Political analyst Egesa Ronald Leonard has downplayed claims of infighting within Uganda’s opposition, instead pointing to President Museveni’s tight control over the country’s political space.
“There is no such thing as cannibalism in the opposition. What is happening is that Museveni is controlling what is happening in this country,” Egesa said.
He argued that most political parties in Uganda are not built on sound ideology, a weakness that, according to him, will continue to undermine their relevance over time.
He urged leaders to take lessons from Kenyan opposition figure Raila Odinga, who has maintained political influence by rebranding himself in every electoral cycle.
“You can’t keep singing the same message every political cycle,” Egesa noted.
Egesa further emphasised that his views are grounded in information gathered from his own sources. “I run my own intelligence machine. I don’t do conspiracy theories. When I tell you that a move was choreographed, I have my own intelligence to back it up,” he stated.
He was also critical of the general conduct of Uganda’s elections, describing them as filled with “jokers on both sides.”
Referring to the recent scenes at Kololo, where politicians scrambled for positions within the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), Egesa remarked that the contest was driven by self-interest rather than genuine belief in party ideology.
“They are just interested in jobs,” he said.