 |
| When the presidential Aspirants held hands across the aisle, just before the second presidential debate. Photo Source: unknown |
I think all good reporting is the same thing-the best
attainable version of the truth~Carl Bernstein
2nd Thessalonians 2:8-10: “they perish
because they refuse to love the truth and be saved”
Basically,
a very objective analysis of the debates against the status Quo has been made:
I am very humbled to be making this analysis of the first historic debate in
the republic of Uganda; an important learning curve .I clearly articulate the
facts in a way that will get Uganda better, and not bitter, and also keep the African
Hopes alive. If you listened intently to the articulation of matter over
substance, you will love this analysis and it will seal the deal for the best
choice candidate. I personally have mine and I will not cower to say his name,
the People’s President: DR.KIIZA BESIGYE WARREN
KIFEFE (RTD COL).
PRESIDENT MUSEVENI. Y. K: He is leader of
the thirty year old regime who dodged the first Presidential debate under the
pretext of a busy schedule to which he laid the hypocrisies. A day later when
he made very uncouth comments saying he couldn’t attend the first debate
because it was just “secondary kids’’ in a debate. That was a very gross
misrepresentation of facts and utterly disrespectful, the debate being a
Presidential candidates’, to which issues of national interest were tabled. A
lot of heat preceded the events of course especially after he out rightly
spilled his utter arrogance and unwarranted need for attention even when he
knows it too well he has a very tough sell now: because the people are tired of
his leadership and would rather try a new ‘knight’.
Missing
him on the first debate was so defeaning.He wasn’t physically present, at the
first debate, but the truth is surely he could still have his place in the very
details of the discussions. His place is one that isn’t the best to have for a
leader of a thirty year old regime: dodging the ever first nationally organized
debate for the Presidential hopefuls. To this effect, the nation and world over
questioned his ability to take the country to the next level. As often the case,
he condescended and played twinkle toes, much as he couldn’t pull it off forever.
So much happened along the way, with the VOA journalist Shaka Ssali was chosen as moderator
amongst the team of moderators and he was quoted saying he couldn’t attend in
the event of him being the key moderator. Well, as usual, as his inconsistences
have often been his most upheld consistency he showed up: to a “Children’s
debate’’ and also moderated by Shaka
Ssali though not as major moderator. Now that’s what we talk about when we
talk about Cognitive Dissonance.
At
the debate, where Foreign issues were tabled, he had this performance: Well, I
am still in disbelief that he didn’t deflate on national TV because while he entered,
you could imagine him asking to use iced water by the very moment of the first Question,
thanks to the “comedy central” Elton Joseph Mabirizi who did a great job of
keeping him alert to afford a smile whist staying awake. I will quickly take
you through to the end, his love for scripture is interesting, remember where
he said: “we shall know them by their fruits”.
It left me thinking about the way of the devil as talked about the gospel of
Mathew: “the ravenous wolves dressed in sheep clothing”. If we are going to use
the word of God to misrepresent the enabling truths, we are no less the agents
of the devil, that’s to President Museveni.Shortly, the following:
Business
as usual, President Museveni asserted that rather talking about big things, the
debate was wasting time on little things. This careless comment was made when
asked about the integration question where instead of answering the question
right away, he first looked for his arrogant switch button to insult the other debaters
and the organizers, the good news is he ended up playing the best self-made victim
to the insane and careless comments. As I have often said, the best time to do
nothing is when an enemy is making a mistake; I was so at peace in my heart. In
the words of James Baldwin: “Sentimentality, the ostentatious parading of
excessive and spurious emotion, is the mark of dishonesty, the inability to
feel; the wet eyes of a sentimentalist betray his aversion to experience, his
fear of life, his arid heart; and it is always therefore the signal of secret
and violent inhumanity, the mask of cruelty”
On
oil, he says and believes the NRM, him as the commander in chief is everything
there is to the oil discovery. That is insane and often misleads his
perspective of thought on the dire need for him to wake up to the reality that
Oil resource is for all Ugandans and not just a single party or president. I
have grown very conscious of Mahtma Ghandi’s beautiful words: “Earth provides
enough for every man’s need but not every man’s greed”. Every time I hear him
lay claim to the oil without shame, I am left with no other option but to be
reminded of this profound statement.
On
the Congo saga to which we are owed ten billion shillings that Besigye properly
tabled, he claims all there is to our involvement in DRC was to protect us from
them, that’s befuddling of facts trying to over step the avenues of truth.
On
the ICC, President Museveni said a big YES to keeping Uganda out of it, that we
often question knowing this a backup plan after the very nearing defeat: an
escape route to the crimes he has committed against humanity while meddling
Musevenism all the way. Nothing of this grim denouement was unforeseeable-----or,
for that matter unforeseen.
