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For about 40 years, President Museveni has exerted dominantly alone, personally his power and influence over a nation that never saw a President rule for 10 years before he took over. He has eaten 40 years and dominated the 63 years of Independence.
Stability: President Museveni has successfully prevailed over the country and is credited with putting the country on a stable path but has experienced some hiccups of insurgency wars for almost half of his reign.
The NRM government has been characterized by authoritarianism, political discrimination, high cost of living, nepotism, unemployment of the youth, corruption, patronage, clientelism, political polarization, political compromise, abuse of human rights, distortion of economic gains, reduction of democratic space, etc.
Social unrest: The above-mentioned lingering tendencies are likely to cause social unrest and this now leaves the NRM government lagging because of his dominance in running the State making him a one-man show and his long-time dominance in power, this will happen when Museveni leaves, chaos. The big question is, can Uganda hold up with the exit of Gen. Museveni?
Economy: The NRM has distorted the political economy of Uganda. Spin Doctors economic sugar economic figures to impress the population but the is not nation spread. 60% of Uganda is centered around Kampala the capital and pheri pheri of Kampala, Mukono, Entebbe, Wakiso and rest of the country remains struggling. This economy is designed to cater for a tiny percentage population. There is glaringly inequality and disparities in economy.
On the issue of the Balaalo, government made a big mistake to give them government cattle ranches. They are gone instead now we are facing a diabolical Balaalo issue. This explains the economic mess we are in. If you chase away the Balaalo the making of the NRM government.
You, then what about the vector of diseases? Nomadism should be done carefully. It has caused war in Nigeria between the 2 ethnicities. Who armed the Balaalo? Are they a reserve force? The are a lot of distortions, interferences, and discrepancies in our economic policies. At most, the President has a hand.
Dynasty in succession: This brings in the question of ethnic trust. By the President bringing in his son to succeed him, he makes it clear he has no trust in any other member of the NRM. Because NRM is a massive Movement full of members who have brains and highly educated. After a time in the President has to mind leaving a good legacy. Please don’t leave this country to bleed, your good legacy will be erased.
Pan Africanism: Who is going to pay for the en masse eviction of Balaalo? Most of these Balaalo are of Rwandan origin who came in 1959. But now they are citizens by naturalization. Why should the President deny the Banyarwanada dual citizenship together with Uganda’s if he claims to be a Pan Africanist? Half of the Rwandan population came from Uganda where the RPF took over power in Rwanda between 14 and 18 July 1994.
Most of these Balaalo are armed and were once members of the NRA and the RPF. These Balaalo citizens are part of the Luwero war, that’s how Mr. President Museveni managed to recruit them because in the triangle he had Banyankole, Banyarwanda, and other ethnic tribes related to him. We even have these Ugandans in greater Masaka. These people should not be marginalized and sacrificed for political gains. They did a big job to liberate the country.
Institutions: The government institutions have been weakened, eroded, and intimidated, and their independence compromised. Democratic institutions are no longer independently functioning.
Transition And Transfer of Power: The chance for Uganda to witness a peaceful transfer of power under Mr. Museveni is like a mirage. There has to be a transition that will allow a peaceful transfer of power. And to enable this, the ball is in President Museveni’s court. For over 40-plus years as a one-strongman and the only bull in the kraal, it appears President Museveni will be again on the political stage come 2026.
Because other players have been denied to enjoy the democratic space. Ugandans are now in suspense due to lack of a clear succession plan and too much concentration of power in the President, compounded with human rights abuses, violations, and power struggles they can exacerbate the political situation that can cause anarchy. There has been no peaceful handover. The only great gift Mr.Museveni can give Uganda is a peaceful handover to a transitional leader for 2 years.
Conclusion: The stability that has been ushered in by Mr. Museveni and the NRM revolution has brought in some semblance of peace in many parts of the country but there have been many deaths and assassinations of prominent Ugandans that have gone unanswered.
There have been inquiries both on assassinations and corruption but have yielded no results. What does the President say about this before Ugandans decide? This has badly dented the image of the government.
Secondly, can Ugandans trust the ability of the democratic institutions that have been weakened by the State? The stability and strength of the Nation will depend on how capable government will be able to respond to the challenges emerging in the economy, in the army such as arrested Senior officers planting bombs on roadside to create fake situations of implicating undesired people and on the political front, unresolved political issues such as Constitutional and Electoral reforms.
Mugoya Paul Polly, concerned citizen.
DISCLAIMER: The views expressed in this article are for the writer. They don’t reflect those of Ultimate News, it’s affiliates, owners or employees. Send us an opinion today via ultimatenews19@gmail.com
