Happy Martyrs' Day celebrations to UPDF

By Charles Okecha

Uganda Martyrs day 2015 is celebrated in a very spectacular way with scores of zealous upcountry believers converging at Namugongo on foot.

Do they show similar allegiance to their country or cynicism that obscures every good there is? An article about Museveni’s fitness for the UN top job owing to war zone experience drew barbs for being opportunistic.

Why wouldn’t his opponents who can’t upstage him rejoice? Examining the achievements of the UPDF vis-à-vis other sectors reciprocates appreciation to the Commander-in-Chief who can’t sit when embassies don’t perform.

The army’s deployment in Somalia caused tremors in parliament and the public. Kony had just been defeated and Somalia was viewed as an abattoir for the sons of ill-favoured Ugandans. The president’s son featured in Somalia, Sudan and Central Africa. This courage of our troops was showcased by our forefathers - the Uganda Martyrs.

Battles with insurgents, HIV/AIDS, malaria, Ebola and chronic disasters has endowed us with the grit to contain terror. At a single mosquito bite, others spray or even bandage themselves. Here they initiate every newborn. Police exchanging fire with armed robbers is like a free film. Policewomen deployed against Al Shabaab return promoted.

With or without body armour, drones, night goggles, binoculars, air cover etc aluta continua. One party remarked, “Ugandans are good fighters but thieves”. What did they steal from Ebola stricken zones in West Africa?

In Somalia, our troops treat the sick using their healthcare facilities. While our health workers and teachers snick out of the country for odd jobs to earn pea nuts, the army receives reimbursements from the AU. It builds housing for soldiers as others strike for poor pay and facilitation, what a paradox! The army is worth footing our national debt should South Sudan be appreciative.

Should they serve abandoned patients in our hospitals, it will be dubbed “militarisation of the Health Sector”!

Trinidad and Tobago saw our bravery and requested for our personnel.

We would beg for time to build capacity to meet the need rather than wail. If patients can be flown abroad for treatment, can’t our doctors fly back and forth to handle emergency situations? When they go for leave, attend parties and burials, do all patients die?

We ought to adjust and juggle professions. Israel has mandatory military training for every citizen between ages 21-22. Full-time military servicemen is small enough for the economy to sustain. While the rest are reserves, do regular military exercises and work for pay in other professions. In the event of an impending threat they respond forthwith.

Our curricular should be readjusted to enable students acquire multiple skills. Semesters are squandered in abstract learning often times never applied, while blaming colonialists. When employers ask for years of experience, do they mean walking on the streets?

Makerere’s faculty of technology should be self-sustaining, engaging students in its projects for internship. After half century of existence, there would be no slums around Kampala. When they riot, what will street kids do? Pull hell upwards? Students alone would save government from embezzlers who do shoddy work.

The army does engineering work without engaging private firms. Which college trained these military men? If they take action to train students, won’t the public cry “militarisation of the education sector”?

Nations develop by utilising every resource at their disposal. Brazil exports coffee and soccer. We too have a lot and do not deserve to be in debt. Not to forget, UPDF’s cousin, Kiprotich won us gold medals without our facilitation! Unpatriotic traitors do nothing except passing the buck.

The writer works at the St. Paul’s College, Mbale.