We Can't Have Museveni for EA Presidency

Whereas the formation of the East African federation is a welcome development, our leaders must move cautiously to avoid stalling the process.

While meeting the Fast Tracking Committee (FTC) of the proposed federation in Kampala recently, some ministers and former Ugandan officials of the defunct East African Community, recommended that one of the ways to determine the federation’s first president would be his length of service as president (The EastAfrican, October 25Ð31). Henry Obbo, Uganda's Minister for Labour, is quoted as suggesting that the longest serving president should take over. The other option would be for the presidency to rotate among the three countries.

There is no descerning logic in using such a criterion. While some may argue that such a president’s international exposure over his long period of service would be an asset for the federation, this may not necessarily make such a person the best for the office.

We should try to avoid determining the federation’s first presidency on personalities. 

One of the factors believed to have led to the collapse of the former EA Community was the personal differences between former presidents Julius Nyerere and Idi Amin, even as the three states were pursuing different ideologies. If the Community had been formed on a sound foundation, it would not have collapsed. We cannot afford to repeat the same mistake.

We should look for the country that has had longest spell of political stability, especially in regard to a smooth and entrenched leadership succession culture and system. Such a country is likely to have a political leader who would be more focused on seeing the federation grow and succeed for the good of us all, rather than one who would be fighting tooth and nail to stay in power for personal gain, as Ugandan history teaches us. In this regard, Tanzania would be a better choice than Uganda.

The other issue is that many African countries can hardly advocate democratic governance because of what they hide in their closets. Our ministers and officials, like the FTC members, know that President Museveni is serving his last term despite the manoeuvres going on to enable him to serve a fifth term. 

If we want to see democratic governance in the new federation, we should not be seen to be flouting its core principles at the very start by seemingly supporting President Museveni’s impending abrogation of our Constitution through manipulating the constitutional review process to get another term and thereafter access the presidency of the EA federation.

Let us work for a strong federation founded on principles rather than on personalities.

FRANK MUTAGUBYA
Kampala

Comments\Views about this article