political and economic shortfalls. Europeans admired achievements in
communities that later formed
Commendable political, economic and administrative arrangements in
activities and commercial networks, entrepreneurial and hard working Ugandans
and admirable ecological conditions marked
to play a prominence role on the international stage. Within a short time into
colonial rule,
enough revenue from domestic resources and graduated from
At independence
in 1962,
and promising economy, strong institutions such as
Jinja industrial hub and a high quality professionals.
The
decade of the 1960s recorded an economy that grew at an average rate of 6
percent reaching 10.8 percent in 1969, a health sector that developed into one
of
an education system that produced graduates of very high quality.
Then
came the 1970s, a period that was marred in political quagmire as the cold war
gained a foothold in
between Capitalism and Communism to create ‘Blue and Red Belt’ of states caught
considered to have drifted into the Communist camp and had to go. And so it
went in 1971.
The
descended into political, economic, social and environmental anarchy. Real GDP
dropped by 20 percent.
In
search of food and security, families drifted from towns to the countryside. Infrastructure,
the economy and society lay in ruins. Discipline and accountability in the
public sector collapsed and the country was saddled with external debt burden.
Poor health, hygiene and inadequate food intake sapped
energies and reduced productivity.
Amin’s
‘economic war’ to boost economic growth resulted in extensive de-vegetation and
climate change that permitted the spread of mosquitoes and malaria in
previously malaria-free areas with devastating human consequences.
In 1986,
the NRM government captured power by force inheriting a country – ruined by
‘barbarians’ – whose glory had been shattered. The new government set about restoring
the damaged glory.
The
President and other government officials travelled abroad widely and delivered strong
statements at AU Summits, UN General Assembly and other international
gatherings. They condemned leaders for standing by while
into inhuman conditions caused by economic mismanagement, corruption,
sectarianism, human rights violations and dictatorship.
The
government endeared itself to the donor community – leading a new breed of
African leaders – that pumped massive donor money and experts into the country especially
after
described as a ‘success story’ to be emulated by others.
newspapers around the world and
Confident that it had made it, the government began to talk about joining the
ranks of the economically successful Asian Tigers and Dragons. Ugandans were
assured that poverty would end soon and were convinced to vote ‘no change’ in
government at subsequent elections. The donor community applauded.
Assured
of unwavering donor and peasant support and dismissing elite criticism as
irrelevant, the government began to relax the high standard it had set in 1986.
Corruption crept in and spread fast, nepotism resurfaced largely through blood
and marriage connections, economic mismanagement infiltrated all ministries, multi-party
democracy at ‘gun point’ became the norm, delivery of social services
deteriorated significantly and environmental decay gathered speed. Malnutrition,
mental sickness, school drop out, early marriages, alcoholism, violence,
traffic accidents, crime and human sacrifice all gained momentum. Reports to
the Security Council that
resources trashed
glory.
Donors
began to notice, albeit slowly. Uganda’s invitation to the G8 Summit stopped
coming, her stories disappeared from world newspapers, questions about the quality
of education and the net effect of her involvement in regional conflicts occupied
the centre of debates, tarnishing Uganda’s glory even further, now in need of
urgent repair – a task to be undertaken urgently by all Ugandans and their
friends.