Janet Museveni's Plunge Into NRM Party Politics

Janet Museveni professes to be a born-again Christian, speaks about decency and goodness among the youth and women. Her addresses in the countryside are always punctuated with preaching of the Word of God peppered with quotes from the Bible.

While Ms Museveni's footprints can be traced in the early fight against HIV/Aids in the country, she has also, over time, evolved as a politician. The Ruhaama County MP is serving a second term in parliament and is a cabinet minister in her husband's government.  Museveni has said many times that he was opposed to her joining politics which is virtually a lie. He seems to have come around and routinely heaps praises on her for the handling of things in the Karamoja ministry docket yet the reverse is true.

Janet Museveni became a major topic of debate in May this year when announced she would not seek a third term as Ruhaama MP. Many praised her bold move and immediately started attacking Mr Museveni, in power for almost 30 years now, for not leaving the stage like her. But others read more into her pronouncment. They argued that her departure was probably part of a wider strategy; to climb to the top political ladder in the NRM hence the so-called 'Muhoozi Project' to get first son, Brig Muhoozi Kainerugaba into the picture.

There are parallels from near and far: In USA Ms Hilary Clinton, wife to 42nd US President Bill Clinton wants to succeed President Barrack Obama. In Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe's wife Grace Mugabe was last year elected head of ZANU PF women wing, and many say she has been put on the path to succeed her husband as the President.

Ms Museveni's picking of forms to contest as Ntungamo district NRM chairperson has sparked off interesting speculations. Is she just interested only in this seat or she is eying a bigger one, so in Ntungamo she is looking for an entry into NRM party politics? Is a there leadership vacuum in the district? This further empahasises the Muhoozi project which is well and alive.

While both President Museveni and first lady are born in the district, Ntungamo is amongst opposition strongholds in western Uganda. FDC icon, Dr Kizza Besigye, commands a big following in the district. He scored highly in both 2001 and 2006 especially in Kajara constituency.
Given that Maj. Gen. Mugisha Muntu, the FDC party president, is also born in Kajara; there is an anticipated shift in voting in favour of the Opposition.