It is obvious to all what a disaster it is for democracy in Uganda, that the NRM party keeps producing one candidate for president, without internal contest. The act in itself is not surprising, since that is not the first or second instance to stifle political openness by NRM.
But to use that adversity as an example, and look at the campaign going around about “Sole Candidate 2016” as a specific instance, it is a fantasy for anyone to expect a party that has a great fear of transparency, to deliver justice and democracy to the nation. Transparency in its literal sense, means permitting the free passage of light. Without it there is darkness, things become opaque. But again, that is the ideological mark of the NRM on the country in its 28 year rule – opaqueness.
So those who anticipate any advancement of liberties, freedoms, and the administration of justice should look at that particular concept and clear their minds about they think is the way to achieve social, political and economic progress of the people. The NRM is, clearly the wrong vehicle for this job.
My interest for discussion is not really the democratic void in the NRM; for that is a known constant. But it should serve as a call to action for all Ugandans; we must face our reality in order to change it, we must clarify our position on our political process going forward, and the right way to move forward the social-economic progress of the people. The political direction of Uganda has been fiddled with by the NRM corrupt linchpin. It has been removed from the free arbitration of the people, to the haphazardly of a dictator. The political history of Uganda is a witness to men’s attempts to reduce the country to their level of thinking. The NRM has failed to pass that bar, and has lead Ugandans to advance from calling for mere cosmetic changes in government, to total overhaul of the corrupt system, and revolution.
The people of Uganda, without a shadow of doubt, are contemplating revolution – first as a liberation from a 28-year ruling dictator so as re-organise state power to protect the freedom of the people, and second to re-organise the economy along proper industrial policy to transform people from poverty. This revolution has at the stakes, the country’s political, economic and social destiny. On one hand, the people want the country on a path in which they, the people, have all the say; on the other, the dictator wants continued personalization of the state power, to continue looting the country, feeding an ever increasing corruption program espoused through corrupt deals cut in state house.
Those who are working towards the realisation of the dream of freedom, opportunity, justice and a government system that is fully accountable to the people, should look that absurd reality in NRM, to guard themselves against the extent of ideological bankruptcy that has bedeviled this country since the formation of the state. They should think about the bold moves needed to take the country beyond this terrible phase.
There are those who blame individual s, or corruption, or ignorance, or duplicity as being the hindrances to freedom & democracy in Uganda. They do not realize that the problem is the inherent limits of men – word ‘men’ here used as a short reference to the human beings.
The wider problem for Africa is that not one or two three leaders have become a statistic for greed, corruption and attempts to personalize state power. The evils that have followed Africa in the wake of post-colonial governments, including total state collapse, have rotated around transparency issues in governance, and failure to explore the study the social options deeper to solve political process issues.
Therefore, for our own security, we must transform our democratic thought. We must grow our political systems. We’re not victims of dictators; we’re a people, free to choose our ways. We must choose the methods of running the state, and not blame anyone for it. This article is written in support of all the forces that are coalescing towards the liberation of Uganda, and the removal of the corrupt NRM regime from power.
Young Revolution
