COVER STORY: Museveni and Mbabazi

“I don’t think he has any added value. He definitely has a few followers,” he added, “I don’t think there’s anything quite additional; it’s always good though to mend fences.”

Mukula used the adage of no permanent enemies but permanent interest in politics to explain the overtures to Mbabazi and also mentioning the reconciliation between Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and his rival in two elections, Raila Odinga.

“Political reconciliation is fundamental in developing African democracies,” he says. “Amama has ideological clarity, his tactics could have changed.”

Mukula, who once declared his intentions to challenge Museveni for the top seat, says the most important thing is that the party is bigger than the individual.

On the contribution Mbabazi can make at this stage, Mukula who is a former minister of state for Health in the NRM government, preferred to speak broadly.

“Realigning the political strategy and maintaining the vision is key,” he said. “NRM is a strong party and is not about to recline on its interests.”

To Mukula, the larger goal is to bring in more people. “He can irrigate and nurture the younger generation.”

“If he (Mbabazi) chooses to sit and advise from the sidelines, that is okay,” he added. “I know him personally and he is someone who has scored tremendously for the NRM. For him to have risen to those ranks of prime minister, he must be someone vital.”

Ofwono Opondo, the government spokesperson who doubles in a similar role for the NRM explained the party’s stance towards Mbabazi. “The NRM bends over backwards for building consensus.”

Even if Mbabazi’s talked about return to the NRM would not surprise many, questions abound on what he can bring to the party. He is 71, and has been out of government for six years now. By the time he left government in September 2014, after Museveni sacked him, Mbabazi had cultivated more foes than allies.

Senior figures in NRM like Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga, Foreign Minister Sam Kutesa, former security honcho Gen. Jim Muhwezi, the Minister of East African Affairs Gen. Kahinda Otafiire, First Deputy Prime Minister Gen. Moses Ali, and former vice president Gilbert Bukenya had long standing disagreements with him.

Man of intrigue 

In February 2014, Mbabazi was kicked out of the party in humiliating fashion. Mbabazi’s knifing was orchestrated by current Minister of State for Investment and Privatisation, Evelyn Anite. Although just a lowly MP at the time, Anite hatched a scheme that put her at the centre of ensuring that Mbabazi does not challenge Museveni within NRM and is humiliated and hounded out.

Anite pulled a surprise move with the so-called Museveni sole candidature resolution at a party retreat in Kyankwanzi and Mbabazi was humiliated when Anite compelled him to sign on the resolution although he had indicated intention to challenge Museveni. Later in December, a forlorn Mbabazi looked on as the party amended rules to have an appointed secretary general as opposed to an elected one. He had been elected as secretary general in 2005 and 2010.

At the height of his powers, Mbabazi was the de facto number two in NRM and the larger government. At one time, occupying the positions of Attorney General and Defence Minister, he earned the moniker of `super minister’. Museveni severally praised him and liked that Mbabazi, just like him, was a teetotaler.

However, the closer he got to Museveni, the further he alienated other figures in the party and in cabinet. There were claims that ministers were irked by his work style. He had frosty relations with many bush war comrades from the NRA liberation war of 1981-1986. Many accused him of arrogance from the days he was a member of the external wing of the liberation war while based in Nairobi.

As a powerful party official, Mbabazi had built a reputation of sponsoring his favoured party candidates against other members of the NRM during parliamentary elections. This sowed division and was the start of accusations against Mbabazi as a divisive figure and someone who thrives on fomenting intrigue. Although Mbabazi as Prime Minister had nudged some colleagues in cabinet to do his bidding, all this came to naught when Museveni fired him.

When Mbabazi declared his presidential bid in 2015, Col. Samson Mande, who is in exile described Mbabazi as a mastermind of intrigue, deception and manipulation in an interview with The Independent. That someone in exile could say that about a candidate planning to oust Museveni from the party leadership and the presidency was telling.

What Mbabazi can bring to the party having been down and out, with a battered reputation, and a forgettable performance in the last election may be difficult to fathom for some.

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