If you haven’t watched the viral clip where Gen. Salim Saleh asks the European Union ambassadors to cease fire over the matter of the reputational damage that Museveni’s all-too-powerful son is causing the country, then you have missed some really delicious drama.
Look it up. In just a few minutes, one is able to make a thousand conclusions. It was not just Saleh and his Mzungu guests. There were other protagonists, including (former?) journalist and every-powerful-and-rich-person’s-spokesperson, Andrew Mwenda, and former ESO boss, David Pulkol.
Mwenda laboured to make some unintelligible arguments about neo-colonialism, blah-blah-blah. But the more he spoke, the more embarrassingly pretentious and out-of-touch he came off. It was an inelegant display.
I am not sure what David Pulkol was doing in that space (or where he has been). But he sounded as sharp as ever, reminding Mwenda of a basic truth that torture isn’t a marker of sovereignty. You could feel the pain in Museveni’s ‘co-president’ brother’s voice. He sounded in charge but helpless at the same time.
Offered to apologise on their son’s behalf but then mournfully added: “I don’t know what he will tweet tonight.” They raised him, they have to carry the cross. As the Baganda have said, “azaala ekibi…” Saleh tried to keep it light, noting that these ironically-educated Gen Z’ soldiers aren’t from amongst them.
That they “seem to have a problem in their heads.” By the time European dignitaries did the journey to Gulu to talk to a man with no official position in the government of his brother, they had actually had enough. Look, this wasn’t about the optics of diplomacy.
Otherwise, they would have sought audience with Yoweri Museveni. But they wanted to have a direct conversation with the deep state. So, they did the tortuous journey to Gulu, and showed up not in suits, but with their sleeves folded: fight or serious mode.
The clip, which only captures the German ambassador speaking, shows him being upfront, asking that besides Nobert Mao, someone else has to call out the braggadocio son of Yoweri Museveni – on both his utterances and actions. “Torturing our people,” as David Pulkol remarked, is not our right.
If they met for over an hour, that entire hour must have been delicious. These are the agonies of parenting. When it hits you, sadly in old age, that you actually missed the mark. That your legacy will not be carried on, and your wealth may never be protected.
So, Chinua Achebe would capture Okonkwo’s uncle, Obierika reminding the charismatic, brave and fierce warrior of Umuofia, that “glowing begets cold impotent ash.” This was after Okonkwo had learned that his son, Nwoye, had actually joined the missionaries, by extension, the colonisers. It was painful.
The Baganda version of this piece of lore goes “embwa enjizzi, ezaala enkolya,” that somehow, a brilliant and agile hound, finds itself with a lazy offspring.
Islam Gaddafi or MuhoozI Kainerugaba?
I am always tempted to see Muhoozi Kainerugaba alongside Col. Muammar Gaddafi’s son, Seif-al-Islam Gaddafi – who is actually presently the same age as our presidential hopeful. As Gaddafi was being unfairly bombed by NATO, Seif, a London School of Economics (LSE) and political science graduate, was on TV articulately defending father and country.
He was never insulting, never angry, never boisterous. Col. Gaddafi had really raised a son fully prepared to take the reins. Even the western world loved him. Indeed, pundits on Libya have noted that Islam Gaddafi still has chance to become Libyan president.
Does our MK stand a chance to be president independent of the old man? Is ours able to hold lengthy tough interviews with local and international press or only articulate on a keyboard?
I have endlessly challenged his handlers – especially his media savvy “special spokesperson”, Andrew Mwenda – to gift him to Capital Radio’s The Capital Gang; or the calmer, Radio One’s Spectrum Extra, or NBS TV’s Morning Breeze. It would be a wonderful introduction to the country.
Kaguta’s entanglements
While Muhoozi Kainerugaba’s positions on Burkina Faso’s Ibrahim Traore, and the Ukraine-Russia conflict appear anti-establishment – and admirable – the man seems to have zero awareness of his family’s political-economic entanglements with the western world. (Ironically, he has a pro-Israel position on the Gaza genocide, and the UPDF actually organises prayer sessions for Israel Defence Forces).
Inexplicably, Muhoozi seems convinced his family actually valiantly fought and won a war which saw the NRA take power. While this story of self-sustaining heroism is good for public relations, a family member ought to know a little more: that without British MI6, Israel arms supply to the Rwenzori in 1984-5 (which means the American support), and thus the western world, there would be no NRA victory.
He should be able to understand why our economy is foreign-owned. But this 52-year-old Gen-Z not only recently went ballistic against the American ambassador to Uganda but is now picking a fight with the biggest economy in Europe – and with all of the EU.
Does this Gen-Z know that the western world – especially the US – with their blatant disregard for international law could start firing pre-emptive strikes against UPDF positions and installations? Does this Gen-Z understand that these countries, having placed his father in power, actually have ability to remove him if they so wanted?
As this meeting wound down, Gen. Saleh actually decided to throw his son under the bus. That he was not one of them. Something like, ‘these kids don’t know stuff ’.
I can imagine the thoughts going through the Kagutas watching their potential successor making major mistakes before actually taking the reins.
yusufkajura@gmail.com
Author is a political theorist based at Makerere University.
