission for Civic Awareness Uganda Pressure Group .
Contact: mwesigyeambrose64@gmail.com
