Andrew Rugasira has years of experience of wedging his coffee onto supermarket shelves in England and America, a would-be Government of Uganda job. But now, as he fought for the highest entrepreneurs’ office in the country, there are growing fears that his radical character could spur a genuine national security crisis if elected. At least according to the minister of Trade Amelia Kyambadde.
The powerful minister is being accused for locking out of the self-made businessman in Rugasira from the election for the Uganda National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (UNCCI) president that was planned for today (Friday).
Minister Kyambadde believes with Mr. Rugasira’s aspiration or others’ for the matter, the race had turned out to be a matter of life and death with some of the top contenders have started receiving death threats. TheUgandan could not readily ascertain who of; Rugasira of the Good African Coffee, Amina Hersi Moghe, the proprietor of Oasis Mall and the embattled chairperson UNCCI, Ms Olive Kigongo was living on borrowed time with assailants breathing down their neck.
In a press statement, Hon. Kyambadde said; ‘The government has serious security concerns over the planned elections for the Chamber of Commerce scheduled for December 16.’
Ms Kigongo, in her letter dated October 27 to President Museveni further confirmed these “security threats” according to the Trade minister. No further date has been announced so far though the mood surrounding the election remains tense.
Rugasira’s Twitter following did not take the cancelation easily and their disdain for the current Chamber leadership was manifested in their rapid-fire interactions on Friday morning — they are angrier and more negative. So what Rugasira’s supporters are writing on Twitter may come across as more forthright and harsher than what Amelia Kyambadde and the government are accustomed to hearing in the diplomatic arena. The risk for a misunderstanding is, therefore, higher.
Rugasira recently called out Ms. Kyambadde’s decision and interference in Chamber matters as ‘unwise and unviable’ that it can only further damage private sector confidence and generate uncertainty among the chamber membership while castigating the current leadership as display of institutional dysfunction and decay.
Hon. Kyambadde fired back urging that as a line ministry responsible for Trade, the National Trade Policy charges her with a responsibility of creating and ensuring an enabling and conducive trade Policy and regulatory environment for Business growth and competitiveness.
But so far, at least, it is common knowledge that the NRM regime has occasionally found itself in citizenry dust-ups thanks to Twitter.
Given his commitment to change, Rugasira is often asked about political ambitions. He doesn’t quite rule out the possibility but he is wary. “I just want to be a good president of Good African coffee. Politics has too many takers.”
Author: @stephenkmuneza
