Where does Museveni’s vision originate?

THE OLD VISION

Every time that the issue of succession and power transfer comes up for public discussion, somehow we are quickly and sternly reminded that Uganda, a population of over 34millions does not have visionaries. This position is delusional and one tinged with nothing but utter fear. This fear is not about how Uganda will do post Museveni, it is a situation where a man becomes fearful of his pictures in the mirror. The old Museveni with vision now fears the new Museveni without vision.

Museveni has been in power since 1986. The children who were born in 1986 are the ones running amok in the streets of Kampala jobless and realizing sadly that their promised future has been squandered. Museveni must be wondering and asking himself, what kind of a father breeds his children and conditions them to rely on his vision until they are past the age of twenty six? Most properly groomed African families expect their children to have their own lives and dreams at the tender age of 18 for liberals and 15 for conservative individuals.

Now given that Museveni has publicly and privately chided his comrades in the struggle, that none of those people have a vision and are not trusted with the country, the question we should be asking is, where does this peculiar Museveni vision come from? Is it divine?

Here is a theory that may perhaps explicate this vision mystery. The 1980 Museveni who had morphed from Fronasa claimed that he had a better vision for Uganda. Later he politically seduced a bunch of indolent youths into the bush to form his original 27 guerillas. One would assume that in the process, they shared a common vision and aspiration. The NRM ideology and the many point programs that came to pass were supposedly not created by Museveni alone. There were ambitious young men in his tow, who shared vision, shaped and reshaped the path to what they considered good governance and a better Uganda. They all aspired for a Uganda that would treat everyone equally and on merit.

These men for sure espoused similar vision with that of Museveni. If they didn’t, then how come Museveni never shared this strange vision with the rest of his men? I have argued again that it is very difficult to trust Museveni because he has no commitment to anything, not an agreement, not to conscience either. It is further humiliating and annihilating for the men who have supported this regime at every possible opportunity, only to be humiliated in public that after all, they are as mediocre as every other peasant – with no vision.

One really wonders where and when Museveni acquired this gold standard vision upon which every other contender’s ability to govern Uganda is being measured. Clearly the Museveni of 1986 did not envision Uganda with potholes, corruption, nepotism, tribalism, barbarianism, dilapidated healthcare system and all that we live by now. This is perhaps the reason that Museveni of today, lives in the shell of the Museveni of 1986.

But for Museveni, he will soon realize political isolation. This is when he will revert to the heightened use of brutality for companionship. Ugandans are making strong statements through the numerous bi-elections against his disastrous vision. If he is not listening, then he will realize late that his vision has faded. Uganda is no longer a bastion of hope, but of gloom. It is a place where the fundamental principle of reciprocity has long been traded for the very ills of vanity.

But my confidence is that Ugandans are very visionary. This is how they were able to hold their turf against colonialism, Idi Amin and all the other brutalities that they have endured. The same way other leaders have left the scene will most likely be replicated, because even Idi Amin didn’t believe that there were visionary Ugandans. That is primarily the reason he prematurely declared himself President for life.

Finally, let us be truthful and honest to you, Mr. Visionary President. Uganda is ready for change if you are not. Do not hold us hostage to your vulnerability. Ugandans have resorted to civil mannerism to seek for this change. Do not under-estimate the simplicity embedded within this civility; it is a deviation from your mindset of genocidal strategies.

END.