During a recent political talk show, Barometer Akasameeme, an allegation by Mukono Municipality MP Betty Nambooze that Tourism Minister Godfrey Kiwanda Ssubi and his counterpart for Higher Education John Chrysostom Muyingo were in a bitter contest to impress Museveni in order to replace VP Ssekandi nearly graduated into a fist fight.
When deeply analysed, one would not fail to find the genesis of Nambooze’s speculation.
Ssekandi, who has been by far the most silent Vice President in recent decades didn’t make it to the next Parliament.
This gives birth to a popular conclusion that Museveni will not consider his name on the list for the next cabinet.
His age (80 years) also works against him.
Those who think Muyingo could step in for his fellow Muganda and catholic strongly believe so on grounds that the educationist bears salient features akin to those of Ssekandi, being the humble and silent politician he is.
This, according to his backers, will impress Museveni who seemingly doesn’t prefer outspoken and ambitious politicians for the position.
As for those who feel Kiwanda could be the man to deputize the president, the Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine factor is a big influence.
Museveni’s humiliating defeat in the central region has widely been attributed to the young people who massively voted for Kyagulanyi whom they take to be one of their own, him being a youthful leader.
This, they believe will prompt Museveni to pick an equally youthful Kiwanda as his second in command.
The chances of the two would however depend on how Museveni chooses to respond to his humiliation in Buganda. In the past, cabinet appointments have been used to reward loyalty by regions.
This explains why Northern and far Eastern Uganda where he has been performing dismally have never had a Vice President or Prime Minister in the past two decades.
If he is to continue with the trend, he could easily find himself trashing the suggestion for having one of the two for his Deputy.
Even if he opts to use the position to keep Bobi Wine and NUP under check, it couldn’t mean an outright victory for the two men.
There is incumbent Ssekandi in the picture.
At a time when transition talks are expected to dominate public debates as Museveni heads towards 80 years, having a youthful Vice President like Kiwanda may not be enticing for the President.
Eventhough JC Muyingo has some similarities with Ssekandi, appointing him barely on that assumption could turn out to be a risk Museveni may not wish to take.
With his impeccable loyalty and keeping a low profile in the shadows of his boss, it’s not accidental that Ssekandi has been the country’s longest serving Vice President under NRM and in the entire history of the country.
Therefore, let it not shock anyone if his name gets read out on the day the next cabinet reshuffle is announced some time in May.
