Gertrude Njuba, the Presidential Advisor on Land Matters, has emphasized that President Museveni must be succeeded by an experienced and tested leader to steer Uganda.
Speaking to Bbeg Media at her home in Nangabo, Njuba cautioned the opposition, which is advocating for a peaceful transition.
“I challenge the opposition calling for a peaceful transition of power. They should know it goes beyond that because Museveni must be replaced by an experienced and tested leader when he leaves power,” she said.
Njuba, whose political experience dates back to the bush war explained that building experienced and tested leaders takes time.
She noted that this was why the National Resistance Movement (NRM) invited former leaders from previous regimes and professionals to help run the government collaboratively.
According to Njuba, a natural transition should be highly valued, as the NRM has already embraced it through elections held every five years, where new leaders emerge and others retire or are voted out.
She criticized those who believe the process is too slow and should be rushed, emphasizing that it must follow a gradual process.
Njuba said every leader possesses unique qualities. She described Museveni’s leadership attributes as unparalleled within the NRM, stressing that as Ugandans call for a transition, the country needs a leader with proven experience and the ability to address challenges such as land grabbing, diplomatic tensions with neighbouring countries, poor road infrastructure, corruption and other issues. [WATCH VIDEO]
She praised Museveni for enabling Ugandans to enjoy freedom of speech and association, which allows them to communicate their concerns to the government and receive feedback from leaders, unlike previous authoritarian regimes.
However, she criticized the opposition for being weak and failing to offer viable alternatives to lead the country. She argued that the NRM’s party nominations are unmatched by any opposition party and specifically criticized the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) for missing the opportunity to build grassroots structures, as advised by their former leader, General Mugisha Muntu.
Commenting on the NRM’s defeat in Buganda during the 2021 elections, Njuba acknowledged the loss but questioned what the people had gained from supporting and voting for the opposition.
She specifically criticized former Kyaddondo East Legislator Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda for achieving little for his constituency, noting that the limited development of the Kasangati-Matugga road was lobbied for by her late husband and former area MP, Sam Kalega Njuba.
