By Mesach Musaasizi
Father-to-son presidential transition is gaining acceptance particularly on the African continent despite tragic consequences that may result from this form of political changeover.
Now, there is a war of words between President Yoweri Museveni’s apologists and those of his son (Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba) resulting from comments that have repeatedly been made by the office of the NRM National Chairman (ONC)’s head, Hajati Hadijah Namyalo Uzeiye and her Greater Masaka coordinator, Jamil Kazibwe; about Uganda not being a monarchy thereby castigating the ‘standby generator’ mantra. A few days back, it was even reported that Kazibwe had been arrested and detained at Entebbe Police station allegedly on orders of some people in the Muhoozi camp.
Members of the newly registered dogmatic group (the Patriotic League of Uganda), despite their tainted record as regards financial and sexual controversies, have heatedly come out barking at the duo with one MP (Frank Mwesigye) alleging that Namyalo’s daily budget is about UShs100m and that she distributes this money to her boyfriends.
First of all, this is false and the honourable MP knows it very well that he’s just slandering the workaholic woman, who in a short time has achieved a lot against any other NRM mobiliser. One motor-mouthed horrendous Muhoozi apologist by the name of Daudi Kabanda (MP – Kassanda) even threatened pointing to how ‘it is going to turn bloody’ (in a tweet on X).
NRM and President Museveni are steering the country for steady progress. The ‘standby generator’ as well as ‘empologoma envubuka’ narratives make no sense after all it’s obvious these Muhoozi enthusiasts are greedy self-seekers under the guise of correcting the NRM mess, without a clear strategy on table to solve Uganda’s problems but rather to create more.
By Hajati Namyalo and Kazibwe critiquing the father-to-son transition, they are perhaps saving the country given the pertinent underlying conditions associated with it. Being a conduit for the transfer of autocracy, continuation of the status quo and entrenchment of elitism, the act goes against the basic tenets of democracy.
Drawing evidence from cases elsewhere, the implications of this type of transition are dire. Even Gen. Muhoozi’s association with people like Kabanda, Mwesigye and the gang leaves a lot to be desired. It casts doubt on his presidential capabilities unless he distances himself from the power hungry Kabanda and a type.
Modern Africa needs to have a second thought about transfer of power from fathers to sons. It often results in questionable handovers, unfair elections and disguised military takeovers. Further, it often leads to institutional and constitutional constraints.
In some countries, power transition from father to son has not been immediate but rather delayed. Somewhere, children have ascended to power a few years or even decades after their fathers left office. Such ascension to power has often followed established democratic and constitutional dictates. For instance, this has been witnessed in Kenya, Mauritius and Botswana. Here, this gives sufficient time for citizens to both assess the impact and results of the leadership of their parents before making informed decisions about their sons/daughters unlike the immediate father-to-son hand over, the way these Muhoozi fanatics are making it a big deal in Uganda now.
Muhoozi and his team should be patient and follow laid down institutional requirements and constitutional guidelines which dictate how he can ascend to power. Arresting President Museveni’s supporters, like Kazibwe, never solves the question and doesn’t draw state house nearer to them.
Still, Hajati Hadijah Namyalo and Jamil Kazibwe have a right to their view. African countries have remained locked in monarchist’s claims frustrating chances to transit into more mature and developing nations thus opening a door to widespread corruption and underdevelopment.
People are reserved a voice on how they are led and it’s therefore not an offense for one to point out the negative side of monarchism or perhaps perceive Muhoozi as incompetent.
The writer is an NRM cadre in Masaka.
