Ugandans are not hearing for the first time the term “Kisanja Hakuna Mchezo” and therefore should not be elated when President Yoweri Museveni keeps making reference to it.
This is according to the outspoken Priest of Kitanga Parish in Kabale District Rev Fr Gaetano Batanyenda, a former NRM politician that became a strong critic of the regime.
The slogan which implies a “no-nonsense term,” was recently adopted by President Museveni to describe his fifth term in office, where playing around he says will no longer be tolerated.
It is possibly his last term in office, but also the one in which Uganda anticipates to finally leap into the middle income status.
But Fr Gaetano is not impressed. While addressing press in Mbarara during the weekend, the man of God said the same words were said back in the day, only that time in English.
On 26th January 1986, recalled Fr Gaetano, after over throwing Tito Okello Lutwa’s government; Museveni did make reference to a Kisanja Hakuna Mchezo.
“Those of us who were there at the time, Museveni said “Fellow Ugandans what your witnessing today is not a mere change of guards but a fundamental change,’” he said.
“Most of us applauded and thought this was the Messiah, but little did we know what he meant by the fundamental change.”
Gaetano added that “after the 30years of comedy” President Museveni had now decided to re-brand the slogan into Swahili.
“It was only a matter of translation,” he told the pressmen.
Fr. Batanyenda said that when Ugandans especially the youth who were not yet born at the time hear of such slogans now, they become excited thinking that there will be a difference this time. But they must brace for the worst.
“Since 1986 it all started as a fundamental change; they were driving cheap cars but now look at the magnificent lives they are living.” he said
“Indeed I was happy to hear the president admitting that for the last 30 years they have been joking and manipulating Ugandans and this time they want to start afresh” he said.
President Museveni at the start of this financial year laid out a grand plan to transform the country, which entails tough tasks for all government departments and agencies.
But Fr Gaetano believes this is all a smokescreen by the president to manipulate the younger generation into supporting him more as his old support is diminishing by the day.