To prevent dictatorship, let's end up depending on virtuous leaders :: Kenya

The large crowd in the room gave him long applause and a standing ovation when he finished his address. The leader of the Ugandan opposition, Kizza Besigye, spoke in Nairobi at the launch of John Onyando's book, Kenya: The Missed Quest for Electoral Justice .

While over the years, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has often had the opportunity to express himself in Kenya, it is the first time that Mr. Besigye, who is became the main political challenger of Museveni, speaks in Kenya. This shows how Besigye remains marginalized and how difficult it is for him to take charge of his own image outside the borders of his country.

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Museveni's pioneered a path to power in 1986, overthrowing the transient regime of General Tito Okelo, himself a coup leader against his own president, Milton Obote. Unlike his predecessors who have all promised unrealistic elections after taking the power of force in Uganda, Museveni explained that the mess in the country did not allow for quick elections. He therefore promised a four-year transition period in which he would stabilize Uganda and then hold elections.

Under the circumstances, Museveni's approach seemed thoughtful and was responsible for what would become an increasingly favorable image that he was going to acquire. It's been 32 years since he came to power and Museveni is still here.

The political situation in Uganda has long been stable and the fear of another coup of the military state has now largely receded. It was once considered to be Museveni's most important legacy for Uganda. Although Uganda is now experiencing stability, the country's elections have become increasingly controversial and the quality of the latter, in 2016, has been particularly bad, and even generally indulgent international observers have been forced to say so .

While Museveni had long ago found a way to override the two constitutional mandates that would have required him to step down at the end of his 2006 term, his opponents still hoped that he would be able to do so. an upper limit of 75 years the candidates will eventually prevent him from participating in future presidential contests in Uganda. However, in 2017, Museveni managed to get a constitutional amendment that removes the upper age limit, setting the stage for what now looks like a Mugabe life presidency.

In exchange for allowing him a life presidency, Museveni allowed Ugandan parliamentarians to grant him two more years through the same constitutional amendment. Although a lawsuit has been filed to challenge these amendments, there is some skepticism that the country's tightly controlled judiciary will have the courage to try Museveni.

Formerly celebrated as part of a new generation of visionary African leaders, Museveni became increasingly intolerant over the years and eventually openly transformed into a strong man, of the same variety. than those he fought against.

His 1986 stance on term limits changed and while he was initially opposed to "leaders who want to stay in power," he has now taken steps to stay in power indefinitely, at a huge cost for Ugandan institutions. stability.

Besigye is the only person who has consistently resisted Museveni, for which he has received significant compensation. The brutal treatment to which he has been subjected masks two important roles that Besigye played in Ugandan politics. First, because of the country's history, the chances of an armed uprising against Museveni are higher than in another country.

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The fact that Besigye holds a credible and strong opposition remains a source of hope for an alternative leadership and discourages the temptation of an armed uprising against Museveni. As a fighter during the previous insurgency, Besigye strongly opposes armed resistance and has pointed it out repeatedly during his speeches in Nairobi.

Second, more than anyone else, Besigye denounced Museveni as a dictator. By organizing strong opposition, Besigye forced Museveni to reveal his hand through controversial constitutional amendments, and also mock elections, which confirm that he's no better than dictators than he is. went into the bush to fight. Outside of Uganda, Besigye is very poorly understood. For the international world, the framing of what it represents is largely controlled by Museveni.

Those who listened to Besigye last week were very impressed by the clarity of his message and the depth with which he cares about Uganda and humanity in general. The courage and consistency with which the Leader of the Opposition has pursued his convictions greatly increases his credibility.

For simplicity, the people of Besigye should not entrust their lives to virtuous leaders. Instead, people must organize themselves so that leaders act only in accordance with the will of the people.

Since Museveni, once considered a virtuous man, turned out to be a dictator, others after him may also become dictators with a chance. The only way to prevent dictatorship is to empower the people so that it controls its rulers rather than its rulers. A very poorly understood person, Besigye must now speak more in public outside of Uganda, especially in East Africa.

– The author is the executive director KHRC. [email protected]

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