OPINION: Lt. Gen. Henry Tumukunde, former minister for Security late last year stunned the political establishment when he declared his bid for Rukungiri Municipality Parliamentary seat.
His announcement set off mixed reactions from political lines, some welcoming him in Rukungiri Municipality and others casting doubting glances towards him.
Since declared his candidature, Tumukunde has been hopping from one village to another in Rukungiri Municipality trying to sell his vision something that is becoming hard to him.
The former minister and Spy chief has found it difficult to put together compelling arguments for why he believes he is the most qualified candidate to represent Rukungiri Municipality in Parliament.
Tumukunde’s bid for the Rukungiri Municipality parliamentary seat is unlikely to make much progress and will ultimately fail for the following reasons.
Lack of political clarity.
In 2019, Gen Henry Tumukunde embarked on consultations to stand for the lord mayor ship in Kampala. He created mobilization committees, set up social media accounts, talked with women, youth, religious leaders, and other groups in Kampala’s suburbs, and then he disappeared.
Tumukunde didn’t explain why and at what point he abandoned the Kampala lord mayor ship bid.
According to one social media analyst, Tumukunde may announce his plans to run for an LCV seat or serve as a councilor tomorrow because he is not strict.
In another direction, Rukungiri Municipality residents and Rukungiri at large accuses Lt. Gen. HenryTumukunde of allegedly collecting more than 90 million Ugandan shillings on behalf of the First Lady for Immaculate Heart Nyakibare’s support, but he never paid the money.
It is said that Lt. Gen. Tumukunde owes Buyanja Sacco money, which he failed to pay, citing his inability to contest in Rubabo County, Rukungiri district.
As a CA delegate for Rubabo Constituency, Tumukunde made many false promises and disappeared after winning elections, which prevented him from contesting as MP in his home area.
Lt. Gen. Henry Tumukunde also contested against President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni in 2021 and encouraged Ugandans to reject NRM BUT he appeared in 2023 claiming that President Museveni is the best and that he loves NRM.
“DIRTY GAMES” PLAYED BY LT. GEN. HENRY TUMUKUNDE.
Ahead of 2016 polls, Tumukunde was part of the team that worked hard to dismantle former Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi’s perceived countrywide political mobilization network.
In 2015, during Mbabazi’s consultative meetings, Tumukunde always moved ahead in a bid to dissuade voters, especially NRM party members from supporting the former Prime Minister.
Mbabazi would later decry what he termed as persistent intimidation and provocation by supporters of the ruling NRM.
Because of the background work he did for President Museveni during the 2016 elections that he won, the former spymaster was later rewarded with a ministerial position in the resultant cabinet reshuffle whereby he was appointed the new Minister for Security.
His elevation was also regarded as an attempt to curtail the influence of then powerful Inspector General of Police, Gen. Kale Kayihura with whom Tumukunde was said not to see eye to eye.
Kayihura would subsequently be dropped and replaced by former IGP John Martin Okoth Ochola.
Tumukunde served as Security Minister for two years until he was relieved of his duties in 2018 and replaced by the late Gen. Elly Tumwine.
Man of controversy.
Despite being a close relative to First Lady Janet Museveni, Lt. Gen. Henry Tumukunde has been a controversial man for a long time and has challenged the status quo, even when he was still in active service of the army.
In 2003, during a political retreat, Tumukunde, in the presence of president Museveni and his cabinet, argued against the impending removal of term limits to allow him (Museveni) stand for re-election.
He said this would be in direct contravention of the virtues they had fought to establish and noted he would not be part of the same.
In 2005, Tumukunde was arraigned before the General Court Martial in Makindye and charged with abuse of office and spreading harmful propaganda stemming from his comments while appearing on various political shows on radio during which he purportedly said it was time for Museveni to retire.
Consequently, Tumukunde was subjected to house arrest as his trial dragged on for nine years and in 2013, he was convicted and sentenced to a severe reprimand.
Based on the observations, Lt. Gen. Henry Tumukunde’s public image has a high probability of costing him the Rukungiri Municipality Parliamentary seat.
