In the Islamic tradition, we are told about the story of Prophet Sulaiman (King Solomon in the Christian tradition) whom the Almighty God had given immense powers and capabilities.
He was tyrannical with his powers but simply blessed. Not only did he speak the language of insects, animals and birds, but he also had spirits (the jinns) labouring for him. But death met King Solomon while he was standing upright, holding his staff overseeing the jinns that were working his farm.
His dead body remained upright, and the spirits continued labouring, believing the king was watching them. For days, maybe months, they laboured on. It was only after the termites ate away his staff – sort of a walking stick – and his body fell that the spirits realised the king had died a long time ago.
Yoweri Museveni is no King Solomon. But it appears that Uganda is in a situation of the king’s death while his body remains standing upright. Our ‘King Solomon’ even continues to walk like those characters in the movies.
The spirits are still working – although not for him in this case but stealing and committing crimes in his name, thinking the man is still alive for their protection. What is becoming more apparent, however, is that the worms and termites have not finished their job – for the spirits and us wananchi will take time to know.
Look, at one point: Museveni appears to be in charge of the country. But then not really in charge at the same time. Because, after some 40 years, the country – and even Museveni’s loyal supporters – is familiar with his game of denials and clandestine dangerousness.
His son, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, that he made chief of the Defense Forces (CDF), appears to be calling the shots, overrunning every institution from the judiciary, parliament, to the police force. But he then appears not to be in charge and tells the country that he, too, has to wait for instructions from his father.
But then his actions clearly compromise his father’s interests. While it might be true that Museveni is fully aware of his son’s dangerous escalation, it is visible that the entire house is out of joint.
Museveni might only be standing upright but held in place by a walking stick. That the former CDF, Gen David Muhoozi – now minister for Internal Affairs – finds himself openly disagreeing with the current CDF is a tale-tale sign that the centre can no longer hold.
That even NRM diehards, spokespeople (such as Emmanuel Ddombo, Afande Fred Enanga, Maj. Gen Felix Kulayigye) and renown surrogates find themselves speechless at their boss’ dangerous boisterousness is telling enough.
BEATING THE DRUMS OF GENOCIDE
To folks in the armed forces – especially folks inside SFC, and directly under Afande Kainerugaba – it seems unthinkable that Ugandans are capable of revolutionary action. To them, we seem thoroughly emasculated.
If they have not bought us off like our colleagues in parliament, they have thoroughly threatened us with drones and torture. This explains their confidence to ask: “what will you do?”
It could come off as one of those crude jokes, but Muhoozi Kainerugaba might struggle to understand how genocidal his tweet with a tortured picture of Bobi Wine’s longtime bodyguard, Eddie Mutwe is.
Unbeknownst to him, the sentence, “He is in my basement. Learning Runyankore,” labels and classifies Runyankore as the language of the oppressor. I know, many wonderful ethnic Banyankore have been equally emasculated and marginalised by Muhoozi’s father’s government – and many are at the forefront in the struggle for a better Uganda.
But the problem with actions of powerful individuals (kings, queens, generals, etc.) is that they tend, by default, to represent entire constituencies. If the Mabira forest protests of 2009 could be taken as the example, where all Indians became a target of violence because of the actions of a single sugar factory, Muhoozi should have known that Runyankore is a language of a community.
Sadly, in moments of large-scale violence, the fighters cluster their supposed enemies around particular things. If there were any doubts about Banyankore/ Runyankore speaking favouritism under Museveni’s government, his son just confirmed to the world that Runyankore just the language of not just power and privilege, but also torture.
This is the stereotype that Kiswahili suffered in Uganda.
THE POET ON THE OTHER SIDE
It is a sad fact that revolutions, on the specifi c issue of mobilisation, are like genocides: All must have their poets: the poets craft opinions and slogans around which a revolution or genocide is executed.
In what appears to be not too distant threat for Uganda, while the one beating the drums of genocide in this context is Museveni’s son, and the poet on the opposite side is the NUP President, Hon. Bobi Wine. (It used to be Dr Kizza Besigye who actually did a wonderful job keeping Uganda together for the last 20 years despite all provocations).
Responding to Muhoozi’s tweet, it was impressive listening to Bobi Wine during an online conversation stressing the point that Museveni’s son was conscripting innocent Banyankore speakers in his crimes.
This point was well articulated – and it might have to be emphasised when the spirits and wretches realise the king died a long time ago.
But if our ‘King Solomon’ is not simply a walking spirit himself, there are things he ought to do immediately: Painfully, he has to demote his son from the position of CDF, and or throw him in jail.
He is too risky: out of sheer excitement and bravado, Muhoozi might send drones to pick up Bobi Wine (Is he not, NUP foot-soldier 001?). Next thing, he could be sending drones to pick up the Katikkiro Owek. Charles Peter Mayiga – just for the show of power.
yusufkajura@gmail.com
The author is a political theorist based at Makerere University
Thanks Dr., Dr. Yusuf.
