In for Muntu: Okwir Rwaboni finds no reason why Muntu shouldn't succeed fellow tribesman Besigye
Retired
Major Okwir Rabwoni, a former Youth MP turned activist with the Centre
for Constitutional Governance, has supported a bid by former Army
Commander, Major General Mugisha Muntu, to replace outgoing FDC leader,
Col (rtd) Dr Kizza Besigye.
Rabwoni, has also condemned the widely
held political theory within FDC that Besigye’s successor should not
come from the western region, arguing that tribe shouldn’t be put ahead
of merit.
“I have heard people in FDC say that
[they] will not elect Mugisha Muntu because he comes from western
Uganda. That is backward,” Rabwoni, said.
A former FDC activist who participated
in the 1981-1986 bush war that brought NRM into power, Rabwoni, was
speaking on Capital FM’s popular Capital Gang political show on
Saturday. His remarks come at a time when the tribal card has been
played by some FDC members in the search for Besigye’s replacement. The
aforesaid members opine that the person to take over the mantle should
not come from where Besigye hails — western region.
Already, Muntu, who is FDC’s Secretary
for Mobilisation and Nathan Nandala Mafabi, Leader of Opposition in
Parliament and Budadiri West MP, have declared their intentions to
replace Besigye. Owing to the fact that he hails from western Uganda,
Mugisha Muntu has been written off by a section of FDC members. However,
Rabwoni, has dismissed this line of thought as “petty”.
“I don’t want to do petty politics. I want to do qualitative politics,” he said.
Rabwoni,, a brother to the late Brig
Noble Mayombo, argues that Uganda is faced with “mediocrity” and that
the opposition is “weak” and “paranoid”. He has also called upon
Museveni to revisit the critical paper that was authored by Besigye in
1999 and assess why the revolution has gone off track.
“Government no longer cares. Why don’t
we re-examine the issues that Besigye raised. We had caring governments
[like] that of Milton Obote, but now things are collapsing. We have to
go back to the drawing board as a country and ask where we went wrong,
especially us who were liberators,” Rabwoni, advised
Elsewhere, he praised the current
bi-partisan cooperation among a section of lawmakers in the ninth
parliament on issues affecting the citizens. He, however, rallied for a
national dialogue so that Ugandans can determine their future. He also
argued that the proposed talks between Museveni and Besigye cannot work.
“We need to conquer fear and talk to one
another as Uganda; not Besigye talking to Museveni. We need dialogue,”
he said, adding: “It is important to respect the constitution, build the
institutions and have a vibrant society. Corruption must be addressed.
Why don’t we have a functional cabinet? Why is the presidency almost
the only institution in the country? Ugandans should come up and
question these issues. If we are to strengthen our society, we need to
sober up and take our country forward”.
dtlumu@observer.ug
dtlumu@observer.ug
No comments:
Post a Comment