Independence day Special

Oct 10, 2016

Protecting our Independence Special focus on Uganda’s Middle Income status aspiration

Focus on patriotism, unity and hard work vital for vision 2020

By Owen Wagabaza

In early August, President Museveni pulled a rabbit out of a hat when he sacked all but one health worker at Mpumudde Health Centre III, Nakawuka. The medical officers were sacked over absenteeism and late coming.

The suspension followed several complaints by residents of Mpumudde Village, Wakiso District in central Uganda to the President, of poor service delivery at the health centre. At the function, the president announced that his fifth term of office is kisanja hakuna mchezo, loosely translated as a term of serious business Indeed, this year's independence theme of "Protection of independence through promotion of patriotism, unity and hardwork"rhymes with the president's revelation. Col. Shaban Bantariza, of the Uganda Media Centre, says the theme was chosen because patriotism, unity and hard work are important ideals in nation building.

"There is no way you can achieve progress without the ideals of patriotism, unity and hard work. We must have unity in order to defend our independence, patriotism which is the glue that makes unity possible and hard work for us to achieve total economic independence," Bantariza says.

Kisanja hakuna mchezo comes at the heels of Vision 2020, which the president unveiled in June during his fifth term inaugural state of the nation address. Vision 2020 aims to make Uganda a low middle income country by 2020. According to the World Bank, United Nations Development Programme, and the National Development Plan II, a middle income status is achieving annual per-capita gross national income of $1,025 (about sh3.5m) but less than $12,736 (about sh42m).

n aerial view of one of the housing estates in akiso district mproved housing infrastructure is one of the ways in which vision 2020 will be achieved by having better and planned houses An aerial view of one of the housing estates in Wakiso district. Improved housing infrastructure is one of the ways in which vision 2020 will be achieved by having better and planned houses

 

Figures from the National Development Plan, whose strategic goal is to transform Uganda to middle-income by 2020 with a per capita income of sh3.5m, indicate that per capita income currently stands at $788 (about sh2.6m).

This means every Ugandan is earning sh2.6m annually. According to the National Development Plan, poverty will also have to be reduced from the current 19.7 per cent to 14.2 per cent. This can be achieved through strengthening competitiveness for sustainable wealth creation, employment and inclusive growth.

To achieve Vision 2020, President Museveni promised to battle with the 68 % of the homesteads that are still engaged in subsistence farming by emphasising the sale of fruits, micro-irrigation, using solar-powered water pumps and concentration on three cash crops, that is coffee, tea and fruits.

Is Vision 2020 attainable?

Ofwono Opondo, the Government spokesman argues that though Vision 2020 is attainable, the problem is that people including leaders who think that transforming Uganda is the responsibility of Museveni as an individual and perhaps his ministers.

"The transformation of Uganda especially our immediate communities is the responsibility of each of us individually and collectively, although the President, and other senior public officials are the team leaders in setting priorities, planning, and mobilising and distributing public resources."

Opondo advises that for Uganda to rapidly achieve the desired transformation the formal financial service sector, the civil service and its policy framework must be restructured, and new goals set. 

Strategic partnerships

There is also a need for well-coordinated and strategic partnership within government and private sector, civil society and local beneficiaries for robust implementation of public investment management processes. Equally, there is need to explore more innovative and efficient approaches especially using locally available resources to mentor enterprises, and solve pressing needs of the poor.

"We need to know that if not implemented seriously, the rising discontent among the young, educated and uneducated, urban and rural folks living on the margins of a relatively small affluent society will implode in the immediate future, and no one will be safe," Opondo says.

Jamal Ssenkubuge, a lecturer in the political science department at Makerere University says with a patriotic population, Vision 2020 is achievable. "We need patriotism to fight corruption. Patriots serve their country rather than their private accounts and also dissuade others from engaging in corruption tendencies," Ssenkubuge says.

The lack of patriotism also plays an important role in brain-drain. When people are patriotic about their country, they take it upon themselves to build the country. "With patriotism, many of our highly skilled professionals such as engineers, doctors, economists, and other professions will stay and build the country. I believe the Government is taking the right route in promoting patriotism in schools," he adds.

ommercial farming can improve livelihoods and propel the country towards middle income status Commercial farming can improve livelihoods and propel the country towards middle income status

 

Our industries which are an important aspect in achieving vision 2020 are struggling because Ugandans are not patriotic enough to buy local products preferring Chinese-made products. Yet if we were patriotic enough, we would be rooting for our products and this would allow our industries to grow because of an assured market.

