PAUL MUGOYA: Ugandans Vote Personalities Not Political Parties And The Army Has A Strong Hand In The Political Destiny Of Uganda

Nearly forty years ago, Uganda has failed to depart or move away from its turbulent past of militarism to witness a peaceful handover. Our politics and political history is littered with military interference whenever we have disagreements or contradictions within parties, especially within the ruling party.

Ugandans should get worried when cracks begin to appear in the ruling party, like the way violent internal elections are held. Soldiers usually can take advantage of these contradictions to regard themselves as a better alternative to civilian rule, whether the politics is based on a multiparty or a one-party political setting.

Normally a cross-section of civilians will ally themselves with the military as it is with the NRM now. Some civilians feel secure under the dominance and cover of armed forces.

To those who didn’t know, NRM is a militant party and this Army the UPDF, is a descendant of the NRA which President Museveni personally built from scratch. Any guerrilla outfit has the DNA of violence and is a master of violence.

The behavior of the armed forces will depend on the strictness of 2 only people. Even the fight against corruption can be stopped if the 2 people decided, the President, who is CIC, and the CDF. The violence you see should not surprise you because it is in their DNA.

The Army has a strong hand in the running and management of the country, that’s why the Historical High Command is comprised of military personnel whose names remain enshrined in the Constitution.

Some of these personalities have retired and some are dead while their names remain enshrined in the Constitution, read the UPDF Act, Section 11 and 11(1) and also mentioned in Article 98(1). The government is struggling to amend the UPDF Act to conform with the President’s wishes.

This raises again many questions and the question of what the Military High Command is purposed for. Now it appears there is one High Command for Historicals running concurrently with a new one under the new Army Structure with new members. We do not know which one is official, and which one is defunct.

Amazingly, some members appear on both sides, the historical and the new ones. I wonder why the framers of our Constitution inserted names of mortal beings in our Constitution when they knew at the end one would retire and die? So if one dies what happens to the names already inserted in the Constitution? You will realize that including such insertions in the Constitution of the country and involvement of the Army representation in Parliament is a direct interference of the Army in politics.

Did you know that the High Command of the Army can discuss the Supreme Court ruling and advise the President to act otherwise? There can be a conflict of interest here, when we have many centers of power, the President can invoke the Military High Command to act otherwise or vice versa.

The creation of many centers of power in the UPDF not only weakens it but does not auger well for the growth of democracy, many centers of power may confuse the the running of the government and also fail to have a swift and clear flow of command in the.

Army during dangerous moments, like during heightened political tension which can result in uncoordinated movement of troops and failure to make a quick decisive command. In modern times, everyone is getting rid of red tape and avoiding an increase in bureaucracy.

Having many centers of power means the Army is not subordinate to civilian authority as provided by the Constitution. This explains why the CDF has defied Parliamentary summons, calling the Parliament all sorts of names and threatening to march towards Parliament, as a sign of defiance to civilian authority. Such alliances between the civilian authority and the Army have both internal and external components.

Though this UPDF Act is salient it also remains a sleeping time bomb. Among the historical members of the Command, there is no active serving soldier, the few surviving members are Rtd. Gen. Museveni and his brother Rtd. Gen. Salim Saleh, Rtd. Gen. Jim Muhwezi and some few living members.

This Act makes the Army seemingly Supreme over civilian authority, that’s why the CDF talks with much power and command. He even endorses the father as a candidate for the 2026 elections and warns that no civilian will be allowed to take over from his father. In this situation, I pity the Parliament and the Judiciary. They will eventually become rubber stamps.

On the issue of political parties, I have of late realized that political parties are mere vehicles for convenience for identity and structural organization. People in Uganda have a culture of voting for individuals. Most politicians rarely serve anyone but rather serve their agenda and their skewed vision.

They have become masters of convenience, compromise, and deceit. Agendas are always centered around their survival. When you look at the NRM, politicians have in the last forty years been the beneficiaries of this system than the voters. Poverty is on the increase among the voters.

People vote individuals not parties, when you weigh NRM against President Museveni, the latter will outweigh NRM. This explains why Mr. Museveni has become and remained a precious lifetime NRM candidate/asset. Without Mr. Museveni, NRM’s fortunes will dwindle and collapse.

