Succession Talk; Pertinent Reasons Why Gen Salim Saleh Can Succeed President Museveni As Ugandan President

Succession Talk; Pertinent Reasons Why Gen Salim Saleh Can Succeed President Museveni As Ugandan President

Gen Saleh's brand is powerful enough to fit the presidency

During the bush war that rocked Uganda in the mid 1985, there emerged an interesting scenario; a faction of the UNLA led by Gen Tito Okello had shockingly Overthrown President Apollo Milton Obote’s UPC Government and were stuck because they ‘seemed not to know’ what to do with the reins of power.

The Okellos (Brigadier Bazilio and Gen Tito) therefore opted to call upon the NRA rebel group and other factions to come to Kampala and join in forming the next government. Gen Tito Okello particularly called upon comrade Yoweri Museveni to stop fighting but join the new government in kampala.

But at that time, July 1985, the Okellos never knew that Museveni was not in the bushes of Luwero but had traveled to Sweden where his family was holed up.

So who was in charge of the command and control of the NRA rebel group?

The man in charge was a 25 year old youthful rebel leader called Salim Saleh also officially known as Caleb Akandwanaho.

Gen Saleh during the bush-war

Soon after realizing that Museveni was not on the ground to heed radio communications to join them in a power sharing arrangement,  the military junta  focused on convincing this 25 year old NRA commander to abandon war  and join the new system in Kampala.

It’s not clear what went on in Salem Saleh’s mind, but it was clear that he had the capacity to make a decision that would have changed the course of the NRA bush war in particular and Uganda’s history in general.

Apparently, it’s safe to suggest that if Saleh had made that grave decision to join the Okellos, maybe Museveni would never have become president of Uganda!.But that is a matter of absolute conjecture.

The brutal truth is that Saleh’s patience worked in Museveni’s favor, and enabled him to return  from Sweden and arrived in the bush in early August 1985 and assumed command of the NRA.
Four months later, the NRA stormed Kampala and took over power from the Okello junta.

Its 31 years since Museveni became Ugandan president, and as the saying goes, the rest is history.

Threats On Museveni's Life 

It was not the first time that saleh had played a pivotal role in securing Museveni out of irrelevance.

 Soon after the 1980 elections, some elements within the UPC government had wanted to eliminate Yoweri Museveni-because he had promised to wage war if UPC won the elections.

The plot to capture and probably kill Yoweri Museveni was rumoued to have been hatched by the UPC holy trinity comprising of Paulo Muwanga, Oyite Ojok And Chris Rwakasis.

On his part president Obote underestimated Museveni’s capacity to wage a successful war and chose to ignore plans to eliminate him at that point.

 But Paulo Muwanga And Chris Rwakasis insisted that Museveni must be either jailed or eliminated completely to avert the possibility of war.  

SO Maj Gen Oyite Ojok ordered for the capture of Museveni who was therefore intercepted at a roadblock at kireka.

But it was a 21 year old Salim Saleh together with Fred Rwigyema who managed to rescue Museveni from the kireka road block which had looked like the end of the road for a man who would later rule Uganda for three decades and more.

Later Saleh paid for his loyalty with a detention in Moroto barracks (I will narrate the whole story in the next blog about how Saleh was almost killed in Moroto).

After that kireka incident, Museveni realized that he had no option but to fight for his freedom.

The Turning Points 

Those two close shave incidents, (when Saleh rescued Museveni as kireka roadblock in 1981 and when he had to make a decsion on either to join the Okellos military government in 1985), turnout to be the turning points regarding Museveni’s relevance in Ugandan politics.
if saleh had not rescued museveni from the kireka roadblock ,there is a high chance he would have been killed.
likewise is Saleh had decided to join the Okellos , the NRA would have faded into oblivion. 

Yet the man (Salim Saleh) who oversaw those TWO CRITICAL incidents is never mentioned anywhere when it comes to the succession debate in Uganda.

What am I trying to say?

Am saying that under normal circumstances, and holding the other factors constant (citerus peribus) Gen Salim Saleh is the man who deserves to be the next president of Uganda

He is the man who has played the most critical role in setting the ground for the success and continuity of the NRM revolution.

Although the Ugandan constitution provides for the vice president to succeed the president, the most acknowledged and most popular choice for the Ugandan presidency right now, is none other Than Gen Salim Saleh.

Although he has been making underground contribution especially in the field of wealth creation, Saleh has managed to quietly build a powerful countrywide appeal to become president of Uganda.

Saleh has the social capital to convince Ugandans from all corners of the country to an extent that even the enemies of the NRM have a secret admiration for him.

For instance LRA rebel leader Joseph Kony named his first son Salim Saleh out of respect for the humble UPDF general.

Saleh built his name through his bravery, humility, sincerity and generosity.

BRAVERY

We have already mentioned the two acts of bravery which Saleh undertook before, during and after the bush war.

Bu there is another risky mission when he used a chopper to land in enemy territory to meet the rebels that culminated into a peace agreement between the Ugandan government and the UPDA rebel group.  Although the rebellion never ended entirely it scaled down to manageable proportions.

 Generosity

Most Ugandan normally talk about president Museveni’s generosity without realizing that it was salim Saleh who pioneered that concept-of giving out whenever a need arose.

Saleh’s generosity created a gravitas to an extent of being a darling of both the opposition and neutrals within the Ugandan society.  

SINCERITY

Saleh has not been without scandals of his own but has faced them with unbelievable honesty and amazing sincerity.

For instance when he got entangled in the chopper scandal, he openly admitted that he got a bribe of $80,000 from the European firm that sold military choppers but was wiling to refund it to government. In fact he also suggested that a plea bargain approach should be adopted to recover money from corrupt officials which was rejected.

Yet many government officials swindle money and only serve prison sentences but without returning the money to state coffers.
The Saleh Brand 

Although some Ugandans claim to be tired of the NRM system , many of them are not hostile to gen Salim Saleh. Infact Saleh is the most marketable brand from the NRM that can be easily sold to most Ugandans around the country at the moment.
in fact saleh's presidential bid provides a win-win incentive because even president Museveni himself would feel much safer with him than with any other Ugandan president
PRECEDENCE

Saleh’s presidential bid is not without precedence. In Cuba, Fidel Castro stepped down to pave way for his brother Raul Castro, who has performed very well so far.

In Malawi the late president Bingu Wa Mutharika passed away paving way for his brother Peter Wa Mutharika to takeover.

CONCLUSION

Therefore as Ugandans speculate and counter-speculate about whether president Museveni should run again in 2021, after lifting the age limit, they should also think of a good option of having Gen Salim Saleh for the Ugandan presidency.

The Author Fred Daka Kamwada Is political analyst and Blogger