“52-year-old Gen-Z.” This is unpatriotic. Hope the basement is not being messed!
Unfortunately sir your article is full of inaccuracies regarding the bush war (a tendency you seem to revel in without seeking the redemption of knowledge).
Enlighten us on what happened? Don’t just keep quiet without supporting your argument.
Really? What are the inaccuracies?
I’ve enjoyed reading this peace. Thank you
Doc, before I comment on your article, I must say that there’s an elephant missing in the room. I can’t believe that The Observer has not yet written about M7 and Janet M7’s empty apology to the nation, but particularly to Buganda. That is big news or what is called, “omuntu okuluma ebwa.” When a “man” bites a dog, or when the M7s make an empty apology, that is big news. For M7 and Janet M7 to make an empty apology for their 40 years of anarchy and total destruction of our country, while their untouchable son, Muhoozi K M7, is kidnapping and arrogantly/happily torturing innocent Ugandans in his basement, is quite agonizing. What kind of apology comes in the midst of a militant law to try civilians in militant courts, over 3,000 innocent Ugandans in torture basements, political prisoners like Besigye and Haji Lutale in torture chambers, bogus and violent elections are unabated, killing and missing innocent Ugandans by govt militants is now the norm and far worse than any other regime we ever had!
Doc, the point here is, what Muhoozi M7 is doing is exactly what M7 and Janet M envisaged for Uganda. That is, M7, his family, relatives and militants own Uganda outright.
In other words, what’ll you do?
Thanks Remase … the elephant for sure.
Remase is spot on.
Probably , there are too many elephants in this room to handle.
The writer names Gen.Saleh as a “co-president” . Then he -the writer- feels he must remind his readers that Saleh holds no official position in his brother`s government.
Right there , is an elephant !
Here it is : when armies fight and conquer territory , the first thing they do is to place their flag as high as they can.
Mr. Museveni`s NRA military conquered the northerners ( particularly acholi) ,and now they seem to have politically conquered some selected individuals from the north .If Remase had not chosen to ignore them , and only concentrate on Mr. Kyagulanyi , he would say they too are into the money
So ,Gen. Salim Saleh is not just a “deep state” , he is THE FLAG , a symbolic gesture of conquest. END.
That “apology” , what about it !
Simply put , this was something put on paper by a daughter for her parents to read away.
The body language and the voice tone of the readers is indicative that they were not even going to remember what the hell it was that they read.
Did you see the body language? No emotions. They were simply reading a script written for them. You know the usual M7 scrips he reads. They looked like pupils reading a poem or passage from a bible. No conviction at all as if they were performing an obligatory duty to society.
Jes, I concentrate on Kyagulanyi because Kyagulanyi is concentrating on us and deceitfully tells us that there’s democracy and he is determined to show us that it works. Kumbe he is only interested in bogus and violent elections in order to make money. He charges for anyone who wants to stand as a NUP member! As the leading opposition figure and NUP the leading opposition party in parliament, Kyagulanyi collects billions when he passes the go. Which business could he ever make such huge amount of return?
Bwana Remase , that is your opinion , and I respect it.
But please , try to remember and accept that your opinion about Kyagulanyi is just YOURs. Millions of Ugandans have millions of different opinions. There are facts to prove this.
Mine is that Mr. Kyagulanyi did not have to join politics in order to make it financially.He comes with a history.
Now this :when you say things like : “Kyagulanyi is concentrating ON US ” who do you speak for ? Who are US ; do you speak for a team , an authority , a particular group of people , IGG, a political party, Andrew Mwenda or what ?
It seems to me that there two people who know everything most Ugandans do not know: you and Andrew Mwenda . He used to know that Mr-Museveni had something to do with Gen.Garang`s death ; these days , he is sure that Dr.Besigye was planning to kill Mr. Museveni is cold blood.
Right here , I am curious how Kyagulanyi collects billions . You seem to know these things. Help me and other the readers to understand how he does that .
While at it , explain to the readers why other thieves should be ignored. I prefer and suggest that if the issue was about corruption , deception and fraudulent activity among elected or civil servants , the debate should not be focused on one individual . No one who commits these “crimes” should be ignored. Why ? Because that is what Mr.Museveni does. His selective identification of the corrupt that should be targeted and the others that should be ignored ( if they steal and invest here) is why corruption has now become customised idiology.
Put some facts behing the charge so we move forward.
Jes, thanks for understanding that you’re entitled to you opinion, so do I. I further trust that, millions of Ugandans have their opinion(s) as well. So, stick to yours and I’ll stick to mine. The fact of the matter is, Kyagulanyi is in politics to make money. That is inferred from the fact that Kyagulanyi deceitfully tells the nation [ekiiwanyi to millions of Ugandans] that there’s democracy, yet he clearly knows that it’s not true. Kyagulanyi clearly knows that he can’t [and never will] win bogus and violent elections. Kyagulanyi deceitfully tells [ekiwanyi] the nation that, all one needs is, “get a national ID, and go and vote.” Then leave the rest to Kyagulanyi [Byono mu bikwase Kyagulanyi].
