Failure to recognise your own is lack of patriotism – Part I

A renowned professor of Science and Technology recently reminded me that as Ugandans we do not recognise the value or contributions of one another. In this regard we are very primitive.

While I was still a minister in the NRM government, several colleagues and I attended an African Union meeting in Addis Ababa, and met the Uganda community in Ethiopia. They complained that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs totally ignores more qualified and talented Ugandans in its recruitment policies and appointments.

On May, 22, 2017, Dr Peter Gukiina Musoke, a renowned philosopher and writer, wrote to Justice Catherine Bamugemereire and recommended that “Prof G. W. Kanyeihamba should be invited to share his knowledge, views and wisdom on the facts, politics and laws on the land questions you are mandated to deal with”, and said to the Justice that, “I am glad to inform you that Prof G. W. Kanyeihamba is very willing and very able to appear at the time of your choice and convenience”.

The land inquiry commission secretariat acknowledged receipt of Dr Musoke’s letter. I have not been invited. On the other hand, land grabbers have been. The first mentioned professor was shortlisted for a very important post which would have enabled him to develop the merits and wonders of Science and Technology and educate many Ugandans in his speciality.
He lost the post to a candidate who was supported by reasons other than the advancement of science or ideal leadership.

Many Ugandans have been highly recommended or applied to both local and international jobs but the Uganda authorities, who use criteria known only to themselves, prefer others who are in some cases the most unsuitable to represent this country.

A scholar well known for his industry was once rejected by the recommending authority at Makerere University under the lame excuse that Makerere University prefers its own candidates for this office. The list of known decisions preferring mediocrity, or even foreigners to compatriots who excel is endless.

Following the establishment of a visitation committee of inquiry into the affairs of Makerere University, I expected people like Prof Frederick Kayanja, Prof Abdul Kasozi, Prof George Kirya, Prof William Banage and Prof Mary Okwakol to dominate the proceedings and give us a blue print for our university education benchmarks.

I was lucky because the late Dr Abel Rwendeire invited me to participate in the exercise. He appeared to have been keenly interested in my contribution because he was a scholar and a patriot. In the presence of his fellow commissioners, he said he would invite me again before the commission completed its work.

Following his untimely death, I never heard from the commission again. It eventually completed its work and handed its report to the ministry of Education. Since then, they have not sent me a copy of their report or advised me where we can get a copy. I do not know whether any of my views were reflected in the report.

My former colleague, Prof Joseph Kakooza, and I co-founded the Department of Law at Makerere University which is now the School of Law. I do not know whether his portrait as the first dean of the Faculty of Law is anywhere to be seen in the faculty building.

However, I was recently gratified when the law students of Nkumba University interviewed me about him and said they were planning to erect his bust at the university.

Prof Kanyeihamba is a retired Supreme Court judge.
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