Rating Uganda Political Parties

I have no affiliation to any political parties, but a political party personality that I most admire now in Uganda is FDC’s Dr. Besigye. Why? I believe that Courage, Truth and Execution are the bases for any successful person, organization or country—the rest are but details.

So, let us rate the major political parties based on the three tenets (or as Mr. Museveni might call “cooking stones”) of Courage, Truth and Execution.

FDC
Courage: Dr. Besigye could have pigged on the NRM kill but, in spite of all the odds decked against him, he chose to break away from the stinking NRM Yellow Bus. He was haunted into exile and was jailed on return with all kinds of calumny thrown at him. He is carrying on with rare (in Uganda politics) courage and tenacity to guide his party to victory comes 2011. Two Stars

Truth: Dr. Besigye, in his famous piece to the newspapers, exposed the rot in the NRM organization headed by a power-hungry fiend. When the party talks of democratic change, I am convinced it means it. Many of the former NRM members are men and women of strong convictions who could be comfortably pigging it with NRM. Two Stars

Execution: So far FDC has done fairly well. It is the leading opposition party in parliament. It has fought and won hard battles. There is still a lot that need to be done in organization and taking on the NRM machine. One Star

DP
Courage: The old courage that was exhibited by Northern DP parliamentarians of the 60s exists only in one or two characters. DP needs to show something spectacular to win the imagination of Ugandans. One Star

Truth: I believe DP is sincere when it says it is a party for Truth. This might be a legacy of its Catholic-leaning origin. But Truth without Courage is like Faith without Works—it is dead, according to Apostle James. Two Stars

Execution: Here is why DP has been a third-rate party. It was out-maneuvered by the Mengo cabal, with the collusion of UPC, in 1962 and could not field any candidate in Buganda thereby setting the stage for what was to befall Uganda. That was the time to raise hell instead of now crying as victims. In 1980 DP again cried: We was robbed! In 1996 Ssemogerere was tactically and successfully tied to the hated Obote and Luwero skulls. And what can DP say about the Kyadondo North by-election: We was robbed, again! ½ Star

NRM
Courage: What is going to the bush to wage war against the government if not a profile in courage? And luck favors the courageous. I have heard people beating themselves about: if we had only done this or that—or blaming the so-called illiterate Acoli generals for handing Museveni victory on the jaws of defeat. I take a different tack—Obote was already cooked—the dice was cast and there was nothing he could do about it unless he conjured up a different mindset early on—a mindset that was not difficult to achieve to have stopped Museveni on his tracks.
We may not like it, but Museveni has single-handedly lorded over the NRM and the country for twenty plus years—that is courage. Sadly, however, as a party it is full of eunuchs with no spines. 2½ Stars

Truth: What do you think of somebody who is always calling everybody a liar but him?—A liar. Museveni lied to the young idealists who joined him in the bush about the nature of the struggle—restoration of democracy. Now everything has been turned over on its head. The whole struggle was about his large ego self. The young people were his minions working for him. Blood was spilt for him. He is the alpha and the omega. 2001 poll was supposed to be his last time for the country’s presidency. We all know what transpired, and he still wants more come 2011. All manners of untruth have been massaged in his favor. ½ Star

Execution: In terms of brutality and terror on the population the Luwero war was for the books. While shoving it to the majority of the population Museveni has managed with astute guile to align him self with the powerful western countries—that is also for the books. His country’s candidacy for the Miltonian shock doctrine of disaster capitalism was also well executed. Now laissez faire’ rules, and there is a lot of money to be made even while the majority eats grass.
However, Museveni’s penchant for control spoils it all as basic infrastructures go to the dogs. Put simply: the man cannot run a government. 1 Star

UPC
Courage: UPC lieutenants have not exhibited known courage to stand up to the orthodoxy of the top dog. Some did when the party was out of power and it fell apart like a house of cards. If he lost in 1980, Obote did not have the courage, for the sake of the nation, to admit but cheat. ½ Star

Truth: Even today UPC diehards are stingy with the truths. Let them come clear about the 1980 elections. The truth will set the red party free. ½ Star

Execution: The first four years of Obote I was well executed until UPC’s first internal and KY challenges. It showed that Obote was not a negotiator of the give and take variety. It was either his way or the high road, and the country paid for it. He could not hold his forces together against the then terrorist Museveni. Oh! How times change! ½ Star

Summary:
FDC *****
DP***½
NRM****
UPC*½

Why Now?

