Happy New Year, but prepare for some difficult days ahead: Part II

Despite some difficulties which lie ahead of us, we shall overcome because God is with us in our peaceful struggle for freedom, justice and a new beginning.

Barely two weeks into the New Year, the political temperature of Uganda has already reached fever pitch and without urgent treatment, I predict the temperature will continue to rise and rise until the sick patient a.k.a Uganda, lands in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). I hope and pray that the patient will not eventually be referred to the ICU. Of immediate concern, however, is the absence of any positive benchmarks as we enter the third month of Uganda’s Golden Jubilee year which ends on October 8, 2013.

In order to reap the fruits of the repentance which the leaders of Uganda offered in public on October 9, 2012, there must be clear and abundant evidence that the political class and, in particular, the political leadership of Uganda has fundamentally changed its arrogant, callous and predatory mindset. Although the atonement and repentance proffered on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of independence was on behalf of all Ugandans, that somber and solemn message was primarily meant for the political elite, you and me. Its major themes are freedom, justice, human dignity and healing for the broken-hearted.

The good news of deliverance to the poor was proclaimed by Prophet Isaiah and is recorded in chapter 61 of the book bearing the great prophet’s name and was quoted by Jesus Christ in Luke 4: 18 – 19. He announced release to captives and freedom to those in prison and proclaimed that the time had come when the LORD will save His people and defeat their enemies. Isaiah’s message is as relevant for us today in the 21st century as it was for people of Israel in the 8th century BC and in the 1st century AD. In verse 8, “The LORD says, I love justice and I hate oppression and crime.”

Freedom and justice are constant and recurring themes in Scripture, which reveals God’s deep and abiding concern for the well-being and welfare of His people, especially the poor, widows and orphans from the beginning to the end of time. Freedom and justice are naturally at the core of the Christian doctrine and anybody or political system which denies the wananchi justice and the right to enjoy freedom is guilty of blasphemy. God has warned of what the Bible calls the day of vengeance when the LORD has promised to repay all evil doers who have wronged, oppressed, tortured and enslaved His people. This is not idle talk or threat as evil men like to imagine.

The day of reckoning will sooner or later come at a time of God’s choice and on His terms. It is, therefore, sheer wishful thinking for anybody to relax in a fool’s paradise and hope against hope that there is no God and hence all this talk about a day of vengeance is gibberish and intended to scare people. Be warned, whether you believe it or not, the terrible day of the LORD will come to pass!

In the secular world it has been established beyond doubt that all growth is a result of freedom. It does not thus come as a surprise to me that most African countries are lagging behind the rest of the world in economic and social development; the reason is to a large measure the glaring lack of freedom in Africa. In this regard, I welcome the opening of a shopping mall called “Freedom City” on Entebbe road. I don’t know the underlying motives of the proprietors, but the pertinent name of that mall will for a long time remind Ugandans and our visitors of the supreme importance of freedom in national development. I am sure Uganda shall rise and shine if freedom was allowed to blossom in the country.

The year of LORD’s favour is full of opportunities for Uganda which will be released if the leaders of the country start to live and operate in the light instead of operating in darkness. This, in practice, means that there must be transparency, honesty and integrity in national politics and in the management of Uganda’s national resources such as oil which, needless to mention, belong to all Ugandans.

The challenge for all Ugandans is to hold their elected leaders, at all levels, accountable and if power belongs to the people as our Constitution stipulates, why should the servants of the people treat the wananchi with contempt? Why must the servants of the people routinely humiliate, insult and intimidate the wananchi who are their paymasters!

How low must a country sink before its patriotic and especially its enlightened citizens summon the courage and the will to state clearly, but peacefully that enough is enough! I believe that the time has come for all Ugandans of goodwill to stand up for their inalienable rights. If we can rise to this challenge, I believe that 2013 will open a new chapter in Uganda’s history.

Despite some difficulties which lie ahead of us, we shall overcome because God is with us in our peaceful struggle for freedom, justice and a new beginning. I believe that Ugandans deserve better than the mediocre and self-centred leadership our beloved country has endured and tolerated for much of the last 50 years! Alutta continua. Let us keep the hope alive.

Mr Acemah is a political scientist,
consultant and a retired career diplomat. hacemah@gmail.com