Political aide stings Museveni

SOURCE: THE DAILY MONITOR, 2 DECEMBER 2011

IN SUMMARY

Succession debate. Presidential adviser on foreign affairs says there are many leaders capable of performing better than Mr Museveni, but that they have been overshadowed and denied a chance.

President Museveni’s advisor on foreign affairs Musa Mushanga has argued that it is not just backwardness that is African’s main hindrance to progress as his boss has always said but the leaders who cling to power and wait to be removed by force.

Speaking to Daily Monitor on Monday at his home in Kagango Sub-county, the professor of criminology, also a former ambassador to Germany, said many African leaders stifle potential successors.

“I disagree with President Museveni who says Africa’s problem is backwardness. Africa’s major problem is its leaders who ascend to power and later forget where they came from,” he said.

Prof. Mushanga added: “It is terrible for our leaders to always wait for death to remove them from power. In many African countries elections are just a formality. They can’t remove those who have not performed to the expectations of the voters.”

He said there are more than 20 people in the country who can become presidents and even perform better than President Museveni. He, however, did not mention names.
“The only problem is that they have been overshadowed and have not been given a chance to show their potential,” he said.

‘Leave demonstrators alone’
Prof. Mushanga said government is not supposed to stop people from demonstrating but should only provide appropriate security such that the demonstrators do not destroy other people’s property.

“It is not the responsibility of police to deny people a right to demonstrate or assemble. It should not stop people from expressing their dissatisfaction with the services government gives them,” he said.

The professor said demonstrations can help government know where it is failing.
Responding to the issues, presidential spokesperson Tamale Mirundi said neither has President Museveni clung to power nor failed any potential successor.

“I agree with Mushanga that there are many Ugandans capable of becoming president but Mr Museveni has not blocked anyone. He has created conducive atmosphere for everyone to compete; people are free to contest. The problem is that people feel that Mr Museveni should appoint some but this is not a kingdom,” Mr Mirundi.

In a tell-it-all interview with Sunday Monitor in September, senior presidential adviser on the media John Negenda said the President no longer listens to advice. However, Mr Mirundi said the advisers should seek audience with the President instead of making outbursts in the media.