The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Future of NRM
Political pundits have often wondered whether NRM can have the same strength and numbers without its founder and leader.
Museveni usually gets his way in parliament by summoning the NRM caucus whose numbers dwarf the opposition.
Critics say Museveni’s towering over the party has made emergence of other leaders in the NRM difficult.
When Museveni fell out with his former right hand man Amama Mbabazi, who was NRM secretary general, the party amended its rules to have an appointed secretary general as opposed to an elected one. In the end, Mbabazi was purged.
As an elected secretary general, Mbabazi had considerable influence in the party and also rose to the position of Prime Minister.
However, Francis Babu, an NRM historical and former minister, disputes the narrative that NRM may disintegrate or even become weak as a party due to a supposed vacuum once Museveni is no longer in the picture.
“Is FDC stronger or weaker without Besigye?” Babu asks. “I think that answers the question. Leaders come with different charisma. The question is; would it be advantageous or not?”
Using the example of the Conservative Party in Britain which has shuffled three leaders in as many years, when it is in power, Babu says different leaders can emerge at different times depending on the circumstances.
He says the NRM has had leaders like James Wapakhabulo, Eriya Kategaya, who have passed on and others like Mathew Rukikaire and much younger ones could take up the reins.
“It is presumptuous for anyone to say that the party will not exist or will not have leaders once Museveni is no longer there,” Babu tells The Independent.
“How the subsequent leaders would use their charisma is difficult to tell, you cannot judge.” Babu also refutes the claim that succession is a taboo topic in the ruling party.
“Party organs discuss it (succession), they just don’t do it radically. Do not underestimate quiet discussions,” he says.
That aside, Babu says Uganda should learn from Tanzania where the first president, Julius Nyerere, groomed leaders in the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM).
“He trained Ali Hassan Mwinyi, Benjamin Mkapa and Jakaya Kikwete through various structures. They are all a product of the leadership training and charisma of Nyerere.” However, this appears to be seen in Uganda under the reign of President Museveni.
Very useful.
Let president museveni give chance to people like Hon Rugunda the current prime minister he is honest than all of those other guys like the Byesigye
Rugunda is too agreeable, diplomatic and lacking in assertiveness to be Uganda’s president….Rugunda lack of leadership abilities was further exposed when he failed to resolve the Acholi-Madi conflict over Apaa land…
Though most likely he is a good person and a good diplomat
Leaders come, leaders go.. The only next president to try/manage to rule Uganda should be a civilian because it seems like we Ugandans are fed up of Army leaders since they do not respect and value Civilians rights.
Kick the ass out of our country! Let him return to Rwanda but I am worried, only as an immigrant!
The real problem is the bush war generation in Uganda and in Rwanda. Museveni and Kagame are prisoner of the past and they applied their war mentality to govern their countries. This was good in the past when there was need to rebuild Uganda from decade of brutal dictators and Rwanda front the genocide. Now this war generation is an obstacle for real development and true democracy. Uganda and Rwand need a post war generation of young politicians not slave of the past. The problem is that both Museveni and Kagame in all these years they work hard to create just clones and faithful servant in their governments making sure that there will not be valid politicians inside the opposition.