• Contact Us
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Donate
  • Login
Watchdog Uganda
  • Home
  • News
    • National
    • Politics
    • World News
    • Media Outreach Newswire
    • Africa News
    • Tourism
    • Community News
    • Luganda
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Motorsport
  • Op-Ed
    • #Out2Lunch
    • Conversations with
    • Politics
    • Relationships
  • Business
    • Agriculture
    • CEOs & Entrepreneurs,
    • Companies
    • Finance
    • Products
    • RealEstate
    • Technology
  • Entertainment
    • Lifestyle
  • People
    • Showbiz
      • Salon Mag
  • Special Report
    • Education
    • Voices
  • Reviews
    • Products
    • Events
    • Hotels
    • Restaurants
    • Places
  • WD-TV
  • Donate
  • China News
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • National
    • Politics
    • World News
    • Media Outreach Newswire
    • Africa News
    • Tourism
    • Community News
    • Luganda
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Motorsport
  • Op-Ed
    • #Out2Lunch
    • Conversations with
    • Politics
    • Relationships
  • Business
    • Agriculture
    • CEOs & Entrepreneurs,
    • Companies
    • Finance
    • Products
    • RealEstate
    • Technology
  • Entertainment
    • Lifestyle
  • People
    • Showbiz
      • Salon Mag
  • Special Report
    • Education
    • Voices
  • Reviews
    • Products
    • Events
    • Hotels
    • Restaurants
    • Places
  • WD-TV
  • Donate
  • China News
No Result
View All Result
Watchdog Uganda
No Result
View All Result

Why there is Museveni fatigue in Uganda 

Mulema Najib by Mulema Najib
8 years ago
in Voices
1 0

Warning: Trying to access array offset on value of type bool in /home/90/81/2028190/web/wp-content/themes/jnews/class/Image/ImageNormalLoad.php on line 70

Warning: Trying to access array offset on value of type bool in /home/90/81/2028190/web/wp-content/themes/jnews/class/Image/ImageNormalLoad.php on line 73
ShareTweetSendShare

By Norbert Mao

No Ugandan leader has been in power longer than Yoweri Museveni. On 26th February, 2017 he clocked 31 years as President of Uganda. From 1986 to 1996 he ruled as an unelected military conqueror. Yet he had assured citizens that he was only an interim leader who would put Uganda on a democratic path and retire after four years.

Since he was head of state and also Speaker of the National Resistance Council, the parliament he started while still a guerilla fighter, he manipulated the legislature to extend his unelected tenure.

He justified his undemocratic hold on power arguing that the country had deep political wounds and the turmoil of an election would only reignite conflict. He operated a dubious system which abhorred political parties. He called that system “The Movement System”.

Meantime he started a long constitution making process. Since he had refused to allow presidential elections in 1989, this process was one of the reasons he gave for his continued one man rule. He also claimed that the war in the north was a threat to national stability which must be resolved before elections.

In the meantime he became a poster boy for the renewed hope that western countries had in the future of Africa . Museveni was touted in western capitals as one of a new breed of African leader. Former US President Bill Clinton called him “a beacon of hope” for Africa during his 1998 African tour.

He became a favourite of the donors. The World Bank and IMF promoted Uganda as a working model for economic recovery. In addition, Museveni’s bold and open policies in confronting the HIV/AIDS epidemic ensured that Uganda saw the long-term danger of AIDS ahead of most African countries that still lived in denial. Museveni was garlanded wherever he went.

But beneath all this shine Uganda’s future as a democracy was under threat due to increased militarism and the deliberate failure to build durable democratic institutions. Moreover an intractable civil war was ravaging the north of the country. Still, Uganda was touted as a peaceful country.

The economy was hailed as a model to be emulated by other poor countries. Poverty was said to be declining and Uganda’s Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) was a subject of debate around the world. Criticizing Museveni became increasingly difficult.

Museveni was wholeheartedly embraced as a man the West could do business with. The real problems of Uganda , namely lack of democracy, the slow genocide in the north, the alarming rate of corruption, the widening gap between the rich and poor, massive corruption, poor service delivery and the deep ethnic cleavages in the country were swept under the carpet of complicity and indifference.

When Museveni called for elections in 1996 he must have expected a smooth ride but the stiff challenge he faced from a unified opposition startled him. Museveni’s record was challenged by Dr. Paul Ssemogerere, leader of the Democratic Party. All Museveni could say was that he was the only one who could control the army and electing anyone else would plunge the country into anarchy. Academics like Ali Mazrui gave the necessary intellectual ammunition. Plan for multipartism. Do not plunge into it, they declared.

In 2001 again the opposition rallied against Museveni and he had to unleash terror and to rig massively in order to win. This time his main challenger was his former chief political ideologue Col. Kizza Besigye. The parliament carried out an inquiry into the elections and found them to have been characterized by unprecedented violence.

The law courts found many irregularities in the entire process. Of the bench of five judges, three said the election outcome was in favour of Museveni, two said the elections were not free and fair and should be repeated. Museveni limped to victory hanging on the lips of three judges. But the people’s verdict was unmistakable: he had overstayed his welcome.

