{UAH} Fwd: [FedsNet] M7 will rule for life!

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"What you are we once were, what we are   you shall be!"

An inscription on the walls of a Roman catacomb.

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NEW TIMES/KIGALI Museveni Will Rule for Life Due to Politicians' Eating Habits OPINION August 10, 2005 Christopher Kayumba Kigali The single most discussed issue in neighbouring Uganda and the East African sub-region in recent months is President Yoweri Museveni's perceived ambition to position himself as President-for-life by amending his own inaugurated baby Constitution and to delete presidential term limits. As expected, the Constitution was amended and term limits deleted. Sure as the sun will rise tomorrow, Museveni will stand and win or rig a 'fifth term' of office; extending his rule from nineteen straight years to what nobody can easily predict now. To observers, this is as expected, indeed, considered very Ugandan, and African too. In the past, that beautiful country has had a "life" president in the names of Marshal Idd Amin Dada; all the other presidents have been violently removed from power and all presidential elections ever held considered 'rigged'. And this is what partly makes developments in Uganda more worrying. If it were in some other country, say Kenya, or Tanzania, we would say that Museveni will either grow old and die off giving chance for others to rule or that, as is humanly possible, simply be overcome by old age and give way for others. However, due to Uganda's militarized politics, you can't rule out a coup or some violent "liberation" war. But the Museveni machinations are not un-Ugandan, nor an accident. While he may have come to power in 1986 promising a 'fundamental change', and enlightened politics, as years went by, it became evident that he was not the Messiah many had expected. Unlike the days of the so-called individual merit and collective decision-making, today, dissent is criminalized. Too, he has diagnosed himself as the only Ugandan with a vision to rule Uganda; other leaders, including ones he has led the NRM with for the last twenty years are not good enough, lazy, or even 'traitors' as in the case of those who have opposed his quest for presidency-for-life. And, as we now know, his family considers him a godsend, more like a Jesus. While defending him against former US ambassador to Uganda Johnnie Carson, who wrote in the Boston Globe that Museveni was clinging on in order to save his family from possible prosecution due to alleged "illegal activities", his own wife, Janet Museveni wrote: "The truth is that humanity has triumphed over evil for centuries because, every once in a while, there comes about a man or woman who is willing to walk an extra mile to serve humanity. God uses such a man or woman to empower good to triumph over evil. Without such people in life, everything is doomed... God is always looking out for such people that He may use them for the benefit of their countries." From this, we learn how determined the Museveni family is to retain power; including the manipulation of and prostituting the word of God. From the horse's mouth there should be no illusions about a future presidential monarch. Yet, if truth was to be told, the soon-to-be crowned King Museveni is a creature of the Ugandan political elite. Like many politicians in Africa, most Ugandan politicians have peasant backgrounds and politics remains their major source of survival. That is why you find we have leaders who are still plagued by such vices as shop-lifting, sleeping with house-girls, et cetera (here in Rwanda we have our well known examples); vices not common among middle class, upper class or generally individuals from well-bred families. And because of the nature of the economy-largely controlled by the ruling political party, but chiefly by the chief executive and his close courtiers, controlling such politicians is very simple: you can promise jobs, including appointment to ministerial positions, offer tenders, intimidate or blackmail them, threaten this source of livelihood or financially cripple those who seem independent minded. Many of such politicians live in constant fear for the future because everything depends on the will of one man; and manipulating them doesn't require a political genius. When the NRA/M captured state power, in 1986, Museveni banned political parties saying they "divided" the people along tribal and religious lines. In their place, he offered an "all-inclusive", "tolerant" and ideologically based movement. Then, many politicians, fearing to lose the source of their livelihood, bought into this undemocratic philosophy (and many, nineteen years later, are campaigning with him for their return, this time using the language of donors-"opening political space". Surely, how does anybody expect him to consider them as men with a vision? And all political parties except 'unofficially' the UPC, served the NRA/M administration, helping Museveni consolidate his rule and reproduce it. In 1989, when he reneged against organizing general elections as promised, only one politician, Wasswa Ziritwaula stood his ground saying it was dictatorial and against the interests of Ugandans. He was vilified by almost all politicians including those from his own DP-which had endorsed the move! Politically, Ziritwaula was crippled and has never recovered. When schemes to selfishly amend the Constitution started around 2003, Museveni was helped along the way by the same politicians, including cabinet ministers, and more than 200 MPs. All this, not because they were convinced by the reasons advanced, but they were playing the 'politics of the stomach'. Openly, MPs were bribed with a mere Shs. 5m (about US $2500); promised "facilitation" funds, ministerial positions, or districts. And this corruption of politics and buying of the electorate is more serious than most observers care to admit. If only US $2500 is enough for the Ugandan MP to sow a dictatorship, how much is the poverty stricken, intimidated, badly fed and illiterate peasant worth? For those who know Uganda's countryside, and the life of an ordinary peasant, (many of whom survive on a dollar per day), a vote can be as cheap as a bottle of local brew or a kilogram of salt. Actually, in the past, many have voted Museveni not because they really thought he possessed a superior 'vision' than his opponents, but because he posseses the gun, and "brought them sleep". Lately, Museveni has expanded his patronage network by creating more districts-to buy the loyalty of local politicians and reinforce tribal rivalry among opponents. These days, any tribe interested in having its own district can have it by only threatening to eat rats! And as long as political jobs remain the major source of a livelihood for many, the continent should brace for more Musevenis. Rook __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com ____________________________________________________________________________________ YAHOO! 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