By JIMMY ODOKI ACELLAM
One of the candidates, Yoweri Museveni was dissatisfied with the results of Uganda’s general election held in December, 1980. Dr. Apollo Milton
Obote of the Uganda People’s Congress had been declared the winner. However, according to some historians and political analysts, Dr. Paul Kawanga Ssemogerere of the Democratic Party (DP) was the most popular candidate and was most likely the rightful winner of that election. Museveni whose Uganda Patriotic Movement (UPM) had performed poorly protested the outcome of the election results claiming they were not free and fair. Immediately, he started organizing a guerrilla war which began on February 6, 1981, with 27 men initially. Gen.Paul Kagame, now President of Rwanda, Col. Fred Mwesigye, Brig. Andrew Lutaaya and Jack Mucunguzi to mention but a few are among some of the surviving fighters. The ‘Bush War’ as it became to be known and sometimes popularly referred to as a People’s Protracted War took a toll on the lives of
many Ugandans.
The National Resistance Army/Movement (NRA/M) eventually defeated the National Liberation Army (UNLA) led by Gen.Tito Okello Lutwa and stormed Kampala where they took power on January 26, 1986. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni became president of Uganda at 42 and has led the country since then. The National Resistance Movement Ten-Point Program was used as a guide for implementing political programs in the one-
party system Movement system established.
Ours Is a Fundamental Change, is a very deep and insightful speech delivered by President Museveni in the early days of the National Resistance Movement regime, explaining the agenda; “No one should think that what is happening today is a mere change of guard: it is a fundamental change in the politics of our country. In Africa, we have seen so many changes that change, as such, is nothing short of mere turmoil.
We have had one group getting rid of another one, only for it to turn out to be worse than the group it displaced. Please do not count us in that group of people: The National Resistance Movement is a clearheaded movement with clear objectives and a good membership.”
Indeed, at the time the NRM was composed of many intellectuals, hardworking cadres with revolutionary ideals. In an interview on 91.3 Capital FM, Desert Island Discs in December 17, 2023, the former long-serving CEO of the Vision Group, William Pike acknowledged how focused, development-oriented and patriotic the NRM was in the first couple of years. Money was not the driving factor but conviction to work for a better country. He mentioned individuals like Mr. Ben Matogo and Hon. Eria Kategaya who are now deceased.
Some of the NRM 10-Point Program included: Restoration of Democracy, Restoration of Security, Consolidation of National Unity and Elimination of all forms of Sectarianism, Defending and Consolidating National Independence, Building an Independent, Integrated, and Self-Sustaining National Economy; Elimination of Corruption and Misuse of Power, Cooperation with Other African Countries, Restoration and Improvement of Social Services, Rehabilitation of War-Ravaged Areas, etcetera. How these programs were implemented is a basis through, which the longevity in power of the NRM can be evaluated and the pros and cons assessed.
Socio-economic transformation is one area that the National Resistance Movement has been working hard to deliver. Infrastructure in the country is better. Universal Primary Education (UPE) and Universal Secondary Education (USE) were introduced. In the early years of the NRM, the President always reminded Ugandans about ‘jolo pii kot’, ‘okulembeka’ then programs like Bonna Bagaggawale, Emyooga, Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) and the current Parish Development Model (PDM) among others followed to help better the lives of Ugandans.
The National Resistance Movement largely restored peace and security in Uganda, except in the Northern and Eastern parts of the country, which had extended periods of insecurity and insurgency largely due to the Holy Spirit Movement (HSM) of Alice Lakwena, the Lord’s
Resistance Army (LRA) rebels and other rebel groups, which terrorized those regions. According to renowned journalist, Caroline Lamwaka in her book, “The Raging Storm”, the capital city, Kampala was a mess and very insecure in the previous regime and was akin to Beirut.
