It isn’t accidental that Mbabazi’s T-shirts are in westnile , Eastern and western Uganda, his T-shirts are hibernating in Buganda. You only see them during football matches- Chris Obore.
Mbabazi’s camp distributed laptops with agents in every region. Eastern Uganda had 80 laptops, Northern Uganda had 70 laptops. Museveni’s camp discovered and paid Shs. 10m for each laptop to see what information had been stored in the laptops and where they had been brought from- Chris Obore
Idris Kiggundu (Political Editor The observer): Mbabazi’s supporters emerged with campaign posters during Uganda Vs Guinea match held at Namboole stadium on Wednesday 10th September and are urging him to stand. He has been put in a tricky situation on the one hand he cannot come out openly to declare his interest and on the other hand if he doesn’t come out and declare his interest it will project him as a weak politician.
Nicholas : As a politician I don’t see these things happening without Mbabazi’s knowledge. We should look at it from the angle of Museveni, he has been in power for almost 28 years he knows about the issue of mortality and why it is much complicated for him to stay much longer. It is doesn’t matter what Mbabazi is doing or thinking what matters is what Museveni is doing or thinking. Museveni is preparing and has always prepared that this day will come, when people will say get out of the way we are also interested in the presidency. We should look at it from this angle.
You can see first of all from the Kyankwanzi resolution what is going to determine all this is the position of Museveni and how he is going to come out. Museveni never takes things lightly. He began his five year struggle in the Bush and he knows that what may appear minute may turn out to be something big. He was a guerilla with a small force he managed to topple a whole government. He will take everything as a threat, a 100 percent threat.
Charles: Aren’t they playing on the psychology of Ugandans?
Chris: It is difficult to say whether Mbabazi is going to stand or he isn’t going to stand. But what is very clear to me is the relationship between Museveni and Mbabazi is never the same. They were very close friends, they would plan together and they were close confidants but as it seems from the events that are happening they aren’t enjoying a comfortable relationship.
As to whether this will culminate into competing against each other will remain a matter of conjecture because politics keeps changing. But the question we should be asking ourselves is why has the relationship between the two collapsed?
Charles: Some people say they might be playing their tricks?
Chris: Mbabazi’s political domain is the leader of Government of business; Mbabazi is a supervisor of government activities and all ministries are under him. You can just be a keen Ugandan to watch. When have you seen Mbabazi opening government projects say in Karamoja, the North, he doesn’t seem to be a leader of government of Business.
We only see Museveni opening a tap of water, he is passing out youth in Makerere this now sends a message that he is on the campaign trail and he is campaigning alone. Mbabazi is absent at all Museveni’s Public appearances.
Charles: Mbabazi was recently in Kanungu where he received a shield and a spear, he was in Kyenjojo and Fortportal meeting a group of youth, he was at Namboole and the National Museum.
Chris: He goes to Namboole and the National Museum as Mbabazi and not as leader of government of business. I would have expected Mbabazi to flag off a 10km road but he doesn’t this could imply that there could have been a communication from the principal that please don’t do this.
The question is why has the relationship between Mbabazi and Museveni collapsed?
President Museveni has never worked systematically. If you what to know the fallout between Mbabazi and Museveni just look at the confusion in Statehouse how women are fighting on who does what. Operating without systems is how the NRM and President Museveni work. If Museveni and Mbabazi are friends why aren’t they mounting a common front ahead of 2016?
There is only Museveni who is running from Makerere, from Busoga to women groups. So for me these are the painters politically that the relationship isn’t as good as people declare.
Idris Kiggundu: If you look at the Mbabazi of 4-5 years ago it was hard to challenge him in cabinet, we now here of stories about ministers challenging him recently in the caucus meeting. One of the ministers Najjemba was pointing that Amama has got to control his wife which shows a person who no longer has influence.
A few years ago Mbabazi was the good guy if you wanted to meet the president one had to go through him, we have seen the emergence of people like Frank Tumwebaze , it is accidental that Todwong was made “Deputy Secretary General”.
