How NRM top organ boxed Mbabazi into leave

Kampala- President Museveni told members of NRM’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) there is nothing big in being a president and wondered why some members were fussing over the same.

The ruling party’s committee comprising of its most senior officials met between Thursday and Saturday last week at the climax of internal tensions, with Mr Museveni, seeking to fend off a perceived internal challenge from the party’s secretary general and ex-prime minister Amama Mbabazi.

The meeting, according to sources, is said to have taken several dramatic twists and turns with tensions and emotions flaring, attracting near-physical brawls and insults.

Sources who attended the meeting on Saturday and spoke to this newspaper on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal quoted Mr Museveni saying: “I don’t know what people want with the presidency. There’s nothing, I am just a lobbyist, power is with Parliament, the Judiciary etc.”

A visibly charged Museveni reportedly added: “We revolutionaries don’t talk about ambition. You can have ambition but not at the expense of sacrifice; ambition - I want, I want, I want - is just reactionary thinking. What have you done for me?”

Kept calm and taking notes
Mr Mbabazi remained calm, occasionally taking notes and looking on assertively as members poured their hearts out on the sticky issue.

The meeting, which was a continuation of one held on Friday, sources said, started off with Mr Mbabazi wondering what sin he had committed to be the focus of the deliberations and face hostility alongside his wife and NRM Women’s League chairperson, Ms Jacqueline Mbabazi.

The President reportedly walked out of the meeting at around 2:30pm, delegating national vice chairman Al-Hajj Moses Kigongo to carry on as he dashed to launch the two year refurbishment project of Mulago National Referral Hospital.

However, members declined to continue with the meeting which was to discuss and seal the fate of the Secretary General, with some members arguing the President was only trapping them to conclude the issue of [secretary general] and he escapes responsibility for the decision.

Before the President left, Soroti Municipality MP Mike Mukula had pushed for a resolution compelling Mr Mbabazi to resign as secretary general.

When the meeting resumed later in the evening, it was agreed that Mr Mbabazi takes leave to allow the party to organise a delegates’ conference, expected on December 15, to handle important constitutional amendments – including giving the NRM chairman powers to appoint a technocratic secretary general and full time treasurer.

Mr Mbabazi yesterday issued a statement, indicating he would be taking leave until December 31.

His [Mbabazi] deputy, Dorothy Huha, will take charge of the secretariat affairs, including organising the next delegates’ conference.

Failing to control his [Mbabazi] in-laws
Mr Museveni is also said to have castigated Mbabazi: “For failing to control his wife and that the Ruhindi girls (Jacqueline Mbabazi and Alice Ruhindi) were always abusing him.”

Mr Mukula, former Kampala Central MP Francis Babu, Trade and Industry Minister Amelia Kyambadde, Uganda’s envoy to Burundi Matayo Kyaligonza and Government Chief Whip Justine Lumumba would later start sending torrents of charges at Mr Mbabazi.

Brig Kyaligonza, according to sources, started abusing Jacqueline, calling her stupid. Mr Bassajabalaba, who earlier pleaded that it would save the NRM if Mr Museveni and Mr Mbabazi worked together again, reportedly took offence and tried to shut Brig Kyaligonza down.

The two almost went into a physical fight, sources said, before they were calmed down.

As Mr Museveni pleaded with the two to ‘behave and calm down’, newly appointed prime minister, Ruhakana Rugunda advised, “since the rebel MPs were taken to the disciplinary committee, CEC should not show double standards and those causing problems should also go.”

Cautious on the matter
When contacted for a comment, Mr Rugunda said: “I don’t want to discuss details of the meeting but it was very fruitful. The chairman issued a statement on our position. Don’t dilute that with innuendos.”

A casually dressed Mbabazi, visibly shocked by his childhood friend’s proposal, frowned and asked to be informed of his offence so he can prepare his defence. As the meeting thought through his suggestion, Ms Lumumba asked Ms Mbabazi why she, alongside her sister (Alice Ruhindi) are, ”always abusing her, Richard Todwong and Frank Tumwebaze on social media.”

Ms Mbabazi did not respond to her and only shook her head in apparent repugnance.
In other exchanges, veteran NRM cadre Kirunda Kivejinja questioned Mr Museveni on why he was using the NRM Caucus (a grouping of NRM leaning MPs) to usurp the authority of all other party organs.

“Mr Chairman, let all organs of the party do their work,” he said, looking the President in the face as Mr Mbabazi and wife nodded in approval.

In an apparent contest between the old guard and young blood of the party, our sources revealed that Maj Gen Jim Muhwezi and Matayo Kyaligonza were cut short by NRM Youth League chairperson Denis Namara as they chest- thumped about shedding blood for the country and how, “we will not watch as civilians mess it up.”

“We [youth] are tired of that boring song of ‘we fought’. Let us move on,” Namara said, but before he could finish his sentence, Ms Kyambadde shouted: “Those of us who fought shall not be disrespected by these young ones.”

The meeting that went on deep in the night became calm after Mr Mbabazi conceded to take leave.

A group photo was later taken and a prayer said, beseeching God to intervene and restore harmony in the party.

MBABAZI'S LETTER

Your Excellence

RE: LEAVE OF ABSENCE FROM OFFICE
As you are aware I have been performing duties of Secretary General of the NR M without break for nine years from office. I wish now to take leave of absence from duty from October 20, 2014 up to December 31, 2014. During my leave, the Deputy Secretary General, Hon. Dorothy Hyuha, will perform the duties of the Secretary General. I will be contactable on my email: [email protected] and cellphone number +256772200800 in case of need.
Thanking you
Amama Mbabazi, SC, MP
Secretary General

In support of and against

Charged against Mbabazi
Mike Mukula
Maj Gen Jim Muhwezi
Sam Engola
Justine Kasule Lumumba
Amelia Kyambadde

Pleaded for Mbabazi
Hassan Bassajabalaba
Denis Namara
Fabian Opira
Jacqueline Mbabazi

Remained neutral
Kirunda Kivejinja
Fred Mukisa
Ruhakana Rugunda

[email protected]