Presidential advisor on media affairs Tamale Mirundi, has said that no president in the current situation as President Museveni would relinquish power to someone not known to him.
Mirundi was speaking during his political show on NBS TV, Tuesday morning when he made the statements.
According to Mirundi, no matter how much popularity singer Robert Kyagulanyi obtains, he can only ride under the wings of someone like Mugisha Muntu who is more likely to get the seat from Museveni than the legislator.
“Muntu solves the issue of veterans, Museveni’s challenge now is to assemble a team to counter Mugisha Muntu. His experience as a General makes him a hard spot, he hasn’t gone to any government traditional institutions like Besigye and Mbabazi or Bobi Wine. He does not move around with his wife. In Africa when they see you with your woman all the time, they think she is the one in charge not you,” Mirundi said.
The former Presidential Press Secretary also said Muntu is quite different as he is neither violent nor abusive.
“We have a strong incumbent, you can not shout at him to go away, you can’t use mass action. The person you need to get him out is Muntu, because he comes with; power, acquaintance and a historical bond with the current President. Museveni is approaching retirement and he will resign on his own terms and that will only happen when he sees someone he associates with like Muntu coming up,” he added.
According to Mirundi, despite Besigye having a historical background with Museveni as well, he has shown less trust and has been more disrespectful, hence he can not come before Muntu, whose desire to oppose Museveni has not killed his respect for the incumbent.
“Have you ever heard Muntu abuse Museveni? He is the one needed to take Museveni out.”
“Museveni is an entrenched position. Given the condition, any leader would not relinquish power to someone he doesn’t bond with.”
Mirundi says Muntu’s raise will lead to an exodus of people from the NRM and the FDC to Muntu’s ANT party.
“He needs to be countered but there is no way you start. When Besigye came, they said he was violent and succeeded to decampaign him, Bobi Wine has come and he is being labeled and a drug addict. Now what will they say of Muntu? He is disciplined and legitimate,” Mirundi claimed.
On the issue of popularity, Mirundi dismissed claims that Muntu is unpopular and that wont grant him the seat. Mirundi, using an example of Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki who was not popular but was marketed and also had a bond with his predecessor.
“A group that has held power for so long is not easy to remove. You must do internal reforms from within but not break it from outside. Such a group must be encouraged to dismantle and not forced to. If Museveni is forced out now, we shall have a Kony in Ankole,” he said.