I have always maintained that the Juba Peace thing was imposed on Museveni by the need for a successful CHOGM. He got it, and he didn’t need one anymore, and Kony gave him the excuse to go to war. However, the use of the helicopter gunships on Kony’s hideouts is not only unconscionable, but outright evil. The inhabitants of the hideouts who might have fallen to such indiscriminate strafing and mowing were women, children and abductees who were there under the control of an insane man.

In the murky Museveni-Kony world we were told that pictures of the dead would be shown in due course. And then we were told that Kony might have carried away the dead to cover his losses. This is about a man scrambling to leave “town” in a hurry to save his skin! Where is the truth? It is not beyond Museveni to get rid of the dead bodies for tactical reasons.

This is an innocent victim of a previous indiscriminate helicopter gunship campaign in the grasslands of Acoliland. Why are reporters not allowed at the scenes in Garamba?

Still the question lingers: Why now? CHOGM is one. However, it had to be planned. The recent spates of killings in Southern Sudan and DRC had Museveni’s imprints—perhaps to stir anti-LRA to the point of gaining joint military supports of the two countries.

I share the DNA of those who might have perished under the fires of Museveni’s gunships. I will pass this season in deep meditation and prayers, and wish you well in your conditions and circumstances.

Buddha Says

“Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it.” - Buddha

Walking Through the Dark Valley

Wherever one is, whatever temporal status one has attained, chances are one has passed through these milestones in the journey—Hunger, Desperation and Surrender. 

In one way or the other we each burst into this world, hungry to conquer it in pursuit of our desires—whether by hook or crook, brawn, brain or some slick stratagem—we are hungry. We are hot, we are winning, and we are full of ourselves. 

Sooner than later we encounter bumps or some earth-shaking challenges. Sometime we don’t know what hit us, and we are confused as our cherished ego is chattered.  As we grasp for our powers we ask: what went wrong? We try, in desperation, for things like therapy, witchcraft or prayer while still subscribing to the same notion of brawn, brain or fancy stratagem to recapture the old magic. Back and forth, we try harder and harder until we are exhausted and burnt-out. Dark imageries begin to dawn on us: If we are only here for four scores and ten, and it is all a struggle, why even bother? Some soon give up, and you can see it in their eyes even if they still occupy places of eminence or are low down the totem pole.   

At this time of desperation some see the light. They discover something greater than the brute force of their efforts. It is a force that they have had all along, but never fully and consciously utilized—it is the magic of the mind—how it can be manipulated to achieve wonders with such ease to bring peace and harmony with the whole universe. It is a surrender which empowers. Why did it take so long? One must be grateful for the wanderings as they were lessons that led to the discovery of Truth.

Which came first, the chicken or the egg?

Chickens come from eggs, but eggs come from chickens. So, what originally gave rise to the other? This is a question that dogged ancient philosophers as they wrestled with the questions of the universe and life. By now we know that evolution might have played a part in bringing about the domesticated chicken, and thereby making it to come first and lay eggs for self perpetuation. 

By the same token, in this day and age, as Uganda and similar countries desire to be developed, it is appropriate to ask: Which should come first, political freedom or economic freedom? 

Looking at contemporary history, what do the experiences of the Soviet Union, China and others tell us or not tell us? 

