Let’s claim the glory that our country deserves together

It is always my pleasure to share my views on what I think, especially amidst a chaotic social process that we are experiencing in Uganda today. I call it chaotic because yes, it is. And much as you may see a lot of people smartly dressed and going on their businesses on the streets in town, they are organised and calm outside, but there is a lot of chaos inside them. This partly explains why we seem to have a sort of “resigned” generation, my generation. Today, I write about that.

Simply put, I am frustrated with the nature of life that my generation is living. I am bothered by the attitude that my generation carries. I am scared of the possible outcome of the seemingly silently chaotic minds that I see in town and everywhere. I am mindful of the responsibility that awaits my generation. I am aware that my generation is partly ignorant about what lies ahead of them. I am rather just not comfortable with the state of resignation that my generation is in. This is because they seem to have sacrificed the future to the current holders who are actually living their future (refer to my Rwakitura friend and other comrades who “liberated” this country). And I am really challenged at what we can do to avert the situation.

My generation is the young people of this country, the middle class of this country, the public servants of this country, the men and women in uniform of this country, the civil society of this country (and there is a very big problem here), the political leaders of this country, the religious leaders of this country, and the elders. Such is the generation that has betrayed me - divorced and widowed me at the same time. Who really put a spell on this my generation? My generation seems to have lost control of itself. We seem not to care any longer and have let everything to happen on its own will. And I feel this is wrong.

I have engaged in many things, including business, public service, civil society, religious processes, and political leadership, among others. I am so privileged that I have been able to do all these in my youthful age, and I always do with a keen ear to get feedback for my personal growth. But in all these, I have always had the most discouragement from my own generation. There is a strong “we can’t” element in this my generation. And after you have proved them wrong, there is standby hatred, resentment, intrigue, malice, and unnecessary competition.

I call it negative energy that sometimes burns our inner will to strive for a better society. Until recently, I had a lot of hope in a section of society to which I belong and loved so much. But to my dismay, I have discovered that this section is actually worse in operations compared to the animal they are hunting. Once I discovered this reality, I have been bleeding and tearing in my heart. And I am now on a mission to look for answers that my generation is not willing to give me.

What is left for all of us though is the responsibility to retrace our past dealings, and see where we have gone wrong and correct with immediate effect. Otherwise, history will judge us harshly. To the young people of this nation, let’s rejuvenate our dreams, energies, knowledge, tools so that we can relaunch our desire for the strong grasp of this nation. Let us show cause that we are the true heirs to the throne and we have what it takes to take charge. By this, I don’t mean that we should get excited and start jumping from side to side. I don’t mean we should make the loudest noise either.

I think that if we get excited and start making the loudest noise, we shall be playing to someone’s advantage. I am talking about the self-acclaimed kings of the Ugandan kingdom, the warring prince, who now feels a big sense of entitlement that he must inherit the kingdom, the king from the ghetto side, and the very many chiefs who are willing to do anything to protect the interests of the three top lords, and of course, the adversaries that wield a lot of power these days).To the political leaders, please purpose to examine your hearts and ascertain that the direction in which you are driving this nation is the right one, even when you also know that it is not.

So kindly reconsider your actions and reduce your appetite for public resources, care about us your sheep, and consider our interests and indeed the interests of the country and about your own interests. That is why I am eagerly waiting for the #CountryBeforeSelf camp to see what plan they have got for this country.
We honestly deserve much better. To religious leaders, you have neglected the flock that God purposed you to take care of. You have even gone ahead to threaten going an extra mile to plan to connive with the authorities to grab the little that the sheep are earning. Please reconsider, and respect the welfare of the people, provide the moral companionship that you are supposed to provide. Give your opinion to guide the political landscape (much as this may require you distancing yourselves from the political gifts, a step I am not sure you are willing to take, but which is doable and possible.

To the civil society where I belong mostly, please let us practice what we preach. Let us stop engaging in bad governance yet we are the candle that is meant to light good governance in this nation. Let’s stay away from nepotism, chauvinism, tribalism, corruption, injustice, human rights abuse, among other evils that we are mandated to fight against in society.
Let us be accountable so we are able to ask other players in society to be accountable. Let’s wish one another well, and fight a common cause other than grooming divisionism that is silently eating up our society. Let’s tame the greed that comes at the forefront of our dealings with the “enemy”. To the men and women in uniform, we can do much better by remembering that you are a Uganda whether in or out of uniform.
Let’s claim the glory that our country deserves, together.

Mr Kyokwijuka is a citizen from Kigarama and the executive director at Youth Aid Africa.
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