Revolutionaries should be models to Ugandans
Jun 07, 2007
<br>TOMORROW is Heroes’ Day and many people will be shortlisted for the good work they have contributed to this nation. For a long time I have been digesting words from some NRM historicals and I find it proper to respond to them through the media.
By Richard Todwong
TOMORROW is Heroes’ Day and many people will be shortlisted for the good work they have contributed to this nation. For a long time I have been digesting words from some NRM historicals and I find it proper to respond to them through the media.
When Jesus started preaching, he knew how useful disciples can be and he had to recruit 12 people. When NRM started the revolution with 27 people, they knew that more people had to be recruited to help them. In all these cases, neither Jesus nor NRM historicals called their followers ‘creepers’. Commanders relied on foot soldiers to succeed.
I find it rather uncultured for a revolutionary, in case they are, to start calling their followers bad names. Then why did you go to the bush? These people have started behaving like a hen that eats its own eggs before they are ready. I thought a historical would be happy if they saw new faces, especially the young joining them.
These few historicals feel that other than the chair and the name, NRM has totally changed simply because they are being questioned. Please, update yourselves with the realities of a competitive party environment. Do not assume many should not question you just because you ‘fought in Luweero’.
Many of you revolutionaries after taking power, want to live like real African chiefs without critics. Haile Selassie, Mengustu Haile Mariam all of Ethiopia, Seseko Mobutu, Idi Amin, Mohammad Gadaffi, Jean-Bedel-Bokassa, Omar Bongo, Fidel Castro etc were tough men and some are still in power, but they have betrayed their own people.
Some of you feel the country should fit within your life span and yet at 45 years, the country is young compared to a human being at the same age.
The country requires the young generation’s efforts to reach a pivoting development stage. Therefore, it should have been your duty to see to it that our cadres and all the people constantly hold the vision you fought for.
To make Uganda rich and strong, we need several decades of intense effort through diligence and frugality.
Who will hold high the standard of the revolution if you are abusing the non-bush comrades? You rose in an armed resistance and all over Uganda, you set up people’s governments, built up a people’s army (the UPDF). You have many good qualities and have rendered great service, but you must always remember not to be conceited.
If you do not respect others and the masses, then you will cease to be heroes and models. There have been such people in the past. I hope you will not follow them.
Thousands upon thousands of martyrs have heroically laid down their lives for the revolution. Let us hold their banners high and match ahead on the path of crimson with their blood.
Africa is always in problems because leaders find it hard to nurture young people to take over and as a result, they are helped to leave power and history is constantly re-written.
The second generation problems in Africa are transforming agriculture, inflation, poverty, unemployment, diseases and foreign domination. The first generation fought against slave trade and for liberation.
I, therefore, call upon honourables Amanya Mushega, Jim Muhwezi and others to check their motives of abusing NRM cadres. Do not prompt people to think that you are self-centred because you want to reverse NRM to the 1986 scenario.
The writer is Special Presidential Assistant for Northern Uganda
TOMORROW is Heroes’ Day and many people will be shortlisted for the good work they have contributed to this nation. For a long time I have been digesting words from some NRM historicals and I find it proper to respond to them through the media.
When Jesus started preaching, he knew how useful disciples can be and he had to recruit 12 people. When NRM started the revolution with 27 people, they knew that more people had to be recruited to help them. In all these cases, neither Jesus nor NRM historicals called their followers ‘creepers’. Commanders relied on foot soldiers to succeed.
I find it rather uncultured for a revolutionary, in case they are, to start calling their followers bad names. Then why did you go to the bush? These people have started behaving like a hen that eats its own eggs before they are ready. I thought a historical would be happy if they saw new faces, especially the young joining them.
These few historicals feel that other than the chair and the name, NRM has totally changed simply because they are being questioned. Please, update yourselves with the realities of a competitive party environment. Do not assume many should not question you just because you ‘fought in Luweero’.
Many of you revolutionaries after taking power, want to live like real African chiefs without critics. Haile Selassie, Mengustu Haile Mariam all of Ethiopia, Seseko Mobutu, Idi Amin, Mohammad Gadaffi, Jean-Bedel-Bokassa, Omar Bongo, Fidel Castro etc were tough men and some are still in power, but they have betrayed their own people.
Some of you feel the country should fit within your life span and yet at 45 years, the country is young compared to a human being at the same age.
The country requires the young generation’s efforts to reach a pivoting development stage. Therefore, it should have been your duty to see to it that our cadres and all the people constantly hold the vision you fought for.
To make Uganda rich and strong, we need several decades of intense effort through diligence and frugality.
Who will hold high the standard of the revolution if you are abusing the non-bush comrades? You rose in an armed resistance and all over Uganda, you set up people’s governments, built up a people’s army (the UPDF). You have many good qualities and have rendered great service, but you must always remember not to be conceited.
If you do not respect others and the masses, then you will cease to be heroes and models. There have been such people in the past. I hope you will not follow them.
Thousands upon thousands of martyrs have heroically laid down their lives for the revolution. Let us hold their banners high and match ahead on the path of crimson with their blood.
Africa is always in problems because leaders find it hard to nurture young people to take over and as a result, they are helped to leave power and history is constantly re-written.
The second generation problems in Africa are transforming agriculture, inflation, poverty, unemployment, diseases and foreign domination. The first generation fought against slave trade and for liberation.
I, therefore, call upon honourables Amanya Mushega, Jim Muhwezi and others to check their motives of abusing NRM cadres. Do not prompt people to think that you are self-centred because you want to reverse NRM to the 1986 scenario.
The writer is Special Presidential Assistant for Northern Uganda