 Mikhail Gorbachev embarked on a political reform as he was cheered by the West but, because economic reform lagged behind, he became the architect of the collapse of the Soviet Union.  Now Putin has taken an iron grip of Russia, the father of the Soviet Union, and with a wealth lifeline of oil and gas it is flexing its chest in a renewed sense of national confidence. Putin is a god and the Russian people are economically appreciative even as political freedom gets the boot.  

Deng Xiaoping, the survivor of Mao’s repressive years, approached his reform differently. He will probably be noted as the father of globalization as he helped catapult the American free-market idea to new heights and made China a formidable powerhouse. And the Chinese are happy with themselves even as they lack political freedom. 

Many of the Asian Tigers seem to have developed along the Chinese model of economic freedom first and, may be, political freedom later—Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, Thailand and Indonesia are examples. 

Even many western countries did not start off as the practitioners of political freedom before heralding in economic freedom. Kings, potentates and robber barons lorded over labor of the masses to build great wealth that formed the groundwork from which present-day developed economies metamorphosed.  

While modern Japan’s political freedom and economic freedom seem to have grown simultaneously, it is likely that the economic groundwork was laid under pre-war dictatorship of Imperial Japan.

Even India had its own native potentates, in addition to the British who may have laid the basics from which present-day democracy and liberal economy grew simultaneously. 

Historically then it seems that economic freedom preceded political freedom for most peoples. On the surface it would seem that Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is falling in lockstep. Does it then follow that developing countries have to go through repressive regimes via liberal economies before the political space is liberalized? 

It is possible that, if authoritarian regimes embarked on massive infrastructure build up, they could lay the groundwork for economic takeoff. The few like Obote and Nkrumah continued where the colonial dictatorships left off but never survived to see their handy work come to fruition.  Many of the potentates who followed were and are more concerned with their personal aggrandizement and survival than any genuine commitment for up-lifting the lot of their peoples. And, in the world of instant news and universality of liberal thoughts, the dictators are a dying breed, surviving only by the grace of their benefactors who will discard them like condoms when their use date passes. 

What does this leave us with? We don’t need to re-invent the wheel. Liberalization of both the economy and the political space can go hand-in-hand to bring progress, peace, and harmony in society. Isn’t that what the end result should be about?

Come Ye Investors for Free Land

Once upon a time there were “free” lands in the Americas, Africa, the Far East and Australia. Brave whities of all tribes scrambled and tore chunks for themselves and their progenies. They left the natives caged in reservations, homelands or caves to perish in alcohol, drugs, various delinquencies and confusions. While in most of these places the thefts have been grudgingly settled, in Africa the matters are still in flux. In Zimbabwe grandpa Mugabe grabbed back the stolen land and re-distributed it to favored black-faced robber barons. He, however, forgot it is still a white world and you don’t do that to massa and get away with it. Zimbabwe’s economic, social and political make-up has gone to the dogs as Mugabe insanely fights a battle he cannot win.

Here at home we have this Museveni guy wailing to those who care to hear him. He has free land to give away to investors who should come and turn his impoverished fiefdom into an economic jewel.

For all I know, the only places in the world where investors are attracted by land availability are some of the former Soviet Republics. While this may change in the future, for now these Republics have huge infrastructures of collective farmlands of the former Soviet Union which they are leasing to the efficient western agro-investors with impressive results.

The dynamics are different for Uganda. The majority of land is in the hands of various forms of small holdings. Any large-scale farming that will attract investors' avaricious appetite will, therefore, necessitate the consolidation of these small holdings by displacements. Which sane investor will accept the possible political and legal risk ramifications that may follow if Museveni were to carry out his rhetoric of “free land?” And by the way, land is not the only requirement that attracts investors. Investors abhor uncertainties since they already have so much at stake on whether or not they will turn a profit. Mr. Museveni needs to settle once and for all if he is an unapologetic dictator or a full-fledged democrat. Either way it works to turn profit—but there must be certainty. Other requirements include viable infrastructures and predictable legal environment unencumbered by the whims of the executive.

