IN THE SHADOW OF DR. GEORGE WILLIAM MAYANJA

WHAT CAN ONLY SAVE THE NRM'S FACE NOW IS TO SEE HOW TO GET MUSEVENI OUT

NRM in crisis meet after Kasese defeat

NRM’s Muhindo casts her vote at Kitswamba Sub-county headquarters in Busongora North County on Wednesday. PHOTO BY THEMBO KAHUNGU By EMMANUEL GYEZAHO Posted Friday, August 10 2012 at 01:00 In Summary Assessing the loss. Top ruling party officials holed up in meetings to review defeat in the Kasese Woman MP by-election, won by FDC’s Winfred Kiiza. By-election losses The ruling NRM party has had a string of by-election losses. Of seven by-elections, the opposition has scored victory in six. In Jinja, FDC’s Paul Mwiru trounced NRM’s Igeme Nabeta. FDC’s Oddo Tayebwa defeated NRM’s Nasser Basajjabalaba in Bushenyi Municipality, while the Democratic Party has gained three seats with youth winger Brenda Nabukenya deposing NRM’s Rebecca Nalwanga in Luwero, Muhammad Kawuma trouncing NRM’s Patience Mubangizi to retain Entebbe Municipality while Mathias Nsubuga, the party secretary general regained the Bukoto South seat beating NRM’s Alintuma Nsambu. The re-election of opposition Forum for Democratic Change candidate Winfred Kiiza as the Kasese District Woman Member of Parliament with a landslide appeared yesterday to have thrown the ruling National Resistance Movement party into panic. This newspaper understands that top party stalwarts, some hankered down in Kasese and others in Kampala, were locked in a series of meetings since the declaration of Ms Kiiza’s resounding victory early yesterday morning. Sources indicated that the meetings were characterised by attempts to comprehend why the opposition has white-washed the ruling party at yet another parliamentary by-election. Ms Kiiza trounced her closest challenger, NRM’s Rehema Muhindo, with a commanding 61.3 per cent—and a margin of close to 40,000 votes between the two women. The result marks six wins for the opposition out of seven parliamentary by-elections held in the current term of the 9th Parliament. NRM party spokesperson Karooro Okurut, who was attending one of the soul-searching meetings, said she was not at liberty to comment on the Kasese defeat and said a decision was taken to leave that responsibility to the party’s Deputy Secretary General, Ms Dorothy Hyuha, who is camped in Kasese. Ms Hyuha later told Daily Monitor that the party was yet to “appreciate” the outcome of the Kasese vote and was still analysing returns from various poll stations before making a conclusive analysis of its misfortune. “I cannot easily appreciate that this is the real outcome of this election,” she said. “We are still analysing the situation.” However, Ms Hyuha was coy when asked to say what could have inspired this latest by-election defeat. “Every by-election has had its own peculiar situation and challenges,” she said, dismissing suggestions that the electoral losses are a reflection of waning support for President Museveni and his administration. “It cannot be a worry. Are you aware that in Parliament with slightly over 300 MPs we [NRM] have 256? There are parties like Conservative Party which have one member and they are represented,” she said, adding, “Kasese has had its own challenges; the geography, the past experience.” Although the ruling party maintains that these losses may not matter given its numerical strength in the House, the opposition victories are the most current indicator of the NRM’s popularity in places they were understood to be competitive. “There are serious problems in NRM, starting from the secretariat to the leadership at grassroots level. They are divided,” said veteran politician Aggrey Awori. Mbabazi factor His comments echo repeated reservations by party faithful over the mobilisation skills of the party’s Secretary General, Mr Amama Mbabazi, and his team. Touted by many as aloof and lacking the verve to sway voters, Mr Mbabazi has not been seen in the campaign trenches, preferring instead to keep to the demands of his Prime Minister’s job while President Museveni, labelled the charmer-in-chief, has hit the campaign trail to draw in the votes. At a recent meeting with ruling party mobilisers in Buganda region, however, President Museveni said he would appoint a substantive full time secretary general on grounds that the party was losing many by-elections due to lack of an active secretary general. However, NRM Vice Chairman for Eastern Region, Mr Mike Mukula, said it would be wrong to blame Mr Mbabazi for the party’s recent misfortunes even when the presence of President Museveni campaigning for party candidates has done little to sway voters. “I wouldn’t blame the Secretary General. This is even beyond the Secretary General,” he said. “Now, if a bigger gun [Museveni] goes to campaign, who is the secretary general?” Mr David Bahati, the acting NRM caucus chairman in Parliament, yesterday said the party’s performance in recent by-elections had left stalwarts agreed on “the need to strengthen the functionality of the Secretariat.”

