UGANDA: BETWEEN MIRUNDI AND BOBI WINE, WHO DECAMPAIGNED MUSEVENI IN BUGANDA?

 

By CHANGE OF GUARDS

There is no doubt Museveni was humiliatingly rejected in the strategic central region during the just concluded presidential elections. He and his cohorts are hypocritically pushing the blame on sectarianism allegedly linked to Bobi Wine's NUP.  Whoever took the trouble to follow NUP's campaign trail, must have realized that despite the Museveni regime desperately trying to tie it to Buganda, NUP demonstrated a national appeal.  Even attempts to associate it's initial brand slogan of 'Twebereremu' with sectarianism did not take root. Throughout the campaigns, the NUP presidential candidate and all other contestants were very cautious not to put forward Buganda's grievances with the Museveni regime. That is how the party was able to gain support from the rest of the country.  

However, the truth is that Buganda and the Baganda used the electoral process to send a loud and clear message to Museveni that their support can no longer be taken for granted. It was an expression of a renewal of political consciousness after three decades of deep slumber from manipulation by Musevenil. Credit goes to Museveni's former Press Secretary, Tamale Mirundi who has, since his sacking in 2015, been spearheading a sustained campaign of exposing the regime's evils and rot. His regular radio and TV programs have opened the eyes and ears of millions. His talk shows have become so popular that the regime has repeatedly blocked him from appearing on different media stations.  Mirundi has articulately enlightened Ugandans on the the following issues;

-  Mafia clique around the presidency

-  Nepotism and sectarianism

-  Conspiracy with the regime by religious and cultural leaders against ordinary citizens

-  Corruption, abuse of office and misuse of public resources

-  the regime's deliberate misinformation agenda

-  state inspired land grabbing scheme

-  A deliberate scheme of economic deprivation and impoverishment of the Baganda through the burning of schools and markets and undermining of the public transport sector

-  countering attempts to distort the country's political and constitutional history

-. Domination of Baganda as victims of migrant workers in the Middle East.  

However, for his own safety he has been very minimal with regard to speaking against gross human rights abuses by security forces. In a few instances when he  has made incursions into that arena, he has restricted himself to fighting power struggles amongst the top security managers. His victims have been the CID Director Grace Akullo, former ISO chief, Col. Kaka and former Security Minister, Henry Tumukunde. After the recent polls, Mirundi has now intensified his criticism of the regime and has even abandoned the NRM uniform and is threatening to return the government vehicle. 

To some extent, the following individuals played  a leading role in supplementing Tamale Mirundi's efforts;

-  Hon. Betty Namboze and Hon. Luttamaguzi

-  the Bizonto comedy group

-  some online TV stations and those vocal Baganda like Basajja Mivule, Full Figure, Bajjo, Ashburg Kato and others who have been bought off but had left their mark.   

Therefore, de-campaigning of Museveni in Buganda was a concerted effort by several key players and Bobi Wine's candidacy just came in handy to symbolize that awakening.

INFORMATION IS POWER AND THE PROBLEM OF UGANDA IS MUSEVENISM