A workable alternative could be model villages which, I understand, are being tried out. This idea may require villages to come closer together, leaving swaths of land they could cultivate for larger output. This might also involve smaller forms of co-operatives for processing and marketing purposes. If this idea is carefully thought out, communities can be preserved while at the same time increasing the national productivity without undue social and political disorientations.

Living Not to Survive

When going to school and doing odd jobs to pay the bills, two work-related incidents stand out.

The first was a night job that, at first, I could go to at any time as long as I got it done. It was a perfect job that I could schedule my homework around. Soon, however, the boss changed his mind. Now, I had to call him when I arrived and when I completed the job. There was no problem with the quality of my work—it was just an attempt to control the numbers of hours he paid me. I was disturbed, to say the least. I had to survive. But the thought of merely surviving wasn’t tenable with my personality—I quit with no promise of the next job. Surprisingly, when I came across him one day, he offered to give me a good reference for my next gig, which I got soon after.

Another incident was at one discount grocery store chain. One way of keeping costs down was hiring part-timers with no benefits. At training the personnel manager instilled the evils of unionization. One middle-aged fellow male employee falsely reasoned in our conversations that, since he got the job himself, why would he pay a union to represent him? Funny enough, he lost the job before three months. One woman stayed for only a week and quit to sue the store chain for illegal hours and the right to associate. She was awarded an undisclosed amount, and the rest of us got nice chunks of checks in the settlement.

You see where I am going with this. Living merely to survive is unnatural. Besides hindering your ability to manifest your true spirit, you soon pay for it. Look around in the office how people suffocate under the fear of not surviving. Most learn small and timid ways to survive thereby robbing themselves of creative and bold fulfilling lives.

This fear of not surviving is what robs Uganda Parliament of its manhood. Museveni has cracked the balls of the men into eunuchs and cowed the women into submission to do his biddings for an absolute monarch. Look at the country, as a result.

Somebody said: “Living boldly and well is not derived from linear logic [of playing safe]; it is a truism experienced by befriending death.” I will add that only then will you open up to creativity in meeting the challenge of the day like a man—or woman for that matter.

Kyadondo's Poll was DP's to Lose

The candidate was right. There were plenty of exploitable chances against the establishment party. The clouds that were hanging over the region were easy tools. Even if the NRM chicanery were factored in, DP should have won in Kyadondo in spite of FDC’s flirtation. Its loss speaks more about DP’s passion, or lack thereof, organizational skill pool, and the curse that has bedeviled its losing streak for two generations. How can we trust its prospective wanabe presidential candidates if the party couldn’t bag this baby?

There we go again with the quintessential Uganda blame game: FDC took it from us by fielding in a newbie.
Dah! What happened to participating in the opposition united-front overture that DP honchos scoffed at? Now when you lose, you cry foul. Don’t confuse tactics for strategy. I applaud FDC’s tactical move. Maybe DP can now see the light: the opposition can only triumph by constantly keeping a jaundice eye on the sly fox. That is a survival default mode in the lion’s den—or rather the foxhole, if you prefer.

Can the Lion Co-exist with the Sheep?

Can the lion co-exist with the sheep in peace and harmony? Not as long as there exists in the human realm the FAG factors of Toxic Motivators--Fear, Anger and Greed. The FAGs transmute into jealousy, hatred, revenge and superstition creating amalgam brews whose stenches prevent human progress, individually and/or collectively. We find ourselves spinning our wheels, roaming the desolate desert and never reaching the Promised Land.

Replace the FAGs with positive Desire, Faith, Love and Hope, and a whole new vista of abundance and light ensues to the individual and/or to the collective. Isn't that what it is all about?

A Point of View on Child Sacrifice

Business is a tough affair akin to war. In fact some business schools offer war games in their strategies and tactics classes. If you ever ran even a roasted-groundnut stall, you would know what I mean.