THE ORDER OF MASS AT THE FUNERAL RITES OF DR GEORGE MAYANJA SATURDAY, AUGUST 11, 2012G

UGANDA IS A SAD STORY; NOW BESIGYE IS THERE FOR LIFE

In a story, Besigye excites Kayunga residents, Besigye said, “after stepping down as the Party President later this year, he will concentrate on his campaign to dislodge the ruing National Resistance Movement from power! Some people are worried about my retirement from the party leadership, but this is going to make me concentrate on how I will walk to State House and accomplish the campaign to liberate Ugandans that I started in 2001.”

KAIHURA THE SMACK OB

General Kayihura groomed for priesthood but turned out a soldier Lt General Kayihura at Christ the King Church. Photo by Andrew Bagala By Andrew Bagala (email the author) Posted Sunday, August 5 2012 at 01:00 Even before Lieutenant General Edward Kale Kayihura, the Inspector General of Police, was born on December 26, 1955, his father John Kalekyezi commonly known as John Kale had already laid for him a firm foundation. John Kale was very instrumental in the fight for Uganda’s independence.Although Kale died in a plane crash on August 17, 1960 Kiev, Ukraine, before Uganda attained her independence, his mark on Uganda’s struggle for independence was a fertile ground for Gen. Kayihura’s career. An altar boy As an orphan, Kayihura started his primary education in Gasiza Primary School in Kisoro District, where his father hailed from. He later joined Buhinga Primary School in Fort Portal District where his leadership skills first came to a test when he was elected a school prefect. But during his childhood, Gen. Kayihura’s caretakers prepared him to be a catholic priest. “Daddy (John Kale) had bonded with the church so much. The values I have were from him. My relatives wanted me to be a priest and I was an altar boy in church,” he recalls. Share This Story Share His childhood friend, Reverend Father James Burasa, Regional Superior Congregation of Holy Cross, District of East Africa attests to this. “Your name is forever remembered in the Diocese of Fort Portal and Virika parish in particular,” Rev. Fr. Burasa once told him when the Congregation of Holy Cross was giving him an award in 2009. After completing his primary level, he was admitted to Mutolere Senior Secondary School in the same district. The high school years Fr. Burasa says Gen. Kayihura was a brilliant child and became the best student in his school after sitting the East African Ordinary Certificate of Education (EACE) examinations in 1973. Given his humble background, Kayihura chose Busoga College, Mwiri in eastern Uganda for his Advanced level education. But his aunty, the wife of the late Permanent Secretary, Francis Gasasira, rejected it. “I chose Mwiri because I thought that is where I belong, but she personally brought me to St. Mary’s College, Kisubi and talked to the headmaster so that I join a school where my father studied,” Kayihura says. Admitted in a prestigious school, he was allocated a bed in Kakooza House in which he was later elected the minister of Labour. “I was active in lawn tennis and in drama society, Debating Club and I was a member of the Young Christian Society,” he says. In 1976, he left St. Mary’s College Kisubuafter attaining the East African Advanced Certificate of Education (EAACE) and joined Makerere University.

