Former intelligence chief Gen David Sejusa and Ofwono Opondo are in a war of words over Norbert Mao.
Norbert Mao, the Laroo-Pece MP-elect and the minister of justice and constitutional affairs, has sparked debate with his bid to wrestle the speakership from incumbent Anita Annet Among, the Bukedea District Woman MP.
While Ofwono Opondo, the MP-elect for older persons of eastern Uganda, fully supports Anita Among and has written off Norbert Mao, Sejusa argues that Mao, also the presiden-general of the Democratic Party (DP), should not be underestimated.
Sejusa says Mao’s entry into the race complicates things somehow and makes it a bit interesting, wondering why people like Ofwono Opondo cannot see that.
“This speakership contest is something i have avoided talking about. mainly because it’s been a debate about personalities, not ideological, or political philosophy of holders. because it’s NRM-O’s thing to take, anyway, because of sheer numbers. But the entry of Nobert Mao brings in a new interesting dimension. That’s why i find it strange that people like Ofwono Opondo and many others casually dismiss him!” wrote Sejusa on X.
Sejusa then goes on to explain the two major equations that make Mao an interesting candidate: a new opposition constituency, and the Northern Uganda factor.
For the opposition factor, Sejusa says that if President Museveni, the NRM chairman, wants to dismantle the opposition in the next five years, then Mao would help him.
“See, MAO’s candidature brings in two major equations: Firstly, he comes with not within NRM-O. eg, Hon Among is already NRM-O, but Mao belongs to an outside constituency; the opposition-forget whether he is yellow/green orange, etc,” argued Sejusa.
“In political calculations, those don’t matter much. So what does NRM-O want to do in these five years? Consolidation. Which would amount to diminishing further the opposition space. Who will help NRM-O do this best; the one already in, or the one out and coming in with a chunk of opposition constituency? Choose for yourself how to answer this.”
For the Northern Uganda, factor, Sejusa says that for the sake of regional balancing, Mao would help the north feel part of the government.
“The second equation is regional balance. Those dismissing Mao Candidature are poor students of Ugandan History, and Political algebra!” he noted.
“Things could change of course, but taking the current status-quo; you have a President from the West, have a new Chief Justice from the West, have a Vice President from the East, and a Speaker from the East, a chief Justice from the North having retired recently….so who is representing the north now? Gen Moses Ali? Those who dismiss Mao must have failed their algebra at school!”
But Ofwono Opondo responded to Sejusa, asking: “Let me ask you, who didn’t fail algebra. We’ve been here before with you, remember 1997/98, and later when you fled to US, but returned quietly. What new major constituency, do you see Mao bringing that’s beyond NRM and Museveni independent reach? Who helped reach Mao?”
To which Sejusa replied, “Go slow on my affairs my friend, yesterday’s UPC [referring to Opondo’s previous association with the Uganda People’s Congress] needs to be humble!”
Not taking it, Ofwono Opondo told off Sejusa for his arrogance, which he said was now irrelevant. “My elder brother and comrade, as a polite and honest reminder, your brazen arrogance of 30 years ago, no longer has no place in the Uganda of today,” wrote Opondo.
“I hope that you remember which side won the 1997/98 battle over your attempt to unilaterally quit UPDF. You’re no longer capable of delivering a shuttering blow, my elder Broda [brother].”
Then, as if saying ‘I am not your level,’ Sejusa replied: “After all that you quote, I gave a speech in State House as a top General; fathom the meaning of that?” Of course you can’t! I would go slow on matters of History, brother!”
Norbert Mao has insisted that Anita Among was an accidental speaker, and even invoked late speaker Jacob Oulanyah’s spirit into the race. (See Details Here, There and Over There).
Norbert Mao is also one of the politicians that Museveni is rumored to be considering for the vice president job. (See Details Here and There).
Meanwhile, Sejusa recently proposed changes to Uganda’s constitution, saying that the president-elect should be sworn in within one week after announcement of presidential results, as reported Here.
