5^th–11^th July 2010

By C.D Rauxen Zedriga

I am back with our youth; our future leaders!  On the social front, it is irrelevant now to state here that Iddi Amin had decreed the establishment of a National Council for Women in 1975.  Let’s deal with our most recent history.

Women’s emancipation:

The NRM government introduced affirmative action to have women elected into the political fabric of our country.  The idea of establishing a separate Ministry for Women has not had any tangible impact so far.  In fact, it has disappeared from Museveni’s list of ministerial portfolios.

I am not sure women like Miriam Matembe, Mrs Mavenjina, Hon Bakoko Bakoru, Betty Akech, Betty Bigombe and even Dr Specioza Wandira Kazibwe still believe in the NRM’s affirmative action for women.  Do they feel empowered as individuals or as a constituency of Uganda’s population?  It would be interesting to hear their views here on Uganda Correspondent; the platform for liberal debate that we are told it is.  There are very many good ideas out there about how to truly empower women in Uganda.  But those who have those ideas also know that the NRM has a history of stealing ideas and making them their own.  So the challenge for our youth is quite simple:  Join in the struggle to removal this bankrupt NRM government out of power and some brilliant ideas that will lift our mothers and sisters out of the wilderness will come flooding in.

The traditional Kingdoms:

For those who have had Kingdoms in Uganda and who were excited about their so-called restoration, it is no longer secret that the autocracy was merely preparing ground for a new kind of monarchy; the “Ssbagabeship” with Museveni as the omnipotent King.  You just have to ask yourself why Museveni the chief proponent of East African Community who argues that the sure solution for African development is in integration is also the same man who strongly believes many small Kingdoms in Uganda like Baruli, the Emirimori, the Adhola, the Acholi, the Lango, the Alur Rwoth, the Karimojong Chieftaincies, and lately, the divisive Banyala Chiefdom.

The proliferation of districts:

Now there is the craze for new districts; the majority of which were mere counties.   The President does accept that the present Local government framework is a conduit for corrupt use of finances within the context of the decentralization policy.  So who is to blame?  Is it the opposition again?  Just like they were blamed for the chronic load shedding because they blocked the construction of the Budhagali power dam?  Do our youth really see this as progressive or regressive?

The 2011 campaigns are here with us.  Threats are already coming from the “Ssabagabe” warning traditional leaders that their heads could be chopped off if they cross a politician’s path.  The politics of our motherland must the concern of every single Ugandan including the traditional leaders who are now being threatened by the chief politician’s stray axe.  Buganda, Tooro, Bunyoro, Acholi, Teso, Jopadhola, Buruli are not mere cultural entities.

They are valued stakeholders in the politics of our country.  That however, is a debate of another day.  Right now, the issue is that there has been consistent campaign of deceit by the NRM government with the sole purpose of hoodwinking the country into accepting a new ruling dynasty monarchy that has its headquarters in Rwakitura.  The youth are particularly challenged to pay heed and act swiftly to stop this phenomenon before they lose their inherent right to participate at the highest of politics in our country.

The challenge for our youth:

Corruption, nepotism, cronyism and dictatorship are at the centre of our nation’s imminent decadence.  The youth have the solution to this problem and they would be very well advised to not only debate these issues rigorously but also take whatever action is necessary to arrest the deteriorating situation in our country.  So take interest in debates of constitutional significance like Mr Muliika’s call for a National Convention to map out the future of our country.  It is your future.  The Lugbara say “apereka tibi agobi”; [literally meaning “the source for a joke-meal is pumpkin leaves”] because they can be obtained near the homestead.  Do not despair; the time for action is yours to decide.  You are our future.  So don’t let us down.