President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s 2016 – 2021 term was codenamed Kisanja Hakuna Mchezo (Kiswahili Translation for Term of no playing/jokes). However, an evaluation of that term and going by his poor scores in the 2021 polls, the Kisanja was its own opposite.
The argument that it was just a wave and not attention to issues as advanced by apologists is misleading. Voters had issues grounded in their hearts beyond the “wave” and they voted accordingly to make a statement.
It could be this term that will be Hakuna Mchezo going by the performance pressure that Robinah Nabbanja,Milly Babalanda and Anita Among are using to push those under their charge to adopt.
Prime Minister Robbinah Nabbanja
Nabbanja appears restless, trying to be everywhere lest one of her ministers sleeps on job. She’s been seen in every part of the country to demonstrate that she’s a field worker not an office diplomat. She has distributed money in hospitals, markets and open meetings. Certainly, there’s no mchezo from a woman who FDC’s Ssemujju Nganda faulted as unfit even for a garbage collection CEO.
Nabbanja seems to have enjoyed her stay at the Ministry of Health and perhaps wished to remain there. She has usurped more of the roles of her former boss Jane Ruth Aceng than any other Ministry. In fact, she’s the trinity overshadowing Aceng, Hanifa Kawooya and Margaret Muhanga. She has shut – up Hillary Onek and took the disaster docket as well. You will see Nabbanja first in disaster hit areas and Onek last or never.
Whether Nabbanja has rightly fit in the shoes of her predecessors is a question that requires fresh evaluation from Kira Municipality MP Ssemuju Nganda.Her highly authoritative statements that sometimes defeat rational explanation make her style “Kisanja Hakuna Mchezo” The premier once stunned Parliament when she told the Speaker that none of her deputies except Hajjati Lukia Nakadama Isanga should represent her in Parliament when she misses. How could she disregard the seniority and expertise in government and Parliamentary business by former Speaker Rebecca Kadaga, Moses Ali and Justine Kasule Lumumba! Simple logic,the 3 were part of the Hakuna Mchezo term that never was.
Milly Babirye Babalanda – Minister for the Presidency
Milly Babirye Babalanda was a surprise appointment to the presidency where she replaced Luuka District woman MP Esther Mbayo who was dust binned by the big man. Babalanda’s first tough assignment was managing the State – funeral for the late Speaker Jacob Oulanyah.
With all its shortcomings, Babalanda’s critics muted after the send off and quickly focused of Anita Among’s speakership as Oulanyah’s successor.
Babalanda must be giving Resident District/City Commissioners no breather at work. It is evident RDCs are working under pressure and strict performance checks. From weekly reports to her office, demands for accountability, RDCs are all over our social media platforms especially WhatsApp groups accounting for their jobs daily. In at least 5 platforms i subscribe to, you’re sure 10 RDCs and their deputies will post details of their meetings, public addresses, radio appearances, mediation exercises, visits to schools, supervision of constructions of government projects among others. Photos of the activities, audio clips of their speeches flood the groups with occasional disgust.
RDCs may not say it but certainly, the job has become a little more demanding than it was before. Just a few months after they were deployed, Babalanda has quietly sanctioned a mini – reshuffle or reorganization!
For example in the East,Jinja City RCC Saleh Kamba was last week moved to Kalangala and replaced with Darius Nandinda,David Kulaba Isabirye of Sironko moved to Buyende District, Enock Makwala Wandera who has been Deputy in Bugiri was moved to Lira City and replaced by Mark Baingana from Makindye SSaabagabo.
Others were Hakim Kiriggwa from Bugweri to Buikwe and Dhala Sanon from Buikwe to Bugweri as deputies. There’s no doubt Babalanda who served for long at Kyambogo as head of office of the National Chairman is redefining the RDC/RCC job while giving current occupants sleepless nights.
RDCs are quietly silencing political opposition upcountry, neutralizing anti – M7 critics. The menace however is the economic opposition that shows in people’s pockets. Indeed, the cadres are assuring their flock that the Parish Development Model will address this. Isn’t Babalanda Pushing Resident Commissioners too hard?
Speaker Anita Annet Among
In third position is the legislature led by the Bukedea Woman MP Anita Annet Among. Legislators from across the political divide hold Anita in high regard with a mixture of fear and respect. Many have hailed her leadership skills in steering the august house where she works like a busy bee. She recently warned sleepy Ministers to wake up promising to pass at least 62 bills into law in the second year of the 11th Parliament.
President Museveni has publicly endorsed Anita Among’s stewardship as “so far so good”. Yet her critics in the house fear opening war on the Speaker saying she relents not in pursuing the “stubborn “who cross her path.
Whatever the sentiments, MPs and Parliamentary staff know that Anita Among will stop at nothing in demanding for results.
The evident pressure in demands for performance is seemingly giving Mr.Museveni some relief save for the economic crisis that he has failed to give satisfactory answers to a lay man’s mind.
Is the tripartite of Anita Among, Robina Nabbanja and Milly Babalanda extending Museveni’s Kisanja Hakuna Mchezo to 2022 to secure 2026?
Save for mechanical saves, the 2016 – 2021 term was Kisanja Real Mchezo.The constant remains corruption with all its many variables.
Watch the Women defining Museveni’s current term and holding everyone as if all was well…!
Good publication