As I have said before, I joined Uganda politics not for personal gain but because I was unhappy about what was and still is happening in a country that was once the envy of the world, with a potential for rapid economic growth and social transformation in terms of improving the standard of living and life expectancy of all Ugandans.
I have expressed my disappointment through writing, radio broadcasting and trying to advise NRM government in writing and orally about how to do things better to no avail. I have distributed some five hundred copies of my ten books to Ugandans free of charge and created a free website www.kashambuzi.com to reach a wider readership. But Uganda continues to decay. This is undeniable. Metaphorically speaking, rampant corruption and sectarianism are eating Uganda away before our eyes!
Many Ugandans and others have contacted me and advised that what is needed is implementation of the good ideas already proposed. It requires that we acquire political tools since NRM has refused to adopt the ideas we have put forward. That is why I joined the United Democratic Ugandans (UDU) and was elected Secretary General with authority to mobilize political and diplomatic support for the implementation of the National Recovery Plan (NRP).
UDU decided that civic education should be an integral part of the journey to acquire political power. I have been an active participant. In doing this I have been guided by resisting fixed ideology and appeasement. I have been pragmatic, flexible and truthful in order to locate the root cause of the problem and offer relevant solutions.
When you believe in something say it but in a clear and civil manner and let the people judge. Appeasement doesn’t help. Telling lies doesn’t help. Making empty promises doesn’t help. Having fixed ideology doesn’t help.
I have consistently said we don’t need another war to solve our problems because war begets war. We don’t want another military leader because they are not trained to deal with civilian situations especially in the absence of checks and balances and separation of powers. Whether I lose, retain or gain support, I have made it clear that I am totally opposed to threats to crush Banyankole when Museveni leaves power. Let me be very clear on this: those Banyankole who have committed crimes against humanity should be arrested, tried in a proper court of law and sentenced to the maximum of the law. I don’t have authority to speak on behalf of Banyankole but as a Ugandan and human being I will resist efforts to crush innocent Banyankole. That is and will remain my position.
Some people have deliberately or not taken out of context what I have written in order to sow seeds of discord. Others are continuing to issue threats to me and my family for my stand. Some who appear angry by the tone of their messages are reporting that I am part of a group that has caused massive destruction or I am an agent of NRM but masquerading as its opponent. Fellow Ugandans, this is intended to damage my character – pure and simple!
Be that as it may, I want to thank those who have supported me in public and private and encouraged me not to yield what I stand for but to continue advocating for peaceful co-existence. I concur.
I have consistently said Museveni and his people are bent on impoverishing and marginalizing Uganda using selfish Ugandans. The record is there for all to see: reemergence of diseases that had disappeared, refusal to supply school lunch to hungry primary school children in part to maintain the level of food exports in regional markets and beyond, efforts to give Uganda land away to his kith and kin and refusal to ease youth unemployment now at over 80 percent. That is why the constitution allows free mobility, settlement and land ownership anywhere in Uganda where you can use your language if you choose. That is why I am opposed to dividing Uganda into over 100 districts and still counting; to taking land from peasants to rich farmers using false justification of higher productivity and efficiency by large farmers over peasants; to rushing Uganda into the East African political federation and to eliminating Uganda international borders with neighboring countries, witness the decision taken recently between Uganda and Rwanda officials on eliminating colonial borders.
Deng Xiaoping of China said what was on his mind about how China’s economy and the Cultural Revolution were conducted under Mao. His opponents hurled all sorts of physical and verbal insults at him and his family. His brother was killed and his son injured and confined to a wheel chair for life. Deng was humiliated in public, demoted and exiled to remote areas where he was subjected to dehumanizing labor, etc. He was denounced as one of those Chinese who would abandon socialist goals and take China along the capitalist road. He persevered and regained the positions he had lost. To Deng socialism meant ending poverty through productivity increase and improvement in material and cultural life of the Chinese people.
Although interpersonal comparisons are not possible, I have had a fair share of criticism by my opponents whose privileges are being threatened by what I am preaching or are acting as surrogates. I have been accused of trying to sell Uganda or its oil to foreigners so they install me in power. I have been accused of sectarianism and promoter of genocide against Batutsi so I stop criticizing them for wrong doing. Some have vowed never to see another Munyankole/westerner as leader of Uganda. The problem is that because some use fake names we don’t know exactly who these people are. They may not even be Ugandans! We have a few hints alright but that isn’t enough.
Be that as it may I will continue to be guided by my conscience, pragmatism and non-appeasement, regardless of what detractors may hurl at me. After studying the unitary and federal systems of governance, I have concluded that a federal system is by and large better for Uganda than a unitary one and have written in support of federalism but detractors are now saying I am supporting federalism for selfish reasons. Before I made up my mind I was accused of obstructing a good idea for selfish reasons. Be that as it may, we need to design a federal system that suits Uganda history, culture and aspirations with guarantees to ensure balance. That is why I supported – during the October 27, 2012 London conference on federalism – the idea of setting up a national working committee to consult with all Ugandans and make recommendations for a national convention to deliberate and decide what is suitable for Ugandans. Some Ugandans may want federalism, others unitarism, yet others something in between. What is important is that consultations must be fully participatory, well informed and transparent. That is why a referendum at this stage is inappropriate.
Since NRM is opposed to what the opposition is proposing including UDU’s National Recovery Plan (NRP), the solution is to unseat NRM government and bring in a government ready to work with the people and reverse the current failed development trajectory. The opposition needs to come together and finish the job. That is how Moi and KANU and Kaunda and UNIP were eased out of power by NARC and MMD. Let us stop kidding ourselves: acting alone, opposition parties have no chance of succeeding. UDU is prepared to work with more parties and groups to create sufficient critical mass and capture political power and tools with which to implement truly people-centered developmental programs that will end poverty and its offshoots of hunger, illiteracy and disease – once and for all.
Eric