Barbara Among
6 December 2008
Kampala — Haji Moses Kigongo, the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) first chairman, is tipped to become senior presidential advisor.
Sources from State House revealed that President Yoweri Museveni has already notified him about the new appointment.
Minister in charge of Presidency Beatrice Wabudeya, however, could not deny nor confirm the appointment.
"Wait until Monday, you cannot confirm until you see the appointment letter," Wabudeya said.
Also appointed is former security minister Muruli Mukasa, who had since retired to his home district of Nakasongola as a businessman.
The appointment of Kigongo as presidential advisor has, however, ignited mixed reactions within the NRM.
"The appointment robs the party of the remaining few devoted officials," said a member who preferred anonymity.
Those against the appointmentsargue that the decision by the President will further cripple the party which is in much need of officials to help set up its structures. Critics point out that party secretary general Amama Mbabazi, who is also Minister for Security and Deputy Secretary General Dorothy Hyuha, also Minister without Portfolio are bogged down by government work, leaving the party to waddle.
Others say that since the party could not pay its vice chairman, the appointment would provide him the much needed salary.
However, it is believed that the appointment would settle the management problems between Kigongo and Mbabazi. During the Movement system era, Kigongo as vice-chairman was the political and administrative head of the Movement Secretariat. But following of the transformation of the Movement into a political party, most of the functions were transferred to the secretary general.
Last month, the choice by President Museveni of Kigongo to talk to MPs raised controversy within the party ranks. It is well known that Kigongo has different views on how the party should be run. Due to less work, Kigongo has abandoned the party headquarters on Plot 10 Kyadondo Road in Nakasero. Mbabazi has often criticised the first national vice-chairman of NRM of failing to rein in lawmakers.
In August, Mbabazi presented to the NRM Central Executive Committee (CEC) meeting a report critical of the party's disciplinary committee, which is chaired by Hajji Kigongo.
The meeting, held on Plot 10 Kyadondo Road in Kampala was called to discuss Mbabazi's report titled "NRM 2008 Progress."
Kigongo has been number two in the party's structure since 2005, when he was elected by party members as first vice-chairman. In 2003, he acted as the party chairman before handing over to President Museveni.
Though the appointment propels Kigongo into the centre of politics, the position will be the lowest he has ever held since the NRM came to power. Presidential advisors fall under the Ministery for the Presidency.
However, it is hard to read into the political life of a man who at one point equated himself to a mamba saying: "You don't deploy me to engage in a fight with people carrying AK 47 rifles."
Kigongo neither gives interviews nor will you find him being quoted in the press on every issue. He prefers to do his business with closed doors. He is not known as a regular maker of political statements and only comes out when it is necessary to do so. Kigongo, unlike other top NRM officials like Eriya Kategaya, Jaberi Bidanbi Ssali and others who have since joined the opposition, prefers to stay on.
The Movement historical was one of the founders and the second vice chairman of the National Resistance Council (NRC) that later became the Parliament of Uganda and lasted till 1996, when competitive politics was introduced to the scene.
With the death of Yusuf Lule, Museveni replaced him as chairman and Kigongo his vice. During the bush war, the NRC was a non-military arm of the Movement aimed at organising civilians. It was transformed into a legislative assembly after 1986.
During the bush war, Kigongo helped mobilise funds from the business community for the Movement having been a businessman at the time. He, together with Bidandi Ssali, who has since left the NRM, were instrumental in the reorganistion and transformation of the NRM into a political party and effectively saw it registered in 2003.
Kigongo has been an instrumental figure within the party, such that those who work under him have approached him several times for consultation, wisdom and intervention whenever they feel that things are not going well in the system he help created. He is much trusted by the President to the extent that he at one time acted as de facto president during the 28th Independence celebration.
For years, he remained vice-chairman of the party and now it seems the icon behind the NRM party is taking a different role.
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