Museveni’s movement autocracy is about the capture of the State. Democracy in Uganda is very far from being realistic because the NRM Party is fused with the State. It is difficult to separate the Army, Police, and other government institutions from NRM. All State institutions work for Mr. Museveni and his NRM.

This has made Mr. Museveni the most powerful leader Uganda has ever had, and this has made him a household name and a life President. Unfortunately, he is increasingly becoming more tolerant of corruption and coercive methods that have allowed repression to take center stage.

The threats coming from his son who is also the CDF cannot be taken lightly. For any sane Ugandan, you should start worrying. The President has lost control of the lion he natured and fathered. The Lion now is threatening to bite the citizens.

The following issues have hindered and remain a challenge for governance in the NRM and also have undermined and weakened it: Failure to fight corruption in a blanket manner, lack of internal democracy, wastage in spending on patronage appointments, being extravagant, and fatigue from overstaying in power, nepotism and founder influence. There is also the issue of exhaustion, forty years in power is no joke. It is a record no one else will ever break.

Parliament has been weakened, the NRM Caucus acts as the Parliamentary House where all decisions are decided and agreed upon. Uganda practically operates as a one-party State. The opposition is used as a rubber stamp to make democracy appear to be present and real.

The government of Uganda has failed to address the serious challenges that are facing the country. Service delivery is very bad, the growing debt burden, the disappearance of 10 trillion from the Treasury, unemployment of the youth, the list is endless.

We are soon going for elections, and Ugandans would like to be educated on how the government will address the above-mentioned challenges after forty years in power.

Some few of these similarities are shared in NUP where Bobi Wine is everything and even heavier than NUP the party and he remains the dominant and influential force within NUP. And anyone who berates Bobi Wine as a person is a daydreamer. Because of desperation, Ugandans are in search of an alternative to Mr. Museveni.

If NRM had adopted the doctrine and systems of CCM of Tanzania for changing leaders, NRM would have survived beyond Mr. Museveni. Today, as nature is against Mr. Museveni and he is gradually running out of steam and agility and in the absence of Mr. Museveni, NRM being a militant party is under threat because it is increasingly becoming unpopular as such it can eventually be taken over by the military full blast.

To NRM members, you will lose out on the new arrangement. On this, the indicators are everywhere to see. There is no need to elaborate more on this. You have failed NRM on many fronts, especially on corruption and the new leadership will not tolerate you anymore.

Another strong Party is FDC, if FDC wants to remain a strong competent party and to increase its political fortunes, they have to identify someone appealing, a unifier with a popular voter on the ground. People vote for personalities, not parties or colors. Because when one enters the voting booth, there are no boundaries that can prevent or deter one from changing his or her vote to vote for a desired choice.

The majority of the voters do not comprehend the concept of multipart. If one promised and assured the voters to work on the immediate challenges they face, then one can rest assured of a substantial amount of votes in return.

The common voter is not interested in the ideology of the party but wants the immediate issues that have bedeviled them to be addressed. Understanding the mindset of our voters is critical to any political leader who is determined to lead and change the fortunes of this country.

Uganda’s democracy currently is in a static mode. The current leader is not ready to arrest and punish the corrupt even those who surround him and it is the same leader who has allowed extravaganza and a cycle of endless wastage in a bloated public service and political patronage to thrive, Uganda today or yesterday needs a new a leadership that can carefully plan to utilize the money the country loses that can be put into good productive use.

Because of poor planning and inefficiencies exhibited in bad leadership in the governance of the country, Uganda’s development will never take when we remain under the same circumstances, even for another 100 years.

The space to freely canvas for support by political parties is steadily shrinking, the levels of intimidation and brutal harassment are on the increase sometimes inflicting fatal injuries on Ugandans just because they do not align with NRM.

Where is the leadership of the country when other Ugandans are being brutalized, victimized, and denied the right to exist in their own and only country just because of having a different and divergent line of political thinking? This makes it appear like real madness which makes us appear more uglier than Amin.

Amin was credited for being honest enough to Ugandans, for him he did not pretend or be deceitful to act as being democratic. Uganda today needs leaders who can not only speak but act for the sake of the voiceless and who can take responsibility to protect Ugandans.

