Faridah n Kulumba
Africa-Press – Uganda. The Republic of Uganda celebrated 60 years of independence last year. Politically many people expected the year 2022 to be a year for the ruling party National Resistance Movement (NRM) and other elected politicians to put aside politicking and concentrate on fulfilling the promises they made to Ugandans during the 2021 general elections, but by the look of things some politicians spent all most half of the year preparing for the 2026 elections.
Generally, 2022 was busy in Uganda with many activities as will be highlighted in this article.
Uganda distanced herself from Kenyan politics
2022 started when Uganda’s neighboring country Kenya was preparing for general elections that took place in August. Even though the two nations are cooperating on different issues, Uganda vowed not to interfere in the Kenyan election.
On 24th January, President of Uganda Yoweri Kaguta Museveni said that he was not to take sides in Kenyan presidential elections, dispelling claims and rumors that Uganda and the ruling party NRM supported the then Kenyan Deputy President William Ruto.
President Museveni Museveni defended his decision by saying that Elections in Kenya or any other African country are a matter of the people of that country. Adding that his government never takes sides in the internal matters of other countries and they do not have a preferred candidate in Kenya.
Uganda’s first son was dragged to Court for announcing interest in the presidency.
President Museveni’s son and then commander of the country’s land forces Lt-Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba (MK) towards the end of April 2022, signaled his desire to go public about his presidential ambitions when he auspiciously turned his 48th birthday celebrations into a national event. The first son’s expression of interest in succeeding his father who has been in power for more than 35 years since 1986, came after almost a decade of speculations.
After the much-hyped birthday celebrations, which included some activities like a marathon and a football match, Lt Gen Muhoozi seems to have gathered the courage to publicly express his interest in the presidency. On May 1st Gen Muhoozi via Twitter his favorite social media channel made the long-awaited announcement. “When Team MK wins power in this country, which we will, our first action will be to increase the sports budget,” Muhoozi said on Twitter adding that team MK will announce their political program soon.
In May, the Constitutional Court summoned Muhoozi to respond to a petition in which he was accused of expressing his presidential ambitions yet he is still serving army officer. This followed one Lawyer Gawaya Tegulle petitioning the Constitutional Court challenging what he called unconstitutional acts by Gen Muhoozi of engaging in political activities and pronouncements as he celebrated his birthday despite being a serving army officer.
Green became the new yellow
On Wednesday 20 July 2022, the opposition Democratic Party (DP) president Norbert Mao signed a working cooperation agreement with the national chairman of the ruling party NRM, President Museveni.
Upon signing the agreement DP Mao was appointed by President Museveni as the new Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs. The parliamentary vetting committee vetted him on Friday and he was approved. Mao’s appointment and acceptance shocked many Ugandans due to the fact that he was so critical of the ruling government and many could not believe that he will be serving under the same government he has been criticizing for years.
In the 42-clause agreement, DP and NRM parties agreed to share political power but also to foster constitutionalism and respect for human rights. According to the agreement, DP agreed to cooperate with the ruling party in supporting the overall governance agenda and supporting parliamentary votes on matters of confidence and supply for the full term (2021-2020) of this parliament.
DP has got only 9 members of parliament out of 529 MPs of whom 300 belong to NRM.
Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov’s visit to Uganda
On Monday 25th July 2022, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrived in Uganda on an official visit His visit aimed to strengthen ties with Uganda and seek support against Western pressure over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
the president of Uganda held a meeting with Mr. Lavrov at State House Entebbe. President Museveni called for stronger bilateral relations, especially in the areas of defense and security, economic and technical cooperation with Russia. President Museveni based on that to defend Lavrov’s visit to Uganda by saying that Russia has had good relations with Uganda for the last 100 years, and therefore, Uganda can never take a position against Russia.
President Museveni defended Lavrov’s visit by saying that Russia has had good relations with Uganda for the last 100 years, and therefore, Uganda can never take a position against Russia. Museveni’s explanation followed the activists protesting Lavrov’s visit to Uganda showing their distress due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Museveni defended the meeting by saying that Uganda wants to make its own enemies not fight other people’s enemies. According to President Museveni, his country does not believe in being enemies with enemies of any country.
