Corruption
I contend that a genuine fight against corruption in Uganda is a fight against the NRM and President Museveni. This fight is complicated and is comparable to the global fight against international drug and human traffickers. Quite a complex feat interlaced, driven and sustained by high level political corruption within the party because the NRM Party has become synonymous with and prime agent of corruption.
Underneath the lucrative global trafficking are networks of cartels and war-loads; a network of pimps, johns and numerous trans-border traffickers, mafias, gangsters, politicians and conglomerates that operate through porous borders and corrupt migration policy enforcement to ship out and trade humans, drugs and weapons.
We can agree that most successful underground organizations involved in these illicit trades, have God-fathers. The God-father is the superimposing character – well protected and a nexus upon which the conditions and environment of their businesses are mediated. The Godfathers are usually obsolete figures that are at an arm’s length away from the scenes of transactions. They pull cords to control political power through bribery, coercion and indulges in procurement of allegiance from contending politicians and business people. The trading families who control large markets and many trafficking routes become the most powerful, fierce and equally respected. The family business becomes the costa nostra “our thing” and cousins marry fellow cousins to keep the wealth and power within the house.
The La Costa Nostra attitude that was prevalent among the Italian mafias and others in Latin America is what now subsumes the NRM regime under President Museveni. The structure that President Museveni has built in 25 years is strong but is not any different from those operated by rogue elements in illicit trades.
There is no need to explicate this situation any further, but Museveni has consolidated his stronghold on the means of coercion. His iron fisted rule is branded by militarized police brutality. His relatives have consolidated their positions and privileges at the helm of the regime structure and have control of vast amount of land and other economic advantages, including ownership of lands that have minerals, fresh waters and oil reserves.
In the words of Kevin Bales, the renowned anti-human trafficking author and researcher, Ugandans who are not obedient to the networks of first family, are “disposable people”. This is what became very apparent of former VP Gilbert Bukenya. Bukenya’s recent ordeal in jail over his part in CHOGM scandal spoke volumes to those who have the ears to listen and the eyes, not yet bloated by the proceeds of corruption.
Prof Bukenya is a typical example of an uncritical NRM outsider and a conduit. Despite his illustrated administrative competence, he was reduced to a disposable Catholic – Muganda. The moment Bukenya tried to form political shape; he was quickly disposed and presented as the prime agent of corruption. In reality, Bukenya is only (in)subordinate agent.
And let’s put aside the two-faces that we carry. I truly felt for Bukenya as he froze in the coolers. I could not fathom man in Bukenya so determined to remain in the kitchen sink – humiliated and humiliated again. I thought Prof Bukenya would have listened to the messages of the mafia when his son perished in car accident under mysterious circumstances that is only comparable to that of former speaker, Ayume. Bukenya should have known that he is treading a rough path.
But let’s contend that the real problem of corruption in Uganda is neatly weaved and inextricable with the circumstances of President Museveni’s continued tenure of office that has been translated as “our power” by the people close to him.
Let’s be realistic and honest to ourselves before we claim patriotism here. We are chasing our shadows in pretext of tackling corruption. The organism called NRM has mutated to have many corrupt heads. We must identify all the heads and tentacles for it to get capitulated.
I believe that a genuine process of removing corruption from Uganda can only start with regime change. As long as Museveni is still President of Uganda, corruption will move with him for, corruption is the NRM itself!
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