Sentongo/Wanzama, Brothers, History & Civics was one of favourite subjects in primary. However, it was also the most traumatic in that it was my aunt who taught the subject in my school and for me it was a nightmare because this woman almost deformed my hands and fingers with the back-hand ruler punishment for failing a question. I even went to the extent of asking my mother why the hell this woman hated me so much that she directed every question at me that always ended up with a weeiiiiuuuuw...! if I got it right or a sob if I failed. Anyway, back to the discussion: the issue for me is not whether Kiwanuka or Mutesa were the first PM and Prez, respectively. The issue for me is who did what and when for the good of the country. For me the sequence of events does not matter at all because I was born in the middle 60s and was able to know all about the country's political skirmishes during the early days. Does it really matter that George Washington was the first Pres of the US and how many people/Americans even know which political party he belonged or, at the minimum, how many Americans believe that his State of origin matters more than his contributions to the USA - a country that has had less than 6 amendments to its constitution compared to Uganda's amendments numbering in the 20s - abrogated, amended, nullified, revived, etc. I do believe that Obote did more for Uganda than any other President irrespective of our tribal feelings. He did more during his troubled 10 or so years than Museveni did in 23 years and not even close. I don't only have no clue what Mutesa or Kiwanuka did but there is absolutely nothing to show that Kiwanuka was responsible for any infrastructure development at all for Uganda, let alone Buganda in particular. By the way, if I may ask: If Mutesa was the first President and Kiwanuka was the first Prime Minister, how the hell did Obote outsmart 2 prominent Baganda to the extent he eliminated their powers without any material or tangible challenges on their part and with the capital and seat of government in their ethic territory? Can't that tell you more about Obote the man and Obote the politician that he was no tribal chief or leader, neither a bootlicker, nor a stooge? Obote was too smart a politician that he outsmarted both Kiwanuka and Mutesa by dividing their own people's allegiance to his favour. That is what you should be asking yourselves. To date, all politicians or military leaders who have led Uganda know that to succeed, one must just divide the Baganda. And they are very easy to divide because of greed. But the same did not happen in Kenya. The Kikuyu have given the rest of Kenya perpetual heartburn by not giving too much access to power anyone ruling from their own land (Nairobi). The same goes as recently for Zimbabwe's Shona and Ndebele where the struggle is more of an Intra-Shona matter than the spectating Ndebele. If I were a Muganda (and I am not asserting out of tribalism), I would be slapping my own cheeks every morning querying what went wrong with us. It is very easy for any Uganda and a Muganda in particular, to list Uganda's past Presidents as barely Mutesa, then Obote, Amin, Obote, Tito and Museveni and in the process forget or ignore Lule and Binaisa. Two chances were blown away because of division within Buganda for failing to consolidate on the opportunity. None from Teso, Karamoja, Busoga, Toro, Bunyoro, etc have appeared to lead the country yet the Ganda are quick to blame "the rest of the country" for their internal divisions and GREED. Personally, I am not a lover of History because I believe it is all about opening old wounds and revisiting past hatred. I love biographies and my bookshelf even has a copy of Hitler's Mein Kampf. I like to learn about people individually thereby get to know what made them who they were - heroes, statesmen, villains, godfathers, holy men, great singers, etc - I have them all. My wife has noticed some new trend in me that I have been collecting any movie with a black man or woman starring and I even have them in black'n'white. I have plenty of authorized and unauthorized biographies on many black statesmen from Kenyatta to Mandela, Harvey, Obama, Oprah, Kaguta, etc. The interest is in knowing how far blacks and Africans in particular, have come positively or negatively in their own successes and failures, and who have been divisive detractors (Museveni) or icons of progress (Mandela). You will be surprised. History is Uganda's greatest problem. There is nothing good to revisit. I wish we could all look forward instead of calling up on the past to change the current and future.
