UGANDA: What if Museveni opts to bring Gen. Saleh as successor

CHANGE OF GUARDS - Gen. Caleb Akandwabaho a.k.a Salim Saleh is Museveni's young brother.  Until the early 1990s he was referred to as Museveni's "half brother".  Though he was to some extent favoured by Museveni during the Bush War, he is a genius military commander.  His military skills accounted for much of the successes of the Museveni Bush War.  His charisma and mobilization skills win the hearts of both his men and the enemy.

Even when he had not become the official army chief, he was the defacto head of the army.  When he eventually became army chief in the late 1990s, his tenure did not not last more than a year.  Museveni sacked him before sending him into early 'retirement' simply because he (Museveni) feared his closeness to the rank and file in the army.  Since then, Gen. Saleh has been assigned different responsibilities both in the defence and civilian arenas.  He was at one time the Minister of micro finance, Special Presidential Advisor in Defence and is currently the Commander of the army led multi billion Operation Wealth Creation (OWC).

Despite his dark spots associated with past huge financial scandals and currently alleged land grabbing for which he has often been shielded by Museveni, he remains a darling of most Ugandans across the board.  This is because unlike Museveni and almost all his cohorts, Saleh is not known to be sectarian, tribalist, selfish, and discriminatory.  Unlike other top Generals, his human rights record is not tainted.  Though he is politically associated with the Museveni regime, there is scant information about his political activism.

His influence as regards Museveni's political base (the military) is undisputed.  He is remotely in-charge of Museveni's security forces.  He is the only top General who can effectively take control of the security forces and also tame the different power hungry top military Generals in the event of an abrupt demise (God forbid) of Museveni.  His unique negotiation skills and acceptability among most Ugandans of all walks can bring on board any form of belligerent military and political entity.  This is because he is honest and not power hungry.

If it had not been for Museveni's power thirsty, Gen. Saleh would have successfully negotiated with the Kampala regime for a peaceful settlement during Museveni's Bush War.  It is for the same reason that Museveni never gave him an opportunity to engage the LRA.  On the contrary, the northern Uganda insurgency would have lasted only less than the first three years.

The boiling anger and hatred by Ugandans against Museveni and his cohorts has saved Gen. Saleh who has as much as possible avoided any form of politicking.  If anything, Gen. Saleh is among the most frustrated Ugandans over Museveni's military dictatorship and outright destruction of the country.

However, Saleh is also among the very few Ugandans who best undertands Museveni's deadlines when it comes to securing his hold on power.  Nuseveni blackmails Gen. Saleh with protection against his past financial scandals, the ongoing land grabbing and his role in the war spoils in the Congo.

Much as Ugandans are focussing on Museveni's son Gen. Muhoozi as the possible successor to the Uganda throne, the unfavourable political terrain may dictate that Museveni fronts Gen. Saleh on the ballot box at the next General Elections.  Ugandans may witness two former army chiefs (Gen. Muntu and Gen. Saleh) battling it out at the polls.

Watch the space.

INFORMATION IS POWER AND THE PROBLEM OF UGANDA IS MUSEVENISM