Reflections; Gen. Museveni's Legacy: The Man. Politics. Future.     

July 2, 2025

It is not mere change of Guards. It is a fundamental change. Legacy. What is Uganda's problem?

By; Fred Kwiringira B Ruhamya. (Analyst. Researcher. Pan Africanist. Evangelist).

It is now forty years, Gen. Museveni is still the President of Uganda. How will President Museveni be remembered? A hero or villain. It is a vicious debate that will go on for generations.

Synopsis; Gen. Museveni enigma. Lion of Uganda, Africa

Gen. Museveni has been the most powerful man in Uganda for four decades. Museveni is one of the most powerful presidents in Africa. He is also recognised globally.

Gen. Museveni is over 80 years old. He was born in the early 1940s. He guesses around 1944, hence in the evenings of his life. In recent years, he has spoken about going to heaven and the next planet. He is not enthusiastic about life after. Museveni has strong views on life, religion, and politics. Museveni’s overstay in power and now advanced age has raised speculations on succession. Gen. Museveni has dismissed the fears and says it is a matter of the Constitution.

The Muhoozi Project, succession fever. Fears.

Critics believe Museveni wants to hand over power to his son, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba. The avenger and current CDF. Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba is feared due to his basement captures, machinations, and threats to opponents. He is ruthless. Politicians and analysts believe he wants to operate like his Uncle Gen. Kagame Paul, President of Rwanda, who is considered a dictator. There is room for freedom and criticism. Can the Muhoozi project be stopped? It is a discussion going on. The opposition and political parties are in disray, other compromised. Who will challenge the Museveni, Kaguta dynasty?

There are rumours that Gen. Museveni might be fooling the population so that he eventually brings unlikely candidates from the family or within the Army who is Royal and will protect the family and empire. Gen. Museveni T. K. Yoweri is very unpredictable. It is part of his DNA. Therefore, it is difficult to discern. My own interpretation is Muhoozi is the likely preferred choice for Museveni, part of the family. He fears to gamble on power. He has mastered the dynamics of history. Time will tell.

One the Historicals, the cantankerous Gen. Kahinda Otafiire has opposed Muhozi Kainerugaba and handing over power by the father. He insists Democracy must prevail. If Muhoozi wants to be a president, he must go through normal elections and compete with other politicians. Gen. Otafiiree represents views of many who are fearful or have no platforms to express their views or voice.

A renowned lawyer , author , human rights activist, leader, politician, fearless Dr. Maria K. Matembe has hinted in different foras, debates, and platforms that Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba is likely to be a president of Uganda unless God descends and stops the project. Gen. Museveni is determined and has captured the state and institutions. Matembe, who is born again Christian, is at times taken up to use spiritual lenses.

She calls herself a child of God. A voice of the people. Scholars, including veteran Onyango Obbo Charles, Timothy Kalyegyira, Gen. Sejusa David, Dr. Kiiza Besigye, Dr. Eng. Hon. Winnie K. Byanyima, Rwomushana, professors, and political leaders have all expressed fears that Gen. Museveni is selfish and has betrayed the Revolution. He wants his family to take power by any means. The systems are compromised.

If Gen. Museveni succeeds in handing over power to Gen. Muhoozi, in 2031, it will another unique achievement for Museveni. The Man. Gen. Museveni has over years expressed his disrespect for his colleagues. He is the only one with a vision. Hence, he can't hand over Uganda to pigs and nonstarters, which is sacrificed for 60 years of his life. It will be the Museveni’s dynasty for 70 years, if Gen. Muhoozi rules for 3 decades. It will be a Kaguta kingship.

Gen. Museveni Legacy, the man.

I am writing a book titled "What is Uganda's problems. Gen. Museveni, as a major player for 60 years, will feature prominently.

