Cracks in Museveni relations with donors

Donors’ dilemma

The jostling for global supremacy means the West finds itself between a rock and hard place. It faces the unenviable task to balance its “rhetoric of promoting democratic reform in Uganda” and the need to not lose its dominance in Uganda, the East African region and indeed Africa as a whole.

So, while tensions are bound to increase between Museveni and the West, the academics say criticism from the latter should be taken with a big pinch of salt.

“While there is a rise in criticism of the NRM regime, it is important to note that these are carefully calculated statements of condemnation. Indeed, they ring hollow to the average Ugandan given the continued support Museveni receives from Western donors,” writes Prof. Sylvia Tamale, one of the book’s contributing authors.

“The occasional reproach and warnings are simply efforts by the donors to keep a “tight leash” on an ally who is spiralling out of control. In other words, donors are trying to mitigate against Museveni’s excessive power abuse in order to maintain their geostrategic interests in the region,” added Ms Tamale, a Professor of Law at Makerere University.

Museveni has greatly relied on donor support to sustain himself in power since 1986. They, in turn, have relied on him as much to pursue their foreign policy agendas most recently the fight against terror, the book notes in part.

There is a belief among a section of people that were the West to part ways with Museveni; it would hasten the continually elusive transition of power in Uganda.