Retired archbishop of Church of Uganda, Mpalanyi Nkoyoyo says unity among communities and religious harmony are vital factors for the achievement of Vision 2020. According to Nkoyoyo, divisions strengthen hostile forces that can deny Ugandans the freedom and stability that are important in economic development. Uganda post-independent history is replete with economic setbacks owing to instabilities that arose as a result of disunity.

The 20-years Lord's Resistance Army war for example led to loss of life and human suffering. The Kony war also deterred foreign and local investment, reduced tourist arrivals, and caused immense damage to the region's economic progress.

"Disunity comes with a lot of negative consequences, but when all communities rise in unity, the forces hostile to the country will be weakened and freedom strengthened, and this provides a conducive environment for economic development," Nkoyoyo says.

  

 

 

Archbishop Joseph Kiwanuka's pastoral letter still binds leaders

By Mathias Mazinga

The Most Rev. Dr. Joseph Nakabaale Kiwanuka, the former Bishop of Masaka and later Archbishop of Rubaga, will always occupy a prominent position in Uganda's history. The prelate played a crucial role in preparing Ugandans for independence. Kiwanuka was evidently a true nationalist. He desired to see a progressive Uganda, where all the citizens lived in peace and harmony. He thus used all available platforms to teach the citizens the ideals and principles of democracy and civilized political governance.

HARMONY

Kiwanuka's most inspiring sociopolitical views are contained in his pastoral letter titled Church and State, the Guiding Principles, which he wrote in 1961 to prepare Ugandans for independence.

Right from the title, it is evident that Kiwanuka had a vision of a harmonious Uganda, where both the Church and the State worked in partnership to promote the common good of all Ugandans. He thus wrote: "God almighty has appointed the charge of the human race to two powers: the Church and the State. These two powers are distinct; each in its kind is supreme. In other words, neither the Church nor the State interferes with each other; each has what it needs to attain its end. Each one is a domain of its own, whose limits are defi ned by the nature and special object of the province of each."

"All matters concerning souls, religious and moral matters, are governed by the Church. On the other hand, whatever concerns the government of people in temporal matters belongs to the realm of the state." He then outlined the responsibilities of the State towards the Church.

iwanuka left and other atholic religious leaders with resident pollo ilton bote in 1960s Kiwanuka (left) and other Catholic religious leaders with President Apollo Milton Obote in 1960s

 

"The State must recognise that it is also bound by the laws of God. Civil rulers have a duty to remember that God is the authority above them. Therefore, if a ruler, even when engaged in state duties, neglected to concern himself with religion, he would be openly violating God's law, and would thus refuse to achieve the end for which God created him as well as that for which he created the country that the ruler is governing. I think it is from that background that our national motto, "For God and My Country", was derived.

"Let Church and state help one another in harmony. God himself made and established these two authorities and commands all men and women to obey both powers. It is true that both authorities, religion and state, govern people, but they can do this in harmony.

KIWANUKA'S POLITICAL COUNSEL

he ost ev r oseph akabaale iwanuka the former rchbishop of ubaga The Most Rev. Dr. Joseph Nakabaale Kiwanuka, the former Archbishop of Rubaga

Archbishop Kiwanuka also sensitised the nation about democracy and multi-party politics (cfr page 10-13). "Each political party has a manifesto, which explains the aims of the party. Parties that have never produced a manifesto and which are not recognised by government cannot be considered as parties which you would become members. "Kabaka Yekka", (Kabaka alone), "Mwoyo gw'Eggwanga" (Heart of the nation) are among those which have not yet produced their manifesto and are not yet registered as parties.

"A second criterion which will help you to recognise an unsuitable party is this. Take a party which has already produced a manifesto and has been registered as well, you may see that it has shown signs or has made statements which are dangerous because they mislead people about Christian practices or in questions of faith and morals; ask yourself then "in how far is it harmful to Christian life, to Christian belief or to Christian morals?" A party which says it will debar religion from government, or rob the church of her schools, or throw religion out of schools, shows itself to be dangerous to Christian life.

