Simon Okurut
The danger in your reasoning is failing to realize that a transitional
government has been done already. The military council came in to do exactly
that, UNLF/UNLA came to do exactly that, Tito Okello and Olara Otunnu came in
to do exactly that, NRM/NRA came in to do exactly that. You cannot create a
transitional government in Uganda because you have no authority to do that. The
only people that can create a government in Uganda are Ugandans because Uganda
belongs to Ugandans.
Let the country go to its owners.
EM
On the 49th Parallel
Thé Mulindwas Communication Group
"With Yoweri Museveni, Ssabassajja and Dr. Kiiza Besigye, Uganda is in anarchy"
Kuungana Mulindwa Mawasiliano Kikundi
"Pamoja na Yoweri Museveni, Ssabassajja na Dk. Kiiza Besigye, Uganda ni katika
machafuko"
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Friday, July 25, 2014 8:49 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: {UAH} Post-NRM regime will be a shared achievement.
FN,
My last opinion is, regional balance will likely eliminate the impunity of
leaders neglecting other regions and it should be the way forward if we are to
reduce future misunderstandings. I did not say there must be equality but there
fair representation.
Remember, we are talking about a transitional government; a good start will
likely pave a good end. I don't know where you were in 1979; one of the
criticisms labelled against Yusuf Lule was that he fondly addressed people in
Luganda, something which annoyed non-Luganda speakers.
May be I should not have brought in the language issue however, there is a
tendency of our people associating the language where the rulers come from to
be almost the national language, a big mistake in a multi-ethnic community. You
are right, through marriage, we have people that identify with two or more
regions, but I doubt if that can diminish major differences in diversity. Then
there is understanding other languages because of work and school such that may
not speak the language much but has a good understanding of the same.For
example, in my home we speak at least four local Ugandan languages such that
some people fail to position us and sometimes I bear the embarrassment of being
abused or talked about by people who think I am not what they think I am, so
they blast their venom only for me to start a conversation in the same language
but after they have talked. Then apologies start but I am gone and I leave them
with mouths wide open.
I am told Binaisa and Oyite Ojok got serious misunderstanding when Binaisa
degraded Oyite by telling his Muganda visitor in Luganda that to him, soldiers
merely follow orders, that there Oyite would do nothing but to follow orders.
Oyite being a gentleman kept quiet, he understood the exchange of his boss and
the visitor but Binaisa never suspected. Binaisa goes ahead to send Oyite to
Ghana as ambassador, Oyite refuses, the rest is history.
It was good sharing with you and remember, these are mere opinions, nothing
concrete but the discussion helps in shaping debates on the Uganda we want and
inclusive state where everyone is proud to belong or to identify with.
By the way, I strongly propose that even after the transition government, the
elected government must be guided by the Constitution to ensure that there is
national representation. While capability and ability should not be
compromised, leaders ought to be wary of their appointments. Imagine a
situation where the the president, vice president, prime minister, IGP,
minister for defense, minister for foreign affairs etc all follow one route
when going to their villages, is that a good choice or does it mean only people
from that route are capable? It may be true that they are the only capable
ones, which again brings a problem, how did it come that other regions failed
to produce such people or would it mean that opportunity was not accorded to
others, surely there are people more capable than some of those chosen because
of "capability" whatever the word means.
Peter Simon
On Friday, July 25, 2014 7:00:37 PM, 'Federica Nshemereirwe' via Ugandans at
Heart (UAH) Community <[email protected]> wrote:
Simon,
Now what is that "National"all about? It's like you are already stratifying the
presidential commission! Let it be four people of equal status, right? Then
let's make sure they are of high integrity and with good leadership skills,
right? So the question of speaking their local languages and the question of
mistrust dies not arise, right? And there are functional institutions with
people from all regions and localities, employed for their skills, knowledge
and integrity, not through backdoors. I don't see where the question of where
they come from matters. Don't forget some people can come from two or more
regions. E.g. Robert Kabushenga is from Mbale as well as Rukungiri. Sam
Kuteesa's is from Sembabule yet he is also from Kiruhura. I am from Bushenyi
but also from Buganda. Museveni is from Kiruhura but also from Kisozi. Jessica
Alupo is from Katakwi but also from Kabale! Betty Bigombe is from Acholi but
also from Kabale! Specioza Kazibwe is from Busoga but also from Buganda! How
will you determine where their loyalties will fall!
