In recent years, a number of opposition figures have abandoned the struggle against the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) and joined President Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni’s government.
From Beti Olive Namisango Kamya Turwomwe, formerly of the FDC and Uganda Federal Alliance (now the Inspector General of Government (IGG), to FDC Vice President Joyce Ssebugwawo (now a junior minister in the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance), and Norbert Mao (Democratic Party – DP – President and Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister, Museveni has really been lucky to catch big fish.
Most of these politicians who ‘see the light’ and cross over to the ruling party and government normally have regrets that at the slow pace of the struggle against the Museveni pseudo-democracy.
Others are frustrated with the direction the struggle is taking, and see their differences with those in the opposition as irreconcilable.
Yet some just go for jobs and money associated with crossing from the opposition to the NRM.
But there are some who have chosen to work with Museveni’s government but not to openly declare that they have left the opposition parties.
One of such politicians is Col (Rtd) Amanya Mushega, one of the founders of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC). He was formerly the party’s Deputy President for Western Uganda.
A moderate FDC member, Mushega openly expressed his disagreement with opposition strongman Dr Kizza Besigye’s militant style of leadership and “intolerance.”
He also did not hide the fact that he talks and meets Museveni whenever there is need.
“Personally, I don’t believe that if I disagree with you that should be the end between me and you. I talk to Museveni, yes. If he invites me, I meet him and if I need to meet him, I say ‘can I meet you?’ Once in a while we can meet,” Mushega, a former EAC Secretary General, once said.
From these talks, it became clear that Mushega would eventually join Museveni’s government. Kampala Capital City Deputy Lord Mayor and staunch Besigye mobilizer Doreen Nyanjura has revealed that sometime in 2019, Mushega had a painful message to deliver to her: his generation had ruined her future and hopes.
“Four years ago, Retired Colonel Amanya Mushega sent me this message; ‘Feel so sorry for you younger than us. Your Hopes were far greater than ours. We are ruining your future far worse than those before us did to ours. We struggled to salvage ours and make yours far better. But alas.’ I felt pain in his ‘voice!’ Nyanjura noted.
“In 2021, he told me he was going back to the Ministry of Education to make reforms in the Education sector.”
Mushega, a former education minister, now heads a team of men and women who will decide what Uganda’s school children will be studying soon. (See Details Here).
Meanwhile, Mushega has previously praised youthful opposition politician Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine. He has also received praises from Museveni’s son Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba. (See Details Here and There).
