Last Thursday, President Yoweri Museveni was sworn in to start his fifth elective term, and the most striking thing in his speech was the expression of his commitment to fight corruption.

This public commitment was in Museveni’s written speech, which he read out, but for emphasis, he repeated that particular item in Luganda, adding that the public is now going to see the guerrilla in him at work.

In other words, while the institutions of accountability, audit and prosecution continue not doing their work, Museveni is going to somehow crush corruption in these five years.

It worth noting that among the dignitaries present was Tanzanian President John Pombe Magufuli, the reigning anti-corruption king of Africa.

In his not-very-many months as president, Magufuli has crushed every manifestation of corruption in sight until he even recently sacked the country’s anti-corruption chief for not catching enough corrupt officials.

But now Brother Yoweri, who once complained to Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame that the Uganda government is made up of thieves, is set to grab the anti-corruption crown from Magufuli’s head and make Ugandans once again walk with their heads held high.

Some cynics may think it was just talk. But I think Museveni should be believed on this one for the simple reason that his own security after his impending retirement depends on it.

Museveni is serving his last term – in 2021, his age will be rhyming with his name at 77. But one thing that stands between his ruling NRM party and victory in 2021 is its pathetic corruption record.

The NRM can justifiably lay claim to everything positive that has happened in Uganda over the past three decades but simply has no convincing answer about its failure to fight corruption.

If Museveni were able to run again, NRM could win. But without Museveni on the ballot paper, NRM could go the Kanu way in Kenya.

In Kampala-speak, in 2021 even a jerrican could defeat an NRM presidential candidate other than Museveni unless they do something about corruption. And Museveni cannot retire in peace and comfort should a hostile candidate like perennial challenger Kizza Besigye win in 2021.

Of course, the NRM has another, rather dangerous option to retain power in 2021; that is to remove the constitutional age limit so that Museveni stands again. For the NRM careerists, this could be a more attractive option than reducing corruption.

But it could cause some inconvenience as it would provide a justification for external forces like those who did in Gaddafi (and are already spoiling for a fight with Kampala), to help their partners in Uganda mess things up using a ready army called Kifeesi – heartless urban thugs with nothing to lose except boredom. The Libyans who were incited into destroying their country were enjoying a hundred times more material comfort than Uganda’s Kifeesi.

So the logical way to make NRM electable is dramatically reducing corruption because in 2021, stories of wealth creation, roads and power dams will not get audience if corruption remains unchecked.

Budgetary billions once stolen cannot build good roads or create enough employment. It is therefore self-interest for Museveni and NRM to drastically reduce corruption before 2021, instead of removing age limits.

Joachim Buwembo is a social and political commentator based in Kampala. E-mail: [email protected]