| Last Updated: Wednesday, 22 June, 2005, 15:06 GMT 16:06 UK |
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Ask Uganda's president | ||||||||||||||||
Despite a long civil war in the north, President Museveni has restored order to most of the country and liberal economic policies have led to growth. But earlier this year the United Kingdom cancelled some aid in protest at the changing political climate. Uganda also faces the challenge of Aids and malaria. Next month a referendum will decide whether multiparty politics are introduced and critics fear the constitution will also be changed to allow a third presidential term. What does the future hold for Uganda? What is your view on the political changes? Can there be peace in the north? What lessons does Uganda hold for the rest of Africa? Send us your questions, comments and views. President Museveni will be answering your questions in a special edition of our global interactive programme Talking Point. The programme will be broadcast on Sunday 3 July at 1406 GMT/1506 BST on BBC World TV and at 1906 GMT/2006 BST on World Service Radio. If you would like to take part, please include a phone number with your comments. It will not be published.
Your questions, comments and views:
Mr President I have had all my education in the 20 years you have been in power. I grew up admiring you. In my secondary school, I saw another Mandela in the making. Why can't you now rest? You have showed the country what to do and we appreciate all the good things you have done. Why should you be forced by those around you to stay on any longer? Turn down their calls for you to stay on. We don't want you to go into exile like your predecessors. Believe you me; what happened to them can also happen to you. Uganda once known for its pristine nature is becoming a plastic country with unimaginable amounts of plastic polythene papers thrown everywhere from state house to the national park. Mr President, do you have any revolutionary ideas to save us this time bomb? Given the different economic and welfare policy backgrounds of the East African Union, is closer integration feasible? How will Mr Museveni assure the benefits of increased democracy will accrue for the poorest? Do you think that the international community should continue to view you as an African statesman yet you have been a subject of debate in London and the USA for reasons that are far from healthy democratic and constitutional growth in Africa? Are you not afraid of joining the other clique of African leaders? You still have time and the key to stop your life presidency project. Why can't you emulate Benjamin Mkapa our neighbour?
Mr Museveni should be saluted for all he has done for the people of Uganda. Citizens have a voice and there is freedom of speech. So, I believe that the people will decide the best way forward through the referendum. Multiparty politics have caused a lot of suffering due to tribalism. I hope this time it will work out. My greatest worry is the transitional process. May God help Uganda. I'm a Ghanaian living in the UK. Mr Museveni, should next month's referendum decide on a return to multiparty politics, would you yet go ahead with another referendum to extend the presidential term to three terms as is feared by your critics? Secondly, who is your choice for a successor should your term come to an end? Thirdly, what new things should one expect from you should you go for a third term? Lastly, what's your most regrettable decision taken since coming to power? Milton Obote is here in Zambia and fears for his life if he were to return to Uganda. Why can't you reconcile with him? 15 years of civil war is too much. Why can't you call the Lord's Resistance Army's leader for a round table discussion to end the war, which has killed many people? Among the people that have questioned your commitment to democracy have been a British government minister and rock star Sir Bob Geldof. How do these comments, coming from your country's former colonial power and a man who has come to prominence through entertainment and not political representation, affect you? A great deal of attention has been focused on conflict in the north of Uganda but what about the conflicts near the Congo (DRC) border. More specifically has Uganda benefited from the international media's focus on the north of Uganda thereby allowing Uganda to cash in on the mineral wealth of Congo without international scrutiny? I absolutely have no doubt on your profound style of governance. It's hard to imagine where Uganda would've been had it not been for you toppling the last regime. Democracy has its limits, considering where you picked the country from.
The future indeed looks rosy if President Museveni can be allowed to steer the country through the tunnel till we, Ugandans can see the light. It's been a long trek through mountains and valleys but I am optimistic that Mr Museveni will deliver as he has done for the past few years. Best of luck Mr President. Museveni has done a lot for Uganda and East Africa, but at times it is good to quit while things are not too bad, not forgetting Museveni has not been able to stop the civil war in the north of Uganda. We have an inherent problem in Africa where leaders don't want to give up power after being in there for a long time. Museveni can take a good leadership example from world renown South African former president Nelson Mandela. He gave up power honourably.