To “put some facts behind the charge so we move forward,” we don’t have to look far, Kyagulanyi clearly knew that he couldn’t win bogus and violent election organized by a hardcore criminal, M7. With clear knowledge that there’s no democracy but M7 has absolute power in Uganda, Kyagulanyi came after Besigye [but not M7], right from the get go. In the 2021 bogus and violent elections, Kyagulanyi blamed Besigye [not M7] for standing against M7 4 times and lost, then blamed it on lack of democracy. So, Kyagulanyi assumed us that he’d show us that democracy works. That is why in his [continuation] scheme of making money out of bogus and violent elections [politics], Kyangulanyi is now claiming that bogus and violent elections are about “protest votes!” In other wards, Kyagulanyi is intent of making money out of bogus and violent elections, with clear knowledge that he has no chance of ever winning M7.
Meant “assured us.”
Remase Bwana , thanks for the response. You`ve just told me something.
I have nothing more to add.
Jes, we’re caught between a rock and a hard place. On one hand M7 is deceitful [atusibba ekiwanyi] by organizing bogus and violent elections, in which innocent Ugandans are losing their lives, others are missing and others are rotting in torture basements. On the other hand, Kyagulanyi is also deceitful [atusibba kiwanyi] by telling us that there’s democracy in Uganda in order to hook us on bogus and violent elections, so that Kyagulanyi can get his hands on taxpayers money.
Jes, omuntu agayinge wa? Buli omu asibba kiwanyi. M7 is deceitful and Kyagulanyi is deceitful, so where should we go? Kyagulanyi has led us into total despair.
Is there any notable value this family can be benchmarked about? Several vices easily run off my tongue, but not a single virtue do I see in them. This implosion should have happened earlier, and Uganda and Ugandans, would have been in a much better place.
Of course “torturing our people” is neither our right nor our mark of sovereignty. The question is whether you are considered as such. We have seen leaders including ministers in places like Sembabule with herding sticks during NRM village elections. People were seemingly under herd.
Interesting conversation
The fundamental question is this: why did the Kaguta’s decide to expose their son to us to see at this time? Clearly, they knew he would damage himself once appointed CDF. Historians will labor to answer this question in years to come.
Muhoozi is an old man. He is not from Gen z cohort. This is what I got from the internet: Generation Z (Gen Z) is a demographic cohort that generally includes individuals born between the mid-to-late 1990s and the early 2010s.
This generation is considered to be the second-youngest generation, following Millennials and preceding Generation Alpha. Gen Z is often referred to as “digital natives” because they have grown up with widespread internet use.
“Jes, I concentrate on Kyagulanyi because Kyagulanyi is concentrating on us and deceitfully tells us that there’s democracy and he is determined to show us that it works.” Of course Kyagulanyi is not being economic with the truth as he works hard to become the next President of the Republic of Uganda alongside the 1995 NRM Uganda national constitution. Many Ganda tribes people up to now stand well with the 1962 Uganda Independence constitution. The Uganda pigeon hole constitution of 1967 formulated by the political party of the UPC failed the aspirations of the people of this country. The military President of Uganda at that time took over the country with his junta government and dumped that UPC constitution in the bin and ruled the country by military decree 1971 to 1979. Currently Uganda has a fourth governance document enacted since 1995 and is presently a military written dictatorship constitution! Many Opposition politicians have tried their best to unseat President Museveni by protest vote without any success. This time round, the Kingdom state of Buganda is not going to continue the 8th time to participate in such violent, and rigged national elections that are not free and fair!
I think Keinerugaba’s posts are intentional and just testing his strengths in the crowd
Those posts, to me, are not meant for Ugandans- when he talks about; Kenya, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Italy, Russia and Sudan, he is calling those countries’ attention to his existence, so they engage.(“…I am here, you have to pay attention to me”)
When they engage, he breaks the ice by saying he was just joking…( they get to interact with him on a personal level, remember the first impression they get from him from the posts is that he is a spoilt son/ a joke, but when they sit down one on one they realize that he might have some substance…)
It is a classic tactic, let people first underestimate you from a distance then wow them at a personal level…
Have you noticed that certain foreign media term him a “likely successor” to Mr. Museveni (like as if Uganda is a Monarchy)
Those posts especially to foreign entities allow him to put his foot in the door…You Ugandans cannot like him, he is not an idiot, he has no impressive personal record or his father’s record over shadows his…
He engages with foreign entities for insurance;
1. To keep mutinies in the army at bay (“…he has “friends” far and near so a mutiny will be crushed…”)
2. Those “interactions” with foreign entities keep political adversaries at bay( they do not know what Muhoozi talked about with those other entities so they will be indecisive-“…if we topple, we might not get support , they might be spying on us for him, …”)
But all of these might be mind games when it is what you see with your eyes that is actually taking place- a person living his life to the fullest but destroying his father’s achievement…
Politics is the business of governing people with the aid of perception…
Abaaye, those of you with kin engaged in “Uganda’s wars” in South Sudan, Congo and Somalia, are your kin still alive ?