Commend Museveni; don�t just criticise him
By Chris Obore
President Yoweri Museveni's reported recommendation that Uganda should prepare for a return to pluralism has opened a new chapter in the country's political life. This chapter, I predict, is going to expose the nature and character of our political actors.To the best of my knowledge, Uganda suffers from a deficiency of honest, consistent and democratic leaders. The political culture of this country rotates around self-aggrandisement, arrogance, manipulation and deceit.
Uganda's politicians have turned the country into a man-eat-man society, and the unwritten policy is that "you either eat or you are eaten".
The reaction of political opposition leaders to President Museveni's recommendation to open up the political space is testimony that our country needs a political-cultural revival.
Since The Monitor broke the news on Wednesday, 19 February, several politicians have reacted hurriedly to the president's remarks.
Of all things, one would not have expected our opposition politicians to quickly jump into the fray, setting tough conditions for President Museveni. Reaction is not bad, but the type of reaction matters. Most of the opposition leaders have doubted the president's move, while others have demanded that he expedite political reforms.
Much as I would agree with politicians calling for reforms, I totally disagree with their approach. Why the hurry? In Teso, we have a saying that �never attempt to kill a rat when it has just showed up its head from the hole in which it was hiding.� If you do so unsuccessfully, the rat will slide back into the hole and disappear through its underground routes.
It will be difficult for you to get that rat unless you dig up all its underground routes. The digging is, of course, tedious and most times unmanageable. Mark you the rat knows its routes better. Moreover, it will eat your crops such as cassava, groundnuts and sweet potatoes.
If a farmer does not have skilful ways to exterminate the rat, he should be rest assured! of a po or harvest and wasted efforts.
Now back to politics. It is absurd that politicians are all over the media, chastising, rebuking and even abusing President Museveni for his proposal to open up.
Such politicians are not different from a farmer whose crops have been destroyed by rats but when he cites a rat getting out of its hideout, he screams loudly, decrying how bad it has been, even before it is dead.
Why on earth do we have such political leaders?
I believe President Museveni's recommendation should be embraced and he should be skilfully encouraged to actualise his proposal. Making unnecessary comments to the effect that the president has been forced by donors and pressure from opposition politicians to open up shows how egocentric some opposition leaders are.
If I may ask, did donors force President Museveni to entrench a monolithic system in Uganda? Did donors send Mr Museveni to the bush? And can donors stop Mr Museveni from going back to the bush?
What most Ugandans want opposition politicians to deliver is an open political environment, different from the Movement�s �individual merit� system.
Many people have suffered in pursuit of that cause; some have even lost their lives. If President Museveni has seen it wise to grant us multiparty politics, we should commend him for that and forget his past stance.
The best our power-hungry opposition politicians should do is, not to discourage the president by making provocative statements, but to lobby him to continue with his proposal, given the negative reception some Movement hard-liners have shown.
As a young journalist, it has been my desire to practice my risky trade in an open and free society. The Movement's dominance of politics in this country has been a pain in my neck, and that is why I welcome President Museveni's change of heart.
Opposition politicians should accept that Mr Museveni has done a good thing to recommend that the country goes pluralistic. Whether this will come true or not depends on how well they ! play the ir cards against the hard-line movementists.
The fear in this country has been that President Museveni is against political parties. Now that he appears to have changed his mind, why can't political parties seize the opportunity?
Let us accept that although pressure can bear on President Museveni to adopt pluralism, the most civilised and non-fatal way of achieving it is through talking.
President Museveni is now talking, so the opposition should encourage him to talk more. Don't discourage him through ridicule and criticism for the consequences might be detrimental to ordinary Ugandans.
The issue is not whether donors have forced President Museveni to open up or not, but that the president seems willing to open up.
Why do the opposition politicians want to discourage the rat from getting out of its hideout?
They should be advised that they could spoil things if they aim at humiliating President Museveni.
Most people had felt that President Museveni would rather go back to the bush than open up, but now that he appears to have changed his mind, let us thank him for it.
At least he recognises that Uganda is for us all, not just the Movement.
Opposition politicians need a change of character. They should oppose for genuine reasons, not to be noticed.
President Museveni would die a hero if he went ahead and opened up the political space for other political interests to participate. Many will oppose him, but remember, not all who say, �Jesus is Lord� actually believe in him.
Some might even claim they are �more movement� than he, the chairman.
After leading the country for 20 years in 2006, Ugandans would be willing to forget President Museveni�s mistakes if he granted them total political freedom. His achievements are visible to all but he would rather quit the stage when he is still a darling.
Forgive our opposition leaders, especially those who speak to excite people. Go ahead and open up. If you do, the true character of our politicians will be exposed. Medals aw! ait you.
The author is bureau chief of The Monitor in Mbale.
February 21, 2003 12:58:14
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