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By Barrister Peter Magomu Mashate
News of the release of former Speaker Anita Annet Among has been received with mixed reactions.
However, as a person who has, since the inception of the Uganda Patriotic Movement (UPM), stayed with and keenly followed President Museveni’s approach to issues, I find this a normal happening because, for decades, Museveni has always pursued a policy of de-escalation even when he is challenged in any way. Here is why.
In 1980, when the country was in the hands of notorious politicians led by Paulo Muwanga, who was the Chairman of the Military Commission, His Excellency Gen. Yoweri Museveni, who was his Vice Chairman, struggled to act as a balance of opinion, direction and sobriety.
All those with grievances and deep reservations found solace in him as the Vice Chairman of the Muwanga/UNLF/UNLA Military Commission. This is the reason they found confidence in him and easily joined President Museveni even in subsequent political developments in the country.
Those of us who were around and politically active at the time could see the level of intolerance that Muwanga and his group in the UPC meted out against Ugandans with whom they disagreed.
However, the presence of His Excellency in the Commission always brought hope that Uganda would one day move on a proper political trajectory.
Back in the day, when the Gang of Four — Prof. Edward Rugumayo, Prof. Dan Wadada Nabudere, Prof. Omony Ojok and Prof. Yashi Tandon — conspired against President Yusuf Kironde Lule, leaving a vacuum in State House, it was His Excellency who de-escalated the situation and rushed to pick Godfrey Lukongwa Binaisa from his home in Mengo and took him to State House in Entebbe.
This therefore calmed the hearts of most Ugandans who were worried about the political developments that the country was taking.
Even when President Godfrey Binaisa went behind His Excellency’s back and shuffled him from the Ministry of Defence to that of Regional Cooperation, which seemed to be a demotion, President Museveni, in the spirit of de-escalation, never opposed him, unlike Brig. Oyite Ojok, who refused deployment as Ambassador to Algiers. The same was Paulo Muwanga, who disobeyed and declined Binaisa’s ambassadorial posting.
This shows that His Excellency President Museveni viewed leadership as a service as opposed to being an entitlement.
That, to me, explains His Excellency’s principle of de-escalation in the spirit of national interests and cohesion.
Eventually, Binaisa was overthrown by the Military Commission the moment His Excellency’s colleagues refused to adhere to the new government alignments. This situation created yet another anxiety among the public, who were waiting to hear the truth from President Museveni, the Vice Chairman of the Military Commission.
His Excellency’s physical appearance during the address to the nation by Muwanga at the time amounted to another act of de-escalation during such a national crisis that nobody knew where it would end. Remember, this was the time when Dr. Milton Obote was due to return to the country and participate in the general elections.
The opening of the political space gave birth to the formation of the Uganda Patriotic Movement (UPM), which I personally joined from the outset, basing my decision on the clear promise of clean leadership that President Museveni had already exhibited in the various roles assigned to him.
President Museveni’s inherent conscience of de-escalating tense situations has always endeared many people and, indeed, the nation to him.
I vividly recall that in 1985, after the coup, Tito Okello invited all fighting groups to join his new government. Under that arrangement, Paulo Muwanga was appointed Executive Prime Minister. The NRM/NRA, in principle, opposed this, but went ahead to allow the Nairobi peace talks to take place and fully participated. That was still a sign of de-escalation.
The following year, when the NRA captured power and His Excellency arrived for swearing-in at Parliament, he extended an olive branch to all, including other fighting groups, to come and witness and participate in a new dawn of fundamental change that he had ushered in.
His Excellency went ahead and appointed the majority of them, including his former political rivals, to government, where they served undeterred. That was still his historical and cherished principle of de-escalation, which worked for years.
Constitutional Prerogative of Mercy
Amongst several competing national and indeed international demands, Mzee, His Excellency the President, has at all material times guided his conscience with this historical and cherished principle of de-escalation.
In 1979, following the defeat of former President Idi Amin, several of his senior military officers were arrested, tried and handed death sentences. For example, Brigadier Ali Fadhul, who executed an American citizen while commander of Simba Barracks; Abdullah Nasur, who served as Governor of Central Province, Kampala, with extreme brutality; British-born Bob Astles, an advisor to Amin; and Chris Rwakasisi, former President Obote’s powerful Security Minister until Obote’s overthrow in 1985, were among those who remained on death row at Luzira and Murchison Bay for a long time.
Mzee, His Excellency the President, exercised his constitutional presidential prerogative of mercy and commuted their sentences. Chris Rwakasisi today is a testimony of Mzee’s long-standing de-escalation principle in the interests of national reconciliation and cohesion.
Treasonable Matters
In 1987, people such as Evaristo Nyanzi, a former Commerce Minister and Democratic Party stalwart, were arrested for treason, along with David Lwanga, Andrew Kayiira and others.
However, as grave as the treason charges were, in the best interests of national reconciliation and cohesion, His Excellency the President exercised his historical and cherished principle of de-escalation and forgiveness and released them.
Indeed and truly, President Museveni manifested, as always, as a forgiving and visionary leader answering to de-escalation, national reconciliation and cohesion.
To date, this principle has remained the reason we have had former opposition activists serving as Speakers and Deputy Speakers of Parliament, Vice President, Ministers and, most importantly, even the current NRM Deputy Secretary General, who was a member of the Uganda Young Democrats (UYD) of the Democratic Party.
I will not mention the historical engagement His Excellency had with the Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II following the 2009 standoff, which gave birth to the current cordial relationship. All this answers to His Excellency’s principle of de-escalation.
It is therefore imperative that the current mood in the country attracts His Excellency’s continued historical and cherished principle of de-escalation, forgiveness, continued national reconciliation and cohesion, owing to the fact that just yesterday, Ugandans overwhelmingly voted for His Excellency with over 71%.
This shows the level of trust and hope they have in His Excellency President Yoweri Museveni’s leadership and his tested principle of de-escalation, national reconciliation and forgiveness as the true father of the nation.
Hence, the forgiveness of former Speaker Anita Annet Among is consistent with His Excellency President Museveni’s historical and cherished principle of de-escalation, with Rt. Hon. Among being a beneficiary, as have been many others.
Therefore, the nation also continues to benefit in the spirit of national reconciliation and cohesion.
The writer is London-based Barrister Peter Magomu Mashate, an Administrative, Constitutional and Human Rights Barrister-at-Law of the Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn of Court, London, UK; former private lawyer to H.E. President Museveni; former Attorney General, Inzu Ya Masaaba Cultural Institution, in the 1st inaugural cabinet of Umukuuka I, His Highness Wilson Weasa Wamimbi; former Secretary General, NRM Diaspora League; and former Vice Chairman and Legal Advisor, NRM UK & Ireland Chapter.
