The Weekly Obsercer, 13th April, 2006
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Pre-colonial chiefs are still in charge
Allow me to publicly acknowledge the excellent and informative piece on Shimoni, which appeared in the March 16, 2006 issue of The Weekly Observer, by
James Tumusiime and Richard Kavuma.
This article, Shimoni investor wont build new premises, is a fine example of the investigative journalism and good writing that makes your paper such a joy to read. If there were an award for good journalism in Uganda, the two gentlemen who wrote this article richly deserve it.
Turning to the matter at hand, I can think of no other time in Ugandas history when the public has been so poorly served by those in power. With an exploding population, how can the government of one of the poorest countries in the world possibly justify giving away an institution of learning that has existed for over 50 years, for free, to the worlds 5th richest man?
To add insult to injury, we the poor peasants of Uganda, are now obliged to dip into our own pockets or borrow to come up with the money to build a replacement for the school.
During the period preceding colonialism, Africa gave a lot of its treasures and its most important resource; people to foreigners. In exchange, African chiefs and warlords were rewarded with trinkets like mirrors, glass beads, and of course guns. Sometimes, the chief might share the loot with his kin and henchmen. Today, we have advanced from our backwardness, our chiefs sport modern titles such as Professor, Honourable, General, etc.; and they give away our national treasure but we get absolutely nothing in return.
Let me humbly suggest that the Ministry of Investment be renamed something that more closely reflects the effects of its activities on the populace, for example, Ministry for Facilitation of International Thievery and Chicanery.
James Ssemakula,
Los Angeles.
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