Mbababzi acted like a true statesman The Bakiga are perceived as more aggressive compared to other communities. However, former Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi has defied this theory. The composure Mbabazi has exhibited since he was sacked on September 18, 2014 is unbelievable. The President sacked him without giving reasons. Normally we would have expected Mbabazi to make angry outbursts about his sacking. But instead he thanked President Museveni for giving him an opportunity to serve his country as prime minister and congratulated his successor Dr Ruhakana Rugunda. In doing that, Mbabazi has presented and conducted himself as a true statesman. Other people would have lost their patience, as we have seen in the past, throwing tantrums in the media or threatening to quit the government and party. Even Mr Museveni must have been puzzled or shocked by Mbabazi’s response. Last year when the National Bank of Commerce (NBC), where Mbabazi had a stake, was closed by the Central Bank, he still remained composed although he knew the actual powers behind the closure. When the zealots at the NRM retreat at Kyankwanzi endorsed Mr Museveni as the party’s sole candidate for 2016 and targeted to isolate Mbabazi, the latter maintained composure. He even signed the pro-Museveni resolution. Everybody was left guessing what Mbabazi was up to. Thereafter his wife Jacqueline tried to publicly ridicule the Kyankwanzi resolution, but abruptly went silent. It would appear the husband prevailed on her to follow his footsteps. By this composure and silence Mbabazi has kept Museveni guessing the former’s next move. It is this uncertainty about Mbabazi’s ultimate intention that has pressed Museveni’s panic button, prompting him to dish out Shs4m to NRM legislators to popularise his “sole candidature” among other things. However, the panic moves appear to be working in Mbabazi’s favour. There is no little doubt he is eyeing the big seat. No smoke without fire. Museveni would not have sacked him if his perceived presidential bid was a baseless speculation. The pro-Mbabazi youth groups dancing around point to something. They cannot be dismissed as mere publicity seeking obscurantists, acting out of sheer blind madness. But his composure amidst this storm has made him look an innocent person being persecuted for his political ambitions. If Mbabazi continues to maintain this composure even under maximum hostility, he will stand out as a unique politician. But what we cannot tell is whether he will sustain this self-restraint for long or lose it under the weight of state hostility and respond the Bakiga style as many know or understand it. He must be cooking something. What we don’t know yet is the taste of the meal.
Posted on: Sun, 26 Oct 2014 17:08:00 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015