DR.KIZZA BESIGYE WARREN KIFEFE (RTD COL):
This is the leader of the strongest opposition party and the strongest
opposition leader the Museveni government has ever known. At once, I would like
to say very importantly,Dr.Besiigye broke the mold of conformism when he succeeded
from the strayed NRM party fifteen years ago: Just like Museveni’s thirty years
of Presidency matter,ofcourse,without factoring Dr.Besigye’s earlier
relationship with Museveni;we would be very unfair. That informs and ideally,
illuminates---his perspective and carries a Positive symbolism that can’t and shouldn’t
be ignored. His towering intellect and trenchant wit has got most of the often ‘done’
things ‘done’: things not done till talked about.Museveni and his ‘worshippers’
have often besmirched him as a chaotic leader ever since his secession but
that’s utterly untrue: Dr.Besigye is a true freedom fighter, one that cares
about freedom for all, and would like everyone to move with a ‘swagger’. The
most part of his political career as an opposition leader has been an authentic
calling out of President Museveni’s meddling of dictatorship, a dictatorship
they fought very hard to end with the bush war back in 1986, remember these two
were close allies then.
He
did proud his party by showing up on both debates. He was very romantically
attuned with his beautiful and highly intelligent wife Eng. Winnie Byanyima the
director of Oxfam international. Earlier, on the first debate, he had
proclaimed he wouldn’t show up in the event where the incumbent didn’t show up.
Due to public outcry and advice from the different stake holders, he showed up,
to the debate dubbed a “Children’s Debate’’ by President Museveni.He did put up
a great show for both debates and by objective analysis provided very
articulate for most of the ‘teething issues’. He tackled the often seriously
avoided issues and gladly he could have a one-on-one rebuttal with the President
(Museveni Y K).A few highlights:
Dr.Besigye
continued to assert that its unfortunate power handover has never been peace in
our country, that’s on record, and is something to worry about as well as pray for.
To this, the often used chorus of his trails ever since he came through on the
opposition ship made more meaning, to give power back to the people.
Dr.Besigye
made a very highly fundamental point while stating his position on regional
integration: “structural problems are the major hindrance to the integration:
the problem is with the leaders and not the integration of the people”. Anyone
very aware of history knows by fact check, that’s very true, if we can cite an
example of the times of former Ugandan president the late Idi Amin and
Tanzania’s Kambarage Julius Nyerere.
On
foreign investors, he questioned the kind of investors the Museveni government
has often given chances, calling them fake rather than foreign investors. He
pointed out the example of Shimoni and Coffee marketing board, I can say as a
matter of factly that was also the realest talk we had in the house. That is a
very disheartening issue that needs to be looked into very seriously.
On
Uganda’s involvement in Congo to which President Museveni tried to condescend
peddling fiction, he made it very clear to the people that we need not to try
to look around for a way to bury the inconvenient truths, but say it as it is:
a very UNEXCUSABLE thing. His wife made a nod in total agreement, the kind of
agreement your dear wife gives and the world admires in the background, and
these two can surely make a great team: commander in Chief and first lady,
respectively.
On
the Oil question, whether it is a curse or not, Dr.Besigye gave the best
deserving answer. He eloquently answered: “Yes, Oil is a curse in the hands of
a an unaccountable and corrupt regime”.Dr.Besigye didn’t mince words when it
came to reminding the president how the parliamentarians were ferried in army
uniform to Kyankwanzi,where they were given good money, that finally lead to
the passing of the oil clauses President Museveni had earlier mentioned. This
question was a tone setter as per the revelations of the often made outlandish
statements that it is “his” oil and he will not leave when it has just been discovered.
In the wake of this comment, President Museveni shrunk, though he couldn’t
swallow the pride even so.It is often ignored but what President Museveni
intends to advance, looking at our oil as personal property, is totally out of
step with history and constitutional principles.
His
ending statement is very true of him: “I am an eternal optimist, that’s why I
keep on trying”. This is one thing that any objective analyst would say of
Dr.Besigye.His unwavering determination and dedication to the quest for freedom
is a very important attribute to him.Dr.Besigye honestly has done all it takes,
he has a very formidable work plan, he can do very beautifully as the next
commander in chief.
HON.JOHN PATRICK AMAMA
MBABAZI:
He is a lawyer by profession and has quite a profile. He is a former prime
minister and leader in various government positions. He has served and worked
with President Museveni for over thirty years. He did quite fairly on the first
presidential debate, him being a very recent defector from the conformism to
Museveni, though still in the NRM.On the issues where he finds his hands in a
very close relationship, he even often slides it off to having limited or no powers,
while he worked with President Museveni.I find it very hard to believe his
rhetoric wholesomely, he strikes me as a sincere-sounding liar, though can help
in weakening the Museveni NRM base.
