Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) presidential candidate Maj Gen (Rtd) Gregg Mugisha Muntu has incumbent President Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni is only interested in ‘Yes men and women’ who won’t criticize him both within in the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party and government.
Campaigning in Kween on December 11, Muntu explained that he had parted ways with Museveni even the Movement system transitioned into the NRM because they had read Museveni’s mentality.
He said Museveni never welcomed advice, frowned upon constructive criticism and prefers leaders who will say ‘Yes’ to his decisions.
“We were in the movement system before it became a party, we separated when they started the party, because we knew the problems already there,” Muntu told ANT supporters in Kween.
“Gen. Museveni cannot stand someone who can say ‘We are in the same party, but here we would have crossed the line.’ He wants to work with only those who will say ‘yes’ to everything he says.”
He went on: “We know Gen Museveni’s mentality, he never listens to good advice. He wants men and women who are leaders who say ‘Yes’ to everything.”
Muntu participated in the 198-86 war that propelled Museveni into power 34 years ago.
He would later serve as army commander before falling out with Museveni.
Muntu joined other former Museveni allies like his ex-personal physician Dr Kizza Besigye to found now Uganda’s main opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) in 2005.
Part of the reasons Muntu and Besigye fell out with Museveni was that he veered off the ideals of the Luweero revolution.
For example, they have severally observed, on his ascent to power, Museveni diagnosed the problem of Africa as leaders who overstayed in power.
Yet the now 76-year-old has been in power for 34 years and he is seeking to extend his reign to four decades.
In the 2021 presidential election, Museveni is facing two of his bushwar comrades: Muntu and ex-security minister Lt Gen (Rtd) Henry Kakurugu Tumukunde.
For the first time in two decades, Besigye won’t be appearing on the same ballot with Museveni. Instead, his protégé Patrick Oboi Amuriat (POA) is FDC’s candidate.
