As we continue celebrating the 80th birthday of His Excellency the President, I wish to thank all those that joined the “birthday boy” in Semuto, Nakaseke, for the celebrations on Sunday, September 15. I also appreciate all those that held smaller celebrations in other places I cannot name individually, and those who used social media platforms to congratulate the President and wish him more life and success. I also thank the media, more so, Vision group, for colourfully covering the occasion.
I return to the subject of President Yoweri Museveni’s birthday to take care of statements made by the Kira Municipality Member of Parliament, Hon. Ssemujju Ibrahim, during a plenary session in Parliament in which he proposed that the President should be subjected to regular medical checks to establish his fitness to lead the country and accused him of making “erratic” decisions.
Firstly, I think there are some things in which we should afford courtesy even though we may differ on certain others things. It is good manners and “Ubuntu” to celebrate life and attainment of a new age. It’s not every one that can attain the ripe age of 80. Indeed, many have left this world younger. For President Museveni, whose life of a revolutionary fighter is a miracle in itself, it means so much considering that many of his peers like Martin Mwesiga, Mwesigwa Black, Rashid Ntale, Nkoko, Raiti Omongin (FRONASA combatants who didn’t survive Amin) and Ahmed Sseguya, Sam Magara, Sam Katabarwa and Rubereza (who died in the NRA bushwar), adding on senior officers of the NRA and UPDF that have passed on along the years, didn’t get the chance to “wear the grey crown”.
Indeed, nobody knows who among us, the still living, will reach that age. It’s, therefore, good practice to celebrate and thank the Creator for sustenance. It doesn’t come easy, considering that there exists ill-wishers that are perturbed when the President gains a new stays alive. They wish him dead and would probably make attempts to see that happen. But for civility purposes, at least it if you cannot wish someone well, just ignore. However, thanks to the prayers of family, friends, supporters and sober opponents, the President is alive, well and dedicated to the cause as ever.
On MP Ssemujju’s statements; for all the time I have known the legislator, even when he was still a newsroom journalist, he enjoys taking jibes at the President. It is one thing to be critical of someone, more so a leader, but when it becomes a tendency to pick on him or her even in private space, it becomes witch-hunt. Even the humorous bits start to lose salt.
On proposing that the President is subjected to medical checks, under what legal regime would such draconian methods come into play? And who says that his health status isn’t known? If this was meant to humour the House, it was in bad taste and part of the grand scheme to diminish the standing of the head-of-state in the sight of the public.
The President’s physical, mental, emotional and psychological state speaks for itself. Has anyone seen him walking with support from another person like the infirm usually are? Has he failed to attend to any activity on account of unfitness or ailment, except for the mild bouts of Covid-19 and common flu which can affect anyone, but still manageable? There is no need to overemphasise what everyone can see. If Ssemujju, out of personal curiosity, wants to test the President’s physical fitness, he should request for a fitness challenge with the big man and we settle this once and for all.
In recent times, the President retraced his bushwar tracks when he trekked for 195kilometers from Galamba (in Luweero) to Birembo (in Kibaale). Can Ssemujju manage even half of that at his age? On the mental state of the President, when did the MP become a psychiatrist to assess the mental state of others? Who else has he checked, or this is only reserved for the man he hates so much?
Referencing US President Joe Biden who stepped down from the presidential race due to senility, what has that got to do with the Ugandan leader or Ugandans at large? People age differently depending on many factors, including genes, personal lifestyle and environmental factors. If Museveni couldn’t stand the pressure of his duties, he would naturally give way like Biden did. No need to enforce anything on him! I don’t recall seeing anyone with a photographic memory for things and detail than President Museveni, covering a range of fields not limited to local and world history, the scriptures, linguistics, ideologies, scientific names of things, people and dates. We can arrange a mental work quiz if anybody wants to try!
But on a more serious note, agitators against the removal of the “age limit” from the Constitution under the umbrella of “Tojikwatako!” (Don’t touch the clause!)-among whom the Kira MP featured prominently- that was supposed to stop Museveni from contesting for office again have been proven wrong and no amount of cover-up will work. Their lack of foresight has come to the fore! Four years or more later, he shows no sign of senility or crumbling and the term is as good as done. Either they didn’t know the man they were challenging or they thought they could mislead Ugandans to gain advantage for their preferred contenders. In short, the whole idea of resisting the amendment was pointless because the eventual winner of the 2021 presidential elections is in top shape and set to remain so for a long time to come.
Here, I commend the man who moved the amendment, the current Minister of Local Government, Hon. Raphael Magyezi, for having an idea on the nature of the person he was paving way for, and other MPs and Ugandans who supported the move. Ideology over biology!
We now pray that God makes our President’s birthday wish to see “the realisation of the dream of the Pan-Africanists for the creation of the East African Political Federation and the consolidation of the Continental Free Trade Area” come true. Insha Allah!
The author is the Deputy Presidential Press Secretary
Contact: faruk.kirunda@statehouse.go.ug
0776980486/0783990861
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