He
did a very good display of information power, having served as security
minister in Museveni’s time for a while; he called him out on the security he
sings allover. He tactfully asked a few hard boiled questions. What kind of
security are you talking about when eighty three percent of the youth are unemployed?
What sort of security are you talking about when the hospitals are in sorry
state and expecting mothers die like chicken?Wow,these were very solid questions,
thanks John Patrick.
He
is articulate on issues to do with transformative leadership since he envisions
passing on leadership to the young people. Apparently, he has a great job to do
to win the required support to win a national election, especially if
Dr.Besigye is still around. That aside, he can be a good player in a
non-corrupt government
MAJOR GEN (RTD) BENON BIRARO:
He had a very nice presentation in the first debate, that can’t go without
mentioning. Honestly, if he had come out earlier, he would be having a huge
following already. I loved the most these two things: the Maputo declaration
rhetoric and the Indian external benchmark. It was surely a very nice show out
there. Wait, there is a part he bored me with the ‘Bushmen’ rhetoric, I have
heard enough of it enough. Albeit, he did really well with the comeback when he
said that the involvement of the army in the NAADs; “the army are not in the NAADs
to revamp the programme, they are there
to have some work to do other than the ‘nothingness’ in the army”. That was a
very nice show for sure.
In
the second debate, he still did well and I will cite out a few areas that can’t
and shouldn’t be ignored. He said, in regard to having out troops in the other countries,
foreign policy is about national interests and certainly you can’t do that in isolation
of your own country. That was very eloquent; everyone could feel that ringing
truth therein.
As
he noted on citizenship and being subjects, a citizen can be subject of the law,
being a citizen oppressed by the government in power----that’s what democracy
ought to deal with. As I have often said of Dr.Besigye’s unfettered quest for
freedom: “one has not only a legal responsibility to obey the just laws,
conversely, one has a moral responsibility to disobey the unjust laws”. So, the
way Biraro brought up his idea rings at peace with what I believe in,
unapologetically.
ENG.ELTON JOSEPH MABIRIZI:
He was the most ‘terrific’ candidate of the debates: comedy central’s
mismatched talent in engineering. He didn’t have to convince you that he was on
the wrong platform because it was practically showing. I know I can’t take away
the constitutional right of any Ugandan to contest for Presidency but in my sincerest
comment, he didn’t have to waste the twenty million Uganda shillings (the non-
refundable fee to the EC).Again, I know it is okay to make headlines but
honestly it’s not okay to forget that you are a father-figure in real life. His
Children and wife may never recover from the humiliation he left for them to
live with on that stage. I doubt he asked them how terrific he was when he
stepped home. He strikes me as the kind, if elected, would be the direct
equivalent of a weather vane that blows whichever way the wind blows, the good
news is he can ‘never’ be President!
He
did ‘great’ as usual on the second debate, a role play that no one could play perfectly;
he is proof positive that everybody in the world is equally important. Let me explain:
He took away President Museveni’s grim face, which he had entered with earlier,
and also kept him awake with unstoppable laughter for the entire debate. He
begun by reminding the audience about the dire need to have women “down there
–there” and went straight away to strip naked his drama script .When asked
about Peace in the East African integration (Region), he bemoaned: we have to
restore term limits if we want Peace, President Museveni’s two minute laughter
was at this point in time, actually he almost used a hankie to wipe off the
tears of Joy down his chin.
Much
as in his deluded mind he imagined himself as president, when he appeared late
for the debate, saying he was just following protocol: the late appearance, him
being president. The truth is Mabirizi is nuts and to take anything he says
serious would be just to have a feel-good moment. We certainly do not need men
like Elton Joseph Mabirizi anywhere even close to the local council; he should
try his best suit: comedy!
Ms. MAUREEN KYALYA:
Maureen Kyalya is the only female presidential contender of this historic election.
I remember well, Maureen is the candidate that thinks sociology is the next
word that Uganda needs. She had quite an impressive start. Where she said that
there is tear gas at every police post than there is medicine in the hospitals.
I swear I clapped for her on this. I saw my uncle Dr.Besigye smile (I wish I
could insert the moment here).And then, she acted more of a petulant child when
she broke out on the Basoga rhetoric. That turned me off. I have heard enough
of it from a powerful lady I will not mention here.To assume the basoga are the
most neglected would be a terrible thing to believe.
Maureen
has a way of starting on fire; you can be seduced to like her just that her UK
experience takes over thereafter: She makes me want to go to the United Kingdom
very soon. The song she started with narrating the story of how President
Museveni made them believe the ‘future’ was for them, then, was a winner. It
was a class act out there, I earnestly admired that well scripted act there, it
reveals of the true Museveni: Kudos Maureen Kyalya!If you read my earlier column,
PRESIDENT MUSEVENI’S SLEW OF LIES here on the website, you know Maureen
and I plus millions of Ugandans we agree
to this.
