Why Uganda still needs Museveni

Feb 25, 2014

Until his Speech on the 33rd Tarehe Sita commemoration held in my home district, Buhweju, I had never clearly understood Museveni’s revolutionary strategy of work.

By Patrick Katagata

trueUntil his Speech on the 33rd Tarehe Sita commemoration held in my home district, Buhweju, I had never clearly understood Museveni’s revolutionary strategy of work.

Before this day, I had understood him but only as often presented with dents especially by the opposition. I naïvely believed some lines. Either their political ambitions blurred objective comprehension or deliberately misrepresented him!

Significantly, on that day he explained that the attack on Kabamba barracks on February 6, 1981, was actually a continuation of an earlier struggle against Idi Amin and crowned it with emphasis that for any revolution to be successful, three things must be carefully observed: (correct) Ideology; discipline and organisation.

For these, the UPDF has transformed from a brutal force that was in previous regimes, to a people’s army (Jeshi ya wananchi), - disciplined, professional and by any means possible a formidable force that has contributed so much in the pacification of not only Uganda but also other countries in the region including Somalia, DRC and now South Sudan.

The UPDF has even transcended combatant duties and now works with civilians to implement government programmes and raise individual household incomes and preserve environment.

For instance, in Buhweju, the UPDF worked closely with veterans to distribute and plant coffee and tea seedlings, and attained amazing scores where NAADS with all the monies and manpower failed!
 

He also encouraged national unity and consolidation of African commonality by explaining the ideology of ubuntu, a phrase common in South Africa but interestingly means the same thing - humanity across Africa.

Socio-politically, Ubuntu, well rhymes with Prof. John S. Mbiti’s dictum: “I am because we are and since we are, therefore I am” to encourage social harmony and mutual interdependence! Ubuntu also seeks to restore, promote and preserve all such African philosophies and practices that enhance “Africanness”.

This is what Africa cherished until the divisive 1844 Berlin Conference imprinted undue mental differences in Africans subsequently paving way for colonialism!
 

Regrettably, even after Africa’s independence, Western subservient influence still undermines the Ubuntu ideology using African agents!

In pursuance of African liberation, the Ubuntu ideology remains pertinent! Why would South Sudan suffer strife, call upon Uganda as neighbour for help and Pentagon and some Ugandan presidential hopefuls call for UPDF’s withdrawal?
 

Different from his ignorant, sentimental and myopic critics, when Museveni speaks, acts or ignores to act, it is highly probable that he is long studied, weighed and is ready for the implications! In fact, what other people call errors, for him they are necessary functional mechanisms!

Looking at ICC contradictions and Arab Spring mayhem, especially the killing Col. Muamar Ghadaffi, you have more reasons to resist Western impositions upon Africa. Museveni, for now, with our citizenry support is the only most credible president to resist such Western contemptuous arrogance! Behind him, let us abhor any unwarranted Western influence.

President Mugabe resisted foreign influence and generally salvaged his country and save for selfish propagandists, Zimbabweans massively re-elected him as one of them once wrote: “Say what you want to say about Mr. Mugabe, but today, Zimbabweans own Zimbabwe.

By re-electing President Mugabe, the people of Zimbabwe are making history. ZANU-PF will now have five more years to finish implementing a revolutionary economic model that will inevitably spread across the continent”.
 

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