How should ordinary people think about this absolute sense of nervousness that has engulfed Uganda in ways that leaves no one behind: Government workers, NRM politicians, line ministers, security forces – are all talking in whispers, unsure about the nature of power in the present moment.
Who is in charge? PLU or NRM? Has Gen. Kainerugaba finally overthrown Gen. Museveni or have these two entered a transitional partnership? How does it work? What is this exhibitionist display of power that undermines all our pretensions of democracy?
In an abstract country like Uganda – for political actors, activists, media personalities and noisy academics – the safety has been associating with the party in power. Or sticking to the fiction of constitutionalism. Not anymore. Not because order has finally returned.
But because there is an entirely new set of dynamics. Even belonging or declaring allegiance to Patriotic League Uganda (PLU) might not be safe enough. While these actions are not necessarily new – abductions, media closures, denials of bail – the way they are being executed has hit a new height.
It is confusing somehow. I have some theories attempting to explain this nervousness: (a) the Boda-Boda 2010 phenomenon, and (b) the coy-mistress phenomenon. But overall, we have entered a slow-moving transitional phase, and this is wrecking our nerves.
PLU IN CHARGE – BUT NOT IN CHARGE
The story will be told that right after Museveni was sworn in for his 40th year as president, his son, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba appeared to be the director of government business right from the swearing-in ground at Kololo Airstrip.
A still image of then powerful speaker, Hon. Anita Annet Among, alongside her husband, Hassim Magogo, appearing to engage in conversation with a visibly disinterested General stole the show.
As one jester asked, “why were they not on their knees?”
In dramatic fashion, AAA ended up under house arrest, and never made it back as Speaker. How the mighty fall! Like Donald Trump, social media platforms – especially X – is the space where the PLU leader runs “his government” or communicates to the country.
Sometimes, he posts jokes about women with big bottoms. Other times, he posts threats, and outright orders. He often comes clean on them. To this end, the entire country continues on nervously because it remains difficult to differentiate between Muhoozi’s jokes and actual threats.
Like, is being “mad in love” with Beyoncé a joke or an actual thing? What is undeniable is that he is leading government business – and everyone else has to fall in line.
After the dramatic takedown of AAA – gaily dramatized online – senior lawyer Erias Lukwago, former mayor of Kampala City, and a leading member of the legal team representing political prisoners, Kizza Besigye and Obeid Lutale, would be abducted from his house after seeking to serve the CDF with summonses to court.
The good soldier quickly updated the country, sharing a victory picture of the abducted advocate in his basement. In a white T-shirt, and in blindfolds, his head had been shaven clean.
The picture was captioned, “ongea Kiswahili” a language associated with military power in Uganda. Then quickly, Lukwago’s colleague on the Besigye-Lutale case, Kenyan politician and lawyer, Martha Karua, would be denied entry into Uganda.
There was more coming: Media houses NTV-Uganda and Daily Monitor would be closed. Renowned activist, Miria Matembe got abducted. Journalist and critic, Timothy Kalyegira got abducted.
AGORA activists were summoned to record statements at police. A few days ago, Hon. Muwanga Kivumbi just a day out of prison, was abducted.
LIKE BODA-BODA 2010
Gen. Kainerugaba/PLU inside NRM/Government is reminiscent of a once powerful outfit (of mobilisers and vigilantes) called Boda-Boda 2010 that operated inside the Uganda Police. At some point, it became leader of police business.
Empowered by the IGP himself, Boda-Boda 2010, although not recognized in the police hierarchy, had superpowers. They would transfer an Officer in Charge (OC) of a police post and inform the IGP weeks later.
They would arrest other riders, collect tolls as they so wished, and inform the IGP later. Doesn’t this sound familiar when line ministries woke up to the closure of Daily Monitor and NTV?
Poor man, UCC boss Nyombi Thembo told the country they would investigate the matter, and moments later, PLU’s Andrew Mwenda announced a completed successful meeting and that the media houses would be open soon. Ouch! (They remain closed).
In the wake of Boda-Boda 2010’s rise, both the country and regular police officers did not know how to go about their lives. Entire police posts would hold their services waiting for instructions not from the IGP but from Hajji Abdallah Kitata, the outfit’s boss.
In truth, although this gives Boda-Boda 2010 vibes, PLU is bigger and more sophisticated. But the nervousness remains as PLU directs government business despite not being a legally-constituted government unit.
MUHOOZI’S COYNESS
One of the most confusing things in this entire movie is Muhoozi’s coyness while around the chair. It reminds me of Andrew Marvel’s poem, To His Coy Mistress about a woman taking forever to make up her mind.
The suitor finally bursts out in anger, reminding her the world is moving so fast, and they too are getting old.
He threatens her about how her procrastination might have them both killed in love: “Thy beauty shall no more be found/… That long- preserved virginity/ And your quaint honour turn to dust.”
Muhoozi’s coyness about taking power has surely taken a toll on all political actors especially inside the NRM. Being the closest to succeeding his father, Muhoozi has become even more confusing.
He has forced NRM politicians into an embarrassing dual loyalty. They have to belong to NRM but at the same time have to declare allegiance to PLU. Sadly, with the exception of the old man, Ofwono Opondo, all others are afraid of voicing their frustrations. In the process, it is living on the edge.
yusufkajura@gmail.com
The author is a political theorist based at Makerere University.
