{UAH} Aronda was good student of theory of adaptability

Aronda was good student of theory of adaptability

Written by Ssemujju Ibrahim Nganda

 Last Updated: 16 September 2015

 

At the time of his death, Gen Aronda Nyakairima, 56, was, without doubt, one of the most hardworking ministers.

He carried out his every assignment as if his life depended on it. That is why in his two-year service as the minister for internal affairs, he has pushed through two legislations in parliament, one of them – Registration of Persons Bill – very controversially, and the Anti-Terrorism Amendment Bill.

Controversial clauses prevented him from delivering the Non-governmental Organizations Bill, which would have been his third. Those who have worked with him on the national identification cards (ID) project will bear me witness that the modest success registered was due to his personal commitment.

It is this attitude towards work and determination that made people quickly forget that he faced and was suffering from a serious and deep career crisis. Many UPDF senior officers who joined the Luweero war, mainly the fresh university graduates, face the same crisis.

Gen David Sejusa (Tinyefuza) highlighted Gen Aronda's crisis but it got lost in his own grave fallout and resultant verbal war with the regime. But the following paragraph in Sejusa's April 29, 2013, letter calling for investigations into alleged plots to assassinate him, Amama Mbabazi and Aronda illustrates the point.

"The reason I have written this letter is in regard to the very serious allegations that have appeared in the press that IGP [Kayihura], Brig MK [Muhoozi], Gen SS [Saleh], one Kellen and others hatched an evil and extrajudicial plan of stage-managing the attack on Mbuya barracks [in March 2013] so as to frame senior members of this government especially I, Amama Mbabazi, Gen Aronda and those perceived to be anti-Brig. Muhoozi project."

Gen Sejusa's writing of this letter, his fleeing to exile in London from where he declared war against the regime, made such a big story. As coordinator of the intelligence services, Sejusa's fleeing overshadowed very strong statements made about Aronda. President Museveni allowed the Sejusa story to run its full life and then sacked Aronda almost two months later. Amama's sacking followed almost a year later.

By refusing to retire him from the military and by appointing him minister of internal affairs, Museveni closed Aronda's mouth, almost for eternity. The treatment of now retired Lt Gen Henry Tumukunde offered a free tutorial to Aronda on what it means to take the state on.

Probably by executing his duties with precision, Aronda was being a good student of the human adaptability theory. This theory is about mechanisms and processes that living systems use to survive in uncertain or unknown environments. While people will now praise him for his hard work, the truth of the matter is that being a professional soldier who graduated from a war college, Gen Aronda was an 'adaptabilist.'

Even heart failure has its own causes. If it is confirmed as the cause of Aronda's death, then we will look backwards and try to establish how his career challenges may have played a part. For Gen Aronda, who at the time of seizing power in 1986 was a mere intelligence officer deployed in the police, to rise to army commander was a big personal achievement.

Unfortunate for him, he became army commander at a time many of his bush war comrades had fallen out with the regime and others retired. It is now likely he will be the last Luweero war product to head the army. His appointment coincided with the rise of Brig Muhoozi Kainerugaba.

The commander of the Special Forces Group (SFG), an elite army within an army, literally became the de facto boss of the army. That is why his participation in all major assignments became a signature.

I am told that that is how the plot to assassinate or capture Joseph Kony failed. It is claimed that the plot was hatched under Aronda's command but its execution was put on hold because Muhoozi had not arrived in Garamba where Kony was hiding.

The UPDF, it is claimed, fired some shots that alerted Kony, and that is why by the time Muhoozi arrived, only Kony's Kaunda suit could be found!

It is said that Muhoozi's conduct always infuriated Aronda. It is, therefore, not surprising that Sejusa claimed he didn't support the Muhoozi project. One supporter of the Muhoozi project, or everything that Mr Museveni stands for, is police chief Kale Kayihura. Most of the security assignments were handed over to him, something that always angered the military and their boss Aronda.

Further complicating life for Aronda, Museveni appointed him minister for internal affairs which meant that he was to supervise Kayihura. However, as soon as Aronda arrived at internal affairs, Museveni promoted Kayihura from lieutenant general to a full general. This meant many things.

First, that the person you are supposed to supervise is at the same rank as you. As a result, the war between the two generals has been all over the town. If you don't have a heart-related problem, you will develop one with these problems; and if you have it, it will deteriorate.

Those, therefore, looking for the cause of Aronda's death don't have to look far away.

semugs@yahoo.com

The author is Kyadondo East MP.