Kiwanuka further advised Ugandans to vote only those candidates that were God-fearing, credible and people-minded. "A man who has never done anything of worth for his country and then stands for election has given you a clear sign of how he may be judged." "Choose people who can consider everything objectively.

In difficult times, the country needs outstanding leaders. Uganda and Buganda are at present passing through a diffi cult period. The people are troubled in many ways. They can easily be excited into doing things they should not do.

They can be deceived easily." "In time of changes in government or when the country approaches its independence, the ideas of the people are not always normal. Feelings get excited, angry divisions rise among people: some have ideas of their own, others think otherwise. In such times, the leaders have the diffi cult task to calm those who fall into excess."

"If the leaders have not balanced ideas, if they are not unbiased, dedicated and unselfi sh, they cannot keep good order. Therefore, choose people who struggle for truth and justice, people who will everywhere help Buganda and Uganda to unite and to stand together as brothers."

Kiwanuka finally highlighted the things that Ugandans should avoid: "To insult or calumniate one another, whether it is done by political parties, or through slogans merely brings trouble. Therefore, whatever party you support, keep away from both these faults. ‘"There may be some evil which has to be revealed to save people from deceit. To keep silent about such evil could induce people to believe that crooked activities or false ideas preached by this party or that person are not so dangerous after all, that they are perhaps right because of the reasons they put forward."

"If you have to reveal such evil, just show what is wrong, avoiding any sort of insult, because when you point out an evil, people will see it at once without you resorting to insults. "What is more needed is that we all unite to avoid breaking into opposed factions and disavowing one another. The enemy we must fight more than any other is the one who incites us to establish unnecessary divisions among ourselves. Opposition in government does not mean that the parties should fight or prosecute one another because of their religion. What is needed is to secure a number of supporters, following the right channels."

Although his views were patriotic, Kiwanuka was unfortunately misunderstood. Some radical monarchists even attacked him directly, accusing him of being an enemy of Buganda and the Kabaka. In the same letter, Kiwanuka tells with utter disappointment some radicalised youth defl ated the tyres of his car when he was attending a meeting at Bulange.

Some other irate youth also shattered the windscreen of his car with stones as he drove on Rubaga Road, to his residence in Rubaga. At another function, a young man, who seemingly was under the infl uence of alcohol, shouted at Kiwanuka: "We are well aware that you and some other people are the ones sabotaging the kingdom." Kiwanuka's political prophesies, especially his prediction of dire consequences if the Kabaka joinedpartisan politics, came to pass when the political alliance of convenience between Ugnada People's Congress (UPC) and Kabaka Yekka ended in bickering and the subsequent bloody attack and destruction of the Lubiri palace in 1966. 

 

 

 

 

We were not ready for independence

The total student population in makerere university was 364, writes PAUL BUSHARIZI

Fifty four years ago, the Union Jack came down at Kololo airstrip and the Uganda flag went up, signalling the end of colonial rule and a descent into chaos that we are only beginning to unravel. In hindsight, we were not ready for independence - we were a small country in the middle of Africa, mostly illiterate, with huge infrastructure deficits and institutional inadequacies, without the capacity or the temperament to run a modern state.

Some disagree. "We were ready for independence," insists Kavuma Kaggwa, who turned 26, weeks after Uganda gained independence in 1962. "The British concentrated on education, agriculture and later on medicine. At independence, we had an agricultural officer at every Gombolola (LC3). We were graduating doctors from Mulago Hospital. The leaders of our political parties were very educated men," he adds CLICK HERE FOR MORE

 

We are still naked 54 years after independence — Nkangi

Jehoash Sibakyalyawo Mayanja Nkangi, a former minister in Milton Obote's fi rst government and Katikkiro of Buganda, refl ects on the country's 54-year journey from October 9, 1962 when Uganda was granted independence

kangi watched the nion ack go down back in 1962 Nkangi watched the Union Jack go down back in 1962

I was about 28 years old on October 9, 1962; I am now 85. I was a lawyer in Kampala, but I had a political party called United National Party. On that day, I was at Kololo Airstrip with people like prime minister Dr. Milton Obote, Sir Edward Mutesa, the Duke of Kent and his wife who had come to represent the Queen of England, Elizabeth II, in setting us free symbolically. Many people were jubilating.

