Tag Archives: levels

Discrimination has stunted Uganda’s development efforts

Uganda has begun the next fifty years of independence on a sad political, diplomatic and socio-economic note marked by political instability within the NRM and between it and opposition groups, corruption scandals, diplomatic deficit to handle the UN report on alleged Uganda involvement in DRC and deepening and spreading poverty.

Ugandans therefore need to take stock and understand why with all the abundant natural and human resources and generous foreign aid Uganda has continued to perform far below expectation. One of the reasons is discrimination at individual and group levels. The history of communities that were later compressed into Uganda at the start of the 20th century is full of illustrations about how discrimination has stunted individual and group performance and ultimately adversely impacted Uganda’s development.

Bantu speaking people entered what later became Uganda with a wide range of skills including livestock herding of short horn cattle, goats, sheep and poultry keeping, knowledge of manufacturing a wide range of products especially iron and crop cultivation. Later they specialized according to their comparative advantage (manufacturing, herding, crop cultivation, fishing, hunting and gathering wild fruits and vegetables which they traded in local markets). This diversification and exchange enabled households to consume adequate and balanced diets that enabled them to develop immunity against diseases.

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A message for Nyakairima and Kayihura

You took oath to defend the country and protect the citizens of Uganda so that they exercise freely their God-given human rights including the right to elect their leaders at all levels. As professional security officers you have a solemn responsibility and duty to protect the people of Uganda as they prepare to elect their leaders on February 18, 2011.

The country and people of Uganda are in your hands. Please ensure that the rules governing the electoral process such as absence of intimidation and bribery are respected. These rules must be obeyed by every Ugandan irrespective of their status. Violation of these rules will be challenged.

Since 1980 Uganda’s elections have been defined by serious irregularities that have undermined the usefulness of the exercise. Hopefully, your professional determination will ensure that – for the first time – Uganda will have free and fair elections on February 18, 2011.

Good luck.

Eric Kashambuzi

February 16, 2011

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Open letter to Rukungiri District Councilors

Dear Councilors

When people are elected they enter into a contract or understanding to protect, defend, promote the interests of the people they represent and improve their standard of living. One of the terms of the contract is that consultations between representatives and constituents should take place regularly particularly on issues like land on which the majority depend for their livelihood.

Converting Rukungiri Township into a Municipality by incorporating rural areas has serious adverse implications. Once the municipality law enters into force in January 2011 the land affected will be owned by municipal authority and owners will automatically become tenants subject to terms and conditions set by the municipal authority.

Because most peasants are poor, they will not be able to pay land taxes and other charges or meet standards such as construction using bricks. Failure to meet municipality terms and conditions will result in tenants either selling their land at giveaway prices or their land will be confiscated for failure to meet the terms and conditions. The dispossessed families will automatically become landless. Since most peasants are totally or functionally illiterate, they will not find work elsewhere. They will become penniless as well.

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