By John Okello Lapok
President Museveni is not necessarily going to retire. Not at all! He is going to remain around but much of his powers are going to be shifted to the Office of the Vice President. This and more, are some of the alleged calculations top strategists are looking at to have a smooth transition process.
Details
On December 31, 2008 President Museveni summoned scribes to Rwakitura. During that interaction, he was asked if he was ready for a powering government come 2011 with the opposition.
His response was clear! He did not buy into that proposal, but instead he preferred what he called cohesion. He said his party-NRM did not want power sharing.
“NRM does not need power sharing. The coming elections, we’re going to sweep. All the opposition propaganda we have solved” he said naming the opposition propaganda as the LRA war in the North and the Karimojong cattle rustling problems.
“Power sharing is correct where it’s needed, but where it’s not needed, it is not in order. That’s why we emphasize cohesion” he said, adding that power sharing is good where there is no alternative, but for him, he preferred cohesion.
“You can work. Like now, we have some MPs (NRM rebels) who are making a lot of noise, but we’re going to deal with them. We can not tolerate people like those opposing government programs” the Head of State said, citing Article 83, which NRM was going to base on to kick the rebels out of the party (parliament).
CURRENT SITUATION
Whereas the President at the time emphasized that power sharing wasn’t in the language of the NRM, recent reports suggest a new plan to push for a coalition (power sharing) kind of government. The idea is being spearheaded by Gen Caleb Akandwanaho Salim Saleh, the President’s young brother as reported in recent media circles.
Interestingly, like the President predicted in 2008 that NRM was going to sweep the elections, even in this current term 2026-2031, it’s the NRM which won resoundingly. However, whereas some sections are reporting of a possible coalition as allegedly being championed by GSS, the ‘alternative’ arrangement as talked about by President Museveni in 2008 is back into play. It allegedly seeks to cause a silent power shift from the Office of the President to that of the Vice President.
In the said plan, it is being suggested that a constitutional amendment be worked out soonest.
In fact, this alternative arrangement as reported by Museveni, according to inspectors, started in the last term where the President shifted some of the critical roles in the Military/Defense decision making to the Office of the Chief of Defense Forces, currently being held by Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
In the amendments to the UPDF Act, the President remained the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed forces but administrative, light deployment, welfare, promotions, among other matters were shifted to the Office of the CDF, unlike those days when the President and CiC did all those roles.
“The idea was meant to reduce on pressure on the President. He remained the CiC to give strategic guidance to the armed forces. The same thing is now being seen as workable to the Presidency itself” explained an inspector.
We’ve been informed that the plan to amend the constitution to effect the changes in the Presidency had been earmarked towards the end of the last parliament but circumstances dictated a necessity to change the leadership of parliament first.
With Speaker Jacob Oboth Oboth now sailing well in that seat, inspectors said the time to ressurect the plan is ripe.
HOW IT WILL WORK
In case the said alternative plan finally comes true, the President is going to remain with half the current powers he holds. The other powers are reported to be going to be Office of the Vice President. Some of the powers for example, will include appointment of most of the cabinet ministers including the Prime Minister, day to day chairing of cabinet meetings, appointment of RDCs, Permanent Secretaries, judges and ambassadors, holding diplomatic engagements, negotiating loans and investments among others.
The President according to the ‘alternative’ plan will only be left with powers to appoint about 10 people to cabinet, manage military politics, and handling Uganda’s strategic position on the continent and the region.
“He will also take part in peace missions on the continent. He will be also giving lectures to the young people and promote the Pan African agenda. In other words, he will be more like a guardian angel throughout the remaining part of this term. The VP and the CDF will be fully in charge of government and the military” said an inspector.
According to the plan, the VP will act as the transition person until such a time elections will be held after the expiry of the current term. Museveni will then concentrate on the future of the NRM.
According to inspectors, when the proposed alternative plan works out, it will be effected in 2028, with the President announcing the retention of the current Vice President or appointment of a new one. The VP will then be tasked to get and name a new cabinet including the Prime Minister and the Permanent Secretaries among others. So far, besides the current Vice President, two names are being suggested for the envisaged reinvented VP position.
It should be recalled that during the recent NRM CEC meeting ably chaired by the President and NRM Chairman, reports suggested that he tabled a discussion paper alluding to a transition plan although details of it remain scanty.
However, the said alternative plan relating to the Office of the Vice President Vs The President remains unconfirmed information and the President of the Republic of Uganda Gen Yoweri Kaguta Museveni remains fully in charge of the country and is the legitimately elected President until 2031. The President is also fully and smoothly working with his current Vice President Maj Jessica Alupo, also Katakwi Woman MP.
Watch the space!