Why are many leaders shying away from taking responsibility for the wrong these reckless, brutal, and unidentifiable masked men do? Why are they tormenting the citizens? As a member of FRONASA like it or not, this was not the intention of the struggle.

It is a betrayal of the highest order of those still living and those who died in the struggle. Many of the families of the unsung freedom fighters who made sacrifices that ushered in the revolution still wallow in poverty. It is the betrayal of the highest order.

It is a shame and wrong for the State to view other political parties as enemies, not opponents. These parties are denied equal opportunities to freely conduct political activities such as rallies and mobilization and it is unfortunate for those Ugandans who get emboldened and dare to go out and face the wrath of being handled like terrorists as if these fellow Ugandans are not human beings and citizens who are supposed to enjoy the same protection of the State. These Ugandans have never been rebellious to the government. They are only exercising their discontent at the way the way the country is being governed. These same Ugandans who are being brutalized also contribute to the tax regime that enables the government to function and buy weapons, uniforms, and other logistics for the very people brutalizing them. This is very absurd and shameful for a people’s government that had been a champion for peace and freedom. A government that fought for liberty and freedom of the country.

It is with shame that the Chairman of the Electoral Commission reasons clumsily with incompetence as if he is devoid of any power to act or to condemn acts of hooliganism being conducted by security agencies on camera. The EC Chairman seems not in charge and acts like a village LC Chairman. He says his hands are tied when things happen outside his office premises. This proves that the Commission is not independent to serve all Ugandans but is out to execute an already predetermined election. The NRM Electoral Chairman Tanga Odoi, said without shame that once the President is declared a flag bearer, then he instantly becomes the Winner of the elections. Then why waste taxpayers’ money? For how long shall Ugandans wallow in such fraudulent processes? This is evidence that the EC has failed to manage and take control of elections. It has become toothless. It can’t even see the violence meted out to other Ugandans by the very State that appointed him. Even the illegitimate activities, such as abuse of human rights, and rigging of elections that often occur, that are held under the scope and mandate of the EC, have gone unaccounted for.

The evidenced abuse of human rights by the State agencies like what is happening in Kawempe North by-election campaigns, and no one takes responsibility, is a sign that there is a vacuum of power in this country and Ugandans are becoming more worried and concerned about the state of affairs. We don’t even know who is in charge of the country. A cross-section of Ugandans feel abandoned, threatened, marginalized, and discriminated by their government and the government itself is getting agitated, scared, and afraid of its citizens.

The election process is being conducted like war. It’s a pity even people of importance in NRM do not see this. How can you make the elections credible in such a chaotic condition? The image of the country? But why the panic? NRM is a massive Party. I fail to understand why NRM, which is the custodian of power, is in panic mode.

The continuous intimidation and well-orchestrated harassment by State agencies is a big blow to the country. The quietness and silence from the NRM and sometimes the failure to condemn those who mete brutality onto Ugandans and instead condemn the injured ones as the wrongdoers is worrying. We have to stop this cycle of violence because Ugandans vote Personalities Not Political Parties And The Army Has A Strong Hand In The Political Destiny Of Uganda.

Forty years ago, Uganda failed to move away from its turbulent past of militarism to witness a peaceful handover. Our politics and political history are littered with military interference whenever we have disagreements or contradictions within parties, especially within the ruling party. Ugandans should get worried when cracks begin to appear in the ruling party. Soldiers usually take advantage of these contradictions to regard themselves as a better alternative to civilian rule, whether the politics are based on a multiparty or a one-party political setting.

Normally a cross-section of civilians will ally themselves with the military as it is with the NRM now. In NRM, civilians have allied themselves to the Army for political survival and protection. This makes the civilians very weak to blame the Army when it commits excesses on the population that is opposing NRM. This is what makes the security forces overzealous and trigger-happy. Because they are fused to the State, they protect their interests with orders from above through command.

