Fifteen years from now will be 2039. Vision 2040 will be left with a year to expire. Therefore, there will certainly be a number of social, economic and political changes. Some may be good, others may be bad. The only constant is Uganda will still be there. Some of the most powerful politicians today are likely to be irrelevant (if they are alive) or even dead by 2039. This is a fact of life. Age could play a big factor in their irrelevance but it may not be even the biggest factor. Here are 10 leaders from the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) who are likely to be politically irrelevant in the next 15 years.
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1. President Museveni
President Museveni made 80 years over the weekend. 15 years from now he will be 95 years. We cannot tell whether he will be still president but we can predict that he will not exude the kind of people he does today. Museveni is a veteran of many struggles, many of which he has won. But one struggle he can’t win is that of age. The older human beings get, the weaker they become.
2. Moses Ali
The second deputy prime minister has had his time in the political limelight. He served as minister of Finance in the Idi Amin regime. He later formed a rebel group which agreed to join with the NRA in 1985. He has served in various ministerial slots under President Museveni. However, like his boss, age is not his best ally now. 15 years from today, he will be 100 years. Already his power has greatly waned.
3. Moses Kigongo
Kigongo is the eternal vice chairman of the NRM. He is very influential in Muslim circles. For all the years, he has been in the shadows of President Museveni but this does not mean he has not been powerful. Many ministerial and political appointments have his stamp of approval. Yet over the years, his influence and power has been in decline. Once the kingmaker in Butambala, today he is openly challenged. 15 years from now, Kigongo will most likely be enjoying his retirement and superintending his businesses. He will be in his 80s.
4. Rebecca Kadaga
Kadaga joined the political scene in 1989 as the Kamuli district woman representative in the NRC. From then onwards, his political trajectory has been going up serving as deputy speaker, speaker and now first deputy prime minister. Currently, she is 68 years old. In 2039, she will be 83 years. It is highly probable that she will not be in cabinet or even in Parliament.
5. Gen Kahinda Otafiire
Gen Otafiire may be the longest-serving member in Museveni’s cabinet today. He was briefly dropped in the late 1990s but has been on every list since he bounced back. He is a bush war hero and is not afraid to speak his mind. With the exit from cabinet of many of his comrades, Otafiire knows that his time is up. What’s more, he is 73 years old today and in 15 years, he will be 88. That is not the age for political re-invention.
6. Gen Jim Muhwezi
Like Otaffire, Muhwezi’s relevance 15 years from today is hard to see. The minister of Security is just a year older than Otafiire. He’s been there, done that. He has survived many storms which have left him scarred. in 2039, we don’t think he will have enough energy left to fight any political battles. He will most likely be retired.
7. Ruth Nankabirwa
Nankabirwa is 58 years today so in 15 years she will be 73, the same age as Otafiire today. However, we believe that her political career peaked when she was still young. Nankabirwa was first appointed to cabinet in 1998 when she was 33 years. She represented Kiboga district from the CA days until 2021 when she lost. The only way she can go politically is down. She will have to re-invent herself to still be politically relevant in 2039.
8. Matia Kasaija
Matia Kasaija is only four months older than President Museveni. Therefore in 15 years, he will be in his mid-90s. Maybe he will be a senior presidential advisor or a political elder but whatever the case, he will not be the powerful Finance minister that we know today.
9. Muruli Mukasa
Muruli Mukasa is one of President Museveni’s trusted allies. He has served in cabinet for decades and is said to be one of the most well-trained spies. But age has certainly weakened him. He is 72 years now and 15 years from today he will be knocking on the 9th floor.
10. Jeje Odongo
The colourful and flamboyant Foreign Affairs minister is currently 73 years. He served as army commander between 1998 and 2001 and represents Amuria in Parliament. He has certainly seen better days and 15 years from now, Odongo will most certainly be a happily retired individual.
*Tomorrow, we shall list 10 opposition politicians who are likely to be irrelevant in 2039. Dont miss!