U.S Ambassador to UN surprise visit to Uganda
On 4th August 2022, President Museveni received the United States Ambassador to United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield at State House Entebbe a few days after Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s visit to the country. The meeting between Greenfield and President Museveni was meant to strengthen the relationships between the U.S. and Uganda.
The U.S. warned African countries that are dealing with Russia, especially on goods covered by sanctions. Even though Uganda and any other African country have the right to choose their friends and their enemies, the US said that if a country decides to engage with Russia, where there are sanctions, then they were breaking those sanctions. The US warned that those countries dealing with Russia will be dealt with accordingly.
Ms. Thomas-Greenfield announced USD20 million in development assistance to Uganda. The fund, which is subject to U.S Congressional approval, is aimed at helping smallholder farmers adopt improved agricultural practices. This is meant to increase productivity, reduce post-harvest losses and mitigate the impacts of growing food security, which she aid have been exacerbated by Russia’s aggression in Ukraine.
Uganda’s President fired his son after offensive Tweets to Kenya
On 4th October, the President of Uganda also a Commander in Chief of Uganda People’s Defense Force (UPDF) Museveni fired his son Lt Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba as commander of the nation’s infantry forces after he tweeted provocative threats to capture the capital of neighboring Kenya.
Muhoozi made headlines when he tweeted that he would only need two weeks with his army to capture Nairobi the capital city of Kenya.
The provocative tweets
It all started when Muhoozi blamed the former President of Kenya Uhuru Kenyatta for not standing for a third term in the August election.
Tweet 1- “My only problem with my beloved big brother is that he didn’t stand for a third term he would have won easily.”
Tweet 2- “Haha I love my Kenyan relatives, Constitution Rule of law you must be kidding! You must be joking. For us, there is only the Revolution and you will soon learn about it.” Muhoozi said.
Tweet 3- ”It wouldn’t take us my army and me 2 weeks to capture Nairobi.”
Tweet 4- ”I am happy that members of our district in Kenya have responded enthusiastically to my tweets, still two weeks to Nairobi.”
Tweet 5- “After our arm captures Nairobi where should I live Weskands or Riverside.”
Tweet 6- Kenyans on Twitter I forgive you all for all the insults you’ve hulled against me please let us work together to make East Africa great.”
Uganda distanced itself from the remarks of Muhoozi on Twitter clarifying that the government of the Republic of Uganda does not conduct its foreign policy and other official businesses through social media. Adding that it treasures the bilateral relation between its people and Kenyans. Uganda also vowed to reiterate its commitment to good neighborliness, peaceful co-existence, and cooperation.
President Museveni was endorsed for a 7th Term come 2026
In October, some of Museveni’s ministers endorsed him for the presidency in the next election only a year after he was elected on sith term. The ministers with other leaders of the ruling party NRM signed a letter of support for President Museveni’s re-election bid in 2026.
Those who are behind the endorsement have often argued that President Museveni has done a lot for the country and that he should not be subjected to an internal process since his track records speak for themselves.
Museveni’s endorsement confused Ugandans by wondering how the effect of the endorsement will have on his son Gen Muhoozi Kainerugab’s (MK) hopes of succeeding him in 2026. Muhoozi was already rallying young people across Uganda to back him in 2026.
The US does not determine Museveni’s presidency
On 14th December 2022, President Museveni while in an interview with journalist Remmy Bahati on the sidelines of the United States (US)-Africa Leaders’ Summit convened by President Joe Biden in Washington D.C between the 13th and 15th, he bid the year 2022 goodbye by saying that his presidency is not determined by the United States.
Museveni was asked to respond to the US’s decline to acknowledge his 2021 presidential victory which they said was marred with violence and vote rigging. Museveni responded by saying that he is not a President of Uganda because of the Americans or because of anybody else, but because of the people of Uganda who voted him into power.
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