By Zacharia Kanyonyozi
Photos: Wikimedia Commons\YouTube
Last Friday, I attended the book launch of Pastor Gary and Marilyn Skinner.
The book is titled “Where Faith Lit The Way.”
It celebrates the spiritual journey of Pastor Skinner and his wife, a journey which began on April 22nd 1984, when the two founded Watoto Church in Uganda and around the world. Since then, the church has grown leaps and bounds.
Watoto Church Ministries is now a sprawling cell-based community church. More than 30,000 people attend service at its 17 campuses in Uganda, Juba, South Sudan and online.
Owing to the close connection Watoto Church has with northern Uganda, Pastor Julius and Vernita Rwotlonyo née Ochan were made the successors to Pastor Gary and Marilyn Skinner.
Plus, Pastor Skinner says his favourite Ugandan food is Malakwang, a flavourful and tangy stew which is a staple in Northern Uganda.
On top of that, all the work done in helping orphans and widows was mostly done in Northern Uganda, which is why several Acholi elders attended the book launch.
Here Ambassador Olara Otunnu and Justice Ralph Ochan, to name but two, were in attendance.
However, minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Norbert Mao, was given center stage.
Traditionally, the Luo were organized into exogamous clans consisting of several families and headed by a clan elder. A council of elders were under a supreme chief (‘Rwot’) and played the role of advisors to the supreme elder.
As you can see, the elders (Justice Ochan and Ambassador Otunnu et al) take precedence over their younger colleague, Mao.
However, not in today’s Uganda, where everything is upside down, including the NRM’s thumbs-up, if you catch my drift.
Accordingly, there is a gathering belief in Gulu City (Northern Uganda) that Mao will contest for the Laroo-Pece constituency in 2026.
This belief has been made stronger after Mao registered as a Democratic Party (DP) member who will vote at Holy Rosary in Gulu East.
Of course we know that Mao is no longer a DP member. So he plans to vouchsafe this constituency to Dictator Museveni.
It is also rumoured by those close to Mao that he believes his potential elevation to this parliamentary seat is the harbinger of greater things…such as the prime ministership, the vice presidency, the speakership or even the presidency!
Mao is sure that he can partner with the NRM (National Resistance Movement) to be on the ticket with Deputy Dictator Muhoozi Kainerugaba, unaffectionately known as baby doc, in 2031.
As the Weekly Observer stated in 2022, “Museveni, 78, has ruled since 1986. In 2026, he will be 82 years old. In perhaps the clearest indication that Museveni will run again in 2026, Justice Minister Norbert Mao told youths in Mitooma that the president assigned him the task of organizing a consensus for transition in Uganda starting 2031.
According to Mao, the transition will be in three phases; consensus, endorsement and implementation of what will be agreed upon.
I appeal for your support people of Mitooma and I know Gen Otafiire will support me in a bigger assignment that President Yoweri Museveni has given me to organise consensus – that is what we need. The transition will be in three phases. Phase I is the one we’re on, phase II is the one I saw you people signing on although some signatures are not clear. Phase II is to implement what we have agreed upon. I believe by 2031 we shall have a new Uganda…Keep yourselves healthy so that you’re there [in 2031], said Mao.”
However, Dictator Museveni said expressly that the Memorandum of Understanding that the NRM signed with the Democratic Party in July 2022 did not include any agreement on political transition.
Dictator Museveni said Mao, the DP president general, was brought on board as a strategy to “bring the opposition into government” but not to oversee any form of political transition.
“So that is our doctrine to unite as many as possible so that the ones who are not with us are fewer. Maybe Mr Mao is presenting it the way he is presenting it but is our own old way of uniting anybody who agrees to unite with us. That is his approach but we have discussed broadly unity,” Dictator Museveni said.
Thus, one wonders what Mao is smoking.
Especially when he says things like this: “There are those who think that the transition should exclude President Museveni. In other words, all efforts should be put into removing Museveni at all costs, even if Uganda is destroyed in the process.”
God save Uganda.
