The dark side of sectarianism

Milcha   Busingye

Peoples Development Party (PDP) views government as having reneged incorporation of sectarianism, yet it is a distabalising vice in its programs to counterbalance social dis-equilibria. Social strife have resulted into civil wars.

This should be exposed especially to the young generations as the future leaders. Uganda is a mixed multilateral community with diverse cultures, ethnicity, communication barriers which will always create perpetual suspicion and mistrust.

All social groups of all divide, have exploited sectarianism as a quagmire to further their interests, especially quest for consolidation of power,  and its protection.   The benefits derived however extend for a limited period. A case in point is what happened to the post-independence political class.  They lost badly and unfortunately made loss of lives, wealth, opportunities and development. 

As for the National Resistance Movement government, its ability and resolve,  to suppress the sectarian complex will be proved on how it will minimize  social exclusion and marginalization, addressing and balancing national core values of political, economic and social disparities for dynamics of a changing population. Any back-pedaling over this matrix is a recipe for ethnic conflicts and tensions which war-lords may take advantage of, to create instability  in areas they control,thus being  costly for the nation, like organizing insurgency. 

Ugandans should adopt a doctrine of peace building and conflict management , to handle issues like where an individual rules with impunity. Thereafter, the tribe to which one belongs should not be witch-hunted, as atrocities were committed by an individual not a  tribe. This is common in some African countries.

The government is expected to adopt an infrastructural frame work for equitable development  policies to prepare for a fast growing population.  The country's demography depicts a poverty stricken population with 52% living below the poverty line.  Fertility rate of 6.7% and population growth of 3.2% being  among the highest in the world, the  projected population is 100 million by the year 2050 as per United Nations Population Fund report of year 2011.

A multi- linear application will be plausible for commensurate distribution of wealth where resources from one area will be transferred to other parts of the country.Oil sales proceeds from western Uganda  to construct hydro-power energy to northern Uganda for industrialization.

Eastern Uganda and areas of Karamoja are endowed with minerals which have to be exploited, especially the phosphates deposits. The produced fertilizers will be exchanged with oil revenues at a subsidy , to improve soils in South Western Uganda which are over-cultivated due to high population density. South Western Uganda is filled with deposits of high grade iron ore which should be mined.  

Large parts of western  Uganda produce Matooke which makes Uganda the second largest producer of Matooke after India. They are sold in raw form.  More could be earned with value addition.The capacity building allocated to different regions of the country will increase production and boost incomes of households which the government targets at sh20 million per household per year. The Industrialization is expected to create jobs for the youth and curb rural immigration to centers.

Local authorities will be able to provide basic infrastructure, like roads, health centers and electricity.

Education remains a sensitive issue which should be exclusively managed and regulated by central government, through quota systems.  The students in country side schools can not compete favorably with those in urban centers,as their studying conditions are not conducive.

The equitable distribution of wealth is an olive branch with which National Resistance Movement will guarantee minimal sectarian sentiments.

For God and my Country

Writer is the deputy president of Peoples Development Party