So you thought that the morbidly ego-centric political animals existed only in the backward banana republics? Think again. Kumbe, Mayor Bloomberg thinks he is the only Jew alive with a vision for New York City. Surely, he did some good things in his nearly eight years as mayor of NYC, but is he indispensable? Apparently he thinks he is and some city councilors have given him the node—chief among them some black councilmen, a testament to how far we blacks see beyond our noses.
With the chorus for democracy ringing across the globe on the heels of the collapse of the Soviet Union and the dismantling of the Berlin Wall, rootless and radar-less Africans jumped on the bandwagon—but with twists and turns that only that dark continent can muster. Wily operators disrobed their military fatigues and donned western suits and ties. They got on ant-hills to campaign for elections—supposedly marking the ends of issuing edicts from presidential palaces. Some dudes were, effectively, the only candidate who got 90 percent of the votes! One even concocted some wacko umbrella no-party “democracy” based on individual merit. Wise men warned that the scheme was only a ruse to consolidate power. They were to be proved right in time. At the urging of his foreign sponsors he allowed multi-party democracy. He would, however, stick to them by changing the two-term constitutional mandate that envisaged curbing the madness of Africans in tasting power.
In the end even if we are put off by the stench of politics, we must still keep vigil the world over. We cannot be intimidated by Museveni’s tanks nor mayor Bloomberg’s great wealth. Out of the 28 million Ugandans there must be people who are capable of running the country as well, if not better than Museveni and his clique. And the same applies to the 8 million New Yorkers.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Thursday, October 15, 2009
War Babies Have Come of Age
For five years as war raged in the Luweero Triangle and beyond, Ugandans spitted out babies by the millions. The National Resistance Army (NRA) won, bringing relative peace. Some people then “could sleep” and produce more babies. Twenty plus years later the War Baby Boomers have come of age, and the Chief Liberator of their parents has declared them (the WBB) his ninja warriors against the pernicious corruption that threatens the very foundation of Uganda society, if there was any such. Just what is this Uganda Society? May be that is where the struggle against corruption should begin.
Several decades ago a white headmaster in a prominent secondary school in Wakiso district asserted that Uganda was corrupted from top to bottom. Has anything changed for the better or worse? Many of his students are now prominently in the NRM government. Did he get through to them? Did he also tell them how to bring about a less corrupted society, or were they taught to just be good Catholic boys and follow the Pope? From the look of it the latter seems to be the case, and the same can be said of all the schools that have produced the crème de la crème of Uganda society. So, how are we going to change to a less corrupted society if those who should know better suffer quietly and only wallow in passive aggressive behaviors?
A society is made up of people. What are the transcending qualities that define a Ugandan man or woman? Some people say it is the smiles amidst hardships. Are the smiles genuinely reflecting happiness and joy, or are they cover-ups of inner turmoil? What about qualities such as fairness in everyday affairs, living-and-let-live, win-win, honor, sense of community, to name a few? What is the tell about the character of a nation whose legislators are given paltry 5,000,000/= (U Shillings) to vote for a constitution that is meant to benefit a man backed by tanks, and who has no qualm about using it against the citizens? How are the ninja auditors and accountants going to follow the audit trails in these kinds of shady transactions? Would accounting controls instituted by the ninjas have stopped Temangalo in its tracts? What about the Mulago incident where a whistle blower is hauled away to a mental asylum by the powers that be?
Mr. President, don’t pull wool over our eyes with your young NRM cadres. Nothing will change as someone pointed out. Even your current fad in teaching patriotism won’t make a dent in the insidious corrupted Uganda society. The man said: your country is corrupted from top to bottom. Take heed. Drastic situations require drastic measures. Begin at the top with yourself—resign if you are serious because you no longer have any credibility. The ninjas too have to audit themselves about the backdoor state-house scholarships you corruptly dished out. Otherwise, they have no professional and moral standings ab initio.
Several decades ago a white headmaster in a prominent secondary school in Wakiso district asserted that Uganda was corrupted from top to bottom. Has anything changed for the better or worse? Many of his students are now prominently in the NRM government. Did he get through to them? Did he also tell them how to bring about a less corrupted society, or were they taught to just be good Catholic boys and follow the Pope? From the look of it the latter seems to be the case, and the same can be said of all the schools that have produced the crème de la crème of Uganda society. So, how are we going to change to a less corrupted society if those who should know better suffer quietly and only wallow in passive aggressive behaviors?
A society is made up of people. What are the transcending qualities that define a Ugandan man or woman? Some people say it is the smiles amidst hardships. Are the smiles genuinely reflecting happiness and joy, or are they cover-ups of inner turmoil? What about qualities such as fairness in everyday affairs, living-and-let-live, win-win, honor, sense of community, to name a few? What is the tell about the character of a nation whose legislators are given paltry 5,000,000/= (U Shillings) to vote for a constitution that is meant to benefit a man backed by tanks, and who has no qualm about using it against the citizens? How are the ninja auditors and accountants going to follow the audit trails in these kinds of shady transactions? Would accounting controls instituted by the ninjas have stopped Temangalo in its tracts? What about the Mulago incident where a whistle blower is hauled away to a mental asylum by the powers that be?
Mr. President, don’t pull wool over our eyes with your young NRM cadres. Nothing will change as someone pointed out. Even your current fad in teaching patriotism won’t make a dent in the insidious corrupted Uganda society. The man said: your country is corrupted from top to bottom. Take heed. Drastic situations require drastic measures. Begin at the top with yourself—resign if you are serious because you no longer have any credibility. The ninjas too have to audit themselves about the backdoor state-house scholarships you corruptly dished out. Otherwise, they have no professional and moral standings ab initio.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
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 deserves 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 the 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 no leader have 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.
First, the adage that a people deserves 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 the 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 no leader have 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.
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