To those who didn’t know, NRM is a militant party and the Army is a descendant of NRA which President Museveni personally built. Any guerrilla outfit has the DNA of violence and are master of violence. So the violence you see should not surprise you because it is in their DNA. Soldiers training is violent and violence is part of their discipline. The Army has a strong hand in the running and management of the country’s affairs, that’s why the Historical High Command is comprised of military personnel of the NRA whose names remain enshrined in the Constitution. Some of these personalities have retired and some are dead while their names remain enshrined in the Constitution, read the UPDF Act, Section 11 and 11(1) and also mentioned in Article 98(1). The government is currently struggling to amend the UPDF Act to include the President’s proposed reforms. This raises again the question of what the Military High Command is meant for. Military High Commands can be misused or abused to interfere in political affairs. Today, there is a new one under the new proposed Army Structure with many new members. We now have a 2 tier High Command system. There are those on the Historical High Command whose names are enshrined in the Constitution and the new ones. Was it not an error to enshrine names of mortal beings into the Constitution? Why did the framers of our Constitution insert names of mortal beings in our Constitution when they knew that one day one would retire and die? So if one dies what happens to that name already inserted in the Constitution? You will realize that including such insertions in the Constitution of the country was a deliberate, direct involvement and interference of the Army in political affairs.

Did you know that the High Command of the Army can be used to discuss discourse of the nation such as the Supreme Court ruling and advise the President to act otherwise? There can be a conflict of interest here, where the President can invoke the Military High Command to act otherwise or vice versa. The creation of many centers of power in the UPDF not only weakens it and confuses but does not auger well for the growth of democracy, and these many centers of power may cause confusion in the Army to have a swift and clear flow of command during dangerous moments, like during a heightened political tension, that can result into the uncoordinated movement of troops.

Having many centers of power in the Army means no clear center of command, the Army leadership becomes less coordinated and not subordinate to civilian authority as provided by the Constitution. This explains why the CDF has defied Parliamentary summons, calling the Parliament all sorts of names and threatening to march towards Parliament, as a sign of defiance to civilian authority. Such alliances between the civilian authority and the Army have both internal and external components Though the UPDF Act is salient it also remains a sleeping time bomb. Among the historical members of the Command, there is no active serving soldier, the few surviving members are rtd. Gen. Museveni and his brother rtd. Gen. Salim Saleh, rtd. Gen. Jim Muhwezi and some few living members. This Act makes the Army seemingly Supreme over civilian authority, that’s why the CDF talks with much power and command. He even endorses the father as a candidate for the 2026 elections and warns that no civilian will be allowed to take over from his father.

I have of late realized that political parties on the side of civilians are mere vehicles for convenience such as identity and structural organization. Most politicians rarely serve anyone but rather serve their agenda and their skewed vision. They have become masters of convenience, compromise, and deceit. Agendas are always centered around their survival. When you look at the NRM, politicians have in the last forty years been the beneficiaries of this system than the voters. Poverty has increased among the voters.

People vote individuals not parties, when you weigh NRM against President Museveni, the latter will outweigh NRM. This explains why Mr. Museveni has become a precious lifetime NRM candidate and asset. Without Mr. Museveni, NRM’s fortunes will dwindle and collapse. Museveni’s movement autocracy is about the capture of the State. Democracy in Uganda is very far from being realistic because the NRM Party is fused with the State. It is difficult to separate the Army, Police, and other government institutions from NRM. All State institutions work for the interest of NRM. This has made Mr. Museveni a household name and a life President.

Unfortunately, he is increasingly becoming more tolerant of corruption and coercive brutal methods that have allowed repression to take center stage. The threats coming from his son who is also the CDF cannot be taken lightly. For any sane Ugandan, you should start worrying. There is total confusion as to who is in charge. The President has lost control of the lion he fathered and nurtured. The Lion now threatens to bite the citizens and might go on a rampage.

Four major things that have or can undermine and weaken NRM. Failure to fight corruption in a blanket manner, lack of internal democracy, wastage in spending on patronage appointments, being extravagant, and fatigue from overstaying in power. There is exhaustion, forty years in power is no joke. It is a record no one else will ever break.

Parliament has been weakened, the NRM Caucus acts as the Parliamentary House where all decisions are first decided and agreed upon. Uganda practically operates as a one-party State. The opposition is used as a rubber stamp to make democracy appear to be present and real. The government of Uganda has failed to address the serious challenges that are facing the country. Service delivery is very very bad and poor, the growing debt burden, the disappearance of 10 trillion from the Treasury per year, unemployment of the youth, the list is endless. We are soon going for elections, and Ugandans would like to be educated on how the government will address the above-mentioned challenges after forty years in power.

