[Ugnet] Is Museveni Falling Out With His Friends in the West?

For the first time since Yoweri Museveni took control of this country in 1986, the opposition staged a peaceful demonstration in the heart of the city without hindrance.

Last week's political protest against what they regarded "a national crisis which Museveni and his government have plunged the country into" has inadvertently symbolised Uganda's new political direction.

The words democracy, tolerance and the fundamental human rights and freedoms are now-once again echoing alongside the Movement regime.

How come, all of a sudden Major Gen Katumba Wamala's boys, plus Col. Noble Mayombo's Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence and the Presidential Guard Brigade surprisingly kept their distance?

MP Norbert Mao believes Government was forced into giving the protestors leeway. "The government was stuck and had to grudgingly allow the demonstration because the pro-kisanja demo was held first. If the anti-kisanja demo was held first, definitely it would have been stopped," Mao said over phone and added, "It was a fluke by the opposition."

In what seems to be a sudden change of political strategy in efforts to repair its denting image internationally, Government is giving the opposition leeway to enjoy their constitutional rights of freedom to assemble and form associations.

For a country that is increasingly depicted in the Western media as despotic, intolerant to divergent political views, with a bad human rights record, constantly featuring in the world's most corrupt nations' indices, last week's events will go miles in doing it some favour.

An article "Regime of Tyranny and Torture Back to Haunt Uganda," (March 19,2005) published in The Daily Telegraph, a British newspaper depicts a sorry state of affairs in the country and flaunts massive allegations against the Museveni regime of torture and political violence reminiscent of the Idi Amin dictatorship. Indeed some cases of alleged torture have been reported but died natural deaths because of evidence-related excuses.

In stern defence of the person of the President, Presidential Press Secretary Onapito Ekomoloit wrote a missive claiming such sordid depiction of Uganda and Museveni by Western journalists was simply wrong and would hurt investment and tourism in the country.

Mr Onapito couldn't have been more spot-on especially on tourism and investment.

Despite this, it is becoming clear that the Museveni regime is steadfastly falling out with, on the face of it-the Western press and the donor community underneath.

Uganda, the hitherto model African state with countless success stories of World Bank, IMF economic reform policies has benefited over the years from positive coverage by the Western media with Museveni being portrayed as one of the renaissance leaders of Africa.

How come all of a sudden the Western media portrays Uganda's image negatively? For some sceptics like MP Mao, "Museveni's honeymoon as the West's golden boy is over. He is slowly joining the ranks of other African tyrants and turning into a political midget."

For over 18 years now, Museveni's government has failed to rout the Lords Resistance Army rebels out of Northern Uganda to bring peace in the region. In the initial years of the war, Gen Museveni had every reason to go begging.

He tapped in on donor support to strengthen the country's military might but increased defense expenditure did not help. Ghost soldier corruption scams emerged and the war continued.

The opposition chorused growing fears that the defense monies were apparently being diverted to consolidate Museveni's political interests.

Today, the LRA war continues while Museveni day in day out gives more room for bad press coverage. The LRA war remains, possibly the biggest dent to Uganda's international image.

Transparency International boss Prof Peter Eigen, in chorus with Irish rock star Sir Bob Geldof prayed last week that Gen Museveni ditches pleas to amend the Constitution to make him eligible to stand for another term in office.

The general perception here is that President Museveni is on a sinister plot of entrenching himself in power- another dent on his golden boy image.

Don't blame the western media. One pundit constantly on the international circuit attending conferences says he has observed that three, four years ago people would defend Uganda at the slightest provocation but things have changed today with so many world leaders now boldly condemning the Museveni regime.

Uganda's foreign service has equally failed in its responsibility of defending the country outside. They equally must not be blamed. Most embassies abroad are in a dilapidated state and crave renovation.

One foreign journalist visiting the Ugandan High Commission in Ottawa Canada a couple of months ago was appalled by "broken sewerage system and no electricity" at the embassy. If the country's diplomats abroad live in such dispirited situations, how easily can they defend the government's quest to lift the presidential term limits internationally?

With the Kisanja (third term) quest seemingly denting Museveni's image, what can the country do to fight back? Is the writing clearly on the wall for Museveni to quit in 2006?

What about the 'overwhelming' people power behind the dry banana craze pleading for another term for Museveni? Sir Geldof in an interview with the Voice of America argued that despite the fact that President Museveni has done great things for this country, even if he got extra 15 years in power and did even greater stuff, all that he will be remembered, is a man who changed the Constitution to stay longer in power.

"The President respects all these views and is taking them into account but he is weighing them against the realities he is facing in Uganda and what the Ugandans whom he leads want," says Onapito.

When British Prime Minister Tony Blair was selecting African leaders-he held in high esteem- to sit on his Commission for Africa, most observers felt President Museveni would definitely make it on the commission.

For a man who has won international acclaim for his approach against AIDS, and constant agitation for even trade with the West as a remedy to poverty in Africa, Museveni's apparent failure in making it on the commission has been read by sceptics as a sign that relations with Britain- (read Mr Blair) have severed.

In fact political observers now believe that without a blessing from Mr Blair and US President George Bush, a third term for Museveni is very doubtful.

Will regime change implored by some in the West simply serve to repair Uganda's dented image?

In a way it would, but more importantly Uganda would move away from the other African states that have failed to witness a democratic transfer of power.

For Gen Museveni, all eyes would be fixed on how he leaves office-whenever he does.

Meantime, political commentator Timothy Kalyegira is very sceptical about the Museveni, third term-donor relationship and firmly believes Uganda in the ensuing months to the 2006 polls, will see more Western interference.

How far that interference will halt the kisanja quest remains to be seen.

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[Ugnet] Is Museveni Falling Out With His Friends in the West?

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