It was probably about 12:00 midnight when the British Union Jack came down and our fl ag went up to indicate that the British protectorate from April 1894 to October 1962 had ended; that the British sovereignty had ceased.

Don't ask what they were protecting us against, they were calling it a Protectorate. As I stood there seeing this symbolic change of power, I asked myself a question, because I wasn't very happy: What next? What is the future holding for us? I got the answer after about two years.

At Suzana Night Club in Nakulabye, one person was killed when a young man quarreled with a young woman. Government forces were sent there to maintain the peace, but one person was killed. I began to know the reign of force possibly was starting.

Now the issue is this: Uganda got independence in 1962, Tanzania in 1961 and Kenya in 1963. There has never been a coup d'état in Tanzania or Kenya. Here, there have been about fi ve coups. So I ask the question: Is it because we are cleverer than the people of Tanzania and Kenya? Why is it here in Uganda that we change governments by shedding blood? Now you did not come here to ask me those questions; you came to ask me about that day October 9, 1962.

Before October 9, 1962, I had been part of the political system. Do you know what we were telling the British? "Go, let's do our things our own way, Mutuviire! Why should someone coming from about 6,000 miles away govern us here?" That was the question. So we, politicians, said collectively: "You go!" But before the Europeans left, only two elections here were held justly, without rigging.

When they left, things started to change. So I am asking the question: Why did we send the British away? You moved from justice to this sort of system, out of empire into servitude? So you were asking me what the day was like; it was good, we danced, whatever, whatever. We knew the British had left, but if you ask me since then, it was a terrible day because what we thought would take place is not quite what is taking place.

What did we get? Obuddu (Servitude). Why? Because the democracy we were talking about was never quite there. Why is that? Why have we had about fi ve coup d'états? It's about time we change direction.

And the Baganda say ‘Eyeewa ez'omumba, gwe bazikuba'. What it means is that if you choose to lead, you must accept all responsibilities which go with that leadership. If we are leaders, we have to think again. Where are we going? Where are we taking Uganda (because) tomorrow we will die, that is the law of nature.

If I were to die tomorrow, and I am going to die someday, be buried somewhere in Buddu where I come from, but I don't want to be buried and then Uganda be buried as well. When I am buried, Uganda should continue to rise like an eagle; that will depend on the sort of policies which the leadership in this country have. About two weeks ago, I read in the papers that MPs were saying when one of them dies (God forbid), the Government will spend about sh68m CLICK HERE FOR MORE

 

 

Middle income: We are out of time for 2020

When Lee Kuan Yew took over the reins of power in Singapore in 1965, he and his cabinet, many of whom were English-trained lawyers, set for themselves the target of raising the small island nation's per capita to that of the UK within a generation.

At the time Singapore's per capita gross domestic product (GDP) was $511, while the UK's was just four times that at $1,850. With the goal in mind, they began to work backwards investing in human capital, raising national savings, developing their potential as a logistics hub, developed their financial services, dabbling initially in manufacturing before focusing on physical and biological hi tech sciences.

It was not a smooth ride as the country had to chart a developmental path, while faced with risks to national security, walk the tight rope of Cold War geopolitics and begin from a standing start with a small, poor population divided by ethnic tension, on an island which had no resources except for its strategic location on the sea route to the far east.

A half century down the road, Singapore now has a per capita GDP of $56,319 according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), while the UK's figure stands at about $42,000. Interestingly, if one was to do a straight mathematical calculation, the growth in Singapore's per capita GDP meant the country's economy was growing at 9.65%. Our target of attaining middle income status is not very different from what Singapore set out to do those many years ago, except that we have set ourselves a steep growth curve. CLICK HERE FOR MORE

ecause of the many people agriculture employs when output grows by even 4 it has a ripple effect through the economy his could help the country attain middle income status Because of the many people agriculture employs, when output grows by even 4%, it has a ripple effect through the economy. This could help the country attain middle income status

 

World Bank category

Middle income countries are nations that have a per capita GDP of between $1,036 and $12,615, a categorisation used by donors in deciding how to engage with countries. Simply put, it means that on average, on attainment of this status a Ugandan — including children and prisoners, will have an income of at least a thousand dollars a year or about sh275,000 a month, when the nation's total output in a given year is divided by 36 millionor- so Ugandans.

