Will Uganda close shop when Museveni leaves?
Apr 08, 2005
SIR — Those agitating for the constitution to be changed are tricking Ugandans to believe that it is only the third term to be lifted.
SIR — Those agitating for the constitution to be changed are tricking Ugandans to believe that it is only the third term to be lifted.
The truth is that presidential terms are to be done away with completely even if article 105(2) has never been tested. The recent presidential speech to the NRM-O Mps has prompted me to write this letter.
At first, President Museveni talked of visions. He is on record as having said that he has yet to see any Ugandan with a vision.
He more or less said the same thing to the NRMO MPs. This is gross indiscretion. Will Uganda cease to exist when he leaves office or dies? There are many Ugandans who are ready to run the country and probably even more efficiently than Museveni.
Some 16 years ago Museveni announced his vision that in 10 years Uganda would economically be so strong that it would become a financial donor at the Paris Club.
Ten years came and went in 1999 and Uganda is still in the intensive care unit. What killed his vision? We will never know if everything which goes wrong is blamed on past leaders including the British colonialists.
For the last 20 years, there has never been a deliberate vision to create a local middle class of core investors. Most of the so-called investors use our savings in local banks to start business. So we should not shed crocodile tears when our rural areas wallow in poverty.
Money, which should have developed these areas, is simply being siphoned out of the country.
There was a vision of entandikwa. It died as soon as it had started. What happened to it? this was another vision in which millions were stolen only to be blamed on poor peasants, who probably received less than 10% of the whole amount. Now there is the Bonna Bagagawale vision, which will soon be implemented. Under this scheme peasants are to receive seeds, fertilisers and other farm inputs preferably free of charge.
Just like entandikwa vision this will also fail. Why? Because the peasants are so poor that these supplies will be sold immediately to raise funds to pay school fees which are going through the roof at all levels of education. Corruption in Uganda stinks to high heaven.
President Museveni has generally done well but now he should have the grace to recognise his limitations. He should ignore his court jesters encouraging him on to stay in power for ever. Forget about the essanja you saw in Kampala or elsewhere.
Someone bought it and paid paupers to wear it. If you do not believe it, ask the Kayunga LC 5 chairman who is facing a law suit for not paying the essanja suppliers, if we go by newspaper reports! What is it that prevents African leaders from leaving State House peacefully?
Zibanda Seku
Makerere University
The truth is that presidential terms are to be done away with completely even if article 105(2) has never been tested. The recent presidential speech to the NRM-O Mps has prompted me to write this letter.
At first, President Museveni talked of visions. He is on record as having said that he has yet to see any Ugandan with a vision.
He more or less said the same thing to the NRMO MPs. This is gross indiscretion. Will Uganda cease to exist when he leaves office or dies? There are many Ugandans who are ready to run the country and probably even more efficiently than Museveni.
Some 16 years ago Museveni announced his vision that in 10 years Uganda would economically be so strong that it would become a financial donor at the Paris Club.
Ten years came and went in 1999 and Uganda is still in the intensive care unit. What killed his vision? We will never know if everything which goes wrong is blamed on past leaders including the British colonialists.
For the last 20 years, there has never been a deliberate vision to create a local middle class of core investors. Most of the so-called investors use our savings in local banks to start business. So we should not shed crocodile tears when our rural areas wallow in poverty.
Money, which should have developed these areas, is simply being siphoned out of the country.
There was a vision of entandikwa. It died as soon as it had started. What happened to it? this was another vision in which millions were stolen only to be blamed on poor peasants, who probably received less than 10% of the whole amount. Now there is the Bonna Bagagawale vision, which will soon be implemented. Under this scheme peasants are to receive seeds, fertilisers and other farm inputs preferably free of charge.
Just like entandikwa vision this will also fail. Why? Because the peasants are so poor that these supplies will be sold immediately to raise funds to pay school fees which are going through the roof at all levels of education. Corruption in Uganda stinks to high heaven.
President Museveni has generally done well but now he should have the grace to recognise his limitations. He should ignore his court jesters encouraging him on to stay in power for ever. Forget about the essanja you saw in Kampala or elsewhere.
Someone bought it and paid paupers to wear it. If you do not believe it, ask the Kayunga LC 5 chairman who is facing a law suit for not paying the essanja suppliers, if we go by newspaper reports! What is it that prevents African leaders from leaving State House peacefully?
Zibanda Seku
Makerere University