Mr Mukula says the leadership contest in the National Resistance (NRM) Party of which he is vice chairman for eastern region, is viewed by members as fundamental and should be looked at beyond President Museveni and Mr Amama Mbabazi, because Uganda is bigger than any of the two. Throughout the interview, Mr Mukula stresses that it is important to retire from politics when one is still loved and popular:
Q: You recently announced in Soroti District that you are quitting active politics due to ill health. Besides that, what else explains your decision not to contest for the Soroti Municipality parliamentary seat in the 2016 elections?
Well, I have no other reason that could have compelled me to this other than a personal decision not to run. I have not been coerced, I have not been intimidated, I am not under any ill health, I do not have (high blood) pressure, diabetes, HIV/Aids, I am mentally alert and physically fit. At the age of 58 now, it’s a prime time now for me to move to the private sector.
It takes about 10 years to build a strong foundation in business. I came from the private sector in 1996 when I first got to Parliament, the Sixth Parliament. At that time I came with a strong foundation. I had five aero planes in one of my companies and I was doing very well. I came to serve the people. My commitment was to serve the people. As a patriot, a nationalist and a pan Africanist. I have given my constituency my best. The time has come now to bid the constituency farewell when am still very popular.
Q: When did you decided to quit active politics?
It is something I decided three years ago and I have consulted deeply, first of all within my family, within the leadership of the party (NRM), at the highest level of the President and a number of colleagues at the local level, district level, constituency level. It has been a very difficult decision but I think it is the right time for me to go.
Q: What was the reaction of your family to your decision to quit politics?
They were very excited. They realised that for the first time I would be available to them. I have been married to the people of Soroti Municipality and Uganda. I never had the opportunity to even take my children to school in the mornings, pick them after lessons or even time to attend their school games. You can imagine what it feels like as a parent not to have time for your children to take them to even attend games, even graduations.
From the time they went to Primary One up to the time they finished education I never had time for them. With my wife equally, we were not having time even for dinner or even to take her out. But now I have enough time to take the family out. I have enough time to relate with my mother, and siblings. To me this is the time now to give back to the family.
Q: And what was the reaction of the President to your decision to quit politics?
Many people, including the President did not believe it. It was like a surprise. I have had discussions recently with senior colleagues within the party and thought that maybe something could have provoked me to that position. But I have been able to comfort them that it is out of goodwill. Serving a constituency is a very big challenge. It is a big sacrifice.
You give everything, even beyond your own resources to the constituency. It is not a job, it is a sacrifice to society and there is no salary that can pay me for the services that I have rendered to my people. Those who go into politics expecting to make money out of politics are in the wrong profession because politics is not about money. It is not about a job. It is about service to your country.
There must be life after Parliament. There must be life after politics. I do not want to image that somebody would really make politics a permanent engagement. I got things to do outside Parliament that will help the country.
Q: Isn’t your decision to quit politics a rash?
I don’t think it is a rash decision on my part. The way I perceive it, there is nothing more I can add to Soroti Municipality but the good thing about it is that I will remain within my party, the National Resistance Movement (NRM). I will serve my party diligently. I am going to campaign for President Museveni in the 2016 elections and I want to see him win overwhelmingly.
So the overall position is that I can be an ideologue within the party and it is also important to note that I can be a job creator. I should practice what I preach. I preached about transformation, job creation, reeducation of poverty, creation of the middle class. Now this is the time for me to practice what I have been preaching.
Q: Some people claim your announcement that you are quitting politics has ulterior motives. Are you scheming for something we don’t know?
There is nothing sinister; there is nothing up my sleeves. My hands are clean, my conscience is clear. I am brutally honest about what I intend to do and what I am doing. I want posterity to judge me correctly and even my colleagues to appreciate that politics is not a permanent engagement.
I have in the last four elections campaigned with people I have defeated continuously and if I stood for 2016 elections, it would win overwhelming. Anybody would tell you that. But the point is that it is always right to come out of politics when you are still very popular, not to be chased by the people.
Q Do you plan to become an Emormor (Teso cultural leader)
No. I now will be a mentor in Teso sub-region. I believe in my cultural leader. I have supported him and I will always do so. I do not want titles. I want to be Mukula. It is time to allow to be led and maybe give guidance to those leading. Even in the church I will be sitting behind. I will be a humble citizen and I want to be remembered as Mukula and not honourable Mukula.
No comments:
Post a Comment