For some readers of this newspaper who earn multiples of this monthly, it is a ridiculous target to aim for, but is a reflection of how unevenly the benefits of development are spread out. According to the Uganda National Household Survey 2012/13, just under two in every 10 Ugandans or 16.9% earn more than a million shillings a year.

While 17% of urban dwellers earn above a million shillings a year, only 5% of rural people earn that money in a year. No figures were immediately available, but one can expect that the disparities are even more dire for people who earn above the magic sh3.3 million a year. 

 

 

Kyambogo University (KyU)

 

 

Mpanga's experience in LEGCO

By Mary Karugaba

At 83, Joyce Mpanga recalls vividly the events that led to Uganda's independence. While many women watched from the periphery, Mpanga is proud to have been among the first women, at the age of 25, to join the first Legislative Council (LEGCO).

Although not a political fanatic at the time, Mpanga was lucky to be nominated by a political party, UPC, that she did not even belong to. Mpanga says, when she was nominated, she had just graduated from the University and joined Makerere Collage School as a teacher.

"While at the University, I had gained popularity because I liked participating in almost every competition. Many people knew me including the governor who was interested in the students' activities," she recalls. CLICK HERE FOR MORE

 

 

 

 

 

What is in an independence medal?

By Chris Kiwawulo

As a way of marking Uganda's 50 years of independence, the Government resolved to award various people for their contribution towards the development of the country. The biggest lot of people to be recognised with the Golden Jubilee Awards were Members of Parliament (MPs), who have served this country since independence in 1962.

Explaining the recent award of 1,162 Golden Jubilee medals to MPs who have served during the 50 years from Independence October 9, 1962 up to October 9, 2012, Amooti Businge, the chancellor/ secretary of the Presidential Awards Committee, said President Yoweri Museveni signed the instrument for the award of the medals on November 22, 2012.

"But the number was staggeringly big. So, we decided to give them out in piecemeal," he said, adding that some of the former MPs such as Amama Mbabazi and Speaker Rebecca Kadaga got their medals at earlier functions.

Former Tororo Municipality MP, Sanjay Tanna, said he felt honoured to have received the medal and that it was worth his contribution to the development of this country. "The medal was given to me in recognition of the services I have rendered to this country and I feel good that my contribution has been honoured." Tanna said he views the medal as a token of appreciation given the sentiments it carries.

"It is like a contribution towards one's wedding. You do not look at how much someone has contributed, but the gesture behind the contribution. And for me, it means a lot because I am the only MP of Indian origin to have been elected twice by the people, others were selected," he said.

Kaliro district Woman MP, Margaret Mbeiza, said she was happy to receive a medal in recognition of her contribution towards the country as a parliamentarian. "I thank the bush war heroes for liberating this country. Many of us have come to Parliament because of their contribution," she said.

The Golden Jubilee medal is among the several different types of medals that have been given out to various Ugandans in the last seven years, and as Uganda prepares to mark the 54th Independence celebrations on October 9, more are expected to be given out.

Originally, the awards came into place after National Resistance Army (NRA) - now National Resistance Movement (NRM) - leaders who participated in the liberation war that led to the capture of power in 1986, decided to honour individuals who played various roles in the struggle.

At the beginning, many thought it was an affair of only combatants, but they were wrong. Although the awards started with honouring fighters, medals were with time extended to all Ugandans who have exhibited distinguished service to the country. Former NRA fighters who exhibited exceptional bravery, but died during or after the CLICK HERE FOR MORE

 

 

 

 

High fertility threatens Uganda's move to a middle-income status

By John Semakula and John Masaba

After conceiving last month, a bitter row ensued between Jane and her husband, Patrick at their home in Mukono town, over her abrupt pregnancy. Patrick blamed Jane for conceiving yet again against their earlier agreement.

This was the first time Patrick was losing his usual calm demeanor before Jane. The couple had agreed to have a family of only four children and had reached their target several years ago. Patrick says he wanted four children regardless of their sex, whom he could ably provide for. To ensure he stuck to that number, he asked Jane to seek guidance on family planning.

He said on several occasions he had seen Jane taking birth control pills and did not know when she stopped, without consulting him to conceive. But Jane abandoned family planning recently wanted a baby girl. She told Patrick during the exchange that if she had discussed her decision with him, he would never have understood her.