And lo and behold, this is the man, you Dr Yusuf Sserunkuma, want Ugandans to embrace. This is the man, you Dr Yusuf Sserunkuma, would like to succeed his father, a failed leader in his own right, to lead this country. This begs the question. Are you sane and right-thinking?
Doc, you clearly know that we are currently living under an autocratic system. It doesn’t really matter who issues the directives, as long as they are enforced, binding, and remain unchallenged by M7. In this case, M7’s silence clearly implies his support for them. Also, why create the impression that the country is nervous? Who exactly is nervous? You have repeatedly advocated for Muhoozi to take over from his father, spending a lot of effort trying to convince us how good this transition would be for the country. So, where is this sudden nervousness coming from?”
But Dr., Dr. Yusuf, why would a country with a constitution and the rule of law, be nervous about the wrongdoing of father and son wielding unlawful political power?
In other words, why shouldn’t Gen MK be court martialled, charged for treason and his father, our 86-years-old PROBLEM OF AFRICA, Gen Tibuhaburwa impeached, removed from office; and officially charged for all the crimes contrary to our law books, he committed during his 40 years in out State House, and they are hanged side by side and dawn?
But you guys: So we, Remove, and Lakwena, are quite a huge disappointment. You are accusing the author of supporting Muhoozi’s take over. But you miss out on context. In his previous articles he has said it clearly that he shouldn’t be the one advising Museveni and his son, because he abhors their rule, “but the Sudan and Libya scenarios, which are very likely to befall us if the transition is mishandled, are scary. ”
He has also advised the CDF against mishandling people: civil society, activists, political opponents, media, well because he will need them.
Lakwena comes off funny and naive to suggest court martialing Muhoozi, who abducted a lawyer for simply serving him with court summonses. What more do you want to see that the so-called rule of law is already defeated under the current state of affairs?
Yusuf’s language clearly shows a person opposed to the wrongs that happening but very alive to the fact that there’s very little man can do to stop it without divine intervention.
Example: we all know NMG committed no wrong, but have you seen anyone carrying a placard protesting the illegal closure, as was the case in 2013? Isn’t that the nervousness and whispers he is talking about?
Mr Abdu-Nassar , I see you doing what the author of the articles you refer to should have done. Mw.Sserunkuma has chosen to ignore ( disrespected ) what his readers think . Thank you !
Allow me to say that you Sir , also misses the context. I think that many of us know that for years , Mw.Sserunkuma has produced hundreds of articles that clearly showed he used to abhor Musevenism . It should go without saying that it is impossible to abhor Musevenism and then separate Muhoozi from that ” idiology ” .Some of us have noticed that Mw.Sserunkuma has slowly and cunningly changed his tone .He is pushing the view that the Son is not the Father. Some of us disagree , and that is the issue .Please take all the time you need and study the things Mw.Sserunkuma has been saying lately . No where does he CONDEMN Muhoozi for anything ; instead , he almost casually depicts Muhoozi as a careless or spoilt child, a movie star who should check his harmless bad manners and take on the responsibility of saving Uganda.
We also do not agree that someone who is “advised” against mishandling citizens because ” he is going to need them” and yet he doubles down abduction , torturing , ordering executions , threatening to hand that and this one , celebrating the capture and the humiliation of respectable ladies , calls non-Bachwezi ugly baboons etc etc , is the one who is going to save Uganda from becoming Sudan or Libya. Hear this from me : most Ugandans are not scared of becoming Libya or Sudan; we are principally there as the headline suggests . Unlike this new Sserunkuma , many of us see Muhoozi as someone totally unfit for any role as a leader. He tyrannical , crewel , unstable , sometimes immature , lacks emotional intelligence , discriminative , buffoonish , and a bully . We take it as our right to tell him and his promoters so . Some of see Mw. Sserunkuma doing the opposite .
Sir , your name suggests that you are Muslim, right ?
Where in the Koran did Prophet Muhamad say that if you see evil “and there is very little you can do to stop it ” you may accept , promote ,or justify its presence ?
Betty, ABDUL-NASSER TAJUDEEN should 1st read Chapter 5:32 of the Koran, which says: whoever kills another person, is as though he has killed the whole of Mankind (GENOCIDE).
And who ever saves another human being, s/he has saved the whole of Mankind (Salvation). That’s the bottom line is: thou shall not KILL/HARM another human being.
Therefore, whoever is not concerned for others, can only cause HARM. And whoever is concerned for others, prevent HARM.
In other words, Gen MK and his father are the least concerned for Ugandans but are the embodiment of STATE OF THE DEMONIC ART OF DIABOLISM!
Otherwise, where was ABDUL-NASSER when on 26th Jan 2017, our 86-years-old PROBLEM OF AFRICA, Gen Tibuhaburwa (inadvisable) in broad-day-light, loud and clear; told off Ugandans and whoever cared that: he is neither our servant NOR employee.
In other words, with disdain, the father and son treat us/Ugandan more like their slaves! That is where the biggest problem is.
Maybe ABDUL-NASSER has no problem being urinated on and requested to say thank you for the warm shower!