By Ronald Bills Agaba
This week, I am following the nominations for members of Uganda’s ruling party NRM’s top organ, the central executive committee (CEC). President Museveni is unopposed as chairman and the rest of the positions are up for elections.
I pay keen interest to political party’s internal elections for top leadership because these become the fulcrum of decision making once that party wins majority general elections.
One of the candidates that caught my attention and deserves our collective endorsement is that of the Deputy Speaker of Ugandan parliament and Omoro county MP, Jacob Oulanyah who’s running for NRM Vice Chairperson for Northern Uganda.
Why Oulanyah?
Consummate diplomat – For those familiar with NRM internal politics, you will recall that in 2015, he agreed to stand down for the incumbent following consensus chaired by President Museveni.
In the same year, he again accepted the request of CEC to stand down for Hon. Kadaga for the speaker of parliament based on the justification that she’s given an opportunity to finish her 10-year-run as speaker to match the record of her predecessor Hon. Ssekandi who had also served for two-terms.
For anybody who has participated in politics, withdrawing from a race can end your political life. It therefore takes a unique politician to persuade supporters to withdraw from a campaign.
Oulanyah never exchanged his aspiration for cash or alternative appointment like majority of politicians behave. He has come forth and explained circumstances of his step down. This puts him at a higher moral and diplomatic pedestal compared to his peers.
A scan on our political scene will live you with few names of national leaders across the political divide who have stood down based on principle rather personal interest.
The future of NRM; Oulanyah’s age of 55 is also of keen interest to the future of a party that seems to facing a challenge of attracting the youth. Uganda is a country for the young. Therefore, the future of not only political organizations but also other spheres of influence like religious or cultural institutions will depend on how they attract the young people.
Oulanyah has full air of youthfulness going by his vibrant social media interactions including hosting of Ugandans on social media. His endearment to these internetizens.
Sanity in our politics. In the past, people won elections without money. Examples of eloquent young politicians that defeated experienced politicians can be spotted in any part of Uganda. Today, elections have been reduced to how much money one is able to splash to voters. There’s undisputed consensus between his supporters and opponents that Oulanyah’s biggest asset in politics is his eloquence and love for a superior point of view.
As a test to his politics of reason, he has outlined a 4 points program as a member of CEC. None of the candidates across the country has summarized what they stand for except their photos and tired sloganeering.
When our children look back, they will wonder what type of parents we were to go for an election and vote leaders who were heavy on bags of money and light weight on reason.
Time keeper, ask members of parliament, the session of Oulanyah will find him on time. Done consistently, he has changed the behavior of staff to know that his sessions start on time. My friend, Victoria Kisarale former Headmistress of Gayaza High School always stressed that time keeping is the highest sign of respect to those you’re meeting. Let us keep our promise to keep the legacy of the late Prof Nsibambi who was a standard measure of leaders that keep time.
My last reason for Oulanyah, a resilient sense of Uganda as one nation. To hear Hajji Naduli or a certain national leader from Kamuli campaign is to wallow in the pornography of tribalism, to conclude that this country is on the verge of complete collapse which is not true. We have problems, but tribalism is not a top solution.
As I make my case for candidate Oulanyah, I know that people are motivated to make wise choices more by hope and opportunity than by fear, cynicism, hatred and despair. Unlike many leaders that preach division, Oulanyah has not appealed to those passions.
Far from saying Oulanyah is perfect. Too often he’s been part of unpopular decisions in parliament. But there is a tone of ugliness creeping in NRM, as objective debate retreats, as tribalism mounts, as intrigue and entitlement take center stage.
Oulanyah radiates an ethos of eloquence, one-nation, diplomacy, consensus building and elegance that I wish to see in the NRM NEC, and that I suspect we will all miss, if he’s not given an opportunity to serve.
The writer comes from Kazo District