Regional representation will dilute the quality of leadership I think.
FN.
Sent from my iPad
On Jul 25, 2014, at 12:13 PM, "'Simon Okurut' via Ugandans at Heart (UAH)
Community" <[email protected]> wrote:
FN,
Thanks for your feedback. If the idea of presidential commission is agreed
upon, I think it makes great sense if the four represent our regions, it will
prevent a situation like the four great leaders. Consider this kind of
arrangement:
Western: (Eric, Allan, Amanya and Byenyima);
Northern: (Okello, Cecilia Ogwal, Lapeim, Dradru),
Buganda: (Bukenya, Mulindwa, Beti Kamya, Semakula)
Eastern: (Pojim, Asianut, Namayanja and Etyang)
National:( Eric, Ogwal, Beti Kamya, and Pojim)
As you see the above, all are very intelligent and capable and can do a
wonderful job but the first four not representative and typical of current
structure, they will start speaking their local language to share their
secrets and try to make their sayings national without checking if they are
applicable to others.
Think about it, it makes sense if there is fair representation because part of
our problems seem to arise from lack of trust of others.
This would be affirmative action; the mechanism for conducting business could
be worked out something like rotating chairmanship every six-months or every
year depending on the transition period; and also a source/bank for leaders
already trained in one way or the other.
Imagine if NRM had adopted such an arrangement, may be we would not be stuck
with one visionary who has refused to vacate the seat never mind how wanting
his "visions" are!
Enjoy your week-end!
Peter Simon
On Friday, July 25, 2014 12:07:07 PM, 'Federica Nshemereirwe' via Ugandans at
Heart (UAH) Community <[email protected]> wrote:
Simon,
Thanks so much for that perspective.
I still have a reservation on getting four leaders from the four regions
because it could compromise the quality of leadership. This will not
necessarily be the key to getting ideas from all corners of Uganda because it
is not these individuals bringing the ideas. It is the people, the public, the
workers, who have ideas. As long as there efficient communication channels and
information flow all ideas should be easily gathered. The work of the leaders
is to make important decisions basing on ideas from the people. There are many
other positions to serve this country from. I don't, for instance, see anything
wrong with the four leaders coming from Bugisu, Teso, Acholi and Bunyoro! As
long as there quality people of integrity they can make the decisions basing on
institutional needs below them. If for instance a decision is to be made on the
infrastructure required for agricultural marketing, and the ministries
concerned have analyses the situation and submitted recommendations, the four
leaders will look at it without thinking "I am from Apac so we should not
accept this and that, the way I sometimes hear these MPs talking. So, anyway, I
still think selection of leaders should be based on their integrity and
leadership skills.
FN
Sent from my iPad
On Jul 25, 2014, at 9:08 AM, "'Simon Okurut' via Ugandans at Heart (UAH)
Community" <[email protected]> wrote:
FN,
You raise very important observations especially about those considered late
joiners! Eric might have had good intentions when he stated that issue but he
needs to explain it better. Who really has a record of people and their
contributions to regime change? Should we give the Kony, Peter Otai or those in
jail accused of trying to overthrow NRM, the leadership since they began the
struggle much earlier than UDU (2011)?
And some late comers are so technical and know exactly how to cause a
meaningful change and if their ideas work, shouldn't they take the credit? We
could also argue that the "senior" liberators do not deserve too much respect
since their methods failed to cause change for example, Kony has been fighting
for the last 20 years without end, so why should some people think because they
began mobilizing earlier, they deserve better? Suppose gen. Sejusa and some
guys launch a military offensive and really shake Kampala, will colleagues Eric
and Ocaya run to stop them saying, "No, no, stop here, you came late?"
