President Museveni with son Muhoozi KainerugabaDear Mr President, Gen. Kainerugaba, I must call you so, although you haven’t assumed the seat. (Of course, you have exhibited immense presidential powers already). Sometimes, our parents still see us as children even when they have themselves become children – you know that Shakespearean cycle, “The Seven Ages of Man”! Unlike many other critical Ugandans, while I abhor your ascendancy to the throne, I have come to appreciate my limitations. I realised so quickly that (a) I am unable to stop your rise as your father worked tremendously well to ensure all opposition groups were thoroughly weakened; and that (b) – and this might shock you – that you are actually the best candidate for this transitional phase and could potentially save Uganda from going the direction of Sudan or Libya. And I can tell you, brother, so far, your execution is dangerous, thus this open letter. But while I am aware you might miss it, I am confident one or two close associates of yours will read it. THE BIG THINGS Procrastination is not just a thief of time, but is also a thief of opportunity. I will say one more time, Mayor Erias Lukwago, LoP Joel Ssenyonyi, Bobi Wine, Miria Matembe, Nation Media Group or my friends Dr Sarah Bireete, and journalist Timothy Karyegira are unable – even if they so badly wanted – to stop you from ascending to the presidency. You are wasting valuable energy on small things. Your father did just well enough to emasculate all of us. Look at us, no organisation, no nothing! We are all running for dear life. Thus, embrace your window like a “planned kid,” and don’t flex with us small people. Soldier, the only and actual stumbling block you face, ironically, is the same man who has enabled you to rise. Don’t allow his doubts about you to eat into your time. Just be smart about it. At this point, if your father still has some dirty work to do, you should not be the one to do it for him. Good soldier, you are wrong or being misled that just exhibiting power cements a presidency. Sadly, the “small people” over whom this exhibition is happening are darlings of the country. Paul Ssemwogere “lost the election” in 1980, but your father could only work with him, not isolate or threaten him. Bobi Wine, Erias Lukwago, Joel Ssenyonyi, Ssemujju Ibrahim Nganda, Miria Matembe, Dr Bireete, have major constituencies behind them. You have to change course entirely and seek alliance. These are not your enemies – but rather could help you bring you close to the people. The same applies to Nation Media Group (Daily Monitor, NTV, and their sister channels). These are the eyes and ears of the people. Nation Media Group Uganda has so superbly performed the function of government oversight way better than our overpaid parliament. I struggle to understand why you have chosen to court unnecessary bad press – local and international – focusing on small things, which are actually useful to the country! POWER FOR POWER’S SAKE? As soon as you finish taking care of your father – and securing the support of the people – you will have to form a government. No, you cannot use Museveni’s government. At least, you might have to reappoint them, and sign them appointment letters. But forming government means vetting the people you want to run the government. I want to propose that you spend more time thinking about what you will do differently. Are you thinking ideologically or just power for power’s sake? Which questions is your government seeking to ask and answer? How are you going to make sure the country can generate its own revenue and not be entirely reliant on donor money? How are you going to fight corruption? You haven’t even concluded the Anita Among case, which you so proudly and loudly opened. Look, your father has a lot of dead wood. Are you planning on keeping them? Are you thinking about their replacements? What is PLU ideologically? Are there any political economic questions you are seeking to respond to? Look soldier, with the exception of journalists, Andrew Mwenda, Alan Kasujja, lawyer Kiryowa Kiwanuka, and maybe one or two other persons, the country treats most of your associates as simple court jesters. Even if your plan is to build a North Korea, it begins by having the right people deliver on goods and services. You are simply threatening the best Uganda has. The point I am labouring to make is this: after you have incarcerated all supposedly antagonistic groups (pundits, civil society, activists, critical media), new and angrier voices will definitely emerge. This is because violence against civil criticism begets even angrier criticism. You have the chance to chart yourself a different path. yusufkajura@gmail.com The author is a political theorist based at Makerere University.The post Dear President Kainerugaba, you’ll need the people, critical media, and the opposition appeared first on The Observer Media Ltd.