MUSEVENI IS TAKING THE SUCCESSION JOKE TOO FAR!

i find Museveni a funny personality, and it is clear from his succession talk that he has deliberately decided not to create institutions, which goes to confirm what some people have said time and again that NRM is Museveni. Surely, Museveni ought to know by now that he has made gross mistakes in the governance of the country and the best he can do is step down. It is unfortunate to see him continue giving excuses. The NRM organs should be able to arrest the situation, if they don't.. surely, time will tell. What he ought to know is that Ugandans need a change, which change he should give chance. William Kituuka Kiwanuka ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MUSEVENI SAYS THOSE WHO WANT TO REPLACE HIM OUGHT TO ADOPT HIS IDEOLOGY

My successor ought to adopt my ideology – MuseveniPublish Date: Aug 04, 2012 newvision By Eddie Ssejoba President Yoweri Museveni said he would have retired to his farm already, but when he scrutinizes people who want to take over from him, they all lack focus to drive the ‘vehicle’. This is the first time this term that the President is talking about succession in the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party and the presidency. Museveni was on Thursday evening speaking to the NRM campaign task force for Buganda region (excluding Kampala), headed by NRM vice-chairman Hajji Abdu Nadduli. The meeting took place at State House, Entebbe. More committed secretary general Museveni also said he would soon appoint a substantive full-time party secretary-general because the NRM was losing many by-elections due to lack of a committed secretary general. The current NRM secretary general, Amama Mbabazi, is also the Prime Minister. The President said the confusion and weaknesses exhibited in the by-elections were due to lack of commitment and dedication by the secretary-general, who is too busy to concentrate on party work. “Some just shout Museveni agende (Museveni should go). I would not have any problem with this, if those who want to come after me take my ideology. But when I realise that they lack proper ideology, I hesitate,” he said. He urged party members to always follow a clear ideology and stick to its principles, saying that has been the problem in the NRM. Ideological path He attributed the divisions and in-party fighting to lack of an ideological direction. To illustrate his point, Museveni told the mobilisers to master the four pillars that would guide them in promoting party interests; patriotism, nationalism, Africanism and democracy. These, he said, would bring about social-economic transformation and do away with tribalism and sectarianism. He cited an example of opposition leaders in Bukoto south by-election, who involved the Kabaka to gain political capital, which he said was because they lacked focus. It was in this spirit of Africanism that he vehemently opposed the invasion of Libya that led to the ousting of Col. Muammar Gaddafi and his eventual death. “I had issues with Gaddafi, especially when he wanted to create one government for Africa, which I opposed, but I still did not support an attack on his country. I still maintain my stand on Libya and will stress this to the US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton.” The invasion, according to Museveni, did not solve anything because the country was still embroiled in political turmoil. On the weaknesses in the party, the President said he was planning to appoint a new full-time secretary general. “My problem is that a secretary general is elected by the National Council, but as of now, I have no funds to call the council. I am trying to organise it next year, but in the meantime, I will appoint a substantive secretary-general, who would use a different name, but who will concentrate on the affairs of the party.” Citing the case in Butambala by-election, Museveni said the NRM was coming out at the last minute to mobilise for support, after losing a court case, which he called a sign of weakness. “We would have started mobilising earlier, if we had a full-time secretary general,” he said. He illustrated his point with the bush war tactics, where he concentrated on fighting, while others like Hajji Moses Kigongo, Eria Kategaya, Jacob Asiimwe and Hajji Nadduli concentrated on political work. He said with over 1,600 sub-counties in the country, the party did not need a part-time secretary-general, who only surfaces at the last minute. In-fighting Museveni, however, cautioned leaders in Butambala against petty divisions and infighting ahead of the coming by-elections. He wondered why leaders like Hajji Moses Kigongo, MP Mariam Nalubega, Kaddunabbi Lubega and Faisal Kikulukunyu were fighting each other. He said he was against people opposing some of the NRM party flag-bearers, saying they were weak in Parliament and unable to debate. He said even if