My question about what the question is drew two responses, not surprisingly from two arch-federalists. I thank both of you, gentlemen, for your responses.
Mw Ssemakula, I am not satisfied with the status quo. What I remain unsure of is whether the ultimate cure is federalism, hence my query. Dr Kigongo, believe you me, if even a person like me (who sometimes pretends to be enlightened) struggles to know what the question is, then it cannot be obvious! There is no doubt that it is obvious to you, but I doubt that it is elusive to others just because they are not interested in Ugandan Affairs. Frankly, there are times when I feel we are approaching all Uganda's problems with the "if the only tool you have......." mentality. Hence, we have prescribed federo for the ailment of corruption, federo for underdevelopment, federo for the lack of national unity, federo for excessive presidential powers, federo for declining social services, and the list goes on. Makes one wonder: Is this federo animal not too good to be true? And if it is so good, what's keeping it at bay? Some time during the Odoki consultation exercise, I wrote ( in Weekly Topic) calling the whole thing an exercise in futility. I therefore agree with you that the appointment of the Ssempewa commission was an admission that the magic bullet (the 1995 Constitution) missed the target, after all. But it was bound to do just that, for someone, somewhere, decided that the answer for Uganda would be to write a new constitution! We are back to square one, because someone, somewhere, somehow, got wind of the fact that the bullet needed to be fine-tuned. Whatever concessions are made, whatever amendments are made, there will still be unresolved issues that will need another answer all together. I don't know what those will be, but it's in our nature to event more questions/problems. In the early 1990s, a few USA-based Ugandans started Ugandanet. Soon they were joined by others with e-mail access around the world. Those who followed the fortunes of this discussion forum will agree that the years 1994& 1995 were perhaps Ugandanet's finest hour. The Ugandan press could not get enough of the discussions you guys held. There was a meeting of minds when an issue of national importance arose. I remember the letter of protest against the swindling of funds at the Abuja Mission which was unanimously accepted by all. Indeed, even as late as 1996 it was possible to get a cross-sectional group of Ugandans writing an appeal for peace talks to end the Northern Conflict, and an even larger group signing the final document. To me that was when there was a "unitary" net for all Ugandans. The federo concept took over, with special interest fora started every other day. Today we have Bugandanet, Acholinet, Japnet, federonet, DPnet, UPCnet, OldBudonians.......... My problem is, who is listening to whom? If all of us who are pro-federo bunch together and develop wonderful ideas on federalism on federonet, of what use are those ideas in getting others to our side? If we the "Japs" discuss our issues only amongst ourselves, do we blame the rest if they don't see things from our point of view? My question to you both, then, is if the fortunes of Ugandanet (and cyber-communication as a whole) were a model for Uganda, would you recommend unitarism or federalism? Best regards, Yoswa. What is your answer to the question, Dr Dambisya. Kigongo
