By M. Suleman

4^th June 2012: It’s clear!  Museveni came with a grand plan to destroy Uganda by systematically destroying all National institutions. Among the institutions that have been totally defaced is the Parliament. The drama that played out in the past week during the election of MPs to the EALA showed exactly how hollow the Parliament has become.

A prominent lawyer Mr. Kakooza made a commentary in the Monitor of June 1 2012, which for the sake of those who may not have read it, I would wish to quote to show how destructive Museveni has been.  Looking at the Parliament and the actions of the MPs, Kakooza wrote:

“Parliament is where people’s representatives sit to discuss policy and make law. You would expect MPs to be men and women who have accumulated decent knowledge of, and experience in, those areas. This would bring to Parliament retired or senior civil servants, retired judges and other professionals.

To these people, Parliament would not be a job; it would be a service to the country. The problem is how to get them in. Will they go out to campaign by giving sugar and salt to voters? Are they willing to dance and rap for votes? How many of them are willing to go so low to steal votes?

By introducing gutter politics in the public domain, we have turned Parliament into an assembly of school leavers (my apology to those that do not answer this description). Children who should be looking for jobs and building careers are in parliament, totally lost. Parliament is just a job.’’

While past leaders like Prof. Lule and Milton Obote looked for competent Ugandans regardless of tribe or religion to occupy senior positions in government and parliament, Museveni prefers mediocrities.  In fact many of his strongmen (from 1986) were nonentities who had lost the 1980 elections like him.

For 26 years the country has been run by mediocrities, and Parliament has not been spared. The EALA election drama demonstrated that Uganda no longer has a Parliament, but another national theatre.

On the election of the EALA, Mr Kakooza noted with sadness that there was total difference, for example, with the election to the first East African legislative Assembly. Political parties were asked to nominate people and they nominated competent Ugandans based on merit.

Kakooza added:  “Milton Obote appointed William Ssenteza Kajubi and Ssebaana Kizito to the EA’s first Legislative Assembly. They were not of UPC but they served with distinction.  A party can also support a candidate of another party if he/she will serve the country better.”

Kakooza then went on to elaborate that patriotism was not only shown in election of the EA legislators.  It was a National culture.  For example, Prime Minister Ben Kiwanuka (1961) obtained 300 scholarships for the civil service and in awarding these scholarships he never considered his party or tribe.

“Kiwanuka could have chosen to sit in State House with a few confidants and given the scholarships to friends, relatives or their children, irrespective of whether they qualified. He could have given them to DP supporters only. He did not.

He set up a committee representing the then four regions of the country and asked the then leader of opposition, Milton Obote, to also nominate members to it. Kiwanuka also asked the three leading religions – the Catholics, the Anglican Protestants and the Muslims to appoint representatives to the committee. This committee awarded these scholarships on merit’’. Kakooza said.

Today being NRA/NRM member guarantees you to be appointed or elected to any position.  It even automatically qualifies you to become a citizen of Uganda and enjoy preferential entitlement to whatever you demand.

For 26 years, government is about serving personal /NRA/NRM interests and not serving Uganda.  END.  Please login to www.ugandacorrespondent.com every Monday to read our top stories and anytime mid-week for our news updates.