I think we should assess what people bring to the liberation table not basing
on when they mooted the idea of liberation. We should welcome all ideas and
persons willing to contribute and no discrimination whatsoever be visited on
any Ugandan.
In my view, Gen. Sejusa is a very good asset toward the project; he has what it
means to create a rapid disintegration of the current Kampala establishment.
On your concerns about choice of presidential commission regionally, I think
Eric is correct because it draws ideas from all corners of the country besides
bringing unity and ownership of the leadership. We have qualified people all
over the country. The only problem is that people are scared of coming up to
show their presidential qualities; even those ones like Amama Mbabazi are
denying their ambitions because of fear. Ring-fencing of positions by
individuals is for guarding against competition which would deny them rulership
because of their mediocrity; some candidates are better qualified than those
claiming to be better. If we were asked to propose names, I could give a list
of at least 20 potential members to choose from,5 from each region. This is
where the vetting committee comes to play a major role of ensuring that we put
in place respectable Ugandans to nurture the baby.
On exposure whether past or post independence, there is no doubt that little
has been done to provide the truth about our country. Facts, myth, malice,
opinions, dreams and the like have all been mixed up with one aim, to discredit
the previous regime in order to get support, so Eric is kind of right to state
that there is lack of exposure, the only problem is that he singled only one
period in our history.
Otherwise, this is good, we should discuss more of this stuff. I am ready and
qualified to serve in most areas of development.
Peter Simon
On Wednesday, July 23, 2014 2:29:08 PM, 'Federica Nshemereirwe' via Ugandans at
Heart (UAH) Community <[email protected]> wrote:
Eric,
I agree with you on this well meaning trend of thought. However, I differ on
three points:
I. When you mention those who joined later, you remind me of the NRM
historicals who loaded it over others and claimed more privileges! Don't let
this happen this time. It shouldn't matter when one joined. Not all people have
same kind of understanding or source of information to do things at the same
time. In the bible, even those who came at the eleventh hour got the same wages.
2. I don't agree that we base the selection of the presidential commission on
four regions. That could be a ground for selecting Incompetent people just
because hey are from a certain region. In any case what are the four regions of
Uganda ? For instance if you say eastern, will you get a Mugisu, itesot, or a
musoga? Then what will the Basimika say? Selection should be based on
leadership qualities!
3.when you say children born after 1986 have not been exposed to uganda's post
independence violence which ones do you refer to. As far as I know children
from northern Uganda, eastern and Ruwenzori region have all been exposed to
violence in the roast possible way. Remember kichwamba, mukura, all northern
uganda!?
That is my submission.
FN
Sent from my iPad
On Jul 21, 2014, at 8:32 PM, Frank Mujabi <[email protected]> wrote:
Eric
WHO will be holding the gun in the transition?
Sent from my iPhone
On 22 Jul 2014, at 01:08, Eric Kashambuzi <[email protected]> wrote:
Fellow Ugandans, we see there are people who are now beginning to claim that
they are “game changers” when they joined the opposition not long ago, some of
them having served the NRM regime in senior positions until recently and
possibly responsible by commission, omission or delegation for crimes against
humanity. On the other hand, there are those who have been in serious struggle
immediately after the 2011 stolen elections.
UDU which was created in July 2011 has been working tirelessly to mobilize
Ugandans at home and abroad for a peaceful change of regime in the first
instance. We have written to all sectors of the population including the
military and the police, gender, youth, civil society organization and
religious leaders etc. urging them to join the opposition. Therefore those late
comers who are now claiming that their success is within sight need to think
again.
While we welcome everybody to join those struggling for regime change, we must
avoid a situation where late comers may be tempted to claim victory the
winner-take –all style. We should avoid what happened in Ethiopia immediately
before the imperial regime collapsed in 1974.
