|
President Museveni was on Friday sworn-in to start his third term of
office in a ceremony characterised by pomp, pageantry and fanfare. Ten
heads of state and several delegations from other African countries
witnessed the ceremony.
President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, President Mwai
Kibaki of Kenya, President Pierre Nkurunziza of Burundi, President Jakaya
Kikwete of Tanzania, President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa and President
Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe attended the ceremony. Other African leaders who
attended the ceremony were Prime Minister Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia, Ismael
Omar Guelleh of Djibout, Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed of Somalia and Mohamed
Abdelaziz, the leader of the Territory of Saharawi. Vice Presidents
Azarias Ruberwa and Jean Pierre Bemba of the Democratic Republic of Congo
were there as was Salva Kiir, the First Vice President of Sudan and
President of Southern Sudan.
The presence of ten heads of state has
been viewed as a pointer in Ugandas foreign policy in the next five years
under President Musevenis renewed tenure at State House. But Jimmy Akena,
Lira Municipality MP-elect and Personal Assistant to UPC Party President,
thinks the invitation of African presidents did not represent any
strategic policy insights other than President Museveni instinct for
political survival. Museveni has no consistent foreign policy to talk of.
After his strained relations with President Maomar Gaddafi of Libya, he is
now courting Thabo Mbeki of South Africa. All these friendships are not
guided by the national interests of the country but his survival as a life
president, said Akena.
Indeed it is very hard to appreciate the
diplomatic significance of Western Saharas (and Polisarios) leader
Mohamed Abdelaziz to Uganda. The Territory of Saharawi is under the
Kingdom of Morocco but the rebel Polisario and its leadership are
recognised by African countries. Because of this OAU (now African Union)
recognition, the Kingdom of Morocco withdrew its membership from the
continental body that brings all African countries together. Abdelazizs
presence at President Musevenis swearing-in means Uganda could have
unwittingly immersed into the complex politics of North and West
Africa.
Another controversial leader present at the ceremony was Robert
Mugabe of Zimbabwe. The Zimbabwean government is the subject of sanctions
by Western powers accusing President Mugabe of abuse of human rights,
freedoms and stifling democratic reforms. The main plunk of these
accusations President Muagabes policy on land re-distribution that has
severely affected mainly white commercial farmers. Zimbabwe supported the
late RD Congo President Laurent Kabila while Museveni supported rebels
fighting the Kabila.
Kampala Central MP-elect Erias Lukwago said
President Mugabe could have been the only leader who came in support of
Museveni. And given the way President Museveni showered Mugabe with
praises, Ugandans should brace themselves for going the same way Zimbabwe
has taken, said Lukwago.
However, apart from the leaders of the East
African Community who had to demonstrate the diplomatic show of support,
the presence of other visitors or delegations represented interests. For
instance, the Egyptian delegation that was led by the Minister for Water
demonstrated that Egypts interests in Uganda centred on the River Nile
waters. Uganda is to build two dams on River Nile in three and half years
to ease the electricity power shortage; something that would cause some
discomfort in Egypt. The national life of Egypt is based on the River Nile
water. Egypt has sometimes threatened war whenever countries upriver want
to use the water with its (Egypts) consent.
But the two presidents
that could allow observers a peep in President Musevenis foreign policy
in the region and Africa were President Thabo Mbeki and President Paul
Kagame. President Museveni, who had hitherto not developed a personal
relationship with Mbeki, seems to have now appreciated the strategic
importance of South Africa beyond the trade relations between Uganda and
South Africa. It should be remembered that this was Mbekis second visit
in less than six months.
With President Musevenis friendship with
Maomar Gaddafi of Libya thought to be on the wane, President Thabo Mbeki
would come in handy. And with this, President Museveni may end up becoming
the centre of AU complex politics of muscle flexing between Northern and
Southern African leaders. This would make Museveni relevant to African
politics and therefore boost his regional statesmanship image.
With a
developed arms industry, South Africa has since 1994 become the choice
source for most Sub-Saharan African arms purchases. South Africa has the
biggest African investment portfolio in Uganda now and an upward rise in
the import volumes with a balance of payment heavily in favour of South
Africa.
Another visitor that can give observers a peep into Musevenis
policy on regional geo-politics was President Paul Kagames visit.
Relations between the two leaders have remained icy since 1999 when the
armies of the two countries fought each other in the north eastern
Congolese city of Kisangani. And as a measure of salvaging the
relationship between the two leaders, Paul Kagame was supposed to hold
talks at Entebbe with Museveni after the swearing-in ceremony.
If
President Museveni regains the confidence of President Paul Kagame,
regional security would be improved. The two countries have accused each
other of supporting rebels opposed to their governments. Uganda is the
biggest trading partner of Rwanda and accusations and counter-accusations
of sponsoring insecurity in their countries would negatively affect this
trade relation.
On whether President Paul Kagames presence had any significant in
the improvement of relations between Uganda and Rwanda, Moses Byaruhanga
said: President Museveni attended Kagames swearing-in and President
Kagame has attended Musevenis swearing-in. This shows that there is a
cordial relationship between the two presidents. Moses Byaruhanga is
President Musevens Special Political Assistant.
Moses Byaruhanga said
that the presence of many African leaders was a demonstration of
solidarity of African leaders with President Musevenis belief in the
union of Africa both as apolitical and economic entity. The president
said that Africa would do better in global politics and economics as a
single entity as opposed to the fragmented nation states that make Africa
today, Byaruhanga said.
But Erias Lukwago, MP-elect for Kampala
Central and party lawyer for the Democratic Party says that most of the
leaders who witnessed the swearing-in ceremony did not come to express any
solidarity with President Museveni but because of the diplomatic courtesy.
Almost all the presidents left immediately after the swearing-in
ceremony. I dont think President Thabo Mbeki approves of overstaying in
power. Neither do I think that East African Community leaders Mwai Kibaki
and Jakaya Kikwete came here to show support to Museveni unending rule,
said the youthful politician. |
