I thank David for his contribution to the debate on the above subject. If David had carefully and objectively read the article he would have noticed that the first and in fact the larger part of the article is about Museveni’s rising global star.
The rising star was based mainly on Musevenis adoption of structural adjustment which had been designed to be a new development model based on market forces and private sector as the engine of economic development and social transformation which would lead to the improvement of the standard of living of all Ugandans. However, the failure of the model as reflected in rising functional illiteracy, unemployment, diseases of poverty ( jiggers, malnutrition and neurological abnormalities, etc), as well as environmental degradation forced the government to abandon structural adjustment in 2009 causing Museveni’s star to fade.
Secondly, his rising star was also based on the exemplary manner Museveni exhibited in preventing the spread of the HIV and AIDS pandemic by especially recommending condom use. His subsequent switch to abstinence is believed to have contributed to the rising HIV infections thus eroding his star.
At the regional level, Museveni had been seen as a champion of peace, stability and development. However, his alleged involvement in 2007 Kenya elections and allegations of Uganda’s commitment of war crimes, crimes against humanity and crimes of genocide in DRC in a report which was leaked a few days before Museveni travelled to New York and reports that Uganda’s performance in MDGs is unsatisfactory caused him to skip addressing the MDG summit and other prominent activities while he was in New York. His absence at the MDG Summit was noticed especially when he was on the list of speakers.
His global star was further adversely affected by the demonstrations of Ugandans at the UN in New York in 2009 and 2010 accusing him of dictatorship, genocide, land grabbing, etc.
Regarding commonwealth, his reputation has faded because of killing unarmed demonstrators in Kampala while he was chairman of commonwealth and the corruption related to commonwealth funds.
All in all, while Museveni’s star rose initially, it has since faded because of the reasons given above. The fading global star of Museveni and Uganda is also increasingly being reflected in the media at home and abroad.