A cross section of the public have ridiculed Justice Minister Norbert Mao after President Museveni denied ever agreeing on political transition as part of the cooperation agreement he signed with the Democratic Party (DP) leader.
According to the public, it is surprising that Mao kept duping the rest of the population and his own party about agreeing on the transition with Museveni.
In an interview with a local television station on 17the October 2022, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, explained that Mao’s appointment and the deal he signed with him and the NRM was one way of getting members of the political opposition into the government so that both sides can work together for the good of their country.
Mr Museveni told NBS that his NRM seeks to bring on board members of the opposition to work with government to reduce the number of people opposing the NRM. “I want to make this clear, that political transition was not part of the cooperation agreement so whatever Mao says, says it for his political interests,” Museveni added.
And now, Ugandans have urged the DP leader to just concentrate on his job as minister and his salary instead of discussing political transition, which they said cannot exist with Museveni.
Ronald Muhinda, an aide to Dr Kizza Besigye, said: “The Transition you talk about is background noise. We knew it. Mr. Museveni says he is the driver who doesn’t need a conductor. Enter his bus and eat quietly like Alex Onzima, Miria Mutagamba (RIP), Beatrice Anywar, Betty Amongi, Christopher Kibanzanga etc before you.”
Edith Grace Ssempala, the leader of Women’s League at Alliance for National Transformation, said: “Anytime a person doesn’t learn from the experience of others, they learn from their own and that could be at great cost to them, whether in politics or social relationships.”
Millan Mushabe tweeted: “Stop disturbing the peace of our president with your transition talk. He gave you a job. What else do you want? Semujju warned you that where M7’s inner circle had failed to achieve transition, you an outsider stood no chance. Shamba boys don’t give orders in their master’s house.”
Emmanuel Byamugisha, a member of NRM, said: “It’s obvious Mao was lying. Museveni couldn’t possibly discuss such a heavy subject of transition with an opposition politician! NRM will decide on the matter.”
But in defence, Mao on Tuesday tweeted: “Political transitions can be initiated either from within by incumbents or by outside groups. The means vary. DP’s goal of a “Peaceful Presidential Transition” is in black and white in the Cooperation Agreement. What is left is to mutually discuss it’s modalities in detail.”
“I have been in Ugandan politics long enough to judge who is honest and who is dishonest. I can state without any fear of contradiction that some of my fellow opposition party leaders are incurably dishonest and that is why they’re unfit to lead change. Ugandans know them,” he added.