(Kawumu) – President Yoweri Museveni has once again graced us with a nugget of wisdom. During his 80th birthday celebrations, Museveni cautioned leaders against using money in politics. While the President was busy preaching the virtues of democracy and “removing the pollution of using money in politics,” many Ugandans were left wondering if they had heard him right. After all, it was not too long ago that former Bank of Uganda Governor, Emmanuel Tumusiime Mutebile, let it slip that the government had pulled a fast one on him during the 2011 elections. The very same government that Museveni still leads. In case you missed it, back then, the Central Bank was not directly printing money for elections, but let’s just say, cash was flowing like Nile water in Murchison Falls. The aftermath was an economy that nosedived.
As Museveni stood before a crowd at his Presidential Demonstration Farm in Kawumu, where even cows have better economic prospects than some Ugandans he sternly reminded his audience about the fourth principle of the NRM: democracy. He insists that NRM leaders should stay true to the “mass line.” Now, the “mass line” may sound like something you would hear at a Ugandan wedding, but it is really just a fancy way of telling the masses to line up for government programmes and hope for the best.
Museveni was quick to boast about all the new developments in places like Luweero. He sang songs about industrial parks, factories, and milk coolers—68 of them, to be exact. He sounded like a proud father showing off his kids’ report cards.
The President also took the opportunity to warn against opportunistic politicians, or as he called them, “charlatans.” These are the folks he accuses of confusing Ugandans and holding back development. Now, in Uganda, labeling someone a charlatan is akin to calling them a witch doctor—it is a serious insult. But let’s face it, the word “charlatan” fits right in with our political history, where opportunism and confusion reign supreme, and development is something we talk about at rallies but rarely see in reality.
Museveni urged NRM cadres to expose these so called charlatans. This is a tough call considering how deeply money and politics are intertwined here. It is like telling a fish to avoid water. At the end of the day, everyone knows the game: money talks, and in Uganda, it speaks loudly during election season.
The President also reminded Ugandans that his political career has been blessed by none other than God Himself. He also thanked God for giving him a good family, praising his wife, Maama Janet, for standing by his side through thick and thin. She is also the Minister of Education, in case you needed a reminder that the Museveni family tree has branches reaching every corner of Uganda’s government.
At 80 years old, Museveni reflected on how God had been his guiding light through decades of struggle. It is also possibly a coincidence that his family happens to hold some of the most powerful positions in Uganda. Either way, God works in mysterious ways.
The birthday luncheon wouldn’t have been complete without a stroll down memory lane. Museveni gave a tour of Kawumu and Kijaguzo, the two areas that apparently hold the keys to the NRM’s success. It was here that he recalled past victories, including the infamous rescue of guns dropped by Kayiira. It was also here that Museveni, ever the planner, laid the groundwork for his long stay in power.
Museveni wrapped up his address by reminding everyone about the NRM’s four ideological principles: patriotism, pan Africanism, socio economic transformation, and democracy. In true Museveni fashion, he lamented that the only principle not fully in their hands is pan Africanism. Apparently, we still need to convince our neighbors in East Africa to agree on a political federation that allows one lead for 40 years instead of two terms. Until then, Ugandans are encouraged to stay focused on wealth creation—a task that seems increasingly impossible for many, given the current state of the economy.
The President concluded by praising the NRM’s efforts in “prosperity for all.” But if you ask most Ugandans, it feels more like “prosperity for some.”
As the event wound down, First Lady Maama Janet gave a heartfelt speech thanking God for her husband’s life and legacy. She spoke of patience being one of Museveni’s greatest virtues. And perhaps she’s right. He has certainly been patient in handing over to a new government for almost four decades.
Museveni’s birthday celebration was, at its core, a reflection of Uganda’s political landscape: full of grand speeches, nostalgia, and promises of a brighter future. But just like coffee seedlings in Karamoja, we will have to wait and see if any of it will actually bear fruit.