"I needed a baby girl," she says. "The day I get one, I will get out of labour wards. I did not want to go through labour again, but a girl is my dream." Jane, 38 is a university graduate and a mother of four boys aged between three and 10 while Patrick, 40, a civil engineer.

After delivering their fifth child early next year, the couple will have five children and one child away from hitting Uganda's fertility rate- — six children per woman. Globally, Uganda is one of the countries with the highest fertility rates and youngest populations. But the high fertility rate has become a big problem for the economy.

Population experts have warned about the danger Uganda is facing if it fails to control its high fertility rate. Demographic experts argue that the high fertility rate in Uganda may have a direct impact on the country's goal to attain middle-income status since developed nations first reduced their high fertility rates.

The National Population Council (NPC) Secretariat defines fertility rate as the average number of children a woman in child bearing age — 15 to 49 year, produces. Andrew Tiondi, the head of the monitoring and evaluation department at the NPC Secretariat says with a high fertility and growth rate, Uganda will always be responding to crisis instead of saving and investing.

In Uganda, educated couples like Jane and Patrick usually settle for two to four children unlike less literates in rural areas, who can even have 10 children. Tiondi also observed that political chaos that usually engulfs Kampala and the current high suicide trend have a direct link to a high fertility rate that has rendered many youth CLICK HERE FOR MORE

 

 

 

 

LINKS TO ADVERTS

  1. MINISTRY OF DEFENCE AND VETERANS’ AFFAIRS

  2. Uganda Development Corporation

  3. MINISTRY OF INFORMATION, COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY AND NATIONAL GUIDANCE

  4. MINISTRY OF TOURISM, WILDLIFE AND ANTIQUITIES

  5. MINISTRY OF LANDS, HOSUING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

  6. UGANDA POLICE FORCE

  7. MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, ANIMAL INDUSTRY AND FISHERIES

  8. OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER

  9. THE THIRD NORTHEN UGANDA SOCIAL ACTION FUND 

  10. MINISTRY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT

  11. MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Independence musical won Kabuye doctoral degree

By Mathias Mazinga

Rev. Fr Dr James Kabuye has enjoyed local and international acclaim as a born-virtuoso Church musician. With an incredible repertoire of over 5,000 songs to his credit, Kabuye 82, is arguably the most celebrated writer of sacred music on the continent. However, there is another aspect of Kabuye, which many of his admirers since the early 1960s when he started his musical ministry, may fi nd unique. It is his zeal and love for his country, which is manifested in his musical work, Amadinda N'amagwala Bivuge (Luganda for "Let the xylophones and drums sound"). Kabuye wrote this work in 1966, in celebration of Uganda's independence. It is also this work that Kabuye later presented at Marian College, Indianapolis in the US for his doctoral thesis. CLICK HERE FOR MORE

 

 

 

 

 

Minis, afro topped 1960s fashion

By Jacquiline Emodek

Renowned fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent once said dressing is a way of life. It is an aspect of fashion which is a popular trend, especially in styles of dress and ornament or manners of behaviour.

The 1960s have been termed as the decade of fashion rebellion; it was the time when there was a shift from the long conservative dresses to the rising hemlines, famously known as miniskirts and the shift dresses.

Jacqueline Kennedy, wife of US President John F. Kennedy, became widely known for her beauty, grace and elegant style of dress. Her many public appearances popularised pearl necklaces, the pillbox hat (a small hat with a flat top and straight sides) and simple, big-buttoned suits.

The fashion icons were British teenage supermodel Leslie Hornby, also known as Twiggy and famous actress Audrey Hepburn, whose signature attires comprised flat shoes, three-quarter pants and plain black shift dresses.

In Uganda, in the run-up to independence, Princess Elizabeth Bagaya of Toro kingdom was the ultimate fashion icon, having been the first African woman to appear on the cover of Harper's Bazaar and also the first to have been given a spread in the fashion bible, Vogue.

However, in the early 1960s, women in Uganda still stuck to the traditional wear (gomesi), while others embraced the British conservative styles. Perpetua Amuge Odeke, who was 21 years old in 1960 and living in Soroti district, recalls that Ugandan women wore gomesis, kitenge and long dresses which were later termed ‘Amin Nvako', a term coined after the former president banned women from wearing miniskirts.

