Ugandans are enemies of their own country In the letter "Who Are Our Real Enemies" published slightly over a week ago, Mr Martin Obbo of Tororo asked himself (or is it Ugandans?) an intriguing question.
My view is that all of us Ugandans are our real enemies and traitors. Article 1 of the 1995 Constitution says power belongs to the people. How well have we exercised this power and in whose interest? After the 1995 constitution came into force, the making of which took a lot of resources so as to have a more meaningful country and it was to be the turning point to democracy and responsible leadership. How have we helped our leaders follow it to the letter? Haven't we instead had articulate history professors read / interpret our history upside down for personal gains? How about the so many educated Ugandans who are competing to out do each other in justifying the removal from the constitution, one of the pillars on which our future hangs - Presidential term limits. How many of our assets have been given away (it was not selling) to individuals and we just looked on and sang "No change"? Look at how we are now donning dry banana leaves in a bid to sell our country (for pieces of useless silver, if you asked me) to the very regime that has taken us for granted? Look at the torture, the wars, institutionalised corruption, unwarranted arrests and detention of people with divergent views from those of the rulers; the notion of small presidents within the state, etc is no different from what we had in the past. Haven't we heard that the young men and women who violently disrupted the Pafo meeting in Jinja a few months ago were given a miserable Shs 1,000 and that the attack was planned from the home of one of the current ministers? How about the boda boda men who are being instigated against paying taxes to Kampala City Council by State House yet they expect to get services from this very council? By refusing to realise that we are being driven into a bottomless pit, we encourage poised defilers of Article 105 (2) of our constitution. We are our own enemies and traitors. Although the individuals who swore to protect and uphold our constitution have gone against their promise for selfish reasons, we, as a people, can do far better. Frank Mutagubya, [EMAIL PROTECTED] -------------------------------------------- This service is hosted on the Infocom network http://www.infocom.co.ug