Gen. Museveni was born in Mpororo, Ntungamo, Gen. Museveni, like most African Revolutionaries he rose from obscurity to greatness. Museveni has been on the throne for four decades. He loves power. Museveni rose from humble beginnings. He has a deep understanding of society in African setup. Gen. Museveni is from the Bassita clan. Some critics insist Museveni is a munyarwanda, not a munyankole. It is of no relevance after all these years and having succeed to be a player on the Ugandan political scene and a powerful president for 40 years. His Ugandanness or not is a redundant argument and of no significance. To scholars, it can only be what lessons. If both Gen. Museveni and Gen. Amin Dada were non Ugandans but became strong President’s. What lessons to the Youth and citizens. Leaders emerge out of unique circumstances. We credit Museveni and Amin for their courage and contributions, the failures notwithstanding.

Gen. Museveni will be remembered as one of the greatest Ugandans, powerful President in Uganda, Africa and the globe.

Museveni out sheer ambition, courage, focus humiliated the strong nothertheners, Obote, Okello Lutwa who ruled with guns, violence, terror at times were decimated, displaced by Gen. Museveni, the NRA, NRM. The cost was high. 500,000 Ugandans died in Luwero triangle, Toro, Kiboga, 300,000 in Northern Uganda.

Gen. Museveni with his rag tagged Army declared a new order. It was a Revolution. Standing at Parliament steps, Gen. Museveni the President in his powerful, historic Speech said; this is a fundamental change, not mere change of guards. There has been remarkable and significant economic growth. We celebrate the achievements.

Is it a fundamental change? It is a debate that will continue into the future.

What is of clarity is that Uganda will never be the same again. It is up to Uganda to build on the foundations and take Uganda to greater heights. Uganda has recorded remarkable progress. Development. The Army also has some discipline. This must be maintained. Human rights abuse should be avoided otherwise the gains of the Revolution will lost. It will be a betray of the Heroes and Heroines who died fighting for freedom.

Gen. Museveni is a strategist, courageous politician and leader. You don't have to like him but for dominating now 49 Million Ugandans, 56 tribes is not easy. We give it to him. It would have been desirable to have handed over power after 2 terms but how did he manage? What lessons to Africans and Ugandans. It is what Gen. Kagame of Rwanda has copied and the incompetent Kiir of South Sudan are following. There are signs that the ambitious, corrupt, President Ruto of Kenya is fidgeting with the politics and constitution to compromise rule of law and continue having his way. The Gen z, youth have made it difficult for his selfish politics. Therefore Gen. Museveni is an elephant and a mountain in Uganda and Africa. Recently, he said he is a King. It is the reasons he donates, gives envelopes. He is says it cultural, to critics and politicians, analysts it patronage and corruption.

Gen. Museveni claims he is a visionary, revolutionary leader. His admirers resonates with his self- appraisal. The critics think he is benevolent dictator.

The score card generates debate, irrespective of where you stand or spectrum.

Uganda Economy has grown, ten times since 1986. Mzee Kasaija and his finance people project the Econmy to grow to 500 million dollars. Is it achievable. Perhaps without endemic corruption and looting. Kampala has grown from 7 hills to over 70 hills, there a section middle class Ugandans perhaps a smaller percentage than what Gen. Museveni presents and his cohorts and beneficiaries.

There is relative peace, stability, discipline in security with some gaps which at times are driven by individuals, bad apple within the system. This must be addressed immediately. Stability, peace are imperative for a better Uganda.

If Gen. Museveni had followed the blue print, 10 point program of NRA/NRM Revolution, the Constitution. Uganda now would be like Singapore. Very advanced and developed.

The challenge has been Gen. Museveni overstay in power which made him compromise on good governance, clean leadership and Accountability. He usually promises to fight Endemic corruption. It is a lost battle. Critics believe Corruption is the engine that sustains Gen. Museveni in power.

Uganda's problem has been leadership failure, endemic corruption, looting, stealing. The rest are effects, including land grabbing, poor infrastructure, poor quality of education, poverty, unemployment, environmental destruction among others.

The high debt burden of 100 trillion which will be paid in 100 years according to analysts, researchers and World Bank is mainly due to Corruption and compromise. The 10 trillion stolen per year is by few individuals. The President, Gen. Museveni says he knows the thieves.

