By John V Sserwaniko
Reports reaching us indicate that outgoing KCCA ED Jennifer Musisi is being considered to become the next Principal Private Secretary (PPS) to the President. “It’s still tentative but consensus is rapidly emerging between the President and Gen Saleh to deploy her at State House to strengthen the systems Molly Kamukama has put in place so far,” said an influential operative who closely works with Gen Salim Saleh at his Mutundwe Serene Suites political base. “Gen Saleh had initially been reluctant considering that Musisi is too strict yet you need an easily approachable mobilizer in that position as part of the broader strategy to respond to new political threats posed by Bobi Wine. But Mzee will always have the last word. Musisi kills many birds with one stone for Mzee given the political dynamics in the country. Firstly she is a strict disciplinarian with credentials similar to Amelia whose efficiency as PPS Mzee still misses. And secondly, being a Muganda, it’s a perfect way for Mzee to do PR against Bobi Wine whose 2021 possible Presidential bid has continued to make Mzee sleepless,” said the operative. “You must increase the visibility of Baganda in government positions in order to effectively counter the Bobi Wine momentum and Musisi perfectly achieves that since her Kitezi village is in the vicinity of Kyaddondo County which is home to Bobi Wine’s Magere home.” The source added that even the First Lady, who is another influential figure, wouldn’t have much problem with Musisi being someone she has previously done business with both at City Hall and URA. Unverified reports indicated that Musisi is also a linguist with adequate knowledge of many languages including Runyakitara. All these credentials increase her suitability for the all-important PPS job whose current occupant (the equally efficient Molly Kamukama) is being considered for the post of ruling NRM Secretary General.
NEXT KCCA ED;
Meanwhile speculation continues regarding who might replace Musisi at City Hall. A report in State-owned Bukedde newspaper shows that the President is looking at 5 names so far. These are Fred Ruhindi, Moses Byaruhanga, Nyombi Thembo, Allen Kagina and Kiwanuka Kiryowa. The State newspapers says Museveni must have named the new ED by February 2019 since Musisi’s race runs up to 15th December when her mandatory three months’ notice elapses.
KK THE FRONTRUNNER;
Kiwanuka (aka KK), who is also Museveni’s personal lawyer and partner to First Son-in-Law Edwin Karugire, stands highest chance largely because of where he comes from. There are things we are always uncomfortable uttering because they aren’t nice to say but they have become realities in Museveni’s Uganda and they count a lot. The political threat posed by Bobi Wine Kyagulanyi Sentamu has all of sudden revitalized figures from the Central region in Museveni’s political calculus especially between now and 2021. It has become more paramount for Museveni than ever before to increase the visibility of powerful Baganda in his government as part of his mobilization efforts aimed at isolating and neutralizing Mr. Wine and his extremist supporters in the Central region. All options remain on the table: Museveni will use both the stick (teargasing, arresting/brutalizing), the carrot and political patronage to increase his appeal and intensify mobilization in Buganda. A combative city lawyer, Kiwanuka isn’t only a Muganda but is also from the family of Jolly Joe Kiwanuka, the militant independence struggle icon hailing from Wakiso. Kiwanuka is youthful just like Erias Lukwago and Mr. Wine. He is also very belligerent in his approach which increases his credentials in the candidate Museveni must be looking for to face off with equally very assertive Erias Lukwago. KK (as pals fondly call him) is also business-minded in his outlook, social and more approachable than Musisi. The challenge is that he has always worked in private sector and has rarely manifested appetite for public office. In 2013, Museveni desired to oust Lukwago from City Hall through an impeachment process in which KK thickly participated. Actually he is the man who led Musisi and councilors to make a case against Lukwago before the Bamugemereire Commission of inquiry whose report formed the basis of the Lord Mayor’s impeachment. The impeachment angered many Kampalans who revenged by rejecting Museveni and his NRM candidates in 2016. Kiwanuka is also the new President for Express FC, the very team his grandfather Jolly Joe Kiwanuka co-founded and used to become famous. Involvement in sports speaks to his people-person skills and mobilization credentials. He was thickly involved in Museveni’s 2011 victory which the opposition says was virtually procured using billions of shillings. KK is renowned for a being good politically-conscious lawyer except that things never end his way each time UPC’s Peter Mukidi Walubiri is the adverse lawyer.
THE OTHER NAMES;
Moses Byaruhanga is equally good. He has all the credentials of some body capable of effectively countering Lukwago, Besigye and Bobi Wine mobilization in Kampala where he has championed Museveni’s re-election campaigns since 2001. He is simply a veteran in the city politics where he is a king-maker who has made many NRM politicians including Godfrey Nyakana, Peter Sematimba etc. He has the benefit of having worked with Museveni longest of all the senior figures at State House. He quickly understands Museveni’s views on almost everything. He is experienced, calm and well-collected. He is very knowledgeable and can easily build synergies with fellow accounting officers to deliver because he has participated in the vetting of almost all of them. He has a vast network of mobilizers in Kampala which only became inactive to enable IGP Kayihura shine with his Kitata group. Byaruhanga knows majority of the influential traders in markets, city arcades and also the corporate world. Musisi has no doubt done many great things (largely because she had the money and Museveni political will) but badly failed on PR. This is where Byaruhanga, a media-friendly cadre, makes the difference. He knows how to leverage on his media connections to communicate government accomplishments. He is also the best person to reach out to disgruntled Museveni Kampala-based cadres and have them rehabilitated. Gratefully, he is someone other powerful State House influencers like Minister Janet and Gen Saleh wouldn’t have any problem with. He is flexible and can do business with anybody. Even at Parliament, he is well fortified because many of the MPs won because of his clandestine backing and endorsement. This applies mostly to NRM MPs but also a good number in opposition and independents. To deal with a militant like Lukwago, one must excel at deploying both the stick and carrot which Byaruhanga is a veteran at unlike Musisi and KK. He knows the business community (both corporate and SMEs) and they too know him. In 2011, his efforts through NAADS saw Museveni electoral percentages grow in Kampala only to plummet 5 years (2016) later partly because smooth operators like him were sidelined in favor of the heavy stick approach Musisi deployed. Nyombi Thembo has great understanding of Kampala having served as councilor in old KCC. The former minister is also a good mobilizer and currently works with UCC where he took up a job after losing his Kasanda South MP Seat to Simeo Nsubuga in 2016. He specifically heads the multi-billion Rural Communication Development Fund project at UCC. For decades, he was the NRM Chairman Kampala district. He is also combative and good at political propaganda. Thembo is also extremely loyal to his President. Ruhindi too started out his politics as a councilor in old KCC whereafter he became Nakawa MP replacing Jaberi Bidandi Ssali in 2001. He is a lawyer just like Jennifer Musisi and ex-Attorney General. Ruhindi is renowned for his calmness towards public affairs and political foes. He also has a good sense of humor and enjoys making his adversaries laugh at themselves. He is currently a commissioner on the Bamugemereire land inquiry. Allen Kagina will soon be jobless since her UNRA is among those entities up for disbandment. It’s understood that Kagina, who is tough and therefore very good at enforcement (as opposed to carroting), is the one who prompted Museveni to post her former URA protégé Jennifer Musisi as pioneer KCCA ED in 2011. For comments, call, text or whatsapp us on 0703164755.
