{UAH} Did Rt Hon Mbabazi conceal treasonable information?

Amazing statements continue coming from politicians on the campaign
trail. Political campaigns are such a demanding exercise that when
productivity fails, creative fiction takes centre stage.

Take the case of one of the newcomers in the presidential race, John
Patrick Amama Mbabazi, our former prime minister. He joined the fray
with a belief that all would be smooth and fun, only to realize that
nothing comes out of the blue. Such skills come with experience, which
only President Museveni has, having been there times before, and
successfully so.

Mbabazi has told the press and his supporters that he knows the stage
at which elections are rigged. He gives scanty details, saying there
is no problem at polling stations but that, allegedly, figures are
manipulated at another level. This revelation is groundbreaking, if
Mbabazi is to be believed.

Whereas globally there are always various theories about how elections
fail to hit the 100 per cent perfection mark, very few people come out
to state what goes wrong and why. Now we have a whistle-blower who we
should pamper as he holds the key to enriching our electoral
processes.

A little background check, however, calls speed on our optimism
considering that Mbabazi was, among other portfolios, the chairman of
NRM's manifesto committee on several occasions and, while at it, he
gave Ugandans the impression that the country boasted of true
democracy. Never did he express uncertainty on that fact.

If he was correct back then and wrong today, then he is a coward
trying to cushion the ground for his eventual fall at the polls. If he
is correct today, then he is unpatriotic, dishonest and may have
concealed information befitting a charge of treason.

Any act that usurps the power of Ugandans is treachery and its
concealment measures equally. At best, Mbabazi has self-incriminated.
He retains no moral ground to aspire for leadership or to be heard in
any other forum of authority. Shouldn't he step down from the race?
That may save him heartbreak at the polls unless he carries a motive
of using the concealed "dirty trick" to rig his way to power.

And that is most likely the case. Why is he only mentioning this
serious matter in passing instead of being a proud whistle-blower and
high-caliber liberator of true democracy by revealing all he knows
about this matter? He just says he will take charge of "Kampala" and
asks voters to watch at the polling stations. Is he trying to keep
everyone out of his way to do the dirty job?

Or is he the only one with eyes? There are 15 million Ugandan voters
scattered countrywide. Don't they have a stake in all processes
before, during and after elections? At what stage do they lose
relevance? Did he ever report this matter to his boss, President
Museveni? What was his reaction? What of other authorities?

Most unlikely.

Unfortunately, we are at risk of being mocked as if we matter less. It
was the same case with Gen David Sejusa, who made absurd allegations
only for us to realize that he intended to incite unsuspecting
Ugandans. Sadly, he found out that Ugandans have advanced beyond
rudimentary excitement. Before taking anyone's message as the gospel
truth, Ugandans test for credibility and personal responsibility.

Hitherto, Mbabazi came off as more sophisticated, probably because of
his style of measured speech and keeping out of public reach, but now
people fright has put him in a fix where he has to find what to say as
he awaits the end of the grueling campaign season. Let him ask Dr
Besigye; the FDC candidate admits it's not easy being on the campaign
trail.

It is the reason many only try out once, others quit midway, some
collapse on the trail, and so on.

As things stand, out of the eight candidates running for president,
all but President Museveni are having a nightmare – devising excuses
including blaming the weather, village rat paths, invisible hands, the
press, foreign guests, diplomats, passersby and more. They have given
up on a straight win and hope for technical hiccups to cite .

Is Mbabazi hiding vital information to exploit and rig his way to
power? There is no assurance against that unless he respects Ugandans
with the truth or withdraws his statements and courts voters the way
people normally do.

Faruk Kirunda

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