The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Besigye the politician is not without merit. He has an eye for tactical opportunities and is quick to seize a chance when it presents itself (like he did with Walk to Work in 2011).
But he lacks the good soldier’s ability to assess the prerequisites and practicability of what in command is called “a plan of operations.” For example, he does not understand that the objectives and ultimate scope of any civil or military campaign must be in proportion to the time and resources needed to sustain it. Without organisation, it is difficult to continually mobilise people onto the streets and sustain an effective defiance campaign. Instead Besigye believes that all that is needed to sustain his defiance campaign is the power of his will.
Of course a strong will on the part of a leader is one of the main prerequisites for victory. Many battles have been lost and many victories thrown away because a leader’s will failed at a critical moment. But this “will” for victory in a commander is different from the will Besigye exhibits. His belief in his own mission to save Uganda from Museveni has made him block out all contrary reason. It has led him to the belief that his will can operate even beyond the limits of hard reality.
More tragically, this belief in his will has led Besigye to reject any arguments, however factual, that show that Museveni has a lot of achievements. In reality, Museveni’s political and economic credits give him considerable support. When these are backed by financial and organisational resources, he can easily overwhelm any threat to his hold on the presidency even in a free and fair election.
Faced with this reality, Besigye has lost the essential elements of what in military science is called “appreciation of the situation” on which every commander’s decision must be based. Besigye’s continuous claims that he has won the last four elections only goes to demonstrate that he has lost touch with political reality.
The lesson to derive from this is that Besigye actually learnt little from Museveni during the bush. To defeat Museveni one would need to avoid the temptation of thinking the president is weak, as Besigye and many in the opposition do. The worst mistake is to underestimate your enemy, something that Museveni has consistently avoided. Therefore, as a soldier, Besigye is a poor politician and as a politician, an equally poor soldier.
The time has come, and indeed is long overdue, for the FDC and the wider opposition to question Besigye’s obsession with capturing the presidency as the best means to promote the cause of reform in Uganda. In addressing this issue, the opposition might find it important to also question the suitability of Besigye as the leader of any reform movement.
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amwenda@independent.co.ug
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editor@independent.co.ug
Well said, just like i told a friend of mine way back in 2005
I have read comments attributed to you to the extent that you are laying ground for a ‘third force’, and that this movement is gaining momentum. While i appreciate the effort to slice into the momentum and support base of what would constitute a core competitor to you in this regard, at some point, you too must consider the momentum of your movement.
If the ‘selection and maintenance of the aim’ has been well defined by yourself, and further ground laid to birth this aim, then you must consider action beyond punditry lest you come off as one with a personal grudge against Dr KB – much in the same way he too has severally been suspected of building a political career and indeed a political movement around hatred for a single individual.
Ugandans have had the benefit of the best analysis on every single issue that affects our abysmal existence and thus tire quickly of this form of pounding reminders of what and who the problems are. In my annoyed view, its time to back up the superior analysis with superior strategic action so you are either vindicated or swallowed by the Wheel – time waits for none and our patience wears thin…