On December 3, the Russian ambassador to Uganda, Sergey N. Shiskin, hosted a team of former students in Russia (of which I am a member), to a round-table discussion at his residence.
The aim of the function was to help former Russian students to reflect on ways in which the Ugandan system of governance would benefit from Russia’s experience.
Central to the discussion was the national address of Russia’s president Dmitry Medvedev (an address which in some part coincided with the concerns raised by President Yoweri Museveni in his Independence Day speech).
President Medvedev re-asserted key areas in Russia’s efforts to achieve the status of a global power on a new basis.
To Medvedev, Russia’s prestige and national well-being cannot be determined by past achievements, a statement we can relate to Uganda’s new chapter which we need to re-design before the 2011 elections.
Russia became one of the most influential industrial nations of the 20th and 21st Century. But according to Medvedev, Russia today once again requires an all-round modernisation of key governmental programmes because of the world financial crisis. One of the priority areas is social support to Russia’s citizens.
It is my conviction that Ugandans and their leaders do not necessarily need to duplicate the rhetoric of the world’s most powerful leaders, but can pick out what is important. Pursuit of the well-being of a country’s nationals is not a domain singularly only for the developed world. It should also be a priority in developing countries. While the developed world sets the pace, we should closely follow in their footsteps.
If Medvedev deems it important to increase pension for pensioners, it would be good if Uganda took similar action. The world today is a global village, for that matter, for Uganda, to benefit we need to critically focus and adopt positive measures taken by other countries to solve the needs of our citizens. Our leaders should ensure Ugandans’ safety, improve health, access to energy and information as main development strategies. A healthy population is equal to a healthy economy.
President Medvedev enumerated five concrete steps in the direction of modernisation and technological development, and established a presidential commission to this effect. But the question is: Does Uganda have clear strategies for modernisation? If so, what is being done about them? Who is in charge of Uganda’s development?
Just like Medvedev did not mince words in his desire and devotion to fight corruption and improve the quality of the judicial system, President Museveni in his Independence Day address promised to wage war on corruption. In his recent pronouncement, he promised to protect the public accounts committee as a way of eliminating corruption and this is a welcome move.
However, it remains to be seen whether those found guilty in the misappropriation of CHOGM funds will face the law.
The alumni students of Russia will endeavour to bridge the gap between Russia and Uganda. Uganda has a lot to learn and explore from Russia and vice-versa.
The writer is the chief executive officer of Soyuzonline, an organisation that links all former Soviet graduates
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