Obote deserves public holiday
<b>Michael Nsasiirweki</b><br><br>DR Apollo Milton Obote, the founding father of post-colonial Uganda who died last week, deserves a national holiday.
Michael Nsasiirweki
DR Apollo Milton Obote, the founding father of post-colonial Uganda who died last week, deserves a national holiday.
During his political career, Obote established himself as a nationalist, pan-Africanist and a motivational speaker who, on the eve of October 1962, used his magnificent speaking ability to convince the British that it was necessary for Ugandans to get independence if the country was to develop.
In October 1962, Obote, as executive prime minister, made history by winning Uganda political independence from her colonial masters.
In 1966 Obote erred and abrogated the 1962 Constitution apparently to survive. He became president up to 1971 when his gorvement was toppled by Idi Amin, his army commander in a military coup.
He went into exile in Tanzania
During this time, Obote used his traditional persuasive speech to persuade his political contemporaries Julius Nyerere of Tanzania and Kenneth Kaunda of Zambia that the only way to save thousands of Ugandans from Amin slaughtering machine was military support for him. And interestingly he won their support very easily.
With allied forces of Tanzanian, and Ugandans, he bounced back to win the 1980 presidential polls and became president again up to 1985 when his government was toppled again in a military coup.
This time Obote fled to Zambia where he lived for nearly two decades before he died last week.
The death of Obote closed the chapter of a man who dominated Uganda’s politics for half a century and as first post-colonial president, transformed the nation from economic obscurity to a solid economic outfit and registered significant success in agriculture and social sector.
In 1966, Uganda’s economy was at the same line as South Korea and Malaysia currently one of the economic giants of Asia
During his first term of office, Obote I, he constructed more than 30 hospitals countrywide and hundreds of secondary schools, well-stocked with laboratory equipment, text books and qualified teachers. He was also the architect of cooperative societies through which farmers sold their cash crops and got paid promptly.
However as good things never last, Obote II was characterised by internal wars, giving him little chance to concentrate on development.His army exhibited the worst form of indispline characterised by rape, torture and murder. And there was no rule of law in most parts of the country.
However, his achievements are still tangible and meaningful to Ugandans and should not be overlooked.
Man is to err, so goes the saying. But Obote remains Uganda’s hero and deserves a national holiday to commemorate his life and works.
The writer is an educator and nationalist
DR Apollo Milton Obote, the founding father of post-colonial Uganda who died last week, deserves a national holiday.
During his political career, Obote established himself as a nationalist, pan-Africanist and a motivational speaker who, on the eve of October 1962, used his magnificent speaking ability to convince the British that it was necessary for Ugandans to get independence if the country was to develop.
In October 1962, Obote, as executive prime minister, made history by winning Uganda political independence from her colonial masters.
In 1966 Obote erred and abrogated the 1962 Constitution apparently to survive. He became president up to 1971 when his gorvement was toppled by Idi Amin, his army commander in a military coup.
He went into exile in Tanzania
During this time, Obote used his traditional persuasive speech to persuade his political contemporaries Julius Nyerere of Tanzania and Kenneth Kaunda of Zambia that the only way to save thousands of Ugandans from Amin slaughtering machine was military support for him. And interestingly he won their support very easily.
With allied forces of Tanzanian, and Ugandans, he bounced back to win the 1980 presidential polls and became president again up to 1985 when his government was toppled again in a military coup.
This time Obote fled to Zambia where he lived for nearly two decades before he died last week.
The death of Obote closed the chapter of a man who dominated Uganda’s politics for half a century and as first post-colonial president, transformed the nation from economic obscurity to a solid economic outfit and registered significant success in agriculture and social sector.
In 1966, Uganda’s economy was at the same line as South Korea and Malaysia currently one of the economic giants of Asia
During his first term of office, Obote I, he constructed more than 30 hospitals countrywide and hundreds of secondary schools, well-stocked with laboratory equipment, text books and qualified teachers. He was also the architect of cooperative societies through which farmers sold their cash crops and got paid promptly.
However as good things never last, Obote II was characterised by internal wars, giving him little chance to concentrate on development.His army exhibited the worst form of indispline characterised by rape, torture and murder. And there was no rule of law in most parts of the country.
However, his achievements are still tangible and meaningful to Ugandans and should not be overlooked.
Man is to err, so goes the saying. But Obote remains Uganda’s hero and deserves a national holiday to commemorate his life and works.
The writer is an educator and nationalist