What's the cause of our troubles? Let's go for it!

SIR-Generally, in Third World countries, and Uganda in particular, there is a problem of under-development of both human and natural resources. The case in point is that the focus is usually placed on symptoms rather than the causes of the problems to development. Looking at Uganda's poverty problem, one is always hearing people criticising the government for poverty which it is trying to vigorously tackle. It has done so through several policies such as liberalisation, privatisation, the development of the educational, health, transport and other sectors. I do not know whether I should not blame those who lived in exile from the 1970s to early 1980s who continue to say there is more poverty today than during 1971 - 1986. Indeed these people are not aware that the roots of poverty are in the economic and political mismanagement of the period! Since they were not here, they cannot know that the collapse of industries and public administration created an enormous poverty problem for this country! I do not know, once more, whether I should not blame those who were mature and remained in Uganda for their forgetfulness of the scarcity of basic goods like sugar, salt, soap, medicine, Jinja fabrics and basic tools of production like the hoe, the panga and the bicycle during this same period 1971-1986! Instead of concentrating on reading the economic trends of the past and comparing them with the present so as to attain an objective assessment of the poverty levels and their improvement, the elite of this country are busy with the talk of rampant poverty. This is later picked by the peasants. For sure, this is another disservice by the elite to this country. They ought to explain and encourage production, enhancement of growth and development to the peasants and other less fortunate people in our country. Finally, I say that Ugandans should be realistic, objective and pragmatic in the way they deal with the economic situation rather than keep politicking. This way, we shall be concentrating on solving the causes, which we have to tackle rather than the symptoms we continue to sing about. Peter C.B. Mugenyi Kampala. End