{UAH} Why Hajji Kigongo is no shareholder in NRM company
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8:19 AM |
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Hajji Moses Kigongo receives less credit for his role in the success of the bush war that brought Gen Yoweri Museveni to power than he deserves. For example, few people remember that he headed the Western Axis that eventually launched a major offensive, enabling the NRA for the first time in four years to seize territory from Milton Obote's government.
While Museveni remained in the Luwero Triangle with one group of fighters, Kigongo led the other to Rwenzori. By capturing territory in the Rwenzori sub-region, the NRA was able to conduct massive recruitment and training.
Probably, if the Western Axis had not been opened, the war would have taken longer or even failed. Kigongo had become Museveni's number two upon the demise of Prof Yusuf Lule whose death created a chance for Museveni to become overall boss (chairman).
In the Butambala by-election which climaxes today, the role of Kigongo and the spoils of war have featured prominently. Many people in Butambala think Kigongo has not used his status as NRM vice chairman since the bush days to help them.
Butambala remains without a paved road. The main road there (Mpigi-Maddu) has been mentioned in at least 10 budget speeches. But as someone who sits on Parliament's committee on physical infrastructure, I know it for a fact that it has not been provided for even in this new budget that we are about to pass.
Butambala district is headquartered at Gombe. There are two main features of Gombe, and probably the whole district: a big hospital built by former president Milton Obote and Gombe Secondary School.
Obviously there aren't enough drugs in Gombe hospital or enough qualified medical personnel and equipment. The NRM government has even shamelessly failed to add a litre of paint to this magnificent health infrastructure.
The truth is, if Obote hadn't gotten drunk with power that led him to raid Buganda, he would have been the most foresighted leader this country has ever had.
Imagine building a very big hospital in a rural place like Gombe more than three decades ago!
Apart from its name and its historical importance as one of the two counties that the Buganda Kingdom reserved for the Muslims after the deadly religious wars, there is nothing to show, sell or talk about in Butambala. People are as poor as elsewhere in Uganda.
Many people of Butambala blame Kigongo for their misery. How could a whole number two in a government fail to have their roads paved yet he has been in government for nearly three decades?
There are two serious contenders for today's by-election: Muhammad Muwanga Kivumbi (DP) and Faisal Kikulukunyu (NRM). Hajji Kigongo is leading the vote hunting for the NRM candidate who has served him before as his personal assistant.
It appears the by-election is some sort of referendum on Kigongo because this is his home area. Maybe that is the reason he decided to head the campaigns. What the people of Butambala don't know, which those of us hunting votes for Muwanga Kivumbi have told them, is that Kigongo, careless as they think he is, was also shortchanged like many Ugandans.
When the NRA captured power, the first thing they shared was military numbers and ranks. Ranks and numbers don't cost money. That is why even people, who I think have never fired a bullet in their careers, were given.
At the sharing of ranks and numbers, sometime in 1987, Museveni became RO 0001 and a Major General. Eriya Kategaya, who by the way operated in the external wing like Kirunda Kivejinja and Amama Mbabazi, got RO 0002 and the rank of Brigadier.
Note that Kategaya is not an honorary brigadier like many people have been made to believe. Honorary soldiers don't have numbers, but Kategaya has, and his absence from the high command meetings was always recorded.
If ranks were given to even those who spent less time in the bush, why wasn't Kigongo given? I think Museveni wanted to show right from the start that Kigongo was not one of the shareholders in the NRA/M company.
It is because of this that Kigongo has received less bashing from us in these campaigns. He is as much a victim as us. A win for Muwanga is as important to us as it is for Kigongo. But most importantly it adds on the number of opposition MPs in Buganda.
There are currently about 65 opposition MPs in the whole country. Buganda has the highest number with 21. The growth of opposition in Buganda is a major breakthrough for the opposition. Once you lose the centre, you have lost the entire country.The author is Kyadondo East MP.
semugs@yahoo.com
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