For those who may not know, the revolution in Ethiopia was launched by ordinary
people in urban and rural areas including women and youth particularly the
poor, landless, unemployed and hungry. They were joined by taxi drivers
protesting the rising price of oil that quadrupled in late 1973. They were then
joined by students and later workers.
When the regime was about to fall as is about to happen in Uganda, the military
stepped in and captured power and ignored those that had been struggling and
preparing the country for a regime change. The civilians claimed the right to
form the government because they were the ones who mobilized the population.
When the army refused, a long civil war ensued, resulting in heavy casualties.
In Uganda, we should avoid what happened in Ethiopia and embrace the Filipino
model of People Power, where civilians and military people that opposed the
government of Ferdinand Marcos joined hands and removed it from power
peacefully.
Additionally, to avoid post NRM political instability, or even a civil war as
we discussed and agreed in The Hague we should reflect on Uganda’s chaotic
history since independence and be creative. The institutions we inherited at
independence haven’t served Uganda well. To do things better after NRM has
exited, we should set up a transitional government with all Ugandans
participating except criminals within and without NRM. Then the new government
should be led by a presidential team of at least four people each drawn from
the four regions of Uganda. We should also avoid getting people from the same
group scattered in all parts of the country. Those who have jumped NRM ship and
are now claiming to lead the opposition need to be scrutinized very carefully
to establish whether they have genuinely left NRM or still working for it and
want to weaken the opposition and maintain the status quo. Furthermore, joining
hands with the devil to create a critical mass for regime change is the wrong
way to go because once the regime is changed the wolves will turn against the
sheep, witness post-Moshi in-fighting soon after the late Lule formed the
government.
The transitional government besides running the day to day affairs of state
should amend the constitution as appropriate or govern under a transitional
charter. It should conduct a population census to give the latest demographic
characteristics for registering voters, planning for poverty reduction,
building institutions such as schools and clinics according to the population
characteristics in different parts of the country. Then there should be a
national convention to decide how Ugandans wish to be governed.
National institutions including the public service commission, security forces,
and the relationship among the legislative, executive and judicial branches of
government should be reviewed to reestablish separation of powers and checks
and balances and to make sure that one person in any institution does not
accumulate power into his/her hands and dictate to others.
The transitional government should set up a truly independent electoral
commission agreed to by all legitimate groups to prepare for free and fair
multi-party elections at an appropriate time.
An independent vetting commission for presidential and parliamentary candidates
should also be established to weed out those not qualified to contest
elections. Profiles would be established for presidential and parliamentary
candidates.
Winner take all politics, one person as president, one person as chair of
public service commission and senior security officials from one group or a few
regions should be abandoned and replaced by collective decision making
apparatus as is practiced in Switzerland, a country whose federal institutions
were built from the ground up. These proposed governance arrangements if
implemented might have a better chance of creating peaceful and inclusive
societies to avoid post-NRM crisis undermining economic development and social
progress.
The Hague process that brought Ugandans together from home and in the diaspora
and met for the first time in The Hague (The Netherlands) in November 2013 has
already begun mobilizing Ugandans along these lines. The ideas of a
transitional government, presidential team and national convention have already
received strong support at home and abroad. Methods for peaceful regime change
were distributed to The Hague process members after the London conference that
took place at the end of June, 2014. They accompany an agreed upon roadmap for
regime change and formation of a transitional government.
Those born after 1986 have not had the opportunity to be exposed to Uganda’s
bloody history since independence. NRM government has minimized providing
information about Uganda’s post-independent history because it has participated
in some of the ugly events it would not want to be associated with. Those who
ignore history are bound to repeat its ugly commissions and/or omissions. UDU
and The Hague process will continue to conduct civic education including on
Uganda’s history.
For those who want to know about Uganda’s history and what UDU has done
including preparing a National Recovery Plan and diplomatic networking are
advised to visit www.udugandans.org <http://www.udugandans.org/> .
Not least, Uganda belongs to all the citizens who were born free and equal in
rights and dignity and all are subject to the rule of law.
Eric Kashambuzi
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