Museveni’s ‘remote control’ killed Bukenya
By Abbey K. Semuwemba
20th Sept 2010
Following the end of the NRM primaries, I would like to congratulate President Museveni as one of the brilliant political brains Uganda has ever produced. He skilfully managed to get rid of one of his future opponents Vice President Prof. Bukenya Gilbert without firing any bullet or anything like imprisonment.
President Museveni has ended Bukenya’s political ambitions in the most extraordinary way that did not bruise him as Museveni. I am still shaking my head over it. What a genius!
There is no way Amama Mbabazi could have beaten Prof. Gilbert Bukenya in the contest for the post of NRM Secretary General in any free and fair election. Obviously, I am basing this on Mbabazi’s previous abysmal performance as NRM Secretary General.
I remember watching a YouTube video where Mbabazi laughed off Bukenya’s challenge in simple words. Some of us thought he was being arrogant. But he may have already known something we didn’t know. At the time, I made a prediction that Bukenya would win the contest for the post of NRM Secretary General. I had badly underestimated the power of the “remote control” in the regime.
After the NRM primaries, I now see things in a totally different way. I will never rule out Amama Mbabazi from becoming my President in the post-Museveni era. Let’s face reality: Bukenya was told not to stand against Mbabazi before the delegates’ conference but he defied the authorities and eventually lost. What does that say about the NRM?
It means that there is a “remote control” that controls everything in the NRM and on this occasion, the button marked “BG” [for Bukenya Gilbert] was not pressed. Somebody decided that that was the best way to dump Bukenya. And to be honest, I think he is gone.
Bukenya’s life after NRM primaries
This is my post-Namboole prediction for Bukenya: He is going to accept the results and move on. He will also finally accept the advice from the Animal farm that “all men are equal but some men are more equal than others”. He may be consoled with some simple post somewhere if he doesn’t rock the boat or make too much noise. What is beyond doubt is that Bukenya’s political ambitions are over.
If he is retained as the Vice President, it will only be because he is a catholic and there wasn’t a single catholic elected in the top five powerful NRM positions. Honourable Kaddunabi Lubega [Butambala] and honourable Sempijja [Masaka] were the others who were humbled by the NRM’s “super” Electoral Commission. I think they have now learnt their lessons.
If anybody wants to enter that parliament, they better run to State House and get endorsed by President Museveni. His hands are everywhere. If you become stubborn, he will humble you using what a Rwandese friend I hosted for Iddil Fitri called “Museveni’s Diplomacy”. The same diplomatic skills have worked on the Kampala Mayor Alhajji Nasser Ssebagala who is now singing “long live Museveni”.
Which way for Baganda in the NRM
It is wrong for people to blame Bukenya’s loss on Baganda NRM delegates who did not support Bukenya. Baganda in the NRM are not as powerful as some people think. They control nothing. And if you control nothing, you cannot control an election. NRM have got their way of doing things which has got nothing to do with any particular tribe. Somebody is controlling everything on a remote control. I think it is time to think twice about the whole 2011 election thing. The opposition may be wasting their time.
If a man controls the system in Africa, then he controls the elections. If you control nothing, you cannot determine the outcome of an election in most developing countries. As things stand, Ugandans should be prepared for anybody to become their President starting with 2011 elections. Personally, I will be watching a film called “Remote Control” while eating popcorns with a cup of tea. END. If is Monday, it’s Uganda Correspondent. Never miss out again!
Mr. Abbey Kibirige Semuwemba is a Ugandan living in the United Kingdom
