Museveni: I’m on a mission; my opponents are time wasters

Incumbent President Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni has scoffed at those seeking to replace him in the country’s highest office as wasting Ugandans’ time.

Museveni is facing 10 opponents, including two of his former bush war comrades: former army commander Maj Gen (Rtd) Gregg Mugisha Muntu of the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) and ex-security minister Lt Gen (Rtd) Henry Kakurugu Tumukunde.

Other contenders include Patrick Oboi Amuriat (POA) of main opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), youthful singer-turned-politician Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine of National Unity Platform (NUP).

When he campaigned in Amuriat’s backyard of Kumi on November 23, Museveni shredded the credentials of the FDC candidate, his predecessor Dr Kizza Besigye and all the opponents.

Museveni claimed his opponents lacked the ideology and capacity to manage the mission he started on over three decades ago.

“When you look at the track record of those groups, they are not the type who can manage the historical mission like the NRM has done it,” Museveni said.

He added that his aim was to fulfill the mission of securing Uganda’s future and not after office.

“We abandoned positions to fight. So, those who waste time [discussing] Museveni’s position are wasting their time, they are wasting your time. We are not after positions, we are after mission,” he told leaders of his ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).

But Besigye, Muntu, Tumukunde and other former bush war comrades who fought alongside Museveni in the 1981-86 bush war accuse the 76-year-old of veering off the ideal of the National Resistance Army (NRA) revolution, and overstaying in power, among other complaints.

On his ascent to power, Museveni diagnosed the problem of Africa as leaders who overstay in power. Yet, now in power for 35 years, Museveni is seeking to extend his rule to four decades.