Mature politics
Nov 05, 2002
A SENIOR official of the Reform Agenda has commended President Museveni’s handling of the rebel insurgency in Acholi.
A SENIOR official of the Reform Agenda has commended President Museveni’s handling of the rebel insurgency in Acholi.
Christopher Kibanzanga, the group’s secretary for defence, said Museveni had done well to concentrate effort and commit time to ending the insurgency that has traumatised thousands of Ugandans.
Reform Agenda is a loose group of politicians ideologically opposed to the Museveni government.
They have made a number of pronouncements on various national issues and this, without doubt, is one of the more mature ones they have come up with.
One of the weaknesses of politics in Uganda, and indeed Africa, is the instinctive opposition posturing that parties make to their opponents.
Many times, opposing groups do not evaluate the fundamentals of their position to see whether it is for the good of the society they purport to serve.
They consequently come across as selfish. Self-aggrandisement frequently comes at the expense of the national interest, and the politicians become a turn-off to the more discerning sections of the society.
The diabolic nature of the Kony insurgency is, of course, a matter of national interest.
The extent of the rebel atrocities, the trauma on the Acholi community and the national population, and the loss of national resources and lost opportunities require all well-meaning Ugandans, irrespective of ideology, to support an end to the carnage and not appease evil. This is patriotism.
We are hopefully seeing the beginning of mature politics. If we are to develop our democracy, patriotism has to rise above petty political posturing, otherwise our politicians will continue being of increasingly less relevance in the wider good of the country.
Christopher Kibanzanga, the group’s secretary for defence, said Museveni had done well to concentrate effort and commit time to ending the insurgency that has traumatised thousands of Ugandans.
Reform Agenda is a loose group of politicians ideologically opposed to the Museveni government.
They have made a number of pronouncements on various national issues and this, without doubt, is one of the more mature ones they have come up with.
One of the weaknesses of politics in Uganda, and indeed Africa, is the instinctive opposition posturing that parties make to their opponents.
Many times, opposing groups do not evaluate the fundamentals of their position to see whether it is for the good of the society they purport to serve.
They consequently come across as selfish. Self-aggrandisement frequently comes at the expense of the national interest, and the politicians become a turn-off to the more discerning sections of the society.
The diabolic nature of the Kony insurgency is, of course, a matter of national interest.
The extent of the rebel atrocities, the trauma on the Acholi community and the national population, and the loss of national resources and lost opportunities require all well-meaning Ugandans, irrespective of ideology, to support an end to the carnage and not appease evil. This is patriotism.
We are hopefully seeing the beginning of mature politics. If we are to develop our democracy, patriotism has to rise above petty political posturing, otherwise our politicians will continue being of increasingly less relevance in the wider good of the country.