By Aggrey Baba
In politics, as in life, a river does not cut through rock because of its power but because of its persistence. The events leading to Uganda’s 2001 presidential election showcased this persistence, where alliances were tested, loyalties were questioned, and history was rewritten.
As the election approached, the Buganda Kingdom found itself at a crossroads. Some of Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi’s ministers openly supported Dr. Kizza Besigye’s bid against President Yoweri Museveni. This was no small matter.
Buganda, with its deep cultural and political influence, had long been a key player in Uganda’s governance, and any sign of political realignment within the kingdom had national implications.
According to r esearcher Muwonge C.W Magembe, the tension began to build when two key ministers, Joyce Ssebugwawo (Minister for Women Affairs) and Robert Ssebunnya (Minister for Health), accompanied Besigye for his nomination at Kololo in early 2001.
Their presence sent a clear message that they were backing the opposition. Reports soon emerged that other ministers, including Kamala Kanamwangi and Sewava Serubiri, were also actively involved in Besigye’s campaign, even using the kingdom’s headquarters, Bulange, as a coordination center. This raised alarm within Museveni’s camp, as Buganda had traditionally been an important support base for the ruling Movement system.
Museveni’s strategists, led by Agriculture Minister Dr. Kisamba Mugerwa and campaign head Moses Kigongo, were quick to push back. They dismissed Besigye’s promise of a federal system (federo) as unrealistic, arguing that it was absent from his manifesto and merely a political tool to attract Baganda votes. The issue of federo had long been a contentious topic in Buganda’s history, with the kingdom’s supporters viewing it as a path to greater autonomy. Museveni’s team, however, framed it as an unachievable promise meant to mislead the electorate.
Despite the growing pressure, the ministers backing Besigye remained defiant. Ssebugwawo, in particular, openly declared that she was free to support any candidate and would not be intimidated. She revealed that Museveni, First Lady Janet Museveni, and then-Vice President Specioza Kazibwe had personally urged her to support the Movement, but she had refused.
At rallies in Mukono and Kiboga, Kanamwangi and others told voters that Besigye’s leadership would bring the changes Buganda sought, further cementing their position in opposition politics.
As the campaigns intensified, Museveni’s supporters became more vocal in their criticism. Uganda’s envoy to the United Nations, Prof. Semakula Kiwanuka, dismissed Besigye’s promises, questioning his commitment to Buganda’s interests. He accused Besigye of exploiting the kingdom’s grievances without genuinely offering solutions.
In a February letter published in the New Vision, Moses Byaruhanga, the secretary of Museveni’s campaign task force, pointed out that many of the Buganda ministers backing Besigye had previously lost elections in their constituencies, arguing that their influence within the kingdom was not as strong as they claimed.
When the election results came in, Museveni emerged victorious, dealing a blow to Besigye’s camp. The aftermath was swift. Kabaka Mutebi, who had remained largely silent during the campaigns, reshuffled his cabinet, removing ministers who had openly supported the opposition. Ssebugwawo, Ssebunnya, and Kanamwangi were among those dropped, replaced by new figures seen as less politically controversial. This move reaffirmed the Kabaka’s stance that the kingdom should not be dragged into partisan politics.
In the years that followed, many of the dismissed ministers realigned themselves with Museveni’s government, a sign that political survival often requires flexibility.
Like the old Luganda saying goes, “A bird that does not fly will always remain under the tree.” The Buganda ministers had taken flight in 2001, but when the winds changed, they found themselves looking for new branches to land on. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
