NORTHERN UGANDA, NRM AND MUSEVENI THIS ELECTION CIRCLE
By the time you read this piece, National Resistance Movement (NRM) presidential candidate, would have wound up his first phase of campaign in northern Uganda as seen with a sea of supporters at his main public rallies sending the tongues of critics wagging in awe. As an election pitch, the NRM and its lead candidate, call him the torch-bearer, Yoweri Museveni themed “Protecting the gains” as the mantra, because each Ugandan has something, however little, to protect. It is an appropriate pitch seeing the distance so far, and many things, small and big achieved. To the small families herding cows, goats and sheep in Karamoja, the ability to settle down for the first time in life-history, is a huge personal satisfaction that opens many doors. Having a piece of cloth on one’s back, seeing children in school and not scavenging the streets, railway stations, and no menacing gun-totters on the rampage is huge. For the neighbours of Karamoja, having gone through the past three straight years without any violent cattle raids, both during day and night, leaving destructions behind the trail, is additional plusses, to NRM and Museveni. The constant and persistent loud call by candidate Museveni, for every family, home and persons to focus on mobilising for wealth creation, poverty eradication and socio-economic transformation is falling on ears ready to listen. And Museveni is chatting for broad national unity and reconciliation, but with socially balanced justice. Reconciliation without equitable justice is pretence and, therefore, hollow. back-of-beyond place, that suffered two decades of war, and before it, circles of state-inspired ethic retributions. The northern bitterness boiled, spilled and Museveni has gradually and patiently cooled it down. So, the rest, Mugisha Muntu (ANT), Mubarak Munyagwa, Robert Kyagulanyi (NUP) and Nathan Nandala Mafabi (FDC) maybe listened to when they go to the north, but only for being busybodies lambasting NRM and Museveni for allegedly overstaying beyond the welcome. From their respective election campaign trail, Museveni is the main problem. They make it appear as once Museveni the individual is removed from office, overnight, Uganda will become a lovely paradise without a focused national mindset change. In fact, Ugandans should see of as a political swindle. As an example, each time, Kyagulanyi tries his mouth at policy issues like mineral and oil weal, he has ended up more in failure, or misspeaking, than being coherent. Clearly, Kyagulanyi comes off as a man who is not ready or has no capacity to understand the laws governing many sectors in Uganda. Apologies, I actually don’t know why I even typed his names. In the crucible of Uganda’s politics, and elections in particular, no party pitches better than NRM. President and candidate Museveni, has been, and remains the strong torch-bearer of our current unquestioned patriotism, guardian of peace as well socio-economic transformation. Museveni’s public rallies have been well-attended, NRM mobilizers must now occupy the ground until polling day.
BY OFWONO OPONDO