As the National Resistance Movement (NRM) raises its glasses to 38 years of political dominance, one can’t help but marvel at the sheer resilience displayed by President Yoweri Museveni, who’s seemingly eternally clinging to power like a koala to a eucalyptus tree. The National Resistance Movement (NRM) is throwing itself a grand 38th-anniversary party on 26th January 2024 in a celebration marked by creeping fatigue, grinding corruption, human rights abuses, and the ever-thickening fog of succession confusion.
In a grand flashback to 1986, the NRM’s rise to power was and is still hailed as a triumph of guerrilla warfare. Hundreds of guerrilla forces marched on Kampala, and after half a decade of bush battles, Museveni became the man of the hour, sworn in three days later on the steps of parliament. Fast forward to today, and he’s gearing up for a record-breaking seventh election at the ripe age of 80, seemingly unstoppable in his pursuit of the presidential throne.
In a move that screams ‘business as usual,’ Museveni has renewed the Electoral Commission’s mandate ensuring Justice Simon Byabakama and four new Commissioners continue their dance with democracy.
But there’s more cause for jubilation in the NRM camp. The party is gleefully celebrating its successful taming of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), once a thorn in its side during the 2006, 2011, and 2016 elections. Last year’s FDC implosion, complete with allegations of backdoor dealings and party-selling scandals, has left the opposition party a mere shadow of its former self. Dr. Kizza Besigye, an FDC luminary, has even bid farewell, cozying up to the National Unity Platform (NUP) under the moniker ‘United Forces of Change.’ As Besigye is embracing the National Unity Platform (NUP), the NRM is raising its glasses, toasting to the neutralization of an old foe.
With FDC effectively neutralized, NRM MPs like Herbert Ariko are singing the party’s praises, declaring it the “most formidable organization in the country.” The party’s MPs boast about its strength while simultaneously admitting to its shortcomings. Corruption, nepotism, and greed – the unholy trinity threatening to suck the life out of the party.
Speaking of veterans, those brave souls who fought tooth and nail alongside Museveni in the NRA’s war have found a new calling in Operation Wealth Creation (OWC). A four-acre model of farming, championed by none other than President Museveni, has apparently worked wonders in helping these ex-fighters transition to civilian life. Now, some are living the sweet life, basking in the glory of Operation Wealth Creation. Veterans Minister Huda Oleru proudly declares that the NRM has made a difference in the country’s peace, security, and stability.
However, not everyone is popping champagne in the NRM camp.
Enter the MK Movement in the game of thrones, led by the charismatic Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Museveni’s son. The movement, born from NRM structures, has sown seeds of discontent within the party. With Muhoozi eyeing the presidency in 2026, internal strife is brewing, and the NRM veterans, led by the indomitable Kahinda Otafiire, are gearing up for a family feud.
The stakes are high, as prominent NRM figures like Vice President Jessica Alupo, Defence Minister Vincent Sempijja, and Otafiire himself endorse Museveni as the sole candidate for 2026. It’s not just an endorsement; it’s an open display of the generational clash within the party. Museveni, having weathered challenges from various quarters, now faces an adversary from his own bloodline.
Despite whispers of Museveni fatigue among NRM supporters, the lack of a viable alternative leaves them resigned to the enduring rule of the old man. With the FDC out of the way, the stage is set for a showdown between the NRM and NUP in 2026. Will the NRM use its state machinery to quell opposition, or will they surprise us all with a newfound sense of fair play?
As the NRM approaches its 40th anniversary, the party seems determined to cling to power by any means necessary. Violence, arrests, kidnappings – the state machinery is working overtime to suppress any opposition. Police have even taken to cordoning off the homes of Bobi Wine and Besigye, ensuring dissent remains behind closed doors.
