Augustine Ruzindana
10 October 2008
opinion
I have just been in Ruhaama, Ntungamo, and I was surprised to find that the Temangalo-Mbabazi debacle is as topical there, as in Kampala, courtesy of the FM radio coverage. No one was asking about the details, they are well known.
What was intriguing was a widespread belief that such a big thing could not happen without the nod of the boss of the main participants in the deal. Why has he not acted if he did not know the plan?
But the most intriguing surprise was a reluctance to believe that Maj. Gen. Muhwezi could have been involved in a bank robbery. People generally believe that the accusations against him regarding the GAVI and the Global Fund scandals could be true.
In the last election campaigns Muhwezi was a frequent visitor to Ruhaama donating large sums of money in support of a certain new parliamentary candidate. Nevertheless people link his prosecution to having fallen out with his boss, otherwise why are other high ranking people known to be doing the same things not being prosecuted? The bank robbery allegations are viewed in the same light.
The Temangalo saga is helping many people to better understand the character of the regime. For example, the revelations and testimony of Charles Rwomushana about the rigging activities and torture of people in the Pallisa district elections and the coercive arm-twisting of the district chairman to ally with NRM summarise what takes place in the general elections countrywide.
The clumsy and crude methods being used by sections of NRM to cover up for Mbabazi and lately Suruma and the counter moves by another section to settle scores unrelated to the irregular Temangalo land purchase/sale illustrate the huge institutional stress facing the NRM. Perhaps the biggest revelation is the exposure of how embedded networks facilitate these types of deals. A minister appoints colleagues on a board or executive positions and at an appropriate time they will be called upon to facilitate irregular deals as the NSSF one.
Meanwhile some new interesting developments have taken place. The NRM Parliamentary Caucus has declared the Temangalo deal an NRM matter as MPs have been forbidden from discussing the matter in public, otherwise they will face disciplinary measures.
Indeed disciplinary measures have already been taken against Rwomushana. Could it be that the connection of Muhwezi to an alleged bank robbery/fraud is also connected to the public vocal position he has taken against the part played by the NRM Secretary General in the Temangalo land sale?
Matters are moving unusually fast as Muhwezi has already made a charge-and-caution statement at CID headquarters. With the GAVI and Global Fund matters also being vigorously pursued, there may be need to form a Jim Muhwezi Police Unit.
The heavy responsibility is now on the shoulders of the parliamentary committee investigating the NSSF saga to produce a credible report on the matter. There may be need to discuss the conclusions with the affected persons so that no one should ever say that they were not heard on any matter appearing in the report.
Meanwhile the most serious development is illustrated by a picture on the front page of the Daily Monitor, Wednesday, October 8. The police and local defence force guards are shown blocking a road leading to Nakasongola, thus physically blocking the Kabaka from continuing on his planned programmes in the district.
Mengo sources are reported to have said that "Even Riot Police was equipped with teargas" waiting to deal with the Kabaka if he turned up. Is there need for another signal to Mengo that the gloves are off and that talks with the President are futile?
Mr Ruzindana is FDC party secretary for research and policy
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