The NRM restored peace, security and sanity. The National Resistance Movement Spokesperson, Hon. Emmanuel Dombo explains; “We have delivered on peace and security in Uganda. Ugandans sleep peacefully in their homes, which was not the case before; ‘Twebake otulo’ as you may have heard in Buganda is an appreciation for the improvement…Uganda is now respected and highly regarded in the region, Africa and
the world because of its contribution in stabilizing security in South Sudan, Somalia, DRC, Rwanda, etc…there is more unity and less sectarianism in politics and religion, among others.
NRM works with everyone,…The marginalized especially the women and youth have benefitted from affirmative action by the NRM. We established democracy that works and soon President Museveni will leave power.” Staying in power for long comes with its peculiar
challenges and the NRM has not been spared. With longevity, attending to very demanding tasks, comes fatigue. President Museveni now appears to be a victim. Subsequent elections organized by his government since 1996, have been contested in the courts, for not being
free and fair. Ironically, Mr. Museveni is now accused of election rigging, which he ostensibly fought against. Hon. Dombo says, “Museveni didn’t have access to a judicial system to lodge his complaints, whereas today’s opposition politicians have access to competent courts. Those with legitimate concerns have been attended to and the issues addressed.
People who lose elections generally complain; Trump, Raila, etc.” In the 2021 general election, the leading opposition party, the National Unity Platform (NUP), led by Hon. Robert Kyagulanyi withdrew its election petition for lack of confidence in the independence of some of the Judges
of the Supreme Court.
On a positive note, the hosting of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM in 2007, the recent Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth, the 19 th Summit of Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), and the G77+China summit in Kampala the month of January 2024 is a plus for the National Resistance Movement regime. Uganda, under the National Resistance Movement, was among four African countries which were called a “beacon of hope” with a “new breed of leaders” in the 1990s by the West. Years later, the country has fallen out with the U.S., the European Union (EU), the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner of Human Rights in Kampala was closed in 2023. The issue of violation of human rights by the regime has come to the fore, notably the 56 people killed in the November 2020 riots. Last year, Uganda was struck off the list of African countries benefitting from the trade agreement, the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) which promotes economic growth. The agreement with the U.S. is dated
from 2000.
It is high time NRM takes a critical look at its record since 1986 and learns appropriate lessons. The legacy of the National Resistance Movement rule is being tainted by massive corruption scandals. Rt. Hon. Richard Todwong, the Deputy National Resistance Movement
Party Secretary General has lamented publicly several times about corruption in the National Resistance Movement. In one explosive interview on NTV, Todwong said, “Corruption, greed, nepotism are things making Ugandans disgusted in the leadership of our party. If we don’t restrain, control our greed, and steal with impunity, Ugandans will push us out.
The mushrooming buildings, structures privately owned by ministers, commissioners, Permanent Secretaries and others while schools and health centers are shrinking. To be honest, I have told the President/Chairman NRM about these.” However, according to Hon. Ssemujju Ibrahim Nganda (Kira Municipality MP) The Observer February 1-2, 2017, the NRM Chairman, Museveni is culpable of corruption too. Uganda’s Foreign Policy, how it relates with other countries was favourable in the early years of the NRM to the 1990s but regrettably not anymore. Uganda was the first country to benefit from the “Heavily Indebted Poor Countries, HIPC” debt cancellation by the World Bank in Uganda’s debt is currently over 73 trillion shillings (around 20.8 billion U.S. dollars). The expenditures and priorities of the NRM government have come under
intense scrutiny because the lavish nature of lifestyles of some of its officials is a burden to Ugandan taxpayers.
The National Resistance Movement’s Pan Africa agenda has been lauded and earned President Museveni respect among his peers. Under the NRM, Uganda has intervened to restore peace in a couple of African countries. Somalia, Liberia, South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo,
Rwanda to mention but a few.
With all the achievements of the National Resistance Movement in 38 years, the lack of change or transition at the pinnacle of leadership of NRM i.e. the Presidency, or Chairman of the Party, remains the biggest challenge the party has to grapple with. What is likely to happen to
the National Resistance Movement and indeed Uganda when Mr. Museveni exits the stage is a question worth reflection now than ever.