In 2006 the challenge was equally stiff. In subsequent years the challenge became even more intense. Aware of his declining popularity, Museveni has consistently rejected proposals that would guarantee free and fair elections which is actually a constitutional right. Ugandans hope against hope that people power will prevail over militarism as we head towards an uncertain future with flawed electoral processes.

Inside his ruling NRM part, the voices of dissent are increasing. Museveni’s erstwhile comrades are deserting him at an alarming rate. The latest defector in 2015 was former Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi who launched a euphoric campaign and quickly became a leading contender for the presidency.

The opposition constellation now reads like a who is who of the National Resistance Movement. In the next part we continue our exposition.


Do you have a story in your community or an opinion to share with us: Email us at editorial@watchdoguganda.com
ShareTweetSendShare

Related Posts

National

MP Nsereko Vows to Block NUP’s Rubongoya in Kampala Central Race

29th June 2025 at 11:27
Bukoto Central MP Richard sebamala was locked out of DP elections which has created discontent amongst DP members
Op-Ed

Sebamala’s Next Move After DP Lockout Signals a Brewing Storm in Uganda’s Opposition

6th June 2025 at 11:32
Community News

MIKE SSEGAWA — Kabaka Mutebi at 70: A Reign of Revival, Unity, and Progress in Buganda

11th April 2025 at 22:25
Next Post

Trade Ministry gets funds to support SMEs

  • Prostitution in Uganda- Courtesy Photo

    10 dangerous hotspots known for prostitutes in Kampala

    1107 shares
    Share 443 Tweet 277
  • LIST: New salary structure for civil servants starting July 2020 out; scientists, lecturers get juicy pay rise

    2285 shares
    Share 914 Tweet 571
  • Uganda’s Billionaires 2025: Once Again Sudhir Ruparelia Leads a Resilient Pack

    42 shares
    Share 17 Tweet 11
  • LIST : Gov’t releases Revised Salary Structure for Teachers, Police, and Prisons Staff for FY 2024/2025

    119 shares
    Share 48 Tweet 30
  • Silent Billionaire Bosco Muwonge Buys Mukwano Arcade at UGX 250 Billion Cash Down

    20 shares
    Share 8 Tweet 5
Facebook Twitter

Contact Information

Watchdog Uganda is a portal for solution journalism, trending news plus cutting edge commentaries in the fields of politics, security, business, tourism, entertainment, technology, agriculture, climate change, environment, public health et al. We also give preference to Ugandan community news and topical discussions. The portal also publishes community news and topical discussions.

Email: editorial@watchdoguganda.com
To Advertise:Click here

Latest News

Businessman King Ceasor Augustus Mulenga Pledges Affordable Credit in Bid for NRM Entrepreneurs Chair

4th July 2025 at 13:31
The Queen’s Ball, a high-profile fundraising gala, will bring together entrepreneurs, diplomats, corporate leaders, and Buganda Kingdom officials to foster dialogue, reduce stigma, and support grassroots mental health efforts.

Speke Resort Munyonyo to Host UNESCO Africa Engineering Week 2025

4th July 2025 at 10:07

Check out

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Minister Muruli Mukasa

LIST: New salary structure for civil servants starting July 2020 out; scientists, lecturers get juicy pay rise

24th May 2020 at 10:45
Pregnant woman

Shock as 17-year old boy impregnates his two sisters during Covid-19 lockdown 

17th June 2020 at 08:17
Sudhir Ruparelia is set to speak at business forum in United Kingdom

Billionaire Sudhir’s wisdom on how to invest in real estate

0

How a boy’s destiny turned from cotton grower to communications guru

0

Businessman King Ceasor Augustus Mulenga Pledges Affordable Credit in Bid for NRM Entrepreneurs Chair

4th July 2025 at 13:31
The Queen’s Ball, a high-profile fundraising gala, will bring together entrepreneurs, diplomats, corporate leaders, and Buganda Kingdom officials to foster dialogue, reduce stigma, and support grassroots mental health efforts.

Speke Resort Munyonyo to Host UNESCO Africa Engineering Week 2025

4th July 2025 at 10:07

© 2025 Watchdog Uganda

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • National
    • Politics
    • World News
    • Media Outreach Newswire
    • Africa News
    • Tourism
    • Community News
    • Luganda
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Motorsport
  • Op-Ed
    • #Out2Lunch
    • Conversations with
    • Politics
    • Relationships
  • Business
    • Agriculture
    • CEOs & Entrepreneurs,
    • Companies
    • Finance
    • Products
    • RealEstate
    • Technology
  • Entertainment
    • Lifestyle
  • People
    • Showbiz
      • Salon Mag
  • Special Report
    • Education
    • Voices
  • Reviews
    • Products
    • Events
    • Hotels
    • Restaurants
    • Places
  • WD-TV
  • Donate
  • China News

© 2025 Watchdog Uganda