President Omar Bongo of Gabon died on June 8, 2009. At the time of his passing, he was the longest serving leader of an African country at 42 years. His death has led to a lot of reflecting in the international media on the leaders in Africa that have held life long terms. The top ten list includes Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni at number seven with 23 years in power. The entire list is as follows:

1. President Muammar Gaddafi of Libya   39 Years
2. Teodoro Obiang Nguema of Equitorial Guinea    30 Years
3. Jose Eduardo Dos Santos of Angola   30 Years
4. President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe   29 Years
5. President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt   27 Years
6. President Paul Biya of Cameroon   26 Years
7. President Yoweri Museveni    23 Years
8. King Mswati III of Swaziland    23 Years
9. President Blaise Compaore of Burkina Faso  21 Years
10. President Zine Al-Abidine Ben Ali of Tunisia  21 Years

On Tuesday, September 9, 2008, the Libyan ambassador to Uganda, Abdallah Bujeldin made it clear that the alleged fallout between his boss and President Museveni was nothing but a hoax. In a telecast speech to mark the 39th anniversary of the Libyan so called Green Revolution. Bujeldin said, “The President [Museveni] has done very excellent work.”  The diplomat folded his thumb to show four fingers, signifying the fourth term, and added, “Revolutionaries like President Museveni do not need to be changed because they fought for a major cause.” He campaigned, “To all Muslims in Uganda, remember 2011 is coming. You must remember to support President Museveni.”

Libya’s entry into Uganda politics on the side of President Museveni came hours after a Buganda delegation led by Prince Kassim Nakibinge Kakungulu and including Katikkiro J.B. Walusimbi returned from the Green Revolution celebrations in Libya. The all expenses paid invitation to Libya was sold to Baganda as participation in an African cultural conference. The Buganda delegation also included Apollo Makubuya, the Buganda Attorney General, and others. Before the Libyan trip, Katikkiro Walusimbi had touted, both in cabinet and at Nook Bar, the plan “to exploit the rift between Museveni and Gaddafi and get the Libyan leader to fund Bulange Plaza and other construction projects.”

It is not clear what the Buganda delegation achieved on their 2 week trip. However, Libya’s decision to make such strong political statements in support of Museveni appears to be a message to Mengo that Gaddafi and Museveni have no serious rift for Mengo to exploit. On arrival back home, the Buganda delegation indicated that Gaddafi had agreed to Lubiri developments. If this is true and Walusimbi and Gaddafi follow through with it, it could be seen by some Baganda as proof that Museveni, Gaddafi and Walusimbi, along with other prominent Baganda, are all in a conspiracy to grab the Lubiri from Buganda.

Libya’s president Gaddafi has no history of liking of honoring monarchies. He came to power an armed overthrow of King Idris of Libya in 1969. On the other hand, in the late 1990s, after an introduction by President Museveni, Gaddafi developed a close personal relationship with the queen mother of Toro, Best Kemigisha. Over the next few years, Gaddafi rebuilt the Toro palace and bought a London home for Kemigisha’s family. In the meantime, Toro’s queen mother commuted between Uganda and Libya on Libyan government jets, for private visits. The relationship apparently run out of steam in the early 2000s and Mr. Gaddafi stopped helping Kemigisha and the Toro royal family. The Omukama of Toro is now in a dire financial situation, with court brokers threatening to sell off the Toro palace due to cash shortages. Toro’s friend, Gaddafi, has moved and found another Ugandan kingdom eager to listen to his promises.