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.