There is understandable frustration among Ugandans who are agitating for a quick regime change. They are complaining that opposition parties are not doing enough in large part for selfish reasons that prevent them to come together and fight as one.
Some are arguing that opposition parties are ineffective in large part because the leadership is from NRM or opposition parties have been infiltrated by NRM agents.
There are those who are getting impatient with a non-violent and diplomatic strategy of effecting political change and are calling for outright war because fire must be met with fire.
There are those who are tired of the elite that have done nothing under the NRM to break the chains that have kept Ugandans trapped in poverty. Instead they have lined their pockets with looted public money.
There are those who are complaining that many in the leadership – NRM and opposition parties – are not patriotic enough because they are not Ugandans.
There are those who are praying for emergence of de Clerk and Mandela in Uganda to hammer out an agreement for a new Uganda.
These voices of frustration are getting louder.
In our efforts to put Uganda in order, Ugandans need to appreciate two factors:
First, right now Uganda is not a country where public opinion carries much weight as in mature democracies. Uganda is a military dictatorship where the barrel of the gun, patronage and instruments of torture matter. The internal and external environment which is not permanent has made military dictatorship happen so far. This is not a situation that can easily be corrected through elections. That avenue seems to have reached a dead end in 2011 presidential and parliamentary elections.
Second, Uganda has a complex history of winner-take-all combining internal and external factors since pre-colonial times.
The first line of attack, therefore, is to understand fully these two factors: how they arose and have interacted.
Chapter two- Historical Background – of the Odoki report of the Uganda Constitutional Commission 1993 outlined this complex history with a view to drawing lessons as a guide in preparing the 1995 constitution that would create equal opportunity for all Ugandans.
Chapter one – Historical Context – in Uganda’s Age of Reforms – edited by Justus Mugaju, published in 1996 and revised in 1999 also gives some useful background information. There are many other useful contributions in this regard including information posted at www.kashambuzi.com.
What is missing in Uganda is not analytical work of Uganda’s challenges, up-to-date information or possible solutions;
What is missing in Uganda is not a good constitution;
What is missing in Uganda is not a good development plan;
What is missing in Uganda is not human capacity, natural resources or funds.
Good information and lessons learned will not be applied if the leadership is not interested;
A good constitution will not serve the people if the leadership is not interested;
A good development plan will not be implemented if the leadership does not want to;
Adequate resources will not be used for development if the leadership wants to keep citizens poor, voiceless and powerless for easy manipulation and control in perpetuity.
The point being made here is that Uganda lacks the right leadership.
When the right leadership surfaced under Nkrumah, Gold Coast moved quickly to independence as Ghana in 1957;
When the right leadership surfaced under Kaunda, Northern Rhodesia moved quickly to independence as Zambia in 1964;
When the right leadership surfaced under Banda, Nyasaland moved quickly to independence as Malawi in 1964;
When the right leadership surfaced under Sekou Toure, French Africa moved quickly to independence in 1960;
When Mugabe and Nkomo agreed to work together, Southern Rhodesia moved quickly to independence as Zimbabwe in 1980;
When de Clerk and Mandela agreed to work together, a new South Africa was quickly born in 1994. ANC had been struggling since 1912.
Uganda will remain a troubled country with her people living in a state of fear (whether in or out of power) until the right leadership emerges in NRM and opposition parties and groups to hammer out a new beginning that guarantees human security – broadly defined – for all Ugandans.
Ipso Facto, Ugandans should begin to search for the right leadership in the NRM and in opposition parties and organizations working under the same umbrella organization similar to the NARC of Kenya.
The recent London FDC-organized conference that invited all political parties and some organizations including United Democratic Ugandans (UDU) should be built upon.
Talk of a ‘new’ NRM means that something is brewing inside the NRM but leadership in the new NRM must demonstrate beyond doubt that it is serious but most of all that it is not tainted by the ‘sins’ of the current NRM and has no hidden motive. The composition, leadership, character and discipline of the new NRM will give us a hint of what is in store because Ugandans understand Uganda better than in 1986.
In the case of opposition political parties and organizations, United Democratic Ugandans (UDU) – an umbrella organization of opposition parties and organizations – formed in July 2011 has already begun the process of forging patriotic and caring leadership.
UDU is very dynamic and professional as per www.udugandans.org albeit still a young umbrella organization. With dedicated and constructive support it surely can grow into a mature body under able leadership to work with the ‘new’ NRM leadership to effect political changes mutually acceptable and beneficial to all Ugandans.
When we talk about leadership, we Ugandans should not mistake it with office of the president with unlimited powers to do what he or she wants. We should talk of collective leadership of capable and patriotic Ugandans with a proven record of public service, undisputed character, background and discipline working together under clear guidelines including strict term limits and reduced power of the presidency. That is what we should strive for.
Uganda has potential capable leaders. What is needed is a selective process that puts Uganda first to identify them and get them to work. That is the challenge for 2012.