The central figure in this analysis is President Museveni of Uganda, who has proven to be a formidable force in Ugandan politics. Otim Akonopeesa Levi, the writer of this critical opinion, also delves into the dynamics of power and how politicians align themselves with the dominant authority, be it the ruling party, opposition, or the masses during revolutionary times.

Also Read: Repercussions after Museveni Signed the anti-gay bill

Table of Contents

DISCLAIMER: The opinions expressed in this article do not represent those of Kampala Edge Times or its editorial team. They are entirely picked from the words of the analyst referred to below.

Author: Otim Akonopeesa Levi

Political Analyst & NRM Cadre

Who Is President Museveni?

Before we go too far, let’s understand who exactly Mr. Otim Levi is talking about in this article. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, born in 1944 in Mbarara district, Uganda, is a prominent politician who assumed the presidency of Uganda in 1986. He grew up in a family of cattle farmers and received his education in missionary schools.

During his time studying political science and economics at the University of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania, he became involved with a leftist student group aligned with African liberation movements. Following Idi Amin’s rise to power in Uganda in 1971, Museveni went into exile in Tanzania and founded the Front for National Salvation, which played a role in ousting Amin in 1979. The resistance efforts succeeded, and on January 26, 1986, Museveni became president of Uganda.

The Natural Politician’s Instinct

The actions of politicians like Hon Norbert Mao, who shift allegiances based on the prevailing power, are not surprising. Natural politicians have an inherent tendency to associate themselves with the dominant side. This could be the ruling party, the opposition, or the revolutionary masses seeking change. It’s not a matter of treachery, but rather a reflection of their instinct to align with the strongest influence.

President Museveni And The State of the Opposition

Presently, Uganda faces a unique situation where the opposition is weak, divided, and lacks a coherent agenda to challenge the ruling party’s authority. This state of affairs is unprecedented in Uganda’s history, even compared to the time of authoritarian leadership under Field Marshal Idi Amin Dada. The opposition lacks the organization and methodical approach of previous movements, making it challenging to pose a significant threat to the ruling party.

Today, Uganda has the weakest, most divided, monetary-oriented, sectarian, tribalistic, and poorly organized opposition with no clear sense of agenda to take state power from the ruling party. The state of opposition today is unprecedented in the history of Uganda, never have they hit such a low mark. Even the authoritarian leadership of Field Marshal Idi Amin Dada had better methodical opposition organizations like the FRONASA movement who performed espionage, sabotage, selective assassinations, etc at a grand scale level to tarnish his credibility.

Politicians and Power

All politicians, regardless of their ideologies, are driven by a common goal – to acquire power. They may have differing opinions, but their fundamental policies revolve around governing the masses and shaping the future. The elitist view suggests that only a select group of intellectuals can understand and manage the common interests of the public, while the masses remain excluded from decision-making processes.

The contradicting opinions they share tomorrow with the bewildered masses in red, yellow, green, or purple don’t change the policies and ideas they believe in. All politicians are driven by the same policies but only differ regarding opinions. When they are seeking change, they will always share varying opinions but not the policies. The basic policies never change, among which is to rule the masses towards a future they are too dumb to envision for themselves using a few elites without the necessary opinions of the masses.

Take: “The liberal democratic theory says that the common interests elude public opinion entirely and can only be understood and managed by a specialized class of responsible men who are smart enough to figure out things”.

In contrast, supposedly “The Marxism-Leninism conception says that a vanguard of revolutionary intellectuals take state power, using popular revolutions as the force that brings them to state power, and then drive the stupid masses towards a future that they are too dumb and incompetent to envision for themselves”.

Despite completely different ideologies, both are close and assert that only a small group of elites, the intellectual communities, can understand the common interests while eluding the general public completely. The people are excluded concerning the elites who are inclusively involved.

The Influence Of President Museveni Upon Ugandan Politics

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni stands out as a powerful figure in Ugandan politics, and his ability to communicate effectively with diverse groups is unparalleled. The ruling NRM party has maintained a strong and unified structure, while opposition parties suffer from internal divisions and infiltrations. President Museveni’s shrewdness and political acumen have kept him in power, and he has managed to rally intellectuals and influential figures to his side.

I have the utmost respect for H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for a few things:

The NRM has no moles in its structure whatsoever while all opposition parties have moles after moles. People who are like pumpkins, as Hon Betty Nambooze pits it, in the different opposition structures.
President Museveni’s ability to share his rhetoric with divergent groups of persons should never be underestimated: from the skilled, unskilled, illiterate, young, and old is unmatched by opposition currently. It is the core reason UPC failed to build a following among the young generation.
As the Maoist says, “The rifle can create power”. President Museveni’s ability to do politics without a gun scares me more than his ability to use a rifle. He is shrewd with no complacency whatsoever.
President Museveni’s faculty to bring all intellectuals using whatsoever means at his disposal is unmatched by the opposition. From Andrew Mwenda, Frank Gashumba, Dr. Ramathan Ggoobi, Late Rt Hon Jacob L’okori Oulanyah (RIP), Rt. Hon Anita Among, Rt Hon Thomas Tayebwa, now Hon Norbert Mao, etc., deserves praise.
President Museveni’s intuition not to underrate anyone, even an unborn Ugandan, in his thinking I suppose. He knows that an egg can hatch into a chick or when boiled, an egg hardens. The problem is most Ugandans underestimate him; a person that can kill a fly with a missile. The President knows what 27 guns can do when given time, he also knows about what the 80 individuals did in Cuba under Fidel Castro.

Biggest Mistake Made By Ugandan Opposition

Many underestimate President Museveni, but his political prowess should not be taken lightly. His skill in navigating politics without relying on force is both impressive and concerning. His astuteness and intuition have allowed him to anticipate potential challenges and act accordingly, ensuring his grip on power remains firm.

Why President Museveni Always Beats Ugandan Opposition

While the opposition should ideally present a united front against the ruling party, it suffers from internal disagreements and conflicting interests. This disunity hampers their effectiveness and ability to mobilize the masses effectively. If the opposition continues to prioritize personal agendas over the collective struggle, the possibility of a revolution may arise in response to repressive measures

Che Guevara said, “The unity of the repressive forces must be met with the unity of the popular forces”. The opposition seems to be contradicting that golden view. If this massaging of color continues at the behest of repression of intolerable proportion, the banner of revolution will be raised one day. Nothing is inevitable! It takes the heart of a revolutionary not to change for the dominant side but not the heart of a Natural Politician.

Conclusion

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni remains unmatched in his political game, demonstrating remarkable leadership and ability to garner support from intellectuals and the broader population. The state of the opposition poses minimal challenges to the ruling party’s dominance. Regardless of one’s political affiliation, it is essential to recognize the significance of effective leadership and the impact it can have on a nation’s trajectory.

President Museveni and His Hypnotic Unmatched 1986 Tactics