The future of Uganda depends on Uganda's legislature, judiciary and executive power. Firstly, the legislature must prudently vote what is good for the country. Secondly the courts have to diligently set laws that are fair to all Ugandans. Finally, the executive powers that are presidential must respect the constitution set up to steer the government. At the moment the president wants to change the constitution to stay in power for longer than two terms. His goal is to be the first president of the East African Federation! Uganda now needs change at the helm as hopefully then the war in the north may come to an end. Uganda needs to learn from Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi and Zambia. These countries are democratic and they are enjoying the advantages of democratic values. You should come back in 2006. We still want your leadership. In order to register as a political organisation, the National Resistance Movement collected millions of signatures countrywide. These signatories were endorsing the opening up of political space. If we know that millions have endorsed your party and the other parties are in support of opening up, why are you wasting tens of millions of dollars on a referendum? The outcome is already known and it is not a legal requirement. How would you utilize the aid coming from G8? Peace at last has come to Southern Sudan, a referendum is due in six years for the Southern Sudanese to decide whether they maintain as one country. Mr President what do you think the right choice would be? To be one united country or create a new country? Mr President for all the years you have been in power and we are not seeing any sign of peace in the north. What are you up to sir? Ugandans need to know your point of view as we are the people who are going through all this pain.
There is no doubting the change brought to Uganda under Museveni's presidency, for which he should be congratulated. However, is it not time to see a new face in charge? Why can't Museveni let go? After all he's done he's risking his reputation to emulate that of former President Moi in Kenya in terms of hanging on longer than was in the country's interests. It wasn't until Moi retired that the extent of corruption under him was unveiled. I hope for Ugandans' sake they do not follow the same fate. Suppose in a referendum people decide they want to retain the movement system what will happen? We appreciate all the good work you have done in Uganda with the economy, peace (except in the north) and the fight against HIV/Aids. May you please not undo all this by asking for a third term? Mr President, I personally don't have any problem with your third term project and lifting term limits for the presidency. Some of your ministers have also said that term limits are outdated and that countries like UK don't have them. That is right. But UK is a democratic country. In UK, leaders don't steal elections. In UK, leaders don't use the army to terrorise opposition groups. And in UK, leaders don't bribe MPs to change laws.
I was four-years-old when Mr Museveni became president, I am 23 now and if Mr Museveni allows parliament to amend the constitution and God forbid he runs again, I will be 28 when the new term ends, probably married with children. My point is, African leaders never know when to quit and Museveni is no exception. What more, surely, can he do for Uganda that he hasn't been able to accomplish in the last 19 years? The North has been a disaster, unemployment is ridiculously high, much needed aid is being retracted, and corruption is at a high, need I say more? Museveni's legacy will be preserved if he steps down when this current term ends. If he stays, am afraid Uganda's future is a blur, with tumultuous times ahead of our young, so called democracy. Unlike most of our other rulers, you have evidently made some progress in terms of developing your country, although this must be judged against the lowest imaginable base left behind by the likes of Idi Amin and his predecessor. You also seem to be taking the HIV/Aids pandemic seriously, again, unlike most of our other rulers. My question is: Why do you seek to jeopardise these achievements by seeking to hang on to power? This may sound paradoxical, but I am sure you are well aware that remaining in power for too long has been one of the main problems of African leadership. You do not look farther than Mugabe's Zimbabwe for an example. Is that what you want for your longsuffering people? President Museveni undoubtedly must be commended for the leadership he has provided for Uganda. The fruits of that leadership are there for all to see. But like a hen who has laid and incubated its eggs, he better not sit on them for too long lest he crushes and destroys what he worked and nurtured for so long.
President Museveni has indeed done some very good things for Uganda. The referendum is indeed a waste of taxpayers/donor money, that can be better be spent on health, education etc. It's high time the Movement government came up with an alternative presidential candidate and give Museveni an opportunity to retire peacefully having played his part in the development of Uganda. What is your policy and thinking about human rights for gays and lesbians? (i.e. rights to marriage, adoption and legal protection from discrimination) Your Excellency, in 1986 you said that one of the problems of Uganda in particular and Africa in general is leaders who do not want to leave office. At that time, the longest serving Ugandan president had served a total of about nine years. You have served just less than 20 years. Are you not becoming part of Uganda's and Africa's problem?
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