one was a drunkard, as so long as he was able to vote for NRM issues in Parliament, he would not have any problem against him. “The role of our legislators is to mobilise people, vote for our motions in Parliament and sell the party abroad. So, leave these issues of people being promiscuous or drunkards. Even some of our bush fighters were drunkards, but they were good fighters,” he said. Museveni also attributed losses in the by-elections to cheating by the opposition, saying the party had filed cases after losing in Luwero, Bushenyi and Bukoto South and hinted on party members to learn to guard their votes. “For me, I’m not scared about the losses because I know the causes,” he said. Most of the election losers attended the meeting, including Alintuma Nsambu (Bukoto South), Kikulukunyu (Butambala) and Hajji Muyanja Mbabaali (Bukoto South). Other leaders included ministers Maria Mutagamba, Ruth Nankabirwa and James Kakooza, among others. Answering complaints raised by Hajji Nadduli, Museveni said the issue of delayed payments to war veterans was due to lack of enough funds. He said out of a total of sh250b, he secured only 32b last year. He added that the priority was now on power supply and roads, but assured the veterans that they would eventually be paid. Museveni said the Government was focusing on building a strong and trained army, enough supply of power that would boost industries, renovating the existing railway line and constructing a new line to connect South Sudan, promoting education and health. Hajj Nadduli also asked Museveni to return Buganda property because the opposition was riding on the issue. He thanked him for donating sh2b for the reconstruction of Kasubi Tombs and also asked him to reconsider disgruntled and forgotten NRM supporters. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ I WILL RETIRE AFTER IDENTIFYING SUCCESSOR WITH VISION, SAYS MUSEVENI By Mercy Nalugo Posted Saturday, August 4 2012 at 01:00 Entebbe Two months after he said he would retire when he clocks 75, President Museveni has said he will only quit if he identifies a person who is consistent, focused and with a vision to take the country forward. The President also said he would soon appoint a second secretary general to do mobilisation for the party since the current Secretary General, who also doubles as the Prime Minister, Mr Amama Mbabazi, is serving two portfolios concurrently hence impacting on his performance. Speaking during a meeting with officials of the NRM Buganda region task force that mobilised for his return in 2001, the President said he would have retired to his farm in Rwakitura long ago if he had identified a visionary leader. “There are some people who say Museveni should quit. I would have left long time ago but when you asses them, you wonder which direction they would take the country to,” he said. Without mentioning names, the President said those that have so far expressed interest to take on from him have not proved their worth. Divisions The Buganda region task force chairperson, Mr Abdu Nadduli, led the team that met President Museveni at Entebbe State Lounge to discuss a range of issues that included why the NRM party lost by-elections in Buganda . Share This Story “I don’t even look at someone’s religion or tribe but a good leader must focus on four key ideologies. He must be a nationalist, patriotic and pan African, one that promotes social economic transformation and is democratic,” the President said. He blamed the divisions and infighting within the party on some members that lack focus. Mr Nadduli blamed the losses on the infighting in the party and on some leaders who openly campaigned for the opposition. President Museveni, 68, in May said he will retire at 75 years. But his declaration on Thursday, means he could run for the Presidency in 2016. He has been in power for the last 26 years amidst opposition from critics who say he should retire and give chance to others. President Museveni said he would temporarily appoint someone to help with the party’s mobilisation work. “We want a secretary general with one job but because the secretary general is appointed by the national delegates’ conference, it requires a lot of money,” he said. He said Mr Mbabazi would retain his title as Secretary General but would have someone to assist him. This leaves the deputy secretary general, Dorothy Hyuha’s post in suspense in-case another secretary general is appointed. “We usually do mobilisation very late, for example, for the case of Butambala, the petition has been in court for a long time but the secretary general has been busy and if we had another secretary general, we would be mobilising already,” he said. There have been calls within the party that Mr Mbabazi relinquishes one of his portfolios since he was not getting enough time to do mobilisation work at the secretariat. mnalugo@ug.nationmedia.com