Some few of these similarities are shared in NUP where Bobi Wine is everything and even heavier than NUP the party and he remains the dominant and influential force within NUP. And anyone who berates Bobi Wine as a person is a daydreamer. Because of desperation, Ugandans are in search of an alternative to Mr. Museveni. If NRM had adopted the doctrine and systems of CCM of Tanzania for changing leaders, NRM would have survived beyond Mr. Museveni. Today, nature is against Mr. Museveni and he is gradually running out of steam and agility in the absence of Mr. Museveni, NRM being a militant party, the State is under threat and likely to be swallowed by the Army. NRM is increasingly becoming unpopular as it also ages, and can eventually be taken over by the military, full blast. To NRM members, you will lose out on the new the new order. On this, the indicators are everywhere to see. There is no need to elaborate more on this. You have failed NRM on many fronts, especially on corruption and the new leadership will not tolerate you anymore.

Another strong Party is FDC, if FDC wants to remain a strong competent party and to increase its political fortunes, they have to identify someone appealing, a unifier, a person who can address the deficiencies and contradictions in the Party Constitution that is responsible for the continuous hiccups and divisions within the party. This leader has to be popular with a popular vote on the ground. In Uganda, people vote for personalities, not parties or colors. When one enters the voting booth, there are no boundaries that can prevent or deter one from changing his or her vote to vote for a desired choice. The majority of the voters do not comprehend the concept of multiparty. For the voters, it is about what one promises and assures the voters of how quickly one can handle the immediate challenges they face. Because of poor service delivery, voters will demand from candidates hospitals, roads, good clean running water, etc. In Sironko Town, there is a need for a main Hospital, not another Constituency, in return, a candidate will be rest assured of a substantial amount of votes. The common voter is not interested in the ideology of the party but wants the immediate issues that have bedeviled them to be addressed. Understanding the mindset of our voters is critical to any political leader who is determined to lead and change the fortunes of this country.

Uganda’s democracy currently is in a static mode. The current leader is not ready to arrest and punish the corrupt even those who surround him and it is this same leader who has allowed extravagance to excel and in a cycle of endless wastage, in a bloated public service and political patronage to thrive.

Uganda today or yesterday needs a new leadership that can carefully plan to utilize the money the country loses that can be put into good productive use. Because of poor planning and inefficiencies exhibited in bad leadership in the governance of the country, Uganda’s development will never take off when we remain under the same circumstances, even for another 100 years. Ugandans are fed up and tired of leaders who are abusive and arrogant and who use coercive methods rather than being persuasive.

The space to freely canvas for support by political parties is steadily shrinking, and the levels of intimidation and brutal harassment are on the increase sometimes inflicting fatal injuries on Ugandans just because they do not align with NRM. Where is the leadership of the country, more especially from NRM when other Ugandans are being brutalized, victimized, and denied the right to exist in their own and only country just because of having a different and divergent line of political thinking? The electoral process looks like war and makes it appear like real madness which makes us appear more uglier than Amin.

Amin was credited for being honest enough to Ugandans, for him he did not pretend or be deceitful to act as being democratic. Uganda today needs leaders who can not only speak but act for the sake of the voiceless and take responsibility to protect Ugandans.

Why are many leaders shying away from taking responsibility for the wrong these reckless, brutal, and unidentifiable masked men do? Why are they tormenting the citizens? As a member of FRONASA like it or not, this was not the intention of the struggle. It is a betrayal of the highest order of those still living and those who died in the struggle.

Many of the families of the unsung freedom fighters who made sacrifices that ushered in the revolution still wallow in poverty. It is the betrayal of the highest order. The government has to move away from survival mode and being panicky and instead deliver services to all citizens irrespective of their background.

It is a shame, wrong, and a misdemeanor for the State to view other political parties as enemies, not opponents. These parties are denied equal opportunities to freely conduct political activities such as rallies and mobilization and it is unfortunate for those Ugandans who get emboldened and dare to go out and face the wrath of being handled like terrorists as if these fellow Ugandans are not human beings and citizens, who are also supposed to enjoy the same protection from the State.

