Museveni warned Ankole in 2003
Weekly Observer: 4th November 2004
The debate on lifting of the presidential term limits officially started on March 26, 2003 after President Museveni hinted on it in his address to the Movement National Executive Committee (NEC) at Kyankwanzi in Kiboga district. Leaders from Ankole, where Museveni hails from, were among those that rejected the proposal. Through Ankole Parliamentary Group Chairperson Col. Kahinda Otafiire, Museveni hosted Ankole MPs at Rwakitura on April 22, 2003, to find out why they were opposed to him. Below is an edited version of a speech he delivered titled, “Talking Points With MPs from Ankole Region.” The speech gains new meaning in the context of the fresh intrigue and bickering within NRM-O:
Ever since 1971, when dictatorship in Uganda took a turn for the worse, many cadres from Ankole took a leading role in fighting for democracy. Leaders, cadres or militants from Ankole, in concert with other Ugandans, e.g. from Luwero and the Rwenzori region, took part in this multifaceted struggle.
In 1979, we had a limited victory because, our getting rid of Idi Amin notwithstanding, the political question in Uganda was not resolved. That led to the collapse of the process in 1980/1981.
Again leaders, cadres and militants from Ankole, in concert with other Ugandans, took a leading role in this new phase of the struggle until victory in 1986. After the victory, a very broad-based administration, including quite a number of elements from Ankole, took charge of the country. Organs were created…to collectively guide the country: Cabinet, Parliament, etc. All major policies come through these: privatisation, the return of Asian properties, the restoration of traditional rulers where the people wished, etc.
Even in the army, ever since the Kafu and Kyanda conferences of 1981/1982, is always run on a committee system: PAC (Policy and Administration Committee); UDC (Unit Disciplinary Committee); Army Council and High Command.
Under this Movement administration, a lot of achievements have been registered in almost all fields: industrial recovery; agricultural rehabilitation; education; health; infrastructure rehabilitation and development (roads, telecommunications, electricity, piped water and safe rural water supply, etc.).
Yet certain leaders from Ankole, sometimes in concert with other elements from other areas, carry out a whispering campaign against the leadership of our Movement and the State.
Sometimes, they take overt acts that are at variance with the previously, collectively agreed positions.
I always hear about these subterranean goings on in which certain MPs from Ankole are involved. I have, for instance, heard of the following:
Discouraging new members of the Movement by saying that they need to restrain their enthusiasm for Movement because they do not know enough about the Movement. Ekiihire embwa nkuru aha koomi ekibwana tikyetekaho – If senior members of the Movement have lost interest, who are you, a novice in the Movement politics, to exhibit enthusiasm for the Movement and the current leadership.
Calling those who exhibit continued enthusiasm for the Movement (or is it the current Movement leadership) “kakwisi” – puppets, bootlickers, whatever.
Going against previously agreed positions (e.g. decisions of the Movement caucus). We saw this in Political Organisations’ Act (POA), in the presidential and parliamentary elections bills, etc.
Trying to revive sectarianism in Ankole along the lines of castes (Bahima vs. Bairu) and religious denominations (Catholics vs. Protestants). There was an attempt, for instance, to say that Bahima are “dominating” the public service, [Uganda] Revenue Authority, etc. When we examined this, it was simply ludicrously false. Why should anybody tell such lies? The usual reactionary politics.
This is unacceptable and must stop. Those involved in such bankruptcy must stop it forthwith. There were also attempts to say that the NRM administration is dominated by Protestants and marginalises Catholics and Muslims.
Maligning me personally by saying that I was clandestinely supporting certain elements against other Movement cadres. How can this be in keeping with my character to do one thing in public and something else in private except, of course, in the intelligence operations?
Why should I fear to oppose somebody publicly whom I believe to be subversive or against the Movement? In the last parliamentary elections, I, openly, opposed the re-election of Winnie Babihuga, Mr. Musinguzi of Kinkizi, Hon. Kibazanga of Kasese, etc. because they had identified with the conspiracy of dividing the Movement spearheaded by [former presidential candidate Kizza] Besigye.
Failing to follow closely development programmes of your areas, especially generating household incomes for the people. I always invite many Movement leaders to come to Rwakitura so that they can see that transformation I was able to carry out in this more barren part of Uganda that was most backward.
Parliament meddling in non-legislative matters. There was that report of Hon. Guma Gumisiriza quarrelling with Mukwano’s son. What was an MP doing with an industrialist? Was he a revenue officer? Was he a CID? I want a thorough explanation on that.
Otherwise, such behaviour jeopardises our children’s prospects for self-improvement by driving away investors that would have helped us in our struggle for job creation, export promotion and widening the revenue base.
I want to introduce a legislation making it illegal for any company doing business in Uganda to make any financial contribution for any political cause.
Raising issues in the wrong fora. To give one example, Hon. [Miriam] Matembe in Kyankwanzi engaged in her frequent outbursts about “corruption,” “vote rigging,” “election violence,” etc. This is a minister, an MP raising issues that have, in fact, already been dealt with by government bodies under her very good self (IGG, CID), by the independent state agencies such as Auditor General or by parliamentary committees before delegates from sub-counties!
In conclusion, I would like to advise you that you all, individually and collectively, have a unique opportunity to make a contribution to the development of Uganda.
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