"We also wore bed sheets, which were cut according to someone's size. we did not own shoes because they were expensive," she says. However, Amuge says they wore wooden shoes, known as scools, for the bathroom. Women also adopted suites, hats and body stockings. Round skirts, also known as the ‘twist and tight', were a hit, especially for the ballroom dances. CLICK HERE FOR MORE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How to grow Uganda's economy 

UMAR KASHAKA BRINGS YOU EXPERTS' VIEWS

THROUGH CIVIL SERVICE AND STRATEGY

Dr. Fred Muhumuza, a development economist and former senior advisor to the Ugandan government on the economy For me, the important thing that matters is institutions. If you have weak institutions, you cannot get anywhere. So, the President has got to resolve the issue of civil service.

If he does not do that, we will not get there. Civil servants are critical in taking us into the middleincome status. All the failures we are facing in this economy have something to do with civil servants. I can always forgive politicians because they have their own challenges and weaknesses, but there is no politician who is going to misuse government money without a civil service consent or support.

Civil service is usually the mainstream anchor of any country's development. The structure of the people, the rules, which they are following to work, the compromise or lack of compromise, the commitment, the skills and trainings that they have, all those things are critical.

Therefore, civil service is the number one item that will get us there. Middle income status is like scoring a goal from afar. The players who score spot kicks take a position and want to put the ball into the net. You cannot achieve middle income status without a strategy. So, the other thing I think is missing in Uganda is a strategy.

Every time I see Uganda is grappling: now let us do nursery education, now let's do this; what exactly is our education strategy to make sure we get the competencies, the skilled people, the professionalism? That is why we are creating jobs and the Kenyans are taking them over because our education does not have a strategy.

You generate interns and you fail to enrol them. Then why did you train the doctors in the first place and yet we know the health system is so bad? All these are clear signs of lack of a strategy. CLICK HERE FOR MORE

 

 

 

 

 

 

‘Aim to improve quality of life'

We still have a long way to go in achieving the middleincome status. It is a very ambitious target, just like the other targets of Boona Bagaggawale programme or Prosperity for All. To attain the middle income status, the cost of doing business must be lowered when it comes to the business transactions, such as the cost of capital, energy and transport.

On the part of agriculture, we need to get away from rain-centred agriculture. There must be irrigation and modern methods of farming, away from the traditional methods of farming. And it is not only those economic measures that will propel a country to middle income. We also need to have invested in technology.

Now, with tutors at primary teachers colleges failing primary school exams, I do not see the technological base that Uganda will have had in fi ve years. Also important, is the question of the market.

As long as we are surrounded by countries that are facing political troubles, such as South Sudan, which are our market base, I am afraid we shall not have a regional market and, therefore, a middle income status is still far.

onsidering income per capita as the sole indicator of progress might leave sections of the population in poverty even when the country has achieved a middleincome status Considering income per capita as the sole indicator of progress might leave sections of the population in poverty, even when the country has achieved a middle-income status

 

The Government was banking on oil to set its targets. Indicators show that by 2020, we shall not have exploited that oil. And even if we did, it will be so preliminary that we shall not be a middle-income country. I do not believe Uganda's target should be achieving a middleincome status at this moment.

Our target should be human development. It is this that is important for us, rather than the economic indicators. Economic growth alone will not improve the quality of life of the citizens of Uganda. The target should have been human development indicators, such as having a high-tech society — improving research and technology.

Another indicator for me is that we shall have had quality education, which will improve the human being, not necessarily assets and infrastructure. Also, we should have aimed at reducing mortality rates — child mortality rates and maternal mortality rates.

We should have focussed on food security and nutrition and an average level of housing and sanitation. These targets are the most important ones in my opinion and they can be achieved, even without having a middle income status.

Kenya is a middle income country, but I do not think they are far ahead of us in terms of quality of life. So, a middle income status might, sometimes, mean the country has a high income per capita when the majority of the people are wallowing in poverty.

More over, the country may not even be having the necessary infrastructure. So, the high income country is meaningless, as long as the quality of life and human development has not improved.

The writer is a lecturer
of history at Makerere 
University

 

 

 

 

 



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