47 Years Wasted Indeed
Mutebi, the King of Buganda, recently observed that 47 years of Uganda’s post
Independence from our colonial masters have been wasted with nothing but
dysfunctions to show for it. Many would agree with him.
First, the adage that a people deserve the leaders they have holds true for
Uganda. All the qualities that brought us to here are ingrained in all of us:
the ruthlessness, the fears, the jealousy, the greed, the opportunism, the
obsequiousness and the cowardice.
What was the transcendental universal principle upon which the Obote-Mutesa
unholy alliance deprived the people of Buganda of suffrage in the independence
elections of 1962? It was merely opportunism on both sides, the consequences of
which reverberate to this day for all of us.
The recent riot in Kampala is still fresh in our minds. All who are fair agree
that there was no sane reason other than opportunism for Museveni to stop the
Kabaka from visiting his people. And the ruthlessness with which the rioters
were dealt with is characteristically how we individually solve our private
disagreements and conflicts. But there was a silver lining in that King Mutebi
showed strength and restrain that escaped his father in 1966? Ever since the
1966 debacle we have been deprived of skills and wisdom in finding holistic
solutions to the challenges of the day.
Take the prevailing powerhouse, the National Resistance Movement (NRM); there
was nothing “national” in the resistance war that brought it to power in rivers
of blood? At the core it was a Buganda Resistance Movement (BRM). The
Banyankole, the Banyarwanda, and Bakiga who were co-opted into the resistance
war were merely following the son of the soil—Museveni—who saw an opportunity
for himself through Buganda’s disaffections. If we still cannot see the light,
then there is no word to describe our stupidity.
Ever since independence, our leaders have been greedy for power and have been
ruthless at will with the tacit support of our fears, cowardice and
obsequiousness. Who stood up in the Lukiiko for restrain? Who, with firm and
principled conviction, advised Obote against his excesses? Who could have
skillfully stopped Amin before he decimated thousands?
Where is the spirit? Where is the passion for the Uganda nation? There is none.
Colonialism was a protection affair. The King of Buganda wanted protection,
hence the Protectorate of Uganda to which the rest of us were grafted. The
colonial master juggled us like a magician’s balls. And things seemed steady as
long his steady hands held sway. Boarding schools, Christianity, Islam and
leader has not been successful in injecting real nationalism in the heart and
minds of the masses. The politicians cannot exploit what doesn’t exist in
us—the narrow but real ethnic survival instincts. Where is a Nyerere?
In the history of Independent Uganda, one man who was in the circles of power
stood up, on principle, to oppose the cunning, ruthless and cynical
all-powerful president. Many may still question what his inputs were when the
NRA excesses in Acoliland went to the extent of spawning a Kony. However, if
Dr. Besigye becomes the standard of our leadership class, there is hope. All
will also be well if we have more of Kabaka Mutebi.
Odiya
Just Be
Odiyatalks
_________________________________________________________________
Hotmail: Free, trusted and rich email service.
http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/171222984/direct/01/_______________________________________________
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.
---------------------------------------
