By Our Reporters.
When he came to power on January 26, 1986, a much younger and tough talking Yoweri Kaguta Museveni said he was ushering in a “fundamental change.” under the National Resistance Movement government.
Mr Museveni had just ended his five – year protracted bush war against President Apollo Milton Obote’s government and the military junta of Gen Tito Okello Lutwa and Bazilio Olara Okello. The “Okellos” had betrayed their master Milton Obote overthrowing him on July 27, 1985 in a tribal coup detat of Acholis against Langis.
Yoweri Museveni was sworn in as President on January 29, 1986 outside parliament after guns fell silent for the first time in weeks of shelling the capital city.
President Museveni vowed to enforce radical changes in the war-torn former British colony and to prove he was unique and the best leader Uganda had ever had.
The National Resistance Army (NRA) commander in Chief told Ugandans and the world that his regime would not be a mere “change of guards” but a realistic positive fundamental change.
He vowed to clamp down on corruption, fix dilapidated roads his troops had bombed, revive the Ugandan economy in all sectors, tame the army and end insecurity.
As Ugandans celebrate the 36th NRM anniversary on January 26, 2022, the Ten – point programme for ushering in a fundamental change, could be re-examined.
The NRA/NRM developed a “Ten-point Programme” for an eventual government, covering: democracy; security; consolidation of national unity; defending national independence; building an independent, integrated, and self-sustaining national economy; improvement of social services; elimination of corruption and misuse of power; redressing inequality; cooperation with other African countries; and a mixed economy.
Mr Museveni is credited for managing to stem the tide of galloping inflation, ushered in stability, created an enabling environment for development, constructed roads, helped local and foreign investors to set up industries, and investment in real estate thereby creating jobs, offered wealth creation loans and encouraged promotion of motorbike taxis commonly known as boda bodas. The education sector expanded with more primary, and secondary schools plus universities and tertiary institutions though the cost of learning is exorbitant.
More investments have been made in housing, private health centres, pharmacies, super markets, hotels and office space. If the number of cars on the roads causing traffic jams is one of the indicators for economic growth then Ugandans have made significant growth over the years.
But covid-19 pandemic now ravaging the world has had adverse effects on the Ugandan economy with most sectors especially the hospitality, education, health, industrial, transport, media and entertainment sectors, among others badly shattered.
President Museveni must offer Covid-19 recovery bailouts to all sectors adversely affected by the pandemic.
However poverty remains widespread, unemployment is soaring, while corruption in service delivery and impunity by government officials remains an over-riding concern.
More importantly the Ugandan leader faces a ‘dotcom’ generational challenge of the youth many of whom are unemployed and disgruntled, and are demanding for government intervention..
They cannot be employed anywhere and they have no capital to engage in business ventures despite being encouraged to make use of available “ Operation Wealth Creative”, “Bonna Bagagawale” Youth Empowerment, and “ Emyoga programmes. The youth, including those in NRM and in opposition, claim unfair distribution of available opportunities or national resources where nepotism is order of the day. They allege that money distributed under the wealth creation programmes has either been given to NRM party officials and their family members or to few selected party members. But much of the tax payers’ money for projects is fleeced by corrupt officials.
President Museveni is credited for being a hard – working leader who always ensures government programmes are implemented within deadlines but is only let down by lazy and inefficient government officials.
The country that has been led by President Museveni for a record 36 years now faces a generational change from a new crop of leaders that have grown up under his regime.
Will the National Resistance Movement provide alternative leadership to succeed Mr Museveni?.
Political analysts say Mr Museveni does not see any visionary, effective and suitable successor within NRM who can steer the country to greater heights. That means if Mr Museveni does not appear on the ballot for the 2026 Presidential elections then he might pick a successor outside the NRM top party leadership. The question is when and who will Mr Museveni pick as his successor?. Will he or she be sellable among the NRM party members and Ugandans at large?
As the President ponders on the succession plan disgruntled youths who constitute the majority are teaming up with voices of dissent or people with divergent views.
The next General elections are expected to be hectic and unpredictable at Presidential, Parliamentary and local government levels.
The opposition political parties in Uganda are so divided that they can never agree on fielding one Presidential candidate against Mr Yoweri Museveni.
Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) that was formerly the official opposition party are bitter with the youth – dominated National Unity Platform (NUP) party which dislodged them in the House.
NUP led by musician cum politician Hon Robert Kyagulanyi “alias” Bobi Wine has become a force to reckon with in the Ugandan political landscape. The new party came on the scene after traditional parties Uganda Peoples Party (UPC) and the Democratic Party (DP) were dormant.
NUP has recruited youths and enticed followers who believe their party is for the youth as opposed to NRM which is a party for the elderly people.
One of the biggest challenges Mr Museveni faces in 2026, if he chooses to be on the ballot, is that many of his senior party members or NRM cadres are at advanced age and will not return in the next elections. The wave for change that is being blown by the youth is expected to inflict massive impact in 2026 and old timers could be forcefully retired.
The NRM big shots including Ministers in Buganda region lost miserably in last year’s Parliamentary elections as the wave for change illuminated by NUP was blown. Victims claim they lost to NUP candidates due to poor service delivery, corruption and unfulfilled promises by the NRM.
. Disgruntled youths are intensifying resentment from Buganda region and now spreading their “gospel” to other regions. The youths do not need money to join opposition groups. They see in NUP a party that addresses issues pertinent to their plight and future well – being.
Ugandan Parliament amended the constitution in 2005 and removed term limits on the President. In 2017 article 102(b) was amended and presidential age limit of 75 years was removed. Opposition groups claim that none of the Ugandan election has ever been free and fair. Mr Museveni won the 2021 Presidential elections with 58.6% while Robert Kyagulanyi got 35.6% ■
