Former Chairman of the Democratic Party (DP) Mzee Boniface Byanyima says he has retired from politics. But that has not stopped him from following it. In an interview with Sunday Monitor’s Joseph Mazige this week, Mzee Byanyima shared his observations of past and recent political developments in the country.
You have been silent; what are you up to? I am politically inactive because I retired from politics. I am a sick man; I have high blood pressure which is bothering me. Because of those reasons, I am off the political stage.
What is your assessment of the current politics in Uganda? Politics in Uganda is not clear to me. I don’t know what [President] Museveni is up to. He is talking of democracy but he is not exercising it. He is grabbing the whole of Uganda and ruling as if the country is his personal property and it is very unfortunate of him. Elections are being rigged openly by his government. For example, the 2006 elections where [former presidential candidate, Dr Kizza] Besigye lodged objections in court. The court agreed that the elections were full of malpractices but the same court cleared [Museveni] and this has bothered me because I will need an explanation. I don’t know why the same court that said Museveni rigged the election massively didn’t cancel the election [results].
 Mzee Byanyima at his home in Ruti in Mbarara District. PHOTO BY JOSEPH MAZIGE |
What could the solution to this be? The only solution is one; remove the source of malpractices in elections, which in this sense is Museveni. He is the person who is destroying democracy and establishing dictatorship in Uganda. [Opposition] Parties should first unite and work together and find a solution to the common problem, which is Museveni. I get bothered when I hear parties fighting one another. For example, DP is saying their greatest enemy is FDC. This is ridiculous and it surprised me because I thought the policies of DP were the same as those of FDC. Would you call the one you are fighting with for the same cause an enemy or an ally? If these fights within the opposition political parties continue, then they can’t win the struggle.
The inter-party wars bother you. These are the same parties talking of forming a coalition to wrest power from Museveni. Are you saying Ugandans who want a change of political leadership will be disappointed by this coalition? A coalition is not necessary for parties but if they work together and agree to form a coalition, then let it be. Personally, I believe a coalition has more problems. You can see UPC failed and NRM today is failing to lead this country. So if it was a coalition, the situation would be worse. However, in a situation where one party cannot make it to power but can only do so through such an arrangement, then its good. Otherwise, I recommend one party taking power.
Your party, DP, has been at the centre of some of these inter-party wars. The party has even refused to work with other parties. What is your own evaluation of their position in the politics of Uganda today? I am not conversant with what they are doing now but I don’t think DP is in position to take power. I think they are weak. Fighting other parties and among themselves has dented the party’s ambitions to gain support. It is no longer the DP which used to be vibrant. DP has weakened and the NRM contributed to this. However, much of the weaknesses are internal.
Your assessment of the current political situation in the country does not inspire much hope. What is your view on what is likely to happen in the future in a country where you say neither the ruling party nor the opposition is good enough to lead? I think if the Movement remains in power for even two more years, then the future is bleak and I expect more chaos. If the people of Uganda can gather courage and remove Museveni, I think the future of Uganda will be better because people have learnt sufficient lessons; they will not make the mistakes they are making now. They are now being bribed and if Museveni is removed, bribes and corruption will end because even the people themselves know that such things can’t improve our condition. The problem now is how to remove Museveni from power.
What do you think the opposition should do so as to provide an alternative political leadership or even take over leadership of this country? If what all parties believe in is democracy, then they should practice it. When they go to Parliament, they think only of what to eat and not the country. They don’t strengthen the opposition; they instead join the government. The government becomes bigger and they start sharing the money the government can offer. It is all about more money, more jobs. If only they could get focused, the better. While we were in Parliament in the ‘60s, almost all DP MPs crossed to the government side and some were appointed ministers. We were 24 but 19 of us crossed over. It is what is happening today - ministries are too many such that many DPs and UPCs have become Movementists.
But the way opposition parties are behaving currently, Museveni remains the best bet among many Ugandans. Recent opinion polls show that if the opposition does not convince the undecided voters, Museveni will win the next election. When you say winning, to me it has a different meaning. I can’t see Museveni winning any election in Uganda. Museveni has never won any election since he became president. Even before he became president, he stood as a candidate in Ankole for the National Assembly (in 1980) and failed. He couldn’t have rigged because he had no power then. But since he became president, Museveni has stolen all the subsequent elections in Uganda. However small an election will be, he will steal it. I read in the newspapers that Museveni said he will win in the north in future elections. I doubt. That only means that he is going to use more force to win because people from the north are strong people; they are not like people from the south and therefore cannot be easily bribed. I think what Museveni means is that he will use more force to get his candidature through.
President Museveni’s government has done some good things in the last 20 years, its weaknesses notwithstanding. When in your view did the problem start that they are now being accused of destroying their legacy? As I told you earlier, the NRM leaders are pretenders. They come up with institutions as a way of bribing people. None of the institutions have been beneficial to the citizens. The NRM and Museveni have done totally nothing for this country apart from destroying it. It is the right time Ugandans rose up to say we are fed up of corruption and remove Museveni. He is the biggest problem because he is one man ruling the country.
You have known President Museveni for a long time; he even lived in your home yet you do not have many good things to say about him. What is your problem with Museveni? Museveni is not a reliable person both as a leader and a friend. I haven’t seen any good in him and even if I met him, I wouldn’t waste time giving him any political guidance on how to lead this country. He thinks he is the best teacher and leader; how do you dare teach him? I haven’t seen any good out of what he says and does. I also don’t see sense in his patriotism campaigns. How does he introduce patriotism when he is not a patriot? If you are encouraging corruption, how do you turn around to say you are a patriot? Those he is telling about patriotism will not listen. He is deceiving himself and the country.
How do you compare Museveni’s current term to the previous ones… But all the terms are the same. The same Museveni bribing people, rigging elections, and creating more districts. He is the same. I was not surprised when Museveni appointed his wife a minister because that is typical of him.
Do you see Museveni leaving power at any one time? No. Not willingly. I know Museveni doesn’t mean what he says.
You won a case against government in the early ‘90s over the takeover of your ranch. Were you compensated as the Courts directed? No and they are not willing. I am thinking of going back to court over the same ranch so that I find justice.
Earlier, you said you are one of the very few MPs that did not cross to the government side in the ‘60s. How do you assess the leadership of Dr Milton Obote then and Museveni today? The Obote government was different. Obote was not a liar like Museveni. If he wanted to do something, he could go to Parliament openly and say it. But the Musevenis will do things without the knowledge of Parliament and the citizens. For them, they are liars and pretending all the time that they are working for the country. Obote was better because he would say what he was about to do.
What is your last word to Ugandans? Everybody should try to work for Uganda and stop serving personal interests. The fight against corruption should take the lead so as to improve the situation in the country.
