JOE BIDEN - MUSEVENI'S UNKNOWN ANGEL - UGANDA

   

By CHANGE OF GUARDS

 "Better the devil you know than the Angel you don't know."

Owing to his Marxist leanings, the USA outrightly rejected Museveni's attempts to seek support for his Bush War.  No wonder, he turned to Libya's Gadaffi as his major external supporter.  He took power during the reign of Ronald Regan and his initial close associates were the communist block (Cuba, North Korea and USSR).  His anti-capitalist rhetorics like imperialists, exploiters, neo-colonialists, Zionist Israel etc. further compromised his relations with the USA.  With the collapse of USSR and the end of the Cold War era, he opportunistically started embracing the so-called capitalist ideals like Structural Adjustment Programs (SAPs) though he strategically maintained links with his old Marxist/Communist allies.  

His honeymoon with the west reached its climax during the Clinton administration when he was categorized as being among the "New Breed of African Leaders."  Initially, he availed himself at the disposal of the USA in its efforts to contain the spread of Sudan's so-called Islamic fundamentalism.  His role in the South Sudan civil war and its subsequent independence was on behalf of the USA.  With USA led Global War on terror during the Bush Administration, he jumped into the fray as its strategic regional ally.  His 13 years old unending Somalia Peace Keeping  Mission (AMISOM) has turned into his cash cow for USA aid and a bargain chip for the U.S. to turn a blind eye on his dictatorship.

In the same regard, though an ardent critic of authoritarian rulers, the Obama administration had no alternative but to sustain Museveni's regime.  Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was at hand to insulate and whitewash Museveni's dictatorship.  The Obama address to the Ghanaian parliament where he asserted that "Africa does not need Strong Men but Strong Institutions" rubbed Museveni the wrong way.  With his increased authoriarianism coupled by the overthrow of Gadaffi, he became more vulnerable but was soon to find solace in the emergence of China on the economic and world stage.  Relations were further strained by the 2014 cutting off of aid over the handling of gay issues.  

During the 2015 U.S. elections, he favoured the Democrats candidate Hillary Clinton owing to his past close association with the Clinton administration.  Further, the Republican candidate Donald Trump had vowed to dislodge African despotic leaders befoe he singled out Museveni and Mugabe.  The proclamation attracted excitement  within some Ugandan opposition circles to the extent of carrying out a demonstration in support at the U.S. Embassy in Kampala.  Their placards read:

     "A vote for Trump is a vote against African dictators."

Museveni publicly expressed his disappointment with the election results that did not favor his preferred choice in Hillary Clinton.  However, luck struck when after assuming the  presidency, Trump mysteriously abandoned his earlier campaign promise of dislodging African despots.  He instead adopted his "America First" ideology that was more focused on domestic affairs.  Mugabe was dislodged by his own army before he suffered a natural death and it is not clear if Russia's Putin had a role to play in defense of Museveni.  Museveni's campaign  against the ICC was boosted by Trump's contempt for for the same and the two came to the same footing.  

During the ongoing U.S. electoral process, Joe Biden has not been very clear on Africa.  His abstract Campaign Document has not been very clear on USA - Africa relations but it vaguely talks about support for African democracy and economic growth.  It makes no reference to increase in U.S. Federal spending on African aid and development.  It is silent on commitment to deeper U.S involvement in Africa's security challenges.  In that regard Museveni has reluctantly sent him a congratulatory message.  He is familiar with the devil in Donald Trump but not so with the Angel in Joe Biden and will have to think twice before engaging with that Angel.  As a norm, the gist of relations will be determined by the choice of appointees to the positions of Secretary for State, Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, administrator of USAID and to some extent the leadership of the National Security Council.  Since Donald Trump had proved not to be so much bothered by Museveni's dictatorship, his second term would be in Museveni's best interest.  Will the Clintons plead for his case before Joe Biden? 

Moreover, Museveni cannot dare set foot on USA soil owing to the bribe scandal involving him, his father-in-law's, Sam Kuteesa and the convicted Chinese, Patrick Ho. 

INFORMATION IS POWER AND THE PROBLEM OF UGANDA IS MUSEVENISM