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Part two..................
The Obote's campaign did not end there, he continued to ensure that the
voters in Buganda were enfranchised, made their case to the British governor (
now with the support of KY) and the result was that by the 1962 elections, there
were 805,647 registered voters in Buganda, compared to just 36,000 a hear
earlier! Credit to Obote and the UPC for persuading Mengo to surrender the power
of the ballot to nearly one million Baganda. Obote's campaign and successful
alliance with Kabaka Mutesa's KY after independence confirmed that democracy
could take root in Africa, that different political schools could come together
to work for and, in the interest of the peoples. Obote and Mutesa therefore to
me, played the role of Uganda nationalists more interested in nation
building than personal or
party power. Of course the alliance collapsed after four years, but even in older democracies, coalitions have collapsed after months. Check the records in Israel and Germany. Thankfully, it was intrigue from the other side, not bad faith from Obote that saw the end of the coalition. Many have actually argued that the historical and colonial set up prior to independence made such arrangements rather difficult. And it is Obote who, systematically over the decades, has risen above nationalities (tribes) and forged friendship on the basis of either national interest or ideological comradeship, not regional base. That his best friends and supporters can be found in every district, every region, every village, every faith confirms my views. And it is Obote, who has reportedly - and on several occasions, annoyed some of his (senior)colleagues with his obsession with YOUTHS! "Mzee likes and trusts these young boys /girls....." is a common complaint. The man believes that the future of Uganda, the future of Africa, lies in the hands of the youth, the future generation and, that Africa must invest in its young people and its women through increased access to education and healthcare. Always and when he has been president, he has ensured that more national resources went to these sectors than to the military and Swiss bank accounts of corrupt individuals. It was Obote, who, after meeting Nelson Mandela and other ANC leaders in London before independence promised and ensured the delivery of Ugandan passports in numbers as needed by Azanian freedom fighters, to the anger of imperialist forces. And the campaign for liberation continued in various arenas, taking different forms. This was a time when I know not any other African leader who could risk. Recently I met a southern African diplomat who told me quite frankly that she would not have found it easy to take such a decision. It was Obote who, consistently ensured that other African countries that were not yet independent were supported - Namibia, Angola, Mozambique, to mention but a few. But he went further, he vigorously challenged colonial and imperial British policy of supporting apartheid, arms sales to that country and, continued support for another apartheid regime in Zimbabwe. He ensured that this battle was not lost and was instead on the top agenda of other African nationalists like Nyerere and Kaunda. This was at a time when (it is now open knowledge), even the two (Nyereree and Kaunda) were giving 99% to the same struggle. Controversial, but a fact, 1% was spent in either saving their skins or remaining critical, active but still the blue eyed boys! Obote, with Nkrumah, campaigned between the two of them for greater African Union, moving towards one parliament (moreover), and one army. It was out of the dithering of some of the African leaders at the time that the idea of 'front line states' came up, thanks to the two. These countries were later to be the key to the retrieval of Africa from direct colonial control. In 1969, while addressing the nation on independence day, he boldly told his audience that included western diplomats that Ugandans may celebrate independence but we cannot consider ourselves free and independent unless and until we had full control of economies but above all, unless the whole continent was free and independent. He meant it. Of course it was not long before he was punished with Idi Amin.... It was Obote who championed the cause of creating what later became the 'Mulungusi Club', the group of three, Nyerere, Kaunda & Obote to be at the helm of the final liberation of southern Africa. Others, (not to mention names) had become apparent African quislings. That Mugabe (no saint), was left for the dogs by his African brethren save gallant Son Nujoma, is a manifestation this turn-coat fever in Africa. It was Obote who challenged the colonial government not to return Rwandese refugees but instead to grant them asylum in Uganda - to him, they were Afrikan brethren. Well, they still are. The colonialists obliged. It is such dreams that over the years aided Uganda's regional policy of a friendly, sisterly neighbour, not an aggressor. On the Arab/Israeli conflict, the man stood objectively firm, saying no to the abuse of Palestinians. The man,
perhaps the only African leader without personal palace, the one who has not
turned his whom village into a mini Rwakitura. Obote, the man who ho,
even after getting rid of Idi Amin, was prepared to stay in Tanzania for over a year, if it meant a smooth change, post dictatorship. The man who was prepared to return, not only as a humble member of the party and citizen, but hold office only with the mandate of his people. The man who, nurtured leaders for Uganda, across the country, south, west, central east and north, not State House Scholarship system. Yes, to build for the future. Obote the incorruptible. Tiny Rowland of Lonrho tried to corrupt him and instead received marching orders out of Uganda. The man left and immediately started funding Museveni's terrorism in Luwero - Museveni was at the time coming to terms with defeat in Sweden. No wonder Museveni has officially mortgaged our country cheap. So much that Obote is the only African leader whose family has never had a bank account outside the country while he is president. Obote, the man who has no bank account!!! On his first overthrow, the British Scotland Yard helped Idi Amin carry out investigations into possible corruption or abuse of power and they found nothing. Museveni instituted his commission of inquiry into so called violation of human rights in Obotes time and found nothing. How could he, Obote has never signed a single death warrant, something that would normally be issued by the law courts after all. And yet, this year, Uganda has become the 3 most corrupt country in the world, only after Pakistan and Nigeria, thanks to Museveni's 16 years of dictatorship. How Ugandans miss Obote's exemplary leadership. I would go on and on, in details, but these, only these, I do not know any other African leader, past or present, who would near it. This man is simply my man of the year, every year. My man of the century. Pinytek On the Indian
ocean
End of document
============ The Mulindwas
communication group
"With Yoweri Museveni, Uganda is in anarchy" |
