Chatterbox: This is why it is close to impossible to govern Uganda

You have to give it up for those who are either ruling Ugandans or aspiring to do so because governing Uganda is asking the devil to relinquish his evil ways and join up with God for a safer world. It’s that impossible a task.

Here is hassan Basajjabalaba whose business story has been riddled with stories of corruption for decades. Basajjabala’s name in some circles is synonymous to impunity and corruption that has riddled this government. So when he is finally brought to book, you would expect street parties to erupt…but no! We have his village mates “rioting” and challenging the government for arresting “their man!” It doesn’t end there. When the businessman is bailed, hundreds are waiting for him outside the court-gates chanting his name like he’s some sort of Nelson Mandela! How can you tell me you can govern that lot!?

PLE results are out and one media TV house News has the screaming headlines announcing the results that goes like, “Winners and Losers!” Now how do you call P7 graduates “losers”? What measure of life do you as a media house to use you to determine losers? Actually, if we are to discuss “losers” in as far as media is concerned, one of the biggest culprits could be this TV station! When was the last time they handed you a news analysis about a burning subject!? What they do is offer us MP’s screaming in the cameras and promising hell on earth if the President doesn’t do what they want…and off they go to another news item! And like Basajjabalaba, you too have to govern that caliber of media!

According to HIV statistics in this country, the virus is on the rise. Why? Mainly because many have abused the life-saving drugs ARV’s. However, the virus has increased in mainly married couples. That batch lost their heads a long time ago to the extent that when she tells you that she’s pregnant, you have to start looking for DNA experts to help you out with the truth come the day the baby is born. It’s that bad. Can you be married and sleep in different bedrooms for years and also add the title of “Christian couple” to yourselves? How does such hypocrisy do to your children!? And as President, you have to govern that batch!

The Africa Cup of Nations is underway and the team that has surprised many by the style of football they play, last participated in that tournament in 1976! That’s right, Ethiopia are surprising many with their kind of footballing in this tournament. However, Ethiopia compared to ranking falls behind Uganda! So how come we are not there despite all the hype of…we go…we go….Uganda Cranes we go…!? Of all countries, Ethiopia! And as a leader, you have to address the sub-standard achievements of such a country like ours!

The MP’s want to buy themselves IPads. They have bought themselves cars. They want to have their salaries increased. But ironically, they are the same people “championing” our rights for a free democratic state. What in God’s name does an Ipad have to do with delivering in your coustiuency? And as a leader, you have to deal with lots of nonsense and hypocrisy on a daily basis.

You accuse this government for having had a hand in the death of your daughter! You go ahead and even tear the President’s condolence message during the funeral. But then you go ahead and offer another daughter to the same government and party with the person you accused of killing your daughter! Before the poor soul’s body could decompose in the grave, the mother is busy fronting a daughter to take over her sister’s place. If that is not absurd and frightening, I don’t know what it is. But then as a leader, you also have to govern such!

You have a society whose heroes and heroines are the likes of Bad Black, Ivan, Zari, Chameleone, Eagles Production, Muhammed Nsereko and Robert Kasibante. What on earth have those people done for Ugandans to accord them such status that when they dare walk on the streets, they are carried shoulders high by downtown fellows?

Why not carry a doctor who earns miserably but stills comes into a hospital and saves lives and then goes back to his home only to find a very ungrateful wife nagging him about his lack of providing for the family? Why not praise and admire that doctor’s sense of service?

And you wonder why someone stays in power for 26 years!

features@ug.nationmedia.com