By Black Star News
Photos: YouTube Screenshot|Wikimedia Commons
There are mixed signals protruding from the First Family in Uganda. Whereas it is widely concluded that the presidential succession question in the country is already as good as answered by Gen Yoweri Museveni having his Chief of Defense Forces son, who also doubles as the Senior Presidential Advisor on Special Operations, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba as a “stand-by generator”, who now radiates fear as the national emotion, there is an apparent alternative: Odrek Rwabwogo.
As Museveni’s son-in-law who marries the general’s second daughter, Patience Museveni, Rwabwogo is quickly emerging as a separate and distinct voice of reason emanating from the First Family in the land. Rwabwogo chairs the Presidential Advisory Committee on Exports and Industrial Development. He now appears to be rooting for a stronger and reformed ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party of his father-in-law which is seemingly soon sinking under the weight of Gen Muhoozi’s political organization, the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU). Out of the current over 370 NRM MPs, a whopping 305 members of the august House—including the Speaker and his deputy—identify themselves as PLU’s “holiest” subscribers who religiously market Muhoozi as his father’s immediate successor.
“The question is not whether the NRM has a history. It does. The question is whether the Movement can reform, renew itself and protect its founding purpose for Uganda’s next stage of growth. No institution survives by memory alone. Anything that grows must be defended by those who understand its value. It must be corrected when it is drifting. It must be protected from those who weaken it from within while claiming to serve it,” Rwabwogo said on July 18 in an apparent reference to PLU’s overwhelming majority subscriber numbers within the ruling NRM.
Just days after Muhoozi said that Uganda is intent on achieving the much-hyped Tenfold economic growth by hitting the US$500 billion economic target in 2040, Rwabwogo retorts: “Uganda’s ambition to build a $500 billion economy, industrialize rapidly and convert agriculture and mineral potential into finished high-value goods will require more than infrastructure and electricity. It will require rule of law, restraint, honest communication, disciplined leadership and institutions that can still listen.” It is claimed institutions of the State in Uganda have been individualized and others are said to be on their knees.
From 2006, Museveni has been advocating for succulent budget allocations towards infrastructure development and increased electricity generation to power industries.
But in recent months, Uganda is feared to have slid into what analysts consider a more repressive rule than it has ever been in recent times. Critical voices have been silenced with government critics facing abductions, arrests and incommunicado detentions under the military orders and directives. Matters have been made worse by the June 28 shut down of the independent Daily Monitor newspaper, NTV and other Nation Media Group sister media outlets in Kampala for which Muhoozi took responsibility as head of the military and Museveni’s son.
“President Museveni’s government is increasingly using the military as a cudgel against dissent and criticism…They should stop using security forces to take out critics and instead respect Uganda’s Constitution and Ugandans’ rights, security and due process,” Human Rights Watch Deputy Director for Africa, Carine Kaneza Nantulya decried this week ending.
According to Rwabwogo, “The NRM must not fear reform. Reform is not betrayal. Reform is how institutions remain alive. We must keep the country communicating freely. We must allow people to speak without fear. We must stop impunity. We must raise leaders who can think, read, listen, act and protect the greater good. Fear disables people. Reform keeps institutions alive.”
However, “the proxy war is fully alive!” observes teacher and researcher Nagaba Nebert on X, July 18: “Gen Muhoozi goes to Kaweweta [a military training facility near the capital, Kampala] and promises a $500B economy by 2040 through military resolve and the next day the son-in-law [Rwabwogo] counters by saying a $500B economy is impossible without freedom of speech. This isn’t just an economic debate; it’s a battle for the soul and succession of the [Museveni’s ruling National Resistance] Movement.”
On July 17, Rwabwogo had asked, under Uganda is Growing, But…The Economy, Rule of Law & NRM Reform; “Can Uganda build a $500 billion economy if people are afraid to speak?” and went on to assert: “Fear disables citizens. Silence weakens institutions. Suppressed opinion kills national confidence. We grow by listening, talking to each other and exercising restraint. Uganda must keep communicating freely…”
Constitutional lawyer, Dr Sarah Bireete’s July 10 X post says Uganda is a country of contradictions; a country demonstrating total disregard for the rule of law [but] expects serious investors to bring their hard-earned money where the law cannot protect it. “It’s no wonder we only have fake investors who depend on tax payers’ money. Stop arbitrary actions, corruption and violations of human rights,” so implores Bireete. The US State Department has, mean-time, designated Uganda at Level 4 Travel Advisory: DO NOT TRAVEL.
Then veteran critical journalist and political commentator, Timothy Kalyegira, crowns it all in a July 10 tweet: “On June 26, I was arrested and driven in an SFC [Special Forces Command; a military formation in-charge of Museveni’s security detail] drone [Toyota HI ace car notorious for bundling and transporting abducted people] to a basement [torture dungeon for abductees]. Reason? ‘Why do hate the First Family?’ On July 1, my friend Odrek Rwabwogo visited me at Luzira prison and also brought greetings from his wife Patience, President Museveni’s daughter. So, there we are.” Kalyegira is out on bail.