Golden Jubilee: What’s holding Uganda back?
After 50 years of independence, many of the roads, like this one, are look like jungle paths. FILE PHOTO
Vision of Africa. It is clear we must find an African solution to our problems, and that this can only be found in African unity. Divided we are weak; united, Africa could become one of the greatest forces for good in the world— Ghana’s Kwame Nkrumah (1957- 1966).
On Tuesday Uganda is going to celebrate 50 years of independence. If you are dispirited by the current state of affairs and therefore, no need for you to celebrate the Golden Jubilee, that’s your choice. In any case, you’re not alone.
I am told the opposition politicians will be mourning as the rest of the country rejoices. But for those with reasons to cherish the 50 years of independence, I wish you a blessed Independence Day.
Whichever way you look at Uganda at 50, what’s not in contention is that since the departure of the white man, our country has seen the good, the bad and the ugly. This significant day on our nation’s calendar takes us back to the events that made our country, a free nation. Whether you feel free today or unceasingly beleaguered at all fronts, it’s critical that we act on the endemic challenges that are holding us back.
I remember as we grew up, my father (RIP), taught us that “the weak can never forgive”, that “forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.” This is why as a country we must learn to live together or perish together. On governance front, as we celebrate the 50 years of independence, let’s pardon those who might have wronged us, let’s reflect on our successes and failures.
Let’s be honest with the people we lead. Let’s respect the rights of the people. Let’s not steal from them. Let’s help the people flourish. Let’s ask for forgiveness and most importantly let’s bury the hatchet.
In time of awkwardness, faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase. This is why it’s critical that those in authority help millions of Ugandans who are stuck— those who enjoy the abundance of peace in the country but continuously troubled on account of rampant unemployment, corruption in private and public offices, the piercing poverty, the police brutality and other human rights abuses.
From the discussion I had this week with colleagues on the theme for the Golden Jubilee Celebrations: “A 50 Year Journey since Independence (1962-2012): A Good foundation for Social and Economic Transformation” it’s obvious; we have somersaulted in the midst of crisis on our hands. There are Ugandans today, who think that “Life Begins at 50.”
This school of thought is tagged on the wisdom that ordinarily comes with life’s experiences as we grow older. But for developing nations, the situation is different. In “traffic jam” terms at least, the panorama of Uganda’s progress is stupendous.
However, in material terms, our country has not developed at the speed of our colleagues in countries like Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan. In 1960s these nations were at the same development level with Uganda.
While it took these “tigers” more than 20 years to transform their economies, 50 years later, millions in Uganda struggle to put food on table in a peasantry economy. But how did these Asian Dragons, manage to stay focused and executed plans so fast and efficiently as they aimed?
Well, there are several reasons why these people transformed, but the obvious one is that the Asian Tigers transformed because they maintained exceptionally high growth rates (in excess of 7 per cent a year) and rapid industrialisation between the early 1960s and 1990s.
For instance, in Singapore, facing severe unemployment and a housing crisis, leaders in this country embarked on a modernisation programme that focused on establishing a manufacturing industry, developing large public housing estates and investing heavily in public education.
Since independence (1965), Singapore’s economy has grown by an average of 9 per cent each year. By the 1990s, the country had become one of the world’s most wealthy nations, with a highly developed free market economy, strong international trading links, and the highest per capita gross domestic product in Asia.
Post-independence leaders in these nations walked the talk.
Their leaders put the country first and put in place policies that promoted financial discipline in the management of public affairs.
The tragic paucity of ideas from Uganda’s post-independence leadership, today’s sickening corruption in government departments notwithstanding reflects the inability of our politicians to rise to the challenges. I thought the biggest gaffe from President Museveni’s leadership is his inability to act on what he believes is the right thing to do, but a spineless Parliament in an independent Uganda has made matters worse.
The truth is that even with the striking poverty in towns and villages and the corruption scandals all over the place, for the last 27 years, President Museveni has been in power; the country has seen some remarkable progress hinged on frivolous democracy.
I have already alluded to the stability in the country, the revenue collection has gone up (from Shs5 billion before 1986 to about Shs6 trillion to date) though the borrowing has not stopped. Private sector thrives, rule of law exists on paper and literacy rates have gone up.
However, human development index figures are terrible and transforming Uganda from a peasantry economy to a middle-income nation has in many ways proved to be a formidable challenge. For Uganda, this remains a crazy dream but somehow we are independent. Happy Independence Day.
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Flowers: Gen. David Sejusa
Gen. Sejusa, the Coordinator of Intelligence Services, takes the flowers. In spite of his position in the army, Gen. Sejusa, in his statement this week, warned against arrogance, impunity, creeping lawlessness and insensitive behaviour among some actors who manage state affairs. Gen. Sejusa said the poor people who are being beaten and flogged, women undressed in front of their children, are the ones whose poor parents fought the war of liberation. “They are the people who housed us, gave us food, provided us with intelligence and offered their all to create a better future,” he said. Flowers for you Afande Sejusa.
Frowns: Uganda Police
Three journalists were on Thursday targeted by men in police uniform and their equipment destroyed as they went about their duty during the arrest of Forum for Democratic Change leader Kizza Besigye. Daily Monitor’s photojournalist Isaac Kasamani, WBS television’s William Ntege, and Red Pepper’s Nicholas Mwesigye were assaulted and suffered various injuries while their cameras were destroyed. We thought this kind of behaviour had stopped. Once again we request Police Chief to restrain his men and women. Journalists are harmless. Frowns to whoever was in charge of the operation.
