Nrm manifesto week; m7 is leading a growing political mediocrity.

A fortnight ago, Mr. Willis Bashasha, head of the NRM manifesto implementation unit and considered one of the most effective intellectuals within his trade announced widely of a two week – long engagement at the cabinet auditorium where each ministry would take a slot to account for its mandate and performance over the past one year. This being the year that preceeds the election season I expected this to be very important for both the NRM to take stock of achievements that will influence the next campaign.
Too important for the opposition to assess and use the evidence that the NRM is a sleeping giant not worthy a renewed mandate.
So, I set out to attend all manifesto briefs from one ministry to another to understand statistics and evidence of NRM’s performance that could arm both the ruling and opposition in equal measure, I was wrong.
Save for the launch of a manifesto week by Presidency Minister Babirye Milly Babaland on behalf of Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja who was busy in Kakumiro, the attendance has been deplorable. No single MP from either NRM or the opposition found time to attend or follow, save for those who double as ministers and were coming to present. There was no ‘vibe’ I expected of an accountability week. Ministers, MPs, Councilors attend scantly but most painfully the team convincing the nation to get rid of M7 that would challenge him with this evidence was largely unaware of the important events.
This means our opposition is mere politicking and inept.
The issues of economic transformation like how many roads were worked on and where? What quality of roads did we get and at what cost?
If this information does not make sense to your opposition in challenging the regime, then we are a mediocre society.
From 2021 to date, NRM’s performance on manifesto implementation was 35% but hoped it will rise to 84% by next election. No one to contest these statistics or ask for evidence on ground. People are only opposed to physical presence of Amos Kaguta’s son not performance of his government.
Permanent secretaries and technical staff were left to face journalists on performance. No one seemed bothered. Mr. Museveni may not be aware that only him is focused on accounting to the masses. Below him, government rides on mediocrity, People are unbothered for as long as they see no direct benefit to themselves.
I have held desire for Political power and authority since my child days in and greatly hoped that when one regime brought by my forefathers’ leaves, I will be part of a new dispensation of my time. This kept me opposed to Mr. Museveni for 20 years because I saw no space for my aspiration in his government. I however used to follow him closely, admired his speeches, read his writings in the papers, online and his “Sowing the Mastered Seed”.
I hated Museveni for torturing Besigye, for disempowering men in my mother region Busoga and raising women politicians who spent time in squabbles costing the region and for long desired to meet him and throw it into his face that he hates Busoga that’s why he keeps men low.
I have held that the political opposition I belonged to was smart and progressive that one day I will be in a new government with fresh pro-people policies. I long thought political opposition was based on, alternative policies and desire to replace the current with the better. I always wished that criticism to the current regime is backed by better alternative policy and governance positions.
I also thought those in the ruling government were strong on their party ideals, performance, policy and space it offers to grow the country. And so, I have always been eager to see and hear what the opposition contests in relations to what programs government rolls out, costs for the same, impact to communities and fulfillment of the government pledges. This would help citizens assess government’s performance as satisfactory or not. Unfortunately, I hardly hear M7’s opponents speak statistics, and evidence against his governance and performance in economy, social transformation and delivery on state, obligations.
They’re not bothered but so are those in his own party, they show no concern on whether the government they support is performing satisfactorily as a basis of their support. Do they read, internalize and preach the manifesto of their government that is presumed to have informed voters to entrust them with governance?
And the so-called alternative government that needs evidence of poor performance, accountability and corruption to challenge the status quo is a basket of tomatoes on a market stall, oh Uganda…!
About the Author
Sir Simon Muyanga Lutaaya is a journalist whose career spans over two decades. He is passionate about business, social-economic transformation and neonatal health. He can be reached on 0703700309 or Email: smlmediac@gmail.com