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From The MONITOR June 8, 2003
Bidandi is the hub, not spoke in NRMBy Darlington SakwaPosted June 8 - 13, 2003
Mr Bidandi SsaliMr Bidandi is deliberately sweet-talking Ugandans in preparation for shifting goal posts, a job he has done very well in the past and continues to do today.
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Several weeks before the famous Kyankwazi meeting, which culminated into two major decisions by the NRM National Executive Committee and later overwhelmingly endorsed by the national conference, Mr Bidandi Ssali was reported to have prepared a minority report recommending the opening of political space, paving the way to multi-party politics.Reactions came from both the big and small wigs in the NRM party, the so-called opposition parties and the Reform Agenda. While the majority of the insiders were critical of Mr Bidandi's stand and even threatened disciplinary action against the veteran politician, the outsiders were full of praise for Bidandi, calling him a foresighted statesman who was concerned about the stability of our mother nation Uganda!
I wonder if either side knew what they were talking about. The ability of both insiders and the opposition to decipher the machinations of the likes of Bidandi is what puzzles me.
While answering a group of journalists about his stand on the return to multi-party politics, Bidandi posed this question: Some people are shouting they do not want a return to multi-party politics because they believe Museveni does not support the idea. What will you do, what will you say if he turns round and says he is for multi-party? Mujja kuswala! (You will be embarrassed)"
Came the Kyankwazi meeting and Bidandi's words came true. The minority report was adopted in preference to the majority view. Even the National Political Commissar has never commented or explained to the firebrand cadres who attacked Mr Bidandi over what happened.
Historical activities
To understand the value of Mr Bidandi Ssali to Museveni you need to revisit his historical manoeuvres in the recent political space of Uganda.
Bidandi during the bush war period
Unlike the rest of UPM members and those from DP etc who went into exile, after Museveni declared his bush war against the UPC government, Mr Bidandi remained in Uganda. And apart from serving a stint in Luzira prison, he 'hid himself' in football while mobilising for the future. He made himself so busy with soccer that it was difficult for the intelligence system to detect his connection with comrades in the bush.
The ushering in of NRA/NRM
Come NRA/NRM in 1986 and Mr Bidandi is at the forefront managing local government, introducing and ensuring decentralisation is adopted despite the views of the majority as recorded by the Odoki Commission. Mr Bidandi was very vocal in the CA on many issues. On 30 June 1995 while opposing an amendment by Hon. Eryasu Elyau and Hon. Mwaka to delete the referendum from the then article 94, he had this to say, and I quote from page 5121 of the CA proceedings report.
"Madam Chairman, for goodness sake, Hon. Mwaka and some of the people having the same idea, why do we not get off this thing called greed for power, power, power! It is not true that members in this Hall are discussing power, as you are stating, that they want to keep themselves in power. I want to assure you, I am not one of those who want to keep myself in power, no way! My phobia, my ambition, my sitting here everyday is an attempt to contribute together with you and the rest of the people of Uganda, to a foundation for our country where the suffering so far we have gone through as a country, where the suffering which the people of Uganda have gone through or are going through, is really a foundation provided so that no such suffering happens again. That is why we are here, at least the majority of us, not because we want power"
Then came the 2001 presidential elections. Without boring you with the obvious, the group that was not interested in power during the 1995 constitution making had ruled the country for 10 years up to 1996. And through a sham election, they had ruled for another five years. Mr Bidandi Ssali was at the helm of the campaign for the LAST TERM. "Banange omusajja tu muwe ekisanja kye ekisembayo."(Fellow citizens let's give the man his final term in office). You remember the radio adverts recorded in his own voice!
Olina kewekoledde? Olina abana?...(Have you made an investment? Do you have children?).
Indeed him and his group were not interested in power. They were still laying the foundation for banishing suffering from Uganda.
During the current term of presidency and parliament, there have been glaring cases of torture and death of political dissidents; including those mistaken for disside
