Who Is Mugisha Muntu?

We were driving down the street as he walked on the pavement down to the meeting venue. I waved and shouted his name. He turned towards us as others also waved. He looked surprised but sauntered on with his walkmate. That was as close as I came to Major General Mugisha Muntu, one of the leaders of the NRM military who faught and failed to wipe out the LRA, thus extending years of horrors.

In that first chance street encounter and seeing him operate through news reports, Mugisha Muntu is a telegenic, mild mannered and unconfrontational dude, who seems to have it together in his head. But is he what FDC needs against the wily owner of the NRM?

For Mr. Museveni politics is contact sports where you have to rub your opponent’s nose in the sand until he calls “Uncle.” What has Mugisha Muntu exhibited that will stand up against the NRM juggernaut? So far I have seen nothing. If he says he will bring more voters to the FDC fold, why can’t he do it now in his role as national party organizer? What is so special about him that will send many clamoring to FDC once he becomes the flag bearer? His handlers claim he will work with the NRM. What does that mean? Was his visit to state house such an indication?

If Ugandans have their marbles together, at this time Dr. Besigye is the best bet against Museveni. When it wasn’t Kosher and many would have quaked in their boots, Besigye stood up against the increasingly autocratic Museveni. So what if it’s personal as some detractors claim? In the history of Uganda he is already a giant whatever the outcome of 2011. He is described as loud and confrontational. But who needs a sissy against Museveni? As long as he still has fire in his belly, can organize while holding the party together, the man can run as long as he wishes. Party leadership is not country leadership. In the latter, term limit is imperative as antidote against autocracy.