I am Peter-Rhaina Gwokto and I approve this message. _____ Remember: "Even a small dog can piss on a tall building" Jim Hightower http://lakitgum.wordpress.com <http://lakitgum.wordpress.com/> _____ From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of ssentongo j.b.m Sent: Wednesday, December 03, 2008 8:12 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [Str8talk-2011] Re: Obote was tough, but with me, he was shy-Miria Kalule Obote Sebastian, In a few words , all I can say is that most African politicians hate history and yet they shy from mordernity either.So one wonders where do they anchor their sources of wisdom? JBM SSENTONGO It's very saddening to learn that some Ugandans,those at home and those in diaspora,are watering down our historical events to fit their own egos. learning Civics, in those good old days, before some 'charismatic' leader bunched the institutions of learning into a public domain,i read that Ben Kiwanuka was the first Prime Minister,that King Fredie was the first President.Later,that President Obote declared himself the President of the Republic of Uganda,historical facts,pre- or post's irreversible. Civics was a crucial subject that opened up the eyes of students to both local and international affairs.Since the abolishion and hence forth the tampering of the educational structures,Ugandan men and women,seem to have no sense where our socio-economic and polical developments start and end. Last week,for example,one 'educated' Uganda asserted that the the struggle for Ugandan independence in particular,and Africa in general ,started with leaders like ....Kenyata,Nyerere,Kaunda and Obote. Partly true,but then in my Civics lessons,i learnt that the agitation for self rule, and eventually independence, in Uganda started waaaaaaaaay back in the 1920's with Baganda who 'kwekalakasaad'(rioted) against the colonial powers:their objective,FREEDOM/UHURU. If a' rational' and an' educated' Uganda dismisses these historical developments as mere 'pre-independence' exploits...and, the then Prime Minister ,had no power and over who,one wonders who's legit to determine our past and future values. It's not the Power over somebody that's priority.It's the civic obligation and respect for PRECEDENTS,SYSTEMS and PROCEEDURES that pave the way to good GOVERNANCE. Now,if the 'apparent' cream of our polity cannot comprehend these fundamentals of running a country,how can they dare delve into complicated issues around Federalism,Constitutional Reforms and,some even talk,about separatism? Time and events sre changing so rapidly,are you ready? Wanzama-Piro,Y(UO)NITED WE GROW. _____ From: ssentongo j.b.m <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, December 2, 2008 11:21:30 PM Subject: [Str8talk-2011] Re: Obote was tough, but with me, he was shy-Miria Kalule Obote Sebastian, No he wasn't, In fact he was only the second at most, if not every position he held in politics ranging from becoming the 2nd president General of UPC( FormerlyUgNational Congress) after Mr. Ignatious Musaazi,, 2nd Prime minister of Uganda after Mr. Benedicto Kiwanuka, and finally the 2nd president of Uganda after Sir. Edward Walugembe Muteesa II. JBM SSENTONGO sebastian wanzama <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Prime Minister Obote was the first Prime Minister????????can some one help me here... ----- Original Message ---- From: Gook Akanga To: ugandans-at-heart Sent: Sunday, November 30, 2008 6:20:58 PM Subject: [Str8talk-2011] Obote was tough, but with me, he was shy-Miria Kalule Obote Obote was tough, but with me, he was shy Friday, 28th November, 2008    E-mail article    E-mail article        Print article    Print article Miria Kalule Obote, 72 Miria Kalule Obote, 72 Miria Kalule Obote, 72, is Uganda People's Congress (UPC's) president. The former first lady was married to Uganda's first Prime Minister and a former two-time president, the late Dr Apollo Milton Obote, for 41 years. Rehema Aanyu had a chat with her. How did you meet the late Obote? I met Milton through his good friends during a state function. He was then the Prime Minister of Uganda. I was working with the Uganda Electricity Board. Being one of the few working and good looking girls, we were asked by the Permanent Secretary to be ushers at state garden parties organised before October 9, 1962. Because I was slim, I was also asked to model garments by Nadia Gowns. So I met him during one of these functions. What is it that struck you about him? He was smart, eloquent and very confident. He also had good friends and knew how to talk very well. When it came to me, he was a bit shy. His friends helped him a lot to win my heart. It took me almost a year to accept his advances. Why that long? First, he was a politician and a very important man in the country. I was a simple girl with a very humble background. So I had to be very careful lest I be heart broken. Second, he was Luo and that scared me too. Then you agreed? It wasn't easy. Many people said very nasty things. My Baganda friends were apprehensive, others said I had betrayed them but my parents and some of my friends supported me. I was in love and the rest, to me, ceased to matter. Did you ever regret that decision? (Very thoughtful) After the 1966 Buganda crisis, a number of people blamed me for what had happened. Obote had abolished kingdoms, stormed the Bulange and King Mutesa went into exile. Fellow Baganda branded me a traitor. Of course I was saddened. Families I was close to and friends lost loved ones. People failed to understand that, as a wife, there was nothing I could do. I wasn't co-governing the country with Milton. I was simply his wife. I never attended security meetings. I was never briefed or consulted on anything. I got to learn about