{UAH} Mukula: Why I decided to retire from active politics

Mukula: Why I decided to retire from active politics

Written by Deo Walusimbi

Last Updated: 15 May 2015

Captain Mike Mukula

Uganda should introduce senate chamber, he recommends

At a thanksgiving event in his Soroti municipality constituency on May 9, Mike Mukula, who once expressed interest in standing for president, surprisingly announced that he was retiring from elective politics. At his residence in Bugolobi on May 12, Mukula told Deo Walusimbi why he is quitting.

What motivated you to abruptly quit politics?

My position is very clear, I have thought about it. The time for my political journey to end has come now. God the Almighty created the world and heaven in six days, he rested on the seventh day; this is my seventh day.

But this seventh day came unexpectedly!

You must plan your political, social, economic and technological life. I have planned my political journey and I have consulted deeply.

Which people did you consult?

I actually consulted even the president who is the chairman of NRM about two and half years ago. I told him that I would not vie for the parliamentary seat in 2016.

How did he react?

He didn't respond initially, but I think he thought about it because the two, three, four times we have met, he did not respond to the matter, but lately, he was able to come to terms with it because I was very clear about it.

Did you consult him verbally or in writing, and where did you meet?

The [consultations] were verbal and we met in State House, Entebbe just the two of us, and we discussed deeply about it.

He asked me what I was going to do [after], I told him I was going into the private sector where I was before joining parliament in 1996. It would be 20 years [next] February for me in active, elective politics. I need the next generation to take over.

Did the president okay your retirement?

I would say that it's something that he didn't expect, but I must commend him because he eventually accepted it.

Do you think your retirement is timely?

To me, it's timely but I admit that it was difficult for my people because to get a replacement in the municipality is still a big problem. But I am sure that we'll come across somebody who is effective.

Why didn't you nurture your replacement?

No. I don't want to create a political dynasty. Whoever wants to succeed me will go through party primaries, and we will see how we can commonly support that person.
Museveni was supposed to be chief guest at your thanksgiving party but he didn't show up. Why?

State House had not foreseen the president's trip to the USA for the UN [meeting]. They wanted my occasion to be postponed or to send somebody else, but I said 'no, if the president doesn't come, I will not have a substitute and I cannot postpone the function'.

Why?

The electoral commission and political parties have issued their roadmaps. It would be unfortunate if it [conflicted] with party activities and I wanted to give contenders time to prepare.

You have been unwell prior to your retirement; what is afflicting you?

I had a delicate operation at IHK, which if I hadn't responded quickly, it would have been fateful. A kidney stone was also removed, but I decided to travel to Israel for a thorough checkup…I want to say that I have a clean bill of health according to a report by the Israeli hospital. So, I am physically fit.

How would you describe your relationship with Museveni and former Prime Minister Mbabazi?

I have an excellent relationship with Museveni and other NRM leaders, being a member of the political high command (Central Executive Committee). We talk regularly on phone with the president; we have a common position, I advise him, and it's up to him to make his decisions as a leader because he is a very wise and intelligent man.

Equally with Amama [Mbabazi], we don't have any major differences apart from the challenges he imposed on the party, which we tried to resolve.

Do you mind mentioning these challenges?

They are basically [his] method of work, but we tried our level best to resolve them amicably because those internal contradictions could have weakened the party.

I am happy that Mbabazi has chosen to be quiet as you notice. He's still a disciplined cadre who has been with the president for over 41 years, and I am very sure the two of them know the deeper challenges they have faced.

What does Museveni's  falling out with the former secretary general mean to NRM?

The lives of all secretary generals in various parties have been rocky globally. When you have two competing powers within one organisation, it can sometimes cause internal rifts; that is what has caused problems [in NRM], which we have tried to resolve.

Do you see Mbabazi dropping his presidential ambitions?

I would not speak for Mbabazi, he has an independent mind and he has also got his own constitutional right to aspire for any office of his choice within the country and the party since he's still an NRM member.

The point now is, would he really want to undermine his own party? In any case if that happens, it will not be the first time in the history of NRM. We have had departures like Col Kizza Besigye's who was national political commissar, which at that level would be a secretary general.

How do you project Museveni's performance in 2016?

I see Museveni winning as a candidate and flag bearer of NRM with overwhelming majority and it's going to be very difficult for the other political parties to match.

You seem to contradict your assertions as revealed by WikiLeaks. Before the 2011 elections, according to WikiLeaks, you said Museveni's popularity was declining both within NRM and at the national level!

Only dead people don't change their minds. On my part as a disciplined cadre of NRM, there are areas where you have to reconsider your position because you cannot swim against the tide.

It's common sense for any politician to be able to manage aspirations in analyzing the dynamics of politics in the country. And politics is all about perceptions and expectations.

So, what has since changed to boost Museveni's popularity ahead of the 2016 elections?

We are doing nation-building and we have now established peace and stability for the first time throughout the country; it's a fundamental achievement. Much as Museveni has not done so well in other things, he has achieved on security.