The IGG, Ms. Betty T. N. Kamya estimates it is mainly stolen by 30000 Ugandans, the top thieves, criminals, mafias. Therefore Corruption is official, protected by the President, Gen. Museveni. The former IGG, Justice Irene Mulyangoja made a historic statement that every time she pursued thieves they hid behind the President’s chair and back. Critics have intimated that if Museveni of 1986 met the real Museveni since 2000 to now they would fight. What happened to the real Museveni, the revolutionary?

Scholars in future will make conclusions.

As a child of UPM Revolution, a keen Ugandan, patriot through research, can have my own assumptions. I asked 3 Statemen at different times, why the regression of the Revolution and their view of their comrade, leader Gen. Museveni. We discussed with Hon. Kategaya Eriya in 2001, Gen. Mugisha Muntu 2020, Gen. Biraaro B. Benon. 1996. They acknowlged Gen. Museveni’s unique attributes, acumen but faulted his betrayal and selfishness.

They were not surprised given his personality. Tibuhaburwa. They only hoped the systems, institutions, would manage him. He betrayed the ideals, the Revolution and comrades. It was disappointment. They all loved him, wished him well with his family and hoped for the best. The two freedom fighters are dead.

Gen. Mugisha Muntu is alive. He is also moving towards the evening of life. Can he achieve much with his ANT party in the next few years. We keep hope alive. Gen. Mugisha Muntu is the now the opposition leader that can offer clean leadership without discounting other players from Gen. Museveni, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Kyagulanyi Sentamu Robert aka Bob Wine, Mao Nobert, Akena. Mpuga, Dr. Kizza Besigye.

Gen. Museveni, the man seems bent to remain in power for another 5 years. We hope he will be strong to the end. The succession battle continues. We pray for Peace.

Gen. Museveni is an enigma, lion in Uganda and Africa. He will remembered as a powerful, intelligent leader, who made great contribution to humanity and Uganda. The failures are partly his but also a dysfunctional parliament , incompetent cabinet, disorganised political parties that made it possible for him to rule for 40 years and now Uganda is at cross roads.

The road ahead. Future.

Can progressive the progressive forces wrestle power from Gen. Museveni and his dying NRMO party, with its branches of PLU and other power centres. Perhaps if parties organised difrently, it not happening. Parties are getting more disunited. Gen. Museveni keeps funding fights within political parties. Therefore Gen. Museveni is still holding unto power with his son, the CDF, the army, money, cohorts.

In future the Constitution should be amended to revert to term limits, reduce the number of ministers to 25 from 82, MPs from 557 to 1 MP per district, amend local government act to have minimum qualifications for District, local governments to cut waste, have credible leaders with some understanding, knowledge.

The future is promising. We have a young population which should be skilled but that we require good, clean leadership and good governance which will be after Gen. Museveni. He can't change. He is too old, tried and knows everything. Cohorts, mafias also are too powerful. They want a broken system to thrive.

We have oil, minerals, wildlife, arable soils, ideal climate,hard working population, fresh waters. Uganda the Pearl of Africa.

We must fix the leadership questions, failures and combat run away Corruption.

We are 49 million Ugandans, 56 tribes. The issues are not about tribes, religion, regions. It is failed leadership. We must do proper prognosis of our problems and get suitable solutions.

What is Uganda's problem?

It is leadership failure , occasioned by betray of the Revolution, Gen. Museveni's overstay in power, selfish leaders, endemic corruption, looting, disorganised political parties, bad land tenure systems, dysfunctional Parliament among others.

We are the vanguards. The change we seek, we have been waiting for. Uganda is our motherland. Heritage. Defend it. Love it.

"Every generation has its mission. It fulfills or betrays it."

The Gen. Museveni’s, Bidandi’s, Nsibambi, Kategaya, Besigye, Kigongo, Babu, Kiseka, Ben wacha's, Obote, Lukyamuzi , Kazibwes, Wapakhabuko, Mukulu, the 27 NRM freedom fighters, Matembe made their conteiution. Our generation must rise to the occasion and save and serve Uganda. It is up to us. This is a clarion call, play your part. It is our responsibility and duty, peaceful revolution.

"When all is lost the future remains." Be the change "Pie in the Sky."

For God and My Country.