Uhuru: Ask what you have done for Uganda
Oct 09, 2007
UGANDA yesterday marked the 45th anniversary since it attained political independence from Britain. Independence meant that Ugandans had the power to determine their political and economic destiny.
UGANDA yesterday marked the 45th anniversary since it attained political independence from Britain. Independence meant that Ugandans had the power to determine their political and economic destiny.
During the first 24 years of independence, Uganda was in a political crisis that left the economy in ruins. It started with the abrogation of the Constitution and ultimately resulted into a military coup. National elections scheduled for 1967 were postponed indefinitely. Part of the country was governed under a state of emergency with political freedoms and rights suspended.
But, the country has over the past two decades recovered from being a pariah state to a success story in many fields, such as in the HIV/Aids and in the promotion of universal primary education.
There have been regular fairly free and peaceful presidential and parliamentary elections since 1996.
The country has emerged as a respected player on the international scene. In the economic field, the economy has become vibrant once again, and foreign investment inflows are increasing by leaps and bounds. Discovery of oil in western Uganda has boosted the country’s economic potential.
Nevertheless, challenges remain. Economic transformation is still a long way to go. Poverty remains a major problem across the country. The reconstruction of the north after an insurgency that has lasted for close to 20 years poses a monumental challenge. The floods devastating the north and eastern Uganda have complicated the situation.
Many people have a tendency to blame the Government for not fixing the roads, not providing adequate resources to hospitals and schools, not recruiting enough judges and magistrates, not doing this or that. Every person should instead ask himself or herself what he or she has done to make Uganda a better country.
If you are in business, have you paid your taxes? Instead of condemning NEMA for not enforcing the ban on the small polythene bags, have you helped enforce the ban?
Are you contributing to conserving the forests and the environment? Are you contributing to a making your city, municipality, town or trading centre clean?
During the first 24 years of independence, Uganda was in a political crisis that left the economy in ruins. It started with the abrogation of the Constitution and ultimately resulted into a military coup. National elections scheduled for 1967 were postponed indefinitely. Part of the country was governed under a state of emergency with political freedoms and rights suspended.
But, the country has over the past two decades recovered from being a pariah state to a success story in many fields, such as in the HIV/Aids and in the promotion of universal primary education.
There have been regular fairly free and peaceful presidential and parliamentary elections since 1996.
The country has emerged as a respected player on the international scene. In the economic field, the economy has become vibrant once again, and foreign investment inflows are increasing by leaps and bounds. Discovery of oil in western Uganda has boosted the country’s economic potential.
Nevertheless, challenges remain. Economic transformation is still a long way to go. Poverty remains a major problem across the country. The reconstruction of the north after an insurgency that has lasted for close to 20 years poses a monumental challenge. The floods devastating the north and eastern Uganda have complicated the situation.
Many people have a tendency to blame the Government for not fixing the roads, not providing adequate resources to hospitals and schools, not recruiting enough judges and magistrates, not doing this or that. Every person should instead ask himself or herself what he or she has done to make Uganda a better country.
If you are in business, have you paid your taxes? Instead of condemning NEMA for not enforcing the ban on the small polythene bags, have you helped enforce the ban?
Are you contributing to conserving the forests and the environment? Are you contributing to a making your city, municipality, town or trading centre clean?