Chris: It isn’t accidental that Mbabazi’s T-shirts are in westnile , Eastern and western Uganda, his T-shirts are hibernating in Buganda. You only see them during football matches. I don’t see much difference between Mbabazi and Museveni . Mbabazi’s group says he is old, tired and can fall sick and he can never take the country forward. They also accuse Museveni of building a dynasty from Museveni to Muhoozi, I was examining the Mbabazi camp they have their meetings in Kololo and Kanungu discreetly. The way Museveni can use people like the way he used Bukenya and dumped him is the same way Mbabazi uses people. If you look at Mbabazi’s inner circle there are only people like Hope Mwesigye, his wife Jackline so in otherwards we are moving from a Museveni’s dynasty of Janet, Muhoozi and Kayihura to Mbabazi’s and the Nina architect.
Charles: Don’t you think Mbabazi and Museveni want to create this artificial rift within the NRM so that they crowd out discussions on other political players? Now Mbabazi vs Museveni is the most exciting story to discuss other than FDC, DP and UPC and it is believed that at one time Museveni and Mbabazi will resolve their differences.
Nicholas: One thing you need to know is that Museveni has the money and that is his strength, he can sort you out whether you are loyal to him or not he can buy your loyalty and this is what Mbabazi lacks. When we are talking about money for politics, Museveni is exposed to public funds.
One of Museveni’s other advantages is that he is a very informal person, he doesn’t believe in structures. A number of people Museveni has met personally and sorted out their problems, and whose bills he has paid form a critical mass of people who would help him in his contest against Mbabazi. Anyone who wants to challenge him must be seated on a goldmine or a serious oil well like the ones in Bunyoro.
Chris: Charles let me give you information. A business man from Mbale who is supportive of the NRM either knew or didn’t know that there was fallout between Secretary General Mbabazi and Party Chairman Museveni. Apparently he was made to believe that Museveni had blessed Mbabazi to run as NRM Party flag bearer in the 2016 Presidential election, on those grounds he went ahead and procured T-shirts for Mbabazi. Intelligence got information after the business man welcomed Mbabazi in Mbale where they attended a funeral and later Mbabazi visited his home.
The man’s bank accounts had to be closed, he run to radio stations appealing to the president that he wasn’t a supporter of Mbabazi, he then had to go and kneel down before the President saying that he had no position between him and Mbabazi. There are people who are paying heavily for being on Museveni’s or Mbabazi’s side.
Charles: Are there signs of friction between the two people. Mbabazi’s 2016 Presidential campaign material is all over the country and it seems Government has kept a deaf ear.
Chris: Politics isn’t played in press conferences or in Parliament. Politics is played out in secret meetings where the media isn’t there, that’s where politics is played and strategies are done.
Mbabazi’s camp distributed laptops with agents in every region. Eastern Uganda had 80 laptops, Northern Uganda had 70 laptops. Museveni’s camp discovered and paid Shs. 10m for each laptop to see what information had been stored in the laptops and where they had been brought from.
Museveni is around and he has abandoned the NRM Party structure for a military structure and that isn’t by accident. As we go in to the 2016 Presidential elections Money is going to flood to people who have been crying, projects are going to be done because Museveni has now realized that Mbabazi is a threat.
Idris: Museveni doesn’t take his opponents lightly and this explains why he has been in power for a very long time. Mbabazi is the Prime Minister of Uganda but is he as powerful as he used to be?
Nicholas: When it comes to agreements President Museveni has a notorious record of not keeping agreements. Museveni feels vulnerable whenever he is challenged and those contesting against him should know that Museveni isn’t a democrat and he has said it that he is more of a military man, he has proper control over finances which gives him clout over his opponents.
Chris: Museveni owes his success to people like Mbabazi, Kutesa, Kayihura and Nassasira. Who is Museveni without Salim Saleh forinstance? People like Brig. Nalweyiso are important to Museveni. Brig. Nalweyiso does a bigger Job for Museveni . Have you ever seen any opposition politician attacking Brig. Nalweyiso? She plays a huge role, she sorts out some opposition politicians.
