If President Yoweri Tibuhaburwa Kaguta Museveni was a book, this week’s 80th birthday celebration was a well-deserved small part of life journey of a rural herds boy from a nomadic community, rebellious student activist which led him to a violent collision course with history spanning sixty years on active duty. A big Congratulation Mr. President for a journey still well on course.

I missed the dinner at Kawumu presidential rural retreat lodge, in Nakaseke district, part of greater Luwero Triangle the theatre of the resistance war. However, I guess it was on purpose as a remembrance of where the NRM revolution publicly began 43 years ago and rekindle a new journey of the last chapter under President Museveni. Most Ugandans wish the president longer blissful life, but certainly five years from now, age would have taken a good toll on his physical energy, and so he and us must prepare. We must also consolidate the many achievements of his life’s time and efforts.

For surviving the shootout skirmishes with Idi Amin’s operatives in Kyambogo university, 1972, Atiak, Mbale, Mayuge, the many cat and mouse run-ins around Kampala, and the extended war of liberation from Tanzania to Kampala that ousted Amin, Hajji Kassim deserves bouquets. Then came the internal fights within the UNLA which Museveni didn’t duck, but took them heads-on, and won many battles before taking to the bush for the second time when he was outfoxed by UPC at the 1980 elections.

After winning the protracted people’s war 1981-86, there has been a revolution and new promising Uganda in which Museveni has been the central figure, almost having unfettered hands, and some people say derisively that he habours a sinister desire to make an empire. A self-bred soldier of patriotism, Museveni has been ruthless with enemies but also a law giver perhaps the greatest so far in our times whose eyes compare well with that of hawk scotching up adversaries as if by fire.

And, he has been on that order of political genius which transcended most rules, maneuvering with several rival camps, mischievous favourites, internal malcontents, and armed adversaries many of whom have capitulated and joined him, abandoned their own lost, and sometimes bad causes, or met natural death. We shall today out of good manners leave those still living to enjoy their quiet peace and perks. The most well-known among the dead undoubtedly include Milton Obote, Amin, John Martin Ogole, Bazillion Okello, Peter Otai, and Aggrey Awori. The Mengo reactionary traditionalists have been a pain, but Museveni is handling them with an even hand.

In the 38 years of leadership, Museveni has pulled Uganda from the abyss although today because of the tranquility, social stability, rising prosperity and economic opportunities, some Ugandans seem to take all of it for granted, and as self-evident. Holding and leading the bright banner of NRM, Museveni has six democratic elections under his belt with massive parliamentary and local government seats any leader would wish, for which he deserves another bundle of bright flowers.

While there are thousands of 80-year olds who celebrate their birthdays, mainly for just knocking down scores of years, Museveni, has by public policy, law and practice, by the 80th  caused the lifting of millions from obscurity, evidence of which are the relative successes in education, health, social, economic and political mobility seen in cabinet, parliament, judiciary, civil service, security services, and an emerging thriving private sector.

Clearly, over his 80 years, it is not an over statement to say that President Museveni has been, probably still is, an enigma, few understand well. The naïve political schemers hovering in the horizon better hold back because it might as well be the start of another chapter. AllutaAluta Continua Mzee Wa Kazi.