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Ugandan journalist and political commentator, Andrew Mwenda, is painting a stark picture of the state of Uganda, noting the deepening crisis in governance under President Yoweri Museveni’s leadership.
At 80, Mwenda argues that President Yoweri Museveni is no longer the youthful, energetic leader who once promised to revolutionise Uganda’s political landscape.
In an opinion piece, Mwenda argues that Museveni’s advanced age is one of the main factors behind Uganda’s ongoing governance crisis.
With the country facing political, economic, and infrastructural challenges, Mwenda contends that the President’s age, combined with his long reign, has contributed to a system that is failing to meet the needs of its citizens.
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“President Yoweri Museveni has retained effective personal control over the core elements of the state, most especially the security apparatus. However, as he has aged, he has become increasingly unable to retain effective control over the smouldering edifice of the other elements of the state,” Mwenda wrote.
“Hence, many of things he has built are breaking apart – roads, dams, bridges, schools, hospitals – name it. While the economy has continued to grow and with it, government revenues, the ability of the state to perform many of its core functions is characterised by apathy, laziness, indifference, foot-dragging, false and malicious compliance, and fraud.”
The Breakdown of Governance
Mwenda attributes much of the country’s current troubles to the erosion of the central state’s ability to function effectively.
He notes that while President Museveni still maintains personal control over the security apparatus, his age and declining ability to govern have led to a breakdown of vital infrastructure and public services.
He points to the state of Uganda’s roads, including in affluent areas like Kololo and Bugolobi, which are riddled with potholes, as emblematic of the country’s wider issues.
Despite substantial economic growth, the government has failed to deliver on key services such as healthcare, roads, and education, which are vital for the country’s future development.
Mwenda also highlights the increase in government debt, with contractors left unpaid and roads falling into disrepair. For example, the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) has billions of shillings in unpaid completion certificates, contributing to stagnation in infrastructure development.
These issues, Mwenda suggests, stem from a combination of poor governance, inefficient leadership, and an unwillingness to address the country’s growing problems.
“It is this context that explains how Museveni’s age contributes to the crisis. If he was young and able to multitask, he could have reigned in many negative forces that have captured his government. Sadly, he is held hostage.
"More than Museveni’s personal desire to cling to power, it is the desire of powerful interests profiting from his continued leadership that keeps him there, because they now can use him better,” he said.
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The Failure of Leadership
Mwenda is particularly critical of the long tenure of President Museveni, linking Uganda’s governance crisis to the decision to remove age and term limits for the presidency.
He believes that while the length of time a leader stays in power does not necessarily lead to failure, Museveni’s reign has been characterised by the accumulation of power in the hands of a few elites, leaving the country vulnerable to exploitation.
"In Uganda’s case, Mwenda contends that the country has reached a point where the public has lost faith in political leadership, with those in power prioritising personal gain over the welfare of the nation," he added