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Dear Tingasiga;
MPs Salaamu Musumba, Morris Ogenga Latigo, and Mugisha Muntu are in
town. They are visiting Toronto as part of their swing through Canada
and the USA to bring the message of the Forum for Democratic Change
(FDC) to Ugandans and friends of Uganda in North America.
After an impressive performance at the Ugandan North American
Association (UNAA) convention in Minneapolis, Musumba and Muntu spent
most of last week in Washington DC where they gave the radio and
television interviews and met with senior officials of the United
States government and other opinion leaders.
They attended fundraisings in Minneapolis and Washington, during
which substantial amounts of money were raised, including from
card-carrying members of other political parties.
Saturday found them in Toronto where they attended a very
successful fundraising gala dinner and cultural evening, hosted by the
Toronto Chapter of the FDC. The event, which was held at the elegant
Taj Banquet Hall in Toronto featured musical performances by A-class
groups from Cote DIvoire, Sudan, Ethiopia and Ghana.
The
approximately 200 guests at the dinner listened with rapt attention to
speeches by Muntu, Latigo and Musumba, followed by Canadian Senator
Mobina Jaffer, who was the keynote speaker.
Over the ten days,
I have had several opportunities to listen to Muntu and Musumba
deliver speeches and respond to questions from audiences and radio and
television interviewers. In every case I have discovered why the
nine-month old FDC has become a threat to the ruling National
Resistance Movement (NRM).
Muntu speaks with obvious command of the facts, delivered with a
soft-spoken eloquence and passion that is clothed in a large dose of
humility. It has been very refreshing to hear him take responsibility
for the failure of the Uganda Peoples Defence Force (UPDF) during his
eight years as the army commander.
It has been most reassuring to hear this retired army general
making serious appeals for peaceful transition of power.
Musumba
is equally eloquent, but speaks at a most agreeable pace that suggests
one who has reflected on her remarks and has internalised her message
to the extent that she is able to deal with complex issues without
reading from a text.
But if Musumba and Muntus eloquent and persuasive messages earned
them excellent marks from their audiences, Ogenga Latigo mesmerised
the audience with his speech that brought to Canadians consciousness
the day today realities of the Ugandan people.
The central theme of the three FDC leaders speeches and media
interviews was that it was incumbent upon all Ugandans to join the
struggle for peaceful democratic transition in our homeland. We had a
duty to do all in our power to prevent any and all risks for violence
in the country.
It was also vital that Canadians of goodwill join Ugandan democrats
in a partnership whose purpose was to put pressure on the Canadian
government to use its moral power to redirect Ugandas rulers towards
the path of peace and democratic transfer of power.
This partnership was powerfully symbolised by the presence of
Senator Mobina Jaffer, who delivered a very moving keynote speech, and
Dr. Ruby Dhalla, the Federal Member of Parliament for the
Brampton-Springdale constituency.
Dr. Dhalla spoke of the role of Canada in the world, and the
difference individuals can make when they have the social and
political educational and courage to engage leaders and rulers.
As a young 10-year old girl, Dhalla was so disturbed by the
factional and inter-ethnic fighting in India that she wrote a letter
to then Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Though a Canadian by
upbringing, the young girl never forgot her roots. She felt an
obligation to contribute towards making her homeland a better place.
In her keynote speech, Senator Jaffer talked about the very
haunting experience of witnessing Acholi mothers who had to send their
very young children to far off places in search of safety from the
marauding killers that often struck at night. I have had many
sleepless nights, Ms. Jaffer said. I hope you do not sleep tonight
either. Think about our people who are enduring this incomprehensible
brutality and cruelty.
Senator Jaffer, the first-born daughter of Mr Bandali Jaffer, the
distinguished Ugandan parliamentarian (during the 1960s), hotelier and
philanthropist, invited the Africans in the audience to work with her
and help propel the great continent towards a lasting peace.
The gala dinner was successful on several counts.
First, in
spite of being arranged at relatively short notice, it attracted a
large guest list that reflected the great cultural mosaic that defines
Canada. Africans, Europeans, Indians, South East Asians, South
Americans and Caribbean people came together in support of the FDC.
Second, it brought together in fellowship Ugandans from different
political parties.
Third, generous cash donations were made to the
FDC.
E Mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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