New Vision - December 28, 2004
Joshua Kato

A year when the third term debate gained momentum.

The year began with high profile talks between a government team of 25 led by Dr Crispus Kiyonga and a group of seven political groups called the G-7. These included DP, UPC, CP, JEEMA, NDF and Reform Agenda. However, the talks died and were buried by March.

Apparently, each side was pulling too much for itself.

The Government team started another round of talks with a group of smaller political parties. These included the National Progressive Party, a splinter group of CP led by Mayanja Nkangi and a splinter group of DP led by Francis Bwengye. A resolution was later passed.

The most high profile talks of the year involved Mengo and the Central government over Buganda's demands. Just as the previous year ended, the Katikkiro of Buganda led a huge march to the Constitutional Review Commission where Buganda handed in a document detailing their demands.

Among others, they demanded for federo, the return of the 9000 square miles and the return of Kampala to Buganda. However, the government advocated for a regional tier system, proposed that Buganda deals with districts over the 9,000 square miles and that Kampala is a capital for all Ugandans.

In August, Buganda organised a huge rally at Lubiri in which President Yoweri Museveni was accused of refusing to honour his promise of giving back what belonged to Buganda. By the end of the year, secret talks continued between the government and Mengo. The talks will go on throughout the year as each side tries to get the right bargain before 2006.

The merger between Reform Agenda (RA) and members of the Parliamentary Advocacy (PAFO) was another political land mark. On the other hand, it marked the death of the once proud and powerful RA.

In essence, a new and seemingly more powerful group was created.

Major General Mugisha Muntu, Eriya Kategaya, Jack Sabiiti, Augustine Ruzindana, David Pulkol, Colonel Dr. Kizza Besigye all in one group should send shivers down the spines of other political groups.

However, not every body wanted RA to die. Some members of the RA are still grumbling about the manner in which the child, to whom they had given so much, was allowed to die. Joseph Ndyomugenyi even tried to register the old RA. Indeed, there are still conspiracies in sections of the party.

Recently, the FDC registered. However, fighting for various top posts will create more divisions in the group. Filling posts is set for January. Some of the members will either go back to their old parties or start new ones.

In the Democratic Party (DP), the return of Nasser Ssebagala and the manner in which he shook up DP lit up a few hearts, but darkened others. DP had refused to register. However, in September, Ssebagala vowed to register the party by hook or crook. Dr Paul Ssemogerere was told to leave the party leadership. A National Council was held at Namboole where it resolved that the party be registered.

But Ssemogerere once again used the courts of law to stop Ssebagala's moves. As the year ends, there are signs that Ssebagala and Ssemogerere were reconciling.

DP will hurry up its registration process in the early months of 2005. However, they will become more divided, especially as members fight for the various party posts.

NRM-O became a political party. They put up an interim committee headed by Moses Kigongo and Bidandi Ssali. When Museveni resigned from the army, he took over leadership of the party.

Bidandi, however, resigned from MRM-O largely because he was at parallel lines with the chairman, especially on lifting term limits.

This year, NRM-O will start massive country-wide recruitment of members. Further more, the position of chairman will automatically go to Museveni, but there will be serious competition for Secretary General with Dr. Crispus Kiyonga, Amama Mbabazi and Bidandi all expected to fight for it.

There is no other issue which has consistently dominated politics than the lifting of presidential term limits. Within the NRM, it has caused polarisation. On the streets of Kampala, however, groups of people draped in dry banana leaves and calling for a third term became more bold. Finally, certain NRM-O circles are happy that the anti-kisanja voices of Eriya Kategaya, David Pulkol, Maria Matembe found a home in FDC.

However, they were shocked by revelations that the late James Wapakhabulo and Francis Ayume had both written letters warning against ekisanja. No body knows how many such other letters will be written this year.

Anti-kisanja groups like the Popular Resistance Against Life Presidency (PRALP) that used to make noise in the early months in the year have now stalled.

Kisanja supporters argued that it is only in a referendum that such controversial issues could be solved. Anti-kisanja people said only the parliament has that right. Then news came through that kisanja will first go to the parliament, before being taken to the people in a referendum.

Anti-kisanja people seemed to have grabbed the initiative. However, kisanja people had more surprises in store. It was in the vein of spreading the kisanja message that "Political corruption" glared its head. This is when members of the NRM-O were given sh5m to go and mobilise their people to support the lifting of term limits. This year, Museveni is likely to declare if he is to stand again or not. Signs are, he may stand.

The transition will be the highest issue on the agenda. But as it looks now, there is very little time to effectively debate important issues. 2005 is the only year left to 2006 and the issues at hand will be too much to be passed. As a result, talk of extending the term of the current leadership by three years will become more pronounced.

The pioneer of this talk James Kakooza (MP Kabula) says there is not enough time for the transition. However, as much as it will increase, it cannot succeed.

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