It is factors that cause change; revolutionary minds simply observe & exploit those factors. In 1981, it was not the might of an invade force that made the prospect of change seem real; the prevailing conditions in the country did – what the state was doing vis-à-vis the hopes of the people, there was a huge mismatch. The state in Uganda today is mismatched against the people’s needs for change, and it is their imperative to match for change. A more democratic Uganda is good for everyone. Today an undesirable government exists – the government in 1981 had, by the way, just won an election. It didn’t stop people from matching. Elections have been used by criminal individuals in corrupt governments to perpetuate themselves, putting on a show for outsiders while in the underbelly of sham electoral processes, a rotten political class resides. This is now déjà vu to Ugandans – and Africans.
So, then – what must be done? Everyone should remember that the government exists FOR the people, not the other way round. The people do not exist for government. History shows that the crooked leaders, who tried to reverse that role, are either dead, in prison or in exile. This too, is now déjà vu to Ugandans – and Africans.
Therefore, the people of Ugandans who have been brutalized, or shamed or afflicted in anyway by this self-perpetuating state, your day is as sure to come as day follows night. Your spirit is correct – with so many following you in struggle, the dictator can only hold out for so long. This surge in people’s spirit will drive him a way like a demon.
The factors for political revolution in Uganda started forming two decades ago, when the first breach of constitution was made – with extension of interim government after winning a war in which Ugandans lost almost everything. And later the removal of term limits. From that point, arbitrary use of power, throttling the sovereign freedoms of Ugandans, foreclosure of open assembly, hunting and killing of rivals, misuse of military & police forces, dragging country along expeditions of personal whims & fancies, total disregard & defeating the mandate of parliament, massive theft of public funds – these became all too easy to do.
As Ugandans move decisively move towards change of government, as political elites across different political divides make amends, and deny their services to a government gone rogue, as our neighbors share and support our spirit for change; It is safe to say that Ugandans are near to solving the Ugandan governance problem.
All formations by the political actors are crucial to weakening the stranglehold of the self-perpetuating president; the state is now left with its last card – shading off any pretensions about being quasi-military, and its reliance on a hand-picked group of tribal soldiers to defend its stay.
The work of making country-wide, region-wide and international unity to work for change can be made stronger if we all decide so. It is important for masses to unify, and we have already got where to start.
We cannot deny that there are feather headed politicians, double agents who are not serious about change, and those placing their personal interests/ambition above the match of the country for change. Even so, present reality is that people as a whole will not accept continuation of dictator government – they will be guided by that spirit to separate the wheat from the chaff – when their leaders fail, that only raises the movement for change from political to military revolution, should the double agents try to confuse the people. The people are already conscious about them.
Many Ugandans, especially the poor peasants, had been living in fear of exposing themselves to a murderous dictator. But that is no longer holding, they are aware about his relentless efforts to silence them – using force & brutality of police or petty cash bribery – using their very taxes to silence them, they know these things. They are angry about these things. They are willing to dare for change. They have done so before, they can do it again.
The joy of the triumph of peasants against dictators is déjà vu to Ugandans too. This will be no different than when Obote was overthrown, or Amin deposed, or the juntas removed.
The overhaul of the civil service system to serve Ugandans uprightly, the regeneration of judicial system to delivery justice, separating political regime interferences with judicial processes, religious processes, traditional systems, etc. – these structural elements are important to all Ugandan regions.
We have seen the NRM regime use two factors to devastate democracy – a deeply partisan electoral commission hand-picked to work as an auxiliary of the party rather than for national interest.
The other one is the use of military, police and army to strangulate the free assembly and fraternity of Ugandans. I do not believe that the youth of Uganda are willing to take a chance on their future again. We have already been threatened with military force; many of our colleagues are languishing in prisons on flimsy political charges.
We cannot trust such a government to become people-centered or magically reform. Certainly no trust in a free and fair election in 2016 organized in the auspices of the same criminal government. Even if the electoral body was reformed, it would change little to nothing on account that the freedom of the Ugandans to assemble and that of political leaders to mobilise is curtailed by a different set of regime laws, which serve the same purpose as a fraudulent electoral system. Without freedom of assembly, with a fraudulent electoral process, only the double minded are inclined to play by such rules.
Museveni may have failed to allow democracy in NRM party but he has never failed to define his enemy, and the methods he has employed for his enemies are clear to everyone – brutality. So why would the forces of change and lovers of freedom need to beat around the bush on declaring him enemy? His rogue government bent on denying people’s freedoms should be the target. It is not too hard to isolate the actors and perpetuators of his plan, because they are actively doing it. We should not take chances on our freedom with them anymore. Let us consider the political options in equal measure as the defense mechanisms for our freedoms. These are equal imperatives, and are the tools of the enemy.