Today the groundnuts are burned, and yet your esteemed customers expect you to be at that corner with the kind of quality products that bring hoards of office workers at break time to your door. The next day your supplier didn’t deliver and, again, your customers expect you to be there otherwise you begin seeing fewer and fewer of the regulars that you crack jokes with. Ad infinitum—you get knocked down, kicked below the belt, or even, literally, spat on by customers. All the while people are thinking you are a success, when you are roiling inside as your cash is tied up and soon URA might shut you down for late payment.

It is tough running a business. It requires mental toughness and a Jujitsu agility to succeed. Yet some people seemingly do it effortlessly, having discovered the Midas touch. Many seek exotic aids to acquire that rare quality. This is where child sacrifice meets business.

Holding a decapitated head and severed genitals would make most of us retch and quake with horror. However, when the Kajubis of Uganda take the decapitated heads and genitals and do with it what the witch doctor prescribes, they achieve the mental edge, hence the Midas touch in business. From then on they fear nothing—nothing fazes them. Note Mr. Kajubi is relaxed and smiling—even with hand calves on. Now he is armed with the daring and quantum thinking that brings great rewards in war, business and, even winning the hearts of goddesses. Did somebody not proclaimed in his thesis paper at the University of Dar-Es-Salaam that the path to power is to hold the severed head of an enemy?

It is sick. All this could be achieved with techniques other than the horrors of war or macabre rituals.

“Qu'ils mangent de la brioche.”: “Let them eat cake,”

Both the man and his missus, accompanied by a bevy of courtiers of the baddest yellow girls in town, descended on Kyadondo. They warned, especially the youths, to vote “wisely” lest they plunge the country into the “bad old days.”
These people are really out of touch. Which 25-year old can emotionally remember the “bad old days?” Does this hearken to the last days of King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette before they were guillotined? “Qu'ils mangent de la brioche,” (Let them eat cake) so unfeelingly uttered Marie Antoinette as the French peasantry starved—thus was born the French Revolution.

Using fear as a weapon worked in the past in the region. Will it work this time around? We are at a serious crossroad, and the voters should think about the future of Uganda which is at peril. But will the voters take control, or will they be led like sheep to the slaughterhouse of more of the same NRM? Let us see what transpires.

The Snake Made Me Do It

I hear it all the time:
“I’m fat because you put me under stress.” Or I am this or did that because you did this or that.
The fact is: You are fat because you put too much calories in your system and/or can’t take your ass from in front of the TV. Any system will expand if it has excess energy that is not expended.

Let us face it; those who blame others for their failures can get under the skin. Yuck! What is wrong with these people? What ever happened to personal responsibility?. It probably had its death knell since Adam and Eve were caught with their pants (or maybe leaves) down in Paradise.

When asked by God whether he ate the forbidden fruit, Adam replied, "The woman you gave me, to be with me, she made me do it," implicating both God and woman in a single breath.

And when God asked Eve what happened, she said, "The snake made me do it."

This brings us to our favorite subject: General (Retired but Not Retired) His Excellency, His Eminency Yoweri Museveni Kaguta, President-cum-Revolutionary-cum-Military Dictator-cum Blamer-of-All-Blamers of the Republic of Uganda. Since when have you heard him take responsibility for:

1. The poor roads?
2. The miserable public health care systems?
3. The dysfunctional schools turning semi-illiterates?
4. The erratic energy supply?
5. The rampant corruption in high places?
6. The massive youth unemployment?
7. The blood that has soaked the land since 1981?

Own up, dude. You can't just cherry pick the good, which most seem by accident, au contraire to what you and your court jesters crow about.
Look at the mirror Mr. President, and you will see the cause of all that hails Uganda. That’s right; it is you, Mr. Museveni Kaguta—a control freak who, though a dreamer (which is good), can’t help but interfere in the details of running a government best left to technocrats. All is a failure of misplaced resources and inept execution.