{UAH} THIS IS THE TRUTH ABOUT MISUSE OF POWER!!!!!!!!!!!

Museveni, Besigye and Muntu have all misused their power

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By Beti Olive Kamya 

Posted  Tuesday, January 27  2015 at  02:00

IN SUMMARY

While this alternate pampering and bullying of me by self-styled champions of good governance lasted, most Opposition politicians, quick to give commentaries on anything that happens in NRM, looked on without raising their voices.

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During the Electoral Reforms' Convention held at Hotel Africana in Kampala in December, 2014, Dr Kizza Besigye and I reminisced, with hearty laughs, events preceding my exit from FDC.

This article is, therefore, written only to share experiences and pick lessons; no bitterness!

When I lost the bid for FDC secretary general during the party's National Delegates' Conference of 2005, party president-elect Besigye appointed me "special envoy in the office of the president", a position not provided for in the party structures.

He further appointed me shadow minister for agriculture, at my request, although my credentials for the sector were pitiful, having been raised in Nateete of Kampala city.

Two years later, when we disagreed on how to fill the vacant post of party chairperson created by the death of Dr Suleiman Kiggundu, Besigye fired me from his cabinet and the party leadership in Parliament simultaneously fired me from both parliamentary committees on which I served - violating parliamentary rules, which require an MP to serve on at least one committee.

The last nail in my 'coffin' was hammered two days to the party national delegates' conference of 2009, by expelling me from FDC.

While this alternate pampering and bullying of me by self-styled champions of good governance lasted, most Opposition politicians, quick to give commentaries on anything that happens in NRM, looked on without raising their voices.

During the same period, Prof Ogenga Latigo had been elected Leader of the Opposition in the 8th Parliament, in accordance with FDC official resolutions.

That made him number six in the country's official hierarchy after the President, Vice President, Speaker, Chief Justice and Prime Minister.

Latigo was henceforth invited to national and international functions and accorded due protocol as Leader of the Opposition in Parliament (LoP).

In performing his duties, Latigo did not have to consult the party president, so "the party" became uncomfortable with his bloated stature over the party president's.

Latigo did not make it to the 9th Parliament, creating an opportunity to mitigate the brewing conflict between the party leader and Leader of the Opposition in Parliament.

So, FDC rules were amended to provide that the party president would henceforth appoint the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, clearly to reign him / her, in.

Ms Alice Alaso was the highest ranking FDC official in the 9th Parliament but Besigye appointed Mr Nandala Mafabi, three ladders below Alaso, but who, by his own confession to the Observer newspaper, is "Besigye's servant".

Not to be outdone, when Gen Mugisha Muntu became party president, he fired Mafabi as LoP and employing the timeless divide and rule strategy, appointed Nandala's strongest ally, Wafula Oguttu.

Compare this snap shot with the President Museveni / Amama Mbabazi saga when first, Mbabazi got what he wanted from his boss but lost it all when he fell from grace!

The moral of this story is that Museveni, Besigye and Muntu (mis)used power to counter perceived opposition and threat to their position.

That's why I argue that Uganda's problem is not Museveni, but excessive power vested in the presidency by the Constitution of Uganda.

The President's source of power is the Constitution that gives him / her authority to control the Treasury, Judiciary, Parliament, elections and all public institutions, through appointment of public officials.

Therefore, focusing on Museveni as the cause of Uganda's problem is missing the big picture because his predecessors and possible successors have (mis)used their power in the same way as he has.

Uganda needs constitutional amendments that trim the power of the presidency. This can only be done through a national referendum.

Ms Kamya is the chief petitioner for a National Referendum to trim presidential powers. ufapresident@gmail.com

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Tolerance is a stage in civilisation!

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