But on the broader perspective, I see three fundamental things that still remain outstanding and we need to address them at the regional level. Now that we have attained stability, we need to address patriotism and nationalism, pan-Africanism and economic transformation because we cannot be an island of peace in a sea of instability.

So, for Uganda to send troops to Somalia to provide a solution to African problems was a historical mission, and the same [applies to] South Sudan. I salute Museveni for having put together a professional army. It wouldn't be possible if we didn't have a strong political leader like him…

We have a big question on the East African political integration; we must demystify the colonial legacy. How can we as East Africans fail to come together? That is why we think we need a fatherly figure in the name of Museveni to try and create political integration, because the other leaders have internal problems and others are retiring.

I would again refer you to WikiLeaks to remind you that you criticized Museveni for handling UPDF like his political party and filling it with his Banyankore tribesmen/women. You claimed he was grooming his son [Brigadier] Muhoozi Kainerugaba to succeed him. Have these issues in the army been addressed now?

Well, you have seen the army changing in its form and structure into a professional outfit. We have acquired ultra-modern equipment because we have the best air force, an excellent infantry, a mechanized tank team, rapid artillery response capacity, we deal with counter-terrorism, internal security and all these show that our security forces have been professionalized.

If there are any lapses, they are human and we must continue to correct the president and ensure that we have the best systems both politically and militarily.

You had indicated that you would offer yourself to run for president in 2016; at what stage did this aspiration die?

I made it clear and it's on record in CEC that if Museveni wouldn't offer himself in 2016, I would be one of the interested people, but since he indicated he would run and we have made a reconsideration as a party to have him back to achieve those things I have talked about, there is no doubt I have withdrawn that position and I am not dying to be a president. Secondly, I have got no interest in destabilizing my party and the country.

How would your presidential ambition destabilize the party and the country?

The party has got means to determine its political leadership and it's us in CEC who determine it and recommend to NEC and then it recommends to the national conference. Unlike the other parties, NRM is a revolutionary party and we have a historical mission and Museveni remains the fatherly leader…
 
So, what about your structures within and without, particularly your ties with Kenya's Raila Odinga who threatened Museveni?

I never set up any structures. Our structures are within NRM and there is no single cell within the party that I told to build structures for me.

It would have created internal contradictions [similar to those] Mbabazi is facing. Throughout my political journey, I have met many leaders, not only Odinga, but also Uhuru Kenyatta, William Ruto, Jakaya Kikwete, Paul Kagame, Paul Nkurunziza, Joseph Kabila, etc.

For what?

These are friends because a good leader makes friends and nobody chooses friends for me. And I remember Museveni telling the Americans when he was still a friend to Muammar Gaddafi that they don't choose friends for him.

Equally, I want to be respected on this…the friendship I had wasn't in bad faith…you remember Odinga and ODM had accused Museveni of interfering with the Kenyan elections and I was able to reconcile the two and he even campaigned for President Museveni…

Some Ugandans hold the opinion that Museveni has threatened you into quitting politics.

No, I am not a coward and nobody can coerce me. This was my own personal decision. A person who faces [Joseph] Kony head-on cannot be a coward.

The decision wasn't because of fear, coercion, intimidation or ill-health but personal after deep consultations and it was the correct thing to do because I came from the private sector and I am going back.

Would you decline a ministerial appointment?

I would politely decline it because I am convinced that I will no longer want to get into the pull and push politics of parliament. I would serve my party committedly like Hajji Moses Kigongo. He is a quiet politician who [doesn't] get into elective politics but a strong businessman…

You are retiring with a tainted legacy after your name was blemished during the $1.5m GAVI fund saga; what really happened?

The Governor Bank of Uganda Emmanuel Tumusiime-Mutebile in writing said that all that money was in Bank of Uganda. The secretary to the Treasury, then Chris Kassami, stated clearly that there was no loss occasioned to the government.

Really, how would you accuse me of killing Walusimbi when he is walking on the streets? No one at the appellant court proved that I in anyway caused a loss to government and I didn't steal [Gavi] money. I have never been a thief. So, my hands are clean and if there is anybody who can show a loss of a single shilling as attributed to me, let him come forward.

Do you feel unfairly treated? You were jailed yet your co-accused were let off the hook?

That has now passed and if there were mistakes that were made, I forgive them as a Christian. God taught us to be forgiving, and if there are those that I might have injured or stepped on, I ask for forgiveness, but I want to clearly say to Ugandans that my hands are clean.

What reforms do you personally think are good for Uganda?

I would love to see the introduction of the senate. Rather than expanding the lower parliament, reduce it and bring the senate because you will refine the arguments of the lower house.

Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, have got senates and all other modern democracies have senates because you have to have double check to ensure that mistakes by many younger parliamentarians who are inexperienced at the lower level are addressed…

Would you think that restoration of presidential term limits is due?

Term limits are good for the country and that debate has not been closed; it would be a good idea. Museveni has done well, but there is no doubt that after his democratic foundation, a leadership of 10 years will be set.

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H.OGWAPITI
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"To announce that there must be no criticism of the president, or that  we are to stand by the president right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic  and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public."
---Theodore Roosevelt

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