Well,
as I said earlier, she starts well and soils everything up eventually. Maureen
Kyalya when asked on what she could do about terrorism started off to pander
over the issue with sheer nonsense, saying: “as a mother I can handle the
terrorism affectionately”. Seriously? Does motherhood guarantee any special
skill in dealing with terrorism? Well, if you are ignorant about this like I am,
that’s the gospel according to Maureen Kyalya.It is extremely and purely unimaginable
in the books of history: the day motherhood beat terrorism, terrific!
She
was the other candidate that made a very great cause-effect for President
Museveni’s light moment, especially when she publicly shared how she and
Museveni had talked over recruiting him as presidential advisor if she ‘ever’
became president, the President laughed so very much as soon this came out of
her mouth: to which he said she had actually proposed a VP post that he declined, settling for
presidential advisor.Well,again,the President found a very sweet friend in
Kyalya other than the ‘renown’ Elton
Joseph Mabirizi.Besides that, she can do something very productive as a women
representative in a good government.
PROF.VERNASIUS BARYAMUREEBA:
Former Vice Chancellor of Makerere University and other impressive duties. He
is a very nice match for the post of minister of education and Sports, science
and technology. The part where he says he has been in an executive position at
Makerere. That was a very perfect inclusive of showing his potential in this
ministry, if ever appointed. Other than that, he may have some work to do to convince
the nation that he is the right man for the job. He actually, sadly, wryly
laughed at himself when he imagined himself as president in the second debate.
Then
again, on our brothers and sisters who are ill-treated in places they go to
look for jobs, since they can’t be availed back home, he didn’t mince words: “
those ambassadors in charge are
political failures who are appointed as consolation for their local humiliation”.
That is a very sincere truth bomb, no one said ever.
He
left the public to a biblical thought quoting from Deuteronomy chapter 34; this
immersion in scripture is a thing I admire personally, being an ardent lover of
the scripture. He is a very resourceful person, since he has a snow ball’s
chance at ever making it to the biggest office; he can concentrate on his
university for now he gains ground.
Also:
in the second debate, he impressed me major on these: a time when he said that
Uganda’s involvement in every war that rings within is playing a “father-figure”,
unnecessarily. That was a very hard hit on the government for sure. We can’t
afford to play along on each and every war that sneezes from the near vicinity
and the far end while ignoring the pertinent issues back home.
DR.ABED BWANIKA:
A very pronounced agriculturalist. He too can do well in a good government
under ministry of animal husbandry and fisheries. It’s really unfortunate he
has failed to fetch the necessary popularity to run the show. I must say he is
someone who has very calculated plans at his fingertips, he must be a very good
researcher for sure, and his presentation has very rich factual data.
It
can’t go without saying that he gave a very brilliant answer when it came to
the ‘popular’ Oil question: “Oil can never be a curse; it belongs to the people
of Uganda, and not anyone in particular”. He went ahead to cement his point
with clarification that actually anyone who lays claim to the Oil as personal
property is a very cruel human being. He envisions the oil resource as a tool
and booster for socio economic development: I totally agree with him, as long
as it is not in the hands of a “corrupt and unaccountable regime”.
On
the question of the ICC, Bwanika was very deeply disappointing, can’t believe
he falls prey to President Museveni’s backup plan. The ICC may not be perfect
but as regards justice, they are surely doing a very commendable job, to say Uganda
should have pulled out of it yesterday scars the psyche. We can’t afford to see
leaders get away with murder and crimes against humanity just because out rigid
pan African mindset is at work. To believe that flawed logic to the end would
be very unbelievable: I refuse to buy into that sort of blurred rhetoric, with
all my heart.
AN
AIR OF FINALITY: I know for sure Pre-electoral bragging
is watered down in the office by the realities of actual power (briefly,
1986-2016, breathe in twice) .The illusions some of these candidates project
that the incredible complexities of politics and economics, (both at home and
abroad), can be solved by the simplistic solutions has never been so
spine-chilling. The past few years have been frightening and fitful seasons
(See the exhibits of unconstitutional constitutionalism… ‘Invisible constitution’,
Laurence tribe, Harvard Law school) with moral outrage and police brutality, I
see the Law as the sacrosanct. No matter the time lapse between now and the
time justice is served, I believe in legal redress. On Election Day: Remember;
“If you don’t vote, you don’t count’-Vernon Ferdinand Dahmer.
Sincerely,
Grace Abaho, Sr.
God bless y’all.
Comments
Post a Comment