No need to observe Independence Day!

SIR—I hail progressives like Ignatius Ignatius Musaazi, Kabaka Mutesa II or Ben Kiwanuka, among others, for having liberated Uganda from the jaws of colonialism. It is possible to say that even the idea of independence was linked to their independence of thought, action, decision-making and ideology. Unfortunately those who put on their shoes have fallen prey to the last and most dangerous stage of imperialism, thereby disregarding the true nature of the independence we fought for and got on October 9, 1962. For instance, the economic and political decision making are highly influenced the imperialists. The Africanisation programme adopted immediately after the declaration of Uganda’s independence has been abandoned in favour of capitalism, a western ideology, the then state owned parastatals have been sold off almost at zero price to the agents of the imperialists, about 51 percent of our national budget is funded by the imperial powers. As a result, poverty has ravaged the masses nationwide. This clearly shows that for the thirty nine years of the so called independence, Uganda has been morning one, step forward a hundred steps back ward. This has given ground to the reactionaries to argue that Uganda was better off during the colonial era than if it is today. Henceforth, the independence we won through the front door has been lost through the back door, and there is no need of celebrating the independence day. Instead, we should fight hard to win it back. John Wafula Makerere University