http://www.observer.ug/news-headlines/39753-how-nandala-mafabi-aided-mbabazi

How Nandala Mafabi aided Mbabazi

Written by Sadab Kitatta Kaaya

FDC's Nandala Mafabi partly organised Mbabazi's Mbale crowds

• Former premier Amama overwhelmed in Mbale; how he benefitted from FDC secretary general Nandala-Mafabi
At his first campaign event in Mbale on Monday, former Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi drew huge crowds that surprised even him as well as many other political watchers. Addressing the people, Mbabazi couldn't resist appreciating the huge turnout.

"It has been a challenge getting here," he said, in reference to the aborted trip of two months ago when the police blocked his convoy at Njeru. "I want to thank you the multitudes here for the patience and determination".

To explain the crowds, The Observer has been told that Mbabazi relied on mobilization structures initiated by Nathan Nandala-Mafabi, the Budadiri West MP who is also Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) secretary general. Mafabi, who is considered a king-maker in the Mount Elgon sub-region, was not the only opposition politician involved as we have been told Mbabazi got support from across the political divide here.

Besides his sister-in-law and former minister Hope Mwesigye, others who mobilized for Mbabazi in Mbale include, according to our sources, Richard Madaba, the former Mbale municipality mayor, DP vice president for Eastern Uganda Yusuf Mutembule, and a host of other FDC and UPC leaders.

Among those in attendance was pollster Dr Patrick Wakida of Research World International (RWI), an FDC supporter who hails from the area. However, Nandala-Mafabi himself didn't attend the rally although The Observer has learnt that he hosted some of the planning meetings at his residence in Mbale senior quarters.

Contacted for her comment, Hope Mwesigye admitted that Mbabazi was a beneficiary of Nandala's goodwill and mobilization skills.

"We are working with his [Nandala] structures. His structures are our structures," she said.

Mwesigye added that the Mbabazi campaign doesn't mind people's political background as long as they support his cause. At the rally, the crowd did not entertain speeches from other political actors but when Nandala's assistant showed up with his message, it was warmly received.

In his speech, Mbabazi himself recognized the FDC strongman who he referred to as a great friend. A known admirer of FDC presidential flag bearer, Dr Kizza Besigye, Mafabi's association with Mbabazi left many people wondering what the opposition has up its sleeves.
MBALE ENTRY

This was Mbabazi's first public rally and act of defiance since he fell out with President Museveni and declared his interest in the incumbent's job. A non-confrontational politician, he found himself marching through police barricades as the crowd of supporters led him on.

The police had sealed off Bishop Wasike road and others leading to the Cricket ground where the rally would be held. As the crowds kept surging towards the Cricket ground, the police piled heaps of soil on some roads such as Works road to block access. The only way left to reach the venue was now through feeder routes. The newly-appointed Elgon Region Police Commander James Ruhweza had a torrid time trying to keep the crowds at bay.

"There's only one road that enters Mbale and it is the one Mbabazi is going to use," a man shouted at the police officer.

When Mbabazi who was now moving in Mwesigye's open-roof Land Cruiser reached the Sleeping Baby roundabout, he was evidently humbled by the daring crowd. He tried calming them down in vain. He then moved out of the car and joined them in a defiant walk to the Cricket ground.

Ruhweza was forced to ask his men to clear the way, but at the Clock tower roundabout, another barricade was waiting. A water tanker and a Fuso truck had been used to block Republic street but the truck's driver was forced to drive away after the crowd threatened to attack him.

A water tanker used to block Republic street

Earlier, explaining why Mbabazi had chosen Mbale to begin his political journey, Mwesigye said: "There are historical reasons known to him but Mbale is one of our strongest bases, which is the reason why the state is doing all it can to disrupt us."

At the rally, Mbabazi himself said he had chosen Mbale "because of its historical contribution to our struggle and liberation of not only Uganda but East Africa."

He said Mbale's political significance dates back to the 1950s when pro-independence activists from Kenya and Tanzania met in the town to plan their struggles.

"Decades later, it was used as a training ground for our Fronasa fighters, and who knows, 43 years later we are launching a campaign to change the country's leadership," he said.

Mbabazi repeated the message he has consistently delivered – that much has been achieved in the nearly three-decade rule of President Museveni, but cautioned that those achievements could be easily eroded.

"We should not forget that all these achievements were a result of bloodshed," he said.

Mbabazi, who was sacked as prime minister last September and removed from his position of secretary general in December last year, after his ambitions came to light, castigated the president for failing to address the country's economic challenges.

"Youth unemployment is high, our graduates leave the university without the skills to compete favourably on the job market, the shilling is performing miserably against the dollar; these are things we need to change," he said.

He also said that the NRM government is suffocating political dissent.

"Have the energy to reject bad leadership, you should not have fear; pick the courage to go forward," Mbabazi said.

Mbabazi pointed out that Uganda spends about $150m on medical care for its officials abroad annually and wondered why that money can't be used to revamp the health sector instead.

"If this money was put into the health sector, we would put up two ultra-modern hospitals every year," he said.

Earlier in the day, Mwesigye uttered similar arguments to explain to opinion leaders at Pretoria hotel the need for change. She also apologized for her and Mbabazi's failure to put things right when they were in government. Mwesigye, however, explained why it was difficult for them to make a difference.

"We budgeted for our sectors but the CEO [Museveni] would always say that his priorities were security, defense and State House whose budgets are classified," said Mwesigye, the former minister of agriculture.

She revealed that the late Dr Stephen Malinga, the former minister of Health, was reduced to tears during a cabinet meeting after his proposal to revamp Mulago hospital was rejected.
sadabkk@observer.ug