President Museveni today congratulated Samia Suluhu Hassan, three days after she was declared the winner of a disputed election in Tanzania.
Museveni’s congratulatory message came in today at 12PM, an hour after Suhulu, whose election has sparked riots in Tanzania, had been sworn. Museveni, who paused his presidential campaign to attend the inauguration of John Pombe Magufuli in November 2015, did not attend Suhulu’s function.
He is in Serere and Soroti districts campaigning for re-election.
Given the fact that Uganda and Tanzania share close political, economic, and social ties, some say it is shocking that Kampala delayed to congratulate Dodoma.
Museveni has personal ties with Tanzania. In the late 1960s, he studied at the University of Dar es Salaam, and in the 70s, he spent long periods in Tanzania, plotting to overthrow Idi Amin. The president has never hidden his admiration for Julius Nyerere, the first president of Tanzania, and has constantly lauded his role in the liberation of Uganda.
Uganda and Tanzania are partners in the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), a 1,443-kilometer pipeline that will transport crude oil from Lake Albert oilfields to the port of Tanga in Tanzania, where it will be exported to the global market.
Museveni has often been swift in congratulating regional leaders. He telephoned and publicly congratulated Ruto within hours of the August 2022 victory. He was one of the first African presidents to offer public support to Mwai Kibaki after his controversial victory in the 2007 election, which led to the deaths of more than 1000 Kenyans.
So why did he wait to congratulate Suluhu at the last minute?
We cannot tell for sure. Museveni’s delay could be explained by domestic political concerns. Currently, he is preoccupied with his re-election campaigns in the Teso sub-region. Therefore, these concerns could have taken precedence over diplomatic matters.
Secondly, although Museveni and Suluhu have met several times, their personal chemistry is not as close as Museveni’s relationship with her predecessor, Magufuli. Suluhu has projected a more independent and diplomatic style and has rarely deferred to Museveni for advice.
All this, of course, is just speculation.
While Museveni has eventually congratulated Suluhu, in diplomacy, timing often conveys meaning. His delayed congratulatory message may sometimes speak louder than words.