things just as they happened. But as a wife, you could have tried to dissuade him or show disappointment I did not know about it until it happened. I was a young mother concentrating on bringing up my children. Milton kept the running of the country secret from me. Do people still look at you as a traitor? Some still do. Some tell it to me in my face; others simply ignore me while others refuse to acknowledge my presence. Friends we had before Milton's overthrow do not want to associate with us anymore. I feel sad and lonely at times but life has to go on. How do you sum up your 41 years of marriage? I went through a number of situations. Not having a permanent home, living in exile, going undercover, all these were very tormenting to the kids. They missed out on the stability in a home, we lost personal things. Up to now I can't trace their pictures as kids and they ask me for them. Milton was a politician all the time. The kids missed their dad but knew he belonged to the country. It was only during exile that they had him to themselves. Tell us about Obote the husband. He was a very respectful guy who never raised his voice anyhow. He respected our differences and worked to see the family as one. Do you ever see Obote as a murderer like people have branded him? No. The Obote I knew wasn't. People just demonised him. The man I knew never signed any death warrant for anybody, not even for Sebaduka, the man TURN TO PAGE 21 who tried to assassinate him at Lugogo during the extra ordinary delegates' conference in 1969. He was a respectable and respectful man who worked with all kinds of people for the betterment of his country and I respected him for this. I still respect him greatly because it takes a real man to do what he did. I read somewhere that your marriage was a political strategy … He married me because he loved me. I cannot - and will never - doubt that. We loved each other and this is what kept us together even after his overthrow. People just want to politicise everything. How was your relationship with your mother-in-law? We both had a problem with language so we did not get to know each other so well. I think she was not comfortable with me as a daughter-in-law because she judged me on what other people said about me which was rather unfortunate. Did you like Obote's hairstyle? I did not mind it. There was this one time we tried to cut it short but he refused. He said that wouldn't be him. He wanted long hair and he kept it. It was his trademark. He had beautiful thick hair. I just wished it was for a girl. How did you call each other? He used to call me mama or min awobe (acholi for mother of the children) which I found respectful. I called him daddy or mzee. What did your husband enjoy doing in his free time? He loved playing scrabble. Most of the time we played together but he was so good at it. I do not recall anyone ever beating him at it. What language did you use in your home? He hardly knew Luganda. My Luo was equally poor. We thus communicated in English even to our kids. This disturbed me as a mother and I started leaning Luo so I could communicate to them in Luo but this is the time the instabilities started. Those who attended Namasagali College were privileged to learn at least a local language. While in exile they learnt Swahili. What did you learn from Obote as a person? He was such a calm person. In times of crisis when everyone was restless, he was always calm. He naturally had low blood pressure and it never affected his health. I think this explained his calmness all the time. Would you re-live your life if there was such an opportunity? There have been a number of dark clouds in my life but then, with them came silver linings. I have had the opportunity to travel around the world, meet many different people and experience situations that many people would not. I have learnt tolerance and to accept people as they are. I would change a few things though. Do you think Obote would be proud of Uganda as it is now? A lot has changed but I think he would be saddened that the things he worked for have been ruined for instance the hospitals, schools, roads etc. Do you see him in your four sons? There is one who is a very good speaker. Akena is a bit quiet but he can be as eloquent as the father. How do you keep his memory alive at home? Two of our grandsons were named after him. We also talk about him quite a lot. -- Gook "Live what life brings; die what death comes" M. Stewart: The Wicked Day. __________________________________________________________________ Looking for the perfect gift? Give the gift of Flickr! http://www.flickr.com/gift/ _____ Now with a new friend-happy design! Try the new <http://ca.beta.messenger.yahoo.com/> Yahoo! Canada Messenger --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- An unmoderated Ugandan discussion group. Write intelligently, and write responsibly. While contributions to this forum are unmoderated, belittling yourself by posting nonsensical hateful remarks is your own shame and confirms utter stupidity. Kindly focus on initiating and/or contributing to intelligent and constructive discussions on Uganda's social, political, cultural and economic issues. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- To post to this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/str8talk-ug2011?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
_______________________________________________ Ugandanet mailing list [email protected] http://kym.net/mailman/listinfo/ugandanet % UGANDANET is generously hosted by INFOCOM http://www.infocom.co.ug/ The above comments and data are owned by whoever posted them (including attachments if any). The List's Host is not responsible for them in any way. ---------------------------------------