These Ugandans have never been rebellious to the government. They are only exercising their discontent at the way the way the country is being governed. These same Ugandans who are being brutalized also contribute to the tax regime that enables the government to function and buy weapons, uniforms, and other logistics for even those brutalizing them.

This is very absurd and shameful for a people’s government that has been a champion of peace and freedom is now drifting away from the values that won its support A government that fought for liberty and freedom of the country.

It is with shame that the Chairman of the Electoral Commission who is MANDATED and CHARGED by the Constitution to run and manage free and fair elections looks like someone threatened and intimidated. He looks helpless and confused by giving clumsy reasons that make him appear incompetent as if he is devoid of any powers to act or to condemn acts of hooliganism being conducted by security agencies on camera.

The EC Chairman seems not in charge and acts like a village LC Chairman. He says his hands are tied whenever there are contradictions in the process and whenever things happen outside his office premises. This proves that the Electoral Commission is not independent to serve all Ugandans but is out to execute an already predetermined election.

The NRA went to the bush to solve this puzzle but it seems the puzzle is back. The NRM Electoral Chairman Tanga Odoi, said without shame, that once the President is declared a flag bearer, then he instantly becomes the Winner of the elections. You can imagine such arrogance and complacency. Then why waste taxpayers’ money? For how long shall Ugandans wallow in such fraudulent processes? This is evidence that the EC has failed to manage and take control of elections.

It has become the toothless body. It can’t even see the violence meted out to other Ugandans by the very State that appointed them. They can’t even see or detect the illegitimate activities, such as abuse of human rights, and rigging of elections that often occur, that are conducted under the lens and mandate of the EC.

The evidenced abuse of human rights by the State agencies like what is happening in Kawempe North by-election campaigns, and no one takes responsibility, is a sign that there is a vacuum of power in this country and Ugandans are becoming more worried and concerned about the state of affairs. We don’t even know who is in charge of the country. A cross-section of Ugandans feel abandoned, threatened, marginalized, and discriminated by their government and the government itself is getting agitated, scared, and afraid of its citizens.

The election process is being conducted like war. It’s a pity that even some people of importance in NRM do not see these mistakes, or try to make the elections look credible and avoid these chaotic conditions. To those in charge, try to protect the image of the country.

I do not see any reason to panic. NRM is a massive Party. I fail to understand why NRM, which is the custodian of power, is in panic mode. Since NRM came to power, it has been singing peace and stability but I do not see peace come when Ugandans are being pushed to the edge.

The continuous intimidation and well-orchestrated harassment by State agencies is a big blow to the country. The quietness and silence from the NRM and sometimes the failure to condemn the atrocities and brutality meted onto Ugandans and instead condemn the injured victims as the wrongdoers, is worrying.

We have to take responsibility and accountability as leaders. We have to stop this cycle of violence because it can backfire. NRM went to the bush to restore sanity and reason. The EC has to ensure that they stick to the rules of the game.

At this rate, I’m afraid, if the situation is not arrested soon, we may one day rewind the clock and step in the footsteps of our first President, Dr. Apollo Obote when he declared Uganda a one-party state. What I see unfolding, we seem to be heading in that direction.

This can become a dangerous discourse for the country because the misuse or abuse of the security forces can turn against its very masters. This spiral of insecure elections augers badly for the country. We don’t want Sudan or Congo to come to Uganda, God forbid. Uganda has suffered enough.

I urge those in charge of the country to stop taking this dangerous path, and attitude, I think they can do better so that it does not backfire on the country. NRM went to the bush to restore sanity and reason.

The EC has to ensure that the rules of the game prevail. At this rate, I’m afraid, that if the situation is not arrested soon, we may one day rewind the clock and step in the footsteps of our first President, Dr. Apollo Obote when he declared Uganda a Party State. What I see unfolding, we seem to be heading in that direction.

This can become a dangerous discourse for the country because of this misuse or abuse of the security forces who can turn against their very masters because it is known that history can repeat itself. This spiral of insecure elections augers badly for the country.

A trusted Army structure can easily break down when it feels weak and vulnerable and can go on a rampage against its culture of strength in the military. To those sleepy, clumsy Ugandans, wake up and see, the writing is written on the wall. We don’t want Sudan or Congo to come to Uganda, God forbid.

Mugoya Paul Polly, concerned citizen.

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