Cowards live longer: Museveni well advised to duck Presidential debate

January 13, 2016 in Columnists, Editorial, Letters, Opinion by Editor

KAMPALA, JANUARY 13-As the clock ticked closer to the January 15 Presidential debate, it was becoming increasingly clear that barring a last minute change of mind, President Museveni was a likely no show.

The first indications that the incumbent had been advised against attending came in an op-ed by NRM Spokesperson Ofwono Opondo in which he labeled the Inter-religious Council organized event a “booby trap.” A day later, NRM Secretary General Kasule Lumumba reiterated that even if the proposed Jan15 date were to be moved, she did not see any gaps in the NRM campaign programme to allow their candidate’s participation in the debate.

“Even if we were to be in Kampala on that particular date, the candidate has rallies to address and I can’t simply see how he would abandon rallies in favour of a debate,” she told local media.

This would not be the first President Museveni is scuttling a presidential debate but the NRM should at least be honest about the reasons for his lack of interest. One straight forward explanation would be that the debate adds no value to the Museveni campaign while the incumbent has everything to lose in a televised debate.

Wherever you have a race with so many ‘also run’ candidates, it is always going to be a risky proposition for a candidate with a head-start on the rest to risk his advantage by engaging in a public debate with them.

As the old saying goes, cowards live longer; Museveni is write to duck and he not be ashamed by that tactical maneuver.