|
 From Moses Kalanzi in Kampala
A proposal to debar Vice President Gilbert Bukenya and embattled Security Minister John Patrick Amama Mbabazi together with others accused of corruption, embezzlement and misuse of public office from contesting for political office has gained momentum within circles of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).
The proposal developed by NRM historical and Rukungiri district NRM Chairman Zedekiah Karokora seeks to block all NRM leaders who have been implicated in corruption scandals from standing for political office in the interest of the party. Karokora who is also a member of the party’s highest organ the National Executive council is set to present his proposals during next month’s NEC meeting.
This comes barely a few days after the Parliamentary Committee investigating the audit of the Commonwealth Heads Of Government Meeting (CHOGM) Expenditure concluded and presented its report to Parliament. The report which recommends the prosecution of senior NRM ministers over charges of influence peddling, outright embezzlement and flouting of public procurement procedures has been the subject of heated debate in parliament and throughout the whole nation with donors threatening to withdraw aid to the Ugandan government.
According to Karokora, the proposal seeks to realign the NRM to its bush-war ideology of zero tolerance to corruption and other related practices which have now said to have eaten away the party’s main fabric and consequently diminished the its popularity amongst the masses. Karokora’s proposal seeks to entrench a provision within the party’s constitution to bar NRM leaders implicated and accused of corruption from standing for elected office.
This constitutional amendment which if passed will be acknowledged by observers as an important step by the leadership of the National Resistance Movement to combat corruption from its core. Karokora’s proposal therefore seeks to extricate the ruling party from accusations of institutionalized corruption. The successful entrenchment of this provision in the party’s constitution will however much depend on the willingness of the NRM National Executive Committee (NEC) members to tackle this issue. With the powerful NRM Secretary General Amama Mbabazi, a kingpin and political playmaker amongst those the proposal seeks to block, the responsibility for the successful entrenchment of this provision will thus remain with Party Chairman, President Yoweri Museveni.
Karokora’s proposal has gained momentum within the party’s ruling circles and many members of the party have expressed willingness to support the amendment, yet those whom the provision seeks to extricate carry enormous political worth to Mr. Museveni. Vice president Gilbert Bukenya “mahogany” whose political significance in Buganda and the Catholic Church is a matter of fact will remain more important to Mr. Museveni who seeks re-election for the 4th term. With the opposition gaining hold of the region following the state of acrimony between the NRM and the Buganda Kingdom government, Mr. Museveni will be keen to neutralize the region by not wanting to be seen as sacrificing Bukenya.
Amama Mbabazi is President Museveni’s blue-eyed boy, a veteran of the FRONASA days, a shrewd tactician and political player. Museveni’s options for a successor have constantly been linked to his name. An influential strategist who channels Museveni’s directives through his position as Secretary General to the grassroots, it is yet to be seen whether a fourth term-seeking Museveni would be in a position to dispose him off as yet. As Security Minister, Major Mbabazi acts as President Museveni’s ‘ear to the ground’ on matters concerned with sustaining him in power without instability. Even the revered Gen. David Tinyefunza, coordinator of security forces, falls under his jurisdiction and any African ruler with a power span of over 20 years would want to maintain the status quo. From coordinating security, organizing Mr. Museveni’s political play cards, the experienced lawyer also translates legal intricacies for the president and is instrumental in determining government’s legal position on critical matters especially those regarding Mr. Museveni’s hold on power.
However with Museveni’s stronghold on the party members narrowing by the day, the shrewd Museveni will seek to acquiescence with the Karokora proposals while maintaining confidence in his most trusted colleagues. With the increasing number of independent NRM candidates and the committed stand against corruption taken by NRM rebel MPs Thodore Ssekikubo, Henry Banyenzaki and Chris Baryomunsi who have gained support among members of the party’s organs, the cunning Museveni will to be seen to walk the talk but first and as he always alleges when tasked to explain why he retains corrupt officials, they must be proven guilty and this gives him time to postpone the issue till the next elections. Like in all scandals involving his bush-war colleagues Mr. Museveni has disappointed justice-seekers by absolving them of the guilt. Just like in the Gavi scandal and Temangalo scandal, it is yet to be seen whether Nyarwino will bite this time.
|
NEW LOOK WEB HOMEPAGE!!! (8228)
