What is the Idea of a Uganda?

 Before one sets out to do anything, one has to have an idea or a concept—even in something as mundane as eating or having sex.

Richard Dawkins coined the word “meme,” as a unit of information that comes to mind and can get replicated in other minds. Infected with a meme, an individual or a population then behaves in a particular manner. A meme can infiltrate a mind subtly and unconsciously or purposely by an agent.

The Protestant Puritans and Pilgrims who went to America did so on the basis of an idea—a meme—of seeking freedom to practice their strict biblical belief system rather than English monarch’s more worldly version of the Church of England. A meme of fear of the Pope’s influence later guided this same Protestant America to develop intolerant actions against Catholics who came to its shores. Only a group of agnostics, deists or even closet atheists, amongst the so-called founding fathers, was to save the fledgling nation from the clutches of the Church with the concept of “separation of church and state.” Other ideas such as the “American Dream,” “Pursuit of Happiness,” “Inalienable Rights,” or “Individual Freedom” guided and still guides the actions of America. While other concepts, such as “National Interest” inspired actions that murdered Congo’s Patrice Lumumba and association with dictators who pillaged their nations’ coffers and abused their people.

So, one can see that America became America based on some defined ideas. The actions from such ideas are the results we see today.

In the case of Uganda, what idea or ideas can inform us of where it is and where it is going? If any Ugandan goes blank on the question, may be because there is no clear and concrete definable idea of a Uganda. The idea of Uganda was a British creation, with minimal input from the Buganda aristocracy of yore. The rest of us were just co-opted for the ride into these two’s memes, and we acted haphazardly to boot.

When the British had their acting and left, the Protestant Lango’s Northern UPC Obote had his idea, and the Protestant Buganda’s Mutesa had his idea as they joined hands in a marriage of convenience. The twain was destined to collide, and they did. Since then various actors have come and gone. Obote came back and left again unceremoniously.

Judging from his staying power and the arithmetic of his followings, it seems the Musevenian model—a meme of benevolent military dictatorship—is a viable idea for Uganda. This is amidst the cacophony of tribal memes and a recent history of bloodshed and instability. However, should stability and some measures of economic growth be bought with dictatorship? Is the idea of absolute power in the hands of a single person not fraught with abuse of power and the dangers of the creation of a dynasty?

In a neighborhood where a neighbor enacts a law against farting, can we rise above ourselves and define an idea that can propel to greatness, or should we just muddle along?