There is hope for Sudan
<b>Yosam Baguma</b><br><br>Just like the Roman Empire exploited the teaching of Jesus Christ to be able to conquer and rule almost the entire world, the Khartoum government can capture the vision of the late Lt Gen. John Garang of retaining one Sudan provided they adopt a decentralised system of g
Yosam Baguma
Just like the Roman Empire exploited the teaching of Jesus Christ to be able to conquer and rule almost the entire world, the Khartoum government can capture the vision of the late Lt Gen. John Garang of retaining one Sudan provided they adopt a decentralised system of governance.
This will provide the required services to achieve the objective of the 30-year struggle.
In Uganda the same system has enabled the Movement government to achieve accelerated development in service delivery.
This was as a result of research through debates, consultations and concerted effort. For Dr Garang to have conceived decentralisation before anybody implemented it on the continent shows what a genius he was.
For him the answer was one united Sudan, for all the suffering Sudanese because poverty existed both in the north and the south.
He thought decentralisation was the answer because then funds allocation would be focused on communities and their needs.
This is will be determined by criteria based on scientific formular — population, distance, area, and severeties in climate and disease.
For example, the number of children of school-going age will determine where to construct a primary school regardless of race, religion or region. Road communication programmes will follow principle and logic — international, inter-district or community feeder roads, and funds will be released from the finance ministry to the targetted community and projects implemented according to a workplan.
Local authorities at different levels will be trained in self-governance to be able to supervise projects and actually decide on priorities according to local needs.
While this is a golden opportunity for Sudanese, they might not be well-sensitised about the idea. According to the agreement, Field Marshal Bashir has three years to lead the whole of Sudan and then handover to his deputy Gen. Salva Kiir, also to lead for three years before a referendum to determine whether there should be a secession or Sudan should remain united.
This is where President Bashir has an opportunity to push for decentralisation in his first three years so that the services can reach the suffering people who in the end will be voting in the referendum. Since the same formulae will be operational during the other terms, and there will be more resources available after the conflict, coupled with advantages of large-scale production because of the size of one Sudan, resources will flow in such large amounts that people will wonder what a beautiful country Sudan without conflict is. The hatred between Arabs in the north and Africans in the south will be history since the source of conflict (resource allocation) will be no more.
Since the worldover, countries are uniting to form blocks, it makes sense for Sudan to remain one.
The writer is former deputy RDC for Mubende
Just like the Roman Empire exploited the teaching of Jesus Christ to be able to conquer and rule almost the entire world, the Khartoum government can capture the vision of the late Lt Gen. John Garang of retaining one Sudan provided they adopt a decentralised system of governance.
This will provide the required services to achieve the objective of the 30-year struggle.
In Uganda the same system has enabled the Movement government to achieve accelerated development in service delivery.
This was as a result of research through debates, consultations and concerted effort. For Dr Garang to have conceived decentralisation before anybody implemented it on the continent shows what a genius he was.
For him the answer was one united Sudan, for all the suffering Sudanese because poverty existed both in the north and the south.
He thought decentralisation was the answer because then funds allocation would be focused on communities and their needs.
This is will be determined by criteria based on scientific formular — population, distance, area, and severeties in climate and disease.
For example, the number of children of school-going age will determine where to construct a primary school regardless of race, religion or region. Road communication programmes will follow principle and logic — international, inter-district or community feeder roads, and funds will be released from the finance ministry to the targetted community and projects implemented according to a workplan.
Local authorities at different levels will be trained in self-governance to be able to supervise projects and actually decide on priorities according to local needs.
While this is a golden opportunity for Sudanese, they might not be well-sensitised about the idea. According to the agreement, Field Marshal Bashir has three years to lead the whole of Sudan and then handover to his deputy Gen. Salva Kiir, also to lead for three years before a referendum to determine whether there should be a secession or Sudan should remain united.
This is where President Bashir has an opportunity to push for decentralisation in his first three years so that the services can reach the suffering people who in the end will be voting in the referendum. Since the same formulae will be operational during the other terms, and there will be more resources available after the conflict, coupled with advantages of large-scale production because of the size of one Sudan, resources will flow in such large amounts that people will wonder what a beautiful country Sudan without conflict is. The hatred between Arabs in the north and Africans in the south will be history since the source of conflict (resource allocation) will be no more.
Since the worldover, countries are uniting to form blocks, it makes sense for Sudan to remain one.
The writer is former deputy RDC for Mubende