As Secretary-General of United Democratic Ugandans (UDU) I have received comments about the work we are doing which is appreciated. The National Recovery Plan (NRP) has received high marks as a comprehensive, well thought-out and balanced document with clear action-oriented recommendations. But some Ugandans wonder whether or not this isn’t going to be another document that will be discarded like the ten-point program or benefit a few people. The NPR unlike the ten point program (TPP) will not be discarded. Instead, it will survive and serve everyone for the following reasons.
First, the ten point program though ideally excellent was written out of context of what was happening in the early 1980s. It did not fit into the global neo-liberal development model of structural adjustment that began in the early 1980s. To get international assistance which NRM needed very badly governments had to meet the requirements of structural adjustment program (SAP) which conflicted with those of TPP, causing the TPP to be discarded. The NRP has been written within the context of the new development model of public and private partnership that replaced the neoliberal model in 2009.
Second, Uganda’s structural adjustment program was disproportionately influenced by foreign experts and advisers in its design and implementation. While foreign experts and advisers mean well they do not have a good grasp of Uganda’s historical background, culture and diversity essential for designing and implementing a program that covers everyone. The NRP has been prepared by Uganda experts with inputs provided by Ugandans from all regions at the UDU’s July 2011 conference. To get inputs from other Ugandans and development partners, the draft NRP was circulated widely and we received useful comments that were incorporated into the plan that was then debated by Ugandans and adopted at the UDU Boston conference in October 2011. The final plan is posted at www.udugandans.org. So the plan has endorsement of Ugandans and development partners.
Third, NRM’s structural adjustment program excluded government active participation in the economy. Market forces and private sector were to act as the engine of economic growth and job creation. The benefits of economic growth were to be distributed through a trickle down mechanism. Unfortunately the mechanism did not work as expected. Instead the rich became richer and the poor remained trapped in poverty and many of them got poorer. Consequently, over 50 percent of Ugandans live below the poverty line. The NRP has overcome this shortcoming because the state will work closely with the private sector to address market imperfections and ensure that no Ugandan is left behind. Every Ugandan will be given an opportunity through education and work to participate in the development process and ensure that the benefits of economic growth are distributed equitably. To ensure equitable distribution the implementation of the plan will be vigorously monitored and evaluated so that deviations are corrected as they emerge. This will require a dedicated team of patriotic leaders and experts. Uganda has many of them at home and abroad. They will be identified taking into consideration Uganda’s diversity, expertise and experience and demographic dynamics, and vetting them before they are appointed and monitored closely thereafter.