The Kalinge-Nyago of this world needs to be reminded, I suppose all the time if
not every minute, that Uganda is still a politically sick nation.
We have million of people living in danger in the North and East of the
country. I do not see the rush to this so called East African Federation.
Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi need must put their houses in order first, before
East Africa can move on. Even Kenya is not politically stable.
The Mu7s and Kagames cannot be allowed to divert attention of citizens of
these nations from the appalling condition the countries are in. Any veritical
movement, political, doused with corruptions, would be a receipe for disaster
especially for those who would be identified as the personalities behind
pushing these nation toward so called federation when million of citizens in
these countries are precariously existing; under threats or being killed!
Let us not provoke our immaginations too far. Just a caution.
Ocii
Mitayo de Potosi <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Comrade Kalinge-Nnyago,
I totally agree with an East African federation project in which ordinary
citizens are in the vanguard of its realisation.
That is, a project that has been plied from the hands of Tutsi apartheid-like
mass-murderers like Kagame or imperialism's pathological criminals like
Museveni !! The fate of these is only the courts followed by the gallows !!
Sadly though, you shoot down this noble and good idea by bringing in the
nonsense that participants in this caravan ought to be 'professionals'.
What is wrong with Ugandans with this myopic elitism? It is sad that you guys
assume to have the ultimate wisdom simply because you have read thrillers like
'David Copperfield' or 'Merchant of Venice' !!
Being a 'professional' is totally irrelevant in the definition of an East
African !!
==================================
OPINIONS & COMMENTARIES POLITICS | Omar
Kalinge-Nnyago ...
Will you join the caravan through East Africa? July 27, 2007
Weeks ago in this space, I, almost in passing, mooted the idea of a "Caravan of
United Africans" to journey through East Africa to particularly demonstrate the
desire of civil society for free movement across East African States. Little
did I know that East Africans were awaiting such an initiative.
Since publication, I have been overwhelmed by the response to this rather
"crazy idea" as one reader put it. I have received hundreds of mails from
people from all walks of life expressing interest in joining the caravan. Text
messages have also been numerous. Others have called and given their valuable
inputs.
One reader thought that the caravan should be composed of not more than fifty
East Africans, ten each from Burundi, Rwanda, Kenya Tanzania and Uganda
enough to move in one big bus. The fifty persons would be able to pay for their
own expenses transport, accommodation, meals and medical insurance. They
would be diverse - gender balanced and from different backgrounds.
They would be accompanied by a media crew, perhaps travelling in a separate
van, which they would share with security.
The caravan would set off from Kampala, through Nairobi, Arusha (the EAC
headquarters), Dodoma, Bujumbura, Kigali and Back to Kampala. The caravan would
request audience with the ministers in charge of East African Affairs in each
of the five member states, to whom it would submit a memorandum from the group
calling for the unconditional opening of borders to all East Africans.
Another thought that the caravan would have a Captain, a Spokesperson, a
Secretary, a Medical Doctor and a Nurse, and would be apolitical in composition
and orientation. Volunteers would be required to tick two weeks off their
calendar for the historic journey that would pave way for a borderless access
to the whole of East Africa, as a necessary step to the creation of a united,
fully integrated regional block.
All members of the caravan would have valid travel documents but will reserve
the right to produce them at immigration points or NOT to. They would hope they
won't be necessary. Members of the caravan will prove they have been immunised.
Any political personalities that would like to join the caravan would be asked
to leave their affiliations at home. Registration would be on a first come
first serve basis, under the three criteria of gender, professional background
and ability to meet own expenses.
Another reader was of the view that it was possible to get sponsors of the
caravan, East African companies and organisations that would like to associate
with this effort. She challenged the Nation Media Group to prove its East
Africanness again by being one of the sponsors. Such sponsorship would not
include transport, accommodation and meals though.
One thought that the group should include a known artist or two, to spice up
the project. Stella was so worried about the possibility of vehicles breaking
down she said she would sign up only if she got assurances that there would be
two qualified mechanics on board. She is also the cautious one. She believes
there should be space for police escorts from each of the East African State
the caravan would be passing.
Dr Besh sent a text message to 'confirm' his participation in the caravan. I
didn't ask whether he was a medical doctor. If he is, then we could have moved
one step already. Juma, a Kenyan was particularly taken by the idea, he thought
it was great to have a meeting soon to discuss the project with like-minded
East Africans to plan.
He sounded a bit uncomfortable with people selling ideas in columns with no
practical follow-up.
There have been so many details readers have thought of, it is not easy to
ignore their seriousness on embarking on this symbolic journey.
Ignatius Kasoma, an MBA student who lives in Nairobi had this grandiose idea. A
caravan, he argued, cannot be composed of one bus. There should be at least ten
of them, all full of people. It was clear to me that his excitement about the
caravan had somehow blinded him to the logistical nightmare that would ensue.
It was perhaps Oketcho, a Ugandan who lives in London, who amazed me more. He
offered to build a website for the caravan to allow online registration of
participants.
Things seem to be heating up, and I cannot tell how many more ideas will come
through this week. What is certain is that the caravan idea has taken shape.
Ordinary people in the region are really fascinated with the idea of one Eat
Africa, and are ready to go the extra mile to demonstrate that.
It would be nice to know whether you would like to join the caravan, if you
meet the criteria. Of course, a knowledge of Kiswahili is not one of them, for
Were of Kansanga offered to be our Kiswahili translator, just in case. [EMAIL
PROTECTED]
0752 656 352
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