The sad tragedy is that: except the history we probably do not know, or unconsciously repeat, there is nothing new under the sun.
In “professional Ethics”, because of the “apparent conflict of interest”, who in his/her right state of mind does not know that NEPOTISM is a vice in any professional service and/or institution?
In other words, because he is an obscurantic, tribalistic and above all a nepotist, our 84-year-old “Problem of Africa”, Gen Tibuhaburwa is morally so weak, diabolically conflicted such that he cannot discipline nor punish his criminally raised son, nor other relatives he irregularly deploys in public offices.
Did e.g., Tibuhaburwa discipline his step-brother, Salim Saleh over the famous/infamous Junk Helicopter corruption saga? NYET.
But the way Gen Tibu condemns tribalism, imagine Obote (RIP) had appointed his dignified wife, Miria Kalule the Minister of Education. Tibuhaburwa would have gone to the bush.
Imagine Obote (RIP) appointed Jimmy Akena the CDF and/or Special Presidential Advisor. Tibuhaburwa would have immediately gone to the bush, etc., etc.
Wahurura bashuma mwenu shi?
Elaborate on the step brother talk, Mr Lakwena. I thought he was his full brother.
In other words Ruhemb’ogwenjura-Mujwarazitomere Ekinimi Apuuli, it means: brothers born of the same mother, but fathered by DIFFERENT MEN of Unknown Origins.
I suppose Uncle Ekinimi Apuuli has the longest name I have come across since I was born. Longer than Sokolokobangosay!
The commander is a gift that keeps giving. He is a portal. A portal into the mind of a power crazed militia.
The level headed adults; professors, statesmen, educated bureaucrats, businessmen, clergy keep quiet and bid their time to protect their money.
But the erratic behaviour of the good sir one day has a potential of lighting up a fire they cant extinguish.
For the Banyankore speakers, they really have a duty to publically disassociate themselves from this tribal genocidal talk.
If the Wider banyankore community are being coopted into some sick agenda, some of us who have similar names can only worry about the reckoning. When other groups declare that they have seen enough.
At one time, I remember this sort of thing caused many innocent people to be hunted down like game because they came from the west or their names or features betrayed them. Please Muhoozi spare us from this repeat
In other words Mae, it was the bloody 2009 Kayunga riot debacle, triggered by the regime’s arrogance, audacity and recklessness of preventing Kabaka Mutebi from going to Kayunga to meet his people.
Maybe Mohozi is like Trump. He tells you what he thinks and feelings of of his people.
If it hurts you, it is your obligation to go and hang yourself on a tomato tree by using your shoe lace. I like the way both men articulate their words, plans and deeds. They are not hypocrites who don’t walk their talk. Whatever they is not accidental, it is in their hearts and private manifesto.
Other people coverup their minds. That is the problem and pretend to be our friends. Remember, a false friend is worse than an enemy.
Thank God that we now know what Muhozi has in store for us the unbanyankore
Maybe Mohozi is like Trump. He tells you what he thinks and the feelings of his people.
If it hurts you, it is your obligation to go and hang yourself on a tomato tree by using your shoe lace. I like the way both men articulate their words, plans and deeds. They are not like hypocrites who don’t walk their talk. Whatever they say or do is not accidental, it is in their hearts and private manifesto.
Other people coverup their minds and pretend to be our friends. That is the problem. Remember, a false friend is worse than an enemy. Thank God that we now know what Muhozi has in store for us the unbanyankore
Fellow Ugandans, M7 and his son, Muhoozi M7, are intoxicated with power! Like father, like son. Muhoozi is a power maniac just like his father, M7. He speaks his mind of violence, nepotism, tribalism and militantisme with impunity. Afterall, “what will you [Ugandans] do?” M7, his son, family, relatives, tribesmen and militants clearly know that, for over 4 decades we have done nothing. They’ve been gifted by a fugazi and crewless Kyagulanyi who is in politics to make money! Kyagulanyi, like the MPs and all those in power, is only after making money. M7 knows it and Muhoozi knows it. They know that we’re hopeless due to the fact that our opposition is divided and worst of all, they’re only interested in making money through bogus and violent elections organized by a hardcore organized criminal, M7. That’s why Muhoozi is taking advantage of our opposition’s division and insatiable greed to make money out of bogus and violent elections.
We can’t and never [will] ever bring change while we’re still engaging in bogus and violent elections which only keep us divided. On the other hand, M7, and Muhoozi, have the money, state resources and all the guns and ammunitions they’ll ever need to keep power. They use it to either buy you, torture you or kill you. As a businessman, Kyagulanyi is a risk taker who has chosen to make money through bogus and violent elections.