By Mulengera Reporters
In a recent media interview with Kampala journalist Umaru Kashaka, Prof Fredrick Ssempebwa validated President Museveni’s son Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba saying his right to run for Presidency or any other office in the land is well guaranteed under the Constitution.
Ssempebwa said that the only way anyone can prevent that from happening is by lining up to cast their respective ballot in favor of someone else in order to prevent Gen MK from garnering the mandatory 51% of the total vote. He said Muhoozi qualifies and is free to run for President like any other citizen.
Ssempebwa made it clear it would be unbecoming for a human rights lawyer like him to castigate anyone trying to ascend any public office in exercise of their constitutionally-guaranteed rights.
The only problem he sees with Gen MK is that coming immediately after his father can create huge PR problems for Gen Museveni’s First Family as the veteran leader from Rwakitura can end up being accused of dynastic tendencies by those not wishing his son well.
The veteran teacher of the law wasn’t that much complementary when asked about his fellow Muganda Bobi Wine who is the other equally Ugandan young man having his eyes on the Presidency. Ssempebwa only said no one should write off Bobi Wine merely on the account of inadequate leadership experience.
He said in West Africa, soldiers like Burkina Faso’s Capt. Ibrahim Traore have moved mountains and done better than their predecessors even when they had no prior leadership experience. He added that what is critical is for a leader to have good intentions for the country and willingness to be surrounded by knowledgeable advisors and going on to accept and respect their advice and guidance while governing the country.
In the same interview, Ssempebwa referred to the failed TDA project he midwifed in 2016 to enable opposition come together to defeat Gen Museveni and also spoke about the need to adequately fund the Electoral Commission to invest more in civic education of especially first time voters.
He also demanded for more transparency in the way the EC bosses are appointed suggesting the need to have a Committee of eminent persons to whom those aspiring to serve on the EC can have their names submitted to be scrutinized before the very best ones are recommended to the President.
Being a former ULS President, Ssempebwa was also asked about the radicalism with which current ULS President Isaac Ssemakadde has approached leadership. He said he admires and likes the radicalism but takes strong exception to the strong and unprovoked language Ssemakadde used to describe the DPP Jane Frances Abodo.
He also said Ssemakadde must, out of necessity, be prepared to engage with the Attorney General’s Chambers and the Judiciary top leadership more harmoniously than has been the case so far. Ssempebwa agrees with Ssemakadde there is a lot that has to change and improve regarding the way the judiciary services are rendered in this country of ours.
But Ssemakadde sometime back spoke about him and didn’t have any kind words for Prof Ssempebwa who he said had been part of the problem for decades. Ssemakadde had been asked to comment on Minister Norbert Mao’s proposal to have Ssempebwa mediate between him and his adversaries in the judicial system. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
