UGANDA: WILL GENERALS MUNTU AND TUMUKUNDE SNATCH THE WESTERN REGION FROM GEN. MUSEVENI?

By CHANGE OF GUARDS

Museveni's journey to reaching his childhood dream of attaining the presidency of Uganda was achieved through climbing a sectarian political and military ladder weaved from raw materials extracted from the so-called western Uganda. That is why his Bush War was 99.99% comprised of the rank and file from western Uganda. It's absurd that 35 years into power, the status quo has remained the same. Actually it's worse because the vice has crept from its initial breeding ground, the army to the police, public service, private sector and the economy in general. Whereas, the so-called western region stretches from Masindi through Rwenzori region to Kisoro, the plain truth is that the so-called westerners dominating government and other sectors under Museveni's reign are a handful of communities from a very small portion of the western region. There is no doubt that Museveni's power base is the military which happens to be dominated by the so-called Western Uganda. When Col. Dr. Besigye presented himself to wrestle power from Museveni, Ugandans hoped that being a senior army officer from Western Uganda, he would make inroad into Museveni's power base. In the same regard, when Dr. Besigye claimed that he had 90% support of the army, Museveni threatened to send Besigye 'six feet deep.' In order to consolidate that military power base, Museveni has used and abused army personnel from western region. Consequently, many have and continue to fall victim and their military careers destroyed. That is why all the army officers who have come out to wrestle power from Museveni are from the western region and their catchphrase is one; 
"Museveni deviated from the original Bush War agenda."

From Col. Besigye, Gen. Muntu, Gen. Ssejusa, Gen. Biraro and now Gen. Tumukunde, their grievances uniformly hinge on the above catchphrase. Gen. Muntu is traversing the western region canvasing for support for his presidential bid. At one point he addressed the rally;
“I have led the country’s army without stealing a coin from it. I led it by example, establishing discipline and taking responsibility for our shortcomings. I turned down ministerial posts because I disagreed with the direction our country was headed. I come to you fellow Ugandans, with a promise. If you believe in the possibility of a Uganda that is full of opportunity and where all are equal before the law, if you believe in a Uganda in which those in office work for the people rather than themselves and their families, then give me your vote because if you vote me in as the next president of the country, by God’s grace, I will work day and night to make us the envy of nations,” said Muntu. "And you can trust me because I mean what I say and say only what I mean,” he added." 

There is no doubt that Gen. Muntu's assertion is factual and genuine. However, it is directed to an audience that unfortunately has been made to believe that they are in power by virtue of Museveni's presidency. An audience that has been made to believe that corruption and abuse of office is the yardstick of hardwork. An audience comprised of army officers, both in active service and retired who stole and continue to steal public resources after Gen. Muntu had left the office of Army Chief. To them, Muntu was an encumbrance to their plunder of public resources. They see his ascendancy to the presidency as a potential threat to their continued plunder. Unfortunately, they are the ones who will determine Gen. Muntu's performance at the polls. 

On the other hand, Gen. Tumukunde's candidature is taken more seriously by Gen. Museveni, not  because the latter fears the former may win the elections but Tumukunde may eat into Museveni's inner military power base, the Bahima dominated Special Forces Group and the Bahima/Bahororo community in general. Being a former Spy Chief and until recently a security Minister coupled by his being a shrewd political mobiliser, Tumukunde may tap into the security apparatus, the socially and economically strong Hima/Hororo entity and the enormous disgruntlement with Museveni's NRM that arose from the recent chaotic primaries. Museveni is not taking Gen. Tumukunde lightly. Tumukunde's only taint is his role in perpetuating the Museveni regime and later departure for which he has responded thus; 
"I am here for all of you, those in opposition and those who are still in government, which is about to end its term; we should work together for the good of our country. I want to work with those who started the opposition 20 years ago and those who joined yesterday, for the good of our country."

Unlike, Gen. Muntu who justifiably prides in having left the army and government without stealing a penny, Gen. Tumukunde seems to have hit a jackpot during his military service and may not be financially badly off. For that reason he may attract some of those westerners who have economically benefited from the Museveni regime and would wish to consolidate their successes. 

Whatever the case, with regard to the presidency, Museveni is not bothered by the candidacy of the two Generals. He will set in motion his security machinery to neutralise the potential for an impression that he has lost support of western Uganda to any of the two. His only concern is their potential incursion into his core power base, the military. 

INFORMATION IS POWER AND THE PROBLEM OF UGANDA IS MUSEVENISM