By Faridah N Kulumba
Africa-Press – Uganda. Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Norbert Mao advised his boss and the president of the Republic of Uganda Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to prepare for a peaceful transition of power, or risk dragging the country back into the dark past of civil strife and political turmoil. Minister Mao, who doubles as the Democratic Party (DP) president challenged President Museveni, to deliberately spearhead the processes for him to peacefully handover of power.
Uganda’s political challenges
Uganda’s major political challenges started way back between 1966 and 1971, after the independence when the first and last ceremonial president of the Buganda Kabaka (King) Edward Muteesa II was overthrown by his executive prime minister Milton Obote. Since then, Uganda has never had a peaceful transition of political power. Since independence, the peaceful transition of power in Uganda is still elusive. The East African country is still entangled in cycles of bloodshed that have accompanied change from one regime to another. From President Museveni in the 1980s, the promise of national deliverance from the curse of violent government change is still alive. Some politicians, most especially from the opposition side, have tried to debate about it for years but still, there is no change. President Museveni who has been in power for 37 years believes that changing presidents is not the solution to Uganda’s problem.
Mao’s concern
His concern is that Uganda has never experienced any peaceful change of power, with each transition resulting in blood, which overly retards the country’s progression. He noted that it is high Museveni creates an alternative to the past trends set by his predecessors. He stressed that Museveni boasts of spearheading the country’s economic transformation in different aspects of life, which can be easily edified by the youthful generation if he at all moots for peaceful power transfer. Mao says Ugandans are celebrants of the prevailing stability in the country, however, they are equally groaning for a peaceful change of leadership, which Museveni can willingly superintend over, not only to consolidate his legacy for future generations but also safeguard the country’s skyrocketing development endeavours under his stewardship.
Serving two masters
On Wednesday 20 July 2022, the opposition Mao signed a working cooperation agreement with the national chairman of the ruling party National Resistance Movement (NRM), President Museveni. Upon signing the agreement DP Mao was appointed by President Museveni as the Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs. The parliamentary vetting committee vetted him 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 would be serving under the same government he had 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.
How the country has been affected
According to Mao, the country’s political turmoil’s of 1971, 1979, 1985, and 1986, negatively derailed the country, both locally and internationally, which prompted him to actively participate in the peaceful power handover processes and wanted collective support from not only DP but all Ugandans across the world to actualize this need. Mao further says that their counterparts are materializing on the electoral processes, while DP is participating in negotiations, which if their voices are well heard, will culminate into sustainable power change for the benefit of all Ugandans. Mao also implored Museveni to fight prevailing social evils like corruption and tribalism, among others, which he blames for retarding the country’s universal growth, with some elements in the government using excessive power at their disposal, to deprive the majority of Ugandans from partaking of the national cake, in all aspects.He added that several parts of the country lack social services such as electricity, access to clean and safe water, bad roads, poor health services, poor education, and poverty.
Mao
Mao, 56 years is a Ugandan, political activist, and lawyer. He became DP president in 2010, and he has stood for the presidency three times. After attending his Primary Level School in Jinja, he joined sever schools for his Secondary Levels before joining Makerere University between 1988 and 1991, graduating with a law degree. Between 1990 and 1991, he served as the president of Makerere University Students Guild. In 1992, he obtained a Diploma in Legal Practice from the Law Development Centre in Uganda. According to the agreement Mao signed with the NRM, he was tasked to be the lead for coordinating the national dialogue and the whole government’s response to constitutional reforms within the mandate to coordinate budget proposals in the Justice Law and Order Sector.
For More News And Analysis About Uganda Follow Africa-Press
