Charismatic journalist and former Senior Press Secretary to president Museveni Joseph Tamale Mirundi once revealed that government officials on calendars are not the ones with power to run Museveni’s government but many of them are ceremonial and receive monthly salaries and allowances to survive.
Recently, veteran journalist Andrew Mwenda in a statement on social media warned Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu (Bobi Wine) supporters to expect the worst if they do not desist from attacking security agencies during their candidate’s campaign trail
“This is to inform NUP supporters to stop attacking police and UPDF soldiers. This afternoon at Bwaise Wellex hardware, NUP hooligans attacked and injured seven police officers and UPDF. These provocations will lead to very severe consequences for them and their campaign from the state. The government has made every effort to keep the campaign free of violence. Please don’t change the tone of the campaign so far,” Mwenda wrote.
In response, scholar and founding editor of the red pepper Arinaitwe Rugyendo said, “Mr. Mwenda, statements of this magnitude should come through official government channels not from individual actors like you or me. Doing otherwise undermines institutions and dilutes their purpose.”
More Read
To settle the argument, seasoned journalist also expert in foreign affairs issues Raymond Mujuni joined the late Mirundi to confirm that in Uganda, as Museveni closes to his retirement, there are many power centres that influence decisions in the country.
Mujuni a privileged Ugandan who understands the discussions inside the corridors of power said that because of age, Museveni no longer takes some decisions.
He added that for the first time since he took power in 1986, Museveni now allows another person to run and make security decisions for the country.
Speaking to Rwanda based YouTube channel, The Long Form Podcast, Mujuni said that currently, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba the first son who is also the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) is the one running the country’s entire security and all commanders are under his control.
“Previously when top security bosses were to be arrested like it happened to Gen David Sejusa and Gen Kale Kayihura, the president was involved but this time when intelligence bosses were arrested recently, and are still in detention, he was not involved,” Mujuni a proud Mutoro revealed.
Before getting a break from actively engaging his fans on his alleged X handle, Gen Muhoozi declared that he is the superior commander of police and other security agencies as CDF.
However, Kampala Metropolitan junior minister Christopher Kabuye Kyofatogabye said that during this week’s cabinet meeting, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Abas Byakagaba was summoned to brief the ministers on the country’s security especially concerning the ongoing political campaigns.
The minister said that Byakagaba assured them of peaceful campaigns until the January elections. He also warned Bobi Wine’s supports to desist from provoking security into unnecessary fights in a bid to create sympathy for their candidates.
Mujuni said that apart from Gen Muhoozi, the First Lady Janet Kataha Museveni also holds power and influences the running of the country especially being the chief Minister of Education and Sports
Kira Municipality legislator Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda said that Kataha through his son-in-law Edwin Karugire has influenced the taming of radicalism in the management of Makerere university and many people fighting for ministerial jobs and government jobs seek for her anointment.
Sources said that Kataha was very instrumental in saving Anne Twinomugisha Muhairwe as the deputy Inspector General of Government (IGG) after the dismissal of her boss Betty Namisango Kamya.
Mujuni also names Gen Salim Saleh, Museveni’s younger brother as another person holding influence in his brother’s government noting that his assignment majorly concentrates on the country’s economy.
Sources said that Ramathan Ggoobi’s appointment as the Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Finance Planning and Economic Development was influenced by Gen Saleh because of their long-time cooperation.
When Museveni returned the 2024-25 national budget back to parliament citing corruption and a number of legislators were charged and imprisoned, many of them point their fingers at Ggoobi and Gen Saleh for having a hand in influencing Museveni’s actions.
Mwenda recently noted that the country’s economy is in Saleh’s head.
Ssemujju insisted that Gen Saleh is a co-president with Museveni explaining that it is the reason why when Robina Nabbanja was appointed a Prime Minister and Jesicca Alupo was appointed vice president, many government officials made sure that they meet him and thank him for the job because they know him as the man with power.
However, Gen Saleh denied all the allegations and at one time threatened to take legal action and withdraw his political support for Kampala Lord Mayor Ssalongo Erias Lukwago.
Mujuni explained that because the fight for power and influence is getting intense, it is the reason why the Speaker of parliament Annet Anita Among survived prosecution on allegations of corruption.
He disclosed that the Speaker also has influence and power.
Sources said that Among was very instrumental when Museveni instituted changes in the country’s electoral body the Uganda Election Commission noting that her influence is the reason why a number of people in the institution are running on her orders.
However, Peter Kibazo another veteran journalist said that Among is just masquerading as a person with power and this is the reason she fought so much to be declared unopposed as Bukedea district woman Member of Parliament to prove to Museveni that he still has power and influence in the country.
“Many of those unopposed people fought for it because they wanted to be visible at all Museveni’s presidential campaigns to up their bargaining power in the next big presidential appointments and other favours,” Kibazo said
Kibazo said that Among plans to use her unopposed status to mediate her position in the new government after the political transition from President Museveni to another leader.
He however warned that it seems Museveni does not see where to place her in his political calculations because he is planning to handover power to his son Muhoozi not any other person
Ahmed Kateregga Musaazi another veteran political journalist said that even though Among is fighting to prove to Museveni that she is very powerful, she should know that Museveni doesn’t like people who abuse power and democracy to score political points like she is doing.
He was supported by veteran political analysts Kyeyune Ssenyonjo who said that what Among is doing, to fight to be declared unopposed is very dangerous to the country’s democracy.
He divulged that the same thing was done by Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) politicians in the 1980 elections and many of them went through unopposed.
He added that such impunity and arrogance in elections forced Museveni to pick guns and fight UPC government.
Even though Kateregga and Ssenyonjo are claiming that Museveni is not happy with Among and some leaders who fought to stand unopposed, when he was campaigning, Museveni praised Among and declared NUP leaders stupid and shallow for trying to front a candidate who is a relative to Among.
Mujuni said that Chief Justice Owiny Dollo is also another influential person that determines the country’s decisions especially on how the judiciary rund.
Dollo recently boasted that his decisions especially judgements are not influenced by Museveni as many claim and is the same thing with other judicial officers.
He cited the recent Supreme Court landmark judgement which banned prosecution of civilians in the military court as an example of the judiciary independence.
However senior lawyer and politician Maria Matembe claims that Museveni assigned his personal lawyer and also Attorney General Kiryowa Kiwanuka to influence and control the judiciary allegations widely confirmed by a number of lawyers and judicial officers who spoke to this reporter during the course of verifying this story
Sources told this reporter that former Attorney General William Byaruhanga faced a hard time to work with Museveni because whenever he faile to execute his directives and legal wishes, he complained that he was not his choice but was recommended to him by Gen Saleh.
Wait for another part…
