[Ugnet] RE: Museveni Woos Kategaya, Amanya, Besigye!?

[musamize]

Is this a joke of some sort of joke, or a trial balloon? Or is Yoweri being forced to form a unity government as a pre-condition for continued donor support?

 

Would KB seriously entertain such an offer given how unreliable Museveni has proven to be over the past 20-some years?

 

If KB were to succumb to YKM's tricks wouldn't the be the kiss of political death of both KB and, even more importantly, the FDC as a party? 

 

Anyone recall the tone and content of discussions on various internet fora when we suggested a coalition of opposition parties? What has changed since Feb 23, 2006?

 

Whatever the case, I think the writing is on the wall for Bukenya and he better find and dust-off  his lecture notes ... assuming MUK will have him back after such a long hiatus without practicing medicine.

 

Finally, KB would be well advised to remember the fate that befell one Andrew Lutaakome Kayiira! Recent history shows that people who jump into Museveni's political bend more often than note tend to be found dead shortly thereafter. Perhaps, it might be a mere coincidence ...

 

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Museveni Cabinet to Include Kategaya, Besigye

The New Times (Kigali)
NEWS
April 19, 2006 

By Charles Kazooba
Kigali

Uganda President Yoweri Museveni has engaged in aggressive negotiations with a few members of the opposition party, the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), to accept two significant positions in his Cabinet.

Impeccable sources told The New Times at the close of last week that Museveni has been in secret meetings with former First Deputy Premier and childhood friend, Eriya Kategaya and outgoing East Africa Community Secretary General, Amanya Mushega.

"The President met Mushega shortly before the EAC summit this month (April). They discussed widely on the next cabinet, and he (Museveni) offered Mushega the slot of Prime Minister. He also offered to appoint Kategaya the Vice President," The New Times was informed.

However, on Tuesday the Press Secretary to the President denied knowledge of the secret meetings between Museveni and the FDC members.

"I am not aware. I have not heard anything to do with that," Onapito Ekomoloit said on phone.

But towards the end of last year, the local media reported that Kategaya, who fell out with his erstwhile friend, Museveni, after the latter dropped the former in a controversial cabinet reshuffle, has on several occasions rubbed shoulders with the President.

Kategaya, while still in cabinet, on principal, declined backing the president for an extension of his rule.

Two other former ministers, Miria Matemba and Bidandi Ssali, opposed the controversial amendment of the presidential term limits. They were also later sacked.

However, another hair-raising proposed appointment, according to the sources, is the FDC leader and former presidential candidate, Col. (Rtd) Kizza Besigye (pictured) to fill in the post of Vice President.

"When Kategaya and Mushega met the President, they initially suggested that Besigye be appointed the vice president in the next regime. They did propose this reasoning that such an appointment would diffuse the tension between Besigye and Museveni. Further, it would weaken the FDC, which Museveni considers as a real threat to the existence of the National Resistance Movement (NRM)," sources further intimated.

But FDCs Wafula Ogutu doubted the details of the imminent reshuffle.

"Museveni cannot offer a cabinet position to Besigye without consulting the party. It is the entire party that has to agree with Museveni. And in any case, we as FDC are looking at political reforms. We want IDPs (Internally Displaced Peoples' camps) completely dismantled, and then also tackle corruption, nepotism and other evils.

But one thing I know is that Museveni only cares about himself and his family, not Uganda. Therefore, it would not be true that he can make such a mistake (appointing Besigye)," Wafula told The New Times on phone early this week.

He said that opposition parties, under the G6, last year submitted proposals to the President for consideration during the political transition but he ignored them.

The Government Spokesman, Dr. James Nsaba Buturo, when contacted about the proposed appointments was non-committal on the developments.

"For a fact, I have no idea. In any case no body would know," the information minister also said on phone.

Neither Besigye nor Kategaya could pick his phone when The New Times in Kampala called on Tuesday.

A source very close to Museveni's family also confirmed that Museveni through ministers, Maj. Gen. Jim Muhwezi and Maj. Gen. Kahinda Otafiire, is wooing Kategaya and Mushega to join his government. Otafiire chairs the Ankole cultural leadership and the Ankole parliamentary group.

Muhwezi, although tainted by numerous scandals, is considered a king in Kigezi, his constituency.

"It is very true both Otafiire and Muhwezi have met Mushega and Kategaya and convinced them to return to the fold. Actually, there are several meetings going on," a source, who closely fought alongside Muhwezi and Museveni in the five-year bush war that ushered in the NRM government, told The New Times on Tuesday, April 18 on phone.

Sources further divulged that Museveni would this time round ignore regional balance and instead concentrate on weakening FDC by luring its influential members to his government. Majority of FDC bigwigs are from western Uganda.

Museveni, who has been President for the last 20 years, won the just-concluded presidential polls with 59% against his arch rival Besigye's 37%, indicating a decline in support to his government. Museveni in 2001 won with 69% and with 75% in 1996.

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