Uganda: Rugunda Fronted to Replace Museveni

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The Monitor (Kampala)

1 July 2008
Posted to the web 1 July 2008

Grace Matsiko, Francis Mugerwa and John Tugume
Kampala, Hoima

A reluctant Internal Affairs Minister, Dr Ruhakana Rugunda, is being fronted by high profile politicians, some of them NRM supporters to challenge President Museveni in 2011 should he seek re-election.

But Dr Rugunda, sources said, has refused to join the succession race. The sources, who requested not to be disclosed due to the sensitivity of the matter, said Mr Museveni is aware of the minister's position.

The lobbyists want to tap into Dr Rugunda's leadership skills and clean record of service. Dr Rugunda, 61, has worked as minister of Health, Works, Transport and Communications, Foreign Affairs, Presidency and Internal Affairs from 1986 to date.

As a communications minister, he achieved the task of overtaking Kenya and Tanzania in the sector. While in Foreign Affairs, the Presidency and Internal Affairs, he is regarded a peacemaker.

Dr Rugunda's participation in the talks between the LRA and the government in Juba, has earned him the admiration of the international community.

It is envisaged he decides to stand against Mr Museveni, the northern region which has traditionally voted against the incumbent, may vote him although he is from Western Uganda, where Mr Museveni originates.

Dr Rugunda chaired a committee that organised the return of Dr Milton Obote's remains in October 2005, and lobbied the government to accord the former president a state burial.

But Dr Rugunda said yesterday he is not aware of any group within the NRM which is pressuring him to challenge Mr Museveni.

"There are some people who want to bring confusion in our (NRM) ranks. They want to sow seeds of discord where they are not," he said.

"The question of succession to me is not a critical issue at the moment but when it comes it will be handled by the appropriate organs within the party or government," he added when asked if he sees himself as a successor to Mr Museveni.

Daily Monitor has learnt that in a bid to raise Dr Rugunda's profile, the anti-Museveni strategists led by former minister Mike Mukula and Felix Okot Ogong, have been selling the minister to presidents and presidents-in-waiting from the region.

At the initiation of Capt Mukula, Dr Rugunda met Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga during his visit to Uganda which reportedly angered the President.

TRUE: Dr Besigye (L) who is in Hoima corroborated talk that some NRM members want to oust Mr Museveni PHOTO BY FRANCIS MUGERWA

Whereas Dr Rugunda denies knowledge of the meeting, Capt. Mukula says it took place. "Rugunda and Raila are good friends. He (Raila) wanted to greet him," Capt. Mukula said. But he said it is a fertile imagination that the meeting was to market Dr Rugunda for the presidency.

It is from intelligence reports that Mr Museveni has been getting to know about top NRM cadres lobbying his closest allies like Dr Rugunda to abandon him.

That prompted him to take a carefully planned attack on the minister during the Labour Day speech at Kololo, according to the sources.

"I hear some people going to see Kony. I have never sent NRM to go and talk to Kony. This Rugunda is a minister who works for prisoners on death row. In NRM we work for the people," Mr Museveni was quoted as saying about the Juba peace talks.

The anti-Museveni strategists think that Dr Rugunda, along with Vice-President Gilbert Bukenya, would make a dream team. Both are influential in the NRM.

If they choose to stand against Mr Museveni as independents, they will split the NRM vote and deny him victory.

Once Mr Museveni fails to win in the first round there is expected to be a run-off where the strategists think they can convince Prof Bukenya and Dr Rugunda to merge. After the two have merged they could form a coalition with the opposition and sweep Mr Museveni out of power.

Mr Museveni was quoted by Daily Monitor yesterday as saying he is too strong at the grassroots to be bothered by alleged schemes of some NRM old guard who plan to oust him.

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The reports about Mr Museveni's opposition within the NRM followed claims by Presidential Adviser Roland Kakooza Mutale, who recently told NRM supporters in Luweero that there was a group of 10 individuals within the NRM who are working clandestinely to unite and strengthen the opposition.

FDC President Kizza Besigye has said it is true there is a plan to oust Museveni by senior NRM officials. "We are aware of people within NRM who want a change in the party's leadership," Dr Besigye said adding that the progressive members of NRM feel President Museveni has overstayed in power.

Speaking during an interview with Daily Monitor in Hoima yesterday, Dr Besigye said: "After leading the party for close to 30 years, there are many members who are anxious and want to takeover from Mr Museveni."

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