Tuesday, August 23, 2011

What Jimmy Akena is Doing is Bad for Country

I have not followed the so called in-fighting in UPC. But from what I have heard recently, Akena is doing something very bad; that of confusing members of UPC. Even if you factor in pre-independence wars between Acholi and Lango, it is still wrong to combine these issues with UPC issues. Acholi and Langi are living with the pain that has been subjected to them by different regimes in Uganda as peacefully as possible. In fact it is politicians who cause the misunderstanding for their own selfish interests.
Akena lost the election for party president in an open competition. This is not a demotion or a crime of any kind. One period one leader. What more can he do in between such elections? Any sane person would understand that, as a party member, you have to behave in a way that promotes party interests. But if he is fighting the party president at every turn then he trying to destroy the party. And the reason cannot be because he has to be the party president.
Is it not questionable that a former party president contender would also act as an agitator and be the first to rise to question the party president?
Recently, Jimmy Akena jumped at the party president during a press conference organized for the members of the press. Why would you do something like this in the open forum of perhaps hostile people to the party? If Jimmy cannot help rebuild the party then maybe he should take a leave of absence to cool down. But he should not withhold his support for Mr Otunnu the current party president. People look to him as the son of first UPC president and the man who founded the party now fondly referred to as "the congress of the people." Even if he is not the party president, there is always a special place for him in the hearts of the members of the party. One day that feeling may be translated into some party actions.
A quote from the Common Man's Charter should enlighten him, "(vii) To ensure that no citizen of Uganda will enjoy any special privilege, status or title by virtue of birth, descent or heredity;"
The UPC has its rules and members should know that they are doing right or wrong by those same rules.

Thursday, February 10, 2011

TORRENT OF CHANGE SWEEPING AFRICA

The history of Africa has been one of wars of oppression of one kind or the other. After the attainment of independence, many African leaders adopted exactly the same attitude the colonialists used towards the people. Then came tribalism and other forms of ills that bedeviled the rule of law. The rulers bypassed elections and instituted tyranny instead of democracy. Many stayed in powers for very long time. Who ever thought Mobutu could lose power and even die in exile? That is precisely what happened.
People will not demonstrate against a government for no reason. They put up with a lot of hardship and corruption and when they cannot take it any longer, they take to the street in many forms. Sometimes the event can be a spontaneous release of anger and frustration. It happened in Tunisia, Yemen and many parts of the Arab world. Now it is happening in Egypt with such force and power that Mubarak has no alternative but to relinquish power. The number of people coming out has been increasing as Mubarak denies what he is witnessing.
The Egyptian Military has shown leadership and stayed away from the political issues of governing. The words that came from the highest command of the Egyptian army puts many other African dictators and their armies to great shame. The words that come out give more confidence to the people that the army is theirs.
They statement from the Christian Science monitor said,

The generals had a statement read on State TV. “Based on the responsibility of the armed forces and its commitment to protect the people... and in support of the legitimate demands of the people [the army] will continue meeting on a continuous basis to examine measures to be taken to protect the nation and its gains and the ambitions of the great Egyptian people."

Unfortunately, in Uganda the NRA/NRM always confront the people with "We fought..." whenever there is a prospect of electing one not aligned or part of the original people who went to the bush to fight the government in power then.
So, the big question is, "Does the current Uganda army represent and protect freedom of the people of Uganda or is it an occupation army?"