Ruto's UDA in Uganda to learn lessons from Museveni's NRM
President William Ruto addressing delegates during the UDA National Governing Council meeting at the Bomas of Kenya in Nairobi on September 29, 2023.
President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) has dispatched a 19-member delegation of top party officials for an exchange programme with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni’s National Resistance Movement (NRM).
The UDA team is led by Secretary-General Hassan Omar as President Ruto seeks to borrow lessons from NRM that has been in power since 1986.
UDA in dispatch to newsrooms said Mr Omar led a delegation from the party's secretariat to visit the NRM Leadership Institute for a benchmarking exercise.
“The team was warmly welcomed by the Institute's director, Colonel Okei Rukogota, who provided them with an overview of the institution's syllabus.
Colonel Rukogota highlighted that the NRM Leadership Institute is a centre of excellence dedicated to developing knowledgeable and visionary leaders committed to the country's socio-economic transformation,” said UDA.
Mr Omar was accompanied by National Treasurer Japheth Nyakundi, Executive Director Nicodemus Bore, and other members of the national secretariat.
Mr Omar disclosed UDA’s interest in starting a similar institute while emphasizing the importance of learning from the NRM's model.
NRM on its website said the UDA delegation was received by NRM Secretary General, Richard Todwong and Director of External Affairs Maj. (rtd) Awich Pollar.
Mr Todwong said NRM and UDA are looking forward to deepening bilateral relations and strategic cooperation for the two political outfits.
UDA’s 19-member delegation arrived in the country on Tuesday and are expected to participate in various activities, including visiting President Museveni, who is also the NRM National Chairman.
NRM was founded as liberation movement that waged a successful protracted against past dictatorial regimes. On its website, NRM claims that it has restored political stability, respect for human rights, national unity, peace, security and the rule of law.
It also credits itself with introduction of democracy as well as enfranchising the people of Uganda through restoration of regular, free and fair elections.
Critics have, however, pointed out continued stifling of the democratic space by NRM.
Individuals perceived to be critical of President Museveni have been arbitrary arrested and detained.
Claims of manipulation of election have also remained widespread in Uganda during Mr Museveni’s 39 years of stranglehold.
UDA has also been engaging Communist Party of Chine. Both NRM and Communist Party of China are seen not to be the best parties to look up to when it comes to democracy.
In 2024, UDA reached out to Communist Party of China in its quest to transform itself into a formidable political outfit, which would outlive its founders.
In its engagement, UDA sought funding to the tune of Sh1 billion from the Chinese party to support its political activities.
The party also sought the support of the party to build its official and permanent party headquarters on a piece of land that they have already acquired in Nairobi.
In March last year, then UDA Secretary-General Cleophas Malala received a delegation of the Communist Party of China officials at the party's headquarters along Ngong Road.
The officials were led by Jiang Xinzhi, the Vice Chairperson of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference since 2023. UDA top officials later in the year visited the Chinese party pick lessons in running political parties.
Jubilee Party of former President Uhuru Kenyatta had also tried to engage the Chinese party in its quest to remain influential even beyond his 10-year tenure.
In 2014, then President Uhuru Kenya met Guo Jinlong, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party at State House, when Jubilee announced its intention to strengthen cooperation with the party.
The plan was to avoid the journey to the graveyard that had been walked by nearly all past powerful ruling parties from Kanu of former Presidents Jomo Kenyatta and Daniel Moi and the National Rainbow Coalition and the Party of the National Unity of Mwai Kibaki.
But the party dramatically disintegrated when Mr Kenyatta fell out with his then deputy, Dr Ruto.