Museveni - A New Robert Mugabe in the Making

Uganda is heading towards national elections again next year. At the centre of attention is the incumbent President Yoweri Museveni. After 19 years in power, of which the last 9 have been part of his two presidential terms, the old man is desperately trying to cling on to power. He has amended the constitution to allow him to run for another term in office, and is now spending most of his time campaigning around the country on populist issues. On an even more serious note, he has recently arrested the popular opposition politician Dr Kizza Besigye, charged with treason and rape. Dr Besigye, who since his return from four years in exile after the previous election, is the biggest political threat to Musevenis power. Does anyone recognize these methods? So why are we not hearing more about this dictator in the making?

Museveni is, just like Mugabe once was, one of the sweethearts of western governments. He is following the orders by the IMF and the economic development in Uganda seems to move steadily in the right direction. However, the almost 19 years in power have certainly changed Museveni, as being at the centre of power for that amount of time would change any man or woman. The BBC reports that the signs are not good, and that he has become less tolerant of opposing views.

Some examples provided by the BBC: “When in June 2004, the government lost a ruling in the Constitutional Court, the president appeared on state television and lambasted the judges. And when he used the presidential jet to fly his daughter to Germany to give birth, he stated that some Ugandan doctors could not be trusted. Museveni's former friend Eriya Kategaya - with whom he began the struggle together against Idi Amin in 1971 - openly opposed the campaign to amend the constitution. When he did so, he was booted out of cabinet along with two other colleagues - despite the fact the two had been in power together for 17 years.”

"I don't know what all the fuss is about," Janat Mukwaya, Uganda's minister of justice, told BBC’s Focus On Africa. "He is a very patient man with a big heart. He is still intelligent and capable and he will know when to quit." The justice minister also insisted that "anybody who has served his country should not be fettered just because of the term limits". This show of complete disrespect for the constitution by the minister of justice of course shows that the rule of law is a long way away for the young “democracy” of Uganda.

Some of the worst plagues of Africa are the “revolutionary heroes”. Maddened by revolutionary wars and years at the pinnacle of power they take whatever liberties they can. Their status as heroes means that the peoples of Africa do not intervene again them until it is too late. Of course, the more wazungus like me detest him, the more he is liked by his own people, fuelled by the populist anti-western notions. Again Robert Mugabe provides a good example. Say what you want about the courage and charisma of Robert Mugabe - he is still a terribly power hungry man who would rather let his entire people die than personally step down from power. We do not want another African leader like him.