On March 13, 2025, President Museveni met about 12 opposition leaders from Acholi sub- region.
The agenda of the meeting was not made public but since then, we have seen endless defections to the ruling party. Analysts believe the engagement was intended to fish out disgruntled members of parliament abandoned after the disintegration of the Forum for Democratic Change that gave birth to the People’s Front for Freedom.
It is alleged that these leaders, many of whom have been members of parliament for the Forum for Democratic Change, disgruntled independents and the Democratic Party found themselves at crossroads and were prone to temptations.
With the help of power brokers, they met the president to negotiate their exit from the opposition and to come up with strategies on how they would help President Museveni secure votes, especially in the Acholi sub-region.
Disappointed by their decision, some opinion and religious leaders within Acholi came out and condemned the engagement with Museveni as “acam ngwinya” literally meaning selfish or those seeking favour for personal gain at the expense of those they represent. We do not know what they were given in exchange but I am sure money was involved and a promise for placements.
It is also a public secret that some time back Norbert Mao of the Democratic Party entered into a cooperation agreement with President Museveni. The terms of that engagement secured him a ministry. He has often told of his critics that the agreement signed was in the best interest of the country and warned that those pointing an accusing finger would soon join him. His prophetic warning has come to pass.
It is also on record that after securing victory as president general of the Democratic Party this month, Norbert Mao told the press that his presence in politics was not to remain in opposition but to be in government.
He castigated the opposition, saying meaningful political engagement means aiming for power, and not protests. In his usual rhetoric, Mao called for national unity and political maturity, saying the country needed dialogue and healing.
There are plenty of signs that Ugandans have taken for granted but it appears we are being prepared for a shocking transition where the surviving opposition, if any, will be left in the cold. Many leaders who were part of the opposition will find themselves taking up fat jobs in government to sanitize a wrongful process with a selfish agenda.
These threats should send shivers to the leadership of the National Unity Platform who have already received a warning that they would not receive IPOD funding if they declined membership. That argument is partly explained by the rush by some individuals to form new political parties with the aim of positioning themselves when negotiations commence.
If you noticed, new parties have been formed to broaden the net while the old ones have been infiltrated by moles working on the instructions of the ruling government with the sole aim of reducing the support base of the genuine opposition.
At this point, opposing forces of change have reached a point of elasticity and do not know who to work with since many of their colleagues are said to be working for the ruling government. We are also told two other old opposition parties have since entered into secret dealings with the ruling party.
One of the parties has had all its members of parliament cocooned to one sub-region and they are often looked at as a friendly force. With the remaining opposition being blocked from interfacing with the voters, with some ‘opposing forces’ creating new parties instead of re-enforcing the existing ones, we should be prepared for a shocking event sooner or later. Museveni is certainly aware that Uganda will never be the same without him.
He might have conceived a plan for a smooth transition by bringing his enemies closer through formation of a government of national unity. This may even come before or immediately after the 2026 general elections.
For clarity, a government of national unity is a broad coalition government formed by all or most major political parties in a country, often during times of crisis like war or national emergency.
Unfortunately, we live in a country with serious historical tensions and where everyone wants to be a leader, where leadership is centered on tribal and religious sentiments and we know the benefits and so are the dangers associated with a government of national unity.
It is impossible to balance power in this country after almost 40 years of the ruling government. Uganda being what it is, such a plan will certainly fail and throw the country into more chaos.
wadroger@yahoo.ca
The writer is a commentator on political, legal and social issues.
So, it’s Rwandese Museveni who killed, destroyed Acholi completely, is now the one to help them & the rest of tribes to UNITY, to ensure his ownership of Uganda?
Soon 40 years of Museveni & is there any reason Ugandans go for next fake presidential election, then reinforce him with fake parliamentary, local elections & to ensure WHAT for Ugandans finally?
When will Ugandans WAKE UP?
Why are Ugandans so so afraid to live without Rwandese Museveni & are just ensuring the zone formed by their tribal lands belong to his family for good?
Akot you have a point “Why are Ugandans so afraid to live without Rwandese Museveni & they are just ensuring that their God given tribal lands are parcelled out to his Bachwezi dynastic family until Jesus comes back to earth?” Some of these NRM diehard have even declared the present President of the Republic of Uganda a God! One can see the economic excitement of participating in the approaching national elections where tax payers money of about 4 trillion shillings is likely to be spent in these fake national elections, as if there is no tomorrow for this poor African country!
Mr. Wadada.
Thank you for the insight.
I would like to point out 1 thing though…
IPOD is useless, as a funder or conferencing avenue.
For the funding.
I have said it before and I will say it again.
If an “opposition” party claims to have support genuinely…, maybe 3,ooo,ooo supporters.
Can’t those supporters pay 2,ooo/= twice a year amounting to 12,ooo,ooo,ooo/= (12 billion Ugandan shillings) which far surpasses what IPOD gives…
By the way, how much does IPOD give ?
Clowns just…
For the “northerners”(they live in Buganda and only go to the north to get buried…in essence they are baganda)
When you live a life of deceit, you reach a point and lie to yourself…
Do those “leaders” of Northern Uganda and Mr. Museveni believe that the people of Northern Uganda can love them ?
According to history, by the deceased Kazoora, in 1980 during the Campaigns people of Western Uganda threw stones at Mr. Museveni (his “own” people…) I suspect for the botched overthrow of Amin, then how about people who are not his “own”?
When they finish their comedy they will find me at Nicodemus haggling for pork and beer…
Your Clown
(If you take a clown seriously then you need to be committed to Butabika…)
If a Government of national unity isn’t a good idea (or is impossible) in Uganda as you conclude, Bwana Wadada, what’s your suggestion, more of “winner takes it all” and tense rivalries that threaten to turn Uganda into a Somalia?
We have had enough of divisive “us vs them” kind of thing. We are one PEOPLE separated artificially on political party, religious, tribal basis. These schisms must STOP and we build a Government of national harmony. It’s the best solution after extended rule of one man, although NRM has, in a way, always been a Government of national unity but faced with some uncompromising opponents whose plan is to persecute all NRMs in case their time in power ends.