Since 1980 when the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) won the general elections and the National Resistance Movement (NRM) began a guerrilla war in 1981 to unseat the UPC government by force since the Uganda People’s Movement (UPM) had failed to defeat UPC at the polls, I have followed NRM’s policy statements to the present day in 2010. NRM’s statements before 1986 are contained in two publications – Yoweri Museveni (1985), Selected Articles on the Uganda Resistance War; and Mission to Freedom (1990). I have had the opportunity to read the contents of the two publications.
NRM’s policy statements since 1986 are found in many publications or hard copies that have been distributed at conferences and summits. Since 1986, I have had the opportunity to attend major conferences and summits at the OAU/AU and United Nations in New York where these statements have been delivered by senior civil servants, Ambassadors, Ministers and the President.
In the statements up to 1986, NRM set stiff standards by which the UPC government should be judged. Since 1987 NRM government has evolved a different set of standards that enables it to cover up errors of commission and omission. Reviewing the two sets one cannot fail to detect double standards. It is these double standards but mostly the failure to deliver adequate goods and services after 24 years in power that are fast eroding the credibility of the Movement government, causing it sleepless nights as 2011 elections draw near. Let us review some of the double standards for illustrative purposes.
First, before capturing power in 1986, NRM criticized Obote and Amin governments for failing to end the long-suffering of the people of Uganda when they had enough resources. The criticism was particularly harsh on Obote II regime in part because it entered into an agreement with the World Bank and the IMF who imposed stiff conditionality making it difficult to provide the necessary goods and services. NRM vowed it would terminate such relationships in the interest of Ugandans’ welfare. The UPC was also criticized for continuing the colonial economic policy of focusing on the production of raw materials for external markets at the expense of food for domestic consumption and industrialization to add value and create jobs for Uganda workers. NRM declared that once in power, this policy would change with a focus on Ugandans first so that they have adequate and balanced diet in quantity and quality, remunerative jobs and a decent work environment, good housing, decent clothes including shoes to, inter alia, keep jiggers and hook worms away from the feet of Ugandans. That democracy, term limits, clean government and good neighborly relations would be the hallmark of its administration was emphasized.
African governments were criticized for staying in power for too long and other world leaders for sitting idly by when the people of Uganda were going through hell on earth. Using this agenda, the NRM received domestic and external support.
Second, once in power since 1986 the rhetoric fell by the wayside. Instead new standards were set. In 1987, Museveni and his government welcomed the World Bank and the IMF and their Washington Consensus or structural adjustment with open arms. The government conveniently forgot about stiff conditionality by arguing that economic reforms were home grown, forgot about adequate and balanced foodstuffs for Uganda consumers in favor of diversified export-based economic growth with more food traditionally produced for domestic consumers entering neighboring markets and beyond in pursuit of foreign exchange accumulation. NRM conveniently forgot protecting manufacturing industries in favor of open markets that permitted entry of second hand products that have out-competed local industries resulting in loss of badly needed jobs and incomes. Shoes were conveniently forgotten in favor of presidential jets.
Third, at the political level, democracy by means of free and fair elections was conveniently forgotten in preference for democracy at gun point and term limits were scrapped in favor of people’s choice to reject or re-elect the president.
Fourth, in the area of foreign policy, NRM government has chosen to interfere directly or indirectly in the internal affairs of other countries, including Uganda’s neighbors – Burundi, DRC, Kenya, Rwanda and Sudan.
As domestic challenges become overwhelming in terms of mounting diseases of poverty like jiggers, scabies, trachoma, under-nutrition, alcoholism and crime etc, the government has shifted attention to the external arena including hosting expensive international conferences to boost its image. NRM has conveniently forgotten that during Obote II, it complained that the government was wasting resources on diplomatic issues at the expense of Ugandans.
That is why Ugandans and the development community are having second thoughts about the future of NRM as the 2011 elections draw near.